A/N: Hey you guys I'm taking a small break from my other story to write this, I got the idea into my head and I couldn't think of anything else so I decided to write it. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Hope you enjoy. Rated T for mild language.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea for the fic.

Hermione woke up early on the frosty December morning. She pulled her dressing gown around her and looked out of the window, her warm breath steaming the cold glass as she stared at the un-touched, white blanket of snow that covered the grounds. This year had been one of the coldest she had ever experienced. She was quite content looking out and smiled at the innocence, it seemed the world didn't have a clue what horrors it was going through. The scene was actually quite beautiful.

Today was Christmas Eve and everyone had stayed at Hogwarts for the highly anticipated Masquerade Ball that Dumbledore had introduced this year for those in third year and above. Hermione thought back to the day she had found out.

Hermione, Ron and Harry were sat in the great hall. Ron as usual was shoving too many sausages down his throat at once whilst Hermione sat eating a modest amount of cereal. Once they had finished they waited for Professor Dumbledore's morning announcements.

"Good morning to all of you, I have only one announcement for you. This year we have decided to throw a masquerade ball on Christmas Eve for years three and above. If this ball goes down well we shall turn it into a tradition. Will the prefect please come and see me to discuss the finer details."

Excited whispers broke out throughout the hall as students walked out to their first lesson. Ron and Hermione said goodbye to Harry and made their way to the front with the other house's prefects.

"Now as you would have probably guessed, seeing as you are prefects you will be helping organise the ball. The decorations, the food, the drink and the music are down to you. On Christmas Eve you shall come and help decorate the hall and get things set up. Off you go now to your lessons."

Hermione wasn't really looking forward to the ball, she really wanted to go home and see her parents over Christmas but she also didn't want to have the privilege of being a prefect taken away from her.

She spent the rest of the day going over the plan to decorate the hall again and again in her mind until it was finally 3:00 and she could start to work on the hall with the other prefects.

When she arrived, to her dismay the only other prefect there was Draco Malfoy.

"Afternoon mudblood" he said with a smirk.

Hermione glared at him and started moving the tables with her wand. Draco stood watching her.

"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to do something?!"

"I thought I could watch; make sure everyone's doing a good job."

"Well you thought wrong didn't you? Now get to work before I hex you for being a pain in the arse."

He glared at her, but started to help move the tables as more prefects started arriving.

By the time they had finished the great hall had been turned into a winter wonderland. The walls glistened with fake frost, icicles hung from the candle holders, the floor had a soft mist around it making it look mysterious and the enchanted ceiling was snowing softly. Yet somehow the room still had a certain amount of warmth that only the great hall could possess. Being quite proud of the work she had done with her fellow prefects, Hermione went up to her dorm to change into her costume.

After 2 hours of battling with her frizzy hair, she was finally ready and, if she did say so herself, she looked rather good. Her hair fell in slight curls around her shoulders with a small diamond tiara that her Grandmother had left her when she had passed away in the centre. Her dress was a white and long with long sleeves that started at the shoulders, the front of her dress had red lace around it, her mask covered just her eyes and was the same shade of white as her dress with red jewels around the bottom and a red feather on the right. Feeling completely satisfied with her look she headed down to the common room to find Harry and Ron, both were wearing plain black dress robes with a simple black mask, she laughed to herself, they were never really creative.

"Wow, 'Mione you look stunning," Ron beamed at her.

Hermione felt herself blush and said a quick thank you before the three of them left for the great hall.

The great hall looked better then she remembered. As soon as she stepped in she felt herself light up with happiness. Harry stood there in awe.

"You guys did an amazing job! This looks wonderful!"

"Thanks Harry," Hermione smiled as a girl walked over to them.

"Hermione? Harry? Ron?" there was no mistake from the voice or the fiery red hair that Ginny had arrived.

"Hey Ginny you look fabulous!" it was true; she was wearing an icy blue knee length dress that ruffled at the bottom and a blue and white mask. Ginny smiled at Hermione and returned the compliment.

"Hey Harry," Ginny beamed at him.

You could see the blush creeping onto Harry's face.

"H-hi Ginny," His voice broke and she giggled

It was very obvious now to everyone -apart from Ron- that Harry and Ginny liked each other, they were both just too nervous to admit it.

"I'll go and get some drinks." Hermione said and walked over to the punch bowl. She was just finishing pouring the sweet liquid into her glass when a boy, who looked as if he was in his fifth year dressed in cream with a grey mask on, walked over to her.

"Hey beautiful," he winked at her, "Dance with me."

"No, thank you. I should be getting back to my friends," she tried to leave but he grabbed her arm hard and pulled her into him. She could smell alcohol on his breathe, he must have smuggled some in.

"It wasn't a question honey," his tone was dark and Hermione felt frightened as she struggled against him. When suddenly another boy who looked around Hermione's age grabbed him and pulled him away from her.

"I believe the lady said no," he said in a calm, yet menacing tone. Hermione had heard that voice before; she just couldn't put her finger on it.

The other boy coward away from him, which was probably sensible, her mystery saviour was much more muscular compared to the other scrawny boy, and it wouldn't be hard to guess who would have won in a fight.

She said thank you to her saviour, picked up the drinks and returned to her friends.

"'Mione, what's happened? You look shook up," Ron came over to her, he looked worried.

"Oh, don't worry it was just some prick trying to force me to dance. Here," she handed him the drink and the four of them sat down on a nearby table.

For the rest of the night, Hermione couldn't help but think about her mystery hero. He did look rather dashing in his forest green suit his mask was the same colour and covered his entire face. He seemed so familiar but Hermione just couldn't think who it was, and it was starting to bug her. She finally decided to seek him out and ask him who he was.

"I'll be back in a minute I just need to see something," she got up and walked to the dance floor searching for any sign of him. Nothing. She walked over to the food and drinks table, still nothing. Sighing she started to walk back over to her friends when she heard something.

"Hey."

She turned around and there he was, looking extremely handsome in the lighting of the disco ball. She realised she was staring at him and thought she should say something.

"Hey."

"I was wondering if you wanted to dance with me?" he flashed an irresistible smile, he really was charming.

"Of course," she smiled back, he held out his arm and she eagerly took it. He led her onto the dance floor swiftly spun her round so she was facing him and put his hand on his waste. She gasped at his touch, her stomach filled with butterflies and she found herself smiling at him feeling like an idiot. He pulled her closer and she wrapped her arm around his neck. They fit perfectly together as they glided along the floor.

"Thank you again, for earlier"

"No problem," he flashed that smile again and she melted.

She felt completely stupid, she didn't even know who he was yet he was having this effect on her. Who could he be? She had never met anyone so charming! Yet he was so familiar. Lost in deep thought, she made a wrong move an accidentally stood on his foot. She blushed crimson.

"I-I'm so sorry"

He chuckled "Don't worry about it; we can't all be as good at dancing as I am."

"I can dance! I was just distracted."

"By what, may I ask?" his eyes filled with curiosity.

"It's not important," she felt her cheeks, which had finally turned to a normal colour, went bright red once more.

"That's an interesting tiara."

"Yes, my Grandma left it to me when she passed away, she knew she dying so she had it inscribed." She took it off her head and let him read it.

"To my darling Granddaughter, you will forever be my princess," he read aloud. "I'm really sorry about your loss," he looked sad while he examined the tiara in his hands. "This really is beautiful, like you."

The butterflies in her stomach intensified.

"Thank you, you look rather dashing yourself." Hermione stared intensely into his deep grey eyes, trying to figure out who he was. He was staring deep into brown ones. He wrapped both his arms around her waist and pulled closer. Their lips inches away from one another, she closed her eyes and leant forward. Their lips barely brushed when she heard a familiar scream. Her eyes shot open and she looked at the door, Ginny was running out the doors crying her arm wrapped around Harry as if she was dragging her out with him, Ron was chasing after them.

"I'm really sorry but I have to go," and with that she ran after her two best friends.

"WAIT! You forgot your tiara!" he cried after her, but she was already gone.