A/N: To Em - I thought I explained in the story, that Reese was being overly obnoxious and insulting. If you have ever watched Malcolm In The Middle you
would know the type of character he is. I did not mean for him to offend, only to be offensive. (Does that make any sense.) As for the language, I blame it on
that danged culture gap. Churchill once said we were two nations separated by a common language.
As the train pulled into the station, Malcolm was adjusting his robe so that it fit properly. He appreciated the robes and the proper clothes. The jeans and T-shirt look did not go over too well, when it came to fitting in. On the other hand, He felt like he was getting dressed for school. "Fred," he asked, "is this really necessary. After all, my mom's just going to take me home when I get off the train."
Fred grinned at the boy's comment, "Only if she spots you. If you can get to the boats with the first years, then you can be at the school before they catch you. Or you could stay on the train for the ride back to London."
[I've heard this logic before. On the other hand, Mom's going to kill me anyway, so what do I have to lose.]
"Sorry we can't do anything about the hat," George said.
"That's all right," Malcolm replied, "I'm having one delivered."
On cue, A blond haired student walked into the compartment, saw the twins, and froze. "I have a hat for Malcolm," he said nervously, handing over the wizard's hat. Fred thanked the boy and offered him some toffee. The look of fear turned to one of horror as he looked at the proffered candy. He turned and fled without saying another word.
"I think he knows us," said Fred.
"At least our reputation," George said, adding, "Isn't he a second year in Slytherin."
"Yes he is, but why would a Slytherin help someone like Malcolm."
As the twins looked his way, Malcolm put on his best smile. "You wouldn't believe how Draco Malfoy stood up to those dementors," He said boastfully. After they stopped laughing, the twins congratulated Malcolm, and put the hat on his head.
"You look smashing, Malcolm, but you're too nervous. Here's a toffee to help you relax."
"Not enough time for that," George said, "just put it in your pocket for later, Malcolm." Malcolm nodded, although he was confused by the last statement.
"By the way," Fred told him, " if you get that far, say you want to be in Gryffindor."
The three joined the other students who were already leaving the train. Once outside, the twins pointed Malcolm toward the lake, where the giant, Hagrid was calling for all the new students. As the twins left, Ginny came running up.
"Malcolm, I just wanted to wish you luck."She gave him a peck on the cheek, and left him with a warning, "If my brothers offer you anything, don't take it. Promise." Malcolm promised, and she ran off to the waiting coaches. He turned and continued walking toward the lake.
[I'm looking around and you know how I feel. Like its Halloween and we all decide to wear the same costume.]
"Yer havin' any problems there, lad," Hagrid said to Malcolm, "Most of the other first years are in the boats already."
Malcolm started to back away, "No, Sir, I was just going."
Hagrid reached out and grabbed him, pulling him toward the lake, "well, yer goin' the wrong way. Here yer go." Hagrid picked Malcolm up and placed him in one of the boats. "This is Malcolm," he told the other students, "He's from the States, he is." Hagrid got into his own boat, and they began to sail across the lake.
"How did he know my name," Malcolm asked out loud.
One of the other students answered in a solemn voice, "I think it has something to do with magic."
Draco was fairly happy, he had just managed to insult Harry Potter. Then he turned around and saw Goyle standing there with Crabbe. He stopped in his tracks. That meant that Reese was around. He hoped to be wrong, but then he heard the annoying voice of that American muggle. He even heard an audible grown from several of the other students. Just as he turned back, wand at the ready, someone else shouted Petrificus Totalus. Reese had gone rigid and fallen over, much to the cheers of the nearby students. Malfoy looked over and saw Ron Weasley holding his wand.
"Damn you, Weasel. I wanted to do that."
Ron grinned, saying "you can do it next time."
Professor Lupin appeared out of the carriage Harry was in. "All right, who did that?" He shouted. Ron raised his hand. Lupin thought for a minute, remembering what he knew of both perpetrator and victim. After a pause, he said, "10 points, Gryffindor," and went back to help Harry from the coach. (Harry had fainted after meeting the dementors.)
"What do you think of that, Malfoy," Ron said mockingly, "Ten points, and the school year hasn't even begun."
"I'll tell you, Weasel," Draco replied, evenly, "If it had been me, I would have given you 20." He then turned his back on the red-haired boy, feeling pleased.
He had just insulted Ron Weasley with a compliment. "I am getting good at this," he said to himself.
Malcolm climbed out of the boat, and walked over to Hagrid. "How did you know my name," he asked.
"Yer mom told us, lad, now up the stairs with yer. Yer want to be sorted, don't yer." With that, Hagrid turned the boy around and rushed him along. At the top
of the stairs he called out, "Here he is, Professor Flitwick, the last of the first-years."
"What did you call me?" yelled Lois at the Slytherin Prefect, who was doing pushups on the floor.
"I called you a mudblood, Madam." the prefect said, gasping.
"Is it a good word?"
"No, it is not, Madam."
"Are you going to use it again?"
"No, I am not. Madam."
"Good," said Lois, "ten more and you can sit down again." As she turned away, a student at another table began to clap. "Don't you dare," Lois shouted, stopping the boy before his hands ever came together. "You don't laugh at someone else's misfortune. Would you want him laughing at you?"
"No, Madam," the student quickly answered.
"Good, then you don't mind standing for the rest of the night." Fearfully, the boy obliged. When Lois left the Great Hall, no one said a word.
Returning to Mrs. Longbottom, she said, "I didn't seem him in there."
"Don't worry, Lois," Gran assured her, "Malcolm is most likely with the new students. They bring them across the lake. It is slower, but it gives them a wonderful first impression of the school."
Lois pointed to Reese, whose stiff body was hanging from an empty wall sconce. "He's not in pain or anything, is he."
Gran assured her that was not the case. "He can't feel a thing, it's as though he were asleep. When the spell is taken off, he won't even remember it. Would you like me to remove the spell, now."
Lois waved her offer away, "Don't bother, it'll fade away in a couple of days, so he's not going to miss any school. That, and I could use a break. Can you have him delivered?"
The new students began to file past the two women, giving them curious looks while Professor Flitwick ushered them all in a line to prepare them for their entrance into the Great Hall. Lois looked anxiously at every face. Then Hagrid's voice was heard announcing the last student, and Malcolm was pushed through the front door.
He looked up at his mother, "I can explain everything. It was Reese." Lois pointed, and Malcolm turned to look at his brother.
[I am dead. I am very dead. Reese looks good.]
Professor Flitwick called for all the new students to get in line. "Well," said Lois, "are you getting in line?"
"What?"
"You heard me, Malcolm," Lois said in a calm voice. "Are you going to get in line? It's your choice. You can stay here, and go to school, or you can come home with us."
Malcolm was confused, "But, Mom, aren't you mad at me?
Lois smiled, "Of course I'm mad at you, honey, and you will be punished, but that isn't important right now. You have a gift, and you need to learn how to use it. You know Mrs. Longbottom?"
"Call me Gran, dear," she said as she extended her hand to Malcolm, "It is a pleasure to see you again."
Lois continued, "With Gran's help, the school has offered you a place. You can stay here if you want." Malcolm nodded, letting the information sink in. "You should know, Malcolm, if you leave with us, you will probably be going away to school, anyway. But you will be closer to home."
"Mom, if I'm not going to be at home, then distance doesn't mean anything. If I have to go someplace, I'd like to stay here. I mean, I already know people here." His voice trailed off. He reached up and hugged his mother, "I'll miss you, Mom."
"Don't worry, Malcolm, we'll see you at Christmas and for the summers, and we'll always write. One good thing is, no phones. After Francis, I can't afford a higher bill." On a final note, she said, "you look good in that outfit."
"Really?" Malcolm asked.
"The truth is, Malcolm, you look like Halloween, and everyone is wearing the same costume." They each smiled at the other, and Malcolm walked off to join the line.
"Malcolm," Gran called out, "wave."
Malcolm saw the camera, smiled, and waved.
"Stand here, Malcolm," Professor Flitwick said, showing him his place in line. "To let you know, young man, for what you did, you are to spend one week of detention with each teacher that you have this year. The first week will be with the teacher in charge of whichever house you get into. If you are unfortunate enough to get into Ravenclaw, that will mean me. Do you understand."
Malcolm swallowed hard, "Yes, sir."
" That is 'Yes, Professor,' we do not tolerate lassitude around here."
"Yes, Professor." he responded.
"Good," the Professor said, "now, do you have everything, robes, hat, wand. Where's your wand?"
"I don't have one," came the reply.
"Here," said a third voice, "my friend says you can use his until you get your own."
"Dewey! What are you doing here," Malcolm asked in surprise.
"Mom told me to stay with you and Reese. I hid so you wouldn't ditch me again."
"You would ditch your own brother?" asked a shocked student.
"Of course I would."
[What kind of stupid question is that?]
"Thanks, Dewey," Malcolm said, taking the wand, "I owe you one."
"That's all right," Dewey replied, "Now I have my own room." He turned from Malcolm to look at Reese, turned back to Malcolm, and smiled.
Lois came over and tool Dewey's hand, saying "It's time to go, say goodbye."
Dewey waved goodbye to his brothers, then waved to a blank wall and said, "Goodbye, Peeves." As they were leaving, Dewey asked, "Mom, are you mad at me?"
Lois looked down and said, "No, Dewey. In fact, I'm glad to see you finally have an imaginary friend who isn't named Tony."
[This is it. I'm off to face the future. I'm going on a great adventure. I'm going to learn magic. And I'm going to start it all with ten weeks of detention. I'm going to love this place.]
As the student entered the Great Hall, Malcolm couldn't control himself. He began singing loudly, "I'm off to be a wizard....."