Hermione sat in the quidditch stands with her nose stuck in a book about magical creature behaviours as the students in the crowd roared and cheered for the teams. She tried desperately to block out the deafening sounds to concentrate on her reading but it was practically impossible.
The crowd was humming with energy and excitement for the first game of the season. This game was particularly exciting as it always was when Gryffindor and Slytherin played against each other and their brutal game had the crowd cheering as the teams fought violently for the quaffle.
The game felt more violent than usual and Hermione scoffed internally at the animosity between the two houses and their respective teams. She knew Harry would be gunning it for the snitch today, obsessed with beating Draco Malfoy who was Slytherin's seeker.
Hermione peeked up from her book for a moment checking the score--Slytherin behind by a few points-–and eyes finding Ron who’s eyes intently tracked the quaffle as keeper and Harry who still scoured for the snitch.
Before she could bring her attention back to her book, her eyes briefly caught on another figure. She watched Malfoy for a moment as he soared around gracefully on his broom. He moved so elegantly, as if he was dancing on the wind. It was so at odds with his normal brutality and insufferable arrogance that she couldn’t help but stare for a little longer.
She bristled slightly but reasoned that she didn’t have to like the guy to admire his skill on a broom. Harry and Ron would throw a fit if they thought there was any part of Malfoy that Hermione might slightly admire. She snorted at the thought and reminded herself he was a vile, stuck-up twat and Harry and Ron would be right to scold her.
Her eyes made their way back to the book infront of her and she managed to continue her reading and block out the game.
Well, that was until about 15 minutes later when she heard a faint humming or buzzing noise. She swatted at the fly that flew around her, trying to concentrate on the words that were admittedly not teaching her anything she didn’t already know. The humming grew louder but before she could swat at it again her eye caught something gold. She gasped as she looked up to find the golden snitch hovering in front of her.
It was so close to her face that she worried if it came any closer it might end up caught in her hair.
Instead of zipping away as usual, the snitch flitted slightly in front of her. She didn’t dare take her eyes off it but wondered distractedly where Harry was.
People gasped around her and she thought maybe that had noticed the snitch so close to them but then she looked past the snitch to see a form flying straight at her. Everyone around her skittered away but she barely had any time to react as she saw a green blur of cloak and a hand reaching out before the form crashed into her sending their bodies reeling back and leaving them tangled together.
The wizard on top of her pulled his head back to look at her, both of them wide-eyed. Draco Malfoy’s face was inches from Hermione’s.
His eyes then bounced around wildly before settling back on her. Without a single apology he glared at her and demanded, “Where did it go?”
Her mouth dropped open in outrage. His eyes briefly dropped there.
“How do you expect me to know!? You’re the one who came crashing into me without warning! You scared it away,” she said angrily. How dare he blame her for losing the snitch, she thought.
He started to push off her to escape their awkward pile of limbs.
“Hey! Ow–” They struggled and attempted to free themselves.
He suddenly paused and she stopped too, startled at the abrupt halt of movement. Confused, she followed his frozen gaze. Slightly to her right and above her shoulder the snitch sat hovering in the air almost tauntingly.
Startled, she looked back to Malfoy on top of her and found steely determination come over his face.
Eyes wide and warning she started, “Don’t you d–” He lunged for the snitch flipping them in effort to reach the tricky little object. She let out a startled cry when she landed on top of him this time as he swiped and missed the snitch again.
Somehow this was worse. She straddled him with her hands braced on his shoulders, her mouth dropped open in shock. His hand gripped her waist as if in an unconscious effort to steady her from falling. She stared down at him in horror and a corner of his mouth lifted in an amused smirk.
She wanted to smack it off his face.
But before Hermione could voice her displeasure his eyes darted to something just over her shoulder once again and he shot up to a seating position, whipping his arm out over her.
The crowd of Slytherins and supporters roared as other houses booed—Gryffindors the loudest.
They were so close now, breathing the same air. Their eyes were locked and he slowly brought his arm back, holding his closed palm in front of her. She looked down and he opened his hand to reveal the golden snitch sitting motionless in his palm.
She looked back up at him and found him grinning wildly. Her stomach fluttered at the unexpected sight.
Quick as lighting he stood grabbing her waist, spinning her once, darting forward to leave a peck on her cheek before setting her back on the ground and running off with a victory whoop and his hand thrown in the air proudly showing off the snitch. The action left Hermione completely dazed and more confused than she had ever been.
She decided she would not be telling Harry or Ron about this.