A/N: originally I had not planned on Malcolm and his family going anywhere over the Christmas holidays. The result was that I originally wrote the story about Stevie's gift from the perspective of Malcolm relating what happened during his vacation. (This is why I always finish my stories before I post.) As I was proofing the story, it didn't feel right, and I started to think about Malcolm visiting someone. The only people available were the Malfoys. I will admit I was as surprised as Lois when Lucius gave here the house elf, but what could I do. (Did you notice how I gave the creative names to these chapters.)



Chapter Seventeen: The Seventeenth Chapter

Harry Potter woke up with someone shaking him. "What is it?" he asked as he reached for his glasses to find Reese standing next to him. "Reese? What are you doing here?"

"I had to tell you first, Harry," Reese said, "The Papers went through."

"What Papers? What are you talking about."

"The Adoption Papers," Reese said, "As of midnight, the two of us are brothers. Isn't that GREAT?"

*

"What happened?" Hermione asked as she stood outside the boy's dorm.

"It was Harry," Ron told her, as Ginny joined them, "He had another nightmare. He doesn't remember what it was about, but he said it was horrible."

"He must have been dreaming about his parents again," Hermione surmised, "and about You-Know-Who. I wish there was something we could do."

*

"Malcolm, welcome back," EJ said, as he sat down in the compartment, "Did you have a wonderful holiday?"

"It was strange," Malcolm said. "I almost got in trouble for one of my gifts, but Mr. Winter came through for me again."

"Did anyone get arrested?" Dennis Creevey asked.

"Not this time," Malcolm said to the disappointed first-year, "but I did have three agents from the Department of Magic visit my friend Stevie. This is what happened:"

*

"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." He 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. Why don't you try following the rules for once?"

"I can explain," Malcolm said.

"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 it 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.

"Like you never broke the law," Malcolm said.

"I stretched the truth a few times," David admitted then looked at Stevie, sitting broken hearted in his wheelchair. His face showed his disappointment in such a manner that it touched David's heart. "I'll do it for you," 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 two agents from the Department of Muggle Artifacts appeared.

"Okay Malcolm, we finally caught you," the first agent said. "Where's your wand?"

Malcolm pointed behind them at David Winter, who was holding two wands. David was smiling at them.

"I used to know your boss when he was a division head, instead of a branch chief," David said, "Did you know it is illegal to monitor the user of a wand, you can only monitor the use of a wand."

One of the agents raised his hand and pointed at David, then changed his mind and shut up.

"Excellent Idea," David Winter said, "Look, I know your boss is a jerk. He tried to bully students when he reviewed use of magic violations. Malcolm's Mom fixed his wagon. Now he's targeting Malcolm, and that is grossly illegal. Here's the deal. You have just reported this violation to me. I will pass it on unless your boss takes an early retirement . . . "

"I'm for that," the first agent said.

"Me, too," the second agent said.

"I think he'll go for it," David Winter said, "considering his other option is to be fired. But I don't think the two of you should have to worry about this. You need a little information on me, just in case."

The agents looked at Stevie, who was practicing with the vertical lift on his wheelchair. "It seems to me," the one agent said, "that the spell you cast could be considered an illegal use of a muggle artifact. If anyone asks, we will have to tell them about it."

[I love the government at work.]

After shaking hands the two agents from muggle artifacts left, and Stevie asked his question to David, "Who is . . . going to ask . . . about this."

"Their replacements," David said, "Eventually they will either be promoted or they'll retire. Either way, I owe them a favor, and they owe me one. And you, Stevie, are the favor they owe me."

"Thanks, Mr. Winter," Malcolm said, "It was great of you to offer to do this."

"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.

*

"And that's what happened," Malcolm said, "more or less."

"I believe you," EJ said with a laugh, "You worked out a deal with a government agent just to get somebody fired."