Return to Eden

Return to Eden

Chapter 16: It Happened on the Pitch

Home is a feeling I buried in you.

-Melissa Etheridge "Breathe"

Nearly a month had gone by since living quarters had been set up in the Slytherin dungeons for the Head Boy and Girl after the teachers realized it wasn't safe for them to be out in the open in these times. Slytherins were suspicious by nature, but after seeing the genuine affection and concern their blonde leader had for the brunette and hearing about her room, the ambitious folk had really banded together around Hermione, having taken the destruction of her dorm as a personal insult to their house. The only one who remained completely distant from their new addition was Pansy, but no one really expected her to be agreeable anyway. She still had her own schemes to attend to.

Hermione was wary, at first, of their good-natured behavior and the respect they seemed to have for her, but after walking around on pins and needles for a week waiting for the other shoe to drop, she finally gave in and relished being treated like the new Slytherin Queen. Blaise didn't seem to mind handing over the position since she had been so preoccupied with her pregnancy, and she thought it only made more sense for Hermione to be on that pedestal with Draco considering their relationship.

After word of her demolished dorm spread, most of the students seemed to agree that Slytherin was the best place for her since they seemed to protect their own through a fierceness not to be reckoned with, and Hermione was now most definitely one of them by way of her heritage. Of course, Harry and Ron did not see it from that perspective. They, along with most of the 7^th year Gryffindors, were hopping mad Hermione, in their eyes, had truly become a traitor.

Professor Snape was still working on discovering the identity of the culprit, but the answer continued to elude him. After many failed tests of detecting the magic's wand, it was put off to the side in favor of more important matters like teaching his Potions classes. There was also the memory of the past he was having such difficulty with. All he could remember is it dealt with the Rosier baby and why she was so important, something completely separate from her parents. After his initial questions had been brushed off by Dumbledore, Snape was more apprehensive about it than ever.

The morning of the Gryffindor/Slytherin Quidditch match dawned bright and clear in the slight chill of October. There was only a week left until Halloween and the students were already making plans for the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend.

Hermione sat at the Slytherin table, pointedly ignoring the glares coming from the Gryffindors, and began buttering her breakfast toast. She had gotten past the hostility her former house had presented to her in the prior weeks. Draco and Blaise soon joined her, each taking a side as they plopped down, and started grabbing up food from the vast selection. Draco looked quite cheery at the prospect of possibly winning against Potter with his new team members, but Blaise was downright irritable. Only Draco and Hermione knew the real reason why.

Hermione, anxious to get her daily questions about the baby out of the way, bent her head down and whispered. "How's the baby?"

Blaise frowned as she placed a hand on her seemingly flat abdomen. "I don't think it's in a good mood. It's been squirming around all morning."

An answering smirk appeared on Draco's face. "It?"

The raven-haired girl pursed her lips while suppressing the urge to smack the blonde. "Well, I don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet, do I?"

Draco gave a hearty chuckle at that. "What if it's neither?" He just couldn't resist the opportunity to poke fun at his friend.

Hermione responded that time with a small slap to the back of his head. "Eat your breakfast, Draco."

He rubbed the tingling spot tenderly as Blaise snickered. "I guess I'm taking abuse now. The things I do for you two women."

The brunette just shook her head and turned back to the other girl. "Anything else happening?"

Blaise scowled as she was brought out of her amusement by the reality of her situation. "The cravings have kicked in. I went down to the kitchens last night during my patrol and had a couple gallons of ice cream. Mint chocolate chip."

Hermione smiled. "That's normal."

"I also think I'm farther along than I originally thought, but I don't see how that's possible. I only slept with the guy once and it was right after that I missed my period." A thoughtful expression came over her as she glanced over at the brunette girl.

Hermione's face was twisted in confusion and she shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know."

Across the hall, a very different conversation was taking place at the Gryffindor table.

Amongst all the glares they were sending Hermione, Harry and Ron, as well as Dean, Seamus, Neville and Colin were discussing the upcoming match. Dean and Colin were now Beaters on the team and Seamus had taken over as announcer after the graduation of Lee Jordan. Neville wasn't on the team, his clumsiness was legendary, but he had an interest in the sport all the same.

They were arguing over how much of a threat Slytherin was to their chances at the Cup since the change-up of a few key players when the owl post suddenly swooped down from overhead through the ceiling beams.

Harry was surprised when a letter dropped into his lap from an owl who was not Hedwig. After making its delivery, it settled down in front of his plate and seemed to study him with piercing amber eyes. It wasn't one of the nondescript brown owls the school used. No, this owl was magnificent with its ink-colored plumage and its gray two-inch long talons.

The creature tilted its head to the side and a challenging glint appeared in its eyes. Harry was afraid to move as it stared him down. His eyes watered as he held on, trying not to blink, but he finally had to give in. The bird seemed to smirk in satisfaction as it snatched up a piece of bacon from Harry's breakfast plate before it flew off to wherever it came from.

Intrigued and quite unnerved, Harry turned the letter over and over in his hand trying to discern its contents. Faintly he heard Ron read something about his brother, Bill, aloud to Ginny from his mother's letter, but he paid no attention as he slipped his index finger under the flap and watched as it began to tear.

A single sheet of parchment, no bigger than a card, fluttered out. Six simple words were inscribed upon it written with a soft, flowing hand in ink the color of sunsets.

I know you like nobody else.

Puzzled, his head shot up and his eyes grazed over the hall's occupants searching out the sender, but no one was looking in his direction. He glanced down once more before taking another look then another, just in case. Finally concluding that he was just being paranoid and the person wasn't going to be found now, he folded the letter up and stuffed it into his pants pocket before grabbing Ron's arm and tugging him off the bench effectively ending the conversation with his sister.

"Come on. We need to get ready."

With that, the Gryffindor Quidditch team finished up their meal and followed the team captain down to the pitch to change for the match. Hermione bid Draco and Blaise goodbye and good luck as they left soon after.

No more than an hour later, the rest of the school followed the teams down to the pitch, filing out of the gloomy corridors of the castle into the crisp day. This particular match was always a highlight during the season, and this year was no different. The heightened rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin over Hermione's newfound pureblood status insured a memorable event.

Hermione took a front seat in one of the topmost Slytherin stands joining Alicia Higgs, Terence's little sister and a sixth year, and Daphne Greengrass, a fellow seventh year. The two girls, along with Blaise of course, had become her closest acquaintances since her decision to move into the dungeons.

Everyone settled down in the stands as they heard the unmistakable Irish lilt of Seamus Finnigan start the commentary trying his best to be unbiased towards Gryffindor, or that's what he told McGonagall anyway.

"Alright, Quidditch fans! Is everyone ready to get this match started?"

A cheer boomed out from the students in answer.

"Sounds like you're ready to me! Okay, the Slytherin lineup starts with the Captain and Seeker, Draco Malfoy!"

The Slytherins started shouting for their ruling Head Boy at ear-piercing levels as a streak of green and blonde shot through the air showing off his new Firebolt 5000.

Each team member followed up into the open air as Seamus called out their name and position.

"Theodore Nott, Keeper; Gregory Goyle, Beater; Millicent Bulstrode, Beater; Robert Montague, Chaser; Graham Pritchard, Chaser; and Blaise Zabini, Chaser."

With the Slytherin team circling the pitch, Seamus started on the Gryffindors.

"Gryffindor guys and gals, put your hands together for the fearless, the fabulous, the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter, your Seeker and Captain!!!"

McGonagall poked him rather roughly in the side. He turned innocent eyes on her, but his Head of House just glared. Seamus went back to calling out the players.

"Next up, the famous redhead, Ron Weasley as your Keeper; that artistic devil himself, Dean Thomas as your Beater; the photographic wizard, no pun intended, Colin Creevey as your other Beater; the lovely Natalie MacDonald as your first Chaser; the talented Euan Abercrombie as your second Chaser; and can we have an extra loud cheer for the beautiful Parvati Patil as your last Chaser who is looking very nice today."

Parvati sent a wink over her shoulder to her boyfriend as she joined her team in the air. Seamus, completely focused on his girl, barely noticed when McGonagall started poking him again.

Madam Hooch stepped into the center of the pitch wearing her traditional referee robes of black and white. She pulled her whistle out and blew, a sharp shrill note rang out, and the teams descended as the captains came forward.

Everyone in the stands tried to lean as close as they could to pick up the words being exchanged between the two captains. Harry's face was turning a vibrant shade of red while Draco was the paradigm of calm. A trademark smirk adorned his features as he finally shook hands with the raven-haired boy and then turned his back to him.

For a split second, it looked as if Harry would jump on the blonde and cause some bodily harm, but after a deep breath, he made his way over to his team.

Ron stood glaring at Malfoy when Harry approached him. He stepped back when he saw the fire emanating from his friend's emerald eyes. "Harry?"

His voice came out gravelly. "Do what you have to. I have to win this match."

Ron just nodded grimly as they both mounted their brooms and got into position.

Hooch's whistle sounded once more as she tossed the Quaffle up and the game began.

Slytherin took possession first as Montague snatched the ball out of the air. He darted out of MacDonald's grasp as he faked to the left crossing over into Gryffindor territory.

Passing the ball to Pritchard, he snuck under Weasley, off-balancing him. Pritchard made good of the distraction and scored the first goal of the game.

"Ten points to Slytherin!"

Abercrombie had the Quaffle now. He ducked from a Bludger knocked at him by Bulstrode and swooped down to avoid Zabini. Her foot caught his shoulder anyway and the ball was snatched up.

Zabini twisted to flip her broom upside-down and watched as Patil sailed straight over her. She zoomed off towards the hoops, barely missing a bad Bludger shot from one of her own Beaters. Glaring at Goyle, she passed the ball over to Pritchard and he scored another goal against the redhead whose face was beginning to match his hair.

"Another ten points to Slytherin! Come on, Gryffindor, where are you?!"

Yet another poke in the side from McGonagall.

MacDonald had the ball now and was looking quite determined. Seeing the Slytherin Chaser coming up on her right, she jerked her broom in that direction and collided with his shoulder sending him off course.

She ducked under another Chaser as she came face to face with Nott. Faking a dive, she went over his head and scored Gryffindor's first goal.

The stands of crimson and gold roared.

It continued in this pattern for a good fifteen minutes until Gryffindor was up ten points with the score 60-50.

The two Seekers had not been paying one moment of attention to the game going on below. They had been faced off, arguing the whole time as they floated above the action.

"What's the matter, Potter? Jealous?"

"Why would I be jealous? Hermione doesn't actually like you. You've found some way to warp her mind into thinking this way. And when I find out what you've done to her, your ass will be thrown into Azkaban."

Draco smirked as he spoke in a falsely sympathizing tone. "I know it's hard to accept at first, that she'd want me over you. What am I saying? It's a miracle she didn't search me out years ago. Think of the frustration she must have been building up." His smirk melted into a pure lascivious grin.

Harry's eyes narrowed threateningly. "What have you done to her?"

A full-blown smile complete with white teeth appeared on the blonde's face as he raised an eyebrow. Unadulterated malice was shining in the gray depths of his eyes.

"Nothing she doesn't want me to."

Harry gripped the handle of his broom so hard he feared it would splinter under the pressure. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER?!?!"

"What do you think?"

His form trembled as all sorts of disturbing images flitted through his mind. "Stay away from her."

"Or what?" It was Draco's turn to be angry. "You'll blow up her dorm again?! Write some more profanity on the walls?! Call her some more names?!"

"Huh?" Harry was confused. "Malfoy, what are you talking about?"

Fury burned his eyes silver, but his voice was low. "I know it was you two. You might have convinced everyone else otherwise, but I know. It was you and the Weasel. I honestly thought better of both of you. She was your friend once and then you do something like that. How could you do that to her?!"

Harry finally clued in to what Draco was talking about. "We weren't anywhere near her dorm on that day. I don't even know what all happened."

Draco gave a disbelieving nod. "Of course, I'm sure that's your excuse."

"It's true!"

The blonde's eyes transformed into slits as he surveyed the other Seeker. "And it's also true that you were in Gryffindor Tower while mud was being thrown at my head in third year? No Invisibility Cloak or anything?"

Harry darted his eyes away guiltily. "That's different. That was you, this is Hermione."

His face changed in expression until it was almost unreadable. "Now that she's a Slytherin and a pureblood, what's the difference?"

The Gryffindor glared. "Through all the shit you've brainwashed her with, she's still the same Hermione who talked our ears off in first year about books she'd read."

The smirk came back. "No, that Hermione is dead and gone. She died when one of her best friends backhanded her. She's mine now. Mine to do with what I choose including protecting her from her former best friends."

He ignored part of the other boy's comment. "What did I tell you?! STAY AWAY FROM HER!!!" Harry's face reverted back to a shade of scarlet. "If you lay one finger on her -"

The threat went completely unnoticed as Draco saw a flash of gold behind Potter's back next to the stands filled with Slytherins. Seeing Potter launch himself into an all-consuming and righteous rant, he made a quick decision and dove underneath the other Seeker.

Harry, soon realizing Draco's intentions, jerked his broom around and gave chase, but the blonde's new broom was really out-performing his own regular Firebolt. Just as he believed he would catch up in time, the Slytherin reached down into the stands where the Snitch had retreated to hide and snatched it up before it could flit away.

Harry was in shock, as were the other Gryffindors. Malfoy had beaten him. Malfoy had beaten him. After six years of facing him on the pitch, the Slytherin Seeker had finally beaten him their last year.

The cheers coming from Slytherin were deafening as the blonde flew a celebratory lap around the pitch.

"200-60, Slytherin wins." Seamus managed to grumble out the final score before making his way out of the stands and back up to the school.

Draco had an ear-to-ear grin on his face and the Snitch still clutched in his fist as he came to a stop directly in front of the brunette Head Girl. With an impish glint in his eyes, he leaned over the barrier and gave her their first public, very public, kiss.

Hermione, not caring about the spectators and happy for him, deepened the kiss as she slid her hands up his arms and over his shoulders.

Ron was busting at the seams with rage as he and everyone else stared at the display taking place in front of the whole school.

With murderous intent straining every tendon and muscle in his body, he zoomed over to Creevey and snatched the bat out of his loosened grip. The Bludgers had not yet been put away and he swung at one with more force than was necessary aiming it at the Slytherin Seeker through deadly accuracy.

Blaise felt it.

Among the joy and pleasure bubbling up from her Slytherin teammates, she could feel the fury and the jealousy running unchecked through the Weasley boy like lava in his veins. The intensity of it burned her from within.

Then, everything slowed down.

She turned from watching the couple with a smile to see the Bludger hurtling towards them at a dangerous speed.

No one else seemed to notice.

She turned back to the stands and there they were, laughing with each other over the win.

Her insides froze.

"Draco."

Without looking back, she flew like the devil was on her heels, moving as fast as she could towards the blonde boy trying to get in front of the object zooming in his direction.

He turned towards her then as she shielded him from the blow. Their eyes met and both gray and violet grew wide in fear. In her panic, she misjudged the height of the Bludger and she knew it as soon as she saw it bear down on her.

Draco reached for her, to pull her away, but it was too late.

The hard black ball collided against her left temple with a sickening crack and blood started to trail down her cheek. The last thing Draco saw was the whites of her eyes before she started to fall.

"NO!"

His world shrunk in those seconds as he watched her plummet to the earth below and he felt as if he was the one falling while his life flashed through his mind. His life, all his life, had been spent with her.

Images and memories, words and conversations passed across his eyes in vivid recollection. She continued to fall...

Three years old. His mother's voice, "Draco, this is Blaise. She's the Zabinis' daughter and she came to play with you."

Further...

Six years old. She accidentally broke his toy broomstick and he retaliated by stealing her Chocoballs making himself sick off of them.

And further...

Eight years old. They lost their first tooth in the same week and had a good laugh about it.

Away from him.

Nine years old. The fear in her eyes as she begged him not to go through with the freefall dare.

His hand still reaching for her.

Eleven years old. Their first day at Hogwarts and being sorted into Slytherin.

Tears started to fall from his eyes.

Thirteen years old. Her voice, "You're my guy, Draco. You always will be."

Hysterical screaming was coming from him.

Fourteen years old. They had their first fight and he ended up at the Yule Ball with Pansy.

The Snitch escaped his grasp.

Sixteen years old. Blaise replaced Pansy as prefect and they lost their virginity to each other.

Someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

And now, she was falling from him. Being taken from him.

He couldn't think. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He was going to get married to Hermione and Blaise would get married to that former Ravenclaw she'd been seeing earlier this year. They would spoil the other's children and be their Aunt or Uncle.

They were going to get old together and cheat at Exploding Snap when they got together on Sundays and forget to take their Mind-Sharpening Potion.

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAY!!!

Instinct finally kicked in and he dove towards her, but he'd been in shock for too long. He got close enough to hear her body hit the ground with a dull thud.