A/N: Thanks to WinterStorm and aikuyo soatome for the reviews because it always encourages me to write more Reviews are fantastic and greatly appreciated. I do my best to look at each chapter and correct mistakes but I'm sure there are still a lot. Sorry ^^'
Draco Malfoy was a lot of things but stupid was not one of them.
I wonder if mother really thinks that she is fooling me. She can't honestly think that I would believe St. Mungo's needed my help with a healing potion. I know for a fact that they have highly skilled Potions Masters employed there to assist with those kinds of things.
What is she up to?
Draco's curiosity had already ensured that he would in fact go to St. Mungo's. There was no way he would tell his mother that though. No, first he wanted to figure out why she was trying to trick him into going.
"Mother, why didn't they ask for Severus? Surely he would be a better choice, wouldn't he?" Draco's voice sounded strange, even to his own ears. He briefly wondered when his had started talking in a monotone…until he remembered Astoria.
His mother had a panicked look in her shimmering bright blue eyes for a fleeting second before her carefully crafted mask slipped back into place.
"Don't be silly Draco. Severus is a very busy man. You know that." Narcissa replied in clipped tones that made it obvious that she did not want to continue the conversation. "Now I suggest you bathe and put on clean robes."
Draco sighed in annoyance. He knew from experience that it was no use arguing with his mother when she used that tone. Narcissa seemed to notice her son's, albeit reluctant, acceptance and turned sharply and left his private quarters.
Draco quickly reapplied the wards on his door; nothing could ruin his day faster than seeing Astoria.
He walked towards the bathroom, randomly dropping his recently discarded clothes behind him as he went. He snapped his finger impatiently as he entered the bathroom. A single pop announced the arrival of Bonk.
"What is Master needing Bonk to do sir?" Bonk asked as he bowed deeply, his long floppy ears brushing the floor.
"Prepare clean robes for me."
"Of course Master Draco." Bonk disappeared from the room with another pop.
Draco stepped into the shower and turned the handle to the left and warm neon blue water fell from the showerhead. He distractedly scrubbed at his skin, not even noticing how his skin cracked and bled over his shoulders.
After a few minutes of rubbing Draco finally noticed the blood dripping down his arms and muttered an angry spell to heal his wounds.
He leaned his head against the wall and let the hot water rain down on his back. How long would he be forced to live this way? Scrubbing at his skin until it bled, hiding in his rooms while avoiding everyone at all costs, and slowly losing touch with sanity.
He knew his mind was beginning to fail him. He could not recall the correct compositions of potions that he had once been able to produce with his eyes closed. He often found himself reflecting on his time at school and wondering how his life would be if he had chosen different friends. Perhaps if he had not been such an arse he would have had someone to talk to during his self imposed exile.
Draco stood back up and ran his hands down his chest. All of his ribs could be felt under the thin layer of skin that held his body together. A maroon colored scar reached from his heart to just under his right nipple. He traced the scar with one long finger and green eyes flashed in his mind. He pushed the thought away before it could even start. His chest was hairless and smooth except for just under his belly button. Pale hair trailed from below his navel to his cock. He gazed at it in disgust, not able to forget that it had been inside of his hated wife.
It still looked exactly the same, despite the fact that the rest of his body seemed to be falling apart. He had not touched it in over three weeks, and he momentarily wondered if it was normal for a twenty one year old male to not be aroused for almost a month. He picked it up roughly, not even feeling the slight pain that shot through him as he held it in his tight grip. It was deathly pale like the rest of his body, which was odd since it was usually a flushed light pink. It drooped sadly in his hand and he felt an intense hatred towards it.
Why can't you just be normal? Why are you doing this to me? If you were aroused by that she monster then I could at least pretend to love her!
He harshly dropped his cock in disgust and began washing his skin with renewed vigor. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make the nauseated feeling leave his stomach. He always felt nauseated when he thought about sleeping with Astoria.
He ran from the shower and leaned over the toilet just in time to lose the meager breakfast he had eaten.
He stood and tried to make his way back to the shower to rinse off but stumbled. He pressed his back to the wall and slid down to the floor. He felt light headed and dizzy and soap ran down his forehead into his eyes, stinging harshly.
The wall across from him was covered in a floor to ceiling mirror. Draco stared at his reflection and hated the man that he saw looking back at him.
Icy grey eyes stared, looking lifeless and defeated. His hair was covered in soap but he could still make out the faded blond. His skin was ashen in some places and bleeding in others. He appeared to be a breathing corpse.
He began to shake uncontrollably. Anyone that saw him would have thought he was crying until they heard the haunted maniacal giggle that escaped his lips.
Look at me! I used to be the Slytherin Prince, the heir to the Malfoy name. Now look at me! What the hell is wrong with me?
He began laughing hysterically, gasping for breath and pulling at his hair.
"Master Draco! What is wrong Master?" the worried house elf stood in front of Draco, looking down at him with eyes full of concern.
Even the house elves look down on me now. I am pitied by house elves. What the hell…
Draco snapped out of his momentary insanity. There was no way he would allow himself to be something that house elves pitied.
.
"It's over here, Draco dear. We're almost there." Narcissa said in a sing song voice as she led her son through the halls of St. Mungo's.
She had been surprised when he had agreed to come; she had thought she'd have to spend a lot longer convincing him. She was even more surprised when he met her in the entrance hall of Malfoy Manner looking pristine and much like the boy she used to know. She had not wanted to question it though, figuring that Draco would probably shy away from her if she asked him questions.
Now they were steadily walking towards Healer Lovegood's office, leaving many awe struck bystanders in their wake.
"Ah, Lady Malfoy. Healer Lovegood is expecting you; she requested that Draco enter first and you wait out here though." The poor wizard at the reception desk looked terrified to be denying Narcissa anything. Mentally she was pissed but she kept her mask in place and smiled politely.
"Thank you. I'll wait for you here, Draco." She leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her son's cheek. Lately she had been trying to show him more affection.
Draco nodded and pushed his way into Healer Lovegood's office, just like the haughty person he used to be.
My son…
.
Draco stepped into the office as he was told to do. The sweet aroma of lilac breezed around the room and he felt somewhat calmer. His eyes fell on the large desk in the center of the room and he was shocked to see Luna Lovegood in a blazing yellow robe with straws sticking out of her pulled up hair, sitting behind it and talking to herself.
Oh Merlin…
"Hello Malfoy. It's been a long time. How are you?" She asked airily as she stood and walked towards him.
"I'm fine. Why am I here exactly?"
She gazed intently over his left shoulder with a sad pout on her lips and Draco felt uneasy.
"You're ill, very ill. Please remove your glamour so that I can examine you." She shifted from creepy airhead to professional healer so quick that Draco felt dizzy.
He sighed, internally debating whether or not to do as she asked. In the end he decided that he wanted to get away from her as soon as possible which meant he had to do what she said.
Draco had to give her credit for trying to hide the look of disgust that passed over her face when she saw him.
She pulled out her wand and began casting spells over Draco. He recognized one as the spell that Madame Pomfrey used to check magic levels and vitals but the rest he could not interpret at all. The more tests she did, the more worried she looked.
Finally she stepped away and put her wand in the pocket of her canary yellow robe.
"I'm afraid this is very serious Malfoy. I've only seen one other case like this and… so far we haven't been able to find a cure for him." She couldn't meet Draco's eyes as she spoke. He did not know what to feel. He had known that there would not be any good news for him so he was not particularly surprised.
"He's here today actually; I'd like you to meet him. I want to compare your symptoms and run a few more tests and it would be easier if you were in the same room."
Draco merely nodded and sat in the strange chair in front of her desk that vaguely resembled a unicorn. Luna sighed and walked to the door, not knowing what else she could say.
"Well, I'm going to go explain things to your mother. On my way I'll tell the other man to come up here, so you can become acquainted. Maybe you two could discuss when you came down with the symptoms and see if you have had any similar experiences in the last few months. I'll be back after I speak to your mother. Okay?"
Draco merely nodded. As soon as he heard the door shut behind Luna he began itching, hating the feeling of his own skin.