The following weeks were quiet for Hermione. Which was surprising, given all that had happened. Following the accident in Gringotts expansion, Hermione was flooded with work, being the head of the Being Division inside the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The goblins insisted that the accident was caused by a Wizard while the Wizards who were present, and still able to give statements, said that they were not directly at fault for the collapse. In the end, Hermione had to ask for untampered memories from the survivors. Unfortunately, several goblins had died in the accident, one of them being Griphook. Hermione was shocked to learn that the traitorous goblin who helped them break into Gringotts during their hunt for Horcruxes, had survived. She swore she had heard that the goblin had been summoned to Malfoy Manor after the break in and was subsequently killed by Voldemort. Or at least, that was what she had hoped had happened after he left herself, Matt, Harry, and Ron to die from being crushed by hot gold. A small part of her was not sorry in the least he had gone back to work for the bank and was now dead.
After viewing the memories of both goblins and human wizard survivors of the accident, she was able to make a statement to the Wizengamot that in fact, there was no direct blame to be placed. It seemed as though the rail supports had simply failed, most likely due to rushed craftsmanship. The partial collapse was devastating and set the expansion back by months, as several newly created vaults had to be dug out from the cave-in caused by the cart smashing through support stalagmites.
Hermione had approved both a memorial statue to be commissioned and placed inside Gringotts near the new vaults to dedicate the memories of the goblins and Wizards who died building it. Additionally, she also agreed to list the names of the deceased goblins on a plaque at the Ministry in the Hall of Remembrance, and on a list preserved at the Goblin Liaison Office itself. Hermione magically erased Griphook's name from the original list. No one ever complained.
After the fallout from the accident, Hermione drafted legislation to help Goblins in cases of emergency like the collapse at Gringotts. The Ministry had been so inundated with bureaucratic red tape following the incident, clearing a path to ease the headache was a smart decision. The goblins liked this as well, earning themselves some additional rights in the process. Hermione was quite proud of her work.
Although the incident was terrible, she did not mind the fact that she had to personally go to St. Mungo's several times a week for two weeks straight to see memories and interview survivors. This meant she also got to see Matt on those visits as well. The pair of them shared lunch and caught up.
Hermione had been thinking about what Molly had told her during the large family dinner. She spent what little free time she had at home ruminating over it. What were her feelings towards Matt? It was complicated, that much was certain. Matt was always her friend; they had shared everything with Harry and Ron. He smiled at her more than anyone, it was sweet. But there had never been romantic feelings there, had there?
Hermione remembered the Yule Ball, the seeming cursed crux of the whole matter. She shook her head one evening as she thought over her dinner. No, she definitely did not have feelings for Matt back then. She was developing interest in romance, as most teenagers were. There was certainly an interest in more than just hand holding. Matt was so genial though, that he just did not fit what Hermione wanted at the time. He was a bit boring compared to Viktor Krum. The validation she felt being asked out by an older, internationally famous superstar was incredible. It felt like she was truly seen for who she was, a smart and pretty woman. Not just the intelligent best friend of Harry, Ron, and Matt. She was something more.
While she knew that her decision was the right decision for her, she accepted it had consequences for Matt. However, she could not have foreseen those consequences and even if she had, she knew deep down, it would not have changed her feelings. She felt bad for him, sure, but Molly's words had rung true. Hermione let her guilt over it go. She decided she did not curse him unintentionally nor was she responsible for his bad luck. Matt was the only one who could be responsible for his dating situation. Somehow, she felt he might already know that and based off their recent string of shared lunches; she knew he did not hold any grudges against her.
Hermione found that as she ate and thought, that their shared alone time was meaningful. They had good conversations, and he seemed happy to be around her. She wondered though, why had he not asked her out? He knew she was single, and he was looking. Perhaps he thought she would not want to go out or that the ship had truly sailed.
Hermione pushed deeper into her thoughts, had the possibility of he and her really died? It had not been until Ron left them in the tent that Matt had said anything about having feelings towards her. He had wanted to comfort her and did so. But his words…they revealed something. He had held unrequited feelings for her, but he promised to not get in the way. Maybe he thought there was still a chance for her and Ron?
That was one ship that had sailed for certain. Hermione's own blow up with Ron was horrifying to recall. She pushed the painful memory away and was glad that Ron agreed they were better off staying friends and not dating and trying to be romantic. Their expectations were entirely different. Ron was used to seeing his mom and dad working together, but his dad at work and his mother staying home to tend the house. Arthur did little things for Molly but there were not large romantic gestures.
Meanwhile, Hermione saw her own parents being quite loving towards one another, and both worked a lot as well. Her father would bring home flowers once a month and they would, as Hermione got older, go out on date nights together. They often would sit next to each other on the couch reading or watching the telly. They would trade off chores and work as a team to upkeep their home, as well as spend time with her.
Their respective views on romance were shaped by what they had seen with their parents, and Hermione knew why she and Ron could not work. Their expectations of one another were night and day. Hermione wanted to work and accomplish things; Ron preferred her to stay at home. Hermione did not learn magic to waste it sitting in an apartment or at The Burrow, washing clothes, cooking meals, and dusting! While true, Hermione did not like Ron and Harry both out there risking their lives, chasing down dark wizards, with Harry, at least, it made sense.
Her thoughts drifted to Matt as she floated her dishes to the sink, and they began to wash themselves. She wondered how he viewed romance. Hermione knew that his mom was a single career lady and that his father had dedicated himself to raising Matt alone, with help from Matt's grandfather. Although, her American friend did seem a little stunted in that regard. He had not seen either of his parents, or his grandparent, be in a meaningful romantic relationship. That means everything he knows, he either has seen in movies, tv shows, or read in books.
Part of her felt bad for him, never seeing what love could look like. Hermione could be the one to show him what that looked like, she realized. When she thought more about it, as she floated her dishes away and curled up on her couch, she realized something else. The night he offered to sleep beside her was his way of showing she could trust him completely. While confirmation of her relationship with Ron being rekindled in the middle of battle hurt him, it changed nothing. A part of Hermione herself changed that night.
Matt had laid down beside her to provide her with peace that she was unable to find alone. The more she thought about it, the more she realized this simple gesture of comfort and trust had meant something to her. It meant a lot to her he would do that and tell her he valued her happiness more than his own wants. Which made a lot of sense. Matt's mum was quite entitled, and she was more than willing to throw her political power around to get her way. Matt was the opposite of that, as he felt wielding power like that was inappropriate, just to get your way. He told Hermione this once during their fifth year while staying at Grimmauld Place.
Hermione turned her feelings over in her head. Matt's continuous and unwavering support of her, Harry, Ron, and the others, his own willingness to self-sacrifice for her, and his overall attitude towards her, caused a revelation to dawn on her. A seed had been planted that night they shared a bed. Matt had not meant for it to grow but it had. Hermione could feel it, now that she knew what it was. He had told her that her own happiness was important, something no one had ever really said to her until then. That simple statement had grown into feelings, now, years later.
Hermione had another thought occur to her; she was routinely getting pixies in her stomach when she was around Matt. Initially, she brushed it off because it had been so long since they had seen each other. Now though, she still got them, sitting next to him at the Weasley's family home, or seeing him at his work at St. Mungo's and eating with him. She felt like a schoolgirl again. Had Molly known? Was Mrs. Weasley intentionally sitting them next to each other to push them together? Is that why Molly wanted her to think about her feelings?
Hermione had to know.
The fireplace at The Burrow erupted in green flames and Hermione Granger stepped out. She dusted herself off and called out.
"Hello? Mrs. Weasley? Anyone home?"
"What's that?" came a voice from the kitchen.
"Mrs. Weasley!" Hermione said as she walked into the kitchen.
"Hello, Hermione, dear! What brings you here?" Molly looked shocked as Hermione sat down at the table.
"I wanted to talk to you." Hermione looked up at Molly with appreciation.
"Of course, anytime! I'll put on some tea." Molly waved her wand, and the teapot floated to the table and began to whistle as Molly sat down and floated over a plate of biscuits.
"I wanted to thank you." Hermione began. "You made me realize some things…"
"Oh? What about dear?" Molly asked, leaning forward in her chair.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking the last two weeks, about things. My feelings…in particular."
Molly's eyes widened in understanding, and she nodded.
"Go on…"
"Well…I think…I mean…I know…did you know there was something between Matt and I?"
Molly smiled for a moment.
"Well, I can tell by the way he acts around you, he's a little more nervous. He blushes a bit when you talk to him, he turns towards you when you speak, little things like that." Molly replied with a smile.
"I…hadn't noticed…" Hermione felt those pixies again.
"Of course not! We don't always realize these things immediately. It took me and Arthur three years to work it out while we were at Hogwarts. Once we started dating though…well it was all over from there!"
"I should tell him…" Hermione said as Molly passed her a cup of tea, and she sipped it.
"Yes, you very well should. He'll be delighted, I'm sure. And it solves his little issue with his mum, doesn't it?" Molly replied, sipping her own tea.
"It does. If he's truly got feelings…then even if we marry now, it'll all work out anyway, won't it?" Hermione said as the tea helped warm her.
"Precisely!" Molly said with a smile. "Should I tell Arthur, then, we're to expect a wedding very soon? We could have it here, out in the garden, like we did with Bill!"
"Not just yet. Let me talk to Matt first." Hermione said and stood. "Thank you, for everything."
Molly stood as well and embraced Hermione. "It was nothing! I'm glad you're all sorted out and on the right track!" Hermione turned to head to the fireplace. "Wait, you're not going over there now, are you?"
"No, but I think I'll go tomorrow, why?" Hermione asked, suddenly afraid.
"I just want you to be cautious. If he's living at home, with his mother, she's not one to be trifled with." Molly said.
"Molly's right, Hermione." Arthur said, walking into the kitchen, having been out in their garage tinkering with his Muggle artifacts. "Temperance Bonneville is many things, but she is not one to go down easy. If you try to confront her, she is likely to stand very little opposition to her views. Augusta Longbottom might have been overbearing on poor Neville while you all were in school, but she's nothing compared to the Ambassador. Watch yourself, please. Both for your own and Matt's sakes."
The following week, Hermione pulled Harry aside at the Ministry and told him she planned to visit Matt at his home and confront his mother, hoping to get her to see reason and to give Matt and herself some time to properly date. She did not feel that was unreasonable, but if she could just convince Ambassador Bonneville to at least accept a six-month engagement, it would give her and Matt time to date and then marry.
"Are you sure about this Hermione?" Harry asked, tentatively.
"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" Hermione responded.
"Well, it's just that, if Arthur warned you to be careful around his mum, what if she disowns him on the spot?" Harry asked, concern for their friend knitting his brow.
"She – she wouldn't, would she?" Hermione's voice was shaky now and less certain than it had been a moment before.
"I dunno. She could. Remember what Matt said initially? That once it's in his mum's head, she could go off at any time and forget the deadline."
"I have to try Harry…I want to buy us a little time." Hermione was more desperate now than ever.
Harry nodded and sighed.
"I get it, Hermione. You want to be able to date like a normal person."
"At least for a little while. I've barely seen Matt by himself at all recently. It's only ever been for short breaks for his lunch and then we were both off to work again. It's…"
"Not the same, I know." Harry replied. "I snuck off a couple of times working on cases to see Ginny during practice. It wasn't the same as when we go out on a real date or spend the evening together."
Hermione felt a roar of jealousy. Not at Ginny, but at both of them and their relationship. It was beginning to dawn on Hermione herself how alone she had become, and she was sure Matt was feeling the same. The two of them in their own respective flats, Hermione's only company was Crookshanks, Matt did not even have his owl. She was sure Matt was not spending time with his mother, either, even if they shared a flat. It was very isolating. Hermione noticed it less due to her work at the Ministry. She saw Harry and Ron every day, usually multiple times and typically eating lunch with one or both of them, if they were in the office. The more things had changed, the more they had stayed the same, it was almost as if they were still at Hogwarts, just in more specialized classes.
"I'm going over on Sunday, regardless. No one's at the Ministry on Sundays, she'll have a hard time filing paperwork if no one's there to certify it, won't she?" Hermione smirked.
"Ron and I will go with you." Harry said.
"Thank you." Hermione smiled appreciatively at Harry.
"Of course! Matt's our friend too."
That Sunday, Hermione, Harry, and Ron stood outside the Embassy Gardens, the dark brown brick and forest green structure loomed over the three of them. Hermione craned her neck and could see that the topmost suite was not the actual top of the building, and that there was a shimmer just above it. A well-placed disillusionment charm. The Ambassadorial Apartments that MACUSA had bought for the Ambassador to live in were spacious and spanned two stories in and of itself.
Hermione and the others knew it well, as they had visited before numerous times over summers while they were all attending Hogwarts. Many of them were herself, Ron, and Matt getting together just before collecting Harry from Privet Drive or returning with Matt to The Burrow to wait for Harry to join them. Most of those were positive memories, but regardless, a knot of worry had formed in Hermione's stomach, alongside the pixies. She did her best to quell her thoughts and worries as they rode the elevator to the top. She cursed at having had to wait for the car to empty, before saying the incantation to take them to the concealed top suite.
Hermione's hands fidgeted as they approached the front door of the flat and her hand, shaking, reached out, and rapped on the door. There was a brief pause and the sound of footsteps approaching before the door swung open.
"Oh, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, hello. What brings you three here?" Temperance Bonneville asked, cocking her head to one side. She motioned for them to enter, and they shuffled past her inside to the large apartment.
"Well, we came to see Matt actually and I wanted to talk to you, as well." Hermione said as she looked around. "Is he here?"
"No." Temperance looked sternly at the trio, she had a square jawline and high cheekbones that made her handsomely pretty, with her mahogany-colored shoulder-length hair. Hermione could see she and Matt had almost the same color of hair and how he himself came about his good looks. "Matt has moved out. He moved out shortly after I told him I would disown him by the end of this year if he had not found a suitable bride."
Hermione looked shocked, as did Harry and Ron.
"Based upon the expression on your countenances, I am to take it my son deigned to not inform you of this decision." Temperance said, her hands on her hips.
"No, he did not." Hermione said, annoyance taking over her visage.
"I understand. Before you level any recriminations upon me, Miss Granger, allow me to inform you of some knowledge that would be beneficial for you to have before you present a counter argument," Temperance began. Hermione's mouth was part of the way open already, halfway to sounding off on the Ambassador. However, she paused as Temperance Bonneville spoke. "It is familial tradition in the Bonneville family, my family, that male heirs, such as my son, should be married after they come of age but before turning twenty-three. This is done to ensure that the family line will continue to be robust and produce heirs. It is common knowledge that men are most virile between the ages of twenty-five and twenty-nine, and sperm quality decreases at age thirty. While this is entirely true of No-Maj populations, it also remains true of Wizarding population as well, despite our extended lifespans comparatively speaking.
"This is the reason why, even here in the U.K., situations such as yours, Mr. Potter are rare. Your grandparents had your father extremely late in life, in fact, I would venture to say it is no small magical miracle your father was born at all. It is also why your parents married as young as they chose to and had you as quickly as they did. Fortunately for us all, they did things when they needed to, as if they had not, we would likely be under the rule of Lord Voldemort and we would not be having this conversation.
"I understand that you are from a No-Maj family, Miss Granger. As such, you are not accustomed to many things in the Wizarding World. Given your station and ability, however impressive they may be, even you cannot deny that your education on, how is it you young children put it? 'Fitting in'? Is severely lacking. Even now, as a pureblood witch, I can tell that you are not one. The way in which you dress, the way your robes are worn, does not conform with pureblood teachings. In time, you would adapt, naturally, but as you are now, you are blatantly a No-Maj born. All these things considered, you must admit that you are, through no fault of your own, ignorant in many of our customs.
"Matt, oppositely speaking, is well aware of these traditions. He has developed from a young age with them and has born witness his own relatives initiating and following through on said traditions. He has, in this instance, chosen to operate against his own familial teachings and traditions. Additionally, he has ignored my own petitions for him to wed for several years. He cites his own lack of ability in romance as a reason for his inabilities. However, this is a mere pretense for opposing tradition.
"Now, all that being said, Miss Granger, do you have any recriminations you wish to level?"
"No…" Hermione began, and Harry and Ron exchanged astounded looks. "However, I will point out, that perhaps if you had been more attentive to Matt's own needs and set a proper example for him, that he might not have issues with dating!"
Temperance glowered at Hermione. She had found the one weakness in Temperance's argument and exploited it.
"How dare you accuse me of being a neglectful parent! You, who are of lower station in our world," Temperance ignored Hermione's wince and her eyes flaring in indignation and refutation "Who is unwed herself, having never reared a child, what could you possibly expect to know of such things or have any grounds on which to stand to accuse me of being neglectful of my son's needs! He is to know his station and his expectations! If he cannot do as he is expected, then I cannot have him associated with my family. Period!"
"You're so wrapped up in traditions that you don't see what Matt needs! He needs a mother who would love him and the ability to find a partner who would be his equal! Not just some witch off the street who can barely find the proper end of her wand to hold, much less cast a spell or brew a potion, only because she's a pureblood!" Hermione responded in kind.
"Are you suggesting that you, yourself, would be that proper equal to my son?" Temperance questioned, her tone of disbelief.
"I am!" Hermione said without thinking. Harry and Ron both tried to look like this was not news to them, and Hermione suddenly took a step back. She knew she had overstepped a boundary, and Matt had not even consented to them being in a relationship, much less that they were ready to tell his mother.
"If you perceive yourself this savant witch, then validate it. Demonstrate your prowess." Temperance said and opened her arms in invitation to see Hermione's magical ability.
"I'm not about to cast spells randomly in your flat." Hermione replied and never drew her wand.
Temperance regarded her for a moment and then nodded ever so slightly.
"A wise decision, Miss Granger." Temperance said. "If you are intent on following this course of action, take this and be gone." She handed Hermione a scrap of parchment. Hermione turned it over; it was Matt's new address.
"Thank you." Hermione replied curtly and turned on her heel and marched out to the elevator.
"Bloody hell Hermione!" Ron said as the doors slid shut and they began descending to the ground floor. "I thought you were going to explode. Are you alright?"
"Yeah Hermione, Matt's mum was way out of line." Harry said.
"I nearly did…" Hermione said and sagged a little. "It took everything I had to remain civil." She admitted. Harry and Ron were two of the only three people she would have ever admitted to nearly losing her famous cool over. Matt was the only other one she would make that admission to.
"That was impressive. I see what dad was talking about regarding her." Ron said.
"Neville's gran might give him a Boggart of her, but I think mine's changed to Matt's mum." Harry said as the elevator dinged and he, Hermione, and Ron, stepped out into the lobby. A few moments later they were several blocks away and able to duck behind a building out of sight. Hermione passed the address given to her to Harry and Ron. The three then Apparated to Matt's new flat.
Another elevator ride up, and the three of them were once again facing a door. This time, however, voices and movement could be heard from within. Hermione wondered if Matt was entertaining, although she was not aware of any friends he had beyond them. Cautiously she knocked on the door and with bated breath waited.
"Will you get that?" came a voice from inside.
"Ah, must be the pizza!" said another, this one more drawling and somewhat familiar.
The door to Matt's apartment swung open and Hermione was nearly floored. Matt was sitting on his couch, leaning over a small coffee table and a piece of parchment. There were a lot of people in his apartment, but the one sitting on a chair opposite him and rolling up the parchment Matt had clearly just signed was the last person any of them wanted to see.
"Malfoy?!" came Hermione's gasp.