Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
The Curious Case of Malcolm Baddock
Chatter was low as we worked in groups during defense. Mostly because the first unit Lupin was teaching was an introduction to casting nonverbal spells. Fred worked with Lee. Both had their wands held in front of their faces as they stared at each other, looking both pained and fixated at the same time. Fred's face was turning red thanks to his effort. Like he was forgetting to breathe. While Lee had little beads of sweat running down the side of his face with his nose scrunched up. Neither one of them had moved or cast any spells for several minutes.
I was with George. There were about four to five feet between us. Not the ideal space for casting and blocking spells on one another. But with a class as big as this, space was short in supply. Out of all my classes, Fred and George's too from what they told me, Lupin had the most NEWT students. It was either a testament to his ability as a teacher; having so many students qualify for his class. Or it was a compliment to how popular he was. Probably a correlation of both, if I had to guess.
Unlike Snape, Lupin's first class hadn't included a lecture to cause us self-doubt. Unlike Flitwick and my ancient runes professor, Lupin did not press upon us the importance of studying and keeping up with the rigorous curriculum. Instead, he congratulated us and talked to us; asking what we hoped to gain from taking upper-level defense. It was only after we found our footing did Lupin explain how the next two years would go. Class would focus mostly on practical skills. Learning theory would be our homework. Although, we were reminded that Lupin's office was open to any student who had questions.
The way Lupin set up his NEWT classes created a pattern we all came to suspect. Now, as the year transitioned into October when we entered the defense classroom and saw nothing written on the blackboard, we knew it meant we'd be spellcasting. Without being asked or prompted, the first to arrive would move the desks and chairs until they were stacked against the walls. Giving us as much floor space as we could.
"Try imagining the outcome you're trying to achieve, Mr. Diggory", Lupin said from the other side of the room where Diggory had paired up with Stimpson. The poor boy. "Your magic is connected to your intentions, not your words".
George's left eye twitched. Something that signaled me to be ready. Because a second later a sputtering yellow light pinged out of the tip of George's wand. My magic bubbled in response as I imagined a large glass rectangle standing between me and the little ball of yellow light flying towards me like a bumble bee. My wrist flicked in the necessary wand movement to release the magical buildup. It felt weak and unsatisfactory. But it was enough to cause George's stinging jinx to be deflected away from me without consequence. Thank Merlin the first thing Lupin taught us this year was how to cast the shield charm.
Frowning, George glanced at his wand held in his hand. "It feels like my wand and me are speaking different languages and we're only halfway understanding each other".
Nodding to show I understood, I watched as a red spark flashed out of Fred's wand. It died out before reaching Lee. Which was lucky, because Lee still hadn't moved. "It's like trying to use a cell phone with a bad connection". I said as Fred started breathing through his mouth; panting with relief.
"…What?" George asked after thinking about my metaphor for a moment.
Blinking twice, I returned my attention to George. Right. As a wizard, George had never dealt with a dropped call or service coming in and out. Were cell phones even common yet? I know they'd been invented. But what year did most muggles start carrying one around with them? "Never mind", I said as Lupin wandered over to our side of the classroom.
"How are you getting on?" Lupin asked with a smile that soften the scars on his face.
With a frustrated sigh, Lee lowered his wand before swiping his sleeve across his forehead. "I feel like my eyes are going to pop out of my skull", he shared with Fred snorting his agreement.
"Keep trying", Lupin encouraged. "It's like learning how to read. With time, you'll be able to cast nonverbally without thinking about it". Lee grumbled something that sounded like a disagreement. But Lupin had already moved on. "How about you two?" He asked George and me.
"I don't like it", George admitted. "I can't always make it work and when it does, the spell feels weaker than normal".
Lupin nodded sagely but didn't offer any words; turning to me first. "It's like", I started to explain; squinting my eyes as I thought. "It's like you have to cast on instinct. Think too much and it won't work. But George is right. The spells are weaker".
"Those are good observations", Lupin said smiling as he addressed us both. "In fact, there is some evidence to suggest that nonverbal magic is less effective than verbal magic. But I theorize that it's all in a witch or wizard's intentions and how they chose to emote". Lupin paused to give us time to think before adding, "It might be something worth looking into. There are resources written about nonverbal magic in the library. And I would be fascinated to hear about your findings".
George blinked. I blinked. Meanwhile, Lee and Fred were back to making constipated faces at each other as they tried to cast jinxes. "Did you…" George started out slowly. As if he wasn't quite sure. "Did you just subtly assign us homework?"
Clasping his hands behind his back, Lupin's expression was unchanged. "Welcome to the NEWT level, Mr. Weasley", he said before walking off to help a different group of students.
"You know", George said as we watched him go. "Sometimes I think we forget that Lupin was a marauder too".
Shrugging, I scratched the side of my face with one finger. "That, or acting like this was how he's managed Sirius for so long".
With my bookbag loaded with quiz papers from the first years that Flitwick wanted me to grade, I entered the great hall when Lunch was already well underway. Yawning, and already dreading the ancient runes lecture I'd have to sit through during the next class block, I dragged my feet to Gryffindor table.
From the looks of things, the house-elves were serving baked potatoes and salad for lunch today. It smelled great. But as I found an open spot and started piling veg on my plate, I realized that the only thing I wanted to do was take a nap. Especially since there was a YUP meeting scheduled to take place at the end of the day. Merlin, how had Percy managed to be head boy, a NEWT student, and YUP's president? Because I've only been at it for a little more than a month, minus the head boy bit, and already I wanted to hibernate until spring.
I yawned again. A big one. It was one of those yawns that made me stretch my mouth wide open and forced my eyes closed. Maybe Neville could be convinced to run the meeting. That's what vice presidents are for, right? If not him, Zabini would probably do it. I'd just have to-
"Holly!"
An excited voice operating at 100 MPH startled me out of my musings. "Merlin bloody Pendragon", I swore as my eyes snapped open and I dropped my fork. At my side, the grinning, sparkly-eyed face of Dennis Creevey peered up at me. "What?" I asked; trying to sound more patient than I was feeling.
"How did I do?" Dennis asked. It was only then that I noticed Malcolm Baddock peaking around Dennis at his other side. Malcolm Baddock, who hadn't sat at Slytherin table since the activity faire with exception to times that Montague or Adrian could sit with him.
"Uh... How did you do on what?" I asked before my thought could get too distracting. But it was hard to focus on happy-go-lucky Dennis when Baddock looked so… kicked.
"On the quiz we took in charms", Dennis answered; completely unphased by my lack of attentiveness. "Flitwick said you and him would look them over and we'd get them back next week". His eyes flickered to my bookbag resting by my feet. Telling me all I needed to know.
"Well, then you'll find out next week", I said; picking up my fork and spearing some of the leafy greens on my plate.
"Aw, come on", Dennis whined as he dramatically slumped until his chin was resting on the tabletop. "Malcolm wants to know how he did to".
Except one look at Malcolm from over Dennis' head told me that the boy wasn't as enthused as his friend. In fact, Malcolm wasn't even looking at me. Instead, he sat ramrod straight, wringing his hands together as he stared wistfully at the food on the table. "Malcolm isn't in my class", I said as I reached for a pair of tongs set out for the purpose of serving the baked potatoes. Although, my wording had me pausing. My class? Sounded like way too much responsibility. "So, I won't be grading his quiz", I said as I picked up a potato and placed it on the plate in front of Malcolm. "And I haven't started grading the quizzes from your class", I continued as I put another potato on the plate Dennis was laying his head next to. It was only when Dennis also had food on his plate that Malcolm reached for a fork. "You'll find out how you did next week", I finished.
Dennis groaned; acting like the disappointed little brother he was, even though I wasn't his sibling. But he picked himself up and started on the baked potato in front of him. "Can you pass the bacon bits", Dennis asked Malcolm after he'd smothered the inside of his potato with butter. Malcolm nodded, hands twitching a little as he grabbed the topping Dennis asked for; handing it to the Gryffindor first year.
Busying myself with my own food, I tried not to flinch when Dennis added an unseemly amount of bacon to his potato. Visions of Ron doing the very same thing when he was eleven flashed through my memory. Hell, looking down the table a way, it looked like Ron was still doing that. Dennis didn't put down the bowl of bacon bits when he was done. Instead, he turned to his friend and proceeded to do the same to Malcolm's lunch. I shoved a forkful of salad into my mouth to hide a smile. Shame I didn't have the power to award house points.
"Do you guys want any salad?" I asked. And got two fervent head shakes for my efforts. I didn't push; recognizing that neither of them was Ron or Ginny. Meaning that I couldn't boss them around as I did with my own siblings… Well, mostly Ron. Ginny tended to do what she wanted no matter the input. While Ron could still be goaded into things.
"You're here again", a voice complained; hitting certain octaves that made my ears hurt. I wasn't the only one. Dennis scowled and Malcolm gripped his fork painfully tight as we looked across the table at a second-year who'd just sat down. It was a second-year Gryffindor I wasn't bothered to know. "You're supposed to eat with your own kind", the second-year said; jerking his head in the direction of Slytherin table.
And that was the problem, wasn't it? As a muggleborn, the Slytherins didn't see Malcolm as one of their own. As a Slytherin, the other houses weren't willing to accept him. Malcolm wasn't like Ginny who had older siblings who'd terrorize anyone dumb enough to bully her. He was alone; thrown into a social problem he had no knowledge of. As it were, YUP members were currently the only few who'd talk to the boy.
"I invited him", Dennis said; squaring his shoulders. Thanks to Collin's influence, and Dennis' general enthusiasm, it wasn't hard to get him to swallow YUP's philosophy. "I want Malcolm to eat with us because we're friends. It doesn't matter that he's in Slytherin".
Malcolm dunked his head and used his fork to play with the skin of his potato. Either he was pretending he wasn't there or that we weren't. "You don't know how awful Slytherins are yet", the second-year accused as he pointed a finger at Dennis to emphasize his words. "They're bullies. Always picking on the other houses and hexing people in the halls. And they never get caught when they do it. They think they're better than us, and… and-"
"And it isn't against the rules to sit at other tables during meals. Except for formal feasts", I broke in; cutting off what I'm sure would've been a very convincing argument about why snakes can't be trusted. "So, Malcolm may sit where ever he likes. And so can you if you're so bothered by a first-year".
The second year turned his ire to me. But like most younger students, he had the self-awareness not to trod on the toes of an upperclassman. Even though the curl of his lip told me he very much wanted to. The second year held his ground for a few seconds longer. But with both Dennis and myself staring him down, it wasn't long before he scoffed and stomped off to sit further down the table.
"I'm sorry", Malcolm mumbled, his face still turned towards his plate.
"Don't say that", Dennis said; sounding alarmed that his friend even felt the need to apologize. "It's not your fault he's an idiot". Couldn't have said it better if I tried.
Neville had the floor. "Um... umm", he stammered from behind Flitwick's podium as I manned the blackboard. "Congratulations to Justin Finch-Fletchley, Padma Patil, and G-Graham Montague for being re-elected as house representatives". Neville paused to allow for the polite applause as I underlined the names he listed. Amusingly, he blushed even though the applause wasn't for him. "And congrats to… Hermione Granger for becoming Gryffindor's house representative". The red in Neville's cheeks flushed darker at the second bout of applause. "Um… next, we need to talk about October's… Um…" Neville stumbled; glancing first at the piece of parchment he was holding and then over his shoulder at me. "The event we have planned for October".
Taking pity on the boy, after all, I had literally handed him a copy of today's agenda ten minutes ago and told him he was going to run the meeting, I stepped up to the podium; brushing Neville aside. "Since the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at the end of the month, YUP will be making and handing out maps of the school and tips on how to survive Hogwarts".
As had become my habit over the last few weeks, I leaned against my arms on the slanted part of Flitwick's podium; forcing it to take most of my weight as I looked around the room. There were more of us this year. Cho Chang and her unfortunate friend, Edgecombe, joined. Three first years, Dennis, Malcolm, and Quirke had signed up. Currently, they were sitting in front of Montague and Adrian. Susan Bones was attending her first meeting. And so was Dean Thomas from Ron and Harry's year. Number-wise, they made up for the loss of Percy and Marcus.
"Anyone who is interested in helping, please talk to Cedric. Also, thanks to the Carrow sisters who have agreed to translate whatever we make into French. We haven't found anyone who can translate it into Bulgarian yet, so if you know someone, please tell us". I paused to let people process, just like Flitwick told me to do. "Now, in November we'll be hosting a student Vs. staff trivia competition. Anyone can come to watch the event. However, to compete students has to be a part of YUP. We also need people to volunteer for different jobs". I paused again. Not to give people a chance to think but because Fred was making gooey eyes at Angelina and I was finding it distracting.
"What jobs?" Hermione blurted out after I remained distracted a little too long.
Closing my eyes, I shook my head once; allowing myself to refocus. "There's going to be a committee for coming up with the different questions and types of questions. We need another committee to run the event. Like making sure there are enough seats for everyone, someone to keep track of points, and someone to act as the master of ceremonies. And another committee to help decorate for the event and advertise. If any of that sounds interesting to you, tell Neville".
"Um…" Neville stammered behind me at suddenly being put on the spot. "Please let me know", he finished sheepishly.
"Last order of business", I moved on. "Do the house representatives have anything they'd like to say?" It was a blanket question. Something we did at the end of every YUP meeting. So far, we've only had one time where a house representative had a house problem the club could help with. Such as, finding Luna's hidden possessions. Usually, we breezed through this part and were packing up a minute later to head down for dinner. But this time, I allowed for a lengthier wait for a response. My eyes linger on a specific someone.
And he did not disappoint. Comfortable with his movement, Montague slowly stood. "Slytherin house has concerns", he said in his deep baritone voice as heads swiveled in his direction. All except for Malcolm, who kept his head down; staring at his hands.
"You have the floor", I said to make it sound official. Although, I probably didn't have to say anything. But Zabini is taking the minutes and I know how formal and proper he likes things to operate.
"As you all know there are stereotypes about Slytherin", Montague started. Though he didn't get very far before he was interrupted by a loud snort from the other side of the room. I didn't have to look to know it was Ron. Luckily for my little brother, he was too far away for me to do anything to him about it. "The majority of us are purebloods or half-bloods with connections to prominent bloodlines. Causing people to assume that it applies to all of us. We also tend to be a close-knit group. Leading others to believe the majority of us are exclusionary".
Montague was saying more than I have ever heard him say in the past. He deserved credit for how he presented this information to YUP; directly addressing the problem but also picking his words to be the least reactive. Where do people learn tact like this? Judging Montague's command of the room at that moment, I wasn't the only one who thought so. It's always the quiet ones, isn't it?
With straight posture and his hands clasped behind his back, Montague continued. "Naturally, because of Slytherin's reputation we prefer to handle matters in-house. However, we currently have a concern afflicting one of our own that is bigger than Slytherin house". Malcolm wasn't the only one looking down anymore. Davis and Bulstrode had their heads bowed. Although with their clenched fists and tense shoulders, they appeared angry more than hurt.
"In the past, there has been an unspoken rule that Slytherin house will stand by their own. That is how many half-bloods were able to be tolerated by members of our house who believe differently. This year, Slytherin has gained our first muggleborn and that rule has changed".
A small murmur sparked at the announcement. Though not everyone was surprised. Anyone paying attention, anyone who noticed the first-year Slytherin clinging to the robes of a first-year Gryffindor knew there had been an upset. Malcolm's shoulders curled as eyes turned to him.
"Things are changing in Slytherin house", Montague kept going; talking over the murmur. "Some, those of us in this club, are standing by the old rule. We will not hurt our own. While others are ignoring the rule. Targeting not only Baddock", Montague nodded in Malcolm's direction. "But Slytherin half-bloods as well. What's more, due to the stereotypes about our house, it would be unlikely we'd receive support from students of other houses. It would be unlikely if it wasn't for this club". Montague stopped there. Taking the time to lock eyes with every house representative and YUP officer before making his final statement. "Those of us in Slytherin will need to take a stance. And we require the Youth of the United Party to stand with us".