AN: VMortitia wondered why Lucius likes Malcolm. This is one of those things that seemed obvious to me. It is simple. Malcolm is clearly a very smart kid. He has a great deal of potential in the wizarding world. Lucius is a self-serving (expletive deleted). He sees nothing wrong with being friendly to a young wizard of dubious background who can become a valuable worker. Imagine Malcolm trying to figure out how to perform Dark Magic. Lucius does, and looks forward to the day he can profit from his investment.

As to Dewey, I have no idea why the Death Eaters, or anybody else for that matter, would put up with him. I can only assume that they think that Malcolm might become upset. Personally, I would give it a shot, if I could, but he's a character in the story and I can't kill him off without permission from Fox.

My thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing.

As a plug to another author, Aracelis, has an HP/Enchanted Forest crossover called Un-Parallels (storyid 771138). It is listed under book crossovers. (End Commercial)





CHAPTER 4: THE CHAPTER WITH NO NAME

"Don't, Malcolm, Please," Dewey cried, "Not Mister Teddy."

"Sorry, Dewey, I have to," Malcolm said smiling, as he inserted two firecrackers into the mouth of the teddy bear.

"He's right, Malcolm," Reese said, "Don't do it. It's his last toy. Wait here."

Reese ran into the garage and came back shortly with a can of lighter fluid, and a cherry bomb. He added the cherry bomb to the two firecrackers and liberally doused the teddy bear with the lighter fluid. Then he lit a match and prepared to throw it on the bear, but Malcolm stopped him.

"I don't think we should start a fire in the back yard. I've got an idea."

Malcolm ran into the house and came back with his old rocket kit. He primed the air pump as much as he could, and placed the rocket on the launcher. The teddy bear was impaled on the rocket and doused with more lighter fluid. As Reese threw the match onto the bear, Malcolm hit the launch button. The flaming projectile flew up for 100 feet, then exploded, sending burning shards of bear in every direction.

"That was really cool," Reese said, as the sounds of the fire engines could be heard in the distance. "I wish we could do it again."

"I still have one more rocket, " Malcolm said, "but Dewey's out of toys."

"We'll wait until his birthday, then," Reese said, as they watched the firemen put out the blaze on their neighbor's roof.

"Boys," Hal called out into the yard, "Officer Murdoch is here and would like to talk to you. And Malcolm, your friend Ginny is here." He walked into the yard and asked, "Dewey, have you seen your brothers?"

"No, Dad," Dewey said, "They went to the park this morning and haven't come back yet."

"Oh," Hal said, confused, and went back into the house.

"And you are?" Officer Murdoch asked.

"Ginny Weasley, Sir," the girl said, "I've only just arrived. I am a schoolmate of Malcolm."

"You're English?"

"Yes, the school we go to is in England."

"And you just got here?"

"Yes, Sir."

Officer Murdoch looked at the soot marks on the shoulder of her dress, and nodded to himself. He turned to Hal, and said, "Since you can't verify where she was when the explosion took place, sir, I will have to escort her downtown. She shows signs of definite involvement."

"This is ridiculous," Ginny said as the police officer escorted her to his car.

"If you could have her parents contact us," Murdoch asked, "these are serious charges."

Hal waved to Ginny as the policeman drove away, then went over to watch the firemen at work.

"Hi Dad," Malcolm said, as he and Reese innocently walked up.

"What happened next door?" Reese asked in complete surprise.

"Oh, Malcolm, It was your friend, Ginny. She came by while the two of you were gone, and threw a firebomb at the neighbor's house. The Police spotted her sneaking into our house."

"Dad," Malcolm said, "Ginny would have arrived IN the house. They couldn't have seen her sneaking in."

"I know that," Hal said, sarcastically, "but what was I supposed to do. Tell them she's a witch." He concluded, whining, "Everybody says not to say anything."

[This is great, Ginny pays me a surprise visit, and now I have to get her out of jail.]

"Malcolm," his dad said, "Call her parents and let them know."

"They don't have a phone," Malcolm said.

"Well, You figure out what to do," Hal whined, "or I'll tell your mother all about it when she gets home."

Malcolm decided to go for some advice. He took some floo powder, called out Malfoy Manor, and stepped into the fireplace. He found himself in the foyer, and looked around for someone.

"This is a great place," Reese said from behind him.

"What are you doing here?" Malcolm said.

"Following you," Reese replied, "If you can't fix this, then I don't want to be around Mom when she gets home."

[I apologize for saying Reese never has an intelligent thought.]

"May I help you?" the butler said, as he entered the foyer.

"Yeah, is Draco around. It's kind of an emergency," Malcolm said.

"Wait here," the butler said, then turned to Reese, adding, "and do not take anything. It's all been cursed. " He waited until Reese put back the figurine, then smiled and left to fetch the young master.

Draco came into the foyer, followed by his father. "What happened, Malcolm?" Lucius asked in a serious tone.

"It's his fault," Reese said, pointing at Malcolm.

"It was not," Malcolm said, "you were the one with the cherry bomb and the lighter fluid."

"It was your rocket," Reese added.

Turning back to the Malfoys, Malcolm said, "Okay. It was my fault a little bit, but that isn't the problem. Ginny Weasley paid me a surprise visit, and was arrested for setting fire to the house next door."

Lucius Malfoy stared in disbelief. "I didn't know she was that type. You should be thankful that she did not get the right house. But if she is in custody, why is it a problem?"

"He's right Malcolm," Reese said, "It isn't a problem. We have a perfect alibi. Everybody knows that the school you go to is really a loony bin."

"A Loony Bin?" Lucius asked.

"Yeah," Reese said, "You know, a nut house, a home for fruitcakes."

"An asylum, father," Draco answered, "The Hogwarts Institute for Incurable Adolescents."

"Interesting," Lucius said, confused, "but how does that help the situation?"

"That's easy," Reese said, gleefully. "Ginny told the cops that she goes there as well. That puts us in the clear."

"The Weasley girl is in the hands of muggle authorities?" Lucius asked in amazement.

"Malcolm," Draco interjected, "you show up in the middle of supper, making no sense, and now my food is getting cold." Draco said, "What happened, and what do you expect us to do about it?"

"All we were doing was blowing up Dewey's toy's." Malcolm explained, "It was an accident that when the teddy bear exploded, the flaming head landed on the neighbor's roof."

"Please, watch your language young man," Lucius admonished.

"Oh, no sir," Malcolm explained, "I wasn't cursing or anything. The head was in flames when it landed on the roof."

"What did you think he meant?" Reese asked, honestly confused.

"Back to Draco's question," Lucius said, "What do you expect us to do?"

Malcolm stopped and considered, "I only wanted to know what to do when something like this happens. I didn't mean for Reese to follow me."

"Yes, he did," Reese said.

"Malcolm," Lucius admonished, "Go home, and cast a Lumos spell, or something else that is HARMLESS. When someone shows up to investigate the unauthorized use of magic, explain the matter to them. They can handle it."

"But Malcolm will get in trouble for using magic," Draco said, then stopped. "Sorry, father," he said with a grin, "I keep forgetting, it's Malcolm."

"Draco," Lucius said, brusquely. "Why don't you go with Malcolm and help him?" He smiled at his son and said, "It never hurts to help someone when it could help you in the end."

"May I bring my camera?" Draco asked, "I'd love to get a picture of the Weasley girl."

As the three boys stepped back through the fireplace into Malcolm's living room, Draco said, "you may want to try contacting her parents, and let them know what you did."

"How?" asked Malcolm.

"Try calling them through the floo network, or visiting them the way you did me. I am sure they would love to have THEIR supper disturbed."

Malcolm gave Draco a clear and intelligent look, "I don't know where the Weasleys live. I tried Weasley Manor and Weasley House, but nothing happened."

Draco took some floo powder and threw it into the fire. "The Burrow," he said, then turned to Malcolm and said, "Just walk into the fireplace and it will take you there."

Too late, he noticed Reese smile, and felt the push. Off balance, he fell back into the flames and was whisked away.

"Reese, you jerk," Malcolm said, "Why did you do that? The Malfoys and the Weasleys hate each other."

"Yeah," Reese said, and started laughing.

"Quick, what was the name he called out," Malcolm asked.

Reese stopped his laughing and said, "I don't know. The burger or something. It sounded like food."

"Forget it," Malcolm said angrily and went to get his wand. He waved it in the air and called out, "Lumos." A light appeared at the end of his wand, but nothing else happened. Malcolm tried a few more spells, but he still received no reaction. No magical message appeared, no investigator showed up. Nothing happened.

In disgust, Malcolm went out into the yard and got his father. "Dad, I don't know what else to do. Can you go down and bail Ginny out?"

"No, son. I don't have the money. Thanks to all those times with Francis, it has to be cash up front."

Malcolm walked back to the house, wondering what to do. He would have to wait for Draco to come back, or one of the Weasleys to appear.

[I know the Weasleys. They'll let him explain what he's doing there, before they kill him.]

"Ginny's coming back," Ron called out, as he heard the telltale sounds from the fireplace.

"Wonderful," Mrs. Weasley said, "I hope she brings Malcolm with her. I would like to meet him, finally."

As she finished speaking, a figure rolled out of the fire play and landed with a thud on his back. Draco Malfoy let out a soft groan, as he tried to move. "Damn that Reese," he muttered.

"Do not use language like that in my house," Molly said, then asked in all sincerity if Draco was injured.

"Mostly my pride," Draco admitted, as he got up and looked around at all of the hostile faces. "Malcolm should be following me to explain everything," he added hopefully.

It became clear that Malcolm was not coming, and that Draco would now have to explain. When Arthur Weasley demanded said explanation or else, Draco spoke up, "I don't understand the full story, but Ginny has been arrested by the muggle authorities for attempted to blow up Malcolm's house. For some reason, however, she got the wrong house."

"How can you come here and lie about my sister like that, you stinking git?" Ron hissed.

"That was what Malcolm told my father," Draco said, with a sneer, "I'm only repeating what I heard."

"And why were you at Malcolm's house?" Molly demanded.

"I don't know," Draco said in defeat, "My father thought it would be useful if I helped."

"Useful?" Arthur asked, as every Weasley present listened intently. "Useful for what?"

Draco watched as Molly and Arthur huddled together to talk. The Weasel stared at him with pure venom in his eyes. "Excuse me," Draco asked, "can I borrow some floo powder, so I can leave? I am sure we would all appreciate it."

"You're taking us to Malcolm's house, Mister Malfoy," Arthur said sternly. "I want a few more answers before I'm free of you. Or do you want to explain to the Ministry why you were trespassing in my home."

"Fine," Draco said, "You don't care if you're a laughingstock, so you threaten to make me one."

Arthur grabbed Draco by the robes and looked him in the eye. "Listen to me, you slimy cretin. You barge into my house, telling me that Ginny is in a prison. Then you tell me that you and your father have designs on my daughter. I am not in a mood to play word games."

"You do not have the right . . . " Draco said.

"I have every right," Arthur said, "and I will protect my family. I will protect my daughter from the likes of you."

"I gave her my word," Draco managed to sneer back. "And a Malfoy NEVER breaks his word."

"Arthur," Molly said, nervously, "let him go. We'll get him out of here and be done with it."

"He's at it again," someone said.

"Can you tell what he's doing now?" David Winter asked of his colleague. He was part of the Department of Magic, and had been permanently assigned as Malcolm's observer. This was the main reason he was in the Office of Magical Supervision. It was also the main reason he was looking into an early retirement.

"It's just simple spells," the man at the monitor said, "basic stuff. What are you going to do?"

David picked up his coffee cup, and said, "He's probably putting on a show for his friends. I'll wait until he's done, then I'll bring the bad news."

He finished the coffee, then apparated to Malcolm's house. Outside he could hear a car driving away, but inside there was no sound whatsoever.

Dewey came into the kitchen, holding a smoldering teddy bear, and said, "Hi, Mr. Winter?"

"Hello, Dewey. Have you seen Malcolm?"

"No Sir. He and Reese went to the park this morning and they haven't come back yet."

David Winter looked surprised, "Have you been playing with Malcolm's wand, by any chance?"

"He took it with him," Dewey said, and watched as the puzzled wizard bid him goodbye, and disapparated.

Dewey turned around as he heard a noise in the living room.

Draco came out of the fireplace, and landed with a thud on the floor. Arthur and Molly Weasley soon followed to find Draco cursing.

"Malcolm, Reese," Draco called out, but received no answer.

"Where is everybody?" Arthur asked, testily.

"I don't know," Draco said in the same tone, "I only arrived, myself."

"Is anybody else coming?" Dewey asked, holding the charred remains of a teddy bear, minus its head. Draco stared as little wisps of smoke continued to rise out of it.

"They had better not," Molly said, thinking about the twins.

"Dewey, Where's Malcolm?" Draco asked.

"He went to the park," Dewey answered, "He hasn't been back."

"I know where the park is," Draco told the Weasleys. "I'll go get him if you like."

Draco went to Malcolm's room, found some clothes that fit, and changed out of his robes. After an exchange of words with the Weasleys, he left his wand behind, then went to find Malcolm.

When he arrived at the park, Draco recognized Christine Miller. She was talking with two policemen,

"I tried to help him. He's a very disturbed little boy." She turned around and saw Draco, and said, "That's the boy who was with her in the park, last year. He's her lover or something depraved like that."

"I'm sorry to bother you," the policeman said, with a friendly smile, "Miss Miller is a bit high strung. I only need to see some ID, please."

"I don't have any with me," Draco admitted, "I was looking for Malcolm. I was told he was here."

"We're looking for him, as well," the policeman said, his smile fading slightly, "Could I please have your full name and address, and a phone number where I can reach your parents?"

"I'm visiting with Malcolm," Draco said weakly, "and my parents don't have a phone."

"Could I have your full name?" the officer said. The smile was gone.

Draco turned around and ran into the cop standing behind him. After a brief struggle, he was handcuffed and led to the police cruiser.

Lois walked into the living room through the open front door, and spotted two robed strangers. "What did Malcolm do now?" she asked.

"Hello, Lois. I'm Molly Weasley, Ginny's mother, and this is my husband, Arthur. We talked through the fireplace. Ginny wanted to surprise your son, Malcolm"

"Hi, Molly, Arthur. It's nice meeting you in person. What did Malcolm do this time?"

"It's hard to explain," Arthur began.

"Isn't that the truth," Lois said with a laugh, "nothing is ever easy with those boys."

Molly looked worried. "Ginny came here, by way of the floo network, to invite Malcolm to supper. A while later, that ruffian, Draco Malfoy, showed up in our home, and told us that Ginny had been arrested by muggle authorities for trying to blow up your house. He left an hour ago, to find Malcolm, and he hasn't returned. I thought he might have run out on us, but he left his wand behind, and a wizard would never do that."

Lois called to Dewey, ignoring the charred bear, and questioned him. She then went looking for Hal, who was hiding in the car. "I wasn't hiding, Lois. I was waiting for Malcolm, to take him downtown to pick up Ginny. I fell asleep. I don't know where they are."

"We sure are lucky we ran into you, Francis," Reese said, "Dad won't do anything and Mom will kill us when she finds out."

"You have to understand Dad's position," Francis said coolly, "The key word here is liability. If Dad said anything, we could all be moving to a split-level cardboard box. Remember, Dad did the right thing."

"Are you sure this will work, Francis?" Malcolm asked as they walked into the police station.

"Malcolm, trust me. I have plenty of experience with this. Hi, Mike. Hi, Jerry."

"Hi, Francis. Turning yourself in?" asked one of the cops.

"Just picking up a friend, Mike," Francis said, "Malcolm, I know what I'm doing."

They walked up to the desk, and Francis showed his ID. "Francis, you're not twenty-three yet," the clerk said, and handed back the ID. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm here to pick up a minor, Virginia Weasley, A.K.A. Ginny Weasley. She was arrested for arson and possession of explosives."

"That would be Officer Murdoch," the clerk said, "I think he was just scaring you. She was involved in an incident in your neighborhood. Something about a flying teddy bear."

Francis looked aghast. "She was arrested because of a flying teddy bear. This is unforgivable. This is outrageous. Do you realize that her parents are in the British Government? This could be an international incident. We are talking about severe repercussions. And over a flying teddy bear."

Several police officers applauded as Francis finished his tirade. The clerk laughed, and said, "Francis, Murdoch had to do something. She had soot on her clothes, she was obviously a stranger, and your father refused to vouch for her once Murdoch mentioned possible trouble. If you can verify that you do know her, I can release her into your custody," then he leaned forward and whispered, "keep your ID handy."

Francis signed a release form, and Malcolm and Reese watched as Ginny was escorted from her holding cell. Reese tapped Malcolm's shoulder, as Draco was walked into the police station. The arresting officer walked him to the desk, labeling him as a possible runaway. Malcolm tapped Francis on the shoulder and pointed. Francis turned to the clerk and said, "We'll be taking him as well."

"I've called everywhere," Lois said, "no one has seen Malcolm or Reese. I've just talked to the police and they have no one there by Ginny's name. Would she have given them a false name?"

"Why would our daughter do that?" Molly asked.

"I was just asking." Lois said, "My sons would do it in a heartbeat."

"Francis is back," Hal called out, as the station wagon pulled up, "I think he has someone with him."

"What happened?" Lois demanded when they walked into the house.

"Nothing, Mom," Francis said. "Ginny had some soot on her clothes from the fireplace, and a policeman thought she might have had some part in a suspicious fire. He took her in because she had no ID, and no one could vouch for her."

"And that was all?" Lois asked, refusing to believe the lie.

"Yes, Mother," Francis said, "it is the truth. You can even ask Ginny. When she got here, no one was home. The policeman saw her wandering around. He left word, and when Malcolm told me, we drove down to pick her up. End of story."

"Yeah, right," Lois said, "Your father spilled the beans over an hour ago."

"Where's Malfoy?" Arthur asked.

"He's outside," Ginny said, "Draco thought you would prefer it that way. I told him he should come in."

"Ginny, I should warn you about him," her father said.

"I know, Daddy. Draco told me."

"He told you? When you were in the car?" Molly asked in surprise.

"He told me when we were at the Longbottoms, Mum," Ginny said, reminding them of the magazine article.

Molly looked at Arthur and said, "Maybe the son isn't as bad as the father?"

Ginny laughed, "Draco hasn't had as much experience. Give him time and he will be."

Arthur laughed with his daughter, and Molly joined in. The reunited family returned to the Burrow for a late meal.

Four hours later, Draco knocked on the door, and Dewey answered. "Have they left yet?" he asked.

"Nope, they're still talking away," Dewey said, and closed the door.

"Who was that?" Lois called.

"Just a salesman," Dewey called back.

"When it rains, it pours," Lois said to Hal, "After everything that's happened today, we've had three salesmen come to our door all in the same afternoon."

"It's a good thing we have Dewey," Hal said, "He's a wizard at getting rid of them."