A/N: Ouatic-7 asked if Zacharias Smith is a crossover of Zachary Smith from Lost In Space. While it would be interesting to say yes, I must admit that I don't know. JK Rowling created him. In Book 6, Ginny mentions the incident to explain why she is having lunch with Professor Slughorn.

And my thanks to Phoenix Skyborne for the history of Robin in the Batman series. I may have to check things out. You did mention that Dick Grayson is now known as Nightwing. My memory may be wrong but there was an issue (Don't ask me how long ago) where the Boy Wonder took an aging potion which made him an adult. I seem to remember that he chose the name Nightwing as his Nom de Guerre. By the end of the issue the potion had worn off and he was back to normal.

I am also grateful to Mandraco for informing me that the Australian style cowboy hat that Dennis was wearing is known as an Akubra. That is something I did not know, and I'm willing to bet that goes for almost everyone who is reading this.

As usual, I want to thank all the readers and reviewers for taking their time out for this story.

Chapter 15: The First Day

The first year students were brought into the Great Hall as everyone watched. As did so many first years before them, they all gazed in amazement at the ceiling above. Professor McGonagall arranged them in alphabetical order, then walked over to Albus Dumbledore.

"Albus, I think you should know. There are only 39 students present for the sorting."

"There is nothing to worry about, Minerva. We have our full allotment of students, but it appears that one of them will be a late arrival."

The two shared an amused grin. The last time they had a late arrival, it turned out to be a young American boy who had no idea what he was getting into. In that case, however, he arrived just before the sorting.

"Do you know how late?"

"Much later than today. I know that much. It seems one of the students selected to come here does not seem to exist. But as soon as he is found, he will receive his letter."

Minerva frowned. "That is unusual."

"Very. But unusual seems to be the norm these days." Albus cast his gaze at the Gryffindor table. "Our young friend has come to the feast once again as a guest."

"Perhaps he is to be our late arrival. I am very curious how the paradox of his age will be resolved."

Albus gave a mirthful response. "Perhaps this is the year we find out. If not, we will find out next year."

Minerva McGonagall picked up the scroll of names and approached the sorting hat. She waited as the hat, once again, gave a song of warning, then she explained the sorting procedure. Only then did she unroll the parchment and call out the first name. "Angus Armstrong."

A young boy answered with a Scottish burr and took his seat on the stool. The hat was placed on his head. The Sorting had begun for a new class of students.

"Rumour has it," Colin said, "that your cousin made a new friend."

"Do you mean Pansy or Ginny?" Malcolm asked.

Dennis snorted. "Ginny Weasley left a lasting impression on him."

"It'll fade in a few hours," Reese pointed out.

That's something Reese has a lot of experience with.

"Reese?" Dennis asked. "Why are you here?"

"The food. It's a lot better than at home, or at my old school."

Malcolm was smiling. "Didn't Mom tell you. You're going back to Glen Levitt Academy. Filch forgot to take you directly there."

Wait for it. Reese's outbursts have to be seen to be believed.

Reese stared at his brother in surprise. "Is that true? You're not lying, are you?"

"Nope. Mom even made me bring your suitcase along."

"That's Great. Ten months without having to live at home. I'm in heaven."

I never thought of it that way. This really is a good thing.

Reese paused. "Do you think they'll let me come here to eat?"

"NO," several people answered at once.

"Maybe," Dennis said, "when you come to visit Mill - i - cent."

"YEAH."

I should tell Dennis. Sarcasm is wasted on Reese.

"Reese is here," Euan told Anthony.

"That's fine with me. As long as he stays here when I leave."

They listened as Reese shouted. Anthony looked at Euan.

"Can I stay here when he leaves?"

As the desserts arrived, no few people noticed that Harry Potter had arrived as well. A great deal of gossip circulated the hall as to how he had bloodied his nose, failed to dress in his robes, was late to the feast. There was one small group that was the exception.

"We'll find out later," Malcolm assured everyone. "Colin, you've kept mum long enough. How was it?"

"It was great," Dennis answered. "Colin told me and my folks all about it as soon as he came home."

"And what was so great about it," Dean Thomas asked with Ginny Weasley agreeing.

Colin smiled. "Malcolm told you how the school looks. I know how the school feels."

He had everyone's attention, including a couple of second years, and two students from a nearby muggle school.

"I took pictures, of course. The tower. The dining hall. All of the buildings and the teachers." He smiled teasingly. "But I couldn't take a picture of how it felt to be there. We're in the middle of a desert . . ."

"No," Dennis corrected as he picked up a treacle tart, "we're in the middle of a dessert."

"Shut up, Dennis," Colin said in a perfect imitation of Malcolm. "It's a desert. It's winter, so the temperature is in the low 80's sometimes. And it's dry. It rains at least ten days a year I was told. All I know is that it rained twice while I was there."

"But what's it like?" Euan Abercrombie asked with impatience.

"It's like being at a rocky beach without the water."

Malcolm snorted. "You felt like you were at the beach?"

Colin snorted in return. "You were there. They wear robes to dinner and for special occasions, but otherwise the uniform is khaki-coloured short pants and a matching cotton shirt. Footwear is optional if you're not in class. Hats are for when you're outside. I gave Dennis my hat."

"The classes," Ginny asked.

"Same as here. But there's a greater emphasis on weather spells. Transfiguration is harder and easier. I changed a table into a kangaroo, then had to chase it across the campus to turn it back. And I learned basic occlumency in DADA class." He looked at the several questioning faces. "That's where you block your thoughts so that another wizard can't read your mind."

"Then why did you bother learning it?" Dennis asked.

"Do you want to keep the hat, Dennis?"

"Sorry."

"Malcolm, what did you do over the summer."

Malcolm looked at Colin with an all knowing smile. "I spent the entire summer with my girlfriend."

Colin snorted. "What did you do?"

Ginny answered. "He hit his head as an owl and had to stay that way until he recovered."

Dennis was incredulous. "You spent the entire summer with your girlfriend, as an owl? What was that like?"

"Well, once a week I'd fly home with a letter from her. She was trying to talk my folks into letting me go to Beauxbatons." Malcolm sighed. "It mighta worked but Mom thought she was trying too hard. She sent me back here so there wouldn't be any problems."

Except the only problem is I'll only get to see Gabrielle at Hallowe'en. And maybe Christmas. Of course, I'll write to her every week. And I'll send the letters by owl.

Draco made the best of a bad situation. He would straighten everything out when he had the chance. Until then he would pretend that he had done everything that Reese did in his name. And his face. The first thing he did was listen as Pansy told everyone what Reese/Draco had done to Potter. From there it was easy to embellish. He also made a few gestures toward his nose when he noticed certain Gryffindors were watching. In short, he had a very good time.

It was only after he arrived in his room and opened his trunk (which Reese had packed for him) that his good mood failed him. Mother had been very attentive to what Reese had been doing. She had convinced him to write a diary, probably so he could write his memoirs when he was rich and successful. Reese had written down in detail everything he had done, everything he had planned, and especially everyone he had met.

The passage about Voldemort was clear, although Reese had written it down as though it were a joke. There was a task that Draco must undertake. If he failed, he and his entire family would be killed. If he refused, his cousins would be included. The worst part of all of this was that Reese had told him exactly how to succeed.

"That was a great start," Reese said as they climbed out of the car.

"It was," Anthony admitted. He wasn't even upset that he was with Reese. "I almost wish I could have gone to that school instead."

"We can go back anytime," Reese pointed out.

Anthony looked at Reese carefully. When he was sure that the older boy had clearly missed his meaning, he said. "Yeah. We do know where the school is."

"There you two are," Hector Filch said as he opened the door to the boys dorm. "It's a good thing I knew to expect you or you'd be locked out all night."

"Locked out?" Anthony asked.

The Headmaster looked directly at the towheaded boy. "New rules this year. You were at . . . the other school. You've heard what's been going on. And you both know how far away we are. New Rules. Dorms are locked at ten o'clock. Unlocked at six in the morning. And two teachers in each dorm all night. Just in case."

"Aren't you overreacting?" Reese asked.

"Hopefully. Now get your bags and get inside. And try to be quiet." He gave an uncharacteristic smirk. "In case anyone is actually asleep on the first night back to school."

Hector let the boys in and carefully locked the door behind him, watching as the Ministry limousine drove away. Only then, seeing no one outside, did he lead the boys to their respective dorm rooms. He then sat in the student lounge and congratulated himself. Of all the expected students, only one failed to show. And that one was one of the few he would not miss.

Filch did his duty. He called the parents but they weren't home. He left a message and that was that. He would find out the truth when his call was returned. He looked up as the new teacher for Government Studies entered the lounge.

"Everyone is accounted for, Headmaster."

"Thank you, Professor," Hector replied. Then he smiled. "I think we can afford to be a little less formal, now. Don't you, Enid?"

"As long as it's not a requirement."

Hector smiled. "Never required but always desired." Then he stood up and kissed her.

Malcolm lay in bed soundly asleep, exhausted after such a long day. Dreams came slowly and flitted away just as quickly. There was one dream which was exhilarating and embarrassing at the same time. He was flying a broom over a great crowd of people but he was only wearing his underwear. Then the dream suddenly changed and became very realistic.

Malcolm stood in the classroom. He was in casual clothes. The room was empty. He looked down and saw something round on the floor. He bent down to pick it up.

Malcolm sat upright in his bed and stared into the darkness of the room. He could barely make out Louis, in the bed next to him.

I can't explain it, but whatever that was on the floor, it sent a chill up my spine when I saw it. I hate having weird dreams.

He took a couple of deep breaths, then lay back down, but sleep was a long time coming.

Bill the Bully barely noticed when the limousine drove past him going the other way. It was bad enough getting to the station almost at midnight, but the walk was worse. The school must have been twice as far from the station than he had thought. He stopped several times to rest when he had to, but forced himself to keep walking as long as he could. It did not help that he had to drag a large trunk with him.

The sun was first beginning to appear when he finally reached the entrance to the boys dorm. Bill looked up to see the headmaster looking at him through the glass in the door. He heard the door unlock, and Filch let him in.

"I am amazed, young man. You made it a point to arrive at the last possible moment. I hope this is not an example of what we can expect from you this year." He let the boy inside. "Breakfast is in an half hour and you have another hour until first session. You may want to wash up."

Bill mumbled his thanks and lugged his trunk to his dorm room. Later, he received detention for sleeping through his first day of classes.

Piama was adamant. And the house elf was stubborn.

"Timmy will not take clothes from Mistress. Timmy can not take clothes from Mistress."

Piama threw the toddler clothes on the ground in disgust. "I WILL NOT HAVE YOU RUNNING AROUND IN A TOWEL."

Timmy was almost in tears. "If you give Timmy clothes, Timmy will be free. Timmy will be disgraced."

Piama frowned. Then she smiled. "I'll be back. You want to work? You can clean the apartment." Timmy smiled. "And . . ." Piama paused. "Timmy, can you pick up those clothes that I threw down and put them away? After all, I'm not giving them to you."

Timmy paused in thought. Mistress had presented him with a puzzle. He answered slowly. "If Timmy picks them up . . . and Mistress says she is not giving them to him . . . Yes, Timmy can do that."

Piama smiled at her small success. "Good. You can do the laundry as well. Remember, wash the whites and colors separately."

Piama left a happy house elf. Timmy had plenty of work to do. She came back two hours later with three large bags. Timmy was beaming. He even led her to the closets and the dressers to show that everything was neat and clean and even ironed. That was when Piama told him to sit down.

"These are for you," she told the diminutive creature. "They're not clothes." She showed him two of the bags. "See. It's only cloth, not clothes. So I can give them to you. Right?"

Timmy scrunched his forehead as he tried to puzzle it out. "Not clothes. And Timmy is allowed to accept gifts. If Mistress insists."

"Mistress does," Piama answered. The house elf reached into one of the bags and pulled out a roll of light blue cotton fabric, then a role of white fabric.

Timmy said with confusion and gratitude, "Thank you, Mistress."

Piama smiled her success. "And I have one more gift for you." She handed him the third bag. "That is a sewing kit and patterns for making clothes." She smiled at Timmy's surprise. "I can't give you clothes, but nothing says I can't give you the stuff to make clothes with. And if you make clothes, then they're yours without anyone giving them to you."

Timmy stared in awe at the incredible logic. "And Timmy can wear clothes because he owns them? But Timmy has not been given clothes?"

"Exactly." Piama smiled once more. "First, we'll get you dressed. Later, we'll try for style."

Two weeks later, Piama knew she had succeeded when Timmy asked her for denim so he could make his own pair of jeans. She had also convinced the elf to call her and Francis by their first names. Later on, when Timmy finally felt comfortable with his new masters, he would make it a point to call Francis, "pard'ner', whenever guests were around.