Chapter Text
He was in the library immersed in his book, ignoring the celebration outside his dress robes, newly bought by Lucius crumpled. The older boy on the other hand was entertaining guests with his father and fiance narcissa black soon-to-be Malfoy.
Every year the Malfoy family held their own winter ball days before the upcoming yule, this year, in particular, was special as lord Slytherin also known as the dark lord Voldemort will be in attendance. The dark lord at most did not attend such events believing them to be below him whilst he did have a flair for the elegant and grandiose, In life, he had always been partial to balls. He was a man of solitude when not planning to take over the ministry or punishing his minions he tended to stay in Riddle manor.
Being the dark lord had its perks, most people left him to his own devices, of course, abraxas was a menace of his own league yet as he made his way out of the ballroom and towards the library, none dared to stop him. He had always enjoyed the look of the manor; the Malfoys had good taste in tapestries.
Entering the library he was surprised to find a young boy, For merely a second he entertained the thought of abraxas hiding an illegitimate child; he shook his head and as soon as the thought entered his mind it left him the boy in front of him looked nothing like a Malfoy with his short stature and ink black hair. He tentatively walked closer, the boy reaching for a book, one leg on the shelf, the other tiptoeing barely touching the floor, his hand reaching as high as it could brushing the spine.
Wandless healing a guide for trying times, he soon walked behind the boy and retrieved the book from the shelf the boy startled swiftly steading himself and turning to face the dark lord his beady black eyes wide.
“Ah, this is what you were reaching for, no?” stated the dark lord handing the boy the book. The boy carefully stretched out delicate fingers wrapping around the indigo cover.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice soft, observing the cover and nodding lightly, he then looked up at Tom, his beady eyes roaming the expanse of Tom’s handsome face.
He tore his eyes away, moving towards a plush sofa.
“Shouldn't you be in the main hall?” Tom questioned, raising one eyebrow as the boy climbed onto the sofa opening the book.
“No,” he said, finger tracing the book's index. “Lucius promised to let me use the library. Told me they had better- darker books than at Hogwarts” he whispered, still seemingly engrossed. Tom himself sat down on the armchair next to the sofa crossing his legs, the boy somehow looked familiar with his silky ink-coloured hair and beady- nearly black eyes.
“Slytherin house I assume?”
The boy was startled as tho he had forgotten Tom's presence
“I- yes,” he said “I don't think Lucius would ever talk to me if I wasn't”
Tom smiled at that
“Wandless healing… i do not doubt your ambition” he spoke softly flicking an elegant wrist “do you have an inclination towards charms?” he tilted his head at the boy.
“Err- maybe? My favourite class is potions tho” he said looking Tom in the eyes.
He had been surprised to find them a deep crimson the same colour as his own blood he shivered, feeling a slight headache. Tensing he shook his head, the feeling of leaving him.
“Potions, Slughorn remains the professor, doesn't he? I used to be in his class and was never really fond of his methods” Tom said.
The boy brightened a small smile blooming on his face.
“Mummy said he was a ‘nut-job who was only fond of status’, I think he's okay. Not very interesting and makes us read the book a lot but he's a lot better than professor binns'' he looked at tom a tad sheepishly as though he were admitting a secret. The dark lord simply smiled and hummed back. It had been a while since he had a decent conversation without the other party stuttering incompetently when in his presence.
Lucius had finally managed to pry himself away from speaking pleasantries as the ball's second phase began. He had looked all over the main hall and back gardens before he remembered letting Severus have access to the library, he nearly facepalmed in exasperation with himself as he sped up walking towards the library.
What Lucius expected to see when he entered the library was not…this. His father had informed him of the Dark Lord's presence during this yule, yet he had not expected to find the man seated across from his first-year friend, the two of them locked in an intense conversation about the Wit sharpening potion. While he had known Severus to be quite passionate over such topics he wasn't keen on the dark lord indulging the boy.
“My lord, Severus, I was not aware the two of you had been introduced,” said Lucius, his eyes lowered respectfully as he faced his lord.
“Severus” he muttered the name softly to himself, before speaking “Severus here was merely entertaining my presence. Quite the prodigy you have brought here Lucius” he spoke, his head dipping in Severus’s direction for a second. Severus seemed to blush and stuttered out a reply-
“I- I just read a lot is all” he looked sheepish and curled into himself his lips curling up into a tiny embarrassed smile.
Lucius stood straighter chin tilting up a smile easing itself upon his face.
“Severus is top of his class my lord, he even helped me with my potions essay once.” Lucius, proud, went behind the sofa resting his hands on the now even redder Severus's shoulders. The boy was hugging a book and mildly curled into himself, his posture suddenly tensed as he felt Lucius's hands rest against him.
“I believe he can be a wonderful asset to our cause in future my lord, even father believes his future is bright,” Lucius said a bright smile on his face “speaking of father he sent me to bring you to the dining room”, Severus freeing himself from Lucius’s grip relaxed looking in between Lucius and the dark lord.
“What is the cause? Who are you?” his eyes narrowed a thin finger pointed at the man across him. Tom just laughed politely against his fist while Lucius stiffened once again a look of panic flashed across his face before he swiftly composed himself.
“ Severus! ” he hissed whispering into his ear “ you can't- ”
“You can call me Marvolo” the dark lord spoke up as Lucius gaped in shock.
“My- my lord I-”
“Lucius, your father wanted you to bring the boy to him did he not?” he spoke
softly with a slight edge, an unspoken order imminent.