Disclaimer: HP ain't mine--except a couple of unknown characters & the plot of course ;p

Author's Note: I'm really excited to write this chappie since...well, guess what this chappie is all about?! *lol* THE MASKED COSTUME BALL!!!

Summary: Hermione & Draco received a nasty blow to the head when an out of control bludger careened towards where they stood bickering during a Quidditch practice. They woke up in the hospital wing not knowing each other--but they know everyone else--and an instant attraction towards each other soon formed.

Setting: 6th year

Pairings: Draco & Hermione--our star-crossed lovers, hehehehe *winks* You'll see...

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XI. an Angel and the Knight

"My only love sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and known too late!

Prodigious birth of love it is to me,

That I must love a loathed enemy."

- Romeo & Juliet Act 1 Scene V

Hogwarts was abuzz with excited students zooming in and out of classrooms on the morning of Halloween, just hours before the much anticipated masked costume ball the school decided to hold this year. Professors alike were having a hard time keeping the students focused on the subject at hand; they were all busy talking about what they would wearing to tonight's costume ball.

Questions such as: "What are you going to wear tonight?" or "Who are you going with?" or "Do you think there will be live music like during the Yule Ball?" escaped the mouths of each student as they sat giddily, counting down the minute until it was time for them to leave their final class of the day.

Hermione and Ginny met up shortly after their last class and agreed to head straight towards the Gryffindor tower and lock themselves inside their dorm rooms and rummaged through whatever spare clothing they have stashed away.

"Oh this is exciting!" Ginny giggled, holding up a peasant dress with ruffles on the sleeves.

"Exciting?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, scanning the scattered pieces of clothing that were all laid about on Ginny's bed. "I wonder why..." there was a slight hint of mischievous grin hovering on her lips. She knew why Ginny was to the roof about tonight's ball. Instead of attending it alone--or with Neville--Harry decided to ask her before anybody else could!

"Oh yes, definitely!" the youngest Weasley sibling enthused, "I mean, I'm finally going on a date with none other than Harry Potter!" her eyes were wide and she looked as though she was still in shock after Harry asked her first thing this morning before the rest of them filed out of the common room for breakfast.

Everybody knows how much Ginny Weasley adores Harry Potter. She has got to be one of those millions of girls in school who secretly longed for the Boy Who Lived, but unlike the other girls, Ginny's crush on Harry was one that was so obvious it even earned her a few taunting from others who wanted to get under her skin.

"I'm happy for you, Gin. By the way, have you two decided on what you're both going to go as?" she asked, looking at her dear friend over her shoulder. She have been friends with Ginny Weasley since the start of her second year at Hogwarts when she first met the youngest--and only Weasley girl--member of Ron's family.

"Well Harry mentioned something about me going as a gypsy peasant while he goes as Quasimodo--from Hunchback of Notre Dame (a/n: I am not so familiar with the Hunchback of Notre Dame story so I'm basing Ginny's character from the Disney movie)." she explained, frowning as she stared at the white, off-shoulder peasant top and the matching batik flowy skirt. She pressed both garment against her and turned to ask her friend's opinion, "Will this do, Herm? I think my mother knew about this year's soiree hence she decided I should pack quite a lot of extra stuff to wear. I didn't know at the time why she insisted I pack as many as I can into my luggage 'just in case something comes up' she said." she shook her mop red hair in frustration, "Mothers." she muttered under her breath and threw the top and skirt on the floor.

Hermione laughed and walked up to her friend, she bent down and picked up the discarded pieces of garments and studied them carefully.

"Hmm...if you have to go as Esmeralda--if I remember my Hunchback of Notre Dame story--then this will just have to do." she walked back to the bed and placed Ginny's costume on the bed. "Well have to create ringlets of curls for your hair, put on a scarf to tie it as well--the bright colour of the scarf the better--and you'll need some hoop earrings big enough for a quaffle to go through, and some make-up as well...and on yeah, do you have shiny bangles and necklaces?" she was on a roll giving out instructions as to how Ginny should wear. She went to rummage through Ginny's trunk in search of all the items she just mentioned and within minutes came up with everything she needed--well, almost anyway. She was missing the hoop earrings, the long, beady necklaces and bangles.

"Don't you think you could ask one of your roomies for some of the jewelries you'll need?" Hermione frowned as she dumped the rest of Ginny's costume on her bed.

"I--I suppose so." Ginny nodded, staring wildly at Hermione who seemed intent on dressing her up for the party!

"Good. Why don't you run along now and ask one of 'em for the jewelries? And yeah, what about your mask? Remember wearing a mask is a must in this case." she reminded her friend.

"I...I haven't thought about the mask yet. I guess I'll just whip something up." she shrugged before turning to go out the door in search of her roommates.

Within minutes Ginny was back with her friend Jennifer Grayson who helped Hermione dress Ginny Weasley up for the role of Esmeralda the Gypsy.

"There. All done!" Hermione exclaimed half an hour later as she stepped back and admired her creation.

Ginny's straight red hair was magically transformed into wavy ringlets, from her ears a couple of bright orange earrings with big hoops and around her neck an assortment of beady necklaces weaved around it. On her wrists jangled numerous porcelain-like bracelets of multiple colours. As for her mask Hermione decided to conjure up a black leather Zorro-like mask and tied it over her eyes.

"Wow Gin, you look fantastic!" exclaimed Jennifer excitedly, "You're going to knock 'em all dead, girl!"

Ginny's nervousness disappeared after hearing her friend's approval of her costume. "Do you think Harry'll be pleased?"

"Pleased?! Girl, that boy will be hooked, that's for sure!" Jennifer squealed.

Hermione laughed and agreed with Jennifer.

"Yep, Gin. One look at you and I'm sure Harry'll be kicking his behind for ignoring you this past few years."

Ginny giggled and faced the mirror, admiring herself as she twirled over and over, letting the flowy skirt slap against her legs.

"Oh gosh, thank you guys so much!" she enthused then turned to Hermione and frowned. "Herm, aren't you going to get ready and change? The party is going to start pretty soon and you're still not dressed!" she exclaimed in mock-horror.

"Don't worry about me, Gin. I think I have a costumed all planned out. Just go out there and knock your Harry, your brother, and the other guys dead once they see you dressed as Esmeralda!"

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked worriedly, "You hardly have time to think about a costume to wear, Herm!"

"Now, now, Virginia Weasley, don't be ruining a perfect night--and that perfect outfit--by simply worrying about me not ready yet for the party!" Hermione exclaimed, walking up to her friend and stood face-to-face with her. "I told you I already thought of what to wear for tonight's party so don't worry. Now go downstairs and knock 'em dead, sugar!" she winked and Ginny giggled.

"Thanks Herm." she gave her closest friend a big, bear hug before turning to Jennifer and together the gypsy and the fortune teller--that was Jennifer's costume--bounded out of the room, leaving Hermione to ponder on what to wear.

~*~

The Great Hall was swarmed with excited students all looking spiffy dressed as either a count, a clown, a wizard, a warlock, a troll, a gypsy, a hunchback, a masked crusader and a variety of other costumes. Hermione decided to walk in late, after Ginny, Harry, and Ron left the tower to proceed to the Great Hall for the festivities.

Since she had to whip up something real quick for tonight's party (she really should've thought more of what costume to wear earlier in the day like everybody else), she decided to come as an angel all dressed in white. She pulled her hair up in a neat ponytail with wisps of it falling loosely on the side of her face, the white dress--flowy at the bottom which only rested just a few inches below her knees--was a short-sleeved one and she magically conjured fluffy wings on her back that flutter when she wanted it to. Over her head a glistening gold halo floated about and on her face she chose to wear a white leather Zorro-like mask as well. She transformed one of her numerous black school shoes into a pair of satin white ballet shoes.

Nervously stepped in to the crowded Great Hall and was thankful nobody noticed her delayed entrance. She quickly scanned the place and found Ron, Harry, and Ginny seated amongst themselves talking about whatever. From the look on Ron's face Hermione could assess that he wasn't pleased with Ginny's costume. Ginny's 'Esmeralda' attire showed off the youngest Weasley's curves and has been the recipient of numerous appreciative glances from other male students in school.

I think Esmeralda needs some divine intervention from Ron. she thought to herself with a smile and quickly crossed the crowded room to where her friends were seated.

~*~

Draco saw the sexy white angel flutter about across the room. It was quite hard to miss the girl whose large, feathery wings fluttered whenever she moved. He followed her walk--or did she fly? It was very hard to tell since her wings made it look like she was floating instead of walking--towards the trio seated by the wall. A red-headed gypsy, a dark haired hunchback, and a red-headed...Draco had to blink twice to clear his vision and looked again.

Weasley was dressed as a red-headed Dumbledore!

Draco couldn't help himself from chuckling. He should've thought of dressing up as Dumbledore or one of the professors in school, but then again he thought he'd be unique. So far he could tell that he and the Angel were the only ones unique enough to dress up as such.

Having been forced to make a last-minute decision as to what to wear, Draco found himself conjuring up a 17th century knight's suit of plate costume complete smooth plates minus the helmet. He opted to wear a silver, metal-like mask instead of the traditional helmet.

Moving away from his usual group of friends, he made his way to the drinks table, he grabbed himself another mug of butterbeer and did some more people watching.

So far the festivities were doing great. The ghost show was spectacular, although it lacked some gory details, but he could live with it for this year. Everyone was enjoying their time and treats kept on appearing on the tables non-stop and music floated about from unseen speakers. It was the latest witch girl band playing their current hit and as far as Draco could tell the music wasn't at all that bad.

A good hour has passed and everyone was still in the festive mood of Halloween when suddenly the dancy tune turned into something that couples would love to dance to. Draco groaned inwardly and decided to walk out of the Great Hall and escape this hoopla. After all he was single and, truth be told, he doesn't want to dance with any of the girls present who suddenly turned to him as soon as the intro to a popular slow song started.

Better make a great getaway now Malfoy, before it's too late. his conscience warned him and without bothering to argue with himself, Draco found himself high-tailing it to the Great Hall doors.

~*~

Hermione heard the beginning of the slow song being played and watched as couples started piling up on the dance floor, even Ginny was bold enough to ask Harry to dance with her. Ron was whisked away from their table by one excited Ravenclaw before he could even make a move to ask Hermione to dance.

Feeling left out, Hermione stood up and made her way out the Great Hall and towards the Entrance Hall where she then made an escape out to the lake. The wind was already picking up by the time she stepped outside the warm castle. She magically summoned her cloak--white, of course--and put it on before continuing on with her stroll down the lake. As usual there was a full moon outside, perfect for this evening.

She must have been walking along the short of the lake lighted by the full moon that rested in the dark sky sparkled with millions of twinkling stars when she heard a rustling from behind her. She quickly pulled out her wand and aimed it high over her head calling out, "Lumus!" and the tip of the wand lighted.

"Is there anybody there?" she called out as she pointed the light here and there to check if anybody was hiding behind one of the trees.

"Do we have to do this every time, Hermione?" came Draco's voice as he appeared, like the last time, from the shadows.

Hermione stiffled a surprised gasp when she saw Draco step out from hiding. He was wearing a medieval knight costume, his blond hair not slicked back like always.

"D-Draco. You startled me." she replied and put out the light of her wand. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to escape the sappiness in the Great Hall." he shrugged, "What about you?"

"Escaping from being asked to dance by Neville." she replied meekly.

"Ah, don't want to be tripped by Neville when he made a wrong step and break those precious wings of yours, hm?" he nodded to her fluttering wings behind her and smiled, "Nice costume, by the way."

"T-thank you." she nodded, "Yours isn't bad either."

Draco raised an eyebrow and looked at his costume. Grinning he looked back at her and shrugged, "It was a last-minute decision. I couldn't think of who or what to go as, so when I was walking around school and saw the suits of armour lined up, I figured I might as well go as one of 'em." he explained.

"Very impressive."

"Thank you. So what's with you and the angel outfit?"

It was Hermione's turn to check on her outfit. She didn't know why she chose to wear this, but after watching that Muggle movie about star-crossed lovers and remembering the scene of the party when the doomed hero and heroine first met, she instantly fell in love with it and thought the heroine's costume was quite cute. Plus she was able to animate the wings she conjured up.

"I couldn't think of anything to wear. I just remembered seeing this costume worn by an actress in a Muggle movie I've seen a few years back."

"Nice." he nodded.

Hermione couldn't think of anything else to say. She merely smiled and turned her back to him, focussing her gaze on the lake.

"Would you like to dance, Hermione?" Draco asked suddenly.

Hermione looked over her shoulder and frowned, "What?"

"I--I believe I just asked you to dance."

Her smile was slow in coming.

"I believe you just did."

He returned her smile and crossed the small distance between them, his hand held out. "So, shall we?"

Her eyes traveled down to his outstretched hand then back to the face of the boy who just asked her. Gingerly she placed her hand in his and stepped closer, "Sure. But we don't have music."

"Then conjure something up."

"I'm not a fan of witch/wizard music much. I--I more lean to listening to some Muggle music, if you don't mind."

Draco looked like he was contemplating on whether or not to agree with her and conjure some Muggle music, but in the end he let her conjure up a slow music by some Muggle artist. The song had a beautiful piano intro, a slow song that would definitely be good to dance to.

He pulled Hermione into the circle of his arm while his other arm stretched out, cradling her small hand in his and they swayed in time with the music.

Look into my eyes, and you will see

What you mean to me

Search your heart

Search your soul

When you find me there you'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth trying for

You can't tell me it's not worth dying for

You know it's true

Everything I do, I do it for you...

Hermione's gaze locked with Draco's the whole time. They swayed in time with the ballad as if they were born to sway to it together, neither one of them missing a step as they danced under the moonlight.

Everything felt right at that moment. Hermione forgot all about what Harry told her about Draco and his numerous conquests. She even forgot that she should be avoiding Draco at all cost in case what Harry said was true. All she knows was now. This. Dancing under the moonlight in Draco's arms, their gazes locked and nothing in the world seemed to matter.

"Hermione..." Draco whispered before his lips claimed hers once again, and Hermione was once more lost to everything but the feel of this man's lips on hers. He let go of her hand and started running his free hand up and down her side, sneaking his hand underneath her cloak, resting his hand on the underside of her breast.

Draco took advantage when Hermione's lips parted at her sudden intake of breath and he let his tongue snake inside her mouth, searching for her tongue once again to entwine his with hers.

Without thinking much of her actions, Hermione stepped up closer to Draco, pressing the soft curves of her body against his. She thought his armour was made of metal, but it was only made of cloth enchanted to appear like it was made of metal. He groaned when she started gyrating her hips against him and started giving her lips soft love bites.

"I love you, Draco..." she sighed before she could stop herself. As soon as the words were out of her mouth she felt him stiffen the same time she did.

Springing apart from each other, their eyes both wide from shock of her announcement, Hermione's face flushed a deep shade of red and before Draco could say anything more she spun and ran back into the castle, leaving him gaping after her. He made a desperate grab for her arms, but she was too quick for him.

~*~*~*~*~

to be continued...

A/N: Alrighty...well this one I tried to make it much longer compared to the previous chappie...and...hehehe, well, just read and review! *lol*

Rebecca: is this chappie long enough for you? whaddya think of how things are happening between Draco and Hermione? hehehe...and yeah, you weren't the only one damning Harry for being such a prick! *lol*