Hogwarts '06/7

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

"... and thank you all for your support," Dinas finished his speech, and turned toward his team.

"Hands on the portkey, everyone. Has anyone not used one before?" One of the Ravenclaws put his hand up. "Oh, well you just need some part of your body touching the object as it goes, and you're free to enjoy the ride," Dinas explained, perhaps not giving a fair representation of the experience. "Ten seconds," he said, glancing at his watch.

The team all leaned over the old Quaffle, awkwardly.

"Aaaand Hogwarts on three!" Dinas called.

"One. Two. Three."

"HOGWARTS!" The team yelled, and with a sudden pull were jerked away from their position on the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch, though some would later remark that their stomachs must have been left behind.

[GodrictheGriffon]

It felt as though her her intestines were being opulled out of her belly-button by a hook. She kept banging into Misty and Sharpe as they spun round and around. Though she had traveled like this often going to vacation spots with her family, it was unlikely that one would ever truly get used to and "enjoy the ride" as Dinas had lied to the Ravenclaw. Lily felt bad for him now as they hit the ground and the boy went flying at least ten feet away from the impact.
"Ohh" Lily goaned as she got shakily to her feet and promptly tripped over Rowena's out-streched foot.

[Q.Araignee]

"Eeep, sorry Lily!" Rowena scrambled to her feet and offered a hand to her, trying to ignore her churning stomach. When they were both standing, almost steadily, she looked around at everyone else. Apart from Dinas, they all looked as bad as she felt. Soon her gaze drifted to their surroundings, more precisely to the magnificent piece of architecture in front of her.
"Is that the stadium we're playing in?" she whispered to Lily, awestruck by it's sheer size.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

The stadium stood before them, towering over its surroundings. As the team returned to their feet, somewhat worse for wear, they gazed up at the giant structure that bore huge banners around the side with the crests of all the competing schools on them. It was daunting, to say the least.

Each of the twelve competing schools had been designated a camping ground at the edge of the forest. They were all given a booklet containing information on each of the other teams, along with the schedule. There were six European teams, including Hogwarts.

The teams were seeded and placed in respective pools according to their expected form. Durmstrang was the favourite to win the Tournament, followed by Hogwarts, Durban Academy of South Africa, and the wealthy American private school, Washington House.

Interschool Quidditch Tournament

Pool A:
Durmstrang Institute
Beauxbatons Academy
Schicksal von Magie School

Pool B:
Hogwarts School (host)
Istituto De Roma
Cook's College

Pool C:
Durban Academy
Melbourne Academy
East Coast College

Pool D:
Washington House
Bestia del Cielo
Tokyo Institute

The team had got as far as studying the six European teams at the Tournament more closely, when there was some commotion outside their main tent.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Misty hated portkeys, especially the sensation. So she was glad once she had two feet on the ground and was standing next to Lily and Rowena.

She looked at the list.

We should win that pool. if we're lucky.

"Hey, Lily, look over there." she nudged her and pointed to where Dinas was looking.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Sharpe asked Dinas what was happening.

"I think," he said, "that the Italians are accusing Durmstrang of stealing their brooms."

"But that's ridiculous!"

"I suppose so. We aren't in full possession of the facts, though. I should go over there, as I'm Tournament Director." He wandered toward the commotion. The members of the schools involved that could speak the other's language were in furious argument, and the body language from the ones that couldn't, spoke for itself.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Misty wanted to follow Dinas but didn't just in case he thought her too nosy.

She waited with the rest of her team for him to return.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

As Dinas dealt with the emergency, the rest of the team set up their gear properly, and investigated the campsite thoroughly. By the time everything was set up, the sun was already dipping below the horizon.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Misty led some of the younger players in the team to the campsite and helped them set up their stuff.

It was quite cramped, but cosy too.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Some of the team were complaining that the living arrangements for the next few weeks weren't up to standard. Frankly, Dinas had no issue with them. Then again, the large tent was divided into two equal halves, and he had one of the sections all to himself. They would live, he decided.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Misty sighed and hopped into her bunk, Lily and Rowena were on either side of her.

She smiled at Rowena then shut her eyes, she fell asleep straight away.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas woke the team early the following morning. Being the hosts, he had managed to get them an important practice slot before the Tournament officially opened with Hogwarts versus Roma the next day.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Being woken up early didn't please the team at all.

It was followed with many yawns, rubbing of eyes and dirty looks thrown at Dinas when he wasn't looking.

"Alright guys, enough of the grumpyness, we should be glad, even though it is 6am, that we get to practise..." She grumbled the 6am part. "Get up, get dressed into your Robes, and meet me outside.. AT least one of us is acting like a Captain" she aimed the last part at Mortin who still lay in bed.

She quickly dressed, and was the first outside, followed by Lily.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas smiled at Misty for her rousing of the troops. Dinas, Misty and Lily waited for 5 minutes for any sign of life in the giant tent, before he told the vice-captain to go in and have another try, and to get Mortin up.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Argh!

"Oi, sleepyheads, WAKE UP!" Misty magnified her voice through the tent, which woke up those, including Mortin, who had dozed off again.

"Anyone out here after the next 5minutes is doing 20 laps of the Quidditch pitch, running in your underwear" With that last remark, people jumped out of bed and began getting dressed. "I mean it!"

She turned and left the tent.