( 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 ― 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙤𝙮 / 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 )

[SIX | NOW OR NEVER]

THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE ICE, THERE WAS BLOOD ON HIS SHIRT, AND THERE WAS BLOOD IN HIS MOUTH. Harry took a swig of water and swished it around before he spat it onto the ground; wiping his mouth. Glancing up at the scoreboard, he sighed. They were in their third period and both teams were tied, much to either's dismay.

The game started out with a line brawl (which explained the dark claret stains on their uniforms) but in the last seconds of the game's second period, another fight broke out between Harry and Draco; causing both captains to sit out for a bit while the co-captains took over. Besides that, the game was how everyone had hoped;

Intense and brutal.

Both teams were working their asses out on the rink, not just hitting their opponents but actually maneuvering their way throughout the group(s); bringing back (nearly impossible) moves that hadn't been played since they'd been invented but neither wanted to go into overtime; which is why things had begun to get heated in their last frame. 

He looked over at Fred (who'd took one for the team by allowing his kneecap to get hammered in by one of the Slytherins, causing them to be put out of the game and for the Gryffindors to get a penalty shot) and put his helmet back on; knocking on the glass to catch Ron's attention. He got the message as skated off; patting Harry on the back the minute he reached the bench--allowing him back into the game.

"With sixteen minutes left, both teams are tied. At this rate, they'll be going into over--" Remus Lupin, one of the announcers paused, his eyes following a certain player, "What is that I see? Is it possible Gryffindor's captain, Harry Potter, is back on the ice after suffering from an severe nosebleed?"

"Of course, Remmy, that boy's one tough fellow. You'd have to drop a bag of brick on him to slow him down." Sirius Black, the leading announcer spoke, catching Harry's eye before winking; making the boy smile.

"Oh, it seems Slytherin's captain, Draco Malfoy, has made a return as well." Harry's attention went over to the other team's bench and watched as the blond came back out onto the ice; their eyes never leaving one another.

The game quickly resumed and Harry moved at a reasonable pace, being more careful of his apparently 'predictable' movements (as Draco said earlier.) Everyone continued to work hard, not once letting their thoughts wonder off to anything not related to the game.

"You know, I used to be that agile. Age wasn't on my side when it came to my body, but it sure worked with my looks." Harry chuckled, continuing to listen to his god-father's rant of his golden years back in school.

"Oh hush, Sirius. We're supposed to be commenting about the game, not about your life story." The crowd chuckled as Sirius grumbled, Remus throwing his best mate a smile before peering back outside the glass, resuming the game's commentary; being quite fair in his descriptions (whereas, Sirius only bragged about the Gryffindors.)

"With only a minute left, the risks are high for both teams. Who will win, the Golden Gryffindors or the Sinious Slytherins?" 

Only a minute left.

After the realization, time seemed to slow.

Harry still had the puck in his grasp yet, proceeded to look around himself; faintly hearing his teammates yelling,

'Hit it, Harry!'

'What're you waiting for?!'

'Do it now!'

He then looked up at Draco (who was charging towards him); his eyes finally falling down at the puck; eyeing a free space below the Slytherin. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he felt his inner power beginning to surge throughout his body. With all his might, Harry spun around him and swung his stick with full force.

He heard the puck scream against the ice as it and drew in a sharp breath; hoping it made it.

He closed his eyes and felt the impact of his rival's body crush his; feeling it when he landed on his back.

The buzzer blared,

the crowd cheered,

and the game was over.

(Or at least...that's what everyone thought.)