A/N: Young Prewett had the right of it when he pointed out that I had switched some people around to balance the houses. I suspect that's what the Sorting Hat does, anyway. As for Seamus, I did show him with the Hufflepuffs last year at Christmas, when Draco rode with them in the coach.

And I agree with Mandraco. Not taking responsibility for your actions is very important. It's tops on my list. You did mean it that way. Didn't you?

Chapter Seven: Quidditch

Draco casually mentioned a few more times that he would make it his personal project to find out who the heir was. Hermione wished him good luck on each occasion and spent most of the next week at the Quidditch pitch.

It was Hermione, however, who took the first step in the task. It was in History. She gave Draco a smile, then raised her hand. When Professor Binns (who happened to be a ghost) noticed her, he paused uncertainly. It must have been a long time since anyone had tried to ask a question.

"I was wondering, Professor, if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets."

"Our lesson today is on the Goblin revolts," Binns told her.

"I know, Professor, but in view of what has happened, everyone is curious."

Draco had to chime in. "I would be interested, Sir."

At that, several other students added their voices. Professor Binns hesitated then took off his glasses. Draco knew inside himself that it was a nervous reaction on the part of the ghost, and that meant . . .

"Well," Professor Binns began, "this is not the prepared lesson but I will tell you what I know. The Chamber of Secrets is only a legend, but it is a legend that dates back to the founding of this school. One of the founders, Salazar Slytherin, felt that the school should restrict itself to educating only those children who came from a background of magic. He was overruled by the other founders who felt that anyone capable of magic, regardless of background, should be admitted. In time, this disagreement led to Slytherin leaving the school.

"According to the legends, Slytherin built the chamber before he left, and inside of it he placed a monster. It is also said that this chamber could only be opened by himself or his heir."

One of the students raised his hand. "Do you know where the Chamber is, Professor?"

"What? No one does. The school has been searched dozens of times over the years and no sign of any secret chamber has ever been found. As I said, it is only a myth."

Binns put his glasses back on and opened his ghostly book. He then continued with the daily lesson as though no question had ever been asked.

Draco smiled when Hermione turned his way. As clever as he thought himself, it would have been some time before he ever thought of asking the most obvious person, the History Professor. And he now knew whose heir it was. Before the class ended, he decided it was time to do something.

After the last class was over and there was still time before the evening meal Draco met up with Justin. Justin agreed to help him in his initial search, the scene of the crime. With amusement, he followed Draco to the second floor corridor where the crime was committed. Draco scowled when he saw that everything had been cleaned up. Acting the detective, he said that a study of the handwriting might give them a clue. Justin cheerfully agreed, causing Draco to frown. Draco tried to explain his line of thought about what happened. Whoever did it should not have had time to escape, His next thought was to look around for a place to hide. He spotted one door and gave a smile of his own.

"The obvious hiding place."

Justin laughed. "You mean the person who attacked Mrs. Filch is a girl?"

Draco pointed to the door. "It doesn't have to be. This is the most obvious place to hide, even though it's the girls bathroom."

Justin nodded his head. "But a boy would never enter a girls bathroom. It would be a complete embarrassment if anyone found out."

Draco opened the door and walked in. He closed the door behind him. He opened the door again and looked out. "If he had just petrified Filch's cat, I think he would be more concerned about being found than where he was found."

Draco waved Justin forward and ushered him inside. Justin protested. "What if a girl walks in?"

"No one will," Draco assured him. "I talked with Hermione. This bathroom is haunted."

Justin laughed as though the idea was absurd. "Haunted? Who would haunt a bathroom?"

Both boys turned as gurgling noises came from one of the stalls. The ghostly figure of a girl, perhaps the same age as the twins, came through the stall door in a rage. She came directly for Justin.

"ARE YOU SAYING A BATHROOM'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME? WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO TELL ME WHERE I CAN AND CANNOT HAUNT? AND YOU'RE A BOY. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE HERE ANYWAY."

She then raised her hand and smacked him in the face. Through the face, actually, although that was enough as far as Draco was concerned. A ghost's hand going through your head could not be a pleasant experience.

"I'm sorry," Justin said quickly. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"HUMPH," Myrtle said with a huff. She turned around and floated back to her stall. "The two of you had better leave. BOYS AREN'T ALLOWED IN HERE."

"Myrtle," Draco called out as the ghost turned away, but he was ignored. The ghost flew through one of the stall doors and disappeared. She would not return despite Draco calling her name a few more times.

As they left to head for the Great Hall, Draco explained that the ghost was called Moaning Myrtle. He had the idea that she might be able to tell them who the attacker was. Justin suggested that they try again, in two or three weeks.

Ron Weasley was sitting at a table with his sister and Dean Thomas. The three were listening to the discussion taking place further down the table. Fred and George thought it was hilarious that Moaning Myrtle yelled at Draco. Hermione reminded Draco that the ghost was supposed to be short tempered. When the twins and Hermione left for a late practice, Ron stopped Draco to ask about the ghost. Draco smiled as he sorted his thoughts. Even though it was only Ron Weasley asking, that meant that people were watching him and paying attention to what he was doing.

He explained to Ron that Myrtle haunted the girl's bathroom near to where they found Filch's cat. It might be a good idea, he thought, to ask Myrtle if she had seen or heard anything that night. Regretfully, they started off on the wrong foot. He would have to try again at a later date.

Ron's voice showed he was impressed. He also expressed his surprise that Draco was serious about finding out who the Heir was. Others were also interested and would make themselves known soon.

It was Saturday, only a week after Halloween. And it was the first Quidditch match of the school year. Gryffindor against Slytherin. Draco was just coming down the stairwell to the common room when he heard Potter's voice. Two more steps and he saw that the black-haired boy was talking to Hermione. "Just remember what I've taught you. Luck won't get you through another game."

Draco paused until he saw Hermione storm away, then he ran after her. "Need an escort, 'mione. Do you mind?"

Hermione gave him a wane smile. "At least I can do something right." As they left Gryffindor, she mentioned she had spotted Draco on the stair. She thanked him for giving her company. "Now, if you could say something to cheer me up. Harry knows a lot about Quidditch but he isn't a confidence builder."

Draco smiled. "Aw, he'd give you all the confidence in the world if he didn't think you had a chance. You have to understand Potterese. When he says you can't rely on luck it means he's the one who needs it. If he ever wants to play again. You must be good if he'd say something like that just before the match."

It worked. Hermione had her confidence back. As they approached the main hall, Justin appeared with Susan Bones and Ernie MacMillan. Draco had to share how upset Potter was that he still wasn't Seeker. He repeated what was said in the common room. At Susan's urging, Hermione admitted that Potter had been making similar remarks all along. Never a direct insult, but always implying that she couldn't handle the position. Susan warned her not to try showing him up because it might come back at her. "Do what you did the last time. Play your best."

When they reached the pitch, Justin dragged Draco over to sit with the Hufflepuffs. Before the match began, several of the members of that house asked how Draco's search was going. Two were genuinely interested, Susan Bones and one of the boys in the fifth year. Ernie MacMillan hinted that it might be a ruse, to confuse people. Draco hinted that he might be right. One other student, a girl in the third year, politely said he was only pretending to search for the Heir, suggesting that he didn't have to look very far. Draco grinned and said he hadn't looked in a mirror, yet, but he would do that right after the match.

Finally, the whistle blew. Draco watched as Hermione flew high on her broom. She was easily more confident than she was last year. With mild interest he noticed that the Slytherins had a new Seeker. It was Theodore Nott, and he was flying a brand-new Nimbus 2001, the fastest broom around. Justin noticed and asked how he ever made the team. Susan Bones pointed to the team captain who was flying a new broom as well.

Draco laughed. "He bribed his way." He nodded appreciatively.

"The Notts were always cheap," Susan noted. "Anyone else would have bought new brooms for the entire team."

Both teams were playing hard, but Oliver Wood was the better Keeper and that gave his team the edge. In the meantime, Hermione spent most of an hour watching. Nott would race around from time to time but she rarely took the bait. As Wood knocked the quaffle away from the post and into the arms of Katie Bell, Hermione started to dive. Nott hesitated, then took off after her.

"It's there," Justin shouted. "She's seen the snitch."

Hermione dove until she was below the other players, then twisted to the right as the snitch changed its course. Suddenly, Fred Weasley came into view and knocked a bludger out of her way and directly at a Slytherin chaser. She passed him a second later. She veered again as the snitch made another course change, Draco cheering her on with the rest. He stopped in half cheer. The bludger that Fred Weasley had hit away was heading for Hermione again. He cringed as he saw it make contact and swerve off. Someone behind him said, "Merlin's beard, the bludger." Draco watched as the speeding ball curved on its own and headed for Hermione again. His friend sat on her broom, dazed from the first strike. It struck again. Hermione fell. Draco heard the thump as she hit the ground, but he wasn't watching her. The bludger was turning again and heading for Hermione once more. Then Fred was there again, but instead of hitting the bludger, he grabbed it, holding on as he, too, fell from his broom. But his fall was closer to the ground and more controlled. As with Hermione, he laid still once he landed but it was to keep the rogue ball from escaping. A whistle blew. Gryffindor had called for a time out.

Draco looked hatefully to the Gryffindor stands, trying to spot Potter. But Potter wasn't there. Neither was Longbottom. Draco's thoughts were that they were racing to the changing rooms. "Potter gets his chance to play," he said bitterly.

For ten minutes no one said anything. Cedric Diggory, looking down from the stand, told everyone Granger was going to be fine. He had seen Madam Pomfrey's gestures too many time to misunderstand. Draco sighed in relief, and asked Justin if he wouldn't mind being his escort to the infirmary. His heart wasn't in the game anymore. "Not with Potter playing."

"Why are they pointing here?" the person next to Cedric asked. Out of curiosity, Draco looked up. The girl was looking at the other stands. Where the Gryffindors sat. Someone with red hair (Ron Weasley) was the one pointing. His brother, probably George, was on his broom, and had Hermione's broom in his hand. George flew over to the Hufflepuff stands.

Draco, instead of leaving, made his way to the front row. While he was confused by what was going on, it was likely that George wanted to talk to him. Otherwise, he would have flown directly to the Hufflepuffs.

George smiled at him and turned to Cedric. He spoke in as childish a voice as possible. "Mister Diggory, can Draco come out to play?" Everyone turned to look at the blond boy.

"Whot?" Draco said in surprise. "You gone radio?"

"We do need a Seeker," George pointed out.

"Whot 'appened to Potter? An' Longbottom?"

"Don't know. They went missing as soon as the bludger went wonky." He turned serious. "We need a Seeker, and you are the best flyer we have left."

"I AIN'T PLAYIN'. 'alf the school thinks I fried Filch's cat. If I play, they'll think I squilched 'mione just fer the chance."

"If you don't," Justin told him from behind, "Gryffindor forfeits."

George smiled again, "And everyone will know it's your fault." He held out the broom.

Trapped in a dilemma, Draco took the broom and followed George to the changing room. Professor McGonagall was there. She quickly explained that she had transfigured the spare uniform to his size and to dress quickly. The game had to start and the longer he stayed in here, the longer the Slytherins had the advantage. She wished him luck as she left him to change.

Draco began to undress before the door even closed.

"Dobby is sorry," a voice cried as Draco was suddenly alone.

"Dobby?" He shook of the surprise. "Do you mind if I dress while you apologize?" He paused. Things were starting to become clear. "You jinxed the bludger?"

"Dobby was ordered to," the creature cried. "Dobby has to obey. Dobby is supposed to hurt Draco Malfoy if he plays."

Draco was already thinking. He didn't know why but everything suddenly made sense. It wasn't Potter. It was Nott. Not little Theodore, but his mother. The one person that had openly shown she despised him. And Mummy wants her son to win regardless of the cost. And Dobby must be owned by Narcissa Nott, his father's jilted lover. Draco's efforts at dressing quickly became rabid when he remembered one thing. Dobby, for some reason, liked Draco and wanted to help him.

"It's not the bludger again, is it?" Draco asked. Dobby shook his head no. "Then tell me, friend to friend, what is it I have to watch out for."

"Friend? Draco Malfoy called poor Dobby his friend."

Draco, proud of his speed, put on his gloves and grabbed the broom. He bent and put his free hand on Dobby's shoulder. "You came here to help me. That's what friends do. Dobby, I have to go out there, and I know you have to try to stop me. All I want to know is what to watch out for. I'm sure a friend could tell me that."

Dobby beamed at the words. Then he frowned. "Dobby has jinxed the broom. Draco Malfoy can fly all he wants but once he stops, the broom will fail."

Draco nodded. "And the instant I hover, I will fall like a rock." He smiled. "A clever plan, friend Dobby, but it won't work. I never learned how to stop a broom." He started to open the door which led to the pitch but hesitated and turned back to the elf. "Thank you, friend."

Dobby gave him an impossibly wide smile. "Friend Draco is welcome," he said as he faded from sight.

Draco opened the door, stepped outside and mounted the broom. "This is for you, Hermione." He kicked off the way he had been shown so many times, hoping that he had learned enough from Professor Snape to defeat his team. In the back of his mind he noted that would make two things he owed Uncle Severus.

There were cheers when Draco appeared, as well as hisses and boos. Draco flew up and circled the field. It was all he could think to do. He kept his eyes open but spotting the snitch was harder when you were moving, and he had to keep moving. The Slytherins had the Quaffle when Draco thought of something he could do for fun. He looked at Nott, who was sitting on his broom, then he dove. His intention was to fly right in front of the chaser and make him change course. But luck changed his plans. The chaser passed to a teammate when he saw his path blocked by two of the Gryffindors. At his speed, Draco needed to swerve only slightly. He tapped the ball as he flew past so that it went to Angelina Johnson instead. It helped his ego that Angelina then managed to get the quaffle through the hoops. He also found out, later, that he wasn't allowed to do that. Because Madam Hooch had missed seeing it, Draco had the luck of not having a foul called on him. That helped his ego even more.

It had been a half hour since Draco entered the pitch, and almost two hours since the match started, when Draco decided on his latest prank. He had already received one warning from Madam Hooch for interfering with another player. (She caught him the third time he tried the same trick.) There was a penalty throw as a result but Wood was able to block it. And now, Draco had his eye on his latest quarry. The boy whose mother was the reason his best friend in Gryffindor was in the infirmary.

First, he flew up as high as he dared. He leveled off and circled the pitch until he was where he wanted to be. Without slowing down he began his dive. He leveled off again, flying faster than he had ever done before. And he was aiming directly for Theodore Nott.

Nott looked up and saw him at the same time Draco saw something else. It was the snitch. It was just above and behind Nott. Draco's grin became maniacal as he realized he could do it. He could catch the snitch and win the game. And, his devious mind added, put the Slytherin Seeker into the cot next to Hermione. Nott suddenly looked very frightened and dropped down and away. With a laugh, Draco's hand made contact with the small golden ball and closed around it. A whistle blew, and Lee Jordan, the announcer was heard to say. "Draco Malfoy has caught the golden snitch. Gryffindor wins." Draco pulled up on his broom and held the snitch aloft in triumph.

It was still light when Draco awoke. He did not need anyone to tell him he was in the infirmary. All he could think of was that he did not die from his stupid mistake.

"He's awake, Madam Pomfrey," Hermione Granger said.

"No, I'm not," Draco answered. "I can't feel this bad and still be alive."

"You had a bad fall," Madam Pomfrey told him. "Luckily, someone cast a cushioning spell on the ground before you landed or we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Draco tried to move and groaned at the effort. Madam Pomfrey had apparently waited for him to wake up because the next thing he knew she was forcing some vile concoction down his throat and demanding that he swallow. With an effort, he did as he was told. Despite the bad taste left in his mouth, the potion did make him feel better. In a thrice, he was able to sit up with no problem. As he did so, he looked over at Hermione.

"You okay?"

She nodded. "Madam Pomfrey told me that I was struck by a jinxed bludger."

"Twice. You were already down and out when it came around for a third try. Fred tackled it."

"Draco?" Hermione, surprised and relieved at her close call, had to ask her own question. "Were you pushed, again?"

"No." He cast a quick glance at Madam Pomfrey. She didn't say anything to him but her look said it all. Hermione didn't know. Draco had to smile. He was to be the one to tell her. He turned back. "My broom was jinxed . . . I guess. The first time I stopped, it failed. That's why I fell."

"Broom?"

"Yeah. When Madam Hooch permitted the team to replace you," he grinned broadly, "they picked me."

Hermione's reaction was fun to watch. As much fun was the disbelief in her voice when she had to ask why they picked him. Madam Pomfrey interrupted to explain that, after the incidents of last year, Potter and Longbottom had instructions from their parents to leave at once should anything occur. And, as Draco proved, the instructions were justified. Otherwise, Potter would be in that bed instead of Draco.

Hermione nodded in understanding, then she frowned. "We lost the match, then?"

It was after dinner when the guests arrived. It was almost a replay of the end of last year except the Quidditch team was focused on the both of them from the very start. For Draco, it was an uncomfortable feeling. He couldn't remember a time when he felt that he was part of a group, at least no time when it was a good thing.

"And why did you keep flying around like that?" Oliver Wood finally asked.

Draco opted for a half truth. "Did you see what happened when I stopped?"

Surprise was everyone's face. Fred and George managed to grin. It was George, at least Draco was fairly sure it was George, who asked, "How did you know the broom was jinxed?"

Draco waved the question away. "You should ask, 'How did I know HOW the broom was jinxed?' I knew right off something was wrong. And the broom I was given would have been the best choice if whoever wanted to cause more trouble. I guessed that particular spell as I flew out onto the pitch. The Keeper and the Seeker are the only players expected to hover. And there was nothing else wrong with the broom."

"Lucky guess if you ask me," Fred muttered loudly to George. He turned to Draco and asked in a confused tone, "Then why did you stop in midair after you caught the snitch?"

"He held it up so proudly," George said with mock awe, "as he plummeted downward."

After everyone had left, and Draco's face had returned to a normal colour, Hermione told him, "that's what I like about you, Draco. Whenever I have a bad day, you always make me feel better by having a worse one."

"Hermione, I want you to know. I think I know who's responsible."

Madam Pomfrey came into the infirmary with someone in tow. It was the Slytherin Seeker, Theodore Nott. "I can't prove anything, Malfoy. But I think you're right."

Draco's eyes flared briefly. "You had nothing to do with it?"

"Nothing. I had no idea until I saw Granger fall off her broom."

Hermione's tone was one of anger and her look called Nott a liar. "Then who did this to me? And to Draco?"

Nott seemed surprised by the question. "Father, of course. After making sure that Mother agreed. My father believes that winning is everything. He believes that cheating can be obvious as long as you can't prove who is actually doing it."

"Then why did you come here?"

Nott smiled at Hermione. "Because it was clear to me that your boyfriend knew what was going on. Although he showed a near fatal lack of attention at the end of the match. If I were in his position, I would have landed first before striking a triumphal pose. As it is, I have owled my parents to inform them that I will resign the team should another incident occur."

"How generous of you."

Nott smirked. "Generosity has nothing to do with it. I think it is more in the line of self preservation." He cast a glance at Draco. "You were planning revenge, weren't you?"

Draco nodded. "May I ask, Theo, how did you . . . your father do it? Or is it a family secret?"

Nott shrugged. "He probably had the house elf do it. It is the easiest way and everything that happened is within its capabilities."

Hermione frowned and Draco knew why. "What is a house elf?"

"Muggles," Nott laughed, but stopped immediately when Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat.

Draco decided to answer. Now that he knew what they were called. He looked at Nott the entire time without emotion. "House elves are servants, Hermione. They're small, intelligent, maybe two feet tall and ugly as sin. And they're owned."

"Owned?" Her anger was back as she turned to Nott. "You OWN a house elf?"

"You'd be surprised, Granger. Do you know what the biggest insult is to a house elf? Freeing it. They enjoy being owned." He shrugged as though to say he didn't believe it at first, either. He added with authority, "and they will do ANYTHING they're told to. Even lie about what they did."

"How useful."

Madam Pomfrey put her hand on Nott's shoulder. "It is, Miss Granger, if you don't care what you do. And if I were you, I would dwell on what he has told you. The Minister will be informed of our suspicions but Theodore Nott was correct when he said there was nothing we could prove. You should also know that it was his suggestion that he inform the two of you." She looked specifically at Draco. "And as long as nothing else happens, I expect this to be the end of the matter."

Draco smiled at Hermione after Nott left. "Did you know? His mother used to be engaged to my father. I know she hates me because of that."

Hermione frowned. "But she couldn't know you would take my place. I think he was telling the truth about why all of this happened."

"No," Draco said, his smile failing. "I think he believes that is the reason." He was keenly aware that he had the attention of both Hermione and Madam Pomfrey. "I may be paranoid . . ."

"There's no maybe about that," Hermione interjected.

Draco didn't even acknowledge the jest. " I think Potter was the intended target. He was the most likely to take your place. And I think he knew it."

"Clever boy," Madam Pomfrey commented. "Have you figured out why?"

"Not why," Draco said thoughtfully. "But, Potter and Longbottom, either one of them should have taken over as seeker instead of me." He saw the question on Hermione's face and answered it. "Last year, after I fell, everyone thought I was asleep. Sirius Black was telling Potter that he and Longbottom were always in danger." Something else came into Draco's mind. An idea who in particular the Heir of Slytherin might be. And that suspect had just left the infirmary.