Chapter Twenty-Three:

The Quidditch Champions

An Author's Note:

I would like to dedicate this chapter to two close friends. This chapter is a milestone in my fanfiction and writing career in that not only has this chapter been so challenging to produce, the characters that I have crafted within these pages reflect real personalities. It has come to the point where although the people in the story bear the names J. K. Rowling gave them in "The Sorcerer's Stone," they are not her characters in this story. They have changed into what I wished them to be, with new objectives, new character development and new hearts.

First, I would like to dedicate this chapter to my close friend Sarah. For a long time I was drawn away from the story that I had started. It seemed I couldn't put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. But then Sarah read this story – in a weekend too! – and that amazed me that somebody I knew was interested in the story that I had to tell. To intrigue me even further, she enthusiastically begged me to update the next chapter.

Then and there, I had to tell her that I had nothing written to update. But she looked me in the eye with her infectious smile and said, "Then write more!" To her I dedicate this chapter. Thank-you for giving me the will to move on with this story.

The second friend I would like to dedicate this chapter to is my friend Ryan. Though he's never read "The new Alliance" and has no idea this story exists (as far as I know!), he's given me inspiration for Draco as well as Ron in his mannerisms and the way he talks. I don't know how I always return to him when I'm stuck with a character, but I always find what I'm looking for in him. For that, I dedicate this chapter to him. Thank-you for being my inspiration.

Lastly, I would like to show my gratitude towards all the people who have read this story and written reviews – positive or negative. All criticism is welcome and I'm really writing this story for the fans like me who can't stand the wait for the next book. As long as there is a reader for me, I'll continue to write my fanfictions.

Now, on with the chapter.

-superguy

"Please, Professor!"

"No."

"But – how can you tell me no?"

Professor McGonagall stopped halfway down the torch-lit corridor, Harry trailing behind her. He had been hurrying after her the whole way, pestering with questions in a futile attempt to win over her approval.

"Potter," she started as she swiveled around to face him, fixing her spectacles on the bridge of her nose, "let me tell you something."

Harry – who had been tense with anxiety before then – softened his shoulders as McGonagall put a hand respectively on one of them.

"It is not my doing to keep you out of the Quidditch finals. The school knows you earned that spot as Seeker this year! But, I really cannot allow you to risk your life for a mere game of Quidditch. The Headmaster has forbid it, and so then must I."

"But – Dumbledore doesn't understand!" Harry exclaimed as he blinked away the tears that were heating behind his eyelids. Nobody understood what it was like to go from hero to zero in less than a week. Added to that was the hindrance of his scar panging again, so his week hadn't exactly been the best.

"Potter, please," McGonagall replied in an exhausted tone. "Consider this conversation over."

Harry was left by himself, the sound of McGonagall's footsteps on the stone floor echoing methodically around him.

"Draco!"

The crowds that had formed in the Quidditch stands were so deafening that it seemed almost impossible for anyone to pick out a single voice. But Draco looked up – sure he had heard Hermione's voice from the Gryffindor section.

Scanning the many faces in the long stretch of stands, Draco searched. The crowds seemed to be a moving, breathing blend of red and yellow. The House Spirit was amazing on the Gryffindor side. Everyone was cheering – the occasional ribbon being shaken in the air over the side of the railing.

That's odd, Draco thought to himself. He was sure he had heard his name called – from the Gryffindor side no less! There was only one person who would cheer for him on the Gryffindor side.

"Hermione, where are you?"

Letting his teammates dressed in evergreen robes filter ahead of him, Draco stopped. If it had been Hermione who had called to him, he wanted to at least pick her out of the mass of waving Gryffindors.

"Draco!"

This time the voice came from the Pitch up ahead. Goyle had stopped and was giving him a confused stare. Draco returned the stare as he started trudging towards the bulky boy.

"What?" he asked as he stopped abreast Goyle, still scanning the stands.

"Stop it."

Draco wasn't paying attention as he continued in his futile attempt. "Stop what?"

Goyle's hand caught his arm and gripped it firmly. Draco's eyes met his and he had to try not to shrink away from the ferocity in Goyle's eyes.

"Stop looking for the mudblood." He said firmly. Draco – appalled – was about to reprimand the towering boy he had once called an ally, but Goyle cut him off. "You can't risk our chance at the Quidditch Cup over some girl. Get your head back in the game. Besides, your father's in the Top Box."

Draco held his stare a moment longer before shoving Goyle away from him angrily.

"Big deal," he started, steeling his scowl. "My father only comes to make an appearance."

A cheer erupted from the stands as seven scarlet-robed players on brooms shot into the sky, circling the stands with the reward of fanfare.

"There's our adversary," Goyle said, his eyes piercing Draco's once more. "If you're a true Slytherin, you'll defeat them for us."

Draco chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "So it's all up to me, is it?"

Goyle grunted as the sarcasm as he mounted his Nimbus 2001 and soared up to his respective spot to begin the match. Draco, taking one last look up at the Gryffindor stands, mounted his broom as well and kicked off into the cool air.

He wanted more than ever for the match to be over. The fluttering in his stomach had accompanied him all week long. All he wanted was to go to the dance with Hermione that night and let things go.

Lee Jordan's voice wafted to his ears as he brought his broom to a halt.

" – And lastly, the Gryffindor Seeker for this game, Ron Weasley!"

What?!

Draco had to regain his grip on his broom as he tried to process what he had just heard. Weasley the Seeker? What happened to Harry?

Hovering across from him, Ron looked up hesitantly. What was going on? Did they know how much harder this game was going to get now that Ron and he were friends?

Ron made an attempt at smiling, but Draco couldn't return it.

"What happened to Potter?" he called, but it was drowned out by the high chirp of Madame Hooch's whistle as the Quaffle was released.

All at once the Pitch was alive with movement as the Quaffle was caught by Crabbe and eagerly zoomed towards the Gryffindor goal posts. It was snatched away by Ginny Weasley as Draco maneuvered his broom relatively close to Ron.

"Where's Potter?" he called to Ron over the drum of the fans.

Ron shrugged. "Guess he couldn't play. So I stepped up."

"Guess he couldn't play?!"

Boom! A bludger caught Draco's shoulder as it passed by him, zooming after another Slytherin.

"Watch out!" Ginny called to Ron as the two of them recovered from the close call. But Draco didn't have long to recover before Goyle was down his throat with anger.

"MALFOY! WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING!" he yelled as he watched Crabbe with the Quaffle.

"Sorry!" Draco snapped back, but Goyle wasn't finished.

"Just get the Snitch, will you?"

Draco clenched his teeth to stop from shouting back, but even if he were going to yell an insult back a huge gasp from the stands would have drowned his voice out.

Turning his broom, he scanned the Pitch for the source of amazement. But he found nothing there. The action was happening in the stands.

"Albus! Look!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed as she pointed to the Gryffindor stands.

Dumbledore stood up and walked to the railing as he watched a boy holding a broom leap off the tallest Gryffindor tower and soar into the Pitch.

"That's Potter!" McGonagall said in amazement as Harry zoomed after a golden speck that hovered inches away from his outstretched hand. "Stop him, Albus!"

But Dumbledore just grinned as he watched the young wizard on the Pitch.

"My, does that boy have determination."

Harry was struck in the shoulder and turned to see Ginny frowning at him. When he looked back, the Snitch was gone.

"What in the world are you doing out here?!" Ginny called over the cheers from the stands.

Harry, with a cold glare on his face, replied, "I'm playing my championship."

Ron soared into view and gave a start as he saw who was on the broom. "Harry! What's going on -"

"So you've replaced me now?" Harry spat at him.

Ron was taken aback. "What're you talking about? The team needed a Seeker -"

"So, you stepped up to take my glory?"

"Harry, stop it! You're being stupid!"

Zoom! A glint of gold soared by Ron's ear and over Harry's head. The two quarrelling boys stopped what they were doing to chase after it.

Draco watched the two Gryffindors zooming after the Snitch and eagerly joined in, hoping to beat them and win the game.

Before he knew it, the three of them were neck-in-neck, shooting towards the sky. Harry was in the middle and stretched out his hand. His fingers brushed the sleek finish of the Snitch before Ron shouldered into him.

"Forget about it, Harry!" he shouted as he reached for the golden orb. "This game is mine!"

"No, Ron! Give it!"

Draco shot out his hand this time, putting on an extra burst of speed to slip into the lead. But Harry's arm shot out and struck him. His balance wavered as he lashed out at his broom to regain his grip. The wind thundered in his ears as Harry reached again.

But suddenly a string of events happened all at once. A Bludger shot up out of nowhere and caught Ron square in the stomach, causing him to move his broom crookedly back towards the ground. Harry - arm extended in the air - doubled over as a scream was unleashed from his lungs. Draco watched as he slowly lost his grip on his broom.

The Snitch was inches from Draco's fingers, but he couldn't pull his eyes from Harry as he convulsed on his Firebolt. Agonizing cried of anguish ripped through the wind and the fans below gave shocked remarks.

"Malfoy -" Harry screamed as he soared on beside Draco. His voice shuddered as he clutched at his forehead, his glasses falling from his face. "Draco - he..help me!"

Then, as if in slow motion, his fingers released the polished surface of his broom and he fell. Draco gave one last look at the Snitch before he pressed down on his handle, shooting after the free-falling Harry.

His scarlet robes were mere ripples as the wind tore at them, fraying the ends into strands. The lifeless form tumbled through a veil of mist, arms and legs flying all over the place at the mercy of the frigid air. The wind caused Draco to squeeze his eyes to a squint as he caught up to Harry.

Then, in one swift movement not a moment before striking the ground, Draco shot an arm out and wrapped it around Harry, pulling him onto his broom and bringing him to a halt in the air.

Fans from the stands surrounded Draco as he laid Harry on the ground, pulling off his green cape and tossing it aside. He placed his hands on Harry's chest as he lowered his ear to the unconscious boy's mouth.

"He's not breathing!" someone yelled anxiously as Draco tilted Harry's chin back, brushing a finger into his mouth to make sure nothing was blocking his windpipe.

Then, with the eyes of all on him, he pressed his mouth to Harry's.

A deep breath of air pressed into Harry's lungs as his chest rose and fell. But Harry didn't come back.

"COME ON!" Draco yelled before putting his mouth back to Harry's. Hermione pressed through the circle of people with tears in her eyes.

"No! Harry!"

But Draco was absorbed with trying to bring Harry back. The chest rose and fell once again, but still nothing.

Tears formed in Draco's eyes now, spilling down his cheeks.

"No - Harry!" he sobbed as he retilted Harry's chin. "You can't go! Not like this!"

Hermione fell to her knees on the opposite side of Harry, taking one of his hands. She pressed it to her lips as Draco laced his fingers, pumping Harry's chest in quick thrusts.

"Don't leave before I say I'm sorry!" Draco said as he bent to give Harry another breath. Rising and falling once more. Again, no life.

Sitting back on his feet, Draco cried. "It's no use…" he said through tears. "He's…dead."

Harry was sweeping down a dark tunnel. Everything was black here and the sound of echoing wind blasted all around him. It was almost like flying - but not.

Where was he? He was lying down on his back, that much he knew. But what had happened?

Bringing a hand to his face, he felt for his glasses. But they were not there. What was going on? It was black out so that he couldn't see, but even so, he had a feeling he didn't need his glasses anymore.

A cool sensation tingled through his veins, reminiscent of what he felt when he smelled a dentist's office with all the minty scents. The sound of howling wind changed to that of rippling water. And yet - he felt like he was extended in a dark tunnel.

It seemed like he was going to be lost in darkness forever when something appeared before him, near his feet. A light no bigger than a pinprick. Quickly, that light began to grow, shooting out rays of turquoise into the darkness. Harry felt a feeling of contentment wash over him, like he could stay in the warmth of the light forever.

But something was pulling him back. Something was happening inside him. A stream of blue light poured out his mouth as he opened it. The stream joined the building ball of light at his feet.

The glowing ball began to shrink as he slowed and started moving backwards. Once again he was left in darkness until he opened his eyes.

Draco couldn't accept that Harry was gone. Pressing his mouth back on Harry's, he blew again into the stiff lungs.

The chest rose…

But this time it didn't fall. The air was quickly pulled out of Draco's mouth as Harry coughed and spluttered, pulling his head back.

Draco sat up, brushing the hair out of Harry's face as the emerald eyes opened.

A moan escaped Harry's lungs as they were reintroduced to the sweet air. He gulped it down as he slowly regained his sight. The darkness had faded into faces surrounding him, Draco and Hermione in the front.

His cheeks pulled back in a smile as though he was awakening from a pleasant dream.

"Draco?" he started as Draco sat back, a relieved look on his face. "You…you saved me?"

Draco grinned as he rubbed Harry's hair, messing it once again.

Beneath the messed hair was a white-hot lightningbolt scar dripping needlepoint blood trails.