A Gift Fic presented to nottheonlyfanaround for their hard work in Round 10 of the Houses Competition!

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"I hate clubs!" I shout above the pulsating, raucous music of the room.

Ginny doesn't seem to hear me, instead sashaying her way across the crowded room to the bar, holding her purse close to her chest. I scowl and follow her, more disappointed in myself for agreeing to come to this. The club is too small, at least it's filled with far too many people. Too densely packed. I cringe when arms brush against mine, and shudder when a dancing couples bump into me. When a tall figure slams into me, I stumble backwards and cry out.

"Watch it," I say, cursing. No drink has spilled on me, so that's positive, and the man in front of me looks both confused and completely gorgeous. I don't know whether to hate him for bumping into me, or to be extremely pleased for the same reason.

His lips move, but I can't hear a word coming from him. I gesture to my ears, indicating that I'm deaf to whatever it is he's saying. He learns closer and speaks, lips right beside my face.

"I'm sorry," he replies. "I didn't mean to knock into you."

I smile, blushing for no real reason.

"I'll let you get back to your evening," I tell him, beginning to move off to find Ginny. Lo and behold, I cannot see her anywhere. Great. I'll just make my way to the bar and hope for the best that her hair is just as luminous in here as it is outside.

With one more look at the beautiful stranger - damn his grey eyes and blonde hair - I disappear into the crowd, only half hoping that he will rescue me from this madness. Seems unlikely, but you never know. So, I just push through the endless swathes of people, and finally reach the bar. Ginny is somewhere further down the end of it. I order my drink from here, watching her in the corner of my eye and deciding to go over to her in just a moment. She's talking animatedly to a bespectacled, dark-haired man. He seems nice, not the drug-your-drink kind. But, then again, even those who look innocent rarely are.

Someone taps me on the shoulder. I spin around, protecting my drink

"Hey," he says. Mysterious beautiful stranger from ten minutes ago. "I wanted to introduce myself."

"Why?" I ask.

He smirks and rolls his eyes in jest. "Well, when one fancies someone, it appears they are obliged to make an acquaintance. That's how things go around here, apparently."

I nod. True. "Hermione Granger," I say, holding out my hand. He shakes it.

"Draco Malfoy. Pleasure to meet you Miss Granger."

"Likewise."

Maybe I don't hate clubs all that much after all.

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Thanks for reading!