A Business Affair

Chapter Twenty-One: Spectator Sport


Over the next few days, Harry spent most of his time practicing for the upcoming match, not that it really mattered. This was only an informal game to signify the end of the season. November was nearly over and the finals were coming up.

The team hadn't made it into the finals due to the changes made in the middle of the year. Harry didn't particularly care at this point. His mind was too preoccupied with Draco, Ginny, Seamus, and Michael. Sometimes he just couldn't think straight.

The week leading up to the match, Draco didn't come to practice once. Harry was almost relieved and definitely glad that Michael had no more chances of talking to Draco. But he was also a little sad that Draco hadn't come.

Every time the twinge of sadness hit him, he quickly shook it away, blaming it on nerves for the upcoming match.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday passed by quickly. Harry's nerves were building up in his chest. Not really because of the match but because of what he knew would be happening on Saturday. He wondered how Seamus would act.

Would he be over the top or coy? Harry didn't know. He kicked himself for not discussing this further with Seamus before leaving last week.

That afternoon after practice, Harry met up with Ron for lunch again. They went to a little cafe on one of the many shopping streets in London. Ron greeted him cheerfully as he walked up.

"Hey, Ron," Harry replied easily, settling down in his chair. He thanked the server as she set down menus in front of them.

"Are you ready for the match tomorrow?" Ron asked, picking up his menu. Harry thought of the many things that could possibly go wrong the next day but just smiled at Ron.

"I think so," he lied. "Are you coming?"

Harry held his breath, secretly praying that Ron would not be attending. He hated the thought of what would happen if Ron found out about all of this.

"I... can't," Ron said slowly.

"You can't? Why not?" Harry asked, sensing something was off. Ron paused, hiding his face behind his menu. Harry gave the drink menu a skeptical look.

"Um... I just have some things to do," Ron said, still hiding his face. Harry could see the edges of his ears which were a bright red. Harry gave him a confused look which he missed, being hidden and all.

"Ron, do you need to tell me something?" he asked. His mind flickered back to several weeks ago when Ron had come to tell him something. Ron lowered the menu slightly and Harry saw that his blush was gone.

"Actually, I--"

"Good afternoon, guys," the waitress interrupted him and Ron blushed again. "What can I get you?"

Harry threw another questioning glance at Ron before smiling at her, making her melt.

"I'll have the turkey sandwich," he said, handing her back his menu.

"And for you, sir?" the girl asked Ron. Ron looked taken aback at being called "sir".

"Er... I'll have the same," Ron said quickly, handing back his menu also.

"Okay, I'll put those in right away," she said with another smile. She turned and left them. Harry turned back to Ron who still looked confused at being called sir.

"Ron," Harry said, getting his attention back. Ron's head snapped back to Harry. "What were you going to say?"

"Oh, never mind," he said quickly.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Ron said quickly. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"Uh huh..." Harry said slowly, in a disbelieving tone. He knew Ron was hiding something, but what?

"So do you think you'll win tomorrow?" Ron asked, effectively changing the subject. Harry let him do it and the conversation continued through the rest of the meal.

They talked for a long while discussing the team’s prospects for the next year. Harry's mind wasn't really in it though. He kept going over what would happen the next day. Granted he had no idea what would happen, he kept worrying.

After a while, they finished their meals and parted. Ron wished Harry good luck for the next day.

You have no idea, Harry thought to himself. He waved good-bye to Ron before stealing down a dark alleyway. He Apparated home, appearing in another alley behind his building.

He walked up to the door and pulled it open. He was greeted as usual by the doorman. Harry gave him a quick smile before taking the stairs to his flat. He reached the fourth floor and unlocked the door.

He went in and saw that Ginny was home. Her coat had been hung up on the rack by the door. Harry did the same, making sure to take off his shoes and put them into the bedroom. He knew how mad she got when he left them by the door, especially when they were as dirty and wet as they were.

When he came out he heard movement in the kitchen and followed the sounds. Ginny was there wearing an apron and mixing something in a bowl. Harry sat down on the stool across from her at the counter.

She looked up and smiled at him. Harry forced himself to smile back, reminding himself that he had to be nice to her despite the amount of hatred burning in his heart.

"I'm making cookies," she said when he just sat there.

"Oh," he said. "That's nice."

She looked up at him for a moment then went back to the bowl, deciding not to comment.

"Er...Ginny?" Harry started awkwardly and she looked up at him expectantly. He hadn't been speaking much to her lately, so this was a big surprise.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Are you...uh... are you coming to the match tomorrow?" he asked tentatively.

"Oh," Ginny said quietly. "Actually, I kind of have something planned."

Harry took in this information and felt a wave of relief wash over him. This wave was followed by another wave of suspicion. What did she have planned?

"What are you doing?"

"I'm just meeting up with an old friend," Ginny replied.

"Who?" Harry asked, prying further.

Ginny sighed in exasperation. "Harry, why does it matter?"

"It doesn't, I just want to know who it is," he said.

"Well, if it doesn't matter, you don't need to know," she said simply, shrugging. Harry narrowed his eyes at her response.

"I just want to know," he said, growing annoyed. Why she trying so hard to conceal who she was meeting? Unless it was someone Harry didn't know about...

"Harry, it doesn't matter. It's just a friend," she said.

"Right," Harry muttered, still not believing her, but allowing the subject to drop nonetheless.

"Don't worry. I'll be back after and we can celebrate your win," Ginny said cheerfully, smiling at him.

Harry had to physically stop himself from shuddering at the thought of what 'celebrating' would entail. He could barely stand to sleep in the same bed with her at the moment knowing what she had done, let alone actually have sex with her.

"Sure," he said, now desperately hoping they would lose tomorrow. She seemed satisfied with his answer, not catching the disgust in his voice. She smiled at him and went back to mixing the dough.

Harry sighed quietly and pushed himself off the stool and went back into the living room. He sat down on the couch and switched on the T.V. The people on the screen droned on and Harry found his mind wandering yet again.

He felt the nervous feeling growing once again in his stomach. He told himself to calm down and that thinking about what he couldn't control would do no good. He closed his eyes momentarily. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Everything would be fine. He just had to trust that Seamus knew what he was doing. Harry sighed once again and opened his eyes. He told himself for the final time to stop worrying and switched off the T.V.

***

Harry woke up early the next day as was his custom on game days. He made himself a cup of coffee and drank it while calming himself. He looked out the kitchen window to the grey skies. A fog had rolled in around the city overnight.

Harry knew it would be a cold day. He just hoped it was a little cleared out at the pitch. The actual Quidditch pitch was far away from his home. It was located in northern England.

He downed the last of the coffee and set the cup in the sink. He set about gathering his Quidditch things. When he had them all, he pulled on his coat and slipped on his now dry shoes.

He left the flat, closing the door quietly. Ginny hadn't stirred at all while he'd been going around their room. He often wondered if anything quieter than a bulldozer would wake her up.

He Apparated to the pitch. It was a home game so they were at the normal place where they usually practiced. Even two hours before the match started, it was already teeming with spectators.

Harry slipped in the back, careful not to be seen by anyone. He found that he was often mobbed by tons of people just wanting to shake his hand. It was probably one of the reasons their team had one of the highest supporter and spectator numbers of all the Quidditch teams.

Once Harry got into the changing rooms without being spotted, he saw that most of the team was already present. Draco was there as well. Harry tried to ignore Draco as best he could. He walked past him and set his equipment down on the bench.

Draco leaned casually against the wall, watching the team prepare. Wood was pacing back and forth, muttering to himself. Harry got ready quickly then sat down to wait. Michael joined him shortly. Harry looked over at him but found that Michael's gaze was fixed on the blond at the back of the room.

Draco had an infuriating smirk on his face and Harry scowled as he saw it. He also saw Michael return it with a sly grin. Harry frowned and looked away quickly, not wanting to be caught staring.

When Harry turned away, Draco's smirk widened and he raised a suggestive eyebrow at Michael, who had to work hard not to snicker at Draco's ingeniousness. Harry was definitely taking the bait.

Finally, Wood walked to the front of the team and began his usual "pep talk" mainly consisting of some words of encouragement followed by a few muttered sentences to himself then finally just waving them away onto the field.

Harry took a deep breath and walked to the entry way through which they would fly. Harry heard the announcer come on and introduce the other teams’ players. Harry mounted his broom and waited for his name to be called.

"And here they come!" the announcer yelled over the deafening cheers. "Schiller, Mandley, Whistner, Corner, Grace, Deckle, AAAAAANNNNNNNNDDDD--" Harry took a deep breath and kicked off from the ground. "POTTER!!!"

He shot out the opening to ear shattering screams. He couldn't help but smile as he heard all the cries and whistles. He zoomed around the pitch, barely hearing the announcer over the roar of the crowd.

He circled over the heads of the many spectators finally coming back to the middle of the pitch where the teams were hovered, waiting for the referee. A short little man walked out onto the pitch, carrying the box that held the balls.

He opened the box and released the bludgers. They were off like a shot and the Beaters followed. The snitch was visible for about half a second before vanishing too. The ref removed the bright red quaffle and threw it into the air.

They were off. Harry shot up in the sky, immediately searching for a flutter of tiny gold wings. Beneath him the quaffle passed from player to player faster than Harry cared to keep track.

He ducked a few bludgers as they came hurtling past him in the sky. One of their Beaters went whizzing past him, hitting the bludger so hard the bat almost cracked.

The other teams Seeker was tailing him closely and Harry was beginning to get annoyed by it. He took off in the opposite direction, easily loosing the other. He made a sharp turn around the goal post, rising straight upward into the air.

That's when he saw it. About fifty feet below him fluttered the tiny Snitch. Harry started to dive for it then suddenly slowed down.

I'll be back after and we can celebrate your win.

Ginny's voice sounded in the back of his head and he slowed more. In a flash, the snitch was gone. Harry pulled out of the dive, noticing that the other seeker was once again right on his tail.

He sighed in annoyance and once again went into a dive. This time, the Seeker followed, only inches behind. Harry was about two feet away from the ground when he pulled up violently on the broom handle, soaring horizontally over the grass. He didn't look back to see if the other seeker had made it or not.

He didn't hear a whistle so he assumed he must be alright. He rose vertically, surveying the pitch again. He chanced a look at the scoreboard since the announcer’s voice was almost non-existent from the noise of the crowd.

They were up, 70-40. Harry supposed Michael and Tara must be doing a good job. He didn't stop to think as he saw another glitter of gold at the far end of the pitch. Ginny's voice once again entered into his head, but he pushed it away, reminding himself that this was his job.

He took off for the glimmer of gold hovering just to the left of the center goal post. Harry heard a whistle of air as the other seeker suddenly appeared to his right. Harry glared at him and pushed further ahead.

The other started to fall behind but put on a burst of speed, nearly overtaking Harry. They were only feet away from the Snitch. Harry reached out a hand as did the other seeker. He could see that the other was only inches away from grabbing the tiny golden ball.

Harry lunged forward, snatching the Snitch right out from under the other seekers hand. He catapulted forward, falling head over heels off his broom. Luckily, they were only a few feet from the ground. Harry rolled several feet before coming to a rest on the hard, cold, frozen ground.

He stood up gingerly, holding his back that had a twinge in it from the angle at which he had rolled for so long. He was soon engulfed by his teammates as he limped slightly towards them. Over their heads he could see the other Seeker kicking the ground angrily.

A few of his teammates grabbed him and hugged him tightly to which he let out a painful yell. They quickly released him and stepped back. They summoned the medi-wizard over who took a look. He performed a basic healing spell which took care of his back.

The team chatted joyfully as the crowd around them screamed their approval. Harry couldn't help smiling as they all talked happily. The Snitch was still clutched in his bruised hand and he handed it back to the referee who stuck it into the box along with the rest of the balls.

Harry saw that the crowd was thinning and felt a jump in his stomach. He looked up in the stands and saw Seamus grinning down at him. He motioned that he was coming down and Harry's heart started beating quickly with nerves.

Wood came up behind him and clapped him on the back. "Good match, Harry!" he cried jovially. "Really good! Wonderful way to end the season. Now don't forget, we still have practice next week. Gotta get ahead for next year."

Harry nodded and Wood walked away, whistling to himself. Harry saw Seamus coming toward him, grinning. He glanced to his left where he saw Michael and Draco talking together. Draco was smirking at Michael as Michael talked happily about the match.

Harry saw Draco reach out touch Michael’s side softly. Harry felt his blood boil at the sight. He forced himself to look away as Seamus neared him.

"Hey, Harry!" he greeted him. Draco looked over when Seamus spoke. Seamus was being rather loud since there were still people around, making it hard to hear.

"Seamus, you came," Harry said politely, wondering if this was right. Seamus grinned cheekily at him and Harry assumed so.

"Of course I came," he said playfully. "I can't go missing seeing my favorite player ever, can I?"

Harry laughed and grinned at him. Seamus winked suggestively and Harry laughed more. Draco was watching them now, his eyebrows knitted together. Michael raised an eyebrow as he watched Seamus and Harry too.

"I guess not," Harry said, blushing slightly. Seamus' grin widened as Harry played the perfect part, though he didn't know it.

"Aw, Harry," Seamus said, reaching out and grabbing his arm briefly, before letting it fall softly back to his side. "I wouldn't miss seeing you for the world."

Harry blushed even more at his comment, thanking Merlin this wasn't real.

"Thanks," he choked out. Seamus just continued to grin at his adorably naivety. Draco's eyes were narrowed now as he watched the interaction. Seamus moved closer, lowering his voice and grabbing Harry's hand, making it appear that he was very close to Harry.

"You're a natural, Harry. He is eating this up." Seamus moved back and let go of the hand. "You know, Harry," he said, his voice back to the normal level. "I don't see enough of you."

Harry's mouth almost dropped open at such a blatant sexual innuendo but managed to keep it shut, though he was on the verge of laughter.

"We should have lunch sometime," Seamus continued, visibly not reacting to Harry's shock.

"Um, sure," Harry agreed. He was trying really hard not to look over at Draco at this moment in time.

"Great," Seamus said, smiling, his sea green eyes twinkling mischievously. "Owl me sometime."

He backed away then, waving good bye. He sent a friendly nod to Michael who returned it, half of a knowing smirk on his face. Harry stood there, letting out a breath he'd been holding for a while. He turned to look at Draco.

Draco looked away quickly so as not to appear that he had been listening. Draco turned back to Michael who was still looking in the direction in which Seamus had disappeared.

"Michael," he said sharply. Michael looked back at him, distracted.

"Yeah?" he replied. Draco moved slyly forward, glancing around to see if anyone was near. No one was besides Harry. Most of the fans had left and the rest were clustered around the changing rooms waiting for the players to come out.

He moved closer to Michael and slipped a hand under his Quidditch jersey. Michael raised an interested eyebrow as Draco's hand moved around to his back, caressing the Quidditch-made muscles.

"How would you like to come back to my place and celebrate?" Draco drawled, watching Harry out of the corner of his eye. Harry was watching them in shock.

Why hadn't it worked? Seamus was supposed to help him! And here Draco was, feeling up Michael right in front of him!

"Sounds like a plan," Michael replied smoothly. Harry watched in outrage as they Disapparated in a pop.

Harry felt anger blaze through his chest at the thought of what they were doing together. He hated that it hadn't worked. He would just have to try harder. He needed to do more. He needed Seamus.


~~**~~


A/N: Big apologies for not updating yesterday. I spent nearly 14 hours in airports yesterday and by the time I got back, it was late and I was tired. Blah, school starts in 2 days. ANywho, please review! Promise next week will be back on schedule. :)