Hermione Granger and The Burning Egg

Chapter 9

They both moved in unison as they dashed behind two nearby pillars.

"Ignis Resistere." Draco cast the charm on himself before turning to Hermione. "I can't reach you there!"

Hermione ducked out to peek at the dragon. The huge creature's eyes were now open, and it slowly gave a huge yawn showing off its gigantic teeth. It raised its head and examined the corridor it now found itself in. There was another alleyway directly opposite and a long stretch of corridor on either side. None looked even remotely capable of handling a dragon of that size and apart from the pillars holding up the second story there was nowhere to hide.

She turned to place her back against the pillar and held her wand aloft. She desperately cast about for a happy memory before she closed her eyes and remembered how Draco's lips had felt against hers mere days ago. The exquisite way he caressed her tongue. She hoped the joy she had felt in that moment was enough. "Expecto Patronum!"

Her otter swum out and chittered at her. "Go to Ron Weasley! There's a fully grown adult dragon running loose at the university Ron! You need to alert the aurors and the creature control division!"

The otter chittered again and scampered away in a wave of silvery light.

Draco dashed over to Hermione and pressed up against her in an effort to stay out of the dragon's line of sight. She was momentarily distracted by the heat of his body in such close proximity before she shook herself and turned her attentions back to the matter at hand. Draco looked around her to check that he hadn't attracted the dragon's attention, then waved his wand to cast the flame resistance charm.

She whispered up into his ear. "What should we do?"

He turned slightly to look down at her, his mouth turning upward at the corner in a smirk. "Despite my long-standing service in the department you'll be surprised to know that fully grown dragons in the middle of a city have not been a common occurrence."

"Well, the last time I had to deal with a full-sized dragon it was blind!" Hermione countered.

Draco's eyes widened slightly before replying. "Ok. We'll unpack that last comment later because I'm just going to assume it's a long story."

Hermione ducked out and found the dragon was trying to stand, its huge body colliding with the roof above. The impact shook the building and masonry rained down around them. Draco slipped a hand around her waist to hold her steady as the area shuddered.

Hermione threw her arms out behind her to brace against the pillar. "We need to get out of here. If it brings down the building, we'll be crushed."

Draco kneeled down and picked up some of the masonry debris at his feet. He ducked out and threw it to land just in front of the dragon before waving his wand and casting. "Engorgio!" The rubble increased in size until it was almost the same height as the corridor blocking them from view. Seizing the opportunity Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him away, running for the courtyard.

Behind them the dragon roared. Hermione looked back over her shoulder and found it was pushing the rubble away with its snout. Its tail swung around wildly smashing into the buildings on either side of it. Without any warning Hermione heard the tell-tale whooshing sound that meant fire was incoming.

Draco tugged her left and they fell through an open doorway. They found themselves back inside the lecture hall with frightened students looking back at them, their eyes wide with fear. The flames kissed their feet as it rushed past the door and Hermione turned and cast Aguamenti to stop their lightly smouldering feet.

Draco stood up and took a quick look out of the door. "We can't stay here. The building is going to collapse."

As he turned to grab Hermione, she was standing still looking at the other students. "You heard him. You can't stay here."