Disclaimer: Yeah. Don't own HP.

A/N: This is not a very informative chapter, nor is it long, (None of them are long for that matter...) but hey-- it's still part of the story. Things get better and more interesting starting in chapter 6.

Lock and Key

Chapter 5

He spent the rest of the night by himself. By the time he woke up on Friday morning, he was okay. (It probably had a lot to do with the fact that there was a Quidditch match. Harry got up early, before any of the other boys, and went over the plays once more before moving to get ready. When he was finished he woke Ron up, commanding him to get ready and head down to breakfast. As Harry himself went to go eat, he felt as though he was being very lenient; his preceding captains had made sure the team had been up much earlier than this. When he was halfway done with his food, his team members came tromping in. They appeared to be in pretty benevolent spirits.

"Morning," he greeted, "Eat." They smiled and sat down, tucking in. A short while later Hermione came wandering into the Great Hall.

"Are you feeling all right Harry?" she asked hesitantly, glancing at Ron.

"Apart from being a little jittery about the game, I'm fine." he truthfully responded.

"Good," she grinned.

"Hey Harry, look at what Dean made," said Seamus. They turned their heads to see two medium sized banners on the table. One simply said "Go Gryffindor" with a picture of a trampled on snake, and the other said "Captain Potter". Beneath it was a ridiculously buff Harry with a red cape. Ron laughed and Hermione tried to hide a smile. Dean was grinning.

"You're not going to actually hold that up, are you?" Harry fearfully questioned.

"Yep!" Dean and Seamus replied in unison. Ron laughed even harder.

The game was after everyone's first class. For Harry, Ron, and Hermione that meant Transfiguration. Neither boy paid attention during class and Harry's leg decided it didn't want to stop twitching. When it was finally time to go, McGonagall nodded confidently at them before they rapidly left.

"Good luck! I'll see you out there!" Hermione told them as they separated. Ron and Harry hurried to the locker rooms, where their Quidditch gear, brooms, and teammates were. Lauren Chid, a fifth year Chaser, and Colin Creevy were the only other ones there, so everyone got dressed. Five minutes later, all seven were present, ready, and listening to Harry's speech, which was remarkably concise. (He was not one to lecture).

"Let's go then," he told them when he had finished. They all stood up and walked out onto the pitch. The students in the stands cheered and shouted. The Slytherin team was slowly making its way across the grass. The Gryffindors approached Madam Hooch and waited for the Slytherins. When they arrived, Malfoy was smiling as only he could.

"Captains, shake hands." Hooch announced. Harry stuck out his hand, not sure of who it was for. But when Malfoy raised his own hand, Harry quickly let his fall. (Some of the people in the stands laughed).

"What?!" he sharply said.

"Potter!" exclaimed Hooch.

"That's right Potter, I'm captain!," Malfoy remarked, his gray eyes dancing, "Who did you think it would be?" Ron looked positively appalled.

"That's right Potter, Malfoy is the Slytherin captain. Now shake his hand or I will have Gryffindor disqualified!" Hooch told him. There was no way Harry was going to lose like that so he threw out his hand and shook Malfoy's with as little contact as possible.

"Mount your brooms!" Hooch commanded. They all obeyed. Harry and Malfoy's eyes never left one another. Head Boy and Quidditch captain?! Was that the reward for being the son of a Death Eater? How had the blonde Slytherin pulled that one? It was crazy... and a little unfair. The whistle blew and 14 people shot into the air.

"And the first game of the season commences!," yelled Ernie Macmillan, "Both teams have new captains this year, Harry Potter for Gryffindor and Draco Malfoy for Slytherin! Both are the team Seeker as well! This shall prove to be a very interesting year! Aaaaand Ginny Weasley takes the Quaffle, passing it to fellow Chaser Sarah Clayborn..."

Harry began to look for the Snitch, trusting his team to carry out the plays. He then heard Malfoy laugh loudly.

"You think much of yourself, don't you captain!" he sneered. Harry turned to see what he was going on about; Malfoy had seen Dean's muscular portrayal of him. Harry turned red. But before he could fly off to the other end of the goalposts (to get away), what he saw in the stands made him feel as though a Bludger had hit him. Next to Neville and Dean sat Seamus & Lavender, who were holding hands, Parvati & her twin, then Hermione and David Rice. Harry didn't have much time to react because he forced himself to get moving. (This was Quidditch, for Merlin's sake...). What was Rice doing with Hermione?! He was not a Gryffindor and definitely not a friend of Harry's. If anything, he was a potential enemy; a rival Seeker. Oh, he had some nerve! To let out his frustration, Harry zoomed around the stadium twice, a scarlet blur.

"Whoa! Potter gives out a burst of energy there!" Ernie shouted. Ron looked at his friend with doubt for a split second before stopping the Quaffle. What was Harry doing?

"And Weasley successfully ceases the ball! The score is 10-0, Gryffindor!"

Thirty minutes later the game was still going with not the slightest hint of the Snitch. Gryffindor was up by 20 (70-50) and things had turned rather nasty. Lauren was sporting a black eye, Matthew's cheek had been heavily cut, Ginny's robes had been ripped, and Harry had a small lump on the back of his head. The Slytherins were in just as bad shape however; the Gryffindors were not going to take all of that lying down.

"You know Potty," drawled Malfoy, "Now that I'm captain, that Quidditch Cup is coming back to the Slytherin House, its rightful place," As if to confirm this, a Slytherin Chaser scored. Cheers erupted and Malfoy smirked, arms crossed, "Your winning streak is over." Harry then saw gold out of the corner of his eye. The Snitch was flying around underneath Malfoy. Without warning Harry dove. Malfoy looked after him, flabbergasted. The audience held its breath.

"Come on, follow me." Harry muttered. A split second later he did. Both Seekers tore after the winged ball with Harry in the lead. Hermione had David's hand in hers, unknowingly, and was practically crushing it.

"And both captains have seen the Snitch and are going for it!" cried Ernie. Harry suddenly slowed down a bit, letting Malfoy get ahead.

"What is he doing?! He's on a Firebolt!" yelled Dean. Parvati's face fell as the Gryffindor students began to wail. Harry's team members watched in horror. Malfoy, however, laughed in triumph as he inched closer. For him, this game was over. And indeed, it was over. Harry then came up from underneath the Snitch, grabbing it and continuing to fly upwards. His House was beside itself as Ernie Macmillan happily shouted the conclusion.

"With a spectacular final move by Harry Potter, Gryffindor wins! 220 to 60! Take that Slytherin!" Harry looked down to see Malfoy glaring up at him with the utmost contempt and surprise. Harry grinned as his team bombarded him. His first game as captain had gone well.

That night a party was, naturally, held in Gryffindor Tower. Everyone was in fantastic spirits for having won the first game of the season. (Hermione was of course making sure things didn't get too out of hand. She already had to watch the first years' butterbeer intake). Harry was assured plenty of times he was the best captain to have ever happened to Gryffindor and that winning this year was inevitable.

"I will never forget the look on Malfoy's face! I wish I had had a camera!" Ron said. Harry laughed. They sat near the fireplace.

"He definitely is sure of himself to have never won a game." Harry replied.

"Against you, that is." Before Harry could respond a group of girls approached them. Two waved to him, smiling.

"Harry, that was amazing!" Parvati declared. She stepped forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. Ron grinned.

"Thanks Parvati," said Harry, blushing a bit.

"One of these days you'll have to teach me how to fly like that!" She and her friends then walked off.

"Nice! You should've become Parvati's friend a long time ago!" smiled Ron cheekily.

"Shut up. If you weren't so concerned about me, you'd know Ginny's talking to Matthew."

"What?!" Ron leapt up and hurried off to find his sister. He hadn't been gone 10 seconds before Hermione took his place.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi," he retorted. The image of David Rice sitting smugly next to her came back to him and he could feel his anger returning.

"You did a good job today." Hermione complimented.

"Thanks."

"You had us worried there at the end."

"Hmm."

"Did you plan that?" He shrugged as an answer. She looked at him strangely.

"Are you okay?" she asked in a strained voice.

"Yes. Why?" Harry questioned.

"Because you're being short with me," she unexpectedly snapped. What is up with her?!, he thought, I have reason to be mad! Rice was basically in her lap!

"No I'm not," he hissed. He wanted so desperately to ask—no, demand—what David had been doing with her.

"Whatever," she stated.

"Are you sure you're okay? You're the short one." Harry told her, arms crossed. Hermione looked sharply at him. No, I'm lovely apart from the fact that Parvati practically tongue wrestled with you!

"I'm fine," she grumbled.

"Well so am I," he quickly replied.

"You would be after that interlude with Parvati." His eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"Nothing." Hermione said, immediately feeling idiotic.

"At least I don't parade around Quidditch matches with random girls." Harry remarked. Her mouth dropped open. He had seen her and was now taking a shot at her & David!

"Excuse me!" Hermione exclaimed, shaking with anger.

"If you're confused Hermione, go talk to Rice," he spat. She stood up and was glowering.

"Then I guess your thing is putting on tactless shows in the common room for all to see!" Hermione shouted before stomping off.

"Can't be worse than the Quidditch stadium!" he yelled after her. She screamed and ran the rest of the way. Harry turned angrily to see the entire common room gawking. He cleared his throat and slowly started to make his way to his room. Everyone's eyes followed his every move. Ron, who stood next to Ginny & Matthew Burnstone, gave a nervous chuckle. He departed the common room as well, saying:

"Don't mind them. They're both a bit mental, really." Ron tore after Harry. When they were out of sight, babble promptly broke out.

The story Harry fed to Ron was that all he had done was casually mention Hermione sitting with Rice and she had totally blown up by overreacting. Ron had been struck speechless due to sheer anger and vowed to hex the Ravenclaw into next year when his voice returned. (He had been so furious about the whole affair that Harry figured Ron seriously meant to carry out his threat). On Saturday Harry and Hermione refused to speak to one another. Ron had naturally taken Harry's side, so he exchanged few words with Hermione. She sought solace in the library, completing homework and essays. By Sunday afternoon, however, Hermione began to feel poorly. She was beginning to miss Harry and regretted their argument. (She also regretted making a spectacle of herself in front of every Gryffindor).

True, she had had fights with Harry before, but they always managed to make her feel miserable. It was nothing like fighting with Ron; his ignorance and stupidity succeeded in driving her up the wall to the point where she didn't care if she ever spoke to him again at times. But with Harry, it hurt not to speak to him daily, or see his face... his absurdly cute face....

After a dinner spent alone that night, she gloomily walked back to the Head Room. This was just too much; Hermione had to make up with Harry, whether she lost face with him or not. She would simply have to forget about that whole Parvati affair, though it would be gruesomely difficult. Besides, she thought, don't you think you're being a hypocrite?

"Not in the least bit." Hermione sniffed, walking into the Head Room. She then froze. Someone, and definitely not Malfoy, was on the black sofa. They quickly jumped up and she exhaled.

"Harry," she quietly said.

"Uh, hi," he answered, walking cautiously over.

"How'd you get in?"

"You have to be more careful about who you let the password slip to." Harry doubtfully grinned. He seemed unsure about something, which Hermione found too charming. Stop it, before you end up impulsively kissing him!, she scolded. And oh, what a fix that would put them in. Sadly, Hermione realized he didn't feel that way about her—he couldn't! God, it was unfair! She did everything in her power to not start crying out of despair. Harry took her silence as hostility.

"Look Hermione, I'm really sorry about Friday after the match. I was stupid to have said what I did and... I'm sorry. It's none of my business, right? Just speak to me again," he explained. The truth was he had been just as distressed as she had been the past two days. Hermione's lip trembled and she launched herself onto him, sobbing. Yes, she was crying now but for a completely different reason than before. Who cared if he would never be with her romantically; he was with her now.

"I'm sorry too Harry! I was to blame as well! Maybe we both overreacted?" she said.

"Yeah, probably." Harry agreed, (reluctantly) letting her go. He instinctively wiped the tears from her face while she gave a small laugh.

"Besides, David and I are just friends," she assured. Harry felt as though he could fly without his broomstick.

A/N: It took me awhile to post again, but I was extremely busy! College life is no joke. I'll post again on Wednesday, or maybe sooner, if I am free...