Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

...And the 7th Year Student	By : Carfunky Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3731 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or make money off of this story

Chapter List
- 53
- 54
Matt felt awful. He could not focus or think of anything other than what he had experienced during the fight the day before. He shuddered as he walked through the halls of Hogwarts. The cleanup had been swift, the final Death Eaters rounded up and the remaining Dementors driven off by well-cast Patronus charms. The dining hall had been repaired but most of the students had returned to Hogwarts, alongside the house elves and most of the staff. The only ones who stayed behind until well after dark were himself, Harry, and Hermione.
This was mostly due to the three of them being the main focus of the attack, but also because of their standing, albeit Matt’s much less so than either Hermione or Harry. Hermione was not willing to leave his side in the immediate aftermath of the fight. She knew how much the last one had taken from him and was not about to abandon him if he should need her. After the officials from the local auror office and the Ministry itself had cleared out the three had walked back to the castle. They were mostly silent, Hermione’s arm wrapped around Matt’s own. He appreciated her presence more than ever.
The following day was hard. When Matt had taken Dolohov’s magic it had left him with horrible images. Certain ones Matt could not purge from his memory. It was as if the cherished thoughts and memories, which Matt was sure Dolohov would still have, were also his as well. They were tied into his magic, and Matt could feel the ones the former Death Eater had the strongest connection with. Almost as if Dolohov had replayed the memory for himself so many times the thoughts tied into his own magic itself.
Matt arrived at his destination, the Hospital Wing. Inside a few students as well as injured adults were being treated for their injuries and surrounded by loved ones. He was surprised when he stepped into the room to be greeted by the sight of an entire family of redheads. It should not have been the shock it was. Ginny was sitting beside her mother, her two older brothers, Bill and Charlie were there, Bill’s wife as well, holding onto him. Percy was there, looking haggard, as he took off his glasses to clean them. George noticed Matt first and gave a nod of greeting which Matt returned. Ron was there as well, his clothes still covered in cake. Ginny realized who had come in, given Ron’s disgusted look, and got up, coming over to him, she hugged him.
“Thank you.” She whispered before sitting back down. Matt had not spoken since they left Hogsmeade the night before. He simply nodded his reply.
“Might I have a word?” came a voice. Matt was shocked yet again that Arthur Weasley was addressing him. He simply nodded, he had seen Arthur all the way back in September when school first started. Arthur had gotten drawn into conversation with Harry back then and Molly had been the one who spoke to Matt out of the two of them. Now apparently it was Arthur’s turn. Matt readied himself for a shouting match, one he was not keen on, but did feel like he deserved.
In some ways he felt like he was responsible for Ron’s downfall, even though Ron had managed it all on his own. Matt felt like he was the catalyst for it and that Ron might have been with Hermione and they might have been happy. Even as he thought that though, other memories of Hermione’s friend group surfaced. Most were saying the same thing that Hermione had never been happier than when she was with Matt, not Ron. They never made a comparison to the two of them beyond that. Somehow that made him feel better as Arthur drew him aside.
“I know you have had a, shall we say, rough go of things with certain members of my family…” Arthur began. Matt knew he was referring to Ron and later, Molly, as the tensions between himself and Ron grew to a fever pitch. He and Hermione had bested Ron, Padma, and Pansy Parkinson in their duel in Hogsmeade, impeded no less, by both he and Hermione being drenched in green slime at the time as well. Matt simply nodded an affirmation and left Arthur open to continue.
“And given your history with my son, and my wife, I have to wonder something. Why did you do it?” Arthur asked. “Why did you shield her when you and she obviously didn’t get on? What made you do something like that? We’ve not been as welcoming as perhaps we’ve been to others in the past, and yet, you stopped my wife from being killed by one of the most notorious Death Eaters out there.”
Matt did not respond right away. In fact, he took a few moments and thought about his motivations before he spoke. His gaze drifted to the floor as he thought but he looked up to Arthur when he spoke.
“It was the right thing to do.” Matt’s voice was hoarse from lack of use for nearly twenty-four hours. “Dolohov was hurting people, trying to kill people, people I cared about. And regardless of who he was trying to hurt, he’s killed enough people, done enough damage, torn apart so many families. I wasn’t going to see him do it again to someone else.”
Matt’s response caught Arthur Weasley off guard as was evidenced by the look of surprise on his face.
“That was…a very brave thing you did. And what you did afterwards…”
Matt sighed.
“Mr. Weasley, as much as I appreciate that, I do have something more to do, to help your wife. She’s going to be alright. If you’ll excuse me, I need to see Madam Pomfrey.”
“Of course…” Arthur said and stepped aside, allowing Matt to pass and move over to the matron’s office. Matt never knew how Arthur felt so terrible for him, yet another child forced to grow up quicker than he should have and fight a war that he should not have had to fight.
She was sitting at her desk as he stepped inside and handed her a piece of parchment. Thanks to taking Dolohov’s magic and learning everything magic related the Death Eater knew, Matt had been able to develop a counter curse and a relief potion to Dolohov’s signature spell. He handed it to Madam Pomfrey. The counter curse, mixed with the potion would undo all the damage the spell had wrought, reversing its effects entirely. Matt knew it would not only heal Molly Weasley, but Hermione as well.

The following weeks were trying for Matt. He was solemn most of the time, staying quiet during classes, keeping his eyes on his work as they began to revise heavily, everything they seemed to know. From the simplest charms to the intermediate spells, to more advanced and tricky potions, every class was going over everything. Seventh year students would be tested in less than a month’s time on their proficiencies in everything magic. Because of the heavy course load Matt and Hermione both took they spent a lot of time working in silence. Although, Hermione seemed more troubled by Matt’s melancholy than anything. He was her boyfriend, and she wanted him to be happy. More often than not, her free hand rested on his. He never drew away from her, in fact, he appreciated her presence maybe more than she ever knew.
Despite her best efforts, however, Matt’s guilt was not being assuaged at all. He felt the burden of every wrong thing Dolohov ever did. Every rule at Hogwarts broken, every evil spell he cast, every muggle he tortured, every person he ever killed. It weighed on him like a stone between his shoulders. With each passing day, Matt withdrew more and more. Nothing but Hermione seemed to reach him and even then, there was not much that was helpful.
On a lonely Saturday morning down by the Black Lake, Matt was sitting on the shore, his knees drawn up to his chest as he watched the Giant Squid playing in the shallows. Even the giant monster of the lake was trying its best to cheer him up.
“Matt?” Hermione’s voice broke the tranquility, not that it mattered much.
“Hermione? Is everything alright?” he asked, turning to her. She nodded and sat down next to him.
“Yes of course it is!” she said and slipped her arm around his shoulders. He sighed and leaned contentedly into her. “I’m worried about you, you know.”
He nodded. He knew she would be concerned, of course she would, she’s Hermione.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to worry you. I just…” not even Matt knew how to articulate himself.
“How can I help?” she asked.
“I don’t know…it’s just. I can feel him, you know? His magic, it’s like a film on my own. Like I can’t get rid of it! I can’t shake the memories or anything. I know what he’s done, who he’s done it to, and what he felt when he did it. You’re not supposed to know these things!” Matt said and buried his face in his arms.
Hermione squeezed his shoulders and frowned.
“I know. If only there was someone who really knew about this…oh I wish Professor Lupin were here…he’d know what to do…” Hermione replied. Matt had heard everything about their favorite werewolf Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
“I know…but you can’t bring people back from the dead…”
“What did you say?”
“I said you can’t bring people back from the dead?” Matt looked at her confused.
“Of course! Why didn’t I think of it sooner? I’ll be back!” Hermione said and rushed off, leaving Matt bewildered and confused.

Hermione rushed through the halls, taking steps two at a time, sprinting down corridors, and rushing through the secret passages through the storied school. In a noticeably brief time, she was huffing outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. She burst inside and called out to Harry.
“Hermione? What’s happened?” Harry asked, rushing out of his office.
“It’s Matt.” She began.
“Oh no, what’s he done now? I can’t make Professor Sharp like him…”
“It’s not that! He’s been feeling terrible after the battle in Hogsmeade. I told him I wished he could talk to Professor Lupin and well…”
“What’re you getting at Hermione?”
“Harry, the stone! Do you think we could use the stone?”
“No. I dropped it in the forest, and it can stay lost. We agreed that was for the best.”
“Yes but, this is extreme Harry. This is something we’ve never seen before. I must have been through every book in the library, twice. There’s nothing on Magic Breakers or anything. And no one knew more about that stuff than Professor Lupin.”
Harry sighed. She was right, she always was.
“Fine. I’ll take you both.” Harry said and led the way out of the classroom. Half an hour later, the three of them were wandering the Forbidden Forest. It was vastly different being there in the middle of the day compared to nighttime. There had only been two other instances Hermione could remember being in the forest during the day. Matt had never been during the day, only ever at night, with Hagrid. He was looking around, as if seeing things for the first time.
Harry stopped suddenly.
“Here it is.” He said. The trio had arrived at the clearing where Voldemort had cast the Killing Curse on Harry and destroyed the piece of his own soul that had been living inside of Harry for seventeen years.
“Do you remember where you dropped it?” Hermione asked.
“I think it was about here…” Harry said, trying to recall where he had been when he let the pebble go. “But Hermione, it’s been over a whole year since I dropped it…” he said. Hermione lit the tip of her wand and the three began to search the ground for it. It was difficult as Matt only had a vague description, Hermione had never seen it herself and Harry did not really want to find it.
There was a gasp that broke the silence as Hermione stood.
“I think I’ve found it, Harry, is this it?” She was holding in her hand a black stone with a jagged crack running down the center of it, right through a line in the middle of a triangle and a circle inside the triangle.
“That’s it.” Harry said.
Hermione nodded and closed her eyes. She concentrated extremely hard as she turned the stone over three times between her fingers. There was a shifting sound of a there but not there, body, moving. Matt let out a gasp as a person’s image emerged. The shade was of a man with darker brown hair, bearing a younger appearance than the photo he had seen but it was the unmistakable image of Remus Lupin.
“Hello, Hermione.” Lupin said. “I had a feeling you might be calling on me. Hello again Harry.” Their former professor smiled at Harry.
“Remus, I’m sorry to have to call you back.” Harry began but Lupin held up a hand.
“It’s alright. Harry, you, of all people, know what the weight of this means. If you’ve had to seek me out, then it must be important.” Lupin replied. He turned to Hermione. “Tell me, what can I do for the brightest witch of her age I’ve ever met?”
“I’m sorry Remus. It’s just…” Hermione looked to Matt who was stunned. “It’s Matt.” She hooked her arm into his and pulled him forward to stand between her and Harry.
“And who might you be, young man?” Lupin asked.
“I’m Matthew Santini, sir. It’s nice to meet you. Hermione’s told me all about you.” he replied. Lupin’s brow disappeared into his hair.
“An American? Hermione, you really know how to pick them don’t you?” Lupin said with a smile. “And what can I help you with?”
“I-uh I took someone’s magic. Antonin Dolohov to be precise.” Matt said. If he focused, he could remember seeing Lupin fall from Dolohov’s spell, Tonks soon afterwards, at the sight of her fallen husband.
“I know him. He’s responsible for me, well, being here rather than there.”
“I know…I can feel his magic. It’s a part of me, like a stain I can’t get rid of! I know every terrible thing he ever did with his magic. I don’t even know that for myself, but for him? No. I know it all. It’s like I did it myself or something.” Matt said, his shoulders were sagging.
“A Magic Breaker?” Lupin said as he paced the clearing. “I’ve never met one before. It’s been over a hundred years since there was a Magic Breaker in Great Britain.”
“This isn’t normal! I hate it. I want it out of me!” Matt cried.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. This is a rare gift. One that’s only passed down through blood.”
“It’s not a gift, it’s a curse!” Matt said, now pacing as well, the opposite direction of Lupin.
“You’re not cursed. This is a terrible burden placed upon you. I’m sorry about that. I take it you didn’t know?”
Matt shook his head.
“And would I be correct in assuming you are the last of your family?”
“Yes.”
Lupin paused, his hand stroking his chin as he thought.
“If you had known, there are things that can be taught to help with this, and certain things to be practiced that help when taking someone’s magic. However, your situation is decidedly less than ideal.” Lupin began.
“What do I do? Help me, please!” The desperation in Matt’s voice was almost too much for Hermione to bear and she found herself holding onto Harry as Matt and Remus spoke to one another.
“The first thing you must do is learn to accept it. Yes, you’ve taken on a terrible burden, but you must remember that it was not your hand that cast those spells. It was not your hand that hurt all those people, myself included.”
“But it feels like I did!” Matt shuddered and closed his eyes.
“I know it does. If you can accept it was not your fault and fully absorb his magic, then I think the feeling will go away.”
“So, the reason I can feel this…this…taint inside me…is because I haven’t fully absorbed his magic?”
Lupin nodded.
“Yes. If you can absorb it, learn to live with what he’s done and that his actions are his own, the stain isn’t actually on your soul, but on his, you will begin to feel more like yourself.”
“This is hard…” Matt’s voice cracked.
“I know it will be. You must remember that your actions are yours and that his were his. He can no longer repeat them; you’ve taken that from him.”
“Then why do I feel like it’s my fault?! Why do I feel the need to do something about what he’s done as if I did it?!” Matt’s voice broke again, and tears were forming in his eyes.
Lupin smiled and turned to Hermione.
“You’ve never had any doubts about him, have you?”
“Never.” Was Hermione’s response.
Lupin then turned back to Matt, who had stopped pacing and was swiping at his eyes.
“The reason you feel that way is because you’re a good person. You are not the evil you’ve taken in. But you’ve made a choice, one to make sure that he can do no further evil as you’ve seen. It takes a tremendous amount of strength to do what you’ve done. You should be proud of yourself. To have carried this ability this far, with no formal training and no knowledge of what you could do, is well, impressive. You can feel magic itself, can’t you?”
Matt nodded.
“I imagine, cursed items feel stronger to you than others?”
Matt nodded again.
“This is a side effect of the power you hold. You’ve got some work to do, Mr. Santini, but I think you’re more than up to the task, given your company.” Lupin said as Hermione was at Matt’s side, taking his arm and hand into her own, intertwining their fingers together. Harry was on Matt’s other side, a hand resting on Matt’s shoulder.
“I trust you will be able to find a way to live with that?” Lupin asked.
Matt took a deep breath and nodded.
“Yeah, I think I’ll be able to. Thank you, Professor Lupin.”
“Please, no need to be so formal. Just Remus is fine. I am not your professor, I’m afraid.”
“I wish you were.” Matt said with a sad smile.
“I’m sure you’re in perfectly good hands.” Lupin gave Harry an approving smile. “Now, if three of you don’t mind, I would like to get back…”
“Yes, of course!” Hermione said and dropped her hand, the stone falling from it. Lupin’s shade vanished with a wave goodbye. She turned to Matt. “Are you going to be ok, now?”
“With time, yeah.” He said with a smile as the three of them turned back to return to the castle. Matt felt much lighter as they walked and the three of them even chatted about their upcoming exams as they walked.
That evening, Matt was more like himself than he had been in weeks. He cuddled with Hermione on one of the couches in the common room, reading out of a book together. He felt better being with her, she brought him a sense of peace when he was near her, it was unlike anyone else. She was his and maybe, for a fleeting moment, he considered she was meant to be his all along.
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- 54
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...And the 7th Year Student