Recap:

"Alright. But think about it. And try talking to her, instead of yelling at her. I don't know if you've noticed, but that never works. Especially with you."

"Whatever Granger. Stay out of my business." And then he was gone. And she was completely confused.

Chapter 5: The Forbidden

Now that Hermione and Ron were engaged, and it was official to everyone else, she thought that things would begin to change. Ron would be more attentive, more loving, more like a boyfriend than a best friend. But it seemed, more than ever, he was the same boy she'd known since first year.

Just a boy.

Both her and Ron's parents had been ecstatic at the news. They thought it was "about time" he proposed. Everyone knew that they were meant to be together. Everyone, that is, except for Hermione, who was beginning to recycle her doubts, only now they were tenfold. They were so much worse simply for the fact that she knew there was absolutely nothing she could do to permanently change things. That had been proven only one day after his proposal, and then it was back to her sitting around while him and Harry talked and talked away like girls.

And when Harry wasn't around—because, she thought bitterly, he was so good to Ginny and spent quality time with her—there was no romance, no spice, nothing of what had been there in the beginning, nothing of what she needed so desperately.

But the worst part was, that when she felt down, she found herself thinking about her detentions and how they weren't so bad. In fact, they were better than sitting around like a throw pillow. She actually interacted with another human being in detention. The thought was quite a bit more than frightening—she didn't tell a soul; not even Harry. Not that detention was wonderful. It was downright miserable, but at least she wasn't ignored. Though, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she and Malfoy had been very pleasant to one another for the past week or so since that strange night of detention when she tried to help him. They seemed to be handling each other's company rather well. There was no fighting and hardly a handful of glares.

Professor McGonagall was very much impressed with this change and therefore decided to cut two days off of their sentence, though she wondered how long the calm waters would last. And tonight their assignment would definitely put some strain on them. Then again, that was the point. To push them as far as possible, yet still have them remain civil.

And, so far, the plan was going much better than she thought.

"Well, they're getting easier," Hermione said, knowing very well that this was exactly what Malfoy had been dreading the entire time. They were going into the Forbidden Forest. Alone.

"This is against school rules," he stammered as they walked through the grounds towards the entrance of the forest.

"That's what you said six years ago," she laughed, holding their only lantern just slightly lower to spook him a bit more. Oh, she thought, this is going to be too much fun!

"And it's still true." He had originally wanted the lantern, but, after Hermione giggled at him, he jabbed it into her stomach and trudged on ahead. It took her nearly a full minute to catch up to him, and when she did her laughter was still not under control. "What exactly is it that we need to get?" he groaned, pulling his cloak tighter, as if it would somehow protect him.

"No clue," she said with a shrug. "McGonagall just said we have to follow the map to find the centaurs. They're expecting us and we have to take whatever they give us."

"And what about…" He trailed off, looking away.

"What about what?"

"What about the other…things in the forest?"

"Oh geez Malfoy," she half scoffed, half laughed. "Really, you need to grow up. We're both very successful with magic. If anything happens we can ward off whatever it is long enough to escape."

"Was that a compliment, Granger?" He smirked, looking over at her.

"I'm stating the obvious," she sighed, rolling her eyes. "Now hurry up. McGonagall said this counts as two detentions because it's going to take so long. I don't want it to be longer than it has to be."

Malfoy only huffed and picked up the pace. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he wanted to spend time out here with her.

Or maybe…

His frown curled into a devious smirk just as they passed into the Forbidden Forest, his face completely shadowed by the trees.

"Good job, Granger," he sighed. "You got us lost."

"I got us lost?" she snapped back, wanting to throw something sharp and heavy at him. But the ground was bare. "I was following the damn map, you moron!"

"Give me that." He snatched it from her hands before she could stop him. "Where are we?"

"There." She jabbed the map at the place they should be, seeing as she followed the map exactly. There was no reason, whatsoever, that they should be lost. "We started here," she said, pointing to the forest's entrance, "and we followed this path exactly. There should be a marker on this tree, but there's nothing, and the path forks but there's no fork on the map. Professor McGonagall must have given us the wrong map by mistake."

"Or," he said, grabbing her attention, "she gave us the wrong map on purpose, so we would get lost and have to work together to find our way back."

"Malfoy, that's insane. Why would she—"

"Think about it, Granger. If the centaurs really needed to give us something that badly then they would have found us by now. And if you followed the map just like you said then there should be a marker and no fork, but there is." He handed the map back to her and crossed his arms arrogantly over his chest, lifting his head just a little higher. "I don't think we're here to get anything. This task is just a big waste of time. We're going to be here all night."

"But…but," Hermione stuttered, checking and re-checking the map. "That's impossible. I mean…No. I don't believe she would do that to us."

"Oh really?" he laughed. "What's the whole point of these detentions?" She looked at him blankly. For once she didn't have the answer. Though it was more like she was too shocked to say the answer. "To get us to get along," he answered for her. "And what better way to do that then to throw us in the Forbidden Forest and get us lost? We'll have to cooperate to get out."

"She could have told us," Hermione huffed, finally accepting what he was saying.

"Neither of us would have agreed to it, and you know it." He trudged on ahead, leaving behind both the useless map and the much-needed lantern. It took a few moments, but Hermione finally caught up with him, grabbing his arm and whirling him around to face her. "What in the name of Merlin do you think you're doing, mudblood? Haven't I told you not to touch me!"

"Shove off," she spat, slamming the lantern into his gut. "Here. If you think you can get us out of here then you lead the way…Coward."

"Excuse me? What was that last part Granger?"

"I said—" But at that moment the forest and its many unknown and unwanted creatures decided to voice their presence; with a great howl and a shuffling of twigs and leaves that couldn't have been more than twenty feet away. Hermione was so busy trying to figure where the noises came from that she almost didn't notice that Malfoy held her arm tight against his chest, his eyes searching wildly about. ""Big bad Slytherin scared of a creepy noise?" she laughed. But her small victory was short-lived. The noise grew louder, and Hermione could have sworn she felt something breathing on the back of her neck. This time it was her turn to jump.

"Not so tough yourself, Gryffindor," Malfoy shot back, his hands still clutching her arm. She was about to say something to him about it when the noise sounded again, only this time it was softer, farther away.

Simultaneously they let out deep breaths. They were safe; for now.

"Well it's nice to know that I have a big strong man to keep me safe," Hermione grumbled, pulling roughly away from him.

"Why on earth would I try to save you?"

"Uh! I knew it!" she snapped, whirling on him, her wand out and stuck deep into the flesh of his thick neck. "I knew you couldn't go all this time without pissing me off completely! Why? Why! Why can't you ever just keep your big, stupid, pure mouth shut!"

"And why can't you control your temper?" he countered calmly; nothing ticked a person off more than speaking in a low, calm voice when they were screaming at the top of their lung, miles beyond their breaking point. He didn't even bother reaching for his wand, which he very well could have done. He knew she would never risk expulsion; not again anyway.

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Her face was a very unflattering shade of purple.

"Do it," he egged on, sticking his neck out so her wand went in even further. "Do it."

"I will," she hissed through her teeth, her fingers shacking and tightening around the sturdy piece of wood.

"Then do it."

"I will."

"Come on, mudblood. Show me what a great witch you are!"

"I will! I—" But she was too late, and in a flash she was on the ground, her wand feet away from her. Malfoy loomed over her, smirking in that cocky way only he can do. His wand was out, pointed directly at her heart. Whatever he meant to do, she doubted he would freeze up the way she had.

"Now who's lost their horse?" he laughed, shaking his head as if he were disappointed. "You really thought you could over-power me, Granger? Really? Because it looks to me—"

With a heavy thud and a loud oomph, Malfoy came crashing down on top of Hermione. She wasn't about to take his insults lying down. All he needed was one good kick in the shin and—wham!—he was down for the count. The only problem, however, was his position. And instead of climbing off her immediately, he chose to scream in her face, the weight of his entire muscular body pressed down on her. She could hardly breathe.

"How dare you!" he hissed, glaring directly into her eyes. His nose was almost touching hers, and he smelled wonderful, the way a man should smell. Hermione found it difficult to think of anything but his scent. After a few moments she regained her senses and head-butted him as hard as she could. He rolled off of her, grabbing his forehead as if it were bleeding. But the fight wasn't over yet. She snatched up her wand and climbed on top of Malfoy's prostrated body, sticking its point once more into his neck. "Not this again," he chuckled, trying to mask the incredible throbbing pain in his head.

"Shut up," she demanded, her teeth clenched so hard she thought surely they would break.

Malfoy would never admit it, but the raging fiery anger in her eyes actually gave him pause. He thought for sure that she would go through with it this time. He had pushed her too far and now he would pay for it. But instead of doing the smart thing, which was apologize so they could get out of the forest, he lifted his head, feeling at all too familiar sting as her wand drove ever further.

"Come on Granger," he said. "This is ridiculous. The same thing over and over. I know you want to do it, so just do it."

Her eyes narrowed and she adjusted her grip on her wand. When he jerked his head towards her, their noses touching this time, she didn't flinch.

"You've hurt me for the last time," she whispered, her voice trembling. And inside she was screaming, Hurt him! Hurt him! Curse him! Do it! Now!

"I hardly think so," he said, his voice just as low, and very husky, the way two lovers talk to each other in bed. His gorgeous blue eyes were calm and focused. Hermione found herself mesmerized by them and she almost—almost—leaned in. What she didn't know, however, was that those same thoughts were coursing through his mind as well. And so, seeing the admiration in her eyes, Malfoy closed the gap between them, their lips coming together for the first time; a perfect fit.

Hermione's entire form stiffened immediately as Malfoy's tongue pushed to gain entrance into her mouth. And then, all at once, something in her burst and she dropped her wand, returning the passionate kiss tenfold. It took her several moments to realize what she was doing and who she was with. And in horror she scrambled off him, backing herself against a tree.

"Malfoy," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Yes?" he sighed, climbing to his feet.

"What…What the hell was that?"

The devious smirk returned to his face and once again he was pressed against her, his hands on the tree so there was no way for her to escape.

"A damn good kiss, that's what." But when he went to kiss her again, she jerked back, smacking her head against the tree's rough bark.

"But what does it mean? What—"

"It means, genius, that we both are in broken relationships and we're making the most of it. Now shut up. You're ruining the moment."

"But I'm not," she insisted, averting her eyes. "We're getting married!"

"You think I can't see you at meals? You're miserable."

"I am n—"

But she was silenced as his lips captured hers once again. And she knew, if his arms hadn't wrapped themselves around her waist, her knees would have buckled. This was the passion that she'd been craving for so long! This was what was missing from her and Ron's relationship! And what terrified her most of all was that it didn't seem strange, in the least, that it was Draco Malfoy that could ignite her so perfectly.

"I thought you hated me," she said, her forehead resting on his shoulder.

"Who says I like you?"

"Then what's going on?"

"What I said. We're making the most of misery."

"But I thought I was disgusting and you didn't want to touch a mudblood like me."

All he could do in response was laugh.

"You're dumber than I thought."

"Excuse me?"

"Reputation is everything in my family. I hate you because I have to. Blood means nothing to me."

"But I—"

"Hermione?" Her breath caught in her throat as her name rolled off his tongue for the first time. "Shut up and kiss me."

Two nights later, when they had detention again, Malfoy walked towards their assigned room with his head held just a bit higher. Ever since they returned from the Forbidden Forest, she wouldn't even acknowledge his existence. But he knew why. Once glance, one smile let slip, could ruin both their lives. When they were alone in detention things would be different. That night, after their initial kiss, they spent nearly another whole hour in the woods, until finally they forced themselves to go back.

When he walked into the room, Hermione was already there, her nose buried in a book. McGonagall was nowhere in sight.

"Where is she?" he asked, leaning his elbow on the desk she sat at.

"She'll be back in a minute," she said, not glancing up at him.

"Let's hope we'll have time to get her assignment done," he said suggestively, expecting her to look at him, a small, shy smile playing on her lips. But instead she only nodded and continued to read. "Hermione?"

"What?" Finally she looked up, but it was with the same contempt she'd always had.

"What's with you?"

"What's with me?" she scoffed. "What's with you?"

"Last night—"

"Last night," she sighed, rolling her eyes, "was nothing to me. I was angry with Ron, that's all." His eyes widened in anger. "What?" she laughed. "You—You thought there was something more there? Oh Malfoy! That's too much!"

"You stupid wench!" he hissed, grabbing her book and pitching it across the room. "How dare—"

"How dare I what? Hate you like I should for everything you've ever done to me? Really, Malfoy, what did you expect? We'd sneak around, stealing kisses, like Romeo and Juliet? You and Pansy really must be in a rut. I feel sorry for you."

"I-I-I," he stuttered, his fists clenching so hard his knuckles actually hurt. "You'll pay for this, mudblood!" He had just produced his wand, when Professor McGonagall came storming in, disarming him, her face red with anger.

"What's the meaning of this!" she demanded, glaring at both students. "You two were doing such a great job. What brought this on!"

"She—" Malfoy began, but cut himself short. No, there was no way he'd tell her.

"Well?"

They looked away from her heated glare, awaiting their inevitable punishment.

"Fine, don't tell me. Two more weeks. Here." She slammed a piece of parchment on the desk in front of Hermione and trudged from the classroom.

For a long while there was complete silence, and then, all of a sudden, Hermione broke into a fit of laughter.

"What the hell is so damn funny?" he yelled. He bent down to retrieve his wand, when Hermione stood and came around the desk, advancing towards him. "Well?" Without saying a word, she pushed him hard against the nearest wall, her eyes displaying none of the anger they held only moments ago.

"Now we have two more weeks," she whispered into his ear, sending shivers down his spine.

"What—"

"Take your own advice," she said. "Shut up and kiss me."

Well, well, well! They are bad, bad kids! What's going to happen when they start feeling guilty? Or will they?

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