The rest of that week transitioned on smoothly. After the incident with the pixies, we had made sure that in every DADA class, we were the closest to the exit, just in case the tables turned again. Draco had already started Quidditch practice, and he seemed very joyed, not just because with every practice he was closer to playing against Potter, but because he loved the sport itself.
Lydia and I hadn't attended any of the practices yet, only Crabbe and Goyle. We usually stayed around and talked in the Common Room while they were outside, and the day after the DADA mishap (which was the first Quidditch practice for Slytherins), Lydia had pulled me over to talk.
"Draco seems to fancy you." She sang, and my heart skipped a beat, along with my face burning so much you could fry an egg.
"Lydia be quiet." I snapped, then lowered my voice. "We're just being friendly."
"Like, why do you both deny it!?" She exclaimed angrily, not saying another word.
"You both?" I asked, widening my eyes. "Have you talked to him about this too?!"
"Like, duh! Even Crabbe and Goyle like agree. You two are perfect for -"
I hurled a pillow from the couch at her, beginning to panic.
"I'm sorry Lyd! I just- please don't, I mean..." I stammered stupidly.
"Well." She huffed, fixing her hair. "I won't make like, promises that I'll keep out of it, but just like, pay attention!"
I stopped questioning her. Draco, fancying me? It could be...but then again, he was very thick-headed at times...
The rest of the days went by with that thought spinning around my head, popping in and out at the worst possible times. It caused me to lose concentration in classes and made me somewhat paranoid. Nothing new happened to distract me until the following Saturday morning. We had just finished breakfast in the Great Hall when Marcus Flint told Draco he had to go to Quidditch practice in an hour, by Snape's suggestion.
"Go on ahead." I told him. "We'll be in the Common Room all day anyways."
"Why don't you er- come and watch? So you won't be, I dunno, bored?" Draco asked, running a hand through his hair.
Lydia and I glanced at each other and shrugged in agreement. I led the way back to the Common Room and we changed into warm robes. The temperature had begun to drop as it was nearing October, and the winds were picking up slightly as well.
We made our way to the Common Room where Draco was waiting with the other team members, and I saw that him and Felix were having a glare-off, but they both snapped their heads up once we approached them.
"Where are you heading, Vanice?" Felix asked happily, as though he ready knew.
"Draco was sweet enough to invite us to watch the practice." I said, pinning my hair back.
"Did he?" Felix said, smirking and glancing at Draco. "Well, you won't be seeing much of him. He barely focuses."
"Shut it, Rower." Draco spat angrily.
"Alright, alright, Let's start going to the field." Marcus Flint announced, then looked at us.
"Are you two coming?" He asked.
"Yes, we are." Lydia said, smiling.
"Well then hurry up, we're heading to the fields." He said, then walked out of the Common Room with the Slytherin team following behind.
Lydia and I walked on Draco's sides, staying silent and feeling a bit like Crabbe and Goyle.
As we walked out into the field, we saw several people in red robes flying around already, but stopped as soon as they saw us.
"I don't believe it!" Our chaser hissed in outrage. "The Gryffindor's are here!"
Flint made no indication that he was worried nor angry, he merely continued walking, straightening himself slightly and lifting his head.
"Flint!" bellowed the Gryffindor Captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"
"Plenty of room for all of us, Wood." Flint said, smirking smugly.
Marcus Flint was larger than Wood. There was three girls on their way, and I realized they were their Chasers. There wasn't any girls on our team, but we all stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the Gryffindors, leering to them all. Including Lydia and I.
"But I booked the field!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!"
"Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape.
`I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new Seeker."'
I couldn't help but grin as I saw the look of surprise on Wood's face. Lydia smirked and we saw that Draco was hanging in the back of the group, not being able to be seen from the front.
"You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?"
Draco proudly walked to the front, wearing a smug expression, holding his broom and seeming very amused.
"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" said one of the Weasley Twins.
"Funny you should mention Draco's father," said Flint as the whole Slytherin team smiled still more broadly. "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team."
All seven of them held out their broomsticks. Seven highly polished, brand-new handles and seven sets of fine gold lettering spelling the words Nimbus Two Thousand and One gleamed under the Gryffindors' noses in the early morning sun.
"Nice." I said under my breath.
"Very latest model. Only came out last month," said Flint carelessly, flicking a speck of dust from the end of his own. "I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable amount."
"As for the old Cleansweeps," Felix smiled nastily at the Twins, who were both clutching Cleansweep Fives - "sweeps the board with them."
None of the Gryffindor team could think of anything to say for a moment. They were silent, and I crossed my arms as Lydia leaned on me.
"Oh, look," said Flint. "A field invasion."
Weasley and Granger were crossing the grass to see what was going on, and were very unhappy to see us.
"What's happening?" Weasley asked Potter. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"
He was looking at Draco, taking in his Slytherin Quidditch robes.
"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Draco, smugly. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team."
Weasley gaped, open-mouthed, at the seven superb broomsticks in front of him. Lydia and I let out a cold laugh, knowing he has no better.
"Good, aren't they?" Draco continued smoothly. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."
The Slytherin team howled with laughter, even Felix.
"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," said Granger sharply. "They got in on pure talent."
I glared at Granger and was about to open my mouth when Draco spoke.
"No one asked your opinion, you fiIthy little Mudblood," he spat.
There was an instant uproar at his words. Flint had to dive in front of Draco to stop the Twins from jumping on him. Lydia and I widened our eyes at his words but quickly restored our expressions to something that would not be mistaken as surprise. I took a step closer to Draco and grabbed his hand quickly, knowing someone was going to pull a hex.
At that moment, Weasley plunged his hand into his robes, and pulled out his wand.
"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" He yelled, trying to point at us from behind Flint.
A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of his wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backward onto the grass.
I stayed quiet, and Flint moved out of the way to let us see.
"Ron! Ron! Are you all right?" squealed Granger.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead he gave an almighty belch and several slugs dribbled out of his mouth onto his lap.
As soon as we saw the slugs fall out, we were paralyzed with laughter. Flint was on all fours, banging the ground with his fist. Draco was doubled up, hanging onto his new broomstick for support, and I was on my knees, trying to catch my breath as Lydia was laying on her back, laughing her air out.
The Gryffindors were gathered around Weasley who kept belching large, glistening slugs. Nobody seemed to want to touch him.
"Want to try again, Weasley?" I called out, still laughing and clutching my stomach.
Draco and Felix laughed even louder, and Weasley gave a huge heave and more slugs dribbled down his front.
Potter and Granger supported Weasley out of the stadium and across the grounds toward the edge of the forest, and the rest of the Gryffindors let their eyes follow before turning back to us.
"You're a horrid rotten boy!" One of the girls screeched at Draco.
Catching his breath, Draco looked up and shrugged.
"I've been called worse." He admitted before chuckling.
"I'm going straight to McGonagall." Wood threatened, walking around the slugs Weasley left on the floor.
"You do that." I said, rolling my eyes.
The Gryffindor team angrily cleared out of the field, following Wood reluctantly.
We laughed one last time as they walked into the castle, ignoring the slugs that were crawling around and the trouble we might be in.
I glanced down and saw I was still holding Draco's hand, and I smiled stupidly.
"Alright, mount your brooms." Flint said, then looked at Draco and I. "Draco, your girlfriend can sit in the stands."
Several heads turned to look at us, including Felix and Lydia. Felix seemed irritated and stalked away, going to get the Quaffle while Lydia smiled, scrunching up her nose in happiness. Draco looked at our hands and blushed, but to my relief, didn't let go.
"Right, I'll go walk her then." Draco told him, then pulled me off to the high seats in the stands.
We reached the stairs and he loosened his grip on my hand slowly before completely letting go. The awkward tension grew and I wanted to speak but I was completely sure anything I would say would come out a garbled mess.
"Er... sorry if I embarrassed you Vanice..." He said sheepishly, as he attempted to melt the tension.
I searched for something- anything to distract me from the oncoming conversation. I focused on the silver and emerald blurs and prayed the blush that had appeared would fade.
"Um..did I embarrass you?" He continued awkwardly.
I noticed as I looked at him he averted his eyes.
"No it wasn't that..." I stammered, "Well it's just, uh..."
"It's fine, I mean, you're not really my g-girlfriend..."
"Right," I choked out, then immediately mentally slapped myself. "I mean...Not that I mind...not really..."
"Well...why not?" Asked Draco, a smile creeping up on his face.
We had gotten to the Slytherin seats where I'd be watching, and I kicked the ground as I racked my mind for an excuse. Instead I stuttered foolishly.
"I uh...er...Lydia ...ah -"
"Oh she's been talking to you to has she?" He interrupted sharply, glaring at her from the top.
She was taking her time, obviously giving us a moment to speak alone without her interruptions.
"Kind of... yeah." I felt relieved at the sudden change of subject.
Silence extended between us so the only sounds were the whirl of speed and wind and the gentle thump of balls being thrown and caught.
"Well she's kind of right...in a way," Draco said softly. "...I mean in fact I fancy you quite a bit."
I froze and attempted to process what he has just said. Draco fancies me...he wouldn't mind me being his girlfriend... Lydia... was right...? At the same time, Draco had widened his eyes as if he was surprised with his statement.
"Malfoy! Hurry up, you can talk to your girlfriend later, you're wasting training time! " shouted Flint.
"See you after p-practice, Van." Draco told me before kicking off on his broom and joining the rest of the team.
I fell down onto the nearest bench and held my head with my hand, dizzy and confused. There were quick, light, footsteps running to me and I knew it was Lydia. She slammed herself down besides me and wrapped her arms around my torso, giving me a hug and squealing into my ear.
"What did he say, what did he say, what did he say?!" She yelled, jumping up and down.
"Lydia!" I shouted, pushing her off and wrapping my arms around my legs. "He just said he fancies me. Alright?"
She eyed me as though a second head had just popped up on my shoulder.
"Alright? Like what do you mean he JUST said?! VANICE YOU TWO FANCY EACH OTHER AND I'M TOTALLY SURE HE DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD TELL YOU SO SOON! YEAH, I SO SAW THE LOOK ON HIS FACE!" She yelled at me, springing to her feet and pointing at Draco, who was busy dodging oncoming Bludgers.
Covering my face with my hands, I mumbled to her, "I know he did and that's the problem."
"Like, why is that a problem?" Lydia asked, calming down and crossing her arms.
Giving a big sigh, I looked at her.
"Because what if we lose interest, then what happens to the Salazar Five?"
Raising an eyebrow, she sat down and crossed her legs in thought.
"I like, don't think that'll happen, I mean I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." She said after a while of silence. "You should totally just go for it."
"I want to Lydia, I do..." I mumbled, glancing up at her. "I've been fancying him."
"Alright then. It's like, settled." Lydia said and clapped her hands, then stood up and bellowed to Draco. "DRACEY, SHE FANCIES YOU TOO!"
Amused, I rolled my eyes and looked up at Draco, who had shot his fist into the air in victory as if he had just caught the Golden Snitch. I smiled and then abruptly Felix shot towards Draco, who had managed to dive down in time to avoid impact.
"Felix is totally jealous!" Lydia sang before taking out her comb and brushing her hair. "But like who cares."
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Don't even regret this chapter. I finally did it.
•Q.O.C...
-What do you guys think?(:
I know it's been a while since I've updated and I'm sorry but due to family issues I have not had any access to my phone until now. My apologies and hope you all R&R, F&F and Never Tickle A Sleeping Dragon! :D