Draco woke with a gasp and his lungs practically seized in his chest. One quick glance around the room showed that the man was no longer in the room, though Draco did not doubt that he would be entering it soon enough. He would not let his newest addition wander about unsupervised, that was just stupid, particularly since it was obvious that he knew that the spells that Draco had used against his followers were of the dark variety. Spells a common fifteen year old would not, and should not, be able to use. He heaved a breath in, trying to calm his racing heart.
Why...exactly is it that I did...for this. Of all my luck, I just had to be jerked backwards...in time nonetheless, and somehow I am supposed to survive Grindelwald! On top of that how am I supposed to survive the World War? Grindelwald...I...I met Grindelwald....Draco jolted himself upwards from the bed, goosebumps shivering down his spine. He had met grindelwald...of all the people he could have met and not only did he meet him but he had shouted, screamed, and then fainted in front of him...Draco felt the mortification flood through his veins as he recalled his interactions with the man. He could not believe that he had not recognized him, then again it was not as though Draco spent time idolizing the man...well, at least not since he was about six. He used to study the other quite religiously, but that was because he quite enjoyed Grindelwald, even as a preteen he knew that the other was admirable. Furthermore, more was known about Grindelwald than about the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord was impressive in his own right, but it was hard to idolize someone that barely anyone had any concrete facts about outside of terrifying.
He was correct in his thoughts that Grindelwald would rush inside not too long after he woke, because the other man ended up entering the room not too soon after Draco's disparing thoughts over the fact that he had basically ruined his reputation with an infamous Dark Lord.
"S-Sir," Draco stuttered slightly, clearing his throat and bowing his head slightly. "I apologize for not recognizing you, it was not my intention to be so...lax in my greetings, or decorum for that matter."
"There is no need to apologize," The Lord said simply, an idle shrug of his shoulders. "It was to be expected, considering the circumstances." Draco stared at him with wide eyes. He could not believe how...already how accomidating that the Lord was. The Dark Lord would likely have had a long punishment in line for him, and that was assuming he was not given some form of mercy and just crucioed for his audacity.
"Still, I should," Draco muttered under his breath, his fingers stiff as he tried to keep from fidgeting. Tis Lord's presence was not anywhere close to the all consuming and suffocating presence of Him, but it was still hard for him to handle at times.
"Where are your parents? Or guardians? My people took you and brought you here, I would be remiss if I did not let you return to where it was that you were from." Draco licked his lips. He knew that tactic. Trying to see if you can't get more people to blackmail me with, or manipulate probably. That or tying to obtain more information, not that it is going to be much use either way. Draco sighed, this train of thought was not doing him any good. Furthermore, it was useless either way. He did not have any parents in this time, and nobody would be willing to take some random Pureblood, of questionable descent. Even if it was obvious that he came from one of the noble lines, it was dangerous. Particularly in this time, with tensions as it were.
"My parents are not...they are not here. I suspect they are dead now, or at least thrown in prison. One of the two, though which I am not entirely sure." Grindelwald's face twitched, if Draco had not been born and bred to notice such things, he would not have, but as it were he recognized that look, even if it was given for just a split second. The other had a thought...though what it was was drowned out because he did not linger on.
"Very well, I suppose you can stay with me for a little while, considering the situation. I will find a place for you to reside...where did you live, prior to being found by my people." Draco swallowed.
"England," The word was stated simply, and he did not specify where in England, that would be just plain foolish. Grindelwald, as it were, did not seem to need or desire more information, though, and did not press him to give more information.
"I will send someone to the country to attempt to find somewhat suitable housing for you. At the very least, I can do this."
"And you have a plan of some sort, involving it, particularly now that you know where I used to live...right?" Draco questioned. He normally would not dare to be so bold as to question a Lord like this, but he was running low on patience at the moment. Furthermore, he knew that look, and he did not have the energy to toy with this man. He also did not want to, there was no reason for it. As much as he may like Grindelwald, and have idolized him, Draco did not have the energy to play mind games with him, and did not want to waste his time doing so.
"It was in the making, but of course, I cannot force you to agree to it." Grindelwald began slowly. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Oh save the preaching. You said yourself it was clear I was not with the Ministry when you found the spells I was using, that is what you claimed at least. Why would I be with the ministry either way? The English Ministry is, at best, the most functioning running country, and even still it is useless with many faults and flaws. Barring that, I would rather die than join....Dumbledore." Draco shuddered as he spoke the name, the disgust radiating off of him as it was released.
He was abruptly reminded of the task that the Dark Lord had given him before this whole...problem. Killing Dumbledore. It was not even that Draco cared about the man, he did not. He was biased, prejudiced, and a manipulative asshole at best that played at being the nice grandfatherly figure. His crimes were scrolls of filled parchment long, and his incapability to even handle his school was even worse. Draco hated him on principle because his father had, but after dealing with him for four years, Draco could confidently say he just despised the bastard. It was the same with Potter. Originally, his Father had told him to avoid the boy, but not make an enemy from him. Well, that was pretty much fucked the moment he met him, though Draco was still frustrated that he did not quite understand why the Potter boy was so angry at his comment in Madam Milkins. he figured it had to do more with the fact that Draco had not realized he was a muggle raised half blood and therefore kept asking questions a pureblood or magical raised half blood would already know than actually anything to do with the comment towards the Gatekeeper. Through the years Draco had developed a rather intense dislike for the boy, and not even just because of his botched friendship job with him, Draco just did not like him, and it was not likely to change anytime soon.
As for his task, it was terrifying because of the stakes it held, that and because he knew that Dumbledore was insanely powerful in his own right...just like the Dark Lord, just like his Uncle Severus, his Aunt Bellatrix, and his Father. He knew he was meant to fail, and it was frustrating to admit, but Draco also knew it was actually quite likely that he would in fact, fail. It left him a sense of hopeless terror.
"Anyways," Draco cut himself off of his thoughts, realizing that he had been introspecting for several minutes with Grindelwald just watching him. "If you want me to do something, it is best to just share you plan now, while I am here," Grindelwald hummed, assessing him carefully for a while before nodding once.
"Very well. I wish for you to enter Hogwarts, and keep an eye on the man for me."
"You want me to spy on Dumbledore." Draco asked, his voice deadpan, irony was really flooding through him. What was it with Dark Lords and him and Dumbledore seeming to be tied together all the bloody time, it was annoying.
"Well, keep an eye on, not spy persay." Grindelwald said simply. "If he leaves, I wish to know."
"And how am I supposed to know when Dumbledore goes traipsing about, and on top of that, how am I supposed to let you know?"
"I will give you the means by which to contact me, and I don't mean just leaving. Tell me anything. Students he seems overly fond of, or unjustly hateful of....tell me the situation in the castle, between houses. Which families are more likely to agree with Dumbledore and which are not...keep me updated."
"And what good is this going to do? Are you intending to take over the school?"
"No," Grindelwald admitted softly. "But the way to parents, is through their children...is it not?" Draco felt something stab him at that. It was...and likewise the reverse. The way to children, assuming they cared for them, was through their parents. As much as Draco could care less if his father died in a dementors Kiss, he cared far too much for his mother to allow a horrible fate befall her. The Dark Lord had known that, and had manipulated it.
"Yes," He agreed reluctantly. "It is."
"Of course, you do not have to agree. I do not want someone unwilling."
"I know, I do agree!" Draco said, stiffening, and the simultaneously cursing himself. Why did he have to agree so hastily? He knew survival and such, but even still...he blamed it on his intense desire to obtain praise, for something...anything...from an adult father figure considering his own was quite...lacking.