The Match

Title: The Match Part 4

Rating: PG13-R for allusions to sex, overheard sex.

Dedication: For PsychoNerd07- for such an amusing flame. Four points 1. I wrote Harry was AGED twenty. 2. Slash fiction is a perfectly normal mode of expression by mainly heterosexual female writers. It started in the 1960's. The wonderful women who originally wrote about Kirk and Spock started a trend that continued to a wonderfully diverse range of slash thanks to the Internet. I hardly see how FICTION about a FICTIONAL character can see seen as 'disgusting'. 3. Interesting (by omission) you had no qualms about Draco being gay. 4. Rowling never specifically states that Harry isn't gay. Why? Because sexuality isn't an issue, obviously. Besides, what is so 'wrong and sickening' about a loving relationship between two men? Homophobia is the 'wrong' 'sickening' and 'disgusting' trait. It would be wise to try and change your views. Prejudice is the cause of many an atrocity in our world.

Pairings: Harry/Draco, Ron/Hermione, implied Sirius/Remus

Author's Notes at bottom.

Harry immediately spied Seamus Finnigan in the very green Irish section of tents and walked over to talk to him. Ron was promptly cornered by his brother, Percy, who immediately began to inform him, in detail, about changes in policy in the muggle government, now they allowed (albeit secretly) wizard influence. Ron simply smiled and nodded, thinking about the Quidditch game to come. Hermione started asking Percy questions, seeming genuinely interested. A thoroughly bored Ron looked forward to see Malfoy wander off by himself, moving gracefully through the cacophony of stalls selling a variety of Quidditch paraphernalia, every one better than the one before it, according to the loudmouthed brags of the wizard sellers.

Ron managed to politely move away from his brother (who was still conversing with Hermione) and stepped back to Harry, where Neville Longbottom and Ginny had joined the conversation. He took his sister into his arms and took Neville's meaty hand with a hearty handshake.

"Harry, my boy!"

The voice came sharply over Neville's ear and he jumped. Ron's perplexion turned to delight when he recognized the velvet timbre. He smiled broadly at Remus Lupin, who stepped up to the group, engulfing each of them in a hug in turn. Hermione and Percy also joined the collaboration.

"Where's Sirius?" Harry asked.

"Ah. well, he'll be around shortly. He has an errand to run." Ron noticed a mysterious twinkle in Remus' grey eyes. "So, where's Draco?"

At the mention of the Slytherin's name, Ron noticed everyone suddenly go very quiet. Hermione and Harry were looking around, as though they hadn't even realized he'd gone. Percy was simply staring forward, mouth set in a grim line. Neville looked down at his fingers. Ginny rather intently watched a bluebird hop across the grass in front. Seamus rolled his eyes and shrugged, as though to say, who cares?

"Must have taken off." Harry shrugged. "Maybe he's gone to find his former Slytherin cronies."

"Well, that is part of the fun, isn't it? Catching up with old friends. and enemies."

Harry, sensing Lupin was referring to Severus Snape, smiled, as did Ginny. Hermione favoured Lupin with a slight frown. Seamus laughed out loud. Both Ron and Neville bore confused expressions.

"Well, I really must be off. We'll see you all at the match."

With a short wave, Lupin moved back through the crowd.

"We should find our tent." Harry informed Ron and Hermione. Both nodded and hastened their good-byes to their former Hogwarts compadres before hurrying through the crowd, past the medium sized tents, most complete with overflowing potplants and chatting neighbours, that made up the middle- class section.

"Where did Draco go?" Harry asked, more to himself.

"Who cares?" Ron asked. He had been having a really good time without the pouty blonde always near, ready to provoke him at any moment.

"Considering he's paid for our accommodation, I think it is a good idea we find him." Hermione said quietly.

"He paid for our tent?" Ron's brows raised in surprise.

"He offered." Harry shrugged.

"He offered! Tell me, was he delusional at the time? What prompted this sudden streak of kindness?"

Harry's cheeks were suddenly tinged with pink. He seemed unable to look in their direction a moment.

Oh. Ok, now I won't be able to eat for the rest of the night. Thanks, Harry.

"So, Mr. Malfoy."

The cold, deep voice originated from over Harry's shoulder. Ron turned sharply, expecting to find Severus Snape standing behind them. Instead, Draco was accurately depicting the Hogwarts potions master, right down to stance, hand gestures and cadence and timbre of voice. He walked towards them as he spoke, in spooky Snape style.

"Here with Potter? I don't see any desks about. What will you do?"

"You saw Snape?" Harry asked. Draco nodded.

"He didn't look pleased to see me. Surprising, really." He replied, sarcastically.

Ron and Hermione caught eyes, mortified. Malfoy had just verified a rumour that had spread throughout Hogwarts in their final year, involving Harry and Draco sneaking into the potion master's office when he was at a Staff meeting and breaking his desk in their amorous adventures. Snape was apparently furious that Dumbledore had ordered him not to tell anyone else about the 'incident', that he would deal with it, himself.

This day is getting worse and worse.

Ron shook his head of the ugly images raping his mind.

"So, it was true." Hermione verified. Harry's earlier blush returned. Draco simply shrugged , looking nonplussed. "What did Dumbledore say?"'

"He knew we were going to do it, that he'd been aware of our." Draco looked to Harry and smiled. Ron resisted the urge to cover his ears. "predisposition to making out in the most absurd places for a while. He said he deliberately jinxed the desk so it would collapse in a way that wouldn't hurt us. He said though he tolerated some horseplay in Hogwarts, a teacher's den was his own domain."

"We had to fix the desk using no magic and apologize to Snape. Dumbledore also let him pick the punishment." Harry frowned.

"What did he make you do?" Ron asked, intrigued.

"Well, he was at an impasse. He couldn't make us do anything at Hogwarts, because no one else could know what happened. So, he made us go to a muggle laundry and wash all of his robes." Draco's upper lip curled at the memory.

"All fifty of them. Really, you wouldn't think, looking at the guy, he would own so many clothes."

Ron thought back to Hogwarts. He had tried his hardest not to think of Snape since he had left the school, but now came to an epiphany in regards to the dark wizard. Snape only wore the same outfit again and again. Black, flowing robes.

"He came to the laundry with us." Harry explained. "And made fun of our muggle clothes, then proceeded to tell the muggles what we had done."

"Why did he care what the muggles thought?" Ron asked, as they headed up the strip of house size tents making up the upper-class section of the quadrant.

"He didn't. He just wanted to humiliate us as much as possible."

"It worked." Draco's pale cheeks bore two tiny discoloured splotches. "Here we are."

Malfoy appeared in a good mood and Ron wondered what had happened. He glanced forward and gasped. What was before him did not so much resemble a tent as a castle of its own, complete with high turrets, deep eaves and flickering flames set high in the walls, giving the grey of the tent an orange tint, the ethereal light in stark contrast to the ugliness of the gargoyles staring down at them from above the door.

Draco opened the door and stepped straight through. Ron, Harry and Hermione took a moment or so to take in the outside, before following. The inside shared much of the gothic beauty of the outside, complete with rich velvet curtains, deep wood carved furniture with red velvet padding, blazing fireplaces carved in intricate snake patterns and thick plush carpet baring the same snake insignia. Several staircases with carved gold railings spiraled up to the next level. Ron could not close his gaping mouth. He had never seen such opulence. Even the crystal alcohol glasses refracted prisms of different coloured light, giving them the appearance of bizarrely beautiful precious gems. Harry thought of the scotch glasses he had given Harry for his birthday and felt a stab to his stomach.

Harry looked at Draco as though he had grown an extra head.

"This used to be Daddy's." Malfoy explained. "I'll show you where you'll be sleeping."

Hermione poked Ron in the side. He had been staring at a vase of the most perfect roses he had ever seen. (Who'd ever heard of purple and blue spotted roses?) and hadn't heard Draco. He nodded ,in a daze, and followed Malfoy up the stairs.

Amongst the various wood carved furniture and plush velvet chairs, their bedroom contained a velvet encased bed the size of a large bedroom. Draco simply waved them in, before slamming the heavy oak door.

"If you can't find me in the night, I'm only in the bed. somewhere." Ron grinned. Hermione laughed and covered his mouth with her own.

"You put up the silencing charm." The voice trembled.

Ron opened his eyes, looked sharply to Hermione beside him. She sighed, snuggled closer to him in her sleep.

"I did. At least I thought I got it right."

"Draco! I don't want my friends-" Harry suddenly cried out, began to moan.

"You were saying?"

Where are they? They sound like they're right outside the door! At least Hermione isn't listening to this.

Ron wrapped the pillow around his ears to no avail. He could still hear the lover's moans. There was silence a few moments before Harry shouted.

"Lubricous!"

Ron's grip on the pillow mashing into his ear was so tight, his hand trembled.

Could I simply be swallowed by the bed right now? That would be fine.

The moans began again, this time more frenzied.

"If we break this bloody banister." Draco's voice trembled before he suddenly let out a keening cry, underlined by Harry's groan. "You're paying for it."

Oh please finish soon. Ron could feel the heat racing to his face. How will I face Harry in the morning?

"Say something, Draco?"

Ron's arch nemesis let out three of the piercing cries in a row. He once more glanced to the sleeping girl in his arms, not understanding how she could sleep through this.

"Well, if we do," Harry stopped to moan. "We'll plunge to our bloody deaths, anyway."

Draco cried out again. Ron could not understand why they had to be so loud. With him and Hermione it was always quiet moans and harsh breathing.

Ron was relieved when their cries escalated, in the knowledge that it would be over soon. Both shouted the height of their passion before there was silence.

Thank you. Ron thought sarcastically. Now I won't be able to sleep the rest of the night.

"Another place to christen, Harry? Your pick."

"A rug by a fireplace."

"Always so dreadfully cliqued. Ok, but this time I get to be on top."

"Always so dreadfully Slytherin."

Ron, indeed, did not fall asleep for a long time.

"Listen, Potter, I don't want to hear any of your fantasies involving burly Slytherins with less brain cells than all of the Gryffindors brain cells put together!"

Shut up. Ron thought and turned, covering his ears with his pillow.

"You're the one with the fantasies, Malfoy! Well, looks like you took care of that one!"

Ron glanced at the clock radio, which instantly flew to hover in front of his eyes. It's too darn early. He closed his eyes and rolled over.

"Huh! As if I'd even touch that creep! I'd rather give Ron a blow job." The last line was said so viciously, it caused Ron sit straight up in bed, shaking angrily. Hermione was seated at the desk, reading, eyebrows furrowed in intense concentration. "The moron's been after me since our sixth year at Hogwarts." Draco's voice lowered a little. "Though I can vouch for his taste, I am insulted that he would think he even had a chance with me." "He told me details, Draco!" Harry didn't sound entirely sure, now. "I thought it was a bit strange you were in such a rush to run off, yesterday." "As if I'd hang around with your Gryffindor twerp friends!" Malfoy shouted back. "While you were conjuring all these wild fantasies about me and some git who I wouldn't touch with my broomstick, I was buying you this. Think of it as something to remember me by." Ron looked up at Hermione as a door slammed. "I never took Harry to be the jealous type." Hermione said, looking up from her book. "Maybe he has a reason to be." Ron replied. Both held eyes as soft footsteps echoed down the varnished boards to their room. A moment later, Harry walked in, a large parcel in his hand, wrapped in black paper. "For you." His green eyes still flashed anger as he threw the parcel at Ron, before slamming the door behind him.

tbc.

AN

Elanor Old Socks- Yeah, I love bitchy Draco. Hee, hee. Asked him about the yellow sports car. Draco: Is she muggle? Bell Pie: No, no, no, no, no, no, no.well, maybe. Draco (suspiciously): Are you sure you're not a muggle, yourself? Bell Pie: Of course not. No. Why would I be? Definitely not. Draco: I'll think about it.

There you go.

Zacarane: Hope you like it. I find it really difficult to write stuff that isn't angsty. Strange.

leia3000, Awesome gurl and Silver Wolf: Hope these chapters are living to expectations. (

Shades: Yeah, I had fun writing the cars. I just figured Draco would be into 'status symbols' and probably wouldn't even drive them. And Ron. well, it could be worse, I guess. I could have been really cruel and made him in love with Harry! ;)

Jenny-chan: Thanks! I must admit-I must be strange but I love the fact that Draco is such a total prick. I found myself guiltily laughing at some of his remarks in the book, as horrible as they are. (The line to Ron in the first book, in the second Quidditch match when Harry dives, about Harry seeing a coin on the ground and is diving to pick it up for Ron, gets me every time.)

arabella figg: I admit, the stag car was sort of weird. I just thought if Draco was going to give Harry a car, what would he like best? It was difficult because I just couldn't see Harry as being into cars. They wore muggle clothes over their wizard clothes in case they were seen by muggles on the way to the game. Thanks for relieving me for my characterization of Ron. I feel I can get Draco (mainly due to my analysis and defending of why he's my fave character to my disbelieving friends () but Ron's a little harder to figure out.