"Don't. Give me your honor as a Malfoy."
"Okay. So what's the new question?"
"Hmm...let's see...okay: Why do you hang around with Pansy?"
"Why? What do you mean, 'Why'?"
"Well, she's awful, and you obviously don't like her very much. So why do you hang around with her?"
"...It's complicated."
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to hear it."
"...You know, you're just giving me more incentive to ask you horrible questions about yourself, Hermione."
"Answer, please."
"I don't understand. Why ask about Parkinson? Why not Crabbe and Goyle?"
"What is it with you and last names?"
"Ah-ah-ah! Only one question per turn, Hermione."
"You've yet to answer this one, Draco. I'm still waiting, you know."
"All right. You want to know why I hang out with Parkinson."
"Yes."
"My dad told me to."
"That's it?"
"Yeah."
"But I've seen the looks you give her! You hate her!"
"Why've you been paying attention to the looks I give her?"
"Why did you pay attention to the way my hair looked at the Yule Ball?"
"One has nothing to do with the other, Hermione."
"...Your turn."
"Heh-heh. That's right. It is my turn."
"Oh, no."
"...While we're on the subject of friends: Why do you hang out with Potter and Weasley?"
"They're my best friends--my turn!"
"No! I require more explanation than that!"
"What further explanation do you need? They're my best friends. I trust them implicitly. We make each other laugh, we help each other out..."
"...you ignore each other..."
"I do not ignore Harry and Ron!"
"I meant to say that they ignore you."
"They don't!..."
"They take you for granted, from what I've seen. Elsewise, why would they have gone off and left you last month, to get in trouble on their own?"
"That wasn't--that's not what you think it was! There were extenuating circumstances!"
"Yes, well...I heard that you and Weasley had a huge, flaming row after the Yule Ball fourth year. Something about...not waiting 'till the last minute to ask you for a date."
"That was just--an ordinary fight! Ron and I fight all the time!"
"Precisely. I ask you again: Why do you hang around with them?"
Cold. "Stop it."
"What?"
"Picking apart my life like it's some kind of—"
"I wasn't! I was just observing that..."
"That what?"
"I just got the impression that the two of them take you for granted, is all."
"...Enough of your pop psychology. It's my turn."
"Oh, crap."
"Why do you hate Harry and Ron?"
"What?"
"You heard me. Why do you hate them so much?"
"Look--Potter's awful, okay? He struts around, child of everyone. Pompous, really."
"No, he's not! Look, he doesn't want to be famous, Draco! He just is, and he hates it."
"Not from what I've seen."
"...Well, what about Ron?"
"Weasley's a friend of Potter. And he's a Muggle-lover. And he's poor."
"...I'll never understand it."
Tense. "Probably not."
"..."
"...My turn! Why do you care if I hate Potter and Weasley?"
"Because they're my friends. Glaringly obvious, isn't it?"
"If you say so..."
"My turn, now. Why do you call me 'Mudblood'?"
*********
A/N: Sorry it's such a short chapter, but it was exceptionally difficult to write. Next chapter will be easier for me, I hope. :D Thanks yet again for all the wonderful reviews! You guys are awesome!
...Now I'm gonna go get some sleep.