"Potter, I challenge you to a Quiditch match!" Draco Malfoy said, putting on his best pomp and circumstance.
"You and what army?" Potter shot back.
"We'll pick teams, one person at a time, of course." Draco Malfoy said, smirking. "Seeker last, of course."
Potter smiled back, somehow warmer than any smile Draco had ever managed. "You're on."
"Beaters first?" Draco asked.
"Sure." Potter responded.
"I'll take Goyle," Draco said.
"I'll take George," Potter responded.
All according to plan.
"Bulstrode," Draco said, knowing that Potter hadn't seen her play, and might not even be aware that she was as sharp as a tack.
"Dean," Potter continued.
"Keeper next," Draco continued.
"Ron," Harry said,
"Goldstein," Draco said. He didn't want Potter to think he was throwing the game, but he really didn't want to cruise to an easy victory.
"Chasers next," Potter said unnecessarily.
"I'll take chaser," Draco said.
Potter stood there, daffily blinking at him. To be fair, so did everyone else. Draco had had Quiddich tutors, so he'd learned all the positions (though Beater needed a partner, and Draco'd never been even decent at the position). Granger, in particular, bit her lip, as if she wanted to caution against it.
"Alicia." Potter said, and Draco knew that if he was playing to win, he'd be in trouble.
"Greengrass, the younger." Draco said - Tori was a deft flier.
"Blaise," Draco continued.
And Blaise himself started to howl at him. "I don't want to play."
"Excuse me a moment," Draco said to Potter and Granger. "Play along, hotshot," he whispered to Blaise.
"I don't want to play, I said!" Blaise responded. Draco recognized the glint in Blaise's eye.
"Fifty galleons," Draco responded.
"Do better than that." Blaise spat back.
"Three free nights in whatever Malfoy properties you please, and no questions asked." Draco bargained.
"Deal," Blaise said, "Just don't ask me where I slept, or who with."
"Great, I'm going to need to burn the sheets." Draco responded.
Blaise just wiggled his eyebrows at his friend.
"Pardon my uncooperative friend," Draco said in a passable imitation of manners.
"Seeker," Harry Potter said, "That's me."
"Hermione Granger for my side."
You could have listened to a pin drop - everyone had frozen.
"You realize I hate flying, Draco dear?" Hermione said sweetly.
Slytherin sweet, that was, dripping with clear poison. It was so bad that Harry Potter winced, rather than looking gleeful.
"We can fix that together, darling," Draco Malfoy said, moving closer to Hermione.
"Seriously, Malfoy, she's afraid of heights. And you have her on seeker...?" Harry Potter said, sounding doubtful and concerned.
"Shall we set some stakes, then?" Draco Malfoy said. He could see the exact stakes that passed through Harry Potter's mind.
"A hundred galleons," Harry Potter said.
"That misplaced arrogance will get you nowhere, Potter," Draco drawled.
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