𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, draco malfoy

˗ˋ 20

CHAPTER TWENTY
✧
-: third year :-

── IN WHICH THERE'S A BREAK IN

. . .

The twins met up in the common room the next  morning, Harry followed by the four boys he shared a dorm with. A glance from Dean told Marlie that he hadn't told either Ron or Harry about the previous night, which she was grateful for.

She might be upset with Hermione even more now, but Ron and Harry didn't need to be anymore upset with her - it would just drive them apart even further. 

As they entered the hall, a large number of heads turned to look at the two Firebolts, gawking and staring at the broomstick, and there was a good deal of excited muttering. The Gryffindors saw, with enormous satisfaction, that the Slytherin team were all looking thunderstruck.

"Did you see his face?" said Ron gleefully, looking back at Malfoy. "He can't believe it! This is brilliant!"

"Put them here, you two," Oliver Wood said, laying the broom in the middle of the table and carefully turning them both so that its name faced upward. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were soon coming over to look. Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate the twims on having acquired such superb replacements for the Nimbus, and Percy's Ravenclaw girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold a Firebolt. 

 "Now, now, Penny, no sabotage!" said Percy heartily as Marlie handed her her Firebolt and she examined the Firebolt closely. "Penelope and I have got a bet on," he told the team. "Ten Galleons on the outcome of the match!"

 Penelope put the Firebolt down again, thanked Marlie, and went back to her table. "You two - make sure you win," said Percy, in an urgent whisper. "I haven't got ten Galleons. Yes, I'm coming, Penny!" And he bustled off to join her in a piece of toast. 

"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter?" said a cold, drawling voice. Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him. He seemed to be ignoring Marlie's presence, which she more than happy to abide with, not wanting to get involved. 

"Yeah, reckon so," Harry said casually. 

"Got plenty of special features, hasn't it?" said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. "Shame it doesn't come with a parachute - in case you get too near a Dementor." Crabbe and Goyle sniggered and Marlie's eyes flashed, looking upwards.

The slight respect she had gained for him after the incident in the corridor following the twins' attempts at casting patronuses for the first time was gone. "Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy," She snapped. "Then it could catch the Snitch for you."

The rest Gryffindor team laughed loudly. Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed, and he stalked away. They watched him rejoin the rest of the Slytherin team, who put their heads together, no doubt asking Malfoy whether the twins brooms really were Firebolts.

At a quarter to eleven, the Gryffindor team set off for the locker rooms. The weather couldn'thave been more different from their match against Hufflepuff. It was a clear, cool day with a very light breeze; there would be no visibility problems this time, and Marlie, though nervous, was starting to feel the excitement only a Quidditch match could bring.