For the last few months it had become increasingly clear to Severus that certain female professors at Hogwarts were trying to set him up with the new Arithmancy Professor.

Sure she was an attractive woman but not quite his type. Too tall, too skinny and her hair was just too…. straight for his tastes.

In the few days leading up to Christmas he had begun to think that perhaps the older women had decided he was a lost cause and had finally given up on their little charade. Alas that was not the case.

Head down, walking into the staff room on Christmas Eve, Severus found his legs unceremoniously stuck to the cobble stone floor as the whole room fell to a hushed whisper.

'Why Severus it seems that you've been caught under enchanted mistletoe.' A slightly tipsy Minerva giggled.

'Dear boy do you need help getting out?' A equally tipsy Pomona joined in.

Wanting to get out of this predicament as fast as possible, Severus tried several spells to blast the mistletoe apart but unfortunately it did not budge and the charm work held still.

'Here Severus I will help you.' A sultry voice behind him spoke.

'That won't be necessary Professor Armstrong I assure you.' He practically begged but it was too late, the damned woman had stepped into the mistletoe charm and become stuck herself.

'Severus it's just a harmless kiss, it won't kill you' Minerva crooned.

'This is completely inappropriate! I do not and WILL NOT be participating in this nonsense.'

A long nailed hand came up to rest on his arm and he turned to face the tall woman.

'I don't bite Severus I promise' she winked.

Feeling the panic rise up in his throat the only answer he could think of was to tell the truth… a truth he hadn't yet been prepared to tell.

'I am a taken man Professor and I assure you I would never lay a hand on another no matter what the reasoning!' Severus all but yelled.

The new professor blanched and removed her hand from his arm 'But they said you were single! That you've always been single!'

The staff room had fallen quiet and in a low growl that carried around the room he spoke words he had never said before.

'How selfless of you I'm sure. Did you think I was some lost cause that you could fix? Did you think you could seduce the dungeon bat? Well I apologize but you are too late. My heart is already taken by a woman who is worth ten times the like of you! You could never, in any sense of the world comprehend how much I love this woman and what I would be prepared to sacrifice for her. Do not assume you know anything about me.'

All the eyes in the room swivelled to Professor Granger sitting at her usual chair with a mug of nutmug looking just as shell-shocked as everyone else.

The silence was eventually broken by Minerva

'Love? Oh Severus we were testing you! We knew something was going on between you and Hermione but didn't realise it was love!'

'Well I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd leave me the hell alone. Christmas is bad enough without being subjected to this humiliation!'

Hermione slowly stood from her chair and with a flick of her wrist vanished the mistletoe along with the enchantment.

'You love me?' She spoke quietly.

'W.. Well yes but I'd rather not have this conversation in front of the whole faculty Hermione!'

'Yes of course, of course. You will have to excuse us everyone as we have an important detail to discuss'. Hermione mumbled as she slowly stepped back from the table and pushed her chair in.

For a moment of blind panic Severus thought perhaps he had made a huge mistake and that she was about to break his heart by telling him she didn't feel the same way. But as she met his eyes again the biggest smile graced her face and he knew she felt the same way.

Maybe Mistletoe isn't so bad.