The Bonded
Chapter Ten
"Mia no fence but your luck hasn't been great lately" Jamie said confused "last big win you had was…"
"Massive, you all owned me money for weeks" I grinned "And with Draco on my side this is going to be so much fun" I said reaching for a drink but Draco handed it to me instead.
"We only owed you money because it was the end of summer poker game and the buy in was 500" William muttered, Blaise chucked. And I grinned, the game started and the boys were all nervous with the evil smile on my face and the silent whispering going on between Draco and I every hand.
I sighed and rolled over in my bed, seeing the clock my eyes widened it was 7pm. How did I sleep for so long? I guess I really was exhausted then. Rolling out of bed, I was still in the clothes Sky had given me while we were playing poker. Grinning I glanced at the pile of gallon's on my side table, and that was only half, Draco and I clean up last night. Draco was getting better at poker which scares the lads, seeing that Draco is a very competitive person.
Pulling on a pair of shorts and a jersey I pulled up my hair and yanked on a pair of Ugg boots. Growling I slammed the dorm door open, scaring half the girl dorm doing so. Why didn't any one wake me up? I stomped down stairs and ignored everyone around me. I was starving, angry, sore and cranky.
Sitting the in the kitchen I munched on toasted sandwiches. Flicking my wand my blood supplement appeared and I swallowed it gulping out about a litre of water, and finished my sandwiches. Sighing I made my way back to the common room about 8 o'clock, I was till furious. But not just about the whole why didn't they wake me up thing, but why were the so stupid to throw me into the lake! I mean sure Connor and Malfoy had nothing to do with it but they others did. Jamie, Blaise and William all were carrying me while there was no doubt in my mind that it was Theodore's master plan! And on top of all my rage I had to do all my assignments for tomorrow due and try to get back to sleep. But I didn't see that happening since I had just slept for like 18 fucking hours.
Slamming the common room door open I glanced around the room, everyone glanced at me then back at their work, not bothered with another Slytherin girls tantrum. Everyone apart from the gang went back to normal, they seemed to slid deeper into the corner they were sitting at . Glaring at them I made my way over.
"Explain" I demanded my hands on my hips.
William stuttered over his words and Blaise just laughed then went back to kissing Tiffany. He wasn't bothered about my tantrum and from the reaction Iffy had neither did she. That just made me angrier, but it was expected.
"Pomfrey said to let you rest" Theodore stated grinning at me. Jamie was scribbling at his work furiously while I glared at the gang of them. Theodore thought smiling at me was going to make this all right? Well I didn't think so.
"A-and Connor said he'd murder one of-f us, if we woke you" William explained. I raised an eye brow at them, The only two to care about my anger.
"Then where is Connor?" I asked seriously, raising an eyebrow at them.
"He's with the twins, said that you'd properly sleep through the night anyway." Theodore claimed. Sighing I sat down on an empty love seat and stretched out.
"What's the damage with school?" I asked glancing at Jamie still scribbling at an assignment.
"Oh none" William shrugged handing me a few rolled parchments which I snapped out of his hands "You've got a charms, transfiguration and Potions due for tomorrow but one of the Ravenclaw gladly done it for you, they were only small anyway" unrolling the sheets I noticed that the writing looked like mine.
"I don't have a stalker in Ravenclaw" I said confused. "Do I?" Theodore shrugged and mixed up a pack of cards.
"That you know of…" The smooth voice of Draco claimed from behind me "Mind if I sit?" He asked pointing to my feet. I shrugged and lifted up my knees so there was space for him. The two boys stared at him like he was mad. He sat down and pulled out a few sheets from his messenger bag then handed them to me "The notes from our classes, did you know we take all the same ones?" He asked grinning.
I flicked threw them, the teachers hadn't started anything new, thank merlin "Nope" I popped the 'P', Draco stared at me, I glanced at the two other boy who were both looking at me also, I faced Draco again "What?" I asked touching my face.
"You look well rested is all" he explained turning to Theodore and William. I sighed and relaxed back into the normal routine of things.
The boys would have to leave with a snapping Michaela for a few days, I thought grinning like a mad person, maybe after the try-outs on Saturday that I over heard Draco mention to the boys I'd be more welcoming. A 4th year Slytherin walked over to us and I glared daggers at him while the boys all froze up and glanced at him.
"Letter for Miss Kn-knight" he said holding out a cream coloured envelope. I stantched it. The boy near pissed his pants before running off.
"Who's it from?" Bliase asked taking a moment away from iffy's face to ask. "Your mam?" He asked
I glared at him, before opening it carefully and reading the last two line
'Hope you are well,
Your favourite Ravenclaw,
Andrew.'
I grinned "Andrew" I smirked "it's a get well soon letter" I glared at the rest of them "Thanks for yours by the way, loved them" I hissed standing up and leaving. I heard Theodore swear and Blaise telling Iffy he'd talk to her tomorrow. They lads were about to plan how to get my mood up. Grinning I took the stairs two at a time, they were going to be standing on egg shells till Saturday.
A couple days passed, and the group seemed to be growing in size, not that it mattered to my foul mood towards the four idiots. Sky and her man hung around a little more since my lake adventure, he wasn't as bad as I thought he was going to be even if he did do anal, I shivered at the thought alone, but he complemented me now and then –I think that was Sky's part in the 'Get Michaela in a Good Mood' plan-, and he always told good stories. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle had made themselves comfortable hanging around Blaise and Theodore, and that meant I had to put up with Draco's fan girls - Pansy, Daphne and Alice whole lot more.
It was sickening to listen to Pansy's squeal about new gossip, or Alice complains about her new diet. The only escape I had was my editing of the Magazine and Connor still always came with me to the Green. We just lazed about, he would read threw some of the article I didn't think were completely girly, and he'd give his honest opinion. It was the only place I could be myself and not act like a moody bitch.
"What do you think of the colour maroon?" I asked, Wednesday evening, it was after classes and the other boys had gone down to the quiddage pitch to practise some more, try-outs were coming up, so the lads had been down at the quiddage pitch straight after classes everyday tp practise. Draco had been seeker since his 2nd year, Blaise and Thepdore had been trying out for chasers since their 4th year for fun but they knew they were getting on the team this year for fun and Connor has been a beater since 3th year.
The idea of the try-outs were just as exciting for me as humorous since Sky was going to have to put on the tease outfit and fly around or at least try to and I was trying out for the keepers positions, the lads knew this but I was starting to think they didn't take my plan serious, since they didn't ask me tot eh pitch for practise and I had never tried out before. The thought of that day always made me smile just thinking about it, sky was going to embarrassed and I was going to prove that I was good enough.
"What like purple?" He asked rolling over on the blanket, raising and eye brow at me and stretching his muscle out. Connor was never bothered with practise like the other boys, he went running in the morning always and he was pretty much guaranteed a place on the team.
"Nah the radish, purple colour" I helped, then I pointed to the colour on the sample fabrics that came with my owl this morning.
"It's nice" He commented "Why?" He asked bored.
"Just wondering" I mused, really I wanted to put in a request to have an article written on 'What colour's appeal to the Man' I grinned and packed away all my things.
"Want to go for a quick practise down at the pitch, I did promise after all" He grinned. "Good job I was distracted when Pansy actually skinny dipped, that was not a sight I really wanted to see" He teased.
I smirked "I thought you'd never ask" I jumped up then grabbed my two bags; we had brought our quiddage things with us, brooms included.
"You know I'm glad you're here Michaela" He whispered, while we were walking threw one of the School's many corridors.
"I know, Connor" I grinned. He pulled me to his side and left his arm over my shoulders. "You'd have killed someone by now if I wasn't here"
"What am I going to do without you?" He teased.
I frowned and stepped out into the cool breeze "Find a hobby to get all your anger out, boxing should work"
"Boxing?" He laughed "I might take up shooting again" he grinned, I gave him a look "Don't judge, Dad used to bring me to these shooting Halls in muggle London and it was great, but then again I hadn't known you"
"Maybe, you should tell some other people about it" I nudged him, Connor had a lot of issues, he liked to hide from people, well apart from me, that why he was often so quiet around the lads, he need to get something off his chest before he had a anger outburst. "It's all about trust"
"I trust you, I think that's enough" He grinned down at me as we walked the dirt track to the quiddage pitch.
"I don't" I explained. I nearly slipped on at rock but he caught me
Connor laughed and propped me up again. "Warning, here comes the boys" He grinned.
We walked in a silence for most of it, neither of us needing to talk just relaxed in each other's company. Looking ahead of us I spotted, the lads walking up still in their dirty quiddage clothes and their brooms over their shoulders. They looked exhausted; Theo and Jamie were ahead of the others, while the other walked slower laughing about something.
"Hey" Theodore and Jamie called when they were close enough to us
"Have a good practise?" Connor asked, the other lads were goofing around just a little bit behind them, still hadn't noticed us yet.
"Yeah…!" Jamie grinned, wiping some dirt off his forehead.
"You didn't need to come meet us, we're just going to shower and hang out in the common room anyway" Theo grinned.
"We're not meeting you" Connor said grinning, while I glared at the two of them "Miss Knight is having a private quiddage practise"
"Why? There's hardly any place left on the team" I pouted at Theodore statement "There's always subs needed though" He grinned, suddenly taking back his statement.
"I'm going for keeper, and substitute Seeker" I snapped "And I'm going to get the spot or Fitzpatrick is going to be missing a body part for a long time" I half growled. Fitzpatrick being the 7th year Slytherin who was named captain this year.
"Seeker…?" I heard someone call "What Assho.. Knight?" Draco asked confused, I didn't even bother to look up at him I just glared at Theodore then faced Connor.
"Malfoy" I nodded unbothered "Come on Connor you've got to hit bludger at me" I grinned
"MICHAELA…!" I heard Blaise snap from behind Draco and Jamie "What do you think you're doing?" He growled.
"What?" I asked innocently "Just a little practise" I grinned wildly.
"Connor is the best beater Slytherin has had in years, one of the best in the whole school and you want him to smack bludgers at your head?" Blaise growled. All the lads were around Connor and I now, William and Jamie, neither wanting to be on the team were exhausted and panting; they just wanted some exercise, obviously picked the wrong group to join in with.
"I went to camp" I folded my arms across my chest "They said I was one of the best players they had ever seen!" I snapped at him.
"You haven't played competitively in school since you were sent to the hospitable wing!" Theo shouted at me "back in 3rd year and you were a mess thanks to Connor then!"
"It was a stray ball, shit happens!" I snapped. How could he think that I couldn't play, he just like all the lads got some photos of me in camp ;catching the snitch during a match, doing laps, hanging out with some of the other teens there, I was always the one holding a medal or a ribbon they knew I was good! He knew I was good enough to play against Connor Didn't he…?
"No fence Connor but I'd be more comfortable leaving Michaela with someone not as good as you" Connor shrugged seemly not bothered. I eyed Connor for a second, he squeezed my side, he was telling the truth.
"That's cool, I didn't know she wanted me to kill her tonight anyway I was just going to give her some pointers to improve her flying" I frowned at the ground, Even McGonagall knew I wanted to be on the team, I had sent a letter to the head master which was forwarded to the second in control asking if a girl could join the Slytherin team, since it hadn't been done in a long time. I was passionate about being on the team ever since my dad sent to the camp, and I need to exercise more or I was going to gain some weight, and I didn't want to be Alice size anytime soon!
"Fine!" I snapped "I'll have a private session alone then!" I snapped "And if any one of you even thinks about bothering me for the next two hours I will have to hex you into next century" I growled before hugging Connor quickly and walking down to the quiddage pitch to practise alone. I didn't mind, I just worked harder when there was someone there pushing me harder.
It wasn't until Friday that I wanted to practise again, but all the lads were already down there and sky didn't fancy walking down to the pitch with me. So I started the walk alone. Half way down to the pitch, just before I left the castle I met Andrew, Tristan and some of the other Ravenclaw team. They were all covered in much and sweat. I grinned at the bunch of hot sweaty lads while they eyed me up and down.
I had worn a pair of skinny, black, knee length leggings and a maroon tang top, for some reason I was obsessed with that colour this week.
"Hey" I grinned waving at them, Andrew waved back and grabbed Tristan arm so he'd come over to talk with me.
"How's your arm?" He asked quickly. I laughed.
"It was stiff on Monday and a little sore on Tuesday but it's all good now" I said fixing my shoulder strap. "How was you practise with the big Bad Slytherins" I teased.
Tristan chuckled "Oh don't worry, we can take them" He joked.
"Not too bad actually, Fitzpatrick was down for a while, we had a bit of a shout, but we reasoned it down that we could share the pitch, half and half"
I nodded "Bet you'll be glad the try out are tomorrow, so the timetable will be done up properly next week and there won't be any more fights about pitch time" Tristan nodded.
"We've fought with all the houses at this stage, Gryffindor being the worst since Potter's the captain and he's all driven to win and shit" I laughed.
"Are You heading down?" Andrew asked eyeing my broom "Or are you just going to fly around the grounds?" I laughed.
"I'm trying out for keeper tomorrow and sub seeker" I grinned, and started to walk backwards toward the door "So you better watch out Mr Head Boy because your team won't get anything past me" I teased waving.
"Yeah well you have to get on the team first" He shouted. I laughed loudly and headed down to the pitch a little bit happier.
Just as I got to the entrance the door burst open, the lads were all walking out, clean and fresh with sweat pants and tee-shirts on. They had obviously taken a shower while the Ravenclaw wanted to get back up to the tower first, and I'd say the lads just wanted to prove they could train longer and harder than the Ravenclaw team. I rolled my eyes at the taught.
"Michaela" Connor grinned walking over to me "Another practise he asked?" I nodded.
"I don't think you should train on your own Michaela" Blaise sighed rubbing the back on his neck, I had been angriest at Him and Theodore, because they had been complaining about me trying out. Unlike Jamie and Will who tried to talk about safe topic with me at Meals, from girls to homework them boys were just trying to live out my moods this week.
"And who's going to train with me then?" I snapped at Blaise "No one!" I shouted "Because your all fucked from your own training!" I snapped. Crossing my arms with my broom hitched in my elbow.
The boys stayed quiet for a second, I already knew none of them were willing to stay and baby sit me. Blaise I knew had to get back to Tiffany who was have a hissy fit if her man wasn't with her on a Friday evening, Theo and Keeley had made plans to get high while her step brothers were in detention and Jamie and William were useless to me since they don't actually know half the official rules to quiddage.
"I'll train you for seeking if you want, and if you're still up for it keeping after" Malfoy stated "That is if the boys don't think I'll kill you"
Theodore chuckled "Good luck to you" he grinned at me "That boy well near killed us all the past four days, he's a machine on a broom" that made me smile a little, Theodore walked away, Will and Jamie waved and Connor gave me a quiet half hug before running to catch up with them.
Blaise stayed behind with Draco and I. "I'm sor…" I cut him off.
"Just go Blaise, Iffy is waiting" I snapped. Still Angry that he didn't think I was good enough.
"Michaela…" Blaise sighed "We're going to talk about this" He stated
I glared at him and he turned to leave. Draco shook his head, and picked up his broom. "You should be nicer to him, he is one of your best friends"
"And you should shut up" I snapped then breathed in and out, staring away to the black lake I sighed "Because he is my best friend I can snap at him like that and later we'll still be able to talk about what we're doing this weekend"
Draco turned to walk back to the quiddage pitch and I followed him "We're having the try-outs this weekend" He explained cheekily "And then we're sneaking down to hogsmeath like the team always does" he grinned.
"Like always?" I asked "Connor's never snuck down to town and he's nearly been on the team as long as you"
"I have thought" He explained "with some of the older quiddage boys, your friends just decided to opted out" He shrugged "It's a quiddage team thing anyway"
"So it'll be my thing soon" I grinned and pushed open one of the large doors with a shove, it was into the Slytherin changing room, I threw my bag into it, it smelt like muck and shampoo.
"Pretty confident are we?" He asked grinning, I smirked and opened one of the cupboards and pulled out a sleeping snitch and charmed bludger. Draco yanked out two bats and the qwaffle before I could close it. "If I'm going to train you it'll be my way" He explained handing me a bat and the qwaffle and taking the snitch and bludger from me. As if to say 'I'm the boss' I rolled my eyes before grinning up at his silver eyes.
"Pretty controlling are we?" I asked grinned. He chuckled and started to walk out into the pitch.
It was late now, maybe 7 or half 7. The sun wouldn't be gone until 8 or 9 so we had a little while longer before Draco would complete his mission of killing me threw exhaustion.
"Try again!" Malfoy shouted from the ground. He was trying to get me to lap the field in a record time, every time I had to be faster than the one before hand. I stopped just in front of the ribbon he had charmed to vanish once I went through it, and then appear again after a few seconds.
"NOW!" I shouted and I zoomed off, I didn't know how long it took me to get around the lap, I just knew I had been doing this for 12 times now and every time it felt like I was getting slower and slower. I hadn't asked Draco what my best time was, but he hadn't told me either.
I pasted threw the ribbon and breathed in a long breathe. Draco hadn't said anything, looking down he was smirking at the clock watch in his hand. I swooped down so I'd be his level, we had done all sorts of training, I had zoomed through moving hoops, caught the snitch several times, dove for balls, dodged charmed bludgers, caught the qwaffle, blocked goals, done loads of quick warm ups, even practised a bit of beating. This was the last speed test tonight. Back at camp I was never the fastest, always coming second or third maybe even 5th or 6th of the older campers were invited to practise with us.
I jumped off my broom and fell to the ground with a loud thump my legs were in bits, I just lay down and stared up at the now viewable stars, they had started to appear in the twilight sky , unnoticed be me until now
Draco walked over and grinned down at me "I think you're going to be on the team" He grinned and helped me up "Your faster than Blaise, maybe even Theodore" He grinned.
"You're a good trainer" I said breathily standing up, and leaning on my broom, he had obviously thought I fell to the ground with happiness or something, my legs were still a little wobbly from sitting on a broom for ages. "How far off am I from your time?" I asked breathing in a deep breath
"About 13 seconds" He shrugged, running his hand threw his hair. I glanced up at him, Malfoy had always been handsome, but I seen him differently now, after just one training he wasn't just some other person in my year that I nodded or sat beside in class without a snide comment. He was a friend, someone who took notes when I was sick and asked how I was every morning.
"Really?" I asked, breathing in a gulp of fresh air, he nodded "I need more training then" I smirked. 1 second was far too long of a stretch in quiddage time.
He shook his head "I know your tired Michaela" He mumbled, his voice wasn't as strong as it was usually "But do you think we could talk about it now?" He asked
I shrugged my shoulders "Only if you carry me to the common room" I grinned.
He raised and eye brow at me "And how am I supposed to do that?" He asked teasingly "We have two brooms and two bags between us" He said pulling out his wand "AND I've been training two hours longer than you, you should be the one to carry me to the common room" I laughed. He flicked his wand and the two brooms and our two sports bags zoomed off from the changing room, hopefully to our dorm rooms.
"I didn't know you were particular good at charm Mr Malfoy?" I teased "I thought your specialty was potions"
"And how did you figure that?" He asked grinning at me interestedly, I glanced at the teachers stands
"I seen you trying to help Theodore with that essay for Snape" I explained, and glanced at him, He glancing over at my outfit, my skin tight black leggings and a now tight wet tang top. He was quiet for a few moment before he looked up at me, and I casted my eyes elsewhere.
"You don't hate me…" He stated glancing at the sky "And I've noticed you've given up trying to stop Blaise and Theo from being my friends, you've accepted me into the group but you don't want to spend any time together" he finished, and looked at me again.
"why should I?" I asked completely unaware of his hands clenching and unclenching into fists at his sides.
"Well to start off with, you tease me all the time by hanging around all the others in you free time" He started.
"That's not true…" I began he held up his hand to stop me. I shut up and stared at his huge pale hand.
"Even with Pansy and Alice you take time out, you to snap at pansy and tease Alice about her diet, you go off with Connor all the time, Blaise and tiffany you hanging with them in the common room, Theodore sits beside you in most classes and you even find time during meals to sit with Jamie and William every day." I inhaled a deep breath just thinking about it, Draco was angry, was he going to snap at me like he did with Alice and hit me, he breathed in and out "But not once have you stopped, talked or listened to me individually, you only talk to be if one of the lads are already, or if I begin the conversation" He said frustrated "I know you don't particularly like me Michaela, but you have to give us a chance"
I frowned at him, staring at his black tee shirt "I am" I explained
"How do you figure that?" He asked, his voice being controlled badly I could feel the anger radiate off him.
"I'm not with Andrew, I've stopped flirting with him we hardly talk apart from our letters. " I was a little anger myself at him myself now "And don't get me wrong the lads like you Draco, but if I said something to them the only ones that would stick by your side would be Blaise and Theo and they'd be neutral at best, really" Draco breathed out threw his nose.
"I believe what you're saying, that they were your friends first. But you cannot expect me to believe that you and the head boy are nothing when you went on a date and have been sending letters" Draco hissed "You don't even look at me when I'm talking to you" He half shouted.
My eyes shot from the quiddage hoops to his silver eyes "Sorry" I mumbled "I'm …" He stared into my eyes, I felt my tummy turn "..Just sorry" I finished and began to walk towards the exit.
"Wait" Draco called when I had taken a few steps, I turned to face him. "If I carry you…" I tried to cut across him "… Will you talk to me more..." I tried to talk to him again "… and I mean like once a day even if it's just hello and a smile or something"
I sighed "If you carry me into the common room, everyone will know we're friends" I explained "And…"
"You don't want to be my friend" He nodded.
"No" I stated "I mean, I thought we were already friends"
"Not like the others…" he frowned
"That's because there not my friends, the gang.. I've known them since 1st year, before even… There not friends anymore their my best friends, they're family"
"So can we be friends?" He asked hopefully. I was so shocked I took a step back, Malfoy never sounded so soft, weak almost but not weak. Confused I stared at him.
"Of course I'll talk to you Draco" I whispered "I was just a little preoccupied with annoying the gang to remember that you were there" Draco grinned at me and bent down a little so I could jump onto his back.
"I'm always here" He mumbled, before jumping so I'd have to hold onto his tighter "and I really do think you have a chance of winning tomorrow"
I grinned and whispered thank you before letting my head fall onto Draco's shoulder, before we even got into the castle I had fallen asleep, by the time we got to the common room I was out of it.
A/N :
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