Disclaimer: I had a dream that I owned the Harry Potter characters. Then I woke up. Gosh darn it-it all belongs to the wonderful JKRowling.
Walking across the frozen grounds at one of Hogwarts compounds Hermione hoped that today she would get a lucky break and not run into anyone she knew before reaching the Head Dorms. Things are bad at it is, she thought none too happily. She had brushed by a couple of third-years when she heard someone yell, "Hey Mudblood!"
Willing herself not to respond to the all too familiar voice Hermione instead chanted quietly, Calm and tranquil. No response.
Seeing that his taunt had done nothing to provoke her boy called again, "Aww, come on Mudblood! Or do you only respond to Slytherin's these days?" The brat hit a nerve.
Turning toward him Hermione said, "You know what Ron? Screw you."
Ron smiled. "Well you know you want to," he said, "After all I'm the best thing you'll ever see. Come on Mudblood! Don't you want a screw? After all isn't it all that Mudbloods are good for?"
Hermione stiffened. The insult was too close to home. Almost on its own accord her hand reached for her wand. No, 'Mione. Remember he hasn't been himself lately. He hasn't been himself, he hasn't been himself, he hasn't been -she was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice the tall blond figure that tapped Ron on the shoulder. "What?" yelled Ron turning towards the intruder. All too late he realized that he was staring at the scowling face of non other than Draco Malfoy. "Nobody talks to my girlfriend like that."
Ron opened his mouth to retort something—only too find it eating snow. Malfoy looked down at him, "No one," he repeated. The threat was clear in his voice. Walking towards Hermione, Draco draped an arm around her shoulders. "Come on. Let's go," he said. The two of them were halfway across the compound when Draco stopped. "Oh, and Weasel," he said not even bothering to turn, "The reason she wouldn't go out with you is because your rude, ugly and dirt-poor."
Withought another word Draco led Hermione inside.
Outside, in the compound, everyone who saw or heard stood in shock. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy? The infamous rivals? Everyone looked at Ron for an explanation but they found none as he was still sitting in the snow, his face red as a Russian beet. They looked back at the door through which Draco had led Hermione. Giggling a first year looked at her friend and said, "Priceless."