"I'm going to let her" Tom said told Abraxas.
They had slept all day. Lenora stayed resting, they had snuck out in the middle of the night. Abraxas said he had something for Tom.
"Oh. There is no way I'm doing that Malfoy" Tom picked up the little roll of paper in his hands.
"If anyone needs it, it's you" Abraxas snorted.
"It's vulgar. It's muggle" Tom handed it back to him. Abraxas picked up his wand and shot the end making the joint light.
"Don't be such a woman" he said making Tom's jaw drop offended.
"If anyone else talked to me like that I would have killed them" Tom said sharply but took the little roll of paper from his fingers.
"I know" Abraxas said as Tom took a deep inhale, "you have to hold it in".
Tom felt the burn in his lungs and held it in for as long as he could before he coughed loudly.
Now they sat in the grass watching the water, absolutely faded.
"I'm going to let her" Tom turned to him, "be a death eater".
Abraxas looked at him sternly
"Why?"
Tom swallowed, "So I can watch her, protect her, and we already know what she's capable of".
He sighed, "she can do so much. She's so smart and powerful Abrax-"
"No-" Abraxas cut him off, "why are we called death eaters?"
He chortled, "what does that even mean?"
Tom fell over laughing heartily at Abraxas who eventually joined him.
It was nearly early morning as Nott and Avery exchanged a smirk. They sat in the library with the rest of the death eaters. Mulciber stood straight practically at attention, Lestrange leaned against the wall. Black stood with his arms crossed next to Abraxas who was pouring through a book with great wonder in his eyes.
Tom was arm deep in a bowl of pretzels, his munching was loud. They all waited for him to speak.
Nott chuckled knowing exactly what was wrong with the both of them.
"My lord?" Mulciber finally asked
Tom didn't say anything, he kept munching.
"My lord" Tom shoved another pretzel in his mouth looking deep in thought.
"Tom" Black finally said and he looked up.
"Right!" He suppressed a laugh. An hour ago when he called the meeting in the middle of the night it seemed like a really ingenious idea. Now all he wanted to do was eat pretzels in the quiet of him room, maybe listen to some records-
"Riddle" Lestrange sounded impatient.
Tom sneered at him, stupid praying mantis.
"I called this meeting for a very important purpose gentleman" he nodded and took another bite of pretzel.
"Which is...." Avery said lightly trying to help him along.
"Lenora is going to join us" he said suddenly forgetting the reasons he told Abraxas.
Luckily for him, he was in charge and for a few moments he did not have to explain a thing.
"With all due respect my lord" Black started.
Abraxas groaned slamming his book shut.
"I really don't think that's a good idea"
No one said anything.
"She almost died" Black looked around for help. Avery was the only one who nodded at him.
"He's right" Avery said finally looking pleadingly at Tom.
"She almost died, accomplishing what you and Abraxas couldn't do in six months time" spat Tom.
"It's true" said Abraxas shrugging stealing a pretzel from Tom's bowl.
"We can protect her if she's one of us" continued Abraxas.
"I don't give a shit about protecting her" Lestrange said outraged, "since when are we the body guards of little Lenora".
"Well how about this Lestrange?! She could have killed you when she dueled you. She is far more powerful than you are" Nott yelled over Lestrange.
"Yea Theo, I know! Remember when she made you scream like a little girl!?" Lestrange said and Nott crossed the room going for his throat.
Mulciber not unsympathetic to either of them grabbed Notts collar.
"We all agree" Mulciber said plainly, " she's strong. But is she loyal? Obedient?".
Riddle watched the scene unfold, as they argued amongst themselves. All except Black who had a look of relief on his face.
"Gentleman!" Tom shouted finally silencing them.
"I don't remember this being a voting matter" he stood up from where he sat, suddenly feeling more clearheaded than he had in months.
"My decisions are not accountable to any of you. I am your leader, so if I say she is one of us she is" he took a step towards Black.
"If you have a problem, you will soon remember that I can be very persuasive".
Black dropped to his knees feeling the pull of magic knocking him down.
"I swear Cygnus" he said, "I'm grateful you have saved her but you forget to save yourself".
They all looked at him nervously as Black looked up him indignantly. Although they weren't commanded by magic to do so they all kneeled along with Black.
"What do you say Cygnus?" Tom smirked.
"Yes my lord".