The plot could start with Hermione being in a dangerous situation near water, like she might be attacked by a water - based dark creature while near a lake at Hogwarts. Draco, who might be nearby for some reason, overcomes his initial hesitations (due to their past enmity) and jumps in to save her. After that, they could start to see each other in a new light, leading to a slow - burn relationship as they deal with the aftermath of the incident and the reactions of their friends and the Hogwarts community.
In one possible plot, Hermione could be exploring an old, enchanted pool in the Forbidden Forest. There could be a spell gone wrong that causes her to start drowning. Draco, who has been following her out of curiosity (maybe he suspects she's onto something important), uses his own knowledge of dark and light magic to break the spell and pull her out of the water. This near - death experience for Hermione makes Draco realize his true feelings for her. They then embark on a journey of self - discovery and relationship - building, with Hermione being initially hesitant due to their past differences but gradually warming up to Draco as she sees his true nature.
You could try searching on popular fanfic websites like Fanfiction.net or Archive of Our Own (AO3). Just type in the exact title or relevant keywords like 'Draco saves Hermione drowning' in their search bars, and you might find the fanfic you're looking for.
Perhaps Draco saves Hermione in a very public and unexpected way. This could lead to a huge scandal in the wizarding world. Lucius might be shamed and lose a lot of his influence among the Death Eaters. Draco, on the other hand, might find himself an outcast among his own family and former friends. Hermione, feeling indebted to Draco, might try to protect him from the backlash, which could further develop their relationship in an interesting way. It could also be that Draco's act of saving Hermione is part of a prophecy that neither of them knew about. This could add a layer of mystery and destiny to their story.
Well, perhaps in this fanfic, Harry notices Draco in a dangerous situation with Buckbeak. Maybe Draco was taunting Buckbeak and it got out of hand. Harry, being the brave one, steps in and uses his skills with magical creatures to calm Buckbeak down just in time to save Draco from getting seriously hurt.
Draco might be motivated by jealousy. He could be jealous of Ron and Hermione's friendship or a possible romantic relationship between them. So he tries to harm Hermione out of spite.
One reason could be Snape's sense of justice. Despite his often - cold exterior, he might not tolerate Draco's bullying behavior towards Hermione.
Well, it could be that Draco, in his pure - blood pride and influenced by his family's views, targets Hermione. Maybe he uses some dark magic or just plain bullying. Snape, despite his often cold exterior, might save her because he secretly admires Hermione's intelligence or perhaps he has a deeper reason related to his own past with the Gryffindors or his hidden loyalties. For example, he could see a bit of himself in Hermione's determination to succeed in a world that is often against her.
It could be a plot where Draco and Hermione are forced into a situation where they have to rely on each other's knowledge. Their 'tongue' in this case might refer to their quick - wittedness. For instance, they might be in a magical maze and need to solve puzzles by using their combined intelligence, which then leads to a new - found respect for each other.
One possible plot could be that Hermione is captured and brought to the Malfoy Manor. Draco, having some internal conflict due to his growing feelings for Hermione despite their past enmity, tries to protect her from the other Death Eaters in the Manor. Maybe they end up having to work together to escape some dark magic trap set within the Manor.
One possible plot could be that Harry discovers some new evidence that proves Draco's innocence. Maybe there was a frame - up by some dark forces within the wizarding world. Harry, being the hero he is, feels compelled to act and uses his influence and skills to break Draco out of Azkaban. This could lead to them having to go on the run together, hiding from the authorities while they try to expose the real culprits.
Another plot twist could be that Lucius's act of saving Hermione causes a rift between Hermione and Ron that is hard to repair. Ron might misunderstand Hermione's connection with Lucius and think she is now on the 'dark side' so to speak. This could lead to a complex love triangle situation where Hermione has to prove her loyalty to her friends while also dealing with her gratitude towards Lucius.