The following is a short essay that I wrote about Hogwarts in the Middle, shortly before I finished writing that story. I didn't posted it at the time because I thought it was too presumptive. I recently reread my notes and found that they do apply to the second and third stories. I'm posting it now as food for thought. It may be too presumptive, but I do think it is interesting and entertaining.

I would also like to sincerely thank everyone who has read this story as well as those who took the time to review. I could list all of your names here but I'm too tired to type for much longer. Please know that I did read every review and tried to respond when I needed to or could think of something to say.

- HiBob


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AUTHOR'S NOTES



I never meant to write a tragedy. I started with this wonderful idea of combining my favorite TV show with the most popular book of the day. It was done to amuse Kelly, a twelve year old girl who shares many of my interests (except for poker, an interest I share with her father.) She was the one who kept after me to finish.

Four months after I started writing, I have posted the Seventeenth chapter, and started to write this. The quality of the reactions I have received, and the efforts to write the second volume, have made me reflect upon what I have written. The thought that you, the readers, might be interested, prompted me to write this with the intent of posting it.

Malcolm, as I noted in the introduction, is a chameleon. He tries to fit in, everywhere. One reviewer, Mirrim, mentioned how everyone seems to like him. He has avoided making any overt enemies, although problems loom in the distance. He has friends who have strong feelings against each other.

It should be noted that Malcolm has four friends of varying degrees, six if you count the twins. Draco, the bad boy, is his best friend. Malcolm has even shared Draco's deepest secret. Draco is shown in the story, not as the smart-mouthed boy who always insults the Gryffindors. Instead, he is always shown in a compassionate light. He turns a different face to Malcolm, than he does to anyone else. And the unasked question is 'Why?' Malcolm is the perfect example of what Draco hates. He is a mudblood, a Gryffindor, and to make matters worse, an American. Something subtle happened to make them friends.

When they first meet, it is dark. Draco falls, and finds himself at Malcolm's feet, literally. He gets up, gauges Malcolm, then tries to show he is better. A dementor appears, and by their identical reactions they are shown to be equals. (I love symbolism.) When it is over, Draco finds he is indeed superior to the other boy, but only because of his experience. He offers his hand, (where has he done that before) and Malcolm takes it. Draco has made a friend. In exchange, Malcolm will help him hide his weakness.

This happens again to Draco, under different circumstances. He finds himself with Ginny Weasley, again in a position of weakness. As Malcolm did, she also agrees to help him. This time it is a kiss. They profess their hatred for each other but in different ways. Ginny hates him because she realizes what he could become, and what he will probably become. Draco hates Ginny because. . .he loves her. She did the one thing that no one other than Malcolm had done. She helped him because it was in her nature. Malcolm and Draco become fellow conspirators. Ginny and Draco become star-crossed lovers. Both know it could not work out unless one of them changes, and neither will. Their love is for what might have been.

Draco is not evil. I refuse to consider him as such. The Evil people are the adults. Draco may become evil, it is almost a guarantee, but that is in the future. He is still in the range of limitless possibility. Because of this, Draco is a tragic figure.

Ginny is also a tragic figure. In the Rowlings books she had a crush on Harry Potter. Here, she has a chance to transfer that feeling to someone who might reciprocate, but it someone too different.

The minor hero of the story is EJ, a fellow first year who meets Malcolm in the boat, and then at the Gryffindor table. He has a comic problem to begin with (His real name is Ishmael Ipswitch Captain), which is resolved quickly by Malcolm. He quickly flourishes as his own person, even though he remains a minor character.

Neville is the fourth friend. Pushed by circumstances into the background of this story, he is the link between Malcolm and Harry. He is the only character actively involved with both of them as a protagonist. He is the constant in the story.

Malcolm is the most tragic figure in the story. This is not because anything bad happens to him, but because anything that happens to him doesn't really matter. He will never be the Hero of his own story, because, ultimately, it is not his story at all. It is still Harry Potter's story. The events of Harry's life shape Malcolm's life. Sirius Black is the most significant aspect of this. He is there because of Harry. What happens to him happens because of Harry. All of Malcolm's efforts count for nothing in the greater story. He has not had any real effect on events. And that is the tragedy.