A/N Chapter 6! This chapter was originally on the end of Ch5 but my editor requested it to be seperate. Maley knows best! :)
Disclaimer: I'm sure JKR's editors wouldn't tell her to split a chapter. So clearly I'm not her.
The first Quidditch match of the season had finally arrived.
Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. Snake versus Badger. Yellow versus Green. Fat Friar versus Bloody Baron.
Excitement was everywhere throughout the Castle. Even those who were not interested in the sport felt energized at the idea of spending an afternoon outside watching friends and foes battle for the Cup.
Draco had been ready all week. There was no place in the world he'd rather be then on a broomstick. Flying was his escape. He had been flying since birth, practically, and playing Quidditch just as long. He loved the game. The energy, the excitement; there was nothing like it. He played Seeker for is House for six seasons now. He liked playing Keeper and Chaser, but his biggest rival was Potter, so he put all he had into Seeking. Though to Draco's chagrin, Potter won more matches and caught more Snitches then he, but otherwise they had almost equal talent for the position.
Potter just hogs all the bloody luck in the world, he had thought on more than one occasion.
But today was another story. Today, Potter was not playing.
Draco felt exhilarated at the thought of eminent victory. He usually avoided everything and everyone on game days, but right now, nothing and no one could ruin his good mood.
He sauntered up to his group of cohorts that were meandering outside the Entrance Hall. They were waiting, relishing in the sun before they headed down to the pitch.
"Come on you slugs! You'll never get seats if you don't move your arses!"
Blaise chuckled. "Excited, are we, Draco?"
"Bet your 50 galleon trainers, I am! It's a beautiful day," he closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sky, content, "light breeze, no ruddy sun to blind me, and best of all," lowering his head to smirk at his best friend, "no bloody PotHead to steal all my glory!"
All six of them laughed heartily. No one liked losing to Gryffindor. In fact, many threats against the Golden Boy's life had been made through the years, which somehow got thwarted before any actual harm came to the boy hero. One of these days, Draco mused, it's only a matter of time. Count your blessings Scarhead.
The game got underway at exactly 5 minutes to 5.
Right off the bat, Hufflepuff's centre Chaser sent the Quaffle through the tallest hoop, earning them a 10-0 lead.
Slytherin retaliated with two consecutive goals bringing the score to 20-10.
Ginny found the first match of the year to be an exciting one. She, of course, desperately wanted Slytherin to lose but had to admit, their skills made the matches more interesting. She could not stand Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw games. They went on forever, and never reached scores over 50 points, typically, before the Snitch was finally caught by one team or the other.
This was a whole other, for lack of a better word, ball game. Slytherin was now up 140-100, and Malfoy looked as though he caught sight of the elusive golden Snitch. He was diving and weaving rapidly with Edwin Taylor, the Hufflepuff Seeker, trailing miserably behind him.
Poor Edwin Ginny thought. After Cedric… well, their team was never able to hold a talented Seeker.
Ginny followed the blonde then looked on ahead of him to the target of her wrath. You can see his arrogance even from all the way down here, she mused as she shook her head disapprovingly.
Just then she remembered her plan. She pealed her eyes away from the Seekers and searched the stands directly opposite to her. Most were Slytherins, with a spattering of Ravenclaws that filled the rows.
Where is he?
"Goal, Slytherin! That brings the score to Slytherin 150, Hufflepuff 100," boomed the voice of Professor McGonagall.
Well, now I can't see anything!
Oh sit down, it's one bloody goal.
'S about time! Like you gits have never scored before! Sheesh!
She focused back on the rows of green clad students.
Well there's Parkinson and Nott… ew what's she doing? Gross! Get your tongue out of there! You don't know where it's been! She shuttered at the sight of the pug-faced girl playing tonsil hockey with the rabbity boy.
No Zabini. Oh where is he? He always comes to matches!
"Goal, Hufflepuff! It's now 150-110! Tip top, Badgers!"
Suddenly, Ginny's attention was caught by a sole person's movement among the otherwise motionless Slytherin cheering section. A bloke in a black fitted shirt, dark washed jeans, and curly black hair was clapping for the Hufflepuff goal.
Ginny just stared. Then smiled. She could not believe her eyes. Zabini was clapping… for the other team!
She wondered if he realized he was the only one doing so, for his attention was clearly on the book in his right hand. But as soon as she thought it, he glanced up at the match and nodded in satisfaction.
That one is just full of surprises, she thought.
"Draco Malfoy has caught the Snitch! Slytherin receives 150 points and wins the game!"
The crowd roared. Students were on their feet those on the left of the pitch, whooping and hollering, and those off to the right, making their way out of the Stadium.
Blaise finally put his book on the bench beside him and stood with his fellow Housemates to cheer for their victory.
"Love the smell of victory in the evening!" Yelled Draco from his soaring broomstick to his friend in the stands.
"Way to go, mate! Way to show 'em!"
"Don't wait up, Zabini! I'm going to wash, use the loo, then shag the brains out of some chit!" Draco's cheeky grin took up his entire face. Shaking his head, Blaise rolled his eyes and proceeded down the Stadium stairs.
The very euphoric Seeker circled the stands once more before touching down on the pitch and making his way to the locker rooms.
Blaise was pleased that Draco won the game. If he failed to… well, Blaise did not want to think unpleasant thoughts.
Students and faculty flooded out onto the grounds. The sky was a stunning dark sapphire. A full blanket of stars and one perfectly crescent moon shed light on the many groups of friends slowly making their way back to their Common Rooms.
Blaise parted from the few Housemates he had been walking with, opting instead to spend the rest of his time until curfew by the lake, with Henry James and his ghosts.
Joanne never looked so disappointed. Her head hung low as she walked side by side with Ginny.
"Can't believe they lost."
"Oh, you know you saw it coming," Ginny tilting her head toward her friend.
"I suppose," she shrugged, "still, it might have helped the plan if Draco lost." She used air quotes around the word 'plan' and spoke in a none too quiet voice. Ginny immediately clamped her hand over Joanne's mouth.
"What are you trying to do," Ginny whispered fiercely,"get us found out?!?!"
Joanne's eyes widened, then she shook her head swiftly.
"Sorry," she whispered back once Ginny released her mouth. She quickly inventoried who was all within hearing range. Luckily they were walking alone, with only the Golden Trio being anywhere within 6 feet of them.
Ginny surveyed the others as well. She was relieved that no one seemed to have taken notice of her friend's comment. That would not have been good for the plan, she thought
While checking for potential eavesdroppers, Ginny noticed a poof of ebony curls making its way toward the great lake. She squinted her eyes and watched him retreat inquiringly. Pausing, she turned back to her embarrassed looking friend.
"You go on ahead I, uh, forgot something... in my locker," She said in what she hoped was a convincing tone.
"Okay! See you inside," Joanne replied cheerfully. Ginny was a bit confused at her sudden mood change, and feared she had caught sight of Zabini as well, but then her mane of bouncing brown waves could be seen trotting off to catch up with Colin and his new girlfriend, Kelley. Always consumed in gossip. And that's why you're not allowed to be a part of the plan anymore, Ginny reasoned decisively.
She twisted between groups of meanderers trying to make her way toward the lake. It took the better part of 3 minutes for her arrive behind the large oak which blocked two-thirds of the water from her view.
She looked about searchingly.
"Looking for someone, Red?" The silky voice started her. She whipped around to find Zabini smirking at her.
When she did not respond he raised his eyebrows, wordlessly voicing his question again.
After a few awkward moments of silence, she finally found her voice, "Um, yes, actually."
His watch darted from one of her chocolate eyes to the other, "And just who might that be?"
She smirked, ""You, of course."
Draco exited the locker rooms feeling amazing. Nothing could bring him down. He might just skive off lectures tomorrow and spend the day relishing in the intense gratification he felt.
He took a big release breath, placing his hands on top of his head and closing his eyes.
He took a moment, and then opened his eyes again slowly; turning to look up into the sky he knew was perfection.
But his gaze never made it far enough to marvel in its beauty. For Draco had noticed the only two other people still out on the grounds. He stood still as death.
Blaise and the She-Weasel? Now what in Merlin's name is he doing talking with her out here...alone.. only minutes before curfew?
You had better have a fucking fantastic reason, mate. If you purposely make me fail I will personally see to it that you regret it.
Not knowing what else to do, the irritated blonde began to walk the path from the pitch to the Entrance Hall, putting his handing in his pockets, all previous euphoria gone.