Everything's in place and ready. The stands are filling. The teams are in the dressing rooms prepping. Viktor takes the balls out to the pitch, settling in an easy croush by the box as he waits for the teams to emerge and the captains to come out to meet him. Beside him the box fairly vibrates as if the balls inside know they are about to be released.

Championship Match
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 09-11-04 08:06

Sunshine and blue skies; perfect weather for Quidditch! mused Bronwyn to herself, as she stepped into the staff box at the Pitch and greeted both Professors McGonagall and Snape, who sat next to each other with enough room between them for another spectator to sit comfortably. While Snape grunted his reply, McGonagall responded firmly, yet with a tinge of light-heartedness, "Good morning, Miss Dewhurst. Beautiful day for Quidditch, isn't it?"

"Oh, yes. It certainly is," Bronwyn agreed. She sat down at her usual place and prepared to give her last commentary of the school year.

Viktor Krum had already stepped out onto the field, with Quidditch trunk in tow. He set it down on the green grass and waited patiently for Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy to enter the field.

As soon as the doors to the locker rooms flew open, Bronwyn announced, "Good morning Hogwarts! It's time for Quidditch! Today's extra special championship match is between Gryffindor...

"...and Slytherin!"

She paused for the ensuing cheers and boos, noting that both McGonagall and Snape participated, albeit under their breaths.

"Let's meet our players, some of them for the very last time! For Gryffindor: seventh year seeker Harry Potter, seventh year keeper and captain Ron Weasley, beaters Brett Kingston and Jared Wynbourne, and chasers Tranquillina Aemilius, Oreileah McCoi and Ginny Weasley!

"For Slytherin: seventh year seeker and captain Draco Malfoy, keeper Pyrrhus Fine, beaters Alexis Black and Crispin Cooke, and chasers Mary Black, Isolde Farnon and Declan Collins!"

More cheers and boos emanated throughout the stadium.

The players converged around where Ron and Draco stood with Viktor. A stiff handshake was exchanged between the two captains, and then they took to the air with their teammates. A few moments later, the balls were airborne.

First Possession and Goal Attempt
Author: Isolde
Date: 09-11-04 09:09

As soon as the quaffle entered airspace, Isolde snatched it and carried it off towards the Gryffindor goal hoops. She swooped in and out of the array of opposing chasers and beaters, and their offending bludgers, and threw the red ball to Mary, to avoid its loss at the hands of the Weasel girl, who seemed extra eager to get her hands on it. Mary pulled it securely against her body and propelled herself forwards like a torpedo, casting the ball to Declan at a moment's opportunity. Declan sent it back to Isolde, who tossed it overhand at Mary when a bludger came spiraling for Isolde's face. She rolled around her broomstick like a gymnast on the bars to avoid the painful collision.

The three Slytherin chasers continued their wild and too-quick-for-the-eye exchange of the quaffle, until Isolde had it in front of the Gryffindor goal hoops, where determination etched itself across the Weasel boy's face. Isolde snapped her wrist and shot the ball forward, intending for it to go through the right-most hoop, but the Gryffindor keeper managed to prevent the red ball from meeting its mark.

Scowling, Isolde turned in the opposite direction and raced after the Gryffindor chaser currently in possession of the quaffle.

Start of the Game
Author: Mary
Date: 09-11-04 09:21

"It shouldn't be hard to beat them again." Mary had said in the locker room before the game, smirking easily around at the rest of her team.

"We shouldn't let it go to our heads yet," Alexis cautioned, and Mary rolled her eyes, "we need to focus on the game and not on taunting them."

"We'll have plenty of time for that after we cream them," Isolde added, "we wouldn't want to lose because of stupid mistakes."

"We've got this one, I know it," Draco nodded, looking to each of his teammates in turn, "So let's go out there and show them exactly what they've come up against. Remember what we've been doing in practice, and that cup is ours."

The cup. Slytherin deserved the cup, they were by far the best team there, having easily won each and every one of their games. This championship match would be the culmination of seven years of rivalry between Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, and by the semi-homicidal look in Draco's eyes he wasn't about to lose.

Mary grinned evilly and twisted her arms, neck and back so that every joint cracked loudly and echoed through the locker room. Alexis sighed and Mary cast her an amused glare.

"You two.."

"Don't worry," Alexis interrupted Draco quickly, "It's officially stowed." As if to prove her point she didn't look at Mary at all as they grabbed their brooms and marched onto the pitch. But Mary wasn't paying attention to her loser of a sister, she was busy drinking in the thrill of what she knew was going to be another slytherin victory.

And before she knew it Ron Weasley had already blocked Isolde's shot, but Mary intercepted his pass mid-air and shot it toward an open Isolde as the gryffindors closed in around her. They were just too slow.

There It Is!
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 09-11-04 10:15

Only a few minutes into the game and Harry spots the snitch. He crouches low over his broom, shooting forward. He climbs and dives a number of times as he edges closer to the golden winged ball. A flash of green out of the corner of his eye has Harry swearing under his breath. Draco's now seen the snitch too.

Malfoy comes in from another angle but very quickly ends up side by side with Harry, their movements in tandem with that of the snitch's trail. The snitch goes into a steep dive followed by the two seekers. The snitch flies all the way down, its wings brushing the grass on the pitch. Draco and Harry pull up in the heartbeat just before pulling up isn't an option. Two sets of feet drag the ground as they fly parallel with the pitch. Each has a hand stretched forward, reaching for the gold. They are so close to each other to Harry it feels as though they are joined at the hip but then Draco shoves his elbow into Harry.

Harry doubles over, his broom wobbling. The tip of his broom tilts slightly but the seekers are so close even that little bit is enough. The two brooms tap tap tap against each other. Suddenly everything is a jumble as the broom tails make full contact with the pitch and the boys are jolted off their brooms, falling in a heap.

The snitch lost from view now, each seeker gets up, scowl fixed in place, retrieves his respective broom, quickly darting back into the air, and thankful to have been so close to the ground when the fall occurred.

Double Checking a Few Things
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-11-04 13:27

Sitting in the faculty stand, I hold my breath in anticipation that either Malfoy or Potter will get the snitch. It's so early in the game but if one of the seekers got the snitch now, that seeker's team and house would have almost a full day to celebrate their victory. Like everyone else in all the stands, I let out a combination groan and sigh of relief when the seekers end up taking a tumble. Luckily for both teams, neither is hurt. Both are up on their brooms again in a flash.

For the next little while, the chasers go back and forth across the pitch, the quaffle changing hands many times but neither team scoring. This allows me to go over some papers I'd brought along to go over. No papers to grade but permission slips, receipts and verification and confirmation of some things.

Early tomorrow morning I'm taking the seventh year Muggle Studies students on a field trip. We're going to Floo from school to my London apartment. A short walk down to the corner and we'll board a charter bus for a relatively quick trip to Thorpe Park, an amusement park. We'll spend the day there then regroup for a special dinner. Afterwards we'll return to my flat and Floo back to school.

Based on one of the comfirmations I received last night when I Floo'd to my flat to pick up mail, our tickets are being given to us at a reduced, group fee. My students are going to love hearing that because it means more pocket money to spend for them!

Azkaban: Unexpected Guest
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 09-11-04 14:35

Ever since the dreams started, Ethan had tried to place faces and to secure names to the presences he knew were there but nonetheless couldn't see. It proved a difficult task, for Ethan couldn't remember enough about the dream or the actual event to put the pieces of the puzzle together. However, one name remained prominent in his mind: Kep-Tian Zhongxun. Did he simply know it from his auror days?

No. Ethan felt confident that Kep-Tian entered his life after everything went dark. Could the Vietnamese wizard be one of the figures from his dreams?

Ethan simply did not know.

His thoughts were interrupted by the creak of the door down the hall. Mr. Cornwell ambled to his cell, flanked by two Hit Wizards, and announced that a visitor had arrived for him. Ethan instantly brightened. Whether it be Viktor or James Yao, a chance to leave the confines of his cell and exercise his limbs gave him great joy these days. Positive conversation with a friend or friendly face was simply added bonus.

When Ethan arrived at the meeting room, his bonds were cut and he was led to his usual place. To his surprise, not Viktor nor James Yao waited for him, but Michael Turin, Deputy-Head Auror and current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts.

Ethan sat down and spoke in a bewildered tone. "I didn't expect to see you here, Michael."

Distracting Thoughts
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 09-11-04 15:19

Ginny intercepts a pass and takes off down the pitch, the quaffle now firmly tucked under one arm. As she zooms past a stand full of Slytherins booing at her, she catches an extremely quick glimpse of Theodore Nott. Though trying to keep a fierce game face in place, Ginny can't keep a smile from her lips. Not all Slytherins are as horrid and evil as Malfoy and Parkinson but most aren't overly nice to those not in Slytherin either. Theodore is proving an exception. Ginny doesn't understand why Ron can't see it. Her brother's had several rows with Ginny over her interest in Nott. Harry's been almost as bad. At least she is able to point out that unlike certain incidents in the past involving others, her growing like of Theodore is not the behavior of someone working under a spell. It's simply a matter of Ginny maturing as much as in mind and spirit as in body. The others shall just have to accept that Ginny is being far more open minded than they ever have been and very may ever will be.

Distracted with her thoughts of Theodore and of those who keep telling her how crazy she is to like a Slytherin, particularly someone with Nott's family background, Isolde Farnon is able to steal up behind Ginny and tap the quaffle right out of her grasp. Saying a few choice words at both Isolde and herself, Ginny gets her mind back into the game and goes after the quaffle once more.

Cheering Section
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 09-11-04 15:33

Bill craned his neck around the Pitch in search of his parents, who had said they would meet him in the Gryffindor stands sometime during the match. Fleur, Briar, baby Grace, George and Majandra, Fred and Blossom and Hermione were gathered together and shouted loudly their support for Gryffindor, and for Ron, Ginny and Harry in particular. So far, neither team had scored. Ron had blocked one goal attempt already, and Harry had taken a short tumble into the grass but seemed to be all right.

At the moment, Ginny had the quaffle and was making her way for the Slytherin hoops. She never saw the opposing chaser coming, though, who managed to bump the red ball from her grasp and to take it into her own possession once more. A collective groan emanated from the Gryffindor section and Bill shook his head. He fervently hoped his old team would win, and while it was still early in the game and anything could still happen, it looked like Slytherin wasn't going to go down easy!

Smile Exchange
Author: Tranquillina Aemilius
Date: 09-11-04 15:38

Tranquillina watched with despair as Isolde tapped the quaffle clear out of Ginny's arms, then took off down the pitch. Turning around, Tranquillina did her best catch up with her. Just as Tranq thought she had a chance to tap the quaffle of out of Isolde's hands, Isolde tossed the ball to Mary, who threw Tranquillina a smug smile, having succesfully foiled her plans.

New strategy, Tranquillina decided. She trailed close to the two chasers, traveling a little below them on occassion. As Mary went to pass the quaffle to Declan, Tranq reached over and took posession. She turned around and raced for the other end of the pitch -- but not before returning Mary's complacent smile.

Moment's later, Tranq tossed the ball to Oreiliah.

Take That!
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 09-11-04 16:23

Just as Orie takes the quaffle from Tranq, Crispin Cooke sends a bludger on a path towards Orie's head. Brett urges his broom forward and makes a near dive over the top of it as he swings his bat. Brett's bat connects with the bludger with a loud CRACK! and the force of the blow sends vibrations up Brett's arm. It takes all Brett has to keep his grip on the bat. With his other hand he swing his broom around, grinning when he sees the bludger he just hit smacking Cooke's back. Brett also turns to see where Orie has gone. He grins again when he sees she's made it past the center line of the pitch.

Scouting
Author: Australia Kingston
Date: 09-11-04 16:36

Aussie had arrived early enough to take breakfast with her brother and Orie though both seemed so preoccupied with the game that neither had eaten much. Not that Aussie could blame either of them. She knows exactly what they're going through so made an effort not to chastise them for not eating a proper breakfast before such an important game. Aussie walked with them both to the pitch, parting ways when they went to the dressing room.

Aussie climbed the steps of the stand she chose to sit in then pulled out a clipboard from a satchel she's brought along. As she makes sure the parchment pages on the clipboard are in the order she needs, others arrive to take seats around her. When the game does begin, Aussie can feel the excitement based tension. The air is almost electric with it. With the play underway, Aussie takes quill in hand, keeping close watch of the seventh years players and the sixth years as well. For Aussie, this is both a day of pleasure watching her brother in a championship game and a day of work, scouting potential candidates for pro-Quidditch tryouts.

In Attendance
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 09-11-04 18:19

Lucius and Narcissa, sitting a couple of rows above Bill the Sniveling Weasel, the Weasel Twins, and their various women, turns his nose up as the breeze changes bringing with it a whiff of some very bad men's cologne. Lucius can think of at least a dozen other places he'd rather be today but it's Draco's last game and that takes precedence. Narcissa even cancelled a shopping trip in Paris when it was announced at the last game that Slytherin was in today's championship.

Lucius is just about to suggest moving to a different set of stands when Charlie Weasley appears, taking a seat next to his older brother. It might be worth putting up with their collective stink to overhear anything Charlie might have to say about anything newly "remembered" about his recent ordeal.

Pulling out a handkerchief, Lucius sits in such a way that it helps block the malodorous scent, his ears keenly tuned to the Weasels conversation.

Championship Game...
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 09-11-04 23:22

Orei darted over the pitch when she caught the quaffle. She barely missed getting hit by a bludger, thanks to Brett's quick acting defenses, though his arm would pay the price.

She had made it over the center line of the pitch, more than halfway toward the goal posts guarded by the Slytherin keeper...Why oh why did the championship game have to be against Slytherin? She would have been happier if it had been against Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw....

She quickly continued to dart toward the end of the pitch. She tossed the quaffle toward Ginny and cheered when Ginny caught it.

The two continued to dart down the pitch.

Cheering Section
Author: Molly Weasley
Date: 09-12-04 01:23

"I just don't see them dear!"

Molly scanned the crowd looking for Bill, Fleur, George and Majandra, Fred and Blossom and Hermione.

She soon saw Bill standing and waving. "Mum over here!" She could see his mouth moving but was too far away from her to actually hear the words. Arthur and Molly made their way through the crowd. Arthur took his wife' s hand.

"Don't want to lose you!" He smiled. Molly laughed.

"You couldn't get Adam to change his mind? " She asked rather wistfully. Arthur shook his head.

"He's getting more and more self -conscious Molly. Won't leave the shop or apartment. I tried." Arthur found the row and the twe started scooting down to meet their group.
"Such a shame." Molly shook her head knowing how Adam loved Quidditch.

"Hello luv!" she kissed Bill and gave him a big hug. Then stepped back and took a look at him. "I think a nice haircut would be the ticket don't you dear? Just a bit here.." She fluffed a few strands brushing over his ear.

"Hello Mum" Bill laughed. Molly kissed her sons, Majandra. "Blossom dear nice to see you." she said quickly and found a seat with Arthur right behind her.

"Ohhhh look at Ron!" She clapped her hands excitedly then started to wave. "Ron!" then suddenly groaned as Ginny lost the quaffle.

Go Go Slytherin!
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 09-12-04 11:59

After taking a short tumble with Potter early on in the game, Draco felt more determined than ever to find the snitch sooner rather than later. He wanted the crowning victory of the Quidditch Cup, and to see the sorely disappointed faces of Potter, Weasley and the rest of the Gryffinbore lot. This was Slytherin's year, after all, and only a coincidence that it was Draco's last at Hogwarts too. Better to go out with a bang than a whisper, Draco figured, and the glory of two cups, not a mere one, seemed so ripe for the picking.

Hovering high in the air above all the commotion below, Draco didn't notice as the Weasley chaser lost the quaffle to Mary. Cheers and jeers grew louder as the second year Slytherin zoomed through the skies, ducking and dodging the violent assault of both bludgers, which seemed intent on bringing her down. She reached the Gryffindor hoops in a heart beat and made play to score, only to have her pass intercepted by Aemilius.

"Great maneuver by Aemilius!" shouted the commentator. "Gryffindor in possession!"

Cooperation
Author: Alexis Black
Date: 09-12-04 13:37

Alexis winced as Crispin took a bludger full in the back. That had to hurt something dreadful. She would have stopped to see if he was alright, but while he had to stop and remember how to breathe that meant Alexis was the only beater currently protecting her team from the bludgers.

They seemed to both be after Mary. Of course, while Alexis would have loved to see her sister’s face broken, she would have loved to earn the quidditch cup more. A quick glance from Mary told her she wanted the quaffle—but a Gryffindor had it.

Easily remedied, that problem.

Alexis swooped down to intercept a bludger and sent it rocketing toward the offending Gryffindor.

Payback
Author: Mary
Date: 09-12-04 13:38

Her again! Mary thought to herself, the voice in her head spitting vindictively. Amieleo or whoever... Mary had never seen the brat before, but here she was stealing the quaffle from her for the second time.

Was she a first year?!?

It didn't matter. She was going to take her down and make her regret she'd ever crossed paths with Mary Black.

Mary exchanged the briefest of glances with Alexis, and the sixth year seemed happy to oblige Mary’s unspoken request. With a crack a bludger sailed toward Tranquilina Aemilius, and just as the girl ducked to try to dodge it Mary came up from below, snatching the quaffle violently from the Gryffindor's distracted grip. Cackling, Mary zipped upwards and threw the red ball overhand into Declan's waiting grasp.

Spectator
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 09-12-04 13:53

By the looks of things, the championship match between Gryffindor and Slytherin would be a close one. Neither team had scored thus far, though several goal attempts had been made. The snitch had been spotted early on, but instead of a quick and easy victory each seeker had found himself on the green turf without the glimmering orb to show for it.

Snape cast a sidelong glance at McGonagall, whose old hands were clenched into little fists. A look of determination, hinted with mania, etched itself in deep lines across her aged face. Smirking, Snape redirected his attention to the field where Miss Black snatched the quaffle from Miss Aemilius' arms and subsequently threw it to Mr. Collins.

It only seemed appropriate that Slytherin would come out of this game with a win and the Quidditch Cup, for Snape's House had already beaten Gryffindor once this year. Of course, Potter hadn't been seeker during that match. Would his presence today make all the difference?

Snape scowled.

But his scowl turned to brief panic when he considered what he intended to do sometime next week. He'd put it off for far too long. The Volumen Immortalitas must leave Voldemort's hands, and Snape must be the one to take it from his grasp. The forgery was ready, and had been ready for quite some time. All that remained was the substitution, without fail, lest Snape wanted to die a horrible, horrible death... or worse.

Keeping in One Place
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 09-12-04 14:38

From his position in front of the goals Pyrrhus cheers on his teammates and wonders if Isolde is aware that former Gryffindbore Bossy Aussie Kingston is here not just in support of her dork brother but as a scout for professional Quidditch. Doesn't matter if she knows that or not because Isolde is playing well. She's not scored but then neither has anyone else on either team. That aside, Isolde is passing well, her form is good - though her form is always good no matter what she's doing as far as Py's concerned - she's being aggressive and at no time has she forgotten she's just one member of a team.

Py raises his voice to cheer louder as Declan hands off to Isolde. She flits around other players, faking out the Gryffindor chasers, then makes a great pass back to Declan. Isolde and Mary both maneuver ahead of Declan, closer to the goals, in preparation of accepting a pass should Declan hand off to either of them. When he does, Declan tosses the quaffle to Mary. Crispen, recovered from that hard bludger hit, is Johnny-on-the-spot to deflect a bludger sent towards Mary by upstart Wynbourne.

"Losebourne is a more appropriate name," Py snickers aloud even though there's no one around to here the jibe.

Mary throws the quaffle for a goal but the flying freckle of a Gryffinbore keeper somehow manages to deflect it. Not only that, but the quaffle is sent straight into the hands of Freckles sister. She does a quick one-eighty, zig zagging around her opponents then passes off to one of her teammates. As they draw nearer, Pyrrhus focuses on where the quaffle is, his body automatically preparing to block any scoring attempt the other team might make.

Exasperated!
Author: Tranquillina Aemilius
Date: 09-12-04 14:44

Tranquillina watched furiously as Mary, who Tranq though was a second-year student, tossed the quaffle to Declan. Nearly killed by a bludger, having the quaffle whisked away from her only added insult to Tranquillina's injury.

Tranq exchanged an exasperated glance with Ginny before tearing off down the pitch in pursuit of the Slytherin chasers.

Ron manages to keep the Slytherins from scoring (much to Gryffindor relief) and Ginny quickly takes posession of the quaffle. She does an about face, passing the quaffle to Orei, and as she does so, Tranq manages to keep close by should one of her fellow chasers need her.