After a grueling Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson the group of students was exhausted. Harry had set them a lot of homework to accomplish as well as wanting them to perfect certain practical spells, as he would be testing them on the spells next class. Matt looked particularly drained as he was packing up his materials. Hermione even had to admit that it was tough. N.E.W.T. level courses were no joke.
"You comin' Hermione?" Matt asked.
"Go ahead, I'll be along in a minute." Hermione said and exchanged a look with Ginny as they filed out of the class. "Professor Potter, may I have a word with you?" Hermione asked as Neville was the last one shuffling out.
"Sure thing Ms. Granger. What can I help you with?" Harry asked. Hermione was impressed with his professionalism.
"It's a personal matter…"
"I see. Perhaps my…office?" Harry suggested as they moved into the cozy space at the back of the class. Harry closed the door and cast Muffliato on the door, so their conversation was entirely private. "What's going on Hermione?" Harry asked as he sat behind the desk in the classroom.
"It's…complicated." Hermione began. "I…I think I'm developing…feelings…"
"Feelings? Towards someone or about something? You're surely not regretting coming back, are you?" Harry was slightly worried.
"No! Nothing like that. It's towards someone…" Hermione bit her lip and looked down at the floor and averted her eyes from Harry.
"Okay…that isn't a bad thing Hermione. It's not Malfoy, is it?"
"Oh! Goodness no. Draco is much more tolerable now than ever before. He's changed, Harry. But this isn't about him." Hermione replied. Harry visibly relaxed. "I…I'm over Ron. In all fairness, we were over a long time ago. Before the war ended." Hermione's voice was full of sadness.
"I kind of figured. But you stayed together…why?" Harry had to know.
"Well, mostly because of you, isn't it? I mean, I couldn't ever forgive him fully for abandoning us. And it only got worse over the summer. He couldn't understand my desire to finish what I started. You and I are alike in that regard. And well, we've all known each other for so long, I didn't want to hurt you. It felt like ending it with Ron would be insulting to you because he's your best friend…"
"Hermione…stop. You're my best friend. You always have been. I just never really saw it. You cared more about me than anyone else really. Like a sister would. And I'd've been dead loads of times if not for you. If you hadn't been there, I'd have never gotten the Philosopher's Stone, you figured out the Basilisk. And the one time you weren't there, I nearly died. And it was you who took me back in time to save Sirius and Buckbeak. It was you who got me through the Triwizard Tournament. You were there at the Ministry, both times. And we'd have never gotten all the Horcruxes without you. I dunno what I'd've done without you." Harry smiled at her genuinely.
"Oh Harry! That's kind of you to say!" Hermione felt overwhelmed and she leaned across the desk to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hermione, if you're wanting to move on, you don't need my permission to date someone else. I'm going to be happy for you. Whoever it is, that would make you happy. However, if you want my advice, I can tell you who I think you should either ask out yourself or if he makes a move, say yes to." Harry told her. "And for the record, I'm not speaking to Ron. He crossed a line that he can't go back from." Hermione smiled; it was a pained smile, but she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Thank you again, Harry."
"So, who is it? Who's the lucky guy? Or is it a girl?" Harry asked.
"Um…it's not a girl…" Hermione was looking sheepish now.
"Ok, so who's the lucky guy?" Harry pressed.
"Itmightmaybebematt." Hermione mumbled very quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that." Harry said.
"It might maybe be Matt." Hermione said much slower and with a bright red flush on her cheeks.
"The American Matt? Our Matt?" Harry mused as Hermione nodded. He grinned at her. "Brilliant! Hermione, he's a good match for you."
"We…uh…should get to dinner…" Hermione said as she stood, and Harry agreed.
As Hermione walked into the Great Hall Ginny was watching for her like a hawk. But she noticed that Matt had caught her arrival and immediately looked up to see her and smiled. She wondered if that was intentional or reflexive. Suddenly, she was being pulled back out to the Entrance Hall.
"Well? How did it go? Did you follow my advice and ask Harry?" Ginny grilled.
"I didn't have to ask his permission. Harry guessed what I was on about. And he told me to go ahead and well…act…" Hermione responded. Ginny squealed with excitement.
"Are you going to ask him?" Ginny wondered.
"Not yet. It just feels good knowing that I can if I want to or if he makes a move first, I won't feel guilty about saying yes." Hermione smiled and giggled a little. Ginny looked around the Hall and back to Hermione.
"Just don't pull a Harry and wait too long. Not saying he's desperate or anything but he's lonely. You can tell, Neville's been noticing even. And you could use a good snog." Ginny said, frankly.
"Hermione, you do seem, pent up." Luna's dreamy voice came from the corner.
"Oh, hello Luna." Hermione said to her.
"You should listen to Ginny. She knows, her head's clear of Wrackspurts. Matt though, he's got a lot. He can't seem to clear them. Although they seem to bother him less when you're around." Luna said and wandered back to dinner.
"See? Even Luna says you're good for each other!" Ginny replied sunnily. Hermione blushed as she followed Ginny into the Hall and sat down. Neville had intentionally scooted down so the only open seat in the group was between him and Matt. Hermione rolled her eyes and sat. Matt immediately shifted and stopped sitting side saddle as he usually did.
"Well, at least today's paper didn't have anything nasty about any of us in it…" he said, finally having gotten around to reading it from that morning.
"Mr. Santini, Ms. Granger, a word if you please." Professor McGonagall herself had come over to their table herself, which was rare for the Headmaster or Headmistress to do.
"Of course, Professor." Hermione said and immediately stood up. Matt joined her in following the Headmistress to the staff table.
"How can we help?" Matt asked.
"I was wondering if I could persuade you both to do me a favor? Since we have elected to forgo Prefects and Head Boy and Girl this year, for which I do apologize, Ms. Granger. Naturally, you would have been selected for Head Girl had we opted to maintain the position this year. With the reduced student body however, it seems unnecessary. That being said, would you both consent to perhaps going out to patrol the corridors this evening? Just to keep the younger students on their toes."
"Of course, we'd be happy to." Hermione agreed. Matt nodded along.
Later that evening, Matt and Hermione stepped out of the Gryffindor Common Room to patrol the halls. Matt stretched as the portrait of the Fat Lady closed behind them. The pair had been hunched over tables working on homework, books, parchment, and quills scattered all over the tables, after dinner and once the others had all gone to bed, they decided to take a study break. Going for a walk through the corridors was just what they needed.
"So, you figured out what was attacking everyone and even ripped a page out of a book?" Matt asked as they descended a flight of steps.
"I know. I was quite desperate you see…" Hermione explained with a blush.
"I can't say as I blame you, really. I would have been scared out of my mind." He gave Hermione a look.
"I don't know what was worse, figuring it out and not being able to tell Harry and Ron or actually being petrified." She replied.
"My God, you were actually petrified? What was that like?" Matt asked.
"It was harrowing to say the least. It was timeless. I didn't know how long I had been like that. I couldn't see or hear anything," Hermione responded.
"That doesn't sound so bad, kind of like being asleep."
"Well, I was conscious the whole time, it was unending…and I also couldn't breathe or eat. I just had to exist…" she said.
"Oh…Hermione. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you relive that!" Matt said and stopped. He drew her close and gave her a hug.
"It's alright. I've gotten past it." Hermione said and patted Matt on the back as he released the hug. "Honestly? It helped knowing that Harry and Ron had figured out my clue and Harry killed the Basilisk. I know it sounds weird…but it kind of felt like he did it for me."
"Well, yeah. I mean you're like a sister to him. He's gonna defend you." Matt replied as if it were obvious and a simple matter of fact.
"That's kind of you to say." Hermione said as they walked the corridors.
"It's just how I know it would be if it were me…" Matt replied.
"You mean if I got petrified now?" Hermione asked. Matt felt his stomach drop. That was a frightening idea, something happening to Hermione.
"I-I-I don't know what I'd do if that happened." Matt admitted. "I'd probably go off the rails entirely. Just start going after anyone and everyone 'til I figured out who did it and got you back." Matt's face was red as was Hermione's at hearing his admission.
"Well, the good thing is we don't have to worry about Basilisks running through the school." Hermione said with a chuckle as they walked through the halls.
"No, thankfully not. Just the Poltergeist…" Matt said, seeing Peeves hanging out around the entrance hall. "What's that damned ghost wannabe doing this time?" he asked, seeing Peeves acting suspiciously.
"I'm not sure…" Hermione said pausing near window. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye. She could see someone moving back into the castle. Light from windows near the courtyard revealed Pansy sneaking back inside. Why would she be out so late at night? "Hey, Parkinson!" Hermione shouted as the door to the Entrance Hall opened.
"What do you want, Granger?" said the Slytherin girl, angry. "You're not a Prefect nor Head Girl, I'm overage and there's nothing you can do about me being out." She sneered.
"Professor McGonagall asked both Matt and I to patrol tonight. So, we do have-" Hermione was cut off.
"I don't care, Mudblood." Pansy said as she attempted to move off.
"Hey!" Matt charged forward. "What did I tell you about using that kind of term?" he snarled, blocking her path.
"I don't remember, why don't you remind me?" Pansy said, filling her voice with innuendo.
Matt scowled at her.
"Stupid, idiotic, little girl!" he shouted. "Get the hell out of here, before I go wake up your head of house." There was a lot of loathing and hatred in his voice. Even Hermione had to admit she would not want to be on the wrong side of that anger.
"Fine. See you later…" Pansy said and put her hand on Matt's chest and flirtatiously drug it across his torso as she walked off to the dungeons.
"Hobgoblin!" Matt snarled and shrugged her off. He wiped his hand down his shirt as it trying to get Pansy's touch off him.
"Thank you." Hermione said as Matt stood by her side.
"I hate that word. And no one should be using it, least of all on you. You're so damned talented and powerful it really doesn't apply. There's plenty of pure-blood and half-blood witches and wizards who are the same age as you and aren't even quarter as talented." Hermione was the color of a tomato at hearing Matt's praise.
"You're incredibly sweet." Hermione said and now it was Matt's turn to blush.
"C'mon let's get back." Matt said and the pair headed back to the Common Room. Before they had gotten too far though, Peeves reappeared.
"You spoiled my funsies! Was going to make that ickle girly scream I was!" Peeves said, as he had a hold of a large stockpot.
"Hermione, look out!" Matt said and shoved her out of the way just in time. Peeves upended the stockpot full of old soup from yesterday's feast. Matt could not get out of the way of the deluge himself and was covered head to toe in thick vegetable soup.
"Oh no! Matt," Hermione tried to suppress a chuckle, as Matt stood there, shoulders hunched and dripping with limp vegetables. "Hold still…" Hermione cast Scourgify on him to clean him up.
"Thanks…better me than you, though." Matt said as they trudged back up to Gryffindor tower.
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked.
"Well, pretty girls shouldn't have to get messy, right?" Matt said blushing.
"So, you were protecting me?"
"Yeah…I was…" Matt said sheepishly as they climbed back through the portrait.
"My hero." Hermione said playfully and put her hands on Matt's shoulders before standing on toes to kiss his cheek. "Goodnight!" she said with a grin and slipped off to her dorm. Matt was as red as the piece of tomato still lingering on his shoulde as he turned to go to his dormitory and a shower.