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Chapter Thirteen: Happily Ever After?

"I've been high and low

I don't know where to go

Because I love you so

And I'll never ever find someone like you for sure"

Draco walked along the lake of Hogwarts, taking in the scents of the atmosphere and the evening air. He felt very content, and he wished that this feeling would never leave him. He looked around and spotted a blurry figure, up ahead, standing by the lake. He knew it must be her, so he quickened his steps to verify that he was right. Sure enough, she was waiting for him, her back facing towards him so she wouldn't know that he was just behind her. He smiled in amusement as he noticed that she decided to wear her costume. He wanted to turn her around and confess everything to her right there, but he knew that would be difficult. He also understood that he had deep feelings for her but he couldn't shock her with something unexpected so fast. What would she think? He was extremely nervous since he didn't know what he was going to say, and there were so many emotions going through him that it was difficult to think properly. He was trying to organize his thoughts, when all of a sudden, she turned around and faced him. He was surprised that she was wearing her mask, but he didn't care much since he already knows who she is.

"Oh, h-hi" she said very hesitantly.

"Hi. I...err...I thought you'd be here," Draco tried to say calmly.

"Yes, well, how could I turn down such an invitation?" she said smiling.

He smiled back. "You do know why I asked you to be here, right?"

"Yes. You know who I am, but you wanted to explain how."

"Yeah, that's basically it." Draco hesitated before continuing on. He had no idea what to say, and decided that he would just tell her everything, "After the night we met at the Ball, I kept on having these strange dreams. It was a different place every time, but you were always there with your costume and I would come up to you. For the first two dreams, I would always say how beautiful you are – and may I add, you look really gorgeous right now – and then I would ask if your mask could be taken off so that I could see your face. But I each time, I would get interrupted by some bloody noise and the best part of the dream is ruined. The third dream that I got last night was different. We were dancing in the Great Hall, and then I kissed you. I told you about my feelings, like how much I really care about you, and when I asked if I could take your mask off, you actually agreed. I took it off, and I saw your face! You don't know how happy I was because secretly, I've wanted the masked girl to be you."

It was obvious that she was speechless by everything that he said since all she could muster up was, "Oh."

Draco continued on, with a small smile. "I've thought about why you would take your mask off in that dream, and not the others. Do you want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because this time I knew that I had feelings for you, and that I didn't doubt them or anything. I was honest about how I felt, even if it was you who I had feelings for. You see, it's only when you confess and accept your true emotions that the mystery is finally revealed to you. That's how I got to know who you were."

"I see."

"Did the same thing happen to you too? Did you find out who I am in the dreams?"

"Well, yes I did have the same dreams, except I was the one who asked you to take your mask off. Each time you would refuse to, even in the last dream."

"So... you don't know who I am?" Draco asked sadly.

"I do. You see, I have feelings for you too but I keep on denying them. I mean, I'd never thought that I could feel something romantically for someone like you, and when I did, I didn't believe it. But deep inside, I did want the masked man to be you. In my last dream, I asked you to take your mask off but you refused again. I asked you why and you said that you can't reveal your identity to me because I'm being dishonest about my feelings. I have to say what's in my heart, and not think about anything else. You gave me clues about who you are too. That's how I got to know," she explained.

"So do you still doubt me?"

"No. I'm speaking from my heart when I say that I really care about you too."

He had a huge smile on his face when she said that. He didn't know that he could experience so much happiness from one person, who was the same person he wanted to cause pain to in earlier years. He stepped closer to her, until their faces were inches apart.

"May I?" he asked as his hands reached up to her eye mask. "For old time's sake?" She nodded, and he slowly took her mask off to reveal her face.

"Hermione" he softly whispered as her identity was exposed.

She smiled, and did the same thing. Her hands touched his mask and gradually took it off. "Hey Draco" she said with a grin.

He smiled and looked into her eyes. They were filled with wonder and joy, and he wanted to be the cause of that. His fingers went to her cheek and stroked her skin, which caused her to sigh contently. He leaned closer to her, and when her eyes were closed, he softly whispered to her.

"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

"You're not."

"I want to take this slow. I mean, this new relationship. I'm not really used to it yet."

"That's okay."

Satisfied, he closed this distance between them by gently brushing his lips against hers. Instantly, he felt many emotions rushing through him, just like in the dream, but much better since it was reality. Draco placed his hands on her waist, feeling as if he wanted to protect her from any harm. In turn, she put her hands around his neck, entangling them with his hair. Their kiss gradually deepened until they had to pull away for air. It didn't last long, since they immediately continued on with the kiss, oblivious to the surroundings.

"Who's there!"

Oh no, why must everyone and everything ruin the best parts of my life?? Draco thought.

"I said who's there!"

This time Draco felt furious. He knew that familiar voice, and he was dreading that it wouldn't belong to the one person he couldn't stand. It seems as if Hermione noticed too since she quickly stiffened and pulled away from their kiss.

"Hermione?"

"H-harry! Uhh... what are you doing here so late at night?" Hermione asked. She was visibly trembling since she had been caught off-guard doing something that no one would expect from her.

"I should be asking you the same question" Harry said coldly. "So, this is what you mean when you said you had other plans?"

"Well, umm... yes, but you don't understand!"

"Then tell me! Tell me what is bloody going on! I thought I was your best friend who you could tell anything to, but I guess I was wrong!"

"It's not like that, I swear!"

"Then what is it! Say it! Tell me why I came out here, and found you kissing him," Harry shouted, making sure he said the last word with disgust in his voice.

"You won't understand" Hermione cried. She broke down in tears, which caused Draco to react.

He stepped forward to Harry, making sure he could see his terribly dangerous eyes. "Don't you ever make her cry like that again, or you'll regret it."

Harry seemed unaffected by Draco's threat. "Me make her cry? How would I know you won't do that! After all, you are known to—"

He was about to say more when Draco forced his wand to his throat, hoping to stop him from finishing the sentence. "You say one more word and I will be forced to curse you so badly you wish you were never born."

"Boys, please stop this" a small voice behind them softly said. They both turned around to face Hermione, who seemed to regain her composure.

"Hermione, are you alright lately? First, I find you talking to yourself, and now I see you kissing this... thing" Harry said, his voice filled with hatred. Once he heard the insult, Draco was about to mutter a curse when Hermione stopped him.

"It's not like that! He has changed if you only give him a chance!"

"I won't! I never will!"

"How about for my sake, then?"

Harry paused. He would do anything for Hermione, but he didn't trust Draco a bit. He didn't know how he could give someone a chance if they had teased him and his friends cruelly for the past seven years. Draco would have to prove himself first before Harry would even consider acknowledging him.

"Wait, I just want to know one thing. Potter, exactly what in bloody hell are you doing out here" Draco asked coldly.

Harry seemed surprised by the question, but didn't respond. Hermione, seeing that her friend probably doesn't want to answer to his enemy, she asked the question again.

"Well, Harry? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be playing wizard's chess with Ron?"

He glanced at her with a hollow look in his eyes. "That's what I was doing but I remembered to give some assignments to Seamus. I went to the dorm to find him, but all I saw was a black rose on his bed. I thought that looked kind of odd, so I searched everywhere in the castle for him but I couldn't find him anywhere. That's when I looked through a window and saw two people standing out here. I came all the way down here, hoping that it's Seamus, but instead..." Harry didn't need to continue for the other two to know what he was going to say.

"Let's go find him."

"Hermione, I think there are more important issues to be discussed here!" Harry yelled.

"Harry, we can talk about this later! It's not like Seamus to just disappear like that, so we'll help you find him" she suggested.

"We? What are you bloody talk—" Draco couldn't finish his sentence before Hermione grabbed his hand and ran to the entrance of Hogwarts. They were in front of the Great Hall where they met up with Ron and Dean.

"Hermione! There you are! Have you seen—" Ron paused when he noticed Draco standing in front of him.

"What are you bloody doing here! And why are you both wearing costumes at this time!"

"Never mind that, Ron!" Hermione was too tired to explain everything to him. "We're here to help you find Seamus. He's got to be in here somewhere."

"But we haven't seen him all day! He wouldn't just..." Dean started to say when all of a sudden, his voice started fading away. This caused the other three to turn their heads to face him, wondering what was wrong. When they did, they saw the most unusual sight they had ever seen. Right before their eyes, Dean was slowly starting to become transparent, much like a ghost. He appeared to be yelling, yet no sound came from his mouth. They were all shocked from this and tried to save him, but were frozen in their spots caused by this sudden surprise. Dean slowly began vanishing into thin air, until he was completely gone. The other three were completely shocked and didn't know what to do.

"W-what just h-happened here?" Hermione asked softly, feeling more unprepared and frightened than ever.

"I-I don't know." Harry replied, noticeably trembling.

"Look!" Ron exclaimed.

They all looked at the floor where he was pointing, and their eyes widened even more. They saw something that confused them greatly, and made them panic to the point where they were afraid that it might be a dangerous sign of the future.

On the exact spot where Dean had disappeared laid a single black rose.

Please read--
A/N: This is the last chapter of Masked Feelings. I hope you enjoyed this story :). I know I left it at a cliffhanger (i know i'm evil..don't hurt me!), and there are still some unresolved issues but that's because i decided that i'll write a sequel. i just didn't want to continue using this title cuz it'll be different. I already have a prologue and am writing chapter 2 right now for the sequel but i won't post it for a few days to a week.. so i really hope you keep checking for any updates for the new story called "Black Rose" (obviously...lol) Thank you guys for all the reviews!!! I can't believe i made it past 100..u guys are amazing :) And Kheya, yeah you're right about Seamus..you're the first to notice! One last thing: I repeated this many times, but i don't want any flames saying it.. Draco will be OOC (out of character) in the next story, so please don't yell at me about it! Thnx again, and i'll be back soon!!