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All I Ever Wanted	By : Samaelthekind Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 48945 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 18
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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. 19 'A New Day For Slytherin'

Slytherin's common room was packed full of nervous students. Their worry wasn't completely unjustified, since the meeting was being held to reintroduce them to the leader they had recently abused, and been so swiftly abused by in return.

Most of the seventh-years had taken positions near the exits, since they had played the heaviest part in the drama of the last two days, and accordingly took the greatest share of punishment.

Draco sat in his favorite chair. He was near a cozy fireplace that helped drive the chill from the dungeon suites. He'd been awake, poring over ideas, since almost six in the morning. Draco stood, and conversations all over the room stopped. He scanned through the crowd, nodding to Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. The rest he simply looked over to assure himself that they were present and moved on. When the crowd finally seemed desperate for him to start, he spoke.

"Theodore Nott was right." That brought a lot of confused muttering from the entire assembly. "Not about everything, since he's a right prat, a sneak-thieving shite, and as I'm sure he's told some of you by now, he also has a dick so small that he needs a magnifying glass and two Engorgement Charms just to masturbate." This pulled a few laughs from everyone and dispelled much of the tension that had been eating them apart. Good, time for the next phase.

"He did have one good point, and I understand it now. Slytherin House needs change, badly. Some of this is my fault. I think I paid the price for my mistakes, and so did everyone else. I didn't run this house for the glory of Slytherin as a whole, I ran it for me, and no one here can say they wouldn't have done the same. Slytherin Way, right? Do for yourself, and screw the rest? Power for power's sake? Cunning, guile and skullduggery? I think we got it wrong! Salazar Slytherin would not be proud of this house no matter how many games of Quidditch we won or how many hexes and curses we threw at Gryffindor or anyone else.

My point is that we have spent all our efforts fending off each other for years, instead being a strong and united house. How many of you have Warding Charms and Locking Charms in use every night to protect youselves?" More than two-thirds of them were nodding their heads.

We knock ourselves out trying to destroy each other, pulling all of us down together. THIS HAS TO STOP! I'm stopping it as of today. Today is a new day for Slytherin! Every person in this room was chosen by the Sorting Hat because they hold the strengths that best represent this house's founder. Caution, wisdom, cunning and precision make us strong. A Muggle surgeon doesn't work with a broadsword, and a Slytherin doesn't work like a Gryffindor, but where did it ever say we had to hate each other, fear each other and plot against each other? We need to be helping each other be the strongest house in this school.

First, I rescind all my previous dictates. Especially the one about socializing with other houses. I was wrong, it has to go. Our first new order for this house is NO SPELLS cast against any classmate unless you have been attacked first! Breaking that rule buys you detention with Snape.

The second rule is basic kindness, if I hear a classmate has a problem, I'm not going to publicly shred them for it, I'm going to use my cunning to try to help them! Or at least let them get it off their chest so they feel better. The same goes for all of you, need help...ask for it...if you are asked for help...give it.

Third order, all Quidditch players and fans will meet weekly for strategy sessions, not just our house team. Listen to each other! There might be some ideas you haven't heard yet, and one of those might get us some wins.

Fourth order, regarding socializing, there will be events organized by this house to better our relationship with all the other houses. Over the next few weeks these inter-house gatherings will start giving you a chance to meet your classmates in a non-competitive atmosphere. I suggest you use the chance to relax and have fun. See Pansy tomorrow if you want to help prepare those events, as she will be coordinating them.

Fifth, a mentoring program is starting next week. All first-years will be assigned a fourth-year who will act as their guide in this house and the rest of Hogwarts. Mentoring includes: help with homework, learning the do's and don'ts of Hogwarts, history of our house, and acting as a counselor. Blaise Zabini will be heading up this program and will be talking to all fourth-year students before next week.

There may be other activities as well; I'd like a tutoring program for students who have problem classes. By next week I want to know who our best students are in each field of study and I want some ideas about times for helping others catch up. This is house pride we're talking about. I don't ever want to hear another student say 'Thank Merlin I'm not in Slytherin'. I want them all to wish they were here."

Draco's throat was parched, but the looks from the assembled students ran the whole gamut from amazement to disgust. Mostly just surprise. The younger years looked fairly happy, since they were generally referred to as 'Mobile Hex Targets' before today. Time to wrap it up.

"I know this is a lot to take in at once, and that a few of you don't like some of this. You can talk to me about it and I won't hex you...YOU HAVE MY SWORN WORD! One catch though, if I listen to your complaint, and I make a decision, but you still don't like it...tough. I may hear you and if you make a good case I'll change something, but if not, I'd better see you toeing the line like everyone else or I will have you scrubbing cauldrons for Snape. Once the rules are in place, follow them until they are changed.

Finally, the last thing I wanted to say to all of you. A lot of you have been on the bad side of my temper before, often without any good reason. I'm sorry, I was wrong...and I will try very hard not to let that happen again." This statement got the most piercing glances...until Draco looked out with eyes that glinted steel menace for just one second..."But don't ever think that, just because I was willing to apologize for my mistakes, I'll be forgiving of anyone trying to take it any further. I might be doing things differently, but I haven't changed as much as you might think. So here's your last order...and this one's the most important...DO NOT FUCK WITH THE BOSS...YOU WILL LIVE TO REGRET IT! Meeting adjourned!"

Draco sat down and waited for the crowd to clear. A number of very grateful looking students passed by him with thanks, and a larger number still seemed headed for breakfast wearing smiles.

Blaise sauntered up and offered his hand. Draco took it and they shook hands while Blaise shook his head in confusion. "I don't know how you did it, but I'm with you, Draco. This might be impossible, it might blow up completely before the week's out, maybe it won't last after we leave this year, but it's got to be worth trying. Apparently, you've got the momentum, and I just have to see if this works. I'll see you tomorrow morning to work out some details for the mentoring program. Meanwhile, give Harry my best... or if you can't do that... give him your best." The last was said with a coy smile and a wink that was pure Slytherin through and through, and with that, Blaise excused himself and was on his way to breakfast.

Pansy made arrangements to see him tomorrow morning as well, hoping to pin down some loose ideas for inter-house activities that weren't competitive in nature. Crabbe and Goyle seemed philisophical about the whole deal, at least as much as they could be, but they looked forward to acting as 'an enforcement team' for the new rules...except for the 'no cursing classmates' part. They clapped Draco on the shoulders and left for breakfast, too, leaving Draco alone by the fireplace, in the chair that had been his throne, in an empty room in which he had spent seven years growing up.

Draco sat by the fire, looking into the jewel that hadn't left his hand since he woke up that morning. In its heart winked the image of his lover. Harry would be out of the hospital ward by the end of the day, and they could be together again. He'd be getting up early and getting done late for days to come. His new ideas would demand a lot from him. Harry would be so proud, Draco knew he wouldn't mind waiting longer to see him.

Tonight, after he got Harry comfortable in the suite, they would have to talk about Lucius. It might spoil their weekend, but he needed to face this, and he needed Harry with him. Lucius wouldn't like it, but Draco really wasn't concerned with what Lucius liked right now. Sooner or later, he would have to watch his father wither and die, a raving wreck of his former self, and even with Harry's help it would be awful. Without help, he wasn't even sure he could keep himself sane and functioning through the whole affair.

Draco sipped the last of his tea and headed for Snape's office. He had a list of new things to discuss with his Head of House, and they couldn't wait until after class.

Snape was at his desk, a mound of papers on either side of him, scribbling away furiously. He looked up with irritation as Draco entered the room, then softened just a bit and inquired as to what merited interrupting his work. Draco quickly went over the finer points of his morning meeting, and outlined the changes he planned to make and why he was making them. Snape sat silent through it all, staring intently at him, making even Draco feel slightly nervous.

At the end of it, Snape said nothing, just handed him a sheaf of first-year Potions scrolls to grade, and returned to his work. Draco sat and began grading papers, disappointed that his mentor had nothing to say. He was almost finished with them when Snape spoke without so much as lifting his head from his work.

"Is it Potter that brings this out of you, this urge to make things better? To take on so much...despite the possibility of grand failure?"

The question made his stomach queasy; it was very hard to tell where this conversation was going to go. Draco took a deep breath and forged ahead. "Yes, but he only makes me willing to try. Slytherin House has needed this for a long time. I just needed to wake up and see it...and care enough to do something about it. He makes me care." Silence passed between them while they worked on a few more papers.

"Mister Malfoy..." Snape paused a moment, seeming uncertain of himself, which was rare enough already...then he sighed and started over. "Draco, this is your last year under my tutelage. You have been one of the finest students I have ever had, excepting Miss Granger, who is very skillful, but uncommonly annoying. I expect you will lead a most remarkable life, as no one with your talents is likely to fail. I approve of all that you intend for Slytherin House, all of it. It's an ambitious undertaking that may exhaust you, but it is all worthwhile, and, though it pains me to say it, if Potter brings this verve and determination out of you, then I am forced to approve of that as well.

I must caution you on one matter, though. It is inappropriate for a professor to look upon a student as he would one of his own children, but I fear for you like a father would for his son. Harry Potter comes with many burdens, some of them wrapped around his destiny, others borne of his very nature. If, and I only suggest this, if he should be killed or taken from you by the war that is surely coming...you will be hurt in a way that cannot be described by mere words. Please know this...what I have felt for almost twenty years has been scarcely endurable. I have no need to share the details with you, Draco, but the root of it has been love.

If you are very fortunate, perhaps you will have the life of joy that escaped me. If not, I hope you are strong enough to live through the pain that will come. If I could guard you against it I would, but I cannot. Do what you feel you must, but at least I have made certain that you aren't leaping in blindly. That...that is the province of Gryffindors. I shall try to be here should you need me."

Draco was thunderstruck. He stood up from his seat and walked over to where Snape sat, still scribbling intently at his papers. Finally, exasperated by being gawked at, Snape looked up. Draco suddenly hugged him, leaving Snape absolutely aghast and furious.

"Stop this unseemly display of Hufflepuff sentimentality at once! Get off of me! Try...just try to remember that you are a student, prot�g� or no! We'll speak no more of this!"

Draco promptly released him and went back to his seat. It had been worth it just to see Snape lose it! He couldn't stop smiling all the while that he graded papers. When he was done, he rose and turned to place them on Snape's desk, smirking to match Snape's scowl.

On his way out he paused at the door and simply said, "Thank you, sir, for everything. I won't forget it."

Snape never looked up, "Just see that you don't, Mister Malfoy." And with that, Draco was on his way to class.
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All I Ever Wanted