Hermione had returned to the Burrow once she was sure that Matt had been returned to Hogwarts. He was a strange guy, she had never seen someone zone out like that completely, as he did in Madam Malkin's. Something was telling her she should be concerned but she could not nail down what it was.
"Are you really sure you want to be going back to Hogwarts dear?" Molly Weasley asked after Hermione had stored all her new books and supplies in her trunk in Ginny's room.
"Yes of course! It's been my dream to graduate and really make a difference, earn my place in this world." Hermione replied, her passion for her craft high.
"Very well…although I can always teach you the spells I know, to run a house. It takes a lot of work to keep up with this many people I can tell you!" Molly said as bustled around the kitchen.
"I'm sure it does. You have a wonderful, big family Molly." Hermione complimented her.
"And it'll be getting bigger soon! Just you wait, between yourself and Ron, Ginny and Harry, I'll be expecting grandchildren soon!" Molly added proudly. Hermione did not immediately reply but turned a light shade of pink and tried to give her a smile.
At that moment, a large owl flew in through the open kitchen window. Hermione instantly recognized it as one of the owls from the school. She had nearly forgotten that Madam Pomfrey was going to be writing to her soon about the test results. She took the letter the owl dropped and opened it. Her eyes darted over the parchment as she scanned it, reading only bits before she had to shake herself.
"Everything alright dear?" Molly saw the expression of worry on Hermione's face.
"Oh…yes…just letting me know about some changes…" Hermione lied.
"Oh, like what?" Molly inquired.
"Um, just some simple things really, like they're not naming Prefects or Head Boy and Girl this year, as they start to resume regular classes." Hermione said, recounting something McGonagall had told her on her first visit back. Hermione tucked the letter in a pocket before slipping upstairs to fully read it.
Mercifully, Ginny was out in the garden riding her broomstick, getting in as much practice as she could for Quidditch. Hermione was grateful for the privacy. The Burrow was always chaotic between all the different members of the Weasley family still living there, it was hard to find privacy and quiet. Both of which she needed right now.
Hermione took out the letter as she sat on her bed, pushed up against the far wall of the room.
She steeled herself for what was to come.
Dear Miss Granger,
I have gotten your test results back from your visit earlier this week. There is some good news. Although the mark left on your neck and the ones on your arm were indeed made with a blade imbued with dark magic, there appears to be no lasting ill effects from it. There are no infections or hidden poisons in your system. The scarring will be permanent, however.
The more concerning matter is the older injury you sustained from your trip to the Ministry of Magic two years ago. There was a lot of internal damage done by that spell that hit you, as you know. I was able to reverse most of what was done, however, there does seem to be a lingering side effect. Due to the nature of your injury, your ability to have children has greatly diminished. While there are spells that can aid fertility, because dark magic is involved, there is little that can be done to reverse those effects. My deepest condolences.
If there is anything further I can do, please do not hesitate to see me. My door is always open to the brightest witch of our age.
Sincerely,
Madam Pomfrey
Hermione felt like someone had punched her as hard as they could in the stomach. The tears welled in her soft brown eyes and spilled over. She was infertile. She could not have kids. She could not have a family. Even though she was not sure what she wanted out of life, she liked having every possible option available. You never knew where life would take you. She cried and sobbed, laying down to bury her face in her pillow. What would Ron think? Or worse, Molly? Would he leave her for someone who could give him a family? Would Molly tell her to go back home to the Muggle world and cut her off from her friends?
New fears crept in, and she could hardly imagine what it would be like, once her new secret was out. She could not keep this thing hidden forever. Even if she tried to lie to Ron and claim ignorance, eventually she would be forced to see someone, and it would be revealed regardless. The most she could do was stave off the inevitable for a few years. That pained her too. There was not a textbook solution to this problem, not like there almost always was. Hermione cried herself to sleep and did not bother to get up to go to dinner that night.
The following morning, Hermione awoke, not feeling well rested, but exhausted, like she had been hit by a truck. Or more accurately in her world, the Cruciatus curse. She would know as well as anyone what that was like. She peeled herself off the bed and forced herself to get changed and washed up before going downstairs. Ginny was waiting for her when Hermione came in to grab some food.
"Bloody hell, Hermione, you look a fright! Are you ok?" Ginny asked.
"It was a rough night." Hermione said, vastly understating things but not really wanting to openly discuss something like this, with her partner's sister.
"Oh no." Ginny looked at Hermione. "What did he do? Should I jinx him now or wait until he's home from work?"
Hermione smiled and laughed. Oddly, Ginny's allegiance to her made her feel better. That grounding made Hermione realize how hungry she really was and was more than happy to eat a large breakfast. She chatted with Ginny about Quidditch and whether she was ready for school. It was a nice quiet breakfast conversation. Molly had gone out shopping and everyone else was at work. The girls had the house to themselves for a change.
"So, what did you need my help with today?" Ginny asked. Hermione stopped and realization hit her.
"I completely forgot! We have a new student starting at Hogwarts this year, he's technically in your year, but he's like me, skipped a year." Hermione explained. "Professor McGonagall has asked me to help him get ready for the new year and to make sure he's actually on our level, as he claims."
"Oh, this is exciting! A transfer student!" Ginny was practically bouncing out of her seat. "What school is coming from?"
Hermione bit her lip. She was not sure it was wise to tell anyone. McGonagall and Matt, both had made it plain they were keeping him low profile until they were sure of the danger passing.
"He's from America, from Ilvermorny." Hermione finally replied. Ginny would find out soon enough anyway. When the term started, the whole school would end up knowing regardless. Thankfully, Hogwarts was also secure, so even if every person there knew Matt's story, no one outside of the school would find out until it was time.
Ginny looked utterly shocked at Hermione's revelation.
"Ilvermorny?! How? It's gone, everyone died!" Ginny was incredulous.
"We don't know, we just know he was there, and he didn't." Hermione said. "And he's what I need your help with. And Luna's. I've cleared it with McGonagall, we need to assess him, see what he's capable of, rehabilitate him that is. I thought the three of us would be suitable for the task."
"Oh, this'll be fun! We get to be on the other side of the desk for a change!" Ginny exclaimed. Hermione smiled at her and stood.
"We should go collect Luna and then get to the school as quickly as possible. I've already told him where to meet us, but I want to get everything ready in case he shows up early." Hermione said.
"Early? So, he's nothing like Ron and Harry, having a bit of lie in?" Ginny asked.
"No, certainly not." Hermione giggled as the two girls shared a laugh before they departed to collect Luna.
Matt made his way up the castle's various staircases and paused making sure he knew where he was supposed to be going. He checked the instructions Hermione had given him. Third floor corridor, right hand side. He turned and saw a door at the end of the hallway. That must have been the place. As he approached, he realized the door was locked. He smirked and tapped his cane. The wooden aid shrank and transformed itself into his new wand. Acacia wood, thirteen and a quarter inch long with unicorn hair core, quite bendy flexibility and fully transfigurable.
Matt tapped the lock and silent cast 'Alohomora.' The lock opened and he swung the door aside to step into the room. Hermione was already waiting, sitting on a crate at the opposite end of the room, reading a book. There were two other people with her, both girls, both pretty, one a fiery redhead the other a pale with dirty blonde hair.
"Good, you passed my first test." Hermione said, closing her book and standing. She looked pleased, almost smug. Matt had not known her for long, but he sensed he was suddenly in her realm now, not his own.
"A simple charm, really. But that was basic first year stuff." He replied as he strode forward, limping heavily without his cane. "But who're your friends? I don't believe we've been introduced." He could feel a little part of his old self to start bubble up and it felt good.
"I'm Ginny, Ginny Weasley." The redhead said.
"Matt Santini." The boy said giving a bow. "Ah! I recognize that name. Ron's your brother or cousin?" he asked.
"Brother. You know Ron?" Ginny asked.
"Only by reputation and what Hermione's told me. Which isn't much!" Matt said as he looked around the room.
"Not much?! She didn't mention that they're dating or that he's Auror?" Ginny said surprised, glancing at Hermione.
"New information is always welcome!" He said with a smile and a wink. He had played them a little bit and Hermione looked annoyed at Ginny. "And who might this lovely lady be?" "Oh, he's charming Hermione." Luna said airily. "But his head, it's full of Wrackspurts."
"This is Luna Lovegood. We're here to assess your capabilities, see where you need help getting back on your feet. Let's see what you can do, Mr. Santini." Hermione said as the three girls faced Matt.
"Oh! Formal. I like it! Ready when you are, Miss Granger. Miss Weasley. Miss Lovegood." Came Matt's playful reply.
"Oh, he's asking for it, Hermione." Ginny said.
"Then let's put him through his paces, shall we?" Hermione said, her wand out. Ginny and Luna drew theirs as well.
Matt spent the next three hours with the girls as they cast spells, charms, jinxes, hexes, transfigured items in the room that Hermione had brought in from other parts of the school, as well as several creatures she borrowed for Hagrid. Luna made sure he showed his skills with Defense Against the Dark Arts, while Ginny evaluated his potion making skills. He sank down to the floor and stretched his legs out in front of him while propping his back against the door frame.
"Surely you're not tired yet?" Hermione teased gently.
"Only a little." Matt replied with a tired smile. His hand massaged his left leg.
"What's wrong with your leg?" Luna asked bluntly. Ginny and Hermione looked surprised at her lack of tact.
"Luna!" Ginny exclaimed.
"It's fine Ginny. Injured in…well I don't know exactly. I don't remember it. Madam Pomfrey thinks it'll be permanent though. I'm supposedly plateaued with my recovery." Matt replied honestly. He appreciated Luna's straightforwardness.
"You say supposedly. You think you're still healing? You think you're making progress?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." Matt paused and looked upwards, closing his eyes for a second before looking back at the girls. "I think it's possible that, with time, I may be back to almost full strength one day! And I won't need to do this…" he snapped his wrist and his wand transfigured into a cane, which he used to haul himself up, before snapping it back to its wand form.
"Show off!" Ginny giggled.
"Well, are you satisfied, or do you want to keep going?" Matt asked.
"There is one more thing I want to try." Hermione said and strode forward, her wand at the ready. "When you first came in, you looked like you were prepared for a duel. Let's see how good you are. Ladies." Hermione looked over at Ginny and Luna who stepped up to her side and drew their wands.
"Oh, I see. Three girls against one cripple, that's not fair…for you." Matt said with a sarcastic grin. "Let's dance!"
Hermione did not wait to count down, she started launching spells. Ginny and Luna followed her lead. Matt was quick on the draw, though. He was prepared for her to jump at him, so he was already preparing a shield charm. He deflected spells and shot some back at the girls as he began to move around the room. He feinted one way to get one of them to fire a spell but then he would quickly juke the opposite direction to dodge a fire one off back.
Matt could not dodge the spells nearly as well as used to, but his dueling experience came back to him, and he was quickly gaining ground. But having to deal with three moving targets, it was a challenge. Soon the three were working as a unit and Matt had a feeling he was beaten. He tried to move them back towards the far end of the room, as they did, avoiding his spells, he began to back up to the middle.
Matt knew he was not going to win, but he could at least take the defeat on his own terms. As the three of them flanked one another he threw up the strongest shield charm he could think. All three launched the exact same spell at him. Matt braced but his charm shattered, and he flew back almost to the door.
The three girls looked at each other and walked over to him.
"Easy Charlie's Angels. You win." He said with a smile. Ginny and Luna looked confused, but Hermione rolled her eyes as she helped him up.
"You had us beat. Why did you surrender?" she asked.
"Ah but I didn't. You had numbers and Luna was about to trip me up good. That's why I tried to back you all into a corner."
"Take the loss on your own terms." Hermione observed.
"You got it. You three are hellions though. I haven't had a duel like this, ever." Matt said, catching his breath.
"You put up quite a fight yourself." Ginny responded.
"I try." Was Matt's breathless reply.
"I can tell Professor McGonagall you're apt…" Hermione began.
"But?" Matt interjected.
"But I would like to work on your dueling more." Hermione said.
"Alright. If you say so, teach." Matt grinned. Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes. Ginny giggled at him. The four left the small room and began to make their way through the castle.
"You know, Matt, For an American, you're absolutely tolerable." She spoke.
"Wow! I don't know if I should be complimented or offended." Matt said as he reached around to his side, grasping at the air and pretending to pull something out of himself. "So, do I get to keep that knife cause it's part of a set or do you need it back?"
"You can keep it." Ginny quipped, playing right along.
"Great…so how about you Luna? Hermione thinks I'm a sucky duelist, Ginny thinks I'm tolerable, what about you?" Matt said.
"Your head's all cloudy. It's distracting you." Luna replied.
"Luna, don't ever change." Matt sighed. He found Luna to be refreshing and unafraid of speaking her mind. It was nice.