The game and love

18

The game started, The other team won the coin toss and got the ball first. Draco took this opportunity to talk to his team. "Guys, we have forty-eight minutes to forget life. We live and die out here as champions, not as individuals, but as a team. We are the best, let's not forget to stay together and help eachother." Draco put his hand up and so did his teamates. "Champions on three. One, two, three." "Champions." Draco was ready, it was time to prove once again why he was the leader here. It was like sitting in needles waiting for his chance on the field.

"The Dragons come into the reagionals down one man, number eighty-two George Weasely , to be replaced by Number eighty, Harry Potter." The announcer called over the radio waves. Hermione was listening intensely, hoping Harry would not regret doing this. "I don't know about you Mike, but from what we saw at the practice, this Harry Potter could be a big factor in tonight's game." "He sure could be Tim, the word on this guy is, he can run a 3.62 forty yard dash." "Amazing Mike, sounds like some raw speed on the feild tonight as we send one of these two teams to the state playoffs."

Goyle got a sack to hold the Ridgebacks to a field goal. As he came off the field, he gave Draco a nod and a slight smile. Draco Jammed his helement on and switched his mind off, it was game time, so nothing else mattered. "Ok, 345 set, 34 X on three. Ready?" Break!" Draco walked up and placed his hands under center. Crabbe was ready and seemed to be a little less tense than usual. "Green 40, Green 40. Set. Hike!" Draco snapped the ball and took five steps back. His eyes widened as he saw Harry wide open.

"Malfoy back to throw. Wait a minute, number eighty Harry potter is wide open down field. Malfoy picks him up and makes the throw. IT'S RIGHT ON THE MONEY! Twenty, ten, Touchdown Dragons. So with one play, the Dragons lead the ridgebacks seven to three." The excitement was felt by Hermione as the announcer made the call, she was jumping up and screaming. "Go Harry, alright!"

Draco couldn't believe it. He came over to Harry and ruffled his hair. "How did you manage to be that open?" Draco grinned broadly. "I have no idea." Harry said breathlessly, then he added, "I don't think they were ready for my speed." He breathed. "You catch your breath, I think we'll run a few screens so you don't have to go deep alot." Harry shrugged, "Yeah, I am out of shape a bit." Draco patted his shoulder and decided to talk to Ron about the next time they got the ball.

"The big guy Goyle on the Defensive line has 23 sacks on the season and one here already in the first quarter Tim." "Yeah Mike, this kid stands at 6'3" wieighs in at 287. He's a remarkable specimen, look for him to have a big day for his team."

On the next play it was Collin Creevey who got an interception when the Ridgebacks QB threw the ball his way when Goyle got pressure on him. "Oh my, the cornerback collin Creevey number 42 gets the interception when the big nose tackle got pressure on the QB. They were in field goal range, but now the high-Powered offense of the Dragons."

"Let's go guys." Draco called in bussiness like voice. When everyone arrived in the huddle, Draco looked Simon wood's way. "Yo Wood, Tailback screen backfield left." Draco said and grinned. It was one of the teams favorite trick plays. Everyone got ready and just before he broke the huddle, he looked at Harry. "Can you block?" Harry Nodded, "No problem, just make sure it's not for too long." Simon spoke up, "Don't worry, two seconds and I'll be clear." Simon said arrogantly. "Ready?" Draco called, "Break!"

"Malfoy snaps the ball goes back five steps, NO, he sends the ball behind him to Wood, Wood cuts left, he moves up field and is brought down after a gain of twelve yards on the trick play by the Dragons." "This Dragons QuarterBack really knows how to run this team you know that scouts will be looking at that." That's right, let's watch and see how this unfolds, but it really looks bad for the ridgebacks.

Draco smiled in the huddle. "Ok Ron, slot 74, short post on three. Ready?" "Break!" Draco whatched the defense and got ready. "I 82, Hike!" Ron took off down field, he turned and as by clockwork, there was the ball. He brought it in and turned up field and ran as hard as he could.

"The tight-end caught the ball, turns up field and is brought down after a short gain of eleven yards." "They are having no trouble moving the ball agaisnt this shell shocked ridgeback team."

It seemed nothing could stop the team, Draco felt smooth, everything was easy. The ball glided pefectly, everyone was doing everything right. When he called a play for Harry, he knew it would work. He snapped the ball and watched Harry get open and threw the ball up high. He almost had a heart attack, the ball looked high and from what Draco felt, it would fall short. He almost gave up in the two seconds he watched, but then he saw Harry cut back and move toward the ball as he realized it was short.

"The ball looks short, intended for the reciever Potter. WHO MOVES BACK TO THE FALLING BALL AND MAKES THE CATCH. The ball is at the four yard line of the Ridgebacks. This number eighty is something special, two catches for sixty-eight yards and a touchdown, for you fans that can't see this and are listening on Radio, I can't tell you how brilliant this last catch was."

Harry felt good after that, his lungs burned, but he liked the competition, knowing he was good and proving it was his life. His new teamates gave him kudos for the tough catch, he got a hug from Draco, who apologized to him for the under throw. He shook it off, he liked a challenge and he knew Draco couldn't always be perfect. Ron got the call and caught a touchdown. Harry grinned on the sidline and walked the length of the line getting occasional congratulational butt pats from the players.

They went in at halftime, up 21-3. The defense had chosen to Double team Harry, which made it easy for everyone else to get open. Harry was a bit torn up, he hadn't really trained much before the two weeks before the game. He sat on a bench in the lockeroom, sweating, his whole body ached and he wasn't sure if he could handle the next half. He was brought out of his thoughts when Draco sat beside him.

"Here, drink this." Draco handed Harry a big cup of gatorade and placed his hand across Harry's shoulders as he'd become used to doing. "You probably should have trained more, you look awful dude." Harry nodded as he gulped some of the gatorade and continued to catch his breath. "Well, the second half should be a bit easier." Draco eased and rubbed Harry's back affectionatly,

The second half started easily. The coach recognized that Harry was tired and rested him for the first offensive drive. Harry regretted not being able to go in, but understood that he might be needed later and that he could help better if he could rest. Draco wasn't too suprised when the coach offered that to Harry, he had already caught four balls for 123 yards and a touchdown.

They moved down the field by letting Simon Wood run the ball. They were stuffed after six or so plays and kicked a field goal. The lead was 24-3. Draco came off the field dissappointed. Harry walked over to the bench and sat down next to him, "You doin' ok?" Harry asked innocently. Draco nodded as he smashed his hand through his sweat matted hair. Harry just sat quietly, he knew he didn't want to add anymore stress to him.

The teams watched helplessly as the Ridgebacks got some momentum and scored a touchdown. The defenses of both teams stopped eachother's offenses cold until the fourth quarter, when the Ridgebacks scored again, making the lead 24-17. Draco was leading his team in the final two minutes and he made a throw that he would regret.

"The ball is intercpeted at the 32 yard line by the ridgebacks and it's going back, he's got one man to beat, it's eighty Harry Potter, who smashes into the ridgeback player, WHO FUMBLES AND POTTER GRABS IT OUT OF THE AIR AT HIS OWN TWENTY YARD LINE, HE DOGES A BLOCKER, GOING DOWN THE SIDELINE. RON WEASELY EIGHTY-SIX POPS THE LAST BLOCKER RIGHT IN THE CHEST AND THEY GO OUT OF BOUNDS, 80 POTTER HAS A CLEAR PATH AND SCORES AN 80 YARD TOUCHDOWN." "That's fiting eighty seals the deal with eighty and The dragons will win this regional title." "The once unknown guy will have caught a noticong eye from the scouts here.

Harry broke the plain of the endzone scoring the winning touchdown. All the players greeted him and Draco gave him a tight hug. The closing minutes of the game were forgotten in the joy of Harry's play. The players carried him into the lockroom when the gun sounded and cheered him to the point of losing their vioces. When things calmed down and people started to come down from their high and focus on getting dressed Crabbe walked up to Harry and then called a team meeting.

"Well, we played a hell of a game tonight boys, but you know as well as I do, we couldn't have won without our new man, number eighty." A round of light cheers and appluase broke out. "You laid one hell of a hit on that guy Potter." Crabbe grinned. "It is great to be able to offer you the game ball." Harry shook his head and blushed as more applause broke out in his honor. "Thanks, but, there's nothing like playing football." Harry said humble and a bit too honest. He got several appriciative nods from players.

"I will do my best for you, I just hope it helps us win." Harry added, holding the ball up to show people what he meant. Draco was amazed, this was a more confident happier Harry than he had seen before and he was glad to know him now, as a football player and a lover. As they cleaned up and filed back into the bus to go home, the future looked bright for everyone all around.

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End Chapter 18 A/N A moment shared and a visitor makes Harry rethink his life. Next and Sirus is part of it. Please review.