The young wizard at the reception table glanced at the familiar looking boy and asked for his admission card. He was surprised at the boy's appearance. The Daily Prophet had shown a picture of the newest animagus, and he looked quite unassuming. The boy in front of him was completely different. The face was the same, but he had jeans and a denim jacket, instead of robes. In addition, the boy had greased back hair.
"First, I want to know if he's here," the boy said.
"And who would that be," The wizard asked in amusement.
The boy sneered in reply, "I'll give you a hint. Picture me as a dork. Is he here? I want to check him out."
"You are referring to Malcolm . . . "
"YEAH."
"He isn't able to attend," the wizard said, eyeing the boy carefully, "It is his weekend for charity work at the hospital."
"You," the boy said with a combination os scorn and surprise, "have got to be kidding. I came all the way here just to meet that jerk and he's doing a goody two-shoes act?"
"We do apologize," the wizard said mockingly, "As for you, either present an admissions card, or explain to two of our finest organizers what you are doing here."
The boy threw a card on the table. The wizard took the card and tapped it with his wand. The card glowed briefly, and the wizard looked surprised. He excused himself and pointed his wand at the boy and said "Finite Incantatum." The boy watched in amusement as the man tapped the card again.
"I ain't the brightest star in the sky," the boy said, "but don't you have to cast a spell before you cancel it? Are you done playing around yet?"
"Yes, Thank you," the wizard said, "Let me make your name tag. It is required of all students attending the seminar."
The boy scowled and said, "Sure. The name is Louis Renault. L-O-U-I-S R-E-N-A-U-L-T. Spell it correctly."
"I already spelt your first name with an E at the end. I'm sure it will be fine."
"The boy took the name tag and tore it up. "No, it ain't fine. Try again."
As he handed the boy the corrected name tag, the wizard said, "Please, mingle with the other students, Mister Renault, and I will mention your . . . concerns . . . to some friends. They might want to help you deal with it."
"Thanks, Mister," Louis said, "I 'preciate it."
"And Mister Renault. Welcome to London."
Louis entered the room and looked around at the sixty-odd students. Some gave him curious looks but Louis ignored them, and walked over to the refreshment table. An English girl, near fourteen, walked up to him, and asked, "Excuse me, is your name Malcolm, by any chance?"
"Sorry, Babe. Wrong guy," Louis said cheerfully. "I know you wanted to see him do his tricks, but if you stick with me I can show you a few tricks I bet he doesn't know."
As the girl slapped him, Louis laughed, and said, "I'll put you down as a maybe."
The girl stormed off, and a voice behind Louis said, "aren't you a bit young to be using a line like that."
Louis turned around to see a teenaged boy brushing his brown hair out of his eyes. "Hey, you're a home boy."
"Nicholas Drexler," the teenager said, "at least for today. And Yes, I am from the States as well."
"I'm Louis Renault," the boy said, pointing to his name tag.
"Pleased to meet you," Nicholas said, extending his hand, "I should tell you, Louis, you could have handled that differently. A few diplomatic words and she could have become a friend. Friends are very useful, if you understand what I mean."
"I ain't the diplomatic type," Louis said, "but I'll remember that. I'll even make a fool out of myself and apologize, if I get the chance."
"Good, you're a fast learner, Louis. Now let me introduce you to some of the leaders of tomorrow's world. If you play your cards right, you could be one of us."
Louis looked at Nicholas, then glanced at the wizard by the doorway, who smiled. He turned back to Nicholas and said, "I think we understand each other, Nick. Show me around."
As all the students were called to the auditorium, Louis found himself next to the British girl. He grabbed her hand and said, quickly, "Hey, I'm sorry. For what I said. I know it was rude, but I get, uh, teased a lot. They told me I shouldn't jump on you like that."
The British girl looked at the embarrassed boy and said, "I should apologize. They told me about you after, but even if you were who I thought, I should never have approached you the way I did . . . Louis."
"It's French, you pronounce it with an E."
"And my name is Amanda," the girl said with a laugh, then added, "Thank you, Louis, for your apology."
"Your welcome," Louis said, and looked around, "Can I ask a favor? I don't really know anybody here."
"Would you like to sit with me?" Amanda offered, and the two entered the auditorium.
"My name is Artemis Glenn," the speaker droned, "And I welcome all of you, the cream of today's youth, to this seminar. Today we will explore the latest developments in magic . . . "
"Do you see that man?" Amanda whispered.
"The guy with the cool hair?" Louis asked
Amanda looked at the boy next to her, with his hair slicked back, and said, "you would think that. He's Severus Snape. They claim he was one of the original Death Eaters. He's supposed to be an expert on poisons."
"Is that what he's going to talk about?"
"Obviously, but he'll give equal time to antidotes, just in case 'someone' asks questions. We still have to be careful, you know."
"Makes sense to me," Louis said, "Why poison someone when the cure is around."
"Louis, I like the way you think."
"Who's that next to him?"
"His name is MacNair. He works for the British Ministry, doing some of the less desirable tasks that are sometimes necessary. He's supposed to tell us what we can expect if we get involved in government."
"Sounds like a sleeper to me," Louis said, "you know, catch forty winks and wake me up when it's over. Or am I wrong?"
"I hope you are," Amanda told him, "I would love to be a part of the Ministry. But see the lady? That's Frau Blucher. She teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts at Durmstrang. She is definitely not a 'sleeper.' I heard she plans to demonstrate some of the Dark Arts, to show what we will be fighting 'against.'"
"Actually, Karkaroff teaches that course," Malcolm Baddock said from behind Louis. "Blucher is only teaching until he returns from the Tri-Wizard Tournament at Hogwarts."
"And you are?" Amanda asked.
Malcolm introduced himself, and explained that he was familiar with That Gryffindor. "I was curious as to how close the resemblance was. You could pass at a distance, but only if you kept your mouth closed."
"Thanks," Louis said with a scowl, "but what's this triple wizard thing?"
As they walked out, Amanda said, "You were right, Louis, that MacNair was a sleeper. I have to be grateful that he only talked for fifteen minutes."
"I found Snape's lecture to be very interesting," Baddock said, "Did you notice anything unusual when he described the poison potions?"
Louis and Amanda shook their heads, and Baddock explained. "In every potion, the deadly ingredients were listed at a non-lethal dose. His constricting potion would have only caused mild constipation, if that."
"Smart Move," Louis said, "It's what my old man would do. I bet half the kids here try to poison somebody tomorrow."
Amanda laughed, "I know I'm with the smart crowd. Both of you realized it was a test."
"Obviously," Baddock said.
"Well, I didn't catch it until Malcolm said something," Louis explained, "I'm not the type to poison anyone."
Two boys, sixteen, walked up, and one of them said, "I've heard that you are not the person you appear to be?"
Louis looked up, and Amanda noticed how he seemed to shrink in front of the larger boy. She didn't perceive the image of a frightened boy, however. It was closer to a panther getting ready to pounce.
The boy said a few more remarks and pulled out his wand, "Why don't you show us what you learned. Go ahead, pull out your wand."
"I don't have a wand," Louis said.
The boy laughed and turned to his friend. Louis jumped and kicked, hitting the boy in a very sensitive spot. As the boy crumbled, Louis grabbed his wand, pointed it at the other boy, and said, "I've got one now. What kind of spell would you like to see?"
"Expeliremus," Severus Snape shouted, and the wand flew twenty feet away. "Mister Baddock," Snape sneered, "What is the meaning of this?"
"It was the two boys," Baddock explained, "They were harassing Louis, and Louis defended himself."
"And You didn't do anything?"
"I didn't have the chance," Baddock admitted.
"That is true, Sir," Amanda added, "Louis was protecting himself."
"And you," Snape said, staring at the greasy haired boy, "What do you have to say."
"Nothing," Louis answered, "I got me two unbiased witnesses."
"My word," Snape said, "You understand multiple syllables. I am amazed. I suggest you leave, now, before someone decides you need another lesson. They may not give you a warning, next time."
"I was just leaving, anyway" Louis said, and walked off without saying goodbye to anyone.
*
"Did you have a good weekend, Malcolm," Ginny asked, as they walked to Potions class.
"Well Saturday was wasted," Malcolm said, "some magazine was doing a thing on hospital volunteers. I ended up standing around most of the day. Sunday was great, though. Those kids are a blast."
"I will assume being a blast is a good thing," Ginny said, "I would like to come and watch you. I'll ask my mum if I can join you on your next trip."
"Sure," Malcolm said, "but that will be the weekend before Christmas break."
The two sat through class, and at the end Malcolm was told to stay after. When the rest of the third-year potions class left, Snape closed and locked the door.
"Malcolm, what did you think you were doing."
"I don't understand?"
"Does the phrase, 'I'll put you down as a maybe,' ring any bells?"
"No Sir."
"Then explain the grease stain on your robe, Malcolm," Snape said. "Perhaps that will get you to drop this charade."
"There aren't any grease stains on my robe," Malcolm said.
"Then why did you check, Louis?"
"It's just a natural reaction," Malcolm answered.
[Uh-Oh. He called me Louis. And I answered.]
"It was Mr. Osgoode, Professor," Malcolm said quickly, "He said it would be better if I would use an alias, but then I got my picture in the paper, and all that. So I asked Francis, and he suggested that I dress differently, and just have a different attitude. So I dressed like Francis's friend, Greaser, and I acted like Reese."
"You've made me sad," Severus said, "I thought you wore your hair that way because you were inspired by me."
"Actually, I did, Sir," Malcolm lied quickly.
"Who knows what you did?" Snape demanded, then felt he had to add, "Besides you and I."
"Mr. Osgoode, he told me it was worth a try. And Professor Dumbledore, he arranged the portkey to take me from London to the hospital."
"Does anyone at the hospital know?"
"No, I told them I was hiding from the photographers, that I was tired of having my picture taken."
"Then, congratulations, Malcolm. You are now two different people. Between my remarks, and Osgoode's comments after you left, the rumor about your twin is being spread around. You will tell no one about this, Malcolm. This is too important."
"I don't understand," Malcolm said.
"Neither do I," Snape admitted, "but things are being stirred up in the world. It may be that Louis Renault might save your life some day."
Malcolm shook his head. "Why would my life be in danger?"
"You would be surprised at the reasons I could list," Snape said, "but there are people who are offended that you are a muggle-born wizard. The fact that you are in the papers is enough of an incentive."
"Am I in that much danger?" Malcolm asked.
"Not yet," Snape said, "and if Dumbledore has his way, perhaps never. We can only hope that any plans we make are not needed."
"What about Malcolm Baddock?" Malcolm asked.
"He is already making plans," Snape said, "I think he would love to use one of my potions on you, and have Louis take your place."