Graphic courtesy of Charely Potter

A section of the stadium is reserved especially for those eager to test their strength and accuracy against a professional Beater. Three separate targets are set on the ground at staggered distances. Your goal is to hit a bludger with a provided beater's bat to the intended target, aiming for the bullseye. Professional Beaters will be available to provide their assistance and expertise or if you're really feeling daring, compete against one of the players to see how you shape up against a pro. Accuracy and distance determine your prize, provided the hit is successful. Chose from team badges, mascot plushies, and moving posters of your favorite players. Targets are charmed to repair themselves after being hit. Though the bludgers have been charmed to stay in the area and return to the player, decreasing likelihood of injury, bruise paste is available upon request. Play at your own risk, the Department of Magical Games and Sports assumes no responsibility for injuries. No minors permitted.

Featured Professional Beaters ready to play include:

Muirgen Tupper, Caerphilly Catapults Beater
Asher Romalotti, Tutshill Tornados Beater
Kaia Montague, Wimbourne Wasps Beater

After hanging her jacket over a chair nearby Kai wandered around with a bat in her hand, waggling her fingers in a wave if anyone walked by. C'mon, come plAY. Part of her wished Chandler had been able to get the day off work and he'd have brought the kids, but only because she wanted to show off how much Beau had grown and that he could write his name now. Liliane would have taken a liking to the other players and ran off.

Surely a cute kid would mean she'd get to sign more things though.

Instead, she was perfectly content being here armed with a bat and able to give advice or kick some non-professional butt at the thing she was most talented at.

Smacking bludgers where she needed to.

BARNARD MONTAGUE SMASH.

Muirgen was rrrrrrready to roll!!

With a bright smile on her face and a relaxed, everything-is-fine walk, the Welsh lady swung a bat as she made her way to the Bludger Blasting area. This was boouunnddd to be the most fun part of this entire event!!! They got to hit bludgers and watch them GO!! WOOHOO!!!

The only thing that could be better than this was probably only a Quidditch match, And maybe a pepperoni pizza. Not taht her manager would know this last part, of course. Good job Muirgen was brilliant at keepeing secrets, especially her ownnn.

The 25 year-old spotted a woman already there. She looked familiar... probably a pleayer tooo! "Hello!!" Muirgen waved happily at her. "Ready to start?" She asked, kind of rhetorically. SHE was ready to start, BOOYAH!

She had done her stretchings already, so now it was literally just a matter of... waiting. Which she didn't quite enjoy doing, so she'd keep herself busy by... swinging the bat and getting ready to hit a bludgerrr!

Now this game was cool! Asher couldn't wait to watch every one try it. In fact he wanted to try it out. Later Romalotti later. He was really excited to go back to the tent and sign autographs. Meet the fans.

He headed over toward the game where he seen to other beaters. He nodded to them. "what's up, guys?" Taking a look at the set up. But hey where was everyone. No one was even in line yet. Sad really sad. "Where is everyone?" He grabbed a bat and twirled it in his hand. Maybe this will get some attention to the game.

Kai tapped her fingers on the bat in her hands as she was joined by two others in her profession. Both got a smile, and the male got an extra big one because he was one of those wee baby players who had been snapped up before they'd even sat their exams and she forever had the urge to take her bat to their heads. SOME people had had to work their way here. SOME people were a million years older and didn't have youth on their side in these times.

"Ready? I was born ready. You?" Was she ready to kick some bludger backside without having any pressure on it? Kai looked between the two of them and shrugged at Asher's question. "Obviously saving the best for last. You think we should hit a couple of bludgers ourselves? Maybe woo some people over?"

Tactics.

Hah! Muirgen approved of the woman's answer. She grinned widely at her and turned her head when somebody else joined them. A yoooung man! "Hi!" She beamed at him, still swinging the bat around.

HECK YEAH, hit some bludgers to woo people over!! "BRILLIANT idea!" The Welsh girl exclaimed, quickly hopping towards a good place to start. Well, excuse her, SHE WAS GOING FIRSTTTTTT.

Muirgen managed to get a case and let a bludger lose. BOOM!! No time to waste! The thing had already been smacked and was zooming its way towards one of the targets. MAN, that felt GOOD! "YEAH, BABY!"

He was here. He was here ok. Although his parents hadn't liked the idea of Devlin wanting to come to this meet and greet, he went against their words and had traveled his way to the stadium, yep, his parents didn't know he was here. So what? It was quidditch. When was this ever going to happen again? Exactly. Probably not for quite some time. And anyway, he could meet some quidditch celebrities.

Devlin casually strolled his way up to the bludger blasting section. This was the perfect way to hit things without getting in trouble. Let out a good swing here and there and there would be nothing wrong with it. Maybe someone could get hurt. Not by him. But injuries could be exciting, no?

"All right. Now, who do I need to go to to whack some nonsense out of these bludgers?" He said generally to the area. Well. Where were these so called great quidditch players?

Ethan walked alongside Minerva who was pushing their kids in the double stroller. The autograph tent seemed super busy and he didn't really follow many of the British teams, so he was a little more eager to see some of the other areas. He didn't see his aunt anywhere yet, but he was certain she was around somewhere.

"Do you want to try this out?" Ethan gestured towards a group of people with bats in hand. Looked like some sort of game and if it had to do with bludgers, maybe Min would want to give it a go. "Looks like they have some prizes, maybe you could win something for Gunnar." How cute the toy mascots were. What kid wouldn't want one?

"Hello, ladies," he greeted them with a nod as they approached. "And sir." Pros most likely, though he followed more of the international teams, the Harriers in particular, that he didn't recognize them. "How do you play? My wife used to wield a bat, she might want to give it a go." What do you say Min?

Gunnar was relaxed on his side of the stroller, taking a ride sitting next to Chloe. There were a lot of people here and his blue eyes took in each face as they passed. And then they were stopping. He looked at the people there then looked around for Daddy as he started talking. But there were balls here and toys. He reached for one of the toys from the table. "Ah.. ah.. bah.." he babbled, reaching his arm out. He wanted a ball!

Ohohohohooo!

Ehehehehehehehee!

Cornelius was free from ol' daddy-o. The seven year old kept his eyes on his dad while he talked to some other old guy, and slooowly and sneakiiiily took a step back, then another and ANOTHER AND ANOTHER until he was at the Bludger Blasting area.

Victory bum wiggle dance!

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, he did it!

Glancing around and puffing his small chest out and squaring his shoulders, Cornelius said loud and proud next to the blonde dude (Devlin), "Yeeaaah!"

Were they going to whack someone, cos that's what he understood. He was up for it. Could they wet-willy them afterward, though? Cos that was fun too.

]Minerva was pushing her children in the stroller and looking around. It was such a nice day and all the excitement had her smiling. She always enjoyed getting out of the house and actually socializing a bit, though she hadn't really been doing much of it lately. As they walked she noticed the autograph area, "Gunnar maybe we can see Uncle Alec, he plays for a team that's here." She thought about maybe picking up a Tornadoes Jersey for him. " Do you think they have kid size jersey's here?" She looked at her husband.

Seeing some games up ahead she scanned the area and her stomach flipped. A bludger game. She hadn't touched a bat since before her final match back her seventh year. She had to quit before the match, so the unfinished ending still got to her. "Oh I don't know." She was really never good enough to be on the team, so why embarrass herself now.

Hearing Ethan talk to the people she smiled, "Hello Asher, didn't know you played." She had remembered the younger Slytherin. Good player, she didn't remember if she ever had to go up against him though. Those days were fading in her head. Hearing Gunnar babble towards the prizes she smiled a bit more, "I guess I could try for you." she leaned kissing him on the head and noticed Chloe's eyes open. "I'm not sure if I can win both of you something though."

Looking back at the three professionals she took a deep breath, "What do I need to do?" She knew hit a bludger, but what else she wasn't sure. Looking back at Ethan she chuckled, "When I fully stink at this you owe your children a stuffed animal from the souvenir shop."

Once the other female hit her bludger, Kai took the next one smashing it at the furthest target away and conducting herself a victory dance. "Never gets old! NEVER." It was even better when the target was a person on a broom though. That was better than seeing her kids spell their names for the first time. SO THRILLING.

MONTAGUE SMASH.



IT HAD WORKED. THEIR BLUDGER SMASHING HAD ENTICED THE LITTLE'UNS OVER. Some sort of little. One was and one wasn't. With a grin, Kai swung the bat onto her shoulder and shrugged. "Depends how good you think you are." Good enough to take one of them on, or needy enough to need some good old fashioned help?

With another grin, and in no way intending to be patronising, she crouched to the smaller kids height. "No little ones, kid. Get yourself an adult and I might let you touch a bat with one finger."

BOOM.

SMASH.

Obeying the rules, k?



ZOMG CUTE LITTLE ONES. CUTE LITTLE ONES.

Ugh. Now she missed her little ones.

Kai crouched down and pulled a couple of faces at the little ones. "Sweeeeet. How old are they?" Did these two adults want to take her two little ones for a couple of hours one day? They didn't bite. Actually, Beau just coloured and Liliane just put dirt into jars. They didn't actually look old enough to deal with Beau and Liliane so that was already out of the window and she'd leave them with Lori and Adam more often. They had enough kids that the ages of her own were covered more than once.

She noticed that the woman passed words with Asher and noted that she knew one of the babyfaces and was therefore a potential baby herself. With babies. Eeep. Still so cute. Nothing against young parents. Not when both of her triplets had their kids before they got to sixth year. "Oh? Ex player? School player? Professional?" Had Kai encountered her at any point? With a look between the couple, she grinned. "Just gotta hit 'em and we'll see whatcha can get. You're awesome. You can have something awesome. You're okay. You can have a cute mascot thing and if you're ooooookaaaay eeeeh, you can have a badge."

Or something like that.

CUTE CHILDREN WERE DISTRACTING OKAY.

"You wanna try on your own or hit a couple with me?"

*___________________*

Kaia Montague from the Wimbourne Wasps. Cornelius blinked slowly in complete awe as she swung her bat. Oooh! How many bludgers has it hit? How many players has she smashed with it?

She was soooo close to him, too. Cornelius held in his breath, eyeing her bat. He could touch it if he reached far enough--

Waiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!

THIS WAS NOT FAIR.

Ahhhh! He WAS going to need his old man after all. He'll go fetch him in a few, but first, "My thumb isn't a finger. Can I touch it with my thumb?" He held out his thumb and looked at her with those BIG innocent green eyes of his. Could he? For a second, even?

Devlin was waiting for someone to show up, and they did. Not exactly the someone Devlin wanted to see. Ok. This kid, yeah, he was annoying. Did he know he looked like an ape? What in the world was he doing with his chest? Clearly not showing it off cause he just didn't have that look, yeah? Too scrawny.

"Go find your mummy and daddy kiddo. I don't have time for you. Gotta whack some bludgers over here. Don't want you to get some sort of concussion or something." He was probably one to fall easy to victim to that.

Ahh. See. Now, this was one of those celebrity quidditch players, yeah? She was holding a beaters bat so she had to be. Devlin has rarely ever whacked a bludger in his life, to be honest, but sometimes he could be a bit intense with a punch or something like that. Who's to say it won't be the same with a beaters bat and bludger. "I guess we'll see right now. Bring it on."

And now she was talking to the little one. That's right. Little one. Squirt. "Exactly. Like I said, go find mummy and daddy and then you might get lucky and play this game." Devlin said to the little one, agreeing with the quidditch player. He doubted it though, even the quidditch player seemed intent on not letting him playing this game.

He was even trying to touch it. With his thumb. He'd given up so easily. Yeah, this little one over here would not be playing anytime soon. Could he just go away? Devlin had dangerous stuff to do over here.

Great. Now that the squirt was nearly out of the way could Devlin hit those bludgers, and possibly injure someone? Not on purpose though.

Kid looked a little bit like he'd seen a ghost. Or he just really wanted to have a go with a bat. Maybe when he wasn't 100 years from growing hairs on his legs. With a smile, she nodded. "Thumb. For two seconds, and then you go find your adult 'kay? There's too many people around here and you'll get lost." Heaven forbid she was the last person to see a missing child or anything. She held her bat out just slightly, and promised herself that if she saw him at the autograph tables later, she'd sign him something extra special and give him something she'd got saved for little cuties that looked at her like that.

Kid was totes a Stinger in her mind already.

She looked at the other kid with a raised eyebrow and offered a bat, but kept her hand firmly on it for the moment. "Be nice to the younger ones, or you'll find your kneecaps smashed by a bat one of these days. Karma isn't pretty." Life advice from the Montague monster.

"Are you going to see if you can hit better than me or do you want to see if you can hit a target by yourself with some coaching? I'm one of the best."

Or else she wouldn't be here, clearly.

Woheeeeey!! Their thing worked!! Loooads of people were coming and Murigen LOVED people!!! "Hello everyone!!" She greeted them cheerfully, never stopping swinging her bat. But! She also LOVED hitting bludgers, so she didn't mind at all when Montague went to deal with the young ones.

That meant she could HIT SOME MOAR BLUDGERS BOOM and there they WENT!!! HECKYEAH.

The Welsh player beamed at how fast the bludger was going and turned just went it hit its target. Those babies' mummy was asking how that worked! Since Montague was still talking to the kiddies, she decided to waaave at the blonde woman over there. "Hey there! You can either try to 'it one of those targets OR you can try an' 'it better than me!" She explained, not realising her intonation was probably a lot more melodic now because she was SO HAPPY to be there. Just to clarify, she was NOT singing, okaay?? HEHE!

But if that lady didn't want to go against her, Muirgen would be okay with that too! As long as she was allowed to keep hitting those bludgers herself if people didn't want to - which she was, mwahahaha - she'd be fine.

The one she hit earlier was coming back because it was charmed to do so, so she tuuurned around and BOOM, THERE IT WENT AGAIN!! Mwahahahahaha!!!

Asher was really excited now he was working the game booth with Kai and Muirgen. Two very good beaters, may he add. Apparently that's what they we're doing saving the best for last. Now she was talking. That would get peoples attention, if didn't he didn't know what would. Well maybe they just decided to come on over now and all at once. There were people coming to play his game. Awesome.

He was starting to wish that Adeline and the kids could be here too. Such a big thing in someones career and all. But he understood. He could just watch all of the cute little families. Like this one. Was that Min? It was min "Hey, Min! How are you? These your kids?" He missed Adeline and the kids. Maybe next time they could come next time.

Psssssssh. Bludgers. Legend rolled his eyes at the wildly stupid balls as he took a bite out of his cupcake. He wouldn't even BE here if Emily hadn't acted like security was such a big thing....okay maybe he STILL would have been here. Considering the fact he had read the letter and this event technically went against everything the threat said. So yeah. He would, because he wanted to make sure everyone was alright. BUT that didn't mean he liked the stupid sport.

The Auror would have even been pouting if not for the fact that he had ran into his sister who had given him the wonderfully delicious cupcake. So no pouting at you for now bludgers, no pouting at you for now indeed. The man took another bit icing brushing against his nose.

Anika had no real reason to be at this Quidditch soirée today...but she had had the day off from work and there wasn't anything else of interest going on. So, upon reading about this 'Meet and Greet' in the prophet, the redhead was dressed and on her way.

Besides...there would be security...and Ministry security meant Aurors...and that meant that gorgeous man that had questioned her weeks ago. Oh, Anika hadn't forgotten. Oh, no.

Trying not to seek him out specifically, she wandered a bit, taking in the sights and all the fanatics already clogging the space. Apparently, quidditch was bigger a sport than she'd originally thought. Hmm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaos.Doodles

Psssssssh. Bludgers. Legend rolled his eyes at the wildly stupid balls as he took a bite out of his cupcake. He wouldn't even BE here if Emily hadn't acted like security was such a big thing....okay maybe he STILL would have been here. Considering the fact he had read the letter and this event technically went against everything the threat said. So yeah. He would, because he wanted to make sure everyone was alright. BUT that didn't mean he liked the stupid sport.

The Auror would have even been pouting if not for the fact that he had ran into his sister who had given him the wonderfully delicious cupcake. So no pouting at you for now bludgers, no pouting at you for now indeed. The man took another bit icing brushing against his nose.

Of course, it didn't take her long to spot said Auror aka gorgeous man. He was currently devouring a cupcake and getting icing all over his face.

Endearing. It was completely endearing.

"Keeping everyone safe, I see..." Anika teased as she approached.

...All the smashing and crashing was distracting, of course. What in the world were those huge balls...and why were they getting beat around with bats?

Yeah, they would have to hit the autograph tent at some point, he supposed. Maybe Alec or Wade would be there, knowing they both went pro. And he was pretty certain that a few others they went to school with did as well. Maybe he should keep up on the British League a little better, it was just too bad that his favorite team wasn't among them or he probably would.

Ethan glanced at Min as she asked about kid's jerseys. "Oh, yeah, I'm sure.. A thing like this, they probably have anything you can thing of with a team logo." He had a feeling they'd be spending quite a bit of money on the kids today, but that was okay. They stuff was sure to be cute on them or for them. "Ah, come on, Min," he grinned towards her as she seemed a little unsure. "It'll be fun.. and you totally got this." He glanced over at the male player (Asher) as Min seemed to know him. From Hogwarts maybe? He looked around their age, but Ethan didn't immediately recognize him or the name. But it shouldn't surprise him too much, Min seemed to just know everyone at school.

"And I'm her husband Ethan," he offered as the man looked over their children, but maybe he already knew that. The 21 year old gave the woman (Kaia) currently gushing over the kids a friendly smile. "This big guy is 16 months," he said, gesturing to Gunnar. "And our little princess is just about two months." Yeah, he knew they were rather close in age, but it did have its advantages. He'd let Min answer her about her own personal experience with a bat, but she was ready to try it right?

Ethan looked between the two female beaters (Kaia and Muirgen) as they talked about what to do and what they could win. "So what do you think? Give it a try?" he looked at his wife with a grin before laughing at her words. "I can do that, but you totally got this." He could stand back with the babies and they'd all watch her in action.

“Oh good, I think Alec would love seeing him in a Tornado.. Oh my” She thought for a moment, “I think Alec actually had gotten him one. Why didn’t I think about that before? He could have had it on today.” Looking at Gunnar she chuckled, “Though I love his little shirt that he has on.” It was very true she had been very taken for a long time now.

As soon as she said something it felt like all the pro’s were on her. Goodness could she go back to being in her little house alone? This was a bit spot lightish and she didn’t handle that well. Smiling nicely to the woman (Kai) as she gushed over the babies, but who wouldn’t they were just two angels at the moment looking around. Turning as Ethan said their ages she grinned, “Oh well I played in school, most of the time I was there.” Though that ended early her eyes glancing back at Gunnar for a moment until she heard her explain and then another (Murigen) explaining as well.

“Oh there is no way I can hit it further than you. I haven’t picked up a bat since I left school.” Well before that actually. Looking back to (Kia) she smiled, “Well I guess I can see if I can do good enough for at least one of the mascots for Gunnar.” It would be nice to get them both mascots, but they could always stop by the souvenirs.

Looking at Asher and then to Ethan she thought for a moment, “You two might not know each other. E this is Asher he played for Slytherin.” She wasn’t sure if they had crossed paths or not. She gave Ethan another look, he knew how she felt about being in front of people like this. Taking a deep breath she looked to Gunnar. “Alright mommy will try for you.” Looking back at the Pro’s she gave a nervous smile. “I’ll try the targets.”

Now to get a bat.

Deacon was chilling as soon as he made his way he went through some of the other areas. It was looking good, before he realised that he had an area to manage. Whoops, better late than never arriving. Finishing up his drink, he tossed in into the nearest bin before he got to getting the equipment set up.

Running a hand through his hair, he gave one of his irresistible big grins before starting, "Good daaaaaaaaay ladies and gents." ...Maybe he could tone down on the announcer voice. "Step right up here to grab a bat and take a swing at one of these unlucky targets!" On the table was the box full of bats, in various shades of colour. Wasn't Deacon's idea if you asked him, he was just going to enjoy the show.

As he then noticed a little family, looks like the mother had some experience? He did his best not to smirk at her being the wielder. He didn't know the family, but his wandering mind had thoughts.. that were going to be kept hidden if he didn't want to be the target after revealing them as he waited for her to approach. "Here you are.. Now did you want to try solo or up against these paid professionals?" Waiting for her answer as he moved the box for her to take a bat easily. Now he could take out the trunk full of bludgers ready to be smacked.

He should have gotten two cupcakes. Maybe even the whole tray? Taking only one was stupid. As he shoved the last of the cupcake into his mouth Legend was fully prepared to go and find his sister again, until a nearby voice spoke.

Turning his head Legend did NOT expect to come face to face with the woman from the Post Office. "Er-yeah?-Hi!" A small smile broke out on his lips completely unaware of the icing blob on his nose. Completely working. No slacking off at all. "Anika right?" That's what the woman had written in his notebook. Not that he uh studied it or anything, he just remembered. "I'm Legend." Because he didn't think he'd give his name when he'd actually met her. Crumpling up the cupcake wrapper Legend turned and threw it in a nearby trash can. "Too bad you didn't come sooner I would have shared some of my cupcake with you."

The little squirt could do whatever he wanted, yeah? Exactly. Dev didn't have his attention on the little one anymore. Now, his attention was fully focused on the quidditch player.

Was she giving him a talk to? Seriously? He was just telling the kid exactly how it was, but Devlin just gave her a nod. "Of course. I need my kneecaps to walk." He said. But, you know, as soon as he'd be out of her sight Devlin could do or say whatever he wanted. Just to be safe though, in case she kept her eye on him, and Devlin couldn't blame her, he'd leave it to some other time to be like that.

His hand was on the bat but he didn't grab it for himself. She could easily whack him, if she wanted to. But Devlin highly doubted that. And then the question came. A good one at that. He gave it some thought. Of course he'd like to hit a bludger as soon as he could, but he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of her. That'd be bad. If he was going to embarrass himself in front of her, he'd rather it be that he got some actual practice. It wouldn't be as bad if it were that way.

"Let's see what magic you can cook me up for my swinging. So, coaching first." Devlin said. Wait. "Please."

"Yes, it's Anika." She moved forward, using her finger to wipe at said icing blob. It might've been invasive to his personal space but Anika couldn't very well let him stand there with white stuff all over his nose. Nope. She was doing him a service...and the fact that she stuck that same finger in her mouth to lick it off didn't mean a thing...

GRIN.

"Just you saying as much is enough. Thank you, Legend." Legend. Now, that was an interesting name. "Are you terribly busy?" He didn't look too busy but looks could be rather deceiving at times. He could've been spying or something. Anika didn't know how these things worked.

Awesome. Name right! So they were already off to a good-Legend froze as Anika moved in closer and suddenly swiped at his nose and uh.........

As an Auror, freezing was probably one of the worst possible things you could do. But when a pretty woman suddenly invaded your space? Well it wasn't his fault.

"Uh-uh-" His face suddenly felt hot, and not because there had been icing on his nose for Merlin knew how long. Legend rubbed the back of his nose to his hand just in cause there was anymore.".....Welcome-or...thanks." The man finally got out lamely. Yeah. Thanks. Was he busy? Well yes, he was working. But he could still work and talk right? "Not...really. No. Just here hanging out with the bludgers." He took a step back just because...space and reasons and yeah, sometimes being able to think was nice. "You?"