Back to Plans
Chapter 17
Granger went to bed shortly after her and Draco tried to come up with ways as to how to keep Potter safe during the Quidditch match. Even though Draco knew Severus didn't curse Potter, he knew that someone had and that Severus would be a likely person for Potter to suspect. What better time to strike than when he will be right next to Potter the whole game? They talked for a couple of minutes, but quickly realized they didn't have many solutions. Granger wanted to watch Snape the whole game, and to Draco's surprise he talked her out of it. She would keep look out on Snape mostly, but also on the rest of the stands. Draco would watch Potter's back as much as he could during the game.
Draco stayed in the common room after Granger left. He looked around and saw he was the only Gryffindor not in his dorm. It reminded him of the restless nights he used to spend in the Slytherin common room after everyone else was asleep. Though those nights were more out of fear of what was to come. Months ago Draco would have agreed that Gryffindor was starting to feel like home, but now he felt more out of place than he did when he was first sorted into this house. It wasn't just the fight he had over break, but the feeling like he was missing the life he once loved so much. Sure that life led to much misery he is still living with, but it also gave him much joy and friendship. He thought that at some point he would feel like a Gryffindor. That he would show courage and honor that would show Gryffindor was where he truly belonged. That moment still hasn't come though, and he wondered if it ever would.
In Slytherin Draco never felt like this. He was a Slytherin there was no doubt in his mind. Everyone else seemed to believe it too. Why else would everyone react like they did when he was sorted? And why would his dorm mates treat him with such distrust when at least in this lifetime he thought he was nothing but nice to them? They obviously don't like you, Draco couldn't help but think, Why else would they question your trust that you worked hard to build up?
Stop, Draco told himself, You can't think like this. He got up from his chair and sat right in front of the fire. He stared deeply into the fire, watching the flames move and the embers glow. More thoughts filled his head. What made the hat put him in Gryffindor? Are Potter and Weasley actually his friends? They seemed sincere when they apologized to him over break, but did they really mean it? Are they just waiting for the right moment to turn on him? I'm going crazy Draco thought. These aren't Death Eaters working against you. These are kids just wanting to survive the school year.
Draco sat there staring into the fire for what felt like hours until a voice broke through his thoughts. "Draco," the voice said. He looked around and saw Neville standing behind him. "What are you doing?" Neville asked. Draco got up and walked over to Neville, "Nothing, I was just thinking. Let's go back up to the dorm." He led Neville back up the stairs and walked into their dorm. He looked around and saw their beds were the only ones still empty. "What time is it?" Draco whispered to Neville. "Almost two in the morning," Neville answered.
Draco nodded. I must have been up longer than I thought, he thought. He walked over to bed and shut the curtains behind him after saying good night to Neville. Once he got under the covers, he struggled to keep his eyes open and slowly let sleep overcome him.
It was finally the day most of the Gryffindors had been waiting for days for. The day of their Quidditch match against Hufflepuff. Draco watched Potter and some of the other Quidditch players become a nervous wreck as the days lead up to the match. Draco woke up that morning for once with a full night's sleep. Granger and Neville pushed him and Potter to go to bed earlier than normal that night, so they would perform well. He took his time getting ready that morning and was dreading going down to breakfast. His nerves were getting the best of him and his appetite was nonexistent.
Draco knew everyone would be expecting him to eat a whole meal today. They would say he would need the fuel for the match, but just the thought of food made him nauseous. He hated that he couldn't hide himself not eating like he could with cutting. Long sleeves covered his scars perfectly, but everyone could see him eat. They were right though. If he didn’t eat a good meal before the match he wouldn’t be putting his best self forward and it could cost them the game.
Once Draco was done getting ready, he went downstairs and met the others in the common room. "Come on Draco. Breakfast will be over soon," Granger hurried the group along to the Great Hall.
When they made it to their usual spot at the table, all anyone could talk about was the match. Everyone knew that they needed to win, or all the team had worked for the whole season would go down the drain.
“Draco! Are you with us?,” Neville asked as he waved a hand in front of Draco’s face.
Draco looked at Neville trying to regain composure, “Yeah, sorry. I’m just a bit worried about this match today,”
Granger ordered him and Potter to fill their plates full of nutritious food. Draco complied and grab a variety of fruit, toast, and sausage.”
Draco truly wasn’t hungry though and only picked at the food on his plate. When he was about half way through the food on his plate, he felt Granger slightly shake his side. "Are you ok? You haven't eaten much today." she whispered into his ear.
Draco nodded and whispered back, "I'm just nervous for the match." She nodded back, but then whispered, "I think you should eat a little more. You need the energy for the match. Maybe get another piece of toast and a couple pieces of sausage."
Draco slightly nodded and looked back down at his plate. He didn't want to eat the rest of the food there, let alone add more to it. Suddenly someone grabbed the plate he was staring at. He looked over to Neville and saw he start to fill it up with food. When he sat the plate back down in front of Draco, it had almost double the amount he had started with. "I get you're nervous for the match, but if you don't eat then you won't perform well," Neville said softly.
"Yeah, I know," Draco told him. Neville’s words seemed to have gotten the message through to him, and he quickly finished the plate that was made for him. The food actually seemed to calm his nerves. He knew that he would perform his best. He had no other choice.
Draco got up from his seat with the rest of the group and they all headed out of the Great Hall. "Okay, we can play a quick game of exploding snap before you and Harry have to leave for the match if we hurry," Dean said and the others agreed, rushing back up to the dorms.
Dean ran up to the dorm to grab the cards, and everyone else found seats in the common room. Dean came back quickly and the game started.
"What time do you and Harry have to leave?" Neville asked when the first round ended.
"Wood wants us down on the field an hour before the game starts, so at nine," Draco told him.
"There's enough time to play another round before Harry and Draco have to go." Seamus pointed out, "You guys in?" They set up the cards for another round, and Draco was glad to focus on something other than the game.
An hour later Draco and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team were waiting under the stands. They spent over thirty minutes warming up before the game and Draco was feeling good. He looked over at Potter and knew he was nervous. Wood told him something and all the fear left his face. Potter looked over at Draco and smiled. He quickly walked over to Draco and whispered, "I'm safe. Dumbledore's here. There's no way Snape would do something with him around." That made Draco feel better. He could put his total focus on the match without worrying if Potter would get hurt.
Soon Lee announced the Gryffindor team and Wood led them out onto the field. Draco followed his team as they got into their positions, and Severus stood between the two captains. He saw the quaffle launch into the air and raced to grab it before the Hufflepuff chasers could. Once he had it, he flew towards the Hufflepuff goals. Draco saw two Hufflepuff chasers coming after him, planning on cutting him off. He tossed the quaffle to Angelina and the Hufflepuff chasers changed their target. He flew in front of Angelina, open to score. Angelina threw the quaffle to him, and he threw it straight past the other team's keeper and into the goal.
Draco smiled and looked around the stands, but saw someone who he didn't plan on being there. Lucius was seated in the stands with his wife next to him. To Draco's surprise though they were both clapping with the Gryffindors from Draco's score. The rest of the game Draco was on fire. It was the best game of his season by far. He had scored over a hundred points for Gryffindor by himself. To the rest of Gryffindor's surprise the potion's teacher was actually playing fair with the penalties given to both of the teams. The match ended with Potter catching the snitch and Gryffindor winning 320-130. Draco felt on top of the world at that moment. He looked to where his parents were and the smile on his face grew bigger when he saw both of them standing up and cheering. He locked eyes with his father and tears filled his eyes as he saw the smallest smile on his fathers face.
Draco flew down to where the rest of the Gryffindors were and the Weasley twins lifted him and Potter onto their shoulders. They started to shout, "Draco! Harry! Draco! Harry!" When Draco was put back down on the ground, he looked back up to the stands, but his parents had already left for home. He followed the rest of the Gryffindors back up to the common room as they started to celebrate their big win. For the first time that day Draco let go of his feelings and had fun with his housemates. He would leave all the thoughts in his head for another moment. Right now all he wanted to do was enjoy how good he felt and celebrate his win.