Chapter 17

Playing Dirty

A whole happy month went by. People were still rude, but Roxanne had learnt to ignore them, having dealt with it most of her life. She had also stopped opening any post that came for her after receiving a number of curses. Roxanne spent most of her spare time in the Gryffindor common room with Harry and sometimes with other Gryffindors. Then the complaints started coming in. Many Gryffindor students were complaining about Slytherins invading their privacy and were saying, 'what's the point in houses if Slytherins can come into our common room?' While Slytherins were starting to pick on Harry and his mates even more, no doubt encouraged by Malfoy. If looks could kill, he would surely be a murderer.

Roxanne was starting to feel downhearted again, especially since another Gryffindor versus Slytherin match was coming up. She had used one of the Weasley twins' infamous sweets, resulting in a twenty-four hour flu. But Rathrold told her he wouldn't care less if she were dieing, she had to play.

The day of the match came very suddenly and five o'clock came even faster. Before she knew it she was mounting her Aurora Beam. Malfoy grinned to himself thinking, she still has the broom. That must count for something'

"I want a friendly game now!" yelled Madam Hooch. She blew the whistle and the fourteen players flew up, and immediately they were blown back a metre or two due to the horrendous gales.

"And the Slytherins' heavy players have a useful advantage," commentated Jedd, "the Gryffindor players are being blown about here a bit. WOW! Is that – it is! An Aurora Beam!"

All the Gryffindor team snapped their heads around to see who had the Aurora Beam. Harry gaped at the magnificent broom Roxanne was riding. The twigs that made up the tail were of the tree called Hazel Contortar so they were twirly and gave the broom a fashionable sort of look. Roxanne had rode her Nimbus on the other matches and only just decided to use the Aurora Beam.

"Aurora Beam's aren't even out in the shops yet! According to Which Broomstick the Aurora Beam will be the last make for a long time – meaning it's the best in the world and will be for a long time until they think of different types!"

Roxanne couldn't help smile as she heard this; even Malfoy only had a Firebolt. Which puzzled her slightly.

"Its so elegant," continued Jedd. "It can stretch for a family and has a built in Invisibility charm for unseen journ –"

"Jedd, tell me again why I highered you after going through five years of your brother commentating?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"Because I'm so good at it?" suggested Jedd cheekily.

Despite the wind, Gryffindor were fifty pointy ahead of Slytherin. Rathrold was getting very angry and although he usually blamed Roxanne for this, he didn't this time. Maybe he thought she might not play if he did.

"For God's sake, Malfoy!" he yelled at Malfoy instead.

"WHAT?"

"You're not looking hard enough! Follow Potter!"

Malfoy scowled but didn't follow Harry. He didn't know where the Snitch was anymore than Draco. Roxanne could see the Snitch all right; it was floating by a Gryffindor goal hoop.

Ron flew up beside Harry while Madam Hooch sorted out Bulstrode's nosebleed.

"Where did she get that broom?" he asked, gaping at the broomstick.

"Your guess is as good as mine – and probably the same too," Harry said darkly.

"Malfoy?"

Harry snorted indignantly.

"Man, he must really like her…" muttered Ron. He grimaced as he realised what he just said. "Not that –"

"Doesn't matter," growled Harry, "Roxanne wont talk to him."

"Wanna bet, Potter?" called Malfoy, taking his place a metre away from him.

Harry told Malfoy to get lost, but in a much ruder way. The game started again, Bulstrode was fine – unfortunately. Slytherin started scoring after that.

Roxanne was getting annoyed.

"THE SNITCH IS NEAR THE GOAL!" she screamed at Harry and Malfoy. It had been there for twenty minutes. She felt like screaming, 'YOU IDIOTS!' too but resisted. Harry frowned slightly but Malfoy sped off straight away. Harry swore and zoomed after him. Though Malfoy had the same broom, he wasn't nearly as skilled as Harry and soon they were neck and neck.

"Careful, Potter. Flying at this speed – you might have a small accident," hissed Malfoy, ramming into him. Harry sped off course and Malfoy caught the Snitch straight away.

"FOUL!" screamed the Gryffindors.

"No – I'm afraid that's not a foul," said Madam Hooch. "It wasn't that rough."

"You are joking miss!" yelled Ginny, glowing red.

"No I am not joking. Read the rulebook if you must!" exclaimed Madam Hooch, she blew the whistle.

Back in the changing room the team and some other Slytherins had come in and were congratulating Malfoy and Roxanne for pointing out the Snitch.

"He's such an idiot! Did you see his face when Roxanne shouted it? He was like, huh? What?" mocked Malfoy.

"He is not an idiot!" retorted Roxanne. "You're an idiot for not seeing the Snitch! It was around the goals your team were shooting in!"

"He is a blockhead," Malfoy said slowly. "All his brain cells are leaking out of that stupid scar on his head."

"Shut up," snarled Roxanne.

"No," he said simply.

"FINE! Just because he's smarter than you," she counted them off on her fingers, "more skilled at Quidditch, cuter, sweeter and taller than you doesn't mean you should mock him all the time." Before walking out of the door she turned around. "Or is it because he's got me and you haven't?" she asked sarcastically before disappearing out of the green tent.

Malfoy grounded his teeth as he usually did when he was annoyed.

"For once I agree with Winters," said Pansy, flicking back her hair.

"Oh shut up you!" he snapped, throwing his Quidditch clothes off and chucking them down fiercely into the washing basket. He sat down on the bench, wearing only trousers and a vest and put his head into his hands, tugging at his hair.

"You need to get Roxanne out of your head, mate," said Rathrold, "its not healthy."

Malfoy clenched his hair tighter, tears springing to his eyes with the pain.

Three hours later Malfoy came into the Slytherin common room, with a sly smile on his face and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Meanwhile Harry was sulking up in the Owlery. Hedwig was on his shoulder nibbling his hair sympathetically.

"Can you believe she had a Aurora Beam without telling me? I've never even hard of them!" he muttered, stroking Hedwig.

The door to the tower swung open and Cho came in. She stopped and stared at Harry.

"Are you ok?" she asked, stepping closer.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he mumbled. He stood up and brushed the dirt off his trousers. Hedwig pecked him tenderly on the ear and flew out of the large windows for her supper.

"I watched the match. That was awful what Malfoy did," she said, tying her letter to a school's barn owl.

"I know…"

"Roxanne's broom is amazing! I wonder where she got it. They're not even out in New Zealand yet, and they were made there!" exclaimed Cho, watching the barn owl soar off into the horizon.

"I was kinda wondering that myself. But then her paren – I mean her aunty and uncle are very rich."

"But wouldn't she have told you if they had bought her it?" asked Cho.

"Hmm…"

"And you know that dress she wore to the ball? I saw that in Mademoiselle Millian and it costs nearly as much as a Firebolt!"

Mademoiselle Millian was a very expensive clothes and beauty store in Ireland and Britain. Harry had once seen it in London, hidden to the muggles.

"And your point is?" snapped Harry.

Cho looked abashed. "It doesn't matter."

"You think Malfoy bought her those things don't you?"

She blushed a deep crimson. "Its kinda obvious –"

"No! No its not! She would tell me…oh what am I saying? She probably sits and talks with him every evening and he probably buys her stuff everyday," said Harry, downcast.

Cho kept silent.

"See you later," he muttered, walking quickly out of the owlery.

He headed for the Gryffindor tower. He heard someone giggling around a corner near the other Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. He peered round and saw Malfoy and – no…

Wearing the dress Malfoy had bought her was Roxanne. Flirting like there was no tomorrow with Malfoy. She turned around, saw Harry and ran off like a damnsel would do in an old movie. Malfoy acted as if nothing had happened and walked after her.

Harry seemed pretty stunned by this ordeal. He walked to the Fat Lady's portrait only to see Roxanne waiting in front of it, wearing the school uniform.

"Hi Harry! I've been waiting here for ages –"

"But I've just seen you with Malfoy," interrupted Harry. "Wearing that dress…"

"'Em…no. I've been here for almost an hour!"

"B-but I saw you!"

"Listen Harry, I'm sorry I never told you about the Aurora Beam and I'm sorry Gryffindor got beaten but that doesn't mean you can make stuff up about me!"

"I wasn't! I'm not…"

"I think Malfoy's messing with you, Harry. It was probably just someone using a Polyjuice potion or a Hologram charm," said Roxanne, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Malfoy bought you the broom and dress?"

She nodded her head slowly. "But that's nothing compared to what you got me!"

"Oh come on. A necklace and a painting set. Big deal," he muttered scathingly.

"Harry, I haven't taken that necklace off since young gave it to me and I've used the painting set so many times the colours are wearing away!"

Harry didn't believe her. He didn't know how girls thought that well but he definitely knew she would prefer a dress to a necklace. The necklace was silver and had a small key on it. In little writing on the back it said, 'Always Together' and if you said that to it you could talk to the person wearing the other one. Harry had the other one, it was a lock in which the key fitted into. On it said, 'Never Apart' and could do the same thing as Roxanne's key. Harry had never taken his off either.

"I'm gonna get Malfoy for that trick," said Harry defiantly.

"Don't bother, you'll just get in trouble. He's just sad anyway."

"I didn't think he'd stoop so low."

Roxanne raised an eyebrow at Harry.

"Ok I did," he admitted, grinning.

"I'm off to bed now. Goodnight," said Roxanne. They kissed and Harry disappeared behind the Fat Lady's portrait (whom had been listening feverishly all along) and Roxanne started off in the opposite direction.

Roxanne wasn't very surprised to see Malfoy waiting for her in the common room.

"You just love embarrassing me, don't you?" he said, arms folded.

She slapped him. Hard.

"That was a dirty trick you played on Harry! Your just pathetic," she muttered, storming off.

He ran after her and turned her around forcefully.

"What in the hell are you on about?" he demanded, his right cheek glowing red.

"You using a flipping Hologram charm to make it look like I was flirting with you!"

Malfoy stared at her blankly. "Excuse me?"

"Or a Polyjuice potion. What idiot did you get to use it?"

"I'm been in the Quidditch changing room –"

"Oh whatever! Get a life, you sad act," she said. She left Malfoy standing in the common room looking thoroughly defeated.