Five minutes later the two teams were assembled. Fred, or George, came forward and said, "We have our team ready. We've got Harry, best Seeker in the world, Ginny and George as Chasers, Ron as Keeper, who I might add happens to be darn good, and myself as our Beater. Not only do we have better players than you but you only have four players."
Tonks smiled calmly, "I think you might have to start using your fingers to count. Charlie and I are the Chasers. Draco's our Seeker, he's third best. By the way we do have the best Seeker, he's just playing Chaser. For Beater we have Mundungus."
"That's four players," drawled George patronizingly.
"Oh," said Tonks, not sounding surprised at all, "did I forget to mention our Keeper? Miss Hermione Granger, the best kept Nymphadora Tonks secret."
Everyone on the opposing team stood with their mouths open as Hermione waved shyly. Ginny was the first to recover, being more cool headed than the others, "Hermione! Your on the same team as that ferret! Why would you be on his side?"
Hermione scowled at Ginny. "Draco Malfoy is a person just like you Ginevra Weasley! Unlike you, his parents are dark wizards and if he had shown any sign of being good it would have been his death!"
Now Ron spoke up. "Hermione, he called you a mudblood at school. No one was watching then."
"He was younger then and it's not as if you've never called me names. Mudblood may seem bad but having you constantly insult me is worse!"
Tonks quickly stepped between the two before they could start another row. It would take hours before either would play quiditch if the row blew up to full scale and Tonks wasn't about to let that happen.
"Why don't you two save your little spat for later and we'll get started with this game."
"Just a moment," yelled Harry, "we need a referee. I wouldn't trust Malfoy a hundred broom lengths away."
Tonks' brow furrowed as she tried to think about who would be an unbiased referee. She was spared from contemplation as Dumbledore came out of the house.
"I heard there was a friendly quiditch game going on back here and wanted to watch. Tonks smiled, with Dumbledore watching no one would try anything sneaky.
"Would you be our referee Professor?" She asked.
"I'd be delighted. But call me Albus, please Nymphadora."
Tonks grimaced slightly at the use of her full first name, "Thank you Albus. Alright teams, on your brooms!"
At Dumbledore's whistle everyone flew into the air and into their positions. As soon as Dumbledore released the balls the game was on. Harry and Draco circled the pitch, both being careful to stay away from the other. Hermione and Ron each took a place at the opposite goal posts. The Beaters chased after the one Bludger, since there were only two Beaters the number had been split, and the Chasers flew around watching the Quaffle. Ginny quickly caught the Quaffle but, as she threw it to George, Tonks intercepted it.
Tonks flew across the pitch and gave the "Draco Team" its first goal. Dumbledore sent sparkles out of his wand that organized themselves into a scoreboard with ten to zero. As the game went on the "Draco Team" kept hold of the ball and didn't let the opposite team get close to Hermione.
Finally Charlie, who had been in possession of the Quaffle, was hit by a Bludger and dropped the Quaffle. Ginny quickly swooped by him and caught the Quaffle. Tonks was on the opposite side of the pitch and Mundungus was busy chasing after the Bludger. Ginny flew at Hermione and threw the Quaffle. Everyone held their breath except for Tonks and Hermione. Tonks because she knew Hermione would catch the Quaffle and Hermione because she was concentrating on what Tonks had taught her the previous summer.
While Ron, Harry, and Ginny had been scrambling to finish their homework Hermione had had no one to do anything with and hadn't felt like reading. Tonks, who had frequented Grimmauld place had begun teaching Hermione Quiditch to pass the time. Hermione exceeded both of their highest expectations by blocking most of the shots that Tonks made, which was saying something.
Hermione caught the Quaffle with no problem at all and threw the Quaffle at Charlie who then scored on Ron, who was still in disbelief that Hermione could have stopped his sister's throw.
The game continued for quite some time. A few times either Draco or Harry would go into a dive or quickly turn around and fly after something but none of the times had resulted in anything besides a false alarm. Hermione blocked many shots although some made it past her. However hard Ron tried he only blocked about as many as Hermione let in and many more shots were made at him.
As the players were beginning to feel the first touches of fatigue, Draco started in a steep dive. Seconds later Harry began a dive of his own toward the same area. Everyone stopped playing and watched as Draco and Harry dove toward a small gold ball. Everyone, that is, except Fred Weasley. Using the accuracy that had often been commented on, Fred swung his bat and hit a Bludger directly at Draco. It whistled through the air and just as Draco reached out for the snitch it caught him in the small of the back. Draco tumbled off his broom and fell to earth. Thankfully there wasn't far to fall and Draco was not injured.
Harry leaned away from his broom and grabbed the snitch before coming to a graceful landing next to the fallen Draco. All the other players flew down to where Draco and Harry were. As Tonks arrived she knelt down and helped Draco up.
"Are you alright?" Tonks asked.
Draco nodded then looked at Fred and everyone held their breath not quite knowing what Draco would say. "That was a good shot." People released pent up breaths but then Draco smirked, "We still won. 230 to 220." Looking at the score Dumbledore had created it was evident that the "Draco team" had indeed won.
Ginny walked up to Draco and held out her hand. "Good game," she said as she shook his hand.
Draco became a little less pale than usual, it seemed to be his type of blush, "Well, I ah, I couldn't have done it without my team mates, my ah friends." He looked timidly at his team at this statement, especially Hermione, and received encouraging nods from them.
Dumbledore came to join the small group of players and thumped Draco on the back. "Nice to see you getting along with so many people Mr. Malfoy. I expect I won't have so much trouble with you and the Gryffindors next year."
Draco gave the headmaster a nervous smile, "I'll try not to cause any trouble."
"Good, because you are going to be moved to Gryffindor for your last year at Hogwarts. It wouldn't due to have you surrounded by those who would wish you harm. You also showed courage coming here with you cousin Nymphadora, it certainly places you in Gryffindor. Would you like a lemon drop?" Then with a wink and a wave he was gone.
Charlie shook his head at the space where Dumbledore had just been. "He was always a strange one."
"Yeah, bloody brilliant!" added Ron.
"Don't swear Ron!" Hermione spoke calmly.
Ron looked over at Draco and said, "If you're going to be in Gryffindor you'll have to get used to her scolding." Then he seemed to notice he had just spoken to his once arch enemy and looked away quickly.
An awkward moment filled the backyard for everyone except Tonks who began fidgeting. It was strange that one who had always been considered an enemy was now someone who could be trusted and they were at a loss of what to say and do. They were saved from further thought as Mrs. Weasley yelled out to them.
"Go wash up! I don't want smelly Quiditch players in the dining room! You have five minutes before I want to see all your sparkling faces at the table!"
There was a mad rush as all but Mundungus made a dash for the door. Even Draco knew that it wasn't wise to keep Mrs. Weasley waiting. The only reason Mundungus wasn't in a hurry was because he knew he wouldn't be invited for dinner, not after the last time when he'd forgotten about the rotten eggs in his pockets and sat on them. The smell had taken days to dissipate and Molly had practically forbidden him from entering Grimmauld place unless it was vital.
"We'll be needing a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. . . Dear me, we do seem to run through them don't we"
Albus Dumbledore Chamber of Secrets