Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

...And the 7th Year Student	By : Carfunky Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3195 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or make money off of this story

Chapter List
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January faded into February, and Matt was still recovering. Hermione looked after him as best as he would allow. She knew not to henpeck her boyfriend very much, but he was taking some time to get back to himself. It took anyone who broke like this weeks to fully recover, the same was true for Matt. Hermione herself had taken almost a month when she broke down and Ron almost went at the same moment she did. Harry and Ginny had both only been able to do so much for the couple, and it delayed Hermione’s own recovery. She would not leave Matt’s side for long either, keeping her constant presence as a reminder of the support he had.

The others all also made sure to come around and engage with him. Draco often talked about a recent discovery he read in the Quibbler or an article from the Daily Prophet. Draco had taken to bringing Matt his mail. He was afraid Parkinson might have been tampering with things. He distinctly remembered their fourth year and Hermione receiving hate mail laced with undiluted bubotuber pus. If Parkinson had genuinely wanted to get at Matt, that would be a slick way to do it. This also allowed Draco to peruse the paper, making sure there were no attack articles plastered across the front page. Thankfully, Padma had quieted down. Based on how things were going though, that would not last. Likely another article would pop up soon. He just hoped that Matt would be feeling better before that happened.

Neville would often bring Matt an interesting piece of a plant, either a root, stem, or leaf. Even though Matt was not passionate about Herbology as Neville was, Neville could tell Matt was interested in what he had to say. He always turned to face him, keeping eye contact, and leaned forward, arms always open. Matt did remember things too that he told him, so it was not like Neville wasted his breath, either. He seemed to genuinely like hearing about the plants, even if it was not something he took to as easily as charms.

Ginny would occupy Matt with conversations about Quidditch. While he was not much of a flier, he did understand strategy. He would often talk about the movements of the players and would ask questions and give suggestions. Since Matt was entirely unused to the sport, he had some unique ideas that Ginny decided to try in practice, and shockingly a few of them worked. This succeeded in getting Matt and Hermione to come to Gryffindor’s next match of the season and he seemed to be smiling in the stands and cheering them on. Ginny breathed a sigh of relief at that sight.

Luna would come over and sit quietly with Matt. He always grinned at her presence and treated her like a little sister. Luna would tell him about something incredible she had just heard about, some undiscovered creature. He would lean in and listen to what she had to say and nod. Unlike the others, Matt encouraged her to pursue finding them. He thought if she could prove anything’s existence then she would become quickly famous. This made Luna feel good as much as it reminded Matt, he had quite a good support system.

Harry had taken a different approach, usually asking Matt to stay behind after class and giving him a little tough love. He reminded Matt it was not good to dwell on the past and to keep it stored but not a point of focus. Matt always seemed to smile and thank him for his candor. Harry felt like it was good to have someone being a little tougher than Hermione’s soft touch approach. He knew it had been one thing that had helped him recover, especially when Andromeda Tonks had come around and really admonished him for being lazy.

Professor McGonagall had, surprisingly, taken it easy on Matt. During the first week after his initial break down she had stopped him in the hall.
“Mr. Santini, while I admire your courage, you are not required to attend classes this week. Are you sure you are up to it? You have had a trying ordeal.” She spoke.
“No, I’m alright. I need to do this. It’s the only way I’m ever going to feel better.” Matt had insisted. “Thank you, professor.”
McGonagall had nodded at this and let him go, but she was often seen looking over at the Gryffindor table more so than usual during meals. She was usually met with the sight of Matt, sitting beside Hermione with Ginny and Neville across from them, and either Luna or Draco on Matt’s other side and the other across from them at the table. Even Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott would sometimes join in as well, Ernie sitting beside Hermione and Hannah cuddled up to Neville. McGonagall knew Matt had joined the two Hufflepuffs in the cooking club run by one of the house elves. Even Draco and Astoria Greengrass were in it, surprisingly. On rare occasions, Astoria could be seen sitting with the group, hanging onto Draco. The Headmistress was rather proud of the show of interhouse cooperation.

As February quickly moved to the middle of the month, Matt seemed to recover somewhat. Enough that he started to act more like his old self, even joking around and making media references only Hermione understood. It had become a private joke between the couple. Matt had learned what television shows Hermione was familiar with, which books she had read, and which movies she had seen, that he too had also read and watched. To his own great amusement, he would make a reference to one of them, only to see the befuddlement of his classmates while simultaneously catching Hermione off guard and making her laugh.
Matt would explain the reference after he and Hermione were over their laughing fits at this, so the others were not completely left in the dark, although his explanations would sometimes become long winded. Hermione did her best to help curtail it, but she also knew how important context was. More often than not, she would shake her head, grinning while Matt explained the joke or reference to his friends between classes.
One day after dinner, Hermione stopped Matt in the corridor before going up to Gryffindor Tower.
“Matt…I wanted to talk to you about something.” Hermione began.
“Sure thing, what’s up?” he asked brightly.
“You seem to be feeling a little better, I was thinking, Valentine’s Day is this Sunday…perhaps we could go to Hogsmeade? On a date?” She was very hopeful. Matt had not left the castle at all since his breakdown.
“Yeah, you know, I think I’d be up for that. I can do it, for you.” He said with a grin. Hermione beamed back at him as she linked her arm with his as they walked through the corridors. A weight lifted off her she had not realized she had been carrying. This was an incredibly good sign that Matt was getting to a point where he would be back to normal again.

The following Sunday, Matt and Hermione were in the entrance hall, dressed for chilly weather and their arms linked as the others joined them. Harry and Ginny, Hannah and Neville, Rolf Scamander and Luna, even Draco and Astoria. Matt was happy to be in the back of the group with Hermione on his arm and listening to the other couples chatting as they all walked leisurely into Hogsmeade village. Suddenly Harry and Ginny stopped and ducked beside a nearby shop. The pair pulled Hermione and Matt over to them.
“What is it?” Hermione asked, suddenly on edge. Harry had taken Matt’s statement on the memory they witnessed and sent it to Gawain Robards, who had taken over as head of the Auror Department following the end of the Second Wizarding War. Included in his full report was a corroborating statement from Draco about the whereabouts of Antonin Dolohov when he was absent from the Death Eaters prior to what was nicknamed The Battle of the Seven Potters, when Harry fled the Dursley residence at the start of the summer of the previous year.
Ever since, they had all been a little on edge. Since Robards had replied that in fact, Matt’s name was clear, and he would be issued an official student Visa the moment he could speak to the immigration office. He even stated he would make sure that it was to be backdated to cover the entire time Matt was in the country, making his stay completely legal. That also included several aurors being assigned to hunt for Dolohov and that Harry was ordered to remain at Hogwarts in case Dolohov attempted to attack the Wizarding School as he had Ilvermorny.
Harry had inquired about who had all been assigned to the task force. Sure enough, Ron had been given the lead, as he was able to move around the country, and Harry was not. Robards considered Ron’s experience with the Death Eaters valuable and would prefer someone who had the most experience dealing with them at the front. Even though Harry technically had more experience with it than Ron, Harry was tethered to Hogwarts. This was fine by him; it allowed him some quiet and the ability to properly teach the next generation of wizards and witches to defend themselves.
“I just spotted Ron; it looks like he’s with…Padma.” Harry said. The four of them leaned around the corner of the building. Sure enough, Ron was walking into Madam Puddifoot’s tea shop with Padma Patil, holding hands.
“Good thing we weren’t going to go in there…” Hermione said with a shiver of revulsion.
“Yeah…it’s so very…” Matt started.
“Pink.” Hermione finished for him.
“Yes, thank you. Pink. You’re more a blue girl anyway.” Matt said grinning at Hermione. She blushed and they slipped out from their hiding spot.
“Shall we go to the Three Broomsticks then?” Hermione asked.
“Yeah! That’s a great idea.” Matt said and the pair set off while Ginny and Harry went to the much less popular Hog’s Head to see Aberforth Dumbledore. Ginny admitted she had gotten a craving for some of his cooking again, not having had it in almost eight months.

Matt and Hermione sat in a quiet corner of the Three Broomsticks and waited for their food to come out.
“I was thinking, Matt,” Hermione began.
“A dangerous pastime.” Matt said playfully back, grinning. Hermione rolled her eyes and continued.
“With your name cleared by the Ministry, I thought it might be a good idea, to try and clear it in media as well.” Hermione finished.
“What? You mean like, in the papers? How? The Daily Prophet hates me, they’re not likely to run a favorable article about their favorite villain and punching bag.” Matt replied as Madam Rosmerta brought over their order.
“Well, no. But the Quibbler might. Luna, I’m sure would be glad to help with it. Her father really does mean well. And I’ve got a friend…a contact really…who I might be able to persuade to write an article on you, if you’d give her an interview?” Hermione replied.
“Who?” Matt looked puzzled; Hermione had never mentioned she knew a journalist.
“Rita Skeeter.”
“What?! You’ve got to be joking! She’d tear me to pieces! She’s just as bad as this Padma bitch!” Matt exclaimed.
“What about Padma?” came a voice. Matt’s blood ran cold. He recognized the venom, and Hermione was on her feet in a second. He turned and stood as well. “What, not got anything to say to back that up?” Ron Weasley asked, his arms crossed, looking angry with Padma Patil at his side.
“No, I’ve got plenty to back it up. I just don’t know why you’re even over here, Ronald.” Matt replied, his hand moving to his pocket for his wand.
“You’re not going to try anything. I’m an auror, don’t forget.” Ron started. “You might have fed Harry and my sister some cock and bull story, but I don’t buy it.” Ron glowered, his own wand out.
“I don’t care if you believe it or not. Your boss does and I’m in the clear. I’m not your guy, never have been.” Matt said and moved his hand out of his robe, his wand still in its place. “Besides, what she thinks is the only thing that matters to me.” Matt motioned to Hermione “Not insignificant little writers with a half platform, and certainly not cheaters who don’t value the people in their lives.”
Rons’ eyes narrowed at Matt. Apparently, he had struck a chord with Ron and Ron did not like the note that came out.
“I’ll show you insignificant!” Ron pointed his wand at Matt’s chest and Matt raised his hands in surrender.
“Matt…what are you doing?!” Hermione hissed in his ear.
“I’m not going to fight you, Ron. History has shown us who’s the better in that regard already.” Matt grinned. “How is that shoulder doing, by the way?”
“I should stun you right now, take you in for provoking an auror in the course of his duties.” Ron replied.
“The course of his duties? I didn’t think Madam Puddifoot’s, or the Three Broomsticks were considered to be major Death Eater hideouts, did you Hermione?” Matt asked.
“No, I didn’t.” Hermione said and stepped forward. “Matt’s done nothing to warrant this, according to the statute of reasonable arrest and seizure, article four –“
“Don’t cite auror code to me, Granger.” Ron spat. “I know what it says. And I know where it bends too…” his tone was dark and ominous. Hermione took Matt’s hand in her own.
“Then you’ll be bringing us both in, won’t you?” she asked.
“I think you’ll find that difficult, Ron.” Harry said, appearing behind Ron.
“Harry! You-you’re still siding with- with them?” Ron sounded shocked.
“Yeah, now clear out, both of you!” Harry ordered. Ron put his wand away and moved off with Padma, looking back and glaring at the couple.
“Thanks for the save.” Matt said and relaxed, sitting down.
“Thank you, Harry.” Hermione said her tone was nothing but gratefulness.
“No problem.” Harry said. “I saw Ron come in and I was hoping he wouldn’t see you two. He can’t resist picking a fight, it seems.”
“I have that effect on people…” Matt muttered and stabbed his chicken.
“I’ll see you both back at the castle.” Harry said and moved off with Ginny as she waved bye to the couple. Hermione scooted close to Matt and cuddled into his side as they ate, quietly.
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...And the 7th Year Student