Keeper

Chapter Eight

Much thanks to Keshet, Verya, kk1999, Nangini and MadeNew for their constant, or recent reviews – as I have found out. If I missed anyone else out, well, thanks to you too. If so message me and I'll pop you into my little "thankings."

Anyway, on with this story…

Draco's cold silver eyes shot open and with a something short of a moan, he rubbed his aching temple. Instead of his surroundings being bathed in a morning glow of sunlight, he found that it was still the dead of night, the moons silky light dancing with shadows in his room. He sat up on his bed as he placed his head into his hands, swinging his legs off the side until his feet found the wooden floor beneath him, its texture smooth but chilly. He let out another heartfelt groan as he felt the gush of winter wind sweep past him and slither around his bedroom – that damned window was left open again. With a slight pang of annoyance he stood up, throwing his bed sheets off him as he did so, and staggered towards the open window, slamming it shut with his utmost strength and locking it with its bolt.

"Humph!" He said, crossing his arms over his chest with triumph.

He made a face at the window, as if it were actually a person, before turning back around to get himself some sleep; but there, he saw a snowy white owl perching on his bed, staring right at him. Draco squinted, looking closer through the darkness and could make out the faint shape of an envelope in one of his claws, a familiar green and silver seal plastered onto it. His eyes widened as he recognized the seal to be none other than his own family's… the Malfoy seal; and the owl of course, was his mother's.

With hesitation, he started towards it slowly, carefully removing the letter from its grasp once he approached the owl safely; since the owl did have a reputation of violence and aggression. As he lifted the envelope into the moonlight he found his thoughts were correct, the seal definitely was the Malfoy's very own – sighing, he opened the window again, letting the owl escape him and return back to the cold of the Manor. Feeling reality slap him in the face, he then shut the window again and watched, as the owl grew smaller into the distance.

Draco then stared at the envelope, as if he could easily see through it, but sure enough, he couldn't. He brushed a rough hand through his messed up blonde hair and started to make his way out of his room and to the common room, where he was sure he could take comfort in the warmth of the fireplace; perhaps there he could read whatever this letter was in peace – that is, if he had the guts to.

He took his time making his way there, toying with the letter in his hands as he walked; with each step down the staircase he made, he felt the light of the fire play colours onto his face, flickering flames of yellow and red. When he eventually got himself down to the last step, he decided to look up and take in his surroundings, but jumped slightly when he saw Hermione sitting on the sofa. She seemed oblivious to his presence.

His heart skipped a beat.

Draco stiffened, not knowing how to react since their last meeting, but settled on not letting any of his feelings show or consume him. He walked leisurely towards the sofa, where Hermione sat, hugging her legs with her arms as she rested her chin on the top of her knees.

"Hey." He whispered, afraid to scare her or snap her out of her daze.

Slightly delayed, she looked up at him and a weak smile appeared on her face, "Hey." She replied before gesturing for Draco to sit down; she let her legs fall back down and she sat up properly to make room for him, her hair spilling freely onto her shoulders. It had resumed to loose curls ending to just about waist length.

Draco willingly obliged, seating himself beside her once she had fixed herself up, he leant back into the comfort of the chair as their skin brushed past one another with their close proximity – it was enough to make them both shiver.

He rested his head on the hard back of the sofa and let out a long, deep exhale, "Can't sleep either?" he asked her, turning his head to look in her direction.

She too turned to look at him, and nodded a brief agree, he noticed her hands fidgeting and inside he knew that she felt as awkward about this as he did – who wouldn't?

A few silent, wordless moments skipped by, like the skipping of their heartbeats, and trying to evoke some sort of conversation between them, Draco heard Hermione speak, "What's that you've got there?" She asked, pointing to the crumpled looking letter that lay almost forgotten in his hands, still being toyed with unconsciously.

At the question, Draco's head immediately snapped into its direction, unwillingly tearing his eyes away from Hermione's face to look at the letter that he held. He sighed and placed it onto the coffee table in front of them, eyeing it suspiciously, like it would attack him at any moment now.

He leant forward, placing his arms on his knees and burying his face in his hands slowly – unsure of what to do or think.

Hermione too took her eyes away from Draco to look at the letter with curiosity, and she too leaned forward a bit to see it clearer in the light of the fireplace. "Are you going to read it?" She enquired, retreating back and looking at him again.

He shook his head, and stared at her, eyes turning cold, "I don't think I really want to."

At first Hermione still remained bemused, but then searching the envelope for answers, she got it. The Malfoy seal: immediately she understood. When it came to family, it was certainly a subject Draco would always avoid, Hermione on the other hand, was on good terms with her parents – being muggle born and all, they were extremely fascinated by everything they came across in the magical world.

Nodding briefly, she let the topic go.

Turning to face him another time, she saw the hurt look in his eyes, a sense of sadness lost in them, not something you often saw in a guy like him, that tough exterior always held inside it a misplaced sensitivity – she positioned a comforting hand on his arm and gave him the best smile she could give.

She studied his features, scared to forget what they looked like, and very much resisting to just reach up and touch his cheek with her other hand, just so she could feel his skin again. From his eyes, to his jaw line down to his lips – God, never in a million years would she believe that she would kiss Draco Malfoy and actually enjoy it, actually long for it to happen again. Her smile turned into a small frown when she noticed a cut on his lip and diminutive bruise on his lower cheek, she sucked in a gasp and moved in closer to him. Their faces growing inches away from each other's, for yet another time this school year.

He felt her staring, burning holes in his skin and move towards him. He knew because the soft cushion of the sofa beneath him sank slightly; he then raised an eyebrow, throwing her a questioning look.

Studying her, Draco found her with that perplexing look of worry; he remembered the first time he had seen that, for possibly the first time in his life he had felt cared for. He saw her eyes searching for something until finally they met with his own for a split second.

"Draco? What happened to you?" She demanded, tracing a finger on the cut on his lip. He flinched at her touch, and the small pain it caused. She quickly drew it away once she realized what she was doing; Draco in return, turned his face away from her so that he wouldn't take advantage of the situation. Hermione placed her hands behind her back, in the hopes of resisting him.

Her gaze followed a portrait in the room of the first two teenagers to become Head boy and Head girl – of course they looked happy. The girl from Slytherin, and the boy from Gryffindor - the situation was much like their own right now. She wondered if it had worked out between them, but she erased the thought and frowned.

Things like that do not work out – ever.

He wiped his lip instinctively, "Got into fight." He replied quickly, as if he had said it a thousand times before.

"Oh right, I remember." She said, recalling the uneasy event of the attack on her bedroom door, "You shouldn't have done that." She continued, her voice dreamy and her eyes now permanently locked with his lips. Before long, she caught his eye and was forced to look elsewhere. Anywhere else in the room but at him (of course she tied to avoid the portrait too, it only caused her to think too much), for a moment all she could hear was the flickering of the fire behind her, it brought comfort to her somehow.

Her eyes still held some sort of misery as Draco's held puzzlement.

Noticing the look in her eye, he tried to reassure her, "Don't worry about me, okay?" He placed an arm around her and pulled her into a one-armed hug, squeezing her shoulder gently for comfort. He felt her nod against his neck, and looking up she beamed in false pretence - pulling away a tad, she was afraid to be near him yet also afraid to be away from him.

They had something going, but they were afraid to admit any of it.

He returned the smile with great ease, weak but still true; he thought back to the moment at the train platform like a hazy vision in his mind, with that his smile grew into a usual smirk.

It remained chaste, and from cupping her cheek, Draco tangled his hand in her hair as she leaned closer to him, her hands trapped between them and resting on his chest. Suddenly, he heard her gasp, and pull away fast, releasing herself from his arms and staggering back. Her eyes lay shocked and almost tearful.

Draco eyes widened when he became conscious of what he had just done – oh crap, that wasn't supposed to happen. His thoughts had brought him too far. The two of them exchanged worried looks before hurriedly rushed off in different directions.

That is, the kiss was good, unexpected but definitely good. Nevertheless, when it was over, when they had broken apart neither knew what to say to the other and with that, it became another awkwardly painful silence – they both decided never to speak of what had just happened – or at least they tried to.

He fell out of his memories and found himself sat back in the common room, in the dark with Hermione. Another small smile emerged on his lips. It was only now that he began to feel his lips sting from that kiss; it was like he wanted to feel it all over again.

He couldn't help but find out and bring it up. Something inside him urged him to speak before the moment was over, but he couldn't do it.

"Um, so… about what happened at the other day?" Draco began – okay he just did it. Suddenly the nerves erupted about his choice of subject, but still wanted to know the answers behind it. He heard his voice quiver slightly at his words.

Without delay, Hermione looked shocked and scared, just like she had done several times before, her eyes refusing to meet his; it wasn't exactly what she hoped he would bring up.

Desperately, she searched for an escape route or something to say other than her own feelings. She stared at the window, but had a vivid image of her jumping out and thought that even in the magical world, that wouldn't be too painless – she almost laughed at that thought.

"What about it?" She blurted out, relieved that her voice sounded calmer than she felt, "Nothing really happened." She said, sounding hopeful rather than sure.

"Nothing?" Draco asked, startled at her statement. His voice sounded almost angry but then he must have backed down because he nodded and decided to not say anything more, biting into his lip as he did this, he felt it sting again, "Okay."

He scooted away from her somewhat, moving down the sofa just a little - but it was a painful gesture. He furrowed his brow and rested his head on his upturned arm.

"Why? Was it supposed to mean something?" She answered, her voice frightened but eyes held expectancy for his reply. She looked at him from the corner of her eye, trying to figure out his expression, she wasn't quite sure what she wanted him to say, but expected something nonetheless.

"Um," He started, thoughts running rampage in his mind, "Tell her what you think! Tell her how you feel! – But what do I feel? I'm not so sure yet." His mind screamed out causing him to suck in breath. He couldn't say what he wanted to say to her. Not yet.

"Draco?" Hermione repeated, now looking straight into his eyes now like she could easily read his mind, she wanted to be assured, so she didn't have be confused anymore. Her eyes seemed to look so caring; there was no escaping them.

There was nothing to do or say that wasn't a complete some-sort, confession. He tore his eager eyes away from hers and stood up. Hermione shot him a questioning and irritated glare as he walked over to the nearby window, his hands dug deep into his pockets.

His pace slowed to a halt, as he gazed out of the frosty panes and at the school grounds below. The moons bitter light reflected in his eyes and caused them to look emptier than they usually where. He was probably thinking.

Hermione sighed; eyeing him with utmost suspicion, but then threw her hair over her shoulders and stood up herself, shivering as her feet touched the freezing stone floor. Making her way hurriedly towards where he stood, walking into a bath of blue lighting, they were in close propinquity once again.

He failed to acknowledge her presence when she approached him, or maybe he just didn't turn to face her. Hermione got onto her tiptoes to peer outside, trying to follow his trail of sight, but it was harder to say than do. She placed a hand onto the cold glass, leaving a print on its untouched surface and leaned in closer to see clearer. She would have expected some kind of giant reindeer or something fascinating to be outside, but there was nothing. Hermione sighed again, getting back down to her small height compared to Draco; seeing as she was only up to just under his shoulder.

She opened her mouth to say something but Draco spoke first, both shocking and cutting her off. His eyes darted around the exterior of the school towers and beyond. "You want to go outside?" He stated more than asked.

There was an emotion of confusion inside of her and she replied, "What? Why-" but was interrupted for a second time. Her eyes widened as she saw him draw a small heart on the fog of the window. Afterwards, he smiled in contentment, as if he was proud of his work – no matter how simplistic.

Finally he turned to look at her after what felt like years, and she calmed down immediately, though doubt still flowed in her blood. He threw her a smile but she only replied with a small frown of some sort. Draco instantly turned away and his smile disappeared. He felt so short of words, so he said none.

"I'm going out." He murmured to himself, his grimace deepening and a swift hand wiping away the fog heart. It was gone. He exhaled noisily before walking hastily towards the portrait entrance, summoning his wand and some shoes along the way there.

"Wait!" Hermione yelled, stopping him in his tracks, running forward and grabbing a handful of his white t-shirt, pulling him back towards her. She rested her forehead on his chest and panted. He couldn't just go out, he was barely dressed and it was absolutely glacial – there he was in a shirt and pyjama bottoms, ready to just walk around outside for God knows what reason. What was he? Brave heart? Superman?

No he was just Draco Malfoy.

He took hold of her shoulders gently, snapping her out of her comical thoughts, "Are you coming?" He said, trying to catch her eye as she looked up. She shivered unknowingly at both his touch and the cold air that seeped in through the open portrait. What was happening? Was feeling alright, why the sudden decision of rebellion? What was the reason for wanting to go outside so badly? Sneaky Draco - always up to something.

Hermione gave a slight pout and looked around the empty room acrimoniously, she couldn't stay here knowing he was out there alone. It was another excuse to just be with him. She was looking after him. That was all. Nothing else. Obviously, she wouldn't be thanked by anybody, but it was these little secrets that they had which kept her yearning for more of him, despite his stubborn attitude and annoying personality. The friendship, the kiss, the conversations. It was enough to break her heart again, because it was wrong. All of it. There was a pang of betrayal as another emotion took over - something that was constantly growing inside of her.

She groaned and nodded, hurrying to grab her nearest pair of shoes (which happened to be some dirty Chuck Taylor's) before returning to Draco who had come back into the room. Abruptly, he stopped her from getting past him, and blocked her path. He looked her up and down in query, causing Hermione to look at herself too in question, "What is this boy looking at now?" she thought; but Draco just smiled faintly and walked away to go upstairs, not before signalling for her to stay where she was.

She made an attempt to follow him, but he shook his head and put up his hands to stop her, "No, just stay put. I'll be back before you even realize I'm gone." He whispered more to himself than to this girl in front of him, he left her with a half-hearted smirk. Hermione gaped up the staircase, as she watched him walk away; and even though he told her he would come back, it was as if she would watching him leave for the rest of her life. It was clear, he didn't know just how much that one sentence felt and stung to her. Realizing he was gone, leaving her empty and abandoned, it happened so much sooner than she expected. Hermione couldn't last a minute without his presence - pathetic.

She bit her lip, tucking her hair behind her ear and shuffled in her shoes, attempting to pull down her dress to a much longer length, so that it ended above her knees. What a choice for sleepwear today!

She headed towards the portrait of the teenagers again, studying it in detail this time, "I wonder what happened to them. This must have been more than a century ago; they were probably just smiling for the portrait. False happiness." She thought to herself whilst waiting for a certain boy's return. "Regardless of this being one of the only paintings in the school which didn't have a life of their own, there's a look in their eyes – something along the lines of longing. Impossible, they can't have that. Surely this exact situation couldn't have happened to every student who was in this position. Maybe this is just-"

"Hermione?" A familiar voice said from behind her, tickling the hairs on the back of her neck.

She jumped in a slight shock and turned around promptly, backing up against the wall with great speed. Surely enough, it was Draco standing there, just him and something in his right hand. Hermione blushed; hoping he didn't hear any of what she was just thinking, or for the matter, see her staring at the painting.

His expression became shy, for once in a million years, and he outstretched an arm, revealing to her a thick-ish jacket of his. She gaped at it before eventually taking it from him and hugging it to her chest, unsure what its use was. It smelt so much of him, a faint cologne that smelt only like him, she recognized it straight away but restrained herself from smiling. It was faded, like it had been worn and used so many times before, a scent of summer morning air, warm and cheerful. It was unlike, yet definitely his.

Draco chuckled and took the jacket, then helped her put it on, taking care to do it delicately like she was only a child. It didn't fail to make them both smile crazily. Then he ushered her out of the room into the night-light corridors, his hand resting on the small of her back for just a moment, a moment to short.

She followed him out through a slow walk in the dark hallways of school, keeping close at all times, scared of the crawling shadows of Hogwarts. She was touching his arm, but not holding it, the contact was enough for her to feel protected somehow.

They were quiet, creeping around the unknowing staff members and ghosts, smiling and peeking glances at the other in the dark. She just let him lead her; after all she was sure he would take care of her, his hand grasped onto his gnarly wand. He was ready for anything. It was still enough.

For a spilt second, Draco stopped in the midway of an empty, echo inducing hallway; probably trying to think of something to do and a reason why to do it. He looked at her and Hermione took this as a signal to break the silence. She took a small step away, to make sure she could see his face in the light of a nearby stone held candle, before she spoke, "Draco, where are we even going? What's going on?" She asked in stage whispers, ringing through the narrow passage.

Draco barely flinched, yet threw her a knowing look (as if he had known she would be the one to ask the questions), he smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders childishly. He took a step nearer from what Hermione had stepped away, closing the space between them with ease.

"Don't you ever just do things without them being planned? Come on Hermione just take a chance with me, I mean something happened the other day and it wasn't nothing." He replied, his tone sounding so emotion felt. Suddenly, he took hold of her hand, cold and small against his larger ones. He held them tight and nodded to her in question if she wanted to go back.

She laughed, but persevered her questioning, "Nice work smart cheeks. But that doesn't answer my question."

Draco returned the laugh and slid a hand across his silk, soft hair, still messy from his late awakening, and tugged at her hand. He contiued to stroll slowly in a direction that was unknown to Hermione, but she followed obligingly.

He stopped, still clinging to her hand for life and smiled sweetly (a sight to make any girl's heart melt), Draco half turned to her. From the corner of his eye he saw her eager for what he had to say, but he kept it Draco-cool, "The answer to your question. We're just going for a walk around. And whats going on? I just want to be with you, thats all."

She gasped at his sudden choice of words and left her mouth gaping at him. Hermione, as of her true nature, was going to say something back but as usual, was interupted by a certain pride filled guy,"I don-"

"Hermione, just don't say anything. For once let it be." He said, before smirking and turning away, walking and taking her with him. She nodded and grinned sheepishly to herself. Hermione stifled a sigh, thanking God that he had cut her off, now nobody was going to find out what she was going to say. It was alright, he didn't have to know yet. They still have lots of time.

There was a shot of cold winter chill as Draco shoved open the Grand Hall doors, and they slid in between the small opening into the school grounds.

A/N : So there you all go, chapter EIGHT is now up!! Yay. You all know the drill pretty well by now, please review and review. I will only continue if there are plenty of reviews! So be honest, and not so mean. Anyways, sorry I have not had time to update so much, but hey guys, I do try. Its all because of exams and tons of school work...ergh! But no worries, I have this story planned out - I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON IT - As some people say I have! I am determined to write it out until the end, despite how crap it is. So enjoy this (filler) chapter, and I assure you the action starts here. So far its just a build up of feelings and over reactions. Aww love.

Thanks a lot.

-Fallen11angel