Disclaimer: I hate Algebra... And I hate PE... And I hate the stupid dress code.... And I hate having to pay lots of money for band stuff this year... And I hate how all my friends have lunch different from me.... And I hate how I can only see the guy I like for 5 minutes in the morning.... And I hate how I never have time to write, except for at lunch, because I don't have anyone to talk to, so that's not really a good thing... I just hate school this year! I couldn't wait for it to start! Now it's really annoying. I LOVE school, and my favorite classes are the first 3, which I have with friends... Then the rest suck.... Yes, I need to stay at school for Band, Biology, and English, then leave... ^_^ That'd be the perfect day.... See, JK Rowling doesn't have school.... She might hate any of those things, but she doesn't have to worry about them!!!

AN: I'm skipping homework for you, so don't complain!!! Oh, and I wrote today because we were doing standardized tests, and I had lotsa free time, because I'm a genius, and all!! ^_^ JJ...

~*~*~**~*~*~

Severus watched as Shaylee went over and cornered two people dressed as a dragon and a giant spider. They answered a question and she glared at them.

One of them said something quickly and she grinned again. They looked around to make sure no one was watching them as the Giant Spider handed her something, which she hid. She waved as she skipped off back to the edge of the dancefloor, where Severus was still standing, waiting for her.

"It was a 'Drunken Potion'! And you call yourself a Potions Master? Geesh..." Shaylee shook her head teasingly while Severus chided himself. He should have known that! But his sense had been a little clouded...

Shaylee didn't mention the object that her cousins had handed her, and Snape didn't bring it up.

Shaylee looked at her watch. "Ooooooo!!! It's my turn to call the shots!" "Lovely..." Snape sighed and followed her as she walked over to the punch bowl.

As she reached the table, she turned to make sure that Fred and George weren't watching, then she tapped it with her wand abruptly. The punch rippled for a moment, then stilled.

"You actually took the potion out?" Severus asked her incredulously as she walked briskly off. "You didn't add anything else, did you?"

Shaylee turned back and glared at him. "Don't make me change my mind, and don't give me ideas!!"

Severus stood still for a moment as Shaylee walked on, looking slightly disappointed in herself. He laughed as he caught up with her.

~*~*~**~*~*~

Ginny stole a glance at Harry as he joked with Ron. There was a smile spread across his face, and she quickly looked away as he looked towards her.

"Hey, I think my date's getting bored. We'll be right back. Come on, Gin," Harry said, waiting for her to stand up.

She did so, grinning to herself and remembering last year when he totally ignored his date. He could have gotten manners since then, or maybe...

"So, Ginny, are you having fun? Hopefully hanging around with everyone else isn't too boring... I know it's getting pretty repetitive for me..." He grinned at her and she blushed and mumbled, "No, i t's fine."

They were just reaching the refreshments when realization came on Harry's face. "We haven't danced yet, have we?" Ginny shook her head. "Well, then, let's do that now, shall we?"

Ginny let herself be led out on the dance floor, but blushed and almost pulled away when she heard the familiar 'la, la la la-duh's that were playing.

"I'm just warning you, I'm not very good at this..." Harry admitted. "I'm not either," Ginny blushed.

I'm tugging at my hair
I'm pulling at my clothes
I'm trying to keep my cool
I know it shows

Ginny's face turned red and she looked to her side, not wanting to make eye contact with Harry.

I'm staring at my feet
My cheeks are turning red
I'm searching for the words inside my head
I'm feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
'Cuz I know you're worth it...you're worth it...yeah

'Ohmigod....... How did I get stuck dancing with him in this song...?' Ginny's face was turning redder and redder the more lyrics played.

If I could say what I want to say
I'd say I want to blow you... away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight?
If I could say what I want to say
I want to see you down on one knee...
Marry me today!
Guess I'm wishing my life away...
With these things I'll never say

Harry looked at Ginny and wondered why exactly she was looking the other way so stubbornly.

It don't do me any good
It's just a waste of time

"Ginny?" he asked and she turned her face towards him. He saw that her face was bright red, even more so than it usually got.

What use is it to you, what's on my mind?
If it ain't comin' out
We're not goin' anywhere
So why can't I just tell you that I care?

That's when it dawned on him what was making her so embarrassed. He grinned as he realized that it was the song that was making her not want to look at him.

I'm feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
'Cuz I know you're worth it...you're worth it...yeah

Harry scooted closer to her, and she blushed and looked over his shoulder at the wall.

If I could say what I want to say
I'd say I want to blow you... away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight?

Ginny stepped back slightly at this line, but Harry maneuvered his eyes, so that she was looking straight at him. "No, you aren't, actually." She couldn't turn any redder, but she stepped closer again.

If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down on one knee
Marry me today!

Ginny's face, which had been getting slightly less red, immediately shot back up to fire hydrant red and she looked away.

Guess I'm wishing my life away...
With these things I'll never say

"Gin, what's wrong?"

What's wrong, with my tongue
These words keep slippin' away...
I stutter...I stumble
Like I've got nothin' to sa-ay...

"Nothing!" Ginny squeaked.

I'm feelin' nervous
Tryin' to be so perfect
'Cuz I know you're worth it...you're worth it...yeah

Harry grinned down at her knowingly. "Hypocrite," he muttered playfully.

la la la la la la la la la...
La la la la la la la la la...

Ginny looked up at him nervously, and her face dove down to stark white.

Guess I'm wishing my life away
With these things I'll never say

"What do you mean by that?"

If I could say what I want to say
I'd say I want to blow you... away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight?

Harry looked at her skeptically, then said, "You know, I thought Gryffindors were chosen for bravery..." Ginny looked at him accusatorily.

If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down on one knee
Marry me today
Guess I'm wishing my life away

"OK, Mr. Smarty-pants, I don't think I need to say anything, really, as you seem to have figured it all out." For once, her face wasn't red at all, and she glared at him challengingly.

With these things I'll never say

Harry grinned. "I've been waiting for you to say that for a while..."

With these things I'll never say

Shock registered in Ginny's face as her mouth dropped open and Harry gave her a polite kiss on the forehead. "Considering how your whole family is watching us right now, that'll have to do for now..."

~*~*~**~*~*~

Draco leaned against the wall. "It's almost midnight, Hermione," he reminded her.

"Should we start heading out, then?"

"Yeah." Draco took her hand. "Let's go," he said, leading her towards the doors.

~*~*~**~*~*~

"It's almost midnight!" Shaylee was growing more and more hyper by the minute. "And why exactly are you so happy about this?" Snape asked, though he didn't think it'd do much good, as he had been asking her this question every time she's said that for the past half hour, and it hadn't gotten him anywhere yet.

Shaylee had evidently grown tired of making him guess so she turned around and said as if it were the most obvious thing on Earth.

"Uh? Chaos? Pain? Laughing at other people's petty fights? Any of those ring a bell?"

"Chaos and pain, yes. But I rarely laugh at other people's petty fights..."

"Oh, don't worry, Sevvy!! You will laugh, oh yes... You will most definitely laugh!"

"Should I be worried?"

"Why do you ask?" Shaylee asked, though she was a little preoccupied with something happening by the door.

Severus only had time to say, "Because I am," before Shaylee was off in a flash towards whatever was happening at the door.

Shaylee stepped in front of the door just as Draco and Hermione reached it.

"Change of plan there, kiddies?"

"Um.... No?" Draco answered doubtfully, still surprised on her sudden appearance.

Shaylee sighed. "OK, guys, I know who you are..."

Both of their heads snapped up to look at her, and she sighed again. "I was the one who got you two together in the first place! Helloooo?!"

Hermione looked confused, but comprehension was dawning on Draco's face. "That was you?" He looked... slightly angry.

"Um.... How about we talk about this over here..." Shaylee said, aware that they were drawing some curious glances.

She waved Severus over to where they were going. However, Draco was so eager to possibly curse his DADA teacher, that he didn't even notice that they were on the other side of the table where Hermione's friends were.

"Well, you see, I had noticed that--"

Shaylee was cut off by Lee Jordan's voice. "OK, everyone, it's almost midnight and time for the unmasking."

Hermione's and Draco's hands found each other and Shaylee looked slightly guilty.

"If you will all pay attention to the clock, we'll have a countdown from ten."

There were a few people murmering, "What clock?"

Lee paused, then said, "Er, that big clock that Dumbledore just put behind me.... Thanks sir..." There were some laughs, then motion stilled as they waited for the second hand to reach the 10.

When it did, it seemed like everyone but Hermione, Draco, Severus and Shaylee were counting back. Instead, their group was all looking at each other nervously.

"4"

"3"

Most of the people had a hold of their masks to take them off then. Ron was jokingly taking his on and off quickly, while the people surrounding him laughed.

"2"

Draco squeezed Hermione's hand comfortingly while they got ready to take their masks off.

"1"

There was silence. Then complete and total hell broke out.

~*~*~**~*~*~

Good ending spot, huh? ::cackles evilly:: Hey, in actual books, chapters end in cliffies!!! ^_^ Well, I have more standardized tests tomorrow, and I will write then. Remember, I'll respond to all Masquerade reviews AFTER the masquerade.