A/N: Thanks for the reviews!! Nothing interesting to say today, so on with chapter 22.

Disclaimer: (Sigh) I have to write this again? I own nothing, except the plot.

Chapter 22 – I Don't Want to Play

Finding the letters had sparked Hermione's curiosity, especially the last one! First of all how did Snape know what had happened between her and Malfoy? 'This is history repeating itself' what does that mean? No matter how curious she was she had come to a conclusion, she would have to stay away from Malfoy.

Obviously, it would only hurt them both in the end. Not that she minded him getting hurt; he had hurt her after all. He had known about this bet all along and didn't tell her! The least he could have done was stay away from her completely.

Hermione's night was restless; it was her turn on the bed, as she refused to share with that unbearable ferret. At around 7:00 am, she dragged herself out of bed taking a cool, refreshing shower to wake herself up. Before retreating to the lounge she checked the calendar realizing it was December 24. How she wished she was at the burrow with the Weasley family, she sighed as she left the room.

As she entered the lounge she walked into something large, she looked up into the smirking face of Draco Malfoy. She glared at him, and moved away quickly. She had decided not to talk to him after reading the letters.

"Watch where you're going," she snapped, she was tired and in no mood to deal with him.

"Whoa, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he laughed, but when she growled, his smile disappeared and he looked a tad scared.

"How could you not tell me something like this? I thought we had something obviously not! A relationship is about trust, how on Earth can I trust you. Obviously this isn't going to work," she burst out savagely. He leaned down and tried to silence her with a kiss, but she shoved him off roughly.

"Hey, I don't know what you're on about, but you're way out of line," he spat.

"I'm out of line! You're telling me I'm out of line? I'm not the one trying to get into a relationship when I'm betrothed!" His face paled, and his eyes widened in shock. Then there was a crash beneath them. They ran downstairs to see who or what made the disturbance.



"Who's there?" Hagrid called raising his crossbow from the doorway.

"Hagrid, thank goodness you're here!" Hermione cried happily. Malfoy stepped forward from behind her and Hagrid raised his crossbow again.

"Oh it's just you Mr. Malfoy," he said lowering it again.

"Don't get out of the doorway, or we'll get locked in, can you just give us a moment to get our things?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, but you two have gotta lot of 'xplaining to do," he replied as they hurried up the stair to get their trunks.

As soon as they were away from him Draco said, "Hermione, about before could you let me expl…"

"Explain, no I don't want an explanation Malfoy. All I want is for you to stay away from me. I

don't know what type of game you're playing, but I don't want to play it," she said quietly, and with that she slammed down the lid of her trunk and left him standing there.

"Hermione," Hagrid said quietly as she approached him, "Malfoy didn't try anything when you were looked did he?"

"No, don't worry Hagrid," Hermione said reassuringly patting his arm.

"Good 'cause if he did I'd tear his limbs off him," Hagrid growled. Malfoy chose that moment to walk in and Hermione snorted.

She cleared her throat and said, "Shall we go?"

"Right, yes," said Hagrid Holding the door as they exited to make sure they didn't get locked in again. The three of them trudged through the forest in silence making their way to the castle. Once inside the castle Hagrid lead them to Dumbledore's office.

"Ah Hagrid, is there a problem?" asked Dumbledore pleasantly.

"These two got locked in that darn cottage," he explained. Dumbledore looked at the two students who were refusing to look at one another and smiled. Dumbledore walked over to Fawkes' stand and sent him to bring both Snape and McGonagall to his office. Both arrived looking slightly confused.

"Well it seems two of your students have been locked inside the enchanted cottage within the forest, so I will leave it up to you to arrange their transport," was all Dumbledore said. He gave the two professors a meaningful look and they both nodded knowing their mission.

"Come along then," said Professor McGonagall as she led them out of the office. Hermione was relieved that they didn't ask any questions about how they had gotten into the cottage in the first place. Once out of the headmaster's office McGonagall led Hermione upstairs to her office, while Snape took Malfoy to the Dungeons.

"Ms. Granger, before I send you off I would like to ask you a few questions," Professor McGonagall said.

"Yes, Professor," replied Hermione.

"I know the background of the cottage you were trapped in. What I would like to know is how you got in the cottage, if its entrance is in the forbidden forest?"

"Well, I was in the carriage on the way to the Hogwart's Express, but it went out of control, leading me into the forest. This also happened to Malfoy, when we left the carriages we heard centaurs coming so we ran into the cottage," she explained quickly.

"Very well Ms. Granger, I trust there were no mishaps while you were staying there," said McGonagall. Hermione shook her head. "Well, I have no further questions for you, so help yourself to some floo powder."

"Thank you, Professor," replied Hermione as she grabbed some floo powder and stepped into the flames saying, "The Burrow."



"Draco, I have warned you many times to stay away from Ms. Granger. Now I would like you to promise me that nothing happened while you were trapped in that cottage," said Snape.

"No, nothing happened," lied Draco, but Snape wasn't fooled. All of a sudden images began flashing before Draco's eyes: Hermione spraining her ankle, him healing her, their kiss in the lounge, waking up next to her. But Snape had clearly seen enough. When Draco looked back up it was to see Snape looking startled.

"Draco, you didn't. What I mean to say you and Ms. Granger didn't…" he stuttered.

"What! No of course not," Draco said quickly.

"If it wasn't for Ms. Granger's good morals I would find that hard to believe," sighed Snape relieved.

"Now hurry up and floo home, your mother will be worried sick," Snape said as he handed him a container of floo powder.

The last thing Snape saw before he returned to his work was Draco spinning away in the flames, off to Malfoy Manor.

THE END

(just kidding)

They're out of the cottage! Don't worry there is still more to come!