Chapter VI

The Slytherin Seeker

The next morning, Harry was in a better mood. He greeted the other boys with "good morning" and was one of the first ready for the day. The only person Harry avoided was Malfoy, who avoided him just as well. Breakfast was mostly uneventful, but Harry didn't like how much he heard his name being whispered. As they left for their first class, Harry stopped when he heard his name being called out.

He turned to see Cho Chang walking towards them, looking shyly hesitant. "Good morning, Harry," she said.

"Morning Cho, is something the matter?" Harry asked. "How are they treating you?"

"You mean after your old friend outed you?" Cho asked. "It's been weird."

Harry flinched, "I'm sorry if people's been bullying you—"

"No, no not bullying," Cho said, shaking her head quickly. "The opposite, really. They've been giving me their pity. They said… they were saying some awful things about you, Harry, stuff like how you 'spirited' Cedric away or seduced him to the 'gay side.'" Cho said. Harry just hummed and frowned slightly. "I tried to correct them," Cho said, "but they didn't listen. It just feels wrong, you know, people are mistreating Cedric's memory and using it to insult you."

"I'm sorry for all of that," Harry apologized. "I guess I should have known that nothing's going to be easy in my life, eh?"

"No, you don't have to," Cho said. "I just… everything they say about you feels wrong. You loved Cedric, we all did but you more so and he loved you, and to hear those terrible things they say happen to my friend…" she took a breath and shook her head, wiping at her eyes. "Sorry," she apologized.

"You don't need to apologize, we all miss him," Harry said. He smiled sadly and said, "I wonder what he would think about my resorting. He used to call me his little cub or little lion. I don't think little snake sounds right, especially coming from him. Sounds too 'nasty.'" Harry gave a smile and Cho giggled softly.

"You know, I think he would be fine with it, actually," Cho said. "He's just not that type of person, you know?"

"I feel like it," Harry nodded.

"Good. So keep your head up Harry, and I'll see you on the Quidditch field," Cho said encouragingly.

"But I'm not on the team, I was resorted," Harry said.

"So? You love Quidditch Harry, and I really want to play against you," Cho said. "We can see which one Cedric roots for more," she added, giggling as she winked.

Harry smirked and said, "I'm sure Malfoy would hate that."

"What? You becoming Slytherin's Seeker? Probably," Cho hummed. "But I do know that you're the best Seeker there is and I really want to beat you."

Harry grinned at that and said, "Is that a challenge?"

"Hmm, more like a statement," Cho said. "I'll see you on the field, Harry." She walked away gracefully, and Harry kept his smile. He didn't know why he didn't think about joining the Slytherin Quidditch team, it would be fun to continue to play Quidditch, and if he allowed himself one thing to be smug about it is his ability on a broom.

Quidditch stayed at the back of his mind as he went through his classes. Flitwick had them reviewing spells they'd learned last year after a speech about the importance of O.W.L.s, while Professor McGonagall was the same, giving them a speech about the exams before having the students practice the Vanishing Spell. It was horribly difficult. By the end of the double period, Harry's snail he was practicing on was barely transparent while Blaise swore that his was looking paler. Draco and Daphnis, however, got the spell in the first ten minutes, earning Slytherin ten points each. Homework was piling up frighteningly quickly, and Harry thought to drop his intentions on his friends when there was a lull. Their classes were over for the day and they were in the common room.

"I'm going to try out for the Quidditch team."

"What!?" Malfoy shouted immediately, getting the rest of the common room's attention. Harry rolled his eyes but stayed strong as he stood up and looked around the room for the Quidditch Captain, Graham Urquhart, a very burly and handsome Irish 6th year. "I want to try out for the Quidditch team," Harry said, meeting Urquhart's eye.

"What position?" Malfoy demanded.

"Seeker," Harry said simply.

"NO!" Malfoy shouted, "Are you insane!?"

"We don't want you on our team!"

"You're not one of us!"

"Shut up, Potter!"

The Slytherins all roared in disagreement, but Harry was prepared for this. He stood his ground, never looking away from Urquhart. Urquhart just stared back, his eyes burrowing into Harry as he ignored the complaints around them. He stood up from his friends and walked towards Harry. Harry kept his cool as the teen towered over him. "Why?" he asked. "My team is good. How do I know that you won't sabotage us for the Gryffindors?"

"The Gryffindors hate me and I'm the best Seeker in the school," Harry stated.

"You're full of yourself, Potter," Urquhart said.

"It's a fact," Harry said. "You want the Cup this year? You need me. Malfoy is good but think, every year who beats him?"

"You cheat!" Malfoy yelled. "You cannot do this! I'm already on the team Potter, you will not take this from me!"

"Sorry Malfoy, but I want that Quidditch Cup," Harry said, glancing at him coldly before looking back at Urquhart. He felt awful but he pushed it down. He needed to be on the team.

"Fine then," Urquhart said. "We will meet at the pitch in fifteen minutes. Do not be late, Potter, Malfoy. We're going to have a race."

Harry nodded while Malfoy glowered. He knocked his shoulder against Harry's before turning around to face him, "I don't know what's gotten into you, Potter, but you will not take this from me. Do you understand?"

Harry smirked in response and glanced up to meet Draco's eyes, "I completely understand, Malfoy. I'm just playing the winning side." He chuckled and said, "You think that just because of my resorting I'll suddenly lose all my hobbies and collapse in self-pity or something? If you do, you're just like the Gryffindors."

Draco scoffed, his face turning red as he raged, "Do not compare me to those heartless lions!"

"Then don't underestimate me!" Harry shot back. "I'm going to show them that I am not giving up because of this switch. I'll see you on the field." He didn't know why he felt so agitated around Malfoy. The blond just had the ability to make him feel annoyed. He knew that he should try to be friends with Malfoy but there was something off about him that he couldn't pick at.

He went to the dormitory and got his Firebolt before returning to the common room. Harry wasn't surprised to see that most of Slytherin House followed them outside in the cloudy night to watch the Seeker match between Harry and Draco. The stands filled quickly with the Slytherin students as the Quidditch team stayed on the field. Draco was dressed in his Quidditch robes, smirking smugly at Harry as he held his Nimbus 2001 over his shoulders.

Urquhart made his way to the two, holding a Golden Snitch in his hand. He held it up to the two of them. "Mount your brooms," he ordered. Harry and Draco both got on their brooms, staring at the captain to start. "I want a clean race from the both of you!" he called out. "No dirty business, no cheap tricks, and absolutely no spellcasting. The first one to get the snitch will be the winner. The loser will be on the reserve team. Understand?" The two nodded and Malfoy glared at Harry.

"Ready to lose, Potter?" he spat.

"Not familiar with the sensation, you'll have to tell me about it, Malfoy," Harry said smugly, giving Malfoy a cocky smile.

"Believe me, Potter, I'll show you exactly how it feels," Malfoy growled.

Urquhart opened his hand and the snitch flew out of it immediately, soaring into the night sky before practically disappearing from view. "Hold for the whistle!" he called and brought a whistle to his lips. He held it for a moment before blowing, a sharp loud noise blaring out. Harry kicked off with all of his strength and they were off! Both Slytherins leaned close to their brooms as they skyrocketed higher and higher.

Harry felt the familiar rush of adrenaline and the thrill of freedom as he flew. He grinned and whooped and cheered as he did a corkscrew around Malfoy, who scowled at him. "You won't beat me!" Malfoy yelled and he started to spin as well, flying around Harry, who flew around him in return. From the stands, it looked like the two were dancing with each other, gravitating around each other as Harry laughed at Malfoy's scowl.

"STOP DANCING AROUND AND GET THE SNITCH!" Urquhart shouted at the top of his lungs.

Harry pulled out and turned quickly, hovering for a second as he looked around the field. Four years of being Seeker helped Harry filter out glimmers and reflections that would have normally distracted him. He was able to push out any glint of glasses or the setting sun's reflection as he looked for the golden hint of the snitch. Malfoy too was doing the same on the opposite side of the field.

Suddenly Malfoy's head looked up and Harry followed. Above them, reflecting the sunset, was a golden glint that was too familiar to the boys. They leaned down low to their brooms and they were off chasing after the Golden Snitch!

The two quickly got neck to neck, Harry stared straight at the snitch as it climbed higher before suddenly swerving left. The boys swerved at the same time, making the sharp left to follow the snitch as it flew downwards toward the stands. Harry was shorter than Malfoy, he knew he had to be faster as he leaned even lower, forcing the Firebolt to go faster to get ahead of Malfoy. He reached out for the snitch but it flew out of his hands. The crowd got closer with every second and just when Harry was sure they were going to collide, the Snitch flew up again and Harry had to pull hard in order to keep up. The Slytherins below screamed before cheering and Harry glanced back to see Malfoy making the turn as well.

"Keeping up, Malfoy?" Harry shouted.

"Keep gloating when I get the snitch, Potter!" Malfoy shouted back.

"No, I think I rather you keep this view," Harry taunted. Malfoy sped up and suddenly they were neck to neck as Malfoy smirked.

"I don't know, you're a bit too small for my taste, I like it when they bounce," Malfoy said. Harry gave an audible gasp, his cheeks blushing as his broom slowed slightly. Malfoy laughed as he sped up, "Enjoy the view, Potter!" he shouted.

Harry gave an irritated growl and chased after Draco, ignoring the heat on his cheeks as he caught up to the taller teen, "It's nice, but I'm really not that type of gay Draco, hunny," he said. "I don't care unless you have a big package."

"I'll show you a package when I win," Draco shouted back and Harry laughed.

"You got it backward, Malfoy. You're going to lose, and from what I see in those robes, it's a rather disappointing package. Bye," he winked and laughed again as he flew forward towards the Golden Snitch, diving around and through the Quidditch Hoops with Malfoy chasing after him. He felt free, he was having fun! For the first time in the longest time Harry felt like he had no responsibilities, no worries, it was just him and a game of Quidditch against Malfoy. It was simple. It was nice. It felt great!

Harry was having fun as he threw taunts back and forth between Draco, not even realizing when he started calling the teen by his name as they flew around. The sun was just about to fully set, a glimmer of sunlight still peaking over the horizon as the two were flying straight to the ground, the snitch freefalling as well. They were neck to neck, Harry slightly ahead to make up the height difference. He had almost forgotten what they were doing this for, it was just an intense game of Quidditch with someone he knew for four years. They were getting closer to the ground but neither of them pulled up. Harry heard the crowd shouting, their voices mixing with the rushing wind as he stared at the ground that rushed towards them. Both their hands were out. They weren't hitting each other. Harry gritted his teeth as he leaned forward, getting slightly ahead.

The ground was twenty feet away. Ten—Five—they both swerved up, the bottom of Harry's shoes grazing the grass for less than a second. He closed his fist and raised it triumphantly as he pulled out, hovering in the air. He got the snitch!

He was on the team!

Harry and Draco flew back to Urquhart and the rest of the team who were cheering loudly. "Marvelous game!" he said, "Stunning! Malfoy, you got better, but Potter still beat you. Potter, you're on the team. Malfoy, you're our reserve if Potter fucks up."

Harry grinned as he nodded. He turned to Draco, who looked strangely reserved. "Watch, I'll get us the Cup," Harry promised. "And you're still on the team, Draco."

"Of course I'm on the team, everything will fall apart if a Malfoy isn't playing Quidditch—hang on, Potter, what did you call me?" he demanded.

Harry just shrugged and stretched his hands behind his head, an idea coming to him. "Pansy and I are going clothes shopping the first Hogsmeade weekend. I need new clothes, and I was wondering if you would like to join."

"Join you shopping? Of course, I will!" Draco scoffed. "Pansy will be of some help, but everyone knows you are helpless in the sense of fashion. You will need my taste to save your poor soul."

Harry just smiled in return, "Then I'll expect great things."

"Potter, Malfoy, go shower!" Urquhart ordered, "You both smell. Practice starts Saturday."

The two showered in the locker rooms and Harry stood in front of a mirror, completely naked, and turned to the side. He was staring at his butt, which was small and rather flat with only a hint of a bump. He didn't know why he was still thinking about Draco's comment, the blonde left ten minutes ago, but it bothered him. What would it look if it was bigger? He wondered. It would be nice, Harry guessed. He would like the way it looked and feel, and maybe his future boyfriend would appreciate it too. Harry had never thought of exercise much. He ate little and was skinny due to the Dursleys "raising" him. He was always rather small for his age and skinny, but maybe he would look better if he was more filled out. He turned and faced himself in the mirror. He looked relatively normal. Small and light, perfect for a Seeker, but then he remembered how big Krum was and he was the best Seeker in the world! According to Harry.

Who would he even talk to about this? Surely not Snape or any of the Professors. Madam Pomfrey? No. Too embarrassing. Perhaps Blaise. He looked fit, well fitter than the rest. Maybe he would help. Harry turned to his side again and stared at his reflection. Nodding as he thought, Blaise can definitely help.

Thank you all for your reviews, follows, and favorites! Harry wants that CAKE and I think Draco will want it too ;)