Professor Vance walked into the gobstones building with a shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders against the crisp and almost wintery morning, with Professor Stewart by her side and they together set up the hall for the second match lightening the fireplaces. On the way down from the castle the two had seen clear signs that winter was appraoching with leaf piles under the trees and very few birds in sight.

As the teams assembled Laurel put her wand to her mouth to enhance her whistle to get the players attention, a smile pursing her lips. "Good morning and welcome to the Gobstones club, today's our second Preliminary match of the season. I hope you're all as excited and geared up as me and Professor Stewart are!" Not waiting for any responses Laurel quickly signalled for the teams to choose their representatives for the first shot of the game.

"Let's begin!"

Match Standings:
Slytherin 0 points
Hufflepuff 0 points

Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
Round 1 / Question 1
Subject: SS RPG Current Events
Level: Easy (1 point)

Professor Riveroll is an animagus. What creature can she turn herself into at will?

She can turn into a Raccoon

The carnivore known as a Raccoon, of the species P. Lotor

In the first match up of the match it was an all girls affair as Harriet Paton and Skylar Diggory took to the court for their houses. The two girls swung their shooters, released their stones and watched as they sped away. The green stone picked up speed quickest as it rolled around the first 8 obstacles but then it smacked right nose first into the next obstacle and was cast backwards. When it stopped it moved no more. The yellow stone surpassed its opponent and 3 more obstacles to claim the first point of the match.

"First point of the match goes to Hufflepuff! Come on both teams!" Laurel cheered on from the sideline.

Match Standings:
Slytherin 0 points
Hufflepuff 1 points

Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
Round 1 / Question 2
Subject: Astronomy
Level: Moderate (2 points)

Where on Earth will the highest altitude of the star Polaris be observed?

Arctic circle

Arctic circle

Skylar remained on court, full of determination after that first upset. Katerina took over for the Huffelpuffs and the marbles were released. They took off at the same pace. They passed one, two, three obstacles but on the fourth one, the yellow one collided. The green mrble rolled on, sealing the points for Slytherin.

"That's two points to Slytherin!" Kaysha announced.

Match Standings:
Slytherin 2 points
Hufflepuff 1 points

Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
Round 1 / Question 3
Subject: Transfiguration
Level: Difficult (3 points)

Why are the quills of the Echinokarp more dangerous in the post-change form?

In the post-change form, the quills of the Echinokarp can cause anyone pricked by them to fall into a deep sleep much like the one experienced after ingesting dreamless sleep potion.

pre-transformation, echinocarps resemble their closely related cousins the Mundane Carps. Our unprovoked Echinokarps have the potential to grow up to 200 centimeters which is much larger than even the largest subset of mundane carps.

After they have transfigured into their more threatening form, they take on the form of a sea-dragon. Because of their nature in the transfigured form, we classify them under the same classification as very dangerous creatures, such as the kelpies with a XXXX rating.
These quills are something the Echinokarp even before it’s transformation, but they are much more potent in the post-change form causing the victim of the quills to fall into a deep, deep sleep much like the one experience after ingesting dreamless sleep potion. The quills themselves are used for their potent sleep-inducing toxins to enhance their strength.

Skylar remained on court yet again while Henry was sent out to the court. The duo swung their shooters and the marbles were released, each player looking determined to snag the points. The green one immediately smacked into the first obstacle while the yellow one moved along. Tough luck, Slytherin!

"Three points to Hufflepuff!" Kaysha cheered.

Match Standings:
Slytherin 2 points
Hufflepuff 4 points

Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
Round 2 / Question 1
Subject: Arithmancy
Level: Easy (1 point)

How does one calculate their Balance Number?

Your Balance Number is found by adding the numerical value of your initials of your full name at birth and reducing it to a single-digit or until a Master number is encountered.

By adding the numerical value of your initials of your full name at birth and reducing it to a single-digit or until a Master number is encountered.

Katerina returned to the court to replace Henry while Skylar remained. The girls looked grim with determination as the both readied themselves. They swung their shooters a short time later so that the marbles took off of their journey. Both objects made an excellent start. As they neared the end of the path of obstacles, the yellow one collided with the final obstacle. This left the path free and clear for the green marble and Slytherin to take the point.

"The first point of round two goes to Slytherin!" Kay wiggled her nose as the putrid smell of gob filled the air again.

Match Standings:
Slytherin 3 points
Hufflepuff 4 points

Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
Round 2 / Question 2
Subject: Potions
Level: Moderate (2 points)

For the Animal Whisperer Potion, when should the Fluxweed sprigs be picked and how long should they be dried?

picked during a full moon, and dried over one week

Picked during a full moon, dried over one week (7 days)

Skylar remained on the court for the snakes while the badgers switched players again sending in Paige this time. The two girls swung their shooters and released their stones. The green stone rolled around the first two obstacles before it stopped and gushed up a stream of foul smelling gob into the air and straight towards the team benches. The yellow stone surpassed its opponent effortlessly and 5 more obstacles before it too stopped.

"2 points to Hufflepuff!" Laurel declared as she held up a hand over her nose against the bad smell in the building. At least she hadn't gotten sprayed with gob.

Match Standings:
Slytherin 3 points
Hufflepuff 6 points

Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
Round 2 / Question 3
Subject: DADA
Level: Difficult (3 points)

Why would light work to repel a Gytrash, but fire won't?

In a nutshell, light is stronger than fire.

Light is pure energy which is the exact counterbalance to the darkness that the Gytrash prefers. Gytrashes feed off of the heat and oxygen in fire and as ghost creatures can easily extinguish fire because it's a physical object unlike light. Blue light especially works best against Gytrash because of its small wavelength and ability to be scattered around more.

the Gytrash is very sensitive to light and a simple Wand-Lighting Charm, a spell taught in the first year of most magical schools, can be used to temporarily hold the Gytrash at bay; holding the wandlight close enough will cause the Gytrash to disappear entirely. It is also particularly vulnerable to Vermillious, but is resistant to the Fire-making spell, and the Verdimillious Charm.

Skylar and Paige again remained for the next shot. When the marbles were released, they sped off. Kay bobbed on her feet excitedly as she watched them race for the points. But... thud! The green one ran right into the fourth obstacle. The yellow one raced on.

"Three points for Hufflepuff!"

Match Standings:
Slytherin 3 points
Hufflepuff 9 points

Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
Round 3 / Question 1
Subject: Arithmancy
Level: Easy (1 point)

Kau Cim, a muggle form of Arithmancy, was first used in which century in China?

Kau Cim was first used in the Jin Dynasty in third century China

Third century

Henry and Skylar were to be taking up the shots for the next round. But players swing their shooters. Kaysha's eyes darted from one to the other. The green one was in the lead but after rounding the third object, it smacked into the one after. The yellow marble rolled on to claim the points.

"One point to Hufflepuff!" Kay exclaimed as gob spattered, some landing on the hem of her robes.

Match Standings:
Slytherin 3 points
Hufflepuff 10 points

Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
Round 3 / Question 2
Subject: CoMC
Level: Medium (2 points)

Severe Chizpurfle infestations need to be dealt with by which Department of the Ministry of Magic?

The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures