*Disclaimer ~ I still don't own Harry Potter*
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Falling Head Over Heels
The Story of Hermione Granger and
Her relationship with Draco Malfoy
By: BefuzzledChapter Ten ~ The Costumes and The Masquerade
It's almost that feeling we've met before
"It's almost that feeling we've met before
So tell me that you don't think I'm crazy
When I tell you love has come here and now
A moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
Some people search forever
For that one special kiss
Oh I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this."
~Kelly Clarkson
The teachers all knew their students well and lets face it – they could never keep their mouths shut. So they thought best to pick up the appropriate costumes from Hogsmead in the correct sizes and had them out the day of the ball.
This of course didn't keep the students from talking but at least now they would have a better chance of keeping the list of partners a secret until the unmasking ceremony – well, at least until the start of the ball.
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The day went by fast with every hall, passageway, common room, and dorm filled with the excited chatter of what was to come later that night. The Gryffindors, especially, were really excited about it. Of course that was mainly because they had discovered that Hermione was the mastermind behind the whole ball. They all had the idea she new everything going on behind the scenes and wanted desperately to be let in on the secret.
"Please.." Lavender begged, " just some idea of the costume I'm going to get or who I'm going with. It won't hurt honest and I won't tell a soul."
"Yeah 'Mione, and after you tell her you can tell me – cause I'm one of you best friends, right?" insisted Ron.
"Sorry but I can't tell any of you anything. And it's not because I don't want to but I had the memory erasing charm done on me too. I have no clue who is going with who." Hermione had hoped this would quiet them down – it didn't.
For the rest of the morning she was being bombarded with questions with everybody except Harry, Paul, Kevin, Collin Creavy, Ginny, and surprisingly enough Ron. She decided to go on a run since she had missed one with the planning of the main event, and it gave her a chance to take a break from her house.
She was alone out on the grounds but that didn't bother her in the least – it was a chance to be her self get all her pent up emotions out, release all the stress she had managed to build up.
She came back to the common room after an hour of her therapy just to be asked even more questions. Obviously giving them time to think was a bad idea – they just came up with about a thousand new questions.
Hermione only managed to escape them when Professors McGonagall and Sprout walked in the portrait hole carrying loads of packages.
"Listen up." McGonagall commanded. "We have you're costumes. As you've probably already figured out, the costumes as well as your partners have been chosen for you. Girls you may associate with all the girls and boys you may do the same since you won't be going with any of them. And you may also associate with all the members of the opposite sex in you're year only since we have concluded that you know them well enough that you won't need to go to the ball with them."
Slight groans could be heard across the common room. "Professor Sprout has the boys costumes and I have the girls. So line up and we will pass these out."
The girls laughed exactly and the boys calmly carried their packages back to their seats and games. After everything was handed out the head of house and herbology teacher left with, "You are to be ready by 7:30 and be down in the Great Hall by 7:45 to be matched up with your partner. The ball will start promptly at 8."
It was only four hours until the party started and the girls felt deprived of time so they rushed upstairs to start preparing. The gentlemen in Gryffindor finally followed suite about two hours later.
On the inside of every parcel was the name of the couple that each would be dressed as.
Ginny was to dress as Anna from Anna and the King; Lavender as Jasmine with her partner as Aladdin; Parvarti as Belle and her partner unfortunately as a Beast. You could hear shrieks of joy and anticipation up and down the whole girls' dormitories. Hermione didn't hear any of it she was transfixed with the beauty of her elegant robes. They were scarlet satin with laced sleeves and beautiful embroidery. She was to go as Juliet and her date as Romeo.
She emerged from her room exactly four hours later. Her hair put up in an elegant bun of curls, her makeup soft and light, and her shoes giving her the perfect amount of lift to make her appear to glide across the floor. A lightly sparkled mask clung to her face magically. She was certainly a sight to see. She was magnificently gorgeous and supreme. She made all the other girls jealous and all the boys envious of her unknowing date.
A tall boy dressed in a cowboy outfit walked over to her, she assumed it was Harry, "Hermione, wow, I mean you're absolutely gorgeous."
"Thanks Harry." The color quickly rose to her face. "Where's Ron?" A half a second later a boy dressed in Ancient Greek robes approached her. "And who are you supposed to be?"
"I don't know some guy named Lysander. My date's name is apparently Hermia."
"Oh! You're a Shakespearean play too. A Mid Summer Night's Dream. I'm Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. Our characters were designed by the same person."
"Well I don't again don't know what you are talking about but you look great." He bent down and gave her kiss a cheek.
"Thanks and so do both of you. Do you think we should get started to the Great Hall? It's almost 20 till." They both nodded and each offered her an arm.
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Professors were stationed at each door giving every student a table number and a seat number to seat at. Sitting next to them eventually would be they partner. "You are to introduce yourself with you're character name and they will do the same. Don't mention your house, year, or name, not even your friends before the unmasking ceremony."
"What table are you guys at?"
The cowboy called Woody said, "Table two seat seven."
The roman clad lover replied, "Table seven, seat three."
"Darn. Well, I guess I'll see you guys later. I'm at table one seat two. Oh I see so the girls seats must be even and the gentlemen odd. Well I hope you have fun with who ever you are with."
"Thanks Hermione you too, will you save us both a dance?"
"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Hermione headed over to her table. Two giant mice, a mermaid, and a sailor already occupied the table. Hermione said a quick hello and was about to sit down when a person pulled her chair out for her and then helped push her back in, chivalry – how unexpected. She turned to say her thanks but before she could the person sat down next to her.
He was dressed in similar attire to Hermione's, well she could tell it was from the same era. It was shamrock green and had delicate silver trim. Hermione could help but think that the Gryffindor and Slytherin colors were appropriate since the Capulet and Montague were feuding families much like the two houses.
"Hello, fair lady, what ist thou name?" Hermione was a bit surprised at how far some people were going to take this thing.
She was shocked at her own voice as it replied, "My name is Juliet, good sir. What is thou's?"
"Romeo." The complicated speech went on for another five minutes while the rest of the students filed into the hall.
Dumbledore stood dressed in sparkling black robes that shimmered with orange glitter. "Welcome to the First Ever Masquerade Ball. It was set up by this year's Prefects so be sure to thank them – if you can figure out who they are. Let the festivities begin."
"Would you like to dance?"
Hermione snapped back from the depths of her mind the question was addressed to her. "Very much so."
They were the first couple on the floor but many others quickly followed suite. Steeping and moving in beat with the music – well at least for the most part. The famous Shakespearean couple danced through four songs before finally sitting back down taking a break.
The refreshed them selves with punch. The tables were all crowded but neither of them really wanted to mingle with others anyway.
"Would you like to go for a walk in the garden? It's getting warm in here." Hermione was grateful her voice was back to normal.
"Yes. I couldn't agree more."
They left the Great Hall being watched by the knowing eyes of the professors. He held the door open for her and they walked outside into the cool brisk air gasping as it hit their lungs and cooled their flushed faces. They weren't shocked to see the front lawn transformed into a beautiful rose garden with fountains. The chose a small bench just inside the garden. "So, Romeo, what do you like to do for fun?"
"Well, I don't know how much to tell you. I don't want to give myself away, so I'll be very basic. I like flying, and studying for um some subjects. Wow this is really hard; the conversation is so limited. Anyway, what do you like to do, fair Juliet?"
"I like watching Quidditch and reading, and then there's….wait no that would give it away. Well at least we have some things in common sort of."
"Yes." There was a long pause while they tried to think of something to say.
They got up simultaneously and began walking through the garden. They had only been walking for a few minutes when Hermione spotted an entrance to a room of mirrors. "Oh let's go it will be fun." She took his hand pulling him into the passageway of their reflections.
"What is this?"
"You've never been in a room of mirrors before?" He shook his head. "Oh its pretty cool there are a bunch of different types of mirrors. They distort your figure, its pretty funny most of the time. See?" The stood in front of a wide mirror making them look extremely obese.
For the next twenty minutes Hermione pulled him around the room. They laughed and were disgusted by some of their images looking back at them.
"Do you think we should go back in? I don't want any of your friends thinking I kidnapped you."
"Sure. I think I've seen enough of myself for one night anyway."
They went back into the hall and intertwined with all the other couples.
"Would you care to dance?"
"I would love to."
The song the walked into was slow. Romeo pulled Juliet close to him with his arms around her waist and Juliet put her arms around his neck, resting her head just underneath his shoulder. "Actions really do speak louder than words."
"Huh?" Hermione looked up trying to catch what her date had just said.
"Nothing. Nevermind. It wasn't important."
After two slow songs there was a tap on Romeo's shoulder. A tall cowboy asked to cut it. Hermione unnamed partner looked hurt and disappointed. "Please just one dance? She promised me." He gave in.
"So any ideas about who your date is yet?"
"Nope. Neither of us has said much to give it away. But I kinda like it like that. He seems really nice though. You?"
"Nope not a clue."
"Well the unmasking ceremony going to be at 10:30," she glanced at the clock, "Only a half hour left."
The song ended and Harry walked Hermione back over to a waiting Romeo, "See no harm done." And he bowed out of the picture back to go find his date hoping she wasn't feeling isolated.
The two dance for the next half hour straight, not saying anything just enjoying the time together. Ron never came over so Hermione figured he was having a good time.
"Lords and Ladies, Beast, and Sea Creatures, may I have you attention? It's time for the unmasking."
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Duh – duh –duh I know it's a cliff hanger it will be posted soon. Forgive me please. The next chapter will be short so it will be posted soon.
