All I Ever Wanted

DISCLAIMER: Warning! I make no claim to any property of J.K. Rowling's, and am in no way profiting by this. I do offer her my sincerest thanks for allowing us this garden of the mind in which we play. Further Warning! This story...and likely any I ever write…are dominated by gay themes and characters. That's how it is, if this in any way makes you uncomfortable...do not read further.


"All I Ever Wanted"..... chap. 44 'Chosen'


With the passing of Lucius Malfoy behind them, the challenges of seventh year studies and the Order stole away the little time for reflection that was to be had. Draco had been studying additional Healing Spells for his new role in the Order's battle plan, and his schedule had already been booked with other duties.

If it hadn't been for Blaise and Pansy, he'd have dropped from exhaustion after a few days. His marks in Advanced Charms and Advanced Transfiguration were flagging a little, but at least his Advanced Potions and Defense Against The Dark Arts marks were still at the top of class.

Slytherin-hosted gatherings had become the school's favorite activity over the last few months, and Pansy was enjoying much of the credit for that success. A number of inter-house friendships were appearing among the younger students, and a handful of Slytherins were dating students from Ravenclaw (few wanted to follow Draco's turbulent footsteps in breaking the ultimate taboo...even if he had already shattered it beyond repair by openly dating Harry.)

Blaise had a solid grip on leading the mentoring program; his natural charisma smoothed over a lot of wrinkles between cranky fourth-years who hadn't wanted first-years to lead about. Blaise's level of influence now rivaled Draco's, and yet, Zabini never abused that power.

Draco caught himself thinking that such a thing was very un-Slytherin...then checked himself, remembering that this was the whole point. A generation of students were being prepared for a life without the enmity, fear and deliberate cruelty that had once marked Slytherin as 'the house to be avoided'. Old habits died hard, but they were dying, slowly leaving room for something newer and better to take their place.

Draco oversaw the tutoring personally. All the designated tutors answered to him, but once he'd paired problem students with gifted students, the rest was fairly easy. There had already been a sharp up tick in the number of house points granted to Slytherin for correct answers in classes, and that was very gratifying.

Harry had helped enormously with the students who needed DADA assistance, but was a little embarrassed when he realized that Slytherin students were outperforming Gryffindor, in part because of him. That got a chuckle from Draco...the irony was delicious!

Draco's estate paperwork came weekly by owl post, but had dwindled to only routine matters that required a few minutes to resolve. A few signatures and commands, and Draco could manage the entire Malfoy estate from Hogwarts with little effort. This was just as well, since he then spent his evenings learning battlefield Healing Spells that were rarely studied by anyone not intent on becoming a medi-witch.

Healing was not Draco's strongest suit, but 'needs must when the devil drives'. Ron, Hermione and Harry would be needing him ready for battle, and there was no way to know when, so he made short work of every text Madam Pomfrey was able to spare.

On top of all of that, seventh-years were preparing for the formal Leaving Ball that marked the end of their studies at Hogwarts. NEWT examinations would be finished and final marks assessed; the students would breathe a sigh of collective relief, and then celebrate with a grand party, feast and formal dance, opening with the coronation ceremony for the classes own chosen King and Queen of Hogwarts.

NEWT examinations were nearly over, and a sense of giddy excitement had affected every student in their year. So close to freedom after seven years of studies; it was exhilarating! Draco could sense it in others, but he was too busy by far to enjoy himself properly. His only real comfort was the sliver of time left to himself and Harry.

War plans and studies ate up so much of their time that their libidos had flagged a bit over the last month, but barring complete exhaustion, at least their nights always ended in a tangle of soft limbs and hungry mouths, followed by the peaceful slumber of sated lovers.

For Harry's part, the time since Lucius' funeral had whirled past faster than he could remember. Draco's help with Potions had improved his marks in his worst class, and Snape was grudgingly satisfied with his performance. His improvement might also have had a little to do with not dreading the class with every fiber of his being anymore. Either way, things were better.

With Occlumency mastered, save for independent study and practice to maintain and refine his skills, a little more time was his again, and he used that time as effectively as he could.

Ron and Hermione had been acting as dueling partners for him, sometimes both at the same time. The basement room that McGonagall had provided gave them a safe and well-warded place to experiment, and Harry's control was deft enough that he could lightly 'amplify' spells without maiming his friends. The hardest part was maintaining control while both Ron and Hermione threw mild hexes at him. On a good day he could block anything they threw and still get a spell or two off in their direction, but most of the time he was too pressed defending himself to do much more. At least it was progress, but Harry wanted something a bit more concrete before he faced Voldemort.

Life had settled into a comfortable, if busy, routine. The only nagging concern that couldn't be addressed was Albus Dumbledore's telling absence. That had been worrying Harry for weeks, and there was nothing to be done for it but wait. Dumbledore wasn't just a teacher or mentor, he was Harry's closest council and friend. The fact that there were decades of difference in their ages hadn't changed a thing.

The old wizard had saved Harry's life a number of times, as well as, most recently, Harry's sanity. Not knowing if Albus was alive or dead was eating at Harry's nerves. He was determined not to mourn without a solid reason, or make any fatalistic assumptions, because Albus Dumbledore had narrowly escaped a hundred deaths and was a force to be reckoned with, never underestimated.

In the meantime, a harried Professor McGonagall led both Hogwarts and the Order of the Pheonix with a steady hand. Harry had never been as close to Minerva McGonagall as he'd been to Dumbledore, but his respect and affection for her was growing. Few people appreciated the pressure she was under as Harry or Severus did.

One bright moment that the last few weeks had offered up had been Harry's correspondence with Remus Lupin. The werewolf had finally finished his assignment for the Order and returned to Grimmaud Place for rest. Remus had taken it upon himself, as the last of the Marauders and best friend of Sirius, to act as godfather to Harry. In the absence of Albus Dumbledore, Remus' kind words and level-headed advice made Harry feel a little more secure.

The knowledge that, in a week or so, Lupin would become one of the Order's guardians assigned to Hogsmeade, was an even greater relief. Werewolf or not, Remus was one of the few people that Harry genuinely trusted to look out for Harry first, and the needs of the war second.

Harry was trudging his way back to the sixth floor and the suite that was their home in Hogwarts. More than anything, he wanted a tiny shred of quiet time with Draco. There hadn't been a lot excitement lately, but the rush to the end of the school year was starting to wear on his nerves. The little snippets of time he had with Draco were his panacea, his cure-all for every ill, and he needed them more than ever.

He was only a few hundred yards from his goal when Hermione met him on his way up the stairs, giddy, smiling and clutching a fancy envelope in her hand.

"Hurry up, Harry! I've got something you both have to read, and I'm not opening it until you're both present." Her eyes were twinkling worse than Dumbledore's. As happy as the occasion seemed to her, Harry couldn't help feeling a bit apprehensive. Excitement of any kind was not on his wish list at the moment.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming. Sorry if I'm a bit sluggish...just tired. Good news, I take it?"

"Better than good, but you'll see as soon as we get back to your rooms."

Ron was fending off questions from Draco when they entered the suite, and looked very relieved when Harry and Hermione finally arrived.

Draco grinned evilly, "Thank Merlin! Let's get this over with already, you know I hate secrets...unless I know them. If you'd taken any longer, I'd have had to use questionable means to extract the answers from Ron."

Ron nodded emphatically, "Bloody hell, 'Mione! Don't leave me alone with 'im and a secret again! He's...he's...rapacious...that's what! Like Fred and George when they get a new idea. I feel like I've been investigated by the Ministry, and it's only been ten minutes! I almost cracked...just to get a break. Just tell them so I can have a bit of peace."

Harry curiosity was finally peaked. "Alright, we're here. Let's have done with it then." At least he could be sure it wasn't bad news!

Hermione handed Draco the sealed envelope. Draco broke the wax Hogwarts crest and withdrew the sheet of neatly calligraphed parchment. A few seconds later, Draco was still sitting, holding the parchment, as still and quiet as the grave. Hermione was smiling and hovering anxiously, Ron was waiting quietly, and Harry was looking at Draco expectantly.

Finally, Draco looked up from the parchment and spoke. "Whose idea was this? Is this some lame Hufflepuff version of a prank? I have a special hex just for occasions like this!"

Hermione's face fell. "You're not happy? It's not a joke, Draco. The class Prefects chose, and this is what they chose. I thought you'd be thrilled," she spluttered, still confused by Draco's reaction.

Harry broke in, "What the hell is 'IT'? I still haven't got a clue what this is about, remember?"

Draco shoved the parchment across the desk with a disgusted snort and a look that suggested it was made of raw sewage. "Here, have a look at what these maniacs have cooked up! How do you feel about Prefect for supper, love? It might take a while to roast them all over an open flame, but I'm sure I'll manage. What would you like as a side?" Draco's lips were tight, and his entire body was taut with irritation.

Harry read the parchment slowly, then dropped it and looked at Hermione and Ron. "You've got to be 'taking the piss', aren't you? This can't be for real? I'm not saying I'm against it, but this is almost too much."

"It's real, Harry. There's only one envelope like that given out each year, and this year, it's for you two. Congratulations, mates!" Ron beamed at Harry.

Draco turned to Harry sharply, "You're aren't actually thinking of letting them make this farce a reality, are you? This is a travesty of an idea...I want no part of it!" Silver eyes were blazing, demanding an answer.

"Really, love. C'mon, it's an honor. This is everybody's way of saying how they feel about us. It's sweet. I don't know what you're upset about, and don't be angry at them...they were trying do something for all the right reasons...honestly."

Hermione looked like she was going to cry any minute. She hadn't even considered the possibility of an angry Draco. "I'm sorry, I just don't understand! I thought you'd be so happy...and...and, what's wrong with it?"

Draco turned an ugly shade of red and stood up from the table. "WHAT'S WRONG? ARE YOU FUCKING DAFT?"

Harry stood up to intervene and calm his lover down. "Easy, love. It's not worth getting this angry over. They meant well, remember? I still don't see why you're so worked up over this."

"Of course, you don't see anything wrong with this lunacy," Draco hissed spitefully, "Because no one voted YOU to be the FUCKING 'QUEEN' OF HOGWARTS!!!"

With that final outburst, Draco whirled and stomped his way into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him with a string of muffled curses.