Bigger Than Us
Chapter 37
When Hermione's match was over, Draco and Harry ran from the stands to meet their wives as they made their way to the medical treatment tent. Hermione emerged exhausted from the field entrance dragging her feet, holding a rag to her neck. When Hermione saw him, the biggest smile he had seen on her since the birth of the girls spread across her face. He engulfed her in a hug.
"Way to go champ," he whispered and kissed her.
"Blimey Hermione, is your neck all right?" Harry asked.
"Hey, what about me? My bum and a certain private part is burnt," Ginny said ruefully.
"Clever spell to make her broom too hot to sit on," Draco said quietly.
They went into the tent and Madame Pomfrey ushered the two witches to cots.
"Mrs. Potter, that cot has a cooling charm, have a seat," the nurse said. "Mrs. Malfoy, come over here to the light so I can see that thing in your neck."
The nurse examined it, and numbed the area and slowly drew out the shard, putting a bandage over it before blood spurted out.
"Hold that there while I take care of the cuts to your face," the nurse said.
The antiseptic stung a bit, and the numbing charm for from her neck was wearing off. She was given a pepper-up potion as well.
"Now, let's close the cut on your neck."
Just before ten a.m. Severus took center field as the wizard referee. Harry jogged to the center and waited for Draco. He saw Hermione give Draco a quick kiss, a swat on the behind then he strolled mid field as well. Harry extended his hand and the two shook.
"How're the girls?" Harry asked.
"They're great. Julie is eating a ton, and Jess-" Draco said before he was interrupted by Severus.
"As fascinating as this discussion must be, can it wait?" Severus asked.
"Oh, right, well...good luck," Harry said and stepped back.
They took their places back to back. The crowd hushed and listened to Severus count off the paces. At ten, Severus moved out of the way as quickly as he could. Harry and Draco rushed at each other much like Hermione and Ginny had, casting simultaneous "STUPEFY" at each other. The sound from the spells connecting mid-air was deafening. Both wizards were thrown back, stunned but not unconscious. Harry rose first, swaying as he cast "Stupefy" again at the sitting Draco. He threw up a protection charm and grunted as felt the hex hit the shield.
Damn that's strong! Draco thought.
He jumped up and conjured a stream of ice to shoot from his wand at Harry. Harry responded with a stream of fire, causing a stunning display as the fire met ice. Hundreds of cameras flashed around the stadium catching the moment. The arms of both the wizards were shaking as they struggled to hold the streams. Harry broke first, catching the stream of ice in the chest, knocking him on his back. Damn that's strong! he thought.
Harry immediately cast a protego when he hit the ground, just in time to deflect Draco's relentless volley of "EXPELLIARMUS, STUPEFY, EXPELLIARMUS!"
Hermione was on her feet, cheering Draco on. He was doing great, matching Harry's power. Harry could see Draco tiring after that volley of powerful hexes. He thrust his wand as shouted "AGUAMENTI!" Draco wasn't expecting this and had to pause his incantations to do something about the water coming his way. Harry followed him with the stream of water, losing sight of him for a few seconds, giving Draco time to apparate. He appeared behind Harry, shouted "ACCIO HARRY'S GLASSES!"
"What the hell?" Harry exclaimed when his glasses left his face. He was in trouble now, he literally couldn't see straight without them and everything was a blur.
"ACCIO DRACO MALFOY!" Harry shouted.
Draco felt himself being pulled toward Harry, unable to stop, bracing for the impact with him.
Maybe taking his glasses wasn't such a good idea! he thought.
All Harry saw was a mass coming at him. Without his glasses, his depth perception was nonexistent.
Maybe summoning him wasn't such a good idea! he thought.
"OOF!DAMMIT!WATCH IT!" was heard as the two wizards collided. Knees hit ribs and chins hit lips as the two fell in a tangled mess of limbs to the ground.
Draco muttered the "Solaris" wand charm to make his wand glow to blind Harry long enough for him to get away. Harry wildly cast a tripping jinx toward the direction of where he heard Draco breathing. He heard a "SHITE!" and knew it connected. When he heard Draco hit the ground, he shouted "ACCIO GLASSES!" to try and get them back. He had no chance without them.
When Draco felt Harry's glasses slip from his back pocket, he apparated again. Harry slipped his glasses on and looked up to see nothing except five minutes left in the match on the clock. Next, he heard "DIFFINDO" from behind and felt his pants fall to the ground.
Leave it to Malfoy to pull such a stunt! Harry thought.
Again, hundreds of cameras flashed around the stadium to catch a picture of Harry and his boxers that said "Ride This Broom!" across the front and back.
In the stands, Ginny was laughing so hard she had a hard time catching her breath.
"Why did he have to wear those of all days!" she sputtered.
Only Draco would pull such a stunt! Hermione thought, but it really was the best form of distraction she could think of, or Draco rather.
"LEVICORPUS!" Harry yelled and Draco found himself hanging upside down. He cast a back-firing jinx in addition to a protego for whatever Harry was going to send his way.
"LANGLOCK!" Harry shouted, but the jinx backfired, coming right back at him. To his horror, he couldn't speak, but Draco could. He saw the savior of the Wizarding Worldworld standing there in his boxers, unable to say a word and knew he could win. He could fell the blood rushing to his head from hanging upside down for so long and was dizzy and cast a "stupefy" but missed.
"Damn!" he shouted as the spell harmlessly hit the ground.
Harry dodged the next three hexes sent his way but could do nothing when he heard "ACCIO HARRY POTTER" and was pulled off the ground toward the hanging Draco. Harry heard "STUPEFY" then heard nothing. Draco saw Harry fall to the ground stupefied.
"MATCH OVER MALFOY WINS!"
Severus ran to the field and lowered Draco to the ground. He looked to the clock and saw nine seconds left on it. The roaring from the crowd was deafening. Cameras again flashed and Hermione ran to the field toward him.
"Well done Draco," Severus said and helped him to his feet. He revived Harry and saw Hermione fly into Draco's arms.
"We did it!" she squealed and kissed him.
"We sure did," Draco said.
"Damn good match Draco," Harry said from behind and extended his hand. Draco straightened, bowed to Harry then shook his hand. The crowd roared in approval at his gracious manner of triumph. Arthur and Albus walked onto the field with the trophies. Arthur handed Hermione her trophy, then Draco his and the two held them aloft, giving the crowd time to catch the moment with their cameras.
"Leaving so soon Madame?" Albus asked Narcissa. Dozens were gathered in he Great Hall for the party.
"Yes, this celebration is for the winners, I'm tired," she said. "This is my last outing for a while, I start bed rest tomorrow and Lucius is eager to hear of the outcome of today's matches."
"Shall I escort you home mother?" Draco asked.
"No need Draco, enjoy your party."
"I'll at least walk with you to the floo."
Hermione watched Draco leave with his mother and resumed her conversation with Albus, Severus and Kathy. Albus was performing their marriage ceremony in his office the next day at noon.
"Got everything moved yet?" Hermione asked. Severus was taking the option of not living at Hogwarts, actually welcoming the chance to get out of the dungeons and living in a home with the woman he loved and his child on the way.
"You should see how different the den looks, Severus made it all his own," Kathy said. "However, I do believe his raven is not too fond of the move."
"I shall have a chat with him," Severus said and the group laughed.
"Have you decided where to honeymoon?" Hermione asked.
"Since it coincides with the beginning of term, we opted to go on honeymoon during the Yule holiday," Severus said.
"And I'm closing the deal on the new office," Kathy said. "The new equipment will be arriving next week as well."
"You're together, that's what matters," Hermione said.
"What matters?" Draco asked, joining the conversation.
"Being together," Hermione said.
"Like our trophies, together on display in the parlor?" Draco asked.
"No way, mine is going in my classroom," Hermione said. "That feels weird to say."
"Just wait until you are facing a room full of dunderheads whose only concern is their date for the next Hogsmeade visit, rather than your class," Severus said. "Weird won't describe it. I live for the day you give a detention to a Gryffindor."