Y32 Hufflepuff Quidditch Try-Outs

[Austin Branning]

The thought of being captain hadn't even occurred to Austin until Ares asked him toward the end of the previous school year. He now found himself on the Quidditch pitch awaiting the arrival of the returning players and new players hoping to win a spot on the team. It was nerve wracking, picking who would make the team would be a big decision and would impact how well, or how poorly, the team did in the season. It would all be on him and that was a daunting thought. Once everyone had arrived at the pitch Austin turned to address them hoping his nerves weren't coming across. "Hey guys, welcome back last years team and hello to all new hopefuls. Returners I want you to mount up and fly around and practice, help out where you can, newbies please state your name and the position trying out, if you wish to be considered for more than one position thats fine but only try out with one position, Good luck everyone," Austin clapped his hands together to signal the beginning of the try out and watched as the returning players climbed on their brooms and took off.

Players	Position
Ethan Mendoza	Chaser
Geo Volt	Chaser
Vacant	Chaser
Austin Branning	Beater (Captain)
Norton Gillespie	Beater
Therese Rosenberg	Keeper
April Ward	Seeker
Alternates

 

[Arvel Ayers]

Arvel had thought that being an alternate on the Quidditch team would mean he'd get to play a match at some point, but so far, he hadn't been needed. Still, he'd been practising at least once a week, determined to improve his skills so that this year he might actually make the team for real. When he arrived at the pitch, his heart sank. There was only one available position. That meant he and Analei couldn't both make permanent positions this year, barring last-minute changes. He almost wanted to sit out, or ask to be made an alternate, to give Analei a better shot, but after brief deliberation he decided he'd worked too hard not to give it his all.

"Arvel Ayers, trying out for Chaser," he told Austin, looking around for Geo. The elder Hufflepuff had always been supportive of Arvel, and spotting her filled him with a sense of reassurance. He grabbed a quaffle, mounted his broom and took off, doing a few warm-up laps while the other students took to the air. Scoring when there was no keeper defending the hoops, or bludgers trying to knock him off his broom, probably wasn't going to be all that impressive. Once these positions had been filled he started to play for real, his focus narrowing to a tunnel between himself and the hoop he intended to shoot through. He made out as if to shoot for the lower - then pulled up sharply and launched the quaffle through the tallest hoop. It went in. He flew around for a while after that, waiting for the opportunity to catch another quaffle and trying to show that he could work well in a team by passing it to other players. He missed a couple of shots, then narrowly scored another - all in all, he thought, not that bad. Hopefully Austin had been watching when he'd scored and not when he'd missed.

 

[Analei Westwick]

Analei was determined this year. Even more than she was the previous year. She had practiced a lot, and read all she could, even attended a few professional matches so she knew perfectly how the game was played. She had even found some exercises she could do to make her arms stronger. This year, she was definitely going to get in. Still, she was nervous. Analei anxiously made her way down to the pitch, giving a smile to the new Quidditch captain. She had gotten tips from him before as well, hopefully he'd see how good she was. "Analei Louw, trying out for beater, or seeker if you need me."
On Austin's word, Analei took to the sky, zooming around first, to show how fast she could go and the control she had on the broom. She loved being in the sky. She swooped down to the ground and grabbed a bat without stopping, and flew back into the air, a smile on her face; she was showing off but she felt she was allowed to. She had practiced hard. Analei quickly found a bludger and swung hard, making contact with the ball. It didn't exactly go in the direction she wanted it to go in, which she scowled at, but at least she had hit it. She supposed aim would come with practicing with actual people instead of make believe at home - where she hit every target in her head. Analei flew around again, her sights locked on another bludger. She flew towards it, concentrating on how she would hit it and grinned when it successfully went the way she'd asked it to. As the try outs continued, Analei flew around, hitting almost all of the bludgers, but only some of them were sent in the right direction. When it was all over, the Hufflepuff girl thanked Austin, before heading to Arvel, so he could give her a full run down of how she did.

 

[April Ward]

April was so excited for Quidditch to start again! She practically skipped her way to the pitch for tryouts, curious how the team was going to change. It was already a little strange not to see Ares waiting for them, but she knew he had graduated so a new captain had to be picked. She just had to get used to it, and hoped Austin would be just as nice. The girl looked around for Norton and Geo, grinning widely. When Austin told them they could head into the air, she did so, zooming off happily. She decided she would fly around and maybe catch the snitch once or twice, but mostly keep it free for anyone who wanted to try out for seeker. After all, she already had a position on the team. Last year she hadn't done very well, but she knew tryouts weren't the time for her to prove herself. The attention would be on the new people, not on her. She just had to get that snitch as fast as she could during an actual match.

 

[Abian Hunter]

Abian was extremely nervous for this day, and he was questioning himself even as he made his way down to the Quidditch pitch. The boy had spent some time practicing by himself, but he really wasn't sure if he was going to be good enough to be on the actual team for his house. But if he didn't try, he would never know. Usually a positive boy, he told himself that he would just try his best, and if he didn't make it he would try again next year. He still had five to go after this one, they would have to take him at some point, right?

He made his way to the Quidditch pitch with his new broom, his eyes wide as he took in the amount of people there. He listened as the Hufflepuff captain spoke to them, meanwhile wondering if he was the youngest one here. When it was his turn, he nearly forgot what to say. Which was stupid, as it was his own name and the position he was trying out for. "Uh, Abian Hunter. Trying for beater." He said, smiling nervously. Then he grabbed the beater's bat he had borrowed and took to the sky. The boy was a bit hesitant at first, watching others trying out for the position to see how they were doing things. But that didn't last very long, as a bludger soon made its way into Abian's path. He flew at it and hit at it with his bat, determined to at least hit it. And he did! It flew off in a random direction, and Abian grinned. He was still fairly new to actually playing with bludgers, so wasn't prepared for the next one which nearly hit him. He only managed to avoid it at the last minute, and nearly dropped his bat. He just had to hope the captain hadn't seen that. He spent the rest of the tryouts like this, occasionally going after a bludger and hitting it, but also still getting used to them being on the field at all. As a muggleborn, he had the disadvantage of not being able to practice at home. But at least he had tried his best, and that's all he could hope for. In the end, he hit most of the bludgers he had tried to hit, but wasn't sure if his hesitance and unease with them was very obvious or not.

 

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

Geo was most excited to be playing Quidditch again this year, and was delighted to hear that Ares had decided to make Austin Captain of the team. She would miss the older boy being around to play with them, but she knew how hard Austin worked too st the sport. Making her way down to the pitch, she smiled at those around her and realised how lucky she was that she knew so many great Hufflepuffs. Watching Arvel try for Chaser she followed suit, practising her shots, careful with her legs in the way Professor Holland had advised. She wa a glad to see Analei and Abian try out for the team too, and believed this season their luck was definitely going to change.

 

[Norton Gillespie]

Norton was so excited to be back for another semester of quidditch. He was so happy and excited and he was a prefect too now! Everything was so good in school, he just ignored everything else. The boy was also happy with their new quidditch captain. he wholeheartedly trusted the older boy, Norton listened carefully to the usual instructions but set off into the air without much of a thought he was able to. He loved flying and he loved quidditch so of course he would absolutely give it his all. Norton smiled as he flew around the pitch. He felt confident in their team, he knew they'd do well this season. ​

 

[Eutropia Vetrov]

Eutropia Vetrov decided that he would end up trying out for Quidditch to gain some sort of name for himself. So far, none of his siblings were involved heavily in quidditch, so Eutropia figured that he would try. With one of his friends, what one would call a friend, watching in the background. Eutropia walked onto the pitch with his broom in hand. He smiled toward the captain, who he did not know who it was. Just who was calling all of the shots. “Eutropia Vetrov, and trying out for chaser.” He did some research on that position and felt that working as a team would be a good experience. He wanted to learn how well people worked together and it would be best if he would try it out for himself as well. The game of quidditch, what he knew anyway, seemed so fascinating with how the games turned out.

Once he was free to try out, Eutropia mounted his broom and worked around the pitch for a few laps before grabbing the quaffle. He practiced a few passes to the others that tried out. He didn’t expect to be on the team. After all, the others seemed to be more well versed than he. But, at least he would try. In the end, he ended up passing more than attempting a shot, but he managed to shoot, he only made it half the time. Eutropia did learn a bit from this experience, so he landed and was happy with how things turned out.

 

[Wendy Bell]

Quidditch was sort like basketball and soccer from what Wendy can gather from the sport. Thanks to her involvement in both after school activities growing up, Wendy arrived at the pitch with a broomstick steady on her grip. If she applied what she knew from basketball and soccer to quidditch Wendy vigorously believed she could try out for goalie post, keeper position in this game. Oblivious to their current players, Wendy greeted the captain and acknowledge her two friends already there. "Hey, I'm Wendy and total newbie to this game. I will be trying out for keeper post? I think that's what you all call it," Wendy briefly introduced. Following that exchange, Wendy geared up. It took her some time, all of it, every gear piece worn was brand new to the muggelborn witch. Her parents would be grateful for this amount of padding actually, imagine if they found out about her flying on a broomstick. Heads will roll for this. Wendy just couldn't bring herself to care what they think, not with an opportunity to try something new like this.

Wendy took for the sky, hands balanced on the broomstick. Wendy was order to play guard for three high hoops. Wendy flew and swayed to face the others ready to test the likes of her. "Ready," Wendy gestured with a nod. Like birds they soar, the first scoring from the right then the left of the hoops. Wendy, heart beating fast while her eyes squinted through the goggles lens. It's harder than she presumed, no matter. Wendy breathe in and out slowly, all her undivided attention on those passing and tossing the quaffle around. Again, they took an aim at the hoops and this time Wendy hit it with a flat palm. The quaffle deflected sideways, Wendy celebrated by cheering. And it went in that order, thanks to her previous experiences Wendy skillfully tryout as keeper. Wendy ended her tryout, flying down and thanking the captain for giving her a chance. She had great time in trying something new.

 

[Therese Fergusson]

The brunette walked on the pitch and smiled as she noticed the group. She couldn't wait to start again with the season and continue with being a keeper. Therese really enjoyed playing and although she had been hit many times by a bludger (almost every game) she went on with doing what she needed to do. She actually believed she was good in what she was doing. Therese smiled at Geo and Norton and thought they made a good pair for being prefect. Than she listened to their new captain and waited for the try out to begin. She was curious at the new talent. The brunette jumped on her broom to guard the hoops for the chasers that were trying out. She wasn't gonna make it easy, although she hoped that they were be able to score a few times.

 

[Patrick Vernier]

Patrick rather liked Quidditch. The boy had always been an alternate and he did not mind. It meant that he didn't have to worry about always being on, and watching the game from the bench was better than having to sit in the loud stands with all of the screaming supporters. However, that also came with having to try out each year. The previous Quidditch captain had graduated and Patrick was sad to see him leave. He was such a nice captain and always gave Patrick a go which he really appreciated. The fourth year was slightly nervous as he came to try out again with the new captain. He knew the boy but had never really spoken to him. Patrick just hoped that he had enough to impress the new captain as he really wanted to keep his position as an alternate on the team, and hopefully as a full time player as he became more experienced.

Patrick listened as the new captain spoke to the group. The Hufflepuff tried his best not to seem nervous and held his shaking hands in a fist as he made his way over to the older boy. "I'm Patrick Vernier. Trying out for beater." he told him, looking down at the ground before he wrote his name down. He quickly made his way into the air with his beater's bat clutched tightly in his right hand. It wasn't long before a bludger came the boy's way and he focused on it coming towards him as he swung his bat back and hit it. Beaming, Patrick watched as the bludger flew back in the opposite direction, disappearing from sight. Now Patrick just had to hit some more. He flew around doing just that, smiling slightly at the new younger faces who were also trying out for beater. Patrick saw that they were pretty good but he still hoped he could keep his position on the team despite that. When bludgers came his way, Patrick was quick to swing his bat with all his might and was glad that he did not miss any of them. He glanced down at the Hufflepuff captain, hoping he had noticed Patrick's efforts. Patrick wanted nothing more than to stay on the team and he hoped the new captain could see that. When the tryouts had ended, Patrick smiled slightly at the captain, thanking him, before heading back to his dormitory for a well deserved shower.

 

[Austin Branning]

Out of Character:

Tryouts will close tomorrow

 

[Lauren Carter]

Lauren was so glad she could try out for the quidditch team. After her flying lesson she was suprised by how good it went and the blonde had sat on a broom before she came to Hogwarts. Her dad didn't liked it but he didn't had to know. Lauren enjoyed watching quidditch and since young age dreamed of playing herself. It was something she could get motivated for and she wanted to be for at least one thing here at Hogwarts. Lauren had asked the captain if she was able to try out and she could so with confidence she walked onto the pitch and to the large group that was standing there. Lauren noticed Therese her cousin and waved for a moment. Therese was such a sweet girl and she had missed her much. Their family didn't really spoke anymore but Lauren had nothing to say into that. Lauren listened as the captain spoke and already knew for which position she wanted to try out. '' Hello! I'm Lauren Davenport and trying out for Chaser, but I think I can play other positions as well.'' When it was her turn to go she stepped onto the broom and flew into the air. She had found her balance and grabbed the quaffle is it was tossed back by Therese. She had to score with her cousin and she was sure Therese wouldn't just let her. Lauren grabbed the quaffle under her arm and made sure she had it tight. The blonde flew towards the three hoops and tried to score, but Therese stopped it. She was good! But Lauren wasn't gonna give up. When it was her chance again she flew with high speed and threw the quaffle hard and it went through one of the hoops! Lauren cheered for herself and it gave her more pleasure, and it worked because she scored many times more. Lauren was proud as the youngest to be so energetic. When the time was over she flew back to the ground and smiled towards the others. Lauren hoped she could play and help the team.

 

[Austin Branning]

Out of Character:

Try outs are now closed. Thanks to all that tried out.

Players	Position
Arvel Ayers	Chaser
Geo Volt	Chaser
Eutropia Vetrov	Chaser
Austin Branning	Beater (Captain)
Norton Gillespie	Beater
Therese Rosenberg	Keeper
April Ward	Seeker
Analei Louw	Alternate Beater
Wendy Bell	Alternate Keeper
Patrick Vernier	Alternate Beater