The Stands

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One of the things Archie had anticipated most upon returning to Hogwarts was seeing the Gryffindor quidditch team play again. He had been looking forward to it since stepping foot back into the castle and it was the reason he arrived to the stands as early as possible that day to get a good seat. His excitement to see Gryffindor in particular was only made more apparent after learning they had won the quidditch cup last year, and Archie could not wait to see for himself what his old house's team had become in the years he was gone and get a glimpse of both the unfamiliar and familiar players that lead the team to victory. He smiled as he watched both teams arrive to the pitch, cheering when he spotted Lizzie. Gryffindor was playing against Slytherin which meant the game ahead was not going to be anything short of interesting, and Archie was practically on the edge of his seat waiting for it to begin.​
 
With a proud strip of red paint smeared across her forehead, Gwen made her way excitedly to the quidditch pitch to watch her team play. She had heard that Gryffindor won the cup last year and was happy to be rooting for the team that was more likely to do well. As she took her seat in the stands, she watched as the teams had arrived and beamed when she saw her cousin in her Slytherin robes. However, she didn't dare go for the Head Girl. After all, Gwen was a Gryffindor and so Gryffindor was where she'd keep her loyalty. The first year sat on the edge of her seat to look over the heads of the people in front of her, wondering how long it was going to take for them to start flying.
 
The commotion in the common room before the game was amp up to such a degree. There was no way he could miss these games this time around. Had he known last year scheduled games and was not too bum out about not making the team, he would've supported his house full on. He refuse to let that stop his ever growing excitement on today's match up. Syrus came out with makeshift cone to project his voice for everyone to hear him shout his support. He wore a jersey shirt he purchased in his first year. He was happy to see it still fit. Just in case though, he stretch the fabric out and asked his sister for a little help so it didn't looked too small on him. Syrus joins the stand, a cone in hand. He prepped it against his lips to get his house team rolling. "Let's go Gryffindor!! SCARLET AND GOLD, THE WAY TO GO!!"
 
Jacob hadn't been very social since his last excursion, and he almost hadn't attended the game today. Really, he'd only attended so his mother would not ask him ant questions. She'd been giving him funny looks and he knew she was on the verge of asking him what was wrong, and he sure couldn't answer that. So, he made his way to the stands, smiling and waving as he saw one of his favorite professors. Making his way to the Gryffindor section, Jacob found a sear to quietly watch. The dreams he'd had of wearing a Gryffindor shirt and painting his face had dimmed, his fear of bringing additional attention to himself ever present these days. At least, he could clap with the rest of the house and he did so.
 
Chante has never gone to a game before. This would be her first game ever at Hogwarts. Her first real quidditch match. Quidditch rarely ever brought up back home. With her parents being her parents, there no room to wonder why that is. Chante would be the first in her household to take a like in this complex, magical sport. And what better way to do it by waving a Hufflepuff's flag and wearing house colors line across her face. Chante join her housemates at the stand, waving her flag against the small wind picking up. It was nice out, nice out for a quidditch game.
 
Veronica was so excited for the upcoming Quidditch match that this year she had even brought along a small Ravenclaw flag to wave, as well as painting blue stripes across both her cheeks. Last year they had won the House Cup, and while she had been quite proud of that Veronica would much rather they had a chance at winning the Quidditch cup. Taking a seat in the Ravenclaw section where she would be able to have a good view of the entire pitch she couldn't wait for the game to begin - she hoped her house would win!
 
Matt always felt nervous when April was playing, he couldn't help it. At first he had watched the game with some ease, expecting his daughter to sit on the alternates bench for the game. But it soon became clear she was playing as active seeker in the game, and then his nerves started. She still looked small from up here, though he knew she was tall for her age. So far she hadn't been hit by any bludgers, but he knew it couldn't remain that way. Seekers were always the most popular targets.He spotted October on the other team, though she was sitting on the bench. It would be interesting if the two girls ever had to compete directly as seekers. He wondered how they would deal with losing to each other. April was very competitive, and October sometimes seemed afraid to lose in case it disappointed others. He sighed, his gaze returning to April. He hoped she would win, but hoped more that she would get back onto the ground without getting hurt.
 
Even though her team didn't seem to be doing the greatest at the moment, Veronica kept a hold of her flag determinedly as she watched the game play out. She knew that Ravenclaw's seeker was very good, and she kept an eye on the girl so that she would be able to spot her at a moment's notice - the play with the Quaffle was always the focus of attention, of course, and she was desperately hoping one of their Chasers would be able to steal the ball back from Huffepuff. Waving the banner above her head, Veronica wondered if she should cheer some words of encouragement as well.
 
Monty enjoyed watching professional Quidditch as much as the next person, but watching games between the students usually proved more stressful than it was enjoyable. He spent the majority of the match braced in fear that somebody would be seriously hurt, and the rest of it trying not to panic about how trapped he felt up in the stands. Still, as Deputy, he knew that turning up to such events to support (and supervise) the children was equally as important as what went on behind the scenes, and thus had resolved to make more of an effort to overcome his fears, starting today. The game shortly began, and with Gryffindor in first possession of the quaffle, Monty wondered how the game was going to play out. With any luck, he'd make it to the end without having a panic attack.
 
As a teen, Matt hadn't cared much about quidditch one way or the other. But ever since his daughter started playing for her school team, he had started to dislike the sport. He would never tell her this, but her matches were always nerve-wrecking to him. He made it to every game Hufflepuff played, but always hoped to see his daughter sit on the alternate's bench. No such luck today. Matt sighed, and glanced around. To his surprise, he spotted another professor nearby. Maybe some talk would make this less tense? He forced himself to smile as he made his way to Monty and sat down next to him, though his gaze moved back to the yellow figure in the air that was his daughter. "Hello, Monty." He said, his voice a little tense.
 
Autumn was never a big Quidditch fan but she always watched the games to support the various people in her life. She rooted for Hufflepuff more often than not for Austin now that he played and no also for Geo who the girl hadn't stopped thinking about since the party. She almost didn't care that her two 'puffs were playing against her own house. "GO AUSTIN," She yelled out to her brother before scanning the pitch and finding the pink haired girl. "GO GEO!"
 
Olive was always very keen to keep up with Quidditch, since she'd played the role of the seeker for Gryffindor herself at Scotland for a number of years. She'd arrived early to the stands to take a seat, but realising she'd forgotten to bring a snack she'd headed back into the castle, only returning with a mug of cocoa as the game had already begun. Spotting a couple of familiar faces, she walked over with a large smile on her face. "Mr Monty!" she said enthusiastically, genuinely delighted to see the man. Looking past him she saw another member of staff although she couldn't recalling having spoken to him before. "Professor," she nodded in his direction, before her blue eyes looked across as a student began yelling a few names of the players. Regardless of which team they were on, it was easy for Olive to pick a side to support. "GO GRYFFINDOR," she suddenly shouted, trying to match the volume of the student, before giving her a small grin and turning back to Monty. "Who's winning?" she asked, hoping they'd actually been paying attention.
 
Analei hadn't followed Quidditch much in the first semester, but was keen to see the games this time around. Hufflepuff were playing against Gryffindor, and she hadn't really made many friends in Gryffindor yet, so she didn't feel bad cheering for her House. As the game progressed, Analei was memorized by the way they flew. She had thoroughly enjoyed her flying lessons, and she felt a small amount of jealousy that those students were able to fly, and fly so well. She'd definitely have to practice more if she wanted to make the team. She began to wonder what position she'd like to play. Her competitiveness meant that she'd get far too frustrated to be keeper or chaser, so she watched the other positions to see how they played. It was frustrating that they hadn't scored yet, but she continued to sit silently, watching the game intently.
 
Monty looked up, giving Matt a nervous smile as he approached. The younger professor's face look about as tense as Monty's felt. "Hello, Matt," Monty said, shifting over a little to make room on the bench. He nodded out across the pitch. "Your April's playing today, isn't she?" Amid the blur of brooms, Monty was sure he'd spotted April once or twice. He could only imagine what it would have been like to watch Saveli dodging death-balls, and felt sympathetically for his colleague. A moment later, the two professors were joined by a third, whom Monty greeted with laughter. "Olive," he said, nodding. Her sudden outcry made him startle in his seat. "Uh - I do believe it's nil-nil, at the moment - though I could be mistaken. I take it you're rooting for Hufflepuff." Monty pressed his lips together to suppress a grin.
 
Monty didn't look entirely at ease either, and it was nice to have someone else that wasn't entirely happy to be here. Matt sighed and nodded. "She is." He confirmed. He was proud, but mostly worried at the moment. Matt managed a smile as he saw another professor join them. He had seen the woman before, though they hadn't ever really talked. It seemed like she knew Monty, though. But when she called him professor, he smiled at her and shook his head. "You can call me Matt, Professor." He joked. But then she shouted her support for Gryffindor. He couldn't really let that stand. "GO HUFFLEPUFF!" He shouted to counter her, then pointed at the figure of the seeker. "That's my daughter." He said, pride now more clear in his voice. He did think it was pretty amazing what she could do, he just wished the bludgers could be taken out of the game. As if to prove his point, April nearly got hit by a bludger. Matt partly raised off his seat as if to run to the pitch himself, but it soon became clear she had dodged it. With a sigh, he sat down again. "This is going to be the death of me."
 
As Olive made herself comfortable, she listened as she heard the scores, glad that she hadn't missed any of the drama just yet. She glanced to Monty at his last comment, a small chuckle escaping her, "I swear I'm not biased," she pleaded, although it was obvious in her tone that she would be very disappointed if Hufflepuff took home the victory. That was until Matt Professor told her that his daughter was on their team. She turned her head to peer out onto the pitch, trying to figure out which one she was, although from this distance it was hard to tell. That was until one of the girls almost got hit by a bludger, and Matt Professors movements were less than subtle in the corner of her eye. "I wouldn't worry too much about getting hit." Olive said, "I played Seeker for a number of years, been hit loads of times. Once I was knocked unconscious for three hours but they fixed me up easily in the hospital wing. Right as rain a week later." she nodded, thinking as though somehow that would be reassuring. Olive took a small sip from her mug, clearly the most calm and collected of the trio. "What about you Mr Monty, rooting for anyone special?" she asked, her eyes still fixed on the game as she willed the Gryffindor Chaser to score before the pinked haired student stole the Quaffle from her.
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As Matt joined in the cheering, Monty laughed, though the sincerity rapidly diminished from the sound. He'd thus far mostly managed to keep himself distracted from where he was, but the height of the stands was nauseating, the feeling of entrapment suddenly overwhelming and impossible to ignore. His glance of warning toward Olive, whose experiences, whilst perhaps reassuring in her own mind, were not presently very helpful, was weak, and she was unsurprisingly impervious to its effect. Eventually he gave up, returning his focus to staving off a panic attack. "Hm? Oh, no," he said, clapping as Lyra scored the first goal for Gryffindor. Really, he didn't care who won - he just wanted them to win quickly.
 
Matt smiled weakly at Olive as she apparently tried to reassure him, but he could feel the blood draining from his face at the thought. Three hours was a long time, and his nervous gaze went back to his daughter on the field. He stopped listening to the two other professor's as he saw the same beater aim another bludger at April. His heart forgot a beat as he watched her get hit. His hand flew to his mouth, though he didn't think she was really that hurt. He wanted this game to be over, now. It was as if the other seeker had heard his request, as right after this happened he snatched the snitch out of the air. Matt was out of his seat as soon as the game was over, he had to go check on April now. Though, knowing her, she would mostly be disappointed at losing this match. "I have to go." He told his colleagues before he left them.
 
Neither of the men beside her seemed particularly chatty that day, and Olive wondered if they were perhaps more on edge about the outcome of the game than she'd given them credit for. The Professor cheered as Gryffindor managed to score the first goal of the game, although it was quickly diminished when one of the Hufflepuff's began the target of a beater. She was lucky that she was able to contain her sudden shock of laughter by the time she spotted Matt Professors reaction, instantly deducing that of all the players, that one must have been his daughter. "Oh.." she began, although before she could say anything else it was claimed that Gryffindor had won the match. Professor Layton was torn between cheering for her team against comforting a new colleague, and had it been any of her other friends she may have turned it into a joke, but unaware of how this Professor was going to take it she let him leave, no doubt to attend to his offspring. "You know, she'll be fine." She added to Monty in attempt to assist with the strange expression on his face. Perhaps he'd been polite when he said he had no preference at to who won. Turning back to the pitch she watched as the players began to return to the floor, a thought occurring in her mind. "They don't have a Professors Quidditch team, do they?" she asked, thinking about how hilarious it would be to watch a few people in particular on a broomstick.
 
Although Elly was still mad at Geo, she couldn't go away with not supporting her. She knew she would be playing today and Elly wanted to be there for her. She had thrown of her robes and was wearing a black sweater she had 'stolen' from a boy in the Ravenclaw common room. Well borrowed would sound better, the boy had forgotten it when he left and Elly decided to borrow it. It was a bit too big for Elly and she wore the hood up. She did look like some kind of murderer, but this was necessary. Elly walked up on the stands and looked at the game. Geo was doing good and Elly was supporting her friend mentally. ''Goo Geo Goo'' Elly muttered silently. She hoped Hufflepuff would win even if her almost boyfriend was a Gryffindor.
 
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