Ravenclaw's Sapphire

"Listen to me." Two weeks ago, Draco faced everyone in the Slytherin tactical meeting, "This time, can you listen to me for a few words?"

"I've always known that you think I'm not as good as Potter, but you just don't say it because of the superficial friendship." It's really painful to admit your weakness in front of everyone, "But in fact I know myself that in Quidditch, no matter how much I want to believe it, I can't have his superhuman talent."

The others all listened in silence, they knew what a blow Draco was to his arrogant personality when he said something that was tantamount to shame, and what he needed was not comfort from them.

"So I have a plan...Since the previous tactics can't limit Porter, because he is very used to fast-paced games, let me block and consume his energy. I create the situation, let me face him."

"According to you, it's not impossible to try...but what if you can't contain Potter and lose again?" Flint asked, and Draco clenched his fist quietly.

"Bet on everything I've learned, I won't lose this time..." Draco closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He really wasn't completely sure of his victory. Thinking of losing after hard work, there was something hard in his throat As if choked there.

"Trust me, I will try my best to do my best."

In the end, he still couldn't make a promise with pride, but just lowered his head and begged, the first time he begged to others and for himself.

*****

He and Harry drove the Firebolt almost at the same time, and launched an impact towards the Snitch wandering randomly in mid-air. Harry was a step behind him, but his acceleration was better. The performance gap between the experimental product and the completed version was not smaller than imagined .The snitch seemed to have discovered them, and with its wings buzzing quickly, it rushed towards the higher sky with a whoosh sound.

"Don't try to escape!" In the silent sky, only Draco's roar echoed, they rose rapidly, their robes crackled, Draco had long forgotten to restrain Harry, he Only the golden ball remained in his eyes.I can still speed up... I can't stop yet... He clung to the broom handle to reduce drag, and at the same time reached out to the gold in the air, and out of the corner of his eye he caught Harry on his right, opening his palm too, Desperately poked forward.

The snitch hovered high in the sky for a moment, then turned sharply with a whoosh. Draco had to pass by Harry, and his breathing became short of breath. He could clearly see that even though Harry was exhausted, his eyes were It became brighter as if burning.But it is impossible not to be affected, that must be the last flash.Draco turned the broom and felt the wind rumble in the ear, the Snitch was close at hand, and flew towards the sky again.

Harry's broom sped up again, earlier than Draco's.He was desperate and only wanted to end everything. Harry's fingertips had already lightly touched the Snitch's shell, and he only needed to get closer and hook again...

"Ahhhhh!" Draco's mind went blank, at this moment the sun suddenly emerged from the clouds, the dazzling light made the two boys squint their eyes even though it lacked heat.Intermittent snowflakes appeared in front of Harry's eyes, and his temples suddenly tingled. The long flight finally pushed the boy to the limit, and he felt sore all over his body.

When Harry closed his eyes, the flight path deviated slightly.But Draco knew that this was probably his last chance, so he tried his best to endure the burning sensation in his eyeballs, half of his body was about to fall off the broom, until he finally touched the cool sphere...

*****

Slowly getting down from the broom, both of them seemed to be in a dream.Harry covered his face in pain and collapsed, his shoulders heaving up and down.Draco faltered in his footsteps, but finally stopped.The golden snitch he held in his hand lay quietly in his palm, and the cool case stained his skin, making him want to cry.

"Slytherin won!" Jordan's tone didn't know whether he was exclaiming or wailing, and maybe there was a little bit of admiration.At least as far as this match is concerned, there were no despicable tricks, no dirty tricks, Slytherin showed and implemented a successful tactic, and even if Malfoy won the Snitch, it was no longer so unacceptable up.

The arena was silent for a while, and then deafening cheers rang out from the Slytherin seats. The green waves swayed, and one after another, other players also fell down.

Draco was lifted to the top of his head by his teammates. He was so thin that others could even throw him up. He held the Snitch in his hand. He couldn't feel anything except the hard shell, as if he was still living in a dream. In the middle, he saw that everyone was applauding him, and Zooey pointed here excitedly, but she was standing upside down, and that scene was really long gone.

"Congratulations." Until Margaret came to him and the teammates put him down, "Well done."

She patted him on the shoulder, and for the first time there was a smile that could be called "proud" on her face: "It's your victory, Draco."

Draco rubbed his eyes, because he found the sun's light was too harsh.

*****

Taking Gryffindor's defeat as an opportunity, Hermione finally eased the relationship with Ron and the others, because Harry was particularly disappointed, and they had to get rid of the past and let him recover.And there have always been people crying and others laughing. The smile on Draco's face has never disappeared from his face since then. A little restrained.

Time is passing by in the daily study again, and Zoe has begun to learn to prepare Barbara's potion, which is not just a very complicated formula.But the trouble is that Snape's changes and tailor-made medicines have made many changes in the measurement of materials and procedures. In particular, he absolutely forbids Zoe to make changes to the prescriptions, and at least makes her go through every class. Go up once or twice, or spot-check her understanding of Potions at any time.

As for the Patronus Charm, still no progress at all.No matter what kind of memory Zoe used as fuel, her wand didn't spit out any silver mist to her, and she couldn't sense the presence of a patron saint.She was very anxious, because this was the first time she was hindered in learning which kind of magic, and it was not because of slow learning, but because she couldn't learn it.

The only thing that could comfort her was probably doing homework in the library with Hermione.At this time, she would consult some independent reports on magical creatures (mainly about the goblin rebellion and centaur independence), or discuss with Hermione about some difficult points in class, exchange notes and so on.

"You've been much more energetic recently, have you finally had a good rest?" Hermione was digging through the literature, while Zoe spread the potion information and parchment on the table.

"Huh? That should be because I won't go to divination school." Hermione said briskly, and Zooey blinked, feeling that this was a reasonable but unexpected development.

"You actually decided not to go to class!"

"I really can't reach a consensus with Professor Trelawney. She doesn't like me, and I don't like her." But as far as Zooey knows, this is the first time Hermione has been so rude to a teacher. .

*****

Two weeks later, even with final exams looming, the students happily headed to Hogsmeade for the last time.Hermione did not go to Crocker this time, because they often use letters or meet and talk directly. Crocker stayed in Hogwarts in the end, and Dumbledore was willing to pay him. a big deal.

Pushing open the door of the Pig's Head Bar for the second time, the bar is as dirty and messy as ever, but today there are few customers, so there are not so many unexpected sights.The old man in front of the counter was arranging the goods. When he turned around and saw her, he showed a slightly helpless expression, not to mention that he also saw Zoe brought a new little girl.

"Two butterbeers, Mr. Aberforth."

After Hermione sat down with a frown (she spent a long time trying to clean the sticky tabletop), she expressed surprise at the name Zoe said, "Aberforth? This old gentleman really is Professor Dumbledore's brother?"

Zooey nodded, at this time Aberforth came over with two cups in person, and Zooey found that the two cups looked clean: "Did you put on a new veil today?" She half-heartedly said explain.

"Small business, I can't stand you pampered students, you still come to me after drinking your stomach." Aberforth snorted loudly, "I told you not to come again, not only did you not listen... ..." He looked at Hermione, who was a bit reserved, "and brought other people."

"I said that I will not give up, even if you ask me to take many more cases of butterbeer away." Zooey reached out and squeezed Hermione's hand from the audience, because she couldn't wait to hear such a conversation asked a question.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked quietly until Aberforth returned to the bar.

Zoe told her what she thought, but concealed it appropriately, because she didn't want Hermione to speculate about Dumbledore's private affairs, let alone she didn't fully figure it out herself, for fear of misleading Hermione's thoughts.She only said that the two brothers had conflicts, and she wanted them to walk around again.

Hermione was glad she thought so and was always willing to help her.When the girl said this, the hand she held with Zoe had not been separated. She was very close, and when she exhaled, there was still the mellow aroma of butter beer. Zoe had to work hard to restrain the muscles on her face so as not to smirk She made a sound, even though her ears were quietly turning red.

"Your favor, miss. Your butterbeer."

Sure enough, Aberforth chose to kill her before the last two left.Going round and round, everything never stops. At the end of February, with Barbara's reply, they will finally start the third connection.