Broomsticks and Alibis

Chapter 10

“Why didn’t you show up?” Draco said pulling Hermione into the quidditch locker room. Most of the guys had already hit the field, but Draco wanted a few minutes alone with Hermione. He had waited around for her but when she didn’t show when she said she would he left for the game.

“I am so sorry Draco. Viktor started pouring his heart out to me and I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I needed to go. He was so lonely and sad.”

“I asked you to come be with me for a while. When did Krum become more important then you and I?” Draco said feeling frustrated and nervous.

“I love you Draco Malfoy. There isn’t any other place I would have rather been then with you. I’m so sorry. I hope you believe that. It’s just that Viktor isn’t fitting in well. He doesn’t have many friends and well, neither do I. I guess he’s latched onto me a bit. Next time I’ll tell him my husband needs me. Forgive and forget?”

Draco moaned and then pulled Hermione in close.

“Alright, Granger. I just needed you tonight. Another time though.”

“So are you ready then? You look handsome. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you wearing a quidditch uniform.”

“Yeah I guess I’m ready.”

“Watch out for the Wronskei Feint. Viktor will pull all kinds of tricks and maneuvers on you.”

“I was in Slytherin, Hermione. You are telling me about dirty tricks? I coined most of them.”

“Yeah, I guess you did,” Hermione laughed. “I’ll be in the Gryffindor tower cheering you on my sexy fire breathing dragon. Massacre them!”

“Enough with the dragon stuff.”

“I thought you liked it?”

“Only when I’m fucking the hell out of you. You know..Don’t…stop…fucking..”

“Me EVER! I remember,” Hermione giggled like a school girl. He looked so daringly sexy with his broom in his hand and his green robes on.” The quidditch game was just a scrimmage of sorts. They had split all the players into four teams and given them the different house colors, but had yet to name them. Harry had been playing with the idea of getting rid of the houses all together and just having girls and boys dorms, leaving the houses to the new Hogwarts. It seemed to divide the student body more then he felt necessary and he wanted to start a new tradition, where everybody sorted himself or herself instead of having an old hat do it. It was cute and fun in Hogwarts but in college, it was hardly necessary. Of course, everyone still associated the green with Slytherin, Purple with Ravenclaw, Red with Gryffindor and gold with Hufflepuff, so despite his best efforts this match was still Slytherin against Ravenclaw. Stars like Krum though were allowed to play for whichever team they wanted. When Draco refused to play for any team other then the Slytherin, Harry was forced to move Krum to Ravenclaw.

Hermione took her seat next to Ernest and Matilda. It was a clear and crisp night, the stars twinkling brightly above as the quidditch players took the field. Hermione’s eyes were peeled for Draco. She watched as the Ravenclaw team took the field. There was a standing ovation for Viktor Krum who waved to the crowd. He found Hermione in the crowd and flew to her seat, bowing his head sweetly. Hermione looked around uncomfortably but smiled graciously to Krum as he sped off.

“Did you see that boy Hermione?” Matilda said under her breath.

“Who, the Seeker for Ravenclaw?”

“Yes. That sweet little boy on the broom.” Hermione shook her head. Viktor was anything but sweet when he was on a broom. He was competitive and quick, aggressive and confidant. She nodded her head in agreement anyways though. It was good to see Ernest and Matilda enjoying themselves with their own kind after living amidst muggles for so long.

“Yes, Matilda that is Krum, the International Quidditch Player, and best Seeker in the league. I can introduce him to you and Ernest after the match if you would like. He’s a close friend of mine.

“His name is Viktor,” Matilda said with a smile and a twinkle in her eye that matched the majestic lights above.

“Yes. Do you know of him?” Hermione said, eyes still peeled for her Draco.

“I named him,” Matilda now said with a tear in her eye. Hermione turned and her mouth fell open.

“What are you saying Matilda?”

“That’s my boy. We had to give him up when he was small. Broke our hearts, but we knew we couldn’t give him what he needed. Voldemort would have killed him if he’d found us.

“Matilda, oh my gosh. I had no idea. You said you had to give something up. I had no idea it was your only son. Does Viktor know?”

“Oh heavens I don’t know if he does or not. His adoptive parents said they would tell him. Tell him that his real father was also a star Seeker, but we don’t know. It isn’t our place. Just to see him perform for one night is enough to last us a lifetime.” Hermione looked over at Ernest and saw his eyes were wet. Ernest was watching his son fly around the quidditch stadium with such proud fatherly love. It was such a magical moment for Hermione. Here sat the REAL celebrity couple, Ernest and Matilda, the first Slytherin and Gryffindor couple who had paid the ultimate price for their love.

Suddenly Hermione’s attention turned to Draco who had appeared in the night sky. He looked so sexy high in the sky sittingon his Firebolt. Suddenly as panic swept over her as the match began.

“I hope he doesn’t get hurt. He’s going to get hurt I just know he is. I can’t look Matilda.” As predicted Viktor caught sight of the snitch before Draco did. He was flying so fast but Draco was keeping up with him. Viktor did flips over his boom to throw Draco off but still Draco kept up. Hermione had started to open her eyes thinking that maybe, just maybe he was going to be alright. Suddenly Draco dropped off and was heading for the pack of chasers. He rammed hard into the Ravenclaw chaser. Now Draco and another Slytherin were cutting the chaser off and fouling the poor bloke at every chance.

“What are you doing Draco? That’s dirty! Why are you doing that Draco?” Hermione looked at Ernest and Matilda, embarrassment written allover her face.

The referee blew a foul on both Draco and the other Slytherin. They were laughing as Draco took off after the snitch and then she saw it. Something she had seen only once in all the quidditch games she had attended. She ran through the crowds with her eyes on the Dean’s box. Harry had his wand out and he was chanting something.

“No! What are you doing! Duck Draco!” The rogue bludger hit him in the head. Draco didn’t even duck he just sat there and let the solid ball hit him in the head. He was suddenly falling towards the ground as Hermione ran down the stairs. She stopped midway down and pulled out her wand.

“Wingardium Leviosa!” Draco’s body stopped two inches before he smacked face first into the ground. Hermione sprinted for the field. Her heart was in her throat as she peered on at Draco. He was not moving. His body was pale and lifeless. By the time she got there the referee was already hauling him off the field as the game continued.

Two hours later in the hospital wing…

“He won’t wake up. Why hasn’t he awakened yet?” Hermione sobbed over Draco’s seemingly lifeless body.

“Hermione why don’t we go get some tea. It isn’t helping anything sitting here crying over him. Madam Pomphrey said he would be alright, he just took a hit to his head,” Ginny soothed Hermione.

“Will you stay Harry?”

“Of course I will Hermione. Ginny’s right. Get some fresh air and come back. I’ll come for you should his condition change.”

“Harry…You were trying to stop the bludger, weren’t you? I saw your wand out.”

“Of course I was Hermione. I know how those things feel, remember?”

“I thought so. ‘Cause I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt Draco, knowing how much I love him. Right?”

“Right Hermione,” Harry smiled until Hermione left the room. He hated lying to her, but how was he supposed to tell her that he had sent the rogue bludger after her husband?

“Malfoy. Are you awake? Malfoy!” Harry shook Draco. Maybe he was hurt worse then he thought because he wasn’t stirring.

“Malfoy! Wake up. Hermione isn’t here.”

“What the fuck Potter. Ow, my fucking head.”

“Are you alright? “

“I dunno, is on my head on straight?”

“Yeah, sorry ‘bout that. I had the bludger target your head.”

“Why the fuck did you do that? I specifically said NOT the head. Jesus, if you messed my face up…”

“You look fine, except a nasty bump on the back of your head. Nice move by the way. Those fouls before the bludger hit you really looked authentic. You are sure to have picked up a few of your old buddies support, after those moves. The Slytherin crowd was going wild when you did that.”

“Yeah I thought it was a nice touch myself and it actually felt pretty good. Just like the good ole days.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Harry cringed.

“Oh screw yourself. Always the Saint, huh Potter?”

“Compared to you, yeah. Look, try to go back to the Slytherin dorm when you get out of here. Feel them out. See if they trust you again.”

“What about Hermione?”

“I’ll make sure Ginny stays with her. You are going to have to make it look convincing Draco. It isn’t going to be easy.”

“You think I don’t know that. Her tears were making a lake on my bed! It took everything inside me not to jump up and hold her and tell her I was alright.”

“Here she comes.”

“Shut up Malfoy! Like I said for the tenth time. You took a bludger to the head during quidditch and you are in the hospital wing. You should be fine in a day.”

“Draco. You’re awake!”

There was no way he could do it. None. He couldn’t lie to her and hurt her no matter how much they needed this act to look convincing. He wouldn’t hurt her like that. He was married under a month is all. He should be making love to his wife, having candlelit diners, talking until dawn and making love again and again. None of this felt right. It felt bad. He was about to call the whole thing off, take Hermione in his arms and get the hell out of there with his wife when he saw Blaise and Millicent, arms linked together, standing in the doorway to the hospital ward.

“Granger? Why are you hovering over my bedside? Get the fuck away! Madam Pomfrey, can you please remove the mudblood from my line of sight. “ Madame Pomfrey scurried to his bedside.

“But Mr. Malfoy, Hermione Granger is your wife.”

“Have you been into the potions cupboard again? Hitting the sauce? I said get this filthy mudblood out of my fucking face! My father will hear about this. You will lose your job, you old bat. In fact, get Potty and Weasel out of here as well! Can’t a man recover in peace!”

“Draco, no. Honey, it’s me. Think Dragon Love. Remember Dragon? Sweet Pea? Remember the shower this morning?” Draco closed his eyes. No. He couldn’t do it. He was going to break down at any second. When she mentioned the shower that was it.

“Draco, do you remember me?” Blaise sauntered over to his former best friends bedside with caution.

“Zabini. Of course I remember you. What do I look like, a fucking idiot? Help me get the mudblood out of here.

“Draco, why are you saying this! You love me, don’t you remember?”

“Come on Hermione, let’s go. Maybe he will remember his wife tomorrow. Until then, I don’t see any reason for you to put up with this bullshit,” Harry said guiding a teary-eyed Hermione out of the hospital wing.

“Good to see you back Draco. Have enough of playing house with the mudblood? Ready to join the ranks again? We all missed you. We knew it would only be a matter of time.” Blaise sneered at Millicent and told her to get lost so he and his mate could catch up. Draco was laughing and playing along with Blaise. Stupid Millicent with her damned cat. It hissed at Draco and Draco glared at it until it too went and sat on the other side of the room with Millicent. “I bet you got some good virgin pussy though,” Blaise laughed again and Draco balled up a fist under the sheets.

“What’s the mater Draco you’re shaking?”

“You try getting whacked in the head with a bludger and see how it feels! Honestly Blaise, I wouldn’t touch Granger with a ten foot pole. I don’t fancy virgins, you know that. Always gets back to the father.”

“Pansy will be so happy to hear that. She has been such a fucking nag through all of this.”

“Speaking of Pansy, why in the hell is Millicent here with her cat?” Of course that had absolutely nothing to do with Pansy but Blaise was a dumbass and furthermore, Draco did not want to see, hear or talk about Pansy one second longer then he had to.

“I married her Draco! Unlike you though, I can’t get out of my marriage. Do you think Granger had you under a spell? Her little cunty friend, you know the redhead, the Weaselette micked me and I had to petrify her. Is this coming back to you at all?”

“Blaise, have you gone completely nutters?”

“Oh, who cares. I’m just glad to have ya back Draco. Been boring without my partner in crime.”

“So you say. Must be to marry Millicent.”

“Yeah well it isn’t all bad. I’m seeing someone on the side. Hot, Hufflepuff chick. Gives good head.”

“Yeah? Well get me out of here! Let’s go check out the scene,” Draco said.

Review!?

A few twists..Let me know if you like the story thus far and if I should finish it. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! I read all of them and greatly appreciate the encouragement. It helps me finish a story when otherwise I might be resting my aching back and fingers lol