A/N: My exams have strucked and it's going to be a hectic month, therefore I don't promise regular updats (well, as regular as mine go anyway). But this little piece should give you time to ponder where you want to go next so I hope it'll keep you satisfied for a little while. Don't worry I haven't forgotten you, I just need to focus on boring stuff for a while...
..oo00oo..
Oliver
Last game of the season, at last… I wish I had a little more going for me this game- like the prospect of having Draco all to myself when it was over, but I guess I should count my blessings and be glad he didn't go to the headmaster and claimed I raped him or something, just to get back at me.
I can do this… it's just a Quidditch game, the last one of the season, the last one I'd have to referee, hopefully ever. So what if Draco is going to be on the pitch, playing. So what if he's going to be all over the place because of his seeker's position. So what if… So what if he looks like a fucking debauched… like a bloody prize to win and conquer, to worship and treasure… Fuck, I don't think I'm going to survive this game…
It's been two weeks, two weeks that seemed like two decades, simply because we have to see each other every day. Not that I think that not seeing him would have made things better but having to go through this every breakfast, lunch and dinner- just seeing what I gave up on, and what I lost is a special kind of torture that would have made Snape all happy and tingly inside.
They say that not having sex gives you time to appreciate the little things in life… That's complete bollocks! Not having sex when you're used to makes you snappy and edgy and in desperate need of a wank every five seconds. I haven't had these sort of vivid fantasies in years, and for the love of all the gods- you're not supposed to have bloody wet dreams at the age of Twenty-one! I keep waking up to sticky sheets, feeling like a complete moron, and I just bet that I've turned into the biggest joke amongst the house-elves, me and the third years.
But the not having sex part isn't the worse bit. I could live without sex, hell I could even get myself another lover, and another and another, it's not the hardest thing to get a sixteen or seventeen years old boys to want to shag after all. It's that I miss him, I miss my dragon… I want to hold him and talk to him and just be around him, hear him laugh and see him smile that beautiful smile of his, I want to see the way he bites on his lip whenever he's trying to be coy and the way he flips his hair back when he's trying to flirt with me.
And now, for the first time in two weeks we're going to see each other up close and personal. And I don't want to, because I know how difficult it is for him, how badly he's been doing. I can see the way Pansy is trying almost desperately to get a reaction out of him, the way the rest of his friends are catching up with things. He's been depressed and it's entirely my fault, because he had enough shit to deal with and I just went and took away the only thing that kept him going because I'm selfish and trying to prove a point.
And here they come, all fourteen of them, so young, so unassuming and there he is in the front line, the proud captain of the Slytherin team, so beautiful it nearly chocks me up. But there is something wrong with him, so wrong and it's only when Draco comes up close I can see what it is- his eyes, those gorgeous stormy eyes are dull and almost seemed lifeless, like a couple of tarnished grey gemstones, and it's my fault.
I tried to force myself to look him in the eye, I've been a coward long enough as it is so it's the least I can do. Damn it! What would be so wrong to just tell him I'm sorry and have him back even if it's only for a month or so? I mean from here I'll be going straight to Montrose for two and a half months of the most gruelling and taxing training so it's not like I'll have time to spend with Draco anyhow, and then he's going to get married and I won't ever see him again and here we're both wasting our time on stupid arguments instead of making the most of what little time we have left. But the thing is, I honestly thought he'd put me first, that he'd take the opportunity to do what he loves and want, to be with the one he loves rather than stay in a constricting life he never asked for. Guess I underestimated the amount of power his parents have on him.
Both captains are approaching me now for the traditional hand-shakes and I feel a lump forming in my throat. Say it, Wood, just say it!
"Shake hands gentlemen, I expect a clean, fair match." Coward, coward, coward! Bugger, even Harry is looking at me with contempt and Draco isn't looking at me at all! The two shake hands and I can just see the lack of fighting spirit in Draco's stance, hell even Harry noticed it and scolded me when I turned to shake his hand, not only was I a coward but I also took away his only worthy Quidditch opponent.
Then I turned to shake Draco's hand and there was a second hesitation on both parts before our hands made contact and bugger me silly if it wasn't fucking electrifying.
"Draco, can we talk after the match?" I whispered to him, having finally locating that famous Gryffindor bravery in me, and no- it didn't have anything to do with the slap I received from Pansy, though that hurt, the bitch can hit! He lifted his eyes for the first time, a startled surprise and I'd like to believe a tiny ray of hope shining in them, before his mask fell back into place blank and stiff as ever,
"I… I have nothing to say to you."
"Draco, please." I let all the anguish into my voice just so that he'd realize how much I've been missing him,
"Fine, I guess." He said in a very reluctant voice, but I could almost see his smile, trying hard not to burst out of that mask he's been putting on,
"Thank you." I replied with a broad smile and for a second there I believe I was actually getting one in return.
I took a deep breath and turned to face the rest of the players, my heart ten stones lighter, and called out to the assembled teens, "Mount your brooms." Before I opened the crate and set loose the four balls, giving the snitch thirty seconds head start before I blew my whistle and all of us shoot through the morning air.
Now that I made my big decision and got Draco to talk to me again (even if only on a shrugged off manner) I was really hoping this game would end soon. For a second there I contemplated whistling and calling the game off but I really didn't have any grounds to do so, I mean, if they don't cancel Quidditch when there's a blazing storm from hell there really is no reason to cancel it when the weather is near perfect… And it's not like I can tell Dumbledore that I want the game off so that I could reconcile properly with my boyfriend, now can I?
Five minutes into the game I noticed something strange, well, not so strange really since from what I've witnessed this year the Slytherin team was playing rather than bashing the other team but I just thought they saved this treat for Gryffindor, but it seems that no- they actually internalised the rules and more importantly, playing by them! Why, I can still remember my first game… Well, maybe not so much, I got a bludger to the head two minutes into the game and woke up two days later in the infirmary… I guess that was my point really…
Anyway, this game was beautiful, the kind of games worthy of audience. And if the level of noise around was any indicator, the audience loved every second of it. The game was pretty tight; the lead was currently of Gryffindor, but only by one goal so that didn't mean a thing. From the few glances I allowed myself at Draco, he seemed to be doing fine, a little indifferent perhaps, but still very attuned to the game. Because everyone knew that this is the game that can blow the whole competition wide open, because right now Hufflepuff was in the lead (surprised?) with 560 points and then Ravenclaw with 540 so that really meant nothing especially since Slytherin were only ten points behind Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had 410 before the game started. This is actually one of the closest runs for house cup I can remember around here and that's quite exciting.
From the corner of my eye I could see the speeding and turned my head to see both seekers racing neck to neck across the pitch in hot pursuit. I was watching transfixed as did most of the others players on the pitch but just as they were approaching the Slytherin goal posts one of the green beaters fired a bludger towards Harry, but since he and Draco were so close it veered them both out of course and by the time they regained posture the snitch was gone again. I allowed myself a second to mentally drool over Draco as he pushed his sweaty hair out of his eyes, looking so much like he did after we… Shit, not that again! I've been fighting those ill-timed thoughts the entire game and I'm not going to fail now, no matter how debauched Quidditch makes Draco look!
I shook my head and returned my interest to the game, my eyes following the quaffle's progress while trying to keep half an eye for the bludgers, not because I was scared they'd hit me- they were charmed not to hurt the referee after all, but because I needed to see if they've been fouling other players. It wasn't much different from captaining games while I was still in school, knowing what was going on the pitch at every given second, and in a way it was even better because I could blow my whistle and bring the game to a halt whenever I felt necessary, though I really had to work hard on remembering I was no longer the Gryffindor captain and therefore could not yell at the players for slacking. I've had to catch myself thrice already in this game alone…
The Slytherin team was now gaining a little head start over Gryffindor, only three goals up, but the game was still full on and it's been near two hours now and I just wanted to go to my room and shower and sit down for a long and heartfelt talk with Draco. And then I saw them on the move again, the beaters were far too busy with directing the bludgers towards the chasers who were zooming around in an alarming speed and no one paid any head to Draco and Harry who were racing above the din towards one of the spectators boxes. I watched with bated breath as the two seekers tried to push each other out of the way, battling for the damn snitch, their robes flailing about them making their features blurred when one of the outstretched hands turned upwards in victory. I blew my whistle and smiled slightly at Harry's beaming face, I can't help it, I feel like I was the one who discovered him and I'm proud of his every victory, always have been…
I looked around at the audience and was mightily surprised to notice no one was cheering or scolding, in fact they all looked dead confused, and it wasn't until I glanced upon the score board that I understood why- for the first time, ever I think, in the history of Hogwarts there was a tie for the house cup. Both Gryffindor and Slytherin stood with 670 points each. I could hear the murmur from the red stands that if only Harry had waited for another Gryffindor goal…
Quite perplexed myself I flew over to the staff's stand; racking my brain to think of a solution, when I got there I realized I wasn't the only one with the same thought. In fact, there was a full blown row between professors McGonagall and Sanpe as to what is to be done, but somehow I had a feeling that McGonagall's offer to split the cup between the two houses would not go down well, by neither house. When I pulled level with the stand Dumbledore lifted his sparkling blue eyes and gave me a curt nod,
"And what do you think should be done, Mr. Wood?" He inquired mildly and I shrugged,
"You could always set up a seeker's game." I offered, not even sure where it came from, since even the professional league didn't use that method to settle ties, but preferred the muggle way taken from football of five penalty shots. Perhaps it was my subconscious desire to be close to Draco.
"That's an interesting idea…" Dumbledore mused and started stroking his beard while humming to himself for a long moment before he reached a decision, "Very well, a seeker's game it is. You better go and instruct Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy." I nodded once before I turned my broom and headed back to the ground where all fourteen players were waiting anxiously for the verdict.
"We've decided to engage a seeker's game," I announced loudly and the news were greeted with groans and whispers, which I ignored, "All but Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter are required to leave the pitch, you better use the short break to get up to the stands and get a good spot." I advised the rest of the players and once they were out of their stupor they hurried to comply. I felt a little smile tugging at my lips as I directed the rest of the balls into their crate before Harry handed me the little golden snitch. I then turned to face the two young men standing in front of me, looking tiered but excited. Well, this is a bit unexpected and I didn't really plan to do this here or now but I simply can't wait until I get Draco all alone, so while the announcer informed the rest of the crowd what was to take place I took the opportunity to say to Draco what it was I bursting to tell him all day,
"Well, boys I don't really have to explain the rules of a seeker's game to you, so I'm going to use the couple of minutes that I have and try to get my boyfriend back." Draco blinked up in confusion,
"W-What?"
"Please? Look, I've been doing a lot of thinking in that last couple of weeks and I don't know how much time we have left together but I would really like to spend it with you. I love you. And if I wasn't scared shitless of what Dumbledore would do to either of us I'd snog you right here in front of everyone." I added with a small grin that grew when I saw the slight blush creeping to my lover's cheeks. It was Harry, though, who answered my plea,
"Finally! Took you long enough to catch up on that!" Draco tossed a side-glance at him,
"What are you so happy about?" He blurred out, and Harry smirked wide,
"You are right, I should be royally pissed about this but if it'll get you to play properly for a change I'm all for it!" Harry answered with a wide smile, the fighting spirit that was dancing in his green eyes was so catching that Draco smirked too, his mercury eyes narrowing in challenge,
"Oh, I'll show you play properly, Potter, I'm going to wipe this pitch clean with your arse! And as for you…" He turned his piercing gaze to me, "I expect to see you all naked and oiled up when I show up in your room with the cup!" I couldn't help but laugh at that, my heart feeling lighter than it did in a long time, and I knew that no matter what would be the outcome of this game, I had won.
"Alright, boys," I said to the smiling teens in front of me, hardly able to stop my own goofy smile, "You have 30 from when I release the snitch till I blow my whistle, so mount your brooms and prepare yourselves." Both Harry and Draco hurried to comply and once they had one leg swung over the broom handle there were no more smiles and little banters, just two set boys, ready to fight for the eternal glory of their house. I mounted my own broom and put the silver whistle in my mouth. With one eye on my wristwatch I let go of the snitch, following the course of the little hand that was marking the seconds before I let out a sharp whistle and all three of us shot up in the air.
A/N: Ok, now I really need your help… I guess that you can say that this is where the story gets interactive. I have no idea- and I mean NO IDEA who I want to see wining this.
On the one hand we have Harry, prodigy Quidditch player and all that, but on the other hand- this story is about Draco…
So I need you to tell me who you want to see as winner and that will be the course I'll choose. I already have two scenarios so it's just a question of which one to choose. Bear in mind that Oliver will come on top here- all puns you can think of intended.