The holiday season at Hogwarts was always a magical time, filled with warmth, laughter, and an air of mischief that seemed to linger in every corner of the castle. This year, however, something more mischievous than usual was afoot. The enchanted mistletoes, which traditionally adorned the halls and common rooms, had been tampered with by some particularly crafty pranksters. These mistletoes, now charmed with a bit of Weasley wizardry, had developed a mischievous quirk—they appeared in random places, and if you were unfortunate enough to find yourself beneath one with another person, you couldn't leave until you shared a kiss.
It didn't take long for word to spread among the students, who quickly learned to avoid the mistletoes at all costs. No one wanted to be trapped with someone they couldn't stand, forced into an awkward situation, or worse—mocked by their peers. As a result, everyone moved cautiously through the castle, eyes peeled for the telltale green leaves and white berries.
Harry Potter had decided to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays this year, a decision influenced by a desire for some peace and quiet, away from the bustling noise of the Burrow. With most students gone, the castle was unusually still, the silence a welcome change from the usual chaos. On one such quiet evening, Harry found himself restless and decided to take a stroll through the nearly empty corridors.
He wandered aimlessly, his thoughts elsewhere, not paying much attention to where his feet were leading him. It wasn't until he rounded a corner and collided with something—no, someone—that he was snapped out of his reverie.
Staggering back, Harry looked up and found himself staring into a pair of unmistakably grey eyes. Draco Malfoy.
For a moment, Harry was transfixed, caught off guard by the proximity and the intensity of Draco's gaze. There was something in those eyes that held him in place, a tension that crackled between them. Time seemed to stretch, the world around them fading as they stood frozen in place.
But then Draco cleared his throat, a sound that was sharp and cutting, and the spell was broken. Harry blinked, realizing just how close they were standing, though still with a sliver of space between them.
"Watch where you're going, Potter," Draco drawled, his voice laced with its usual disdain, though there was a slight edge to it that Harry couldn't quite place.
Harry opened his mouth to retort when Draco's gaze shifted upwards. Following his line of sight, Harry's stomach dropped. Above them, hanging innocently from the ceiling, was a mistletoe.
Draco groaned audibly, his expression darkening. "Oh, for Merlin's sake, not this."
Harry felt his heart skip a beat as the realization of their predicament sank in. Of all the people to be trapped under a mistletoe with, it had to be Draco Malfoy.
"Well, I'm not kissing you," Harry said quickly, folding his arms over his chest in defiance.
"Believe me, Potter, the feeling is mutual," Draco replied, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes that Harry couldn't quite read. "But if we don't, we're going to be stuck here until we do."
As if to emphasize Draco's point, the mistletoe seemed to respond to their reluctance, shimmering with a faint, magical light. The invisible barrier around them began to close in, pushing them closer together.
Draco sighed, looking resigned. "Fine. Let's just get this over with. A quick kiss, and we're free." He said it with a dismissive tone, but Harry noticed the way Draco's ears turned red, a flush of color creeping up his pale skin.
Harry hesitated for a moment, his heart racing. Then, before he could talk himself out of it, he leaned in, pressing his lips briefly against Draco's. The kiss was quick, just a brush of lips, but it left a strange, lingering warmth in its wake.
