Disclaimer: I own naught. Pity, that.
Warning: Eventually Slash. It's simple. You don't like it, you don't read it.
A/N and Credit Where Credits Due: This is my first attempt at writing anything novel length. It is also my first attempt at writing anything Slash. So, any constructive criticism offered would be greatly, greatly appreciated. Again, I emphasize the greatly. Updates will vary until I can get down a solid schedule.
Oh, and in case anyone wants to know, this story was inspired by Diet 7-Up, sleep deprivation, a previously discarded foray of fiction, back to school blues, and the songs Half Life by Duncan Sheik; Bowl of Oranges by Bright Eyes; Trouble Sleeping by The Perishers; Smile That Explodes by Joseph Arthur; Something Pretty by Patrick Park; Golden Touch by Razorlight; Still Fighting It by Ben Folds; Goodnight and Go by Imogen Heap; Something of Value by Yellow Card; Stigmatised by The Calling; Ask Me How I Am by Snow Patrol; Your Eyes Open by Keane; To Shelia by Smashing Pumpkins; Strange and Beautiful by Aqualung; So Sweet by Johnathan Rice; A Lack of Color by Death Cab For Cutie; The Beautiful Letdown by Switchfoot; Amsterdam by Coldplay; and finally Several Ways To Die Trying by Dashboard Confessional. - - - Massive credit goes to those aforementioned songs, which were blasted on replay during the writing and plotting of this first chapter. Just to get me to make it past the preliminary hurtles and onto the real meat of my tale…
Summary: Business tycoon Draco Malfoy has been put under a curse. A curse that will only be lifted if he can learn to care about the first person he sees after leaving his office. All of this is hard enough – but, the fact that Harry Potter decided to take a walk near Draco's place of employment just complicates matters.
- - - - - -
Accolades for the Accursed
Chapter 1: The Transgressions of a Tyrant
A Novel Length Fiction by:
CalamatiesofaSycophant
- - - - - -
I found one day in school a boy of medium size ill-treating a smaller boy. I expostulated, but he replied: 'The bigs hit me, so I hit the babies; that's fair.' In these words he epitomized the history of the human race.
Bertrand Russell, Education and the Social Order
- - - - - -
"I don't care what the goblins have to say!" Draco fumed at the man sitting on the visitor's side of a large mahogany desk. "This is my deal and I will not have a handful of wrinkled old 'bankers' muddling about in the details."
"Mr. Malfoy, let me assure you that I completely understand your hesitation, but let me also remind you that the goblins have been working in this business far longer than we. It might serve prudent to at least hear their case."
"I know what I'm doing."
"I'm not implying you don't." The man raised a hand in the air as he spoke, clearly trying to placate the situation. "But, as your hired advisor I must warn you that from where I stand it is quite clear to visualize that your refusal will most likely send the company to blows with a very powerful group. I'd hate to see the matter hurt our numbers."
"It won't hurt the numbers." Draco said coolly.
"Mr. Malfoy I appreciate your opinion, but, please just look." The man bent down to a briefcase at his feet, resurfacing a few moments later with a handful of documents. "Just look at the rating drop in the market right now. We can't risk it."
"Yes, we can."
"I assure you that we cannot."
"Mr. Remmings, may I remind you who the CEO of this company is?" Draco said over steepled fingers. "It is me. Not you. Me."
"I am aware – "
"No, you don't seem to be." Draco sneered. "I have given you my answer and yet you remain resolute in your ridiculous notions that my company is in any sort of trouble, which I assure you it is not." A pause. "I built this company from the ground up in only two years. I made it the top in the market. I have personally inspected every employee, file and case. I know the workings of this building backwards and forwards. So, for you, a low earning business school ponce to tell me when my company's in trouble when I say it is not is not only ludicrous but overly presumptuous."
"I didn't mean – "
"Don't even try and defend yourself." Draco snapped. "Do you even know what you're talking about?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Obviously not. You just go off trying to contradict your earlier sentiments. Clearly, you are incompetent. And, I cannot have incompetent people working for my company."
"Excuse me?" Mr. Remmings asked in incredulity. "Are you firing me?"
"Yes. Top marks for that one."
"You're firing me for voicing a concern?"
"No. I'm firing you for being an incompetent business school ponce." Draco said while examining the beds of his nails. "So, collect your final paycheck from Cadence out front and be off." He stopped studying his nails long enough to give a wave of dismissal. "Goodbye."
Mr. Remmings stumbled as he pulled himself out of the hard-backed chair he had been sitting in. His hand shook as he reached down to retrieve his briefcase. "Mr. Malfoy?" He asked cautiously.
"What?" Draco snapped impatiently.
"Just – good luck." Mr. Remmings said, his voice shaking.
"What?" Draco repeated dryly.
"Good luck. I have a feeling you'll need it." A shaky smile stood alongside the admission.
"Oh. Yes, well, that's nice." Draco said, sniffling. "You can go now, you know?"
"Right." With a final nod Mr. Remmings passed through the large doorframe.
Draco gave a sigh of contentment once he was alone. Draco loved Mondays. Absolutely adored them.
With a small smile on his lips Draco leafed through the papers sitting on his desk from the days work. He took his time sorting each memo, file and transcript. He lovingly color-coded his notes from the board meeting that had taken place at the beginning of the day. Finally, as the sun was setting, Draco rearranged the small memorabilia he kept in his desk drawer. Everything was perfect.
Grinning in contentment Draco walked lightly over to the coat rack, extracted his favorite wool coat and scarf, and headed for the door.
"Cadence." Draco barked when he was in the small reception lounge that led to his office.
"Yeah, Malfoy." A slight girl popped her head out from a pile of documents.
"Clear any morning meetings I have scheduled for tomorrow." Draco ordered, readjusting his scarf.
"Alright, then." Cadence replied.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." An older woman announced as she entered the room from a side washroom.
"And, why would that be?" Draco sighed in irritation.
"Have you checked tomorrow's schedule?" The woman asked.
"Tebbany," Draco said sharply, "do I ever check my schedule?"
"Nope!" Cadence declared confidently from behind the stack of papers.
"See?" Draco said plaintively. "She's been here a shorter amount of time than you and even she knows I don't check them."
"Fine." Tebbany sighed, "Cadence, pull Draco's schedule for tomorrow, will you?"
"I told you not to call me by my first name," Draco hissed as a thin blue piece of paper was pressed into his grasp.
"You know how it goes. Old dog, no new tricks." Tebbany said with a cocky grin.
"I don't know why I haven't fired you yet." Draco grumbled as he switched his gaze down to the paper in his hand. "I see nothing that would prevent me to take the morning off." He announced once he had finished reading.
"Look right there," Tebbany ordered, leaning over Draco's shoulder to point. "Under the breakfast for the new orphanage opening up in Bristol."
Draco looked where he had been ordered.
"How do you even pronounce that?" Draco exclaimed sourly.
"It doesn't matter how you pronounce it. The only thing that matters is that you're there."
"Why?" Mumbled Draco.
"Because, that hard to pronounce word is the name of the head of the society for goblin welfare. He's coming to discuss the deal you are trying to pull through that will severely cut down most of the land the goblins have been given." Tebbany explained patiently.
Draco scrunched his face in distemper, "It doesn't matter what he has to say. I'm not going to listen – the plans have already been made."
"Regardless, you are taking away goblin homes. The least you can do is refuse their representative in person. It's polite." Tebbany lectured, her eyes boring into Draco.
"Fine!" Draco finally burst out. "I'll meet the bloody goblin! Only for a little while, though. I have more important things to do than hand tissues to a sniveling beast."
"Draco, I've told you it's not wise to call magical creatures beasts while in a monitored building." Tebbany said as she made her way over to a nearby desk. "It might make you appear heartless."
"Oh, wouldn't want anyone thinking that." Cadence said cheekily from her work.
"You, quiet!" Draco huffed as he stormed over to the lifts. "I'm leaving now." He announced for the room.
"Yeah, yeah." Tebbany waved him off. "Go do what you do."
"I will." Draco said haughtily as the golden doors closed in front of him.
Twilight passed by slowly as Draco ate dinner at a local restaurant he was known to frequent while reading the paper.
"Anything else I can get you?" The waiter that had been flirting with Draco all night asked as he sauntered up to the table.
"Just the bill." Draco said politely.
Draco tapped his foot against the floor while he waited for the waiter to return.
"Here." The waiter was back, sliding a black leather case towards Draco.
"I'm paying by credit." Draco informed the man as he filled in the information required on a small slip of paper.
No answer.
"Sir?" Draco said, an edge to his voice. "Are you paying attention?"
"Yeah," The man murmured. " I was just distracted."
Draco stifled a snort as he returned his attention to the bill. "Done." He finally announced, passing the case back to the waiter.
"Fabulous," The waiter said smoothly. Draco watched out of the corner of his eye as the man made to turn, then stopped, then turned, then stopped again.
"Problem?" Draco asked sarcastically. He was pretty sure what the 'problem' was.
"No. Yes. Maybe." The man stuttered.
"Well, which is it?"
"It's not exactly a problem." The waiter said, switching his weight to one leg. "Listen – my shift ends in five minutes. I know a brilliant club called Vertigo that's down the street, and I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?"
"Is it a club that accommodates to homosexuals?" Draco asked, keeping his voice imperious.
"Well, yeah." The waiter said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Are you implying that I'm a homosexual?" Draco asked, disdain seeping in his tone.
"No offense mate, but you do have that look about you." Draco made a dangerous noise in the back of his throat, and the waiter hurried to speak again. "No offense, really. I swear. It was just a little misunderstanding on my part."
"Obviously." Draco shot.
"Geez," The waiter put a hand in the air in mock-surrender, "Don't get your knickers in a twist."
"Excuse me? My knickers?" Draco asked incredulously before narrowing his eyes. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
"N –no."
"I didn't think so." Draco sneered triumphantly. "So, this is what you're going to do. You're going to leave this table right now and go straight home or I'll find your boss and tell him that you were making gross assumptions at a one Draco Malfoy. That being me."
"Draco Malfoy?" The man asked in shock.
"See? You don't want to mess with me."
The waiter backed away quickly and hastened into the employee lounge. Draco watched like a hawk for the man to emerge and leave, which he did, quite quickly.
Once the man was gone Draco removed himself from his seat and strode purposefully out of the restaurant and down the street.
And there it was. A large building with dim spotlights and rustling crowds out in the front. The title Vertigo flashing in bright lights above the door.
Draco smirked as he shoved his way gracefully through the masses. Only to pause in front of a bulky bouncer.
"Get in line." The man directed Draco.
"I'm sure there's some way you could let me just…pass through." Draco said, careful to bat his eyelashes a few extra times.
"Listen, you ain't the first one who's tried to get past me and I'm telling – AH!" The man gasped as Draco's hand moved low and gave the man's groin a squeeze.
"Please?" Draco pouted. "I really want to get through." A little more pressure…
The bouncer's eyes had misted over and his smile was sloppy as he stepped to the side and allowed Draco through.
Draco let his face drop into a scowl as soon as he was clear of the bouncer's vision. That man had been disgusting with his greasy skin and gorilla muscles.
Draco's scowl only deepened as he entered the inside of the club. The dance floor was overly congested with people, the counters at the bar overflowing with plastic cups and the noise at an obscene level. Draco didn't overly enjoy clubbing.
But, he reasoned, it had been awhile.
So, with a jaunt in his step Draco entered the restroom. It was, surprisingly, empty, if one didn't count the ominous sound of shagging coming from the back stall.
Draco ran the water from the grimy tap, shuddering as he brought it up to slick back his hair. The things he did for beauty.
Continuing on he stripped off his woolen overcoat, black office jacket, and tie. A few buttons undone…and he was finished. Draco appraised himself in the mirror, quite pleased at what he saw gazing back.
Without a second glance Draco stuffed the clothing he had removed in the garbage bin. He would just have Cadence send out for replacements in the morning. It wasn't like he couldn't afford it.
A return to the mirror, a few practice motions of eyebrow quirking and pouting – he truly was a master at seduction. And it had been so bloody long since he'd had a good shag. Too much to do at the office, not that he couldn't get any, just too much to do. He could always get some. Always.
A quick rouging of the cheeks…and his mind slipped back to the waiter.
He was probably home cowering under the blankets by now. In retrospect, Draco considered that it would have been fairly easy to get him to take off his pants, but, Draco liked a challenge. That and the waiter had been grossly underfed and his skin had had an atrocious speckling of blemishes. He had been very much in his right to deceive the cretin.
Then his mind shot to the waiter's remark about him having the…look. Did he really look gay? Draco frowned and pulled on his eyelashes as he scrutinized his reflection. No, he did not look gay. Maybe his build was a tad slight, and maybe his skin was like porcelain, and maybe he took care of himself, but, really, that wasn't a sure signifier. Was it? No.
If it had been he would have never gotten as far in the business world as he had. Questionable lifestyles just didn't bode well with high rollers and corporate buffoons. Those people only wanted to do business with a person if they had 2.3 kids and lived in suburban Hogsmeade. No liabilities that way.
That was why Draco had kept Cadence in the office as long as possible. It had been quite embarrassing asking her what he had had to ask. But, in the end, she had agreed. If only for a large spike in salary, but she had still agreed. Now, as far as everyone was concerned, the pair screwed each other like bunnies in the copy room.
So, Draco at least held the illusion that he was well on his way towards 2.3 kids and suburban Hogsmeade. As long as he was on his way, they would make the deal with him.
Draco tore his thoughts away from the path they were heading. Those matters always served to anger him. A final twirl in front of the mirror and Draco was on the dance floor.
He gulped. He did not feel comfortable here. There were too many people and too many lights. Way too many lights. But, he didn't have to stay long. He just had to find someone adequate and willing. Then he could leave.
Draco slowly released the tension flowing through his body and pushed himself forward into the crowd. Sweating bodies pushed him, hands groped him, voices cooed in his ear. Draco found it obscene. But, like his father had always said, nothing worth wanting came without struggle.
And Draco really wanted to shag someone.
He jerked as he felt a hand descend on his backside. He spun around as quickly as he could to glare at the offender. The perpetrator wasn't too awful looking. Draco's eyes sharpened as he raked over the body. Fit, but not too fit. Chocolate skin. Smoldering eyes. Clean-shaven. Acceptable.
"Come to my flat?" Draco leaned forward and whispered in the man's ear. He got a nod in response.
- - - - - -
Draco gave a groan as his eyes fluttered open.
He gave another groan as he realized there were two bodies in his bed. Snippets from the night before came rushing into his head…hands, sweat, touches, pushes, kisses, nips.
Actually, the bloke had been a really good sport.
"Morning." A voice growled in his ear. A small bite followed.
"Yes, yes." Draco muttered.
"I should go." The man slipped out of bed giving Draco a rather pleasant view.
"Want another round before you traipse off?" Draco yawned, leaning back on his elbows. "It seems a pity to not take full advantage of sex with no strings, eh?"
"Alright. I think I could do that."
- - - - - -
Draco didn't know what time it was when he stumbled out of the lift and into the reception room of his office. Apparently, by the glare he was getting, it was late.
"Tebbany." Draco nodded to the woman as he tried to sidle past her.
"What did I tell you about being late?" Tebbany hissed.
"Don't do it." Draco said, hoping his voice was placating.
"Exactly." She snapped. "Now – march your arse into that office of yours and plead for forgiveness like crazy because he's been waiting in there for you for over an hour."
"Who?" Draco asked dumbly.
"Who do you think?" Tebbany said, crashing the heel of her shoe onto Draco's toe.
"Bloody hell woman!" Draco shouted as he hopped about on one foot. "I can fire you, you know!"
"Go ahead then." Tebbany challenged. "And then see if you can find another secretary that can stand your ignorance for over a week before throwing in the towel."
"You are so lucky you can type fast." Draco growled as he hobbled into his office.
He tried not to pickle his face at what he saw. There was something wrinkly and decrepit looking sitting in one of his chairs.
"Mister Malfoy." A gruff voice greeted Draco's ears as he threw himself in his spinning chair.
"Yes?" Draco said, leaning forward and trying to sound diplomatic.
"As I'm sure you are aware, I represent the goblin community and it is my job to inform you that we, as a law abiding part of society, have severe doubts about the effects of the Carter Deal."
"Hmm?" Draco hummed. His brain was on the touches of the night before. Not the Carter Deal.
"The deal, sir."
"Look, Mr. – " Draco paused. How the hell did you pronounce that name? " – Mr. Goblin. I have a Ministry approved document in my possession granting me access to the land. It's a prime location."
"Surely there are other prime locations that could be used?"
"No. Afraid not."
"You are being irrational."
"Mr. Goblin, I assure you I am not." Draco drawled, "Besides, I'm sure there are other places for you to build your…" A pause. What the hell did they live in? "…caves."
Draco ignored the low growl he received for the comment. "So it does not bother you that you are displacing dozen of families?"
"Listen, Mr. Goblin, between you and me," Draco and the goblin both leaned forward. "No, it really doesn't."
"You obviously do not have a family." The goblin grunted.
"Of course I have a family." Draco said, his voice obstinate. "I didn't just magically appear out of nowhere. Someone had to pop me out."
"You misunderstand," The goblin said through clenched teeth. "Just because someone gives birth to you does not make them family, in your heart." A gnarled hand was brought up to lie against the goblin's chest as he spoke.
Draco burst into laughter. "Oh, you're funny." He wheezed in between breaths.
"I have not made a joke."
"Sure, sure."
"Sir, I find you cold and inconsiderate."
"Thank you."
Incredulously, "You take pleasure in those titles? You don't mind being known as unfeeling?"
"People will think what they will."
"I've never met a man like you before." The goblin mused as he leaned back into the chair.
"No, most people haven't." Draco said smoothly, his mind still not on the meeting.
"Mr. Malfoy, have you ever loved someone?" The goblin asked, a touch of a challenge to his voice.
"Actually, yes." Draco answered iniquitously. "I had a brilliant fuck last night."
"I am not talking about intimate actions, Mr. Malfoy. I am talking about an emotional bond."
"I had a cat when I was five. I was quite fond of that."
"You've never loved a person?" The goblin asked, his voice holding every trace of pity.
It was at that moment that Draco's mind seemed to snap onto his current surroundings. "Listen," Draco growled, "I don't know what you're trying to prove, but the consequences of my life have never invited love. And, to be quite honest, that's the way I like it. So, I want you to leave now, Mr. Goblin, and you can go back and tell every sniveling little beast that you came here to represent that they better start packing, because I am NOT changing my mind regarding the Carter Deal."
"It's a pity isn't it, Mr. Malfoy?"
"WHAT?" Draco yelled.
"The consequences of our life, as you so eloquently put it."
"Get out of my office – now." Draco ordered, his voice deathly quiet and his face an unnatural red.
"I'll be seeing you again." The goblin said as he raised himself from his chair and walked to the door.
"No, you won't."
"Yes, I will."
Draco swore loudly once the goblin had exited the room. Who did that wrinkly old git think he was?
"CADENCE!" Draco hit the intercom on his desk and roared into the monitor.
"What?" A few minutes later a flustered Cadence appeared at the door.
"I'm leaving." Draco said shortly, standing up and walking out of the office, Cadence on his heels. "Tell everyone who calls to go step in front of the Hogwarts Express, tell all the charities who want money to go get fucked and tell every single goddamn GOBLIN that they will never be allowed on this property again, and if I see them on this property I'll send them right where Potter sent Voldemort. Got it?"
"Malfoy – you can't – "
Draco never heard the rest of Cadence's words as he had already barreled into the lift and pushed the down button.
He needed a strong drink, and he needed it fast.
Now, where was the nearest pub… There had to be one somewhere. Oh, yes, there was one if he just turned right and… "BLOODY HELL!"
Draco was very much aware that he was lying face down in the pavement while wearing his best cloak and that there was another person lying next to him.
"Watch where you're going you sorry excuse – "
"I'm terribly sorry – "
"They should lock people like you in prison and – "
"Here, let me help – "
Draco pushed the person, who he had identified as male, off of him as he stumbled off the ground, tripping on his robes all the while.
"Are you alright – MALFOY?"
"Oh, so then you know who I am. Good, because then you know what I could do if you further annoyed me." Draco sniffled, as he wiped off his robes, but no – it couldn't be. "Oh shite – Potter." Draco never forgot a voice.
"My thoughts exactly." Potter muttered as he too began dusting off his robes, seemingly losing all urgency of a haste to help Draco.
"I'm going now."
"Whatever, Malfoy."
"Don't follow me."
"I'll try to resist."
"Don't contact me."
"I don't even know where you live."
"Oh. Right. Goodbye, then."
Draco kept on his search of a pub while simultaneously cursing the fates for ruining what had started as a brilliant day, complete with a shag. First there had been Tebbany, the bossy old crow. The damn goblin that thought Draco had needed a lesson on morals and family. Which, he did not. Then the bloody boy wonder himself.
Finally, he found one.
The Mystic Thimble was filled with a vast array of lonely looking middle-aged women whose eyes simply sparkled the moment Draco walked in and found a table.
He couldn't resist a small guffaw as he found that the spot he had chose to drown his sorrows in was decorated primarily in laces and the color pink.
"Can I help you?" The barmaid came up quickly to Draco's table. He rolled his eyes as he regarded her obviously enhanced chest-size.
"Do you sell alcohol here?"
"Yes."
"Do you have a limit on amounts?"
"No."
"Fabulous," Draco rubbed his hands together. "Then I'll have a tankard of firewhiskey, some of your finest brandy, a few glasses of witches milk, some veela's blood – light on the tomato, and a shot of vodka to start."
The barmaid seemed to recoil a bit at Draco's drink order but recovered quickly, and with a nod, moved back into the kitchen.
Draco settled back into his seat, resigned to a wait. Feeling quite bored, he pulled the saltshaker towards himself and dumped some out onto the sticky wooden table. He was aware that he wasn't supposed to spill salt. Trelawney had lectured the point fervently, but as he poured a bit more he smirked in rebellion. No one could stop him from doing what he wanted here. Not Tebbany. Not that stupid goblin. Not Potter.
He winced a bit as he felt the beginnings of a headache forming behind his temples. It really wasn't terribly surprising that he was developing a headache; people had been putting him through the wringer with their damn demands.
Like, that guy he had fired the other day. Draco couldn't even remember his name but he had to admit that despite his reassurance in his company's safety the mans words had shaken him to the point where he had had a horrible sleep the night before.
Draco didn't even bother wiping the scowl from his face as the barmaid returned to the table with his drinks. She too didn't hide a scowl as she looked down at the pile of salt sitting in front of Draco.
"I'm the one who has to clean that stuff up, you know. I'd appreciate it if you refrained in the future." She said stiffly, now glaring at the saltshaker that was still held firmly in Draco's grasp.
"Fine. I'll stop." Draco said. "But just know, you won't be getting a tip for your cheek."
The barmaid huffed and stalked away leaving Draco alone to glower at the salt.
He couldn't do anything he wanted! When there wasn't Tebbany to breathe down his neck there was annoying wait staff to do her job. He wasn't a baby; he didn't need to be treated like one.
It was with that thought that he downed his first shot of vodka. It was with property listings and sums of galleons in mind that he drank half of the firewhiskey. It was with memories of Potter and his damned friends prancing around Hogwarts for six years that Draco finished off the brandy. It was with the knowledge that the goblin had made some correct assumptions that Draco consumed the veela's blood.
And, it was with a fierce feeling of defiance that Draco, ignoring his now pounding headache, ordered another round of everything. And a third. And a fourth.
"I'm cutting you off." The barmaid said sternly when Draco had asked for his fourth round. "I'm not bringing you anymore – you've already drunken more alcohol than we normally serve in an entire week. That's not healthy."
"What?" Draco asked numbly. God, his head hurt…
"No. More." The barmaid punctuated each word clearly as she began vanishing glasses. "I'd be happy to bring you an early dinner or some water – just no more alcohol."
"Uh?"
"You're in no state to travel anywhere. Do you have someone I could call to pick you up?"
"Person come?" Draco slurred.
"Yes. Someone to come fetch you." The barmaid said patiently.
"I can fire them if they don't." Draco said slowly, lying his head down softly on the table.
Draco gradually tuned out the tittering women around him and the barmaids soft words as he let his thoughts focus slowly on the intense pounding going on in his brain.
He may not have been completely coherent, but he knew with a glaring certainty that his head had never hurt so intensely as it was at that moment.
His eyes grew heavy, his breathing labored, and his thoughts irrational as he allowed himself to just slip away to a place that was much more pleasant than his current location. Sleep.
- - - - - -
Draco let out a low hiss as he cracked one eye open to a dimly lit room.
A shining face descended on him before he could even think about commenting on his surroundings.
"You are the stupidest man in the entire world, Draco Malfoy." Cadence said silkily, and much too loudly. Draco gave a pained wince at the pitch of her voice. "Just thought you should know that." She added more quietly, slipping a bag of ice against Draco's head.
"Where?" Draco managed out.
"Funny you should ask." Cadence chirped, producing a paper fan and waving it around Draco to cool him off. Draco couldn't find the strength to tell her it was doing as much good as a lettuce stuffed flobberworm. "You are currently lying in the boardroom, using the days stock reports as a pillow." She paused to let out a hollow laugh. "That barmaid that fire-called said you'd had around twenty stiff drinks, and all before noon."
"Yes." Draco hissed.
"Don't worry, it'll be better soon, Tebbany's making you some draught that'll help sober you up a bit." Despite her amusement Cadence frowned in concern as she adjusted Draco's head atop the makeshift pillow.
As if on cue Tebbany banged her way into the room, making purposefully sure to slam the door as loudly as she could, or that's what Draco thought.
"Alright, Draco, sit up you mangy little sod." Tebbany ordered, making her way over to Draco's other side, holding onto a paper cup filled with a goopy gray substance.
Draco frowned in discontent as Cadence propped him up against her and Tebbany raised the cup to his lips, forcing him to drink. "Now you can tell us why you felt the need to get so smashed and we can tell you the not so good news." Tebbany muttered as the draught started to take effect.
Draco let out a sigh of relief as he regained the feeling of all his limbs, his head cleared and his breathing became normal. But, his headache didn't go away. His head stayed clear, but the same searing pain he had felt in the pub stayed with him.
"Draco, I have some fairly bad news." Tebbany said softly, sitting down at the head chair of a long oak meeting table. The dim lighting and sheer emptiness of such a large room created an imposing effect drawing Draco to pay clear attention despite the pain.
"Okay." Draco nodded.
"It seems that after your meeting this morning, the goblin you were discussing things with saw something in you he didn't like."
"And this is surprising how?" Draco said, not even attempting to hide the distemper in his voice.
"Well," Cadence piped up, "it appears he also figured he knew how to fix it."
"What do you mean?" Draco asked.
"He gave me a piece of paper when he left your office." Cadence continued. "It basically said that he had taken your, and I quote, 'obvious lack of caring,' as something to pity you by rather than to hate for. And, that if we wanted answers as to what exactly you should expect to turn to page 382 of some old goblin text. He was gone before I could say anything."
"And?" Draco asked, dumbstruck. "What am I to suspect then?"
"Tebbany went to go get the book in the resource room and while she was gone you stormed out before I could stop you." Cadence looked hesitant as she trailed off, turning to Tebbany for silent support.
"To make it short, Draco, you are under a very obscure curse binding you to a single person until you can learn to care for them."
"Ughh, please tell me that it isn't that smelly old goblin." Draco wrinkled his nose in distaste.
"No." Tebbany said quietly. "The person you are bound to is the first person you consciously acknowledge once leaving the location under which the curse was performed. So, in other words, the first person you talked to after leaving the office."
Draco felt all the blood drain from his face and his brain leap into an excruciating overdrive as he remember stumbling into a particular wizarding hero.
"Oh bloody hell." Draco remembered swearing as the most piercing, sharp and unbearable pain he had ever experienced coursed through every vein in his body like molten fire.
He let out a ragged yell, before falling forward, unconscious.
- - - - - -
The first thing Draco noted when he awoke for the third time that day was that his head was blissfully pain free.
He startled as he felt a hand smooth over his forehead.
"Well, Malfoy, seems you've gone and gotten yourself into quite the predicament."
Draco's eyes snapped open as soon as he heard the words.
Standing before him was Harry sodding Potter holding a chart against his hip, dressed in full healer's garb.
"You're a healer." Draco asked incredulous.
"You've always been brilliant when it comes round to observational skills." Harry smirked smugly. "And, yes, I am a healer. As a matter of fact, I am the healer that ran tests on you with two frantic secretaries in the background only to discover you had enough alcohol coursing through your veins to put a dragon out of business." Harry's tone lost it's teasing and turned serious. "Hell, Malfoy, I don't know what you were thinking, but you could have done some serious damage."
"And what would you care if I lived or died, Potter?" Draco sneered.
"You know what," Potter sighed, "I'm not even going to bother. I have other patients to deal with."
"Just go then." Draco snapped.
"What does it look like I'm doing." Potter called over his shoulder as he strode purposefully from the room.
"Arrogant prat." Draco muttered under his breath.
He felt anger rise in him as he pictured Potter going home that night and telling the two other members of the holy trinity that he had taken care of an inebriated Draco Malfoy. Draco clenched his fists as he thought about Weasley and Potter smacking a high-five and laughing about how superior they though they were. Which, they were not, in any way shape or form.
But as thoughts of anger coursed through him so did waves of pain, concentrated primarily behind his temples, like it had been in the pub.
Draco clamped his eyes shut and tried not to whimper too loudly, but it became harder and harder as with every beat the pounding intensified.
Finally, a tattered cry tore it's way traitorously from his throat.
It wasn't long before Draco heard feet smacking against the tile floors of the hospital and a winded Potter appeared in his doorway.
"What's wrong?" Potter wheezed, stumbling further into the room.
Draco was almost positive that when he opened his mouth to speak he would do nothing but scream again, but was surprised to find with every step Potter took towards him his head slowly stopped pounding and his body relaxed. "It's better now." Draco said, voice raspy.
Potter sighed in annoyance, "Alright, then I have to go. I have a little girl who stuck a blood flavored lollipop up her left nostril to take care of."
Draco watched with mild interest as Harry ambled out of the room, but that mild interest turned swiftly to teeth clenching as the pain that had just abated jumped back with full force and another soft cry left his lips.
Again, resounding footsteps, and the pain was gone as if it had never been there to begin with.
"What is it now?" Potter panted, screeching to a halt once fully inside the room.
"I think," Draco said quietly, trying to keep his voice calm, " I think that I'm rather – attached to you."