A Time for Second Chances

Disclaimer: Everything this based around belongs to JKR. I merely attempt to put my spin on it.

Neither Half Blood Prince nor Deathly Hallows compliant.

Author's Notes: Forgive me if this ends up poorly written. This is my first fic and I appreciate constructive feedback.

Reviews would make me happy. Thanks in advance. xx

A Time for Second Chances

Prologue

Andrew Kightley was not a particularly smart man. And at 26 he despaired over his lack of joie de vivre. As a junior mail clerk in the bustling department of Ministry Post, he often was forgotten amongst the masses and was left to his own devices most of the time. He sighed and eyed his watch before looking down at his desk. His mail allotment had automatically filled with fresh batches of various letters, summons and packages for him to send off to the important people that worked here at the Ministry. Yearning for the day to already be over, he lifted his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily before reaching out to begin the odious task of sorting the daily mail.

After half an hour of noting whom the mail was for, which department to send it to and other such boring details he was heartily sick of the uneventful day stretching before him. It was at that moment that his attention was caught by a small envelope that he had absentmindedly picked up. The parchment was of an opulent texture, and the deep purple wax seal was of a crest he couldn't recognize. He sat there and stared at it, never had he before been so curious as to what a letter contained, and for once he could indulge his desires and open it.

It was addressed to him.

The black cursive lettering on the front of the letter clearly stated that it was to be delivered to Andrew Kightley of the Ministry Owl Post Department. After running cursory ward and hex detection tests on the letter, it was clear that this was just a letter. No trickery involved. After turning the letter over and over again, looking for any marks on the parchment for a clue as to whom it was from, he broke the seal and slid the letter carefully from the envelope. Looking over his shoulder and around the room, he noticed that everyone was still scurrying round as per usual and wasn't paying attention to the junior staffer tucked away in an unobtrusive corner. Satisfied that he wouldn't be noticed he turned back to the folded letter in his hands. Carefully, he unfolded it, and smoothed it out on the surface of his desk. It was blank.

Confused, he sat there staring at the blank parchment before him. He had been staring at it so hard that when black ink began to seep into the page he almost jumped with fright. The ink slowly unraveled, forming distinct words in the same hand that had penned the address on the envelope. Pushing his glasses up his nose, he leaned in to read the message that had appeared.

Press your wand hand to the parchment.

Clear instruction. Nevertheless, to blindly follow the instruction of a letter with no clear indication of the sender or it's origins would just be plain reckless. Andrew sat there for what seemed like an age, gazing at the words scrawled across the page, contemplating his course of action. After casting the security spells once again, and casting a disillusionment charm on himself he swallowed hard, nervous about what he was going to do. Squaring his shoulders and rubbing his clammy hands on his robes, he reached out and unwaveringly pressed his left hand firmly down on the parchment.

No one saw him disappear from his chair and when alarms went off throughout the Ministry. No one could say if anyone was missing from their office, and no one noticed the piece of paper sitting on a desk smoking slightly and curling at the edges.

Next chapter Hermione arrives at Grimmauld Place.