Just a little something new from me to you. I planned to post this chapter yesterday, but after spending the morning with doctors I didn't feel like doing much of anything once I got home. Anyhow, I hope you like it. And remember - I own nothing.

Chapter 1
Draco Malfoy was a notorious playboy.

It was a reputation he had acquired during his days at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and now years removed from his schoolboy days, it was one that had stuck. It was better than the Death Eater moniker, which still haunted his father. Playboy was one he was fine with as it provided a constant rotation of female company. Never did he allow the same girl on his arm twice, and they were never allowed to awaken in his bed in the morning.

New Years Eve was when it all began.

Hermione Granger stood by the makeshift bar. Though she avoided imbibing, her friends seemed to have no qualms about partaking in the open bar. After ordering a ginger ale, she abandoned her post for fresh air. Fresh snow had begun to fall and she wished she had thought to bring her jacket. The beauty of the wintry weather was quickly diminished when she caught side of Ron Weasley snogging a familiar brunette.

"And now I know where my date went."

She turned around to find Draco Malfoy standing behind her. He seemed to have little concern for the sight before him, and she wondered how he could be so Ron was her ex-boyfriend, she often believed they would get back together. After all, they had broken up three times, and a month later were back together. It seemed now, though, that that may not be an option.

"Come with the Weasel?" he asked, moving down a step so they stood side by side.

Hermione shook her head. "Just a group of friends," she replied. "Harry's inside if you're bored and need someone to make fun of. If you don't mind, I'm not in the mood to fill that role for you tonight."

"I just stepped out to get some air, Granger. Don't get ahead of yourself," he said, his tone as arrogant as ever. "Not speaking to you for the rest of the night wouldn't upset me in the slightest."

"Then why are you still here?" she asked. Without giving him the chance to reply, she turned around and rejoined the party.

It wasn't until 11:55 that she saw him again. She was once again standing by the bar, watching couples dance to the loud, pounding music, when Draco approached. He ordered a tumbler of firewhiskey and downed it in one sip. He quickly ordered another, then turned to her. "I haven't seen you have a drink once tonight," he observed, sipping his second drink more slowly.

"I don't drink," she replied, refusing to look his way.

"Not one for parties either, I assume," he added. Her only response was to cross her arms over her chest and take a step to her left to put more space between them. "It's almost midnight, you know."

"Yes, I know how to tell time," she muttered just loudly enough to be heard over the racket. He stood close now, far too close. The smell of firewhiskey permeated the air around them as he breathed. "Did your parents never teach you about personal space?"

Smirking, he backed up half an inch, and raised his eyebrows as if to ask if that was better. Scoffing, she stepped away from him again, and Draco stayed in place. "Any thoughts on who you're kissing at midnight?" he asked, finishing his drink.

"Certainly not you, if that's what you were thinking," she retorted. Several strands of brown curls slipped from the elastic that held her ponytail in place. She pulled it out, letting her curls fall, before trying to fix it.

Draco tucked a few strands behind her ear and breathed against her neck. "Weasley and Astoria Greengrass are watching us," he informed her. "Care to make them jealous?"

"Not in the slightest," she replied.

But she did nothing to push him away. Draco smirked against her neck and took her hands in his. He placed them on his shoulders, then put his own hands on her hips. He swayed gently despite the thumping bass provided by the fast paced song. "Are they looking?" he asked.

Rising onto the balls of her feet, she briefly peered over Draco's shoulder to find two sets of eyes - blue and green - glared intently at them. "They're looking," she confirmed. "Care to tell me why we're doing this?"

He stood tall, his back rigid beneath her fingertips. "You don't remember her?" he asked, his eyes fixed on a point above her head. She gave no reply, though he never looked anywhere but at the clock high above her head. "Well, it doesn't matter. What matters is it's less than one minute til midnight, and I have no one to kiss."

Her hands fell from his shoulders, dropping her arms to her sides. "Oh," she said, trying to extricate herself from his hold. "You should probably find someone then."

His hold on her tightened as he smiled. "The counting has begun," he said as all around them guests began to count down from twenty. "Eighteen, seventeen..."

"Don't you dare, Malfoy," Hermione said through clenched teeth.

"Fourteen, thirteen, twelve," he continued.

She looked past his shoulder again to find that Ron continued to eye her. His neck had turned red, and it was beginning to spread to his chin, cheeks, and ears. Perhaps he was jealous, she mused. Perhaps if she allowed Draco to kiss her, Ron would make up his mind - be with her forever or break up for good.

"Eight, seven," Draco whispered in her ear. "Thinking about which hex to use on me?"

She turned her attention back to Draco, wide eyed and tight-mouthed. "No," she said breathlessly.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Around them, couples kissed, friends cheered, and hugs were shared.

But in the corner by the bar, two enemies were locked in a passionate kiss that neither had expected. Draco had planned to kiss her, but Hermione seemed to have taken charge before the countdown was complete. He held her tighter and closer as the kiss deepened and her fingers caressed the hair at the nape of his neck. So wrapped up in the kiss were they that they failed to notice that all eyes were on them.

Someone whistled, another cat-called, and Hermione pulled away. Opening her eyes slowly, it suddenly dawned on her that she had snogged Draco Malfoy in front of a room full of people. Her eyes widened and she wrenched herself away from him.

"I have to go," was the last thing she said to him before she disappeared that night.