Lucky, lucky you.  Two chapters in one day.  Thank the good Lord for snow days, eh?  Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Quidditch Match

The next day—after much protest from the hesitant Madam Pomfrey—Reign left the Hospital Wing feeling like a brand new elf.  She walked the halls of Hogwarts with a new sense of purpose, even if it was of little significance.

She had a Quidditch match to attend.

The first thing she did after entering her rooms was throw a sheet over her headboard to cover the cursed snake engraved in it.  Then she took her arrows and performed a spell to drain them of the black magic they possessed.

Then there was the blood.  Reign shuddered at the sight of her precious liquid of life that stained the floor, window seat, and wall of her room.  The trail it had created through the castle had been cleared away for some time, but no one dared entered her rooms while she was absent. 

Reign went to the window and stroked the glass and seat.  Long, brilliant strands of golden light escaped her fingers and penetrated the stains, obliterating them.  She did the same for the other areas of the room, and then she went to her wardrobe.

*** 

Even her thick cloak and many layers could not stop the cold from chilling her very bones.  The walk from the front gate to the Quidditch pitch seemed to take longer than it should have, with each step freezing a larger portion of her body than the one before it. 

But then she found Severus—a few heads taller than the students scattering at the sight of him as they filed down to the stadium—and the walk didn't seem so bad.  His infamous scowl disappeared at the sight of her.

            "You're free," he stated as she slipped her hand through his welcoming arm.  He didn't even flinch when the students noticed his odd behavior.

            "Finally," Reign laughed as they walked.  Immediately she began to feel the warmth spreading from his body to hers.  She smiled mischievously as they entered the stadium and ascended one of the towers.

The view was spectacular.  No one ever really took notice of it, but that afternoon Reign couldn't help but gawk.  They sat at the perfect position.  Looking passed the pitch she could see Hogsmeade as it glittered in the afternoon sun.  And beyond that the picturesque horizon, with it's lush green forest and miles and miles of pure Mother Nature. 

Severus took a seat next to Professor Sprout and Reign sat by his side.  The players were just finishing their warm-up when the last person rushed into the stands.

            "Have I missed it?" asked the man, slightly exasperated by his journey up the stairs.  All who had heard him shook their heads no, with the exception of two—Severus, who looked like he wanted to kill him, and Reign, who was too stunned to blink.  "Good, good," he said, straightening his perfect cloak and flipping back his perfect hair. 

He walked slowly toward his usual seat next to the Potions Master, but stopped when he noticed it was taken.  "Well, well," he said, sitting instead beside Reign.  Her lips were pressed tight and her narrowed eyes never left his face as he sat.  "This is a pleasant surprise."  He smiled like the demon he was as he folded his brand-new cane across his lap.

            "What are you doing here?" Reign spat at him when she found her voice.  Lucius laughed.

            "My dear, do you honestly believe that I am one of those fathers who never involves himself with his own child's life?"  He pointed to a blonde-haired student ahead of them who whizzed past in the green Quidditch robes of the Slytherin team.  Reign felt slightly humiliated and Lucius smirked as she turned away from him.  Next to her Severus looked like he was about to explode.  His nostrils were flaring and the small muscle above his lip twitched.  Reign put a hand on his arm to calm him.  They locked eyes and he began to breathe again. 

            "Do you want to move?" he whispered to her.

            "No.  We'll be fine."

            "Of course you will," Malfoy assured from her side.  Reign spun around, nearly hitting him with her own head because he was leaning in so close to her.  He snapped back as Severus came into view behind the elf.  The look on his face was murderous.

            "LOVELY day for Quidditch, wouldn't you say?"  All three adults jumped out of their skin as Dumbledore's booming voice came from behind them.

            "Yes, Albus, lovely day," Reign replied first, having the quickest recovery rate of the three.  The Headmaster smiled as he leaned back, satisfied that he had broken the tension between them.

            "Well here it is, folks!  The match you've been waiting for!" shouted Lee Jordan over the chatter of the crowd.  "Gryffindor versus Slytherin!" 

From opposite ends of the field fourteen students flew into the afternoon sun.  Flashes of green and red crossed Reign's line of vision as they flew past her.  Harry slowed down just a bit to give her a wave, which she returned enthusiastically.  She jabbed Severus in the side when he expressed his distaste.

It was the most brutal match Reign had ever witnessed.  And it was also the closest match.  Curses could be heard all around the stadium as a Chaser from Slytherin purposely threw himself into the Gryffindor Keeper. 

Reign's eyes widened as her ears picked up the vulgarities streaming out of Harry's mouth.  She scowled at him from across the way and he froze.  Reign watched as a small object flew past his face, and shortly after Draco Malfoy flew past also.  She heard Lucius snicker as Draco nearly knocked Harry off his broom. 

            "Oh come off it, Lucius.  Everyone knows Harry's the better player," she shot at him.  Malfoy got red in the face but refrained from retaliating.  Reign hadn't even looked at him when she said it, but instead was watching the chase for the snitch with intense interest.  It was the first time she really cared about the game.  The cold atmosphere that made her eyes water and her nose run was completely forgotten as Draco and Harry battled on the Quidditch field. 

            "Harry Potter is gaining on Draco Malfoy!  Go Harry, GO!  Beat that nasty Slytherin--" Lee was shouting.  Professor McGonagall grabbed his arm and reminded him that his commentary was supposed to be unbiased.  Jordan just smiled; it wasn't the first time she had told him that, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. 

Reign was literally on the edge of her seat as the Seekers raced in and out of the poles and their teammates.  She held her breath every time Harry turned over on his broom to try to get ahead of Malfoy.  Draco tried his hardest to keep Harry behind him—trying harder to do that, in fact, than to get the Golden Snitch.  At one point he flat out stopped in mid-air, and Harry crashed into him.

            "Why you little--" Reign shouted as she stood up and shook her fist at Draco.

            "A-hem," Lucius cleared his throat next to her, "may I remind you that that is my son down there--"

            "Oh, you don't need to remind me," she said as she resumed her seat, "the resemblance is uncanny."

Luckily Harry managed to stay on his broom, but they both had lost the Snitch.  It took ten more minutes before Harry spotted it again.

Reign nearly fell backwards as the object flew right in front of her face.  It hovered there a few seconds before fleeing as Harry raced toward it.  Lucius stood on his feet and shouted at Draco.

            "After him, Draco!  You stupid boy!  He's going to win!"  The veins in his neck pulsated as he screamed after his son.  Draco took a deep breath and raced after Harry.

But it was pointless.  By the time he caught up to him he had already caught the prized Snitch, and the game was over.  Slytherin 120, Gryffindor 230.  He had lost.

Lucius stood at the top of the tower, squeezing his cane tight and narrowing his eyes. 

            "Damn it, Draco!" he cursed as he swiftly left.  Reign would have smiled at his obvious frustration if she hadn't been so worried about what he was going to do to his son.

            "Where are you going?" Severus asked as she rose and headed toward the stairs.

            "I'll be right back," was the only answer that came. 

Reign cautiously followed Lucius as he walked down the stairs and out into the afternoon.  His hands were still squeezing his cane and he was mumbling to himself.  Proceeding slowly after him, she stopped when Draco came into view.  They were hidden from the rest of the crowd behind one of the towers, and as soon as the boy approached his father he received a harsh blow to the side of the head.

            "You insolent fool!  Anyone could have gotten that thing if they were going up against you!"

            "I'm s-sorry, Father.  Potter s-spotted it before me," he stuttered.  Lucius threw him against the wood and struck him with his cane.

            "That shouldn't matter!  I got you on to that bloody team, and this is how you repay me?  You're a disgrace to the Malfoy name."  The venom dripped in his voice with those last words.  Draco lowered his head as the tears formed in his eyes.

            "I'm sorry, Father.  It won't happen again." 

            "It had better not, or next time I won't be using my fist or cane against you," he threatened, grasping the end of the cane and pulling his wand out just to emphasize his point.  After he left the boy slumped to the ground and let the tears pour as he clutched his burning face.  Reign walked slowly toward him and knelt down to his level. 

            "Bloody hell!" he shrieked when he noticed her presence.  He fell back onto the grass and scowled at the elf.  "What do you want?"  Reign responded by leaning forward and kissing his cheek.  The throbbing pain receded from his face and his tears no longer fell.  "How--" was all that came out of his mouth as Reign helped him up.

            "You shouldn't let him do that to you."

            "He's my father, he has a right--"

            "NO ONE," Reign shouted, "has the right to inflict harm upon another.  Least of all a parent to their own child."  Draco lowered his head and stared at his feet.  Lifting his chin, the elf gazed into his eyes.  "You are better than he is, Draco."  The boy blinked.  Reign smiled, and then she was gone.