Priya watched the game closely, noting he bludgers, noting the hit on Snow's broom, noting the quaffle changing possession quickly and efficiently. She had to hand it to England, they were good at stealing. The quaffle that is, nothing else. An innocent country, England was.

The keeper's jaw set and she raised herself on her broom, appearing as large as she could and ready to swerve, dive, leap, kick, whatever it took to stop the oncoming attack whenever the English chasers would try for a shot. Was Deep on this? A nicely placed bludger aimed at these chasers would do a whole of good, make them lose possession.

With Renee in possession of the Quaffle and Lamberto flying alongside her, Leon knew what was about to happen. It gave him a few seconds to drop lower than them and fly slightly further forward. Now that Lamberto had the ball and was speeding in the direction of the goalposts, there was only one thing to do. Leontius put on his own burst of speed, keeping up with the other chaser, ready to catch the Quaffle as needed.

He managed to notice the almost collision of the seekers and the stands too. He winced internally.

Oh no. No you don't. Flying low over his broom to gain speed as he weaved between the Chasers, Mayur moved himself towards the bludger that had been aiming for his own Chasers even though they no longer had possession.

No matter. A good whack with his bat and the bludger was soaring towards the Chasers who were making their way towards Priya. The bludger zoomed through the air, aiming right for Lamberto Urupi... Mayur didn't wait to see if it made contact, he was already looking for Nila and the second bludger in case it was also needed.

Raju gritted his teeth. England had intercepted his throw. Raju knew better than to loose his cool. It took more than a strokeof bad luck for him to do that. In addition he had faith in his team. Raju could see Mayur whacking a Bludger at Urupi and he moved in close, careful not to maintain contact with anyone.

If that Bludger connected or if a toss was taken, Raju would move in to intercept.

What Nyx had thought was a glimpse of the snitch was actually Minister Hollingberry’s reflecting pocket watch. Pavel was relieved to see that Nyx managed to stop before crashing into the stadium stands. The referee’s whistle was lost in the wind. Pavel turned his focus ahead noting with a big grin that his bludger had done it’s job even if hitting the quaffle in that direction hadn’t been his initial intention. He held his breath as Pete’s broom took him for a spin, but their trusted keeper was soon back in position. No goal had been scored by India.

Anand was once again blasting bludger’s at the wrong people. Pavel’s temper was being tested. He didn’t like how that Indian whacked the bludgers around at his team maters. With Lamberto in possession of the quaffle and Renee and Leonitus close bym and with a bludger zooming their way Pavel dove and flew after it, picking up speed as he went. Coming near it he gave the bludger a good solid whack of his bat sending it off towards Priya Malavia and away from Lamberto. Now where was the second bludger?

However, while he had been watching Nila, he'd noted the England robes of Torben moving closer to his own teams chasers. A sign that that bludger he'd just pushed towards England was likely to come back towards India. And it didn't take Coach to tell him who Torben would be likely to push it towards. Especially with the Chaser's all going towards the goals.

Now, could he or Nila get there quick enough so it wouldn't get anywhere near Priya?? That was the question.

He leant close to his broom, picking up speed as he ducked around his fellow Indian players, all the while trying to get to the bludger before it got to Priya. Comeoncomeone. His sole focus was getting to that bludger, bat ready to hit it back towards the English chasers.

Pulling up (much closer to Priya than he would have liked), he managed to whack the Bludger, sending it on its way back to the Chasers. He knew Raju was there, ready to intercept the Quaffle if he succeeded. ... and he pulled straight up, getting out of Priya's way. He wasn't a keeper. No thanks.

Taking the liberty to zip around the perimeter of the pitch, Geffrard heard no screams nor crashing sounds. A relief, truly, that the seekers had managed to avoid a collision with the stands and the Minister of Magic himself.

Had he seen what was concerning players on the pitch? No. His attention had been rather drawn towards the potential medical emergency. Crisis averted, his gaze returned to action - keenly watching the chasers presently who were all flying in tight formation around one another.

It is often said that the best offense is a good defense, and the British chasers were certainly an illustration of just that. Their efforts paid off as Golzio skillfully intercepted the pass from Misra intended for one of his teammates. In tight formation, Urupi received the quaffle from her. On wards towards the hoops and the agile Malviya protecting them.

Speaking of good defense, Deep and Anand were proving relentless with a bat. After firm connections with the bats of Deep and Logan, the bludger gave a bit of a peculiar spin. Almost as though it were fighting the air in which it was soaring through. After another hit by Anand and the bludger was on another new coarse, twitching mid flight before the bat of Torben made his connection and sent the bludger off towards Malavia. The likes of who had her attention keenly focused on the on-coming British chasers and the quaffle tucked under their arm. Aand, fervently swooped in and struck the bludger en route for Malavia's broom handle. The hit was a solid one, one that rattled the beater's bat and shook his arm violently. The bludger gave another subtle twitch in the air, its course changing subtly in the process but still whizzing through the air towards and into the McKay where it STRUCK the tip of his broom handle and sent the chaser for a bit of a spin.

Where was the other bludger? Where indeed. Why, it was presently on a crash course for Higgs as she recovered from her near collision with the stands.

DashdashdashdashDASHdashDASHING. Lost in the bright rays of the sun for a bit, the snitch bolted across the bright blue sky high above both teams threatening to leave the stadium through the oval opening in the roof of the stadium.

Nila grunted at the crazed bludger. The one that seemed to have a mind of its own was being thrashed around the pitch by the beaters and thankfully landed a nice hit on McKay's broom. Her course was set on the bludger that hit McKay while she scanned the pitch for the other bludger, which was on a happy course towards Higgs and not a current worry for Nila.

Turning her focus back on the first bludger, Nila zipped across at top speed, nearly colliding with one of the English National chasers, so close that she thought she felt her arm brush against either body or broom. If she hadn't been so focused on getting to the bludger, she would have paused a moment to see which player it had been.

Bat at the ready once more, Nila took a hard swing at the bludger, sending it right back towards McKay.

Wait, there it was! Out of the corner of her eye, Nyx saw the glittering sparkle that was, unmistakably this time, the snitch. It was heading for...the hole in the roof?? She knew it had to stop before it got there - there were rules to enchanting these things of course - but she'd rather NOT have to fly alllllll the way up to the roof.

Although she had another problem now. A bludger had turned course and was heading RIGHT towards her. She could hear the familiar WHOOSH noise of it flying through the wind as it got closer and closer. Gripping her broom, she waited, and waited, and waited, until it was almost on her tail, and she did a sloth grip roll. She could feel the gust of wind as it flew over her, and she quickly twirled her broom so she was right side up again. Back to business - the SNITCH.

Hopefully, the Bludger was not going to redirect itself and keep coming after her - but that was not the problem right now. The problem was the snitch, headed for that opening. She took off, making a beeline for it. She watched the glittery little ball as it flew higher and higher, getting closer with each second to the roof. She reached out her hand as she came upon it, hoping she was lucky this time and managed to catch it in her hand before the snitch flew out of the stadium - or worse, Meera got it, or a bludger hit her outstretched hand!

Lamberto zigged then zagged trying to confuse the Indian chasers hovering around, he hoped his English chasers could catch the Quaffle should rebound. Taking a deep breath as he closed his target at the hoops he maneuvered his broom to make it seem as if he's aiming for the left hoop when in actuality he swung the Quaffle towards the center hoop in one quick and smooth toss!

Did it work? Did he score? Were the English chasers around? All these questions soon dispersed when his attention was then focused on Nyx for a split second! He could see her flying around and the Snitch was on the field! Grinning, he went back to watching out for those bloody bludgers! Couldn't take his eyes off them or the Quaffle!

Priya was far too preoccupied with the quaffle incoming within English hands, and didn't notice the bludger until Mayur was right there beside her and sending it off towards the opponents. Shouting out a grateful grunt, Priya dared not move from her ready stance, brown eyes seeing the quaffle move closer and closer. Feigning maneuvers and swiveling brooms are all in a day's work for the Indian keeper, and she was very ready to lunge towards the offending attack when it came. Where were her chasers? Priya hoped they'd be ready.

With Nila going after one bludger, Mayur headed towards the second even though it was going towards the English team. He wanted to make sure that the English Beaters didn't deter it and if Nyx Higgs managed to get out of its path to be able to send it towards the correct person from England.

Keeping an eye on the match, he noted Nyx's fancy broom work and was impressed and noted that she was speeding off towards .... well, he assumed the snitch even if he couldn't see it. He moved on her tail, aiming for the bludger that Nyx had just outmanoeuvred before whacking it in her direction again.

She wasn't getting that snitch before Meera if he could help it.

Deep's strike on the bludger was true but with an unexpected spin to it that veered it uncharacteristically off course (oh my), away from McKay, and towards her own teammate in Anand.

The other bludger, its course encouraged by Anand, continued to beeline its way towards Higgs and made its HARSH connection seconds later with enough force to crush her wrist guard right off. Eyes on the prize, right Higgs? But was it worth the cost of overlooking and underestimating the approaching bludger?

Zooming towards the hoops himself, Urupi released the quaffle ... only to have his shot fall embarrassingly short. Yikes. Another pass to position the English side closer to the hoops would have been in everyone's best interest. QUAFFLE LOOSE!

ZIP ZIP ZIPZIP ZAG ZAAAAAAAAAAG ZIP! The snitch escaped the hand of the English seeker and darted over the crowd in sharp zigzag formation, flying diagonally for a time before making a sharp and jagged turn in the opposite direction. It's golden surface still catching the sunlight juuuuuuuuuust right as it soared above the crowd.

Excitement was buzzing again. The Snitch was spotted once more but Raju could not be distracted. Meera would take care of the Snitch. As for Captain Misra? He was busy zooming in on that Quaffle. Urupi had not taken a proper shot which was fortunate for Team Bharat Desh.

Raju snatched the Quaffle from the air when it was released. His eyes were peeled for Bludgers and English Chasers. The wind was rushing against him as he veered off for the relevant goalposts. Arjun and Aparna were hopefully close by.

Veering out of what was almost a crisis situation, Meera was continued doing her thorough search of the stadium. That had been really close. It even managed to throw her off guard for several seconds.

It was within those several seconds that she missed the snitch. Regaining her composure, she gasped as she saw Nyx chasing and grabbing at the snitch. Luckily, she hadn't gotten it yet.

Speeding after her, Meera was at her heels within seconds. The chase went on for several seconds before she was right next to her, trying to grab the same snitch. The same ball. The same golden mosquito. The same victory.

And then it flew away.

Ouch! That was Aparna’s only thought once her foot was hit…..no broken by the bludger. But, she didn’t really need to use it currently, and she could ignore the pain for now. No, what was important right now was getting the quaffle back from England. She hadn’t even noticed the weird behavior of the bludger that hit so focused she was on that task. Nor did she notice the near collision of the seekers with the British minister.

She followed the quaffle as it bounced between players, doing her best to distract the English chasers. It was only when one bludger zoomed off towards Mayur despite having been hit towards McKay that Aparna noticed the ball’s odd behavior. Just in time to watch the other bludger smack hard into Higgs. A sympathetic grunt came from the chaser as she opened her mouth to warn her teammate, ”Mayur, look out!” How were they being allowed to play in these conditions?!

No time to be disappointed that Lamberto's shot hadn't gone in -- the Quaffle was once again on the move. Renee sped off toward Misra, hoping to establish herself closely enough to him that she'd be able to intercept any passes he attempted.

He was good -- the whole Indian team was, of course -- and she felt a thrill rush through her. Just playing the game was enough to make her heart soar, but playing against an amazing team that really challenged her -- now that was really something.

Not the time to dwell on that, though. She had a job to do. She stationed herself nearby Misra, watching him for signals that he was about to pass. She would be waiting.

Smirking and wincing Mayur watched his bludger connect with Nyx's hand. At least Meera had a chance now - but no. It didn't look like it was to be yet. Nevermind, where were the Quaffles and the Bludgers.

Just as he was looking around, he heard Aparna shout his name. Unsure of WHY he had to watch out, he lurched his broom down and forward sharply falling six feet or so. He heard and felt the bludger scrapping past his ear, but only just. The side of his head still stung."Thanks!" He shouted back, before speeding after the bludger.

Raju heard a shout that he recognized as Aparna's voice shouting a warning to Mayur. Judging by Mayur's word of gratitude he had been saved from some sort of injury. This was a good thing. Golzio was moving in but Raju changed direction and sped off in that one. The Captain had noticed one of the Indian Chasers in that direction and now his aim was to safely pass the Quaffle to them.

Raju took a well aimed throw, shooting the ball at them. If England intercepted then India would just take it back. Captain Cool was not worried.

Seeing the bludger headed straight for him, Leontius tried to swerve out of the way. But whether he clocked it too late, turned in the wrong direction or the bludger was just too fast... It didn't matter. The black ball hit the tip of his broom stick. He was sent spinning away from the main area of play and it took him a moment to come to a stop. Another moment was needed to regain sight of what was going on, and to calm the dizziness caused.

It seemed like that moment was too long, though, for the Indian team had sent the bludger straight back at him and he was zooming out of the way before he realised that it had diverted cause. Strange behaviour, for the ball. A glance was spared at the official - had he noticed that?


No matter. Nyx was onto something he only hoped was the snitch and Misra had the ball again. But not for long. As he threw it toward his other chasers, Leontius swooped in and reached out, grabbing the ball and pulling it close to his chest before speeding back towards the goal. Eyes searched left and right as he flew, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pass.

Pavel winced inwardly as he heard and saw for his own eyes how Anand’s bludger made a harsh connection with Nyx’s wrist guard. Ooof, that had to hurt her wrist! He was not within shouting distance so he could only think what he wanted to shout to his teammate that was chasing the golden snitch with Meera on her tail.

Back to bludger focus Pavel watched how one of the bludger scraping the top of Anand’s ear before the Indian zoomed after it. He changed the grip on his beater bat, stealing a glance over at Cynthia shouting ”Shall we tag team?” when he noticed Leonitus bludger predicament and then for some reason the bludger changed it’ss course. What was going on with these balls? Had Cynthia and the referee seen?

Leaning forward on his broom Pavel sped down the pitch towards the bludger that had left Leonitus and when he came within beating distance he whacked it in the direction of Malaviya again. If England was to ever get the first goal of the game then the Indian keeper had to have her focus elsewhere…

Flying near Leonitus that now had the quaffle Pavel kept himself alert for oncoming bludgers and ready to defend his teammates.

Darn it! Lamberto was disappointed and frustrated at his failed attempt to score! Snappimg his fingers in frustration he pressed on to follow the Quaffle and dodge bludgers along the way. Injuries were being sustained and most importantly his eyes widened as his team member Nyx was struck by those dreadful bludgers. Oh no! What the heck was going on, he was pretty shaken by what he observed and sympathized for her. Ouch.

Despite being shaken up and irritated at those darn balls and failed attempts, Lamberto flew across the field as Leontius now carried the Quaffle. Lamberto was on the trail to reach his fellow Chaser before India's do. They sure needed a new strategy if they wanted to get passed the seeker to score one for the team anytime soon.

Scanning the pitch. Where were the English chasers? Leontius scanned the pitch, rising high and looking back for a moment, just in time to see Lamberto. He slowed almost imperceptibly, at least to the crowd - enough, he hoped, that his teammate would understand what he was trying to do.

Remaining high and letting Lamberto catch up, Leontius let the Quaffle go in a very light throw, aiming for (and hopefully landing in) his fellow chasers hands.

Raju was ready. As he had been flying close to the English players and he had remained on high alert he was able to swoop in a timely manner to intercept the pass McKay was making to Urupi. With the Quaffle now under his arm Captian Misra quickly turned on his broomstick. He sped off in the opposite direction, the direction that Team India needed to score goals.

India was looking to score a goal now... but Raju needed the support of his Chasers. Not to mention the Beaters. The last thing he needed now was another Bludger injury.

She slammed her fist against her broom handle, furious that the bludger once again seemed to have a mind of its own. Unfortunately, her strike not only missed McKay, but the bludger ended up on a crash course towards Anand. Almost in unison with Aparna, Nila shouted “Mayur! The bludger!” Relief washed over her as she watched it whizz by his head and he appeared to not be severely harmed.

Having had enough of the bludger’s odd behavior, Nila decided to try and corral it and hopefully keep it away from her teammates. She set off on a course after the bludger, bat at the ready. She was more than willing to sacrifice herself for the good of the team.