Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot and you all know that. So sue me if you feel like it, but you won't get anything except for two pennies and the lint from my pockets!

Past the Mask Chapter One

"What's this?" Hermione wondered to herself. An owl had just dropped a thick letter in her lap. It was addressed to her, but the seal on the back was unfamiliar. It definitely wasn't the Hogwarts seal. There were two S's with a wand crossing them and shooting out light. Puzzled, she opened the letter.

Dear Ms. Granger,

We are pleased to invite you to a costume ball. Two top students from every wizarding school around the world have been invited to attend. The ball will be a fun event to meet other witches and wizards so that you will feel comfortable working with them to fight against the Dark Lord. We hope that you will be able to help us. There are many things that can be done to help our cause. The costume ball will take place on Monday night at 6:00 PM. This letter will turn into a portkey in five minutes. Any time you touch it from then until Sunday evening, it will take you to Diagon Alley incase you need to buy a costume. We would ask you to dress as a princess. That way we can tell which school you are from. The other student from Hogwarts is going as a prince. Please also wear a mask. When you arrive, you must not tell anyone your name or which school you go to. This is essential.

Thank you for your interest in helping the cause, and we will see you at the ball.

Sincerely,

The Secret Society for Stopping Voldemort

Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. She got to do something helpful for the cause and dress up at the same time. No one there would know who she was so she could relax and have fun without worrying about being judged. 'Maybe there will be some cute guys there,' she thought to herself before she could stop herself. Being at home was becoming harder and harder. Without wanting to. 'No I will not think about it,' she told herself sternly.

Hermione smiled to herself. "Mum! Can I go to a costume ball on Monday? It's really important! PLEASE!" She shouted down the stairs.

"Hold on, honey, let me check the calendar." Her mum's voice was silent for a few seconds.

"That seems that it will be alright. But neither your dad of I can drive you. You'll have to get a ride." Hermione quickly explained about the portkey.

"Oh and I need a costume to wear. Can we go get one?" Hermione crossed her fingers and hoped that her mum was in a good mood.

"I am sure that we have a couple lying around. Can't you use one of those?" Hermione sighed, "Mum, those are from a couple years ago. They won't fit now. Plus I need a princess costume. We don't have one of those."

"Okay, okay. You win. Hold on let me finish the ironing I am doing and then we'll go." Hermione screamed softly in joy. Then jumped around her room while her mum finished what she was doing.

A few minutes later, they were standing in front of Gringotts, holding a handful off galleons. The two of them hurried off to Madam Malkins to look for costumes.

In the very back of the store, there was one rack of costumes. Hermione was very disappointed. There were only two princess costumes. She peeled the puce and puffy one off of the hot pink lacy one to take a better look at them. To her astonishment, in between the two dresses was a doorway. She opened the door, all caution thrown to the wind. Inside she found heaven, or fairly nearly like it. It was a room full of princess costumes. There was every color, pattern, and style imaginable.

"Mum!" she called, "Come look!" She stuck her head out the door. Her mum was standing there wringing her hands in apprehension.

"Oh there you are, honey. I was worried about you." She caught sight of the dresses. "Oh my goodness!" They walked in and started looking for the perfect dress. Hermione started on one side and her mom on the other.

The two of them looked and looked. They spent two hours looking at all the dresses. They were all beautiful, but Hermione felt that none of them fit perfectly.

"I've found it!" Hermione practically screamed after another hour and a half. She pulled it out to look at it better and then said in a really depressed voice, "Never mind. It's not right."

They went back to looking somewhat dejectedly. In another half an hour Hermione saw it. It almost jumped out at her. It was absolutely perfect. She pulled it out and gazed at it. It was exactly right in every way.

"Mum come look!" Hermione could barely get her mouth to move. Her voice came out in a whisper. It was so quiet in the room that her mum heard her and came over.

"It's perfect!" her mum agreed. "What size is it?"

"Mum, it's magic. It will fit whoever buys it," Hermione forgot that her mum didn't know all this about magic. Mrs. Granger stared at it.

"Well go try it on, Herm." Hermione hustled to the dressing room holding the dress like it was a baby. It was a deep maroon color that would match her complexion and her hair color. It was silk with purple netting on top that opened in the front to reveal a purple design hand-stitched. There was a high waistband and netting sleeves. All along the bottom and hanging down from the waist were tiny tear-drop-shaped pearls ('Real,' Hermione noted). It wasn't that old fashioned, but it somehow looked like something a princess would wear. Along with the dress came jewelry.

When Hermione finally came out, with all the jewelry, she looked amazing. The dress looked like it was made for her. Hermione sighed when she saw her mum's eyes full of tears.

Hermione got out of the dress with reluctance. They left the room, shut the door quietly, and then headed to the counter.

Using the portkey, Hermione and her mum returned home. Hermione carried the dress the whole way home, and carefully put it away in her closet.

For the next two days, Hermione waited impatiently. Finally it was Monday. At 4 p.m. she started getting ready, and she realized that along with the jewelry, she got shoes, a mask, and a make-up kit.

She put on the shoes first, as she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to reach her feet with the dress on. Then she slid the dress over her head. She was about to call her mom for help with the buttons and ties when she noticed it getting tighter. She looked in a mirror and saw the dress fastening itself.

"What a neat spell," she thought. Next, Hermione put on the jewelry. Instead of a crown, she had a pearl that hung on her forehead from a silver chain. She had a silk choker that matched the dress, and a pearl droplet that hung from a chain similar to the one on her head.

Last, but not least, Hermione did her make-up and picked up her mask. It was five of six. She was just on time.

Hermione called goodbye to her parents and picked up the letter.

"And for tonight your name will be," the voice paused for a few seconds, "Eve Larose. If you go through those doors you will find the others." Hermione, or Eve, walked up to the two huge oak doors, which magically opened before her. Careful to keep her mask in front of her face, she took a step inside.

"Eve Larose," a voice magically announced. Almost everyone turned her way and she thought it got a little quiet, but then again it could be the pounding in her ears. Hermione was trying to get her feet to start working again and take her down the stairs, when someone was standing next to her.

"It is my belief m'lady that I attend your school." There was something familiar about his voice, but she couldn't place it. She took a closer look at him. He was taller than she was, but not by much. He was slim and had neat black hair. 'Well that rules out Harry,' she thought to herself.

"And I believe, good sir, that you are correct," she replied, even though she had no idea if that was true or not. She swept a curtsy. She decided to not let it bother her. 'Thank goodness for those acting lessons I've been getting,' she thought. She made a mental note to thank her parents later.

"May I escort m'lady to the floor?" What was it about his voice? Hermione gave up on it for the moment and took the offered arm. They walked gracefully down the stairs.

"Would m'lady like some refreshments?" her prince asked.

"Yes I would adore some, but you don't have to call me m'lady. I mean I don't want the people who are in horse costume to have to be called mare or stallion!" They both laughed.

"What shall I call you then?" She thought for a minute, and then she remembered.

"Eve Larose, or just Eve."

"Alright then Eve, refreshments?" She accepted and they made their way to the table. After filling their plates, they found a table and sat down.

"So, what should I call you, my good sir?" Hermione asked once they started eating.

"Call me Nicolas Larose. That's how I knew you were from H-my school. We have the same last name. There are a few other princes and princesses." They talked for a couple of minutes. Every now and then they would hear a loud voice reminding people not to give out any personal information, or announcing a late comer. Because it was hard not to talk without telling anything, Nicolas and Eve/Hermione decided to make up families and lives.

Soon other couples came over to the table, so they excused themselves and started to drift around. They lapsed into silence.

'Why am I acting like this?' Nicolas wondered to himself, 'I mean she could be anyone. Judging from the way that I'm acting she could be someone I least expect. Oh well, she'll never know who I am so it doesn't matter anyway.'

Just then the music started playing.

"Would you like to dance, Eve?" he asked.

"That would be lovely," she answered. She was surprised. He was a very good dancer. Hermione had always had a natural flair for dancing. Together, they were wonderful. As soon as the dance was over someone cut in Nicolas's spot. After him, there was another one. Hermione danced and danced. She did not notice that, though he was asked several times, Nicolas did not dance with anyone else.

When the last dance rolled around, she found herself with Nicolas again. They started swaying to the music.

"What's your real name?" he whispered, his mouth near her ear. He didn't even realize that he had said it out loud. She felt that she should tell him. He had been so nice to her. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. She tried again.

"I'm sorry," she told him, "I can't say it."

"That's okay," he told her. Nicolas suddenly had this feeling. It was strange, almost like they were connected. It was like they would be connected whether he wanted to be or not. The feeling faded slightly as the song ended. But no matter how hard he thought about who he could be holding, the feeling wouldn't go away entirely. He wondered if she felt the same feeling.

They said goodnight and thanked each other for a wonderful night. As he was walking to get his portkey, Nicolas thought 'Why did this happen? I'm probably never going to see her again. I never even saw her face. If father found out,' he shook his head slightly, 'If father even knew I was here.."

Well, I hope you like it! It's really late so I'm not going to start chapter two (even though I have it written). I don't have school tomorrow, but I do have another story to work on too. Please please please read and review! I really want to know what you think. Please excuse error and such, it's very late and I am not very awake and I haven't been while typing this. Let me know if there is stuff that I should change. Thanks!

~sneef22