A MATE FOR LIFE

Chapter Sixteen

The next morning, Hermione woke up to a clear blue sky that showed through her window. She dressed in her quiddich robes and went to the Gryffindor tower where Harry, Ron and Ginny were waiting for her. They all stifled their yawns as they went down to breakfast.

The sat picking at their food, all of four of them too excited and nervous to eat much. She looked across to the Slytherin table to see Draco barely touching his food either. As if he sensed her looking, he looked up to see her gazing his way. She smiled at him, for him to return the smile as heked ked his lips suggestively.

She started laughing while Ron looked at her weird. “Let’s go down to the pitch early Harry, I never had a chance to test out my new broom yet.” Hermione said as she downed her orange juice and grabbed an apple as she swung her legs over the bench to stand.

The other three shrugged and grabbed some breakfast to go, as they also wanted to try out her new broom. They were walking out to the pitch when Ginny asked if she found out who it was that sent it to her.

“No, I haven’t. Next time I’m in Diagon Alley I want to ask the sales witch what the person looked like or if they have a name of the person who purchases it.” Hermione stated very curious herself. Maybe she should send an owl enquiring about the identity of the mysterious broom buyer.

When they got there, the rest of the Gryffindor team was already there warming up on their brooms. Hermione mounted her broom, still feeling the soreness between her legs from last night, kicked off to raise in the air. She flew around then circled the hoops then raced to the other side of the pitch at the brooms full speed.

After a few twists and sharp turns to see the manoeuverability of the broom, she touched down by Harry and Ginny. “That rides so awesome Harry, here give it a try if you want.” Harry smiled and did not have to be asked twice as he jumped on the broom and sped up in the air.

When the Gryffindor team saw a few of the Slytherin players enter the pitch, they decided to let them practice while they went to discuss some of the game strategy for the game.

Draco arrived early to watch Hermione as she flew around for a few minutes before the rest of his team showed up. The Gryffindor team walked to a side entrance past the Slytherin team. They all smiled a greeting to each other, as some of them had formed friendships between the two houses, except one or two Slytherin’s that wouldn’t let the old conflict die.

Draco was at the back of his group waiting for Hermione to walk by. “Nice flying Granger, new broom?”

“Thanks Malfoy, and yes it’s a new broom and it rides even better than Harry’s ‘firebolt’. Although......” She licked her lips and leaned in close to his ear, “...I am a bit sore still from last night.” She whispered as she licked the lobe of his ear.

He closed his eyes at the feel of her tongue touching his ear and felt himself growing hard. He watched as she walked away from him chuckling to herself. He adjusted himself and drew his robe around him as he walked onto the pitch, smirking at her high handedness, knowing that she knew exactly what she just did to him.

Dean Thomas, a fellow Gryffindor seventh year was the announcer for this year’s quiddich games. He announced the players for both teams and what positions they were playing. What was most surprising to some of the faculty and students was to see their Head Girl, Hermione Granger flying out as the Gryffindor chaser.

When their name was announced, they each flew out and circled their end of their pitch to take position. Harry and Draco, the team captains, stood at the center of the pitch as Madame Hooch came out. They both shook hands and went to their respected seeker position.

At Madame Hooch’s whistle, the bludgers and snitch let loose out of the game chest. She threw the quaffle up in the air where Ginny grabbed hold and flew towards the Slytherin end. One of the Slytherin chasers knocked it out of her hand, as it began to drop, Hermione sped up and caught it right before the Slytherin chaser could get a hold of it. She sped to the Slytherin end where she faked to throw the quaffle through the center hoop, but instead threw it to Ginny who was by the right undefended hoop, where she scored the first ten points for Gryffindor.

Draco and Harry were circling the pitch looking for that glint of gold. They happened to see the play that Hermione and Ginny played. Harry cheering as did Draco, but silently to himself for Hermione.

Hermione was keeping her eye on the quaffle as she stayed close to it, when she saw a flash of gold whiz by her side on the right. She followed it with her eyes, not noticing the bludger that was hit her way. She looked to her left and saw it coming towards her fast. She steered her broom down, having the bludger just barely miss her. She looked up at the cheering to see that Slytherin had scored their first ten points. It was now a tie game.

The game progressed, keeping the scoring almost even. Harry and Draco seemed to spy the snitch at the same time and was speeding towards it, picking up speed as it zig-zagged through the pitch. They both had their hands outstretched, Draco feeling the flutter of the wings against his finger tips, when Harry gave that extra burst of speed to grasp it in his hand.

Above, the players were chasing after the quaffle, when the whistle blew signaling that the snitch was caught and the game was over. Hermione looked down to see Harry on the ground holding the snitch high. She did not see a Slytherin beater give one last hit of the bludger towards her, where it connected to the back of her shoulder, hard.

Draco looked up to see his beater hit the bludger towards Hermione and tried to call out to her. He saw her wince painfully when the bludger hit her shoulder, and then to lean down against her broom. He hopped back on his broom and flew up towards her. “Hermione, are you okay?” As he glided beside her.

She looked up, pain evident on her face. “I’ll live, but it hurts like hell.” She said trying to smile through the pain.

“Come here, ‘Mione. I’ll help you to the ground.” He lifted her up into his arms as he gripped his broom with his knees. Her good shoulder against his chest while her other arm hung loosely at her side. She put her hdowndown on his chest, knowing he wouldn’t let her come to any harm. He slowly descended to the ground where her broom followed close by his. Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey were waiting as he touched down.

Pomfrey came close to inspect her shoulder where she saw the bludger hit. Hermione flinched in pain as her arm was moved and buried her face in Draco’s robes. “I’ll need to get a better look, please bring her to the hospital wing Mr. Malfoy.” Pomfrey ordered.

Draco carried her all the way to the infirmary with he rest of the Gryffindor team behind him. He gently laid her on the bed where she winced with the movement.

“Is she going to be okay?” Harry asked worriedly.

“Sure, she will. She’ll be good as new in a couple of days. Now Malfoy, Potter help me get her quiddich robe and arm guards off her, then step out in the hall, so I can heal those bones of hers.” Pomfrey ordered.

They first removed the arm guards, then Harry pulled her up as Draco very carefully removed the robe trying not to dodge the one shoulder. When they were done Harry grasped her hand and kissed her cheek. “We’ll be right outside here, ‘Mione.”

Draco was the last to leave. He knelt down and touched her lips softly with his. “I’ll be waiting with Potter and Weasley.” He left with Pomfrey looking amused at the show of affection that the two boys gave her.

“Well, Miss Granger, let’s take care of that shoulder.” She waved her wand over Hermione’s torso where the sweater disappeared revealing a swollen, bruised shoulder. She prodded it gently then looked up at Hermione. “Your shoulder is dislocated, easy enough to fix, but you may feel a residual pain for a couple of days.” She then waved her wand over her shoulder where a blue light came off the tip. Hermione felt a cooling sensation along her shoulder and down her arm, as the bones were reconnecting themselves. The swelling went down as the bruises faded a tone or two lighter.

She flexed her fingers, only feeling a tinge of pain up her one arm. She smiled. “Thanks Madame Pomfrey, feels loads better already.”

Ginny peaked her head in the door. “Hey Hermione, is it okay if I come it?” As she looked to Pomfrey for permission, who nodded. “I thought you might want a change of clothes.”

“Thanks Gin, can’t really go out like this, can I?” Hermione joked as she looked down at her black lace bra.

G and and Pomfrey helped her change into her jeans and a t-shirt. Pomfrey placed a sling around her neck to hold her shoulder in place. “You’ll need to wear this for a few days and take this potion if you feel any pain. Now, I believe you have a celebration to be getting to Miss Granger. Just be careful of that shoulder.” Pomfrey instructed.

Hermione slid off the bed and walked slowly to the door with Ginny following close by. She walked out the door to see the anxious faces of Harry and Draco who came rushing over to her, surprised to see her up and mobile this soon.

Ginny stepped in front of the bemuse Hermione with her hand out. “Stop right there you two, her shoulder cannot be jostled around, so no hugging tightly.”

“Are you okay Hermione?” Harry asked.

“Yes, I’ll be okay. I guess my shoulder was dislocated. Supposed to take it easy for a couple of days. Good thing it’s not my writing arm, this way I won’t miss any note taking in classes.”

Harry started laughing, relieved that she was ok“Tha“That’s our ‘Mione, school work never far from her thoughts. Awesome game by the way, ‘Mione, hope this didn’t scare you off the game.”

“It happens Harry, I knew that there were risks. After all how many times have I seen you and Ron dragged up here from a game of quiddich.” She said as she glanced over to a quiet Draco.

He walked up to her and kissed her cheek. “Glad you’re okay. You did play a good game, or what I saw of it anyway. Congratulations. justjust to let you know, I will be suspending the beater that hit the bludger after the whistle blew, so it won’t happen again.” He said smiling. “I’ll let you get to your celebrating, I’ll see you later.” As he walked away.

Hermione watched him walk away, as she followed Harry to the Gryffindor tower. Ron helped her sit in the most comfortable chair, as Harry went to grab her a butterbeer. She laughed at all the attention she was getting, “Really guys, it’s not as if my legs arokenoken.”

“It’s not a problem ‘Mione.” Ron said as he and Harry recounted play by play of the game.

“That was good of Malfoy to help you down, wasn’t it?” Ginny stated suddenly.

“Yes. I am very thankful, I was feeling quite dizzy from the hit. He might have saved my life.” Hermione said as she still felt the warmness of his arms around her. “You know, I’m feeling a bit tired, do you guys mind if you do some celebrating without me?”

Ron stood up. “I’ll walk you back Hermione, wouldn’t want you bumping into anyone.”

“Thanks Ron, I’d appreciate it.” He helped her up as they made their way out the portrait.

Ginny and Harry watched them walk out. “I think it was pretty evident on how Draco feels about her.”

“Yeah, I noticed. Maybe we should invite him to that party of ours, if she feels up to it.” Harry said grudgedly.

Ginny smiled. “I already did.” she said as she kissed his cheek with Harry smirking back at her sneekiness. “Hermione doesn’t know he’s coming though, so don’t tell her.”