Changed RPG

( Presents )

(OOC: Backdated to yesterday because of work)

( Owl to Lee Jordan and Bee Wagtail. )

( Owl to Wilda Griffiths. )

( Owl to Professor McGonagall. )

( Banner waiting in the backyard of Riona Mullet, er Campbell. )

( Owls to all professional quidditch players & friends of Meghan McCormack )

( Anon. Owls to the Following People: Wilda Griffiths & Mario Bozo, Meghan McCormack & Clara Troy for Nikola )

PAGE FOUR
Quidditch Player Profile - Wilda Griffiths
Barnaby Snell

Puddlemere United set a domestic transfer record this year by paying 1,000 Galleons to Holyhead Harpies for Chaser Wilda Griffiths. A fair share of Ms. Griffiths' fanbase is built from her photoshoots and her tradition of granting one lucky fan a kiss before each match, but so
many more love her for her deft scoring touch, her aerial abilities, and her fiery and unrelenting manner on the pitch. This interview is captured as close to verbatim as allowed, to give the reader the full experience of a real conversation with the boisterous and gregarious Ms. Griffiths.

What drove you to play Quidditch professionally?

It's in my blood, don't you know? Honestly, though? Two people have inspired me most to play quidditch professionally. My father, for one. Henry Griffiths. Haven't heard of him? Well, you should've. A bloody brilliant Quidditch player. Retired from the Montrose Magpies well before his time to raise me and my brother. Shocked the Quidditch world by retiring early, especially with a last name as Griffiths. The other one? Why, the infamous and notorious Glynnis Griffiths! One of the all-time greatest Seekers for the Harpies. Don't you deny it, either! Ever since I was little, I dreamed of playing for the Harpies just like Aunt Glynnis, and then my dream came true. Mainly thanks to my father telling me to pick up where he left off. And... yeah, that's where I am now. Thanks in part to my father and my aunt.

Does it ever feel like a burden to carry on the family tradition of Quidditch excellence?

What?! No. Never. Never ever. The Griffiths are a hardcore quidditch family. My father played it professionally, my aunt, my brother played when he was at Hogwarts and my mother... well, my mother enjoys watching. It's never a burden. I don't think I could ever picture myself doing anything else. I mean, be honest, Barnaby, can you picture me working for the Ministry? Maybe running my own Apothecary? No. It's because I am doing what I love. Quidditch is my life - it's also a family tradition, but it's all I know, and it's all I am. It's not a burden. Not at all.

What's the hardest part of being a pro Quidditch player?

This is going to sound really ridiculous, but the hardest part of being a professional quidditch player is the rigorous schedule. I'm lucky if I can fit in sleeping to my schedule. Between practice, work-outs, training, and public appearances, my social life pays big time. Ever wonder why most quidditch players are single? Well, aside from the obvious? It's because we're too bloody busy to actually have a meaningful relationship.

What is the best part of it?

The best part? Oh Merlin, the best part is doing something you love and being brilliant at it! You don't become a quidditch player because there's nothing left for you to do in your life, you do it because it's in your blood. It's a part of you, and you can't live without the feel of the game. The rush that you get when you score your first points, and you hear the crowd screaming for you. There is no greater feeling and once you get that, you're hooked. I have to say out of everything, though, the fans are the best. And I'm not just saying that. I mean it. I love my fans. They are the greatest thing in the entire world, and they motivate me to get out there and kick some major arse.

You're well-known for your flashy public image, and especially for some rather memorable covers of Quidditch Monthly. Do you worry that people focus less on your ability and more on your looks?

You know, every once in a while I get this question, and it always makes me smile. I don't worry about that, not at all. Do you want to know why? Well, I'm going to tell you whether you want to know, or not. All those covers on Quidditch Monthly, all the flashy appearances and publicity, they build an image of me. Take for instance, my recent cover of Quidditch Monthly, no one would expect a girl looking like that to shove you off your broom and beat you at a game that's essentially a "boys game", yeah? I mean, I'm in my bloody knickers for [expletive]sake... Oops, I can't write that, can I? I'm in my knickers. That image is going permeate through the stands when I take the skies, and people are going to underestimate my abilities. Which essentially will leave them vulnerable, and in the end distracted. Nothing good comes from a distracted player. Besides, if they want to focus on my looks and less on my ability, then I say let them. I still get paid whether you think I'm a pretty face on a broom, or a brilliant Chaser with a bruise on her arse.

What is your training regimen like?

Bloody hell. Let's see if I can figure this out. 6am - 9am, I work-out. Mostly jogging around my neighborhood. I do a lot of situps, and pushups, weightlifting and stretching. But I mostly run to get my heart pumping. I have breakfast some time in there, too. 10am - 1pm is Quidditch practice, we do drills most of the time, and run plays. We break for lunch and come back later in the afternoon, around 3pm to train until the sun goes down. Rinse and repeat five to six times a week.

What do you think of your team's chances for the coming season?

Um, that's a given! United is going all the way, baby! Quidditch Cup Champions! I can't believe you would even ask that one. All players are going to want to win, unless they're some sort of pushover, then, well... we know who will be falling out of the running faster than others.

Which matches are you most looking forward to?

Well, there are a few matches I am looking forward to. October 9th's match of United against the Falcons. I'm really just looking forward to that because it's the first game of the season. I love the first game of the season. It's like opening the first present on Christmas. I'm also looking forward to January 22nd's match against the Cannons, for my own person reasons. There is also the December 4th match of the Harpies versus the Cannons for other reasons - Don't you forget it, Val! Oh and finally, the first Gryffindor match of the season. I still have pride for my old house. Go Gryffindor!

Who is your favourite player, not counting yourself?

Merlin, you're really going to make my pick, eh? How about all of my former teammates on the Harpies. They're a brilliant team, and I can't say one bad thing about them. After all, they were the first time I ever played for professionally, and I will always have a soft spot for them.

Who is your biggest rival on the pitch?

Valmai Morgan, I'm coming for you! Just because you're part of a team that I will always love, and you are one of my close mates, I have full intentions of kicking your arse on the pitch! She took my place on the Harpies, you know? Not that I blame her, she's a brilliant Chaser, but it's just the way things have to go. She is my rival.

How hard was it for you to leave the Harpies?

Damn bloody hard. My life dream was to play for the Harpies. When I made Starting Team, I cried... Yes, Wilda Griffiths cried. My aunt played for the Harpies and was beyond thrilled I made the team. My father was just glad I was playing Quidditch. I thought I would be on that team for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, this summer I was bought out by another team and I took the offer. Leaving the Harpies was one of the hardest things to do. I consider those girls the sisters I never had and always wanted. I live firmly by never regretting anything, and I will stand firmly in my decision, but that doesn't change the fact that leaving the Harpies was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I mean, they're like family, and I don't want them to think I betrayed them in any way. Besides, they have a fantastic replacement in Valmai.

The World Cup is coming up next year--Are you looking forward to it?

Do you even have to ask?! Of course I'm looking forward to it. Anyone who even remotely considers themselves a Quidditch fan is looking forward to it!

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring pro Quidditch player, what would it be?

Stay focused on your goal. If you're focused and determined, that gets noticed. I didn't get where I am today just on sheer luck. I got here because of I was focused on my path and where I wanted to be. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get here and you have to be ready to fight every bleeding for your spot and your goal and your dream. That's all. Also... eat three square meals a day, and lots of vegetables. It's all really good for you.

( Owl to Wilda Griffiths )

( Owl to Wilda Griffiths. )

Who: OPEN to all Gryffindors! (And others who might want to watch, suppose.)
What: Quidditch tryouts!
Where: The pitch, Hogwarts.
When: BACKDATED to Monday, Sept. 26th.
Warnings/Rating: TBA/Low
Status: IC/OOC / OPEN

( That’s my final decision and if you don’t get out of the way for the Keepers I’ll hex you. )

[This tryout would be run loosely like the one we see in HBP - Chasers, Beaters, Keeper, then Seeker. Comment here if you were there/tried out/something else awesome happened!]

Who: OPEN to any who can and want to attend!
When: Wednesday, September 21, all day
Where: Hogsmeade
What: Annual Hogsmeade Autumnal Equinox Celebration
Rating: Low
Open/Closed: OPEN

( What more could anybody ask for in an Autumnal Celebration? )

Who: Barnaby Snell & Wilda Griffiths
When: evening, 12 September
Where: the Leaky Cauldron
What: booze and a dilemma
Rating: R for language
Open/Closed: CLOSED

Barnaby had a huge problem. He had a lot on his mind. He didn't want to have quite so much on his mind. He just wanted to let go. Thus, he found himself in the Cauldron, waiting for the two things that would help erase the worries from his mind--the firewhisky the barman was pouring for him, and Wilda, with whom it was impossible to not have a good time...

( Owl to Wilda Griffiths. )

Who: The Weird Sisters, Friends of the Weird Sisters, Ladies of Quidditch, and plus ones (Yes, Don. Elizabeth is invited too).
Where: Gideon's Place
When: After the Concert
What: After party!
Notes: IC/OOC thread Branch out and thread, or jot down what your character did. The invitation is here.

( AFTER PARTY! )

( Owl to Wilda Griffiths )

( Owl to Layla Hopkins )

Who: Demelza, Geoff, Dean, Natalie, THE Wilda Griffiths, and whoever else sees Mel's journal post
What: Quick game o' quidditch
When: August 16th, afternoon
Where: Open field near Demelza's house
Status: Open
Rating: Low

( Oh my Merlin! IS THAT WILDA GRIFFITHS?! )