Voldemort didn't usually dream, but he dreamt that night. Nightmares mostly, vivid, almost waking dreams which he jarred himself out of, never allowing himself to fall into a deep slumber. Draco, beside him, slept comparatively easily.

Voldemort awoke from a surreal nightmare, disturbed by movement beside him on the bed. It took him seconds to orientate himself and remember what had happened and the significance of Draco stirring in this way.

'Settle him back to sleep...' That's what Snape had said. Voldemort dearly wanted to do this himself, not to have to call for Severus to calm Draco. He wanted to reassure him himself, because if he could then maybe there was a chance things could be ok again. A chance that maybe Draco would forgive him and maybe, just maybe, given time, he would say those words again...

Voldemort uttered soothing words to Draco in his sinister hissing voice, but for some reason they did not have the desired effect and Draco writhed and thrashed and suddenly sat bolt upright making Voldemort jump.

'I have to fix the cabinet!' Draco exclaimed, gripping at the bed covers anxiously. It was unclear just who he was talking to. 'I have to go and work on it now or it'll be too late!'

Voldemort realised with horror that Draco was about to try to stand up, and that this must be the delirium that Snape had warned about. Quick as a flash, he took hold of Draco, gently but firmly. He sat behind him, leaning against the headboard. He could hold Draco with his arms and legs, Draco could lean back against him. Draco could writhe and move but not fall or escape. And Draco wouldn't be frightened because he couldn't see who it was who held him.

Draco tried to break out of the hold, but he was very weak.

'I have to go and fix it!' He pleaded.

'No, love. It's fixed. You don't need to fix it now, you just need to rest.' Voldemort assured him.

'It's fixed?' Draco echoed.

'Yes love. Don't worry, go back to sleep.' Voldemort whispered. It would be lovely if Draco would sleep like this, in his arms.

'If it's fixed then I must go to him!' Draco cried. 'I must go before it's too late!' He wriggled, trying to get away.

Voldemort frowned.

'Too late?' He echoed. 'Before what is too late?'

'He will kill me!' Draco sobbed. 'He will kill me because I'm not clever enough to fix it!'

'Who will kill you, Draco?' Voldemort asked, trying to sound as calm as possible.

'The Dark Lord will kill me.' Whispered Draco. 'When he is bored of me.'

Voldemort froze. What was possessing Draco to say these things?

'I have to kill Dumbledore...' Draco gasped, swaying a little in Voldemort's arms.

'Why do you have to do that?' Voldemort asked. He did not like Draco being delirious because it was frightening, but he sensed he may be able to gain information this way that Draco might not have told him consciously.

'I have to kill Dumbledore so that the Dark Lord knows that I am devoted him.' Draco said softly. 'If I don't prove myself he will kill me. He doesn't need me.' Draco broke down into tears.

Voldemort rocked him back and forth and stroked him. Where had Draco got these ideas from? Was he simply a morbid fantasist, or was there more to it?

'He does need you, Draco.' Voldemort said with great sincerity.

It was a few moments before Draco's crying had subsided enough for him to speak.

'He has others.' Draco whispered. 'I have to prove that I am special so that he won't kill me.'

Voldemort was shocked. Why did Draco think that?

'There are no others.' Voldemort said, unsure if Draco was taking any of this conversation in, but he was responding to what was being said, so it was worth trying to reassure him.

'There are others!' Draco exclaimed. 'And the last one, who was given to the dementors...'

Voldemort was lost now.

'What?' He asked.

'The last boy, he was given to the dementors in the end, when the Dark Lord was bored of him.' Draco sobbed.

'Who told you this?' Voldemort said a little sharply, deciding it was unlikely that Draco would have entirely fabricated this story, even in a delirious state.

'The Rat man.' Draco replied nervously.

Voldemort was so glad he was seated behind Draco so that Draco could not see the look of violent rage that clouded his face. Wormtail. Wormtail had tormented Draco with the idea that he would be used and killed. He had even invented a story to frighten him. Wormtail would regret this. Oh, by the Gods, he would regret this! But Draco was the concern at the moment, Wormtail would have to wait...

'He's lying.' Voldemort said, as calmly as he could manage.

'He told me to kill Dumbledore.' Draco sobbed, and at last a full confession of events tumbled from his lips. 'I don't know if I can. He says if I don't, then the Dark Lord will think I'm useless and will kill me. He says I have to do it and he tells me about the others that the Dark Lord sees. I don't know if I can do it, I just don't know... But I want to please the Dark Lord! Because, because I love him! I love him so much! I must fix the cabinet so that I can be with him, I must!'

Draco sobbed frantically and Voldemort, feeling enraged, horrified, mortified and furious all at once decided it was time to try to calm Draco down.

Draco whimpered over and over that he had to be with Voldemort, he had to go to him. Voldemort realised that this was one thing he could do for Draco.

He moved from behind him and, keeping a firm hold of him, he sat in front of him and looked into his eyes.

'You are with me, Love! I am here. It's all ok!' He whispered.

Draco stopped sobbing and stared at him, as if he was checking if it was really true. Gasping in relief and delight when he realised it was.

'My Lord!' He cried. 'Oh, my Lord!' He flung himself into Voldemort's arms. 'Take me!' He gasped needily. 'Take me, fuck me, please, I'm yours!' He buried his face into Voldemort shoulder and gripped him as tightly as he could with what little strength he had.

Voldemort gently laid him down and wrapped his arms around him, pulling the blankets over them.

'It's not time for that now, love. It's time to sleep.' He replied.

Draco opened his mouth to protest but Voldemort stopped him.

'We need to sleep now, Draco love. We can do other things later, but now we need to sleep. I will keep hold of you though, if that will make you feel better?' Voldemort basked in delight at the thought that Draco might feel better for his presence after everything that had happened, even if it was only because he was delirious!

Draco turned to face him, and curled up close under his arm, head resting on his shoulder. His breathing still a little unsteady after crying.

Voldemort whispered softy to him.

'Shhhhhhh... It's alright.'

He repeated the words over and over again like a mantra until it lulled them both to sleep