The first chapter to my first fanfic 'a second chance'. I'm reuploading it slightly different, because I'm not satisfied with the way it turned out the first time, almost a year ago.

I only did minor changes in this one, however.

I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters in it.

Now, have fun!


The first thing he saw was the sky.

It was so dull and dark, he thought it to be heavy gray cloth hanging above him.

He reached out to feel it, but it would not let itself be touched.

As he lifted his arm, the white sleeve that had covered it fell back and he could see the dark red signs on his pale skin.

He turned his head to the side.

There was a field, dark and vast, with rocks on it the shape of which did not make sense to him at that moment.

White clouds billowed around them, moved like a living thing, gently caressing the rocks.

He turned his head to the other side.

There were three figures, clad in black robes, with their backs to him, busy with some objects he could not make out.

Slowly, he sat up.

The surface he was on felt cold and smooth to the touch.

Now in a sitting position, he could see that both his arms and both his legs were covered with the red signs.

And he could see the person to his feet. The person was bent backward over the…the table, or whatever it was, bent in a way so their head and legs were dangling off of the edges of the surface.

The most curious thing about the person, however, were the deep cuts allover their body and the liquid coming from them, which had the same colour as the signs on his skin.

He was just about to touch the person, as he heard a call.

"Hey! He's not supposed to be awake yet, is he?"

He turned his head to the side again, to see that the dark figures had moved to face him.

Their expressions could not be seen, for their faces were covered by masks, but there was worry in their eyes.

One of them started to approach him, softly talking to him, but all that mattered were those eyes.

Fear struck him, for those eyes told him about the bad things the person had in mind.

Before the person was close enough to touch him, he leaped off of surface and ran for his life.


Draco locked the door to his office and sighed.

He hated working until late at night. And that McMillan guy was such a pain in the ar-, uhm,…pain in the back, too.

On the other hand, his case promised to be the most lucrative one in months, and money was money, after all…

He stepped onto the foggy streets of London, looked from left to right and was about to apparate home, as he heard the noise.

Heavy breathing and little sobs. Like those of a child…

Looking around, he tried to make out where these noises came from.

'Don't mind what happens on muggle streets, Draco, it's none of your business, you're tired and hungry and want to go

home, just don't mind it…'

The sobs came closer and as the fog lifted for a moment, Draco could see the source.

A child, not older than twelve, as pale as the fog around it, in a white dress. The only things standing out in colour was the pitch black hair, that reached to the child's shoulders

and hid its face.

' Don't mind it, it's probably just some muggle business, a child that got lost, or ran away from home, just leave it…all alone, in the middle of the freezing cold night…

Still, it's not your problem, just go home, go home, go-'

"Hey there, child!"

'Dammit!'

The little person flinched, as if the sudden call had caused it pain, and looked up, revealing its face.

Now, for a moment Draco thought the little one must be terribly hurt or disfigured, until he realized the red lines on his face were merely painted on.

The child looked at him with big, fearful eyes, looked right into Draco's eyes and for a moment the latter had the feeling that he knew those dark eyes that seemed to look

right into his soul…

He sat down on his heels and reached a hand out to the shivering figure.

"Come here. It's alright, I won't hurt you…"

The little one seemed to believe him, since it closed the distance between them, slowly.

When it stood right in front of Draco, he had to look up from his crouching position to see the other's face.

He slowly reached up to brush a strand of hair away from the small face.

Both the face and the signs on it seemed familiar to him, though he could only recognized some of the signs.

"Now tell me, who are you?"

The kid took a few seconds before it answered.

"…I don't know…", was the silent reply.

"You don't know who you are?"

"No…"

Draco sighed and tried another question.

"Do you know why you have been crying?"

"…yes…"

"So, why?"

"I was scared of the people with the masks…"

"Masks?"

"Dark people with scary masks…"

Draco looked to the floor, his face in a frown and his mind deep in thought.

'Those signs and people with masks…could it be?No, that's ridiculous, it can't be. It mustn't.'

He looked back up again at the frightened, shivering child. He got up and reached for the small one but the child backed away from his hands.

"Now, don't be scared. I only want to bring you away to a place that's safe from the scary people. Come on."

Instead of giving an answer, the child looked into Draco's face, searching eye contact again.

After a few seconds of said contact it seemed to be content, though, because it stepped forward again and let itself be picked up by Draco.


Yeah, the first chapter!

Hope you liked it.

Well…uhm, I'm open to criticism and suggestions, that is, as long as it stays constructive and I'd be happy about any kind of feedback, actually.

Have a nice day!