What if He had a Choice?

Part 27

Draco Malfoy effortlessly weaved them through the throng of people. Yet another thing that the two seemed to have in common, the dislike of the crowded streets of the alley when it got this close to Hogwarts. It was quite agitating, and everyone was running into each other trying to get to the shops that they needed. Considering their timing, people were mostly doing incredibly last minute shopping, so there was not as many people around as there would have been if they had come earlier, something which Tom was quite grateful for, and had attempted to plan out as well. Draco also seemed quite anxious to get their shopping done as swiftly as he could, not wanting to linger too long in Diagon Alley, again it was something he could understand. It held a lot of Dumbledore Sympathizers, and the Malfoys had a rather large hand in ensuring that Dumbledore was thrown off the Headmastership that he had held for far too long. He wondered...what exactly would happen now. This year was definitely bound to be interesting, that was for sure. Although, whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing, he was not entirely sure, neither of them were. They were ready to face whatever shock that it would imply, however.

"That is Potter and his friends," Draco muttered annoyed. Tom glanced over, curious. He tilted his head slightly, seeing the boy that he had messed with. He glanced towards Draco, who shook his head. "Do not worry too much, Father effectively erased Potter and his trio's memories about what had happened in the dungeons. It was a necessary step to ensure that Dumbledore was not able to call upon them in trial. Not that they knew anything that really happened." Tom smirked a bit, and nodded once.

"That is good, there is a reason the Malfoys' are held in high esteem by myself," He said with a smile. "Abraxas was similarly thorough when I knew him." Tom said with a shrug of his shoulders. Draco bowed his head slightly.

"It is necessary," He said simply, as though that was really all it was, and for them, it was. They would not bear something done badly. It was simply not within their nature, and they disliked not having things done to the perfection that they were capable of, furthermore it often could cause quite the complications later on, which was never a good thing and they would prefer to avoid if it was at all possible.

"Come," Tom said with a small forwards motion. "We may as well go over there." Draco's eyes widened as he stared at the teenager.

"I..."

"Draco," The word was vaguely scolding and Draco jolted forwards, heading for the book store. He was not exactly thrilled to see Potter or his gang of friends, but then again he never truly was.

Something about him grated on Draco. The fact that he humiliated him publicly, lashed out at him when he tried to talk to him at Madam Milkens, all in defense of that oaf Hagrid. He could have at the least disagreed and presented his points he did not have to shout at his face and get angry and huffy, stalking off. Perhaps that was where the disdain was caused. It only worsened on the train, and even further in the great hall. Harry Potter, a gryffindor, it made so much sense now. It would seem the line of Potters had problems all over the place. Although, Draco will admit, Potter was not as bad as his father was. He did go out of his way to incite Potter, but he simply really could not help it. Even when a majority of his taunting, bad as it may be, and perhaps though he may cross the line with some of his pranks and jests, and verbal taunts, even still, they did not have to continually magically threaten him. After all, that is why they are the ones who get the detentions between the two of groups. It was shocking that they had not figured it out yet.

He just...disliked Potter. A dislike that flooded his veins and burned a fire in his blood. Perhaps it was the disrespect that Potter had afforded him before Draco had even known who he was, lashing out at him in defense of someone that he had not even really known outside of his father's stories. Perhaps it was other things that just grated on his nerves, but Potter's very existence caused him agitation. He knew that he went far overboard several times, but to be honest, he could not bring himself to really care all that much. They fell for his pranks every time, and they allowed his taunts to get to them. Perhaps it was a bad way of thinking, but Draco knew well enough that the trio had short tempers.

"What are the requirements for the classes again?" Draco questioned Tom, when they got close enough to the Trio for them to hear the two. Folly, perhaps, but he would prefer to have some sort of control over when they figure out that he was wandering around the store. Tom glanced at him, an eyebrow raised. Glancing to the side he noticed that the Trio were looking at them curiously, and he gave Draco a mischevious smirk.

"You have the list love," Tom said in a soft and dulcet tone, wrapping his arm casually around his shoulders, fingers clutching the side of his arm, digging his nails into the fabric of his shirt. "Why not look at it?" Draco rolled his eyes as Tom just pulled the list from his pocket.

"You know I could have just grabbed it after you reminded me." He said with a nudge, shoving him off of him. Tom's eyes sparked.

"Of course, but Darling, that would not nearly be as much fun," He said jumping back towards him pulling his fingers around the back of Draco's neck, and pulling him towards the first section that they needed to go.

"What are you doing?" Draco hissed, glancing at Tom with a slightly confused and somewhat panicked expression.

"Just messing around with you," Tom said with a bit of a laugh. "And placing a claim." he added glancing back at the trio. Draco looked at him lost for words.

"What...What do you mean placing a claim. My Lord, there is no reason for that. I..." Tom held up his finger silencing Draco.

"Are you questioning my choice?" Draco's eyes widened drastically at Tom's words and he shook his head frantically.

"No My Lord,"

"Good. I would have hated to have to punish you if you would have dared do such a thing." Tom said with a mockingly sweet smile. "Now come, we need to hurry."