Only You

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

There was a knock on Draco's dormitory door before a silent figure, not bothering to wait for an answer, slipped in. It was Silas surely coming to see if Draco was okay. He had a shoelace in his hand and was silently tying knots with expertise before pulling them apart and starting over. Draco felt grateful for his friend, that he would come to check on him even when he was so uncomfortable. He sat up to allow room for his friend to sit on his bed. They sat in comfortable silence for a while. That was one of the best things about Silas, his ability to allow silence. Most people would feel the need to say something, provide advice or consolation. Silas, however, understood the importance of supporting someone simply by being in their presence.

"So erm, how'd you find out? Did someone get a humiliating picture of the Dark Lord's underling for the Daily Prophet?" Draco's voice was bitter, more so than he meant it to be. He knew he shouldn't take it out on one of the only people who would willingly associate with him, but he couldn't help the hurt he felt knowing that his prospects would only become worse after that incident.

"Hermione." Silas replied simply. He hadn't looked up from his knots once since sitting on the bed. His face seemed tranquil in comparison to the movement of his hands.

"That's just peachy. Sent you to make sure I hadn't offed myself, did she?"

"Wanted to know if you were okay."

This had not been the response Draco had been expecting. His ears turned pink as he thought about Hermione Granger concerned about his well being. He imagined her face, her eyebrows scrunched together leaving a line right between them, maybe even tears in her eyes. Then she would wrap her arms around his neck, forcing his head into her shoulders, allowing for his own arms to wrap around her waist. Then she would whisper something in his ear about how everything would be okay. Shaking his head to clear the image from his mind, Draco searched the face of his friend. Their eyes met briefly before Silas redirected his attention to his knots again.

"Are you?" Silas' voice came out barely above a whisper as the shoelace whirled faster in his hands, "Okay?"

Touched by his concern, Draco allowed his body to relax a bit, letting the tension slip from his limbs before responding.

"I'm okay mate, thanks for asking." Silas didn't seem totally convinced. "It's not like I don't deserve this. I was a big reason why most of them will be traumatized for life. People are dead because of me. Besides, I've done just about as much back in my day. I can deal with a bit of humiliation." The smirk didn't quite meet his eyes, and he could feel Silas' defiance to his words. His eyes burned angrily for a split second.

"Don't let Leanne hear you say that. You'd never hear the end of it."

Draco couldn't hold back the laugh that sprung from his stomach. It was true. If Leanne ever heard him say anything degrading about himself, she would never shut up about how he was being mean to her friend and she wouldn't allow it. It had been an almost constant comment the first month of their friendship. His laughing seemed to ease Silas' tension, which allowed them to sink back into their comfortable silence. Draco did feel better. At least he knew two people who would stick up for him.

Three now, he mused. Hermione continued to surprise him. Forgiving him privately and defending him publicly were two entirely different things. Draco wondered how it was possible that she was still capable of surprising him. The thought made him smile. He promised himself that from then on, he'd work as hard as he could to surprise her too.

* * *

After the students had been thoroughly chastised, it seemed that the students of Hogwarts had stopped bullying Draco. In a matter of a couple days they had calmed down exponentially. There was still the occasional bump to the shoulder or name calling under their breath, but for the most part they just ignored him. The old Draco would have hated being ignored more than anything in the world. His ego would have preferred the bullying, but the new Draco preferred to be ostracized. As long as he had Silas and Leanne he would be okay.