"How about a charity carnival?" Professor McGonagall mused aloud, pacing the empty headmaster's office, her mind racing with ideas. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat around the desk, eager to contribute to the cause.
Ron's eyes lit up. "A kissing booth! That's what we need. It'll be hilarious and it'll raise loads of galleons!"
Hermione rolled her eyes at his juvenile suggestion but couldn't help the blush that crept up her neck. "Ron, that's a bit... personal, don't you think?"
"Oh, come on, Hermione," Harry said with a grin. "It's for charity. Plus, you know everyone would love to kiss you."
Hermione's cheeks grew hotter. "What about you two?"
Ron and Harry exchanged a look, and without missing a beat, Ron said, "We'll do it, too!"
Professor McGonagall, who had been quietly observing the exchange, raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you three are willing to participate, I suppose it could be quite the attraction."
The planning for the carnival was swift and thorough. Banners were hung, games were organized, and the Great Hall was transformed into a whimsical wonderland. The kissing booth, a grandiose contraption adorned with pink and gold streamers, was placed at the center of the festivities, drawing curious glances from the students and staff alike.
The day of the event arrived, and the Golden Trio found themselves meandering through the bustling crowd, their laughter mingling with the joyous shouts and clanking of coins from the various games. They sampled the treats from Hagrid's stall, played a few rounds of darts with a roaring dragon's head, and even tried their hand at a magical ring toss. The atmosphere was electric with excitement, the warmth of the sun outside only adding to the jovial spirit within the castle walls.
Their stomachs filled with butterbeer and sugar, the trio couldn't help but feel a tinge of nervousness as they approached the kissing booth. It was a simple concept, really—knock down a row of bottles, and the person behind the booth would give you a kiss. But knowing that they were the ones who would be doing the kissing made it feel like anything but simple.
Hermione took a deep breath and stepped behind the velvet curtain, her heart racing as she slipped the blindfold over her eyes. Harry and Ron followed suit, their laughter subsiding into anticipatory silence. The line outside grew longer as eager participants waited for their chance to kiss the heroes of Hogwarts. The air was thick with the sweet scent of cotton candy and the faint whiff of nerves.
The first few kisses were light and chaste, mostly from giggling first-years and shy teachers who whispered their thanks before scurrying away. Hermione couldn't help but wonder who was behind each pair of lips and hoped, with every beat of her heart, that Severus Snape would be next. She had nurtured a secret crush on him for years, despite his stern demeanor and complicated past. His sacrifice had revealed a different, more vulnerable side to him, and she found herself drawn to the depth of his character.
As the line grew, so did the tension. The whispers grew louder, and Hermione could feel the anticipation building. Her thoughts swirled with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Would he come? Would he kiss her? The minutes felt like hours as she listened to the shuffle of feet and muffled conversations outside the booth.
Then, a sudden hush fell over the crowd. A pair of firm hands gripped the velvet curtain and pulled it aside, the material brushing against her skin as if charged with a silent electricity. Before Hermione could even process the sudden change, she felt the warmth of another person's presence, and then...
The kiss. It was different from the others—stronger, more intentional. She knew immediately that it was Severus Snape. His lips lingered against hers, sending a thrill down her spine. He tasted faintly of bitter potions and something uniquely him, something that made her heart race in a way she had never felt before. The kiss was over all too soon, leaving her gasping for air.
Severus took a step back, and she heard the rustle of his robes as he reached out and gently removed her blindfold. Hermione's eyes snapped open, and she found herself looking into his piercing gaze. For a moment, she was lost in the depths of his eyes, unable to form words. The crowd had gone quiet, watching the intimate scene unfold before them.
"Miss Granger," Severus said, his voice low and serious, "I couldn't stand the thought of anyone else kissing you here today. I had to be the one."
Hermione's heart was in her throat, her eyes locked on his. She felt her cheeks burning as she searched for the right words. "Severus, I-"
He cut her off gently, taking her hand in his. "Hermione, I know this isn't the most conventional place for a confession, but I've had feelings for you for quite some time." His grip tightened, and she could feel the warmth of his hand against hers. "I've seen the way you look at me, and I thought... perhaps you felt the same."
Her heart skipped a beat. She had never imagined that her quiet admiration could be reciprocated. "Severus, I..." she began, her voice trembling with emotion.
He squeezed her hand, urging her to continue. "I know it's sudden, but I've held this in for too long. I need to know if there's a chance for us." His expression was earnest, the usual sneer replaced by a vulnerable hopefulness.
Hermione took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words and the eyes of the spectators pressing down on her. "Severus," she managed, her voice a soft whisper, "I've... I've felt the same way." The admission came out more readily than she had expected, as if her heart had been waiting for this moment to reveal its true feelings.
A ghost of a smile played upon his lips, and she saw a spark of hope flicker in his dark eyes. The crowd around them had gone silent, as if they had been painted into the very scene unfolding before them. The only sounds were the distant laughter from the other carnival games and the occasional pop of a balloon.
Without another word, Severus tugged gently on her hand, pulling her out from behind the booth and through the throng of onlookers. The world around them seemed to blur as he whispered the incantation for Apparition, and in a heartbeat, they were gone. The crowd gasped in surprise, the sudden absence of the couple leaving a vacuum of shock and whispers in their wake.
They reappeared in a secluded corner of the Hogwarts grounds, a place Hermione knew well from her many solitary walks. It was a small, overgrown garden, hidden by a tangle of ivy and forgotten by time. The sunlight dappled through the leaves, casting a warm glow over the two of them as they stood there, their hands still entwined.
Severus's grip was firm, as if he was afraid she might vanish if he let go. Hermione looked up at him, her eyes wide with wonder and a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Why?" she finally asked, her voice barely audible.
He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "It started when you visited me in the hospital wing, after the war," he said, his voice low and earnest. "You were one of the few who came to see me, who talked to me like I was... human."
Hermione felt a lump form in her throat. "Really?" she whispered. "I had no idea."
Severus nodded, his expression softening. "You brought me back to the world, Hermione. After the war, I was lost. The things I had done..." He trailed off, his gaze drifting to the ground. "But every time you visited, every time we talked, I felt like maybe I could change."
Without waiting for a response, he leaned in and kissed her again, this time more tenderly. His lips moved against hers, and she felt the years of pain and solitude melt away. When he pulled back, Hermione's eyes searched his, finding a warmth she had never seen before. "I've had a crush on you since then as well," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
Severus's expression grew serious, and he took a deep breath. "Hermione, I know I don't have much to offer, but I've come to realize that happiness isn't something we should ignore." He paused, looking into her eyes intently. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
Hermione's heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. She had never expected this moment to come, especially not at a charity carnival. But as she looked into Severus's eyes, she knew that she had found something real, something that could potentially fill the void she had felt for so long. She nodded, a smile blossoming across her face. "Yes, Severus. I'd like that."
Their kiss was gentle and lingering, the kind that promised more than a fleeting moment of happiness. When they finally pulled apart, Hermione felt a warmth spread through her, chasing away the lingering shadows of doubt and fear. They held each other, their hearts beating in sync, as the reality of their newfound relationship began to set in.