Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development.

M rating for sexual content anticipated in year 4.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Doting Rival

Chapter 6

By the end of the week, there was no signs of Sirius Black anywhere. Things started going back to the normal. Adelyn was hearing less of his name as she walked around the castle. Unfortunately, the teachers and Hermione weren't letting up much.

The weather was following suit. In fact, it was worsening steadily with each passing day. The first Quidditch match was this Saturday and it was sure to be a brutal one. During today's practice, the team endured strong winds and heavy rain. To top it off, Oliver wood had some unwelcome news.

"We're not playing Slytherin on Saturday!" he angrily shared. "We're to play Hufflepuff instead."

"What? Why?" The whole team was upset.

"Professor Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm is still injured," he seethed. "But it's obvious they don't want to play in this weather for fear of it damaging their chances."

"There's NOTHING WRONG with Malfoy's arm!" Adelyn was still fuming from her last interaction with him. "He's faking it!"

"We can't prove that," Wood remarked. "We've been practicing with the assumption we're playing Slytherin. Hufflepuff's style is quite different." He was on edge with the sudden change, still worried about his chances at the Quidditch Cup. "They've got a new Captain and Seeker this year."

"I don't see what there is to worry about," Fred chimed in. "Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Adelyn caught the snitch in five minutes, remember?" He glanced and Adelyn and winked at her.

Adelyn beamed at the recognition. She would have loved to take on Slytherin and ram Malfoy into the sides of the stadium right about now, but Hufflepuff would be an easy win for the first game. Less stressful. This would be better after all.

"Yea, Oliver. Don't worry. We got this." She was trying to reassure him.

"Alright. Alright. Let's just get a few more drills in while we have a chance." Wood lead the team to the field.

Adelyn woke unreasonably early the morning of the match. There was a muted scratching echoing up the stairs from the common room. Her heart was racing. It couldn't be Black, could it?

Wand at the ready, she slowly crept down stairs, peering around the corner. She saw nothing. But the scratching remained. She followed the sound and noticed it was coming from the stair case that led to the boy's dormitory. She climbed up only to find Crookshanks, Hermione's cat, trying to get through the door.

"Crookshanks! You really had me going." Adelyn pocketed her wand and scooped her up. "You know, I think Ron would not appreciate you attempting to get at Scabbers again." It was always an endless battle between that rat and cat.

Adelyn jumped at the sudden opening of the door. There stood Fred in only his red pajama trousers. "Adelyn!" He was startled to see her. "What are you doing?" He looked her up and down, then leaned against the door way, smirking. He could make out the lining of her nipples.

Adelyn was dressed only in her black and red floral camisole and matching shorts. . . with no bra. She blushed deeply and used Crookshanks to cover her chest. "Um, I, uh." She stuttered, thrown off by seeing Fred half naked. She had never seen him without a shirt before and she was having a hard time getting her thoughts together. "Crookshanks." She held the cat up so Fred could see better. "She was, uh, scratching at the door. I couldn't sleep because of it."

"Ah. That's what that noise was." Fred continued to gaze at Adelyn, taking in the full sight of her. How had they not had an encounter like this when she was visiting the Burrow last year? I could get use to this.

"I hope I didn't wake you. I'm gonna take her back to the girl's dormitory." She swiftly descended the stairs out of site. Fred enjoyed watching her walk away.

Get control of yourself. Adelyn was pacing at her bedside trying to calm down. It wasn't like she had never seen a boy without his shirt on before. But seeing Fred in that particular state had her heart racing. She was not going to be able to get back to sleep now. Focus, Adelyn. Focus on the game today. She opted to get changed and hang out in the common room until breakfast, thinking about the drills she had only just learned this week to use against Hufflepuff.

Adelyn was filling in Hermione on Crookshanks shenanigans last night, when Fred made his way downstairs with George. He caught her eye from across the room.

Adelyn abruptly averted her gaze.

"What is it?" Hermione looked up to see what Adelyn reacted to. She saw Fred smiling and waved at him.

"Don't!" Adelyn whispered, pulling her hand down.

"What?" Hermione focused on Adelyn and saw her trying to hide her face. "What happened?"

"Come on. I'll tell you over breakfast." She half dragged Hermione out of the common room.

It was darker in the corridors and Great Hall due to the storm raging outside. Many more torches and lanterns were placed out. Hermione was sitting with her mouth gapping open as Adelyn explained the situation that occurred earlier that morning.

"No!" She gasped as Adelyn gave the details. "Oh, Adelyn! What did he do?"

"He just stared at me! I'm sure he could see EVERYTHING." Adelyn's face was turning red. She was very expressive with recounting the incident. Her eyebrows went between raised and worried. Her hands were all over the place, telling the story in a different light from her words.

Malfoy noticed her movements from his table. It reminded him of that day in Potions when she kept vying for his attention. He couldn't take his eyes off her and had a strong desire to go over to her, interact with her again. She had been avoiding him for some time now and he was aching to feel as he did before.

As he approached, Adelyn had just buried her head in her hands, groaning slightly. "What's wrong, Potter? Worried about your impending loss today?" He gave a half smile, raising one eyebrow inquisitively.

Adelyn turned to face him directly. He chose a great time to interact with her. She was feisty this morning and up for taking on his taunting. "You must be mistaking me for yourself. I'm not the one who lied to get out of a game. Can't handle a little rain?" She gave him a once over, smirked, and turned back to Hermione who was chuckling.

"I can fly great in the rain." His adrenaline was starting to pump now.

"So, you're just scared I'll beat you, then, huh, Malfoy?" She was on her feet standing in front of him with her arms crossed. This was what he wanted; a reaction. Seeing her get riled up because of him made his heart race. He couldn't get enough.

"You wish, Potter! Just you wait till I play against you. We'll see who ends out on top."

They were practically in each other's faces. Malfoy faltered for a moment as a familiar scent caught him by surprise. Roses in the rain. It IS her.

"Alright. Save it for the field." Oliver Wood stepped between them and gently pushed Adelyn back by the shoulder. She could be very competitive and he needed her to save it for the game today against Hufflepuff.

"This chuffer at it again?" George said as he caught up to Wood.

"Reckon he's worried he can't stay on his broom during the storm like Adelyn can." Fred leaned into George and caught Adelyn's attention. He nodded to her with a smile.

Adelyn shyly smiled and lowered her gaze. Malfoy noticed she was turning red again. He looked back at Fred. HE'S the reason she's blushing? He was suddenly very angry at the thought and glowered.

"Ah looks like we hit a nerve there, Fred," George egged on.

"Seems so, George."

"That's enough," Wood chimed in. "You three. Let's go. We got a game to get ready for." He shooed them towards the exit. Hermione joined them.

Malfoy was left fuming as he watched them walk away.

This was it. The first Quidditch match of the season. The rain was blowing sideways from the intensity of the wind. Thunder rumbled every few minutes. It was going to be harsh out there.

Within five minutes of entering the field, Adelyn was soaked and cold. It was going to take all her effort to stay on her broom. She was at a disadvantage due to her petite size compared to Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff Seeker. He was two grades above her, older and larger. He was less likely to be pushed around as severely as her.

With the blow of the whistle, they were off. The teams could barely make out the roars of the crowd amongst the rumbles of the thunder. And vision was near impossible with the rain splattering their faces like tiny needles. Adelyn was squinting even with her riding goggles one. She nearly ran into two players and could hardly tell which team they were on.

The sky grew darker and Adelyn had seen no sign of the Snitch. If she didn't catch it soon, they would be playing well into the dark. Her hands were going numb and it was getting harder to hold her broom straight. She was almost taken out by a Bludger twice already, slipping as she swerved to avoid impact.

Suddenly, she saw Diggory darting up the field. She followed his course and saw a small speck of gold ahead of him. She threw herself flat onto her broom, willing it to go faster as she raced in his direction. She was above him and would have a bit more momentum flying down toward the ground. She might just be able to beat him to the Snitch.

Suddenly, a frightening familiar cold swept over Adelyn. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something moving right below her on the field. She took her eyes off the Snitch and looked down.

Over fifty dementors were circling below, staring up at her. She felt like she was freezing from the inside out. And then she heard it again. . . a woman screaming inside her head.

"Not Adelyn. Not Adelyn. Please, not Adelyn!

The cloaked figures were upon her, taking turns drawing long, rattling breaths in front of her face. Her eyes rolled into her head and she no longer could see. She only heard the pleadings of a woman.

"Please. . . have mercy. . . have mercy. . ."

Adelyn's body went limb and she was falling. She knew no more save for the screaming in her head, until it was all dark.

"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen."

"Lucky, the ground was soft."

"I thought she was dead for sure."

Adelyn could hear whispering around her. She didn't know where she was. All she knew was that her body ached all over. She felt like she had been beaten. She groaned softly and opened her eyes. She was in the hospital wing.

"Adelyn?" Fred was the first person she saw. He looked ghastly white underneath the mud plastered on his face. "Are you alright?" He lightly touched her hand.

"What happened?" She blinked a few times, adjusting her eyes to the light.

"You fell. Must have been, what, fifty feet?" Fred looked to the other teammates who nodded in agreement.

"We thought you died!" Ron exclaimed. His eyebrows were scrunched in worry.

"Dumbledore was really angry," Hermione explained. "I've never seen him like that before. He waved his wand and you sort of slowed down before hitting the ground. Then he whirled his wand at the dementors and shot something silver at them to make them leave the stadium."

"Definitely feels like I hit the ground. I've never been sorer." Adelyn winced as she tried to sit up.

"Careful." Fred quickly supported Adelyn to help her sit up.

Why is he always the one with her? Malfoy was lingering outside the hospital wing, peaking in. Without a second thought, he had run straight from the stadium when he saw Adelyn being removed on a stretcher. Now, he was waiting anxiously as everyone else was by her bedside. He knew he would most likely not be welcome, but he had to see how she was. Finding Fred consoling her caused his blood to run.

"The match," said Adelyn." What happened? Did we win?" She looked eagerly between her team mates, waiting for a response. She was met with silence.

"Did we. . .lose?"

"Diggory got the Snitch," said George. "He caught it just as you were falling. He tried to call it off, ask for a rematch. But they won fair and square. Even Wood said so."

Adelyn did not see Wood with the rest of the team. As if reading her thoughts, Fred explained, "He's still in the showers. We think he's drowning in his sorrows."

"It's not over yet," George encouraged. "We're only down one hundred points. We can turn it around."

"Oh! What of my broom? Did anyone grab it?"

Hermione stepped forward with a glum look on her face. "When you fell, it had got blown away. . .right into the Whomping Willow."

Malfoy noticed Adelyn slump down in her bed. He watched as Hermione opened a duffel bag on the floor. Inside was the broken pieces of Adelyn's Nimbus 2000. He could see her utter disappointment and wished there was something he could do to bring a smile back to her face.

Madame Pomfrey approached the hospital wing and saw him standing there. "If you're going to visit, deary, best do it now. I've got to tend to her wounds again in a moment."

"Oh, uh, it's okay," Malfoy stumbled in reply. "I'll let her rest." He reluctantly turned away to head back to the Slytherin common room.

She continued into the hospital wing to the group surrounding Adelyn. "Alright, everyone. Miss Potter needs her rest. You may come visit again in the morning."

The group said their goodbyes and promised to stop by in the morning. Adelyn was thankful for the quiet. She was exhausted and welcomed sleep readily.