Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development.
M rating for sexual content anticipated in year 4.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
**Sorry for the long wait on this chapter. The past week has been very taxing and I could not find the time to write. I am only getting started, so don't worry. More chapters are coming. 😊
The Doting Rival
Chapter 11
The following week, Slytherin narrowly beat Ravenclaw at Quidditch. Wood had new found hope at the prospects of winning the Quidditch Cup. If Gryffindor were to beat Ravenclaw in the next match, they would be put in second place. He increased practices to five times a week to ensure the team would be ready.
Adelyn was becoming increasingly frustrated as February drew near. She was still stuck with the ancient school broom that could barely keep up with the rest of the team. She had somehow managed to catch the snitch this practice, but it painstakingly took a lot of time. She groaned as she placed it in the Quidditch trunk.
"Still haven't heard about your broom yet, Adelyn?" Fred asked placing his hand on her shoulder in comfort.
"No!" Adelyn hung her head in defeat. "I'm sure Professor McGonagall is avoiding me seeing as I bring it up every time I talk to her." She hung her head in defeat.
"Bad news, Adelyn," Wood interjected. He had just finished placing the Quaffle in the trunk. "I spoke with Professor McGonagall before practice about the Firebolt. She, uh. . . got very short with me. She thinks I care more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive." He rolled his eyes.
"I asked her how much longer it would take. She told me "as long as necessary" . . . I think it's time you ordered a new broom, Adelyn." He shrugged up his shoulders at the suggestion.
"I've got a copy of Which Broomstick. It should have an order form in the back I can give you." Fred pipped up.
"Thanks, Fred. I guess I should seriously consider it now." Adelyn was still a bit reluctant, hoping she would get the Firebolt back soon.
Adelyn was exhausted. With five Quidditch practices a week and anti-dementor lessons once a week, she had only one day to complete all her homework. It wouldn't be so bad being tired constantly if she were at least excelling in one of those aspects.
Anti-dementor lessons were not going as well as she had hoped. After several sessions, she was able to produce a silver shadow consistently, but it didn't deter the dementor. Instead, it would create a barrier that allowed the dementor to remain hovering in place, draining her of energy as she continued to concentrate on the spell.
"Even an indistinct Patronus is a huge achievement for a fourteen-year-old witch." Lupin was trying to be encouraging. "Don't expect too much of yourself. You're not passing out anymore, are you?"
"No, I'm not. Thank you, Professor." Adelyn gave a half smirk.
"Same time next week, then." Lupin smiled and handed her some Honeydukes chocolate.
"Same time next week. Good night."
Adelyn dragged her feet as she walked wearily through the corridors. She was thankful for the sweets. She still couldn't understand why chocolate helped after meeting a dementor.
As she was examining her chocolate, she was suddenly halted by hands gripping both of her upper arms. She gasped from the startling touch and looked up to the face of Draco Malfoy.
"Do you always have a habit of literally running into people, or is it just me?" Malfoy looked at her with one raised eyebrow and a half smirk.
"Malfoy! I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."
Malfoy noticed her cheeks began to flush with embarrassment. He loved making her blush. "Might I suggest you do so before you get yourself hurt?" he teased.
He reluctantly released his grip. It was a good sign that she didn't push him away, but best not to push his luck just yet.
Adelyn chuckled in response. "Well, that is a good suggestion."
"What did I just hear?" Malfoy feigned surprise, dramatically slapping his hand to his chest and gapping open his mouth. "Adelyn Potter actually agreeing with me? I've seen it all!"
Adelyn's smile slowly morphed into that of worry. "What happened to your hand?" The hand on his chest had a purple bruise across the top. It was a solid thick line spanning the entire width.
"Oh! Uh, it's nothing." Draco quickly hid it behind his back and looked down.
"Draco . . ." Adelyn held out her hand.
He looked up and met her soft pleading green eyes. She just said my name. He found himself melting, conforming to her request. Draco placed his hand in hers.
Adelyn gently traced the bruise with her fingers. "This looks very symmetrical. . ."
"Yea, well, a cane is usually quite straight," he responded quietly.
"Your father did this?" Adelyn was genuinely appalled.
"He told me there would be consequences if I brought up the trial again." Draco shrugged as if to suggest it was not a big deal.
"That's terrible of him to do to you! Here." Adelyn rummaged through her bag for a moment and pulled out a small glass jar. She opened the lid to reveal a blue tinged ointment.
"What's that?"
"Bruisewort Balm. It will heal your bruise." She began to rub a thin layer onto his hand.
Draco relished the touch. Her hands were very soft, like the flower petals in his mother's garden. She was so gentle, he didn't even wince in pain. He could not recall a time when anyone acted with such kindness to him.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Adelyn blushed in reply. It was difficult for Draco to hide his disappointment as she released his hand. "I'm happy I could help. After all, this is a result of your helping me with the trial."
"Unsuccessfully, you might add."
"We'll just have to work hard on a defense, then."
"We?" Draco liked the sound of that.
"Since you're so determined to prove yourself, better to do so in a manner that won't get yourself hurt." Adelyn mimicked his remark from earlier.
Draco chuckled. "Alright. I submit." He put both his hands up in surrender.
"Good. Cuz I don't have any more energy tonight to fight you on it." The adrenaline from running into Draco had finally worn off and Adelyn was feeling the exhaustion from her lesson. Her body became slightly slumped and her eyes heavier.
"Not getting much sleep again?" Draco recalled her struggles from Christmas holiday. He still wondered what had caused her such distress.
"Not enough time. Too many lessons and Quidditch practices. Which reminds me! I still have some homework I need to finish before class tomorrow."
"Ah. Sorry to have kept you." Draco stepped aside, opening her path down the corridor.
"Well, have a good night, Draco." She gave him one last smile as she walked away.
"Good night, Adelyn," he called softly after her.
As Adelyn approached the Gryffindor Tower, she saw Neville pleading with Sir Cadogan. He was the only one willing to replace The Fat Lady after he encounter with Sirius Black. Unfortunately, he was not as easy to work with.
"A likely tale!" roared Sir Cadogan, taking a defensive stance pointing his sword at Neville. "Ah, good even, my fine lady," he said as he spotted Adelyn. "Come clap this offender in irons. He is trying to force entry within!"
"I've lost the passwords," Neville explained to her. "I wrote them down - they were changing so often - and now I don't know what I've done with them!"
"Oddsbodikins," Adelyn said to Sir Cadogan. He reluctantly swung open the portrait.
"Thanks, Adelyn." Neville said with relief as the pair entered the common room.
"Don't mention it. But you might want to find that list."
"Right. Will do." Neville scurried off to the boy's dormitory.
"Adelyn!" Hermione called from across the room. "Where have you been?" She had promised to help Adelyn with her homework after her lesson with Lupin.
"I'm sorry. I got held up." Adelyn crossed the common room and sat in the empty seat at the table. She leaned towards Hermione whispering, "And you'll never guess by who."
The following week, the Gryffindor Tower was buzzing with events. It led with Ron and Hermione. Ron had made quite the scene yelling that Scabbers had gone missing. He flailed his blood-stained bedsheet at Hermione, adamant Crookshanks had killed him. It was a never-ending battle between the two. To be honest, Adelyn agreed with Ron. But she was avoiding getting in the middle at all cost.
As the whole common room was in silence over the spectacle, Professor McGonagall's entrance was noticed with ease. In her hands she carried Adelyn's Firebolt. "Ah, Ms. Potter." She strode across the room to meet her.
"Here it is. We've done everything we could think of, and there is nothing wrong with it." He eyebrows were raised in disbelief. "You've got a very good friend somewhere. . ."
Adelyn's jaw dropped. She was looking at the broom in awe, slowly raising her arms to grab hold of it. "Seriously? I can have it back?"
Professor McGonagall smiled. "Seriously." She relinquished the Firebolt to its rightful owner. "You may want to get a feel for it before Saturday's match. And Potter – DO try and win, won't you? Professor Snape was kind enough to remind me we have been out of the running for the past seven years. . ."
As she made her exit, the entire room filled with excited murmurs. Adelyn was surrounded by people exclaiming over her Firebolt.
"Wow! Where'd you get it, Adelyn?"
"Can I have a go?"
"Ravenclaw won't stand a chance!"
After a few minutes of passing the Firebolt around to be admired, the crowd dispersed. Adelyn and Ron had a clear view of Hermione, the only person who hadn't rushed over to them. She was bent over her work avoiding their eyes.
Adelyn approached her saying, "I got it back." She was grinning, holding the broom up for her to see.
"At least you know it's safe -"
"See Hermione?" Ron interrupted. "There wasn't anything wrong with it!" He was still upset with her.
"Well, there MIGHT have been!" Hermione snapped back.
"Well, there wasn't! You're not always right, you know."
"Fine. Everything is my fault, then. You know – just leave me be. I have work to do." She gathered up her books and left the tower.
"Ron!" Adelyn scolded him with her eyes.
"What?"
"A bit harsh of you, don't you think?"
"Harsh is letting your pet eat another one." Ron ended the conversation by storming off in the opposite direction.
Adelyn was growing tiresome of this continued tension and hostility. She was eager for practice later tonight to get a reprieve and relish her new broom. In the meantime, there was class to be had.
During Transfiguration, Draco had cast a locomotion charm on a note folded in the shape of a paper bird. He sent it subtly to Adelyn, avoiding attracting any unwanted attention.
Meet me after class. - D.M.
Adelyn glanced up to find Draco waiting for a response. She gave a small nod indicating she agreed. He smiled subtly before continuing with his work.
At the end of class, Adelyn dawdled packing her bag, giving the other students time to leave before her. Upon exiting the class room, she searched back and forth across the hallway to find Draco peering from around the corner. He waved her over.
Draco noticed her hips sway back and forth as she walked towards him. Her jumper fit snuggly like a glove, accentuating her small waist from her large breasts. They bounced with each step she took. Don't stare. Don't stare. He cleared his throat as she approached.
"Hey, Draco. What are we meeting for?" Adelyn's eyebrows were bunched in curiosity.
Hearing her speak helped him refocus his thoughts. "I, uh, have something for you." He withdrew a few books from his bag. "I've been doing some research in the library and found a couple cases on magical creatures I thought could help with the trial."
He passed each one to her separately, identifying the individual page tabs he marked. "This one was a case in 1722 against a hippogriff. It was convicted, but maybe it could give some insight on court that could be beneficial. And this one – this one involved a manticore in 1296. Oh –- this one might be most helpful. . ."
Adelyn was only half listening. She was surprised, to say the least. Draco Malfoy had genuinely researched a defense for Buckbeak's trial. She felt a flutter in her chest while she gapped at him as he continued his tangent.
"-Adelyn?" Draco caught her staring at him, but in a way he was not used to. She looked as though she was lost in wonder, fully observing the sight before her. Her expression was soft, a small smile creeping up the corners of her mouth. Such plump, pink lips. Draco suddenly desired pulling her against him to kiss those lips. What am I thinking?
"Oh! Uh – sorry." Adelyn's eyes fluttered as she examined the books now stacked in her hands. "You – you did all this research?"
"I was hoping to find more than I did, but -"
"This is fantastic!" She pulled the books close to her chest.
"Let me know if you need something different. I'm sure I have some contacts I could utilize."
"Really, this is more than I expected. Thank you. . .Draco." Her smile was now full.
"You're welcome." He shuffled his feet not knowing what else to say.
"Shall we. . . go to the Great Hall for lunch?"
"Together?" Draco asked.
Adelyn chuckled. "Who else would I be talking to?"
"Oh, uh, right." He smirked. "Lunch. Yea, let's go."