A/N: I have to give a shout out to my very best friend in the whole wide world, Kate. Her thingy on here is Lily Willowswood. Go read her stuff. Anyways the reason she is getting this shoutout (besides being my best friend) is because she is the one who helps me come up with titles and gives me plot advice and proofreads and such. Go her!! And also a shout out to my reviewers, you are all so kind. And also, yes TamPierce, you can use the idea….

Costumed Kisses

"Draco, Ginny and I are going to be using this bathroom the whole day, so you had better go now if you have to." Today was the day of the masquerade, and Ginny was coming over to help me, and I would help her. A nice bit of girly bonding time. We hadn't had any of that since the Hogsmeade trip last Saturday.

"All day?"

"We are women Draco, we take a fair bit of time to get ready." Why is it that boys fail to understand the simplest things?

"Fine, then. I don't see why it will take you so long though." I sighed as Draco shut the door. I heard the shower run. Good. That meant he would be nice and clean for the dance. I had my Count Crolier's bag in my hand.

"Come on Hermione, give me a look." He came out wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. I was struck by the realization that if that towel fell, I would be looking at him in all his glory.

(A/N: A moment to let all the girls swoon here. Swoon)

"What?" He reached into his trunk and pulled out a bag. Ginny came in at that point.

"Draco!!" Her jaw dropped.

"What? I live here. Am I not allowed to walk around in a towel?" We just walked into the bathroom. I put up a sound silencing spell on the room. That way Draco couldn't hear what we were discussing, which happened to be him.

"Does he do that often?" Ginny asked, still shocked.

"He's never done it before, but I sure wish he would." So much for keeping your crush a secret, Granger.

Her eyes narrowed. "You like him, don't you?" she asked suspiciously. "Don't bother, the answer is written in your eyes." Damn it. Oh well, nothing I could do now. "Well now I just have to make sure you look extra fabulous."

I couldn't believe it. If she was accepting it, maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought. "So are you going to shower first or shall I?"

"Mmm… I took my shower already this morning. You go. I'll start laying out the supplies."

Ten minutes later I reached around the door for a towel. There wasn't one. "Damn it. Ginny will you go get the towel from Draco?"

She came back in and handed me the towel. "Granger, you are only lucky girl. Draco looks hot as a vampire."

"Really?" And so we spent the rest of the afternoon, in gigglish girl talk, getting each other ready.

"Ginny, you look fabulous." And she did. She looked like a real angel in her dress and wings. I had enchanted a halo to hover above her head. Her make-up, done in the same icy blue as her dress, was perfect. Her hair fell in auburn curls to her shoulders.

"You look better than me." I took a look at myself in the mirror. All that I had left to do was grow the fangs. But Ginny was half-right. I looked good, but I wasn't sure if I looked as good as she did.

We exited the bathroom in a calm manner, even though we were very excited. Harry was meeting Ginny outside our portrait in five minutes. Draco, of course was already there.

"Ginny, you look beautiful." I followed Ginny out of the bathroom. "And Hermione! You look stunning!"

"Fang you, Draco." Corny joke, I know, but I couldn't resist. He laughed and offered me his arm. "Our fangs."

"Right." We popped the red half of the pill in our mouths. It was strawberry flavored. They were called fruit chews I suppose.

I finally had a proper look at Draco. Ginny was right. He did look marvelous. His costume was fabulous, in a deep midnight blue. My eyes traveled up to his face. Why is it that he looks even hotter with fangs? I wondered to myself.

I felt my own teeth reach my lower lip and stop. I checked to make sure I could still close my mouth. I could.

"Ginny! Hermione! Draco!" Harry shouted through the portrait.

"Oops," Ginny laughed and swung open the door. "Hey Harry."

"Come on the ball is starting in five minutes." Harry grumbled. Draco offered me his arm. I took it, and we began walking down to the Great Hall.

It was packed outside with couples, with everyone waiting to go inside. I saw Pansy the pug hanging on to Crabbe and Goyle's arms. She looked over at Draco and glared. Then she saw me and whispered something to her 'dates'. They laughed like the baboons they are.

Dumbledore came opened the doors from inside, and everyone gasped. Padma and her friends had done a great job putting up the decorations. The Great Hall looked fabulous. At that moment Padma came rushing over to me.

"What do you think?"

"You guys did a great job. Tell your friends I said thanks." Draco replied. That was my line, but I improvised.

"Yeah thanks Padma." Real smooth, I think.

"Alright I'll tell them. And by the way, you two look great. Bye!" she called over her shoulder, rushing over to her group of friends.

Every one filed into the Great Hall. I noticed the Slytherin table remained, and was packed with food, like a buffet. The other tables were gone, replaced by the small tables from the Yule Ball in our fourth year.

I looked up at the Hex Girls, who were setting up. The one that looked to be the lead singer strummed her guitar. Everyone looked expectantly up.

Instead of introducing themselves they just began playing. Draco and I went out onto the dance floor.

We were living it up and having a great time, until I looked up and saw Ron dancing scandalously close to Parvati. I stopped dancing. "Let's go get some punch." Draco looked over and noticed Ron and Parvati.

"Sure Hermione." We went over to the table. "Let's see, there's red punch, and yellow punch, and some green punch, that looks odd, and some purple-"

"Draco, we are vampires. Get the red punch."

"Oh, right yes well." He filled two cups and walked me to a table in the far corner. We sat down, and began drinking our punch.

"Draco, do you think Ron will ever come around?" I asked, curios to know his opinion.

"Yeah I think he will. Honestly I think he is afraid you won't let him apologize." He looked sincere. I felt a little better, but not much. I wasn't sure if Ron would ever come around.

Then I saw Harry talking with Ginny. He leaned down and kissed her. "Ginny, remember what happened to Susan last year?"

"Yeah," she breathed.

"She was kidnapped because she was my girlfriend."

"Oh Harry, I'm so-" He silenced her with a finger over her lips.

"Wait for me Ginny," he asked, pleading not with his voice but with his eyes.

"I'll wait for you forever, Harry."

I felt very wrong listening to this conversation. It was very private, not something I should be hearing.

So I listened elsewhere. I was perfectly comfortable just sitting with Draco in silence. I heard Dean flirting with Lavender. Then I saw Lavender crawl up into his lap and start making out with him. I turned my attention elsewhere. My eyes crossed Padma talking with Seamus before resting on my tablemate. He was watching me I found myself melting into his silver eyes.

The Hex Girls began playing a slow number. Draco got up. "Come on, my fanged friend, have a dance with me."

I couldn't say no. What's more, I didn't want to. I said nothing, just got up and followed him to the dance floor.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I put my arms up around his neck. He pulled my closer, but not so close that I couldn't drown in his eyes.

We swayed in time with the music. I just looked up into his eyes. The rest of the Hall faded away. All that remained was Draco and his silver eyes, holding me close to him. Until he leaned down and his lips met mine.

A/N: -I am truly evil am I not? Look for more later. Although I have a life besides fanfiction and may not be here till late afternoon tomorrow.