Author: Silvestra

Rating: R

Genre: Angst/Drama/Romance/Horror

Pairings: Draco/various, Draco/Harry, Harry/Ginny, Hermione/boy!Blaise and various other

Summary: When a bunch of students are locked inside the castle during a storm, curiosity and excitement take over fear and despair... (A/N: This idea has been boiling in my head for ages!)

Disclaimer: As much as I'd like to, I don't own Harry, Draco or any other character. They belong to Joanne Rowling, even though the "incredibly smart" plot twists and some characters belong to me.

WARNING!! Contains spoilers from OotP, including THE DEATH!! So if you don't want to be spoiled, don't read this and send me e-mails saying "WHY DID YOU SPOIL MY OOTP EXPERIENCE YOU HORRIBLE PERSON!" So don't tell me you didn't know there would be spoilers. You've been warned.

*~*~*~*

It was a normal, boring Friday. It was almost two o'clock and Harry Potter was waiting for the lesson to end. Even though Transfiguration was one of the most interesting subjects, Harry couldn't help himself from looking at his watch now and then.

"Why is she teaching that to us? I mean, none of us will learn it anyway, apart from Hermione," Ron whispered. Minerva McGonagall was trying to teach how to transform an animal into another form. Everyone was listening carefully, since this part would be required to know how to do if one wished to be an Animagus some day.

"Well, at least I'm going to try," Harry said quietly. "I want to become an Animagus." Just like my father and Sirius, he thought sadly.

Sirius Black had been Harry's godfather who had died two years ago when Harry was a fifth-year. Still memories of Sirius lying on the floor tickled Harry's head and he often woke up to notice that his scar was hurting more than ever. His nightmares of Sirius' death were even worse than his nightmares of his parents dying; but after all, Harry had seen Sirius die in front of his eyes.

"Harry?" Harry heard Hermione's soft voice on his right. Harry knew that she probably knew Harry was thinking about Sirius; Hermione tended to have the some sort of ability to read his expressions.

"Mm, I'm fine," Harry mumbled. "Honestly," he continued sharply after seeing Hermione's concerned expression.

"Alright, alright," Hermione said, a bit taken aback. "You looked worried, that's all." Harry fell silent. How was Hermione always so right? How could she know how he felt even when he didn't show it?

"Harry..." Hermione put her hand on his arm and suddenly Harry was thankful that Hermione understood. And suddenly he felt really good having Hermione touch him. But Harry pushed her hand away.

"I'm fine, really, Hermione," he muttered and focused on making notes. Hermione looked at him for a while, shrugged and continued to write her notes, too.

"For the next lesson, I'd like you to write a foot-long essay about the pros and cons of being an Animagus," professor McGonagall said. "No excuses," she added sharply, looking at Draco Malfoy who was already telling Crabbe and Goyle how to avoid writing it. Malfoy sneered, took his things and left. Harry noticed himself looking after Malfoy.

"Harry?" It was Ron. Harry blinked a couple of times and shook his head. "Are you okay?" Harry forced himself to smile a bit.

"Yeah," he said. "Let's go."

*~*~*~*

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione said when they were having breakfast next morning. "You have to eat something. It's only Quidditch, after all," she added. Ron looked very pale. It was his first Quidditch game into his seventh year and he was rather nervous; last year they had lost the Quidditch Cup basically because of him.

"Hermione's right, Ron," Harry said, nodding. "You haven't eaten a bloody piece of toast."

"But the match is against Slytherin! You know how violent they tend to get sometimes," Ron snarled. Hermione and Harry exchanged he-is-right-looks. Also Ron noticed this.

"See? You can't deny that basically I am in a great physical danger, can you?" he nearly shouted. Hermione put her hand on Ron's.

"Ron, please! You won't be badly injured, you know you won't," she said shakily. "Madame Hooch is a strict referee, you know it, don't you?" Hermione smiled at Ron. Ron's expression softened a bit and he squeezed Hermione's hand.

"You're right, 'Mione," he said. "No badass Slytherin is going to beat me up tonight," he said with a glimpse of pride in his voice. Hermione and Harry smiled.

"That's the way to go, mate," Harry said.

*~*~*~*

Fifteen minutes later Harry and Ron left to the dressing rooms, as Hermione gave both of them a peck on the cheek and made for the Quidditch Field to get good seats for her and Ginny.

Harry and Ron changed their Quidditch robes on and Harry, the Captain, took a look at his team. He was still the Seeker. Ron was the Keeper. Ginny's fellow Gryffindor friend, Fiona Bell, had proven herself last year; Harry had seen that she was an excellent Chaser. But no wonder she was; after all she was Katie Bell's little sister. The two other Chasers were Juliet Donovan, a seventh-year like Harry, and Dinah Pierce, who was a fifth-year. The team also had two new Beaters. Seamus and Dean had both made their ways to the team and Harry was really fond of having them in the team.

Draco Malfoy was, no doubt, the Slytherin team's Captain. His dumb friends Crabbe and Goyle were still Beaters. There were three guys as Chasers who Harry didn't really know, but Harry knew that their new Keeper was a guy called Blaise Zabini. Harry had met him a couple of times and he was less Slytherin-ish than his fellow classmates. Harry could actually have a friendly conversation with Blaise.

"OK, team," Harry said after clearing his throat. Ron, Fiona, Juliet, Dinah, Dean and Seamus turned their eyes to Harry and fell silent. "I know that some of you have bad memories of playing against Slytherin- -" Ron coughed "- -but I am telling you, they are worse this year. Now that Marcus Flint finally made it out of Hogwarts, they have one decent player less," Harry said and his team mates laughed and snorted on the comment about Marcus. "However, they seem to have a brilliant Keeper this year."

"I've seen them practise," Juliet Donovan said with her calm voice. Harry looked at her. "I spied on them," Juliet said and blushed a bit. Fiona and Dinah giggled. Then Harry heard how Juliet told the girls how she had seen one of the Slytherin Chasers in shower.

"Ahem," Harry said loudly. "Now – you remember our strategy, don't you?"

"Yeah," Dean said. "We hit them in the head as hard as we can," he snarled and the girls giggled in awe. Harry glared at Dean but couldn't help a nasty smile that crept to his lips.

"Ok, anyway, the game's starting so we'd better get going. None of you be afraid, worthy fellow team mates. We'll win this match just like we've never lost against Slytherin," Harry said with a tragic voice. The girls giggled again.

"He is crazy, I'm telling you," Ron muttered to Seamus, his face pale.

*~*~*~*

"And the Gryffindor team arrives! The team has some excellent new players, only Harry Potter and Ron Weasley remained from the last semester - -" Lee Jordan, who now was hired as Hogwarts' official commentator and narrator, began.

"Jordan..." McGonagall started.

"Alright, alright, professor. Well, anyway, both teams are in a good shape and I'm expecting a violent and exciting game, everyone! Right – the Gryffindor team: Finnigan, Thomas, Bell, Donovan, Pierce, Weasley and Potter!" Cheers and whistles echoed in the audience, but amongst them Harry could hear also Slytherins' 'boo's and other exclamations.

"And the Slytherin team, winner of last year's Quidditch Cup, arrives! Crabbe, Goyle, Dark, Harley, Yale, Zabini and Malfoy!" Seven emerald green spots rose to the air and flew past Harry with their Nimbus 2001s. Harry was satisfied with the thought that Malfoy still hadn't got a new broom. After all, Harry had a Firebolt...

"And here's the referee; Madame Hooch! She lets the Bludgers out, releases the Snitch – the Quaffle's in and the game begins! Bell immediately catches the Quaffle, passes on to Pierce who passes back to Bell... Looks like this is going to be a rough game, Pierce attempts to score but, oh my! Zabini, what an amazing keeper! That was almost impossible one to catch," Lee went on.

The game went on pretty neatly, despite all of the Slytherins' tries to knock Harry off his broom. Gryffindor scored six times in a short time but Slytherin quickly tied. Harry started to get frustrated; the Snitch was nowhere to be seen. He flew around the Field, eyeing around and trying to see the Golden little ball. And then...

"And a Bludger hit by Crabbe hits Potter! What a scandal! Potter falls off his broom and other members of the team hurry to catch him, while the Slytherins score once... em, twice. And - -" 'boo's and hisses are heard "- - Draco Malfoy catches the Snitch."

*~*~*~*

"That was a great one, Draco!" Pansy chirped as the Slytherin team returned to their common room.

"Yeah! 'Twas about time you defeated Potter," Frank LeBonne, a seventh-year Slytherin, said. The Slytherin girls, including Pansy, Millicent, and a pretty blonde called Devilita Storm surrounded Draco and shot admiring comments at him. Draco smirked at his worshippers.

"I've always known you are better than that scar-head," Devilita said, grinning.

"Thanks, Storm," Draco said and looked into her eyes. "So, I guess there'll be a party today," he yelled. Other Slytherins burst into laughter and cheers.

*~*~*~*

Harry was flying. He was floating in the air freely, fresh air coming to his face. He saw something... the Snitch... it was so close, yet so far. He stretched out his arm to catch it, but then Draco Malfoy flew right in front of him, sneering. Malfoy caught the Snitch right under his nose...

"Ha ha ha!" Harry heard the blonde Slytherin laugh. But then something strange happened... Malfoy grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him close, giving him a demanding kiss...

Harry woke up from the dream, cold sweat on his forehead.

"What the...?" He looked around. He was in the hospital wing. He tried his head with his hands; it was in bondages. He took his glasses from the table and tried to get up.

"No, Potter, stay in bed!" he heard Madame Pomfrey say strictly. She walked quickly to Harry and gave him a small bottle of something greenish.

"What happened?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"You fell off your broom," Pomfrey said sharply. "Luckily Mr. Weasley caught you in mid-air so you didn't hurt seriously!" Harry shut his eyes and sighed.

"No. What happened? In the game?"

"Malfoy caught the Snitch, of course! They didn't even ask for a new game, even though you were injured. Slimy people, Slytherins," Pomfrey said through gritted teeth. "They were just laughing at you, though you could have died," she added. Harry grunted.

Suddenly the door opened and Hermione and Ginny burst in.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said, tears in her eyes and wrapping her arms around him. "I was so scared," she sniffed.

"You have to thank Ron for me," Harry said with a raspy voice. "He – he saved my life." Now that he said it out loud, it felt extraordinary. Someone saved his life.

"We saw it, Harry, he was amazing! I was sure you'd fall down and..." Hermione burst into tears. Ginny patted her hand.

"Calm down, 'Mione," she said. "But you guys lost," Ginny said to Harry. Harry grunted.

"I know. Pomfrey told me. That slimy git caught the Snitch," he muttered. And when he said that, he remembered the dream he had just a moment ago... Draco Malfoy kissing him... Harry blushed heavily. Ginny and Hermione looked at each other.

"What's wrong? You look so – blushed," Ginny asked.

"Um – I must – I must have a fever or something," Harry said, coughing.

Ginny and Hermione looked at each other in disbelief.

*~*~*~*

"Draco, we shouldn't be doing this," a girl giggled.

"Shh, Storm," Draco hissed and grinned. "No-one ever comes in here," he said, kissing the girl on the lips.

"I know," she said and moaned a bit. "But still –"

"- feels wrong?" Draco completed. She nodded. "Dev, believe already," he sighed. "There's nothing wrong about this," he said, looking into Devilita's eyes. Devilita smiled and embraced Draco tightly. Draco rolled her eyes.

"Believe me, Storm," he whispered. "I love you, I really do." Devilita looked into Draco's eyes.

"Really?" she asked in disbelief. Draco touched her cheek.

"Of course. Why would I lie to you?" he asked with an innocent voice. "Now come on," he said and grabbed her arm, leading her to an empty classroom.

*~*~*~*

To Be Continued...