What if He had a Choice?

46

"What happened?" Tom questioned the moment he was in the nurses' room. The nurse gazed up from where she was prodding Draco with...something...though what it was neither of them quite knew. She sighed, turning exasperated gazes upon Blaise and Pansy, who resolutely ignored the look and moved straight to where Draco was. The other seemed to have not really gotten better. It was not until Tom moved forwards, his magic curling its way around the boy, leaving Blaise and Pansy to stare at the scene with looks of both discomfort and awe. They had never seen Magic react to each other like that, of course, but it was obvious that Tom's magic was helping Draco as the other's shaking had slowly stopped, and Tom gently thumbed his way over Draco's forehead, and then his left cheekbone. It was almost as though Tom's presence was a pepper up potion, as Draco's eyes fluttered and lost their glassy edge, his shaking and trembling stopped, and he seemed overall much better than he had been before. Blaise and Pansy did not know what to think about that.

It was obvious that being too far away from Tom had severe adverse reactions, though why...they did not know. Draco had been fine the night away from Tom, and he had also been fine during the morning. It was only after breakfast that he began to get that glassy faraway look that made them so nervous, and it was not until almost lunch that they even noticed that there was something severely wrong. Draco typically dozed off in class, not paying attention, often times he brought his own book with him so that he could read, especially in the more lecture based classes. Draco had always been above their year in terms of magic, knew more than he needed about wizarding history and genealogy, understood all the nuances of varying magical charms and curses, hexes and jinxes, and could inform many of alternative ways of using basic spells that would seem more dark than anything you would think of for simple spells. Given the extremely high standards that the Malfoy family was used to achieving, it made sense. Draco had the best tutors from such a young age, with obscene standards placed upon him that if he were any less talented and just sheer powerful than he was, he would have the worst struggle trying to actually meet them. As it were, he still struggled, but he had the right amount of intellect, cunning, and ability to get through it with only minor struggling. Really, he was quite the paragon for the heirs.

He was not the kindest person, could be considered a bully in many ways when it suited him, or when someone angered him or frustrated him, just like his father, but at the same time...he was not his father. That was also painfully obvious. Anyone could see he had his mother's disposition. It would normally be fine, but at times it caused him trouble, so he made trouble, to avoid that same trouble being brought upon him. It worked, miraculously, for the most part, though many Slytherins knew that it would not work forever. At some point, Lucius was going to demand that Draco do something that would break him. Something that nobody would be able to help him with, something that would destroy what little good resided in the thirteen year old so far. They were lucky was as kind as he was. There were...rumors, of how Lucius and Abraxas both were at school, and Draco was beyond tame by comparison, though just as frightening when he wanted to be. A mere thirteen year old, and yet more capable than most fifth years in terms of magic. That alone was enough to terrify a logical witch or wizard, or anyone with a sense of survival instinct.

Blaise and Pansy knew that they were not the only ones worried about this sudden...added variable. They were certain Lucius had something to do with it, however, considering he would never allow his Son to bring someone from home and outright claim them if he had not vetted them. It was also obvious that Draco knew more than what he was letting on, although how much more was...complicated to say. There was something Draco was hiding from them. It was something to do with Tom, though had nothing really to do with the fact that they were courting. That much was obvious to anyone, though it did roll some of their stomachs at the ages...Tom was sixteen, Draco barely turned thirteen. It was barely even time for Draco to begin to even think about...that sort of stuff anyways. It was scary to think he was already expected to be in a relationship, to be courted. That Lucius had approved it so early too...It left people on edge.

Tom Riddle had come out of nowhere, seemingly from nowhere, and yet had the backings of one of the most influential dark families in the wizarding world. It was scary to think of, and that sort of power, and influence, that he was, well it was enough to get under anyone's skin. Worst of all, Draco clearly cared about him, greatly, and admired him. Blaise and Pansy could not even begin to explain why they did not like that, they should be happy, after all Draco had someone that looked after him somewhat, that was really all anyone could ask for when it came to betrothals, considering they had very little say in the matter anyways. Lucius had chosen well...it was just the suddenness of everything left their entire house reeling, and protective.

To an extent, Tom did not even deserve it, but watching as Tom's magic draped itself around Draco, Pansy just could not help herself. She had to excuse herself, rushing to the nearest bathroom in order to throw up, and even then...did not understand why she was so discomforted at the sight.