Written for the Dramione Last Drabble Writer Standing Competition - Constellations Theme
Warm-Up Week: Draco - Dragon
It should have been a perfectly normal Saturday morning. In fact, it had been, until Hermione had decided to take a stroll through the gardens of Malfoy Manor to enjoy the crisp autumn air, only to come face to face with a dragon.
The bright green beast was thrashing about in circles in a terraced area too small for its body, clearly distressed. When it turned to face her with large, stormy, grey eyes, she had to bite her lip to keep from bursting out laughing.
"Draco! Whatever were you thinking! You never should have attempted your first transformation alone!"
The large Welsh Green sat back on its haunches and huffed, sending smoke shooting out of its nostrils. It glared at her petulantly, which did nothing to help keep her giggles at bay. She took a deep breath.
"Are you stuck, love?" Hermione asked in a gentler tone.
The dragon awkwardly shook its massive head 'yes' before dropping it down to rest it on its front legs.
Pulling her wand from her sleeve, Hermione carefully intoned the incantation to force a wizard back out of his animagus form. Draco sat up slowly and rested his face between his knees before bring his arms up to cover his head. She approached him with small, measured steps and kneeled down beside him.
"What happened?" she soothed, running a hand softly over his hair.
"Stupid birds," he said with a sigh, raising his eyes to meet hers. " They were eating the last of your favourite berries, I thought maybe I could scare them away more effectively if I...well, you know."
She smiled at him, her eyes shining with mirth.
"I love you, my big, fierce, dragon guardian." Hermione giggled. "Thank you for saving my berries from the peacocks."
Draco groaned.
"They ate the berries before they attacked me, that's how I panicked and got stuck," he whimpered.
Hermione leaned forward and placed her lips against his. Pulling back, she brought her hand up to cup his cheek tenderly.
"Don't worry, love. You're better than berries."
Then she kissed him again.