Chapter 9

Hermione entered her Dormitory with her heart beating much faster than normal. She heard Fred make a comment about snogging and immediately blushed. Had she just snogged Ron? Ron Weasley? One of her best friends, Ron? She leaned against the door, yes she had and it had felt wonderful! She was brought back down to earth by a muffled sob. She scanned the room and found that it was coming from Mattie's bed; the hangings were drawn.

"Mattie?"

"Go away! I don't want to talk to anyone!" Hermione decided to give Mattie a few minutes of privacy and changed into her pajamas. She set the pink rose on her nightstand; she would do a preservation spell in the morning. She never wanted to forget this night.

She parted the hangings on Mattie's bed; she was lying there, mascara smeared by tears and hair all mussed up. She had already changed into her pajamas. Hermione sat down on the bed and hugged Mattie.

"What happened?"

"Oh Merlin! I'm such a git!" Mattie continued to sob between her words. "He told me that he liked me ... and I ran away! I didn't know ... I couldn't say anything ... now he probably hates me!"

"Shhh," Hermione said soothingly. She hugged Mattie tightly. "Harry does not hate you! But why didn't you say that you liked him back?" Mattie pulled away from Hermione and wiped her eyes, apparently regaining some shreds of her composure.

"I just couldn't ... I've lost everyone, Hermione! Everyone that I loved ... it was irrational, but I thought ... if I could convince myself I didn't like him ... then I wouldn't have to loose him!" Mattie collapsed into a fit of sobbing again. Hermione hugged her as tight as ever.

"Mattie, you're not going to loose anyone!"

"I know ... it was irrational ... but I couldn't think ... and now I can't ever get that moment back, not ever!" Mattie stopped sobbing and sighed.

"No, but you'll have other moments." Hermione smiled and Mattie smiled as well, only weakly.

"So you and Ron?" Hermione blushed immediately.

"Well it seems that you're not the only one ... getting caught in the moment ... he kissed me earlier before we came up here ... and then when we saw Harry, I was going to come up and talk to you. But, instead I turned around and I ..."

"Hermione Granger! Did you just snog Ron?!" Hermione nodded sheepishly. Mattie squealed and hugged her. "Hermione that's brilliant! Well at least you've got everything worked out then ... that's more than I can say for me and Harry."

"Mattie, don't worry about you and Harry. He'll come around."

Ron entered the Dormitory to find a ruffled Harry pacing back and forth. He didn't realize Ron was there and was very startled when Ron put a hand on his shoulder to get him to stop pacing.

"What the bloody hell is going on, Harry?"

"Hell if I know!" Harry sat down on his bed and put his head in his hands. "I told her ... well you know ... and she just stared at me. Then she ran upstairs ... she ran away from me Ron!"

"I'm sure she was just ... shocked."

"Right because the entire ball wasn't clue enough for her as to how I felt!" Harry sighed and got up. He changed into his pajamas and ignored whatever it was that Ron was going on about. "How is Hermione?" He wanted to get off the subject of Mattie; it was making his head hurt.

"What? Harry, I'm trying to talk to you here!"

"Don't worry about me Ron! I'll be fine, if she doesn't like me in that way, I'll get over it eventually." Ron sighed helplessly and shook his head.

"Hermione's great, Harry." Ron felt himself start to blush, thinking about what had happened in the Common Room. He sat down on his bed and told Harry what Hermione had done.

"Harry said he's not coming to breakfast."

"Oh bullex!!" The entire Common Room turned to look at Mattie, but she just ignored them all and stormed out. Hermione and Ron looked at each other helplessly and started after her. As they climbed out of the portrait hole, Hermione slipped her hand into Ron's.

"How's Harry?"

"Awful, he didn't sleep at all last night ... kept tossing and turning." Ron shook his head. "Mattie?"

"The same ... this is bloody horrible! Our two best friends not even speaking to each other!" Hermione sighed heavily. They entered the Great Hall to find Mattie sitting with Fred and George, who were trying unsuccessfully to make her laugh. Fred and George looked up to see Hermione and Ron coming towards them. They turned a few shades paler and exchanged confused glances. All of a sudden, they had some pressing business in the Common Room and ran out of the Great Hall.

"What's wrong with them?" Hermione and Ron sat down across from Mattie at the Gryffindor table.

"They kind of ... saw us ... last night." Hermione's eyes got a little wider and she blushed. Ron blushed as well.

"Are you going to ...umm talk to Harry?" Hermione asked Mattie, hopefully.

"I don't think he wants to talk to me." Mattie pushed the food around her plate.

"Well you've got to do something about this ... I mean you will have classes together on Monday."

"And we're going to Hogsmeade today ... you aren't going to be able to just not talk the entire time." Ron and Hermione waited for Mattie to answer, but she just stared at her plate.

"I'm going ... for a walk, I'll meet you in the Common Room for Hogsmeade in half and hour." Mattie got up quickly and walked out of the Great Hall. Hermoine and Ron sighed simultaneously.

Mattie, having lied to Hermione and Ron about where she was really going, headed back up to the Common Room. There was no one up there.

She walked up to the Boys' Dormitories, stopping in front of the door that said "Fourth Years" she knocked softly.

"What?!" Mattie was shocked at how harsh Harry's voice sounded; he obviously didn't want to talk. She turned around and started back down the stairs. Realizing who it had been, Harry jumped out of his bed and ran to the door. "Mattie, wait ... I'm sorry."

She turned around and looked up at him. "I wanted to talk ... but-"

"Okay, let's talk." Harry held open the door and Mattie cautiously walked back up the stairs and into the Dormitory. Harry closed the door behind her and cleared off a chair so she could sit down. But Mattie just shook her head, "I don't want to sit, Harry. I want to talk." Harry nodded. "I'm sorry ... about last night."

"No, it's okay ... I shouldn't have said that."

"Does that mean you don't really like me?" Harry blushed and swallowed hard.

"I ... umm ... no ... I mean yes ... I mean yes I like you ..." Harry heard the words come out of his mouth, but he couldn't believe what he had said. This was going to turn into a repeat of last night; Harry telling Mattie that he liked her and Mattie running away.

"Oh ..." Why couldn't she say anything? Her mouth wasn't working for some reason; she couldn't get herself to say what she meant. They stood in awkward silence for what seemed like forever. Finally, Mattie said something, "Harry I ... umm ... I like ... I like you too." She sighed out of relief; at least she had finally told him, whatever the outcome.

"Really?" Harry didn't believe what he was hearing; he was sure that after last night, whatever chances there were of Mattie liking him were gone.

"Yeah ... so what ... what do we do now?"

"I don't know." All of a sudden, Harry stepped close to Mattie, leaned down, and kissed her. But she pulled away. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry, Harry ... just ... if we're going to do this ... you know, be together ... let's just take it slow ... okay?"

"Of course ..." Harry leaned in and kissed Mattie again, only this time she didn't pull away. Mattie walked over and sat down on Harry's bed, he followed her and sat down next to her, kissing her again. They pulled away and smiled.

"I never did get to tell you ... what a brilliant time I had last night."

"Me too."

Hermione sighed and looked at her watch; if Harry and Mattie didn't get here soon, they'd be late for Hogsmeade. Finally, Mattie came down the stairs, followed by Harry.

"I want to change really fast, and then we can go." Hermione sighed again as Mattie walked up to the Girls' Dormitories.

"If we're late for Hogsmeade just because you two were busy snogging --"

"What?!"

"Oh please, Harry!"

"What makes you think we were ... snogging?"

"Harry, there are only two girls in all of Hogwarts that wear clear, sparkly lip gloss. That same lip-gloss is smeared on your lips. Now I know I didn't put it there, and the one other girl was just in your Dormitory. What are we supposed to assume? Oh wait, that you were playing dress up ... right?" Harry blushed and wiped off his lips with the back of his hand. Hermione laughed and shook her head as Mattie came running down the stairs. She had changed into a pair of jeans and a black hoodie.

"I'm sorry!" Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. Ron grabbed her hand and Harry grabbed Mattie's as they all headed out to the courtyard. Much to Hermione's surprise, they weren't late at all, but rather right on time.

"Mattie, come look at this!" Mattie pulled herself away from the miniature Quidditch pitch and walked over to Hermione. Ron and Harry stayed there, entranced by the little players. Hermione pointed to a silver bracelet; it matched her silver locket.

"Oh, that's pretty! You should get it, it will look brilliant with the necklace." Hermione smiled and looked back at the bracelet in its little case. It had a simple chain, like the one on the necklace, and one charm; a round silver piece engraved with a dragon on the front. Mattie felt a tap on her shoulder, expecting it to be Harry; she was quite surprised to see Malfoy standing in front of her.

"We're going to the Leaky Cauldron for butterbeers. I was wondering if I could buy you one?" Malfoy's voice was gentle and refined, uncharacteristically.

"I'm kind of here ... with Harry."

"Potter won't die if you leave him alone for an hour!" At this, Harry and Ron were finally jolted back to reality. Harry walked up to Mattie and took her hand.

"Bothering you?" he asked, jerking his head towards Malfoy.

"Stay out of this Potter! This conversation is between Mattie and I!" Malfoy shoved Harry and the store manager immediately came scurrying into the room. She shooed them out; once on the street, they simply resumed their conversation. Harry and Malfoy yelled various insults and threats back and forth until Mattie was fed up.

"Stop it! Both of you! Bloody hell!"

"We have to stick together you know ... can't be mixing with these mudbloods!" Mattie immediately went rigid; she turned and glared at Malfoy. Malfoy cowered a little bit, unsure of what to expect. Harry stepped forward, holding is wand, and was about to cast a spell on Malfoy.

"Expeliarmus!" Harry's wand flew in the opposite direction. "Accio!" Mattie held out her hand and Harry's wand flew into it. Malfoy laughed a little, big mistake. "Laughing? Do you really think that wise?" He swallowed hard and looked to his sides; Crabbe and Goyle were long gone. "You're lucky I don't snap your wand in half you filthy little ..." Mattie seemed as if it were all she could do not to strangle Malfoy on the spot. "Accio!" Immediately Malfoy's wand flew out of his own hand and into Mattie's. "You'll get this back from Professor Snape. If you ever make one more comment about my family or mudbloods around me ... I will castrate you!" Malfoy went suddenly very pale; he stared at Mattie for a moment before running off in the opposite direction. She pocketed the three wands and walked off towards the shrieking shack. Harry, Hermione, and Ron followed cautiously. Mattie sat down on a large rock and put her head in her hands. "I'm sorry."

"Are you kidding? You just sent Malfoy running for his life, that's nothing to be sorry about." Hermione jabbed Ron in the ribs. "Ow!" Her eyes flared and he was immediately silent.

"Look, Mattie, we didn't press you about your family. Especially considering what's going on with your uncle. You told us that your last name was 'Mantreh' but that we weren't supposed to go telling the whole country."

"Because it would put us in danger ... that's pretty cryptic, but we accepted it, nonetheless." Harry finished Hermione's thought.

"And now, it's time I tell you all something more concrete ... I know ... I just can't bear the thought of putting any of you in –"

"Mattie, we faced a lot of danger, I'm sure it's not that horrible." Harry sat down next to Mattie and put his arm around her.

"You're right ... my family is a very old, pureblood family. Almost as old as the Malfoys themselves. In Voldemort's time," Harry was surprised to hear her say his name out loud, "there were a lot of rumors going around that we were involved with him. A distant relation was ... he betrayed some of his Death Eater friends. So, those on Voldemort's side hate us for his betrayal, and those against Voldemort hate us because they think we were involved with him." She sighed; she had never told anyone that ... ever. "I can't tell you more than that ... the reason I got so angry back there is because of the word he used ... mudblood. My family wasn't one of those pureblood families that despise muggle-borns. I was raised by a 'mudblood' ..." Mattie felt tears coming to her eyes as she wondered if she would ever see that 'mudblood' again.

A/N: Okay, I know the part about Mattie's last name is really random. I didn't mention the fact that she told Hermione, Harry, and Ron about it when she told them what was going on with her uncle. Soooooo sorry if you are confused. I hafta go back and change it, eventually. Sorry it took me a while to finally post this, chapter 10 will be a while as well. I'm working super hard on my Lily/James fic at the moment (it will be posted by the end of the week). As you can see, Malfoy did make a re-appearance, finally. Now, he's kind of afraid of Mattie (with due cause) and won't be showing up for a while. You'll find out where he is spending his time in a later fic (not posted yet, many apologies!). I'll have chapter 10 up ASAP, drop me a review once in a while people!!!

Shoe Malfoy: yay! So glad you like it! Mattie's secrets are going to start coming out more and more. Everything will be explained completely by the end of the Holidays, I promise! Ron and Hermione are meant for each other! Mucho thanko for the review! Hope you liked this chapter!

Discliamer: I own nothing except Mattie! It all belongs to the great JK Rowling!