AN: The next chapter will be full of goodness, I promise. And probably longer.

"Trapped here? Malfoy what do you mean…trapped here? You can't be serious." His face twisted into a scowl as she spoke.

"Yes Granger, trapped. You graduate first in our year and still you don't understand simple language..." Hermione's frowned deepened at what he said, anger bubbling inside of her. She hadn't been speaking to him for five minutes and already she harbored a hate for him, "I've been trapped here ever since we left school. I can't contact anyone, and I've tried everything. And once you're inside the grounds, it's impossible to leave..." He said quietly as he turned towards the fireplace, his face stoic.

"I'm stuck here...with....with..." She said quietly, more to herself but a dark sneer appeared on the boys lips as he turned to her, seeing the disbelief in her eyes.

"With me. Don't sound so enthused." His eyes were dark and he turned back to look at the fire with a sigh, leaning onto a chair. It was only now she began to take in his appearance. He looked tired, worn. His white, button up shirt was rumpled as were his black pants. Clearly being stuck in here had done a toll on him.

"I didn't mean it like that...I'm sure you aren't jumping for joy that I'm the one stuck in here with you either." Hermione replied and he looked back at her.

"Could be worse...could be Potty or Weasel. Besides, you have a brain in your head, which is more than most people. Maybe you could help me out of here," Her eyes narrowed when he mentioned himself, "Us out of here then."

"Tell me what happened, there has to be a way to break whatever curse was put upon this place." At her words Malfoy gave a cold, short laugh, looking back at her with his grey eyes.

"Don't you think I've tried everything Granger? Even the books are sealed shut. So unless you're hiding a library in your pockets we're out of luck. I came back here a month ago and couldn't get out. Only the house elves were left here and they can't use their magic. I even tried freeing one and it doesn't matter…"

"But did this happen while we were at school? Didn't you come back here after…after everything happened?" She didn't want to mention the battle, she knew it would be painful for both of them. And no matter how she despised the boy before her she wouldn't cause them more pain. The mention of it brought a slight pained looked into his eyes and he turned his gaze from her, not wanting her to read it in his face.

"No I didn't, not that that's any of your business. I only came back here a month ago. I can only imagine the Dark Lord put the curse on before everyone left for Hogwarts. He knew too much information was here. If anyone did come in they'd be here waiting for him when he got back. But he never did." He said the last part softly but instantly composed himself as he turned back to her, his face as expressionless as ever.

"How can you be sure your father didn't…" As the words escaped her lips, Malfoy was in front of her in an instant, his eyes bright with anger as a sneer crossed his perfect face. Hermione's eyes widened slightly at his reaction, his dark, looming presence now encompassing her.

"Never speak about my father. He was a great man until the Dark Lord came back and poisoned him. Him and the rest of my family," He hissed at her and Hermione stayed silent in his rage, "Don't you ever judge my father or me Granger, do you understand?" He was near yelling and she, although she didn't look it, was scared of what he may do. She could only imagine his emotions after being trapped inside his own house for so long.

"Fine, I won't talk about your father. And I wasn't judging you. Clearly this whole situation would work out better if we kept our distances considering how much you loathe me and I can't say I'm very fond of you. So I'll try and find out what lured me here and how to get us out, the sooner the better." her words seemed to neutralize him and he moved back, her heartbeat slowing down.

"You were lured here?" His voice was still hard, but he couldn't hide the curiosity.

"Yes. Someone was calling my name. I was staying in a cottage at the other side of the forest. I followed it…I couldn't stop myself." Her voice was soft, working over the details in her head as a small, devilish smirk crossed his lips.

"Couldn't even throw off a curse could you? Never saw you as the type to bend to other people's wills." The edge of his voice sent a chill up her spine but she tried best to ignore it.

"You're a git Malfoy. I'm exhausted, tell me where to go and I'll stay there. Are we agreed then? You stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours?"

"Fair enough," He said in a low voice, the smirk gone from his lips, "You can sleep in the first bedroom on the right upstairs. And don't you even think of coming into my room, that's off limits. Everything you need should be in your room." He moved swiftly to the stairs and disappeared from sight, leaving Hermione standing there, clutching her wand with a frown. How she ended up here she didn't know, but she damn well knew she'd get herself out of here, one way or another.

*****

He never expected it to work. Never for once instance believed that she had heard him calling to her. It seemed too far fetched. And why had he decided to call her? The Mudblood who he had hated for years…no…he could never utter that word again. It stung to even think about. It made the past too vivid, it accentuated all of his mistakes.

Granger….here, trapped with him. Seeing her terrified gaze as he appeared in the foyer was enough to send shivers down his spine. A month without any human contact and here she was, ripe for the taking. What the fuck did that even mean? Why couldn't he straighten out his head? Enemy. She was the enemy. But he couldn't deny the burning he felt when he thought of her now. Their past was a million miles away and he wanted it to disappear completely. He wanted contact…lust….feeling. He'd been too fucking numb for too fucking long. His mother was gone. His father was gone. His family had been picked apart and destroyed. Even in Hogwarts he was an outcast. No more friends to keep him sane. That's why no one had come to save him in the last month. No one had cared…no one was left to care.

But now she was here…in his house…somewhere down the hall and left to her own thoughts. She had come. Even if he had called her, she still hadn't resisted. If there was anyone who could free him from this insane prison it was Hermione Granger. Hermione….who had plagued his thoughts ever since her, Potter, and Weasley had saved his life in the Room of Requirement. She who could soften his gaze as he glared at Potter over the course of their seventh year. She who was full of fire and spirit, a bravery that not even he could claim.

But he wanted to. He wanted to taste that fire. But could you ever erase the past and make it all ok? No. He knew that well enough. He had even pondered the idea of putting a spell on her to make her forget….but he couldn't destroy everything he so prized about her. There was too much risk in anything he had thought to do. And she had been clear. They would keep their distances and find a way out. And then…then she would be gone again. He may never lay eyes on her again. Never be able to feign hatred and malice as she walked by, while secretly burning within. And here she was in his home, he and her alone, and still he didn't dare confess what lay beneath the cold exterior. He was still a Malfoy after all. He didn't need to be slave to his own emotions, especially in front of her. Composure is key. Keep up the façade and she'll never know the torment he held within. She wouldn't understand anyway. He knew she could never feel anything more than hate for a monster like him. And he would comply with her wish. He'd keep his distance, even if it destroyed him.