Monstrosity is something that Pickles made for me for my 20th birthday, and I take him with me when I go places and photograph him there. He’s been to China, Thailand, South Korea, Panama, and now, thanks to the Quidditch World Cup, he’s been to America!
While this post isn’t really about the World Cup, I have two last things that I should mention about it, in response to some questions I have been getting.
We do use the brooms for flying, although if you are a muggle, it may appear that we are running along the ground.
Surprisingly, Hogwarts did not enter a team this year.
Monstrosity and me at the Chrysler Building, NYCMonstrosity and me at the statue of Atlas, NYCMonstrosity and me at Times Square, NYCMonstrosity and me at the World Cup
This is something that I’m very proud of: McGill Quidditch is sending a team to the Quidditch World Cup in New York on the weekend of November 13-14, and I made the World Cup team.
Not only that, but I’m on the A-team!
In celebration, here is some photo evidence that I actually do play Quidditch, for the sceptics out there.
I am getting hit by a bludger
These photos are from this Saturday’s practice, which was cold and miserable, to start out with. After a while, I warmed up, but it took some time and effort, and I kept my huge McGill rugby shirt on the whole time.
The hardest part about being a beater on a Quidditch team in the cold is that your fingers freeze, and so it’s hard to grip the bludger. And it’s not like I could put on gloves for next time or anything—that would make it even harder to hold onto the bludger.
I am in possession of a bludger
Here are a few pro-tips for aspiring young beaters. According to the IQA rulebook, you can kick a bludger into your opponent and it counts as a hit. This may change your beginning-of-game strategy and your tactics for recovering the bludger as well. Also, I discovered recently that the bludgers were deflated partially on purpose, and that they would also be deflated like that at the World Cup. This means that I can actually grab the bludger and throw it overhand, and it gives me a lot more flexibility with what I do with it.
I will end this post with a bit of speculation. There is a rumour that JK Rowling will be in New York during the World Cup. I wonder if she will attend. I will be bringing my camera to the event, and if I see her, I will try to get someone to take a photograph of me with her in the background. :)
