Chapter 9:

We headed out onto the field to see barely ten people watching, Jane included. I think I see Tony with her. Yay Jane! Well, this is good, ten people. I can handle ten people, I think.

I see Malfoy talking to the referee's, about Phillip no doubt.

"Are you nervous?" Lauryn asked.

I looked at her. She actually looked worse than me. "No, I don't think so."

"Lucky," she whined. I giggled. "I hate the early game jitters. I don't know why but I always seem to have them"
I looked across the feild and saw our opponent in red. They looked big and calm. Great. Now, I could be nervous. It must have been obvious because Malfoy pulled me aside just then.

"Are you okay, Granger?" He asked. "Not nervous, are you?"

I giggled highly, "No, of course not! Why would I be?"

He laughed. I stood there, annoyed. "Sure you're not nervous?"

"Well, I might be just a teensy bit nervous."

He pulled something out of his socks. "Here," he said, handing me the object.

"I'm not poor, Malfoy," I said grimly, pointing to the galleon he held in his hand.

"I know," Malfoy said. "It's my good luck charm. I put it in my sock in every game I played."

I wanted to laugh.

"I know. Then why do I keep on losing to Potter, right?" He rolled his eyes. "I wonder that myself. Maybe it'll bring you more luck, Hermione."

"Wow, thanks Malfoy," I cried. "I'll keep it safe in my socks."

He smiled and so did I.

"Captains!" We heard the referee shout. "Middle of the feild please."

"Let's go then," he whispered. He mounted his broom and flew towards the middle of the field while I flew towards my side of the post. Goosebumps ran down my back as I heard the crowd cheer, especially Jane. Was she loud or what!

Malfoy shook hands with the opponent's captain and off they went. I kept steady, waiting for the ball to go towards me. Oh gosh, they're coming towards me. Okay, keep calm, Hermione. Just do what you practiced with Malfoy. Get steady. Watch their movements. Have your hands out ready to catch the Quaffle.

One of the opponent's chaser swerved to the right while the other flew higher. Then, they started a zig zag motion that I couldn't keep up with. Sweat sprung on my nose. They were coming really fast!

All of a sudden, one of their players went down! Lauryn smiled at me, and I mouthed her a 'Thank you!'.

"Granger!" I heard Malfoy shouted. I looked around for him and found that he was flying to the far right of me. "Remember to keep steady! Don't fall for their fakes!"

I gave him a thumbs up and focused once more on the quaffle. Good, they were on the opposite side. Tristan passed to Dillan, who passed it back to Tristan in time before a quaffle hit him. The small crowd groaned in pain but gave a hoot when we scored.

"Ten points to the Blue Team!" I heard the announcer say.

The group of chasers came back towards me. Guy tried to steal the ball at one time but was unsuccessful. The red team did a loopy thing around each other and shot. I was caught off guard and just threw my hands out, eyes closed.

Surprised, I felt something hit my hand. I opened my eyes to find the quaffle in my hand. I let out a sigh of relief as I passed the ball to Guy.

We won the game soon after. Yes, Malfoy caught the snitch and I saved another five goals. Two went in though, unfortunately. But still, WE WON!

The team shook hands with the opponent before going off to the Great Hut to celebrate.

"Hermione!" I heard someone yell and smiled when I saw who it was. "You did great! I can't believe you're a beginner."

Laughing with joy, I said, "It's called Beginner's Luck, Jane."

"Right," she said, winking.

"No," Malfoy said as he walked towards us. "It's called my lucky Galleon."

I almost forgot about it. Realizing that I still had the coin, I smacked my forehead before taking it out of my socks.

"You okay, Granger?" He asked.

"Yea, why?" I replied as I handed the coin back.

"Because you just hit yourself on the head," he said.

Jane laughed. Man, do I want to...never mind.

"Keep it, Granger," he said, folding my hand into a fist. "You have better luck with it."

"Thanks, Draco," I said. "Hey, is it okay if I skip the celebration? I want to write to my friends."

He smirked. "Do you have to?"

I nodded violently. "Fine."

Jane and I walked to our Dorm hut, chatting away about the game.

"I still can't believe you saved all those goals. I mean, because you're a beginner, you know." Jane shrugged.

"It felt good getting the quaffle and throwing it. Diving for it. I never really understood Quidditch until now," I said as I remembered all the times Harry, Ron, and Ginny would go on and on about the sport.

"By the way, why were you missing a player?"

I rolled my eyes, "Phillip. He- he made fun of me right before our game, so Malfoy threw him out."

Wide-eyed, she said, "you're serious? He must really like me."

I looked at her confused. "What are you talking about? Phillip hates me now." I held my chin high as I opened the door to the hut. "And I don't care, really. He's a jerk."

Jane just giggled as she entered. "No, not him."

Ignoring her, I went to the bathroom, wanting to take a shower after all that sweat underneath the clothes has been sitting there for a while now. Dirty clothes.

"Hermione, I think Draco likes you," said Jane who was standing underneath the doorway, leaning to a side. "It looks pretty obvious to me."

With her comment, I went into a giggle fit. Malfoy liking me? There's no way. Plus I've known him and his character for too long to know he's in no shape to like a person such as me; a muggle-born girl friends with Harry Potter. Best friends.

"Jane, you're hallucinating. Draco Malfoy does not like me. I know that for a fact," I said, still trying to fight the giggles.

I turned on the shower knob to give it some time before I jump in.

"I don't know, Hermione. The way he's treating you points to that direction."

I began to take my shoes off. "Oh yea? What direction is that?"

"The direction that he likes you, of course. Think about it," she began, "he's your parter for the quidditch activities, he helps you after practice every single night, he'd kill Phillip for you I bet, he gave you his lucky Galleon, and stood up for you to Councilor Jones!"

Wow, that's some list. Still, Malfoy doesn't like me. He can't! It just goes against everything he believes in.

"Jane, I'm telling you. He. Doesn't. Like. Me," I said, trying to be calm. Now, this is starting to annoy me. "We've had totally horrible pasts. He's a pureblood and a Malfoy, and I'm - I'm a muggleborn bookworm."

Jane sighed in frustration. It wasn't a mean sigh but a playful, 'Hermione!' Sigh. "Okay, Hermione. If you really think he doesn't like you, then fine. I'd assume you know him more than I do."

I nodded gratefully, saying with a smile "and I do."

"But keep an eye out, Hermione."

Jane shut the door, leaving me to shower in peace. I entered the shower and instantly felt the sweat leave my skin, replaced by the hot water.

What was Jane thinking? Malfoy can't like me...right? He's hated me since FOREVER, for crying out loud! And that's just it. He hates me. Right now, he's just nice because he has to.

Right?

But he has been nice to me! Ever so nice! Helping me when I'm a damsel in distress, willing to beat a team member just for me, even giving me his lucky coin. That must mean something, right?

Right?

Does it have to be more complicated than being friends? Besides, I don't like him anyways. Not more than friends, at least. He's a self-centered, egotistical jerk who's family is a self-centered, egotistical family.

I don't like him.

I can't like him.

He doesn't like me.

He can't like me.

Why should I like him anyways? He's tormented me for the past six years, and it'll continue once we get back to Hogwarts. That was the deal, wasn't it? Be temporary friends here and be enemies there, at school. Wasn't that what we agreed on?

Even if he likes me, which he doesn't, what will people think? What will Harry and Ron think? What will the Slytherins think?

God Jane, why'd you have you bring this up?

---------------------

I thought about this over and over, convincing myself he and I were no more than temporary friends.

After the shower, I walked out to the main room and finding Jane read the note from the secret admirer.

"...enjoyed your company. Look forward to seeing you again today. Your Secret Admirer..." Jane looked up at me. "Hm, who would it be that 'enjoyed your company', and 'looks forward to seeing you'? I highly doubt it was Phillip, Hermione."

I sat at a desk chair. "Can you drop it, Jane? I don't really want to discuss this anymore."

I turned around and took out a piece of parchment, quill, and ink.

"But Hermione, I'm bored! Why can't we talk about it?" She whined.

"Because. I know that Draco Malfoy wouldn't want to have anything to do with me, let alone like me. Now, can I write please"
She grumbled. "Yea, whatever. But just so you know, you should let the past stop the future."

I laughed. "Where'd you get that from? A fortune cookie?"

"Since I have no idea what that is, no. I read it from a book written by a centaur. Sounded good, right?" She said, giggling. "I think I'll go take a shower while you write."

She headed out to the bathroom while I sat and began to write. How to start.
Dear Harry,
I'm sorry to hear about Ron. I can't imagine what you're going through. Well, I sort of can, remembering him with Lavender. How is she, Lena I mean. Do they make a cute couple? Have you seen her yet? Is she pretty? Is she smart? Well, I suppose I should stop with all these nonsense questions. I'm sorry.
Malfoy has been decent, nothing too troublesome, so there's nothing to worry about. Guess what? We just finished our first game today and...we won! I'm going to have to try out for the team this year, McGonagall said so. But don't worry, I'm experienced now. Yes, today I saved a few goals for the team. It felt good, really. Once I get back, I could actually talk to you about Quidditch and you'll be proud of me. Just you watch.
Okay, I have to go back to the celebration now, so, owl me as soon as you can.

Hermione Granger.

I borrowed Jane's owl and let her loose.

"Ready to go back to the celebration?" I asked.

"You don't think it's over yet?"

"No, I doubt it."

So we went back to the Great Hut, and to Jane's surprise, the party in the corner kept at it. The team sat huddled in a corner, drinking and talking merrily.

I walked to them, smelling the most fresh than the rest.

"Hermione!" Malfoy shouted. "Finally, there you are. Have a seat; hello Jane!"

We sat down and joined in the conversation merrily, drinking and laughing with the rest. They actually talked nonsense! -the sky and why it's blue, how weird Gilderoy Lockhart is (the girls at the table didn't say much), why hair falls out of their heads, and on and on. It was an enjoyable evening for everyone.

After the party was done with, the table cleared out instantly, and I began walking with Jane back to the hut. I didn't have to go to practice that day, on account of having the game, but Jane did. As I got near the hut, something grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

I turned around to find Phillip with his nostrils snarling. He looked about to explode.

"You, little bitch, is the reason I'm in this mess!" He hissed.

I tried to wriggle away, run from this git, but instead, he tightened his grip on me.

"Ohho, don't think you'll get away that easy. Too bad Malfoy isn't here to save you now," he grinned evilly.

"Get away, Phil!" I screamed, now trying to hit him with all my might. I did get some piece of him; cheek, arm, shin, but he didn't budge.

"Phillip! What is wrong with you?" Jane shouted, making her way towards us.

"Don't come any closer, little girl, or she'll get it," he yelled to Jane.

"Phil, calm down! Why are you acting this way?" I asked, now beginning to be frightened.

His head snapped at me, "because of you. I've been suspended and threatened, lost my reputation, and it's all because of you!"

"I didn't do anything!"

"Leave her alone, jackass!" Jane shouted in fear.

"What are you gonna do about it, huh?" He retorted back. "Bash your eyelashes at me? Huh?"

"You don't know who you're messing with." I said through gritted teeth.

"Let her go!" A voice bellowed. Heads turned slowly to the boy.

"Malfoy! Our captain! Our best player!" Phillip let go of me harshly, bringing me down to the floor, and faced Draco. "I heard you won! Congradulations!"

"What do you think you're doing with her?" Malfoy said dangerously. "What? Beat her up? Spit on her?"

"Oh, I wouldn't call it beating." He said non-chalantly. "I'd call it, 'knocking some sense into her'."

He grinned. I walked towards Jane, who looked as terrified as I was. We watched as the showdown between Phillip and Malfoy occurred.

"Are you okay?" Jane urgently asked. "Should we go to the clinic?"

I shook my head violently. "No, I'm fine."

So we continued to watch.

"You'd stoop lower than where you are right now, to the point of hitting girls? You're that desperate?"

"Hey, what's wrong with hitting mudbloods?" Phillip shrugged. "They're worst than dirt-"

Wrong thing to say. Before I knew it, Malfoy punched him square on the face.

"What the hell was that?" Phillip shouted as he got back up. Blood flowed out of his nose. "I would've thought you'd agree with me, seeing as you're a pureblood, and a Malfoy!"

"People change, Phil," he said simply, ready to fight again.

"I guess so!"

Phil then swung his arm which landed on Malfoy's ribs. He stumbled backwards but gave a fist on Phil's chest. Before Phil could react, Malfoy elbowed him on the stomach, and quickly on the jaw.

I gasped in horror.

"Malfoy, no! Stop! You'll get in trouble!"

But he didn't stop. They kept at it, punching savagely to the other, rolling on the ground, until a whistle blew.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!" Councilor Kenny screamed. "BREAK IT UP!"

It took a while until the two got off of each other but once they did, both looked badly beaten. Draco had a black eye and bruised lip along with a few small cuts on his face. Phil seemed as though his nose is broken, his cheek turning blue, and his lips cut.

"I ask again, what is going on here?" He took a look around. No one answered. "Well?"

He then noticed a pattern. "So, it's you three again, is it? Draco, Phil, and the new girl. Draco, you tell me. What happened?"

Draco looked at me first before saying, "I was heading back to my hut after celebrating with the team for a victory match. But I heard noises and decided to check it out. Then I saw Phil with his hands tightly around Hermione's wrist and shouting at her, threatening her, and calling her names. I told him to stop, and he did. He let her go, but he started calling me names. So, we got in a fight."

"I see. Is that what happened, Phil? You threatened Mrs. Granger here?"

"That is not what happened, Counsilor, no," Phil mumbled. "I saw my team mate and wanted to congradulate her, told her I can't wait for practice, and wanted to give her a present. Then Malfoy got jealous and started hitting me."

"No, liar!" I huffed.

"Mrs. Granger. What is your side of the story?"

Looking at Phil with such anger, then at Malfoy, I proceeded to tell the truth. "I was walking with Jane to our hut but I was grabbed by Phil. He called me the B word and told me it was all my fault he was suspended and his reputation is gone. He did threaten me, sir. Then Malfoy showed up and stood up for me."

"Do you have proof he threatened you?" He asked.

"I was a witness, sir." Jane said. "I heard everything."

He didn't seem satisfied, so I went up to him and showed him my wrist. "Look! This was his handprint when he grabbed my wrist!" My wrist was red, almost blue.

At that point, Kenny turned to Phil and said, "pack your bags, son. You're going home."

A/N : Thank you for the reviews! Much love to you!

I had fun writing this one especially. So, what do you think? I'm sorry if the ending isn't language appropriate, but it was only a couple of words, and it seemed to need it. I should be updating soon, so wink wink

Deasy