i. bangs-be-gone

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The greyish-blue painted walls surrounded Matilda as the light placed above the sink flickered every other second. She stood, facing her reflection, tilting her head quizzically, studying the changes she had made to her hair. She wasn't sure if the changes were what she had pictured when casting the spell. Did it tell the story she wanted it to?

About three weeks into her break from Hogwarts Matilda decided that something about herself needed to change. She was changing, she felt older and much more mature. No longer were her pink, round cheeks pinchable to her elders, her cheeks had hardened, and her face angled out.

The first thing Matilda thought to change was her wardrobe, and so she threw out everything in her closet and filled it with all things new and different. But, after a week of going around in trousers and trainers, she missed her miniskirts and Maryjane platforms, and so, redone her wardrobe, yet again.

After changing her wardrobe failed to make her feel older, she tried to redo her room at her father's home. The once bright and glossy pink room had been repainted to a darker orchid color. No more sparkling butterflies strung about her room, and the stuffed animals that had once occupied her bed and been shoved into a chest and placed in the basement. Except for one that survived the raid, bubbles, her stuffed polar bear that Harper had bought her for her second birthday. Though the two sisters never seemed to stop bickering long enough to tell one another they care for the other, Matilda held tightly onto the stuffed animal she'd had for years now. 

Matilda had even convinced her dad to replace the furniture in her room. All of the pastel-colored furniture in her room that had matched her walls were thrown out while newer, more mature colors were brought in to bring out her orchid walls. Her bed had now been covered in a navy-blue comforter, and small, silver trinkets were places about the room. It was much more grown-up than the room that she had been sleeping in.

Even the new room soon failed to satisfy Matilda. Sure, the room made her feel older while she was in there, but she wanted something more noticeable. Something that people around her would see too. Matilda wanted everyone to see that no longer was she a child and that she shouldn't be treated as such.

Then, suddenly, while running a brush through her dark hair one morning, it dawned on her. She needed to change her hair. Everyone always used their hair to make some kind of statement, so why shouldn't she?

So, that same day she found herself standing in front of the bathroom mirror casting spell after spell to try and find the right style, knowing that she'd likely be receiving a warning letter from the Ministry about using magic outside of Hogwarts. Though Matilda always tossed them in the bin, she wasn't afraid of being expelled. The Ministry would have to be complete knobheads to have the brightest witch at Hogwarts expelled, at least, that's what Matilda believed.

And after about an hour of trying it happened, all she had to say was:

"ultra fimbrias"

A spell that done something as simple as trim her ends up and take away the bangs she had sported since she was three years old.

A small change that holds a big meaning.

"Matilda," Rueban, her father, yelled from the other room. "Can you come to the living room for a second, please?"

Matilda emerged from the bathroom, deciding that she'd sleep on the hair and decide in the morning if the look accomplished what she wanted it to. 

"Yes, dad?" 

Rueban frantically went about the living room in a hurry, his hair a mess, and his tie hanging loosely and untied around his neck. He grabbed office papers that had been placed around the room as he had decided to work from home with Matilda being there. 

"I've just been informed by the Ministry that there's trouble at the World Cup," he told her in a rushed tone, so busy gathering his things that he didn't even look up at Matilda. "I have to leave quite quickly, you'll be okay on your own for a bit, won't you?"

Matilda shrugged as she sat down on the arm of a chair, watching her dad rush about the house. 

"I'll be fine, dad," she assured him. "What's going on anyway?"

She remembered a letter that she had received from Ron telling her that he'd be attending the World Cup with his father, brothers, and Harry. He even extended an invite to Matilda but seeing as she had zero interest in Quidditch and loud crowds of people yelling about the sport, she politely declined the offer. But she couldn't help but be a little flattered that Ron had thought to invite her along with him and his family.

"Death Eaters," he told her, knowing that even if he'd try keeping it from her, she'd find out in the papers soon enough. "Causing a bit of trouble – just trying to get a rise out of some people."

Rueban did his best to try and downplay the height of the situation so he wouldn't spark any curiosity in his daughter, but Matilda was smart enough to know that if Death Eaters were involved it was going to be a pretty big dead, and her interest had been sparked.

"Well, you could bring me along, couldn't you?" Matilda asked suddenly wanting to attend the World Cup. "Might be better than leaving me here alone."

Rueban scoffed as he tried to tuck in his white, button-up shirt, but messily missed the tail.

"Not happening, Matilda," he told her. "It's far too dangerous for me to even think about bringing you along."

Matilda sighed, rolling her eyes. The past few years she'd done more than any Auror in the Ministry has.

"Oh, come on, dad," she pleaded with him. "You know I can handle myself."

"Matilda, the answer is no," he told her. "And that's the end of it."

Matilda though was not ready for it to end.

"But my friends are there," she said, not because she cared or was worried about them, but because she thought it might help to persuade her father to let her come with him. "Shouldn't I be there to help console them in such a difficult time?"

"Matilda," said her father in a warning tone. "I'll send word to you about your friends as soon as I'm able to." 

Matilda stood from the chair, pouting with her arms crossed over her chest, and she stomped angrily to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. This was nothing to new to Rueban, this act was something Matilda performed when she didn't get her way. 

"This is so unfair..." 

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When Rueban finally returned home the darkness had not long surrendered to the light, yet he could see the thick grey clouds that were cast over the sky. The pond in the yard was tainted; no longer an abyss of black, nor did it appear blue. Instead, it looked a metallic grey, glistening as the occasional spear of light pierced through the clouds and danced over the surface.

He never liked leaving Matilda home alone, as he always feared he would return home and she would have somehow found a way to take over the world in just a few hours.

Luckily, it seemed as though she decided to take a break in plotting her world domination for the night.

Rueban made his way down the narrow hallway and lightly opening the last door on his right that was decorated with letters spelling Matilda's name. Ever-so-quietly he poked his head in the door and smiled as he saw a sleeping Matilda. She still wore her day close as she curled up into a ball in the middle of the large bed, most likely waiting up for her dad so that she could find out everything that went on, or to tell him off for leaving her at home.

Rueban smiled to himself as he closed Matilda's door just as quietly as he opened it. He made his way back toward the front of the hall and went to bed himself completely exhausted. Though the days to follow he felt would be even busier than today.

And he was right. 

The last days of Matilda's holiday were spent in her dad's office at the Ministry. She wasn't allowed to sit in any of his meetings or go out on the field with him, and so, he stuck her in his office with a few books and hoped that was enough to keep her busy until dinner. Usually, it was, but there were times when she finished her readings and sat at her father's desk until she drifted off to sleep. Matilda has never been so bored while with her dad.

Some days were so tedious that she started to think about going to her mom's place for the remainder of her holiday, but she never went through with the thought because she knew with Harper being there, she'd only become more miserable. 

But the day finally came for Matilda to go back to school, and she was able to escape the office.

Matilda awoke to the sound of raindrops hitting her glass-paned window that had been covered with long silvery curtains. It was the morning she was to board the Hogwarts Express. And so, she didn't allow for the weather to deter her mood, instead, she listened to soothing drops hit her window and the top of her house while she readied herself for the day. 

Before leaving her room to have breakfast with her dad, as she did every morning, she decided to get dressed. Because it was raining, Matilda assumed the day would be quite chilly, so she pulled a large, beige sweater over her head, making her hair frizz up, and over the sweater, she pulled a dark-colored, plaid, slip dress, and with this, she paired her usual black heeled Maryjanes. 

Once her sister, Harper, arrived the three of them set off for Diagon Alley. Matilda had been secretly hoping that the rain might die down by the time they got there. She wasn't looking forward to the sea of umbrella almost hitting her face with every step she took.

Unfortunately, the rain didn't let up that day.

Luckily, Matilda only needed a few things, her dad had brought her to Diagon Alley a few weeks earlier and it was then that she got all her required school supplies for her fourth year. So, she wouldn't be browsing through the sea of umbrella for too long.

Already having gotten her required readings, parchment, ink, quills, and even new robes since she had grown an inch over the summer, Matilda went browsing around for herself. Nothing that the school required.

She made sure to stop at Flourish and Blotts for some light reading on her own time, Rosa Lee Teabag for some new tea flavors and Sugarplum's Sweet Shop for some sweets to last her until she made a trip to Hogsmeade.

After finishing up Matilda set off to find her dad and sister so that they could say goodbye before having to board the train.

The Hogwarts Express, a gleaming scarlet steam engine, was already there, when the Winters family arrived at the station, clouds of steam billowing from it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform appeared like dark ghosts. 

Harper was first to say her goodbyes to their father. She gave him and a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before exchanging I love yous. Rueban also made her promise to try harder in Transfigurations this year, due to almost failing last year. 

Matilda scoffed when Rueban brought up Harper's less than satisfactory grades, but Rueban sent her a warning look, and she quickly shut-up, not wishing to get another lecture. She'd gotten enough this past summer to last a lifetime.

"Okay, Matilda," Rueban sighed looking down at her after Harper had run for the train with a group of friends. 

Matilda looked up at her dad, her bright eyes wide.

"You know what I want from you this year, right?" Rueban asked. "I don't have to remind you to stay out of trouble, do I?"

"No, you don't have to remind me," she told him quickly so he wouldn't remind her. "I know not to put myself in any dangerous situations."

"I just want you to be safe."

"Yeah I know," Matilda sighed, rolling her eyes. "You and mom made that annoyingly clear."

Rueban chuckled.

"You say that you know, but every year I hear something new," Rueban said, a small smile appearing on his lips. 

"And yet, I don't really think we got through to you."

Matilda sighed she really wasn't wanting another lecture about how she could have died. All summer that's what her parents preached to her. Matilda hated when they acted as though she couldn't handle herself. Every situation that she had found herself in the past few years she managed to get out of with barely a scratch. 

She was perfectly capable of saving herself.

"This year will be different," Matilda told her dad. "I promise." 

And they both knew that was a lie.

"We'll see,"

Rueban pulled Matilda in for a hug and felt her tighten up beneath him. She'd never been one for hugging, not even as a child. Before letting her go, Rueban placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

"I love you, kiddo."

Rueban pulled back from the hug and Matilda quickly began to straighten out her outfit. 

"I love you too," she told him. "But, I'm not a kid."

Rueban finally let Matilda go to board the Hogwart's Express, and before boarding, she turned around and offered him one last wave before disappearing onto the train.

Matilda sat in a deserted compartment, not being able to find Luna, and not caring enough to look for more than ten minutes, they'd see each other back at school anyway. Matilda placed her things down and began reading, enjoying her silent compartment, the only noise to be heard was the chattering outside, the rustling of other students getting on the train, and the steam engine whistling for last calls. 

Her serene silence though was soon interrupted as Harry, Hermione, and Ron came barging into her compartment, grateful that they had found her. 

The three of them piled into the small compartment. The thick rain splattering the windows made it very difficult for Matilda to see out of so that she might be able to offer her dad one last wave before the train rounded the corner out of sight. 

"Bagman wanted to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts," Ron said grumpily, sitting down next to Hermione and directly across from Matilda. "At the World Cup, remember? But my own mother won't say. Wonder what it is —"

Matilda didn't care enough about what Ron was saying to look up from her book.

"Matilda."

Matilda sighed as she looked up from her book to look at Ron who called her name.

"Your father hasn't said anything about what's happening at Hogwarts, has he?" Ron asked curiously. "I figured since he works in the Ministry, he might've told you something."

In fact, Rueban has mentioned something. The Triwizard Tournament. He told her about the quests and challenges the chosen students would face, and about other schools coming to join in since Hogwarts would be hosting this year. He also told her of the dangers and risks and pleaded with her not to join if she were given the change. 

Matilda though was not about to tell Ron or anyone for that matter. Rueban expressed that Albus wanted this kept under wraps, and so, for Dumbledore, Matilda was going to remain tight-lipped on this subject.

"Yeah right," she laughed. "That man doesn't tell me anything."

Harry and Ron's shoulders dropped in disappointment. 

"I wonder what—" 

"Shh!" Hermione whispered suddenly, pressing her finger to her lips and pointing toward the compartment next to theirs. Harry, Matilda, and Ron listened and heard a familiar drawling voice drifting in through the open door.

". . . Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore — the man's such a Mudblood-lover — and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defense rubbish we do. . . ."

Hermione got up, tiptoed to the compartment door, and slid it shut, blocking out Malfoy's voice.

"So, he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him, does he?" she said angrily. "I wish he had gone, then we wouldn't have to put up with him."

Matilda chuckled at the thought of sending the spoiled Draco Malfoy to a school like Durmstrang. A school that prides itself on cruel punishments.

"Malfoy wouldn't survive at Durmstrang," she told her friends while laughing. "He'd be crying to come home after a week."

"Durmstrang's another wizarding school?" said Harry.

"Yes," said Hermione sniffily, "and it's got a horrible reputation. According to An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe, it puts a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts."

"I think I've heard of it," said Ron vaguely. "Where is it? What country?"

"Well, nobody quite knows," said Matilda, raising her eyebrows.

"Er — why not?" said Harry.

"There's traditionally been a lot of rivalry between all the magic schools. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons like to conceal their whereabouts so nobody can steal their secrets," said Matilda matter-of-factly.

"Come off it," said Ron, starting to laugh. "Durmstrang's got to be about the same size as Hogwarts — how are you going to hide a great big castle?"

"Hogwarts is hidden, Ron," said Matilda, in surprise. "Everyone knows that . . . well, everyone who's read Hogwarts, A History, anyway."

"Just you and Hermione, then," said Ron. "So, go on — how d'you hide a place like Hogwarts?"

"It's a wizarding school, Ron, how do you think you hide a place like Hogwarts?" Matilda asked, becoming annoyed with his cluelessness. "Magic."

"It's bewitched," said Hermione, being more patient and sensible. "If a Muggle looks at it, all they see is a moldering old ruin with a sign over the entrance saying danger, do not enter, unsafe."

"So Durmstrang'll just look like a ruin to an outsider too?"

"Maybe," said Hermione, shrugging, 

"– Or it might have Muggle repelling charms on it, like the World Cup stadium," said Matilda. "And to keep foreign wizards from finding it, they'll have made it Unplottable —"

"Come again?"

"Well, you can enchant a building so it's impossible to plot on a map, can't you?" Hermione quizzed. 

"Er . . . if you say so," said Harry.

"But I think Durmstrang must be somewhere in the far north," said Matilda thoughtfully. "Somewhere very cold, because they've got fur capes as part of their uniforms."

"Ah, think of the possibilities," said Ron dreamily. "It would've been so easy to push Malfoy off a glacier and make it look like an accident. . . . Shame his mother likes him. . . ."

Matilda laughed, agreeing with Ron.

The rain became heavier and heavier as the train moved farther north. The sky was so dark and the windows so steamy that the lanterns were lit by midday. The lunch trolley came rattling along the corridor, and Harry bought a large stack of Cauldron Cakes for them to share.

Several of their friends looked in on them as the afternoon progressed, including Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom, a round-faced, extremely forgetful boy who had been brought up by his formidable witch of a grandmother. Seamus was still wearing his Ireland rosette. Some of its magic seemed to be wearing off now; it was still squeaking "Troy — Mullet — Moran!" but in a very feeble and exhausted sort of way. Even Luna had stopped by to say hello to Matilda. After half an hour or so, Matilda, growing tired of the endless Quidditch talk, buried herself once more in the book she had been reading when she was interrupted, How to Tame Tigers. 

Neville listened jealously to the others' conversation as they relived the Cup match.

"Gran didn't want to go," he said miserably. "Wouldn't buy tickets. It sounded amazing though."

"It was," said Ron. "Look at this, Neville. . . ." He rummaged in his trunk up in the luggage rack and pulled out the miniature figure of Viktor Krum.

"Oh wow," said Neville enviously as Ron tipped Krum onto his pudgy hand.

Matilda glanced up from her book for a second to watch as Ron and Neville gushed over the Victor Krum figurine. 

"Ronald," Matilda sighed, looking back down at her book. "Aren't we a little old for dolls?" 

"It's a figurine, actually," he defended himself. "And it's a collectible. Be worth some money soon." 

Matilda smiled as she shook her head at the shaggy, red-headed boy sitting across from her.

"We saw him right up close, as well," said Ron, continuing gushing over Krum. "We were in the Top Box —"

"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley."

Draco Malfoy had appeared in the doorway. Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle, his enormous, thuggish cronies, both of whom appeared to have grown at least a foot during the summer. And lastly, Daisy Morgenstern, trying to push herself to the front so maybe she could drag Draco back to their own compartment. Evidently, they had overheard the conversation through the compartment door, which Dean and Seamus had left ajar.

"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy," said Harry coolly.

"Look at this!" Draco sneered, ignoring his best friend's pleading as he pulled the faded fabric of Ron's homemade dress robes into sight. "Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean – they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety..." 

Matilda slammed her large book closed and stood at eye-level with Draco, only getting the height to do so from the heels on her shoes. 

"That's enough, Malfoy!" Matilda said in a sharp, stern voice, cutting into Draco's mocking. 

Draco scoffed, "So, Weasley, got your little girlfriend after me now?" 

"Eat dung, Malfoy!" Ron yelled, snatching his robes from Malfoy's hands as he and his two goons howled in laughter. 

Even though Crabbe and Goyle would never say anything to Matilda in fear that she might retaliate. 

"So... going to enter, Weasley?" Draco asked as he continued to laugh at his own horrendous jokes. "Going to try to bring glory to the family name? There's money involved as well, you know... you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won." 

"Draco!" Daisy scolded with a shove.

Ron snapped once more, "What are you talking about?" 

"Are you going to enter?" He repeated. "I suppose you will, Potter? Possibly even Winters here. You never miss a chance to show off, do you?" 

"Either explain what you're on about or go away, Malfoy," said Hermione in a testy tone from her seat where she was previously reading. 

A gleeful smile spread across Malfoy's pale face.

"Don't tell me you don't know?" he said delightedly. "You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? My God, my father told me about it ages ago . . . heard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry. . . . Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley . . . yes . . . they probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him. . . ."

"I don't need to enter an outdated and barbaric tournament to prove that I'm a better wizard than everyone here, Malfoy. Everyone already knows!" Matilda snapped, her foot stomping angrily as her right hand grasped her wand tightly. "But it's lovely to see that your unhealthy jealousy towards anyone who is a mere threat to you is still safely intact. Leave now, Malfoy, before I cast you so far that even your daddy can't find you."

Still too delighted with the sour look on Ron's reddened face Draco continued to laugh as he beckoned Crabbe and Goyle to follow out behind him. 

Ron got to his feet and slammed the sliding compartment door so hard behind them that the glass shattered. Which only made Draco and his goons laugh louder.

"Ron!" said Hermione critically, and she pulled out her wand, muttered "Reparo!" and the glass shards flew back into a single pane and back into the door.

"Well . . . making it look like he knows everything and we don't. . ." Ron snarled. "Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry. . . Dad could've got a promotion any time. . . he just likes it where he is. . ."

"Of course, he does," said Hermione quietly. "Don't let Malfoy get to you, Ron —"

"Him! Get to me!? As if!" said Ron, picking up one of the remaining Cauldron Cakes and squashing it into a pulp.

"No!" Matilda stomped loudly. "Let him make you made. Let him push so that you have a reason to knock him into oblivion." 

"Matilda!"

"Hermione!" 

Matilda mocked Hermione's scolding tone.

Ron's bad mood continued for the rest of the journey. He didn't talk much as they changed into their school robes, and was still glowering when the Hogwarts Express slowed down at last and finally stopped in the pitch-darkness of Hogsmeade station.

As the train doors opened, there was a rumble of thunder overhead. Matilda threw a decorative tarp over Pluto's cage, Hermione bundled up Crookshanks in her cloak, and Ron left his dress robes over Pigwidgeon as they left the train, heads bent and eyes narrowed against the downpour. The rain was now coming down so thick and fast that it was as though buckets of ice-cold water were being emptied repeatedly over their heads.

"Hi, Hagrid!" Matilda heard Harry yell over the rain.

"All righ', Harry?" Hagrid bellowed back, waving. "See yeh at the feast if we don' drown!"

"Oooh, I wouldn't fancy crossing the lake in this weather," said Hermione fervently, shivering as they inched slowly along the dark platform with the rest of the crowd. 

A hundred horseless carriages stood waiting for them outside the station. Harry, Ron, Hermione,

and Matilda climbed gratefully into one of them, the door shut with a snap, and a few moments later, with a great lurch, the long procession of carriages was rumbling and splashing its way up the track toward Hogwarts Castle.

Finally, back to school. Matilda's favorite place.

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AN:// Finally, the first chapter of Saturn!

Once again, this book will be following Matilda's fourth and fifth year at Hogwarts!

I hope you enjoy!