Malcolm stood alone in the common room. Classes were over. All the exams were finished and graded. The last meals had been eaten, and students were heading for the train station. He paused to reflect on the year that had passed, then decided against it. It would be too much like work.
The Trusty Trio came down the stairs from their dorm rooms, one of the last to head out. Harry stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and looked back. Malcolm couldn't resist asking, "Harry, who do you see? Christopher Lee or Richard Harris."
Harry let out a laugh, and Hermione joined in. Ron just looked confused as Hermione told him it was a muggle thing.
"It's about movies," Harry said, "Hermione told me about your question, but I didn't know Adam Rickman, either." He didn't notice Hermione rolling her eyes as he continued, "I didn't get to watch many movies. Sometimes, at the babysitter's house, but that was it."
"I guess it wasn't a fair question," Malcolm said.
"Wait, it was," Harry said, "I just needed to explain. It isn't the common room that reminds me of a movie. It's you being in the common room that reminds me. Did you ever see 'Casablanca?'"
"That's an old movie," Malcolm said, "I had to watch it in class one time. It starred Humphrey Bogart."
"Harry," Hermione said, laughing, "Do you really picture Humphrey Bogart in Hogwarts."
Harry laughed with her, saying, "Not him, one of the other characters. There was a scene where a French police captain tells Rick, that's Bogart, that he's shutting the Café down. He says he shocked at finding out that gambling is going on, and then he pockets his winnings. That's who I think of whenever I see Malcolm in the middle of the room."
"I remind you of him?" Malcolm asked, shaking his head.
"All I want to know," Ron said, "is what's a movie."
"We'll explain on the train," Hermione said, "let's get going."
As they walked out of the common room, Harry asked Malcolm, "Does it bother you, what I said?"
"I can live with it," Malcolm said, knowing he meant more than just this last conversation. "I like the comparison you made just now." He paused, and then recited a couplet, "O wad some Pow'r the giftee gie us, to see oursels as others see us!"
"Robert Burns," Harry said, to the surprise of everyone. "I read a book of his poems, once," he explained, "I DO read every now and then."
"I just hope everything turns out all right in the end," Malcolm said. "When they made that movie, things were uncertain about how the war would end."
"They still are," Harry said, as he put his arm around Malcolm's shoulder, "but you know, Louie, I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
A/N Malcolm returned home for the summer, but did manage to stay in touch with his friends from Hogwarts. That will be part of the next story, "Life is Unfair: Malcolm's second year." The general outline of the story will follow the story line of Goblet of Fire as much as possible, except that it will ignore what is going on for the most part.
Highlights of the next installment are listed below:
Malcolm visits Ginny at the Burrow
Reese makes a surprise appearance at the school, and lives.
Dewey's secret way to Hogwarts will be revealed.
Malcolm will make the Quidditch team.
(Oh, wait. They cancelled Quidditch.)
Malcolm attracts the attention of a certain female character that Harry has feelings for.
Draco reveals that he really doesn't like Ginny Weasley. Everyone believes him.
Ginny reveals that she really doesn't like Draco Malfoy. Everyone believes her.
Malcolm does something fantastic and unexpected, and almost no one is happy about it.
Professor McGonagall feels kindly towards Malcolm.
Peeves has a speaking part.
No ghosts will be injured, or killed, although Professor Binns will feel lively.
Pansy Parkinson reveals that she has always trusted Draco. Everyone believes her.
An irritated Owl will dip a letter in the syrup bowl, and then drop it into Ron Weasley's lap.
Malcolm will fly a broom, without throwing up. People will avoid going underneath him, just in case.
Madame Hooch will ask Malcolm a question, even though she already knows the answer.
Malcolm will answer the question, truthfully.
Draco Malfoy reveals, for a second time, that he doesn't like Ginny Weasley. Everyone still believes him.
Francis gets an Owl. No one questions it.
Hal shows up at Hogwarts for Parent-Teacher night.
Lois shows up at Hogwarts for Parent-Teacher night.
Malcolm disappears from the school grounds for a twenty-four hour period, that coincides with Parent-Teacher night.
Neville Longbottom asks Ginny Weasley to the Yule Ball.
Draco Malfoy reveals for a third time that he does not like Ginny Weasley. Everyone continues to believe him.
Ginny Weasley threatens Malcolm to stop spreading rumors about her and Draco. She reminds him of how good her left hook is.
Malcolm gets a threatening letter, from someone named Camilla.
Lucius Malfoy takes an interest in Malcolm's education, and introduces him to 'special friends.'
No one accepts Malcolm's invitation to come to his house for Christmas.
Malcolm admits to spreading rumors about Ginny and Draco. Everyone laughs at him anyway.
Harry Potter threatens Malcolm.
Malcolm discovers he has a case of 'animal attraction.'
Ginny is asked for her autograph, by a reader of Wizard Weekly.
I hope you enjoyed reading this story. It is hard to try to sustain the suspense in any story, so I did not even bother to try. Another thing I tried to do, but gave up on, was trying to remain true to the book. I realized it's all fantasy, anyway.
Sincerely, Hibob
PS I have written this story with my own view of what Hogwarts is like. I know that each of us does have a personal view of our own. Therefore, I have to ask the Question: Christopher Lee or Richard Harris?