Ten Years Later...
Caelum Malfoy stood with his mother, father, and twin siblings on Platform 9 & 3/4's watching his Uncle Orion flirting with the girl he knew he was unequivocally in love with, Ava Zabini. She was hiding her smile behind her hand and playfully slapping his arm. He scoffed and looked away catching the smirk his father was wearing.
"Just ask her out, Cal." He whispered. Cal just huffed then snuck a peak back her way. His Uncle Ori was more like a brother to him. They were so close in age. Ori was also a serial dater and he knew that he only flirted with Ava because Ori knew how Cal felt about her.
"She's not interested in me. Look how she watches Ori...always has." He sighs then turns to check on his siblings. Cassie is the princess of the Malfoy's. At eleven, she is already a beauty. Her grey eyes have flecks of blue like their father and her hair is a dark blonde color with soft curls like her mother. She's and her brothers are all extremely intelligent and well read.
Scorpius is tall for his age. He looks identical to their father. He was best friends with Albus Potter and was already looking forward to trying out for the Quidditch team next year. He already knew he'd be in Slytherin like his big brother, Caelum. Cal was the Slytherin Seeker like their dad was and would be a Prefect this year. He idolised his older brother and hoped to be just like him, except a Keeper.
"James! Al! Over here! Hi Harry! Where's your mum and Lily?" Hermione calls out when she sees her best friend come through.
"On her way. Lucy and the baby are sick and Ron is covering the shop for George while him and Angie bring Freddie for his first year, so she stopped to grab Archie to help out." Harry explained. Five minutes later, Ginny came through with Lily and Archie, Ron and Lucy's nine year old son.
The friends and their kids all chatted. Luna and Blaise walked over with Ava and her six year old brother Lysander and nine year old twin sisters Giovanna and Alessandra. "My goodness! I cannot believe we'll be doing this all over again next year." Ginny said, realising that Archie, Lily, Giovanna and Alessandra all start Hogwarts together the following school year.
"Yeah! My and Ava's final year! I feel like we've been going to school for eighty years!" Orion laughed. "Hey Ava! Did Cal tell you he's going to be a Prefect too? Maybe you guys can patrol together! You'd like that, Cal, right?" He teased his nephew.
Ava smiled at Caelum causing him to blush. "Really? Oh! How fun! It's my second year as Prefect, Cal. I'd be happy to show you the ropes." She winked then hugged him which only made him more red.
"Ava, leave the poor boy alone." Her father chuckled. "I never knew Malfoy's could get so red." Draco punched his arm. "Alright, sorry! Damn Draco! Hermione's been teaching you combat moves again, eh?" The group laughed together but quickly turned sober when the train arrived and it was time for their children to board.
On the train, Caelum got a compartment with his brother and sister and Albus. He was reading a book while his siblings chatted with their friend. Suddenly he realised the car was quiet and looked up. "I asked them to give us a few minutes." Ava was standing there looking perfect.
Cal put his bookmark to hold his spot in the book. "A-Ava. What are, um I mean. Hi!" He winced at himself bumbling his words.
"Listen." She sat next to him, turning slightly to face him. "My mum told me that I needed to just be straight forward with you. You know we've been great friends since we were children. We've grown up together. You're one of my best friends but I cannot deny my feelings any longer."
Cal looked out the window and sighed. "You're in love with Ori, I know." He looked like ver and saw her smiling. "What?" He looked at her, confusion clear on his face.
"You really have no idea, do you?" She asked as she took his hand in hers. "Orion was a childhood crush. He's a total flirt, yeah, but that's only because he knows it gets on your nerves. He knows," she held his hand against her cheek, "he knows it's you that I'm in love with Caelum."
His eyes went wide in realisation. "Me?" Ava smiled and nodded causing him to smile back. "Ava, I've been unequivocally in love with you since I was five years old." They leaned in closer then shared their first kiss.
The next morning, there was a tapping at The Malfoy family's window. Draco let the school owl in and retrieved the letter from its leg. After feeding it a cracker, it took off. "Babe! It's from Caelum, Scorpius and Cassie." Hermione came in with their teas she was just getting ready to go along with their breakfast.
"Read it out loud, my love!" Draco sat down next to his wife and removed three letters. "Here's Scorp's letter first.
Dear Mum and Dad - Like I knew I would, Iwas sorted into Slytherin house with Cal. Al is with me too! Uncle Harry owes me a galleon! This place is so amazing! ProfessorLongbottom says hello to you both. I'm excited to start classes on Monday. We get our time tables tomorrow at breakfast. Cassie had two boys fighting over her already. This is going to be quite annoying. Miss you guys! I'll write soon! All my love and more, your son, Scorpius"
Hermione laughed, "I cannot believe our son bet Harry!" She shook her head as she giggled.
"Slytherin, my dearlioness! And Potter owes me 5 galleons!" Hermione gasped then swatted at her husband.
"Let me read Cassie's next, okay?" Draco grabbed their daughter's letter and cleared his throat before starting.
"Mummy and Daddy, I am happy to report that I am a proud Ravenclaw. Ava has taken me under her wing. I couldn't be any more delighted! Although, two dunderheads already fought because they wanted to sit next to me during the Welcome Feast. So childish. Professor Longbottom came over and broke it up though. He's so dreamy! He said hello by the way. I hope you don't miss me too terribly. I love you both and shall write you weekly as long as it doesn't interfere with my studies! Kisses, your princess!"
Draco smacked his forehead, "Did our eleven year old just call Longbottom dreamy? Kill me now!" Hermione laughed. They didn't see much of Neville. He'd been working at Hogwartsfor almost as long as they'd been graduated.
"Hey, he had one hell of a glow up! Have you seen him?" Draco scoffed at his wife as she giggled then kissed him. "Read Cal's love." He blew a raspberry at her then grabbed their eldest's letter.
"Dad, I did it! I told her how I feel, but she told me first. She loves me and I love her! This is our love story, dad. It may not be forever; who really knows these things for certain, but by the light of Morgana, I sure hope so. Give my love to mum! Your son, Caelum"
Hermione and Draco grinned like Cheshire cats. "Well, it's about time don't you think? Ori will be glad he no longer needs to flirt with Ava. Says she's beautiful and everything but he knew her feelings for him were nothing like they were for Cal. Therefore, he gave up his crush on her third year." Hermione raised an eyebrow at her husband.
"What? I'm his big brother, love. He tells me everything." He shrugged as if it were nothing.
"So, Ori has feelings for Ava as well?" His wife questioned.
"Had, love. He had feelings for her. He's moved on." Hermione shook her head.
"For our son's sake, I sure hope that's true."
Orion Shacklebolt smiled as he watch his nephew holding hands and smiling at Ava Zabini, his girlfriend of six months. He was happy for them. "Oh, excuse me." He'd just knocked into someone as he was in his own head.
"No, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention honestly." Ori looked down into the greenest eyes he'd ever seen. She had dark brown hair that fell in soft waves down her back.
"Orion." He introduced himself.
"Arya." She held her hand out which he took gently into his own.
"You're an American?" She giggled.
"Yes, I transferred. My father is the new Muggle Liaison Officer in the Ministry. My mother is originally from here. She graduated in '94. She was a Hufflepuff, Beatrice Haywood? She was happy when I got sorted into Gryffindor though."
Orion was entranced by her. She was beautiful and bubbly and he was a goner.
Five years later...
"Look here, my love! Ori and Arya have sent their wedding invites!"
It had been an eventful five years. Caelum graduated the year after Ori, Arya and Ava. He'd gotten a job as a curse breaker at Gringott's and he married Ava last year. She'd begun writing for her mother's magazine.
Hermione sat on her husband's lap. "How wonderful! They're doing it during the Christmas hols! Cassie will be excited. Can't believe she's dating Liam. You told Pansy he'd better keep his hands off and she told her son to "Go for it" instead. Seamus Owl'd me yesterday. Told me not to kick his arse."
"And what did you tell Finnegan?" Draco inquired with a smirk.
"I told him I couldn't make that promise." They laughed together. Reminiscing about their life, they realised how great their lives had been together. How second chances led them and many people they knew and loved to where they are today.
"That's my girl."
A/N: And that's the end of Second Chances! Thank you so much for reading!