"Granger! Are you done yet!" An impatient Draco paced in the common room, though those who looked at him would never have guessed it to be him. He was decked out in the "Don Juan" pants, loose white shirt, half his face covered in a velvet black mask. Hair dyed brown for the occasion and slicked back…oh yah ladies, watch out, here comes Phantom of the Opera. "Granger! What's taking so long! We're gonna be late!"

"Relax, we have half an hour still! And you know you didn't havta be my date!"

"What are you talking about! McGonagall said we had to go together!"

"No! She said it was custom for the Heads to – OH whatever just tell me what you think! I'll be out in a minute!"

Hermione looked at herself in the mirror, she was very proud of herself, she looked great. Her hair was a little past her shoulders and perfectly strait, she had dyed it blonde for the occasion with thick black streaks. A half-black half-white evening gown adorned her figure complete with shredded sleeves. A simple 1inch black choker was all the jewelry she wore yet it was all she needed. Picking up her small half-black half -white mask that covered only the upper half of her face, she put it on. Then took one last turn in front of the mirrorThe back of her dress wasn't low but as she turned, the motion moved her hair and she glimpsed a scar. Scolding herself for having forgotten, she placed the tip of her wand on her back and muttered an incantation. Immediately a cold chill swept down her spine, the scars disappeared. Glancing back one more time into the mirror to make sure her make up looked alright ( black lipstick and heavy black eye liner which you couldn't see anyway because of the mask ) she made her way to the door of the bathroom. Slowly turning the knob she took a deep breath and walked out.

Draco heard the bathroom door open and looked up, his breath caught in his throat. He hardly recognized the controlling, perfectionist, mudblood that he's had to work with this year; In her place stood a gorgeous confident woman. Slowly descending the stairs Hermione walked up to him and gave him a shy smile.

"What do you think?" she said twirling around in front of him. But when he didn't answer, the smile slipped off her face, she looked up at him and began to blush.

"Malfoy, will you stop eye raping me and tell me what you think?"

"I think you're beautiful " it came out before he even realized what he was saying, both of them blushed.

"Umm…..we should be going now" Hermione said to break the awkward silence. He offered his arm and she took it with a smile, they left the common room and entered the corridor not caring who saw. Tonight they were no longer Draco and Hermione, tonight they would leave the past behind them, tonight…things would be different.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

They entered the Great Hall still arm in arm, they stood in awe, everything was perfect. Flouting Jack-o-lanterns and paper lamps, tables lined the walls with students indulging themselves in candy. The masquerade idea was perfect , Hermione was willing to bet 95 of the students had no clue who they were talking to. Finding a small empty table in the corner they sat down and reviewed the menu.

"You don't havta stay with me all night you know" Hermione said looking at him

"You mean you don't want me with you all night"

" No….it's just…well, I don't want you to think like you have to or anything…" she trailed off, the slightest hint of red coloring her cheeks.

"Would you like to dance?"

"What!" she was so startled

"I said, would you like to dance with me?"

"Umm.." she glanced around furiously looking for an escape…finding none, she nodded and he led her to the dance floor.

A slow song was playing, Hermione hesitantly slid her arms around his neck as he put his around her waist.

Ooh.
You humor me today
Calling me out to play
With your telescope eyes, metal teeth
I can't be seen with you
You see.

"So tell me a little about yourself Granger"

"..Oh, umm, I was born in England, I'm muggle born, I'm top of all my classes-"

"Tell me something I don't know Granger" he rolled his eyes

"ohh, ummm….like what?"

"Gosh Granger, never mind, I was just trying to make conversation"

Please don't make me cry,
Please don't make me cry,
I'm just like you, I know you know
I'm just like you so leave me alone

"I don't eat green food" she said abruptly

"excuse me?"

"I don't eat green food" (A/N: I don't eat green food!)

"Why…are you allergic to the color green or something?"

"no!… I just happen not to like any food that is green."

"oh….that's strange"

I wonder why can't you see?
You're just not near enough like me
With your telescope eyes, metal teeth
I can't be seen with you

"What about you?" Hermione asked

"Indeed….what about me?"

"Oh, come on Malfoy"

"Alright, Alright" he said chuckling, only joking, " My favorite place on earth is Disney Land"

"Mine too!…wait, you go to muggle theme parks?"

"Yah, I ran away once when I was little and went there, best day of my life"

"I take it your Dad didn't know you were there?"

"My dad doesn't know a lot of things"

Hermione nodded at this, " I know how that is…"

Please don't make me cry,
Please don't make me cry,
I'm just like you, I know you know
I'm just like you so leave me alone

"Play any sports Granger?"

"umm, kinda…"

"Come on now Granger…'kinda' isn't an answer"

"It's a secret"

"come on, why won't you tell me?"

She put on her best 'Malfoy smirk', " You Malfoy should know best of all never to let your enemies know your strength and weaknesses lest they use them against you"

Please don't make me cry,
Please don't make me cry,
I'm just like you, I know you know
I'm just like you so leave me alone

Draco was completely taken aback by this answer, " So, the goody-good has a dark side?" he raised his eyebrows.

She put on a completely innocent face, "who, me?"

And that's when Hermione heard Draco laugh for the first time. Not his evil laugh, his real laugh, it was deep and cheerful, his eyes sparkled…he seemed so happy.

Please don't make me cry,
Please don't make me cry,
I'm just like you, I know you know
I'm just like you so leave me alone

"..And your right, I do know best of all." Malfoy smiled at her, " To keep my friends close but my enemies closer" His arms tightened around her waist as he pulled her against him. Her breath caught, she made no effort to get away, she just stared into his gray eyes.

Ooh. You humor me today…

The music stopped but they continued to stare at each other. It wasn't until the next song started a minute later that they regained their senses. It had a fast upbeat jazzy tune and Hermione started to immediately walk off the dance floor holding Draco's hand, but he didn't move and she looked back at him.

"What Granger? You don't know how to swing dance?"

"Are you telling me you do?"

"Maybe" He pulled her to him and grabbed her other hand.

Both of them moved to the music with perfect ease and skill. The others on the dance floor quickly gave up and just watched in a circle the two swing around the floor. Everyone hollered as Draco swung Hermione around the back of him and then over his arm.

"Just how good are you Malfoy?" Hermione asked, but he just smiled.

He then lifted her up over his head as she became strait as a bored and her feet went into the air. (Don't worry, she placed a spell on her dress so it wouldn't fly up…in this case...down.)

As the song ended both went back to the table laughing and plopped into their seats.

"Oh, we are So good!" Hermione yelled throwing her hands in the air, Draco chuckled.

"Wow, you're kinda hyper"

"Adrenaline does that to people!"

"You wanna go for a walk?"

"ok!……..wait, are you planning something?"

"…maybe"

"Well just to let you know, if you try anything, I'll castrate you!" she said as they walked out of the Great Hall, earning her some weird looks. Draco just laughed and shook his head.