Realization, Draco/Hermione, PG-13 Title: Realization Author:threemiracles Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger Word Count: 407 Rating: PG-13 Summary: Draco helps Hermione, but she isn't as grateful as she should be. Disclaimer: These characters are never mine. Author's Notes: This story was written for a challenge. I refused to mention Ron/Hermione, even though it was part of the challenge.
He couldn't breathe. The moments before him were happening in slow motion and he stood there frozen. His eyes were glazing over with tears. The tears weren't of sadness, fear or guilt. The tears were of realization.
"Granger," he whispered to himself as he started to make his way towards Hermione.
Soon he found himself facing Augustus Rookwood. Rookwood held his usual sneer and his pockmarked face didn't make him look anymore agreeable. He was pointing his wand directly at Draco's chest.
"I think the Dark Lord will be pleased if I kill you now, but he might be aggrieved by the fact he didn't have the pleasure of doing it himself," came out Rookwood's raspy comment.
"You couldn't kill me even if you wanted to," was Draco's flippant reply. He couldn't face the seriousness of Rookwood's threats. The entire week had been filled with threats. How were Rookwood's any different? Death threats were as common as the usual niceties people liked to observe, such as 'Thank you' and 'Your welcome'.
Next thing he knew he saw a flash. He half expected to be lying dead on the ground, but instead Rookwood was the one on the ground. His mate Blaise Zabini was standing behind Rookwood's slumped body. He didn't ask the begging question because the answer was already chasing it. He continued to make his way through the separate duels, dodging spells as he went. Finally he reached her and Mr. Crabbe, who she was now dueling. Someone had told him about the death of his son and he lay the blame on Hermione, even though she hadn't killed him. He watched the two of them cautiously. Mr. Crabbe was winning, but Hermione was determined and kept up the good fight. The fresh scent of blood hit Draco and that's when he noticed that Crabbe's last spell caused her to bleed.
"Crabbe," Draco bellowed.
Mr. Crabbe was shocked to hear Draco address him by his surname and to be spoken to in such a tone. This distracted him long enough for Hermione to stun him. Draco cast a powerful sleeping spell on him as well, which knocked him out instantly. She didn't know what to do next so she pointed her wand at Draco, still considering him a threat. Draco simply stared and his eyes started to glaze over once more. Hermione pointed her wand away as though she had seen herself reflected in his eyes and didn't like what she saw.