Hello, not much chatting to do at this time, so I'll just leave with this fact that this was written to "go along" with my little drabble of a fic "Fatherly Advice" (though they don't both have to be read for understanding, they more just compliment each other). I am happy with it, and was encouraged to expand it, so enjoy!

Quidditch Pitch

Chapter One: The Beginnings of Flight

Another damn condescending smile. She absolutely couldn't stand them. Normally she gave other people that look. So when her two prats of friends tried to claim they knew more about something than her, she tried to tune them out. To prevent hexes from flying.

Hermione Granger was an insufferable know-it-all.

She knew it too. But she couldn't stop herself from trying to be the absolute expert on everything. She read, and re-read all she could to find out every piece of information possible.

And now her two best friends, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley knew more about something than she. And was rubbing her nose in it. And it infuriated her.

"Oh, sorry, 'Mione. We forgot that you don't really understand Quidditch or flying." said Harry kindly. Ron nodded in agreement.

"Of course, you can't really learn about it from a book.. You have to have a real talent for it." added Ron, "And you aren't really any good at flying anyway." He paused a moment before saying with some awkwardness, "Well…you're afraid of it."

Hermione glared at him.

"You can learn anything from a book!"

"Not Quidditch." affirmed Harry. "Ron's right. Flying is something to do, not read about. But don't worry about it, Hermione; you can't know stuff about everything." She looked at them silently for a moment, before she murmured under her breath,

"Yes I can."

The school brooms were no where near as good as some of the students, especially Harry's Firebolt. But Hermione couldn't really ask her friend to borrow his broom without an explanation. And she didn't want to tell anyone about this particular expedition of hers.

It was late evening when she snuck out to the Quidditch pitch. She told Harry and Ron that she was going to the library to study. It was easy enough to break into the shed that held the Quidditch supplies and take a broom.

She walked out slowly onto the field, her eyes scanning the stands and two goal hoops rapidly. Stopping near the center and setting the broom down beside her, the brunette racked her brains for the first year flying instructions from Madam Hooch.

She stared down at the long wooden handle for moment before gradually putting her hand over it, palm down.

"Up." She whispered.

Nothing happened.

She let out a strange growl-like sound and stamped her foot.

"You stupid broom! Why must you listen to those two gits and not me!" she yelled, glaring down at the object.

From a small distance away, she heard a chuckle.

She glanced up sharply and met the grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. He walked forward and she could see he had a Firebolt over his shoulder and was wearing the official Slytherin Quidditch robes. She watched warily as he stepped closer and looked down at her pitiful broom before raising his eyes to meet hers again.

"Did you steal Weasley's cheap broom? Merlin, Granger, if you're going to snatch a broom, at least take Potter's or something. What is that? A Cleansweep?" He admonished. She frowned at him.

"I did not steal anyone's broom. That would be something a no good Slytherin like you would do! I borrowed this one from the school!"

"Ugh. Even worse than Weasley's. Though barely…" He murmured before he held his broom straight in front of him and slid a leg over the handle gracefully. Hermione watched, her eyes narrowed.

"I don't have a reason to own a broom." She said tersely. He smirked at her before kicking off and soaring up a few feet.

"Rumor has it Granger is afraid to fly." He replied. She crossed her arms and tossed her hair angrily.

"I am not!"

"Then let's see you fly." He said, making a sweeping gesture of invitation. Hermione sighed and looked down at her broom again. Slowly she put her arm straight out over it again.

"Up." She commanded, a little more firmly.

"Come on, Granger, where's that know-it-all tone? You have to know that broom's going to jump into your hand!" Malfoy shouted from above her.

"Up!" she yelled down at the broom and it slammed up into her palm. She blinked, staggering for a moment before she smiled triumphantly.

"Geez Granger, with that expression you'd think you had become Minister of Magic. It's just a broom. You aren't even in the air!" Malfoy said from near her ear. She swatted at him, but he was already gone. "Granger, the only way you'd even touch me was if I was riding one of those Cleansweeps! Or maybe Weasley's broom." He said from farther away. "Going to fly tonight or what?"

"Yes!" she snapped before she threw one of her legs over the broom and settled herself on the handle. She had to admit though; the chairs in the library were much more comfortable.

"Okay Granger, if you want to actually get into the air, you have to kick off." Draco sneered.

"I know, I know!"

"Well, this is your first time, isn't it?" He asked rudely. She gave him a challenging look.

"You make it sound like shagging." She said, giving a little wicked smile. Malfoy raised an eyebrow.

"I wouldn't even think you would know that word, much less make a joke of it."

"But I am a know-it-all." She said smugly. He smirked.

"True. Except when it comes to flying."

"Which I am about to fix." She said, before she closed her eyes and kicked with her feet.

As she rocketed forward, Hermione let out a piercing shriek and bent forward, trying to hug the broom for dear life (and to prevent herself from falling off). She completely hated flying! Unfortunately, it only made the broom go faster. And her screams grow louder.

She heard a whoosh to her left, and her broom jerked to a stop.

Cracking open her eyes, she sat up slowly and looked around to see Draco holding on to the end of her broom.

"Granger, if you really knew anything about flying, wouldn't you know that leaning forward makes the broom go faster? If I hadn't grabbed you, you would be almost to space by now. Lucky I'm on a faster broom. And a better flier." He said, giving her a prideful grin. She glared back.

"You can let go."

"Are you sure? Remember forward equals fast." He said condescendingly as she reached out to smack him. He jerked back sharply, letting go. "Don't touch me. Geez. All you have to do is ask." He clipped, flying back a couple feet. Hermione stared at him for a second before she glared and then flipped back around.

Adjusting her position to a little bit more comfortable one, she leaned over ever so slightly and the broom glided forward smoothly a couple feet.

"I think I'm starting to get the hang of this…" she murmured. There was no smart reply and she glanced around for her companion (if you even could call him that).

He had landed back on the ground and was making a large trunk hover onto the field with a wand in one hand, his broom in the other.

"What are you doing?" she called down to him. He looked briefly up at her before opening the top of it.

"I came out here to practice, and despite your terrible flying, I'm going to attempt it anyway." He looked up at her for a second before he suddenly grinned and leaned over, and she could hear the sounds of straps being undone.

Immediately two black objects soared into the air and made a beeline for the brunette. She yelped and ducked barely in time, before doing an awkward spin in the air to avoid the other one. She could hear Malfoy laughing below her and gave him a furious look.

"You did that on purpose!"

"I should practice avoiding bludgers too." He said casually, before he waved a small golden object at her. "Want to time me, Granger? Bet I can beat Potter." He bragged before tossing the tiny ball into the air.

Tiny wings snapped out and fluttered swiftly before the snitch flew higher and then disappeared. Malfoy was on his broom and in the air in an instant, soaring up after it.

He stopped near Hermione and gave her a brief smile.

"Might want to keep an eye out for those bludgers." He said before shooting off again after the snitch. She looked around fearfully for the black balls. Two specks were heading towards her and she looked up to where she could see Malfoy flying.

Taking a deep breath, she bent forward sharply and the broom blasted up after Draco. So far, she was not liking this flying experience.

"Granger, what are you doing?" demanded Draco when he noticed her attempting to follow him. Key word being attempting on that pitiful broom.

"Trying to make sure you get hit by these flaming bludgers as much as I do!" she shouted at him. The nasty obstacles weren't far behind and Hermione stopped sharply, letting them fly towards Draco. He turned easily and avoided them, and stopped to face Hermione.

"You know, you are making it very difficult to catch the snitch!" He snapped, before he started to turn and go after it again. Hermione flew in front of him, cutting him off.

"Then would you please get rid of these bludgers!" she questioned heatedly, "After that I'll let you do whatever the bloody hell you want!"

"Ooh, Granger, watch your language." He teased, "Why don't you just get rid of the things yourself?"

She looked at him a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she looked away, muttering,

"This broom is almost impossible to control. I can't turn it very well. Or move fast enough to catch the bludgers." She said dejectedly. He looked at her silently for a moment before moving forward sharply and snatching her around the waist, pulling her off her broom and onto his.

The old Cleansweep fell with a thud onto the ground beside the trunk.

Hermione let out a squeal as she landed on the end of Malfoy's broom, both her legs dangling off one side. She looked at him with wide eyes.

"W-what did you do that for?" she asked, her breath trembling. He rolled his eyes at her.

"You can't experience flying properly on some ancient broom like that." He said distastefully, wrinkling his nose slightly. She looked at him quietly, not moving a muscle. He sighed and let go of her. "Actually, in order to fly this while you're on it, I'm going to need you to move back closer to me, so I can grab the handle without you falling off." He continued, his tone businesslike.

She was surprised. For someone who had, even recently, found the idea of her being near him repulsive, he was certainly acting strange. But she did want to understand flying properly.

Shyly, Hermione scooted backwards on the broom, until she felt her back hit Draco's chest. She froze as his arms came around on either side of her, his upper arm brushing against her shoulders, hands gripping the handle in front of her.

"Don't make any sudden movements, okay?" muttered Malfoy distractedly, glancing around for the snitch. Hermione flinched as his breath tickled her ear. His head was right by her shoulder and she could feel his chest rubbing against her back lightly when he moved to guide the broom's actions.

"Sure…" she whispered.

But she let out a shriek as he moved the broom forward abruptly, her body turning sharply inwards and hands moving from the broom's handle to Draco's neck. He came to a stop and looked at her in surprise.

"You really don't like flying, do you?" He asked frankly, no trace of mockery in his voice. She nodded miserably and he gave her a sincere smile, "Don't worry; you won't fall off my broom."

Though she gave him a wary look, she didn't remove her arms from around his neck as they flew forward again. She watched his steel grey eyes search the sky, a slight frown on his face.

It wasn't the normal nasty look he directed frequently at her and her friends, but a softly frustrated look that made his eyebrows furrow slightly. A light smile touched her face before she heard something whiz past her ear.

Giving a loud yell, she ducked down against Draco's chest, closing her eyes tightly. She could feel it vibrate with the blonde's laugh and cracked one eye open to look up at him. He was smirking down at her and raised an eyebrow.

"The bludgers, Granger? Remember those?" He asked with amusement. She blushed faintly and looked down, her eyes falling on the Slytherin emblem on his robes.

She lifted one of her arms off his neck and gently traced the serpent with a finger before raising her eyes to his.

"Why are you being nice to me?" she inquired, her voice soft in sharp contrast to her hazel eyes that burned into his. He tilted his head and leaned back slightly on the broom, letting go with one hand. His expression was pondering as his eyes flickered skyward.

"Hm, Granger, I can honestly say I don't know. I know I was planning on just insulting you until you left the field when I first came out here but…" He paused, meeting her eyes briefly. "But when I saw how determined you were to try and understand flying, I just…felt that I should help you." There was a long pause before he gave her a familiar arrogant smirk, "Of course, I love any chance to show up Potter and Weasley."

Slowly her mouth spread into a grin and the girl giggled. She looked at him earnestly.

"You know, you aren't so bad when you aren't trying to look down your nose at everyone." She said.

"You should talk. You have a conceited attitude about everything. You think you know everything there is to know about everything!" Malfoy retorted heatedly. His expression was now guarded and Hermione sighed, looking back at his robes.

"Yes. But…" She looked back at him with a somewhat defeated glint to her eyes and mumbled, "I don't."

"What?"

"I don't know everything. And…thank you for trying to help me to learn what little I can about flying. I understand you have to practice though. You can just set me down and I'll go back to the castle. I won't mention this to anyone." She murmured. He stared at her, astonished, before scoffing and shaking his head.

"Nah. You haven't had the full experience yet. Can't send you back when you haven't learned much of anything." He said, leaning forward again to grip the handle, his chest and shoulders brushing against her once more. He looked at her quickly, smiling again, "I guess you can just stay in that position."

Hermione's face turned pink as she realized during the entire conversation, she had still had one arm slung around his neck.

Though that didn't cause her to remove it.

In fact, when Draco sped forward, her other arm also flew around the Slytherin's neck, and her face buried itself in his chest instinctively. Another confident grin appeared on Malfoy's face as he circled the field rapidly, his eyes searching for the snitch. He maneuvered intermittently to avoid bludgers, but with his Firebolt, they were hardly a problem.

Hermione seriously considered the fact that she might be dreaming. There were a couple pieces of evidence to support this claim.

First of all, she was flying.

Secondly, she was flying with Draco Malfoy.

Thirdly, he was not being a complete prat.

In fact, he was being rather pleasant.

She crossed her arms a bit behind Draco's head to pinch herself on the arm.

Nothing happened, except the blonde male gave her a strange look as she flinched and let out a small squeak. She hadn't meant to pinch so hard.

"What are you doing?" he asked with raised eyebrow. She shook her head when he suddenly looked away and let out an excited whoop.

Hermione positively screamed as Draco leaned over sharply, almost crushing her under his larger frame. The broom rocketed forward, and he lifted an arm, fingers outstretched.

Swiveling her head slightly, the Gryffindor could see a flash of gold a couple yards ahead, and realized that he was after the snitch.

"What the bloody hell?" he said, pulling up sharply and Hermione flew hard against him, giving a cry of surprise. He looked at her quickly before he glanced around the field again. "Where did it go?"

She sagged against him slightly, letting out a ragged breath as the stress and emotions of the evening hit her in a sudden, hard rush. He looked down; his penetrating eyes trying to meet her's as the closest thing to a worried expression Hermione had ever seen appeared on his aristocratic face.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice soft. She raised her head so she could look at him.

"Yes…this is just…so…draining." She murmured, her exhausted voice a testimony to her statement. Draco sighed heavily, his eyes flickering around the pitch one last time before he started heading for the ground. "What are you doing?"

"Enough lessons for today." He clipped, his tone sharp. She didn't respond as he touched down, and helped her off before dropping the broom onto the ground. "Time for you to go back to your dormitory." He said firmly. She looked at him a moment, her expression thoughtful. Draco shifted uncomfortably and glanced skywards. "You know where the snitch went?" He asked innocently, in a blatant attempt to lighten the mood. Hermione shrugged and also gave the air above her a quick scan.

"Nope. It disappeared when you tried to grab it."

"I know. It's actually rather bizarre…" He said and Hermione scuffed her shoe in the dirt, biting her lip. Draco looked back at her and smiled brightly.

"Well, see you later, Granger. Though don't expect any special treatment because of this." Her head snapped up at this and she looked at him, her eyes darkening.

"Of course not. Must keep up the charade in front of your nasty friends." She quipped.

"Don't call my friends nasty!" He said, glaring now. She met the fiery gaze with one of her own.

"Oh? You've called mine worse!" She replied crossly. He was taken aback and she continued easily, "You are just a disgusting, egotistical, rich little brat!" She shouted, the calm atmosphere dissipating as the two returned to their normal attitudes towards each other..

"Your one to talk: you insecure, mousy, little know-it-all!" He returned, "Always worried about become useless, so you study your stupid brains out to be someone worth knowing! You know why? Because you're a nobody to begin with!" He hissed and Hermione took a step back, the words hitting true.

Tears appeared and she wiped them away with a furious gesture. She met his gaze with her own icy one.

"Well, at least I'm trying to impress strangers. You live your life trying to make sure you don't make daddy mad." She retorted, "Making friends with people who are obviously on the wrong side, just so you can be powerful and mysterious. Do you even agree with their ideals? Or are you just hanging onto your father's coattails!"

"We all have to choose sides." He replied coolly, "I've chosen who I believe is strongest, and you've chosen who you believe is strongest to stand by."

She heaved a great sigh, relaxing slightly as some of her anger drained away, replaced by gloom.

"Why can't we all just get along?" She said wretchedly.

"The world would be boring without conflict." Malfoy said with a smirk. She looked at him, confused. "Come on, Granger, you have to admit, you've even come to secretly enjoy our little arguments."

"Maybe. When they don't end in my friends puking slugs." She admitted reluctantly, giving him a half-smile.

"Or you punching me in the nose."

"I rather enjoyed that one. And not even secretly." She said coyly and Draco rolled his eyes before her gaze hardened. "But there is a difference between arguments and the killing of innocents for some superior mind-set!" Her voice rose at the end as she remembered the poor muggles back before fourth year. The Death Eaters just playing with them like personal toys.

"What mind-set is this?"

"That purebloods are better than everyone else, and deserve to rule!"

"How do you think great kings and emperors conquered in the past? Hell, Granger, how do you think we became the dominant species on Earth!" demanded Draco. She stared at him in shock.

"What? That is not the same!"

"Maybe not exactly, but it's similar enough."

"You aren't going to make me change to your side." She said hesitantly, confused about where this philosophical "discussion" was going. He threw his head back and laughed, his rage gone.

"Yeah, Granger, and you aren't going to convince me to support Potter or anything." He said, his eyes sparkling as he met her's. "But do we really have to consider who we should be supporting right now? I was just teaching you to fly Granger." He said with some exasperation, "I'm not going to kill you or anything. I won't even hex you."

She smiled timidly at him.

"I know. I find your loyalty to your friends and beliefs admirable, even if they are a bit off." She murmured, stepping closer to him, her anger also disappearing, replaced by something quite different.

"Yeah. Well, don't expect me to join Gryffindor or anything." He said indifferently.

"No. That wouldn't suit you. You are a clever, conniving serpent." She replied, her voice low as she took another step closer. Draco looked at her, but her expression was unreadable. She reached out, her hand falling on the badge of Slytherin on his robes. She caressed the snake gently. "They aren't really that bad."

"Who?"

"Slytherins…" She said, now so close that her feet were standing practically in the same spot as his. She was pressing slightly up against him and he regarded her curiously.

"Slytherins?" He repeated.

"Well, at least you aren't that bad…" She said, a little smirk appearing on her face. Draco found it strangely attractive.

Just like most of the things Hermione Granger had been doing and saying tonight.

Hermione vaguely wondered if arguing turned her on or something as she slowly pushed up on her toes, placing her hands on Malfoy's shoulders. She had never been so attracted to anyone in her life. She watched him carefully for any signs of rejection as she neared his lips. There were none.

When she kissed him, it was light at first, until one of Draco's arms fell to her waist, and the other buried itself in her hair, using the tangled brown locks to pull her closer. As he deepened the kiss, she slid her arms up around his neck and pressed even closer to him, a strange warmth curling in her stomach.

When they broke apart, she considered him silently. He took in her now swollen and reddened lips along with her gleaming eyes and gave her a cocky grin along with a wink.

"So, same time tomorrow night, right?" He asked, "You can forget the Cleansweep this time. We'll just stick with my Firebolt."

"I dunno, maybe I'll try stealing Harry's broom next time…" She said wickedly. He shook his head.

"No way, Granger, I'm not teaching anyone on Potter's bloody broom." He protested airily. Hermione smiled demurely.

"Okay. Then we'll just share yours." She replied sweetly. He had to try very hard to think of the obvious metaphor that came to mind with this discussion. He didn't want to increase the sexual tension any more with this witch he had dislike so much until recently. He chose a carefully neutral answer.

"Sounds good…"

He had to release her as she pulled back from him and turned to go back indoors. After a couple paces, she stopped and looked at him over her shoulder.

"You know I expect another stimulating argument, right?" She asked, an eyebrow arched. He smiled at her.

"No problems there."

She stopped completely, flipping all the way around and crossing her arms.

"Oh, and Draco, I do expect to learn something about flying." She said firmly. He smirked at her, suddenly striding forward until he stopped in front of her. She was about to demand what he was doing when he snatched at something by her ear.

He showed her his hand, with the snitch in its clutches and winked at her, saying,

"Oh, you will."

So? Like it? Didn't like it? Thought it was the worst piece of fanfiction you've ever laid eyes on? Tell me in a review, or I'll never know!