ways_infirmary | (no subject)

(Placeholder for Draco tags then)

For the moment, the dose of Dreamless Sleep potion that Draco took before was indeed helping. At least it gave him a peaceful rest for once. Though his greyish pallor, sharply sunken cheeks, and dark circles under his eyes attested to the immense strain. There were also traces of nailmarks on his face, neck, and arms, all self-inflicted. His blankets and pillow were twisted around him. There might be tears or holes in the sheets, unless they've been replaced or repaired.

Seeing Draco like this, Narcissa has forgotten about everything else. She spent the night here simply watching him sleep, peacefully for once, and gently talking to him.

For the moment, she's gently trying to rearrange his blankets without waking him, occasionally stroking his hair.

As the potion wore off, there was a soft murmering moan, and his eyes moved some under his eyelids.

A faint cringe at the contact.

"Draco?" She whispers. "It's alright darling, it's only Mummy."

Once the sheets are smoothed to her satisfaction, she sits back down in the chair she's positioned beside his bed.

"...mum?" Draco's eyes slowly opened, and he panicked at first, not seeing anything. Finally his vision cleared, and he saw his mother sitting there.

This time, he did reach out a hand. "so scared, mummy." His voice was faint and wee. His normal adult timbre was completely absent right now.

Narcissa takes his hand in both of hers.

"I know, love. I know. But I won't let anything hurt you. You're safe here." She soothes.

Draco shook his head, "No, nowhere's safe. Not here, not there, no home, no friends, nothing..."

His voice trailed off into faint gibbering, "nothingnobodynothingnobody..."

She bites her bottom lip - hard - because she will not cry in front of her son.

"You have me, darling." She squeezes his hand. "You'll always have me, no matter what happens."

Draco slowly peers back at her, his grey eyes wide.

"You sure...?" There was hesistant fear and concern in his voice. In his fevered mind, he thought he heard a high and cold laugh, and a sibilant hiss.Traitor

His eyes started darting wildly around the room, expecting something to come out the shadows.

"Positive." Her tone is firm. "I will never leave you. Ever."

Draco wanted to believe it desperately. But then his mind seemed to see Voldemort looming over them, emerging from the shadows at last and ready to strike. His left arm felt like it was on fire, and he started to claw at it. Tearing out a Dark Mark that wasn't really there.

"Noooo... mum, run..." he moaned and cried out.

"Draco." Her voice is firmer, sharper to get his attention, and she reaches out to take his other hand.

"There's no one here. Just you and me."

Draco reacted to that voice, stern like when he really misbehaved as a child. His hand stopped even though his arm still burned or so he thought. The Voldemort shadow loomed wavered in his line of vision, only now it was more like a Dementor, and he shuddered violently in the sudden cold overtaking him.
He was quiet, seeming to shut down again.

Narcissa presses a hand to his forehead, then pulls the blankets up around him again.

"You need food, darling. Maybe some tea, or sweets? Anything you want." She's grasping at straws, just this side of feeling utterly and completely helpless.

That was enough to snap him out of his hallucinations for the moment.

Draco weakly replied, "Just a little fry-up, not that hungry, mum." To be honest, his diet had been decidedly sparse for a while, and the low blood sugar combined with dyhydration couldn't be helping at all.

"Alright." She nods. "I'll be right back, I promise."

She's gone only a few moments, and returns with a plate, and a cup of tea just in case. Whether this is permitted in the infirmary or not, Narcissa doesn't care.

"Here you are, darling. Just sit up a little, now."

Well, patients need food too, and at least they didn't have to deal with hospital food.

Draco did sit up some to make himself comfortable. He reached over to take a sip of tea, and it did help calm him some. He gave his mother a weak smile of reassurance.

Narcissa tries not to beam, but it's the most progress she's seen in him.

"That's a little better now, isn't it?" She smiles back at him. "Is there anything else you'd like?"

He did seem a lot calmer, as he forced himself to eat a little of the food as well.

Draco nodded a little, "Yes." He thought for a moment, but something stopped him from making demands.

"I'm fine, mum, thank you."

"If you think of anything, you let me know." She smiles again, and resists the urge to fix his hair.

There's a slight pause. "Which doctor has been looking after you? I would like to talk to them."

Draco tried to remember, "There's a couple walking around. One called Kevin Fawkes...another is Malcolm Crowe. Some others, I don't really remember." Usually since he's been in and out of lucidity for the past several days.

She pats his arm.

"I'll find them. You just keep getting some food into you. Put some colour back in your cheeks."

Draco nodded, and sipped his tea quietly. He seemed very weary, and drained from it all.

Pathetic weak coward. There was a faint flinch, and he tried to focus on his meal instead.

Narcissa simply sits quietly watching him. She gets the feeling this is not the time for motherly pushing. She's satisfied with events so far, and he can set the pace from here.

He was struggling some against the madness threatening to creep back in. Draco continued focusing on the tea and the food, and the sight of his mother as anchors to reality.