Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author's Note: The idea for this story came when I saw an action figure of Harry Potter called Extreme Quidditch... Many thanks to Veer for beta-work, inspiration, help with some of the dialogue (and the fun following attempts) and down right silly conversations!

Thank you to: Brenna8, Sowen, Chrisoriented and Sheree for your reviews!

Some of you want Harry and Draco to get back together. All I am willing to say about that is that 1) In the past weeks I've finished writing this fic (I'll keep on posting one chapter every week though) and it's 17 chapters long and 2) of course they'll get back together!! But, as always, there's a plot to follow so you'll just have to hang in there and keep on reading! - Nat -

Chapter 9

While Harry had been busy planning with Molly, Arthur and Ginny (who in turn had brought Oliver up to date) for her going-away-diner, Draco had spent his days at the flat when he wasn't working. He was slowly coming to terms with being there without Harry and thus understanding how Harry must've felt. He had started to think about the years that they had been together and living at the flat. He'd done plenty of travelling and Harry had stayed at home. After the visits of both Ginny and Arthur, he had been trying to remember Harry's reactions to his announcements that he would be going away for a couple of days. The look Harry would give him had become a normal one to him, but he now realised that that wasn't so. It was a look with disappointment, longing and something else. He realised he had never asked Harry to come with him on one of his trips.

He slapped his forehead with his hand. He'd been a real Malfoy in this respect, by assuming he knew how Harry felt, telling himself that he could handle him being away. And by assuming that Harry would go along with his wishes without a second thought, giving things up just because he asked it of him............ He hadn't even noticed how Harry never discussed his day at work with him. Probably because there wasn't much to discuss, he mused while thinking about what Ginny had said.....

He sat up and walked up to his desk. He took out a quill and a piece of parchment, intending of writing to Harry. But what? He suddenly remembered one of the gifts Harry had bought him. He hadn't looked at it for a long time and needed the 'accio' spell to be able to hold it in his hands. It was a Magical Poetry Kit. It was so made that it was tuned to the person using it and would construct a poem depending on how this person was feeling. Draco read the instructions and decided to give it a go.

This is what the Kit came up with:

misty dreams
needing to hold you
crying without my love
weak when you left
my rose my diamond
I am thinking of you
always

Hmmm, Draco thought, not all that far from the truth. He copied it down on the piece of parchment he had gotten earlier. He then went about to write a note to Harry, explaining that he had been deeply hurt when he discovered that Harry hadn't been playing normal Quidditch and moreover about the fact that he hadn't told him about it. It took some effort, but he managed to put in a sentence or two about how it might've not been only Harry's fault. He read it over and then sent his owl. He was hoping that Harry would understand and write him back.

Draco's letter arrived when Harry and Oliver were having a talk about the letter the NQL had sent Oliver. Oliver had sent them the detailed rules of Extreme Quidditch. He had also added the experiences of all the players that had been involved. The letter had come the day before and Oliver had brought it over to Harry as fast as he could. The NQL were very enthusiastic about it and mentioned that there would be a chance to demonstrate the game at the Anniversary Day they would be having. If he was interested and could have a demonstration team ready by that time, he had been cordially invited to do so. Oliver was practically bouncing for joy. The only downside was that Ginny wasn't there to hear the good news.

When he said as much, Harry suddenly got a brilliant idea. "Why don't you travel up to where she is staying and tell her?"

Oliver broke out in a big smile. "It would be wonderful to tell her this in person......."

Harry nodded. "Just think of all the possibilities that scream 'Payback at the Weasley brothers'!"

"Hmmm, Harry do you have a plan?", Oliver sounded intrigued.

"What I thought was this. You go up to visit Ginny and tell her the good news, but you don't let any of the Weasleys know, just Molly and Arthur. You come back separately, maybe you could come back a couple of days later or be back before she is.... Then, when she comes home, she'll be all excited about the game, right?" Harry looked at Oliver to see if he was listening. Oliver nodded. "Right, so then Gin can go on and on about this wonderful guy she met there and how they spent a lot of time together. The boys won't know what hit them, Molly and Arthur will play along and you're set!"

"Harry, that is a bloody brilliant plan!", Oliver said. "I'm going to talk to them right away!"

Harry had to smile at the thought of how well this little plan was going........

Right at that moment an owl was tapping at the window, wanting entrance. Oliver got up and opened the window. The owl flew directly to Harry and held out its paw. "Hello Con.", Harry said softly as he untied the scroll. "Do you want something to eat or drink?" But Con clearly didn't want anything. He hooted softly, nipped Harry's finger and then flew out again. Oliver look over at Harry and got a concerned look on his face as he saw Harry fight back tears.

"Harry, is everything alright?"

"That was Dray's owl, Oliver. It's the first time in all these weeks that he's written to me.", Harry whispered.

"Don't you want to open it?"

"I'm scared that this is the break-up letter." Harry kept on turning the scroll around and around in his hands.

"But you don't know that for sure.", Oliver pointed out. "Just open it, who knows what he has got to say."

Harry heaved a deep sigh and opened it. Two pieces of parchment fell out. Oliver left the room and went to the kitchen to get some tea. "Harry just received a letter from Draco.", he informed Molly and Arthur. "I wanted to let him read in peace. He's afraid it's a break-up letter......."

They all sipped from their cups, curious as to what was in that letter. When it remained suspiciously silent, they went to see what was wrong. They found Harry, stunned look on his face, holding the two pieces of parchment like they were made out of gold.

"Harry?", Oliver asked in a soft voice.

Harry looked up with a shine to his eyes.

"He wrote me a little poem. And a letter in which he explains why he left and that maybe I am not the only one to blame! I don't understand. He has never apologised or admitted to being wrong before!"

"That's wonderful, Harry dear", Molly said as she gave him a hug.

"I knew he would come to his senses", Arthur said. And then winced, as he realised how he sounded. Unfortunately, Harry had heard it too.

"Arthur, what are you talking about? What did you do?" Harry now sounded suspicious.

"Nothing.......", Arthur tried.

Harry shook his head. "I have too much experience with a Weasley saying nothing happened. Tell me, please?"

"Oh very well.", Arthur sighed when he had turned to Molly for some support but had received a stern look instead. "Ginny apparated over one night and she confessed to having silenced Draco and then giving him a piece of her mind."

Harry winced. He also had a lot of experience with the Weasley temper. Oliver chuckled. Harry lifted an eyebrow. "You do realise that you're getting yourself more and more involved with Miss Temper?" Oliver just nodded, smiling happily.

Arthur cleared his throat. "Well yes, she confessed and then the next day I paid Draco a visit as well, trying to have a conversation with him about your situation. He also explained to me why he was so upset."

Harry nodded. "That's what he's explained here too, for a bit. He's a Malfoy. Getting them to explain these things takes a lot of time........" He sighed. "I think I'll go upstairs and read it again. Maybe I'll even write him back."

He looked at Oliver. "Talk to them about our plan ok, they might have more ideas to help."

As he walked out the door and up the stairs, he heard Molly ask "What plan?"

As Harry came down for breakfast the next morning, he found not only Molly and Arthur at the kitchen table, but also Fred and George. When he had filled his plate and sat down, Ginny's owl Circe came flying in and landed near Molly's plate.

"Oh, look, a letter from Ginny!", Molly smiled happily.

"Would you read it to us?", Arthur asked. Molly nodded.

Dear Mum and Dad,

First, before you even ask, yes, I am absolutely fine. The paper
booked me a wonderful room with a nice view. Yesterday evening I even
met some of the players and we had a nice conversation. I was able to
introduce myself and that went well I think. It's important because
I'm hoping that they'll remember that when I come to bother them with
an interview in the next few days. Met some of my colleagues from
papers from different countries, so that was fun too.

Since I've only just arrived, I haven't all that much to say. Except,
if some of my idiot brothers are also reading this letter: it's not a
question whether the players will get ideas, but whether I won't!!!
Some of them are just plain dishy! Rowr!!! (Mum, you should understand
this!!)

Well got to go, I am meeting some of them for drinks in the lobby.

Love, Ginny

Fred and George were practicall moaning and were shooting puppy dog glances at their mother. But Molly was not to be pursuaded, after she and Arthur had shared some stolen glances – or so they thought. "You are not going there. She is having a wonderful time and meeting new people. I just hope she'll write again soon!"

Harry had a hard time to surpress a smile.

While the people at The Burrow were reading Ginny's letter, Draco also received a letter. As he didn't recognise the owl or the parchment used, he checked it first for dark spells and for pranks (by being Harry's boyfriend for all these years he had learned early on to check unknown parchment scrolls for pranks and other possible fun thought of by the twins). When nothing bad turned up, he opened the scroll and started reading the letter. A little miniature dragon fell out too.

Mr. Malfoy,

It has come to our attention that you have been an admirer of Prof. H.
Morgensternus for some time now, and have been wanting to meet him.

Next week the "Modern uses of Dragon tools" seminar will be held in
Glasgow. Included with this letter you will find the seminar's
brochure with information concerning the date and who will be speaking
tat day, and also a miniature Antipodean Opaleye.

Please be sure to have a hold of the miniature at 9 o'clock of the
brochure's date. It will then portkey you to the hall. You will then
be our guest for the entire day and will be able to meet with Prof.
Morgensternus as well as the other speakers.

If we don't hear from you within 24 hours, we will assume that the
plans are to your liking. We look forward to meeting you.

Chantella Cloverstem

Seminar Committee

Needless to say that Draco was looking at the piece of parchment utterly and totally stunned. The fact that he admired Prof. Morgensternus' work was something that only a few people knew about. And now he was offered the opportunity to go to a seminar, see him speak AND meet with him in person! He spent the rest of the day thinking of the people who knew and who might've pulled this trick on him. It hadn't escaped his notice that the seminar was being held on his birthday........................
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Thanks for reading! – Nat –