My Soul Mate

Chapter Twelve - The Quidditch Mishap...

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Saturday came and went by. Harry had spent almost the entire day with Cho in Hogsmeade. At Hogsmeade, they had talked for quite some time alone in a green park. Cho told Harry that she had broken up with Michael Corner. She didn't seem upset by the thought but was rather pleased.

Harry didn't know why Cho was telling him all that. He had a strong suspicion that she had finally set her eyes upon him.

She had. She asked him out.

Harry had taken a long time to answer. He undeniably had fancied the Ravenclaw for about two and a half years. But earlier that year, Harry sort of broke off with Cho, not that they were officially going out. Cho's friend, Marietta had created problems for DA and Cho had become too obsessed over Cedric Diggory's death for Harry's liking.

Harry was under a lot of pressure in his fifth year. So, he couldn't go around with Cho, listening to her grievances. Sirius had almost died that summer and Harry didn't have any room for romance in his life. But now when situations were different ... Sirius was with him and Voldemort was failing without his Death Eaters.

But not that he was very happy. He wasn't at all, in fact.

Hagrid had died and Hermione was supporting the person who had caused that. Harry's blood boiled at the thought of Draco Malfoy. He was still confused about his feelings for Hermione. When she was kidnapped, he was sick worrying about her and had thought that he was actually falling for her. But when she had come back and after all the fiasco, he found he couldn't like her anymore ... or at least not in that sense anymore. Hermione was certainly not the one for him.

And then there was Cho. She was pretty, intelligent, skilled and gracious. Not that Hermione wasn't, but Harry had fancied Cho long ago before Hermione. Hermione was probably already going out with Draco, he supposed.

So rounding up the current circumstances, Harry had said yes.

Cho was ecstatic. She took him to the Three Broomsticks and Zonko's and Dervish & Banges. Harry found that he was feeling rather light hearted with her. His worries were left behind and he had the first perfectly happy day in ages.

And now, he was sitting with Ron, Parvati and Lavender on the very next morning, in the almost deserted common room, save for a few first years, doing his Divination essay for Professor Trelawney about the complicated Indian Fortune-Telling. Parvati Patil was overjoyed when Trelawney had introduced Indian studies, since she was an Indian. Harry was doing quite well, but Ron couldn't make out neither head nor tail of the star charts and the constellations.

"What is this?" said Ron in frustration.

Parvati leaned over and had a look at a picture in their book at which Ron was pointing confusedly.

"That is the Jataka," she explained, "a written document of good luck, bad luck, favorable stars and planets and their positions and the effects they have on a person from his birth time."

"What do we do with knowing so many things?" said Ron exasperatedly.

"Pass the sixth grade with good grades, my dear brother Prefect," said Ginny as she entered the common room from her dormitory.

"I would not have been a Prefect if I hadn't been getting good grades," said Ron defiantly.

"Really, then how many OWLs did you secure this year?" asked Ginny sarcastically and picked a book from the table by the furnace. "Eight, right?"

"That's not bad!"

"Hermione got twelve."

There was a sudden hush when Ginny mentioned Hermione's name. Ginny, however, seemed unperturbed by it.

"I am going, anyway," she said and made for the portrait hole.

"Er, Ginny, can you please talk to me for a minute?" asked Harry.

Ginny looked at him. "What about?"

"Nothing important," said Harry as he left his Divination essay midway and went out of the common room with Ginny.

"What's up?" asked Ginny.

"It's woolly," replied Harry sheepishly. "But if I were to give you a gift, what would you like me to give you?"

Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise. "But my birthday's already gone in the summer."

"I am not talking about your birthday, Ginny."

"Then Christmas isn't for almost three months."

"It's not for Christmas either, Ginny. Just tell me what you would like me to give you?"

"If you insist. Well ... let me think ... a pair of gem earrings, I s'pose."

"That's brilliant! I hope she would like it!" exclaimed Harry.

"Whom are you talking about?"

"Cho, of course."

Ginny stared at Harry, as her heart started pounding at Harry's slightly besotted expression. "Ch-Cho?' she spluttered out.

"Yeah, we're going out." explained Harry happily, oblivious to Ginny's discomfort.

Ginny meanwhile gaped at Harry, her heart now shattering into a thousand pieces.

"Thanks, Ginny," Harry went on. "I'll see you later, got to do my Divination essay now, you know, increase me E.S.P., 'Extra Sensory Perception' as Trelawney calls it."

And then he left Ginny, whose eyes had started to water. She was deeply hurt by Harry's ignorant words and his lack of understanding. Sobbing, she rushed to the girls' washroom.

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Hermione was taking a walk around the lake, a piece of tostado in her hand. She remembered only too well the last time she had taken a walk around the lake. It had been during her fourth year, when Harry and Ron had fought and she was soothing Harry after he was declared a Triwizard Champion by the Goblet of Fire. The lake was the same, the grass were the same, the sun was the same and so was the kind of condition. The only difference was that this time, Hermione was alone. All alone.

Harry and Ron had not spoken to her for five days now. She was hurt, very hurt. But all the same, she remained impassive and unaffected in front of them. She still wished that Draco had not kidnapped her, but then, she wasn't one of those who turned away and surrendered to the situation helplessly. She had fought against it and had emerged victorious, but during that war, she had lost her two greatest friends.

But she had gained one too, and this thought cheered her up a bit. She was glad that she was able to help Draco come out of the binding chains and begin a new a life. She thought about all those years she and Draco had insulted and hated each other.

"What are you doing here all alone, Hermione?" said a voice from behind.

Hermione started and dropped her toast in surprise. The voice was strong and shot through the silence like a bullet, taking her aback. She spun around to find Draco standing behind her in his forest green Quidditch robes, holding his black Nimbus Two Thousand and One.

"You're creepy, Draco," said Hermione accusingly, "don't do this again."

"If you say so," said Draco and shrugged. "What are you doing here all alone at nine in the morning, anyway?"

"I was just taking a walk. I'll go the library now, by the way ... What are you doing in your Quidditch robes?"

"Practice. Gryffindor versus Slytherin in two weeks so I thought I would better start training my team."

"Your team?"

"Yeah, I'm the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team. Didn't you know?"

"No."

"I was chosen over the holidays," Draco explained.

"Congratulations!" said Hermione, impressed.

"Thanks. Anyway, I was wondering if you would come to the Prefects' quarters in the evening."

"I will try," promised Hermione. "But why?"

"Nothing, I just feel lonely. Its awfully dull in there, especially when you're not around."

Hermione smiled. "You don't by any chance remember what happened on Thursday night, do you?"

Draco shook his head, looking apologetic. "I was drunk ... I had better hurry, my team must be waiting. Bye."

"Bye."

Draco gave her a smile and jogged to the Quidditch pitch, his robes billowing behind him. Hermione hadn't told him that she had been to visit him on Thursday night and since he was heavily intoxicated he didn't remember anything. For the two days after that, Hermione was thinking about him, an awful lot. How he used to behave earlier, when they were younger, and how he was behaving now - there was a huge difference. Hermione was reflecting about his sad tale and she wanted to make him happy. He was very lonely and she knew she was his only friend and hope.

A second later, she found herself thinking about how good he looked that morning. He had used extra gel and plastered his platinum hair to his head. Hermione for the first time noticed that green suited him. She couldn't deny it - Draco was handsome.

Hermione rolled her eyes; she wasn't the type to notice boys. She set off for the library.

Her thoughts diverted to the Quidditch match that was coming up in two weeks. Harry would try to slam Draco flat in the game. Even though Hermione would have been glad if Gryffindor won, she would definitely feel sorry for Draco. Harry was brilliant as a Seeker. He had the innate quality. Draco, on the other hand, while talented, he had practiced for the skill. It wasn't inborn, so naturally Harry was better.

Hermione knew that the coming match would be a another fiasco for Draco.

Engrossed in thought, she entered the library and made her way to her private section. Ginny Weasley was there, her eyes puffy and red.

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The next two weeks went by in a flash. Those weeks weren't exactly what one would term as brilliant but over all, it had been comparatively better for Hermione and Draco than the first few days.

Hermione had found Ginny crying in the library. She had talked to her and found out about Harry and Cho. She knew that Ginny had always loved Harry. It had started as a simple crush but in due course, the crush had evolved into love.

Hermione had tried many times to get Harry and Ginny together, but each time, she had failed. The first time was back in their fourth year, during the Yule Ball. She had tried to get Ginny as Harry's date, but then, Neville had asked her, Hermione. She had politely refused but Neville had been crestfallen. Then, when he asked Ginny, Hermione urged Ginny to go with him, since she was sorry for Neville.

In their fifth year, when Harry was almost going out with Cho, Hermione advised Ginny to out with Michael Corner, in order to make Harry jealous. But Harry, on the other hand, didn't have the faintest objection.

And now, he was Cho's boyfriend. Hermione couldn't help it, since she wasn't talking to Harry. Nevertheless, she promised Ginny that she would still try her best and get Harry notice her. Ginny was depressed but had cheered up a bit at that idea. She had thanked her and then apologized to her for acting as an asshole ever since she, Hermione, had come back. Ginny had also asked Hermione about Draco and Hermione had told her everything that had happened between her and Draco when they were in Africa.

It had relieved Hermione of a lot of pressure when she spilled everything to Ginny. She told her things she could neither tell Harry nor Draco. Ginny had understood her and Hermione was glad that at least someone other than Draco had stood up for her.

Hermione was found almost every evening in the Prefects' quarter with Draco. They spent most of their free time together, they had most of their meals together, did their homework together and when they were too tired, they played Wizarding Chess or Exploding Snap. Sometimes, Hermione would teach him common muggle games played on paper. She enjoyed her time immensely with Draco. He could get quite funny sometimes and when it came to studies, he didn't care at all. Hermione was amazed to see as to how he managed to secure good grades after all.

Or sometimes, they would just sit and tell each other about their pasts. Draco poured his soul out to her completely. Hermione didn't have much to say about her home life, so she talked about Harry and Ron. Draco wasn't pleased to hear about them, but patiently listened to her. Gradually, they became very close friends and then, best friends. Hermione knew that Draco meant a lot to her. He was as good as a friend as Harry or Ron or Ginny, if not more. But she didn't mention him to this though.

Draco was finding himself getting closer to Hermione each day and when he looked at her, he would sometimes feel butterflies in his stomach. He had liked her like nobody else and even though it had been only more or less two weeks of their friendship, he was finding it difficult to stay without her. He would sit and wait in the living room for Hermione to arrive longer than necessary. She had almost become a major part of his soul. Draco found it hard to imagine life without her now.

And now, as he squinted in the air on his broomstick during the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match, he was looking over at the Gryffindor stands for a sign of Hermione. He had asked her one-day that whom did she want to win - Gryffindor or Slytherin. Hermione had flatly answered Gryffindor.

"It's my house and I am expected to support my house."

But when Draco asked her whom did she want to catch the Snitch, Hermione had hastily changed the topic to the Chimeras they were working on in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Draco knew that Hermione wanted Gryffindor to win, but he doubted if she wanted Harry to catch the Snitch. He didn't press on the topic further on though.

Draco scanned the Gryffindor stands again. This time, he caught Hermione's eye in the crowd. She was sitting in one corner, with a Gryffindor rosette. She flashed a smile at him and mouthed 'all the best'. Draco nodded at her and went back to the game.

Draco flew throughout the grounds, looking for the golden ball. He wanted to win this match badly, like no other. He wanted to give Harry a sound thrashing. With a furious determination, he flew fiercely, dodging the other players. Twice he had been almost crushed by the heavy black Bludgers, sent his way by the Gryffindor beaters. But he continued flying, looking for the Snitch.

The Gryffindor chasers were still on outdated brooms like the Shooting Star, the Comet Two-Sixty and the Cleansweeps. So naturally, the Slytherin chasers on their Nimbus Two thousand and Ones, were doing better, but only slightly. Ron Weasley was blocking most of their goals.

Draco was still flying when he almost collided with Harry.

Harry gave him an unperturbed look and smiled sarcastically. "I'll smash you today, Malfoy."

With that, he flew away, leaving a glaring Draco behind. Gritting his teeth, Draco continued flying. His eyes caught Hermione's again and he found that she was looking worried. She had perhaps witnessed Harry and him together. So in order to assure her that nothing was wrong, he gave her a thumbs-up sign and resumed flying.

It was almost 60-50 to Slytherin when Draco at last spotted the golden Snitch hovering near the Slytherin stands.

So with a renewed burst a speed, Draco sped up towards the Snitch. But barely a moment later, Harry was behind him on his Firebolt.

"Come on," Draco hissed at his broom, urging it to go faster. Harry was almost level to him. Draco jerked harder on his broom and he crossed Harry. The snitch was only a few metres away.

There was absolute silence as the audience watched the two Seekers dive. The commentary had stopped, the goals had stopped. Everybody was transfixed.

Draco was almost ten feet apart from the Snitch when his eyes caught a figure below the Slytherin stands. It took him less than a second to realize that it was none other than Theodore Nott, with his wand pointed straight towards the Gryffindor stands.

Draco stopped. The Slytherins gasped in shock, but Draco didn't care. He turned around and found Theodore's aim directly at ... Hermione.

He turned his face to Theodore and found him mouthing some words.

Draco froze. Theodore was going to jinx Hermione.

Without another thought, Draco turned his broom sharply and flew in front of Theodore's way.

He was hit by some spell and then he knew no more.