Entry tags:

#madness2013, author: unbroken_halo, week prompt: four times and one time

War Brings Peace (Draco/Hermione)
Title: War Brings Peace
Characters/Pairing: Draco/Hermione
Word Count: 434
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: mentions of canon torture
Challenge: Day 10 prompt: 4X1.
Author's Notes: Not beta-ed. Never done one of these before, so I hope I got it right.

"They got in on pure talent," Granger's voice was filled with pride.

For a moment Draco was speechless. The strike was flawless and it stung. Even if she was a Mudblood, the response had been devastating to his ego and he told her as much with his insult. But it was a cheap victory since she'd struck the first blow.

~*~

The crack of her hand against his face echoed in the air and Draco was stunned for a moment. His hand came up, touching the burning skin. He watched her unable to believe she'd hit him. Wizards weren't violent like that. Swallowing his pride—he refused to believe it was cowardice—he left her. He conceded the round to her with the one blow struck and ran.

~*~

“Keep that big bushy head down, Granger,” sneered Draco.

All things considered, it wasn't much of an insult but the other things he'd said had struck home as he watched the Golden Trio walk away. It was a blow to realize he hadn't wanted her found even as he disguised it with snark. He couldn't—wouldn't—think on what this meant especially since his father's friends had not found her that night.

~*~

He listened to her screams and cringed. Bellatrix's laughter echoed and her screams—Gods it seemed to take forever for her to break—followed. Draco swallowed and peeked into the room, searching for her and hoping not to be seen. Strikes rained down on her and he flinched with each impact. Her cinnamon eyes met his and he felt the physical sensation of being blown away by her resolve.

~*~

Hermione didn't know why she'd stood up for him except for the fact that Harry said it was the right thing to do. He'd been a right prat for the last six years but she'd seen something else in him after Malfoy Manor and the battle. His sense of self was gone, blown away by adults who hadn't thought of the aftermath.

She watched him leave, not absolved or acquitted and he'd stood on his own. The strength to admit he was wrong had struck her to the heart and she felt her feet taking her to him. He flinched but stopped, met her eyes.

She couldn't help it and stuck out her hand to him. He stared at it then looked back up at her once more. Her hand was fully engulfed in his, warm and secure unlike anything she'd ever felt from him before.

"Truce," they spoke at the same time. She smiled and his eyes brightened. Perhaps they had both won this time.