Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((The game is set to begin on Monday, June 5th, 2006. Official starting line-ups and points will be posted then. For now players are free to post warming up and listening to their captain’s speeches. Spectators don’t forget you can post in the stands to cheer your house, or whichever house you support, on.))

Yet another Quidditch match was upon them and Xiomara Hooch could hardly have been more pleased. It was a lovely day in early June, a little warm, and the sun was a little bright, but beyond that great Quidditch conditions. Visibility was a little impaired because of the sun but spectators at least could wear sunglasses and players would be grateful that it wasn’t raining, plus the occasionally white fluffy cloud would give them some reprieve. The temperature would certainly keep the crowd in a good mood, which was always helpful to the environment of the game, even if it kept the players a little uncomfortable from the sweat running down their backs.

The trunk lay in the cupboard in her office where she had placed it after the last practice in which the balls had been used. The cupboard was locked as usual, as was the trunk, so she was sure the balls were completely un-tampered with. Bewitching the trunk so it moved along ahead of her Madam Hooch moved swiftly through the halls toward the front door. While in the Entrance Hall Madam Hooch heard the excited voices drifting out of the Great Hall where it sounded like the whole school was breakfasting so as to be down for the beginning of the game.

The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw teams were likely in their changing rooms, Madam Hooch reflected as she came up on the pitch. She set the trunk down in the centre of the pitch and waited for the school to congregate around here, it would be an exciting day.

[Branden Davis G6]

Oh man, oh man, it was here, oh man; his first ever Quidditch game. Well, real game not just fooling around with cousins at family things. House team, he had made the house team, oh man, this was brilliant. And today was the day. Today he would conquer the Ravenclaw team, leave them bumped and bruised from his amazing prowess as a beater. He would swing his bat and the crowd would go wild cheering his name; he could hear it now ‘Branden! Branden! Branden!’. Of course, the problem was, the first step to that was getting out of his nice and comfy bed, which he certainly did not want to do.

Rolling over and hitting the snooze button again Branden closed his eyes trying to recapture the dream that had just flown out his mind. It was too late though, the roar of the crowd had gotten him awake enough he had no choice but to get up. Probably for the best anyways, he didn’t want to play on an empty stomach. Now, where had he left his robes? And his bat? After finding them, showering, doing his hair, and the like Branden happily descended the seven floors to the Great Hall.

Few people were up yet, only the players really. Branden hollered a ‘good morning’ at his cousin Simone who had made the Ravenclaw team as a reserve player and waved at all the other Ravenclaws who were sitting there. “Mornin’ all!” Branden said happily to his fellow team-mates as he poured himself a glass of milk. Breakfast was a rather short event Branden found, though, because nervousness was starting to create a lead ball that filled his stomach not allowing much food in.

Down to the pitch, down to the pitch, down to the pitch he went. Humming a small tune to himself as he strode with a confidence he thought he felt. At least, he was pretty sure he was confident… he thought as he sat in the dressing room.

[mandy]

Nostalgia. It was a weakness of mind in many ways - well at least it didn't come with a clear head since it involved mourning the past even when it wasn't logical. But yet it was something Mandy had been suffering from increasingly recently. This, for example, might be her last ever Quidditch match. After this, no more hovering over that green pitch - or rather speeding over it until the ground was just a blur, in winter the mud losing its definition until just colour remained, in summer the blades of grass disappearing and from somewhere a streak of white appearing among the general green. Or perhaps just the sun glinting, the way it would off the golden Snitch when the victorious Seeker held it up in the air in triumph.

They were familiar warm-up exercises she was going through right now - familiar from years of doing them. She wouldn't be going out on that green field right now, even though the grass waved amiably in the slight warm breeze. The crowd was gathering already, even though she'd turned up early. She wanted a bit of room in the locker room. They wanted seats where they could see the gameplay properly without getting aching necks. Mandy wouldn't be leaving the Ravenclaw locker room again until Jasmine, their new captain, had delivered her pep talk. Wonderful things, pep talks. Mandy didn't have a clue whether they made a difference to her mood or not, but it gave you the measure of a person. Whether they'd spent hours preparing it before hand, whether they made it up on the spot, whether it was inspirational or showed up their own nervousness. Mandy pondered this as she stretched out her legs on one of the benches and applied herself to fixing her hair in place with a few charms, waiting for the rest of her team to arrive. She'd got quite experienced at distracting herself from the natural jitters before a game - even though there was no way of fighting down the excitement.

[Lenora Byers]

The Quidditch game was finally there, well maybe not quite, but a few hours off. Lenora loved Quidditch, it was her second year on the team and yet every game was still just as exciting as her first. Thankfully the nervousness wasn’t near as bad anymore though she realised as she took a large bite of her toast. Managing to swallow her food was helpful. It wasn’t long before people started filling into the Great Hall though and Lenora felt the need to leave. Eating with the team before the other students enter is one thing, but sitting there while the whole house talks about their chances would certainly spoil her appetite anyways.

Her broom seemed weightless as she trudged silently down to the pitch, contemplating the conditions. A bit warm, she was glad she had a spaghetti strap top on under that she used for dance as opposed to a full tee-shirt. Visibility wasn’t the greatest either. Sunglasses were unfortunately out of the question while playing a sport like this. She would have to concentrate hard on the Quaffle and be careful to know where the sun is at all times.

Her eyes took a moment to adjust as she got into the changing room. “Hey, ready?” she asked Branden, a new addition to the team, boy in her year who would be their new beater. She gave him an encouraging smile before sitting down on a bench waiting for Harry to come in and give his pep-talk.

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((The points/line-ups/scores as they stand right now are

Ravenclaw

Chaser - Mandy Brocklehurst R7 - 1-1-1#^{major hit/loss of a point.}
Chaser - William Senetta R6 - 1-2-1
Chaser - Gary Crane R4 - 2-2-0
Beater - Simone Davis R5 - 1-1-1
Beater - Lisa Turpin R7 - 1-1-2
Seeker - Jasmine Anderson R6 - 2-2-1
Keeper - Kamron Leopold R5 - 1-1-2

Gryffindor

Chaser - Lenora Byers G5 - 2-2-0
Chaser - Emily Wade G6 - 1-2-1
Chaser - Ginny Weasley G6 - 2-2-1
Beater - Branden Davis G5 - 1-0-1#*
Beater - Cassandra Blackfire G4 - 1-1-1
Seeker - Harry Potter G7 - 2-2-2#
Keeper - Ron Weasley G7 - 2-2-1*^{minor hit}

Ravenclaw
170

Gryffindor
20))

The stands filled up, the students were gathering, waiting for the spectacle to begin. She watched them for a time before the doors to the changing rooms open. Each team made their grand entrances, the crowds cheering as the announcer said each name out loud. The players each preformed their own rituals, some flying around the pitch, some stretching, each doing their own thing before congregating in the centre of the pitch.

“Captains, shake hands” Hooch said to Jasmine and Harry. “Mount your brooms please. 3… 2… 1…” Madam Hooch then blew her whistle and watched the players shoot into the air. Flicking her wand Madam Hooch made the chest fly open releasing the bludgers and the snitch. Mounting her own broom Xiomara dropped the Quaffle to the chasers and the match had officially began.

[Lenora Byers]

When the pep-talk was over and the team ready they all ambled out into the field. The crowd cheered, for the most part, as the announcer said their names. She took a quick spin around the pitch watching the green of the grass blur before her eyes. After she and the others landed Madam Hooch had the captains shake hands before they all rose into the air once more. As Hooch released the Quaffle beginning the game Lenora chased after it arms outstretched…

((Trying to catch the Quaffle))

[mandy]

It didn’t seem all that long before they were walking out onto the grass, and Mandy smiled as she felt the ripples of excitement from other players spreading to her. The stands were packed as always, exuding their usual din. Mandy circled around the pitch once on her broom, making sure she wouldn’t be surprised by the sensation of flying when the game started. She’d been flying for many years now, but somehow it never felt quite natural – humans after all had not evolved to fly, however much they might long to touch the skies. So it was as well to be prepared.

The pep talk was over and done with, the players were all prepared and Madam Hooch was ready to start, so the match begun with a shrill blow of her whistle. Mandy rose up into the air along with the other players, blocking the sound of the crowd out of her mind even though it must have increased tenfold. Adrenaline rushes were lovely things but she liked to be able to maintain her concentration as well. A moment later Madam Hooch had dropped the Quaffle towards her and a Gryffindor Chaser, so Mandy accelerated towards it with all due speed. The other Chaser was slightly younger than her but most likely just as good, but Mandy still went for the Quaffle with everything she had in it. She wanted it, after all – the Chasers couldn’t score points any other way.

((Also trying to get the Quaffle.))

[Branden Davis G6]

This was it, out on the pitch with the game about to start. The pep-talk finished and they all went out onto the field. He waved as his name was announced and gave the crowd a huge grin. Attention was one thing Branden could never get enough of. The players shook hands and all formalities being finished they got to mount up and rise into the air.

The quaffle was dropped and one of the Ravenclaw chasers and Lenora went for it. Flying quickly Branden found a bludger and swung his bat at it, aiming for the Ravenclaw chaser.

((Sending a bludger at Mandy))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((Lenora and Mandy go after the quaffle.

Lenora
2 + 6=8

Mandy
2+3=5

Lenora catches the quaffle.

Branden attempts to send a bludger at Mandy.

Contact
1+2=3

Branden fails to make contact with the bludger.))

[crane]

Gary felt anxious but he still had a healthy breakfast. He would need a lot of energy today because Jasmine had told him that he would be one of the starting chasers. Gary was exited but a little bit nervous at the same time. He didn’t want to bring his team down. He hoped that they would win even if Gary wasn’t too sure that they actually would. Potter was a very good seeker but everyone would do their best and Gary was sure that they would do marvelously. Gary drank a little bit of pumpkin juice before heading down to the locker rooms to change. Bludgers could be very nasty and while Ravenclaw had very good beaters one could still get hurt if he didn’t watch out.

Sitting before his locker after putting on the protective gear and the blue quidditch cloak Gary listened to pep talk and comments about the flying weather as he looked at his broom. It was old and was looking a bit shabby already but it was flying and reliable. Gary knew the broom and it was the best he could afford. It was good to have something familiar around now that Gary’s nerves were all jittery about the game about to begin. Yet when it actually started it was almost too soon. Gary followed his team to the pitch and mounted his brooms to push off. It seemed almost as if he had left all his nerves down on the ground when he pushed off and then the game was on.

Mandy reached for the quaffle but Gary winced a little as the blond Gryffindor got it instead. Bowing over his broom Gary raced towards the Gryffindor and reached out his hand as he was passing her in an attempt to get the quaffle from her.

((Trying to take quaffle from Lenora.))

[Lenora Byers]

She caught it! She had it! The quaffle landed in her arms. Lenora grinned and held the ball protectively to her side. One of the Ravenclaw chasers was quick to come after it though. “Gin, heads up!” Lenora called and attempted to pass the quaffle before the Ravenclaw could get it.

((If she holds the quaffle passing to Ginny))

[mandy]

Mandy caught sight of a flash of red swinging a bat in the corner of her eye and frowned. He didn't make contact actually and she zoomed off again, but the moment in which she'd hesitated to see whether she needed to dodge one of the not-so-nice iron balls had been enough to allow the Gryffindor Chaser to get to the Quaffle first. Very nice catch too. Mandy saw one of the other Ravenclaw Chasers, Gary, making a move to attempt to steal the Quaffle off the blonde-headed Chaser so instead she moved into position, appearing at the last moment so she could intercept the Gryffindor's pass. At least she hoped.

((Trying to intercept Lenora's pass to Ginny if Gary doesn't get it.))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((Gary attempts to steal the quaffle.

Gary
2+4=6

Lenora
2+4=6

Tie. Re-roll.

Gary
2+1=3

Lenora
2+2=4

Lenora keeps the quaffle.

Lenora attempts a pass; Mandy tries to intercept.

Lenora
2+4=6

Mandy
2+2=4

Ginny has the quaffle.))

[mandy]

The red ball went whizzing past her, rather a lot of spin making it curve round. And Mandy hadn't been able to anticipate that curve very well so she missed it completely. Undeterred, she sped off towards the Weasley now in possession, attempting as she passed to steal the Quaffle from the Gryffindor and mapping in her mind where she'd last seen the other Ravenclaw Chasers in case she did get the Quaffle and needed to pass it on fairly quickly.

((Trying to steal Quaffle from Ginny.))

[Branden Davis G6]

Gryffindor was still in possession. His first game was going quite well. Branden flashed an apologetic smile at the crowd when he failed to hit the bludger. Just nerves he bet, he could do better. In fact... Now the same chaser was after the quaffle again, this time trying to take it from Ginny. 'Oh no you don't' Branden though and sped off to find another bludger. Thankfully it wasn't hard and he swung hard, aiming at the red head, again.

((Send a bludger at Mandy))

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Quidditch! That was the only thing on Cassie's mind. After a very sparse breakfast, Cass made her way to the field. Her stomach grumbling from anxiety, she made her way to the locker room. After a quick change into her gear, she headed out onto the pitch to face the oppossing team. Looking around, Cass suddenly realized that she wasn the youngest member of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Most of her team mates towered over her, including the newest member, Emily Wade. It was only a few days ago when she had bumped into the girl in the common room and convinced her to auditon. Emily was positively overjoyed when she made the team; even going as far as owling her mother with the good news. At the moment though, she looked like she was having a hard time keeping down her breakfast.

At the whistle, Cass kicked off in a rush. Making it into the air before all the other Beaters, she flew around in a loop for a moment to survey the other team. Cass gulped, suddenly realizing she was one of the two youngest players on the field. Biting her lip, she rushed into the fray. In those few seconds, Ravenclaw had nearly intercepted the quaffle. Weaving in and out of the other players, Cass raced to Ginny's right flank in an attempt to protect the chaser.

(( Protecting Ginny ))

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine felt butterflies flutter inside her stomach as she sat at the Ravenclaw table for breakfast that morning. This was her first match as captain instead of just a player. She would have to give a motivational speech for the team in just a few hours. The whole night Jasmine tossed and turned in her bed, her mind wondering of what to say. Giving a speech was harder than it looked. This wasn't something that someone else wrote and she would memorize. It came from the heart and your own words that would help inspire the team to do their best. Jasmine didn't let the other members of the team see that she was anxious. It was the captain's job to hold the team up and make sure everyone was giving it their all. Jasmine smiled her kind smile toward the team and told them to eat so they wouldn't faint from hunger on their brooms. That's just what she need in her first game as captain. To have team mates fall to the ground from starvation. To top Jasmine's nerves off, she was to play seeker against Potter. Dana had 'left' Hogwarts after the recent Death Eater attacks. Jasmine didn’t know much of what happened and didn't press the subject upon Sapphire. But, Jasmine couldn't help but feel worried about her friend. What if Dana needed someone to talk to and help? Letting the thought of her friend slip into the back of her mind, Jasmine finished up with her breakfast.

She left the Great Hall to the Quidditch pitch trying to stay clear of the long lines of students trying to get into the stadium. Jasmine held her Nimbus 2001 in her hand. The black color to the broom was shinned clean and looked fairly new. Once reaching the locker room, Jasmine began to change into her Quidditch gear. She first put her hair into a high, secure pony tail, than began to dress in the appropriate attire for the match. Making sure that the dragon hide gloves were on fairly she wiggled her fingers around. The butterflies that were in her stomach seemed to seize it fluttering making Jasmine felt slightly more better with her self. Noticing that the team was all in the locker room she smiled toward them taking a deep breath. “All I ask from each and one of you is to try your hardest and have fun. Yes, I know every coach or teacher has told you the same thing, but it all true. This isn’t professional Quidditch with the World Cup, its only Hogwarts. Even though losing today might weaken our spirits, I’ll tell you this; if you lose knowing that you gave it a hundred and fifth-teen percent, than there’s honestly no need to be angry with yourself…” Jasmine began looking at each and one of the team members before continuing on with the end of her speech. “This is Potter’s last game. Wouldn’t you like to see the look on his face when Ravenclaw won? It’s been too long that the other houses lost to Gryffindor because of Potter’s luck and prowess at playing Seeker. This is what Quidditch is all about. Hope to the stars that Lady Luck will smile upon us. All I want from each and every one of you is to give all that you have. Give all that you have for your house, for yourself, and for me.”

As she finished, Jasmine picked her broom back up again and lead the team out onto the pitch. The sun was shinning brightly and the weather was just perfect for Quidditch. Maybe it will turn out to be a good match after all. Shacking hands with Potter, she nodded her head toward him and mounted her broom. Rising up into the air, Jasmine watched as Madam Hooch began to unload the buldgers and snitch. The golden ball flew up into the air until finally it vanished out of sight. Hearing the loud noise of the whistle, Jasmine flew up high into the air beginning her pursuit for the snitch.

[lisa]

The day had finally dawned upon Lisa. It was the day of her last Quidditch match at Hogwarts. Everyone told her that the years would seem to play by in a blink of an eye, but she never really paid much attention to them. Maybe she didn't want to pay any attention to the words of wisdom at all. After all, she was only an naive eleven year old girl who barely knew much magic at all. All her sisters even told their youngest sister the same words. "Lisa...all seven years of Hogwarts will just seem to go by when you least expect it. Then you would realize that you’re not that eleven year old girl with the ugly bangs and pigtails anymore, but a young adult about to go off into the real world." That was the all so famous speech Aubrey always gave Lisa. Aubrey is twenty-six now and is now starting a family with her husband. Lisa couldn't wait until she began an aunt. "Aunty Lisa! Aunty Lisa!" she could hear the little baby cry her name running in for a hug. Lisa had a soft spot for children.

After breakfast ended, she left the Great Hall toward the Quidditch pitch. Her broom was held proudly in her right hand as she made her way through the maze of students getting into the stands. Once making the locker room Lisa smiled at Mandy and took a seat down next to her friend. "'ello Mandy! Good day for Quidditch I must say." Lisa greeted beginning to pull on her boots. The new captain than began to deliver her speech while Lisa was still trying to get her clothes on. Tying the ends of her boot strings tightly, Lisa kept her ears open. Once all set, Lisa let her elbows rest on her kneecaps and her head in the palm of her hands. Wow. This girl was doing pretty well. "She certainly must have worked on that for a long time." Lisa thought to herself with a nod. Nobody could honestly come up with those words just from the spur of a moment. As Jasmine ended, Lisa clapped her hands and than reached out for her broom.

Following behind the captain onto the field, she spun her beaters bat in her hand. It was truly a beautiful day for Quidditch. The sun was shinning and the weather seemed perfect. Mounting her broom, Lisa flew up into the air. She hovered over the ground continuing to twirl her bat around. It was quite a habit when you were playing so long. Once the buldgers and snitch were released she kept her eye on the red quaffle. One...Two...Three, whistle! The quaffle was let lose and Mandy and the Gryffindor chaser dived upon it. Flying higher into the air in search of a buldger, she also kept an eye upon the players. The Gryffindor beater almost tired to send a buldger off toward Mandy but failed. Noticing that he was trying again, Lisa perked up. Leaning forward on her broom she held out her bat racing toward Mandy. No way was she going to let her friend get hurt already a couple minutes into the game. Noticing Ginny holding the quaffle, she tried to aim the buldger toward her.


((Defending Mandy and sending it off on Ginny.))

[Ginny Weasley]

Ginny sat at the Gryffindor table, eating her breakfast in a calm and content manner. The Great Hall was up in an uproar about the upcoming Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. For some odd reason, Ginny wasn't all the nervous. Maybe she had been doing this for too long or grew immune to catching the gitter bugs. Quidditch was fun and a sport that she grew up playing. Well. She actually stole the brooms from the shed when her brother's weren't playing and played most of the time by her self. Looking up from her eggs and toast, Ginny let her gaze set upon the Ravenclaw table. There was a new captain of the team, and it seemed that the position was going from one to person another this year. She spotted Luna at the far end of the table wearing Gryffindor and Ravenclaw colors. Ginny smiled at the sight and went back to her food. Luna was always so original and really didn't care what other thought. Or maybe her friend was spending to much time in her head to realize that others thought of her to be weird, giving her the name of 'Looney Lovegood.'

A couple of minutes latter, Ginny found herself walking toward the Gryffindor lockers. Her Cleansweep held firmly in her right hand as she entered the locker room. Quickly changing into her scarlet and gold robes, Ginny took a seat on the bench next to anther fifth year chaser named Lenora. "Hey Lenora! Excited for today's game?" Ginny asked wiggling her feet into her boots. They were actually new because most of her brothers had big feet. There was a good side for being the only girl in the family. You didn't get nearly as many handy down stuff as Ron got. Once the boots were all laced and tied tightly, she began to pulling her bright colored red hair into a pony tail. As Ginny was making sure the tie was secure and tight she listened to Harry's speech. It was his last year on the Gryffindor team and as captain and it was going to be quite strange to come back again next year to not have Harry as seeker. Would that mean that everything at Hogwarts would change because Harry wasn't there anymore?

Quickly pulling her gloves on, Ginny grabbed her broom and followed the rest of the team out onto the pitch. The sun shined on her and the Gryffindor side began to cheer as the captains shook hands. Mounting her broom, Ginny leaped off from the ground, hovering in air behind Lenora. The buldgers and snitch were the first to be released and than the quaffle. Zooming forward on her broom toward the Ravenclaw net, Ginny turned her head around to see Lenora with the quaffle safely tucked away under her arm. Holding her hands out to catching the quaffle, she noticed that Ravenclaw chaser with red hair grab for it. Snatching it quickly up in her hands, she flew in closer toward the neat. Extending her arm back she threw to the far end of the goal post. She hoped as the quaffle flew into the air that it would fly in and Cass would save her from a nasty buldger.

((Scoring on Ravenclaw net.))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((Mandy attempts to steal the quaffle from Ginny.

Mandy
2+6=8

Ginny
2+3=5

Mandy has the quaffle.

Branden attempts to send a bludger at Mandy.

Branden Contact
1+4=5

Branden makes contact.

Lisa attempts to defend Mandy.

Branden Attack
1+6=7

Lisa Defence
1+1=2

Lisa fails to defend Mandy. Mandy attempts to swerve.

Branden Attack
1+5=6

Mandy Bludger
1+5=6

Tie. Re-roll.

Branden Attack
1+5=6

Mandy Bludger
1+2=3

The bludger hits Mandy. Difference is 3 points; Mandy suffers a minor hit.

Quaffle is in the air.

Lisa attempts to send a bludger at Ginny.

Lisa Contact
2+6=8

Lisa makes contact.

Cassandra attempts to defend Ginny.

Lisa Attack
1+2=3

Cassandra Defence
1+6=7

Cassandra defends Ginny.))