Everyone was excited. The second task of the Tournament was taking place today. The stands were packed early and Malcolm was glad of his animagus abilities. He could fly over the crowds, and save some good seats. Hedwig helped.
"Where's Dewey?" Ginny asked.
"He couldn't make it," Malcolm explained. "He has to be in the school play. I think he's a cucumber or something."
"I'm sure he'll be an excellent cucumber," Neville said with a laugh.
"Where's everyone else?" Malcolm asked.
"You mean Ron and Hermione?" Ginny said, "They get to be the hostages in today's task. Victor Krum gets to rescue Hermione, and Harry has to rescue Ron."
"Okay," Malcolm said, "so where's Harry?"
"He's . . . somewhere," Ginny explained.
"Probably overslept," Fred chimed in from behind them.
"Fred's right," George said, pointing at a figure running toward the lake, "Here comes the Gryffindor Champion, now."
"Harry likes dramatic entrances," Fred added.
*
"He's just walking into the water," Ginny said.
"He brought some bubblegum with him," George said as they watched Harry put something in his mouth.
"Looks more like chewing tobacco," Malcolm said.
"Excuse me," Ginny said with annoyance, "can't either of you be serious?"
George and Malcolm looked at each other and laughed.
"Of course we could, dear sister," George said, "but what would be the point."
"There he goes," Neville yelled as Harry Potter plunged into the lake.
"Look," Fred said pointing, "Cedric made an air bubble so he can breath."
"The Beauxbatons girl did the same thing," George added, then adopted a solemn attitude, saying, "I now pronounce you Mister and Missus Bubblehead."
"The Bubbleheads are taking their bubblebath now," Neville said.
"That's the spirit, Neville," George told him, "why be serious when you can make fun of people."
"Look at Krum, " Ginny pointed out as the Bulgarian student dove into the lake, "He transfigured his head into a shark's head."
"That was neat," Fred told her, "but, Malcolm, why are you going dun dun dun?"
"It's from an old movie," Malcolm said, "and it's dun-dun, dun-dun, dun-dun . . . "
[I thought everybody heard of JAWS?]
"Is that it?" Malcolm asked after they made him stop with the movie themes.
"No," Fred said, "now we sit around for an hour and hope that nobody drowns."
"Well, at least Dewey isn't here to annoy us," Malcolm said.
"What do you mean?" Neville asked. "Someone has to cheer for the Squid."
"He IS getting good at this, " George told his brother.
*
"The hour set for the second task is now over," Ludo Bagman, the spokesman, said.
[I hope they show up soon. We're really beginning to annoy everyone around us.]
"There's somebody," Ginny called out, along with dozens of other people.
"It's Diggory," Fred announced with annoyance, "He's got Cho Chang with him. Where's Harry? He was the first to dive in."
A few minutes later, Fleur Delacour came out of the lake, alone. The small group sighed.
"At least she won't beat us," Fred said hopefully.
"Assuming Harry shows up with Ron," George added.
"Wait a minute," Malcolm said, excitedly, "She didn't come back with her sister. You said they took her sister hostage."
"Malcolm," Ginny said, grabbing his arm, "What are you talking about?"
"That poem, about leaving the bodies to rot," Malcolm said, nervousness creeping into his voice, then he became embarrassed as everyone began laughing.
"That was only to tell the time limit," Ginny said between giggles. "How could you believe they would let anyone get hurt."
Neville chided him, saying, "It's your genius, Malcolm, anyone else would have assumed the obvious."
[Thanks.]
"There's Krum," someone called out, and the Gryffindors turned to watch.
"He's got Hermione," Fred muttered.
"Don't worry," George said, unenthusiastically, "Harry will come through. We'll still win, somehow."
"It's just that . . . " Fred began to say, "I don't care about winning. Harry has a lot of pressure on him. And he didn't get in the Tournament the normal way."
"He'll be fine," George said, "There are too many safeguards for anything serious to happen."
"We're all worried," Ginny added.
"If he takes any longer, he could die of embarrassment," Neville said in an attempt at humor.
"You're right, George," Fred said with some cheer, "He is getting good at this."
Everyone turned to the lake as the crowd around them roared. Harry Potter had surfaced, finally. He had Ron with him, as well as a young girl, Fleur's sister. He was easy to spot because he was being escorted by a score of merpeople.
Ginny passed around the omniculars she had borrowed, and when Malcolm had his turn he looked to see Harry and Ron wade ashore along with the young girl.
"She's beautiful," Malcolm said, as he regretfully passed the omniculars to Neville. He turned to Ginny and said, smugly, "I guess I'm not the only one."
Ginny said nothing until the scores were announced. Harry Potter was given high marks for showing Moral Fiber, and was tied for first with Cedric Diggory.
"There's the difference, Malcolm. Harry has enough moral fiber that it can be seen without a magnifying glass."
[It figures. Potter and I make the same mistake. I get ridiculed, but they turn it around so they can praise him. It's like having Dewey as an older brother.]
As the crowd began to disperse, Malcolm looked over to where Madame Maxime stood, talking to Fleur and her sister. He watched as Fleur Delacour walked away to talk to Harry Potter.
"I'm going to meet her," he said.
"That girl?" Ginny said, "You can't be serious. She's only eight or nine."
"She can't be," Malcolm said, "I saw her eyes. She has to be older than that. I'm going to say hello."
"Malcolm, Don't," Ginny said as Malcolm disappeared, and an owl flew away from his seat. She looked down, judged the distance, and dropped to the ground as Fred and George landed on either side of her.
"I'll hold your seats," Neville called.
*
"Are you feeling better, Gabrielle?" Madame Maxime, the Beauxbatons Headmistress, asked her young charge.
"Oui, Madame," Gabrielle said in a low voice.
"I am zorry, Gabrielle" Madame Maxime whispered, "I know it is hard on you, but zey will learn to respect you. Zee what your sister has accomplished."
"Oui, Madame," Gabrielle said again, clutching the blanket around her, "I only wish that zomeone would zee me for what I am."
"Iz there a letter coming?" Madame Maxime asked, as an owl came flying toward her. She was also curious as to why three red-haired teenagers were running after it. Then the owl paused in midair and became Malcolm.
"Uh, um," Malcolm said as his tongue refused to work. He smiled sheepishly at the young French girl, who, after a pause, smiled back.
"My name iz Gabrielle," she said after the awkward silence, "What do you want with such a girl little as moi?"
"I know what it's like, " Malcolm said, "I've only just started growing, myself."
Madame Maxime, stared at the two, then noticed the way they were looking at each other. "Spring haz come early," she said to the air. Turning to Ginny and the twins, who were catching their breath, she asked, "And why are ze three of you `ere?"
"We're sorry," Ginny said, "we tried to stop Malcolm. He saw that little girl and thought she was older than she looks."
"After all," Fred said helpfully, "She's only, what, eight. We wanted to keep Malcolm from looking like a fool."
"`e `az already done zat," Madame Maxime said, harshly, "You children should `ave thought about yourzelves." She forced them to step away from Malcolm and Gabrielle, then began to lecture them. "You have no knowledge of Veela's, exzept perhaps, what you have read in the less reliable newspapers. Gabrielle may be small, but she iz one of the best of our first-year students. Do not let your minds deceive you."
"She's eleven?" The Twins said in surprise.
"She iz almost twelve," Madame Maxime said, "IF you want to judge `er properly, look at `ow she carries `erself."
" Malcolm said she was older," Ginny told Madame Maxime, "he said he saw it in her eyes."
"And lost his `eart," Madame Maxime said in a softer tone. The four looked back to see Gabrielle introducing Malcolm to her sister.
For some reason, Ginny blushed as she watched Gabrielle take Malcolm's hand in hers. "Shut up," she told her brothers before they could say anything. Then she sighed.
"Zis is a perfect case of puppy love," Madame Maxime said.
"What strange children," She added, as she watched the three redheads, bent over in laughter.
*
Malcolm stared at the girl, now that he had come face to face with her.
[I've got to say something witty and charming.]
"Uh, Um," Malcolm said smoothly.
After an awkward pause, the girl said, "`ello. My name is Gabrielle."
[Her name is Gabrielle. This is Great.]
"What do you want with such a girl little as moi?"
"I know what it's like," Malcolm said, "I've only started growing, myself."
[No, you idiot. Say something romantic. Something cool.]
"Uh, I'm Malcolm."
"`ello, Malcolm."
[She knows my name. This is great.]
"Do you like school?" Malcolm said, "yours, I mean."
"Yes, exzept for ze boys. They are zo childish."
[She thinks I'm childish. This is Great.]
"Yeah, they are. I can't stand them myself."
The older version of Gabrielle walked up to them and said, "and who is zis?"
"Fleur," Gabeielle said, smiling, "Zis is Malcolm. I know `is name. Iz that not wonderful?"
"That iz wonderful," Fleur said, "It iz a pleasure to meet you Malcolm, after meeting your brothers." Her smile widened as Fleur saw her sister take Malcolm's hand.
*
"That was hard to believe," Ginny said, at dinner, "Harry getting all those points for 'Moral Fiber'."
"I think it was nice of Harry to do that," Amber Dowling said. "It shows he has a warm heart."
"Speaking of warm hearts," EJ asked, "Where is Malcolm?" When Ginny snorted, he added, "and why is that funny?"
"Malcolm is having dinner with the Beauxbatons, in their coach," she said with an effort.
"How did he manage that?" EJ asked. He had learned, long ago, to expect the unusual when Malcolm was involved.
"Gabrielle Delacour," Ginny said, smugly. "Malcolm is going through a very bad case of, and I quote Madam Maxime herself, 'puppy love'."
After they finished laughing, EJ asked, "How old is she? She looked to be . . . "
"She's only six months younger than Malcolm," Ginny said, "It's something to do with being part Veela. Madam Maxime explained it. Gabrielle will catch up in the next few years, but she'll always look younger than her age."
"How did Malcolm know this?" Amber asked.
"He didn't. He said something about looking in her eyes." Ginny said.
"Hi Ginny," Fred and George said as they came in. "The strangest thing just happened to us."
"What did Malcolm do now?" Ginny asked, to general laughter.
"Do you want to tell her?" Fred asked.
"If you insist," George responded. "We have lent our brooms to Malcolm so that he and his little girlfriend can go flying."
"That was two brooms?" EJ asked, "for two people?"
"You have guessed correctly. You win the prize. Malcolm is going to fly."
A small crowd of Gryffindors got out of their seats and went outside to watch.
A confused Gregory Goyle overheard someone's comment as he walked into the Hall. He walked over to Draco and told him, "The Gryffindors have left"
"I don't want to hear it," Draco said, "the Gryffindors are going to be bragging about what happened all term. They went off to celebrate, I expect."
"No they didn't." Goyle said, "Malcolm is flying a broom."
"But Malcolm can't fly," Draco said loudly.
When Gregory simply nodded, a small crowd of Slytherins got up, and went outside.
*
"I am zorry Madam Pomfrey," Fleur Delacour said. "I am always careful not to make eye contact, but Gabrielle, she did not know to do that. I did not `ave this problem until I was much older than she iz."
"I am prepared," Madam Pomfrey said, cheerfully, "I'll put it down to one of the many problems I've had with Malcolm. Where is he now?"
"I had Gabrielle suggest they fly brooms for a while. He went to get zem."
Madam Pomfrey stopped in her tracks. "Fleur, Malcolm can't fly a broom."
"I think, maybe, `e does not know that," Fleur replied.
"We had better hurry," Madam Pomfrey said.
*
"The rumors are true, it appears," Dumbledore said as he stepped outside and joined the crowd.
"Apparently Malcolm has cured himself," Professor McGonagall pronounced.
"No he hasn't," A voice said from behind them.
"What do you mean, Poppy?" Albus asked.
"That girl Malcolm is with is part Veela, " Madame Pomfrey said, "and they made eye contact. Apparently, she is just old enough to affect men. Albus, Malcolm is enamoured, and we have to convince him to come down and take the antidote."
"Easily done," Albus said. "I'll take care of it."
"Malcolm can be difficult, Professor," Madam Pomfrey warned.
"Too true," Albus said, "Argus Filch still complains about him every day because of that time he stole Mrs. Norris."
Albus called out "Sonorus," then directed his amplified voice toward the two flyers. "Malcolm, Gabrielle, I need to talk to the two of you for a moment."
Dutifully, the two flew their brooms over to the headmaster, and landed, or, in Malcolm's case, plopped down.
"I'm sorry, Sir," Malcolm said, hastily, "I thought we were allowed to fly, as long as we had supervision. Madame Maxime was keeping an eye on us."
Albus held his hand up to silence the boy, "Malcolm, you have done nothing wrong. There seems to be a problem with Gabrielle." He held his hand up again as Malcolm started to interrupt. "Apparently, no one realized that she is old enough to, how shall we say it, come into her inheritance. She is part Veela, and as a result has the ability to influence the men around her. Even men as young as you are. We are afraid that you have been enamoured, and we need you to take this potion. Now."
Malcolm looked in disbelief at the vial.
[It would help me a lot if fifty people weren't watching me right now.]
He turned around and looked at Gabrielle who had turned her back on him. "I'm zorry," she said, "I did not want to believe it."
"How did I become enamoured?" he asked.
"It would have happened when you made eye contact," Madam Pomfrey answered.
"Excuse me," Ginny Weasley said, "I couldn't help overhearing."
"As close as you were standing, Miss Weasley, I am not surprised," Professor McGonagall said with amusement.
"Well, yes, but," Ginny said, "Malcolm first saw her through the omniculars I had. That was when he decided to fly over and talk to her."
"How interesting," Dumbledore said, as people began to stare. "Well then, Malcolm. You had best drink this, to make sure."
"Go ahead, Malcolm, zis will prove my point," Madame Maxime said as she walked up to the crowd.
Malcolm opened the vial, and drank the contents, making a nasty face. "What happens now?" he asked, as he returned the empty vial.
"That is up to you," Dumbledore said with a smile.
Malcolm went to Gabrielle and turned her around, but she made it a point to look down. Malcolm smiled and said, "My mom says it's rude not to look at people when they talk to you."
"Zen you were not enamoured," she asked, as she looked up at him
[Okay, Malcolm. Don't say anything stupid.]
"Not by magic," Malcolm said, and fifty-odd voices said "Awwwww."
[There is no blood left in my body. It has all gone to my face.]
[I `ave to tell you. He is not ze only one.]
"You zee," Madame Maxime said, "I know love, and I know magic." Then she added, to herself, "and I must talk to `agrid."
*
Malcolm was up bright and early to bid Gabrielle goodbye. As she came out of the Beauxbatons coach, she smiled and said, "I want to thank you for a wonderful time." He escorted her to the horseless carriage and opened the door for her. She hugged him and climbed in. As the coach began to leave, she called back, "I will tell Jean Paul `ow you kept me amused."
[What? Jean Paul? Amused? What the hell just happened?]