Chapter Eleven: Slytherin vs. Gryffindor:
It was cold the day that Slytherin and Gryffindor played their match. A bitter wind blew over the field and made playing difficult and challenging for the players fifty feet up in the air. Harry had a strong team this year as did Slytherin. Both Goyle and Crabbe had replaced the seventh year beaters from the year before and it was clear they were very good. It seemed what they lacked in brains they more than made up for in skill on a broom and with a bat. Harry found Draco had improved vastly and that was saying a lot as he had been second best at Seeker the year before. This year both boys were flying so well that there were scouts from the various Quidditch teams in the stands for both of them.
In the stands the professors huddled together along with their guests watching the match. Severus sat by McGonagall, mostly to annoy her as he was so good at doing. In back of him were Remus and Sirius decked out in Gryffindor colors cheering Harry on, they had sat there on purpose as Severus knew all too well to really annoy him. Next to Severus on his left was Lucius Malfoy, the hood of his cloak over his face as he was not sure how people would react to him here, next to him was Narcissa Malfoy. She was not normally a Quidditch fan but she came to cheer her son. She was impressed with the teams and she knew that both Harry and Draco were top of their game. Next to her sat Charity Burbage and Narcissa found she liked the smart muggle studies teacher.
"I am so sorry Narcissa that you had to come and see the Slytherins loose." Sirius said smirking as he knew this was going to get Narcissa mad.
"If I had known there were going to be two mutts here I would have put my foot down." Severus said looking at McGonagall. "They are after all your pets."
"Actually Severus I am your pet werewolf." Remus said laughing at the look on Severus's face. "Your fault you know, you signed for me."
"Remus that is not nice to tease Severus like that." McGonagall said.
"Minerva I fear he is right. Severus now has a werewolf as a pet." Sirius said. "I think that is sweet, a Vampire with a pet werewolf."
"Sirius behave now." Dumbledore said sternly as Severus started to go for his wand.
"Sorry headmaster." Sirius said.
"He cannot help it headmaster as there is nothing in his head to filter his mouth." Severus snapped.
"Really I should never let you to sit within a mile of each other!" McGonagall snapped.
"Are they always like this?" Charity said to Narcissa.
"Yes, I swear they cannot stop until Sirius ends up thrown to the ground or hexed." Narcissa said, "come to think of it Lucius is the same way."
"I am not!"
"Yes you are, you still have not learned my hexes are painful have you Lucy?" Severus said coolly.
"Don't call me that Sevvy." Lucius hissed.
"Well Severus is a very talented wizard." Charity said heading off a fight between the two men.
"Thank you Charity." Severus said smiling.
"What am I chopped dragon?" Sirius said.
"No dragon dung." Severus said causing Charity to giggle at this.
"This is fun." Narcissa said. "But I came to watch a game not you wizards continue to fight, if you continue you will join the game, as the quaffle and bludger."
"I would not test her." Lucius said wincing slightly at a painful memory. "It will be painful."
"I am well aware of what Narcissa can do." Severus said.
"What can she do?" Sirius said sweetly.
"She is a Black, a right smart one too." Remus said, "we all know the Black witch reputation."
"Yes we do, and the great beauty of Narcissa here." Lucius added as his wife glared at him.
High above the bantering teachers and guests Harry was scanning the field for the snitch. Draco was on the opposite side of the field doing the same thing. Harry saw something and dove for it at the same time Draco did. Harry saw the snitch fly out of reach but he continued his dive and pulled out at the very last second. Draco almost crashed into the ground but in a spectacular move he pulled up fast enough not to crash. The crowd roared at this feat as Draco and Harry truly were amazing at Quidditch. The wind grew colder and more fierce as the game went on and the game got dirtier as the weather got nastier. It did not matter the two houses now got along somewhat on the Quidditch field there was no mercy. A bludger hit by Green from the Gryffindor team nearly got Draco in the head and when Goyle "accidentally" elbowed Ginny there was a roar from the crowd.
"Oi that was a foul! Professor Hooch that was a foul yes she is calling it a foul!" Luna said into the megaphone. "Take that you cheating boulder!"
"Miss Lovegood!" McGonagall shouted turning to the pale haired student at the magical megaphone.
"Sorry but he is a lying cheating…"
"Miss Lovegood you will commentate the match please!" McGonagall said.
"Alright, well there goes Draco Malfoy, too bad he is in Slytherin because he is really good, Harry sees something, I think it is the snitch, Draco cannot keep up, Harry does have the Firebolt the best broom in the school. The Firebolt…
"Miss Lovegood now is not the time to commentate on the Firebolt!" McGonagall shouted.
"I really should buy the Slytherin team Firebolts." Lucius said to Severus.
"Don't see why, need talent first." Sirius said getting hexed for that. "Ow."
"Quiet, I am watching the game!" Narcissa snapped at him.
"So am I." Charity said. "Oh they are really very good!"
"Oh my the Gryffindor bludger has hit Draco full in the face! The tragedy, oh the tragedy let us mourn…"
"Miss Lovegood!"
"Sorry professor, he has refused to land, he is hurt but back in the air."
It was true, Draco was back in the air and bleeding heavily from the face. He refused to go down and continued to play. He was just too badly hurt to really be flying but he knew his parents were watching as he tried to find the snitch. Harry saw the snitch and dove for it Draco on his tail. Harry stretched out his hand and caught the snitch and pulled up with it. Draco was not so lucky and he plowed into the ground. Harry saw this and raced to the ground as fast as he could. He was there even before madam Pomfrey could get there. Narcissa was on her feet white as a sheet as her son lay on the ground so still and quiet.
"Draco?" Harry said still holding the snitch. "Draco don't you dare die on me."
"Not dying yet." Draco said turning over and falling to his back, his face was a mess. "You are still ugly Potter."
"How is he?" Ron said from Harry's right.
"Fine, he called me ugly." Harry said. "Though he does not look good right now."
"We won though Harry!" Ginny said hugging him. "We beat Slytherin."
"Yea but Potter is still ugly." Draco said as Poppy came up getting a scowl form the med-witch.
"He is fine madam Pomfrey." Harry said grinning. "If he said I was good looking then we would have a problem."
The Slytherin team went up to their fallen seeker and stood around him protectively. The Gryffindors took that as a hint to let them treat their fallen comrade and go celebrate. In years past they would have not given a second thought to Draco's condition, but now they did. They sent down to the hospital wing a basket of food and stuff for the Slytherins and went about their celebration in their common room. Draco spent the rest of the weekend in the hospital wing, his parents saw him briefly as they knew all too well he had a reputation to uphold and that it would not do any good to damage it. He had a fractured skull but other than that he was going to be just fine.
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It was a week later, just after Halloween that Draco took a walk into the forbidden forest. He knew he should not go alone but he felt a few yards into the forest he would be fine. The herbs he needed where right there and he figured he could not get into trouble if he could still see the school. Still he was careful as he started to gather the herbs needed for his improved potion. He did not see Remus Lupin walk up behind him and stand leaning against a tree watching him his arms folded across his chest. He had seen the boy head to the forest and knew he was not suppose to go out alone into the forest.
"You know someone could sneak up on you and have you for lunch." Remus said calmly causing Draco to jump and turn wand out. "Too slow, I could have had you for a snack."
"But you would not, you are a tame werewolf." Draco said still holding out his wand.
"Yes, but what if I were not?" Remus said giving Draco a stern look. "The forbidden forest is forbidden for a reason, you are a prefect and such are not setting a good example."
"I am sorry sir, I was just out for some herbs, I really want that flask of luck professor Severus has."
"I see, do you have enough?" Remus asked him.
"Yes sir, I do." Draco said and was about to add something when Remus held up his and. "What?"
"Quiet, I hear something." Remus said sniffing the air. "Come let's go now!"
He hurried Draco along his wand out to the edge of the forest. They never made it as several black clad figures jumped out and shot stunning spells at them. The two wizards fell to the ground unconscious and the figures in black grabbed them and activated a portkey. In a flash they were gone with the boy and wolf, and in the school the alarm went off letting the headmaster know a student had been taken…
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I like Narcissa, I see her as smart and capable to handle any witch or wizard around her. As for Severus battering with Lucius, they are good friends but we know Severus's temper, I am sure there were times when Lucius got him mad and paid for it dearly. I am afraid Severus can get very nasty at times. As for Draco in the forest, not a smart move, but he has like all students a tag to alert the school if he is missing, Dumbledore had that put in place so that the students would be safe, or safer if they follow the rules!
So let me know what you think and review please!