The Fear in The Child

41

Seeing Tom in a rage, and flying towards his grandfather, Draco realized that perhaps this was not going to be as catastrophic as he thought it was. If just his grandfather was involved, surely things would not be nearly as bad. He heaved a relieved sigh, ignoring the fact that Tom's grip on his wrist was positively bruising. Despite that, Draco glanced about the room, just to ensure that his father was nowhere to be seen, and he was not. Likely had not left his study. He felt his lower lip trembled slightly, before holding himself stiff and upright once more as Tom stepped up to Abraxas. The older man stared at him, before his eyes slide to the side, seeing Draco next to him, and down to the way Tom's' fingers encapsulated Draco's wrist. A complex expression crossed Abraxas' face, but Draco was unable to tell quite what it was. It was not something he had seen before, but whatever it was quickly got concealed. "And what did you need, Tom?" Abraxas asked, tilting his head slightly to the side. Tom noticed, and quickly recognized that was what Draco's habit came from. He had seen Lucius do the same once before. The difference was Draco was far more expressive, likely due to Narcissa's influence, and as a result he did that much more often then Tom had seen either of the other malfoys combined. He supposed that it was a positive to me, but it seemed as if Lucius was greatly regretting that decision now. Yet, it was far too late for him to be changing things around already. Draco had been trained effectively, but not the way that Lucius was pleased with. Then again, raising someone to obey you with no question tended to cause issues later on. "I think I have begun to see a slightly...concerning issue." Tom said gently, his fingers tracing his wrist. Draco shivered at the light touch, his breathing increasing slightly, breathing getting somewhat heavier. "So, what is this issue?" Abraxas questioned softly, curious. Tom narrowed his eyes slowly. "It seems as if your son has decided to attempt to get Draco to cut our courtship. This has happened twice now, and has been punished both times. While I do understand a good dose of punishments when things don't go as you wanted, it seems a bit of a reoccurring issue, especially since I am almost certain that you should be the one dealing with your son's dissatisfaction regarding this issue." Abraxas' brows furrowed down, anger taking over his features briefly before it was just as easily cleared away. "I see," Fingers tapped at his waist. Draco left himself fall backwards into Tom a bit more, the boy easily lifting his arm and pinning him to his side. "I seem to need to have a conversation with Lucius about his concerns. He did not mention anything to me. Draco, is this true? Has Lucius been speaking with you about this?" "Yes, Sir," Draco murmured softly. "I asked him to speak with you about it, but it seems as if..." Draco's voice fell away, too anxious to continue the sentences. "Do not worry, Draco. I will handle your father. I am surprised that he has such major concerned...how did he punish you?" The question seemed innocuous, but Draco knew that it was anything but that. He nervously tapped his fingers against his leg, before taking a deep breath, trying to settle himself as he was duty bound to answer. "The last time he only slapped me," "The time before that?" Tom pushed, and Draco bit his lower lip anxiously, closing his eyes, but knowing it was too late to try and pretend nothing happened. Not with his fiance and his grandfather right there. "Just a light flay is all." Tom's nails dug viciously into his wrist. His teeth were practically clattering. "How light a flay, hmm?" Abraxas pushed. "I-" Draco seemed to pause, and Tom laughed. The boy got caught in his lie. "P-Perhaps it was not so light, mayhaps a more medium." "Draconis." Abraxas' voice cut through. "Do not lie to me, do not forge the truth. Be honest with me, or I will have to take other matters into my hands." "A few flays, with the cane, and the rest were with a switch. But, Sir, it was not as bad as you may seem to think, practically normal." "Normal?" Tom hissed, but Draco just shook his head, pulling Tom behind him as he faced his grandfather's wrath. "Draco, this is unacceptable. Why did you not come to me?" "Well, Father had good reasons. It was on my own fault that he had to..." "This was not your fault, it was mine, and I fail to see how you deserved a medium level flaying for abiding by my expectations." Abraxas cut in, he stood, striding out of the room. "I will handle this, thank you, Tom, for bringing this to my attention. You were correct to speak with me on it as it seems quite clear that Draco would not have.

"Did Grandfather just leave towards Father's study?" Draco whispered, his eyes wide and terrified. 

"Yes, I do believe he did. Finally. Someone is going to speak with Lucius about his quite frankly, unacceptable behavior." Draco shivered at Tom's angry tone. 

"I told you that there was no need to..."

"Yes, and clearly you lied to me!" Tom's voice raised in his rage. He shoved Draco backwards, easily advancing as the boy scrambled back, breathing stuttering in his chest, anxiety skyrocketing. "You were beat, with a cane, and a switch, and you said there was nothing to really worry about. I cannot believe you would lie to me." 

"I was not lying, I swear, it was really nothing to worry about. I do not understand why everyone is so up in arms over a simple punishment!" Draco was getting overcome. This was too much for him to handle. He did not know why it was that everyone was so angry over this. It was not as if his father did not have his reasons, and it was not as though it was not understandable. What confused him the most was how angry everyone was.