Author's Note: I haven't updated in almost a month! So sorry, everyone. I've been lazy lately. I won't deny it. From now on I will try to update more, I really will. Loved the reviews. Thank you all so much!

The amazing reviewers: Nangini, Saku-Chan9876, POM-frenchreader, kk1999, cataloo456, krissie92, veranatalie, ABC123, Belleindigo, teekim17, .xXx, genderless-but straight, AsHtIsDaLe21, Dragonflame a.k.a ShadX.

veranatalie: Ah, thank you! I'm so glad I caught on to what you were trying to say. Yes, you did get the hint. That will come in later in the story. Thank you for pointing that typo out! I can't believe I keep making all these mistakes. I've made one in every chapter so far! I hope there aren't any in this one, or I'll feel very very stupid. You're not annoying at all, you're extremely helpful. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Belleindigo: I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the last chapter. I just wanted to do a bit of a filler so I wouldn't rush the story. Don't worry, it will get much more interesting as the story progresses!


Chapter Four – Shine

Hermione walked to the Great Hall with Harry and Ron after a whole day of watching Quidditch tryouts. Despite the fact she wasn't a big fan of the sport, the tryouts were undoubtedly interesting. She was shocked when Draco Malfoy decided to tryout as a Beater instead of a Seeker. It was a wise move, she had to admit. Even though Draco was a skilled Seeker, Harry had the most natural talent in the whole school. What shocked Hermione even more was the fact that Draco was probably as talented a Beater as Harry was a Seeker. Draco was incredibly strong and his aim was perfect. She knew for a fact he had secured his spot on the Hogwarts Quidditch team. Ron on the other hand…

"Hermione, I messed up," the redheaded boy muttered as he sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"No you didn't," she said as she sat down across her best friends.

"I couldn't save half those bloody goals!"

That silenced Hermione. Ron had let his nerves get the best of him and it was clear he wasn't concentrating properly. The door swung open and Draco Malfoy strode in arrogantly, followed by a large group of Slytherins. As usual, Draco's sparkling eyes locked with hers for a moment before they both turned away. Hermione felt her skin break out in goosebumps.

"I can't believe Malfoy tried out for Beater," Harry said.

"I can't believe he's that good!" Ron cried. "He's always been a Seeker!"

"Did you see how he hits the Bludger?" Harry pushed up his glasses. "He's going to kill someone on the pitch."

When Draco played as a Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team, he always seemed almost bored during games. He was never the first to spot the Snitch, although he usually ended up catching it in the end anyway. But when he tried out as a Beater, he looked so… alive. There were no words to describe it. Hermione had never seen the bitter Slytherin act in such a way, and it warmed her heart a little as she watched him fly around on his new Firebolt broom.

"When are they announcing the team again?" Hermione asked.

"After dinner," both her best friends replied. Hermione had never seen them so nervous. And they had all been through a lot throughout the years. Ron's fork shook every time he lifted in and Harry kept tapping on the table with his fingers. They remained quiet for the remainder of dinner, only speaking when spoken too. It seemed like an eternity before everyone finished their meal and Madam Hooch stood up in front of the Great Hall, holding a piece of parchment.

"This is it, Harry," Ron said quietly. "The most important moment of our lives."

Hermione smacked his arm in disapproval, "Ron!"

"Attention, students! After careful deliberation, we have finally chosen the Hogwarts Quidditch team that will participate in the IIQT. All of you did very well at the tryouts, and it was difficult to make the final selection. In addition to the seven players, we have also chosen six students to be part of the reserve team." Madam Hooch's voice rang through the room. Every single student paid his or her full attention to her. "I will first announce the students on the reserve team. The reserve Chasers are Randolph Burrow and Ginny Weasley."

Everyone clapped politely, but Ginny looked outraged that she was only chosen as a reserve player. Her face slowly turned the same color as her hair and she pursed her lips in pure annoyance and disappointment.

"The reserve Beaters are Jimmy Peakes and Duncan Inglebee," Madam Hooch said. There was more applause. "The reserve Keeper is Grant Page and the reserve Seeker is Cho Chang."

The pretty Asian girl blushed as everyone turned to the Ravenclaw table to look at her. She seemed quite ecstatic with the fact she had made it as a reserve. After all, everyone knew Harry was going to be the Seeker.

"Now, the official team," Madam Hooch announced. Everybody sat upright and held their breath. "The Chasers are Jeremy Stretton, Katie Bell and Dean Thomas."

The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw table both erupted into deafening applause. Katie, who was sitting next to Hermione, screamed at the top of her lungs and grabbed Hermione.

"Katie!" she gasped as she tried to pull away.

"Merlin! I'm on the team!" the older girl squealed happily, jumping up and down on her seat. The applause soon died down and everyone turned back to Madam Hooch.

"The Beaters are Draco Malfoy and Jason Samuels."

The Slytherins and Ravenclaws all went wild and all of Draco's friends congratulated him. Blaise clapped him on the back and cheered with the rest of his table. Draco merely smirked, as if he knew all along that he would make it on the team.

"The Keeper is Miles Bletchley," Madam Hooch continued. While the Slytherins celebrated once again, Ron looked completely devastated. Both Harry and Hermione exchanged looks before turning to him.

"Ron, I'm sorry." Hermione squeezed his hand.

"I… I didn't… I didn't even make the reserve team…"

"The Seeker and the Team Captain is Harry Potter."

The entire hall, except for the Slytherins, went insane. Ron seemed to have gotten over his distress and hugged Harry for all he was worth. The Gryffindors all crowded around the Boy Who Lived and took turns praising him.

"Harry, I knew you could do it!" Hermione leaned over the table and kissed him on the cheek.

"I can't believe it! I'm Captain!" Harry exclaimed. He jumped over the table so he could hug Hermione, knocking over a goblet of pumpkin juice in the process. "I'm Captain!"

Hermione looked over to the Slytherin table. None of them looked pleased, understandably. Draco looked absolutely livid. Using strength Hermione didn't know he had, he bent the fork he was holding. She made a mental note to herself not to anger him unless she had her wand ready.

Draco gritted his teeth. Becoming a Beater had made him so happy just a moment ago but now all his positive feelings had completely vanished. Harry was hugging Hermione like his life depended on it! It gave Draco the strangest feeling he had ever felt, and he wanted to hex Harry into oblivion more than ever before. Draco's ability to breathe waned as the two Gryffindors clung to each other and continued celebrating with the rest of their house. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Fucking Lived, and Hermione Granger. Hermione Granger, the only girl who had ever dared to slap him. She was a Mudblood, a Gryffindor, and everything that he had been taught to hate. But for some reason, his heart could never agree with his mind.

Sure, she was a complete pain in the arse, but so was Draco. He received the best grades in the year, second only to Hermione. They both were stubborn, quick-tempered and attractive. Yes, even Draco couldn't deny it. Hermione Granger was attractive. She had always been pretty, but in a conventional kind of way that grew boring after a while. However, each year she would return to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters after the summer holidays looking more and more stunning. Hermione was one of the tallest girls at Hogwarts, and she was very skinny. She had enormous chocolate eyes and a small, pretty nose. Her full lips were naturally red and her skin was perfect. Hermione had given up all hope on her honey brown hair that was untamable, but Draco had always thought it was her hair gave her a bit of an edgy, sexy look.

"Umm… Drake…" Blaise stared at the ruined fork.

"What?!" Draco snarled at him as he threw the fork on the table. The nearby Slytherins all turned their attention to him. "I'm going."

Draco stood up and left the Great Hall, ignoring Blaise and Theodore's calls of protest. He rushed to the Slytherin common room and up the stairs to his dormitory. Once he got there, he knocked his lamp off his bedside table and it smashed into countless pieces on the floor.

"Stupid Potter. Stupid Mudblood!" he muttered to himself. He heard a quiet tapping on the window and opened it with a flick of his wand. His majestic Eagle Owl, Thanatos, swooped in carrying a letter that Draco instantly recognized was from his mother. Draco's eyes widened and he untied the letter at top speed. He took a deep breath before opening the envelope…

Draco,

How are you, my darling? I hope school is going well. I heard that a new event called the International Interschool Quidditch Tournament will be held at Hogwarts. How exciting! I'm sure you'll make the team. I went to St. Mungo's yesterday for another checkup. Healer Emerson said I'm doing better than he expected. Draco, please don't worry about me; I don't want to ruin your school year. I will be visiting Lucius in Azkaban tomorrow. Perhaps he can provide me with more answers. I'd appreciate it if you could write to me soon. Take care, darling.

Love always,

Mother

He saw straight through his mother's lies. She could lie brilliantly to the rest of the world; her family, her husband, the press, but she couldn't lie to her own son. Draco knew that his mother would never be truly healthy again. Her condition wasn't fatal, but it was incurable and enough to affect her for the rest of her life. All in all, Narcissa Malfoy was a liar. Almost all her life was a lie. She didn't agree with her pure-blood elitist family when she grew up, but she pretended to be prejudiced anyway because the thought of being disinherited was horrifying for a girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She didn't feel anything more than admiration for Lucius Malfoy, but she acted like she was madly in love with him so she could marry into his fortune like her parents wanted. She hated Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters, but she supported her husband when he joined them anyway in order to seem loyal to Lucius. The only part of her life that wasn't a lie was her son. The moment she gave birth to him, she finally felt what it was like to truly love someone. To care about them so much that you would willingly sacrifice yourself for them. Draco was the outcome of all the lies she had ever told in her life.

Draco got out a new piece of parchment and began writing. He wanted his mother to receive his letter as soon as possible, so he decided to keep it brief.

Mother,

I'm fine. I made the team and I'm a Beater now. I don't want you around that bastard. After all he did, he doesn't deserve to have you in his presence. Don't go to Azkaban.

Love,

Draco

He quickly sent the letter off with Thanatos and collapsed on his bed with a sigh. After only a few minutes of silence, his disruptive roommates came up to the dormitory.

"What the fuck…" Blaise said when he noticed the broken lamp. He pulled out his wand. "Reparo."

"Draco?" Theodore walked towards the blond boy's bed. "What's wrong, mate?"

"Nothing," Draco said.

"Aren't you going to start your Astronomy project? You need to start recording data soon. It's going to take a month-"

"I don't care, Theo." Draco interrupted quickly.

"But-"

"Just because I'm named after a constellation, it doesn't mean I give a fuck about Astronomy." Draco growled.

"Fine then. Suit yourself." Theodore gave up and picked up his supplies. "We're going to the Astronomy Tower now."

As his two closest friends left, Draco heard Blaise say, "I hope none of the Gryffindors will be there…"

An image of Hermione suddenly appeared in his mind. She was so captivating. Then, an image of her hugging Harry took over and Draco felt that inexplicable feeling once again. He let out a loud groan.

He hated Gryffindors.