Can Love Survive...

"And Harry Potter catches the Golden Snitch, the match is over, Gryffindor wins!" came the voice of Dean Thomas who's voice was nearly hoarse from commentating the match. Gryffindor had outdone themselves in this first match of the Quidditch Season, which ironically had been against Slytherin. After Harry's incredible catch of the Snitch the tote board now read Gryffindor 220, Slytherin 40.

Harry couldn't believe he actually had caught the Snitch. It had eluded him nearly the whole match, which was unusual, but the fact that Draco Malfoy had been right behind it, and hadn't caught it in the end was even more astounding. In a split second that only years of practice could have supplied, he replayed the final few moments of the catch, and frowned when he realized that in the end, Malfoy had deliberatly pulled out of the Wronski Defensive Feint, allowing Harry to get the Snitch in the end. He didn't get much more time to think on it though as the rest of the team barged in on his thoughts.

"Bloody awesome match Harry! I knew you would get it!" Ron Weasley, one of Harry's two best friends in the whole world yelled with a grin as he got down off his broom and patted Harry hard on the back. Ron had replaced Alicia Spinnet after she'd graduated in their fifth year, and now 2 years later in 7th year, he had the makings of a spot on chaser.

"That was brilliant Harry, pure brilliant! Had me worried for a bit there when I saw Malfoy head in for it. Worked out though in the end eh?" Seamus Finnigan, another Gryffindor, and friend of Harry's said grinning. He also was a chaser for the team, replacing Katie Bell when she had graduated.

"Was just lucky is all, but that's our Harry for you! Good job Harry, great catch!" Hermione said finally making her way over to the boys now and smiling up at Harry came over to give him a hug before going over to her now 2 1/2 years boyfriend Ron. "Wonder though what made Malfoy pull up like that at the last moment. You didn't say anything to him did you Harry?" she said now almost accusingly.

"Me? Why would I talk to Malfoy on the pitch 'Mione? Could care less what he does. Probably just didn't think he could handle a Wronski I bet." Harry said putting her off with a chuckle. He wasn't ready to discuss with anyone just yet what he thought he was remembering of those last few moments of the match.

"Well at any rate, you were fantastic like always Harry. And from the looks of things...Lisa does too!" she said laughing, and they all turned to see a smallsized, black haired girl heading their way, and quickly, almost too quickly, everyone but Harry suddenly headed off to the changing rooms.

"Harry! Oi Harry! Wondrful match, kept us on our toes you did." Lisa Turpin, Harry's girlfriend, said giving him a kiss on the cheek as she came to up him. She was a 7th year Ravenclaw, not a Gryffindor, and they had been going out since middle of 6th year when Harry had finally gotten over the fact Cho Chang had really graduated and was not coming back.

"Err, thanks Lisa. Was worried myself there for a bit, Malfoy pulled up just in time I guess." Harry said back giving her a small smile, but not returning the kiss.

Lisa regarded him for a moment at the nonresponsiveness that Harry was showing towards her and said, "Everything allright Harry? I know that bludger got a bit close this time, but..."

"I'm fine Lisa, really." Harry snapped back suddenly, and felt guilty at the hurt in her eyes. "Sorry, didn't mean to snap like that. Just a bit tired I guess. I'm going to head in and catch a shower allright? See you in a bit." he said, and to make things up gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Allright Harry, sure. No problem. See you later then." Lisa said giving him a forced smile, and watched as her boyfriend retreated back towards the Quidditch locker room. She chalked up Harry's behaviour lately to N.E.W.T.S, Quidditch practise, and such, even though the year was just starting out. They were in 7th year now, and had alot more on their plates then they did last year, so she shrugged off this latest round of things and headed back to the Ravenclaw dorms, never even thinking that maybe Harry wasn't as interested in her any less then he had always been.

Meanwhile, back at the locker room, Harry had to endure more pats on the back, and even more remarks on his spectacular luck in beating Malfoy out for the Snitch. Everyone had theories on why Malfoy had pulled up, including Harry, but he remained silent during all the chatter surprizingly.

It was more then fact that there was no love lost between these two rivals, Harry James Potter and Draco Lucius Malfoy. Since the very first day on the Hogwarts Express back in their 1st year these two had been rivals, in everything from schoolwork to Quidditch, Draco beeing the seeker for the Slytherin team. Malfoy was a consistant thorn in Harry, Ron and Hermione's side since the first moment, and it only grew worse over the past 6 years.

It was only Harry however that realized something wasn't quite right between Malfoy and himself this year, that although the taunt remarks and slinging phrases still flew between Ron, Hermione and Malfoy were more then evident, only Harry seemed to notice that the barbs and remarks directed towards himself seemed duller, and less frequent. Normally Harry wouldn't have cared, but since summer holidays, things had been nagging at the back of his mind, things that he dreamed of at night that were gone by morning, leaving behind only a glimmer of something he couldn't place.

As everyone filtered out of the changing room finally, leaving Harry to some peace and quiet while taking his shower, did he allow himself think back now on the last few moments of the match. Getting out he still hadn't any answers, none at least that he could actively say for sure without crossexamining Malfoy himself, the odds of that ever happening were pretty slim.

Drying himself off in the steam filled room, Harry subconciously felt his fingers trail over a scar of his. Not the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead, but an almost invisable scar on his wrist. He never could remember where or how he'd gotten a scar like that, and he didn't recall having it in the earlier part of his life, but from the size of the scar it should have definitely have been something he should have rememembered. Until he had been 11, he'd even forgotten it's existance, but for some odd reason, when he had began his new life at Hogwarts it had started every so often aching, especially after fights with Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy was an enigma to Harry. He had watched him quite a bit over the past 6 years, as rivals tend to do sometimes, and even though he knew Malfoy to be an evil, pain in the arse git, the past year he'd seen a few changes come over him, this year even moreso. Harry had at first been surprized noone else had noticed these changes, and after questioning Ron and Hermione, and hearing from them Malfoy seemed actually worse this year towards them rather then better, he thought maybe he had actually imagined what he saw.

Shaking his head though he knew now he hadn't, and today was even more proof. There had been no reason Malfoy should have pulled out like that, giving Harry the oppurtunity to catch the Snitch for himself. It wasn't even that though that got Harry, it was what he saw right before Malfoy had pulled out that kept going over and over in his mind. He traced the scar on his wrist then, realizing that while he'd been thinking bout Malfoy it had been pulsing, but he had grown used to this as well.

Lately, since the year had began actually, everytime he'd gotten into a confrontation with Malfoy, or had found himself actively thinking bout him, the scar pulsed. At first he had been surprized, and it had felt like someone had burned him there with a branding iron, but the more time passed, and the more he had contact verbally or otherwise with Malfoy, it had dulled down to this dull pulse, till now it was at the point Harry just expected it.

Sighing a bit and realizing he was running late, he quickly got himself dressed then, and headed back towards the castle. For a minute he stopped and looked round the Quidditch pitch as he left, the thrill of winning today's match still felt good, even though something was nagging him at how he'd won it. Like the pulse of his wrist scar, he'd gotten almost used to the nagging thoughts that played through his mind sometimes. Nothing ever got revealed anyway, so it was easier to just ignore it rather then try to figure it all out. Most times he wasn't even sure he wanted to know what was the nagging feeling, for most times it seemed it wasn't a good thing that would be revealed to him.

Halfway back to the castle he must have taken a wrong turn, for instead of arriving at the Grand Hallway, he found himself at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and nowhere near where he was supposed to be. He looked round a bit surprized, wondring what had led him here, even though he hadn't been paying much attention to things, he shouldn't have wandered that far off course. As he stood there for a moment getting his bearings, a soft rustle brought him round, and quickly he pulled his wand out to defend himself.

A moment later however he stood there in shock, for it wasn't a creature that had made the noise, but something, rather, someone else. Someone he definitaly hadn't been ready to see.

"M-Malfoy?! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Harry said with more then a touch of anger.

"Potter! Might ask the same of you you know. Forbidden Forest's off limits, incase you forgot." Malfoy said in his usual dry sneer, however Harry hadn't missed the second's notice at the way Draco had first seemed just as surprized to see Harry there as well.

"I wasn't the one sneaking round inside of it Malfoy. Maybe Dumbledore or Snape would be interested to know what you've been up to. Having some sort of deatheater meeting in there or you just meeting one of your girlfriends?" Harry said smirking back.

A momentary flash of anger flew acrost Draco's grey eyes, sending them swirling, but he kept his calm. "It's none of your business what I"m doing here Potter. Why dont you just run back to the castle and join those mudbloods of yours and the Weasel." Draco sneered stepping closer to Harry.

"Those 'mudbloods' as you put it, and Ron, are twice as better then you are, you slimey little Slytherin bastard." Harry said with a hiss. He hadn't meant to respond that way, but he hated when Malfoy talked bout Hermione, Lisa and Ron like that.

"Pity that a pureblooded line like yours is mingling with such people. Even with your Muggle blood, you're hundred times better then them. Really amazing how you can stoop so low as to mingle with...." Draco started to sneer but Harry didn't give him the chance.

Harry didn't know why of all the times Malfoy was his usual self, this time was the one that irritated Harry the worst. The next instant his blood had boiled and he'd attacked Malfoy dead on, throwing punches and kicks hard as he could. It didn't register that he was bigger now then Malfoy, that he was 6'1 to Malfoy's 5'7, that he'd developed quite a few hardpacked muscles now from years of being seeker that Malfoy somehow never had. Harry had never retailated on Malfoy like this, usually Ron was the physcial fighter, not him, but this time he didn't care.

It wasn't until Harry felt his anger seeping away finally that he realized Malfoy wasn't fighting back, that infact, he hadn't tried to fight him a'toll, and that Harry hadn't a scratch on him. Recoiling in horror now at what he'd just done, he scrambled away from Malfoy, stunned at what he had done.

"Ma-Malfoy? Malfoy are you....gods Malfoy I'm sorry...believe it or not I really am sorry..." Harry said moving back towards Draco's prone body to see if he was even still alive. Harry had a sick feeling in his stomach, and his wrist wasn't just pulsing now but outright throbbing, aching with pain even. He got even more worried when Draco didn't respond to him, and quickly he scrambled over now to see what state Draco was in.

"Malfoy?" he asked worriedly when he saw that Draco's eyes were open, but unresponsive. "Dammit Draco say something....anything!" he said, fear moving through out him.

Draco blinked finally, then looked up at Harry peering over him. He didn't say anything, didn't even move cept for his eyes blinking, he just lie there staring at Harry like he'd never seen him afore now. Something was hurting him, something was burning into his arm, his wrist, that he didn't understand. It felt like a branding iron had gotten him, and the pain made him shudder, then he closed his eyes, trying desperately to block it out.

"Malfoy! Cripes, I better get you back to Madam Pomfrey. This is not good, not good a'toll. Malfoy...Draco...can you hear me? Can you walk if I helped you?" Harry said fear thick in his voice.

Draco didn't answer, he couldn't have even if he'd wanted to. He wasn't really hearing Harry's voice, he couldn't comprehend what he was saying, yet the voice seemed so familiar suddenly to him, not at the pitch that Harry's voice was now, but as if Harry was younger, before his voice might have broken. But just when he thought how it could sound so familiar, the thought was gone, and he found himself drifting off into a sleep. The last thing he did feel was a soft motion as if he was flying, and he knew no more.

Harry of course, drained of anger now, only concern in his body, had transfigured a stretcher out of some rocks he'd found, and lifting Draco slowly and gently had put him on it and was now heading back to the castle, stretcher floating along next to him. As he walked back, his thoughts started in turmoil again. He was going to be in major trouble for this, there was no doubts. Of course they would ask how this happened, and if Harry lied now, it would only delay the inevitable till Draco would wake up and tell them the truth, then he'd be in even more trouble.

It bothered him though that Draco hadn't even fought him back. Not once, not a punch, not anything, not even a word. He hadn't even tried to stop him, making Harry feel even more guilty then before. Even though Ron and the other Gryffindor's wouldn't care what he'd done to his rival, cept maybe 'Mione who would scold him for it most likely, even though she hated Malfoy she hated raw abuse worse, it wouldn't ease the guilt he was feeling at this all.

*Why didn't you fight back you stupid git? Why were you there a'toll even? Dammit Malfoy, just when I think I have you figured out, you go and do something like this. You are so infuriating!* Harry thought, but something else made him pull up short, nearly knocking Draco out of the transfigured stretcher. For a minute he looked down at Draco's face, surprized that in this 'sleep' he was dreaming. He could tell he was from the rapid movements of his eyelids, but his expression certainly wasn't peaceful. Truth be told, even in sleep Draco looked tormented, and Harry wondred what could cause such pain.

Shaking it off though he continued heading back to the castle, other things floating through his mind. As they passed the Quidditch pitch, the forgotten thoughts of the match flooded back to him, and glancing over at Draco again he wondred why Draco had done what he had during the match. Perhaps at a later date he just might question Malfoy after all, provided this time Harry could keep his hands off him.

It wasn't until he was just bout to bring Draco through the front door of the Grand Hallway that Harry suddenly had a thought that made him nearly double over in shock. Harry had been distracted after that match, he knew that, but what were the odds that he'd been distracted enough to not even realize where he was going? What were the odds of his getting so far offtrack that he'd ended up at the Forbidden Forest, and the fact that Draco Malfoy had been there as well? Something wasn't right in this picture, there was something decidedly odd bout this.

Harry suddenly felt there was more to all of this then he first thought. The odds were too stacked of all this to have happened, especially as it concerned Malfoy. Providing Harry didn't get expelled for his little stunt today, Harry came to the decision there was a mystery bout all this, and he fully intended to investigate it. As he marched solemnly up the stairs to the Grand Hallway, he didn't even realize that the scar on his wrist wasn't hurting anymore, and that oddly enough, a strange warmth was radiating from it, instead of the usual dull pulse. The only thing now he was concentration on was that he was ready to face the music, and hope for the best.

* * * * *

Just for the record, Lisa Turpin is an actual HP character from the HPPS book, she was sorted same time as Harry and crew, and into Ravenclaw, although I really haven't a clue what she does look like cause she wasn't sorted or even mentioned in the film, nor was she ever mentioned again far as I know with a description. As for her being Harry's girlfriend at the moment, keep in mind he's been living a 'normal' life up till now, and he's clueless as to why things might be going in the direction they will shortly...ah I do love the writers ability to mould people into what they want! :grins:

Reviews certainly welcomed :)

2002-03-10 10:57:41 PM