The slight drop in excitement over Quidditch that characterized this year’s winter season was more than made up for with the wild enthusiasm for this prolonged and action-packed match between Egypt and Peru. Both teams entered the match with the same ferocious determination, though for different reasons - Egypt was motivated by their appallingly low-point win in their previous match against Australia and Peru for their equally memorable spectacular defeat of India. The stands were thronging with supporters from both sides, mascots of each team shouting and stamping as they fed the excitement of their team’s fans.

When the referee blew her whistle, both teams were off like a shot. The Egyptian Chasers, clearly determined to make up for their previous deficiencies, snatched the Quaffle immediately, a blur between the three of them as they sped down the field. Peru’s Beater Castral took note of this, sending a precisely-aimed Bludger towards the three of them which smacked Chaser Fadil in the shoulder, nearly knocking him off his broom as he reeled away, breaking their perfect formation. The other two Chasers were barely deterred however, now exchanging the Quaffle between two hands instead of three.

Peruvian Chasers Vargas, Torres, and Mendoza finally made a determined appearance, weaving between the two and attempting to grapple the Quaffle away, but they had come too late, which they realized as the Quaffle was passed to the revived Fadil and prompt shot at the hoops. There was an audible sigh of relief from the Peruvian side of the stands as Keeper Reyes blocked it neatly before lobbing it back over to where her team’s trio was waiting.

The match progressed much as it began, involving lots of fast-paced Quaffle play, cleanly aimed Bludgers, and excellent Keeping, while Seekers Hajjar and Perez circled the pitch from above, watching the game play out with identically watchful expressions. There was not a single golden glimmer in sight for the first hour and a half of the match, however, and the intensity only grew as both teams beneath them broke 100 points.

It was Seeker Perez who finally broke the calm, streaking straight up through the clouds heedless of the gasps of the few spectators who’d torn their gazes away from the heated struggle below them. Seeker Hajjar quickly followed suit, her top-rate broomstick making not the slightest protest as it raced through the clouds.

Those supporters who had brought Omnioculars now raised them eagerly, eyes pressed to the cold brassy material as they watched the game surrounding the Snitch suddenly become just as interesting as that surrounding the Quaffle. Both Seekers had indeed spotted the Snitch where it was hovering slyly above them, conveniently hidden until that moment by the wispy cloud cover. It made no attempt to escape as the two Seekers grew closer, however, a fact which all those who took time to think about found rather odd. The reason for this was quickly revealed, however, for just as the two players grew level with the walnut-sized prize, both hands reaching out eagerly, the Snitch’s frantically fluttering wings stilled and folded up, letting it drop like the presumably heavy ball of metal it was towards the admittedly far ground below it.

Both players realized what had happened simultaneously and pulled into dives, slower than the drop of the Snitch because they both had the good sense not to completely surrender themself to gravity. As it fell, it looked as though the Snitch would hit the ground before either Seeker could reach it, however it seemed the ball had other ideas, wings spread and slowing the fall as it grew closer to the still-grappling Chasers.

Once again, the two Chasers reached the Snitch at the same time, Perez pulling up slightly before Hajjar. Hajjar broke out of her dive a little too late, her broom spiralling as it tried to compensate for the sudden change.  It was purely by chance, then, that as she was forced to perform a Sloth Grip Roll to remain on her broom she spiralled directly into the Snitch, which by some Seeker-ish instinct she managed to clutch to herself, whooping in triumph even as she smashed into the stands, where the on-hand medical witches and wizards immediately rushed to check her for injuries.

It was a close win and an exciting match, with both teams playing superbly and plenty of excitement to go around. Both captains declined to give formal statements, each briefly commenting on the excellence of the match before returning to their teammates. Next issue, look in this section for report on the next World Cup Match, between Thailand and Russia.