1. English isn't my native language, so it's not perfect.
2. I already finished this story in German a few years ago and now realized that Fred and George would not have been in school anymore by the time Hermione & Co are in seventh year. I'm sorry about the mistake.
Mistletoes
1. Mistletoes
Head Girl Hermione Granger was thinking about the Yule Ball she had to plan when suddenly someone gave her a hard shove from behind and sent her stumbling forward, directly into the arms of Blaise Zabini, the Slytherin Prefect.
Hermione spun around to see who had shoved her and caught sight of a smirking Draco Malfoy, the Head Boy.
"Malfoy !", she spat angrily, but he just kept smirking.
"What's so funny ?", Hermione asked suspiciously and looked from Malfoy to Zabini, who was also grinning like an idiot.
"Why don't you look up, Granger ?", Zabini said, his eyebrows raising. Hermione carefully lifted her head to see what the Slytherin was talking about – and then froze.
"Merlin's beard", she murmured horror-stricken. Over their heads was a mistletoe.
Hermione couldn't believe it. She had spent years avoiding those bloody things and now she was trapped underneath one – thanks to Malfoy. Her gaze wandered back to Zabini who was still grinning, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"What are you waiting for, Granger ?", he winked at her. Hermione swallowed.
"Someone might see us", she piped. They were standing right in front of the double doors that led to the Great Hall, which was crowded with students.
Zabini laughed loudly.
"If you keep wasting time someone will see us", he grinned. Hermione sighed. She knew she had no choice – Dumbledore had made sure of that.
"Fine", she hissed, "But if you touch me, Zabini, I swear -"
She was cut off when his mouth crashed down on hers. Ignoring her threat, he placed his hands on her waist and drew her closer, his teeth nibbling at her lower lip. Reluctantly Hermione opened her mouth. As soon as his tongue touched hers she broke the kiss and pushed him off of her.
"That's enough", she spat. Zabini just smirked before he turned and walked away, Malfoy following him.
"Merlin, Blaise ! There was no need to kiss her like that to break the charm ! A peck on the mouth would've been enough", she heard Malfoy exclaim in shock.
"Oh I know that", Blaise answered amused before they disappeared through the double doors.
Hermione was seething with rage now. Those Slytherins had made a fool out of her.
Frustrated, she turned away from the Great Hall, not hungry anymore.
Hermione was the last student that left Charms. Harry and Ron had already left for lunch with the promise to save her a seat.
She was walking along a corridor when suddenly someone grabbed her from behind, put a hand on her mouth and hauled her into an alcove. Hermione struggled and tried to kick her attacker, but it was no use.
A second later she was turned around and pressed against a wall, facing her kidnapper. It was Cormac McLaggen.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you", he said, drawing back his hands, "I'm not gonna hurt you, Granger. Relax."
"ARE YOU MAD ?!", Hermione screamed, stunned, "Merlin, I really want to slap you right now."
"I'm sorry", Cormac said again.
"What do you want, Cormac ?", she asked exasperated.
"Uh .. well", he stuttered, his cheeks turning red, "To be honest – I just wanted to drag you under a mistletoe."
"Come again ?", Hermione blinked in confusion. Cormac just pointed his finger above their heads. She didn't have to look up to know what was there.
It was unbelievable. All those years she had managed to avoid them and today she was stuck underneath one twice. She shook her head in disbelieve before glaring at Cormac.
"Go ahead then", Hermione growled through gritted teeth and when he didn't react gave him a short kiss on the mouth.
"Hey", he protested, "You have to give me a real kiss."
He grinned mischievously.
"No, I don't", Hermione snapped, "See ?"
She went out of the alcove, no magical wall blocking her way. Cormac looked disappointed.
"For your sake – it would be better not to come near me anytime soon", she spat at him before turning and hurrying along the corridor.
Damn McLaggen and damn those stupid mistletoes !
After lunch Harry, Ron and Hermione had a free period and so Hermione dragged the boys to the library to do some homework.
"Hermione, can I see your essay for Potions ?", Ron asked grumpily. He had been staring at an empty page of parchment for the last twenty minutes as if hoping it would fill itself with letters and words.
"No", Hermione replied shortly.
"Why not ?", he cried desperately, "I just need a few clues."
Hermione just shook her head. She was about to explain to him, that he would learn the most by doing everything himself, when someone called her name.
"Hermione ?"
She looked up to see Dean Thomas leaning against a bookshelf.
"Would you mind helping me with my Transfiguration homework ?", he asked smiling.
"No, it's alright", Hermione answered and got up from her chair.
"Of course she's helping him", Ron muttered and Hermione sent him an angry glare. Then she turned and was about to approach Dean, when Harry suddenly grabbed her wrist and held her back.
"What ?", she asked, confused. Harry rolled his eyes.
"There's a mistletoe above his head", he answered.
Hermione froze before her eyes finally turned into slits.
"Did you know that, Dean ?", she asked in a dangerous voice.
"Uhm .. no ?", the Gryffindor replied, his face turning red.
"What is wrong with you all today ?!", she screamed furiously, "Why does everyone suddenly try to lure me under a stupid mistletoe ?! You're the third one !"
By now she was seething with rage.
"You better leave, Dean", Harry said to his fellow Gryffindor and pulled Hermione back to where Ron was sitting. Dean fled the library instantly.
"What do you mean by 'why does everyone try to lure me under a mistletoe' ?", Ron asked suspiciously as soon as Hermione had sat down across from him. The brunette immediately turned red.
"I .. uh .. did I say that ?", she stuttered nervously, avoiding eye contact.
"Yes, you did", Ron snapped, "So ? Who else tried to kiss you ? Or maybe even succeeded ?"
Hermione sighed. He wouldn't stop bothering her until she told him what he wanted to know.
"McLaggen and Zabini", she answered depressed.
"Zabini ?!", the boys exclaimed in unison.
"Yes, Zabini", she hissed.
"Couldn't you've been more careful ?", Ron replied reproachfully.
"I should have been more careful ?", Hermione echoed incredulously, "It wasn't even my fault ! Malfoy shoved me !"
"And McLaggen ?", Ron digged deeper.
"That – no, you know what ? I don't have to explain myself to you, Ronald !", she snapped, jumping up from her chair and storming out of the library.
"Can you believe her, Harry ?", Ron shook his head uncomprehendingly, "Women."
At dinner the tension between Ron and Hermione was about to explode. They exchanged the most vicious glares Harry had ever seen them wearing. He himself tried to be invisible. He wasn't too keen on saying anything and accidentally picking a side. Harry was just thinking it couldn't get any worse when Fred and George took their seats next to them, grinning from ear to ear.
"What did we have to hear about you, dear Hermione ?", Fred began.
"You kissed Blaise Zabini from Slytherin ?", George continued. Ron gave him a murderous stare while Hermione's cheeks turned a bright shade of red.
"And we are not talking about a chaste little kiss here", Fred smirked, "We heard you literally snogged him ?"
"Yes, I did, but he -"
"You what ?!", Ron interrupted her, "You snogged him ? Have you lost your bloody mind ?"
"Ron, I was just trying to explain, he fra-"
"He's a Slytherin !", Ron roared frantically.
"Ron, I -"
"I've been trying for years to get you under one of those mistletoes – without any success – and now you're snogging Zabini ?", Ron's face had become as red as his hair. The Great Hall was completely silent. Every student and even the teachers were watching the Head Girl and the youngest Weasley-boy fighting. Meanwhile Harry had dived under the table to avoid the stares of his schoolfellows.
"You – you tried to – really ?", Hermione repeated astonished.
"Don't switch the topic now !", Ron shouted, "You snogged Zabini !"
"Under a mistletoe, Ronald !", Hermione threw a desperate glance toward the Slytherin table, hoping imploringly Zabini wouldn't be there. Her hope died when she looked directly into his smirking face.
"Even under a mistletoe a small peck would've been enough ! No need to shove your tongue down his throat !", Ron spat.
"He framed me !", Hermione screamed in return, turning red with humiliation. The Slytherins started laughing and Theodore Nott nearly choked on a piece of roast.
"Yeah, he framed you, sure he did", Ron said sarcastically.
"I've had enough of your jealousy now, Ronald", Hermione snapped and got up, "Believe what you want."
And then she fled the hall.
Tears streaming down her face, she hurried along a dark corridor, turned around a corner – and bumped straight into a solid body. She stumbled and then fell hard onto her arse.
"Oh for Merlin's sake !", she cursed and picked herself up again. It was then that she recognized the person she had run into.
"Malfoy", she growled.
"You dirtied my robes, Granger", he said disgustedly, staring down onto his school robes.
"I don't have time for this now", Hermione spat and rushed past him – only to bump against an invisible wall.
"What's happening ?", she asked, confused, "Why can't we leave ?"
"Well, you tell me, Granger", Malfoy replied, looking around, "Since you always seem to know everything."
Then he let out a groan.
"What ?", Hermione asked alarmed.
"We can't leave because there's a bloody mistletoe over our heads", Malfoy explained, his voice bitter.
"Great. Just fucking great", Hermione sweared, "This is so not my day."
"Don't worry, I'm not too keen on touching a mudblood either", Malfoy snapped.
Hermione just rolled her eyes. Then she stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. She was surprised at how soft his lips felt but then it was already over and she quickly turned and hurried in the opposite direction.
Malfoy stared after her in utter disbelieve, before he finally reacted.
"Granger !"
A moment later he grabbed her upper arm, turned her around and crashed his lips down on hers.
To be continued ..