~ Chapter 2: Plan B: The Kiss Cam ~
Even before Harry walked out onto the Quidditch pitch, he could hear the curious murmuring of the crowd. And as he slung his Firebolt 2.0 over his shoulder and left the locker room, he could see why.
"What in Merlin's name is that?"
Harry looked up at the new addition above the announcers' section, where McGonagall and Seamus were talking quietly. Someone had recently installed a giant Muggle television screen, and, through some combination of magic and Muggle technology, gotten it to work.
"It's the Kiss Cam!" cried an excited voice behind Harry, and he turned to see Eleanor Johnson pointing up at it eagerly. Angelina's little sister was one of the newest members of the Gryffindor team, along with two other giggly second and third year girls. "I can't believe they really did it!"
Harry smirked to himself as he mounted his broom. All three of the girls were hopeless romantics who'd been infatuated with the idea ever since he'd casually mentioned it after their last game against Ravenclaw. Harry suspected that the three of them teaming up to convince McGonagall that they needed a Kiss Cam had been more than she could withstand, and it seemed she'd finally given in.
Harry swooped around the pitch, keeping an eye out for both Draco and the golden Snitch at the same time. Cheers erupted in the crowd as the Kiss Cam landed on a couple who happily obliged.
"And the crowd is enjoying the brand new Kiss Cam, courtesy of our generous Headmistress and my good friend Dean, a whiz with Muggle technology," Seamus announced. "So be ready, ladies and gentlemen, because you never know when the Kiss Cam is going to land on you!"
Below Harry, both teams were playing a close game. He couldn't help feeling proud of how well Ron was doing as Keeper. Neither team had scored many points.
"That's another point to Gryffindor, making the score 50-30," said Seamus. "And I believe the Kiss Cam has found another set of victims — I mean, happy couple! Go ahead, you know you want to! The Kiss Cam is charmed to detect chemistry — and they're going for it! Yes! Give her a little tongue while you're at it—"
"Mr. Finnigan, that is not appropriate!" McGonagall cried, sounding appalled. "Please keep your commentary focused on the game."
Harry started to laugh, and across the pitch, Draco suddenly went into a deep dive. He cursed and gave chase.
"It looks like the Slytherin Seeker has spotted the Snitch!" said Seamus. "But Gryffindor is close behind him — go, Harry! Don't let him get it! And . . . it was all a bluff! Well, that was a close one, ladies and gentlemen. But, wait, what do we have here?"
Harry had just managed to catch up when Draco turned and lazily angled his broom back above the pitch. There was no sign of the Snitch, but Harry followed him anyway. "Git!" he called out, and Draco laughed.
"I do believe the Kiss Cam has zoomed in on our Seekers! Well, who could've seen that coming?" He coughed, and Harry could've sworn he heard the word everyone through it.
High above the pitch, Draco had come to a stop, gazing down at the Kiss Cam with amusement. "Would you look at that," he said.
Drifting along beside him, Harry also turned to see his face and Draco's on the Kiss Cam. Below their faces, the caption "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" flashed on and off while the crowd chanted in time with it.
"Go for it, you're not fooling anyone!" cried Seamus.
Harry smirked. "I think you did that on purpose just so we'd end up on the Kiss Cam," he said.
"I might've," Draco said. He flew closer to Harry, then pulled him in for a kiss to the wild cheering of the crowd below.
Harry's heart pounded as the kiss ended and they leaned back on their brooms. Then Draco reached into his sleeve. "Or I might've actually seen the Snitch," he said with a grin.
"I still can't believe that stunt Malfoy pulled yesterday," Ron grumbled as they headed down to breakfast the next morning. "I bet he didn't really catch the Snitch. He probably had one up his sleeve the whole time. Lousy, cheating . . . "
"Well, he was on the other side of the pitch from me," said Harry. "He just got lucky, that's all."
"And then that whole Kiss Cam thing," Ron went on as if Harry hadn't said anything. "What was that about? Chemistry? Ha! He probably charmed it to land on you to distract from his cheating."
"Oh, absolutely," said Hermione, nodding her head vigorously. "I mean, you and Malfoy having chemistry? Like anyone would believe that."
"It's not that hard to believe, is it?" Harry said, frowning. How were they still not getting it?
"Of course it is! But don't you worry, no one who really knows you was fooled for a second." This time it was Hermione who spoke while Ron nodded through a mouthful of food. Harry had never seen them in such perfect agreement before.
"We should go talk to McGonagall," said Ron. "Cast some detection spells on the Kiss Cam. I bet something will show up."
Harry almost choked on his bacon. Ron suggesting going to a teacher? He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't just heard it with his own ears.
"That's a great idea, Ron!" Hermione was saying as Harry tuned them out and found Draco across the Hall. Draco gave him a questioning look, and Harry shook his head minutely. Harry saw Draco mouth the word "Still?" and shrugged helplessly.
"Look at that smug git," said Ron, following Harry's gaze. "Probably thinks he got away with it. Well, we'll show him, don't worry."
Harry could only sigh as he finished his breakfast. Back to the drawing board.
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