The Right Choice

AN: this story was originally published around 8 years ago and is the first part in a series which was only about half finished when I abandoned writing for personal reasons. I am now editing will be completing all my works in an effort to get myself back on the straight and narrow. All reviews would be most helpful and to all those who have read this before I hope you see a marked improvement as apparently when I was younger I enjoyed mixing perspectives and tenses!

I should probably explain that this was written, I think, in the laborious wait between the 3rd and 4th book so will only contain spoilers up to that point. And with that over and done with I give you the first chapter!

Draco walked down the corridor of what used to be Snape manor. It was time for the choosing, something he had been groomed for since before he was able understand what it was. His father thought it was the best thing that could ever happen, to be chosen for such a great role in the new world increase his influence and secure his family position for at least another generation. It was two years since the war had ended, two years since everything had changed for him, for everyone in the Wizarding World. Many of the people he had known were now dead, either that or they were outcasts, living on the edge of the new society, either not tolerated for their blood or for their views.

Arriving in the great hall, he took his place in the line of boys and pulled his black hood further over his face to obscure it from his competition on either side. The other boys looked younger than him, some couldn't be more than 12, they all looked scared, looking down at their feet with their eyes squeezed shut, others staring forward like deer caught in headlights. Draco looked up at the platform where The Dark Lord sat in his throne, looking down at the young men who stood before him, appraising them like cattle at a market.

The last of the boys took their place in the line and awaited their fate. Draco straightened his back and tried to show confidence and submission at the same time. Although he liked them young The Dark Lord wouldn't pick one of these snivelling children, oh they would be fun at first but he would tire of the crying too quickly. No, he would want a boy with a bit of sophistication, a boy with enough intelligence and finesse to take charge of his hareem, someone with a bit of arrogance to be bought to heel. The Dark Lord stood and the room fell quiet with nervous anticipation.

"There are quite a few boys here for me to chose from aren't there?" he approached the end of the line, like a commander inspecting his troops. "Remove your hoods, let me have a better look at you." Silently in one movement the boys lowered their hoods and waited. The Dark Lord moved down the line inspecting them more closely, occasionally he would pause, perhaps lift up the frightened child's chin or run his fingers through their hair. When he reached Draco's point in the line he stopped. "Ahhh… Lucius' boy" he touched Draco's cheek affectionately "I am glad to see you in this line of beauty. Your father was one of my favourites in his time and you are perhaps even more beautiful than he. I wonder how much you have inherited from him?" His hand, that was rubbing Draco's face, moved down lower until it cupped his groin. "Well it seems you have the most important thing." Draco turned to face him with a slight look of anger on his face. "he has spirit as well, very good" He laughed slightly and walked on to the next boy, who receive only a passing glance.

He continued down the line and then made his way back slowly, occasionally glancing at one of the boys he favoured. He stopped in front of Draco and smiled.

"I have chosen."

He bought his lips down to meet Draco's and kissed his lips. The other boys moved backwards, some hung their heads low whilst others gave covert looks of relief to each other. A silver robed man walked out into the hall as Voldemort unclasped Draco's, leaving him naked to the world.

"Look upon the true beauty before you, a truly radiant beloved!" long fingers toughed his cheeks, forcing his head up gently. "He is mine and will be for the foreseeable future." the fingers left his face and The Dark Lord turned to face his audience. Draco looked slightly to the side to watch his father's face warp in arrogance, a small smile playing at the sides of his mouth as he imagined his position elevating. "This will be the only time in his career that any of you will ever look upon his body. Memorise it and remember it as real beauty."

The Silver Robed man walked towards Voldemort and stopped directly in front of him, quickly unlatching the clasp at his neck and gathering it on to his arm. The Dark Lord looked over in the direction of the older boy. "And here is my dearest beloved" his finger reached towards the other boy's face. "He has served me well." Voldemort lent down and kissed the boy's neck and he fell to his knees, offering the robe to his lord. Voldemort took the offered robe and the naked boy bowed his head and retreated backwards to where he had come from. Voldemort wrapped the silver robe around Draco's shoulders and placed the hood over his head. The spell cast over the spectators lifted and cheers rose up from the crowd. The pair retreated back towards the throne, Voldemort taking his seat and Draco taking his place on the floor at his master's knee.

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Draco lent his head against his master's knee, drowsily. He knew better than to slip off to sleep without permission, this was after all his celebration, a congratulations present for surviving a year in his position without doing something stupid or suddenly becoming undesirable for no apparent reason as was prone to happening. The smile on his father's face could not be larger as he oozed his way around the floor, plying his trade of rooting out traitors and increasing his own influence.

All Draco wanted to do was fall asleep. He hadn't had a good nights sleep in a year and he could really do with some, he could feel the bags growing under his eyes and that would definitely not do. He pulled inconspicuously at his master's robe. He looked down and smiled at him.

"Sire, May I please take a little sleep?"

"Why would you wish to sleep? This is you celebration my little one."

"I want to be able to please you better later, that is my celebration, Master. I do not wish to look or act tired for you." Voldemort smiled at him once again.

"Very well, my little one, sleep all you wish, we shall celebrate on our own later."

Draco smiled to himself and placed his head back onto his Master's knee. Slowly he managed to block out the chatter from around him and slowly slip into a light slumber.

He was roughly jerked awake by a loud boom from the large oak doors at the front of the hall. In the doorway stood four Death Eaters, two of which stood behind the others holding two men, their arms and legs bound. The two Death Eaters in front fell to one knee and dropped their heads, their fists across their chests in the customary salute to their lord and master. Lord Voldemort stood.

"What is the meaning of this? Can't you see we are feasting?" One of the Death Eaters looked up quickly.

"Forgive the intrusion, My Lord, but we shall have more to feast to tonight then was anticipated."

The Dark Lord sat down and gestured for them to continue. The Death Eaters rose and moved aside for their companions to come forward with their captives.

"The rebellion is over. I give you Albus Dumbledore," he said, whilst the first captive was pushed to the floor, his white hair now a dirty grey and his face showing his age, "and Harry Potter." The other captive was pushed down to his knees, his breathing shallow and laboured. He looked up, his deep green eyes shining in defiance. Voldemort arose from his seat and walked over to the men on the floor. Draco didn't notice he was staring intently at the young man on the floor.

"Well, well, well what have we here. The great Albus Dumbledore at my feet." He kicked the old man in the head, sending him reeling backwards. "What of the others?" He asked the Death Eater.

"All the ringleaders are dead and their bodies are outside for your inspection. Most of the others are also dead but I think one or two might have got away, they will be easy to hunt down." The Death Eater looked very proud of himself.

"Very good, very good." The Dark Lord chuckled to himself and looked down once again and stopped laughing. "but then you did let some get away and that is not good at all now is it?" He turned around to face the rest of his audience, smiling. Draco turned his head knowing what was coming next. That smile was the most dangerous thing, and sure enough wordlessly the Death Eater fell to the floor, dead.

"Well, now that that is over we shall have to deal with these fools." Voldemort stared down at the old man. His nose was bleeding severely as he attempted to crawl back to his knees, the younger man struggled to help him. Voldemort pushed the young man away and pulled the old one to his feet. "You, sir, shall die." his voice was calm but at the same time tinged with a mania that only he could truly pull off. He threw the old man to floor once again and walked back over to his throne. The old man looked up in defiance but his eyes showed nothing but resignation. The Dark Lord took up his wand from where it lay on the pedestal beside his throne. He sat down with a sweep of majesty, his robes spreading along the throne in a well practised art. He chuckled once again, running his fingers along the wooden shaft of ebony. "Goodbye, Albus dear. It has been such fun" The wand was pointed his face.

"AVADA KEDAVRA"

Time slowed for a moment, paying homage to the final moments of the old man. He turned to his young compatriot and mouthed 'I'm sorry' to him and with that the final breath of Albus Dumbledore was expended and he crashed to the floor.

A stifled scream rose from the floor beside the body. Voldemort rose once again from his seat. "Put that thing with the others and take them to the dungeon, I will deal with it later." The body was dragged away, along with that of the Death Eater.


Voldemort turned his attention to young man, who was now held on his knees. "Now what shall I do with you?" he got up and journeyed towards his prey. "Kill you?" he placed his fingers below Harry's chin, forcing his eyes upwards "or perhaps I should make you my prized little pet to show off at parties?" he chuckled to himself before dropping the chin and turning towards his throne "What do you think my beloved, would he make a good addition to your hareem?"

"I think he would cause more trouble than he was worth until he was broken, My Lord."

"Perhaps, my dear, perhaps…"

"but I do think he could be broken, but perhaps not for your hareem?" Everyone looked at him disbelievingly as he not only interrupted his master but then disagreed with him. He was walking on thin ice.

"How so, my beloved?" Draco breathed a sigh of relief and took the unspoken command to join him at the front of the room.

"I think he could better serve you, My Lord, as a symbol of your true power. Show him the errors in his thinking, turn him into you loyal servant, break him to your will…" Draco's voice became seductive as he leaned his body flush against his Master's, his lips lightly touching his master's ear as he whispered. He could feel the hardness pressing against him, either caused the young body moulded to him or the enticement of turning his hated enemy to the lure of darkness. Draco continued "He could break the moral of his little followers so easily and then if you still desired him to your bed, he would go willingly."

"And how would we achieve such a miraculous transformation, my love?"

"I should like to try, My Lord."

"Really, my dear. I am not sure I should risk these beautiful hands getting dirty." he took up Draco's hands and kissed his fingers. "Your time is far to precious to waste" Voldemort's hand worked it's way into Draco's robe, to his naked flesh beneath "I have other followers who could complete such a task.

"I think this would require more finesse then some of them are capable of, My Lord. He needs to see the benefits of your rule and who else but his most hated school enemy to show him how much better I am than him. I can't wait to watch him break" Voldemort threw his head back and laughed.

"Very well, my love. I hope you revenge will be as sweet as you envision." Voldemort lent down and kissed him hard on the lips; letting his hands roam under the robe, all over Draco's body.

"Thank you, My Master." Draco said, breathlessly as his neck was bitten. The mouth at his neck was suddenly removed and he heard a viscous hiss fill the room. He looked up to watch one of the guards beside the captive fall down in agony.

"No one looks at what is mine!" he hissed, Draco looked down and adjusted his robe where it had fallen open at the ankle. He decided to defuse the situation quickly
"Take him to the dungeons." the guards jumped to fulfil the order.

"No No, my sweet, you have much to learn when it comes to breaking a man." he chuckled, his mood improving. "Take him to a room and place a guard outside the room." The Death Eaters bowed and dragged Harry away. Draco's eyes met Harry's as he left, the loathing shinning violently from the green depths.

Voldemort turned to the guests which had slowly moved towards them to crowd around the spectacle. "My friends! Let us continue with the celebration!" with this command the horde dispersed to mingle, schmooze and discuss the events of the night. Draco felt his arm being taken and he looked up towards his master. "Come, my sweet, let us continue the celebration more privately." He was lead away from the hall.

A/N well there is the first edited chapter. I think it is probably a bit more of a rewrite. Please do read and review and especially let me know of any grammatical or spelling errors I have missed.