Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter! No copyright infringement intended!

A/N:

cyiusblack, thanks for your latest review!

Owl007, thank you for reviewing. I hope you'll stick to this story and review again! Could it be that I know you? ;O)

The Winggoddess, I'm so glad you reviewed again. Seems to me the Ron sequence should've been a little longer?! I have to admit I wasn't quite sure how far I should let this go... :D

Have fun with my new chapter...

Living with a Quidditch Star

Chapter Thirty-Four: Honour me!

What was he supposed to do now?

Her behaviour admitted of no excuse.

She had humiliated him by leaving him out.

Had she done this on purpose?

Of course she had done so!

Her behaviour was just outrageous!

He clenched his fist and curled his lip furiously, frowning.

Jumping up from the sofa where he had sat for a while now, he paced his living room, his mind racing, his insides boiling with white-hot rage for what he had been told this evening.

How dare she?

He had looked like a moron when Mr Nicefields had told him about the contract.

She had caused him to lose his face by not informing him.

By not asking him.

By not asking him for his permission to sign the contract.

She would have been obliged to do so.

It was her bloody obligation to ask her husband for permission!

He shook his head in disbelief, gritting his teeth lividly, standing in the middle of his living room.

A muscle in his jaw was jumping now.

Draco started pacing again, both hands in the pockets of his trousers.

He was still wearing his evening dress except for the tailcoat that lay on the sofa in a mess.

With a shirty movement of his hand he removed his bow tie and opened the top button on his collar.

He snorted and screwed up his mouth.

What was he supposed to do? His thoughts were totally focusing on this damn question.

He wondered how his father would have reacted to this.

One thing was sure: He, Draco, wouldn't, no, he couldn't tolerate her misconduct! He would have to punish her for doing so – he wouldn't tolerate something like this to happen again.

He was astonished that the De Russos had not considered it appropriate to teach Alessia some manners and the rules.

Draco curled his lip with disgust at this thought and arched a brow priggishly.

How could he have been so wrong about her?

He reminded himself smugly that this wasn't a real surprise as the De Russos weren't of such a noble stock as the Malfoys.

He sighed and suddenly felt his superiority restored.

Of course he was superior to them.

After a while he second-guessed his thoughts even though he was still convinced that his family was superior.

Did he have something like a guilty conscience about what he had thought earlier?

Definitely not!

A Malfoy never had a guilty conscience. Never!

But he had been influenced by the rage that had been boiling on his inside.

Presumably she would tell him tomorrow, he thought and decided to wait for what the following day would bring for him.

Draco reminded himself that Alessia was the woman he loved and that he knew that she was the right one for him.

He told himself to always keep this in mind, to keep in mind that she would never intend to harm him.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

It was the moment when he saw an owl sitting outside, a letter attached to its leg.

He opened the window and untied the letter – the owl set off immediately.

Draco closed the window and opened the envelope.

He recognised Alessia's handwriting instantly.

He read,

Darling,

Marc has to stay at St Mungo's overnight for proper monitoring even though his condition fortunately has improved a bit. I don't want to leave Vic alone tonight. I'll accompany her to their place and stay with her. I'll see you tomorrow.

I love you, don't you ever forget that!

Hugs and kisses,

Ally

'Here we go again! It seems I have to teach her how to toe the line - always!' he thought, balled up the letter and threw it into the flames in his fireplace.

Stony-faced he watched them licking the paper, making it crumple and curl until it was gone, hands in his pockets, a muscle in his jaw jumping again. His eyes were a dark shade of grey now.

Annoyed that she wasn't with him to spend the night with him he decided to go to bed all the same, still not sure how to react finally.

The two dark figures were going into a huddle at a small gloomy lane nearby Knockturn Alley.

„Have you accomplished the mission as assigned?" one of them hissed with a hoarse voice.

„Sure, I haven't seen him after I have served him his drink." the other figure replied dryly in a low voice. „I'm sure I've finished him off."

„You think so?" the man with the hoarse voice asked slyly, with a note of loathing in his voice.

„Seemingly you've got something wrong, mate! First of all I didn't want you to finish anyone off! You were supposed to teach him a lesson, that's what I've told you, haven't I? Second of all you've got the wrong one!"

„You've told me to poison the guy who was with Alessia De Russo – that's what I did! I have handed the drink to the guy who was talking to De Russo. She has even kissed him on the cheek! I didn't get the wrong one. There seems to be a misunderstanding!" the other one replied, his voice trembling slightly.

He was backing off a little as the other hooded figure reached inside his cloak, seemingly to draw his wand.

„Misunderstanding? Possibly...but I think there's no misunderstanding regarding your performance! You've failed, haven't you?" the man with the drawn wand said in a low and dangerous voice. „I'm dreadfully sorry to say that we don't have use for such wretched failures like you! But who cares anyway, huh? Avada Kedavra!"

A spark of green lights shot at the other wizard who slumped down to the floor immediately and wasn't moving anymore.

The man with the drawn wand fastened his cloak and left the scene at sprinter's pace without turning around again.

Draco was running around the pitch for the fifth time with his team mates.

Gavin was talking his ear off for what seemed like hours now.

He prayed for his coach to blow the whistle soon.

He definitely preferred training his abs to running with Gavin getting on his wick.

But the coach wouldn't do him this favour, that's why he had to continue to listen to Gavin's monologue about his marital problems.

„Yes!", „Oh, I see." or „Really? Uh! I'm sorry." Draco said from time to time, absent-mindedly, not really listening to what Gavin was telling him.

„Draco, what is it? You're not listening to me at all!" Gavin drawled after a while.

Draco curled his lip and looked at him, arching a brow

„Huh? I didn't get you!" he said coolly.

Gavin snorted and sped up.

Draco could've caught up with him easily but decided not to do so even though his burning ambition spurred him on as always. He couldn't stand to lose.

But for now he was still trying to arrange his ideas.

Draco thought of Ally and saw her face in front of him.

He felt a mixture of disappointment and rage rise on the inside again.

He wanted to talk to her tonight.

He hoped for her to tell him everything about the job for Nicefields and he wanted to let her in on his plans about their wedding.

The blow of a whistle jerked him out of his thoughts.

Draco stopped, they were supposed to do some stretching now.

Sullenly he did the exercises and resumed running just as the others did afterwards.

After a while their coach made them scamper.

Draco rolled his eyes.

He definitely hated the general warming up with the whole team.

He preferred the practise catered to him.

He needed the particular attention – he was the star of the team, the Seeker. The Seeker! He was the pick of the bunch, well maybe except for Krum but who cared for Krum anyway, he thought cockily and curled his lip.

Bored, Draco continued to jump around, wondering when these embarrassing exercises were over.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw that there lingered some paparazzi, ready to shoot him in rather disadvantageous positions while exercising as they had done before.

The players continued with press-ups and afterwards they had to run again.

This time they had to do sprints.

Finally the players got on their brooms and zoomed into the air to start the real practice.

Draco's personal coach made him look for a specially prepared Snitch.

It flew somewhat remote-controlled to make Draco perform the moves the coach wanted him to do.

After a while his coach made him loop several sharp loops.

Still more or less absorbed in his thoughts, Draco gave his very best but during the last loop he was all to fast and therefore unable to veer away in time, suddenly precariously close to the ground.

He wrenched at the handle of the broom forcefully but it was too late already.

Draco thudded hard to the ground and heard a cracking sound although he had tried to coil up to attenuate the impact.

Then he felt this dull pain in his shoulder and moaned.

„Sod it!" he spat and struggled to his feet, kicking at his broom, moaning again as his shoulder was hurting very bad now.

His coach landed next to him.

„Are you alright, Draco?" he asked.

„I'm not quite sure. I think something's wrong with my shoulder." Draco answered, grimacing with pain when he moved his arm.

„Are you sure?" his coach asked.

Draco nodded sulkily, trying hard not to move his arm again as the pain was getting stronger now, kicking at his broom once more.

He had messed it up. He couldn't afford to be absent due to injury. They would have a match tomorrow evening and he wanted to play. He was hell-bent on going to the pitch tomorrow night. He was desperately in need of the feeling of success after the events of the past few days. He wanted to vent his rage on anybody getting in his way.

Not that he had anyone particular in mind but it was good to know that they would be playing Weasley's team – he had waited for this for months...

A flurry of flashbulbs jerked him out of his thoughts.

'Here we go again!' he thought, of course it had been only a matter of time until they had got wind of the fact that there must be something wrong.

„Let's get you to St Mungo's then. This needs to be fixed. Unfortunately our physician isn't here today so I'll have to take you there." his coach said, slightly worried now.

„No. I'll go to my place. Sent the doctor to my place. Anything else would cause a real stir. I'm sure they already know what has happened. I'll do the front page again. Great!" he grumbled, frowning at the crowd behind the fences.

Draco grabbed his broom angrily and stalked off the pitch. His coach followed him hastily.

He got his bag and disapparated to his place from the change room after he had promised his coach to owl him the results of the examination.

Everybody feared that he would be absent tomorrow.

I was at the kitchen to get me an apple when I heard the loud crack from the living room.

I wondered who it was as Draco had practice till late afternoon.

I hurried over to see who had just arrived.

„Draco! I thought you have Quidditch practice today?" I said, astonished at his sight.

„I thought so too!" he barked and flung his broom and his bag on the ground.

„Come here! Let me hug you, darling." I said calmingly and drew him into a hug.

„Gosh darn it! OUCH!" Draco cried and winced when I touched his right shoulder, backing off, frowning at me.

„Good gracious, Draco! What is it?" I let go of him immediately, startled.

I stared at him, his face was contorted with pain.

„Come on, take a seat!" I led him towards the sofa. „What has happened?" I asked him gently, taking the seat next to him, stroking his thigh.

„I've hurt my shoulder." he said curtly and kicked at the small wooden coffee table.

One of its legs broke off.

I winced a little at his outburst of rage, then I waved my wand to repair the table, saying,

„Reparo!"

„The team's physician should be here at any moment. He has to fix this. I have to play a match tomorrow night!" he went on, gritting his teeth.

I knew that he was in racking pain, I felt that his whole body was tense.

„Does it hurt terribly, darling? Can I get you something?" I asked worriedly and stroked his thigh again.

He shook his head, still frowning.

Before I could go on there was another loud crack and the team's physician apparated at our living room.

He shook our hands and turned towards Draco. They went to the bedroom for the examination.

I left for the kitchen again to get some coffee, worrying for Draco.

I wasn't able to stand to know that he was suffering pain.

When I went to the bedroom with coffee for the physician, I heard Draco moan with pain again.

I swallowed dryly.

„Take five drops of the potion every hour until the pain fades away and wear this arm sling to give your shoulder some rest. I'll come and see you again tomorrow morning, Draco." the doctor said and took a sip of the coffee I had handed him, smiling at me.

„But what's about the match tomorrow. Will I be able to play tomorrow night?" Draco asked impatiently, staring at the physician, while he tried to get on his shirt again, grimacing with pain.

I went over to the bed to help him. He ignored me.

„Well, Draco, I'm afraid I have to bring you bad news but I think as things are now you won't be able to play tomorrow. I'm sorry!" the physician said regretfully and looked at me.

I knew that he also knew what would happen now. Draco seemed to be well known for his outbursts of rage.

I sat down on the bed next to him and touched his left shoulder calmingly.

„We'll go to the stadium and watch the match from your box, alright?" I whispered and stroked his cheek fondly.

He pushed my hand away. I arched a brow at him.

„WE WON'T! I'M GOING TO PLAY TOMORROW NIGHT! I WILL!" Draco screamed, jumping up from the bed lividly.

He was resembling a stubborn five-year-old boy whose toy had been taken from him now.

Menacingly pointing at the physician with his slender index finger he went on,

„Don't you tell me I won't play tomorrow! Of course I will. If you can't help me the healer of our family will. Tom? Tom!"

Tom entered the bedroom, waiting for his orders.

„Tom, dispatch an owl, send for Mr Schwartz, I need him. Now!" Draco said, pacing the bedroom again, as Tom left in silence.

„Draco, I think you should listen to..." I said in a calm voice, but he cut in,

„I don't care what you think. I'm going to play. I feel good. I'm going to play."

The physician arched a brow, too, and said,

„Well then, Draco. I think I'll be off. I will tell the coach about the results of the examination. I'll see you tomorrow. Get well soon! Ms De Russo, take good care of him. See you!"

„Bye!" I said and with another loud crack the physician had left and we were alone in the bedroom.

„Did you really have to behave like a complete idiot?" I asked, slightly unnerved, staring at Draco who stood by the window now.

All he did was snorting contemptuously at my question, then he left for the bathroom.

I heard him moan again several times and finally left for the living room.

The healer hadn't been able to fix the injury too. He had also advised Draco to rest to not prevent the magically fixed shoulder from its final healing and Draco – lo and behold - had freaked out again.

I tried hard to empathise with him, to understand his feelings but admittedly his whole behaviour seemed rather pathetic to me and I didn't feel up to standing his cheeky demeanour towards me any longer.

We spent a rather restless night.

Draco was still in racking pain and wasn't able to find the right position to get some sleep, he was tossing and turning for hours.

I felt sorry for him.

It seemed to me that the potion wasn't effective at all.

I lay awake next to him, trying to comfort him a bit.

Of course he wouldn't admit that he was in pain but I knew it and he moaned from time to time.

I wondered what else I could do for him besides taking care that he would take the potion every hour.

I stroked his cheek and kissed his hair, he snarled.

After a while I heard his steady deep breathing and was relieved that he had finally fallen asleep. Soon after I did so too.

The next morning I got up early.

Draco's house-elf had already prepared breakfast and laid the table on the balcony.

It was a sunny morning, the air was still rather cold and very clear, the sky had the colour of a forget-me-not.

I took a deep breath, sat down at the small table and poured myself a glass of orange juice.

I took the Daily Prophet - of course Draco's injury was one of the topics of the first page. I scanned the pages and finally put it aside.

I closed my eyes and craned my neck to let the sun caress my face while the wind was playing with my long auburn hair.

Taking another deep breath, I opened my eyes again after a while.

It was the moment when Draco came to the balcony, his face rather expressionless.

„Good morning, darling! How are you?" I asked him and smiled.

„Morning. I'm fine, thank you." he growled.

He definitely was rather grumpy in the morning.

Soon after he vanished behind the Daily Prophet.

I turned to my orange juice again and prepared myself a small bowl of cereal.

„I'm sure you don't mind if Ginny and Hermione join us tonight. I've invited them to your box." I said casually after a while.

„Hm." was all he muttered.

„I thought it would be quite fun as Oliver and Ron are playing tonight, too. I was hoping that you..." I went on.

„That I what?" Draco said in a low and dangerous voice all of a sudden, putting down the Daily Prophet, glaring at me.

„That you would play tonight, too." I muttered, knowing immediately that this would cause him to outburst once more.

I swallowed dryly, I didn't like all this trouble in the morning already.

„As I've told you already, I will play tonight. And I don't want this filthy little Mudblood to bother me with her presence..." he went on in a cold tone, but before he could go on I said somewhat stuck up,

„Alright, Draco, I've had it! Don't you go on like this! I'm your fiancée and not your punching bag! Savvy?"

He eyed me, a slight expression of astonishment on his face for a split second at my words, one corner of his mouth twitching a little.

„My fiancée, exactly, that's what you are!" he spat and jumped up abruptly. I gasped, staring at him, wide-eyed.

„My fiancée!" he screamed again and knocked over the table with one furious, rough movement of his hand.

The table tumbled down, coffee and juice spilled all over the floor, food hurtled, I heard the precious bone china break to pieces and the cutlery rattle as it hit the floor.

"Huh?" I gasped, taken-aback by his aggressiveness.

I felt that I blushed badly with rage and loathing and wanted to jump up from my chair to leave but he already went at me.

Stony-faced, he leaned on to the armrests of my chair with his hands, his face now close to mine, his eyes piercing me. He was seizing the armrests so hard that his knuckles turned white.

I gasped again.

„My fiancée, yes you are! And you'll be my wife soon. That's why you have to honour me! You will honour me as it is due to me! I know everything about Nicefields and you, my dear. You will not behave like that again! Do you understand me? I will not permit you to fool me." he said in a low, dangerous voice, glaring at me, his face only inches away from mine, his eyes were almost black now, and I knew that he could hardly control himself now. A muscle in his jaw was jumping.

„Is this in any way unclear?" he asked menacingly, arching a brow at me artificially.

„No!" I whispered in a choked voice, staring at him, my body trembling now.

„Fine! Excuse me, please." he drawled in a cold voice and turned away from me swiftly. He stalked off towards the living room cockily, running his hand through his hair, tramping down some grapes that were lying on the floor.

I felt tears rise in my eyes and started to sob uncontrollably, still eyeing him, hoping that he would not come back and go at me again.

'Pull yourself together! Don't let him manhandle you like this. What he really wants is to blow off his steam. Don't put up with everything!' I thought after a moment of shock, trying to regain composure.

I pushed back a strand of hair and wiped away the tears on my face defiantly.

I didn't know where he was right now but I decided that I didn't want to stay here any longer.

I rose and headed towards the living room to apparate to my place before I would have to face him again.