What the Snitch and Pitch Decide

Talon McGreggor

Chp 2-- They Collaborate

Disclaimer: Sorry for my laziness. This can be found in the beginning of chapter one.

"That is so unfair!"

Harry scowled. "Yah, Ron. I know."

"Snape can't do that to you! You weren't cheating!" Hermione clutched her books tighter to her chest in an attempt to cool her anger. The trio walked swiftly down the hall, out of the dungeons and away from their dreaded Potions classroom.

"The only reason he thought you were cheating is because of that horrible Malfoy," she continued. "That boy has something coming to him. One day he'll meet someone much more powerful, and no one will be there to back him up!"

A look of realization briefly lit up Ron's be-freckled face. "You know, I bet he was angry because you beat him to the snitch!"

"Just like a boy," Hermione spat. Then, prompted by a glare from her two friends, added, "And just like a Malfoy."

Ron continued, "Least he got his wrist mangled. That was worth it." The two boys smiled.

A little ways down the hall, a snide remark hit them full in the face.

"Pity poor little Potter boy won't be able to practice all week," Malfoy make a small, mocking moue with his mouth. "He'll be stuck in detention the whole time for cheating." His eyes met Harry's in a challenge.

Harry's sneer could easily rival Snape's. "Malfoy, why don't you crawl back under that rock you came out from and stay there. Do the world a favor."

"But then I wouldn't be able to beat Ravenclaw in this weekend's quidditch game. Hmm, and you won't even be there to watch."

Harry spat on the ground in reply, narrowly missing Draco's shoe. The two boys looked like they'd be at each other any minute. Hermione placed a staying hand on her friends' arms.

"Listen to your Mudblood girlfriend, at least she knows better than to tangle with her superiors." He strode gracefully away. Harry and Ron simultaneously jolted to sprint after the ugly git, but Hermione skillfully yanked them back by the neck of their robes.

"He's not worth it. Harry, you've already a week's detention. You don't need any more."

"Ooh, one day he'll get it." Ron's ears we crimson. Harry turned sharply on his heel and strode away.

Hermione turned to Ron, "Yes, I'm sure one day he will."

***

"Heard about Harry's detention," Lee said. Hermione had arrived in the commentator's booth exactly thirty minutes before game time. "Shame he can't see the match."

"Does he want to?"

Lee shrugged. "At least he'd be able to watch Slytherin play. Pick up strategies."

"Slytherin's favored to win," she replied, monotone. Her eyes darted around the empty quidditch pitch. A few early students littered the stands.

"Favored. That doesn't mean they will. Anyway, I just need you to point out anything interesting. A well aimed bludger, a Ravenclaw player strategically placed by the goal that Slytherin hadn't notice, and especially any irregular movements of the Seekers."

"I just point?" This really was easy.

Lee nodded. "Just point." She shrugged. They eased down into what resembled Muggle lawn-chairs. Lee opened a deep desk-drawer and pulled out two butterbeers. He tossed one to Hermione. She smiled and they waited for the game to begin.

***

"They're off! Montague's got the quaffle. Oh, damn, it doesn't look good. Yes! Hit by a bludger!"

Hermione's eyes raced in her head. 'Something interesting…something interesting….'

Meanwhile, Lee continued, "Quaffle's picked up by team captain, Davies, and makes a beeline for the goal. Quick pass to Bradley. Nicely done!" A bludger was avoided. A Ravenclaw took the opportunity to strike it at the opposing beater. It hit him square in the chest.

"Now that's a beautiful hit, guys! Bradley's still going for the goal- can he make it?" A second later, then amongst the cheering, "Yes! Yes he can! Ravenclaw up ten nothing."

Hermione could see the Slytherins scowling. What kind of job did she have? Lee covered everything. She wasn't neede---

"Lee," she hissed, and pointed to the two Seekers.

He stopped his commentary on the bludger battle. "Wow, the seekers are at it again! They're in a dive--uh--no--they're out of it. They're zig-zagging across the pitch. What in the world? Never seen this before."

Cho Chang and Malfoy were indeed weaving in and out of each other's wakes. The snitch moved left, right; further right, then directly left. Their heads spun. Where would it be next? It moved up and right, then down and left. In the confusion, Cho followed it up. Malfoy, obviously slower, saw the down motion first and went for it. His broom hit the end of Cho's and she went flying.

Hermione gasped. "Lee look!" A bit too loud…oh well.

Lee followed her finger, having abandoned the seeker's game to highlight the chaser's. "Whoah! Is Cho okay?"

Cho Chang barely had a grip on her broom. It had stopped , but the force had knocked her off. She was hanging and trying to swing herself back on.

"What did Malfoy do?"

"'Mione!" It was Lee's turn to hiss. "Keep your voice down!." Her face turned bright pink. Maybe this job was a tad bit more challenging. Lee turned back to the game. Right in time to make the final announcement, "And, shoving Chang out of the way, he's grabbed the snitch. Slytherin wins!"

He turned the mic off.

"You sounded excited."

"It's false. I have to be fair to all the houses."

"McGonagall's rules?"

Lee nodded.

***

The great hall wasn't too perky that night. All but the Slytherins were a bit miffed that they won. The Slytherin table was full of congratulations and menacing threats of what they'll do to the next team they play.

"So what happened?" Harry asked over a plate of mashed potatoes and turkey. He'd had to carry out his last detention with Snape.

"Malfoy completely sent Cho flying to get the snitch. She nearly fell off her broom," Hermione replied.

Harry's eyes hardened.

"It was awful," added Ginny.

"Totally," Ron confirmed.

"The biggest sort of foul pl--"

"All right!" Harry interrupted. "I got it!" He looked down to his plate. Suddenly his appetite had vanished. All his thoughts were on Cho. "Let's just go up now."

"But 'arry," Ron objected through a mouth of peas, "we' 'ardly eaten anyzh--" Hermione jabbed him in the stomach. Boys never noticed anything. Or maybe the trait was unique to Ron.

"Let's go," she agreed.

All but Harry stuffed a last forkful of something in their mouths before exiting the hall. The corridors were dark and the candles cast flickering shadows. There was something magical about Hogwarts. Not just that it housed so many witches and wizards. No…it was something more. Something in the air.

Hermione pondered just that before abruptly meeting the wall with her backside.

"Granger…" Well, it wasn't Snape. Must be…

"Malfoy," she greeted more with more civility than the occasion called for.

"Hey, Malfoy, why don't you and I have a natter outside. Alone?" Harry issued the challenge. Draco turned his sneering face to the Gryffindor boy.

"Because my quarry's with the Mudblood here."

"What the bloody---?" Ron's ears were visibly red even in the shadows.

"Yah," Draco turned back to Hermione, still pinned to the wall, "with you." He let her up so he could pace in front of her. "You made me look bad out there."

"Me? How? I said nothing!"

"Every eye out there was on me because of you." That was at least true.

"Lee was the one who made the remark!" Ron yelled.

"And who's the one who made 'im look?" retorted Malfoy.

"It's not my fault you foul play every other seeker on the house teams!" Hermione got back into the argument.

"Every other player does it, Mudblood. Everyone does it!" He spoke to her like she was a daft child. "But when I do it suddenly it's foul play."

"You know what I think?" she countered boldly, "I think it's all in your head. You're trying to blame someone for your bad boy Slytherin reputation. That's no one's fault but your own."

"You're blind, Granger."

"Is that all you can say because you know she's right?" Malfoy turned meaningfully to Harry, faked a lunge intended to scare him, and walked away. After a moment's silence,

"You got 'im that time, 'Mione."

"Thanks, Ron."

"Yup."

"You okay?"

"Yes, Harry. I'm fine. Let's go up." They continued the trek to the common room.

((A/N: Whoo, for a while I was stuck in the first scene. Seemed to turn out ok though. Big thanks to violentdelight-- the first to review the fic! Means a lot. Also a thank you to Stef, who read it also and reviewed another of my works. ::smiles:: I apologize for any Ravenclaw team-mate names that are wrong at this point. I didn't know any other than Cho who played in Harry's fifth year, so I might've used some old ones. Thanks for reading this far, and chap 3's not far off.

`Talon))