Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

Madam Hooch waited in her office for the next match to start. Unlike last week where it had been extremely cold, that now looked quite appealing. Storm clouds had blown in and covered the pitch with a fresh blanket of snow while rain and sleet pounded down. Still the match must go on for there was no canceling Quidditch! Waving her wand, she sent the trunk of balls out to the middle of the pitch to await the beginning of the game. She then leaned against her doorframe and watched the players begin to leave the locker rooms to take their warm-ups, she’d give them about 10 minutes then would begin the match.

(( Game will begin Monday morning! Until then you may post warming up. I also needs skill points for Cassandra Logton and Maria Fleming! ))

Starting Rosters as determined by the team captains

Hufflepuff
Captain: Valerie Rice

Chasers ( Quaffle / Scoring / Bludger )

Nokomis Astarrs ( 1-1-0)
Ivy Tunstall ( 1-1-0 )
Kiyla Johnson ( 1-1-0 )

Beaters ( Attack / Defend / Contact )

Jordan Cortes ( 0-1-1 )
Hannah Abbot ( 1-1-1 )

Keeper ( Passing / Goal / Bludger )

Kimberly Sullivan ( 1-2-1 )

Seeker ( Catch / Find / Bludger )

Valerie Rice ( 3-2-1 )


Gryffindor
Captain: Harry Potter

Chasers ( Quaffle / Scoring / Bludger )

Nasser Salah ( 1-2-1)
Dean Thomas ( 1-2-0 )
Maria Fleming ( 2-3-1 )

Beaters ( Attack / Defend / Contact )

Cassandra Logton ( 0-1-1 )
Robin Vernsowa ( 3-1-2 )

Keeper ( Passing / Goal / Bludger )

Ron Weasley ( 1-2-1 )

Seeker ( Catch / Find / Bludger )

Harry Potter ( 3-2-2 )

[Valerie Rice]

Valerie ran down the path to the Quidditch stadium as fast as she could. The sleet was hitting her hard and she was not looking forward to having to play in such horrible conditions today. Entering the locker room she was the first person there and she took her seat at her locker and changed from her inclement weather boots to her Quidditch boots. She next turned to strapping on her wrist guards and shin pads, though it didn’t really provide that much protection when bludgers attacked. Patiently she waited for the rest of her team to arrive before she got up to speak to them. “OK we’ve gotten better since the last game so we should do much better today, Chasers be active just keep trying to pass the Quaffle and keep trying to get it. Beaters you two have to be really active again today, our Chasers are going to need your help today.” Valerie then turned to Kim and looked at her intently, trying to figure out the right words to say to her after she gave up 6 goals the last time out. “Kim, just keep close to the hoops, don’t go out to far, let the chasers come to you today, you can do it Kim.”

Valerie then stood up and took her Nimbus 1800 in her hand and turned to the door where the storm was still raging. “OK guys, lets go.” She then mounted her broom and flew out into the storm. In a matter of seconds her entire uniform was soaking wet as she flew around the pitch once then stopped in the middle and waited for the match to begin.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She had her cloak pulled tight around her body as she ran towards the Hufflepuff locker rooms, trying very hard not to soak her clothes, even thought she would be chaning into her quidditch robes in only a matter of minutes. Once inside she saw that Valerie was already there and she flashed the older girl a big, rather nervous smile, before she pulled her cloak off and quickly replaced it by her bright yellow robes, soon strapping her wrist gards on. She wanted to finish as soon as possible so she could have a few moments to listen to Valerie's speach and not have to worry.

It seemed almost too soon taht they were stepping back out onto the pitch, soon pelted by the heavy sleep falling from the sky, making her robes seem heavy and stiff almost immediatly. She looked over at Valerie again, biting her lip as she often did when she was nervous before mounting her broom to prepare for Hufflepuff's second game of the year.

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

Madam Hooch blew her whistle and walked to the center of the pitch and released all the balls. "I want a clean game, no funny business up there now! Well then, on your brooms! Three... Two... One!" She then threw the Quaffle up in the air starting the game.

(( Nasser 4+1=5, Nokomis 2+1=3

Nasser has the Quaffle! ))

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy woke nervously that morning. Today was the Quidditch game against Gryffindor. At least it wasn't against Slytherin. Ivy was not ready to have to potentially face those girls again. She looked out of her dormitory window. Oh no! The weather looked absolutely terrible today. The pitch was covered with fresh snow, and it was raining heavily. While that might melt the snow, it would just make everything more treacherous underfoot, Ivy was sure, and it would be horrible in the air.

Ivy dressed warmly and breakfasted quickly, too nervous to eat much. She was worried that Hufflepuff would lose today as humiliatingly as they had last time. But she shook the thoughts away, knowing that there was no point in having them. What happened would happen, and she would just have to try her best. That was always what her father had urged her to do.

Ivy smiled, setting her face resolutely as she made her way as quickly as possible to the locker rooms. It was bitterly cold outside, and she was glad for her woollen Hufflepuff jumper. Once inside she changed into her bright yellow robes and listened to Valerie's speech, trying to take some comfort from it. She shivered as they stepped outside, buffeted by the icy wind. She took off as Madam Hooch blew her whistle and watched anxiously to see who got the Quaffle. She sighed as one of the Gryffindor Chasers got it, and hung back for a while, reluctant to try and steal the Quaffle this early but ready to try and intercept any pass. She would shadow the Gryffindor Chaser who was in possession until then.

[Nasser Salah G6]

Nasser Salah as usual was very quiet before the match. He wasn't as nervous as he was at times before matches but he still didn’t feel like talking much. He did smile encouragingly though at Zara and Dean who were going to be playing their first match today. Nasser had played last time and scored the only goal Gryffindor managed last match when they were playing against the Slytherins, but that meant nothing to him. One goal was one goal – whoever scored it, it still meant the team wasn't up to scratch. Never had the Gryffindors let the whole fate of the game depend on whether or not the Seeker got the Snitch, even though they had the best Seeker Hogwarts had seen in a century save for the legendary Charlie Weasley. Nasser had tried to make sure he got used to Zara's and Dean's maneuvers and choice of Quidditch tactics during practice so that they could work quickly and effectively as a team, for if any of the players of the team had to know how to be able to work together so well they could almost read each other's thoughts it was definitely the three Chasers. Nasser thought the two showed definite promise, though he didn’t really think he was the one to judge. But still he had felt at complete ease with them during practise, and hoped they would today as well as they had then. Losing to the Hufflepuffs would be very humiliating as most of their players were younger than the Gryffindors. Ravenclaw had flattened them in their last match, so if they won this time then Gryffindor probably didn’t have a very good chance against Ravenclaw. But he was getting ahead of things. He just had to concentrate on this match, focus, play his best, and all would go perfectly fine.

Harry was done with his pep talk quite quickly; he was not one to give long-winded talks before a match and Nasser appreciated that. Soon the Gryffindor players were on the pitch and Nasser was in the air the minute he was out on the pitch, yelling "Good Luck" to his fellow teammates before he took off. A minute later the balls were in the air and Nasser zoomed after the Quaffle, grabbed it firmly before a younger Hufflepuff could get to it, and flew for the middle of the pitch. The sound of someone flying in his wake alerted him to the fact that he had better try and pass it to someone else. He made eye contact with Zara and threw the Quaffle in her direction, then wasted no time and flew for the goal hoops, hoping this fast pace might tire the Hufflepuffs.

((Pass to Zara if Ivy doesn't get the Quaffle.))

[JordanCortes]

Jordan was semi-ready for the Quidditch game. The last game the Hufflepuff team hadn't done so well, and this time Jordan was near determined to hit at least one bludger. She had considered being a better chaser, but realized that she had grown accustomed to the beater ways. As they all flew out onto the pitch, and the quaffle was released Jordan felt her breath catch in her lungs. It was up, and..Gryffindor chaser caught it. She sighed and flew up, looking for a bludger...any bludger.

Not seeing one she looked at the players, seeing if any were a target for a bludger. None yet, but her eyes were kept keen on any flying thing. Then the slightest glimpse and she was off. She raised her bat to the bludger and looked around quickly for a target. Ivy was trying to get it from a Gryffindor, and the Gryffindor was trying to pass to another Chaser. Jordan quickly aimed it at the Gryffindor with the quaffle at that moment, hoping her aim was correct.

((Bludger attack on Nasser))

[Parvati Patil]

Parvati was ready for this game, she was ready indeed. Confidence was overflowing from her as she made her way onto the pitch and watched intently. The quaffle was thrown up into the air, and Nasser caught it. A smile spread across her face and she watched for anything she should be aware of. When she saw Jordan, a hufflepuff, aim a bludger at Nasser, who currently had the quaffle. She urged her broom forward and caught up with the bludger. Parvati brought her bat quickly against the bludger hoping she could hit it before it hit Nasser.

((Attempt of block))

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy saw that the time had come to try to intercept the pass as the Gryffindor she was shadowing attempted to pass to the female Chaser, who looked to be slightly older than her. As soon as the Quaffle had left his hands, she put on an extra spurt of speed and reached out, trying to intercept the pass. She concentrated fully on getting the red ball. Only if she caught it would she have to look to see who to pass to, but she wanted to be able to make a quick decision. Get down to the right end of the pitch, then pass to someone else to attempt on goal. If she caught the Quaffle.

((If I catch it, I'd like to pass to Nokomis.))

[Hannah Abbott MacMillan]

Hannah watched the bluggers as they were released. As the game began Jordan went to one and sent it toward Nasser. Hannah flew over to the other and swung her bat at it in an attempt to hit the Gryffindor seeker.

((attack on Harry Potter)

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

(( Ivy tries to steal the Quaffle

Nasser 6+1=7, Ivy 1+1=2

Nasser keeps the Quaffle and passes to Zara, no Hufflepuff tries to intercept so..

Zara has the Quaffle!

Jordan tries to hit a bludger

Jordan 4+1=5,

Jordan hits a bludger at Nasser, Parvati tries to block

Parvati 4+1=5, Jordan 6+0=6

Parvati can't block it, Jordan hits a bludger at Nasser

Nasser 3+1=4, Jordan 1+0=1

Nasser dodges the bludger

Hannah tries to hit a bludger

Hannah 2+1=3

Hannah fails to hit the bludger ))

[Squall]

Dean was'nt usually one to get up early, except for quidditch. Waking himself up, he put on his quidditch robes and grabbed his Firebolt. He decided to get a quick bite before heading to the pitch. So he got up and walked down to the common room, then out and down the stairs. He reached the Great Hall in ample time and downed some pumpkin juice and ate some toast. It was aboutr all that he could eat. He saw that the rest of the team was there and heard Harry say that it was time to head to the pitch. They reched the locker rooms and Dean gave Nasser a thumbs up as Nasser gave him and Zara an encouraging smile. He thought that they had become quite a good trio on the pitch. They had practiced for hours honing their skills and memorizing each others flying tactics. Dean was a bit nervous, but it was his first quidditch match and he was determined to do good. Though the memory of their last match against Ravenclaw left a lasting impression on him, he thought that they could do well today.

After Harry gave his pep talk, it was time for them to go outside and get ready for the match to begin. Mounting his broom as Madam Hooch told them what to do, he waited for her to throw the quaffle up and then they were off. Dean stayed close enough to the other chasers to where he could get a decent pass from them and cheered as Ivy could'nt intercept Nasser's pass. Watching Zara he waited for when Zara would pass to either him or Nasser.

[versnowa]

"We're going to win!" thought Robin to himself determinedly as he leaned against the locker room wall with his bat in one hand and his broom in the other, watching his fellow teammates who weren't saying very much. He caught Parvati's eye and gave her a wink and the thumbs-up sign. She was the other Gryffindor beater on the team, and last match both of them had put up a performance that wasn't too bad, but the Slytherins had still managed to get 6 goals whereas the Gryffindors had only scored one. Katie wasn't playing today, which was a pity since she had so much more experience than the other Chasers, but last match she had not scored any goals anyway. Maybe Zara and Dean would get them a few goals. They certainly looked very motivated, and Robin wasn't planning on letting the young Hufflepuffs get possession of the Quaffle if he could help it. They were supposedly not as skilled as the Slytherin team, but that didn’t mean the Gryffindors didn't have to do their damnedest. In fact, if they lost the embarrassment would be twice as much than if they had lost to Slytherin, which might have happened had not Harry been a much better Seeker than Draco Malfoy. But one decent player wasn't enough. They all had to pull themselves together and work as a team, or however weak their rival was they still wouldn't win.

The Gryffindor team left the locker room and Robin followed them, the usual excitement and anticipation before a match sending a thrill down his spine. The Hufflepuffs were on the pitch already and the game began immediately. Gryffindor was in possession of the Quaffle. Parvati was blocking a Bludger and the other Bludger had just been hit by a Hufflepuff… no she hadn't managed to hit it! Robin flew for the Bludger and tried to whack it towards the oldest player on the opposing team, their seeker, Valerie Rice.

((Attempted Bludger attack on Valerie))

[Harry Potter]

(( Time Out! Parvati is getting out of the game- as Maria is taking her spot. Zara as well with Cassandra subbing. So- that means Cassandra has the Quaffle- But the game will be on hold untill Cassandra puts in skill points. ))

[Hannah Abbott MacMillan]

((I can put this in for when the game get off hold right?))

Hannah sighed with disappointment as her bat failed to even make proper contact with the bludger. She shrugged it off though upon seeing her team needed her to defend their seeker. Hannah raced off and placed herself between the bludger and Valerie. She attempted to hit the bludger away from Valerie and toward Harry Potter.

((Defend Valerie and deflect toward Harry))

[Ivy Tunstall]

((Is Cassandra or Maria the Chaser? This is for when the game is off hold, by the way.))

Ivy sighed as she failed to intercept the pass. Not stopping though, she raced towards the Gryffindor Chaser who was in possession, attempting to sweep the Quaffle from their hands in one neat movement. She didn't intend to give up. She wanted the Quaffle for Hufflepuff.

(Steal off whichever... if I get it I want to pass to Nokomis.))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

( OK this game is chaotic. From now on there will be NO SUBBING for a player who has the Quaffle or is directly involved in a play!

Robin tries to hit a bludger

Robin 2+2=4

Robin fails to hit the bludger

Maria has the Quaffle )

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cassandra surveyed the scene at the Quidditch pitch. She waited for the Bludgers to come flying out of nowhere. The anticipation was the best part of playing Quidditch. Just waiting for the next move. She blew the hair out of her face. The bat was beginning to feel heavy in her hand.

She looked up just in time to see a bludger head straight toward Harry. Cassandra just in time to try and block the bludger with a blow from her club.



( Block bludger heading toward Harry)

[Mia]

The game had begun and Mia was already pumped up. Her heart was pumping at full speed and she watched as the quaffle the thrown into the air. Seeing that Nasser had it she raced forward and held out her hands. The quaffle came soaring in the air towards her and landed in her arms perfectly. Tucking it in her right arm she raced on down towards the goal hoops. Just in the corner of her eye she saw a Gryffindor chaser. Throwing the quaffle with her right arm towards her team mate, Dean.

((Pass to Dean.))

[JordanCortes]

Jordan didn't let the fact that she had hit the bludger go to her head. Because she knew that- the Gryffindor would dodge it. Which he had. She simply flew around, her head low in case any bludgers came her way, her bat tucked under her left arm. An easy reach in case she had to quickly pull it out and swing. A bludger flew over her head and she chased after it, the bat gripped tightly in her hands. She came up to it, and looked at the players, red. She swung and aimed it towards a Gryffindor chaser that was trying to pass.

((Attack on Maria))