Oh, Shit

20

Draco had not been overly fond of Hogwarts from the beginning, the only reason he was there because his mother did not want him to go so far as Durmstrung. Lucius had never been all that happy about it. He had agreed if only to keep the peace. Lucius was not always so weak, but when it came to his mother...sometimes giving in was better than trying to put your foot down, and Lucius had learned that well before he had even agreed to the betrothal. So, to Hogwarts he went instead. To Dumbledore, Potter, and the inevitable fall that was his family. It was hard to think about, and even worse when he realized this was entirely on his incapability. As the Dark Lord in his own time had said, it was because of him...

Shaking his head free of water droplets he exited the bathroom and into Tom's awaiting smile. Draco instantly felt on edge...nothing good could possibly come from that. It was jarring, though, to think this was the person would would become the one he knew as Lord Voldermort. This person was sane...perfectly sane. Yes, he bordered on extremely obsessive, but at the same time that was just to be expected. One did not become as terrifying as Lord Voldermort had been before his death without having some sort of flaws, and obsession was definitely a flaw. He could not tell if Voldermort had been more or less possessive though...it was clear he had one or the other in spades both before and after his death-or rather what counted for his death.

"Are you ready?" Draco sighed heavily.

"I am not certain I am, but it isn't like that changes anything. Whether I am ready or not I will have to go...it is mandatory, and the first days especially are super important." Draco knew that almost every impression anyone would have happened during the Sorting Hat, but the first days were also incredibly important as well. Particularly in reference to the opinions of teachers. Those were quite important because if Draco snided a teacher..well things would be far more complicated for himself. He needed to keep things as smooth as possible, he had far more things to worry about than what the teachers wanted from him, and endless detentions-which he was almost certain he would have with Dumbledore of all people as a teacher.

"You worry over Dumbledore...why does he seem to constantly occupy your thoughts?"

"And why do you seem to constantly be reading my thoughts?" Granted they were nothing more than those surface level thoughts, at leat the Dark Lord was kind enough for that, but Draco was not sure how adept he was at Legilimancy now. He knew a little considering how he had allowed Tom to break into his mind repeatedly under the desperate attempts at strengthening his fortifications. The teen was definitely well versed in the art, and Draco had been a bit taken aback at first at how good he had been. He was definitely better than Draco was at shielding, that was for certain. Draaco had gotten better under Tom's harsh teaching, but not good enough. He was still concerned about Dumbledore, but he also dhad no idea how good The Dark Lord had been while Dumbledore was a teacher. He only knew that Lord Voldermort had been one of the best among the world at Legilimacy, and it had gotten so good at it that none could dare to lie to him...even if he had not looked at them directly, he could tell. It terrified a lot of people. Draco was not sure how much of that was merely rumor, though.

"Funny, funny, but I do not jest." Tom's voice dipped down with how serious he was. "Why is it that he occupies you so much."

"Am I not allowed to worry about someone?" Draco questioned, his own getting defensive.

"Forgive me, I fear I fail to have properly...I just meant, there is no need to truly worry over Dumbledore. As long as you are not looking into his depraved eyes, you will be perfectly safe." Draco cleared his own throat, ashamed at his defensiveness. It was obvious, and Malfoys are never obvious. Not to mention, it was obvious enough that they had the others in the dorm watching them from a safe distance. Draco suppsoed that not many decided to challenge Tom, and he could understand why...he himself had no idea what the hell he was thinking.