A/N: After all this time? Always! Ah, Severus Snape! There is just no one like you…

The Harpy's Mistletoe

Hermione's heart was racing in her chest. She had just wanted to sneak into the kitchen to get a snack before returning to her room to snuggle under her blankets and keep on reading. It was her favorite way to spend New Year's Eve, which she preferred to attending any parties (just like the one taking place right now, on the lower level of Grimmauld Place, which she had set out to avoid at all costs).

She had just rounded a corner when she had bumped into someone. She had stumbled and thought she was about to fall, when she had been pulled up by invisible magic strings, turning her to face the person she had run into. Her heart had stopped in her chest before racing off in a mad rhythm: It was Severus Snape – her mysterious, dark, delicious Potions Professor.

He scowled at her as she muttered an apology, then turned to leave. A look of irritation crossed his features as he tried to move away, but seemed unable to do so. He looked around, then up, and cursed before pulling out his wand and pointing it towards the ceiling. "Finite Incantatem!"

Hermione looked up to see a mistletoe suspended in the air above them. It lit up as the spell hit it, but again, both of them were unable to move away.

Snape's scowl deepend. "Incendio!" Flames burst around the mistletoe, but after they had disappeared, it remained unchanged. He peered closer, cursing. "It seems this is a Harpy's mistletoe. Dammit! It cannot be destroyed. The spell can only be broken by… traditional means." He glowered at her. "Its requirements depend on the… desires of the female 'victim' of the spell. So we should be fine with a peck."

He closed his eyes as if in pain, straightening his frock coat, before he peered into her eyes: "Prepare yourself!"

She had to suppress a smile at that. Poor Professor Snape, having to kiss a student. One of age, but, nevertheless, a student. A student with a huge, secret crush on him. Her whole body tingled at the thought of his lips pressed against hers. She closed her eyes, waiting breathlessly, but in the end, it was just the merest brush of his lips on hers, but she felt them all through her body. When she opened her eyes, she tried not to convey how much it had affected her.

He had already turned to leave, but found himself locked in place by the same magic restraints as before. A look of bewilderment crossed his features as he looked up at the mistletoe and back to her, and then to the side in confused contemplation. He muttered under his breath before addressing her.

"I was pretty sure that this is a harpy's mistletoe. It should have worked. Unless…" His sentence dwindled off before his black eyes pierced her's. "Were you, by any chance, hoping for more than just a peck?"

She swallowed and tried to fight the blush that was threatening to creep up her neck. "Obviously," she whispered.

His scowl deepened before he cleared his throat again. "Well, it would be good to know how far we have to take this, as not to spent more time with unsuccessful attempts," he sneered.

"Pretty far" she muttered. At his impatient expression, she gave an exasperated sigh. "Well, you know, the whole package!" He just kept scowling at her, so she burst out: "Do I really have to spell it out for you? A French kiss!"

He stared at her, an expression of shock on his face, before his hand shot down and pulled her wand from her grasp. He flung his arms upwards, both of their wands pointed at the mistletoe: "INCENDIO!" Twin streams of flame engulfed the mistletoe, but it persisted.

"DAMN IT!" he shouted, pushing her wand back into her hand before running his fingers through his hair, then rubbing his temples and pinching the bridge of his nose. She wanted to feel bad for him, she really did, but the excited, happy little bubbles in her belly made that really hard for her.

He glowered at her, then sneered. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

As he bent to kiss her again, her eyes fluttered shut. When his lips touched hers, hot flashes raced through her body, and she eagerly responded. It was a soft, careful touch, lips on lips, and then she felt him open up. Her tongue slid out to meet his, and when they did, she could not suppress a small sound of desire while he jumped back as if he had been burned.

The magic restraints held. Snape sighed. Hermione, too, but for different reasons.

He glowered at her again, before pulling himself together and stepping closer again. His hand came to rest on the side of her face as his mouth locked with hers. The warm touch of his calloused, slender fingers on the side of her face broke Hermione's control. Her right arm slid around his waist, while her left came to rest at the nape of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair.

This time, when their tongues touched, he jerked, but did not move away. Slowly, his tongue slid into her mouth, exploring it carefully. She melted on the inside, scorching shivers running up and down her body. She moaned, drawing him closer, as she allowed herself to grow bolder and soon was taking her time to explore his mouth, too. He tasted delicious, and she could not get enough of him. She felt his right hand on her hip, squeezing her skin, when suddenly he broke off, shoving himself away. Both of them stumbled, no longer held in place by magic constraints, and had to catch their balance. His black eyes, filled with a wild and crazed look, locked with hers for a second before he turned around and fled in a billow of robes.

Hermione was left standing in the hallway, her back resting against the wall to catch her balance, as her knees seemed to be made out of jelly. Her fingers moved up to touch her tender lips where she could still feel his lips pressed against hers. A deep sigh escaped her. What a wonderful way to start a New Year!

A/N: Yes, I'm a sucker for reviews, too. It just makes my day. So pleeease push the little button and tell me how you liked it ;)