Matt moved along the train, looking in each compartment. Most of his searching was very brief and easy as he, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny along with Molly, Arthur, and lastly Ron had been early for once. He paused at the one he was looking for and gently knocked on the closed compartment door. Hermione was inside, sitting on the edge of the bench seat, her back straight almost in perfect posture. In her lap was an orange bandy legged cat with a bottlebrush tail. She was gently petting it.
"May I join you?" Matt asked gently.
"Of course." Came her reply. He slipped inside and closed the door before sitting across from her.
"I'm not gonna insult you by asking if you're ok. I know you're not. So, what I am gonna ask, is what do you need? I can distract you with conversation, I can tell you bad jokes to cheer you up, I can just sit here and be quiet with you or listen if you need to talk." Matt said. He studied her features and her expression.
Hermione looked at Matt and then out the window at the families starting to appear, at the Weasleys as they talked to a few other familiar faces. She turned back to Matt, and he was shocked as she launched herself at him, her cat leapt off her lap. He barely had time to stand to catch her as she buried her face on her friend's shoulder and cried. Matt put his arms around her and gently patted and rubbed her back.
"It's ok…let it out…" Matt said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"I-It h-hurts." Hermione said sniffling.
"I know it does. It'll get better, with time." Matt replied quietly. He closed his eyes as he held the trembling Hermione and she let her dam of emotions flow.
"I can't believe you!" Cassidy shouted in the common room of Wampus House. It was a large circular room with windows overlooking the skyline. Clouds had grown black and stormy outside, obscuring the forests and valley below.
"What do you want me to do Cass?" Matt asked, his arms outstretched.
"I want you to be sensible for once in your goddamned life!" Cassidy shot back. Matt took a step backwards, it felt like he had been slapped. Cassidy never swore, least of all at him of all people.
"Cass…that's not fair." Matt said. "I have to stay; an attack is coming. I've got nowhere to go, you know that."
"Yes, you do! You could stay with me! You know my folks will put you up…unless…" Cassidy replied, her voice angry but beginning to falter.
"Cass. It would never work out. Your brother hates me. He's convinced I'm a bad influence and am going to do terrible things to you." Matt said. "No, it's better this way. I'll stay and help defend the school. It'll be fine. Just like always."
"No, it won't! It can't be! Think Matt, think! How can it be? It was only ever always ok because we all three had each other. Now David's gone and you're going to throw yourself into a fight that you can't win. You're gonna get yourself killed and I have to be the one to watch it!" Cassidy shouted back.
"No, you won't. You're leaving remember? You won't have to be at risk this time. Just me." Matt said to her.
"FUCK! Stop punishing yourself! You can't bring David back and go in his place by throwing yourself into harm's way. It wasn't your fault!" Cassidy screamed.
"It was my fault Cass. I was the one who sent him." Matt replied darkly.
"He could have said no, should have said no. But he didn't. So therefore, it was his choice!"
"Oh, Cass," Matt began, sadness in his voice. "Ever the logical one."
"Well, someone had to be around here! You certainly weren't." Cassidy said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Wait, what do you 'mean had to be'?" Matt asked, suddenly confused and afraid.
"I mean it's over. We're over. I can't do this anymore." Cassidy said. "Goodbye, Matthew Santini." And she left the common room.
"Cass, no wait!" Matt tried to run after her, but the stone entrance had rolled back into place already behind her. "Cass?" he whimpered. He felt his heart break as he looked down and saw the promise ring, the one he had given her the year before, lying at the entrance.
A tear slipped down Matt's own cheek as he held the crying Hermione. The memory of his own loss stung, and he knew what she was feeling. After some time, Hermione drew back and took a ragged breath.
"Feel better?" Matt asked.
"Yes, thank you." Hermione said with a sad smile. Matt sat back down on the bench nearest the window and Hermione sat beside him this time as he settled into the seat. Her cat jumped up to join them, this time though, he settled into Matt's lap.
"Oh! Hi there." He said and started to pet the cat as it curled up on him.
"That's Crookshanks." Hermione said and reached over to give her companion a pet. "Nice to meet you, Crookshanks." Matt said with a grin.
"Oh no, your shirt!" Hermione exclaimed, seeing the large wet patch over Matt's left shoulder.
"Eh, it'll dry." He said with a smile. "Besides, that's what shoulders are for, right?" Hermione let out a giggle and started to feel her spirits lift. She could only imagine how Ron would have reacted if she had cried all over his new shirt.
The compartment door slid open, and Ginny stepped inside with a grin.
"Hey, it's alright if I join you, isn't it?" she asked.
"Of course." Hermione said.
"By all means!" Matt said and settled even further back into the corner, giving Hermione all kinds of space on the bench if she needed it.
"Mum and Dad are furious with Ron. They couldn't believe he would do something like that. They don't know what set him off." Ginny said. "It's like he's really become a different person."
"Mmm. War will do that." Matt observed. "You'll go in one person, come out someone else. Not all people but most. And sometimes the change isn't glaring or obvious and sometimes it'll be night and day."
"How do you know all this?" Hermione asked, as she tucked a strand of hair behind one ear.
"I had extended family who served in some of the No-Maj wars. Heard the stories." He replied.
"Hermione! Your wrist!" Ginny exclaimed and reached out to her friend.
"What? Ow!" Hermione looked bemused. Both of her wrists were badly bruised, and the one Ron had twisted looked worse. Ginny pulled out her wand and began to cast a healing spell. Hermione sighed and released a breath she did not know she had been holding. Relief swept up her arm and, in her heart, as well. "Thank you."
"No problem!" Ginny beamed. "Anything for you, after all that."
The compartment door slid open again, this time Luna and another person were there.
"Hello, may we join you?" Luna asked in her dreamy voice.
"Please!" Ginny said and scooted down to sit directly across from Matt while Luna plopped down beside Hermione, nearest the door. The other person ambled in to sit next to Ginny.
"Hey Hermione, hi Ginny." He spoke.
"Hey Neville, good to see you." Hermione replied with a grin.
"Who's your friend?" Neville asked.
"I'm Matt, Matt Santini. Nice to meet you." Matt said sticking his hand out and shaking Neville's.
"You're an American."
"I am! What gave it away? Was it the voice? Damnit. I'll have to get that fixed. Here, let me try…" Matt cleared his throat and took in a breath, but before he could say anything the three girls in the compartment collectively shouted.
"NO!"
"Oh, alright." Matt looked crestfallen. "I don't think I would have offended anyone this time…" Hermione rolled her eyes as Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. Matt chuckled, secretly having enjoyed teasing them. He knew they would get him back at some point.
The train jolted and began to pull out of the platform. The group settled into quiet conversation, with Neville catching up with his classmates about their summers. He had elected to return this year as he wanted to pursue the possibility of teaching. Matt pulled out a copy of The Daily Prophet, yet unread by him, to occupy his time as he listened to his friends converse.
Matt turned the page on the newspaper and gave it a sharp ruffle to straighten the pages as the compartment door slid open. A voice drawled out in a tone that lacked any confidence.
"Granger, Weasley, Longbottom, Lovegood…could…I join you?" the voice said.
"Draco? I suppose…" Hermione responded. Ginny scooted down the bench and Neville meekly shifted over as well to make room for the newcomer.
"I heard rumors…" Draco said. "Heard there was a fight…on the platform…heard Weasley hit you." He was looking at Hermione.
"He did…" there was tension in her reply.
"Good." Draco replied. Hermione's mouth hung open. She was about to snap; it was a very audacious thing to ask to come and join them then immediately insult one of them. "About time you put him in his place."
"Wha-" Hermione could barely respond.
"Oh yeah…the rest of the rumor was you kicked his stupid arse." Draco added, rubbing his own jaw. "Having been on the other end of that, I'm sure you made it count."
"I did." Hermione replied and looked next to her but said nothing more.
"Have you all heard the other rumors?" Draco asked them as he looked around the compartment.
"What other rumors?" Ginny asked.
"That there's been a drop in attendance. Too many families are scared of the war. They think that Hogwarts isn't safe. They're pulling back. Lots of first years were too afraid to come as well. After the death toll from last year…" Draco replied and looked down, guilt twinged his words.
"We lost over fifty classmates, friends. That's basically an entire year's worth of students." Neville replied.
"Apparently, they're not even bothering with Prefects or Head boy and Head Girl this year. Not enough students to warrant the positions." Draco continued.
"That would explain a few things." Hermione replied, remembering she had been a Prefect during her fifth and sixth years at the school. There was a slight drop in her voice, almost a disappointment there.
"So, who's with you?" Draco nodded into the corner at Matt. "Potter decide to come back as well?"
Matt felt a foot press against his own. He smiled at the affection.
'Aw, Hermione must want a little –' his thought was cut off as he felt the presence of the Hermione's foot turn into a sharp pain.
"Ow! What was that for?" Matt said as he folded the paper.
"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" Hermione asked, an annoyed tone in her voice.
"I was reading!"
"Nonsense, you haven't turned a page in twenty minutes." Hermione retorted.
"Who said I was reading the paper?" Matt asked smugly.
"A foreigner?!" Draco exclaimed as Matt revealed himself.
"Indeed. I'm Matt Santini." Matt said and stuck his hand out to shake Draco's.
"I'm Malfoy." Draco responded.
"Oh, I know who you are. Draco Malfoy, youngest official Death Eater, defected at the end of the war. Present for the Battle of Hogwarts. Officially arrested, charged, as a Death Eater. You were given an official full pardon from the Ministry of Magic based off testimony provided by one, Narcissa Malfoy and one Mr. Harry Potter. Rumor has it," Matt continued and looked to his right. "That one Ms. Hermione Granger was in attendance at said trial and was prepared to give testimony on your behalf as well." Matt reached over and gently placed his hand briefly on Hermione's shoulder before continuing.
"You have an exceptional track record at Hogwarts, grades indicating an exceptional aptitude for magic, scoring within the top five students in all subjects typically. But now, you're a kicked a dog. You lack confidence, your former friends and compatriots don't know what to do about you. You turned sides, so they don't know where your loyalties are, can't trust you. But you knew that, maybe just maybe, with this group," Matt paused briefly and indicated to the others besides himself and Draco "They might just let you in. You gave them a reason to trust you, even if only a sliver, but that might be enough to at least give you some shelter and maybe a little company for the long train ride."
There was stunned silence. Draco blinked a few times at the sudden, albeit slightly cold, yet accurate analysis. Hermione had turned and was staring at him as were Ginny and Neville, the latter's jaw dropped open. Luna simply smiled.
"Was I lying at any one point?" Matt asked, smugly.
"How did you know all that?" Hermione asked.
"Oh c'mon, I told you when we first met, I had been reading the papers to catch up." Matt replied.
"I wasn't talking about that. The grades…"
"Ah! That. You'd be surprised at what's considered a public record at Hogwarts. All official year end grades from year to year are free to all students to see. You can go back and look at any year you want. You just have to ask. It's all in the library. As are numerous photo records as well. I may or may not have looked through some albums the library as research on my fellow classmates' experiences…" Matt admitted.
"What are you stalking us or something?" Draco asked finally.
"No, I'm just, well, obviously new. So, I wanted to get a feel for what's come before. Get as much context as I could. That way I'm not too out of the loop." Matt explained.
"That means that last rumor I heard up and down the train was true as well…" Draco added.
"What rumor was that?" Matt asked as he crossed his leg.
"That an American has come to Hogwarts."
"Wait, is that where we're going? That's why everyone talks funny, isn't it?" Matt sarcastically added.
"You're the one with the accent." Draco replied.
"I do not have an accent!"