Royals (Draco Malfoy x Reader)

Chapter 76

Slughorn stands at the head of a table, goblet raised to the students seated before him, which in addition to Harry and Hermione include Marcus Belbey, Blaise Zabini, Neville Longbottom, Cormac Mclaggern and a set of twins, of which names I couldn't care less of. A distinctive crustal hourglass sits in the centre of the table and I chat quietly with Blaise, Marcus to my right an empty seat beside him. I sipped on the glass of wine, watching Blaise intensively as he spoke passionately about quidditch, like a child who just received a new present. "To Hogwarts' best and brightest!" Slughorn cheered merrily "here! here!" Cormac Mclaggeren chimed, I didn't like him, he was rude, his manners almost non-existent. I raised my glass lightly along with Blaise and the goblets clinked off each other. 

I let out a small smile when I watched Neville inspect the sets of knives, forks and spoons in front of him, he clearly had no clue how to use any of them. "Which one do I use for the soup?" he questions himself, more than anyone else "the one to the farthest left Neville" I chuckle and he smiles happily. "So tell me, Cormac. See much of your Uncle Tiberius these days?" Slughorn peers at the boy who looks up "Yes, sir. In fact, I'm meant to go hunting with him and the minister for Magic over the holiday." he boasted and I rolled my eyes shooting Blaise a look of amusement as he let out a small chuckle. "Well, be sure to give them both my best. What about your uncle, Belby? Working on anything new?" Slughorn turned to the boy beside me before his eyes shot around the table "For those of you who don't know, Marcus' uncle invented the wolfsbane Potion." As he speaks, Marcus never once looks up from his plate, clearly uninterested in Slughorns small chat. "Dunno. He and my dad don't get on. Probably because Dad thinks potions are rubbish. Says the only potion worth having is a stiff one at the end of the --" Marcus begins and before he can finish Slughorn cuts him off.

"ah...okay! (Name), how is mother dearest, still keeping the ministry in control" his eyes stared into mine "Elizabeth is fine, rather...idotic nowadays, must be the old age" I smiled lightly and Slughorn let out a chuckle "shes not that old! And you, Miss Granger? What is it your family does in the Muggle world?" he looks at Hermione who glances around nervously "My parents are dentists. They tend to people's teeth." she explained and Slughorn nodded feigning interest "Fascinating. And is that considered a dangerous profession?" the professor tilted his head staring at Hermione who shifted uncomfortably. 

"No. Though, a boy named RobbieFenwick did bite my father once.Needed ten stitches." As Slughorn nods, the door groans. Everyone turns "Miss Weasley! Come in, come in." "Sorry, I'm not ordinarily late --" She falters, eyes red, uncharacteristically flustered "No matter. You'll be just in time for dessert. That is -- if Belbyleaves you any." Slughorns eyes move to Marcus who is gobbling up the food, as Crabble and Goyle normally did. I moved in my seat, fixing my hair as Ginny moved to sit beside Marcus and Harry. 

***

It was Gryffindor versus Slytherin and I wore my house colours, an emerald dress landing just at my mid-thigh, a silver cardigan and shoes as I cheered loudly with Aurelia and Daphne.  Slytherin snatches the Quaffle and rushes en masse toward Gryffindor's end, weaving and passing with wicked skill, culminating in a vicious, slicing shot on goal. Just when it appears it will clear the hoop, Ronstreaks out of nowhere and sends the Quaffle screaming in the opposite direction, I booed quite loudly. I notice Ginny pausing on her broom, She glances up at Harry, circling high above and he grins. Just then, Dean streaks by Instantly, she rolls backwards, jets off and races down her fellow Chasers. Flying in a spread formation, Dean --on the far wing -- starts the Quaffle "up the line" until it lands in Ginny's hand. Pitching herself into a wide slide to avoid a pair of whistling bludgers, she leans recklessly off her broom and whips the Quaffle through the goal untouched.

As per usual, Gryffindor won, sometimes I really did believe the game was rigged against the Slytherins, they were a rather brilliant team, they just always lost against Gryffindor. Draco looked extremely mad his eyes meeting mine and I glance away, he was still ignoring me.