A/N: I regret to say this is it. On the other hand, I am now free to do other things while waiting for JK Rowling to do her thing.
On a parting note, I do agree with Mandraco about Malcolm's lineage but Black Ice was right. The look on Hermione's face was priceless.
To Grizabella, I send my condolences. Having to work for a living is a terrible thing. I know from experience.
CHAPTER THIRTYSEVEN: EPILOGUE
"Cousin," Draco said as he cornered Malcolm. "I need to tell you something of great importance."
"You're transferring with me to Beauxbatons?"
"Of course not."
"You're going to try attacking Potter again?"
"Obviously, but that isn't what I want to talk to you about. It's about money."
"Fine, I'll give back the rest of the money."
"That isn't it," Draco said. "Father arranged things so that I will be financially secure, even if the Ministry tries to seize Father's accounts. And all because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
[I like the way his eyes got moist when he said that last line. Dewey must have been giving him lessons.]
"Okay. You don't need money. What is it?"
"I wanted to warn you. Friends of Father's did not have his skill, or sufficient time to alter their accounts, so they used a different means to protect their savings. They deposited what funds they had in someone else's account at Gringotts."
[Gee, I wonder whose account they used?]
"Mine?"
"Yes."
"Draco, are all of you crazy? Do you know what that does to me. How does 'directly implicated' sound to you?"
"Don't worry," Draco assured his cousin to no avail. "You are simply holding those funds for them. It's completely legal. All you have to do is return the money to them when they are in a position to accept it."
"You mean when they break out of jail."
"You will be compensated."
Malcolm paused. "How much?"
"It depends on how long the money stays in your account. You're good at numbers. You can figure it out."
[I already figured it out. I'm dead regardless of what I do.]
"Draco, I mean this sincerely. Go to hell."
Draco threw his arm around Malcolm's shoulder. "Isn't life wonderful now that everything is back to normal?"
"You're joking?"
"Of course I'm joking. On the other hand, I'm still alive, I have money, and I have rented a house near the beach for the next two months. Unfortunately, a stupid oath I made last year prevents me from telling anyone but you where it is."
Malcolm laughed. "Do the Weasley's know?"
"One of them does. And she has promised not to tell her brothers. Shall we have our final breakfast together?"
"I have company. You remember Lloyd."
"I'll eat with Dewey. He's going to tell me the latest news on your family genealogy. It seems that there are some muggles in your family tree, after all."
[Question: Should I tell Draco what Hermione told me? Answer: No way. I didn't even tell Dewey.]
*
Lord Voldemort sat in the dimly lit room thinking about his recent defeat. Several of his minions had been captured, but with the dementors now supporting him they would be free again soon. Now was the time to plan what he must do next. His thought were disturbed by a weak but persistent knocking on his door.
"Enter," he said angrily, only to regret his decision when Nott entered the chamber.
"I did it, Master," Nott said fawningly. "I have succeeded in my latest plan."
"And that is?" Voldemort asked without enthusiasm.
"I remembered how that boy Malcolm was so willing to help once he discovered that Lucius Malfoy was his uncle. I managed to convince his family that he is related to you. Now, he will do anything to help you."
"You convinced that self centered unappreciative little brat that he is related to me?" Voldemort was amazed. "What made you think that I would want him or ANYONE to think they were related to me?"
Nott faltered. "So that he would like you?"
Voldemort paused. "Nott, let me explain it to you this way. CRUCIO."
*
"This is strange," Mitchell said to Anthony. "When we first came here, I had to look down at you. You must have grown a foot."
Anthony smiled. "Eight inches, and still counting. How was your school year?"
"Terrible," five voices replied..
"It started of badly," Euan said.
"I started off badly," Matt corrected.
"It became worse very quickly," Rose continued.
"And everything went downhill from there," Jenny concluded.
"Was your year any better?" Mitchell asked.
"Yes, It ended a day before yours did." Anthony grinned widely.
*
"Yes," Lloyd explained, "We were told that Malcolm was committed to the Hogwarts Institute for Incurable Childhood Psychosis."
"It's amazing that anyone believed that," Ron said sarcastically.
"Ron doesn't like Malcolm," Dennis explained.
"Why?" Lloyd asked. "He's excellent protection from Reese."
"At least he's not Dewey," Belinda said while Ron scowled.
"Ron likes Dewey," Dennis explained.
"Why?" Lloyd asked.
"It's an English thing. You wouldn't understand."
*
Malcolm walked across the lawn as Nob held his hand. "What's so important that we have to miss breakfast?"
"I never thanked you," Nob said.
"For what?"
"For getting me adopted."
"It's something I wanted, too," Malcolm told him.
"And for figuring out what I was," Nob added softly.
[Huh?]
"I never understood those things I remembered until I heard you tell those people about it."
[About being a changling?]
"What things?" Malcolm asked in what he hoped was a calm manner. "Do you remember what you first were?"
"No, and I not sure of some of them," Nob said as they rested underneath a tree. "I remember noticing a fox and becoming one, and I remember seeing an elf and becoming one of those. That was scary. I was too scared to change until Mom took me home."
"And I showed you a picture of me," Malcolm said. "Are you happy?"
"Yeah," Nob answered. "Even when Mom yells at me."
Malcolm laughed. "That's why you always smile when she's shouting." He looked at Nob. "Do you think you'll change again."
"I won't," Nob said with surprising authority. "This is my shape."
"Is your shape in the mood for breakfast yet?"
"Yeah."
"Then I'll race you." Malcolm said.
Nob took off and Malcolm leaned back against the tree, thinking about what he had been told.
[This is weird. Nob could have been anything,]
Malcolm looked over to see Nob still running, then looked up at the branches of the tree as he fell back in thought. Then his thoughts took a sharp turn.
[I sitting beneath the Whomping Willow.]
Malcolm paused.
[It isn't doing anything?]
Malcolm stood up slowly and began to walk back to the school when a thought reoccurred to him.
[Nob could have been anything!]
Still beneath the tree, Malcolm looked up at the branches gently swaying in the morning breeze. He said the only thing he could think of.
"We'll take good care of him. I promise."
A branch came swinging down toward Malcolm and came close so that only one leaf gently brushed his cheek.
"You're welcome," Malcolm said, and walked back to the school as calmly as he could.
*
"Malcolm?" Harry asked as he saw the third year boy enter the building. "Are you . . ."
"I'm fine. I had a surprise. That's all."
"I'm glad I met you. I owe you an apology. Several apologies.
"For what?"
"For being too self centered. We're alike, you and I."
"No we're not. You're just going through another mood swing. In two hours you'll be sneering at me again."
[Dewey's right. I have changed. I even feel like apologizing for snapping at him like that.]
"It's not a mood swing," Harry said calmly. "It's just reality sinking in. I think I hated you because I was jealous of you."
"Wait a minute. How could you be jealous of me?"
Harry smiled grimly. "How about the way your friends could always use the fireplace to visit you."
"That was Dewey's fault. He tricked Umbridge into leaving them open for him, but he forgot to get floo powder. If I had known earlier, I could have had Reese go directly to Slytherin."
Harry paused. "All of those places were connected so Dewey could use them?"
"Yeah. And he didn't tell anybody. Do you really believe I wanted Reese to drop by any time he wanted too? Or that airhead Belinda that Lloyd is going out with?"
"Then what about all that traveling you did? All those trips to London? Going to Beauxbatons?" Harry paused. "Forget that last one."
"Why?"
Harry looked embarrassed. "Hermione arranged it." Malcolm's eyes bulged. "It seems all the girls knew about Camilla, and 'Mione owled her and arranged the whole thing."
[Hermione?]
"I never knew."
"I shouldn't have told you."
"I'm glad you did."
Harry held out his hand and Malcolm took it. "I learned something, Malcolm. You aren't your cousin. I learned the hard way not to judge people by who their relatives are. I need to judge them for who they are. You're a good man to know."
[This is a good ending. Now I feel bad for that spell I put on Hedwig's cage.]
"Harry," Ron said as he came down the stairs."
"Ron? What are you doing with Hedwig's cage?"
"I can't let go of it, Harry. Someone put a curse on it."
[Now I don't feel so bad.]
"Good luck," Malcolm said. "I'll see you guys in the Great Hall."
"We won't be long," Harry said confidently as he pulled out his wand.
Hermione was standing at the entrance watching them. As Malcolm walked up, she asked, "Are the two of you back to being friends?"
"Yup," Malcolm said cheerfully. "You can tell everybody that Harry and Malcolm are together again."
FINIS
A/N Thus ends another year. Malcolm will return to the United States, not knowing that the British will declare a national holiday as a result. Reese and Dewey will return as well. Lloyd and Belinda will have to face the fact that they are both nerds in their own ways.
Things to watch out for in the next year:
Anthony will be around but he will not be a major character.
Dewey will be a second year in Slytherin.
Malcolm will be going to Beauxbatons next year, if only for Hallowe'en.
Belinda and Lloyd, and Dabney and Cynthia and Eraserhead will have some roll to play. After all, Malcolm has to spend his summer with somebody. It might as well be with the Krelboynes.
Draco, assuming you have read book five, will recover from another unsuccessful attack and spend time at his favorite beach, in a familiar house.
Francis and Piama will move back to the United States, as Francis starts his new job as Ranch Manager. He will work for Otto And Gretchen who run a Dude Ranch for wizarding tourists who want a real taste of the old west.
David Winter will remain in his position as the American Consul for magic. He will unwittingly spend most of the summer less then a mile from where Draco is staying. At the end of the summer, he will rent a house, at the recommendation of Arthur Weasley.
David will also be made a member of the Order of the Phoenix. When Malcolm discover this, he will explain it away by telling Malcolm it is a social club in his home town in Arizona, something like the ELKS.
Snape's first words to Malcolm will be, "Oh, goody, you're back."
Lois's first words to Malcolm when they sit down to supper will be. "I hope you like having a larger family."
Malcolm will assure her that he does. "I think it's great, Mom."
Reese and Dewey will also agree, as will Hal."
Lois will respond to these words of support with the following line. "That's good to know. I'm pregnant."
On a sad note, there is no known release date for the sixth Harry Potter book, but I will try to have my story written within a reasonable time. I already have plenty of ideas. They are the ones I couldn't use in this story.
Sincerely, HiBob