**Disclaimer: I don't own anything, it's all J. K. Rowling.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 9:  It Happened on the Quidditch Pitch

"I cannot believe that you went back to help Malfoy! Hagrid's right, you have gone daft!" 

Hermione sent Ron a doleful glare across their Potions homework, which was spread out over a table in the Gryffindor common room.

"I don't know why I even told you Ron. You always over react. Malfoy's really not that bad." She looked away from him as he gave her a look that clearly said that she had just grown another head. 

"Not that bad? Malfoy's...not that bad?" He suddenly leaned across the rolls of parchment and pressed his hand to her forehead. "Well you don't feel like your running a temperature, but I still think you should go see Madame Pomfrey."

"Ron!" Hermione shoved his hand away and glowered at him. "There isn't anything wrong with me, all I said was that he's not that bad. You are being absolutely ridiculous. Harry, please tell him that he's being ridiculous."

Harry looked up from his potions text with an expression that showed he had hoped to be left out of this fight. "Hermione, I have to agree with Ron on this one. It is Malfoy after all. Saying that Malfoy isn't that bad is about equal to saying that blast-ended skrewts are cute and cuddly."

"I don't believe you two. All I say is that Malfoy isn't that bad and you think I should be locked up in St. Mungo's." Hermione could feel herself becoming angry, a dull throb had started in her head and she knew that she'd have a horrible headache if this blew into a full-fledged argument. 

"That might not be a bad idea Hermione. He's obviously doing something to you. I would have thought that you'd be too smart for him, but I suppose that brains don't count for much when you lack common sense." Ron told her, he looked to Harry for support but Harry just shook his head knowing that Ron had stepped over the line.

Hermione gave Ron a dark look and quickly began shoving her books away. 

"Hermione," Ron tried to get her attention, "Hermione, I didn't mean it like that. Really, C'mon Hermione, don't go, we still have Charms to work on." Ron tried to grab her arm but Hermione stepped out of range.

"Oh do it yourself Ron Weasley, or better yet, find someone with common sense to help you!" And then she spun around and stormed up to the girl's dorm.

"You know Ron, I could be wrong, but when you're worried about a friend, I've always found it best not to insult them." Harry told him mildly as he opened his Charms book.

"Well I can't help that she's gone bloody daft over Malfoy!" Ron muttered rather remorsefully. 



Hermione threw her bag onto the floor, crawled onto her bed, and pulled the curtains around her. 

"How dare he? He's being ridiculous; they're both being ridiculous. Malfoy's not that bad, I'm not saying that's he a great guy or anything, but he isn't the worst scum on the earth." Hermione grumbled to herself. 

Ever since the trip to Hogsmeade, Hermione had stopped avoiding the library when she knew that he would be there. While they didn't exactly get along, their insults to each other seemed less cutting, and something closer to a friendly banter. 

Hermione rolled over and stared up at the canopy that covered her bed, it wasn't that she liked him. She just found herself not hating Malfoy as much as she use to. There was something about his eyes; the way they would flash and darken that made her feel somewhat strange. That day down in Hogsmeade had been strange as well. She had been so frightened down in that alley with Goyle coming closer to then. But part of her mind had refused to think of the danger and concerned itself only with the feeling of having Malfoy's arms around her. She had felt oddly safe, as if Malfoy would try and protect her from everything if he had to. It really made no sense to her. She hadn't told Ron and Harry about Lucius Malfoy and Goyle's father, they would only become more incensed that she had gone back to help Malfoy. At the time she had told them only that she wanted to run back to Honeydukes to get some more chocolate frogs. When she had found him sitting there in the dark like a lost child she'd only wanted to comfort him. Never once had Hermione ever thought that she'd want to comfort Malfoy, or that he would ever deserve comfort. Sometimes in the library, she almost felt that they were friends, but then Malfoy would completely change, reverting back into the nasty person that he usually was. Hermione just didn't understand; he seemed so lonely sometimes. Hermione gave a great sigh and pulled her blanket up to her chin and decided that she really didn't like Malfoy much at all, that she couldn't possibly like Malfoy.



"Hey Granger, have you worked on anything from this crate?" 

Hermione glanced over to where Malfoy was standing bent over a crate in the corner of the room. "No, why?"

"It's gibberish, all of it, whole books of nothing but gibberish." Malfoy held an old peeling book in his hands.

Hermione quickly crossed the room and knelt next to it, "It can't all be nonsensical, O'leary has always been so meticulous with everything so far." She started to pull out books and flip through them. Malfoy was right; the tomes contained nothing but numbers.

"Well obviously the old coot had really gone off his rocker by this time." Malfoy seemed highly annoyed that a whole box contained was now useless. 

"But it doesn't make any sense Malfoy, why would he write whole books of nothing but numbers? The rest of his research is so orderly." Hermione held a book in her lap, trying to discern what it must mean. 

"So Granger, it's Slytherin vs. Gryffindor this Saturday. We're going to flatten you're little friends you know." A malicious light was shining in Malfoy's eyes.

"Of course you are," Hermione replied without looking up. Malfoy started and then realized that she must not be listening to him at all.

"And Harry Potter is a complete idiot who isn't worth a knut as a seeker." Malfoy grinned at Hermione.

"Mhmm..." Hermione agreed her brow was crinkled in concentration as she flipped through the pages of the book.

"And you think that I am terribly handsome and easily the most charming bloke in the entire school." Malfoy supplied eagerly.

"What?" Hermione asked suddenly turning to look at him.

"Oh, just wondering if you were going to the Quidditch match this Saturday." Malfoy said quickly. 

"Of course I am, I have to support my house, not to mention Ron and Harry." Hermione told him.

"Oh of course, because the fabulous Harry Potter doesn't have enough supporters, why don't you just start a fan club for your little boyfriend? Or wait; was it the Weasel that holds your heart? I can never remember" Malfoy gave her a dark glare.

Hermione looked up at him in surprise, this meeting had been relatively uneventful so far, she would almost be willing to say that it had been pleasant. 

"What's wrong with you Malfoy?" She asked.

"Nothing mudblood, I just get sick of listening to you go on and on about Potter and Weasley." Malfoy snatched his bag off the table and stormed from the room leaving a mystified Hermione behind.



"Hermione," Ron whispered at her. Hermione looked straight ahead at Snape who was writing something on the board.

"C'mon Hermione, I said I was sorry." Ron pleaded with her but she still refused to look at him.

"Please Hermione..." He asked again and this time Hermione risked a glance out of the corner of her eye at him. She knew immediately that it was a mistake. Ron was starring at her with his big blue eyes, a melancholy puppy-dog look to them. He quirked his eyebrows at her and smiled slightly.

"All right, all right, apology accepted now stop looking at me like that Ron." She returned his smile. 

Harry visibly relaxed next to her; she knew that he hated it when her and Ron weren't speaking to each other. Hermione returned her attention to Snape and started to copy down what ingredients they would need for their potion. Today they were supposed to be making an engorgement potion. It wasn't nearly as easy to control as the standard engorgement charm, which was probably the reason why Snape was making them do it. 

"So we need how many beetle eyes?" Harry asked as he started counting out a small pile.

Hermione's eyes traveled down the list, "we need five beetle eyes."

"I poured out to many," Ron said thoughtfully at his own pile, he glanced sideways at Harry who had looked up from his pile and then flicked it across the room to hit Crabbe in the back of the head. Crabbe spun around but Harry and Ron were both studiously cutting up lacewings. Harry and Ron started laughing quietly when he turned back around, a confused expression on his face. 

"I saw that Mr. Weasley, ten points from Gryffindor. Oh, and it looks like your potion is ready to be tested." Professor Snape stood glowering behind them. "Well Weasley, drink your potion."

Ron looked dubiously down at his bubbling cauldron and then siphoned off a small beaker full and downed it in one gulp. There was a sudden popping sound and Ron's ears had suddenly swelled to four times their normal size. All of the Slytherins dissolved into cruel laughter. Ron's face had turned a brilliant shade of red. Snape walked down to the front of the class to write their homework on the board. 

"Nice look Weasley," Malfoy drawled at them from his corner. "You know, your ears remind me of a certain mudblood's teeth."

Hermione flushed angrily and then grabbed the back of Ron's robes as he lunged towards Malfoy.

"He's not worth it Ron, you know that Snape will stick you in detention if you attack Malfoy." Hermione spoke soothingly.

"She's right Ron, I wouldn't be surprised if Snape found some way to stop you from playing tomorrow." Harry added, coming to Ron's other side and taking a secure hold on Ron's arm. "Just save it for the game, all right?"

Ron turned to look at them and then nodded. "Yeah, we'll show him." 



Hermione sat in the stands between Ginny and Neville, Seamus and Dean sat in the row in front of them. She pulled her cloak tighter around her as an icy breeze blew around them. Looking at the dark gray that hung low over the forest, Hermione figured that it was going to start snowing soon. She looked at the clouds a little longer, thinking how they seemed to match a certain pair of eyes that she had become rather familiar with. 

"Oooh! Look Hermione, they've started!" Ginny squealed loudly and gripped Hermione's arm. 

The two teams had suddenly risen up into the air, and with Madame Hooch's whistle, the balls were released. The match was very fast paced; Harry had risen high above the players to watch for the snitch while Malfoy darted here and there farther below. Harry dived suddenly and Ginny gripped Hermione's arm harder and gave another squeal of excitement. But Harry pulled out of his dive empty handed. Ron blocked shot after shot delivered by the Slytherins and Hermione and Ginny were nearly beside themselves with delight at how well he was doing in Gryffindor's first game of the season. 

Ginny gripped Hermione's hand when a bludger almost slammed into one the twins. He smacked it and sent it spiraling away. Hermione watched the ball as it suddenly picked a target and made a beeline for Malfoy. Hermione watched wide-eyed as the ball flew straight toward his head, but Malfoy hadn't seen it yet, both he and Harry had noticed a glimmer of gold near the ground by the Slytherin goal post. Malfoy and Harry dived for it at the same time. The stands were on their feet, the two seekers zooming downward, and the horrible bludger was gaining on the unsuspecting Malfoy. Hermione gripped Ginny's hand hard and bit her lip, she wasn't watching Harry anymore, all of her attention was on Malfoy. They were both so close, only ten feet away, and then five. The bludger was going to hit Malfoy in the back of the head when he suddenly noticed it and veered to the side. Hermione let out a small cry and then Harry had the snitch. The game was over; Gryffindor had won by 180 points while Slytherin had nothing. Hermione watched as the bludgers were forced back into their box and Malfoy sank slowly to the ground and got off of his broom. Hermione realized that she was still clinging to Ginny's hand. The younger girl was looking at Hermione in shock, she had obviously noticed that Hermione hadn't been frightened for Harry, Hermione felt herself blush and she turned away quickly.

"C'mon Ginny, let's go congratulate them." Hermione didn't wait for an answer as she started down the steps. 

"Hermione," Ginny called out, but Hermione only increased her pace. 

It seemed that all of Gryffindor house was waiting for the team to come out of their tent. They were immediately whisked up onto many shoulders and carried back towards the school in a noisy procession. Hermione and Ginny joined the group and headed towards the castle. Hermione knew that someone would go down to the kitchens and get food from the house elves, she knew that the whole house would be up for hours celebrating. But Hermione didn't feel like celebrating, she was glad that they had won, that Harry had won. But there was a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that felt bad for Malfoy; he had been so close this time. 

Everyone was out of the stands now and heading towards the school. Hermione stopped at the great doors and looked back towards the field, sure enough, she could see one lone figure standing in the deepening shadows. Hermione stepped back from the crowd and watched as the rest of the Gryffindors made their way up the stairs, everyone laughing and talking happily. Hermione waited until almost all the students had come through the doors before she turned and walked back down the field. Malfoy was standing off to one side of the Quidditch pitch, it had become so dark now that the sun had set that Hermione could barely see him. His back was to her and he was staring towards the darkness above the forbidden forest.

"Malfoy?" She called softly coming to stand next to him.

He didn't turn to look at her. "What do you want Granger?" He asked bitterly.

"I...I just..." But Hermione's voice trailed off, she didn't really know why she had come out here.

"Let me guess," Malfoy turned towards her, "you've somehow got the notion into your head that we're friends and you felt the need to come comfort me after the crushing defeat? Is that it Granger?" His eyes glinted angrily and he took a threatening step towards her. 

Hermione wished suddenly that she was inside where it was safe and warm, not outside with Malfoy were his eyes were colder than any breeze that blew around her.

"You're right, I don't know what I was thinking," Hermione started to turn away but Malfoy suddenly grabbed her arm. 

"Mal..." Hermione started but was cut off when Malfoy pressed his lips against hers hard. Hermione stiffened; Malfoy only pulled her closer, kissing her harder, so hard that it hurt. Hermione felt a tiny whimper of pain issue from her and then Malfoy suddenly become very gentle. He wrapped an arm around her back and kissed her deeply, his mouth was surprisingly warm. Hermione was too shocked to push him away. A little alarm in the back of her head had gone off, it was screaming at her that this was Malfoy, her enemy, but Hermione decided suddenly that she didn't care. She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck and kissed him back. Malfoy was so startled that he almost let go of her. He got over his surprise quickly though and deepened the kiss. Malfoy pulled her closer still and Hermione felt like the world was spinning around her. That odd quiver had started again in the pit of her stomach. Hermione felt as if all the strength had left her and she was glad that Malfoy's strong arms were around her, holding her up. He broke off the kiss but didn't pull away. His arms clutched her tighter as if afraid to let her go and he buried his face in soft curls that shrouded the curve of her neck. Hermione felt so warm and protected, this moment could go on forever and she wouldn't care. She closed her eyes smiling, and then Malfoy spoke in a low husky voice.

"What are you doing to me mudblood?" 

Hermione stiffened, the world suddenly came crashing down around her, this was Malfoy. She could feel anger swelling deep in her along with a shock of pain. Hermione shoved Malfoy as hard as she could away from her. He stumbled back, surprised. 

"Granger," he tried to grab her but Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it at him.

"Stay away from me Malfoy," she hissed, her hand gave a slight tremble. Malfoy took a step towards her. She couldn't believe how stupid she had been, how could she have let him do that? How could she have liked it? She felt tears begin to fill her eyes and she spun and ran back towards the castle.