Ch.3: Fighting Equals Falling

It was almost the end of October and even though Harry often thought to himself how he could ever get used to living with Malfoy he found that having the other boy around wasn't quite as bad as he had thought it would be.

Harry had always had a difficult time with potions and having the Slythrin Prince around, who just happened to be excelling in potions, mad it easer for Harry to at least make at least a low B in the class. They hadn't spoken of their first night since the incident, mostly because they has promised not to, like Draco said, what happened to Harry in the final battle was Harry's business, no one else's, not even Draco's.

Their living arrangement however, had sparked a hoard of rumors, none of which were true or even remotely close to the truth. Most were rumors of Harry and Draco asking to have a room together to consummate their undying love for each other, yeah right. Their friends knew the truth though and didn't tell it because of Draco and Harry's requests not to. All in all, when they were in public Harry and Draco acted as though nothing had changed between them, even if they were friends.

It was early morning on October 24th and it was also the day of the first Quidditch game of the year; Slytherin Vs. Gryffindor. Harry had met up with Hermione and Ron on the stairs leading down to the Great Hall and as they made their way to breakfast Draco and his goons walked in from the Entrance Hall. It was unavoidable, there were to many people already watching the two groups, for them not to start insulting each other, to bad for Draco the only person in Slytherin that knew of his and Harry's arrangement was Basil Zambini, his best friend.

"Malfoy." Harry greeted. "Potter." Ron began, seeing as how he still didn't like the fact that Harry was Draco's Partner anyway.

"So, Ferret Boy, went outside to get some of your bouncing done, eh?" The crowd laughed and Draco glared.

"Well, actually out of the kindness of my heart I decided o get you some food," Draco lifted his boot so the crowd could see the soul, which had mud on it. "Your family still eats this, right?" "I mean it is all you muggle lovers can afford." Malfoy smirked.

Ron clinched his teeth, "Why you little-" Harry put his arm out in front of Ron before he had a chance to lung at the boy.

"You know Malfoy, your family's not so great either, just look how your father used to treat muggles." Harry said cooly.

"You going to let him say that about Lucius, Draco?" Crabe asked. "I-" Draco knew he couldn't let Crabb and Goyle know yet, but he couldn't hurt Harry either. "Come on Draco." The crowd was just waiting for the next insult. "Well, Potter, at least I had a father around, yours on the other hand went and got himself blown up."

That was it. This was supposed to be a sheared, but it wasn't one any more. Draco could just see the hurt in Harry's eyes after he said that.

"You know Malfoy; you're a heartless bastard." Harry half whispered, then he turned and walked back up to the dorms with out another word. Leaving a hushed crowd behind him.

It was almost time for the match to start with about an hour to spare when Draco found Harry sitting on his bed looking through an old photo album in their dorm room.

"Hey..." Draco began. "You know the match is going to start soon. You're your teams captain, maybe you should brief them on how you're going to kick Slytherin's ass again." Draco said with a slightly faltered smirk.

"No..." "I don't need to tell them how to do that." Harry said coldly as he got up off the bed placing the album in the small dower beside his bed.

"Ouch. I guess I deserve that. Listen..." Draco could tell Harry was hurt, but what was he supposed to have done? Let everyone know about them, well not them, they weren't even together, but it was still Draco's job to protect his Partner from hurt and pain; even if it wasn't physical.

"..Draco...I thought you where my friend now," "I am Harry..." "I thought I could trust you...not to act like a child...not to try to fit in with the crowd and be the center of attention,"

Draco looked desperately at Harry as though he would break, he always looked so strong and brave in his Quidditch robes, but now even thoughs bright colors didn't help his desolate expression. "You can Harry."

"See that's what I thought, but I was wrong..." Harry hung his head as a few tears fell from his shinning green eyes. "You're exactly the same as you were before the war." Harry was shaking now and it sounded out with every word he said.

He got up, not taking the time to even give Draco a glance before he had grabbed his Firebolt and left for the match.

"You all right mate?" Ron asked when Harry entered the locker rooms about ten minutes before the game was to start. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about what Malfoy said to me this morning. Sorry I'm late."

Ron got up from the bench he was sitting on as the rest of the team began to head out onto the field, he placed a firm hand on Harry's shoulder flashing him a crooked smile.

"Come on Harry, don't worry about that stupid git. He'll never change, even for his Partner." "Yeah..." Harry agreed. "All right now lets get you out there so you can kick his sorry ass!"

"Right!" Said Harry enthusiastically. Ron always had a way of making Harry feel better even when he was at his worst.

It was about an hour and thirty minutes into the game, Ron had let three shots by him and Harry had scared the crowd more than twice by diving for the Snitch then loosing it. His mind just wasn't in the game and neither was Draco's. He was having a hard enough time flying his broom let alone catching the Golden Snitch. It had been almost four hours since he and Harry had last had any contact and he could feel the pain and dizziness already setting in.

"DRACO! Get you bloody head in the game!" One of his teammates called. "Right!" He responded weakly.

Weather he liked it or not Harry felt bad for giving Draco such grief over what he had said earlier. Harry occasionally glanced above him to where Draco was flying, just a few meters above Harry, but still very high above the ground. "Probably looking for the Snitch." Harry thought.

He sat there for a few moments looking for the Snitch as well , the teams were at the other end of the field trying for control over the Quffile ,but as Harry searched he felt something brush his shoulder then he herd gasps and cries from the crowd and as he looked down he saw Draco falling at top speed.

"Draco!" Harry dove for the other boy racing as fast as his Firebolt could take him stretching out an arm to catch Draco he pulled him from the fall, but was still getting closer and closer to the ground, just as they were feet above the solid earth Harry veered up speeding inches above the ground. He looked ahead of him there wasn't time to turn the stands were right in front of them so he maneuvered the broom the a side angle whispering to the unconscious Draco, "Brace yourself!" Then they hit the stands crashing into the wooden posts Harry felt himself roll off the broom hitting the ground with all his weight still clutching Draco to his chest. All that could be seen from the outside was a large cloud of dust were the two rivals had crashed.

"Wha-?" Draco opened his eyes to see Harry lying below him. "Harry, what...what happened?" "You fell...but we're all right now. I caught you." "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm all right. Are you -ah!" Harry winced, his back was burning a little from skidding across the ground after they fell; he could tell it was bad, but just how bad? "Harry?" Draco asked from above him. "I'm all right, really. Hey, What's that in your shirt?"

Something round was tugging and struggling to get out of Draco's shirt. "I don't know." Draco reached in with his left hand and pulled out the Golden Snitch which was still struggling to free its self from the Slytherin.

"Potter!? Malfoy?! Are you all right in there?!" Madame Hooch called from the opening they had made in the stands.

"Here." Draco put the Snitch Harry's palm intertwining their fingers, which in turn, made Harry blush. "But...why? I almost got you killed back there." "You deserve it." Draco whispered as he jumped off Harry and helped him to his feet.

"We're all right Hooch!" Draco said as they walked out of the stands, Harry was leaning on Draco because of the pain in his back. Hermione and Ron soon ran up to them pushing their way through the crowd as they did.

"Harry?!" Hermione exclaimed. "Are you all right? We were really worried." Harry mintely rolled his eyes thinking, "Like hell I'm all right." He could fell blood running down his back side and anyone who was part of the crowd standing behind him could more then likely see the cuts through his shredded Quidditch robes. It looked as though he'd been wiped mercilessly.

"'Harry, your back..." Neville, who had been one of the onlookers standing behind him called attention to the bloody sight first.

"This is your entire fault Malfoy, if you were a better flyer Harry wouldn't have gotten hurt!" Ron half-yelled. "What-?" Draco began but as soon as he had started Ron snatched Harry from his grip leading his bleeding friend to the Hospital Wing Hermione trailing behind.

Anyone who was watching Harry's limping form being guided up to the castle could see the stains of dark red on his robes. "I did this..." Draco thought, "he was just trying to reassure me when he said he was alright..." Just then Hooch's voce cut into his thoughts.

"This game is over Gryffindor wins!" Slight cheers were heard from some of the Gryffindors then Hooch turned to one of the Prefects who were standing beside her.

"Would you go up to the Head Masters office and let him know what happened? I don't think Potters going to be in class for some time."

As soon as Draco heard this Elvin speed was carrying his up to the castle faster then speeding Firebolt. "I'll never let you get hurt again Harry. I promise. Not by me, not by anyone. I'm going to talk the pain away."

TBC...

A/N:

Next chapter: you'll see a little h/d goodness (just a little) and also get a little bit of explanation of draco's power and heritage as an elf (sorry for any misspellings!!!!!!!!)

Just a little q&a:

someone asked:

Q. why is haarry draco's partner?'

A. man you guys are so impatient! (just kidding) but im getting to that its just something i'm saving for later in the story, lets put it this way; if i dont save it for later you guys wont get the h/d smut that follows from it. (oh! ive said too much! aaahhhhhh!!!! dies)

Also my comp is dead so i wont be able to update until the weekends when i go to my moms, or if i can get over here sometime during the week. im really sorry! i.i

dead comp should be fixed in a few weeks. maybe...

also: i dont own harry potter, just this story line (which came from reading the lord of the rings and then going to see the harry potter movie 3, lol)