These characters aren't mine, sadly, and I make no profit from (insert story the particular fic of mine you are reading is based on here). I cry out to the stars, "If only, if only."

By the by, watch out, a few of the characters may be ooc. (out of character for those of you who don't know what that stands for.)

Chapter 9: Soccer

Deena snuck through the front doors out onto the lawn of Hogwarts. Mephisto was draped around her neck, her Lightning was in her left hand, and a soccer ball was in her right. She had been waiting outside the Slytherin common room for fifteen minutes for her flying tutor to show up, but he or she hadn't, so Deena grabbed her soccer ball and Mephisto from her room and decided to play a little soccer on the Quidditch pitch, taking her broom should her tutor come looking for her.

Deena had been on her school's soccer team and had planned to attend college on a soccer scholarship. She'd been told by many coaches and other people that she had an excellent shot at being a professional soccer player. She got to the pitch and took off her robes, revealing her old soccer uniform underneath. Deena and that uniform had seen many games together, most of which she had won for her team. Briefly, she wondered what the team was like without her.

Not wanting her thoughts to dwell on her team and how poorly the new recruits were doing, Deena dribbled the ball up and down the Quidditch pitch, using the goal posts as her goals. She slammed her ball between the posts repeatedly, forgetting the world. For just that half hour, she was the only person in the world. Just her and that soccer ball. She never noticed someone watching her, never noticed his stare.

She only realized someone was watching her when applause rang out after she made one of her more spectacular goals. She scanned the stands until she found him. His cold, gray eyes seemed to sparkle with interest as he stared at her. Deena made her way up into the stands, but could think of nothing to say to him when she sat down next to him. She needn't've worried.

"How would you like to do that in the air?" Draco asked her.

"Do what? Soccer? Soccer and Quidditch are hardly similar," Deena answered, assuming he was asking her if she wanted to play Quidditch.

"Try."

"I don't know how to fly," she confessed, feeling rather stupid. "My tutor didn't show up."

"Yes, they did. I'm your tutor, I'm here now, and I'll teach you to play Quidditch at the same time."

"Shouldn't I learn the basics of flying first?"

"If we take time to go through all that, you'll be so far behind"...

-

Slytherin needed a new Chaser (their best had graduated last year) and Deena was perfect for it. As he taught her the rules and made her practice scoring, her skill became more and more obvious. Draco knew she was what the team needed this year. There had never been a girl on the Slytherin team though. Then again, the Slytherin girls were too good to get all "sweaty and disgusting", as Pansy liked to put it. Deena quite plainly care about getting sweaty.

Draco had been appointed the team captain by last year's captain, so he could put her on the team. The guys would hate it, and so would Snape. But if it helped them beat Gryffindor...

"Deena," he called to get her attention. When he was certain he had it, he continued. "How would you like to be on the House team?"

"I thought girls weren't allowed on the team," she answered. "What would Snape say?"

"Look, I'm the captain. It's my team and what I say goes. So yes or no?"

"Alright. I'll join."

Just then, the Gryffindor team trooped onto the field. Great. Just what I needed. That snotty Potter getting on my case for being on the pitch during his team's practice time. At least I can't get in trouble like I did last time. This time I've got an excuse. He signaled Deena to land and the two of them approached the seven Gryffindors.

"Clear off. We've got the pitch scheduled," Potter said with an annoyed tone. "Unless you'd rather get in trouble again."

"I can't be punished for what Dumbledore asked me to do," Draco replied, showing Potter the signed note from Dumbledore giving him permission to be here teaching Deena. Then he noticed Ginny Weasley staring at Deena's broom. "Like that broom, Weasley? It's a shame that your family can't even afford one splinter of it. It's the Lightning, brand new. It came out two days ago." He turned his eyes on Potter. "It easily outclasses the Firebolt. My father mentioned buying me one. In fact, I'll probably see mine in the mail any day now."

"Malfoy"- Potter began, but never finished. Weasley had interrupted with an ear piercing scream.

"A SNAKE!" she screeched, pointing at the ground.

"It's just Mephisto," Deena said, picking up her snake and draping it over her shoulders.

"It's disgusting," Weasley stated, hiding behind Potter. "It could've bit me."

"He can't kill you with a bite. He's not poisonous. Mephisto's an anaconda," Deena said calmly. "Anacondas are a type of constrictor, so in other words, it squeezes it's prey to death. Mephisto's not big enough to kill a person."

"Just keep it away from me," Weasley said.

"It's just a snake."

"Look Deena, Ginny's obviously terrified of it," Potter said. "Could you knock it off?"

"Fine," Deena said in a huff. "I've got books to read anyway." With that, she stalked off the pitch back towards Hogwarts. Draco couldn't help but smirk as he followed her, knowing she'd help them kick Gryffindor's sorry ass.