Tom Riddle is Here-Plan in Action

35

"What happened dove?" Tom whispered, letting his hands linger through the boy's hair. Draco was finally calming himself down. Still, Tom needed to know what happened, so he can figure out what in the world he was going to have to do to fix what probably went sideways. He did not think that Draco truly fucked up as badly as he was worrying over. It was more likely that Draco failed to do exactly as Tom commanded and worked himself up into a frenzy. This would not be the first time that Draco had done this, and Draco highly doubted that it would be the last. Tom really did not mind, especially since it ensured Draco's obedience, and enabled him to seem benevolent.

Tom was more than willing to work like this, and given Draco's submissive nature, it really bolstered his own power. His ability to work Draco over, to calm him down, and his mind alone was far worth the lesser amount of control he had over his own instincts.  Draco was incredibly intelligent, and so far had been vital to Tom's own plans. His acting was also superior, he had proven that with Dumbledore and his little raid of his unfortunate followers' house. Avery had died for a good cause, however, and Tom just was not really able to feel sorry about it. Draco's acting in that house had not been entirely fake, Tom knew, his distress had been real, but his commitment to the role...well that had been just delicious. Despite knowing that Tom would refuse to allow him refuge out of the closet, he had gone in anyways, willing to sacrifice himself for Tom's own schemes. Such a partner, Draco was more than willing to sacrifice himself for Tom, and that was something that Tom valued highly. 

"I...I screwed up the bloody meeting with Lupin." Draco hissed under his breath. Tom could practically feel the anger waving through him. It at Tom, though, and himself, and Tom had to sigh inwardly at the feeling. He wished that he was able to just rip Draco's self flagilation and force him to reward himself, alas...that was simply not possible. 

"How so?" Tom asked, instead, knowing that anything else was not likely to really do much in his favor. Draco shrugged his shoulders downwards, upset with himself. Tom understood that he was irritated, but he really would prefer the boy obey him when he asked what happened, and he felt his own reflexive annoyance flair up once again. 

"I just...Well, I sort of lost my temper at him. He had been a right nuisance lately, and I know I was supposed to calm myself before I entered to speak with him, and I swear I did. I do not know what came over me. Something just set me on edge the moment that he opened the damn door. I swear I was fully prepared  before that! I just...lost control for whatever reason. I felt as though my skin was loose and ready to jump out of me at any second. In the end I told him to either speak with my father or leave me alone. I know it was not the outcome you wanted." Draco dragged his teeth against his lip, Tom idly pulling his lip out from the pearly gems and merely sighed at his partner. 

"Draco, beloved, you have to understand, what I asked you to do was merely a guideline. You did not have to follow my words exactly, I did not expect that from you, and would not force you to. It is perfectly alright to have a slight mistake, my dear." Draco nervously fiddled with his fingers, not sure what to make of the fact that he was being told to make more mistakes. At least, that was what Draco was thinking Tom was meaning. He did not quite understand. 

Lucius would have had his head for such a mistake, and Draco was quite certain that his father would be more than livid that he had effectively sicced a suspicious Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher on him when he came to school tomorrow, rather than allowing him alone time with Dumbledore and himself. Still, Draco did not know how it was that Tom planned to enforce his father leaving Draco alone, and not trying to punish him for his inevitable wrongs, but he somehow believed the other could do it. 

It was folly, really. He knew that it was unlikely that Tom would be able to follow through on his promises, but so far he had...and he had not yet made a declaration that he did not back up. For as strange as he was, and as dangerous as it was obvious that he was, being the Dark Lord's heir and all, Draco knew full well that at the end of the day, his father respected him. 

It was a bit of a smart. Knowing that his father respected someone that was not even related, but Draco scarcely seemed to hold up. Still, Draco could not think of any other reason why Tom was allowed to get away with so many things that Draco would easily be switched for. He may not understand a lot of things, but he understood his father, and his father's wrath was no laughing matter. Tom seemed to be able to simply withstand it somehow. At the very least had to be more persuasive than Draco really knew, considering he had convinced his father to allow him to stay with a bunch of Gryffindor fiascos for the rest of a summer term, and then if he could do that...surely he would be able to handle his father more? 

Draco did not know, he did not know what to think, he merely turned his focus once more on their plan. "So now that Dumbledore and the Weasley's are focused on us, what do you think we should do? We need to continue sowing discord, and Blaise, Theo, and Pansy especially will be more open and free to do so now that the main eyes will be on us." 

"What do you think we should do?" Draco tapped a finger against his chin as he thought of Tom's question.

"Recruit Loony Lovegood." 

"Oh?" Tom questioned, and Draco smiled.

"She may be a bit crazy, but she is naive, and innocent. The perfect accomplice. Nobody will suspect her, and if we start recruiting other people from other houses, it will help distribute the blame." 

"My smart boy," Tom said prasingly, watching as Draco flushed, tucking his head against the Alpha's chest.