"Hello, Love," Draco said, as Ginny boarded the train.
"Hello to you," Ginny said as she sat across from him and Malcolm. "Are you going to the Yule Ball?"
"Of Course," Draco said, "I'm taking Pansy Parkinson. She may have an attitude, but she is an excellent dancer. I take it Neville finally asked you to go."
Ginny blushed lightly, and said, "He did, and he warned me that he had two left feet. I've already found a spell to keep my toes from getting crushed."
"I'm sure Neville will be fine," Draco said.
"Draco Malfoy," Ginny said, "You've complemented a Gryffindor."
"Only because he isn't here," Draco said with a smile. "Malcolm, do you have holiday plans?"
"I'm going home," Malcolm said, "I can only wonder what will happen this year."
"Any victims coming over?"
"No, but Dennis Creevey asked if I wanted to come over to his house, and Colin Creevey asked me to say no."
*
The two students sat in the hospital room as Basil played with his blocks, with the help of an annoying owl. He was the same as he had been the last time, and the time before.
"You like him, don't you," Draco said, "Neville, I mean."
"Yes," Ginny said, hesitantly, "but I like you, too."
"No, you don't. I'm the forbidden fruit. That is why you like me. You know I'm only being nice because of Basil. If it weren't for him, I doubt I would ever say a kind word to you."
"Did you ever think that Basil is the excuse you use? It would have taken less effort to tell me to leave, instead of hiding the fact that we are nice to each other, sometimes."
"Nice try, Ginny. I only had a chance to know you because of those two on the floor, but in the real world, we could never be friends. You and I know that our lives are too far apart for either of us to be accepted. The only common ground we have is a shared secret."
Basil began to shake slightly, and the nurse came up to him. "He's tired again. I'm sorry but you will have to leave." She picked up the frail nine-year-old boy, and placed him in the bed, tucking him in.
"Excuse me," Ginny said, and walked to the bed and leaned over to whisper something into Basil's ear. Basil nodded and murmured, "Bye, Love," as he fell asleep.
"What did you say to him?" Draco asked as they left the room.
"It's a secret," Ginny said, mischievously, "If you want to know, ask your brother."
"It never pays to be nice to a Weasley," Draco muttered.
"We're going this way, " Malcolm said, "if either of you are interested."
"I can't handle children today," Draco said.
"There are more than children, here," Nurse Hull said to the trio. "We also have several elderly residents, and other long-term patients who would always appreciate someone to talk to."
"Draco," Malcolm offered, "Dr. Spencer is free, in case I want to come by. If you talk to her, then she won't bother ME for another month."
"Do you mind?" Draco asked the nurse, "I can talk about Malcolm all day, but I can't handle any personal questions right now."
As Draco left them, Ginny told Malcolm, "That was quick thinking, Malcolm. How did you know she would be free."
"She told me," Malcolm said, "She's given up on helping me, but it gives her a break in her day when she has to work weekends."
"Let's go, then," Nurse Hull said, "We'll be visiting an older group of children today, nine through eleven. I hope you can handle it."
"I'm getting good at it," Malcolm said, "all I have to do is ruffle my feathers, for the younger kids. Let's see, nine through eleven, almost ready for school. We'll see how they react, and show them some of the things they can expect at school."
"And, if we have the chance," Ginny said, laughing, "I'LL be the one to show them how to ride a broom."
*
"It's dark in here," Malcolm said, as he walked into the hospital ward. A dozen boys and girls watched him in interest.
Ginny walked in, casting a variant of the Lumos spell, and a bright blue light shone from her wand. Malcolm pulled out his wand and caused a yellow light to appear. The result was that everyone in the room had a sickly green hue. Ginny changed her light to red, making everyone appear pumpkin colored. Malcolm shifted his light to white, giving everyone a healthy pink.
After a few more simple spells (causing one girl's pigtails to float and dance, changing a boy's hair to a horrid shade of purple) they introduced themselves.
The request came almost immediately, and Malcolm became an owl, flying from one bed or chair to another. Ginny gave the patients a quick example of all the spells they would learn during their first year, brightening the eyes of those who were nine and ten, but bringing frowns to the two patients that were eleven, by reminding them of what they were missing.
"Then you'll have to learn," Ginny said, and made both of them practice a couple of the spells. "No, the feather is supposed to float," she said to the girl holding her wand, "now you have it stuck in the ceiling."
Malcolm flew up and pulled the feather free, prompting cheers from everyone, including the passers by who had stopped to watch.
When the time came to leave, everyone was sad, including the two Gryffindors.
"You were wonderful," Nurse Hull said as she escorted them from the hospital.
"We didn't do anything a first year couldn't do," Ginny said.
"I'm not talking about what you did," the nurse said, "I'm talking about the fact that you did it. Most of those children have spent the last month doing nothing but lying in bed. That is why I'm thanking you."
*
"That was a lot of fun," Ginny said as they left, "I never knew how boring a hospital could be."
"Yeah, I can't go to Hogsmeade, so doing this gets me away from the school for a while. I always feel better when I get back."
"Of course, Malcolm. Why did I ever think helping someone else had something to do with it?" Ginny said with a laugh.
"There's Draco," Malcolm pointed out.
"He looks different," Ginny said, as she looked at the Slytherin slumped over on the bench. "It's Basil, isn't it?"
"You saw him," Malcolm said sadly, "He's not getting any better. I was hoping that talking to Dr. Spencer would help."
"She didn't help you," Ginny said.
"Well, I didn't want any help," Malcolm said tonelessly.
"And Draco does?"
"Yes, he does. Why do you think he agreed to talk to her?"
Their appearance was a tonic for Draco, and he was his normal self by the time they returned to Hogwarts.
*
"Merry Christmas, Malcolm," Ginny said as he walked through the common room. "I've got a present for you." She handed him a small package, "They're from Fred and George. They wanted to thank you for testing their Canary Creams last year."
"What is it?" Malcolm asked.
"I'm not sure," Ginny said, laughing, "have Reese test them."
"Thanks. Have a great time at the Yule Ball."
Malcolm walked out of the common room and headed out toward the main doors. After a couple of turns, he ran into Draco Malfoy.
"I've got something for you," Draco said with a grin, and handed him a small envelope. "Go ahead, open it."
Malcolm opened the envelope and pulled out a picture. It showed Basil sitting on the floor, trying to pull one of his blocks out of an owl's claws. "I never even saw you take this," Malcolm said, "This is great."
"I had the nurse take the picture," Draco said, smiling, "It proves you can irritate anyone."
"Thanks," Malcolm said, "would you like some candy?"
Draco laughed out loud and walked away, saying, "I may trust you, Malcolm, but I don't trust the Weasleys."
As Malcolm put the picture away, Dennis Creevey walked up. "What was that about?" he asked.
"It's a private joke, " Malcolm said, "would you like a piece of candy?"
"Colin warned me never to take anything edible from you," Dennis said, "What are they?"
"I don't know yet."
"I'll take a couple when you find out."
As they walked to the coaches, Malcolm asked, "Won't Colin be upset if I join the two of you for the trip to London."
"Not really," Dennis said, "He decided to stay. He's going to take pictures of the couples. Dumbledore worked it out so he won't have to pay for the supplies, and Colin says it will give him a chance to perfect his portrait photography." Dennis looked up and said, "You can still come over for the holidays if you want."
"I'd like to," Malcolm said, "but this is the only chance I'll get to be with my family, until the summer."
[I know. Why would I want to spend time with MY family?]
"Good luck, then," Dennis said, smiling.
"Yeah, I'll need it."
*
"You could have stayed for the holidays," David Winter said, as Malcolm got off the train, "there are a great many things happening there that I am sure would interest you."
"Nice try," Malcolm said, "but I'm still going home. Would you like some candy?"
"Like I would trust you," David said, "Did you really expect me to say yes?"
"There's nothing wrong with them," Malcolm said, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
"Oh, really," David Winter said, politely. "Then why don't you have one first? Yes, that's a wonderful idea, Malcolm. Show me how much you enjoy your candy, and THEN we will take you home. Unless you did want to stay at school, after all."
[That was mean. He's doing this deliberately, just because of all those problems he's had with me.]
Carefully, Malcolm reached into the package that Ginny had handed him, and pulled out a piece of chocolate covered something. He put it in his mouth and began chewing.
[This tastes good. It's like cherry flavored chocolate.]
"Did you swallow?" David asked.
"Yeah, it tasted great," Malcolm said, "It was like a chocolate covered cherry except it was all hard chocolate."
"Try another one."
"Okay," Malcolm said, and reached into the package for another piece. When he was done, he said, excitedly, "that one was peach. Fred and George made fruit flavored chocolates."
"What's the trick?" David insisted on asking.
"I don't think there is one," Malcolm said, grabbing a third piece, "and for those two, that is a pretty good trick."
"That one was Pineapple," David said, "I love Pineapple."
*
"Merry . . . Christmas . . . Malcolm," Stevie said.
"Thanks for the comics," Malcolm said, "I've got a great present for you, but you've got to be careful."
Malcolm pulled out his wand and waved it in the air. A loud pop was heard as David Winter appeared and pulled the wand out of Malcolm's hand.
"My timing is impeccable," David Winter said. "Malcolm, you do understand that our general rule of no use of magic during vacations applies to you, as well as to everyone else. Why don't you try following the rules for once?"
"I can explain," Malcolm said, quickly.
"I doubt that," Mr. Winter said, "You have a perfect memory, Malcolm. That disqualifies you from using the 'I forgot,' excuse. If you were Reese you could use that excuse forever, but you aren't. Now, what were you trying to do?"
"Well, you know Stevie," Malcolm said.
"Hi . . . " said Stevie.
"Hi," David Winter said.
"I wanted to give him his Christmas present," Malcolm said. "I learned this spell to animate objects and I was going to cast it on Stevie's wheelchair. This way it could levitate and he can get up stairs, and use the top shelves of his bookcases, things like that."
"Even though it is illegal," David said.
"Is it?" Malcolm asked, innocently.
David looked at Malcolm, then looked at Stevie, sitting brokenhearted in his wheelchair.
"Fine," he told Malcolm, and turned his head to wipe away a tear. Meanwhile the two boys did a high five, and were standing there, and sitting there, looking completely innocent when David turned back.
"Did you know I could see the two of you in the mirror when I had my back turned?" David asked.
"Look, Mr. Winter," Malcolm said, "It's something that would really help Stevie out. That's why I want to do it. What good is magic if you can't help people."
"All right," David said, "but you had better be an angel for the rest of the time you are home, or the spell comes off. Understand. NO MAGIC."
David Winter cast the spell on the wheelchair, and a familiar looking man apparated into the room.
[I remember this guy. He's the review officer that tried to yell at my mom. I wondered what had happened to him. ]
"Okay Malcolm, I finally caught you," the former review officer said. "Where's your wand?"
Malcolm pointed behind him at David Winter, who was holding two wands, and smiling. David said, "Did you know it is illegal to monitor the user of a wand, you can only monitor the use of a wand."
The man raised his hand and pointed at David, then changed his mind and shut up.
"Excellent Idea," David Winter said, "Look, I know you're a jerk. You tried to bully students when you reviewed use of magic violations. And I know that this boy's mother fixed your wagon. However, now you are targeting Malcolm, and that is not allowed."
David gave his nicest smile, and added, "Here's the deal. If you go back to your office and file for an early retirement, then I will not get involved in a great deal of paperwork."
"Expletive Deleted," the officer said.
"I assume that is a yes," David Winter said, "considering your other option is to be fired."
"Yes," the former officer agreed, with bitterness, and disappeared.
[I love the government at work.]
"What . . . will happen . . . to him," Stevie asked.
"Hopefully, he'll retire and find some useful outlet for his anger," David said, "We'll keep an eye on him for a while . . . In case there is any trouble."
"Thanks, Mr. Winter," Malcolm said, "It was pretty good deal you offered him, though."
"I had to," David Winter said, "There are good people and bad people everywhere. And you will not believe this, but he was one of the good people, once. I had to leave him with at least a cloak of decency."
"What happened to him?" Malcolm asked, "He wasn't very good when I met him."
"And you would be the expert on that," David said, "There were changes in his life, that he couldn't handle. Let's leave it at that." Then he added, forcefully, "Malcolm, Stevie, NEVER mention this to anyone. My bosses expected him to do something like this so they could fire him, and make an example out of him. If they find out what I did, then I will become the example. Do you understand?"
Both boys nodded, and David told them, "It's like you said, Malcolm, what good is magic if you can't help people. And thank you for those chocolates. My wife loved them."
"He took my wand," Malcolm said, after David apparated.
"That . . . is a good . . . thing," Stevie said.
"So, do you want to check out my roof?" Malcolm asked, "It's a pretty good view from up there."
"Sure," Stevie said, "I'll . . . meet you . . . outside . . . your window."