A/N - How's this for a quick update, huh? Thank you sooo much for the reviews! A definite improvement and I'm glad =P I loved the response I got for last chapter, and I just had to start typing up more for you guys! Anyhow, I think I have the pairings all sorted out, but a lot of you seem unable to guess about dear old Seamus! Haha. You'll get a major hint in this chapter, though. Also, for those who are confused about the players' positions:
Harry - Captain and Seeker
Oliver - Co-captain (sort of) and Keeper
Adam - Beater
Draco - Beater
Ron - Chaser
Hermione - Chaser
Jess - Chaser
Enough said. Onto the chapter, and as always, please review!
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As the Portkey transported them, he felt a hand hold on tightly to his arm, and then stumbled against him as their feet hit the ground. His arms went instinctively around their waist and he felt his side collide with a brick wall.
Harry looked down at who he was holding, and saw Hermione's face illuminated by the light of a street-lamp, her hazel eyes wide as her hands rested on his chest.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked in concern, enjoying the feeling of holding her like that, but knew it wouldn't last.
She nodded and shied away from his gaze. "Sorry," she whispered, pulling away.
"It's alright," he gave her a reassuring smile as they all rounded the corner to the main street, the other five oblivious to what happened.
"What time is it?" Oliver asked.
"A little after eight," Ron replied. "We're lucky we even managed to leave the place." He gave Jess a mock-glare, and she stuck her tongue out at him.
"That's really mature, Sis," Adam shook his head.
"Oho, now look who's talking."
The banter continued as they reached the club, and were let in after flashing their ID's.
"Are they here yet?" Harry yelled over the loud music.
"Yeah, look!" Ron pointed to a table, where Seamus, Ginny, and two other young women sat.
They made their way over through the crowd.
"Hermione!" Abby exclaimed, hugging her friend.
"Abby?" Hermione asked in surprise, but returned the hug enthusiastically. "What are you doing here?"
"I was invited! And look at you, all dressed up," she grinned, giving Hermione a proper look.
Hermione smiled. "You look great, too. Is that Ron's sister?"
"Yeah, that's her. Come on," she pulled her to Ginny, and introduced them, then turned to Luna.
"Well, this is my boss," Abby laughed. "Luna Lovegood."
"It's lovely to meet you," Hermione said warmly, shaking the other woman's hand, but before Luna could respond, Ron's voice, laced with incredulity, interrupted.
"Luna Lovegood?" He gaped at the blonde. She was gorgeous; he almost didn't recognize her. He thought she looked familiar, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Ronald. How lovely."
"Umm, yeah…You-You've changed," he stuttered. "I mean-er-"
"I think she gets the point, Ron," Ginny said, trying hard to keep a straight face, before Harry breezed in and pulled Luna into a hug, giving Ron a wink, who finally closed his mouth and looked away, his ears as red as a spoiled tomato.
"Well, you must be Ron Weasley," Abby smiled at Ron and shook his hand. "I'm Abby Taylor."
"Hello," Ron managed a smile, although he was still slightly flustered. "It's nice to meet you."
Abby nodded, just as Seamus came into view over Ron's shoulder, and extended his hand to her with a charming smile. "I'm Seamus Finnigan."
"Abby Taylor," she introduced herself.
As everyone got better acquainted, however, Draco and Ginny had disappeared to a corner booth, where no one could find them.
"I missed you," she murmured against his lips, running her hands up his chest, and snaked her arms around his neck.
He fused their lips together urgently, his hand coming around to tangle in her hair, as his other arm locked around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. He buried his face in her neck, suckling on the skin there softly. Ginny tilted her hair back and breathed hard, before grasping hold of his hair and pulling him back, so he would look at her.
"Draco…" She whispered breathlessly. "We have to tell him."
"He'll go berserk."
"But…the two of you are friends now."
"He'll still go berserk," Draco repeated bitterly, leaning back. "I'm a Death Eater's son, and a Malfoy."
"You're not a Death Eater," she pointed out. "I'll convince him, I swear."
"Let's just wait, Gin, alright?"
"Fine," she pouted.
A slow smirk spreading on Draco's face, he leaned forward and took her bottom lip between his teeth, and nibbled on it gently.
"You want to dance?" Adam asked Hermione, and offered her his hand. Harry watched sullenly as they walked toward the dance floor and started dancing. Seamus and Abby, who were the other two aside from him, noticed, and shared a sly grin.
"Tough luck, mate," Seamus said.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, playing stupid, and took a gulp of his wine, but still kept his eyes on the couple.
"Nothing at all," the Irishman said innocently. He shrugged and took a swig of his own drink, and then when a slow song came on, he smiled at Abby. "Would you like to dance?"
Abby smiled apologetically, touching her three-month pregnant belly. "I'm sorry, I-"
"Don't give me that," Seamus said sternly in a playful way, his hand still held out. "It's a slow song."
"But-"
"I'll be gentle, I promise," he flashed her a dazzling grin, and she laughed, finally putting her hand in his and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor.
If it was possible, Luna was even more absentminded when the soft music started playing. Before he knew what he was doing, Ron lifted a hand up and brushed a strand of stray hair off her cheek. How had he never noticed just how pretty she was?
Luna smiled up at him, and Ron gave her a lopsided, sort of a sheepish one in return.
"You never did like me at Hogwarts, did you?" She asked bluntly.
"Er, well-" Ron started uncomfortably. "It's not that, I just thought-"
"That I was odd," Luna said wistfully, but then shrugged. "I know I was."
"I just wasn't sure around you," he said softly.
"I know," she said quietly. "I'm odd now too, but I enjoy being different."
Ron smiled and nodded. "That's understandable. But I'd like to get to know you now…"
Luna raised her eyebrows, surprised. "Really?"
Ron nodded again. "I was a git back in school, I know. But I'd really like to make up for lost time.
Luna smiled dreamily. "I'd like that."
"You look beautiful tonight," Adam whispered in Hermione's ear, holding her close as they swayed to the music.
Hermione blushed for what seemed to be the thousandth time that night. Adam was so sweet and attentive, and she felt like she could stay there all night, just dancing. As they turned in a slow circle, her eyes came in contact with Harry's which seemed to be boring into her soul, even with the distance. Then another dancing couple came in between and the contact was broken. When they moved away, Harry was talking to Draco and Ginny.
"Well, well, where have you two been?" Harry said across the room, raising an eyebrow at Ginny and Draco.
"Don't know what you're talking about, Harry," Ginny said breezily as they sat down.
"Have you been corrupting the only Weasley girl, Malfoy?"
"Potter, I don't know what you're talking about," Draco said just as innocently.
"Ron's going to kill you," Harry said matter-of-factly, pointing a finger at the blonde. "I hope you know that."
"I don't care," Draco shrugged, dropping all pretenses.
"We don't care," Ginny corrected, smiling at her boyfriend.
Harry shook his head in disbelief. "A Malfoy, and a Weasley. You have got to be kidding me."
"I kid you not," Ginny said solemnly, and downed her drink.
"Whatever," Harry rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "Just make sure to pack and run for it when Ron's on the war-path, Draco." He patted Ginny's hand, and stood up, going determinedly toward Adam and Hermione, and tapped the other man on the shoulder.
"I'm going to steal her for a dance, if you don't mind," he smiled at Hermione, as Adam stepped away good-naturedly.
"Hey," Harry said softly, as he put his arms around her waist.
"Hey," Hermione smiled, feeling herself once again drawn into his emerald eyes, and put her arms around his neck, standing less closer to him than she had with Adam, but they were still close. There was chemistry between her and Adam, but she couldn't put her finger on Harry. She felt something entirely different when with him.
Extremely relaxed, she dropped her head onto his shoulder and moved closer to him without even realizing it. Harry could feel her breathing softly onto his neck, and lowered his head slightly so his chin was inches away from her own neck.
"Hermione," he breathed, and she lifted her head silently to look at him. Harry swallowed, his heart beating wildly, and was afraid she would be able to hear it. Hermione gently licked her lips as he started to lean in, and her eyes fluttered close at the first brush of his lips against hers in a kiss that was so very tender and innocent, Hermione thought her heart was going to break. Harry pulled back for a moment to look at her, their faces still close together. He kissed her again, applying some more pressure before pulling away.
Hermione was looking at him with her eyes wide, and looked rather flushed even though they were barely doing anything. They shared a small smile, and Hermione replaced her head back on his shoulder, sighing in content.
"Look at them," Jess said in delight as she and Oliver went to sit down, catching Harry and Hermione kissing briefly. "They're kissing!"
"I know, love," Oliver laughed as Jess seated herself on top of him. "Oh look, someone's jealous," he teased Adam who was sitting across him, and the blonde scowled at him, but said nothing.
Jess grinned at her twin. "Looks like Harry's got competition."
"Did you see that?" Abby said, grinning, as her and Seamus came into view.
Jess nodded enthusiastically, looking over at Harry and Hermione who were still dancing as another song came on. "They look like they're the only two people in the room."
"I know," Seamus laughed, draping an arm over the back of Abby's chair, and Oliver sent him a sly grin, with his eyebrow raised. Seamus gave him a dirty look and dropped his arm, narrowing his eyes as if daring Oliver to go ahead and say something. Oliver whistled innocently as he put his arm around his girlfriend's middle.
"So, what do you do, Seamus?" Abby asked conversationally, oblivious to the exchange.
"I'm a Healer," he said. "I've read a few articles of yours in the Quibbler…You're quite talented."
Abby smiled. "Thank you. The Quibbler is a fun place to work in."
Seamus chuckled. "It used to be one of the most disliked magazines, with all the so-called rubbish they had in it. But Luna's running it quite well these days."
Abby nodded. "She's fun to work with."
"Thank you, Abigail," Luna smiled at her, her arm locked with Ron's.
"You're quite welcome," Abby grinned.
It was quite late when they finally decided to call it a night, and most of the group was slightly tipsy.
"I hate not being able to drink when everyone else is," Abby grumbled, crossing her arms.
"I'm not drinking," Seamus teased gently.
Abby laughed. "Alright, true."
"So…where's your husband?" Seamus asked unsuspectingly.
Abby averted her eyes, her expression darkening. "I'm not married."
Seamus could tell it was a touchy subject, and dropped it. But he was relieved she wasn't married. He felt extremely attracted to her. "You know, there should be more outings like these. I could do it every other day if I wasn't so busy."
Abby nodded, and looked up when Harry got up, swaying slightly and grinning goofily. "Aiight…I think we should go home, people…Practice, yeh know."
"Harry, it's Sunday," Oliver reminded him, a bit more sober than Harry was.
"Oh, riiiight…" Harry said thoughtfully. "But I really fink we should be going home…"
"I think so too," Oliver said firmly, always the voice of reason, and the others groaned in unison. "We'll pass out here and find ourselves thrown in some dumpster if we don't go. I think they're closing."
And he was right. Oliver glanced at his watch; it was already 2 am. Laughing and talking loudly, the group supported each other as they shuffled out of Escape.
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A/N - I hope this chapter deserves a review from the lurkers =P Peace!
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