A/N: Sorry for another late chapter. I've just started university, and It's been hard settling in and meeting new people. Hope you like this chapter. Review and let me know your thoughts. =D x

Chapter 10

"Hermione, your dress is here!" Ginny called from the bottom of the stairs and Hermione heard her running up them, bursting into her room seconds later.

"Ooh, come on, lets have a look."

Placing the covered dress on the back of her door, Hermione undid the plastic wrapper to reveal the beautiful green dress she saw at the boutique.

"Aw Ginny, I didn't know you got this one! I loved it from the moment I saw it!"

"But I didn't get this one," confused, Ginny walked over to the dress and began searching for a name tag that didn't say Hermione Granger.

However, she did find the name tag, alongside the price tag.

"I definitely didn't get this, it's way out of your price league." She showed Hermione the tag and her eyes widened.

"Oh god, what am I going to do?"

Suddenly the door opened and Sara waltzed in. "Why are you guys not ready, there's just under an hour before everyone arrives. What's wrong?" She finally asked after glancing at their faces.

"They've sent the wrong dress!" Hermione sighed out.

"What? Let me have a look! It's got your name on it and wow, look at the number of zeroes on that!"

"I know! I can't wear someone else's dress, even though I'm completely in love with it!" Hermione grimaced.

"Yeah you can, no one will find out," Ginny said reassuringly.

"Maybe you should quickly ask the woman from the boutique, and you could, I don't know swap the dresses?" Hermione said, hesitantly.

"Urgh fine!" Ginny sighed and walked to fire place, grabbed a handful of floo powder, chucked it in after shouting, "Silver's Boutique!"

Seconds later, the woman from the shop appeared in the fire place. "What can I do for you darling's? You received the dress I believe?"

"Yeah we did, but it's not the dress I ordered."

"Yes it is, you changed your mind after. The young man said so. It's your dress, darling."

"What young man?" Sara asked.

"What about the price? It's quite a bit."

"Your friend and it's all paid for. Now, I must return, I have customers. Enjoy!" And with that she disappeared.

"Well that's settled, now get dressed! I have people to see!" Sara urged, overly excited!

"Like who?" Hermione and Ginny asked, intrigued.

"Get dressed!" Sara shouted before leaving.

"I'll see you downstairs in a bit," Ginny laughed her way out, following Sara.

Taking the dress off it's hanger, she tried it on, fitting perfectly. She stared at it for a little longer in the mirror, confused at how the dresses got swapped.

Ignoring the questions in her mind Hermione quickly tied her hair into a loose bun and did her make up, keeping it as light as possible.

Putting on her heels and picking up a clutch, she went downstairs.

"Wow, that dress looks much more beautiful on you." Ginny said, admiring the dress.

Hermione blushed. Just then Aidan rushed in, wearing black robes and a grey under-shirt.

"Mum, can we please go now? I've waited ages!" He attached himself to Hermione's arm and pulled her towards the door. "Come on!"

"Hold on Aidan, I wanna touch up my make-up," Sara said and doing did what she intended. Before heading out, they last heard the boy mutter, "Women!" With a shake of his head and a roll of his eyes.

---

"I completely forgot about the mask!"

"It doesn't matter Hermione," Ginny reassured her.

"Of course it matters, it's a masquerade party!" Hermione said as quietly as she could. Several people had arrived already, all in fabulous costumes and masks. The only one without a mask, Hermione felt the odd one out.

The whole place was decorated as if it belonged to a king or queen. It had a hint of royalty to it, with long tables and antique chairs. With silky drapes hanging from the walls and the windows and candles lit around the room. There was a huge space acting as the dance floor, balloons covering most of it.

A charmed moon and a starry night sky filled the ceiling, giving the room a bright glow. The place looked, well and truly magical.

"Hermione, there's a parcel for you at reception,"

"What, at this time? What is it?" Harry just shrugged. Sighing, Hermione left the hall and into the abbey.

"Hi, Hermione Granger, you've got a parcel for me?"

The young witch at the desk gave Hermione a tired smile and handed over a small boxed parcel wrapped in brown paper.

Taking the parcel back inside, she ripped open the paper to reveal a long black box. Opening it, she removed the tissue paper and took out a silver mask that would cover her eyes and tie around the back with the black ribbon.

"Argh, it's a mask which matches perfectly with your dress. Problem solved. Wonder who sent it?" Ginny asked, blatantly intrigued.

"I don't know, there's no name or anything! Jeez, what is it with gifts and name tags. Do you not find this whole thing weird? "

"There's nothing weird about anything. Now come on, everyone's pretty much here! Put your mask on." Ginny said, hiding behind her own mask. Wearing a blood red dress, she truly looked a vision.

---

Entering the hall, the party was in full swing. Placing the neatly wrapped gift on the table with the others, he looked around the room through his masked eyes. Pushing his silky, dark hair out of the way, he began to search the room.

---

Hermione spent the best part of the next hour contemplating on the recent events. Chatting too few, and drinking loads, Hermione let her worries go and agreed on Fred's offer to dance. Joining the rest of the Weasley clan plus Harry, Hermione danced, putting all her energy into enjoying the night.

"How do you know who is who?" Hermione asked Ginny who was slow dancing with George.

"They kind of reveal themselves to you and if they don't, we probably don't know who they are!"

Placing her head on Harry's shoulder, she thought aloud, "What this party needs is…a twist! A good one obviously!" She said after receiving a look from Ginny.

"Looks like your twist is here!" Harry smirked and winked at the man who had just walked up to them.

"Can I jump in?"

Hermione gave the man a once-over with groggy eyes. He was wearing a black suit, a green shirt that was unbuttoned just enough to reveal a chiselled torso and a plain black mask that covered half his face.

"Hello good looking!" Hermione muttered under her breath. Letting go of Harry's arm, she placed her own in the mans outstretched hand.

Leading her away from the staring eyes, the mysterious stranger took hold of Hermione and pulled her towards himself. She placed her arms around his neck as he placed his hand around her waist.

He was wearing a spiced musk cologne and Hermione felt herself familiarising with it, breathing it in until it gave her shivers.

"Do I know you?" Hermione whispered, staring into the man's dark green eyes. Catching a glint of silver in pool, Hermione felt another shiver down her spine.

He didn't answer but instead moved to the slow music. There was hardly any space between them, and Hermione seemingly liked that notion.

He was looking into her eyes deeply and Hermione felt the alcohol take over her. She stumbled and he held onto her.

"I've had too much to drink!" Hermione muttered, more to herself.

"You okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine," Hermione whispered and put her hands around his neck again as an indication that she didn't want to stop. Or for him to move away from her. They continued to dance.

"You look beautiful in that dress," he whispered, and the way he said it made a thought click in her head.

She stared at him for several seconds, her face hard to read. Moments later, she smirked and leaned in. Her lips moved slowly towards his, her eyes linked with his. Closer and closer, they were a second apart. He closed his eyes, waiting for the descend of her lips. But it never came.

"Next time, find a better way to get me into a dress!" She pushed him away, registering the shock on his face and stormed off.

Everyone watched her go. Harry, Fred, George and Aidan walked over to him.

"What the hell Malfoy! You couldn't do a simple job." Harry said, frustrated.

Draco took his mask off, and with it the changes he made. He sighed in anger. "How the hell did she know it was me. I hardly said anything!"

"She's one clever witch," Fred and George muttered.

"Does that mean there no chance?" Aidan asked, nearly in tears.

Draco levelled with his son and held him tight, stroking his hair.

"There's always a chance. I'm going to make us a family, no matter what."

---

"Hermione, wait!"

"Argh! I could kill him! Who does he think he is? He thinks he can walk back into my life and pretend that everything is great. Argh! I could really kill him."

"Hermione calm down. How can you be sure it was him?"

"Everything just makes sense. The dress, his eyes, his smell! I'm so stupid!"

"No you're not. He just loves you a lot," Ginny said simply. Hermione looked at her as if she was crazy.

"I don't want him to love me, I don't want anything from him," Hermione said but she didn't find it convincing.

"Are you sure?"

Hermione didn't answer. She didn't know what she wanted anymore. Her bag began to vibrate and after a bit of fiddling she retrieved her phone.

"Hello?"

Ginny watched as Hermione's face went from confusion to horror. She didn't speak, just clicked her phone off and stood up. Shaking, she put her phone back into her bag.

"I-I have to…Erm, go,"

"What? Hermione, wait, you're not making sense," Ginny shouted as Hermione ran back into the hall.

Hermione picked up her bag and coat and looked around the room for Aidan. She found him. With Draco.

"Let's go sweetheart," pulling him towards the door.

"Hermione, we need to talk."

"Now is not the time, please."

Hermione moved towards the door but Draco blocked her way.

"Marry me?"

A/N: Review and let me know what you guys think. I'll try and update as soon as I can. x