Broken Scales

****Authors note****

Thanks to everybody who has read my story! This is my first ever fanfic, so please hang in there until I get my footing! There have been a few questions left for me so I figured I would take a min to respond.

This fic is supposed to take place in the 5th year at Hogwarts it is not post war.

Thank you for all the suggestions, and please review! If yah like it or if you hate it, I just like to hear the comments!

Thanks!

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Unclaimed

The great hall was filled to bursting the next morning, the chatter pressing against Draco’s ears like the crashing of waves against a jagged shoreline. He was in a foul mood, Pansy’s snores had kept him awake all night long the grating noise felt like a cheese grater on his cerebellum consequently leaving him tired and deadly.

As Draco took his seat between Crabe and Goyle they looked at him expectantly. Draco ignored them, they had learned when it was safe to speak to him and when they should sit quietly. How he ever become the leader of these two exceptional morons he will never know. Sure his bastard father had something to do with it, the boys flanked either side of him at all times waiting for danger or impending apocalypse.

The sad part always was the most help they could ever give him was a wide shield to hide behind. How many times had that know it all Granger cursed him? How many times had they been taken unaware by all forms of information coming at them. It was sad, really. Goyle started to chortle to himself for no reason, or so it seemed.

Draco looked up, it was Granger and Weazly, they were fighting, again, Ron looked bewildered as Hermione stood to leave, he reached for her arm. Granger had turned and promptly jinxed his arms to his sides. She leaned in with her deep brown eyes ablaze.

Draco read her lips as she said: “You will keep your hands off me, Ronald.” She swiveled her hips around and stomped out of the great hall. He found himself so engrossed in watching the scene he hadn’t noticed a large brown owl eating his bacon.

The owl hooted at him and nipped his finger making him start, holding its leg out to relive itself of the burden it carried. As Draco took the letter the bird flew away the letter contained the small elegant writing he knew so well.

My dearest son,
I am very sorry I missed seeing you off, you know how your father is, he needed me home. Said you were a man now and didn’t need me to coddle you anymore. I hope you are well, and I am thinking of you. Stay strong my dear. How is dear Pan? Please send her my wishes and please tell her I have sent the package of skin potion she asked me for. I truly do hope it will help.
My best wishes and all my love,
Mum

He chuckled at the letter Narsissa was a genius writing these letters, of course there was no skin potion to her darling Pan, she had adopted the nickname for Pansy after she had asked his mother if she loved Luscious. Obviously, she had responded with: “Of course I love my husband, he is my life.” Pansy was never truly able to grasp the subtly of polite society. He smiled slipping the note into his pocket for later.

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Hermione’s good mood was shattered; she was storming down the 3rd floor staircase muttering under her breath. How dare he do that, I didn’t ask him to help. The story had surfaced this morning, apparently Ron had been fighting, again.

Dean Thomas had made a comment about Hermione filling out last night, it had gotten lewd. Hermione blushed hard at the thought, Ron had snapped apparently punching Dean a few times, claiming it was for Hermione’s honor.

Hermione’s faced flashed with heat again, she knew she had “filled out” a bit over the summer but was it that obvious? And how dare Ron hit Dean and claim it was to protect her, Dean wouldn’t even make eye contact with her this morning over breakfast.

Why was Hermione so off limits to the male population of Hogwarts? How is that fair? She seethed again stomping loudly down the hallway towards her numerology class. She was of course early.

The only other person that sat at the doorway was Dean Thomas, his expression was distant he seemed lost in a faraway land. The bruises he endured last night had been magically healed till only a small green and yellow tint was left.

He glanced up at her when she had neared. Blushing deepest crimson, he looked away ashamed. Hermione was angry again, how dare Ron scare away this boy, Dean was kind of cute, “Hi Dean,” Hermione smiled at him trying to convey warmth with her eyes. Dean murmured a hello and then became strangely interested in his shoelaces.

Enraged as she realized that Dean decided he wasn’t even allowed to talk to her. It might be hazardous to his health and his face. A fresh wave of anger flooded through her body.

Hermione had been claimed, no boy would even look at her now, Ron and Harry had claimed her as a little sister, as a partner in crime and adventure, and as Ron’s intended love, Hermione scoffed, like that would ever happen.

The boy was her friend, not her intended lover, he was never able to keep up mentally. Hermione furrowed her brow at the thought.

Suddenly Hermione was surrounded by chattering students crowding around her preparing for class, she took her seat waiting for the class to start. Sucking on the tip of her quill, still mulling over her annoyance that she had been labeled un-dateable.

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The morning had been long, Draco prepared for the onslaught of noise and confusion of the hallway on his way to potions, weaving his way through the other students tossing out his well practiced death stare to anyone who might bump him.

A small first year girl shook so badly he wondered if she had wet herself at his glare. Then there were the quick glances of the older girls, the looks of awe and wonder as he passed, always under lowered lashes and out of the corners of their eyes as the clung to some dopy wizard hop doted on their every whim.

He was mysterious and a little frighting to them, idiots he thought scathingly. Only an object to be wondered about, instead he was owned by Pansy Parkinson, or so everyone else thought. The intrusion of this thought caused him to glare pointedly at a second year boy and growl slightly when the boy came to close. The second year was so frightened he turned and went the opposite way down the hallway to avoid Draco’s glare.

He had the note from his mother in his back pocket and the reminder of the start of his month of detention from McGonagall. Draco stopped in his tracks, and decided to skive off potions today, he would head to the library write his mother back, Snape wouldn’t mind. After all, Snape was an unwanted son once upon a time too. Draco turned on his heel and walked to the library. Reaching it quickly he headed to his favorite squashy armchair setting his pack at his side and conjuring a small desk for his lap to write his letter.

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Hermione couldn’t even stand to look at Ron’s face by the time potions rolled around. She would likely hit him, not only had Dean shunned her like a pariah, but so had Seamus, Lee, and even a few hufflepuffs this afternoon. That was it, she would become a spinster with countless cats. Always known as the girl that should be with Ronald.

So Hermione sent a school owl to professor Snape, with her essay rolls and a note knowing it would excuse her from class. Woman problems. “Ha,” Snape wouldn’t even dare to ask. Now in a much better mood Hermione flounced to the library. Where knowledge was tangible and the musty smell would bring her comfort and clarity of mind.

Hermione swung in the door of the library, waving with a smile at Madam Pincz. Straight to her favorite section she went, medieval legends, wizards, princes and princesses, dragons, romance, danger. She always found herself lost in these books. Imaging herself in the stories, so far away from her own problems they always seemed to vanish.

Hermione slid off her school robe to cast it on the floor, spreading out there she opened her book and started reading about a prince and his true love, as he battled the dragon to save her life, a small in take of breath brought her back to reality.

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Draco, lost in his letter explaining in his careful and subjective code to his mother about Pan, about the detention and all the other small talk a son would write to his mother. Wishing her luck and strength, willing her to leave and never return, to run away. Although he knew she would understand what his intended meanings about the winds howls and his hope they would leave in haste. He knew his mother would never leave.

He hated being at school when the bastard was alone with her. Draco jerked uncomfortably in his chair. And he pressed the quill harder against the sheet of parchment. The time had passed now, dinner would be offered soon in the great hall. He folded the note neatly and slipped it into his pocket rising to his feet he moved into the closest row of books.

Startled, he stopped, looking down at impossibly long legs crossed at the ankles as a girl was lying on her stomach on the floor. She was in nothing but a tank top and skirt sprawled on her robe and impossibly lost in her book. Her hair fell in long dazzling curls down her shoulders. Her hips were perfect, a slight flare under a slim waist. And those legs how they crossed and uncrossed at the ankles idly, in no attempt at sex appeal just absorbed in her own world.

The girl made the monster in Draco purr contentedly, as he restrained the urge to lay down across her back and kiss the back of her neck. She was perfect, his faceless Valkyrie, His princess, he felt the gasp of air escape his lungs in a rush of excitement and thrill. Her body went rigid, she knew he was there, he would finally see the face of his…

His brain stopped, screeched to a halt while the horror turned his body to stone, it was GRANGER! He had lusted over GRANGER! Draco felt sick, he turned and left so quickly his feet might have touched the floor once as he made his escape.

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Hermione slammed her book down in front of her so hard dust settled around her from the shelves of books around her. Malfoy had come up behind her. When she had turned he had been checking her out. The look was so obvious on his face it was almost hard not to blush.

Then when he had registered who it was, he ran. How dare he, how dare he think her disgusting. Hermione was goaded again into thinking she was some kind of pariah. Destined to be alone, not even Malfoy had stopped to make a cutting reply. The look of disgust was the last strand of Hermione’s already fragile ego and Draco had destroyed it. Leave it to Malfoy to make this day even worse.

Hermione stood, slamming her book into her bag and ramming her arms back into her cloak stomping back into the crush of the hallways. Skipping dinner completely, she headed back to her room. Tossing her bag into the corner and ripping her cloak off, she only had an hour before her detention, gazing at herself in the mirror she grumbled. I’ll show prince Malfoy a thing or two.

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In his haste to leave Malfoy had not noticed Pansy running along side of Him until she grabbed his arm begging him to stop. Draco whirled around to the pouty-faced girl. He stared at her with fervor. No he thought, it can’t be her, anybody but her. He grabbed Pansy and kissed her hard scooping her up in his arms, his valkyrie was back she had a face, but it was Granger. FUCK! He thought, dropping Pansy in horror.

“ I… um… I have to go, right now,” he stammered and turned on his heels to run again leaving Pansy in the dust Draco ran to his room slamming the door behind him. It can’t be her, anybody but her, what the hell am I going to do, I have to be with Pansy, I cant be with another girl, and a bleeding mudblood at that! And Granger, that insufferable know it all?

Out scored him on everything and didn’t she just know how smart she was, hanging out with the golden boys in there perfect little dreamland. And her endless legs, and that tight little… NO! pay attention, Draco! He screamed at himself!

This is bad! So much for your happy valkyrie, so much for your escape from your duties. Now you have to think about Granger… you bleeding idiot! She wouldn’t even dream of letting you touch her let alone do the things you do to her in your head!

Damn he had detention with the little minx and her perfect legs in 10 minutes. He groaned and headed back out the door slowly making his way to the transfiguration room. Draco had a plan he would ignore her, not even make eye contact. He could just blank her out!

Draco chortled at his own brilliance, then it happened he had rounded the corner, she was standing there, tight jeans, low cut emerald green top it skated that thin line between classy and trashy. Her hair was piled on the top of her head in a sexy mess of ringlets and braids. Draco’s mouth fell open, all traces of his brilliant plan gone. DAMN what am I going to do?

“Mr. Malfoy!” The shrill and stern voice of Professor McGonagall crashed into His thoughts, leaving him breathless, “so glad you decided to attend Mr. Malfoy.”

“For your punishment I have decided that I will be a little bit creative, both of you are brilliant students,” she glared at them both pointedly, “but this silly feud has gone on long enough. You two will be the guinea pigs for a new program at the school next year. We will be testing the students on their ability to work together, outside of school. We call it project toddler. You will be moving into a shared space, you will have separate rooms but share common areas and you will be responsible for this,” McGonagall set a life sized 6 month old child on her desk. “good luck children, the schedule for the child is in the bag, your things have already been moved, the password is dueling is bad,” they were excused.

Malfoy stood stock still staring, lost for words, “shit.”