Unexamined Lives

CHAPTER 2

The Yule Ball was approaching. In the three years since the Triwizard Championship, the Ball had fast become a tradition, and this year it had finally been extended to the whole school. This meant that for three weeks in advance of the event, every girl's foremost thought was to plan her attire, and every boy had nervous dreams of not finding a date.

The professors, although not relaxing their standards as far as homework, were slightly more understanding of the myriad whispered conversations in class, and the rampant note-passing that would occur with or without their approval.

The Gryffindor common room reflected this as much as any other each evening. Only a week earlier there were students playing Exploding Snap, studying, or congregating around the latest strange pet someone had smuggled in. Lee Jordan's giant tarantula had been a favorite and established a trend that had not abated, even after the unfortunate incident when Fang met the spider and seemed to find its crunchiness pleasing.

Now the scene was rather more ebullient, with girls flocking around the latest issues of Witch Weekly to discuss fashion, or passing around a very dog-eared copy of the Gladrags catalog. Meanwhile, boys sulked in small groups, whispering as they stared at the girls, accompanied by much nudging and mumbled comments.

Hermione, Harry and Ron were quite unconcerned. Harry was assured a date with Ginny Weasley, his girlfriend since the previous September. Ron had not objected to the pairing, since he was well aware of Ginny's infatuation with his friend, and he knew Harry would treat her with all the respect and affection she deserved.

Ron and Hermione would be attending together, as they had done since Hermione's explosive revelation that she was, in fact, a girl. Neither regarded this as an actual date, as Ron had no romantic expectations, while Hermione claimed to have no time for dating, but it had become part of the tradition. In any case, each did enjoy the other's company.

Hermione had been as thorough in preparing for the Ball as she was in doing her homework. She had selected a dress months in advance, and it was waiting in her closet, carefully folded in an enchanted box that kept it from wrinkling. As usual, it was understated, simply elegant, and comfortable, reflecting the character of its owner.

Hermione felt it was a nice change to actually take care of her appearance on these special occasions. While she did not have the patience or vanity to fuss over cosmetics and hairdos everyday, she enjoyed the surprised looks each year as she made her entrance to the Great Hall. As Neville had once told her, she cleaned up nicely. It was a comment she actually cherished, if only for its guilelessness.

Already having her own gown did not at all excuse Hermione from participating in the flurry of fashion debates around her. Ginny had not had her forethought, and she had approached Hermione to help her in her own choice of dress. They planned a trip to Hogsmeade for that weekend, so they could find something suitable.

Hermione enjoyed this too, as it gave her a chance to unwind. In a way, it was like a chance to play with dolls again, a doll that could give her feedback. It was soothing, and a welcome respite from the hard work she had been doing, and the long hours in the library. For all its importance to Ginny, it was rather inconsequential, and it felt good to do something that had no far-reaching implications. So Hermione looked forward to Saturday.

# # # # # # # #

That morning, the two girls left the common room bright and early, grabbed a quick breakfast, and leisurely strolled to town, discussing the latest colors, makeup choices, and shoe trends. Ginny was quite a bit more knowledgeable where fashion was concerned, so Hermione was pleased to just let her chatter away, only nodding her assent here and there, or asking for more details. Her mind was pleasantly clear. It was a cold, crisp December day, and it had snowed the night before, but the paths had already been cleared of any accumulated snow and ice, so it made for a pleasant walk, wrapped in their warm hooded cloaks.

The first stop in town was Honeydukes. Hermione did not much indulge in sweets, her parents had made certain that she did not acquire a taste for them, but she enjoyed surprising Ron and Harry with an occasional Chocolate Frog, or Sugar Quill. She replenished her stock, not wanting to leave it for later in case she forgot. Ginny, who was eternally watching her figure, simply stared at the chocolates displayed and inhaled the tantalizing scents longingly. Then it was on to Gladrags.

The momentary lull in conversation while Hermione paid for her purchases at Honeydukes seemed to have given Ginny a chance to tap into her reserves of energy, so she now launched onto a lengthy dissertation on the merits of different hair care products. She barely stopped to catch her breath until they reached the clothing store.

The clerk at Gladrags was already talking to Lisa Turpin, a 7^th year Ravenclaw Hermione knew. Lisa noticed the two girls first, and waved them over. She was holding a rather frilly blue gown. "What do you think?" Lisa asked Hermione, hugging the dress to her body.

Ginny almost squealed in delight. "It's perfect! It complements your eyes, and it looks so feminine! You should do your hair up, maybe with some curls to frame your face, it would give you a very soft look."

Hermione quickly took care of the formal introductions, since she was aware that Ginny and Lisa only knew each other in passing. It didn't seem to matter; they already appeared to have more in common than she did with either girl. They were sisters in the Great Sorority of the Closet, she wryly thought.

The three girls ambled around the store, and with the help of the attendant and several trips to the changing booths, were able to find a gown that Ginny declared to be "the one." It fulfilled the long list of requirements Ginny had been rattling off on the way there, which was no small feat. The fabric had a very appealing quality, dark crimson, with glints of gold that changed with the light. In spite of herself, Hermione approved of it, although it was rather more ornate than she would have preferred.

After another two hours of shopping, which were a necessity to find exactly the ideal pair of shoes, and hair accessories, and undergarments, and... Hermione lost track what else, the girls decided to round out the morning with lunch at the Three Broomsticks.

They chatted animatedly all the way there, but no longer about clothes. Much to Hermione's despair, boys had come into the conversation, and seemed to be there to stay. And this was another topic where she was slightly out of her depth. It didn't matter much, though, since it felt good anyway to be just one of the girls for a day. Even if her two friends seemed to be perfectly able to carry out the conversation without her there, it was pleasant to be carefree.

Lisa was unattached, much as Hermione, and Ginny could hardly abide talk of any boy other than her Harry. Anyone else paled in comparison. As far as she was concerned, they probably were not worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as he was.

Both older girls indulged her amusedly. While they both agreed that Harry was wonderful, neither was particularly interested in his manly attributes, but they found it entertaining to hear him extolled so extravagantly. Ginny was pleased to oblige.

Lisa did not yet have a date for the Yule Ball, but she wasn't worried. In the unlikely event that nobody else asked her, and there was no precedent for this, she figured she could always just walk in with Mandy Brocklehurst. Mandy was another Ravenclaw whose rather thick greenish glasses and unfortunate complexion almost certainly precluded a date at this stage, in spite of her very cheery and charming personality.

They were sitting around a table sipping butterbeers and waiting for their lunch orders. A few minutes had passed, when Lisa, who was sitting across the table from the Gryffindors and thus had a clear view of the door, grinned and waved at someone coming in.

Before Hermione or Ginny could turn, Lisa was calling this person over to join them. It was none other than Malfoy, and his presence did more to chill Ginny and Hermione than the cold outside ever could.

"Lisa," he grinned politely, and acknowledged the other two with a chilly nod, but made no other comments. He briefly declined the invitation, and sat at the bar instead.

Ginny immediately asked Lisa, "You're friends with Malfoy?" and the note of chagrin somewhat made up for the rudeness of her question, which sounded quite like an accusation. Lisa had the good grace to appear surprised.

"I don't know that he would say we are friends, but as far as I'm concerned, he's all right, once he drops the superior act. We have had a few classes together, and he helped me a lot with Study of Ancient Runes last year. I forgot you Gryffindors are a bit more averse to him and the Slytherins than we are. Sorry, didn't mean to make you uncomfortable by asking him over. You should give him a chance, though, he's really funny."

The Gryffindors exchanged a glance. Each had had on numerous occasions the opportunity to experience Malfoy's sense of humor, or rather the biting end of it. However, neither was inclined to disabuse the other girl of her notions, or let their distaste over Malfoy spoil what had so far been a perfectly amicable chat. It did strike Hermione as funny that Lisa would mention giving him a chance, however.

Rather than comment on her misgivings, she decided to refocus the conversation, "I didn't know you were taking Runes. How do you like the class?"

"It was alright at first, learning the straightforward meanings of the Runes and so on. You know, the famed Ravenclaw wit and learning, it comes easy to commit things to mind. But when it came to interpreting the Runes, to perception, I was in a bind. I thought I was going to fail, until Draco came along, and taught me The Secret of Interpreting the Runes, Pursuant to the Draco Malfoy Method," she said in an ominous tone, but barely suppressing a chuckle.

Ginny had to ask, "And that would be..."

"Well, you go into a deep state of concentration, think of all you know about each Rune, consider their positions in the spread, and then... you embellish for all you are worth!" Lisa finished with outright laughter.

This sounded so much like what Ron and Harry had been doing in Divination for the past few years, Hermione and Ginny had to laugh in spite of themselves. The three girls' laughter washed over the entire establishment, and several heads turned their way, including the silver one at the bar. Ginny and Hermione eyed Malfoy without their usual contempt, and Hermione was surprised to notice a slightly bemused smile pass briefly over his own lips.

Each turned back to their drinks. Madam Rosmerta brought over their sandwiches, and the pleasant lunch continued, amid conversation ranging from their classes, to favorite pastimes, and so on.

# # # # # # # #

"Lisa, wait up!"

The Ravenclaw turned on her heels to see who was calling. She smiled at Draco Malfoy, and waited for him to catch up. She nodded briefly at the lumbering Crabbe and Goyle behind him.

"Going to the pitch? Mind if we walk with you?" Draco asked at her assent.

They walked for a few moments in silence, Crabbe and Goyle a few steps behind them, carrying what looked like Draco's broomstick and his Quidditch gear.

Draco turned to her with a pleasant smile. "Are you done with your shopping for the Ball? I assume that's what you were doing this morning, correct?"

"Yes, I found a wonderful gown. You know, have to look my best! Why didn't you join us for lunch?" she asked in turn, figuring it was best to get this over and done with.

While she and Draco talked about classes frequently, it was not quite so usual that he would take an interest in her shopping or other such activities. Lisa thought he might have something particular in mind. She suspected it was about their previous brief meeting in Hogsmeade.

He smiled, unruffled. He had not really thought she would be oblivious to his motives. "Well, you seemed to have all the company you needed, and they were not as pleased to see me as I could have hoped. I was truly hurt!" he drawled sarcastically.

"Why do you dislike them so much? Hermione and Ginny are very nice; I would think you could get along quite well with them. If you decided to stop snarling at the mere sight of them, that is..."

"I do not snarl, I simply disapprove. That Weasley girl is just as bad as the rest of the family, worse actually, if you consider her taste in boyfriends. And the other, well, the list of what's wrong with her is too long, and I wouldn't want to bore you."

"What do you know about her that I don't? I can't think of anything wrong with Hermione, unless somewhat bushy hair ranks unreasonably high in the list of faults that would prevent you from wanting to know a person."

"No, I was thinking more in the order of her association with that disgraceful Potter and your other little friend's brother. That does rank particularly high on my list. Not to mention the fact that she's not a pureblood, she's a bossy Gryffindor know-it-all, and seems to be McGonagall's pet. I don't know how come that old bag doesn't see through her."

"So far, the only thing on your appraisal that really reflects on Hermione, is being bossy. I would think you were a bit more mature than to hold her friends against her. As far as being a know-it-all, she works hard for it. I actually respect that in her. And let's not start on teacher's pet, shall we? Or Snape might get upset with me and take points from my house for disagreeing with you, Slytherin," she said without malice.

"And as to the Mud... Muggle-born charges? What would you say? I suppose that has no bearing over anything, correct?" he asked with some of the superciliousness he normally reserved for Gryffindors.

Lisa was far from pleased. While she was a pureblood witch, her family had never looked on Muggles with the contempt that many others, and most notably the Slytherins, seemed to reserve for them. She saw no reason for it. Little as she knew about Muggles, she suspected Draco knew even less, and was simply parroting his elders.

"I thought you were in possession of a finer mind than that, Draco. I've listened to you put down my friend long enough, for reasons that are so far beyond her control, or so farfetched as to be laughable. I will no more hold her parents against her than I would hold your father's associations against you. And he has far more choice in the matter than the Grangers have in being Muggles."

Immediately, Lisa sensed she had said too much. She should have known better than to bring Lucius Malfoy into a conversation with Draco. She was unutterably surprised when, instead of rounding back on her with some scathing comment, he just picked up his pace in silence, overtaking her with a stormy expression, and heading for the changing rooms, closely followed by his two lumbering cohorts.

# # # # # # # #

"Draco..."

Coldly, "Turpin."

Several pairs of Slytherin eyes looked up to her, but no gray ones. It was Wednesday, and she had not talked to Malfoy since their disagreeable encounter on Saturday afternoon. Of course, Lisa had seen him at the Slytherin table during each meal since then, but never by himself, so she hadn't had a chance to explain. Since she did not want to postpone her apology further, the Ravenclaw had decided to call on Draco the very next time she saw him, even if he wasn't alone.

"Was there something you wanted with me, or did you just wish to make sure we Slytherins are not served better food than the other houses?" The sneer in his tone was unmistakable, despite his never once turning to face her.

She was here to apologize, and she sensed he knew it, but did not want to give her a chance. "Actually, I did want something with you, but I see you are busy, so maybe we'll do this some other time. I wouldn't want your dinner to get cold."

His attitude upset her. She turned and headed for the Ravenclaw table, where Mandy was waiting and saving her a seat. Before she could take it, however, she heard Draco's voice again behind her.

"I was quite done with dinner, and am not in the mood for dessert. I suppose I have a moment."

With a half smile, she turned to him, and motioned him outside. She mouthed something to Mandy over her shoulder, who shrugged, turned to Terry Boot, and struck up a conversation.

# # # # # # # #

Once in the wide hallway, she sat down at the top of the stairs, and motioned for him to sit with her, but he declined, simply standing a few steps lower, so as not to tower over her.

"Well?" Draco asked in a very unfriendly tone.

Lisa started, "I want to apologize to you. I should not have said anything about your father on Saturday, and I am sorry that I upset you."

His eyes distant, he shrugged. "You didn't upset me. You were voicing what you think you know about my father. I won't hold your ignorance of the subject over you, as you so generously refrain from holding his activities over me," his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Draco, I am trying to apologize. I don't expect you to make it easy, but you can hold your tongue for a moment and let me talk, can't you? Or is that too big a boon to ask of a Malfoy?" The veiled admission in his words was not lost on her, however.

He started to turn away from her, when she stopped him with her hand on his arm. Draco shook her hand off, but stayed.

"I'm sorry. Once again, Draco, I let my temper run away with me. I really want to make this better, I know I was wrong, and I accused your family of things I don't know about, and I want you to forgive me, but you can be so infuriating, and you can make me lose control so easily!"

At this explosion, a small but undeniable smirk came to his until then too-serious face. He finally sat down by her. "Really? Tell me more about me... and stick to what you know, Turpin."

"And will that earn me your forgiveness? It is after all what I'm trying to get," she grinned.

"Depends on how close to the mark I find your comments."

"Very well, I'll be mindful of that. Let's see... I know not everyone would agree with me, since you don't seem to have much of a devoted following here, if you set aside the Slytherins, but I don't find you quite as objectionable as others do, so I'll talk from my experience."

"That's all I am asking."

"All right. Yes, as I mentioned, you are infuriating. But I think you enjoy that."

More smirking.

"You are smart enough to deserve being placed in Ravenclaw, and that is high praise as far as I'm concerned."

"Arguably."

She ignored the smugness in his voice. "Given the effort you constantly put into foiling Harry Potter and the Gryffindors, I would say you are as tenacious as a Hufflepuff."

A simple nod.

"I know you can be charming, although you are highly selective of who you bestow your charm on. You have excellent manners, but don't let this get in the way when it comes to making inappropriate comments to those you dislike. That seems to take precedence."

Wicked smile, "Go on."

"You are witty and funny, although you seem to prefer making fun of people to having fun with them."

He did not look at her.

"And can I hazard a thus-far unfounded guess, without fear of losing whatever points I may have earned until now?

"You may," he answered magnanimously, with a glint in his eyes that betrayed his solemn expression.

"I think you could be as good a friend as any Gryffindor, if you so chose, but have not yet found anyone you think worthy of your friendship."

"Well, now that is quite a guess. I don't know that you are right, but since I find it very complimentary, in spite of the Gryffindor reference, I won't take points from you. You do, however, have yet to extol any of my Slytherin virtues."

"Actually, I was saving those qualities for my list of the less pleasant aspects of your company. I only started with the good because I wanted you to forgive me."

"Turpin, you are pushing it. I just forgave you, don't make me regret it so soon," he said with a playful expression that belied his words.

"And stop calling me Turpin, unless you are still upset with me. I like the mighty Draco Malfoy to call me Lisa."

"All right, you just said I'm mighty, and that's Slytherin enough for me. I now pronounce you entirely forgiven, Lisa."

"Good, so now that I have you in a good mood, how about you come to the Yule Ball with me?" she rushed this out, not at all in her usual calm tones. She was not sure how he'd take it.

"Well, Miss Turpin, this is entirely unexpected! I understand I am irresistible, to round out my other good qualities you just finished mentioning, but I never knew you..." his grin was irrepressible as he said this, but he actually looked mystified.

"Don't put words in my mouth, Malfoy. I have no trouble resisting you. But I thought I could show you how the other half lives. Since you got to Hogwarts you have been so enclosed in your green and silver cocoon, most people haven't had a chance to know you, as has been my rare privilege. I thought I would give you a chance to mingle with the populace, and maybe have a good time," she explained earnestly.

Lisa continued, "I thought it may be a way of making things up to you. Many people only know the rumors about your family, as I know I don't have to explain to you. To be honest, you have not done much to dispel the myth, but since I have seen people automatically mistrust you, on the basis of your name and your House, I won't hold you entirely responsible for your nasty attitude."

"So you think I am some poor misjudged child, and took pity on me? I believe I will get offended again. You should have stopped right after your apology," he commented dryly. His eyes gleamed colder than she had ever seen them.

"Draco, don't put on airs now, I know you are not entirely the way people think! I would have thought you could do with relaxing for one night, not having to pretend you are something I know you are not..." she quickly retorted, refusing to let herself be upset by his coldness.

But Draco simply turned and stalked out, leaving her in the empty room, wondering exactly what it was that made him react as he had.