Professor Vindictus was the FIRST fan to arrive for the preliminary match and he picked a prime spot so that he could see all of the action.

Now it was time to start being obnoxious like a true blue fan.

"Check the stones for snake venom!" he yelled as Evelyn was the first to take a shot.

So much for being neutral when it came to the different houses.

Elliot arrived. She didn't much enjoy quidditch, but gobstones she could handle. There weren't any of those annoying, screaming fans-but wait, as she sat down near the front, she heard Professor Vindictus yelling. Merlin. Elliot tried her hardest not to scowl, roll her eyes, or do anything negatively. Because he was her head of house, after all, and an elder, at that. She nodded at him, showing him a small smile as she, too, turned to watch the game. She didn't exactly know ALL of the rules here...? Pay Attention. house spirit...house spirit... she kept telling herself over and over, trying to instill inside of some sort of pride for Ravenclaw. It was definitely on its way...

"THAT'S how you roll 'em, Eino!" cheered Vindictus. "COME ON, RAVENCLAW!"

It didn't help that the Deputy Headmaster was a little hyper due to his coffee and chocolate break he took prior to heading down to the match.

Seren stealthily snuck into the viewing area, hoping she wouldn't disturb too many people, or obstruct their view of the match.

So she was a little late and missed the start of the match. But granted, she was holed up in her office completing the lesson and homework prep for the end of the week. Either way, she couldn't miss an opportunity to get involved with the going-ons in the school.

"Max," she greeted, taking a seat beside her colleague. "Have I missed anything?"

Really though... what had she missed? Who was winning?...

Gobstones match. Actually it was not as popular as Quidditch. But, today was a preliminary match Slytherin vs Ravenclaw. Raven walked to the viewing area.

"Come on, Snakes! We'll take all the championship this term!"

Max sighed.

"They FORGOT about the preliminary match," he said in a low voice. "How do you forget ANY kind of competition?! If it happens again, the entire house is getting Howlers from me."

He looked at the marbles.

"Ugh. Quidditch is much faster than this - one blink and BAM you miss something! But you need to start cheering and if we get enough 'Claws to join us, then we can start the wave."

Nod.

Vindictus took a deep breath and resumed his cheering.

"Roll 'em, roll 'em, roll 'em! Keep those Gobstones rolling . . . RAAAAVENCLAWWW!"

He glanced at Seren when he finished. She's probably embarrassed - oh, well! "Sporting events allow you to act like an idiot for the sake of cheering your team on. The crazier the cheers, the better - teams LOVE it when you cheer for them and we absolutely hate hearing the boos."

Well this was certainly a first for Harlow. She had never been to watch a gobstones match before. Truth be told she had never played gobstones either. So she was excited to be in the viewing audience.

She was decked out in her Slytherin robes and scarf as she weaved her way through the viewing area looking for a seat. She spotted heard Professor Vindictus and she had to giggle at his enthusiasm.

"Lets go Slytherin. Lets go!" she knew a few cheers from watching muggle hoopball with her dad.

Fighting back the urge to laugh, Seren simply nodded at Max's reply. He was involved, and enthusiastic... that was a good thing.
"Of course," she mused, trying to catch herself up on the game.

"That's it Ellie! show them how its done!"
Seren was rather impressed, Quidditch Captain and still she had time to excell in gobstones.
"Come on Eagles!"

Daichi had been sure he hadn't seen this room last year but then again he couldn't recall having been in this room in the first place. The only reason he entered was when he heard enthusiastic yelling and cheering. And people (okay one) That Louisa girl complained that HE was loud during the Quidditch Match.

Sigh.

Entering the room, Daichi saw that a game was going on but it wasn't Quidditch. They had more games?! The young Slytherin's expression turned in to curiousity as he saw the stones and the players on the field.

Daichi decided to check the match out when he had seen a Slytherin batch on one of the players and sat down on the bench. But he found out really soon that he liked Quidditch more than this. He sighed and thought about leaving but that would be rude. And Daichi wasn't rude, only when he didn't realised that he was rude. A sudden loud cheer caught him off guard and he looked around to see the Quidditch Professor yelling and cheering and the Herbology Professor too. It was pretty funny how the students were cheering silently when the Professors were loud.

Without even realising it, Daichi was staring at the two Professors with a blank expression but his eyes twinkled. Mweh he only needed some popcorn..did they have popcorn in the wizarding world?

She was getting that feeling of being watched. It wasn't a pleasant feeling... but she didn't really want to look away from the match. Oh who was she kidding, it wasn't like she'd miss anything... slow paced and all.

Turning about the area, her eyes suddenly fell upon a particularly trouble-attracting snake.
"Master Katharos... keeping out of trouble I hope?" she asked amused.
Poor lad.
"Well come on then, get your cheering hat on... there's no point in gawking."

Turning her attention back to the match-- because she didn't want to miss the next roll-- she sat up a little straighter so she could get a better look.
"Come on Claw's, keep at em!"

"Eh?!" Daichi realised that the Professor had seen him staring and he jumped out of his trance like state. "What?" he asked stupidly as a soft blush covered his cheeks but then smiled stupidly when he heard the question.

"I always stay out of trouble!" He pouted and looked with a innocent expression but soon the pout vanished and a tiny smirk was replaced.

"Sorry, i just thought it was amusing to see Professors cheering like that" his eyes glanced to the other Professor before he too turned towards the game and saw that the Slytherin head girl was rolling one of the stones. Daichi wanted to cheer but...he didn't know WHEN he was suppose to cheer.

"This game is more confusing than Quidditch~!" he whined as he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and chin resting on his fists.

This game is confusing. Well, maybe not the part where the balls spit out Gob on your face. That part's funny.

Katrina went to sit down when she saw a Second Year Snake complaining, rather, that the game was confusing.

Oh Merlin, thank Christ someone understands her.

"Yeah, it's confusing," Katrina said.

Hey, there were Slytherin's playing. Maybe she could hug them when they were done playing. For now though, she wanted to watch. She had never seen a gobstones match before, which seemed pretty slacker-like, considering her position, former position, on the Quidditch team. Better late than never, right? Maybe she could play when it was Hufflepuff's turn.

She spotted a Slytherin there. Of course, they were there to cheer on their housemates. Isobel slid down the bench until she was sitting next to the girl. Quickly the gave her a hug, then slid way down the bench, and up to the very top row, as far away from the girl she could get as possible. Just in case. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but whisper under her breath, "Fifteen."

He always stayed out of trouble? .... perhaps, with one small exception-- to her knowledge.
"Of course you do dear," she said nodding somewhat whilst keeping her eyes on the game.

It wasn't looking very good for Ravenclaw... those pesky snakes were pretty good. Hhhmmm.

Seren turned her head back to Daichi for a brief moment. "Well perhaps you should get out more often? If you think this is bad, then you should see what I'm like at a quidditch match."
Because truthfully, quidditch inspired her more than gobstones. And this, well this was quite tame for her.

"Come on Claw's, chin up!"

Daichi followed the game below and could take one thing out from the confusing game. And that was that Slytherin was in the lead. Eventhough he had no idea what the game was about he still felt proud to be in that very same house.

When a young girl around his age sat down next to him he looked at her. "Wah! I'm not the only ooone" And wanted to give her a hug but someone sitting besides the girls other side beat him to it. He blinked a couple of times as he followed the girl getting away at full speed. Wasn't that the same girl that had hugged him in the great hall? WHAT WAS GOING ON???!!

As the hugging girl left he turned his attention to the other girls badge and saw she was.a Slytherin. Hmmm so far only Snakes were being hugged... Shrugging his shoulders he smiled at the girl. " I'm Daichi, second year" and he looked back at the game.

As the Professor said something about needing to get out more he couldn't help but turn around to look aft her. "Uhm, i rather focus on not getting my skull crushed during Quidditch..." Even though he had not been playing the first game due to personal reasons. He was still part of the team. He had always played Quidditch matches which seemed to be fhe only thing he was good in too. But the first match against Gryffindor he had been watching and not playing. "And i know how to cheer" he pouted. " This Ravenclaw girl said i was annoyingly loud , that counts for something right?" he said rather proudly. that same girl had been reading a book during the match so he wasn't really offended to it.

Turning back to the match, Daichi grinned to himself before taking a deep breath and shouted. " GO SNAKES!!!!!"

Oh, his name's Daichi? Rather Korean.

The second year looked really happy and then he looked nervously at the girl beside Katrina.

Hmm... okay.

"Katrina, first year." Katrina smiled.

Vindictus was tempted to find a Bludger and smack it directly at the Slytherin Gobstones. In fact, he was prepared to do anything to prevent the green team from winning.

"NOOOOoooooo!" he suddenly yelled and slumped back in his seat. At least he had Seren to whine to - it was her lucky day. "They aren't even playing fair. No rule-abiding official EVER starts a match without the other team present. EVER."

Pout.

Watching the match, Seren frowned a little to herself. Max had certainly raised a good point. The Snakes definitely had that advantage, right from the beginning.
"Perhaps its something that needs to be... investigated."

Though she did feel a little bad for Fina already... Max did not look like a happy camper-- within reason, of course.

Professor Roslund was the first spectator to come view the preliminary match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. He had never seen a gobstones match before in his match so the the swede arrived to the viewing area with a big bag of candy in his arms.

An exhilirating match in the blistering cold Feburary air was just what Hogwarts needed. Sitting down Eddie stuck his hand in and drew up a bertie bott and plucked into his mouth. Mmm chocolate!

Watching as Professor Hadley started the game he just blinked. Um how did the a gobstones match actually work? Looking from side to side he hoped for someone, anyone to come and explain the rules. If not he was going to sit their and munch on his candy totally oblivious to what was going on.

Indiana was coming to do a bit of spying. She wanted to see what the other teams were like. She was still feeling a bit down after Ravenclaws lost, so she was going come and see what the other two teams were like, so that Ravenclaw could totally win their next game. Oohh. As she wandered into the viewing area, she saw one of her professors. Well at least she would have a little company. "Hello Professor." The first year smiled, as she took a seat in the viewng area. Let the spying commence. She needed to get their tactics, so she would know how to beat whoever lost this match. Ravenclaw couldn't lose again.

Eddie had eaten up at least four more bertie botts and an odd tasting sour turtle when a studen't showed up to view the match too. He immediatley recognized her as little Indiana whom had been in his joint class with Professor Bentley. As she sat down Eddie beamed back "Hello, Indiana was it right? Care for a bit or two of candy?" he asked as he held out his huge bag. Eddie had gone a bit overboard when he had visited Zonkos and bought more candy than he could possibly eat alone.

oooh. He remembered her name! Indiana beamed. That was so good. She liked making a good impression on her teachers. "Yes, It's Indiana." She nodded with a smile. Hopefully he would remember more now, because that would be very fun. "Whos winning?" She asked, nodding her head at the match. She couldn't quite tell, but she had only just started playing, so that was okay. "oooh. Thank you." Indy smiled, as she took a sweet, and popped it into her mouth. oooh. Popcorn, yummy.

Edvard couldn't help but, congratulate himself for actually remembering the first year's name. When he took the staffing position he dreamt nightmares about totally messing up a class because of calling student's by the wrong names. With only a few month's to go of the school year Edvard was glad he had survived through his classes with only a few minor hitches.

Back to the game; Who was winning? Hearing Indiana's question he looked at the players and then back at the first year asking utterly confused "I hoped you could tell me. I don't know the first thing about Gobstones or how it's played." Plucking in a fruit ball into his mouth he sucked on it for a moment before saying. "The game involves stones, right?" Hence the name?

Oh. Haha. Indy turned back to the game, watching for a few moments. It looked like the hufflepuffs had won the first score, and had their stone the closest to the jack this time round too. "The Puffs have won this round..." She nodded with a smile. "The team that gets the ball closest to the jack stone most in the round wins it." She nodded, trying to explain it to the professor. "They play 8 rounds, and whoever wins the most wins overall." That kinda of made sense.

"It's fun..." She mused with a smile. "Although when you lose a go, you get overed in gob. It's not very nice." At all. She'd had to have a ton of showers to get the smell away.