Attention Some strong language ahead!
Chapter 51. The Quidditch Match.
Amelia Bones got to work straight away. Talks were arranged between goblins and the Ministry, a powerful werewolf who was trying to stir up trouble was talked to and Aurors were sent out every night to patrol places that were in danger of being attacked. The number of attacks was fast declining, both muggle and magical; however a gruesome one marred the beginning of Susan's Bones reign. The news of an attack on the Creeveys that left Dennis and his father dead, but Colin alive was what everyone was talking about two days before Harry returned to Hogwarts.
Even though Harry had not known Dennis well, he knew that Dennis and Colin had been enthusiastic fans of his, and valuable members of the DA and Gryffindor. The night Harry returned to Hogwarts, a speech was said for Dennis and his father, and a few moments of silence was held in remembrance for them. Colin avoided eye contact throughout dinner, and was very silent in the common room afterwards.
Two weeks after returning to Hogwarts was the scheduled Gryffindor against Slytherin Quidditch match. Harry had been training his team as much as he could for the past fortnight for the game, and he wanted the outcome of this game to be better than the last they played against Slytherin, which had gotten Harry a life time ban of Quidditch.
The Scoobies and Sirius had gone to Hogwarts with Harry, feeling it was better to be there than stuck in Grimmauld Place for another couple of weeks. Lupin was teaching again, and Willow and Tara were working on how to release Angel's memories of the curse.
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It was early on a bright, crisp morning that Hermione woke and quickly showered, remembering that it was the Quidditch match that day. However, she had a meeting with Draco that morning before breakfast, to talk and to go over the last lesson of Arithmancy they had together.
Hermione quickly hurried down the stairs to the Gryffindor common room and almost made it out when a voice rang clearly in the room.
"Where are you going?"
Hermione turned around to see Harry holding his broom in the middle of the common room. Ron came down the stairs dressed in his Quidditch robes and holding his broom and glanced curiously between Harry and Hermione.
"The library." Hermione said, not lying but a guilty feeling rose inside her.
"What about breakfast?" Ron asked.
"It's a bit early don't you think?" Hermione said, smiling. "I'll be there soon; I just need to see someone."
Ron's face darkened, "see someone?" He spat, and Hermione nodded, looking straight at him coldly.
"Is there a problem?" Without waiting for an answer, she said "good" and left the common room.
Harry and Ron stared at the portrait door as it swung closed, and Ron awkwardly cleared his throat and turned to his best friend. "Harry, there's something I think you should know. It's about Hermione…"
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Hermione hurried into the library, wishing that she could tell her friends the truth, but knowing the reactions her friends would have.
"Malfoy? Are you bloody stupid? Have you been dropped on your head and lost all kinds of sense?"
"Malfoy? Don't you remember what he's done to you-to us for the past six years?"
Hermione winced; Ron's reaction would definitely be worse and louder than Harry's, but Hermione found herself caring more what Harry would think then Ron. Harry's hatred for Draco ran deeper than Ron's did and was more personal, and Hermione could only imagine the hurt he would feel if she told him that Draco and she were friends.
Hermione spotted Draco's white blonde hair at a hidden table and sat next to him, the guilty feeling still inside her. He looked up at her as she sat down with a look in his eyes that she could not distinguish, but it unnerved her.
"Have a good sleep?" He asked the same look in his eyes.
"Yes." She said uncomfortably.
"It's the match today." She nodded. "I guess you'll be rooting for Gryffindor."
"Obviously." She scoffed.
"I can't expect anything else from you." He shrugged, turning back to his books, his quill poised to write something. His hand made a movement, and Hermione thought he was going to write, but he looked up at her again. "Well, there is something you can do for me."
"Oh?" Hermione asked curiously, uncomfortable with the look in his eyes.
"Meet me tonight in the Astronomy towers at nine."
"Why?"
He grinned and said quietly, "I have something I want to tell you."
"C-can you not tell me now? I might not be able to get away." Hermione stuttered.
"Try." He said sharply, and looked her up and down. It was unsettling. "I have to go." He said sharply, picking up his books. "Breakfast calls."
"Good luck for the game." Hermione called out as he walked away, books tucked under his right arm. He gestured good bye with his left hand and disappeared behind the stacks. Hermione let out a breath she had not been aware she was holding. For some strange reason, she was feeling more comfortable with him gone.
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Harry angrily stabbed at the sausage on his plate, imagining Draco Malfoy's face where he had stabbed. Ron had told him what he had seen several months ago in the library-Hermione kissing Draco. Not only did it hurt him to realize that Hermione had been lying to him for six months, but she had been with Malfoy…doing Merlin knows what behind his back.
He felt betrayed, angry and most of all hurt that Hermione had done this and kept it hidden from him. For years, Malfoy had bullied Harry, Ron and Hermione, but Hermione was willing to look past that and kiss…
Harry could not even think it without gagging, his mind was conjuring up mental images of the two of them kissing, touching even talking civilly and he wished that it would all go away. He wished that he could eradicate all those images, but they kept coming back and he kept seeing them, the images haunting him, every time he closed his eyes and opened them.
And then he saw him, Malfoy, strutting into the Great Hall as if he owned it, his white blonde hair shining in the sun, and Harry rose abruptly, ready to wipe that smirk off his face.
"Harry, no!" Ron said, pushing him back down into his seat. "I know exactly what your thinking and I'll love to punch the bugger's face in too, but let's save it till later. We can beat the bastard in the game today." Ron said, glaring angrily as Draco sat down at the Slytherin table with his buddies.
"I'll kick his fucking arse." Harry said hoarsely, stabbing at the sausage.
"Harry, language." A voice said behind him, but Harry did not acknowledge it. Hermione sat next to Harry, looking curiously at him. "What's wrong?" She asked as Harry continued to stare at the plate. Then she noticed that Ron was acting the same way. "Ron? Harry? What's going on? Talk to me."
Harry glared at her, a look so powerful in emotion that Hermione cowered. "Why don't you talk to Malfoy? Apparently you've been doing that a lot lately."
Hermione's face drained of colour, and she stared guiltily into Harry's eyes. "So you know we're friends." She said quietly.
"Friends?" Ron spat angrily, turning to face her. "I saw you kissing him last year!" He hissed, and Ginny, seated next to her older brother, glanced at the trio.
"So you were spying on me?" Hermione asked furiously.
"It doesn't matter if he was spying on you or not Hermione." Harry said slowly and coldly, his voice deep and full of hatred and anger. "The fact is, you betrayed us. You went behind our backs and lied to us-to me about befriending our enemy."
"It's not like he's Voldemort." Hermione hissed.
"He's a Death Eater Hermione, and before you say he isn't, I'm telling you he is." Harry said coldly. "Now the sooner you figure that out and stop being so damn stupid, the better." Harry said, grabbing his broomstick off the floor and stalking out of the Great Hall, dismissing Luna coldly as she came up to him to show off her lion hat.
He stomped angrily out of the castle and into the brilliant sunshine, the cold biting his face. He groaned as he looked up to the sky-there was not a cloud in sight. The sun was going to provide him with horrible vision.
He could hear loud footsteps behind him, but Harry kept his back facing the door.
"If you think you can just go off like that, shouting at me like that…I'll have you know Harry…you can't!" Hermione said, walking in front of him, her eyes red, tears streaming down her face.
"Leave me alone." Harry said turning away from her.
"No!" Hermione shouted, grabbing his arm and forcing him to look at her. "Don't be like this! I never meant for you to find out this way!"
"So when was the time, huh? When you decided to join Voldemort's side? When you decided to kill me and Ron?"
Hermione gasped and pressed her hand to her mouth, tears flowing freely from her eyes. Harry winced and knew he had gone too far. "If you think-"Hermione said tearfully, pointing a finger at Harry, her hand shaking. "If you think that I would go so low to betray my best friends, well then you obviously don't know me Harry Potter."
"I'm sorry Hermione." Harry apologized, stopping Hermione as she walked away from him. Harry grabbed her arm and stopped her from leaving, but she didn't look at him. "That was stupid of me, but the whole Malfoy thing…you're acting as if you are someone else. The Hermione I knew would never do something like this, she would never befriend him after everything he has done and said to us. After everything he has said to you."
"He's changed." Hermione said quietly.
Harry sighed and let go of Hermione's arm. "That I will never believe." Harry looked past Hermione and saw Ron standing in the doorway of the Great Hall, his broomstick in his hand, and an odd look of understanding on his face. Harry decided to ignore him and looked back at Hermione. "I'm going to ask you to stay away from him." Harry said quietly, staring at Hermione's face.
"And you know I won't do that." Hermione replied softly. "He's my friend, and although I don't like him as much as I like you-or Ron for that matter…you're not going to tell me what to do. I believe he has changed, and he is going to continue to be my friend, whether you like it or not." Hermione finished, wrapping her arms around herself and headed down to the Quidditch pitch. Around them, students were filing out of the Great Hall to go to the match. "Oh, and Harry? Good luck for the match. Don't hurt him too much." She added turning away from him and heading down to the Quidditch pitch, leaving Harry alone.
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Even though Harry's anger had lessened since he had first heard about Hermione and Draco, the mere sight of Draco on the pitch made the anger flare up again, and he tried his best to crush the bones of Draco's hand as they shook hands. Harry rose up into the air; his gaze fixed on Draco's who seemed extra happy and cocky about something. This only fuelled his anger, and a drive that he had never felt before urged him to find the Snitch first.
He looked back at the Gryffindor stands, where he saw Luna and Hermione wave at him, Luna with her ridiculous hat and Hermione with a look of trepidation on her face.
Harry turned back to the game, the whistle blew and the game begun.
Harry flew upwards, getting above the game so he could watch at a bird's eye view. He had completed forgotten that Buffy would be attending the game, so when he flew past one of the teacher stands, she shouted out at him and almost knocked him off his broom with shock.
Dean Thomas had taken over the commentary, and while he was not funny like Lee had been, Dean was good; since he had practiced by commentating football matches since he was very young.
"And the game begins and Gryffindor quickly gets possession of the Quaffle…Ginny Weasley flies up the pitch, passes to new Chaser Matthew Hart-ducks the Bludger from Crabbe-passes to Shah…intercepted by Warrington and he's away down the pitch…passes to the lef- no, passes to the right…that fooled Weasley and the Quaffle is caught by Montague…down the left hand side of the pitch…passes back to Montague…nice interception! Hart speeds down the pitch, come on Gryffindor, score!"
Harry stopped circling the pitch to watch as Hart sped down the pitch, the Quaffle tucked under his right hand. Hart veered left and up at the Slytherin hoops and neatly threw it into the ring, the Slytherin keeper just missing the Quaffle.
Whoops and cheers erupted around the stands, Harry could hear Luna's lion roar, and Harry couldn't help grinning to himself. He saw the game start again, Slytherin in possession and saw Alexia Hope whack a bludger in Warrington's direction. There was a loud groan as the bludger impacted at the side of Warrington's torso and he dropped the Quaffle, only to be caught by Montague underneath him.
Harry started to circle the pitch again, the sun beating down on his face. He could not see the glint of gold he needed to finish this match. Harry groaned as he heard something very familiar increase volume from the Slytherin stands.
"Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing,
Weasley is our King."
The screams and cheers from the other houses got louder, trying to drown out the singing, as did Dean's commentary.
"Montague with the Quaffle…dodges the bludger…oo, that can't be allowed!" Dean said as the Gryffindor stands erupted with shouts of anger as Montague elbowed Shah in the stomach, sending her doubling forwards and just barely clinging onto her broom. "Montague heading for the hoops, come on Ron!"
Harry stopped his searching to look at Ron, his hopes high. The singing got louder as Montague neared the hoops, and Ron flew in mid air, his expression set and his body ready. Near the hoops was Malfoy, laughing, trying to put Ron off his focus. Harry was glad to see that it wasn't working, and Ron ignored him as Montague neared him.
Montague threw the Quaffle into the right hoop and Ron leaned towards his left and:
"SAVED! Saved by Gryffindor Keeper Ron Weasley!" Dean said, almost drowned out by the cheering and booing from the crowds below Harry.
Ron threw the Quaffle back to his sister, a large grin on his face, and the game continued, Malfoy rising up in the air, looking thoroughly disheartened.
Once again Harry started to circle the stadium; he could see Malfoy keeping close to him, copying his movements. Harry grinned to himself, he couldn't punch the bloke's face in right now, as much as he wanted to, but he decided to try something. As Ginny sped down the pitch with the Quaffle and Montague stole it from her and headed back to Ron, Harry pretended to have seen the Snitch and dived down into the green below, and as expected, Malfoy followed.
Harry dodged and dived in and out of the way of players and Bludgers, the wind rushing through his hair and clothes, and a smile of triumph and happiness on his face. The ground was coming closer to him as he sped towards it, Malfoy was behind him. He could hear shouts and screams as he came closer, but at the last minute, he pulled up and rose up on the other side, looking back to see Malfoy struggle to pull out of the dive. Malfoy impacted with the ground, and Harry abruptly stopped near one of the teacher stands, watching as Malfoy stood up on the ground below, blood streaming down from his nose. Harry grinned to himself as Madam Pomfrey ran onto the pitch and cleaned Malfoy off, and set him back on his broom.
Harry took off again, circling around the pitch as high up as he could, keeping an eye on the game.
Ginny scored for Gryffindor, but as soon as she had, Montague scored for Slytherin. It was twenty to ten, to Gryffindor , and the singing from the Slytherins got louder.
But Harry did not care, for he had seen the snitch, hovering next to Crabbe's ear. He dived, flying at a faster speed before and Malfoy saw his movements and followed also, unsure if this was real or not. But soon Malfoy had seen the Snitch and he tailed Harry, following the Snitch as it weaved around players and towers.
Harry ducked as Crabbe sent a Bludger near him, and then again as Montague tried to barrel into him at full force. He had to veer left, going around a stand instead of straight ahead of it, and the crowds below cheered for him. He looked behind his shoulder as he came again into the pitch and saw that Malfoy had caught up and was closing in on Harry. Harry dived again as the Snitch did, and Malfoy dived also, coming up behind Harry. They skimmed the grass on the ground and Malfoy was right next to Harry, knocking into him from the side, his Quidditch robes stained with his blood, it was still streaming down from his nose. Harry kept his course, and as the Snitch went up, they did too, Malfoy once again knocking him in the side.
Harry knocked Malfoy back, harder than he meant to, and Malfoy lost balance and fell off his broom, landing on the grass ten feet below and rolling for a further five. Malfoy signaled to Madam Hooch, who sighed and flew over. It didn't matter that Harry had just lost Malfoy, because he had lost sight of the Snitch.
Madam Hooch flew up to Harry, the game still going on ahead so they had to dodge bludgers and players. "Mr Potter, explain yourself." She said sternly.
"Got carried away, hit him harder than I meant to. Sorry." Harry lied.
Madam Hooch nodded, accepting his apology. She looked back at Malfoy, who had seated himself back on his broom and was glaring daggers at Harry. "Better get on with the game then." Hooch said, and Harry nodded, flying around the pitch, listening to the jeers from the Slytherins and the whoops of delight from the Gryffindors.
Harry continued to circle the pitch as Gryffindor scored twice and Slytherin four times. It was fifty to forty, and the game was getting rougher, the Slytherins were taking advantage of their older and larger built team.
And then he saw it again, that glint of gold that could win Gryffindor the match, hovering above one of the stands. He dived, racing towards it, dodging and ducking things that got in his way. And then he saw Malfoy streak out of the sky on Harry's right, a blur of silver and green, and Harry urged his broom on, he had to go faster, he had to beat Malfoy. The snitch skirted one of the stands and headed towards the Slytherin stands, which was closer to Harry than it was to Malfoy. Harry could hear cheering and booing, Dean commentating and the rush of the wind in his ears as he focused on the Snitch…he had to get it, he was getting closer, closer.
Malfoy and he were now neck and neck as the Snitch moved to the left; neither of them thought of trying to shove each other off their brooms, they were both so fixated on the Snitch.
Harry urged his Firebolt to go faster, and miraculously, Harry pulled mere inches in front of Malfoy. The snitch was a few metres away, now a couple of feet…inches…Harry reached out his hand and Malfoy helplessly tried to pull him back, but Harry's fingers closed around the Snitch, struggling in his grasp.
Shouts erupted from around the stadium as Harry held up his hand that held the Snitch in triumph. The whistle blew and Malfoy hung back, defeated, as Harry circled the pitch in triumph, grinning as the cheers got louder and his team stopped and congratulated him.
Harry grinned as he touched down on the ground and his team mates came up and hugged him and patted him on the back. In the midst of the crowd, Harry searched for Malfoy, and saw that he was alone; his shoulders slumped in defeat and misery. And if it was possible, Harry's smile grew and he felt even better about winning.
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Hermione stood in the corner, a butterbeer in her hand and a cake in the other. She really did not feel like partying, but the rest of the Gryffindor house obviously felt different. Butterbeer was available in mass, and there were tons of sweets and cakes to eat. A large banner said 'Congratulations Gryffindors!" and the team were being treated like royalty.
She had watched the game through her fingers that day, especially during the Wronski Feint and when Harry had knocked Malfoy off his broom and he had fallen ten feet. Hermione couldn't really blame Harry for doing that, but Hermione had hated him for it all the same.
Hermione looked over at the clock-it was nine. Hermione put down her butterbeer and cake-they were untouched-and pushed her way through the people to get to the portrait door. But to her dismay, Harry and Ginny were in front of it talking animatedly. But the minute Harry caught sight of her, his expression changed and he rose off the chair he had been sitting to face her, his arms folded against his chest.
"Where are you going?" He asked, his expression set.
Hermione did not bother to answer him; she knew Harry already knew the answer.
"Don't go." Harry said firmly, and Hermione shook her head, laughing in spite of herself.
"You can't tell me what to do."
"I thought I just did."
Hermione glared at Harry coldly and Harry met her gaze steadily, unflinching. Ginny just stared between the two, unsure of what was going on, but she could practically see the tension.
"Why can't you just support me with this?" Hermione asked. "I've supported you with every decision you've made."
Harry snorted, "Don't do that. Don't bring back the past to help you win your cause."
"I'm just saying Harry…If you were my friend, a proper friend, then you would let me do this."
Harry paused, glaring steely at her. "The reason why I'm doing this is because I'm your friend, Hermione. I'm your friend, and I care about you and I don't want you to get hurt, which you will!"
"I won't!" Hermione shouted back angrily.
"You will!"
"I won't!"
"You will!"
Hermione sighed, and looked away, not wanting to meet Harry's eyes anymore. "I'm tired of this conversation Harry. I'm sick of it, and I'm sick of you." She said quietly, but even amongst the noise of the party, Harry still heard her. "Just get out of my way."
He stood in front of her, frozen in shock after what she said, but after a few moments he recovered and stalked off into the crowd, leaving Hermione free to go.
She did, and she could not forget Harry's expression when she had told him what she thought of him. His face was stuck in her mind the entire way up to the tower, the guilty feeling replacing the angry one in her stomach, and Harry and Ron's words from that day played in her mind.
She opened the door to the highest Astronomy tower cautiously, and peered inside. Malfoy was standing with his back to her, and Hermione said a hello. He didn't turn around to look or her, didn't say hello back, but muttered "Granger."
Hermione frowned and walked towards Draco. He never called her Granger, not anymore. She came up behind him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Draco what's wrong?"
He turned then, smiling, something glinting in his eye that she couldn't figure out. His hand reached inside his robe, and he said: "Nothing."
And then he stabbed her.
He drew out a silver dagger from his robes- a dagger with a long blade and jewels at the hilt and stuck it in her gut, as hard as he could, the grin never leaving his face.
She doubled over in shock, her fingers clutching the hilt of the dagger, stumbling backwards, and dark spots clouding her vision. Draco walked towards her, eyeing the dagger all the while.
"Do you know how disgusted I feel with myself?" Draco asked as Hermione staggered backwards. "Pretending to like you all these months, talking to you civilly…talking to a mudblood like you." He looked at her as if she was something dirty, and tears started to leak from Hermione's eyes. Everything was changed, everything was different about him. He was back to his evil self that she had known years ago, except he was worse.
"How? Why?" Hermione asked weakly, the pain intense. She leant against wall, she could feel herself getting weaker…she knew she was dying.
Malfoy grinned and squatted down in front of her, rolling up his left sleeve. "Do you want to see what I got for Christmas?" His showed her his arm, and Hermione felt sick.
"The Dark Mark." She choked.
Draco nodded, a proud look on his face. "I've wanted it for ages, but I finally turned seventeen in December. Did you know you can only become a Death Eater when your seventeen and above?"
Hermione felt bile rising in her throat as Draco's face kept disappearing and appearing in darkness.
"I accepted the challenge last summer; I couldn't wait to kill you. I've always hated you, but you probably knew that. You and your little boyfriends, Potty and Weasel. But I endured your blabbering about how great and sweet and brave your friends are, especially Potty. I endured it all, so I could do this."
He took hold of the hilt of the dagger and pulled it out of her gut, blood dripping from the blade onto the cold stone. The cold stone that kept on getting colder and colder for Hermione, the air was colder, her skin was colder.
"You see this stuff here?" He asked, pointing to black liquid that mixed with the blood on the blade. "It's released when the blade makes contact with something such as blood. Its poison by the way. It should kill you, in about a week. Until then, you'll be between a state of unconsciousness and consciousness, unable to speak but able to feel every single thing that happens in your body. Able to feel your organs burning up until there is nothing left." He smiled, thoroughly enjoying it all. "I've heard it's painful, but I've never tried it."
Hermione forced open her eyes, staring into those cold, gray ones in front of her. "Bas…bastard." She mumbled weakly, and Draco laughed.
"Yes, yes I am. But, your dying gives me great pleasure. It's too bad Potty and the Weasel aren't here to save you." Draco said gleefully.
"Think again."
Draco spun on his heel, a look of surprise and horror on his face as Harry and Ron threw off the invisibility cloak, their wands drawn. A look of utter hatred was worn on Harry's face, and Hermione at that point did not care that she was supposed to be angry with him…she was so glad to see him and Ron.
"Get away from her." Ron said angrily, his face white and his wand hand trembling.
Draco laughed and whipped out his wand. "Now boys, don't do anything you might regret."
"Stupefy!" Harry yelled.
"Protego!" Draco said, and Harry's spell was blocked. "Expelliarmus!"
Both Harry's and Ron's wands shot out of their hand and landed somewhere behind Draco, next to Hermione, but Hermione found she did not have enough strength to reach it, as pain was caused from just stretching her fingers.
Draco grinned, clearly thinking he had won. "What are you going to do without wands?"
Hermione made a cry of pain as she tried to reach one of their wands, and both boys instantly glanced at her.
A powerful emotion took hold of Harry, and he outstretched his hand, his palm facing Draco, and without saying any incantation, Draco was pushed backwards, and slammed into the wall. They all looked stunned at Harry's achievement, but before Draco could react, Harry reached his wand and thin, snake like cords flew out of them, tying Draco up. Draco's wand dropped to the floor, out of his reach, and he struggled in the binds.
Harry walked up to him, squatting down so they were face to face.
"The Dark Lord will kill you all. You will never defeat him." Malfoy spat, and Harry shrugged.
"Right now, you're my concern and I would just like to say-"
Crack
Harry took hold of Draco's head and slammed it forcefully into the ground, knocking him out.
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Sorry about the long wait, was down, and then for ages I couldn't log into my account…well here's a nice long chapter for you, and in the future they should all be pretty much the same length. Elsawriter is right, things are wrapping up now, coming to an end, so chapters are longer.
Anyways, many thanks for the reviews! I appreciate your comments!
Charmed-angel4: Lol, I was thinking of killing him actually, but Fudge is going to be alive for the rest of the story. Sorry. Lets hope that JKR kills him though!
Elsawriter: Oo, new story kicks ass? I'm sure it does, and now I really really want to read it! So post it soon ok? And I know exactly what you mean about writer's block, I'm having it with this story, on and off, it's a struggle to get stuff written, but hopefully, muse will strike you, and you'll write again.
CharmedChick: Lol, I'm glad you liked the pj's. Ginny's full name is actually Ginerva, not Virginia. JKR said this in an interview a while ago. But before that I've always thought it was Virginia too, so you're not the only one.
Please review!
