The game and love

49



And there it was. The long tunnel. The walk didn't take as long as Draco thought and he would have run right out there. If the annoucer would have only called his damn name. He stood there, unafraid, determined. His teamates equally pumped. When his name was finally called, he ran, fist punched high in the air and then walked the lane of highfives from his teamates. He didn't even hear the crowd. His ears throbbed with tension. Ron of course quickly found him on the sideline and began spouting his usual gibberish. Cruz came over and shoved him out of the way.

"Hey, no bothering the talent, fucktard." Cruz barked. Ron was about to swing, when Draco stepped between them.

"Guys. Stop, there's enough of me to go around. Now shape up dudes, I gotta go out for the coin toss. Brick, get your fatass out here." Draco was smiling. Cruz just glared at him as they went to midfield.

They had won the coin toss and Draco had elected to recieve the ball first. He went to the sideline and got himself ready, ran the offense through his mind one more time as his team got the kickoff and the crowd roared. His teamates didn't bother him at all, which was unusual, normally Ron would atleast be talking to him. He grinned as he strapped up his helment and marched onto the field.

"OK guys, listen, don't think too hard, be patient. Look at the defense, attack!" Draco loved these huddle speeches, mostly because everyone seemed to really think they were good. "Texas 32 split, on three. Ready?" Break!" He went up to the line and looked around. He pointed at some defensive guys. He barked out the changes he wanted and watched as his team made the adjustments. He hiked the ball. He looked and saw that Lee was open in the middle of the field. He made the throw. It was caught. 'It's that simple.' He thought to himself and walked up field to huddle his men up.


"This game is all about the Starting QB for the Seahawks Moose. He's got to determine the outcome here, either way. Good bad it's all on him." Joe Buck said over the crowd.

"It really is JOe. He's been an absolute gem coming out of fresno state. Logging his first superbowl trip as a rookie. He kept the team capable of playing in big games. In 5 years as a starter he has 128 touchdowns. He's the fastest QB to record 100 TDs ever in the NFL, match that up with just 58 interceptions and you have the best player at his position right now."

"To the game now folks, it seems that Draco Malfoy, #13 has started out guns blazing, he's gone 3/3 for 23 yards on this drive so far."

The players huddled up as Draco called the next play. It was a run to Jay Bennett, who was as eager as a young guy could get. The Buffalo Bills were a hard hitting defense. Draco did not envy the young runner. The team marched right down the field and it looked as if they might score easily. First down was a run for a yard. Second down was a run for half of a yard. It was third down and seven yards to go. Draco surveyed the field and made the changes he wanted.

"Malfoy back to throw, he's got a man in the back of the endzone, steps up, fires and it's overthrown! The drive stalls and the Seahawks will have to settle for a field goal." The annoucer Joe buck made the call and Harry, who was watching the game in rehersal area smashed his hands through his hair.

"God, I can't believe I did that to you." Draco apologized to Lee on the sideline. He'd never missed that throw all season and clearly was upset with himself.

"We'll get it dawg, don't worry." Lee Reassured him.

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that man." Draco said again as Lee walked away to go find the recievers coach.

The offense watched as the defense struggled on a seven minute drive where they finally gave up a touchdown. Cruz Corona was obviously upset, he came over to the sideline and threw his helment at the bench. Draco knew the next drive he'd have to pick up the defense with a score. He was still upset that he had missed such an easy throw for a touchdown.

His team got the ball and they started the drive well enough, moving about fifty yards before Draco missed another throw, this one was in the ground instead of up high. The drive stalled. Draco couldn't believe it. Sure, he'd missed throws before but this was two very bad throws that ended drives to score. He looked more confused than mad on the bench. He looked at his forearm, flexed his fingers. He didn't get it.

On the very next drive it happened again on a deep route, he sailed the ball out of bounds. He was in shock. He wasn't alone of course. Doctors were now sitting with him on the bench testing his arm as he protested he felt fine. He had no idea what was happening. The defense didn't fair any better giving up two more touchdowns. At halftime the train wreck was a 21-3 losing score. Draco hung his head low as they went into the lockeroom.

The stage was set up and the band tuned up a bit. Harry wasn't feeling too well. He was watching Draco have one of the most awful games of his career. He just hoped someone could help Draco get through the rough spots and play a bit better.
Harry got the signal in his ear piece that the show would start in 5 seconds. Once he had the all clear he called out to the crowd.

"Kyle, play something a little bad for this audience." He smiled as the man started to jam on his synthisiser. "Oh man that's so bad." Harry shook his head. He was wearing skin tight jeans and a red tank top. His hair was painfully gelled into a fashion statment and he was already sweaty. He held the mic to his mouth and when Kyle hit the right note, he yelled. "GO!" And his band began to play the song. He started to sing and as always happened, he forgot he was on stage and began to feel like he was just singing to the front row.

When you move electricity pulses
And the crowd clears out of your way
When you dance it gets a little explosive
So look out, I think I'm headed your way

Harry reached his hand out to touch the hands of several of the girls in the front of the stage.

I'm movin' in fast, comin on strong
Baby, you're becoming my number one

You're so bad
The best I had
Dancing like you wanna make your daddy mad
You're so bad
Ooh, the best I had
I'm movin' in fast, comin' on strong
You're dancin' like you wanna prove your mama wrong

When you talk to me I'm not even listenin'
It's your lips not the things that you say
When you walk it's not about your direction
It's a chance to see the way your hips sway

He walked the length of the stage and walked over to Kyle and up few steps behind to the drummer. He wanted to see this whole crowd.

You know, I'm comin' in fast, comin on strong
Baby, you're becoming my number one

You're so bad
The best I had
You're dancing like you wanna make your daddy mad
You're so bad
Ooh, the best I had
I'm comin' in fast, comin on strong
You're dancin' like you wanna prove your mama wrong

I bet you never hear no
Bet you get what you want
There's no one who'd dare deny you
And if you feel insecure, if in doubt, if unsure
The mirror will surely remind...
You're so bad

You know, you're comin' in fast, comin' on strong
Baby, you're becomin' my number one

Because you're so bad
The best I had
Dancing like you wanna make your daddy mad
You're so bad
Ooh, the best I had
You're comin' in fast, comin' on strong
You're so bad
The best I had
Dancin like you wanna make your daddy mad
You're so bad
I bet you're glad
You're comin in fast, comin on strong
You're dancing like you wanna prove your mama wrong


Ron had been a pal and snuck in a portable TV so Draco could listen to the Halftime show with a single earpiece. The TV stashed between them. He'd just finished hearing Harry's first song. He was very aware that he should be more focused on the game plan for the second half, but this was good for the mind. Then, as if a sudden wave of water hit him, he grabbed Ron's arm.

"I got it!" Draco stated in an excited whisper once he checked to make sure no one was looking. "Ron, remember my first game playing for coach Snape and how awful I was?" Ron nodded, his eyes yeilding to the fact that he was quite confused as to what would make him think all the way back to that. "He told me after the game. 'Sometimes you have to distract the mind to free the body." His face brightened. He was sure he'd solved his arm issuses for sure.

Harry finished his song. He was happy. He liked preforming, he hated everything else about the music industry.

"Hey folks, we've got a suprise for you. For our last song, we are going to play a classic. I am going to need a little help however, from some friends." He looked at a girl who was shouting and screaming. It made him laugh, he'd never get used to that. "No darlin', It's not you." He turned his back to the cameras. "INTRODUCING, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS, THE RETURN OF SAVAGE GARDEN!" Once he'd finished annoucing a spotlight lit Daniel Jones and Darren Hayes to enormus cheers throughout the stadium. The music started and he sung, just as he and Darren practiced.


Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me

Sometimes I feel like this is only chemistry
Stuck in a maze searching for a way to
Shut down turn around feel the ground beneath me
You're so close where do you end where do I begin?
Always pushing and pulling
Sometimes sanity takes vacation time on me
I'm in a daze stumbling bewildered
North of gravity head up in the stratosphere
You and I roller coaster riding love
You're the center of adrenaline
And I'm beginning to understand

Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me

Walk on broken glass make my way through fire
These are the things I would do for love
Farewell peace of mind kiss goodbye to reason
Up is down the impossible occurs each day
This intoxication thrills me
I only pray it doesn't kill me

Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me

You're the center of adrenaline
And I'm beginning to understand
You could be the best thing about me

Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me

You could be the best thing about me
What if you're the best thing about me?

Draco listened as the concert ended and he smiled at how lucky he was. He was ready. It was time to go win the game.

He took the field. He could feel eyes all on him as he stepped into the huddle for the first offensive series. "Look, I know I played shitty, but we can still win. I got it worked out, trust me." It was all he needed to tell them. He looked at Mike Golic in the huddle. "Is that defensive linemen still diving at your knees kid?" Mike nodded. "Can you send him face down on the field for me? I'll take care of the rest." The rookie nodded. Diving at the knees was only against the rules if the refs called it, but Draco didn't want to risk his left tackle taking an injury, plus, this was an attitude play, he just wondered how much he would get fined for it.

He lined everyone up for the play that was called and acted like it was a normal play. When he called hike. He watched as Mike did exactly what Draco had asked him to do. The man was face down in the turf. All in a few swift steps he felt his foot crush the man's left hand. Once he had he threw the ball away as if the play hadn't worked. He smiled as he heard the cries of agony from the other player.

He went back to the huddle again, this time, the team was even more focused. Their star had just stood up for them. "34, y stick." He said simply. "Ready?" He looked around. "Break!" He stepped up to the line and barked his commands. He hiked the ball and couldn't believe what he saw unfold. The Bills defense had assumed his arm was in trouble and didn't cover any deeper than 15 yards. Lee was wide open thirty yards down the field. He pulled back. 'The crowd clears out of your way' He sang in his mind as he let it go.

"WE JUST TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLE ARM ISSUES AND THERE'S A DEEP THROW DOWN THE FIELD, LEE SCOTT IS OPEN AT THE 45, He's at the 40, the 30, the twenty, the ten, TOUCHDOWN SEATTLE! A 78 yard throw down field and with one play the fear that Draco Malfoy strikes in opposing defenses is right back in the minds of Bills fans everywhere. WOW!" Joe's call was echoed throughout the room where Harry was staying with his band. They'd given him alot of space, for their own safety.

"You know Joe, this play doesn't happen except for exactly what you said, they didn't fear his arm, they didn't cover any of the deep routes and bam, one play, touchdown." Moose lectured. Harry smiled. 'They better fear him, I know that look is eye' Harry laughed to himself. This team had no idea what Draco could do when he was in a zone.

"He's fucking holding me and the god damn refs...oh, Hey Draco, if you see weasely with tears in his eyes it's cause I called him a little bitch." Cruz laughed. Draco grinned evily and leaned in.

"Yeah, but he's my little bitch." Draco turned and walked to get a cup of gatorade.

"EW!" Cruz shuddered at the thought.

The defense contained the bills this time and so the score was still 21-10 with 4 minutes to go in the third qaurter. The Bills defense had gone back to their previous scheme making Draco prove that he could make all the short throws necessary to win, which he did, he was in a grove, he was 9/9 for 157 yards and 2 TDS before the third qaurter was done. The score was now 21-17. The fourth qaurter would prove somewhat dificult. The defense had managed to stop the bills on all of their drives with no score. However, the Bills had used alot of time on the clock. Leaving Draco only seven minutes on the field to get the lead.

He was confident going into the huddle. Coming out of it he saw the perfect play to call. He stepped back and faked a throw and handed the ball to Jay Bennett, who got through the opening that the linemen had created however, he didn't see the corner run up and swipe at the ball.

"FUMBLE ON THE PLAY! THE BILLS HAVE RECOVERED!" came the call over the PA.

On the sideline Draco did his best to console the kid, who was completely crushed by his mistakes. He sat down with him on the bench. "Listen Kid, mistakes happen, we can still win, I am gonna need you, don't quit on me now, alright?" The younger man looked the veteran in the eyes.

"Yeah, I got you man. I'll be ready." He said to Draco calmly regaining his composure. Draco slapped the man's shoulder pad.

"Ok then." He replied simply.

The defense was cutting this close, they had struggle all game, but now with only two minutes to go, they needed a stop. Cruz looked at Lofa. "Can you strip the ball if I can make a gap for you?" Lofa nodded. "Good, cause I can only do this once." He snapped as he got ready to line up. This was going to hurt like hell, but it couldn't be avoided. He lined up and listened intently to the QBs calls as he yelled them. As soon as he yelled hike, he slammed himself up against two defenders and jolted his left arm out to obstruct a third. He was now, one man blocking three. He felt his shoulder pop and he knew he'd dislocated it, but he smiled as he saw Lofa do exactly what he said. There was a fumble and the Seahawks recovered.

Draco whooped as he saw his defense make the play and gulped the last of the gatorade he was drinking and crushed the cup and threw it down to grab his helment.

"These are the moments where legends are made folks. Draco Malfoy had an abysmal first half 5 out of 15 passes were completed. This second half has been a 180 degree turn for the better going 15/16 and 243 yards and two TDs. He's done it all, can he do it here? Can he lead his team in the final 1:43 remaining to the promised land?"

He couldn't stop the excitment that built in his chest. He didn't even try. He lined everyone up for their two minute drill. He pointed things out and got focused. However as focused as he was, there was another who was tortured beyond human capacity right now.

"Harry, it'll be ok. Stop that." Kyle warned.

Harry had decided that Kyle's chest was a good place to hide his eyes despite the fact that, a) Kyle was Married. and b) His wife was currently in the room. Harry didn't hear his objections as he was too intent on listening to the TV.

"Malfoy runs the play from their own 23 yard line. They have 77 yards to go for the score, a minute and 43 seconds left. He takes the snap, looks over the field. Fires complete to the 35 yard line. They have to be careful with only one timeout remaining, the clock continues to move a minute and 28 left. He'll call another play. Steps back with the snap, looks and doesn't see anyone, now he has a man, steps across a defenders path and fires complete to Chris Clark, the third string wide reciever at the 47. There's only a minute and three seconds now and he will call another play. Takes the snap, looks across has Lee scott open over the middle at the 39 of the bills 44 seconds left now. Takes the snap again and looks and fires again complete to Lee Scott in the open field. 31 seconds now, the ball on the 28 of the bills. He calls them up to the line and a spike stops the clock with 27 seconds left and a timeout."

Draco wasn't even thinking at this point, it was all instinct and sight adjustmet. He just read and fired. Harry's song continued to keep his rhythm for him.

"Malfoy points out the defense to his team and prepares to take the ball as the play clock gets close to 1 second left. He takes the ball, has a man open and hits him at the 23 yardline. This QB has had this defense for lunch but with just 17 seconds left they need to get another play off. And they do and it's a toss out of bounds with just 13 seconds left on the clock. This team has got to work fast with maybe one or two plays left before time runs out on their season.

After another short completion they called their last time out with 7 seconds remaining. Draco called the play in the huddle and Ron grinned, it had been the one play they had run in practice every day just for this moment. Draco's eyes told him everything he needed to know.

Harry was a complete wreck now. Kyle was offically done being mad. He was trying to stop Harry from passing out. "Harry calm down, it's just a game." Kyle said, instantly regreting he had.

"Not to him it isn't." Harry snapped angrily.

Draco looked intese as the field seemed to tell him to attack it. He barked out the calls and pointed at the defenders, he smiled at himself as he realized that the defense had no idea what to do. He could be a dog a pony show just now for all they knew.

"This is the last play of the game barring some kind of penalty. Draco takes the snap. Looks and looks, he's got all day back there and he fires DEEP DOWN THE FIELD TO RON WEASELY AT THE 7 YARD LINE, HE BREAKS A TACKLE AND ANOTHER DEFENDER IS ON HIS BACK CAN HE DRAG HIM THE LAST FEW.....YES HE CAN TOUCDOWN SEAHAWKS!"

Anxiety he didn't even realize he'd been carrying released from his chest. Draco Malfoy now slumped on his knees, was too tired to enjoy the victory right away several of his teamates picked him up and carried him on their shoulders to the endzone where he hugged Ron very tight.

"We did it bro." Ron said, tears of accopliment combined with exhaustion in his eyes. He pulled back to look Draco in the eyes. "I love ya man. Don't ever forget that." Draco just nodded. Tears of his own now flowing freely.

Harry was still a mess, but it was a mess of relief. Kyle's wife had taken the job of comforting him. His face was red and puffy. His tears of anxious relief poored violently from his eyes, which had not even seen any of the last bit of the game too afraid to watch. "He did it." Was all he could keep saying.

Draco was now a ball of emotions up on the presentation stage for the trophy. It had been five years, five long hard years in the making. As he help the silver trophy up to let it glow, his teamates cheered. "For you Harry." He whispered softly. "For you my love." His teamates congratulated him one by one as he was also presented with the Superbowl MVP award. He cheered as he held that up, but he wanted nothing better than to get out of there. It suddenly seemed like all he could think about was having Harry in his arms again. Well, he would just have to suffer for now.

It was almost three hours later before Draco could get to his cellphone to call Harry. Harry had long since fallen asleep. Tired from the emotion of the game. He jolted awake, having left the phone on his chest with it on vibrate. Luckily he was able to rescue it before it fell to the floor and answered eagerly.

"Hey baby, I need to see you so bad." Draco pleaded. "Can you meet me by the visiting lockerooms?" He tried hard not to sound demanding. Harry wiped sleep from his eyes and yawned a small yawn.

"Ok sweetie, I'll meet you." Harry said trying to locate his shoes as he continued to talk. "I love you too. See you in a bit." Harry clicked his phone off and began an ernest search for his shoes.

Ten minutes later he saw Draco. He was walking down the long hallway and once he was within a few feet, Draco picked him up off the ground in the biggest hug he ever remembered getting. Draco groaned lovingly as he squeezed. after a few seconds he spun him around and leaned him up against the wall. Placing a kiss on his lips.

"You helped me in the game tonight." Draco said, a big grin on his face. His hair was still messy. Harry thought they would have to wash it properly later.

"Really?" Harry asked, feeling like an idiot for asking for clarification.

"Your song did." Draco more appropriately stated. "Because of...*kiss*...you...*kiss*..." Harry blushed and then he froze.

"Someone is looking at us." Harry said weakily. Draco didn't hear him propperly.

"I don't care if anyone sees us." Draco said and then frowned as Harry shook his head to make his point more clearly understood. Draco finally understood and had Harry been looking, he would have seen the terror in his loves eyes as Chris Clark, the third string wide reciever walked by. He eyed Draco who was now white as a sheet with fear. He mouthed silent words to the young man walking past them. 'NO Don'T' Draco panicked. Those accusing blue eyes told a story for anyone that knew what they were looking for.

Harry and Draco didn't say another word, both silent and afraid for different reasons.


"You can't pretend it didn't happen." Chris' words played over and over in his head. "You can't prentend I don't exist." Draco needed a shower and a good stiff drink and soon.

~~~~~

End Chapter 49

A/N: This one sort of took off on it's own and ran me about six hours to write. It didn't stop till about 2AM, since this is clearly a long chapter, I won't be updating for the next several days as I prepare for the last leg of this story which is soon up comim