Chapter 2

'Harry! Where have you been?'

Harry looked around the Gryffindor common room and realised with discomfort, that it was full to the bursting point. With one more year to fit in, there had been not much free room from the beginning, but it had never been this full before. Gryffindors from class one to eight were standing and sitting everywhere.

Harry searched the room and made his fellow eighth years out in a small space by the fireplace. Seamus, who had called him, was actually sprawled out along the sofa as if he was the king of Gryffindor. Harry chuckled by the sight of it and walked over to them. Maybe this wasn't all too bad.

'Sit down, my friend,' ordered Dean, while shoving him a butterbeer into his hand.

'Were have you been?' asked Hermione.

'Out,' he answered vaguely.

'There is no need to hide, you know?' said Ron. But in exactly that moment came a small voice from behind the group:

'Harry Potter!' Harry turned around, being slightly reminded of the tone in which Dobby had always said his name. A shiver ran down his spine.

Four second years stood in front of him, glancing up with wide eyes.

'Oh, that can't be true! Away with you, we're having a grown-ups meeting here!' Seamus told them with a waving motion of his hand as if the little Gryffindors were some insects.

Harry felt instantly bad for them, but Dean and Ron broke out laughing and nearly fell off the sofas armrests they were sitting on. The poor children turned and ran away and Hermione sighed: 'Really now, Seamus? They are just curious!'

'No reason to hunt him down everywhere he goes! Have no fear, Harry, we'll take care of it,' answered the irish boy smirking.

'Well, Seamus, I don't know if this is the best...' Harry started, but Neville interrupted him:

'Let us do you some good, damn it! Now shut up and drink your butterbeer!'

Hermione rolled her eyes but was smiling and Dean, Seamus and Ron giggled like schoolgirls: 'Cheers!'

At least his classmates didn't act any different, Harry thought and took a sip from the bottle in his hand.

Three hours later, it was well past curfew, Hermione and Parvati said their goodbyes and left in the direction of their dormitory. The common room had cleared and there were, except from two seventh years sitting by the bookshelves, no other students left.

Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville grinned at one another and Harry frowned: 'What?'

'Care for some teenage fun?' Seamus waggled with his eyebrows.

'Oh no, I'll go and get some sleep,' Harry answered hastily, but Ron and Neville had him already grabbed by his upper arms.

'You need fun and you will get it,' Seamus told him. 'Dean, get the brooms.'

And before he could say much more, Dean was returning with all five of their brooms, clutching them to his chest for dear life while struggling to make it down the last steps of the staircase. 'Help me already,' he whined and Seamus grabbed two brooms.

'Flying, really? It's dark!'

'We know, Harry. The darker the better. Did you never fly by night?' Dean asked.

Harry frowned. 'Not for fun,' he said. He could remember too well the flight from Privet Drive to the burrow. That hadn't been fun in any way.

'I can't believe it!' Neville clutched his hand to his forehead and Ron laughed. Neville had never been the best flyer, but he had improved and had found his bliss in doing so. He even took part in the Quidditch games which they organized from time to time, just for the fun of it.

They didn't have to walk very long. Dean had let them to one of the little bridges inbetween the towers of the castle and Harry sighed when the cool night air got to him. He stared down at the grounds, letting his gaze wonder over the scene in front of him. The moon was nearly full by this time of the month and it reflected brightly in the unmoving water of the great lake. From time to time there was a shadow of a creature above the forbidden forest, which Harry thought had to be thestrals. The little light at the foot of the forest told him that Hagrid hadn't gone to sleep just yet.

'Come on, Harry. It's fun!' Ron interrupted his thoughts and he turned around. The others were already standing over their brooms, Ron holding Harry's Firebolt in his hands, waving it slightly so he would grab it.

'Fine,' he answered, taking it. And then they took off.

Harry hadn't flown for what felt like ages, he realised. Everyone had been so happy about the victory and there had been so a lot of parties and trials, that he had been lucky when he could have some time for himself, locked up in Ron's room in the rebuild burrow. Now he felt the cool air rush past him and he quickly gained speed, pushing his beloved broom to its very limits. He heard the faint shouts and laughs of his fellow Gryffindors, but he couldn't care less. Falling into a downwards spiral he yanked himself up just inches from the ground and kept on racing over the dark grounds.

Draco leaned casually on the railing of the astronomy tower, watching the Gryffindors having their fun. He couldn't help the grin that spread on his lips when he saw Potter going wild on his broom. Draco loved flying himself, but he hadn't had the opportunity between being stuck in a cell in the ministry, trials and finally trying to manage to go back to normal life with his mother in the manor.

He sighed, since he was back at Hogwarts he was wandering around nearly every night. The sleep loss made him jumpy and stressed him out, but he couldn't close his eyes without seeing all of the horrible things he had gone through. Beginning with the first time he had met the dark lord, over several punishments he had received for his family's errors, ending with his father's death by the dementor's kiss.

He closed his eyes and let his mind wonder. How could he ever live a normal life!

The next day brought the realisation that it was not beneficial for classes to fly through nearly all night. Harry had a hard time getting up and by the time there was only double-potions left, he was struggling to keep awake. He didn't even complain when Slughorn instructed them once more to split in the former pairs. He sunk yawning into his seat and layed his heat on his arms.

'If you think I'll work alone and let you have the praise, you're wrong,' came the drawling voice from next to him and he smirked, eyes still closed.

'I'm not in the mood, Malfoy.'

'I know, I saw you last night.'

He jumped, raising his head, eyes wide: 'What?'

'I saw you flying.'

'Are you spying on me?' He was more then uncomfortable with that thought.

But Malfoy shook his head: 'Do you think you are the only one neglecting the rules? I was walking around the castle myself.'

Harry groaned.

'Anyway, I saw you flying and realised I haven't done that for a real long time. How about a seeker's game? Just you and me,' Draco suggested. He wouldn't admit that he hadn't anyone he could fly with and Potter was easy enough to lure into a competition. Plus he would've someone to talk to just once. He was becoming desperate for any kind of attention.

'A seeker's game?' the Gryffindor asked, puzzled.

'Don't tell me you never had one.'

'No... how does it work?'

He grinned, due to Potter's ignorance. 'Really, can't you tell? It's two seekers and the snitch. It's quite inspiring. Lots of speed and all about skills, without any distraction.'

'Sounds awesome!' admitted the other and Draco grinned even wider.

'What about tomorrow morning? It's weekend then and you can rest your famous arse before loosing against the superior.'

Harry laughed: 'You wish! Eight?'

'Seven!'

'Fine.'

'Harry,' Ron mumbled into his pillow and Harry stopped dead in his tracks, 'where are you going?'

'Library?' Harry tried and his friend yawned sleepily, grabbed his alarm clock and peeked an eye open.

'It's Saturday! And... Merlin... six thirty? Why are you even awake?'

Harry chuckled. Ron was such a late riser! 'Fine, I want to practise,' he answered, grabbing his broom from the trunk he was standing in front of.

'You're not in the team this year. You didn't want to, remember?'

'Can't I have some fun?'

'Oh, fine. Just go, I'll get some more sleep.'

He grinned and started out the door. The walk down to the Quidditch pitch took him not as long as usual. He was walking quite fast and the fresh morning air sparked his senses, letting him feel a jolt of excitement. He couldn't wait for the game to begin. Flying was one thing, flying to win was another.

Draco was already standing outside the changing rooms, fully dressed in his worn silver-green seekers robes. 'Potter! Finally!' he said, frowning.

'It's not even seven yet,' Harry answered. 'You kept your robes?'

'Sure. Me not playing for the team anymore doesn't say I want to ruin my clothes.'

Harry chuckled: 'I'll change too, wait a minute.'

He had Malfoy never taken for someone who actually cared for such things, but even when he didn't admit it, Harry was sure the reason for keeping the robes was the same emotional one he had for keeping his. He had known the boy for eight years, after all.

Malfoy was already on his broom when Harry exited the rooms. He was flying at the stands height, whirling around the goals in a flash of green and silver.

'Malfoy!' he called and the blonde slowed down immediately.

'Potter! What are you waiting for? Get your bloody Gryffindor arse up here!' he called back. Harry grinned and swung one leg over his Firebolt, pushing up into the air with a swift movement.

'How is this going to work?' he asked, when he hovered next to the Slytherin in the air.

'I have the snitch here,' Malfoy said, holding the little golden ball into the air whichs wings instantly began to flutter, 'it's an enchanted one. It's going slower until at least one of the seekers got a glimps of it. They are exclusively for seekers games, so we don't have to search forever.'

'Okay,' he nodded. Why hadn't told him anyone? This was so cool!

'Ready?' Malfoy smirked and Harry nodded. The snitch wirled around the air the moment the grip around it had loosened and it dashed away the next second, both boys chasing after it in an instant.

Draco pushed his Nimbus forward, he would show Potter that a better broom didn't mean better skills. He tried hard to get the upper hand with the slower broom, shortening the chase every opportunity he saw. The snitch kept changing directions, leading them around the stands. Potter laughed and Draco felt the adrenaline spreading through his every fibre when they raced downwards, side by side. When he realised the snitch wouldn't change his course in time for him to follow, he raised his broom into a horizontal position, swearing. Potter, who's broom had the better responsiveness, closed his hand around the golden snitch with a shout of triumph, ripping the brooms handle up in the last second possible. Draco scowled.

'Who's the superior now, Malfoy, huh?' he asked, coming to a halt next to him.

'Repeat!' he demanded and the idiot grinned at him sheepishly.

'You would've won, you know that, do you? You were first.'

'But I haven't, so I don't care! Don't start with your fucking Gryffindor fairness!'

'Fine, repeat!' Potter shrugged and released the ball.

They started over and over and when they finally had enough, Harry had won nine to five. He couldn't help but admire the Slytherins outcome, even when the other complained over his loss. Harry knew his broom was faster and better and he hadn't flown as good as Malfoy had. He wondered who would win if they had equal equipment.

They walked alongside one another towards the castle, both still in their robes, sweat-soaked and dirty from several nearly collisions. Malfoys blond wisps hung loose into his bright grey eyes. He turned his gaze towards Harry when he saw him looking. 'What?' he asked.

Harry laughed: 'I think we need a shower!'

'Definitely!' he laughed too. 'What about another game? Tomorrow?'

Harry didn't think about it very long. He hadn't had so much fun in months. 'Sure. Same time, same place?'

The Slytherin nodded eagerly and Harry grinned.

I'm playing nice with Potter, Draco thought. He flinched inwardly, but couldn't bring himself to find it as bad as he probably should. On the other hand, the war was over and what was the sense in them fighting, anyway?

They parted in the entrance hall, Potter heading for the stairs up whilst Draco stared after him before taking the once which led down towards the dungeons. Weird!