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.
A great idea could be a time - travel fanfiction. Hermione accidentally travels back in time to Draco's childhood. She has to blend in, so she borrows some of his clothes. Draco, as a child, is curious about this strange girl in his clothes. This interaction could change the course of their future relationship in the original timeline.
Another reaction could be confusion. Draco might not know how to feel. On one hand, he has his Slytherin pride and his clothes are part of that. But on the other hand, seeing Hermione in his clothes gives him a strange feeling in his stomach. He might end up being more curious about Hermione and her reasons for wearing his clothes.
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.
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 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.
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.
In the fanfiction, perhaps the wizarding world is in a state of chaos. Draco's family has been affected, and he has a child to take care of. Hermione, being the kind - hearted person she is, decides to step in. They might start off as reluctant allies, but as they spend more time together raising the child, they begin to understand each other better. Hermione could introduce the child to different cultures within the wizarding world, expanding their horizons.
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.
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.
There are many different takes on this in the fanfiction world. It could be that the labor complications are part of a dark and angsty storyline where Hermione doesn't survive. But often, fanfic writers like to subvert expectations. They might have Draco play a crucial role in saving Hermione, perhaps using some magic or a newfound bond between them to overcome the complications.