A/N: Now, this is my favorite chapter!!! I just think it has more action to
it and y'know..all that stuff you use to praise yourself when no one else
is reviewing you. *sniff* Puh-lease review, wonderful people!!! And if you
like it, please try to recommend me to other people! I am really getting
low nowadays. HO-HUM!!! Thanks again for all those who reviewed especially
Lil!
Disclaimer: All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot, which is mine!!
Chapter 11-The Quidditch Match Mishap
The day of the Quidditch match, everyone on the breakfast table was eating rather faster than they would have done on regular days. Neville Longbottom kept dropping his spoon nervously with a loud clank and Ron was making it a habit to keep knocking his glass every five minutes. But no one looked nearly as apprehensive as Harry.
"Harry, come on, eat something. This match will be fine." Hermione piped offering him a treacle tart. A loud crash told them that Ron had finally managed to knock his glass over the table. He was looking pale and his eyes were dug in deep as if he wasn't able to get any sleep last night.
"Ron-the game plan-trash." Harry blurted out without thinking. He hadn't meant to break his trick yet but he just couldn't stand Ron looking so tense and disoriented. It was infectious.
Ron looked at him incredulously. He hadn't understood a thing Harry said but it made him feel better to know that he was speaking to him again.
"Harry, really sorry..been stupid.."
"It's okay."
"You too Hermione-sorry."
"Fine."
After that, they all felt a bit better. But before they could say anything more, Professor McGonagall signaled them to get outside for the match. Harry finally left his seat were his bum was getting numb at the moment, to head to the field. And as soon as he went outside, the bustle of the crowd filled his ears. He saw Madam Hooch call Albertine and him to the center of the field. He staggered to her and managed to get into a clumsy handshake with Albertine. For a fleeting moment, Harry realized that he still couldn't feel his fingers.
"Mount your brooms."
Harry raised himself to his Firebolt and immediately, warmth spread to his hands and limbs. His nervousness drained away as he looked determinedly at the cheating team captain of Slytherin. They just got to win this match.
"And up they go! And there we see Harry Potter, Gryffindor's golden seeker, flying high with-is that Malfoy out there? Uh-huh. We can see it. He's closely being guarded by Slytherin seeker, Draco Malfoy." boomed the voice of Harry's bunkmate, Dean Thomas.
Harry whipped hair out of his face and saw that Dean was right. Flying just below him was Draco, looking more murderous than ever. He tried turning to the left but Draco was flying too close to him and there wasn't much space.
"Malfoy, get off my tail!"
But Draco merely bore him with his fixed stare. He was focusing hard on Harry's every move to keep him from getting the snitch. He didn't care whether he had to get the snitch before Slytherin scored ahead. He just had to get it before Potter did.
"We don't know what's wrong with the Slytherin seeker, but it seems like he's planning to stick around Harry 'till the end of the match! Is that cheating or what?" Dean boomed.
Harry turned sharply downward. Then in circles. Then throughout the length of the field. But all the time he could feel the swish of Draco's Nimbus 3000 in his tail.
"What is wrong with him? Did he think he could possibly jeopardize my catch of the snitch by flying next to me?" Harry thought, irked. Draco was being harder to avoid than obby's mad bludger.
"Brown scores, Gryffindor leads by thirty points! We don't know what's been going on but Slytherin seemed to have lost its fang."
When he heard this, Harry darted his eyes on the game below. He instantly noticed that the Slytherin players were moving in strange circles and lopsided arcs. No one was even guarding Lavender when she scored her third quaffle in a row.
"Forty points to Gryffindor! Lavender is showing some moves there and Slytherin..they're still with their-er-unique routine."
Harry spotted Albertine, the Slytherin keeper, barking out orders to his teamates as the fifth quaffle passed easily at his side. And the Slytherins players, all dumbfounded at yet another Gryffindor goal, straggled back on their strange formation. Harry watched them carefully. Then as if somebody lit a match in his head, he realized what they were up to. They were trying to follow his stupid game plan! He recognized those formations in the sketch plan that Albertine stole.
Harry wasn't able to stop himself from laughing. But just as he did, he heard a very familiar hissing from below him.
"Nice smile there, Potter. All this is turning out to be so amusing to you, huh?" The glaring face of Draco came into view. He was piercing Harry a look of hatred a bit higher in intensity than the usual.
Harry was quite alarmed to see him without the regular sneer in his face. Draco looked dead serious without them and his face wasn't a very nice sight.
"Something got to you, Malfoy? Why the long face?"
"Let's just say something really did. But you can't know about that now, eh Potter? Since your head is already too big for you to see anything beyond your pretty scar."
Without thinking, Harry instinctually darted his gaze at a particular spot in the stands. And Draco, curious to know if he had spotted the snitch, followed his look. And squinting hard, he recognized a familiar brown haired girl.
Harry watched Draco's gaze lock at the Hermione in the stands.
"I was right. Draco fancies Hermione!" thought Harry when something gold went past Draco's head. And with the flick of the eye, Harry started for it, breaking in a deep dive.
"Whoa! I think Harry Potter just spotted the evasive snitch and he's bound to get it if he could manage to get out of that close trail Malfoy has set for him."
Harry tried to fly faster but Draco was still on his heels. Then he started hovering up and down to slowly decrease his speed as they were already approaching the ground at an uncontrollable velocity. But when he glanced beneath him, Harry noticed that Draco was still drawing towards the snitch in the same deep, dangerous dive.
"Draco, get up or you'll crash to the ground!"
"Shut your big mouth, Potter!"
Harry looked malevolently Draco. He was crazy! He was going to crash, for sure but he wouldn't listen.
"Goddamit, Draco! I mean it, you're going too fast!"
But Draco still speeded forward, his arms outstretched to the golden snitch which was flying mere inches beyond him. The only control now that he had of his broom was his legs, which were tightly clutching it.
"I'm going to have you even if it kills me. No way way will Potter get to you.never!" Draco kept repeating to himself as he locked his gaze at the golden snitch. He had never wanted to have something this bad before. And without really knowing why, he started having visions of Narcissa. He saw her crouched at their garden swing, weeping softly for his father-Lucius. The scenes kept rolling in his mind like an old movie. He recalled the day when he heard them arguing loudly about where to send him to school. His mother wanted him for Hogwarts which was far nearer but Lucius wanted him for Durmstrang-out of reach and out of sight. Then he wanted him in the League without any explanation or whatsoever. His best guess was that his father was hoping he'd get killed in the crossfire and he loathed him for it but it brought him something good-Hermione. Her chestnut eyes which were always glaring at him.her hair and her smile-sending waves of cheery warmth to his cold heart.
"What a scene we're having here! Potter and Malfoy are flying at unbelievably fast velocities! Malfoy is leading and Potter is hovering above him. Oh, my! They're almost at the ground now....Malfoy is still flying at a very dangerous speed.I think he's going to crash...."
And moments later, Dean's guess was confirmed.
"Holy crap! Did you see that?! The Sytherin seeker just crashed head first to the ground! Holy crap! That was such a bad crash, somebody get there now!!!" Dean shrieked to as everyone at the stands stood up looking horrified.
Harry was the first who found Draco at the ground, motionless. He quickly felt for his pulse.
"He can't possibly be dead!" he thought, alarmed.
He had seen him crash to the ground and Draco just managed to prop his right arm on the ground which snapped with an ugly sound to prevent his weight from landing entirely on his head. But nonetheless, his crash was a very bad one. Harry saw him roll four times on his back before landing at a strange angle on the dust, his broom 'Narcissa' wrecked in two pieces beside him.
"Hermione.."
"Draco, can you hear me?" Harry asked, his ear an inch away from Draco's face. Did he just hear him speak?
Harry watched his colorless face. It was a really scary sight and so-real. Then just as he was turning Draco's back to a better angle, something gold fluttered in the air.
"Oh, my God! Get the boy, right now!" came the voice of Minerva McGonagall who finally arrived on the grounds with Severus Snape. They hurried to where Harry was still holding Draco and Madam Pomfrey immediately checked Draco's wrist.
"He's alive." he thought he heard her say.
Right after Draco was propped up on a floating stretch, he instinctually dashed up in the air and clutched the snitch which was fluttering clumsily a few feet above him. He noticed that its wings were a little dismantled.
"Professor, the snitch.." he called out to Professor McGonagall who looked wearily back at him.
"Oh, well done, Harry."
"No. I mean, Draco got the snitch. Look at its wings-Draco flattened it to the ground when he crashed. He got it first."
Professor McGonagall looked incredulously at Harry. Then she started speaking in a very explanative tone,
"No, Potter. You got it. The boy passed out before he got hold of the snitch..."
"B-But..He flattened it to the ground. I couldn't have gotten it otherwise." Harry was saying when the booming voice of Dean Thomas came again.
"Oh, I think we see it-the snitch. Potter got the snitch, it's a Gryffindor victory everyone! What an incredible match-with a truly surprising twist! And oh, the Slytherin seeker will be fine, he is currently being propped up a stretcher to Madam Pomfrey's care. We could expect to see him up and about in no time." Dean announced as the Gryffindor cheers drowned the Slytherin groans.
Harry couldn't believe how unfair the decision was. Draco got the snitch first-God, he almost died for it!"
"Professor Snape!" Harry called out to the greasy haired professor who was administering the carrying of Draco. Snape turned to look at him with sharp, menacing eyes.
"What could you possibly want, Potter?"
"Professor, Malfoy got the snitch first. He fell on it and dismantled its wings. I merely snatched it hovering above him. It's really his. He got it first." Harry stammered furiously, handing over the slightly strangling snitch to Snape.
Snape narrowed his eyes maliciously at Harry as though he was waiting for him to spill out some nasty joke. But Harry merely nudged the snitch closer,
"Here, take it. Give it to Malfoy. It's belongs to him."
"Harry, what are you trying to do? You got that snitch...." Professor McGonagall was wheezing at his side.
"Yes, Potter. Take that snitch, the boy passed out long before he knew he was lying on it." Harry heard Snape say in drawling voice that rang with finality. And before he could press it on him further, Snape had already gone with Crabbe and Goyle chanting 'He's dead!' at his side and Pansy Parkinson bawling her head off.
Harry whirred around disbelieving what had just happened. At the stands he saw scarlet flags waving excitedly in the air. The Gryffindors were still rejoicing their sweetest triumph together with the rest of the school except for the Slytherins who had already started filing out of the grounds.
They had stomped Slytherin who wasn't even able to score a goal and Draco almost died trying to get the snitch-the snitch which was awarded to him.
"Harry, you did it! You won over those cheating scums!" came Ron's voice as he emerged from the crowd of cheering Gryffindors. The team also joined him now, patting furiously at his back.
"Quick instinct, chief!" exclaimed Seamus Finnigan who had big leaks of tears streaking down his eyes. Everyone kept throwing him praises left and right. Harry forced a grin at them but just as he did, he spotted Hermione at the far side. She tried to smile at him but Harry could see silent tears pouring down her cheeks. She was fidgeting nervously at her cloak, and there was a very sick look in her face.
"Guys, I think I'd get some rest now." Harry managed to say when the team tried to heave him up their shoulders.
"Right. Harry will go with me right now." Ron told them when he noticed the look Harry was wearing.
"Whatever you need, captain! See you at the common room then!" Seamus beamed as the rest of the team nodded.
Harry, Ron and Hermione headed silently to the tower. Ron kept stealing worried glances at Hermione who still hadn't spoken a word to them. She just kept on walking, fidgeting all the time. And finally, when they had reached the portrait of the Fat lady, Harry turned to Ron.
"Ron, go in first. We'll follow later."
Ron looked questioningly at Harry then at Hermione who was still very pale. Realizing that he had missed out an awful lot on them, he nodded regretfully.
"See you both then." he muttered, trying hard not to look so down-trodden. He crept inside the hall where a Gryffindor party was waiting and smiled dryly at Harry and Hermione before completely slipping inside.
"He'll understand soon." Harry assured Hermione.
"But first, I have to tell you something. Draco muttered your name before he passed out."
Hermione just smiled weakly at this.
"That's nice."
"Hermione, don't you want to go him now at the hospital wing?"
"I can't.."
"But you need to be there!"
"Harry, don't you think Pansy's not there with him now and all the other Slytherins who hates me? Going there now would be suicide."
Harry paused at this. That was a problem. But Hermione can't stand here fidgeting like a nut.
"Okay, we'd see him when they've gone. I'll wait for you outside the portrait at midnight and we could visit him together."
"Harry, why do want to do this so much?"
Harry fought back a big wave of guilt that was swallowing him at the moment but to no avail.
"I stole him this victory, Hermione. He told you about Albertine's scheme but I didn't have the decency to tell him that the game plan was thrash."
"But you didn't know they were using it against us."
"Yeah, but I should have thought about it, why else would Albertine want a match with us? It was very dense of me."
Hermione smiled her first real smile.
"Oh, Harry, thank you so much.." she quivered starting to cry all over again.
"Don't mind it, Hermione."
"I was so worried, I thought he died. I thought you won't want me to visit him too." Hermione sputtered, wringing her cloak apprehensively.
"Hermione, Stop that! Just calm down and we'd see him later, okay?"
She beamed at Harry. She felt so lucky to have a friend like Harry who understands.
"Right. I can wait. But for now, I think we should try to forget it for a while. There's a party waiting for you inside. That was a real, neat dive, by the way."
"Don't start that crap on me." Harry said as they entered the portrait of the Fat Lady.
Hours later, Harry scrambled out of the portrait hole quietly. He didn't tell Ron about their visit to Draco since he was too full and too groggy from the celebration.
"Harry, you're late!"
Harry saw Hermione in her pink robes at the corner of the corridor.
"Sorry. Ron won't wake up."
"Then we have to go one without him." she whispered, turning to walk away from the portrait. Harry hurried to her side and they treaded their way to the hospital wing silently. When they finally reached it, Harry knocked hesitantly at the door. Madam Pomfrey soon appeared at the doorway, lookind harassed and irritated. Her gaze raked Harry and a wearied crinkled her forehead.
"Oh, it's you. Did you break any of your bones again?"
"No, actually we came to visit Drac...." Harry wasn't able to finish as Madam Pomfrey suddenly became hysterical.
"You kids never give up, do you? After that terrible crash the boy had been through, you still had to bother him with your late visits? No way! He had enough of people arguing whether he's dead or not and girls bawling loud enough to wake the dead. No way! And if you two don't go back to your bunks right now.."
"B-But Madam Pomfrey.." Harry started.
"I said no. There's no more disturbing poor Mr. Malfoy." she was still saying when Hermione tugged Harry's sleeve.
"It's okay, ma'am. We just wanted to know if he's fine. We're sorry we woke you up. We'll head back now." Hermione said.
They were already walking away when Madam Pomfrey called them back.
"You are Ms. Hermione Granger, right?"
"Yes, she is." Harry answered for Hermione.
Madam Pomfrey suddenly looked teary-eyed.
"Well then, I think you I made a mistake. You should come with me. He had been muttering your name in his sleep. Poor boy.just got his left arm and left leg restructured. Mind you-it took me quite a while before I was able to figure out how to fix him. By the way, are you couple?"
Harry answered 'No, we're not.' wearily. He was so used of people mistaking them as a couple that it didn't surprise him anymore.
Hermione peered quizzically at him. Then she said: "No, I'm not Draco's girlfriend, ma'am".
"Oh!" was all Harry could say. "She was referring to Draco and Hermione. How stupid of me." Harry thought dully as Madam Pomfrey led Hermione in.
"Aren't you coming?"
"I'll just wait for you here. I don't think Draco would be very happy to wake up seeing me."
Hermione just nodded and by the way she rushed to Draco's bunk, Harry could see that she was very eager to see him.
Hermione peered at the sleeping Draco. He was still pale but the color of his lips had returned. She didn't know what made her do it but she suddenly reached out for Draco's hand and without knowing, started splashing it with tears.
"Now, now, young lady. He's okay. Don't worry too much. Oh, sweet things......" Madam Pomfrey kept muttering as she gently prodded Draco awake.
"Look who has come to visit you." she told him.
Draco stirred and slowly, his eyes fluttered open. He turned to Hermione uncertainly and tried to focus to see who it was.
"Herm..Hermione?"
"I'll leave the two of you alone okay? Oh, sweet things, reminds me of my own days." Madam Pomfrey chuckled as she drew the screen of Draco's bunk close.
For a while, Draco just watched Hermione sob silently. He could feel her quivering as she held his hand. He had been waiting for her to show up all day but all he saw were Crabbe and Goyle and Pansy and some kids he didn't give a damn about so he just pretended to be asleep all the time.
"I-I t-thought you di-you were hurt so bad. I was so scared." Hermione stammered splattering Draco's hand with more tears. She didn't intend to burst like this in front of him but she wasn't able to stop herself.
Draco smiled weakly at Hermione and squeezed her hand. He realized that what he was dreading had happened. He fell for Hermione. It was the last thing he'd have thought of some time ago but it was also the strangest thing he had ever felt. Of course he had always known far more attractive girls before but Hermione was different.
"And for what reason?" Draco was musing when he suddenly pulled Hermione's arrn that was clutching his hand and carefully rolled up the sleeve of her cloak. And before Hermione could raise an eyebrow in question, he started planting light, soft kisses on her arm. He had done this very swiftly and without lingering. And right after planting the last kiss on Hermione's shoulder blade, he looked up at her, smiling mischievously, and asked in a teasing manner,
"Like it, Hermione?"
Hermione looked too abashed to speak but when she finally gained composure, she quickly yanked her arm away and pinned Draco with a scathing look.
"I don't know what you were thinking, Malfoy. I'm leaving-this instant." With that, she gathered herself up hastily and turned for the door.
"Good night, Hermione." Draco called in a highly amused tone.
"Fine."
He heard her say before she slammed the door of the room shut. He smiled heartily to himself. For one thing, that was what made Hermione so unlike any of the girls he dated. If he had done a similar pass to Pansy, she would have blushed and giggled uncontrollably. But as for Hermione, Draco didn't think she was a bit amused in any way-if she was anything, she was furious. And with that thought, Draco regretted having done such a thing. He'd have to make up for it as soon as he gets his ass out of the crummy place. But as for now, he contented himself with the flaming look Hermione reserved for him after the kiss. And when he finally had nothing else to do, Draco drifted in a light sleep, carrying the vision of Hermione with him.
Disclaimer: All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot, which is mine!!
Chapter 11-The Quidditch Match Mishap
The day of the Quidditch match, everyone on the breakfast table was eating rather faster than they would have done on regular days. Neville Longbottom kept dropping his spoon nervously with a loud clank and Ron was making it a habit to keep knocking his glass every five minutes. But no one looked nearly as apprehensive as Harry.
"Harry, come on, eat something. This match will be fine." Hermione piped offering him a treacle tart. A loud crash told them that Ron had finally managed to knock his glass over the table. He was looking pale and his eyes were dug in deep as if he wasn't able to get any sleep last night.
"Ron-the game plan-trash." Harry blurted out without thinking. He hadn't meant to break his trick yet but he just couldn't stand Ron looking so tense and disoriented. It was infectious.
Ron looked at him incredulously. He hadn't understood a thing Harry said but it made him feel better to know that he was speaking to him again.
"Harry, really sorry..been stupid.."
"It's okay."
"You too Hermione-sorry."
"Fine."
After that, they all felt a bit better. But before they could say anything more, Professor McGonagall signaled them to get outside for the match. Harry finally left his seat were his bum was getting numb at the moment, to head to the field. And as soon as he went outside, the bustle of the crowd filled his ears. He saw Madam Hooch call Albertine and him to the center of the field. He staggered to her and managed to get into a clumsy handshake with Albertine. For a fleeting moment, Harry realized that he still couldn't feel his fingers.
"Mount your brooms."
Harry raised himself to his Firebolt and immediately, warmth spread to his hands and limbs. His nervousness drained away as he looked determinedly at the cheating team captain of Slytherin. They just got to win this match.
"And up they go! And there we see Harry Potter, Gryffindor's golden seeker, flying high with-is that Malfoy out there? Uh-huh. We can see it. He's closely being guarded by Slytherin seeker, Draco Malfoy." boomed the voice of Harry's bunkmate, Dean Thomas.
Harry whipped hair out of his face and saw that Dean was right. Flying just below him was Draco, looking more murderous than ever. He tried turning to the left but Draco was flying too close to him and there wasn't much space.
"Malfoy, get off my tail!"
But Draco merely bore him with his fixed stare. He was focusing hard on Harry's every move to keep him from getting the snitch. He didn't care whether he had to get the snitch before Slytherin scored ahead. He just had to get it before Potter did.
"We don't know what's wrong with the Slytherin seeker, but it seems like he's planning to stick around Harry 'till the end of the match! Is that cheating or what?" Dean boomed.
Harry turned sharply downward. Then in circles. Then throughout the length of the field. But all the time he could feel the swish of Draco's Nimbus 3000 in his tail.
"What is wrong with him? Did he think he could possibly jeopardize my catch of the snitch by flying next to me?" Harry thought, irked. Draco was being harder to avoid than obby's mad bludger.
"Brown scores, Gryffindor leads by thirty points! We don't know what's been going on but Slytherin seemed to have lost its fang."
When he heard this, Harry darted his eyes on the game below. He instantly noticed that the Slytherin players were moving in strange circles and lopsided arcs. No one was even guarding Lavender when she scored her third quaffle in a row.
"Forty points to Gryffindor! Lavender is showing some moves there and Slytherin..they're still with their-er-unique routine."
Harry spotted Albertine, the Slytherin keeper, barking out orders to his teamates as the fifth quaffle passed easily at his side. And the Slytherins players, all dumbfounded at yet another Gryffindor goal, straggled back on their strange formation. Harry watched them carefully. Then as if somebody lit a match in his head, he realized what they were up to. They were trying to follow his stupid game plan! He recognized those formations in the sketch plan that Albertine stole.
Harry wasn't able to stop himself from laughing. But just as he did, he heard a very familiar hissing from below him.
"Nice smile there, Potter. All this is turning out to be so amusing to you, huh?" The glaring face of Draco came into view. He was piercing Harry a look of hatred a bit higher in intensity than the usual.
Harry was quite alarmed to see him without the regular sneer in his face. Draco looked dead serious without them and his face wasn't a very nice sight.
"Something got to you, Malfoy? Why the long face?"
"Let's just say something really did. But you can't know about that now, eh Potter? Since your head is already too big for you to see anything beyond your pretty scar."
Without thinking, Harry instinctually darted his gaze at a particular spot in the stands. And Draco, curious to know if he had spotted the snitch, followed his look. And squinting hard, he recognized a familiar brown haired girl.
Harry watched Draco's gaze lock at the Hermione in the stands.
"I was right. Draco fancies Hermione!" thought Harry when something gold went past Draco's head. And with the flick of the eye, Harry started for it, breaking in a deep dive.
"Whoa! I think Harry Potter just spotted the evasive snitch and he's bound to get it if he could manage to get out of that close trail Malfoy has set for him."
Harry tried to fly faster but Draco was still on his heels. Then he started hovering up and down to slowly decrease his speed as they were already approaching the ground at an uncontrollable velocity. But when he glanced beneath him, Harry noticed that Draco was still drawing towards the snitch in the same deep, dangerous dive.
"Draco, get up or you'll crash to the ground!"
"Shut your big mouth, Potter!"
Harry looked malevolently Draco. He was crazy! He was going to crash, for sure but he wouldn't listen.
"Goddamit, Draco! I mean it, you're going too fast!"
But Draco still speeded forward, his arms outstretched to the golden snitch which was flying mere inches beyond him. The only control now that he had of his broom was his legs, which were tightly clutching it.
"I'm going to have you even if it kills me. No way way will Potter get to you.never!" Draco kept repeating to himself as he locked his gaze at the golden snitch. He had never wanted to have something this bad before. And without really knowing why, he started having visions of Narcissa. He saw her crouched at their garden swing, weeping softly for his father-Lucius. The scenes kept rolling in his mind like an old movie. He recalled the day when he heard them arguing loudly about where to send him to school. His mother wanted him for Hogwarts which was far nearer but Lucius wanted him for Durmstrang-out of reach and out of sight. Then he wanted him in the League without any explanation or whatsoever. His best guess was that his father was hoping he'd get killed in the crossfire and he loathed him for it but it brought him something good-Hermione. Her chestnut eyes which were always glaring at him.her hair and her smile-sending waves of cheery warmth to his cold heart.
"What a scene we're having here! Potter and Malfoy are flying at unbelievably fast velocities! Malfoy is leading and Potter is hovering above him. Oh, my! They're almost at the ground now....Malfoy is still flying at a very dangerous speed.I think he's going to crash...."
And moments later, Dean's guess was confirmed.
"Holy crap! Did you see that?! The Sytherin seeker just crashed head first to the ground! Holy crap! That was such a bad crash, somebody get there now!!!" Dean shrieked to as everyone at the stands stood up looking horrified.
Harry was the first who found Draco at the ground, motionless. He quickly felt for his pulse.
"He can't possibly be dead!" he thought, alarmed.
He had seen him crash to the ground and Draco just managed to prop his right arm on the ground which snapped with an ugly sound to prevent his weight from landing entirely on his head. But nonetheless, his crash was a very bad one. Harry saw him roll four times on his back before landing at a strange angle on the dust, his broom 'Narcissa' wrecked in two pieces beside him.
"Hermione.."
"Draco, can you hear me?" Harry asked, his ear an inch away from Draco's face. Did he just hear him speak?
Harry watched his colorless face. It was a really scary sight and so-real. Then just as he was turning Draco's back to a better angle, something gold fluttered in the air.
"Oh, my God! Get the boy, right now!" came the voice of Minerva McGonagall who finally arrived on the grounds with Severus Snape. They hurried to where Harry was still holding Draco and Madam Pomfrey immediately checked Draco's wrist.
"He's alive." he thought he heard her say.
Right after Draco was propped up on a floating stretch, he instinctually dashed up in the air and clutched the snitch which was fluttering clumsily a few feet above him. He noticed that its wings were a little dismantled.
"Professor, the snitch.." he called out to Professor McGonagall who looked wearily back at him.
"Oh, well done, Harry."
"No. I mean, Draco got the snitch. Look at its wings-Draco flattened it to the ground when he crashed. He got it first."
Professor McGonagall looked incredulously at Harry. Then she started speaking in a very explanative tone,
"No, Potter. You got it. The boy passed out before he got hold of the snitch..."
"B-But..He flattened it to the ground. I couldn't have gotten it otherwise." Harry was saying when the booming voice of Dean Thomas came again.
"Oh, I think we see it-the snitch. Potter got the snitch, it's a Gryffindor victory everyone! What an incredible match-with a truly surprising twist! And oh, the Slytherin seeker will be fine, he is currently being propped up a stretcher to Madam Pomfrey's care. We could expect to see him up and about in no time." Dean announced as the Gryffindor cheers drowned the Slytherin groans.
Harry couldn't believe how unfair the decision was. Draco got the snitch first-God, he almost died for it!"
"Professor Snape!" Harry called out to the greasy haired professor who was administering the carrying of Draco. Snape turned to look at him with sharp, menacing eyes.
"What could you possibly want, Potter?"
"Professor, Malfoy got the snitch first. He fell on it and dismantled its wings. I merely snatched it hovering above him. It's really his. He got it first." Harry stammered furiously, handing over the slightly strangling snitch to Snape.
Snape narrowed his eyes maliciously at Harry as though he was waiting for him to spill out some nasty joke. But Harry merely nudged the snitch closer,
"Here, take it. Give it to Malfoy. It's belongs to him."
"Harry, what are you trying to do? You got that snitch...." Professor McGonagall was wheezing at his side.
"Yes, Potter. Take that snitch, the boy passed out long before he knew he was lying on it." Harry heard Snape say in drawling voice that rang with finality. And before he could press it on him further, Snape had already gone with Crabbe and Goyle chanting 'He's dead!' at his side and Pansy Parkinson bawling her head off.
Harry whirred around disbelieving what had just happened. At the stands he saw scarlet flags waving excitedly in the air. The Gryffindors were still rejoicing their sweetest triumph together with the rest of the school except for the Slytherins who had already started filing out of the grounds.
They had stomped Slytherin who wasn't even able to score a goal and Draco almost died trying to get the snitch-the snitch which was awarded to him.
"Harry, you did it! You won over those cheating scums!" came Ron's voice as he emerged from the crowd of cheering Gryffindors. The team also joined him now, patting furiously at his back.
"Quick instinct, chief!" exclaimed Seamus Finnigan who had big leaks of tears streaking down his eyes. Everyone kept throwing him praises left and right. Harry forced a grin at them but just as he did, he spotted Hermione at the far side. She tried to smile at him but Harry could see silent tears pouring down her cheeks. She was fidgeting nervously at her cloak, and there was a very sick look in her face.
"Guys, I think I'd get some rest now." Harry managed to say when the team tried to heave him up their shoulders.
"Right. Harry will go with me right now." Ron told them when he noticed the look Harry was wearing.
"Whatever you need, captain! See you at the common room then!" Seamus beamed as the rest of the team nodded.
Harry, Ron and Hermione headed silently to the tower. Ron kept stealing worried glances at Hermione who still hadn't spoken a word to them. She just kept on walking, fidgeting all the time. And finally, when they had reached the portrait of the Fat lady, Harry turned to Ron.
"Ron, go in first. We'll follow later."
Ron looked questioningly at Harry then at Hermione who was still very pale. Realizing that he had missed out an awful lot on them, he nodded regretfully.
"See you both then." he muttered, trying hard not to look so down-trodden. He crept inside the hall where a Gryffindor party was waiting and smiled dryly at Harry and Hermione before completely slipping inside.
"He'll understand soon." Harry assured Hermione.
"But first, I have to tell you something. Draco muttered your name before he passed out."
Hermione just smiled weakly at this.
"That's nice."
"Hermione, don't you want to go him now at the hospital wing?"
"I can't.."
"But you need to be there!"
"Harry, don't you think Pansy's not there with him now and all the other Slytherins who hates me? Going there now would be suicide."
Harry paused at this. That was a problem. But Hermione can't stand here fidgeting like a nut.
"Okay, we'd see him when they've gone. I'll wait for you outside the portrait at midnight and we could visit him together."
"Harry, why do want to do this so much?"
Harry fought back a big wave of guilt that was swallowing him at the moment but to no avail.
"I stole him this victory, Hermione. He told you about Albertine's scheme but I didn't have the decency to tell him that the game plan was thrash."
"But you didn't know they were using it against us."
"Yeah, but I should have thought about it, why else would Albertine want a match with us? It was very dense of me."
Hermione smiled her first real smile.
"Oh, Harry, thank you so much.." she quivered starting to cry all over again.
"Don't mind it, Hermione."
"I was so worried, I thought he died. I thought you won't want me to visit him too." Hermione sputtered, wringing her cloak apprehensively.
"Hermione, Stop that! Just calm down and we'd see him later, okay?"
She beamed at Harry. She felt so lucky to have a friend like Harry who understands.
"Right. I can wait. But for now, I think we should try to forget it for a while. There's a party waiting for you inside. That was a real, neat dive, by the way."
"Don't start that crap on me." Harry said as they entered the portrait of the Fat Lady.
Hours later, Harry scrambled out of the portrait hole quietly. He didn't tell Ron about their visit to Draco since he was too full and too groggy from the celebration.
"Harry, you're late!"
Harry saw Hermione in her pink robes at the corner of the corridor.
"Sorry. Ron won't wake up."
"Then we have to go one without him." she whispered, turning to walk away from the portrait. Harry hurried to her side and they treaded their way to the hospital wing silently. When they finally reached it, Harry knocked hesitantly at the door. Madam Pomfrey soon appeared at the doorway, lookind harassed and irritated. Her gaze raked Harry and a wearied crinkled her forehead.
"Oh, it's you. Did you break any of your bones again?"
"No, actually we came to visit Drac...." Harry wasn't able to finish as Madam Pomfrey suddenly became hysterical.
"You kids never give up, do you? After that terrible crash the boy had been through, you still had to bother him with your late visits? No way! He had enough of people arguing whether he's dead or not and girls bawling loud enough to wake the dead. No way! And if you two don't go back to your bunks right now.."
"B-But Madam Pomfrey.." Harry started.
"I said no. There's no more disturbing poor Mr. Malfoy." she was still saying when Hermione tugged Harry's sleeve.
"It's okay, ma'am. We just wanted to know if he's fine. We're sorry we woke you up. We'll head back now." Hermione said.
They were already walking away when Madam Pomfrey called them back.
"You are Ms. Hermione Granger, right?"
"Yes, she is." Harry answered for Hermione.
Madam Pomfrey suddenly looked teary-eyed.
"Well then, I think you I made a mistake. You should come with me. He had been muttering your name in his sleep. Poor boy.just got his left arm and left leg restructured. Mind you-it took me quite a while before I was able to figure out how to fix him. By the way, are you couple?"
Harry answered 'No, we're not.' wearily. He was so used of people mistaking them as a couple that it didn't surprise him anymore.
Hermione peered quizzically at him. Then she said: "No, I'm not Draco's girlfriend, ma'am".
"Oh!" was all Harry could say. "She was referring to Draco and Hermione. How stupid of me." Harry thought dully as Madam Pomfrey led Hermione in.
"Aren't you coming?"
"I'll just wait for you here. I don't think Draco would be very happy to wake up seeing me."
Hermione just nodded and by the way she rushed to Draco's bunk, Harry could see that she was very eager to see him.
Hermione peered at the sleeping Draco. He was still pale but the color of his lips had returned. She didn't know what made her do it but she suddenly reached out for Draco's hand and without knowing, started splashing it with tears.
"Now, now, young lady. He's okay. Don't worry too much. Oh, sweet things......" Madam Pomfrey kept muttering as she gently prodded Draco awake.
"Look who has come to visit you." she told him.
Draco stirred and slowly, his eyes fluttered open. He turned to Hermione uncertainly and tried to focus to see who it was.
"Herm..Hermione?"
"I'll leave the two of you alone okay? Oh, sweet things, reminds me of my own days." Madam Pomfrey chuckled as she drew the screen of Draco's bunk close.
For a while, Draco just watched Hermione sob silently. He could feel her quivering as she held his hand. He had been waiting for her to show up all day but all he saw were Crabbe and Goyle and Pansy and some kids he didn't give a damn about so he just pretended to be asleep all the time.
"I-I t-thought you di-you were hurt so bad. I was so scared." Hermione stammered splattering Draco's hand with more tears. She didn't intend to burst like this in front of him but she wasn't able to stop herself.
Draco smiled weakly at Hermione and squeezed her hand. He realized that what he was dreading had happened. He fell for Hermione. It was the last thing he'd have thought of some time ago but it was also the strangest thing he had ever felt. Of course he had always known far more attractive girls before but Hermione was different.
"And for what reason?" Draco was musing when he suddenly pulled Hermione's arrn that was clutching his hand and carefully rolled up the sleeve of her cloak. And before Hermione could raise an eyebrow in question, he started planting light, soft kisses on her arm. He had done this very swiftly and without lingering. And right after planting the last kiss on Hermione's shoulder blade, he looked up at her, smiling mischievously, and asked in a teasing manner,
"Like it, Hermione?"
Hermione looked too abashed to speak but when she finally gained composure, she quickly yanked her arm away and pinned Draco with a scathing look.
"I don't know what you were thinking, Malfoy. I'm leaving-this instant." With that, she gathered herself up hastily and turned for the door.
"Good night, Hermione." Draco called in a highly amused tone.
"Fine."
He heard her say before she slammed the door of the room shut. He smiled heartily to himself. For one thing, that was what made Hermione so unlike any of the girls he dated. If he had done a similar pass to Pansy, she would have blushed and giggled uncontrollably. But as for Hermione, Draco didn't think she was a bit amused in any way-if she was anything, she was furious. And with that thought, Draco regretted having done such a thing. He'd have to make up for it as soon as he gets his ass out of the crummy place. But as for now, he contented himself with the flaming look Hermione reserved for him after the kiss. And when he finally had nothing else to do, Draco drifted in a light sleep, carrying the vision of Hermione with him.