Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff!

[Charles Driscoll H7]

No Snitch. Look as he might it was nowhere and Charles frantically flew from right to left looking as far as he could and then looking above him and below him and yet he could see no fleck of gold, no light reflecting on the golden wings, no - what was Scott doing? Could he possibly have - wait, this could be a trick. But Charlie didn't stop to think that. There was no time to think that. He was flying so fast he would practically crash into Scott if he got the Snitch, but he wasn't thinking about the crazy pace he was flying at, nor about the sudden commotion all around him nbow that the Snitch had been seen, he was like a bullet shot out of a pistol heading straight for the Snich. He and Scoot had been at opposite ends of the pitch and Charles frantically extended his right arm his fingers ready to sieze the Snitch - but would he get there first?

[Branden Davis G6]

Gah! Hufflepuff scored again, 30 to nothing. This game apparently wasn't going too well for Gryffindor, at least on the chaser's front. Branden looked around for a free bludger and noticed something curious, both seekers were on the move, in the same direction. They had seen the snitch! Gryffindor really had a chance to win, and by a lot too. Only problem was the bludger he noticed chasing after Scott. He wasn't going to let the Hufflepuff beaters just take out their seeker at this important moment!

((Defending Scott))

[Melody Bang-Bala G6]

She had done it! She'd made good contact with the Bludger, with sufficient force, and now Scott was out of danger, the Bludger hurtling off somewhere else. It just remained to be seen whether her aim had been good as well. Melody watched and waited, also eyeing the other Hufflepuff players to see which ones were a danger to the Gryffindor team, who still weren't doing too well unfortunately.

The Bludger did hit Ashley, but Melody couldn't feel pleased at her success. She could see that the older Hufflepuff briefly seemed a lesser person, cowering a little as though that would hide her from the pain. And Melody realised then that she'd inflicted pain on another person, physical pain, and although it couldn't be as bad as she herself had known (because Ashley was already back attacking, and Scott too, so evidently not deterred), then how could she? How could she have done that, when she knew what it felt like herself? It might only be a game, but that was real pain that Ashley was experiencing, and Melody could almost experience it with her. She felt that what she'd done was wrong.

Melody hesitated for quite a while. She couldn't possibly hit the Bludger at anyone else. She couldn't - what if it hit them too? Of course it would be nice to distract the Hufflepuff Beaters, but... not at the cost of inflicting more pain. She didn't want to do that right now. But she saw that there was a Bludger heading for Maryn, and it was up to her to defend her Vice Captain. She flew towards it and tried to hit it away, away as far as possible from anyone and everyone, where it couldn't do anyone any harm.

((Defending Maryn.))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((Melody attempts to defend Maryn.
Bryce = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 6 + 6 = 12
Melody = Defending (D8 + Str) = 2 + 4 = 6

The bludger continues toward Maryn.

It is assumed Maryn would be warned and swerve.
Bryce = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 1 + 6 = 7
Maryn = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 5 + 5 = 10

Maryn avoids the bludger.

Ashley sends a bludger at Scott.

Branden attempts to defend Scott.
Ashley = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 6 + 4 = 10
Branden = Defending (D8 + Str) = 1 + 5 = 6

The bludger continues toward Scott.

It is assumed Scott would be warned and swerve.
Ashley = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 2 + 4 = 6
Scott = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 2 + 5 = 7

Scott avoids the bludger.

AJ attempts to pass and Ivy tries to intercept.
AJ = Pass (D6 + Dex) = 4 + 4 = 8
Ivy = Intercept (D4 + Dex) = 2 + 4 = 6

AJ succeeds in passing. Maryn has the quaffle.

Scott and Charles try to catch the snitch.
Scott = Catch (D10 + Dex) = 8 + 5 = 13
Charles = Catch (D10 + Dex) = 8 + 5 = 13
Snitch = Escape (D10 + D4) = 6 + 4 = 10

Scott catches the snitch! Both seekers beat the snitch meaning one of them catches it. In the result of a tie the seeker who first spotted the snitch gets there first and catches it.

Gryffindor Win!

Hufflepuff 30
Gryffindor 150

All players may now post their reaction to the end of the game and leaving the pitch.))

[Scott Ryder G7]

Just as Scott was trying to capture the Snitch, he saw something that made him sick to his stomach. Along with Charles coming from the opposite direction in hot pursuit of the Snitch as well, Scott saw a Bludger headed right toward him! In mere seconds, he saw Branden try to defend it, but the Bludger got past the Beater. Scott saw the Snitch, Charles, and the Bludger all at once, and almost froze in place for fear that he would lose the Snitch and the match for Gryffindor if he got hit by the Bludger and allowed Charles to gain the better position. He gathered his concentration though in the split second that he had to think, and Scott rolled around his broom so that he was flying upside down just as the Bludger passed over him. At that very moment, he had been where the Snitch was and Charles was right there as well! Scott had reached out, and he felt Charles arm brush his. They were both reaching for the Snitch at the exact same time! Before he knew what had happened though, Scott felt the flutter of wings against his palm. He slowed his broom to a stop as the crowd seemed to silence in unison. It was almost uncertain who had caught the Snitch. Scott knew though. He knew that he had managed to catch it! It was right there in his hand, and for a moment he just sat on his broom in shock.

Finally, Scott held his hand up to verify that he had caught the Snitch. He made sure that Madame Hooch had seen before he let it go. The crowds cheers were enough to bring a smile to even Scott's face despite his shyness. Wanting to be kind though, he quickly flew over to Charles. "You played as good a game as I did," he said. Scott didn't want to make him feel bad about not catching the Snitch, but Scott also knew that it was so close that it could have went either way. After the rest of the Gryffindor team had congratulated each other with shouts of cheer, Scott flew to the ground and took a seat in the players' quarters. His first Quidditch game was over, and he had managed to catch the Snitch. It was an indescribable feeling. He couldn't wait to write home to tell his parents. Evelyn would be so happy too. If anything, Scott was more happy to tell his family than to celebrate with his house. He really wasn't looking forward to being the center of attention. He would not miss the celebration though. Letting out a sigh of relief, Scott began to change out of his Quidditch robes as the rest of the team entered from the pitch.

((Great game everyone! ))

[Ivy Tunstall]

The cheer was coming from the wrong part of the stands. It wasn't that exciting that AJ Murphy had managed to pass successfully, so therefore the block of hardcore Gryffindor supporters (they did tend to clump together, their house-coloured scarves making each contingent obvious) must be cheering (a cheer that loud, at least) at something else. Something much, much worse for Hufflepuff. And, indeed, Madam Hooch had just blown her whistle to signal the end of the game. Ivy felt a wave of disappointment surge through her as she saw the Gryffindor Seeker holding up the Snitch triumphantly. The Hufflepuff team had played fantastically - the team's strength had been based on nearly every member, rather than the Gryffindor team where only a few members had been truly outstanding - and, basically, she thought that they had deserved to win.

She was sure that the rest of her team must also be feeling crushed at the defeat, perhaps in varying degrees. But she still had to do her job as Captain. Ivy flew down to join Maryn and Madam Hooch, and shook Maryn's hand warmly. "You did a good job taking charge of your team so quickly, after Cassie had to drop out," she said. From what she'd seen of how Maryn had done, she thought that the girl would make a good Captain herself in the future, if she got the chance. Ivy also approached Cassandra and shook hands with her. "Hope that you'll be all right soon," she said, by way of common courtesy.

Right, so not making Hufflepuff look ungracious in defeat was accomplished. Now she could go and be a bad loser in private! OH, wait, no, she also had to go and look after her team. For a moment, Ivy doubted that she could find the strength. She felt weary, oh so tired, from the game itself, and underlying everything was a bitter disappointment. But she must do it; she would do it. Somehow (she didn't know how), she had failed her team - they had lost - and she wouldn't fail them any further. Suddenly resolute again, Ivy cast off her tiredness and called her team into a huddle near to the locker rooms, away from the noise of the Gryffindor celebrations. She stood there in silence for a moment, even after they had all gathered, her head bowed as she gathered her thoughts. Then she raised her head again, her chin jutting out slightly in the defiant way that it tended to when she was expressing an opinion which she felt someone might contradict.
"Okay, so we lost." she admitted to the team. "That is to say... we didn't win. But that doesn't mean - and I don't want any of you guys to go away so much as thinking otherwise - that doesn't mean that we weren't the better team. You lot deserved to win today. We were fantastic... we played better than I have ever seen any of our Hufflepuff teams play before. You all played your best Quidditch, and… well, I'm really proud of you."

She paused for a moment, swallowing against a painful lump that seemed to have formed in her throat, and then continued, turning to each of her players in turn.
"Harmony, you were really in your element out there... two goals! Sophia too..." she smiled at her younger friend despite her slight inner misery, "... couldn't have asked for a safer pair of hands at goal, and your passes were great as well. You two are stars. Charlie..." she hesitated slightly, because she absolutely had to be sincere in what she said to him, and what sprung to mind made her want to sigh at the futility of it all... in fact she had just sighed! Heck, she hoped he'd understand that it wasn't disappointment at him. "... I really thought that you were going to get to that Snitch first, the speed you were going at. Ash, Bryce, Weetzie," she said, moving on swiftly, " - well done for keeping us safe out there; you had some pretty stiff competition. Syd, you gave us a really good opening to the game, and Kael, you did a great job coming into the middle of the game, so thanks to you two for being such great sports."

She paused again, searching for the words she wanted while they all had her personal words of encouragement to think about. She wasn’t a natural speechmaker.
“So, what I want you guys to know is… even if we didn’t win, every one of you is good enough that you deserve to win. We were unlucky today, and that was the only thing that made us lose. So… before the next game, we practice so much that even misfortune can’t take the game away from us.” She stopped abruptly, allowing her resolution to sink in, grim determination spread across her face after her last statement. “Right, that’s it for now.” she said finally, and she turned her back on them, walking away from the semi-circle of her team and leading the way back into the Hufflepuff locker room. She stayed very taciturn even when joined by the other members of the team, and kept herself to herself as she changed out of her Quidditch gear. When done, she sat down on the bench, staring at the floor, which seemed to be sparkling slightly. She stayed there until many members of the team had already left, and then pushed herself up, her eyes locking on her best friend. She put her hands on his shoulders, leaning on him, and, looking down at the floor again, she let out a long sigh. Gradually, she raised her eyes again so that she was staring into Charlie’s, her own eyes betraying all of the disappointment that she was trying to deal with. Winning had mattered to her.

Finally she stopped leaning on him, and instead stood up straight and reached out to take his hand in hers.
“You deserved to catch that Snitch as much as the Gryffindor Seeker did,” she said. “But… I’m not sure how much I can take it anymore! You scared me again, the speed you were flying… do you remember you promised me not to fly so recklessly ever again, as though your life didn’t matter to anyone?” She’d shouted at him in her worry. Charles, she’d called him, back then… “It matters to me,” she said softly. “But I suppose that’s what comes with having you as Seeker. Just take care of yourself, all right? Anyway,” she said with a short laugh, “I should’ve known I couldn’t cure you of your love for high speeds! If you ever get a car, Charlie…” – that was a funny image – “you are not driving me anywhere. Agreed?” She stared challengingly at him for a moment, and then, having turned round to collect her stuff, she linked arms with him and started out of the door, towards the castle. Towards the wide world, which might pity her, laugh at her, mock her, disdain her… envy her for her fine Quidditch team that had somehow contrived to lose the game at the last minute. She stole a glance at Charlie. Then she stared blankly at the stone castle walls ahead, reprimanded her herself out of that mindset, and smiled at him. Blame wasn’t welcome anywhere.

[Charles Driscoll H7]

He felt the cold skin of Scott's hand against his own but couldn’t feel the familiar touch of the Snitch, nor did he get to. In their frantic clash of fingers Charles felt Scott raise his hand up and fly away and he felt a sinking feeling like no other as the realization of what had just happened hit him. Looking anywhere but at the Hufflepuff stands he clamped his fingers down on his broom and headed straight for the ground, suddenly feeling extremely exposed. He wanted everyone to look away. Before anyone got to him Scott did and Charles felt his throat dry up as he tried to reply back with some sincerity. "You saw it first," he said, looking straight at Scott. It was strange; hard as it was to talk to him right now it was much easier than facing the other Hufflepuffs. Charles looked after him as he walked away the last few moments replaying over and over in his head. The desire to get them back was overpowering, it was difficult to accept that he hadn’t caught it when it had been practically inches out of his reach.

And then he was enjoyed by his team members and it was all too real. His face was the colour of a tomato and he felt all tiredness of the match finally hit him. He couldn’t look Ivy in the eyes so looked vaguely in her direction, nodding when she spoke to him. Everyone headed back to the changing room and Charles wanted to do exactly the same thing but he couldn’t be with them right now – and even though he couldn’t bear standing on the pitch at this moment it seemed to be the lesser of the two unbearable ideas. He found himself counting without any particular reason, just thinking when got to 1000, no 2000, he could start walking to the changing room. When he got to the locker room everyone had left except Ivy. He expected to feel that she was the last person he wanted to see right not but surprisingly didn't. He set his broom aside and started to get out of his gear when she came to him. He hadn’t realised he'd been holding himself so stiffly until she touched him and he suddenly let his whole body relax.

When she spoke he was surprised that she'd connected this to the time when he'd learned Samantha had been at Hogwarts after she'd got out of Azkaban but was refusing to meet him and he'd flown about like a madman on the pitch. The desperation he'd felt on that occasion had been driven by a sense of helplessness and disappointment rather than the drive to win he'd felt a few minutes ago. He nodded with a watery smile at her when she kidded with him and then leaned back against the cold wall of the locker room and the warmth of Ivy and closed his eyes letting whatever it was he was supposed to feel (disappointment but a deep gratitude for Ivy and a hundred other things he couldn't name right now) completely rush through his mind and body. "You're an incredible Captain, Ivy," he said quietly.