gooseberryhigh | QUIDDITCH: October 22, Match #2

It’s a chilly but scenic day as students make their way to the Quidditch Pitch, surrounded by trees dropping gold and red leaves on the yellowed grass. Azurcrest’s cheer squad stands out brightly in their blue uniforms, pompoms waving and skirts hiked up high. Captain Ignacz leads them in a routine tailored to show off Azurcrest’s famous lifts and throws, but as Announcer Lee observes: “Remember how impressive they were last year? I suppose, with a lack of muscular boys on the squad, these ladies are only doing the best they can!” Captain Ives’ squad fares better, with a well-practiced dance routine their newest, proudest addition: Rainy the Rainbow Trout, who only gets smacked in the face once, when both mascots stumble into each other in the middle of the field and Azurcrest’s mascot miscalculates the reach of his wings.

The second the Quaffle’s in the air, Azurcrest goes into action with surprising speed. Chaser Key grabs the Quaffle and throws to his teammate Castillo, while Beaters S. Delgado and Hobbs have the good luck of seeing the Bludgers flying in their direction, and get their bats out first. Castillo dodges Chaser Ryder’s reaching arm, while Chaser Bagman has to veer away completely to avoid getting hit by Hobbs’ Bludger. Castillo tosses to speedy Chaser Morales-Tran, who aims the Quaffle for the Ribbonfin goals—and is neatly blocked by Keeper Davenport. Key claims the Quaffle again, and Azurcrest goes for another try, only to get blocked by Davenport, and then blocked again.

It’s almost 12 minutes into the game before Azurcrest scores, while Ribbonfin finds itself struggling against their opponent’s well-coordinated Chasers and Beaters, and barely spends more than a minute with the Quaffle in their possession. “We shouldn’t be surprised, as most of Ribbonfin is brand new,” Announcer Lee explains, “but I truly feel for Captain Davenport, and how disappointing this must be after she got so close to winning the Cup last year.” As though on cue, Beater R. Delgado shoulder-checks his sister and intercepts an incoming Bludger, which he immediately sends towards Morales-Tran. Key yells to her and Morales-Tran pulls to the side to dodge, but she loses the Quaffle in her hands. Bagman swoops underneath her and catches it, and weaves around the other Azurcrest Chasers to pass to Ryder, who scores the first point for Ribbonfin.

Ribbonfin ties the game at the half-hour mark with a slow 40–40, but Azurcrest quickly picks up again, with Castillo, Key and Morales-Tran all scoring a goal a 20 minute stretch, bringing it up to 70–40 for Azurcrest. Keeper Davenport blocks two shots in this interval, while Keeper Flowers blocks three, and none of the Ribbonfin Chasers can keep the Quaffle long enough to get past him. Bludgers fly back and forth across the field as Beaters fight to support their teams (at one point, Beater S. Delgado narrowly misses clipping her brother’s head with her bat while stealing one of his Bludgers), and it’s Beaters R. Delgado and Evercreech in control when there’s a shout from the announcer: “It’s the Snitch! St. Clair sees the Snitch!” Seeker St. Clair dives sharply at a glimmer on the golden grass, and Seeker Popplestone is coming from the other end of the pitch, seconds behind. The Ribbonfin Delgado hits a Bludger at him; St. Clair looks up at the last second and twists on his broom, the Bludger just skinning his upper arm. He scans the ground for the Snitch again—only to tumble right off his broom as the second Bludger from Evercreech catches him right in the head. St. Clair’s out cold when he hits the ground.

“Nice shooting from Delgado #2 and Evercreech! I suppose those Ribbonfins know a thing or two about giving people bruises. Of course… we should all remember that fighting is against the rules, and no one should ever laugh at the pain of others.” Captain Castillo calls for Reserve Zabinsky to take over as their teammate is carried away. Although it’s only the Seeker, Azurcrest seems to have suffered a blow to their morale, as Ribbonfin finally catches up, getting a goal barely two minutes after the match starts up again, and then another four in rapid succession, with Bagman, Ryder and Rush finally hitting their groove. Beaters R. Delgado and Evercreech keep up the onslaught, breaking up Azurcrest’s defenses enough to let their Chasers punch through. Ninety minutes in, and it’s anyone’s game: 80–70 for Azurcrest, and Ryder has the Quaffle, which she carries halfway down the pitch. She passes right over Morales-Tran’s head to Rush, who throws it long to Bagman, right by the goals. Keeper Flowers dives for it, but he’s too slow. Ribbonfin ties, 80–80.

Seekers Popplestone and Zabinsky have been carefully watching for the Golden Snitch, and it doesn’t pop up until several minutes later, spotted by Zabinsky. The Snitch is flying over the stands behind the Ribbonfin goal hoops, and he goes into pursuit, flying right over where Key is trying to avoid Bagman and Rush’s attempts to steal the Quaffle from him. Popplestone chases after him, quickly closing the distance. Rush bumps hard into Key, Key throws the Quaffle down to Morales-Tran, zipping in underneath him; and Bagman peels away to go after her. Davenport stands at the ready, watching both Chasers and Seekers coming at her. Zabinsky leans forward on his broom, hand stretching out for the Snitch; but the Snitch makes a sharp ninety-degree left turn. Zabinsky’s too slow to turn, Popplestone’s not.

Right behind the Seekers, Morales-Tran appears, followed barely a second behind by Bagman; Morales-Tran passes to Castillo, who’s out in the open, his way cleared by careful aim by S. Delgado. Zabinsky presses forward, his view obstructed by fluttering green robes. Castillo scores on Davenport, bringing Azurcrest up to a 100–80 lead. Zabinsky’s almost caught up when his broom suddenly spins out of control—a Bludger sent by R. Delgado that hit the tail of his broom. There’s no competition in sight when Popplestone reaches out and closes her fingers around the Snitch.

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RIBBONFIN WINS
130–100

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