Underneath It All

Rating- PG-13

Disclaimer- I don't own Harry or Draco, they belong to J.K. Rowling. I just put them under the Imperious Curse and force them to do what I want.

Warnings- OotP spoilers, SLASH (male/male pairing)

A/N- I would like to say a big thanks to everyone who reviews this story because you are what makes sure it does get finished. Sorry this chapter took a while but it is much longer than the first two and I have already got a small start on the last chapter.

Chapter 3- Getting Ready

That Saturday was the last Hogsmeade weekend before the holidays. Anyone who was planning on attending the masquerade ball (which was just about everyone) went into Hogsmeade to go buy their masks and new outfits.

The Gryffindor Trio followed the crowd to a shop where they could buy their masks.

Ron walked over to one of the shelves and picked up a mask. The mask itself looked incredibly simplistic. It was made out of a soft, black, silk-like material. The fabric covered the area around your eyes and then tied around the back of your head.

"This little thing is supposed to keep other people from knowing who we are?" Ron questioned, holding up the (in his mind) offending object.

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione said with her hands on her hips. Ron often wondered if her hands were permanently stuck in that position. "Sometimes it seems like you are the one with Muggle parents. It's obviously done by magic." She snatched the package out of Ron's hands and flipped it over to the back.

Harry had also picked up a mask and began to read the reverse side aloud. "Midnight Masks. Charmed to hide your identity from even those closest to you. At midnight, the mask will disappear allowing people to see who you truly are. Good for one night only." Harry flipped the mask back over and looked up at Ron and Hermione. "Sounds a bit like Cinderella."

Hermione nodded in agreement while Ron just stood there with a look of confusion on his face.

"Who's this Cindybella person?" he asked.

"It's Cinderella," Hermione answered. "It's a Muggle fairytale about this poor girl whose evil stepmother won't let her go to the ball. So then her fairy godmother gives her this beautiful gown to wear to the ball and no one recognizes her in it. But she has to be home before midnight or the gown will turn back into her old rags."

"And little kids actually believe that rubbish?" Ron replied looking dumbfounded.

Draco had quickly purchased his mask and headed off to buy new dress robes. He briskly walked towards Dollie's Dress Shoppe to get what he needed. In this process he had managed to ditch Blaise, who had insisted on tagging along, in the crowd.

As Draco pushed open the door to the shop, he heard the sound of bells jingling, alerting the owner of a new customer. A short, plump old lady with graying hair came out from around the back with her arms full of boxes. She immediately dropped the boxes unceremoniously onto the floor when she saw Draco.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, how nice to see you again!" exclaimed the woman while trying to straighten the boxes back up. This was the nicest and most expensive dress shop around, so of course Draco had visited on several occasions.

"As always, it's a pleasure to see you again too, Ms. Dollie." Draco gave a short bow, causing Ms. Dollie to blush.

"So, what can I do for you today?"

"Well, there is going to be a masquerade ball and I need something to wear. It needs to be something really special."

"Hmm, so there must be a young lady that you want to impress." Ms. Dollie chuckled while gesturing to a stool.

Draco stepped up onto the stool and smirked. "Something like that." He smiled thinking of Harry. Being here reminded Draco of the first time they had met in Madam Malkin's. Wow, I must have seemed like a real brat.

Ms. Dollie flicked her wand and a tape measurer magically started taking Draco's measurements. Then she stood there with one hand under her chin while shaking her head and muttering to herself.

"Something special... definitely not red... maybe green... no, no... not quite... ah, yes." Then she abruptly stopped the tape measurer and it dropped to the floor with a thud.

With another swish of her wand, Draco was dressed in the most elegant, navy blue dress robes. They were trimmed in silver matched his gray eyes. The dark blue material emphasized Draco's pale complexion, making him look ethereal.

"Yes, yes dearie. Turn around now." Ms. Dollie clapped her hands, marveling at her own creation.

Draco turned, finding himself facing a full length mirror. He gasped, taking in his appearance. Then he turned back to Ms. Dollie and said, "It's perfect."
The Christmas holidays began and Christmas Eve finally rolled around. Excitement filled the school. After dinner, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went up to the Gryffindor Tower to change for the ball.

Hermione and Ron quickly changed and donned their masks. They had agreed to meet in the common room so they would be able to go down to the masquerade together and not lose one another.

"Wow Hermione, is that you?" Ron asked unable to recognize his own girlfriend in her mask.

"Yes Ron, of course it's me. Interesting, these masks even manage to disguise your voice."

"You two both look great." Harry said.

Hermione looked over at her friend. "Are you sure you don't want us to wait for you, Harry?"

"No, I'm fine. You two go ahead and I'll see you down there later." Hermione frowned but left with Ron for the ball.

Harry retreated back to his dorm to go dress. Tonight I get to be just Harry. No one will see the famous Harry Potter and only like me for my reputation. But Harry knew that there was one person who already knew just Harry and that person had blonde hair and gorgeous, stormy grey eyes. Of course, the ball would be packed and Harry would never recognize him with his mask on. So why hope?

The dress robes that Mrs. Weasley had bought for him in Fourth Year, Harry had long grown out of so he had bought new ones. They were an emerald green velvet, lined with gold trim. Green had always brought out his eyes and looked wonderful on him.
Draco tied his mask around the back of his head and looked into the mirror.

Stunning as always.

Draco sighed. Even if he couldn't be with the one person he really wanted to be with, he was still going to have a good time. No use in letting his outfit go to waste. He left the dungeons and went up to the Great Hall for the masquerade ball.