Title: The Choices We Make- Draco
Author/pseudonym: NemKess
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Draco/Harry
Rating: PG
Status: new, complete
Archive: Yes , anywhere is fine as long as you let me know.
E-mail address for feedback:: nemsmuses@msn.com
Series/Sequel: I'm doing a companion piece where Harry's P.O.V picks up towards the end
Disclaimers: Harry Potter belong to me? I could only wish. Nope, not mine. The wonderful characters and world belong to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Books, and Warner Brothers... Probably a few others as well, but none of them are me. ^_^ I receive only the satisfaction of getting my favorite characters into romantic situations that their owners would probably never really allow.


Notes: A big thanks goes out to Ailene who has graciously become my beta. ^_^ Thank you!!! Also, to those of you waiting on either the final fic in the Holiday Trilogy or the next part of Betrayed, I am working on both.. This was actually something that had been sitting on my compy for a while waiting on me to finish the last little bit.

Summary: To be loved was rare in Draco Malfoy's life.
Warnings: slash, some Malfoy OOCness (for both Draco and Lucius I think) towards the end, pre-OotP

Where the devil could he be? Draco wondered to himself as he approached the icy lake. He'd been wandering around looking for his current paramour for the last hour and had nothing more than a migraine to show for the effort. He'd better damn well appreciate this.

Malfoys did not usually bother searching for their lovers. Lovers came to them. And Draco in particular tended to simply find someone else. But then, the entire wizarding world broke all sorts of rules when it came to their darling Harry Potter and the youngest Malfoy was no different. Of course, only Harry could make him wander around outside in freezing temperatures.

He stopped suddenly as familiar voices floated to him on the breeze. No matter how hard he strained though, he was still too far away to make heads or tails of what was being said.

What on Earth could Harry and the Weasel possibly have to talk about that was important enough to necessitate standing outside in such horrid weather? Surely if this was just another, 'I can't believe you're snogging Malfoy' speech, they could have stayed in the warmth of their common room.

Grinning, he eased his way through the trees and bushes. Whatever it was, he was sure it would prove entertaining at least.

"-see you hurt. That's all." The ginger headed boy's voice was earnest.

A bit further, and he could actually see the pair of them. Harry's robes had been carelessly tossed onto the ground next to the tree he was leaning on. His small, Seeker frame was almost lost in the massive sized green sweater with an 'H' on the front and his trousers were baggy as well. Draco rolled his eyes. They'd been clothes shopping twice in the two and a half months that they'd been 'dating' and he knew perfectly well that the Gryffindor had several stylish outfits. He thought it was sheer perverseness on Harry's part that the boy still insisted on wearing his usual rags more often than not.

Black hair was tousled even worse than usual by the wind and his cheeks were pale from cold. The observing Slytherin could feel his body stir and he was suddenly glad that he'd gone through the trouble of tracking his erstwhile lover down. He was going to have a great deal of fun, 'warming' him up.

Naughty thoughts were cut off as Harry sighed in defeat and let himself slide down the tree trunk to sit shoulder to shoulder with Weasley. The taller of the Gryffindors had shown rare sense in not only keeping his robes on, but in having worn a thick one as well.

"I know, Ron. And I do appreciate the sentiment." They sat in silence for a moment, and then he spoke again. "I can't help how I feel. I didn't exactly ask for it, you know."

Weasley turned towards him and Draco could see genuine care and worry on the boy's face. That gave him pause. Up until this point, he'd honestly thought that Harry's best friend was just being contrary because he didn't like anyone with the name of Malfoy. He'd never considered that he was truly just concerned.

"Harry, he's Malfoy. Even now that you're-" The freckled face scrunched in distaste. "Shagging.. Even now, he's given every indication that he plans on following in his father's footsteps. He's going to become a Death Eater and he's going to spend his adulthood trying to kill you."

"I know," Harry's response was so low, that Draco could barely hear him. His expression was bleak.

"He doesn't love you. I'm not even sure he likes you."

"I know." The sad, resigned tone didn't suit the Gryffindor at all. Harry sounded as if he'd already given up.

Weasley exploded. "Then why?!"

"Because I love him." Draco stumbled back in surprise. Whatever he'd expected, it certainly hadn't been that. "The damage is done, Ron. Whether I leave him now or he leaves me later, I'm going to be hurt."

"Harry-"

"What's wrong with taking what happiness I can get right now?" The mulish set to his chin was infinitely more familiar. It was the look that said Harry was going to do what he wanted and damn the consequences. "Why can't I be selfish for once? My entire life is dictated by either the past or the future. Why can't I just live in now?"

There was an explosive sigh from the Weasel as he muttered something and pulled Harry towards him. They sat there, Weasley offering what comfort he could for a minute or two before Ron spoke again. "I'm sorry, Harry. I just-" There was another pause as he seemed to be struggling for words. Finally, a decisive look on his freckled face, he pulled back to look into Harry's eyes. "Fine. Love him while you can. 'Mione and I won't bother you for now. But," he shook the slim shoulders for emphasis, "when he's a Death Eater and the enemy, he's dead. I'm sorry if that'll hurt you even further, but he is."

Draco didn't stay to hear Harry's reply. He set a rapid pace back to the castle and down into the comfort of the dungeons.

He had a great deal of thinking to do.

~*~*~

The next morning was Saturday, thankfully. Long before the sun rose and anyone else had gotten up, Draco sent two letters. Then he calmly dressed and went up for an early breakfast.

Sometime in the long night he'd come to a few decisions and he'd need a full stomach to deal with everyone that needed to be dealt with.

An hour later found him bundled up in his nicest winter robes and heading for Hogsmeade. From there, he phlooed to the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley.

He spent the morning completing the errands he'd needed to get done. Stops at Gringott's, Madame Malkin's, and a last one at the office of a well-known wizard's barrister left him starving and exhausted. And he still had a handful of others to deal with before he was finished.

But it was lunchtime and he had an important meeting.

Picking up his pace, he found the small restaurant tucked back a little ways behind Gringott's.

His father was already there, but he didn't look annoyed so Draco figured he must not be as late as he'd thought.

"Father."

"Draco."

Their greetings seemed cold to casual observers, but both Malfoy's knew that there was genuine affection behind the polite masks they wore in public.

Out of courtesy, the pair ordered and ate their meal before getting down to business.

Lucius eyed his son for a moment before sighing. "So, your letter said it was urgent."

"Yes, Father."

"You've chosen, then?"

"I have." Draco inclined his head affirmatively.

"I trust I don't have to tell you that your mother and I aren't exactly pleased."

The younger of the pair shrugged and swirled his drink around in its goblet. "I wasn't exactly expecting you to be."

"This isn't some sort of teenage rebellion that you're just now going through?" There was a hopeful note in his father's voice that would have left Draco snickering on any other occasion. As it was, he hated to crush his father's hopes.

"No, sir."

The elder Malfoy nodded his head glumly. "I rather thought not, but your mother was quite sure." He sighed again then met his son's silver gaze directly. His own ice blue eyes demanded the truth. "Why Potter? Surely he's not that good in the sack."

The Slytherin Seeker cursed his fair skin as he felt his cheeks heat up. As flagrant as he might be at school, he'd never been comfortable discussing his sex life with either of his parents. "He loves me."

That gave Lucius pause. Whatever the world thought of Malfoy's in general and Draco or Lucius in particular, one thing the family had always respected was love. The Malfoy name brought prestige, money, and fear. His father had sat him down once and explained how very rare love for them really was and how important it was to hold onto it should he ever be lucky enough to find someone who loved them for something other than their money or power. If Harry truly loved him, it was in spite of who he was and not because of it.

"You're sure?"

"Yes, sir."

He leaned back in his seat and simply stared at his son for a long moment. Then, he gave a small incline of his head. "You understand that your mother and I can't publicly approve your actions at this time. Differing politics and all." He paused long enough to make sure Draco understood. "Do you need anything?"

"No, sir. I've taken care of the most pressing business already. This morning, in fact. There are a few more matters to attend to, then I've just got to let Harry know."

His father smirked. "You haven't even talked with him about this? Isn't that the sort of thing you ask permission for?"

The blush that had only just faded was back in full force. "I'm meeting him for dinner this evening. We'll talk then."

"Well. Good luck, then. I truly hope everything works out for you." Lucius laid out the money for their meal and stood. "If we're all still alive when everything's settled, we should have tea. The four of us."

"Thank you, Father. I'd like that." Draco broke with protocol and stood up to embrace his father before the man could leave. He knew it was going to be a long time before he saw him again. He wasn't a religious young man, he left that up to fanatics and Mudbloods, but he found himself praying that they would all be around for that tea party. "I love you, Daddy."

Lucius wrapped his own arms around his son. "And I you, little Dragon. I suppose if I had to lose you to the Light, there were worse choices. Stay safe." With a soft kiss to the crown of silvery blonde, his father was gone.

Draco took a few moments to compose himself before he too left the restaurant. He still had several things to do.

~*~*~

"Draco?"

The Slytherin turned at the sound of his lover's voice and had to stop and admire the fine picture before him. For once, Harry had worn one of his new outfits without Draco having to nag him into it. The black velvet robe was trimmed in emerald and pushed back off his shoulders in a manner that looked quite dashing. Though he'd always be short, the trim cut black trousers and tailor made emerald green silk shirt didn't make him look like a half starved waif like his regular clothes did. He'd made an obvious attempt at trying to tame his wild mane, but the stubborn locks of raven simply refused to lay correctly and perched on his nose were the brand new much thinner pair of glasses that Draco had convinced the Gryffindor to buy as a compromise when he'd refused to even consider contacts.

All in all, Harry Potter made quite a pleasing and drool-worthy sight.

And now that he was aware of it, Draco could see the love in his expression.

He smiled happily.

Harry seemed startled at first, but responded in kind.

There would be problems, he knew. Big ones with names like Voldemort and Dumbledore, Weasley and Parkinson.

But somehow, Draco knew he'd never regret his choice.