A/Ns at end of the chapter.

Forgive my errors.  I am never going to fix them and I really don't care enough right now to read over the chapter and fix what I catch.

DISCLAIMER: I am not JK Rowling and the world of Harry Potter does not belong to me. I wish it did, but it doesn't. I am making no money off this trifle of a story.

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"He's going home with you?" Ron asked, trying not to laugh at what Harry had just told him but it was far too funny and Ron was soon falling over with laughter.  "He's going back to the Dursleys?  Draco Malfoy?  In a muggle home?  A muggle home like the Dursleys where they even lock away your magic things?"  Ron burst into a second fit of giggles.

"It isn't funny, Ron," said Harry.  He was sitting in the Gryffindor common room with Ron and Hermione just after returning from his meeting with the headmaster.  "Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia are going to skin me alive, or at least they would but Dumbledore is saying we have special permission to use our wands.  They'll be too afraid of Draco hexing them as I'm sure he'll threaten before the first day is even over.  I mean, Draco.  Draco Malfoy.  Living with muggles."

"You do admit that there's a humorous side to it, though, don't you?" said Hermione.  "I mean, this is Draco Malfoy, he who thought he was the king of all that is pureblood.  The one who repeatedly mocked Ron's family for caring so much and being so fascinated by the muggles.  He's constantly going on about how they shouldn't let muggle-born students into Hogwarts and now he's going to have to go back to live with muggles.  Put aside the worry factor that your aunt and uncle are going to birth a cow when they find out and focus on the funny part of it."

Harry's lips twitched into a grin.  "It is rather funny, isn't it?  I mean, Draco is the same Malfoy that's been calling you a mudblood all these years and ripping on Ron's father for the Muggle Protection Act.  And it shouldn't be that bad when I go back, at least until after Draco leaves because Dumbledore wouldn't send both Draco and I back unless he thought there would be trouble.  He's guaranteeing that the Dursleys can't give me trouble.  It should be rather nice to have someone there with me when I'm feeling very unimportant."

"You see," said Hermione, "it won't be bad.  The headmaster will guarantee that things will go smoothly for both you and Draco and when the Dursleys get especially unbearable, you'll have Draco around to pick you back up again."

"Oh they're just going to love this new side of me," mumbled Harry.  "I can already picture my uncle turning a very distinctive shade of red when he finds out that I ended up with a boyfriend of all things to bring home."

"You can't choose who you love, Harry," said Ron.  "I fell in love with Hermione.  You were unfortunate enough to fall in love with Malfoy.  I bet even at one time someone was really unfortunate enough to love Snape."  Ron gave a visible shudder at this.  "I can't believe I just said that."

"I can't believe you just said that, either," said Harry.  "Talk about trying to make a point."

"Oh you two shush," said Hermione.  "You'll have to owl us this summer, Harry.  I do want to know what's going on with Draco there.  Anything he does at all that's worth mentioning, I want you to contact me immediately."

"Of course," replied Harry.  "You know, in my second year when Dobby was trying to get me to not go back to Hogwarts, I wanted to see someone from school so badly just to know it happened that I even wished I could at least see Draco.  Just to prove to myself that I was going to get away from the Dursleys when school began again.  Curious how now I'm in love with him and we're going back there together.  I wonder how Dudley is going to take this."

"Why do you say that?" said Ron.  "Who cares what that pompous overgrown pig in a wig thinks?"

"You think he looks like a pig in a wig, too?" said Harry, trying not to laugh at the fact that Ron had exactly pin pointed what he thought of Dudley.  Ron nodded.  "I was just saying because when I first met Draco, I got this distinct impression that they were both very similar.  At least because they were both these blond creatures that ended up being bullies.  Dudley is used to pushing people, me especially, around and Draco won't stand for that.  Draco is used to pushing people around and while not me, he will probably fall into the habit with my aunt and uncle.  We'll be very lucky if we leave the Dursleys with only one visit by the ministry to administer memory charms to the neighbors."

"You think Draco would do something?" said Hermione.

"I think the Dursleys are neurotic when it comes to avoiding the neighbors and having them find where I spend a good portion of my year.  If they warn Draco not to tell them-"

"I'm way ahead of you," said Ron, laughing again.  "I can just see him sitting on Privet Drive sipping tea and telling your neighbors all about Hogwarts.  Oh Harry this is going to be too good to miss.  I wish I could come along just to see it for my own eyes."

"I'll take pictures if you want me to," offered Harry and Ron nodded.  "Now as much as I'd love to sit here with you both all night, I need to get to sleep.  We have Quidditch practice in the morning, you know."

Ron groaned and nodded, following Harry out of the room and toward the Gryffindor dormitory for the night.

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After a week back at school, things were getting so bad for Draco with the Slytherins that he was spending most of his time sleeping on the couch in the Gryffindor common room.  Every morning Harry had to coax him out to face not only his house, which was making it a point to make his life a living hell, but the rest of the school as well.  Since the incident at Easter, Draco was having a hard time coming to terms with his father's placement in Azkaban and the entire school was gawking whenever Draco would walk by, their eyes fastened to the spot on his forehead where the magic had hit him and he had survived, making him another Boy Who Lived.   Sometimes during the night, Harry would sleep in the common room with him, his hand clenched in Draco's and on other occasions, Draco would wake him up in the middle of the night crying.  The after affects of facing Voldemort and losing his family were weighing heavy on him and he had taken up his own little counseling session twice a week with Snape, the only teacher besides the headmaster that he really trusted.

Harry's weeks filled with studying for the O.W.L.s, Quidditch practices, and actively supporting Draco to keep on going.  The stakes for the last Quidditch game between Gryffindor and Slytherin were high and if the anticipation was high before Easter holiday, things had only escalated to a new platform since then.  Angelina was drilling them continuously and Harry was starting to get sick of Quidditch and the Snitch if only because he was seeing the ball so much.  Ron couldn't stop complaining about it, wanting to sleep in when practices were early and go back early when practices ran late.  Hermione was on everyone's case about the O.W.L.s and Harry was starting to almost look forward to the day when he would return to Privet Drive.  The sensation was a little too strange for Harry to cope with and so, in that very dire time of need, he went to visit Dobby and sure enough, the house elf and the kitchen full of food made him feel better.

If one more person stared at Draco's scar, Harry thought for sure that Draco would whip out his own wand and perform the killing curse right there.  Though he knew he shouldn't enjoy it, part of Harry thought it was cute the way Draco would get himself all worked up over something as tiny as the scar that now adorned his skin.  The line was razor thin, almost exactly like Harry's, and every time he saw it, Harry thought that he fell in love with Draco a little more.  It was a constant reminder for all the world to see that Draco loved Harry and even if Draco thought it was hideous, Harry thought that it was the most beautiful thing in the world.  Sometimes he would catch himself staring at it, or Draco would catch him first and slam his palm over it to shield it away.

One of the biggest problems for Draco, besides the ugly scar twin status, was the treatment of the Slytherin Quidditch team.  Most of them didn't believe Draco when he insisted that he would perform to the same caliber he always did, which wasn't saying much because Harry had never lost the Snitch to Draco yet and considering Draco's feelings for the Snitch, Harry didn't think he would any time soon.  Harry refused to allow Draco to quit and Snape wouldn't let Xavier Watson, the new Slytherin captain, to kick Draco off the team as he had done nothing wrong.  The Slytherins said that Draco needed to be more focused than usual as he had never caught the Snitch before Harry and they also seemed to be thinking along the same lines as the Gryffindors that he would not do so this time either.  Part of Harry wanted to give that Snitch to Draco so that his boyfriend could salvage a little dignity with his house but he remember swearing his allegiance to his team and he really did want that Cup.

When Harry woke up on the day of the game, he ran immediately to the window to see the sun shining brightly back at him, a relief on his part as it had been terribly raining for the past three days.  He dressed and went to breakfast with Ron and Hermione but barely ate a thing but a few pieces of toast.  Across the Great Hall he could see Draco going through a similar eating pattern with the Slytherin team and Harry was glad to see that at least he wasn't eating alone at the end of the table this morning.  Chatter was all around him as his fellow Gryffindors wished them luck and once again threatened Lee who promised to try to be unbiased in his commentary.  This meant that Harry could expect a comment about his relationship with Draco no more than two minutes into the game.

Angelina stood up and the rest of the team followed suit.  Leaving with the other six players of the Gryffindor team, Harry felt his stomach bumble around in his stomach as they headed for the locker rooms.  He pulled on his scarlet Quidditch robes and went to gather with his team.

"This is the big one, guys," said Angelina.  "This is the one for the Cup.  I know we can do it because this team is amazing.  Alicia and Katie, remember the tactics we were discussing at yesterday's practice."

"Of course," said Alicia.

"Ron, keep an eye on Straker.  He has a tendency to try and attack the Keepers."

"Okay."

"Fred and George, for sakes of the gods, do keep the Bludgers away from Harry and every now and then take a look at Ron.  We all know how those Slytherins like to play dirty."  Each of the players stole glances at Harry.

"We won't let Harry get hit again," George reassured.

"And Harry - well - catch that bloody Snitch if you have to throw yourself off your broom to get it.  Watson has been tormenting me for weeks about this game and I'm not about to give it up."

"I already told you I wouldn't throw the game just because of Draco," said Harry.  "I want the cup, too."

"Good.  Right then.  I guess its time."

The Gryffindor team walked out of the locker room and headed for the Quidditch pitch.  Harry's Firebolt was clasped tight in his hand, anxious feelings twisting in his stomach and making him get the distinct impression that if this game lasted for too long, Harry just may become sick.  They walked out onto the field to see the Slytherins standing there in their green Quidditch robes.  In his position on the other team, he could see Draco looking equally as sick as he felt.  Harry forced a small smile as they met in the middle of the field.

In the back of his mind, Harry could hear the usual sounds of pre-Quidditch.  The students were cheering, Gryffindors especially loud and the usual hissing from the Slytherins came when the Gryffindor team arrived on the field.  Harry shifted, his grip on his broom tightening, and he forced his mind to go to a place where things made sense because his team needed that Quidditch Cup, even if he didn't.  Now was not the time to start getting cold feet.

"Shake hands, captains," said Madam Hooch.

Angelina and Xavier Watson looked at each other, both sneering with equal distaste.  Harry saw Watson sneak a glare at him and he wondered briefly if Angelina had done the same quick inspection of Draco.  They briefly grasped hands before letting go and Harry tried not to laugh when Angelina wiped her hand off on her robes.  The players mounted their brooms and Harry gripped the Firebolt, his knuckles turning white.

"On my whistle.  Three. . .two. . .one!"

With a hard kick off the ground, Harry flew up into the air with the other players of the two teams.  Harry urged his broom forward, forcing himself to concentrate solely on looking for the Snitch and trying to ignore the fact that Draco was flying in the opposite direction, same task at hand.

"And they're off!" cried Lee in the commentary.  "There's been much anticipation over this game from the whole school as the Gryffindor Seeker and Slytherin Seeker are probably shagging but I have to try not to be biased."

"Jordan," hissed Professor McGonagall.

"What?  I didn't say anything wrong!  Oh fine.  Katie Bell is in position for Gryffindor and her pass is intercepted by Zabini of Slytherin.  Zabini passes to Watson who passes back to Zabini.  And Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor intercepts.  Bloody good job, Angelina!"

Draco angled his broom and forged downward, trying to force himself to look for the Snitch but he was already rather bored.  He knew he had promised to at least try and stay focused but whether he was against Harry or not, Draco just didn't like to look for the Snitch.  Staring up at the three Chasers for Slytherin, and then Erin Cross, a fourth year who was their Keeper, pangs of jealousy overrode him and Draco did hope that Lee would be interesting if only to keep him entertained long enough as to not fall asleep right there on his broomstick.

"Angelina Johnson passes to Alicia Spinnet and she scores through the middle hoop leaving the score at thirty to zero, Gryffindor.  Slytherin is in possession and Straker passes to captain, Xavier Watson.  Watson in possession as he heads to the Gryffindor end.  Watson passes back to Straker and Ron Weasley saves for Gryffindor.  Good job, Ron!  That's showing those Slytherin gits."

"Stay on the game, Lee."

"But Professor, the Slytherins are filthy rotten cheaters and THAT WAS DELIBERATE!  Captain Xavier Watson of Slytherin just purposely and blatantly if I do say so myself, grabbed the end of Ron Weasley's broom.  Madam Hooch rightly calls a penalty for Gryffindor.  You better get it, Katie, and show those cheaters-"

"Jordan!" shouted Professor McGonagall just as Lee went into a very long and impressive line of cuss words.

"I didn't know that many lewd and vulgar terms existed," Harry muttered to himself as he hovered a few feet above the ground on the Slytherin end looking for the Snitch.  Forging his broom ahead, Harry caught sight of Draco at the Gryffindor end, broom high up in the air, and from the looks of it, Draco was primping.  Leave it to his boyfriend to stop to fix his hair mid-game.  Harry made a sharp turn upward and began speeding toward the Gryffindor end.

"Alicia Spinnet makes a superb pass to Katie Bell.  Katie Bell in possession as she approaches the Slytherin end.  Watch out, Katie!"  Lee went into a second string of curses.  "Lousy cheating bastards."

"Jordan!"

"I'm sorry, Professor.  The Slytherins are being especially nasty cheaters today and I'm not sure if its because the Gryffindors are walking all over them and up by fifty points or if its due to the fact their Seeker is fixing his hair and paying little attention to the game.  This, of course, has nothing to do with the fact that Malfoy is snogging on a regular basis with Gryffindor's Seeker, Potter, because Malfoy can frequently be seen primping during Quidditch games."

"Would you stick to the game for a change, Lee?"

"I never did before, why start now?" mused Lee.  Harry thought it was a rather wise comeback for a change.  As he flew past the Slytherins on the way to the Gryffindor end, Harry could hear them swearing about Draco and his need to look nice.

Draco scowled as he leaned forward and clutched his broom, making a sharp turn down and looking for the Snitch again.  He couldn't help his hair became messy and he wouldn't be able to worry about it if he were actually doing something instead of flying in circles while looking for a ball that had a personal grudge against him.  All he wanted was for Lee to provide entertainment and that did not include ridiculing him and his need to primp due to extreme boredom.

"Still no sign of the Snitch and the scores at one-twenty to fifty, Gryffindor," said Lee.  "Either the Snitch is being very elusive, its being missed in all the commotion from the obvious and blatant cheating of the Slytherin gits or both Potter and Malfoy are having a hard time catching the Snitch and beating each other."

"Lee Jordan if you do not focus on the game I will have to revoke your duties."

"Come now, Professor.  Everyone knows that Malfoy's a Boy Who Lived now.  Showed back up at school with the scar and everything.  What everyone doesn't know is that the Gryffindors, and myself especially, are getting an especially close up of that scar because Malfoy's been sleeping in Gryffindor's common room since the Slytherins kicked him out."

"Jordan, the game?"

"Oh yes, well Straker is in possession and a nice save by George Weasley who just knocked that Bludger away from hitting Angelina Johnson's broom.  Ron Weasley saves and the score is still one-forty to seventy with the Snitch nowhere to be found.  And THAT WAS DELIBERATE!  Straker just flew into Ron Weasley, almost knocking him off his broom, and is immediately hit by a Bludger.  Don't mess the Gryffindor Beaters' littler brother.  Nice aim by Fred Weasley."

Draco almost laughed thinking of that fool Morgan Straker attacking Ron Weasley and getting hit with a Bludger for it by Ron's brother.  That was one of the good things about being Seeker and primping most of the time was that the Beaters on the other teams rarely counted him as a target since he wasn't really considered to be a threat.  As he flew, straining his eyes as he looked for the Snitch, Draco ran his finger over his scar and cursed at Lee mentioning not only his rendezvous in the common room but the blemish on his forehead.

Meanwhile, Harry was coming the air close to the ground again, looking for any flicker of gold that could possibly be the Snitch.  This was really getting ridiculous and Harry needed to find that Snitch before Malfoy did.  By points, Gryffindor was ahead of Slytherin by thirty before today's game and if Gryffindor could get their score up by one hundred and thirty points, Draco could catch the Snitch, they could win the match, but Gryffindor would still get the cup.  Harry, however, didn't want to get comfortable for fear of losing the Cup and he urged his Firebolt upward.

"And the Snitch is still in hiding as captain Angelina Johnson takes a penalty shot for Gryffindor because the Slytherins are rotten cheating prats.  Angelina makes it and the score is now one seventy to eighty, Gryffindor.  The Gryffindors are wiping the floor with the gits in Slytherin and if the Slytherin Seeker, Malfoy, would stop obsessing over his scar, maybe his team would win."

"Lee Jordan you leave Draco Malfoy alone this instant," commanded Professor McGonagall.

"Sorry, Professor, but he doesn't even like being out there.  His daddy bought him onto the team with Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones.  They're good brooms but they're nothing compared to the Firebolt that the Gryffindor Seeker, Potter,'s got."

Draco was starting to get irritated with the length of this game.  He was sure that this was one of the longest Quidditch games he had ever played in and he hoped that Harry would just find the Snitch soon and get over it.  Another part of him wished the Snitch would come around and tease him just to reaffirm that it was, indeed, out there and waiting to be caught.

If Draco was getting irritated with the game still going, Harry was even more irritated at not having even caught a glimpse of said Snitch.  He was beginning to get a headache from how hard he was staring around the field as he tried to find the ball.  Lee was only making things worse but at least Harry was having something to laugh at, though it did very little for helping him to forget that Draco was out there on the field with him.

"The scores at two-ten to ninety, Gryffindor, and the Slytherins are giving Gryffindor even more reasons to take penalty shots.  Captain Xavier Watson is out for blood as he passes to Straker and Angelina Johnson intercepts Straker's pass to Zabini.  Gryffindor in possession and Angelina passes to Alicia Spinnet.  Erin Cross of Slytherin misses and the score is now two-twenty to ninety, Gryffindor.  All right, Alicia!"

Harry got the distinct impression that though Professor McGonagall was happy with the way this game was going, she was rolling her eyes at Lee.

"And once again, Draco Malfoy of Slytherin is primping at the Slytherin end.  If you'd look for the Snitch, that would double the chances of the game ending," cried Lee.  "YOU ROTTEN SLYTHERIN BASTARDS!"  Both Lee and Professor McGonagall were cursing and from what Harry could gather, Katie Bell had just been knocked off her broom by one of the Beaters who had used his bat on her.   "And Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor calls a time out."

Harry flew over to meet up with his team.  "What's up?"

"We're wiping the Slytherins clean but what's going on, Harry?" asked Angelina.  Harry shifted.

"I'm looking.  I really am.  I swear I'm not throwing this away.  I just can't seem to see the Snitch."

"Fine.  Katie?  Are you okay to continue?"

Katie rubbed at her arm.  "I'm fine."

"Good.  Ron, keep watching out.  Straker keeps going for your broom and that last time he almost knocked you off."

With the whistle, the game was back in session and Harry was more determined than ever to find that Snitch and catch it.

Flying a lazy circle around the Quidditch pitch, Draco yawned and watched his captain foul Alicia Spinnet.  If Lee Jordan were to catch him like this, he'd surely have something to say about the lazy Slytherin Seeker who wasn't looking for the Snitch but after all the attacks, Draco didn't care much anymore.  The score was now two-sixty to one hundred, the Gryffindors one hundred and sixty points in the lead, and even if Draco caught the Snitch, they'd still lose the match and the cup.  He saw no point in paying attention anymore.

"Watch out, Katie, that's a Bludger!" cried Lee.  "Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor in possession.  Those cheating Slytherins just fouled Angelina Johnson and she scores leaving the score at two-seventy to one hundred, Gryffindor.  Good job, Angelina.  Make them pay for that!"

Slicking back a piece of his hair, Draco ran a finger over his scar with his other hand.

Harry forged his broom down in a sharp angle, throwing himself forward and scanning frantically for the Snitch.

Picking at the dirt beneath his nails, Draco listened to Lee curse out his team.  He was just about to work on fixing his robes when a flint of gold came into vision.  Looking up, Draco saw the Snitch hovering no more than an arm's length in front of his face.  Reaching out, Draco closed his fingers around the ball and hearing the whistle, he was jerked out of his dazed and confused moment.

"I don't believe it,"cried Lee in the commentary.  "Slytherin's Seeker, Draco Malfoy, caught the Snitch.  One hundred and fifty points go to Slytherin leaving the final score at two-eighty to two-fifty, Gryffindor, and Gryffindor wins the Cup."

Harry halted his Firebolt, eyes wide.  They had won the cup but. . .Draco caught the Snitch?  He landed on the ground, ran to meet his cheering team who was proudly holding the cup.

"Draco caught the Snitch?" Harry spit out, sounding disgusted.  Ron laughed.

"Yeah but who cares.  We still won the Cup," replied Angelina, giving him a hug.

"I care," bit Harry.  "I can't believe that Malfoy git caught the Snitch."

Angelina ruffled his hair.  "There's always next year, Harry."

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For those who like darker fics with humor and fluff thrown in there, my new story 'Falling' will probably have its first chapter up on Friday.  Please go check it out and hey, send your friends as well.

Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews to the story.  Just FYI, Draco was never meant to die in this story so for those who thought it was a good plot idea, it would have been but it was not the direction I ever considered taking it in.


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