Song: Supermassive Black Hole by Muse

The cheers of the audience are loud, so loud that I can barely hear Heidi's voice as she gives us words of encouragement.

We're all huddled together outside the arena; excited for our first Quidditch game of the season. We're also very nervous since we're playing the Slytherin Quidditch team today.

We usually lose to them, due to their dirty plays and hits. A few games we managed to beat them, and it was only because of Cedric being our seeker.

At the thought, my stomach drops. I just hope I'm half as good as he was.

"Listen! No matter what, I want you to play your hearts out and have fun! Winning isn't everything, but it would be cool to kick their arses...even just a little bit!" Heidi says with a hint of playfulness. We all laugh at her words, and my worries are eased significantly.

We've always been a team that works hard and plays harder, but we also like to have fun. I think it's what sets our team apart from the others. They all, especially the Slytherins, play for the glory of winning.

Winning isn't everything, at least in my opinion.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, noticing our group huddle has dispersed. I look up to see Heidi smiling assuredly.

"Don't let the nerves get you, Tonks. Have fun, alright!" I nod along to her words. "Good—now—just remember, try and stay clear from Malfoy." She makes a look of disgust, scrunching her nose up a bit as she says his name. "He's a dirty player...I've seen him shove into Potter, even Diggory, many times before. I would hate for you to get hurt, especially because of him."

"Yeah...I'll make sure to. I remember that nasty fall of Harry's back in second year, and I'd rather not have to visit Madam Pomfrey," I say, agreeing with her.

"Good. Well, good luck out there!" She gives me another pat on my shoulder before rushing to the front of our group.

Just then, I hear Lee Jordan announce our team over the arena, and the curtains open up revealing the field. We all mount our broomsticks, flying out onto the field. I see Hannah as well as the faces of Neville, Seamus, and Dean. They're all cheering and waving at us as we circle around.

My nerves are gone for a moment as the cheers continue. Even though people may put down our house a lot, many of the others actually despise Slytherins, so us beating them would be rewarding for most everyone and not just for Hufflepuffs.

The rest of the school would never let the Slytherins forget it if they lost.

"And now...the Slytherins!" I hear Lee Jordan announce loudly. My nerves are back as they all fly out onto the field, wearing looks of deviousness and malice while riding their Nimbus 2001s out onto the field, thanks to Mr. Malfoy's overabundance of wealth and need for the best for his son.

I spy platinum blond hair, Draco's face coming into clear view with every meter he flies towards me. He gives me a devilishly handsome smirk before he quirks his eyebrows at me.

"Shouldn't you be down there, warming the bench for your team?" he says, practically enunciating every other word. Whenever he taunts or teases people, he has a habit of doing this.

I let out huff in annoyance. "Pretty sure my team needs their Seeker."

He lets out a snort, as if I'm playing a prank on him. "You're joking, right?"

I let my gaze shift down towards our teammates getting into their positions. Looking back up at him, I say, "No. I'm not." My tone is serious, no hint of amusement present.

Just then I hear the whistle of Madam Hooch go off, indicating the start of the game.

"The quaffle is taken immediately by Cassius Warrington of Slytherin—wow—I can see his teeth from here!"

I internally laugh as I'm whizzing through the air. I then hear Lee Jordan announce that Slytherin has already scored. I look down to see Zacharias with the quaffle swerving past the Slytherin players, but then he gets hit in the back of the head with a bludger thrown by Goyle.

"Ouch—that has got to hurt—oh and now Adrian Pucey of Slytherin has the quaffle and is heading towards Hufflepuff's goal posts hurdling past the Hufflepuff players—a bludger is thrown and nearly misses him—Slytherin scores again!"

I look over to see the crowd of Slytherins watching the match erupt in cheers as Slytherin is winning. I bring my attention back to finding the Snitch as I hear Draco say alongside me, "I suppose the only reason you're a Seeker now is because Cedric is dead."

The last part causes a pang of sadness to overcome me, and as quickly as it comes, it leaves. I reply back with, "At least I didn't buy my way onto the team."

At this he scoffs, but before he can reply back my eye catches something. I sharply turn away flying towards the gold, shiny object, none other than the Golden Snitch. In the corner of my eye, I see Draco catching up to my quick speed following the Snitch as well.

"It looks like Libby Tonks of Hufflepuff and Draco Malfoy of Slytherin have found the Golden Snitch—look at how fast they're going—oh wait!—Hufflepuff has scored thanks to team captain Heidi Macavoy!—Cassius Warrington of Slytherin has taken the quaffle and is heading towards Hufflepuff territory—he throws the quaffle and Hufflepuff's keeper Herbert Fleet has blocked it and throws it to Ernie Macmillan who is racing towards Slytherin's goal post!—he throws it into one of the hoops and Hufflepuff scores yet again!—This will be a close one folks!"

Draco and I are whizzing up into the clouds, racing neck and neck towards the Snitch. I lean forward on my broomstick, reaching out towards the Snitch with an outstretched arm. My hand is so close, so close that I feel as though I'm going to grab it, but then Draco gives me a hard shove with his shoulder, causing me to get almost thrown off my broom.

Thankfully, I manage to hang on with one hand.

"Oh no!—It looks like Libby Tonks has been shoved off her broom—oh wait!—she's still hanging on!—and it looks like Draco Malfoy has grabbed the Golden Snitch—Slytherin wins by 150 points. Bummer!—I mean, good job Slytherin."

My fingers are slipping, and just as I'm about to fall I hear Draco say, "Grab my hand, Tonks!" He has the Golden Snitch tucked under his one arm as his other arm stretches out towards me. I hesitate for a second before realizing that I'd rather take a chance and grab onto his hand than fall and seriously injure myself. I reach up with my dangling arm, making contact with his hand. He then helps pull me up so I can position myself back onto my broom. After I regain my position and balance, I let go of his hand.

Looking at Draco, I see he's bearing a look of ...relief?

He's probably relieved he won...that's all, I tell myself, but I can't help the little part inside me thinking that he's also relieved he caught me in time.

Looking at him, I say, "Thank you...you didn't have to do that you know."

He rolls his eyes before saying, "whatever, Tonks."

"Well have a look at that folks!—Draco Malfoy just saved Libby Tonks!—what an odd sight to see—I mean—how nice of him." I hear Lee Jordan's voice say, full of surprise.

Trust me Lee, I'm just as surprised as you.

The cheers from Slytherin seem to die down at Lee's commentary, and I look down to see all their eyes on us. Feeling the heat rush to my cheeks, I swiftly fly away from Draco and down towards my teammates.

They all look at me as I land, and Heidi is the first to give me a hug. "Oh Libby! Amazing job out there! If Malfoy wouldn't have shoved you so hard, you would have totally gotten the Golden Snitch!" She then turns her head towards the rest of our team, bearing a huge grin. "Brilliant job, everyone! I know we lost, but we gave them quite a scare, I'm sure!!"

Everyone is smiling and chattering excitedly. Even though we lost, I can't help but to feel proud of my team. It was a good game...besides almost falling to my death at the end.

As we're all talking amongst ourselves, Draco, along with the rest of the Slytherin team start to collectively walk towards us.

What does he want now?

"Oh look, it's the team who will always be in last," I hear Draco sneer as his buddies beside him snicker along. All of my teammates decide to ignore him by walking away, but I don't want to put up with it.

"The only reason you even saw the Snitch was because of me," I retort back glaring at him. My own angry tone shocking me; I'm never like this.

"Oh please, I got to it first because I'm faster and better than you," he replies while crossing his arms smugly. He glances to both his sides where Crabbe and Goyle are laughing—more like honking as they sound an awful like geese.

I cannot take it anymore, he's making me so angry with his snarky little comments.

"The only way you'll ever win is by playing dirty, which is pathetic if you ask me," before I turn my back on him, I see his teammates raise their eyebrows in surprise. Some even snicker, looking at him.

I begin walking away, my face still warm from anger. He can be such a prick!

As I make my way to the locker rooms, I can't help but to ask myself, why did he come back and save me?

Draco never did that to Harry or Cedric. Hell—he probably wouldn't even do that for any of his friends like Crabbe or Goyle.

Maybe he felt guilty? Or perhaps he was trying to impress a girl?

I shake off both those thoughts, laughing internally at myself.

He probably did it to gain more attention. I mean, I'm sure he loves hearing his name boom across the whole arena.

Yeah, that has to be it...right?

———
*unedited*