Hermione swallowed as she walked down the stairs of the girl's dormitories and into the common room.
She was dressed as Lady Macbeth; her brown hair was straightened and dyed blonde. She changed her eye color from brown to blue. Hermione wore a black dress with a corset that lifter her breasts up significantly. The edges of the dress were trimmed with silver and the sleeves were long and baggy, covering her hands. She held a black mask in right hand. It was one of those old masks that were held up to one's face with a stick.
Once Hermione had made it to the common room, all went silent and everyone stared at her.
Hermione could feel the blush rising on her face and was glad for the mask.
"Hello, Milady, how is this night?" Colin Creevey asked. The boy was dressed as a knight, with chain mail and helmet. Hermione had to stifle a laugh as she noticed that the boy was wearing tights, showing off his feminine legs and not so feminine package.
"Well, Good Knight, Lady Macbeth dost think that thou's mail is too short. Thou's jewels are out in plain sight, one would not wish for them to be stolen?" Hermione answered.
Colin blinked and then looked down. He blushed as he saw what she was commenting on and pulled at the mail a bit, whispering a lengthening charm as he did so.
"Charmed to meet you, Dear Knight, but I must get to the ball."
With that, Hermione scurried out of the Common Room and began to make her way to the Great Hall.
She entered the Great Hall and found about half of the school in there already.
She checked the time with a spell.
Ten Twenty-three. She had about one hour to mingle and find Cho.
At eleven, the Great hall was packed with everyone in the school. Dumbledore had booked a band for the even, and many of the younger students stood near the speakers to hear the music at its full potential.
Hermione scanned the room for what seemed the hundredth time that night.
A woman standing by herself caught Hermione's eye.
The woman had tanned skin and dark brown hair that was pulled into a bun. Her eyes were a sparkling hazel that were cool and collected, yet they looked as though they were searching for something.
The woman wore a pink dress that reached to the floor, trailing behind her about a foot. She wore matching pale pink gloves on her hands, covering her up to the elbow. Her shoulders were bare, save for a detailed tattoo of a swan and a river otter touching "noses".
Hermione went up to the woman, mask firmly in place.
"And who is this lovely creature?" she asked.
The woman smiled and bowed slightly, "I am but a mere bride of the King of Siam. It is on Miss Anna's orders that I dress like this, Lady Macbeth."
"Ah, but you must be the favorite to have such knowledge of the literature, Queen."
"Not quite. I am but the second favorite, loved for my beauty, not my brains."
"Does thou think that thy husband would be appalled if I ask thee to a dance?"
"Nay, Milady, for he is not here."
Hermione smiled as she took the woman's hand. It was most definitely Cho; she had a feeling in her gut about it. The way the woman spoke and held herself, it was very reminiscent of Cho.
The pair got to the middle of the floor and began to dance as soon as a slow song was played.
Hermione could feel the stares of others on her as she led the dance, but she couldn't muster up the ability to actually care. The only thing she was truly focused on was Cho.
After five dances, the two were rather tired, and retreated to on of the tables with refreshments upon them.
"What would her Highness like to drink?" Hermione asked.
"Ah, just a simple butterbeer please, I don't really care for anything stronger as it makes my stomach flutter with butterflies."
Hermione poured the drinks and passed one to her partner.
"The time is eleven fifty-nine. The lights go out in a minute."
"And our identities revealed."
"I shall whisper my name."
"And I shall whisper mine."
"And if you are who I am looking for,"
"I shall kiss thee."
"Agreed."
The lights then went out.
"Hello, Lady Macbeth, my real name is Cho Chang."
"And Dearest Miss Chang, my name is Hermione."
Hermione took Cho's hand and pulled her up. She placed her arms around Cho's neck and kissed her on the lips.
Cho answered the kiss, biting down lightly on Hermione's lip, seeking entrance.
Hermione's lips parted and Cho's warm tongue began to explore. Tongues battled for dominance, but it was Cho's that won.
The lights went on, but neither noticed 'til the hushed gasps finally registered in the back of their brains.
They parted and looked at the crowd, Hermione blushing deeply. She loosed her hold on Cho's neck and buried her face in her partner's chest.
Cho smiled, combing her fingers through her student's hair.
"Well, hasn't anyone seen a couple kiss before? If not, you have rather been living under a rock. But if you want to see a really interesting kiss, go and find Cyrano De Bergerac and King Arthur. Or perhaps Merlin and Dame Maggie Smith? I believe that those couples are quite adept to tongue wrestling as well as some other activities."
The whole Hall was silent save for someone hacking. Hermione thought that she recognized it as Harry's cough, but wasn't a hundred percent sure.
"Come Lady Macbeth, we shall go to the Royal Bedchambers."
Hermione blinked as Cho took her hand and began leading her out of the Great Hall.
"B-but…" Hermione stuttered, her eyes wide and her face as red as a Weasley's hair.
Once the two walked out of the Hall, a great eruption of clapping, cheering, and whispering took place.
((Taboo))
"Um… Cho…" Hermione asked, slightly nervous as she sat on Cho's bed, watching the woman change out of her dress and return her hair and skin to their natural colors.
"Yes, Hermione?" Cho asked, pulling on a nightshirt over her head.
"Um…" Hermione blushed, unable to word her question.
"Unless you want to, we aren't going to do anything, Hermione." the woman replied, taking another nightshirt out of a drawer and throwing it at Hermione. "You should put that on. I have a spare uniform for you to change into tomorrow."
"Thank you."
Hermione began to undress. She unlaced the cord in her corset and let a deep sigh escape her lips: she was so glad that she didn't have to feel like she was being suffocated anymore. She took the dress off completely, blushing a little when she remembered that she wasn't wearing a bra.
With a wave of her wand, Hermione's hair turned back to brown, yet remained straightened. Her eyes turned back to their deep coffee brown. She took off her high heels, thus making her feel rather short.
She pulled on the shirt that Cho had given her. The shirt wasn't that long, and she had a sneaking suspicion that perhaps that was how Cho had planned it. The shirt just slightly covered Hermione's bum, showing off the edge of her pale blue underwear.
"We wear the same underwear." Cho chuckled.
"What?" Hermione asked, tilting her head to the side.
Cho lifted up her shirt a little, "See, same panties."
"Oh!"
"Do you have the matching bra?"
"Yeah…"
Cho smiled and then ruffled Hermione's hair.
"To bed then, dear?"
"Yeah…" Hermione answered.
The two women fell asleep in each other's arms.
((Taboo))
A/N: Just the epilogue to go now. Oh, and in case you were wondering about who was dressed as Cyrano, Arthur, Merlin, and Dame Maggie Smith, order goes, Severus, Harry, Dumbledore, and McGonagall. I just had to have Minerva dress as Dame Maggie Smith, it is just too funny. (in case you have no idea what I am talking about, Maggie Smith plays Minerva in the movies). That'll be all now, see you in the epilogue.
