What if He had a Choice?

32

Draco had sent a subtle butterfly message to...someone, and Tom was not really in the position to ask whom it was without sounding insane, so he kept his mouth silent, watching the boy as they both got courted towards the security offices. Tom had been in this position once before. Then again it was not uncommon for Orphans in his time to be put in this sort of position with the Matrons. Really all it took was them stating they were from an Orphanage for the unhappy victims to be released back into the care of the orphanage. Not that Tom cared much, or was too bothered. He found it somewhat funny, but also could not begrudge them. The times had been tough for everyone, and if he could make it tougher...well...Tom was more than happy to continue to torment his former bullies from the Orphanage for as long as he could. They may have only tormented him until he managed to gain some relative control over his magic, but Tom was not one to dwell on the little things like that. He refused to show weakness again and do something stupid like...forgive them. No, they deserved what they got, and Tom was the one who would dutifully dole out their punishments until he was unable to do so. 

"How about you two boys sit down while we have a light conversation with...your father you said he was?" Draco grit his teeth, but did not answer, turning his gaze towards Tom, pulling himself closer to the older boy, not wanting to say anything that may get his father into greater trouble and therefore get himself into greater trouble. Tom sighed, slightly put upon, but he bore it, if nothing more then the grateful behavior that Draco would show him later. Something that would be easily exploited. It was easier to get someone to do something if they felt indebted to you after all. Despite that, Tom also was aware of the way that Draco was not really in the moment, either, and he did not really wish to be here any longer than necessary. 

"His father, not mine." Tom spoke, his clear voice ripping the gaze from Draco and onto himself. Draco seemed to relax slightly at the lack of attention from these muggles, and it made Tom almost want to laugh. "I was merely adopted into the family, is all. At least, until I am of age." Tom spoke his words clearly, and without hesitation, driving home facts and putting emphasis on the fact that he had not stayed in the household from the beginning. If he was correct and not much has changed then theoretically, from his calculations, what should happen was exactly what did happen. The attention flipped from Draco and back onto him. 

"Oh?" The security moved back to look towards him. "If you could, maybe you could answer some...." Before the officer could say much more on the topic, the door slammed open, and Tom turned and saw someone standing in the doorway. He was not sure who it was but whoever it was clearly Draco knew him as he rushed from Tom and clung onto the person at the door. Tom took the chance to take a good look at whoever it was, his eyes narrowing in slight jealousy at the way Draco seemed to relax and light up with the man having come in the room. 

He wore a long sleeve black turtle neck and black jeans, with a bracelt circled about his wrist. His hair was long and shoulder length black hair and eyes that are so dark that they are almost black. His body was lean, but had some muscle that clearly meant that he was used to moving and doing some form of sports. If Tom were to hazard a guess it was probably track. He had the body of those olympic track people that he had seen once. He could not be that much younger than Lucius, though, and Tom was not sure how he felt about that. This random person...was...Oh. The light seemed to flip in Tom's brain instantly. This must be the ever famous Uncle Sev that Draco seemed almost infatuated with. 

"What exactly is going on here?" The man asked, his voice cold, carefully calcluated, and his dark eyes penetrating the soul of the security that had taken the moment to try and talk to them. 

"We were just talking..."

"To minors...Without an adult in the room." The man surmised, his cold gaze pausing momentarily on Tom before gliding off. Tom was actually rather impressed with whoever this was and their ability to do such a thing and seem so removed from the situation in a way that did not come across as haughty like Lucius did. 

"Well...see..." 

"Enough." The man said, his voice sending chills down the security's spine. "If you wish to speak with them, that is fine, however, I must request that either myself or a child lawyer be present." The security just sighed, but agreed either way. 

"Just don't go anywhere before we get them here." The man agreed, and then the security was gone and it was just Tom, Draco, and this mystery man. Tom grit his teeth holding back his agitation, and moved forwards gently tugging Draco back towards him. 

"So, Draco, who is this?" Draco's eyes widened as though just coming to the realization that he did not know this mysterious person that had burst into the room. If Tom was not so agitated at Draco bounding from his side the moment that the man had rushed through the door he would have found it almost funny, as it were he was just even more irked. 

"This is the person I was talking about, Severus Snape. He is a close friend of the family, and my godfather!" I was right. Normally Tom would take some pride in that, but now he just found himself agitated. He did not like the way Draco said his name with such...such admiration. And of course it makes sense that he would call the man given that and what the situation is.