A/N This is the first part of a short series about Hermione and Draco. That doesn't mean that they're going to get together and stay together. That depends on how much Draco and Hermione are willing to give up.
Never Ever-Prologue
The cold wind whipped her cloak around her as Hermione Granger stood on the damp grass. Loud shrieks came from the crowd as the two seekers battled against the strong wind to reach the shimmering gold snitch, which zoomed ahead. Getting to it first was the aim of both and neither was prepared to give up. Seconds later, before either seeker had achieved his goal, the snitch disappeared into the heavy rain. As one, the crowd groaned. The two seekers sped off, each determind to find the snitch again before the other. Harry Potter flew higher, scourging the pitch below. Draco Malfoy headed to the goal posts at the far end of the Quidditch field.
The wind was getting stronger and a sudden, forceful gust lifted Hermione off her feet and flung her against the wall of the stand. Her vision blurred but she forced her eyes to stay open. People in the stands were screaming. The Quidditch players struggled to stay on their brooms but a strong gale hit the pitch, flinging people out of their seats. One of the Weasleys lost his grip and the gale tossed him effortlessly off his broom. Hermione stared in horror as he plummeted to the ground. She realised too late that the wind was carrying the broom towards her. It collided with her head. Hermione heard a sickening crack before everything went black.
* * *
When Hermione awoke total darkness surrounded her, panic filled her and she let out a small scream. Something beside her lit but it took her a few seconds to realise what she was looking at.
"Malfoy, what are you doing here?" she said in surprise.
"Look around you Granger, you're in the hospital wing," he sneered.
He was right. Hermione was lying in one of the white beds. Malfoy was to her right and she saw Fred Weasley in the bed to her left. He was still unconscious.
"Fred!" she gasped.
"He fell of a broomstick, what do you expect?" said Draco with a nasty smile, "and then the broom knocked you out."
Hermione eyed him with dislike, "Why are you here, Malfoy?"
"Got hit by a tree branch, then fell fifty feet." All the time Malfoy was talking he wore that snide, superior smile that annoyed Hermione so much. It was only now that she realised how badly injured he was. He had a large, swelled black eye, his bottom lip was spilt and swollen and he had a large raw cut running down from his temple to the middle of his cheek.
Draco read her expression.
"You think I look bad? You should see yourself." He picked up a small mirror from his bedside table and threw it to her.
Hermione looked in it and gasped. Across her face was a large purple bruise in the shape of the broomstick handle which had struck her.
" Bad isn't?" Draco sneered. "Well I wouldn't worry, it's not as though you had any good looks to spoil."
Hermione, who was still staring into the mirror, ignored him.
"Weasley almost fainted when he saw that," Malfoy remarked.
She looked up.
"Yes he was here, Potter too. Bloody gits," he muttered darkly. "They and the other Weasleys came to see you and him," he jerked his head toward Fred.
Malfoy yawned loudly and moved to blow out the candle, indicating that the conversation was finished.
"Oh, yeah. Pomfrey wanted to know when you woke up. She's awake," he said loudly. Then he blew out his candle and turned his back on her.
Moments later, candles on the walls were lit and Madam Pomfrey, wearing a dressing gown, walked over to Hermione.
"Are you feeling alright dear?" she asked.
Hermione nodded.
"You'll probably have a headache in the morning but drink this it'll help."
She handed Hermione a goblet filled with a thick purple liquid. Hermione gulped it down.
"Now get some sleep," Madam Pomfrey said kindly.
She flicked her wand and the candles went out. Hermione listened as the footsteps of the nurse died away.
As Hermione lay down she realised that the earlier conversation had probably been the longest she had ever had with Draco Malfoy.
"Goodnight mudblood," came Draco's voice from the darkness.
Anger rose inside Hermione.
"Goodnight Slytherin scum," she replied.
A/N I'll have the next part up soon. I'm not sure yet how many parts there'll be but I'm trying to make it different from the usual D/H fic.
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. All Harry Potter characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.