Submitted for The Houses Competition Forum - Round 5

House: Ravenclaw

Subject: Prefect

Category: Drabble

Prompt: [Theme] (Halloween) Wearing a mask

Word count: 754

Warnings: Canon Divergence

a fairy enchanting halloween

Hermione touched the mask on her face and tried not to frown. She didn't know why she was at Malfoy's Halloween Gala—well, that was a lie. She knew the reason why she was there, and it was all because of him.

Theodore Nott.

Something about him attracted her—maybe it was his cerulean blue eyes or his chocolate brown curls, or it could be his entire personality. Theo was a charmer and Hermione was definitely bewitched by him.

She supposed she was too old to have a crush, but what else could she call what she was feeling? Lust? Obsession? Infatuation? None of them seemed right.

"Stop worrying and try to mingle and have fun, Hermione," she murmured to herself. "You aren't doing any good standing on the sidelines like a creepy old maid."

Hermione decided to mingle by walking around the room and trying to see if she could find someone she knew. But with everyone wearing beautiful, ornate masks, it was difficult to find anyone she could recognise. Even Harry, who had patched things up with Malfoy after the war, wasn't anywhere to be seen.

That's why it was so surprising when someone grabbed her arm and steered her to the sidelines of the party.

"Granger? Is that you?" a deep male voice said, and Hermione had to contain the gasp that threatened to escape; she knew that voice.

"Hi, Theo," Hermione replied softly.

"I thought I had seen you, but with these bloody masks, it's difficult to be certain." Theo continued, looking at her through his mask, "You look beautiful, by the way."

Hermione stared at him. Why would Theo be looking for her? It didn't make any sense, seeing as they weren't friends, and why was he complimenting her?

"Thank you," Hermione said, even if she didn't understand what was happening. She cleared her throat and murmured, "If you'll excuse me, I'll try to find Harry or—"

"Please, don't leave yet!" Theo hurriedly said, making Hermione frown and her mask almost slip from her face. Theo gently removed it, making Hermione look at him. "I don't want any masks between us while I tell you this."

Hermione's heart started beating faster, while Theo removed his own mask. Hermione almost swooned when he ran his fingers through his curls, messing them up. She had watched—more like ogled—him for a long time to know it was a sign that he was nervous.

"I probably should have thought about doing this while we weren't in the middle of a masquerade ball, but seize the day and all that stuff, right?" Theo looked a little flustered, and Hermione had to smile at how adorable he was. "I had a whole speech prepared, but when I saw your pretty face, I forgot all I wanted to say."

"Theo, wha—" Hermione tried to say, but Theo put a hand on her mouth, stopping the words from leaving her mouth.

"I've been watching you since Hogwarts, but I knew I would never be able to even talk to you without you suffering from it. Too many people had their eyes on me back then. You were like a beacon of light, someone I wanted to be around so bad." Theo's blue eyes were so intense that Hermione couldn't look anywhere else.

"And then, the war happened, and things started to look better, seemingly like we could maybe have something. We got to work together, and I realised that you were even more lovely in person than in my wildest dreams." Theo smiled, and Hermione's throat closed up. "I consider myself lucky I get to see your pretty face every day."

"What are you trying to say, Theo?" Hermione asked, not daring to believe her ears, but her heart was almost beating out of her chest, fluttering like a hummingbird about to take flight.

"I'm trying to say that I f-fancy you, Hermione Granger. It may even be stronger than just a fancy, but I don't want to scare you right now."

Hermione's breath got caught in her throat. Theo chuckled even though he was fiddling with his collar, another obvious sign he was nervous as hell.

"I fancy you too, Theo," she whispered, and before she knew what she was doing, Hermione yanked him down by that same collar and kissed him with all her might.

Halloween was a magical night, but Hermione had never expected that it would bring her the man of her dreams.

It may be time for her to choose a new favourite holiday.