3 Times Fallen (a Dramione fanfiction)

Quidditch

Hermione

After Ron's little mistake during the week, Hermione and her friend had made up and agreed not to talk about it. They were still slightly awkward with one another, and Harry and Ginny did not let it go unnoticed.

"What happened to the two of you?" Ginny asked one morning. The four were eating breakfast on a Saturday early in November before Harry, Ron, and Ginny had a Quidditch match against Slytherin later that day.

Hermione and Ron looked at each other, and shrugged simultaneously. Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh come on! It's not like you two made out or something! You can tell us!" When the two said nothing, Ginny and Harry's eyes grew wide.

"Well..." Hermione managed to squeak out. Instantly, the youngest Weasley was choking on her juice. Harry pat her back to aide her in breathing. "Not exactly." Hermione relayed the story tentatively, omitting anything personal about Ron's specific feelings. "Something just happened!" she concluded.

"And Malfoy didn't kill you? Wow the ferret must have been feeling VERY generous that day!" Harry retorted to Ron. The redhead absentmindedly rubbed his jaw.

"But," Hermione finished, "it will never happen again. We're just friends. And now Draco has made it perfectly clear that if Ron so much as touches me, he will be murdered. And Harry, I'm assuming that extends to you as well. Just please try to not do anything drastic, because the ferret I can live without, but if either of you were hurt 'cause you were trying to protect me, I don't think that I could live with myself. And no matter how much that boy irks me, I'm around 70% positive that Draco meant every word of his threat."

"Right again oh beautiful one," a voice sounded behind the Gryffindors. Hermione felt a strong buzzing and knew it was her mate without even looking. Blushing (something that had not gone unnoticed by her friends...), Hermione turned and looked up at the smiling blonde. "Just came to remind your friends that just because I'm dating you, doesn't mean I'll go easy on them today during the match."

"Wouldn't you going on easy on us constitute that you don't every other game?" Ginny countered. The boys snickered, and Malfoy shot them a death stare. Hermione elbowed him in the knee, and he immediately forced a fake smile.

"See you all later! Good luck today," he managed to push the words between his teeth before turning on his heel and bolting out of the Great Hall.

"Well, this shall be an interesting match indeed." Hermione said idly, taking a bite of her French toast and laughing at the bickering trio before her.

..........

..........

Hermione sat in the stands, amidst colorful groups of cheering fans. Having very little interest in the game, she had brought a book with her to occupy her thoughts as the players flew nearby. In the back of her mind, she could hear Luna's dreamy voice following the match as it played out before her.

"Hermione! I think Harry's spotted the snitch!" Neville nudged Hermione with his shoulder, and she glanced up from her book. She spotted Harry flying directly to the left of the teachers stand. Suddenly he pulled upward and was sky-bound. Draco immediately followed in pursuit. The two boys raced onward to an anthem of screaming spectators.

"Neville, does Quidditch have a boundary? I can't remember..." she looked inquiringly at him as he raised his arm above his head to attempt to watch the chase that had migrated to above the clouds.

"Sorry Hermione, what did you say?" he answered distractedly. She shook her head.

"Never mind Neville. We'll know soon enough." Hermione knew that, no matter how much she loved Harry and believed in him, Draco's veela skillset would certainly prevail, winning Slytherin the game. Sure enough, Draco soon reappeared once more from the coverage of the clouds above. He wore a smile on his face as his striking blond hair stood out in great contrast to the gray sky behind him. Held tightly in his hand was the game-winning golden snitch. Harry gave every indication of someone who had just lost a game that had rightfully been his.