Disclaimer: Not mine.

The next day, Benjamin was back again at exactly the same time. I had been up this time, knowing that he'd back again as soon as Mrs. Sandspots fell asleep. I stood aside so that he could come in, already talking, loudly and fast.

"Last night mommy was talking about maybe inviting you over for dinner sometime to thank you for watching me," he was saying. "She said it was nice to have a wizard in the neighborhood and you probably needed some company. So don't be surprised if you get a dinner invitation. But I think you should ask first."

"Why is that?" I asked as he sat down on the couch.

"Well, isn't the guy supposed to ask the girl out on a date, anyway?" he said.

I smiled, sitting down in my armchair. "Yes, sometimes . . . mostly when they know each other better."

"Then why is mommy –?"

"Your mom isn't asking me on a date. All three of us will be there so it isn't a date."

Benjamin frowned. "You grownups are confusing. . . ."

"When you're older, you'll understand."

"I don't think I'll ever understand grownups. . . . I'll be in school in a month, you know. First grade. I'm going to ask this girl at school if she wants to go on a date with me."

"Really. Where will you take her?"

"I don't know. . . . I'll probably take her to lunch and then we'll go to recess together. If the teacher shows a movie, maybe we'll sit together. . . . Maybe I'll ask her to marry me when class is over."

I couldn't help the smile that came to my face. "The first date is a little early to ask her to marry you."

"Oh. . . . Do you hold hands on the first date?"

"Only if she lets you."

"Ok." Benjamin fell silent again, smiling at me. "I'm glad you moved here Mr. Malcolm."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. . . . I never get to talk to mommy about these things. It's just . . . weird to talk to a girl about dating a girl, you know. So I'm glad you moved here and I'm glad you let me stay at your house."

I smiled at the little boy, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "I'm glad I moved here to."

Surprisingly, I actually meant it.

"Can you so me some magic?" Benjamin asked suddenly. "Mommy doesn't use magic often because she doesn't want the neighbors to see but when she does use magic it's . . . it's – magical! Mommy says I've done magic before but it was when I was little. She says I still do it sometimes but I never notice if I do because I don't pay attention to it. I get my first wand when I'm eleven, right? Oh, that'll be great! I'm so excited even though I've got . . . five years left. See, I know how to do math and stuff. Do you do math at magic school? Mommy said her school didn't but it might be different at other schools. Which school did you go to? I bet you went to Hogwarts. Mommy says that's the best school and she wished she went there. When I go there, I'm going to be the best student and I'm going to have the best wand. Maybe I'll be on the Quidditch team. Were you on the Quidditch team? I want to be a keeper . . . or maybe a chaser or a seeker or a beater. That would be fun. So, anyway, can you show me some magic?"

This was going to be a long day.

Around three, there was a knock on my door. Samantha stood there, looking nervous this time, but a small smile still came to her face. "Just thought I'd check," she said.

I opened the door wider for her, letting her pass through. She looked around my house on her way to the kitchen. "I love what you've done to the place."

"You know . . . just a little magic touch."

She turned her smile widening. "Yeah . . . Benjamin told me about that . . . you –?"

"Hogwarts," I replied.

"Oh, alright. See, I went to Beaxubatons. Parents were a bit insane when they sent me there."

"It's fine. My parents tried to send me to Durmstrang."

Samantha laughed, a tinkling little sound. "You know, it's good to see that you're a lot more talkative than I originally thought you were."

"Yes well . . . thank your son, I suppose."

"He really likes coming over here. He wouldn't stop talking about you last night. . . . You – you wouldn't mind if he . . .?"

She trailed off but I knew what she was trying to ask. Did I really want Benjamin over her for almost six hours everyday? He was so very . . . talkative and energetic. . . .

"No, I wouldn't mind," I found myself saying, shocked, to say the least.

Samantha grinned. "Thank you."

"Mommy, mommy!" We turned as Benjamin came running out of the kitchen, jam on the corner of his mouth from his sandwich. "Mommy do you mean it? Do I get to come here everyday?"

"Mr. Malcolm said it was alright."

"Yes!" Benjamin screamed, jumping into the air. "We're going to have so much fun, Mr. Malcolm. Mommy, we have so much fun! I love it over here! It's so much more fun than at Mrs. Sandspots' place. Oh, thank you mommy, thank you!"

"All right, Benny. Go get your things."

The little boy ran off back into the kitchen. Samantha looked up at me, smiling still. "Thanks again, Mr. Malcolm."

"Drake," I replied.

She seemed truly surprised to now be on a first name basis with me but her smile didn't falter. "Drake then."

Benjamin came running back out. "By Mr. Malcolm. I'll see you in the morning! Come on mommy, I've got so much to tell you!"

"We'll see you tomorrow then . . . Drake," Samantha said, somewhat hesitantly.

"Bye Benjamin . . . Samantha," I said.

She waved slightly before closing the door behind her. The silence it left behind was kind of grating. I went into my kitchen, grabbing a cookie from the tray.

Tomorrow would be here soon enough.

A/N: Whoa, Benjamin's little spill gave me like two hundred words alone! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that chapter. Sorry if Draco's just a bit OOC, but i figure, you know, new environment, new people, new sort of outlook on life for him. INnyhoo, stay tuned for the next chapter.