What if He had a Choice?

41

"What are you to Draco?" The leader of this pathetic little posse asked, posturing greatly in an attempt to cover his own nervousness. Tom scoffed, a laugh lighting upon his lips and mirth dancing in his eyes as he noticed this. The least they could do is put more effort into the display if they were going to posture. It was rather disappointing that he was able to see through this immediately. Draco was far better at fake posturing than this idiot, but he also knew when it was useful and would be liable to work and when it would not. He supposed there was a reason, after all, that Draco was obeyed so easily amongst the higher levels of Slytherins. He did not have enough information on the reasons as to why but just from what he could see, Draco was quite intelligent and cunning enough. More so than even his father, and rivaling that of Abraxas' own when the two of them were in school together. Then again, Tom never did pick his conquests lightly.

"And what..." Tom began, his dark eyes boring into these three idiots' own. "Matter of yours is that information?" He questioned, tilting his head slightly to the side, questioning and wondering at the same time. His posture lived with danger, and ensured them that should they speak the wrong answer, they would not be in for a good evening. The three shuddered at the empty look in his eyes. He smirked at the break in posturing. He knew it would not take much effort to break their pathetic attempts. Draco was able to hold a posturing for far longer among much more difficult opponents. Tom was not even trying, which really was just even more sad. He would have to teach these idiots if he wanted them to be of any use, but he knew, against a Gryffindor, it would work wonders. He supposed it was not nearly as bad as he was claiming, and he had to stop pinning people against Malfoys. They were of a different breed of Slytherin, after all. Malfoy's were the high end of Slytherin, and it was well known, and even better regarded.

"I...suppose none, but we were curious. The display today..."

"Was well within Draco's rights to make, or so I am aware." Tom cut them off elegantly, his wand still winding between his fingers as he leaned against the edge of the footer of the bed, staring at them in an admittedly unnerving way. "Or are you questioning Draco because he is younger? A third year now, I do believe." Tom stated thoughtfully as he watched the three blanch pale with such a bold statement. They seemed almost entirely taken aback by Tom's words. "After all, I would think that his claims were quite clear, but I suppose, if you want to start questioning the Prince...I cannot stop you. Though...I am not too sure that is all that wise of an idea. After all, he does have quite the level of support, from both this generation of Slytherins, and previous ones as well, but I am sure you are aware of that." Tom's voice turned understanding, almost compassionate, and a tinge reassuring. "Therefore, I can only assume you did not mean it that way...However, I do fear that there are some that would...I would highly suggest you be a tad bit more careful from here on out." Tom gave them a smile as he dropped backwards on his poster bed, and flicking his wand the curtains closed around him a ward shimmering into place, leaving the others staring in shock at the effortless non verbal magic.

They could not quite help a heavy sigh of relief once they realized that was going to be it, though the display was terrifying and Tom himself seemed terrifying in his own right, they had to admit that the mystery boy did have a point. They would have to be more careful with what they were saying. Upon thinking of it, they were quite lucky because their words could have been considered going against what Draco had ordered. That was definitely not what they had intended, and they certainly had no intention of opposing Draco's orders, but they understood the folly of trying this way of getting information.

Barring that, it was obvious that Draco had staked a claim, but just so had this Tom Riddle. It may not have been obvious at first, but they cursed themselves, because upon thinking about it, they noticed the curving smile of Tom's lips, and they had shrugged it off as joy, but perhaps it had been closer to amusement. The two emotions may seem similar, but they were in all actuality quite different. They had mis-stepped, and they were only lucky that it had not ended as badly as it could have, as they were quite aware of just how badly it could have gone.

If they wanted more information, going through Tom was a mistake, they would not be able to penetrate his shell of defenses, and they very well could not go through Draco either, the other was notorious for being impossible to read or figure. In reality, the only thing that they were going to be able to do was watch the two, carefully. Something about this situation just left a bad taste in their mouths. Tom was a sixth year, sixteen years old, and Draco was barely thirteen. Something just...felt wrong about the situation. Though they could not get that much use by going to either directly, and that much had been certain, they did know that there was something very dangerous about Tom. 

They hesitated to say that he was grooming Draco, but there was definitely something sketchy going on about why it was that a sixteen year old would be so hyperfixated on a thirteen year old.

"Filtch..."

"Enough, we can't get to him by going to either directly. Spread the word. Keep an eye on the two, just don't do or say anything about it." The other two nodded, though reluctantly.