"I mean, I think we have a pretty good chance when it comes down to our magical ability versus the other teams," Hermione considered to Malfoy as they walked down the corridor to the Great Hall.
"You mean MY magical ability," Draco scoffed while glaring at the other students who stared at them quizzically. He had proven to Granger his talent and ability in the Room of Requirement and he was sure he had impressed her.
"Don't be so sure of yourself, ferret. You did screw up a few of the easiest charms ever," she laughed. Malfoy scrunched his nose and scowled at the thought that he did goof up on a couple charms.
Hey, no one's perfect right? I mean I was able to show her that I could transfigure anything in the drop of a hat, Miss Known It All Mudblood was a bit slower on that end. God I'm really getting sick of nosy people in this school. What the hell! Why is everyone staring at us in the bloody hallway?! Oh..Well maybe its because I am walking with my sworn enemy. But it's only for strategic gaming purposes right...Right.
"You know you're really lucky to be paired with me, Granger. Dumbledore did say this contest has to do with physical endurance too. I don't think you could endure a cock fight with a damn house elf." Malfoy retorted. Hermione's mouth dropped open and her cheeks turned a tint of red.
"How dare you say I am not physically fit! Mind you, I use to play Muggle football before I came here. And another thing, why would anyone ever fight with a house elf?" she questioned. Malfoy laughed at the thought of Granger actually playing a sport, having to run around all willy nilly.
"Granger, I'd like to see you beat me in a game of football," he challenged. Hermione bit her lip in thought.
Well… I said I played, not that I was good. Damn Malfoy could probably run circles around me. Stupid physically fit ogre. Why in the name of Merlin is he even walking to the Hall with me? Everyone's staring at us like we're from outer space. Well, I am walking with Malfoy here, that could be understandable.
"I gave you a challenge Mudblood, are you going to play me or what?" he asked her, stretching his arms over his head in preparation of Hermione's demolition in football. Hermione lightly pushed Malfoy on his chest, causing him to sidestep.
"You wish Blondie," she answered with a full toothed smile.
Although Granger still looks like the remnants of what I ate for supper last night, her smile isn't half bad. A little less like a beaver…more like a nice little donkey. Which makes sense since she's such a stubborn ass.
Note to Self: Should consider being a comedian. Have Muggle Tattoo Artist make Dark Mark look like Bozo the clown.
"I may be blonde but at least my hair doesn't look like a witch's broom," Malfoy snapped back as they reached the door to the Great Hall. He reached out to open it for her and then paused.
Oh no, I am not doing another good deed for her again. I think threes a bit overreaching.
"Oops, sorry Granger! Must have slipped," Malfoy laughed as he let the heavy door go while she walked through, causing it to hit her in the back and fly forward.
"Slimy git," Hermione muttered under her breath and began to get up, dusting herself off. The students around them laughed at the site, a few praising Draco for his display.
"Nice job Draco, really swept her off her feet," Blaise commented as he walked up to Draco surveying the scene. Draco smiled and let out a hearty laugh.
"Yes, I tend to have that effect on women sometimes, "he said as they walked over to their table to eat lunch. He saw Hermione out of the corner of his eye gritting her teeth in anger.
Sheesh you would think I killed her damn cat with the way shes staring me down.
"So how's the whole partner thing for the competition going? You guys kill each other yet?" Blaise questioned when they had comfortably sat down at the table.Draco grabbed a sandwich and began munching on it.
"Well, we practiced a bit today and let me tell you, Granger's crazier than I thought. She didn't let us rest for a second. It was a damn laser light show with all of the spells and charms being cast constantly," Draco said, recalling their time in the classroom. Blaise laughed as he took a chicken leg off the large plate in front of them.
"Hmmm...If I hadn't known better I would have thought you two have been getting along awfully well," he said with a small grin. At this remark, Draco coughed on a bite of his sandwich and began gasping for air. The air however, did not come as planned. His eyes grew large and he slammed on the table with his hand.
I'm choking, holy shit, I am bloody choking! And Blaise is just laughing at me like a damn idiot!
Blaise gasped for air as he laughed uncontrollably but then his expression was filled with concern when he realized this wasn't a joke.
"Oh shit man! Are you okay?" Blaise asked him, jumping up from his seat on the bench. Draco's face turned a shade of purple as he put his hands to his throat. Blaise stood motionless as he watched Draco try to cough, but no noise came out.
"Will one of you idiots save him?" a high pitched shriek came from behind Blaise. Draco saw Granger through a blur of his tears standing up from her table with a look of worry on her face.
Will someone listen to Granger for once in their life! Oh god I'm going to die choking on a ham sandwich for Merlin's sake. Just lovely.
"I'll help you Drakie poo," the sickeningly sweet voice of Pansy sounded in Draco's ear beside him. He felt her strong arms reach around his stomach and pump furiously. Draco's eyes bulged out of his sockets as he felt one of his ribs surely break.
She's going to kill me! Help me god Pansy is going to bloody kill me!
Draco felt the oxygen in his body began to deplete, and he felt he would pass out right then when he felt the strong arm's of Pansy loosen from his body and be replaced with soft, comforting ones. The small arms pumped under his navel and he felt the food in his throat leave his mouth and then all he saw was blackness.
"You saved him Granger! You're a damn angel!" Blaise yelled in glee when he saw the food dislodge from Draco's throat. He climbed over the table to wrap Hermione in a bone breaking hug. She smiled meekly at this gesture, seeing the eyebrows of the Slytherin's raise. Blaise put her down and stared at all of them.
"Are you boneheads serious? She saved your damn Prince Malfoy and all you are worried about is that she's a Gryffindor?!" he yelled at the crowd. Disgusted at their actions he looked at Hermione and shook his head.
"I for one thank you, even if my half brained housemates don't realize a good deed when they see it," he told her.
"It's really no big deal Blaise...he was choking, it was just the right thing to do. Malfoy or no Malfoy," Hermione said to him and kneeled on the floor to inspect Malfoy's unconscious body.
I just saved the Slytherin Prince, so help me. He is never going to live this one down I'll tell you that much. Now, to bring him to the hospital wing…
"Blaise, I'm going to have to levitate him to Madame Pomfrey," Hermione said pulling out her wand. Blaise looked at Malfoy's limp body and fidgeted.
"Would you mind if I did it Granger? I feel bad for not helping him and he is my best mate you know," he said uneasily. Hermione gave him a warm smile and nodded.
"Sure, you can take him if you'd like. I'll stop by the Hospital Wing Later to make sure he's alright," she said to him and began walking back to her table, feeling the eyes of the entire hall on her.
An hour passed in the empty hospital wing until Draco showed movement in his bed. Slowly, his eyes began to open to a curtained room. A loud noise beside him made him jump.
"Thank god you're alive!" Blaise shouted at Draco's bedside, instantly regretting it when he saw him knock over the glass of water on the table.
"Could you be any louder?" Draco groaned as he began to sit upright in the bed.
Wow, how long have I been in here? If it hadn't been for stupid Pansy I'd probably be dead. Now I owe her one, just great.
"I'm sorry man. I'm just really glad you aren't dead or anything though," Blaise said while cleaning up the spilled water. Draco laughed at his failed efforts to soak up the water with a wad of tissues and handed him his wand.
"Blaise, will you just make it vanish for crying out loud?" he said. Blaise turned pink and mumbled under his breath.
"Oh right, sorry," and with a flick of the wand the mess was gone. Draco put his arms above his head and leaned back into the pillows, yawning.
"So, what the hell should I buy Pansy as a thank you gift, I mean if I don't get her something she's going to expect another type of gift in return if you catch my drift," Draco said to Blaise. Blaise put on a confused look and shook his head.
"Pansy didn't do shit, Draco. She almost damn near killed you by breaking one of your ribs that Pomfrey had to fix up," Blaise told him and sat back on his chair.
If Pansy didn't save me who did?
"Well than, do you care to tell me who I owe my pathetic life to?" Draco asked, waiting impatiently for an answer. A small smile crept on Blaise's face as he got up to lay a hand on Draco's shoulder.
"That would be Hermione Granger."