A/N: Congrats to Mandraco for getting through finals. I hope you enjoy your summer holiday.

As for Malcolm's plan, it is revealed at the end of this chapter. An apology in advance: nothing explodes as a result.

Chapter 19: Hallowe'en

IT'S HERE. IT'S FINALLY HERE. IT'S HERE. IT'S HERE. IT'S HERE.

"Happy Hallowe'en, Malcolm," Hermione Granger said as she passed by at breakfast.

"Is it the end of October? Already?"

Hermione stopped to smile. "Malcolm. The way you said that was almost believable."

"I can't help it, Hermione. This may be the last chance I'll have to see her this year. I can't help it."

"You said that already, Malcolm. You're repeating yourself."

"I can't help it," Malcolm replied as Hermione turned away laughing.

Colin Creevey slipped onto the bench across from Malcolm.

"Have you been to sleep yet?"

"Yeah. Madam Pomfrey made me take a potion. She says I'm too nervous. I need to calm down."

"I should have thought of that. I barely slept myself. I was surprised you asked me to join you."

"You're bringing your camera?"

"And plenty of film. I'm taking pictures of everything. Especially of two people dancing."

"Thanks."

"No. Thank you, Malcolm. This is an opportunity I would never have had if it weren't for you. Who else is going?"

"Louis, our exchange student. His grandfather is sending him to school full time. It's a boarding school. In France."

Colin frowned. "How many schools are in France? How does Louis feel? You share a dorm with him, and he barely talks to anyone, except those girls who always hang around him."

Malcolm shrugged his shoulders. "It's weird. He stopped greasing his hair. That makes him look more like me than he used to. And all the girls hang around him. They don't even look at me."

"You're not French," Denise said as she walked behind him.

Colin snorted. "You've got a girlfriend already. And everyone knows it. Why are you upset?"

"I'm an idiot."

"No argument from me," Colin said, ducking the bread roll.

"Happy Hallowe'en," Ginny said as she reached from behind and kissed Malcolm on the cheek. "Hi, Colin. Is Ron here?"

"No, but Hermione is."

Ginny smiled. "That two pieces of good news today. I'll talk to you later."

Dean Thomas clapped Malcolm on the shoulder. "Ginny told me. Good luck."

"Thanks. And congratulations on making the team."

"Malcolm, " Matthew Zeller said as he sat down next to the older boy. "First, I forgive you for not inviting me to the Beauxbatons Cotillion this year. I understand your reasons. Second, this is my gift to you. Don't try to pay me."

"Gift?" Malcolm looked in disbelief as the second year handed him a small box.

"Returning a favour." Matthew added softly, "you taught me how to make friends."

He left quickly before Malcolm could say anything else.

Another second year Gryffindor, Jenny, ran up to Malcolm and hugged him. "Good Luck," she shouted and ran off again.

Malcolm watched as Dewey approached. "What do you want?"

"I won't come if you don't want me to."

"You came here and I didn't want you to. Why stop now?"

"You didn't tell me."

"I didn't tell anybody. Except Ginny. And Colin. And Matthew Zeller. And Louis, 'cause he's going with us. Anyway, Madame Maxime told me to invite you. That girl likes the way you play Quidditch."

She only asked. But it'll make Dewey feel better if He thinks I was forced to let him come.

Dewey nodded his head. "Okay. I'll go."

Malcolm eyed his brother suspiciously. "No arguments? No nasty remarks?"

"Naw. Phillippa told me how she asked if I could be invited and she was excited that you said yes. I figure if you'd lie about that to make me feel better, you must really be in bad shape. Is Colin bringing his camera? Because I want copies of all those pictures WHEN YOU MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF."

Smiling, Dewey turned around and went back to his own table.

"Another vote of confidence," Colin said helpfully.

"Dewey's been writing to a girl?"

"It happens," Colin assured him. "I've talked to a few girls myself. And some have even talked back." He looked across the table. "I was making a joke."

"Sorry, you reminded me of something." Malcolm leaned across to whisper to Colin. "Did you ever have strange dreams? Dreams that seemed so real that you would swear they were real."

"Yes. Until I wake up. Then they become dreams again."

"Mine don't."

Colin stopped all pretense of eating breakfast.

"Don't? As in don't become dreams again?"

"Yeah. They're still around. Like they were memories. And they seem . . . innocent, but for some reason I always wake up scared." Malcolm paused. "I had one last night."

"Last night? But Madam Pomfrey gave you a potion."

"Yeah. And I woke up anyway. I fell asleep again right away but I was awake just long enough . . ."

"What happened?"

Malcolm's face became worried. "Not much. And I didn't understand it. Luna Lovegood was leaning over me and she told me she read my horoscope."

Colin's voice echoed Malcolm's fear. "And?"

"And that was it. I woke up shaking and the potion knocked me out again a few seconds later."

"That is a strange dream even for you." Colin looked up. "And this looks like an omen."

Malcolm followed Colin's eyes and saw Luna Lovegood walking toward them, a dreamy look on her face.

She always has that look on her face. I could understand it if she did drugs but that's her natural look.

Luna leaned over Malcolm and smiled. "I read your horoscope. It says you will see a new day." She began walking away then turned back. "Ginny told me. Congratulations."

"That was truly weird," Colin said as they watch Luna walk away. "What other dreams have you had?"

"Monsieur Renault. Please come in."

Louis walked into the headmaster's office. "Professor Dumbledore. You wanted to see me."

"Not me. Not that I would not enjoy your company. Someone else wishes to meet you before you leave tonight." Dumbledore extended his hand to indicate the other person in the room. "I believe you have heard of Monsieur Le Clerc."

Monsieur Le Clerc, a well dressed wizard with longish grey hair, bowed slightly. "Bonjour, Louis."

Nervously, Louis returned the bow. "Bonjour, Granpere'."

"You 'ave learned French?"

"My old man, Pop, taught me when I was a kid."

"You will not see much of 'im for a while. His past 'as caught up with 'im."

"He's in jail?"

"Non. You are in school. As you should 'ave been. And Henri iz learning a new trick. It iz called 'onesty."

Dumbledore stood up. "Perhaps I should leave the two of you alone to talk."

"There iz no need," Monsieur Le Clerc told him. "I am sure my grandson would like to show me around your school before we leave."

He motioned for Louis to follow him as they left the headmaster's office. Once they had left Louis asked what his grandfather would like to see. The old man responded by taking the boy's chin in his hand.

"You sound like your father when you talk. And your eyes hold the same fire in them. But this chin. This was your mother's." As the boy's lips flickered upward at the remark, he added, "and you have her smile. When your mother smiled she brightened whatever room she was in."

"I am sorry," the old man said. "You will be missing the Quidditch Match because of me."

"I've not seen much of the sport," Louis admitted. "It will be a small matter." He looked away from the Quidditch pitch. "Thank you, Grandfather. For taking the time to talk to me. I was worried and did not know what to expect."

"You are my daughter's son. How could I do any less. I am dragging you into a new environment. The least you deserve is some warning of what to expect. And tonight you will see everyone at their finest." He paused to look closely at his grandson. "Louis, you are my namesake, and for that alone I would love you. But you have flourished in the midst of adversity. Please understand that I am doing this because I want what is best for you, regardless of what you want to do. But the more you know, the more you will know what it is you truly want to do. You will learn things at Beauxbatons that you would not learn even here."

Louis smiled appreciatively. "And there would be things here that I would never learn at Beauxbatons."

Grandfather laughed at the retort. "That is good. Throw my words back into my face. You are correct, of course. But here, they will not teach you about your family, your history, where we have been. You may even learn to like Quidditch."

The old man and the young man walked slowly back to the castle in a roundabout way. They were in no hurry. The conversation Louis had was mostly small talk, telling trivia about events in his life and listening to anecdotes about his mother, and his grandmother, and cousins he never knew he had. As they passed the lake, Louis related the tale of falling into a river while fishing. He remembered being part of a family that wasn't his.

"Why did my father marry my mother?"

The old man took the question in stride. It was as though he had been expecting it.

"Your father was a cad, a scoundrel, a ne'er-do-well. Your mother was the apple of her father's eye. They married because they fell in love."

"And?" Louis noticed the abrupt stop.

"I hated your father. That is why they crossed the ocean to live. I refused to believe he was good enough for my darling." The old man was crying. "When she fell ill, he came to me. I turned him away. When she died, he asked me to take care of you."

Louis Le Clerc fell to his knee before his grandson. "Forgive me. I said no. My pride had been hurt and I could not see the gift she had left behind. He took you away and I heard nothing more. Everyday I hoped an owl would come. Every day I prayed he would contact me in some way and ask again so I could relent. But I could never bring myself to make the first step. I am a coward."

Louis didn't know why. He was hugging his grandfather and he was crying as well.

The remainder of the walk was in silence. Until Grandfather dared to ask. "Can you forgive me?"

"Why?"

"For being a fool. That is what your Grandmother calls me. The Old Fool. Ever since the day I turned you away."

"Father never tried to talk to you again?"

"Never."

"Then more the fool, he," Louis said wryly.

"He has yet to talk to me," Grandfather noted. "I fear I hurt him too deeply."

Louis paused. "Then . . . how . . ."

Grandfather's frown became a slight smile. "The Minister himself came from Paris to see me. He told me I was a fool (my wife was there and she agreed) and said I had to take charge of you. It seems you have very influential friends."

"I do?"

"Don't you?"

Both had to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. And both agreed that it was their duty now to make up for lost time. Grandfather even promised to apologize at the first chance he had to meet his son-in-law.

"And who is this?" Grandfather asked as they approached a very tall man.

Louis grinned. "This is Professor Hagrid, Grandfather. He teaches Care for Magical Creatures. Professor Hagrid, may I introduce my grandfather and legal guardian, whom I am also named after, Monsieur Louis Le Clerc."

Hagrid looked down with a confused look on his face. "I don' know half o' what ye said but I'm guessin' it was an introduction." He held out a hand to the old man. "I take it yer Louis' Grampa."

Louis Renault blushed with the understanding that he had been speaking French the entire time. "Sorry, Prof. Hagrid, dis is my Mom's old man. He's a Louis, too. He's doin' 'rent detail on me now. "

The grandfather eyed his grandson carefully. "They told me you spoke English. It seems they were wrong."

Malcolm stood in front of the mirror and tried combing his hair a fourth time. It didn't work. He messed it up again. He was trying for number five when Dennis came into the boys shower room.

"It's here, Malcolm. Just like they promised."

"Great."

Malcolm ran out of the boys room, his towel wrapped around his waist and went straight to his dorm. Dennis courteously pick up his clothes and toiletries and followed him. He walked into the dorm room, and Malcolm was already half dressed. He finished buttoning up the shirt and began tucking it into his trousers. Ten minutes later he was dressed in his tuxedo and trying to comb his hair again.. He gave up and combed it the way he normally did.

"Dang. I forgot to get a top hat."

His dorm mate, Alex, pointed at the box under the night stand by Malcolm's bed. "You've that hat."

Malcolm smiled. "That should work. Thanks for reminding me."

He tore open the box and pulled out a dark brown fedora hat. He started to take out his wand but decided not to change the color. As he put it on, he heard Dennis say from the doorway, "He's decent, you can come in."

Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley stood there laughing. Malcolm turned and smiled, throwing the hat on his head. "What do you think? I'm putting on the Ritz?"

Hermione walked up to Malcolm and took the hat off. She brushed his hair so that a swath of it hung down over his forehead and put the hat pack on. "There," she told him. "Now you look like Gary Cooper."

"You look SUPER," Dennis said with a laugh.

"Almost forgot," Malcolm said. He went to the small box on his night table, emptied it and put the contents in his inside coat pocket. "I'm ready."

"Don't forget your wand," Alex called. He used his own wand to float Malcolm's wand to the door.

"Thanks, again."

Malcolm was down the stairs in a second. He smiled at the round of applause he received then turned to Professor Flitwick. "I'm ready Professor. Where is everyone."

"Dewey and Colin are waiting in the Main Hall."

"And Louis?"

"His grandfather took him early. So they could get better acquainted."

"Is he nice," Malcolm asked as they left the common room. "Louis's grandfather, I mean."

"Very nice. And we share one trait in common it turns out. We both wince when we hear what Louis does to the English language. He makes you sound like an Oxford Dean."

That's the nicest insult I've ever received.

"You're coming with us, Professor?"

Flitwick grinned broadly as he looked up at Malcolm. "I have to. I am normally required to be at our own feast because I am a teacher, but there was a change and I had to alter the portkey at the last minute. Originally, Louis and his Grandfather were supposed to go but not come back. That was Five going and Three coming back. You can always cheat with a set portkey and add people but you can't cheat and not have enough. So I reversed the destination numbers because that was the fastest way to solve the immediate problem. You will grab my arm while I grab the portkey with Dewey and Colin. That will get us there, and I will have plenty of time to adjust the portkey for our return." He chuckled to himself. "Clever work on such short notice, don't you think?"

"Professor, can I get special lessons on how to make portkeys."

Fliwick shook his head. "I keep telling you. After you pass your OWLS. I teach this at the NEWTS level. And no exceptions. Especially for you."

Jeezel. You'd think he doesn't trust me. It's not like I'd abuse it. Like the way I don't abuse being an animagus. Much.

"Is everyone ready?" Flitwick asked as they trotted sown the main stairway. "Grab hold. The faster we get there, the more time we have."

Everyone grabbed hold as they were directed to and in a moment they were whisked away.

Draco watched them disappear from the entrance of the Great Hall. The feast was not ready to start for at least two more hours but he did not feel at all happy. Pansy walked up to him, kissed his cheek and asked how he was. He said he was fine and had to smile. Pansy, in her own way, did care for him, and he could not help but appreciate that.

Malcolm looked up at the same scene as last year. Before he could say anything, a young girl ran up and grabbed Dewey's hand. They started to run off but Colin yelled "Wait." He pulled out his camera and the girl suddenly waved her hands at a small group of children. Two boys and two more girls ran up. They formed ranks for the group picture of the defending champions in the Second Annual Samonois Quidditch Competition.

Colin took the picture and the group scattered. Professor Flitwick tipped his wizard's hat, and departed as well. He clearly had friends of his own to meet. That left Malcolm and Colin. Colin had turned back to look at Malcolm and stopped to stare at the school grounds. He slowly turned in place to get the full view.

"I haven't felt like this since I first saw Hogwarts. This place is beautiful."

Malcolm smiled. "Fell free to take all the pictures you want. I'll meet you inside."

Colin shook his head. "I can get pictures of this from a book. The pictures I want are inside. The things that won't always be there." he shook his head. "Sorry, that sounds stupid."

"Yeah, kinda. If I didn't know anything about photography."

And if I didn't know anything about Colin. Hey, I didn't even make a joke. It must be that maturity thing, again.

"Lead on, Malcolm."

With a laugh, Malcolm lead the way through the filigreed entranceway. He knew what Colin's reaction would be when they entered the Grand Hall with the sun shining through all the stained glass windows. He looked around the hall for familiar faces and spied Professor Flitwick in the distance, greeting a man in the teacher's robes of Beauxbatons. Apparently, Flitwick had a standing invitation.

Colin tapped his shoulder. "Someone's waving to us."

"That's Camilla Umbridge."

"She must take after her father," Colin snorted.

"You know about Fleur Delacour and Bill Weasley?"

"Yeah?"

"She' engaged to Fleur's brother. Camilla tricked her mom so I could come here to see Gabrielle."

"And where is Gabrielle?" Colin saw Malcolm suddenly start, then walk away as though in a trance. "Oh, there she is." Colin took out his camera. It was time to take pictures.

"Give them a couple more minutes," Camilla told Colin. "They'll stay like that then they'll start saying such sweet things that you would mistake sugar for salt by comparison."

"I can wait," Colin said. "I know what's coming up."

"Then Malcolm told you about Samonois? About the New Year Celebration."

"And how Gabrielle explained it to him in her beautiful voice with her perfect English and that wonderful French accent."

"Later I will tell you how Gabrielle described her evening with Malcolm. How he was the perfect gentleman. So polite. So kind. So caring."

Both looked at each in understanding. Jean Paul stood behind them, chuckling. A noise was heard and everyone in the hall turned to watch the horseman ride into the hall.

Jean Paul tapped Colin on the shoulder. "You will want to watch thiz."

Colin pointed at Malcolm. "You'll want to watch this."

"It has been so long," Gabrielle told Malcolm. They both ignored the crowds that turned to watch the beginning of the ceremony. Surprisingly, they also failed to notice Colin regularly taking pictures of them.

"I couldn't think of anything else but you these past two months. Gabrielle, I need to ask you something."

"Anything."

"Things are bad right now."

"I know. They are not as bad, here. But they are not good either."

"And this won't mean anything for a few years."

"That you love me. You showed me, this day last year, what your love for me means."

Gabrielle smiled as Malcolm blushed and Colin took closeups.

"But that was for show."

"For show? It didn't mean anything."

"Not to them," Malcolm said with a gesture that meant everyone else in the world.

Gabrielle smiled in delighted puzzlement. "But to us it meant everything."

"I want them to understand, Gabrielle. And I only know one way to say it."

At that moment, someone shouted in French. "Long Live The King."

Malcolm reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold ring, engraved to look like overlapping feathers. He showed it, and dropped to one knee.

"Gabrielle, when the time is proper, will you marry me?"

Gabrielle spoke no answer but slide her hand forward so that the ring was put on her finger. Malcolm barely stood up when she kissed him. Neither of them saw the flashing camera or the smattering of applause from the small crowd they had attracted. It was Camilla who reached out and gently disturbed their embrace.

She told them. "It's time for the first dance."

Colin jumped in front of them and took a picture of the two couples, Malcolm and Gabrielle, Jean Paul and Camilla, as they made their way to dance the first dance. For only those whose love has been plaited may dance with the King of Samonois.