On The Bench! (Gryffindor & Hufflepuff players)

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((Please post your characters here talking on the bench or cheering on their team or, as Cat had it, whatever else they do on the bench when they're not playing in the game.))

[Julius Lionheart]

Julius was full of anticipation as he walked to the locker room. It was truly a great day for Quidditch, but he would have to wait his turn this time. He was to sit out along with his fellow prankster, Mikayla Moon. It wasn't a bad thing though, seeing as the rest of the team had out flown them during pratice, whih meant he would only have to try harder. He was at the door, and didn't hesitate as he rushed in.


He wasn't the first there though. He saw Cass and Oscar going over some last minute preparations, and as he looked around the room, he saw that he was perhaps the last to show. Walking over to his locker, he quickly changed into his Quidditch robes, grabbed his Firebolt, and sat down, awaiting the speech. It was the usual speech that Cass gave, and Julius silently mouthed it as she spoke. If she noticed, she didn't show it.

As she finished her speech, Julius jumped up, saying " You know, you really ought to be a motivational speaker Cass, you could have great future in it." He smiled, he was joking around trying to ease some of everyones nerves. Five minutes later, it was time for the match to begin. Walking out with the rest, Julius felt the roar of the crowd around the pitch erupt as their team walked onto the field. Grinning from ear to ear, he wished he had done better in practice, but for now he would have to wait. Walking over to the Gryffindor side of the pitch, he remained standing, full of excitement, and watched as the match began. Pumping a fist into the air, he gave a shout close to a roar, saying, " GO GRYFFINDOR!!!"

[Seth Wright]

Nervous? Oh yes. Seth was very nervous. What was new? This was Seth. He wasn't Chace. No, he wasn't at all his best friend: confident, calm and brand new Vice Captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. The news was fairly recent, and Seth had been delighted for Chace. The role suited him and he was sure his best friend would do a great job. He had a feeling Ivy and Chace would work well together too; both were passionate about Quidditch, hard working and determined but still fair. Still trying to suppress his nerves, Seth looked up into the sky from his position on the bench - safely on the ground. There, he could see seven specks of yellow and seven specks of red, as well as Madam Hooch refereeing. Chace was quite visible, with his Beater's bat, and Seth cracked a proud smile.

He was still nervous, though. Despite the pep talk Chace had given him privately, as well as Ivy's Captain's speech, Seth continued to doubt his Quidditch abilities. He was no longer as submissive as he was a few years ago thanks to Chace, but Seth's old, fearful personality surfaced especially in times like these - when he had to perform in front of an audience, with expectations on his shoulders. Seth cringed inwardly. He loved flying and he loved Quidditch, but he always worried before games, knowing Hufflepuff was counting on him, knowing he had a responsibility to uphold. He so wanted to do well, sometimes the pressure he put on himself countered his efforts to stop panicking.

This wasn't even Seth's first live match. His palm patted his knee subconsciously, his knee itself tapping to an unknown and unheard rhythm. It was indicative of his nervous system. Seth should be used to the electric Quidditch match atmosphere by now, but the nerves hit him anew each time and he was left blown away. Nevertheless, he told himself he could do it as calmly as possible, keeping his eyes glued on the players in the sky and hoping for a Hufflepuff win. "Go, go, go," he muttered to himself under his breath as the Chasers shot past overhead. Soon he would be out there.

Yes, Seth was to play today. It surprised him when Ivy told him he was to replace Kael at some point. How very odd. And frightening. Nevertheless, it was a great privilege and Seth would try his very best. He hoped Kael didn't mind though... He didn't want the other boy to think he was stealing his place. Not that Kael was the type to hold a grudge for something so petty, but Seth still bore the guilt he pressed upon himself. He was secretly looking forward to play, though, despite his nerves and fears, because he did, at the end of the day, love Quidditch. Seth was somewhat friends with Kael anyway... right? It was hard to define with him. With Lynne, the other Collins twin, he was sure they were friends. They had had a get-together during the winter holidays with the twins, Aurora and Ariane. It had gone well and Seth had been pleased with it. They were his first proper friends outside of Chace.

Seth jumped in alarm when someone sitting on the bench with him began to shout heatedly for the Gryffindors. Blinking, he looked around to see Julius Lionheart, a boy in his year, passionately cheering on his team. Seth grinned at his loyalty and enthusiam, but his smile fell when a loud cheer caused him to look around again, only to witness Scott Ryder scoring against Kael. Seth groaned out loud, his fingers beginning to entwine with his returning nerves. "I'm up next," he chanted to himself deliriously. "Oh. My. God."

[Julius Lionheart]

Julius watched as the match unfolded, seeing that Scott had the quaffle. His excitement tatamount to that of an little kid tasting that first piece of chocolate, he watched Scott race down the pitch, shoot and.....score! Cheering with the rest of the Gryffindors, he barely caught the groan that came from somewhere to his right. Looking around, curiously, he saw Seth Wright, a fellow seventh year, but his opponent as well. Chuckling slightly at the look of horror on the guys face, he wondere what could make anyone that worried, unless they had to go out there and face his, Julius', teammates.

Turning his attention back to the match, he watched as Oscar hit a bludger torwards the Seeker of the other team, but saw Sydney Rawson deflect it back at....Melody. Groaning, he yelled out, " Come on Oscar, you can do better than that, I watched you in the last game!", his tone cheerful, yet strong.