Voldermort is Gone Tom Riddle Is Here

8

Tom and Draco were to be taken to Number 4 Grimmwald Place. Granted, it probably was not the best place for a possible son of the Dark Lord, but, Tom refused to allow Draco to return to his father, and after Dumbledore noticed how terrified the boy was of the cold man, he was inclined to agree. Than again, the two would be in constant contact with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Molly, Arthur, Severus, Remus, and Sirius. Not to mention Ginny, who would undoubtly dislike the notion of Tom being there. From what Dumbledore got from Tom's assessment, Quirrel was the man who had visited Avery, and the timing would have been after he had met Voldermort, meaning the likelihood that Tom was the Dark Lord's son was increasing in a high probability.

Dumbledore ended up having to speak with Ginny and everyone else. Severus missing, this time. He would be back later. He had left the two with Remus, having called the Professor over, insisting that he at least meet with them, and that way they could get a feel for the validity of the story that the children were weaving. They all knew Werewolves had heightened senses after all.

"We need to have a meeting about this Dumbledore." Sirius stated, his arms crossed over his chest a frown marring his features. "I understand that you think this kid is what...You-Know-Who's son? Who's saying that he isn't tricking you and is actually You-Know-Who. You were saying that you felt it weird how the Diary just disappeared, rather than remaining substant. Perhaps he had risen after all and was just bidding his time."

"He isn't. Voldermort was not capable of the amount of care and fear and worry that Tom showed Draco. Not only that, Tom gave Draco comfort, when he was out of the closet. I don't know about you, but I most certainly don't see the former Tom Riddle doing anything like that." Arthur spoke out. They all stared at him. They could not really say anything at the end of the day though, because of all of them only Dumbledore, Arthur, and now Remus of the group had seen the two children. Sirius sighed out, wanting to roll his eyes, but refraining from it.

"It is up to Ginny." They all turned to look at her. The fiery redhead girl furrowed her brows in thought.

"As much as I dislike Tom from the Diary, I can't judge Voldermort's son just because he is the son of a dark wizard. It isn't right. And, from what I've heard, this Tom and Draco have been through hell the last several hours. It wouldn't be right to just leave them without anywhere to go. So, yeah, I suppose I am fine with it." She said, sniffing the air as she did so. It was the right thing, barring that she figured that even if she did not agree, it would just cause a fight between Sirius and Dumbledore, and besides, it was easier to keep an eye on people if they were living with you.

-

Tom smiled down at Draco, who was waiting with him. The werewolf was a few feet away from them, so Tom knew enough to be cautious.

"You did well." Draco bit his lip insecurely.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. Tom's eyes flashed.

"Why are you sorry?" He asked.

"I...I freaked out, and it...was more intense than I thought it was." The boy's eyes began to water.

Tom grabbed the boy by his upper arms, tilting his head up with a nail under his chin so that Draco was looking at him. "You did nothing wrong. I am very proud of you. You persevered, and pushed through. You did good." Draco took a shaking breath but nodded.

"Thank you." He whispered. Tom just smiled down at him. The level of trust that Draco had placed in him had cemented his worth in Tom's mind. As much as he had his suspicions over the reactions that Draco gave to his orders, he knew even if he was wrong, the boy was an incredibly valuable asset.

A few moments later, Remus appeared in front of him having decided to for whatever reason to move towards them now. Draco jumped, terrified, shaking fearfully, as he resolutely kept his eyes down, refusing to look up. Tom narrowed his eyes at the Werewolf. Remus's eyes widened marginally as he realized he had caused the young Slytherin distress.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy, it's just me, calm down." He said in an attempt to placate the boy. Tom growled, and Remus turned his attention to him. He watched curiously, as Tom put two hands on both of Draco's shoulders, with gentle, but firm pressure he made Draco sit on the couch of the Avery Mansion. He whispered something in the boy's ear. The boy seemed to be calming slightly. Tom continued whispering to Draco and Remus realized that it was praise. Tom was praising the boy. The Werewolf watched as Tom soothed the youngest Malfoy heir playing with his golden locks of silky smooth hair, with one hand, and the other carefully wrapping itself around the back of Draco's neck. Remus moved to do something, but stopped once he noticed that it wasn't done with ill intent in mind. He watched in fascination as, at that extremely possissive and potentially lethal and commonly abusive behavior, Draco began to calm down drastically. His breathing evened out, his trembling slowed until it stopped all together.

Remus was shocked, to say the least. The gesture was intimate, and took a lot of trust from Draco's part, and from what Remus had learned from the boy the last year or two, it was that he did NOT trust easily, but somehow decided to put his complete trust in this teenage Voldermort look-a-like. It was incomprehensible. Shocking and dumbfounding, to Remus. It would seem that perhaps Dumbledore was right, even if he had his doubts before there was none now. One thing was certain, this boy was certainly not the same Tom Riddle of before.