The game and love

52

21 years ago
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It was an cold fall day as Draco sat alone by his favorite tree. He sat playing in the grass around him, making up stories of monsters and heroes fighting. He made sound effects with his mouth. He picked up a few sticks and started to build a tiny place for the small rocks he was using as people. He continued to play, unaware that someone had taken notice of his games.

"Did you want a cookie?" A big red headed boy asked him. He looked at this big kid in awe. He was the biggest kid in the class and most of the other kids picked on him because of it. After a few moments of silence, Draco smiled at him.

"Ok!" Draco grinned as the boy reached into a box of frosted animal cookies. He sat down next to Draco and handed him a cookie, which Draco ate imeadiately. "Thanks." He said, still chewing. Ron nodded.

"So whatcha playin'" Ron asked eagerly. He wanted to join in and Draco smiled.

"I'm just making a house for my army rocks and ummm stuff....the sticks are monsters." Draco said informing Ron of all the rules, which Ron absorbed quickly and began to play. Draco was glad to have a new friend. They played games until the end of recess and went back to their kindergarten class together. They became fast friends. Draco was a smallish kid of average build for his age, but he was clearly the one who did all of the talking for both of them. Ron was more of a patient caculating kid. They were perfect opposites of eachother.

They had only been friends for about three weeks when Draco saw something terrible happening to Ron. All the kids were sorrounding him. They taunted him and jumped on him. "Get the monster!" They cackled as several of them sprang at him, knocking him to the ground. Draco didn't understand this at all. Ron was bigger than them, but he didn't fight back at all. Draco frowned in anger as he continued to watch, seeing the look on Ron's face set him off. It was as if they had stolen something from him.

With a full head of steam he charged the crowd. He took aim with his feet. Two loud pops were heard and two kids dropped to the ground crying, holding their shins. He was still angry, but now, seeing the two kids go down all of the sudden, the rest of the kids backed away from Ron. Who was confused by this act of kindness.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU DUMMIES!" Draco was still mad they'd hurt his friend. However, he'd didn't realize a teacher had seen the whole incident and now both Draco and Ron were headed to the principle's office. They didn't say a word until they got to the chairs right outside her office, the teacher leaving them to go back and teach her class.

"Ron, how come you don't hit them back?" Draco asked simply looking at his friend with the upmost curiosity. Ron only shrugged. "You big dumbhead, you are way bigger den dose guys, you could beat them up." Draco stated, as if Ron was stupid for not knowing it. "Well it's ok, I will be your friend." He patted Ron's shoulder, but Ron still hadn't said a word.

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Ron had called the team and informed them of Draco's injury. Leaving the details of how he got it out of the conversation. He also called Draco's agent who was on the first flight out to tampa she could get. They'd been scheduled to go home today, but Ron knew in Draco's present state it would be atleast two more days before he could travel. He kept his cellphone with him. Hermione and Harry had decided to take a flight back to Seattle this morning, leaving ROn and Draco by themselves.

Dyanna arrived about six hours after the call from Ron, she got the diagnosis from the doctor before she entered the room. Her biggest client was injured, but as strange at it seemed, she wasn't there because of money. She gave Draco the once over. "Can he talk yet?" She asked Ron quietly. He nodded his head.

"He's a little groggy from the pain medication, but I can translate if you need me to." Ron said helpfuly as he walked over to make sure Draco would be receptive to questions just now. "Drake, your agent is here. She needs to get a statement for the media." Ron smiled weakly as he saw Draco roll his eyes in irritation.

"What do you need..." he started and then stopped, pointing to the water at the side of his bed. Ron instantly poured some and helped him sip it. With a now wetted throat, he tried speaking again. "What do you need from me?" He asked the woman softly and in a bussiness tone.

"I need you to release the doctor from his duty to keep your case confidental." She sighed. "This is likely to get to the media and I want you to be able to prevent damage from a bad story." She pulled out a sheet of paper. "Next, I need you to look at this and make sure that this injury, while self inflicted, was not a violation of your contract." Draco eyed her in confusion. "You signed it, not me." He gave another eye roll. "Also, this means that the Seahawks team doctor is going to be paying you a visit within a day to evaluate you."

They spent the next twenty minutes talking about his career and the danger it might be in from what the doctors had said. It wasn't really a conversation that Draco wanted to have, he felt like it wasn't anyone's bussiness. He knew he was wrong though, being the highest paid qaurterback in the NFL and possibly ending your next season or even your career could cost your team alot of money. He didn't care.

When Harry finally arrived at home, he began to pack everything he could into his tuor bagage. His anger was apparent. He was furious. He was glad that the baby was with Draco's mom in California. She'd offered to look after him when Harry told her he thought He and Draco would go on vacation after the superbowl. Just the two of them. He jammed some clothes into a suitcase angrily as he thought about his glorious plans. Fuck Draco. Harry's chest hurt. Hermione simply waited for him to finish before she talked to him.

"Where are you going to go?" She asked in a stern voice without meaning to.

"I don't know, I don't care, I can't stay here." Harry snapped at her.

"Please don't go." She said, knowing it was in vain. She hoped he would not regret the speed of which he seemed to throw his entire life away. She said a silent prayer on his behalf.

12 years ago
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Draco and Ron stood up in the dugout. They were called the dynamic duo. The baseball team they were on wasn't very good and they were definitely the best players on it. Ron, at 5'10" was also still the tallest kid on the team, so he played first base where his length could be the best benefit. Neither of them could pitch worth a damn, but they could hit. The crowd from the local area loved to watch the two at batting practice duel eachother for the longest homeruns.

"Well, I guess we're up." Ron called as he started to walk out to the on deck circle. Draco didn't respond, he was still looking for either of his parents. His mom had promised to be there. His dad hadn't, but it still bothered him that he was not there. He watched Ron take some practice swings as he stepped into the batter's box. The pitcher had already given up a two run homerun to Ron earlier. When he threw the ball way out side for ball one, the crowd booed loudly. Ron smiled, shaking his head. After 4 pitches Ron walked to first base.

"Draco, you gotta bring me home bud, come on." Ron was smiling. Draco walked past him to the batter's box, he didn't even look at his friend. Ron frowned, he knew that look on Draco's face. His parents had dissappointed him again. Ron swallowed his own urge to be angry.

The pitcher thought he'd be smart and throw a curveball. However, at this point and time. Draco didn't feel like missing. He swung hard. The ball collided with his bat so hard that he felt the force in his shoulders as the metal bat pinged with the sound of the hit. He jogged around the bases as several in the crowd made "ohs" and "Awws" The applause was loud and Ron greeted him with a large grin in the dugout. "That was great man, did you see how far it went, I bet there's a dent in your bat."

Draco didn't look at him, he went and sat down on the bench. Ron joined him cautiously. "I doesn't matter Ron. Evryone will cheer for me when I hit the big ones, but what about when I don't? Will I even matter?" Ron looked confused.

"What are you talking about Draco?" Ron asked, feeling like he was missing something.

"Nothing, just forget I said it." Draco's voice was soft and sad.

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The team doctor sat at the press conference. He was taken by suprise by just how many people were there. He fumbled with a small sheet of paper before he finally spoke.

"I will read from a prepared statement. Aftet this statement is read, I will answer further questions only pertaining to the injury." The man cleared his throat.

"Seattle Seahawks Qaurtback Draco Malfoy was treated at a local Tampa hospital early monday morning for two broken fingers on his throwing hand, we do not have any details on how or why this injury occured. His middle and ring fingers are broken, however, the middle one was only minorly fractured while the ring finger suffered several breaks, more than 8 pins had to be placed in the finger to stablize it. It was nearly shattered. If it had been broken anymore, we may have had to amputate it. We won't know the full extent of the surgery's success or failure for four to six weeks. At which time, if the healing is on schedule, we will preform one more surgery to clean up any remaining damage and remove any foriegn material. Then after that, it's up to Draco when he feels up to rehabing his hand. Damage like this can affect motor skills in the entire hand. There is always a risk that he may not be able to play football again. This is something that I am going to try and avoid as much as I can. I will now take your questions."

The room clamoured with voices and the media relations officer was charged with containing the chaos.


As Ron and Draco pulled up to Draco's home and got inside Draco slumped on his couch in the living room. Ron had done the best he could to help Draco, but his friend had been like a zombie. Ron just hoped it was the drugs in his system, but he knew better. He offered to get Draco a drink. Draco waved him off. He continued to sit at stare at his two fingers which were now heavily padded. He was in a daze, maybe he wouldn't play football again. He didn't know what to think, he didn't even feel like he cared. His body was heavy with saddness. It made his steps slow and his body weak.

He got up to go to the bedroom. Ron gave his friend his shoulder as he walked to the room too. Draco's eyes gazed around the room. Harry hadn't cleaned up. He'd gone through drawers and left most of the stuff strewn on the floor. He sat and the end of the bed as Ron stood in the doorway. Draco ran his hands throw his hair and sighed.

"So this is it?" He said to no one. He was looking at the chaos Harry had left. It looked very much like his heart felt. He wanted to throw up. Ron came to the bed and sat down beside his friend. "I wasn't perfect...what does it matter, what did it all matter if one mistake can take it all away?" Draco asked, pain in his voice striking Ron hard. He had no idea what to say to him.

"I was supposed to be perfect." Draco gritted his teeth in anger at himself. "I knew he'd leave me. They always leave me when they realize I'm a failure." Tears of bitterness fell. He eyed Ron. "Why are you even here? I don't get it." Ron's arm went around Draco's shoulders.

"Because I am your friend. You don't need to prove yourself to me." It was inadequte and Ron knew it, but he didn't have anything else to say right now. He would kill to have the right words though. Draco had always treated him as a normal kid despite the fact that he had always been different. He'd never be able to tell Draco how much that had meant to him, but he would always feel obligated to repay him for it. So if this was the time, so be it. Ron and Draco sat there for a long time as the evening fell, Draco eventually fell asleep. His dreams were no retreat from his life though. As the look on his face said it all. Nightmares and pain, it was his burden now.

End chapter 52
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A/N: Angsty enough for you? This chapter almost made me cry writting it.