The following morning Matt awoke and moaned loudly. He knew only Neville was there and hoped he did not wake the other guy. Slowly Matt dressed himself and felt good enough to stand. For which he discovered he was not quite ready. Apparently, sleeping in a new bed and one so comfortable had let him relax in new ways that the hospital beds just could not. His leg was not used to it and as a result was beginning to adapt, albeit slowly.
"Easy there, Matt!" Neville said, coming over to help haul him back into a sitting position on the edge of Matt's own bed.
"Thanks, Neville. I'm sorry if I woke you." Matt replied.
"It's ok, I think I'll grab a shower." Neville said and moved to the bathroom.
Matt took a deep breath and snapped his wand, transfiguring it into its cane form and hauled himself up. The steps would not be pleasant. Matt limped his way down to the shared separate common room to find Hermione already dressed in her school uniform of a white button-down shirt, Gryffindor tie under a gray cardigan with a black skirt and stockings.
"Hey, morning, Hermione." He said greeting her. Hermione looked up and her cheeks turned red.
"Good morning, Matt, how did you sleep?" she asked reflexively. Matt felt himself blush a bit, remembering how close he came to needing to change his underwear, several times.
"Uh, okay, I guess." He stumbled. "You?" This time it was Hermione's turn to blush as she remembered her own fantasies from the night before.
"Er- ok I suppose." She stumbled as well. Matt plopped down on the small couch next to her and smiled at her.
"What're you reading?" Matt asked, seeing an open book on her lap.
"Oh, just getting a head start on some of our classes. We're really going to be pushed this year, you and I." she said it so casually, like they were a package deal.
"Yeah. Me being a transfer student, no one knows what to expect and I have to make really, really good impressions. And you being, well, you."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Your grades and reputation precede you. Everyone at this school has heard of you, and more than half know what you're capable of accomplishing. And that's before the whole war veteran status thing." Matt said matter-of-factly.
"D-Do you want to join me?" Hermione asked and lifted her book for a moment. Matt paused for a long moment. No one had ever asked to share a book with him before. "It's, ok. I'm sorry I shouldn't have –"
"No, it's ok. Actually, I'd love to. If you don't mind me sitting that close?" Matt asked. Hermione felt her cheeks flush but hoped it would not be obvious in the dim light.
"Not at all." She replied and scooted towards the arm of couch. Matt sidled over and sat next to her, shoulder to shoulder. It was an oddly intimate position without being awkward. Matt leaned down to read and as he did so, they lightly talked about the material in the book. Matt routinely mimicked wand movements with his finger. They would tangent occasionally, talking about the theory behind a spell or sequence of spells. Before long, an hour and half had passed, and the pair were starting to get hungry.
"Are you two going to go down to breakfast?" Came a voice. Matt and Hermione both jumped, Hermione reflexively drawing her wand.
"Oh, Neville. Jesus, you scared the shit out of me." Matt said, swearing.
"H-how long w-were you there?" Hermione asked, putting her wand back.
"Only about twenty minutes. I didn't want to disturb you both. You were both pretty lost." Neville replied.
"What?" Matt asked, confused.
"In your book, you were pretty lost in it. I didn't want to pull you out. It's sometimes like getting woken up from a dream, you know? But I figured you both might want to eat too." Neville said as he descended into the common room proper and climbed through the portrait hole.
"Thanks, Neville!" Matt called after him. "He's a really caring friend." He said, turning to Hermione.
"Yes, he is. But he is right, we don't want to miss breakfast or be late for our first class." She said and stood up. Hermione chose to not say anything, but her shoulder felt cold where Matt had been pressed against her. She shivered ever so slightly and hoped he had not noticed.
As Hermione stood, Matt felt his own shoulder become chilled, noticing Hermione's lack of presence. His shudder at the loss of warmth and contact was hidden as he hauled himself up on his cane and carefully made his way to the common room.
"Do you want help?" Hermione asked, seeing him struggling somewhat.
"No, no. I can do it. Thank you, though. I appreciate the thought." Matt said as he made it through the portrait hole. Hermione gave him a skeptical look but did not press the matter. The pair made it to the Great Hall with time to spare. They had been up a lot earlier than Matt realized. He sat at the end of Gryffindor table closest to the staff table, Hermione across from him. He slightly turned and sat sideways on the bench as he pulled some food over to
himself. Hermione got herself a bowl of porridge while Matt helped himself to some pancakes with strawberries and bacon.
Soon Ginny and Neville joined them, moving closer from the middle of the table. Matt observed most of the rest of Gryffindor house was at the far opposite end of the table. He screwed up his face and wondered why. It would be something additional to consider. A few moments later the Great Hall filled with owls dropping off mail and timetables were given out. Hermione and Matt both received copies of the Daily Prophet. Matt sat his aside to munch on some bacon, but Hermione was finished with her breakfast and started to read immediately.
"I'll be back, gotta go hit the little Wizard's room." Matt joked and got up from his seat as Hermione opened the paper. Matt was out of the Great Hall as Hermione took a sip of pumpkin juice and immediately spat it out all over the table and the paper.
"I can't believe this!" she exclaimed. Ginny and Neville scooted closer to read.
"This isn't good Hermione. I thought Matt said he was keeping a low profile on the train yesterday?" Neville asked.
"He's supposed to…" Hermione's voice trembled.
"Not anymore…look…" Ginny said almost despondently. There were copies of the Daily Prophet everywhere. It looked like everyone had gotten one. Luna even cast a glance their way with an extremely worried look on her face.
"How can this be happening again?! Why can't we ever just catch a break?" Hermione said angrily now. "Come on, I've got to get to the library. I've got to investigate something. We still have time before classes start."
"What about Matt?" Ginny asked.
"He's still eating. As long as we make sure he doesn't see this, it'll be ok. Just grab up as many copies as you can and have Luna get the others." Hermione said as she stood and collected her bag. Neville and Ginny were deft as they slipped unread newspapers from other students or accidentally spilled drinks onto the papers and offered to throw them away as they moved out of the Great Hall. Luna followed their lead and randomly grabbed newspapers, knowing that no one would think it weird if she was doing it. Luna was always seen as unusual, and she used it to her advantage.
Matt returned to the Great Hall a few moments later, missing Hermione and the others as they disappeared into the courtyard on their way to the library. He looked bemused as he sat down.
"Where'd everybody go?" he asked himself. He started to finish off the strawberries on his plate as something on the floor caught his eye. There was a newspaper under the table. He would have missed it if he had not leaned over to eat from his unusual sideways position.
Matt reached down and unfolded it.
Hogwarts Repaired and Reopened but Danger Still Present at School
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry reopened today after a lengthy and complicated repair process which took place over the months of June, July and August following the
conclusion of the Second Wizarding War, which the final battle was fought at the historic
school. The Dark Lord Voldemort's forces were vanquished and the Dark Lord himself killed
by none other than Harry Potter. While the school itself remains intact and Dark Lord's forces finally beaten, there still remains an air of danger at the school. The Daily Prophet's newest
writer, Padma Patil, can confirm, that a supposed Death Eater, one of Voldemort's staunchest and youngest supporters has been granted permission to attend the school as a seventh-year student.
Matt Santini, a former student of the ill fated Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a more recent American sister school to Hogwarts, is the only alleged survivor of the disaster that destroyed the famed American learning institute. He was recently, albeit questioningly, given a transfer to Hogwarts after suddenly appearing at the school, also under mysterious circumstances. It is unclear currently whether or not Santini actually is a true student or an enemy in disguise. This writers inside sources tell her that indeed, the American transfer
student has a quick temper and is known for crafting his own incredibly dangerous spells. It
is the suspicion of this writer that this newest transfer student is in fact not here by accident.
Sources say that with such violent tendencies Hogwarts surely cannot be kept safe. Given the school's history, a former Death Eater serving as Potions Master for fourteen years and another pardoned Death Eater also attending the school, there's absolutely reason to be concerned.
Additionally, this reporter learned that Hermione Granger, the war heroine, and Triwizard
Harlot has broken off a long-term relationship with Harry Potter's oldest and best friend,
Auror Ron Weasley. Apparently, the plain and ambitious Muggleborn witch, who has a taste for bad boys, after a lengthy dating period with Bulgarian Quidditch star Viktor Krum; she has now set her claws into the newest and ostensibly the most dangerous addition to
Hogwarts, Matt Santini. The villainous Death Eater will want to watch his back though, as
Granger has a confirmed kill count of at least twenty Death Eaters. Hermione Granger may be the Black Widow that Hogwarts needs now, as it enters into a new dark era.
Matt read the paper in silence. He could not believe it. He had done everything right. He had not spoken to anyone, no one knew who he was before he was sorted, no one even knew he was alive. The only other person who knew was Cassidy and she was not about to give a statement like this to the press. She hated the newspapers and the media in general.
"I guess I know where everyone went…" Matt said to himself as he looked around. He felt suddenly very exposed and alone. He could feel his chest tighten and it was harder to breathe. He forced himself to take several deep breaths to try and calm down, but it still felt like he was not catching a full breath. Matt knew anyone reading that article would not want to come near him.
Matt stood and gathered his bag to move out of the hall, not seeing Luna anywhere. Draco. He could try talking to him, if anyone would still stand by him after that, Malfoy might be the only one. Quickly he moved towards the opposite side of the Great Hall over to the Slytherin table, but he stopped suddenly when he realized that Malfoy was not sitting at the table or was even in the Hall at all.
"Hey, Santini! Gonna come join us then, are you?" Pansy Parkinson said seeing how distressed Matt was acting. "You can always eat with us, you're one of us, aren't you?" she said as her gang laughed at the look on his face. "What's the matter, afraid of the Black Widow Granger? C'mon on over here, I'll protect you!" she goaded as the entire table seemed to laugh, even a couple of the Ravenclaws who picked on Luna on a routine basis joined in.
Matt did not know what to do. All his experience seemed for naught as he turned around, lost. He said nothing and quickly fled the Great Hall. He showed up early to his first class but did not go inside. He slipped down the hall and waited, out of sight, beside a suit of armor. His thoughts raced. He and Hermione had compared timetables over breakfast before the owl post had arrived. They were identical. It was logical of course, because Hermione had been testing him to see where he was proficiency wise, when they had completed his rehabilitation, he had taken her lead and did the same courses she had.
Had he made a terrible mistake? Matt was not a Death Eater but if Hermione thought he had betrayed her, that he was working in league or was a former Voldemort supporter, she would not hesitate to end him. He knew she would, at this point, probably should for her own safety. Being in all the same classes as her now made it much easier for him to be a target if she did decide he was a danger to her, her friends, or the school.
Matt closed his eyes and pulled his legs up to make himself smaller. Maybe he had a chance if he decided to up and leave. If Hermione decided that he was a threat she would not abandon her final year of schooling just to go hunting him, especially if he had not attacked her or anyone she cared about. Ten months was a big head start and he could disappear in that time. Europe and America were both big places, he could attempt to go home, call in a favor or something, slip away.
"Matt?" came a voice.
His head shot up from his knees and looked up to see Hermione standing over him.
"No! Please, don't. I'm just gonna go, ok?" he said and started to crawl away down the hall on his butt and hands.
"Oh no…you read that awful article, didn't you?" Hermione said and knelt in front of him. "Luna said she got all that she could…" Hermione started to explain.
"It doesn't matter. You think I'm a Death Eater and you're gonna kill me." Matt replied, fear in his voice.
"No! No! I'm not please, listen to me." Hermione said taking a gentle tone. Her hand reached out to take his. "I don't think you're a Death Eater at all. Do you know why?" she asked, and he shook his head. "It's because of two reasons. Firstly, we spent a lot of time together over the summer, and I think I got to know you some. Death Eaters don't…act the way you do. Not towards…someone like me…" Hermione said, pain in her voice. "Secondly, a real Death Eater wouldn't act like you are now. You're afraid of what I think of you, what the others are thinking. A Death Eater wouldn't do that when outed. Trust me, I would know." Matt swallowed hard and Hermione offered him her hand. He took it and the two of them stood.
"Matt, I know what that article said, and it seems scary. But it's not true. We both know that. You must learn to ignore it." She reached up and put her hand on his cheek.
"I thought I had lost everything." Matt said, his voice shaky.
"I know. One look at that article, and it would scare some people off…" Hermione said, her brown eyes gazing up into Matt's own matching eyes.
"But that nonsense…" Neville said appearing from the side.
"Does not work…" Ginny added appearing behind Neville.
"On us!" Luna added coming up behind Ginny.
"We're here for you." Draco added appearing around the corner from the opposite direction.
"Come on, we'll be late and won't get good seats." Hermione said, taking Matt's hand in hers and she led them all into the Charms classroom.