What if He had a Choice?

33

Tom gnashed his teeth down, annoyed, but did not give any other indication of his emotional state. Draco knew enough about him to catch onto it, however, and rushed over to him, a smile on his lips. "I sent a message to him, because we really should be getting to school, and I don't know how long this processes thing will take." Tom nodded. It was smart, he could not deny that. Furthermore, it would be problematic if a Wizard ended up being inducted in the muggle justice system. He knew that the Ministry would not allow such a thing, but even still, it was best to halt the situation before it got worse. He had to appraise Draco's thought processes regarding a situation that he was not entirely aware of. 

"I see," Tom turned his gaze back towards this...this 'uncle sev' of Draco's. "It is good to meet you, Sir," Tom said, a small bow taking place. Draco gasped, pulling him up, fingers barely pulling but with just enough force for Tom to straighten himself from the bow. He cut a look towards Draco, who took his gaze down to the floor almost immediately. It was somewhat funny, though Tom was regrettably too annoyed to really relish in the subservience that the boy showed at a slight look towards him. It helped that Draco practically idolized him, and the boy was plenty obedient on his own. Lucius definitely ensured that, not that Tom was complaining too much. 

"T-There is no need for that." Draco whispered. Tom glanced towards him, but otherwise did not put much attention to him, staring at the adult in the room with narrowed eyes. For his own part, Severus did not question why he was with Draco, nor did he respond negatively or positively, or at all, ot he dark look that Tom was sporting to him. His gaze was aloof, at best, and for a moment, Tom wondered how it was that he became so enamoured with someone like this. Then again, supposed Draco's father, it was not exactly hard to see. Tom knew himself that Draco craved validation, and he supposed it would not matter exactly how he got it, or who gave it. This...Severus...poor choice, but Tom supposed he could not really begrudge the poor boy. 

The door opened a few moment's later, the lawyer had arrived. Tom was rather surprised they bothered with a lawyer. It was shocking, but he supposed it would not matter. He had his own thoughts and plans. He just was curious how exactly Draco would handle this new situation. He knew that these people were trained to look for things that did not add up, Draco was good, but just how good was he? 

"Are we good now?" Severus nodded towards the officer, willingly moving to leave, correctly figuring that he would be questioned as well. 

"Wait!" Draco's breath had picked up as he called out. "W-Where are you going?" 

"I will be back in a moment, Draco," Severus said coldly. Draco moved forwards once again but this time Tom held him back. It would be useless to continue to try and fight. 

"Calm down, let's just sit and answer the questions that we are given. The more you fight the longer we stay here, alright?" Tom stated softly, calming the heaving boy down just enough as Severus left the room. He turned his wild blue eyed gaze onto the remaining three adults in the room. Two officers, one lawyer lady. 

"We just want to ask some questions." The officer said simply. "Have a seat, please." Draco bared his teeth, but sat at Tom's beckoning. The officers watched them carefully but otherwise did not make a comment on that. "Back to what we were going to ask, you said that you had not lived with the Family for long, Tom?" Tom shook his head. 

"It's only been a few months," Tom stated simply. "Since school let out actually." 

"I see, and how would you say the quality of living is?" 

"It is fine. Although I will say that at times, I think perhaps Mr. Malfoy can get a bit...extreme." Draco cut a dark look towards Tom. "Particularly towards Draco, though." 

"No!" Draco wrestled from Tom's arms, an angry look lighting his features. "You don't get it, do you?" Draco hissed, his eyes narrowing. "Father is not...he is not extreme. In all honestly, I am lucky. Father's punishments are not lax, of course, but they serve their purpose." 

"Of what? Maiming you?" Tom hissed back. His dark eyes flashed with anger, and Draco flinched slightly. 

"Father has never maimed me," 

"No, but I am fairly sure he has come close hasn't he?" Draco pursed his lips, refusing to answer that question. He did, however, catch the look of betrayal in the boy's eyes, Tom wanted to smirk but he would not. Eventually, Draco would realize what he was doing, for now, he was doing a good job of responding perfectly to Tom's goading and provocation. 

"Father did what was needed of him," 

"And what was that? Torturing you?" 

"He never did that!" Draco insisted, tears beginning to fill his eyes as he felt cornered. "He never...He never did that. Father was perhaps a bit...stiff and strict, but he never harmed me more than what I deserved. You know that, you..." Draco swallowed, standing straight and composing himself. "Whatever the case, it matters little." 

"I don't think it does." one of the Officers said gently. "If he truly was harming you..." 

"I have no injuries or markings to prove it, all you have is a service tape of Father being a little rough with me. Exactly how is that to help your case? You have no viable evidence, at least nothing concrete." Tom wanted to smile, proud of the sudden flip in Draco's mind. He may not know how these things work, but he got a decent grasp of it, at the very least. "That is why you are needling us so much is it not? You want actual evidence? What? A confession? Me to cry and complain and whine to you about how my Father mercilessly torments me every day, just so that you can then do what...exactly?" Draco questioned, leaning against Tom once more. The latter smiled, letting his fingers curl gently around the boy. "My father is not a kind man, but he is not overly cruel. We are on our way to school, and as of now, are late, because of you. Naturally, when my peers hear about this, we may all have a good laugh, but who is going to explain that I was held back because some officers got into things that they just weren't prepared for?" 

"I..." 

"I have nothing more to say to you. You want to villainize my father, go right ahead, but don't think that I am some hapless victim." Draco glared at them, and resolutely stayed silent the rest of the time. 

Draco stayed silent for a while after they left, merely laying against Tom's chest. 

"You could have at least let me know the plan," Draco huffed out softly. 

"If I did that it would not work as well, and besides, I was curious to see how you would do." Tom said simply with a shrug. 

"Curious? You..." Draco silenced himself at the look that Tom gave him. "It is not as though Muggles can do anything. Anything that they would try to do would simply be transferred over to the Ministry, and Father would get off. He has the influence, and the wealth, and the name behind him to manage it." 

"Clever little Dragon." 

"I admire your attempt. Should Father have truly been indited, we would have been living with Uncle Sev, however, and I doubt that you would enjoy that all too much. Considering you seem to greatly dislike him." Tom was rather surprised that Draco had noticed that much. "Besides, Father, he is not someone to go up against lightly, barring that, he is dangerous, even for you,"