The game and love

25

It was a good time to be a football player. Everyone arrived at Ron's for a good time. Some players had brought their girlfriends, but mostly, it was just the guys. Everyone had worked hard over the last few years to earn the sate title, this was the cullimation of all that work and injury and sacrafice. Most people didn't ever see beyond the fact that it's a game. To the group here that cheered and whooped and celebrated, it was life, it defined them. It wasn't fun anymore, fun was a term that meant when you lost it didn't matter.

Harry had recieved the all clear from the staff. The X-Rays at the hospital showed nothing and the knee hadn't swollen at all, so they figured he Jammed it. Draco was really relieved, afraid that the injury would be alot more serious considering the heroic effort he made in the game. Harry was at ease though and that seemed to ease his mind. They had decided to show up at the party because they knew they'd be missed. Draco was a social guy by nature and Harry was shy, so sometimes it was difficult, because one always tried to accomodate the other.

As they walked up to Ron's house, they could hear music playing. One of the players greeted them and yelled into the house. "Hey guys, the guests of honor are here." Harry closed in on Draco's side as they stepped through the doorway into cheers and applause. Ron walked up to them. "There's places to sit anywhere, have a good time." Draco slapped Ron's shoulder. "Hey, don't forget to thank me for making you look good out there." He grinned as Ron rolled his eyes.

Harry and Draco found a sofa to sit down on and Crabbe and Goyle appeared to bring him a few beers. "Here's mister hero." Goyle said, clearly drunk. His grin showed he meant no harm and Draco just grinned in a bit of awkward shock. Harry was really shy now, he never knew how to act around normal people and now drunk people were talking to him. He was so nervous that without thinking about it, his hand clapsed itself around Draco's.

Draco sensed Harry's discomfort, "Are you alright?" He said into Harry's ear softly. Harry shook his head no. Draco got up and pulled Harry up. "Come on, I know what will help."
He lead Harry out the back door of Ron's house, which had a large deck and a wooden swing, he brought Harry to it and sat him down. "Wait here, I'll be right back." Harry sat patiently while Draco returned to the house.

When Draco came out and sat down next to Harry,he had a couple of beers in his hand. He gave one to Harry and sat down next to him on the swing and cracked the other one open and took a drink. "Drink yours, it'll calm you down." Harry obeyed. He cracked his open and right away Draco knew harry had never drank before. Harry gulped several big gulps before Draco could stop him. He grabbed the drink gently. "Sweetie, not so fast." Harry looked embarrassed. "Sorry." Harry said plainly, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt.

Draco pulled him into a tight hug and laughed a bit. "You've never drank before have you?" Draco smilled, Harry looked down, embarassed. "Hey, I told you that you shouldn't do that." He lifted Harry's chin gently and placed a kiss on his cheek. He was unware that they were being watched.

Pansy Parkinson stood angrily staring at Draco. Draco simply smirked at her. He always thought she was dense, but stupid, now he was sure of it. "Did you need something?" he asked her politely. She seemed to be doing everything in her power to restrain her rage. Draco seemed to like this and found her buttons easy to push, however, he was unaware that Harry had met her before under very bad circumstances. He had gon silent and was trying to will Draco to do the same.

"Look Pansy, I'll never like you, you'll just have to deal with it." He smiled at her. "You're so stupid, you're not even a real man." 'Bingo' Draco thought to himself and watched Pansy lose all control. "You and that little faggot better just leave." Draco stood up, "You should watch your mouth when talking about my boyfriend." There are only a few things I can't stand, that's one." Draco calmly walked over to her. "It never was what you thought, I am sorry, I should have stopped you." This seemed to enrage her and she slapped him. "You fucking fag, you're so filthy." He caught her hand by the wrist as she attempted to slap him again. "Stop." Draco hadn't lost his cool at all, but Harry still sat in the swing having no clue why his boyfriend was doing this.

Before the two combatants got any further, someone came out to see what the shouting was about. Simon Creevey was on the porch and had taken Pansy by the arms. "Listen Pasny, go home ok?" Simon seemed to snap her out of the rage she was in and caused her to start crying. He decided to take her home and Draco and Harry were left alone again.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked softly, after a minute of silent contemplation of the events that just took place. Draco sighed. "Remember when I told you that you were my first time with a guy?" Harry nodded. "Well, I was Pansy's first." Draco looked at Harry's shocked eyes and became defensive. "Hey now, I didn't even know that at the time and so I felt really bad afterwords, but I couldn't tell he what was wrong or anything." Draco was going to add something but Harry spoke first. "I understand, but you could have been nicer."

Draco looked shocked. "Hey, I did what I could, you saw what happened." Harry nodded. "Yes I did." Harry kissed Draco right on his frown. "And you deserved it." Harry grinned. "I mean, you're a huge jerk." Draco grinned evily. "Oh now you're gonna get it." Draco said playfuly as he started mercilessly poking Harry in the ribs causing the boy to scream like a little girl and plead for forgivness.

Someone coughed audibly and both boys jumped apart, very guilty looking, both red and shocked. "That's twice." said Crabbe. "Anyway, the guys want you both inside, Ron has something he wants to say to you both. Draco and Harry eyed eachother confused, they followed Crabbe into the house, Harry was visibly attached to Draco's Arm. "Guys, the team and I have come to an agreement, we have a favor to ask of you both." Unsure, both boys awaited in agony for Ron's next words.

"It was easy to make this choice, without you two, we wouldn't have won." several whoops and yeahs went out. Ron Continued. "That's why we decided to nominate you both for the national all-star team." Draco was shocked and also, greatful, he was so afraid that his team didn't really care about him after the incident after they discovered his sexuallity. This cemented his faith in them all.

Draco raised his beer. "I'd like to thank you all, for this honor which you all earned alongside me and we achieved together." Harry just stood quietly. He didn't know why he deserved to go, he hadn't even played the whole season. Draco looked at Harry. "What's wrong Harry?" he whispered. "I don't deserve this." Draco just whipered back not to worry. The night was pleasant and before long most people had left except for the kids closest to eachother on the team. Both Harry and Draco had returned to the porch swing, drunk and content to watch the slowly rising sun in the other's company.

End chapter 25

A/N Next chapter, everyone says goodbye as college looms, but we have a Prom to get to, what drama. Please review.