Second Chance - Take Two

Originally published January 2009

Revised & Re-Structured November 2014

Chapter Fifty-Four - The Trouble with Emily, Part I

A/N: Warning- minor, guy, cringe-worthy injury ahead.

The second week of September at Molly's Primary School was the beginning of trouble amongst her students. During playtime the children were outside playing with various toys or they were running and chasing each other. Molly noticed that Mouse had forgotten his jumper. Calling to Hamish, the tall boy jogged over, smiling brightly.

"Yes, Miss Molly?"

"Watch your friends for me while I go, and get Mouse's jumper." She patted the boy's shoulder as he took up a staunch sentinel position watching everyone. Very quickly Molly had learned that Hamish's bullying tendencies faded when he was given responsibility. He craved being trusted.

It was practically the moment Molly had disappeared into the schoolhouse when she heard one of the girl's calling for her.

"Miss Molly! Come quick!" Daniella Spinnet shouted through the door of the little red schoolhouse.

Molly broke into a run, silently grumbling to herself. Blink, and children never failed you; they always managed to get into trouble.

With Daniella leading the way, Molly followed the little girl to the area of the yard where the children had been playing. There was a lot of shouting going on. Hamish was restraining a very angry Emily, and Mouse and Andrew were beside Harry who was on the ground, on his side curled up, and sobbing. Not far from where he was curled up was a bit of vomit.

With a practiced second nature, Molly banished the vomit, and knelt down beside Harry. Without looking over her shoulder, she ordered, "Everyone but Mouse, back inside! Sit in your chairs and don't anyone dare move!" Not forgetting her sentinel, Molly added, "Hamish, dear, since you have Emily in hand, sit on her, please?"

"Sure, Miss Molly!" Hamish frog-marched the wriggling, very angry Emily Soong into the little red schoolhouse.

Molly had knelt by Harry, and tried to unfold him from his curled up position. "Harry? What..."

"OWWWW!" He howled when she tried to move him.

"Em'ly kicked Harry, Miss Molly," Mouse said over Harry's tears. Mouse was all ready kneeling beside his friend, and very lightly stroking his hair in an attempt to comfort his injured friend.

Molly saw where the little boy was clutching himself, and huffed a little angrily. "Oh my. Come on, dear. We'll get you all sorted out. I know it hurts, dear but we'll call your Daddy to help you." She slowly drew Harry up to his feet. He swayed uneasily, and shivered slightly. His hands still were cupped over his privates. Molly cast a Featherlight Spell, and gathered the injured boy into her arms.

A few minutes later, Molly had her students stuck to their chairs while she made a Floo call.

At Hogwarts, Madame Pince glanced up from a book she was reading as the Floo in her office came to life. Her watery brown eyes widened as she saw Molly Weasley's distinctive head pop through.

"Molly?" the thin, hatchet-faced woman sneered slightly. No one had ever known Madame Pince to smile. The closest she ever came was her slight sneer.

"Irma, wish I could chat, but I need to speak to Echo, please?"

With a great show of inconvenience, Madame Pince rose from her desk, and disappeared through her office door. Molly, whose knees were beginning to protest, was pleased to see Echo arrive.

Echo wore a grey dress smudged by dust, and spiderwebs. Her hair was in a long braid. She knelt down by Molly's head. "Is Harry all right, Molly?"

"Emily again, Echo," sighed Molly. "Poor thing was kicked by that little demon in the privates. She's wearing those tapping shoes, so I think Harry is going to need a Healer."

"Oh! Oh dear no! Molly, give me a few minutes. I need to request an emergency visit from his Pediatrician, and then I'll come through and get him."

Molly smiled. "All right, Echo. I'm going to call Emily's parents, and have her sent home."

Mouse, the only one not stuck to a chair because he had remained with Harry in the cloakroom, tugged on Molly's apron. "Yes, Mouse?"

"Harry's calling for his daddy, Miss Molly," Mouse informed her.

"Harry's Mummy is coming, Mouse." She patted the boy on the back. "Go, and stay with Harry, dear." Mouse ran back to Harry, and Molly knelt back down upon the hearth to Floo call Emily's parents.

Twenty minutes later Echo had her son home, and seated on the sofa while she waited for a confirmation from his Healer to bring him to the office. Harry had not minded going home a bit early, but he had put up a terrible fuss when his mother said they had to go see his pediatrician. Healer Lya Saroyan had a small practice in List Lane, one of the main offshoots of Diagon Alley.

"She's a girl, mum! No!" Harry was horrified that his Healer would see those bits nobody should see. He'd been holding his hands protectively over his pelvis since it still ached a bit much 'down there'.

"Your father and I have have both seen you..." began Echo. The sofa was between herself, and Harry.

"Well... you're my parents... and she's a... a... girl!" He declared fiercely.

"She's a Healer, Harry. It's her job. Now don't make me call your father. I'd hate to bother him with this when you, and I can get this visit over with before he gets home."

"Mu-um..." Harry whined, but then he felt a twinge in his private bits that made his shoulders kind of cold and damp. Emily had kicked him really, really hard. "Where's Daddy?"

"Daddy's meeting with his first business contact at St. Mungos. I've left him a note to meet us at Healer Saroyan's office as soon as he can."

Harry felt that sicky, clammy sensation down his spine so he lay on his side, and curled himself up on the sofa. "I feel gross, Mum." Echo smoothed the hair on her son's forehead. When she bestowed a kiss on his forehead she felt his temperature rising. "You'll stay with me?"

"Of course I will, Harry." She summoned the two potion phials with the Calming Potion and Anti-Nausea Potion Severus kept on hand for his son. Echo gave him the Anti-Nausea first.

Tossing a handful of the Floo powder into the flames, she declared, "Healer Saroyan's Office!"

With Harry's head buried in her hip against her robes, they Floo'd to the Healer's office. Despite the Anti-Nausea Potion, Harry vomited, and dropped gracelessly to his knees.

"Ohhh, sweetheart!" Echo knelt down by her son, who was now sniffling, and drew him into her lap.

"Let me clean that, Mrs. Snape," said the male nurse coming around out of the reception area. He was a young medi-wizard who had his long, brown hair tied in a secure club at the nape of his neck. He cleaned away the mess, and dropped to one knee by Harry and his mother. "Hey, buddy. You still having that dizzy problem?"

Harry spoke, being careful not to shake his head, just yet. "Yeah, Gunner. An' Emily kicked my bits today, too."

Gunner grimaced, clearly sympathetic. "Ow! That's wretched, buddy." The nurse helped Harry to his feet. "Healer Saroyan's waiting for you, and she'll make it all better." He grinned down at Harry taking his little hand in his.

"But she's a girl, Gunner," Harry whispered, his cheeks crimson.

With Echo following, the medi-wizard nurse, Gunner, led the little boy back to the exam room. "It's no big deal, buddy. Healers see people's naked bits all the time. If it helps, just hold your mum's hand, and close your eyes, okay?"

"Okay," replied Harry, trying to be brave, but still not quite convinced.

Healer Lya Saroyan met Harry and Echo in the exam room. Harry was looking everywhere but at the Healer. A girl Healer!

Lya Saroyan was a young, tall woman, with straw blonde hair that she kept in a messy ponytail. She was affable, always smiling, and loved working with children.

"Harry, I know you don't want to be here, so let's get this exam over as quickly as possible, all right?" She patted the exam bed surface behind him and he laid down.

"Mum?" asked Harry very softly as he felt his clothing change to a soft, white, patient gown.

Echo grasped Harry's hand, and moved next to his head. "It's all right, sweetheart. Just close your eyes, and it'll all be over quick."

A Diagnostic Spell was a marvelous thing, and helped to prevent the more intrusive procedures involved in the medical field. Unfortunately, there were times when a Diagnostic Spell only provided a cold analysis of damage. No true Healer used just a Diagnostic Spell to give them an accurate reading of an injury. Especially in the case of children whose Accidental Magic sometimes healed injuries, and not always accurately.

It was a thoroughly humiliating examination which Harry hoped to one day forget forever. He did, however, get a potion which helped to completely ease the lingering pain, and the minor swelling from Emily Soong's kick. He was also beginning to feel better.

Severus arrived at just the end of the exam. Harry was inordinately pleased to see his father, and climbed into his lap where he curled up as tightly as possible. So comforted by his father's presence he was not aware of Flooing home with his parents.

Emily did not show up for school the next day, on Friday, but she really wasn't missed. Harry was very surprised when Hamish extended an olive branch of peace.

"I think me, Andrew, and Mouse all wanted to throw up, Harry," said Hamish as they all ate their mid-morning snack of whole wheat bars with honey made by Molly.

Andrew's head nodded firmly as his wide, brown eyes showed how horrible he had felt for his friend. He crossed his hands over his family jewels.

"Did you have to go to a Healer, Harry? I fell once. Smashed my bits an' lost my dinner so Auntie made me go to a Healer." Mouse shuddered.

"Yeah," replied Harry. "But I was real brave, and all, and got a potion, and then mum gave me a pecan tart when we got home so it was okay."

Daniella gave Harry a quick hug, and he blushed. Andrew, Mouse, and even Hamish giggled at that, and teased Harry until Miss Molly called them back to class.

Emily was back on Monday, to Harry's disgust. He was really hoping she would not ever come back. For the entire day Harry stayed as far away from Emily as was possible, and he was a tiny bit pleased that the rest of the students stayed with him.

Emily pouted for awhile when Hamish ignored her, but then she ignored everyone else. Nobody really cared, except for Molly who kept trying to get the girl to participate in activities.

At lunch break Emily tried to play the little coquette and draw Hamish back to her side.

"Hammy," Emily said in a little soft whine as she looked over at Hamish sitting on another table with the others. "Aren't you going to sit with me?"

"No." Hamish replied tautly. The tall boy then turned to say something to Harry when Daniella cried out. Emily had thrown her orange at Harry, but her aim was bad and it hit Daniella, knocking her glasses from her face.

Hamish jumped angrily to his feet and strode threateningly over to the dark-haired girl. "You better apologise, Emily!"

"But, Hammy," Emily simpered, batting her lashes at the handsome boy. Emily reached out for Hamish's jumper sleeve.

Molly intervened. "Emily, finish your lunch, and then you're going to sweep and mop the cloakroom."

"I'm a Pureblood! I don't do house elf work!" Emily screeched.

Molly Weasley was often the epitome of the effusive, motherly figure, but when she had to deal with a disobedient child, she could become scarier than Severus Snape at his worst with a class full of firsties. Emily Soong might be a spoiled, little brat, but even she knew that when Miss Molly put her hands on her hips, and towered over you, it was best to do what she said.

Molly vanished Emily's lunch, and pointed towards the cloak room. "The broom and mop are in the broom closet. Get to work."

Emily sniffled melodramatically, and trudged back to the cloakroom. She managed a quick sneer towards Harry who had his arm protectively around Daniella.

The rest of the day was an uneasy one for Emily, and she was glad when her mother came to take her home. Launching immediately into complaints about how Hamish had betrayed her. Thankfully, the Floo cut her off, and no one else had to listen to her whining.

The next day when Emily arrived to school it appeared she had done a complete 180 degree turnaround with her attitude. She was polite, when she needed to be, and participated in class activities. She just did not talk to anyone.

Emily tried very hard to cosy back up to Hamish but he refused to have anything to do with the little girl. Molly expected the child to throw a temper tantrum at some point during the rest of the week, but when Friday came, Emily returned home with her mother. The girl was absolutely polite, and even waved farewell to Hamish.

Molly was worried.