Oh, Shit

24

The nurse was not Madam Pomfrey, and Draco had no idea who it was. Clearly a nurse, but the old fashioned uniform almost made him want to laugh. A pink and white dress? With that frilly hat? It was a fashion disaster, and totally impractical. The white robes were draped on half hazardly, and Draco barely managed to keep himself from scoffing into his hand. A monumental effort that he managed to successfully withhold. Tom glanced by him, likely noting the amusement draping off him, but did not comment, just shoved Draco forwards and into a bed. For his part, Draco just rolled his eyes, crossed his arms, and leaned back on the bed. His expression was pouty, and seemed to bring nothing more than yet more amusement from the Dark Lord.

I just do not get it. Draco thought viciously to himself, keeping his outward expression away from what he was truly thinking as they both waited for the nurse to turn to them. One second he is angry, the next amused. I know the Dark Lord's emotions can switch like nothing more, but for whatever reason I simply fail to understand. Was the Dark Lord in my own time simply insane? The lightbulb promptly flicked on, and Draco chastised himself for not even realizing it for so long. Of course he was. That was why his magic seems so volatile but different. Something happened. Something between now and when he died to make the Dark Lord lose his mind. Not entirely, no, but close enough. He was not sure what it was, could not even begin to explain how that would have happened, but something had to have. Both the Dark Lords were similar, but Tom was so much saner. He did not lash out hazardly, and not without ensuring the silence of everyone around him. He was cautious, but cruel, and his manipulations were less frantic. Hell, the Dark Lord in his own time barely even tried to manipulate, simply threatened the members that were good at it with a few well-placed avadas and crucios and there he went. It was strange, and Draco realized the difference now. This Dark Lord was not crazy.

It felt almost blasphemous to think about and so Draco quickly turned his mind from such things. He could continue the thought when he was safe in his own bed, if he decided to ever return to the question. Besides, it did not matter how crazy any individual Dark Lord was, because at this rate, Draco was stuck whether he liked it or not. At least if this Dark Lord was less crazy it meant Draco was more likely to be able to navigate him. Hard to navigate someone who had no sense of self. His obsession with Potter had been strange, and his burgeoning obsession with Draco was even creepier. He remembered the look in the Dark Lord's eye when his father first introduced him...he had not liked it and continued not to like it.

The strange honor, the everything. Draco did not understand it, but he was not meant to understand it, and it really did not matter if he could gather what the Dark Lord wanted or not. Draco was just trying to keep from getting himself murdered, and he barely even managed that! Now he was stuck in the past with the younger version which if Draco had to choose, he would definitely take the younger Dark Lord over the older one. By far.

"Madam, yes, he has a headache? I was wondering if you would be able to administer a potion."

"Well, you know the rules, Riddle. I cannot give a potion without doing a check up first." Draco stared at riddle and the nurse. There was no saying no to a checkup. It would seem suspicious, and other than the fact that he hadn't really been eating well, he was healthy, if nothing more. He had no reason to hide or shy away from a nurse other than the fact that he just did not like them. Annoying things they were, and so persistent.

Madam Pomfrey had always been pushy wanting to know how he got hurt, and why, and what happened, rather than just handling it. The tests would show her exactly what was injured, and she would know how to treat it so Draco had always gotten irritated by it.

"Go ahead, Miss." Draco said, waving his hand idly, giving permission without a seconds thought. He noticed the slight surprise which was quickly veiled from Tom. He guessed Abraxas was not overly fond of doctors either. Not that it surprised Draco, but Draco had grown up knowing medical attention early on, he knew when he needed it, and other than just not liking the pushy questions, would go when needed. No point in pushing pain further after all.