A popular plotline is when Draco and Hermione are forced to work together in a secret mission. This might be to find a hidden magical artifact that could either save or destroy the wizarding world. As they work together, Draco starts to see Hermione in a new light and helps her out of difficult situations. Also, there are plotlines where Draco helps Hermione when she is researching a very difficult and dangerous dark magic spell. He uses his family's library resources, which are extensive, to help her uncover the truth about the spell and how to counter it.
In some fanfictions, Draco helps Hermione when she gets into trouble with the Ministry of Magic. Perhaps she's being wrongly accused of something, and Draco, with his knowledge of the inner workings of the pure - blood families' influence on the Ministry, steps in to help clear her name. Another plotline is that Draco helps Hermione with her Patronus charm. He might have some unique insights from his Slytherin upbringing that actually prove useful in her mastering this difficult charm.
One common plotline is Draco secretly helping Hermione during the Triwizard Tournament. Maybe he warns her about certain dangerous tasks or provides her with a bit of insider knowledge on the challenges. Another plotline could be in a post - war scenario where Draco, trying to make amends for his past, offers his assistance to Hermione in rebuilding Hogwarts or in dealing with the remaining Death Eater threats. There are also plotlines where they are paired up for a school project and Draco, against his family's beliefs, decides to help Hermione succeed.
A frequently seen plotline is the arranged marriage one. In these fanfictions, the wizarding world's old - fashioned ways force Draco and Hermione into an arranged marriage. At first, they resist but as they get to know each other better, they fall for each other. There are also plotlines where they are competing for the same powerful magical artifact. During their rivalry, they start to respect each other's skills and intelligence which then turns into attraction. And sometimes, fanfictions have a plot where Draco saves Hermione from a dark wizard and this heroic act makes Hermione re - evaluate her feelings for him.
In some fanfictions, the baby is born in a time of danger. There could be dark wizards still out there who want to harm the baby because of its significance. This forces Hermione and Draco to go into hiding and rely on each other for protection. The baby then becomes a source of strength for them, and they grow closer as they fight to keep their family safe. This kind of plotline adds a lot of action and adventure to the story.
In some fanfictions, the plotline involves Hermione getting a tattoo that has a hidden meaning only Draco can understand. This leads to Draco being intrigued by her and trying to figure out why she got it. As he delves deeper, they start to develop feelings for each other. Another idea is that they get matching tattoos during a time - traveling adventure. They are forced to work together in a different era and the tattoos become a symbol of their bond. Also, there could be a plot where Draco is forced to get a tattoo as a punishment and Hermione, out of her kindness, helps him deal with it, which starts a whole new relationship between them.
Some fanfictions focus on the Sorting Hat ceremony in their first year. What if the Sorting Hat had a moment of indecision between Gryffindor and Slytherin for Hermione or Draco? For Hermione, it could consider her ambition and intelligence which are also traits of Slytherin. For Draco, it might see a glimmer of courage or a different side to him that could fit in Gryffindor. This moment of near - mis - sorting could be the start of an alternate universe type of fanfiction where their relationship develops in a very different way from the original story.
Often in this type of fanfiction, there's a power dynamic at play. Draco, being from a pure - blood family, might think he has the right to have Hermione as his pet. But Hermione, being the strong - willed character she is, will constantly fight against this. This creates a lot of conflict and drama. There could also be a plot where the other Hogwarts students find out about this strange relationship and either try to rescue Hermione or are confused by the change in Draco's behavior towards her.
A popular plotline is the redemption arc for Draco. In these fanfictions, Hermione might be the catalyst for his change. He realizes the error of his ways under the influence of her strong moral compass. There could also be a plotline where they are competing for the same goal, like a powerful magical artifact. As they hiss and argue throughout the competition, they gradually develop feelings for each other. Also, some fanfictions have a plot where they are both involved in a dangerous situation outside of Hogwarts, like in the wizarding underworld, and they have to rely on each other to survive.
One of the well - known authors in Draco - Hermione fanfiction is Aria Nightingale. Her stories often explore the more nuanced aspects of Draco's character transformation as he helps Hermione. Then there's E.L. James, who has a unique take on the relationship, adding a lot of depth and drama. Also, Rainbow Rowell has dabbled in this genre and her works are quite popular for their fresh take on the characters.
You can start by looking on Archive of Our Own (AO3). It has a vast collection of fanfiction, and you can simply search for 'hermione helps draco' in the search bar. There are filters available too, like rating, word count, etc., to help you find the story that suits you best.
One great fanfiction with this theme is 'A New Beginning' on FanFiction.net. It beautifully explores how Draco and Hermione put aside their past differences to co - parent. The story delves into their individual growth as they face the challenges of raising a child together. It shows how they learn from each other's parenting styles and develop a deep, platonic bond over time.
Another great fanfiction is 'Redemption's Path'. Here, Draco is struggling with the after - effects of the war and Hermione offers her help. She helps him deal with his guilt and nightmares, and through their interactions, they both grow and learn more about each other and themselves.