Chapter 19-

AN- This the third time that I have tired to type this thing. It keeps deleting as soon as I finish typing. It is really pissing me off. But I will try again for you guys, my trusted reviewers.

Slytherin Students,

Due to current event, our keeper is now unable to play. So, I will be holding tryouts for this position today at 4:30. 2nd years and above are allowed to come. Don't be late.

Your Slytherin captain and Seeker, Draco Malfoy

Draco read it over once more before posted it on the bulletin board in the Great Hall. He nodded on approval as students started filing in. Draco went to take his seat at the Slytherin table. He watched the students as the entered. He pretended to be looking for his so called friends, but he was really looking for a particular Gryffindor girl.

Then, as if she heard him thinking, she walked in. She was walking arm in arm with Potter and Weasley. 'Yuck. What is she doing! I think that she is trying to make me mad!' he thought as he watched them walk. Then she turned to him and gave him a quick smile. Then she turned back to the two boys on her arms.

As they continued to walk to their seats, Ron leaned over a whispered something in her ear. She burst out in hysterical giggles. This made Draco even madder, and he began massacring his chicken with a fork. "This is not fair. I can't even be close to my girlfriend, but they can hang all over her. I hate Potty and Weasel!'

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Later that day, Draco was on his way to the Quidditch Pitch for tryouts. He had his broom in one hand and a clipboard in the other.

When he arrived it was 4:20 and no one was there yet. He sat the clipboard down and decided to fly. He soared through the air, did flips, turns, and dives. He flew around until he saw students walking towards the pitch.

When all of the students were at the pitch, Draco went into a dramatic dive. He didn't pull up until he was only a few inches from the ground. All of the students clapped and his eyes skimmed the crowd. 'Pansy? What the hell is she doing here? She is delusional if she thinks that I am going to let her on my team!' he thought.

"Okay. Lets get started. Here is how it is going to go. Each of you will be assigned to a goal and the chasers will try to score against you. There will be two of you going at once. One at the goal post to the left one on the right. Now, before we get started, everyone needs to sign this list." he said as he handed the clipboard to the person closest to him. "I want your name and year."

When everyone was finished signing, they handed the clipboard back to Draco. "Okay, Grady Bryant, Wyatt Melson, you will be first." The two boys immediately mounted their brooms and flew to opposite goal posts. The chasers did the same, Cain carrying the Quaffle.

"Here we go." Draco mumbled as he too mounted his broom and flew up to the others…

By the time the tryouts were over, Draco's parchment read:

Grady Bryant 4th-- Okay. Missed only two.

Wyatt Malson 3rd-- No way. Was scared of the ball.

Kiara Jenson 6th-- Good. Missed a few, but made several great saves.

Pansy Parkinson 7th-- NO BLOODY WAY IN HELL!

Blake Zambini 2nd-- Good. He is a lot like his brother.

Camille Anderson 4th-- Bad! Never stopped one, but tried

Trenton Wayne 4th-- NO.

Clayton Barrington 5th-- Not too bad, but not too good either.

Jimmy Hammons 6th-- Excelent! Stopped every one! Shows leadership!

"Good job everyone. I will post the name of the new Slytherin keeper tonight before dinner." Draco said.

Draco was now the only one left on the Quidditch pitch to determine who to pick. 'There are three real options: Jenson, Zambini, and Hammons. But who am I going to pick?' he wondered as he mounted his broom and flew into the night sky once more. 'Hammons was clearly the best, but Zambini was really good too. I know what I'll do.'

'I guess I should have practice tomorrow, but I have a feeling that I already have plans. Of coarse, how could I forget. Me and Hermione are supposed to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow afternoon. That will work out fine, I will just have to make the practice at night. I can't wait till tomorrow. I am so excited. Hermione during the day and Quidditch at night. What could be more perfect, even if I have to tell her…'

An hour later, he touched ground and began walking towards the school.

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"Checkmate!" yelled an excited Ronald Weasley. "I won again."

"Yeah yeah…" mumbled Harry.

"You know, Harry, you think that you would get better after playing so many times, but Ron still beats you every time." said Hermione who was trying her hardest not to giggle. Hermione had come to visit Harry and Ron since Draco was having tryouts.

"Thanks a lot, 'Mione. You know you would think that Ron would get tired of winning, but every time is like a new success." Harry retorted.

"Your just jealous that I can beat you." said a somewhat defensive Ron.

"Anyways, who are you guys taking to the dance?" Hermione asked, trying to change the subject.

It apparently worked because both boys responded. "I don't have a date. I don't know who to ask." Harry said quickly, blushing slightly.

"And I am going with a Hufflepuff 6th year, Susan Bones." said Ron. "I asked her a few days ago.

"That's great Ron. She is a nice girl." Hermione said, smiling.

"Are you still going with Malfoy?" Ron asked, trying in vain to not look totally disgusted.

"Ron, you know I have to, Dumbledore's orders. Plus, you know he if my boyfriend." she replied.

"I know, it's just that you spend more time with him than you do with us. It kind of feels like you only talk to us when Draco is busy." Ron said quietly.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to."

'It's okay. We understand and we still love you." Ron said.

"Well guys, I have to go get ready for dinner. Bye."

"Bye" they both said as she gave them each a kiss on the cheek and left.

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Slytherin Students,

The new Slytherin keeper will be Jimmy Hammons. I have also decided to appoint a alternate to take the place of any player that gets hurt. This person will be, Blake Zambini.

Practice will be held tomorrow night at 5:45. Do not be late. Tardiness in not acceptable. You both can be replaced.

Slytherin Captain and Seeker, Draco Malfoy

Draco looked at the announcement once more before smirking and walking towards the Slytherin table. He sat in his seat and stared at the doors. Soon, he saw a brown-eyed, brown-haired beauty walk through the door. It was twenty minutes until dinner, so they were alone.

She walked over to him and said, "Malfoy."

"Granger." he replied, "have a seat."

She hesitated a minute, but eventually decided that it would be okay. She began to sit in the chair next to him, but his arms encircled her waist and pulled her onto his lap. Hermione gave a shocked yelp, but soon relaxed in his arms.

"My my, you are so cute when you get scared." he said.

She blushed and turned away. When the blush was gone, she turned back to him and looked into his eyes.

He was smiling at her and that smile went all the way to his eyes. "You are so beautiful." he said.

Hermione fought another blush and said, "Umm, thanks."

"I love you, Hermione Anne Granger." he whispered into her hair. Then he moved his head so that his lips were hovering only centimeters from hers. He hovered for a minute before claiming her lips with his.

It was a light, butterfly kiss that soon turned into a deep, passionate kiss. Hermione head was spinning and she was weak in the knees. She was so glad that they were sitting down. They had totally forgot about their surroundings as they deepened the kiss. They were so oblivious that they didn't notice the students piling into the Great Hall.

Suddenly, Hermione felt eyes boring into the back of her head. She pulled away and looked around her. The Great Hall was full of students staring at them with open mouths. She stood up and moved away from Draco.

Her eyes swept the room and she saw the Gryffindors glaring daggars at Draco and the Slytherins glaring at Hermione. She also saw Snape's shocked look. There was something else in his eyes, but she couldn't tell what it was.

The whole Great Hall was silent. Just then a voice resounded through the room. "Dinner will be served in five minutes, so please take your seats." Professor Dumbledore said.

The students seemed to be snapped out of their trance and they scurried to their tables. Hermione glanced at Draco, who seemed to be in a state of shock, before walking to the Gryffindor table. Many people from Slytherin and Gryffindor were still starting at her, and she tried to make herself look as small as possible. 'This is bad.' she kept repeating to herself.

Soon, Dumbledore began speaking again, drawling many of the students' eyes off Hermione and Draco. She looked up and listened too. "As you all know, the dance is a week from tomorrow. I would like to announce a couple rules. First, Costumes are required. This is a masquerade ball, but the masks do not have to cover your entire face. Second, and fighting or bad behavior will result in one hundred points being taken from your house and a months worth of detentions. Thank you. Enjoy your dinner." he said as he waved his hands and food appeared on the tables.

When the food appeared, Hermione just stared at it. She definitely did not have an appetite after what just happened. Ron and Harry were sitting across from her looking at her with wide eyes. "What do you think you are doing?" Ron asked in a harsh whispered.

"I-I-I…" her voice stuttered and trailed off as tears began to form in her eyes.

"Shh, it's okay. It will be alright. Here, let me take you to your room." Harry suggested.

Hermione nodded and took Harry's offered hand. They immediately walked out of the Great Hall, and went to her room.

~Draco~

When Dumbledore finished his speech, Draco focused on his food. 'This is a fiasco!' he thought as he shoveled food into his mouth. 'I mean, I planned on telling everyone, but not like this, not so soon.'

"Drakie! What the hell were you doing with that Mudblood?" Pansy screeched.

Draco ignored her and continued eating his food.

Pansy reached out and shook him. "Drakie, what is wrong with you? Did she out some type of love spell on you?" she asked. When she got no answer, she automatically assumed it was a yes. 'I am going to kill that stupid Mudblood!' she thought. 'I will not let her take my Drakie away from me. I love him!'

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Twenty minutes later Draco got up and walked out of the Great Hall. People had been whispering about him and Hermione the whole time and he was sick of it.

He headed straight for his common room. He was hoping that she was there. He knew that she needed him right now, and her needed her too.