AN: I'm sorry for spoiling the end of HP for some of you. The books are four years old, and I just assumed anyone who cared would know already. My apologies.

Chapter 14

"Have I told you how beautiful you are?"

I couldn't help but smile as I tried to keep my attention on the students on the dance floor. It was difficult when Edward was standing behind me, his hand gently stroking the exposed skin of my back.

"You just like the mask."

"The mask is very sexy," Edward admitted with a whisper.

"I think this strapless dress was a bad idea."

"I think it was the perfect idea," he murmured. I trembled as his hand made a trail up my spine and beneath my hair. I couldn't stop my breathy moan when he began to gently massage the back of my neck.

"Look, Rose," Emmett chuckled. "The chaperones need chaperones."

Edward quickly ripped his hand away, and I pretended to be very interested in scrolling through the playlist on the iPod.

"Let's get something to drink," Emmett said, wrapping his arm around Edward's shoulder and pulling him toward the refreshment table. "Maybe if we're lucky, they spiked the punch."

"Men," Rosalie muttered under her breath before flashing a wide grin. "So, it seems things are going well."

"Things are fantastic, yeah."

"How fantastic?"

"So fantastic that I have a plaid skirt and Hogwarts tie waiting for me at home."

Oops. I hadn't really meant to say that out loud.

"I don't even know what that means, but it sounds fun."

My eyes roamed the dance floor. Thankfully, the students were being on their best behavior and weren't getting too affectionate.

"Stanley and Mallory are flirting with our men," Rosalie whispered to me. Sure enough, Lauren was standing close to Emmett while Jessica's hands were roaming across Edward's arm.

Yes, the kids were behaving themselves. Too bad the same couldn't be said for the teachers.

"Hmm," I mused quietly. "What should we do?"

"Follow me," Rose grinned. I quickly set the iPod to shuffle and followed her to the refreshment table.

"Excuse us, ladies," Rose smiled at each of them. "Our boyfriends owe us a dance."

"Oh?" Lauren looked surprised as she looked between Em and Rose. "I wasn't aware the two of you had made it official."

"Well, we have," Rosalie replied icily.

Emmett offered her his arm, and the two of them headed toward the dance floor.

"I think we'll join them," Edward smiled at me. "Shall we?"

Their mouths were gaping as I linked my arm through his and let him lead me toward the dance floor. The students cheered as we found a spot among the dancers and began to sway to a slow song.

"That was ridiculously satisfying," I grinned sheepishly at him.

"I have to agree," Edward smiled down at me. "Rose just called me your boyfriend."

I giggled and stepped a little closer. We knew that we had to keep a respectable distance, but I couldn't resist feeling his body against mine. His face was obscured by his own mask, but I could still see his bright eyes, so green and full of love each and every time he looked at me.

"Is that what you are?" I asked softly.

"Is that what you want me to be?"

"Yes," I answered without hesitation.

His smile was beautiful.

"Then that's what I'll be," he said softly. "For now."

"For now," I murmured in agreement, and my heart soared.

Edward held me a little tighter as the song changed. We both laughed, recognizing the Elton John song from our early emails.

"And to think I was giving you relationship advice," I smirked.

"It was good advice," Edward laughed.

His eyes never left mine as he pulled me away from the dance floor and back behind the partition. Finally away from prying eyes, he pulled me close. Lowering his head, he kissed me softly.

"You have the sweetest eyes I've ever seen," Edward murmured against my lips, repeating the lyrics from the song. The same lyrics I'd encouraged him to tell the girl he loved.

Reaching up, I slowly removed his mask. I had something very important to say, and I wanted to see the expression on his handsome face when I said it.

"I love you, Edward."

His eyes sparkled and his smile was breathtaking as he gently lifted my own mask away from my face.

"I love you, too," Edward said softly. "Come home with me tonight."

"No," I said, and his face fell. Gently lifting his face toward mine, I placed a sweet kiss against his lips. "I want you to come home with me."

I stared at myself in the bathroom's full-length mirror, trying to get the nerve to walk into my bedroom. Edward was there, naked and sipping a glass of wine as he waited impatiently for me.

That was my fault. He'd been impatient ever since I told him about the plaid skirt and tie that was hanging in my closet. When I'd let it slip that knee socks were also involved, he'd paid Emmett a hundred bucks to take over our chaperoning duties just so he could take me home.

The skirt was ridiculously short and the cropped blouse was low-cut. The Hogwarts tie swung loosely from my neck and my hair was an untamed mess.

"This was your idea," I reminded myself with a whisper. "Don't be a coward."

It was hard to be brave as I continued to stare at myself. When he saw me, it was very possible that he would laugh so hard he'd fall off the bed.

"This is too much pressure for our first time. What the hell was I thinking?"

A soft knock on the door made me jump.

"Bella?"

"Y…yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I lied.

"Are you…are you dressed?"

I glanced at the mirror.

"Sort of," I mumbled.

"Bella?"

I sighed heavily.

"I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too."

"But if you don't get out here, I'm going to break down this door."

I couldn't help it. I laughed loudly, and that gave me the courage to open the bathroom door.

I wasn't prepared for his reaction.

Silence.

Complete and utter silence.

I would have felt rejected and undesirable if it weren't for the fact that his eyes were absolutely bugging out of his head.

"It's too short," I mumbled nervously, tugging on the unforgiving fabric. "My hair is impossible and my boobs are like right there and…"

"You're perfect," he whispered roughly.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I am?"

"You are."

He took his hand in mine and pulled me toward the bed.

"Next time you're wearing a Hogwarts robe," I said as he pushed me back against the pillows. Not that a naked Edward was a disappointment. My nails trailed along his biceps as I marveled at how handsome he really was.

"Next time, I promise."

His hands roamed across my knee-socks and up along my thigh as he explored every inch of visible flesh.

"I'm tormented," Edward said softly as his fingers continued their exploration.

"Why?"

"I want to see you naked," he explained, letting his hand slide down my stomach and settling on the waistband of my skirt. "But I also love this outfit."

I giggled. "I love you."

"I love you," he whispered, his voice thick with desire.

When I fell over the edge, I clung desperately to him, whispering how much I loved him. He buried his face against my neck as his body convulsed, leaving us both breathless.

"Wow," he murmured with a lazy smile on his face.

I laughed softly as he fell back against the mattress, pulling me with him and tucking me against his chest. We snuggled in silence, catching our breath while we gently caressed each other's skin.

"Can I stay?" Edward whispered against my hair.

"I want you to."

"Good."

I lifted my head off his chest and gazed into his sweet eyes.

"Why did we argue all the time?"

Edward smiled and twirled a strand of my hair around his finger.

"I don't know, really. I liked teasing you."

"You were flirting."

"Yes, I was."

"I didn't know that."

"Well, then, I obviously suck at flirting," he winked.

"Looking back on it, I don't think you do," I said thoughtfully. "I think maybe I was just resisting. I didn't want to find you attractive because then I was setting myself up for rejection."

His hand caressed my face.

"I wouldn't have rejected you."

"I know that now," I said, placing a kiss against his chest. "I just…I'm not Jessica or Lauren. I've never been confident in myself when it comes to men."

"Jessica and Lauren are not good examples," Edward argued softly. "There's a difference between being confident and being too aggressive."

"Some guys like aggressive women who fawn over their every word."

"I'm not one of those guys," Edward said softly. "I like a woman who is easy to talk to and shares my taste in music. I like a woman who is content to stay home and watch a movie or read a book with me." His finger traced my lip. "But most of all, I love a pretty librarian who has an unhealthy obsession with Harry Potter."

I smiled as he kissed me gently.

"Just watch," I murmured against his lips. "I'm going to make you a Harry Potter fanatic."

His eyes twinkled wickedly.

"If you keep wearing this skirt, I guarantee it'll happen," Edward grinned just before his lips molded to mine.

The epilogue is next!

See you soon!