Forgiveness, please! I've actually had this chapter written for about a month, but I've had no time to post it! But the important thing is that it's up, right? Thought so.

Amelle: Thanks for the heads up. Damn. Now I'm going to have to find another way of changing - dammit! Can't give it away!

dancetdplc: Glad you've been liking it so far and that you like the spells idea. Just something I thought would be neat to show my apologist belief of "See! Tom's not totally evil!".

Aliesha: I actually have yet to see the original movie. Disgrace, I know! Hope you like the new chapter.

Deadly Fate: Sirius is coming! I think I'll do another chapter leading up to everyone going to Hogsmeade at once and then bring him in. Think: Manchurian Candidate.

pinay-chemist: Yeah, I wish I had the time to go back and rewrite the beginning of the story. The first two chapters were written really quickly on a whim, so they're naturally kind of clunky. Maybe I'll make that my project in May once my semester's done.

Innogen: Yay! A new face with lots of new comments! Hmmmm....Tom doesn't strike me as the type to forge an alliance that he couldn't control. At the very least, he can throw her around with Killing Curses until daylight. You're not a perv for liking Sn-uffy, and I promise that the insults will keep coming. It's so much fun to write that part!

And now, the next chapter of "Chosen"!

The next morning at breakfast, Hermoine, Draco, and Harry sat apart from the rest of the house, who had made it clear through their whispered conversations and nervous smiles that the Four Friends were once again looking more and more pitiful by the day. The consensus around the school was that Ginny's disappearance (the popular repressive term for what they had all seen) was beginning to unhinge the Golden Boy and his followers. Little was left of their respective sanities, and their intense bond, forged through years of trumped up confrontations, was the only thing that kept them together. After all, how many times could an adolescent claim to face the greatest evil on earth and maintain any sense of sanity?

Several times, the three Gryffindors tried to open up a conversation, say anything even if it was inane, but as soon as they met the eyes of the others, the words would die. The awkward silence that reigned between was oppressive, but none of them could find a way to break through it.

That was, until Ron came charging up to the table, excitedly waving a piece of crumpled parchment in his hand. "Guys! Guys, wake up! I think I've found the answer!"

Three formerly dull gazes snapped into awareness simultaneously, and each waited with cautious curiosity as Ron sat down and smoothed out the notes.

"Sorry if it's a little damaged." he said quickly, in between shoving pieces of toast in his mouth. "I feel asleep on it in the library."

Hermoine looked at Ron as if waiting for the Polyjuice potion to wear off and reveal who was really impersonating her friend. "You spent last night in the library?" she asked incredulously. "Who are you?"

Ron sniffed indignantly. "I am perfectly capable of doing my own research when the need is great enough. And before you say it, NEWTs are nothing compared to what I've found."

Draco was perched on the edge of hit seat. "What is it, Ron?" he asked excitedly. "What did you find?"

The redhead gazed around importantly at his friends, and said simply. "The Riddle ancestral home."

Three jaws hit the table as three very excited minds tried to fully comprehend Ron's discovery. "You found the secret location of Voldemort's base?" Harry squeaked. "You've found where he's taken Ginny."

"It took me 14 hours, but I have it." Ron answered. "It's so stupid, actually. I was wasting my time looking for ancient Wizarding estates but then I remembered his father left his mother after he found out she was a witch." He smoothed the parchment out a bit more and the friends nearly crawled across the table, each trying to read it from his or her own side. "There's a whole pile of books by Muggles in the west wing of the library - apparently for the Muggle Studies types - and one of them was on prominent families of the area." He pointed to a quickly drawn circle and pointed his wand at it. "Reveal" he commanded and each of the other friends Oooh'd with appreciation as a map began to form, with the county lines and names. Finally, a large black dot formed on the parchment and labeled itself "Riddle Manor".

Hermoine was almost lost for words. "How did you do that?" she asked incredulously. "I still don't believe you went to all this trouble!" 

Ron beamed. "It's a spell Fred and George taught me - a real one this time. I think they learned it trying to recreate the Marauder's Map." he replied, before hastening on with his ideas. "Anyway, we know where Riddle House is. Now, all we have to do is reform Dumbledore's Army, tell the Order we've found He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Name's hideout and we charge in to the rescue." He sat back and folded his arms triumphantly. "Go ahead. You know you want to say it."

"It won't work." Draco said softly, shaking his head. 

Ron's gaze crumpled instantly before reforming into a dark scowl. "What do you mean, Malfoy?" he snapped. "Of course it'll work. Alright, it has a few variables that need taking care of but this is a major step. At least admit that."

Draco looked up seriously. "Of course finding the house is a major step, but your strategy will get us all killed."

"What do you mean, Dray?" Harry asked. He wanted to believe that it was as simple as Ron made it out to be but his instincts told him Draco was seeing something they couldn't.

Draco stared at the circle representing 'Riddle House'. "It's all well and good to know where the house is, but we have to come up with a better strategy than 'charge!'" he argued. "My father said once, after Voldemort got his powers back, that he performed an incredibly powerful spell to connect the house to himself, to make it under the direct control of his will." Draco took a shaky breath. "If we attack the house, it could turn against us. Doors sealing themselves, windows becoming unbreakable, objects flying at us from all sides. And this would be on top of Death Eaters trying to kill us."

"We'd be like fish in a barrel." Hermoine whispered quietly.

"And you believe that sonofabitch?" Ron growled angrily. "For all you know, he was just bragging to impress his precious master."

Draco met the redhead's fiery gaze with a look of pure fury. "I know my father, Weasle." he ground out. "He wasn't lying. In fact, he was terrified of what it could mean if Voldemort ever lost his temper during an in-house meeting." He folded his arms and leaned forward, gaze never wavering. "And besides, there are anti-intrusion wards around our manor that even He would have trouble breaking, so there's not a chance that he was saying it to prove his loyalty."

Hermoine looked anxiously between the two boys and cleared her throat. "So, we need to revise our strategy a little bit." she said, putting a calming hand on Ron's arm, causing him to stiffen and glare at her. "But this is still an incredible breakthrough. I have to say, Ron, I'm really impressed."

Ron's look softened a bit. "You really think so?" he asked gruffly.

Hermoine nodded. "I almost hate to say it, but you've almost out done me here." she teased. "But we still need to talk about strategy. Do you have any ideas?"

Harry smiled softly as Ron's anger seemed to completely melt away under Hermoine's sunny praise and leaned over to whisper to Draco, "Looks like we're not the only ones."

"Not the only what?" he said aloud, causing Ron and Hermoine and stop their discussion and look at him quizzically.

Harry groaned inwardly. "You're not the only one who forgot his books back in the Common room, silly." he said, smiling tightly at Draco, who began to understand.

"You know, you're right!" he said, getting up hastily from the table. "You two review ambush tactics and Harry and I will see you in class." The two boys smiled quickly at Ron and Hermoine before rushing away from the table and out the Great Hall doors.

"You really need to learn how to be subtle." Harry teased as he rounded the corner to the Closet. "You almost let them catch on."

Draco laughed as he followed Harry into the dark. "Oh come, on. You know they won't be paying attention to anything but each other for a good long time now. Good eye, though."

Harry grinned as he pulled Draco to him. "I know..." he murmured before leaning in to passionately kiss his lovers.

Draco moaned and leaned back against a wall as Harry moved to kiss the sensitive flesh behind his ear. "Oh Merlin, love." he said. "Where did you get a tongue like that?"

Harry chuckled but gave no articulate reply. Instead, he parted the front of Draco's robes and snuck a hand underneath the crisp white shirt. Questing hands found their tiny, pebbled targets and began pinching them ever so gently, causing Draco to pant Harry's name and Harry to revel in the erotic jolt it sent down his spine. "Oh, Harry. Harry, do that again." the blonde moaned, squirming slightly against the wall and nearly yelping as Harry's other hand, a slightly colder one, found Draco's other nipple. "Yes." he hissed. "Just like that."

"Think you can handle more?" Harry teased from Draco's neck, punctuating the challenge with a hard tug on his earlobe with his teeth. 

"Oh, that is it, Potter." Draco growled, forcefully removing his lover's body from on top of his. "You're going down." Before Harry had time to react, Draco thrust him out, spun him around, and pinned against the door, which groaned in protest.

"Draco" Harry whispered reverently as the other boy's hands past his robes and to the waistband of his trousers. A harsh zip, followed by a snagging sound, a growl, and a loud rrrip was all Harry's brain could process before a rush of cool air hit him, but was soon replaced by the liquid heat of Draco's mouth and tongue. The sudden and almost rough taking almost sent Harry over the edge right there and he banged his head quite soundly on the wall in an attempt to fight the rush. "Oh Draco." he moaned.

Quiet laughter floated into Harry's ears. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Nothing. I just love it when you moan my name." Draco answered. "Makes me feel so h-"

Suddenly, Draco's husky praise was cut off by the worst possible thing that could've occurred at that point. The door finally sagged under Harry's weight and the two clandestine lovers landed with a thud on the castle floor.

"Uh...I think I found them!" a boy's voice called out as Harry and Draco groaned and tried to sit up.

"Oh shit!" Harry yelped as he scrambled to collect his pants and jump to his feet. Draco was ahead of him and staring in horror at the shocked faces in front of him. Time seemed to stop for the two discovered lovers waited for the rest of the school to screech to a halt in front of them. One by one, teachers and students alike formed a crowd in front of the two boys, who watched with horror as the mob got bigger and bigger.

Finally, Michael Corner broke the uncomfortable silence. "Alright! Who's the lucky sod who had today?" A ripple of relieved laughter went through the crowd as each person searched his or her pockets for a copy of the betting form.

"George Weasley!" someone called out, to a chorus of groans and protests.

"It shouldn't count. He's not even a student here anymore!" Another voice cried, to murmurs of assent.

Michael shook his head. "There's nothing in the rules that prohibits former students from collecting." he said. "Hey, Ron! Get an owl to your brother, would you?"

"Oh no." Harry groaned. "Ron."

The aforementioned Weasley pushed his way through the crowds, a worried Hermoine following closely. "Alright, come on! Let a man through!" he grunted as he pushed past two Ravenclaw girls to stand directly in front of his two friends. "Harry James Potter." he began indignantly. "Why -"

"Wait, Ron. You don't have to say anything. I understand." he interrupted, holding up a hand. "All I ask is that you let Hermoine continue to associate with me, if she so chooses."

"What are you talking about, mate?" he asked, incredulously, eyes studiously avoiding anything below Harry's chest level.

Draco defensively stepped in front of Harry. "Oh, come off it, Weasle." he shouted. "If you're going to hate him for being who he is, then just say it already. Don't insult him by calling him your 'mate'." he spat.

Hermoine stepped in between the two boys for the second time that day. "You mean you didn't know?" she asked, stepping protectively in front of Ron.

"Oh, I know alright." he snapped. "I know that he's a bigot who can't stand to be around his own best friend just because he's gay." He folded his arms. "You make me sick, Weasle." he spat.

"What the hell are you talking about, Ferret Boy?" Ron shouted. "I would never ditch my best friend, even if he is with a git like you."

Harry eyed him curiously. "But what about -" he began. "I mean, why did it sound like you wanted to kill me?" he asked, eying Ron wearily.

"I was joking, mate!" Ron exclaimed, stepping around to Hermoine's side. "I had my money on tomorrow, and I was going to joke with you about waiting just one more day to make your old friend some money." He looked at Harry's growing confusion. "What else would I possibly be mad at you for? I don't care who you shag - you're my best friend."

"Oh." Harry replied slowly, still trying to reconcile the image of a disgusted, angry Ron with the friendly if perplexed Ron before him. 

"Alright, you accept that he's gay." Draco cut in. "But what's going on with money?"

Hermoine cleared her throat and glared at Seamus Finnegan, who was grinning like an idiot at the edge of the crowd. "Somebody thought it would be a lark to place bets on when the two of you were going to start expressing the chemistry you two have in a more romantic way than hallway duels." She turned back to her friends, blushing. "The Galleons have been piling up since third year." she admitted quietly.

Draco and Harry were shocked. "Four years!" Harry exclaimed. "You've all known for four years and no one thought to tell me about this ridiculous game?"

Neville stepped up. "Think about it, Harry." he cautioned. "What would you have done to us?"

Parvati stepped up behind him. "I mean, you hated him, and sometimes rightly so, but there was always a sort of fire in your eyes whenever he walked in the room or someone mentioned his name."

"Yeah." Lavender chorused. "It was like he was the only one who could ever get a reaction out of you."

A general murmur of agreement passed through the crowd, making Harry blush an incredible shade of red before paling. "Oh God. Cho." he groaned.

The petite Ravenclaw Seeker took that as her cue to come to the forefront of the throng. "It's okay Harry." she said patronizingly. "Actually, it helps a lot. And here I was, thinking it was me!" She walked up to the Boy Who Was Incredibly Confused and hugged him quickly. "We can still be friends, right?" she asked as she pulled away.

"Uh...sure, I guess." Harry said.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Dumbledore appeared, with McGonagall, Buffy, and Willow at his sides. "Well, it seems one of the most famous rivalries in Hogwart's history has finally come to an end." he said cheerfully. "But, while this is a momentous occasion, I would like to remind you that tonight's visit to Hogsmeade would be a more appropriate time to celebrate. To class, everyone!" 

As the rest of the students reluctantly filed away towards their first period, Harry and Draco stood rooted to the spot, the reality of what had just happened only beginning to sink in. Finally, after the hallway was clear, Draco turned to Harry. "So, it was my name, wasn't it? That was what got Ron so upset." he said casually, trying to hide his smug tone.

Harry blushed a deep scarlet and grinned at the other boy. "Yeah. And wipe that grin off your face, right now!"

"Oh, I don't think so, lover." Draco replied, dodging Harry's swat. "This is going to be quite popular with me for quite some time."

"That's it - you've gone evil again." Harry muttered as he began to walk briskly up to Gryffindor tower to retrieve his bags and a decent set of trousers.

Draco and his smirk followed closely behind. "Yes, but I'm only evil for you." he said, caressing Harry's behind. "Because you know you like me bad."

Harry grinned but kept going up the stairs. "Damn straight." he said over his shoulder.

"Not likely." Draco quipped. "Now, come on. We've got our first class as a couple to attend, and I want to see the reaction when we walk in holding hands."

"Attention queen." Harry teased. "Now, come on or we won't make it on time."

Draco beamed. "Why be on time when we can be fab-ulously late?"

A/N (since people don't seem to see them when they're up top): For those of you who really want the Sn-uffy, please be patient! It's an unfolding process and I don't think it would be natural to just have them just jump on each other all of a sudden. What I'm aiming for here is a slow realization (slower on Snape's part) that they could have a good thing together if they would just get over their mutual stand-offishness. The Hogsmeade visit will help to wake them up to each other's strengths as fighters and go a long way to forging a sort of peace which will eventually turn into something a little friendlier and then....

Well, that being said, reviews make my day!