Arriving Late
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 03-16-03 08:06

Fritz filed into the stands, silently cursing himself for sleeping through his alarm clock. The game was already underway, with Slytherin up by ten points. Two-thirds of the students in the stadium shouted angrily, desperate for Gryffindor to pick up the slack, while the Slytherin students wore smug facial expressions as they cheered their team to victory and turned their noses up against the opposing team and their fans.

Maneuvering through the throng of Ravenclaw students, Fritz kept an eye out for Coco, an easy target because of her ever-changing unusual hair color. He found her in the front row with little Pea in her arms. The front row seemed the popular place to be–Ravenclaw students were packed on that row like sardines. Still, Fritz felt confident that he could squeeze in.

He caught Coco's attention with a slight wave of the hand and stepped onto the row, muttering "excuse me" and "pardon me" as he went. Coco slid over a little, and Fritz carefully squeezed in, trying not to squash little Pea or end up in the lap of the person on his other side.

Once semi-comfortable, Fritz turned his attention to the game while asking to get caught up on what he had missed.

First Game of the Season
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 03-16-03 11:55

Lawrence and Vera had both gotten up early and had ate breakfast together in the Great Hall, both were excited about the first match of the season. Vera especially, since she was a member of the Hufflepuff team and wanted to see just how good the other teams were. Soon they both headed out to the stands and found seats in the Hufflepuff house section.

The game started and things weren't looking good for Gryffindor, but only time would tell if Gryffindor or Slytherin would come out on top of the first game of the season. Lawrence's mind strayed toward the upcoming Wizard's Chess Tournament, second round. He wanted to win, to hopefully gain some points for Hufflepuff. He felt a tug on his arm and blinked sheepishly at Vera. "Sorry, I was thinking about the Wizard's Chess Tournament, second round that is coming up soon."

Vera nodded and leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around her. He waved to Khloee who was a few rows in front of them when she turned around and looked at them. "So what do you want to do after the game? I have managed to get almost all of my homework done, surprisingly. Including the Ancient Runes homework I was having trouble with." He asked Vera tickling her lightly.

Lions, Snakes and a Snitch...Oh My!
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 03-16-03 12:02

Orei had gotten up a bit late, amidst all the excitement that hung around Gryffindor Tower this morning. Being as it was the first quidditch game of the season. Qudditch was something that she didn't truly understand, but Brett had explained to her as best as he could. She would have to watch a game to fully understand the rules and such. So that is what she would do.

She sat next to Annie, her coat pulled around her form against the cold. She cheered a bit for Gryffindor, though she could see that they were down ten points to Slytherin. That isn't good. Her eyes followed Brett, Austrailia and the rest of the team around the pitch, as well as keeping an eye on the oh-so-tricky Slytherins.

She cheered when one of the Gryffindor beaters hit a bludger, or had control of the quaffle. She soon turned her gaze on Harry and Draco, the seekers for each team. Both were looking intently for the small, speedy, golden snitch. It was capturing that small item that would decide the game either in favor of Gryffindor or Slytherin.

Third Time's the Charm
Author: Isolde
Date: 03-16-03 16:51

After Tempest scored the first goal of the game, the already pumped-up energy of the Slytherin team soared even higher. Gryffindor gained possession of the quaffle, but it exchanged hands so fast that somehow during the rapid and often lightening-quick motions, it landed in Isolde's open arms.

Her broom made a sharp turn and rocketed toward the other hoops. The other chasers tailed her furiously, attempting desperately to prevent her from reaching her target. Smug and confident, Isolde arched back her arm and let the quaffle spring loose only to have it deflected by Gryffindor's new keeper, Ron Weasley.

Isolde swore, racing after the Gryffindor chaser now in possession of the quaffle. Once again, the lack of familiarity and cohesion between the new chasers on the opposing team made interception fairly easy. Isolde found the quaffle in her arms once more and made a beeline for the hoops on the other end of the field.

Ron Weasley anticipated her moves and blocked the shot again, earning a great roar of cheers from the fans in the stadium. He successfully passed the quaffle to a member of his team, who flitted across the sky at top-notch speed. Isolde bolted after the chaser, desperate to get her hands on the quaffle once more.

As if drawn to her, it landed in her arms a third time and found itself tucked securely underneath her arm as she shot through the air like an arrow. She jerked her broom to a sudden stop before the hoops and in one movement sent the quaffle hurdling through the sky and into its target.

"Farnon scores!" cried Kyle Stebbins. "Slytherin has twenty points, Gryffindor has zero."

Isolde grinned and muttered, "Third time's the charm."

Gaining Experience
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 03-16-03 20:12

Things were not looking good for Gryffindor. The opposing team, Slytherin, now led by twenty points while Gryffindor still managed to remain off the scoreboard. The team had done quite well in practices and Harry's techniques had proved to be very helpful, but something just didn't want to click; the team didn't mesh. These things often come after time–each player must learn how he handles the game himself, but must also observe his teammates and not only memorize but truly know their style of play.

For a while, Ron felt as if he was getting into the swing of things. Isolde's attempted, yet unsuccessful goals garnered a sense of confidence in his keeper skills and his ability to absorb a player's every move in order to anticipate what she will do nextÐalmost like reading her mind before she makes any movement whatsoever to attempt some sort of strategy or maneuver.

His failure at stopping her third goal attempt brought him back to reality and reminded him that he still had much to learn. Certainly, impromptu Quidditch games back at the Burrow with his brothers had helped him get a true sense of feel for a real game, but he knew he lacked the experience that most of the Slytherins possessed. In time, he too would be able to fine-tune his ability to outwit and outplay.

He focused intently on the incoming players as once again, Slytherin chaser Isolde Farnon had possession of the quaffle. Instead of approaching the goals herself with the aim of scoring for the team, she passed it quickly to her cousin, Azaelia Bramble, who attempted to make the goal herself. Ron deftly maneuvered his broom into the quaffle's path and 360ed, whacking the quaffle mightily with the coarse bristles of his Lightening Bolt broomstick.

He cheered with great pride as the chasers scrambled for the ball and cheered even louder when Gryffindor chaser, Australia, gained possession of it. He hardly noticed the bludger screaming in his direction. Ducking suddenly, he felt it whoosh by his ear. Ron shuddered involuntarily as he straightened his back, remembering to keep his eyes on all places at all times. He'd hate to get knocked out during his first game!

Too Close, A Little Too Close
Author: Annie Paul
Date: 03-17-03 01:59

As Orie and I watched we saw Azaelia Bramble with the Quaffle in possession heading towards Ron. There was a look of determination on her face to make another score but our Keeper did a wonderful 360 and blocked it.

Just as he did a look of pride spread across his face. Just then a Bludger came zooming close to him. I know I wasn't the only one who screamed "Look Out!" Just then he ducked as the Bludger missed him by a hair. I lowered my hands and gave a sigh. "That was too close," I said and opened my sketchbook and began to draw the moment.

Big Plans for a Big Night
Author: Fred Weasley
Date: 03-17-03 07:46

With a little over a month to go before Charlie and Helena's big wedding, Fred and George had plenty of time to come up with the most perfect gift for their brother and sister-in-law. Careful planning, hard work and lots of love would be put into the present–after all, it's not everyday Charlie Weasley gets married...

The twin redheads busied themselves with diagrams, ingredient lists and other such things–they'd spare no expense for this most grand occasion. New Year's Eve will certainly be a night to remember...

The Other End of the Pitch
Author: H Potter
Date: 03-17-03 10:44

Harry hovers slightly above and several feet to the left of Pyrrhus Fine, certain he'd seen the snitch darting around behind the Slytherin keeper. After searching for signs of the snitch around the goals, Harry swings around on his broom to scan the rest of the pitch. All Harry sees, however, is a bludger coming straight towards his face. He swerves sharply to the right only to smash into Pyrrhus's left side. As bad luck would have, Harry's collision, hard as it was, didn't take Pyrrhus out of the game and to Harry's chagrin Madam Hooch blows her whistle calling a foul even before the boys disentangled themselves. The quaffle is passed over to a Slytherin chaser to take the foul shot. Harry didn't even look to see which one as he sits bent over his broom fervently hoping Ron successfully blocks the goal attempt. A roar from the crowd tells Harry that Ron did just that. A flash of gold blurs the air beside Harry. With no more time to dwell on his stupid mistake, Harry is once more off in pursuit of the snitch.

Exit Stage Left
Author: Majandra
Date: 03-17-03 14:59

With the excitement of the first match of the year and with sitting with friends in one of the Gryffindor stands, Majandra should be having a good time. But she's not. As a loud groan goes up when a bludger hit by Dean misses hitting Draco by a hair, Majandra leans over so that Hermione and Ginny can hear her above the crowd.

"I'm sorry to miss the rest of Ron's debut but I'm heading back to the castle."

Assuring the girls she's all right, that it's just a headache, Majandra exits the stands to head back to her room.

Hooray for Bludgers
Author: Alexis Black
Date: 03-17-03 15:37

Alexis then managed to smack a bludger away from its beeline toward Isolde and send it whooshing instead past Weasley's ear. It would certainly be funny if the keeper fell off his top-of-the-line broomstick. Alexis twirled her bat as she chased the bludger as it chased Azaelia, again knocking it off course.

Just then, a chaser with the quaffle whizzed past Alexis.

Where are those bludgers when I need them? She thought angrily.

Again she resorted to illegal tactics. Reaching out quickly, Alexis grabbed the edge of the Gryffindor's broomstick, slowing her down.

"Hey!" She said angrily, turning back.

Damn. Alexis thought, It's Remadi again. While the Gryffindor was busy trying to get Alexis to let go, Isolde swooped in and deftly took the quaffle from Remadi's protesting hands. Alexis let go, but the dreaded whistle blast still sounded.

"Foul!"

The exchange took place, and, of course, they didn't score.

Alexis then sent a Bludger careening toward Remadi. She missed, but barely. Just when Alexis was feeling most pleased with herself and paying the least attention, abludger hit her hard on her right side. She heard her ribs crack. Her broom dropped several feet and Alexis doubled up in pain. She vaguely remembered hearing cheers as she spat up blood, which trickled the twenty feet or so to the ground. Wiping her mouth on her sleeve, Alexis sat up slowly and looked around. She tried not to think about how much it hurt, or to wonder how she managed to stay on her broom.

Think about the game, she told herself.

She flew off, glad to be left handed.

She felt sick. It hurt to breathe. She ferverently hoped that Draco would catch the snitch soon, so she could go to the hospital wing already.

Hitting the Books
Author: Jet
Date: 03-17-03 18:21

Game, shmame. Who cares about flying around in cold weather looking for an annoying little ball with wings? The Salazar inspired Jet has much better things to do with his time. Like learning more dark spells. Dastardly little curses. Fiendish charms. Potent potions.

Jet sits in his private room, pouring over more of Salazar's personal writings, including some very interesting experimental spells and potions, which Salazar never had a chance to try. Jet smiles with smug, self satisfaction at the thought of trying some of these out and having help in conducting the experiments. Pyrrhus Fine had taken Jet up on the offer of learning more about the Dark Arts. Jet was still waiting to hear from Isolde Farnon, though if Py has agreed Isolde probably will as well. He's also still waiting to learn Azaelia Bramble's answer.

Jet settles on one of the spells to try for their first experiment and begins going over Salazar's step by step instructions for casting the spell. Py and Jet, and hopefully Isolde and Azaelia, will be the first to attempt it. Jet and the spirit of Salazar can hardly wait!

Come On, Gryffindor
Author: Eileen
Date: 03-17-03 20:41

I watch in dismay as the game gets off to a less than favourable start. Gryffindor had no points and Slytherin had twenty!!! That didn't mean we couldn't win, but this was definitely not a good start! However, it is a new team, save for Harry and so it was a learning experience. As long as the team does it's best.

Victory is Nigh
Author: Mary
Date: 03-17-03 21:21

Mary was secretly pleased at the apparent success of her house team, but she didn't show it. She sat like a statue next to Crispin, who, as usual, was the only person who would sit next to her anyway.

It was only when Crispin elbowed her and pointed to the pitch that Mary showed any emotion at all that day.

"Isn't that your sister?" he said, pointing to a green-clad girl vomiting blood.

"She got hit by a bludger," Crispin added.

"Ha," Mary hissed meanly, "and she's a beater!"

Mary watched as Alexis flew hesitantly away, but stopped again to spit some more blood onto the grass below. Mary smiled a little and shook her head.

One player down and Slytherin still had the match in the bag.

Mothers and Daughter
Author: Helena Tufton
Date: 03-18-03 10:10

Marcus and Charlotte Tufton apparated to the Burrow every now and then to aid in preparation for their daughter's big day. Today, Helena's mother and mother-in-law busied themselves with Helena's wedding robes, while Marcus and Arthur took Charlie out and away from the house.

Helena fidgeted as she stood on the stool, waiting rather impatiently for Molly to finish tacking the bottom hem of the white robes to the appropriate length. Charlotte sat in a nearby chair and used her wand to create ornate trimmings on a sheer veil.

The entire ensemble looked lovely and would certainly be quite amazing on the big night with all the lights and flowers and friends and family. Helena could hardly wait for New Year's Eve to arrive!

Having a Bad Day
Author: H Potter
Date: 03-18-03 10:57

OOC note: This post is made from the point of view of Dean Thomas.

Dean couldn't seem to get into the flow of the game. Maybe it's first game nerves. Maybe he's just having an off day. Maybe he really has no talent and Madam Hooch made a mistake picking him for the team. Dean sighs at that thought, firmly telling himself that one is definitely the nervousness talking.

A bludger goes whizzing by and Dean sends his broom racing after it. He passes it then swings around to position himself to give the bludger a solid hit. A cackling Slytherin is suddenly cutting him off. To avoid cracking Clara in the head (not that Dean's averse to inflicting a little pain on a Slytherin but he's fairly certain Madam Hooch and Professors McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Snape would not take kindly to him hitting one full force in the head with his bat), Dean pulls his broom up and to the right in a steep climb.

A sharp pain causes Dean to reflexively grab his chest where it's sharpest only to find himself holding the bludger Clara had beat him too. Despite Dean not clubbing Clara upside the head as he could have done, Clara sent the bludger straight at Dean when he was still recovering from nearly hitting her.

Angry enough to temporarily block out the sharp pains along his sternum, Dean takes the bludger and throws it up with one hand while swinging his bat with the other. Only to have it soar right past Clara. She smiles sweetly at Dean then laughs maliciously before swooping off in pursuit of another opportunity to wound a Gryffindor with a bludger.

A New Man
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 03-18-03 15:31

Before everything changed, Ethan never displayed blatant favoritism to any one house at Hogwarts. He viewed each and every student as an equal and treated them as such. While it was evident that each house had its own set of ethics and characteristics, Ethan ignored the distinctions and pretended as if there were no lines and barriers between Gryffindor and Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

Over the past few weeks, however, Ethan's perception of everything altered drastically. Not only was he different – outwardly still the same friendly, charming professor but inwardly vile, viscous and plotting terrible, terrible things – but also his theory of treating all students alike changed.

Suddenly, Slytherins fared better than the other three houses – never in obvious ways, yet still showered with praise and points beyond their probable worth. Students in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw continued to receive the same accolades as before, except in times where some of their obvious stupidity exceeded even Ethan's patience.

For some reason, only Hufflepuff House seemed the brunt of Ethan's new self. How long had Kendra Beck plagued his mind, causing him many sleepless nights and countless moments of panic, terror and fear? Too long. He attributed his dislike of Hufflepuff House to her and her siblings and her friends. All friendly and pure, all good and loyal.

His personal vendetta against the Beck family served as a source of suffering for the whole of Hufflepuff House. They saw no rewards, no words of encouragement...only deeply rooted scorn and disapproval–not that Ethan assumed a stern, cruel and vindictive face when he spoke with them. His charming, pleasant and ultra-Hufflepuff-like friendly demeanor always remained fixed on his face.

Surely some of the brighter Hufflepuff students felt cheated, but most were completely oblivious to his change in opinion of them...especially those of the female persuasion. Ethan could utter a string of profanity, flash his drop-dead gorgeous smile and still have the girls in the classroom drop at his feet like swooning teenagers at a Captain Electron concert.

At any rate, Ethan's transformation on Halloween night left him a very changed man. He needed some time to adjust to his new self–to allow the dark poison flowing through his veins to extend to every inch of his body. Soon, Voldemort would contact him again. Soon, Voldemort would have a task for him–for him and the many others in the world just like him.

For now, Ethan decided to cease grading papers (first year essays on the history of the dark arts) and head over to the Quidditch Pitch where the first match between Gryffindor and Slytherin was already long underway. He was quite looking forward to seeing how Slytherin was faring.

Having a Great Time
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 03-18-03 16:18

After witnessing the hit Alexis had taken, Pyrrhus catches Isolde's attention and points to Alexis, mouthing for Isolde to check on their teammate. He doesn't have time to dwell further on the injured Alexis because that pesky Natalie is back thinking she's going to get the quaffle through one of the hoops. The Gryffindor seems almost timid and unsure this time as she lets go of the Quaffle. The throw carries so little energy Py's able to easily catch it one handed and in a blink he's tossing it to Tempest. Py sneers at Natalie, "I may put on a blindfold just so I have a challenge to work with." Py starts laughing when he notices Natalie wiping a tear from her eye as she flies off towards the other end of the pitch. This game is going great!

Annoyed
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 03-18-03 17:03

Things were looking very good for the Slytherin team when Professor Somerset climbed into the staff box and searched for an available seat. Professor Snape regarded the always smiling, always cheerful Defense Against the Dark Arts professor warily and then resumed his attentive focus on the Quidditch game.

"Ah, Severus! Mind if I sit next to you?"

Damn. The Potions master cast an annoyed glance at Professor Somerset and responded impassively, "Not at all, Ethan." His gaze flickered to the empty seat between him and Professor Fairchild, and then returned to the beaming face of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Professor Somerset carefully stepped over Bill Weasley's feet and Adriana's dainty toes before finding the available seat next to the disgruntled Professor Snape. He watched the action on the field for a few moments in silence, duly noting the twenty points for Slytherin on the scoreboard.

Professor Snape turned away from the other professor and continued to watch the game, drumming his long, slender fingers on his right knee. He silently hoped Professor Somerset wouldn't decide to launch into some tedious discussion about – well, anything. Wishful thinking never held any sway, no matter how hard one wanted it.

After a few moments of companionable, yet (in Snape's opinion) irksome silence, Ethan leaned in while keeping his blue eyes focused on the game and asked, "What did I miss?"

Professor Snape exhaled and made an irritated noise in the back of his throat, and he stated rather exasperatedly, "Slytherin scored two goals, Gryffindor has yet to score."

"Why thank you, Professor States-the-Obvious," said Somerset sarcastically. He grinned, turning to face the Potions master and pleaded, "Give me details. Who scored? Any fouls? Any injuries?"

Beyond perturbed, Snape rolled his eyes to the heavens and answered, "Miss Aisling and Miss Farnon scored, the amount of fouls are too numerous to recount and Miss Black just took a hit and appears to be spitting up blood."

Somerset's eyes seemed to light up and his smile never faltered. "Fascinating! I knew I should have abandoned my work earlier!" He resumed his rapt attention on the action on the field, leaving Snape in veritable peace for a good length of time.

Professor Snape quietly observed his co-worker, wondering how on earth someone could be so overly pleasant and cheerful all the time. With a shake of the head, Snape turned back to the game.