Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other characters.

Chapter 13: More than just house rivalry.

Days and nights flew by before Halloween arrived. Of course the Halloween feast, hosted by Hogwarts' finest, was just as superb as the past feasts.

The Great Hall was lavishly decorated with a thousand live bats, floating candles, and carved pumpkins. The enchanted ceiling was bewitched to look like a cloudy night with a golden half moon shining mysteriously in the midst.

The feast, prepared by the best house elves Hogwarts could afford, appeared suddenly on the sparkling plates and the huge golden goblets as they magically filled themselves with pumpkin juice. Not one soul in the hall waited to devour to the food.

As usual Dumbledore made a speech before dismissing the crowd of eager Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Slytherins, and Hufflepuffs, ready to party. Every student scrambled to their common rooms, or another house's common room. It was commonly know that Gryffindor and Slytherin threw the best parties. Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs split up and mixed in with the Gryffindor or Slytherin crowd.

Hermione, like many other females, decided to change out of her school uniform before attending the party. She ran up to her room and pulled on a white sleeveless button down shirt and black jeans. Before heading out she pulled her bushy brown hair into a ponytail and took the long way to the Gryffindor tower.

Hermione ran down countless steps, through sliding portraits, and tapestries before she reached the corridor where the library was. She was very pleased to see Draco coming out the library with a dozen steaming goblets floating behind him.

He was wearing a black muscle shirt, which had "Kiss my ass." imprinted on the back in big bold white letters, and his school slacks. Draco approached Hermione, smirking all the while, and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into a hungry kiss, one of many that they have shared over the past few weeks.

Pulling away Hermione whispered "Someone might be spying on us."

"Let them see. Look at my shirt. That's exactly what they can do." Draco purred pulling Hermione to his lips once again.

"No Draco, stop. I have a party to attend."

"So do I."

"I'm going now." Hermione said firmly pushing Draco off her and proceeding to make her way to the Gryffindor tower.

However she couldn't bring her self to leave him behind, clearly unsatisfied. She smirked at Draco and almost instantly he pushed her back against the wall and began to ravish her.

Hermione giggled like mad at the thought of getting caught. Adrenaline rushed through every part of her body, her heart hammered wildly in her chest. Somehow she liked that feeling.

Honestly any type of sexual interaction scared her, although she would never admit it to Draco. She couldn't stand to disappoint him. The way it made her forget herself, made her vulnerable. It made her feel trapped in the arms of a stranger.

Draco began to unbutton her shirt but he stopped at the top three when a noise forced her to push him away.

"RON!!" Hermione squealed trying to re button her shirt, which exposed quite a bit of cleavage.

"Hello Weasley." Draco said casually leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest.

"Hermione, Malfoy? Bleedin' Christ."

"Ron- " Hermione began, but Ron refused to listen. He looked at her unbuttoned shirt and dangerously narrowed his eyes.

"Malfoy...What the fuck did you do to her, eh?" he bellowed creating an echo throughout the hall. Hermione turned nervously around to checking for any passerbyers that might be attracted by the noise.

"Nothing she didn't want me too." Draco replied winking at Hermione who turned scarlet red.

"What!!!!!!" Ron yelled lunging at Draco, knocking a few goblets out of the way. Hermione managed to stop him before he reached Draco, causing further harm.

"Hermione let go of me." Ron growled still looking at Draco and wriggling out of her reach.

"No Ron."

"What are you protecting him for? He raped you!" Ron was now just as red as Hermione and carelessly throwing his hands every where in exasperation.

"Ron, listen it was nothing like that."

Immediately Ron stopped wriggling to look at Hermione with a priceless facial expression of absolute bewilderment. "So what are you saying Hermione." He spat, looking scandalized. Hermione fought back the urge to tell him off but Draco articulated his own thoughts before she could stop him.

"I really don't see how this concerns you."

Ron looked at Hermione then at Draco. Pushing her away with a great amount of force he whispered something that sounded like "Unbelievable." Before Hermione could get her say, Ron took off.

Turning to Draco she said. "Now I've really got to go. I have to erase some of the damage you just caused before he does something drastic,"

Hermione gave him a quick peck on the cheek and said, I'll see you later." and skipped off toward Gryffindor tower.

As soon as Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room she was greeted by a blast of noise and a few drunken house mates. All around her people were drinking and dancing wildly to the newest Weird Sisters record. In a corner Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws cut their snogging session short when they saw Hermione enter.

Seamus Finnigan stood at the top of the steps leading to the girl's dormitory with a crown sitting rakishly on his head. He swayed in all directions, knocking people over and spilling some butter beer. Next to him was a huge box of what looked like Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

Dean Thomas lit up the Fireworks and let it zoom around before it blasted. Seamus tumbled down the steps in an attempt to open the portable swamp, brining the "Go, Go GRYFFINDOR!!!!" banner with him. He landed inches from Hermione's feet.

Laughing and snorting he yelled at the top of his lungs. "OY Hermione. Come to join me party eh?" Somehow Hermione wished that Seamus hadn't announced her arrival.



Moments after Harry emerged from the Boy's dormitory with Ron right behind him. Ron's face was contorted with fury as he talked animatedly with Harry, skipping a few steps while descending.

Harry however was calm and cool as usual. Hermione was quite sure he heard the entire story, or at least Ron's exaggerated version of it.

The boys approached her like stealthy beast ready to attack. Before they could speak Hermione started "Harry ,let me explain."

His jaw tightened and his jade green eyes flashed dangerously. Ron let out a grunt of frustration.

"There's nothing to explain Hermione."

"Yes there is. You haven't heard my side of the story." She said.

"I don't think I want to Hermione." He retorted.

"So you're going to take Ron's word for it. Half of what he told you is probably an exaggeration!!!!" Hermione screamed, desperate to get her point across.

She was slowly losing her patience with those two, something she had always been able to maintain.

"So you're calling me a liar, now are you?" Ron snapped.

Hermione rolled her eyes in frustration at Ron and continued to talk to Harry. "Listen, what I do is my business."

Ron gasped loudly taking a step back. Harry clenched his teeth and fist.

"So you're protecting Malfoy now." Harry snarled.

"Harry she doesn't know what she's saying. He's got her under the Imperius Curse." Ron whispered expecting Hermione not to hear.

"Ron, for Christ's sake, He does not have me under any curse." She yelled back.

"So you're doing this on you're on free will... H - how could you?"

Ron seemed truly hurt as though finding out the truth was going to kill him. Harry was now raging, but he hid it well.



"Honestly, could you sink any lower?" Ron snapped running past, and Hermione pushing her out the way.

Harry approached her next. For the first time in a while, Hermione was afraid of Harry. He had a very quick uncontrollable temper and possibly he was going to do her much harm tonight.

He leaned in close enough to whisper coldly in her ear "Tell you're little boyfriend to watch his back or he might just get hurt."

Harry left leaving a shaking Hermione behind. She was scared to death. If Malfoy got hurt, it would be her fault. There was no stopping it.

************************************************************************

The next morning, November 1st, faculty members and students crowded the Quidditch pitch to watch Gryffindor play against Slytherin. The Gryffindor team settled on the right of the field listening to a final prep talk given by Harry.

"We've got to win this game. Show Slytherin no mercy. We might be playing them again so make them cower at our feet!" he shouted throwing his fist into the air. Harry was like Fidel Castro and the rest of the team were hic Cuban Communist supporters

The rest of the team took off to the middle of the Quidditch pitch, while Harry and Ron stayed behind.

"Remember what we discussed last night?" Harry whispered menacingly.

"How could I forget?" Ron answered cracking his knuckles eyeing Malfoy who was crossing the field.

"Malfoy'll get what's been coming to him for years." Harry said.

Harry and Ron ran out onto the field just as Colin Creevey's magnified voice rang through the stadium.

"Good morning gentlemen, ladies, goblins and ghouls. We are now starting the first game of the season. GRYFFINDOR," there was a tumultuous amount of applause and yelling followed by hisses and boos in all directions. "Verses SLYTHERIN," Colin yelled excitedly.

"Ah let's see. Harry Potter is Gryffindor's seeker and Captain. Good ol' chap that man, extraordinary player. Best seeker that Hogwarts has ever seen since--- Oh right professor I'll be carrying on," Colin voice became a dull as he began once again.

"Draco Malfoy is Slytherin's seeker and Captain." He stopped to mutter and wait until the appluases and hisses were complete.

"Captains shake hands." Madame Hooch yelled above the noise.

Harry and Draco approached each other and grabbed each other's hands very tightly. They stood there trying to crush each other's fingers looking murderously at each other. When Madame Hooch realized what was going on, she jumped in between to separate them, hissing something that sounded like, "Now really boys. The last thing we need is a fight!!"

Draco took a step back as well as Harry, never breaking eye contact.

"Good luck Potter, you will be needing it." Draco said, his gray eyes glistening.

"Malfoy this is more than just house rivalry." Harry spat back watching the snitch that was recently released, hovering between them.

"Break it up gentlemen. Honestly! We have a game to start," Madame Hooch interrupted.

"Mount your broomsticks..." she continued placing the whistle in her mouth preparing to blow.

"Now with out further ado, let the game begin." Colin screamed jumping up and down.

Madame Hooch blew the whistle, the balls were released and all players shot up into the air at such a speed that they became blurs of red, gold, silver and green.

Colin began reporting about the game to the chalant audience. "Ginny Weasley, who's replaced me on the team, has the Quaffle, oh, but Henry Mayer stole it and now he's off. It's up to the other Weasely to stop him,"

Ron zoomed toward the goal post as a Quaffle made its way toward it and skillfully blocked it.

"Oh yes, and Weasley blocked it. Nice one Ron," Colin continued as the crowd of Gryffindors went into an uproar.

"Oh now Jonathan Codwell's got the Quaffle and he passes it to Lisa Fudge AND SHE'S OFF. LOOK AT HER GO. YES... SHE DOdGES SEVELL AND MAKES IT HOME TO THE GOAL POST EARING GRYFFINDOR TEN POINTS." Colin threw himself in the air, landing straight on Professor Snape.

Both Harry and Draco searched the field for a glint of gold, while bluggers and quaffles zoomed past them. Harry followed close by Draco making sure he was right in his view.

"John Hunt is trying to wrestle the quaffle out of0 Ginny's hand,"

Ginny continued to wrestle with the Slytherin chaser who continually tried to grab her breast. Eventually she managed to slap him and pass the Quaffle.

"Excellent, the young Weasley manages to pass it to Codwell who SHOOTS AND...DOES NOT SCORE. YOU IDIOT, HONESTLY!!!!"

"Colin. There will be none of that." Professor McGonagall yelled.

"Sorry Professor I just felt that he needed to hear that. Right-o then. Henry Mayer's got his hand on the ball and trying to shoot. OOOO ah! Tough luck mate," Colin stopped to catch a glimpse at Henry who unsuccessfully dogged a blugger sent my Gregory Wood.

"Codwell's got his hands on the Quaffle, but is knocked off his broom by Flint's blugger, but he's back on again and Sevell and Fudge dive for the Quaffle."

The game went on and became more and more brutal for at least another hour. By the end of the hour Gryffindor was up by ten points and neither seeker had yet to see the Snitch.

Harry abandoned his search for the snitch to have a miniature chat with Ron. Suddenly he spotted a green and silver blur fly by him and Colin's voice booming.

"OY MALFOY'S AFTER THE SNITCH!"

Harry cut his conversation short and set off after Malfoy with incredible speed. They were neck at neck with each other. Ron didn't miss the opportunity to kick Malfoy in the face as he speed by.

Harry and Draco zigzagged up the field and down again, flying dangerously close to the stands. Hermione watched anxiously to see who would catch the snitch. Some part of her wanted Malfoy to win. The other part stayed loyal to her house team.

Both seekers began to stretch out their hand to catch the Snitch, but neither one got a chance to snatch it. A blugger flew in their direction. Malfoy missed it by inches but it hit Harry square in the face, breaking his nose, which didn't hamper him. Harry pelted towards the lower levels of the field, with Malfoy right behind him.

Draco cut in front of him, causing Harry to fall ten feet, brining Malfoy with him. Harry landed on the cold floor and Malfoy a few feet away. In the middle was the golden snitch.

Both seekers scrambled toward the snitch despite broken bones. Harry struggled through the dirt and grass to reach the Golden snitch. He got close enough for his finger tips to touch its fluttering wings. He sat there absorbing the glory of another Gryffindor triumph over Slytherin.

Just a little further and he would have it..just a little further. Suddenly he didn't feel its fluttering wings anymore. Malfoy reached there first. Harry looked up and a blind rage took over.

The whistle blew and the rest of the team came rushing down to restrain Harry. Madame Pomfrey rushed onto the field, screaming her head off and holding a bottle of steaming purple potion in her hand.

"Slytherin wins, no this can't be." Colin started but when realization hit him, he too began to rent and rave.

"YOU DIRTY ROTTEN CHEATS. YOU CAN'T BEAT GRYFFINDOR---."

He continued to wail and scream as Professor Snape carried him down the stands. He struggled to get out of his grips to continue mouthing off but Professor McGonagall caught him in a full body bind before he could start again.

"Looks like I won the game and the girl, Potter. " Draco said loud enough for Harry and Ron only to hear. He laughed like mad at their expressions, he could almost see the "imprint of the truth's fingertips and the red mark it left behind on their face"

Harry tried to lunge after him, but Ron pulled him back. Instead he approached Malfoy and whispered acidly. "This is not the end Malfoy. You just wait."

Before he could speak he was pulled to the other side by his team mates seeing that Draco was on the verge of hurting someone.

Harry ran after Madame Hooch, with Pomfrey trying to stop the blood from gushing out his nose.

"I WANT A REMATCH!!!"

"Mr. Potter I'm afraid that that's not possible."

"YES THE HELL IT IS."

"Slytherin won fair and square. There will be no rematch."

"NO..NO YOU CANT DO THIS. I WANT A BLOODY REMATCH!"

"MR. POTTER." Madame Pomfrey screeched catching his attention. "If you want this broken leg and broken nose fixed I suggest you calm down, stop being a sore loser, and let me heal you."

Harry immediately stopped fidgeting and suddenly dropped to the floor feeling the pain in his leg. Hermione ran up to him sweating and crying. Before she could speak Ron lunged for her.

"YOU. THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Ron yelled fighting his way through the crowd.

"Ron. I---I never.How is this my fault?" Hermione whispered, tears streaming down her face. Harry shot up, causing Madame Pomfrey to spill some of the purple potion down her white apron. Throwing her hand up in frustration, she got up and left.

"You know damn well how it's your fault." he spat struggling to bring himself to a standing position.

"I- I'm sorry."

"We don't want your blasted apology Hermione." Ron yelled.

Hermione looked back and forth between her two friend's faces. She couldn't believe they would stoop to that level. How could they put all the blame on her? Hermione speed of into the opposite direction. She needed to be alone.

In the distance Draco could see Hermione dashing off toward the castle. Abandoning his healing session with Madame Pomfrey, he chased after her.

It seemed as though they were running for eternity. Hermione was a few feet ahead of Draco, crying silently, with only one thing on her mind. Eventually Draco caught up to Hermione, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her towards him.

"Where do you think you're going?" He growled.

"Get off of me!" Hermione yelled trying to release herself from Draco's iron grip.

"NO Hermione. NO. I know what you're going to do and-----."

SLAP!

Hermione slapped Draco extremely hard, making him stagger back in shock. The last time she slapped him the consequences were harsh. She stood there panting, afraid that Draco might hurt her.

When Malfoy started to advance on her she was ready. This time she punched him, busting his lip. In a second, Hermione took off towards the Astronomy Tower. When Draco arrived Hermione was very close to the edge getting ready to jump.

"HERMIONE .." Draco bellowed obviously frightening Hermione. In shock she turned around to look at him and slipped of the edge while trying to do so.

"DRACO...HELP!"

Having the reflexes of a cat, Draco caught her hand before she fell any further but he didn't pull her up.

"DRACO WHAT ARE YOU DOIING. PULL ME UP."

Smirking slightly he replied. "Why should I? Isn't this what you wanted?"

Draco let her hand slip a bit more, causing Hermione to scream bloody murder.

"Well tell me. Isn't this what you want?" Draco inquired but Hermione only continued to cry and scream.

"Not so pleasant being close to the edge, is it ma' lady?" He let her slip some more.

"You unbelievable bitch, I trust you with my life, Draco and this is how you play with it..... like I'm some Fortune's fool. I can't believe you," Hermione yelled up to him. At that statement Draco immediately pulled her upwards and back onto the cold floor of the tower.

"I'm not sorry for what I did." Draco said, smiling sheepishly.

"What!" Hermione spat, bewildered.



"You needed to be taught a lesson----"

"Malfoy you can take you bloody lesson's and shove them up your ass." She interjected with her hands across her chess.

"If I hadn't---." Draco was cut off for the second time by Hermione.

"If you hadn't tried to kill me, then what? I'm the one trying to ----"

"If I hadn't done what I did, you would have never realized how important your life is and how valuable you are to me." Draco finished, and Hermione's idle prattle ceased immediately.

She opened her mouth many times to speak but no sound came out. Finally when she regained control of her voice she asked, "What are you saying Draco?"

"I don't know. What do you think I'm saying?" With that said Draco made an exit leaving Hermione out in the cold to ponder his last words, something he was good at. Was Draco really saying what she thought he was? It couldn't be, but anything is possible with Draco. He himself is like Tarot cards, no one ever knows what they're going to be dealt.