A/N: This time I need to thank raela koira for finding a spelling error, which I have again fixed. I deliberately went over ths chapter with a fine toothed comb. Which means I should have plenty of mistakes.

I would also like to thank Ouatic7, Raziel Tepes and Romantic2 for their reviews, although I fear Romantic2 will not like this chapter either. I will keep trying, however, to please everyone.

Chapter Seventeen: Quidditch and Love

Malcolm landed his broom to polite applause from the dozen people watching. All the members of Gryffindor's Quidditch team turned to Dumbledore in anticipation.

"What do you think, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"He was very good."

"He was Bloody Brilliant," Ron said. His brothers quickly backed him up.

"Thank you, Mister Weasley."

"He's better than my brother Charlie," Ron added.

"I hadn't noticed." Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling when Ron turned to him in surprise. "Now that Mister Weasley is finished with his assessment, I will make mine. I should point out that the rules state that first years may not have brooms and may not play on the house teams. All of you should look forward to next year."

"But Mister Dumbledore, Sir," Hagrid said with passion. "Ye saw how fast he flew, and a week ago he never saw a broom. He's a natural if there ever was one."

"And," McGonagall added, "there have been exceptions in the past."

"Yes, Minerva, but the last time was over a century ago. And I should add that Malcolm has shown himself to be less than an exemplary student. It would not be proper to make an exception for him."

"Excuse me," Hermione Granger said as she stepped out of the shadows. "Professor Dumbledore, would it be proper to make exceptions for several students, including Malcolm?"

"You have a scheme, Miss Granger."

Hermione smiled. "I have been talking to other first years, especially those from wizarding families. Many of those students already know how to fly and how to play Quidditch. You could make an exception for all of the first years and you could claim, uh, I mean you could consider doing this as a possible permanent change of the rules."

Albus nodded. "That was well thought out, young lady. My compliments to you for a quick and ready mind. I will consider it, and I will let you know my decision at the evening meal."

Hermione walked over to Malcolm as Dumbledore and McGonagall returned to the castle. "He's going to say yes, you know."

"Thanks, Hermione. That was a great idea you had."

"I wanted to pay you back for what you did at the schoolyard. And I told the girls you weren't really my boyfriend." Hermione frowned smugly. "I don't think I'll be as popular now."

Malcolm smiled as he saw Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil step out of the shadows where Hermione had hidden to watch. "Of course you will, Hermione. You're the best girl a guy could ever have." Then he kissed her before she could react. As she stepped back in surprise, Malcolm turned to look at Lavender. "We're just friends, really. It's nothing special."

Lavender smirked. "We're friends, too, but you never tried to kiss me."

"Well, maybe later." Malcolm cast a quick glance at Hermione. "Um, maybe not."

"You're hopeless," Hermione told Malcolm as they sat down for Potions class.

"You told everyone we fancy each other."

"And you made everyone believe it."

"Only after you told them you lied about it."

Hermione smirked. "I only said we liked each other to embarrass you. I told them the truth so everyone would stop teasing you."

"Hermione, boys don't think like that. They were teasing me because they thought you were lying. They stopped now that they think you were telling the truth. Didn't you notice? Not one joke since I kissed you."

"That's stupid."

"That's the way boys are," Lavender exclaimed from behind them. "I think Malcolm was clever the way he handled them."

"Thank you," Malcolm said. "At least one girl appreciates what I did."

The problem is that none of the other guys want to hang out with me. It means they have to let a girl hang out with them, too. The only exceptions are Fred and George, but that's because of Quidditch. Even Ron thinks I'm a bit weird.

Professor Snape entered the classroom with his usual brisk walk. When he reached his desk, he turned around. He was smiling.

"Before the class begins, I would like to congratulate one of my students for his exceptional abilities. Because of the change of rules by Professor Dumbledore, this young man was given the opportunity to try out for his house's Quidditch team and he has succeeded in becoming the team's new seeker."

What's up with him? He's looking at me and he's smiling. Before this he's always insulted me for the slightest reason.

"I think we should all give a cheer for . . ." He shifted his eyes to a blond boy in the front row. ". . . Draco Malfoy."

Snape's smile grew as he noted Malcolm's reaction to the news. He kept his smile for the remainder of the class.

Ron joined Malcolm and Hermione as they left the dungeons. "Do you believe that? Malfoy made the team for Slytherin. And Snape didn't even bother mentioning you."

"Snape hates me," Malcolm acknowledged. "He would have mentioned me only if I failed."

"That's . . . disgusting," Oliver Wood said to Katie Bell as they walked by. "Oh, hi Malcolm."

"Hey, Oliver. I see you heard about Malfoy."

Everyone stopped. Oliver looked at Malcolm. "Malfoy? You mean that Slytherin first year? What about him?"

"He's Slytherin's new seeker," Malcolm said sullenly. "Snape just told us."

"That explains it," Katie Bell said. "I just told Oliver I saw the Slytherin team. They all had brand-new Nimbus 2000's."

Hermione fumed. "Do you mean he bought his way onto the team? That's unfair. That's cheating . . ."

"That's Slytherin," Oliver finished for her. "And to make matters worse, Malcolm doesn't even have a broom. He'll have to use one of the school brooms."

"Maybe not," Malcolm said. "All I have to do is convince my Mom that flying brooms are perfectly harmless. Then she'll let me buy a broom."

I know my Mom. I know I can explain it to her. I know she'll understand . . . Let's be real. I know I can find the best broom this school has.

Malcolm sat at the breakfast table with Hermione, Ron and Neville. Ron had decided that since Malcolm was on the team he might be a decent person after all. He was halfway to the point of deciding he was wrong when the mail came. An Owl swooped down and dropped a broom-shaped package directly in front of Hermione.

"It worked," Hermione shouted. "Your mum sent me the broom." She turned and smiled as she read the attached letter. "Go ahead, Malcolm. Open it."

Malcolm, with Ron's eager help, unwrapped the broom. They both stared at the brand-new Nimbus 2000. Malcolm had to ask how and Hermione smiled.

"I did what you would do in my place. I lied to your mother."

"You lied?" Ron asked. "Without Malcolm?"

Malcolm frowned at Ron, the asked, "What was the lie?"

"That you had a chance to play Quidditch but you didn't want to. You kept wanting to spend time with me, and I thought it was unhealthy at such a young age. It was only a suggestion that if you had a broom you would choose to join the team out of guilt."

Malcolm was impressed. "That was clever. How did you think of something so devious?"

Hermione grinned at him. "I had a very good teacher."

"Uh, Malcolm," Ron said as an owl dropped a red letter in front of him.

Malcolm reached for the letter but noticed Ron move to cover his ears. "Ron?"

"It's a Howler, Malcolm. It's not nice but it is loud."

With trepidation, Malcolm opened the letter.

"MALCOLM. ARE YOU CRAZY? ARE YOU STUPID? DO YOU WANT TO END UP LIKE FRANCIS? YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO HAVE A GIRLFRIEND SO FORGET THAT IDEA RIGHT NOW. AND YOU NEED EXERCISE. YOU'RE PLAYING ON THAT TEAM. IF I HEAR THAT YOU DON'T I'LL DRAG YOU HOME IN AN INSTANT. AND NO GIRLFRIEND."

That was cool. I was feeling homesick, and now I'm not.

Hermione was laughing. "Malcolm, your mother asked me to make sure you did what she said. You're playing Quidditch."

Malcolm smiled as she handed him the broom. "I'll play, even if I end up hating every minute of it."

"I knew I could make you do it."

"Hermione, how did you manipulate my mom like that?"

Hermione smiled and Malcolm became nervous.

That's strange. My MOM reflex just kicked in and I know she isn't here.

"Nice broom, Malcolm," Draco Malfoy said from behind, drawling Malcolm's name. He looked at the letter Hermione was holding. "Did your girlfriend get this for you? How cute."

That reflex must have been my imagination. There's no way I'd get nervous because of him.

"Hey, Malfoy. Did you want me to color your eye again?"

Draco smirked. "Why don't we go one better? Wizards duel. Midnight."

"Where?" Malcolm asked.

"You must be joking," Hermione said. "Dueling is forbidden. You'll both be expelled if you're caught."

"The Trophy Room?" Malfoy suggested. "It's never locked."

"I'll be there," Malcolm assured him.

"I could have sworn you were intelligent," Hermione said in a huff. "How could I be so wrong?"

Malfoy looked at his two companions. "Goyle's my second. Who's yours?"

Malcolm looked at Hermione. "I'll . . . find somebody."

"I'll see you then." Malfoy gave him a final smirk and walked away.

"You can't be serious," Hermione said angrily. "What if somebody hears about this."

Malcolm frowned at Hermione. "Could you talk a little louder. A couple of the teachers couldn't hear what you said."

"I heard," Ron said from across the table. "I'll be your second if you need one."

"Hey, Thanks."

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "It must be because you're a boy. I would never dream of doing such a thing. It's against the rules."

Right. I believe that. But she has no problem lying to my mother.

"Are you ready, Ron?" Malcolm asked.

"Ready."

The two boys had twenty minutes to reach the Trophy Room but they wanted to be early. They slipped out of the dorm and down the stairs into the common room.

"Empty," Ron said, and both boys went quickly to the entrance. They pushed the portrait open and stepped into the corridor, coming face to face with Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom.

"Um, Hi, Hermione."

"Don't let the portrait close," Hermione said as the portrait swung back into place. She then scowled at Malcolm as though he did that deliberately. "Thank you very much."

"What did I do?" Malcolm asked, then returned Hermione's scowl. "Why are you out here? Are you trying to stop me?"

"I forgot the password," Neville explained. "I couldn't get back in."

Malcolm looked puzzled. "But Hermione knows it. She wouldn't forget."

"Look at the portrait," Hermione insisted. "I noticed Neville didn't return so I came out to look for him. The Fat Lady was gone by the time we came back. Now none of us can get back in."

"Why don't you join us?" Ron offered. "We can all watch Malcolm best Malfoy."

Hermione grudgingly followed. The other option was to wait for someone else to find them. If it was Filch who found them, it wouldn't be good.

As they entered the trophy room, Malcolm smiled. "He's not here yet."

"Maybe he chickened out," Ron suggested.

"Meow," Mrs. Norris proposed.

"Maybe he set you up," Hermione concluded as the others quickly fled out of the opposite doorway. She followed just as quickly upon hearing Filch's voice.

The four ran any which way, the call of the cat never far behind them. Finally, they ran down one corridor and found themselves faced with a locked door.

"We're trapped," Neville moaned.

"NO, we're not," Malcolm said as he drew his wand. "Alohamora."

As the door opened, Hermione couldn't help but comment. "I'm not surprised you knew that spell."

Malcolm smirked. "Let's continue this conversation on the other side of the door."

"Good idea," Ron said, and led the way, closing the door behind them.

"Do you hear anything?" Malcolm asked as Ron pressed his ear against the door.

"Filch," Ron whispered. "He's looking around. I think he's leaving." Ron turned around to look at Malcolm, and screamed.

In surprise, Malcolm, Hermione and Neville turned around to see what caused that reaction. Then they screamed as well. Hermione was the first to calm down.

"Don't be scared. They can smell fear."

Hermione gets an A for understatement.

"Hermione, it's a giant three-headed dog. And it's growling. It's not smelling fear. It's smelling lunch."

"Filch is still outside," Ron reminded them. "We have to do something."

"Music hath sounds to sooth the savage beast," Malcolm quoted.

The other three glared at him. Ron was first. "You've got to be joking. Are you suggesting we sing to it, uh, them, uh, it?"

"Either that, or talk to Filch."

Ron nodded. "Know any good songs?"

Hesitantly, and nervously, Hermione began to sing.

"God save our Gracious Queen / God save our Noble Queen / God save the Queen."

The three boys watched in wonder as Hermione sang the entire national anthem. Their wonder turned to surprise as the giant dog sat down and rested its heads on it paws. By the time Hermione finished the second verse, the dog was sitting up and wagging its tail.

I don't know how, but Hermione's singing worked. We did have one close call, though. Neville was too close to one of the heads and it licked his face in appreciation. The fact that he's wet from head to toe with dog drool isn't that bad, but the smell is terrible.

Somehow, the foursome made it back safely to the Gryffindor tower. Three of them ran gratefully off to bed while Neville went to take a long hot shower. In his clothes. He never forgave Malcolm for his stupid idea.