Second Chances

Vignette One - Armand

"In my time as Headmistress of Hogwarts, I have never been more shocked or more disappointed," Minerva McGonagall stated levelly, the tightness of her mouth and the fierceness of her gaze stating more clearly than any words the depth of her anger.

On the other side of the desk, Oliver Wood bowed his head, suddenly very interested in the pattern of the carpet. Beside him, Armand Delacour straightened in his chair, holding his chin just a bit higher, quietly defiant.

"The two of you have put me in a very difficult position," she added.

Nearby, Deputy Headmistress Sprout and the Gryffindor Head of House sat listening to the conversation. Neither had spoken much since this meeting had started. Harry had only been appointed Head of House this term and had never before had to deal with any infraction of this magnitude. Sprout was simply stunned to silence.

"I have no choice, Wood," McGonagall continued, "but to terminate your employment at Hogwarts, effective immediately. However, since Mr. Delacour is of age, there will be no charges filed against you."

"It isn't right." Armand's voice was soft and calm, but the words were spoken with conviction.

"And I suppose that seducing a student is right?" Sprout asked, finding her voice at last.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake!" Armand spat, rolling his eyes. "I was hardly seduced."

"Be that as it may," McGonagall said, her voice raised slightly. She sighed. "The school charter is very clear, Mr. Delacour. Any teacher found to be engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student can not continue to teach. As for you - as a general rule, students in these situations are assumed to be unduly influenced by the adult member of the relationship; as such, they are counseled rather than reprimanded. However, as you are past the age of consent, you have, according to the charter, broken no rules."

"So Oliver gets sacked, and I get off without so much as a point taken, is that it?" Armand snapped, the colour rising in his cheeks.

"Under the circumstances, I will allow Master Wood to resign so as to keep his reputation intact and not cause unnecessary complications in whatever future career he may choose."

"Thank you, Minerva," Oliver said quietly. "You'll have my letter of resignation as soon as I can get it written."

Armand's hands curled around the ends of the armrests on his chair, his fingertips digging into the fabric. His face was blood red now, his breaths coming in short, jagged bursts.

Harry had never seen the boy so angry in all his life. He half expected his Veela heritage to choose that moment to come forth, causing the boy to sprout the ugly visage unique to a pissed-off Veela. Instead, the boy clutched the chair even tighter and forced his voice to remain calm as he spoke.

"It isn't right. Those rules are there to protect students from being unfairly used by those in a position of power. That isn't the case here. Oliver - excuse me, Master Wood - and I were involved in a consensual, mutually satisfactory arrangement. I hesitate to call it a relationship as it was hardly the stuff of romance." He paused. "If anything, I seduced and used him. I knew he was vulnerable, and I used that to my advantage. I should be the one to go, not him."

"Regardless, we must adhere to the bylaws," Minerva began.

"Fuck the bylaws!" Armand roared, leaping to his feet.

"Armand!" Harry snapped, grabbing the much taller young man by the shoulders and shaking him.

Armand looked down at Harry with tears in his eyes. "I never meant to hurt anyone," he said softly. "I just wanted Oliver to smile again."

"And I did," Oliver said quietly. "Because of you. Armand, I knew the risk I was taking. I knew what would happen if I got caught. The Headmistress is being quite kind, letting me resign. I believe her when she says she has no choice." He stood then and turned Armand to face him. "If I had known that we would be found out...if I had known it would end this way..." He swallowed thickly. "I would have loved you anyway."

"Forgive me," Armand whispered, his arms going around Oliver's waist and his head dropping down to rest on Oliver's shoulder.

"There's nothing to forgive," Oliver assured him, rubbing comforting circles on the younger man's back. After a moment, he gently pushed Armand away. "I have to go and pack," he said in a hoarse whisper.

Armand watched Oliver turn and walk quickly towards the door. "So do I," he called out.

Oliver turned. "What?" he asked incredulously.

"So do I," Armand repeated. "I have to go and pack."

"Armand," Oliver began.

"No. I deserve the same fate as you. I'm going to pack my bags, and then I'll go to my father in Egypt."

"He'll be furious," Harry cautioned Armand quietly.

"He'll understand. Uncle Fred never made it through to his NEWTs, and he's done just fine. And so will I," he said resolutely. With that pronouncement, he opened the door and stepped out, a wide-eyed Oliver following close behind.

*

Despite further arguments from both Oliver and Harry, Armand stayed his course. He packed his trunk, said goodbye to his cousins and the Malfoy children with promises to stay in touch by owl, and met his father in the entryway.

As Harry predicted, Bill was furious that his son had quit school. But as Armand had known, he was quite understanding once he heard the whole story.

And so at seventeen Armand Delacour entered the adult wizarding world and never looked back.

Vignette Two - The Girls

"Three 'O's and two 'E's, Harry!" Draco cried. He took the newly-arrived letter from Sera's hand and looked it over, as if needing to see the NEWT results for himself.

"Yes, I heard, Draco. Congratulations, Sera," Harry said, giving the young woman a hug.

Draco gently tugged Sera from Harry's arms and hugged her tightly. "Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?"

"It's fairly obvious, I would think," Harry teased.

"I don't see what the bloody fuss is about," Damien drawled from where he lay sprawled on the sofa. "We all know Sera's a genius."

Ella Weasley, who had hurried to the Malfoy house as soon as she'd received her own results letter, cuffed Damien on the back of the head. "Behave."

"Oi! Adrian, control your wench, would you?"

"Would if I had one," Adrian replied casually as he took Ella's letter from her hand. He beamed down at her. "Even better than you'd hoped."

Ella nodded, smiling slightly.

"Well, don't keep us in suspense," Harry teased his honorary niece. "How well did you do?"

"'O's in Potions and Charms, an 'E' in Defence, and 'A's in Transfiguration and Arithmancy," Adrian announced proudly, wrapping his arms around Ella.

"Not bad," Damien. "Especially considering she spent more time snogging you than studying this past year."

Adrian blushed but didn't deny the accusation.

"You did very well, Ella," Harry said. "I'm proud of both of you girls. Er, ladies."

Draco smiled fondly at both of the young women. "I think this calls for a celebration."

"Bergamos?" Sera asked, naming the restaurant her family typically enjoyed on special occasions.

"Whatever you two want," Draco replied.

Ella's eyes glinted mischievously. "Anything at all?"

Draco chucked her under the chin as if she were a little girl instead of a young woman of 18. "Why not? What's the point of having a family fortune if you don't spend it?"

"Hey!" Damien exclaimed. "Why doesn't that argument ever work when I use it?"

"Because I'm your father, Damien. I'm supposed to make you earn your own way so you'll appreciate what you have. At least that's what Harry keeps telling me."

"Don't you dare blame it on Harry, Dad. You know he'd spoil us all blind if you didn't stop him."

Ignoring her brother and father's good-natured bickering, Sera engaged in a whispered conversation with her best friend. "Dad," she said, interrupting the argument. "Bergamo's is fine. Can Ella invite her family?"

"My immediate family," Ella said with a grin. "Certainly not the whole motley crew."

Draco laughed. "If it's only your immediate family, then yes, of course you can invite them."

Ella bounced up from the arm of the sofa and squeezed Draco in a brief hug. "Thank you!"

"You can Floo them from the kitchen," Harry suggested.

"Oh, no. I'll have to go home to change, anyway. It wouldn't do to wear Muggle clothes." She turned and pressed a kiss to Adrian's cheek. "I'll see you tonight."

Adrian barely had time to nod before Ella disapparated with a crack.

*

The Weasleys were already seated when Draco and his family arrived at the restaurant that evening. Fred was pinned in a corner, the younger of his two children - six-year-old George - seated on his lap. Beside him was an empty chair - presumably George's. On the other side sat his wife, Angelina. Ella was seated beside her step-mother, her eyes fastened on the door.

Adrian's face lit up, as it always did when he caught sight of Ella, and he greeted her with a warm hug before acknowledging the rest of her family. Harry and the Malfoys said their hellos and took their seats, exchanging small talk as they looked over the menus. Angelina, it seemed, knew Italian as well as Draco; she was kept busy translating the menu for her husband who only winked at Harry when he suggested a translation charm.

The orders were placed and a toast drunk to the two Hogwarts alumni. Sitting his goblet aside, Harry turned toward Ella. "So what are your plans now that you've left school?" he asked.

"I'm going to work for Dad," Ella began.

"Turned down an offer from the Harpies!" Fred exclaimed.

Angelina sighed in exasperation. "Oh, you're not still on about that, are you?"

"Do you think I would even consider playing professional Quidditch after Angelina's horror stories? I'd rather work for Wheezes, thanks."

"Five NEWTs and going into the family business," Fred said. "Mum's livid."

"You never seemed too interested in your dad's business before," Harry noted. "Why now?"

Ella bit her lip, looking rather sheepish. "I'm just not very ambitious, I guess. I don't care much about money or power, which Dad seems to think I should be ashamed to admit. I know he's secretly pleased that I want to work with him, though."

Fred beamed at his daughter. "I didn't think it was much of a secret, actually."

There were a few scattered laughs. George drew his parents attention for a moment by upsetting his pumpkin juice. Luckily, a quick spell took care of the mess and the server was quick to bring him another cup of juice.

Once things calmed again, Angelina turned Harry's question on Sera. "Have you decided what your plans are?"

"She's known for years," Damien said. "She's going to be a Healer." Anyone could see he was proud of his sister.

"Going to train at St. Mungo's?" Fred asked.

"Actually....well, I've applied for a special training program. It incorporates medical ideology and techniques from different wizarding cultures. I'd be learning at a number of different locations."

Harry carefully laid his fork aside and looked up at his step-daughter. "You're going away to school?"

"Erm...yes."

Draco looked stunned, but to his credit managed to keep his voice calm. "For how long?"

"Two years. I can come back to St. Mungo's for my third and fourth." She watched her father's expression turn momentarily stormy and then go blank. "Please don't be angry with me."

Taking a deep breath, Draco caressed his daughter's cheek. "I'm not angry, Sera. I'm....surprised, I guess. But I'm very proud of you. I know this programme is quite prestigious, and you've always felt the need to push yourself. If it's what you want, then I'm pleased for you."

"Liar," Sera said softly.

Draco laughed. "Am I that transparent? All right, I'm not pleased at all that you're leaving, but I'll get over it. I'm just not ready for my children to grow up and move away."

"You've still got me and Adrian, Dad."

"For a while at least," Adrian said.

Ella gave Adrian a sharp look. "I don't think now's a good time."

"Not a good time for what?" Draco asked.

All eyes were suddenly on Ella and Adrian, even little George's.

Adrian flashed everyone his brightest smile. "Eleanor has agreed to be my wife."

Congratulations rang out around the table, and Fred welcomed Adrian to his family with a hearty handshake. Draco, however, sat quietly, just staring at his son.

"Dad, this is the part where you say 'congratulations' and give us your blessing," Adrian said gently.

Draco opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again and shook his head.

Giving Adrian a reassuring smile, Harry scooted his chair closer to Draco's and began rubbing soothing circles on his back. "Breathe," he murmured. He turned slightly in his chair to face Damien. "Anything you'd like to drop on your Dad? One more shock might put him 'round the bend for good."

A slight smirk appeared on Draco's face. "I've been 'round the bend' for years, Harry. Why else would I have put up with you all this time?"

"I thought it was because I give sensational head," Harry deadpanned.

Angelina immediately dissolved into an undignified fit of giggles, a perfect counterpoint to Fred's deep chuckle. Draco's children all looked either disgusted or mortified, but Ella was trying valiantly to squash a few giggles of her own. George, who of course didn't get the joke, looked bewildered.

Forcing away a smile, Draco leaned over and pressed a kiss to Harry's lips. "You're horrid." Turning his attention away from Harry, Draco raised his goblet. "A toast then. To my son and future daughter-in-law. May you find as much happiness with one another as I have with Harry."

"And as I have with Angelina," Fred added.

"Hear, hear," Angelina cried heartily.

Damien smiled and raised his glass. "Yes, to the happy couple." He paused as everyone drank to the young lovers. "You'd best marry her quick, Adrian, before she comes to her senses."

"She has a year to change her mind. We're to be married next June," Adrian said.

Ella huffed. "I'm not going to change my mind. Not in a year, not in a hundred years."

"Poor girl," Damien said. "You've no idea what you're getting yourself into."

"Damien," Draco said levelly. "Do shut up."

Damien promptly stuck his tongue out at his father who couldn't help but grin back at him. It was good to know that at least one of his children wasn't in any rush to grow up.

Heartened, Draco allowed himself to relax. His time with his daughter and youngest son was limited. For now, he would enjoy each moment he had with them. There would be time for his sorrow after they had gone.