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Year xxx1:
It’s New Year’s Eve and Hermione finds herself unaccompanied at the annual New Year’s Eve Ball held by the Ministry. Despite her best efforts to keep herself in high spirits, she still felt slightly miserable and, quite honestly, lonely. It’s not even Valentine’s Day, yet all the couple are all lovey dovey on the dance floor. And even though she believes herself to be a strong independent woman who needs no man, the hopeless romantic in her can’t help but wish that she had someone special to welcome the new year with too.
It could have been Ron, but they broke up months ago, so he was a no go. Her second option was a co-worker she came to the party with, but they both knew they only came together as friends, so he, too, was a no go.
Sighing, Hermione makes her way to the buffet table to get herself more punch. Glass now filled with punch, she walks to the balcony, away from all the business and cheer in the ballroom.
And that was how she was found by Draco Malfoy, former enemy and academic rival, and now a friend and fellow employee at the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
“Why the long face, Granger? It’s New Year’s Eve! Shouldn’t you be in there getting rowdy with your Gryffindor friends?” said Draco.
“Nice to see you too, Malfoy,” replied Hermione. “Although you seem to be missing something tonight. Hmmmm let me see….”
Draco raises his eyebrow at her response.
“Ah yes! No lady companion tonight, I see. Has the great Slytherin prince lost his touch?” asked Hermione, feigning innocence with her brown, doe eyes.
“Haha, you’re a smart woman, Hermione, but you really have to work on your comebacks. Because that one just now? Yeesh.” Draco shuddered for added effect. “But you haven’t answered my question though.”
“What question?”
“Why the long face?” Draco asked again.
Hermione sighed. “It’s nothing. Just not feeling the holidays so much this year, that’s all.”
“I don’t think that’s it though. Come on now, out with it.”
“No.”
“Come on, Granger,” insisted Draco.
“No, Malfoy,” said Hermione, just a bit teasingly.
“Grangeerrrr. You know, I can do this all night. I can be really pushy when I want to.”
It might have been the alcohol or the blonde’s insistence, but Hermione was suddenly feeling extra honest, and to Draco Malfoy nonetheless! After a short pause, Hermione said, “Okay, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to laugh. I will hex you so bad if you laugh, Malfoy! I mean it!” Hermione took out her wand for good measure.
Raising his hands, Draco replied. “Okay, okay! Chill out, I promise not to laugh. Now if you would get on with it?”
In the softest voice she could muster, Hermione spit out her sentence …
Draco’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Okay, I could not make out anything from what you just said. All I heard was some mumbling. One more time, Granger.”
Hermione huffed. Taking another deep breath, she finally said, clearly this time, “I wanted a New Year’s Kiss.”
Draco blinked. “From me?”
“What? No! I meant that in general, Malfoy,” Hermione exclaimed in disbelief.
“What about the weasel? Weren’t you dating him?” Draco questioned. “And a New Year’s kiss? Seriously? Isn’t that something teenage girls wish for?”
“For someone who loves to gossip, you sure are out of touch. We broke up months ago.” Hermione took another sip of her drink before continuing. “And it’s not just some teenage girl thing. No one’s ever too old for anything! I know it’s a bit ridiculous, but I do want to experience it at least once in my life.”
“Being kissed?”
“Just as the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s.”
Both of them were silent for a while, seemingly processing everything that they talked about just now. A breeze suddenly blew by, sending a chill down Hermione’s spine. Seeing her discomfort, Draco takes off his coat and wordlessly offers it to her. Hermione takes the coat gratefully, immediately feeling a lot warmer than she was a few seconds ago.
Then suddenly, Draco breaks the silence. “Tell you what, Granger.”
“What?”
Draco faces Hermione and looks her straight in the eyes. “If you don’t have anyone to kiss by midnight, come find me.”
“And…?”
“And I’ll gladly give you your New Year’s kiss. How about that, huh?”
There was silence. And then Hermione burst out laughing. “Real funny, Malfoy. I didn’t peg you for a comedian!”
“I’m not kidding!”
“You are!”
“I’m really not, Granger.”
“Okay then,” said Hermione, calming down from her laughing fit. “What’s in it for you?” Hermione asked after a pause.
“Nothing! I’m just feeling a little generous that’s all.”
“You? Generous? The Draco I know would not do anyone a favor without anything in return,” said Hermione. “No offense,” she added.
Draco shrugged. “None taken. It’s a fair assumption.”
“So out with it, Malfoy.”
“Seriously though!” exclaimed Draco. “I don’t have any hidden motives. I get a kiss, that’s all. It’s not that big of a deal. I’m down for it if you are.”
A second passed. Two. Three. Then, Hermione nodded to herself and looked at Draco straight in the eyes, “Okay, then.”
Not expecting her to even consider his offer, Draco replies “What?”
“I’ll come find you if I need to.”
Draco let out a breath that he didn’t even know he was holding. Then he smirked. “Who would have thought that the great Hermione Granger,” he started, gesturing towards Hermione, “would willingly receive a kiss from a sly Slytherin such as myself,” he continued, now pointing at himself.
“Don’t get cocky. It’s only because I don’t believe you’ll actually go through with it though.”
“Whatever rocks your boat. See you later, Granger. Can’t wait for that kiss.” Draco walks toward the door, blowing Hermione a kiss before going back inside the hall.
Feeling less down, Hermione goes back into the room after a few minutes. This time, she hangs out with her friends and finds herself actually enjoying the rest of the night. They danced, and talked, danced, drank, and then danced some more. Before she knew it, it was close to midnight.
People begin to pair up minutes away from the ball drop. Feeling a little suffocated by the crowd, Hermione excuses herself from the group to get some fresh air. She makes her way towards a more secluded side of the room. And that’s where she saw him.
His back was turned towards her, but even then, Hermione could tell who he was. His platinum blonde hair gave him away easily.
“10!” People cheer as the countdown begins.
‘If you don’t have anyone to kiss by midnight, come find me.’
9…
8…
‘I’ll gladly give you your New Year’s kiss.’
7…
Fate sure was a funny thing because there she was, a few seconds away from midnight, standing a few feet away from Draco Malfoy. For a long second, Hermione considers approaching him first.
6…
She takes a deep breath and makes one step.
5…
And then another step.
4…
Hermione was just a few more steps away when Draco’s figure moves to the side, revealing a pretty woman talking to him. Surprised, Hermione takes a step back.
It seems like the decision has been made for her.
3… 2…
The fireworks go off and the pair kiss.
Hermione turns away and sighs.
“Guess he hasn’t lost his touch after all...”