Thank you to everyone who asked about this story and was interested. I'm definitely still working on it and thought I'd give a quick update. Much love.

LCailan

Hermione's fingers gripped the sides of the wooden cart so tightly her knuckles were white. She shot Draco a scathing look.

"Remind me again why we can't just Apparate!" she called over the sound of the moving Thestrals. "You're awful at this, going way too fast and I can't stand travel on…any sort of animal!"

Hermione knew she sounded daft but her need to annoy Malfoy outweighed her sensibilities.

Draco grinned, eyeing her from the side as she maneuvered the cart along the small, uneven path through the thick greenery.

"Funny thing coming from the girl who escaped from Gringott's on a dragon!" laughed Draco as he made another turn on the path deep in the jungle. "I daresay, Granger! You're acting a bit ungrateful, aren't you?"

Hermione shot him a hateful look but said nothing.

"Besides," he continued easily. "There's nothing else out here but us, love, so if I'm going a bit too fast it will only get us to our destination-"

Draco stopped mid-sentence just as one of the large beasts yanked forward and let out a strange sound. Hermione was nearly thrown from the wagon as he tried to keep it from toppling over but in the end both Hermione, Draco and the wagon tipped sideways and tumbled off the path.

Hermione lay on the damp earth, stunned for a few seconds before scrambling to her feet to glare at Draco hatefully.

"I told you to be more careful!"

Draco was working to calm the thestrals before muttering an incantation under his breath which quickly righted the fallen wagon.

"Actually you didn't. I recall only your complaining."

Hermione glared at him furiously, hands on her hips.

"These animals aren't used to being on a sodding island, Malfoy! They aren't Muggle creatures for Merlin's sake! I can't believe someone hasn't gone after your father for animal cruelty! I'll have to contact someone at the Ministry when this horrid trip is over!"

Draco attempted not to smirk as he gazed on Hermione. Merlin, how he loved the woman! Everything about her – every incredible, irritating, luscious inch.

"Trust me, Granger, my father takes great care of any and all creatures in his possession. You'll find all his…what's the Muggle phrase? All his 'i's and't's are crossed? AS much as you loathe him, he hasn't broken any rules."

The cart tumbling had given Hermione quite a fright but she noted that now the cart was upright and the thestrals were calm once again, looking no worse for wear and she relented slightly.

"Fine," she snapped. "Let's just get going then. The sooner the better. I can't wait to get this over with and go home to Ron."

Once more what she had hoped would be an insult seemed lost on Malfoy who cheerily jumped back into the cart and glanced down at her, silver eyes gleaming.

"Watch for the snakes."

"What?"

"The snakes, Granger. Why do you think the animals bolted so? They have an aversion to snakes."

Draco tried not to enjoy the expression of sheer fright on Hermione's face as she leapt back into the wagon with great agility, glaring at him reproachfully.

"What the piss are snakes doing here?"

"It's a tropical escape," Draco pointed out. "There's bound to be an obligatory snake here and there, no?"

He lay the leading statement as what he hoped would be tempting bait for the lovely brunette at his side but much to Draco's surprise, Hermione only glared at him. Her cheeks were flushed from heat and her hair was a glorious, frizzy halo framing a face he couldn't remember not loving.

"I won't do it, Malfoy."

"Won't do what?"

"Argue with you! I know that's what you want and I won't do it. I won't go on about what a snake you are or how I'm used to dealing with them because I dated a snake. I'm smarter than that."

Draco shrugged with a well-worn nonchalance and turned his focus on the animals that continued their journey towards an unknown destination.

"You should have run it over," sniffed Hermione miserably.

"You wanted me to murder an innocent creature? You? The voice of all those poor, misunderstood creatures that you believe my father abuses? Come now, Granger, why would you wish death on it just for being a snake? It can't help what it is."

Once more the bait was set and Draco hid a grin as Hermione bit back a reply he simply knew she wanted to fire back at him.

"I know what you want me to think!" she retorted huffily. "And it's all a bunch of rubbish. Just because you were born a Malfoy doesn't mean you have to act like one! There's no reason on Earth why you had to choose to be such a selfish, evil prat!"

Draco laughed and the sound was full and rich.

"Ah, certainly I could never make you think anything you don't want to," he replied. "I've stopped trying long ago. But I still stand by what I've always told you; regret makes for a sad life. My choices have been made with a clear mind and I'm confident in who I am."

Hermione rolled her eyes dismissively.

"At least you've just confirmed that you're as stupid as that snake."

"And why? Because it was on the path and I wasn't careful enough to see it?"

"No, because it doesn't belong on the path and you think there's nothing wrong with being deceitful and evil!"

"Perhaps the snake, just like me, is mesmerized by your loveliness and couldn't help but be close to you."

Hermione's eyes widened and her face flushed. She had avoided looking directly at him since her arrival on the island but in that moment when her brown eyes met his silver ones she fought to squelch a sudden stirring in the pit of her stomach.

Stop it, Hermione. You've moved on, haven't you? You love Ron. He's good for you; you're good for each other. And you share a child.

Yes, Draco Malfoy was the worst sort of cad but she couldn't deny the visceral attraction she felt towards him. It was good that she had no intentions to actually act on her silly, hormonal response towards him.

"You know what, Malfoy? Stop the cart. I'll get out and lay on the path and you can run me over. I'd rather die than be subjected to any more of your lies and manipulations!"

Draco could not help but laugh merrily at her indignation.

"Granger, my dear, you must learn how to take a compliment!" he exclaimed.

Hermione glared at him darkly.

"And you, my dear," she mocked hatefully, "need to learn when compliments aren't welcome!"

After this Hermione fell into a stubborn silence and even Draco, quite persuasive when he wanted to be, could not get her to converse. It made for a boring remainder of their trip and for a long while the only sounds around them were the thestrals moving through the foliage, the creaking of the cart and the wildlife around them.

Hermione, on the contrary, found herself lulled into a sort of complacence. In the silence she didn't have to think about who she was with and why she was alone with him. The heat and the buzzing of insects were a sort of lullaby and she only realized she had fallen asleep when she was jolted awake by a bump on the path.

"Have a good nap?" asked Draco pleasantly glancing away from the thestrals to offer a half-smile which Hermione refused to return.

"Don't talk to me," she grumped.

"Ah, and I had so hoped your mood would improve with some rest."

"Well, it hasn't! And now I'm hot, sweaty and I need a shower!" she muttered with the sudden realization that her heavy clothing she wore had caused her to sweat heavily. And – she was certain – the humidity had long ago won the war with the riot of curls on her head. Unaware, she began to smooth her hands down along her amber-hued frizz.

"You look perfectly gorgeous," Draco stated giving her an approving glance. "Don't you worry about it."

"I'm not worried," She muttered irritably, blushing a bit at the fact that Draco had noticed her efforts at appearance. "But the fact remains that I need a shower and something to eat and I'm stuck with you for the next week in what's probably going to be some dilapidated shack in the middle of a jungle!"

As the words fell from her lips Hermione grasped what she was saying and turned to him, eyes wide.

"This place does have running water, doesn't it?"

Draco smirked.

"And toilets that flush too, darling. Who would have thought?"

Hermione ignored his mocking and only rolled her eyes.

"Well, it isn't like I trust you! After all, you're the one that practically kidnapped me and made me-"

Her words were interrupted by Draco's rich laughter once again. He maneuvered the cart through a patch of denser foliage before riding out into a wide swath of earth that led to a large clearing.

"While I would love to listen to you go on about how awful it is to be kidnapped, it appears that we've arrived."

Hermione forgot the insults that had sprung to her lips and turned her head towards the sight before them.

"We're here?" She squeaked, not seeing Draco's amused smirk.

The clearing was tiny and amply shaded by the tall jungle of trees that grew in swaths of green above them. The earth was covered with green grasses and in the middle stood a tiny structure. It was smaller – much smaller even than Hermione recalled Arthur Weasley's store shed to be. And much more run down. She was certain she could not fit inside let alone Draco and all her luggage.

"Home sweet home," sang Draco merrily as he hopped from the cart to gallantly offer his hand up to Hermione who shoved it out of the way in horror.

"Here? I refuse! I want to go back to my flat, Malfoy! You can't be serious about us staying in this dilapidated shack!"

Draco shrugged, hiding his smile and then motioned for her to step down from the cart.

"Why don't you take a closer look?"

Without thinking about it Hermione rushed forward, pushing Draco out of the way and the shack before her changed suddenly as magic seemed to shimmer in the thick, hot air. Before her stood a massive, sprawling home much more beautiful than she could remember Malfoy Manor ever being. It seemed impossible that a home so grand could stand on such a tiny space of land. It had a large wrapping porch, stately turrets that rose into the blue skies and grand windows that overlooked the clearing.

Hermione felt a sickly loathing stirring in the pit of her stomach. Of course Malfoy had to outdo himself.

"Just because this place looks impressive doesn't mean-

"So I've impressed you!" exclaimed Draco exuberantly and Hermione snapped her head to the side to look at him. For some odd, unexplainable reason Hermione saw genuine pleasure had painted across his features.

Why? Why does he care so much when he had a chance to make things right with us and refused?

She rolled her eyes.

"The only way you could impress me right now is if you dropped dead."

"Ouch, that sounds rather painful," replied Draco happily which infuriated Hermione further.

She watched as the tall, silver-haired man stepped up on the large, wooden porch and straddled the railing as gracefully as a cat. To his left there was a soft pop and Sinclair appeared, clutching a gold timepiece Hermione assumed was his portkey. With a wave of his wand and a rather disgruntled mutter Hermione's luggage appeared – and she was again reminded how foolish she had acted just to annoy Malfoy.

Rushing to the elder wizard's side she reached for a few of her bags with an embarrassed smile, not seeing Draco's self- satisfied grin.

"Let me help you with those," she said with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry I over packed."

"No need, Granger," Draco drawled from behind her still leaning against the wooden porch railings languidly. "We have elves for that."

The crazy-haired brunette whirled around.

"Don't you talk like that when I'm around!" she spat. "Don't you act like they are beneath you! I can't believe I have to be here with you in the middle of nowhere! I don't care how grand this estate is or how lovely this island is I'm still a PRISONER here, Malfoy. I'm a prisoner and I can't wait for this to be over so I can go home and be with the man I love, RONALD."

Her eyes blazed with fury and every inch of her hoped that her words would get to Malfoy, twist into his heart like a knife. Unfortunately she did not get the satisfaction for Draco remained on the porch watching her stoically, his expression unemotional.

"Actually," he said then, hopping back down to the ground. "I'm glad you brought that up. I do have one rule while you're a guest on my father's island."

Hermione's mouth dropped open.

"What? Are you mental? I'm a prisoner here and you're setting rules?!"

"Prisoner…guest, isn't all just semantics, isn't it?"

"Says you!"

"Anyway," continued Draco amicably. "Only one rule, Granger."

She put her hands across her chest, blowing a strand of curly hair off her sweaty forehead.

"Well, have out with it so we can move on," she muttered with an exasperated sigh.

"Come now, you'll have freedom to do as you please in a tropical paradise. You're on vacation! Away from that drab, boring place of employment you call the Ministry. Free food, free company…and no rules but one!"

Hermione wanted to murder Draco; she wanted to cast the most perfect, most powerful Unforgivable and watch him drop dead.

"Just tell me or shut up. I can't be around you another second."

He gazed at her evenly.

"You can't say Ron's name again while you're here."

"What?"

"And if you do," he continued. "I pick your punishment. Fair?"

She laughed with ridicule.

"No, it's not fair. You don't get to pick! I don't trust you; there is no way I'm agreeing to your stupid rule!"

Draco sighed and then relented, shaking his head with sympathy.

"Of course, well, truthfully I didn't think you would be able to. I thought you were a stronger woman than that but I suppose love does weaken people, doesn't it?"

She hated him – hated his soft tone and the patronizing words. Loathed him.

"Yes, I can!" she blurted thoughtlessly. "Of course I can! My life is so much more than some man, Malfoy! It isn't like I constantly blather on about Ron, is it? Speaking of Ron, there's no way he'd make anyone play such stupid games! Ron's an adult, he's mature, unlike you!"

Draco watched her with a calculating look on his face; a subtle hardening of his features could be seen each time Hermione said the other man's name.

"Truly, Granger. You're making a wonderful case for yourself, mentioning the 'R' word no less than three times in the last two sentences. Bravo."

Hermione instantly fell silent, her chocolate-colored eyes snapping angrily. For a moment the only sounds around them came from the lush jungle.

"What do I get out of this, Malfoy? You're so sure I can't do this, what do I get when I prove you wrong? I've always been smarter than you, after all."

Draco's face brightened at her words and he scratched his slightly stubbled chin thoughtfully.

"Ah, I love negotiations!" he said exuberantly. "Let's see…if you can refrain from saying the 'R' word for exactly twenty four hours from right now I'll have Sinclair take you back to London tomorrow."

Hermione's eyes widened.

"Really?" she asked skeptically. "Just like that?"

"Just like that, love. That's how sure I am that you'll fail."

"Don't be so sure," she replied hotly. "I'll prove you wrong, you'll see. And what's the catch?"

Draco's eyebrows raised.

"So untrusting!"

"The catch, Malfoy."

"The catch is that if you fail, you stay. And you accept any punishment I deem appropriate for your grievous transgression," he finished with a satisfied smile.

Hermione took a deep breath and held it. It seemed the deal of a lifetime; just twenty four hours and certainly she could do that! She didn't have to mention Ron's name at all; she could simply think of him and how quickly she would be back in his arms. It was too easy…suspiciously so but…

What do I have to lose? I'm stuck with him either way, at least for an entire day.

Draco cocked his head.

"So…do we have a deal?"

"Deal," she agreed sticking out her hand brusquely.

"Brilliant," he replied taking her hand in his. He held it for a fraction longer than necessary and Hermione tore her eyes away from his, feeling the old, familiar pull she always felt when around him.

The thestrals began to move restlessly behind them and Draco finally pulled away from her, nodding his head towards the massive property.

"Why don't you go ahead inside and make yourself at home? I'll tend to the animals and make sure everything is in order. Sinclair can help you with your luggage."

Hermione waved this off.

"Don't bother," she said in a tone that was happier than he had heard it since her arrival. "I won't be staying long, after all!"

She moved ahead of Draco, stepping up on the wooden porch and pushing the door to the house open. The foyer was cool despite the large windows that let in the late afternoon sunlight. It smelled of parchment and dust, not an unpleasant scent at all for Hermione. The floors were dark wood and shone from frequent care, bare in some place and draped with expensive looking Turkish rugs in other places. The front foyer led in two different directions and Hermione could see a dining area to the left and a spacious living area to the right. And beyond that doors could be seen to rooms beyond.

Before here was a large, opulent staircase that led up to the dimness above. In spite of not wanting to be, Hermione find herself curious.

"Is there a library?"

Draco smiled.

"Indeed. If you go through the living area and beyond it's located in the eastern most rooms. You'll find the Malfoy family has garnered quite a collection of books over the years."

The silence that followed was tense and thankfully, Draco spoke again.

"You'll find the bathrooms more than adequate. I can show you the upstairs."

"Don't bother. I plan on spending the day in the library and then Sinclair can take me back to London tomorrow afternoon. You do…whatever it is you do when you're here," she said dismissively as she began to slowly walk up the grand staircase towards the shadowy landing above her.

Unfortunately she found that Draco was following her.

At the top of the stairs Hermione found herself in a large, darkened hallway. It was warmer here and the air was still and scented with jasmine and wood polish. There were closed doors on either side of the staircase but at the end of the hallway she spied a large bathroom and a tiny glimpse of a huge, claw-footed tub.

It looked like heaven.

I'll take a nice, long bath and then find a good book, lock myself in my room and stay there all night. And tomorrow I'll go home and I can pretend none of this ever happened.

She walked down the hallway slowly now, admiring the paintings that adorned the walls. She wasn't aware of the tall, silver-haired snake that watched her closely. Even now, after hours of travel and the humid, heated air, Hermione Granger still managed to captivate all of his senses. After their breakup it had made sense to resist the natural pull he had towards her, to pretend that it hadn't matter that she had ended things between them. He had lied to himself for a time but had come around to the conclusion he knew was true in the end: she had ensnared him – all of him – and there was no way to be free of her.

Not that Draco wanted to be – she was simply too divine and succumbing to all he felt for her was a singular delight and he had been eager to submit. Now all Hermione had to do was come to the same conclusion and all would be right in the world.

But that part…would be challenging, Draco knew. He had already messed up once; he had allowed his loyalty to his family to almost win out over his desire for Hermione. After all, his pursuit of her had begun with his father's illness. But now…it had become something else, something much, much deeper. And something he was working towards – the first and only thing that did not come easy to the youngest Malfoy.

It's going to be worth it.

He would convince Hermione of what he knew to be true; they belonged together – there was no other man as well suited to her as he was. All she had to do was admit it…and getting there would be the fun part.

"The bedroom is right at the end of the hallway," he began suggestively.

Hermione whirled around with a tiny gasp.

"Bedroom? Isn't…isn't there more than one?"

Draco pushed her gently towards the open bathroom.

"Just there, next to the bathroom, Granger," he said, purposely ignoring her words.

She stopped at the door and turned on him.

"If you think we're sharing a bedroom, you've gone mental! How could I ever explain to Ron that I had to-"

She gasped in sheer disappointment upon the realization of what she had just said. Draco wanted to laugh in elation but instead quickly glanced at the golden watch on his wrist.

"That's five minutes and twenty-six seconds, Granger!" he said with pride. "Longer than I thought you'd last. Brilliantly done!"

Shaking with a mixture of disappointment and rage, Hermione barreled into the bedroom and blindly yanked at the first object she could see, turning around and throwing it towards Draco with all her might.

"I hate you!"

The screech was accompanied by a thud as one of the knick-knacks Narcissa Malfoy kept in the guest bedroom sailed over Draco's head and hit the wall next to the bathroom. A bookend sailed towards him a few seconds later but the blond wizard was ready this time; he put up a non-verbal shield to protect himself from the wrath of the woman he adored.

He watched as she sank down on the small lounge in the corner by the windows.

"Shit," she muttered in frustration. "Damn it."

Draco grinned happily.

"I'll see you at supper then? And I'll have Sinclair bring up all your things since you'll be staying awhile, won't you?

"Get out of my face!" she yelled.

Draco, not wanting to be hit with any other flying objects, stepped back out of the room.

"By the way, love, there are six bedrooms here. Mine is on the other side of the house."

As he ducked out of the door frame the second book end came flying out, landing near the bathroom with a thud. Draco's laughter rang down the hallway.