Chapter 15: Flawless Strategy
Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence - Leonardo Da Vinci
Tom did not speak much during dinner. Not that he was the talkative kind of person anyway, but tonight he was exceptionally quiet. He did not eat much and ignored any sort of attempts of conversation coming from either his gang or the girls trying to catch his attention. After another awkward session of silence, Tom decided to get up and leave earlier than any of them, walking back downstairs and over into his dormitory where he frowned upon the view ahead of him.
Merlin, Black's cat, sat in front of Joelle, meowing loudly at her while Joelle was squished to the very back of the cage with her fur standing up and ears perked back. Tom shooed him away and closed the door.
"Joelle..." Murmured Tom, suppressing a grin when she looked at him with big dark eyes.
"Even as a cat the men are all after you. I should've probably transformed you into a jellyfish" he sighed and stared at her. She meowed at him.
"I know what will happen when I let you out. I'm sorry, but you'll have to stay in there for a while" he pulled out some bits of food he collected from the dinner table. To his surprise, Joelle ate it. It was interesting to watch that even as a cat, and hungry as she was, she did not lose her poise or elegance at all.
"I did all of this because I missed you" said Tom suddenly. Joelle looked up to him at that, her eyes not as black and wide as they were, she seemed to have calmed down momentarily but did nothing to respond to him. Tom glanced to the side, realizing that flattering her would obviously result in nothing - she was too sad, angry, and disappointed with him. When he next took a glance, he saw that she was curled up in her cage, nuzzled down to her bushy tail with a twinkling substance in her eyes. Tom quickly looked away, but his gaze fell on her cage again. It was small and uncomfortable, and as much as he was outraged about what Joelle had said when he transformed her back, he knew she did not deserve this miserable state of existence here in a dungeon. He inhaled deeply, looked down at her and she just looked up insecurely, half of her face hidden in her tail.
"Fine. I will let you out. But you need to promise me to behave. I will not transform you back but I don't want you to be caged up like that all the time" he frowned, wondering why exactly he did not want it. He didn't quite know.
After another moment of reasoning with himself, Tom opened the cage and Joelle slowly walked out, warily looking around. Tom picked her up and sat her in his lap.
"Merlin is not here, don't worry" said Tom dryly, patting through her fur. Not even he could help feeling up her softness - he had the idea that he was allowed to touch her now that she was a cat, and nobody would find it weird or strange. Aside from Joelle herself maybe, which was proven when she started turning to the opposite direction from his hands, wiggling away from him. She simply jumped down and up another bed, making it fairly clear what she thought of him. At first Tom felt that famous bubble of destructive anger growing bigger, but it popped into nothingness upon recalling that she was with him - and that's all that mattered.
Tom did not sleep a lot that night. Worrying that Joelle would somehow escape did its justice of keeping him up.
Sure, the windows, as they would only lead into the sea, were no option, and even though he told Lestrange, Black, and the rest that they had to take utmost care of the cat not ever leaving the common room, he could not be entirely sure that Joelle wouldn't use a chance to slip out - after all, she was a cat that could think ahead, just like him, plan a move in a game of chess.
Each time Tom's eyes hectically swept over to her, she was still cuddled on top of Lestrange's bed, who grew fond of Joelle the moment he had seen the black fluffy cat.
She can't escape. It was ridiculous to think she could outfox him. Impossible. Tom stared at her and leaned back, wondering if he should let his gang in on his secret. It would be much easier to transform Joelle back in the dormitory if they knew. It would help them understanding the importance of keeping an eye on her. Oh their faces when they could see that she is not a common cat, they would just gasp in awe, as they should, for how many first years do they know that have done what Tom did?
Should he tell? What if one of them informed somebody who should not hear about it? Possibly Dumbledore? Tom growled at the thought of him. But believing he could continue on like this for maybe years without anyone noticing - even for Tom, who was so assured of his abilities, it seemed unlikely that it could remain a secret forever.
Tom knew that one method of ensuring his authority was giving others some responsibility. Make them believe they're important - Tom was good at that. Maybe teach them one or the other thing, help the idiots to a little success, just a tiny bite of the whole cake that was reserved for only him. Why then would they be loyal to an old man like Dumbledore when they could choose Tom, somebody delving into every bit of magic he came across? Tom nodded to himself.
He always understood how people worked - and how to work them.
"What do you mean she's not an ordinary cat?" Asked Avery, looking at the sleeping Joelle curled up on the bed later that day.
"You need to swear utmost secrecy" said Tom. "By showing you, I trust you. You don't want that trust to turn into something else, do you?" Asked Tom. The other kids shook their heads. They did not want to give him a reason to be angry.
"Good" Tom nodded, then smirked as he waved his wand at sleeping Joelle - and before Lestrange knew it, there was a sleeping teenage girl on his bed. Tom enjoyed the loud gasps of awe - just as he he expected.
"Dear Merlin!" Yelped Avery.
"That's just insane!" Exclaimed Black.
"Who is she?!" Asked Lestrange.
"That's Joelle. I have brought her here to teach her magic. And because I simply want her around. She...is all I have" Tom looked to the ground, then up them again. A little pity should do it.
"Now you certainly wonder why I would let you in on my secret. Because I know you can handle it. You're not like the others" complimented Tom, looking at all of them with his intense and calculated glance. The boys nodded with bright smiles, eyes glistening in pride and joy.
"And because I trust you so much with my secret...there are a couple of things I want you to do", he paused dramatically, "you play a big role in making sure that I will succeed."
The other boys just stared at Tom - Lestrange nodded feverishly already, the others joining.
"What can we do?" Asked Black full of ambition, looking at Joelle, then back at Tom.
"Keep an eye on her. I want nobody to touch her. And the most important part...make sure she's not ever anywhere near Dumbledore" Tom growled upon the mere thought of it.
"Hah, yeah, he would instantly transform her back and send her home" snickered Avery, earning himself a harsh glare from Tom.
"Do you think that's funny, Avery?" Asked Tom dangerously. Avery gulped, shaking his head.
"How did you even do that, Tom!" Squeaked Lestrange. "It's awesome! You just waved your wand, you didn't even say a word! You're here for only a few months and you already know how to transform someone into an animal, without saying the incantation! And transform them back! I can't believe it!" He shook his head.
"I will teach you one or the other technique" said Tom, rubbing his chin with a slight grin when the boys gasped.
"You would really do that?" Asked Black. Tom nodded, watching the boys looking at each other in joy.
Just as planned.
"One more thing" said Tom, sitting up again as if leaning closer to the conversation.
"Nobody shall know. It's just you three right now. I will let the other boys I trust in on my own accord. No soul must know our secret" he whispered.
"Oh. So it's their secret now, too" said a voice suddenly. Everybody's heads turned over to where it came from. Joelle sat up. Lestrange's mouth gapped open, he could not help his eyes trailing to Joelle's chest before he quickly looked away, feeling ashamed.
"Joelle" smiled Tom, though hiding a slight glare. She has seen through him - as always.
"Are you and Tom related?" Asked Avery then.
"No silly questions!" Groaned Tom. Avery cleared his throat again, nodding quickly.
They all shifted a little when Joelle tried to stand up, but Tom forced her back down with his wand - without saying a word.
It was downright out of this world for this boy to know so much about nonverbal magic already. It was scary. It was exciting. It was inviting them to become great, too. Joelle, however, was not positively impressed by Tom's greatness. She narrowed her eyes at him, and for the first time that Tom realized, he was confronted with the truth that all the warmth and maybe even love for him was gone in the curiousness of this moment.
"You can't keep me here forever" she hissed at him.
"You're wrong. I can" shrugged Tom. "Now...we don't want to spend the rare time of your human presence with exchanging hurtful nothings, do we?"
The other boys grinned as Tom observed Joelle's face closely. Her lips were pressed together firmly but she said nothing else; Tom saw her fighting the tears. Her eyes swept over to the door.
"Don't even try, the door is locked" muttered Tom.
"We are not that bad, Joelle" smiled Lestrange then. "In Slytherin we are a family. You're a part of it now."
"Yeah" murmured Black. "We will protect you."
"Protect me..." Laughed Joelle suddenly, shaking her head. The sarcasm was almost jumping at Tom, clawing on him like she did as a cat. He disliked it.
"Leave" he said to the boys suddenly. They got up on an instant, unlocking the door, walking out of the dormitory and into the common room. The door closed again and Tom magically locked it, but did not yet turn around from the wood.
"Marvolo, be reasonable..." Said Joelle softly suddenly. "You know I can't stay here with you..."
"Funny. I was under the impression that you already are staying here" chuckled Tom, turning around from the door and Joelle backed away, seeing a red glow in his eyes, and before she knew it, items of sorts were flying across the room. She gasped and jumped onto the bed, crawling to the very back. Tom was outraged out of nowhere.
"How dare you!" Yelled Tom. "How dare you be okay with leaving me! We wouldn't have seen each other till summer! HOW DARE YOU!" He yelled on the top of lungs - Joelle has never heard this kind of noise from him. She held her breath when he was in front of her out of nowhere. She quickly turned her face away.
"Look at me" he murmured dangerously. Joelle, not feeling like she wanted to continue being intimidated by a child, looked up with a glare.
"This is not a game, Joelle. But I assure you that if it were, I would win. I always win" he glowered - Joelle's eyes widened.
"Remember John, remember Billy, remember Amy, remember Dennis. Remember all of them, they were nothing but pawns for me! You hate me as it is, there is no reason to hide it anymore."
Joelle's lips were merely parted.
"Why?" She simply asked breathily. "Oh god Marvolo...why..."
"Because of you" glared Tom. Joelle looked up with a shocked expression. "What?"
"John hurt you. Nobody is allowed to hurt you! Unless it's me, unless it's when I", he got louder, "deem it necessary! Amy and Billy destroyed our snowman! They deserved getting hurt! I told Billy to stay away from you - he laughed at me, mocked me! I warned them! I warned all of them!" He yelled, eyes reddening again. Joelle looked away from him, shaking her head in disbelief.
"And that's exactly why I did it" he suddenly whispered. "You! Turning your attention away! Just like you did at the countryside! That's why Amy and Dennis had to pay. Simply because they were there" shrugged Tom. Joelle shook her head at him in denial.
"No, no Marvolo..." she whispered, but Tom snickered. "Yes, Joelle..." He then looked at her and she looked back. They stared at each other for a moment that seemed like eternity was lasting just a split of a second, and then something happened that Tom will never understand.
Joelle hugged him.
She pulled Tom against her chest, nuzzling her nose in his hair. Tom grew all rigid when this happened, he had the urge to withdraw, but he did not. His tense muscles loosened, he let his arms fall down. Joelle. What a curious girl.
Everyone else would have punched him for what he had said. Any other sane person would have pushed him away, would have yelled, screamed, ripped him into shreds. But not Joelle.
Not his Joelle.
"I don't hate you, snowman" she whispered gently. "I don't hate you."
Tom looked up to her, the red gleam in his irises gone. He did not understand.
"But you don't want to stay here with me..." Whispered Tom. "I can't study while worrying that somebody unworthy is with you. The past few months were horrible, especially when you stopped writing to me because of Bryan, perfect Bryan!" He yelled again, getting himself worked up, but with the simplest squeeze of Joelle's arms around him, his heart stopped racing and Tom felt how he calmed down on an instant. It felt terribly good, almost unbearable.
"Let us compromise" whispered Joelle. Tom looked up curiously when she let go to look at his face.
"I will give it a chance and stay here. But I will go back once I've realized that I don't like it" she said. Tom narrowed his eyes, shaking his head.
"I know why you want to go back. Bryan, right? Bryan!"
"Marvolo, Bryan and I are not dating anymore. He has got a new girlfriend, don't you know?"
"He does?" Asked Tom in surprise, feeling a little easier before he glared again. "But his feelings will come back when he sees you! That's how it works! He would choose you over anyone!"
Joelle suddenly laughed. "I'm not that great" she pushed Tom's head away playfully. Tom looked at her, then sighed.
"You're giving it a real chance? Giving this world a real chance?" He asked.
Joelle nodded. "I will."
"What if you like it here a lot more than home?" Tom asked.
"Then I will stay here" shrugged Joelle.
Tom's eyes widened upon that perspective. A bright grin spread across his face. Oh Joelle, silly Joelle. Did she not know that he would try anything to make it as perfect as it could get? He would make sure. He had enough tactics, he knew enough steps to take. Simple moves to achieve his goals. Simple methods to win.
All he needed was a strategy.
A flawless strategy.
