Second Chance (2025 Christmas Story) - Chapter 19

[sesheta66]

Title: Second Chance – Chapter Nineteen
Author: sesheta_66 || AO3: sesheta_66
Prompts used: slythindor100’s early bird prompt X—Sun in a Cloudy Sky (picture under the cut) and dracoharry100’s prompt 3: Snowed in
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Word Count: 1.5K (this part)
Rating: R (eventually; this part PG)
Warning: none
Summary: This is the second Christmas for Draco without Astoria and Harry's first since Ginny remarried. Will best friends Scorpius and Albus be just what they need to rekindle something they'd thought fleeting and lost forever?
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Written for the slythindor100 Early Bird 25 Days of Draco and Harry and the dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge.

On LJ: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19

OR on AO3





Second Chance – Chapter 19

Harry called Ron and Drummond into his office Monday to brief them on Draco's progress. He summarised Draco's findings and thoughts on the skill level of the potioneer. "You received his notes, yeah?" he asked Drummond.

"I did, and I've spoken with the lab. They're working on pulling samples from evidence for other drug-related cases to begin short-listing them."

"Good. Once they do that, he'll go through those and look for a signature – ideally the same one – or other commonalities in the potion formulations. If he's able to further narrow the field, you can pull the case files and look for any overlaps. Bring in anyone that bought the drugs to see if they can lead us somewhere."

"I'll see if there are similar locations, customers, ingredients," Drummond said.

"And map out a timeline if you can," Ron added.

"Will do." He stood up to leave, looking lighter than he had in days. "Finally, we're getting somewhere. Guess Mungo's was right about Malfoy."

Harry agreed. "Let's hope we catch this guy and soon."

Ron said nothing but followed Drummond out.

The week passed in a flurry of activity. Staff in the lab worked extra hours going through the samples, and following Draco's instructions, were able to eliminate most from contention – too raw, lacking the finesse Draco had talked about – and the ones remaining Draco analysed, at the same time showing the lab techs how he was going about it. More than one of them expressed how cool it was – their words, not Harry's – to watch him work.

Meanwhile, Drummond reviewed the case files as they were shortlisted, created a timeline and cross-referenced details of the cases, so he'd be ready to go once Draco narrowed the cases down even further. He'd also canvassed the schools and reached out to potions masters across the country that take on apprentices and was awaiting responses.

On the home front, he and Ginny had worked out their schedule for Christmas and he'd been able to settle on a date for their annual party. Deciding that one day spent with Ginny – Christmas dinner at the Burrow – would be plenty for him, he would not be extending an invitation to her. They got along well and still agreed on pretty much everything to do with the kids, and Pedro was a decent enough guy, but Harry didn't actively seek out opportunities to spend time with his ex-wife, and certainly not her new husband. He may get to a point, down the road, when that wouldn't feel weird, but he wasn't there yet.

He'd put off an interview with Skeeter for as long as he could without her simply going ahead with a hit piece that she made up out of whole cloth, so he would be having coffee with her the next day. At least he could tell her they were making progress, though not much else. Maybe something would break today and he could make an announcement without having to meet her. Doubtful, but hope springs eternal.

The last department heads' meeting of the year was this afternoon, and he was busy preparing for that when a knock came on his door. He looked up to see Draco. "Got a minute?"

"About that long, maybe two minutes tops. What's up?"

"I can come back later."

"Later I won't have even a minute, so it's now or never." He waved him in. "What can I do for you?"

He took a seat and Harry noticed the dark circles under his eyes. It seems Harry wasn't the only one working himself to the bone this week. He ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "I haven't been able to isolate a signature on any of the potions I've analysed so far, but there are still a fair number to go."

"Well, I know we'd been hoping for a quick slam dunk on this one, but at least we're moving forward."

"So I was thinking, what if the person tried to make a legal go of things and tried to register a patent. He might have been granted one, or possibly got rejected and then went the illegal route. If we looked at say the past five, maybe ten years of applications, we might find something that jumps out."

"Did you tell Drummond?"

"He's already doing so much, working the different angles, I thought I should check with you first. Don't want to put more on his plate if you don't think it's worth looking into."

Harry smiled. "Everything is worth looking into, and this is a great angle. Go ahead and let him know. If he needs help, he can pull in one of the junior aurors to work with him, or Ron can assign someone to help him out."

"Will do."

"Speaking of full plates, are you trying to get me in trouble with your son and your mother?"

"What?"

"You look like you haven't slept for days."

"Gee, thanks." He narrowed his eyes at Harry. "You look like hell too."

Harry laughed. "Thanks for noticing. It's been a week, that's for sure."

"We're going to get this guy," Draco said.

"Or die trying," Harry agreed.

"Speaking of my son, I haven't had a chance to talk to you since going to Hogsmeade."

Harry sat up. "Right. How did it go? Did he try to ambush you?"

"Not exactly, no."

"He didn't ask you about the party?"

"Oh, no, he definitely did. But I'm not sure it was an ambush. More like an attempt to pull at my heartstrings followed by a genuine request."

Harry wondered if Draco had been hoodwinked, but kept that to himself. "Do tell."

"He did as expected, and mentioned that the other parents would be there, but then suggested that you might want someone new there – someone that didn't remind you of your ex-wife."

Harry frowned. "What?" That was an angle he hadn't anticipated. And where the hell had that come from?

"Mm hmm. I wasn't sure if that was true – if Albus really thought you might feel that way – or if it was just a ploy, but there you have it. Anyway, I did mention Weasley and he said the same thing Albus told you – that mother and daughter would make him 'be nice' – and ended with the option to leave if it got weird."

Harry couldn't tell if Draco had agreed or not. And if he had agreed, was it because of what Al had said? And was there any truth to it? He'd have to ponder that later, after a decent night's sleep. And maybe a firewhisky or three. "And what did you say?"

"I asked him if he wanted me to go, and he brushed me off. But I got the sense that he did, so I said I would bring him and see how it goes. He seemed to brighten at that, so I think it was the right call. Even if I have been manipulated by my progeny."

Harry grinned. Despite knowing that Ron would likely be pissed, Harry found himself not caring. He was glad Draco was going to join them. "Glad to hear it."

Several mind-numbing hours later, Harry packed up his desk and headed out. The lift door opened and Draco was inside, looking, if possible, even more tired than he had earlier in the day. Harry supposed he looked the same. "What the hell are you still doing here at nearly eight o'clock?"

Draco leaned his head back and let out a sigh. "I could ask you the same."

"Ugh. Department head meeting. About ten minutes would have sufficed, for all that was accomplished, but Percy Weasley managed to stretch it out for hours. Last meeting of the year, don't you know. Must make it count! God, that man could write a how-to guide on making useless meetings last an eternity."

Draco chuckled. "And people wonder why I never wanted to work here."

Harry gave him a sidelong glance. "And yet here you are."

"Ah, but I don't work for the Ministry. I can leave whenever I want."

Harry snorted and looked pointedly at his watch. "Which, apparently, is eight o'clock at night."

"Shut up."

They got off the elevator and stepped outside. Fresh snow blanketed the street and Harry remembered another snow-covered scene long ago. They'd been snowed in, and he and Draco had taken a walk through the trees on that hazy day, the promise of their future as bright as the sun shining through the clouds.

Harry took a deep breath of the crisp air and let it out slowly. "Have you eaten?"

Draco seemed to consider this for a moment. "If about six cups of coffee and a rock-hard biscuit from the cafeteria count, yes I have."

"Care to join me? I'm too knackered to cook, so I was going to grab a quick bite at the pub before heading home."

Looking ready to fall over, Draco said, "You're paying?"

Harry chuckled. "Sure, why not?"

He gave Harry a lazy smile that brought him back about twenty years. "Then yes."

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