Incident

{Chapter 9}

"We're going to have a Halloween Masquerade Ball," Nott said, over dinner on the first of October.

Eventually, the next school activity was a Halloween Ball. We were expected to dress up, and since it is a masquerade, we had to have masks as well. I just didn't see why they couldn't make it a dress up party. Wouldn't that be easier?

"To attend the ball, you are to have a dancing partner-" Padma Patil explained.

"That's not fair!" Someone shouted "what if you don't get asked out?"

"Then, you don't come." I snorted.

"Everyone is going to be given a character to dress up as, someone of the opposite gender gets something similar. For example, someone gets a costume that says Queen, the other says King. These two people are not going to know each other's identity, because everyone is masked. At midnight, students are to reveal their masks to their partners." Patil continued.

"Don't worry; the costumes are pretty general; except for a few people, who we wished to torment." Nott smirked and glanced at Malfoy who raised an eyebrow in response. "We've decided to work partners this way, so that we ensure everyone gets a partner. Also, it would be fun finding out who the other person is."

Excited whispers were heard around the Great Hall.

"Isn't this cool!" Parkinson shrieked.

"Please God, let me be paired with someone human," Astoria Greengrass was praying.

"Theo probably played unfair, and paired us up with someone we hate. Not randomly." Zabini grumbled.

"It should still be fun," I said cheerfully. "I mean, think about it, you get to dance with this anonymous person, and then you find out who they were at the end of the ball. You might start a new relationship even!"

"You're too positive," Daphne Greengrass grunted.

"They always say, look at the empty half of the glass." I stuck my nose up in the air.

Greengrass rolled her eyes.


"There's a Hogsmeade trip coming up!" Astoria Greengrass declared.

We were sitting in our dormitory, all wearing shorts and tank-tops, curling our hair, and painting our nails.

"Hogsmeade? We get to go to the village?" I asked, pretending I don't know.

"Of course! How else do we get to shop for our ball outfits?" Parkinson said.

Oh, the ball outfits. I mentally groaned. I didn't see why I had to dress up the way someone wanted me to. I had gotten the slip of parchment that addressed what I should be dressed up as. It said Juliet. As in William Shakespeare's Juliet.

How in the name of God was I supposed to dress up like Juliet!

I didn't know.

"What are you supposed to dress up as?" I asked Parkinson.

"A mermaid," she groaned.

"I have to dress as a 'Muggle's idea of a witch'." Daphne Greengrass snorted.

"That's easy. Dress like a scary slutt." I instructed her.

"What did yours say, Harmony?"

"Juliet." I answered.

"Who?" they were all shocked.

"From some Muggle play called Romeo and Juliet, I have to dress up as Juliet."

"Oh!" they said in harmony.

"What about yours, Astoria?"

"Aphrodite."

"That's cool." I nodded "any idea how you're going to show that?"

"Walk naked." Astoria Greengrass's sister snickered.

"No." Astoria G. retorted "I will dress up in old Greek clothes. Golden sandals, white dress."

"I am thinking of dressing up in a 1600s Muggle dress." I said.

"I am going to buy a mermaid style dress, and a mask that would work for a mermaid. Maybe I will have extensions in my hair to make it look longer too." Parkinson gasped as if she was suddenly inspired.

"I am going to wear my Hogwarts robes for a witch costume." Daphne G. moaned.

"Yeah, then you're going to look like the idiot of the ball." Her sister snorted.

"I can help you with what to buy," I offered.

"No thanks. I don't need help," Daphne Greengrass stuck her nose up in the air like a snob.

"Sure." I shrugged. "I am going to the common room."

I grabbed my Muggle notebook and a pen, some parchment and a quill and ink then went to the library where I wanted to write back to my parents and to Harry. I realized I haven't written to Harry in a long time, and that little visit was not enough.

I had forgotten that Madam Pince closed the library early some days, and today was one of them. I then decided to go to the Astronomy tower, because not many people went there.

I settled into writing to my parents first. I used parchment and a quill, just like they would expect me to do while at Hogwarts. I told them I was fine. Harry, Ron and Ginny were great, and term was going wonderful. I wrote we're to have a ball and I don't know who is supposed to be my partner. Then I asked them to send me my ipod. I thought it would be cool to have it around with me. Teachers didn't need to know, and Snape sure wouldn't get Harmony in trouble for it. (I didn't add the 'teachers didn't need to know…' part.)

Then I wrote to Harry. I asked him how he was since I saw him, and if Ginny was fine. I made sure to apologize for leaving so quickly. I then asked him about term, as if I didn't know already.

"Sincerely, Hermione." I said out loud while writing.

Someone cleared their throat behind me.

I looked back to see Harry, and eyebrow raised as if questioning what I just said.

"What do you want Potter?" I asked, indifferently.

"Hermione?" He questioned.

"I was saying Harmony." I covered up.

"Right," he folded his arms under his chest.

I got up and made to leave when he grabbed me by the arm and turned me around so that I was forced to look at him.

He studied my face for any signs of recognition, I sneered at him hoping it would make me look different from Hermione "let me go."

He pushed me away and I fell on the floor, my parchments and letters falling to the ground.

He picked up the one I wrote to him.

"Who's Harry?" He said before shoving the letter in my face.

Why was Harry so different suddenly? I asked myself.

"My friend," I was glad he didn't read the whole thing.

"Sure." He replied not looking at me.

I gathered my stuff and left, hoping Harry didn't find out who I was.


I stupidly send Harry the same letter he saw. I was so shocked and confused; I didn't know what I did until I did it. When the owl took off, I remembered that I had sent Harry that letter. I waved and yelled for the owl to come back, but it was too late.

I slapped myself and defeated, went back to my room.


A/N: sorry for not updating for so long. I had a virus go on my computer and it ruined everything! My PC is not any better now, by at least the internet works!

so, what'd you think?

-cherryblossom