InsaneJournal

After a long, long winter, it’s finally starting to warm up in the mountains, and there’s a palpable buzz of energy as everyone piles into the stands. Is it anticipation for a highly anticipated rematch between the two most competitive houses? Is it relief from finally having something to entertain them, or built-up aggression after a week-plus without the magical journals? Or is it rumour and speculation over the unknown adults sitting in Headmistress Bloom’s private box? Coach Thorn has assured everyone that talent scouts won’t arrive until next week, but these smartly dressed wizards are seen taking notes during the game.

Regardless, the cheer squads won’t let a few extra members in the audience get them down. Captain Hawkeswood always has a fresh song pick for his well-trained squad, while Captain Powers remains bright-eyed and energetic despite having to plan back-to-back routines for her two squads. The plum- and rust-clad players circle the pitch on their brooms, casually throwing insults at each other, but they all come to attention when Thorn steps onto the field.

Chaser Guthrie shows off his speed by nabbing the Quaffle before anyone else can even touch him, and he’s zooming down the pitch with Stoker and Turner behind him, who spread out to block the paths of Ebonhide’s Chasers. Guthrie wins the first goal for Coppertale before sixty seconds are even up, but the Quaffle goes to Chaser Decourt next, and Ebonhide refuses to let themselves get out-flown again as they work together over the next ten minutes to fire goals past an apparently frazzled Keeper Velasquez, stealing a 30–10 lead for Ebonhide.

The Golden Snitch makes a surprise appearance right off the bat. Neither Seeker wants to take the win so early, but Seeker Hale flies closely after it, still stung from her failure to catch it last game. Seeker Wainwright’s on the side of the pitch, so Beater Park has to take his attention off the Chasers to throw Hale off the trail with a Bludger. She veers sharply to avoid getting hit, aided by some quick flying by Beater Kim, whose bat slams the iron ball back towards Coppertale, nearly clipping Chaser Stoker in the head. Wainwright finally catches up, reaching past Hale for the Snitch—and he knocks it with the back of his hand, redirecting the Snitch below them and out of their sight.

Still riding high, Chaser Webb dodges the opposition to send yet another Quaffle at the Coppertale hoops, but Velasquez dives to knock the ball away, and back into the hands of Guthrie, who flies the Quaffle around Fiori’s Bludger and into Stoker’s hands, securing another goal for Coppertale. Stoker’s changed his usual strategy to focus on scoring instead of assisting, but even with the three of them working in tandem, they keep lagging behind the other team. Neither side lacks for aggression, but Decourt, Quayle and Webb have been playing together longer, and their teamwork’s markedly improved since their first match. Almost 45 minutes in, it’s 60–40 for Ebonhide, also in part to Keeper Raza providing a reliable, methodical defense throughout the match. He’s more experienced than Velasquez, and it shows.

While the Chasers grapple for the Quaffle and the Seekers buy time, the Beaters are trying their hardest to get the upper hand, but the pairs appear evenly matched as they switch control of the Bludgers with every minute. The match turns when, just 10 minutes short of the hour mark, Fiori intercepts a Bludger from Park, and shoots it across the field to Kim, who aims it precisely at Turner, striking her in the shoulder and knocking the Quaffle from her hand. Chaser Decourt catches it and rockets down the pitch towards the enemy goals, which leads Raza to let down his guard. While Decourt’s passing to Quayle for another goal, the other Bludger’s swinging into action all on its own. Fiori sees it soon enough to speed for the Ebonhide goal posts, but not soon enough to stop the Bludger from crashing into Raza from behind, knocking him half off his broom. Although he doesn’t fall, he wrenches his arm badly grabbing for a hand-hold from a goal hoop, and has to let a reserve sub in.

With Reserve Wilde at the goal posts, the Coppertale Chasers begin to catch up. They’re aided by a few nicely coordinated shots by Beater Barringer, who breaks up Ebonhide’s formation and grazes the back of Quayle’s head with a Bludger. Still, Wilde’s holding his own, and it’s not until 15 minutes after the hour that the game is tied for the first time, at 90–90. Turner’s flying slower from a bruised shoulder, but she’s compensated by Velasquez, who seems to have shaken off whatever had her stumbling at the beginning of the match. Webb breaks the tie, but Velasquez blocks the next two shots by Decourt, giving Guthrie the chance to catch Coppertale up not ten minutes later. It’s coming down to the wire.

Up high, Seeker Hale is trying to look past all the swiftly flying players to find the tiny flash of the Snitch. She finally spots it fluttering just behind Beater Kim’s head, and aims for him like a rocket, even as he readies his bat to intercept a Bludger. He swings—then pulls back hard at the last second, as the Snitch dives in front of his face. The Bludger sails past his shoulder, the Snitch continues to dance around, barely avoiding contact with Kim, and Hale stretches a hand out towards him—only to get struck in the arm by Barringer, who took the Bludger which Kim missed. Hale pulls back with a hiss, and switches to her other hand, but then Wainwright’s there, and they’re both following the Snitch as it flees away from the Beaters, and past the other players. Turner, reaching out and missing a catch. Quayle, stealing it and readying a pass. Stoker, slamming into him from the side and elbowing him in the neck. Hale tries to shove at Wainwright with her uninjured arm, but he keeps pace with her. She pulls herself ahead on her broom, and he leans into it, with a longer reach. They both hear an explosive cheer from someone making a goal, but neither of them check who, because the world’s narrowed down to just them, their rival and the Golden Snitch. She throws herself forward. So does he.

When the two Seekers finally break apart, Hale’s gloves are empty, and bright metal wings are flapping from between Wainwright’s fingers.

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COPPERTALE WINS
180–130

Whether you’re a player, cheerleader or spectator, post below with your character’s reactions! If you wish to post separately about the game, please use lj-cuts and mark for spoilers for the first 24 hours, so no one sees the result before reading the official match description. Please consider this post backdated. Thanks again for being so patient, everyone. ♥