A/N: written for Madam Hooch's Quidditch tryouts in Hogwarts Online.
"Stop fighting and listen to me for a second," said the Malfoy heir. "It's not my personal choice to have you in a bloody body-bind hex, but Granger, we both know there isn't another way you are going to appreciate this."
Hermione's eyes attempted to convey the agony her soul was in. She ranked being caught defenseless a great deal worse than playing forty rounds of wizard's chess with Ron. The Gryffindor had been working happily on her project for Professor Slughorn moments ago when she was trapped on her stool by an unforeseen spell. For the moment she was at the whim of the Slytherin in front of her.
Malfoy let his head tilt to the right and then back to the left to observe the state of his fellow classmate. Hermione was livid when Draco released his bind on her; she immediately hailed insults towards him.
"Why you know I absolutely detest- It isn't fair to- what are you doing here anyways you arrogant prat- If I tell," said Hermione. She was silenced by an act she had never seen Draco taken before. He laid a pale finger across her lips and Hermione observed the scene unfolding like the good student she is, just with her mouth slightly too open.
He brushed her plaited brown hair down and away from her face and allowed his hand to brush her cool cheek. He gently placed his lips on her forehead and allowed a soft kiss to escape. He leaned his forehead against hers.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "You saved me from myself." Draco turned towards the cabinets full of the necessary potions ingredients. He hadn't even admitted that to himself, yet here he was telling Granger everything just like always. He listened to her calculated breathing as he visualized the wheels and cogs spinning in her mind in perfect harmony. She took a long exhale and placed a cool hand on shoulder.
"Turn around." Hermione said with a twinge of authority. Draco resisted the urge to embrace her. "Oh wow," Granger continued, " just look at us. There's no way even the sorting hat could have known we'd be able to sit this close to each other without a wayward bat-bogey hex or jelly-legs jinx. We've almost finished our sixth year and we have led our school in the tradition of excellence."
Hermione's voice broke and her eyes started to brim with tears. "I've never had a person like you in my life before. I needed that shoulder of yours on countless occasions, and I don't want to envision all the trials I am going to face in my life without you."
Draco could not contain himself any longer. He flung his arms around the small frame of Hermione and engrained the feeling of her head nestled onto his chest. He could vanquish any evil.
"Surprise," said Hermione from underneath the enveloping grasp of Draco. Draco let his grip slack just a bit to see the beautiful face smile up at him.
"What do you mean, surprise?" asked Draco
"You've been appointed Head Girl and Head Boy," said Dumbledore. "Don't make me regret it."
The headmaster wandered off down the hallway, leaving the two friends ecstatic for the upcoming year.
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xx Madam Lure