A/N: In this story, it is the first time since fifth year that Gryffindor and Ravenclaw face off in Quidditch.

Chapter 16

"Are you ready for the match?" Hermione asked Harry, Ron, and Ginny conversationally as she spread marmalade on her toast.

Actually, this was a question she did not need to ask. Hermione had been to every Gryffindor practice Disillusioned, watching out for Harry. (She had banned Draco from the field during these times)

Ginny picked at her toast.

"Why the look?" Ron grabbed the toast from his sister and inhaling it in one gulp. "You're bloody brilliant."

Harry was stabbing listlessly at his bacon, a look of worry on his face.

"Not you too!" Ron exclaimed. "Harry, Chang's got nothing on you! Lighten up!"

Harry snuck a very hesitant glance over at the Ravenclaw table, where Cho was sitting.

"It's not that," he finally mumbled.

Ginny followed his gaze. "Oh…it's about coming face-to-face with Cho again, is it?"

"Harry, I thought you were over her!" Ron exclaimed, spewing half-chewed bits of grilled tomato all over Artie Anders.

"Ron, would you please buy a clue?" Hermione started in exasperation.

Harry prevented another big argument by making things clear. "Yes, I am. It's just that…we left things quite uncomfortable last year…and …"

"And it'll be more than a bit distracting for both of you as there's a lot of tension," Ginny deduced. "Ah."

Just then, Katie called the team outside.

As the red-robed group marched onto the field, Cho, who had been named Captain of the Ravenclaw team, led her group to the middle of the field.

Even as she and Katie shook hands, Cho's eyes went to Harry.

He fidgeted, even more uneasy than before.

"Good luck," she said to him quietly, a small smile on her face.

Harry felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, feeling relieved. "Same to you."

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As they lifted off the ground, Ron leaned over and reminded Harry yet again that Professor Greenleaf was watching, before zooming off to his spot at the goalposts.

Harry's spirits soared when he glanced over at the bleachers and saw the professor beaming at him.

Down below, Ginny was doing loop-the-loops to ease her nervousness, just like Harry had taught her to. The red-haired girl caught his eye, grinned, and gave him a thumbs-up.

When the whistle blew, everyone went into action.

Sounds of swooping filled the air. Harry watched in admiration as Ginny stole the Quaffle from a Ravenclaw Chaser and scored.

Cheers filled the air.

Suddenly, Cho dived. Harry followed instantly, thinking she had seen the Snitch.

It wasn't.

Cho would've plummeted all the way to the ground had Ginny not been passing by underneath.

Making a split-second decision, the Weasley girl dropped the Quaffle and carefully maneuvered her broom. The Ravenclaw Seeker landed right on it. Harry caught Cho's Comet in his hand and both Gryffindors zoomed towards the ground. The players had by now stopped—only the Beaters made a few occasional swats to prevent more casualties.

The teachers were waiting to check on Cho, and Dumbledore finally reported that she appeared to have been Stunned and needed to be brought to the hospital wing.

The Ravenclaws looked deeply upset. Without a Seeker, they were lost.

The Snitch fluttered onto Ginny's head just then. The Ravenclaw players looked at each other for a second before Terry Boot motioned for Harry to take it.

Not without a great twinge of guilt, Harry quietly snatched the golden ball from there.

Ron landed onto the field. "That was short."

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Not quite so hidden on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, a black-clad figure hung on for dear life to a tree branch.

"That," he gasped, "is the last time I Stun bunny rabbits while sitting in a tree."

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Hermione entered the library that evening. (Cho Chang had woken up a while after the match ended, and she was, other than deeply disappointed, fine. She'd thanked Ginny for the rescue and Harry for getting her broom) She had asked Draco to meet her there so that they could discuss what happened at the field earlier.

The blond Slytherin was immersed in a big thick book on goblin wars. Hermione blinked. She didn't realize that Draco found the subject fascinating.

Draco slammed the book shut when he saw Hermione's bushy hair out of the corner of his eye.

He would never be caught dead by her reading…

"What do you think happened there?" he barked.

"What else?" she shot back. "Death Eater. My guess is, he was aiming for Harry but slipped and hit Cho instead."

"Uh-huh." Draco's nose was buried in his book again. He was getting to good part…

"Malfoy! What on earth is with you?"

Draco pulled his nose back out. "Granger, booing Potter has made me very tired. So forgive me if I find myself unable to pay attention to your blathering."

Hermione threw up her hands in exasperation. "Fine. Suit yourself."

She made for the library doors. "You're not the only one who needs rest, you annoying jerk…"

She was quite unaware of a pair of iron-colored eyes that were simultaneously following and trying not to follow her.

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There was something Draco Malfoy would never admit to anyone.

It may have been the teasing, the lifesaving, the skiving off of classes.

But he was beginning to actually respect Hermione Granger.

He, despite his efforts not to, found himself admiring her fearlessness and courage when dealing with the Dark Lord's minions.

Found himself being impressed by her intelligence and wit, instead of bitingly envious.

Found himself amazed as she kept on saving his skin again and again, despite the fact that he was her enemy.

And by golly, she had GUTS.

It was getting easier and easier for Draco to treat Hermione (as per their truce) as more than a mere lower-class creature. In fact, it was now the opposite. He actually had to bite his tongue to keep from speaking to her in a friendly manner.

Besides, the name Hermione wasn't so bad…

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A/N: ALL GLORY GOES TO GOD….

And to my dear reviewers:

American Deer Hunter 73- Thanks:)

Flavagurl- Yes, Harry and Ginny will get together in this fic. Things between them will be happening mostly in the background, though… :)

Sacagawea- Thanks:)

Rose- Wow, thanks:)

MeLiO- It's okay:)

Kiwi-San- Thanks:)

Sam- Thanks:)

Delayed Action Ninja- We-ell, it's not quite goodness…sorry. But the next couple of chapters, especially the 18th chap, will be rife with Draco/Hermione sweetness. As for the kissing, I'm really hoping it won't take that long…am doing my best to make sure it doesn't come to that. :D

Future movie maker- Thanks:)

Ehlonna- Thanks:)

Charlotte- Thanks:)

Goodybad- Oh no, your idea was by no means stupid, I assure you. It was simply that I'd already used it. :) I know nothing much went on in the last chappie, but it was a bit important because I wanted to establish the friendship between Greenleaf and the Trio, which will be vital to a turning point in Draco and Hermione's relationship. :)

Tanith Draven- Kudos to you:) You were the only one who noticed the absence of Hermione's FOTR. The book makes an appearance in here… ;)

Next up: It's a curse! A terrible curse!