• the dragons win an impossible game against puddlemere united. • in an upset that will echo for years, draco catches the snitch before potter. • it's the extra inches he has on harry, the papers say afterwards, it's his height advantage. it's always malfoy, never draco, and potter is always harry. • it's a broom malfunction, deniers will claim. because potter would never lose to a malfoy, right? the words aren't spoken, but it's there. a hero would never lose to a death eater. • but the thing is. • draco did catch the snitch fair and square. even potter said it himself. the boy who lives defends a malfoy and it sells more papers than the dragons' victory. • the story doesn't die until players are being drafted for the world championships. • potter's picked as britain's seeker. • because how could he not be? • but there's an uproar when draco is picked to be reserve seeker. it pisses him off that he's once again second to potter, after the dragons win the british league cup and it's him standing on the podium, not potter. • but, he doesn't argue. just keeps his head down and accepts the nomination with a smile. • practice starts immediately and there's already issues. • they alternate between him and potter, giving them both a chance to practice. • but as chances go, it's never equal when it's him and potter. • it's potter that gets treated like royalty. it's potter that doesn't get touched by bludgers. it's potter that gets the invitations to the pub. it's potter that gets to have a break when practice goes on for too long. • draco just gets bruises and scathing insults. he gets to go home and patch his wounds alone. he gets to shower last and sink against the walls as he fights the onslaught of exhaustion. • it's fine. it's exactly what someone like him deserves, isn't it? • but, potter, stupid fucking too nice for his own good, potter doesn't seem to agree. • potter tears into any beater that allows a bludger to hit draco. he rips them apart and leaves them scrambling to apologize. it's aggravating and hot. it pisses draco off. • potter invites draco for drinks on fridays, ruddy-cheeks that had to be from practice and a shy smile that doesn't seem to fit the image of a confident hero. • draco always declines. but after the first time, his reply is softer, kinder, because if he's being honest to himself, he hated the way potter's smile dropped. he felt bad for once and wasn't that a fucking trip? • after seeing the bruises one time, potter ends up staying after. it's annoying. draco doesn't get any peace. potter's there after he showers, after he packs his things and is about to leave. • he doesn't want to admit it to himself, but draco enjoys the company more than anything. • the world championship starts and the british team is slotted to play against russia. • potter gets injured within the first couple hours because of course he does, but the fucking idiot just hides his broken arm from when a well-timed bludger caused him to crash and goes to catch the snitch. • their team wins, but they lose their star seeker. no one's happy, especially not draco when he sits next to potter's hospital bed. potter looks pathetic and small against the white sheets. • "you're a fucking idiot," he says. • "i know." potter smiles. he fucking smiles and draco feels like punching him in the face. "but, we won." • "right and now, we have to lose our ace when we need him the most." their next game is against bulgaria. it's too early in the game for them to lose. • "we have two aces." draco looks at potter as if he had lost his mind. "we have you." • draco snorts. "i'm not as good as you, potter." • "don't lie to me, draco lucius malfoy," potter growls. it brings shivers down draco's spine. "you're just as good as me. in all our practice matches, you caught as many snitches as i did. i counted, you know. and, don't forget how you won the british cup. don't tell me that you aren't as good." • draco, honest to god, laughs. and laughs and laughs, until potter is sick of him laughing and grabs him. • potter kisses him and draco is too shocked to do anything. • "what the fuck." • potter just rolls his eyes and pulls draco into another kiss. this time, draco is ready and kisses him back, all passion and sweet. • he's still confused when it's over. • "what the fuck." • potter looks like he's about to kiss him again and as much as draco wants to, he stops him. • "what are you doing?" • potter sighs. "i've been openly flirting with you for months now. i like you, okay?" • "you do?" draco thinks back to all the times potter invited him to the pub. "you were asking me on a date the entire time?" • "yes, thanks for fucking noticing." • "oh." • "yea, oh. do you have anything to say to that?" • draco looks at potter. he sees the flicker of irritation, but there's an overwhelming fondness and affection that makes it almost invisible. draco's absolutely floored by the earnest emotions he sees in potter's eyes. those shy smiles, the ruddy cheeks, the careful touches against his shoulders. • he wants more. • "i like you, too." • potter smiles bright and sweet. "good. now, kiss me and win against bulgaria for me." • draco chuckles and obliges. • the kiss is perfect. 

“A lot of boys like her. Even you think she’s good-looking, don’t you Blaise, and we all know how hard you are to please.” (late birthday present for @ginervamollly )

No matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it.

for the @hprarepairnet and @slytherdornet tropes challenge!