Slytherin versus Gryffindor!! May the best Seeker win!

The Quidditch Final of 1997 was finally here, and Hermione was actually excited for the stupid match. Draco had spent most of the evening last night shagging her silly, completely enamoured by her deft handling of the Weasel.

She had been quite amused that her betrothed could find her vindictive side such a turn on.

Dressed in her favorite Slytherin green jumper, jeans, boots and Draco’s scarf—Hermione made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast with Daphne and Theo. Draco and his Quidditch mate’s were busy going over some last minute strategy in the common room.

The secret of Draco’s new broom had stayed just that...a secret. When Slytherin was out practicing, Draco used a handy spell she’d invented, to make it look like his new Firebolt was his old Nimbus broom, and no one questioned it.

Hermione had to admit, she was looking forward to seeing the looks on everyone’s faces when they got a good look at Draco’s new broom.

Sitting down to breakfast, she immediately noticed that the Gryffindor team sitting together and eating quietly amongst themselves. Harry looked up and smiled in her direction, with Hermione waving Draco’s scarf at him and grinning widely, causing him to snicker and shake his head good-naturedly.

A kiss was dropped onto her head, and when she looked up, excited grey eyes were staring down at her fondly.

“Flirting with the enemy, love?” Draco grinned and nodded at Potter, who returned the gesture.

“Don’t be ridiculous, handsome. Just some good-natured taunting on my behalf.”

Draco chuckled and sat down next to her. “Glad to hear it.”

The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence, before Draco stood up with his teammates and headed out to the Quidditch Pitch. Hermione watched her wizard leave, hoping that today, fortune would favor all the hard work Draco had put in on his new broom.

He’d never admit it, but he was desperate to win the Quidditch Cup and beat Potter just once.

Hopefully today would be that day.

Walking out to the Quidditch Pitch with Daphne and Theo, Hermione could feel herself getting excited for the match to come. She really wanted Draco to win, and even though she hated Quidditch? She loved her wizard and wanted to see him happy.

As she moved towards the Slytherin stands, she was surprised to see Lucius and her Father talking with Severus. Deep green eyes locked with her’s and he nodded at her as she approached.

“Hello, Father,” she greeted warmly, “I didn’t take you for a Quidditch fan.”

Tom rolled his eyes while Lucius chuckled. “Not normally, no...another thing we have in common I believe, Daughter—and yet here you are about to waste hours of your day watching—what did you call it? An unnecessarily brutal sport that has absolutely no value whatsoever?”

Blushing, she couldn’t help but sigh in resignation. “True, but today should be interesting.”

“In what way?” Tom asked curiously.

“Well, I’m surprised mum didn’t tell you about it.” At her Father’s quirked eyebrow, Hermione smiled impishly and whispered so only her Father and Lucius could hear her. “I bought Draco a Firebolt broom, for the game today. No one outside Slytherin House has been made aware.”

Lucius chuckled deeply, while Tom just gave his daughter a dubious look. “You purchased the most expensive broom for your betrothed? And your mother was alright with this?”

Hermione shrugged. “Of course. You can’t be mad, Father. A secret broom to help even the playing field on the final game of the Quidditch season against Gryffindor? Tell me that’s not a completely Slytherin thing to do?”

“Only if they win, my dear.”

“Of that, there’s no doubt.”

“Care to make a wager on it then?” Tom challenged.

Hermione glared at her Father. “What kind of wager?”

“Well? if Gryffindor wins—you agree to the Ministry internship this summer in the DMLE.”

Folding her arms over her chest, Hermione’s glare deepened. “And if Slytherin wins? I get to travel with you this summer and you can introduce me to all the wonderful contacts you’re making within the foreign ministries.”

Tom chuckled wickedly. “Negotiated like a true Slytherin.”

“That’s because I am.” Hermione winked at her Father, and then walked towards the stands where Daphne was waiting for her. Turning back briefly, she chirped, “Enjoy the game, Father.”

She heard her Father chuckling, as she made her way up the stands.

Once she was situated, she waited with baited breath as the teams took to the field.

When Slytherin flew out onto the field, after Gryffindor had made their entrance—Draco was the last to do so. As he flew out, the gasps and shouts of glee from the Slytherin’s was nothing compared to the shocked anger and outrage from the other houses.

Hermione rolled her eyes in disgust.

It was okay for Harry Potter to have an unfair advantage, but not for Draco to even the playing field.

What a load of bullocks.

When her gaze locked with her betrothed, he was grinning from ear to ear as he winked at her—so she blew him a kiss in return. Catching Potter’s eye, the Gryffindor Seeker and Captain was doing his best to hide his shock, but Hermione could see him shaking his head at her in understanding, so she waved Draco’s scarf at him, which caused him to laugh.

Well, at least Harry Potter was being a good sport about it.

When Madam Hooch signaled for the game to start, Hermione leaned forward in her seat in anticipation and watched as the snitch was released.

Both Draco and Harry taking off like lightening after the infernal little piece of metal.

The game was closer than Hermione would’ve liked. Every time Slytherin scored, Gryffindor scored right back. It was a rather low score at two hours in at 120-130 Gryffindor...that was until Draco saw the snitch and shot out across the pitch heading for the Gryffindor stands. Harry was right next to him, and soon the snitch went vertical, Harry ascending on his broom with quicker speed, and Hermione was biting her lip in worry.

When the snitch dove straight down, both Seekers turned and followed with Draco swerving just in time to avoid getting hit by the Bludger, however Harry wasn’t as lucky as his broom didn’t have the maneuverability that Draco’s did, the Bludger from Crabbe just clipping the back of his broom, but it was enough. Harry had to regain control of his broom and as Draco was nearing the ground, he flattened his body along his broom and barrel-rolled his broom into a 360 degree roll, reaching for the snitch just as he was about to hit the ground.

When he came up from the maneuver, he had the Snitch in his hand—raising it in triumph as Madam Hooch sounded the whistle... “Slytherin Wins!”

The Slytherin stands went crazy as everyone was hugging each other in celebration, while Hermione just clapped and rolled her eyes at how ridiculous it all was, but seeing the look of absolute joy on Draco’s face as he was being congratulated by his teammates—made it all worthwhile.

Looking up, Hermione caught her Father’s eye across they way as he nodded once and walked down the Faculty stands with Lucius and Severus in tow. She couldn’t help but smirk in satisfaction...

...today had gone surprisingly well.

Later that night after everyone had celebrated in the Slytherin common room, Hermione took Draco to their Room and surprised him by wearing his Quidditch Jersey and nothing else. To say that her betrothed was appreciative, would’ve been an understatement as they didn’t leave their room all night and well into the next day.

A fitting end to their sixth year indeed.