Chapter 37
Despite the difficulty of his current situation, Draco did manage to sleep fairly well. While perhaps a bit petty, he had yet to even speak to Blaise. Perhaps it was a tad bit cruel, but in the end Draco felt that it was most justified. It was, as well, to some portion. While his father would be horrified to see him acting in such a manner, he will be horrified to see him having anything to do with Blaise at all given the situation that the boy had landed his family in, but it was not as though he could just...stop talking to Blaise entirely. He should, but his emotions and the knowledge that Blaise had been trying to help him, no matter how misguided that help ended up being, kept him from doing so entirely.
He was way too sentimental, he knew that, but at the same time a small part of him was flattered. It was just, most of him was furious is all. He knew that Blaise had only had good intentions, but he was also aware that good intentions did not get anyone anywhere. While Blaise may not have intended for things to get as bad as they had, although a part of Draco knew that was entirely what he had intended, it did not denote the fact that actions had consequences. It was his job to do this. He just wished that Blaise would have thought things through properly. Idiotic request, considering Blaise was definitely one of the more impulsive of the Slytherins, but it just hurt that he had to punish someone he cared for.
There was no way that he could not, not with his father lurking around and soon to be escaping from Aszkaban, swiftly followed by the fact that it was the Malfoy reputation on the line, and even further followed by the knowledge that if he did not do this then his father would. His father would be far worse than anything Draco could scrounge up as well. Despite how he knew that it was likely not to be seen in that manner for Blaise, crass it may be to say but Draco did not care. Blaise had lost a lot of Draco's respect when he threw his father to the Wolves. Not that his father was anything more than the Alpha of the pack.
If anything his father being in Aszkabahn will probably just make him far more strong and capable, something which Draco had definitely not needed in the first place. He could not believe Blaise would do something so stupid, and he knew that this was just the beginning of it. He wondered just how much of Blaise's loyalty was actually faced towards him. His well meaning behaviors meant nothing when not backed up by the loyalty that he supposedly had shown.
Draco was hurt, perhaps that was why he was acting out like this, he was angry and upset, but that would not change the fact that he was fully intending to continue to ignore Blaise as much as possible. He would not be the first to make a move, no, he was going to wait, and watch his prey as he moved about the walls of Hogwarts before striking at the perfect time. He needed his punishment of Blaise to be quite memorable. Otherwise, how else would anyone remember that he was not someone that one could just mess with without any sort of consequences.
"How is it going so far?" Severus asked him as he met with his Godfather for early Tea. Draco stared at his godfather, slightly surprised that he would be asked this question so quickly, although he supposed it did make some sense, considering Draco was rather easily tempered particularly when in an uncertain situation with Lucius, which was definitely the current issue that he was facing. Disloyalty was another thing that irked him, something that Blaise, knowingly or not, had shown him.
"Come now, Uncle, I cannot just lash out so swiftly. I have to lurk and wait for the perfect time." Severus felt his lips curl upwards slightly. Ever the Slytherin, and reminding him so much of himself and even partially of Lucius, and the Dark Lord as well, when they were betrayed with their close friends. Though he doubted that the Dark Lord had friends persay, but the general sentiment remained the same.
"That is admirable," Severus said. "However do you think it wise?"
"Of course, I cannot act rashly. That would simply add onto the problem. Uncle, you know this, why are you asking me this?"
"Just checking to ensure that you are more than aware of your choices." Severus said with a shrug. "However, I do believe that perhaps it would be idle if you were to talk to Blaise, at least once, and express your disappointment in the boy."
"Why would you say that?"
"It will give the others something to talk about, something that you can, at the very least, control the influx of. Therefore, I think perhaps it would be best. Rumors abound, but if you can control what they are talking about...talking about what Blaise may have done to anger you over what happened with you over the course of the summer, it will definitely come up when the rumors begin to spread, of course, but it helps turn the focus of what the rumors speak on."
"Your ideas have great merit." Draco admitted, letting his finger trace the rim of the teacup he sported.
"That is why I said it," Severus stated. "How are you feeling, however?"
"Much clearer than prior. I do not want to think of what was going on among the Veela court, but I have a feeling I may end up getting a visit from one of them during my stay at Hogwarts."
"Oh?" Severus raised a brow, somewhat surprised at that answer. "What makes you think that?" Draco just shrugged, unable to really put a pen on the exact reason he was feeling like that, he just...did.