Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement intended.
Author: Totchi
Title: Draco the Hufflepuff
Pairing: HP/DM
Rating: Mature
Summary: Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes has a prototype that Fred and George think will be a big hit - candies based off of the four Hogwarts Houses that promise to "Unleash your inner Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff!". Now, if only they could find some test subjects…

Author's Notes: This was an idea that popped into my head after seeing some beautiful HP artwork on Deviantart. The original idea was completely different than this and had some rather bad plot holes inbetween because I just wanted to see one thing (Draco blushing and a subsequent evil!Harry) but as time went on, I finally fleshed out a plot that would make sense. I hope you enjoy, it'll be a fun ride. ;) Reviews are always welcomed!

Draco the Hufflepuff

(aka When Harry Finally Embraces His Inner Slytherin)

Prologue – Bottoms Up!

Draco found himself sneering at a couple of first-year Hufflepuffs that walked by the Slytherin table, annoyed by how loud they were when they entered the Great Hall for dinner. Honestly, what was wrong with them? Did they think that the entire hall wanted to hear about their trivial first-year issues? His irritation grew when the Hufflepuffs started talking louder about their emotions. How disgusting.

"You look like a little ray of sunshine," came a voice to Draco's left as Blaise Zabini slid into a seat. "What's got your pants in a twist?"

Draco sent a glare over to his friend, causing Blaise to roll his eyes.

"You've really been a joy to be around for the last few weeks," Blaise commented dryly, moving to pour pumpkin juice into his goblet. "Seriously, each time I see you, your expression looks more and more murderous."

When he didn't receive a response from his friend, he shrugged, giving up on that particular conversation. Handing Draco a goblet of pumpkin juice for himself, he sighed, glancing over at the other tables in the hall. He caught sight of a certain redhead witch and leaned forward, giving her a saucy wink. He was given a coy smile in return and satisfied, leaned back in his seat.

"Maybe you just need to get laid," he glanced over at Draco, giving him a smirk as the blond paused in picking up his goblet to drink. "I heard that does wonders in improving your mood."

"Hear hear to that! And we all know that Draco's mood needs to be better. How am I going to attract any suitors when there's this dark cloud hanging around me all the time?" Pansy slid into the seat on the other side of Draco, leaning in to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "Honestly darling, I do believe Blaise has a point."

Draco sighed, giving both of his friends an exasperated look.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he set his goblet down, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I've been exactly the same as I have always been. Maybe the two of you are just becoming too sensitive."

Pansy and Blaise shared a look behind Draco that clearly said they didn't believe him, but the Great Hall during dinner was not the time or place to bring up Draco's deep-rooted issues… or whatever was causing him to act like a sulking child.

"We just worry about you, dear," Pansy replied airily, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Anyways… Less talk about him, more talk about me. Like who on earth am I going to find as a suitor here? I haven't seen any suitable wizards at Hogwarts since school started. I find it absolutely horrendous. Has the gene pool in wizards been declining or what? Where have all the attractive ones gone?"

"Probably hiding from you, of course," Blaise replied easily, helping himself to food. "Rumor has it, you're a man-eater. And I heard you can even drain away their magic too!"

Draco sat in silence as he listened to the banter of his friends, comforted in the familiarity of being there with them. He knew that he had been becoming rather difficult to be around because of his curtness and the attitude that he had been throwing their way, but there was just too much on his mind that he was having a hard time not taking his frustration out on everyone around him. Luckily, there were a lot of ignoramus and annoying students around that were deserving of his anger, but sometimes that just wasn't enough. He threw a baleful glance over at the other House tables, watching as everyone laughed loudly and showed their emotions so clearly on their faces. All those students looked ridiculous, so open with how they felt. Those type of people wouldn't get anywhere in life. In fact, they'd probably be the first to be taken advantage of if given the chance. They could all do with being a little bit more Slytherin in their ways.

He sighed softly, eyes falling on a trio of students directly across from the Slytherin table. He felt irritation in his stomach as he glared at the Golden Trio, who were chatting and laughing and looking all-together ridiculous. Those three, especially, could do with learning how to be better in-tuned with how they look on the outside. Especially Potter, the messy little git with terrible fashion sense and a lack of personal hygiene. Draco took a slow sip from his goblet, watching the three Gryffindors interact carefully. They looked so carefree, which didn't make any sense to him. He supposed that Gryffindors just needed to learn the hard way that they couldn't be so carefree and happy all the time.

He paused for a moment, glancing down at his goblet. His brow furrowed as he leaned in to take a discreet sniff of the juice. Something didn't taste quite right with it. Maybe the stupid house elves gave the students old pumpkin juice. He turned to his friends, putting his cup down.

"Does the pumpkin juice taste weird to you?" he asked them, a small frown on his lips.

Pansy and Blaise paused in their conversation to look at him.

"No," Pansy took a delicate sip of her own before looking over at Blaise, who did the same. "It tastes like regular, low-quality Hogwarts pumpkin juice. Are you feeling ok, Draco? Maybe you're getting sick."

"Don't be ridiculous," Draco shook his head. "You know I never get sick. That's strange though, I could've sworn mine tastes odd."

oooOooo

Across the hall, an entirely different conversation was being held.

"Can you believe her? I find it completely barmy!" Ron said forcefully, shaking a fork in the air. "Of all people for her to want be with… Him! A Slytherin, no less!"

Harry nodded in agreement, taking a glance over to the Slytherin table. It made little sense to him as well. In fact, it was a little gross to him when he thought too much about it.

"I don't see how they even had the chance to run into each other," he admitted, backing up his best mate. "It's crazy."

"Oh stop it!" Hermione sighed aloud, dropping the book she was looking through on the table, taking a second to glare at her friends. "It's not a big deal! You keep making it sound like she's going out with a Death Eater!"

Ron bristled at this, looking heatedly at his friend.

"What do you mean, it's not a big deal? That's my baby sister!" he pointed in the direction of the Slytherin table. "And he could very well be a Death Eater!"

"It's Blaise Zabini," she sighed, going back to her book. "And your sister is quite old enough to figure out on her own the type of guys she would like to associate herself with."

"Yes dear brother of mine," Ginny fell into a seat beside her brother, throwing an arm around him. "I am perfectly old enough and capable enough to figure out who I want to associate myself with. And if I ever decide to have him stick around long enough to have him meet mum and dad, you'll be more than welcome to judge him then."

Harry shook his head, staying clear of the conversation. He wasn't one to judge people based solely on their Houses, but really… A Slytherin? And one of the ones that hang out with none other than Draco Malfoy? He didn't want to throw quite a tantrum as Ron had, but he did care for Ginny like a sister and he definitely thought she could do better than that. He glanced over at the Slytherin table, right in his assumption that Zabini was sitting next to Malfoy and Parkinson. He watched them talk and had a faint curiosity about what they could be having a conversation about. Malfoy was making weird faces and staring down into his goblet. Maybe they were planning their next evil plot? Or figuring out how to terrorize other students? Harry leaned forward a little when he noticed Malfoy stand up abruptly, an expression of ill ease crossing his face.

"Hey guys, look at Malfoy," he pointed out quietly, nudging his friends as he watched the blond lean heavily on the table. "Something's going on."

"I wonder what," Ron eyed the Slytherin with distaste. "I hope someone poisoned him. He'd deserve it, the git."

Harry found his eyes widening when a screech alerted the majority of the Great Hall to the Slytherin table.

"Draco!" Pansy shrieked in horror, quickly standing up as the boy lost his tight grip on the table, eyes rolling into the back of his head. His body swayed and he slowly started falling backwards, narrowly missing injuring himself when a professor reacted quickly, shouting out a spell to slow his descent.

As students stood up and quickly make their way closer to the passed-out Slytherin, Harry turned to look at his friends. What just happened?

"Blimey," he heard Ron say beside him, looking with wide eyes. "I bet you someone did poison him!"

oooOooo

"Hey," a deep voice made the person standing in the hallway to turn around. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

The girl gave the newcomer a warm smile, leaning in to give a chaste kiss.

"It's no problem," she reassured him, leaning back against the wall. "So how did it go?"

"Just as planned," came the reply, a chuckle bubbling forth from his lips. "You are a rather brilliant planner, I must admit. Nobody suspected a thing. And when will you be doing your part of the plan?"

"Tomorrow," she smiled reassuringly at her companion. "Though, I don't know why you're so interested in seeing this part. I thought you'd be content with just messing with Slytherins."

"Of course not," he purred, leaning in to steal another kiss. "I think this whole thing will be very entertaining. I can't wait to see your whole plan unfold. You are a rather devious little thing."

She gave him a wicked smile.

"Of course I am," she replied airily. "I wouldn't be with someone like you if I weren't."