I Live My Life For You

by alter-shadow

Seventh year finds Draco Malfoy with a lot of plans in mind, but getting engaged to Harry Potter is definitely not one of them. On the other hand, for Harry it is simply a dream come true…

11. Phase 07A

Phase 7-A – In The Name of Quidditch

The first person Harry and Draco encountered when they arrived in front of Hogwarts' gate was Professor Snape. After sending a murderous glare at Harry, Snape immediately spoke to his godson.

"I've spoken to your mother through the fireplace. She was very worried, since you told her you went to Hogsmeade today. I'd tried to assure her that you were on the way home and weren't hurt. She didn't believe it and when you didn't return until fifteen minutes later, she was ready to come to Hogwarts. Good thing Tonks, Granger, and Weasley had returned and they convinced her that you were fine." Snape paused to regard Draco's appearance, causing the boy to blush. "Only very mucky."

"I'm sorry to trouble you, sir. Mother is fussy sometimes. But now she knows that I'm fine, right?"

"Tell her yourself. She left a message that you must contact her right after you arrived back at school."

They went to Snape's office and let Draco talk to his mother through wizard fireplace. Narcissa was relieved that her son was all right. Nevertheless, she berated Harry for taking Draco outside Hogwarts without extra caution. Harry was ready to admit his fault, but Draco interfered and told her it was his own insistence that they spent the day in privacy. Besides, Harry was more powerful and reliable than any guardian. Narcissa sighed at her stubborn beloved son, and let the matter pass after scolding Harry some more.

Draco exhaled as his mother's head disappeared from the fireplace. Snape said gently to him, "You may return to your room now, Draco. Clean yourself and get a rest."

"Thank you, sir. Good night then."

"Potter," Snape turned to the other boy, both his eyes and tone vicious, "You stay here. I want to talk."

Harry matched his glare before nodding slightly. He squeezed Draco's hand and said tenderly to his fiancé, "Have a good night, Draco. I love you."

As Snape's glare turned subzero, Draco's face temperature raised technically 10 degrees Celsius. Draco nodded mutely and jerked his hand from Harry before walking away. He felt shyer than usual about Harry's affectionate gesture, not only because it was displayed in front of his godfather, but also because he was still affected by Harry's caresses not so long ago.

He was approaching his room, and from distance Draco saw Blaise standing beside the Chimera statue, leaning against the wall. Draco didn't expect his friend to see him in this dirty state, but it was too late. Blaise pushed himself from the wall and advanced towards Draco. He shot a scrutinizing stare at the unusually dirty boy and asked, "Are you okay, Draco?"

Instead of replying, Draco questioned back, "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for Snape to start handing out free ice-cream," Blaise scowled. "I was waiting for you, nitwit. They said Hogsmeade was under attack, and you hadn't come back. Snape forbade all Slytherin from leaving the school, so the only thing I could do was standing here like an idiot for nearly an hour, worrying your muddy arse."

"I'm honoured, Blaise," Draco replied casually, but he meant it. He could see how concerned his friend was about his safety. "I'm okay, no fatal injuries. I even feel sorry for the Trolls maimed by Harry. Well, not really."

"Trolls? You were attacked by Trolls? And Potter maimed them? But they didn't injure you, did they?"

"Yes. Yes, plus Dementors and an unhinged wizard. Yes, Harry maimed them with his body-crusher magic you've experienced firsthand. No, I told you I'm fine. Why did I recount all of these for you outside my room and before I have a bath? Now if you excuse me…"

"I don't want to wait for another hour! Here, answer my last question and then I'll let you hibernate in bathroom."

His friend raised an elegant eyebrow. "Spit it out."

"So," Blaise smiled widely, "did you have a good time? Before the attack I mean."

Draco paused for a moment, making a dramatic act of thinking over the answer for the question. Blaise leaned closer with a raised eyebrow. After letting out a dissatisfied sigh which made his friend frown harder, Draco finally flashed a lovely smile and answered, "Yes. It was a perfect date."

!OXOXOXOXO!

Meanwhile, Harry was facing a solemn-looking Professor Snape who was sitting behind his desk. The boy willed himself to stay as calm as the man before him, but he couldn't stop the chill running along his spine. He felt a mental jolt when Snape suddenly spoke up, "You love Draco, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Do you know that when you love someone, your first priority should be that person's well-being?"

Harry gulped. "Yes, sir. Draco's well-being is always my top priority."

"And if that's so, Potter," Snape leaned back on his chair, "why did you refuse Dumbledore's offer to assign one or two guardians for you while you were in Hogsmeade?"

"I didn't want any stranger watching Draco and me during our private occasion."

Snape said slowly in a voice so low and cold that it effectively froze Harry, "I never knew it, Potter. I never knew you had refused Dumbledore's offer. That foolish geezer told me that some Aurors had been allocated to look after you and Draco. Only before you two returned, I heard Tonks say to Mrs Malfoy there was no Advance Guard involved during your fascinating feat over the Trolls, Dementors, and young Parkinson. You coped with all the dangerous trials alone, with your absurdly wondrous power and bravado, protecting Draco – your loved one."

"Professor Snape, I…"

"Silence, Potter. Let me finish," Snape said calmly, but his tone hadn't changed. "I actually blame Dumbledore as well in this case. But I assume he must have had a good… pressure, which I'm sure came from you, to make such a senile decision. Not to mention, he trusts you and your ability."

The Potions Master looked Harry deeply in the eye. "Now here is what I want to talk with you about. I never want you to die, Potter. Not before that bonding with Draco, and especially not now. You, as pained as I am to admit it, are the key in our battle against the Dark Lord. But when Draco is concerned, whatever my sentiment about you is put aside. Consider Parkinson succeeded in killing you. I would feel sorry if you were the only one dead, Potter. We would lose a very promising candidate for a saviour, but we wouldn't stop fighting the Dark Lord. I will never stop fighting him, with or without you. However, you wouldn't be the only one dead in reality. And I could never forgive you, for causing anything bad happen on Draco. I'll hunt you down even in hell, and not even eternity is enough for you to pay."

It was a long silence before Harry said with a hitched breath, "May I speak now, sir?"

"Yes. Let's now listen to the defence of our infallible Harry Potter."

"I'm not going to defend myself, Professor. I was wrong for putting my selfish need for privacy before Draco's safety. I only thought that Draco would be happier too if we didn't have someone else prying on our date, even if this someone else's presence was to ensure our security. You know him very well, sir. What Draco said to his mother before was his instinct to defend me…" Snape snorted at this, but Harry went on, "… because he pitied me after I killed another man this time. However, considering his penchant for privacy as much as mine, he would've indeed refused any offers for guardians, and he might be very angry if he found out later that somebody had been assigned to watch over us."

"Please, Potter, you can invent better excuse than that. Don't blame Draco for your own decision."

"No, sir. This is the truth. But I don't justify my refusal against Dumbledore's offer. It was wrong, because things could be worse than what has happened. I didn't realize it before, but now I do. I was too confident with my power, and I was never doubtful that I could defeat any enemy who'd attack us and protect Draco. Tonight… I realized if Voldemort had come with that Parkinson guy, I might not be able to save both of us."

Snape said nothing, but his eyes softened a bit at the distressed and remorseful expression of the infallible Harry Potter. The Professor could perceive an early sign of tears from those green eyes, and he must admit that he felt the sincerity in Harry's words. The Head Boy never lost eye contact with his Professor, and Harry continued in a whisper.

"Please understand me, Professor. I love Draco more than anything combined. I put his interest above mine, and I want to give him everything he wants. Tonight is my entire fault, because I indulged my own fancy instead of deciding the best thing for Draco. I've regretted it and I'm willing to receive punishment for my recklessness. But it will never happen again. I'll never jeopardize Draco for fun or whatever reason for the second time."

It was easy for other people to decipher Harry's current condition as being rendered weak by emotion, but people like Snape saw it in different light. Harry's words and countenance might seem desperate, but behind those eyes glittering with unshed tears, Snape had distinguished the strongest determination Harry ever had since he knew the boy. This boy didn't become weak because of love; instead he had turned even more powerful and resolute. Snape didn't change his tone in his next speech.

"It's all right sometimes for you to keep your own interest, Potter. You don't have to give up everything to appease Draco. The only thing you have to keep in your mind is that you're not a god who can have everything going according to your wish. I understand that teenage hormones often drive you to do moronic things, but you have a life of another person in your hand right now. You cannot think or act like a teenager any more, whether you like it or not. Moreover, I'm aware of your petty hero-complex tendency. You'll probably need to sacrifice your ego to be active in the front line and let more competent people deal with it. I don't like this either, but I only think about Draco."

"So do I, Professor. Draco is more important for me than anything. However, I can't stay back and do nothing in this war because I have to end it, for Draco's sake as well as everyone else's. You don't have to worry. I promise I will become stronger than anyone, more capable than anyone. So nobody can touch Draco whenever I'm with him."

"What makes you so sure you can hold to your promise, Potter?"

"The same thing that makes me sure I will be able to defeat Voldemort."

Snape sneered. "What? The prophecy?"

"No," Harry replied solemnly, and somehow Snape knew the answer before he said it. "Only my belief that nothing is greater than what I feel for Draco."

!OXOXOXOXO!

The next few days after their first date went not too well for Draco and Harry. Harry had been taken for another Hearing in front of Wizengamot for murder accusation, but just like the previous similar case in January, he could walk out acquitted. There were too many witnesses who mitigated the action of the Boy-Who-Lived, until the Wizengamot couldn't do anything but exonerating him from all charges.

The Slytherin were mourning. Pansy's older brother had once a proud member of this House. Pansy herself was granted permission to go home for a week. Before she left the school, she encountered Draco and Harry. Although she said nothing at that moment, Draco was still shivering now whenever he recalled the expression on her face. Strangely it was Draco who had become the target of Pansy's murderous look instead of Harry. She still glowered with pure hatred at Harry, but it was a special 'I'm-going-to-kill-you-so-slowly-and-painfully-that-you'll-curse-your-ancestors-for-being-born' look she gave for Draco.

Several Slytherin students who sympathized with Pansy displayed horrible attitude towards Draco and Harry. None the less, when the students from other Houses heard about that Hogsmeade attack, they felt sympathy for Draco who seemed to be dragged into danger by being engaged to Harry Potter. Some others were convinced it was Draco who had trapped Harry, and that Slytherin's treatment to Draco was due to his failure in the murder attempt. But fortunately this latter group was minority.

As for Harry, besides daily death threat and numerous attempts to harm him, he must endure the endless whispers of 'Murderer' from certain Serpents. The Gryffindor himself always placed a mask as if he didn't hear the word, but Draco knew he was deeply affected. Draco was irked with his fiancé for letting the word into his supposed-to-be-thick skull, though it didn't mean Draco would let his house mates get away with that. One by one the Slytherin suffered from various weird illnesses or became a victim of rather dangerous pranks. Snape, in this case, didn't seem too upset with the incidents upon his students.

But Harry didn't show any appreciation for that, knowing the fact Draco had just declared a war against Slytherin. The victims of his action had figured out where the diseases and pranks had come from although no proof was left. After the Hallowe'en feast, Harry confronted Draco immediately and told him to stop whatever he was doing now. Draco only raised an eyebrow at him, and promptly turned around. Before he could walk more than five steps, Harry said it.

"I only need you to get over every bad thing I have experienced. To forget all the pain."

Draco was still for a minute, during which Harry continued, "Just your presence, Draco. Don't do anything, don't put yourself in danger because of me. I'm all right as long as you're with me."

The Slytherin Ice Prince felt his heart melt at the strong emotion behind those words. He glanced back and saw Harry gazing at him with shimmering eyes. Harry stepped forwards and encircled Draco's waist from behind, before burying his face on Draco's shoulder.

"Stay with me, Draco. I need you."

The slighter boy in his arms patted his hand, indicating his assent. Harry released him and Draco turned around to face him with a small smile.

"Let's go to my room," Harry whispered.

Draco shook his head before capturing Harry's wrist and dragged him. "We just need our cloaks and then we can go to somewhere else better."

Harry didn't ask where and after fetching their cloaks, they walked outside the castle.

It was fairly cold and dark with only a few stars visible. The two boys strolled in silence along the lake. Suddenly Draco grabbed Harry's wrist and guided him towards a dark-looking grove. Ahead of them, two gigantic trees towered prominently side by side. Their branches descended to the ground, forming a thick veil of leaves between these trees. The veil appeared very dense and thorny, but when Draco easily went through it, Harry realized he had just misjudged the intimidating façade. The thorns were soft, and the impenetrable denseness was simply deceptive. Behind that foliar veil, a sloping narrow passage through the grove was revealed.

The path led to a hidden small clearing surrounded by tall, homogenous trees from a kind Harry had never seen before. Those trees had more than one shape for their foliage, and the branches of each tree tangled with branches of the others flanking it, as if they were all linking arms. There were also shrubs with odd-shaped flowers growing under the trees, while little fairies buzzing around playfully produced roaming glows, adorning that place.

As this place was situated higher from average Hogwarts ground, people could see a glimpse of the lake from small gaps between the trees. Harry inhaled deeply and caught a faint sweet scent in the air – must be from those strange flowers. He heard Draco speak from behind him.

"I found the way here in the beginning of this school year. I believed it had been quite long since the last person before me came here. I kept this place a secret until I brought you here."

This was Draco's secret place. And he had let Harry come here. Harry felt his heart flutter in immense joy.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Draco asked softly.

Harry turned to smile and nod in agreement. He took Draco's hand and sat on the grass, then pulled his fiancé to sit between his legs.

As his back pressed flush against Harry's chest and the taller boy behind him wrapped both arms round his chest, Draco felt his whole body burn. He tried shifting forwards so his lower back wouldn't touch Harry's groin, but Harry immediately drew him closer again and tightened his hold. Before Draco could articulate his objection, Harry rested his chin on Draco's shoulder, causing their cheeks to brush against each other. The blond boy tensed but at the same time felt his discomfort overridden by a stronger desire to just enjoy the closeness to the beautiful person behind him.

They sat like that for some minutes without saying anything; each boy just revelled in the view and the close presence of the other one, warming their bodies and for Harry's case, warming his heart as well. Draco sensed something from Harry which made him break the silence.

"Harry, is it just me or are you really purring?"

"Mmm, it's just you," Harry replied lazily, purring.

Draco felt the soft vibration tickling him and smiled. "Oh. Get lost, Polyjuiced Crookshanks."

"Don't want to. I love being here, with you. How often do you come here by yourself, Draco?"

"Several times a month, whenever I need some quiet time alone. Always at night, and I specially come here whenever the moon is full. Somehow it looks more fascinating from here." As an after thought, he added, "But let's forget whatever I've said."

Harry chuckled and asked again, "How did you find this place anyway? I've been taking a stroll around the lake regularly since last year, yet I never noticed the way here."

'Because you would never have a whim to follow and catch a wild rabbit like I did.' "I'm not as ignorant as you. That's all."

"Yeah, I admit whenever I was taking a stroll, my mind was always full of a particular vain git." Harry had pulled back his chin from Draco's shoulder. He was now facing the sky, eyes closed with an expression just like when he was having the most beautiful dream. It effectively quelled Draco's annoyance and brought another smile on the pale boy's face.

He levelled his lips as Harry opened his eyes and looked at him. Harry was still smiling when he said, "Can we… Will you let me come with you again to this place?"

"Don't get your hopes too high. I'm going to Obliviate you after this," Draco smirked. Harry's face fell, and Draco was exasperated as well as amused at how bad Harry was in recognizing satire. Draco would either have a great fun in the future ridiculing his fiancé or have a distressing time because he must keep being careful with his words to Harry.

The blond boy slipped from Harry's embrace and got up. "Harry Potter," Draco placed his hands on his hips and sighed, "Are you always this gullible?"

"You have obviously trained your face for sarcasm. I can't tell whether you're serious or not," Harry whined.

Draco twitched. This was the boy he had regarded as his greatest rival for six years. "You once thwarted my sarcasm. In the carriage on the way to Hogsmeade."

"That's the moment I'll cherish for the rest of my life." Harry smiled again and reached for both Draco's hands. "So we can have another good time here after this?"

"And another, and another. Yes. But not a word about this place to anyone else. Not even to Hermione and Ron. I have claimed this place as my private spot."

"Not a word, I swear."

Still sitting, Harry brought Draco to kneel in front of him. Then he leaned forwards and kissed Draco lovingly on the cheek for quite long, relishing the feel of the hot silky skin against his lips. Every single knot in his heart had been untangled, and every burden placed on him was lifted. Harry didn't feel any more like a murderer, nor did he remember his oppressive duty as the prophesied Saviour of Wizarding World. He was just a boy in love, and he felt perfect with it. He only needed Draco, and everything would be perfect.

!OXOXOXOXO!

It started from the DA meeting in the following week. Harry and Draco were partnered as usual, and after successfully blocking Harry's attack, Draco was going to throw a curse at Harry. "Glacia Lam…"

The incantation was never finished because at the moment Ginny threw an Impedimenta jinx at Draco. After he recuperated two seconds later, the Slytherin whirled furiously to confront Ginny. But she was the one who snarled first.

"Can you stop it, Malfoy! Is there nothing else besides Dark Magic in your head you can use against Harry and any other of us? Enough already with all your corrupt demonstrations! We don't need them!"

"What do you mean you don't need them! If you face Voldemort only with your holy magic like now, you won't survive longer than five seconds, considering he is in generous mood!"

"Oh yeah? And how would you explain why we're still prancing around here after facing a troop of Death Eaters last year?"

"I bet you haven't thanked Dumbledore for that, have you?"

"Hey, guys…"

"Bugger off, Potter!" "Sod off, Harry!"

Draco and Ginny sent daggers at each other, and Harry was rendered speechless. Ron patted his back in sympathy, while Hermione promptly withdrew her attempt to pull Ginny away from Draco. The teachers' representative, Tonks, only raised her eyebrows and shrugged.

As Draco and Ginny started hurling insults again, Luna approached Harry and dragged him away from there. She was usually Ginny's partner in practices.

"Ginny loves taunting your fiancé. But I believe Draco actually takes pleasure in taunting her back. Let them both satisfy their built up frustration. You can continue practising with me," Luna said vaguely.

Harry stared at her and glanced back towards Draco, who suddenly looked like indeed enjoying the quarrel with Ginny. The other DA members had also returned to their own businesses, as Draco vs. Ginny had been a routine in this meeting. Frowning, Harry turned back to Luna. "Okay, then. Let's practise."

Just then he remembered why he usually never practised with another student but Draco. He opened his mouth to alert Luna, but she had already thrown a blasting curse.

The hex rebounded on her after a contact with Harry's automatic defensive wall. Luna was shoved backwards and her back rammed a nearby bookcase. Harry rushed ahead to catch her before she sank to the floor, unconscious. The other DA members halted their activities to take a look at Luna lying on Harry's lap, a deep concern apparent on the boy's face. He patted her cheek and called her name softly. Before Harry could revive Luna with magic, he lifted his eyes to see Draco towering behind his kneeling position with a fake smile.

The Slytherin raised an eyebrow and asked sweetly, "Enjoying yourself, Potter?"

"Err, no?"

As people groaned at that hesitant answer, Harry received a hard thump on the head with a wand. Tonks sniggered. After sending a hateful glare at an oblivious Luna, Draco quickly left the Room of Requirement. For Draco's immense irritation, Harry didn't follow him out. 'Too busy Ennervating his ex-bed partner,' he thought angrily. For the rest of the night, he refused to see Harry.

On the other side, despite his sore head, Harry was very delighted because of Draco's display of jealousy. After reviving Luna, he resumed the DA meeting and observed the others practising with a dazzling smile which made some girls swoon in his close presence, especially when he held their hands to help them perform the right wave of the wand. Even Hermione couldn't help blushing when Harry praised her excessively. Other boys were affected as well since they realized Draco's jealousy meant a good thing for Harry. The Hufflepuff like Ernie and Justin also grinned supportively at Harry. Today was a special DA meeting many people would never forget.

!OXOXOXOXO!

The next morning, Harry had been waiting patiently for Draco in front of the Chimera. Draco ignored him and strutted away, but Harry hugged him round the waist from behind.

"Harry, let me go, idiot! People may see us," Draco hissed, struggling to no avail to disentangle himself from Harry.

"Let them see. I'm sorry, Draco. Don't be angry with me, please?"

"Do you know why I'm angry?"

Harry smiled but he didn't release Draco. "Because you saw me with Luna. You're jealous."

"Just to make you happy, okay, I admit I was jealous when you embraced her as if she were dying. So what?"

"Oh, don't be such a ninny, Draco. I'm not interested in her. I was just worried about her condition. She's still my friend. Forgive me if you think I was wrong. Please? I love you."

"If I tell you to kill her to prove your love for me, what are you going to do?"

"How can killing her prove my love for you? Okay, I'll ignore her and will never touch her again. How's that?"

Draco contemplated it for a while but before he could answer, a certain Ravenclaw girl appeared from a corner and Harry removed his arms from Draco. The Slytherin scowled in suspicion.

"Hello, Harry and Draco," Luna greeted the boys.

"Since when are we on first-name basis, Lovegod?"

Luna seemed taken aback. "Oh, well…"

"Draco…," Harry hissed beside him, "Don't be like that." He was ignored of course.

"And it's Lovegood," Luna told him kindly.

"I know, Loony, but I don't care."

"That's not nice, Draco. Luna…"

"Silence, Potty!"

Harry pouted. Luna glanced at Draco before returning to Harry and speaking dreamily, "So, tonight, Harry?"

"Yes, tonight. How about the other g…"

"Care to explain what the hell this is all about, Potter?"

"I've promised Luna and some other sixth year students to conduct an extra session after DA meeting tonight."

Draco glowered at Harry and Luna. "Ignore her and never touch her again. When did I hear that phrase by the way?"

Harry smiled apologetically and replied, "I'm sorry, Draco. I've made a promise. Besides, there's nothing between Luna and me. Our friendship is as platonic as yours with Ron."

"It's not only for Harry and me tonight, Draco. Ginny, Georgina, Jasmine, and Lana will also come," Luna supplied. Harry suppressed a groan as Draco's eyes glinted dangerously.

"You can join us too, Draco," Harry hastily added.

"Join your orgy? Sorry, I don't like wasting my time." Beneath his icy reply, Draco silently hoped that Harry would get the message and cancel whatever his plan tonight with Luna, Ginny, and those girls he suspected as the ones who always ogled Harry in every DA meeting. However, he should've known better than to expect that much from his naïve fiancé.

"You really don't want to? Well then, I suppose you'll be bored anyway, teaching the junior students."

"So, there will be just you and the sixth years, Harry," Luna sounded strangely cheerful in Draco's mind.

"Okay. I'll see you later, Luna. Or are you going for breakfast too?"

Before she replied, Draco had been walking away from them. He ignored Harry's call and whatever humbug Harry said subsequently to cajole him.

!OXOXOXOXO!

Later the afternoon found Draco stomping along the school corridor, forming a chain of foul words inside his mind and grumbling under his breath all the way. He had just caught Harry talking animatedly with Luna, while some other girls were giggling shyly around the Head Boy. Draco couldn't help feeling jealous of Harry's magnetic attraction towards girls. But what irritated him the most was the fact that Harry's attention was solely on Luna and vice versa.

'Damn Potty and Loony! They were really born for each other. I'm going to dissect their wretched heads after this!'

But there was another way to give them their lesson. For that Loony, many devious tricks had formed inside the Slytherin's mind. As for Harry, what else would be better than to beat him in his own game? Draco would pretend to flirt with another girl. A pretty girl, this time. He had taste at least. Although Draco wouldn't admit it, by this way he could also satisfy himself, proving that Harry was not the only one who could have girls flocking around him. Now the only problem was whom he could invite to play along.

Hufflepuff were definitely off the list, no matter that there were some cute girls from that House. He was still a Slytherin, although many people didn't think so. Cho Chang? The prospect was great. Sadly Draco most likely wouldn't be able to hold back from cursing her if they met again. The Patil Twins? Lovely pair, but he doubted they would forgive him for manipulating them afterwards. He had heard scary tale about their retribution involving Reductor Curse upon a reckless guy who toyed with both of them. Pansy? Eww. How come that name ever crossed his mind? Tonksy? No way, he refused to flirt with a woman who couldn't decide what the best colour for her hair should be.

Hermione? Hmm, perfect. Harry would be dead jealous. But… no. This was going to backfire. Draco had had a hard time repressing his feelings for her recently. He couldn't risk an old flame rekindled. Besides, Harry might turn on his homicidal side again. No, Hermione was out of question.

When he was pondering who else would be suitable to make Harry jealous and had the appeal which fulfilled his standard, Draco didn't watch where he was going. Usually other students would kindly move aside to clear the way for him, but today it was a different case. Draco closed his eyes trying to recall a pretty Ravenclaw he saw once who seemed interested in him, and the next second he collided with a male body of another person and staggered backwards from the impact. He had a rather fragile body, but this person he bumped into had a quite sturdy build.

He was ready to lash out at this person despite it being partly his fault too, but the young man in front of him had beaten him to it with a profuse apology. He started to get headache from this man's endless request for forgiveness, and was about to cast Silencio when he heard a gasp.

"Malfoy? Draco Malfoy!" Draco looked at the young man closely. Well, he seemed familiar…

"Err," came the eloquent reply.

The man smiled fetchingly. "You don't remember, of course. I'm Oliver Wood."

Draco knew now why he seemed familiar. Not because he remembered the man as former Gryffindor's Quidditch team captain (Draco didn't care for other Gryffindork players except Potter and Weasleys), but because Oliver Wood had become quite a famous player who still played for Puddlemere United. 'He looks rather different from the pictures…' Indeed, Wood was much more attractive in person.

"Wood. Yes, course I remember."

"How are you now? I heard you'd just cancelled an engagement with Parkinson."

"That was more than a month ago, and congratulate me for that. I'm fine. How about you? Reminiscing in Hogwarts for holiday?"

Oliver laughed pleasantly. "That's right. I missed the old days in Hogwarts. It's been three years."

"Not such a long time if you asked me," Draco said unsympathetically. But Oliver smiled at him.

"It feels long when you enjoyed those old moments. Trust me, you're going to agree with me three years later."

"I doubt that. Well, see you later. You remember the way to Gryffindor Common Room, right?"

"Oh, wait. Are you busy? I haven't come across other students I know, and it would be a pleasure for me if you want to… keep me company, walking around the school. What do you say?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Okay," he replied shortly, deciding that it cost him nothing to grant Wood's request. He had nothing better to do anyway. Maybe he could dig something useful about Quidditch from a professional player and ex-Gryffindor captain like Wood.

Within next several minutes they had been walking side by side along the corridor, chatting like old friends. Draco started to realize he was acting too affable with Wood. It was weird because they didn't socialize when Wood was still in Hogwarts. But Wood was an enjoyable companion. His talk was smart and humorous, and he knew very well how to respond perfectly to Draco's often cynical comments.

On the other hand Oliver was very attracted to the Slytherin. Like other many people, Draco Malfoy's name wasn't equal to vermin any more for him since the famous rescue of Hermione Granger. Moreover, Draco was now very good-looking and stylishly delicate. 'Blimey. This kid has grown up. Still maintains that lofty air, I see. But all in all, the grade is 8 of 10. I'm not being generous either.'

"So, how was the result of Slytherin against Gryffindor last week?" Oliver asked about Quidditch match.

"Nothing. We haven't played yet. The match has been postponed to this Saturday, because last week was stormy."

"Hey, good thing it is. I can come and…," Oliver stopped when he saw Draco suddenly sneering at something in front of them. Or someone.

Harry was walking towards Draco and Oliver, clutching his Firebolt. He usually brought Draco along to Gryffindor's Quidditch practice, so they could save several hours to separate. The Gryffindor team members objected, but Harry said he got better motivation with Draco near him and Ron convinced his team that Slytherin couldn't win even if Draco Malfoy spied on them. Although they still minded it, the Gryffindor tolerated Draco's presence. On the other hand, Draco never let Harry attend Slytherin's practice.

Currently Draco was not in the mood to be near Harry, and he would rather sacrifice a few hours in separation than force himself following Harry like a stupid duckling. When Harry stopped before him, Draco drawled without looking, "Hey, Potter. Surely you haven't forgotten Oliver, your once-upon-a-time Quidditch team captain?"

Harry frowned at the use of his surname and Oliver's first name. He ignored that and gave Oliver a friendly smile, extending his hand. "Hello, Oliver. Long time no see. How are you?"

Oliver shook his hand. "Great, Harry. And you? Still the Gryffindor's Top Player and Hogwarts's No. 1 Seeker of All Time?" Draco threw a sceptical look towards Harry, who grinned and nodded, affirming that it was indeed his title.

"Lucky you, up till now that bogus claim hasn't been heard in Slytherin House. Otherwise someone would've been tempted to obliterate you."

"Agreed. I can mention one specific name for that case," was Harry's easy reply.

"Well, I for that matter wouldn't blame that person for trying to bring back the justice."

"Justice is relative, Draco. Isn't that what you've instilled into me?"

Oliver watched the interaction with amused look before articulating his thought, "Hey, it seems that you two are best friends now, am I right? Before this, I always imagined you two would still be bitter rivals."

Harry wanted to say: 'We're more than best friends, actually', but Draco had answered first, "If you listened to what people say about us recently, we've been practically married to each other."

Oliver laughed hard at that. Both Harry and Draco looked at him funny, and after he sobered Oliver said, "Yeah, I remember when I was still at Hogwarts, you two were like two secret lovers who played mortal enemies during the day while shagging each other at night."

"I never realized we were that obvious," Draco said sarcastically, but Oliver laughed again. The two younger boys glanced at each other and shrugged. Harry thought it was enough already with Oliver.

"It's nice to see you again, Oliver. You'll be staying nearby, right?" Oliver replied he would be in Hogsmeade until weekend, so Harry continued, "Great, we can go out together with the other Gryffindor later. But right now I have a Quidditch practice. Draco, come with me?"

Oliver looked curious at why a Slytherin should come to Gryffindor's practice, but he said nothing. Maybe they were going to exchange tactics or whatnot, being best friends and all. He still felt strange however, that Harry didn't ask him to come to the practice.

Inspecting his perfect fingernails, Draco replied flippantly, "Sorry. I've promised Oliver to accompany him for today."

Harry suddenly frowned. "Oh? Really?"

"Really. Now go practising Quidditch or whatever. You need that to beat Slytherin this Saturday."

Harry stared at his fiancé before turning to face Oliver. Draco couldn't miss the jealousy marring the handsome face. Feeling a mixture of wicked glee and annoyance, Draco almost smiled. 'Wow, he's jealous… of Wood? And before I have even tried flirting? What does he take me for?'

"Perhaps it should be me who accompanies Oliver instead of you," Harry said casually, trying to hide the unhappy feeling inside him.

Draco was about to retort but Oliver had preceded him by saying, "Oh, don't worry about that, Harry. You have an important practice, just go. I'm perfectly fine with Draco. He makes a nice company."

"I won't hex him or anything else evil, Potter. Now, go before you suffer Weasel's wrath," Draco drawled, motioning Harry to go away.

Harry's protest was cut by Oliver's question, "Don't you have a Quidditch practice too, Draco?"

"Not today. We will never share the pitch with Gryffindor."

"Well, I can come this Saturday to watch your match against Gryffindor. It would be very interesting, and I haven't seen any Quidditch match for a while."

"You're welcome to sit and watch. Not that you need permission from me."

Harry silently fumed, being treated like a suit of armour standing on the hallway. Moreover, he definitely disliked the way Draco and Oliver talked to each other. Although Draco's words were apathetic, his tone was friendly, almost sweet, and he wasn't even drawling. As for Oliver, he kept looking at Draco as if he were chatting up a coquette.

With a rigid tone Harry called the attention of the other two men, "Okay then. If you don't want to come along, Draco, then I'll leave you two now. See you later, Wood." He had turned around before the last sentence was finished and walked away with large strides. Meanwhile, Oliver had completely missed the icy tone when Harry spoke his surname and waved his junior goodbye before returning to Draco.

This time, Draco smirked. 'It turns out easier than what I've thought…'

!OXOXOXOXO!

The second weekend in November arrived, and so did the most-anticipated Quidditch match – Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. People were wondering how this game would turn out, since the Seekers from both teams were engaged to one another.

Wrapped in his Quidditch uniform, Draco was standing in Slytherin changing room, fingering his prized broomstick. The broomstick was one generation before Harry's from the same family, a Firebolt Cynosure. It was a birthday present from his mother, and although she had proposed to buy Draco a Firebolt Dreamlightning, he couldn't separate from this broomstick. The time he got his Cynosure was the hardest moment in his life, after saving Hermione's life and receiving various threats from all around him. The Cynosure was like a bright light that strengthened his heart during the dark days.

He drew a sealed envelope from his pocket. A school owl had delivered this letter to him before he went to prepare himself for this Quidditch game. The message in the letter's envelope told him to read it only before he went out to Quidditch pitch from the changing room, and the seal apparently refused to open before that time. Draco had considered throwing this suspicious and troublesome letter straight away, but his curiosity won over his rational thought.

As the moment had arrived, the seal detached itself. Pulling a piece of parchment, he unfurled the letter and read its contents: 'You can never win against Harry Potter. Not when you used a better broom last year, and absolutely not when you ride a lesser broom right now. Potter has been madly in love with you since sixth year and he must have refrained from using his whole capability against you last season. Yet, you still lost the Snitch from him and brought Slytherin team down with you.'

After gazing at the writing for quite a long time, Draco folded the parchment neatly and put it inside his locker. He would find out who had written this to him, and the person had better prepare his or her coffin. Furthermore… madly in love with you since sixth year… Somebody knew Harry very well and watched him closely last year. Or somebody had been watching Harry right now and found out more than he or she was supposed to know. A coffin was absolutely necessary.

Meanwhile in Gryffindor changing room, Ron was still directing his team's Seeker for the last minute to stay focused on the Snitch in the forthcoming game. "For the last time, Harry. Please, oh please just look for the Snitch. The sooner you catch it, the sooner we can end the game and beat Slytherin, the sooner you can have your wicked way with Draco for the rest of the day."

For the usual response, Harry grinned at his best friend. "Understood, Captain."

The Gryffindor team went out to the pitch, greeted by the familiar cheers from Hogwarts students. Suddenly Ron exclaimed, "Hey, Harry, look who it is watching our game today!"

Harry turned to the direction pointed by his friend. There, Oliver Wood was sitting with the Gryffindor House. Ron flinched in surprise when Harry snorted contemptuously at the ex-Gryffindor Captain. Obviously Oliver missed it completely since he waved cheerfully at the Gryffindor Team.

While Ron waved back, Harry directed his attention towards the Slytherin team. Draco was discussing something with his team's captain. Gazing fondly at his fiancé, Harry recalled their moment last night, flying on their broomsticks over Quidditch pitch. They were supposed to train together, but eventually it turned out more like idle racing and playing in the night sky. Harry had realized very soon that Draco was just trying to make him jealous with Oliver, as a come-uppance for Harry's attention towards Luna. Although Harry believed it was petty and irrational for Draco to do such a thing, that act showed him that Draco at least cared about him.

Seamus' voice reverberated over the stadium as he acted as commentator for the match. "Gryffindor vs. Slytherin is going to start very soon and we cannot wait any longer! This is not only a show-down between Potter and Malfoy, but also between their Firebolt! Many people still believe that the capacity of Cynosure is not less than Dreamlightning's!"

Both teams faced each other in the middle of the pitch. As Ron and Nott shook hands, Draco met Harry's eye, and he couldn't help the sudden tremor rushing over his body, resulted from a fusion of hate and respect. In moments like this, Draco was always reminded of the true reason why he had had a hard period accepting Harry as his friend.

Harry had a serene expression and a small smile, but something in that casual pose screamed authority and power. He had a pair of eyes which bored through the soul when people gazed closely at them. A breeze blew the black fringe to reveal the famous lightning bolt, the mark left by the Dark Lord himself for his equal. If he were a feeble Hufflepuff, Draco would be kneeling before the Boy-Who-Lived.

It wasn't about childish envy of Harry's fame any more. It was the fact that Harry always knew what he wanted, always strived to get what he wanted, and had matured so early as a result from those experiences many other wizards of his age never underwent. He was the centre of the war, and as Draco had recently found out – the prophesied saviour. It was Harry who would always save the day, while others could only stand in the shadow of a hero. It made Draco – another born leader – find it difficult to stay on the same side with him. Harry's leadership nature and charm were stronger than Draco's. Harry Potter, despite his loner inclination, was definitely born to be an Alpha Male.

As he mounted his broom, Draco noticed that every other Gryffindor player darted a glimpse of expectation and trust towards Harry. Harry wasn't the captain, but he was indisputably the heart of the team. 'And everyone adores him. Most likely they would still love him even if somehow Harry missed the Snitch,' Draco thought sourly.

Soon the game began. The balls were released and fourteen players soared. Slytherin had found better replacement for Crabbe and Goyle as the Beaters. These Serpents still deployed rough play, but fair and more systematic. Theodore Nott as a captain had brought a quite radical change which made Slytherin Team much more likeable for other Houses, and definitely more fearsome.

On the other hand, Gryffindor had also recruited several good players for their Quidditch Team. Ron Weasley had proven to be a brilliant Keeper when he wasn't too nervous, and the presence of Harry Potter was an axiomatic guarantee that it was the Gryffindor who always ended the game. Both Gryffindor and Slytherin were in the peak of their strength since years ago. Both were arguably the best teams in Hogwarts for the present time.

Spiralling around the pitch, Draco looked all around him for any sign of the Snitch. Occasionally sneaking glance at Harry, he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling after he read that mysterious letter. Was that true that Harry didn't do his best performance in their Quidditch match last year? Harry had only realized his love for Draco in January, after the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin was over. Yet it was still probable that Harry unconsciously held back against Draco because Harry said himself he had always been fond of Draco ever since they started the sixth year.

Meanwhile, the other Seeker was having a hard time to restrain himself from ogling Draco in the sky. Recalling Ron's instruction and the big hope placed upon him by the other team members, Harry toughened his heart that he would focus only on the Snitch. He became aware of Draco stealing a glance at him a few times, and fought the impulse to look back. And when he was praying for the Snitch to appear, Harry spotted the golden ball.

Both Harry and Draco raced towards the Snitch amidst hysterical cheers from the spectators. The two Firebolt shot from two different directions but eventually came side by side. Flying was an endowment of Harry, but so was it for Draco. And as Seamus had announced before, Cynosure was almost as fast as Dreamlightning. However, the Snitch suddenly disappeared from the visions of both Seekers. Harry and Draco halted simultaneously and looked around them for any sign of the Snitch, but of no avail.

Harry inhaled deeply, disappointed that he had lost his chance. At least, Draco also missed the Snitch. He heard Draco cursed softly, and impulsively Harry turned his head. When emerald met silver, Harry forgot all his previous determination for this game.

Draco looked like he belonged to the sky. The bright sunlight reflected upon his sleek but dishevelled hair, and those originally grey eyes somehow had a distinct shade of azure. Harry couldn't remove his eyes from his fiancé, and his lips parted involuntarily without any sound coming out. He was aware that Draco was frowning suspiciously at him, but it didn't put him out of the trance.

At first Draco didn't understand what happened with Harry, as he suddenly had that goofy expression on his face. With that face, Harry lost all the charismatic air around him, and instead he seemed like a hypnotized puppy. Draco shifted nervously because Harry didn't stop watching him, and the Slytherin Seeker felt an urge to summon a mirror so he could check whether there was something unusual about his appearance. Still frowning at Harry, Draco steered his broomstick away, and he saw Harry's eyes following his movement.

For the next minute, Draco noticed that Harry still had that dreamy look and didn't look anywhere for the Snitch. Instead, he focused solely on Draco. Draco didn't believe that Harry was watching him to let him seek the Snitch for both of them, but he drew a better deduction when Harry sighed like a Romeo longing for his Juliet. A quick look at Gryffindor's goal posts showed Draco that Ron was exasperatedly trying to call Harry's attention back to his real task as a Seeker. Draco felt stupid for not realizing it sooner. So this was what happened on a love-struck Harry when Gryffindor was playing Slytherin.

'He can't concentrate on this game.' Draco felt both corners of his lips inevitably turn upwards. 'He's hopelessly distracted by me.'

The Slytherin Seeker consequently found himself tossed between flattery and a fear that he still couldn't win even against a distracted Harry Potter. 'Like what Ron's said, the Snitch loves Harry very much, that damned stupid ball,' he grumbled inside his mind. 'But no matter what, I won't lose today.'

When Draco was looking around him, he caught sight of Oliver Wood among the spectators. Oliver smiled widely at him and waved enthusiastically. Draco couldn't hold back his own smile, and nodded slightly in acknowledgement. He suspected that Oliver harboured a tiny bit crush on him. However, Draco didn't think further about that, because he believed Oliver knew for certain he was not available and wouldn't make any amorous advances. He liked Oliver as a friend, since Oliver showed great appreciation for him and always gladly shared his vast knowledge about Quidditch.

The brief interaction between Draco and Oliver didn't go unnoticed by Harry. Feeling a hot flame burning inside his body, he gripped the handle of his Dreamlightning tightly and steeled himself not to shoot directly towards Oliver that second and decapitate him.

Harry was busy glaring at Oliver down there, thus completely missed a particular golden ball zooming into view. However, the other Seeker didn't. Draco grinned and fastened his grip on his broom's handle. This was a very perfect moment, he had spotted the Snitch but Harry and anyone else seemed oblivious.

Stealthily he zoomed following the direction of the Snitch. He was sure Harry didn't have a chance to beat him now; Harry was still so far away while he got closer and closer to the ball, and suddenly he saw it – a clear picture of a very familiar girl, lying on a stone floor. It was the dungeon at Malfoy Manor, and the girl in fact had been there once, severely injured and helpless. 'Hermione!'

No. It was wrong. He shouldn't have seen that at present, with him high above the ground. It was how he remembered her that summer night. She was fine now, sitting among the other spectators below and cheering for him, or for Gryffindor, whatever. Draco shut his eyes tightly and shook his head, trying to erase the sudden mental vision. When he opened his eyes again, the Snitch was nowhere in sight.

His stunned expression attracted Ginny's attention. She was flying near him, and a wide-eyed and slightly breathless Malfoy was not easy to be overlooked.

"What's wrong, Malfoy?" Ginny asked nonchalantly.

"Nothing."

She frowned at the quiet reply. Something was definitely wrong.

Harry had also noticed Draco's weird manner. Draco was frowning at the handle of his broomstick as if it should've never existed in the first place. When Harry moved to approach him, he passed Ron who hissed urgently, "Harry! The Snitch, remember?"

The black-haired Seeker nodded and when he turned to see Draco again, Draco had returned to his normal self. The Slytherin boy started circling around the pitch to do his job, and Harry followed his example despite his continual concern. Both teams still played fiercely and the score was tied.

Suddenly Seamus bellowed in frenzy, "The Snitch! The Snitch has been spotted again! Malfoy and Potter are racing towards it! Who's going to capture it?"

The two Seekers shot towards the Snitch, avoiding Bludger attacks and other players smoothly without actually paying attention, just like two wild cats hunting down their prey. Red and Green swished side by side, each trying to take the lead, the golden ball in target zooming ahead. Although Cynosure was slightly below Dreamlightning, Draco managed to match Harry in the critical moment when the Snitch was within their reach. Both boys stretched out their arms at the same time.

Another image of a wounded Hermione surfaced on Draco's mind, making him halt for a split second. Draco creased his eyes shut. The disturbing image vanished as quickly as it had appeared, yet it had sufficiently accomplished the goal to make Draco lose in this game.

By the time the Slytherin Seeker was back to the real world, Harry had secured the Snitch in his grasp. The spectators cheered.

"Potter caught the Snitch! The score is now 220-80; Gryffindor WINS!"

Seamus' announcement and the other noises were just a distant notion for him, but Draco knew all the same that the game had been ended with his loss.

Draco was staring to some point behind Harry's head. Harry watched him with worry, but when he turned around to see what had captured Draco's attention, he couldn't find anything out of place. Draco eventually altered his gaze. His eyes followed the Snitch in Harry's clutch before he looked at his own empty hand.

Harry felt awful, this was not like when he defeated Draco in their Quidditch match last year. Today Draco's face was not devoid of emotion like that other time. His expression was like someone who had just watched a precious thing die.

"Draco, are you all right?"

'There is no Dementor here. Why?'

Harry repeated his question. His fiancé didn't reply, instead he dived down without a single glimpse at Harry again. Draco landed smoothly, and after dismounting it, he dropped his broomstick carelessly, leaving it lying on the ground, and walked hurriedly towards the changing room.

'Why did I still lose?'

Seven years, six matches, five of them with him as the Seeker, and not even once they won against Gryffindor. Against Harry Potter.

!OXOXOXOXO!

The Slytherin changing room was considerably quiet despite the rustling sound of the players' activities after the match. None of the boys talked about the previous game and their recent loss. In fact, none of the boys talked at all. Draco was sitting on the bench motionlessly while his team mates changed their Quidditch uniforms. He was gazing at a spot in front of him, trying to create a hole through it by his eyes alone.

Someone he recognized as his Captain put a broomstick next to him on the bench. It was his Firebolt Cynosure. Draco felt awful having left his precious broomstick just like that, and muttered thanks to Nott. He heard Nott say from beside him, "You were fantastic, Malfoy. It was just a pure luck for Potter to catch the Snitch before you did." He nodded absently without looking. He had played incredibly well, it was true. It made him even sorer because he had exerted all his might for this game, yet there was still something wrong happened to make him lose. Yet in the end, he still lost.

One by one his team mates left the changing room till he was sitting alone there. He got up and started unfastening his arm-shields. Dropping the shields, he bent down to take off the shin-shields as well, but stopped midway. He straightened up immediately. The vision which made him lose from Harry for the umpteenth time came back haunting his mind. Draco banged the locker in front of him with his hand and shut his eyes tightly, pressing his forehead on his arm against the locker door. "Fantastic…"

He heard a shuffle of feet, and without opening his eyes Draco snapped harshly, knowing who it was. "What do you want?"

The owner of those feet approached him, and a hand was placed hesitantly on his shoulder. Draco brushed off the hand and stood with his back facing Harry, repeating his question frostier than before, "What do you want, Potter?"

"What do you want, Draco?"

"Don't answer a question with another question."

"Are you angry with me because I caught the Snitch? Because I can play better, and I did play better than you?"

"Which part of 'not to answer question with question' don't you get? And yes, I'm angry because you're always better than me. Thanks for reminding me. I hate you." Draco said the last sentence with venom. He didn't want Harry to comfort him, but he absolutely didn't expect Harry to be so insensitive. He heard Harry sigh.

"I want you to stop blaming others for your own failure. If you don't like people doing better than you, just try harder."

Draco still had his back facing Harry. "I've tried the hardest, if you haven't noticed it already. And I don't blame anyone else; I'm just upset, okay? I should've been able to catch that damned Snitch."

"Your concentration was disrupted in the last second. What happened?"

"As if it were your bloody business. The match is over, just forget it."

"Then stop acting like a kid."

Draco spun around and swiftly flew his fist towards Harry's face, but the taller boy caught it effortlessly. Harry clenched his hold on the fist tighter and went on, "What does this sudden childish behaviour mean, Draco? You weren't like this when I defeated you last year."

"Let me go, bastard!"

Harry released him before he could try to deliver another punch. Draco stepped back, eyes flaring.

"Damn you, Potter! Go to hell!"

"No, thank you. I just don't want you to be angry with me without good reason."

"Right, nice method you have there to convince me there's no good reason for it."

"I want to know as well what happened before that made you lose your concentration."

"I said none of your bloody business! Get lost, will you! I hate you!"

"Trust me, Draco. Please. I want to help you. I'm sure this has something to do with me."

"Don't be so cocky. Not everything revolves around your golden feet. Besides, save your sympathy for someone else from Hufflepuff."

"Slytherin need sympathy more than Hufflepuff. Your lot is always mistreated, don't you think so?"

He really should have never spilt his sentiment in front of Harry that day. "Are you trying to make me kill you?"

"I understand your ambition to win the Quidditch Cup this year, or at least to beat Gryffindor. You were once a sore loser, but you've grown up. You don't usually throw a fit like this."

"Hey! I didn't have a fit or anything before you came and provoked me!"

"Didn't have a fit? After chucking your precious Cynosure?"

"I… Oh, all right! I hate this! I hate losing from you again! I don't care about Quidditch Cup or Slytherin winning against Gryffindor, I only want to beat you! And this time I was not supposed to lose, if not because of that sudden mental image about…" Draco faltered, suddenly having an intense urge to bash his head to the floor. He was certain as well that he had picked the wrong phrase.

"Sudden mental image? About what, or rather… who? Oliver?" Harry's tone was unusually cynical. Draco didn't answer him, just glaring defiantly at Harry. But the veiled anxiety in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by his fiancé. Harry felt his heart turned icy, and he spoke in a low, dangerous tone.

"Were you thinking about her?"

Draco almost gulped. "Who?"

"Her. Should I say the name? You're not satisfied enough dreaming about her at night that you need to…" He didn't finish it because Draco slapped him hard.

The Slytherin felt his hand sting, and so did his eyes. Watching Harry raise his hand to touch his reddish cheek, Draco hissed, "Yes, I was thinking about her, and I lost my concentration because of it. So why don't you ask me now what kind of thought I had when I was chasing the Snitch?"

Harry lifted his face and lowered his hand. "You'll just answer that it's not my bloody business."

"You're not a seer, Potter. Trelawney said she never met a student who did as poor as you in Divination." After saying that, Draco walked past Harry out of the changing room, not bothering that he still wore his Quidditch robe.

!OXOXOXOXO!

Later that night, Draco didn't show up at dinner. Harry went to his room, but before he reached the destination, he almost crashed with the sought fiancé. Ignoring Draco's glare, Harry caught the boy's arms to stop him from walking away at once.

"Draco, are you still angry at me?"

The blond wrenched away from Harry's grip and answered maliciously, "Go back to your harem, Potty. I bet Loony, Weasel Queen, Lana, and the other cheap hussies are waiting in your bed right now."

"Watch your mouth, or I'll be tempted to slap you. Returning your favour today," Harry replied coldly. But at the hurt expression on Draco's face, his heart melted and he regretted his harsh words. "Look, Draco. I'm so…"

"Rather than accosting my student, shouldn't you be preparing for your detention tonight, Mr Potter?" Snape's freezing tone intervened from behind Harry. Harry balled his hands into fist and counted under his breath to subside his urge to explode.

On the other hand, Draco's sneer broke into a smile. "Professor, I was on the way to your office but Potter detained me here."

"I told you I would contact you when I had finished my inspection on the parchment you gave me. I'm here to tell you what I can draw from my assessment."

"And?" Draco watched his godfather with a curious frown. Beside him, Harry had the same frown. What was this all about?

"This parchment is without doubt charmed by Dark Magic. It hypnotized you when you read the words, so the caster could have some control over your mind for the next one hour. You're lucky this charm is full of flaws, so whatever happened to you wasn't the expected full effect."

Draco grimaced with anger. "Must be a work of the Slytherin's boneheads. They wanted me to read it just before the match began so they would have enough time…"

Harry rushed in, "You received a charmed parchment? Before the Quidditch match? Draco, why didn't you tell me?"

The Slytherin in question huffed at him, and then idly ran his fingers along the smooth platinum hair while his godfather berated his fiancé.

"From what Draco had told me, you deserved a good whack instead of a mere slap. You accused him of things before you knew the truth. You know what, Potter? You take yourself for a faultless saint, while everyone else including Draco in your eyes is just a lowly commoner who still has to grow up," Snape drawled with a sneer. Harry wanted to sneer back, but he didn't want to risk more trouble with Draco. Moreover, he must admit Snape's words made a hit.

Putting a tolerant mask, Harry replied, "I'm sorry, Professor. But I really wouldn't have known if Draco hadn't said anything."

"What did you expect him to say anyway? He didn't know the letter he got was jinxed before he brought it to me so I could identify the writer. It was I who told him that this parchment reeked of magic. Let me add one more thing, Draco brought the letter to me because he thought its content suggested a threat for you, Potter."

"Oh, gods. Draco…" Harry lost his words. Then a question came to his mind and out his mouth, "But you said you suddenly had a mental picture about… that. What did this charm do to you?"

Snape still replied on behalf of his godson, "Whatever Draco saw was surely not about chocolate and sunshine. I talk about Dark Magic practice here. The caster wanted to make Draco lose concentration when flying, and the worst thing that might happen was Draco could fall from his broom."

Suddenly Draco spoke up, "Professor, I'd like to speak with you. In private."

"Well, then let's go to my office."

Harry grabbed Draco's arm when he passed, but the blond boy shot him a chilly glare. "I need to speak with Professor Snape privately. Can you at least appreciate me for that?"

His fiancé didn't reply, and Draco yanked his arm from Harry's grip. The two Slytherin walked away towards the dungeon, leaving the Head Boy standing alone in the middle of the corridor, gazing at the floor with troubled face.

In Snape's office, Draco and his godfather discussed what they should do regarding the cursed parchment. Although the hypnotic charm was messed up, the identity of the writer on that parchment was concealed perfectly. Draco suspected a particular Slytherin, but it was still a mystery for him that this person knew a lot about Harry's personal life as well.

"We must increase our caution, Draco. This is not a common Dark Arts practice, and I doubt Hogwarts library has any book containing its instruction."

"Please don't tell my mother, sir. I can't imagine what she would do if she ever heard about this incident."

"I see. However, I think it's necessary to tell Dumbledore about this. This concerns Potter as well."

Draco nodded and said quietly, "I don't understand how they invented those images they sent to me, Professor."

"You take it wrongly. This charm induces visualization shaped from the victim's own mind, your own subconscious. It doesn't transmit visions according to the caster's wish, only brings any available matter to the surface. What did you see that time, Draco?"

"It… wasn't a nice thing."

"Surely it wasn't. It was supposed to be your greatest fear, like what you would see if you encountered a Boggart." Draco gulped, earning him a glance from Snape. The Potions Master went on, "But considering the errors and lack of magic power than what was needed for the charm to work properly, I can safely say that what you saw that moment was, at most, your general anxiety in the mean time. Things you don't expect to happen in the near future."

"Could it be a memory from past experience?"

"Yes, it might be a bad memory too, one that often disturbs you so you're worried it might occur again." Snape watched his godson with concern. He could presume what Draco had seen that time. A memory from that fateful summer.

Draco gazed down at his hands on his lap. 'Things I'm worried about… Naturally I wouldn't think of Harry, because he's so damn powerful and definitely can look after himself,' he convinced himself.

!OXOXOXOXO!

That same night, Hedwig delivered a cluster of purple Hyacinth from Harry to Draco's room. Draco gazed at the flowers symbolizing 'Forgive Me' with a disgusted expression, but he didn't throw it away. That Hyacinth was a magical thing, as each flower in its cluster emitted soft melodious tinkle for two minutes, which he recognized as his favourite tune. Later he would find out that the flowers tinkled periodically every two hours. He just wrote on a parchment: 'If you want to say sorry, tell me by your own mouth' and sent the letter to Harry by Hedwig.

As expected, Harry came to his room straight away and apologized to him for whatever he had done. Draco didn't let him in, and the blond had Fluffy on his shoulder, baring its teeth menacingly at Harry, so he couldn't touch his fiancé. After Harry finished his act of contrition, Draco shut the door in his face without saying a word. Since the password to Draco's room had been changed without Harry's knowledge, nothing he could do afterwards.

Next day, for that whole Sunday Draco didn't come out his room and he refused to meet Harry and the others, placing a Do Not Disturb sign at the Chimera guarding his room. He amused himself alone in his room with bunch of things he had from his birthday and experimenting various potions. Once he found out the persons behind that hypnotic charm, he would set up a very painful revenge.

Then on Monday, Draco was walking with Theodore Nott beside him to attend their next class when a hard slap was laid on his shoulder-blade. Ron beamed cheerfully, not affected at all by Draco's glare.

"All right, Ferret?"

"Fabulous, Ronniekins," Draco hissed while massaging his back shoulder. "What about you?"

"Not so fabulous I guess. Last night Harry suddenly declared in front of everyone that he was a total berk. What had you done to convince him that – an accomplishment I've failed to do for years?"

"Only a little psychological therapy, to open his eyes. Plus I slapped him once."

"He must've done something terrible to you. Harry's really sorry about that – whatever it was. Draco, why can't you forgive him?"

"Ronald Weasley, I demand you hold to the promise that you're going to pound him and hex him to the moon when Harry hurts me."

"I've tried. He's stronger than me," Ron grinned brazenly. Draco huffed.

"Malfoy, if you want to converse with Weasley, I'll go first," Nott said.

Ron raised his hand. "Wait. Nott, a word with you. It's about Quidditch."

Nott checked his watch. "We have Advanced Transfiguration in the next ten minutes. What do you want?"

"We want a rematch with Slytherin."

Nott didn't reply but frowned at the suggestion. Beside him, Draco gave Ron a look. "You mean Harry is trying to woo my forgiveness. Come off it, Ron. You can't always follow whatever Harry wants to do."

"Yeah, it's Harry's idea. But I think his reasoning makes sense. I've talked to other team members and they all agreed with me."

"Except your sister?"

Ron grinned, "Especially Ginny. She was quite adamant that something fishy had happened up there between you and Harry. She suspected a foul play to make Slytherin lose."

"There was no fou…"

"I will talk to my team as soon as possible. I'd like to have the chance for a rematch."

Draco looked at Nott with narrowed eyes. "Why should we play Gryffindor again? It's better if we concentrate to win the next games against Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."

Nott answered calmly but with the sinister authority of a captain, "Are you afraid you're going to lose again from Potter, Malfoy?"

"Only in your dreams."

"I hope so," Nott nodded and returned to Ron. "Do you think they would give us the opportunity for rematch?"

Draco replied for him before Ron could utter a word, "Let Potter deal with it. When the almighty Harry Potter asks, not just a mere rematch, even Quidditch Cup will be bestowed upon him, engraved with his name." As he spoke loudly, Draco didn't look at Ron or Nott, but towards his right. The other two boys followed the direction of his gaze and saw the almighty Harry Potter approaching them.

Harry went straight to Draco without acknowledging Nott, "Draco, please don't be angry with me. I'm really, really sorry about what happened. And for my idiotic reaction afterwards."

"As if I cared. Let's go, Nott. We can't let Monsieur Sauveur du Monde make us late for Prof. McGonagall's class."

Harry saw Nott take a glimpse at him with a sympathetic look. Nott didn't know what had happened between Harry and Draco, but he felt sorry for Harry, having recognized the pitiable lovesick expression on the Gryffindor's face. As Draco and Ron passed each other, they exchanged words quietly.

"You're going to regret this rematch, Ron."

"Not if we win."

Draco arched both his eyebrows, then smacked Ron's arm before walking away. Ron glanced at Harry and grinned. But his best friend didn't return his grin. Harry was watching Draco's back steadily with a blank look. Yet the green eyes were forlorn and Ron, who realized his friend's predicament, squeezed Harry's shoulder in comforting manner.

"Cheer up, mate. Draco is a spoiled and vengeful brat, but I'm sure he won't stay angry with you for long."

Harry only nodded dejectedly, his eyes still glued to the same spot even though Draco had disappeared round a corner.

!OXOXOXOXO!

As the Slytherin's Quidditch Captain and Seeker walked briskly along the corridor towards Advanced Transfiguration classroom, Nott suddenly spoke up.

"Why did those Gryffindor think there was a foul play? Did something wrong really happen between you and Potter?"

"No."

"Doesn't matter anyway. If we really will have this rematch, you must do anything to catch the Snitch, Malfoy."

"No."

"What?" Nott halted his step.

Draco stopped too and turned to face his captain. "We're going to win this rematch, no matter who will catch the Snitch."

An altered sentence from that one was repeating itself inside Draco's mind when he returned to his room from Quidditch pitch that night. He had explained to Nott and the other team members about his new tactic assuming that they would have the proposed rematch against Gryffindor. Nott decided for the team to start practising at once, and nobody declined. Every Slytherin player was positively itching to beat Gryffindor.

Draco specifically had skipped today's DA meeting for few hours of personal training. Despite his worn-out body, Draco's mind was fresh and full of self-confidence for future victory. He had forgotten the cursed parchment and his loss from Harry; he would be the one who would catch the Snitch in the next rematch, no matter whose team was going to win.

He walked round a corner and saw the Head Girl walking from opposite direction. Draco knew tonight was her turn to patrol through the castle. They smiled to each other and Draco abandoned his original route to accompany Hermione for a while.

They walked side by side, discussing various stuff from this year's unusual weather to their latest Arithmancy lesson. Hermione intentionally didn't bring any sensitive subject relating to Harry or Quidditch in front of Draco. But as the exchange, she must respond to Draco's enquiry about her current relationship with Ron.

"I thought you didn't want to make a fuss of it again, Draco. Remember, 'rest my case'?"

"I meant for that day only. Please, Hermione, do something. The bet has reached the highest recently. I'll hate to lose a chance to win five hundred Galleons."

"You're rich enough, Mr Malfoy. Five hundred Galleons should be donated to someone else needier and more indifferent about my love life."

"Are you kidding? Much as I'd love to be indifferent, your circumstances make me itchy! Seeing you and Ron trying to restrain yourselves from jumping each other during the day always leaves me restless for hours at night. Besides, I can't help feeling concerned about the troubled love life of my friends."

"You know who else needs your deep concern about his love life more than Ron or I do? Your beloved godfather!"

"He's a misogynist. I've given up since long time ago trying to set him in a relationship. I eventually realize he only needs the DADA teaching job, and without any Potters or Longbottoms in his class, then he'll be happy for the rest of his life."

"So now after your failure with Prof. Snape, you're trying to work off your match-making urge on Ron and me. Honestly, get a life!" Hermione laughed.

Draco sighed, "That's essentially what I'm trying to do. For once in my lifetime, I want to do something of my own accord. I can't even choose a spouse myself because I have been engaged before I was born!"

"Draco, are you not happy with Harry?" Hermione asked tentatively.

"I am. Who said I'm not?" he replied stiffly.

"Why do you insist that you're happy with him?" she asked back.

"Huh? But isn't it what you expect from me?" Draco was silent for a moment before saying, "Sometimes we're like oil and water, but I've started to like him anyway."

"You were jealous about Luna," she said with a smile.

"Not really, I was just annoyed. Hey, why are we suddenly talking about me? About Ron, come on. I'll help you with anything. If you want, I'll even talk to Ron and open his mind."

"You're just going to Imperio him. It reminds me, we're just assuming here that Ron fancies me, which neither of us knows for sure. Let's just wait for what he's going to do, shall we?"

"I don't believe he's going to make a move. It's the loony Lovegod who will, if you don't do anything first."

"Luna has got over her crush on Ron, Draco. And I must tell you this: she has nothing with Harry either. The most important thing is: Harry is mad about you. Only you."

"Back to me again? I must tell you this: Ron is mad about you. You are mad about him. How about… I lock both of you inside a broom closet, and then we'll see what happens next?"

Hermione checked her watch and said, "It's almost curfew. You should go back to your room."

"Oh, what a cunning way to evade a hot topic."

"Go back to your room, Draco," Hermione slapped his arm playfully.

"Yes, Mum. See you tomorrow, and happy patrolling."

Hermione smiled. "Goodnight, Draco."

!OXOXOXOXO!

The morning after, when Draco was having breakfast in Great Hall, he got another gift when the morning owl post arrived. Students in the Great Hall gasped when a golden Snitch was seen flying behind those owls. The Snitch went towards Draco and as it touched the boy's palm, it puffed with a sweet popping noise and turned into a single white rose with wings on its thorn-less stem as substitution for its foliage. Almost every girl aww-ed except the dignified ones in Slytherin table.

Draco turned his head slowly towards Gryffindor table behind him, and locked eyes with his fiancé, who was wearing a hopeful expression. Plus that damned puppy eyes. The Head Boy gave him a smile, so shy and begging for apology. Draco bit his bottom lip to stop himself before he could smile back at Harry and immediately returned his attention to his breakfast. The winged rose lay on his lap.

He had forgiven Harry of course. It wasn't that Harry was at fault actually, and Draco knew it from the beginning. Draco admitted that he was indeed acting like a petulant kid that day, first because he didn't want to accept that he still lost from Harry despite his best effort, and second because he was trying to defy Harry's commanding presence.

Nevertheless, Draco still acted cool towards his fiancé, not passing up the opportunity to be showered with more presents and attention. The Slytherin knew exactly what he was doing, and he relished that. If Harry thought he was guilty, then by all means, let him think so.

After just a few days, Draco became tired himself with Harry's incessant effort to obtain the not-so-necessary forgiveness. His chamber was filled with gifts and had resembled a garden of enchanted flowers, which caused him to start feeling like a girl. He was a little embarrassed too for manipulating Harry, while the other boy was sincerely feeling guilty to him. The next Thursday, before Harry went to his Quidditch practice, Draco approached him and said casually, "Do you want me to watch your practice? I don't care whether you say yes or no, but I think..."

Harry interrupted him, "Yes. Please, Draco. I'm sorry I hurt you, but I…"

Draco interrupted him back, "Enough. Let's go."

The smile of pure delight which broke on Harry's face made him look very ravishing in Draco's eyes. The Slytherin boy suddenly felt flustered and he almost reacted following the impulse to kiss Harry. Before he could humiliate himself, Draco quickly walked past Harry. But Harry captured his wrist and spun him around. Still with that heavenly smile, Harry stroked Draco's cheek tenderly.

"Thank you," Harry whispered, before replacing his hand on Draco's porcelain skin with his lips.

Draco nodded weakly. Harry didn't release his wrist, and they walked together to Quidditch pitch. People they encountered on the way beamed at them because Harry was smiling stunningly all the way whereas his fiancé beside him was so adorably pink. The ordinarily over-confident Slytherin was walking with his head lowered and gazing to the ground, his silvery fringe covering his eyes. But on closer inspection, it was obvious how the corners of his lips slightly turned upwards.

!OXOXOXOXO!

The teachers had obliged the Slytherin and Gryffindor with a rematch in late November, substituting the game between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff which was re-scheduled for the week afterwards. Slytherin team had intensive practice everyday, and thanks to Snape the Gryffindor only had a chance to book the pitch about two hours per day from Thursday to Sunday.

Harry entered the changing room and was confronted by his team mates, plus a specific ex-captain of Gryffindor team. He stared at a beaming Oliver Wood.

"Harry, Oliver came to watch our Quidditch practice," Ron informed with a joyful grin. "He has already stocked us with several useful tips, especially for me."

Harry was surprised and suspicious that Oliver visited Hogwarts again, but he didn't show it openly.

When those Gryffindor came outside the changing room to the pitch, they caught sight of Draco sitting gracefully on a bench in spectators' stands.

"Hey, that's Draco! I thought he didn't want to watch Gryffindor practising again," Oliver exclaimed with a startling grin.

Ginny snorted, "He almost always comes to our practice. The only time he didn't was the day you dropped by here before."

Oliver frowned at the Gryffindor players and asked, "None of you minds his presence? He's still a member of enemy's team." Those boys and girls exchanged glances among themselves.

"He's Harry's sweetheart. Harry can't concentrate on the practice if Draco isn't present," Ron waved his hand.

Oliver glanced from Harry to the said sweetheart who was currently sneering at the other Gryffindor players, and smiled joyfully. "Okay. I'm going to watch your practice with him."

Without waiting for reply, he went to the spectators' stands and sat down beside Draco. Soon the ex-Lion and the Serpent were involved in a warm discussion just like old friends.

The practice began immediately. From the mid-air, Harry fumed at the physical closeness of Oliver and Draco; they were sitting together with their sides practically attached to each other. Oliver whispered something so close to Draco's ear, and Draco blushed. It took all his will-power for Harry to resist throwing a curse at once to Oliver.

Harry couldn't concentrate on his practice, instead of looking for the Snitch, his gaze kept reverting to a certain bench. Several times he met Draco's eye and the blond smiled at him. It made him happy, but he still couldn't help the jealousy burning his heart. The moment he spotted the Snitch, he saw from the distance Oliver ruffling Draco's hair, both of them laughing.

Levelling his body with his broom, Harry shot after the Snitch. In one seamless movement he dodged Bludgers and a Chaser who was in the way, and shortly was close behind the Snitch. The golden ball suddenly zoomed upwards and down again. Following its movement, Harry performed a somersault in the air and dived with wonderful speed to seize the Snitch with the ease as if he were collecting a quill from the floor.

Both Draco and Oliver, along with the other players in the air, stared in awe at the show. But the star himself didn't seem to care enough. After an elegant landing, Harry chucked his Dreamlightning forcefully to the ground, and walked fast towards the spectators' stands.

Alarmed, Draco stood up abruptly and ran towards his fiancé after ordering Oliver to "Stay put!". The Firebolt Dreamlightning was Harry's birthday present this year from Lupin, and the marvel of how Lupin could afford that broomstick just made Harry appreciate it even more. Even Draco once felt jealous at the attention Harry gave for the broomstick. Draco couldn't imagine how horrible Harry's mood was right now that he threw away the Dreamlightning, and if he didn't do something immediately, there would be bloodshed.

Stepping on the grassy pitch, Draco went past Harry to retrieve the neglected Dreamlightning first. He returned the broomstick to its owner immediately, offering a bright smile, hoping it could calm down Harry.

"As much as I want to deny it, I must admit: that was a great show, Harry," Draco said as Harry and he stood face to face on the pitch.

His fiancé reached for his hand without saying anything. Harry smiled and put the Snitch on Draco's palm. In reflex Draco curled his fingers securely around the little fluttering ball, but his eyes were still fixed on Harry.

"Thanks for your compliment. You need to be prepared if I do the same thing in our match next Saturday," Harry replied eventually with easy manners.

"At least I know your secret. You don't know mine."

Harry smiled wider; he seemed to have changed into better mood. But when he was raising his hand to touch Draco's cheek, Harry suddenly froze. Draco turned around to see Oliver had disregarded his order to remain where his original place was.

"Wow, that was amazing, Harry! You're a true number one Seeker Hogwarts ever has," Oliver cheerfully exclaimed as he approached Harry and Draco. Draco was tortured between being insulted and being worried. Harry didn't respond to Oliver's comment. Instead, he shot a fierce look at the older man.

Oliver stepped back involuntarily at the intensity of heat from Harry's glare. "Uh, what's up?"

Harry's voice was an exact opposite of his fiery glare, even Snape might be impressed. "Perhaps you don't realize it, Wood. You're coveting something that's not yours, but mine. Mine only. I don't share."

"Harry," Draco hissed in a warning. Other Gryffindor players had dismounted their broomsticks and walked towards their Seeker from behind him. None of those players, except Ginny, was feeling suspicious about the interaction among Harry, Draco, and Oliver.

Before his team mates reached his place, the mentioned No. 1 Seeker of Hogwarts had walked away, leaving a dumbfounded Oliver and a silent Draco. The Slytherin boy stared at the thing within his clasp after sensing an unusual jagged surface.

The Snitch cracked.

!OXOXOXOXO!

After the practice and getting along for a while with the Gryffindor team, except Harry, Oliver prepared to leave Hogwarts. He must return to his own professional team's practice. Oliver didn't discuss Harry's threatening attitude to him with the others. He couldn't be sure why, but Oliver concluded it had something to do with Draco. Coincidentally, he came across the aforesaid Slytherin in the Entrance Hall. They greeted each other, and after some casual exchange, Oliver asked his nagging suspicion.

"Do you know what's wrong with Harry?"

"Don't mind him, he's under stress lately. You know, the training for a saviour candidate and all," Draco lied effortlessly.

"Yeah, I can imagine that. But it's still weird, the way he behaved just now. He acted as if he were your boyfriend or something like that."

Frowning, Draco replied carefully, "How do you expect my fiancé to act anyway?"

"And Harry's your fiancé?"

Draco shot him a disbelieving stare. "You don't know?"

Oliver returned an equally disbelieving stare. "He's really your fiancé?" Draco nodded dumbly. Did Oliver live in Antarctica these recent months?

"Where have you been? Never read Daily Prophet or any publication?"

Oliver gave him a sheepish smile. "Not since the end of summer. I only read Quidditch-related publications or none at all. Besides, the Quidditch isolated camp I attended has just finished a fortnight ago." He sighed and added, "Bugger, I thought you two were just kidding that time. And what Ron said about you being Harry's sweetheart is true too."

"You said you already had a certain impression we were… together since long."

"Oh, I wasn't lying. Many students in my year often discussed the chemistry between you and Harry. But I never expected you two to eventually fall for each other and get engaged."

"It is an arranged marriage. Like what I had previously with Pansy Parkinson. In fact, my betrothal with Pansy was cancelled because I actually had been engaged to Harry without any of us realizing it. It had been arranged before we were born."

"Huh? Strange, isn't it? You and Harry, who hated each other since your first year, were actually destined for each other? Hmm, so those girls were right…" Oliver had a distant look on his face. "May I ask you something personal, Draco?"

"Out with it."

"I don't have to question Harry's feeling now – he's obviously crazy about you. But do you like Harry?"

"Yes, I do," Draco answered automatically. Seeing Oliver's doubtful look, Draco added, "He's very nice to me. And he's v… handsome. Not that I like boys, uh, it's just…"

"I understand, Draco. Harry is very attractive, even for another boy. You must feel very lucky, being the most envied person in Wizarding World."

"Yeah." 'Maybe. Maybe not. And I'd rather Harry was the most envied person in Wizarding World because he's engaged to me, not the other way round.'

!OXOXOXOXO!

With Oliver out of his territory, Harry turned back to his usual self. He persuaded his fiancé to visit Draco's private spot together that night. As they arrived there, the taller boy promptly set down on the grass and pulled the other one to sit between his legs. It seemed that this was Harry's favourite position, and Draco had got over his earlier discomfort by now.

The atmosphere of the night in that place was peaceful and pleasant. For several minutes they stayed silent and Draco especially was in a fine mood with the warmth enveloping him from Harry's body behind him. When Harry suddenly brought forward the topic, Draco easily narrated every detail of his experience during the jinxed Quidditch match. They spent a couple of hours chatting and laughing together, just like two best friends, before returning back to the castle when curfew arrived.

Days passed in a blink of eye. On that cloudy Saturday, the Quidditch rematch of Slytherin vs. Gryffindor was about to start. Both teams had gathered in the middle of the pitch, and the loud endless cheers from spectators crowding the stadium showed how much this rematch appealed to Hogwarts students.

Among the other Reds and Greens, the two main attractions of this game were facing each other. Draco gazed at his fiancé with a cool face.

"Listen Potter, we both will play our best in this match. Don't you ever try to hold back against me. Clear?" Harry nodded in response, smiling generously but his eyes were dead serious.

"Just don't cry when you lose again."

Sneering at his fiancé, Draco mounted his broom. "You bet. Don't cry when you lose for the first time."

Madam Hooch blew her whistle, and the game began. Positioning themselves in the air, the Gryffindor players have got no idea of what the Slytherin had prepared for them. Otherwise they would never listen to Harry's proposal to bring about this rematch.

Slytherin team assigned one Beater to specifically strike the Bludgers towards Gryffindor Keeper, giving a perfect opening for their Chasers to score. The other Beater's job was to ensure the three Chasers from opposite team always losing their possession of Quaffle and to hamper the other two Beaters. The Slytherin's Chasers also actively participated in disturbing the co-ordination of Gryffindor team. Those players in Red seemed disordered and befuddled high up there. Since the Slytherin had trained their players intensively for this game, this tactic went smoothly. Not only that, Nott also performed a very spectacular play as Slytherin Keeper.

Ron sent a glare towards Draco before dodging another Bludger, having an intuition that this was all Draco's idea. The Slytherin Seeker only grinned innocently in return. Again and again the Quaffle entered Gryffindor's goal hoops, while not once it had successfully gone through Slytherin's. Soon Slytherin left Gryffindor behind by 80 points.

Surprised shouts from the audience alerted Draco who in the next second saw a flash of red diving next to him. In a reflex action, Draco manoeuvred his broom and swooped down to follow Harry's movement. They moved in a great speed, lying flat on their respective brooms, and Draco was aware of Harry as blurry image of red and gold. As Draco reached closer to the ground, the red-and-gold blur beside him suddenly disappeared.

That moment Draco realized there was no single golden thing within his range of vision, instead it was only green below him. Before crashing to the ground completely, Draco managed to steer the Cynosure upwards. The left side of his body grazed the grass, but he made it in time. Winded, Draco felt his chest constrict in the notion that he would have not succeeded had he been riding Nimbus 2001.

Several feet above the ground, Draco took a deep breath to calm his heart. Harry had just performed a Wronski Feint against him. It had been long since Draco's last experience of Harry's aggressiveness.

As for Harry, he had realized that he had underestimated Draco all those times. Recalling Draco's story, Harry most likely would've lost in the previous match if only the cursed parchment hadn't got in the way. Harry had determined to bring out all his skills today in this match against his beloved. However, he was amazed when he saw the way Draco manoeuvring his broom to avoid the crash after that Feint.

Draco lifted his face to look at his fiancé. The black-haired boy smirked from up there, before diving elegantly to halt in front of Draco.

"Surprised, Draco?"

"You wish."

The platinum hair was in disarray, the silver eyes were smouldering, and the cheeks were flushing. Harry suddenly found it hard to breathe and his heart beat even faster than when he performed Wronski Feint. Sending a forced smile towards Draco, he steered his Dreamlightning away before he lost control completely.

Although greatly peeved that Harry tricked him with Wronski Feint, Draco was rather proud of himself after coping with it without getting smashed to the ground. Moreover, his tactic went on successfully and it was the most important thing right now. Within a short time, his team had scored total 170 points while Gryffindor was stuck at 30.

'Go get them, boys,' Draco thought with a smirk. Everything went as planned. 'Now for a little fun myself…'

Harry whipped his head as he heard sudden loud exclamations from the stands below. Green and silver zoomed past him, diving like a meteor. Harry did the first thing came into his mind: following his opponent to catch the Snitch. It didn't occur to him till it was too late that he didn't actually spot the Snitch, and since he never attended Draco's practice with the Slytherin, Harry had no idea how much Draco's skill had improved.

And a perfect Wronski Feint was demonstrated in front of his own eyes. If Harry had less skill in controlling his broomstick, he would've ended sprawling on the ground by now. Fortunately for him, flying was one of his best talents and furthermore, Firebolt Dreamlightning was just as good as its hype.

Surviving the possible crash, Harry looked up at his fiancé, and he must admit that Draco had a knack for displaying any kind of smirk better than him. Still from feet above Harry, Draco shouted, "Surprised, Harry?"

Dazedly, Harry shouted back, "Yeah! I am." Draco's smirk couldn't be even wider.

The game went on, and Gryffindor had started to get a hang of Slytherin tactic. They added another 10 points as Ginny scored the Quaffle. But Slytherin were still unstoppable and within the next few minutes their score had surpassed 200 points. Draco watched the current situation with a slight frown. 'It's time.'

210-50. He couldn't risk Harry catching the Snitch after Gryffindor team closed their gap or Slytherin would lose. Before Gryffindor could gain more points, he must end the game now. It didn't matter who would do it, but the Snitch must be caught. Well, he really hoped it would be he who caught it, but first: where was that wretched Snitch!

'There!'

As if answering his desperate call, the winged golden ball appeared. It flashed near the Ravenclaw stands, and the distance was a bit more advantageous for Draco than for Harry, who had spotted the Snitch too. The two Seekers shot at the same time after the Snitch, which immediately flew away from its chasers, teasing the boys.

His team had just scored another goal, but Draco paid no heed. His focus was solely on a certain winged thing. From another direction, Harry was also in a hot pursuit of the same target. Shortly Harry managed to reverse the condition so now he was closer to the Snitch. Suddenly a Bludger shot towards him. Harry evaded the Bludger, but he had just wasted one precious second. It gave Draco a chance to equalize their distance again, and like a déjà vu they reached out for the Snitch simultaneously.

Draco's right hand grasped the wing of the Snitch, but half a second later Harry had a firm hold over the Snitch's body and forcefully snatched the golden ball away from him. The wing would be pulled from the ball if he persisted, but Draco released his grip of the wing.

Seamus' voice boomed among the deafening cheers from the spectators, "Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable! Malfoy almost did it, but Potter caught the Snitch! But he couldn't help his team's score against Slytherin! 220-200 for Slytherin!"

The match was over, Harry turned to look at his beloved. Draco had his eyes closed and his face up facing the sky, but his expression was tranquil.

"Great game, Draco."

Opening his eyes slowly, Draco lifted his face towards Harry. A small smile graced his face. "Like I said, you lost."

Harry smiled back. "I don't cry."

The Gryffindor Captain approached them in the mid-air. Ron's face was a mixture of disappointment and pride. "Congratulation, Ferret. For the first time your team won against us."

"I've told you that you were going to regret this rematch."

Ron waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. I still have Harry as the scapegoat." He turned his back against Draco and Harry. "I leave you two lovebirds to solve any remaining rivalry between you. Don't take too long, Harry, we're itching to thrash you for proposing this rematch. And you too, Ferret. Your team must be celebrating right now."

Relishing the wind of the aftermath high in the air, Harry and Draco gazed at each other for a full minute before Harry broke the silence between them.

"So…"

"So?"

Smiling widely, Harry said, "Congratulation. You won this game. I must say that if you used a Dreamlightning, it would be you who caught the Snitch. And I'd be totally humiliated."

Draco snorted. "You're humiliated enough right now."

"True. Many people will be infuriated at me, since they lost their bet. Gryffindor should never lose with the almighty Harry Potter as the ace player riding a Firebolt Dreamlightning."

Draco lowered his head and said quietly, "Gryffindor didn't lose because of you. You still caught the Snitch, and I know many people only bet on that."

"Hey," Harry softly said, capturing Draco's chin and bringing his face up to him. "You're not still sore, right? We both have played our best."

"Well, I let you know that I actually haven't shown my best performance just now," Draco drawled haughtily, but he was smiling again.

The Gryffindor Seeker watched his Slytherin counterpart, and felt an overwhelming desire to ravish this boy in front of him, even here nearly a hundred feet above the ground. With his hair dishevelled and his eyes gleaming like liquid mercury, Draco Malfoy looked wanton, sinful, and thus extremely inviting. He was smiling serenely, although his flushed cheeks and slightly irregular breath indicated adrenaline still pumping in his present state.

Harry parted his lips and leaned closer, his hand still cupping Draco's chin. Draco himself was trapped in a paralysis, enticed by the most alluring sight in front of him. He had admitted that Harry looked his best while in the air, with the wind-tousled black hair and rosy cheeks. Those devastating green eyes seized him, making him want to drown in them. Those parted lips which moved closer and closer to him were moist and had become fuller and redder as the after effect of the tough Quidditch match. 'Even now he keeps his breath smelling like peppermint,' Draco couldn't help noticing.

The Snitch fluttered its wings, forgotten in Harry's clutch, as he tilted Draco's face slightly. He closed his eyes as he saw Draco close his. But before their lips could touch, the familiar fear suddenly emerged inside Draco's mind and with a faint gasp he jerked back from Harry. Both boys opened their eyes simultaneously and stared at each other with deep blush covering their faces. Harry's grip of the Snitch loosened, and the golden ball darted between the two boys. In that moment, Harry and Draco were reminded of where they were right now.

The whole surroundings of the Quidditch pitch were silent, obviously in anticipation of what would happen between the two Seekers up in the air. Draco had never felt more self-conscious than right now, having almost kissed in front of the whole school. He contemplated staying in this high position for ever, or at least until dark. Harry's face was also very red, rivalling his Quidditch robe.

As Draco raised his hands to cover his face, the crowd below them burst into deafening shrill cheers and whistles. Some players who were still flying grinned at them before swooping to the ground to provide privacy for Draco and Harry, letting the sky become theirs only.

Harry, with his face still very hot, reached out and pulled Draco's hands to reveal his blushing face. Draco refused to look at his fiancé; his embarrassment had doubled among the provocative catcalls. But when a hand gently cupped his cheek along with a whisper calling his name in an affectionate tone, he was compelled to look back at Harry and he smiled bashfully without actually realizing it.

Harry suddenly lost his awkwardness and he no longer cared for all the people below. The shy smile and the hesitant way Draco looked at him were his undoing, and whatever he wanted to say to Draco at first was forgotten in an instant. The only thing remaining in his mind was what he said to Draco subsequently.

"You're… you're beautiful," Harry muttered breathlessly, his eyes clouded with passion. "You're the most beautiful being on Earth."

Draco recalled the similar words Harry said to him on the first day of this seventh year, and at that moment he realized something.

How ridiculous it was, how he had wasted his mind and time brooding over his envy and resentment towards Harry. A waste indeed, because eventually he couldn't be sure he was on a par with the Wonder Boy. But more than anything, there was no point at all in this rivalry when the rival himself didn't try to participate in it. Harry had known it before him that the rivalry simply had ceased existing since many months ago. They couldn't challenge each other because they had different objectives. They were after different desires in their lives.

All Draco wanted was to beat Harry Potter. All Harry wanted was to possess Draco Malfoy.

TBC

Extra notes:

About H/D kissing… For the sake of everything pure, I suspend it until several thousand more words later :duck rotten tomatoes: Basically that's the plot (and btw, I still don't know how to formulate good depiction for a mind-blowing, heart-wrenching, knee-jerking kiss. Any suggestion?).

Für Mia: Eh? Introducing another love interest for Harry? I thought I'd made it clear since a few chapters before that Draco is going to be the one and only Harry's love interest for the rest of his life! If someone else appeared, it would be a love pentagon (the Trio plus Draco and this someone else). The only thing I can make out from this idea is that it would be applicable for slashy fiction about Marauders Era, with MPP plus Snape and Lily.

Harry as a 'door-mat'… Yeah, that's his fate in this story. No, kidding. Does this mean Harry is lacking in self-esteem? Well, funny because I always think of him as an Alpha Male, as I've stated plainly above. He was only worried about Draco's opinion of him. Harry knows what's superior in him, see how he behaves in front of Snape for example. I hope he won't be shown like a 'door-mat' any more in the future. Sorry if I've mistaken the phrase.

Für Kylia Nahimana: Does Snape want to shag Draco senseless:cough:… yes, he does (Not necessarily means he's a paedophile. Sevvie is my favourite character anyway). However, he knows where his position is in Draco's life. I'm not into SS/DM myself, because I'd only love to see Sevvie with Sirius, but since the poor chap is dead...

Für Dark Viaticum: I've re-read my previous chapters and found that my grammar was… appalling. I've edited my if-clause fiasco, but I'm sure there are still many things which I don't even realize to be wrong :nervous laugh:

Für jules: Ah, should've said 'money bag'. I could never imagine a wallet in Wizarding World… When I wrote 'purse', in my mind it was a small pouch for coins. My mistake really – I'd overlooked that it's a women's stuff. How shameful. I just didn't think they had paper money, so…

Für Susie (and anyone else interested): Erm… I'm afraid I can't comply with your C&C, just let me babble a bit to make a few things clear about this story.

Starting with: Draco turned into a girl here :whoops: I bet this is also within the list of what Thimble913 meant by 'all the OOC-ness' (and to think I wanted to stay as close as possible to the canon… I'm so ashamed T.T... Hopefully it's just that I interpret Mr A. B Ferret differently from others, ehehe…). Back to girl!Draco, I guess this is because of his manner throughout the date, or because of the way Harry protected him during the attack, or… please tell me what else? For the latter part, Draco had enough action. Harry did most of the works because he was the main target and he suffered a hero-complex, in case those weren't obvious. If the reason is that his attitude (blushing incessantly, etc.) is too girly, uh… okay. Guilty. Forgive me, ne? To answer the question why, here's how my mind works.

First things first. To say it bluntly, I never consider H/D here a gay relationship, for a sole reason that it is supposed to be a kind of non-platonic love which transcends gender (sorry, don't choke. I always wonder if this absurd thing does exist in real world). Hadn't Harry's acknowledgement in Phase 4B clarified this? Therefore, Susie, it's not why we have Miss Malfoy here. The girl-boy concept between Harry and Draco never came across my mind; they are both boys, will always be boys, and I've tried to picture them as such. Maybe because I wrote Draco reconsidering his sexual preference and blah, blah, but actually that was when I emphasized Draco's boyish quality. To be more honest, my slash idea in this story is just about the top/ bottom or dominant/ submissive, and I'm going to thwack my own head if that means the same thing with boy/ girl. I admit that I'm very much influenced by how I read Draco in the books: a spoiled coward with witty comments. Somehow I believe he's indeed a 'girl' compared to Harry, so they might not seem 'equal'.

Second, I wish I'd stopped making Draco so disturbing now. However, I'm not really clear what this girl!Draco is all about. Truthfully I'd never have a thought about this if no one pointed this out. I counted on several reviews stating that prude!Draco is simply adorable, and after being immersed in the wonderful world of anime, I never associate cuteness with girl. Plus in my knowledge, girls in general are more aggressive than boys. So the point is, despite the obvious that Draco is the bottom in this relationship, I can't see how his prudish quality could mean he's a girl. Draco is shy, but not innocent outside that specific matter.

From Harry's side, I always put his loving/ protective/ possessive treatment towards Draco to show his personality, not to make Draco look even more like a girl. Yet I always reason that in his subconscious as a boy, Harry will consider Draco some kind of his girlfriend and thus treat him as such. Maybe I have to stop imagining how a boy's mind works…

Additional reason why Harry keeps calling Draco various pet names is that I'm bored with the name Draco while I would never resort to Drake, Dray, etc. but consider this off the record. -sigh- I have planned since the beginning to apply my cat's name Cocco to Draco (they rhyme) starting from next chapter, but now I realize it would eternally make Draco like a girl. So please forgive me in advance.

Anyway, to the next issue: Harry's so boring and so typical 'hero-boy'… Again, I really have no clue to what makes him boring. Because he is hopelessly devoted to Draco? Honestly, I need enlightenment for this one. As for the other part, up till now for me Harry is the 'typical hero-boy with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord'. Hmm, what else his teenager-problems would be besides his love life (the highlight of this story)? School works?

Finale: Who in their right mind would prefer Hermione to Harry? Oh, easy. Ron, Krum, Snape… (I believe for Snape a mudblood is still better than Potter). Okay, I take it this was said regarding Harry's treatment to Draco. Well, considering how Harry is such a wonderful boy, he definitely has more fans than her, that's for sure. But I guess some people always miss the point that it is all about Draco's heart.

Err, sorry that I'm not a concise person, and for my own shame I've become the one who protested… Anyhow I really appreciate any C&C. This turned out longer than a bit babble, but since I'd written a long chapter too, I hope this is kind of… justified. No?

And kt, if you find this chapter tedious, please pretend I'm bowing down before you.