Wizarding Times

Quidditch Rocks!

Of course Quidditch is what we all stay in Hogwarts for, right? Oh, so you don't agree with Fred and George Weasley? Well, some of us are a little Quidditch obsessed... just a little....

A little bit of curiosity led me to asking the members of the HQT some questions, some of which are more Quidditch related than others. Here are answers from some of the HQT members (the ones that answered the questionnaire first), and our next issue will feature the Spiffies who were a little less prompt off the horn or drum.

This is a fair warning to the members of other House Quidditch Teams — you too will be receiving a questionnaire from me, asking you various and sundry questions about Quidditch — which will then be printed in our Wizarding Times!

My first question was, Which is your favourite Professional Quidditch Team — please use the teams listed in Quidditch Through the Ages. Why is it your favourite professional team?

Marcie Hobber replied, "It's a tie between Chudley Cannons and Karasjok Kites. The Cannons because even though they've made a few unfortunate choices in player purchases, strategies and Quidditch Robe colour, they still try their best and come back year after year. Kites because it's my local team."

Oddly enough, the very Cheeky Cosmo Brown also likes the Chudley Cannons. "I'd have to say the Chudley Cannons are my favorite, and it has little nothing to do with them having a big-name supporter like Ron Weasley at all their matches. Besides having a fabulous motto, I have a tendency to root for the underdog. Since the Cannons haven't had a great century, they're certainly the underdog in most of their matches.

"Also? Cannons go BOOM!!"

Our DH specialist Kath Snape favoured a different team entirely! "My favorite professional Quidditch team is the Fitchburg Finches. They are from my country, the USA, and they are in that state next to mine called Massachusetts. I live in Rhode Island and it is a short broomstick ride to visit their team practices and games. They have won the USA Quidditch League Championship seven times!!"

The fourth person to answer was Rorey Padfoot. She came up with an answer that I can rather whole-heartedly agree with. "This was an easy question for me. I whole heartedly support the Holyhead Harpies. Something about an all girl Quidditch team, I just got to give them the respect they deserve. I often wonder if they have ever met Oliver Wood. *sigh*"

My second question for the team was this: Which is your favourite Quidditch move? (Again, please use the QTTA book.) Why is it your favourite Quidditch move?

Kath promptly replied, "As I am a Beater, my most favorite move is the Bludger Backbeat. I have found hitting the bludger with a back hand swing is quite disarming for opposing teams Beaters, as well as their Chasers."

Rorey is perhaps going for the Cheeky record that Cosmo currently holds? "I think my favorite move would have to be the Transylvanian Tackle. It's just hard to remember contact can't be made. Hmm, well mistakes do happen."

However, Cosmo retains her Cheeky title with, "While the sheer abandon of the Wronski Feint and the Starfish and Stick are entertaining, the Sloth Grip Roll is useful not just for avoiding Bludgers but also for blocking the Quaffle. This is something they don't tell you in Quidditch Through the Ages, of course, but you can use the Roll to great effect if you only use one hand on the broom. I wouldn't recommend doing that in wet weather, though; the result can be... unpleasant."

And Marcie tells us, "I haven't really developed a favourite Quidditch move, but I do really admire the seekers attempting the Wronski Feint!"

So it appears that there is no clear favourite amongst the HQT so far — but the Wronski Feint might be in the lead of possible favorites? We'll see when we publish the rest of the answers from the HQT.

My third question elicited quite range of answers! I was surprised because, well, to me the answer was obvious. So, readers, what would your answer be to this question? Which is better for Quidditch robes, linen, silk, cotton or leather? Why or why not?

Marcie quickly replied with, "Hmm... I'd have to say leather. For one, I'd rather be hit by a bludger wearing leather than silk, and it protects from rain and wind much better than the others! If it was just for appearance, though, I would go with silk."

Cosmo's answer, received right after Marcie replied, was, "Generally speaking, I'm a fan of cotton for robes. Different weaves of fabric give you different weights, which is great, since you wouldn't want to wear a summer-light robe in the middle of winter. I like cotton because it breathes, and you need that when playing Quidditch. Also, I don't feel bad about getting stains on cotton like I would linen, silk, or leather."

Kath's answer was imminently practical. "I have always been partial to cotton. Quidditch is a rough game and one can build up a rather heavy sweat working hard to keep the bludger away from our Seeker and Chasers. Cotton is very good at absorbing excessive amounts of sweat during a long game, as well as it is a strong and sturdy material."

Whereas Rorey took a more analytic approach to her answer. "Oh each have their own unique positive and negative quality. Take silk for example, it is a soft fabric, but wearing slippery silk on the broomstick it's hard to keep difficult positions. Leather can be the same sort of issue. It helps give a better protection against bludgers, but the breath-ability is something horrible; and I don't know about you, but I try not to sweat too much, while playing. I think I would have to chose cotton. It's light weight, but still durable, two very important qualities for a Quidditch robe."

I'll just continue with the questions and answers, as asked, with the replies of each person.

Marcie Hobber

4) What is your favourite moment in an official HOL game?
When I scored my first goal against Missa Matz in a game versus Gryffindor. She's been involved in HOL Quidditch much longer than I, and I've always been a little bit intimidated by her, in a good way.

5) What was your favourite 'personal' moment in an official HOL game?
That must be the first time I playd seeker for Hufflepuff. I got a lot of support from everyone on the team, especially the person interviewing me now, the captain then, Tarma Black.

6) Pink or purple? Why?
Purple! I have a lot of purple clothes, I think it looks good on me (Although, I do wear other colours as well).

7) Make up your own question and reply to it!
Q: Why do you play HOL Quidditch?
A: Because I love the game, our team and the people I'm playing against. It's still as thrilling to wait for a chaser vs keeper question now, as when I first started playing.

Cosmo Brown

4) What is your favourite moment in an official HOL game?
Um, the first one that comes to mind is sometime this past season, when I accidentally, um... flew onto the pitch in the middle of the game. (In real terms, I accidentally gave an answer in the game channel that was meant for the team room; it went through because I was opped for broadcast.) Boy, was my face red!

5) What was your favourite 'personal' moment in an official HOL game?
This is going to sound egotistical, I think, but winning two MVPs my first year playing was pretty awesome. I'm not sure which one was my favorite, though. The first one came in my first game as keeper, which was hard, so that was cool. The second one I shared with Ravenclaw's keeper in that game, October Jackson, and I remember having something of a mutual admiration society discussion with her, where we were both complimenting each other on how well the other played, each insisting that she didn't play as well as the other. As it turned out, while I had a greater number of total blocks, she had the better percentage of blocks, so we were both winners.

6) Pink or purple? Why?
You mean I can't have both? You're mean!
Though, if I have to pick, I'd say purple. For one, it goes so well with yellow (they're opposite on the color wheel!); for another, shades of purple make my eyes look fabulous. Also, I sort of mentally make purple, like, an unofficial Hufflepuff color; I mean, c'mon, how gorgeous do yellow, black, and purple look together?

7) Make up your own question and reply to it!
Why should I make up a question for your questionnaire? Oh, no, you made me do it! You made me ask a question! You're too clever, Miss Black, far too clever. But just watch this: I'm not going to answer the question. What do you think of that?

Kath Snape

4) What is your favourite moment in an official HOL game?
When one of our Chasers scores!!! I have no greater pride than when I see one our Chasers streak toward the goals, free of opposing Beaters and Chasers who have taken one of my well aimed bludgers to their head!!!

5) What was your favourite 'personal' moment in an official HOL game?
My happiest and most favorite moment was stopping an opposing Chaser from getting past me three times, during a very close and hard fought game.

6) Pink or purple? Why?
Neither - I prefer Yellow and Black. [note from Tarma: is this a BADGER or WHAT?]

7) Make up your own question and reply to it!
What was my most embarrassing moment during a Quidditch match?
My most embarrassing moment during a Quidditch match was when I, being a Beater, jumped in and tried to play Chaser. I just couldn't help myself. I saw I could catch the quaffle that was being passed to the opponents Chaser and I reached out and grabbed the quaffle. Not till I heard the ref's whistle did I realize I was in big trouble.

Rorey Padfoot

4) What is your favorite moment in an official HOL game?
I would have to say the beginning, when the adrenalin is pumping and you want to get out there and tear up the pitch.

5) What was your favorite 'personal' moment in an official HOL game?
I would have to say my first save as a Chaser. It was one of those, "did I do that?" kind of moments. It is defiantly something I won't forget.

6) Pink or purple? Why?
Purple, duh? Pink and I do not get along. Purple and I are a much better combo.

7) Make up your own question and reply to it!
Do you plan to go one to play Quidditch professionally?
Unfortunately no, I plan to play Quiddy long enough to meet my idol Oliver Wood, get married, and have a few future Quiddy players. It shouldn't be too hard right?

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Our interviews continue with the next issue!