In response to overly aggressive/inappropriate comments and messages I have received I just want to stress that characterization and plot are subjective in the world of fan fiction (also known as the land of never going to happen). The world of Harry Potter was created by J.K Rowling, she and only she has/had the power to decide its fate, a fate that I have absolutely no control over. This story never happened, will never happen, and is never going too happened. This is my fiction of a fiction and I'm just having a good time. I wanted to note that these are fictional characters and scenarios and although enthusiasm borderline excessive passion is great, please keep it in check...

In regards to some questions about pairings in this story I want to say that just because things don't end in a certain way does not make moments with people any less meaningful. The main pairings are Harry/Ginny, Ron/ Hermione, Draco/ Hermione and Draco/o/c

In the words of genius Joss Whedon, once more with feeling presenting Harry Potter and the Unmasked Truth revised... again…and now again.

"Did Draco Malfoy just save my life?" Lord Voldemort is dead. "I don't believe this. What is the world coming to, first Percy leaves and now he's walking around like he's high on life… Earlier this morning he told me he was going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and now Ron's taken his place as official family git." They had a happy ending. "Done playing superhero yet?" Or so it seems...

Harry has finally defeated Lord Voldemort and his life will never be the same. Or at least he hopes so; the boy that lived has hopes of leaving all that behind and is ready for his turn at a normal life. Harry and his friends thought that the final battle was hard. Well they just may be ready to go through it again after actually having a shot at teenage/ young adult normalcy. When the mask is removed and they finally get to experience the truth about life. Is it really what they want? How will they cope with the heartbreaks and the sorrows that reality forces upon them? Harry Potter and the Unmasked Truth tells the story of what happens between the "Flaw in the Plan" and "Nineteen Years Later". Is their ending really as happy as it seems?

Most characters and some mentioned events are the property of J.K. Rowling. Others are the creation and property of StuckOnPrivetDrive. All chapter titles belong to the artist. This is an original story written by StuckOnPrivetDrive.

"The Malfoy Manner" runs parallel to "Harry Potter and the Unmasked Truth"

Insert "The Flaw in the Plan" here, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow" J.K Rowling

Harry Potter and the Unmasked Truth

Chapter One

"It Ends Tonight"

The sun was high in the sky, surrounded by pale blue and swirls of white on this afternoon in the garden. The birds chirped merrily, the butterflies dancing about, the bees buzzing lightly. Harry lay on his back in the grass his eyes closed and fast asleep. He had one hand behind his head and another resting on his stomach. He was comforted by the plush grass and soft the tender foot patters of the gnomes running about the garden and occasionally the growl and hiss of Crookshanks when he spotted one.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione lay head to head in the middle of the garden at the Burrow. Harry wiggled his nose every now and then as it was tickled by a soft curl of Hermione's hair. Her hair was blowing lightly in the wind as she lay to his right. Her face was hidden behind a book, the page turning magically as she finished reading it. She read quietly to the sounds of the wind, Harry's light breathing, and Ron's incessant snoring. Ron was lying on his side one of his hands resting under his cheek as if a pillow and the other intertwined with Hermione's.

"Enough trouble for a lifetime," Harry muttered

"Hi," Ginny said approaching the three

Hermione lowered her book, and held a finger to her lips, "their sleeping," she whispered.

Ginny nodded and Hermione disappeared behind her book once again. Ginny lay down in the grass next to Harry, she rested her head on the arm he had resting on his stomach, without opening his eyes Harry removed his arm from under her head and wrapped it around her. Ginny cuddled up close to him and stared out into the daylight.

"Enough…" mumbled Harry

The wind stilled and the garden grew completely quiet. Crookshanks came running from a bush and immediately began licking Ron's hand.

"Hermione stop licking my hand," Ron mumbled, removing his hand from hers and yarning

"Ronald why on earth would I be…" she trailed off. She looked over the top of the book. She looked up at the sky and noticed the clouds no longer sailing peacefully across, they were still. She sat up and looked around. The grass wasn't moving the trees weren't swaying. She felt absolutely no breeze what's so ever. She whipped her head around when she heard a crunch from the bushes.

Ginny sat up, "you heard that."

"Yes," there was a rustling noise, Crookshanks tail stuck straight up and he hissed. He scratched at Ron's hand

"Ow," Ron said sitting up and gripping his hand now fully awake. "Hermione, your damn cat scratched me!"

"Ron be quiet," she whispered getting to her feet.

"That bloody cat still has it in for me…"

"Ron shut up!"

Ron turned to look a Ginny, "When did you get here and why do you have your wand out."Ron climbed to his feet and pulled out his wand as well. "What's happening?"

"Harry" Ginny whispered, Harry grunted and rolled onto his side, "Harry," she lightly tapped him with her foot.

"Enough trouble," he yarned

The bushes parted as the tall-cloaked figure emerged into the sunlight. Hermione didn't stand a chance to react as she screamed at the top of her lungs as the green light pierced trough her body.

"Hermione" Ron began to run towards her, but there was no way he was going to make it, Ginny watched in complete horror.

She screamed, "HARRY!"

Harry's eyes flew open as he sat straight up in bed. He looked around the empty room. It was just as he remembered five four-poster beds with red drapes intact. Seamus' Kenmare Krestals poster hanging above his bed, Aidan Lynch flying about merrily, Neville's space left bits behind as if he left in haste, the only thing missing were touches of Ron, Harry, and Dean who hadn't had the opportunity to leave such evidence behind. Besides that it was the same, other than the absence of glass in the windowpanes that was now shattered across the floor, besides the eerie silence, besides the fact that less than an hour ago he defeated Lord Voldemort.

He sighed, and reached for the sandwich on the nightstand. After Harry, Ron, and Hermione had left the Headmasters office where they spoke to the portrait of Dumbledore, Kreacher was nice enough to bring him a sandwich and leave him to peacefully collect his thoughts. The thoughts that only ended in a lovely dream turned nightmare. He sighed once again…

It was done, everything. There was nothing more he was obligated to deal with. No prophecies or lunatics great than Mundungus Fletcher. He was free of burdens that were far greater than any teenager should ever have to surmount. There was so much to look forward to and catch up on. To worry of pimples, grades or lack thereof, how the hell am I supposed to become an auror now, Harry thought. And to take Ginny on a proper date, normal things, he was free!

Harry jumped a bit as the door to the dorm burst open and a red headed, teary-eyed girl stormed into the room. She came straight over to Harry and threw herself on top of him. Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny and listened to her cry into his chest.

"He's gone," she whispered

He didn't know what to say. He stroked Ginny's hair. "It'll be okay," He closed his eyes.

(***)

"Hermione where are we going, I really could, use some rest." Sighed Ron, as Hermione lead him through the ruins that were once Hogwarts castle.

Hermione just smiled back at him.

Ron didn't know where they were going and he didn't care. His life was over, as he knew it. A part of him had been ripped out and he felt like a dementor was sucking out his soul. Although he was pleased that You Know Who was dead, he wished that the war had never happened. That maybe if they had never started searching for horcruxes and deathly hallows maybe Fred wouldn't be…

Ron came back to reality as he was slammed against a wall. He looked around and noticed that they were in Snape's old dungeon office. Hermione wrapped her arms around Ron's neck and kissed him on the lips. She pulled away and looked up at him, he gazed down at her. He ran a hand through her hair. He used the other to pull a few pebbles and bits of debris from the battle out of her curls.

She was perfect. He leaned down and kissed her. She kissed him back. He let his hands fall around her waist and pulled her in closer….

There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione's arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet. "Is this the moment?" Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. "OI! There's a war going on here!" Ron and Hermione broke apart their arms still around each other. "I know, mate," said Ron, who looked as though he had recently been hit by a Bludger, "so it's now or never, isn't it?" (Rowling 625)

He may have not been able to admit it and it most certainly wasn't planned, those nights he dreamed of her. The way he didn't like seeing her with someone else, it surprised him but he loved it, he loved her. His mind raced as he depend the kiss and Hermione willingly got into it…

Then he heard a terrible cry that pulled at his insides, that expressed agony of a kind neither flame nor curse could cause, and he stood up, swaying, more frightened than he had been that day, more frightened, perhaps, than he had been in his life. And Hermione was struggling to her feet in the wreckage, and three red-headed men were grouped on the ground where the wall had blasted apart. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand as they staggered and stumbled over stone and wood. "No-no-no!" someone was shouting. "No! Fred! No!" And Percy was shaking his brother, and Ron was kneeling beside them, and Fred's eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face… (Rowling 637)

Ron quickly pulled away from Hermione "What's wrong?" Hermione asked confused.

"Um…" he placed his hands on Hermione's arms, which were wrapped, around his neck. He rubbed them gently for a moment before he removed them from around him. He was breathing heavily and sweat was forming on his forehead. He wasn't all that sure what was happening but he knew he couldn't stay there. "I have to go."

"Why, are you alright," Hermione looked up at him concerned

"I just need to be alone right now." He looked up at her and noticed tears forming in her eyes. "Please don't cry this isn't about you. My brother just died and well… I don't know…" he shrugged "I just want to be alone" he walked out of the dungeon.

Slowly she let the tears fall from her eyes…

_GREAT HALL_

The celebration that began as soon as Voldemort was dead continued on in full force in the Great Hall, someone pulled out a harmonic and began to play and was joined by a couple of people playing the spoons. Mundungus Fletcher was doing a jig while holding a bottle of Fire Whisky in the center of what use to be the Hufflepuff table. People were dancing about in joy, drinking and enjoying the early morning defeat! Because once the sun was completely up reality would set in, damages would be assessed, the funerals would begin, and death eaters hunted down.

"Thank goodness your safe Draco" Narcissa was hugging Draco and refusing to let go, as he showed no sign of caring.

"Well that's all fine and dandy but with the downfall of the Dark Lord Mudblood's and blood traitors will be able to continue to contaminate and disgrace the name of wizard!" scowled Lucius.

"With him gone we're able to live our lives the way we want, without the worry of disappointing the Dark Lord or how he will reprimand us!" Narcissa shot back.

Lucius gave his wife an evil look and Draco glared at his father.

"If you have something to say boy then spit it out!" Lucius sneered as he removed his gaze from his wife to Draco.

"Not here, Lucius," Narcissa hissed

Draco looked down at the table

"That's what I thought" Lucius smirked and returned his attention back to his wife. "How dare you renounce the old ways! I am quite sure that the Dark…"

"I can't believe you!" Draco cut off his father.

"Pardon"

"WHY ARE YOU DEFENDING VOLDEMORT?" The music stopped and everyone in the great hall turned to look at the Malfoy's as Draco stood up from his seat, "I lost one of my best friends because of this and he tortured you! Then he used me to make you pay for your mistakes!"

"IF I REMEMBER correctly," he began lowering his voice sternly to deter the on lookers which was of no use, "you were delighted to be chosen by the Dark Lord." Lucius stood

"Will both of you please sit down and stop this!" Narcissa pleaded as they completely ignored her.

"I'm 17! I'm young and stupid what's you excuse!" Lucius' eyes widen and he was going to speak but "I'm not finished the only reason I did it was so Voldemort wouldn't kill you! Now don't get the wrong idea, I could care less if he murdered you! But what I do care about is her!" He pointed to his teary eyed mother. "I don't want her crying herself to sleep over your sorry ass!"

He stepped over the bench of the table and turned on his heel and marched out of the great hall as every eye followed.

"DRACO!" bellowed Lucius "I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU"

Somewhere in the hall Draco shouted, "YEAH? WELL I'M FINISHED WITH YOU!"

With that Lucius started sprinting out of the great hall as the gasps and whispers began to fill the room.

Draco could hear footsteps as he went through the door that led to the dungeons. He heard his mother's voice. "NO, LUCIUS! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

"Shit" he whispered to himself. Draco broke out into a run. He stopped at doors shaking the handles but they all seemed to be locked. At the end of the corridor Snape's office door was cracked a bit and he sprinted like hell…

_SNAPE'S OFFICE_

In the dungeon

I can't believe I was so insensitive, I was just so happy we made it out of this alive, and Ron was finally mine. I forgot about Fred. She paused. She remembered his aging potion, puking pasties, and how she always used to yell at him and George for testing their products on first years. I wish I could take it all back.

Her head shot straight up. She could hear footsteps and they were coming fast. The door slammed open and Draco stood in the doorway. Hermione jumped out of her seat and wiped her tears.

"Granger!" Draco was surprised to find her in there as he closed the door.

"What?" she could hear more footsteps coming.

"Come on, quickly!"

"What!" Draco grabbed Hermione by the arm and dragged her towards the fireplace. Hermione fought and tried to get out of Draco's grasp. "What are you doing" he was throwing floo powder into the fireplace and green flames emerged. "Where are we going? STOP!" she yelled.

The door blasted open and Lucius Malfoy rushed in. He looked furious and he took one look at Draco and then at Hermione. He raised his wand. Draco pushed Hermione behind Snape's desk before diving out of the way of the green light that came from the tip of Lucius' wand. It hit the wall and caused the room to shake and bits of the wall to implode.

"Get in the fireplace!" he hissed across the room at Hermione

Hermione wasn't quite sure what was happening but when Lucius blasted Snape's desk to smithereens leaving her completely out in the open, his wand was now pointed directly at her and Draco got up faster than she's ever seen him do anything in her entire life. Shouted "PROTEGO" as he dived in front of her to block Lucius' next attack, then used his other hand to push her into the fireplace, she still had no idea what was happening.

She began to spin and within seconds Snape's office and the Malfoy's disappeared. She could see other fireplaces whipping pass her she felt herself slowing down and she fell out of the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron. She sat on the floor where she landed "Did Draco Malfoy just save my life?"

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" J.K Rowling 625, 637

"It Ends Tonight" All American Rejects