Chapter 4

The following day, Malfoy didn't even pick on Prim and her friends. He was too bitter about this evening's detention. When dinner came by, Prim noticed Malfoy running off. Seamus looked at where Prim was looking and said "He probably wants to get a heads start." Prim understood what he meant and quickly finished her dinner and left her friends at the table. She heard Seamus mutter to them why she had left.

Malfoy got to McGonagall's office a bit earlier than she did. The stern professor said to them "Good evening. You will clean the broom closet near my office without magic." Prim heard Malfoy let out a low groan.

"When you're finished, come here and I will check your work." They left her office and walked into the broom closet; it was extremely dirty and dusty, with brooms scattered all over the place. Malfoy found 2 buckets and conjured water.

"She said 'no magic'!" Prim hissed. He rolled up his sleeves and chuckled.

"I don't care, Hill. It's only water." She rolled up her sleeves and they began to work. In the middle of things, Malfoy stopped and called out "Hill, stop for a minute." She complied and pursed her lips.

He heaved "Look, I don't usually do this, but I wanted to apologize about what I had said. I was caught in the heat of the moment with Weasley and Potter." Prim was stunned; she never expected an apology from Malfoy. There was a slight pause.

"I'm sorry for butting in between the three of you, and hexing you." She mumbled an apology.

"Apology accepted. But this doesn't mean I'm a nice guy." Malfoy quickly added. Prim smiled a bit.

They resumed cleaning when she asked "How did you know about my parents?"

Malfoy rinsed his rag "Well, your mother and mine were good friends when they were here. They were both in Slytherin, obviously. Your mother kept in touch with mine despite everything, even when times were darker." Primrose was silent.

"She never told me." She said in a small voice.

Malfoy shrugged and said clearly "Well, it's clear why she kept it a secret; your father was a Gryffindor. My mother wanted to protect her, so they kept their friendship a secret." Primrose didn't know what to make of this.

"And to think their kids are enemies." Prim muttered to herself. Malfoy heard her but said nothing. They washed the floor and stood at the door way to let the floor dry without magic, just as the professor said.

"Damn, how can muggles do this?" Malfoy mumbled.

Primrose chuckled "It's not a problem; I used to do it all the time back at home."

Malfoy sneered. "You don't have a house elf?"

Prim shook her head. He decided to change the topic "So what do you see in Finnigan anyway?"

Primrose shot him an angry look and exclaimed angrily "That's none of your business!"

Malfoy smirked and held his hands in front of him "Aren't you touchy?"

"Let's get this over with." Prim sighed. They did their finishing touches, and called McGonagall to look at the broom closet. She approved and sent them off to their common rooms. They walked back and stopped at a deserted corridor which divided between the Slytherin's and the Gryffindor's path.

"Good night, Malfoy."

"Good night, Hill. Hey, stop!" Prim turned around to face him again,

"What?" she asked, annoyed.

"You're going with Finnigan to the Ball, right?" Prim nodded and parted from him; she didn't care who his date is.

A few days gone by and it was the day of the Masquerade Halloween Ball. School was cut short by a few hours to let the students prepare for the night. The girls were in their room, getting prepared. Hermione sat on Prim's bed and faced her.

"Can we do you a makeover?" Hermione asked Prim. Her face twisted in anguish.

"No, please. I don't want one!" Prim whined.

"You trust us, right?" Ginny asked her. Chloe gave her cousin a puppy face.

"I do. But, But-"

"You're stuttering. You're having a makeover, just trust us." Hermione said decisively. Prim groaned.

The boys were ready and waiting for the girls in the common room. Seamus wore a Leprechaun costume; tall forest green hat, a white buttoned up shirt, a dark green vest, with matching pants, and black shoes. He wore a dark green half mask with gold specks. Harry and Ron wore a Prince costume. The first one to come down was Chloe. The boys complimented her and asked about her date. "Dean asked me to go with him." She smiled and looked at the girls' staircase. Hermione was coming down in her cat costume. She walked to Ron and meowed. The others chuckled. Ginny came down in her mermaid costume and greeted her friends and boyfriend. Prim came down in her swan costume. Seamus wolf-whistled. Prim's hair was no longer curly, but straight. Her bangs were pulled up with a pin. Hermione removed her glasses with a spell and applied Prim's face, to her discontent, with makeup.

Seamus kissed her hand "You look outstanding, my lady." Prim smiled a dazzling smile at him and kissed him.

"The credit goes to the girls!" Prim said while grinning at them.

The gang, along with Dean Thomas, arrived at the Great Hall. It was decorated for the Masquerade; pumpkins were placed everywhere, colorful lights were shining across the hall, music booming, masked people laughing and dancing, tables with snacks and drinks were all around. They went to get drinks. Chloe grabbed Dean's hand and led him to the dance floor. Prim snorted in her drink and Seamus laughed at her.

"Chloe's a sucker for dancing."

"And you?" Seamus asked her.

"Sadly, I caught the dancing bug too." Seamus led out his hand and she took it. Seamus and Prim joined Chloe and Dean on the dance floor. After a couple of dances, Seamus grew tired and wanted to rest. The others were dancing.

Prim walked over to Seamus. "What's wrong?"

Seamus panted "I'm alright, got a bit tired. I'm going to the bathroom, be right back." They kissed and he left.

Prim didn't want to sit around and wait for him; she wanted to dance. She returned to the dance floor, and danced away from her friends. "You sure know how to dance." She turned to see a white-blonde haired guy with a black, bat winged half-mask talking to her.

She took a look at him and asked "What are you supposed to be?"

"I'm a vampire!" The guy was trying to convince her, but in vain.

"Where are you fangs?"

"I tried to put them on, but they were uncomfortable." Prim chuckled and nodded. A slow dance came on and left the two standing in the middle of the dance floor.

"Would you like to dance?" The mysterious guy asked her. Prim nodded. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, and he wrapped his arms around her slim waist. "What year are you in?" She asked him.

"Seventh year. And you?" He replied.

"Seventh year as well." 'I'm sure I know him', she thought.

"What's your name?" He asked her. She was silent 'Should I tell him my real name or should I lie?' It wasn't like she was flirting with him; maybe he knows her and maybe not. When she heard Seamus call out her name, Prim snapped out of it and broke free from his arms.

She heard him call after her, but she ran to Seamus' direction. She met up with an angry Seamus. "Who is he? Why was he dancing with you?" He asked venomously.

"He didn't kiss me or anything, Seamus! All I wanted was to dance and he was there next to me, that's all." Prim explained.

Seamus sneered "You're better off with him then.", and left her gob smacked.

The mystery guy ran to Prim's direction and asked her "Is everything alright?" Prim turned around to see him.

"No, everything is not alright! My boyfriend got jealous and he broke up with me." He had his hands in his pockets.

"I apologize if I came on too strong. I think you're a beautiful woman who shouldn't be upset. Please give me a clue of who you are, a name, anything." Prim was silent; she didn't know what to say.

Chloe, who was standing near them, walked over to them and said hastily "Katherine. Her name is Katherine." She took Prim's arm and dragged her away from him.

"Why did you do that?" Prim hissed at her.

"I'm saving your arse, that's why. You need to clear things out with Seamus."

The party ended at 1 o'clock in the morning. The 7th year students celebrated a bit in the common rooms and left to their beds. The mystery guy lay on his bed, his thoughts turned to Katherine. 'She's so beautiful, articulate, and outstanding. I'm pretty sure she's not from Slytherin. I have to get to know her better. The girl who dragged her away from me was familiar. She knows Katherine! I should send it to Chloe Hayward' He chuckled 'I knew that I recognized her face, even with that damn mask on!' got up from his bed and decided to write her a letter. He took a piece of parchment and a feather from his drawer next to him and wrote:

'Dearest Katherine,

I'm sorry about your boyfriend; he really doesn't deserve you if he's acting like that. It was a pleasure to see and meet you at the ball and I would love to get to know you better.

Max'

He said to one of the owls at a nearby window to send the letter to Chloe. He walked back to his bed with a smile 'I'm one step closer to find out who she is', and fell asleep.