Chapter Nine: Quidditch

There are several dialogue quotes taken from JK Rowling's Chamber of Secrets in this book. This is to convey the same story she wrote, but from another character's POV. The quotes taken directly from the book have three quotation marks (instead of two) around them to signify she wrote them and that I am citing them. Because I am transforming pieces of her work into something new this falls under the Fair Use Act. Additionally, JK Rowling has stated that she is okay with noncommercial fan fiction. All direct quotes, the Harry Potter storyline, and the characters all belong to JK Rowling.

The next morning the entire school was buzzing about the troll. Apparently it had snuck off into the girls bathroom and found Hermione. Apparently Wesley and Saint Potter had gone and saved her from it. The Slytherins were the only ones who were not impressed.

Everyone was trying to figure out how the trio defeated the troll. Wild rumors were fluttering from table to table that ranged from the troll passing out after seeing Granger's face, to Harry Potter being the youngest wizard in history to ever successfully cast the killing curse.

However, the four Slytherins who were practically the antithesis of the golden trio, had more important things to discuss.

"I just don't get it," said Pansy slamming down her water goblet. "Why were Quirrell and Snape in the forbidden corridor last night?"

"The facts are: Quirrell goes into the corridor, Snape follows quickly behind. Later we see Snape limping, and Quirrell at least seems fine from what we can tell," said Daphne.

"So it breaks down into several possibilities," said Blaise. "They thought someone might try to steal the object so they both went to protect it, one of them went to steal it and the other went to stop them, or they both went to steal it."

"Or maybe they are just curious... Like us," said Pansy, but she didn't seem convinced.

"Yeah but they're... adults. I'm sure Dumbledore told them what it is," said Daphne.

"Maybe I should ask Snape," Draco finally spoke.

The others started laughing, causing Draco's face to flush with anger. "That seems like a great way to get in trouble mate," said Blaise. "He'll know what we did, and he's not going to give you information anyways."

"Do we even want to do this anymore?" Asked Pansy. "I mean we know that whatever is in that corridor hurt Professor Snape."

"Or Professor Quirrell hurt Snape," said Daphne, completely wide-eyed.

"I just feel like our curiosity is getting us into trouble you know?" Said Pansy in a low voice.

"Pansy is right," said Blaise. "we've had our fun, but this isn't really worth it."

"What?" Interjected Draco. "Don't you want to find out what it is? Don't you want to see if there is a way we can help, so that the school can see that Potter isn't the ultimate savior, and that Slytherins can be great too?"

"Maybe we don't have to be great right now," said Pansy.

Draco looked at Daphne for support, but she said, "I think that the best thing to do would be to let this rest."

"You're outnumbered," said Blaise. "It's time to move on."

However, moving on would not be an easy task for Draco. While the others were just looking for a little rebellious fun, Draco had hoped that by helping he could make his parents proud, and prove to them that he was not a failure. He was hoping to show the school that Potter wasn't as amazing as everyone thought, and that would be difficult considering he just defeated a literal troll.

On the up side quidditch season was starting, and that was a big distraction... or it would have been if Harry Potter wasn't Gryffindor's "secret weapon." Everyone was talking about the upcoming game between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and as barely anyone had even seen Harry practice. Rumors, of course, were spreading.

The day of the meet was on a Friday, and so while the other students were painting their faces and rallying, Draco was in the dungeons with Snape. They were working on a potion called Babbling Beverage, which made the one who took it speak incoherently. This was not part of the curriculum, but rather one of the extra things Snape was teaching Draco after class.

"I should slip some of this into Potter's juice," moaned Draco.

Snape smirked, "As much as I'd love to see his pride taken down a notch, it would be quite obvious you did it Draco, and I'd have no choice but to take away house points."

Snape gave Draco's potion his approval, and so Draco packed up his things and turned to leave, but stopped suddenly and turned back to Snape. "Your leg Professor... What happened?" Asked Draco.

Snape cleared his throat and looked around. "I think you know I can't tell you that Draco," he said.

"Thank you," Draco replied, and he left without interrogating him.

Draco had hoped that his closeness with Professor Snape would convince him to tell him more about what was going on. Unfortunately that was not the case, and at this point Draco felt defeated. He turned his attention to the quidditch match which was now starting in only a half hour. He was extremely excited, despite his resentment for not being on the team.

Pansy, Blaise, and Daphne were waiting for Draco in the courtyard, and they all walked over to the quidditch field together in their Slytherin wear. The stands were packed, not just with the Slytherins and Gryffindors, but it seemed that everyone wanted a peek at how Potter would play.

"'Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you,'" said Madam Hooch. She was standing in the middle of the quidditch field, ready to referee.

Draco kept his eye on the Slytherin captain, Marcus Flint. He had told Draco not to bother trying out because he would never allow a first year on the team. Ironically, the Slytherins would now have to play against a first year that the Gryffindors coined their "secret weapon."

Although Draco wanted the Slytherin team to crush the Gryffindors, a part of him hoped they lost. That would be enough evidence to Draco that he really should have been placed on the house team.

"'Mount your brooms, please,'"boomed Madam Hooch's loud voice. With a blast of her whistle, both teams set off up into the air.

"'And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor'" Shouted the quidditch commentator, Lee Jordan. "'— what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too —'"

"JORDAN!" Professor McGonagall snapped.

Draco looked around the arena. Even the teachers had all shown up to witness the event. Professor Snape kept a stern eye on the Slytherin team. Many of the students had brought banners and posters to show their support. They read things such as "'Potter for the Win!'" Or "Death to Gryffindorks." Erick had managed to draw a serpent strangling a lion to death on a great big banner.

"I'm cold," Pansy complained loudly, looking at Draco. However, Draco was either unaware of what Pansy wanted, or he simply did not care as he ignored her pleading eyes, and kept his gaze on the quidditch field.

"Get under this with me," Daphne said, pulling her blanket over Pansy's lap. But this clearly wasn't what Pansy wanted as her mood depleted significantly.

The game started to get dirtier as it went on. Both teams were desperate to prove they were superior, and they started illegally blocking and hitting each other. Draco was so caught up in the madness, he did not notice what was happening to Potter until Blaise shouted, "Bloody hell." Draco looked up to see Harry hanging off the end of his broom as the game continued below him.

Draco started hysterically laughing. "Aww Saint Potter lost control of his broom. That would have never happened to me," he boasted, but at this point no one was listening, as they were on the edge of their seats.

The Slytherins cheered as Harry struggled, and urged their seeker to hurry up and end the game before Harry had the chance to regain control. The Slytherin seeker spotted the Snitch and he was soaring after it. For a split moment it seemed as if the Slytherins would win, when suddenly out of nowhere, Potter dove down at record speed and hit the ground. For a moment everyone thought the Snitch was still at large, as Harry looked as though he may vomit, but then he coughed and the Snitch fell clean into his hands.

The Gryffindors rumbled with applause, and the Slytherins shouted in disapproval. Flint appeared to be having a mental break down as he screamed, "'He didn't catch it, he nearly swallowed it!'"

However, the truth was... it wasn't against the rules, and no one could deny that.

The six Slytherins made their way back to the castle, with Crabbe and Goyle in a particularly foul mood. They grabbed a small Gryffindor first year and stole the banner he was carrying, ripping it to shreds.

"Oi Malfoy," Draco heard a voice behind him shout, and he turned around to see Marcus Flint himself. "I hear you're a fair flyer," Flint continued.

"Quite a bit more than fair," Pansy chimed in.

"I've been playing quidditch since I was six," Draco said shrugging in the most nonchalant way he possibly could. "My best position is seeker."

Draco saw a flash of something in Flint's eye, maybe it was regret, but if it was he would never admit it. "Try out next year," Flint called and left without another word.

A smirk formed on Draco's lips. It seemed that Flint was ready to replace their Seeker as soon as possible. However, Draco knew that this wasn't a free pass. Many students would be aching for that spot and that this was a fight to the death, but that didn't make Flint's request any less satisfying.

Despite his protests, Daphne pulled him into a big hug, and Blaise looked down, seemingly disappointed that he wasn't personally asked to try out too. Not everything was right in the world for the jealous little blonde haired Slytherin, but the future looked hopeful, and his friends were there to enjoy that.