She might make fun of his pure - blood pride. For example, she could mock his family's long - held beliefs about blood purity by pointing out how silly it is in the modern wizarding world. Hermione is very intelligent and uses her sharp wit, so she might also make fun of Draco's academic shortcomings compared to her own, especially in subjects like Potions where she often outperforms him.
Hermione could make fun of Draco's posh accent and his haughty mannerisms. His way of walking around Hogwarts as if he owns the place would be an easy target for her sarcasm. She may also tease him about his group of Slytherin cronies, suggesting that they are just following him around because of his family name rather than any real friendship.
On the other hand, it could also lead to a change in their relationship. Draco might start to respect Hermione's boldness and intelligence. He could realize that his own behavior has been rather childish, and this could be a turning point in the fanfiction where they start to understand each other better, albeit reluctantly at first.
Hermione could become withdrawn. She might isolate herself from her friends for a while, spending her time in the library trying to make sense of it all. She might also feel a sense of betrayal, especially if they had some sort of understanding or relationship developing.
In some fanfictions, Draco humiliates Hermione by showing her up in front of their professors. He could answer a difficult question that Hermione was about to answer correctly but he gets there first and then makes a comment like 'Even a Mudblood should know not to be so slow' which is a really cruel way in the context of the Harry Potter universe.
Another way is through her Gryffindor courage. She won't back down from a confrontation with Draco and will use that to her advantage. If Draco tries to bully her or her friends, she'll stand up to him and tease him about his cowardice in picking on those who are weaker. For example, 'Only a coward would target someone smaller, Draco. I thought Slytherins were supposed to be brave?'
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 some fanfictions, there could be a slow - burn development. Hermione might initially despise Draco for his cruel remarks and actions. But then she starts to notice his insecurities and the pressure he is under from his family. Draco, on the other hand, might be attracted to Hermione's intelligence and courage. This gradual realization of each other's qualities builds a relationship that is fraught with the pain of their past interactions and the difficulty of changing their established opinions.
Another reason could be a dangerous situation they find themselves in. Maybe they are in a dark and spooky part of the Forbidden Forest, and Draco makes a sudden movement or noise that scares Hermione. Fanfictions often explore tense and thrilling scenarios where the characters' reactions, like Hermione's shriek, add to the drama.
Well, Draco could be very conflicted. On one hand, he has his own pride and his Slytherin upbringing which might tell him to stay away. But if he has developed deeper feelings for Hermione in the fanfic, he might put aside their past differences. He could start by using his family's resources to find a cure or at least better treatments for her cancer. He may also become more protective of her, keeping her away from those who might be unkind about her illness.
Typically, Hermione is depicted as a catalyst for change in Draco's life. She is intelligent as always, but in these fanfictions, her intelligence is sometimes used to outwit Draco in their initial interactions. However, as the story progresses, she becomes more open - minded towards him. Her loyalty to her friends still remains a core part of her character, but she starts to question whether Draco could be an exception to the rule of 'Slytherins are bad'. She may be portrayed as having a more complex emotional side, especially when it comes to her growing relationship with Draco.
She might be initially shocked. After all, Draco is usually seen as this tough Slytherin. But then she could feel sympathy. For instance, she might offer him a handkerchief without saying much at first.