DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy and all the other characters, Quidditch, Hogwarts and whatnot are not mine. Some Higher Force (known as J.K. Rowling) owns them.
Fifteen-year old Harry Potter
opened his palm to reveal a tiny golden ball with wings. The Snitch floated
away from his hand and lingered in front of his eyes for a moment, then sped
away to the night sky.
Harry quickly placed his broomstick between his legs. He gave the ground a light
kick and the broomstick Firebolt drifted in the air, carrying him to the sky
so he can search for the tiny but very agile Snitch.
Harry loved the feel of the wind against his body, his unruly hair whipping
against his face, his robes fluttering behind him. He closed his eyes for a
few seconds, enjoying the moment of being alone with the wind, his Firebolt
and the still unseen Snitch. Sometimes he liked practicing alone, away from
his Quidditch teammates. Not that he didn't like his teammates. He loved them,
they even made him the new captain. But tonight he just wanted to be alone.
Away from the incessant joking and shouting of his teammates even when they're
fifty feet up in the sky. Away from his best friend Ron Weasley's complaints
of how poor he is and how Harry had everything. Away from his other best friend
Hermione Granger who nitpicked every single wrong thing he did. Hermione was
now a prefect of the Gryffindor House, and she thought that gave her the right
to be bossier than ever. Of course he loved his best friends, but right now,
he just wanted to be alone.
Harry scanned the Quidditch pitch for the Snitch, but he was only greeted by
darkness. Then out of the corner of his eye, a tiny golden light quickly flashed.
The Snitch! Harry directed his Firebolt to fly to that direction. The world
around him melted and all he could see was the tiny flash of golden light, which
has always been his duty to follow in every Quidditch game.
The Firebolt carried him with insane speed as he went after the Snitch. He forgot
the outside world and all his senses focused on the Snitch. He was getting nearer-
But another boy in a broomstick dashed past Harry. He was also going after the
Snitch. Green robes, blond hair
Draco Malfoy. So much for being alone. What was he doing out here at night?
Harry gritted his teeth as he led his Firebolt to fly faster. Harry's broomstick
was one of the fastest ever made. He can easily beat the intruder to the Snitch.
Harry succeeded in catching up with Malfoy. "What are you doing here?"
he shouted, his voice filled with annoyance.
Malfoy's eyes darted on Harry then back on the Snitch again. Even if they were
both flying very fast, Harry could still see the sneer that was always present
in Malfoy's face.
"What are you doing here?" Malfoy snapped back. He flew closer to
shove Harry away.
Harry fought to keep his balance and stay on his Firebolt. That did it. He would
fight back. In this game there were no rules, no Madam Hooch, no penalties and
no other Hogwarts students watching. He would fight back.
Harry drew closer to Malfoy and reached out a fist to punch his rival. Malfoy
narrowly avoided his attack. "Saint Harry Potter, playing dirty in a game,"
he drawled insolently before he returned the punch. Harry was nearly hit. Harry
stopped his broomstick and pulled on Malfoy's robes so he can deliver a punch
that would hit the Slytherin squarely in the jaw.
Malfoy's broomstick also stopped. He held his swollen jaw with his left hand,
then punched Harry with the other. This time he also succeeded in hurting Harry,
punching him on the nose. The Snitch was forgotten.
Harry shoved Malfoy on the shoulder, and Malfoy retaliated by kicking Harry
on the shin. Harry quickly took his wand from under his robes then pointed it
at Malfoy. "Let's see you kick me again, Malfoy," he said as he directed
his broomstick to face the blond-haired fifteen-year old.
Malfoy smirked. "You bet, Potter," he sneered, about to also get his
wand, but they both saw a flash of golden light nearing their direction. The
Snitch was quickly flying towards them, heading for the space between them.
When the Snitch was exactly in front of them, they both reached for the Snitch
at the exact same time. Harry with his left hand and Malfoy with his right.
They did catch the Snitch, both of them did. And they also found their hands
clasped together, the Snitch between their palms.
"Let go of the Snitch, Potter. I caught it," Malfoy demanded.
"I caught it too," Harry replied, then pointed the wand at Malfoy
once again. "You let go of it."
Malfoy grasped Harry's wand and tried to pull it away. Harry struggled to pull
his wand back. Their hands were still clasped together, neither was willing
to let the other claim the Snitch and win. Malfoy achieved in pulling away the
Gryffindor's wand, but Harry hit Malfoy's hand. The blond-haired boy dropped
the wand, and it succumbed to the darkness below them.
"Great, Malfoy. Now you lost my wand," Harry muttered as he stared
below him, but he could see nothing.
"You were the one who hit my hand, you dimwit," Malfoy spat. "And
you can bet it's still there when you look for it. Who would steal something
so pathetic anyway? Now let go of the Snitch so you can get your stupid wand."
"The only way you can have the Snitch is when you shove me out of my broomstick,"
Harry pinned down Malfoy's thumb with his own thumb so the Slytherin will not
able to seize the Snitch for himself.
"Thanks for the brilliant idea, Potter," Malfoy scoffed, then suddenly
his expression grew serious. Harry looked at him quizzically. He knew his rival
was now up to something. Then Malfoy leaned down and lightly touched his lips
on Harry's wrist. Harry felt electrocuted. He snatched his hand away, staring
at his wrist then at Malfoy, with a disgusted and shocked look at his face.
Malfoy was giving him a sinister smile.
"I won, Potter," he said triumphantly. Harry couldn't care less. He
just led his Firebolt away, flying at an insanely high speed. Harry Potter disappeared
into the darkness, filled with confusion.
Harry was already lying in bed, but he was still staring at his wrist. He had
washed and scrubbed it many times when he was in the bathroom, so the tingling
feeling would go away, but now it felt like it was burning. Harry rubbed his
wrist, but it tingled again.
Malfoy, Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. It was all he could hear in his thoughts.
And Harry kept on seeing his challenging sneer and the cold steely gray eyes.
Maybe it was just in his attitude to stoop low just to win. Harry felt so tired.
He had been thinking about what Malfoy did for the past hour, and now he felt
so drained. Drained, sleepy, disgusted, confused butliberated. In an odd
and weird way.
Then he remembered somethinghis wand! He left his wand on the Quidditch
pitch! Should he go get it now? But he couldn't. He was so tiredMaybe
it would still be there tomorrow.
Harry couldn't stop his eyes from closing. So he yielded to sleep, about to
embrace the dreams that were about to come.
