Disclaimer:  If someone actually tried to sue me over this I might actually laugh.  Nope, I don't own Harry Potter!

*** Thank you to Marinenko, QuistisTrepe1402, Becka, and Redd Butterfly.  You're reviews mean so much to me!

Chapter 3:  Of Quidditch and Malfoy

Ron had never felt anything more exhilarating than being up on his (hand-me-down) broom, flying about to keep the Quaffle out of the goals.  It hadn't felt like this when he played at home with his siblings.  This time he was really, truly playing.

He couldn't be too sure, but he thought Angelina Johnson, who was the new Quidditch captain, looked quite impressed.  He knew he had to impress all returning players, but it meant a lot to him that Angelina would be impressed.

It also, for some odd, inexplicable reason, made him happy that Hermione was sitting, watching in the chilly fall air, him.  Sure, she was watching Harry too, as Ginny was, but right now they were watching him.  Hermione was watching him.

Careful Weasley, he thought as he almost let a goal slip past, saving it in just the nick of time.  He grinned widely.  For their first day of preliminary practice, he thought everything had gone really well.

Angelina was clapping from where she was overseeing everything, below in the Quidditch stands. 

"Alright everyone, I think that's enough for our first practice!" she called out, blowing the whistle just as the words left her mouth.

She clapped as everyone landed on the field; the returning players lounged about on the field behind her, joking softly to one another.  Harry gave Ron a thumbs-up.

"OK, that was a really good practice!" she started off by saying, pushing an irritating black hair out of her eyes while Fred eyed her back end rather mischievously, whistling under his breath every now and then.

She spun around and eyed Fred curiously before shushing him.  When she turned around a dull pink was spread over her creamy, mocha colored skin.  "Anyhow, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, that was a really good practice.  Some of you show excellent talent," she said, her twinkling gaze directed right at Ron, "and I'm sure we'll have many wonderful players to choose from this year.  It will be hard," she finished.  An obnoxious Fred Weasley blew out catcalls and appreciative whispers.

Angelina grimaced and then her features brightened considerably.  The grin on her face was wicked, absolutely wicked.  "AND, I would like to announce there is also a beater position open, seeing as how one of the beaters, who shall remain nameless, is predicted to have a sudden death," she said with a laugh.  All players laughed on the field while Fred looked mortified.

"Just kidding," Angelina said, whipping around to give him a half-smile.

Fred stood up hopefully and walked over to her.  "Does this mean I get a kiss?"

Angelina considered for a split-second, tapping her index finger to her chin before letting out a long, "Uhh…No!"

Fred turned away, pouting.  Angelina giggled.  "Oh the power of a woman!"  Then, seeming to remember where she was, she turned back to those practicing.  "All I can say then is, have a good rest of the day, don't do too much homework and I'll see you this evening after supper, OK?"

With that the crowd dispersed and Hermione and Ginny came jogging up to Ron, practically throwing themselves at them.  "Oh Ron!  You were so good out there!  I just know you'll get keeper!" Hermione said encouragingly, pulling away from her tall, redheaded friend and grinned.

"You really think so?" he asked hopefully.

Ginny reached up and tugged one of his locks.  "Of course Ron!  Don't be stupid; you were one of the best people out there!"

"Really?  I thought Seamus did well…"

Harry joined them just in time to hear Ron's thoughts.  He wasn't going to lie to Ron, Seamus had done really well…but Ron had definitely done better.  "No, Seamus let five goals by Ron; you only almost let one slip past you!"

Ron grinned and the relief was evident on his face.  "Good," he said with a sigh.  "I was kind of worried there," he admitted briefly.  His face soured considerably when he saw the Slytherins coming toward the Quidditch pitch.

Hermione instinctively placed a hand on Ron's tense arm.  "Ron," she said softly, "just ignore him, alright?" she asked.

He looked down to Hermione; his eyes asked whether or not she was serious.  She wanted him to ignore Draco Malfoy?  That was one thing that was probably easier said than done.

"Please Ron?" she asked again.  There was a definite sparkle of hope in her eye.

He took a deep breath.  He could be polite, he told himself.  He could be polite…to Malfoy.  He could try…What the hell was Hermione Granger thinking when she asked him to be polite to Draco Malfoy?  Was the girl completely off her rocker?

He took another deep breath.  He could do this, he really could.  It wouldn't be that hard—

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Mudblood Granger and her redheaded Weasel," he greeted.  Ron figured Malfoy was just asking to be hit, and so he hit him.  Hard.  Right in the nose.

Hermione screamed, Ginny cheered, and Harry laughed.  Ron continually hit Malfoy in the face, who evidently wasn't as strong as he looked since he could barely even tap Ron with his own clenched fist.  Ron literally pummeled the kid.

Harry thought it was great.

The bushy-haired witch standing next to him, however, did not think it was so great.  Ron got up, barely a hair out of place while Malfoy was quite bloodied up.  She actually started sobbing.  Then she threw herself against him.  "Ronald Weasley, don't you ever do that again!" she demanded angrily, sniffling into his shoulder.

"Wha' 're you guys up ta'?" Hagrid asked, coming across the grounds with a large thing carried by a large crate.  All students, Gryffindor and Slytherin alike eyed the thing warily.  They weren't sure they wanted to know what Hagrid had in that crate.

Malfoy stuck his finger at Ron like a little kid would do.  "He started it!" he shouted childishly.  His Slytherin followers all nodded their heads up and down, up and down. 

Hagrid took in Malfoy's appearance; he seemed to notice everything from his bloodied nose to his grass-stained robes.  A smile tugged at the corner of his lips when he noticed Malfoy's usually perfect platinum blonde hair was no longer plastered to his head. 

"Now Draco, I'm sure Ron here 'ad a perfectly good reason fer lettin' yer have it, didn't yeh Ron?" Hagrid asked Ron, turning to look in Ron's direction.

Ron nodded.  "Yes, sir.  He called Hermione a foul name," Ron answered truthfully.  As always, Ron looked a little distraught by the truth of these words.  Harry vaguely wondered when Ron would realize he cared for Hermione as more than a friend.

Hagrid blinked twice.  He looked at Malfoy and then Ron, and then Malfoy again, and then Ron.  He continued looking back and forth until he seemed to reach his own conclusion.  "Well, now, yeh boys know yer not ter fight, but I guess we can let this one pass," he said finally.

Malfoy, obviously wanting the Weasel to get detention or points taken away from his house, pouted.  Ron on the other hand was ecstatic.  He didn't think he would get off that easily…even with Hagrid!

Hagrid leveled his big eyes with Malfoy.  "An' Mister Malfoy, if I ever hear you've called 'ermione that again, yeh will go ta see Headmaster Dumbledore," he warned in a low growl.  Malfoy, as tough as he thought he was, merely gulped and nodded.

Hagrid took out a hankie from an oversized pocket and handed one to Malfoy.  "Now, yeh let them here pass and they'll let you pass.  Get yerself cleaned up now…wipe that blood off of yer nose.  After yer practice go on to see Madame Pomfrey," Hagrid instructed.  "Fer now though, I got to get meself going," he said, and with a wave, he stalked off in the direction of his cabin, on the outer edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Instead of wiping the blood away, Malfoy threw the handkerchief down like a little girl.  He looked abut ready to stomp on the old thing too, except he remembered where he was at the last minute and shunned it, upturning his ugly little nose and looked pointedly at Ron.

"Just wait Weasel," he threatened quietly.

Ron was looking quite murderous by now and he shrugged.  "I'm ready whenever you are," he replied stiffly. 

In hearing those words, Hermione got frightened and grabbed his arm.  "Come on Ron, let's go inside!" 

Harry agreed, mainly because he didn't think they should lose House Points so early in the year and then also because he was pretty sure Ron would kill Malfoy if he could.  He and Ginny followed behind Ron and Hermione.

Ginny stood up on her tiptoes.  "See, what did I tell you?" she asked, pointing to the arm that Hermione still held.  "I'm telling you; it'll happen before Christmas," she said again.  Her conviction had seemed to grow in this.

Harry, looking down at her, suddenly got the distinct feeling he would lose the bet.

Well, what did you think?  Now that Spring Break is here (finally) I'll be updating a little more often then what I have been.  I'm really excited by this and I thank you all for all the positive feedback I received (it was nice).  Please review!  (And if you hated it, flame me, but don't get the coals burning too hot, please!)