This Dark and Twisty Road

Hyper vigilent the teenager's tense frame flinched minutely whenever there was an unexpected noise. Movement that was too close caused the same reaction. Thankfully, his cousin was too distracted by his own distress to pick up or notice Silas'. Otherwise, he was sure that Draco would have mercilessly tried to use that. It wasn't that he found the blond intimidating, far from it. Draco, however, was on better terms with the twins than Silas and used that to his advantage many times.

Parting ways with the blond as soon as he was able, Silas quickly found an empty compartment. It didn't matter that he would have to move to a different one shortly. At the moment he would take what breathing room he could. When he had made plans with the girl from the book shop, he hadn't known what he did now, nor the experiences. The small badge that had innocently accompanied his yearly letter been a complete surprise to him. When he'd picked it up, he felt as if a weight had been added to him. At the moment, it was in the pocket of his leather jacket. While knowing it wasn't possible, he still felt as if it would burn him if he touched it.

It seemed he didn't have long to wait or dwell on his musings. The door opened to the girl in question. He had wondered if he should have waited on the platform to guage how she was, but his eventful summer pushed it right from his mind. His thoughts had been a million miles away with only wanting to be alone to reflect on everything. This, he could work with this though. See if they could build on their... acquaintanceship.

"Evangeline," he greeted as he faced her. Having not taken a seat yet he did so noted that she had already left her trunk in the luggage car. The animal carrier he had not expected. Then again, he had no idea of whom the animals of Ravenclaw tower belonged. Silas didn't particularily care as long as they didn't bother him or touch his things.

Gesturing behind him, he would allow her to choose her seat and would sit opposite her accordingly. While he would pick and choose which rules he usually walked the line of, etiquette had been drilled into him. It also had its uses. "Please," he stated politely.

September had officially arrived, and that meant that Evangeline, along with so many other students had to ride back to Hogwarts for another school Year.A few years back, Evangeline would have been worried, since leaving home meant she would be an easy target for her brother Nathaniel, but things had changed and Eva was not the same weak girl she used to be. Or well, she was trying not to be. With Voldemort having returned, though, the Ravenclaw witch had no idea what life would be like from now on. She had gotten a taste of the Dark Side, and she despised it. She was a Faye though, and that left her with no other choice.

Follow your family's footsteps, or die.

And Eva was not going to allow herself to die.

What made things a little bit better, though, was the new friend, or well, acquaintance she had made over the summer. Silas Lestrange, of all people, was the man that decided to enter her life, when everything seemed to work against her. The little talk they had had been, the least to say, a welcome distraction, and Evangeline had hopped that they would meet again soon. The young man had mentioned of meeting her on the Hogwarts Express, but the witch knew better that get her hopes up. No one truly wanted to spend time with her. She wasn't the type of woman people liked, it seemed. And of course, she had her brother to thank for adding to that.

She had made an attempt to spot the young man on the platform though. No matter how much she knew she shouldn't be doing that, Evangeline felt the need to believe that Silas was indeed different. That even if he were the only son of none other than Bellatrix Lestrange, he was still his own self. Darkness or not, there had to be something there, else Eva wouldn't have felt that pull, that need to talk to him again, even if she knew it was danger. After not spotting him anywhere, though, the Ravenclaw decided it was time to board the train, and find an empty compartment to hide away. Away from the world, and her brother.

Most of the compartments had already been occupied, something that ticked Eva off, because she did not want to enter a compartment full of Slytherins, who would probably torment her to death. But then, she didn't want to enter a compartment filled with anyone really. She just wanted to be left alone, and pretend that she was another normal child. No problems to solve, no family drama, no Voldemort...

Her eyes caught a familiar face, though, occupying a compartment on his own, and the Ravenclaw witch found herself staring. Silas was in there, but he hadn't tried to find her. Was going in the right choice? Evangeline didn't really have time to think about that though, because the sound of her brother's voice touched her ears, and caused her to open the compartment door and slip inside, before closing it and pulling the curtains close. Her heart was beating fast. She didn't want to deal with her stupid brother and his friends, especially not when Silas was close. He didn't have to know. He didn't care after all, did he?

Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, Eva made light work of putting her stuff aside, placing her animal carrier on the seat, just in time to hear Silas call her name. Her heart sped up once again, at the sound of his voice, and the young woman closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down, before turning to face the guy that had stumbled into her life, and made her wonder about more than just his name.

"Please,"

"Thank you.." The witch trailed off, taking a seat on the left side of the compartment, right next to her animal carrier, where her cat Erebus kept hissing. He never liked closed environments, but her never liked anything anyway. Erebus was a picky cat, only sticking by Evangeline. He hated people, he hated closed places, he hates toys... he probably hated himself too, but Eva loved him more than anything. He was, after all, he only company.

"Do you mind, if I let him out? He hates being in there. I promise to keep him from getting to you, though I doubt he would, anyway. He hates everyone." Eva admitted with a small laugh, before turning to the cat once again, attempting to calm him down.

Silas inclined his head to acknowledge her thanks, as he sat down across from her, eyes drawn to the hissing creature inside the carrier. Staring at it contained as it was, he wasn't sure if this was the same creature he'd encountered a time or two in the tower. If it was, then they'd had an accord of neither would bother the other. Not after the time that the cat had dared to hiss at him and he'd hissed right back at it. It had tried to growl at him and he gave it right back until the cat turned away and after that they left each other alone.

"Do you mind, if I let him out? He hates being in there. I promise to keep him from getting to you, though I doubt he would, anyway. He hates everyone."

At that comment, the teen knew that it had to be the cantankerous feline that he'd interacted with. So, it belonged to Evangeline. Silas didn't blame the cat for being in a foul mood. He'd be the same if he was stuck in a cage for transportation. Then again, the train was a type of prison. Cramming nearly three hundred minors on a train together with only fourteen supposedly authoritative figures had just been asking for trouble.

"No, it's alright. We've met." He stared at the cat, his lips curling up a bit at the ends in a slight smile. "We also understand one another, don't we?"

He debated about bringing up that he'd have to leave the compartment later to check in with the other prefects. It was mandatory, otherwise he wouldn't attend. His cousin was a prefect however, and if Silas wanted to know what was going on, along with any other spare information, it was best he go.

Something else caused him to switch his gaze to the cat's owner. "I'd say he likes you if he's stayed all these years."

Evangeline kept her eyes at the angry feline in the carrier, whilst waiting for Silas to give he ran answer. Truthfully, she was hoping that he wouldn't mind, and that Eva would be able to release the hissing creature from its prison, but then, there was a possibility he hated cats. In that case, Eva would have to find another way to calm down the creature, or she would have to put up with all the hissing and scratching for the whole duration of the trip, until Erebus was finally allowed to be released.

"No, it's alright. We've met."

Hearing him say that it was alright, though, brought a sigh out of the girl, who immediately opened the animal carrier, allowing the black, short-haired cat to come out and immediately get on her lap, where he began meowing, asking for attention. Her eyes found Silas' and she gave him a big smile, as she petted the little cat, who was purring in approval. Erebus had always been a secret lover of petting, after all.

"We also understand one another, don't we?"

At the sound of Silas' voice, the cat immediately tensed, jumping away from Eva's delicate fingers and looking straight at the male who had dared to speak. "Erebus?" Eva asked, scratching the top of the feline's head, but Erebus wouldn't budge. The cat's eyes remained fixed on Silas, predatory, questioning, giving Eva a strange feeling of fear. Was her cat going to attack Silas?

In a matter of seconds, the feline had jumped from the witch's lap into Silas', causing Eva to yelp as her eyes widened, her face growing paler. Erebus had never done something similar in the past, and truthfully, the witch had no idea how to handle the situation. All she could do was watch as the feline sad in the male's lap, looking up at him and meowing for his attention. "You have to be joking.." Evangeline muttered under her breath, staring shocked at the cat.

He hated everybody, so why was he in the Ravenclaw male's lap?

"I'd say he likes you if he's stayed all these years."

"Well... He obviously likes one more, now. I can't believe he came to you..." The Ravenclaw witch admitted, staring as the black cat began rubbing its head against Silas' stomach. "Erebus is the most anti-social cat I've ever met. He likes me, that's true, but he's never shown any signs of affection to anyone else. And here we are, with him in your lap, begging to be petted..." To say that she was speechless would be an understatement, but a small part of her was glad. Creatures seemed to have a different way of sensing what people were truly like. And if Erebus actually liked Silas, well then, he definitely was worth  getting to know.

The cat ending up on his lap, was not something Silas had been expecting. While he and the creature had come to an agreement, it had never been this. It had been one of mutual indifference and avoidance. Knowing it would be best not to try to stand up as knowing the feline's persnickety nature would have it claws sink into his flesh just for the hell of it. Nor would it be a very good idea to try to shove it off, or touch it in any fashion.

"Well... He obviously likes one more, now. I can't believe he came to you..."

It had come as quite a shock to him as well and he did not like surprises. The teen went completely still when the cat decided he would make a good rubbing post for its head. Having never had any sorts of pets, Silas had no idea how he and animals would get along. Yes, he'd studied other animals he'd happened across on his family's properties; thankfully he was always alone and unobserved. Otherwise, he was sure that he would have been dubbed 'dark' and that he would have had a closer watch on him then he'd had when he'd entered Hogwarts. His relatives wouldn't have approved either. Strangely enough, he was equally sure that his parents might have understood. He'd never gotten the chance to ask seeing as letters weren't permitted the inmates of Azkaban.

"Erebus is the most anti-social cat I've ever met. He likes me, that's true, but he's never shown any signs of affection to anyone else. And here we are, with him in your lap, begging to be petted..."

"Is that what he's doing?" Looking down at the creature, Silas eyed it speculatively. He took Care of Magical Creatures but only because he wanted to study them up close. The information he received from that class however was woefully inadequate and disappointing. He'd had to make off with a few of the creatures on the sly when he was able to so he could study them at his leisure and find out exactly what he wanted to know about them.

"You bite or claw me, and you'll regret it," he firmly told the cat seriously. Lifting his hand, he imitated what he'd seen Evangeline doing a few moments ago. Absently his mind catalogued the animal, as he raised his gaze to the cat's owner.

"Where did you get him? If you don't mind me asking?"

"Is that what he's doing?"

Evangeline was taken aback from his question. From what she could see, Silas did not have some sort of animal carrier, meaning that he probably did not own a pet. The Ravenclaw witch wasn't sure whether she should be surprised or not, Silas didn't seem as an over;y affectionate male, and that was perhaps the reason why he didn't feel like he needed a pet. Then, there was a possibility that he had never been in contact with most of them? It sounded crazy, especially for a Pureblood like him, but it was still a possibility. Not to mention that this would be the only way his question could be justified. Who didn't know what a cat looked like, asking for attention?

"Yes... Yes, he is. But you don't have to pet him or anything. If you feel uncomfortable, which you probably do, I will just take him away from you and put him back in the carrier. I don't want to create a problem for you." The witch admitted, giving Silas a small, polite smile. He was the first person that had actually talked to her for more than five minutes, and she didn't want to lose that.

But before Eva had the chance to move, Silas had already began imitating her, petting Erebus, who in turn started purring in approval, eyes closing in enjoyment. The threat that came before that had amused her, but she didn't allow the devilish smirk to touch her lips. If Erebus wanted to claw or bite Silas, not even she could stop him. But Silas didn't have to know that, right?

"Where did you get him? If you don't mind me asking?"

"He was a present. My parents had traveled to Russia, and they saw him, barely thirty days old. They thought he would be perfect for me. I guess they were right, for once." The witch spoke, her voice trailing off towards the end. She didn't want to be pitied, or anything similar to it. Especially by Silas Lestrange. The only friend she had.

"Even a broken clock is correct twice a day. The odds of your parents actually doing something you'd appreciate about the same," Silas decided to reply. What parents did and why they did it was still a mystery to the teenager. While he'd watched to try and figure them out, he had come to the conclusion that they were a mystery. From experiments and observation of his own relations and those in the alley, he'd figured out some of it, but most -at least to him- were incomprehensible.

The tiniest of smirks began to creep up the corners of his mouth. "At least your cat has good taste."

He meant it too. If the animal didn't like most people if anyone aside form Evangeline and now himself, that had to say something of the cat's intelligence. Apparently it liked to be praised too and some amusement found its way into the boy's eyes briefly. Staring at the cat was easier than looking towards its owner as he thought. He'd wanted to have an acquaintance this year, possibly move that into a different category to become, possibly, something akin to a friend. Having never had any, he wasn't really sure the best way to go about it. What Silas did know was that he had to be sure he could trust her. Knowing that 'friends' told each other things and that she had told him plenty already without even realizing it, he decided to give her some information. This way he could see what she would do with it.

It would be on par with what she's just disclosed to him. A sort of trade. If she showed any sort of pity, he would be terribly disappointed. He didn't want nor need anyone's pity. With a shuttered gaze he glanced at her his softly spoken question only giving a hint to how he truly felt, "What did it feel like? Getting a present with you in mind?"

While he'd received the token gifts of clothes, books, things he needed, Silas had never been given a frivolous item before. He was sure that his aunt's excuse was that he'd had no interest in anything. And she was partially true on that. However, no thought was really given into anything he was given. Even receiving the gifts he'd gotten over the summer from his parents weren't really because they thought he would like them. They were expected gifts to give because he was the heir and they didn't want Luca to inherit.

His comment brought a laugh from the girl, who actually didn't feel too uncomfortable after revealing something about her and her family to the male. Though, Eva couldn't help but wonder why exactly he would say that. A moment later, she reprimanded herself, as she remembered that Silas was the son of Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange. Evangeline hadn't received much love at all, but Silas had probably received none. She didn't pity him though. Yes, it was sad to know that a parent didn't really care about his child, but Evangeline knew that sometimes, it was better. At least that is what she kept telling herself every time their father praised Nathaniel and called her weak. Useless.

"At least your cat has good taste."

Shaken from her thoughts, Evangeline looked up at Silas, feeling her heart skip a small beat as she saw the appearance of the tiniest of smiles on his lips. Who knew, the guy could actually smile! The witch didn't know what was more amusing, though.Watching him smiling, or the fact that he had appraised her cat's taste? A raised eyebrow and a smirk was her initial reaction to such statement, her eyes traveling from Silas to the feline, who seemed to agree completely with the male, whose lap it was occupying. "Or he could simply be growing old and his eyesight is getting worse." The Ravenclaw teased, throwing another smile Silas' way. What she hadn't expected though, was the question that hit her next.

"What did it feel like? Getting a present with you in mind?"

All her assumptions about Silas' parents seemed to be true, after that statement. It's not like her parents were the best ones on earth, but Eva wasn't even sure, whether the male opposite her had received anything genuine from his parents. Be it a hug, a gift..
For a mere second, Evangeline caught herself feeling so sad for him. It wasn't pity, Eva did not pity people that have simply been unlucky in life. But she did pity people like her brother. Spoiled, cold hearted monsters, who would never find real peace.

A million of answers crossed her mind, but none seemed appropriate. She could tell him that it felt nice, or perhaps that it was nothing special, but no answer seemed to satisfy Evangeline. Instead, the witch kept her eyes on the male for a moment, biting her lip as she considered her options. A moment passed. Two. The Ravenclaw witch grabbed the small bag she had with her and pulled out a very used Potions Book. Her favorite book. With a small smile, she turned to Silas, and softly extended her arm. "You can tell me how it feels."

It was obviously not the best gift for him, but Evangeline had already made a mental note to get him something more appropriate, when she could.

Being teased was still a novel experience. One that Silas still mulled over, unsure about how he felt or thought about such a thing. He thought he liked it, which was why he didn't discourage the other from doing so and had just gone on with his questions. Without a change in expression he awaited her answer. Having expected Evangeline to turn pity towards him or something similar, he was ready to be angry and cutting with his words. A sneer had been ready but never made an appearance as he watched her curiously. What was she doing?

"You can tell me how it feels." Evangeline was holding out a book towards him. Silas wasn't sure what to do at first as his brow arched. Taking the book his lips turned down a bit. Was this her idea of a joke? He'd not asked her what he had for her to arbitrarily hand him something. He'd not been looking for her to do that. Anger and irritation had been what had first come to him, both offended and insulted that she would try to just toss something at him and expect him to buy her act.

He narrowed his eyes at her smile and then looked down at the book. It was a potions text. A very well used one in poor condition. Was she flubbing it off on him so she could get a new one? The only times he'd seen books in such a state were either when they were poorly handled or they were well loved and constantly used. Evangeline didn't seem the type to behave carelessly with her belongings which only meant one thing really. Recalling their previous discussion in the alley, his eyes widened a fraction as what this meant sunk in. While it might have been a spur of the moment decision, she was actually parting with something she valued and treasured.

Confusion was the next thing he felt. 'Why?' he wondered. Why would she part with something like this just for him to get a shadow of what she'd felt? Did she expect to get it back or was it really for him? Allowing his puzzlement to show he instinctively lifted the book away from the cat who didn't seem too happy that he'd diverted his attention from it. Coldly, he told the cat, "Touch it and you'll learn what it means to fly."

After the words were out of his mouth he froze. Why had he said that? Just because of the book? He'd never reacted in such a way when his cousins had taken his things. They had been just that; things. This was as well, if he wanted a replacement he'd likely be able to get one in a better condition even. Trying to act as if he was concerned about the cat damaging the book further, he held it back to the girl. "Will you return it to me when I come back later? I don't want to lose it when I have to patrol the halls soon."

Evangeline had no idea how Silas would take her gesture. It was fairly obvious, by now, that the male sitting opposite of her had never truly received a gift of real value. Sure, his close family would have passed something down to him, but was it because they wanted him to have it? No, it was because they belonged to him, or would end up belonging to him anyway. That's how family heirlooms worked. But the Ravenclaw witch had not made this gesture out of pity. No, on the contrary, she wanted to show him the true meaning of gifts, give him a taste of what it felt like and allow him to form his own opinion.

As he narrowed his eyes at her, though, a feeling of worry started taking over her. Was he displeased by her choice of giving him a gift? Or even worse, angry at her? Was it the gesture that had ticked him off? Perhaps he had thought she was messing around with him, laughing at the fact that he had never received a gift before, but this was definitely not the case. But if it wasn't the gesture, could it be her item of choice? Of course, this wouldn't be what she would gift Silas, had she had time to buy and/or prepare a gift for him. But under these circumstances, Eva had... improvised, believing that if she gave him something very dear to her, he would understand what gifting someone meant. Cause Eva was parting with something she loved, just to make him happy.

The Ravenclaw witch watched in awe as Silas' features changed from anger to something else. His eyes widened and for a slight moment Evangeline thought she saw him... getting surprised? Was that truly so hard to accept? A moment later, though, Silas seemed to wake from his reverie, and moved the book away from Erebus, who seemed to be going crazy, all because Silas had decided to pay attention to something else other than him. Evangeline didn't even flinch as the male threatened her cat, who in turn, jumped off his lap and came back to her, curling into a ball next to her and falling asleep soon after.

But she couldn't hide the small smile that touched her lips.

It might have not been something special, and Silas might not have voiced it, but he had liked her gift, and that was enough to make the young girl happy.

"Will you return it to me when I come back later? I don't want to lose it when I have to patrol the halls soon."

Eva blinked once. Twice. Patrolling? Was there something Silas hadn't talked to her about? Taking the book softly from his hand, Evangeline gave a small nod, a silent promise to give it back to him once he was back. Placing the book away from her sleeping cat --just in case--, Evangeline turned back to the wizard, who had just dropped a bomb without realising it. "Why would you need to patrol the halls?" She initially asked, the answer to her question not hitting her right away.

But then her eyes widened as her mind registered what was going on. "You made Prefect?!" Eva asked in excitement, a smile touched her features once more. She might have not made Prefect this year, but Silas was her friend, and she was happy that he had been chosen for such position.

Before Silas could clarify what he'd said, Evangeline had come to the correct conclusion. Seeing her expression gave the youth pause as he was unfamiliar with why she would be excited. Was it because she knew someone now with some 'authority'? No, even for the short time that they had spent together that wasn't something he'd picked up from her. Although, she could have been hiding that quality. He had meant to get to know her through letters over the summer but that never came to fruition due to other overriding factors. Namely, he met his parents and everything that went along with that. Mostly, he tried to not draw attention to himself and stayed scarce.

Was this one of those, 'friend' things? Being or at least pretending to be happy for someone else when something 'good' happened to them? Unsure about what to say or do in this type of a situation, he gave a nod without saying anything. Pulling out the badge he didn't so much as glance at it as he handed it over for the girl's inspection. It had taken him completely by surprise as well. Prefect was the last thing he was expecting when he'd gotten his letter. Perhaps he was able to get Prefect because the power didn't reside in just the headmaster's hands when it came to appointing them? While he knew that Dumbledore's opinion carried much clout with the teachers, he didn't know what to make of the fact that he still received the badge in place of someone else in his year.

Still, he was proud of the fact and it showed as he gave a slight smirk. He always took pride in his classes to know the material, yet he didn't care about showing off. As long as he learned what he needed and wanted to know he could care less about proving it to someone. The only one he had to prove anything to about the subject matter was Madam Pomfrey in order to continue his tutoring sessions. That had changed though as now, he was unsure if he wanted to prove himself to his parents or not. Everyone else was inconsequential.

"It hadn't crossed my mind," he confided truthfully. He was sure she would know what he'd meant by that. While Silas had thought Zabini would have been a contender for Slytherin's badge last year, Silas knew favoritism likely factored into that. Yet, neither of his other cousins had gotten anywhere near the badge the year before and it was likely due to their last name.

"Do you think..." Silas hesitated. "Do you think it was because I'm a Ravenclaw rather than a Slytherin?"

If he'd been sorted alongside his family members, he wondered if Dumbledore would have allowed Silas the badge. Likely not. It made him wonder if the hat confided in the headmaster at all about why it sorted the students into the houses it did. The possibility was there, however, maybe it hadn't said anything? Otherwise, why make him prefect? The hat had waffled between Syltherin and Ravenclaw almost causing a stall in the sorting while Silas and the hat argued. It was that argument that had the hat sort him into Ravenclaw.

The only reply she received at first was a look, as Silas slowly took out the badge from his pocket and handed it to her. Evangeline grinned widely as she held the Prefect Badge, her eyes roaming over it, taking in all the details. It wasn't overly heavy, but it did leave some pressure to the hand, in a way, showing off its power. The Hogwarts insignia was on the front, proud as ever and Eva's eyes finally darted from the little badge to Silas and back. What she hadn't expected though, was the slight smirk that that graced his features. From the little time they had spent together, it was obvious that the wizard wasn't one to express his feelings in any way, so the small smirk, naturally, caught the girl's interest.

He could pretend he was all cold and gloomy all he wanted, but he was still human. And Evangeline could see more than just the darkness in him.

Eva nodded as the male spoke of how he hadn't meant to keep it from her, but it was more of the fact that it hadn't crossed her mind. Whatever the case, there wasn't much the witch could do now, anyway. He had come to reveal the news to her, so it didn't matter how long it took him. Which proved, once again, that there was a part of Silas that was actually caring. In a way. And that made the young girl want to learn more about him. Who was the real Silas Lestrange, and why was he hiding behind silence and darkness?

"Do you think it was because I'm a Ravenclaw rather than a Slytherin?"

The chuckle that escaped her lips came completely naturally. Evangeline was not laughing at Silas' question, but at the same time, she couldn't believe that the guy sitting opposite of her, the same guy that had shown how proud he was of his success as a students and his excessive knowledge on more than one things, was actually asking something like this. Truthfully, the girl did not know how the Professors chose the Prefects, but she doubted it was based on the House. A part of her, though, understood why Silas was asking, yet she couldn't bring herself to ask for more information. If he wanted to share something, he would.

Evangeline bit her lip, thinking for a moment, before she stood up and instead took a seat next to the male. Hesitantly, Eva took his left hand, palm facing up, and placed the badge in it, before softly closing his fist and giving him a big smile. No, she did not believe that this was the reason Silas was chosen to be Prefect. "They chose you because you are you. And I don't mean, Silas, the only child of Bellatrix Lestrange. I mean Silas, one of the best students Hogwarts ever had." Making a small pause, Evangeline finally let go of his hand, but didn't make a move to go back to her seat.

"It's you they like, Silas. The real you. Not your name." Whether he would believe her words, she didn't know, but she had spoken what she truly wanted to say. Now, it was his choice whether he wanted to accept it, or not.

The teen's eyes narrowed upon the chuckle. The question he'd posed hadn't been funny in the slightest. He held his opinion as he awaited further response from her since he could see she was thinking bout what to say. The fact that she moved to sit next to him, confused him even more as he tried to keep from his body stiffening at her closeness. She then had to touch him, which had him eye her curious what she was up to. All she had done was give him back his prefect badge and closing his and over it. Her smile made him uncomfortable as did the fact that she hadn't let go of his hand at all.

It was true he'd never been exposed to physical affection, the whole concept confused him. While he was uncomfortable and didn't know what to do or what would be appropriate he knew it would not be polite to yank his hand away and lean away from her. Keeping still he tried to puzzle her out while she spoke.

"They chose you because you are you. And I don't mean, Silas, the only child of Bellatrix Lestrange. I mean Silas, one of the best students Hogwarts ever had."

She finally let go of his hand, but he didn't pull away as he continued to stare at her. It was debatable if he was the best students, but he supposed he appreciated the sentiment. That was another 'friend' thing wasn't it? Something shifted in him at her words, but he had no idea what it was.

"It's you they like, Silas. The real you. Not your name."

That one, he at least knew. None of the current school faculty or students liked his surname save for the usual Slytherin sycophant. The foreign concept of someone 'liking' him though? That was a bit hard to swallow. Arching a brow, he finally tucked the badge into his pocket and gave a silent nod. What was he supposed to say aside from a thank you? Still, he gave a sarcastic, "I doubt that, but thanks for the sentiment. I'm sure however that there are some people of the Gryffindorish persuasion that would argue that semantic."

Tension.

Discomfort was written all over Silas' face, yet Evangeline had not meant to cause him any of that. Perhaps they weren't actual friends, but Silas had been the closest thing to one. The Ravenclaw witch was not the center of attention, despite her name. Yes, she was a Pureblood, and yes, she did belong to one of the oldest families, but that didn't mean Eva wandered around the castle, taking advantage of that. No, that would have to be her older brother Nathaniel, perhaps the only person that Evangeline had grown to hate the most.

The witch watched him carefully as he his his badge inside his pocket again, and after a moment, she realised that it would be wiser if she let him sit on his own. She had, after all, invaded his personal space in a way, and had made the poor wizard uncomfortable, something that did not sit well with the young female.

"I doubt that, but thanks for the sentiment. I'm sure however that there are some people of the Gryffindorish persuasion that would argue that semantic."

Had she not been a lady of class, Evangeline would have snorted at that. If Silas actually cared about what other people said, then he truly was a fool, but she wasn't sure this was the reason Silas was mentioning this. "If you are like Socrates, and believe that there's only one, absolute truth, then perhaps the Gryffindors are right. But a few of the wisest people, orators from Ancient Greece, well, they used to believe that there are more than one truths." Eva said, a small smirk touching her lips.

"They could persuade you that this cat," She said and slightly petted the feline sleeping next to her, "Is white, when you could obviously make out that it's black. Gryffindors can persuade the students into believing that you are just like your mother. That Lestrange means only death. Madness." Evangeline knew that her words were blasphemous and that she was very well treading into dangerous waters, but if she wanted to be part of Silas' life, she had to prove that she wasn't afraid of him. She had to show him that he meant much more than he let himself believe, and that she would be there to  support him every step of the way.

Because that's what friends do.

"That's not you, Silas." Were Eva's last words, before she cast her eyes away from him, not out of fear, but out of respect. She would give him the time he needed to process all that, and she hoped that he would see the truth sooner than later.

Eyes lighting up as soon as she started talking, Silas' mouth quirked before he could still it. He'd known Evangeline was smart before and would make for an interesting conversationalist. Her picking up the bait was wonderful and he was very glad that she had decided to run with the opener. Shifting a bit on the seat so he was facing her and so he could be a bit more comfortable, he listened to her argument. It was clear that she knew what she was talking about and not just blowing hot air.

Silas was not a person that only accepted one 'truth'. He was the type of person who didn't like to be pinned down by only one option. It was hilarious that she would say something like that. Along with her following words. He had argued something similar about the color black with Granger in a shop in the alley over the summer. It seemed he wasn't the only one who used that type of logic out on people. When she got to the part of his last name, he pondered on that but didn't think she would like too much if he disagreed. While he might argue the literal translation was far from what she said, he knew that since his family had migrated to England from France, that their last name was synonymous with madness and death. And his mother had been born a Black, which had their own strain of crazy as well. Silas was a child of both bloodlines.

Gazing at her in contemplation, he wondered if he should tell her what happened over the summer when he met his mother. That alone had told him that while he might not be quite like his mother, he was in fact her son. Evangeline was right however about him not being quite like his family. He had joked before that he had a method to his madness. Other people didn't seem to find it all that funny.

"Its funny you should mention that with the cat," he told her. "I had a similar conversation with Granger about the color of my jacket."

It had been amusing to see her getting so frustrated with him. He understood however what his fellow Ravenclaw was attempting. Now that he knew where she was coming from he felt a bit better about accepting her opinion. Because of that he decided he'd give her a bit more insight into him. There was a quote he quite liked and wondered what she would do with it. "There are more things in heaven and Earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Evangeline's words were truthful, spoken from the heart and aimed to let Silas know exactly what the witch thought. Not even for a mere moment, had Eva considered that Silas got the Prefect position because of his name, or his House. She may be a girl that didn't socialise much, but that did not mean she was not observant. On the contrary, silence allowed her to see things much more clearly, and quite often gave her the chance to notice things about people that others might not. For example, no one would consider Silas a kind person, but a part of Evangeline knew that there was something more in him, something he was simply not willing to let out.

As the male turned towards her, though, the small smirk still on his lips, Evangeline was glad that she had decided to speak up, even though some of her words would have been considered blasphemous. For some reason, the young girl felt... safe, in a sense, around Silas, and that was something she hadn't felt since... well, since forever. And it was a very, very beautiful feeling.

When Silas mentioned that he had had a similar discussion with Granger, though, the witch's face darkened ever slightly, her own smile faltering. It was not a secret that Evangeline was not fond of the Gryffindor witch for more than one reasons. Firstly, she wasn't as smart as she was said to be. Granger was not stupid, Eva knew that very well, but she still wasn't as smart as people thought. Evangeline had been acing pretty much everything as well, and unlike Granger, Evangeline actually had a gift for Divination. Not to mention that she had been proven smarter that the Gryffindor in more than once occasions.

"Well, it was a mere example." The Ravenclaw spoke, turning her attention to her sleeping cat and avoiding Silas' gaze. What was this feeling that had her on edge, at the mention of Granger? Envy? Jealousy? No, Evangeline Faye was definitely not jealous, especially of Granger!

"There are more things in heaven and Earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Evangeline's eyes snapped back to the male sitting next to her and widened in surprise. "You like Shakespeare?" Evangeline asked, knowing very well that the phrase he had used came from Shakespeare's Hamlet. A beautiful yet sad story. She had not expected Silas to read Shakespeare though. And that's when Eva truly understood that she barely knew anything about the wizard, yet he seemed to surprise her more and more with each passing second. How many things could he be hiding behind that stony gaze? Would she be able to get him to open up someday? Only time would tell...

Noting that her expression changed, Silas didn't know what he had said or done wrong. Was she upset because he'd had a similar discussion already? That would be irritating he supposed. Or had it been that maybe that she thought she was the only one who would think of to use that line of thinking for their debate? While he'd had fun annoying the Gryffindor he didn't think that Evangeline wanted to annoy him. Maybe because she didn't get a chance to debate the fact with him?

"You like Shakespeare?"

Nodding, Silas found the corner of his mouth tilting up in a smile. He'd been intrigued by the stories but also by the fact that whom everyone believed was a muggle writer was actually a wizard. When Silas had first learned that he'd wondered if it had been a mistake that the man's work had gotten into muggle hands or if he'd purposely had a life outside of the wizard one. To know that you didn't have to stay within the wizarding community had given him great hope as a small boy. So he'd read everything he could about the author as well as his works. That had opened the door to other muggle works that he found just as fascinating and informative as any book written by a wizard. In fact, their children's books were better than the wizard ones in his opinion.

"I'm fond of him, yes." If she knew what he'd quoted then that meant she'd had to have read a bit of his stories as well. His eyes lit up and he stated, "You obviously do as well. Which is your favorite?"

That would give him some insight into her wouldn't it? Knowing which one was her favorite? Of course he supposed finding out why that particular one would tell him more.

Completely forgetting all about Granger and the discussion Silas had with her, Evangeline felt herself smile once again as the male nodded. He knew Shakespeare, something that both shocked yet intrigued the young witch, who turned her body towards him again, eager to learn more about the male. How had he found out about the English poet? What had drawn him in, in the first place? Was Hamlet his favorite place, or had he simply quoted that because it fit their conversation? And if that wasn't his favorite one, which one was?

"You obviously do as well. Which is your favorite?"

Evangeline opened her mouth to respond, the name of the play ready to roll of her tongue, but instead, the Ravenclaw witch shut her mouth and took a moment to think. She could simply tell him which one was her favorite and be done with that, but where would the mystery be in that? Instead, she could do exactly what he did, and give him a couple of lines, allowing Silas to find out on his own. After all, he had said he was fond of the writer, so he would know.

“Hell is empty, and all the devils are here."

Instead of the usual answer, he was given a quote. That was...different. While he didn't like surprises, he was finding that this girl was full of them. He was also finding out that it wasn't necessarily a bad thing either. Once again, a bit more of a genuine smile was tugged from him as he pondered over the quote he was given. While he'd had an eidetic memory there were some things he purposely expunged form his memory. This, however was not one of them. "The Tempest! Ariel speaking to Prospero," he replied confidently.

Going over the play he wondered why that piece was her favorite. He was just very thankful that she didn't spout out any lines from Romeo and Juliet. He loathed that play and didn't see why everyone loved it. It wasn't an 'epic romance story' as everyone made it out to be. Silas gazed at her and wondered why that particular quote first came to mind. He knew people took quotes out of context all the time to apply them to whatever they wanted but he didn't think she was one of them. So it had to be for a reason unless it was random to test him?

"Why that quote and why that play?" He wanted to know. It was curious how she was getting him to ask her the questions instead of just seeming to accept her answer and ignoring her. He genuinely was interested in finding out the answers. Everything had a reason behind it, people just had to find it. Silas was very intent on finding his answers.

"The Tempest! Ariel speaking to Prospero,"

A small smile touched the female's lips as Silas spoke. She was confident that the Ravenclaw wizard would figure out from which play she had taken the quote, proving furthermore how intellectual he actually was. Not many people could realise the magic of literature or theater. Shakespeare had always been one of the best, and Evangeline believed that he would always be. But that specific play held a special place in her heart.

Betrayal was the main subject of the play, something that the young witch had been very familiar with from a very young age. Being born into an old, traditional, Pureblood family could seem as a gift to some, but Eva knew, better than anyone, how tragically terrible it truly was. The girl barely had any free will. She had to stand a certain way, talk a certain way, think a certain way... follow the dark path, support Lord Voldemort and never, ever defy the orders given to her. But that was not her only problem.

Her own brother was out for her, even though she hadn't truly done anything to him, and the constant fear she was living in was making the girl anxious and stressed. She was trying her best to hold on, to seem strong and in control, but this was not who she was. Who she wanted to be. Not that it ever mattered, what her dreams were. Her future was already chosen for her. She would get the Dark Mark, when the time came. She would join the Death Eaters like her family had. She would follow orders. And she would marry whomever Pureblood her father deemed appropriate. Only to follow that man's orders and become a child production machine. An heir. That was what everyone wanted.

But no one asked what she wanted.

Though, as if reading her thoughts, Silas did just that.

"Why that quote and why that play?"

"First time someone's interested enough to ask." The Ravenclaw witch murmured, a sad smile gracing her features. At least Silas would know what she was talking about. With him, it felt like she didn't have to constantly explain things in severe detail. He always seemed to somehow understand what she wanted to say, and that was... peaceful.

Different.

"Well, it's a story that revolves around betrayal. I've lived through that. I'm living through that. But it's a story that also revolves around love and forgiveness. I may not be the most romantic type, but love gives me hope. The absence of it has taught me a lot. So, perhaps, its presence would teach me more. To finalise, I know how betrayal feels. But this play gives me hope that the two other feelings, love and forgiveness, will become part of my life as well."

"First time someone's interested enough to ask." That answer had his mouth turn down a bit, his brows furrowing. While he hadn't gotten to really know her, he didn't like that he gleaned enough to come to the realization that the sadness she was expressing was likely not a new thing. He understood her statement though. How many people really cared enough or was interested enough to know why he did the things he did or anything or ask after what where his interests lie? Even his 'chat' with his mother hadn't really covered anything aside from his tailoring hobby which had gone over as well as a lead balloon. Knowing how much he despised pity, he didn't show or feel any towards her. Just gave a brief nod of acknowledgement.

Silas stayed quiet, listening and absorbing what he was being told. While not having felt betrayal up close, it was more of an abstract thing. He should have felt betrayal at the Malfoys, at his parents, and perhaps he had when he was little but hadn't allowed himself to linger on it. Instead, he'd latched onto finding ways to thumb his nose at his caretakers.

When Evangeline and he had met, she'd been running from someone and he'd known that hunted look. That first meeting told him more than a meeting in their Common Room would have. The more she told him the more of a picture of her life at home was coming into focus and making itself known. Forgiveness, he didn't know too much about. Nor did he know much about love and was relieved that she didn't seem to idealize it like other girls did. Hope, that he could understand as well as the absence of love. There was none lost between he and his family. He found himself nodding to her observation about it teaching you.

Not saying anything in reply at first as he pondered her words, Silas was hoping that she wouldn't think that he wasn't taking her words seriously as he admitted, "I understand. Shakespeare..." He thought back to when he'd come across the works of the playwright. "He gave me hope as well."

He wasn't sure how many people knew about Shakespeare having helped found the Wizarding Acadamy of Dramatic Arts. Or that he was a wizard. Trading honesty with honesty, he voiced his thoughts and how learning that he didn't have to conform or stay within the wizarding world had given him a taste of freedom. Or the hope of it. Glancing over at her he gave her a small smile. "I have to go," he gestured towards the door clearly not wanting to go, but having to since he was a Prefect and didn't want to start things off by being late. "Perhaps, we could speak more when I come back? Such as which play you might think I favor and the one I loathe the most?"