Keeper

A Fanfic Inspired By The Song "Keeper" By Yellowcard

Chapter One

Disclaimer : I do not own any of the characters or places in this story, they are all completely J K Rowling's. The only thing I do own, is the plot. Otherwise, I would be really rich if I did own the other elements. But that is only really wishful thinking.

Summary : A Draco and Hermione Fanfic. Things have a strange way of turning in the opposite direction. Head Boy and Head Girl, bearing grudges and developing crushes, what could falling in love possibly have anything to do with it?

So, on with the story...

Draco listened to the distant drumming of the Hogwarts train on the railway tracks, and the rattling of each train carriage as they moved from side to side, forcefully. Draco Malfoy, and every other student in the magical world, were now on their way back to school from their long and much enjoyed summer vacation.

It felt more of a relief than anything else actually; he was beginning to become particularly tired of being in the Malfoy Manor. So cold, dark and lonely, it was more like prison. No one was ever there; his mother was always out with unknown people, his father was in Azkaban, so he was forced into a depressing and murky non-existence for the entire time he was at home. Well, if it was worthy enough to be called a home. To be honest, he felt that he had not really experienced a real and warm home, just somewhere to sleep at night or, to go to when there was no where else to go. But none the less, it was all that he had. The only place to be, and his family was all that he got.

He sighed to himself as the he leant his forehead on the cold glass window, watching trees and scenery speed by as the train rushed past them, and breathing a hot fog onto the glass. Though he had little time to see the area, he took comfort in the autumn colours that blurred together in the swiftness and noted that he was nearly at school. At least there, he wouldn't be alone.

Hermione tucked a rather crumpled letter from Dumbledore into the pocket of her robe and sat up straight again, leaning into the depth and comfort of her chair. Poking at the outside of her jeans to make sure, every so once in a little while, that the letter was still there. Though she knew it was physically impossible for her to loose an item as valuable (well, valuable to her) as a letter from school, she still tried to ensure its extremist safety.

Dumbledore, had recently written to her during the summer holiday, congratulating and telling her that she had been chosen for the post of Head girl. Obviously, she had been overjoyed. Not that it had been her life-long dream or anything…

"Right."

After the crazy celebrations and of course, joyous squealing, she thought about her new position along a more serious note. She had been wondering for the remainder of her summer, what sort of duties they would have set up for her – cheerfully preparing her clipboard and quill for this - and who would become the Head boy. She thoroughly hoped that it would be someone amazingly nice and could share her intelligent interests. That one and only thought remained in her deepest mind and thoughts for what as left at her time at home, leaving her tremendously dreamy all the time. Evidently, though a smart girl like her knew almost every person who attended her school, a girl still has her Prince Charming fantasies.

"Hermione! Are you even listening?"

Someone waved a hand in front of her face and almost immediately annoyance grew inside of her; she hated to be treated like child!

She snapped out of her thoughts at the sharp tone of Harry's voice, raising a strict eyebrow in his direction.

"What?" She asked, quite infuriated to be disturbed so suddenly from her train of thoughts.

"I said. Congratulations on being Head girl! Ginny just told me." He repeated, giving her a stern look before glancing back at a beaming Ginny Weasley, who nodded back enthusiastically.

"Oh. Okay. Thanks." She muttered briefly, feeling a pang of guilt as well as being slightly embarrassed for her previous annoyance towards her best friend.

She took a mental reminder of the other passengers in her carriage, taking quick glances at them in turn. There with her, were her usual group of friends all doing there own thing: Ginny was engaging into a conversation with Luna Lovegood about nargles again (what they may be Hermione definitely would never understand); Neville Longbottom was petting his toad as usual; and unexpectedly, Ronald Weasley, her other best friend, sat opposite her gaping like a lunatic. She sighed to herself, tearing her eyes down to her lap and Harry caught her awkward glimpses.

"Hermione? Are you sure you're alright?" He questioned her; she had been quite, what shall we call it, "off" all day.

She looked up from her lap at everyone in the carriage again, who all stopped what they were doing and gave her the same confused look as Harry, they obviously agreed with him.

"Um, yeah. I'm fine."

She avoided their burning gazes, feeling each smoulder holes into her skin, and turned to look outside, watching as the silhouette of Hogwarts grew slowly larger, she prayed for some kind of escape. She crinkled her nose as if it would help with her thought process.

Lately, she had been somewhat distant to everyone, quite unsociable and unable to concentrate for longer than a span of a few minutes. And she definitely did not accept the option that it was just all part of growing up – that was utter ridiculousness! She hoped that maybe someone could explain why she had been feeling so strange. She was different, she just didn't know how.

Hermione was interrupted once more by a sense of hotness on her, and at that moment she knew they were still looking at her, questioning each other through worried looks and throwing her sneak peeks.

"Great."

They were certainly not helping with this, not the slightest bit at all. She begged inwardly for a rescue team.

What is with the staring? She thought of saying, or perhaps shouting, to all of them, but she bit her lip so that the harsh words would not be said, after all she still had the decency to hold her tongue at the right time – for minimal trouble making.

Instead, an idea sprang to mind which brought her back into a slightly more cheerful mood, for the first time in a very long period she found herself smirking at her cunning idea.

"Well, I guess I must be going to the Head's carriage now." She said casually and brightly. After exchanging looks again for a brief moment, they all concurred unwillingly, saying their "good-byes" and "see you laters." She returned the greeting, waving to them as she stood up quickly, gathered her belongings and rushed out.

Hermione sighed to herself as she got outside, sliding the door shut behind her. She made sure her breathing was back to normal and that her mind was clear before she continued to make her way towards the back of the train. With any luck, her day would get much better.

With any luck at all.

Draco remained hypnotized by the view from the window, wishing to himself that someone would save him from turning into a heartless and mean old git – yes, a mean old git. Which, he believed, he was well on his way to becoming. However his pride kept those feelings stomped down, at least for most of the time.

He acknowledged the darkening grey sky above him and leant back into his seat unsatisfied. Before long, his father's patronizing voice entered and echoed in his mind, Draco shook his head in the hopes of shaking the thoughts out too.

"Can't you do anything right?"

"What is to become of you?"

"You are not ever good enough to be my son!"

He felt the tears sting his eyes and he choked them back into his system – Draco Malfoy, will not nor will ever cry in public. Simple as. He cursed loudly, just as suddenly, as the train surged forward harshly, cutting off his thoughts. There was a loud bang as the door of the carriage swung open and few books flung inside, throwing themselves crookedly into almost tearing positions.

Being caught completely off-guard, Draco reached defensively for his wand and looked up just in time to see someone fall into the room with him.

Whoever it was, she cursed as she rubbed the arm that she fell onto, trying to brush away the brown hair that covered her face, she noticed her books around the room, then instantly fixing them back into there original neatness.

When she looked up, Draco gave her an icy stare for being so damn clumsy and also for disturbing his emotion eruption – yet inside he was sort of glad to be saved. Draco was sure there would be no further danger, so he put away his wand steadily and folded his arms across his chest, all the while not keeping his eyes off this girl.

Once she had regained herself, clutching her books across her chest, she locked eyes with him as if instinctively. Draco's cold glare eased as his eyes met with two brown caring ones, this was someone that could save him, and her eyes were so full of life, full of untold love. He took a quick inhale unconsciously, a gasp for air, shocked for coming to any conclusion about someone so quickly. For feeling anything at all.

Emotions were not his sort of thing. Neither were the right words or anything of the sort.

He scanned around at her face, eager to find out who this mystery girl was. He gasped when he saw that those eyes that he had falling into, were owned none other by Hermione Granger. The enemy. A mudblood. The girl who he had tormented for several years.

He tore his eyes away from hers and returned to looking outside, blushing slightly while trying desperately to banish any feelings that he had previously thought, but felt somehow quite saddened to be rid of them so quickly.

He had just got himself, into something he should have never walked into.

Hermione remained shocked at the intimacy of the moment, her mouth dropped into a full 'O' and she had not just stared into Malfoy's silver, dark eyes and got lost in them. That could not possibly be true… ever.

She tried to shrug off the fact that Malfoy had given her the most heartfelt look she had ever seen in her life, they actually held something of a hope in them. How come she had never noticed this before? She remained plastered on that same spot, standing there like a complete idiot.

She looked down at the floor, then back up at Malfoy who seemed to be avoiding her gaze and then back to the floor, playing with the hem of her shirt as she did so, hoping that perhaps they would erase what she was beginning to feel right now. Hermione stood there, in complete silence, trying frantically to remember why she had come here in the first place.

Cutting off the uncomfortable tension, or conceivably making it worse, Malfoy turned towards her sharply and cast her a disgusted look – back to his usual self.

"Granger, are you lost or something?" He spat out, staring her down.

She did a double take at his sudden change in disposition and finally her thoughts caught up with her. Immediately, she returned to herself and felt the same way she felt for this vile excuse for a boy in front of her.

"Actually, Malfoy, I'm looking for the Head's carriage. It seems that I've been chosen to be Head girl. So perhaps you're the one who's lost." She told him smugly.

"What?!" He said, raising his voice slightly and standing up, showing her his full height. In fact, he had grown a considerable amount over the years, he now towered over, not just mentally but now physically too. She sighed to calm herself.

Hermione looked up at him, so that their faces were inches away from each others, her breath tickling his cheek. His hair flopped easily over his deep eyes; surely he could even pass for cute, she found her gaze travel down to his lips...

WHAT!! She did not just think that?!"

She shook her head and took a large step away from him, gasping for air. She stuck out her tongue and almost slapped herself for being crazy, far too crazy for her own good. Hermione found herself laughing stupidly at her mistake – but was it really a mistake?

Draco looked around worriedly, ignoring her weird event before he began attacking her again.

"This must be all wrong! I can't bear to be near you!" He sat down in his seat again with a faint thump.

"Well, I'm not backing down." She said, putting down her books and crossing her arms over her chest as she sat down opposite to him stubbornly, she had come to the conclusion that this was definitely the Head's carriage. Another sigh escaped her lips: why does nothing turn out the way she wants?

It would have been so much easier if she just met the perfect guy and they had an intelligent chat, fallen in love and whatsoever, instead of meeting this scum and having another well planned, dim-witted argument.

Draco flinched slightly at their closeness.

"Don't come too close mudblood; I fear I might catch a disease if you touch me." He made a silly face and edged away a tad.

"Argh! You heartless twat!" She yelled, losing to him.

"Careful now, Granger. Hold your tongue." He smirked, causing something to poke at Hermione's heart deep inside her. She reached up to touch her chest instantly and noticed the faint pain.

"Oh, do pull your head out of your own ass Malfoy!" She retorted.

"It appears you are the one with a bad temper." He snapped quickly, but the hurt look in his eye didn't go unnoticed by Hermione, who in return felt like saying sorry. This was going too far, as do their arguments.

She decided not to say anymore, she exhaled noisily and sat upright, pulling down her skirt to its fullest length. It was a habit.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes, until Hermione realized that Malfoy was peeking glances at her.

She became rather furious again; she hated to be stared at, for whatever reason.

"What is it Malfoy?" She said, informing him that she knew he was looking.

He looked taken aback and then focused on the window yet again.

"Oh nothing. It's just that…"

"WHAT?"

"Are you aware, Granger, that we have to share the Head's Quarters?"

He made another face at her, he was beginning to remind her of an overgrown child, but a rather cute one at that.

"ARGH!! Stop that Hermione!"

"Oh yeah." She whispered to herself, still battling inside.

She looked up and saw him staring again.

"For Merlin's sake, WHAT NOW?" She asked him, fuming.

"Nothing..." He began, "Just stay out of my way Granger." Draco continued in a hateful tone, but looking at her in a strange way that definitely did not spell out the word H-A-T-E.

"No problem." She answered back, so quietly it was barely audible.

They both diverted their gazes to the window again, where Hogwarts was clear in sight.

Draco looked up from his dinner plate and at the Gryffindor table, trying to drown out the loud noises around him, watching as Hermione got up from her seat smiling.

"What was she smiling at? Stupid Granger."

He threw a glance at the Headmaster, who beckoned him to come over.

Without question, he left his barely touched food and made his way towards the staff table, the gazes of the other students and teachers hot on him - whispering their gossips which they had received from their holidays. It appears that the Prince of Slytherin didn't get up to much over the vacation and that his father was finally thrown into prison for being found out.

"Oh, boo hoo, poor Malfoy is a sad loser. Like I bloody care."

When he arrived, he took a stand next to Hermione, sneaking another quick glance at her before greeting Dumbledore with his trademark Malfoy smirk. The Headmaster, in return gave him a sympathetic look which didn't go too well with Draco – one of the things he hated the most, sympathy.

"Good evening Miss Granger." He nodded in Hermione's direction, "Sir Malfoy." He added shortly.

Without further time wasting, Dumbledore began discussing with them their daily duties and got straight to the point, congratulating them again on being chosen for their posts. He told them briefly what they would need to know and indicated where their Quarters were located (on the fifth floor, just in case you wanted to know), proudly telling them the password, which was "Adamo." Draco assumed, that Miss smart-ass would know the meaning of it but was struck when he saw the confused look on her face, obviously of her trying to rack her brains for the meaning too. Perhaps she didn't know everything – he almost laughed.

"And finally," Dumbledore took a slow breath, "If you have any problems, do not hesitate to ask." He gave them both a small weak yet kind smile.

"Thank you sir. But I'm sure we'll be fine." Draco answered before Hermione could say anything for herself, smiling falsely back at their Headmaster.

Hermione took a fleeting look at Draco and turned back to Dumbledore, thanking him again before bidding him a good night. She left hurriedly, as if she was sickened to be in Draco's presence, and was probably off to the Quarters.

Draco felt a virtual punch in the stomach when he saw how quickly she wanted to be away from him, staring at her back as she walked away, a small pain aching in his heart. So he, figured he should follow on to check out his new dormitory too. Making sure he left a few minutes behind, so that it would appear he eager to be with her.

"Sharing an accommodation with Granger? Ha! This certainly, was going to be interesting…"

He headed for the fifth floor, raring to go and find out what the Quarters would look like – since they have been rumoured to be somewhat beautifully designed in every way.

It was going to be a longer walk, than he thought it would be. Maybe just some time to clear his head.

A/N : Hey there! That is my first ever chapter of my first ever Dramione fanfic. It probably needs a lot of updating. I must admit, I am so into Draco&Hermione right now. I find it cute and just... awww love. So anyway if you haven't yet, please read and review. And for those already who have read, thanks for reading the chapter and could you please review? Hehe.. It would make my day, so much since no one is reading this. Well, not many people are. Reviews will be the only reason I continue.

-Fallen11angel