A/N: This is just a really short sort of filler chapter, so I uploaded it a little bit earlier for you guys. The next real chapter should come out on schedule...


"Get down from there, right now!" the bushy-haired girl screeched.

Artemis watched the scene unfold with interest. People were now crowding around the area, with their faces pointed toward the sky. Strangely, even as individuals, the human species was quite unified in their reactions.

It had all begun during that first flight lesson…


A few minutes earlier

"Place your hand over the broom and say, 'UP!'" Madam Hooch ordered.

The air was filled with sounds of students trying, and failing, to summon their broom. Upon closer inspection, the ones who had gotten it on their first try were the more confident ones, more used to flying. (Except for Potter - apparently, he had grown up with Muggles and had never had an ounce of magical education until now.) They commanded the broom, rather than just dictating the word. Artemis was not surprised that Malfoy was one of the few – his parents had probably spoiled him with a good broom years ago.

Summoning his confidence, Artemis also ordered the broom up, and after several tries, it finally complied. He winced as the wood of the handle came into contact with his hand, which was delicate from a life of light work and barely any exercise (unless you counted playing the piano and typing), and he certainly had no prior experience with cleaning supplies.

At least it was better than the redheaded Weasley boy - he had actually been hit right in the middle of the face as his broom went up, resulting in a perfectly straight red line running from the middle of his forehead, over the bridge of his nose, down to his chin, dividing his face into two (almost) completely symmetrical halves.

Finally, everyone managed to get a broom handle into his or her hand, and Madam Hooch went over the basics of kicking off and steering. "On three, when I blow this whistle..."

He was not going to enjoy this at all. Preferably, both of his feet would be planted firmly on the ground, and if he ever had to be lifted up into the air, it would be on a perfectly solid structure, or at the very least an airplane. (Hopefully it would be a quality jet like the private one the Fowls owned - for wizards, they certainly had a good taste in Muggle technology - and not some junk shuttle built from a questionable source).


The lesson had barely started when Neville Longbottom fell and broke his wrist after kicking off the ground too early. Artemis could tell the poor boy would have a hard time with nerves in the years to come. After he had been taken to the hospital wing, Draco Malfoy had noticed the boy's abandoned Remembrall, upon which the other had seized it, to taunt him and the rest of the Gryffindors with.

Frankly, none of it was Artemis' business, but when the ignoramus had kicked off the ground against Madam Hooch's instructions with the little glass orb, it would endanger Slytherin house as well. That would be at least fifty of his hard-earned points in class to a half-baked prank that was not even worth it. Or maybe Malfoy would just get expelled and make his life so much easier.

"She's right, both of you. Do you want to get yourselves killed?" Artemis asked.

"Potter here might die, but I am completely fine, thank you very much," Malfoy replied.

"I'm not talking about falling off the broom, I'm talking about how the rest of Slytherin house will turn against you once they realize you've just lost them fifty points. Or perhaps what your parents will do if you get expelled."

"They won't expel me!"

"But they'll take off points. Now get down to earth and try to be logical for once, or do I have to deflate your head for you?"

"And why should I listen to you?" Malfoy asked.

Clearly, this was not going anywhere. The only way to get Malfoy back down was to get the Remembrall…

"Relashio." Artemis may have not been a good shot ("Forgive me, sir, but you can't hit the backside of a stationary elephant," were Butler's exact words) but he was, as he realized, decent with his aim when it came to a wand. How that worked he was still attempting to understand. As the spell indicated, Malfoy's hand snapped backward, and the ball fell down to the ground, into Artemis' hands.

Artemis felt that he should have been at least slightly proud that he managed to catch a ball for once. Well, it fell into his hands, in actuality, but that didn't count! (Stop trying to ruin my moment of greatness!)

Scowling, Malfoy landed, along with Potter, and dismounted. "Why are you even defending that oaf anyway?"

"I'm not defending anybody except…oh, everyone in our house? Why didn't you listen that first night? It was something about Slytherins not being complete blockheads, am I right?"

"Are you insinuating that I am a blockhead?"

"Considering your actions this past five minutes, yes."

Malfoy looked as if he was about to pull out his wand, but then Madam Hooch came back out to continue the lesson. "Professor! Neville's Remembrall –" Hermione started, about to tattle. Artemis cut in,

"– was dropped. We have it right here." Handing the object to Hermione, wiping the disgruntled look from being interrupted off her face and replacing it with a look of astonishment, "Please give it back to your friend, and tell him to at least take care of his items if he can't take care of a toad."

Taking it with a look of surprise, Granger was speechless.

Madam Hooch smiled. "Well, then, five points to Gryffindor and Slytherin each, for caring for a friend."

Malfoy looked like he was about to strangle someone.


"Honestly, Malfoy, why are you always such a jerk?" Blaise asked one day, after Malfoy had tormented Potter about his parents yet again.

"Why, are we defending ickle Potty now? Fowl's been corrupting you with his ideal principles, isn't he?

"No, I'm serious. Didn't your father teach you anything BESIDES being mean to people?"

Malfoy stiffened. "Don't talk about my father that way!"

"Then don't be an arse about every single little thing that people are doing! Don't you know when to stop? Haven't you ever heard of 'laissez-faire'?"

Artemis rolled his eyes and buried his nose deeper into the book. Theodore Nott, who had also been doing his homework quietly in the library with the rest of the Slytherin boys, did the same. Blaise was a tolerable person compared to Malfoy's arrogant attitude, but the bickering was getting ridiculous.

"I hate to say this, Malfoy, because you're my friend, but you ARE going a bit too far lately," Nott whispered.

"Oh, joining their side now, aren't you? Well –"

"Shut it, Malfoy. Like I said, don't you know when to stop? At this rate, you'll only have Crabbe and Goyle left, because they're too thick it even comprehend a word of the shit that's been spewing out of your mouth," Blaise retorted, earning him a dirty look from Madam Pince for swearing in the library.

"Will you lot stop bickering like immature children for two seconds? I would like to finish this tedious essay on goblin revolutions as soon as possible," Artemis snapped, getting annoyed. He glared at them and wondered if he could get away with casting silencio on his acquaintances, as Madam Pince had turned around temporarily to shelve books. (He absolutely despised Professor Binns' class, because he made history boring. History was supposed to be something cherished.)

"I will if he stops," Blaise and Draco said at the same time. Another glare from Artemis sent them into silence again. Finally, Malfoy got up, and said, "I don't know what I'm doing with losers like you. Let's go, Nott," he said, slamming his books shut and throwing everything into his bag, not bothering to hide his bad temper.

"Sorry, Malfoy, I'd rather get this done," Nott said, unaware that Malfoy was not leaving the library for homework-related reasons. "No offense, but Artemis is the only person who doesn't fall asleep in history of magic and does a better job of helping me."

Malfoy scowled and turned away from the group. "Well, thanks, Nott. Like I need you anyway."


A/N: As previously stated, next chapter should be up on Saturday. I hope. I might forget to upload it - but I'll write a sticky-note to make sure I don't forget! Ha! Take that, demons of forgetfulness!...ha...