Draco Undone

by Passo

Author's note: This was written as a companion piece to another one of my stories, The Catch - a chaptered fic I wrote 12 years ago and finished 11 years ago. The Catch is about Ron and Snape's growing relationship and, while reading The Catch is not necessary to read Draco Undone, it will probably be easier for one to understand the timeline. Draco Undone is not a sequel to The Catch. Rather, it's Harry and Draco's story; events in the story happen in conjunction with some events in The Catch. The Catch was written just after The Goblet of Fire and before The Order of the Phoenix was published, which is why I had to make a lot of assumptions about future events and the fates of each character. I may add some characters and elements from the later books but I will mainly stick to the formula from The Catch. In this setting, Dumbledore and Sirius are both alive and boring little Ginny has no hope of ever snagging our lovely Harry Potter. I hope you enjoy the story!

Prologue: Superstar

"Isn't he annoying?"

Draco Malfoy looked up from his breakfast and glanced at Pansy Parkinson. "Who's annoying?"

"Mr. Harry Fucking Potter." She made a face and sat between Draco and Blaise at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. She motioned towards the Gryffindors' table. "He gets so much attention from everyone and he treats it all so casually. I'd love to get half of the perks he gets."

The topic of their discussion sat with his friends, oblivious to the Slytherins' conversation. Draco speared a sausage with his fork and said matter-of-factly, "You didn't exactly kill Voldemort. If you did then maybe you'd be just as popular as him."

"You mean You-Know-Who?" Pansy's raised her brows. It's been a year yet people - even those in Slytherin - were still hesitant to say his name. "Why are you suddenly so civil? Talking about Potter used to irritate you so much."

"Don't get me wrong," Draco smirked, still looking at Harry. "He's still a useless bloody git. I'm just stating a fact."

As if he heard Draco, Harry Potter looked towards him and caught his eye. Feeling irritated with himself for getting caught staring, Draco turned away and drank the rest of his coffee. "I'm going back to the common room."

Life in Hogwarts was almost back to normal as if the nightmare last year never happened. The battle was bloody and a lot of students, wizards and witches were killed during the destruction that followed Voldemort's attempted rise to power. No wonder people were desperate to return to their lives.

Pansy was right with one thing: Harry Potter was extremely annoying. The whole celebrity thing was overrated. So many things about it pissed Draco off: the worshipful looks from other students, the fan base, the letters, the whispers and excitement whenever Harry passed by. The best Draco could do was to avoid Harry completely to prevent seeing anything that could irritate him. Thinking of him alone was irritating enough. Maturity had its downside - it was almost impossible to goad Harry into a fight. Even the usual insults and jibes towards the Magnificent Trio (Draco rolled his eyes) did not seem sufficient at their age.

Besides, it was their last year in school. Very soon, he won't have to tolerate Harry's presence in their classes anymore.

He paused when he caught his reflection on a nearby window and smiled inwardly. No amount of popularity could buy Harry looks or family prestige. Draco knew he was lucky - like before, the Malfoys got away easy. He knew their luck would keep as long as he was careful not to make the same mistakes his father did.

With this in mind, Draco walked off, barging into a group of fifth year Hufflepuffs who parted to let him pass.

Hermione Granger lifted a lilac envelope from a small pile beside Harry's plate. "Hmm," she sniffed. "Lavender. I wonder who it's from?"

"At this point it could be anyone," Ron Weasley said while munching his toast.

"Eew, Ron! That's disgusting. Don't talk while your mouth is full!" Hermione scolded him with a disapproving look.

Ron ignored her and continued on, "I wonder if any of them are from Slytherins. Imagine if there's actually someone from that unattractive, evil lot who might be interested in Harry."

Harry snorted and tried not to laugh. "You're one to talk. The guy you like was a Slytherin. And he's not just any ex-Slytherin, he's now the Head of Slytherin House."

Ron ran hand through his dark red hair and frowned at Harry and a giggling Hermione. "Pretend-like," he whispered furiously. "I'm just chasing after that greasy git because I lost a bet against you." His look made it clear that he blamed Harry solely for his problems.

"Right. Pretend-like." Smiling innocently, the dark-haired Gryffindor patted his best friend's shoulder as he stood. "Here, now. Things will look up. You never know, this time next month you could be shagging dear Professor Snape at the Astronomy Tower."

Ron's pumpkin juice squirted out of his nose while Hermione laughed even louder, hitting the table with her fist.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I left my wand in my room and I need it for class."

On his way to Double Potions from the common room, Draco checked his pocket and cursed. He forgot his wand in the Slytherin Dungeons. He shook his head, this was so unlike him. He promptly turned around and he-

-was blasted off the floor! He flew and crashed into the wall, hard, as smoke covered the hall and debris rained everywhere.

He felt intense pain from his arm as he landed on the floor. There was a strong unpleasant smell in the air. He saw a large, extremely dirty hole in the wall; and behind it, a pale-faced Professor McGonagall and a group of shocked third years. A boy who strongly reminded him of a younger Neville Longbottom was standing by the hole looking like he was about to burst into tears.

"I said lounge divan, Allen. Not a large dungbomb," McGonagall cried.

She rushed to Draco's side and looked him over. "You look fine, Draco, except for that arm." She turned towards her right and called out, "Harry, please take Draco to Madam Pomfrey. His arm doesn't look too good."

In a haze of pain, Draco barely registered Harry's face who was looking at him with a mix of surprise and annoyance. He looked down and instantly regretted it because what he saw made him promptly pass out.

Draco opened his eyes and sat up. He had a massive headache, a loud purple cast and a sling supported his right arm, and, to his surprise, he found Harry sitting across him looking very inconvenienced.

Too tired to think of something nasty to say, Draco asked, "How long was I out?"

"Not long," Harry replied. "Madam Pomfrey was busy with a group of second years that had undiluted bubotuber pus all over them so she asked me to watch you."

"Did you like what you see?" Draco snidely commented.

"In your dreams, Malfoy," Harry responded. Too calmly, Draco thought. "I wouldn't be here if Madam Pomfrey didn't ask me to. Well, now that you're awake then I suppose I can leave."

"Wait, Harry," Madam Pomfrey interrupted. Harry sat back down. Like a good, obedient Gryffindor, Draco thought with disgust.

She gave Draco a small, steaming glass and ordered him to drink it. "It will get rid of that headache soon. As for your arm, your bone was completely shattered and some of it poked out of your skin. If it was a clean break you'd be out of here in a minute but since it's much worse than that, you'd have to keep it in a cast for a week."

"A week!" Draco exclaimed, aghast. "But I have classes. How can I work with this… this thing on me?"

"You'll have help," Professor Snape said from the doorway. He gave Harry a withering look before turning back to Draco. "I was concerned when you missed Potions. Potter will help you until you're better. Won't you, Potter?"

Harry gritted his teeth and forced himself to be civil, "Yes, Professor Snape."

As his headache faded, Draco smiled. Suddenly, the injury didn't matter anymore. Thanks to Professor Snape, Harry Potter aka Superstar Extraordinaire was going to be his bitch.

"Potter, try not to drop my books, I need them for my classes," Draco said airily as Harry trudged behind him carrying a large pile of books.

"Stuff it, Malfoy," Harry retorted. He had no choice but to obey a teacher but it didn't mean that he'd have to like it. He was currently burdened with both his books and Malfoy's as they walked to the Slytherin Dungeon.

They stopped by the stone wall before Draco turned to him and said, "You can go. You must have a hundred fan mails to answer."

Harry narrowed his eyes before turning walking away back to Gryffindor Tower.

I like you calm, as if you were absent,

and you hear me far-off, and my voice does not touch you.

~ Pablo Neruda

"So, basically, you're Malfoy's slave for the next seven days," Ron said, wide-eyed.

Harry winced. "Basically." He showed them a small yellow cube. "Snape gave me this so Draco and I can communicate every time he needs me."

"How does it work?" Ron took the cube and examined it curiously.

"I have to press the top with the black dot and talk," Harry said, dully. "I have not had the chance to use it yet." And I hope I never will.

Hermione shook her head and lay a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Harry. The week will pass by very fast. Just don't let him get to you."

He wished it was that easy.

Ron grinned, "At least I won't be the only one suffering."

"Asked Snape out yet?" Harry asked, suddenly cheered up by the thought of Ron awkwardly flirting with the slimy git.

"No, I'm working on it!"

Harry and Hermione cracked up.

TBC

Please review if you liked it. :-)

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