The California Adventure
By: Deep Shadows
Disclaimer: I don't own Remus or Severus, but I wouldn't mind, to bad J.K. Rowling got to them first. I do however own Artimis Callabella, Marevicks, the plot, the scenerio, etc, etc, etc. (I do not own that line though) Alexis Whyte is owned by my dear friend and co-writer EckoStalker. If I missed anything please tell me. Oh, I almost forgot, the song lyrics they sing in car are the words to a song by Smash Mouth by I do not recall the name. Oh and I don't own the name Korn. I think that's all folks.
Author's Notes: This is a side story. It has nothing to do with the Stories; 'Misfit Adventures' or 'Seven Years Later'. I created this and the whole idea is mine. This is what happens when EckoStalker and I are deprived of seeing each other for a few days. I really wish J.K. Rowling would share Severus with me... but oh well. BTW I know this Severus is very OOC but I like having him this way occasionally. (Let's me have fun with him and free my mind of any writers blocks) Please Read and Review. And Flamers Beware: There is an army of people who like me and my work and if you can't give an intelligent flame you will be flamed yourself. Intelligent flames with real basis are accepted warily, but accepted with out repercussion.
Toodles {Deep Shadows}
BTW: HI MOURN-TODAY! Thought it would be cool if I told ya hi in one of my Author's Notes.
Artimis sat in a car with Alexis, driving down some desert interstate in the U.S. Artimis happily took the passenger seat, and of course Alexis drove. The radio was on low as to not disturb the two people in the backseat. Remus really didn't mind the music but Severus had quietly fallen asleep and no one wanted to deal with his foul mood. He had not wanted to come, but Dumbledore had insisted. Remus was more than happy to accompany the girls on their first Auror mission. They had to watch a certain wizard who moved about the California countryside and maintain that he was not a Deatheater of the American outpost of Voldemort's. They were currently on their way to this particular wizards travel route. His name was Gene Mosby and had been on the Ministry's list for weeks. The United States officials should have really been on the case but The President of their magic government asked for assistance from The Minister of Magic. So of course they employed their newest Aurors, fresh out of training to this easy sit and watch mission. The girls loved it.
Artimis had her hair braided up, wearing cut off jean shorts and a Tank top with the words, "Do you believe in love at first sight... OR should I walk by again?" on it. Alexis was wearing a jean miniskirt and a bright pink tank top. Lupin and Snape were both in jeans and black tee shirts, which the girls had told them both, were very boring. "Yo, Alexis check out that box on wheels. It hasn't got a roof." Artimis said pointing to a convertible. Alexis laughed and continued watching the road, driving their deep blue Jeep Wrangler carefully as they passed through a town. They left the city limit and Artimis frowned, "More Sand? This place is like Egypt minus the cool pyramids!"
A familiar song came on the radio and Artimis turned it up not thinking about Snape sleeping in the backseat. Alexis and Artimis began singing with the radio. "...She was looking kinda dumb with her finger and her thumb in the shape of an L on her forehead..."
"What the bloody Hell?" Severus said sitting up straight obviously awoken. Remus laughed and Severus groaned crossing his arms. After about thirty seconds he leaned forward and turned off the music.
"HEY!" Artimis yelled at him, turning in her seat to look at him.
"You do not touch the radio while I am driving OK!" Alexis stated turning briefly to look at him.
"That was entirely too loud. And I was sleeping." He hissed. They rolled their eyes and went back to watching the road. Remus elbowed Severus and he glared at him.
"What?"
"They are nervous as hell and you have to bitch about the music."
"Relax Remus. I'm sure we will have to save them from themselves and then we all get to go home." Severus said with a sneer.
"Severus. Go back to sleep." Remus said with disgust. Severus turned his head away from Remus and looked out the window.
In the distance he saw a black speck on the horizon. He shrugged and closed his eyes; intent on getting the sleep he gave up last night keeping Remus awake while he drove. Next thing he knew he was being awoken by a screeching sound and tossed about in the vehicle. Artimis screamed loudly and he looked ahead. A large bat like creature had perched in the highway ahead of them. Alexis silenced Artimis and they drew their wands.
"Stay in the car!" Remus whispered to them. They nodded and Artimis whispered an incantation. Severus immediately recognized the beast as a Marevick. It was a very rare and deadly creature and if his memory served him properly they were only native to South America.
"Girls, we need to get out of here." Remus whispered as the beast looked at the car peering into it quizzically.
"Alexis, your specialty is Creatures. Tell me what to do." Artimis said her eyes never leaving the beast.
"Marevicks are very sensitive to sound. Loud sounds scare them. So make noise." Alexis said. Artimis breathed in and whistled sharply, hurting Remus's ears. The beast turned it attention to her.
"Alexis?" She said as the beast moved towards her side of the car, the side Severus was on as well.
"That just attracted it. Do something else." Alexis replied. Severus thought for a moment and then laughed. "You two dunderheads." He said and they turned to look at him.
"I swear you were the most common sense deprived people I know. Turn on your blasted radio!" He said and the beast moved closer.
"Why didn't we think of that?" Alexis said as she turned on the system and slowly turned it up. The beast backed up uncertain of how to approach this new sound. Artimis quickly fished through her purse and turned to Remus.
"Sorry but we have too." She said as she slipped a CD in the drawer. A loud burst or music quickly began and Artimis hit the bass. Severus covered his ears at the drumming began to vibrate the car. Artimis turned to Alexis and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Sing and Drive!" Alexis nodded and put the car in gear and pressed the gas petal. The car leapt forward at Artimis sang with the music.
The Marevick leapt back as the car speed towards it, and it took to the air. Artimis whooped and hollered as they left the beast in their dust and after about ten minutes of driving Alexis turned off the music and Remus uncovered his ears. Severus and Remus both looked like that had just been put through a concert with out being ready. Artimis took out her Korn CD and kissed it. Alexis looked at her disgusted and slowed the car down, the sun setting ahead of them.
"I never want to hear that CD again, Artimis." Remus growled, sitting up and stretching.
"Yeah, you said that last week Remus, but it just saved our ass."
Severus moaned and said, "All I want right now is to get some proper sleep and some food."
"Me too." Alexis said, her left hand leaving the wheel to rub her temples. They drove for another hour till they reach a town. Alexis pulled through a drive through and ordered hamburgers for everybody. After that she pulled up to a hotel and Artimis went in.
After ten minute Artimis came out frowning. "Guys there's only one room, it's a double though so I figured no one would care." She said and a look passed between Alexis and her. Remus got out of the car and grabbed his bag, Severus getting out and stretching his cramped legs. Artimis and Alexis went around and closed all the windows, locking the doors, and Severus swore he saw Artimis whisper something to her. Ignoring it in favor of his double cheeseburger, he sighed as they walked to the room, Artimis in the lead. Artimis unlocked to door and they all filed in. Artimis threw her bag to the floor and collapsed on a bed, throwing her arms to the side and sighing contently.
"Artimis, you have issues. I call first shower." Alexis said, walking in the bathroom, frowning at her friend.
"I call second!" Artimis yelled and she leapt up off the bed. Remus and Severus looked at each other and then to Artimis. She noticed the look and sighed loudly. "Severus, Remus, You have a choice. You can share a bed with each other OR Remus you can share a bed with Alexis and Severus can share with me."
Both the men looked at each other contemplating the situation. Severus really didn't want to share with anyone, but he knew he had too. What worried him was with whom. Remus was a colleague and Severus knew him to be the kind of person to roll and toss about simply because of his missions with the man. Artimis on the other hand lie still all night, but had the tendency to cuddle.
"I don't care either way, Sev it's up to you." Remus said, walking to one of the chairs and sitting down heavily. Artimis turned to Severus and looked at him, waiting on a decision.
"Alright, Callabella I really don't want to be tossed around all night by Remus so I opt for him to share with Alexis. I will share with you but please try to refrain yourself from cuddling with me."
"Will Do." She said as she turned around and grabbed her bag. She stood by the bathroom door as Severus went and sat across from Remus.
A second later Alexis walked out and Artimis went in.
"Well. Who's sleeping where?" She asked as she towel dried her hair in front of the mirror over the dresser.
"You're with me, Alexis." Remus said laughingly and she threw her towel at him, missing Snape by inches.
"Ok, But where is Snape and Artimis sleeping?" She asked, flopping on a bed with a book about hexes.
"Ms. Whyte. There are two beds. If you and Remus are sharing one, then common sense would conclude that I and Ms. Callabella would be in the other one." Snape replied, exasperated. Alexis rolled over and looked at him intently, a look of amusement and deviousness in her eyes. She laughed quickly and went back to her book.
"What was that about?" Artimis asked as she came out of the shower, her hair dripping slightly as she dropped her bag to the floor. Alexis looked at her and something passed between them because Artimis dropped her towel that she was using to the ground and leapt at her.
"What did you say?" Artimis yelled, putting her hands on Alexis's shoulders as she pinned her to the bed.
"NUTHIN' I just made a comment to you! Chill OUT!" Alexis yelled and rolled Artimis off the bed, while Artimis let go and caught herself on the edge of the bed.
Remus and Severus looked at each other and Remus stood, "I'm going to take my shower. Unless you want yours first, Sev?"
"No, I've waited all day and you need yours far more than me." Severus said snidely as Artimis lay down on the other bed and began going over some notes she had been taking about their mission. She quickly leapt to the ground and put her notes in front of her on the ground. Severus moved his chair to watch her, interested to see what she was up to now. She put her hands on the ground and raised herself and then lowered herself to the point that her elbows and arms were a straight line and repeated this a couple of times. Severus not wanting to watch her do her set of push-ups fished a book out of his bag and began going over it. Remus walked out wearing only plaid PJ Bottoms and yelled to Severus, "I saved ya some hot water!"
Severus looked up, surprised to see Artimis under the covers of one of the beds, stretching and yawning. Alexis had already gone to sleep in her bed and Severus stood and walked to the bathroom. Remus hurriedly moved out of Severus's way, as Severus went into the bathroom, and moved over to the other side of the bed Alexis was in. He moved Alexis under the covers and kissed her forehead gently; looking down on the girl he had called his daughter for years. He laid down and put his back to her content to look at the window.
"Good night Remus." Artimis whispered.
"Night Artimis. Yell out if you need me to rescue you." Remus said laughingly. She laughed and replied, "I'm a big girl I can protect myself."
"I'm sure," Remus said as he yawned and fell asleep. Alexis curled up to him and he rolled over for her. Artimis watch her best friend and her friend's adopted father fall asleep as she wondered what tomorrow would bring. And she was still stuck on that Marevick and why it was there. She saw the bathroom door open and Severus walked out. She rolled over, her back facing his side of the bed as she felt him collapse into it.
"Night Severus." She said quietly.
"You're still awake?" He said and she felt the bed moved with his weight as he moved farther away.
"Yeah. And I said goodnight"
"Goodnight. Go to sleep." He said and she sighed looking at Alexis curled up with Remus, him holding her protectively. She fell asleep looking at that scene jealously. She rolled over in her sleep and moved closer to Severus. Severus, still awake moved towards his side of the bed, trying to keep from falling off and from having Artimis touch him. After an hour of tittering on the edge he moved back on to his side of his bed and shoved Artimis over to her side. She moved easily in her sleep and Severus finally went to sleep comfortably in the bed.
-----------------------
Remus awoke with Alexis elbowing him in the side. He opened his eyes to look at her and she tilted her head towards the other bed. He sat up on his elbow and looked over that direction and what he saw nearly made him laugh. Artimis had her head on Severus's chest and Severus had his left arm around her back. Severus's head lulled back and Artimis had both her arms around Snape's waist, both seemed very comfortable.
"Should we wake them up?" Alexis whispered. Remus looked at the clock and saw it was only seven in the morning.
"Nahh. Let's go back to sleep." Remus said collapsing back in the bed.
"Alright. But I wanna be up when Snape gets up." Alexis whispered, lying back down and going to sleep.
----------------------
Severus awoke strangely warm and very comfortable. He yawned and tried to move but realized there was a person on him. He opened his eyes to see Artimis lying on him. His mind jolted awake and the no-touching person in him woke up as well. He jumped up and ended up making them both topple off the bed. He landed on his back and he saw Artimis immediately wake up as she fell and try to catch herself. She ended up with one knee on each side of him and her hands by his head. She inhaled deeply, obviously startled and he just looked at her a stern look on his face. "Um... Good morning?"
"Get off!" He hissed.
She pushed her upper body up and ended up sitting on his stomach for a brief moment before she stood, wavering back and forth, obviously dizzy. Severus got up after regaining his breath. Artimis sat on the bed and looked at him as he got up.
"Ms. Callabella, I distinctly remember asking you not to touch me while you were sleeping." Snape hissed. Artimis looked at him with the 'so-sorry' look and then looked past him and smiled nervously.
"Lay off Sev! You looked comfortable." Alexis said from behind him. He turned to see her and Remus sitting at the table with cups of coffee and huge grins on their faces.
"Artimis, you looked so cute sleeping like that so I didn't wake you up." Alexis said, smirking as Artimis blushed and quickly rushed off to the bathroom.
"REMUS! Why on earth did you two just sit there and not wake me up?" Severus asked, looked at Remus angrily. Remus just smiled and handed him a cup of coffee.
"Drink It, You need it. Alexis I'm not sure what's going on with you and Artimis, but you better make sure she's ok." Remus said, looking at the knowing grin on Alexis's face.
"She'll be fine. She just needs to absorb the morning. I'll go check on her." Alexis said getting up from her chair and moving around the stunned Severus. She quickly walked over to the bathroom and went in.
"Good Morning Severus." Remus said in that sarcastic sweet voice. Severus glared and sat in Alexis's seat, sipping his coffee with angry sips.
"You can't be that mad. She did it while she was asleep; she had no control over it."
"Remus. I am not mad at her. I am furious with you and Ms. Whyte!" Severus said as he set his cup down.
"Why?" Remus said taken aback with this knowledge. Severus smirked at him and replied, "Because you both sat there and waited to see my reaction. I know both of you well enough, sadly, to know that you two have been up since you saw Artimis and I like that and you wanted to see what we would do."
"Touché Sev, Yes we did sit up waiting for one of you to wake up. It was nice to see you so relaxed. And it was rather cute." Remus said leaning back with a smile.
"Remus. I will not tolerate you referring to anything that has to do with me as cute." Severus growled, getting more coffee.
Alexis rushed out of the bathroom and grabbed Artimis's bag and a cup off coffee. Remus looked at her with a raised eyebrow and she simply replied, "Panic attack. She thinks Severus is going to bite her head off." and ran back into the bathroom. Remus looked at Snape sternly, with the 'fatherly' look, as Alexis liked to tease him. Severus looked after Alexis and then to Remus.
"What Remus?" Severus said, standing tall and stretching. Remus glared and hissed, "You better go tell Artimis that you aren't mad at her. These panic attacks she has been lately are terrible for her health."
"Remus, she has Whyte to take care of her." Severus said. Remus gave him the look and Severus sighed.
"Alright." He said walking towards the door. He knocked on it and Alexis opened it. "Yes?" she said, looking at him sternly. He set a resolved look on his face and replied, "I want to speak to Artimis."Alexis closed the door slightly and looked behind her. She stuck her head back out and replied, "You have to do the talking, and she's having trouble breathing. And I'm not letting you in if you are going to chew her out."
"I am not going to be yelling at her. Let me in." He growled and Alexis opened the door all the way.
Artimis was sitting on the side of the tub, wheezing and looking at the ground, trying to control her breaths. Severus frowned at her state and stepped in. He felt the cold of the floor through his socks and held back a shiver. Artimis looked up at him and a look of pure panic covered her face. She leaned back and nearly fell in the tub.
"Artimis. Calm down. I'm not here to yell at you." He said, trying to lower his voice to a comforting tone but having no luck. Artimis looked at him, not able to say anything through her hyperventilating breaths. He knelt at the tub and looked in her eyes.
[Calm down. I am not angry with you] He thought to her, setting a link up with their eye contact.
{I am so sorry... I didn't mean too... I feel so bad... Please don't make me feel worse... So sorry...} were the only jumbled thoughts he could get back from her.
(Sir, Let me...) Alexis said as she moved him aside. She turned on the cold water and shoved Artimis back, making her fall fully-clothed in the water. Artimis yelped in shock and Severus pushed Alexis aside, grabbing Artimis's wrists and yanking her up out of the water.
"Damn it Alexis. That's the last thing she needs." He yelled as he turned off the tap with one hand, the other still holding on to Artimis.
Alexis smiled and looked to Artimis who was looking at him wide-eyed. He stepped back as she leapt up and grabbed a towel. She covered her now wet self with it and glared at Alexis. "Dirty trick Alexis and you know it." She hissed, glaring at Alexis with anger.
"What is going on in here?" Remus said as he entered the bathroom. Alexis snickered and replied, " Snape was trying to convince Artimis he wasn't mad, but she didn't believe him, so I made Snape have to stop me, so Artimis would know Snape wasn't mad."
"THAT was why you shoved her under freezing water during a panic attack." Severus said angrily.
"Yep. Now Artimis get dressed." Alexis said nonchalantly. Severus looked at Remus who shrugged and grabbed Alexis out of the room. Severus turned to Artimis and she smiled weakly.
"I am very sorry for cuddling with you. I know you don't like it and it invades your space, but I tried to not. I really did."
"Hush. Stop repeating yourself. I know, and I'm not mad at you. It was subconscious. Now do what Alexis told you and get dressed. I believe that is your coffee." He said walking out of the room and gesturing to a cup on the counter. She nodded and he closed to door.
"She likes you, ya know." Alexis said as he sat back down in the chair. She was doing sit-ups on the floor and Severus glared at her.
"I know. That's the reason I try to keep my distance. Don't want to encourage her odd taking to me." Severus hissed through his second cup off coffee he had poured before the bathroom incident.
"Alexis, I don't think Artimis wants you discussing this with Sev." Remus said, looking at her with the fatherly look. Alexis laid down flat and smiled weakly.
'You should have heard what she told me Remus." She said standing up. Suddenly there was a blur in front of her and Artimis had Alexis pinned to the bed.
"Alexis. Please tell me you didn't say what I thought I heard you say." Artimis growled.
"Um... Depends on what you think I said." Alexis replied smart-alecly.
"You didn't!" Artimis said looking from her to Severus, who had a surprised look on his face. "I'm not sure what you think she said, but I assure you it wasn't anything I didn't already know." Severus said and Artimis backed up off of Alexis. With this remark Artimis immediately went to her bag and sat with her back to everyone. Alexis sat up and shrugged going back to her coffee. Alexis left the room for a moment and came back with doughnuts. Everyone but Artimis aye and when she was talked to she simply shook her head no and went back to writing in something. Everyone heard her stated, "Colloportus!" and get up shoving a small book back in her bag.
She looked at the doughnuts on the table and smiled brightly. "JUNK FOOD!" She yelped as Alexis tossed her a glazed doughnut. Artimis sat cross-legged on her bed and ate it happily.
After the men got dressed and Alexis checked the oil and stuff in the car they left and were back on the road. Everyone obviously trying to forget the events of the morning and Artimis seeming more chipper than she should have been. When asked why she simply smiled and said laughingly, "I'm in a good mood. Don't mess it up."
Everyone simply accepted that and Remus took a turn driving with Severus in the front seat.
Alexis groaned when Snape turned on classical music. After about twenty minutes Alexis was fast asleep and Artimis was writing again. Snape turned around and looked at her.
"What are you writing?" He asked, curious.
"Writing in my diary." She said looking up at him and then going back to her writing.
"May I ask what you are writing in your diary?" He said, starved for conversation.
"Things I'd rather not talk about with you." She replied sterile and to the point.
"Alright." He said turning around.
"Girls never let dudes read their diaries." Remus said snickering.
'And you would know Remus." Severus replied sarcastically.
"Well I did raise a teenage girl. I know a bit more than you." Remus said humorously.
"Raise? I hardly call Ms. Whyte raised."
"Watch It Sev. She is my daughter. Not through blood but she is still my daughter." Remus growled and Severus knew he hit a soft spot that he didn't want touch base on.
"I hate this weather." Severus said changing subject.
'I kinda like it. We should see if we can stay an extra day after the girls finish their mission and head to the beach." Remus said. Severus nodded and the car went to silence again the sound of a symphony filling the car.
Alexis awoke several hours alter, Artimis in the seat next to her sleeping over mission notes. Alexis nudged Artimis and she looked up at her a faint smile pulling across her face. Alexis was very fed up with Bach, Mozart and all the other dead guys so she leaned forward quietly to change the radio. As she slowly inched her small hand towards the knob a pale hand moved lightning fast and grabbed her wrist.
"Ms. Whyte, I caution you greatly against changing the station." Severus said, opening his eyes and turning slightly to look at her shocked expression.
"I thought you were sleeping. Remus looks very nappy. I don't classical is good for keeping him awake." Alexis stated, wrenching her hand away from his loose grip.
Lupin chuckled and intoned, "As much as I enjoyed watching you move your hand with the music, she is right. I'm about thirty miles from a nap." he emphasized his statement with a yawn.
"Why don't we rest for a bit? There's a town ten miles ahead according to that sign." Artimis said while putting away her notebook, closing her bag tightly and stretching her arms out in a large yawn.
"Artimis, Remus started the never-ending yawn." Alexis stated while throwing her head back in a huge yawn.
"Aaron's theory is that all yawn started form one-" Artimis yawned. "-Yawn. It passes to everybody through all sorts of stuff. He's really very clever."
"Aaron? New horse in the running, Artimis?" Alexis inquired. Severus looked at Artimis over his shoulder, an eyebrow raised in slight interest.
"Alexis! Be quiet!" Artimis growled, sitting straight under Snape's scrutiny.
"Aaron Billord? Slytherin, If my memory serves me. Very interesting that you speak of him so highly. Do tell How is Mr. Malfoy." Severus said smoothly.
"Aaron is a good friend. Nothing more, nothing less, Alexis! As for Draco, he is fine and probably taking his finishing exams right now." Artimis hissed as Remus turned the Jeep off of the interstate to an off-ramp. Severus quickly turned around in his seat and Alexis snorted at him under the glare of Artimis.
"Humorous Whyte. Very Humorous." Snape said quietly.
{Alexis! Chill!} Artimis thought sternly to her mind companion.
(Why? It's just Snape?) Alexis asked.
{Cause I asked you to.}
(Cause you want a piece of the Potions Professor's booty)
{SHUT UP!} Artimis screeched mentally. Alexis looked at her and Artimis frowned.
"Look, I didn't mean to make you all PO." Alexis sighed.
'It's alright. Oh... A McDonald's! Big MACS!" Artimis shrieked the last part in excitement. Everyone lese groaned.
"Artimis, let's go eat at someplace where you can sit down and they don't serve fries with EVERYTHING." Remus said pleadingly.
"Alrighty. Where?" Artimis asked looking out her window happily.
"What's everybody in the mood for?" Remus asked and Severus rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "I don't care." He hissed looking at Alexis in the rearview mirror. Alexis was looking sleepy again so Artimis nudged her.
"Oh What? Huh? Oh yeah um... Steak?" Alexis replied as she jolted awake.
"Steak does sound good. How about you Artimis?" Remus questioned. Artimis pondered on it momentarily and then chimed her reply cheerfully. "Steak sounds fine. There's a Longhorn right there."
Lupin turned the car sharply making everyone brace, all of them glaring in his direction. He pulled into the parking lot and stopped in the parking spot a little too quickly. Severus began to fly forward but in a split second, on pure instinct, Artimis reached forward and grasped his shoulders holding him back to his seat as the car jolted to a stop. Artimis's hands lingered on his shoulders for a moment and then she leaned back in her seat, breathing slightly heavy. Alexis looked at her and opened her own door, hopping out of the tall Wrangler. Artimis leapt out of the car after her and Severus just sat there a moment slightly shocked.
"You alright Sev?" Remus asked undoing his seatbelt and taking the keys out of the ignition. After a moment Severus looked at him and replied. "Fine, let's go eat." He growled sweeping gracefully out of the vehicle. The two girls were talking in hushed whispers and fixing their windswept hair when the men walked around from their sides of the vehicle. They quieted immediately and followed the guys into the restaurant.
-------------------------
Artimis, Remus, and Severus came out of the restaurant, all quite sure it would have been nicer to watch Alexis kill and eat a live cow. They walked to the car and got in all slightly sickened. Alexis walked out a few moments later, looking quite insulted.
"It wasn't that bad was it?" She asked as she got in the drivers seat.
"No, not at all Alexis. You just murdered an already dead piece or cow and proceeded to play with it in public." Artimis replied sarcastically.
"I'm sorry; It's what happens when I am deprived of my other self for too long." Alexis said as she put the keys in the ignition. Artimis stilled her hand and pointed out the window.
{Starburst, look its our target}
(Dude what a coincidence, what do we do?)
{Stay put.} Artimis thought as she turned around to look at Severus.
{Knock knock. Can I talk to you?}
[What do you want?]
{To your left, with the two men in suits, is Gene Mosby. I say we stay put. What do you say?}
[I say this is you two's mission. It's your call, don't ask me.]
"Alexis, Drive over to that gas station across the street." Artimis said, turning back around.
"But-" Alexis said futile.
"Go or I'll try to drive." Artimis said in an urgent tone. Alexis complied turning the car on and driving into traffic. She pulled into the gas station and parked by the phones.
"What are we doing here?" Remus asked, not having any idea what was going on.
"Stake-out" Artimis replied as she crawled into the backseat between the two men. She crawled over the back of their seat to sit in the cargo area. She began digging into a bag and everyone watched her in confusion.
"Artimis, What are you looking for?" Alexis asked oddly. Artimis sat up abruptly and stated, "This!" She hit her head on the ceiling and began a spiel of low curses. She was holding a small vial in her hand and the color of the liquid was a dark violet color. Artimis calmed down and looked at the bottle lovingly.
"What may I ask is that" Severus inquired, looking at the vial with questioning.
"A Callabella- Weasley special. Curiosity of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes and Callabella's potion laboratory. The Night vision/ X-Ray vision drops." She said proudly, smiling at the bottle.
"Artimis, how did you get you hands on that? It's not supposed to be on the market yet?" Alexis said astonished.
"Hello! I brew it!" She said in her best American Valley Girl impression. "Now be quiet for a second, I have to put these in and its not exactly easy." Artimis sighed, opening the back of the Jeep and sitting on the edge. She opened the vial and fished a dropper from her pocket. Everyone in the vehicle watched her as she dropped two drops in each eye. She quickly closed the bottle and spoke two words, "X-Ray Mischief" She lowered her head and looked at Alexis and everyone, but Severus gasped. Artimis's prismatic blue eyes had turned a deep shade of violet and she laughed.
"Alexis, I now know why Fred and George walk around for hours with this in. You can see through clothes too." She said turning her head towards the building as everyone did the 'cover me' thing. She sat there watching for about an hour everyone else falling asleep as she sat stock still. At the hour and a half mark, the man they were watching exited the building, alone.
"ALEXIS! He's leaving let's go." Artimis said, hopping out of the back and closing it. Alexis yawned and turned on the car as Artimis hopped in the passenger seat. Alexis waited for the man's car to pullout and she began following it.
Artimis frowned and rubbed her eyes furiously. "Damn it. I need to cry. Remus hit me." Artimis said, turning to him, but keeping her eyes closed.
'Whoa... What?" He said shocked.
'I need to cry for the drops to come out. So hit ME!" She said urgently.
"Sorry, Artimis. You can't get me to hit you." Remus said sorrowfully.
"Oh for Pete's sake. Artimis, give me your wrist." Alexis said as Artimis did so. Alexis grabbed her wrist in one hand and bit down on it.
"Oww. Oh you. OK you can stop." Artimis said yanking her arm away tears running down her cheek. She opened her eyes and glared at Alexis.
'What?" Alexis asked as she followed Gene's little dodge neon through interstate traffic.
"Nothing, thanks." Artimis sighed rubbing her wrist, where there were now deep teeth marks. They followed the car all evening until he stopped at a hotel. Artimis was once again sent in and she came out with two keys.
"Joint room. Door between them. Two bed in your room, two in ours. Everybody gets their own bed." She said almost sadly as she tossed Remus a set of keys. Remus and Severus entered their door as Artimis and Alexis entered theirs. Artimis quickly went to the middle door that was between the two rooms. She unlocked it and yelled, "It's unlocked but we are changing." There was an alright yelled from behind the door and Artimis went and changed into her PJ's. Alexis laid down on her bed and began reading a book. Remus opened the door and asked, "All set?"
"Yeah. Good night Remus." Alexis said looking up from her book.
"Night Alexis, Sleep well. Good night Artimis." He said.
"Night. Is he asleep yet?" Artimis asked quietly. Remus looked at her with mild amusement and said, "No."
Artimis walked over to the door and looked in it and Severus looked up from a book.
"Good night Severus."
"Humph. Night." He said and Artimis left the room. She smiled at Remus as he went back to his room and she curled up in her bed, turning off her lamp. She tried for quite some time to get comfortable, but she couldn't. Alexis was long asleep and Artimis heard snores coming from the other room. She got out of bed and went to the balcony. She opened the glass door and stood outside her back to the building as she savored the night air.
"Can't sleep?" A voice from behind asked. Artimis turned around, reaching for her wand to see Snape on his balcony with a book.
"No. What are doing up." She asked quietly.
"Neither can I, obviously."
"Oh, well I'll leave you out here. Didn't mean to disrupt." She said event though inside she was saying, {Please invite me to stay out here and talk to you.}
"Artimis, why are you so desperate for my company?" He asked looking her straight in the face.
"Um... I just can't sleep and I don't like being alone when I can't sleep. That's all." She said quickly, quieting her mind. He nodded and she went to go back inside. She went in and closed the door, seeing him glimpse at her. She flashed a small smile in his direction and went and curled back in her bed. This time she found comfort and fell asleep lightly enough to get some much needed rest.
Next Chapter soon... Review !!