Chapter 34
Draco tried to be a calm and independent person the majority of the time. Granted, this was not easy, and he was far more emotional than his father would like, hence all the constant punishments. Despite Tom's comfort, and his safety net, Draco still felt this need to obey his father in everything, irregardless of what it was. He had no idea how it was that Tom had managed to convince his father to allow him to stay over the summer at the Grimuald place, but he did not question it. He did not know why his father agreed to their friendship, but had anyways. He did not understand why it was that his father had allowed Tom to all but take over Crabbe and Goyle's job, and yet he had. It was obvious enough that Tom's ancestory, the fact that he was the Dark Lord's son, had him kept in high esteem, far more than Draco ever had been that was for certain.
Draco liked Tom, as well. He helped him, calmed him, his plans were always brilliant and worked-even if they sent Draco spiralling down a dark hole sometimes (he always dragged him out of it). He helped him with his subclass, and when his inability to act normally got a hold of him, Draco was seeking Tom now, rather than hazardly desperately asking for Blaize or Theo, just to collapse as the world closed in around him. Now, Tom helped him, and so much better than anyone he had ever met. While those that knew of his...affliction were few and far between (his godfather being one of them) the Slytherin house did their best to try and help, it just was not as easy as it was made out to be. Yet Tom was able to help him so effortlessly. He knew the other Slytherins, while happy for him, were jealous. It was obvious.
Perhaps it was because the compatibility meant that Draco was likely going to be taken off the market. Many would like to climb ranks using Draco, and he was not blind to that. He knew that while the Slytherins did genuinely want to help him, if they had been compatible enough, a match could be purposed, and yet none had manged to get to that point, not like Tom, who managed to soothe Draco immediately and effortlessly. Draco just did not know if Tom would inquire to his father...
He also knew Tom was brilliant. He wanted to bring about a better way at Hogwarts, to help the youth of the Wizarding World. Draco saw his goals, and knew they were genuine, and he himself was finding himself wanting to help him. Despite some of the more...morbid ways that Tom seemed to go about obtaining his goals, Draco found him impressive, and that was something that was rare enough that Draco knew in his heart he should go along with him irregardless of the less moral applications. Draco admired the plans that Tom set in place, and he liked how Tom would listen to Draco's own ideas, and would not instantly shoot them down like his father often did. His father did not care for Draco's thoughts, and cared only for his obedience. Draco provided, to soothe himself, but Tom was not like that. He could be, oh how easily it was that Tom could take advantage of the hold he had over him-
but he did not.
He never did.
It was a thing that Draco was still getting used to, Tom caring enough to actually be bothered with him. He was not blind, he knew Tom was also using him, but at least he was taking care of him while he did it. Draco found that he could not really care when this was the case.
That was why, when he had failed with Lupin, and Tom's red eyes turned on his, Draco could not help but collapse into him sobbing and shaking with apologies spilling from his mouth. A wave of his hand had the room clearing out hastily, and Tom knew that he would have to figure out what had happened once Draco calmed down, as he was definitely in no state to do a proper conversation right now. The boy was anxious, with his father coming tomorrow, and all the other besides, plus Tom had given him a task. He would wager it did not go entirely as planned (which was fine depending on how it did go, but that would have to be reserved for when Draco was not in half hysterics).