Authors Note: You guys are absolutely amazing :) I love you guys! I can't stress that enough :) I never imagined that my story would get the attention that it has gotten so far and… I'm just so happy that you've taken the time to read this :)

Ok, enough with the sappy stuff! Time for the story! Oh we get to meet the mysterious host ;) I will try to post links to the pictures of what I imagine everything that Hermione wears look like but no promises. Enjoy!

Ashley :)

Before she walked into the room, Hermione paused and waved her wand, conjuring a green silk mask with silver detailing and a black feather attached to the left side of the mask. Two can play at this game, she though as she pushed open the door, walked in slowly and let the door shut softly behind her. She tried to look around as her eyes adjusted to the rooms light, for it was only lit by fire place and a few gas lamps along the wall. She had barely had time to look at everything before she jumped as voice rang out behind her.

"Hello there Hermione. You look lovely tonight. I'm glad you decided to join me."

The voice was deep, but not too deep, and smooth like silk. It sounded like power, like it was used to getting what it wanted. Hermione spun around and, being the graceful person that she was, almost tripped. She was caught by a very warm and strong but gentle grip. She looked down to see a silk gloved hand quickly letting go of her arm. Her eyes travelled up from his hand to his arms, admiring the definition lying beneath the black silk shirt that called for her to her to touch it. She felt her hand risingbut resisted said urge and continued to follow the contours of this live statue of David in front of her towards his chest. She could tell underneath the shirt was a body that was toned from years of exercise, probably Quidditch, because no one in the Wizarding world did much else when it came to working out. She had a short flashback from when she was in Hogwarts, watching Harry and Ron play a friendly game one hot summer day at the Burrow before they started their seventh year. She had finally convinced the boys that day to go back and finish school as there were a few of their friends that had chosen to return and officially graduate. They had been playing for a while and decided to take their shirts off. She remembered eyeballing them and drinking in the sight of their well-toned muscular bodies over the top of her romance novel. This was back when she had feelings for both boys, but unfortunately it hadn't worked out with either of them. At the end of the school year, Hermione, of course, graduated with honors while Harry and Ron barely scraped passing in most of their N.E.W.T.S., along with scraping away the rest of the feelings she may have ever had for either of them. Returning to the present, she finally looked up at the face of the person she had been wondering about for the past month and a half. She was met by a pale and well defined face that smirked behind a silver mask with black accents and a slightly unruly but tamed shock of white-blonde hair. Her eyes met his, which were a gray, almost silver color that danced in the low light of the room.

"Enjoying the view?" She could hear that smirk in his voice more than she could see it. His hand came up to brush the feather on her mask and the smirk turned into a smile. He said, "Ahh I see what game you're playing at. A mask for a mask?"

"Yes. I will cover my face if you insist on covering yours." Hermione heard her voice shaking slightly from nerves.

"Are you scared? You have no need to be. I won't hurt you, you have my word." He sounded slightly hurt and worried when he said this, as though it offended him.

Hermione immediately covered the emotions on her face and put on an affronted front. "Maybe a little, I am having dinner with someone who I have not had the pleasure of being introduced to so I am a little skeptical." She frowned. "Why won't you tell me who you are? Are you scared?"

He turned around and was silent for what seemed like forever. Getting irritated, she was about to ask again when he finally said, "I have my reasons, which will be explained in time. Now come please, let's eat dinner?" he asked questioningly. She sighed and nodded. He took her hand and led her to a small table near the fireplace and pulled her out a chair. She sat down gracefully and murmured her thanks as he went and sat down in his own chair. She looked around, confused as to where the menus were. It seemed like he read her mind and told her, "Everything is already ordered, you have no need to worry. What would you like to drink?"

She thought for a moment before she answered, "Something strong, I don't care what it is." At that moment, who she assumed would be their private waiter opened the doors and walked in, asking if they what they would like to drink with their meal. Her host gave her a stern look and ordered water for the both of them. She gave him a scorching look. No matter, she decided, I'll drink once I get upstairs to my room and forget about this prick for the night. Hermione had never been much of a drinker but after the war, she drank a little from time to time to calm her ever-constant nerves. And her nerves were defiantly kicking in at this point. This is going to be a long night, she sighed.

Being as he wouldn't talk about anything pertaining to him, it was indeed a long night. He finally relented halfway through the meal and ordered them both a glass of dry red wine. She wasn't a particular fan, but she was willing to take anything at that point. As dinner finished up, a delicious meal of steak and potatoes with a vinaigrette salad on the side, a Spanish desert that Hermione couldn't even read, let alone spell or say, appeared. They quickly enjoyed their respective desserts in a sort of awkward silence. Once they were finished and the dishes had cleared, her host came around the table and offered his arm to help her up. She became dizzy slightly as she took his proffered arm, such a gentlemanly gesture had never been offered to her before! She thought to herself, he was raised with very good manners, I ought to thank his parents. He walked her to the elevators and rode up to her room with her.

As the doors were closing on her room after their polite goodbyes, she quietly whispered a thank you to him she thought he wouldn't hear. As the doors thumped shut and started falling to a different level, she heard him say a quiet "You're welcome." She shook her head in amazement that he heard her and proceeded to take off all of the elegant clothes that she had on and put on her pajamas. She groaned as she took her shoes off, wincing slightly at the hurt she hadn't felt in a long time. Then, as she was crawling into her pre-warmed bed, she had a thought of who it may be. She pondered this idea and thought of the night, the jokes they shared, the conversation they had, his avoidance of anything relating to him, and the warmth she felt from him. But if it was him, then he would have gone through a major change. She didn't think someone of his pedigree would change their ways though.

"But maybe, just maybe… It might be him."

Finally done with this chapter and finally have an internet connection! Ahhh so happy! So what do you think of our mystery man? I'm thinking about flipping back and forth between MM and Hermione... Thoughts? I won't name him though so don't be too excited :) but thank you to all who have so patiently waited for this next chapter, I will try to get the next one (when I finish writing it) up as soon as possible :)

Here's the link for the outfit! /a/kkzog (I forgot the mask though, so use your imagination!)