Chapter 2: Young People
September 1st came quickly for Artemis Fowl. After he had stormed out on her, Holly had left and had not returned.
He told himself it was better that way.
When it came time to get on the train, he was able to find the platform quite easily, but that was only because the Headmistress had explained to him how to get there.
He made sure to get on the train early, so as to avoid as many students as possible, and sat in an empty compartment all the way in the back of the train.
He was aware that he looked like a student, because he still had the body of a fifteen year old boy, the result of three years in limbo, and then six months being dead.
He felt about sixteen.
Legally, he was nineteen.
Finally, students began to get on the train, hordes of them crowding into every compartment, although he was left alone for the time being.
His luck didn't hold, though. Right before the train pulled away, two girls poked their head in.
"Is anyone else sitting here?" The red-haired one asked.
He internally scowled. "No."
The brown-haired one took that as an invitation to sit down, so both girls came in.
"Hermione Granger." The brown-haired one held out a hand.
He shook it. "Artemis Fowl the second. I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
Both girls raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you a bit young?" The red-haired girl asked.
"I don't see why my age is a factor."
"I'm Ginny." She said. "Ginny Weasley."
"Pleasure."
Thankfully, a blonde-haired girl stuck her head in the compartment. "Ginny! Hermione! Come and sit with me and Neville!"
The girls both stood.
"Nice to meet you." Hermione said.
He nodded, glad for them to be leaving.
…
"And Ron thought he was going to be a Ministry bloke!" Ginny exclaimed as soon as they were alone in a compartment with just Luna and Neville.
"Who was?" Neville asked.
"That boy in the other compartment," Hermione said. "He's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"He seems very young." Luna noted.
"Younger than us." Ginny added. "I thought he was a fifth or sixth year. And did you see his clothes?"
Hermione nodded. "Wearing a suit. Muggle clothes. Maybe he hasn't changed yet."
"What's his name?" Neville asked.
"Fowl." Hermione said. "He said it was Artemis Fowl."
Neville shivered. "Of course it'd be a name that gives me the creeps."
"He looks like a vampire." Ginny added. "He's so pale."
"I was hoping for a normal DADA teacher this year." Neville said. "I almost didn't come back."
"Why did you?" Ginny asked. "You went to school last year. You didn't have to repeat the year."
"I don't think last year really counted, and Professor McGonagall said I could." Neville said. "Besides, I want to be an auror, so I think I should actually finish school."
"He must be very good." Luna noted.
"Sorry?" Hermione asked.
"The new teacher. If he's so young, he must be very good."
"I wonder why McGonagall hired him." Ginny said. "She's normally very sensible."
"Luna's right." Neville said. "He must really know what he's doing."
…
Artemis had an uncomfortable time with the carriage pulling horse-like things. Unfortunately, they seemed to love him.
Many of the students seemed fascinated by them, others horrified, as if they were some new addition to the school.
He found himself in the Great Hall and quickly took his seat at the head table.
The room was as you would expect a room called the Great Hall to be, with floating candles and giant ceilings.
A very tiny man, who was in the seat beside him, turned to him. "Are you Professor Fowl, then?"
"Yes." Artemis held a hand out to shake, and the man shook it. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Professor…?" He trailed off.
"Flitwick. Filius Flitwick."
"Artemis Fowl the second."
"Oh, yes. We've all heard about you, Professor Fowl. Professor McGonagall was very impressed by you. Very impressed, indeed."
"I'm glad to hear it." He said. "What is it you teach?"
"Charms." Flitwick said. "I'm also the head of Ravenclaw."
"Ravenclaw. That would be the table with the blue banners, correct?"
"That's the one."
Artemis smiled politely, and Flitwick turned to speak to a man on his other side.
"Professor Slughorn," He said. "This is Artemis Fowl."
Slughorn smiled at him. "Nice to meet you, Professor Fowl."
"And you." Artemis was tired of all this socialization.
Slughorn was looking at him curiously. "Aren't you a bit young for this job?"
He attempted an amused smile, although he imagined it was more of a grimace. "I've been asked that plenty. I'm nineteen years old. I know I don't look it."
"Nineteen!" Slughorn said. "That's still rather young."
"Are you suggesting young people are not capable of incredible things?" Flitwick asked. "After all, look at-" He sighed. "You know what I mean."
"Yes, yes." Slughorn turned away.
As the first years were lead in, Artemis started to feel a burning pain in his chest.
He had lied to Holly when he said that this was happening less and less. If anything, the frequency was increasing. He had a feeling he was lying to himself when he said he was just readjusting to his body.
…
The Gryffindor table felt empty without Harry or Ron, Hermione thought.
This year was going to be peaceful. Already the feast, and the most interesting thing was a young teacher in muggle clothes.
She watched as names were called and the first years were sorted.
McGonagall stood, although even she seemed out of place in the spot where for so many years Dumbledore had stood.
"Greetings, students." She said. "I will try to keep this brief, so you can all enjoy your feast. We are well aware of the events that took place all last years, and we are well aware that many of you took place in them. Many of you have lost someone. Family, friends, loved ones."
Ginny squeezed her hand. She must have been thinking of her brother, Fred, who died in the battle.
"But all of us here want you to remember that Hogwarts is, once again, a safe place. You are in no danger here. You are safe." McGonagall seemed unsure what else to say. "Enjoy your feast."
She sat down, and Hermione turned her attention to Professor Fowl, who hadn't seemed to be listening. Now that she looked at him properly, he seemed to be all but doubling over in pain.
"Look at the new teacher. Doesn't he look like he's about to hurl?" She asked Ginny.
"He does." Ginny said, seeming glad for the distraction.
Suddenly, Professor Fowl sat straight up, and began putting food on his plate, as if he hadn't almost been sick just instants before.
Hermione turned to the feast. "I missed this."
Ginny smiled.