Chances To Come
Chapter Seven
Potions and Sicknesses
"I see you found your broomstick, Potter," said Professor McGonagall.
Harry blinked and looked down at the Nimbus in his hands. "My broomstick?"
"Yes, you must have done something right today in your flying lessons, it seems someone thinks you are capable of playing for Gryffindor, not to mention we need a new Seeker anyway. However, sneaking out is still punishable and team member or not, you will get detention. You too, Mr. Malfoy. And ten points from each Gryffindor and Slytherin."
Harry and Draco nodded and Professor McGonagall took the brooms back to the locker rooms before escorting them, none too gently, back to the castle.
After breakfast of the next day, they had a few minutes before their first class so they met outside the Great Hall.
"Famous Harry Potter, the new Seeker for Gryffindor," said Draco with a light smirk. "How do you do it, Harry?"
"Look, I didn't ask for anybody to refer me, I've never even played before," said Harry. "And you still owe me five Galleons."
Draco tossed a small bag to Harry, "There. And I didn't say you were trying to get anyone to break the rules for you, I just think it's funny."
"Yeah, well there have been Seekers as young as me before, it's just not common."
Draco nodded. "I know. Like I said, I think it's funny, Harry, now you're getting even more attention and I didn't think that was possible."
Harry grunted slightly.
"Lighten up, Harry, these people will get bored with you sooner or later, I'm sure, no one could stay interested in you for too long."
"Thanks," said Harry sarcastically.
Draco grinned, "No problem. Now c'mon, we need to get down to the dungeons or Snape'll give us an extra detention."
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and Harry trained hard with the team until November came around and they had their first Quidditch game, Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Draco and Harry walked towards the field with the rest of the Gryffindor team. It was rather awkward because Draco wasn't exactly sure which team to root for. Neither of them said anything until they had almost reached the locker room.
"Good luck," said Draco simply, shaking Harry's hand then before Harry could even thank him, he was gone.
Harry didn't have time to brood over it, or anything else for that matter, with his nerves going like crazy as he changed into his scarlet and gold Quidditch robes. Everyone else on the team gave him a hearty pat on the back as they walked onto the field.
After he'd taken his place on the field, he hardly heard a word that was spoken by Madam Hooch and mounted when everyone else did, all the while searching the stands for Draco. He didn't see him. However, he spotted Ron and a few of his other Gryffindor friends. He smiled and waved to them before kicking off and shooting like a cork let loose from a bottle until he was well above the rest of the players, where he could look for the Snitch in peace.
Even after a few minutes, there had been no sign whatsoever of the Snitch. Harry was starting to grow a little impatient then another sight caught his eye. A large white dog watched him from a short distance away from the stands. Draco was there after all. Harry smiled again, but a sudden movement to his right made him snap back to attention and it took him only a moment to register what was happening.
The Slytherin Seeker had seen the Snitch.
Harry went into a sharp dive, chasing after the Slytherin Seeker, urging his Nimbus to go faster. He was close now… Come on. Faster. Faster! Harry thought, and a few feet from the ground, they both reached for the Snitch at the same time then pulled up. They both had one hand on either of the Snitch's wings. A sudden hush fell over the entire crowd. Then…
"The Snitch has been caught by both Seekers at the same time! The game is over, but… I suppose it'll have to depend on the current score who wins, seeing as how the one hundred and fifty points should not go to one team over the other…" the commentator, Lee Jordan, said, sounding slightly uncertain and looking to Professor McGonagall for confirmation. She nodded. Lee groaned. "Slytherin wins. 60-20." Lee said, hardly bothering to hide his disappointment.
Harry couldn't hide his either as he headed back into the locker room with the Gryffindor team.
"Don't beat yourself up, Harry," said Alicia Spinnet, one of the Gryffindor Chasers. "You caught the Snitch in your very first game! That's rare, and if it's anyone's fault we lost, it's ours," she added, gesturing to herself and the other two Chasers.
Harry nodded, but he was still disappointed and he was sighing more than usual as he walked off the field. He felt a little better when he saw Draco walking towards him though, no longer a dog.
"I didn't want to be in the stands, y'know…" he mumbled apologetically.
"I know. It's okay. I'm not disappointed by that."
Draco nodded, "But you did good out there, Harry."
"Thanks."
"You did. You really did."
"Thanks again…" Harry kicked a nearby small rock and watched it fly through the air then slam into the ground a few feet away.
"C'mon, cheer up, I'm sure you'll – " Draco started to say, but whatever Harry would, he never found out as Ron bounded up to them, beaming.
"That was awesome, Harry! What a dive!" He paused, looking at Draco. "Hello, Malfoy."
"Hello, Weasley."
They had run into each other a few times while talking to Harry and out of respect, they kept open hostility to a minimum.
"Thanks, Ron," said Harry, starting to feel a little better with both of his friends trying to cheer him up. It was short-lived however because Harry could see Ron still wasn't comfortable about Draco.
"I'll see you in the common room, okay?" said Ron, starting to fidget.
Harry nodded and Ron left.
Draco smiled half-heartedly as they turned to head back to the castle as well. "He's right you know, that was a wicked dive."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Harry mumbled, shrugging modestly.
Draco patted Harry on the back as they walked into the entrance hall, then they took different paths, each heading to their common room.
Harry practically bounced down to the dungeons the next Friday for Potions, earning many odd looks, but he didn't care, it was the last class for the week and he was glad for it.
His happiness was short-lived however. He saw Draco walking into the classroom, looking paler than usual and staggering slightly. He quickened his pace until he reached his friend.
"What's wrong, Draco? You look terrible."
"Hello to you too, Harry," said Draco with a light smirk. "I'm a bit tired, and I've got a small stomachache, nothing big, I'll go get some Pepper-Up Potion from Madam Pomfrey after class."
Harry nodded as they sat down, trying to decide if he believed his friend or not, then he shrugged it off inwardly and continued talking normally until the bell rang.
"Today we will be making the Compescor Potion," Snape began.
Harry cast an inquisitive glance at Draco. Draco shrugged slightly. Neither of them had done this potion before or even heard of it.
They took notes, writing down all the ingredients and instructions carefully, then proceeded to make the potion with the same amount of care, for the first time neither of them talked or passed notes during class.
Neville Longbottom, who had been given a wide berth by the rest of the students – including Harry and Draco -, messed up his potion again. Seconds after the potion splashed over Neville, he bent over and vomited. He was escorted to the hospital wing as Snape cleared up the mess with a single wave of his wand.
If possible, everyone else continued with even more precaution than they already had been.
"Poor Neville," said Harry as they walked out after the class was over. "It's a wonder he's not in the hospital wing more often."
Draco nodded. "Not too gifted in Potions, is he?"
"He can't help it. He's actually not too gifted in much else, except Herbology. Potions is his major downfall though."
"I hope he'll have stopped vomiting by the time I get to the hospital wing otherwise he may have me doing the same with the way my stomach is feeling."
"I'm sure Madam Pomfrey has him asleep by now."
"Yeah, I hope so. Well, I'll see you later, Harry."
"What? I'm coming with you."
"Well, I don't know how long it'll be…"
"It's just a Pepper-Up Potion, right? Like I'd miss the chance to see you smoking at the ears."
"I appreciate that."
"No problem." Harry grinned.
Madam Pomfrey had indeed given Neville a Sleeping Potion by the time Harry and Draco got to the hospital wing and he was snoring loudly, spread-eagled on one of the beds.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, another Pepper-Up Potion?" said Madam Pomfrey upon seeing them.
Draco blushed slightly at the look Harry was giving him. "Yes, please, Madam Pomfrey."
The second Madam Pomfrey had gone back into her office Harry voiced his thoughts.
"Another Pepper-Up Potion?"
"Well, I've gotten one or two since the year started…"
"How recently?"
"Within the last week," said Draco sheepishly. "It's nothing."
"I'm sure…" Harry frowned.
"Here you are, Mr. Malfoy, but I'm not entirely sure you don't need something stronger," said Madam Pomfrey as she came out of her office, holding a small bottle that she handed to Draco.
"It's nothing," Draco insisted, downing the potion in one gulp.
Madam Pomfrey frowned much like Harry. "If these stomachaches continue tomorrow, you're not taking Pepper-Up Potion anymore."
Her tone left no room for argument and Draco nodded, handing the empty bottle back.
No sooner had he turned to the door than did he fall to all fours, his face pinched in pain, and he vomited then passed out.
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A/N: The plot bunny finally makes an appearance! And I really, really, really hope I did okay with the Quidditch scene. I hit a major snag with that, wondering just how I was gonna have everything play out. This chapter was particularly hard because I wasn't sure exactly how I was gonna have Draco being sick mix in with everything else.
Please tell me any thoughts or suggestions you might have! Praise is okay too. Hint, hint. ;-)
Layce74: Thanks a lot! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Nemati: Thanks for the tip, I hope this chapter isn't too boring.
Kaaera: I think it's spelled Remembrall. But anyway, thanks a bundle. Even though there was no particular potion I had in mind for their first potion, I listed this one. For you and for another reason. It comes later. Sorry I can't answer any more of your questions, but they will be answered eventually, I promise!
DreamingToThis: FF.Net is very evil, it tells me my chapters don't exist all the time. Grr… And I'm glad you liked Draco's reaction to Harry being a Gryffindor! I agree some stories make it sound too sappy for him. Anyway, thanks a lot!
:: Gives a cookie to each reviewer :: Many, many thanks to my reviewers. It's so encouraging for me to write with all this positive feedback. I hope you guys, reviewer or non-reviewer, enjoyed this chapter!
~Sabre Black.