A/N: Here is the next chappy…I'm leaving for Oregon for the weekend, so don't' expect any more chappys for a tiny while, but more will come when I get back!

Here is the next chapter:

Chapter 28: Who wins, Who Loses, and Who Comes Out On Top

The year was finally beginning to come to a close. The students felt it; the teachers felt it; even Peeves felt it. The load of homework was lessening as teachers began preparing for the O.W.L.S. or any other end-of-the-year testing that was to take place soon.

As March faded into April studying wasn't the most pressing subject on the mind of every student attending Hogwarts. The House Cup was soon to be awarded. In order for this to occur the final Quidditch match had to be complete. It was Gryffindor verses Slytherine in the final duel. Competitiveness ran rampant through the school as the opposing teams prepared for the final match.

Ebony was unsure of who to root for. Everyone else had a definite outcome they wished to see: a definite winner they wanted. Harry was Ebony's closest friend, yet Draco was her boyfriend. She was stuck.

"It's ok to root for him." Harry told her as she finished one of Snape's lessons.

"But I would feel bad. You're a great player." She protested.

"But if you root for me it would look fishy. Besides," he smiled at her,

"He needs all the help he can get, 'cause I'm gonna beat him so fast it will make his head spin."

"Well, when you put it that way…" she laughed.

The final day came and excitement permeated the air. Ebony quickly made her way to the stands along with the other students. This entire Saturday had been reserved for this game: No study sessions; no practice tests; no club meetings. It was as if everything they knew rested on the fate of this one match.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Here comes Madame Hootch. She's just released the snitch. Look at it go. Oh, here comes the quaffle! The match has started." This was followed by a rush of cheering and banner waving as the players moved into action.

The announcer continued:

"Oh, there the quaffle goes, never mind Slytherine just stole it! Oh Slytherine scores!" A rush of enthusiasm rippled through the crowd.

"The score is 10:0 Slytherine. And there goes Ginny Weasley blocking another attempt by the Slytherine Chasers

"Oh, but she was too slow for the follow up! The score is 20:10 Slytherine!"

Ebony could feel her heart beat steadily increase as Slytherine took the lead.

"Gryffindor calling a quick time-out. To re-calculate strategy, no doubt. Oh, they are finished and they look determined…

"Oh, Gryffindor has stolen the ball and, and, they've scored!"

A great burst of yelling exploded. From what Draco could see, a bunch of red and yellow dots had started moving in all different directions. He tried not to let the noise distract him: he had a job to do. So far, he had seen no sign of the snitch. It was as elusive as ever. For some unknown reason that made him more comfortable.

He saw Harry-off to his left-slowly searching even as he was. It was a battle of sights.

"Hey, Potter, sure you're glasses are working ok?" Draco sneered as a bludger moved underneath Harry, barely missing him.

"Yes, but maybe you should get your eyes checked. You don't have a very impressive record at spotting tiny things." Harry retorted and pulled his focus back to finding the snitch.

Harry's concentration wad only broken when he heard his team had scored. The two teams were now dead even at 20 points a piece.

Turning around, he strained himself for any sign of something round and shiny. Then, all of a sudden, he saw Draco break into a straight run-away. Picking up speed, he followed, edging himself slightly to Draco's inside right. It was then he saw it: tiny and unmistakable, the snitch was flittering just above the Gryffindor's goal post.

Leaning forward, Harry not only picked up speed, but began to over take Draco. Once Draco began to notice this, he only increased his speed to match his opponent's. But Harry had already moved in front and took the lead. Doing a straight dive, Harry was able to throw Draco off his tail and gave Harry a clear shot at the snitch. The minute he grabbed it, he could hear:

"HARRY POTTER HAS THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS!"

Draco felt his stomach drop as he heard the announcement. It really wasn't that important to him anyways. It used to be, but this year he had given up hope that Slytherine would ever win. No, he was more concerned with facing Ebony. He didn't want to see that pitying face and sorry eyes. He hated that.

He still didn't know what he was going to do about her. He thought about this as he headed back to the team tent and changed. He ignored all the "sorry mates" and made a bee-line for his tent. While his mind circled into an abyss of questions.

I can't do this anymore! He finally concluded I know I love her and she loves me! I can't kill her!

His thoughts, however, were interrupted by the very person he was thinking about.

"Ebony, what are you doing here? He asked, startled.

"Well, I came to see the décor in the tent. I've always wanted to see it." When he looked at her, she said:

"I came to see you, of course. How are you doing?" she moved towards him.

"I'm fine, I guess. I mean, I can't say I didn't see it coming though. Potter is regrettably a better player." Draco shrugged.

"Are you really not caring about the situation or are you pulling that macho-crap again?"

"No macho-crap, I promise." He smiled.

"Well, then pity sex is out of the question them?"

"Well, I am little sad. I might just go to my bed and have a good cry."

"Not going to work." She told him.

"Damn! I thought I had you fooled. Oh, well, how 'bout sex in general?" he asked.

"Well, ok, but pity sex is much funner."

"Funner?"

"It's a word." She countered.

"No-"
"Yes." She interrupted then kissed him quiet.

Hours later, Draco lay, his arms around Ebony. He was stroking her raven hair. It was so soft it made him sigh. He was somewhere between being awake and asleep. It was as if he was in some deep dream.

"Ebony." He asked, knowing she was as awake as he.

"Yes?" she smiled.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Well, I was thinking." He sat up and looked her in the eyes. She did likewise.

"What were you thinking?"

"I love you so much. I want to be with you forever. You are the best thing that had even happened to me. Will you marry me?"

"Yes, I will." She responded and he let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. She was his.

After Ebony had left, Draco sat down and wrote a note.

I've asked her to marry me. She said yes. She's mine, forever.

Draco

He tied it to his owl and whispered,

"Send this to my father, immediately. Our plan has worked."

A/N: Hope you guys like!