The next day was Saturday, finally – the last day. The carnival gates were open and everyone had a brilliant time playing the games and riding the roller coasters until the puked. It was left open for the whole day and night. At about five thirty in the afternoon, though, everything slowed down. Most everyone went to go get ready for the masquerade ball.

Benji put on her deep purple shirt. She carefully draped and tied her gold toga. Carefully placing her gold headdress in her hair, she put on dangly gold bracelets and anklets. She gently dug her mask out of her trunk and carefully placed it over her face.

When she looked in the mirror, she was disappointed – she still looked the same! She sighed and walked down the stairs, bumping right into Joel.

"Oh, sorry –uh- Lavender," he said and went on his way.

Benji stopped in her tracks. Had her own brother just mistaken her for Lavender? She went on her way to the Great Hall where there was already a large crowd waiting to get in. Everyone was talking about how Dumbledore had lifted curfew until 4 o'clock the next morning!

Benji stepped into the changed room, the Weird Sister's music already playing in her ears. Looking around her, she quietly milled around, searching for a familiar costume. A guy in an outfit similar to hers came up to her and they stopped to study each other. His toga draped around his waist, revealing a nicely built chest. His gold, dramatic mask covered his eyes and nose, just like Benji's. The rest of his head not covered by the mask was fading in and out.

"Wow - looks like there are two Egyptians tonight," he said in slight bemusement.

Benji smiled and they started talking as the band started a new song. Professor Dumbledore stepped up to the platform to say a few words.

"Okay all you costumed party-goers. As you all know your curfew has been lifted until four. That's all for now folks, keep it clean!"

The Egyptian pharaoh asked Benji to dance. They spent the night just as they had spent many of the nights before; though they did not yet know they had even met prior to tonight. They were simply having a great time. Benji was reminded of the rowdy, friendly, dorm parties at Traxel. Everyone had friends there that they had known practically since diapers. They were all fiercely loyal to their house, and almost violent towards the other four. Here though, it seemed as if you could be pals with almost anyone. Suddenly, Benji's gypsy stopped dancing. "What is it?" She asked, smiling breathlessly up at him.

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. He couldn't believe he'd ever thought of her as simply a tool to get back at Potter. He leaned in and kissed her just as the clock struck midnight. As the twelfth bell tolled Benji felt her mask disappear. When she opened her eyes she found she was staring into clear blue eyes. Eyes that belonged to the Slytherin she had been spending their parties with. "Oh, God," she barley breathed, "It's you!"

Just then Benji saw Draco's eyes leave hers and look up. She whirled around and stepped close to his side. She saw Harry and Ron staring at her and Joel pushing his way through the crowd. "Draco if you even touch her," Harry growled.

Joel walked over and drug Benji back to his side. "Don't go near him Benji, he's dangerous." He whispered as he drug her away. Ron and Harry shot Draco a pair of 'eat-shit-and-die' looks before stalking off.

When they got to the table Hermione and Ginny were standing there talking to Cho, and Lavender. "He's not all bad. Y'all don't even know him!" Benji blew up in their faces.

"We know him well enough to know he's bad news!"

"Just shut up and mind your own business okay. It's MY life, not yours!"