Chapter 12: The Dance

Raven promised Harry before they left the Great Hall that she would behave the rest of the day. She kept her promise and did not get kicked out of anymore classes. She actually did her work and only made a few comments, good comments.

The weeks flew by quickly and Raven had yet to go back to Divination. She told Harry that she often wandered aimlessly over the grounds. She told him a lot, but also told him very little.

It was Halloween and this year there was going to be a Masquerade Ball for 4th years and up. Few people were going as couples though; many wanted to be in suspense of who they were dancing with. There would be an unmasking at midnight.

Harry took great pains in dressing that evening. He wanted to look good. He long ago decided on black pants with a white silk long sleeve shirt. He left a few of the top buttons undone. He donned a simple black mask that resembled Zorro's. (A/N: I have a thing for Zorro- a.k.a. Antonio Bandaras)

He studied himself in the mirror. Did he go over the top? Would Raven laugh at his antics?

His thoughts were interrupted as Ron entered the room. Harry couldn't suppress his laughter very long. Ron was dressed in full Halloween garb!

Ron looked at Harry though the slits in the mask, confused. He thought the costume was supposed to scare people. The costume was of some muggle guy called "Jason."

Harry stopped laughing, barely, and asked "Ready?"

The two made their way out of their dorm and down to the common room. The girls weren't in sight so they decided to head on down to the Great Hall. (A/N: Hermione & Raven got ready in the Head's dorms while Harry and Ron got ready in the Gryffindor dorms)

Many students littered the Great Hall, few of whom you could recognize. Many, like Ron, decided to go with the traditional muggle costumes meant to scare people. Others went with simple outfits they could just put masks with like Harry.

The two friends were surprised when a hand came down on their shoulders. "Really Ron, did you think you could fool anyone with that costume?"

Ron spun around, general confusion showing on his face. "Bill?"

His older brother laughed. "You should have put something on that would cover your hair. Your red hair is showing."

Bill was dressed like a pirate with a mask similar to Harry's.

"You didn't try to hide your hair," Ron pointed out.

"For one, my hair goes with my costume. And second, I don't care if anyone recognizes me."

"Oh," Ron said. Then, he smiled. "Look at Hermione."

Bill and Harry both turned to see Hermione. She looked amazing! She was wearing a light green dress that struck her mid thigh. It had a jagged cut and was fitted to her body. She had wings and instead of a mask, pastel colored face paint and body glitter where skillfully applied around her eyes to make it look like a mask.

"Hermione," Harry was the first to find his voice when she reached them, "you look amazing!"

Hermione smiled shyly and twirled one of her curls in her finger. "Do you really think so?"

"Yes," all three guys answered at once.

"Raven did it, she even insisted on doing this," she gestured to her face. "Which is why she isn't down here yet. She told me to come on down."

"Well then," Bill smiled down at her, "will you dance with a rogue pirate?"

Hermione giggled and let him lead her out onto the floor. Ron watch them go then turned to Harry. "I think I'm going to ask Lavender for a dance mate."

"Good luck," Harry told him as he watched his friend walk away. He stood there, nervously, in the middle of the floor, looking around. He was worried that she wouldn't come, worried that she would come with someone else, but then….there she was.

He instantly knew it was her as soon as she entered the Great Hall. She wore tight black pants and a skimpy, tight black shirt. She wore a mask identical to the one worn in Catwoman. She had a whip attached to her hip.

She smiled at him as soon as she spotted him. She walked towards him with an teasing smirk plastered on her face. "Well Mr. Potter," she purred, "it seems we think alike."

"What do you mean?" Harry smiled at her.

"Well, we both came as thieves." He laughed at her and she continued. "Sure, our characters were good guys but they still stole."

"Well then, shall we dance?"

"Why not?"

Harry led her out onto the dance floor and took her into his arms. She fit perfectly and laid her head on his shoulder. He let his one hand fall till it rested on the small of her back.

They danced to the slow beat of the music. The world seemed to be revolving around them, or so Harry thought. It felt so good just to hold her in his arms.

But then all the magic was broken. Draco Malfoy, dressed as the Phantom of the Opera, walked up to the dancing couple.

"Raven," he purred, "you look….enticing this evening."

Raven studied him and threw a quick glance at Harry. "Thank you Draco….I think."

He smiled and held out his hand. "Will you do me the honor of a dance?"

Raven threw another glance at Harry. "Um…sure." She turned to Harry as they walked away and mouthed 'sorry.'

He nodded at her. He walked away to the wall and watched the object that captivated him. Her and Draco were talking. She didn't look as if she was enjoying herself but she didn't look as if she hated it either.

Harry watched as she spoke quickly to him and he nodded. She then gave him a smile and turned to walk back to where Harry was now standing. She grabbed his hand (Harry's) and drew him out onto the floor and into a dance as if they were never interrupted.