(Here we go. Last chapter. New format, too. Too bad Kinz is all the way up north and can't dance with me in French tomorrow… We would celebrate! And then everyone would look at us funny… but whatever. I can celebrate on my own. Review and celebrate with me! This added as an afterthought: I apologize for the poem. Really, truly, I'm sorry.)

Katrina attached the letter to the leg of her owl and it flew off into the twilight, clipping her in the face.

"Bloody bird." She groused, turning away from the window.

"What about a bloody bird?" Christie asked as she stepped into the room.

"I was sending a letter, and the stupid owl hit my face." Katrina explained. Christie laughed.

"Who did you send the letter to… who was so important as to merit a letter on a dance night?"

"My 'date'," Katrina answered, pacing back and forth across the room.

"I see." Christie said, sounding amazed. "So, you finally got a date to something, did you? Who is he?"

"Amergin." Katrina said, restraining the urge to laugh hysterically. She was extremely tightly-strung with nervousness already, and her thoughts that generally pointed to certain death (or at least her doom) were not helping.

"Amergin? I don't think I know him." Christie said. "How do you want your hair done?"

"Like Christine in Phantom of the Opera, you know, brown and wavy."

"That's all? No fancy buns or knots? You're no fun… So, who's this Amergin?"

"Yeah, that's it. Sorry, I've never waved my own hair before. I don't know what spell to use. And I need to dye it… I'm just afraid I'll screw it up." She paced for a moment longer, and had another idea. "Is there a spell to link the mask to the color and hairstyle so that when I take off my mask, I'll look like me again?"

"Easy. Third year stuff. Now sit the fuck down before I hex you."

"Sirius, mate, d'you have any more gel?" Amergin asked, slicking his hair back for what seemed like the billionth time.

"Who is this girl? Remus, he's going mad over her." Sirius asked, tossing his friend a spankin' new bottle.

"He won't tell. But he asked me something about Lily Evans a few weeks ago."

"Remus!"

"Man, you finally got a date with Evans? I thought she hated you!" Sirius asked, frowning and then moving to fix Amergin's hair.

"Well, she kind of still does. She doesn't exactly know it's me. And she doesn't know that I know it's her."

"Good luck." Came Pettigrew's high, childlike voice from a corner. "Here's hoping you still have your balls when you go to bed."

It was 5:56, and students milled around at the entrance to the Great Hall. Katrina looked around for the white mask that had Amergin's face behind it. Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms encircle her waist. Before she had a chance to freak out, however, a voice spoke softly into her ear:

"Too long I've wondered who you are,

which face belongs to you.

I've tried to tell by what you say,

The subtle things you to.

At worst, I thought you could be Snape,

At best you might be Tess.

At least I get to see your face

If I should pass your test."

She turned around and came face to chest with the phantom, Amergin, her mystery man. He smiled, and it seemed vaguely familiar.

"I told you I was terrible, but you asked."

"It was good."

"No, it wasn't, but thanks anyways. Shall we go in?" He asked, offering her his arm just as the clock struck siz.

Later, the clock struck seven, then eight, and nine as well. They were still sitting at the table from dinner, talking and ignoring the couples dancing just a few feet away from them.

"So, how long have you known Remus?" Asked Katrina, sipping her pumpkin juice.

"Since first year. We've had some good times. Like once, my family was taking a trip to South Africa, and I begged my parents to take him with us…"

The time flew by, and the next thing they knew the announcer was speaking, his voice magically magnified.

"Alright, boys and girls, the doors close in 15 minutes, and everyone left inside takes off their mask at midnight, no exceptions."

Amergin turned to Katrina. "So, you want to leave, or do I finally get to know who you are?"

She grinned. "I'm up for it if you are." She heard herself say, and was amazed that she felt comfortable enough around him after only six hours, but he put her at ease somehow.

She felt his hand tug on hers, and when she looked up Amergin was on his feet and trying to get her onto hers.

"One dance?" He pleaded, "Slow dancing is nothing. Even I can do it without tripping over myself, and that's saying something."

"One dance then." She said, standing and allowing him to lead her to the dance floor, trying to ignore the way the touch of his fingers sent a shiver down her spine.

One they were on the dance floor, he took her other hand in his and put them around his neck. Then he put his own hands on her waist. Another shiver.

She leaned in slightly and decided to bring up the subject he had avoided all night.

"So… who's Tess?"

She felt him tense for a moment, then relax and pull her closer.

"Tess is you, Lily."

Her eyes shot up to meet his. He wasn't joking. Out of all the girls she had thought might be Tess, she had never even considered herself. Then something else registered. He had called her Lily. He knew who she was. Somehow, she just felt relieved.

"How did you know who I was?"

But he didn't have time to answer, because the announcer chose that moment to speak again.

"Alright, kiddies, ten seconds to midnight and then the masks come off. Ten, nine…"

Suddenly, Amergin leaned in and kissed her softly, and to her surprise she had no desire to pull away. He kissed her like he would never see her again.

"Five, four…"

He pulled back and nuzzled into her neck, whispering in her ear, "Please don't hate me, Lily."

"Three, two…"

They simultaneously reached up and pulled off their masks. She gasped as the kind eyes she had stared into all night became the hated face of James Potter. She waited for the feeling of disgust, the wave of nausea that was sure to come, but she felt nothing but surprise. She was so shocked she could barely speak. The first coherent thought she could vocalize was,

"Oh, my god…"

FIN