Second Chances

Second Chances Chapter 2: A day in the life of Harry Potter

I can't remember

The last time you cared about anything
The last time you allowed yourself to be seen
so pretentious your lies unrelenting disguise
Creating tears in your eyes your mind withers and dies
pretending to be something you are not
somewhere in the middle you are now caught
you've never seen who you really are

No life breathes in you
all the time you laugh you wait you cry
No part of your life is true
all the time your life passes you by

I don't ever want to see I don't ever want to be like you, Hollow Man
I don't care what you give
Hollow man you can't live like this

your voice is just a whisper
you call upon your blank thoughts as you try
to fit in where you missed her
you missed the chance to stop living a lie

Where is your sanity?
Where is your sanity?
Where is your sanity?
- from Hollow man, Trapt

Harry woke the next morning to find an owl tapping on the glass outside his bedroom. He picked up his glasses from the nightstand and staggered sleepily to the window. It was a little early for the Prophet to be arriving so this had to be an owl from work. What could be so important that I had to be sent an owl before I came in? Harry took the roll of parchment from the owl's leg and it flew off as he shut the window. He unrolled the note as he slumped back over to his bed and sat down to read it, seeing Harvey's jotted hand-writing.

Chief,

Sorry to send a notice this early, but this was urgent. Last night some muggle law enforcers found a body floating in the river with a hole through his chest. It was Dr. Marvins. They took him to their station and we need to get his body into our custody ASAP. Don't bother coming in, just meet us at the station...

The note went on with details and names of people who would need to be talked to as well as the address of the police offices. Harry checked that again and set off to take a shower. As he got dressed he found himself looking at the same silver framed picture on top of his dresser, but merely smiled at it before throwing on his socks and shoes. He grabbed his briefcase, stuffed the files back in it and draped his cloak over his arm as he stepped out the door and apparated to an alley near the station. Just before stepping in he slipped his wand up his sleeve and straightened his glasses.

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Inside, Harry found Neville, Harvey, and a select few other Aurors already assembled, apparently waiting for him. As soon as they saw Harry enter, Harvey hailed him over for a quick conference before they did anything.

"Chief, they have Marvins body down in their lab."

"What will it take to get down there?"

"Well, it's down in the basement, but if we just go down there grab it and disapparate the muggles will start asking odd questions. We need to at least appear to have some sort of authority for pulling it, as well as all their files on it."

"Who's in charge here? I need to speak to the muggle chief."

Harry, while everyone stood around him, pulled out his wand and conjured some papers that looked like they might come from a high office of the muggle ministry. He hoped that these would get things done with few questions asked. Harry stuck his wand back in his pocket and walked up to the nearest officer behind a desk, flashing the papers he'd just conjured.

"I need to see your chief, immediately." His voice was calm, but commanding.

The officer, a detective by the look of him merely looked up bored. "What is the nature of your business with the chief, he's a very busy man you know."

Harry presented the papers again this time giving the detective a good look at them as he spoke. "I'm here on Ministry business. Now if you don't mind..."

The detective looked at the papers as he listened to Harry his eyes growing slightly large and round in his head.

"Blimey...uhh...yes, right this way Mr. Potter"

The detective got to his feet immediately and led Harry and the small group of Aurors to an office around the corner and down the hall. He knocked on the frosted glass window set in the middle of the door and a gruff early morning voice answered sleepily.

"Come in."

The detective opened the door and led the party in as the chief looked up, his eyes widening. Apparently he didn't know quite what to make of so many people in his office this early in the morning. He looked to Harry, who seemed to be the leader of the group.

"Can I...help you gentlemen?"

Harry once again flashed the papers he had conjured and spoke in an authoritative, firm tone.

"I need to see your reports, files, and all personnel related to or knowing anything about the man found in the river last night. You should find the documentation is all in order."

Harry added the last bit because the man before him was starting to look a little suspicious.

"Why do you need all of this? Why the big-wig hoopla?"

Harry took a few steps toward the man and bent low next to his desk, speaking to the chief from mere inches away.

"Ministry business, I'm not really at liberty to discuss it, but suffice to say we need to keep all information pertaining to the incident as quiet as possible." He looked into the eyes of the man before him, making sure he understood, this was a matter way above him. The chief for his part started nodding slowly.

"Well you heard the man...Parker!" The detective who had led Harry and company in looked back at the chief. "Get the file from Detective Carmichael and bring him with you."

"Yes sir." Parker left but the chief suddenly looked back at Harry.

"The officers who discovered the body are off-duty, I can't call them back in until tomorrow."

"That won't be a problem, just give their names and addresses to Harvey here before we leave."

As his name is mentioned Harvey steps forward and to the side while the chief again nods and pulls a pad of notepaper and a pen from his desk. He scribbles down the information and hands it to Harvey who looks it over then nods once to Harry.

"We also need to see the coroner and his report."

At this moment Detective Parker came back with a file in one hand and a confused looking Detective Carmichael in tow. The chief, who had been about to pick up a phone, looked from Harry to Parker instead, taking the file.

"Parker, these men need to see Beckham."

"Neville, you and Smith go with Parker, collect the body, and take it back to HQ. You know the drill."

Neville nodded and Smith motioned toward the door.

"After you Detective Parker."

Neville and Smith followed Parker out and down to the morgue. Meanwhile Harry picked up the file and slipped it into his briefcase.

"Thank you for your cooperation Chief McGuire, would you and Detective Carmichael stand over here please."

As the muggles moved to the location Harry indicated, he gave Harvey a quick signal and both drew their wands. Just as Chief McGuire and Detective Carmichael looked up, both Harry and Harvey quickly spoke the incantations, not even giving the chance for a confused look.

"Obliviate."

"Obliviate!"

Both wizards slipped their wands back into their pockets and exited the office before the muggles had come back to their senses. They went back to the entrance where they met back up with Davis who had stayed behind. All three went back outside and crossed into the deserted alleyway. Where Harry whispered a quick set of orders before disapparating on to his office at HQ.

"Harvey, Davis, you know what to do, quick memory modifications and back to HQ. Harvey has the home addresses."

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In his office several hours later Harry sat reading through the muggle's reports, as well as the reports from the mediwizard's analysis of the body. The muggle report was, of course, almost completely worthless, having reported that Marvins died of an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. The magical analysis was more accurate, though not a lot more informative. Traces of residual magic indicated that Marvins had been subjected to the Cruciatus Curse for a few moments prior to being killed by the Avada Kedavra. The wand that had belonged to Marvins had been collected by Smith, and the Prior Incantato had revealed that the last spell to be cast was a Cruciatus. Given his area of expertise this was not particularly surprising, but given the amount of time since Dr. Marvins disappeared the likelihood that he had not used his wand since was not promising at all. Whoever had taken him prisoner had made him work on at least the Cruciatus, and Harry was willing to bet all the gold in his Gringotts vault that he'd been forced to work with the other Unforgivable Curses by his captor as well.

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Vaulder was reading reports as well. Since he had gotten rid of Dr. Marvins, Vaulder had collected all the notes and began poring over them searching for what he needed. Yes...here it is. Excellent. He pulled another dusty tome from the shelf beside his desk and began comparing the notes to various pages throughout the old book. Soon...

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Harry finished his report on the retrieval of Dr. Marvins from the muggles and stuck it in his out-box, where it folded itself into a small paper plane and shot out the window above his door. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a few moments. We've found one missing person, but all it has provided us with is more reason for concern. Whoever has the other research witches and wizards is probably forcing them all to come up with curses worse than the Unforgivable Curses. Harry pulled the stack of files back to him and removed Dr. Marvins. Not quite how I'd like to have been able to label him found. Opening the next file, Harry looked at a picture of a witch with her brown hair hanging in curly ringlets and a pair of thin green frames around her eyes. "Jones, Dr. Regina: Protective Charms Expert" headed the sheet. He was about to start reading when there was a knock on his door.

"Come in." It was a secretary.

"Chief, there's a Ron Weasley here to see you."

"Oh right, I'm supposed to meet him for lunch, if anyone needs me I'll be back in an hour." Harry quickly shut the file and pushed it to the edge of his desk, grabbed a cloak and left. The slamming door sent a file flipping off the desk and into a corner where it landed open. "Viren, Dr. Jonathan: Independent Research Wizard, Developer of the curse used to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

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Harry met Ron, and to his surprise, Luna, in the Atrium and together they apparated to Diagon Alley where they found a quiet little cafe off to the side. Once they'd been seated and had placed their orders Ron and Luna exchanged a significant look and Ron cleared his throat. Harry, who had been taking a last look at the menu put it down and looked at his friend.

"Harry, Luna and I would like to ask if you'd be my best man. We haven't set a date yet, but you're my best friend and I wouldn't want anybody else up there right beside me when we get married." Ron almost unconsciously took Luna's hand in his when he said the last three words. Harry looked from his friend's face, to their hands, then back again.

"Sure...of course, it'd be an honor." He smiled, but was interrupted by the arrival of their lunch.

The three of them sat through lunch, making small talk between bites, but not discussing anything of importance any further. When he finished, Harry dropped some coins on the table, enough to cover his lunch and a bit of a tip. He shook Ron's hand and excused himself, saying he was sorry but he really should get back to work. Ron thanked Harry again for what he'd agreed to do, and before Harry was out the door had already gone back to talking and laughing with Luna.

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Harry got back to his office, and had barely taken off his cloak when a memo zoomed in and landed not in the in-box, but in the middle of Harry's desk. The parchment gave off a slight glow, indicating an urgent message. Harry picked it up, unfolded it and read, his eyes zipping back and forth across the page. A small group of dark wizards had apparently gathered for some rather violent muggle rousing. This was more than the normal enforcer wizard could deal with. Exhaling an almost bored sigh, Harry threw his cloak back around his shoulders and left. As soon as he hit the Atrium he met Harvey, Neville, Smith, and Davis, all of whom seemed to be gathered waiting for him. Together they silently walked to the designated area and wordlessly vanished, appearing again in an alley halfway across London. Down the street sat an ordinary looking muggle house, with ordinary muggle people walking by, and ordinary muggle cars parked in the drives all around. Inside things were not, by any muggle standards, ordinary however. Three dark wizards had the family trapped in the sitting room, taking it in turns to torment the family with various bits of dark magic. To the knowledge of the gathered Aurors no Unforgivable Curses had yet been used. Harry very much hoped it would stay that way.

"Neville, you and Smith go around back. Harvey, you and Davis go at the side." Harry issued the commands he knew would be obeyed without question.

"What about you chief?" Harvey asked, surveying Harry curiously.

"The front door, naturally." Harry grinned and slipped his wand from his pocket, hiding it under his cloak as he stepped out of the alley, the others following quietly behind him.

As they approached the house, Harry saw that the curtains were drawn and showed no sign of movement. The wizards inside weren't even checking outside every so often. Harry was a little unnerved, but then again some dark wizards were uncommonly stupid. Harry felt more than saw, Neville and Smith fall away and slip down the alley beside the house. Before he had reached the front stoop Harvey and Davis had fallen out and slipped through the garden gate. With his back to the street so passing muggles couldn't see what he was doing, Harry pulled out his wand and cast a series of charms on the door. The first was to detect magical traps that might go off on anyone who tried to enter. He found a couple basic wards which he quickly dispelled, then proceeded to cast a silencing charm so there would be no sound when he opened the door. With a whisper of "Alohamora," Harry opened the door, and took a quick step to bring him inside. Slipping it shut behind him, Harry listened for the voices of the muggles or the wizards and heard them coming from the room up the hall and to his right.

"Please...don't hurt us...what have we done?" Came the whimper of a soft female voice.

"You muggles are far too simplistic, think there has to be a reason for everything." This was a deep, cold voice, positively dripping with spite.

"Yes, I say we go with the girl next." An excited, cruel voice. "She looks quite good."

"Don't you touch her! Filthy scum." This one was a rich baritone, shaking with both anger and fear.

"What are you going to do about it muggle. Silencio!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

There was a dull thud as someone slumped back onto a chair unable to move a finger.

"Daddy! What did you do to him?!" Another female voice, this one high and scared.

"Silenc--"

"No...I want to hear her scream. We put charms up around the house, none of the muggle neighbors will hear her." The voice was laced with a hint of...desire?

A realization dawned on Harry what was about to happen to an innocent muggle girl and Harry quickened his pace a little as he crept down the hall. He was a couple feet from the cracked doorway when he saw Neville and Smith come out a doorway at the other end of the hall at the same moment that Harvey and Davis came around a corner 2 doors down the hall. All had their wands drawn and by the looks on their faces they had just heard the same thing Harry had.

They all reached the door, right as the sound of ripping fabric reached their ears. As if someone had fired a gun to start a 100 meter dash all 5 Aurors leaped into action, rushing forward and throwing the door open. Neville stunned the nearest dark wizard, while Harvey got the one who was standing behind a couch, holding what appeared to be the father's body. He had been forcing him to watch his daughter's fear as the 3rd wizard moved toward her. Harry had been about to stun the last wizard when he caught sight of the girl. She had bushy brown hair and tears streaked her face.

It can't be... Harry shook his head.

It wasn't, but there was a slight resemblance he thought as he threw himself out of the way of a curse thrown at him by the wizard he'd been about to stun. As it turned out Smith got the stunning spell off and the last of the dark wizards fell to the floor with a resounding thud. Harry picked himself up and looked over the scene.

The girl was lying on the floor, her blouse torn. The father was flat on his back, stiff as a board, on the couch. The mother was sitting bound to a chair looking as afraid as she had been when the dark wizard had approached her daughter.

He stepped into the middle of the room and pointed his wand at the girl, she shrank back as much as she could, but Harry only uttered an incantation.

"Reparo"

The girl flinched, but looked slightly relieved when she realized her blouse had sprung back together as though stitched back by an expert seamstress.

"We're not here to hurt you. We're here to help." Harry kept his voice calm and soothing, yet firm and strong enough to inspire confidence in his audience.

Harry, Harvey, and Neville each went to a different member of the family and performed all the counter-curses to remove any ill effects the dark wizards had placed them under. Harry had intentionally avoided going near the girl, and as Neville looked at her he thought he knew why. She looked much like Hermione had in their 7th year. He knew Harry didn't like to talk about it. He also knew that Harry still missed her a lot.

Harry sent Smith back to the ministry to report the situation clear and bring in the Obliviators to remove the muggles' memories of the magic that had suddenly permeated their lives for the better part of the day. Upon his return, the Aurors collected the dark wizards and apparated them to Azkaban to await trial. Without the dementors there Azkaban was not an overly cruel place to send someone before they'd even been convicted. With the muggle rousers safely in the custody of the Azkaban guards, the mission was over and Harry returned to his office and set about writing his report.

He listed the charms that had been placed over the residence, the counter-charms he'd used to remove them, the appearance of the residence and the wizards. He paused for several moments, his quill hovering over the parchment as he remembered the girl...he shook his head and let the words 'like Hermione' flow out of his mind before putting down a more objective description of the girl, and then her parents...

With his account of the days events finished, folded, and winging its way towards his superior's office, Harry sat back and closed his eyes for a moment, flipping his glasses off and setting them on his desk. He dropped the quill into a drawer and rubbed his eyes before glancing at his watch. Almost time to go home, he thought, and began to gather up the files and stack them in his briefcase. He was about to snap it shut when he caught something in the corner of his eye. One of the files was laying on the floor. He pulled out his want and pointed it at the corner. "Accio file." It zoomed towards his outstretched hand, still open.

Knock!...Knock!

"Chief?" Harvey's voice could be heard on the other side of the door, so without a second glance Harry closed the file and threw it into the briefcase as well.

"Come in."

"Hey chief, you doing anything after work?"

"Not really, why?"

"Well, Neville, Smith, and I were going to go down across town and try out this muggle sport....bowling. You lived with muggles for a while, thought you might come along and show us how it's played."

"The Dursleys never took me along for any sort of fun outing if they could help it...but I guess it might be something interesting to do..."

"Great! We'll meet you there in 30? Place called London Lanes."

"Sure..."

Harvey slipped back out as Harry got up and grabbed his cloak. He grabbed his briefcase and stepped out of his office, out to the Atrium and disapparated home.

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Vaulder lifted his wand as the former witch fell to the ground. He looked down and smiled as his wand glowed with a faint red light which seemed to enter his finger tips and seep up his arm and disappear into him.

"Excellent..." His voice was cold and cruel, tinted with a hint of malicious pleasure. "Your curse worked exactly as you promised...unfortunately for you that makes you worthless to me now."

She stirred on the ground, looking up into the shadows of his hood with an expression of mixed loathing and deadly fear.

"Please...no..."

"Avada Kedavra."

The jet of light hit the woman, though she tried to crawl out of the way, she glowed and then fell, and did not rise again. Vaulder flicked his wand at the door and it opened to reveal two servile wizards, their heads bowed.

"Take her away...try not to make it so easy for the Aurors to find this one, or it will be very easy for them to find you. Do you understand?"

The wizard closest to Vaulder took a half-step back, bumping into his fellow and bowed.

"Yes my lord. It will be done"

He then raised his wand and her body floated into the air and followed him out the door which shut apparently on its own once they were gone.

Very soon...

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Harry and company arrived at the bowling alley and for a moment merely stared in wonder. The continual rumble of the balls rolling down the lanes followed by the crash as they knocked down dozens of pins nearly made some of them jump. Ron, whom Harry had invited along on a whim, watched the progress of a crystal clear ball, which looked like a ball of ice carved around a frozen rose. It rolled down the nearest lane and knocked over every pin at the end.

"Wow...so muggles do this for fun?"

"Apparently," said Harry as he looked around at all the smiling, laughing muggles.

Neville looked around to everyone as he pulled a small roll of paper bills from his pocket.

"Everyone brought muggle money right?"

Harry could barely suppress a smile. How much Neville had changed since school. Used to be that Neville could hardly remember anything, and now he's asking if everyone else remembered their muggle money...how strange the effects of time.

The group went up to the desk and rented shoes and were assigned a lane by a short lanky muggle boy who seemed rather annoyed at how slow almost everyone was in paying. Everyone having finally acquired shoes and finding their lane, they took their time putting the shoes on as they watched the muggles collect the bowling balls from the conveyor and almost skip to the line in front of the lane and toss the ball on.

The evening passed amiably with a great deal of laughter as Neville attempted to 'granny bowl' as he had seen a muggle teenager do in the lane to their left. Though no one scored over 100, and Ron barely beat Harry by a margin of 2 pins, everyone left smiling. Just before they all disapparated Harvey called to the others.

"I just discovered another odd little muggle game yesterday we should try next week."

"What for," asked Harry.

"Well quidditch is great and all, but a little variety now and then is good too, besides, it sounds fun. The muggles call it golf..."

The others laughed, a little unsure, then disapparated their separate ways. Harry arrived at home and went straight to bed. It had been a long day, though the muggle bowling had been entertaining. Just before Harry pointed his wand at the wall to flip off the light his eyes caught sight of Hermione's picture and the last thought to cross his mind after he closed his eyes was one directed at her.

I wish you could have been there...