Chapter Sixteen
"Our necks are under persecution"
Lamentations 5:5
For some reason, Draco wasn't expecting his first semester back at University to be difficult. In retrospect, he realized he had been naive. He knew the gutter press that had been following his family's story from the time his parent's had been captured by Aurors all through the unpleasant revelations in their trial and sentencing. Even the story of his Dark Arts chamber had gotten out and was splashed all over the trashy press. His colouring and name were so distinctive that right from the first day of the semester, the other students knew who he was.
Whispers followed him in the corridors and lecture theatres. Groups of students stared at him as he walked past. No-one wanted to know him and he was lucky that Hermione had already taken him under her wing and introduced her to all her own friends, otherwise he would have had no-one to sit with in lectures or at lunch.
Luna made herself somewhat of an out-cast by being seen with him but she seemed unfazed. She hadn't tried for popularity and was undismayed by its loss. She was so pretty and so unusual that men on campus had been attracted to her like bees to honey. Women had liked her unself-conscious friendliness and sense of humour. Being seen with Draco however made her old admirers avoid her least the Malfoy taint spread from her to them too. She barely seemed to notice.
Draco was grateful that Luna was unimpressed by the peer pressure brought to bear on her. The girl was unused to social ostracism but due to her innate self-confidence was able to bear it easily. Just as her association with him made her an outsider so his association with her brought him the grudging envy and admiration of the other men on campus. They cloaked their envy with the taunts and exclusion they already threw his way.
Hermione was genuinely angry at the way perfect strangers on campus treated Draco. She confronted anyone she saw gossip or taunt him and they learned not to do it when the hot tempered and sharp tongued Hermione was around. Luna just used freezing scorn and contempt which in some ways was more effective. A scathing, cold look down the girl's pretty nose would shut any bloke up and a look of disgust at any group of gossiping girls would immediately make them feel ashamed and self-conscious enough to stop.
Whispers of, "wasn't he a Death Eater too?" and "he only turned himself in to avoid being persecuted and punished" and "I bet he's still involved in an underground Death Eater movement" and "it's a good thing he was too young for Azkaban although I still think he should be there" followed him around constantly. Worse were the rumours that he had turned his parents in himself so he could inherit their wealth early. "Poor little rich boy, what a pity to inherit all that money so young!" was hissed behind his back but when he turned around a group of students would be gazing innocently at him.
He learned to ignore it and not even turn around when he heard it. In fact, he had heard it so many times by the end of the first week that he often didn't even really hear it anymore.
At the end of the first term, Draco and Luna hosted their first holidays for the Slytherins kids at Malfoy Manor. It went extremely well. The kids were relaxed and loved their hide away under the Manor. In their gratitude to have a home away from school, they all behaved very well. Draco coached those who were interested in Quidditch and Luna took the girls shopping. They had picnics in the Malfoy woodlands and watched all of Draco's DVDs. Luna was pleased to see that they were looking happier than they had been last semester. For most of those kids, the events of 7 months ago would put a dent in their life forever. After all, they had all lost their parents. However, they seemed to have begun the healing process and were in a better place than the previous semester.
When Luna and Draco got back to Hogsbridge, Draco saw a notice that a new Seeker was needed for the University's team. The previous Seeker was injured and would not be playing that term. After that term she graduated anyway so they needed a replacement. Draco decided to try out. He knew he was not popular but it was not a popularity contest and although he wasn't sure he was good enough to get it, there was no harm in trying.
The old Seeker was at the tryouts nursing her injured right arm. "Nerve damage," she explained to the hopefuls. "Not so easy to mend even for wizarding medicine."
Draco looked at the other hopefuls. There were 5 other boys and 3 girls. He had never seen any of them play.
The coach put each of them through their paces individually using golf balls and bludgers, and asking them to perform particular maneuvers mid- air. Draco was last and knew it was quite deliberate. He had not been welcome on the pitch at all. The others had stood apart from him, and eyed him up and down with dislike.
Draco didn't think any of the others were particularly good. They weren't bad but none of them were up to Harry's standard which wasn't surprising as Harry was now the national team's Seeker and considered the best in Britain.
Finally he was reluctantly given his turn. He kicked off feeling a bit resigned. He had a feeling that no matter how well he performed he would not get the place on the team. The minute he felt the warm Spring air on his face and through his hair however, he forgot that he was trying out for a team that didn't want him and just enjoyed the flying.
He found the exercises with the golf ball easy although it was obvious that the coach had put a more difficult enchantment on the golf ball for him than for the others. The maneuvers were harder but not overly so as he had used them all before on numerous occasions. This was a breeze compared to flying against Harry, Draco thought honestly.
It wasn't until later that he realized he had been up in the air probably twice as long as the others. When he finally landed again, he climbed off his broom without any real hope of being offered the place. The others were staring at him with the same hostility but with anger mixed in too. It was a shock for Draco to realize the anger was based in envy. They all obviously thought he was better than them.
They were right. The coach reluctantly announced that Draco had the position as Seeker. He didn't want to give the notorious rich boy the Seeker role but he desperately wanted to continue the University's winning streak and it was obvious to the coach that Draco was even better than the girl he was replacing and she was good enough to go pro after her study if she wanted to.
As he went off to the shower rooms he reflected that being beaten by Harry for seven solid years had actually been excellent training. After all, if you're consistently beaten by the best in the nation it was not quite the same thing as being beaten by someone of only average skill. Being forced to work hard just to lose respectably (if such a thing were possible) had obviously made him a rather good Seeker. Good enough for Hogsbridge and good enough for the Kent Knights.
* * *
The coach's decision was very unpopular, until the first match.
There was a strong wind that day. It could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on his strategy, Draco thought. His keen grey eyes searched the other team before they lifted into the air. They were from Hogsford University, their sister school and biggest rivals. If they defeated them today, it would be very hard for them to catch up and challenge them again later in the season. He was dressed in the navy and silver Quidditch uniform of Hogsbridge which was a perfect foil for his pale colouring. Luna thought rather smugly that he looked very handsome as she watched from the stands. She wasn't the only one who thought so but the other Hogsbridge girls were still snubbing him.
The Hogsford team was in black and gold which made it hard to follow the players as the team colours were so similar. Their Seeker was thin and light-boned like himself; it was a typical Seek physique. The Beaters were strong-looking with large biceps but no larger than those of the Hogsbridge team. The Chasers were both small, fine-boned girls built for speed and their Keeper had a good-natured face but shrewd eyes. On the whole, they looked like a good team, Draco assessed but then again he would expect no less from Hogsford.
The whistle blew and the quaffle was tossed as the bludgers and snitch rose unaided into the air. Draco kept an eye on the tiny gold streak that was the snitch but it was quickly gone. He was in no hurry to find it. His strategy was to allow the Chasers to gain a good lead while he searched.
Hogsford scored first and the Hogsbridge crowd groaned. Draco wasn't concerned nor was he distracted by the crowd. He allowed the noise to fade out as his eyes darted across the oval, concentrating with all his senses. He crossed his arms as he sat on his broom high over the stands and hovered as he watched the play. The other Seeker was wasting a lot of energy flying around which surprised Draco. It was more sensible to conserve your strength for when you could actually see the snitch.
He took a leisurely tour of the stadium, dodging the odd bludgers which were hit with vicious ferocity his way. He was sure his own team hit a bludger in his direction at one point. He thought this rather stupid. Why risk injuring your own Seeker out of silly spite? He sneered in the Beater's general direction but then snapped his attention right back on the game.
Hogsbridge had passed the Hogsford score 15 mintues into the game. 30 minutes into the game the teams were even. Another 30 minutes later the score had not changed. Draco knew it was time to really get serious. The teams were too evenly matched and it would be too easy for Hogsford to snatch victory. He sped up his leisurely pace around the stadium. Five minutes later he spied the snitch near the stands on the Southern side of the oval. Thinking quickly, he dived as though he had seen the snitch. As he was going faster than the other Seeker had seen him the whole of that game, he assumed Draco was serious and not using the Wronsky Feint. Draco sped up to a dangerous momentum and pulled out just in time to see the other Seeker plough sickening into the pitch. Blessing his beautiful Nimbus 2002 that responded to his lightest touch, Draco sped off towards the Southern stands. Fortunately the snitch was still in the vicinity but was hovering dangerously close to a flag pole.
Draco knew it may be his only chance that match to capture the elusive golden ball and flew with hazardous speed towards the pole. Using a sharp and dangerous turn at the last second, he reached out and grabbed the snitch then carefully spiraled his broom around the pole a few times until he could slow down enough to pull himself out of the centrifugal force that held him so perilously.
Hermione held her breath as she watched him and Harry yelled out, "Yeah! Did you see that?" He genuinely admired Draco's guts for both trying it and his skill in pulling it off. Luna stood with her mouth open slightly feeling rather shocked but relieved when she saw he was fine. Then in unison they all jumped up and down cheering. Draco had won the match for Hogsbridge!
The noise suddenly hit Draco like a blow as he flew down to the pitch to hand the snitch over to the referee. The entire Hogsbridge stand was standing and yelling and stamping. Banners of his name were suddenly shot out of wands and a chant rose up, "Dra-co! Dra-co! Dra-co!"
Draco ignored it. This was the same crowd who had reviled him for his family name and spread nasty rumours about him sparked off by the gutter press. He was not interested in people who could be so changeable. As he waited for the referee, he looked up in the stands. He knew where his friends were sitting. He grinned when he saw Luna nearly falling out of the stands in excitement waving at him, and Harry and Hermione jumping up and down with glee and cheering.
His other team members flew down from their posts and with huge friendly grins, clapped Draco on the back. Draco took it quietly. He didn't want friends like them. He would not be antagonistic, they were a team after all but he had no desire to suddenly act like their best friend either.
They shook hands with the defeated team and filed into the changing rooms. "Are you coming to the team dinner at Hogsmeade, Draco?" one of the beefy beaters asked him with a grin when they got inside.
"No, I didn't know anything about it and I've already made plans to see my friends," he replied quietly and truthfully. The beater's grin faltered a bit. They had deliberately not told Draco of their plans, not wanting him along at that stage.
"Don't you want to celebrate with your team?" one of the chasers asked ingenuously.
"If you'd wanted me along, you would have asked me before now," Draco said flatly and took his belongings into one of the private bathrooms for the team.
By the time he came out again, the others had gone. He went outside to find Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Padma and Luna waiting. Ron was at Aurors' Academy and would be joining them later. Luna went straight up to him with a big grin on her face. "You were brilliant," she said in a low voice, her green eyes shining and then kissed him lightly on the lips. He slipped one arm around her waist and held her close to kiss her properly. The adrenalin was kicking in and seeing Luna and his other friends so excited made him feel high as a kite. When Luna led him back to the others, they mobbed him. Harry clapped him enthusiastically on the back and Hermione nearly strangled him with hugs. Padma shook his hand warmly and congratulated him and Ginny gave him a small peck on the cheek.
The group partied late into the night. Lavendar minus Roy, and Parvati showed up then Seamus and Dean too. They watched replays on Harry's omnoculors. "I'm going to learn that move. You never know when it could be useful," Harry said quite seriously, watching it again for the hundredth time.
"I didn't mean to invent it," Draco said wryly. "It was either that or be knocked out by a flag pole."
"The Malfoy Maneuver," Luna said with a nod then a laugh.
"To the Malfoy Maneuver," Hermione repeated, raising her glass for a toast.
The others echoed her, also raising their glasses and they toasted the new Quidditch term. Draco shook his head and laughed his rare laugh. It was the best night of his life.
For some reason, Draco wasn't expecting his first semester back at University to be difficult. In retrospect, he realized he had been naive. He knew the gutter press that had been following his family's story from the time his parent's had been captured by Aurors all through the unpleasant revelations in their trial and sentencing. Even the story of his Dark Arts chamber had gotten out and was splashed all over the trashy press. His colouring and name were so distinctive that right from the first day of the semester, the other students knew who he was.
Whispers followed him in the corridors and lecture theatres. Groups of students stared at him as he walked past. No-one wanted to know him and he was lucky that Hermione had already taken him under her wing and introduced her to all her own friends, otherwise he would have had no-one to sit with in lectures or at lunch.
Luna made herself somewhat of an out-cast by being seen with him but she seemed unfazed. She hadn't tried for popularity and was undismayed by its loss. She was so pretty and so unusual that men on campus had been attracted to her like bees to honey. Women had liked her unself-conscious friendliness and sense of humour. Being seen with Draco however made her old admirers avoid her least the Malfoy taint spread from her to them too. She barely seemed to notice.
Draco was grateful that Luna was unimpressed by the peer pressure brought to bear on her. The girl was unused to social ostracism but due to her innate self-confidence was able to bear it easily. Just as her association with him made her an outsider so his association with her brought him the grudging envy and admiration of the other men on campus. They cloaked their envy with the taunts and exclusion they already threw his way.
Hermione was genuinely angry at the way perfect strangers on campus treated Draco. She confronted anyone she saw gossip or taunt him and they learned not to do it when the hot tempered and sharp tongued Hermione was around. Luna just used freezing scorn and contempt which in some ways was more effective. A scathing, cold look down the girl's pretty nose would shut any bloke up and a look of disgust at any group of gossiping girls would immediately make them feel ashamed and self-conscious enough to stop.
Whispers of, "wasn't he a Death Eater too?" and "he only turned himself in to avoid being persecuted and punished" and "I bet he's still involved in an underground Death Eater movement" and "it's a good thing he was too young for Azkaban although I still think he should be there" followed him around constantly. Worse were the rumours that he had turned his parents in himself so he could inherit their wealth early. "Poor little rich boy, what a pity to inherit all that money so young!" was hissed behind his back but when he turned around a group of students would be gazing innocently at him.
He learned to ignore it and not even turn around when he heard it. In fact, he had heard it so many times by the end of the first week that he often didn't even really hear it anymore.
At the end of the first term, Draco and Luna hosted their first holidays for the Slytherins kids at Malfoy Manor. It went extremely well. The kids were relaxed and loved their hide away under the Manor. In their gratitude to have a home away from school, they all behaved very well. Draco coached those who were interested in Quidditch and Luna took the girls shopping. They had picnics in the Malfoy woodlands and watched all of Draco's DVDs. Luna was pleased to see that they were looking happier than they had been last semester. For most of those kids, the events of 7 months ago would put a dent in their life forever. After all, they had all lost their parents. However, they seemed to have begun the healing process and were in a better place than the previous semester.
When Luna and Draco got back to Hogsbridge, Draco saw a notice that a new Seeker was needed for the University's team. The previous Seeker was injured and would not be playing that term. After that term she graduated anyway so they needed a replacement. Draco decided to try out. He knew he was not popular but it was not a popularity contest and although he wasn't sure he was good enough to get it, there was no harm in trying.
The old Seeker was at the tryouts nursing her injured right arm. "Nerve damage," she explained to the hopefuls. "Not so easy to mend even for wizarding medicine."
Draco looked at the other hopefuls. There were 5 other boys and 3 girls. He had never seen any of them play.
The coach put each of them through their paces individually using golf balls and bludgers, and asking them to perform particular maneuvers mid- air. Draco was last and knew it was quite deliberate. He had not been welcome on the pitch at all. The others had stood apart from him, and eyed him up and down with dislike.
Draco didn't think any of the others were particularly good. They weren't bad but none of them were up to Harry's standard which wasn't surprising as Harry was now the national team's Seeker and considered the best in Britain.
Finally he was reluctantly given his turn. He kicked off feeling a bit resigned. He had a feeling that no matter how well he performed he would not get the place on the team. The minute he felt the warm Spring air on his face and through his hair however, he forgot that he was trying out for a team that didn't want him and just enjoyed the flying.
He found the exercises with the golf ball easy although it was obvious that the coach had put a more difficult enchantment on the golf ball for him than for the others. The maneuvers were harder but not overly so as he had used them all before on numerous occasions. This was a breeze compared to flying against Harry, Draco thought honestly.
It wasn't until later that he realized he had been up in the air probably twice as long as the others. When he finally landed again, he climbed off his broom without any real hope of being offered the place. The others were staring at him with the same hostility but with anger mixed in too. It was a shock for Draco to realize the anger was based in envy. They all obviously thought he was better than them.
They were right. The coach reluctantly announced that Draco had the position as Seeker. He didn't want to give the notorious rich boy the Seeker role but he desperately wanted to continue the University's winning streak and it was obvious to the coach that Draco was even better than the girl he was replacing and she was good enough to go pro after her study if she wanted to.
As he went off to the shower rooms he reflected that being beaten by Harry for seven solid years had actually been excellent training. After all, if you're consistently beaten by the best in the nation it was not quite the same thing as being beaten by someone of only average skill. Being forced to work hard just to lose respectably (if such a thing were possible) had obviously made him a rather good Seeker. Good enough for Hogsbridge and good enough for the Kent Knights.
* * *
The coach's decision was very unpopular, until the first match.
There was a strong wind that day. It could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on his strategy, Draco thought. His keen grey eyes searched the other team before they lifted into the air. They were from Hogsford University, their sister school and biggest rivals. If they defeated them today, it would be very hard for them to catch up and challenge them again later in the season. He was dressed in the navy and silver Quidditch uniform of Hogsbridge which was a perfect foil for his pale colouring. Luna thought rather smugly that he looked very handsome as she watched from the stands. She wasn't the only one who thought so but the other Hogsbridge girls were still snubbing him.
The Hogsford team was in black and gold which made it hard to follow the players as the team colours were so similar. Their Seeker was thin and light-boned like himself; it was a typical Seek physique. The Beaters were strong-looking with large biceps but no larger than those of the Hogsbridge team. The Chasers were both small, fine-boned girls built for speed and their Keeper had a good-natured face but shrewd eyes. On the whole, they looked like a good team, Draco assessed but then again he would expect no less from Hogsford.
The whistle blew and the quaffle was tossed as the bludgers and snitch rose unaided into the air. Draco kept an eye on the tiny gold streak that was the snitch but it was quickly gone. He was in no hurry to find it. His strategy was to allow the Chasers to gain a good lead while he searched.
Hogsford scored first and the Hogsbridge crowd groaned. Draco wasn't concerned nor was he distracted by the crowd. He allowed the noise to fade out as his eyes darted across the oval, concentrating with all his senses. He crossed his arms as he sat on his broom high over the stands and hovered as he watched the play. The other Seeker was wasting a lot of energy flying around which surprised Draco. It was more sensible to conserve your strength for when you could actually see the snitch.
He took a leisurely tour of the stadium, dodging the odd bludgers which were hit with vicious ferocity his way. He was sure his own team hit a bludger in his direction at one point. He thought this rather stupid. Why risk injuring your own Seeker out of silly spite? He sneered in the Beater's general direction but then snapped his attention right back on the game.
Hogsbridge had passed the Hogsford score 15 mintues into the game. 30 minutes into the game the teams were even. Another 30 minutes later the score had not changed. Draco knew it was time to really get serious. The teams were too evenly matched and it would be too easy for Hogsford to snatch victory. He sped up his leisurely pace around the stadium. Five minutes later he spied the snitch near the stands on the Southern side of the oval. Thinking quickly, he dived as though he had seen the snitch. As he was going faster than the other Seeker had seen him the whole of that game, he assumed Draco was serious and not using the Wronsky Feint. Draco sped up to a dangerous momentum and pulled out just in time to see the other Seeker plough sickening into the pitch. Blessing his beautiful Nimbus 2002 that responded to his lightest touch, Draco sped off towards the Southern stands. Fortunately the snitch was still in the vicinity but was hovering dangerously close to a flag pole.
Draco knew it may be his only chance that match to capture the elusive golden ball and flew with hazardous speed towards the pole. Using a sharp and dangerous turn at the last second, he reached out and grabbed the snitch then carefully spiraled his broom around the pole a few times until he could slow down enough to pull himself out of the centrifugal force that held him so perilously.
Hermione held her breath as she watched him and Harry yelled out, "Yeah! Did you see that?" He genuinely admired Draco's guts for both trying it and his skill in pulling it off. Luna stood with her mouth open slightly feeling rather shocked but relieved when she saw he was fine. Then in unison they all jumped up and down cheering. Draco had won the match for Hogsbridge!
The noise suddenly hit Draco like a blow as he flew down to the pitch to hand the snitch over to the referee. The entire Hogsbridge stand was standing and yelling and stamping. Banners of his name were suddenly shot out of wands and a chant rose up, "Dra-co! Dra-co! Dra-co!"
Draco ignored it. This was the same crowd who had reviled him for his family name and spread nasty rumours about him sparked off by the gutter press. He was not interested in people who could be so changeable. As he waited for the referee, he looked up in the stands. He knew where his friends were sitting. He grinned when he saw Luna nearly falling out of the stands in excitement waving at him, and Harry and Hermione jumping up and down with glee and cheering.
His other team members flew down from their posts and with huge friendly grins, clapped Draco on the back. Draco took it quietly. He didn't want friends like them. He would not be antagonistic, they were a team after all but he had no desire to suddenly act like their best friend either.
They shook hands with the defeated team and filed into the changing rooms. "Are you coming to the team dinner at Hogsmeade, Draco?" one of the beefy beaters asked him with a grin when they got inside.
"No, I didn't know anything about it and I've already made plans to see my friends," he replied quietly and truthfully. The beater's grin faltered a bit. They had deliberately not told Draco of their plans, not wanting him along at that stage.
"Don't you want to celebrate with your team?" one of the chasers asked ingenuously.
"If you'd wanted me along, you would have asked me before now," Draco said flatly and took his belongings into one of the private bathrooms for the team.
By the time he came out again, the others had gone. He went outside to find Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Padma and Luna waiting. Ron was at Aurors' Academy and would be joining them later. Luna went straight up to him with a big grin on her face. "You were brilliant," she said in a low voice, her green eyes shining and then kissed him lightly on the lips. He slipped one arm around her waist and held her close to kiss her properly. The adrenalin was kicking in and seeing Luna and his other friends so excited made him feel high as a kite. When Luna led him back to the others, they mobbed him. Harry clapped him enthusiastically on the back and Hermione nearly strangled him with hugs. Padma shook his hand warmly and congratulated him and Ginny gave him a small peck on the cheek.
The group partied late into the night. Lavendar minus Roy, and Parvati showed up then Seamus and Dean too. They watched replays on Harry's omnoculors. "I'm going to learn that move. You never know when it could be useful," Harry said quite seriously, watching it again for the hundredth time.
"I didn't mean to invent it," Draco said wryly. "It was either that or be knocked out by a flag pole."
"The Malfoy Maneuver," Luna said with a nod then a laugh.
"To the Malfoy Maneuver," Hermione repeated, raising her glass for a toast.
The others echoed her, also raising their glasses and they toasted the new Quidditch term. Draco shook his head and laughed his rare laugh. It was the best night of his life.
