Chapter 10: And the Snake Boils

Draco slowly got out of bed and into the shower. The water cascaded through his hair and ran down his cheeks. He didn't know what to do. Draco couldn't tell Harry before the game, it wouldn't be fair for both of them if they were distracted, but with the Slytherins going full force with their snide comments toward the Gryffindors, Draco didn't think he'd even get time alone with the black haired boy.

He sighed as he heard the door open and figured people were starting to wake up. He shut the water off, got out, dried off, and quickly put on some clean robes as he headed down for breakfast. Pansy waited for him outside the doors to the Great Hall.

"Morning," she said in a soft tone.

"Morning," Draco said, barely masking his depressing tone. Pansy frowned.

"Come on, you're going to need a full stomach today," she said leading him into the Hall and towards the Slytherin table. Draco took a peek at the Gryffindor side, spotting Harry laughing with his red head friend. His heart skipped a beat when he saw that, and he felt a little jealous. Draco was knocked out of his thoughts by Pansy pushing him down into his seat.

"Thanks," he grumbled.

"Any time," she said a little too cheerily.

"Ha, excited to beat the snot out a Potter today?" Goyle asked as he and Crabbe sat opposite Draco and Pansy.

"Yeah, I feel like this will be our year," Crabbe commented.

"Please," Pansy said exasberated, "we'd be lucky if we win. Potter has always caught the snitch. Only way we'd win is to gather enough points before he catches it."

"Or cheat," Crabbe said wickedly.

"Yeah, maybe Draco can knock Potter off his broom when Hooch isn't looking," Goyle joined in.

"Or we could hex him from the stands," Crabbe said rather excitedly.

Draco gave both boys a glare that would have sent the cold of death through their spines if they were looking. But alas, they weren't. Pansy did, however, and a shiver ran up her spine. She had never seen Draco look that angry.

"Be realistic you two," she chimed in, hoping to ease Draco's anger. "Any tactic we use to cheat will only hurt us. Either Draco will get a penalty, or you will get the whole team in trouble."

"Don't tell me you're siding with Gryffindor," Crabbe said disgusted as he said the rival house's name.

"No. I just want to win once."

Draco calmed down a bit, or rather he put a mask over his emotions as Pansy tried to soothe his situation. He was lucky that he didn't act on impulse and jump over the table to strangle his two goons. Hm, maybe I need to think about investing in new friends, Draco thought.

"Feeling ready, Seeker?" a voice said behind Draco. It startled him and the blonde turned in his seat to see Marcus Flint, Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, standing over him.

"Er…yes," Draco said, maybe a little too meekly. If Flint noticed Draco couldn't see it on his face.

"Good, make sure you come to the pitch after you eat. We need to go over the game plan."

Draco nodded and watched the man walk away.

"Don't worry," Pansy whispered to him as his goons were arguing on which pastry was better, "After the game things will cool down and you'll finally get your chance. Patience."

"I hope so," he whispered.

As the hours passed, and the sun was rising into the sky, the whole school was chattering and getting ready for the big Quidditch match. Girls were giggling, and debating who was hotter on each team, while guys were talking stats and really trying analyze the teams to wager who would win. Seamus was taking bets when the teachers weren't looking, everyone wanted a piece of the action.

Pansy walked through the halls as her last class finished. She was walking briskly as she didn't want to miss the rampage to get good seats. Her legs hurt as she picked up her pace in excitement when she turned the corner and found herself staring up at the ceiling.

"Ow," she heard in front of her. Pansy looked up to see another girl on the floor with her school supplies everywhere. "Sorry about that," Hermione said, still not realizing who bumped into her.

"Oh, don't be. It was my fault."

"Oh, Parkinson," Hermione said, steeling her voice when she saw her pseudo-nemesis in front of her. Pansy had tormented her as much as Draco had Harry in their first two years at Hogwarts.

"Call me Pansy," she said with a sweet voice. Hermione was shocked at how sincere her tone was. "Listen, Granger," Pansy said gathering her stuff up, "I'm sorry for everything I did to you."

"Wh-wa-?" Hermione could only mouth a few syllables, not really sure what she was witnessing. "Thank you," she finally got out, "but what brought this on?"

"Something just tells me that we'll end up being friends soon," she said coyly, and before Hermione could speak Pansy was off at her quick pace once again.

"What just happened?" Hermione asked to no one in particular.

The students crowded into the small entrances to their awaiting seats. People pushed, Slytherins mocked and made their own room as they charged up to their seats, while the Gryffindors were unordered and stuck. The Ravenclaws had to help them out, which was very helpful to the embarrassed Gryffindors.

"And here comes the Gryffindor team walking out with their hopes and heads held high!" Lee Jordan said excitably into his customary mic. "And now comes the grumpy looking snakes heading out onto the field."

"Jordan, if I told you once I told you a thousand times!"

"Sorry Professor McGonagall."

The girls in the stands laughed as Lee Jordan was once again chastised for his bluntness. Hermione sat next to Ron and Hagrid as the teams mounted their brooms and took to the skies. She couldn't help but think about Pansy's strange comment earlier, but unlike everyone else the game wouldn't put it out of her mind. Quidditch was a mystery to her, she understood why some girls liked it. In fact most of the girls who watch Quidditch watch it for the hot guys, and the fact that their Quidditch pants really show off their ass. Hermione could care less, and at the moment she had better things to think about, like Pansy Parkinson being nice!

Ron, beside her, was hooting and hollering as he cheered his lungs out. He'd make a very good cheerleader, Hermione thought as she held back a giggle. Hagrid would cheer as well, but not as often as every time he bellowed out his support everybody around him had to cover their ears in fear that they would bleed. If there was one thing Hermione couldn't argue against it's that the crowd sure loved their Quidditch.

Draco, on the other hand, was straddling his broom in midair and was panicking at what to do. He had been slowly flying around the arena, watching the game, keeping an eye out for bludgers, and trying to focus on the shimmer of the snitch. The familiar golden glow was nowhere to be seen, and Draco found himself watching Harry as he too circled the field watching the game and keeping an eye out for the snitch. Draco saw Harry turn to watch the Gryffindor keeper when a Slytherin beater shot a bludger in Harry's direction. There was no time to think, and without realizing what he was doing Draco shouted.

"Harry, look out!"

The black haired boy looked up just in time to slide under his broom and hang from his fingertips as he narrowly avoided a bludger to the head. Madam Hooch blew her whistle as the Slytherin beater snickered.

"What the fuck was that about?" screamed Marcus as he flew up to Draco.

"I didn't think—"

"No. Apparently you didn't. Make sure you spy the snitch before he does, because you just made your job a whole lot harder Malfoy."

Draco's expression dropped as his captain flew back into position. The penalty was up, and Madam Hooch blew her whistle once more to signal the game to begin again. Immediately the bludgers were back in play and this time the Slytherins were narrowly missing everybody. Their effective acting and coyness was paying off as Madam Hooch didn't blow her whistle. Draco watched the game again, splitting his focus between the game and Harry. When he looked at Harry to see if he was okay, the black haired boy smiled to him as if to say thank you. Draco smiled back, but it quickly disappeared as he saw the snitch floating behind Harry's head. Harry dropped his smile too, confused at what made Draco's expression change. On instinct, Harry turned his head and saw the familiar golden glow of the snitch out of the corner of his eye. Instantly Harry was in battle mode and swung his broom around. Draco shook the daze from his mind and flew at full speed toward Harry. The snitch zoomed away with Harry close at its heels. Draco could barely keep up, but he knew that there would be dire consequences if he didn't catch the snitch.

The two boys followed the tiny ball, and the crowed clapped and cheered them on as everyone was paying attention to the snitch race. Draco hugged his broom more to decrease his wind resistance. He slowly gained on Harry, but he knew it still wasn't enough. Both of the boy's hearts were beating with adrenaline pumping through them.

Harry was nearly upon the snitch, Draco was nearly upon Harry, and the crowd was on the edge of their seat as Hagrid bellowed Harry on. Draco could imagine the trouble he'd be in if the Slytherins lost, he needed to do something and fast. Without thinking, Draco put his feet on his broom and started to lean forward. His weight was making the broom dip a little, but Draco never got to finish his desperate crazy plan, because the next instance he knew, Draco's broom kicked up and sent the blonde boy flying, hitting Harry off course, and landing hard onto the grassy field. Draco clutched the arm he landed on and repressed his urge to cry out in pain. Above him cheers were being made as Madam Hooch blew the whistle to signal the end of the game. Draco cried inwardly.

"I can't believe you did something so utterly stupid. I mean, not even a first year would make that mistake, Malfoy. Are you a natural failure, or do you do this to us on purpose? Seriously, I really want to know!" Marcus Flint screamed into Draco's face.

The other Slytherins on the team just stood behind Marcus and watched the show. They weren't very fond of Malfoy to begin with, he did buy his way onto the team, but this was the cherry on top for them.

"First you don't join our fun banter with the Gryffindors," Marcus said, talking about their snides and taunts, "then you fuck up our plan to get rid of Potter, and now you lost us the game and the season, because what?"

"It was a mistake," Draco whispered. He was still clutching his hurt arm, and the tears that he was forcing back were starting to show through. All in all Draco looked and felt utterly pathetic, and the Slytherins were eating it up.

"A mistake? No shit! The only reason you're on this team was because your daddy upgraded all of our brooms, and even after all of last year practicing you're still not even good enough to be called a rookie. I'm not sure there is even a level low enough to be called what you're in."

Draco sniffed back his feelings. He was feeling emotionally drained, and he wasn't sure how much more of this he could take.

"If I didn't know better I'd say that you have a thing for Potter. You weren't trying to sabotage us the other day were you?"

"What? No," Draco squeaked out. Is he talking about yesterday when he interrupted me and Harry, he questioned.

"Come on, we already outed you. It's just pathetic at this point."

"Please," Draco barely got out, "I didn't do anything. I really tried my best."

"Ha! Only somebody guilty would say that. So what are you doing, sleeping with him? He gives you sex and in return you sabotage us?"

"Wha-?" Draco wasn't sure what was happening.

"Come off it, Malfoy. We all know you're not that natural in the love department. You're really bad at hiding things," Marcus said with a wicked grin as if saying he won.

"He doesn't give me sex, and I didn't sabotage you!" Draco said getting angrier. You little fuck know? Not only that, but you fucking call me out on it in front of everyone you asshole! The Slytherins behind Marcus were now whispering to each other. Some had a disgusted face, while others not so subtly asked if it were true.

"Oh really?" Marcus rolled his eyes.

"Yes really!"

"Then why did it look painful to you when you called Potter names, rather pathetically might I add."

"Because…like you said I'm rusty at it. Potter and I were potions partners. Nothing more, nothing less."

"I bet more. I bet you paid off old Snape so that you could get Harry alone, and then when his guard is down BAM!"

"Shut it!" Draco's anger was growing rapidly. God he hated Marcus Flint.

"Me, shut it? Please, if it wasn't for you—"

"Look you piece of trash, Potter and I were merely partners. If I wanted to call him names I would, if I wanted prank him I would. I don't need a sniveling worthless Captain who gets turned on ordering people around to explain to me what I'm fucking doing! The fact that you accused me of fucking Harry Potter means you're only stretching. You're filthy mouth is only filled with lies that you spout out at anyone who makes a mistake. Just a few months ago you were practically saying the same thing to Miles! And you know what? I'm glad we lost, at least now I don't have to take shitty orders from a fuck face pimple weasel who has no game with romance or for that matter Quidditch. And Harry Potter? Fuck him, he's meaningless. A nobody, just a poser. If the Dark Lord were still alive I'd arrange for Potter to meet him personally and—"

Draco was cut off as Marcus' fist slammed into his jaw sending the little blonde boy flying a few feet back into the air. He crash landed on his back and was seeing stars.

"You little shit," Marcus spat out.

Draco barely heard him. His were wide with horror as he saw Harry at the entrance of their locker room. Draco saw Harry's hurt expression before he darted out of their room. Draco felt defeated. It's over, he thought, I give up. A boot came in at lightning speed and socked Draco in the side. He bent inward and grabbed at the newly forming bruise. The boot came back and hit Draco in the stomach. He cried out in pain as shock washed away his adrenaline from the game. He felt tired, and oddly enough the pain from Marcus' boot started to feel good after a few more hits. Draco felt empty, he didn't care anymore. His spirit was broken, and Draco did something he had never done before. He openly wept in front of a group of people. Tears stained his face as their hotness burned his flesh. He was starting to feel numb. Draco wasn't sure if Marcus was still kicking him or not, he didn't care.

Pansy found Draco curled up on the Slytherin's locker room floor. With wide eyes of horror, Pansy rushed to Draco's side and held his cheeks in her soft warm hands. She looked over him, and wiped away his tears with her thumbs. Draco wasn't aware that she was there.

"Oh, Draco. We need to get you to the infirmary."

Draco didn't respond, but his body moved on its own as Pansy help direct him in the right direction. She was worried for him, she never thought that he'd be unresponsive to her. It's like watching an empty husk trying to imitate life, she thought. Halfway to the infirmary Pansy felt her cheeks get wet. She was crying. She hated what happened to Draco, and to see him all beat up hurt her a lot.

Madam Pomfrey rushed to the two children as she noticed how bad Draco looked. Pansy wiped her tears away as Madam Pomfrey took Draco to the nearest bed.

"What happened to him?" she asked.

"I'm not sure." Pansy said in a cracked voice.

"Hm, it looks like it's all bruising and physical. I'll whip up a potion and he should be alright in the morning."

Pansy took a hold of Draco's hand as Madam Pomfrey went off to make the potion.

"I'm here for you," Pansy whispered into Draco's ear. Draco's lips moved as if he were about to talk, but stopped as quickly as he started. "I know someone who can help," she tried again. To her surprise Draco turned his head to look at her. He didn't say anything, but Pansy could see in his eyes that he was lifeless. He'd given up, and then she started crying all over again.

The sun set, and the moon rose as the day gave way to night. Draco didn't touch his food. The full try sat beside his bed, he didn't touch it. Pansy had stayed with him for the rest of the day. He had to admit that he was damn lucky to have her as a friend. She cared so much. Eventually he did start talking to her again, and when it was time for dinner it was he who encouraged her to go down and eat. Reluctantly she did, and Draco stared out the window after she left. His mind was a cloud, a dark cloud of emptiness and fullness. Thoughts raced and tormented him, preventing him from trying to sleep. He'd keep awake all night if he'd have to.

The door to the infirmary opened and light footsteps walked in. Draco listened as the footsteps grew louder and louder, until they stopped in front of his bed. He looked up to see a girl with big bushy brown hair.

"Pansy said you wanted my help," Hermione said.