Author's Note: Thank you so much to all of you who have stuck with this fanfic. I realize the story is moving a bit slow, but I promise that I DO intend to finish it and will post more regularly. This is the first fanfic I have ever written and I am still deciding where to go with the story. I sincerely appreciate all the reviews, those defintely motive me! Love to all my loyal readers.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all the charaters.

Previously...

Hermione gave a mental sigh of relief. She supposed she should break off the kiss now, pity- the man she was kissing was quite good at it. She could almost lose herself in the searing heat of his soft lips...mmm…maybe she would indulge for just a little longer.

Chapter 4

"Malfoy! What in bloody hell are you doing!" was the roar that split Draco's eardrum before the girl in his arms was ripped from his embrace.

Draco's eyes snapped open and locked onto an incensed Blaise who was looming over him like a death head and who was also unfortunately blocking his view of his mystery kisser. Blaise was standing protectively in front of the girl and all Draco could make out was the top of a cinnamon head.

Although from Blaise's expression he had more pressing things to be worried about at the moment.

With a speed that surprised Draco, Blaise advanced on him until they were toe-to-toe, and his voice, low and dangerous, ground out, "Answer. The. Bloody. Question. Malfoy."

Draco gaped at Blaise. He had never seen Blaise truly angry before. His mouth opened to respond but he was promptly cut off.

"Blaise! I've been looking for you all night! Where have you been!"

Blaise whipped around, leaving Draco an unobstructed view of the speaker.

His breath caught. He had been right. Before him stood a vision of luscious curls, luminous skin, and sparkling eyes.

Thick cinnamon curls flowed in a cascading style around a heart-shaped face with high cheek bones and a complexion in full bloom. She had well-defined features, with a dainty nose, rather pouty lips, and large doe-like eyes framed with long dark lashes.

Though the coloring was not considered fashionable (blonde hair and blue eyes were ala mode these days) and the features not traditionally beautiful, no one with eyes could deny that the creature before him was lovely.

What made her truly exquisite was the vibrant expression in her eyes as she glared (was she glaring?)…yes, definitely glaring...at Blaise.

She was also petite, a mere five-foot-three perhaps and Draco's height advantage gave him a delightful view of her décolletage. Her French-style off-the-shoulder periwinkle gown tastefully displayed creamy breasts that were both full and firm. Her slender waist was made even more so by the corseted style of the dress-

"Well are you just going to stand there gawking at me or are you going to actually answer the question?"

Draco's eyes quickly snapped up to her face. He flushed guiltily at being caught so blatantly ogling. However she wasn't looking at him, her attention was still directed at Blaise. Close call.

Blaise glowered at her, putting his hands on his hips, "Where have I been, you ask? Where have I been!" he ranted. "I have been looking for you all night! And where do I find you? Ruining your reputation by letting MALFOY – London's most notorious rake – kiss you!"

"I'm right here you know!" Draco protested, but was ignored.

"Malfoy?" Hermione murmured thoughtfully, and then brightened with realization. "Oh! This must be the Marquis Draco Malfoy that you are always talking about! And he didn't kiss me, I kissed him so please stop making a scene. And I thought you held the title of London's most notorious rake."

Blaise's spluttered like a fish, opening and closing his mouth wordlessly. Then he regained his composure and pinned Hermione with a hard look, "Do you mean to tell me that you didn't even know who he was before you kissed him!"

"I do believe that should be quite obvious from my previous statement," Hermione replied with a grin.

"Hermione! I am hardly in the mood for your cheek!" Blaise ranted. He began pacing back and forth and emphasizing his words with wild arm gestures. "Why in God's name would you kiss Malfoy! It's just…it's just…unsanitary! I mean, do you have any idea where those lips have been! Not to mention the irreparable damage you could have done to your reputation had anyone else stumbled upon you. This is England, not France…you can't just go around bloody kissing all and sundry…anything is scandal here!"

"There's nothing wrong with my lip!"

"Language Blaise!"

"I'll damn well curse as much as I want-"

"I had no choice but to kiss Lord Malfoy." Hermione sighed, her brother was really overreacting. It was his idea that she come to this ball, and to England, in the first place. He was the one who thought it was time for her to find a husband – despite the fact that she had repeatedly stated the contrary. "I had to kiss him in order to keep him from disclosing my hiding place to that wolf in idiot's clothing who has been stalking me all night, Lord Gilderoy Lockhart."

Blaise abruptly stopped his tirade and blinked and then blinked again digesting this information. Lockhart was pretty bad, he didn't blame her for trying to get away, but still…

"Pardon me?" asked Draco dangerously.

Hermione looked at Draco and really looked at him for the first time. Tall, chiseled features, elegantly athletic frame, and unbelievably blond. Lord Malfoy was handsome, devastatingly handsome – the kind of handsome that made women swoon. Luckily for Hermione, her brother was also devastatingly handsome so she was immune to swooning. That Lord Malfoy was handsome shouldn't have taken Hermione by surprise (she highly doubted Blaise had any ugly friends), but somehow it did and Hermione was so surprised by the fact that said the first thing that popped into her mind, "You don't look like a ferret."

Blaise couldn't help it, for the second time that night laughter burst from him (this really wasn't helping his aloof reputation – even if they were hidden in a side hallway). Blaise didn't miss the fact that his sister's blunt statement meant that besides not knowing the name of the man she had been kissing, Hermione also didn't know what he looked like (he would certainly chew her out for that later) - but the bright red color of Malfoy's face was absolutely, positively priceless! His indignant spluttering was pretty funny too. Blaise had never seen Draco so unnerved and he had no qualms about laughing at Draco's expense. In fact it probably saved Draco from a black eye.

Hermione blushed furiously when she realized what she'd said.

"Of course I don't!" Draco spat

"Of course you don't," Hermione agreed quickly. "I am terribly sorry; I didn't mean to offend you. In fact one might actually consider it a compliment!" Hermione knew she was babbling, she always talked too much and too fast when she got nervous. "It's just that Harry always calls you Ferret-Face you see, so naturally one would assume that there would be a resemblance but there clearly isn't so that's why I was quite surprised-"

Blaise roared with laughter and had to wipe away the tears streaming from his eyes.

Draco's eyes narrowed dangerously at his gasping friend.

Hermione fidgeted and opened her mouth to continue, but Blaise was quicker.

Holding up a hand up to halt any comments (and possibly to help stave off his laughter) Blaise collected himself, although he was unable to keep the large grin off his face. "Hermione, may I introduce Lord Draco Malfoy. Draco, my I introduce my darling sister Lady Hermione Granger."