A/N: Okay, I made a very grave mistake. When I write, I like to do some "research". Not just because I want my story to be believable but I want to be as accurate as I can be. I usually read up on Harry Potter Wiki and read parts of the books again for reference. Although the whole point of fanfiction is to deviate from the real story, I want to base mine on facts, or at least be true to what Ms. J.K. Rowling wrote in her books. It was when I was reading the last Battle, where Harry and Voldemort were exchanging words before throwing those last curses against each other, that I realized the mistake I made. Harry was telling Voldemort about how Snape was always Dumbledore's right from the moment he threatened Lily's life in front of everyone. So everyone knew about Snape's love for Lily. But in Chapter 12, "Albus Dumbledore's Death Anniversary", I wrote there that Harry, Hermione and Ron decided not to tell anyone about it. It's when Hermione told Draco about Snape. But Draco must have been there at the Great Hall right? He must have heard everything. So forgive me even when I can't forgive myself. Let's just say that Draco never believed that story, that he thought Harry made it all up to scare Voldemort or something. And by Hermione telling him everything, he finally could believe it. And the fact that someone like him could be friends with Hermione is proof enough that someone like Snape could be in love with a Muggleborn, at least that could be his way of thinking. Anyway, I appreciate your patience if you read through this. Love you guys! On with the story, then!

Chapter Fourteen

Malfoy, Quidditch and Feelings

July 11, 2001

There's an uproar outside the washroom. The Quaffle has been released; the game has started. I quickly wash and dry my hands. When I get out the door, the number of people seems to have tripled. Almost everyone is standing. From here, I can't see the ground at all. I start squeezing through the crowd in the direction where Harry and everyone else are or at least I think they are. But with so much people, now I'm not sure if I can make my way back. Luckily, I find a spot near the bannister where I can get a good view of the game.

Caerphilly Catapults, the only other team from Wales aside from the Holyhead Harpies, is playing against England's Puddlemere United. Ginny invited us all to watch this match because the Harpies are vying to represent Wales in next year's World Cup. It was supposed to become sort of research for Ginny, like learning how the enemy plays, but somehow it ended up being a mini Gryffindor reunion with Neville, Dean, and Seamus coming. It was like watching a Hogwarts Quidditch match again except —

"There you are," Malfoy says right behind me. I start in surprise.

Yes, Malfoy's here too. How that happened, I'm not sure. Why he agreed to come, I've stopped asking. In fact I've learned to stop questioning his constant presence – him at lunches with Harry and Ron, him at weekend dinners, him in my office, and even the occasional thought of him creeping into my mind. Speaking of.

"You shouldn't creep up on people like that," I say,finding it difficult to move as more people try to push their way behind us.

He puts his hand on the railing in front of me to keep the people from crushing me. When he speaks, I feel his hot breath on my neck, blowing some of the tendrils of hair falling out of my bun.

"You were gone too long so I came to find you."

There are thousands of people in this stadium but all of them become peripheral. Malfoy, on the other hand, feels more real than anyone.I become too aware of him. The rise and fall of his chest against my back. His arm grazing mine.

The crowd erupts in a roar.

"Which team scored?" I shout over the mix of cheers and boos as I scan for the Quaffle.

"Er, I'm not sure. I got distracted," he stammers back.

I tilt my head and realize how close his face is. He looks at me with… intensity.

"Don't ask," he says, still leaning his head forward even though I can perfectly hear him now that the clamor has settled down.

I whip my head back, suddenly feeling nervous. I don't know why I'm so affected. Since that day at the Burrow, I started to notice these feelings whenever Malfoy is near. And just now, it felt like we were on the edge of something — it scares and excites me. I try to focus back on the game.I find the short-haired woman who's holding the Quaffle, soaring through the wind, managing to avoid a Bludger and in a swift motion, does a Reverse Pass, throwing the ball over her shoulder. The blonde, handsome Chaser catches it, races to the goal post and misses. Oliver Wood, former Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, now Puddlemere United's Keeper blocked the Quaffle with the end of his broomstick. He throws the ball back into the field and the big muscled guy called Lewis catches it.

"By the way, who are we cheering for," I ask Malfoy.

He chuckles behind me, "Hmm... Let's go for the Catapults."

I laugh out loud. Good thing Ginny's not here.

Just as a Catapults Beater hits Lewis on the arm with a Bludger, a Chaser from the Catapults steals the Quaffle and scores. Malfoy and I holler with all the Catapults fans in the stadium. I shout from the top of my lungs, my hands raised on either side of my face. This is exactly what I love about watching Quidditch games. You get to cheer for a team and it just fills you with this crazy exhilaration. Malfoy and I are half laughing, half yelling and soon we're chanting, "Catapults Hurls, Catapults Scores!"

Two hours later, Puddlemere United wins with a lead of 70 points, the game ending when their Seeker caught the Snitch. Malfoy and I start to head back to where the others are seated. He stays behind me as we fight our way through the wave of people walking in opposite directions, trying to leave the stadium at different exits. The wizards and witches who came to watch the game are all wearing some hat and holding flags with their team colors — Catapults light green with scarlet stripes and Puddlemere navy blue with gold. When I look over my shoulder, I don't see Malfoy. I look around but I can't see past the throng of people. Out of nowhere,a hand suddenly pulls me by the waist. I yelp in surprise as I crash into a body.

"It's me," Malfoy says reassuringly.

I look up and meet his eyes —

"Excuse me." Alady with a Catapults flag passes between us, easily breaking Malfoy and me apart. She's followed by these hyperactive teenagers ("Coming through!") who are half prancing and half jumping.I catch glimpses of Malfoy who seems just as anxious of losing each other in this crowd.

Finally, just before a couple walks across, Malfoy, with a look of determination on his face, says, "Fuck it," before he steps forward and grabs my leads the way as we squirm through a group of Puddlemere United fans.

As I watch his figure from behind, I realize how much I like the view of his back. He isn't muscular, not like Viktor Krum. He is all lengths and smoothness. He's lean but you know he's strong under those dark layers of clothes he wears. When I look at his back, I have this strong urge to touch him, to check how much my arms can wrap around him, to know how it would be like to feel his heart under my hand and his lungs inhale and exhale against my chest. God, I sound like a pervert. What is wrong with me?

He grips my hand tighter and I squeeze back. I look at our hands instead.

xxx

By the time we reached the others, the crowd has thinned out. Malfoy gently lets go of my hand and I catch Ginny looking.

"Where have you two been? The match is over," Ron says frantically. Trust Ron to overreact. It was because whoever won today would be Chudley Cannons' next opponent. Ron still is religiously the Cannons' number one fan.

"We couldn't find you so we watched the game elsewhere," I explain.

"You did see the game right? It was fucking great, one of the best games Puddlemere has yet," Seamus says excitedly.

"Still, the Catapults did put up a good fight," Dean says, earning him a look from Ginny which he easily shrugs off. "I'm just saying."

"We better not tell her we were cheering for the Catapults," Malfoy says in a voice only I can hear.

I smile in response. Out of nowhere, Harry then puts his arms over our shoulders, "Let's continue this discussion at the Three Broomsticks, shall we?"

"Get your bloody hands off of me Potter," Malfoy exclaims in disgust.

"Oooh, watch out Harry," Neville snickers.

"Malfoy's gonna tell his father," Seamus follows.

Everyone laughs. Ron, who was drinking from a cup of Coke (something he's been addicted with ever since we introduced it to him), is now coughing terribly.

"You Gryffindors are much more juvenile than I thought," Malfoy retorts with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh, get over it Malfoy," Harry says as he locks an arm again around Malfoy's neck. "You're one of us now."

Malfoy doesn't have time to react as Harry drags him away rather amazingly being a few feet shorter than Malfoy. We all follow them to the nearest exit before Apparating to Hogsmeade.