411:

Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. On the terrace of Mr. Zabini's villa. Italy.

Draco Malfoy took a healthy gulp of espresso while he got a good look at Bella Magazine. At which point he spat out his drink. All over one thoroughly irritated Blaise Zabini. Shame, those were his favorite trousers. Damn, Versace too. (When one grew up with substantial Italian wealth, one would be wise to give into Muggle fashion. Besides... they were amazing with silk.)

"You did that on purpose!"

Ignoring his friend's dire fashion emergency -because mostly everything pertaining to his friend were- Draco jabbed at the tabloid.

"Blaise! Guess who's on the cover of Bella? Granger. Hermione fucking Granger."

"...and?

He stared at his friend incredulously. "I don't get why everyone likes her so much!" he exclaimed. He ran a hand through his platinum hair. "I mean...it's bloody irritating is what it is! I can't even escape her in Italy? Merlin. Why is she everywhere?"

Blaise lifted a shoulder gracefully. "She is very popular. And beautiful," he added dreamily.

"You know," Draco said slowly, "I haven't seen her in...two years. Even when working with the Order she was always like...on different missions and tasks. His eyes narrowed as his friend's words sank in. "Blaise. You could get any girl you want, and you choose her ?" He sniffed haughtily. " I think she's out of your league."

"Hey. That's my future girlfriend you're talking about," Blaise paused, dabbing at his stained tie. "I think you're jealous of the attention she gets." At Draco's sputtering he said, "And if you think about it logically, she is most certainly not . If anything, I'm out of her league."

"How do you know?" Draco leaned back, the front legs of his chair rising.

Blaise sighed, exasperated. "You've never read any of the articles on her, have you?" He picked up the magazine, and read in smooth, lilting Italian. " Hermione Granger. E una magnifica ragazza " He looked up to see Draco staring at their subject's moving picture. "Hermione Granger. She is a gorgeous woman. Need I go further?"

Draco scowled. "I understand Italian fine, thank you." He tilted his head, most assuredly, admiring the view.

"She really looks like that?"

Blaise glanced at the picture. "Yes. Magick Maven is really nasty about her though. The most recent article said that she uses all these cosmetic charms." Then his voice dropped to a whisper. "And that she even did that Muggle face shape-reformation method. Paslatic Surgery or whatever."

At the last comment Draco looked horrified. "Merlin forbid." Then more curiously, "She doesn't use cosmetic charms?"

Blaise smiled inwardly. "No. It's all real." He groaned as Magazine Hermione bit her lip, smiling shyly.

Draco looked at the picture critically. Oh. My. Merlin She had a glowing complexion that complimented her honey coloured hair. Hair that seemed to have the texture of shimmering silk. Luminescent amber eyes were fringed with long, dark lashes. Her full lips were a sweet pink, and the bottom lip was plumper than the top, exuding a pouty look.

Blaise grinned. "Isn't she completely veela-worthy?"

He croaked. Flushing, he tried, "Um... she's okay."

Blaise looked at him skeptically. "I admire your ability to keep up a barrier, even subconsciously." He paused, letting his words sink in. "But one wonders," he continued slowly, "what one's friend is so desperately trying to hide."

Draco silently scrabbled for an excuse as to his unusual lack of words. "One's friend wonders how Granger's once un-appealing hair now looks so damned sexy."

"I always thought it looked hot in a 'I've just been shagged' kind of way."

"Damn, I wonder what her body looks like."

Blaise smirked. "She looks like sex on a stick. And you won't have to."

Draco stared at him. "What do y-"

He was interrupted with a soft, feminine, "Blaise?"

To Be Continued...

A Wizarding Cosmo of sorts...