A/N: Just like to give thanks to joejonaslov who reviewed last chapter. I'm glad you like the story!

This chapter will be the obligatory Quidditch chapter, so I'll post the teams.

Gryffindor

Keeper – Mark Thornsby (Captain) (seventh year)

Chaser – Koden Lighthand (fifth year)

Chaser – Albus Potter (fifth year)

Chaser – Anna Taylor (seventh year)

Seeker – Lily Potter (third year)

Beater – William Burby (fifth year)

Beater – Rowan Lawley (fourth year)

Slytherin

Keeper – Peter Hoskins (seventh year)

Chaser- Zachary Zabini (fifth year)

Chaser – Oliver Beaumont (sixth year)

Chaser – Carly Fitz Gilbert (Captain) (seventh year)

Seeker – Etheline Nabiki (fifth year)

Beater – Axley Hunt (fifth year)

Beater – Kevin Flynn (sixth year)

A Sweeping Victory

The next day was not received well by the backs of the students who had spent almost the entire night hunched over in Roach's office, scrubbing polish into the brooms. After only doing a few, they had started feeling sharp pains, and the brooms had taken longer and longer to complete.

Albus dressed carefully that next morning, making sure not to bend his back in any certain direction. He had not been very used to sitting with proper posture, but he was sure to do so for the entire day.

"This is going to ruin us in the Quidditch game," complained Koden as he sat down to eat at breakfast and had jerked suddenly in pain. Albus nodded.

"They've got three back injuries though. Nabiki, Zabini and Hunt," Albus pointed out. This seemed to cheer Koden up a bit more.

Their Quidditch game was to be held the day after their last detention with Roach. Albus had tried protesting the arrangement, but nothing good came of it. So he decided that he would have to suck it up, and would visit Madame Pomfrey after his classes if his back will still killing him.

Thankfully, their first class was Charms; a class that was not shared by the Slytherins at all. Albus was not sure how long he could keep up ignoring Enry. He had never meant it to be rude, only for his own self control and dignity. Koden had been doing a good job making sure that Albus was actively participating in discussions and in class.

"Thanks," Albus said now, as he sat with a Quill in front of him. Koden had just prodded his arm for the third time. He was supposed to be charming the Quill into dipping itself in ink, but it was a complicated use of silent magic. So far, Albus had managed to knock over four bottles of ink in the process.

"No problem," Koden said happily. "Back feeling better?"

Albus had to think about his friend's question, having relapsed back into a fantasy about Enry. "Uh, yea actually. Strange."

"Actually feels a bit better now…" Koden said, trailing off uncertainly. "Who knew something good would have come from my beating the life out of Malfoy?" He grinned impishly.

"Kind of makes me want to do the same," Albus said. It was true. Though Albus steered away from prejudice and hate, he was beginning to like the Slytherin boy less and less. Though they never spoke to begin with, Albus was always certain there had been a mutual respect that allowed them to never address each other or acknowledge either presence. It had always been Koden who had been the hot-head with the Slytherin hate burned in his blood, and Albus had always stepped out of everything.

But after a weird display from Malfoy that night before where he had pulled Enry aside and stood a little too close to her, Albus had felt something hot running through him, causing him to almost snap another straw he was clipping from a broom in his loss of concentration. Luckily, Koden had been there to catch his glance and had smacked him rightly across the head.

"Finally coming around then?" Koden asked grinning. He flicked his wand and his Quill dipped neatly in the ink.

"Wonderful job Mr. Lighthand. Five points for Gryffindor!" their Professor beamed.

Smirking, Koden then set his wand down, waiting for his other friends to complete the task.

"I'm not coming around," Albus said stubbornly, trying and failing again to get the Quill to fly where he wanted it to. "At least, not to your level."

Koden faked a look of surprise and scandal. "I don't see anything wrong with having an enemy." Then he broke out into a grin as Albus had finally charmed the Quill into doing what he wanted.

"Because having an enemy makes you blind," Albus said, quoting his father exactly now.

Koden rolled his eyes. "Anyway, why did you just threaten Malfoy?"

Albus sighed. He had hoped his friend would not have noticed. "I think he's got something going with Enry. I saw him chatting her up yesterday." His fist clenched angrily.

His tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I guess now that you mention it, he's always hanging around her."

"I noticed that ages ago," Albus said angrily. "And I can't shake this feeling that Enry absolutely hates it. At first I thought that those things were a coincidence."

Koden frowned. "Why do you think a snake hates the company of another snake?"

Albus glared sharply at his brown-haired friend who put his hands up in innocence. He moved along saying, "You know that day I asked her to Potions?" Koden nodded warily. "She had said Malfoy was a maniac, when I brought up I noticed he was around her all the time. It was my lead in I guess. To make sure she wasn't dating him. Then when I asked her to be my Potions partner, she said that he might put up a fight."

"A fight?"

"Yea. Kind of weird. But I pushed past it you know. Maybe Malfoy just had a crush on her, and was one of those competitive types."

"But he's got Nabiki. She's actually good-looking. I mean, no offense, White is alright, but she's creepy. Everyone knows Nabiki and Malfoy are a thing," Koden reminded. The bell rang at that instant and the students sat up and gathered their things.

"I guess so," Albus allowed, having forgot entirely about Nabiki. "But I think something's going on at least."

"Oh Al. Stop being so jealous. Take all that anger, and use it for the match!" Koden suggested.

Grinning, Albus agreed. His anger was better suited in sports anyway.

Enry sat in the back of the class during Transfiguration. Professor Roach had given them all a complicated assignment doing research about the properties of Animagi, which was a subject that Enry knew next to nothing of. She sat with her straight as a pole, only because it felt better in that position, and with her hair floating to her face.

Scorpius sat a few seats down, his own back as straight as Enry's. Out of the corner of her eye and through her hair she saw him shifting uncomfortably as he tried to bend over to write something. She suppressed a smirk and continued with her own work.

A bell rang clearly throughout the whole castle, but not one single student dared be the first out of their seat. Not in Professor Roach's classroom. At the front of the room he eyed them all, making sure they were still working. After a moment of silence, he allowed them all to leave.

It wasn't as if Enry had anything to look forward to that day except a bit of homework. The lunch bell did not mean any type of freedom to her, and she lethargically put all her books and parchment into her bag and set off towards the Great Hall.

She decided not to eat, just as she had at Breakfast. Wanting to steer clear of seeing Albus after the way he acted the previous night, she had taken the hint that he did not want her presence around at all.

When she asked Scorpius he merely frowned at her and then waved her away as if he couldn't have cared less what she did. So she set off towards the dungeons and steered herself into the Slytherin Common Room.

Collapsing on one of the couches, she began stirring in her own misery. Remembering the way the green-eyed boy had so effortlessly forgotten she had existed. How badly had she hurt him?

As she fell into her own grief there was a faint swooshing noise where the Common Room entrance was located, causing Enry to look up. It was Nabiki who looked just as surprised to see somebody else in the Common Room.

"Hello Enry," she greeted calmly, taking a seat next to her. Enry looked up at the girl confused.

"What are you doing here? It's lunch time," Enry pointed out. She did not care if Nabiki would have asked her the same thing. She would tell her the truth. But Nabiki didn't, having liked the subject on her at all times.

"Oh I regularly skip lunch. To keep trim. It's all part of my diet," Nabiki said grinning. "I'd think you did the same but I always see you at meals."

Enry shrugged. She did not particularly care about her appearance. She knew no matter what that her hair would have a mind of its own, no matter how she clipped it back. She also knew that her tanned skin and bony figure would never differ. It was all in her genes.

Without a response, Nabiki continued. "Scorpius tells me you're joining the Death Eater Renegades for good then?" she asked carefully.

Enry nodded slowly. "I haven't got much choice in the matter. But it's not like we're going to be taking over the world any time soon. I figure its harmless."

With a pounce her kitten landed on Enry's shoulders and meowed happily. Fival was not used to her being in the Common Room at that time. Enry scratched his ears affectionately.

"Definitely," Nabiki agreed. "I've always fancied Scorpius. That's the only reason I joined."

Enry suppressed a laugh. "What do you see in him?" she asked incredulously. Nabiki looked affronted.

"He's a Malfoy. To marry into that family is like securing yourself a long and happy life," she explained as if that were obvious.

"I know, but I meant, what attracts you to him?" Enry prodded. She was never good at speaking to others, or wording her questions the right way, but she found talking to Etheline particularly easy, even on a subject that Enry had no experience. She had never been attracted to a boy. Or at least, not that she could tell.

Nabiki looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well he's smart, and ambitious. Those are good qualities I think. He's got really nice hair, and he takes care of his appearance. Most guys don't care if they climb out of bed and go right to class." Here she laughed and paused to see if Enry would agree. "He's really nice too."

Enry raised her eyebrows. "Nice? What kind of Malfoy are you talking about?"

"Well," Nabiki allowed, now correcting her statement. "He's nice to those that are nice to him. So Lighthand doesn't count."

Enry sighed and turned back to her kitten that was digging its claws into her lap and curling up to sleep. She began petting it waiting for the bell to ring so she could make her way to her next class.

"To be honest, I was afraid you two were dating or something," Nabiki said carefully after the silence.

Enry turned to face her, wide eyed and shocked. "Why would you think something like that? I hate Malfoy!"

Nabiki looked relieved before she continued a bit eagerly now. "He's always hanging around you, and when he's not, he's always looking in your direction. Last night he couldn't keep his eyes off you."

"Unlike someone," Enry muttered, trailing off as she remembered the way Albus had ignored her.

"Pardon?" Nabiki asked, not having caught what the white-haired girl said.

"Nothing. Malfoy and I are not an item. We never will be an item. So you go right ahead and snatch him up. It'll give me some freedom."

Nabiki smiled. "Thanks."

The days went by particularly slow for both Albus and Enry. The Potions class they had on the Friday went well, as there was no contact.

Albus was finding it harder than ever to shut Enry out. She would keep glancing at him whenever they were near each other, making it harder for Albus to concentrate. He was also up every night thinking about the girl. He had been so close, so close to telling her the way he felt about her for all those years, and she had to up and blow him off before he could even tell her any of his feelings.

Whenever he got mad at her, his friends encouraged it.

"That's it mate! Don't let her get you down," Koden would praise, slapping his friend on the back cheerfully.

But more often than not he would stare off at a certain point in any room and think about her in the privacy of his own mind. The way her eyes were not at all cold, but mysterious and surprising. Her hair so much like his own in that every day it would be something different.

It had been so long since he had looked at her, in fact, that he was beginning to think that he had made all those things up.

After the last detention with Professor Roach where they carried all the brooms down into the Quidditch field shed (which took many trips if you were only allowed to carry one) and carefully put them in order of year, height, weight and name, Albus had stalked up to his dormitory and shut all the curtains of his four poster bed to calm himself down.

Enry hadn't looked at him all evening.

Albus punched at his pillow and threw it to the side after flopping down and trying to cool himself off. He could handle that she couldn't keep herself from looking at him. That was frustrating, but at the same time encouraging. The only thing he held on to was the fantasy that she was uncontrollably in love with him and could never pry herself away from his good looks or charm.

Snorting to himself he realized that fantasy was over pretty quickly. Of course had had no charm at all. Had he not made a blundering idiot of himself every time he was around her? What could she possibly think of him?

He clenched his fists angrily. Why, when they were the closest together they had been all week, had she decided not to even look at him? It was worse that he had made the deal with Koden to allow physical injury if he looked at her. Perhaps she would have revealed something to him behind those eyes. But Koden was doing too good of a job to allow such a slip up.

The door to the dormitory opened and Koden whisked back the curtains to his friends four poster bed.

"Leave me alone," Albus said angrily, turning on his side so his back was facing his friend.

"Look, I'm here as a team-mate, not as your best friend," Koden said, grabbing Albus' shoulder and flipping him back around. "The first game of the year is tomorrow, and you need to get your head out of the dirt and play like you aren't a little girl."

Albus had nearly forgotten about the match what with everything happening. "Yea I will," he promised, now flipping back over. He wasn't going to let Enry get him down from something he enjoyed a lot.

The next morning Koden woke first. He dressed quickly and made sure to give Albus a swift morning punch in the arm to wake him up before heading down to breakfast. He was up particularly early for a Saturday morning, and did not see anybody until he hit the Great Hall.

A few of the opposing team members sat at the Slytherin table. Koden smirked at them and then sat down next to an excitable first-year Gryffindor girl.

"Good luck today!" she squeaked, blushing. Koden gave her a thumbs up before digging into his breakfast.

Lily arrived soon after, Albus' little sister. She was only a year younger than her brother, and was a very talented Seeker.

Koden gave her a high five before she sat down next to him.

"Ready to tear those Slytherins apart?" he asked her.

"Of course," she replied, grabbing some toast. "Where's Albus?"

Koden shrugged. "Probably putting on make-up or something."

Lily giggled, but Koden was sure she had no idea what he meant. It wasn't like Albus to tell his little sister about the going-on's in his life.

At that moment, Albus walked in with a pale face and a frown.

"What's the matter mate?" Koden asked, shoving a plate in front of Albus who had sat down across from them.

"Nothing," Albus said warily, digging in to his breakfast. Koden stared at him suspiciously.

He did not have time to interrogate his friend though, as the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team marched in and began chatting loudly to each other.

Patrick and Glyn's voices were heard all across the Quidditch Pitch and even in the changing rooms as each team dressed in their Quidditch attire. They were the announcers of all Quidditch games as McGonagall had a soft spot for troublemakers.

Albus dressed nervously. He did not understand why he was feeling anxious, but it might have had to do something with that he had seen Enry marching off towards the grounds as he entered the Great Hall.

And it might've been because there was a chance she would be watching the game. His mind was mixed now with fantasies of her running down and kissing him hard on the lips as he won the game against the Slytherins.

But Koden smacked him across the head before it got too bad. "Thanks," Albus muttered, pulling on his last wrist brace.

Koden said nothing, but followed Mark Thornsby, their Quidditch Captain, to the dressing room doors. They formed an uneven line-up and waited for the introduction by Patrick and Glyn to announce them onto the field.

"The Gryffindor Team!" they shouted together. Mark opened the door and as the school cheered he led his team gracefully towards Professor Roach who was standing in the middle of the field. "In my opinion the greatest team ever before assembled in Hogwarts..." Patrick said, his voice booming over the crowd.

"Mr. Archer!"

"Sorry Headmistress. And now for the Slytherin Team!" he announced. On the opposite side of the field doors opened and the tall, beautiful Carly Fitz Gilbert led her team towards where Thornsby stood.

"Shake hands now," Roach instructed, holding the Quaffle in his hand.

"And the two put their differences behind them to shake hands respectfully," Glyn said.

"A bit too respectfully if you ask me. Oi, Thornsby. Don't forget she's your rival!" Patrick called after the said handshake lasted a little too long. There was laughter around the school.

Mark blushed furiously and dropped his hand to his side.

"Mount your brooms," Roach instructed. In his pocket he dug out the Golden Snitch. It whirred to life in his hands and it's tiny golden wings fluttered impatiently in his grip. As soon as they all were mounted, he let it escape, and it disappeared instantly.

"There goes the Snitch," Patrick called.

"On my count then," said Roach. "One... two... three!"

Albus took off into the air and all feelings of anxiety and nervousness left him as he soared high off the ground. Flying was a second nature to him, and his third nature was Quidditch. He did not let himself get lost in flying around, and eagerly awaited the Quaffle.

"They're off!" Glyn said eagerly, leaning forwards in his chair to get a better view.

Professor Roach threw the Quaffle in the air and it was immediately stolen by Koden.

"Lighthand's got the Quaffle... oh dear. I meant had the Quaffle. It's in Slytherin possession now. Wow, Zabini's gotten faster."

"No that's just his new broom. Look at him go! Going to be hard to keep up with that one I'd say."

Albus took off towards the Slytherin boy, down on his end of the ring. He missed a Bludger by inches and wondered vaguely who it could've been beaten by.

"And a no-go for the Bludger by Hunt. It has been intercepted by Burby, the fifth year with a good arm."

Albus smirked and willed his broom faster, the wind whipping at his face as he cut around his sister towards the boy still with the Quaffle. Thornsby waited eagerly for the boy at their end of the Pitch.

As Zabini made for a goal, Albus rounded him and stole the Quaffle.

"Good one, mate," Koden called, having been right behind Albus. They rounded past Zabini and made the treacherous way back to the other end of the ring.

"Potter's got the Quaffle now, an excellent steal from Zabini. Didn't know what was coming!"

Just as soon as he had got it, it was lost.

"Fitz Gilbert knocks Potter out and steals the Quaffle, but Lighthand has Potter's back and soars after her!"

Albus shook his head, angry with himself that he hadn't seen her coming straight at him. He turned on his broom heading back the way he had just come. "Al watch out!" Lily screamed from somewhere above him. Instinctively, Albus dodged the Bludger to the left.

"Another bad hit by Hunt, Potter doges his Bludger and continues on his chase towards Fitz Gilbert."

She was too fast though, and landed a good hit in Thornsby's direction before Koden knocked her to the side.

"Lighthand knocks Fitz Gilbert nearly off her broom! Anything goes in this game I suppose. Her shot is blocked by Thornsby however who smacks it back towards Lighthand."

And it was Koden who soared through the field all the way to Peter Hoskins, the Slytherin Keeper and landed the first goal.

"Ten points for Gryffindor thanks to Lighthand, landing an awesome shot on seventh year Peter Hoskins. He's kicking himself for that one."

Albus high-fived his friend quickly before diving after the Quaffle that Oliver Beaumont now had in his possession.

"Oh... looks like Potter might have spotted the Snitch!" Albus looked momentarily above him towards his sister who was diving spectacularly towards the ground. He spotted Kevin Flynn, another Slytherin Beater, sending a Bludger his sister's way. Luckily their beater Rowan Lawley, smacked it out of the way just in time.

His eyes now back on the chase, he caught up to Beaumont and stole the Quaffle right from his hands.

They hadn't gone far, and Albus turned back around towards the goal where Hoskins was waiting eagerly.

Albus threw the ball in the air and did a quick turn, sending the back half of his broom to hit the ball. He watched it soar into the nearest ring so fast that Hoskins did not even want to try to intercept it.

"Make that twenty points for Gryffindor after an awesome goal by Potter. His sister however, seems to have lost the Snitch. Better luck next time!"

Enry watched the game unfold distastefully. She never understood exactly what was happening as everything moved too fast, and worse yet as far as she understood, her house team was losing.

Scorpius sat beside her chatting happily with Eric Borgin, a rather handsome fifth year Slytherin that was widely considered one of the smartest in the grade. Malfoy was a very good participant of the audience, grumbling when something went wrong, and cheering when something good happened. However, the game had gone on for an hour already, and she knew what the scores meant.

It was sixty to twenty in favour of Gryffindor.

"Vicious game," Scorpius commented now as yet another chaser was nearly knocked off.

"Potter's been playing good though," Borgin noted.

"Not as nasty as Lighthand," Scorpius said with his eyes narrowed as a figure soared off towards the Slytherin rings with the Quaffle in their arms.

Suddenly it was seventy to twenty in favour of Gryffindor. Scorpius cursed under his breath and then turned to Enry.

"What's with you?"

Shrugging, Enry leaned back in her seat. "Never really liked Quidditch," she admitted, to a wide-eyed reaction by both Eric and Scorpius.

Trust that the only wizarding sport in the world was not interesting to Enry.

"Why?" Scorpius demanded, followed by Eric's assertive nod indicating he wanted to know why as well.

"I don't get it," Enry replied truthfully.

Scorpius then burst out into laughter. Enry frowned at him. She never liked being laughed at. "What is there not to get? It's simple!"

"Too many things going on at once I think," Enry said. Scorpius still laughed at her and then turned his attention back to the game.

"And another spectacular dive by Lily Potter. The snitch is at the end ring by the Gryffindor side and she's risking everything!"

Everyone was quiet in the audience and even on the Pitch as the red-headed girl was followed closely by Nabiki who played Seeker for their team.

It was all a blur to Enry who watched as Albus scored another goal for Gryffindor as everyone was distracted by his sister who pulled around out of her dive and threw her hand up in the air. There was instant applause in the audience. Apparently she had caught the Snitch.

Enry did know one thing. Catching the Snitch ended the game, and she got up quickly to leave.

A/N: Review review review!