Strange Connection (A Ron Weasley Love Story)

Chapter 16 - Quidditch

I looked around the Common Room, waiting for someone to jump out and yell 'Surprise'!
I walked toward the portrait and stopped, the hairs on the back of my neck pricked up, as though someone was watching me.
I turned quickly on the balls of my feet and saw a familiar plump boy dressed in red and gold robes.
I had seen him once before, but that was through infrared eyes.

"Are you looking for someone?" Neville said, hastily, not making eye contact.

"Yes, actually. How about everyone?"

"Well, most people are down on the Quidditch pitch watching the team practice for the first time this year! That's where I'm headed."

"Quidditch... that sounds familiar....." That word was unfamiliar to me.

"You're barking! You don't know what Quidditch is?"

"I mean, I've heard of it a couple times... it's like basketball on brooms right? I don't see the hype..."

"You must be new, Quidditch is really huge here at Hogwarts. Even people who don't like sports go to Quidditch matches!"
I nodded, understanding, in a way.

"I am new. I just transferred here. My name is Brooke Riverstean." I held my hand out and we shook, as he said,

"I've heard of you, Ron has-" I rose an eyebrow and he stopped himself, saying,

"My name is Neville Longbottom."

"It's a pleasure," He blushed.

"Would you, umm, like to join me on the way to the Quidditch practice?" He said, looking down, suddenly taking great interest in his shoes.

"Sure! And on the way, you can tell me all about this, Quiddip game, and what I've been missing." I jokingly butchered the name.

"Quidditch." He corrected, laughing, and we both left the Common Room, laughing.

                                                                     

On the long walk to the Quidditch field, Neville told me all there is to know about Quidditch, from ancient games, to Quidditch evolution, all the way to the present teams of professional Quidditch.
It was a lot to absorb, but he told it with such enthuse, I think I got most all of it.
Once we arrived, I looked up into the bleachers. They were very large and high off the ground, almost giving me vertigo to look up at. There were many golden and crimson robes and scarves up in the stands, but not a lot of people watching the game. Most of them had books and reading materials out, studying in clumps of 3 and 4. It was sort of nice to see everybody spread out amoungst the massive stands, and I put it in the back of my head to come here sometime to study in the fresh air.

Two people stuck out for me in particular. One of them because she was sitting along amoungst an array of opened books, and the other because of his shimmering green amoungst the red sea.

Hermione and Draco.

What is he doing here?! He is a Slytherin and this is a Gryffindor Quidditch practice!

I don't think he saw us, so I ignored him. Hermione did not see us, either, until we sat down on each side of her.

"Oh, hey guys." She said with a yawn.

"Why so sleepy?" Neville asked.

"I was up all night studying," She gave another yawn, then laid her head on head shoulder and closed her eyes lightly. He put his arm around her, awkwardly, not knowing exactly what to do. He looked up at me meekly, and I gave him a thumbs up, winking.