Author's Note: This is a short chapter but I decided to put it separately from the next chapter as I like the way it ends. And yes, I have decided to put up all that I have written already at once and start writing the rest after that. Anyway, enjoy and review…

Chapter 2: Miniature Wood

Draco and the others sat around Ron's hospital bed. It was just three days before the famous match, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Harry, who had moved from the 'Is Ron going to be okay? Will he live?' phase, was now preoccupied with Quidditch. He was nervous because he had yet to find a replacement keeper and without a keeper they couldn't play. As Harry had told them, McLaggen was a better player than some of the hopefuls Harry had tried.

Ron was fiddling with his miniature flying Krum toy. Since Hermione and Draco had gotten together and Ron had discovered his feelings for Luna, the redhead seemed to have regained his admiration for the professional Quidditch player.

"Wish this toy could come to life." Ron speculated. "Then we'd definitely kick your asses." He directed the last bit at Draco.

"I'd kick his ass," Draco corrected "for ever touching my girl."

"I wasn't with you at the time Draco." Hermione pointed out. Draco seemed unphased by this comment and went on. By this comment and went on.

"Besides," he said "Krum's a seeker, you need a keeper remember. Or you forfeit the game to me," He leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his hand and a smug look on his face.

"What you need" Luna said, holding Ron's hand, "is a miniature Ronald come to life."

Harry sighed. For once, Luna had said something that made sense, sort of.

There was a loud "twack" outside the window. They all turned to see what it was, excluding Ron, who winced when he tried and settled back down in the bed. Two small boys appeared to be practicing Quidditch. They had a makeshift Quaffle and the blond boy was tossing it toward the brunette. Another "twack" sounded as the brunette turned and hit the ball with the tail of his broom straight back toward his friend. They watched for a few minutes as the boys repeated the action over and over. The brunette didn't miss one save.

"Or a miniature Wood," Hermione said brightening.

"What?" Draco asked.

"That's Thomas Wood." Hermioen explained "Oliver Wood's cousin and apparently as good a keeper."

"He's a first year" Draco said calmly.

"Harry was a first year when he joined the team." Neville countered.

"Harry was a special case." Draco retorted.

"Maybe Thomas is a special case too." Luna said.

"He'd be a substitute They can't make a special case for a substitute." Draco tried to reason.

"Says who?" Ginny asked hotly.

"Says um…" Draco couldn't think of an answer. "Well they just can't."

"What if McGonagall said they could?" Neville asked

"Neville's right" Hermione said "McGonagall or Vector could make an exception."

"Vector won't let us." Ginny said, her face falling. "Arithmancy has taken over. It's all about rules and figures and set answers."

"To McGonagall then," Harry said.

"You need approval from the other captains to override a decision by a Head of House." Blaise said.

"We'll get it," Hermione replied. Draco looked over at her. "You forget that I'm a captain."

"You forget that I'm your girlfriend." Hermione countered.

"I'm not doing it."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not"

"Yes you are"

"No I'm not"

Draco stood in the corner of McGonagall's office as Harry told the Headmistress about his proposition, a difficult thing to do considering the room was in the shape of an oval. Or an ellipse as Vector called it. Sometimes he hated the Arithmancy Professor. Graphs and formulas had been getting stuck in his head since third year, when he had started taking the course. And they popped up at the most unexpected times. But that was not the issue at hand right now. The issue was Thomas Wood.

"What do the other captains think about this?" the Headmistress asked. "And more importantly, what does young Mister Wood think?"

"Oh Wood's thrilled. Well actually I haven't told him but I'm sure he will be. He came down early to the pitch on tryout day. He said that he wished he could play under my captainship. As for the other captains…"

Harry was cut off by Micheal Corner and Zacharias Smith entering the office. They were the captians of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff teams respectively. They were followed by Hermione and Thomas Wood.

"I've told them." Hermione said "So you don't have to explain again."

"And what do you think of the idea?" McGonagall asked the three boys.

"I'd love to play Professor, especially for Harry Potter. My cousin Oliver taught me how to keep the goals and he says I'm getting really good." Thomas was enthusiastic.

"If he's as good as Hermione claims," Michael stated, "then he is the best choice, despite his age."

"I was skeptical at first" Zacharias said, "but it's only fair to let him try. And if he fails, no skin off my nose. If he succeeds, great for him."

They all turned toward Draco. He sighed. "Let the kid have a chance Professor."

"That's very noble of you Mr. Malfoy. May I ask why you chose to allow Mr. Wood to play?" asked McGonagall. The truth was that, had Draco not agreed, Hermione could have, and probably would have put him through hell. Draco's instinct told him to give a retort such as 'he won't be able to block a single goal.' But he knew that he could say neither of these in front of Hermione. "I have my reasons." He said simply.

The day of the Quidditch match was cold and windy, but the sky was clear. Hermione was already gone when Draco awoke and headed down to breakfast. He ate quickly and walked down to the pitch with his Nimbus over his shoulder. As he'd planned, he was the first one in the locker room. He pulled on his emerald green Quidditch robes and his boots and gloves and waited for the rest of the team to arrive.

After the others had arrived and Draco had given his team the usual pregame pep talk, they walked out onto the pitch, opposite the Gryffindors. Draco shook Harry's hand and took to the skies as soon as the Quaffle was released.

"And Weasley has the Quaffle," called a familiar voice. In fact the voice was a little too familiar. Apparently Harry recognized it too. They both flew over to the announcer box and reached it just as the girl's voice announced that Gryffindor had scored the first ten points.

"Hermione!" Draco and Harry both yelled in shock.

"Hello boys" she said smiling and covering the microphone.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Announcing," she said, "And Warrington has the Quaffle, oh hit by a Bludger from Peakes, and Robins catches the Quaffle."

Draco put his hand over the microphone. "Why?"

"Because I don't want to have to choose sides."

"What's to choose?" Harry asked incredulously, "Hermione, it's your own house!"

"Don't you two have a snitch to catch?" she asked annoyed. The boys turned and sped off in opposite directions.

Five hours later, Draco was looking around hopelessly. Neither he nor Harry had caught the snitch yet.

"And Warrington hit by his own teammate." Draco heard. He flew down to where Goyle was.

"I told you to play worse than usual." Draco hissed. "Not to hit your own teammate." Draco had been trying to make it look like Goyle really had been hit with the curse instead of Ron. Unfortunately it was working a little too well. Draco winced as he heard that his keeper had let yet another goal in. He flew back up to his post. That made the score 270 to 130, in Gryffindor's favor. He flew for another ten minutes and then he heard that his team was attempting a goal. And…it was blocked again. Damn that kid was good.

Then he saw Harry dive. He followed his opponent, hoping beyond hope that he would get to the snitch first. As he sped downward Gryffindor scored another goal. Draco cursed mentally and continued to dive. And then Harry pulled up, not ten feet from the ground. Draco had been tricked. He cursed again. And then he saw it. Draco veered left and reached out his arm. He felt his hand close over the timy winged ball. He had done it. He had caught the snitch. He touched down and held the snitch up high.

He expected applause from the Slytherins. He expected groans of disappointment from the Gryffindors. He'd not expected the silence. But he knew why. Without Hermione saying it the whole pitch knew. Players and fans alike were speechless, and it was because he had caught the snitch. He had beaten Harry Potter, the golden boy and seeker extraordinaire, but it was much more than that. He had done something that had never happened in living memory at Hogwarts. He had caught the snitch when the other team was a hundred and fifty points up. The final score was 280 to 280, a tie.