Spectator Stands: A wandering eye... on Quidditch Pitch

Joella Curtis

June 23, 2016 4:58 PM

Spectator Stands: A wandering eye... by Joella Curtis

Joella always went along to watch the matches she wasn’t playing in and today was no different. She was as excited as anyone that Quidditch matches were back on now that the Challenges of last term were over. Her great passion for Quidditch extended as far as spectating and it was always a good idea to check up on the opposition. This year there was a chance that she wouldn’t be playing Aladren or Crotalus as it all depended on which teams got into the finals, although she was fairly confident that Pecari would make the cut. It would be a shame if they didn’t get the chance to play against Aladren this term - Joella so badly wanted to crush their greatest rival team - but it was awesome that all four houses finally had full teams to compete with.

There was a chilly wind about and Joella folded her arms tightly as she made her way to the spectator stands. Fortunately she’d thought to wear a coat and scarf so she wouldn’t get cold sitting down for the duration of the match. She had made sure to wear neither blue nor red today because she wasn’t entirely sure who she was supporting and didn’t want to look as though she was. On the one hand, if Aladren won that would mean Pecari had a chance of getting to play them but at the same time it would be fun to see them lose to the new Crotalus team (ignoring the fact that Alistair was captain and his ego would get even bigger if the latter outcome occurred).

Joella had slipped a notebook into her deep coat pocket before leaving her dormitory. Seeing Liliana taking notes at a match a couple of years ago had inspired her to do the same. She was mostly planning on observing the Chasers and the Keepers, and perhaps occasionally the Chaser Beater, because they were the positions relevant to her. It would be useful to watch for any weaknesses or habits and patterns which might help her with decisions and predictions when she next found herself up against them.

The fifth year watched from the stands with interest as the whistle blew and the players rose up into the air. There was the usual scuffle for the Quaffle and the newest member of the Aladren team seemed to emerge from it successfully. Joella instantly noted her unique style and was keen to see if it was something she would continue throughout the game. Crotalus managed to get hold of the Quaffle pretty quickly, however, but then she watched Jack Spencer’s impressive interception and carry out.

It was only once Adam’s brother had relieved himself of the ball that Joella found her eyes wandering away from the Chasers in search of a specific blue-clad player. She knew she should probably remain focused on those that directly concerned her but for some reason she wanted to watch Clark, despite the fact that a goal attempt looked imminent. It was probably out of curiosity. As far as Joella was aware, the older boy had never once lost a match and she’d never really taken the opportunity to watch him and see why it was that he always did so well. Usually she wouldn’t have had the chance because she was too busy playing in the match, or getting distracted by other elements of the games she spectated, but now she watched his flying pattern intently. She partially thought he deserved to do well in this match like he had in all previously because he was clearly talented and Joella didn’t like to see luck, or lack thereof, be the reason for a certain outcome. If he did fail this time, however, it would inspire her with more confidence for her own team as it would show that Clark’s increasing number of commitments were taking their toll and he was not actually superhuman.

8 Joella Curtis Spectator Stands: A wandering eye... 295 Joella Curtis 1 5

Ginger Pierce

June 28, 2016 9:17 PM

[After the game] Liliana, I need to talk to you by Ginger Pierce

Ginger watched the game from the Teppenpaw stands, wearing Crotalus colors, as well as her favorite Teppalus hair ribbon, mostly because she still felt some of the Teppalus loyalty toward Alistair, Isaac, Uzume, and Arne whom she had practiced with for several years now. She cheered the two times Crotalus scored, but that first goal had been Aladren's and it had very nearly given her flashbacks to her first game when Pecari had been relentless against her.

Makenzie wasn't a tiny first year like Ginger had been (she was, in fact, a year older than Ginger was now) but it was her first time, and it made Ginger feel quite sympathetically horrible for the brand new Crotalus Keeper.

So after the game, instead of heading back into the school for a nice warm cup of hot chocolate, she instead went searching through the crowds near Pecari's stands hoping to find Liliana.

When she did manage to track down the seventh year, Ginger took a quick look around to make sure nobody was eavesdropping, then whispered in a hushed rush, "I think we need to add Makenzie to our Secret Cabal of Keepers."

1 Ginger Pierce [After the game] Liliana, I need to talk to you 302 Ginger Pierce 0 5