Disclaimer: none of the characters are mine

After her last class Hermione began to make her way down to Hagrid's hut.  Harry and Ron had taken her bag and books back to the common room for her in case Hagrid had another journey into the Forbidden forest planned, which Hermione knew for a fact he wouldn't.  Ron had been less than happy about leaving her alone with Malfoy, how little he knew.

"We can come down with the invisibility cloak, just to keep an eye on that slime bag."

"I'll be fine Ron, Hagrid is there, and if he gets to close I have Fang."  But the look on Ron's face was still not a happy one.

"I don't trust him Hermione, just be careful, he might leave you in the forest as bait for some flesh eating…thing!"

"Thanks for the mental images Ron, and your concern, but I can handle myself."  And with that she had left him to go to detention.

Hermione walked slowly towards Hagrid's, her apprehension growing with each step, why did Malfoy have to do that?  Why couldn't he just leave her alone?  Many thoughts ran through her head, and before she knew it she was standing at the door knocking.  As the door opened, Hermione went to greet Hagrid, but the greeting stuck in her throat, substituted by a strangled squeak.

"Not the kind of welcoming I was expecting but never mind"

"Draco…I, uh…"

"Don't sound so surprised.  This is detention you know."

Hermione stood in the open doorway staring into the open space of Hagrid's home, her heart pounding and her stomach churning.  She couldn't go in, not while 'he' was there, she had to get away.  Backing away from the door she continued to stare into the hut, at Draco.  He stood in the doorway watching the emotions that crossed her face, a vacant expression plastered across his face, his stomach churned.  "Hermione…" She had to get away…She backed as far away as she could without turning…She had to leave…

"Hermione, yeh not going' in?"

Spinning around she found Hagrid staring at her from the bottom of the few steps.  Tears were in her eyes as she stood there still as a statue.  "I…I…uh…please don't make me Hagrid. I can't go in there."

"Course yeh can."  A smile beamed from behind Hagrid's big bushy beard.  "I'm right here Hermione.  It'll be fine."

She shook her head furiously.

"Yeh need to sort things out…with him!  Don' let him get to yeh lass, come on inside."

Taking her hand in his large grip, Hagrid led Hermione inside.  Malfoy sat at the table, Fang growling at him from the corner of the room.  Hermione sat down next to him.

"Righ' then!"  Hagrid said still standing.  "Detention.  You're detention is to sit here an' talk with each other."  Hermione stared at him, her eyes wide with fear.

"You can't be serious!"  Malfoy drawled.

 "Yep, I am.  Now for the passed few days yeh have both been acting very strange, now yeh are goin' to sit here an' work it all ou' whether yeh like it or not."

"Hagrid…please?"  Hermione pleaded.

"For how long?  You can't keep us here forever."  Malfoy said coolly.

"An' I don' intent to.  But yeh will sit here an talk till we come back, or I'll tell the Professor that your time in detention was not fulfilled up to my standard and I'll have yeh both back again until I can get yeh to talk to one another.  Righ', I'll leave yeh both to it.  Come on Fang." 

Hermione ran to the door, Hagrid and Fang standing at the bottom of the steps.  "Hagrid, you can't do this."

"It's detention, I choose wha' yeh do, an' this is it.  I expect you to speak to him Hermione, it will do yeh good, I promise."  Adding in a quieter voice that was meant for her only.  "We'll be right over there," he pointed to a small pen that held the Hippogriff Buckbeak.  "Yeh'll be fine.  Jus' talk to 'im."

Closing the door behind him, Hagrid left the hut, leaving Hermione alone with the one person she could do without.

"Are you really that scared of me?" 

Hermione turned away from the door, placing her back against it.  Tears were welling in her eyes still, though none broke free.  When was it going to stop?  She was exhausted from crying so much and she wasn't sure how much more she could take before breaking down entirely.  Maybe know was the time to be honest?

"Yes."  She whispered, hanging her head.  With her head bowed, Hermione failed to see the smile that spread over Malfoy's face.

"Why?"

"I don't know."  She laughed, a humourless laugh.  "I really don't know.  How can I love and fear someone so much, at the same time?"

Rising from the table, Malfoy crossed over to her, one arm going around her waist, the other around her shoulders.  He tried to pull her towards him, but her body was stiff as board.

"Don't do this!"

His mouth was by her ear as he continued to pull her closer.  "Do what?"

"Malfoy, please?"  Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Tell me why you are afraid of me."

"No!"

"Tell me!"

"Please…"

He kissed her neck, tightly embracing her.

"Why, Hermione?"

Pulling back slightly he saw the tears beginning to flow from her closed eyes.  He continued to kiss her, his lips tracing lines all over her face and neck, finally found their way to her lips.  "Tell me."  He whispered, before pulling her into a passionate embrace. 

Hermione lost all sense of reason as she lost herself in his kiss.  His power over her was so strong and she was too weak to fight it, she felt herself go limp in is arms.  No!  Her head was screaming in protest against the wants of her body, it had to stop; she had to stop.  Pulling her arms free from his tight grip she tried desperately to push him away, but he was still to strong for her.  Why did these situations have to keep repeating themselves?  They were stuck in a rut and it had to stop, she had to stop it.  Gathering up all of her strength Hermione pushed him away.  But she pushed him that bit too hard, he stumbled back, tumbling over one of Hagrid's large chairs as he went.  After a tumble and a roll he landed on his back on the floor.

"Oh my god!"  She rushed to his side.  "Are you okay?  I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it."  Offering her hand she tried to pull him up, he stayed where he was.

"Yes you did!"  He said quietly.

"It was an accident.  You wouldn't let go." 

"So you pushed me, so it was meant."

"I…it was…"

"It's fine, Hermione." 

Her stuttering stopped.  Malfoy pushed himself into a sitting position. 

"What?"

"We were never meant to be, a Gryffindor and a Slytherine?  I just didn't want to let you go, I still don't, but you have shown me that this cant be, we can't be.  We can't tell our friends, I can't tell my family.  This isn't a relationship; there are too many secrets and lies being told for this to be a relationship.  Us being together is too much trouble and I don't think I can take it any more Hermione, I really don't."

"So its over?"  Hermione couldn't believe her ears.  She still loved Malfoy, she knew that she always would, but he was right, their relationship was more trouble than it was worth.  All they were doing was hurting each other and their friends.

"Yeah, it's over."

"I do love you Draco…"

"Don't!  Don't tell me that you love me Hermione.  I don't think I could handle it.  But I do want you to know this…" He hesitated.

"What?"

"I was going to tell my father about us…the day you broke up with me.  I was going to sacrifice everything I knew and loved to be with you.  That's how much you meant to me, and still do mean to me.  I just realised that I was doing you more harm than good by trying to keep you.  We don't belong with each other."

"I know.  Thank you Draco."

"Things will go back to normal now, you do know that?"

"I wouldn't expect anything less."  Hermione smiled, a true smile, the first real smile that she had shown in a while.

Malfoy, unsteadily, got to his feet.  As he walked to the door he turned to look at her in the way he had become accustomed to, a look that wouldn't be allowed again after he walked out of that door.  "You know, it's strange."

"What is?"  Hermione hadn't mover from her position on the floor.

"It took you sending me arse over tip to realise that we were making a mistake, I hope I've done the right thing."

"We have, trust me."

Not answering, he continued out the door and down the steps.  Hagrid soon filled the open doorway.  "Hermione?"

"Hagrid."

"Is everythin' alrigh'?"

"Yeah, finally it is."  Looking up into his friendly, concerned face, she smiled.  "It is!"  She whispered to herself.

"It's finished?"

"It's finished!"

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A/N: k, sorry it took so long to complete but here it is finally finished. ;o) The end might not be liked by all as some people wanted them back together, but alas it was not meant to be, anyway, hope you enjoyed cos I have a few ideas for a sequel ;o) so fee back would be good please.  Flamers are welcome as it is nothing new for one of my stories to be torn apart, but just so you know flames will be used to light a bonfire for Bonfire night, which I missed cos I was in the pub, ;o( so I'll make my own, late as it is, but better late than never.  Anyway, later Terc xxx