Chapter 220: Sweetness under the Mistletoe

Mistletoe, as its name suggests, is a parasitic plant that grows on other trees.

It is evergreen, representing hope and fertility.

There is a popular saying in the UK, that is: No mistletoe, no happiness!

Even in the world of magic, it is considered as a traditional evil repellent, with great magical power, often hung by wizards in doorways to prevent bad luck or invasion of black magic. In addition, it had many other uses.

For example, in divination, the green branches of mistletoe are used for divination.

The juice of white or red berries it produces in winter is one of the essential ingredients for making the potion Felix Felicis, which can bring good luck to the user.

Mistletoe is also known as the "golden branch of life" in traditional Muggle history and culture.

It is said that on Christmas Day, as the girl passes or stands where the mistletoe hangs, the man next to her can climb up and kiss her.

Looking at the Christmas tree glittering in front of her eyes and the mistletoe hanging from it, somehow, Hermione suddenly remembered this old custom.

Hermione looked at Ivan, her eyes expectant and a little frightened.

She seemed to want Ivan to take the initiative. But if Ivan really was coming, she had no idea what to do.

"Let's find him, Hermione, I saw that hat fall here..." Ivan gasped, not noticing Hermione's strange reaction.

He raised his wand and whispered the Lumos Spell, and began to search for it in the dark alley. There was nothing on the ground. Ivan thought for a moment that when the hat fell, it might hang on the huge Christmas tree in front of him.

He looked up and looked the branches of the Christmas tree up and down.

"Ivan" Hermione called out softly, her heart pounding fiercely.

She remembered the resolution she had just made in the courtyard, that she should take the initiative and seize the opportunity tonight, and there was a perfect opportunity right in front of her.

"Did you find that hat...?" Hermione called, and Ivan hastily lowered his head and suddenly stopped as he was about to finish speaking.

Hermione was standing very close to him, and they looked into each other's eyes.

When their eyes met instantly, he even stopped breathing.

At that moment, Ivan was completely conquered by Hermione's beauty.

A strong and strange feeling arose inside Ivan. Perhaps this was the feeling of love. He decided that the girl in front of him was the one he liked, and he was ready to give everything to protect her, even his life.

Hermione blushed slightly and her bright eyes looked at Ivan, "Don't worry about that hat, you know this custom?"

"What a custom!" said Ivan, trying to concentrate.

"Yes, it's about mistletoe. You know, on Christmas Day, if a girl stood under the mistletoe, then..." Hermione couldn't say it, her face flushed to the extreme, she bit her lip softly, her face was full of shyness.

She felt her body heat up and burn all over.

She could hardly believe what she had just said.

In this way, it was as if she was asking Ivan to do that.

The candles on the Christmas tree glowed and the atmosphere became enchanting.

Along with Hermione's gaze, Ivan saw the large mistletoe above their heads. He instantly thought of the custom Hermione was talking about: on Christmas Day, as long as the boy and the girl are standing under the mistletoe, the boy can kiss her, and the girl has no right to refuse.

Hermione just spoke of this custom, did she want to herself....

Ivan lost himself in various fantasies, under the dim candlelight of the Christmas tree; he felt that Hermione was particularly beautiful, much more beautiful than usual.

Deep inside him, he felt a sudden urge to kiss Hermione.

An invisible field of air drew Ivan in. He took a deep breath and couldn't help but step forward and try to hold Hermione's small hand.

A sensation like that of a light electric shock came from his fingertips. Hermione shivered and did not resist.

Ivan felt her breath, the girl's peculiar, sweet scent.

His brain stopped working and all his thoughts became blanks.

He swallowed and leaned forward.

The distance between the two of them was like a ravine. He felt so tense that even his breathing stopped.

Ivan's right hand, from bottom to top, wrapped tightly around Hermione.

In his arms, Hermione dodged as much as she could, looking a little frightened, and then, as if remembering something, she stopped abruptly and closed her eyes tightly.

The long lashes of her eyelids trembled in the winter night's wind, and the merry Christmas melody came slowly from far away. Hermione's heart trembled as she drew closer.

Her body was tense, and she was filled with anticipation and nervousness.

The distance between the two of them was getting closer and closer. Looking down at Hermione in his arms, Ivan made a decision, and then he closed his eyes, and his lips gently touched Hermione.

Her body trembled again, and in panic, she pushed him away forcefully.

Ivan didn't flinch this time. He felt he had kissed Hermione, a sweet, cool, very soft sensation, as if he were eating sugar.

Her lips were pure and refreshing.

Soon, he was immersed in this lovely feeling.

For a moment after pushing Ivan away, Hermione also had the strange sensation between her lips, she closed her eyes tightly and did not dare to open them. She felt the coolness of her mouth and the taste of Ivan's lips.

They both remained standing and did not move.

It was only for a second, but for both of them, it seemed like a century.

For anyone else, what they were doing would have seemed more like a light brush between their lips than a kiss, but for Ivan and Hermione, that was already an extremely difficult challenge.

Ivan could feel the tension in Hermione, who gritted her teeth and didn't let up.

He knew that at that moment, the boy should take the initiative, and Ivan was ready to take further action, but at that moment, Hermione shook him.

He was short of breath, avoided Ivan's eyes, bowed his head, and his little face was red....

"No, no, Ivan, we can't do this..." Hermione gasped, her eyes involuntarily moved elsewhere, she panicked and said, "I just saw the hat fall, I... I'll... I'll go get it."

When he finished, he turned his head and ran into the alley.

Ivan stopped, Hermione must have been nervous now, and he's the same. He didn't know if he should chase after her or what to say.

He started to think again. Since this started, it should happen properly.

This kind of half-baked behavior, for lack of better words, can only be described as being really awkward.