"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to Hogwarts Bicentennial Masquerade!" Dumbledore made a sweeping gesture with his arms, indicating the hundreds of masked students and professors. "Now I would like all the farm animals to gather in section 1." He pointed to a round table that had been set up in the left corner of the Great Hall. A magical sign with the number one floated high above it, to which all students dressed up in costumes varying from horses to goats, to chickens, made their way.

"Birds, this way." Professor McGonagall motioned toward table number two, and Hermione pushed her way through the crowd toward it. As she made her way, she could hear Professor Snape call forth the reptiles to table three, and Professor Flitwick herd the woodland creatures to table four. They would be paired with a randomly selected person from the opposite sex within their own category. There would be no distinction of house or year, although only fifth year and up were permitted to attend.

Professor McGonagall separated the boys and the girls and paired them off. A stocky barn owl entered the dance floor with a canary on his arm and a tall, handsome, blue-jay whisked a raven onto the floor after.

"You, Eagle, will be paired with the ever so lovely peacock." Professor McGonagall smiled her pleasure at the pair's perfect costumes. All the students had drawn from a hat what creature they would become. Hermione had been delighted when she'd drawn such an elegant bird, and she knew that blue was one of her best colors. She didn't dress up often, but she went all out for this night. Her eagle boy had as well. She made her way shyly to her dance partner.

Hermione looked up at the boy she had been paired with. He had dark brown and golden streaks in his hair, which had been slicked up in the front. A golden beak curved downward over his nose, and he had a golden sparkled eye mask. He had a robe of pure dark feathers that was very magnificent, and must have cost a fortune. He looked vaguely familiar, but Hermione pushed those thoughts as far from her mind as possible. She didn't want to know who this was, lest it ruin her night. She wanted him to be a stranger.

"You look absolutely beautiful. How should I refer to you?" He asked, his voice silky smooth.

Hermione took a moment to think. 'Miss Peacock' was a murder suspect from the muggle board game Clue. She of course knew this, but her mystery partner would not be likely to know that. A grin spread across her face. "Miss Peacock," she answered. She looked into his eyes, awaiting a spark of recognition, but none became apparent.

"Well Miss Peacock, and you may call me whatever you see fit." A sly grin appeared on his sharp features and Hermione chuckled. "Shall we?" He asked, offering her his arm. She entwined her arm tentatively with his and he lead her into the midst of the dance floor.

He placed one hand on her waist and untwined their other arms until they were holding each other's hand, an arm's length apart. He was quite graceful with his motions and a very good dancer. Hermione could feel her cheeks turn a light pink. Her movements were not quite as precise as his, and she felt a bit embarrassed that he was such a better dancer.

The mystery man smiled and put a finger under her chin, capturing her eyes. He had noticed the blush. "I've had years of lessons. Just follow my lead." And so she did.

Whilst dancing she took a moment to look around at her fellow students, and marveled at the wonder of this idea. She couldn't recognize a soul. Most had charmed their voices as well. House unity was great and all, but this broke down all the barriers. There was no distinction of house or blood status. She thought of William Shakespeare and how he often used masquerades in his plays to free the characters from their inhibitions.

"Would you care for a drink Miss Peacock?" Her eagle asked, lowering his mouth to her ear. The feeling sent shivers up her spine which was quite an unfamiliar feeling for her.

"Yes please,"

"What is your preference?" He asked, grinning at the little hairs he could see rising on the back of her neck. Hermione cleared her throat, quite flustered.

"Just some pumpkin juice, please."

"Pumpkin juice it is my dear." He removed his face from the close proximity, taking her hand in his as he did so, and leaning down to place a light kiss on it. He winked at her as he went to retrieve her beverage. She smiled at the grace with which he walked. She truly felt like a princess tonight, and he was her prince charming. She giggled to herself at the foolish thought and pulled out a seat next to the edge of the floor where she had been standing. A boy dressed as a ram with a camera hanging around his neck was occupying the other side of the table.

"Hi there!" He said, all too cheerfully.

"Hello," Hermione replied. She grinned inwardly as she knew that this was without a doubt Colin Creevey – the cheeriness, camera, and visible freckles gave him away.

"This is outstanding isn't it? I've gotten so many wonderful pictures. I can't seem to find my partner though, but I'm sure she'll be back! Who's your partner? Where did he get off too?" This was most definitely Colin.

My Eagle is fetching me a drink," She replied. She was having quite a bit of fun playing up her elegance.

"Your eagle?" Hermione whipped her head around at the sound of his voice, blushing furiously. His grin was enormous as he handed her a glass of pumpkin juice. He chuckled at the pink rising about her neck and ears.

Hermione stuttered a thank you and took it from him, sipping at it so she wouldn't have to open her mouth to speak anymore.

"Wow! You have a terrific costume! Both of you do really, mind if I get a picture?" The eagle shrugged and helped Hermione out of her seat. He positioned himself slightly behind her, with one arm over her shoulder and the other holding her empty hand. Colin snapped away enthusiastically.

"Would you walk with me?" He asked as Colin began a conversation with another couple, gesturing fervently at his camera. Hermione nodded.

"It would be my pleasure."

"You use your words beautifully; I was truly given a gift to have been paired with such a lady." He led her by her hand through the crowd of masked students toward the entrance hall and out of the castle.

"Where are we going?"

"I thought we could go sit by the lake and look at the moon. It's full tonight." Hermione nodded her approval.

When they got to the shore they took a seat under a large oak tree.

"So why don't you tell me about yourself?" At the look on her face, he corrected, "I don't mean who you are, and don't tell me things that would give that away – unless of course you want to. But tell me things that no one knows." He leaned against the tree and pulled her into his lap, resting his chin on top of her green and blue streaked curls.

"Well, I like to go fishing." She said, and giggled as she felt him shake with a light, silent, laugh.

"A peacock fisherwoman, ay?"

"Yes. My father brings me during the summer. I always enjoyed those moments the best when I was young. My parents really drilled a work ethic into my head, and they were busy a lot so I learned how to occupy myself." She left out how she occupied herself with her books and studying – she didn't want to give herself away. "So I always looked forward to it."

"I've never been fishing." He stated, a small frown forming on his perfect face. "My parents never really had time for me either." He didn't elaborate.

"Well… we are sitting next to a lake you know." She grinned as the idea came to her.

"You'll have to teach me." He said, returning her smile.

Hermione got up off the grass and brushed herself off. She transfigured some oak branches into fishing rods and handed one to the eagle. He looked at it quizzically from his seat on the ground. "Or you could always use that beak of yours." She said in response to his facial expression. They laughed together at that. "Alright," She became serious. "We'll need to dig for worms."

He looked at her horrified for a moment, before saying, "Couldn't you use your beak for that?" She plopped back into his lap and they both began to chuckle again, he wrapped his arms around her.

"Seriously though." She said, looking into his face. Their eyes met, and their laughing slowed until they were both just looking at each other, breathing a little more deeply than normal. Hermione licked her lips nervously. A slight groan escaped his mouth at the sight of it, then he cleared his throat and removed her from his lap gingerly.

"I never thought I'd say this, but lets dig us some worms."

She shook her head as if to clear it and nodded in agreement. She had never felt this aroused before and it was beginning to fog her judgment. She dug her fingers into the cool earth near the lakeshore and smiled. This was probably the best night of her life. She looked up at her eagle and smiled at the mix of concentration and disgust on his face as he too began to dig.

"Found one!" He exclaimed. It was a long, thick, nightcrawler and he pulled at it. A little too hard, perhaps, and it broke in half. "Ew." Hermione giggled at him.

Once they had found a sufficient number of the things, Hermione taught him how to bait a hook and they cast their lines into the lake.

"Now that I think about it, I don't know if we're actually supposed to fish in here."

He just shrugged and said, "As long as we don't hook the giant squid I think it'll be okay."

"I wonder what time it is? We'll be past curfew if we don't get back soon."

"Scared of breaking a few rules?" His grin was back in place.

"No, I –" Her indignance was interrupted as she felt a tug on her line.

"Oh you've got one!" He watched intently as she reeled in her catch. The water rippled and a silver fish was brought out of it. "That's a moonfish! They say it's very good luck to those that catch it." He watched her unhook it and toss it back in the lake. He wrapped his arms around her neck and rested his beak in the crook of her neck. "They also say it'll only bring you the good luck if you seal it with a kiss."

She turned in his embrace, her front pressing against his, their faces inches apart. "Do they now? I think you're making all of that up." She bit her lower lip and gave him a playful smile.

"You're supposed to let me do that," he whispered. Her breath hitched in her throat and he brought his lips to hers, grabbing a handful of her hair. She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes in her euphoria. His tongue pressed against her lips and she granted him entrance. He tasted of metal, and his mouth was cool. He pressed her closer and she felt as though she was melting into him. He pulled away all too soon, breathing heavily. Her body was shaking.

"What are you doing to me woman?" His voice sounded hoarse.

"I've never… that was my first kiss." She was breathless and elated and she wanted more.

"You're first kiss?" He stammered. "Well," his voice took on a bitter tone. "At least you got your first kiss in now, before the war starts."

She frowned. She hadn't been thinking about that. Of course she never really thought about boys, she just didn't have time for them, but what if she died before she could ever even… "Have you…" She blushed and became silent.

He placed a finger under her chin. "Go on."

"Have you ever made love?" She looked straight into his eyes. He looked shocked. "I'm sorry, I know that was very forward…" She looked away.

He turned her face back to his. "No. I've had sex, but I have never 'made love.'"

It was her turn to be shocked. "I guess I never realized there was a difference…"

"We should probably get back. We're already late." He indicated his head toward the castle where most all the lights had gone out.

She wasn't ready for her night to end, not now, especially as the realization hit her that she might not be alive to take her N.E.W.T.s. Then what would all her time amount to? "Why don't we make love."

His jaw dropped and he stood very still. When he regained his composure he said, "What, right here?"

"Why not?" She asked defiantly. She could see the uncertainty in his eyes and she knew she would have to convince him of how much she wanted this. She grabbed his chin fiercely and brought his face to her level, forcing her tongue into his mouth, exploring deeply, passionately, she pressed herself into his body once more. He groaned into her mouth and placed both hands on her backside, squeezing and grinding her hips against his, she gasped as she felt his hardness. He lowered himself onto the ground in a seated position, pulling her on top of him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and broke the kiss, panting.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Please don't make me say. I just want to lose myself in you tonight. I don't want to be me." His eyes pleaded with her. Before she could protest he pulled her head back by her hair, exposing her throat, causing her to gasp and pressed his lips on her pale flesh. Her moans of pleasure increased his excitement. He nibbled his way up her neck and licked her earlobes, thrusting his hips underneath her.

Her fingers fumbled at his cloak, unfastening it and throwing it to the side, his shirt went next. She ran her fingers up and down his sculpted chest, squeezing and pulling at the muscles underneath the skin. He cradled his arms around her and gently lifted her off of him and laid her on the grass.

He pushed his hand through her cloak and under her shirt, feeling the curve of her tummy and her breasts, he gently tugged at a nipple when his fingers found it and the moan that escaped her lips was almost enough to drive him crazy. He wanted her. He ripped the lacy feathered cloak from her, and pulled the straps of her camisole off her shoulders, pushing it down around her belly. He unfastened her bra and was amazed by her flawless skin, her perfect breasts. He kissed her sternum, and each nipple, making her squirm beneath him. He flicked his tongue around one and then the other, bringing his hand down to unfasten her pants.

Her breath hitched in her throat and suddenly she was nervous. But she wanted this; her moment of reckless abandon. She dug her fingers into his shoulders as he slipped a finger between her legs and gently rubbed her, her hips bucked in response and he rubbed faster, leaning down to kiss her full on the mouth. He used his free hand to guide hers to his pants. She could feel him bulging, and she squeezed him gently. He moaned into her and her body reacted again, thrusting up to meet his hand. He pulled his face away and grinned, sitting up. He pulled her pants and her panties off the rest of the way and kissed her navel, this time working his way down. He nestled his head between her legs and ran his tongue along her inner thigh. She could feel herself begin to blush, but soon became unaware of any reason to be embarrassed when his tongue came to her center.

"Ooh God!' She exclaimed, and tangled her fingers into his hair, holding his head in place as he worked, flicking that spot with his tongue, then sucking ever so gently. Her thighs began to shake uncontrollably and it felt as though her body were filling, about to explode. He reached up, caressing her body while his tongue flicked and sucked and swirled and she shuddered and felt her release, as she cried out.

Watching her in her pleasure, naked upon the grass, brought him back to his own arousal. He removed his pants and lowered himself between her legs, placing light kisses all over the lower half of her face that wasn't hidden. He placed his erection at her entrance and was pleased with the look of wonder on her face as she studied it.

"This is your first time, so it may hurt." He whispered.

"I'm ready."

He pushed himself inside her slowly, and heard her inhale sharply. She was so tight, and he could feel her light clenches left over from her orgasm. He wanted so badly to pound himself inside her but he did not want to hurt her. Once he was completely inside her he stopped moving and kissed her, her fingernails were in his shoulders. While his mouth was on hers he gently rocked back and forth, getting her used to the feeling of him being inside her. It was driving him crazy; he pulled out again, and pushed himself inside her with a little more speed. She whimpered slightly, but held onto him. He brought his hand between her legs once again and began to caress her, she started to moan her pleasure and it pushed him over the edge. He began to thrust himself in and out of her, working his hand as he went. Her noises were much more audible this time and it only increased his need. He pounded himself inside of her and buried his head in her hair, moaning into it. He could feel her begin to tighten around him and he rubbed her faster, trying to stay focused but his brain was swimming, he thrust his cock in and out of her and he felt her begin to clench once again around him as he pushed himself inside her and exploded within her. He kissed her, shaking, and let himself rest on top of her, stroking her hair and face.

"We need to get back to our dorms, dear." He whispered into her ear, pulling himself out of her and beginning to collect the clothing. She fixed her straps and sat up, staring out over the lake. She did it. Hermione Granger, had sex. With a total stranger. She could feel a bit of shame begin to form in the pit of her stomach.