The game and love

14

When it was time to go home, Harry and Draco felt ok enough to face the iron maiden that would be their lives. Draco was still under intense pressure. The next few weeks would decide the future he'd been preparing for his entire life. Considering all the things he'd been through, he still had high hopes. Harry was here to support him, his Mom had basically given her support tp whatever he decided to do. His dad was quiet for the moment, no longer sure where he fit into Draco's life. Draco didn't mind that. It was his dad's pressure which made him the saddest. It was so consuming for him, that he just wanted to end it all, just to show his father that he didn't have any control over him.

School seemed really tense, Draco could feel eyes on him, he could hear sharp whispers and everything told him to be worried. When he got to football practice, he met up with Ron and Hermione outside the locker room and had a short chat before getting himself ready to go. The locker room wasn't much better than the school had been, in fact, it seemed worse than the school. Dead silence filled Draco's ears paranoid that someone was plotting something, he dressed quickly and left for the field.

He smiled when he saw Harry up in the stands. It always mader him feel lighter when Harry was there watching him. When he huddled the guys up, he noticed someone was missing. "Where is George at?" Draco asked, shocked that someone would miss this important practice before regionals. Goyle looked down. "He hurt his ankle making a cut." Someone else chimed in. "Yeah, now we can't win." Draco frowned. They were down to three wide recievers. They needed a replacement. Draco looked around for several seconds before it dawned on him. 'Harry can do it.' He thought suddenly.

"Hold on guys." He jogged over to talk to Snape on the sideline. "Coach, I heard about George." Snape looked up from his clipboard and eyed him curiously. "Just trust me." He said, a huge grin spread across his face. "Harry." He called as he walked over to where Harry was scribbling on some paper. Harry gave him a soft grin. "We need someone to play. George is pretty hurt." Harry's face turned sour and he started to protest. This was not what he wanted at all, ever since what happened to him at his other school.

"Oh come on, just line up and show what you can do." Draco gave him a serious look. "I won't let anything happen to you." Harry reluctantly shook his head and began to step down off the bleachers. "Coach, time us." Draco walked with Harry and lined up to call a play. He told the players to give them space, they quickly abliged, most wanting to see the show, they all reached the sidelines. "Just do like we did before, I'll get you the ball this time, just run as hard as you can." Harry nodded and focused on the task that was infront of him.

"Blue 34, Blue 34! Hike!" Draco watched as Harry took off like a bolt of lighting. He said a silent prayer and threw the ball up for the endzone. He wathed in horror as he realized he had put too much on it. He watched figuring the ball would sail over Harry's head, but then, a miricale happend. Harry seemed to burst faster and just as the ball fell, he extended his hand and caught the ball with one hand.

Draco's jaw hung open. It wasn't until he heard the reaction of the team that he grasped what had happened. "Holy shit guys, did you see that kid?" Oliver Wood yelled, obvious amazement in his voice. "Wow." Draco whispered to himself as he jogged to the endzone where Harry stood looking at his hands. "Great catch Harry." Draco said happily. "I didn't mean to overthrow you, you're just so damn fast." Draco added, hoping he hand't been hurt. When Harry looked up at Draco, there were tears in his eyes.

"I forgot how good that feels." He said softly. "Holy shit! Guys, he ran a 3.6 forty." Draco could over hear the amazement in the players as Harry was having his moment. "I know what you mean Harry. Will you play for us now?" Harry wasn't sure, he missed football for it's simpleness, people made it complicated, but Draco's big puppy eyes made him relent. "Ok, I'll do it, but just until George gets better." Ron walked up behind them. "Hey Harry, the team wants you to play." He smiled as if that was his doing. Draco gave him a thankful look.

"Ok ok, geez, I told Draco I would." Harry rolled his eyes. Ron's grn widened. "Great, I'll tell the guys!" Expecting that Ron would walk over an tell them, they were shocked when he turned and shouted. "Hey, Harry is gonna play guys!" Cheers broke out and several of the players ran up and surrounded the three friends, clamouring to shake hands with their new teamate. Goyle walked up and picked up Harry in a bearhug. "Good to have you Harry." He boomed. Draco just chuckled, Goyle was always way too friendly he smiled to himself. After some more introdictions, they cut practice short and Snape called Harry and Draco into his office.

"So, you really want to do this Mister Potter?" Snape said, not looking up from his desk full of paperwork. "Yes sir." Harry replied a bit nervously. Draco felt like he should reassure him, but he didn't want to have the first impression be that he would have to be Harry's crutch. "Then it's settled. We'll have a practice tomorrow and by then I'll have some equipment for you and a locker assigned. Snape looked up at Harry. "We work hard here. You'll do fine." He extended his hand and Harry shook it. "See you tommorrow coach." Draco said as they got up and left the office.

They drove to Harry's house, both were excited at the future. Harry couldn't stop talking about how good running fet to him. It made Draco happy to see how excited and Happy Harry was, he always seemed too quiet and reserved, so this excitement was honest and geniune. Harry felt excited because he would get to play with Draco and they both had the chance to be heroes. 'It's not something I expect to do.' Harry thought to himself. He knew you didn't just dream about the game, you felt it, it moved through you. It was a friend that was with you in all you did. Harry didn't know how he had forgtten how good being on the field felt.

Harry's excitment built even more when Draco pulled into his driveway. "Oh, no way!" Harry grinned. "He's here." He got out in a flash before Draco could catch up to him. Harry ran to the door and excitedly motioned for Draco to hurry up. "What?" Draco said, walking up to the door very confused. Harry knocked on the door and when it opened he bolted into the arms of a dark rugged man. "Uncle Sirus!" The man picked Harry off the ground and groaned as Harry's hug tightened. "Harry, my boy!" The man chuckled. "How are you?" Harry pulled out of the hug completely forgetting Draco was behind him. "I'm great! Are you here for a visit?" He asked hopefully. "Yes, I'll be in town for a few weeks." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter.

"From your mother, she sends her love." Sirus said gently, trying to soften the blow of the pain that his mother's situation caused. He noticed Draco standing a bit back, seeming pretty left out and confused. "Harry, who is your friend?" Harry snapped out of the trance that the letter seemed to capture him in. "Oh, ummmm, this is Draco." Sirius extended a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Draco. I am Harry's Uncle Sirius." Draco smiled. "Thank you sir." He turned to Harry, who was still focussed on his unopened letter. "What is it Harry?"

Feeling Draco's arm wrap around his shoulders, he imeadiately turned into his chest and wrapped his arms in a hug. A shocked Draco simply adjusted so he could better accomadate Harry's embrace. "Thank you." Harry said into his chest. Draco smiled. "For what?" Harry looked up into his eyes. "Not letting me be alone."

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End chapter 14 A/N Next we find out what Sirius is doing here, the letter and Harry's first practice. also, romance is in the air when Draco decides to make the first move for their first time, it won't be pretty. Please review.