Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling and so is she, so is he, and so are you… :p
A/N: The next chapter is here!!! (cowers, cowers) I know you are all quite impatient!!! I haven't updated this story of mine for a week! I'm really sori, people. This week is hell. Our teachers bombarded us with quizzes, tests, and projects. My graduation is coming near, btw. That's the reason why teachers are cramming already. Anyway, next week, I might update late again (next week's our final exams already! Oh God, I'm nervous). All right, I won't make this longer… enjoy:p
Harry Potter Plays Archery?!
One windy, October Friday morning, the Slytherin Quidditch team was seen practicing in the Quidditch pitch.
"All right, team!" Draco, the Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, exclaimed to all of his teammates. "We better do very well, today! Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes, Captain!" the members exclaimed, smiling at their Captain.
They practiced in the Quidditch Pitch for hours with no breaks and time-outs. All were very focused on practicing well for the Quidditch matches. The Captain looked at his teammates proudly. They would definitely win, he greatly feels it.
"Hey, Draco!" Blaise said as he landed beside the blond. "I have news, shocking news."
"What?" he asked.
"Crabbe and Goyle just told me that the members of the Archery club greatly increased," Blaise said, his face showing shock. "I mean, this is shocking news we are talking about, Draco! Archery club had been known as a club for losers, hadn't it? And then, suddenly, with just a snap of the finger, it greatly increased. Bloody hell, I really can't believe it."
"You're forgetting something, Blaise," Draco reminded him, a mysterious smile on his face.
"What?" he asked, curious.
"There's one member who is not a loser at all," the blond said, his mysterious smile changing into the famous Malfoy smirk.
Understanding dawned on Blaise's face. "Do you think he's the reason?"
Draco shrugged. "Well, it seems like it."
DMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHG
Hermione curiously looked around at her club. Looking at everyone surprised her. The first time she joined this Archery club, there were only 5 of them plus her, so making it six. But now, more joined their club, exactly making the members of the club into approximately 50 members.
'Merlin, so surprising,' she told herself as a Ravenclaw young woman, a 6th year most likely, flirtingly batted her eyes towards her. Feeling uncomfortable, the disguised brunette just nodded her head. That had made her tremble.
She also noticed that the students who joined the club are mostly young women. Women dominated the men. Each place of the club room, there were women. Hermione shook her head. 'What is happening here?'
"Henry!" Archie exclaimed as he approached her, snapping her out of her reverie. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Huh?" the brunette asked. "What are you talking about, Archie? Why are you thanking me?"
The student stared at her in disbelief. "Are you blind, Henry? We gained more members. As in more members and it's all thanks to you, Henry. Thank you very, very much. The Archery club never had members this many until you joined the club. I'm really grateful to you Henry. Thank you very much."
Hermione shook her head, still not getting Archie's point. "I really don't understand you."
Archie sighed. "When you still haven't joined the club, there were only five of us. When you joined the club, the number of members greatly increased. Now, do you see the connection?"
The Princess knitted both of her brows in concentration. Suddenly, she realized. "I'm the reason why we gained more members?"
Archie grinned brightly and nodded. "Yes, you're the reason! I'm really thankful, Henry! My goal is to gain more members in this club before I graduate and because of you, I've achieved this particular goal."
Hermione smiled. "You're welcome, Archie."
"Hey Gordon!" a familiar annoying voice shouted amongst the crowd. Everybody looked at the person who shouted and mostly, all the girls squealed. Hermione sighed in annoyance and looked at Harry Bloody Potter.
"What do you want now, Potter?" she asked, making her annoyance very obvious.
Harry made his way towards the disguised Princess, pausing every after minute to give a girl a flirty wink who would sigh and faint.
Hermione rolled her eyes with a snort. 'How pathetic,' she thought, looking at the young women with disgust. 'How really pathetic.'
At last, Harry reached her, just a few feet away from Hermione. He then pointed a finger at the brunette which she gave a glare.
"Don't you dare point that finger to me, Potter," Hermione hissed threateningly. Now, this guy's annoying her already.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," he said while shaking his head and putting his finger down. "Gordon, Gordon, Gordon, no need to be so pissed. I'm just here to challenge you."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Challenge me?"
Harry smirked then nodded. "I'm here to challenge you."
"And, pray tell me, what challenge are you proposing?" Hermione asked, obviously not threatened. Her head might be as big as a balloon but she knew she is way smarter than this "great" Harry Potter.
"We'll, let's just say, play archery," Harry said, his smirk widening. "Whoever wins will do a dare."
"Well, challenge accepted," Hermione said, her own smirk growing on her face. 'If only you know, Potter. I'm one of the best archers in France,' she thought with pride. 'I doubt you even had handled a bow and arrow in your whole life.'
"I warn you, Gordon," Harry said, "I quite excel in this sport."
"Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm greatly nervous and scared, Potter," she said with sarcasm. Apparently, Harry hasn't heard of the sarcasm in her comment because his smirk widened if possible.
"The one who loses will shout at the top of his lungs 'I'm an idiot! I love being an idiot! I'm glad I'm an idiot! Thank Merlin, I'm an idiot! I love Filch that's why I'm an idiot! I'm proud of being an idiot!' in the Great Hall later at dinner. Is that good enough, Gordon?" Harry asked.
Hermione only smiled. How she looks forward in watching in entertainment as Potter shouted those words! "When will we do the challenge?"
"Later at lunch time, exactly 12:30, don't be late, Gordon," Harry said. "You might make me think that you are afraid to lose against me."
"Quit flattering yourself, Potter," Hermione said, her smirk growing. "You might be good in Quidditch and I admit, I am not. But sometimes, just in one sport or subject, a person would excel you."
"What does that mean, Gordon?" Harry asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Nothing, Potter," she said. "I just want to wish you luck."
Harry sneered before turning around and walking away from the club.
There was a moment of silence and Hermione knew that everyone's eyes were on her. And then, Archie broke it.
"This is going to be interesting," he said.
DMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHG
"HE HAD WHAT?!" Hermione's friends asked in unison on exactly 12:00 noon as they were eating lunch in the Great Hall.
"He… bloody had what?" Draco repeated, looking at Hermione with wide, surprised eyes. The brunette stared at him and thought that he was quite adorable that time.
Realizing what she had just thought, Hermione shook her head. "I said, Harry Potter challenged me in the game of Archery. We'll do it at 12:30, which would be soon, by the way, near the Astronomy Tower where the Archery club is located."
"Merlin, that git has so much guts to challenge you," Blaise commented, drinking pumpkin juice. "Why did he even challenge you?"
Hermione shrugged. "I dunno at all."
"Henny won't lose!" little Mika piped in. "Henny is good in archery!"
"Yes, yes, Mika's right," Pansy said, patting the little blonde's hair. "We all had seen Henry's audition, right? And in my opinion, he did a job well done."
"In my opinion, too," Draco said.
"Me too!" Blaise added.
Hermione smiled at her friends.
"So, I guess, we don't have to worry about him," Pansy said, looking at Henry. "And I guess I know the reason why Potter challenged you, Henry."
The brunette in disguise looked at her questioningly. "What do you mean, Pansy?"
"Everyone here knows how popular Archery club became," the Slytherin girl said. "I mean, in the past few years, Archery club is considered as a loser club, no offense, Henry."
Hermione nodded her head while sighing. She always knew that only a few number of people likes archery, and she's one of them.
Pansy nodded. "Okay, since the time you joined the club, the Archery club gained more members, didn't it?"
"Yes, actually, I think we approximately have 50 members," Hermione said, looking thoughtful.
"If you would notice, you're the reason why this loser club changed from drool to cool," Pansy said while smiling at her words.
Hermione smiled, too. "Yes, I noticed that too."
"This club became popular because of you," Pansy repeated. "And Potter here was intrigued as to why this club suddenly gained more members. And when he realized it was you, he challenged you."
"I think I see your point now, Pansy," Draco said, stroking Mika's blonde hair.
"I still don't get it," Hermione said, looking from Pansy to Draco. She looked at Blaise and noticed that realization dawned on him, too.
"You see, Henry," Draco continued, "Harry Potter, as we all know, has an ego size like the sun. He would do everything just to be praised, adored, liked, loved, etc… But sometimes, threats come in his life."
"And I'm a threat for him," Hermione said, now nodding in realization. "He thinks I'm a threat in being more popular than him."
"Exactly," Pansy said.
"He already did that to Draco," Blaise said. "In Quidditch, but sad to say, Potter proved that he is really way better than Draco, way better than the Slytherins."
Hermione looked at the blond and saw him frown. "That git," Hermione said through gritted teeth. "I hope he loses so he can make a fool of himself. By the way, the loser will shout at the top of his lungs these words: "I'm an idiot! I love being an idiot! I'm glad I'm an idiot! Thank Merlin, I'm an idiot! I love Filch that's why I'm an idiot! I am proud of being an idiot."
Blaise wrinkled his nose. "How a good thing to do to mar your reputation," he said, shaking his head.
Hermione banged her right fist on the table. "Don't worry, I'll defeat him," she said with so much conviction. "I'll let him see that Slytherins shouldn't be messed with."
"That's the spirit, Henry!" Blaise cheered. He then looked at his watch. "And for your information, you only have 10 minutes left before the challenge starts."
Hermione looked at her friends. "Are you coming with me?"
"We will!" they said in unison.
Hermione smiled then stood up. "Then come on," she said then stood up. The others followed suit. Then, together, they exited the Great Hall.
DMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHG
"Wow, news in Hogwarts really spread so fast," Blaise commented once they arrived near the Astronomy Tower. The place was crowded with students from different years and houses.
Hermione spotted Harry then walked towards him. "I'm ready now, Potter."
"Good," Harry smirked, looking at Hermione's bow and arrow. "You have nice equipments, Gordon. But it would be useless if you lose."
The brunette rolled her eyes instead of answering. "How will we know who the winner would be?"
"Simple, Gordon," Harry said, looking at their target. "We will each use 5 arrows. The person who would hit the most number of bull's eyes would be declared as the winner."
"Fine with me, Potter," Hermione said, grinning. "Why don't you do it first?"
Harry sneered. "All right. Now, let the games begin!"
Cheering from the crowd was heard. Some were cheering for The-Boy-Who-Lived, some were cheering for the Princess in disguise. Harry raised a hand, signaling for silence. When everyone obeyed him, a smirk grew on his face.
Hermione rolled her eyes again. 'I see his ego growing again,' she thought. She then watched as Harry placed an arrow inside his bow. Everyone was silently watching as their hero readied. The raven-haired boy eyed the target with great concentration. And then, he released the bowstring. It hurtled towards the target and had hit the… bull's eye.
His supporters had burst into applause and cheering. The egotistical git looked at Hermione with a smirk. "I told you I'm quite good at this sport."
"I'm cowering in fear now, Potter," Hermione said with sarcasm, rolling her eyes at the same time. She looked at her friends and saw all of them glaring at Harry. She smiled at them, reassuring them that she would win against this prat.
Harry got an arrow again and placed it inside his bow. Like the first one, it had hit the bull's eye. Hermione looked impressed. 'Potter really is good in Archery,' she thought. The third and fourth one, like the first and second, had hit the bull's eye, too.
Now, only one arrow was left. Even though Harry had hit four bull's eyes already, Hermione didn't feel nervous at all. She knew, she greatly feels, that she would win this game. She watched as the 'hero' took a deep breath and had placed the fifth and last arrow in his bow. Stretching it, Harry eyed the bull's eye. Taking another deep breath, he readied again. And then, he released the arrow. It hurtled with great speed towards the target and it had hit… just under the bull's eye.
His supporters groaned while Hermione's supporters cheered.
When Hermione had seen this, a smirk had found its way on her lips. 'Four out of five bull's eye,' she thought. She looked at her friends and gave them two-thumbs up. She still has a chance of winning.
Harry looked at her with a sneer but a tinge of pink was evident on both of his cheeks. "It's your turn now, Gordon."
"Now, now, Potter, no need to get pissed," Hermione said, remembering their conversation awhile ago. "You should be happy that you only missed one."
Harry nodded. "You're right, Gordon. I did miss one but I didn't miss the other four. So I think there is a slim chance for you to win."
Hermione's smirk widened. "We'll see, Potter, we'll see."
She placed an arrow inside her bow. Stretching it, she eyed the bull's eye with great concentration. Once she released it, everyone became silent and watched as the arrow hurtled towards the target. It had hit… the bull's eye.
Her friends cheered at her. The brunette looked at Potter who rolled his eyes.
"You still have to hit three bull's eyes, Gordon," Harry said. "Don't be too calm, yet."
The brunette only raised an eyebrow then placed another arrow in her bow. Again, like the first, it had hit the bull's eye. So did the third and fourth.
Hermione now looked at Harry who was paling and paling if possible. "You're not the only who is good in archery, Potter," she said. Harry glared at her but didn't throw any comebacks. Hermione got another arrow and positioned it inside the bow. She took a deep breath.
'I'll win this challenge,' she told herself. 'Potter would pay for humiliating my friends.' Hermione then stretched the bowstring and with great concentration, she looked at the bull's eye. 'I'll win this challenge.'
"You can do it, Henry!" a voice said. Hermione looked at the crowd and saw Draco. He was the one who shouted it. The brunette knew she would blush but prevented it from showing. Instead, she gave the blond a big smile. Draco returned it and gave her two-thumbs up.
Hermione then went back in concentrating. She stretched the bowstring again. And then, she released it. The arrow hurtled towards the target like in slow motion. And then it had hit… the bull's eye.
"Bull's eye," Hermione whispered. At first, everyone was silent. No one talked. Until, the little Malfoy broke it.
"Henny won! Henny won!" little Mika exclaimed, jumping out of Draco's grasp and running towards the brunette. She encircled her arms around the Princess' legs.
Hermione chuckled at Mika's actions. She bent down and carried at the little blonde. "Yes, little Mika, I won."
And that's when Harry made a un-Potter-ish sound. "That's unfair! You cheated, Gordon! You cheated!" he exclaimed, giving Hermione a death glare. If looks could kill, Hermione would be absolutely dead right now.
"I didn't cheat, Potter," Hermione said as calmly as she can, "no one cheated. I won, fair and square."
Harry seethed in anger. "You'll pay for this one day, Gordon. You'll pay for this," he threatened then walked out the club area.
"Don't forget your dare, Potter!" Hermione shouted. She watched in glee as Harry Potter stopped in his tracks and looked at Hermione with horror. "If you backed out, it means you are not a man of his words!"
Harry gave another death glare then turned around, disappearing.
"That's great, Henry!" Blaise exclaimed. Hermione's supporters clapped in appreciation and congratulation.
"You did well, Henry! You did well!"
Hermione smiled. "I must admit, Potter's good in archery, Blaise. I think it was just that luck was not on his side today. But still, I'm glad I won. I just proved to Potter that some people are better than him."
"Yehey!" little Mika cheered, hugging the brunette.
"Congratulations!" Pansy exclaimed, patting Hermione's shoulder.
"Thank you," the brunette said. She then looked at Draco who was smiling at her.
"I had beaten Potter for you," the brunette whispered, making the smile of the blond wider. "I know it's quite humiliating when Potter had beaten you in Quidditch, so for a revenge, I won against Potter."
"Thank you, Henry," Draco said, moving towards the brunette and patting her head. "You really hide many surprises behind that petite body of yours."
Hermione grinned. "You still don't know the real me," she said with a sly glint on both of her eyes.
Her friends looked at her curiously.
"Then, what is the real you?" Pansy asked. The others nodded.
"Maybe… you'll know soon," Hermione said.
DMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHGDMHG
Dinnertime came and everyone gathered in the Great Hall for another mouth-watering dinner prepared by the school's house-elves. Everyone thought that today's dinnertime would be normal; no one had thought that a very entertaining scene would be watched now, except Hermione and her friends, of course.
They were looking at Harry Potter's back in the Gryffindor table, anticipating for him to do his dare.
"Guess, he wouldn't do it at all," Blaise said, looking at his watch. "Dinner is almost over."
"Coward," little Mika said, sticking out her tongue towards the back of the prat.
"He just doesn't want to mar his precious reputation because of this dare he had made himself," Draco said, smirking and winked at his friends. "Potter is really unbelievable."
"No, wait!" Hermione announced, directing her friends' attention towards her. "Potter's standing! I think he's going to do his dare!"
Her friends looked at him excitedly.
And Hermione was right.
"I'M AN IDIOT! I LOVE BEING AN IDIOT! I'M GLAD I'M AN IDIOT! THANK MERLIN, I'M AN IDIOT! I LOVE FILCH THAT'S WHY I AM AN IDIOT! I AM PROUD OF BEING AN IDIOT!" Harry shouted at the top of his lungs. Once he finished, his face greatly resembles the Weasel's hair.
Everyone in the Great Hall looked at him, dumbstruck. Silence then was broke by Professor Dumbledore.
"Mr. Potter, I think it would be better if you meet me in my office right now," the old Headmaster said, eyeing the 'hero' as if something's wrong with him.
Harry nodded his head, glad that he would get out of this Great Hall. Without any word, he started walking towards the oak-wooden door. He stopped and glared at the Slytherins who were silently chuckling at him. He then walked out of the Hall briskly.
"Well, I guess dinner today is very entertaining," Pansy said, wiping her eyes because of the tears that formed in both of her eyes.
"Yeah," Blaise said grinning widely at Hermione, "I will never forget this. The-Boy-Who-Lived-Making-A-Fool-Of-Himself! I think this is the best day of my life!"
The others nodded their head in agreement.
They admit, they are really glad someone is better than Potter in one sport. And that person, they are greatly proud of her.
A/N: End of chapter… thanks for reading… now's the time for reviewing!!! Reviews are greatly appreciated.
With love,
2booklover4 :p ("And me too!" Mika Malfoy added.)