Purely Mudblood (Dramione FanFic)

Apologies

Seven years at Hogwarts, and a fist fight had never broken out. Never. Wizards chose to sort everything out with duels, with wands and charms and such. Punching and kicking and hitting, though common in the muggle world, were usually considered harmless compared to spells that could torture and kill you without even touching you.

So when Ron punched Malfoy, Harry had no idea what to do.

Then again, he hadn't expected Malfoy to return Ron's strike. And even when Malfoy did, Harry still hadn't expected a full-blown brawl to emerge from it.

Had Harry ever even witnessed a fight? He supposed Dudley beating up kids three years younger didn't count.

Now, here was the question: should Harry break them up, or just allow them to fight it out? They've got to tire out eventually, right? How do muggles ever decide anything with these?

Meanwhile, Ron and Malfoy were still beating each other brutally, and though Harry wasn't sure, he thought Malfoy was winning. That didn't surprise Harry because Ron wasn't a fighter. He wasn't muscular and toned, and he never felt the need to be. Harry recently realized he knew very little about Draco, but with the way the Slytherin was pounding Ron, he guessed that Draco had been in fights before.

Punch after punch flew, most of which ended up against Ron's face. Draco was quick to strike, again and again. Harry wanted to join Ron's side in the brawl, but he knew that he would be no help to him, for Harry had never been in a real fight either. Harry was considering breaking up the fight when he heard Hermione.

"That is ENOUGH!" she yelled. Hermione's tiny frame trembled with fear and anger all balled up into one. Hermione looked at them both and threw her hands up in exasperation. She probably would've launched into a long tirade of screaming at the boys, but at that very moment, Cammie sat up.

"Cammie!" Draco ran to the girl's side and scooped her up in his arms. She quickly entwined her arms around Draco's neck and began to sob. She tried to utter a few stumbling words, but Draco stopped her. "Let's get you to the infirmary."

Draco sat on top of the bedside table, even after Madame Pomfrey scolded him and told him that it was impolite. Madame Pomfrey sat Cammie at the very first cot in the room and tended to her wounds. Afterwards, Cammie had looked around, dazed, very briefly, before falling deep asleep. Draco had tucked her into the blankets and then resumed his perch over her.

Madame Pomfrey went on to say that Hermione had done a very good job tending to Cammie's wounds, that she would need a few days to rest and regain her strength, and that she had no clue what would have done such damage to Cammie. Madame Pomfrey, seeing the genuine concern in Draco's expression, told him that he and his friends may stay as long as they wish. She left the room.

Hermione had sat in the doorway with Harry. Ron resided in the hall, with few injuries except for bruises and a cut on his cheek. She couldn't stand to look at him. Hermione walked over to Draco. She had planned out what she intended to say, but she forgot it all when she saw stood before Draco. He was slumped on the table, rubbing his knuckles. They were bruised, like Ron's cheeks. He looked up at Hermione, a sad look on his face. Hermione hadn't spoken, but she didn't need to.

"I'll apologize to Ron when we both calm down." He looked away, back to Cammie's sleeping form.

"Are you okay?" she asked timidly.

Draco laughed slightly and without humor. "I think you ought to be asking Ron that."

Hermione didn't laugh. "How did it even start?" she asked. "The fight, you know."

Draco shrugged. "I tried to apologize for everything, really. But I think Ron didn't believe me. It was nothing. It's over now." Hermione continued to stand awkwardly, staring at the ground. Draco slid to the side of the table closest to the bed and patted the space next to him. Hermione sat down next to him. He wrapped his arms around her and she put her head on his shoulder. Draco kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Don't be," Hermione responded.

Ron, peering into the infirmary behind Harry, turned and stormed off.