A Forbidden Love

Chapter 41: Disappointment To Excitement

The rest of the year flies by. The LGBT club starts meeting every Wednesday. I easily add that to my weekly routine. It only took me about half the year, but I finally figured it out.

Then, of course, there is the periodic Quidditch match. There were a few before Christmas, but the only one that truly matters to my falls way after. That match is, obviously, the Quidditch Final. Not only are we competing for the champion house, but the Quidditch Cup is this summer, and our school's Quidditch Final feels like the professional Quidditch Cup. What I would give to participate in that.

I fly my butt off during that match. I want that trophy so badly. Unfortunately for me and my team, Harry is super hot when he's flying. I am distracted the whole time. It's not until the game is over I realize I haven't stopped staring at Harry since the beginning of the match. I also didn't do anything for the team. Whoops.

Back behind the field, in the locker room, Flint throws the clipboard at me, barely missing my head. "What the hell were you doing! I have never seen a worse performance from any one!"

I rub the back of neck, embarrassed. "Sorry," I say through gritted teeth.

"Sorry? That's all you have to say for yourself? Sorry? You just lost us the trophy! Ever since that Potter boy has been here, we haven't won against Gryffindor in Quidditch. This is the first time we actually had a chance, and what do you do? You throw it away! You're a disgrace to this team."

I swear someone struck Flint with steel because he is on fire, and not in the good way. I don't know what to say. Nothing really makes up for my actions. So, I walk out of there without saying anything.

"Get your ass back here, Draco! I want to hear what you have to say." I keep walking.

I'm almost back in the dormitory, when I bump into Snape. Crap! I think. This cannot be good.

"You contributed a lot to the team today," he says in his usual sarcastic tone.

"Yeah, about that..."

He cuts me off. "Oh, you don't have to explain," he says. "I found out from other teachers about you new little obsession. I must say, though, it kind of sucks that I had to find out through other teachers. Especially since we had a talk the other day about you and Potter. Did it not occur for you to be honest?"

"Um... Well... It did, but you already seemed so disappointed in me for working with Potter. I didn't want to disappoint you more."

"Well, Draco," he says, "I am definitely more disappointed finding out this way. Congrats. I've never been this disappointed in one of my house members." Without another word, he turns, letting his cape fly in a sassy way behind him, and walked away.

Well, Flint hates me. Snape hates me. I guess I can guarantee I'm off the Quidditch team. So much for my dreams.

For the next few weeks, I wait, patiently, for my expulsion from Quidditch notice, but it never comes. All I receive are disapproving looks from both Snape and Flint. I guess that's better than what I expected.

Despite that little slip up, I am able to relax for the rest of the school year. That is, until Black's trial. I've only met him a few times, but he seems awful. Plus, he's Harry's godfather, and let me tell you, Harry is more in need of a parent figure than anyone on this planet. I also know that they won't be able to prove his innocence. He escaped prison. That's worse than anything else.

By the time I hear about the trial from Harry, I'm pissed. He explains about the events in the Screaming Shack. He explains the framing, the betrayal of the other friend, Peter, and Black's second capture. Just take a guess who the capturer was. That's right, it was Snape. If I wasn't mad at him before, I am now. To make matters worse, Harry doesn't even have a plan. He always has some plan.

The night of the trial, I pace my common room thousands of times. I keep racking my brain for a way to help. If he doesn't have a plan, maybe I can get one.

I walk out of the dungeon to find a window. Harry also informed me about Buckbeaks slaughter scheduled for today. Any guesses of who requested that. Yeah, my father did. Maybe he attacked me, but he was provoked. Maybe Harry at least has a plan to save him.

I get to the window just in time to see a flock of crows escape the pumpkin patch. The scream follows soon after. Harry wasn't able to save him. This is not good.

I run back to the dungeon and pace some more. Plan, plan, plan. What can I do.

Somewhere in the middle of my pacing, I hear a pecking at the door. I go over to open in, and Hedwih bursts in. She drops a letter right in my hands.

I rip it open and unfold the note. It only has five words on it, but it strikes both fear and hope in me. It reads:

Meet me in the room.

I run to the room. Harry's already there. He's smiling widely.

"I didn't think you'd be asleep yet," he says.

"Why are you smiling? Didn't everything just go down hill?" I ask.

"Nope! Hermione had a time turner and we used it to save both Buckbeak and Black!"

"That's awesome." I run up and embrace him in an excited hug. He laughs and hugs me back.

The last few days of school, after that, are, finally, relaxing. Soon it's time for the final feast, the final party, and the goodbyes.

On the ride home, we make summer plans. At least two of the plans relate to the Quidditch Cup. I'm so excited.

When we arrive, I say goodbye again. I hug each of my friends until I arrive at Harry. I wrap my arms around him and don't let go until we're sweating from close contact. When Harry and I finally pull apart, Goyle and I run up to Mrs. Brown, hug her, and walk to the car, excited to get home. From the sound of it, this could be a very fun summer.