Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!

A/N: Just a fun one-shot I came up with. Enjoy!

Hidden Behind the Mask

Halloween night. Of course Hogwarts had to put on a ball. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves talking of such nonsense about who was going with whom, what costumes they were wearing and what costumes everyone else was wearing. Harry sat in the common room staring at the dying fire wondering why he bothered waiting. All he wanted was a glimpse of her, the girl he turned away, the girl that didn't wait for him. The portrait door swung open, Harry's heart dropped. She looked beautiful.

She had chopped off her long flowing hair that he loved to touch and replaced it with a pixie cut. She tugged on Hermione's arm as they made their way through the crowded room. Hermione paused to wave at him, while Ginny barley even acknowledged his presence. His heart crashed once more. He felt numb. Hermione and Ron had tried to help him and he loved them even more for it. But still there was this distant void in his mind that couldn't be reached.

He lost sight of her as she fled upstairs. He sighed dejectedly, trudging himself to his own dorm room. He flipped down on his bed pulling the curtains closed, staring at the ceiling, he thought, 'that's it, I'm not going to that bloody dance.' His curtains flung open and the same red hair that plagued his dreams popped into view.

"Oi! Mate, do you even have your costume ready?" Ron exasperated.

"I'm not going." He turned over, blocking Ron's view of his face.

"You have to get over this mate. She's not worth it. Really." Ron stared at Harry; a look of pity crossed his face before leaving his best mate alone to his own darkness.

A frown spread across Harry's face. 'She would want him to miss the fun. Maybe if she saw him, maybe if she saw him with someone else she would remember. Remember how it felt to be with him. Remember their love.' He smiled viciously at the thought. With a new resolve he emerged from his bed. Ron smiled and clapped him on the back.

"Good for you Harry." Ron was dressed as a Chudley Cannons player, Harry raised an eyebrow, "Before you say anything, I already got Hermione's permission."

"And she actually allowed it?" Harry teased playfully.

"Shu' it!" Ron swatted him with his broom, "Now go get ready. I'll see you in the Great Hall!" He took off running. Probably to meet Hermione, Harry scowled, and Ginny and Dean. Dean. Just thinking about his name made Harry want to rip his head off. Although Ginny and Dean could never last, at least that's what he was counting on.

He pulled out his tux that he used for Dumbledore's funeral. He dug deeper in his truck and produced a black mask and black cloak. He wiggled his way into the tux and placed the mask over his face that only covered his eyes, and then with a fling of a wrist he wrapped the cloak around him, securing it at his neck. He found an old sock that Neville had accidentally turned from white to red. He transfigured it into a rose and placed it in his front jacket pocket. He felt empowered behind the mask. It made him feel like he could get anything he wanted tonight. Confidently he made his way to the Hall.

He entered through the doors to The Weird Sisters music bouncing off the walls. He looked up and saw that the ceiling had been enchanted that evening to look orange and black, with black cats and witches dancing in the air. Fourth through seventh years swarmed the whole place. His eyes darted around until they found her. She was dressed as a mermaid her hands wrapped around Dean, playing with his loose white shirt. Harry instantly tensed, infuriated that he even bothered trying. Unexpectedly someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned, but whoever had done it had disappeared. He twisted to see if he could catch them. What he saw shocked him throughout his whole body.

She was a goddess, wearing a fitted emerald gown with gold trim that had a small train behind her. Her dark brown hair hit the middle of her back in waves. A gold mask prevented him from seeing the features of her face, but he could tell they were flawless of imperfection, all expect her eyes and her soft blushed lips. He caught her gaze, winter blue eyes, that captured him in a most unpredicted way. A way that he thought did not exist anymore. A determined thought crossed his mind, looking back at Ginny for a spilt second, 'If Ginny could move on than so could he.' He didn't know if anyone could ever replace her in the long run, nor did he know if he wanted that to even happen, however, this girl sparked an interest in him and it made Harry a curious boy.

His eyes wandered back to hers just in time to see her full lips smirk at him, nodding her head to the door leading outside. His emerald eyes roamed down her body and he faintly growled in appreciation. His body followed her out the doors, not looking back at what misery he was leaving behind. Again, his gaze set upon her slim back to rest upon her toned bottom. His tongue darted out to wet his rough lips at the very sight of her. She glanced back at him with a dazzling smile. Pink tinged his face at the thought of her catching him looking at her with hungry eyes. He rested on her eyes to see that they were filled with amusement.

Harry's face lit up in a different light, one that would have made his friends rejoice in his recovery, a new bounce in his step spring up as he hurriedly went after her. He halted once he reached an archway that was up against a castle wall. Hundreds of roses were in bloom, their vines cascading the stonewall in the middle of the archway. She was leaning to smell the fragrant flowers. He swallowed before approaching her; he didn't know if he was breathing, she turned towards him waiting.

"Hi." Harry stumbled awkwardly; he mentally berated himself for sounding like a young schoolboy. "I'm-"

"Shh," she cut him off, "I know who you are. I can't imagine anyone who didn't." She laughed melodically from the belly. She gilded over to him, tugging on one of his locks of raven hair. Her gentle touch sent shivers down his spine.

"I think I should be able to know who you are." His voice wavered overcoming with huskiness.

"Where would the fun be in that?" She smirked and turned away from him, returning to the roses. "No thorns. Don't you just love their intoxicating smell?"

Harry smelled the air as he placed himself directly behind her, placing his hands on her waist. He felt a jolt shoot them him that made him want to touch her as much as possible that he could be driven mad from the absence of it.

"It's not as intoxicating as you I'm afraid," he whispered while lowering his head to the crook of her neck. She smelled of jasmine and rose, it was a smell that would haunt him. He could feel her breath hitch at his words before slowly relaxing back into him.

"You flatter me too much sir." She moved her head slightly to look up at him. Her breath was hot as she sighed. He smiled at the fact that he had a feminine body to hold once again.

"Ask me something." She murmured.

"What's your name?" He asked heatedly.

"Expect that." She chuckled softly.

He was drawn to her mystery, "Why me?"

The girl hesitated for a moment, blue eyes widening in surprise by his question, "You're a mystery to me. I want-I want to save you." Her voice was alto in tone, but still held that feminine quality making her sound like a siren.

Harry tightened his hold on her bringing her closer to him. She smirked twisting herself so that she was facing him. Her tongue darted out to wet her full lips. Both of them dared to breath. Harry's eyes dilated to a darker shade of emerald. He bent down, capturing her lips in a swift motion. Their kiss was one of utter need. She moaned against his lips as her hands made their way to his shaggy hair, grabbing at him.

Harry growled in the back of his throat as she press against him. He ran his tongue across her lips, stopping to nip at them. She parted her swollen lips, in a moan, allowing him to deepen the kiss. His hands trailed down her slim form, feeling her shapely curves. He cupped one hand on her fit bottom, groping at her. While the other held onto her waist, she groaned into his month as she felt him knead her none to gently. Harry whimpered as he felt himself harden against the softness of her belly.

She grasped for air, breaking their passionate kiss, throwing her head back in pure bliss. With one seamless movement he grabbed the hem of her dress pulling it up over her head and throwing it to the side. Harry jerked her up against him cupping her full bottom in his hands and she wrapped her legs around his hips as he backed them into the wall. A shiver raced down her spine as the cold flowers met against her back. With one hand he removed their masks, the other keeping a hold of her thigh. Her nimble fingers made short work of his belt and zipper, leaving his pants and boxers to pool around his ankles.

His calloused fingers made way to run down to her thigh, while his other hand helped to support her. He lightly brushed his way circling until he was tracing his name on her inner thigh. She whimpered at his touch. He found that she had not worn underwear.

"You were expecting this, weren't you?" He breathed into her ear, nibbling at the flesh beneath. Her breathing became heavier, Harry smiled at the control he was having over her.

He found her wet and gently inserted his finger into her. Her warmth captivated him and he sighed contently, greedily becoming rougher with his touch. He growled at the little noses she was forming. He could no longer wait and wanted them to come at the same time. He took the plunge. Thrusting into her as if she was his life support. She had to wrap her arms around his fit back to hold on. Harry looked at her. She was beautiful like this, glistening with sweat and sex. Her long hair clung to her body and he could not help but capture her lips while he pulled in and out of her.

She held onto the vines to support herself as they reached a faster rhythm. Both panting away as they thrusted into one another. "Please, Harry," he heard her whisper. It was all it took, he pushed into her one last time and they both came. Both there bodies shuddered in pleasure, embracing one another tightly. Harry looked at Daphne who was flushed pink from their encounter. He smiled, only to have her smile back. How he loved seeing her smile at him like that, as if he was the only thing that mattered in the world. He placed a soft kiss upon her forehead. She lifted her head up and pouted her lips.

'Never satisfied, the little witch,' Harry though amusedly.

"The dress makes you glow, did you know that? More then half the male population in that hall was looking at you. Their eyes seemed to be undressing you." Harry harshly said to her as he brushed her damp bangs away from her face.

"Lucky for you, I only wanted you to undress me," she paused looking at her dress on the grass, "which you successfully did, I might say." She smirked playfully at him.

Harry abruptly pulled away from her. Shock-turned too furry as he sat her down. He was careful to avoid her seething glare as he pulled up his boxers and fastened his pants. Daphne could not believe him, as soon as they had a hint of intimacy he would bale. Tears were on the brink of shattering down. Bending down, she grabbed severely onto her dance, slipping it over her head most ungracefully. Harry had not yet left as he was having problems buttoning up his shirt. Now was her chance.

"I'm tried of pretending Harry. It was fun with we first started out, but now its gotten old. I want to make love like we know one another. Is that too much to ask for? I don't want to play this game anymore. I want to be with you." Daphne said, trying not to betray her voice with the hurt she was feeling.

Harry didn't know if he was ready to be with someone else, but he didn't want to lose Daphne either. "Why do you have to make this complicated for me Daph? Can't you see how much I just need you?" His eyes pleaded with her.

She sighed, "Alright we can stay like this, for now. But promise me that you'll at least think about it?"

"I will. I promise." Harry caressed her check and kissed her softly soothing her worried thoughts. For a moment Harry almost felt remorse for lying to her and at the same time him. Daphne was just a replacement, something he could hold onto and release his emotions. He didn't know if he could ever be there for her, but if she was willing to be with him like this, for no matter how long, how could he deny it?