A/N: hey there! OMG! On Friday night I went with my family and two of my best friends to see POA and man was it amazing! They did cut out a lot from the book and they were moving really fast but it was amazing! I enjoyed every last second of it and I plan on seeing it another 5 times, lol. The only thing I didn't like was the ending, it was out of place, but other than that, it was better than the fist two! If u haven't seen it, I advise you to do so sometime soon! Ne wayz... I wanna give some person thanks out to those who reviewed...

notamonkey128: glad you like it...I love mushy stuff too! Yes, I do know that they aren't suppose to go into each other's rooms but I had to bend the rules a little to make it fit.

Kole17: yea, I love Tom Felton too! He is my god! I was so excited when me n some close friends got to see him at the NYC Premiere! And we lost it when he came over to us n we got his auto! Let me tell u...he uses axe!! Hehe

danschickie: I'm really glad u think I'm a good writer, I really don't think I am, but I'm glad your enjoying the story...keep reading, I promise it gets better n in return I'll read yours as well.

Recap: Hermione is feeling lonely cuz she, unlike her best friends, has no one to be with romantically. She has a few encounters with none other than Draco Malfoy. During a last minute trip at Hogsmeade, Ginny and Harry decide to go to the Costume Ball as Sandy and Danny while Ron and Morgan decide to go as Romeo and Juliet. But what about Hermione?

Now...on with the next chapter!

Yours Truly

Chapter 3- Behind the Mask

The days until the Halloween Ball went by quickly and before everyone knew it, it was in less than two hours away. Classes that day were of course canceled so the students could get ready....well, mainly just the girls.

While the boys of Gryffindor were down stairs playing some chess, the girls were running this way and that trying to complete their outfits for the night. Hermione, Ginny and Morgan locked themselves in the prefect bathroom so they wouldn't be bothered and they could do whatever they needed to do and take as much time as they needed.

Since Ginny was dressing up as Sandy, she wore tight black leather pants with black heels and a black shirt and the sleeves coming down her shoulders. She charmed her hair to where it was slightly curled at the end and Hermione did her make up, making it look natural, like she didn't have any on at all. Besides her red hair, Ginny looked like Sandy in the picture Hermione gave her.

"You look great Gin!" Hermione said while putting the finishing touches on Ginny's make up. "Morgan, you're my next victim."

Morgan was going as Juliet. She wore a cosset under her dress making her chest look slightly bigger than it already was. Her dress was black with red crisscross at the top and the bottom was extremely slimming and it was blood red and a pair of black comfortable black slip on shoes. Her hair was straight and it was half up and half down and the half pony tail was braded. Hermione did her make up beautifully. She used a gray eye shadow and had it darken to almost black at the end of her eyes, and added some shimmer to it, giving it a smoky effect. She added a deep red lipstick to match her dress and Hermione's work was done.

"Thanks Hermione!" Morgan said as she got up and walked over to the mirror. "Wow! You did an amazing job! I love it!" And she gave Hermione a hug.

"Any time. Now it's my turn to get dressed. I'll be right back." With that Hermione walked into her room and closed the door. A half hour went by until Hermione finally emerged from the door.

"Shit Hermione! You look amazing!" Ginny shouted with excitement.

Hermione decided to dress as a pirate for this wonderful event. However she gave this costume a kick to it. She wore the usual white shirt with black strips going across it. The sleeves were torn and there were rips and holes randomly on her shirt and it came down just above her bellybutton, revealing her navel piercing. She wore a black skirt that had tares at the end and it flared up when she spun around. On her feet were black heels and fish net stockings on her legs. Her hair was straight and in a high pony tail with a red bandanna. She had on black eye shadow and eyeliner. She muttered two simple charms, one after the other. Seconds later she was dirty and she had tattoos randomly placed on her body.

"Bloody brilliant, Hermione! You look wonderful! Absolutely amazing!" Morgan said with her eyes wide open as well as her mouth. Ginny was just as speechless and the only thing she was able to do was nod her head in agreement.

"Thanks, do you really think so?" she asked looking down at her outfit.

"Definitely." Ginny said after finally finding her voice.

"Come one, let's go down stairs to meet the boys." Morgan suggested. Hermione and Ginny agreed and made their way down to the common room.

Harry and Ron were at the bottom of the stairs waiting for what seemed like forever for the girls.

Ginny was the first to come down and Harry could have sworn it was an angel. She took his breath away with everything about her.

"Wow Gin! I'm speechless! You look amazing." Harry said as he grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle kiss.

"Can those pants be anymore tighter?!" Ron yelled.

"Leave me alone Ron! I wouldn't be talking if I was you!" Ginny retaliated with. "You look good too though Harry...very sexy."

Harry smiled. He was wearing blue jeans with a simple plan white shirt and his hair was charmed to have the same up-do as Danny did. Harry held out Ginny's jacket open and slipped it on her, and she did the same to him. Hers was pink with her name sown on the front with 'Pink Lady' on the back. His was black and that too had his name on the front, but the back said 'T- Bird'. She turned, faced her wonderful boyfriend and gave him a kiss.

"Can you two please save it for when your alone?!" Ron said covering his eyes with his hands.

"Oh leave 'em alone Ron! There're in love."

Ron turned around to see who was talking to him. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes came in contact with a beautiful sight. And he smiled.

"Wow." He said barely above a whisper. He walked towards her and she turned around, modeling the whole outfit for him. "You look great." He said while putting a necklace around her small neck.

"Why thank you Ronald." She looked him up and down and smiled. "You look charming yourself."

"Thanks." He said blushing slightly. He was wearing dark brown tights, a plain white shirt with a thin green sleeveless vest over it with two buttons a the top, the white shirt showing from under the vest by the sleeves and collar. For shoes, he wore think black comfortable slip-ons.

"This is probably the only time anyone is gonna see me like this." He said grabbing Morgan's hand.

"Don't worry Ron, you really do look great." Came Hermione's voice from behind him as she made her way down the stairs.

"Hermione, you look very sexy!"

"Thanks, you really think so?"

And everyone nodded in agreement.

"Well, I can't take all the credit. My mum made the outfit. But thanks. So are we ready to go?"

"Before you go, can I get a few quick pic of you guys?" Colin popped out and asked, holding up his camera.

"Sure" Ginny said

They all got close and posed. They saw a blinding flash and rubbed their eyes.

"Thanks guys! Now can I get one of the couples?" he asked.

A few pictures rapidly turned to a few hundred. He got one of just Ginny and Harry, one of just Ron and Morgan, one of Ginny, Morgan with Harry and Ron's arms around the girls waist, one of just the girls and then one of just the guys.

"Brilliant! I'll give you all copies. Have fun tonight!"

"Thanks Col! We will!" Ginny said.

The five of them finally got out of the common room and made their way down to the Great Hall with big white dots still before their eyes.

-----------------

When they walked in the Great Hall, it was like they waked out into the forest. The ceiling was charmed to look like the night sky. It was cloudy, and the moon was shinning bright. The wall was replaced by trees with red eyes popping out every now and then. Throughout the room, there were tons of smaller tables instead of the usual four long house tables. In the middle of all the tables was the dance floor with a big light shinning in the center of it. On the stage the band that Dumbledore hired, The Time Turners, were setting up.

The five of them got a table and started to eat some chips that were already placed on the table, when Dumbledore took the stage. He took his wand from his robe pocket and pointed it to his throat. Purple streams of light came out form the end of his wand and he began to talk.

"Welcome all to the Halloween Ball." He began, his voice ten times it's usual volume. "As you can tell, tonight's band will be The Time Turners. Now all I ask is for you to enjoy your night and to have a blast."

With that said the three guys behind the Headmaster started a fast song and the main food appeared on the students plates. Some dug in and piled the colorful food onto their plates and others dragged their date on the dance floor. The five decided to eat and get their energy up and ready for a whole night of dancing.

After about ten minutes, the girls couldn't take sitting around anymore. They pried the boys from their food and yanked them to the dance floor. Once they got into the beat of the song, the boys were glad that they were there with their girlfriends instead of stuffing their faces.

While the couples were dancing close with each other, Hermione was having some luck with the guys herself. She danced with every guy who asked her to. She was even planning on dancing with Harry and Ron later...if she could get them away from their girlfriends.

After dancing with a 6th year Hufflepuff, she excused herself and went back to her table to have something to drink to get herself reenergized. She sat, sipping her drink and she saw her friends dancing closely during a slow song. She sighed and wished she had someone.

"Is Miss Granger enjoying herself?" came Dobby's squeaky voice.

"Hello Dobby. Yes, I am having a wonderful time. You guys did a marvelous job with the decorations." Hermione complimented him.

"Thanks Miss. Please excuse me, Dobby needs to get back to work. Please enjoy the rest of your night." He said as he bowed his head to bid Hermione a goodbye.

The next two songs were slow ones and she danced them with Harry and Ron. She was in the middle of dancing with Neville when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around only to come face to face with a tall man dressed in all black with a black cape, a black cowboy like hat and a piece of black silk cloth that went across over his face with two holes for his eyes so he could see, and it tied around to the back of his head. The only thing visible was his eyes and his mouth.

"May I cut in?" he asked in a mysterious voice.

"Do you mind Neville?" She asked.

"Not at all. Thanks for the dance." He thanked her and she gave him a peck on the cheek.

Hermione and her mystery man were dancing real close to a fast playing song, one body going into the others as if it were one and they were both enjoying themselves. 'He's a really good dance. I wonder if I've seen him before,' she thought to herself. Then when that song was over, a slow song came on and he grabbed her waist to pull her closer to him. Hermione put her arms around his neck and took in his sent. 'Oh, Merlin, he smells good.'

As they danced slowly together, Hermione was listening to the words of the music.

So many times I thought I hold it in my hands

but just like grains of sand

love slipped through my fingers

so many nights I asked the Lord above

Please make me lucky enough to find a love that lingers

Something keeps telling me that you could be my answered prayer

you must be heaven sent, I swear

cuz...

Something happens when you look at me I forget to speak

something happens when you kiss my mouth my knees get so weak

could it be true is this what God has meant for me?

cuz baby I can't believe...that something like you could happen to me

yeah yeah...something like you

Girl in your eyes I feel your fire burn

oh your secrets I will learn

even if it takes forever

with you by my side i can do anything

I don't care what tomorrow brings as long as we're together

my heart is telling me that you could be my meant to be

I know it more each time we touch

cuz...

Something happens when you look at me I forget to speak

something happens when you kiss my mouth my knees get so weak

could it be true is this what God has meant for me?

cuz baby I can't believe...that something like you could happen to me

Something magical (something magical)

something spiritual (something spiritual)

something stronger than the two of us alone

something physical

something undeniable (undeniable)

nothing like anything (anything) that i've ever known

cuz...

Something happens when you look at me I forget to speak

something happens when you kiss my mouth my knees get so weak

could it be true is this what God has meant for me?

cuz baby I can't believe...that something like you could happen to me

Something happened...ohhhh, can't believe that you happened to me

hey yeah...

The song ended and a tear fell from her check because once again she was feeling sorry for herself and the song didn't help much. The mystery man that she was with saw the tear shine from all the lights around them, and he took a finger to her chin and lifted it up so she was looking at him. He cupped her face in his hands and wiped the lonesome tear with his thumb.

"Please don't cry." He whispered. "Would you like to go outside and get some air?"

Hermione gave a weak smile and nodded. He took her small hand in his and led her out of the Great Hall, through the big oak doors, and out into the bitter cold and sat down on a near by bench. Hermione was wearing almost nothing and started to shiver uncontrollably.

"Here, let me help you with that." He took off his cape and wrapped it around her. "All better?"

"Yeah, thanks"

'Who is this? How come I've never seen him before? Well, he must play Quidditch, he's body is nicely toned.' She thought to herself, looking him up and down trying to figure out who he can possibly be.

"So have I seen you before?" she finally asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"You might have."

"What year are you?"

"6th"

"Do we have classes together?"

"Two or three."

"Do you play Quidditch?"

"What is this, 21 questions?"

"Yes, now answer the question."

"Yes, I do."

Hermione got up from the bench and started to walk towards him to see if there was anything about him that she can recognize him with when she tripped over a rock that was sticking out of the ground. She went flying forward and into him, knocking him down, and they were on the floor, she was on top of him.

They both made eye contact for a while, getting lost in each others eyes and Hermione could feel his heart beat increase rapidly. He lifted his head up to meet hers and the gap between them slowly closed. He looked down at her lips until they were inches apart and they could feel the warmth of the others breath. He gave her one last look in her chocolate eyes to make sure she wanted it as much as he did. He moved closer to her and she closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath. He forced himself up the last inch that was between them and their lips touched in a soft small kiss. They pulled apart and looked at each other. He smiled and kissed her again, only this time it was longer and harder.

A minute later, the kiss got really serious and Hermione felt something more than just tongue in the kiss. She felt alive. She felt as though she was being born all over again. She felt complete.

Hermione pulled out of the kiss and stood up. Following her lead, he did the same.

"What's the matter?"

"Who are you?"

He didn't answer her but just stood there. He reached up and took off his hat, but it didn't help Hermione much. She reached behind his head and untied the piece of black cloth that was over his face and slowly peeled it away.

Realizing who he was, she gasped and her eyes widened.

A/N: ...dun dun dun... who is this mysterious man ? I know I know! When will you know....hmmm....the next time I decide to update! So until next time....r&r plz

Come on...how can u not know who's behind the mask ;)