Hogwarts '06/7

[Q.Araignee]

Out of the corner of her eye, Rowena saw Arven tensing to shoot and paused in her flight to watch.

The Keeper seemed uncertain, but as the shot came at him he dived left. The Quaffle seemed to curve ever so slightly, and passed through the central hoop- brushing the Keeper's tail-end lazily.

A roar erupted from the Gryffindors as the referee whistled, and the commentator called out: "10 points to Gryffindor- the score now 10-10 as Slytherin take posession of the Quaffle."

Rowena whooped and grinned, but her attention was firmly back on the search for the Snitch.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Warrington swore as the goal sailed through the centre hoop awkardly. But it would be alright - McKay took the Quaffle.

[GodrictheGriffon]

Lilly braced herself as McCay came closer, the quaffle in hand. Silently, she gave herself a pep talk in her head:"Come on, Lilly. You can do this. Who cares if you haven't been playing your best this game. You have another chance and you're going to take it!"
McCay was in the scoring area. He was aiming at the left goal post. She knew that you had to look at the persons shoulders and hips to know what they were really aiming at. She lowered her vision and saw that it was true. He was going towards her left.
Lilly launched herself in the direction of the left goal post. But her broom had betrayed her. It was shooting her in the opposite direction! Lilly began to panic even though she knew that it was no good. She let her body be propeled to the left. Which was the direction that the quaffle was heading! It must have been a fake!
Lilly extended her right arm and grabbed hold of the quaffle.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

McKay snorted. The Keeper had been lucky.

The Gryffindor Chasers charged up the field passing be - Whack! Flint kjnocked a Bludger into Arven's face for a second time, and Randall took the Quaffle.

[choki]

Arven was almost knocked over her broom from the sheer force itself and was sent to a spiral descent. The sickening cracking sound rang through her head and she knew something must be broken somewhere. Her vision became red and the next moment, everything seemed to be on a slow motion - the spinning crowd, the spinning pitch and the players in red robe "coming" towards her. The last she heard or saw, was Misty swore as she beat the bludger away.

[GodrictheGriffon]

Lilly sped towards Arven. But she knew that there was nothing that she could do. She couldn't move fast enough and her wand lay helpless in her bag in her locker, fifty feet below. Lilly could only helplessly scream as she watched Arven speed to the ground.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Terrin Dinas did not blow the whistle - it was all part of the game. Arven had learned that a year ago when she received her injury. That injury was supposed to keep her off a broom for life, but apparently she wanted to have a second crack at it.

Mortin had clearly known and advised his team of that weakness inside of her. One more injury, perhaps... One more devastating blow, and the next time Arven might not return from injury, and the Gryffindor squad would be substantially weaker.

It was a dirty tactic, but there was nothing between the two sides. The only notable difference was the effectiveness and skill of the captains.

It was quite clear to Dinas already who would lead the Hogwarts team at the Interschool Quidditch Championship. It would take a miracle from Misty to force Mortin from that position now.

He was disappointed... he'd had faith in Misty's ability. But the way Mortin commanded his team was admirable, and he deserved the position.

He sighed. He supposed, though, that it was not all over yet.

Turning his attention entirely to the game, he saw Randall charge up into the centre of the pitch.

[choki]

Instead of continuing with the game like what the Slytherins did, Misty did the unthinkable. She dived towards Arven at breakneck speed and jumped off her broom, shocking everyone. Misty managed to grab hold of Arven just before she hit the ground. Both the girls crash-landed onto the soft sandy pitch and rolled to a stop. Misty quickly regained her composure and signalled for the medic team. As Arven was being attended by the medic, Misty retrived her broom. Having witnessed this magnificant rescue, the spectators erupted into cheer. The initial doubt between the Gryffindor players was immediately eradicated.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Gryffindor had two less players on the pitch, and one still-dazed Keeper. No amount of enthusiasm was going to stop Randall from taking his shot, as he strolled into the Scoring Zone.

He put the Quaffle firmly in the grip of his right arm, and heaved all his energy into the shot.

It sailed through the air toward the posts.

[Q.Araignee]

Despite the wild urge to help Arven, Rowena had maintained her position over the field- Misty had been very clear about what she'd wanted her to do, in all circumstances.

So it was without much surprise but more of a heavy heart that she saw Randall's shot soar through the left-hand goal hoop. After seeing that Arven and Misty were on the ground, Lilly had turned and sped towards the oncoming Quaffle. But she had only just reached the centre hoop when the score was called out by the commentator:

"After that swift shot from Randall, it's 20-10 to Slytherin!"

Sighing heavily, Rowena began scanning for the Snitch once more.
The match can still be saved...so long as Terry, Lilly and I avoid any more Slytherin attacks...
The girl scowled and shook her head, dispelling the thought as it distracted her from looking for the elusive Golden Snitch.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

A weakened Gryffindor was in disarray. The remaining two Chasers took the Quaffle, passing it back and forth between them.

Both the Slytherin beaters had their bats at the ready, and the Bludgers were very close. If they could simultaneously hit their Bludgers, they would take both the opposition Chasers out.

Mortin should, then, be close enough to take the Quaffle and take a shot with minimal opposition, considering Gryffindor's major Beater was still on the ground.

The Slytherin Beaters waited... and waited...

The Bludgers seemed to finally stay still in the air.

WHAM! They swung with all their might, and both Bludgers connected with their targets nearly knocking the Gryffindors off their brooms. The Quaffle itself had been in the middle of a pass, and stayed travelling in its given direction.

It landed it softly in McKay's hands. He charged at the Gryffindor goal, again defenseless. Though at least it had a Keeper this time, he thought.

[choki]

Arven slowly regain her conscious in time to spot a player kicking off the ground in the corner of her eye. She couldn't see clearly as her vision was still badly impaired. The only thing she could see properly was Madam Pomfrey who was crouching just over her head, examining her. The dull pain she felt intensified when Madam Pomfrey gently touched her head.

"Gracious goodness. Quidditch should be banned!" Madam Pomfrey said furiously.
"How's Arven, Poppy?" Arven thought she heard a familar voice but the words seemed muffled.
"Not good, Minerva. Cracked skull and a concussion. She is probably in the state of confusion now. It could have been lot worse if Misty hadn't break her fall." Madam Pomfrey stated while tending to Arven.
Professor McGonagall took Arven's hand into hers and said, "Rest well, don't worry about the match." Just as McGonagall was about to shout for a replacement, Arven spoke.

"I can carry on..."

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas blew his whistle for the match to pause, whilst Gryffindor decided whether to find a replacement (in the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup there was allowed to be one replacement per team per match) or carry on with/without Arven.

McKay swore - he wouldn't have a clear run at the posts now. And Misty was back.

Dinas flew down to the gorund to examine the extent of the injury.

"I'm sorry, Arven," he said. "The extent of your injuries mean I cannot allow you to continue. Especially after what happened last year."

[GodrictheGriffon]

Lilly landed on the ground beside Arven.
"Are you okay Arven?"she asked,"What are we going to do? Should we carry without her? Should we find a replacement? Our should we cut our losses and just quit?" She glared at the rest of her team beside her, daring them to take the last option.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

"No, please..." said Arven. "I can play, really."

"I'm sorry, the extent of your injuries -"

"Are nothing compared to what you've let people in the past play on with. It's because of what happened last year," piped up another of the Gryffindor Chasers.

Dinas knew it was true - the injuries were bad, but playable. But he also knew that if Arven sustained another serious injury, he would take responsibility for it.

He shook his head.

"Fine," he said. "You can play. But I'm blowing the whistle in ten seconds, and if you're not in the air, you can't, and the team will have to go on without you."

Terrin blew the whistle, and took to the sky.

McKay tucked the Quaffle under his arm again, and leant low to the broomstick. It soared; the game restarted.