Work Text:
On a rainy Saturday evening, Draco barges into the Slytherin common room completely soaked through and carrying a black bundle. That's some generous wording - the animal in his arms is huge, so big that Draco has to crane his neck just to see where he's going. But, well, how was he supposed to leave a wounded... dog? would be his guess in the rain in October, when the nights get so cold and dark and dangerous? Draco may not be the nicest person, but he's not a monster! When he saw the animal from the balcony where he stood smoking, he simply couldn't leave it alone.
"Draco darling, what, pray tell, are you doing?" Pansy pauses her gossipping with Blaise to level him with a disbelieving look.
"I found a wounded dog," Draco shuffles his way across the common room, leaving puddles in his wake.
"Dog," Theo repeats, raising a brow at the animal. "Are you sure that's not-"
But he doesn't get to finish the sentence, Blaise already cutting him off with a smack to the head. "Don't spoil it for him."
"Spoil what?" Draco asks, halfway up the stairs.
"Nothing, have fun with your new pet, babydoll," Blaise chirps in response, and normally, Draco would've turned back and demanded some explanation, but his shoulders are starting to ache, and he really wants to get rid of those sodden, muddy clothes.
Besides, the Slytherins acting weird is such a common occurrence, it would've been weirder if they went a day without speaking in riddles. Ravenclaws would've loved them. If they started studying a bit (a lot, looking at you, Pansy) more, that is.
At last, Draco manages to paddle his way into the bathroom. Upon reaching the nearest shower (not his preferred one, but it'll do for now), he sets down the animal and takes out his wand for a quick drying and cleaning charm. He'll need a solid scrub later, but it will do for now.
"Be right back," Draco tells the dog, before running back into his dorm in search of a warm sweater he won't miss too terribly. Just because he's a wizard doesn't mean he's risking his favourite blazer getting destroyed - it's already dirty enough as is. Also, he's freezing after the braving the downpour. Surely the dog will understand.
Or, at least that's what Draco hopes for. He never really took care of one - he's more of a cat person, you see - but a wounded animal is a wounded animal. And Draco is determined to nurse it back to health. He's an aspiring Healer, after all!
Clad in a woolly green sweater and black jeans, Draco returns to the bathroom, where the dog lies down in the shower. Draco cast the cleaning charm over it too, but with how much mud was stuck to its fur, a regular shower is definitely due. Hopefully Draco won't get his hands bitten off in the process.
"I'm going to wash you now, okay?" He turns on the shower, letting the animal get acquaintanced with it. When it doesn't cower or bark, Draco mutters a quick "Sorry" before dousing it with water, followed by a solid layer of soap.
He has a cat - Eltanin - but she's back at the Manor, keeping Mother's company, so of course Draco didn't pack any of her grooming products with him to Hogwarts. Besides, aren't there different cosmetics for dogs anyway? Salazar, why does Slytherin have to be a cat house!
Underneath all the dust and grime, the dog turns out to be jet-black with a small patch of white just below its left ear. It has really striking eyes, too - emerald green, a shade Draco could've sworn he knows from somewhere... Oh, right. The dog turns out to be a 'he'.
"I shall name you... Achernar," Draco nods to himself, wrapping the animal in a fluffy white towel. He's already dried him up with another charm, but the towel is a warm comfort after the horrid night. "It's a star in the Eridanus constellation and the ninth brightest star in the sky-" He pauses. "I'm explaining stars to a dog. Is the Black family madness finally reaching me? Oh! Right. Your leg. Sorry, Achernar."
"Right," Draco repeats. "Hold still. I never healed an animal before, but I did mend Greg and Vince, so I think I'll manage. This might hurt."
Luckily, the wound isn't too deep, and Achernar is a very patient dog. Draco is just finishing wrapping up the wound, when Theo appears in the doorway with a concerned look.
"Draco, are you sure that's ah, a good idea?"
"What, with Umbridge? Please, that woman is so thick-skulled not even a pebble has enough space to rattle around it. As long as we pretend to listen to her, she won't notice if you turn into a cow in the middle of the Great Hall."
Achernar makes a weird noise at that - a sneeze? "Merlin, you must've caught a cold! Come on, Achernar, I'll get you to bed."
"Bed?" Blaise raises a brow. "You're not planning to sleep together with-"
"Achernar," Draco supplies, as Theo lets out a cough. "And Eltanin always sleeps with me anyway, so why not him?"
Blaise and Theo share a loaded look. Finally, the brunet speaks, "Well, she's like five times smaller for one-"
"And you just met Achernar today," Blaise adds.
"And?" Draco scoffs, oblivious to their concerns. "He caught a cold from all the rain, he deserves some comfort! Besides, the bed is plenty big, we'll manage."
Another loaded look. What is up with them?
Blaise doesn't sound all too convinced when he says "Whatever makes you happy, darling." But Draco has more important things to concern himself with, like finding the coziest blanket to wrap Achernar in.
He falls asleep with his head buried in the jet-black fur.
𐂯
Theo loves his friends, he really does. But Merlin, they can be such idiots sometimes (cough, cough, Draco).
"I wonder how Achernar's doing," the blond muses, pushing eggs around his plate as they sit during breakfast the next morning. "Should I bring him some food? What do dogs even eat? Do you think steak would suffice?"
"I think you should focus on your own breakfast," Theo points to the mess on his plate.
"But he was sick and injured yesterday, shouldn't I go check up on him?"
"It's been fifteen minutes, darling, I'm sure your wild dog will survive," Pansy rolls her eyes.
"I miss him," Draco sighs, slumping onto her shoulder.
"I'm sure you do," Blaise pats him on the head, ruffling up his perfectly styled hair, all of which Draco is too busy sulking to notice. "Next year bring Eltanin with you." Maybe that will keep you from adopting so-called 'stray dogs' remains unspoken but understood by all.
Except Draco, of course, who's already buzzing with the idea. "I shall bring her after winter break!"
"Are you sure H-" Theo cuts himself off before Pansy has a chance to swat him. "Achernar will play nice with her?"
"That's a concern for later," Draco waves his hand. "I'm going to write to Mother. Don't wait for me!"
He's gone before anyone has a chance to protest. Theo sighs, hand on his forehead. "Are we sure we shouldn't just tell him?"
"And ruin all the fun? Absolutely not," Blaise declares.
"It's for enrichment," Pansy adds, and... well, Theo can't exactly argue with that logic. Draco may be the second best student grades-wise, but his social awareness is equivalent to a rock. Theo's never been so grateful to be immune from romance as he was last year when a Ravenclaw spent three months attempting to ask Draco out. He gave up in the end, and not even because of a rejection - well, not an outward one at least. Draco was more interested in discussing Astronomy than any romance.
And while in that case it could've been blamed on Slytherins casual affection - it's quite easy to get desensitized to flirting when your friends call you 'darling' on a daily basis - this 'dog' situation... It's almost endearing how clueless Draco is.
Almost.
Because whatever reason Potter has for using his Animagus form to sneak into their House can't be any good. Then again, Theo is one of the snakes for a reason. And Slytherins are nothing if not lovers of the drama.
𐂯
Draco is on his way back to Slytherin (finally! He's been waiting to get back to Achernar the whole day!) when Umbridge accosts him in the corridor.
"Mr Malfoy! Have you seen Potter? He was supposed to report for detention an hour ago."
Potty running away from responsibility? Fork found in the kitchen? "No Headmistress, I'm afraid I haven't. But I'll keep on the lookout for him."
"Thank you, Mr Malfoy. I'm glad to hear at least you Slytherins know dilligence."
Draco barely contains his snort. Dilligence, my arse. Last week, he and Pansy spent half of their patrol helping Blaise and Theo sneak out to Hogsmeade to get chocolate frogs (and definitely not any booze), but sure, let her live in her delusion.
"Of course," he says instead, voice stern and official. Thank Merlin Pans isn't here with him - no poker face would've endured the two of them.
Achernar is already waiting for him by the entrance when, at last, Draco reaches the dungeons. He's even sitting at the right spot - he must've remembered it from last night. "What a smart pup you are," Draco praises, scratching behind his ear.
Soon, it becomes a routine - Achernar laying at his feet while he does homework, or letting Draco drape over him while reading a book. Four days after acquiring his new pet, Draco decides to glamour him into looking like a cat, so he could join them during patrols. Pansy wasn't too keen on the idea, until she saw the green collar Draco transfigured from one of his ties. Whatever joke he's missing, Draco's too gleeful about walking Achernar to notice.
In fact, Draco's so enthralled with his new pet that he barely notices Potters absence in classes and the halls. Even when he does, he waves it off. He's probably off fighting trolls, or whatever else Gryffindorks like him do in their free time. Either way, it's none of Dracos business - in fact, he's glad to note Potter is missing in Potions - a 33% decrease in the likelihood of an explosion! If anything, he's doing everyone a favour.
Besides, it doesn't seem like his babysitters are too concerned about his whereabouts either. The only notable event was catching Granger scouring the Animagi section while Draco searched for extra tomes on Arithmancy. Then again, what's new about the Swottiest Witch of Her Age cramming knowledge like the library is on fire? It's a wonder she wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw - though she is a part of Potters gang, so clearly her daredevil spirit outweighed the thirst for knowledge.
It is eerily peaceful without Potter around, but Draco isn't complaining - he's plenty busy learning to be a dog owner. And worrying that Eltanin won't take well to his new pet. But she's such a darling cat, surely she'll love him! Who wouldn't?
The rest of Slytherin, probably. Pansy keeps on sending Achernar suspicious looks, Theo pretends he's not there, and Goyle asked about ten times if Draco's sure Achernar isn't a Grim.
"Don't be ridiculous, Greg," Draco waves him off each time, free hand buried in Achernar's fur. "How could such an adorable pup be a Grim? And besides, Potter had one in third year and survived. There's nothing to worry about, I tell you."
No one is dumb enough to remind him that Potter is currently missing. Instead, Vince says, "He looks a bit too wolfy to be a 'pup'."
Draco just rolls his eyes, "So what! He's still my baby, aren't you, mon loup?" And leans down to kiss Achernar on the nose, before whispering, "Don't listen to them, darling, they don't know what they're talking about."
𐂯
Three weeks later, apocalypse strikes - Harry Potter returns. Draco's slumped on Pansy's shoulder, sipping his black coffee and sulking about not being able to bring Achernar to the Great Hall with him, when his gaze meets familiar emerald green eyes.
Immediately, Draco's sulk twists into a sneer, glaring daggers at the Gryffindor.
Except, a truly peculiar thing happens when their eyes meet across the room - Potter's gaze almost immediately drops back to his plate, cheeks flushing as if to match his the red of his robes.
Draco lifts a brow. "Is he really that embarrassed?"
"Who? About what?" Pansy perks up, the excitement dissolving just as quickly when she follows Draco's gaze. "Mm. Probably."
"But isn't that weird? Since when does he care about losing points?"
Theo coughs, and Blaise almost chokes on his toast. "Is everything alright?" Draco asks, suspicion giving way to concern.
"Everything's perfect, babydoll, don't you worry," Blaise smiles, reaching for his cup.
"Must be the flu," Theo adds, coughing once more to reinforce his point.
"Hm," Draco lets his gaze drift back to the Gryffindor table, where Potter still sits flushed and pointedly not looking up, while - what was his name, Finnigan? - pokes his side, a wide grin on his face. What a bunch of weirdos, Draco shakes his head, turning back to his friends.
And the weirdness only continues throughout the day. Potter arrives fifteen minutes early to Potions just to take the farthest seat possible - not that Draco's complaining about that, the two biggest hazards sitting meters away from him? Especially when Potter burns his Beffudlement Draught - how he manages to bungle the easiest potion in the years curriculum is beyond Draco - maybe he inhaled some of the fumes? Whatever the cause, at least Draco's perfect hair remains unscathed. Potter should sit in the back more often.
Then, he stands stiller than a statue when Draco docks him points for not wearing his tie properly - like someone petrified him. Draco takes five more off for that. Still nothing.
"What, did you forget how to act human in whatever dimension you disappeared into, Scarhead?" Draco scoffs, giving him a glare.
Potter finally reanimates at that - to flee, of all things. "That will be five more points for defaming Gryffindors name!" Draco yells after him, though he doubts the boy hears him - with how fast he's sprinting, it's a miracle he doesn't collide with a wall.
And then again, and again, and again - Potter turns to flee seemingly every time Draco as much as flashes in his peripheral.
"Can you believe it, Achernar? Gryffindors' poster boy and he's scrambling away like a scared toddler," Draco scoffs, leaned against the dog, Herbology essay in one hand, the other stroking his fur.
"First he disappears for a month, and now he's acting all weird..," Draco shakes his head. "Good thing I found you, Achernar. You're a far better companion than that moronic Scarhead."
This time it's Pansy who coughs. Merlin, that flu is spreading real fast.
"Should I brew you a Pepper-up?" Draco asks, looking up to his friends.
"No, I think we'll manage," Pansy waves him off.
So Draco just shrugs and sinks back into Achernars fur to continue revising his essay.
𐂯
Potter continues to avoid him. At first, it was almost funny - because since when does the Harry Potter find Draco so intimidating? But it got old quite quickly. Mostly because, as Draco finds, it's no fun tormenting someone who acts like you're contagious with a deadly disease. He - and, eugh, what a pain it is to admit it - misses their mutual sparrings.
Salazar, Draco's going to vomit.
And every time Draco tries to confront Potter about it, the Scarhead either freezes or flushes brighter than Weasleys hair. And Draco has really tried everything.
"What, did your mummy not teach you it's rude to not respond?"
"Hey, Scarhead! Do you need new glasses, if you have trouble with reading basic instructions?"
"Potter, I swear to Salazar, I'll dock you points if you don't quit with this farse."
Nothing works. Which is why Draco finds himself slouched on his bed, face buried in Achernars fur and groaning. "He's just so- aggravating! Ugh, I despise him so much!"
Achernar gives a soft whine in response. Draco lifts up immediately, leaning over to kiss him on the nose. "No, of course not you, my darling, you I love. It's Saint Potter whom I despise," he spits out the name with as much venom as he can muster. Which is a lot, because Draco is fuming. How dare Potter disappear for a month and then come back acting like that? His behaviour is normal around anyone else, it's only who Draco he avoids like the plague.
"That's it!" Draco perks up, a new plan formulating in his head. "I'll just ignore him back! That will show him," he nods to himself, because Merlin, how did he not think of this earlier?
𐂯
Pansy is about to reach her limit. She. Pansy Parkinson, the biggest gossiper in the history of Slytherin! The number one instigator of drama! Even she is getting fed up with Draco and Potter's bullshit.
The latter wouldn't know subtlety if it bit him in the arse, and her best friend... She loves him of course, but Merlin, she owns golden earrings less dense than Draco Malfoy. All his intelligence went to book knowledge - which is great, of course, because Pansy gets to just copy notes off him whenever she's too lazy to do them herself - well, until it isn't. Like right now, for example.
She recognised Potter the moment she saw that patch of white paired with green eyes - really, a neon collar with 'I'm Harry Potter' written all over would've been less obvious. But apparently not to Draco. Which was hilarious, still is, and the Snakes will never let him live that one down, but... Can he stop being so dense for five seconds and notice Potter's ginormous crush on him?
The answer is no, one time a bloke straight up told Draco that he loves him, and the dolt turned it into a fifteen minute chatter about star constellations. And Pansy can't even properly bully him for that, because he still hasn't caught on. Good fucking luck, Potter.
Though Pansy does wonder how exactly he ended up in that situation. The Gryffindors decided to spy on them, yes, yes, that's obvious, brilliant plan darlings, but why Potter? And why does he keep coming back- okay, no, she knows why, because he has a big fat crush on Draco and is too emotionally constipated to admit it. But still - why did they send Potter to spy on them? Why not Granger? She surely wouldn't have bungled her transformation and gotten herself stuck in her Animagus form for a month - she'd probably move over mountains, because stars forbid the Miss Swot misses one day of classes - so why Potter? Because somehow Pansy doubts it was Grangers idea to send him (she's a lot of things, but even Pansy has to admit, dumb isn't one of them, and this 'plan' absolutely was), so what? Did Potter just... press on them until they allowed him to go play spy?
Did they all learn the Animagi spell? What's Grangers form? Probably an owl - she is a swot, after all, but what would she look like? Would she keep her chocolate brown eyes, like Potter- Oh, for Salazar's sake, focus Pansy! You have a mission here!
Merlin, she's spending too much time with Draco - his weird Gryffindor obsession is spreading onto her! Blegh!
Right. She'll unpack that weird thought spiral later (never). For now, she has to find Potter and talk some sense into him. If he even knows what that means, which is doubtful considering he thought it would be a good idea to spy on Slytherins, and all he got out of it was a humiliatingly obvious crush on Draco.
Maybe Pansy will at least manage to convince him to hold in his confession til Wednesday, when her bet is up? She'd really hate it if she lost to Theo. Absolutely not! She's the matchmaker here, not him, and Pansy would rather eat slugs than let him win.
And so, the moment she spots the mop of jet-black hair in the corridor, she yells "POTTER!"
Uh-oh. His nannies are here.
"What do you want, Parkinson?" Weasel scowls, so Pansy sneers back at him, "Is your name Potter? No? Then shut up, pug."
"Hey!"
"So, Potter, how long is your clownery set to go on for?"
The boy immediately turns red. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mutters, and Pansy can't help but snort. "Oh, please! That spy mission of yours? We caught on the very first night, but feel free to continue it, cause it's hilarious. No, what I meant was your crush on Draco. Either do something about it, or stop all together, because Draco has the social awareness of a Neanterthal, and unless you're planning to confess through a textbook, then good luck, and believe me, many have tried."
"Harry doesn't have a crush on Ferret, what are you-" Weasel starts, but even Granger turns to glare. Potter on the other hand is so flushed, one would think Pansy jinxed his skin to crimson.
"He absolutely does, and it's giving me second-hand embarrassment. Seriously, I don't know how much of your senses do you retain in wolf form, but clearly not a lot, because if you think letting Draco use you like a pillow is good spywork, then-"
"Wait, wait, hold on, what do you mean, use Harry like a pillow?" Weasley cuts in, turning greener than Pansy's tie.
"Oh, you didn't know?" Pansy glees. "Potty here has been snuggling up to Draco since the very first night. Sleeping in his bed, licking his face, letting Draco lean on him like a couch, and kiss his nose, and-"
"ARE YOU MENTAL?" Weasley explodes, before passing out with a dull thud.
"Hm. Classy," Pansy lifts a brow. "So, Granger, why didn't you go spying on us? I'm not saying we wouldn't catch on, we absolutely would have, but why Potter? Clearly it wasn't to gather information, since he's done fuck all of that, so why?"
"Why, so you can dock us more points?" Granger crosses her arms, glaring.
"No, I'm just really curious. Because you had to have known Potter would've failed, so why not go yourself? I'm guessing you're all Animagi, so what was the reason? Was Potter really that convincing?" Pansy leans over to the brunette, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Or were you too scared of what you'd find?"
Huh. Would you look at that. Looks like another Gryffindor got struck with the crimson skin jinx.
Potter clears his throat behind them, still flushed and tugging at his crooked tie. "Oh right, you're still here. Shouldn't you worry about your friend down there? That fall looked nasty."
As if right on cue, Weasel springs back up, looking a mix of disguisted and horrified. "Mate, I get liking blokes, I really do, but Ferret? He called you an orphan two days ago!"
"An orphan raised by wolves," Pansy corrects. "His accuracy and simultaneous obliviousness truly is the eight world wonder."
"He has nice hands," Potter mutters under his breath, and turns even redder. He should be a Gryffindor maskot, Pansy decides.
"Oh yes, you'd know that, since you let him pet you every waking minute you spend in the dungeons."
"Godric help us," Weasel mumbles, looking on the verge of passing out once again.
Pansy ignores him. "So, do you want my help or not?"
𐂯
Potter does not abide by the plan.
It's a lazy Sunday morning, and Blaise is humming along to some Celestina Warbeck song he'd never admit out loud to knowing. He's just finishing up his hair care routine, applying the cream to lock in the moisture in his curls - a crown like his requires great care, after all - when a high-pitched shriek, a sound more akin to a banshee than a human, cuts through the dungeons, and probably half of Hogwarts.
Ah. Looks like Draco found out the real identity of 'Achernar'.
"Draco, darling, some people are trying to sleep," Blaise exits the bathroom, with leftover product still on his hands.
The scene that greets him makes it real hard to keep a straight face. Draco's perched in the corner of the room, clutching a thick tome, like Theo when he spots a spider on the wall. And Potter - oh, Salazar - Potter sits on his bed, somehow managing to look like a kicked puppy even in his human form.
"WHO DARES DISTRUPT MY BEAUTY SLEEP!" Pansy barges into the dorm, looking positively murderous in her hot pink dressing-gown. The moment she spots Potter, a puffy slipper goes flying like an arrow. "You moron! You were supposed to wait until Wednesday!"
"Wednesday? I thought we agreed on Monday!" Theo follows after her, frowning. "Ugh, I can't believe I lost to Goyle!"
"I won? Are you serious?" Greg bounces after him, giddy like a child.
"You're telling me," Draco begins, and suddenly the room goes deathly quiet. "THAT YOU ALL KNEW ABOUT THIS? YOU FUCKING DEMONS I'LL HEX YOU ALL TO MARS!"
"What is this commotion? Is someone getting skinned alive?" Snape appears in the doorway, and Blaise can't hold it back anymore - he dissolves into laughter on the floor, through it quickly turns to pained moans, when he realises he just rubbed hair cream into his eyes.
"Hm. Looks like I won against Dumbledore," Snape nods, and if Blaise's eyes weren't stinging, he would've marvelled at his expression, the closest thing to a smile to have ever graced Severus Snapes' face.
"Even you, Severus?" Draco collapses onto the nearest bed like a Victorian maiden. "I can't believe it. I'm surrounded by traitors! Wait till my Father-" He suddenly turns bright pink. "Hm. Maybe not," he mumbles meekly instead.
"What, Malfoy, surprised the snake den is in fact full of snakes?" Potter raises a brow.
"Oh, you're one to speak!" Draco sneers. And then buries his face in his hands. "I can't believe I cuddled you every night for a month. A month!"
Potter blinks, turning red once again. "Well, can you do it again? It was quite nice, actually."
Draco looks up. "Hm? Oh, yeah, sure."
Pansy slams her head into the wall. And Blaise? Blaise is still writhing in pain on the floor. But it's fine, beauty is pain, after all. Besides it was all worth it - he's never before had such a good laugh.
"Everything all right?" Theo crouches down next to him and casts a cleansing charm over his eyes.
"Thanks," Blaise says, finally able to look properly at the scene unfolding in the room. He turns towards Theo, "Guess we just lost twenty galleons."
"Maybe next time," the brunet nods towards Pansy, handing Greg the money like it the biggest tragedy of her life. (Though in her eyes, it probably is). "What do you say? Five galleons on before Christmas?"
Blaise considers it for a moment. "Make it ten."