When Draco Met Hermione

Chapter 15: New Year

Hermione dropped Draco off at his apartment and drove back to Chelsea to get ready for the party that evening. She had no idea how she was going to get into her dress after eating heaps of pasta, but she figured a quick nap would do the trick.

At quarter past six, Hermione's alarm clock woke her up and she lazily made into the shower to get herself ready for the party. She slid into a bath and was out by seven o'clock. Hermione looked in the mirror and could just imagine the women who would be at the party. Fancy, tall, gorgeous women. Draco women. With a sigh, Hermione went into her closet and pulled out a dress bag. Inside was a simple taupe dress. The satin material contrasted beautifully with Hermione's dark hair and eyes. Her ivory complexion seemed brighter in the dress. Hermione smiled and found the jewelry box on her vanity. She slipped the necklace on her neck and nearly gasped at her reflection. A simple wave of her wand and Hermione's long locks were swept into an elegant pile of curls. 'Not bad at all,' thought Hermione as she slipped on her shoes. Another wave of her wand and her make-up looked flawless. Just then she heard a knock on her door.

~*~

Draco Malfoy was a no fuss type of guy. At least he liked to think that he was. Tonight was very important to him, mainly because it was a political opportunity for him, as well as a business one. It was also New Year's Eve, and he was spending it with his best friend, who was a girl, he reminded himself as an image of Blaise in a tight dress made him wince. Draco had on his tux feeling pretty good about his reflection. With a wink at his mirror who sounded as if it was swooning, Draco made his way downstairs to the limousine that would take him and Hermione to the party.

~*~

Silence. That was all Hermione heard when she had opened her door to let Draco in. Silence. She thought she looked bloody fantastic and her amazing prat of a best friend was just staring at her in silence!!!!!

"Well, you better say something pretty fast before I take this stupid dress off and eat a whole gallon of the gelato you brought me back!" Hermione was fuming, her face flushed, and her eyes were dark pools of anger.

"Oh...well, umm..." Draco stammered as he tried his hardest to put all the dirty thoughts running around like mad in his mind back in their proper place. He took Hermione's hand and pulled her closer. "You look divine. Let's go get sloshed and eat some fancy food, then I can show you off to all my man-friends, then manage to leave the party with you unscathed." Smirk in place, Draco cocked his head to one side, puppy dog eyes in place. Hermione could hardly resist, plus, he looked absolutely dashing in his tuxedo, but she would never tell him that. She playfully hit him with her clutch and reached into the hall closet for her winter cloak. She slipped on a pair of gloves that matched her dress and clasped on a diamond cuff on her right hand. Draco was in awe of his best friend. All her little movements were enchanting. The way she scrunched up her nose, the way she carefully swished her wand all over her and muttered several beauty charms that kept her hair and makeup immaculate. The way she slipped on her gloves on and transfigured her key holder into a diamond cuff.

Hermione was staring into the mirror making final adjustments to her appearance when she caught a sight of Draco leaning against the door frame, his gaze transfixed on her. She smiled a little and was pleased to see that she might just be as pretty as all his supermodel and actress girlfriends. She liked how he seemed so peaceful, yet intent while he watched her fix little details. His smile always made her feel warm and loved, his eyes always seemed so icy, yet they were always laughing....

"Ahem." Hermione jumped a bit out of her reverie and turned to face Draco who was holding the door open for her. Hermione adjusted her cloak on her shoulders and stepped out into the hallway and into Draco's arms as he led her to the limo.

~*~

The Plaza was spectacular. Draco and Hermione entered the hall where cocktails were being served before the dinner started. Rich red and gold accents sparkled around them. Draco looked at Hermione and thought that if she had gone to Hogwarts, she surely would have been in Gryffindor, and the red and gold room would have gathered a more enthusiastic reaction than the one Hermione was already having.

"Draco, this place is amazing!" Hermione stared wide-eyed at all the sparkling diamonds on the women's necks and wrists. Her gaze tore away from the jewels to take a look in the ballroom where the band was setting up. She turned to look at Draco who was grinning wildly.

"You know, I believe you were brought up pretty well Granger. You really should stop gawking like a street urchin. It isn't very becoming and people are starting to stare."

"Shut up. I was merely taken aback by all the grandeur that this place has to offer. I was brought up well and we were by no means destitute, but we never threw our money around and pranced about in fancy shoes and ate caviar off of these detestable crackers." Hermione set down the napkin she was holding and walked towards the bar to get a glass of champagne.

Draco followed suit and leaned against the bar next to Hermione. "I was kidding. The way you're dressed tonight, you definitely fit in with all the grandeur." Hermione blushed a bit and was about to return the compliment when a loud, screechy sound interrupted her thoughts.

"Draco?!!!!!! Malfoy?!!!!! Oh my stars, it is you!" Both Draco and Hermione turned around to face the direction of where the offending screeches were coming from. They were soon face to face with a large blond head and what seemed like several hundred yards of pink taffeta and lace charging towards Draco. Draco soon found himself being embraced by the pink-taffeta creature. He politely pulled back from the embrace, and his look of confusion turned into a sour frown.

"Pansy, what a surprise." Hermione sipped her champagne and quietly watched to see the exchange that was about to happen.

"Oh Draco, darling, it's been too long really!" Hermione gathered that she had to be a family friend from England, with the accent and all, that, and her familiarity with her best friend. "Your mum contacted my mum and told me about this fantastic party that these silly muggles are throwing and she told me that you were going to be here and so Milicent and me flooed right over. We're staying in this place as well. I must say, it must be nice to be muggle and roaring rich, eh? And you will never believe how well I've adjusted to life here, although your mum did say that this place is awfully dreadful, and she was hoping that perhaps I can convince you to come home, but I truly like it here, and we do have this squib for a maid and it's lovely and you look so dashing, and....hold on....who is she?" Pansy pointed a long pink nail in the direction of Hermione who at the moment was minding her own business. Pansy stared at her with such icy anger that Hermione could swear there was a chill in the room.

"Oh, well, Pansy, this is my best friend here in the States, Hermione Granger." Hermione held out her hand to take Pansy's, but Pansy just looked her up and down, sideways, and her gaze finally landed on the necklace on Hermione's neck.

"What a pretty bobble you've got there. Is that how you're paid? What pretty, shiny things you must get." Hermione stared at the blond witch with wide eyes and a deep desire to hurt her. How dare she insinuate that she was some harlot on the streets of New York who was paid by men? The nerve!

Hermione walked closer to Pansy until they were eye to eye. "I will have you know that I too am a witch and pretty skilled at unforgivable curses. I was the top student in Salem Academy, top student at the muggle university I attended, and now editor of a witch magazine here in New York. I have a lovely flat and better bottom that you have, although under that pink monstrosity, I wonder what else you're hiding, and this is my real hair color. So you can take your insipid self back to London, or at least across the room." Hermione stepped back, grabbed hold of Draco's arm, and dragged him into the ballroom where dinner was about to be served. He looked over his shoulder to a speechless Pansy. With a little wave, he and Hermione entered the ballroom to find their table. Once they were seated, they sat in silence, each waiting for the other to break it. Draco decided that he had to explain who Pansy was.

"I was engaged to her, well, betrothed to her when we were younger, and well, before you-know-who was pummeled by well, Harry. She's a royal pain in every part of my body, and I apologize for her behavior. I will be sure to contact my mum and she'll see to it that she never attends anything I'm attending with you ever again." Draco looked at Hermione, searching for some emotion in her eyes. She was silent for a few more moments, and then she smiled. "You're friend was a complete cow, but I do hope she stops by our table, I forgot to mention a few things to her."

Dinner was served and Hermione and Draco spent most of the evening talking to the people at their table, and accepting dances from all over the room. The big clock that was set up showed that it was 11:40 p.m. Just moments before midnight.

"This is the last dance before the new year! Pick someone you want to bring the New Year in with and get back on the dance floor!!" The band leader struck up a slower song as couples walked towards the dance floor. Draco made his way through the crowd quickly and was glad to see Hermione was without a partner. He held out his hand and led her to the middle of the dance floor. They danced to the music before either spoke.

"I'm glad you shaved that ridiculous beard you were sporting for a while. Now I can see you face." Hermione looked up and smiled.

"Well, glad to know that my face is so appealing." Hermione playfully swatted him on his back as they twirled around the dance floor, acting much sillier than anyone around them. They each took turns dipping each other, as well as attempting to do the tango, which was regrettably the worse dance performance of their lives. Hermione was back in Draco's arms, her head resting on his shoulder. "I really want to thank you for taking me out tonight."

Draco lifted her chin so that she was facing him. "Don't be daft. The next New Year's eve, if neither of us is with anybody, you've got me to spend it with."

"Deal." Hermione put her cheek against Draco's, "With these blasted heels on, we can now dance cheek to cheek."

"Right," said Draco, not knowing why he felt complete at that very moment.

The song stopped playing, and the band leader turned around to face the crowd, "Ten seconds till New Year!"

...ten...nine....eight....

"Hey," said Draco, pulling Hermione towards the patio, "let's go get some air." They stepped outside, the cold winter wind hitting them, they a warm gust afterwards. Several outdoor heaters were scattered about the patio. Draco took off his jacket and draped them on Hermione's shoulders as they watched the party from the open doors.

...six.....five....four...three...two...ONE...Happy New Year!!! "Auld Lange Syne" began to play as the people in the party hugged and kissed in celebration of the new year. Outside, Draco and Hermione watched. Draco turned to Hermione and awkwardly gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug. Hermione returned the kiss and hug, feeling a bit awkward herself. "Happy New Year," they both mumbled as they walked back into the ballroom, not knowing why they felt so odd.