IC Gryffindor Tryouts '86

[Castor Allaway]

Friday, September 9th after dinner.

This was his third year as captain of his house team, and so, his third year of organizing tryouts—gone was the Castor who was anxious about judging his peers, and in his place stood a quidditch trial veteran eager to see what his house had to offer him this year. Students of all ages had come out for the evening’s affair, and while the Gryffindor was rather wary of the first years (who had, in some cases, only just flown a broom for the first time!), he was confident he would find some athletic flowers in this crop of weeds.

A grumbling belly criticised the seventh year for skipping dinner to prepare for the tryouts; Castor would have to stop by the kitchens on his way back to the common room if he did not want both himself and his doormmates to be kept awake by its growls all night. Still, his efforts were rewarded—school brooms and all the supplies he would need were laid out in strategically sectioned areas of the pitch.

“Good evening!” he greeted brightly once the bulk of his would-be teammates were assembled, a broad grin on his pock-marked face. “All of you should know me by now, but for those who don’t, my name is Castor Allaway and, if you’re lucky, I’ll be your captain. I have three drills set out for you—you can complete as many of them as you like. Those trying out for chaser,” Castor gestured to the zone in question, “should mount up and do a few laps of the pitch before you have a go with the dummies, passing and catching.”

The dummies were on ground level and spelled to throw quaffles at the would-be chasers with varying degrees of force and accuracy.

“Those trying out for beater will note five floating targets. On your turn, you’ll need to mount up and hit a bludger at the targets. The more you hit*,” he joked, “the happier I’ll be! Finally, those of you angling for keeper will have to defend yourselves (and your hoops) against an onslaught of enchanted quaffles.  Don’t worry about me missing any of your heroic deeds,” the chaser added. “I’ve enough experience that I’ve developed an eye for trials. Begin!”

Please do not post unless you have filled in the form here! Signups will be accepted until the 9th :) You should plan to make one post for each position you intend to try out for. Posts should include you kicking off, doing whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing, and then returning to the ground.  The last day for tryout posts is September 11th. This thread will close at 7pm EST on that day. By posting in this thread, you signify that you absolutely will not kill or maim your character before September 9th, and you have no immediate plans to do so before December.

* You can automatically give yourself up to three hits if you’ve got beating experience, one if you don’t. Anything beyond that should be left vague!
NOTIFYING: @'Questor Spryly' @'Handsome Whitledge' @'Simon Quirke'

  

[Guppy Travers]

In truth, Guppy’s primary motivation for trying out for the quidditch team was how much it would annoy his brother if he made it. A second year, Guppy knew his chances weren’t good, however Bart had tried out five times for his own team and never made it. If the second year was successful, he could lord it over his eldest sibling until the end of time!

Though he was at least half-listening to Allaway, Guppy’s attentions were far more focused on all the stations that had been set up. When dismissed, he raced—as if there would be some sort of prize for being first—to the beaters’ station, mounting up and kicking off with a bat in hand. Where were the bludgers, the young wizard wondered?

His question was quickly answered, and the boy had to duck to avoid being cracked over the head with one. Now on high alert and with adrenaline coursing through him, Guppy took off in pursuit, hitting it squarely and watching as it careened (not as quickly as he might have liked) towards one of the targets. He hit several more in turn and got hit in the shoulder by another before returning to the ground, shaking out his now-numb arm as he awaited his turn for the keeper trials.

  

[Questor Spryly]

Spryly was nervous. He was now a second year, but he was still almost at the bottom of the school still, which meant he was competing against lots of older students who were probably more experienced than him. They were certainly taller than him, anyway. He had had a growth spurt during his first year, but meager pickings over summer meant he hadn't exactly sprouted up over the summer. He envied his classmates who had gained inches on him in the months since they had last been at school.

All that aside, he had at least some factors in his favor, such as his participation in the Quodpot club the previous year, and he now had his own broom. His broom was hardly a top-notch racing broom, but it flew well enough and he had helped make it which made it better than anyone else's broom. His part had mostly been the physical assembly, it wasn't as though he was an advanced enough wizard to be able to cast the necessary charms. Also underage magic was a thing.

Still, these things didn't mean he was guaranteed a spot and all of the older students could easily be better than him. He was undeterred, however, and so began his try out as confidently as he could despite the nerves. He swung a leg over his broom and pushed off. He decided to try out for chaser first and so flew his first few laps around the pitch. This, he found, was an excellent decision for it calmed his nerves right down. He could do this! When he'd finished his laps, he went on to try some passing and catching. Now that he was calmer, his hands were much steadier and he was sure this improved his performance. When he was done, he flew down and dismounted, stumbling a little on the edge of his robe which was a bit too big for him but he pretended not to notice.

  

[Guppy Travers]

Still a bit sore from his first tryout, Guppy kicked off and flew towards the goal hoops. The Gryffindor was less than pleased when the first two quaffles soared easily through the rings, and refocused his energy on blocking as many of the remaining ones as he could—hoping Allaway had missed his initial blunders. Tryout complete, the second year landed back on solid ground.

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

While Handsome had never tried out for the quidditch team, he'd always played as a chaser and keeper during the quidditch club's matches. He had some experience, but was nonetheless nervous about falling off his broom due to anxiety. As he was dismissed by the team captain, Handsome mounted his broom and flew upwards as he prepared to do his laps. His flying was smooth enough, but there was no doubt that he felt a little shaky. He could do this ... right?

  

[Glitter Whitledge]

 Glitter didn't know why she had decided she wanted to be on the Quidditch team this year when she could have tried out of during her third year when she had joined the Quidditch club.

After mounting her broom, she realised she really did not want to do this, but it was already to late for her to back out (she could have before she climbed on the broom, but not after) so she took a deep, calming, breath before she could make herself panic even more. 

Hopefully she didn't fall off and die a tragic death. At school. Trying out for a position she knew she had experience in.

After a couple laps around the field, she felt better and hoped she had a clear head for the next part. 

Passing back and forth felt natural, even if she passing to objects that didn't move if they weren't charmed.

Pleased that Glitter didn't think she had horribly failed,  she returned to the ground with her nerves following quickly after her landing.

  

[Questor Spryly]

Spryly decided to try out for beater next. He kicked off from the ground again and with a club in hand, readied himself to face the bludgers. These couldn't be worse than the quod that could explode in your face at any moment.

He did his best to hit them all at the target but by the time he landed on the ground again, he wasn't at all sure if he'd done well enough to earn a spot as a team beater. At least there were other positions open.

  

[Simon Quirke]

Simon was born ready for this. He waved eagerly at his soon-to-be-captain, confident that he'd make the team. Doing what exactly, he hadn't the slightest, but he was certain that Mr. Allaway would give him a slot after his near-constant display of enthusiasm for the team. He cast a weary side-eye at the others trying out. Whilst some might become his teammates, at the moment they were considered his competition. He wasn't about to let himself get beat by a girl, even if she was older than him.

He snatched a school broom, mounted it and took off into the air - ready to tryout for the chaser position first. He followed the instructions as best he could and then landed.

  

[Cameron Gillenwater]

After going through Diagon Alley for the first time, one of the objects he'd seen that had stuck out to him the most was the racing brooms. He'd been disappointed to find that first years were not allowed to bring their own brooms, but he imagined it was for good reason. Always considering himself athletic, Cammie hadn't thought twice about trying out for the team. He was concerned, however, that he'd be trying out, only to be sorted into a different house.

As a muggleborn student, he'd naturally been looking for some affirmation that be belonged, and he'd already grown attached to his house. He hoped that when the sorting hat returned, it would grant his wish to stay with Gryffindor.

Approaching the rest of the students who gathered to wait for instructions from the captain. Many of them, he noted, were much taller than he was—some even by a whole foot! Would he even have a chance? Perhaps his smaller size could be an advantage, as he'd be much lighter on his broom ... or so he assumed.

His experience with flying had only consisted of the few days he'd spent in flying class, but he hadn't found any difficulty getting a smooth flight—but then again, he was comparing himself to other first years, not older students.

Cameron listened carefully as the captain named Mr. Allaway explained what was going to happen. When they were released, he grabbed one of the school brooms that had been left in the pile, and gently mounted it. He looked around at the other students, an anxiety-ridden expression plastered to his soft face.

Here goes nothing.

He took to the skies rather quickly, his body reflexively jolting as he moved upwards at a steep angle. He took to the hoops, his eyes watching nervously for the onslaught of enchanted quaffles. The first one came flying in his direction at a speed he hadn't imagined, and the first year attempted to stop it.

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[Pruedence Kidd]

As per usual, Prue stuck out above the competition - literally. At least the Capitan had the sense to be a couple inches taller than her. She had her broom and was listening carefully; there were two positions she was trying out for today because her parents 'sigh and hope for better' attitude didn't quite extend to the idea of their daughter playing beater.

Once Allaway had given his instructions, Prue took her turn trying for chaser. She kicked off, passed back and forth with the dummies, and then set beach down. Lovely. Now to go try for keeper.

  

[Simon Quirke]

It was his turn to try out for beater. Secretly, this was the position that he wanted most, but he wasn't about to be choosy. He'd take whatever Mr. Allaway threw at him. Mounting his borrowed broom once more, he kicked off and hit the bludgers as hard as he could toward the targets. Once that was done, he returned to the ground and flashed a competitive glance at the other students.

  

[Prudence Browne]

Pru was all about quidditch. She hadn't done well in school the previous year and was determined to turn it all around this year. This year, she'd play quidditch, study and be the most diligent student that her professors had ever seen. So far her homework load had been more than she'd estimated, but the school year had just begun. She wouldn't let that deter her.

She mounted her broom, flew a lap or two around the pitch and then did her best to maneuver around the dummies whilst passing and catching the quaffle. Once back on the ground, she brushed a stray piece of hair from her eyes and readied herself for the next drill.

  

[Pruedence Kidd]

Prue eyed the line for beater suspiciously; it was short. Very short. Surely her parents could be convinced ...

First though, she took her turn trying it for keeper. She kicked off, made as many saves as possible, and went on to try for the last spot. She'd been doing this since first year; maybe this was the year!

  

[Cameron Gillenwater]

After finishing with what seemed to be million years of being pelted with enchanted quaffles, the muggleborn moved onto something that seemed a little simpler—doing laps. He wasn't really sure what the chaser did, but he couldn't imagine it be that difficult if their captain only had them doing laps and throwing and catching. That was definitely something he knew he was capable of doing. He flew away from the hoops and began following the small crowd of wannabe chasers doing laps, hoping that he wouldn't fall too far behind.

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[Pruedence Kidd]

Okay so this wasn't precisely approved, but Prue was certain she could convince her parents not to be too upset with her if she made beater. After all, the Holyhead Harpies existed! With a deep breath, Prue took up her broom and a bat and took off.

The first target was a hit; maybe she had a knack for this! It wasn't like she was inexperienced at hitting things, after all. She kept going, moving confidently, and finally landed feeling pretty good about her trial. Fourth time was the charm ... right?

  

[Simon Quirke]

This was his last chance to nab a spot on the team. If he failed, he'd have to sit in the stands for another excruciating school year. Sure, there was always club quidditch, but it just wasn't the same! Maybe Annabeth would even come all the way from London to watch him play.

Simon mounted his borrowed broom once again and flew to the quidditch goal posts. He did his best to be as agile as possible and defend the goals from the onslaught of quaffles, though may have let one or two slip through. He couldn't be sure. It had all happened so quickly. He nearly leaped off of his broom as he was landing, eager to find out the results.