It was a warm Saturday afternoon. Harry Potter, a 7^th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was spending it very much like he spent his other Saturdays, (and Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, you get the idea.) He had locked himself in his room and was pining away for a pretty girl named Rosaline. This was all nice and fine, except for one small problem. He was a Gryffindor and she was a Slytherin. The two houses had been feuding since a small quarrel between Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. As a result, the stupidest Gryffindor could hardly look at the stupidest Slytherin without sparks flying from wands. By now, nobody knew what the original quarrel was about, and everyone was tired of the silly feud, but the two houses stubbornly refused to bury the hatchet and just forget about the whole thing.

So naturally, all of the Gryffindors were disgusted by Harry's infatuation with Rosaline.

"I don't see how you can possibly like someone like her," his best friend Ron Weasley would often grumble.

The truth was, Harry didn't know either. Rosaline was rather a spoiled brat. But she still managed to make Harry's breath catch in his throat whenever he saw her. Of course, he never got to see her much because they had different schedules, but he jumped at every chance he got.

So when he learned that the Slytherins were going to throw a huge party in honor of the head of their house, Severus Snape, though God only knew why, Harry made up his mind that he would be there, even if he had to disguise himself as his nemesis Draco Malfoy. He was so determined, he even persuaded Ron to come with him.

"You really owe me big," said Ron, "Remember, it's just in and then right back out again. We're not staying, even if Rosaline starts flirting madly with you. Not even if Snape gets a sugar high and starts breakdancing. Got it?"

"Yes, I know, I know," replied Harry, "But what if--"

"NO!" said Ron firmly.

Harry sighed. "All right," he said finally, "But at least let me stay until I see Rosaline. I'm not going to some Slytherin party and end up not seeing her at all."

Luckily, the party was to be a costume party, so Harry and Ron could wear masks and not have to bother with a complicated Polyjuice Potion. They made sure that their masks would cover their hair also, since Harry's untidy 'do and Ron's fiery red hair would be recognized anywhere. They decided to go as Knights of the Round Table, with tons of chain mail and helmets to match.

When it came time for the party, Harry and Ron quickly and quietly snuck over to the Slytherin end of the castle, with the help of Harry's invisibility cloak. People were streaming into the Slytherin common room. All the houses except Gryffindor had been invited, even the Hufflepuffs. They waited in the hall until a large group Hufflepuffs came and let them in unknowingly. Once inside, they removed the cloak and started wandering around. Ron refused to leave Harry's side, worried that he'd do something foolish. But he soon got distracted by the display of refreshments which made Honeydukes in all it's glory seem like a dusty, half-empty, mice infested pantry.

As soon as Ron was out of the way, Harry started looking all around for Rosaline, when suddenly, out of nowhere, he saw a beautiful girl. So beautiful in fact, that all thoughts of Rosaline flew out of his head forever and he never heard from her again.

This new girl with rich, shiny, chestnut colored hair was struggling to put her mask on. She wasn't struggling because she was stupid, Harry could see. You could tell she was very intelligent by her facial expressions and the way she carried herself. It was just that the mask had several tangled lacings which had to be wound around the head and tied just right.

Slyly, Harry crept up behind her and took the mask from her hands. The girl whirled around, surprised, and faced him, ready to whip out her wand if he was going to make any trouble.

But Harry only carefully untangled the mask laces and handed it back to her.

The girl stared at him for a few moments, then shyly took the mask from him.

"Thanks," she murmured.

"No problem," said Harry, grinning, ecstatic at hearing her voice.

He saw right away that the girl was quite shy, but he soon charmed her into opening up and having a conversation with him. Harry thought he was in heaven, and it became evident that the girl felt the same way.

Unfortunately, Draco Malfoy, who was standing nearby, overheard their conversation and immediately recognized Harry's voice. Teeth clenching in anger, Draco made a move for his wand when Snape stopped him, anxious for his party to go well.

"I don't like him any better then you do, but wait until after the party to teach him a lesson, will you? I don't want this party to be ruined like last time, when your little friends Crabbe and Goyle ate up all the refreshments before the other guests got a taste!"

Draco obliged, although still fuming. He walked away, planning vengeance with every step.

Soon, Ron came staggering up to Harry and the girl. It was obvious that he'd drunk one to many butterbeers, because he urgently whispered to Harry, "Let's go! I gotta pee!"

The girl overheard what he said and started giggling. Ron, turning bright red, grabbed Harry's elbow and dragged him out of the Slytherin common room.

"I'll see you later!" yelled Harry, waving.

The girl waved back but didn't say anything.

As soon as Ron and Harry were safely back in their dormitories and the invisibility cloak tucked away, along with their masks, Ron started bombarding Harry with questions.

"Where was Rosaline? Why weren't you with her? Did she finally knock some sense into your head? Oh, and by the way, what the hell were you doing with Hermione Granger?"

"So?" asked Harry, glad that he finally knew her name.

"So!?" sputtered Ron, getting redder, "Don't you know who she is?"

"Sure I do," said Harry, grinning, "She's the girl I love."

Ron just couldn't take it anymore. "SHE IS A SLYTHERIN! MOREOVER, SHE'S SNAPE'S GODDAUGHTER AND DRACO MALFOY'S COUSIN!" he bellowed.

Harry blinked. He thought for sure Ron was joking.

"What?" he asked.

"You heard me," said Ron , pausing for a breath, " She's one of them."

The truth finally hit Harry, and it hit him hard. He groaned loudly and collapsed on his bed.

After Harry started mumbling a jumble of incoherent words, Ron suddenly remembered all the butterbeers he'd drunk and dashed off toward the bathroom, barely making it in time.

After Harry had left, Hermione sought out her cousin Draco and started making small talk with him. After chatting for a few minutes, she finally gathered up enough courage and asked him, "Who was that boy? The one dressed as a knight who came with his tall friend"

Draco's face darkened with anger as he answered, "Just a creep named Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter?" Hermione gasped, "But isn't he a--"

"Stinkin', good-for-nothing Gryffindor," Draco finished for her, "And he's the worst of the bunch.All the other Gryffindors worship the lint in his bellybutton. Stay away from him, Hermione. He could be dangerous."

Hermione smiled weakly and Draco walked away. As soon as he left, she stumbled up to the girl's dormitories. She removed her tight costume, put on her robes, and sank white-faced into her bed, finally losing it and sobbing incontrollably.