Chapter: Quidditch Match day

The soft glow of early morning sunlight barely filtered through the thick curtains in Maddie's dorm room. The rest of the Slytherins were still asleep, but Maddie had always been an early riser. She had a ritual, one that was comforting in its familiarity. As quietly as possible, she slipped out of bed and changed into her robes, the morning chill brushing against her skin as she moved around the room.

She grabbed her wand from the bedside table, casting a quick charm to tidy her bed, and then tiptoed down the hall of the dungeons. The cool stone walls felt familiar, the winding corridors of Hogwarts all quiet except for the occasional creak of the old building settling.

Maddie made her way to the kitchen, a place that always smelled warm and inviting, especially in the morning. The house-elves were busy preparing breakfast for the students, but she waved them off with a polite smile, knowing they would let her have her time in peace. She moved over to the kettle, filled it with water, and placed it over the flame. While it heated, she set about making her tea, a perfect blend of chamomile with just a hint of honey. It was her favorite morning drink, and it brought a sense of calm she cherished before the bustle of the day began.

With a steaming cup in hand, she walked out of the kitchen saying goodbye to the elf's. As she sipped her tea, she gazed at the paintings on the walls, many of which came to life with their own little personalities. One of the older portraits, a lady dressed in violet, greeted her with a smile.

"Good morning, Miss Oldkey," she said cheerfully. "Off to another day of adventure, I presume?"

Maddie nodded. "Something like that," she replied, before making her way toward the door.

The quiet hallways of Hogwarts always felt peaceful at this hour. She passed a few more portraits as she wandered toward the library, offering them polite smiles and listening as they wished her well. It was a small comfort in the morning, to talk with the paintings as she walked by, hearing little snippets of gossip and cheerful greetings. By the time she reached the library, the sun had begun to rise higher, and the soft, golden light now filled the corridors.

Maddie walked into the library and made her way to the back. With a deep breath, she pulled out the assignment Professor Snape had given her about werewolves. As she sat at one of the tables, she got to work, her quill flying across the parchment as she completed the task with ease. Snape had given her a detailed task, and she took the opportunity to make sure every bit of information was written perfectly, even adding some insights that she had learned from her own research.

Time passed quickly, and soon she felt a sense of satisfaction with her work. Her quill paused, and with a flick of her wand, the empty teacup vanished. She packed up her things, preparing to head to Snape's office.

Walking through the winding corridors of Hogwarts, Maddie couldn't help but notice the dark clouds gathering outside. Rain was on the way. As she made her way to the dungeons, she felt the temperature drop, and a chill crept over her. The weather felt ominous, but she pushed it from her mind, focusing on the task at hand.

When she reached Professor Snape's office, she knocked quietly before entering. Snape was at his desk, reading through some papers, his face as grim as ever.

"Ah, Miss Oldkey," he said, glancing up. "I trust you've completed the assignment?"

"Yes, Professor," she replied, handing him the neatly written pages. "I've included some additional notes, as I thought they might be useful."

Snape nodded, his sharp eyes skimming over the pages. "Very well. I will take this into account when grading," he said, before standing. "I believe you'll be heading to the Great Hall for breakfast?"

Maddie nodded. "Yes, Professor."

"Don't be late for patrol tonight," Snape added as she turned to leave. "The rain will likely make the grounds slippery."

She gave him a polite nod before heading out the door. As she made her way to the Great Hall, the sound of rain against the windows grew louder. The storm had arrived.

When Maddie entered the Great Hall, the atmosphere was electric. The Gryffindor table was buzzing with excitement about the upcoming Quidditch match. She could see some quidditch players talking eagerly about their plans for the game, their eyes bright with enthusiasm. Maddie couldn't help but smile at the sight. The rivalry between houses was well-known, but she didn't mind. There was something thrilling about the energy that Quidditch games brought.

Her eyes shifted to the Hufflepuff table, where the members of the team looked calm and ready. Their supporters were just as excited, and Maddie admired their determination, knowing they'd give Slytherin a good challenge in the match.

As she took a seat, a pair of hands suddenly covered her eyes from behind.

"Guess who?" came a playful voice, and removed his hands, Maddie immediately recognized it as Adrian Percy's voice.

"Adrian, you're terrible at this game," Maddie said, laughing as she turned to face him. "You don't even give me a chance to guess."

Adrian grinned and sat down beside her, his face full of amusement. "I thought I'd keep it a surprise. What's the matter, Maddie? Too much studying?"

"Not quite," Maddie replied with a grin. "Just getting ready for the game."

They talked about school for a while, discussing classes and their mutual friends. When the conversation turned to the upcoming Quidditch game, Maddie smiled.

"I suppose I should be rooting for Hufflepuff," Adrian said with a chuckle, "but honestly, I'd rather see a good match."

Maddie raised an eyebrow. "So you're neutral?"

"Just not biased toward either team. It'll be fun no matter what," he said, grinning.

As the meal continued, Maddie finished her toast with butter and fruit, savoring the quiet moments before the chaos of the match. Eventually, she stood, excusing herself. She had work to do.

"I'll see you after the game," Maddie said, making her way toward the infirmary.

The Quidditch game had already begun by the time she reached the medical ward. Madame Pomfrey was bustling around, preparing for any injuries that would inevitably occur. The rain outside had made the pitch slippery, and as expected, the players were already getting hurt.

Maddie worked alongside Madame Pomfrey, helping set up the beds and organizing the supplies. She didn't mind; she enjoyed being useful.

After a while, she saw Harry Potter being brought in, looking pale and exhausted. He'd been affected by a Dementor on the pitch, and Madame Pomfrey immediately went to work. The room was tense, but Maddie did her best to reassure Harry's friends.

Hermione, looking worried, approached Maddie. "Is Harry going to be okay?"

Maddie nodded, trying to comfort Hermione. "He'll wake up soon. Madame Pomfrey's very good at what she does."

The group of Gryffindors settled down to wait for Harry to recover. Meanwhile, Madame Pomfrey thanked Maddie for her help. With a polite nod, Maddie excused herself, heading back to the Slytherin common room to relax.

The Slytherin common room was buzzing with chatter and the warm crackle of the fire after the rainy Quidditch game. Maddie had returned from helping Madam Pomfrey with the injuries, feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief that no one had been seriously hurt—though Harry Potter's close encounter with the Dementors had sent shockwaves through the school.

She sank into her favorite chair by the fire, pulling a blanket around her shoulders and letting the flickering flames warm her damp, cold hands. Her wandless magic book lay abandoned on the table beside her; tonight, she didn't have the energy to study.

The door swung open, and Maddie glanced up to see Draco Malfoy stride in, water dripping from his robes, his hair damp and slightly mussed from the rain. He spotted her almost immediately, his trademark smirk slipping onto his face as he approached.

"Well, well, Oldkey," he drawled, taking the seat across from her and running a hand through his wet hair. "Back from playing nursemaid to the Gryffindor team, are we?"

Maddie rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "I was helping Madam Pomfrey. It's called being responsible, Malfoy. You should try it sometime."

Draco chuckled, lounging back in his chair. "I'll leave the responsibility to you, Maddie. You seem to thrive on it. Although, I can't imagine what you were thinking, wasting your time on Potter."

"He fell off his broom because of the Dementors, Draco," Maddie said pointedly, crossing her arms. "Even you can't hold that against him."

Draco scoffed. "Oh, please. Potter always has some excuse, doesn't he? The boy's just lucky, that's all. Though I must admit, watching him plummet was the highlight of my day."

Maddie gave him a look, half amused and half exasperated. "You're impossible."

"And you're too soft on Gryffindors," he shot back, his smirk softening into something almost teasing. "But I suppose that's what makes you... different."

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Different how?"

Draco leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "You're in Slytherin, but you're not like the rest of us. You don't just root for our side because it's expected. You actually care about people. It's... unexpected."

Maddie tilted her head, studying him carefully. "Is that your way of giving me a compliment?"

Draco smirked. "Take it however you want."

Before she could respond, the door opened again, and Adrian Percy walked in, his robes just as damp as Draco's but his expression far more relaxed. He spotted Maddie and made a beeline for her, flashing her a warm smile.

"There you are," Adrian said, taking the seat next to her. "I was wondering if I'd find you here. I wanted to thank you for helping out during the game. You looked like you were running yourself ragged."

Maddie smiled, touched by his concern. "It was nothing, really. Just part of the job."

Draco's smirk faltered slightly as he glanced between them. "Percy," he said coolly, leaning back in his chair. "Didn't think you'd still be hanging around after that disaster of a game."

Adrian shrugged, unfazed. "Hufflepuff gave it their all. That's what matters." He turned back to Maddie. "Anyway, I was thinking—since you owe me a butterbeer after the last time—how about next week? Three Broomsticks, just the two of us?"

Draco stiffened slightly, his eyes narrowing. Maddie hesitated, glancing between the two boys.

"That sounds... nice," she said finally, though she couldn't help but notice Draco's reaction.

"Good, then," Adrian said, grinning. He stood, giving her a quick wave before heading toward his dormitory.

The moment he was gone, Draco let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "A butterbeer date with Percy? Really, Maddie?"

Maddie turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing," he said, his tone laced with mock innocence. "I just didn't think you went for the Hufflepuff type. Bit dull, don't you think?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable, Malfoy. Not everything is a competition."

"Maybe not," he said, his smirk returning. "But you've got to admit, I'd make a far more interesting choice."

Maddie rolled her eyes, standing up and gathering her things. "Goodnight, Draco," she said with a teasing smile, throwing her blanket over her arm.

As she walked toward her dormitory, she could feel his eyes on her, a mix of curiosity and something else she couldn't quite place. She didn't look back, but she couldn't help the small smile that lingered on her lips.

Draco Malfoy might be infuriating, but he certainly wasn't boring.

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