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. 46 'Return Of The Wolf'


The new week brought only new complications for Harry and Draco. Final examinations aside, there were now plans to make for the Ball. Draco had taken the liberty of owling a series of purchases to Madam Malkin's, and since his account was considered VIP status, the order would be shipped to Hogwarts before the week was out. The last few days it had seemed like they only left the table to sleep!

Harry was on his way to Professor McGonagall's office for an update on his new magical exercises. There weren't many things left to try in the grimoire that Harry hadn't already done, but expanding on those basic techniques was complicated and dangerous. Much of it was strictly theoretical, and had never been attempted in living memory. They could only guess at the ramifications of amplifying certain spells, and McGonagall was notoriously cautious about untested and experimental magic.

At the door of McGonagall's office, Harry stopped and knocked politely, sincerely hoping that the Deputy Headmistress was in a better mood than usual. Over the past month, she had grown distant, sharp-tongued, and increasingly moody.

Someone had to lead the Order, and Minerva had taken that responsibility along with assuming the duties of Headmistress. Harry wished he could make it easier for her, but there was precious little he could do at the moment. Hell, it was nearly all he could do to stay ahead of his own studies!

To Harry's surprise, Remus Lupin opened the door of the office, and promptly pulled Harry into a hug. "Harry! Look at you! You must have grown another three inches just this last year. The Headmistress is due back in a few minutes, please…sit down for some tea."

Remus looked a bit less shabby than he had in the past, and had the healthy glow of a man who spent a lot of time outdoors. It had been more than nine months since Remus had started a mission for the Order, and more than just joyful over seeing him again, Harry was happy to see him looking so well.

"You look great," Harry opened as he took a chair in front of McGonagall's desk. "It's good to see you back. Your letters meant a lot, and I know you were very busy. So much has happened this year...I just wished you'd been here to see it." Harry accepted a cup of hot tea and sipped it slowly while Remus spoke.

"No jesting about that, Harry. Some of your posts gave me quite a shock. I wish I could have visited, but at least the mission was largely successful. I can't divulge much, but I can say that You-Know-Who will have a very hard time recruiting non-humans and magical creatures to his service. I was just debriefing some of the mission when Minerva had a Firecall from the Ministry. She felt the matter urgent enough to merit a visit in person, but she'll be back soon enough. Now tell me about Draco Malfoy. That would be highest on my list of things I've been wondering about for months. Hard to imagine the two of you hitting it off so well, much less living together. I assume he's quite a bit different in private than he ever let on in public?"

Harry smirked over the edge of his teacup. "You assume correctly. He's amazing, Remus. He's more complicated than I ever thought, sweeter than I ever imagined, stronger than I would have believed, and better in be...umm... I mean..."

Remus chuckled mildly. "It's alright, Harry. You seem very happy. I think that's all that really matters, don't you? Since you wrote of having a suite together, well, I assumed that your relationship was fairly, shall we say, 'advanced'."

Remus took a bite out of a biscuit and a long sip of tea. "I'm very proud of you, Harry. You've got an awful lot on your shoulders right now, and don't be afraid to ask for a spot of help if you need it. I'll be at the Three Broomsticks if you should need me. I'm glad the Order is posting me in Hogsmeade. There aren't a lot of people left in my life that matter to me, and frankly, the ones who do matter are all the more dear to me because of that. If you have the time, I'd love to sit down for supper with you and Draco. Assuming, of course, that I don't make him too uncomfortable."

It was easy to tell that Remus was a little nervous about frightening someone so important to Harry. After all, Draco Malfoy hadn't coped well with the notion of being taught by a werewolf several years ago, and if that hindered Remus' ability to see Harry, it would be hard on both of them. Harry took a biscuit for himself before answering.

"I don't think Draco would worry about 'that' much anymore. I mean, he was a complete prat a few years ago, but living in Slytherin kind of demanded that he act that way. He wanted to lead that house from within, and being outspoken and vicious at every opportunity was part of it. You wouldn't believe what he's like when he's just being himself. I'm not saying he has any great urge to run about hugging random Muggles, but he's incredibly decent when he feels comfortable around someone. I'm sure we can sit down for dinner in our suite before the Leaving Ball. Hell, I'm just glad you're home. I...I haven't really had anyone I felt right about talking to since...since Dumbledore left."

"I don't know much more than you, Harry, but don't worry too much for Dumbledore. We do have some resources that would tell us if he had passed away, and those haven't informed us of any such thing. He might be having a hard time of it, or be involved in something ridiculously complicated, but I can assure that he hasn't left us, Harry."

Harry sighed with relief, the knots of tension in his shoulders melting away. The subject of Albus Dumbledore's absence had been a hard one for him. "Thank you. I just hate not knowing and having to wait. I...well, Professor McGonagall has too much to do already, she doesn't need me whining on about stuff to her, and Draco's had such a hard time the last month, besides.." Remus Lupin put up his palm and Harry stopped talking and looked up expectantly.

Remus looked into Harry's eyes with a seriousness and intensity that was quite unusual for the normally mild mannered werewolf. "Harry, please don't EVER think that your feelings or concerns are of no importance. I mean that! We all have a lot to deal with right now, and you have more than most, but you aren't a burden. If you should need something, anything, just ask. No one will would think ill of you for wanting a friendly ear to bend for a bit. You're not just here to help us win against You-Know-Who, WE'RE all here to help YOU win against him. I know your parents would never have wanted you to feel like you couldn't speak your mind. So let me lay this to rest right here. There isn't one person in the Order who wouldn't do their best to help you, and there's also no shortage of people who, quite frankly, love you. In case you're still uncertain, the latter category includes me. So how's that?"

There wasn't anything remotely awkward about the hug that came after Remus' speech. Harry did have a bit of a time keeping his eyes from misting up, and truthfully, so did Remus. They settled back into their chairs and let their conversation ramble and drift. They'd put a sizable dent in Professor McGonagall's supply of biscuits by the time she appeared in the Floo and, stepping out red-faced and cursing in a most unladylike manner, stamped to her desk and chair.

"It's ludicrous! Unconscionable! I swear to you, the Ministry is so top heavy with empty-headed oafs that it's a bloody miracle the whole service doesn't tip over! I simply cannot believe that..." Suddenly noticing Harry seated beside Remus, Minerva quickly calmed herself and halted her tirade against the Ministry. She poured herself a cup of tea and sat back in her chair, getting her nerves back under control with a certain amount of difficulty. After a minute of uncomfortable silence, she collected her thoughts and spoke.

"Well. It comes to this. Harry, the Order meets again tonight, so do pass the word. You might as well hear this now, but I ask you to keep it in confidence until the meeting. Rufus Scrimgeour is pulling the Aurors out of Hogsmeade. The Ministry wishes to reassign them to the search for Dumbledore, as well as the search for the missing members of certain families, whom we of the Order know perfectly well to be Death Eaters, and whom we can be nearly certain will be involved in an attack here, likely before the month is out. Thinly spread forces are not an appropriate answer to our problem, but without Albus to bludgeon some sense into him, that idiot of a Minister seems determined to leave us woefully undefended. If I didn't know better I'd suspect the involvement of a Death Eater, but in this case I'm afraid it's simply run of the mill stupidity and stubbornness."

Harry was furious, but at least months of Occlumency had built up his ability remain calm...at least externally. "He knows we can't go to the wizarding press about this, either. Too much secret information that could go public if we complain too loudly. I used to think Fudge was a truly lousy Minister, but he was just bad at anything more complex than administration. The horrible thing about Scrimgeour is that he's just smart enough to be genuinely dangerous. This stinks. Is there anything we can do to compensate?"

"I've no answer for that, yet. I have a few ideas, but we'll discuss those at the meeting. Harry, I've written some exercises for you, but I wish you to be doubly cautious with these." She handed Harry a small sheaf of papers. "The technique in question here is purely theory. You may be able to siphon power away from people as well as places. It's feasible that you could absorb the magic that powers curses and other spells before they even reach you. A bit like 'eating' them before they could do any harm, feeding your own magic in the process. I took some time with Professor Snape to work out some initial experiments that should be quite safe. Please stick to them and take no chances or risks. I'll see you at the meeting tonight, the usual time and place. You're dismissed, and do be careful, my boy."

Remus clapped Harry on the shoulder. "See you tonight, Harry. We'll come up with something. There are still a few tricks left in our bag. Give my best to Draco. Time for my debriefing to continue. Take care."

Harry excused himself and left the room. His head was still whirling from the heap of new information. Dinner with Remus and Draco, Aurors leaving Hogsmeade, new magic to practice...it was enough to leave anyone reeling, much less a Hogwarts seventh-year on his last weeks of NEWTS. Not that they were going poorly. At a guess, Harry would have had to say that he was doing quite well, and certainly better than his OWLS had implied. He'd have his scores just before the Leaving Ball, and that would be sweet relief. For better or worse, his school days would soon be done.

For now, Harry was content just to get back to his suite. Draco would probably be busy with Slytherin matters for another hour or so, and Harry could scan his new exercises while he waited for his lover to join him. Then he could broach the topic of having Remus over for dinner. Given the dramatics over being chosen as King and Queen of the Ball, Harry wasn't going to place any bets on Draco's reaction to the idea of dining with a werewolf. The best he could hope for was a reasonable open-mindedness to the notion. Harry could work with that.

Harry opened the door to his suite and stopped cold in shocked surprise halfway through the door. Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Goyle and Crabbe were all seated and discussing something in serious tones, followed by instant and deafening silence when Harry arrived. Draco gave a nod to Blaise, and Blaise stood up and looked Harry directly in the eyes.

"Potter, we have an offer to make. This might be overdue, but we need your help."

Harry wanted to roll his eyes, but didn't want to be misinterpreted by Draco's friends. All he could think of at the moment was a Chinese curse. 'May you live in interesting times.' It hadn't seemed terribly curse-like when he'd seen it quoted on the telly years ago, but today it suddenly made perfect sense.