The group wandered through Hogsmeade Village, the only all wizarding town in all of Britain. Matt enjoyed being shown the sights. The village seemed much happier since the fall of Voldemort. Hermione remembered that night she, Harry, and Ron had apparated into town, setting off the caterwauling charm and alerting the Death Eaters to their presence. Now, the village was safe and once again happy as the townsfolk moved about their lives.
"You know, this would be a good place to live." Matt observed as they walked through the snow-covered streets.
"You think so?" Hermione asked. "What would you do though? There's not exactly a lot of 'For Rent' signs up." She pointed out. True, most of the buildings in Hogsmeade were shops with the owners living in apartments above them. There were, however, a few houses that had a downstairs apartment and an upstairs one. There also appeared to be new construction happening on the outskirts of the village, with new buildings being built.
"Well, if one had enough money, you could probably buy a plot of land and build a home." Matt said and looked up. "Oh, hey, check it out, Tomes and Scrolls. Do you want to go in, Hermione?" Matt asked, smiling.
"Well, only if you're sure?" she asked, and he nodded. Hermione beamed at him as they all slipped inside. She was quick to begin looking through the various books on the shelves. Matt wandered by himself for a few moments, although he stole glances at Hermione to keep an eye on her. He was sure if this had been a bigger bookstore, he could easily have lost track of his girlfriend.
"Do they have shops like this one in America?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing small size like this, or as specialized. You can get specialty stuff from certain places, but you've got to know what you're wanting, and they can order it in. We've got Edgar Barrow's Books, Spellman's Books for Every Occasion and E. Benders. Although there's rumor that E. Benders is in trouble, and they might get bought out by a Canadian company called Spellcraft Books-per-Galleon." Matt explained as they walked. "There's pretty much at least one of those in every major wizarding community in the States. Sometimes though, in the bigger ones like New York and DC, all of them will be there."
"Sounds lovely, having all those options!" Hermione chimed.
"Yeah, that would be your dream, wouldn't it Granger?" Draco asked.
"I will admit, when you're looking for something, it's nice to be able to go to multiple stores if one doesn't have it. And E. Benders sells a lot of other stuff too, they'll have some robes and hats as well as joke items too." Matt said, interjecting and hoping to defend Hermione a little.
"You see, Draco? Matt understands!" Hermione looped her arm through one of Matt's and he smiled at the affection.
"We should get something to drink, perhaps the Hog's Head?" Luna suggested.
"No offense Luna, I like Aberforth as much as anyone, really, but I've had my fill of Hog's Head food and drink to last a lifetime." Neville replied. "I think we ought to go to the Three Broomsticks."
"The Three Broomsticks it is!" Matt said and he and Hermione lead the group down the street towards the popular pub. As they rounded the corner Ginny let out a squeal and waved to someone about to enter the pub.
Hermione smiled and called out as well, with the others walking with them up to none other than Professor Potter.
"Harry!" Ginny greeted him and hugged Harry tightly. Harry kissed her without much care about who was watching. Inspired by the infamous couple's boldness, Matt leaned in and kissed Hermione. She blushed and leaned into the unexpected affection.
"What was that for?" Hermione asked after they broke apart.
"Well, Professor Potter started it, I thought I was supposed to do the same." He said behind a smile. Hermione shook her head.
"Really Matt, call me Harry, we're not in school now. And before long you'll be out of school as well and then it won't matter." Harry said with a smile.
"Come on, I'll get us a seat." Hermione said and dragged Matt inside, Neville, Luna, and Draco quickly following the couple.
"Have you talked to Hermione yet?" Harry asked Ginny, holding onto her hand so they could have a private word.
"No, apparently, I didn't need to. Somehow, Matt found out about what happened with Ron." Ginny replied.
"Really? Surely, he didn't overhear the conversation." Harry was shocked at the news.
"I'm not sure, but he saw you slip out of the hall, I assume when you first caught Ronald. And then he saw me join you ten minutes later. But the way he talked; they both knew! Even Hermione, saying stuff like finding the balance of forcefulness and comfort, how important eye contact and physical touch are and stating your feelings and intentions." Ginny replied.
"Yeah, that certainly does seem like they found out about it. I thought, though, we handled all that pretty well. I didn't need to punch Ron or anything. I think you were ready to hex him though." Harry said as they walked into the pub. Rosmerta waved at Harry and Ginny as they settled in at the table Hermione had gotten them.
Luna was happily sipping a Gillywater with an onion on a stick in it. Neville had a small glass of firewhisky, while Draco, Matt, and Hermione all had Butterbeers. Two more unattended Butterbeers were waiting on Harry and Ginny as they sat down. The group all chatted, and the conversation turned towards Matt.
"You know, you've heard everything about us, but we haven't heard anything about you." Neville pointed out.
"Yeah, tell us, what is the secret origin of the great American, Matt Santini!" Draco said, prodding Matt.
"Well, let's see…my father died, so did my grandfather, really don't have a mother…" Matt started to rattle off.
"You don't have a mother?" Draco looked astounded.
"Well, of course I do, otherwise we couldn't be having this conversation." Matt said matter-of-factly. "What I mean is, my parents weren't together. My mom and dad had thing, turned into a fling and that was it. She had me but didn't have time to raise me. Plus, my dad was half-blood. She was a pureblood society type." There were understanding nods around the table. "She'd drop in, once in a while, bring some lavish gift and leave before dinner was over."
"I'm sorry." Harry said, understanding that sense of loss. Matt shrugged.
"It's alright, she's never been good with feelings. Last I knew, she was the American ambassador for MACUSA and she's off globetrotting."
"What about your dad then?" Draco asked.
"Well, he was half-blood. We lived with my grandpa when I was growing up, but dad died from some disease. We don't know what it was, no one could do anything, healers at Winnemucca's Hospital couldn't do anything and even No-Maj doctors weren't helpful. I was only six at the time. But I still remember it, I could feel it, you know?"
There were more nods around the table. Draco looked down. He had been close with Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle his whole life. As a result, he had gotten used to feeling their presence, so when Crabbe set Fiend Fyre loose in the Room of Requirement and died as a result; Draco had felt it. He knew the moment Crabbe died; he just had known. He was sure Harry, Hermione, and unfortunately Ron had a similar connection.
When you attended classes with people, ate meals with them, slept in the same dorm as them, for seven years, you could not help but sense their magic. You could tell when they were at least near, and in exceptional circumstances, even know if they were in trouble or not. They had all lost people during the war and felt others magic die with them, it was sobering.
"After that, my grandpa raised me. Sure, he was No-Maj, but he worked for the regular U.S. government when he was younger, and he taught me a lot of stuff. Stuff you don't get in the magical world."
Hermione's eyes lit up at this, as did Harry's. The pair exchanged knowing glances remembering a conversation some months prior while walking out of a London record shop.
"So, that's how you knew about computers!" Hermione exclaimed. "Of course, it all makes sense!"
"Bingo!" Matt said with a wide smile at his girlfriend. Neville and Draco looked confused.
"Matt taught us how Muggle computers work." Ginny explained quickly. "Over the summer after he woke up and everything." Understanding dawned on the two boys and they nodded.
"What was Ilvermorny like?" Hermione asked.
"It was just as amazing as Hogwarts is. We had houses just like Hogwarts, although they had other names, and the ceremony was different. The school was on a mountaintop and could be concealed by clouds and fog a lot. I was lucky to go there." Matt explained, a painful tone in his voice.
"If your dad died, when you were six, how did you afford to go to Ilvermorny?" Draco asked.
"Well, grandpa still had money. He had to convert it over, naturally. We use Dragots and Sprinks in America, not Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts like you guys do. I'm sure the Goblins at Gringotts had a field day with that one, when I switched my vaults over." Matt went on about how his grandfather had passed during his third year. The elder Santini had left instructions in his will to have his estate liquidated entirely and the money converted over for Matt. He made sure the youngest Santini family member would have enough money to get through school.
"The Headmaster even made a special exception for me to live there while I was still attending classes. But it was also understood that when I graduated, I would need to find some place on my own."
"What about your mum though? Why didn't she step in?" Luna asked.
"We tried; we couldn't get a hold of her. She either never got our owls or never bothered to respond. I guess I was just not that much of a priority for someone like her, her career and social standing was far too important than me." There was both bitterness and anger in Matt's voice. That was obvious to everyone at the table, but Hermione picked up on another underlying note: sadness.
"She doesn't know what she missed out on." Hermione said taking Matt's hand into her own and intertwining their fingers together. Matt looked over at her and sighed giving her a sad smile and an unspoken message of 'Thank you'. Hermione's thumb caressed the back of Matt's hand as he had done so many times before for her.
The couple had certainly had their difficulties since they had met. And so many times Matt, injured and partially crippled as he was, had become something of a rock for Hermione. She had been the one to open up to him and while he was never guarded in his feelings for her, she had not thought of asking him about his past. Looking back on it, Hermione had felt a little selfish, always answering his questions about her adventures but never asking about his family. She had even told him about how her parents were dentists.
Matt had always been full of questions about her, asking everything he could think. She told him about her childhood growing up, how she wanted to learn and be the best, how she was bullied for it. He had learned from her how finding out the weird things that happened were not so weird but magic and that she had found a place to belong finally. And how she was prepared to sacrifice everything, including her parents' memories of her, to save the world in which she so rightfully belonged.
Never once had she thought to ask him, as the stories of their adventures were lengthy and complicated. Hermione had even considered writing down everything that happened just in case someone wanted to read it one day. Part of her felt bad that she was only just now learning these intimate details about her chosen partner and that she had not asked about them before. She would need to find a way to make it up to him.
"Oh no!" Ginny hissed. "What's my mother doing here?!" she asked seeing Molly Weasley march through the front doors of the Three Broomsticks.
"Uh oh…" Matt said, sensing trouble coming off the witch as she made a beeline for their table.
"You!" she pointed angrily at the group. "How dare you! What do you think you're doing?!" Molly yelled angrily at Hermione.
"Molly?" Hermione looked incredibly confused.
"Don't you Molly me! It's Mrs. Weasley to you! You turned Ron out, and now his closest friend and his only sister are turned against him because of you!" She was livid with her, and Hermione had no idea what she was talking about.
"What do you mean I've turned Harry and Ginny against Ron? I've done no such thing! I never said anything to either of them about him. They're free to associate with him if they choose." Hermione shot back.
"Don't you try those little tricks with me, missy! Ron came home in tears last night! He was here to see you. He wanted to apologize about the train station. He wants to get back together." Mrs. Weasley explained. "But he said his own best friend, your best friends, stopped him! Said he wasn't friends anymore. His own sister called him a liar and a cheat!"
"What?!" Hermione looked shocked. "I have no idea what you're talking about Mrs. Weasley. But I'd ask you to leave me alone! I'm never getting back together with Ron, ever. He hurt me, twice, and that's two times too many for me." She stood, defiant of the Weasley matriarch.
Ginny looked shocked; How Hermione did not know? Harry exchanged a worried glance with Ginny. She had just told him not twenty minutes earlier that Hermione and Matt had found out about Ron being at the school. Why was she suddenly feigning ignorance…unless…
"Mum!" Ginny jumped into the argument, to try and save Hermione from the wrath of her mother. "Ron's been cheating on Hermione for months! I found out about it when I went to visit him at the ministry. Padma Patil was there, she said they'd been seeing each other since June!"
Now it was Hermione's turn to look shocked. She was flabbergasted that Ron had been cheating on her before they had officially broken up. Even before Matt had woken up in the Hospital Wing. It felt like a lifetime ago. Hermione would have normally been hurt by this but her feelings for Ron had gone away a long time ago. She only felt her decisions were as correct as her test scores now.
"How can you say such lies about your own brother!" Mrs. Weasley snapped. "You've been poisoned by her!" she pointed at Hermione. "And Harry! How could you turn your back on Ron! You've been friends forever; you've got to get over her!" she raged.
"But Mrs. Weasley, Hermione's my friend too. She's been there for me when even your son wasn't. When he turned his back on me, she didn't." Harry defended. "And Ginny's not lying. Hermione didn't turn us against Ron. Ron's changed; he's not the same guy I grew up with. He's different and he's no longer my friend." Harry said plainly coldly.
"I can't believe you would do this to him! Over a little argument!" Mrs. Weasley said rounding on Hermione again. "We took you in! Offered you everything! How can you do this to Ron? You're a terrible girlfriend!"
"ENOUGH!" Matt shot to his feet; his voice boomed through the pub. "I'm not going to stand here and let you insult not only my girlfriend but all my other friends here too. I think I can safely speak for everyone here when I say: We believe Hermione and back her up completely." There were confirming nods from every head seated at the table.
Mrs. Weasley turned to face Matt, and a look of satisfaction crossed her face. It was as if her suspicions were confirmed by his need to defend his girlfriend.
"Well, well, the American speaks! Huh! Here's the real problem, aren't you? You were the one that met her at the school, weren't you? Convinced her to come back here, to leave Ron, so she could what? Be with you?" Mrs. Weasley scoffed. "I'll bet you're not even in the country legally! I'll have my husband make those inquiries. He works at the Ministry, you know. I suggest you all think good and hard about your actions, and who you're associating with!" Mrs. Weasley said and stormed out of the pub.
Matt sank back into his chair and leaned into Hermione who cuddled with him. There was a silence around the table and a pall had fallen over the formerly happy group.
"Why didn't you tell me Ron was here?" Hermione hissed at Harry and Ginny as they all filed out of the pub, Ginny had paid an extra few galleons on her mother's behalf for the disturbance Mrs. Weasley caused.
"I thought you knew! What you were saying at breakfast!" Ginny replied.
"I was talking about sex!" Hermione hissed again barely above a whisper so only Ginny and Matt could hear. Ginny's eyes grew wide with realization. Sex also fit their conversation and made a lot more sense, given how both Matt and Hermione glowed when they entered the hall that morning.
"I'm so sorry Hermione!" Ginny practically wailed. "You too Matt!"
"Yeah, I'm sorry Hermione. I really was afraid you'd storm off and attack Ron. I didn't want him to ruin another dance for you." Harry said. Hermione's anger ebbed and she blushed.
"You were protecting me?" she asked. Part of her wanted to retaliate and remind him she could take care of herself. On the other hand, she remembered the Yule Ball during their fourth year and how badly it had gone because of Ron. Harry had always been on her side, even back then, he just had not said as much.
"I'm sorry Hermione." Harry apologized.
"I forgive you both, right?" Hermione looked at Matt.
"Yeah, I'm not mad at you. It was a nice gesture, making sure we had a good evening." Matt said appreciatively. He kept himself close to Hermione, holding her hand and doing his best to keep her calm. He knew she would need to vent once they got back to the dorms and in private, but he would do his best to keep her calm until then.