Hufflepuff Practice

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

It seemed like a different lifetime ago when she had first been asked to captain the Hufflepuff team. Then her biggest concern was weather she was experienced enough to handle it. It seemed like she had barely accepted though when the real pressure came. Once she had officially taken over the Captain title, its seemed that the team was falling apart before her eyes, leaving only Ivy and herself behind. It seemed that her first task as captain was going to be to get a team to captain. Of course, in true Hufflepuff style, her house came together and formed a whole new team, and now her task was to try and get them ready for the upcoming match against Slytherin.

She now waited on the field, Cleansweep in hand, her hair in pigtails, which had become her quidditch hairstyle when she first made the team. She bit her bottom lip nervously, trying to think of what she could say to the team to inspire and teach them, happy that she was here early enough to hopefully get all of her worries out of her system before hand.

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy was worried. Today she was going to come closer to her fears than she had allowed herself to for a while. Well, they wouldn't be there waiting for her, but they would be fresh in her mind after the practise. She wasn't afraid of Quidditch. Not at all. She loved Quidditch. She loved being on the team. She loved being able to do something for her house, and best of all to be able to become friends with the people on it. Perhaps the Hufflepuff team was not the most experienced or strongest side, but one thing was for sure. The bonds between the players were strong, and that was important. Ivy believed that at some time, they would succeed. It was inevitable, surely? They just had to carry on working and doing their best. And Nokomis, Ivy knew she could get them to do that.

What worried Ivy was the fact that she was going to be against the Slytherins. But she musn't let her team down. More importantly, she musn't let Nokomis down. Ivy knew that somehow, she had to find a way to stand up against the Slytherins. Maybe the particular one wouldn't be there anyway. She certainly hoped so. Ivy gave the neat twigs of her Nimbus a pat as she walked out of the locker room, her yellow Quidditch robes on, just above the ground, not picking up the mud which her feet squelched in, caused by the heavy April rain. Ivy saw that her friend was already there, and walked up to her quietly. She didn't say anything when she arrived, just looked at the younger, skinny girl who was the captain of the Hufflepuff team. Ivy knew that she had to make an effort for her friend. She couldn't allow the Slytherins to slaughter them like the other two teams had done, even though they were just as apt to, and had more of a will to.

[laurap]

Laura hummed happily as she sprinted down the hallways while trying to braid her hair at the same time. She could get to fly today as Nokomis had announced a practice for today. Laura couldn’t wait for practice to begin – the usual shy girl she was always seemed to stay on ground when Laura sat on her broom and pushed off to fly. Flying was something completely unforgettable!

Racing out of the castle Laura ran quickly to the changing rooms and pulled the padding and on her jeans and sweater, which was in Hufflepuff sweater. Glancing at the mirror Laura grinned with a pink hue rising to her cheeks. Braiding your hair while running obviously didn’t work – her hair looked absolutely horrifying. Combing quickly Laura remade her braid before grabbing her Nimbus 1001 – birthday present from her father – and burst out of the room rushing towards the quidditch pitch.

Reaching the field Laura slowed down and smiled to Nokomis and Ivy: “Hello. It seems like a good lfying weather today.” Laura greeted them both happily her fingers already itching to start the practice, but as none of the other players were there yet, she just strummed a tune on her broom-stick – not the best in the world, but it was good enough – while humming softly as they waited for everybody else to appear.

[Jordan Elizabeth Cortes]

Quidditch! Today! Flying! saving Quaffles! Yay! Jordan was running around her dorm, picking up her things. Scurrying around, throwing things, placing things where they don't belong; she wondered if that could be construed as picking up her things. Of course it could! Jordan was too excited to actually clean Hufflepuff practice and all! She looked around her semi-neat dorm and smiled in satisfactory. Cleaning, done! Now, Quidditch! Jordan grabbed her Nimbus 2000 and headed out of the dorm, through the common room, and out to the pitch! Her broom tucked under her right arm, Jordan brought her long hair up into a pony tail. Then parted the pony tail into three parts. Then braided each part. Tied the ends of each braid, and voila! She had three braids in one pony tail. She enjoyed doing her hair like that. Especially if she was going to be flying.

She jumped on her broom when she was far enough away from the castle and flew her way towards the pitch. The wind whipping at her. Jordan giggled, and breathed in deeply. Today was going to be good! The Hufflepuff team had potential, and she wanted that potential to shine and happen. She heard that there was a new captain. Nokomis Astarra. Jordan didn't know her. Nokomis was said to be a second year, and that surprised some people...her being a second year and all. But, Jordan was sure there was a good reason as to why they chose Nokomis...she must be a real good Quiddtch player! Jordan liked the fact that she was on the Quidditch team...meant flying around, and being on a team. She didn't care if they won or not...as long as they had fun! Fun was always something that had to happen! Without fun it would be dull and dull was boring! Boring was no fun!

Jordan was the Keeper for the team. She liked being the idea of being Keeper. Beater would have worked too, but she wasn't sure if she wanted things flying at her. Though, she was certain they would be flying at her anyway. Jordan shrugged at this thought, and continued towards the pitch. She reached it, landed, and got off...looking at those who had already arrived for practice. That smile which was contagious on her lips, "Jordan Lehane; Keeper; reporting for duty!" She said, saluting them.

[dillion]

Payton was saying someting so I pulled the pollow over my head. Morning. Nasty yuckie thing should be slept through. No fun at all. Sleep to lunch. Much better. Still talking. Something about Quidditch. Quidditch! Practice today! Little girl never talks said that! Okay, sometimes she talk, just not often. Must get up. Clothes...cloths...need them.....Jeans! always work. Knees ripped, but there pants. Shirt...Shirt...oh! Sweater. Inside out, but eh. Wear backwords complete look.

Quidditch time!

Pitch. I see Jordan!
"Jordan! Quidditch time!"

[Ashley Hill]

"Quidditch Practice! Quidditch Practice!" Ashley chanted while walking up the stairs to the fourth year dorms not really caring the glances she got from the other Hufflepuffs around her. "I made beater! I am so happy! My dad said he was really proud of me. I miss him and my mother. But Elina....She hates Quidditch, to much work for her. But oh well." Ashley said ignoring the stares while looking at Sassy right in the eyes. Sassy just blinked and yawned while stretching her legs out in front of her. Rolling her eyes, Ashley lounged towards the trunk by the foot of her bed and began searching for her Quidditch robes. "Robes! Robes! Robes! Where are you?" Ashley grumbled under her breathe feeling slightly frustrated. At times Ashley would forget where things were and while studying. But she wasn't a smart Ravenclaw like her sister...No she was so much more hyper than that! Ten times more hyper than Elina could be in her life...Well not when shopping, the mall was her sister’s home and Elina knew where everything was! "Sassy! I need my gear! Help me find it...” Ashley told her cat crawling on her hands and knees and lifting the blanket out of view. Nothing was there but some lint and dust. Sighing Ashley tried looking in her trunk again. "Where could they be?" Ashley mumbled under her breath digging in the trunk that made her nose feel light enough to make her sneeze.

After ten minutes of looking Ashley finally was all ready and headed outside towards the Quidditch pitch. Nokomis was captain of the Hufflepuff team now, and Ashley thought her good friend would do great. Nokomis was obsessed with the wizarding sport and knew so much more than Ashley did. A smile came to her face at the thought of her friend. Most people thought of Ashley as annoying and should keep her mouth to herself. But true friends like Nokomis, Ivy, Laura, Jordan, Lenora, Kim, and Dillion was all that she got. "Friends! Huffles! Quidditch time!" Ashley said running towards the group with her Nimbus 2001 in hand and a huge grin on her face. Stopping next to Ivy she jumped up and down while looking towards the pitch. "QUIDDITCH TIME! I've been waiting to play for ever! I can't wait to hit those buldgers! No ones going to get hit! NO ONE! Its wonder Ashley to the reuse if one comes after you!" Ashley called looking at everybody still jumping in place. She stopped talking and turned her attention towards Nokomis and waited to hear what the caption had to say today.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She knew she was there early. She really wanted to be, after all, it gave her the time to make sure everything was I order. Somehow though, after she had made sure everything in the equipment box was in order three times, she wished she had less time. It was making her stomach tie itself in knots. She couldn’t have been more relieved when she saw Ivy come across the field. She felt like Ivy was in this with her, after all, Ivy was her best friend, and no matter what Ivy would make everything okay.

She managed a rather nervous smile and lifted a hand to wave to Ivy when another girl appeared as well. It was Laura. She didn’t know their newest chaser very well, but she always seemed nice. Laura was soon followed by Jordan, who tried out for beater, but she had put in as a keeper after Kim said she through she needed a break from the team, and Dillion, a boy who made her worry a great deal, tried out. Luckily Jordan seemed to like the idea of being a keeper. Almost as if the boy had known she was thinking about him, their newest beater appeared. Dillion was followed by Ashley, Hufflepuffs other beater.

The team was almost all here, they were only missing Susan, but their newest seeker didn’t need much help from the team anyway. She opened her mouth to speak, but noting seemed to come out. She glanced at Ivy, trying to some herself form panicking, before she cleared her throat and opened her mouth again, this times the words coming out first quietly, but slowely growing louder.

“Hi everyone. I’m sure that all of you saw the post on the Badger Board, we come up against Slytherin next week, and since most of you are new to the team and have never been in a match before, I thought it would be handy to run a mock game. I am going to release the Bludgers, Dillion I want you to try and attack, Ashely, I want you to defend. I am going to work on one team, Ivy, I want you to work with Laura on the other. Jordan, we are going to use the north hoops, I think you know what to do.” She glanced over at Ivy, and smiled, feeling more confident. “Now, positions everyone, Laura, that means take to the air, I am going to release the Bludgers and Quaffle.”

[laurap]

Laura watched with a calm smile as a couple of more… energetic… Hufflepuffs appeared on the field. But they seemed ready and willing to pay and that was what mattered. Already wanting to be off ground and flying Laura tapped her fingers on her Nimbus 1001 and smiled happily when Nokomis started to speak. She seemed a little nervous, so Laura tried to send her a friendly, smile before concentrating on the game.

She would be playing in team with Ivy – that sounded good. Smiling quickly at Ivy Laura threw her leg over her broom and pushed off, feeling lighter and more graceful immediately. Making a quick circle to get the feel of the broom and the weather and how much wind would influence Laura positioned herself in the air and looked towards the north hoops. Nodding to herself Laura glanced down towards the ground waiting for Nokomis to release the quaffle, as that was what Laura had to worry about. Dillion and Ashley should handle the quaffle, even though you always had to be wary of those nasty little balls. But that was what quidditch was all about sso Laura just smiled.

[Hannah Abbott MacMillan]

Practice, practice, where were her Quidditch robes? She probably should have gotten ready when Susan was but she hadn’t felt like it. Now she was regretting that decision though as she rushed around the room by herself. She always regretted it when she procrastinated though, and yet she still did it time and again. ‘You would think a canary yellow robe wouldn’t be so hard to find’ she though completely ignoring the fact that much of the room was Hufflepuff yellow. Digging through her trunk once more she found it in a heap on the bottom and pulled it out happily. Ignoring the wrinkles she threw I over her shoulder and grabbed her Nimbus 1700 which she had taken out of the broom shed earlier.

She rushed down to the pitch with a worried look on her face. By the team she got there it seemed everyone was already paired up and starting to rise into the air. She made a beeline for the team captain, Nokomis, and gave her an apologetic smile as her cheeks turned red. “Sorry I’m late. I am here to practice though… did I miss too much? Where should I go? What should I do?” she asked excitedly but looking down half way through her speech embarrassed a being so late and not knowing what to do.

[ernie]

He wasn’t late. He was instead arriving precisely when he intended to. He was still in the common room when the clock ticked the time for the practice to begin, still having to gather up his reserve robes and his Comet 260 and head towards the pitch. He had agreed the year before that he would play as a reserve. He had always toyed with the idea of plying for the team, but it took so much time away from studying and his OWLS had been more important at the time. Reserve was perfect though, still part of the team, with a lot less commitment.

He was heading out towards the pitch and saw that Hannah was not far in front of him. He knew that she ad joined the reserve team as well. He came up behind her, in front of a second year who had been made captain. There was of course some controversy over the decision, considering her age and lack of experience, but she seemed to be holding her own well enough.
“Good afternoon Hannah, everyone, and where might you want me?”

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She was getting ready to release the bludgers when she saw two more forms walking onto the field. She didn’t recognize them at first, and it wasn’t until they were closer that she remembered them from the reserve team. The were older…6th years if she remembered correctly, thought she wasn’t sure if she could remember their names. Hannah, that was the girl, and the boy… E….it started with an E.

“Hi…I’m glad you two could make it…um….Hannah, why don’t you play beater, that’s the reserve position I am going to put you in for. Why don’t you start as defensive…Dillion is playing attack. You guys can rotate thought after. Um…and you…” She paused, looking at the boy, wishing she could remember his name. She could feel color rising in her cheeks from the fact she didn’t and she looked down at the her boom, hoping he didn’t notice. “You can play chaser on my team. We are playing a mock game against Ivy and Laura, using only the north hoops. If you mount up now we can get started.”<br>
She glanced back over at him before looking down to her box, and getting down on her knees so she could release one of the bludgers. She glanced up to make sure that the beaters were settled before she unfastened the latch and the ball shot out.

“Bluder is out!”

She then pulled out the quaffle and held it in her hand as she mounted her boom.

“I’m going to rise and release it! Then its anyone’s game!”<br>
A moment later, she kicked off, and waiting until her cleansweep was almost level with the others before she threw the quaffle into the waiting players.

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy nodded at Nokomis and smiled at Laura as she mounted her own Nimbus. So she was playing in a team with her fellow third year. It would be good to be accustomed to playing on a team with her new fellow Chaser. They needed to work together to do well, after all. Ivy kicked off into the air and twirled herself round a bit while Nokomis talked to two older latecomers on the ground. It seemed the girl was going to be a beater and the boy would be playing with Nokomis as Chaser.

Ivy looked around as Nokomis released the Quaffle and moved forward to collect it. Ivy was glad that Nokomis was the starting Chaser. She didn't think she would be much good at it, especially against the Slytherins. But she wanted to try to get it here, and then she could pass to Laura. Ivy focused on the red ball as she drew in on it, trying to get there first, gritting her teeth as she tried to secure it in her arms.

((Small post but I'm short on time.))

[susanbones]

Susan pulled her red hair up in a ponytail and admired her appearance in the mirror. Finally satisfied, she picked up her Nimbus and headed out of Hufflepuff Common Room. Susan was excited that Quidditch was finally starting up again. Seeker was her favoriate position on the team, and she was appreciative that Nokomis had seen fit to give her the position.

Arriving at the pitch, she noticed that she was the last to arrive. Frowning, she couldn't believe that she was the last to arrive. Walking up to Nokomis, she waved at greeted her. " Sorry I'm late. I didn't realize how long I was taking to get down here. Wow! We've had a great turnout! I can't wait to take down Slytherin!"

[Ashley Hill]

Ashley looked at Nokomis as she grabbed a hold of her beaters bat tightly in hand waiting for the quaffle to be released into the air. Putting one leg over her Nimbus 2002 she looked up into the sky and waited the buldgers to be released. But than two older Hufflepuffs showed up late and were placed in their positions. Smiling Ashley looked back towards Nokomis and waited patiently, which was normally not really normal for Ashley but that’s what her mother and father would always say.

As the buldgers were released into the air Ashley flew straight upward and over the pitch waiting for the chasers to be in line and have practice shots on Jordan. The wind was blowing lightly at Ashley hair sending some strands flying off. But in other words it was a great day to play Quidditch. Looking all around Ashley did not take her eyes off of any thing. Some people were in the stands but that didn't distract her. It was her job to defend the team from flying buldgers. Sighing Ashley turned her broom around and flew towards the center watching the quaffle go from one person to the other. A smile came to her face as it looked like figure skating with passing the quaffle and graceful movements on brooms. But shortly her attention was brought towards the sound of an object making some sort of noise that was really familiar. Looking towards the right she saw a buldger heading towards Ivy below. Turning her broom around, Ashley held out her bat and swung as hard as she can towards the buldger before it could hit Ivy.

[Hannah Abbott MacMillan]

"Hey there" Hannah greeted Ernie as she joined them as well; glad not to be the only late one. "OK thanks" Hannah said to Nokomis after receiving her instructions to play defensive with Ashley as Dill attacked.

She mounter her Nimbus 1700 and was in the air as the balls were released. She watched the progression of the game but kept a keen eye on Dill seeing as he was the one in charge of hitting the iron ball at present. Upon noticing his shirt was on not only inside out but back wards though she broke out into a fit of giggles so strong she didn't even notice the entrance of Susan.

When her giggling subsided Hannah smiled at Dill and considered saying something about it but thought better considering the game was in play and her cheeks were already tomato red just from the laughing. She once more swept the pitch with her eyes looking for something to defend...