Chapter 5: Chances

Second chances are…weird. Sometimes liberating. It makes you wonder does everyone get them. And if they don't—why were you so special? Second chances give you a choice—scratch that—an obligation to do better. To be something more than yourself.

Four years ago.

The tailor is looking over my blueprints. She seems awe-struck by them, but not surprised. We live in world where people use brooms to travel and wooden sticks to wash dishes. You would have to find something completely unorthodox to surprise us wizards.

"These designs, Mister Malfoy…" She said, still fascinated. "Are beautiful. And the idea of having them made from invisibility cloaks…it's unheard of." She removed her glasses. "But if you don't mind me asking, what are these for?"

"Just small project for the community." I lie. "To let them know that the Malfoys still care."

She smiles. "I see." She folds up my blueprints. I can tell she is eager to start on them right away. That works better in my favor. I'm not sure how long Dumbledore will allow me to sit around without beginning my duty as guardian.

"I'm glad you're doing better, Mister Malfoy." She says as she picks out the perfect black fabric. "That was a pretty nasty fall you took."

My smile disappears, and I'm not sure how to respond. How can I respond? How can I explain jumping off the tallest tower in London, and then appearing at this tailor shop with no broken bones—no even a bruise?

"Ummmm…." I try to think of something quick.

The tailor laughs at me. "Don't worry, my dear. Your secret is safe with me." She then walks over to the counter, dumping all her needed materials upon it. "It isn't every day we are granted second chances…"

I look back down at my designs, and I felt myself agreeing with her in my bones. It took dying to actually begin making a difference—to find that purpose I once felt like I had lost.

"I know you will do right by us, Mister Malfoy." She said. "Just don't forget why you're doing it."

Still speechless, I nod. I step outside of the shop, beginning my walk to the nearest floo. My parents are supposed to be visiting this weekend. I haven't seen them since the funeral. I try to think about what I've done since then—to spark a different conversation. I can't.

I turn down the alley to floo back home, and that's when it happens.

"Help!" A woman screams. "Help me! Somebody!"

As if I had been doing it all my life, I reach in my pocket. I pull out the black mask I made a few nights ago and put it over my head. I didn't need a suit for this—I just needed to help her.

I sneak around the corner and find the distressed witch being cornered by a retired Death Eater. I notice he's stripped the witch of her wand, leaving her defenseless. I don't have much time before he hurts her—or worse. Astoria.

I whip out my wand, casting a paralysis curse. The Death Eater must have sensed me—he moves at the last minute. He turns towards me, giving the witch room to escape.

"Run!" I scream. And she hesitates—she doesn't know I'm here to help.

"Run, now!" I scream again. This time she gets the message, sprinting out of the alley. She didn't even bother to pick up her wand.

The Ex- Death Eater smirks. "She wasn't any fun no way. But you boy," He pulls out a knife. "…you're just my speed."

He lunges at me with the knife, and I barely miss it. The tip of the blade catches my shirt, slicing a hole in the fabric. I go for a punch, landing one in his jaw. He stumbles back a little. I don't wait for him to gain his senses. I go for another punch, this time his nose. Instant blackout. I whip out my wand, casting the paralysis curse again. He freezes, blood dripping down his face and all. It's over.

I feel something inside of me. Adrenaline. It feels so natural—as if I should have been doing this all along. I turn my head and the witch whom I just saved is standing there. She looks at me briefly, and then to her attacker.

A second chance. A guardian.

Now.

I stand in the dungeons, making my final sweep before I return to the Ministry. Potter wanted us to leave as soon as possible, so I had no time to rest. Our first destination was Romania, where the hybrid creatures were first spotted. I turn to my glass case—the glass case that held the Vigilante's suit.

"Please tell me you're packing that, too." I hear Seamus say. I hear his footsteps clumping down the steps, his suitcase in hand. He seems more eager than me about this mission.

"I was actually going to leave it." I respond. "Its only Ministry business, right?"

Seamus throws me that look. I'm trying to feed myself my own bullshit again. "If you honestly believe you'll find out anything with that Auror badge on your chest, you need your head checked, mate."

He's right. But after that revelation, I realize that isn't what's bothering me. And though I hate to admit it….

"What if Granger finds out?" I ask, still staring at my suit. "You don't think she'll notice me disappearing in the night?"

"If Hermione Granger is still the same witch we knew at Hogwarts," Seamus answers. "She'll be in her room, flipping through books and papers until we have to shake her awake the next morning." He then laughed. I know he's teasing me. "She won't be worried about little ole Draco Malfoy."

Seamus then opens the glass case and removes my suit. He throws it on top of my suitcase, and just like the gates of Elysium, it calls to me. I have no choice but to pack it. Hopefully, Seamus is right about Granger's interests. Otherwise, this situation will get way more complicated. Especially once word gets out that the Vigilante is in Romania.

Seamus and I return to the Ministry. We were instructed to come back to Potter's office, where he will debrief us on our mission. Of course, Seamus had a few questions along the way.

"So what happens if we find him?" He asks. "Harlem Nott?"

I answer like clockwork. "We bring him back to the Ministry."

Seamus rolls his eyes. "Okay, let me rephrase. What happens if you find him?"

I knew what he meant. I just didn't have the answer. What would I do when I found Harlem Nott? Who would I be? Draco Malfoy, Class A Auror? Or the Vigilante? The Vigilante would be more efficient, but also risky. Yet i knew a man like Harlem Nott wouldn't be afraid of an Auror, nor allow himself to be caught by one.

I realized I took too long to answer, because Seamus says—

"Just don't kill him. Do what you gotta do and then leave him in front of the Inn of something."

We walk into Potter's office, and Hermione is waiting for us with her suitcase. I try not to stare too long, and I definitely try not to think about my Vigilante suit. Our eyes meet momentarily, but then Potter walks in behind me.

"Kingsley wants me in his office in ten minutes, so I'll have to be quick with the debriefing." He says quickly. He handed us each a manila folder—the words "CLASSIFIED" stamped on the front.

"You three are on Recon only. If you find Harlem Nott, you contact me immediately. Do not go after him alone. Understood?"

I see Granger cast a mischievous smile as she reads over her file. I can tell she already has her own plans for this mission—it makes me feel less nervous about my own.

"This assignment isn't approved by the Minster, so keep a low profile." Potter continues.

Good. I think. More time to for my other activities.

"And if we can't keep a low profile?" I ask. "It is Romania. We don't particularly fit in."

"Well, find somewhere to fit." Potter responds back. "If Harlem Nott can hide out there for a year, you three can lay low for a couple days."

"Any other questions?" Hermione asked, smirking.

Seamus smiled back. "Just one. What are your plans for tonight?"

Nighttime – 1:07 AM

I stand on the roof of our hotel in Romania, looking for anything—or anyone—suspicious. The streets are much quieter than Diagon Alley. If Harlem Nott was hiding out here, I could see why. This part of Romania was basically a ghost town.

"See anything?" Seamus asks from our telepathic coms.

"Not yet." I respond, my eyes still on alert. "This place is basically a ghost town."

"Which makes the perfect hiding spot—for both man and hybrid creature."

I nodded in agreement. I've been up here since midnight, and it's been the same ever since. There was a crowd of men leaving the pub around 12:30. They were drunk—too loud to be any friends of Nott. After that, nothing.

I thought about what Draco Malfoy might be doing right now. Would he be looking over files? Or grabbing a drink at the bar? Talking Quidditch with Seamus? I wonder would he have had the guts to talk to Hermione. Which made me think about something else…

"Did you really have to ask Granger what she was doing tonight?" I ask.

Seamus laughs. "Don't act like you didn't want to know."

I did want to know. But not for the Vigilante's purpose, for a Draco Malfoy purpose. But like most times, Seamus was right. Granger admitted that she would be in her room reading over her files tonight. She wouldn't be worried about what me and Seamus were up to.

2:07 AM

I'm tired, but something won't let me give in. Maybe it's my eagerness to find Nott. Or maybe it's the fact that I would have to be Draco Malfoy for another day. Right when I have no other alternatives, that something finally shows himself. A person—a man?—black hooded cloak—walking down the street. Could it be Nott? Or could it be someone else? Someone who could lead me to him. Or someone who could tell me about the hybrid creatures.

"Seamus…"

"Looks like their heading North." He responds. "Keep your distance. If it's who we think it is, he has the Wand of Nott, remember?"

"Noted." I jump off the building, disappearing in a band of flames halfway down. I reappear in an alley just ahead of the hooded figure. Their head is on a swivel, as if someone is following them. If that's true, that's another thing I have to worry about tonight.

I keep this up for a while, growing tired of following this hooded figure. I begin to suspect that maybe it's one of the locals, walking home late. But then the hooded figure turns down an alley, and I see my opportunity to confront them. I disappear once more, re-emerging in corresponding alley. The hooded figure freezes.

"You're him." The figure speaks, and I immediately recognize her voice. But in my hesitation, I forget that she was being followed. I'm bagged. The last thing I remember is darkness.

"Draco…" I hear Seamus say. "Oi! Draco!"

But I can't answer him.

"Whatever you've gotten yourself into this time mate, you better not get yourself killed!"

Short Chapter. But Much More To Come!