A/N-Sorry I haven't updated in a while! Life happened. I hope you enjoy this one! Short, but loads of action for ya! Thanks for reviewing, do it again!
Chapter Eleven
The next few weeks flew by. Pansy had kept her end of the bargain and pretended that Draco didn't even exist. Potions class had become quite amusing since Ginny and Draco always seemed to finish first and used the time to talk quietly not letting on to anyone that they were friends. They hadn't been alone since the night they discussed what Draco had done. Most people had forgotten the burn incident and Hogwarts had returned to its normal routine. The first Quidditch match was scheduled in three days with Gryffindor playing Slytherin. "How am I supposed to find the snitch while keeping an eye on you?" Draco said twirling his pencil between his fingers.
"Oh don't worry about me. I'll be busy scoring goals on your Keeper. Hang on, I think you should keep an eye on me. You never know when something evil could pop up." Ginny grinned innocently.
"You should have been in Slytherin! Look at you trying to distract me so your precious Potter can catch the snitch. Don't think for a minute that you can outsmart a Malfoy. I'm on to you Weasley!" Draco said with a harsh whisper. Ginny laughed loudly causing the entire class to look her way.
"Oh…Sorry. He's just funny looking you know?" She said pointing at Draco. He turned red and slowly pressed down on her foot with his. "Well that's not very sportsman like is it Mr. Malfoy? I may just have to send a bludger your way."
"Just try is Weasley. We'll see who's still flying once I catch the snitch." Draco said playfully smashing her foot.
Over the next three days, Ginny and Draco exchanged harsh and competitive insults towards each other and their houses during potions. The day of the match, Saturday was dark, cold, and wet. The entire Gryffindor team wore extra thick thermals under their uniforms and charmed their goggles to immediately wipe away any drops of rain or debris. They walked out on the Quidditch pitch together from their changing rooms immediately hearing the roar of the thunder and saw the flashes of lightning. Harry stopped to address his team. "Well we could have asked for better conditions but most of you have played in this weather before and did an excellent job I might add. Let's use it to our advantage! Focus on your task. Block out everything else. Stay in position and remember who we're playing. Slytherin has no problem with cheating or knocking you off your broom so stay alert!" Harry continued as Ginny looked over at the other side of the pitch where Draco was also addressing his team. Harry finished and the team walked towards Madam Hooch and began their warm-up.
Ginny was grabbed on the arm by Cormac who appeared right behind her. "Ginny. I just wanted to wish you good luck today. Not that you'll need it of course." Cormac said raising an eyebrow at her and still holding her arm.
"What does that mean exactly? Couldn't everyone do with a little luck Cormac?" Ginny said impatiently trying to remove her arm from his grasp.
"Let's just say that Slytherin plays dirty and I intend to call every little thing on them. Just play hard Ginny. Gryffindor will win." Cormac said pulling her closer.
"We don't need your help Cormac! We can do it on our own so just call this match fair!" Ginny yelled still unable to remove her arm from his grip. He began to stroke her hair slowly.
"Sweet, sweet Ginny. You have so much spirit and fire in you. We should set up some private flying lessons don't you think?" Cormac said gripping her arm tighter.
"Why so you can show her your broom?" Draco's cold and threatening voice carried over the clap of the thunder.
"Malfoy! You always seem to be around at the wrong time. Shouldn't you be warming up your team?" Cormac replied but looked deeply into Ginny's eyes.
"They're warming up alright. I came over to see what was holding up the other referee. It appears Weasley has already committed some kind of foul has she?" Draco said now stepping closely to Cormac.
Cormac sighed and looked Draco's way. "Why would you say that Malfoy?"
"Because of the way you're restraining her. She must have done something terrible to receive such a punishment as to be that close to you." Draco said and grabbed Cormac's arm forcefully removing it from Ginny's. "C'mon Weasley. Let's get this match started so I can win already." They walked over to join their teams in silence leaving Cormac standing there confused and his fists clenched.
Madam Hooch released the bludgers, quaffle, and then the snitch. The teams kicked off from the ground and determinedly took their positions. Harry was scanning the pitch for the snitch when he felt Malfoy fly up from underneath him. "What was that about Malfoy?" Harry said without looking at him.
"What? Oh! You mean the little conversation between Weasley and Cormac? I think he was offering to fix the game for her!" Draco said looking everywhere for the snitch.
"WHAT? Fix the game? We don't need his help! We can win this game without him!" Harry said angrily.
"You sure about that Potter? Seems to me that you lot are going to need all the help you can get!" Draco yelled and brought his hand to his ear. "Yep. That would be another goal we've scored on your precious keeper. God, he's really quite wonderful! I'm so glad you've never considered replacing him. We really appreciate his help! Ah! Another one! That makes it fifty to twenty!" Draco said with a smirk as a bright stream of lightning flashed behind him.
Harry was fuming mad. "You go on ahead with your insults Malfoy! I'm going to catch the snitch and shut you up for good!" Harry swooped down out of sight and Draco continued to scan the pitch. It was now pouring rain and thundering every ten seconds. Neither the crowd, nor the players could see much and relied on the announcer's commentary to discover the progress of the match.
Draco noticed one of his beaters, Graham Pritchard following Ginny around the pitch. Graham was continually trying to knock Ginny off her broom with a bludger every few minutes but had been unsuccessful. Draco plunged down towards the Graham and began shouting profanity at him for going after a girl. Harry happened to be flying by and heard the whole thing. "Listen Pritchard! Weasley's off limits! If I see you go anywhere near her I will make you wish you never joined my team! Now get back in the game!" Draco shouted. Pritchard shook his head in confusion and then flew off scoping out another target.
Draco heard the announcer shout Slytherin ahead ninety to forty. He needed to find the snitch and end the game but couldn't see it anywhere. He kept seeing Ginny's red hair fly by attempting to put the quaffle through Slytherin's goal hoop. Cormac flew up in front of him just as a bludger flew past Draco's ear. "Having trouble Malfoy? Can't find the snitch anywhere can you? Maybe if you were actually looking for it, you would spot it or did you think Ginny was the snitch?"
"Shove off McLaggen! Actually, feel free to get in my way so I will have an excuse to send you plummeting to the ground." Draco said flying up to him so that the tip of his broom was touching Cormac's.
"You know. It's seems you and I have some sort of conflict we need to settle. Why don't we just do that now? Leave Ginny to me or else!" Cormac said threateningly as thunder roared around them. The wind was starting to make their brooms sway back and forth.
"Weasley doesn't want anything to do with you McLaggen!" Draco snapped.
"Oh really? Don't be so sure about that Malfoy. You should see the way she looks at me! I used to think she was innocent but I can tell she's not by the way she stares. It shouldn't be too difficult to break down that barrier of hers. I'll have her doing things to me that would make even you blush Malfoy!" Cormac said with an egotistical smile.
With that, Draco grabbed the front of Cormac's broom and pulled it close enough to grab a hold of his referee shirt. In mid air, Draco began punching him in the face immediately breaking his nose and then his jaw. Finally able to comprehend what had just happened, Cormac grabbed Draco's shirt and punched him clean in his right eye sending Malfoy back a bit. The crowd in the stands gasped and screamed while they watched the fight get more brutal in between each flash of lightning. Draco shot forward on his broom with so much speed that when he made contact with Cormac, it sent him crashing into one of the stands. They both had a hold of each other's shirts and were punching each other violently. Their faces and fists were filled with blood. Madam Hooch, Harry, and Ginny flew up and attempted to pull them apart unsuccessfully. Draco was inflicting quite a bit of pain on Cormac which caused him to breakaway from his grasp and fly away closer to the ground. Draco was following fast and closely behind him. Draco jumped off his own broom and onto Cormac's. "What are you doing you lunatic? Get off!" Cormac yelled as he tried to shove Draco off the back. Draco grabbed Cormac's shoulders and threw them both to the ground.
They hit the ground with a loud thud which temporarily separated them. Cormac attempted to crawl away but Draco pulled him back and jumped on top of him resuming his punches to Cormac's face. Cormac was able to knee Draco in the back of the head which sent Draco forward and off Cormac. Cormac tried to jump on top of Draco but they began to roll around on the ground kneeing and punching each other.
Finally, Dumbledore was on the pitch and yelled. "Stupify!" His incantation was followed by a loud clap of thunder.
Draco and Cormac lay still along with the entire school that was in shock. Dumbledore removed the spell and the boys began panting heavily on their backs. "What is the meaning of this?" Dumbledore demanded. "McLaggen! I demand you explain what provoked this madness!"
"I'm not sure sir! He just attacked me up there!" Cormac said throwing his hands up while taking deep breaths.
"You Liar! You know damn well you deserved it! You know what you said!" Draco shot back trying to control his heavy breathing.
"Mr. Malfoy! Explain yourself! What did he say to deserve such violence?" Dumbledore ordered.
Draco just lay there. He was now welcoming the heavy breathing using that as excuse not to respond. Both Quidditch teams had now landed and were watching. Ginny was confused and terrified at Draco's actions.
Dumbledore turned to Cormac. "McLaggen! What did you say to upset Mr. Malfoy?"
"I'd rather not say sir!" Cormac said uncomfortably noticing that everyone was watching.
"Mr. Malfoy. Are you going to explain why you attacked someone whom is the equivalent to Professor status?" Dumbledore asked in a more even tone.
Draco knew what that meant. He could be expelled for attacking someone of his status. He knew that his reasoning would not only confuse everyone including Dumbledore but most importantly, it would put Ginny in harms way. If word got out that Draco defended a Weasley, his family would surely kill her for it.
"I have nothing to say sir." Malfoy whispered and Cormac beamed.
"As I said professor! He just attacked me. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to see Madam Pomfrey." Cormac said as he arrogantly walked to the castle.
"Mr. Malfoy, please report to my office immediately. We will discuss your future at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said sounding disappointed and followed him to the castle.
Ginny stood on the pitch dumbfounded along with her team and the rest of the school.
A/N-Please review! I would love to hear from those of you that have been following the story but haven't told me what you think. Good or Bad! Thanks for reading!