The Whole Nine Yards

Chapter Seventeen - Paternal Instincts

~ The Field Near The Burrow ~

It was a glowing Justin that joined the team the next day before the big game. The team were assembled in a tent Sirius had transfigured from a bush for them to change into their team uniforms in.

"I take it things went well yesterday," Draco said with a grin.

"Oh yes," Justin practically gushed. "Charlie and I are engaged!"

"Congratulations!" Draco said warmly, throwing his arms around the startled Hufflepuff. The others joined in congratulating the ecstatic young man.

Outside, the Weasley's had conjured the Quaffle hoops and a stand for the spectators to sit on. Hermione and Molly Weasley were already seated there. Arthur was chatting to Remus Lupin, who had agreed to referee the match.

The Weasley team were already flying up above the pitch, all dressed just as Draco had predicted - in their Gryffindor team uniforms.

Dean was peaking out through the door to the tent.

"Man, Ginny looks hot in her Quidditch gear," he said with a groan.

Sirius and Harry exchanged concerned glances.

"You are going to be okay, playing against your wife, aren't you?" Harry asked.

"And Justin, playing against Charlie," Draco interjected.

"And Seamus, playing against Bill," Seamus said, watching everyone with a sly grin.

"What?" Harry gasped. Dean looked stunned.

"You and Bill?" Draco asked in amazement as Sirius started laughing.

"Nah, I was just kidding," Seamus said, with his trademark grin.

The others sighed in relief and returned to their game preparations. All except Draco. His gaze stayed with the fun-loving Irishman. He noticed the slight droop in his expression as the others directed their attention elsewhere.

"Seamus," Draco said, almost silently.

Seamus glanced at Draco who smiled sympathetically. Seamus gravitated towards Draco.

"You like Bill?" Draco asked, as quietly as possible.

"Uh huh," Seamus replied. For once he was quiet and serious at the same time.

"How long have you felt this way?" Draco asked, fiddling with his uniform.

"A few months now," Seamus said with a sigh.

"Have you asked him out?"

"Nah. I thought I might after the game but I'm not sure. Normally I'd just go over and ask someone out but with Bill. I don't know...I just don't want to mess things up," Seamus sounded so pathetically endearing that Draco couldn't help but smile.

"Well, actually, I would suggest you have a chat to Hermione about it. She is totally entrenched in the Weasley family now that she's married into it, so she'd probably know more about Bill than anyone else"

"You're right," Seamus agreed. He seemed a bit brighter and he turned on the Finnigan charm as Dean called him over to go over their strategy as the team's beaters.

Draco turned to find Harry staring at him with an amused grin.

"What?" Draco asked, sounding defensive.

"You're just not going to be happy until every single Weasley is married, are you," Harry said, pulling his husband into his arms.

"I really don't know what's gotten into me lately," Draco said, wrapping his arms around Harry's shoulders.

"I think I know," Harry said cautiously.

Draco pulled back from the hug so he could see into his husband's gorgeous green eyes.

"What?" Draco didn't like the sound of Harry's tone. Harry obviously wasn't sure that Draco would like what he had to say.

"I think it's your paternal instinct kicking into gear," Harry said softly, his eyes searching Draco's.

Draco mulled over Harry's suggestion. It certainly had some merit but he didn't have time to dwell on it now. They had a match to win!

Draco kissed Harry lightly and pulled away. "Alright, team. Are we ready?"

"Yes," they all chorused in response to Draco's question.

"Alright, let's go."

The team followed Draco, each clutching their brooms, out of the tent. The sight of the seven team members in silver and green Quidditch robes stopped the Weasley team dead in their tracks.

Draco strode out into the middle of the pitch, the team striding behind him.

Ron landed gracefully on the pitch in front of them. "What the fuck are you wearing? You look like bloody Slytherins."

"That's the bloody point, Weasley," Draco drawled icily.

Ron looked stunned at Draco's use of his surname and the cold tone. Draco smirked at his obvious confusion.

By now, the rest of the Weasley's had landed and were staring at Draco like he had grown horns. Draco and Harry were silently cheering. They knew this match would be a tough one to win. As Draco had said during one of their practices, the Weasley team had been playing together for years and they all knew everything there was to know about Quidditch and the associated strategies.

So therefore, one of Harry and Draco's strategies was to try to confuse the Weasley's so much that they were distracted from the game. One such strategy was to make them believe that Draco had reverted back to his behaviour from their first four years of school. And that was only the first part of the plan...

"What's going on, Harry?" Ron asked, his brow wrinkled in confusion.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Weasley," Harry said coldly and his team kicked off the ground and took to the sky.

The Weasley's glanced worriedly at each other before kicking off the ground.