Before I Come Undone

Chapter 3

You're gold and more gold

And you're platinum too

With snow toned, copper attitude

-"Your Every Color", Train

Draco's return to Hogwarts was a much needed respite from the turmoil of his personal life. His mother was pregnant; he was no longer the sole heir to the Malfoy name. He couldn't decide between being excited by the prospect of a younger brother or sister or irritated at the fact that now he'd have to split the family fortune.

Either way, he had very little time to think of anything besides Quidditch. The first match of the season (Slytherin vs. Gryffindor, naturally) was little more than 24 hours away and almost all of his effort was going into preparing his team. Between classes, study and Quidditch sessions and nights plagued with dreams, Draco had managed only a few measly hours of sleep in the last few days.

He sighed and pushed damp hair off his forehead before slowly ascending into the air. The wind whistled below him as he surveyed the Quidditch pitch. Crabbe and Goyle had finally gotten the hang of positioning and were perfecting new Beater strategies. Ex-Captain Montague's younger sister had acquired the Keeper position for herself and Draco had to admit that she was incredibly talented, despite her poor work ethic during practice sessions. She and the three new Chasers, all shifty fifth year boys that always seemed to know where the other two were on the pitch, were putting each other through the paces.

Draco trailed easily through the air, hair ruffling as he shifted downward toward a distant glimmer. He pulled back when he realized it wasn't the Snitch and frowned when he realized it was almost eight o'clock. Ravenclaw's practice was scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes and so Draco reluctantly called the team off.

He pocketed the Snitch, bewitched to glow in the faint evening light, and walked toward his team.

"We're done, I suppose. Potter's team is fast, we'll need to be faster. Show up ready to play, or don't show up at all." He leveled a glare at the team. "That's all. You're to go immediately back to the Common Room. Avoid trouble, for one night at least."

Draco gave them one last glare before quickly striding away. He dropped his broom off and took a quick shower before descending into the stillness of the dungeons.

~~~

"Greetings to everyone on this glorious morning, and welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin!"

There were wild cheers all throughout the stadium and red and green fluttered in the air. "Captains Malfoy and Potter will meet for the first time this season, in a match that is sure to be the precursor to the Quidditch Cup Finals..."

Dean Thomas continued to talk as both teams assembled outside the changing stalls and waited to be introduced to the crowd. Draco and Harry stood at the front of their teams, giving last minute advice. Draco looked up at his signal to enter the pitch and mounted his broomstick, his team trailing behind him onto the field. "In green and silver is Slytherin, represented by Beaters Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe, Chasers Dominic Solare, Christian Solare and Michael Black, Keeper Aubrey Montague and Slytherin Captain and Seeker Draco Malfoy!"

Draco could just begin to see spots of red and gold at the opposite end of the stadium as he took his warm-up laps. "And now Slytherin's rival: Gryffindor in red and gold!" The stadium erupted in cheers and Draco scowled. "Gryffindor is represented by Beaters Dennis Creevey and Virginia Weasley, Chasers Seamus Finnegan, Euan Abercrombie and Natalie McDonald, Keeper Ronald Weasley and Captain and Talented Seeker Harry Potter!"

The two teams lined up across from each other, with the two captains in the center of the pitch.

"Ready to lose, Potter?" Draco sneered as the rest of his team chuckled menacingly.

Harry scoffed. "Money can't buy luck or talent, Malfoy. Surely, you must know that by now."

They shook hands and shot into the air as Madame Hooch released the balls. Draco could just see his three Chasers as they streaked toward the Quaffle, very nearly unseating Natalie McDonald in the process. She shrieked and he grinned in response. He ducked a Bludger as it sailed past his shoulder and turned to face Harry. "A girl for a Beater, Potter? Were the pickings really that slim?"

He floated away, scanning the edges of the pitch and keeping a watchful eye for movement from Harry at the same time. The sun was glinting brightly and he felt slightly unbalanced. He brushed his hair out of eyes, licking dry lips at the same time. He angled his broom toward the ground and began to search the green for any sign of the Snitch.

Harry followed him down, tailing him as Draco pulled back up and looped around his goal. "Cover the damn left post, Montague!" he yelled as he flew past, shooting her a glare. He could just hear Thomas over the wind and the crowd and knew that she'd given up at least two goals that way in the first ten minutes. Aubrey hastily repositioned herself and tossed the Quaffle back toward Michael.

Draco soared back up into the air, clutching his broom tightly. It must be getting warmer, he thought to himself. His hands were shaking slightly and he felt like he was baking in his robes. He was beginning to regret eating breakfast.

He snapped to his left, tailing a glint of gold that was most definitely the Snitch. He could hear Harry gaining speed behind him and within seconds the other Seeker was level to him. They jostled briefly, legs brushing and robes flying together in the wind. The Snitch banked right and down, and both of the boys followed. They were still neck and neck when the Snitch suddenly veered off course and disappeared into the shadows of the stadium. He could hear Harry sigh audibly as he pulled away from Draco. The heat is getting to him too.

He shuddered and closed his eyes briefly, as a wave of nausea passed over him. He opened them just in time to avoid Creevey's Bludger. The pitch flickered in front of his eyes as he scanned for the Snitch. He had just caught a glimmer of gold when the pitch flickered again and went dark.

~~~

It was raining, again. Angry clouds rolled across the horizon. The sky was a menacing montage of green, blue and purple.

He didn't know where he was, though the place felt familiar. There were others alongside him, but he couldn't see their faces in the poor light of the storm.

Thunder rumbled and lightening flashed. The light momentarily illuminated his surroundings and now he could see he was in the middle of a clearing. There was an abundance of rock and the ground was hard and uneven.

He could also see that those around him were dressed in a similar style. They wore heavy robes in three colors, all dark. Those closest were adorned in a rich, deep red. Farther along the line was a midnight blue and then around the edges, simple black. They were all masked.

~~~

First, pain. He could feel every nerve ending in his body and they all seemed to be sending messages to his brain at the same time. He groaned softly and heard someone shift next to him.

He forced his eyes apart and grimaced at the sight before him. "Oh gods, I've gone to hell." Harry Potter was smiling back at him. Draco shifted and gasped in pain and the smile on Potter's face disappeared.

"Should I get Madame Pomfrey?"

"No." Draco's voice sounded gritty to his own ears and he hated to think how he must sound to his enemy.

"How do you feel?" Harry ventured softly.

"How do I look?" Like shit. "And what the hell are you doing in here?"

"I wanted to make sure you were okay. You fell quite a long way, Draco."

"Malfoy to you." Draco tried to snap, but it came out more pitiful than forceful. He coughed and instantly regretted it. The pain was becoming unbearable. Harry was standing up to leave and Draco caught his wrist. "Pomfrey...please."

He could vaguely see Harry nod. There was more motion around his bed and then a potion was placed in front of him. When the pain subsided enough that he felt comfortable opening his eyes, Madame Pomfrey had replaced Harry. "Well, Mr. Malfoy. You all gave us quite a scare. Next time that you play a Quidditch game, I recommend that you sleep the night before."

He nodded and swallowed as she continued to talk.

"Sleep deprivation is very serious, Mr. Malfoy. Was it not for Mr. Potter's quick thinking and quick Levitation Spell, I doubt you would have survived the fall. As it is, you've done some serious damage to yourself. Several of your injuries, ribs, wrist and such, will take a number of days to heal. You're going to be sore and I'd like to keep you in the infirmary until you've caught up on your sleep."

Draco nodded once more before the Sleeping Draught caught up with him.

~~~

Draco spent another day under Madame Pomfrey's care before she felt comfortable releasing him to Snape, who restricted him from attending classes and doing anything strenuous until Malfoy had regained full health.

He spent his days sleeping with the aid of potions while Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise attended classes and the dormitory was quiet; his nights were spent in the Common Room, folded into a large armchair while Blaise and Pansy caught him up on the academic material he had missed.

Four days later, he was back into the mainstream and was just leaving the Great Hall for Arithmancy when Potter caught up with him. He flashed Draco a large grin.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Draco hedged. In reality, his ribs were quite uncomfortable and he still found breathing somewhat difficult.

"It's been weird looking at the Slytherin table and not seeing you there..." Potter continued. His cheeks had taken on a rosy hue.

Draco sneered at him. "Miss your daily dose of reality, do you? I can't believe you're that desperate to be insulted."

The smile on Potter's face faltered for a moment before he continued in earnest. "I've come to negotiate a cease-fire."

"Excuse me?"

"A truce of sorts."

"You want a truce, Potter?"

Potter's smile was definitely gone now. "Look...you've obviously got a lot of things on your mind..."

"The state of my mind is private, thank you!"

There was a cold glint in Potter's eyes. "Well I do," he snapped. "All I'm asking for is a civil relationship."

"You want to be friends?"

"Oh, never mind, you stupid prat!" Harry snarled. He turned to walk away, his robes billowing behind him in a decent impression of Professor Snape.

"Wait!" Draco reached out and caught a handful of robe. He swallowed around the lump in his throat. "Fine."

When Harry turned, his eyes had returned to their normal color. "Fine?"

"Yes, fine." Draco repeated, grimacing lightly.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes." He waved Harry's hand away and sat down. He winced again as Harry settled down next to him. "I'm going to be so very late for Arithmancy."

"I'm sure Professor Vector will forgive, considering the circumstances."

"Regardless," Draco stood. "I'll see you later, Potter."

"Harry."

"Pardon?"

"Call me Harry."

"Ah." Draco replied, momentarily flustered by Harry's display of congeniality. "Right...I'll see you later, Harry."