XXI.

"Well, of course, Theo won," Dorathea said, running a brush through her damp hair, "Draco didn't know what hit him."

"Well, what did hit him?" Mandy demanded. The two other Ravenclaws had been waiting up for her in the tower and had immediately ambushed her with questions and demands for the entire story- right from the beginning. Dorathea had put them off by promising a story in the morning since she was tired. When that excuse had proved unsuccessful, Dorathea bargained for a few minutes to shower and prepare for bed before telling everything. For a moment, Dorathea almost wished that Lisa had been at her side. She would have sent Mandy scurrying for safety with a few well-chosen threats. But the strange girl had airily explained she was late for detention with Professor Snape and wandered after the Slytherins deeper into the dungeons.

Now, the three girls were gathered on Dorathea's bed in their pajamas - looking for all the world like a tableau from a stereotypical sleepover. Mandy had a pillow tucked against her chest and Padma's long hair had been braided into a thick strand that draped over her shoulder. Both were leaning forward with fascinated expressions on her face.

Dorathea set down her brush. It was a beautiful silver piece that had belonged to Lady Nott before she passed. Theo had given it to her when it became clear that Dorathea didn't have a brush of her own and had explained that the delicate carvings along the edge weren't just for decoration; they were runes to dry wet hair, strengthen the strands, and produce a beautiful gloss. Her hair did look healthier, but Dorathea wasn't sure if it was the brush or that Lady Malfoy had explained how to brush her hair (from roots to tips, 100 times a night) and the right potions to care for her hair. At the thought of the older woman who had been so helpful but so instrumental in the Malfoy betrayal, Dorathea felt a pang in her heart. Lady Malfoy had been like a favorite aunt to her- a trusted guide in this sudden new world of pureblood beliefs- and the betrayal hurt badly.

Dorathea blinked back a wave of sadness and realized the other girls were still waiting on her answer. Not only Padma and Mandy, she realized. Morag was sitting on her bed- an open book ostensibly on her lap but clearly listening to the conversation rather than reading. Dora gave her a small smile and then turned back to the other two Ravenclaws.

"I didn't recognize all the spells," She demurred. This was technically true but she hoped the girls would attribute it to Dorathea's lack of experience with the wizarding world rather than the potentially darker spells that Theo had used. Still, Dorathea was pleased that Padma and Mandy had sought out the story from her, rather than listening to rumors. She didn't want to imagine what sort of nonsense the Hogwarts gossip mill would come up with about this duel. Especially since Parkinson and Greengrass had been present. Maybe there was hope for the Ravenclaws after all.

"You must have recognized something!" Mandy insisted, leaning forward, "Did they bow? Was it a long, drawn-out duel? Did they have to go to the hospital wing?"

Dorathea laughed at the excitement in Mandy's voice. Her eagerness reminded Dora of Aunt Petunia's eagerness when another episode of her favorite soap opera came out each week. She shook her head, "No one was hurt- well, Draco might have a broken nose-"

Both girls gasped in delighted horror. On the other bed, Morag had dropped all pretense of reading and was listening in avid interest. Dora wondered if it was worth inviting the other girl to come over. She knew from Harry's experiences what it felt like to be on the outside of a group. But there wasn't much more to tell of the story.

"Since the duel was to first blood, that ended the fight in Theo's favor," Dorathea continued with a small shrug, "It was over very quickly."

"That's it?" Mandy asked incredulously, "One spell, one broken nose, and it was over?"

Dorathea hesitated. Part of her desperately wanted to tell about Draco asking for her favor. Partially because it was still so scandalous that it would be sure to shock and delight her housemates. Partially because it would make sense, to tell the truth before the Slytherins started some ridiculous rumor that Dora had offered her favor to Draco or something. But if the girls didn't start the rumor and Dorathea began adding those details, it would be like rubbing salt into Parkinson's emotional wounds. So after a long moment, she shook her head.

"Theo wore my favor- my blue ribbon from this morning and Draco wore Pansy's." She said finally. It was the strict truth without the hurtful details.

Mandy looked disappointed but Padma collected herself first, "Well, at least no one was badly hurt." She said, "And I'm glad Theo won, so the whole issue is over."

Dorathea nodded in agreement, though she couldn't help the sinking feeling that the duel might have ended the affair for Draco and Theo, her work wasn't quite over yet. She was still hurt by Draco and his mother's betrayal and didn't know what to do when she next saw either Malfoy. It wasn't as if she, a second-year, could challenge Lady Malfoy to a duel! Even if she had a fighting chance, Lady Malfoy would probably laugh the whole thing off and spin it as a simple miscommunication. Or worse. Plus, it wasn't easy to forget the hurt look on Pansy's face when Draco refused her favor or the anger in Greengrass's eyes when the girls helped Draco back to the Slytherin common room.

She chatted a bit longer with the girls about how her first day went (exhausting), whether she liked Ravenclaw (she did), and if they wanted to study tomorrow during their break period and finish their potion essays (absolutely). With the last point, Dorathea extended the invitation of the study group to Morag, who had returned to her book and had it tentatively accepted. She closed the royal blue curtains of her bed pleased that the other girl would be included in their group but also exhausted. She'd only been back in Hogwarts for one full day and already Dorathea's life was as dramatic as Harry's.

After setting the alarm spell Theo had taught her, Dorathea drifted to sleep trying to decide what she wanted to do with Draco.

A/N: As always, thank you for your support of the story! I especially love reading everyone's comments and questions!