It was much later in the afternoon when Harry finally made his way into the common room.
"Harry!" he heard Hermione call, and turned towards the fireplace where his two friends were sitting. "Harry, where have you been all day? I haven't seen you since Professor Snape threw you out of Potions, and-" She broke off here, staring at the disheveled boy before her. "Harry," she scolded, "what have you been doing?"
"Um…" The green-eyed boy looked a bit sheepish, and scratched the back of his neck. "I was out flying," he finally replied, though he didn't meet either of his friends' eyes.
"Fell off your broom, did you?" Ron commented sarcastically. Harry absently touched his cheek, wincing at its soreness.
"Oh, well…I meant I was just out flying now. This…ah…well I kind of got into a fight with Malfoy…again. Earlier."
"Oh, Harry," Hermione sighed, beckoning him over while Ron snickered. Harry tentatively walked over and let Hermione grab his chin and cast a simple healing spell.
"Thanks," he grinned. He leaned over the couch, spotting the box from Fred and George resting between his two friends. "Have you found out what it does yet?" They looked confused for a second before catching onto what Harry was referring to.
"Oh, the mistletoe, you mean?" Ron replied. He handed the box to Harry, shaking his head. "No, as far as we can tell, it's just plain old mistletoe." He frowned. "Bit disappointing, really."
"Did you test it again?" Harry asked.
"Well…no, but-"
"I've checked it over, there's no love trance or love potion or anything spelled into it," Hermione cut in.
"You sound so sure of yourself," was Harry's reply. "Happy Christmas, then!" he said cheerfully, and held a piece above Ron and Hermione's head. Ron promptly blushed, glancing nervously at their bushy-haired friend, while Hermione rolled her eyes and pursed her lips primly.
"Really now, Harry, be serious," she said, shaking her hair out of her face.
"Oh I am serious," the raven-haired boy grinned. "Pucker up, Hermione!"
"Harry!" Ron shouted nervously.
"This is ridiculous," Hermione said, exasperatedly. She gathered up her books and went to stand up off the couch, but suddenly jarred and dropped back down as if she'd hit her head on an invisible wall of some sort. "Ow! What…?" Tentatively, she lifted up her hand and all three Gryffindors watched as it apparently was blocked by…something.
"H-Harry…" Ron started to say, reaching out to his sides only to find that invisible wall there again. Before he could stop himself, Harry started snickering. "Harry, it's not funny!"
"It's bloody hilarious! Ron, your brothers are geniuses!" Harry exclaimed through his laughter. Then he yelped suddenly, yanking his hand away from the mistletoe. It remained hanging in the air, as he cradled his hand slightly.
"What was that?" Hermione asked quickly.
"It-it burned me!"
"Burned you?"
"Yeah…" Harry reached for the mistletoe again, but retracted his hand immediately and starting laughing again. "Oh, oh that's priceless! You can't move it!"
"No- what- no! Wait, what do you mean?" Ron stuttered.
"You can't figure it out?"
"Um…"
"We have to kiss," Hermione spoke up, still cautiously feeling around for whatever was surrounding them. "It's…there's some sort of…of force field around us. I bet it won't disappear until we've kissed. And apparently you can't move the mistletoe." Not that she sounded unhappy about that. Ron swallowed nervously.
"Force field?" he repeated weakly.
"Muggle term," Harry offered.
"I know what it means!" Ron snapped, and Harry held up his hands defensively. He watched as his two friends glanced nervously at each other, and Hermione's lips quirked up into a shy smile. Harry looked at them intently. "Um, Harry…?"
"Yeah?"
"Harry, if you don't mind…" Hermione said pointedly, glancing at the boy out of the corner of her eye.
"Oh…right." Grinning again, Harry dropped down behind the couch and sat with his back against it.
"Harry!"
"I'm not leaving! You'd better get a move on before you sprout horns or something," he said cheerfully. He heard some rustling on the couch and then silence, so he carefully turned around and peered over the top of it. Ron, still bright red, had one hand gently holding Hermione's chin as he kissed her softly, while she looked like she was in pure bliss. He let them continue on for a few moments, before speaking up. "Awww, well it's about time, isn't it?" he said, and the two promptly broke apart, the mistletoe dropping to the couch as they did.
"A-a-about time for what?" Ron stuttered nervously, glancing away from Hermione. The girl quickly started straightening out her hair and clothes as she stood and moved away from the sofa.
"Yes, Harry, it was only because of the mistletoe," she said quietly. But then she paused, face going still as her eyes narrowed. "Why else would Ronald have any cause to kiss me?" Before they could answer, she gathered up her books and swept up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.
"Wait, Hermione!" Ron called, but the only reply he got was the sound of a door slamming. He winced.
"Oh, brilliant, Ron," Harry sighed, coming around the couch to sit beside the boy. Ron crossed his arms and pouted.
"I didn't even say anything!" he protested, looking glum. Harry shrugged.
"Yes, but I expect she's getting tired of waiting, just the same."
"Waiting for what?"
"Waiting for- oh, if you can't figure it out then you don't deserve her!" Ron sighed, and the two boys were quiet for a bit, staring at the fireplace and watching the low flames flicker.
"So tell me about this fight with Malfoy," Ron said after a few minutes, and Harry was quick to indulge.
"I got him good this time!" he exclaimed, eyes brightening as he turned to face Ron. "It was like this…"
