Three days before Christmas, Hermione and Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place with the Weasleys. Molly Weasley motioned for them to talk quietly so they wouldn't disturb the painting of Mrs. Black. "I'm going to make dinner," Molly whispered. "You kids go into the drawing room. There's someone waiting for you."

Hermione led the way into the drawing room and immediately noticed some spiky, violet-colored hair. "Tonks!" she exclaimed quietly as she and Ginny rushed forward to hug the young auror. Harry closed the door behind the group so they could speak at normal volumes.

"Hello everyone," Tonks said brightly. "I've been decorating." Hermione glanced around the room and saw that Tonks had set up a Christmas tree in one corner of the room. It was covered with brightly colored baubles and garland. Lights were dancing in the branches of the tree that Hermione suspected to be fairy lights. There was holly decorating the mantle of the fire place and there was mistletoe in the doorway. Hermione grinned. She'd have to make sure not to walk through the doorway with any of the boys.

"Can we help with anything?" Harry asked Tonks, also looking nervously at the mistletoe.

"Not right now, but thanks," Tonks said. "Dinner should be ready soon and we have some friends joining us."

"Who?" Harry and Ron asked at the same time.

"Oh, just some members of the Order," Tonks said with a sly smile.

"Come on Tonks, just tell us," George said impatiently.

"We wouldn't want to keep our young friends waiting," said a voice behind them. They turned around to see that Remus Lupin had slipped into the room unnoticed by everyone except Tonks.

"Remus!" Harry and Ron exclaimed. Remus was smiling and shaking hands with the boys. "You'll be here for Christmas?" Harry asked putting a hand on Remus' shoulder.

"Of course," Remus replied smiling widely and winking at Hermione and Ginny. "Let's go see if dinner's ready." He ushered everyone out of the room and followed the group to the dining room not noticing when Fred discreetly pointed his wand at the mistletoe. He bumped into Tonks just outside the doorway of the dining room. Everyone had stopped walking suddenly. He looked to see that Ron and Harry had stopped in their tracks at the sight of the people already seated at the table.

Hermione impatiently pushed them toward the table. She smiled at the headmaster who was sitting at the head of the table. On his left was Professor McGonagall, who was watching Tonks walk into the kitchen, probably to offer assistance. On the other side of Professor McGonagall sat the person who was the source of Harry and Ron's looks of irritation and reluctance to enter the room.

Professor Snape was sitting at the table looking as if he had resigned himself to a terrible fate. Hermione glanced nervously at the potions master. She decided that he was as close to sulking as she had ever seen him. She looked over at the headmaster who had seen her looking at the grumpy professor. Dumbledore smiled and winked at her. "Ah, so Dumbledore is coercing Snape to be here," she thought.

Hermione sat down next to Ginny and left an empty to chair next to her for Tonks while Harry and Ron sat next to the twins. Remus went to sit across from Snape and McGonagall.

"I trust everyone is enjoying their holidays so far," Dumbledore said kindly when everyone was seated. Snape snorted derisively, earning a glare from Professor McGonagall.

"We've had a great time, Professor Dumbledore," Ginny said cheerfully.

"Wonderful," Dumbledore replied.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the kitchen door where Tonks was emerging, levitating a stack of plates. To their dismay, Tonks stumbled and the levitation spell was released. Hermione already had her wand out and quickly said "Arresto momentum" effectively slowing down the fall of the plates. Harry immediately jumped up and caught the plates. He set them down on the table. Tonks flushed. "Sorry," she muttered. Hermione smiled warmly at her and motioned for her to sit down.

A moment later, Molly entered the room levitating various dishes of food onto the table. Arthur Weasley followed with mugs of butterbeer floating ahead of him. Soon, everyone had a plate fool of delicious food. The conversations stayed light and pleasant. Professor Snape remained silent throughout the meal. As desert, rhubarb pie, was passed around, Dumbledore began talking to Remus about a meeting that would be taking place the next day. Harry attempted to listen to the conversation, but he only heard a few words that he didn't find very helpful in finding out what was going on.

When everyone appeared to be full, Dumbledore spoke up. "Wonderful dinner, Molly," he said smiling. "We'll be enjoying many meals together. Remus and Tonks will be staying here with you. I've also asked Professor Snape to stay here." Snape was scowling.

"Why?" Ron blurted out without thinking.

"Well, I rather feel that he needs a break from all his work," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling madly. "Now, when we have a meeting with the order, he needs only to walk downstairs." Hermione had a feeling there was more to the story than Dumbledore was saying, but she didn't ask. She looked at Snape to see him glaring at his plate as if it had offended him.

"Snape looks thrilled to be here," Ron said sarcastically as they started to leave the room. "Just ecstatic."

"Yeah, I wish he'd control himself," Harry said dryly causing Hermione and Ginny to go into a fit of giggles. The twins chuckled as Ron attempted an imitation of Snape's sour expression. They rushed out of the room so they wouldn't be questioned about their laughter.

Later that evening, Hermione was sitting alone in the drawing room reading. The others had gone upstairs to play exploding snap. She yawned and stretched, closing her book. She decided to go upstairs and say goodnight to the others before going to bed. She set her book on a small table and headed toward the door. She nearly bumped into Professor Snape who had just stepped through the doorway.

"Excuse me Professor Snape," she muttered softly stepping around him. She suddenly found herself unable to move away. She looked at Professor Snape to see a look of complete confusion on his face. He attempted to move away from her, but was unable to. He let out a growl of frustration.

"Oh dear," Dumbledore said walking up to them chuckling. Professor McGonagall was next to him looking at Snape and Hermione in surprise. "It appears we have an unusual problem," he said pointing at the small plant adorning the doorway. Snape looked up and recognized the mistletoe. His face took on a look of slight panic.

"Why are they stuck Albus?" Minerva asked worriedly.

"It appears a charm has been placed on the mistletoe," the headmaster replied. "It seems that the charm won't allow you to leave that spot until you have…. Followed through with tradition." Hermione gasped and looked sharply at Professor Snape and then back at Dumbledore.

"Oh my," McGonagall said anxiously. "What can we do?"

"Well, I'm afraid that you and I would be of little assistance in this particular situation," Dumbledore replied, grinning. "We'll leave you to it," he said to Snape and Hermione. He quickly steered McGonagall to another room.

Hermione stared after them for a moment looking shell shocked. She hesitantly looked back at Snape who was so stiff that he had either died standing up or was too surprised to move at all. He looked down at her and opened his mouth as if to say something before he quickly closed it again.

Upstairs Ginny was listening to the boys talking. She was alarmed when she heard Fred say that he had charmed the mistletoe in the drawing room. "What will it do?" Ron asked eagerly.

Fred grinned mischievously. "Well, if a guy and girl walk under it and don't uphold the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, it holds them there until they do," he said laughing. "I thought it'd be funny with all those members of the order around here tomorrow.

"Brilliant," Harry said chuckling.

"Oh no," Ginny groaned. "Hermione's down in the drawing room. I'd better go warn her before she gets caught under the mistletoe." She jumped up and hurried out of the room. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she was surprised to see Hermione and Professor Snape standing beneath that wretched mistletoe looking unsettled. Instead of saying anything, since it was obviously too late to warn Hermione, she decided to watch what would happen. Ginny's expression turned smug when Snape suddenly looked resolute and determined.

Hermione swallowed hard when Snape's expression suddenly changed. He looked as if he had made a decision. Her stomach tightened and she briefly wondered if she might pass out. She automatically closed her eyes when Professor Snapes head lowered to hers. She felt the pressure of his lips pressing gently into hers. She noted that his lips were warm and soft. When he pulled away, her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him. He looked as dazed as she felt.

Professor Snape quickly turned away from her and walked into the drawing room. Hermione headed for the stairs to see Ginny standing there with a look of triumph. Hermione blushed when Ginny grabbed her hand and said "Let's go have a talk." Ginny grinned and led a slightly shaky Hermione up the stairs.