[QUIDDITCH]: Hufflepuff – Game 5

 
 
 
 

-          Remember the skill levels of each dummy and RPG according to it, you’ll be judged on it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"Keeper," Katie called, and one of the dummies disappeared.

Katie was feeling pretty confident. Another two attempts had been made on her goalposts and she had made two easy saves without breaking a sweat (not that the wind would let you sweat). Hufflepuff was currently leading in points, giving Katie a sense of invincibility. The Hufflepuff chasers were evenly matched with the opposing keeper, allowing them to score some goals, while Katie was slightly more skilled, allowing her to make saves.

Katie could tell the beaters were having some trouble swinging their bats whenever they aimed against the wind, but when they swung with the breeze, you definitely would not want to be on the receiving end of one of those bludgers. It was sure to leave a decent sized mark for a week or two.

She could see the two seekers spiraling overhead. There had been a good chase for the snitch not too long ago, but that had ended when a strong gust of wind snatched up the snitch and brought it too close to an oncoming bludger for either chaser to retrieve. From the looks of it, the snitch hadn't been sighted since.

Stop worrying about what the other players are up to, Katie. Get your head in the game.

Refocusing on the game, Katie saw the Quaffle up at the other end of the pitch. The Hufflepuff chasers were in a triangle formation, passing the Quaffle between themselves in an attempt to confuse the opposing chasers and keeper. Unfortunately, it would seem they confused themselves as well, as after a few more tosses, the Hufflepuff chaser missed, dropping the Quaffle directly into the hands of the opposing team.

Katie gripped her broom tighter and circled the hoops, getting warmed up again for their imminent approach. Keeping her eye on the chaser, Katie did some practice stretches and dives. She watched the  chaser pass it on out of reach of her teammates and speed towards her.

This is it, Katie thought. Concentrate, you can do this easily.

The chaser was almost upon her. Katie was ready, she could feel her muscles ready to extend out and catch the Quaffle. She focused in on the smallest movements of the chaser: the tightening of his grip on the Quaffle, the slight twitch of his fingers on his broomstick that betrayed he'd soon be veering to the right.

Katie smiled grimly to herself. She had this.

Just as the chaser started to crank his arm back for a throw, Katie began to extend her body from her broom, stretching outward. Sure enough, the chaser through to the hoop on his right, and Katie threw herself to the left, arms stretched wide, knees clutching her broomstick. Her hand was inches for the Quaffle; she started closing her arms to catch it--

When a gust of wind swept the Quaffle just a few inches further away. Katie felt her heart drop as her hands barely brushed the Quaffle instead of closing around it. Even worse, her fingers had bumped the Quaffle just far enough to soar straight through the hoop.

Katie felt herself deflate in disappointment and embarrassment as she watched the first points for the opposing team turn over on the scoreboard.

HUFFLEPUFF KEEPER

Katie wasn't going to let herself be shaken or overthink letting the goal in. That was a good way to ensure that the next couple shots went in, too.

You'll just have to be more careful next time. The wind is unpredictable, so you have to be just as fluid and spontaneous as it is.

An enemy chaser was approaching from above, Quaffle in hand. Katie could tell he was trying to use the stadium lights to his advantage, but he didn't quite have the angle right, so instead of Katie having to squint to see, she could track his shadow as he moved along. Katie moved with him as he swerved around above her, trying to pick the best opening to lob the Quaffle through.

Evidently one of the Hufflepuff beaters had caught up to the action, as a bludger came spiralling into the fray, forcing the opposing dummy to drop the Quaffle. Katie snatched it from the air and quickly punted it over to an open Hufflepuff chaser.

While keeping a careful eye on the Quaffle speeding away to the other end of the field, Katie practiced her extension again, and sped around her hoops a few times, making sure she stayed warmed up and ready.

It wasn't too long before she saw the Quaffle coming back her way. Katie stopped circling around and hovered in front of the center goal post, moving slightly back and forth.

The wind was picking up again, and she prayed it either stayed blowing or stopped now. If it changed on her again the Quaffle was thrown, it could end badly.

The chaser was in the scoring area. Katie stayed back, waiting for the dummy to come to her. The wind was still blowing, Katie paying close attention to any change in it's ferocity.

The dummy threw the Quaffle, which sailed on the wind to her right. Katie dived, but the wind was headed towards her, speeding the Quaffle on. Unsure if her hands would make it in time, she abruptly turned her broom 360 degrees. She felt the impact of Quaffle on the branches of the bottom of her broom and turned to watch it sail away from the post.

Katie smiled, her confidence returning.

HUFFLEPUFF KEEPER

Katie had made a couple of other good saves, mostly because the chasers that were coming at her weren't that great.

What a great way to start my first real game as keeper, she thought, rolling her shoulders back and cracking her neck. The Quaffle was currently towards the middle of the pit, where the chasers from both teams were scrambling for a good hold on the Quaffle. The Hufflepuff beater knocked a bludger towards the group in order to force tham all to scatter.

Unfortunately their aim had been just a little off, and instead of heading towards the enemy team, it curved towards the Hufflepuff chasers, causing them to leave the Quaffle to avoid it.

This meant that the opposing chasers were headed her way, and had a little head start, too. Katie's eyes narrowed as she watched their approach carefully, looking for any sign that they might be passing the Quaffle on.

One of the Hufflepuff chasers caught up and nudged one of the opposing chasers, not too hard, but enough to alert it to the chaser's presence. The opposing chaser backed off and swerved out of Katie's eyesight, who was focusing on the chaser with the Quaffle.

They had entered the scoring area, and Katie stretched her fingers, getting ready to launch either way to make a save.

Out of no where, the enemy chaser who had broken away from the fray appeared to her right, and flew straight at her, shouldering her out of the way.

Shocked, Katie watched the other chaser toss the Quaffle easily through the empty hoops.

"What was that???" Katie yelled angrily at the wooden dummy. She could hear her anger echoed in the jeers of Hufflepuffs below her.

Within seconds, Madam Hooch was there.

"Penalty for stooging the keeper," she said, blowing her whistle. "Free penalty shot for Hufflepuff."

Katie watched angrily and felt a surge of spiteful happiness when her team's chaser easily tricked the keeper, scoring a goal for Hufflepuff.