*Disclaimer ~ I really want to forget to put these on here – I really don't have enough to sue for but I don't think my parents would like so I will continue to deny any ownership of Harry Potter.*
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`
Falling Head Over Heels
The Story of Hermione Granger and
Her relationship with Draco Malfoy
By: Befuzzled Chapter Eight ~ Strange Practice and New Friends
"You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark you'll surrender your heart
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight,
No, you can't fight it
It's gonna get to your heart."
~LeAnn Rimes
The whole Gryffindor team and the addition of Hermione had an extremely early dinner and rushed back to the dorms to get dressed out for the practice.
By a quarter till they were all ready: Harry, Ron, Dustin, Paul, Kevin, Lavender, and Dean, and of course, Hermione.
Harry and Ron had informed the team of what Hermione was planning on doing, but it was still a shock to see Hermione come down in her orange shoes, white cotton track shorts, and a orange Addidas tee-shirt while they all were decked out in heavy Quidditch robes.
They all began walking out of the front doors when Professor MacGonagall spotted them. "Hermione Granger just what do you think you are wearing?"
"Um, running clothes Professor."
"Running clothes? Why? And why are you following the team?"
Hermione began to start but before a word came out of her mouth Harry spoke for her. "Hermione wanted to stay in shape like us but instead of playing Quidditch she wanted to run, so I invited her to run during our practice times, Professor."
"Oh very well, you may go."
"Thank you Professor."
The first day of running went well. Hermione did a half hour of stretches in the pitch and then went running for a half hour around the outside of the stadium. She was hardly tired but since this was her first day of actual running wanted to keep her muscle loose so she stretch for another fifteen minutes before running around for another half hour.
"You go on Harry I have to stretch out."
"Malfoy did book the pitch Hermione."
"I know. But as far as I'm concerned he booked the air not the ground so he can get over it."
Harry laughed. "Whatever your say Hermione. I would stay but I need a shower those robes are a killer in this weather. I thought in the middle of September it would start to get cold but no we have this stupid Indian summer and its still eighty degrees outside. Well I'll see you in a little bit Hermione."
"Yeah Harry in a little while." It was still slightly before seven when the team left. They didn't want any contact with Malfoy. Maybe ten minutes after Harry's complaint and goodbye and dark figure walked into the pitch. It was Malfoy.
He took off his summer clock and said, "I didn't think you would actually show up Granger. What are you wearing?"
"Show up for what?" and then she remembered the flying lesson. "Oh never mind. I was just out running and this is what I have on."
"Why were you running? Potty and Weasel trying to chase after you."
"Sod off Malfoy. I run while they practice Quidditch. I have to get and stay in shape somehow. I'm sorry I kind of forgot about our little lesson tonight."
"What? Do you have to finish your homework or something?"
"No."
"Then what's the problem?"
"I can ride a broom in this. For one I'm all sweaty from running and two these aren't exactly robes."
"Are they clothes?"
"Yes"
"Then they work. As for you being sweaty that's fine just don't touch me. I thought today you would try riding by yourself anyway." Hermione noticed he was carrying 2 brooms.
"Oh okay."
"You are comfortable riding by yourself aren't you?"
"Ah, sure, I guess. If I have to be."
"Are you telling me after four of my marvelous teaching lessons you still can't ride a broom by yourself?"
"It's not that I can't but I have this great fear of falling and it hinders my mind set so I overreact to everything, and" Draco held his hand over her mouth.
"Granger you're ranting. I'll fly under you and if you happen to fall I'll catch you. Deal?"
Hermione nodded slowly. Draco took his hand away from her mouth and silently handed her a broom. "If you want, we can start off at a low height." Hermione nodded graciously.
So that's what they did for the next hour. They started off at five feet from the ground and gradually circled to twenty, and forty, and before Hermione realized it they were even with the top post of the pitch. Hermione looked around her and got distracted by the stars they were almost close enough to touch. "It's so beautiful."
"Granger pay attention!" Draco yelled desperately. Hermione and fallen off one side and now was just hanging by her arms.
"Help me, please."
"Just swing your leg back over the broom you'll be alright."
"I can't."
"Granger, swing your leg back over. At least try if you fall I'm right under you."
" Draco?"
"What?"
"You do promise to catch me right?"
"Yes now swing your leg back over the broom."
Hermione tried but her legs were tired from running and she just fell. Draco caught her almost immediately. "Thanks…" was all she got out before she fainted.
"No problem. Why did you call me Draco?" He knew she couldn't hear him but that's why he felt safe asking the question he would bring it up later, maybe.
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~
She woke up groggily two hours later and realized her was in he hospital wing for the second time this week.
"Oh Miss Granger you're finally awake." Madam Pomfrey wasted no time bustling in and checking her patient.
"Yeah. Um, how did I get here? And what happened?"
"You don't remember. You fell off your broom and Mr. Malfoy caught you and said you fainted. So he brought you up here." The memory came flooding back.
"Oh, yeah. Can I go Madam Pomfrey? I'm feeling perfectly fine."
"I suppose, just take it easy would you? You're still suffering from that dreadful bludger injury."
"Yes Madam. Would you please not tell anyone about this? It's rather embarrassing." Hermione left her bed and started walking down the hall. As she turned the corner she ran into to somebody.
"Oh I'm so sorry I didn't see you there….Malfoy?"
"Um yeah. Are you okay?"
"Yeah I am thanks in large part to you. You saved my life." She almost felt like hugging him but this after all was Malfoy.
They started walking back together trying to talk about what went wrong which Hermione gave the excuse of being tired before Draco interrupted the flow of the conversation. "Um why did you call me 'Draco' when you were about to fall...Her-Granger?"
"I'm not sure. I guess I just wanted a friend to be there if I died and friends don't call each other by their surnames."
"I supposed you're right. Do you consider me your friend?"
"Well after tonight I would, but I don't know how that would look in front of everybody."
"Good point, Granger."
They were in front of the Great Hall Hermione walked off to the third floor and Draco went off in the direction of the dungeons.
