A/N: I have just read that there is now a means to respond directly to reviews and that such review responses as these are no longer allowed. This is something I will try to do later today to see if it will work.

Despite that, I would like to share one thing with all of you. A bit of light reading I came across. "Draco and The Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Day" (503873) by Dangermouse. At under 1,000 words, it is a short but enjoyable read.

Chapter 25: All Good Things

Severus Snape sighed. One problem had become another. At least it was one he could get rid of.

"The two of you will follow me. The Assistant Headmistress will want to talk to you."

"Wow," the boy said with practiced sarcasm, "he's just as exciting in two worlds."

Snape sneered at the boy. "I can't do anything about you until you're a student. So I'll do this. Malcolm, Ten points for not wearing the school uniform."

"You're giving me points?" Malcolm asked snidely.

"On second thought, never mind. I won't do anything. Your punishment is coming. Follow me."

Punishment? For what?

"We've been expecting you," Minerva McGonagall told the boy. "This is for you."

The boy took the letter. His hands were shaking from excitement as he opened it. "It's all true? Every bit of it? And you're really letting me go to school here?"

Minerva smiled at the boy's enthusiasm. She remembered her conversations with the young American actor. In his world, this was all a made up story.

"Do you accept your invitation to go to Hogwarts?"

"Yes. Please." The boy looked in delight at his letter as he said, "It's all real." Then he looked up in alarm. "It is real? ALL of it?"

"I'm afraid so. Even the bad parts."

The boy swallowed. He had never read the books but he had seen the movies. Had he read the books, he would not have been nervous. He would have been frightened.

Minerva smiled sympathetically. "Do you still wish to attend?"

Mustering his courage, the boy nodded.

"Then we have one more thing to do." She picked up the Sorting Hat and put it on his head. And laughed as his eyes shown with merriment.

The hat caught the boy's mood and seemed to laugh as it shouted, "Gryffindor," even though only four people were there to hear.

"I'll have you know you're in my house."

"Then . . . you're Professor McGonagall. I saw where you changed into a cat in the first movie."

"And that is something we must talk to you about. I must ask you not to reveal your origins. As for your parents . . ."

"I have parents? You know where they are?"

Snape took over when McGonagall was taken by surprise. "We know nothing about you except your name. We made an assumption that you had parents in your old world, and we will try to find out if they are in our world as well."

The boy looked sad for the first time since his arrival. "I'm an orphan, Sir."

"Well, tell Professor McGonagall all you know about yourself, and we'll see what we can do."

"There's not much to tell. You already know my name and that I'm eleven. There isn't anything else. I don't even have a real place to live."

"Yes, you do," Malcolm said helpfully. "You've got Hogwarts."

McGonagall managed to smile. "And that will be enough for now. We'll have your supplies and books sent to the school. That part will be taken care of. And your robes as well. Under the circumstances, your wand will be a problem . . ."

"Here," Malcolm said as he pulled the wand out of his belt. "You can use this until you get one of your own."

The boy stared. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I had a problem a couple of years ago. Now I always carry a spare. That's the fourth wand I've bought."

"Thank you, Malcolm," Professor McGonagall said. She turned to the boy. "Would you like an escort to the Great Hall, or would you like to try your luck."

"I'll try my luck, if I may."

"Go out this door and turn left, make your first right, then take the next staircase down. Keep an eye out on where the staircase to the next level is and keep going down until you reach the ground floor. You are on the Seventh Floor right now."

"Sounds easy enough."

"Hey," Malcolm called before the boy left. "The staircase to the fifth floor, the third from the bottom is a trick stair."

"Thanks, again." And the boy was off on his first adventure.

"Severus, if I could speak to Malcolm alone?"

"Certainly. I'll follow the boy. I'm sure he'll forget about the trick step."

After Snape left, McGonagall sighed.

"This won't be the easy part. Malcolm, we hid that fact that you had disappeared by having your counterpart lie about who he really was. And he avoided answering any question about Hallowe'en night by telling everyone that you and Gabrielle had separated."

"And I have to explain how we got back together?"

"You did not get back together, Malcolm."

This is stupid. It wasn't my fault I got trapped in another dimension. Now they want me to stop seeing Gabrielle? Is that my punishment?

"Then we will."

"No, you won't. Gabrielle insisted on it."

"I'm not going to tell any lies like that just to hide what happened."

"Then tell everyone what happened. It won't change the situation. I talked with Gabrielle. After you had left. For reasons she will explain when she thinks it's time, she does not wish you to try to see her. She does not want you to contact her. She does not want you to write her. She does not want you to have anything more to do with her. Until she is ready to explain herself. And, regretfully, I must agree with her decision."

Malcolm wanted to call McGonagall a liar. But he could see the tears in her eyes. Somehow, some way, she was telling the truth.

NO.

Malcolm transformed into an owl and flew out of the castle and into the air. McGonagall rushed to the open window and looked out. She sighed with relief when she saw him turn back and enter one of the classrooms. She wished him luck.

Malcolm transformed, standing on the very spot where he had last held Gabrielle.

What happened? What could have possibly happened?

He looked around. There was nothing. There was no clue. Except . . . he turned his head and saw the glint again. There was something on the floor. He bent down to pick it up.

I dreamt this.

His finger picked up the ring. The ring he had given Gabrielle. If he doubted anything McGonagall had said, all doubts ended at this point. All he could do was wonder why. He sat at the desk he had sat at so often the previous school year and tried to reason it out. As he thought, he idly scuffed the floor with his trainer, closed a desk drawer that had been left partially open, counted all the window panes, and, lastly, watched as the sun slowly made it's descent. It was only until he was exhausted that he returned to the dorm and to his bed. By then, everyone else was asleep.

"MALCOLM."

"GO AWAY."

Colin seemed amused. "I'm only here because you've driven everyone else away. What is it this time."

Malcolm pulled the blanket off his head. "What do you care? Everything is fine and dandy with you."

Colin looked around. "Don't worry. You get home somehow."

Malcolm was inches away from Colin's face. "I am home, And I want you to go away."

"Things went bad where you were?"

"NO. Things were wonderful. There was no Gabrielle there to tell me to get lost."

"Well, you're just about up anyway. Why don't you get dressed and come down to breakfast. I'll wait for you in the common room." He watched Malcolm carefully. "You have to eat."

Malcolm surrendered. "I'll be down."

Colin left as Malcolm tried to get himself organized. He threw on some clothes but did not bother with his robe. He went to his trunk, where his spare wand was and pulled out a small box. He closed the trunk, leaving his wand inside.

The ring, sitting on the night table, was put in the box. Malcolm thought for a minute, then tossed the box onto the table. He would decide what to do later. He finished dressing and went out to live the first day of the rest of his life.

Tomorrow, he would go out and live the second day.

"It's been two weeks," Dewey complained. "Shouldn't we do something."

Draco snorted. "And what should we do? Your mother sent him a howler last week, telling him to snap out of it. It made him yawn."

"It was a fake yawn."

"It was still a yawn. If you want to do something try setting Malcolm up with another girl, at least someone he can talk to."

"That's a great idea. I know the perfect girl."

"Where's he off to," Avery asked Draco.

"If I am correct, he's going to ask that Mudblood Granger to make a pass at his brother."

Avery nodded. "That would be fun to watch. I'm curious. If Dewey's plan works and they get married, will you still be the best man at the wedding."

Draco glared at the second year. "You have just explained to me why you and Dewey are friends."

"Was that a Yes or a No?"

"Shut up, Avery."

"Hermione?"

Hermione Granger looked up from her breakfast. "Dewey? Did something happen to Malcolm."

"Not yet. That's why I wanted to talk to you. He's still pouting over You-Know-Who."

"You mean Gabrielle."

"SSSHHHH." Dewey said in an overly loud whisper. "Don't say that. It might sent Malcolm off on another crying jag if he hears that name."

Hermione was amused. "But if we call her, You-Know-Who, won't we run the risk of confusing her with someone else."

Dewey shrugged his shoulders. "Call him What's-His-Name. Nobody ever talks about him when he's around anyway."

"Fine. We'll do that. And what was the favour you wanted from me?"

"Could you do to him what Ron's doing to Lavender Brown right now."

"Do you mean call him kissy-poo and act like a complete jerk?"

"You could improvise," Dewey suggested. "He's coming. Bye."

Hermione didn't react as Dewey ducked under the table. But she did react to Ron looking over, smiling at her then kissing Lavender again. She stood up as Malcolm passed by, grabbed him, spun him around, and latched onto him with a bear hug while she kissed him as strongly as possible.

"There are other fish in the sea," she whispered to Malcolm."

"Uh, yeah, right." Malcolm sat down in her spot, dazed. Hermione forced him to move over. "How do you feel?"

Malcolm noticed Ron watching them suspiciously. "You're right. You kiss a lot better than Ginny any day. I'll tell Dean he can keep her."

"That was good," Hermione whispered. "What's Ron doing?"

"I think he's trying to swallow his tongue instead of letting Lavender do that for him."

"And how are you?"

"After what you just did? I think I'll live." He smirked. "Are you doing anything tonight?"

"Slugclub. Want to come?"

"I might get you banned."

"One can only hope."

Malcolm frowned. "Then why do you go?" He looked over at Ron. "Never mind. Sure, I'll come. How should I dress."

"School robes would be nice. You haven't worn them in two weeks."

"You mean that I should start going to classes again, too."

"It's called life, Malcolm. And it's going to go on, regardless of what you do."

"Thanks, Hermione."

"You should thank Dewey. It was his idea."

Dewey's voice came from under the table. "If you kick me again, I'm going to hex your leg."

Anthony was working in the cafeteria again. Reese had proven himself to be a genius around a kitchen. He could look at a recipe and know exactly what needed to be done, as well as think of improvements. And now Reese had another brilliant idea.

"Desserts are the biggest problem we have. They're too bland. Jello or pudding or cake. It's too dull."

"We have pies, also," Anthony contributed, "and we do put those dollops of cream on them."

Reese ignored the suggestion. "No. That's changing now. You are officially the pastry chef."

"But I'm supposed to finish washing the dishes."

"We have students for that."

"Yes. Me."

"I'll tell Hector to get some volunteers. Here, I'll show you how to do flaky crusts, first."

"First? But I have classes in fifteen minutes."

"Cut them."

"NO."

Reese looked surprised. "Don't you want to learn to do this?"

"No," Anthony said in a small voice."

"If you don't want to learn how to cook, why are you here?"

"I have no idea," Anthony answered, threw down his apron and walked out of the kitchen. He then walked back in. "There's a test today in chemistry and I forgot to study."

"I'll sign the excuse," Reese said and led Anthony over to the table.

"You can do that?" Anthony asked, and Reese nodded.

It turned out to be a lie, but Filch couldn't prove that Anthony knew that.

"I've got it." Reese grabbed Anthony as he came into the kitchen.

"It's three weeks until Christmas Holiday. Please tell me it's not contagious."

"It's an idea."

"I don't feel well. I need to go to the nurses office."

"It's about Filch."

Anthony paused. "You're not going to let go of me regardless of what I say. Are you?"

"And I need your help."

"And as they carry me off screaming, they will say, 'if only he had made a proper friend'." Anthony looked at Reese. "We're going to Hogwarts?"

Reese smiled. "That's what I like about you. We think alike."

"And why are we trudging all these miles through the dark," Anthony asked.

"Hector loves Enid."

"You've written that in every lavatory stall in the school. Including the girls' bathrooms. I think everyone knows that. And I think they would have figured it out even without you help."

"Yeah, but when you love someone you should get married."

"I can think of plenty of examples of people who shouldn't have married."

"I'm serious. And this is a simple plan. Remember Malcolm's conversation?"

"When he flew over to our school and cried for three hours while ranting about how all women were completely detestable, and the only hope any man had was a double lobotomy. That conversation?"

"Yeah, and he said that the girl gave him back the ring."

"Yeah, I remember. She cast it on the ground with a complete lack of regard for the emotions I felt and so on and so on." Anthony paused. "You're going to steal the bloody ring."

"I'll ask Malcolm first. If he wakes up. There's Dennis."

Dennis smiled. "I got your owl. Do you want me to help you get in?"

"No," Anthony said.

"Yes," Reese insisted and grabbed Anthony by the arm.

Reese snuck into Malcolm's dorm and slipped quietly to his bedside using only the moonlight to guide him. He reached over for the box sitting on the night table where it had been tossed so long ago.

"Reese, what are you doing here?" Malcolm asked sleepily from his bed.

"I need this," Reese said as he took the small box.

"Take it," Malcolm said angrily. He slumped back into the bed and mumbled into his pillow. "I don't need it anymore."

As he heard Reese close the door behind him, Malcolm was suddenly wide awake. He had dreamed this very moment. Just as he had dreamed about the ring. And about Luna. Something very strange was going on in his life.

"Who are you?" the boy asked when he saw Anthony standing in the hallway.

"Just visiting."

"We're all in bed, now. Except those of us who have to go to the loo."

"Sorry. I'll be gone shortly."

"Hi, Anthony," Euan said as he came down the stairs. He walked past him in the same direction as the first boy. They came back together a minute later. "Goodnight, Anthony. Are you staying? We have an extra bed?"

"The first year hasn't shown up yet?"

"That's me," The boy said. "I had a late start."

"But he's not a late starter," Anthony said as a joke. "Louis left for Beauxbatons. I saved your pajamas from last time, if you're interested."

"I am," Anthony said, eager at the thought of not having to walk several miles back to his own school. He had associated with Reese for too long and couldn't care less if he got into trouble. He would get a Reese-free day out of it.

As Anthony followed Euan into the second year dorm, Reese came down the stairs. They just missed each other. He walked into the common room.

"That was quick," Dennis said.

"Where's Anthony."

"He ran into Euan. I think he's going to spend the night."

Reese nodded. "I'm ready to go. He'll just have to find his own way back."

Albus Dumbledore sat down for breakfast and smiled. "I see our guest has returned."

McGonagall cast a wayward eye at the boy in question. "I presume we will send him back to his own school after breakfast?"

"Don't you think it's curious that the boy prefers being here than at Glen Levitt?"

"Considering the fact that he is forced into constant contact with Malcolm's brother, I would say no."

"But you miss the obvious my dear. He could have simply refused to walk all that distance between our two schools. Instead, he came and refused to go back. He may not know what is inside of him, but he does feel an affinity with this place."

McGonagall nodded. "If what I have heard about Reese is true, then Anthony can't use the excuse that the food is better here."

"Reese has found his niche in life. And a surprising one at that. Hector tells me that he can read a cookbook blindfolded but he still can't seem to read a textbook." He smiled as he saw Malcolm enter. "And there is our next great wonder. He has somehow performed the most marvelous piece of magic seen in decades, perhaps centuries, and he could not care less. The woman he loves is gone from his life."

"Albus, that boy he brought back. How is it that we knew his name."

"That I do not know. I only know that it was written down on the day that he was born, with a notation that he would arrive late."

Both were looking at the boy in question as Malcolm tapped him on the shoulder.

"Has the wand been working out for you."

"It's been excellent, thank you. And learning magic is wonderful. I have you to thank for that, too."

"I feel responsible for you. Do you have any plans for Christmas?"

The boy glanced across the table at Euan Abercrombie and Dennis Creevey. "Possibly."

Malcolm looked up. "Possibly."

"He doesn't have a home," Dennis pointed out. "I've been talking to my parents but they weren't really interested. On the other hand . . ." He looked at Euan.

"My father is willing to consider the idea. He insists on meeting the 'boy in question' over the holiday. Knowing my father that means he already agreed."

"Congratulations," Malcolm said and walked over to join Hermione who was eating with Ginny and Dean. As he walked away, he heard Euan ask the boy, "Do you like Greek food?"

"Good Morning," Malcolm said as he sat down. "I hear Slughorn's having another get-together."

"You are specifically not invited."

"Why?"

"As if you didn't know? Someone brings up the idea of an alternate reality, and you come out with all of us speaking Greek instead of Latin." Hermione's voice held anger and amusement. "Slughorn was furious at you after he told you your ideas were ridiculous."

"They worked."

Dean was curious. "Ginny never mentioned this. What did Malcolm do?"

"He started casting spells using Greek derivatives instead of the standard Latin."

"They worked," Malcolm pointed out.

"Malcolm." Hermione was flustered. "Of course they worked. You're skilled enough as a wizard you could have used Pig Latin and they would have worked. Slughorn barred you from any future meeting for casting the Jelly-legs curse on Blaise Zabini."

"That was only because Dewey wasn't there."

That gets me to thinking. That bit about an Alternate Reality. Let's see. I was wearing that hat that George gave me. Those three kids each cast a different spell, and . . . I need to talk to some people.