How It All Began

Hermione backed into someone. "Sorry," she muttered, turning around to make sure everything was alright. She came face to face with Draco Malfoy.

"Watch where you're going, stupid mudblood!" he hissed. "Get out of my way!" Draco made a move to push past her, but was paralyzed. "What the hell...?"

Someone snickered.

There seemed to be a crowd gathered around the two students. Parvati Patil giggled, pointing out something above their heads to Lavender Brown. Hermione, with a look of dread clouding her face, looked up. A bewitched piece of mistletoe hung above them.

Hogwarts had been decorated for the holiday season for about a week. The biggest talk, though, was about the mistletoe hidden around the school. There were five pieces hanging in various parts of the school. Each were bewitched so that any two unsuspecting people who happen to walk under them at the same time would have to kiss in order to move. Professor Dumbledore thought it might 'improve inter-House relationships.'

So far, no one had been unlucky enough to spot a piece. In fact, most of the student body (and even some of the staff) had developed a habit of looking above them when going anywhere so as to not be caught unexpectedly.

Unfortunately, in their haste to be on time to Potions, both Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy managed to get stuck. Together.

"Ew, Hermione! You have to kiss Malfoy!" Ron exclaimed, making a face.

"Just do it and get it over with," Harry insisted. "Otherwise, I might throw up."

Hermione looked at Draco, her mouth hanging open. She really had no desire at all to kiss him. He looked like such a ferret.

"Draco!" Pansy Parkinson, self-proclaimed president of the Draco Malfoy fan club, whined, tugging at his arm. "You can't kiss her! You'll be tainted forever!" He didn't budge, sending Pansy falling backwards.

"Draco, I feel bad for you, man." Goyle, ever the man of few words, chuckled.

"Do it and get it over with!" Crabbe nodded, echoing Harry's earlier words and hiding his laughter behind the back of his palm. Despite popular belief, both Crabbe and Goyle, Draco's bodyguards, were not entirely as dumb as everyone thought. They just chose not to show it.

"Go on, Hermione. You don't want to stand there all day," Lavender insisted. "It really can't be that bad."

Parvati nodded. "Yeah, he is kinda cute...for a Slytherin." She received several threatening glares from the house's sixth years.

After all, everyone knew Draco Malfoy was one of the most sought-after boys in school. He was tall, no longer the scraggly, thin, pale, sickly, boy he was at eleven, and his hair had darkened just enough. His eyes were still the same dark gray, but, suddenly, every girl in school found them incredibly sexy. All that, and he had an athletic build, having played seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team for the past four years.

The other, of course, was Gryffindor's own celebrity, Harry Potter, with his raven-colored unruly hair and bright emerald eyes. He, also, was built like a seeker, having a year on Draco at that position.

Everyone began egging them on, giving catcalls and whistles. No one seemed to notice that neither of those immobile were saying anything.

Finally, Draco and Hermione snapped. At the exact same time, they both yelled, "NOBODY IS KISSING ANYBODY!"

Everyone shut up, staring at the two of them, who had both crossed their arms over their chests and turned their backs to each other as much as they could without moving their legs.

"What is going on here?" Professor Snape demanded, pushing through the crowd. He raised an eyebrow. "Well, what have we here?" He almost smirked at the sight of Draco and Hermione stuck under the mistletoe. He turned to the crowd. "In the classroom, NOW!"

Everyone scattered, tripping over each other to get inside. "I suggest that the two of you find someway to remedy this situation as soon as possible. I would hate to have to take points away from Gryffindor for skipping my class, Miss Granger." Hermione gasped.

"I refuse to kiss her!" Draco practically screamed, a look of sheer terror on his pale face. Snape shrugged.

"Like I'd even want to kiss you," Hermione objected, clearly disgusted. "It's not my fault we're stuck here!"

"Yes it is. You bumped into me, Granger!" Draco countered.

"What were you doing anyway?" Hermione continued sarcastically. "Waiting under the mistletoe for Pansy to jump you?"

"I'd rather kiss her than kiss you!"

Neither of them noticed the potions master retreat into the dungeons. Hermione turned bright red. She didn't think she was that unattractive, but then again, this was Malfoy, her sworn enemy. Maybe it was only right that he rather kiss Pansy 'The Pug' (as the Gryffindors so affectionately called her) Parkinson, than her.

"I'm not kissing you, Malfoy," she said, sighing, and leaning against the stone wall.

"I never said I wanted you to. In fact, I believe I just said the complete opposite."

Both Draco and Hermione made no move to kiss each other. They, in fact, made no move at all. They just stood there.

Potions ended, and everyone started to come out of the dungeons pointing and laughing at Draco and Hermione. Slytherins and Gryffindors alike joined in on the taunting and teasing. It seemed, for once, that Draco Malfoy was getting a taste of his own medicine. Everyone was laughing until Snape came out to usher them on to the next class.

"Professor Snape!" Draco called out before the teacher could walk away. "Is there anything we could do to get out of this?"

"The only thing I would suggest..." Snape began. The two students looked hopeful. "...would be to kiss each other and get it over with." He left them alone again.

Hermione rolled her eyes, refusing to look at Draco.

"Come on, Granger. I know you're just dying to kiss me," the Slytherin taunted. "You've probably been secretly wanting me for years." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively. "I promise I'll make it worth your while."

Hermione swallowed hard and closed her eyes to push back the tears. She hated this. She really did. This wasn't at all how she wanted this to happen.

Sure, everyone at Hogwarts was under the impression that she had both Harry and Ron vying for her affections. Boy, was everyone else wrong. They were two busy with Quidditch and their 'girl of the week' to want anything to do with her.

Here she was, sixteen years old, and never once been kissed. She bit her lip and turned away, hoping Draco wouldn't see that she was trying not to cry.

His eyes widened as realization set in. "You've never been kissed, have you, Granger? What's the problem? Potty and Weasel too busy with each other to notice you?"

Hermione turned to him, enraged, and slapped him hard across the face. She left a bright red handprint on his otherwise pale skin.

He grabbed his cheek and gasped. "What the hell was that for?"

"Insulting my best friends. You've had it coming for a while, Malfoy," she spat, turning away again and crossing her arms over her chest.

They stayed that way all day.

It was well after dinner before anyone else approached the two students. Professor McGonagall walked up to them, her hands on her hips. "Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, there is half an hour until curfew. If the two of you are not in your respective dormitories by that time, your houses will be severely punished. You've both already lost a significant number of points today." She looked at her two students and almost felt sorry for them. "I suggest you fix this situation quickly."

Draco and Hermione glared at each other. McGonagall, having done all that she could, walked away.

Draco let out an exasperated sigh. He grabbed Hermione by the shoulder and spun her around. "Granger, let's just get this over with."

She seemed to realize what was coming and inched away. All this needed to be was a short peck, as far as Hermione was concerned. She wasn't even certain it was required to be on the lips. Surely Professor Dumbledore wouldn't force two students into a situation like this. What if it were two boys? Or two girls?

She shook her head. "We've already waited over twelve hours. What's the problem with throwing in a couple more?" Hermione laughed nervously. "I mean, you don't want to kiss me any more than I want to kiss you. So, since neither of us really want to kiss each other, I see no reason why we ought to. Why not just find some other way..."

"Shut up, Granger!" Draco leaned forward to close the space between them in an effort to stop her incessant rambling. His lips touched hers softly.

For some ungodly reason, Draco felt satisfied that he was giving her her first kiss. Not only did he now hold something over her forever, but he could show her how it was to be done. All other guys would surely pale in comparison to a Malfoy kiss.

The only problem was this: the moment Draco's lips touched Hermione's, Draco lost all sense of comprehension. All that he could think of was the feel of lips on lips. It was the sweetest taste in the world.

Suddenly, Hermione pulled away, her face blushing furiously. She turned around and began to walk away. "Thanks," she muttered as she left. When she was just out of sight, she touched her fingertip to her mouth. Did she actually enjoy kissing Malfoy?

Draco stood under the mistletoe motionless. He watched her leave, a strangled expression on his face. He couldn't explain what had just happened. Kissing Hermione was nothing at all like he had anticipated.

He would just have to do something about it.

***

The next morning at breakfast, Draco couldn't seem to stop thinking about Hermione and the kiss he had shared with her the night before. As soon as he made it to his seat at the Slytherin table, Pansy attached herself to his arm. She was moaning rather obnoxiously and very loudly about how dreadfully horrible it was that Draco had to kiss the 'stupid, ugly mudblood.'

"Don't call her that!" Draco practically screamed, pushing her away. "She's not ugly," he continued, muttered.

Everyone at the Slytherin table seemed to hone in on him at that exact moment, having heard exactly what he said. Draco had never defended anyone before. Let alone a Gryffindor. And a Muggle-born.

"Malfoy, 'not ugly?' Really? What did she do to you?" Goyle wondered, shoving a piece of toast in his mouth. "Ship you a wub potion or sumfing?"

"No!" He countered. "Of course not. Why would you say that?"

"Oh no! Wittle Draky has a crush," Pansy whimpered, batting her eyelashes at him innocently.

Millicent soon joined in on the teasing. "Draco, what happened? You could do better."

"He could do worse too." Crabbe snickered. "After all, there is still Potter to worry about."

Blaise pounded on the table excitedly. "Oh, oh I got it!" he exclaimed. "Malfoy's only using her so he can get into Potter's pants. Brilliant, really."

Millicent gaped overdramatically. "Draco? Coming out of the closet? You would have thought?"

"And to think I've been pining over a queer for these last six years," Pansy added. She and Millicent started giggling.

"And he loves Hogwarts Golden Boy of all people." Goyle started shaking with laughter. Soon, the entire Slytherin table, first years and seventh years alike, were howling at Draco, whose pale face was slowly reddening in embarrassment.

At last, he couldn't take it anymore. "I DO NOT LIKE HERMIONE! I DO NOT LIKE POTTER! I AM NOT GAY! LEAVE ME ALONE!" He fell back into his seat, arms crossed and pouting.

The entire Great Hall fell completely silent. Hermione was the only one who noticed Draco's use of her first name. Her face formed a small 'o,' and her eyes widened. She looked up toward the Slytherin table and met Draco's cold gaze.

He blushed slightly and looked away, not meeting her eye for the rest of the meal.

Hermione was hurrying down to the Potions dungeons, having left her Arithmancy book there after class. She had homework over the weekend that needed to be done. Everyone had already headed to the Quidditch pitch. Ravenclaw was playing Gryffindor, but Hermione wasn't in the mood. Her mind was still reeling over the kiss she had shared with Draco. She blushed in remembrance.

Ron and Harry had been talking about Quidditch all week. Hermione was really tired of it. In fact, she was so tired, that all she wanted to do was spend some time alone in her dorm studying. That way, she had the entire weekend free for Hogsmeade.

Hermione was a few feet outside the room when a hand shot out from the shadows and pulled her toward the wall. She found Draco staring down at her, his hand clasped on her arm. "Malfoy, get off me!" she yelled, struggling to get away but realizing her feet were firmly planted on the ground.

She looked up slowly, only to find a piece of mistletoe hanging above them. "Is this some kind of sick joke, Malfoy?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, releasing her from his grasp. "Would you believe me if I said I just needed an excuse to get you to kiss me?" She gasped, unable to find the words. "You know you want to." He lowered his face to meet her gaze.

"You flatter yourself," she managed to spit at him.

Draco genuinely looked hurt. "Sorry, Granger. I didn't know you felt that way." His cheeks reddened. He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. His lips only brushed against hers for a split second, but it was enough. He immediately pulled away. Without realizing what she was doing, Hermione reached out to stop him.

"Draco, wait!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him back underneath the mistletoe. He looked surprised. "I'm sorry." She sputtered, earning another very surprised expression to form on his face. She bit her lip. "Did you really want to kiss me again?"

He sighed. "I - I don't know. It was an impulse." Draco stuttered, trying to find the right words. "You were walking past, and I just grabbed you..."

"I don't know you at all, Draco," Hermione admitted, shaking her head. "All I know is what I see: a stuck-up, rich, spoiled brat, who had been doing everything he can to make my life a living hell. If what you're saying is true, and you expect me to forgive you for everything you've done, you're sorely mistaken. I do not believe that people can change overnight." She took a deep breath. "I don't know what you want from me. I don't know if this is just some ploy to either get me in bed or humiliate me, or both, so I can't do anything right now."

Draco paused momentarily at the mental image of Hermione in his bed wearing very little. He shook the thought away. "I don't know what I'm doing," he admitted quietly.

They fell into silence, neither of them moving, and not necessarily because of the magic holding them there.

Hermione finally looked up at Draco. "I did want to thank you, though."

"For what?"

"My first kiss," she confessed, looking away. "I admit I wasn't very happy that it was going to be you. But it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." She scrunched up her nose. "Not that I enjoyed it, mind you. I'm just happy that I was kissed before graduation, though I could think of a few different people I'd rather kiss..."

"Hermione," Draco interrupted her. She frowned at him. "Shut up."

His lips were on hers in an instant. She didn't have a chance to react. Draco wrapped his arm around her waist to draw her closer, and his other arm snaked around to cup the back of her neck, allowing him for better access to her mouth. Hermione didn't know what to do with her arms. Finally, she inexperiencedly managed to move them to his shoulders.

Draco deepened the kiss, opening his mouth and almost smiling at the small gasp of surprise that came from Hermione.

At last, Draco broke away, but he didn't back up. Instead, he replaced his lips on the skin at the base of her neck. She closed her eyes and rolled her head back. "Draco, I..."

He cut her off by kissing her again. "Save me a dance at the Christmas Ball."

Hermione opened her mouth to object, but Draco placed a finger on her lips to silence her. Finally, she nodded her consent. "Fine, I will." She gave him a weak smile, a quick kiss on the cheek, then walked away.

Draco smirked to himself. She didn't know what she was getting into. His face turned into a frown. He didn't know what he was getting himself into either.