Bittersweet Game
Towards the next few days before the big Quidditch face-off between Gryffindor and Slytherin, Hermione had been training harder than ever. Strangely enough, she loved it. The way her hair ripples in the breeze as she hurtles towards the target. Risking her head one too many times, Hermione had attempted some tricks in the air, and found (to her delight) she succeeded in doing so. Even the strong need of books slipped away after each practice. Maybe she did have what it takes to become something more than a know-it-all. However, as the game approached, Hermione felt pangs of tension seize her body.
~*~
"Alright team, I want you to go out there and make Gryffindor proud!" Harry said.
"Make you proud, more like." muttered Fred, head prodded on the side wall.
Harry ignored him. "Good luck to you all, and to all you new Chasers," his eyes focused on Hermione, Ginny, and Luna, who were standing in position, brooms at the ready. "Show 'em what you're made of!"
With that, they set off.
The gate lifted with a tremendous creak, Hermione and the others entered to the roar of scarlet and green figures packing the stands. Hermione scanned the stands, smiling to the large waving silhouette of Hagrid. Lee of Gryffindor was sitting at the scoring boards, waiting. Up beside him was strict Professor McGonagull, making sure he won't be too biased with this game. Green cloaked Slytherins marched out from the other side, lead by Draco Malfoy. Hermione could hear Harry suck in his breathe as he saw his sworn enemy. Draco, however, seemed unfazed, though his grey eyes did have a change of light. Pansy Parkinson smirked at Hermione, which made her pretty sure that she had made it on the team, and by the looks of two snarling girls on either side of her, as Chaser also.
"Captains, shake hands," commanded Madam Hooch with a powerful voice.
Harry and Draco stepped up and gripped hands. Hermione winced as she heard the crack of knuckles. Both stepped off the podium. Hermione mounted the broom and waited for the whistle. Oddly enough, she didn't feel quite as nervous as she did recently. All she wanted to do is play. Now that she thought about it, this was no different from the sports tournaments that she attended at camp.
Two squirming Bludgers were released first. George Weasley waved his club (unnecessarily) that he was ready. Second to be set free was the golden Snitch. It flew to Harry first, then to Draco, and finally out of sight.
"On my whistle..." Madam Hooch held the bright red Quaffle ready to release in her palms. "3...2..."
The Quaffle was thrown up on 1. Hermione kicked off the ground, and caught it with one hand. Gripping her broom with the other, she tore through the air, Quaffle in hand.
"Yes that's the new Chaser of Gryffindor... Granger in possession..." Jordan announced.
Hermione took a sharp turn, leading off Pansy, and threw the Quaffle in Luna's direction. Luna soared forward, arms out--
"OOOOOH...that's got to hurt!"
One of the Slytherin Chasers shoved her elbow hard into Luna, causing her to spin off course.
The whistle blew.
"Hermione, you take this shot," Ginny right away.
"No, You didn't get the Quaffle yet, you take it."
"Just go! I've had plenty of chances when I was Seeker!"
Hermione looked off to the side. Harry nodded. Madam Hooch threw the Quaffle her way. Catching it, she made a clean throw—
"YES!" Jordan shouted into the mic as cheers rose from the Gryffindor side. "10 POINTS FOR GRYFFINDOR!"
Hermione resumed play. She kept her eye on Ginny as she flew, watching her soar away from the posts. Hermione flew up in front of the Slytherin Keeper. "Ginny!"
The Quaffle came hurtling towards her—
"YEEEAAAHHH!" Lee went hysterical. "ANOTHER 10 FOR GRYFFINDOR! THE LEAD SLYTHERIN 20-0!"
Hermione smiled at the stands, but suddenly, Pansy had her by the neck. Hermione gasped for air.
"I GOT HER!" Pansy shouted towards her fellow Chasers, "GET TO THE POST!"
The whistle's shrill sounded below, but Pansy paid no attention. Her hands tightened around Hermione's temple.
"YOU CHEATING SCUM!" yelled Lee. Nor was he the only one. Jeers erupted from the Gryffindor stand.
Hermione thought fast. The only way was to fly. Pansy's attention was directed at the post. Seeing her chance, Hermione dived down. Pansy, unaware of her actions, went down with her, but didn't let go. The wind cut through Hermione's throat. She knew she couldn't hold on much longer.
Turning suddenly, she took hold of Pansy's hand. "Let GO of me!"
With that, she spun speedily in a circle holding onto her Clean Sweep 11 while Pansy screamed. Feeling Pansy's grip loosen, she immediately let go. Pansy tumbled through the air. Hermione felt her throat for possible injury. It stun, but nonetheless she was fine.
The sound of the whistle called her down. The two teams were waiting below. Madam Hooch was beside herself with fury.
"How DARE you, Miss. Parkinson! Attacking in public, you should be ashamed of yourself!" she turned to Hermione. "Are you okay, Miss. Granger?"
Hermione nodded. She was still slightly out of breathe. The stands were buzzing with conversation. Teammates were looking her way with concern. As she looked up, she caught sight of Draco looking her way. Their eyes met for a split second.
"Hermione," it was Harry. "You okay?"
Hermione nodded, still holding her throat.
"Are you able to play, Miss. Granger?"
Hermione nodded again.
"Alright." Madam Hooch blew the whistle. "Gryffindor, 2 shots!"
Luna stepped up. "You take it."
Hermione shook her head. "No, you." she said flatly. Without another word, she kicked off into the air.
Luna took her position. She aimed—
The Gryffindors groaned. The Quaffle bounced off the rim. Luna, slightly blushing with embarrassment, caught the Quaffle a second time. She threw—
"SCORE!" commented Jordan. The crowd cheered as the game was back on.
Luna threw the Quaffle to Ginny, who caught it, but dropped it as Beater Goyle of Slytherin pushed her out of the way. Pansy, who had clearly recovered, flew forward. She caught it, aimed towards Ron—
"SLYTHERIN SCORE!"
Pansy passed to another Slytherin Chaser.
"GO RON! DEFENCE! DE—ahh..."
Slytherin scored once more. The Chaser snickered stupidly, dropping the Quaffle when Ginny slammed into her. Hermione caught it.
"Granger in possession, another great Chaser she is... another girl on my list... just joking Professor... yes she is on the run..."
Hermione pelleted on the opposite direction, passing the Quaffle to Ginny along the way. Ginny looked around, passed it to Luna, who scored.
"GRYFFINDOR LEADS SLYTHERIN—er..." Lee faltered, for Pansy had scored again. "30-20"
Hermione was about to continue when she saw Harry and Draco take off behind the small golden snitch. She stopped, breathless, as did everyone else.
"Looks like Potter and Malfoy has both spotted the Snitch!"
Harry had the lead, unsurprisingly because of his Firebolt, but Draco wasn't much behind. The two circled after the tiny golden ball. Draco seemed to gain on Harry. He elbowed him hard. The Snitch whizzed towards the goals, missing Ron's nose by an inch. Draco gained on it. He stretched out his hand. Unexpectedly, Harry came back at full force. He elbowed him with such force that it sent Draco straight towards the goal posts. As Hermione watched with fear, his arm slammed into the silver pole. Hermione gasped as tears gathered in her eyes. Harry must have caught the Snitch then, because the crowd went wild. Draco's face showed great pain as he landed his broom, gripping his arm firmly. Hermione floated down towards the ground, eyes still on Draco. She had no heart to join the celebrating Gryffindors, but watched as Draco set off to the Hospital Wing accompanied by Crabbe, Goyle, and a chattering Pansy Parkinson.
"Hey Hermione!" shouted Fred, "Come on over here! We won!"
Hermione dragged herself over. "Congrats Harry," she said to him, forcing a watery smile.
"Thanks," replied Harry, then noticing the grim expression on her face, "You okay?"
"Er..." she sniffled. "Just a cold."
"Alright then," he said. "You take care." Then his expression brightened. "We won though!"
"Uh-huh," answered Hermione half-heartedly. Truth being, she would rather lose than have Draco hurt like this.
She remained behind.
Ginny and Luna came up to her.
"We—we saw what happened," said Ginny.
"Yeah," said Hermione, eyes stinging.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Luna asked.
Hermione looked up. "What?"
"Go after him!" they both said.
Towards the next few days before the big Quidditch face-off between Gryffindor and Slytherin, Hermione had been training harder than ever. Strangely enough, she loved it. The way her hair ripples in the breeze as she hurtles towards the target. Risking her head one too many times, Hermione had attempted some tricks in the air, and found (to her delight) she succeeded in doing so. Even the strong need of books slipped away after each practice. Maybe she did have what it takes to become something more than a know-it-all. However, as the game approached, Hermione felt pangs of tension seize her body.
~*~
"Alright team, I want you to go out there and make Gryffindor proud!" Harry said.
"Make you proud, more like." muttered Fred, head prodded on the side wall.
Harry ignored him. "Good luck to you all, and to all you new Chasers," his eyes focused on Hermione, Ginny, and Luna, who were standing in position, brooms at the ready. "Show 'em what you're made of!"
With that, they set off.
The gate lifted with a tremendous creak, Hermione and the others entered to the roar of scarlet and green figures packing the stands. Hermione scanned the stands, smiling to the large waving silhouette of Hagrid. Lee of Gryffindor was sitting at the scoring boards, waiting. Up beside him was strict Professor McGonagull, making sure he won't be too biased with this game. Green cloaked Slytherins marched out from the other side, lead by Draco Malfoy. Hermione could hear Harry suck in his breathe as he saw his sworn enemy. Draco, however, seemed unfazed, though his grey eyes did have a change of light. Pansy Parkinson smirked at Hermione, which made her pretty sure that she had made it on the team, and by the looks of two snarling girls on either side of her, as Chaser also.
"Captains, shake hands," commanded Madam Hooch with a powerful voice.
Harry and Draco stepped up and gripped hands. Hermione winced as she heard the crack of knuckles. Both stepped off the podium. Hermione mounted the broom and waited for the whistle. Oddly enough, she didn't feel quite as nervous as she did recently. All she wanted to do is play. Now that she thought about it, this was no different from the sports tournaments that she attended at camp.
Two squirming Bludgers were released first. George Weasley waved his club (unnecessarily) that he was ready. Second to be set free was the golden Snitch. It flew to Harry first, then to Draco, and finally out of sight.
"On my whistle..." Madam Hooch held the bright red Quaffle ready to release in her palms. "3...2..."
The Quaffle was thrown up on 1. Hermione kicked off the ground, and caught it with one hand. Gripping her broom with the other, she tore through the air, Quaffle in hand.
"Yes that's the new Chaser of Gryffindor... Granger in possession..." Jordan announced.
Hermione took a sharp turn, leading off Pansy, and threw the Quaffle in Luna's direction. Luna soared forward, arms out--
"OOOOOH...that's got to hurt!"
One of the Slytherin Chasers shoved her elbow hard into Luna, causing her to spin off course.
The whistle blew.
"Hermione, you take this shot," Ginny right away.
"No, You didn't get the Quaffle yet, you take it."
"Just go! I've had plenty of chances when I was Seeker!"
Hermione looked off to the side. Harry nodded. Madam Hooch threw the Quaffle her way. Catching it, she made a clean throw—
"YES!" Jordan shouted into the mic as cheers rose from the Gryffindor side. "10 POINTS FOR GRYFFINDOR!"
Hermione resumed play. She kept her eye on Ginny as she flew, watching her soar away from the posts. Hermione flew up in front of the Slytherin Keeper. "Ginny!"
The Quaffle came hurtling towards her—
"YEEEAAAHHH!" Lee went hysterical. "ANOTHER 10 FOR GRYFFINDOR! THE LEAD SLYTHERIN 20-0!"
Hermione smiled at the stands, but suddenly, Pansy had her by the neck. Hermione gasped for air.
"I GOT HER!" Pansy shouted towards her fellow Chasers, "GET TO THE POST!"
The whistle's shrill sounded below, but Pansy paid no attention. Her hands tightened around Hermione's temple.
"YOU CHEATING SCUM!" yelled Lee. Nor was he the only one. Jeers erupted from the Gryffindor stand.
Hermione thought fast. The only way was to fly. Pansy's attention was directed at the post. Seeing her chance, Hermione dived down. Pansy, unaware of her actions, went down with her, but didn't let go. The wind cut through Hermione's throat. She knew she couldn't hold on much longer.
Turning suddenly, she took hold of Pansy's hand. "Let GO of me!"
With that, she spun speedily in a circle holding onto her Clean Sweep 11 while Pansy screamed. Feeling Pansy's grip loosen, she immediately let go. Pansy tumbled through the air. Hermione felt her throat for possible injury. It stun, but nonetheless she was fine.
The sound of the whistle called her down. The two teams were waiting below. Madam Hooch was beside herself with fury.
"How DARE you, Miss. Parkinson! Attacking in public, you should be ashamed of yourself!" she turned to Hermione. "Are you okay, Miss. Granger?"
Hermione nodded. She was still slightly out of breathe. The stands were buzzing with conversation. Teammates were looking her way with concern. As she looked up, she caught sight of Draco looking her way. Their eyes met for a split second.
"Hermione," it was Harry. "You okay?"
Hermione nodded, still holding her throat.
"Are you able to play, Miss. Granger?"
Hermione nodded again.
"Alright." Madam Hooch blew the whistle. "Gryffindor, 2 shots!"
Luna stepped up. "You take it."
Hermione shook her head. "No, you." she said flatly. Without another word, she kicked off into the air.
Luna took her position. She aimed—
The Gryffindors groaned. The Quaffle bounced off the rim. Luna, slightly blushing with embarrassment, caught the Quaffle a second time. She threw—
"SCORE!" commented Jordan. The crowd cheered as the game was back on.
Luna threw the Quaffle to Ginny, who caught it, but dropped it as Beater Goyle of Slytherin pushed her out of the way. Pansy, who had clearly recovered, flew forward. She caught it, aimed towards Ron—
"SLYTHERIN SCORE!"
Pansy passed to another Slytherin Chaser.
"GO RON! DEFENCE! DE—ahh..."
Slytherin scored once more. The Chaser snickered stupidly, dropping the Quaffle when Ginny slammed into her. Hermione caught it.
"Granger in possession, another great Chaser she is... another girl on my list... just joking Professor... yes she is on the run..."
Hermione pelleted on the opposite direction, passing the Quaffle to Ginny along the way. Ginny looked around, passed it to Luna, who scored.
"GRYFFINDOR LEADS SLYTHERIN—er..." Lee faltered, for Pansy had scored again. "30-20"
Hermione was about to continue when she saw Harry and Draco take off behind the small golden snitch. She stopped, breathless, as did everyone else.
"Looks like Potter and Malfoy has both spotted the Snitch!"
Harry had the lead, unsurprisingly because of his Firebolt, but Draco wasn't much behind. The two circled after the tiny golden ball. Draco seemed to gain on Harry. He elbowed him hard. The Snitch whizzed towards the goals, missing Ron's nose by an inch. Draco gained on it. He stretched out his hand. Unexpectedly, Harry came back at full force. He elbowed him with such force that it sent Draco straight towards the goal posts. As Hermione watched with fear, his arm slammed into the silver pole. Hermione gasped as tears gathered in her eyes. Harry must have caught the Snitch then, because the crowd went wild. Draco's face showed great pain as he landed his broom, gripping his arm firmly. Hermione floated down towards the ground, eyes still on Draco. She had no heart to join the celebrating Gryffindors, but watched as Draco set off to the Hospital Wing accompanied by Crabbe, Goyle, and a chattering Pansy Parkinson.
"Hey Hermione!" shouted Fred, "Come on over here! We won!"
Hermione dragged herself over. "Congrats Harry," she said to him, forcing a watery smile.
"Thanks," replied Harry, then noticing the grim expression on her face, "You okay?"
"Er..." she sniffled. "Just a cold."
"Alright then," he said. "You take care." Then his expression brightened. "We won though!"
"Uh-huh," answered Hermione half-heartedly. Truth being, she would rather lose than have Draco hurt like this.
She remained behind.
Ginny and Luna came up to her.
"We—we saw what happened," said Ginny.
"Yeah," said Hermione, eyes stinging.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Luna asked.
Hermione looked up. "What?"
"Go after him!" they both said.