I love the song A man for all seasons, such a good song!! Anyway, one thing that I need to mention in this chapter I have never had a broken bone before, but from what people have said to me about them you first of all get a adrenaline rush where you don't feel the pain, and then it is gone and it hurts really badly. Tell me if this is not right please, you will work out why I said once you have read the chapter.
Sorry there is no music in this one either!
The Slytherin captain is Draco, sorry if this wasn't clear before but I thought that I would make this known before this chapter.
It was pouring with rain, the stands were filled with a cheering crowds, Harry entered the pitch, he looked around at the crowd, the rest of his team following behind him, Harry felt a glow of pride as he took a quick look behind him and saw that his team mates were already mounting their brooms getting into their starting positions for the game. Harry breathed in a deep breath releasing the tension that he had, since Draco had told him that there was going to be Quidditch scout at the game Harry had worked his team hard making sure that they were on their best form, and they responded by playing the best practices that he had ever seen in his time at Hogwarts. He walked forwards to Madame Hooch who was standing there in the pitch with the quaffle in her hand ready to release the rest of the balls as soon as she blew her whistle.
"Shake hands." She said glaring at the two boys before her, as if daring them to do something hostile to each other. There was no need to worry as Draco and Harry shook hands briefly a quick unseen smile passing between them.
"Play good Potter." Draco said inclining his head slightly his eyes glinting in amusement.
"Don't worry I always do Malfoy." Harry replied before dropping Draco's hand and mounting his broom. Harry felt the tingling sensation of excitement coursing though his body as he kicked off flying high above the ground and coming to hover in his starting position, Draco mimicked his actions on his own Nimbus 3000 that he had purchased just after 6th year, they were now matched in speed all that they had to compete on was skill. Draco smirked, this was going to be fun.
Madame Hooch blew her whistle and they were off, the balls were released and the snitch was gone.
"Gryffindor in possession, Ginny Weasley with the quaffle heading for the Slytherin goal posts." A 5th year Ravenclaw commented, McGonagall knowing that there was a scout coming that day had refused Luna her position as commentator and had chosen Tommy Hicks instead for this match.
"Passes to Demelza Robins who scores!" The crowd cheered. "10 points to Gryffindor."
Draco grumbled curses under his breath looking hard around the pitch for the glint of gold that would signal the snitch. Why had all the good players been the ones that also had become Death Eaters! Draco wandered to himself as he flew around dodging a bludger that was thankfully not hit at him from his team mates this time, luckily for him his team had heard about the scout that was coming and had decided that at least for this one game they would treat him like one of their team members instead of the opposition.
Harry was on the other side of the pitch looking around for the snitch, he caught a glint of something bright in the sun light and headed over to the far left of the pitch to see what it was, it turned out to be nothing more than Graham Pritchard, the Slytherin keepers, watch. Harry muttered to himself feeling slightly put out the rain heavy around him. He had hoped that this match would be short, he never like playing for hours in the rain it usually ended badly for him. Harry dived quickly hoping to release some tension.
"What's this looks like Potter has seen something." Tommy said into the microphone as he saw Harry dive towards the ground. Draco looked towards him and smiled to himself, he knew that dive, that was a leisurely dive for Harry nothing for him to be worried about. "It's seems as though Draco Malfoy is ignoring Potter's possible move to catch the snitch." Tommy said.
"Malfoy what the fuck are you doing, why aren't you catching Potter!" Blaise Zambi called for where he was passing Draco in mid-air.
"Don't worry about it Zambi I know what I'm doing." Draco retorted angrily looking slightly past Blaise's head. "You however should keep your eyes on the game more." Draco said just before he zoomed upwards hearing Blaise yell as he narrowly missed the bludger that was heading towards them. Draco chuckled under his breath as he straightened out and flew to the other end of the pitch where Harry was hanging in the air searching.
"Nice one Malfoy, trying to get him back for last match?" Harry asked as Draco flew up to him and hung next to him.
"Possibly Potter." Draco said smirking. "How's the searching going?"
"About same as yours I wager." Harry replied squinting his eyes down at the pitch. "Catch me if you can." Harry said giving Draco a quick grin before he sped off full speed towards the other end of the pitch.
"Hey!" Draco shouted lying flat to his broom and chasing after Harry.
"90 points to 60, and it looks like Potter had seen something this time." Tommy said. "Malfoy close on his tail." Harry looked to his right as he heard Draco catch up to him looking directly at the small golden ball that they were both chasing.
"So you did catch up." Harry said over the roaring of the wind and rain that surrounded them.
"You bet on it." Draco said smirking but not taking his eyes off the snitch.
"Now you just have to beat me." Harry said, rising sharply as the snitch changed its course.
Draco cursed as he was a few inches too late for the same steam that Harry had done and had to settle for a slightly later rise.
"A bit clumsy there." Harry taunted.
"Not everyone can be so naturally graceful as you on a broom Potter." Draco sneered at him glaring at the rain that was hitting his eyes. "Shame it disappears as soon as you hit the ground."
"I think there was a compliment in there somewhere." Harry joked turning sharply again as the snitch changed course.
"Malfoy and Potter still neck to neck, matched for speed both on state of the art brooms, but are they matched in skill." Tommy voice called over the crowds making both Harry and Draco smirk to themselves.
"What do you think Potter, are we matched in skill?" Draco asked amusement lased in his voice.
"Only one why to find out." Harry said as he put on another burst of speed zooming in and out of goal posts following the snitch, Draco followed trying to move as easily as Harry did but failed, having to instead fly slightly higher than Harry and swooping back down when the snitch had stopped swooping in and out of the people on the pitch who were trying to keep playing instead of watching Harry and Draco in hot pursuit. Draco saw it before Harry did, a bludger coming towards him.
"Harry watch out!" He screamed, fear flooding though him, but he was too late as soon as the words were out of his mouth the bluder collided with Harry's arm hitting it with a large crunching sound. Harry grunted in pain, his Quidditch pad on his fore arm falling off, but instead of stopping or changing course Harry jumped forward off his broom. "Harry!" Draco screamed as the whole stadium gasped in shock and horror.
"What?" Harry asked. Draco looked down at Harry's broom there he was hanging upside down by his legs that were crossed over is broom, in his good hand was the snitch.
"What the hell how did you do that!" Draco said grinning down at Harry who had started to direct his broom by his legs down towards the ground that lay 30 feet below, his seemingly broken arm held across his chest.
"I guess I just have more skill than you do." He said grinning back as he went slowly towards the ground.
"I don't believe it, Harry Potter has just caught the snitch and managed to stay on his broom! I don't believe it! That's another shocking catch made by Harry Potter that will be added to the best 100 Quidditch catches in Hogwarts history. Potter currently holds three of these, including the fastest catch in Hogwarts history, best catch with a broken arm and the number one best catch ever made where Potter reportedly caught the snitch in his mouth in his first ever Quidditch game." Tommy's words flooded over the crowd as they cheered. "Gryffindor wins 240 points to 70."
Harry landed on the ground the Gryffindor supporters flooded onto the pitch, the team was already there to greet him as he slowly came to rest on the floor of the pitch. Harry was pulled up off the floor by Ron who was in the middle of the uproar of students.
"Move out of the way!" Madame Pomfrey said pushing past the students with McGonagall hot on her tail looking harassed. "Potter we better get you to the Hospital wing." She said looking at Harry's arm then around at the sea of students , Harry supposed she was checking for any teachers that were going to come forward and insist on fixing his arm. "You help him." Madame Pomfrey said pointing to Draco who was standing slightly outside of the group of people. Draco came forward before anyone could notice that Harry was gone and helped him stand, it seemed as though the final moments of the Quidditch match had made Harry slightly queasy and dizzy. "Come on now this way quickly." She said as she led the way followed by Professor McGonagall and the two boys, Harry steadily looking paler every step he took.
They reached to hospital wing and Pomfrey instructed Draco to help Harry take off his Quidditch robes before she could examine him properly, she pulled the privacy screen around them and walked off to her office to get some potions. McGonagall stood outside the privacy screen trying not to listen to the conversation that the two boys, that did not seem to know she was there, were having.
"Potter let me do that." Draco complained batting Harry's good hand away from his top where he was trying to undo the clasps one handed. Harry snorted trying not to be sick from the pain that was in his arm. "What?" Draco asked irritability.
"This is a change having you undress me." Harry said, causing Draco to twinge pink and McGonagall who could hear their conversation blanch at his words.
"Potter that was one time and it wasn't as if I was willing, if I do remember correctly I was passed out and in need of a change of clothes as the one I was wearing were covered in potion." Draco said removing Harry's robe and helping him out of it slowly so as not to hurt his arm.
"Hiss." Harry inhaled sharply at the pain he felt in his arm. "Thanks." Harry said looking at Draco seeing that he was still sodden. "You need to get dried up." Harry grinned as Draco's eyes narrowed.
"Say's you, look at you, your soaking too, and you have mud on your back from where you were lying on the grass when you landed, and you have a broken arm." Draco said sounding superior.
"Well sorry if I caught the snitch." Harry said opening his left arm and showing Draco the small ball still in his palm.
Draco mock glared. "That was no catch Potter that was pure insanity." Harry laughed.
"Here you go I already have one." He said handing the small golden ball to Draco.
"Potter I don't think you can keep this one!" Draco said holding the ball limply in his hand.
"Why not, I have the other one." He said shrugging shaking his wet hair in an effort to dry it, only succeeding in pelting Draco in drops of water, he was feeling better now that he was sitting down and wasn't so cold, his broken right arm resting across his lap.
"You didn't nearly swallow this one though." Draco said watching as the ball opened its wings. "Fuck!" He cursed as the ball started flying above their heads, Draco jumped up trying to catch the small ball but it was too high for him. Harry started to laugh watching Draco jump up and down like a kangaroo the snitch just out of his grip. "Shut it Potter." Draco said glaring at Harry.
"Boy's!" Madame Pomfrey said as she came round the corner of the privacy screen to see Draco jumping up and down on the spot, whilst Harry was laughing at him watching.
"Ha Ha. Got you!" Draco said as he managed to close his hand around the snitch, unfortunately landing ungracefully and fall onto Harry who had his broken arm held out to the side allowing Pomfrey to examine the broken bone.
"Ouch!" Harry complained, feeling a spasm of pain run down his arm and a large body half pinning him to the mattress of the bed. Harry looked up to see a sheepish Draco staring back at his, turning faintly pink again.
"S-sorry." Draco said slowly pushing himself up trying to ignore at his sudden want to move a few inches closer to the green eyes boy. Harry stared at Draco for a while with a confused look on his face, he didn't even notice that his arm had been fixed until McGonagall took his attention away from Draco.
"Mr. Malfoy, you cannot keep that Snitch." She said holding out her hand for him to place it in, which he did slightly reluctantly. "Now there is someone that I think you would like to meet." She said and Pomfrey removed the privacy screen from where they were revealing a tall dirty blonde hared man standing there smiling at them.
"Hello Mr. Potter, I am Jacob Strachan the contractor for the Winbourne Wasps, I would be thrilled if you would consider playing the seeker position in the next year's league." He said coming forward and shaking Harry's right hand which caused him to wince slightly as he had just had it mended a few seconds ago.
"Yeah I would love to." Harry said his face breaking into a wide grin.
"Excellent, what about you Mr. Malfoy?" Jacob said turning to Draco who looked slightly perplexed.
"What" Draco asked confused.
"How would you like to play Quidditch for the Winbourne Wasps, possibly not the seeker position is Mr. Potter here is going to take us up on our offer but we could try you as a chaser or a keeper, probably not a beater though considering your build." Jacob said looking Draco up and assessing what positions his body build would suit.
"Me really?" Draco asked not believing that this was really happening.
"Of course, you are two of the best flyers I have seen in a while, you both are very comfortable on brooms as well as instructing your teams and it would be useful to have you two on a team together as you both seem to know each other's flying style like the back of your hand. The way you knew that Potter was not going to catch the snitch in that first dive he did was very impressive Mr. Malfoy. You two make a very interesting match to watch when on opposing teams, but I think that it would be even more interesting if you were on the same team. What do you say?" Jacob stood there smiling at them both waiting for an answer. Draco turned to look at Harry who was grinning at him.
"I want to study law." Draco said looking at Harry as he said this a seeing the joy that was plastered on his face slip slightly at Draco's apparent refusal of the offer. This was not what he had planned when he had requested the scout to come to Hogwarts his aim was to get Harry an offer, not himself.
"That's perfectly acceptable, practices can be arranged around extra studying that is required for any other profession that either of you want to peruse, we understand that it is not a lifelong commitment for all and can make arrangements. The starting pay will be 40,000 gallons a week, which has the opportunity to increase if you are picked for the world cup team." Harry stared blankly at Jacob.
"40,000 gallons?" He asked mouth falling open in shock. The others just looked at him confused the realisation came over Draco.
"He's never known how much the players are paid." Draco explained to Jacob who nodded in understanding.
"So what do you say?" Jacob pressed waiting for a decision not looking so sure of himself now as neither of the boys seemed about to give him the answer that he wanted.
"Okay." Harry said nodding slowly. "I'll take the offer." Jacob smiled looking slightly less on edge than he had done so before, then everyone one turned to look at Draco who seemed to be struggling with an answer.
"I can really still study to become a lawyer?" Draco asked, as if he was being asked to jump off a cliff.
"Of course." Jacob said smiling encouragingly at him.
Draco looked towards Harry and saw the silent plea in Harry's eyes, he wanted him to come with him to play on the same side for once, Draco thought thinking, he had wanted to be a lawyer since before he could remember he had nearly thrown that dream away once could he do it again? Draco thought, but he wasn't giving it away just doing something else whilst he was studying, he looked into Harry's green eyes again, he had an image of himself and Harry flying together laughing wearing the same Quidditch robes, he felt his stomach become light. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity why waste it? He and Harry would be playing on the same side, Harry needed someone to keep his head out of the clouds, Draco smiled to himself as he thought this.
He looked back at Jacob making his mind up. "I'll take the offer." Harry beamed at him before turning back and looking at Jacob as he spoke.
"Excellent, I'll have our lawyers draw up contracts for you both, Minerva shall I leave them with you?" He asked turning to McGonagall.
"Yes, send them to me as soon as they are drawn up." She said as she started leading him out of the room.
"No." Draco suddenly said causing the others to all look round at him. "My lawyers will deal with the contracts Mr. Strachan if you don't mind."
McGonagall looked annoyed at Draco, Jacob smiled. "Of course, I'll send the contracts over as soon as possible. Goodbye Minerva nice seeing you, and great game you two, really great." He beamed at them both again before being escorted out by McGonagall who shut the hospital wing doors before any of Harry's well wishers could storm in.
"Your arm is fixed and other than that there was nothing wrong with you so you are allowed to leave whenever you want." Pomfrey said smiling at Harry as he started to put on his damp Quidditch robe back over his still wet t-shirt. "Let's get you both dry, we don't want you two coming back with a cold now do we." She said as she waved her wand over them both casting a drying charm which instantly had them both warm and dry.
"Thank you Poppy." Harry said doing his robe up talking without thinking; Draco raised his eye brows at the use of the nurse's first name.
"Harry I told you not to call me that whilst we are at school, but thank you, and well done I hope I won't have to see a lot of you though when you start playing, god knows what you are going to do to yourself next." She said amused walking to her office.
"So you and Pomfrey are good friends then?" Draco asked raising his eyebrows and walking with Harry slowly over to the hospital wing doors.
"Yeah, the amount of times I've been in here it's kind of hard not to be." Harry said shrugging. "And she is my personal doctor, if anything goes wrong she's the one I call." They stood before the door for a few seconds seeing the shadows of many people who were waiting on the other side of the magically locked door which Madame Pomfrey had decided to place so as to not have to throw people out of the Hospital wing when Harry was being treated. "Thanks for agreeing to play Quidditch too." Harry said turning to Draco and half smiling.
"Well someone needs to keep you in your place Potter, that Jacob guy was basically begging you to accept the offer." Draco said smirking.
"Well after that catch who can blame him." Harry said jokingly causing Draco to roll his eyes.
"Whatever Potter, I'll see you around." He nodded to Harry once before opening the door of the Hospital wing and walking out though the small crowd that was waiting to be let in, no one paid Draco much attention other than a few glares as most of the people there were the Gryffindor team and Harry's friends.
Harry sighed before opening the door and coming out into the corridor. "You okay mate?" Ron asked coming up to Harry. "You looked so pale when you were leaving! I would have come but by the time I reached the hospital wing the lock was already on. How was it? What did that guy say?"
"I'm fine Ron it was just a broken arm." Harry said looking around at the faces of the others who were all waiting for him to answer Ron's last question. "I erm, was offered and Quidditch contract with the Winbourne Wasps, me and Malfoy both." Everyone screamed happily, some hugging Harry some whacking him on the back congratulating him.
"This is a cause for celebration." Ron called over the small crowd. "Party in the common room now." Harry found himself being dragged off to the celebration party, thinking that he should not be the only one there, Draco deserved just as much congratulation as he did, and yet Harry knew no one was going to give Draco any. At that thought Harry's mood sank slightly and he found himself wanting to celebrate with the blonde Slytherin.
"Come on Harry, why aren't you coming over to mine for Christmas." Ron moaned for the tenth time that day, Harry just rolled his eyes at his friend.
"As I told you before I have other plans, but I will be coming over on Christmas day." Harry said as they continued to walk down the corridor in the castle watching as excited younger students ran around, sometimes bursting into random chorus of songs that had nothing to do with the parting gift that Dumbledore had left them, yes the holiday were upon them.
"What plans, you can't want to stay here you will be spending the holidays alone with Malfoy!" Ron said throwing his arms up. It was two days before they were to be going home on the train for their holiday and Harry had yet to tell Ron that he would not be going to the Burrow or Hogwarts but Grimmauld Place, the redecoration had finished and Kreature had said that it looked better than it had in a while keeping its original features but not having the fear of being attacked by drapery or old moth holed furniture.
"Malfoy's staying here?" Harry asked surprised, this was news to him mind you he hadn't been able to talk to Draco much these past weeks the only conversation that they had was the one where Draco had informed him about their Quidditch contracts coming though, Harry was missing spending time with the blonde.
"Yeah." Hermione said looking up at Harry. "Why?" She asked her eyes narrowing slightly.
"It just seems strange." Harry said trying not to blush under Hermione's intense stare. "He has his mother why isn't he spending the holidays with her."
"She probably has had enough of him like everyone else around here." Ron muttered.
"Ron!" Hermione said whacking him on his arm.
"What!" He exclaimed rubbing the place where she had hit him.
"Malfoy is not nearly as bad as he used to be, and he's been through some rough times, you should show some compassion." She said glaring at him.
"What! Why! He's a bloody git!" Ron said throwing his arms out as if that explained it all.
"Hey, Potter the contracts have been signed and are now on their way back, we have been requested to come for a tryout session on the 26th January so that we can meet the team and make sure we are playing the correct positions." Draco said as he passed the trio causing them to stop for a few moments.
"Thanks Malfoy." Harry said.
"See you later." Draco said nodding his head once at Ron and Hermione before walking off down the corridor.
Harry was fighting the feeling to chase after him, he really did miss spending time with the blonde. "Yeah, Malfoy was really acting like a git wasn't he Ron." Hermione said sarcastically rolling her eyes as they continued to walk down the corridor.
"That was one time Hermione, one time! And anyway he probably made sure Harry's contract is not beneficial to Harry." Ron said grumpily putting his hands in his pockets.
"You are just jealous that he got offered a Quidditch contract and you didn't." Hermione said rolling her eyes again.
"No I'm not, anyway I'm much better player than Malfoy, tell her Harry." Ron said. "Harry?" He turned around, Harry had stopped a few meters back from them and was looking conflicted. "Hey you okay?" Ron asked looking worriedly at Harry.
"I'll see you later I've got to go and do something." Harry said and without another explanation he turned on his heel and walked though the corridor chasing after the direction that Draco had gone.
"That was strange." Ron said shrugging.
"Yeah it was." Hermione said thoughtfully continuing to walk down the corridor with Ron had in hand deep in thought.
"Malfoy!" Harry called as he saw the blonde head of hair that could be mistaken as no one else.
"Potter?" Draco asked turning round to be met with a panting, slightly red faced Gryffindor.
"Can I talk to you?" Harry asked dragging Draco into the nearest empty classroom before he could answer.
"Sure Potter you can speak to me as you gave me no choice but to do so." Draco said smirking.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Why are you staying here for Christmas?"
Draco looked taken aback by the question but recovered coughing slightly to cover his pause. "I don't believe that is any business of yours." He looked at a point behind Harry's shoulder not wanting to look at him.
"Draco, why don't you want to go home?" Harry asked taking a step closer, and holding Draco's chin giving him no choice but to look at Harry in the eyes.
"I can't alright." Draco said pulling himself out of Harry's grip feeling a pleasant burning sensation where Harry had touched him.
"Why not?" Harry pressed sitting on the edge of one of the misused desks.
"My mother was getting hate mail so she had retreated to the South of France where we have a residence, she thinks' that it is best that I do not come as someone may find out where she is residing, and it's not safe as some of the hate mail is cursed with some nasty curses, at least here the mail is now scanned for curses after the bubotuber pus that Granger received in 4th year." Draco said trying to hide a smile from the memory, Harry tried not to smile also, looking back on it the event was rather humorous.
"Well you can't stay here alone, someone might attack you, and there is no reason to be lonely on Christmas." Harry said remembering the years when he has spent Christmas alone in his cupboard with only a manky old pair of old socks and a few spiders for company.
"What do you suggest?" Draco asked looking defeated. "Go and spend the time with my father in prison? Because that is not my idea of a good Christmas either." Draco said shuddering something.
Harry thought for a moment. "I'm spending the holidays at my house, you can come and stay there no one will know where you are and it is pretty powerfully protected so any cursed mail would be spotted."
Draco looked up his mouth hanging open. "No way am I spending Christmas with Weasley, Granger would be fine you can have a decent conversation with her without being beaten up, but Weasley he will most likely try to kill me as soon as I walk through the door!"
"I'm not spending Christmas with them, Hermione is going to see her parents in Australia, and Ron is at his house, I'm at the Black's old house." Harry explained.
"So just me and you?" Draco asked slowly, causing Harry to blush slightly.
"And Kreature the house elf."
Draco looked at Harry for a long moment. "What the catch?"
"There's no catch, we're friends." Harry said, Draco nodded. "Oh there is one tiny little thing." Harry suddenly remembering.
"What" Draco asked suspicious.
"You have to spend Christmas day with the Weasley's I promised that I would go over there." Harry said cringing slightly as Draco's eyes popped.
"Right because a whole horde is not less likely to hex me on the spot."
Harry laughed disputed Draco's glare. "I'll clear it with Mrs. Weasley, trust me no one will hurt you if you come with me, you might even learn to like them."
"I highly doubt that." Draco muttered. He thought about it, it was either spend one day in the company of the Weasley's and the rest of the holiday with Harry or spend the entire holiday alone. "A friendship should always be give and take." He said looking at Harry. "Fine I will spend Christmas with the Weasley's, but I sear if any of them hurt me then I will hold you responsible."
"Fine. I'll meet you on the platform." Harry said turning to go.
"Thanks Harry." Draco said timidly not looking at him but down at his feet, Harry had to replay the words to check that he had heard the correctly.
"Don't mention it Draco." Harry left the room feeling suddenly lighter, he was going to be spending Christmas with Draco and the Weasley's. 'Fuck what have I done!'
The pay for the Quidditch players I worked out on the basis that 5 pounds is equal to one gallon, and that the average footballer gets paid like 400 thousand pounds a week, so I divided this number in half to get the starting pay for a Quidditch player in the main league, and then once they are added onto the England team their pay is doubled so that they make 400 thousand pounds a week like footballers. Stupidly over paid I know but the world isn't perfect.
Please tell me if this is getting funnier, I hope it is I thought I would try to make it as funny as possible.
Also the world cup is being played the summer at the end of their final year, as like football and most other sports I think it is on a four year rota.
Any questions ask, and of you think characterisation is wrong then tell me and I will try to fix it. Thanks for reading.
