Disclaimer: I do not, nor shall I ever (unfortunately) own either Artemis Fowl, and everyone associated with him, or Harry Potter, and everyone associated with him. They are owned by Eoin Colfer and J.K. Rowling, respectively.

A/N: Again, this story is as far removed from the cannon universe as characterly possible. It is in this portion of the story that I begin the actual crossing over. Oh, and this is where I may begin to get out of character. If you don't like it, then click the little x dealy at the top of your screen and don't waste my time or your time by sending me a flame.

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Chapter Two

An owl frantically beat at the pane of glass blocking its way. Butler drew his gun, then cautiously crossed to the window. He made sure Artemis was some distance away from the windows that covered the entire wall of the study. Then he opened the windows where they led out onto the small balcony until there was a crack just wide enough for the owl to thrust its foot into the room. Sighing, Butler holstered his gun and took the proffered parchment. After unrolling it to make sure it didn't contain any hidden surprises, he handed it to Artemis.

"Reduced to reading my mail for me, Butler?" Artemis dryly asked as he accepted the letter. He read the message first to himself, then out loud:

"'Dear Artemis,

Although you undoubtedly know more about the wizarding world than I suspect, I am nonetheless sending an envoy to your home to introduce you to one of our most popular markets. They shall help you to get all of your schoolbooks and whatever else you shall need during the school year. Please enjoy their company.



Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore,

Headmaster of Hogwarts, Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederacy of Wizards'"

Artemis sighed. What was supposed to have been a visit to one of his few friends had turned into a rather complicated affair. In fact, Artemis glanced at his platinum Rolex, his friend should be arriving right about…now. Ding-dong sounded form below. Artemis waited for Juliet to show his guest up to his study.

"Master Fowl, your guest has arrived," Juliet announced, opening his door without knocking. Behind her, Artemis could see tousled black hair and gleaming green eyes.

"Show him in, Juliet," Artemis ordered her, a touch impatiently. Juliet stepped out of the way, allowing Artemis' friend into the room. He stepped in, crossing the threshold in one long, lanky stride. His round glasses shined in the light.

Artemis blinked and thought back to the day he had first met Harry Potter.

A nine-year-old Artemis Fowl watched the black haired boy carry a bag of garbage. It was Thursday, trash day on Privet Drive. The boy put the bag on the curb, then left to get another.

"Butler," Artemis asked, "why is that boy carrying bags of garbage that are approximately a third of his size?"

Butler sighed. He should have expected the question. "That boy is Harry Potter, the nephew of Petunia Dursely, wife to Vernon Dursely. They have a son the same age as Harry Potter, named Dudley Dursely. Vernon Dursely works at a drill company by the name of Grunnings. The reason that Harry 

Potter is carrying out the garbage is because his aunt and uncle make him do all of the chores that a boy that age can do. Including, it would seem, carrying bags of garbage a third of his size from the garage to the curb for the trash men to pick up every Thursday."

"Oh," Artemis said. He studied Harry Potter as he came back with a second black garbage bag. As the boy set it down and left to get another, Artemis asked Butler, "Is there anything we can do to get him out of there?" Nine-year-old Artemis was something of an idealist. He had two loving parents and Butler. True, his father was gone a great deal, having just left on a venture to Russia, but whenever his dad was home, he felt much loved. His mother did her best to care for him, and sent him to all the best boarding schools. Butler accompanied him wherever he went. Nevertheless, Artemis sometimes felt…lonely. He never made friends with others in his class. He viewed himself as far above them. However, there was something different about this boy. The boy who wore taped together glasses and had messy black hair. He wore oversized clothes, not the perfectly tailored designer suits Artemis wore. However, Artemis still felt a certain connection.

"Butler, we are going to bring him home with us to the London flat this summer," Artemis stated. Butler looked down at his charge and sighed again. Once Artemis had decided something, he made sure it happened. "You are going to go over to that house and tell Vernon and Petunia that their nephew is going to spend the summer with me. If they ask why, tell them because he spilled garbage all over my suit and I want retribution. Tell them who I am. If they do not agree after that, then we shall simply steal him." At Butler's look, Artemis raised a brow. "I know it is not as sophisticated as it could be, but we are leaving Little Surrey today and I'd like to get this done before we leave. That way, Mother won't question my whereabouts."

Butler looked across the street. What the Dursely's were doing to the boy really was unspeakable. He was sure that if they were given the chance to get rid of the boy, even if only for the summer, they would jump at it. Just as long as they could be sure Harry was not receiving better treatment than their own son was. "Come on."

Butler and Artemis crossed the street to the Dursely's. Once there, Butler ripped open a bag of garbage, and rubbed Artemis' suit with it. Artemis wrinkled his nose, but bore it. It's all for the plan, he comforted himself. That done, Butler marched up to the door of Number 13 Privet Drive, and banged on the door. Artemis peered at the door, wondering if it would fall in.

"H-hello?" asked the boy who opened the door. It was the same one who had been carrying the garbage. Harry Potter.

"I want to speak to the master of this house," Butler thundered in his most drill-sergeant like voice. Harry Potter squeaked and almost slammed the door in Butler's face.

"Yes, yes, what do you want?" Vernon Dursely came from behind Harry. He was a round, red-faced man that was going quite bald.

"That boy," Butler began, pointing a finger at Harry, "That boy dumped garbage all over my charge, Artemis Fowl the Second."

"WHAT!?" Vernon bellowed. Compared to Butler, Vernon's bellow sounded tinny. Catching himself, he said again, "What? How am I, a man of humble means, to pay for Artemis Fowl the Second's suit?"

"You can send the boy with us, where he will work off the debt," Butler replied, as if it had already been worked out. Vernon pondered this for a while. By sending Harry with Fowl, he would be rid of the boy for several summers, and could be sure that the boy was working hard and not having any fun.

"Very well, you can have the boy. How long will it take him to work off the debt do you think?" Vernon prayed that it would take till the boy turned eighteen.

"Factoring in the price of room and board, it could very well take till the boy turns of age," Butler told him, knowing that was what he wanted to hear.

"You hear that, Petunia? The boy's going to be gone every summer till he's eighteen!" Vernon was beaming with joy. Harry had been taken off of his hands for this summer and every other summer. "Go pack, boy, you're leaving!" Vernon fairly danced with happiness.

Artemis blinked again, and he was in his study once more, staring at the boy who had become his first friend. Harry had changed during the year. Instead of the bright happy look that had been on his face ever since he turned eleven, he looked haunted. Artemis knew there were 

things that Harry didn't tell him, just as Artemis didn't' tell Harry some things. However, unlike Harry, Artemis did know some of the things Harry didn't talk about. Things like the fact that Harry was a wizard. The fact that Harry was the Boy-Who-Lived. Harry didn't know about the fairies. If Artemis had his way, Harry would never know.

"Hello, Artemis," Harry said, jolting Artemis from his thoughts. His thin face held a half smile.

Artemis looked up. "Hello, You've grown another two inches since last summer. That makes you six feet tall. Have a seat."

"I bet you have yet to grow an inch," Harry replied, his half smile becoming a full-blown smile. A dimple flashed at the corner of his mouth. Artemis observed that his eyes remained haunted though.

"I have an offer from a boarding school," Artemis abruptly announced.

"Really? Which one is it this time?" Harry's smile didn't go away. Artemis' exploits at the various boarding schools he attended always amused him. Harry could use something amusing to distract him.

"One you know of. In fact, I believe you've seen it. I was hoping you could tell me your opinion of the school. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Artemis drew the name out. He kept his eyes focused on Harry, waiting to see his reaction. The friend that he used to be able to read like an open book kept his surprise hidden behind a mask. Indeed, the only reason why Artemis could tell he was surprised was because of the slight widening of his eyes when Artemis said Hogwarts.

"You're going to Hogwarts?" Harry questioned Artemis, sure he had heard him wrong. Artemis was eighteen. You were supposed to get the letter inviting you to Hogwarts when you were eleven.



"Harry, due to events that happened while I was gone, the courts consider me to be three years older than I actually am. That would make me fifteen, like you. Therefore, Hogwarts is but four years off in sending the letter, instead of the seven years you assume," Artemis explained in his most patient voice. "I am to go into my fifth year at Hogwarts, in order to be with people that are age compatible. That would put me in the same year you are in. Since I have missed four years of education, they are sending an escort of students from our year to show me your 'most popular market.' Then they will send another envoy to bring Butler and I to the school. Once there, I shall be spending the majority of my time attempting to learn four years worth of classes in four weeks time. I wish to begin that learning now. So, I ask you, will you endeavor to teach me some of what I have missed before I leave?"

Harry sat in the wing chair across from Artemis' mahogany desk and blinked with, his mouth open. Finally he shut his mouth and leaned back in the chair. "Um. Well…wow."

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A/N: Okay, I promise to do my best to get the next chapter up before school starts up again. I'm sorry, it's not as long as it should have been, but I have to retype each chapter before I can put it up.