DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

.A/N: Who saw the article about Tom Felton bringing a red rose for Emma Watson? XD

He's gorgeous, right?

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CHAPTER 14: QUIDDITCH AND FRIENDSHIP

Hermione, feeling better than the past few days made her way to the Great Hall with Ginny and they're chatting animatedly about their Transfiguration essays.

"We're sitting with the Slytherins today, right?" Ginny asked when they entered the hall.

"Yes," she answered and made their way to the Slytherin table. "Hey," she greeted Draco and Blaise. She's just about to sit beside her boyfriend when Blaise stopped her.

"Sorry, ladies. You can't sit with us today. We're discussing Quidditch—Slytherin versus Gryffindor," Blaise said.

"What?" Ginny shrieked. "When did Madam Hooch announce?"

"Five minutes ago," Draco answered. "She told me when she passed by."

"Are you playing, Blaise?" Hermione asked, sitting beside Draco.

"Hey, I said you can't sit with us," he said.

"I'm not in Gryffindor Quidditch team," she reasoned out. "So, are you playing?"

"Yes, he's our Keeper," Draco answered for Blaise who's still glaring at her. She just smirked and turned to Draco. Draco's just about to eat the pancake on his fork when Hermione grabbed his hand and turned the food to her. They laughed together.

Ginny sat as well on Hermione's other side and started eating. "Well, you can discuss Quidditch after breakfast," she said.

"Come on, Blaise, cheer up," Draco said who continued to feed Hermione. She played along, knowing that she has to make it up to him for being so sad about Harry and Ron the past few days.

"He's not acting like a true Slytherin; kick him out of your team," she said jokingly to Draco.

"Stop it, Granger. It's Malfoy who has to be kicked out of the house," Blaise said and turned to Draco. "Why don't you change to Gryffindor robes?"

"Why don't you ask the Sorting Hat to put you in Ravenclaw so that you can be with your 'dear Luna'? Or better, in Hufflepuff. You're acting like one," Draco answered back, still sniggering with Hermione.

"What a lovely couple," Ginny said simply, looking at them. "Where's Luna by the way?" she asked Blaise.

"She's not sitting with me starting today until I learn how to conjure a Patronus," he answered.

"A Patronus?" Draco asked.

"I asked Luna to teach me to conjure a Patronus after the night Ginny sent you her silver horse," Blaise explained.

"That's brilliant!" Draco said.

"Would you like me to teach you as well?" she asked her boyfriend.

"Well, if Zabini couldn't do it, I bet it's hard, so why don't you teach me after the Quidditch match?" Draco said with puppy dog eyes.

"Of course," she replied fondly.

"So, Captain, when's the practice?" Blaise asked Draco with a glare.

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DRACO HAS been very busy for the upcoming Quidditch match, same with Ginny. They're both Quidditch Captains for their house teams. It seems that every student in Hogwarts is looking forward to the first match of the year because of the Captain-Seekers: Malfoy and Weasley, the girlfriend of Harry Potter and best friend of Malfoy's girlfriend.

Hermione, like Luna, took no sides, even though on the day of the match, she'll be wearing her Gryffindor scarf and sitting with her housemates. Draco and Ginny dropped the rivalry. There were no more insults between the two teams, unlike before, and the professors are extremely happy about it. Professor McGonagall even invited guests and anyone who wants to watch to show the improvements in Hogwarts after the Battle, especially the house unity.

When the day of the match came, Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table with Ginny to show her support. Luna, however, sat with Blaise to wish him goodluck.

"Why are you here?" Ginny asked. "Go with Draco," she said with no hint of bitterness.

She stared at her for a moment to make sure she's fine. "I'm fine, Hermione," Ginny assured her. "Though I wish Harry is here to kiss me good luck. I know Draco wishes the same, so, go!"

Hermione gave Ginny a tight embrace and sat with Draco, much to his surprise.

"Good luck!" she said.

"And I don't get a kiss?" he teased.

Hermione leaned and kissed him on both cheeks. "You'll get more than that if you catch the snitch," she whispered.

Draco chuckled. He knows what 'more than that' she is talking about; not sex but a passionate kiss, or more like senseless snogging.

Ten minutes before eleven, Hermione and Luna made their way to the Quidditch pitch to watch. They sat in different stands—Hermione in Gryffindor and Luna in Ravenclaw. She's animatedly speaking with Dean when Draco flew in front of her. The crowds cheered upon seeing this.

"Draco!" she exclaimed.

"I'm nervous. Can I get another 'good luck' kiss?" he smirked.

Hermione laughed and stood up to reach for Draco's cheek. She kissed him. "I love you," she whispered.

Draco reached for her and removed the Gryffindor scarf around her neck; he replaced it with his Slytherin scarf. "Don't remove it, please. It'll help me win the game—seeing your full support," he whispered.

This time, Hermione did not protest. She didn't care, for a moment, what others would say. "I won't," she answered.

Draco beamed, kissed her forehead and flew to join his team. Hermione returned to her seat and noticed several visitors: Mr. Lovegood, Luna's father is sitting beside her daughter, surrounded by Ravenclaws. There were also some reporters from The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly. Hermione suddenly searched for any sign of Rita Skeeter, the woman she hates. But she's no where. Perhaps McGonagall banned her.

Then, a sudden movement on the Gryffindor stand distracted her. There were Harry and Ron, making their way beside Hagrid on the upper seat. Hermione turned away and engaged herself with a conversation with Dean who luckily didn't notice his two former roommates.

"Hello, fellow students, teachers and guests!" said Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff in Hermione's year and commentator. "Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the year! Today, it's Slytherin versus Gryffindor!"

And Hermione saw the Slytherin team flew on air. On the other side was the Gryffindor team. Both teams were led by Draco and Ginny. The two captains shook hands. Hermione, who has her omnioculars, saw her boyfriend and best friend beamed at each other. It's going to be a nice, fair and friendly game. She felt so excited.

The game started. Both Slytherin and Gryffindor scored and almost a tie. Both of them are equally brilliant and the game is very friendly that after an hour and a half, neither Ginny nor Draco spotted the Golden Snitch yet. The score's already 260-210, Gryffindor on the lead. People are starting to feel exhausted and hungry.

"Where's that Snitch? Come on, show up!" she said angrily but only Dean could hear her.

Dean chuckled. "Are you nervous, Hermione? I bet Ginny will catch it."

Then Draco dived faster and Ginny followed him. "They've seen it!" she said excitedly.

Both were diving in the same direction, but not hurting each other. Draco, Hermione noticed, kept distance from Ginny so as not to hit her. He moved faster and faster. Draco's using a new Firebolt and Ginny's broom is a Cleansweep. Ginny was left behind and Draco extended his arm.

"Draco Malfoy caught the Snitch! Slytherin wins!" announced Justin.

Hermione jumped with joy. Perhaps, she's the only person on the Gryffindor stand to cheer for the other team. But everyone cheered when Draco and Ginny shared a brief hug, congratulating each other. The two teams gathered at the center of the pitch, shaking hands.

"What a nice way to end the show! Slytherin and Gryffindor teams are shaking hands, congratulating one another!" Justin exclaimed. "Did you see that, people? Now, personally, I believe that love can move mountains."

The crowd cheered and smiling faces turned to Hermione, as if they're thinking that she's the reason why the two team captains maintained a friendly and clean game. But she wasn't expecting Harry and Ron to come to her and after greeting Dean, they stood in front of her, withdrawn.

"Hermione, were so—"

But Ron wasn't able to finish because Hermione pulled her best friends to a hug. Tears were falling down from her cheeks, but she's crying with joy.

"Sorry, Hermione," Harry whispered.

"It's fine," she whispered back.

"I was such an idiot," Ron said. They pulled away and laughed.

"You always are, Ron," she teased.

"Hey, come on!" Dean called. "Lunch at the Great Hall."

"I missed Hogwarts food!" Ron muttered and the three of them walked back to the castle, hurrying because some reporters were running after them, asking for an interview about her relationship with Draco Malfoy.

Just when she's about to enter the hall, Draco pulled her to an alcove. "Hey," she greeted. "Congratulations!" And she kissed her on the lips, just like the way he wants: full of love and passion.

"Thanks," he said grinning. "We have a party at the Slytherin common room."

"Enjoy, then," she said.

"Aren't you gonna join?"

She smiled and shook her head politely. "We can't visit other houses."

"Right. I saw Potter and Weasley. Are you three okay now?" he asked with concern.

"Yes," she answered brightly.

"Good. That's good." He smiled sincerely.

Then he gave her a peck her lips and they bid goodbye. Just when they went out of the alcove, they found Harry and Ron waiting at the corridor.

"Er, Malfoy," Harry said reluctantly.

"Potter," Draco nodded.

"We'd like to… er, apologize," Ron said.

Draco nodded again. "Apology accepted. But you have to make sure you won't hurt Hermione again. Or else…"

Both Harry and Ron nodded and Draco bid her goodbye, leaving her with Harry and Ron with a smile on his face. She smiled back. The Trio made their way to the Great Hall for lunch. The Slytherin table was alsmot deserted. Apparently, they're celebrating in their common room. It's been years since Slytherin won a Quidditch match against Gryffindor. Meanwhile, on the Gryffindor table, every one congratulated Ginny's team for the friendly match. Slytherins and Gryffindors never became friends for several years.

"I need to get a faster broom," Ginny said remorsefully to Hermione, Harry and Ron.

"Yeah. Malfoy's got a Firebolt… Not like Harry's but the latest model," Ron said.

"I need it not just for the next match but for Holyhead tryouts in March," she added.

"Oh, of course!" Hermione exclaimed. Ginny mentioned to her that she wants to tryout for Holyhead Harpies, the all-witch British Quidditch team. Ginny wants to be a professional player after Hogwarts. "I wish you all the best, Ginny. I really hope you'll make it to Holyhead."

"It would be fun to be a professional player. It's also my dream career, second to being an Auror," Harry said.

"Me too," Ron said. "If Kingsley didn't invite us to Auror Training Program, I'd tryout for Chudley Cannons."

"Well, Quidditch is just a sport and it would be nice to have a stable career. Not that I'm against it, but fame can't last longer," she said. "Draco also wanted to be a professional player in his younger years, but given the circumstances… he dismissed the idea."

"He's a good player, though," Ginny said. "With all of his money, he can buy his own team. I'm really glad that his team won the match without any cheating tactics; without breaking rules."

"I'm glad that Malfoy is treating you well," Harry said to Ginny.

"Oh, come on! He's not that bad. He's proven it when he saved his pride for a moment to bring you two back your senses," Ginny said hastily.

"Wait. What are you saying, Ginny?" she asked curiously.

Harry and Ron exchanged awkward glances; Ginny bit her lip. Nobody answered.

"Ginny, tell me," Hermione said sternly.

"Er, Hermione… Draco asked me to Apparate him to Harry and Ron weeks ago. He wanted to speak with them about you," Ginny explained.

"What happened then?" she asked Harry and Ron.

Harry and Ron finally admitted that it was Draco who made them realize that they're acting immaturely. And they told her what he said to them at the Grimmauld Place.

"Sorry, it took us weeks to get back to you," Harry said. "We were waiting for a perfect opportunity. Then Professor McGonagall invited us to watch the first match. We decided to grab the chance to speak with you personally."

"He really loves you, Hermione," Ron said quietly. "I never imagined Malfoy speaking with us that way… He cares about you so much."

"Sorry, we've been thick," Harry said.

"Well, at least you admitted that Draco was right and you were wrong," she smirked.

Ginny sniggered; Harry and Ron smiled awkwardly.