Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff!

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony knew there was no more for her to do as Lenora raced up the pitch to score. She wasn't going to pass, so Harmony tailed after her, as did the other players on the teams. Ivy was left with the task of attacking Lenora to try to steal the Quaffle, but the older girl managed to hold on tight to it in her arms. As Harmony neared the goals, she looked up to see a Bludger war happening; Branden had just knocked one to the Huffle Keeper, and Sydney was trying to defend her. Harmony knew from playing with Sydney that her friend's best position was no doubt Chaser. Harmony's second position was Seeker. Harmony wasn't all too surprised when the Bludger continued to fly at Sophia despite Sydney's attempt, and Harmony was disappointed and anxious for the fifth year girl, whom Harmony had spoken to outside of Quidditch many a time. Thankfully Sophia avoided the Bludger, leaving her unharmed and ready to guard the goals now that Lenora was racing full speed ahead. The Quaffle was once again launched at the goal posts in an attempt to score from Gryffindor, and Harmony held her breath, desperate not to have Lenora equalise the first ten points she had scored herself. For the second time Sophia saved the Quaffle, causing Harmony to yelp in delight and bob on her broom happily. "Woo, Sophia!" Harmony laughed, before her delight faded to the usual serious tone of the game again. She flew forward to be in sight of Sophia, hoping her team mate would pass to her. Right now no one was blocking Harmony. "Over here, Sophia!" Harmony yelled.

[Sophia Hallington H7]

Sophia felt worried when Sydney failed to defend her and deflect the bludger to one of the Gryffindors. Luckily though she managed to swerve and dodge the bludger, which zoomed past her right ear. Luckily Ashley managed to defend Kael so the boy was still able to play, and the bludger was now heading towards Lenora. That girl was still in posession of the quaffle, as unfortunately Ivy failed to steal it from her, and she was now attempting to shoot.

Lenora threw the quaffle fairly quicly towards the middle hood, rather haphazardly. Sophia easily managed to catch the quaffle, with cheers from her teammates and other Hufflepuffs in the stand. She felt a great sense of achievement-that was the second goal she'd saved, and it meant that Hufflepuff were still in the lead. Zara looked as though she was trying to intercept the pass that she made...to Harmony this time, as the younger girl was free and called for her to pass to her. So she threw the quaffle towards Harmony, hoping that Zara wouldn't intercept.

((Passing to Harmony, and defending goals if necesary))

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy sighed as she found that Lenora had held on to the Quaffle with enough strength that Ivy had been unable to wrench it away. Now the Gryffindor was accelerating away from her and towards the Hufflepuff goalposts. Knowing that there wasn't much more she could do now, and that it was now other members of the team that had to do their bit, she followed behind, not pushing the maximum speed out of her Nimbus 2001, because there was no need for it and she preferred to think that she was keeping that speed in reserve for when it made a difference.

She gripped her broom with a little fear as she saw a Bludger heading towards Sophia. Now more than ever, with someone about to try to score, it was critical that their Keeper didn't get hit by a Bludger. Her broom responded a little in kind, bumping her up and down, and she loosened her grip again so as to make it stop. She wasn't sure which of Gryffindor's Beaters had hit the Bludger - quite possibly Branden, who seemed to be pretty formidable - but it had a strength behind it which Sydney was unable to dissipate, and it was only Sophia's neat dodge and subsequent tidy save which kept the Hufflepuffs' advantage safe.

Ivy cheered with the rest of her team, but at the same time flew up to Madam Hooch and gestured for Sydney to join them. "We need Bryce back," she told her fellow sixth year, "but you've done a great job and shown great effort so well done." She gave Sydney a small smile, although herself a bit caught up with the tactics and the stress of being in charge of them, and then turned to Madam Hooch. "Sorry to keep on doing this... I'm substituting Sydney out now and putting Bryce back in."

((Bryce is replacing Sydney as Beater.

Sorry folks - I really do intend to stop doing this!))

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cassandra watched as Lenora flew towards the Hufflepuff goal. She watched the action. Everyone seemed to be playing admirably, but it looked as if one of her beaters were getting tired. Cass motioned Hooch and Arywiel to come closer. "It's been a great game so far. You've done me well, Arywiel, but I think it is time to give you a break. I would like to put Melody in the game." Cass patted the girl's back and motioned Melody to the game. After that, she went to her post in front of the girl.

((substituting Melody for Arywiel. Defending goals.))

[Scott Ryder G7]

No golden flashes. No Snitch. Scott was really having a hard time staying optimistic. If it wasn't a Bludger heading at him it was something else. In fact, Gryffindor's latest attempt on goal was blocked by the Hufflepuff defender. It wasn't like they were doing terrible. It seemed that aside from Branden though, all of the other Hufflepuff players were doing just a bit better than their counterparts. Only a few times had Gryffindor succeeding in a steal or whatnot, yet he knew that with the score of 10-0 that there was nothing to worry about. Though, Scott couldn't help but wish for a sudden stroke of luck to fall onto the Gryffindor team. Ideally, he wished that he might all the sudden see the Snitch and have a quick go at it, ending the game and making it a quick victory for Gryffindor.

Still zooming in and out of the other players, Scott kept a wary eye for Bludgers, making sure not to let another get him unexpectedly. The rest of the Gryffindor team seemed a bit lethargic; either that or they were just taking the time to see what Sophia would do after blocking their most recent attempt at a goal. Nonetheless, Scott kept a steady hand on his broom and continued to go on looking for the Snitch. He had high hoped to at least get a chance to chase after it. Even if he spotted it and it got away, he would feel that he was actually getting to contribute somehow. As long as Charlie didn't catch it, Scott was fine with having to try up to a dozen times if it meant a victory for Gryffindor.

((Searching for the Quaffle... or wait, the Bludger... I mean... the SNITCH! ))

[Branden Davis G6]

Busy! Everyone was just so busy. This game was really keeping Branden on his toes, that was for sure. Sophia managed to dodge his bludger and quick as that the other one was speeding toward Lenora. Branden hoped Scott was having some luck with the snitch. Of course Branden was loving playing but did the Hufflepuff beaters really have to keep him so very busy?

((Defend Lenora and deflect to… Bryce))

[Bryce Alexander]

Bryce wasn't happy to have been substituted out of the match, but he didn't blame Ivy for doing it. He definitely wasn't doing terrible, but he wasn't doing his best either. Seeing that he was known to get critical of his mistakes and then start making more mistakes, Ivy probably made the best choice in giving him a quick break from the game. While he was out, he watched as Harmony, the youngest on the team, scored the first goal of the game. "Goooo Hufflepuff!" he shouted from the players' quarters on the sideline. This had made him a bit less preoccupied with his mistakes, and now he hoped that he might get back into the game any time now. He hoped Ashley might try to convince Ivy to bring him back in, but Ashley probably knew his style best when it came to Beater. She then knew that he would need some time to cool down and gather his concentration before getting put back in.

The time eventually came though as he watched Ivy motion him back into the game. Flying up to her while the match was paused for the substitution, he gave a smile. "I'll do better this time," he said. "I promise." Soaring past Ashley, he gave her a wink and was happy that at least she seemed to be having a really good game. She had just made a successful block from a Bludger that was heading toward Kael. Normally, Ash and Bryce made a fairly good pair of Beaters, and so he hoped to come back into the game a bit more focused and prepared to team up with Ash. As the game started, back up again, he set off toward the Bludger that had just been avoided by Sophia. "Good duck!" he shouted to her as he circled the far end of Hufflepuff's side of the pitch and flew off toward the Gryffindor side. He was in hot pursuit of the Bludger when he flew past Harmony. "Great score!" he shouted as they passed each other in a quick moment. Bryce enjoyed encouraging his teammates, and he loved the fact that the Hufflepuff team overall was a very positive and encouraging team to play on. They were all decent friends and everybody knew their place on the team.

As he darted one way and another, trying to match the path of the random flight of the Bludger, he started to near the Gryffindor goal posts. Seeing Cassandra circling the three hoops, he took a mighty swing with his bat, attempting to knock the Bludger in her direction. He figured that even though she wasn't currently defending any shots by the Hufflepuff team, his hitting a Bludger at her might fluster her enough to prevent her from blocking the next attempted shot. Spinning and halting to watch, Bryce looked over his shoulder as the Bludger soared toward the Gryffindor Keeper. He hoped that Branden wouldn't show up out of nowhere like he had been to defend, but if he did, Bryce was ready to just hit it right back at him. He was energized enough and now focused, ready to smack a few Bludgers around if need be.

((Bludger attack on Cass.))
((I just noticed that Branden had posted while I was writing this post up. So... naturally Bryce would defend himself. Does that mean he can't attack Cass? I'm not sure how that works, but Bryce could potentially defend himself and try knocking that Bludger at Cass, right? If I am correct, the one Bludger is currently heading toward Lenora (which Branden is attempting to deflect at Bryce. And the second Bludger was ducked by Sophia. I'm not quite sure how this will all pan out, but if I need to edit anything, someone let me know. The Bludgers confuse me when we can't be sure who they will be coming at because, there is a chance that Branden won't successfully defend, which means that Bryce wouldn't have to defend himself, which means he could attack Cass.... *sigh* I'm too confused. ))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((Bryce, it’s all fine you can do both actions. This round the bludger if flying at Lenora. If Branden succeeds then next round it will be heading at Bryce so he would defend himself then. All you will need to do is post defending yourself next round.

Branden attempts to defend Lenora.
Ashley = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 1 + 4 = 5
Branden = Defending (D8 + Str) = 6 + 5 = 11

Branden defends Lenora and deflects to Bryce. There is a bludger flying at Bryce.

Bryce sent a bludger at Cassandra. There is a bludger flying at Cassandra.

Sophia attempts to pass and Zara tries to intercept.
Sophia = Pass (D6 + Dex) = 4 + 5 = 9
Zara = Intercept (D4 + Dex) = 1 + 2 = 3

Sophia passes to Harmony. Harmony has the quaffle.

Scott searches for the snitch.
Scott = Searching (D30) = 9

9 is not the snitch number. Scott does not see the snitch.))

[Scott Ryder G7]

The Beaters were still flying around furiously, sending Bludgers this way and that. Scott felt that the Beaters had been the main players in the game so far. Every time he got a look at one of them they were either attacking or defending. Most recently, he saw Bryce Alexander sending a Bludger at Cass. Then, just seconds later, there was a Bludger flying at Bryce himself. "Look out, Cass!" he shouted as he flew near the Gryffindor goal posts. He wasn't sure if she could hear him over the wind and the cheers from the spectators. He was sure though that Branden might come to her defense soon enough as he seemed to be all over the pitch. His flying was very good and Scott wondered if he might make a better Seeker. He was quick, that was for sure.

Trying not to dwell on such things though, Scott kept on searching. It was a constant need for him to keep his eyes focused on as much of the pitch as possible. The Snitch couldn't hide forever, and Scott was so ready to get his first glimpse of it.

((Searching for the Snitch.))

[Harmony Chan H6]

Sophia was going to throw it to her! Muscles tensing for the catch, Harmony noticed Zara flying over to try to intercept the pass. She narrowed her eyes, hoping Zara wouldn't get it. Sophia threw the Quaffle, it passed Zara much to Harmony's relief, and she soared to pluck it out of thin air. Harmony held the red ball tight against her arms as she mentally thanked Sophia, and luck that Zara hadn't stolen it, and headed away from this side of the pitch. Now she could try to score. Hopefully any Bludgers that headed her way she would be defended by Bryce and Ashley, Bryce having been substituted on again for Sydney. The substitutions Ivy was making was beginning to confuse Harmony, but she didn't bother about it too much. The lineup for the Chasers hadn't changed: it was her, Ivy and Kael.

With the Quaffle tucked safely under her arms, Harmony sailed through the chilly air and streaked towards the other goal posts, where Cassandra was waiting again. Wasting no time, Harmony let the Quaffle loose, flinging the light but big ball at the hoops again. She hoped this would make it 20 - 0 to Hufflepuff, and hoped no one would intercept or steal it before it got there.

((Shooting and defending the Quaffle if someone tries to steal it.))

[Zara Phoenix]

Zara swung her arm out to try and intercept the pass between Sophia and Harmony, but failed as the Quaffle sailed past her shoulder. Groaning again in disappointment, Zara watched as Harmony caught it quickly and turned to speed up the pitch. Evidently she was going to try and score again. Furrowing her eyebrows, Zara followed after her with the other players. She was too far behind to try and steal the Quaffle from Harmony, who was pulling away fast. Hoping Lenora or Maryn would successfully steal it, Zara moved sideways to block Kael in case there was anything he wanted to try and do. Zara watched as Harmony neared the goals and tried to shoot, and prayed it wouldn't give Hufflepuff a twenty point lead.

((Blocking Kael.))

[Charles Driscoll H7]

What he'd seen hadn't been the Snitch and from what he could tell Scott hadn't managed to spot it yet either - while there hadn't been that many goal attempts and only Huffluepuff had managed one game the crowd certainly couldn't complain about it being a boring game for there was quite some action going on. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Harmony attempting to score and as he flew towards the Gryffindor end of the pitch once again in search of the Snitch he hoped she would manage to score another one for Hufflepuff. It was her first time like Charles and he knew she was just as nervous about her performance in this match as he was.

((Searching for the Snitch))

[Bryce Alexander]

Just after sending a Bludger toward Cassandra, Bryce was surprised to find one coming his way. He saw Branden off in the distance and knew that it was likely him who had sent the Bludger in his direction. Swinging the tail of his broom around, Bryce turned himself so that he was able to face the Bludger head-on. The wind picked up a bit and it was blowing right in Bryce's face. He kept his eyes squinted and tried his best to keep focus on the approaching Bludger. Just as it neared him, he gripped the broom tighter with his left hand as he swung with his right, attempting to knock the Bludger away from him and at the nearest Gryffindor player who happened to be Lenora.

((Defending myself and deflecting the Bludger at Lenora.))

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass huffed. Hufflepuff was in possession again. Away in her thoughts for a moment, she heard her name being urgently yelled. It brought her to sorts just long enough to see the quaffle coming at her.

((defending goals))

[Lenora Byers]

She missed! Lenora had managed to hold onto the quaffle and it went soaring to the hoops where Sophia seemed to catch it with ease. Why hadn’t she concentrated more on what she was doing? Why was Ivy being a pest and making her job more difficult? Probably for the same reason it annoyed Lenora she did it; she wanted to win. It was true the Hufflepuffs seemed pretty on top of things. Ivy seemed to be doing a pretty good job as captain as the whole team seemed pretty organized and Ivy seemed to have played everyone to their strengths. Maybe that was the reason she kept switching players around? Lenora could hardly keep track of who was in and who was out – one minute she would look to Sydney to steal the quaffle and the next realise it was a bludger that Sydney was sending at her. Of course, the fact that Hufflepuff has it together only made Lenora want to try harder to win; nothing against them but Gryffindor had to bet the better team. It’s all you’re allowed to think on game day! With determination Lenora sped over to Harmony and started punching at the quaffle trying to get it out of the other girl’s possession.

((Stealing from Harmony))

[Branden Davis G6]

The bat made contact and the bludger headed straight for Bryce, that was one thing down. Occupy Bryce try to keep him out of Gryffindor’s hair for one moment at least. Of course Branden also understood he had just sent a bludger right to Bryce to send at his team but that was just something that had to be accepted. Bludgers were just a part of the game really. As were keepers and at that moment it seemed the chasers were near shooting range and Cassandra was in trouble of getting hit.

((Protecting Cass and deflect to Ivy))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((Bryce tries to defend himself.
Branden = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 4 + 5 = 9
Bryce = Defending (D8 + Str) = 2 + 6 = 8

Bryce cannot defend himself and so would swerve.

Bryce tries to avoid the bludger.
Branden = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 6 + 5 = 11
Bryce = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 5 + 3 = 8

Bryce is hit by the bludger.

Branden attempts to defend Cassandra.
Bryce = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 1 + 6 = 7
Branden = Defending (D8 + Str) = 8 + 5 = 13

Branden defends Cassandra and deflects to Ivy. There is a bludger flying at Ivy.

Lenora tries to steal the quaffle.
Lenora = Steal (D4 + Str) = 4 + 3 = 7
Harmony = Defending (D8 + Str) = 2 + 5 = 7

Tie! Re-roll.

Lenora = Steal (D4 + Str) = 2 + 3 = 5
Harmony = Defending (D8 + Str) = 8 + 5 = 13

Harmony keeps the quaffle.

Harmony attempts to score as Cassandra defends.
Harmony = Score (D6 + Str) = 3 + 5 = 8
Cassandra = Save (D6 + Dex) = 4 + 5 = 9

Cassandra saves the quaffle. Cassandra has the quaffle.

Scott and Charles search for the snitch.
Scott = Searching (D30) = 11
Charles = Searching (D30) = 30

11 and 30 are not the snitch number. Neither seeker sees the snitch.

By the way, we must be getting down to the wire as I had to roll that about 5 times because we kept getting repeat numbers!))

[Ashley Hill]

Ashley leaned back on her broom as her brown eyes watched the bludger head toward Lenora. Braden was right on its tail deflecting it from his team mate yet again. Cursing lightly under her breath, she sighed angrily at the Gryffindor beater. Looking across the pitch noticing Ivy substitute more players back into the game. Sydney flew back down onto the bench, Bryce taking her spot. Ashley watched as he flew past her, smiling and shaking her head at his wink. She hoped he had time to calm down about those bludgers hitting some of the players. Bryce was an excellent beater, but he always was so hard on himself. Looking around for another bludger, Ashley noticed both of them in play as Bryce swung his bat directing it toward Cass. Branden had another idea though, and deflected her bludger hit toward the Hufflepuff beater. “Bryce! Watch out!” she shrieked across the pitch racing forward, but stopped as she noticed Braden deflect Cass newly bludger toward Ivy. Wincing as the iron ball hit him, she glared over her shoulder at Branden. He was extremely good, but Ashley wasn’t going to give up. “Ivy!” she screamed over toward her friend, holding out her bat and swinging hard at the right time of bludger.

((Defending Ivy and deflecting bludger back at Braden))

[Harmony Chan H6]

Lenora came at her to trry to steal the Quaffle, but Harmony held onto it tight, and thankfully swerved to avoid Lenora's grappling hands. Harmony saw Cassandra hovering ahead, the goals behind her, and with a strong throw, she threw the Quaffle in an attempt to shoot. For a second Harmony thought she was going to score; the Quaffle was sailing towards one of the three posts. However, Cassandra rose to grab it before it managed to give Hufflepuff another ten points, causing Harmony to groan out loud as the crowd followed suit. Still, she could hear the Gryffindors cheer loudly. The score was still ten - nil though, and Hufflepuff were still in the lead. Determined to make up for her failure to score again, Harmony wasted no time flying forward to try to intercept the pass Cassandra was about to do.

((Attempting to intercept pass from Cassandra.))

[Zara Phoenix]

Lenora missed trying to steal the Quaffle from Harmony, and as the little Hufflepuff Chaser neared the goals, Zara was worried she would score again and let Hufflepuff widen the lead. But no, when Harmony launched the Quaffle, although it was very close to scoring, Cass managed to save it. "Go Cass!" Zara yelled in delight, flying forward now to try to get the Quaffle from her. "I'm free, Cass!" She called, eyes flicking around for Lenora or Maryn.