JACG Chapter 71 ( Posturing)

I was being rather blatant about my position so I was the only one to blame for this situation. Sure, Borgin effectively sold me out but I knew he was up to something. I was the one who decided that his actions were meaningless. To be fair to myself this trap was not something that could confine me.

The Dark Lord may have people quivering in their boots but that was not something I needed to worry about. His red eyes examined me and I felt a shiver run up my spine. He may be good at hiding his true self but I could not mistake the look that dwelled in the depths of his eyes.

A pulse of magical energy traveled from him at break neck speeds. I may have made a mistake by looking him in the eyes. He was almost quick enough to enter my mind, it was a ridiculous feat that not even Dumbledore could do. I suppose the method in which they acted was different enough to make up the difference.

Dumbledore’s Legilimency probe was a subtle thing. It was meant to delicately slip past any and all defenses without anyone knowing what happened. His method fit his character rather well as he did not want to be known as a man who read other’s minds frequently.

Tom’s probe on the other hand was a completely different beast. His was designed to tear down any and all obstacles with extreme prejudice. A tactical missile that nothing should be capable of stopping. He gave up any form of subtlety and tried to enter my mind with all the force he was capable of. He wanted to know what I knew and he did not care what state I would be in after he knew.

The way the both of them operated was eye opening for me. I never expected to get a clear read from someone with how they casted. Granted I already knew a fair bit about each of them but I could have inferred their personalities just from this. It was a neat little trick to have in my bag for the future.

Tom may have been faster using his method but I had magically enhanced reflexes. So I dissipated his probe with no difficulty. I could see the moment Tom figured out I was not a naive defenseless student. 

The easy smile on his face faded instantly. His expression was the cold calculating thing that I expected from someone like him. He knew that after what he did fooling me with a charming personality was out of the question.

“Well, this is certainly unexpected.” Tom let out coldly and he examined me. He may have stepped into this conversation poorly but he was not going to give up easily. The wards surrounding the shop instantly switched to locking everyone in here.

I let out a dry chuckle as it happened. Figures Borgin would hand over the control of the Wards to the Dark Lord as soon as he showed up. The coward did not care what happened to this store. The Dark Lord commanded and he had to obey no questions asked.

Tom gave me another calculating look as he took in my reaction. He was intelligent enough to connect the dots. Which meant he knew that I knew the wards were locking me in. Which made him wary as I was clearly not bothered by said fact.

“What? You did not expect me to be able to defend myself?” I questioned dryly. Tom’s eyes narrowed as I brought up the elephant in the room. He entered into this situation severely underestimating me. 

He could not threaten me in any way that would be meaningful. The wards might as well be a joke to me, they were not capable of holding me. I could take them down in a moment and nothing he could do would stop that.

Not to mention the wards were not capable of stopping me from leaving in the first place. Oddly enough Borgins’ shop was warded against house elves entering willy nilly but I was not as unrefined as a house elf would be. Not to mention I could leave in a flash of phoenix fire.

“Well, I would not use those particular words but they are accurate.” Tom let out playfully with a smile full of teeth. He was looking at me like a hunter examining its prey. I simply let out a scoff at the act. Although I would give him credit for not faltering in the face of unexpected situations.

“Look I have been through enough speeches from Dumbledore. I don’t need this right now.” I let out tiredly as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I just wanted to improve my abilities even further why did I have to deal with this mad man right now?

I couldn’t even harm him in any way that mattered as I still needed him to stall Dumbledore. Although that particular plan was getting closer and closer to being called off. Not because I had a better one but because the figure heads of both sides were being annoying. 

Tom let out a dark chuckle of his own at my comments. His eyes were no longer as cold as they were before.

“He loves the sound of his voice doesn't he?” Tom questioned with that charming display backup. I let out a genuine laugh at him. Anyone could make the same comment but he could not be the one to say that about someone else. The amount of time Tom wasted preaching to Harry was ridiculous. To be fair to Tom that was in the future when he split his soul far too many times.

I suppose I should not throw stones either I was rather long-winded myself. At least I kept all of my monologs internally so no one could say I loved the sound of my own voice.

I looked over at Tom who was smiling politely at me. I was amazed that he was capable of switching from hostile to someone’s best friend at the drop of a hat. I suppose you don’t get into a leadership position without knowing how to charm the opposition.

“I hate him big whoop.” I let out dryly as I examined the Dark Lord. This conversation was going rather well all things considered. Sure, Tom tried to crack open my skull the moment he could but he was being rather polite. I suppose the knowledge I held in my head was far more important to Tom than I thought. The question is why it was so important to him.

“I think hate would be an understatement, Severus.” Tom let out as his eyes glinted. He walked towards me breaking the distance between us. His stride was poised and prepared for anything but trying to display friendliness.

He saw something in my responses that made him a lot more comfortable in his position. Then again I was rather blatant with my dislike of Dumbledore.

“He can be rather condescending, can’t he? Always preaching about having your best interests at heart but never being in your corner. He could not recognize the suffering you went through if it was staring him right in the face.” Tom let out darkly as his eyes focused in on me. I took a step back as I was not prepared for that.

I was used to being the calm collected one who read his opponent for all they were worth. Tom might as well be spelling out my own thoughts right in front of me. 

“He is not one to listen to reason. He is a simpleton who would grant favor to anyone but you.” Tom spoke out again with that glint rising sharply. I felt a small amount of panic swirl in me as I was not expecting Tom to hit the nail on the head so quickly.

“He has failed you one too many times hasn’t he?” Tom questioned with a small sharp smile on his face.

“What does it matter?” I questioned sharply. I may want Dumbledore dead for all that he brought about but it did not matter in the end. I was willing to let him play his little games as long as they did not involve me.

“I think it matters a lot Severus. I see myself in you. You are a half-blood who hates his muggle father who failed you. You despise your weak mother for being weak. You are a part of a noble family that refuses to acknowledge you because of your sullied blood. But the most important thing about you is you are brilliant and none of the rest of it matters to you in the face of your own talent.” Tom hammered in point after point with a charming smile blooming on his face.

Oh god, I was getting the speech. He was treating me like Harry. Fuck, he was actually right for once. Harry and him shared some things but I might as well be exactly like him. That sudden moment of clarity snapped me out of the panic I was experiencing. Ironically the fact that we were so similar stopped me from worrying. It made sense to me that someone like me would be capable of reading me like an open book.

“I’m staying out of it. Tear each other apart but leave me out of it.” I spat out stiffly. I was not going to let him charm me into standing by him. He may be right but I still did not like him all that much. He was all of the worst traits of myself which meant he was incredibly dangerous.

“Is that so?” Tom spoke out darkly. The charm that was emitting from him faded as he took in my statement. The cold calculating eyes back in full focus. I knew that he was in more danger being this close to me but I did not feel that way. 

“I don’t feel like you are being particularly neutral Severus.” The Dark Lord spoke out coldly as he let go of all the warmth he was displaying. It felt like he wanted to open me up and examine everything that made me tick.

“What’s that supposed to mean? I’m telling you right now I want nothing to do with your war.” Again I spoke out stiffly as I did not like the way this conversation was going. I was moments away from attacking him or leaving altogether.

“Do you take me for a fool Severus?” Tom spat out as he emitted his Mana trying to lord over me with his overwhelming might. The sight caused me to narrow my eyes at him as I projected my own Mana back at him. This I could handle, needless posturing was my bread and butter.

As our Mana coiled and collided with each other causing the room to shake Tom narrowed his eyes at me. He probably had a lot of information about me from multiple channels but he was testing the waters. He would not rely on anyone but himself for information. Trust was not a word that existed to Tom.

He stopped his posturing and I did the same hesitantly. The posturing would not really solve anything between us but I would rather deal with that. His pointed statements were shaking me up too much.

“Stop your actions against me and I’ll leave you alone as you wish,” Tom spoke out darkly with his eyes shining in barely contained rage. He was not happy about the compromise but he saw something in me that had him pausing. The problem was I had no idea what the fuck he was talking about.

He must have read the confusion from me as he opened his mouth again.

“The failed raids. The sudden misfortune that is falling on my followers. The misfortune that is falling on me. You expect me to treat this blatant threat as something from a neutral party.” Tom spat out as his eyes glowed in rage. Ah, shit. Fortuna was fucking with them and I fucking forgot. That kind of went against my neutral stance. It has been two years so cut me some slack.

Before I could reply Tom’s expression morphed into that cold calculating look.

“You did not know,” Tom spoke out as if he discovered something amazing. The calculating look in his eyes intensified as that one fact turned everything on its head. I should have left when I had my chance. I let Tom needle enough information from me to discover something he should not have.

He knew I was behind his misfortune but now he knew I was not targeting him. It was an automatic thing and that made all the difference in the world.

Fuck, how hard would it be to Obliviate a Dark Lord?