Disclaimer: I'm sure I do not need to remind you by now, but I will anyway, I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Wow, the praise I have been getting for this story in everyone's reviews is just amazing, thank you all so much!!
SCInfinity – Glad you liked it! Are they going to get back together in the end? Hmm . . . . that's a very good question.
Phoebe Telumetar – Why thank you, it's fun writing different types of Draco's although 'evil Draco' is probably my favorite just because it keeps him in character with the real books. But don't worry, evil or not the bruise will not ruin his handsome face for long. ;)
Kara Black – I will definitely keep updating as fast as I can. And the punch wasn't meant to take a way all the sadness, it was just meant to relieve some of Hermione's frustrations at the moment.
roundrockrules, sailor xseleanea, sad-soulz, zuvalupa, innika – thank you, glad you all liked it!
Ydole3343 – lol! I certainly hope this update came fast enough for you! Ands that's a good question, what does happen now that they hate each other again? I wonder . . .
Mir – I'm glad you like it so far, and don't worry I'm not gonna tell anyone how it's gonna end. I like to keep people in suspense ;)
elektra30 – Thanks for your review! I'm very glad to hear that I've succeeded in keeping Draco in character for the most part, because I think that's what makes the pairing between him and Hermione so interesting. Hope you continue to like it!
angelchic4ver – I'm happy to hear that you like it and that you like the way the characters emotions are conveyed J I hope the update came fast enough for you!
citcat299 – lol I'm keeping an eye on that fist of yours! Thanks for the review!
AquaCherry66 – thank you very much! I would love to think that I could be a famous author, maybe someday . . gets a far-off look in her eye
Me – Hermione still has it, but she doesn't wear it anymore. I'm sorry that you hate Draco, but I wanted to keep him as in character as possible, and that requires making him rather mean.
theloudone – thank you, I know they're both having a hard time right now, but I'm glad to hear you feel sorry for both of them because even though Draco seems like his old evil self, his heart is broken too. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
KANorring – Thank you very much!! I would love to answer your question, but I prefer to keep everyone in suspense, so to find out, just keep reading. ;)
ksinger! – WOW! Thank you so much for your review! I am soooo happy to hear that you are enjoying it so much, and I certainly hope you continue to like it!
LadyBard1978 – Thank you very much, it means a lot knowing that people are enjoying my writing style and that it seems believable. I hope you continue liking it!!
Now, onto chapter 19!
Chapter 19: Lion vs. Snake
A couple weeks had passed since Hogsmeade, but Hermione's mood had not improved in the slightest over that time. She was still so mixed up and angry. She saw Pansy fawning over Draco every day, and Draco looking, if at all possible, smugger than ever. The sight of the two of them made her stomach turn.
Finally, the day everyone had been waiting for since quidditch season began arrived; the final match, Slytherin vs. Gryffindor, whoever won this match won the quidditdch cup, and was almost guaranteed to win the house cup at the end of the year. Hermione ate breakfast with Harry and Ron, both of whom were riding high on nerves and adrenaline, and finding it nearly impossible to eat. Minutes after they sat down, the Slytherin quidditch team entered as a group, and the Slytherin table erupted with cheers.
Hermione couldn't help herself; she immediately spotted Draco amongst the players, and was angered to see that he was wearing a bigger smirk than usual. He looked over at the Gryffindor table, and stared directly into Harry's eyes, neither seeker blinked until people passing between them broke their eye contact.
"Ugh, I hate that jerk," Harry whispered. Then he turned with a concerned look to Hermione, afraid he may have hurt her feelings. She was to be found still watching Draco.
Harry followed her gaze, and to his disgust, saw that Pansy had once again attached herself (and her lips) to Draco. Harry then looked back to Hermione, who was wearing a look of complete revulsion. Suddenly she turned and stared at Harry, "Give him hell Harry, slap the ugly smirk off his face."
Harry smiled, and nodded. At that time, Katie Bell, who was the captain of the Gryffindor team, gathered her team and they all marched out to the quidditch field. Hermione and Ginny decided to go out to the pitch early so they could get good seats.
Once everyone was settled and the time for the match drew near, Madam Hooch stepped out onto the field carrying the crate of balls. Close behind her were the two teams. Draco locked eyes with Harry, both seekers determined to win, and both looking at each other with unmatched hatred. All the players mounted their brooms, and when the whistle blew, 14 players zoomed into the air. The seekers flew higher than any of the others, Harry drifting to his teams' side, and Draco to his. Once the match was underway, Draco was unaware of what was going on below. He had no idea who was ahead or what the score was, all of his concentration was centered on finding the snitch and keeping an occasional eye on Potter to make sure he didn't spot it first.
A lot of time went by, but no sign of the snitch. The chasers were passing the quaffle to one another faster than ever before. The beaters were smacking the bludgers with such intensity that it was a miracle no one had been seriously injured yet. The keepers were each at the top of their game, yet Gryffindor still led 70 to 40.
Finally, something happened below that caught both seekers attention, there was a loud crunch, a bunch of scarlet and green robes were tangled on the ground having fallen off their brooms after crashing in midair. The distraction caused both seekers to spot a tiny glint of gold hovering squarely in the middle of the pitch. Simultaneously, they each raced full speed toward the snitch. There was a collective intake of breath from the stands, and all other play stopped as everyone watched the seekers dive.
Hermione subconsciously lifted her hand to her chest where the dragon pendant used to lay. She quickly lowered her hand when she remembered that it wasn't there and that she would never wear it again. Instead she and Ginny held each others hands so tightly that they were beginning to lose feeling in them. Ginny was screaming for Harry to watch out, but Hermione was silent, she didn't want either boy to get hurt.
Draco and Harry were so focused on their quarry that they could not see what everyone else could. The Gryffindors all shouted for Harry to watch out, while the Slytherins warned Draco, but neither seeker heard the warnings. They each stretched out their hands, both could feel victory; they were just inches away from the snitch, their hands grabbed for it and . . . CRASH! They slammed into each other at full speed, their bodies and brooms flying far across the pitch.
Everyone groaned upon seeing the motionless forms of the seekers lying on the ground. A few girls screamed when the two crashed, because the impact could be heard by the entire stands. No one moved, everyone praying that their seeker was alright, and that he had caught the snitch.
Harry was first to recover, slowly he rose, opened his still clenched fist to reveal nothing, he had missed the snitch in the collision. He brushed some of the dirt off his robes, and mounted his broom again, assuring his team and the crowd that he was alright. He took the extra time while Malfoy recovered to search for the snitch once more. Three quarters of the crowd cheered with relief while the Slytherins booed. Harry looked down at Draco momentarily, "aww, what the matter Malfoy," he taunted in mock baby voice, causing his teammates to laugh, "did you get a boo boo?"
Draco slowly sat up, and shook his head to clear his mind. He was dazed from the crash and it took him a moment to regain his bearings. Then, his eyes widened as he felt what no one could see. He smirked cruelly up at Harry. "What do you think you're doing Potter?" he retorted mockingly.
"Well," replied Harry in a loud voice so that the entire school could hear, "you see Malfoy, we're playing a little game called quidditch, and I know you don't understand this, but it's the seekers job to catch the snitch, so that's what I'm doing." The stands of the pitch roared with laughter at Harry's words, but Draco was not fazed.
"No," he drawled back to Harry in a loud and taunting tone, "what I'm asking is, why you are back on your broom when the game is over?" As he spoke he lifted his hand to the level of his eyes and revealed the tiny golden snitch, which was still struggling to be freed from his grasp. Draco smiled triumphantly, and after a moment of disbelief, his teammates roared with excitement, raced to congratulate Draco, and lift him on their shoulders. The Slytherins in the crowd shouted and cheered louder than they ever had before. They flooded onto the quidditch pitch so that they too could congratulate Draco.
Harry nearly fell off his broom in shock, he had lost, he had lost to Draco Malfoy, and there was no other explanation or excuse besides the fact that Draco had reached it first. The rest of the crowd still could not believe what had happened; everyone except the Slytherins seemed to be at a loss for movement or words.
The Slytherin team strutted triumphantly up to the top box where Dumbledore waited with the quidditch cup. "Well done Slytherin, congratulations on an undefeated season. And now I present you with the quidditch cup!" Slytherin cheers filled the stands while the rest of the crowd continued to remain silent and dumbstruck. Dumbledore first handed the cup to the Slytherin team captain. The cup traveled from the captain to the chasers, beaters, the keeper, and then finally to Draco. When he lifted the cup, the cheers grew to a deafening roar. The Slytherin Prince had beaten the famous Harry Potter, and the entire balance of the school had shifted before everyone's eyes. After 5 years of losing to Gryffindor, Slytherin was once again on top.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Harry, please say something," pleaded Hermione. It was the first time in a long time that her feelings for Draco were not at the forefront of her mind, Harry's pain was much more important at the moment. He had not spoken all day, nor had he eaten anything since the match. The entire team was in very low spirits, but at least all the other members seemed to understand that it was over and nothing could be done. But Harry could not accept it; he had never lost at anything, especially to some low life Slytherin.
"Yeah, come on mate," comforted Ron, trying his best not to sound thoroughly angry and disappointed with Harry, "we all know that that stupid Slytherin git is no match for you." Ever since the breakup, Ron had taken to insulting Draco at every possible instance. Unfortunately, Ron's comment brought Draco back into Hermione's mind, now not only had he utterly killed her spirit, he had killed Harry's too. The worst part, that she could not forgive herself for, was that she knew that had they still been dating, she would have been thrilled that he had won. And instead of being here with Harry when he needed his friends, she would have probably been in the private room with Draco. She could almost feel the warmth of his arms holding her, the pressure of his tender lips on hers, the thought almost made her smile until she remembered that she would never have that feeling with him again.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please send me a review to let me know!
Is anyone else wondering what's going on with the potion? It hasn't been mentioned for a few chapters. I don't know about you all, but I'm certainly curious (j/k). Maybe the next chapter will mention the potion again . . . . . . . .