After Snape left, Draco decided to go to his own bed.
"Professor Snape didn't want you moved more than necessary today." Luna informed him. "It's fine for you to stay in my bed. I'll sleep in your bed."
"The day is over." Draco argued. "I will sleep better in my own bed." He grinned at Luna. "But you're welcome to sleep in there with me."
She tried to argue, but in the end, Draco refused to give in. She called Rinka to walk on his other side, knowing if he collapsed she couldn't get him up without magic. They made it into the other room, slowly, stopping to lean against something twice. Draco's spirit seemed a little better, even if he was breathing heavily from effort by the time they arrived at his bed.
Luna tucked him in, then went to get Caelum ready for his bath and bedtime. There was a knock on the nursery door. The door was opened without waiting for an answer.
Voldemort walked in, regarding Luna and Caelum with pleasant amusement.
"Miss Lovegood," he greeted. "I take it you and the boy are no worse for this morning's events."
"We are well, thank you." Luna answered stiffly. "Draco is in the bedroom."
"Of course he is." the Dark Lord nodded to her. "Please, do not let me disturb you."
He crossed over and stepped into Draco's bedroom.
"Draco." his oily voice hung heavily in the air. "Severus informs me you were nearly killed by Dolohov's spell. Fortunately for you, he was here tending your father and was able to help you." Voldemort studied the potion bottles Luna had lined up on the side of the bed. "I also understand you very nearly killed your father."
Draco's mind raced, wondering where this conversation was going.
"You are so like me." Voldemort sneered. "I killed my own father. Of course, he was a filthy, unfaithful muggle. Yours is simply a weak, pretentious coward."
"I do not wish to be like my father, my lord." Draco answered. He didn't want to be like Voldemort either, but that wouldn't do to say aloud.
"No, but you are a father yourself, at such a young age, and soon to be a father again." Voldemort picked up a potion bottle and pretended to read the label. "Certainly you understand how to raise your children appropriately, not withstanding the poor example of a father you have had."
"My children will be raised to believe in our ways, my lord." Draco replied automatically.
There was a tap at the door from the nursery. Luna poked her head through.
"I was about to give Caelum his bath and get him ready for bed. Is it all right for us to pass through?" she asked.
Voldemort gave his twisted version of a smile and gestured graciously at the bathroom door. "By all means, Miss Lovegood. I just came to check on Draco. I had no intention of disrupting the nursery routine."
She came through with Caelum in her arms. He smiled at his father, but his expression fell and he buried his face in Luna's neck at the sight of the Dark Lord.
Voldemort stepped over and touched the child's back. "Do you fear your lord, little Malfoy?"
Caelum's arms tightened around Luna's neck.
"He's tired, you see." Luna smiled at Voldemort. "He only wants Draco or me when he's sleepy. He doesn't even like Narcissa when he's like this."
"Very well, then. Give the child his bath and put him to bed." Voldemort dismissed them.
Voldemort stood where he stopped, looking at Draco with an unreadable expression. He waited until the water was running in the bathroom, and then disapparated with a puff of black smoke. He walked back through the door from the nursery a minute later.
"My lord?" Draco asked, frowning.
Voldemort walked back to his bedside. "You were most impressive this morning, Draco. You took down Crabbe and Goyle in physical combat, you bested two of my inner circle, you were cunning enough to expect Bella's trap, and you nearly killed your father, after walking upstairs with a potentially fatal injury." Red eyes bored into silver ones. "I am reassured that you, physically and mentally, are every bit the soldier I have trained you to become. However, I question your loyalties and emotions. You seem more dedicated to your little family here than to our cause, or to me." Voldemort leaned forward just slightly. "Let me make my position clear. You serve me. If you continue to serve me devotedly, I will allow you to keep your family. If I see disloyalty, disrespect, or even hesitation on your part, well, I have just shown you that I can walk through your wards and apparate into the nursery. I can also cross the wards to your parents' chamber. Do we understand one another, Draco?"
"Yes my lord." he choked out.
"Very well. Get some rest." Voldemort turned and walked from the room with a swish of robes.
Draco was staring at the ceiling when Luna came out of the bathroom with Caelum. She brought him over and allowed him to absently kiss the child before she took the baby to the nursery and put him to bed.
When she came back twenty minutes later, dressed in her pajamas, he was still staring at the ceiling.
