CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE SECOND DAY


[This is so stupid. How did I get stuck doing this. I bet I'm delivering a letter about me.]

Malcolm landed and changed back to his human form. He unwrapped the letter from his leg and waved his wand over it.

[Protection Spell. Letter can't be opened except by the person it's addressed to. Otherwise it sets of a magical alarm and deletes the message.]

Malcolm waved his wand and opened the letter. He read the letter, nodded, and rolled it back up. He waved his wand over it, and tied the parchment back to his leg. He changed back and resumed his flight to the Ministry of Magic, with a slight detour. He arrived at the street that Dewey had mentioned, but he didn't see the house. So he decided to wait for a while in case he saw someone he recognized.. After five minutes he fell asleep.

*

Tonks was bored. She was scouting the area surrounding the secret headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, but nothing was out of place. She rested against a tree, and watched as a suspicious looking man walked along. She had seen him plenty of times before but he still looked suspicious. The man turned the corner, and there was nothing to see. Then Tonks looked up.

"Whotcher. Are you lost, little'un?"

Malcolm woke up and looked down. "Whoo," he said.

"You, you silly thing," Tonks replied with a laugh. For a bit of fun she then changed her nose into a beak.

Malcolm ruffled his feathers and stared. He flew down from the tree and looked around.

Tonks laughed again. "Sorry to frighten you like that."

"I didn't expect it," Malcolm said as he stood up, and Tonks gave a squeal of surprise.

"I know you. We've met before. Whotcher, Malcolm." She held out her hand. "It's Tonks."

"You're welcome, but what did I do."

"You are the daft one. That's my name, Tonks."

"Sorry."

Tonks laughed again. "Don't be. I get that all the time. You said that the first time we met."

"I did?"

"I was the one who was going to take your place but there was a change of plans."

[Yeah. Draco Malfoy and the spoiled house elf.]

"You can change your shape?"

"They didn't tell you? I'm a metamorphmagus."

"Can you do animals?"

"Like an owl? I can do parts, but I have to stay human mostly. Why? What were you thinking? You are a bit young for me." Tonks laughed as Malcolm blushed.

"Can I ask a favor? I was looking for a house."

"Can't help you," Tonks said, the grin still strong on her face. "If you can't find the house, it isn't there."

[I do have the second best thing. She knows what I'm talking about.]

"Can you read a letter for me and tell me what you think?"

Malcolm held out the parchment. Tonks pointed out the name on the parchment and shook her head. Malcolm waved his wand over the parchment and Tonks smiled as the Minister's name disappeared and her own name took its place."

"That's a useful trick." Tonks took the parchment and unrolled it.

"When you deliver the mail, you learn a few things," Malcolm replied. "Is your privacy spell still working."

"You noticed that? You are a smart one."

"Thanks. What do you think, about the letter?"

"It is . . . interesting," Tonks said. "What's with this lady?"

"She's from the Ministry, and I think she's on an ego trip."

Tonks nodded. "Albus was right. The Minister for Magic does not trust him. And this lady is trouble, Malcolm. Stay far away from her."

"She wants me forced back into her class or expelled. What can I do?"

"I've got an idea," Tonks said. She seemed to shimmer and Malcolm was looking into his own face. He pointed at her/his hair.

"The bubblegum color adds an interesting touch."

"I'll add a nose ring or two," Tonks said with a laugh. "We'll give you a better image." The hair shimmered and became the proper color. "Why don't I return to school in your place." She paused, and said in a perfect imitation of Malcolm's voice. "Is this cool or what?"

[That was good.]

"Malcolm, is there anything I need to know?"

"Here's the my class schedule, the password to Gryffindor is Golden Snitch and if you need to get into my trunk, just kick it and say 'open up'."

"The password to your trunk is 'open up'?"

"It used to be 'hey, open up', but I changed it when I added the kick."

Tonks grabbed a quill and parchment and quickly wrote a note. "Best you deliver that letter to the Minister in one piece, and drop this off to Albus when you're done. I'll see you at Hogwarts."

"Thanks," Malcolm said sincerely, "but why are you doing this. It's nice for me but . . ."

"You're supposed to be smart, Malcolm. Isn't it obvious. If you're at the school taking your classes, then you can't be the owl that is delivering her letters."

[I can't tell if that's a good thing.]

"But I can't be an owl all of the time."

"You won't have to be. Only when Professor Umbridge needs to post a letter. And you still have to do your own homework. I'll hand it in for you but that is as far as I go."

*

"Complaints already," Cornelius Fudge mused. "I told her to observe only. What do you make of this, Lucius. Your son is a mate of this boy Malcolm."

Lucius Malfoy smiled as he took the letter from the Minister. He also smiled as he saw the owl watching him. "It's worse than that, Cornelius. This boy is my nephew."

"Is he the lowlife that everyone says is related to you?"

The owl squawked.

"Lowlife? I think not. I have found him to be an honest albeit impetuous young man."

"I trust what you are telling me, Lucius but I must explain my concern. Dumbledore claimed that Malcolm will support his statements about You-Know-Who."

Lucius smiled. "Did you ask Malcolm?"

"Of course not . . ."

"There you have it," Lucius said smoothly. "If you could ask Malcolm this instant, he would assure you that he knows nothing about all of this." Lucius paused and looked at the owl. "Isn't that correct, Malcolm?"

"I can explain everything," Malcolm said quickly. "It wasn't my fault. All she's doing is giving us books to read, and I read all of them before the first class. . . ."

[Only the first one, but I did read all the titles on the rest of them.]

" . . . And when I tried to explain, she cut me off, so I went and hid in the owlery. Then she grabbed me when I was sleeping and wrapped the letter around my leg." He shrugged his shoulders. "What could I do?"

[They don't have to laugh like that.]

"That," Cornelius Fudge said with difficulty, "is the funniest excuse I have heard in a long time. You were actually forced to deliver her complaint against you?"

"Ir's an owl thing, Sir. You wouldn't understand."

[At least he's in a good mood. I just wish he'd stop laughing.]

"Malcolm, Dumdbledore suggested that you could give evidence to support Harry Potter's wild claims about what happened during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Can you?"

"I have to insist on being completely honest. I was asleep most of that day. In fact, I spent the next few days in the infirmary with a high fever. I never went to the tournament. I even had to ask who won."

"As I told you," Lucius said proudly.

"And you remember nothing during that time?" the Minister asked.

[There's a British saying I always liked. In for a penny, in for a pound."]

"I do remember Uncle Lucius standing over me at one point, asking how I was. I don't remember giving him a coherent answer."

Fudge nodded. "Then you don't know anything about your old house, either."

"I was told it was a gas line explosion, Sir. A friend told me that the police were saying it was probably an accident."

"Probably?"

"Well, with Reese around you can never be too sure. And my family were away visiting friends. If it was my call, I'd say it wasn't an accident."

Cornelius Fudge nodded. "Why don't you get something to eat, Malcolm. I might as well use your abilities and let you return with my reply. I will also have a letter for Dumbledore. Can you handle two letters?"

"I can put the second one in my pocket," Malcolm explained. "Do I have to let Professor Umbridge know that I was the one who delivered her letter?"

The Minister grinned. "I think I should be the one to tell her."

Lucius put his arm on Malcolm's shoulder. "I suppose I should show my nephew around, Cornelius, unless there is something else you need to discuss?"

"I think we've covered everything, Lucius. And under the circumstances, I do thank you for coming by."

*

"You played that rather well, Malcolm," Lucius said as he escorted Malcolm to the dining room. "It is always smart to leave yourself a bolt hole. I also appreciate the fact that you left room for me, should our side not prevail."

"I'm always happy to help."

"Malcolm, surely that was not sarcasm."

"Look, Mr. Malfoy . . ."

"Uncle Lucius. Your started calling me that. Continue to do so."

"Yes Sir. Anyway, this was not the way I planned on spending my day. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I have half the teachers at school mad at me right now. Pardon me if I sound sarcastic."

"Cheer up, young man. You have made the Minister for Magic a happy man. He will surely put in a good word for you."

As they stepped into the elevator, Malcolm was surprised to see a familiar figure. "Hey, Percy."

"Hello, Malcolm. I would say it's a pleasure to meet you but I don't care for the company you keep."

"Always a Weasley," Lucius sneered. "He understands the sensible course concerning Dumbledore, but he still has his inane prejudices."

[I feel like the referee at a boxing match. My next words should be 'we want a good clean fight'.]

"You know, just because someone agrees with you it doesn't mean that he's really a nice guy."

Percy gave a surprised smile. "Was that remark meant for your uncle or for me."

Lucius smiled thinly. "I admit I am curious about your answer."

Malcolm smiled at both of them, "Is this our floor, Uncle Lucius? I'm starving."

"You are quite the diplomat, Malcolm," Percy called out from the elevator.

"I would have used a different word," Lucius muttered to Malcolm, "but you probably wouldn't know what it means."

"I'll bet you a Galleon that I do."

*

"My, you are an efficient little thing," Umbridge said as the owl flew into her window and perched on her desk. It raised its foot and the Professor untied the letter. As she opened the letter, the owl flew to the floor, and Malcolm stood up.

"Before you read that letter I just want to say that I'm very, very sorry. I didn't mean any of it. I'll never do it again. I'll even write the Declaration of Independence fifty times with that quill if you want me too."

Dolores Umbridge controlled her surprise with relative ease. With equal ease she guessed where Malcolm had hidden and that she was the reason he could not be found. With a thinly veiled smirk, she opened the letter."

"You're not in America, Malcolm. You should offer to copy the Magna Carta. But why don't we wait until I read what the Minister has to say before I decide what to do?"

"You're going to kick me out." Malcolm looked completely defeated.

"When I get bored with your games I will do just that, but the Minister has made a better suggestion. I believe I will let the Headmaster decide your punishment. I am curious to see if he is as lackadaisical as I think he is. You may go, Malcolm." As Malcolm opened the door, she called him back. "Young man, I want you to understand this. When I want a favor from you, you will do it, no questions asked. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"You may go, you horrid boy."

*

"Sit down, Malcolm" Albus Dumbledore said. He was not smiling.

"I have a letter for you, Professor. From the Minister."

"You have had a busy day." Dumbledore took the letter and quietly read it. "I will have to tell Tonks that her scheme will not work, as Professor Umbridge knows you are the owl who delivered the letter. I doubt that it was a good idea anyway. It would be difficult for someone to impersonate you. They would always do something predictable, and that would show their hand."

"Yes, Sir."

"Malcolm, I have already spent too many days with you. I want to know why you are here in my office."

"Because I walked out of my detention."

"To be accurate, you flew out. And you flew to David Winter. Why?"

"It's the government paperwork, Sir. They didn't have any record of Nob and they started to make inquiries. I ask Mr. Winter to send them a letter telling them that the paperwork was done in the United States, but because of the Witness Protection Program, they couldn't finalize it. Now, the British government will assume it's taken care of."

"Malcolm, if I had not told you, in the presence of your family, that I would deal with such a problem if it arose, you might have had a convincing argument. Again, I will ask you why? And why the charade of storming out of detention?"

[I swear it. He knows what I'm doing.]

"My dad asked me to take care of it. He gets emotional about this, and I felt I had to do it. I planned to pretend I hid in the owlery all night, but then Professor Umbridge . . ."

"I know the rest, Malcolm. And I do not consider it a satisfactory answer. Do you have anything else you wish to add?"

Malcolm hung his head. "No, Sir."

"Very well. Professor McGonagall is waiting to escort you back to Gryffindor. She has a few ideas of her own on how to deal with you."

Albus Dumbledore brusquely showed Malcolm to the door.

[He's actually scowling at me. I almost willing to tell him.]

*

Professor McGonagall sat Malcolm down. She was scowling as well. "It is my decision as to what should be done with you. Expulsion is still on the list. Why should I let you stay at Hogwarts?"

"There isn't any," Malcolm said sadly. "I've made such a mess of things, it would be best for everyone if I left."

"Please, Malcolm. Maudlin does not become you."

"I mean it. I was trying to be nice, but some people don't care. Professor Umbridge wants everyone to fit in the same box, and we can't. I was trying to make that point, and it got out of hand. Now she hates me."

"So you decided to fly to your old home and made a detour?"

"No. I needed to disappear for awhile, so I decided to spend the time delivering a message for my dad. Dumbledore even asked me why I didn't talk to him about it."

"And you said?"

"Nothing."

McGonagall frowned, but with concern, not anger. "What happened, Malcolm? Between you and me."

"You won't tell?"

"Not even if it would help you, but I need to know, and I think you know that."

"It was when I delivered the letter to the Minister. Uncle Lucius was there, and he recognized me." Malcolm paused. "They were talking about Harry Potter and his claims about Voldemort."

"The Minister for Magic has made his views known."

"And I pretty much confirmed them."

"Did you lie, Malcolm?"

"No, but I twisted the truth enough that it doesn't make a difference. I know you're having problems with the Ministry and I just made things worse."

"Balderdash," McGonagall said emphatically. "Cornelius Fudge is a pompous fool. The only difference you made is that he'll be slightly more smug about what he does than he would have been. And to be honest with you, Malcolm, most people won't notice the difference. Now, about your detentions . . ."

"I'm not being expelled?"

[I'm not being expelled!]

"For making a fool of yourself? If that was grounds for expulsion, all of the students and most of the teachers would be thrown out of here. I need to know: Do you still refuse to take Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

"Yes," Malcolm said darkly.

"Good. You may have lost your sanity but at least you still have your intelligence. I've asked for suggestions while I waited for you to return, and Professor Snape gave me an excellent one. The schedules coincide which makes it convenient. You are now his student aide for his first year class with the Gryffindors and Slytherins. You will also tutor any of the students if needs be."

"That's Dewey's class."

"He will be so happy to see your there."

"Can I take away house points? If someone misbehaves?"

"Only from your own house."

[Damn. He would be in Slytherin.]

McGonagall smiled at Malcolm's scowl. "You will also tutor select first and second years in Transfiguration. I will give you the names and times. You will also make yourself available for any teacher or staff member who needs assistance as long as it does not conflict with a previous commitment. You will be the most useful student in the school. I'm sure no one will complain. You may return to Gryffindor now."

As Malcolm opened the door, he was called back. "I know more than you think, Malcolm. Dewey and I had a very informative discussion. He knows what you will be going through and he is worried. He told me several times that he may be affected by it."

[Yeah. She did talk to Dewey.]

"Thank you, Professor. And thank Dewey for me if you get the chance. It should confuse him."

As the door closed, Professor McGonagall shook her head. She had taken away almost all of his free time for the next year and he still managed to leave her office with a smile.

*

"I won't believe it," the first year boy said. "Euan warned us about you and your tricks."

"You read the announcement they posted," Matthew Zeller said. "All I am suggesting is that we approach this as a group. We have a better bargaining position that way."

"They're paying us money," a girl pointed out. "What do we have to bargain for."

"What do we have to bargain with?" another girl asked

"It's a risk, I admit," Matthew explained, "but there is always risk in any business. I know that because my father taught me. The Weasley's tricks may be cheap spells, but they may be good. You asked what we had to bargain with. Ourselves. Ten willing and honest applicants. Their gags may be good but we can tell them if they will be popular. And you asked what we had to bargain for. Payment in kind. You test ten gags, you get ten gags to use or sell."

Euan was the first one to smile. "That could be a good deal for us but will they go for it?"

"They already have. It may cost more for them to do their tests, but there is something they'll have that is more valuable. Ten willing and confident sales people."

One boy smirked, "You are a conniving . . ."

"I prefer the word clever," Matthew said with a grin. "Does anyone object?"

No one did, at that time. Later on, Hermione Granger did, but the first years found plenty of empty classrooms.