Hermione might choose to ignore him at first. By not giving Draco the reaction he wants, she could take away his power. Then, when the time is right, she could use her knowledge and skills to outwit him. Maybe she would use a spell or a clever plan to show him that his meanness won't get the best of her.
She could stand up to him. Hermione is known for her intelligence and quick - wittedness. So she might use her sharp tongue and logical arguments to put Draco in his place. For example, she could expose his wrongdoings or the flaws in his pure - blood ideology.
In some fanfictions, Hermione might try to understand Draco. She could look deeper into why he is mean, like if it's because of his family pressure or his own insecurities. By understanding him, she could try to change his behavior through kindness and persuasion, which would be a very Hermione - like way of dealing with the situation.
One reason could be the traditional rivalry from the original series. In the books, they are from different houses, Slytherin and Gryffindor, which have a long - standing feud. Fanfiction writers might play on this by having Draco be mean as a continuation of that in - built tension. Another aspect could be his family upbringing. The Malfoy family has certain pure - blood supremacist views, and Hermione being a Muggle - born might be a target for Draco's meanness in fanfictions.
One popular theme could be the idea of redemption for Draco. In many fanfictions, he is shown to overcome his family's dark past and prejudice. Another theme might be the power of friendship or love that develops between Hermione and Draco, despite their initial differences. It could also explore how they navigate the complex wizarding world together, facing challenges from their respective houses and the general wizarding society.
In a fanfiction with this theme, it could be set post - war. Draco and Hermione find themselves in a situation where they are on the run from some dark wizards who are after them for different reasons. During their escape, Hermione gets wet and cold. Draco, having a change of heart after the war, gives her his warm cloak. This act of kindness begins to break down the barriers between them, and they start to have deeper conversations, realizing they have more in common than they thought.
Perhaps there's a fanfiction where a powerful and dark wizard from outside the school is targeting Muggle - borns. Hermione, being a Muggle - born, is understandably afraid. Draco, who has always had a complex relationship with Hermione, is conflicted. He doesn't want to see her hurt because, deep down, he has feelings for her. He ends up using his Slytherin cunning to outwit the dark wizard and keep Hermione safe.
Draco might start to show his more caring side. For example, he could become very protective of Hermione during her pregnancy, which is a big change from his former Slytherin coldness.
In many fanfictions, Draco Jr. is often depicted as a complex character. He might inherit traits from both Draco and Hermione. For example, he could have Draco's cunning combined with Hermione's intelligence. Some fanfictions show him struggling with the legacy of his parents' past enmity at Hogwarts. He may face challenges in making friends or finding his place in the wizarding world due to the unique nature of his parents' relationship.
One alternative theme could be a time - travel story where Hermione and Draco are sent back in time and have to work together to preserve the wizarding world's history. It's a fun way to explore their characters in a new setting.
Hermione's personality might become more open - minded. Initially, she has a very fixed view of Draco as a bully. But with the marriage contract, she has to see him in a different light. She might become more empathetic towards him. For Draco, he could become less arrogant. The forced proximity with Hermione makes him realize that his pure - blood supremacist views are not as valid as he thought. He starts to respect Hermione's Muggle - born status and even learn from her in some ways.
Hermione's character might develop by becoming more open - minded. Initially, she sees Draco as just a Slytherin bully. But as the story in the fanfiction unfolds, she starts to see the deeper layers of his personality. She might learn to look beyond the house stereotypes. For Draco, he could become less arrogant. His interactions with Hermione, who is so strong - willed, make him question his own values. Maybe he starts to show more kindness and understanding.
In a different fanfiction, Hermione could be afraid of a prophecy that involves her and Draco. The prophecy seems to foretell doom and destruction. She's terrified of what might come to pass. Draco, who also hears about the prophecy, tries to comfort her. He tells her that prophecies can be misinterpreted and that they can change their fate together. He starts to work with Hermione to figure out a way to avoid the bad outcomes predicted by the prophecy.