Hufflepuff vs Slytherin
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-20-04 08:52

A strong wind unraveled the black and yellow scarf loosely wrapped around Bronwyn's neck. She snatched a fringed end before it could get away and shivered as cold air assailed her bare skin. Quickly securing her scarf in place, Bronwyn adjusted her mittens as she finished the climb into the staff box. There she greeted Professor McGonagall and some of the other teachers and their guests, and then she took her position at the magical microphone.

Mere moments later, both double-doors to the locker rooms swung open and fourteen uniform-clad people flew out on their broomsticks. Twelve circled high, raised their arms and pumped their fists at the energetic crowd, smiling and laughing and high-fiving as they zoomed along. The two captains, Hannah and Draco, touched down to meet Viktor at the center of the Pitch.

Bronwyn clicked on the microphone and shouted, "Welcome to Quidditch! Today's match is between Hufflepuff...

"...and Slytherin!

"Let's meet our players! For Hufflepuff: Abbott, Beck, Beck, Delgety, Dewhurst, Diamond and Masterson!

"For Slytherin: Black, Black, Collins, Cooke, Farnon, Fine and Malfoy!"

She watched silently, but happily, as Hannah and Draco exchanged words on the ground. Viktor spoke to them, then the two seventh years shook hands and mounted their brooms.

Viktor prepared to release the balls...

On the Field
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 07-20-04 09:03

Time for another game. Viktor wonders where the days have gone since the last match. He carries the box of balls to the field and opens it but doesn't release any of them yet. Viktor looks up and around as the sound of banners snapping furiously in the wind catches his attention. Today's clear and the sun is actually out but there is still some snow on the group and it's still very chilly, particularly the further up in the air you go. The gale force winds won't help any. Today's match should be a real challenge just to stay seating on your broom. Viktor smiles thinking it should be a very good match indeed.

Viktor turns his smile to the players as they take to the pitch, the captains coming to meet before him. Seconds later, the game has begun.

Up Up and... Not So Away
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 07-20-04 13:10

I heard the whistle to start the game, and I hopped onto my broom. I pulled up and took off for the hoops. Suddenly a gust of when ran smack into me, and I fell right back to the ground.

After falling the four feet to the ground and landing on my back, I just lay there for a moment before getting up. The snow broke my fall enough. I hopped on my broom a second time and took off, this time with a much tighter grip then before.

And They're Off!
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 07-20-04 14:38

Viktor releases the balls, the quaffle going straight up in the center of a circle formed by the six chasers. Ariella Beck snags it first and is away. Halfway between the middle of the pitch and the goals, she passes it off to Siegfried Dewhurst but a gust of wind catches it, taking it right out of Dewhurst's hands and carrying it straight to Declan Collins. The Slytherin does a quick one eighty and in a blink is off towards the other end of the field.

Lunch with the Lestranges
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 07-20-04 18:30

Narcissa and Lucius apparate to the front lawn of Lestrange Manor, not far from the front steps. Narcissa shivers, pulling her fur lined cloak closer around her as a gust of wind whips by. The front door opens within seconds after Lucius has used the heavy knocker to announce their presence. Ignoring the house elf holding the door, Narcissa gracefully sweeps in and drops her cloak on the stair banister as she passes by. Lucius too lets his cloak drape over the rail. Offering his arm to his wife, Lucius escorts Narcissa down the grand hallway to doorway where Rodolphus stands calling a greeting and beckoning to them to join him.

Rodolphus moves out of the way to allow Narcissa to enter, closely followed by Lucius. Bellatrix moves away from the grand fireplace where a fire crackles, warding off the chill. "Darling, get Narcissa and Lucius glasses of wine. He won't brag on himself so I will. Rodolphus made the wine. It's aged beautifully."

The Malfoys each accept a glass, sniffing the wine, swirling it, and sipping as true connosieurs would do. Lucius gives his brother-in-law a hearty slap on the back, "Excellent. Bloody excellent."

They move move to two large leather chairs where Rodolphus has a wizarding chess set ready for a game. As the men settle into the chairs, they talk about the wine and begin a match. Narcissa drifts over to join her sister, moving out of earshot of the men. Lucius wonders briefly what they are discussing then shrugs it off and turns his attention to the chess game. "Like to make a small wager?"

Off to a Good Start
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-20-04 18:40

Declan Collins sped off into the opposite direction, quaffle held firmly in the crook of his right arm. Isolde urged her broomstick forwards, determined to lend her new teammate aid and support, should it become necessary or desirable, but more than anything she wanted to get her hands on the quaffle. She was just itching to score again and again and again.

A satisfied smirk crossed her face as she thought of last month's Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. How brilliant that had been! It was clear that the Slytherins were still on a high, and the Hufflepuffs were more than a little aware of their opponents' soaring spirits and their inevitable, unavoidable gloating.

But the game wasn't over yet and no one had scored thus far, so it was a bit too early for victorious taunts. Isolde had to score! She pulled up alongside Declan's right, while Mary came up to his left. Both made it clear they were open and more than ready to accept the quaffle, should the need or occasion arise. But maybe Declan wanted to score himself. He didn't let go of the ball.

Suddenly, a well-aimed bludger by way of either Masterson or Delgety--Isolde wasn't sure--came careening into the thick of the six chasers, who were all more or less together. The bludger met its target, Declan's back, causing him to buckle forward over the length of his broomstick. His arm sagged, and Isolde quickly swooped in to rescue the quaffle from its peril.

She soared ahead, silently willing her broomstick to go faster and faster with every moment she neared the opposing hoops. Mary was right beside her, and for show the two tossed the quaffle to one another. With great dexterity it flew over the heads and under the brooms of the Hufflepuff chaseres. A risky thing, certainly, but they pulled it off without a hitch and soon the pair reached the hoops Diamond defended.

Isolde had the quaffle and feigned left, sending the ball through the right-most hoop when Diamond moved to protect the left one.

"Farnon scores for Slytherin!" Dewhurst cried out. Isolde was pretty sure there was a hint of disappointment in that announcement, but she didn't care. Things were looking good for Slytherin already.

Unstoppable
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 07-20-04 21:11

Yes! Draco thought, as a jubilant grin formed on his face. Isolde had just scored for Slytherin, already giving the team a ten point lead over Hufflepuff. Diamond, showing early signs of frustration, heaved the quaffle to one of her teammates. The disappointing looks on all their faces made Draco all the more happy.

"It's still early, Malfoy," came a voice over his shoulder. Hannah was hovering there, watching the scene below while also keeping a look out for the snitch.

"Don't hold your breath, Abbott," Draco sneered.

He steered his broomstick away from hers and focused his attention on the search for the golden ball. He wouldn't let Hannah catch it after his remark. He couldn't, not even if Slytherin scored more than enough points for the win regardless who caught the snitch.

Moving his eyes here and there, Draco scoured the Pitch for any sign of gold. He concentrated so hard that he never saw the bludger coming. It walloped the bristles of his broomstick, sending the broom in rapid, uncontrollable and seemingly unceasing 360s. Round and round he went, trying to stop or gain a sense of direction, but the momentum of the bludger had been so forceful that it took more patience to control than Draco had to spare.

When he finally managed to cease movement, Draco groaned. His head was spinning, his stomach lurched ominously and his vision was blurry. It took several minutes to shake the ill feelings enough so that he could continue on his quest for the snitch, but it took quite a bit longer before he was his old self again. Nothing could stop him from getting what he wanted.

Distractions
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 07-21-04 10:34

It wasn't very long into the game before they had already gotten one past me. I should have seen the fake to the left, but I still went for it. I've done better then that!

A bludger suddenly caught my attention at that moment, having just missed Vera whom wasn't too far away from me. She hit it upwards right towards Draco. It hit him in the back and he started to spin into the ground. He was just going down and spinning so fast...

He recovered just barely. The whole spectacle just scared me. I didn't want to get hit by one of those! I looked up back at the field just in time to see something shoot right past me. I ducked and dove away from it a bit.

"Collins has just scored another ten points for Slytherin," Bronwyn said.

All Alone
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 07-21-04 17:24

"That was quick," Py thinks when another Slytherin goal is announced, "though no surprise. I should have brought a book or something."

Though periodically having to fight to keep control of his broom in the high, blustery winds, Py's bored with not much going on at his end of the field. It's even hard to cheer for his team when all but Draco are at the other end of the pitch and when the wind keeps carrying his voice in the wrong direction.

A flash of yellow and black moving his way gets Py's attention. Finally! One of the Powder Puffs is making a play with the quaffle.

A Very Blustery Day
Author: Nevvyn
Date: 07-21-04 19:11

"Well, Lads! Are you about ready?" I grumble. "I'm not so sure that you're wantin' to see the match, today!"

"We're coming!" all three Toms announced in unison. "We just had to get something!"

"You're NOT takin' that old hand-crank fire siren to the game! And that's FINAL" I tell them, when I see the great bulge under one of the coats. "You seem to manage to make plenty of noise, all by yourselves, without any help! Now... put it on the counter and let's go!"

With a few mutters and mumbles, they did just that, and we were out the door and into the cold and gusty wind. A late storm had dropped several inches of white, powdery snow during the night. We hurry along High Street, kicking up our own miniature blizzard. Somewhat out of breath, we arrive at the Hogwarts Gates and hustle along to the Quidditch Pitch.

Distracted
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 07-21-04 19:19

Sitting on the far side of a stand filled with Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, Ginny is spending more time staring over at the next stand filled with Slytherins then she is on watching the game. Without turning to look at her friend, Ginny gives Luna a small poke. "When did Theodore Nott get to be so cute?"

"You asked me that the other day in the Great Hall?"

"I did? What did you say?"

"I said I had never paid much attention but that he isn't bad looking."

"He seems a lot nicer than most of the other Slytherins, don't you think?"

"I can't say I've had any dealings with him to know. But if you think so he must be. Did I tell you my father's doing an exposé in the Quibbler on how the history of Quidditch as we know it is just one big fable, particularly when it comes to how the golden snitch came about?"

Still distracted, Ginny absentmindedly replies, "Oh? Do tell."

That was all the encouragement Luna needs to launch into the "shocking" story and soon she's paying about as much attention to the game itself as Ginny is.

Just a Little Late
Author: Nevvyn
Date: 07-21-04 19:28

By the time we arrive at our seats in the staff box, Slytherin has already scored two goals. With a nod of greeting to Professor Dumbledore and a few of the others we know, we settle in to watch the action. The Lads give a cheer for an especially tricky move by Hufflepuff but show nothing but silent disdain for the grandstanding of the Slytherin team.

"Now, who was it that wanted to see me?" I ask one of the Toms.

"Her name is Desdemona Diamond, and she plays for Hufflepuff!" he replies with more than a bit of exasperation for my lack of knowledge of the various House Teams. "She's their KEEPER!"

I scan the field and spot the young lady in front of the Hufflepuff hoops. She had missed me at the Shoppe on the recent Hogsmeade Visit, and had owled me asking if she could speak with me after the game. Well... we'll just wait around a bit afterward, and see what happens.

Visitor for Nero
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 07-21-04 20:56

Morgain Noir arrived at Azkaban Prison sometime after ten on Saturday morning. The warden was present in the lobby of the fortress, with a grim yet welcoming smile on his face as she approached him. Smiling, she tucked a golden strand of hair behind her left ear while extending her right hand in greeting.

"Good morning, Mr. Cornwell. I trust you received my letter?"

"I did indeed, Ms. Noir. We're always happy to accommodate the wishes of a well-respected member of the Ministry, provided the proper procedures are carried out. Also, your brother has shown good behavior since he has arrived at Azkaban. He has earned the privilege of seeing his sister in some semblance of privacy. Allow me to escort you to the meeting area."

He gestured for her to walk with him down through a pair of doors that led to a great maze of ever-changing hallways. Morgain would never find her way back on her own, nor would she ever find her way back to the room once she'd left it. After several minutes of walking and small talk, Mr. Cornwell directed Morgain to a rectangular room, which was divided in the middle by two rows of desks separated by privacy screens. Two people were already present in the room, a middle-aged man on Morgain's side of the room and a younger man in drab, black robes on the other side. He was the spitting image of the older man; they were probably father and son.

"If you'll take a seat at one of the cubicles, I'll have Nero brought out."

"Thank you, Mr. Cornwell," Morgain said. She offered him a smile and then took a seat at the far end of the room.

---

"I can't tell you how tired I am of this tiny, tiny cell," Ethan complained to Nero.

"So you've finally given up on the punishment you've seen fit to torture yourself with," Nero responded, laughing.

Ethan shrugged. "I deserve everything I get, but it would be nice if we could have a break from this place. Maybe luncheon in a cafeteria or fitness in a training room or hell, I'd even enjoy a stroll outside in the freezing cold. What do you suppose the snow looks like out there?"

"Like snow ever does. White, fluffy, sloshy, wet, cold."

The men stopped speaking at the sound of the door opening at the end of the corridor. They listened carefully as a pair of footsteps sounded, growing louder as they grew nearer. Finally, the grimly-set face of the warden appeared before Nero's cell and removed his wand from his robe pocket.

"You have a visitor, Nero. Your sister is here, and you're to come with me to see her."

Delighted, Nero exchanged a glance with the bewildered-looking Ethan before allowing Mr. Cornwell to bind his arms. Then the door to his cell, which hadn't been opened since the day Nero arrived, creaked open and out walked Nero freer than he'd been in a long time. Ethan watched in shocked silence as his friend walked with the warden down the hallway and disappeared from sight. The door at the end of the corridor opened and shut behind them, and then Nero was gone.