Shifting the Balance

Chapter 23


~ Why we fight ~


Malfoy practically fumed.

He smashed his potatoes on his plate while he glared at the Gryffindor table.The bitch was laughing her ass of with that stupid great red oaf. His girlfriend, the blonde… whats-her-name, was staring off into space. Stupid cow! His gaze shifted towards Potter. The boy looked hungrily at Red, who was innocently stirring her food, but as Malfoy looked more closely it was quite obvious that she had her other hand on Potters leg. A stab of jealousy ran through his chest and he quickly took a gulp of pumpkin juice to wash that feeling away. His eyes halted at her curly head again. She was turned towards Ginny and Weasley was staring at her. Malfoy narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like how the great oaf was looking at her, he had a really bad feeling.


***


Hermione sat in the middle of Harry and Ron when transfiguration started. Professor McGonagall divided the class in pairs and of course she had to divide so that each Gryffindor was paired with a Slytherin. House unity and all that.

Total bullshit was Hermione’s thought!

Her heart sank when her name was bound to that of Malfoy. Quietly she turned and he was already looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

Hermione turned her head back and swore under her breath.

Harry leaned in and reassured her that the bastard wouldn’t dare to misbehave in front of McGonagall, mistaking her unease.

Ron just looked helplessly at her, while he was paired up with Bullstrode.

“Now please, Gryffindors take a seat next to your Slytherin partner and take a look at the instructions on the blackboard.”

Stools were scraped over the floor. Hermione bit her trembling lip and stood slowly, her legs felt wobbly and she was scared that she would lose her balance. With a heavy sigh she took her school bag and walked over to Malfoy who was sitting with his arms crossed in the back of the classroom.

He didn’t sneer, he didn’t scowl, he didn’t even glare. He just stared at her as she made her way to him.

Hermione quietly sat down next to him and looked at the blackboard. Without looking at him she took her transfiguration book from her bag and placed it onto the desk. She looked up the correct page and started reading. Malfoy looked at her, but also took his book from his satchel and opened it.

He stared at her as she read on, taking in her soft brown curls, her eyes cast down, the curve of her nose and lips. She didn’t look up at him. She didn’t do anything at all. He looked away and balled his fist under the table. He slammed his book open violently and saw her flinch. His eyes did a once over and then he noticed.

Her hands shook slightly.

“So now you won’t even look at me, huh?” He spat the words accusingly. He saw her close her eyes for a moment and it seemed like taking her forever to look at him. Her eyes looked pleadingly at him, he saw that she was uncomfortable.

“Malfoy, lets just read. Please.”

A heavy feeling spread down on his chest and he quickly looked in his book. Hotness was spreading over his body like a sickness. His anger bubbled beneath his skin and he just couldn’t handle it. Why was it so bloody HOT? Damn this stupid class.

Malfoy yanked at his collar.

The chapter was about transfiguring a small object into a healing potion in case of emergency.
Hermione knew that it would take a lot of concentration. When she was done with her reading she stole a glance at Malfoy. He was looking straight forward.
“Have you finished reading,” She asked softly.

He turned towards her and narrowed his eyes. “Of course.”

“So we can practise?.” Her voice sounded timid and she hated it.

“If you are ready.” He took his wand from his robe.

Hermione placed her ink bottle in the middle of the desk. “I think we should try it in turns.”

Before Hermione could say anything else Malfoy pointed his wand on the small object and muttered a curse. The ink bottle cracked open and its black substance spurted onto the table.

“Have you even read the chapter?” Hermione dared to ask.

Malfoy turned towards her with a scowl on his face.

“What do YOU think?” He narrowed his eyes dangerously.

“Well…I..”

“Shut up!” Malfoy snapped.

Her eyes lit up in anger, but she said nothing. She pointed her wand at the broken ink bottle and with a swish of her wand the bottle turned into a file with clear blue substance. Hermione smiled. But then the file left the table and floated in the air. With a sizzle and a pop the file transfigured into a simmering goo on her table.

Malfoy gave out a bark of laughter.

Hermione snapped her head in his direction and glared at him.

“At least I almost got it right! You didn’t even get close!”

Slowly Malfoy turned his head her way, his cheeks were flushed and his eyes narrowed dangerously.
A hollow feeling made his way to his chest. God, he hated this, and how he hated her!

“Shut up MUDBLOOD, you messed up and now you’re to bigheaded to admit it!”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You just can’t stand the fact that I’m better then you!”

Malfoy gritted his teeth.

“You’re not better. You don’t even come near when you compare yourself to me!”

He smiled cruelly at her.

“You’re lower.”

Hermione couldn’t hide the shock from her face at his awful words.

“You’re still the same pure-blooded imbred!”

She didn’t realise that she stood until he stood as well. He trembled with anger, his face was an ugly scowl.

“You foul excuse of a witch! Don’t you DARE talk to me like that.”

He pointed a finger at her. She slapped it away hotly.

“You will amount to nothing! You will die an early death and no one will remember you.

And there’s no excuse for you. You’re nothing but a COWARD!!”

He balled his hands. “YOU’RE NOTHING BUT DIRT! “

“FOUL MUDBLOOD DIRT!”


“You PRAT! I HATE YOU! FUCKING COWARD!” She screamed back.

McGonagall jumped up at the screaming and looked round the class, quickly spotting the two standing figures in the back of the class.

“MUDBLOOD BITCH. I HOPE YOU DIE!”

McGonagall hurried to the fighting couple. “Stop it! Stop it this instant!”

“DISGUSTING DEATH EATER! I HOPE YOU DIE AS WELL. “ Mcgonagall reached them and screamed at the top of her lungs. “STOP IT!” Malfoy reached for Hermione’s robes and fisted his hand at the front. He pulled her towards him.

“I WILL get you for this! I’ll make sure you wil suffer. MUDBLOOD WHORE!” He hissed

“Release her this MINUTE!” Macgonagall bellowed.

Next to McGonagall stood a screaming Harry and Ron.

“Let her GO YOU FUCKING FERRET!” Harry screamed. Ron was about to pummel Malfoy, but Macgonagall petrified him quickly. Malfoy’s eyes snapped up at Harry, green eyes sparkled dangerously at him, Macgonagall held him back and Malfoy was sure that he was dead otherwise.

He pushed Hermione and released her robes. Hermione fell to the ground but kept screaming. “COWARD. YOU FUCKING COWARD!” Harry squirmed himself from Mcgonagalls grasp and was at her side holding her in her place, she tried to push him away, trying to get to Malfoy, still screaming at the top of her lungs.

“I HATE YOU. YOU COWARD!”

“SHUT UP! SHUT THE HELL UP! FUCKING MUDBLOOD.”

Professor Snape crashed into the room. “WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON?”

He took in the sight in front of him. Students around a shouting Mcgonagall, Granger on the ground kicking and screaming, held there by Potter, a petrified Weasley and a screaming and raging Malfoy who was about to pummel Granger.

Snape decided quickly and screamed ‘stupify’. Malfoy crashed to the ground unconscious.


At the end of the class Malfoy was magically moved to this dorm, Ron was released from the spell and Harry was walking and comforting a crying Hermione back to her dorm.


***

AN: Oh...I know, I've reread this chapter many times and I still think it stinks. But I'm gonna post it anyways. Be gentle and watch out for the next chapter!