A/N: Thanks to Romm, Myr and Muggle1 for telling me how to correct the problem with the new postings.

In the spirit of one bad joke deserves another. This is for Mandraco. "Professor Umbridge lost her composer, but now he's Bach."



CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR: WALKING DOWN MEMORY LANE


"Malcolm's starting to act weird," Dewey whispered. "I mean, weird even for Malcolm."

"It's the shock," David explained. "He's recovered from the physical shock, but the emotional shock is beginning to take effect."

"Should we stop him?" Dewey asked.

"I suppose we should," Tonks admitted.

"Please don't," Sirius Black said. "I'm actually enjoying this."

They continued to watch as Malcolm berated the portrait of Sirius's Mother.

"Yeah, it's easy for you to sit there and yell about people trespassing, but you don't do anything about it."

"I told you to get out of my house," screeched the portrait.

"Make me," Malcolm sneered. "You're such a coward you don't even do anything. Go ahead, call the police. I dare you, you ugly old windbag."

[I have no idea what is really going on but it feels good to actually yell at someone. And if I get in trouble, I can just tell the police my name is Reese.]

The portrait was furious. "How dare you, you impudent mudblood."

"That does it, lady," Malcolm shouted. "You're getting a mustache." He turned to the group watching him. "Does anybody have a marker pen?"

"I'll find one," Sirius offered.

*

Piama watched as Francis wrote down the latest information. "How is your family tree going?"

"This is amazing," Francis said. I've been able to trace Dad's side of the family back for five generations without a problem."

"And your Mom's side?"

"Well, we know we're related to the Malfoys but we don't want to admit that to anyone if we don't have to. I did find some relatives of my mom's mother. I told you that Grandmother Death Star was born in Germany, but her family left between the world wars. And this is the part I just found out. Her father, my Great-grandfather, settled in England and stayed here with his son, while Grandma managed to alienate most of the country and probably had to flee to America when she was only eighteen. That means we could actually have normal relatives, and in this country."

"You sound like you need a break," Piama said as she whispered something into his ear.

"Definitely," Francis said as he put his notes away.

A popping noise was heard behind them. "Sorry to bother you," Arthur Weasley said. "I was stopping off at home and thought I would drop by. These are the employment notices I told you I would bring . . . Did I come at a bad time?"

"It's not a problem," Francis said as he let go of Piama, "but you do know that my parents left to go home. It seems the insurance company rebuilt the house for them."

Arthur looked at them in feigned ignorance. "I think that is wonderful. It's nice to know that a small word can go a long way."

Piama looked up. "A small word?"

Arthur smiled sheepishly. "I have a cousin who is, I regret to say, an accountant. As was required over the holidays, I had a short conversation with him where, for lack of anything else to talk about, I mentioned our new neighbors and what happened to their old house." Arthur paused. "To make a long story short, I ended up telling him everything your parents told me, and he had a word with this Issuance company. I believe the word was 'audit'."

Piama hugged Arthur. "Thank you. That was a generous thing you did, even if they aren't my parents, and even if they don't like me, and even if they made it a point to exclude me when they told Francis to visit them soon, and even . . ."

"Piama, he gets the picture," Francis said. "Arthur, what happens to this house? My dad said it was ours until the end of the month."

"It will be sold, probably to some muggle family. I was told it may be empty for quite a while. This house seems to have a reputation." Arthur waved goodbye and disapperated.

"What are you thinking?" Piama asked.

"I was thinking that if this house has a reputation, we might have enough money for a down payment."

"Wait a minute. What kind of reputation does this house have."

"Let me see," Francis said. "My family lived here for almost a year. We alienated the local school board. Oh yeah, Next door is a family of wizards and witches who think people like us are fascinating. So, would you like to stay?

"Do you mean it? Live here?"

"It's a thought."

*

"Wait a minute," Reese said. "What do you mean I moved?"

Headmaster Filch smiled. "It seems that your parents had their house rebuilt, and decided to move back to the States. You will be happy to know that you no longer need to attend this school after the end of term."

"You can't mean that," Reese insisted. "I like it here. It's great. I don't have to go home after classes are over."

"That is irrelevant," Filch said as his smile grew larger. "You will probably fail all your courses anyway because you never study. And your finals begin in three days."

"Finals?"

Headmaster Filch was gratified at the dumbfounded expression on the boy. He walked back to his office with a lightness to his step.

Reese yelled after him, "I will study." He turned around and went to search for Anthony.

"What?" Anthony asked when he was found.

"I said I want you to tutor me and I asked why you were in the broom closet by yourself."

"I . . . I was waiting for someone," Anthony lied, and Reese nodded. "Why do you want me to tutor you now? School is over next week."

"Not now. Tomorrow. I'm going to see Millicent tonight."

"Reese, what do I get out of this? Every time I help you, I get hurt by it in some fashion."

"It's easy. If I fail, I have to take everything again next year." Reese paused. "Hey, then we'd be in the same year. We could go to class together."

"I'm sure it would be fun," Anthony said quickly. "But think of your parents. I'd be more than happy to tutor you."

"Great. Let's go."

"To study? I thought you were going to visit your girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"Reese, think about this. Do you really want to bring someone along when you go to visit your girlfriend?"

"Yeah. You can watch out for us."

Anthony nodded. "That's actually a good idea but I can't. I have to work in the kitchen tonight, for some reason."

"What reason is that?"

"I'll think of one."

*

"We're home," Lois said happily. "We're actually back in our very own house."

"And completely brand new," Hal pointed out.

"Can I have my own room?" Nob asked.

"Only until your brothers come home." Lois said, as she opened the door. "Hal, there's no furniture."

"I've thought of that," Hal said quickly. "I've already called the bank about a mortgage on our new home. We can buy everything we want and pay it back over the next twenty years."

"Oh, Hal," Lois said lovingly.

"I told you I would take care of things," Hal said as he kissed her.

"I'm going to the park," Nob said as he quickly walked out of the house. He ran across the lawn and almost ran into his neighbor who was putting up a for sale sign. He politely apologized, surprising his neighbor tremendously.

*

"It's time to go," David said as he pulled Malcolm away from the portrait, which was empty as Sirius's mother had fled to another painting out of Malcolm's reach.

"Promise me," Malcolm said. "You will draw the rest of the mustache on the other side of her face?"

"When I get the chance," David said. "Dewey, are you ready."

"I'll be right there," Dewey called, then turned back to Kreacher. "Next time you're there, tell Aunt Narcissa I miss her."

"Kreacher promises," Kreacher said fawningly. "Kreacher is happy to do favors for a proper wizard."

"Awe," Dewey gushed, "I'm still just a student." He left the old house elf and joined his brother in front of the fireplace."

"You're not the bubblegum lady," Malcolm was saying.

"No, I'm not," Remus Lupin said in a confused tone. "I've only arrived to visit my friend."

"Okay," Malcolm said carefully. "I have to ask because things are a little confusing. Like that lady behind that small window there." He pointed at the portrait.

"You'll like Mother's new look," Sirius whispered to Remus.

"Are we ready?" David said.

"For what?" Malcolm asked.

"We're leaving. We're going to step into the fireplace and travel to your Great-Grandfather's house. He's expecting us." David paused as Malcolm looked confused. "Did you understand what I said?"

"No," Malcolm insisted. "What I heard was that we were traveling by way of the fireplace."

David nodded as Remus looked confused. As Sirius whispered that he would explain later, David told Malcolm. "It's probably those delusions again. Just pretend that we're really doing that and you should be fine."

[Right. Like I really need to pretend I'm going mad.]

"Sure. No problem."

David threw floo powder into the fireplace, and called out a name. He motioned Malcolm to walk into the green flame, and the boy did so.

"Why was he laughing like that?" Dewey asked.

"To put it nicely, your brother is going mad. Why do you think he blindly went along with what I said?"

"We'd better follow him," Dewey said, and jumped into the fireplace, with David right behind him.

"You were going to explain what was going on," Remus said.

Sirius's grin faded. "Where do I start?"

"Malcolm would be a good place."

"Good choice. We'll start with the funny parts and end with the grim. Look up there, at mother."

"Is that a mustache?"

"Only half a mustache. Courtesy of Malcolm."

Remus laughed heartily but stopped quickly when he saw Sirius's face. "And what happened to Malcolm?"

"Apparently he attacked Headmistress Umbridge and she punished him by breaking his wand, kicking him out of school, and completely erasing all of his memories of magic. The American counsel is taking the boys to a relative's house for safe keeping. On top of everything else, Death Eaters may have been following them."

Lupin shook his head. "I can't believe that woman would do something like that."

"It gets worse. I assume you haven't heard about McGonagall?"

Lupin sat down quickly to prepare himself for the shock. Sirius gave him a smile full of malice. "Umbridge and several others attacked Rubeus Hagrid around midnight in an effort to sack him. Minerva tried to intervene and was stunned three or four times, right in the chest."

"And Hagrid?"

"The Giant fought them off and fled. He's with Dumbledore."

Remus was about to comment when a loud noise was heard. "Was that Buckbeak?"

"Yes it was." Sirius jumped up and ran to the attic room with Remus close behind. They were still there some time later when the fireplace flared up and a face appeared. It was Harry Potter. And Kreacher was there to greet him.

*

"Hi, Millicent."

"Reese," the Slytherin girl said happily. "You found me."

Ginny Weasley, whom Millicent had taken charge of holding, ran out of the room when she was let go.

"I'll get her," Draco shouted and ran out after her. Out of curiosity, Reese and Millicent followed them into the hallway, closing the door behind them.

"Ginny, wait," Draco called.

"Why should I?" Ginny yelled back.

"You forgot your wand."

Ginny stopped and turned. Draco was standing there holding her wand out to her.

"Why are you doing this? What's your plan, Malfoy?"

"It used to be Draco," the Slytherin said.

"Candy," Reese asked.

"I'd love a piece," Millicent said. "What are these?"

"Jelly Babies," Reese explained.

Ginny fumed. "Draco was a decent boy under trying circumstances. You've proven you are not the same person."

Draco sneered. "I think you're the one who changed. Now that you have that Michael Corner to go out with."

"That has nothing to do with this. Besides, we broke up."

"You did?" Draco asked with a hint of happiness. "I mean, it serves you right."

"Like Umbridge's little puppet would care."

"I was only looking for an opening to get back at her. You wanted to know what my plan was? I'll tell you what it is now. To have you do it for me. That's why I want ALL OF YOU to escape. You can go after her."

"It's nice to see they still care for each other," Reese said.

Millicent agreed. "I've always loved reading about them. It was like a live romance novel."

"And when did you think of this?"Ginny asked.

"About you getting my revenge for me? A minute ago, when we ran out of her office."

Draco and Ginny noticed Reese and Millicent standing next to them. Both of them walked down the corridor for privacy only to see the other two following them. Draco shrugged his shoulders.

"Here, Ginny. Just take your wand and cast some hex on me. Then you can free your friends."

"And what about your friends?"

"They may still like that . . . witch, but I don't care anymore."

"That isn't like you, Draco. What happened?"

"You don't know?"

"This is great," Millicent said, "Draco now reveals his undying love."

"No, it's to early," Reese pointed out. "You heard the cue. He's going to make a secret revelation that will change both their lives."

"Will you two please SHUT UP," Draco yelled.

*

"How long has he been like this?" EJ asked.

"We've been watching his condition get worse all day," David Winter answered. "I tried to keep him calm by telling him he was seeing things."

EJ groaned. "This is bad. I wish we had an easier time for all of this."

"What do you mean?"

"We need to get Malcolm to believe in magic. He needs to be convinced that he can do magic or the final part of his plan will not work."

David Winter groaned in turn. "And I've been assuring him all day that he was imagining everything."

EJ shook his head. "I wish Amber had managed to get to him in time."

"It's my fault," Dewey said. "I didn't want to tell Mr. Winter too much. I messed it all up."

"No, you didn't," EJ told the boy. "You did a remarkable job, considering what happened. I'm amazed that you're here. Umbridge arranged things so that none of your relatives or the teachers could intervene. She was relying on Mr. Winter's dislike for Malcolm to make his condition as bad as possible. And Amber was amazed when I sent her the message that we were having old friends for dinner."

"Mr. Vector," David asked.

"Please call me EJ. I consider you more of a friend for what you've done."

"EJ, I was curious how you know so much about me?"

"Malcolm told me. That should have been obvious. Now, I need to ask you a question. How involved are you in what has been going on, on the larger scale?"

"I must decline to answer that."

"He knows a lot," Dewey offered. "He even knew about the guy following us through the train station."

EJ smiled. "Dewey, could you check on your brother. Make sure that he's safe."

"He is. He's sitting in front of the window rocking back and forth." Dewey looked up. "Jeezel. Just tell me you want to talk in private. I hate it when people make excuses."

As Dewey walked away, EJ looked at David. "How do you feel about conspiracies?"

"It depends on what we are conspiring about."

"Your name came up about joining a special group."

David smiled in understanding. "Then that would explain the hidden house."

*

"That {DELETED}," Ginny yelled as Draco finished explaining about Malcolm. She began to cry and Draco instinctively took her into his arms.

Reese was in his element. He was in a rage of righteous indignation. "You need them freed," he offered to Ginny. "I'll take care of them for you." He turned around and marched into the room, where Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Ron Weasley where still being held by four Slytherins.

"What's going on," a sixth year Slytherin girl asked as Reese demonstrated his right hook. He followed it with a one two punch at the next Slytherin, who also went down. Then he turned on Crabbe and Goyle. "Which one of you hit my brother?"

Crabbe let Neville go, and happily raised his hand. Goyle gave a matching smile and raised his hand as well. Both pulled out their wands and cast spells. Unfortunately, Reese grabbed both wands and pointed them at each other. Both Slytherins went flying into the opposite walls and sank to the floor.

"Um, Thanks," Neville said.

"Um, Um," Ron said through his gag.

"You have a nice fighting style," Luna commented.

"Nobody messes with my brother."

*

"After I saw him, I confronted Umbridge. She bragged about it. That's all I can say," Draco said sadly, still holding Ginny in her arms.

"I promise, Draco, if we can ever work things out between our families . . ."

"If the sun ever rises in the west," Draco said without humor. "There is still the problem of your friend Potter."

"He means nothing to me," Ginny said in a haughty voice, forcing a smile to Draco's lips.

"Then Potter isn't a problem," Draco said in the same tone. He added softly, "You'll want these."

Ginny took Harry's and Hermione's wands from him gratefully. "I promise, we'll make her regret it," she added in an equally soft tone. She leaned into him. Their lips met, and Ron said from behind Draco, "Ginny, what are you doing?"

Ginny and Draco quickly pulled apart. Flustered, Ginny looked at Draco who pointed at the wands in her hands. She looked at Ron, and said unconvincingly, "I've got Harry's and Hermione's wands."

"And I'll get them back," Draco said theatrically.

Ginny cast the first spell she could think of, then whispered a quick apology.

Draco attempted to say, "It's quite all right," but it came out as "Aargh," as flying bogies began to attack him.

"Eewww," Ron said when he saw what Ginny had done. "That's disgusting."

"Ron," Neville said as he watched in fascination as Draco ran down the hall bumping into almost everything, "we have to rescue Harry and Hermione."

"Right, follow me. I have a good idea of where they went." They began to run to the school entrance.

Luna paused to look at Ginny. "I'd hate to see the two of you when you have a fight."

"Speaking of fights, would you care to join us?"

"I'd love to," Luna said, and they ran after the two boys."

"You were wonderful," Millicent said.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that," Reese apologized.

"Don't worry about it. They're my housemates. I should have stopped you. I know, I'll make it up to them by forcing you to leave."

"You're making me leave the school. Why?"

"It's a nice night. We should be outside."

"Millicent, you are a genius at times."

"Can I have another candy? No, not a green one."

*

"It's all true," Dewey said to Malcolm. "Look at my wand. I made that light by magic."

"I know the trick, Dewey. It uses penlight batteries."

"Then what about David changing the chair into a pig."

"I've seen holograms before. All you've done is show me how much more advanced they are then I remembered."

"The fact that he levitated your chair?

"I noticed he didn't lift it very high. You need a stronger wire."

"Malcolm, Magic is real. We've told you that. You remember the trip through the fireplace. Remember when we walked through the wall."

"SHUT UP, DEWEY." Malcolm yelled. "It's all lies, and you know it." He curled up into the chair and began to rock slowly back and forth again.

"He is getting worse," EJ admitted. "We expected this. He lost too many memories, and his mind can't handle it."

"I'm here," Professor Vector called out as she walked in the door, broom in hand. "I had to take the long way, but I think I have what we need."

"Amber," EJ said happily, "you received my last message."

"And it was timely as well. We were able to get back to Hogwarts, but we had to fly from there. Things are deteriorating at the school. I think Umbridge has lost her footing in reality. How is Malcolm?"

"He's getting worse, and more quickly than we thought."

"He needs another shock," Amber said, "and a healthy one." She turned to her companion and said, "It's up to you."

*

"That is so cool," Millicent said. "Do you see how fast they're flying."

"Isn't that the Potter kid. I've seen him fly fast before."

"Without a broom?"

"Yeah, that is different."

*

Malcolm was slowly rocking back and forth, trying not to think about anything when he felt a hand touch his chin. Fearfully, he opened his eyes to see what monster was attacking him now. Instead, he saw a vision.

"Bonjour, Malcolm."

"You're beautiful. Are you an angel?"

"You can still flatter," Gabrielle said. "They told me you had forgotten everything. Did you forget me?"

"If I did, then I am a fool."

"My foolish Malcolm," Gabrielle said and her lips gently brushed his. "You have proven to me once again that magic is real."

"Magic is real?"

Gabrielle smiled. "Of course it is. Magic made you forget, and magic will let you remember. But you need to believe."

Malcolm slowly sat in a normal position. He grabbed her hand and held it with both of his. "If you say it is so, then I believe."

"Malcolm," a voice softly called. He turned around and saw a woman standing there with a large bowl in her hand. "This is a pensieve," she told him. "It contains all of the thoughts that were stolen from you. If you are willing we will show you how to put them back in your head."

Malcolm looked at Gabrielle who smiled encouragingly and squeezed his hand.

[I would do anything for this girl. I can't believe she likes me.]

"What do I have to do?"

"You need your wand," EJ said and handed it to him.

"I saw him break his wand," David Winter whispered to Dewey.

"He always carries a spare," Dewey whispered back. "After what happened last year."

"He is a clever boy. He thought of everything."

David watched as Professor Vector coached her great-grandson on how to use the pensieve. Malcolm used his wand and took a strand that constituted a memory and moved it toward his temple where the strand seemed to burrow into his skull. Malcolm stood in surprise. "Yes, Dewey's in Slytherin."

"It figures," Dewey frowned. "He would think that was a happy thought."

One by one, Malcolm continued the tedious process of restoring his memories, until there were only a few strands at the bottom of the bowl.

"Do you know what memories those are?"

"Yeah," Malcolm said. "Those are the memories of the master. That's what Uncle Lucius calls him."

"You could leave them."

"I should," Malcolm admitted. "But they are a part of me. If I leave them, I won't be complete,"

"We are the sum of all our parts," Gabrielle said, and Malcolm smiled. He dipped his wand into the bowl and pulled out a strand. As it and the other strands burrowed into his head, his face lost the happy look it had held for most of the night. When he was done, he turned to Gabrielle who saw in his face not anger or fear but contentment. She hugged him, happy to have him whole again.

*

"It was a clever plan," David admitted as they all settled down to what was an early morning dinner. "Malcolm, how did you know she would do what she did?"

"It was obvious," Malcolm said casually. "Umbridge is single-minded. She wants things her way, and she only knows how to hurt people. All I had to do was figure out what would hurt me the most. Then I remembered what Umbridge did when she first met Reese's friend, Anthony. I talked to Grandma, uh, Professor Vector . . ."

"I can live with 'Grandma'," Professor Vector said, and they both smiled.

"I talked to Grandma and we set this up. I stored all of my memories about magic, and a couple of others, just in case. Then I returned to the school. I mean, I would still know everything. I was assured of that. I just wouldn't remember how I learned it all."

"And he came back," Dewey continued, "and gave us the final exam like he promised. Umbridge came in, just as he predicted, and that's when Malcolm changed the plan. He cast that spell without moving."

"He what?" David asked, as everyone else stared.

Malcolm smirked and told Dewey to shut up. "I can cast the Lumos spell without having to gesture or anything,"

"It's really impressive, but . . ." Dewey said.

"But," Malcolm continued. "It's not that impressive. For example, Hermione Granger doesn't even have to stand still to do it. She can cast it while pulling the wand out of her robes. And Dumbledore showed me how he can cast the spell without even holding his wand. Now that is impressive. That's the sign of a powerful wizard."

"What you did was still impressive," Gabrielle said.

"But that's not the spell he cast." Dewey yelled. "Avery told me. Malcolm did the Impedimentia curse."

"The spell you cast?" David asked in surprise. "Malcolm, you did that without even gesturing."

Malcolm stared into space briefly. "I know I can't do that," he insisted. "And I can't remember doing it either. It happened after I finished filling the pensieve."

"Then we'll never know how you did it," Amber said sadly.

"He'll figure it out," EJ said as he patted his wife's hand. "He's a smart boy. Besides, it was a fair trade. One day in exchange for three years."

"I have a question," Malcolm said. "How did you know to bring Gabrielle?"

"That is an easy question," Gabrielle answered. "Love is the most powerful magic."

*

"What happens now?" Malcolm asked after everyone else had gone to bed."

David Winter sighed. "You go home. You won't be going back to Hogwarts, but after what I have heard, I think we can make a case to have your suspension from magic overturned."

"So I can still do magic legally."

"I hate to say this, but yes you will still be able to do magic. Except maybe in England. Which means you will have to go to a different school."

Malcolm smiled. "Madam Maxime has given me a standing invitation. I could go to Beauxbatons."

David smiled. "And they will probably send me there to keep an eye on you. I will tell my wife. I'm sure she will love Paris."

"Dave," Malcolm said. "Thanks for everything. I mean that."

David Winter shook his hand then smiled. "Do you know? This is the first time anyone in your family has resolved a major crisis by using magic."