A water nymph entered the Great Hall, turning her eyes up to the twinkling stars on the ceiling. They seemed brighter than usual. Snow appeared to be falling, but it must have been enchanted snow, for it never seemed to touch the ground. Hermione lifted the hem of her silver dress, and moved nervously towards the other end of the hall. Several hundred Hogwarts students were milling around, talking and sipping the Christmas punch. It had been specially brewed by Severus Snape, and had been mixed with a mild happiness potion and a touch of conversation-starting elixir. Hermione had been more than nervous when he'd first mentioned this in one of their last potions lessons. But, as Ginny had pointed out, he wouldn't be able to poison the Gryffindors without poisoning the Slytherins. Approaching a large Christmas tree, she remembered the last decorating session with Flitwick. He'd fallen off a high stool while performing a tree-light lighting spell. Hermione smiled slightly, but her smile froze in place when she saw another tree next to the one she'd been standing in front of. The tree she'd seen looked no different to any other from afar. But when she'd seen it up close, she realised it was covered in little tear-drop shaped crystal baubles. Each one shimmered, and each one had her name on it in gilded silver letters. As she reached out to touch one, a hand tapped her shoulder. It was somebody in a seeker outfit, in the colours of the Chuddley Cannons. The water nymph racked her brain to think of who it could be, but found nothing. McGonagall had been teaching them to 'become' the character they had chosen for the ball. Everyone attending the ball had to perform a spell on themselves so others would recognise them only as the character they were dressed as. At midnight though, the spell would be lifted, so everyone would be revealed. Now, as she danced with the seeker, Hermione remembered Draco. Perhaps he was on holiday in some exotic location, having forgotten all about her. As the song finished, Hermione felt her hand being taken by someone else. He was wearing a completely black outfit, and was holding a black rose. Half his face was covered in a white porcelain mask. Hermione closed her eyes and let the music take control.

"I am the Angel of Death." The man said, and spun her in a breath-taking circle. "And you, most beautiful water nymph, are...?"

"Charmed I'm sure."

*

"Narcissa! Where is he!" Lucius Malfoy stormed through the halls of Malfoy Manor in a raging fury. His wife sat in the immensely luxurious living room, her face pale and her hands gripping the arms of the chair with white knuckles.

"Lucius, he said he'd be staying at Hogwarts this time."

"Why!? Oh, I know why..." He wagged a finger in front of Narcissa's face. "It's because of that little mudblood brat. The rumours must be true then."

"Lucius, he's only a boy. Let him have his freedom."

"I will not tolerate such behaviour from my son! He is destined to be Voldemort's heir!"

"And what about your's? He is your son, not Voldemort's. Let him enjoy one night in peace."

"Shut your mouth woman! I won't let him waste his life away with a worthless mudblood!" With a final snarl of rage, Lucius turned and was gone.

*

After the current song ended, the nymph and the dark angel did not split up to dance with other people. Infact, they kept on dancing. From the teacher's table, Snape watched them, a rare smile flitting across his lips. A Slytherin and a Gryffindor. Night and day. Together. Well, about time too! Perhaps he'd been too hard on them before. After all, he remembered how it felt to be in love. Although, it had been a long time ago for him.... He sighed and gulped down a goblet of wine.

"Three, two, one!" The countdown to Christmas went unnoticed, as did the squeals and giggles of surprise and shock that followed. Hermione rested her head on the shoulder of her mysterious partner.

"Merry Christmas everyone!" Announced Dumbledore loudly, a rather loud pink party hat on his head. "I think it is time for some more Christmas cheer from our very own Christmas elves!" At this, a troupe of small elves marched into the hall. Upon a wave of Dumbledore's hand, they began to, rather loudly, sing Christmas carols. The water nymph sighed as she and the dark angel danced to their own music.

"Don't they ever shut up..." The dark angel mumbled against the water nymph's neck.

Hermione gasped and pulled away from the man before her...