LADY MALFOY
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related belongs to J. K. Rowling. And the places I mention, in the story do not belong to me.
Author's note: Immense gratitude to my beta, Savannah0707 for helping me.
I am extremely sorry for my lateness, guys. I won't make any excuse but promise that I will post the next chapter, which I already started writing as early as possible.
Thank you so much, guys for reviewing and encouraging me with your lovely reviews. I know you are eager to read the new chapter but please read the A/N first. I wouldn't have asked you that if I didn't feel it absolutely necessary.
I have added a small note in the middle of the chapter to indicate that from hereon chapter will explicitly contain the game's terminology or its rules and I have explained their meaning in the A/N at the end of the chapter so that you can understand. At first, I wanted to include A/N's in the middle but that seemed very distracting from the actual story. I am really sorry for the inconvenience, guys but if you really want to enjoy the chapter instead of getting confused by some of the words, I strongly suggest that you read the A/N at the bottom first. I know it quite a chore but please I am requesting you to put a little effort in understanding the game.
To those who already know this game, please remember that this is a fictional story and hence, I have taken some liberty with the rules of the game to suit my plot. Please don't flame me for it. Also, I will not go into every detail of the game (because that will take more space than this chapter) and only explain what is necessary to understand the chapter. Also, this game (you will know soon enough) though played since 16th century in country sides, adapted coherent set of rules in the late-18th century and these rules went through many changes since then. This game is a national sport of England, which later became obsessively popular in Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and many others.
I won't keep you waiting any longer. Enjoy the longest and difficult (for me) chapter I have written so far!!!
Warnings: AU, NON-MAGIC. Harry is a female. You will find swear words but quite seldom. I will add further warnings as story progresses.
Chapter 17: A Lady in Gentlemen's game?
As the summer peaked around the country, Manor was once again filled with lively chatter of adults and laughter of children as the large party of the relatives assembled again at the Malfoy estate. Though the visit of Draco's aunts and their respective families in the month of July has been an Annual Malfoy tradition for years, Alexandra had, nonetheless, explicitly written them letters with the invite. She received positive responses for all them except Elizabeth, her husband, and their daughter, Emily.
Elizabeth had written a reply letter to her mother sighting the reason for their impossibility of spending the summer in Tisbury, as that: finally a Gentleman with certain desirable qualities has made himself agreeable to the family and has now received the permission from her husband to court Emily. Parkins were hopeful that if everything went well, they would be having Emily's wedding in the month of September. Alexandra was displeased with their absence at the Manor but appeased at the thought that the entire family will have the opportunity to meet again in September.
Draco and Harriet's pleasure at the news doubled when Alexandra announced that, with Emily's marriage only two months away, she had decided not to invite Lucius and Narcissa to the Manor for the summer. The young couple internally sighed in relief at her declaration for they were both dreading at the thought of hosting Draco's parents until Emily's wedding because Lucius and Narcissa would certainly argue that there would be no point in them travelling back and forth from France to England only to return two months later.
A week before the arrival of the guests, Harriet shuffled around the Manor, zealously instructing the servants regarding the preparation of the guest rooms along with selecting a variety of menus that would be cooked over the days of their visit. Harriet even a wrote a letter inviting Sirius and his family to the Manor now that she could speak freely with her newly discovered Uncle without worrying about Draco's parents knowing. Of course, Harriet had to first consult and seek approbation from Draco before sending the letter.
During the dinner of the day Alexandra received letters from her daughters, "Of course, you will not be working as long as your cousins stay at the Manor, Draco," Alexandra said firmly, her tone booking no argument.
In response, Draco just frowned at her before reluctantly nodding.
Later when he left, Alexandra confided in Harriet that Draco had the habit of getting so immersed in his work that he would forget to enjoy life and she had to habitually remind him to take a reprieve from business on occasion.
Obliging Alexandra's wishes, Draco spent the week thereafter leaving two-week long instructions to his supervisors in the factories and finishing all his important business meetings with the associates. So unless there was an emergency in the any of their factories that required his presence, Draco would be free to spend time with his cousins.
Most of the day of their arrival was spent with the guests resting in their assigned rooms to recuperate from their respective, tiresome journeys.
On the very next day, gentlemen set out to the nearby woods situated to the north of the Manor for deer hunting on horseback while the women made themselves comfortable in the brightly lit drawing room and conferred over a variety of matters, ranging from Emily's wedding to the London season of that year.
"The gentleman's name is Mr. Jonathan Davies. He is a high-ranking officer in the military but plans to retire in a year or so. He was born and raised in London. He has a town house where he keeps his mother but he plans to buy a property in the country to settle in with his family after retirement. He has an older sister who is married and lives with her husband and five children in Somerset," Natalie told them.
"If he chose to live in Somerset, then Emily would at least have you and Grandmother close, if not your parents," Katie remarked, giving Natalie an encouraging smile. Parkin's were apparently still anxious and worried about Emily despite the jubilance over her marriage. 'Natural phenomenon for all families with young and marriageable daughters,' Katie perceived.
"That is our hope," Natalie smiled.
Harriet listened silently yet interestedly as Natalie divulged the details of Emily's suitor and then they discussed the details of the impending wedding, but her attention waned when their conversation moved to the latest gossip from the town.
Harriet, who had neither the familiarity nor any interest in town folks and their lifestyles, enthusiastically took the responsibility of entertaining two of the three children of the party, Nicholas and Keira. Mathew had left with the gentlemen, having insisted on riding with his Father on the hunt.
On fifth afternoon of their visit, ladies and gentlemen, ensconced in the parlor, were involved in their respective discussions.
Harriet, bored of listening to the women sharing and debating on new fashions that had emerged in the London, started to eavesdrop on men's conversation when she heard the word, 'Cricket'.
"I miss the game very much. I wish we could play here," Edgar whined petulantly.
Smirking at him, "Of course you do, Edgar, having been pulled out of the university team," Draco drawled teasingly.
Immediately, Edgar turned and narrowed his eyes at Morgan who flushed guiltily whilst the others laughed at Edgar's misfortune.
Looking affronted, "They wanted to give the opportunity to younger students!" Edgar retorted hotly.
"And out of all the older players in the team, they only chose you to replace?" Nott asked mockingly, engendering another roar of laughter and teasing smirks.
Edgar turned red in embarrassment and anger. Taking pity at the hapless Edgar, Peter distracted the other men from their taunting by steering the conversation to Annual cricket match of Gentlemen -vs- Players that was held in Lord's grounds.
Unable to contain her excitement over their discussion any longer, Harriet walked towards the corner of the room where the men were all sitting.
"Are you gentleman discussing cricket?" Harriet asked them brightly, interrupting their heated debate.
Other men frowned at her unwanted intrusion whereas Edgar quickly sprang out of his chair and moved to stand beside her. "Why yes, Harriet!" he exclaimed eagerly, "Do you know anything about it?"
"A little," Harriet answered with shy modesty, engendering dismissive nods from the others in response.
Unfazed by their apathetic reactions, "Why can't you play in the estate?" Harriet asked them quizzically. "Grounds behind the Manor are dry and are in perfect condition to play cricket, I should think."
"The issue is not the lack of field but the players," Nott replied disparagingly.
"Oh," Harriet said furrowing her forehead at his rudeness.
A moment later, a smile split on her face as a brilliant idea lit up in her mind, "Well, if you do not mind, I could invite my brothers to join you for the game."
"Do they know how to play? I mean a professional match," Draco asked her sceptically.
"Yes," Harriet nodded emphatically, "They used to play whichever way they liked until our brother Charlie taught them the proper way of playing cricket in addition to its rules and regulations, upon his return from London a few years back. Now they avidly follow the matches between England and Australia."
"Are they any good?" Malcolm enquired further.
"Yes, I believe so," Harriet replied with a smile.
"Well, it doesn't hurt to try a match," Peter suggested to which the others except Edgar reluctantly nodded.
"All right!" Edgar exclaimed gleefully. "So it's settled then?" he asked glancing between the men for confirmation.
When they nodded in agreement, Harriet, smiling, mentally took a head count of them.
"You all make only six…" Harriet started before Edgar interrupted her. "Don't count Morgan here. He can recite the rules and regulations of cricket in his sleep but does not want to venture into the cricket field itself," he chortled.
"I am an intellect, not a sportsman!" Morgan exclaimed indignantly.
Harriet smiled good-naturedly at him and suggested, "You could be the Umpire. They would surely need one."
"That is fine!" Morgan agreed haughtily and no one objected.
"With Henry, Landen, Thomas, Crabbe and Goyle, the count reaches ten," Draco intoned casually.
"Ah yes, the last two of your servants could certainly do with little physical exercise, Malfoy," Nott commented throwing a smirk at Draco.
Snorting in agreement, "Sirius and Regulus will play. I will invite Blaise also," Draco said after a pause.
"Are all of your brothers going to play, Harriet?" Peter asked her.
"No, Bill and Charlie are not in Wiltshire at the moment. So only Fred, George and Ronald will be playing," Harriet answered him.
"We will be still short of six players," Edgar remarked, frowning.
Thinking for a moment, "I could ask them to bring their friends along," Harriet offered as a solution.
"Excellent!" Edgar exclaimed cheerfully before exhorting her. "Well, don't waste any time, Harriet. Go," he said nudging her towards the door, "Write them an invitation letter now. Hopefully, we can have a match the day after tomorrow."
Chuckling at his ardour, "All right," Harriet said leaving the room.
Handing the letter to Dean, "Deliver this immediately to my family in Biddestone and please wait for the reply," Harriet instructed him.
The Weasley's were about to sit for the dinner that evening when Dean arrived at the Burrow with Harriet's letter. It was Arthur, who accepted it, opened and read.
"What does Harriet say?" Molly asked anxiously when Arthur finally looked up from the letter. Ever since the incident caused by Ginny in May, Molly tensed with the fear of hearing some unpleasant news whenever they received Harriet's letter and the fact that a week hasn't passed since Harriet's last letter wasn't helping her nerves.
Giving her a reassured smile, "Well, the letter is mainly directed to the boys," Arthur informed her.
The said boys who were watching their father curiously as he read, perked up and eagerly repeated Molly's question, "What does she say?"
"Well, here I will read it out loud …"
Dear Father,
I hope that you are all well. I am quite well myself, though a little engaged with entertaining the guests at the moment. As I have informed you in my previous letter, Mr. Malfoy's aunts and cousins have arrived at the Manor, safe and sound. We are still waiting for Uncle Sirius and his family who will be arriving tomorrow.
The reason for my rather unexpected letter is that the gentlemen at the Manor desire to play cricket but are unable to do so for the lack of players. And knowing my brothers' passion for the game, I took the liberty of offering their membership. Please relay my apologies to them for my impetuous action and enquire on my behalf whether they would be interested in playing the match with my in-laws on this coming Sunday. We will, however, understand if they have prior engagements. But if Fred, George and Ron are willing, I want them to be informed that the men would be still short of six players and hence, I request them to gather their friends and bring them along to the Manor.
I have asked Dean to wait for your reply. I am enclosing this letter with the hope that I would get to see my brothers soon. Take care of yourself and pass on my love and wishes of goodwill to the rest of the family.
With love,
Harriet
P.S. Please forgive the shortness of my letter, Father. I will write again.
Arthur was not surprised to find the three boys eagerly nodding in acceptance to the invitation when he finished reading. The twins' decision was unhesitant since they closed the joke shop on Sundays.
After Dinner, Fred, George and Ron walked around the neighbourhood consulting and affirming the acceptance of their friends to the invitation. That very night, Fred sent the reply letter to Harriet with Dean.
Edgar greeted the Black's upon their arrival with similar gaiety as Harriet, to everyone's surprise, considering that he wasn't a very close acquaintance of them. The confirmation of attendance of all players for the much-awaited match tomorrow, however, was the true reason for his spiritedness.
"Harriet, this is my wife, Mrs. Olivia Black," Sirius introduced them gaily. Olivia was kind faced woman in her early thirties with auburn hair and brown eyes.
"So we meet at last, Harriet," Olivia said with a slight American accent, smiling and holding her hand. Olivia wasn't English by birth; she was born and raised in South Carolina. Sirius had met and fallen in love with her during his trip to America years ago.
It was her pleasing demeanour and soft-spoken ness that appealed to the people rather than her physical attributes. And Harriet suspected that it was exactly why Sirius chose her for a wife.
"Yes, Aunt Alice" Harriet smiled widely. A month after she began the correspondence with Sirius, Harriet started exchanging separate letters from Olivia and eventually, she developed a close pen-friendship with both her Uncle and Aunt.
"…and my daughter, Isabella" Sirius said proudly, presenting their nine-months old daughter he was carrying in his arms.
Isabella was pretty little girl who had inherited almost all of her father features; most significant were the black hair and grey eyes. The girl looked slightly frightened when Harriet and Edgar surrounded around Sirius and gushed nonsensically at her. Isabella tightly clung to her father's coat, refusing to go when they outstretched their arms, reaching for her.
Harriet and Edgar immediately backed away though when Isabella's wide grey eyes watered and her lips quivered before she started crying.
"She just needs sometime to get accustomed to new people and surroundings," Olivia assured them when they looked chagrined for causing the distress to the baby and directed an apologetic look at her parents.
When Isabella quieted down upon Sirius's soothing words and light bouncing a few minutes later, "Please come, I will show to your rooms," Harriet offered, noticing the tired looks on her Uncle and Aunt's faces.
After a few hours of rest, Sirius was back to his jaunty self. With the absence of Lucius and Narcissa, dinner that evening was filled with liveliness and good humour unlike the one on Harriet and Draco's wedding day. Alexandra looked immensely pleased at the fullness of the dining table and especially satisfied by the small yet genuine smile on Draco's face.
Having spent last few months with only Alexandra and Draco for company, Harriet was vivacious at having so many people to converse with.
On Sunday, Edgar approached the breakfast, practically bouncing with nervous energy at the prospect of the upcoming match. After breakfast, when Blaise arrived, Edgar kept pacing in the foyer and frequently glancing at the front door impatiently waiting along with Sirius who shared his feelings, for the arrival of Weasley's. When Edgar informed him and Regulus about the match during the dinner last night, Sirius confessed that he hadn't played the game in a long while but was eagerly looking forward to it.
When they did arrive around half past nine, Harriet offered to serve them breakfast, which the Weasley boys promptly declined with the admittance that Molly had refused to allow them to leave without having a proper meal. Their friends who had come along also assured her that they had had their morning meals.
So, without further ado, Gentlemen left for the grounds, carrying their equipment with them. This time, both Keira and Nicholas joined Mathew as he followed the men to the grounds, leaving wistfully staring Harriet behind. She had thought of convincing the women to go and witness the match before Natalie commented on how the unbearable heat of the summer could damage a Lady's delicate skin, which the other women wholeheartedly agreed, and thus, flooding Harriet's hopes.
"Francis, have you informed the boys about the lunch?" Alexandra questioned the butler. The ladies had already settled on the table and were waiting for the men to arrive before commencing with the meal.
"Yes, Madam" Francis answered politely, "Lord Malfoy messaged that they will be having lunch at least a hour later and for you to not wait for them at the dining."
"Just as well," Alexandra said with a sigh echoing other women's reaction, "But remember to serve them lunch in the recreational room after a hour even if they do not order for it. Immersed in the thrill of the game, they will surely forget to eat."
"Yes, Madam."
Read A/N 1 on Cricket now if you want to have a better understanding the game. Thank you.
On the grounds…
Serpents having won the toss chose to bat first and made a significant score by the time their innings ended around one in the afternoon. After a half hour interval for lunch, the match resumed with Lions' turn to bat now. Their innings was already more than half way through with Fred and Ernie's pair batting.
Striking the ball, Ernie desperately signalled Fred to score the run. Simultaneously, they were interchanging their positions by running in the opposite directions on the pitch, when Ernie who had his eye fixed on the ball's movement, unwittingly and forcefully slammed into George who was cutting across the pitch to catch the ball thrown by Nott, sending both of them crashing onto the ground.
Cursing aloud, George sat up and brushed the dirt off his arms and turned to apologize to the smaller boy but paused at the gasping and moaning coming from Ernie who was tightly clutching his ankle. Having noticed the accident by now, Fred hurriedly approached his fallen partner and his brother.
"Mate, are you all right?" Fred asked anxiously.
In response, Ernie just shook his head with a grimace.
"Can you stand?" George enquired worriedly, standing on his feet.
Feeling guilty, George slowly helped on his feet. Leaning heavily on George, Ernie gingerly placed his injured leg on the ground only to cry out in pain.
Peter who was sitting out with his teammates watching the game, having been already dismissed, hastened towards the pitch along with the others, after witnessing the collision.
Upon their arrival, Fred gravely explained the matter to his captain who was grimly watching pained looking Ernie.
"Do you think you could continue to play after some rest?" Peter inquired him.
Ernie slowly shook his head with an apologetic grimace on his face. Disappointed, Peter sighed whilst others teammates cursed loudly.
Meanwhile, Draco gathered around them along with his team, watching the opposing team's interaction. "Well, replace him with Edgar, now if he or Weasley gets dismissed, the match ends," he drawled, smirking smugly without needing to finish his statement with 'and we win'.
"What?" Fred shouted, outraged before Peter could nod in defeat. "It is because of your teammate that Ernie has to retire injured!"
"It was McMillan who knocked into Weasley!" Nott growled angrily.
"George ran across the pitch cutting his path!" Ron accused, enraged.
George looked offended at his brother's insinuation that he had purposefully tried to sabotage their friend. Ron flushed a little upon seeing the betrayed look his brother was directing at him.
"Weasley, there is no rule against a fielder running across the pitch to catch the ball," Draco sneered at him.
Before the argument could escalate, Malcolm interfered. "Look, there is nothing that could be done now. Put Edgar on the field and continue the play," Malcolm said placidly, glancing at Peter's team.
When Fred and his team members still refused to move, "What else can you do? It's not like you have someone else to replace Ernie with. Unless of course if you want little Mathew or even elderly Francis or Abraham to play for your team," Malcolm added reasonably.
Defeated, Peter finally nodded in agreement and signalled Edgar to take Ernie's place. Just as everyone was moving back to their positions, "Harry could be play," Fred blurted out, not willing to admit defeat. His crestfallen expression instantly brightened as he latched on that enlightening idea. "Yes, yes, Harry could play for us," he repeated wildly.
Within seconds, irate expression on Ron's face vanished to be replaced by a wide grin as also with his Biddestone friends whilst Draco stood, stupefied at Fred's suggestion. Blaise pursed his lips tightly to stop the oncoming amused smirk.
"Who is Harry?" Peter asked furrowing his eyebrows in confusion at the same time, as wide-eyed George said, "No way!"
"Our sister, of course!" Ron exclaimed giving Peter an odd look.
"You address her with a boy's name?" Edgar asked drolly, causing Ron's ears to turn red.
"Oh no. No way!" George objected loudly when no one seemed to have heard him the first time.
"Why not? Are you afraid?" Fred said tauntingly, knowing that it was, in fact, the case. Unable to deny it, George just glared at him.
"Does she even know how to play?" Peter asked with a frown glancing between the twins and Ronald.
"You will see," Fred said with utmost confidence whilst Ron and his friends nodded vigorously. "Oh yes," Ernie dreamily sighed with reverence, momentarily forgetting the ache in his ankle.
"But a woman in a man's game?" Peter asked uncertainly.
"Let's take a vote," Sirius interjected calmly before his team members could launch into an argument among themselves.
Immediately, Fred and Ron along with their friends raised their hands with Sirius and Edgar joining in their support, though for different reasons.
Outvoted, Peter had no choice but to accept in resignation. Abruptly, Nott and Regulus burst forth into laughter.
"That was the funniest thing I have heard in a long time, a woman playing Cricket, indeed!" Nott stated, gaining a little composure on his mirth. Regulus and Malcolm blithely nodded in agreement.
"Hey, Harry knows all about cricket!" Ron retorted glaring at them, feeling indignant on behalf of his sister.
"Knowing and actually playing the game are completely different matters, Weasley," Regulus quipped with a snort.
"Oh Harry can play," Justin insisted seriously and then facing their dubious looking captain he mouthed, "Trust us."
Terry standing beside him, nodded in support at Peter.
Nott and Regulus just scoffed at their stupidity.
Finally giving a nod to his pleading teammates, Peter turned to stoically standing Draco, "Will you let your wife play, Draco?" he asked him.
"First of all, MacDougal, we never agreed to allow you to replace McMillan with a new player, which is totally against the rules by the way and secondly, certainly not with a woman," Nott spat condescendingly.
Before Fred and Ron could start with their previous accusations, Sirius turned to face Draco. "Draco, you all cannot refute the claim that the equal part of blame lies with your teammate as with Ernie for his injury. You have to make a concession," he appealed to him.
When Draco still looked like he wanted to protest, Sirius calmly added, "Dear cousin, we are playing a friendly match here among family and acquaintances, not a professional one where our national pride is on line, are we not?"
Regulus sneered, disgusted at the display of his elder brother's sickly sweet cajoling.
Looking at the imploring expression on Sirius' face, "Fine. You can have a change of player," Draco drawled at length.
"Draco, you can't…" Regulus fell silent, fuming when Draco raised an authoritative hand cutting off his protest.
Whilst Sirius bestowed a proud smile upon Draco, Peter gave him a nod of gratitude before asking, "Will you also let Harriet play for us?"
Now, that was a difficult question to answer. Draco was, at first, stunned to learn that his wife knew the game and what's more, how to play it. Looking at the fervid reactions of her brothers and their friends and especially, the carefully blank expression on Blaise's face, Draco could not find a reason to doubt their claims. If he was honest with himself, Draco's mischievous side was intrigued and rather curious to witness her performance but the thought of exposing his wife to the undoubtedly perverse eyes of other men was what preventing him from acquiescing to their pleas instantly. It was not the presence of his cousins and her brothers that bothered Draco but their friends, especially that McMillan fellow who was absentmindedly sighing Harriet's name. It took all the self-control for Draco not to attack the already injured guest.
"What say you, Mr. Malfoy? It is, after all, your decision," Fred said, raising his eyebrows at him. Draco did not miss the challenging glint in his eyes.
Finally, his curiosity and desired for not wanting to be accused by the Weasley's of repressing their sister's interests, Draco reluctantly made the mental decision on his behalf and then beckoning his teammates a little away from the Lions, he quirked a questioningly brow at them. As Harriet's husband, it might be up to Draco to decide whether or not, to allow her to play but he felt that he needed his teammates support in this.
"I think we should accept. They are losing and they know it. They must be desperate if they are willing to induct a woman," Malcolm suggested with a shrug. "Besides, this way when they lose they won't have the reason to accuse us of foul play."
Suddenly, a predatory leer spread across Regulus' face as he realized the true behind Malcolm's words. "Yes, let them have their way, Draco because their loss would be much more humiliating," he said savagely, forgetting his previous opposition.
"No, no," George objected ceaselessly. "You don't know what you are doing. Don't agree to it!"
"Oh, come on, no one can save them now. What can she do?" Regulus asked rhetorically.
"Malfoy, I can't believe you are even thinking of tainting the Gentlemen's game by allowing a woman in it," Nott sneered derisively.
Though George opposed at having Harriet play, he could not help bristling at Nott's reprehending comments.
Ignoring Nott's words, Draco finally threw an inquisitive glance at Blaise. Staring blankly at him for a moment, Blaise gave an imperceptible nod.
"We accept," Draco proclaimed at last, turning to the Lions.
"Brilliant!" Fred exclaimed whilst George shook his head in dismay at his teammates.
Together the players turned to the Umpire, Morgan who was silently watching them with bored expression on his face shrugged uncaringly.
Meanwhile, Harriet tried to catch the glimpses of the ongoing match through the window at every opportunity whenever the other women's attention diverted from her. She distracted herself from the match by spending the entire morning playing with Isabella who had finally warmed up to her or maybe because Olivia was sitting right beside them.
But around half past twelve, Isabella succumbed to sleep causing Harriet to sigh in disappointment. Eventually, Nicholas and Keira followed her to the daily afternoon nap, having brought from the grounds by Francis during the lunch and thus, leaving Harriet ideal again. So, Harriet had no choice but to join the women as they talked.
Harriet absently listened to their conversation on latest fashion trends as her heart and mind were on the match, taking place on the grounds. Harriet was annoyed that she could not even get a brief account of how the match was progressing. Recreational room on the ground floor that opened only to the grounds had restrooms, a bathing room and even dining place; facilities provided primarily so that the Gentlemen does not need the reason to the enter the house and ruin the marble floor and expensive rug and carpets with their muddy shoes. In addition, the men destroyed her hopes of learning about their game by not having lunch with them.
"You seemed distracted, Harriet. Are you upset that Draco hasn't eaten lunch with us?" Laura said teasingly.
Unable to refute her observation, Harriet just blushed in embarrassment. But the truth of the matter was, Cricket had always fascinated her.
Harriet was utterly entranced by the game when she first encountered her brothers playing almost six years ago. Consequently, Harriet pleaded with them and even offered to do their chores if her brothers took her along. It was purely through accident that her brothers discovered her inborn talent for the sport. Whilst Ron became a bit jealous when she turned out to be a better player than him, Fred and George thought she would be an asset to their team and henceforth, secretly taught her the intricacies of actually playing the game over the following days.
On the next Sunday match, the Weasley boys launched their new, mysterious member against the opposing team. Of course, the other boys from both the teams were not thrilled about allowing a little girl to play with them. A couple of mean-spirited boys like Zacharias Smith and Adrian Pucey even ridiculed her. Finally, it was the threats of being pranked by the twins that shut their mouths and let her play. Needless to say, Weasleys' team had a spectacular win that day. Part of the reason for opposing team's loss was that the players were engrossed with gaping foolishly at Harriet's dexterity with the bat especially considering the fact that she seemed to weigh not even twice as much as that of her bat. But it was her light frame that gave her the advantage of quickness of the feet. And thereafter, Harriet's days of being just a keen spectator ended as she continued to play in her brothers' team despite the numerous, angry protests from the opposing team and they had won most of the matches since.
The news of Harriet's induction in her brothers' cricket team reached Molly's ears by the very next day from an unsurprising source, Mrs. Smith. To put it mildly, Molly wasn't impressed either with the boys or Harriet whereas Arthur looked amused by twins' enthusiastic and comic account of Harriet's performance against Zacharias' bowling. Naturally, it was Arthur who had to restrain his wife from forbidding Harriet from playing again. After many pleadings from the twins and Harriet herself, Molly reluctantly agreed but not without directing threats of painful punishments to the boys if Harriet ever got so much as a scratch. It was also during the matches that Harriet got closely acquainted with Cedric.
The sudden appearance of Francis in the drawing room brought Harriet out of her pleasant memories of the days spent playing Cricket with her brothers.
"Mrs. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley wishes to see you on the grounds," Francis informed her.
Harriet immediately sprang on her feet with sudden enthusiasm. "Oh, someone must have been hurt. I ought to go and see to it. Please excuse me," Harriet requested hastily moving towards the door.
As soon as she arrived on the grounds carrying a box in her hands, Fred who was waiting for her at the entrance, exclaimed, "Harry!" instantly gaining her attention.
"I called you here.." was all Fred could say before Harriet interrupted him.
"Which one of you is injured?" Harriet demanded, scrutinizing the boys until her gaze landed on Ernie who was being supported and carried forward by George and Ron across the makeshift cricket field towards them.
"What happened?" Harriet asked rushing towards them.
"Twisted ankle," Ernie panted, his face flushed with exhaustion and pain.
Nodding grimly, "Come on, let's take him to the guest room. I will show you the way." Harriet said softly.
"No!" Ernie exclaimed loudly in objection. "I want to see the rest of the game."
Harriet pursed her lips in disagreement but did not argue. Being an ardent lover of the game herself, Harriet could understand his eagerness to at least witness the game since he no longer could play for the day.
"All right," Harriet sighed and then scanning the grounds, she said pointing to the oak tree, "Bring him to that arbour."
"Careful." Harriet instructed as George and Ron lowered Ernie onto the shadowy ground beneath the tree. Crouching at the feet of Ernie's outstretched legs, she gingerly pulled out his boot and removed his sock. Harriet turned his ankle to the sides to examine the red, swollen skin and threw an apologetic glance at him when he soundly winced in pain. Harriet then opened the box she brought with her and pulled out a glass jar filled with pain-relieving balm. Uncorking the jar while holding it in her left hand, Harriet dipped her right hand inside and removed her oily, green-coloured, cream coated fingers out. As she went to apply the cream on his ankle, her gaze absently fell on the ring on the hand that was holding the jar. Harriet paused and stared for a long moment, at the large diamond embedded on the ring that was glistening brightly against the reflection of sunlight. Releasing a soft and regretful internal sigh, Harriet slowly withdrew her hand from his foot and closed the fingers into a fist. Harriet closed her eyes for a brief second before opening and looking up at her brother who was hovering over them, watching the proceedings in silence.
"Here Fred, you do it," Harriet said quietly, extending the jar up to him.
Fred frowned deeply, befuddled at her strange behaviour until he heard a loud yet drawling voice of Draco who had just returned from the recreational room, enquiring after Ernie's injuries from a distance. All the other players had taken this opportunity to use the restroom or quench their thirst.
Immediately comprehension drew on Fred's face and his cheeks tinged pink in embarrassment. Nodding in understanding, Fred silently took the jar and applied the balm on Ernie's injured ankle with Harriet's instructions of 'gentle strokes'.
"How did this happen?" Harriet asked curiously when Fred finished the task.
"Well, Ernie was making a run when he collided with George who came running across the middle of the pitch to catch the ball that Nott threw," Fred replied. "Right nasty fall, it was!"
"George, you are hurt too?" Harriet asked concernedly, turning to George.
"Just a few of scratches, nothing big," George assured her, smiling.
That was Fred blurted out, "You have to play for us, Harry!"
Harriet blinked before saying with surprised laughter, "What?"
Her amusement, however, died upon seeing the utter seriousness on Fred's face. "Fred, have you gone completely barmy?" Harriet remarked incredulously. "I can't play cricket in front of my in-laws!"
"Oh, come on Harry. We need you. We are losing badly and it is quite insulting and humiliating," Fred complained before his voice acquired a cajoling tone, "Remember, how much you love the game. You even used to bribe us to let you play. Now we are inviting you ourselves."
Ron, Ernie and others nodded at her pleadingly.
Noticing the apprehension on her face, "Harry, don't agree. Think what Mother will say when she finds out. She would surely go ballistic!" George said forcibly making one last attempt at stopping Harriet from playing.
Directing a heated glare at George, "Don't listen to him, Harry. Think how happy Father is going to be when he learns that you haven't sacrificed all of your interests after marriage!" Fred said, countering George's statement.
"Oh my God!" Harriet exclaimed with sudden comprehension and then abruptly bursting into giggles, she managed to say, "You two….. are…. on… opposite teams? That… is…… bloody hilarious!"
Both Fred and George's expressions turned sore at her words.
"Whose ingenious idea was that?" Harriet inquired mirthfully, glancing between the twins.
"Your beloved husband's!" George confessed dryly, earning an astounded look from Harriet.
"Aye and I am getting to see the nasty side of George here!" Fred groused to her, causing George to glare at him. "Please Harry, you have to play."
Apprehension on Harriet's face wavered, inclining towards the desire to play Cricket again.
"Even Mr. Malfoy agreed to let you play for us!" Ron interjected, coaxingly.
Harriet's eyes widening in utter shock at that revelation.
"Are you sure?" Harriet finally whispered in disbelief.
Seeing the Harriet's almost acquiesce, "Mr. Malfoy? Tell your wife that you don't mind her playing with us," Fred loudly prompted turning to face Draco standing at a distance from them.
Staring at the anxious yet hopeful expression on Harriet's face, "Yes," Draco said causing Harriet to beam at him.
"All right!" Fred exclaimed cheerfully.
Grinning widely, Ernie handed the bat and gloves saying, "All the best, Harry."
Thanking him, Harriet accepted his equipment.
Grumbling under his breath, George jogged up to his teammates who have arrived from restroom by now whilst Peter and others joined his brothers under the tree.
Adorning the gloves, Harriet took a minute to properly scan the makeshift circular ground of the cricket field of diameter of around 85 yards with a makeshift pitch of 8 yards situated at the centre. Several flags erected around the perimeter of the field with a rope tying the flags together, marked the boundary. Impressed, Harriet finally rested her gaze on the scoreboard that was placed at a distance with Abraham standing beside it, writing the score.
Snakes Vs Lions
Snakes
Batsman--------------------------------------- Runs -------- balls
******************************************************
Draco (c) ---------- c Seamus b Fred ---------------- 34 ------------ 39
Malcolm ------------ b Edgar --------------------------- 37 ----------- 41
George ------------ lbw b Anthony ------------------- 25 ----------- 22
Blaise (wk) ------- st Ron b Fred -------------------- 28 ----------- 24
Henry ------------- c Peter b Ernie -------------------- 37 ----------- 31
Landen ----------- batting ----------------------------- 13 ----------- 20
Gregory ---------- (run out) Sirius -------------------- 1 ------------- 3
Dean
Vincent
Regulus
Theodore
********************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------- 175 ------------ 180
Lions
Batsman ----------------------------------------- Runs ---------- balls
*********************************************************
Peter (c) ------------- c Landen b Theodore ----------- 30 ------------- 29
Sirius ----------------- c Blaise b Gregory --------------- 21 ------------- 28
Ron (wk) ------------ b Regulus -------------------------- 12 ------------- 15
Justin ---------------- (run out) Draco ------------------- 4 -------------- 9
Micheal -------------- lbw b Theodore ------------------- 11 ------------- 20
Seamus ------------- st Blaise b Dean ------------------- 5 --------------- 8
Terry ---------------- c Draco b Vincent ------------------ 6 --------------- 7
Ernie ---------------- rtd of injury ------------------------- 7 --------------- 10
Anthony ------------ b Dean ------------------------------ 8 ---------------- 11
Fred ----------------- batting ------------------------------ 1 ---------------- 2
Edgar
*********************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------- 105 --------------- 139
As she studied the score, Harriet's eyes widened and she swirled her head around. "Fred, I seriously hope that you are not expecting me to outscore that!" Harriet demanded, pointing to the scoreboard. Looking at the single figures of their batsmen's score, it was quite obvious to Harriet that Snakes had a strong team.
Shrugging, "Harry, you never refused a challenge," Fred said knowingly.
"You can't be serious! I am not that incredible," Harriet said, biting her lips worriedly. They are expecting her to score 71 runs in 41 balls with only two players for partnership.
"Look, don't think about the score. Just play your game," Fred said comfortingly. Despite his words, it was apparent from the hopeful looks on her teammates' faces that they are expecting her to win the game for them.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Harriet slowly nodded causing her team members to sigh in relief.
"Welcome to the team, Harriet," Peter declared officially, earning a hesitant yet grateful smile from Harriet.
"All right, listen up. Currently, Regulus and Nott are bowling alternatively. Whilst Regulus is a fast bowler, Nott is a spinner, he intends to overwhelm the batsman to break his concentration by varying the style of spin, so be careful of him," Peter informed her.
"And Regulus has the habit of throwing lot of wide balls," Sirius supplied helpfully.
"Uh…" Harriet said furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. "By doing that, isn't he giving the batsman one run for free?"
Rolling his eyes in exasperation, "Yes but he believes that it is better than giving the batsman an opportunity to strike the ball and score more than one," Sirius explained.
After her teammates finished giving her pointers, Harriet self-consciously followed Fred to the makeshift pitch, acutely aware of the disapproving and critical stares of the in-laws, and especially the penetrating gaze of her husband.
"Come on Harry, let us them give a show!" Fred said, rubbing his palms together gleefully.
"Draco, you have no idea what you have gotten yourself into," Blaise murmured with a wicked smirk, taking his position as wicket keeper.
Upon reaching the pitch, Fred occupied the striker's end whilst Harriet non-striker's simultaneously as the Serpents' team members took their respective positions.
Striking the ball thrown by Nott, Fred managed to score a run and interchange his position with Harriet's.
Occupying the striker's end, Harriet smiled at Blaise standing behind her before swatting in front of the wicket. Observing the wicket carefully, Harriet tried to take guard by placing her bat in the exact front line of the middle stump.
"Fred, is this good?" Harriet enquired loudly, unconscious of stocked stares that she was receiving from her opponents.
Fred, however, noticed their looks and smirked evilly before turning to Harriet. "Absolutely, Harry!" he answered her.
Nodding, Harriet stood on her feet and marked the spot by digging slight with the bat and poised for batting. Harriet then scanned the ground to note the fielders' positions before her gaze rested on the bowler, Nott at the opposite end.
Sneering at her, Nott prepared to bowl. At Morgan's signal, Nott slowly ran in a parabolic path and throwing the spinning ball at Harriet.
Draco's team that was watching her intently, snorted dryly as she simply stopped the ball without scoring any. The same action was repeated for the next three balls.
Smirking smugly, Nott, in the bout of over-confidence, released a loose ball giving Harriet the opportunity that she has been waiting for, to swing her bat and strike the ball with such force and celerity that it did not stop or land until it crossed the border and thus, earning six runs for Lions.
Serpents except Blaise openly gaped as they watched the ball's progress until loud cheers and catcalls erupted from Ron and his friends. Then Peter, Edgar and Sirius along with the Serpents' turned to appraise Harriet's slender frame, having been dumbfounded by the sheer strength of her arms.
[112] runs for Lions
Nott glared at Harriet who was exchanging a smile with Fred, knowing that he would not get the chance to take revenge for her shot until after the next over. "Beginner's Luck!" He sniped, temporarily relinquishing his position to Regulus.
As Sirius warned, Regulus tried to throw a wide ball every time to the annoyance of Harriet and Fred but fortunately for them, he didn't always succeed. Though she did not try such bold strike again, Harriet, with Fred's familiar support, steadily raised the score by making one or two runs with each ball.
Peter, Sirius and Edgar along with Serpents watched in wonder as despite her highly restrictive dress, Harriet effortlessly scuttled back and forth the length of the pitch.
Wanting to break the now comfortably settled partnership of Fred and Harriet, Draco kept changing his bowlers by giving an opportunity to his every team member who could bowl. Having no success, Draco growled in frustration and then bellowed at George, beckoned towards him with the single wave of his hand.
Grimacing, George ran up to his irate captain where his other vexed team members joined them.
"What the bloody hell, Weasley? Why are none of our intimidation tactics working on your sister?" Draco demanded agitatedly.
George winced at that. For past several minutes, Draco was futilely trying to get Harriet dismissed. Draco and his cousins had finally realized that Harriet was one with the batting skill whereas Fred, who was basically a bowler, was merely supporting her while she scored the runs for her team. Getting Harriet dismissed at this point would cause an irreparable damage to the Lions and thus, confirming their loss.
"Er…you see,…well …. there is no point in overwhelming her with our larger frames or concentration breaking techniques because we taught Harriet from the beginning to focus only on the ball rather than the bowler or fielders so that she won't feel intimidated by our bigger and broader frames," George confessed reluctantly. "When it comes to batting, Harriet is an extremely determined player with the patience of a saint."
George cringed at intense glares that his team members were directing at his admittance before defensively saying, "Hey, I warned not to let her play, didn't I? None of you listened."
Regulus let out a string of curses that were definitely unbecoming of a gentleman. Nott and Malcolm followed suit.
Raising a delicate brow at George, "Are you saying that she is invincible as a player?" Draco drawled in disbelief.
"Well, no….Harry got out a few times ….but it was purely out of luck of the opposing team," George admitted despondently.
Frowning for a moment, "Fine, let's get Weasley and Edgar dismissed then," Draco ground out the order and then glowering at George, he added, "Don't tell me your brother invincible too?"
"No, he is not," George began reluctantly, feeling guilty for divulging his brother's gaming vulnerabilities but looking at the hard looks his team mates were throwing at him, he continued. "Like most of the bowlers, Fred is impatient when it comes to batting. He has the tendency of getting carried away after achieving a few successful strikes."
"All right, you know what to do," Draco drawled looking inquiring at his bowlers who immediately nodded. "Good, let's take him out."
Fielders moved back to their positions but not before Draco discreetly throwing an accusingly glare at Blaise who ignored it blithely.
Seeing that none of his bowlers were succeeding, Draco himself took up the task of bowling, hoping to break their partnership. Lion's teammates who were watching the ongoing match while occupying the chairs outside the makeshift border, leaned forward in weariness seeing the Lord and Lady of the Manor face off each other.
Turning to Harriet, Draco raised an elegant brow at his wife at which Harriet flushed but immediately narrowed her eyes at him when he smirked arrogantly at her.
For all his show of being a fast pacer, Draco threw a slow ball at Harriet that she could do nothing but sweep it to a distance so that she could make a run on the pitch.
To her utter annoyance, Draco stood in the middle of the pitch yelling at the fielder to stop the ball while seemingly unaware that he was blocking her path in the process. Huffing in irritation, Harriet had to taking a long route by running around him towards the crease.
Strongly suspecting that it was done deliberately, "You play dirty, Mr. Malfoy!" Harriet accused hotly when he approached the wicket to retake his position.
Throwing a smirk at her, "Mrs. Malfoy, if you consider superior competition as dirty play than that is your opinion," Draco said coolly, walking away
"Supreme competition, ha!" Harriet scoffed, narrowing her eyes at his back.
Having continuously run the length of the path for last consecutive five balls, Harriet was breathless. Reclining heavily on her bat, Harriet kept gasping for breath while clutching her side of her stomach. She hadn't played the game in over a year and therefore, she was feeling the strain from lack of practice.
"Tired, Mrs. Malfoy?" Nott who was now taking the position of the bowler, drawled sardonically. "You know, no one will mind if you quit now!"
Discretely or not so, Harriet wiped the sweat that was sliding down her cheeks from her forehead with her sleeves before turning to Nott. "Of course not!" she huffed, straightening up and raising her chin up at him earning a glower from Nott.
Harriet, seeing the speedily approaching ball hurled by the fast and aggressive pace bowler, Goyle, clobbered the ball towards the nearest border. Regulus who was guarding the area couldn't keep up with its speed and allowed the ball to cross the borderline smoothly without any interference scoring 4 runs.
"Hawwy!" came sudden gleeful, high-pitched sound from where her dismissed teammates were sitting.
Harriet turned around to see Nicholas, Keira and Mathew loudly clapping and cheering for her along with her teammates. Smiling wildly, Harriet enthusiastically waved a hand at her little supporters causing Draco to roll his eyes.
"Isn't that wonderful? Our children are supporting our opponents," Nott commented sarcastically, to Malcolm who sighed in return saying, "They are too young to understand the game, Nott."
With only 19 balls remaining, Serpents finally had their breakthrough when Fred, inspired by Harriet's boundary shot, made a misjudgement and knocked the ball forcefully, aiming directly for the boundary but Dean who was standing near the border caught it. Fred's wicket, which was claimed by Goyle, was surprising yet not unwelcome by his team.
"Sorry, Harry," Fred muttered to stricken-looking Harriet before lumbering dejectedly towards his teammates causing her to wince in sympathy at his downhearted look while Serpents vociferously celebrated his dismissal. At this point, tension was palpable in the air.
A minute later, anxious looking Edgar joined Harriet on the pitch. Seeing the worried look on her face, "You play extremely well, Harriet," he said encouragingly.
Pulling herself together by taking a deep breath, Harriet gave a small smile at Edgar before turning serious. "Look Edgar, I mean this in an extremely polite way possible, don't try for boundaries at all, leave that up to me," Harriet pleaded imploringly.
Nodding with an understanding smile on his face, "Yes, losing a wicket now would only imply our team's loss," Edgar stated grimly.
"We have to make 24 runs in only 19 balls. You just pass the strike to me by running between the wickets," Harriet instructed staring intently at him.
Giving her reassuring smile, Edgar walked towards the strikers' end.
Together, Harriet and Edgar managed to score 8 runs by just striking the ball and running between the wickets under Goyle's bowling. They pushed their lean forms forward to make two runs where only one was safely possible. Lions' team members who were sitting previously were now standing at the border and intently watching Harriet and Edgar play with nervous anticipation.
Understanding their strategy, "Close in, gentlemen, close in," Draco barked at his fielders motioning them to move closer to the pitch in order to prevent Harriet and Edgar from making runs by running between the wickets.
Pursuing her lips, Harriet watched as the most of Serpents' team except for Dean, Landen and Regulus who were still guarding the different ends of the border, surrounded the pitch like a pack of wolves around the prey, about ready to jump on them.
Edgar threw a panicked look at Harriet upon seeing the jeering looks the opposing team was directing pointedly at him.
"Calm down and stay with me," Harriet mouthed to him, calm yet determined look on her face.
Edgar nodded albeit nervously in return.
As Vincent threw fast paced ball, Harriet swung her bat at it, causing the ball to widely bypass Goyle's head and rush towards the border.
"Now, Edgar, now!" Harriet screamed, pelting forward and frantically gesturing him to take a run and then one more when she saw Regulus's clumsy lapse in stopping the ball.
Her heart, however, skipped a beat when she heard Draco's shout, "OUT!" from behind.
Pale-faced and wide-eyed, Harriet whipped around and watched as Draco repeated the victorious shout as Nott thumped his back in absolute glee while Edgar adamantly denied his dismissal.
When Harriet hurried towards him, "I reached the crease before Draco hit the wicket!" Edgar told her insistently.
Nodding at him, Harriet gave the wicket and the surrounding ground a cursory glance before drawing the attention of her celebrating husband and his team by loudly saying, "Edgar is not out!"
Stilling and then facing his wife, "Of course he is. You better come to terms with your team's loss, Mrs. Malfoy," Draco drawled at her, smirking smugly.
"No, he is not!" Harriet argued, shaking her head. "Edgar touched the ground behind the crease before you hit the wicket."
"How would you know that, you were almost 7 yards away and running in the opposite direction?" Draco demanded irefully.
"My eyes were on the ball's progress!" Harriet said promptly, raising her chin up. "Besides, there is Edgar's boot mark on the ground on the other side of the crease."
"He made that after I hit the wicket! He is out!" Draco sneered at her.
"Edgar is not out!" Harriet persisted stubbornly, stomping her foot.
"YES, HE IS!" Draco growled, advancing and then pausing at close distance from her. Draco towered over and stared down at her while others watched the altercation in shock.
Undeterred by his intimidating stance, Harriet stepped forward towards him, with her hand on her hip, "NOT OUT!" she enunciated, pursing her lips tightly and boldly meeting and holding his severe gaze.
As immensely amused as he was by their squabbling, Blaise thought that Draco's cousins would not tolerate Harriet's self-righteous attitude. So, in order to prevent his friends' indignity, Blaise interrupted them. "Gentlemen, it is…" Blaise started but at Harriet's pointed glare, he realized his mistake. "Er… Gentlemen and Lady, it is not up to you to decide Edgar's fate but umpire's," Blaise calmly pointed out.
Slowly nodding in agreement, everyone turned to impatiently waiting Morgan who clearly signalled, 'NOT OUT'. He looked vaguely unconcerned at Serpents' angry protests.
Throwing a beam at him, Edgar and Harriet turned to each other and shared victorious cheers. Grumbling peevishly, Draco's team tramped back to their positions.
Watching Draco muttering something about partiality as he walked away, Harriet, in a moment of utter childishness, blew a noisy raspberry at him. A loud snort escaped from Edgar and he hastily turned his head away upon noticing Draco's movement. Hearing that Draco froze before slowly turning around and glaring fiercely, glancing between Harriet who was staring with large emerald orbs back at him, with feigned innocence and Edgar's back as his cousin's shoulders shook in a silent laughter.
A moment later, wordlessly, Draco turned away but he couldn't help the slight twitch at the corner on his lips as he sauntered forward.
Shrugging with a smile at Edgar, Harriet turned to retake her position but halted at Edgar's question, "Harriet, how did you know that I crossed the line before Draco stumped the wicket?"
"I didn't," Harriet replied lowly, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
"But then why did you agree with me?" Edgar asked in confusion.
"That's because you always stand by your teammates against the opposing team, no matter what. That is how you develop trust between your partners," Harriet told him wisely.
"And you fought with Draco…" Edgar trailed off, looking slightly worried. As much as he enjoyed annoying Draco by flirting with Harriet or doing things that he disapproved, Edgar was well aware of Draco's ill temper and thus, would never dare to cross a certain line with him.
"We are on the opposing teams, Edgar. Naturally, we would disagree about almost all the matters and therefore, arguments are inevitable. Don't worry about us, I am quite confident that Mr. Malfoy is mature enough to understand that despite his outward anger," Harriet assured him, smiling.
Furtively glancing over Harriet's shoulder at Draco who was at the hearing range and was shamelessly eavesdropping on their conversation, Edgar mentally asked, 'Are you, Draco?'
Feeling eyes on his back, Draco acted nonchalant as he passed the ball to Vincent.
When Vincent's over finished, Lions' score read 167 much to Serpents' frustration. Grabbing the ball from Gregory, Nott roughly thrust it into Draco's hand. "Get your wife out!" He hissed laconically.
Frowning at his obnoxious attitude, Draco sharply turned on his heel to take his position. With his jaw set in a hard line, Draco delivered the fastest ball possible to Harriet who was anticipating something like this; having noticed the burning silver of his eyes, hit the ball towards the border, causing Draco to curse loudly.
In the last second, Dean managed to stop the ball from touching the boundary but in the meanwhile, Harriet and Edgar scored three more runs, making the score 170.
Nott, who was guarding the pitch along with Malcolm, Goyle and Vincent, hollered, "What the hell, Malfoy?" Stomping towards Draco, Nott aggressively grabbed his arm and snarled, "If we lose now, Malfoy, it will be entirely your fault since it was your decision to let her play!"
Directing a smouldering glare at him, Draco wretched his arm out of Nott's grip and shoved him away before preparing to bowl at Edgar. Meanwhile, Harriet, who was standing at the non-strikers end, discretely watched them and frowned deeply in vexation. She could not believe that Nott, in his rage, doesn't seem to care that he was directed such snide remarks to the Lord of the estate, his host.
With a dark look on his face, Draco throw the ball at Edgar who despite the tension and not to mention the intimidating looks of the fielders, managed to drive the ball far enough for him to interchange his position with Harriet.
Harriet realized from the loud, encouraging chants of the Lions that a single boundary hit would at least confirm the match as draw at this moment.
[170] runs to Lions
With 4 balls to go and 4 runs to draw or 5 runs to win, Harriet's heart pounded against her bosom as she faced her grim faced husband.
Within seconds of Draco releasing the ball, two collisions echoed in a sequence around the silent, waiting ground. Lions watched in horror at the two dislodged bails and stumped wicket behind her whilst Harriet stared blankly at it.
Their stupor was broken by victorious shouts from Draco's team as they sprinted towards their stunned captain. Together, Crabbe and Goyle hoisted Draco onto their shoulder whereas others celebrated their win by thumping each other on the back or shaking hands with loud, triumphant yells.
Casting a fleeting, concerned glance at Harriet, Blaise joined his team. After a long pause, Harriet swallowed painfully and turned her shame-filled face to Edgar.
Edgar who was staring at her in shock until now, shrugged casually upon seeing the unshed tears in her green eyes and then gently motioned her towards the border.
Nodding heavily, Harriet trudged along with Edgar towards her disappointed team.
"Mrs. Malfoy!"
They paused at Nott's call and together turned to face him.
"You played well but alas, you could never match up to our skill or experience and I am afraid, you never will," Nott 'tsked' disparagingly.
Harriet held Edgar from angrily retaliating at his brother-in-law for his incivility by discretely placing a restraining hand on his arm. Blaise mirrored her action by placing a hand on George's shoulder and the other on Draco's arm. Next, handing her bat to Edgar, Harriet silently dropped an elaborate yet elegantly deep curtsy at Nott with a sweet smile on her face, in response before striding away with her head held high leaving Blaise smiling proudly after her while others gaping in shock. A small smile tugged across Draco's mouth as he stared at her retreating back. It was clear as day that the gesture was meant as neither the acknowledgement nor acceptance.
Upon reaching the border, Harriet sadly glanced at her team members. "I am extremely sorry, Gentlemen," Harriet managed to say, her mouth unusually dry.
Harriet's grief mounted upon seeing the down ridden expressions of her teammates. "What the bloody hell are you sorry for, Harriet? You saved us from a pathetic loss!" Edgar exclaimed with a brave smile while subtly reminding his teammates the truth of that very statement.
Sighing in understanding, Lions agreeably nodded at her causing Harriet to smile uncertainly.
"Fellas, let's move to the recreational room," Peter instructed quietly and together, they sedately walked towards their destination.
Before they could disappear inside, Harriet called their attention. "Gentlemen, please go freshen up. I will arrange refreshments for you all in the drawing room," and then glancing between her brothers and their friends, she firmly added, "Also, you will all be dining here with us this evening and I will not hear any excuses."
They nodded in acceptance.
"Thank you for giving me the honour of playing cricket alongside of you," Harriet said curtsying with a genial smile before walking towards the back of the Manor.
"Harry!" Ron called and when she turned to face him, "Where are you going?" He asked frowning.
"I have already intruded upon your game. I am not going to force my presence in your private rooms as well," Harriet jested. "I am going to use the servants' entrance," she told him before waving at them and walking away.
Still euphoric over their victory, Serpents joined the Lions at the entrance of the room. Throwing a disgusted look at Nott, Edgar disappeared inside.
"George, can I ask why you did not demand my objects in your support against letting Harry play?" Blaise enquired quietly as they waited for their turn to use the restroom.
"I did not want to be the one to cause a rift between you and Mr. Malfoy. If you chose to keep quiet about knowing Harriet's experience with the sport, then that is your decision. Besides, now I am feeling ashamed that, in my determination to win the match, I tried to terminate Harry's opportunity to play the game. You did what I, as her brother, failed to do," George admitted ruefully.
Blaise nodded in understanding.
As Draco followed his teammates to the recreational room, his gaze abruptly landed on the score-board, or more precisely on Harriet name and her top score of 52 beside it.
"Don't!" Draco frantically objected, as Abraham made to wipe the board clean.
When Abraham turned to stare quizzically at him, "Preserve the scoreboard as it is, Abraham," Draco commanded imperiously.
"Very well, sir."
As soon as freshly bathed Harriet descended down the stairs, she was accosted by the askance looks that the ladies at the Manor were directing at her. Biting her lips, Harriet smiled sheepishly at them. Her anxiety, however, grew as the women continued to silently stare at her.
"Oh, stop it all of you, if I could run our family business then Harriet can play Cricket," Alexandra lightly admonished them while staring amusedly at Harriet.
In the next instance, a bright smile broke across Harriet's face and she leapt forward and fervently embraced Alexandra. Kissing her cheek, "Thank you, Grandma," Harriet said gratefully.
Alexandra indulgently smiled at her in response.
Straightening up, "Well, I promised refreshments to the Gentlemen. I must go see to it. Please, excuse me," Harriet said pleasantly, curtsying and then jauntily disappearing in the direction of the kitchen.
Frazzled after spending the whole day under scorching sun, Gentlemen gladly accepted glass of cool orange juice along with a plate of cucumber sandwiches that Harriet was distributing around.
Walking up to Blaise who was standing apart from other men, by the furthest window, Harriet handed him the glass.
"Congratulations on your win, Blaise," Harriet said smiling.
Smiling sardonically at her, "The win would be much more satisfying, Harry, had it not been achieved by someone's foul play," Blaise remarked, gazing piercingly at her.
"Your team won fair and square, Blaise," Harriet said, giggling a tad bit nervously and not meeting his gaze.
"You purposefully lost your wicket, Harry. I was standing right behind you and I saw you tilt your bat in the last second," Blaise stated with candor.
Knowing that there is no point in denying, Harriet tightly nodded.
"Why did you do it?" Blaise demanded heatedly. "You never showed any mercy to your opponents or cared about their disappointment. Why now?"
"Keep it down, will you?" Harriet hissed in warning, casting an anxious glance around the room and sighing in relief when she was assured that everyone was immersed in their conversation.
Turning to face Blaise again, "How many men do you know, Blaise, who would allow their wife to participate in a game of cricket in the midst of other men?" Harriet asked abruptly.
Thoroughly taken back by her unexpected question, Blaise simply frowned.
Smiling knowingly at him, "Me neither until Mr. Malfoy," Harriet replied blithely. "Can't you imagine the situation had our team won? I want Mr. Malfoy praised for his bold decision, not ridiculed."
Blaise blinked at her passionate tone and then the words, 'Jesus Christ, Harry….' rang through his mind.
After a long pause, "What about the disappointment of your brothers and Draco's cousins?" Blaise enquired a bit accusingly.
"Peter and Edgar approached the game as an interesting means to occupy as well as entertain them. They are already making a recovery from the loss. Although, I dearly wish that Mr. Nott would cease his boasting by directing none-too subtle comments at them. He could give my Mother-in-law a run for her money," Harriet confided in him with a grimace.
"As for my brothers, I do feel guilty for intentionally destroying their expectations. But they are clever, they will soon realize that it was better to have a respectable loss rather than beating their prideful brother-in-law in his own home and in front of his arrogant relatives," Harriet added plaintively. "I want to keep peace."
At searching gaze that Blaise was directing at her, "Don't look for remorse, Blaise, you will not find any," Harriet said candidly before leaving his presence.
Sidling beside Blaise who was quietly gazing at the gardens, "May I know why instead of protesting, you encouraged me to induct Mrs. Malfoy in the game?" Draco asked bluntly. "We almost lost the match."
Giving him an amused glance, Blaise directed Draco's gaze towards Harriet who was sitting among Sirius, her brothers and their friends from Biddestone and listening fascinated and interjecting amusing remarks as they gesticulated while explaining the match to her before her arrival at the grounds.
"That is why," Blaise said laconically, gazing at Harriet.
That was when Draco noticed palpable, uninhibited liveliness and exhilaration that were emanating from Harriet and consequently and effectively, diverting her haggard teammates from their loss and charging them with jollies.
With much effort and reluctance, Draco turned his gaze from her and glanced at Blaise who was smiling fondly at her.
Finally turning to Draco and meeting his narrowed grey eyes, "Draco, you did not know Harry like her family, Miss Granger or I did before marriage. She gave up a lot of things that kept her truly happy with life. I suppose all women give up their interests after marriage. But Harry did more than most. And if the price of extracting that illuminating smile on Harriet's face is one lost Cricket match then I would lose many without hesitation if I were you," Blaise explained with intense feeling.
Draco's eyes narrowed further in suspicion. "Taking of Mrs. Malfoy's interests, what other secrets concerning her are you keeping from me, Blaise? I implicitly trusted you to tell me all about her, yet I find out the truth of her ex-profession and now her dexterity with a cricket bat only by accident," he sneered at him as the pang of jealousy pierced inside his chest.
"Harry is your wife now, so you should ask her. If I know her, I would say she won't mind sharing once she is assured that you truly are interested in knowing her," Blaise advised mildly.
At that moment,
"Mr. Malfoy, Blaise, Dinner is served," Harriet informed them from across the room before exiting with the others.
'What exactly are your feelings for my wife, Zabini?' Draco wanted to demand but instead, "Stop calling her, Harry!" hissed envious words came out of his mouth as they made the way to the dining room.
Laughing loudly, "Just like her family and friends, that is one habit that I feel reluctant to depart from, I am afraid," Blaise responded much to Draco's frustration.
Men continued their spirited discussion on Cricket on the dinner table wherein the twins announced the extremities of Harriet's play by confiding her clumsiness when it comes to bowling. Mock glaring at her brothers, Harriet took Edgar's teasing and others' amused smirks good-naturedly if the embarrassed blush on her face was any indication.
Savouring a cup of coffee after dinner, Weasley boys and their friends prepared to leave. Knowing that they had an hour-long journey to make, Harriet did not insist on them staying longer. Greeting them all separately and thanking them for accepting her invitation and strictly instructing her brothers to take a detour to Madam Pomfrey's house for Ernie's ankle examination and if necessary, treatment on their way home, Harriet let them depart.
Sirius and Draco accompanied Harriet to porch to the farewell their guests. As they turned to stroll back inside, "You know, Harriet, I wasn't very surprised to discover your skill in the sport of cricket," Sirius told her.
Blushing a bit at his complement, "Why is that, Uncle Sirius?" Harriet asked curiously while Draco interestedly listened to their conversation with an impassive façade.
"I recognized that you have inherited your Father's talent for the game," Sirius admitted, his grey eyes shining with both pride and remorse at the same time.
"Really?" Harriet whispered in awe.
"Yes, although James was a bowler whereas you are batswoman," Sirius chuckled.
He was rewarded with a giggle from Harriet and a smirk from Draco at his careful use of the right gender.
On their way to Biddestone, George seriously gazed between the young men ensconced in the carriage and said, "I want all of you to promise that none of you will divulge the fact that Harry had played cricket with us today."
Everyone frowned at him in confusion but quickly agreed upon seeing the fearsome look on his face or maybe at the thought of being target to his pranks.
Making a hand gesture across his chest, "Cross my heart, I won't," George said solemnly.
When they mirrored him, George nodded in satisfaction.
When their carriage arrived at their final destination, the Burrow. The three boys jumped down but before they could make their way inside, Ron stopped George. "I am sorry, George…er…about what I said regarding Ernie," he said, his face steadily turning red.
"Apology accepted," George replied instantly before turning and apologizing to Fred for his nasty behaviour during the match.
Fred nodded with a smile and threw an arm around George's shoulder before yelling, "Mother, we are home…"
That night as soon as Draco entered the Master suite, Harriet launched at him and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. Standing on her tiptoes, Harriet leaned her cheek against his and said, "Thank you so much for letting me play, Mr. Malfoy. I know you must have faced many a resistance."
Feeling the stiffness of Draco's body after a moment, Harriet's eyes widening and she speedily backed away from him.
Utterly mortified by her lack of self-control, "Er.. I just …wanted to…thank you and also…congratulate you …. on …your …. victory," Harriet concluded, blushing profusely before hurriedly disappearing to her dressing room.
Harriet's stuttering words had effectively pulled Draco from his stupor and now he was afraid that the feel of her warm and soft embrace as well as her embarrassed smile and intense look in her bright eyes that were filled with admiration, gratitude and some other indescribable emotion would forever be ingrained in his mind.
A/N 1: Cricket was highly boosted by public schools such as Eton, Harrow, and Winchester who provided it to students (Gentlemen) who played against semi-professionals (Players) and also, in the universities.
A cricket match is played between two teams of eleven players each, on a field of variable size and shape.
An Umpire (a referee if you like) decides runs scored, player's dismissal and fouls by making hand signals.
Cricket field diameters of 140–160 yards (130–150 m) are usual. The perimeter of the field is known as the boundary and this is sometimes painted and sometimes marked by a rope that encircles the outer edge of the field. The field may be round, square or oval.
Positions of players in the game: say A is batting; two players of A come on to the field simultaneously to bat. One player (batsman) occupies the striker's end of the pitch while other non-striker's. As they score runs by simultaneously running the length of the pitch in the opposite direction, these two batsmen interchange their position and bat. When one is batting, the other looks on. If either of them gets dismissed then another one of remaining 9 players from A will replace him. (There are always two batsmen on the field. If there aren't two left (not dismissed) then A's innings to said to be finished).
Since A is batting then B is said to be bowling, then all 11 members of B are present on the field throughout A's batting innings. Out of 11 players of B, one (bowler) bowls the ball from the beyond the wicket that is mounted on the ground on the non-striker's end of the pitch and another (wicket keeper) guards the wicket mounted on the ground behind the striker batsman while the remaining 9 players of B guard the field (fielders) preventing the ball from reaching the border.
Each wicket consists of three wooden stumps (three thin cylindrical shaped sticks) placed in a straight line and surmounted by two wooden crosspieces called bails.
The key action takes place in a specially prepared area of the field (generally in the centre) that is called the pitch. At either end of the pitch, 22 yards (20 m) apart are placed the wickets. These serve as a target for the bowling (aka fielding) side and are defended by the batting side, which seeks to accumulate runs. A run is scored when the batsman has run the length of the pitch after hitting the ball with his bat.
Before play commences, the team captains' toss a coin to decide which team shall bat or bowl first. The captain who wins the toss makes his decision whether his team bats or bowls first. Captain and wicket keeper for each team are determined beforehand.
If Team A chooses to bat first then Team B will bowl the predetermined number of balls (usually it is 50 over or 300 balls (1 over= 6 balls)) and try to get 10 players of A dismissed and contain the number of runs scored by A before the balls are finished in the meanwhile. The batting period of each team is called an innings of said team (time it lasts, depends on numbers of balls being played. If they play 300 balls for each team, it usually lasts around 7 hours (yeah, cricket is long sport). Here in the chapter I have shown that they play only 30 over or 180 balls each. Usually after first innings, teams take a break.
In the second innings (innings of B), B's team bats to try to make runs that are more or equal to A's score while A bowls and tries to get B's batsmen dismissed and try to contain their run from outreaching their score in the meanwhile.
The common (not the only, there are other ways too) ways in which a batsmen can score runs: 1) Striker hit the ball and both batsmen run in opposite direction until they reach the line (crease) drawn a bit before each wicket (earns 1 run) 2) Striker hits the ball with such speed that it rolls and/or bounces all the way (fielders fail to stop it) to the border (Striker earns 4 runs in a single shot. This happens occasionally) 3) Striker hits the ball with such force that the ball doesn't touch the ground until it hits/crosses the borderline (Striker earns 6 runs for the team in a single shot) 4) Bowler makes a foul by throwing the ball that is out of the reach (too high or beyond batting range of the striker) of the striker (ball is called wide ball and it earns 1 run to the striker because it is considered bowler's mistake).
The common (not the only) ways in which a batsman can gets dismissed are: 1) If a fielder catches the stroked ball before it hits the ground (within the border) for the first time (it is called caught ( c )). 2) If the bowler manages to hit the wicket behind the striker with the ball he has just thrown (it is called bowled ( b )). 3) If any member of the bowling team manages to hit the wicket with the ball before batsman reaches the line drawn (crease) before the wicket (batsman's safety zone. It happens when the batsmen are running the length of the pitch to score a run (run out)). 4) If the wicket keeper standing behind the striker manages to catch the stroked ball before it hits the ground or keeper hits the wicket standing between the striker and him with the ball at the time when batsman unknowingly moves even slightly out of (crease) his safety zone (it is called stumped ( st )). 5) If the batsman upon seeing that he couldn't stop the ball from hitting the wicket with bat, tries to stop the ball with his leg (it called leg before wicket ( lbw )). Batsman does this mostly unconsciously.
A batsman who is injured can temporary leave the field while other batsman takes his place. If after resting and waiting until another dismissal, the injured batsman is feeling better then he is allowed to return to batting. If he cannot, he is considered permanently retired by injury. It is a loss of player to the batting team since batsman never got dismissed.
When a person learns the game, he learns about all positions of the cricket but he is allowed to specialize in one position (batting, bowling or wicket keeping). When a captain sends his players onto the field to bat, he chooses to send players specialized in batting first so that they can score more runs and bowling specialists for batting in the last. Similarly, captain of a bowling team, sends competent, specialized bowlers to bowl first so that they can get batsmen dismissed quickly.
A completely new player (who never was on the team when game started) cannot be brought into the game in the middle. I am writing it so as to suit my purpose.
What Harriet has done is an indication of the precaution taken by experienced and proficient batsman.
Same bowler can bowl any number of over (6 consecutive balls) s in an innings but he is not allowed to bowl two or more over consecutively. (This rule is placed so that the bowler doesn't tire himself out from constant bowling.) He takes a short break as other bowler bowls the next over before taking the task of bowling again.
Difference between fast bowler (pacer) and spinner is that a fast bowler runs forwards from a long distance before releasing the ball to the striker whereas a spinner runs a little and spins the ball in his hand before releasing the ball to the striker.
If you still did not understand my description, I have added few links to the pictures of the game in my profile page. Please check it out. What a thing to say for a writer, huh? * snorts *
A/N 2: Before the mid-19th century, Men were highly against letting or involving women in sports, let alone encouraging because Sports meant freeing women from their restrictive dress, behaviours, laws and customs and from the belief that they can't or shouldn't achieve or compete or win with men. In fact, men worked to instil these beliefs in girls since their birth.
In those days, where a girl is married off early, it was common for a man to marry at the age of early/late 30s or 40s. There was a significant age gap between a man and his wife. Take Harriet and Draco for example, he is 9 years older than her, which was not considered that big.
Emily's fiancé is thinking of taking a voluntary retirement. I am assuming that he is in mid 30s whereas she is in early 20s.
Are you bored and/or annoyed? Extremely sorry, but please don't show your frustration by not sending me a review. I would be really really disappointed. * sad eyes of the cat (Puss in boots of shrek movie one) *