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Chapter 4 – The First Match of the Season

"Welcome to the first match of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin. The pitch is perfect and the players are rearing to go," Sarah Jordan's (Lee Jordan's sister) voice boomed out across the grounds, helped by the magical microphone in her hand.

Madame Hooch stepped onto the field and the players formed a circle on the ground around her. She released the Bludgers, followed by the Golden Snitch. The Snitch Flew through the air in front of Malfoy's face and crossed in front of Harry's, before vanishing from site.

Hermione sat next to Hagrid, watching the game develop. With Harry and Ron both playing she had been left alone to watch the match. Gryffindor got away to an early lead, 40 – 10. The whole school had turned up as usual and the crowd was a sea of colour – the scarlet and gold of Gryffindor contrasting with the silver and green of Slytherin.

Hermione gazed wistfully at the flyers; she had always wanted to be part of the excitement and had often dreamed of becoming a Chaser. Her only problems were she had no time or place to practise during the holiday and her parents simply couldn't understand why she wanted a broom. There were just some things that they couldn't understand.

Hermione wished she could be up there, flying above the crowd. Then she was distracted from her thoughts when she noticed Harry and Malfoy had flown into a dive and there; just ahead of them, was the Golden Snitch.

Malfoy stretched his hand out, but the golden ball was just out of his reach. Then a Bludger came from Colin Creevy and hit his outstretched arm. There was a crack as his bones broke and a thud as he landed on the field after a twenty foot drop.

Meanwhile, Harry had thrown himself forward on the broom and using both hands, had captured the Snitch. Madame Hooch blew her whistle and the gold and scarlet fans poured onto the field, almost trampling Malfoy in their delight.

Ron came down next to Harry and Hermione saw Harry hand the Snitch to Ron, who took it with a broad smile on his face. Harry then glance up at the stands, searching for her and she hurriedly started to make her way out of the stands, pretending not to notice him watching her.

Halfway to the castle door she was joined by Malfoy, still dressed in his Quidditch robes. She looked sideways at him.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked coldly.

Malfoy half grinned and half smirked, "I want you to go out with me, Hermione."

It was the first time he had called her by her first name. Usually it was 'Granger' or when he was in a foul mood 'Mudblood.'

"Yeah right, Malfoy. What a joke."

"No really, I'm being serious. I want to go out with you."

"Oh piss of Malfoy, even if you were serious I would never even think about it."

Anger rushed into Malfoy's face, "You'll regret this you little slut, do you think Potter's ever going to notice you?"

The fist came from no where; Malfoy flew to the ground where blood started to pour from his nose. Harry rubbed his knuckles where they had connected with Malfoy's face.

"You'd better get out of here before Snape comes," Harry said to her, before turning back to the Quidditch pitch. Hermione stared after him for a few moments. Malfoy moaned and started to sit up. She took one look at him and fled quickly to the common room.

Why had he done that? Harry had seen Malfoy following Hermione after the games and had followed the two. When he'd seen Malfoy catch up to her, he'd moved swiftly into ear shot, in time to hear 'slut' and see Hermione's hurt expression. Before he'd been aware he'd even moved, he been looking down at Malfoy on the ground.

Now his fist ached as he held an ice pack up against it. The rest of the team had long since left the changing rooms, except for Ron who was dancing around with an expression of pure glee on his face.

"You hit Malfoy, you hit Malfoy, you hit Malfoy," he chanted in a sing-song voice.

"Oh, clam down Ron. The last thing we need is for this to get round the school."

Harry and Ron left the changing room, where they found Hermione waiting for them. Without looking at Harry, Hermione mumbled; "You shouldn't have hit him, Harry, he isn't worth it."

"Hermione! He called you a slut. You're the opposite of a slut. You've been hanging around with us too long to become a slut." Ron exclaimed as they started toward the castle.

"Exactly Ron. I know I'm not a slut and you guys know that too. Hell, Malfoy knows it as well, so why give him satisfaction in knowing he's got to us?"

"Hermione, I would hit him again if I could go back in time, only I'd hit him harder," Harry said fiercely, looking straight into her brown eyes.

"I know you would Harry but he really isn't worth it."

Hermione turned and continued walking. Harry and Ron hurried to join her, Ron trying to hide the awkward silence by chatting to Hermione about the match. Harry walked with his head down, now thinking that hitting Malfoy had defiantly been a stupid thing to do. Hermione was now mad at him.

Despite the increase of Snape's dislike towards Harry, his skills in Potions had improved greatly. His potions now turned orange when they were meant to, instead of a bogey green colour.

True to her word at the Careers meeting in 5th year, professor McGonagall had been helping Harry to achieve top marks in the subjects he was required to excel at to become an Auror. She had given him many pointers in Potions and they had boosted his skills enormously.

Neville Longbottom still struggled during Potions; now that Snape could no longer Harry's failed potions, he concentrated his hate on Neville's instead.

"Didn't I say you would need only one shrivelfig and to let the potion only boil for exactly two minutes and no more?"

"I...I..." Neville stuttered, looking anywhere but at Snape or his failed potion.

"I don't want to hear your excuses Longbottom. Ten points from Gryffindor for your incapability to listen to instructions," Snape moved on, as he went he vanished all specks of Neville's hopeless potion.

Neville slumped into his seat, a look of shame and frustration on his face. Hermione, who was next to him, hastened to comfort him. AS she whispered to him, Harry watched her, how her hands moved as she talked, her eyes dancing...

Harry shook his head to clear it. Hermione turned as if she felt his gaze. She smiled slightly, her hair falling back form her face as she moved. Harry smiled back, blushing slightly at the thought of what Hermione would do if she had known what he had just been thinking.

Harry dint know where these feelings had come from or what they were, but they reminded him of his feelings for Cho Chang. It was a strange thought, Hermione was one of his two best friends and he had never thought of her like this. It didn't feel right but he couldn't stop the thoughts.

"Potter, perhaps you should spend less time looking around the classroom and more time focusing on your silencing potion."

"I've finished it sir," Harry indicated to the sample and his cleaned cauldron.

"Very well; we'll test it then. Hmmm, Miss Granger, you shall be our victim. Come here."

Hermione jumped at the sound of her name. She hurried over to where Snape and Harry stood. She took the spoonful of liquid Snape offered her and gingerly swallowed it.

Harry watched fearfully as Hermione opened her mouth and tried to speak. A frightened look came into her eyes as no sound came out. The class burst into applause as Snape turned away in disgust.

"Voliceno," he snarled with a flick of his wand.

Hermione massaged her throat, "that was the strangest feeling, I could hear my voice in my head but I knew none of you could."

The bell rang and the class crowded around the door, eager to leave the dungeons. They passed Neville, who still looked miserable and headed up to the Gryffindor Tower to start a nasty essay on the effects and cures of silencing potions.

Hey I'm sorry that I've left this story for many many months but I've decided to continue you with it. Please review

LittleAquarianPrincess.