Disclaimer(it's really getting annoying to disclaim in every chapter): I do not own HP.


Bludger Malfunctions

Hermione finally rushed down to the Quidditch Pitch at 6.40 p.m., after losing track of the time while doing her Arithmancy essay. She made her way to the bleachers, seeing that there was no point in going into the pitch itself as practice had already started. Besides, the other Slytherins would probably not be too happy to see her there, with her coming from a different House and all.

Blaise spotted her from the ground, and gave a quick wave before mounting his broom. Hermione waved back, tucked her scarf around her neck more tightly and observed Blaise during his Quidditch practice. It was starting to get a little chilly, and she was astounded at the level of tolerance for the cold that the players possessed, Slytherin or not. Having to concentrate on playing the game while the icy wind rushed about them was no mean feat. Even Hermione, a spectator in the stands, armed with her scarf and gloves, was shivering a little, although it could be the adrenaline that coursed through the Quidditch players' veins that allowed them to perform astoundingly well.

She focused her attention on the Chaser more than the others, smiling at his quick reflexes and accurate aiming. Blaise was certainly talented in everything he did. Accompanied with his good looks, she could foresee that he would be highly sought after by many.

Upon formulating that thought, a sinking realisation suddenly occurred to Hermione.

"Wait. By saying that, could it mean that I'm actually –dare I say—attracted to him?" she froze. Blaise, after putting the Quaffle past the Keeper effortlessly in an amazing feint attack, looked up towards the stands and gave her a warm smile. She grinned back awkwardly and turned back to her own thoughts.

"Oh, nooo. You just think of him as a friend, that's all. Keep it platonic, Granger!" she told herself, wishing that her hormones were not as manipulative and suggestive as they were then. She was lost in her thoughts when the Head Boy, clad in the dark green robes of a Quidditch player, approached her.

"I'm glad you came," he said, sitting down next to her and downing a bottle of water. She shrugged.

"It was okay. I was free anyway," she managed to keep her tone even, although her heart was inexplicably palpitating wildly.

He set the empty bottle next to him and slowly inched closer to Hermione. "We've just got to throw a few more Quaffles, beat several more Bludgers after this break and we're done with training. Then we can discuss of the matters pertaining to the evil scheme on the way to the Great Hall for dinner," he said, smoothing out the details effortlessly.

No wonder he was appointed Head Boy, what with the planning skills and all, Hermione thought.

She nodded slowly, and shuffled in her seat for warmth, hands under her armpits.

"Hey, and Granger? Its warmer nearer the changing rooms. You can go there if you want," he offered, placing the back of his hand on her cheek. "Really, because you're freezing cold."

She sidled out of her seat thankfully, and made her way to the changing rooms. Having no intention of entering it and smelling anything grotesque, she resorted to hovering near the door, receiving waves of heat that radiated from the lamps outside.


Soon after, Quidditch Practice ended and the Slytherins trudged into the changing rooms, giving dirty glances as they left, and murmuring among themselves. Hermione shook her head in nonchalance, waiting for the dark-skinned Chaser to come into the changing room as well. After a few minutes with no sign of him, she walked out into the dark Quidditch pitch.

"Blaise?" her voice rang out, and a trail of mist rose into the air from her words. She heard a call from further away, and proceeded to look for him at the other end of the field, a sinking feeling in her stomach. She was never a believer in Divination, but at that moment, she knew that something bad was going to happen sooner or later.

She saw Blaise with the chest of Quidditch balls half-open, while he was staring into the evening sky.

"I'm really sorry for holding you up, but it seems that we've left a Bludger somewhere, and I can't seem to find it," he sighed, scanning the surroundings for any sign of the missing Bludger. Hermione looked around too, and she heard a rustle come from behind her. She could feel a sense of foreboding in the air. Closing her eyes in trepidation, she hoped to no end that it wasn't what she thought it was. Biting her lip, the Gryffindor slowly turned around to face the source of the noise.

BAM.

Hermione was knocked off her feet and flung into the air. Blaise could only watch in absolute horror as she sailed past his head and landed with a thump on the ground a few metres away.

"Oh my gosh. Hermione, are you okay? Hermione? HERMIONE?" Blaise ran to her and snatched the Bludger from the air, stopping it from zoning in for a second attack. He wrestled with it back into the chest with some difficulty, and immediately went back to the limp figure lying on the grass patch.

"Oh, please be alright," he said desperately, slinging her arm over his shoulder. He lifted and half-dragged the unconscious Hermione across the grass patch, in the direction of the Hospital Wing.


"Oh, it's nothing I can't fix. Just a slight concussion," Madam Pomfrey assured the anguished Slytherin. "She would have to stay here for a few days even after she wakes up, as I need to put her under observation." The healer patted him on the shoulder, coaxing him out of the Wing so that she could attend to Hermione promptly.

He ran back to the Slytherin common room, calm composure gone. Hastily saying the password to the textured grey wall, he crashed headlong into Malfoy upon entering.

After calming down a panicked Blaise, Malfoy sat him down on one of the sofas in the common room.

"Okay, talk when you feel like it," Malfoy said, shaking his head. He leaned further back in his own seat and folded his arms.

"Help- I knocked out Granger with a Bludger," Blaise managed, overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events in the past hour.

"You WHAT?" Malfoy sputtered, before he quickly added, "I mean, you can't just take down one of them like that you know, it's suspicious." He tried his best to sound nondescript about it all, but silently, he was extremely worried about the girl.

"I wasn't planning on doing anything of that sort in the first place! I just had to look for a missing Bludger and she helped and suddenly the Bludger just came zooming at her head and she got hit and- and- Oh no, I think I've screwed up everything," Blaise buried his head in his hands, while Malfoy stood up and paced around the room.

What's the 'everything' that Blaise screwed up? Oh- wait, let me get this straight. If my assumptions are correct, does this mean that-

"I'm actually quite fond of her, you know, although I won't admit it to her face. It's just between you and me, okay?" Blaise felt his cheeks getting heated up, in full knowledge that Malfoy would probably counter him with some snarky remark. The blond-haired Slytherin merely shrugged.

"Oh, please. You don't even have to tell it to her face, the word 'smitten' is practically written all over already!" Malfoy said irritably. "Anyway, that girl would forgive anyone, especially you, seeing that you're so nice to her and all," he continued, acting contemptuous, albeit feeling really bad for putting her down like that. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going off to bed. Goodnight."

Little did they know of the fiasco that the incident would cause later in the week.


Yep! Longer chapter. :P

(I'm secretly posting this in the middle of the night during this trip XD)

Thanks for reading! Reviews are greatly(veryverygreatly) appreciated.

I'll try and update as soon as possible! Which is not very soon but I'll try. :) The next chapter will involve (fake) fire-breathing dragons. XD (This is just an incentive for you to read on. Haha.)