A Midnight Masquerade

A masquerade, a prince, a princess, and a lost shoe. Will the prince ever find his princess again?

Prologue

"May I introduce, the lovely Cinderella." the doorman called before a beautiful girl dressed in a baby blue Victorian styled dress stepped in front of him. She had pale skin, which beautifully accented chestnut curls falling in ringlets down her back and the delicate cream-colored mask adorning her face.

"Blaise," Draco said as he elbowed his friend in the ribs, "That's the one. I'm going to go talk to her right now."

"You go get her!" Blaise encouraged as he patted him on the back.

Draco quietly strutted up behind the young maiden watching her look around nervously.

"Cinderella, I see you've made it here safely." He whispered into her ear from behind.

She jumped in surprise. "Of course, my Prince Charming, I wouldn't leave you here alone would I?"

"I would sure hope not." He replied as he took her hand and guided her onto the dance floor. "I've been waiting to meet you for a long time now."

"As have I." she said gliding to the beat of the waltz. "You seem better in real life, now that I think of it."

"Is that a good thing?" he asked as he cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Perhaps, I think I was just scared that I was talking to someone…er…not as good looking as you"

"You mean you couldn't see my good looks through my romantic words?" He asked faking a hurt voice.

"I wouldn't really call your words romantic, more like cheesy and cliché." She said fake mocking him.

"Well, I never." Draco huffed, a smile adorning his face.

They danced the rest of the evening talking about everything from Quidditch to politics. Never once mentioning who they were to the other.

At around 11:30, they decided to take a walk outside in the gardens. They wandered about a bit before finally talking.

"So, milady, how has your evening been so far?" The young man asked while looking at her reflection on the lake below them

"It's been wonderful!" she sighed as she leaned her head against his shoulder "Where did you hear about this ball?"

"Well, um, you see, I'm very close to the Malfoys and they invited me to this ball and said to bring a guest" He lied through his teeth.

"Well, I'm honored you chose me." She said before getting on her toes and kissing him on the cheek. "Let's go inside, I want to catch the last dance" she said as she started heading towards the door.

Draco was stunned; the girl of his dreams just kissed him. Sure it wasn't on the lips, but it was still a kiss. He reached his hand up to touch his still tingling cheek.

"You coming?" her voice alerted him.

"Yah, I'm coming" he replied starting to walk towards her.

As they got inside, they got onto the dance floor as they caught the last dance.

As the dance ended and the clock struck 12, Narcissa Malfoy got onto the stage, not knowing her son was in the room, and made an announcement.

"It is now 12 'o clock and time to take off some masks!"

Draco looked at his Cinderella nervously "So," he asked "I'll go first?'

"Sure, I've been dying to know who this charming young fellow was all night"

"Okay." He said as he reached his hands up to untie the strings on the back of his head. But just before he pulled the knot out, his mother came up.

"Draco darling! There you are! I've been looking for you all night! Who is this lovely girl?"

The 'lovely girl' heard nothing more as she had dashed out of the ballroom and down the hall.

Draco looked at his mom as if to say: Thanks a million mom, you scared away the girl of my dreams, before running off after her.

By the time he had finally caught sight of her, they were already nearing the doors.

"Wait!" He called out to her as he and she kept running, "I don't even know who you are! Why are you running, have I done something wrong?"

"Yes!" she screamed, still running. "You hurt me and you lied to me about who you are!"

Just then she reached the exit and pushed open the doors. She dashed outside apparating with a "pop" leaving nothing behind but a shoe and some memories that would last a lifetime.

Just then Blaise and his mother came dashing through the doors to see Draco sitting on the ground, shoe in hand.

"Draco, mate, are you alright?" Blaise asked

"No, I'm not alright. The girl of my dreams hates me and I don't even know who she is" he said staring at the delicate slipper.

"There, there, Draco darling. Everything will be fine. You'll find her" his mother said trying to comfort him.

"I hope so mum, I really do"