Aerial Duel and the Golden Snitch (II)

Harry was chasing Draco's dark green streak with all his strength. He saw Draco touch the Snitch but fail to catch it, then the dark green figure before his eyes drew an almost uncanny arc and changed direction in an instant.

Harry did not even have time to think. His body's instincts had already driven him to follow Draco's path as he wrenched his broom around and gave chase.

"Harry! Wrong way! The Snitch is over there!" Wood roared himself hoarse from below, but his voice was drowned out by the wind, rain, and Slytherin's cheers.

By the time Harry heard Wood, he had already flown nearly fifty feet away. He slammed on the brakes and turned around. Draco had already appeared on the other side of the pitch, leisurely extending a hand to pluck the Golden Snitch he had deliberately knocked away from the curtain of rain.

The second time.

Draco hovered in midair, holding the Golden Snitch above his head. This time, he did not immediately hand it to the referee. Instead, he deliberately turned toward the Gryffindor stands and shook the Snitch in his hand, as though telling an opponent already beaten flat, "Look, I got it again."

His gaze passed through the rain and landed on Harry.

This time, he spoke.

"Your reaction speed," he said softly, yet somehow his voice remained as clear through the wind and rain as if he were speaking right beside Harry's ear, "is much slower than last year's, Potter. Did those rumors scare the courage out of you?"

Harry did not answer. His teeth ground together as rainwater ran down his chin and dripped onto the handle of his Nimbus 2000, mixing with his sweat.

Draco laughed, tossed the Golden Snitch to the referee, turned his broom around, and flew