Chapter 8 Beaters and Beaten
"Hermione...Hermione!" Draco screamed but it was no use she hadn't resurfaced and Draco knew he'd have to go in after her. Fumbling with the laces Draco hurriedly removed his skates and taking off his parka, scarf, gloves and beanie plunged into the unforgiving water. The piercingly cold water stabbed at him but he continued to swim down into the depths to find his love. Hermione lay at the bottom of the lake her lips tinged with blue and her face white against her black parka. Draco raced down to her placing an arm around her waist he hauled her to the surface, where he gasped for breath. Pushing her onto the surface of the ice he was careful to climb out so that it would not break underneath their weight.
Draco scrambled over to Hermione, she lay still unmoving, she had stopped breathing. Draco began mouth to mouth, before she coughed, Draco turned her onto her side where she coughed up the remaining water. As soon as Hermione started to breathe again Draco put his skates back on and taking her soaked parka off, then wrapping her into his he scooped her up into his arms and skated to the edge of the lake. He used his wand to transform his skates into shoes and proceeded to run up the bank. Placing Hermione into their picnic blanket, set off for the castle at a run.
He carried her directly to their common room and removing her skates and gloves he quickly ran a hot bath and placed her into the steaming water. Hermione's eyes began to flutter open and she cried out to Draco, assuring her he was there he held her hand tight. Draco then lifted her gently from the water and using a simple spell had both of them clean and dry. Afterwards he helped Hermione get out her pajamas and left her to change. As she emerged from her room Draco spelled the pajamas with extra warmth and the two settled into an armchair where Draco conjured up two large mugs of hot chocolate, and a feather down quilt. Hermione quickly fell asleep, Draco soon realizing as the remainder of her hot chocolate poured onto his lap. He took her mug and laughing lightly placed it onto the lamp table before spelling his pants dry once more. He then rose carefully as not to disturb her and carried her into his room where he placed her underneath the covers still inside the quilt from that afternoon. Draco changing quickly, climbed beneath the covers himself and was drifting between sleep soon after.
Both awoke early the next morning and Draco was quick to snatch the shower, Hermione grumbling as she returned to bed still wrapped in her quilt as it dragged along the stone floor. When Draco returned he wasn't at all surprised to see Hermione asleep once more as he returned, so quietly he scrambled out of the portrait hole after remembering that he had left his scarf, gloves, beanie and Hermione's parka on the ice from the day before. He hurried along the corridors just as the start of people began emerging from their common rooms for breakfast.
Quickly transforming his skates once more he skated to the hole in the ice which was remarkably the exact same as when Hermione had passed through, which caused a small suspicion at the back of Draco's mind. He collected the gear and as he headed away was stopped suddenly by a voice behind him. He spun quickly and almost toppled over before a mermaid appeared in what looked like winter wear mermaid style.
"Hello" she said in a melodious voice.
"Hello indeed, may I help you?" Draco asked in a slightly surprised tone.
"Well I just wanted to return something of that girls' you know the one that fell through here the other day?" she replied smiling.
"What could you possibly have? I have all her belongings right here."
"Well then you are quite mistaken...I seem to have something that is clearly not ours, it seemed to drop through the ice just before she did." The mermaid said her eyebrows knitting in slight frustration.
"You saw her drop through the ice and you did nothing to help her!" Draco stated crisply, in an icy voice that could match their current surroundings equally.
"Well we are told not to meddle in the affairs of mortals, I saw you dive down after her...A very heroic deed if I do say so myself, although if you don't mind I was doing you a favor just by bringing this here, but it you don't want it" she replied glaring.
"Fine...I'm sorry, its just it shook me up a little yesterday...What do you have anyway?" he asked quietly.
"It looks to be a locket of some description but the latch is clearly broken." She answered a questioned look upon her face.
"Well that is definitely Hermione's...thank you, sorry to leave you so soon, but I don't trust the ice here and am freezing as it is without another icy dunking." He replied taking the locket and looking quizzically at it skated away to the edge of the lake. Shrinking the rest of the clothing he placed it into his pocket, all except the locket.
Draco looked strangely at the locket as he lifted it to the sunlight and saw the obvious scorch mark covering the front of it, the gemstones had cracked most of the face was covered in black. Scratching it with a finger the substance lifted and underneath he found the carved D and H, "Hermione is going to be so disappointed, there must be some way to fix it before she notices it's gone." He mumbled as he trudged sorrowfully up the bank.
As Draco returned to the common room Hermione was still asleep shaking her awake her hauled her up and with a gentle push sent her on her way to the showers. Whilst she was gone Draco placed the clothing out to dry and took off his shoes, for the last time transforming them back to their original form as black speed skates. He was closely inspecting the damage that the locket had attained when Hermione re- entered the room and he stuffed it quickly back into his pocket.
"Draco I just wanted to thank you for yesterday, I don't remember much but I know you saved my life." She said as she settled into his lap and leant back against him.
"Love, I did nothing, it was my fault you fell in the first place...I shouldn't have raced you and then you wouldn't have needed saving." He replied drinking in her scent of wild berries. "It seems that every time we race you end up being injured...unless gravity disappears for a day I refuse to let this happen again." He said looking deeply into the rising flames of the fire.
"But it wasn't your fault it was just a coincidence, anyway the last fall was purely my fault. The ice was fine when we skated over it before, I feel as if there was something not quite right that fall." She said looking up at him. His glazed over expression of determination worried Hermione.
"What do you mean not quite right about it?" He said snapping out of his trance to look down into Hermione's innocent eyes.
"Well just before I fell through I saw a flash of red light and the next thing I knew I was in the icy water, I couldn't breathe and all my clothes were weighing me down...I could hear your muffled calls but I couldn't get back up, then there was nothing." She reminisced and shivered, Draco wrapping his arms around her tighter.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Draco whispered into her ear as he held her. Hermione started to sob.
"I never found the time."
"Hermione, Hermione it's all right don't worry about it, it's all over now." He kissed the top of her head and resting his chin on her head rocked her. Hermione wiped away her tears and rose.
"Well come on we still have a mountain of homework to complete and not to mention practicing charms, potions, transfiguration.." she began giving a large sniff and ticking them off on her fingers.
"Ok, Ok enough is enough let's just get started. I don't even want to think of all that stuff until I get to it." Draco said and pulling out his wand had all his homework soaring around the room before they settled onto the floor in a messy pile. Hermione doing the same her equipment settling neatly next to his some of the papers jumping out of the way as his dropped next to them in loud thumps.
"No wonder I have better grades than you." Hermione chuckled and with a flick of her wand the papers shuffled themselves into neatly organized piles. Dropping to the floor she took out a quill and placed it behind her ear before opening her Hogwart's A History and pulling out the red ribbon bookmark opened to a page covered in pictures of various wizards writing on what looked to be large scrolls some up to 20 feet long. Reaching into the picture she pulled out a sugar quill and began sucking on the end.
"Not by much." He said with a pout on his face and giving her a disbelieving look asked "Now I know why that is your favorite book, all these years I thought you just liked to read after class, but now I know the truth. You have a sweet tooth!" Hermione laughed and snapped him off a bit.
The rest of the week went on without incident and the pair managed to complete all of their assigned work plus extra credit tasks, leaving them a free weekend.
Night was falling on the Friday, Hermoine spending most of her day cleaning out her room, Draco hearing crashes, bangs and even what seemed to be a large explosion for hours beforehand. He however had spent his day secretly reading on how to fix Hermione's broken locket transfiguring the covers to appear to be advanced spell books.
"Draco as much as I would like to stay here like debilitated sloth's, I really think I should try and talk with Harry and Ron. I want them to accept you, us, together." Hermione said as she peered out of her bedroom door, holding a broomstick in one hand and gloves in the other. "And by the way...do you know where my parka is, I can't seem to remember where I put the darn thing." She continued her brow knitting in frustration.
"Well to tell you the truth I think you're wasting your time, but if you think they'll listen than that's a really good idea." He said as he closed the small black book he was reading as he lounged by the fire. "And your parka is where you left it on my floor underneath your dressing gown, about 20 pieces of parchment and that shirt of mine that you like wearing." He continued as he looked up a disbelieving look in his eyes. "What are you going to do?" he said raising a brow at her.
"Nothing illegal..trust me." She grinned at him.
"I thought you were the broom nazi of Gryffindor...since when do you fly?" He smirked at her before smiling.
"That was just during the first year, but during the holidays I stayed with Harry and Ron, what more can I say? After that I begged my parents until they bought me a Nimbus 2000 the same year for my birthday. Bet you didn't think little miss goody goody could put a guilt trip on someone did ya?" she grinned and laughed at his clearly surprised expression.
"Well at last you have joined the dark side, welcome.." He grinned back and laughed.
"If that's all then, I think I'll be going..do you want to come? You still have that Nimbus 2002 don't you?" Hermione asked as she crossed the common room and submerged into Draco's room.
"No I think I'd rather stay here...the last time I was on my broom my father put the cruciactus curse on me and I fell breaking my arm, before he took my broom and wand leaving me unconscious in the forest behind the manor. So I don't think I'll be getting on a broom any time soon, not until the quidditch season at least. Even then I don't think I will get on the team, I'm not good enough too." Hermione gave him a look as though asking if he needed comforting, but he shrugged her off. "Enough about me you go and have some fun, and if you can find it take my scarf since you don't have one." He said before Hermione headed for the balcony just before she climbed onto the rail he yelled out. "And be careful!" Hermione giggled before disappearing out of sight.
This was just the opportunity Draco had been waiting for; Hermione feeling the exact same as she zoomed past the castle. Throughout the week Draco had tried to catch a minute alone to fix the locket but was quick to stuff it back inside his pockets each time. Now he could really get to work. Reading up on the topic he opened to the selected page and began the incantation. It took a somewhat small amount of time and Draco watched as the gold melted back together the gemstones reforming to become whole again and the design shifting back into its original position. All that was left to do was a quick spell to reform the latch and make the necklace whole again. Hermione would hardly even notice he thought as he grinned to himself. Now it was ready, Draco dressed up warmly and taking his broom in his hand he gingerly stepped up onto the ledge of the balcony and mounting the broom took off slowly, with each meter his fear lessening. His arm gave a painful twinge which forced him to lose grip on the handle but he was quick to regain control. Taking a snitch out of his pocket, he had borrowed it from his private quidditch training set, he tapped it with a wand and attaching the locket sent it off to find Hermione.
Draco swayed and ducked as he wove his way through the trees following the small snitch which was hard to make out in the small amount of light before he came to an open clearing where Hermione was hovering in one corner, crying. Draco quickly captured the snitch tapping it with a wand it became limp in his hand and as its wings folded he shoved it into his pocket. He zoomed over to Hermione before pulling to an abrupt halt so that he ended up hovering parallel to her. She turned and grabbing him around the waist sobbed into his chest.
"Hermione...what's this all about?" he asked patting her hair and pulling her closer.
"I tried really hard, you have to believe me I did...but..I, I can't find it any...anywhere!" she cried and sobbed harder.
"What Hermione, what can't you find?" he asked softly now rubbing her back as she turned away from him.
"The locket you gave me...I searched and cle..cleaned all day, I looked everywhere but I ca..can...can't find i..it. I thought you would be really disappoin..ted and you might not love me any..anymore" she cried even harder and flew away from him speeding up each second. Draco raced after her calling into the night urging his broom to move faster and began to slowly overtake her before he managed to swerve in front of her forcing her to stop.
"Love, I don't care what happens to the locket, I will never stop loving you no matter what happens. But just to make you feel better I brought you a surprise." He said bringing out the snitch. He tapped it lightly and threw it away from him. The snitch's wings exploded outwards and began fluttering madly as it raced along the field.
"A snitch, oh Draco...that's so..thoughtful." She said before she looked at him, the look he returned gave her the impression that this wasn't just a game.
"Go on catch it, I think what you may capture might just be your heart." Draco said and Hermione smiled as she raced after the small glimmer of gold.
It took Hermione the best part of an hour to catch the snitch Draco hovering just behind her following her every move. Hermione choked back a sob as she disentangled the locket from around the small snitch before racing over to Draco and wrapping her arms so tightly around him, it nearly unseated him from his broom.
"Draco, I love you so much. Now I know why you're the seeker, even if you don't win you still have a lot of dam good fun. Although not to much to my liking I think I would prefer beater." Hermione smiled and slowly released him.
"I love you too but beater? You? The innocent Hermione" Draco laughed heartily.
"Well what better way to release the anger especially from cryptically encoded boyfriends." She replied as she placed the locket around her neck and fastened the clasp. "Okay now I think it is your turn to catch the legendary snitch, since you are Hogwart's best seeker." Taunted Hermione as she threw the snitch out into the field. Draco sped up to catch it his fingers outstretched as he just about closed in on the snitch. As he turned a flood of black cloaks swirled around Hermione a black gloved hand clamping over her mouth before the band disappeared.
One black figure appeared a moment after and hovering above Draco a crisp voice rang out. "Oh Draco, I love you...Hogwart's best seeker..since when did I raise my child to live on such foolish things as emotions, love, fear, lust, hope. I raised you with respect and hate that is all, none of this self-indulgent love. But fear not my child by dawn these things you love will be gone and you will not turn against the Dark Lord again, ever." He chuckled before placing Draco under the cruciactus curse, Draco fought with all his strength coming close to falling from his broom to his death, the ground over 150 feet below.
"Father?" Draco spat the word, clutching his broom handle so hard his knuckles turned white with the strain.
"Who did you think? Mother Merlin? The Dark Lord has many plans for you my son, many plans; you are to be his heir and nothing will stand in your way. The girl will die by morning." He said and vanished.
"Hermione...Hermione!" Draco screamed but it was no use she hadn't resurfaced and Draco knew he'd have to go in after her. Fumbling with the laces Draco hurriedly removed his skates and taking off his parka, scarf, gloves and beanie plunged into the unforgiving water. The piercingly cold water stabbed at him but he continued to swim down into the depths to find his love. Hermione lay at the bottom of the lake her lips tinged with blue and her face white against her black parka. Draco raced down to her placing an arm around her waist he hauled her to the surface, where he gasped for breath. Pushing her onto the surface of the ice he was careful to climb out so that it would not break underneath their weight.
Draco scrambled over to Hermione, she lay still unmoving, she had stopped breathing. Draco began mouth to mouth, before she coughed, Draco turned her onto her side where she coughed up the remaining water. As soon as Hermione started to breathe again Draco put his skates back on and taking her soaked parka off, then wrapping her into his he scooped her up into his arms and skated to the edge of the lake. He used his wand to transform his skates into shoes and proceeded to run up the bank. Placing Hermione into their picnic blanket, set off for the castle at a run.
He carried her directly to their common room and removing her skates and gloves he quickly ran a hot bath and placed her into the steaming water. Hermione's eyes began to flutter open and she cried out to Draco, assuring her he was there he held her hand tight. Draco then lifted her gently from the water and using a simple spell had both of them clean and dry. Afterwards he helped Hermione get out her pajamas and left her to change. As she emerged from her room Draco spelled the pajamas with extra warmth and the two settled into an armchair where Draco conjured up two large mugs of hot chocolate, and a feather down quilt. Hermione quickly fell asleep, Draco soon realizing as the remainder of her hot chocolate poured onto his lap. He took her mug and laughing lightly placed it onto the lamp table before spelling his pants dry once more. He then rose carefully as not to disturb her and carried her into his room where he placed her underneath the covers still inside the quilt from that afternoon. Draco changing quickly, climbed beneath the covers himself and was drifting between sleep soon after.
Both awoke early the next morning and Draco was quick to snatch the shower, Hermione grumbling as she returned to bed still wrapped in her quilt as it dragged along the stone floor. When Draco returned he wasn't at all surprised to see Hermione asleep once more as he returned, so quietly he scrambled out of the portrait hole after remembering that he had left his scarf, gloves, beanie and Hermione's parka on the ice from the day before. He hurried along the corridors just as the start of people began emerging from their common rooms for breakfast.
Quickly transforming his skates once more he skated to the hole in the ice which was remarkably the exact same as when Hermione had passed through, which caused a small suspicion at the back of Draco's mind. He collected the gear and as he headed away was stopped suddenly by a voice behind him. He spun quickly and almost toppled over before a mermaid appeared in what looked like winter wear mermaid style.
"Hello" she said in a melodious voice.
"Hello indeed, may I help you?" Draco asked in a slightly surprised tone.
"Well I just wanted to return something of that girls' you know the one that fell through here the other day?" she replied smiling.
"What could you possibly have? I have all her belongings right here."
"Well then you are quite mistaken...I seem to have something that is clearly not ours, it seemed to drop through the ice just before she did." The mermaid said her eyebrows knitting in slight frustration.
"You saw her drop through the ice and you did nothing to help her!" Draco stated crisply, in an icy voice that could match their current surroundings equally.
"Well we are told not to meddle in the affairs of mortals, I saw you dive down after her...A very heroic deed if I do say so myself, although if you don't mind I was doing you a favor just by bringing this here, but it you don't want it" she replied glaring.
"Fine...I'm sorry, its just it shook me up a little yesterday...What do you have anyway?" he asked quietly.
"It looks to be a locket of some description but the latch is clearly broken." She answered a questioned look upon her face.
"Well that is definitely Hermione's...thank you, sorry to leave you so soon, but I don't trust the ice here and am freezing as it is without another icy dunking." He replied taking the locket and looking quizzically at it skated away to the edge of the lake. Shrinking the rest of the clothing he placed it into his pocket, all except the locket.
Draco looked strangely at the locket as he lifted it to the sunlight and saw the obvious scorch mark covering the front of it, the gemstones had cracked most of the face was covered in black. Scratching it with a finger the substance lifted and underneath he found the carved D and H, "Hermione is going to be so disappointed, there must be some way to fix it before she notices it's gone." He mumbled as he trudged sorrowfully up the bank.
As Draco returned to the common room Hermione was still asleep shaking her awake her hauled her up and with a gentle push sent her on her way to the showers. Whilst she was gone Draco placed the clothing out to dry and took off his shoes, for the last time transforming them back to their original form as black speed skates. He was closely inspecting the damage that the locket had attained when Hermione re- entered the room and he stuffed it quickly back into his pocket.
"Draco I just wanted to thank you for yesterday, I don't remember much but I know you saved my life." She said as she settled into his lap and leant back against him.
"Love, I did nothing, it was my fault you fell in the first place...I shouldn't have raced you and then you wouldn't have needed saving." He replied drinking in her scent of wild berries. "It seems that every time we race you end up being injured...unless gravity disappears for a day I refuse to let this happen again." He said looking deeply into the rising flames of the fire.
"But it wasn't your fault it was just a coincidence, anyway the last fall was purely my fault. The ice was fine when we skated over it before, I feel as if there was something not quite right that fall." She said looking up at him. His glazed over expression of determination worried Hermione.
"What do you mean not quite right about it?" He said snapping out of his trance to look down into Hermione's innocent eyes.
"Well just before I fell through I saw a flash of red light and the next thing I knew I was in the icy water, I couldn't breathe and all my clothes were weighing me down...I could hear your muffled calls but I couldn't get back up, then there was nothing." She reminisced and shivered, Draco wrapping his arms around her tighter.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Draco whispered into her ear as he held her. Hermione started to sob.
"I never found the time."
"Hermione, Hermione it's all right don't worry about it, it's all over now." He kissed the top of her head and resting his chin on her head rocked her. Hermione wiped away her tears and rose.
"Well come on we still have a mountain of homework to complete and not to mention practicing charms, potions, transfiguration.." she began giving a large sniff and ticking them off on her fingers.
"Ok, Ok enough is enough let's just get started. I don't even want to think of all that stuff until I get to it." Draco said and pulling out his wand had all his homework soaring around the room before they settled onto the floor in a messy pile. Hermione doing the same her equipment settling neatly next to his some of the papers jumping out of the way as his dropped next to them in loud thumps.
"No wonder I have better grades than you." Hermione chuckled and with a flick of her wand the papers shuffled themselves into neatly organized piles. Dropping to the floor she took out a quill and placed it behind her ear before opening her Hogwart's A History and pulling out the red ribbon bookmark opened to a page covered in pictures of various wizards writing on what looked to be large scrolls some up to 20 feet long. Reaching into the picture she pulled out a sugar quill and began sucking on the end.
"Not by much." He said with a pout on his face and giving her a disbelieving look asked "Now I know why that is your favorite book, all these years I thought you just liked to read after class, but now I know the truth. You have a sweet tooth!" Hermione laughed and snapped him off a bit.
The rest of the week went on without incident and the pair managed to complete all of their assigned work plus extra credit tasks, leaving them a free weekend.
Night was falling on the Friday, Hermoine spending most of her day cleaning out her room, Draco hearing crashes, bangs and even what seemed to be a large explosion for hours beforehand. He however had spent his day secretly reading on how to fix Hermione's broken locket transfiguring the covers to appear to be advanced spell books.
"Draco as much as I would like to stay here like debilitated sloth's, I really think I should try and talk with Harry and Ron. I want them to accept you, us, together." Hermione said as she peered out of her bedroom door, holding a broomstick in one hand and gloves in the other. "And by the way...do you know where my parka is, I can't seem to remember where I put the darn thing." She continued her brow knitting in frustration.
"Well to tell you the truth I think you're wasting your time, but if you think they'll listen than that's a really good idea." He said as he closed the small black book he was reading as he lounged by the fire. "And your parka is where you left it on my floor underneath your dressing gown, about 20 pieces of parchment and that shirt of mine that you like wearing." He continued as he looked up a disbelieving look in his eyes. "What are you going to do?" he said raising a brow at her.
"Nothing illegal..trust me." She grinned at him.
"I thought you were the broom nazi of Gryffindor...since when do you fly?" He smirked at her before smiling.
"That was just during the first year, but during the holidays I stayed with Harry and Ron, what more can I say? After that I begged my parents until they bought me a Nimbus 2000 the same year for my birthday. Bet you didn't think little miss goody goody could put a guilt trip on someone did ya?" she grinned and laughed at his clearly surprised expression.
"Well at last you have joined the dark side, welcome.." He grinned back and laughed.
"If that's all then, I think I'll be going..do you want to come? You still have that Nimbus 2002 don't you?" Hermione asked as she crossed the common room and submerged into Draco's room.
"No I think I'd rather stay here...the last time I was on my broom my father put the cruciactus curse on me and I fell breaking my arm, before he took my broom and wand leaving me unconscious in the forest behind the manor. So I don't think I'll be getting on a broom any time soon, not until the quidditch season at least. Even then I don't think I will get on the team, I'm not good enough too." Hermione gave him a look as though asking if he needed comforting, but he shrugged her off. "Enough about me you go and have some fun, and if you can find it take my scarf since you don't have one." He said before Hermione headed for the balcony just before she climbed onto the rail he yelled out. "And be careful!" Hermione giggled before disappearing out of sight.
This was just the opportunity Draco had been waiting for; Hermione feeling the exact same as she zoomed past the castle. Throughout the week Draco had tried to catch a minute alone to fix the locket but was quick to stuff it back inside his pockets each time. Now he could really get to work. Reading up on the topic he opened to the selected page and began the incantation. It took a somewhat small amount of time and Draco watched as the gold melted back together the gemstones reforming to become whole again and the design shifting back into its original position. All that was left to do was a quick spell to reform the latch and make the necklace whole again. Hermione would hardly even notice he thought as he grinned to himself. Now it was ready, Draco dressed up warmly and taking his broom in his hand he gingerly stepped up onto the ledge of the balcony and mounting the broom took off slowly, with each meter his fear lessening. His arm gave a painful twinge which forced him to lose grip on the handle but he was quick to regain control. Taking a snitch out of his pocket, he had borrowed it from his private quidditch training set, he tapped it with a wand and attaching the locket sent it off to find Hermione.
Draco swayed and ducked as he wove his way through the trees following the small snitch which was hard to make out in the small amount of light before he came to an open clearing where Hermione was hovering in one corner, crying. Draco quickly captured the snitch tapping it with a wand it became limp in his hand and as its wings folded he shoved it into his pocket. He zoomed over to Hermione before pulling to an abrupt halt so that he ended up hovering parallel to her. She turned and grabbing him around the waist sobbed into his chest.
"Hermione...what's this all about?" he asked patting her hair and pulling her closer.
"I tried really hard, you have to believe me I did...but..I, I can't find it any...anywhere!" she cried and sobbed harder.
"What Hermione, what can't you find?" he asked softly now rubbing her back as she turned away from him.
"The locket you gave me...I searched and cle..cleaned all day, I looked everywhere but I ca..can...can't find i..it. I thought you would be really disappoin..ted and you might not love me any..anymore" she cried even harder and flew away from him speeding up each second. Draco raced after her calling into the night urging his broom to move faster and began to slowly overtake her before he managed to swerve in front of her forcing her to stop.
"Love, I don't care what happens to the locket, I will never stop loving you no matter what happens. But just to make you feel better I brought you a surprise." He said bringing out the snitch. He tapped it lightly and threw it away from him. The snitch's wings exploded outwards and began fluttering madly as it raced along the field.
"A snitch, oh Draco...that's so..thoughtful." She said before she looked at him, the look he returned gave her the impression that this wasn't just a game.
"Go on catch it, I think what you may capture might just be your heart." Draco said and Hermione smiled as she raced after the small glimmer of gold.
It took Hermione the best part of an hour to catch the snitch Draco hovering just behind her following her every move. Hermione choked back a sob as she disentangled the locket from around the small snitch before racing over to Draco and wrapping her arms so tightly around him, it nearly unseated him from his broom.
"Draco, I love you so much. Now I know why you're the seeker, even if you don't win you still have a lot of dam good fun. Although not to much to my liking I think I would prefer beater." Hermione smiled and slowly released him.
"I love you too but beater? You? The innocent Hermione" Draco laughed heartily.
"Well what better way to release the anger especially from cryptically encoded boyfriends." She replied as she placed the locket around her neck and fastened the clasp. "Okay now I think it is your turn to catch the legendary snitch, since you are Hogwart's best seeker." Taunted Hermione as she threw the snitch out into the field. Draco sped up to catch it his fingers outstretched as he just about closed in on the snitch. As he turned a flood of black cloaks swirled around Hermione a black gloved hand clamping over her mouth before the band disappeared.
One black figure appeared a moment after and hovering above Draco a crisp voice rang out. "Oh Draco, I love you...Hogwart's best seeker..since when did I raise my child to live on such foolish things as emotions, love, fear, lust, hope. I raised you with respect and hate that is all, none of this self-indulgent love. But fear not my child by dawn these things you love will be gone and you will not turn against the Dark Lord again, ever." He chuckled before placing Draco under the cruciactus curse, Draco fought with all his strength coming close to falling from his broom to his death, the ground over 150 feet below.
"Father?" Draco spat the word, clutching his broom handle so hard his knuckles turned white with the strain.
"Who did you think? Mother Merlin? The Dark Lord has many plans for you my son, many plans; you are to be his heir and nothing will stand in your way. The girl will die by morning." He said and vanished.