Pressure
Author: H Potter
Date: 07-18-03 12:01
Harry stands in the center of the pitch, the rest of the team arrayed around him. As they wait for Madam Hooch to officially start the game, Harry hopes he doesn't appear to everyone as nervous as he feels. When giving the pre-game speech to the team just moments before, he finally understood the pressure Oliver Wood must have felt that made him always seem so overly fanatical about winning. The entire Gryffindor team knows that they must win today and win big if there is to be any chance of getting into a play-off for the Quidditch Cup. Harry is acutely aware that of all the team, he as captain will take the most heat for another bad game should Gryffindor lose. It's been his job to take a group of players inexperienced in the pressures of a real game and turn them into a tightly knit, unshakable, winning team. So far Harry's stats on that seem to be about 50%. Maybe less when considering that the team only made one goal before he caught the snitch in the game against Hufflepuff and no goals at all in their first game back in November against Slytherin.
Harry shakes his head to clear his thoughts. He can't be dwelling on past games while playing in this one. In the time remaining before Madam Hooch signals the start of the game, Harry concentrates on freeing his mind of all distracting thoughts.
March Madness
Author: Madam Hooch
Date: 07-18-03 15:11
March. 8, 97
The sun was hidden behind thick clouds with a few rays getting through. Since it hadn't snowed in a few days, the ground was getting mushy. The box of game balls had already been brought out on to the field.
Madam Hooch walked up to the crate in the center of the field with her whistle in her mouth. She gave the whistle one short blast so as to get the attention of the players on the field. Harry and Cho met her in the center and shook hands.
Once the players were back in position Madam Hooch gave the whistle a nice long blast signaling the start. The quaffle was tossed into the air and retrieved by Remadi of Gryffindor.
Opening Announcements
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-18-03 16:13
The Quidditch Pitch was packed to the limit with energetic spectators when the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw teams exited their respective locker rooms and marched to the center of the field, where Madam Hooch stood with the rectangular box of balls at her feet.
Bronwyn cleared her throat and spoke into the magical microphone. "Welcome back to the Pitch on this fine, March day! It's time for Quidditch!"
Cheers thundered throughout the stands, while the preliminaries between the team captains and Madam Hooch took place down below.
"Today's match is between Gryffindor," she paused to allow for cheers and applause, "and Ravenclaw!" She paused again, smiling.
"Let's meet our players! For Gryffindor: Keeper, Ron Weasley! Beaters, Brett Kingston and Dean Thomas! Chasers, Australia Kingston, Natalie MacDonald and Remadi Ye! and Seeker and Captain, Harry Potter!"
Harry and Cho shook hands and then mounted their brooms, soaring into the sky with their teammates.
"For Ravenclaw," Bronwyn continued, "Keeper, Gabriel Baine! Beaters, Fynn Greenleaf and Su Li! Chasers, Sean Belgar, Terry Boot and Sykra Saywer! and Seeker and Captain, Cho Chang!"
Madam Hooch kicked open the trunk and released the bludgers, snitch and the quaffle. In a blink of an eye, Remadi reached for the quaffle and snatched it from the sky starting the race to the three goal hoops guarded by Gabriel.
"Gryffindor in possession!" shouted Bronwyn happily.
Pink's Not
So Bad
Author: Jet
Date: 07-18-03 18:34
Making sure it's safe to enter his study-laboratory, Jet enters, anxious to get started on perfecting a new spell, one that Salazar had theorized was possible but never had a chance to work on until now. Yesterday, Jet had sent a message by owl to Pyrrhus, a coded message, to let Py know that with today being a Quidditch day, Jet felt it would be safe enough to spend time in his little room. If Py wants to join in and help with the spell, that would be great.
As Jet settles in to first drink a mug of spicy, warm, pumpkin juice and eat a couple of doughnuts he also thinks ahead to the next time he can use this room. A time when he wants to use another human subject. Because of her being so prominent in all her pink whenever she's around, that Reese Witherspoon person pops into Jet's head. Pink. Made from red. Red. Blood red. A most excellent color.
Malfoy's Color
Author: Peeves the Poltergeist
Date: 07-18-03 19:05
Ah, there's nothing like the smell of fresh paint in the morning!! I'd been searching all year for the perfect way to torture that little snot, Draco Malfoy, when Draco himself gave me the idea.
I was zooming through the Great Hall last week, throwing stink pellets in peoples' porridge at breakfast, when I heard Malfoy insulting a new girl because of the pink color of her robes. This gave me an excellent idea; so, I sped away, looking for anything I could find that was pink.
It took me a week to get everything I needed, but I've finally got it all. I've covered his bed in pink shawls, painted the frame pink, and replaced his blankets with a frilly, pink quilt.
I float back, admiring my work, when I realize it isn't enough. So, I float over the bed, sprinkling flowers all over it. There, now for Malfoy himself.
I met the boy on the way up to the Great Hall from the dungeons, surrounded, as usual by a large group of people who look as though they haven't got enough intelligence between them to open an umbrella.
Right there, in front of all his friends, I dive bomb him, emptying an entire large can of pastel pink paint over his head, and dumping a handful of flowers on that.
"It's your color mate," I shout as I whiz down the hallway, cackling maniacally.
Cheering for
the Home Team
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 07-18-03 19:24
Hermione and Ginny sat in the stands with their fellow Gryffindors, cheering on Harry, Ron and the rest of the team to victory. Things seemed off to an excellent start; Remadi Ye, one of the Gryffindor chasers, had possession of the quaffle and she was moving towards the opposing goal hoops with remarkable speed. Hermione's childhood friend, Gabriel Baine, readied himself for the impending goal attempt.
Keeping her eyes on the action, Hermione leaned her head towards Ginny's and asked, "Managed to get away from Reese this morning, did you?"
"Not an early-riser," Ginny replied, "though she seemed to stir when I finally left the room. I imagine she's getting dressed."
"Primped and polished," Hermione commented. "Say, you've seen her entire wardrobe by now, haven't you? Does she own anything that isn't pink?"
Ginny nodded her head and answered, "She does, but pink is obviously a favorable color."
The conversation died away as Remadi streaked across the sky, drawing ever closer to the triad of goal hoops...
Of Course,
This Means War
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 07-18-03 20:05
Draco stood rooted to the ground in the entrance hall, pastel pink paint and flower petals dripping down his skin and into small pools at his feet. Crabbe and Goyle had received a few splatters from the paint, but they failed to take notice of this. They were too busy studying Draco's facial expression and body language, gigantic mouths agape and eyes wide.
A few stragglers exited the Great Hall and paused, open-mouthed at the sight of Draco in all his pink glory. They laughed and smirked, some mumbling "serves him right" before brushing past him and his entourage and leaving the castle for the Pitch.
Draco finally found use of his mouth and through clenched teeth said, "Find...the...Bloody...Baron...NOW!" He shook his head to get the cascades of pink paint from his eyes, spraying the walls, the floors and Crabbe and Goyle with more paint. Crabbe and Goyle hesitated for the slightest of moments, before stomping past Draco and back down the staircases to the dungeons, hoping to find the Slytherin House ghost right away.
Draco whipped around, showering an innocent bypasser with a current of pastel paint. "What are you looking at?" he spat, sneering venomously at the unfortunate first year who happened to come upon him at the worst time imaginable. The young student bustled past him and through the front door, never looking back.
Crabbe and Goyle returned in remarkable time with the Bloody Baron in tow, who had apparently been informed of Peeves' antics on the way. Words didn't need to be exchanged; the Slytherin ghost bowed his head in acknowledgement and simply said, "It'll be my pleasure," before flying through a wall in search of the poltergeist.
It was well known that Peeves was frightened of the Bloody Baron. Draco trudged down the steps to the dungeon, leaving a trickle of pastel pink paint along the way, but confident that Peeves will think twice before picking on him again...at least for a little while. Abandoning Crabbe and Goyle in the common room, Draco went to his dormitory to gather up a change of clothes and his toiletries, when he noticed the very pink nature of his four-poster. "Peeves!" Draco roared, his gray eyes flashing dangerously.
Draco tore at the pink bed-hangings and crumbled a few stray flowers in his fist. His chest heaved from anger and his face was red (where it wasn't pink). After a few moments, Draco decided to abandon destroying his bed. He collected a fresh set of robes and other clothing, grabbed his shower supplies and went to the bathroom in the dungeons, deliberately avoiding the prefects bathroom because he simply couldn't wander through the corridors of Hogwarts in his very pink state.
He scrubbed and polished, scraped and rubbed until every trace of the pink paint was annihilated. His next job would be his bed, but he really wanted to view the Quidditch match. He obviously didn't care to support either team, but as captain of the Slytherin team and a player himself, he wanted to see what he might be up against, should one of these two teams make it to the championship round.
Deciding to tackle his bed after the match, Draco met Crabbe and Goyle in the common room and narrowed his eyes at the sight of both of them still decked out in their paint-splattered robes. Not wanting to delay any further, however, Draco led them out of the common room and to the Quidditch Pitch to view the remainder of the game.
Along the way, he silently hoped that Peeves was getting severely punished. Don't mess with Slytherin.
Score?
Author: Remadi Ye
Date: 07-18-03 21:08
Remadi grinned as she was the first one to touch the quaffle at the start of the game. This seemed to be a recurring role for her (now she just needed to score with it.) She zips across the pitch, keeping an eye out for players and bludgers. She quickly gets nearer to the goal hoops and, finding a slight opening, throws the quaffle towards the left hoop. She watches as the quaffle gets nearer to the hoop... and then is caught by the Ravenclaw keeper, Gabriel Bane. Letting out a breath to relax her a little bit, Remadi follows the ball and tries to gain possession of it once more.
The Bloody
Baron
Author: Peeves the Poltergeist
Date: 07-19-03 12:45
As I balance a bowl of day-old porridge on the door of Filch's office, Nearly-Headless Nick floats by, and says "Oh, there you are, Peeves, you know, the Bloody Baron is looking for you, he seems really upset about something."
"Yipes!" I scream, and zoom off, looking for a place to hide from the Baron's wrath.
I was just climbing into a suit of armor when the Bloody Baron stuck his face in through the breastplate. "Peeves," he said in his cold, raspy voice, "get out, now."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Baron, sir." I said, and clambered back out of the suit.
"It has come to my attention, Peeves, that you painted the bed one of the students in Slytherin house pink. I was also informed that you covered said student in pink paint. Is this true?"
"Ye-yes, sir." I say, quaking uncontrollably.
"In that case, you are to return to his dormitory immediately and remove the pink things."
"Yes, sir." I speed off and gather some more stuff.
There, much better, the Baron never said I had to return it to it's original state, just to get rid of the pinkness Now, the blankets are a beautiful shade of maroon, with handsome, gold hangings sporting the Gryffindor house crest, and the headboard has a nice shade of red, with the words "Gryffindor Rules" in a glossy, gold color. I zoom away, cackling maniacally at my work.
Two Bludgers
Author: Sean Belgar
Date: 07-19-03 15:25
Sean is streaking across his side of the pitch watching for the right time to get the quaffle and score. He hardly notices the two people on his side. Gabriel throws the quaffle to Sean; he catches it and speeds across the pitch.
He is about to pass to Sykra when a bludger streaks by his head. He turns to see Brett grinning at him and then he looks past Sean. Sean turns in time to see Dean hit the bludger back at Sean. He dodges it but only by dropping the quaffle.
Dean and Brett zoom off to help their teammates fend off the other bludger, which is being occupied by the Ravenclaw beaters. I should have passed when I could. If only I didn't get distracted so easily. With those finally thoughts running through his head he speeds off to help his teammates.
Absolutely
Fab
Author: Reese Witherspoon
Date: 07-19-03 16:18
Reese finally made her way and found a seat next to Hermione. This time, she was wearing a very dark purple suit with an adorable French hat that was finished with a large pink flower. She was wearing a pink pearl necklace followed by new curls in her hair. around her neck was also a dark purple scarf. Her two nails been also painted hot pink while her shoes were purple high heels with diamond front buckles. Her mini skirt was matching to what she was wearing. She looked absolutely adorable and she looked quiet good in purple as she did in pink.
"Reese, whatever happened to that pink outift you showed me today?"
"Oh, you see, while I was putting my foundation on today, I looked in my wardrobe again and I found this gorgeous purple outfit that I just had to wear! Doesn't it look just fab?" Reese said, giving a wink to both of them.
Reese finally stopped chatting and began to concentrate on this game called "Quidditch".....
She's Got
the Blues - Ravenclaw Blues
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 07-19-03 19:40
Coco, her hair back to being Ravenclaw blue after having it done differently much of February in honor of Valentine's Day, stands up and shouts, "Move yer arse, Ravenclaw. Pummel Gryffindor!"
Just then Harry Potter, whom Coco knows in passing, goes zooming by in search of the snitch. Coco, not wanting her words to possibly hurt Harry's feelings, if he paid them any heed, since she's sort of a friend, calls after him, "Nuttin personal, 'Arry. Awl in good fun."
All an Act
Author: Helena Tufton
Date: 07-19-03 21:25
Helena apparated outside the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade, casting a rather sullen glance down the alleyway to where the hustle and bustle of the High Street was visible. A trickle of rather shady-looking characters stepped out in front of her from the pub, obscuring her view of the road for the briefest of moments. The abrupt interruption gave her a minute to delve into her thoughts.
She cast Adriana Fairchild from her mind and concentrated merely on one thing; she had come to Hogsmeade for a very important reason. As the memories washed over her, Helena found mobility in her legs and started to walk towards the High Street. She turned right at the corner and walked a few yards to the front of a store she hadn't visited in quite some time.
She stopped before one of the great, glass windows and spotted a familiar face inside the shop. He stood behind the front counter, brows furrowed and a slightly attentive expression on his handsome face. Expelling a deep breath, Helena yanked open the door and ignored the welcome-chime, and instead she fixed a stern gaze at the shopkeeper.
"Helena Tufton, back from the dead," Julian commented dryly, surveying her with mild interest. "What gives me the pleasure––"
"Don't flatter yourself, Julian," Helena snapped. She stalked towards the counter and glared at him. "I'm not here to please you. Those days are long over."
Julian looked moderately amused. He smirked and leaned forwards, keeping his gaze level with hers. "Then what, may I ask, are you doing here? Surely you didn't stop by to catch up on old times..."
Helena opened her mouth to retort, but Julian cut her off. "Come to tell me how awful I was to ruin your marriage with the Weasel? Come to tell me that I've once again hurt you as no other ever has? Let me tell you something, Helena," Julian continued, dark eyes flashing dangerously, "this time it was all your fault."
Her eyes narrowed until they were hardly more than slits. "You're wrong," Helena spat, "you're entirely at fault. If it hadn't been for you all those years ago, I wouldn't have ever been in that situation!"
"Do you like having someone else to blame, Helena?" Julian shouted, for the first time raising his voice since her arrival.
Helena drew back, startled. She wasn't used to Julian yelling at her; they had made more love than war during their relationship and even after their fall-out, Julian had never shouted at her. He had always maintained a suave, calm and collected attitude towards her. Things with Charlie had been vastly different.
"Something bothering you?" Helena asked curiously, but she kept a certain edge to her voice.
"None of your damn business," Julian barked, and he cast a long glance over her shoulder.
Helena turned to look and observed a shifty-looking customer sifting through some of the books on one of the shelves. When she returned her gaze to Julian, she noticed that he was still looking at the strange man in the store.
"I need to talk to you," Helena said boldly, after the brief lull in the conversation.
"I'm busy," Julian said, keeping his eyes on the customer.
"It's important business," Helena exclaimed furiously.
Julian scowled and met her gaze. "What business could you possibly have with me, Helena?" he cried out. "Perhaps I've forgotten, but last I heard you wanted nothing more to do with me!"
Again, she opened her mouth to speak but closed it when Julian looked away from her to watch the strange man abandon the books on the shelves and drift out the door. When the man disappeared into the crowd, Julian walked out from behind the counter and marched over to the office he had once shared with Lysander and Chyler.
Helena followed. "Aren't you going to listen to me? Don't you want to hear what I have to say?"
Julian seemed to ignore her and opened the office door. Helena slipped in behind him and demanded, "Well?" She folded her arms across her chest and waited for Julian to say something.
He bent over his desk to quickly scribble something down, pausing briefly to tickle his temple with the feathers of his quill and he pondered something deeply. When he finished writing down his thoughts, he tossed the quill on the surface of the desk and turned to face her again. Julian waited expectantly for her to speak.
"Bastard," Helena said, scowling.
"Did you just come here to call me names, Helena?" Julian asked in a bored tone of voice.
"No," she said, and Helena turned away from him to look out the door. The shop was completely empty, and Helena and Julian seemed to be the only two in the building.
She reached for the door and leaned on it briefly, exhaling a soft breath, and then she shut the door and locked it. When she turned back around, she noticed that Julian was watching her with growing interest. Her own expression no longer bore signs of hatred, anger or disgust. Instead, she smiled, stepped towards him and said, "I've come here to tell you that it's over..."
His eyebrows rose slightly, and a faint grin spread across his handsome lips as if he knew what she meant by this statement.
"Now," Helena said, her smile growing more and more wicked and she approached him, "give Momma some sugar."
The Pink Blush
of Love
Author: Majandra
Date: 07-19-03 21:49
Majandra nudges Ginny and whispers soto voice, "There's still snow on the ground, it's chilly, and the wind is rather nippy. How come she's not cold in just that mini?"
Ginny gives an almost imperceptible shrug and replies in an equally low tone, "Beats the heck out of me."
Majandra reaches into a pocket and pulls out a tin of little hard candies. She offers them around to everyone then pops one into her mouth. Hermione asks, "Where did you get these, they're brilliant!"
"George created them for me and sent this first batch this morning by owl."
Ginny gives Majandra a pointed look. "What exactly is going on with you and George these days? He tells me to shut my gob* and keep my nose out of it whenever I ask."
Majandra makes a sigh that's very audible even over the cheering crowd. "I honestly don't know, Ginny. I think I love him but what do I know about love? I'm only sixteen but while I have dated other boys, not counting that stupid spell I was under for awhile, I never cared for them like I do George. He says he loves me but he's out in the real world and could meet someone new, someone whom he truly loves and forget his cute little schoolgirl who's still got more than a year before she's finished and taken her N.E.W.T.s. That's why I told him we should take a break and he should date others if he meets anyone he likes. I absolutely hate the thought of George out with another girl on a date and having a good time but I can't expect him to sit around being lonely while waiting for me to finish school."
Ginny arches her eyebrows at Majandra. "I know I'm younger than you and don't know a whole lot about real love either but, Majandra, if that isn't love than I don't know what is. You'd rather see George happy even if it means you'd be deeply hurt."
Hermione nods in agreement. "In the Muggle world there's a saying about how if you love something set it free. If it doesn't come back, then it was never meant to be. In a your own way, you've set George free."
Majandra sighs again. "I understand what you're both saying. It's just all so confusing."
Just then Reese interrupts. "Who is this George? What does he look like? Is he cute? Well groomed? Dress with flair?"
Ginny laughs. "George is one of my older brothers. I don't think he's all that cute but then as the little sister I'm supposed to say that."
"George is very cute in my opinion," Majandra interjects. "And sweet, considerate, caring, intelligent, brave..."
Ginny laughs even louder. "Yeah, sweet and considerate. That's George. You forgot mischievous, sneaky, and a prankster!"
