Collide

And this is the last worthless evening
That you'll have to spend, baby
Just gimme a chance, gimme a chance
To show you love again.

--Don Henley

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, I'd like for you to meet Millicent Bulstrode," Harry said shyly, hand tightly grasping Millicent's.

"It's so nice to meet you, Millicent," Molly said warmly.

"It's nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you for inviting me," Millicent said, shaking hands with the older woman. She was scared to death of meeting the people that Harry considered his parents, but hid it well.

"Bulstrode...Bulstrode..." Arthur said softly. "Where do I...your father heads up the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad..." he said, snapping his fingers. "Charles Bulstrode...good man...good man..."

Millicent smiled as she extended her hand. "He's spoken highly of you as well, Mr. Weasley." As they shook hands, Molly poked her husband.

"It's delightful to meet you, Millicent," Arthur said.

"So where is this young man of Hermione's?" Molly asked, glancing around. Bill was at the Burrow with Fleur. They'd announced their engagement at Christmas and Molly was beside herself with joy. Charlie had already returned to Romania. Hermione's parents were currently speaking to Bill about his cursebreaking work. Hermione was in the kitchen talking to Fleur about France. The twins were huddled with Angelina and Alicia in the corner, plotting something. Percy was still not speaking to the Weasleys. Ron had yet to make an appearance. And Ginny had invited Neville Longbottom, of all people, to her family's New Year's Eve party.

"Blaise will be here," Harry said.

Molly lowered her voice and said in a conspiratorial tone. "And is he good to Hermione?"

"Blaise has been my friend for six years and, aside from Harry, I've never met more of gentleman," Millicent defended her friend. Glancing at Harry, she saw he was blushing.

A knock on the door drew Molly away from the conversation. Arthur took advantage of her absence to grill Harry about exactly what a ViTo did. Molly hurried to the door. Opening it, she found a dark-haired young man about Harry's height standing on the doorstep.

"Hello," she said warily.

"You must be Mrs. Weasley," the young man said, smiling. "I'm Blaise Zabini, Hermione's...friend."

Upon hearing that this was Hermione's young man, Molly's entire attitude changed. "Do come in," she said, fussing over him.

"I brought this," he said shyly as he removed several bottles of wine from his robes.

Molly glanced at the label. "You're not that Zabini, are you?"

Blaise ducked his head and flushed slightly. "I'm afraid I am."

"Why don't you take off your robes?" Molly said, helping him shrug out of them. Folding them over one arm, she turned toward the living room. "Hermione's in the kitchen, I believe," she added with a smile.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."

As much as he wanted to run into the kitchen and snog the living daylights out of his girlfriend who he hadn't seen for almost a week, he knew the polite thing to do would be greet those in the living room.

"Hi, Millie," he said, pulling the tall girl into a hug. "Happy New Year!" Turning to Harry, he held out his hand and said sincerely, "Nice to see you, P--Harry."

"Happy New Year to you as well," Harry said.

"What took you so long?" Millicent asked.

"I had to help Theo pick out something to wear to Hannah's party," Blaise replied, rolling his eyes. "You know how he gets."

"Yes, I do," she replied with a grin. When she turned to explain about Theo's idiosyncrasies, Blaise excused himself and made his way to the kitchen. Before he made it there, he spotted the Grangers speaking to a tall bloke with long red hair.

"Hello, Dr. Granger," Blaise said, shaking hands with Hermione's father.

"Blaise, good to see you."

"Dr. Granger, you look lovely this evening," Blaise said, extending his hand.

"Why thank you," she replied, pulling him into a hug. Over her shoulder, he noticed Hermione's father tilt an imaginary glass toward his mouth. "Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, Dr. Granger," he replied, patting her awkwardly on the back before twisting out of her grasp.

"I'm Bill," said the redhead. "Bill Weasley."

"You're the cursebreaker," Blaise said excitedly.

Bill chuckled. This boy was almost as enthusiastic about Bill's job as Hermione was; it was no wonder they were well-suited. He soon found himself sucked into a long conversation about cursebreaking and Gringotts with the Slytherin.

Hermione exited the kitchen and was astounded to see Blaise utterly absorbed in a conversation with Bill. She stood in the doorway, watching for a moment as he gestured with his hands to emphasize some point. Bill nodded and smiled. Hermione still couldn't believe that she'd never noticed Blaise until a few short months ago; he was so easy to talk to ('and handsome, too,' she added silently although she doubted that Bill was impressed by that). Bill clapped Blaise on the shoulder, laughing about something before he pointed to the doorway. Blaise turned and smiled at her. She wanted to rush over and fling herself into his embrace, but after the lecture she'd gotten from her mother on 'inappropriate displays of affection,' she knew better. ('Do you think I wouldn't like to just grab your father and snog him in public?' Dr. Granger had said. Hermione had winced and forced the mental images out of her mind.)

She settled for meeting him halfway and hugging him briefly. "Hello," she said.

"Ciao, bella," he murmured into her hair before she pulled way.

She held his hand. "My parents are..."

He smiled. "Already spoke with them. Your mother hugged me."

"I think she's a little tipsy," Hermione confided.

Leaning closer, he whispered, "And you?"

"Perfectly sober."

"Oh," he said in a disappointed tone.

"I wanted all my senses about me when I kissed you at midnight."

"Oh," he said more brightly.

************************************

Hermione knocked hesitantly on the door. "Ron, may I come in?"

There was no reply so she slowly pushed open the door. Ron was stretched out on his bed, hands behind his head, looking up at the ceiling. She perched at the foot of the bed.

"The party's going on."

"Don't feel much like celebrating," he said, shrugging.

"Why not?"

He continued staring at the ceiling. After several minutes of silence, he confessed, "Lavender broke up with me."

"Oh, Ron. I'm sorry."

"Said she couldn't take knowing if I would live or die." He snorted. "We've been going out longer than you and Zabini and Harry and Millie. And yet she can't be bothered to stick around."

"You're better off without her," Hermione said without thinking.

Another shrug. "Maybe." The silence stretched on for several more minutes. "I've been thinking. If one of us has to sacrifice ourselves, it should be me."

"WHAT?!?" Hermione shrieked.

Ron sat up to face her. "Think about it. Harry's made more sacrifices than anyone. He deserves to be happy. And you...you're the smartest person I know. I'm sure you're meant to go on to great things."

"And you don't deserve happiness?"

He shrugged a third time. "It's not like anyone will miss me."

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, how dare you say such a thing! Of course people will miss you. Harry would miss you. I would miss you, you git. Your family would miss you. Just because Lavender Brown is an arse doesn't mean that no one cares about you. You're being completely..." Her sentence was cut off by Ron's lips pressed to his. Shocked, it took her a moment to tear her mouth away. "Ron, what are you doing?"

"I just thought..."

"We tried this last year, remember? And we both decided it was too weird," she said patiently. "And besides that I'm...I'm in love with Blaise." It was the first time she'd admitted it to anyone else beside Blaise.

Ron blinked twice. "You love him, Hermione?"

She nodded. "I do."

Ron sighed and buried his face in his hands. "I'm sorry."

She patted him on the shoulder. "It's all right." Standing, she held out her hand. "Come on down to the party."

"All right."

******************************

"Longbottom, right?" Blaise said to the sandy-haired boy standing awkwardly by the punch bowl.

"Yes," Neville said, looking startled.

"I'm Blaise, Blaise Zabini," the taller boy said, sticking his hand out. Neville stared at his hand for a moment before shaking it enthusiastically. "You're here with Ginny?"

Neville blushed. "She's been helping me with Potions. I think she invited me so that I wouldn't have to spend New Year's with my Gran."

Blaise's gaze slid to where Ginny was huddled with Angelina and Hermione. Looking back at Neville, he grinned slyly. "I wouldn't be so sure about that." He almost laughed as Neville's mouth dropped open in astonishment.

"G-ginny l-likes m-me?" Neville stammered out.

Blaise shrugged. "I don't think you should be asking me that question." He glanced at his watch. "Hey, it's almost midnight. Good luck, Neville," he said softly before sauntering off to his girlfriend.

"Ladies," he said, interrupting their conversation. "Happy New Year to all of you." He paused. "Ginny, Neville said something about wanting to speak to you."

"All right," she said, making her way to the punch bowl. Angelina excused herself so she could find Fred before midnight.

"And what are you so happy about?" Hermione said, leaning against him.

"I'm here with my best girl on New Year's Eve. Why wouldn't I be happy?" he asked, arm snaking around her shoulders.

She tilted her head up. "Your best girl?" she repeated, nose wrinkling.

Blaise shrugged. "Read it in a muggle novel once."

"Hmm," she said noncommittally as her own arm wound around his waist. She tugged on him.

"Where are we going?" He was being steered out of the kitchen door.

"I'd like to be alone with you at midnight," she admitted bashfully.

They stood outside underneath the stars, arms wrapped around each other. "What did you and Ron talk about?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

"Lavender broke up with him."

"Mmm."

"And he offered to sacrifice himself. Claimed that no one would care about him."

"Is that why you kissed him?"

Her head snapped up, almost catching him in the chin. "Y-you...were spying on us?" she said harshly, eyes narrowing.

"I was looking for the bathroom and got detoured. This isn't exactly the easiest place to get around in," Blaise explained. "Honestly."

Hermione sighed. "I didn't kiss him. He kissed me." She paused. "And it wasn't the first time we'd kissed." He arched an eyebrow. "Last year, we were commiserating about how we'd never...you know...kissed anyone...so we...snogged a few times," she said haltingly.

"Millie and I snogged a few times fifth year," he owned up. "It was too weird. Like kissing a sister or something."

"I know what you mean." She tucked back against his chest and he rested his chin on the top of her head. From inside, they could hear everyone counting down.

Ten.

"Hermione, I want you to promise me something."

Nine.

"What is it?"

Eight.

"When the three of you decide to run off to do this...I want you to tell me."

Seven.

"Why?"

Six.

"Because I deserve to know."

Five.

"What's the real reason?"

Four.

"I want to go with you."

Three.

"You can't."

Two.

"You said it yourself, the translation could read many."

One.

"All right."

Happy New Year!

"You promise?"

"I said I did."

"Good."

"Blaise?"

"Hmm?"

"Aren't you going to kiss me?"

"Oh, yes, of course."

**********************************

Five minutes to midnight, Harry excused himself from his conversation with George. He found Millicent talking animatedly in French with Fleur and smiled. He couldn't believe how smart, and talented, and pretty Millicent Bulstrode was. And the fact that she liked him too--and wasn't hung up on anyone else--boggled his mind.

"Do you mind if I borrow Millie for a few minutes?" he asked Fleur.

"Nous parlerons plus tard," Fleur said, smiling indulgently at Harry.

"Au revoir, Fleur," Millicent said as Harry led her away. They walked up the stairs to the first landing. "What's the matter?"

Harry shrugged. "I didn't fancy everyone watching me snog...er, kiss...you."

"Why would you snog...er, kiss...me?" she asked innocently.

"Well...er...it is almost midnight," he stammered, blushing.

Millicent burst out laughing. "I was just teasing."

"Oh."

"And you damned well better snog me at midnight."

He straightened suddenly. "Why wait until midnight?" he asked, feeling more confident. Without waiting for an answer, he leaned forward and kissed Millicent. Several seconds later, her mouth opened under his and he slipped his tongue in. She made a small sound in the back of her throat. He drew back just as the countdown was beginning downstairs. "Er, Millie?"

"Yes?" Her eyes were still closed and a smile played over her lips.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

Millicent's eyes popped open before narrowing suddenly. "Is this some kind of joke?"

Harry looked stunned. "N-no. I really like you. And I'd like for you to be my girlfriend."

"Really?"

"Er, yes."

"I'm sorry. It's just that no one's ever asked me that before."

"Their loss," he mumbled as he kissed her again.