Chapter 11

The Realisation

"What a fluke," muttered Malfoy as he stormed into the changing rooms.

"If everybody had been paying attention instead of staring at the Seekers we would have got a better score!" said Roxanne snappishly. She wasn't annoyed that they had lost, just that the team had been so ignorant.

"Well you should have hit the Snitch to Malfoy instead of whacking it to the other side of the PITCH!" Rathrold yelled at her.

"Don't have a go at her! She scored four of the six goals!" Malfoy shouted back, standing in between Roxanne and Rathrold. "And anyway doing that would have been breaking the stupid rules!"

"Not if she'd done it carefully," he said, stepping closer to Malfoy. He was stronger built than Malfoy.

"Oh, and how do you suppose she could have done that?" he retorted, giving his captain a disgusted look.

"Sticking up for Winters, Malfoy? You're perfect together. Both in the same league," taunted Rathrold.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Malfoy impudently. He stepped closer to Rathrold, who was easily a foot taller than him.

"I mean," said Rathrold, leaning so close to Malfoy their noses were a few inches apart, "you would suit each other because both your families are in Azkaban."

Malfoy swore loudly at Rathrold and jumped on him.

"Get off you idiot!" cried Roxanne, attempting to pull Malfoy off. But he was much stronger than her.

He thumped Rathrold in the stomach but Rathrold retaliated by hitting Draco's broom across his head. The broom snapped in two and Malfoy fell to the ground. Rathrold stepped towards him to hit him again but Roxanne stood over Draco.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said. He stared at her questioningly. "Because not only is he the only good Seeker in Slytherin, but he has most of the Slytherins on his side."

Rathrold considered this and backed away. He stormed out of the tent nearly knocking Snape over.

"Sorry sir," he grumbled before stomping off.

Snape smoothed the front of his robe and looked at the team with disgust.

"Do you know," he said slowly, pacing the room, "what it's like to watch my team lose against such an easy and pathetic rival such as the Gryffindors? The loss of yet another match is painful enough but to see all the other houses celebrating it is torturing."

"We tried the best we could," muttered Malfoy, now off the floor. His blonde hair was stained red but he ignored it bravely.

"Obviously not. Roxanne, how come it took you a whole minute to realise the Snitch was beside your ankles?"

"I was too busy scoring goals, sir," she replied, straining to keep her voice calm.

Snape rolled his eyes, "its not that hard to notice. It glows gold and has glittering silver wings. Are you blind?"

Roxanne gathered her stuff and ran out of the tent. She wasn't going to take that, especially from Snape.

Before she reached the castle she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around and came face to face with Malfoy.

"Just wanted to say thanks for stopping Rathrold. Though I could a handled it," he added briskly.

Roxanne smiled vaguely. "I'm sure. And thanks for sticking up for me."

"No problem. He's such an idiot, and you were the man – I mean woman of the match. Potter just got lucky," he said spitefully.

"He's a very good Seeker, Draco. It's not just luck," said Roxanne, still smiling.

"Yeah well…I really don't get what you see in him."

"Of course you wouldn't. You don't know him and you're a boy."

"Seems like a big-headed show off to me," he muttered.

"He didn't ask to be famous," snapped Roxanne, getting angry now. "And the Daily Prophet do make up half of it most of the time."

Malfoy looked about uncomfortably.

"You've got to get to know a person before you judge them, Draco. You don't, that's what's your problem." She walked back to her dorm, leaving Malfoy stare after her, full of mixed emotions.

Roxanne wasn't mad with Harry, she was just a bit miffed. She didn't show it though. Apart from when Peeves threw a few hockey sticks at her. Fortunately, they didn't hurt her much but her ego was very bruised. She sent curse after curse at him until Ron managed to stop her and a few Hufflepuffs threatened to report her.

Two months went by and Roxanne's birthday was dawning. November the second. Professor Dumbledore said at the Halloween feast that to raise everyone's spirits they would hold a Fancy Dress Christmas Ball.

Roxanne had nothing planned for her birthday apart from winning the upcoming match against Ravenclaw.

On her birthday she was amazed by all the presents and cards she was given. Mr and Mrs Weasley sent her a box of homemade luxury chocolates; Ron gave her a special seat that you place on your broom to make riding more comfortable. Hermione gave her a book called The Encyclopaedia on Dragons. Ginny got her some candy and Neville gave her a purple scarf. A few more people gave her presents, the usual -money and clothing from her parents- including many Slytherins. Kacia Smith gave her a black, netted top and Leila Murphy bought her a statue of a horse much like a Thestral but with skin. But none of this prepared her for what she got from Malfoy. He walked up to her in the common room and gave her two parcels without saying anything. In one was a gorgeous black, satin dress.

"Wow!" whispered Roxanne, totally in awe as she gazed at the detailed red roses that climbed up the skirt bit and the bodice. It was very low cut and had flared sleeves.

"Draco this is…wow…" she said, utterly speechless. Why was he doing this? Maybe his mother told him to, since they were related and all.

"Open the other one," he said plainly.

She placed the dress down gently and began unwrapping the other one. Several people jumped as she squealed with delight. There lying on her lap was a Aurora Beam! The new and improved version of a Firebolt! She turned it over and saw the word Aurora Beam etched into the mahogany. It glowed a glittering blue like the Northern lights, it was quite mesmerizing. She felt a sudden jolt of guiltiness as the broom reminded her of Harry.

"These are amazing, Draco. But I can't accept this," she said, holding out the elegant broom.

"Why not?" he demanded, ignoring the held out broom.

"I just can't," she muttered sadly, placing the Aurora Beam back in the box.

"Is it because of Harry?"

"No…well yes. I promised him I wouldn't talk to you," she said, looking away as he sat down next to her.

"He's doesn't own you. You can talk to whoever you want," he said, and though Roxanne couldn't see, he had a look of hatred on his face.

"You don't understand, he hates your guts."

"Well I hate his," he muttered defiantly.

"Why though? What did he ever do to you? Before putting your father in Azkaban."

Malfoy didn't answer.

"You don't have a reason do you?" said Roxanne loudly.

"I do! In first year he had everybody's attention all the time, got into the Quidditch team, told me to get lost when he didn't even know me and was loved because he faced You-Know-Who. Do you know how many times I've had to face him?" he said, as calm as possible, but as soon as he had spoken it he knew he shouldn't have. But he carried on. "Then in second year he made that entrance with his stupid car. In third he…he just continued being a bighead. In fourth he got into the stupid Triwizard competition. And they kept him in! That was total bullshit what Dumbledore said about not being allowed to get out of the competition. Of course you can! And in fifth he always started the fights! I bet he didn't tell you that did he?" he didn't wait for Roxanne's answer, which was 'no' anyway. "And now in sixth year he mocked me about my father twice and he's going out with the only girl I've ever liked," he finished. He, of course, did not mention the other reasons.

Roxanne opened her mouth to speak but couldn't think of anything to say.

"But you did say horrible things about Ron and Hermione," she said quietly, pretending she didn't hear the last bit.

"They deserved it," he muttered sourly, "always started it. Just because of my family they assume I'm as bad."

"I know how you feel."

"Really? Have you had to talk to You-Know-Who and listen to him discussing and planning murders with my father?" hissed Draco, his voice venomous.

"No, but you did give yourself that reputation. Like when you said to Harry and Ron you wished you knew who Slytherin's heir was so you could help–" she stopped, realising what she had just said.

"I don't remember saying it to Ron and Harry. I said it to Crabbe and Goyle but –they were acting really weird…" He furrowed his brows in uncertainty.

"They're weird anyway. Well Goyle is but I don't know Crabbe."

"And I only said most of it so I didn't look soft." He turned slightly so he was face to face with Roxanne. "You're too good for Harry."

"Harry needs someone like me. He needs someone he can turn to. Don't you think he's been through enough already?" she said questioningly.

Draco obviously didn't. "But he doesn't treat you with what you deserve! He barely talks to you and I have never seen him hug you without you having to hug him first," he said truly.

"What, were you spying on me or something?"

Malfoy smirked. "Not really." His smile vanished and he looked gloomy. "I was really hoping you'd wear that dress when I took you to the Ball. But it looks like I won't."

"I do like you Draco, but I'm with Harry," she said. She was about to say 'but not in that way.' But that would be lying. She did really like Malfoy, very much. It almost disgusted her. "Anyway, aren't you with Pansy?"

"Yeah but I don't really like her. She's annoying. If you said yes I would have dumped her like that," he muttered glumly, snapping his fingers.

Roxanne looked away once again. "Well, I'm going to bed."

"Take the broom, I bought it for you and I don't want it back," he said, standing up.

Before she knew what she was doing, Roxanne leaned forward and hugged Malfoy tightly. Partially out of sympathy but mostly because she wanted to know what it would be like. He buried his head into her black hair and enjoyed those few moments of bliss.

"Thanks for the presents. Goodnight," she whispered, and then she went to her dorm.

"Goodnight," he whispered back, feeling completely heartbroken.