disclaimer:

If I owned these characters, I would not be writing Fan Fiction. They belong to the one and only all-powerful JK Rowling.

MISTLETOE

Hermione Granger was pissed.

Not only that, but Hermione Granger was pissed and incapable of doing a thing about it.

And that was because she was trapped under Dumbledore's stupid sprigs of enchanted mistletoe. It had all been his idea that the "holiday spirit" should involve having to kiss some random person because some stupid plant was hanging above their heads. And thanks to Flitwick's clever enchantments, no student could move from under the mistletoe until they had been kissed.

Stupid.

But not as stupid as her friends. They were too embarrassed to do anything to help her. How had Hermione even gotten into this situation?

Hermione was walking into the Great Hall with Harry and Ron. A daily occurrence. You would think it would pass without incident.

You would be wrong.

She was walking with her friends... and then she wasn't. She couldn't take another step. At first she was confused, but then she remembered a similar thing happening to Ginny the other day. Luckily her boyfriend Harry had been able to save her, although some other guys had looked quite eager to.

No such luck for Hermione.

She thought that Ron might be willing to kiss her, due to his obvious crush on her, but he was simply too embarrassed to do a thing. Once or twice he had made as if to get up, but hadn't. As for Harry, he was simply grossed out by the thought of kissing someone who was so like his sister. None of her other friends were any more helpful.

There was nothing to do but stand there and wait.

And here she was, nearly five minutes later. Still standing there. And waiting.

That is, until Draco Malfoy walked into the Hall.

Hermione fully expected him to mock her and tease that no one wanted to kiss her. She was even thinking it might be helpful, as most of the hall didn't even realize she was there.

She didn't expect for him to be helpful on purpose.

He looked from her, to her friends, and back to her. Comprehension dawned on his face as his eyes flicked to the mistletoe above her head. To her surprise, he walked over to the gryffindor table.

She could hear their heated words even from across the hall.

"What the bloody hell do you want, Malfoy?"

"Such hostility, Potter. You would think I had come over here with the intention of attacking you."

"That is, generally, the only reason you speak to us."

"Well, Weasel, I just wanted to point out that your little bookworm is trapped over there."

"Yes, Malfoy, we've noticed." So they were just ignoring her. Perfect.

"And you haven't gone over to rescue your precious girlfriend? Oh... right..." He smirked. "You never managed to summon up the courage to even ask her out, did you?" Ron suddenly became very interested in his breakfast, but Harry spoke up.

"Why do you care, Malfoy?" He spat.

"Well, she is rather bothersome, standing in the middle of the doorway like that. And why don't you go save poor, helpless Granger, anyway, Potter?"

Harry's face showed instant disgust at the thought. "That is disgusting. That would be like kissing my sister!"

Malfoy was shocked by Harry's reaction. Potter could be immature. "Surely either of you could deal with the discomfort of kissing Granger in order to allow her to move from the doorway. It would be such an inconvenience if she was stuck there for Christmas."

Ron got up and began to walk toward her. Was this the moment this couple, who had seemed perfect for each other since the war, would finally get together? The Great Hall watched with bated breath.

Then, all of the sudden, he paled, ran back to his seat, and sat down. Malfoy looked at him in distaste.

"Seriously?"

"Oh, shove off, Malfoy."

"I thought Gryffindors were supposed to me brave. Maybe you both are better suited for hufflepuff? Actually, I take it back. Hufflepuffs are smarter than you thickheads. Maybe the pair of you should have attended Beauxbatons."

Beauxbatons was a girls' school. Hermione laughed at that comment despite herself. Harry and Ron glared at Malfoy, who glanced over at Hermione and saw her still giggling.

"Fuck it." Hermione opened her mouth to question why Malfoy had said this, but she was silenced when she felt his lips on hers.

One thought went through her head.

Draco Malfoy was kissing her.

And she didn't mind it one bit.