Tom Riddle is Here-Plan in Action

28

He may not show it, but as the month came to a close...Draco felt himself terrified of what was going to happen. He had never failed to give his father updates, even if it was something simplistic, even whilst he was within the Black house, his father had been given some updates. Not giving any? He had not done such a...a drastic thing before. It left him nervous and itchy, as though something bad was going to happen. School had barely started, and already things were sort of spiraling out of his control. He had no idea what to do, how to handle the situation. He had never missed a month before. The fact that he was missing this one left nerves echoing through his stomach and up in his throat. He was no idiot. This was Tom's own brand of punishment for him. Or at least, it felt like that. Combined with the fact that he had more or less been confined to the dorms for the last several days, it did little to alleviate his nervous anxiety.

"My Lord!" Draco jumped up when he saw Tom enter the room. His fingers were twitching with anxious feeling. He had no idea what to say, now, though. He lapsed into a sort of uncomfortable silence, not really knowing what to say, or how to explain what he was feeling. The thoughts going through his mind were...difficult to express. He had no idea what he should say to Tom, much less what he wanted to say, or if he even wanted to say anything. He was unsure if his words would be considered defiant or upsetting, and Draco definitely did not want to upset Tom anymore. What if he demanded Draco miss next month as well because he had caused some sort of infraction? Draco was unsure he could handle such...such things. The thought of it made him shudder in terror. He had no idea how his father would react to this, but if it was anything like he suspected it would be...he did not need that sort of thing happening again. It would be far too much...too much for him to handle.

"Draco, are you finally rested to completion?" Tom questioned. Draco felt that was a rather stupid question. He was only in the dumb dorms because Tom had demanded he rest in the first place! He certainly would not be missing so many classes otherwise. Granted, Tom had explained to the teachers what had happened-well, lying about what had happened but that was neither here nor there-and insisted that Draco needed rest. Considering Tom's tenacity, they had not bothered to question him. It was obvious that Draco was close with Tom although anyone with eyes could see that. The only teacher that seemed slightly suspect was Severus, the Potions master/Slytherin head of house. He did not question Tom, though, merely nodding and giving Tom all of Draco's homework, insisting that it be completed on time.

"I...believe so, my Lord," Tom detected the nerves in the Malfoy Heir's voice. Undoubtable he did not want to anger Tom. A wise decision, of course, and one Tom greatly appreciated. Fear, while not always the best way to go, when used properly was quite the powerful ally. Tom was lucky that Draco himself seemed to have quite the abundance of it, mostly towards his father, but also towards him. Granted that fear was different from the fear that he held for his father, but Tom was not overly picky about how Draco feared it, merely that it ensured his obedience in the moment, which was truthfully all he really cared for currently.

"Good, and your so called missive this month to your father?" Tom questioned. Draco shuddered in remembrance. Tonight was the last night he could send a missive and for his father to still get it before the 1st, but...it was really too late for that now was it not? He could not send one either way, Tom would not stand for it. This was a part of the punishment he was being given. He had to accept these sorts of things, even if it was difficult to do so. He had gone against Tom, and in doing so he had also neglected to keep himself healthy. Those were really the only two things that would force Tom to punish Draco in such a severe way. He had done both in one!

"I have...neglected to send on as requested." Draco uttered softly. Tom clapped his hands, a smile curving onto his face.

"That is good, I am glad you have listened. Do not worry, should your father have any issues, I shall handle them myself. You need not do so." Draco nodded, silent. He was not sure how he felt about this whole idea. He knew that he was being punished, and he knew he had to be, but...while a part of him feared and respected Tom far more than his father, he was still worried. His father was never fond of disobedience, and Draco had broken a rather long standing rule that had been in place for a while now. "Draco, I need your words, my love, do you understand what I am saying?" Tom pressed.

"I understand, my Lord." Draco said simply. There was not really more that he could say. He could not refuse, and if he tried to refuse he would have angered Tom, but if he did obey he angered his father. He had to choose the one whose anger was more violatile and whilst at first he had thought it may be his father, that was before he had met Tom. Tom's anger was never really directed towards himself, but...he had seen it, and even controlled it was terrifying. He had no intention of defying a direct order. That would be suicidal.

"Draco," Tom sighed, moving close to him, dragging him towards the bed and sitting him down. He placed his arm around his shoulders. "I understand you are nervous, and you have reason to be. I doubt Lucius will take well to your refusal to listen. However, Lucius needs to realize that he is no longer in charge of your behaviors. I am. This is the best way to force him into beginning to understand that. You know as well as I do nothing but a tactical and weighted choice will ensure that. I presume you have never missed one of these missives before. I know it is scary, but it is a good place to start." Draco could breathe, just a bit, easier at that.