Draco shook his head instinctively, his voice trembling.
"I wouldn't dare. Everyone knows how terrifying he is. No one even dares mention his name."
"Exactly." Lucius sighed.
"I dare oppose Albus Dumbledore. I dare call him a crazy old man, because he's on the side of good. He has principles. He wouldn't kill me just because I insulted him."
"But Riddle is different." He paused, recalling the look in Tom's eyes just now, cold sweat still prickling down his back.
"Just now, he wanted to kill me. No—he wanted to kill our entire Malfoy family."
"What?!" Draco shrieked, nearly jumping out of his seat.
"How dare he? He's just some country bumpkin. How dare he lay a hand on the Malfoy family!"
"What wouldn't he dare to do?" Lucius shot him a glare.
"If he dared harbor murderous intent, then he must have the confidence and means to act on it. He's an orphan with no attachments, and his temperament is extreme. He has no weaknesses. A madman like that is ten times more frightening than Dumbledore."
"So, Draco, stay away from him from now on. Even if you want to curse him, do it behind his back. People like him will either become major figures in the wizarding world someday, or bring ruin upon themselves and get themselves killed."
"Opposing him won't gain us a single benefit. It may even get our whole family wiped out."
Draco's little face went deathly pale. He had never dared doubt Lucius's words; his father's authority was beyond question.
Whenever he thought of the way Tom had looked at him earlier, his whole body turned cold. That guy had actually wanted to kill their entire family?
He nodded shakily. "I understand, Father."
Lucius nodded in satisfaction, then added, "And don't feel wronged. The