What if He had a Choice?

56

This was the second time he had stormed from a class-though the first was technically not his fault-but Draco did not have the ability to care. He blindly searched the corridors, trying to hunt down where Tom's class was, though he couldn't really remember what Tom had said that he had. He was barely watching where he was going, ran into several different students, and after a while, simply dropped in the the hallway, and pressed his hands to his face desperately.

A practical on boggarts? in front of the whole class? What a brilliant idea, lets just allow the entire school know the darkest seceret a person can hold, their deepest most internal fears. I don't know what this man is on, but it is clearly not something good. Dark Lord's approval or now how could this teacher just say something like that and expect everything to be okay? Especially with the rivalry between gryffindors and slytherins?

Draco's anger was swiftly overshadowed by his fear. There would be no escaping a practical. If he did not do in class, he would have to do it in the exams, and as everyone knows it is a horrible idea to try and fight a boggart on your own if you have not done it before. The professor would not be able to help him in an exam, and that was dangerous enough. Draco let his fingers grip the edges of his hair, tugging tightly in distress. How was he supposed to just willingly out his greatest fear in the entire world to some strangers? The entire school would know before the day after, and his father would definitely hear about it and...

The mere thought of that left him shuddering. Tom had gracefully allowed him to continue their dark magic lessons, in spite of his father's rules and regulations, but should this go as badly as Draco feared it was, that would be revealed, and nothing Tom could do now would save him from Lucius' wrath at his willing disobedience. It was not as though Draco would make it easy for his father, of course, he had never done so, but it was painful, and beyond it being painful Draco was simply not as strong as his father. It was understandable, Lucius had decades more experience, but that did not mean that he could not try, and Draco did try-each time he failed, though, leaving him worse for wear.

What would Tom think about it? When his lessons were unearthed and he found out Lucius knew? Would he protect Draco, despite him not being able to keep the secret a secret, in spite of the fact that it was Draco's request? Surely Tom would be angry. that sounds like something the Dark Lord would find himself angry over.

Nervous fingers pulled at the collar around his neck, but it would not come off. Draco knew this, it had been obvious from the beginning what Tom's intentions were. Not that he bothered. They were courting, after all, who was Draco do deny such a well thought gift? Barring that, it had helped, and he was not one to turn away working fixes to issues.

He was quite unprepared for Tom to step in front of him, though, leaving him jolting and pressing himself against the wall in surprise.

"my lord," The words were hushed, aching, and Tom gently pulled Draco towards him into a hug, gently patting his back.

"What happened?" he asked, and though Draco could not hear the worry in his voice, he knew that it must be there. From what he could gather, Tom was not exactly the most expressive person, but that was fine, because Draco did not need expressive, not really.

"That Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher..." Draco began, pausing, wondering if it was a good idea to blatantly tell the Dark Lord, who was known to kill those who opposed him, about his questioning Tom's stance. In the end, he decided it did not matter and continued forwards anyways, the lure of security in Tom's presence simply too much for him to be willing to hide this from his betrothed. "He wishes to have a practical on Boggarts tomorrow."

"I see, and this has you nervous why?"

"My darkest fear? Exposed to an entire room full of Gryffindors? Needless to say the school will certainly know by the end of the day and my father will definitley be informed. He will not be pleased either. I cannot express just how dangerous this is,"

:STop," Tom stated calmly, pausing and pushing Draco a bit so that he could see the horrific tear stained face. "How about I talk to your godfather, and also the professor. Maybe a better...arrangement can be made."

"You are sure?"

"No, but I have to admit it seems worth a try," Tom let his fingers caress the boy's cheek, a nail scraping down one of the tear lines. "I hate to see you so distressed about this." I should be the cause of your distress...not some ratty teacher!