AN: Trigger warning - discussion of non-con.
If this bothers you, skip over the first section.
{ 23 }
{ Hermione POV }
Healer Edinfield sat at his desk with my folder open in front of him.
I sat in front of his desk. The chair next to me was empty.
My knees were pulled up in front of me, my arms wrapped around them tightly.
Draco offered to cancel his practice with Tristan once he realized it was at the same time as this appointment, but I wouldn't let him do that. I am capable of talking to the mind healer on my own.
As long as he stays on his side of the desk, and I stay on mine.
Besides, Draco had gotten up in the middle of the night to help me. He never said it, but I don't think he slept much before I woke him. He was dead on his feet after class this morning.
"Miss Granger." Edinfield's eyes pinned me with a hard stare. "Are you comfortable talking with me on your own?"
Not really.
"It's fine." I forced myself to relax into the chair.
He raised his brow. Yes, I know what he's thinking. Is that being honest with him or myself?
Somewhat.
"It isn't the talking that bothers me." I could feel my heart speeding up. My leg dropped to the floor and started bouncing up and down in nervous energy. "I don't like being alone with you."
I rubbed at my heart, willing the crushing sensation within to go away.
"Don't take it personally. I don't like being alone with anyone but Draco."
I don't know if this is something I am ready to talk to him about yet. In our previous sessions, we have discussed many of the near-death experiences I have had throughout the years. We have not even come close to this discussion yet, though, and I'm not sure I want to.
He tilted his head to the side. Perhaps he was deciding how to word his next question.
"If you are truly concerned, I can assign a different mind healer for you. A woman, if you would prefer?"
I don't want to have to start over again with someone else.
"That won't be necessary." I'm still concerned that he is incompetent and doesn't believe half of what I tell him, but I trust him more than I would anyone else at this point.
"Very well." He nodded to himself more than to me. "In that case, would you like to talk about why you don't like being alone with me? Or anyone, for that matter?"
Not particularly.
I've never told anyone. I barely even discussed it with Draco.
I bit into my lip so hard that I tasted blood. Pain lanced through my heart. My lungs burned with the effort to breathe.
You will have to tell him sooner or later. Talk about past trauma. That was one of the worst things that ever happened to you.
Would saying it out loud make it more real, somehow?
Just tell him already.
Get it over with.
I gathered every ounce of Gryffindor courage and cleared my throat.
I can do this.
"How much do you know about the night Dumbledore died?" I asked.
He blinked quickly, taken aback by my sudden question.
"I cannot tell you details that I have learned through sessions with others. You know that." He tilted his head to the side. "What do you know about that night, Miss Granger?"
My hands were starting to sweat. I rubbed them against my jeans while I took a shaky breath.
"I know that everything changed that night." That was an understatement. Not even close to the actual impact. "My life as I knew it ended that night."
He watched, and he waited. I know I need to give him the details. To do that, I have to go back there. Back to the night when my life was ruined. When I was broken…shattered beyond repair.
I closed my eyes and tried to take a deep breath. I released the grip that I keep on those particular memories.
"Harry was out of the castle with Dumbledore that evening. And Ron," Tears slid down my face. I closed my eyes and forced another breath against the pain in my chest. "Ron was angry with me. We were in the library, arguing about something or another. He left, went back to the common room. I stayed there and kept working on whatever I was working on."
I don't remember what it was, but it seemed so important at the time. I stood and made my way to the window. My hand rubbed against my chest briefly, then I wrapped my arms around myself as tight as I could. Edinfield stayed in his seat, but I could feel his eyes on me.
"I lost track of time. When I noticed, it was already way past curfew." I wiped the tears from my face, even though they continued to fall. "I was walking back to the Tower. On the fifth floor…"
Oh, Gods!
The pain, the humiliation, the terror crashed through me with such force that it took my breath away. A sob wrenched from my throat and I sank to the ground.
"Miss Granger?" Edinfield crossed the room quickly. He kneeled in front of me.
"Stay back," I managed to gasp.
He held his hands up in front of himself and backed away several feet.
"What happened on the fifth floor?" He asked tentatively.
"He came out of the shadows behind me." I closed my eyes and covered my face with both hands. It didn't help. The images were there, in my mind. They will never go away.
"He grabbed me…and pulled me…backwards…into the boys bathroom…" I gasped between words, trying to force air into my burning lungs.
I may as well have been drowning.
The memories threatened to pull me under, but I fought against them. I need to get this out. I need to give face to it. It is the only way I can hope to recover in any way.
I forced several deep breaths, and I forced the memories to the back of my mind.
"I wasn't prepared." My eyes blinked open. With the memories locked away, I felt numb. My voice was flat, emotionless. I could hear it. I'm sure the mind healer can as well. I did not look at him. I couldn't. I focused on the floor between us.
"I did not know I was in any danger. I was taken by surprise, and I couldn't recover from that." I ran my hands through my hair, pulling it back and gripping it tightly. Tears continued to stream down my face. I ignored them and forced another breath.
"I tried to fight him off." I did try. It wasn't enough, but I tried like hell. "I failed."
My head fell back against the wall. Stunned silence filled the office for several long moments.
"I hate to ask this, but I need you to clarify. Did this man…did he…force himself on you?" Healer Edinfield asked carefully. His voice was calm and soothing, but when I looked at him I could see storms in his eyes.
"Yes." My voice was not even a whisper. Still, it seemed to echo through the room. "He took everything from me that night."
I can tell from the look in his eyes that he understood. Perhaps he was starting to understand more about me now. About why I am how I am.
Broken.
"Did you report this when it happened?" He asked quietly.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat.
"No." I wiped my eyes and rubbed at my temple. "Dumbledore died that night. Everyone was in mourning. They all assumed that I was, too."
No one ever asked me if there was something else wrong. Something more than the death of one of the greatest wizards we knew or the impending war.
They never asked, and I never told them. I never knew how. And the more time passed, the harder it was to tell them.
"Have you talked to anyone about this?"
I blinked slowly.
"Draco." Sort of. "And you."
He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
"Can you tell me who that man was?"
I knew he was going to ask that question.
"It was a Death Eater. He's rotting in Azkaban for the rest of his life." I wiped the tears from my face. He would never be able to do that to another person. Ever. We made sure of that.
"I understand why you are not comfortable being alone with me." Edinfield cleared his throat. "I would like to call in Professor Bones to be present during our sessions, if you would be amenable to that arrangement."
My eyes widened and my breath caught in my throat. Why in Merlin's name would he want to bring her in?
To cover his own arse, probably.
I get that, but I don't want the whole fucking castle to know my business. Anxiety clawed at my chest. I rubbed at my heart absently.
Bones would be a good choice, I suppose. As good as any.
"Fine." My hand curled into a fist. My fingernails bit into the skin of my palm.
He sent a message right away. Then we waited.
"When she gets here, may I have permission to disclose the information you just gave me? Or would you like to be the one to tell her?"
That was an easy one to answer. I never wanted to tell anyone. I damn sure don't want to tell anyone else.
"Yes." I rested my elbows on my knees and covered my face with both hands. "But I don't want anyone else to know."
I took long, slow breaths to calm my anxiety. This is happening. Edinfield knows. Soon Bones will know.
I have no idea what will happen then.
My breath count was at sixty two when a knock at the door made me jump. Edinfield opened the door a moment later.
I remained sitting on the floor underneath the window. From there, I watched Professor Bones enter the office. Edinfield spoke to her in hushed tones. I couldn't hear him, but I could tell by the look on her face exactly when he had told her.
Her eyes darted around the room until she saw me sitting there. She hesitated before walking towards me.
Before she even said a word, I felt hot tears streaming down my face again. What must she be thinking right now?
She sat next to me, on the floor against the wall.
In that moment, she reminded me of my Mother.
Merlin, I miss her.
I don't know what compelled me to do it. The need for comfort of any kind, I suppose. One minute I was sitting next to Bones crying silently. The next, I turned towards her, buried my face in her shoulder and wrapped my arm around her stomach. She did not hesitate. Her arm circled my shoulder and she held me close, just as she would with her own daughter, I imagine.
She muttered words that were meant to be comforting and held me whilst I cried.
I hate crying. I try to avoid it as much as possible. This time, I can't avoid it. Even if I tried, I would not be able to.
It isn't as bad as that day with Draco had been. That day, I knew nothing but grief. Pain. Despair.
This is different, somehow. There is still grief. There is still pain. But I don't feel like I'm drowning.
I feel like I've lived through the storm. Broken and battered, but alive.
I don't know how long I stayed there. When I finally pulled back and wiped my eyes, the sun had set. Slowly, I stood. I kept my arms wrapped tightly around themselves. My eyes were focused on the floor. I don't need to see their pity. It's bad enough that I can feel it rolling off of them in waves.
"Can I go now?" My voice sounded rough, like sandpaper.
"I don't think you should be alone right now." Bones answered rather than Edinfield. "What do you say we go get some fresh air?"
I don't want fresh air. I want a cigarette and a hot shower.
She did just let me cry on her shoulder for well over an hour, though. It would be rude to say no, right? Not that I care about being rude.
"Yeah," I sighed and rubbed my temple. "Sure. Sounds good."
[ - ]
The night air was cool as we walked through the courtyard. No one else was around as we walked to the middle of the foot bridge and stopped.
Without thinking, I opened my pack of cigarettes and pulled one out. I took the first drag before I realized Bones was watching me with an odd look on her face. I think she wanted to chastise me, but knowing what she now knew, had thought better of it.
"Do you want one?" I held the pack out to her.
She huffed a short laugh.
"No. Thank you." Her lip tilted up one side.
I leaned my elbows on the railing and looked out at the scenery beyond. It truly is beautiful here. I can see the quidditch pitch from here. Draco's practice should be over by now.
Professor Bones mirrored my stance. She clasped her hands together tightly.
"You don't have to say anything, you know." I took a long drag and blew the smoke out into the night. "Nothing you say will change it anyway. It happened. There isn't a damn thing I can do about it now."
She contemplated my words for a moment. She turned to face me. The wind was blowing her hair across her face. She pushed it back behind her ears impatiently.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked as she twisted her hair into a bun at the nape of her neck.
"Hardly." I huffed and took a long drag from my cigarette. "I just want to forget it ever happened."
"And how is that working out for you?" I wasn't looking at her, but I could hear the smirk in her voice.
Not well at all, actually.
Damn it to Hell, anyway. She's right.
I released a deep sigh.
"I left the common room around four o'clock this morning. I was awake. Figured I would get an early start. I got as far as that corridor. Then I just….froze." I ran my hand through my hair, then tapped my fingernails against the railing in front of me. "I have walked down that damn corridor every single day since term started. But in the middle of the night, in the dark…I couldn't move. I could barely breathe."
She didn't say anything for several long moments. I think she was waiting for me to continue, but I waited for her to ask the next logical question.
"What did you do?"
Nothing. I stood there like a statue. Just waiting for an attack that never came.
"I sent Draco an SOS. He came as fast as he could."
In his quidditch pajamas.
My lip tilted up on one side.
She cleared her throat and moved a little closer to lean against the railing next to me.
"You know, when I took on the job of Professor this year, the last thing I would have expected was that the two of you would be so close." Her shoulder nudged mine.
I huffed a short laugh.
"You are not the only one. Trust." It had been totally unexpected to everyone. Including me.
"You are good for each other, I think."
I ducked my chin to hide the blush that crept across my face.
I cleared my throat. Time to change the subject.
"I am curious about something." I took the final drag from my cigarette and blew the smoke out into the air. "Why did Edinfield want you to come talk to me?"
I kept my gaze on the lake below. I could still feel her staring at me, though.
"It could be because he knows me. Trusts me. Or it could be because I have worked with many victims, many survivors, like you in my role as an Auror." She scuffed her foot against the walk and took a deep breath. "More likely, it was because he knows that I am also a survivor of sexual assault."
My head snapped around and my eyes met hers.
"Jeremy was my mind healer. He helped me through. He'll be able to help you through as well."
I swallowed hard around the sudden lump in my throat. Tears pricked at my eyes yet again.
She knows. She's been through the same thing.
"You lost the battle that night, Hermione. You did not lose the war."
Her words surprised me. I blinked quickly and wiped the moisture from my face and eyes.
Her eyes were kind. Her lips tilted up in an encouraging smile.
"You are one of the strongest young women I have ever known. You fight, every damn day. You fight, and you survive. Now you are starting to discover that you don't have to fight alone. And that, sweetheart, that is how you are going to win."
She made it sound good. Convincing.
"What exactly am I going to win, Professor?" I leaned my hip against the railing, crossed my arms over my chest and tilted my head to the side.
She mirrored my stance, crossed her arms over her chest and gave me a small smile.
"You are going to find your patronus again, Miss Granger."
I stared into her eyes. I expected to find pity there. Instead, I found something else.
Strength. Pride.
I stepped forward. For the second time, I embraced her. She hugged me in return without hesitation.
[ - ]
I did not return to the Gryffindor common room that night. And I did not go to the quidditch pitch to meet Draco.
Honestly, I just wanted to be alone.
I went straight to the third floor. I warded the door and took a very long and very hot shower. As I stood under the spray, I thought about what Professor Bones had said.
How I had lost the battle, but I would win the war.
I stood in the steam filled bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. Scars litter my body. My legs. My stomach. My neck. My arm.
The colorful phoenix tattoo that covers my left arm from my wrist to my shoulder stands out in stark relief against my otherwise pale skin. I turned my arm and examined the creature in the mirror. My fingers ran across the red feathers.
A symbol of renewal, of immortal spirit. I chose this image as a reminder that I am a survivor. I will persist.
Even if sometimes I fail.
My hair is getting longer again. The black and red strands hung in messy waves past my shoulders. I ran my hand through, pulling the sides back and mixing the red and black together.
Darkness layered over pain.
I took a deep breath and stared into my own hazel eyes.
I have been through Hell and back.
And I am still here. I deserve happiness.
Don't I?
My eyes drifted down to the counter. My wand and the gold coin I imbued with a protean charm lay side by side next to the sink.
"Are you OK?" was written across the face of the coin.
Am I okay?
For a very long time, the answer has been a resounding no. Things are different now. Aren't they?
I'm different now. I'm finding myself again. Finally.
I took another deep breath. A small smile tugged at my lips as I looked at myself in the mirror again.
Professor Bones said that I am strong. That I fight. Every damn day.
My body is littered with scars. Proof. Proof of everything I have lived through. Of what I have survived. Of how strong I really am.
I have other scars, the kind that you can't see. Those are still raw. Still healing. But healing, nonetheless.
Yes, I deserve happiness. Draco is the key. I'm sure of it.
I picked up my wand and closed my eyes. I let my mind drift back to the previous weekend. Standing in the forest with Draco. Watching him conquer his fear of Buckbeak. Flying through the air with his arms wrapped around me. The look in his eyes when he helped me to the ground.
I took a deep breath and raised my wand.
I opened my eyes.
"Expecto patronum!"
A fine, silver mist sprayed from the end of my wand, settled to the ground and dissipated.
I stared at the floor for a long moment. I swear my heart stopped. My hand was shaking as I picked up the coin from the countertop.
I tapped it with my wand and sent a message to Draco.
"I'm good."
My lips curled into a smile and I sent another message."
"I want to show you something."
I waited. My eyes were glued to the coin until I felt it warm against my palm.
"Where?"
I chewed on my lip for a moment.
"3rd floor."
I held my breath until his reply appeared.
"Give me 15 minutes."
I smiled to myself.
"No rush."
I dressed quickly in black leggings and a long sleeved loose fitting gray shirt that had "Good Witch" written across it in sparkling green letters.
Twenty minutes later I was sitting in the lecture room with a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of biscuits. My knee bounced up and down until I heard the staircase grind to a halt down the corridor.
Draco came around the corner shortly thereafter. His steps slowed when he saw me sitting at the table.
I chewed on my lower lip. Merlin. He didn't comb his hair down again. It was still damp from a shower. All tousled and sexy as fuck.
His eyes darted around for a moment before resting on me. He stood halfway across the room.
"Hey." His shoulders instantly relaxed when his eyes met mine.
"Hey." I stood and crossed the room. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his neck and covered his mouth with my own.
His hands circled my waist and pulled me closer as he deepened the kiss.
After several moments, I pulled back and tried to catch my breath.
"How was practice?" I kept my arms around his neck. He kept his hands on my waist.
"It was good. Tristan has a lot of potential." There was a spark in his eye.
He kissed me again. Stronger than before. His tongue slid against mine. One of his hands dropped below my waist, his fingertips gliding across my arse. I emitted a small moan and sucked his tongue further into my mouth.
We were both gasping for breath after that.
"How was your session?" He asked as his lips trailed a line of hot kisses down my neck to my shoulder.
"Awful." I huffed out a short laugh. "But…not."
"What does that mean?" He paused, lifted his eyes to meet mine.
"I'll tell you later." I pulled him forward and kissed him again. His other hand dropped down to cover my arse as well. He pulled me forward and I could feel his arousal pressing against me.
Oh, Gods!
I pulled back. All the way back. I stepped away.
"Hold on." I held my hand out to tell him to give me room. "I need to show you something."
He ran his hand through his hair.
"Whatever it is can wait till later." He crossed his arms impatiently.
"Just…give me a minute." My lip tilted up in a smirk.
I closed my eyes and forced a few deep breaths. In my mind, I pictured clearly that day in the forest. When I had it, I opened my eyes and pulled my wand.
"Expecto patronum."
A silver strand surrounded by a fine mist sprang from the end of my wand. It hung in the air for a moment, then drifted to the ground and dissipated.
My eyes rose to meet his. I bit into my bottom lip to try to curb my smile. No, it is not a corporeal patronus. Still. It's progress. It's a glimmer of happiness.
And it's all because of him.
In a heartbeat, his arms were around me. He lifted me up and spun around in a circle before setting me back down on my feet.
Then he was kissing me. My hands tangled in his hair. His hands resumed their prior position, covering my arse.
"We should go…to the…other…room." I managed to gasp out between kisses.
Reluctantly, he stopped kissing me, took my hand and led me towards the office. We went straight through to the sitting room.
We barely made it through the door before he was kissing me again. My back pressed against the door as it closed behind me. His lips trailed down my throat while his hand slipped under my shirt and spread against the skin of my back.
Merlin that feels so good.
His other hand dipped down to cover my arse, then further down my leg. I lifted my knee to his waist. His hand slid down my thigh and rested behind my knee, holding it in place.
Fuck!
He is all around me. His scent. His taste. His hands. His body pressed against mine. The sensation is overwhelming in the best way possible.
I can feel his arousal against my leg. If he were to shift just a little bit…
Oh, Gods!
My head fell back against the door and I gasped out loud.
He pulled back, just enough to search my eyes. I don't know what he was looking for, but his lip tilted up.
"You are so beautiful." He moved his hand from my knee to push my hair back and cup my face. I let my leg settle back to the floor.
I searched his eyes. They were dark with desire. For me, of all people.
"Shut up and keep kissing me, Malfoy."
"So bossy." Instead of leaning in to kiss me, he stepped back. His hand caught mine and pulled me over to the couch.
He sat down. Without hesitation, I straddled his lap and pressed my lips against his, picking up exactly where we left off.
His hands slid under my shirt, skin against skin. His fingers spread out across my back, his thumbs grazed my side, moving slowly towards the underside of my breasts.
Wet heat pooled between my legs, soaking through my thin leggings. I'm positive he can feel it.
Not that I care.
My head fell back. The sound that came from my throat would be embarrassing if anyone else heard it.
Draco practically growled before burying his head against my shoulder. He sucked on the skin on my shoulder.
"Oh, Gods." I gasped out loud as I fell over the edge. Draco followed right after.
My head fell to his shoulder. His arms tightened around me, holding me as close as possible as we both tried to catch our breath.
[ - ]
The bed feels softer tonight. The blanket feels warmer. Draco is lying behind me, my back against his chest. His arm draped over my waist and curled up across my chest. His hand loosely wrapped around my wrist. His thumb rubbed back and forth across my skin.
"What happened during your session?" Draco asked quietly into the darkened room.
My breath caught in my throat for a moment.
"He asked me why I don't want to be alone with him."
His arms tightened around me.
"I told him." I covered his hand with my own and squeezed. "I told him what happened that night."
I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
"He suggested bringing Professor Bones in to make me more comfortable." I have to admit that I am glad he did. "She was…compassionate and kind. She held me like I imagined my mum would if she were here. And she gave me some much needed perspective."
The war isn't over yet, but the tide is turning. I am winning battles now. I can feel again, something besides pain and despair.
Mostly, I have to pay attention and search deep within myself for those feelings.
Sometimes, though, when I'm with Draco, they just happen.
Hope.
Happiness.
Love.
{ Draco POV }
I slept better than normal. Whether it was due to the witch beside me, or the late-night activities we had enjoyed before going to bed, I couldn't say. Most likely it was a little of both.
I was not quite asleep, but had not quite woken up either when an errant thought floated through my mind.
First quidditch game of the season…
My eyes popped open. I sat up quickly and fumbled for my wand in the dark.
What time is it, dammit?
The tip of my wand lit, and I stared at my watch. Five-thirty.
Fuck. You are going to be late. Move.
"Damn." I rolled towards the edge of the bed.
"What's wrong?" Hermione's tired voice cut through the darkness.
"I have to be in the common room before six."
She blinked blearily at me.
"Why?" She laid her head on my pillow. Her eyes were already fluttering shut.
"It's quidditch today. The first game. There's a tradition…I have to be there. I'm the captain." I don't know why I'm explaining this to her. I'm pretty sure she is already asleep.
"Mmmkay. Have fun." She pulled the blanket further around her shoulder. "Good luck."
I paused. I won't see her again before the game starts. I leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Will you be rooting for me?"
"Of course…" She released a deep sigh and sank further into the pillow.
"Will you wear my quidditch captain shirt?" I placed a kiss just below her ear.
"Sure."
I chuckled to myself. There is no way she will remember this conversation.
"You do know we are playing Gryffindor, right?" My lip tilted up in a smirk as her eyes fluttered open.
"Draco," she lifted her hand and slid it around my neck. "I swear to Merlin, If you do not go away and let me sleep, I will curse you just as you are about to catch the snitch. I love you, but I'll do it. Now go, do your tradition thing."
She rolled over away from me, and curled into a ball on her side.
I stayed right where I was, frozen in place by her words.
I love you.
Does she even realize she said it?
I started to reach over. My hand hovered over her waist for at least ten seconds before I pulled it back.
I grinned to myself then turned away. The last thing I want is for her to curse me before I beat Potter in the game.
She said she would curse you right before you catch the snitch. She thinks you are going to win.
My grin widened.
Ten minutes later, I was dressed and ready to go. Before I left, I folded my team captain shirt and laid it on top of Hermione's bag with a note.
"See you at the game."
[ - ]
I walked into the Slytherin common room with five minutes to spare. Theo was there, pacing in front of the massive fireplace.
"Thank Salazar!" He threw his hands in the air when he saw me. "Where in the fuck have you been?"
"Good morning, Theo." I rolled my eyes at his theatrics. I had plenty of time. It is not even six o'clock yet.
"Last night, of all nights? What the hell is wrong with you?" He glared at me.
It doesn't matter how angry he is right now. Nothing is going to ruin my good mood.
"I'm not the one in a tizzy. What the hell is wrong with you?" I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted one eyebrow.
He squeezed his hand into a fist three times. Each time, he inhaled deeply as he tightened his grip, and exhaled slowly as he released his grip.
"Nothing, Draco. I'm fine." He rolled his shoulders back. "Please tell me you placed the order with the elves before you went to…do whatever the fuck it is you do with Granger all night?"
Does he think I'm an amateur? Of course I placed the order. Days ago. And I stopped by the banquet room on my way downstairs to make sure everything is ready.
"Trust me, Theo. I've got it covered." The clock chimed six times. "Alright. Let's do this."
Over the next few minutes, the quidditch team members filtered into the common room one by one. They were all quiet, careful not to wake anyone else in the house. Once the whole team was present, Theo and I led them out of the common room and down the hall to the banquet room.
The elves had outdone themselves this year. The room was decked out in green and silver streamers and balloons. The tables were set and there was enough food there to feed an army.
The quidditch day breakfast feast is legendary. For each game, we eat together as a team first thing in the morning. By the time the game starts, our food will have settled in our stomachs and we will be energized for the game ahead. It's a time for team members only, to fuel up, focus and prepare.
Theo sat beside me and munched on bacon rolls.
"Sorry I yelled at you."
"No worries. I deserved it." I really had no intention of staying with Hermione last night. But one thing led to another, and I damn sure was not going to leave her there.
At seven thirty, we filed out of the banquet room and headed to the pitch. We started with some warm ups before going into the locker room and putting on our uniforms.
"Alright, listen up!" I stood in the middle of the room and waited till the rest of the team quieted down. "We have Gryffindor today. They think they are better than us because their players have more experience. That is exactly how we are going to win. Let them underestimate us. Remember your training, and let's go kick some Gryffindor arse!"
The rest of the team shouted in agreement and rushed out the door. Theo and I held back.
"Don't let Granger hear you say that," Theo laughed. "You know we are going to get our arses handed to us, right?"
He clapped me on the back, then followed the rest of the team out the door.
It doesn't matter. This match comes down to one thing and one thing only. Me against Potter. I've never beat him to the snitch. This could be my last chance to do so.
I took a deep breath and followed my team.
The stands were full. Every student in the school was there. I mounted my broom and led the Slytherin team onto the pitch.
My eyes scanned the crowd, looking for a certain witch with black and red hair. I didn't see her in the Gryffindor stands. Surely she isn't still asleep?
I took my place across from Potter, but my eyes kept scanning the crowd.
"She's in the Ravenclaw stands with Luna." Potter's voice carried over.
My eyes darted over to him, then to the Ravenclaw section. Sure enough, there she was.
Wearing my team captain shirt.
No wonder she isn't sitting with her housemates.
My lip curled up on one side.
Madam Hooch blew her whistle, and the match began.
I pushed Hermione to the back of my mind and focused on one thing. Being faster than Potter.
[ - ]
The game was going better than anticipated. Theo was doing a great job keeping the Gryffindor score down, and Eloise had turned out to be a fantastic chaser. Weasley was having a hard time defending the goal against her and Wesley.
My eyes scanned the pitch, looking for any sign of that little golden winged ball. I tried to watch Potter, too. Just in case he caught glimpse of it first.
Eventually my gaze landed on Hermione. Merlin and Salazar, she looks amazing in my shirt. Her eyes caught mine and her lip tilted up on one side in a smirk.
Focus.
I turned away slowly. As I did, something caught my eye. Movement, and a glint of gold in the sunlight.
The snitch.
I leaned forward and took off like a bat out of Hell. Everything else faded away. All I saw was that little gold sphere.
I chased it around the pitch. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Potter heading straight for me at top speed. Just before he made contact I executed a flawless barrel roll and inched closer to the snitch while he flew over top of me.
By the time he doubled back, I was only meters away.
I pushed myself.
A little bit faster.
Almost…
Potter was right behind me.
I could barely hear the crowd going wild over the sound of the wind in my ears.
Suddenly, I heard Hermione's voice, clear as day.
"Watch out!" Panic laced the words that seemed to echo in my mind.
I rolled again. Just as I did, a bludger zoomed past, barely missing me. It took effort to keep my eyes on the snitch rather than trying to figure out who tried to take my head off.
I leaned even further into my broom for one final burst of speed. Finally, I was within reach. Effortlessly, I lifted my hand, stretched my arm and closed my fingers around the elusive winged ball.
The whistle sounded from somewhere below.
"Draco Malfoy has caught the snitch!" The announcer's voice rang out loud and clear. "Slytherin wins!"
"Dammit!" Potter cursed from just behind me.
Sweet victory.
AN: Lots going on in this chapter. Hermione is starting to open up and deal with the awful things that have happened to her. Professor Bones is stepping in to give her needed support. (I am considering a one-shot in Professor Bones' POV…) She is getting closer to being able to cast a patronus. And Draco finally defeated Harry in quidditch.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to leave me a review. : )
Until next time.
-mezy