Broom Racing Spectator HUFFLEPUFF vs GRYFFINDOR - FALL 2024

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It had been a long while since Pax had bothered to care about anything other than quidditch. After all, many consecutive losses would make even the least competitive person begin to lose their mind. But with a new year brought new revelations, and Pax was more than happy to see them.

In the interest of branching out, they had decided to attend the first rounds of broom racing, and see what all the fuss about the sport was. It did seem fairly thrilling, to give some credit to those who enjoyed it. And... well, that wasn't Pax's only motivation for being out here. A recent friendship had been struck with Gryffindor captain, Della Barfield, who was going to be racing in this game. Considering that they'd be attending tonight's festivities with her, they had thought it appropriate for them to make an appearance at the races to show their support. That was general courtesy, after all. Plus, the broom racing lions deserved some well-earned support as well. If the badgers were as tough as they were on the quidditch pitch, then it'd be a rough match.

Snuggled up in a maroon hoodie (they had to rep the Gryffindor spirit after all), their bright blue hair whipping round their face stuck out against the dull brown wood of the bleachers. As everyone gathered and crowded in to watch, Pax offered a small wave and smile towards their friend. They weren't sure if she had spotted them, but just in case she did. Once the race had begun, they leaned back in their seat, letting the action swirl around them, wishing Gryffindor luck for the race ahead.

Reducio

Word count: 275

Mentions: @Della Barfield

Date: Oct 19th 2024

There was exactly one broom racer she knew, and that one broom racer was going to be racing today. So, Maisie thought she might as well go out and lend some moral support. After all, it wasn't like we were talking about a race against Ravenclaw.

So, Maisie grabbed a mustard jumper from her wardrobe and pulled it over her head and under her robes before heading out. She'd also managed to hand sew a small banner out of the remnant fabric they'd used to make Reyna's ball gown. The letters "GO HUFFLEPUFF" were outlined in a flowery black satin trim.

She carried her sign out into the stands under the cloudy skies—weather much more favorable than when she had come out to support the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. The bleachers were less full than she expected, but that was okay. In fact, it allowed her to get a great seat. Off in the distance, she could see a Gryffindor student keeping warm in a hoodie. Hopefully, that did not signal that the weather was about to turn to the worse.

Maisie kept her eyes forward, waiting for the racers to emerge. She knew precious little about racing, aside from the obvious. But she suspected it would have a surprising, magical twist, like just about everything in this school.

Open to interactions.

ILVERMORNY RULES!!! Cursa McCoire Stats: Sta: 7 | Eva: 10 | Str: 0 | Wis: 10 | Arc: 10 | Acc: 13 Abilities: TBD Trunk: Right Here!

Cursa could not believe that he'd let Colin talk him into this madness! His cousin's race wouldn't be until the afternoon. He'd decided to attend that race to take his mind off --- things. But he hadn't planned on being roped into cheering for Colin's girlfriend in her race as well! At least it wasn't quidditch! Cursa had no concept of that rubbish at all. He sniffed derisively as Colin prattled on about how awesome broom racing was. Ironically, Cursa had learned much to his surprise, they both shared the same low opinion of quidditch.

Cursa smirked. The English game certainly couldn't hold a candle against quodpot! Now, that was a serious game! Whereas Colin had called quidditch --- was was his term? A "namby-pamby children's game" where you weren't even allowed to set the other team on fire or throw things at them. Cursa was pretty sure his cousin was exaggerating. Surely racing didn't involve setting people on fire?

"Right!" Colin said as they got themselves situated in the stands. His hair was yellow for the occasion. "There she is! WOOOOOO! Fyre Angel!" Cursa wondered. Colin was nothing if not excitable! Colin turned back to him, a wild grin on his face. "Shirts off lad!" And no sooner had he said the words, but he shucked his shirt and was digging around in his satchel. Cursa knew that some kind of paint would soon be procured. Right after the yellow and black cape-like things.

"Are you sure about this, Colin? It's not exactly warm out, is it?"

"Brisk, lad, brisk! Do ye a world of good!" Colin thumped Cursa's chest enthusiastically. "Brilliant weather, right? At least it isn't yillen and uplowsin! I do love pelting through the greetie, mind!" (*)

Cursa shook his head slowly. He had no clue what yelling and plowing and greetings had to do with the weather. It was practically freezing out, but he certainly wasn't going to let Colin McCoire outdo him! He caught sight of another kid in the stands. A younger girl wearing a yellow sweater. "Look, Colin, couldn't we just wear matching yellow sweaters?" He nodded towards the girl. "Aren't we cheering on Cornpuffs?"

Colin turned his mane of pale blond towards the girl. "Nice banner lassie! YOOOOO HUFFLEPUFF!!!"

Cursa knew there was no point in arguing the matter further. He reluctantly took off his warm cloak, actually Colin had given it him, and then his shirt. "Right. Let's get this over with." Cursa grabbed the paint and began the laborious process of writing the girl's name across Colin's chest. "Hold still Colin! I've never done this before!" Cursa couldn't help but laugh. Somehow Colin's mood was getting to him. He knew it wouldn't last, but for now, it seemed like cheering on this mad broom racing team was the thing to do.

Colin took the paints next and drew the same on Cursa's chest. He was barely able to contain his excitement. Not for the first time, Cursa thought how very much like an alert and excitable puppy Colin really was. "WOOOOOOOO!!" Colin cried out as the announcer got the race started. Cursa turned his attention to the teams lining up. The same blonde girl from the potions competition was there.

And then the chaos began! Colin cheered wildly as spells were flung and racers crashed into each other! Cursa's heart leapt! This wasn't what he was expecting at all! Two of the red team --- "Gryffindorks" Colin called them --- were already off their brooms and smacking the ground below. Before long, Cursa found himself jumping up and down next to Colin, cheering on the Pufflestuffs! "ANGELFYRE!! ANGELFYRE!" they cried out together.

The racers blew through the thick fog. "Here, put these on!" Colin shoved something that looked like a bird mask onto his head. "Eagle eye goggles, Cursa! It isn't night, but the fog is dark!" Cursa peered through the eye openings and into the dark fog along the track. He wouldn't say that he could see well, but could at least see them!

"FLUFFLEHUFF FOR THE WIN!" Cursa shouted. "GRYFFINDORK SUCKS!"

"OWOOOOO HUFFLEPUFF!! GRYFFINDORQUE SUQUES!!!" Colin shouted. With any luck and strong tailwind, their cheers and high voices might carry across the track to their intended racers --- cheers for AngelFyre and her team, jeers for others!

More spells were thrown about --- many of them missing, but at fifty or sixty miles and hour, you could hardly expect perfection! There was a lot of shit talking too, which Cursa approved of wholeheartedly, if only he could make it all out! He did catch the word "yeet" and knew what that meant! Someone would be kissing the ground very soon!

As the racers shot from fog, Cursa let out a holler: "FYYYYRE ANGELLLL!!" which Colin took up in turn! Then one of the boys grabbed hold of her! Wait! "NOOOOO!!!" They were on the same team, right!? How could he debroom his own team mate? Was he mad? He glanced over at Colin, but the Scottish boy seemed unconcerned. Or, could there have been some crazy potion infused into the fog? No wait! He wasn't trying to blatch AngelFyre at all! They spun around like some crazy orrery, before he let her go again!

It was brilliant! It was a thing of pure beauty watching her zoom forward much faster than any of them could fly! Cursa felt like he wanted to try this some time! His forte was duelling, but clearly this was a kind of duelling. And if Colin could do it, then so could Cursa! He threw both arms into the air and cheered on the HockeyPucks! "HOCKEY PUCKS! HOCKEY PUCKS FOR THE WIN!!"

Colin laughed. Cursa shoved the eagle goggles back onto Colin's head. "Hey! Yer girlfriend's got her wand out again!"

"Wh---? Oh!" Colin seemed momentarily confused. Those goggles did kind of make one woozy. Cursa could just about make out the blonde girl casting at of the Gryffindorks. Sent her back quite a long way, too! That poor team just couldn't catch a break! He scanned the slower racers, and two more Gryffindorks were knocked off their brooms! Cursa danced about with excitement, his arm around Colin's neck.

The race looked like either team could win! But of course only one team could win --- and Cursa hoped it would be the Heckle Pecks! What strange names they gave to their Houses at Hogwarts, he thought. But no matter, Cursa found his spirits lifted a bit. Though he knew he could crash at any time, he was just happy there was someone with him who --- wasn't exactly a stranger.

(*) Yillen is a windy rain shower whilst uplowsin is a heaving rain. Greetie is a showery rain, related to the word for cry.

@AngelFyre McCubbin

Werewolves: put a chain on em!