14 Fairness (1/2)
Both Harry and Pansy leaned forward and pointed their broom handle down -- next second they were gathering speed in a steep dive, racing the ball, mingled with the screams of people watching -- Harry stretched out his hand -- a foot from the ground he caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight, and he toppled gently onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his fist.
Pansy did a wonderful landing as well, but due to Harry being a split second faster, he won.
”I win, Draco.” Harry said. Draco shrugged his shoulders and went towards Pansy.
The Gryffindor students except for Hermione rushed towards Harry and began cheering loudly. Ron even tried to carry Harry and was shouting the loudest.
Similarly, the Slytherin students went towards Pansy. Pansy looked at Draco and said, ”I am sorry, I lost.”
She wanted to take on Harry since the whole situation happened due to her picking up the Remembrall, but she didn't think that she would lose to someone who has never even seen a broom in his life.
'If Draco was in my place, he definitely would have won.' She thought
”Are you an idiot?” Draco said, Pansy looked sad, ready to get some scolding but it never came. Draco slowly caressed Pansy's hair, ”You did your best, and I never knew you were so great at flying. I couldn't have done better myself.”
”Yeah! that was awesome.” Daphne and Millicent said holding Pansy's hand.
”Okay! I admit that it was slightly wicked.” Theodore said smiling a little.
”You guys!!” Pansy wanted to cry but more cheers from the Slytherin students came,
”Yeah, it was really amazing the way you did that nosedive.”
”I think you will be a really awesome chaser.” A boy said
”No, I think she can be a great seeker.”
”Yeah, you should join the Quidditch team.”
Draco smiled looking at Pansy who was blushing slightly due to all the compliments. 'This is why I love Slytherin, we never accept defeat even when we lose.'
Hermione also went over towards Pansy and both of them smiled at each other in understanding.
”HARRY POTTER!” ”PANSY PARKINSON.”
Suddenly, Professor McGonagall came rushing toward them. Harry's leg was trembling to see McGonagall and Pansy was a bit afraid as well. Draco held her hand and gave it a little squeeze, Pansy looked up at Draco's face who was giving her a reassuring smile. Pansy felt calm seeing his smile and nodded at him.
”Never -- in all my time at Hogwarts --”
Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously, ”-- how dare you both -- you could have broken your neck --”
”It wasn't his fault, Professor --”
”Be quiet, Miss Patil
”It was Malfoy's plan to play the game.” Suddenly Ron shouted and McGonagall glared at Draco who was standing there looking innocent.
”You are too clever, Mr. Weasley” Theodore said with a surprised expression, ”How could you blame others so easily, when you were the one who started the game... you challenged us, and we only accepted it because you kept insisting that Gryffindor were better than Slytherin. You even called us thieves.”
”Yeah! We are not afraid to admit our mistakes, Mr. Weasley.” Daphne added looking righteous as well, ”But we are not kind enough to take the blame for other people. You were the one who started it but now you blame Draco, such shamelessness.”
”Yeah! Yeah! it was him who started it.” All the Slytherin student started putting the blame on Ron.
”No, I wasn't the one,” Ron shouted back.
All the Gryffindor student were surprised by the Slytherin's shamelessness.
”Enough!” Professor McGonagall said ”Potter, you and Mr. Weasley come with me and Ms. Parkinson and Mr. Malfoy please wait here awhile, I will come here with your house head, Professor Snape. He will decide both of your punishment.”
This whole time Draco stayed silent and looked calm.
”Follow me.” Professor McGonagall said coldly.
Harry glared at Malfoy, then threw the Remembrall towards Ron. ”Can you hold it for me?”
Ron nodded but as soon as he caught the Remembrall, it cracked and shattered into pieces.
Professor McGonagall turned around to look at the shattered glass in Ron's hand, ”Be careful, Mr. Weasley.” she said turning back again.
Everyone was surprised as to why the Remembrall broke and they all looked at Draco.
Draco's innocent smile was slowly turning into a slightly evil grin, ”Oh! How could you break the Remembrall that belonged to Mr. Longbottom? Mr. Weasley, I figured you were jealous of him having it but I didn't think you would break it.”
The Slytherin understanding that it might be Draco's doing, grinned from ear to ear,
”I am surprised, with your sly behavior, you could have been a good Slytherin.” Theodore commented
”You..” Ron was clenching his fist in anger. Harry also looked angry but he couldn't do anything right now, since McGonagall turned her back again with an angry expression, so both of them followed her giving an angry glare to Draco.
After they were gone, Hermione came in front, ”Why did you break it?”
”I didn't.” Draco said tilting his head,
Hermione narrowed her eyes, ”Then why did you say that to him.”
”I was just pouring some salt in his wounds.” Draco said, ”Besides, the ball probably broke after all that fight.”
”Yeah! Hermione.” Pansy surprisingly spoke with Hermione without a sarcastic tone, ”I could feel the ball was already cracking a little when I hold it, and after Potter kicked the ball from my hand, it may have cracked even more, Maybe all it needed was a little push which was provided when Potter threw it towards Weasley.”
Listening to Pansy's explanation, Hermione nodded slightly believing what Draco said.
Theodore was the only one skeptical about it, He knew the ball wouldn't break so easily but he didn't say anything. Daphne was on the sideline looking at Pansy who was talking to Hermione with a surprised expression.
The thing about his mana control was a secret which he wasn't ready to tell anyone. Even if he wanted to do it, he wouldn't be able to, as he himself didn't know much about it.
'Sigh! Too much has happened, within these 11 days since the school started, I need to manage my time properly.' Draco thought.
”Poor Neville.” Hermione said. ”He broke his wrist and now his Remembrall which he got just today, broke as well.”
”Well, the broken wrist can be fixed with a potion so not a big deal, but the Remembrall was kinda my fault...I guess.” Draco scratched his head, Even though he broke that Remembrall to satisfy his vanity against Potter, he still went a bit overboard. Since Neville wasn't at fault. ”I will find a way to make it up for him.”
”You better.” Hermione said,
”Well the Remembralls aren't that expensive so I will buy him one.” Draco said. Hermione glared at Draco with a 'Really?' expression, ”And maybe I will give him a nice gift on Christmas as an apology.”
Hermione finally nodded satisfied, ”All that's fine, but I didn't think, you guys were so shameless though.”
Theodore laughed, ”Are you talking about me? It was Weasley's fault... we played a game under the consent of both parties, but he was the one to spill the beans, and put the blame on Draco. Really that red-headed Weasley has no sense of sportsmanship.”
”Hmph! His rat is probably more intelligent than him.” Daphne snickered.
'Oh! How right you are Daphne!' Draco thought to himself.