A few more surprises!

*Disclaimer ~ I have nothing to do with the Harry potter collection or JK Rowling.  I just wrote this story*

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Falling Head Over Heels

The Story of Hermione Granger and

Her relationship with Draco Malfoy

By: Befuzzled

Chapter Eleven ~ The UnMasking

"My My

Looking for a guy guy

I don't want him too shy

But he's gotta have the qualities

That I like in a man

Strong, smart, affectionate

He's gotta be all for me

And I'll be too

You see happily"

~Janet Jackson

There was an up rise of chatter and movement as Dumbledore made his announcement.  The consummation of the whole night – every one would get to meet the person who had shared this wonderful evening with them.

Hermione looked at her darling Romeo. Do I want to know who it is?  ~ Do I want to risk this one moment to ruin the whole night of moments?    She didn't really want to know who it was.  She was afraid it would ruin the time they had shared not knowing – the bond would fade when she discovered who her companion was.  She didn't want the prior judgments she had made through out the year and passed five years affect how she would treat the person now. 

She'd rather not know then somehow hurt the person later on.

"Let's go," she whispered.

"Why?" shocked that anybody would want to leave at such a time during the evening.  "Don't you want to stay for the unmasking ceremony?"

"I'll tell you in a second let's just get out of here, please."  He took her hand and led her through the clusters of people all staring at Dumbledore as he talked on about the importance of the night.

"I'm sorry.  Thanks for coming with me though."  They were seated again on the bench in the rose garden.

"Sure thing, but can I ask why?"

"Of course you have a right too.  I just don't want my prior judgments of people to affect me when I think about this night.  I enjoyed it so much but if you were – I mean are- somebody I hated I don't think I could ever look at you again.  I feel like there is a special bond between us now and I don't want it broken.  Do you get what I'm saying?"

"Yes kind of."

"Of course if you want to know who I am I'll tell you, I at least owe you that.  Just promise not to tell me."

"Okay – I would actually like to know, but first can I ask for something?"

"Yes, of course."

"Can I have a kiss?"  Hermione gulped a little and then nodded.  The handsome Romeo leaned in and kissed her lips.  She gratefully kissed back, feeling the warmth of his mouth on hers.  It was something you would remember forever.  They heard a round of applause inside, a countdown and then silence.  They guessed it was taking a moment for the shock of the dates to sink in.

"So you do want to know who I am?"

"More than anything."

She whispered into his ear, "I'm a Gryffindor, Hermione Granger."  She got up quickly and dashed back to the main staircase.  A hand touched her shoulder.  Her heart gave a jump then she realized she was shocked and turned around to find….Lysander?

"I never got my dance."

"Oh, Ron.  You scared me."

He offered her his arm, "Shall we?"  Hermione nodded accepting his gesture.  "Hermione how come you're mask is still on?"

"Oops.  I guess I forgot to take it off.  So who was your partner?"

"A fifth year Ravenclaw, Kerri McAllevy.  She was really nice and outgoing.  Who was your partner?"

"I don't know," she mumbled.  Ron spun her out on to the dance floor.

He took off her mask, "What did you say?"

"I said I don't know who my partner was.  I told him not to tell me.  What if it was someone I hated or I had no clue about?  I didn't want it to ruin the perfectness of tonight."

"Oh.  Is perfectness a word?"

"I don't think so, but I've invented it for tonight."

Ron laughed, "If you say so."  They danced through a song before Hermione excused herself back up to the dorms.  She didn't notice the watchful eyes following her every move and mutter under his breath how lucky Weasley was or the fact that he was blessed for that one kiss.

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The hot topic of the next day was finding out who everyone partner of the night before had been.  Hermione folded herself into a book avoiding the conversations, hiding behind the bindings of her text.

Ron and Harry of course tried to help her; well they thought they were helping her.  "You know Hermione, we could just ask every girl who her date was in this school and the guy that's left is your mystery man."

"Ron that would take ages and honestly I don't want to know.  Ignorance is bliss."

Harry laughed, "You may not want to know but we do."

"Then knock yourselves out – I'll be here or in the library enjoying my books."

The two boys went off all around starting in the Gryffindor tower, then the Great Hall, the library, and any random girl they saw in the hall.  The made a list of every name they received.

"Harry, this is taking to long.  Don't you think we could ask Dumbledore…"

"Ask me what?" questioned a cheerful voice from behind them.

"Oh sir, we were just going to ask you if you knew who Hermione was with last night – she won't exactly tell us."

"Well if she won't tell you then it's not my place either."

"Well sir I'm sure you already knew this but she doesn't exactly know who her partner was either."

"Yes Mr. Weasley I know that but she will find out soon enough, soon enough.  On her own time."

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Hermione was making her way up to the library and bumped into someone coming out.  She dropped her book and as she bent to pick it up said her apologizes.

"Oh Granger, I've been looking for you."

"Oh, why's that?"

"To set up you next lesson of course.  Seven o'clock tonight at the pitch."

"Um, okay but Draco why are you still trying to teach me how to fly? I thought it all was some big thing to pit me against Snape, or your free time to punish me how you please, but you've been really nice and considerate and I just don't understand why."

"You mean the Gryffindor know-it-all doesn't know everything.  Well, let's just say I have my reasons."  He walked off after that shouting over his shoulder, "See you at seven."

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Is it too obvious who her date is?  I have in my mind two people I think it could be, both are Quidditch players, on different teams, different years, and different positions.  Tell me who you think and where the story should go.

Also, review, review, review.  I still think my writing sucks and I want to get your opinions