Post by Victoria on Aug 13, 2012 22:24:51 GMT -5
Editor's Note: A Season Forecast of Quidditch, by Bradley Parkins
As the Quidditch season is on the horizon, and we all find ourselves digging into our drawers for our spirited jumpers, banners and scarves, getting ready to cheer on our respective teams. But what can we expect from this season, after last year’s utter Puddlemere domination, and the surprising finishing flop of Tutshill’s once-great Tornadoes?
One cannot bring up Quidditch these days without mentioning the giants of last year – Puddlemere United. Outplaying their opponents in almost every match of the second half of the season, winning always by a difference of 90 or more points, and winning the celebrity status of the likes of Viktor Krum. Puddlemere’s own equivalent? Veronica Basil – a 20 year-old seeker recently traded from the Appleby Arrows farm team, who made headlines across the country this year for her stellar play…. And of course, for dyeing her hair a shocking Puddlemere shade of blue after the season winning game. “Oh, I don’t know,” Veronica told The Daily Prophet, laughing, “I suppose we were all in such a state of elation – I wanted to do something to show my team spirit and pride in all of these players. We came so far from the beginning of the season, where we had only been seeded as number 4.” Speaking of the number four seed, this season’s are the Holyhead Harpies, who allegedly offered Basil 40 galleons a game to play for their team this season. Whether or not it’s true, the modest prodigy prefers not to indulge – “I don’t think it would be fair for me to talk to much about it – yes – I have talked with the manager of the Harpies a couple of times, and am honored at the suggestion that I should be offered a spot on such a historic team, but I am happy to say that I will be loyally returning to Puddlemere this season.”
Of course, no champion exists without their rivals, and Puddlemere has certainly found theirs in the Wimbourne Wasps, who they take on in the opening game of the season. Though the team in purple did rise victorious against them in the final of the tournament last season, the Wasps gave them a run for their money and took one them down in the second game of the round-robin. Wasps team captain and award winning chaser Nigel Welling says he looks forward to meeting the team in the opening match. “After the final, we all just took a step back to assess our own performances, and really were able to regroup and come together better as a cohesive team. Our opponents on Puddlemere all took a few weeks holiday after the season ended, but we spent that time building a new training schedule and a new foundation on which to build for this coming season.” Is he prepared to take on the team in purple for next weekend’s opening clincher? “Definitely – at this point, we have the fitness and the fresh mindset that PU don’t have. They have a lot of great players like Basil, Grew and Mouse, but after last season we know their tactics and we know what we’re up against.” Welling is a former star player for the recently destroyed Tutshill Tornadoes as well. “I can’t tell you it doesn’t hurt to see how they performed this season, but that’s Quidditch – a team that dominates for a couple of seasons will eventually find themselves a spot at a lower ranking; players leave, coaches leave, tactics change, progression is lost, players get old – it happens.”
Ouch, poor Tornadoes – old is never a word you want to hear associated with your team. But luckily for them, they’ve been fortunate enough to get a few fresh flyers on the roster. A spokesperson for the Tornadoes says – “We’re pleased to be adding a new keeper and chaser to our roster; Olivia Toad from our farm team, and Stan Schmidt from the German league.” According to Quidditch Weekly, the Chudley Cannons and Appleby Arrows have made each other a trade as well – Cannons keeper Frannie Dancer for Appleby keeper Ernie Spektor. The Holyhead Harpies are expected to keep the same roster, and captain Odette Dancer (sister of traded keeper Frannie) says she hopes that this will prove a ‘comeback season’ for the all witches team.
Well there you have it – all the scuttlebutt, all the rumours and gossip about the kick off of the wizarding world’s hottest sporting season. With this information, you can pose some of the important questions to yourself or fellow Quidditch fans – will Puddlemere remain on top? Are the Wasps on the rise? Will the Cannons continue to climb from their once inevitable failure? Are the Tornadoes dreams about to come true?
Journalism (Featured on the Cover): An Interview with Champion Puddlemere Seeker, Veronica Basil
On a sunny, late July morning, over-night Quidditch celebrity Veronica Basil and I meet at the coffee shop in Diagon Alley we had arranged to chat at – she’s already there when I arrive, signing a quick autograph for a young ten year-old fan by her table, in a simple outfit with an Irish national team Badge. I introduce myself and she is as friendly and inquisitive as a Niffler (though less sniffling and digging about of course) and so we begin our interview.
QW: Walk me – or should I say fly – me through the final moments of the league championship, when you were racing into the sky against Wimbourne seeker Jeremy Kettle for the Snitch. What was going through your mind?
VB: To be perfectly honest with you, not very much. Probably only two things actually – that I needed to get my hand around that Snitch, and that I needed to do it before Kettle. He’s a great seeker for sure, very driven, but I think something just clicked for my suddenly, and I was able to get the broom going faster, and suddenly I was getting ahead of him. It was only a tiny relief though – I still had to shimmy forward on the broom in order to reach the Snitch, which definitely took some courage on my part.
QW: At what point in the victory celebration did the idea of dyeing your hair come? Or had you planned it before?
VB: Prior to the game I hadn’t really thought about the possibility of victory celebrations. I was in this weirdly calm focus, where all I could think about was the game, so I guess it was totally a spur of the moment kind of thing. One of the team medical staff knew the charm to do it, and I didn’t think twice!
QW: But you eventually went back to brown.
VB: It was hard to match it with a lot of outfits…
QW: You’re one of only two witches on Puddlemere, how was the adjustment?
VB: It wasn’t bad at all [laughs]. They’re all great on the team… I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy, so it was fine.
QW: Speaking of your teenage years, how were they spent, as a Gryffindor seeker at Hogwarts?
VB: It was great – unfortunately I did spend most of my time there on the Quidditch pitch with guys, when I should have been studying. But I loved every minute of it, and looking at where I am now, it was worth it.
QW: Yourself and a few other league players held a Quidditch workshop for the Hogwarts teams and did a signing – how was that?
VB: It was so great to go back. I’d definitely love to teach Flying there someday. The kids were all so great and they really give you a lot of inspiration – their eagerness and stuff, it reminds you how much you love the sport and why you’re doing it.
QW: Quick, fun, final question – if you weren’t playing Quidditch what would you be doing?
VB: Flying teacher at Hogwarts, or maybe an Auror. Something adventurous and athletic!
INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE FROM QUIDDITCH WEEKLY? WE'LL BE MAILING AROUND SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS SOON TO YOUR PM BOX -FOR FREE QUIDDITCH NEWS AND UPDATES LIKE THIS, EVERY FEW WEEKS.
Great graphics by the way...
