He never had wanted to go to this dance. He didn't want to go to any masquerade ball. But he had been dragged along.

Now, here we was, in the midst of many people. Girls walked around, bright coloured silk dresses and even brighter masks, covering them.

All the boys were standing against one side, wearing suits, dress robes and simple masks.

A girl walked past him suddenly. She was wearing a sunny yellow dress that went to her knees, and she had a pair of matching go-go boots with them. A yellow mask covered her face too. Other girls walked past, one with a myriad of colours on her dress, the other with a dress, of three shades of blue.

He didn't recognize a soul.

McGonagall announced that everyone must dance, so immediately, he grabbed a girl near him.

She was wearing a tight fitting, pink, silk dress. It flowed down to her ankles and she had a pair of silver shoes on.

A pink mask, dotted with diamantes hung over her face.

'Would you care to dance with me?' he asked, taking her hand.

'Oh, yes thankyou, I would,' she replied in a soft voice.

He was wearing a plain black suit and a white mask with black rims around the eyes. He didn't like it much, but at least this beautiful girl wouldn't turn him down because he was Ron Weasley.

The pair stepped out onto the dancefloor, and they began to dance with the other couples. She was a wonderful dancer, and she moved in perfect harmony with the music.

He spun her around, and dipped her down, and she laughed breathlessly.

The song ended, but the magic didn't.

They continued to dance.

The night wore on, but they never left each other. Their hands firmly in the others and their eyes locked only on the other.

Ron picked her up, twirling her around, and she laughed.

The spun, and dipped, and stepped over and over again, and Ron knew he was falling in love with this unknown girl.

Nothing he did would get her to say her name. She spoke in unrecognisable soft tones, and her laughter was high and beautiful.

He didn't tell her his name either. He didn't want to lose her.

In the end, they just danced. They moved together, his hands moving down her back, to her waist, her hands making their way from his shoulders to his neck.

'Please tell me your name,' he whispered as they swayed to a slow song.

'No, I'm afraid you won't want anything to do with me after I do,'

'But if I don't know your name, how will I be able to see you after this dance?' he murmured in her ear.

'You really want to?' she said breathlessly, and when he nodded, she said, 'But that's because you can't see my face,'

'Please, just tell me what house you're in,'

She was silent for a while, before saying, 'I'm either a Ravenclaw, a Hufflepuff or a Gryffindor. I'm not Slytherin,'

'Good, at least I know your not one of them,'

'What about you? What house are you in?' she asked softly

'I'm not one of them either,' he replied.

She placed her head onto his shoulder, and they continued to sway.

'What year are you in?' he asked suddenly.

'Seventh,' she replied in the same hushed tones, 'You?'

'Seventh,'

Ron was silent before saying, 'Do you have a boyfriend?'

The beautiful girl was silent again, 'No, I don't,'

'Good, we can see each other after this, afterall, we seem to be having fun,'

'Yes, we do,'

Gently, Ron took her by the hand, and led her away from the dancefloor. He took her into the cold courtyard.

Then he leaned forward, and with closed eyes, he removed her mask and kissed her.

It was a beautiful kiss, full of love and longing. She put her arms around his neck, and kissed him back. He put a hand to her head and found himself running his fingers through beautiful curls.

When he pulled away, he didn't look at her straight away.

'What's your name?' he asked.

The girl was silent, and then, in choked tones, she whispered, 'Hermione,'

With that, she ran off, sobbing, into the dark night.

Ron stood alone in the courtyard, 'Hermione,' he whispered.