The Last Moon is the Last Sun
AngelofTheo
Contact: Hogwarts
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl but I do own Igneous Illusions and Xander Carvos. The other I own don't need to be mention because they are either dead or not important.
I wrote the title the way it is because a cousin of mine told me about a breaking Benjamin song called The Last Sun. To my utter horror, the song is actually called Rain and it says "the world is waiting for the sun" not the world is waiting for the last sun. I thought the song fit with the story. And it's still a nice song. I never usually listen to that soft kind of rock but it was Breaking Benjamin people and they mainly are rock. I'm more of an Evan's Blue, Three Day's Grace, Trust Company, Korn, Disturbed, System of a Down, Crossfade, Evanescence or something along those lines kind of person. Hoping to put up more lyrics.
If I get more reviews, I update much faster. I got ten reviews and lookie here, a new chapter.
"He must be sent to Hogwarts." Dumbledore announced.
"He should be stuck with a jail sentence. Albus, that boy helped two prisoners escape, one which has caused various murders and-"
"And if you had any sense not to send him here, that breakout could have been avoided." Snape snapped at Fudge. Remus was sitting next to a very asleep Artemis Fowl. The boy had been carried out and port keyed to the train. Now in a Compartment located on the first car, they had gathered to discuss their predicament.
"If he going to Hogwarts then standard procedure must be taken."
Albus stiffened. He knew standard procedure well. Four Aurors along with the Aurors and ministry members who were present of capture. Albus of course would be coming along because it was his school that Artemis would be going to and Snape and Remus would also be present. This was not counting the two Dementors that would be coming as well and the secretary and the guards present and . . . . the list went on and on.
"Last time there twenty two humans and three Dementors at Hagrid's arrival back to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said darkly. "Can't we make a smaller . . . entourage for Artemis?"
Fudge lifted his fingers one at a time counting the amount decreed by Scalowitz when he was prime minister and the procedure that was made for the return of innocent people from Azkaban. "Six Aurors, Four Staff members, twelve Guards, you, professor Snape, professor Lupin, myself, two Dementors (as decreed), the secretary, and Mr. Lucius Malfoy, who made the Arrest himself. This all surmounts to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 people? Yes. 30 people present. You see, all of us have a connection to this case and must be there to assure that he is where he is supposed to be and that nothing interferes in his arrival as well as containment."
"Containment?" Remus hissed. "For what?"
"Until he is on the school property and until his legal guardian signs him free, which can only be done on the school property, he is still in the authority of Azkaban." Fudge said with a swipe of his thumb across his trouser leg. "At what time will be best for us to bring the boy?"
Dumbledore was thinking hard about it.
"I want him there at least and hour before the students arrive." He said. "But the students have a right to know what and who is coming to Hogwarts." He said. "Any time will suffice. As long as it's a reasonable time."
"Say Eight o'clock?"
"That sounds about right." Dumbledore agreed. "8:00 it is."
After the prime minister left, Dumbledore exited the room to port key back to Hogwarts. Preparations had to be made and Hogwarts had to be prepared.
It was, after all, summer and only a month remained until students would arrive back at Hogwarts.
Artemis's head was throbbing. His legs hurt, his chest hurt and most importantly, the wound located just below his ribcage was burnt and by his estimate, his nerve endings had been nullified.
Just a little higher or a little deeper, and I would be dead.
He opened his eyes a little and concentrated on slowing his breathing so he could analyze his surroundings without being caught.
For one, it's warm. He was not back in the prison. That was sure. He swerved his gaze around the room. "Snape" as Igneous called him was standing against the only door in the room. The other Englishman, the sickly looking one, was sitting closet to Artemis and talking to Snape from across the room. He stopped suddenly in mid sentence.
"Severus, Mr. Fowl is awake." He said with a dour look. Severus Snape looked over at Artemis through a wave of dark hair that had fallen in his face covering one of his onyx colored eyes. He swished it back and gave a calculating glare down the edge of his prominent nose.
Artemis opened one Bright blue eye.
"How did you know?"
"You skipped a breath when you woke up. Never try as soon as you're awake, without knowing, you slow it down more than usual or you speed it up. Your act was the best I've seen since a friend of mine." He went quiet.
"Where am I?" Artemis asked, pulling his aching body to a sitting position. Now he noticed something else. The room was moving. He could tell because there was a single compartment window that showed several trees sweeping past them. A train.
"You are on the Trenton Express. Don't familiarize yourself with this train. The Hogwarts express is the one that students and staff normally ride." He added lazily, "this is Fudge's, the Prime Minister of the Wizarding world." Artemis stored that away for later.
"Did igneous get out?" he asked softly. The sickly man seemed startled at the question.
"Yes, she did. Thanks to you and your imbecilic heroics. You'd be a new friend for Potter. " Snape ground out. Artemis concluded five things at once. That Snape was odd ,had the same killing eyes as the blond haired man, Hated someone named Potter, covered his arm several times whether to hide a wound or embarrassing tattoo, and the fact that he smelt oddly of Lavender, Basil, Cinnamon, and spearmint giving some odd odor that Artemis found nauseating. He was either a doctor, a herbalist or a brewer of:
"Potions." Artemis said softly.
Snape looked up "Yes?"
"You smell and you cloak has pockets filled with Lavender and cinnamon. The basil is making it smell bad because you've done something abnormal to it." Artemis said with a sharp pronounce to pockets, cinnamon, and because. Snape looked at him, not at all amused.
"Well pardon me." He said, "the basil wouldn't smell weird if you hadn't have been hit with a Letsilis spell. The blood mixed with that rather unlucky spell causes an acid like result. The basil, among other things, is one of the only products able to null out the acid."
"Wouldn't that merely worsen it?" Artemis asked thinking of chemical compounds.
"Think of Salt in a wound." Snape said as if it made a difference. He turned back to the sickly man. "He's not as bad as potter."
The Man smiled sadly and shook his head.
"You'll jinx him Severus."
Artemis watched their monotonous display with obvious dismay. His eyes were locked on the door that Snape had chosen as a perch and that window that seemed far to close to the sickly man for his comfort. Other than his nose, his other senses hadn't been acting up but now a renewed strength burst into his limbs, charging them for a pounce. The Sickly man would look back and forth from Artemis to Severus with a comparative glance, remarking on this and that as though Artemis were not in the room. From the conversation, Artemis learned the man's name was Lupin Remus or Remus Lupin. He was unaware of how close these men were and if they were on unfriendly terms, they would use last names. From the way Igneous spoke of Snape, he easily concluded that Snape was his last name and Severus was his first. The Englishmen, though, were going from first to last name in a heart beat to one another. Artemis could tell one thing though; he didn't like the sickly man. His eyes were a ring of amber mixed with light brown and his scent was musky and barely tolerant. If Artemis could really believe in the wolf scent passing on in human form, this was it. Competition! His mind raged. Artemis balled his hands into fist, gritting his teeth to control growling.
Not yet. I refuse to believe what Xander said until it actually occurs. I've never heard of real werewolves before so I refuse to hear of them now.
"Well." Lupin said quietly. "I bet you are happy to be out and about again, aye?" Artemis fought to remain decent.
"How can I when I knew they couldn't keep me there under such circumstances." Artemis said with a sarcastic hiss. "Speaking of which, when will I be returned to my parents?" Snape and Lupin both visibly paled. Artemis looked to both of them for an answer, "Well?" he asked. Snape coughed into a closed fist. Lupin was shaking.
Artemis began to worry.
"Where are my parents?" he asked. Rage began to build up in him. "If they are harmed in anyway believe me when I say that the most sever of actions will be taken!"
"They are safe back on Fowl Manor." Lupin said in a quiet manner. "But, you will not be able to return to them." Artemis yanked his head back to Remus.
"What!?" He snapped. "Why? I have been cleared right? I should be able to return home! I am innocent!"
"You are a Werewolf, Artemis." Remus said in a softer voice. "Innocent or guilty, you are a danger to both you and your parents. It's been decided by staff and officials that you should stay where you can be controlled and given proper medical treatment."
"So when this . . . disease or infection is taken care of, I can return?" Artemis asked. Remus looked even more crestfallen.
"It is incurable." He whispered. Artemis's eyes widened. "You may never return home."
"Why am I being punished for this?" He asked softly; fighting to regain control of his voice. "Find the werewolf that bit me and punish them! I have done nothing wrong and I don't even belong to this society. I am... a muggle as igneous would say it and thus I should not be punishable by their laws. This isn't right!" Lupin seemed to be lightly shaking.
"Life's not fair!" Snape snapped. "Here you are whining, when right now, there are people dying because you couldn't wait in a prison cell. Tell me, Artemis; is it fair that they die because Ms. Illusions finds them annoying? Her release is your fault is it not?" Snape paused as if waiting for an answer, "Is it fair that some children go home hungry tonight because their mothers and fathers were killed by Igneous Illusions!? You are not being punished for anything, if anything, you are being rewarded. 1/20 werewolf attacks remain alive and transform. The rest are killed. That means, out of One hundred, only five would survive. You almost died! You are alive! You should be thankful you are alive, you should be thankful your parents were not killed for harboring a criminal, and you should be thankful that you aren't in Azkaban!" Snape gave a harsh sneer. "You should also be thankful that Dumbledore managed to convince fudge of a supposed innocence in you. If not you would still be in a cell and I could be at home, enjoying a brandy so I could forget this entire mess!" Severus's fists were shaking like leaves at his side, wanting to strike the boy.
Artemis seemed totally unaffected by his tirade.
"Your point?" he asked lazily. Snape screamed. Lupin jumped up grabbed the potions master before he committed an act he would regret. Artemis stared at him with an amused expression. Games. This child was playing a mind game on him! A Proffessor! Snape growled low in his throat at the Young Fowl and twisted out of Remus's reach, grabbing a single chair from the corner and pulling it so the back faced Artemis.
"Lupin, speak to him." He said in a tired voice, "If I do, I may just Crucio the little brat." Snape just sort of lied there in his chair, fighting his inner Slytherin to not poison the boy during a full moon or while he was drinking his wolf's bane.
"Artemis, this is for you and the sake of your parents." Lupin tried with the teen. He paused. Wondering silently if he should tell Artemis his secret. Artemis took this pause as a time to get some things out of the way.
"You're one too, right?" Artemis asked quietly, sitting back on the couch he'd been sleeping on. Remus looked up at him with wide eyes. "You smell . . . different. You don't smell like him," indicating Snape who ignored him, "but in an odd way. Like something's missing in you." Artemis looked at him in a questioning manner.
Remus visibly sagged. "Yes."
"Do you know who it was that bit me?" Artemis knew the answer already. The three men, Severus, Remus, and Dumbledore, seemed to be holding some sort of secret bond. This had may as well be it. A bit of anger flared in him but he suppressed it.
"Yes." Remus felt like crying. He had wanted to keep it a secret it was him for a while longer.
"Was it you?" Artemis asked in a sharp voice that left no room for argument.
". . ." Remus felt his throat tighten.
"Was it?" Artemis asked with a cold sneer. Remus's silence answered him. "Tell me, Mr. Lupin," he said as if scolding a child, "Are you proud of yourself? Why did you do it?"
"I couldn't control—"
"Everyone has some sort of control. There are two in this world. Do or Don't." Artemis felt his chest tighten with guilt. This man was obviously in a state of fault or blame. He knew what he had done but for his suffrage, Artemis could still not return home. He would have to pay the good old fashioned way. Artemis's way. "I am unable to return home and most importantly. I am just like you now. What if I bite someone while I'm at this school? They're not all werewolves there are they? How many would I kill by Severus Snape's Standards? "
"There is a potion to help-"
"Help?" Artemis asked in a mocking tone. "Did this potion help you? I bet this potion was just as flimsy as the man that made it!" Snape bristled. "Or did you even take the potion?"
"I ran out and got away from town! I had no idea that someone lived that far out of town! I did consider the chance but if I did-"
"Town?" Artemis echoed. "So you were willing to let someone else face your wrath as long as it was someone not in town!?"
"No! No. . . . I!-"
"This is what sits between Humans and Animals. We have thought and conscience. We have knowledge and advance. We show compassion and understanding but it seems that you lack all four. Had you really thought the event through, I would never have been harmed. You ran towards me, Mr. Lupin, case you have a bad memory when you are an animal. I provoked you in no way yet you attacked me. What could you have done here?"
Remus was softly sobbing.
"I never meant to-"
"Answer my question!" Artemis barked.
"I didn't want to ask for anything from him!" Remus cried, staring venomously at Snape. "If you knew what he did, if you knew him like I do! You would understand!"
"So it was pride? You were far too proud to acknowledge you needed this potion?"
"It wasn't like that! He may as well have killed-"
"So it was Greif?" Artemis asked with a viper's venom after the word killed instantly standing prepared to hit this man in every available weak spot. "Greif, your pride or what Mr. Lupin!?"
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND."
"WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO UNDERSTAND!?"
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Snape said, standing up to be between them. "Both of you! Yes Lupin is at fault, Artemis, but you have no grounds to push him further in his guilt. He's been wallowing enough in it, so stop. What was done has been done. You cannot erase it nor can you change it. Time is irreversible and you will have to make do with what has been laid before you." He sighed. "You will be going to Hogwarts and that's that! No more, no less."
"What about my school supplies? And my clothes, and my computer-"
"There is no technology at Hogwarts." Snape said in a biting breath. Artemis froze.
"No Technology?" He asked as if someone had just said he got an F on a science test. "What about a TV, A cell phone?"
"None. We have a shield up that blocks transmissions and electrical currents." Artemis felt faint.
Oh Dear.
Artemis was shuffled out into the rain somewhere near London to get into another train car next to the express they were on. This train went a little way before they were stopped again to get into black Carriages that were hitched to what appeared be black Spanish stallions. Artemis would be flattered had he not been treated like a prisoner with shackles included that chaffed his wrist and ankles. He refused to say anything more to Snape or Lupin who in turn remained silent to him. It was a very quiet trip to Hogwarts.
"Get up you Lazy Boy!" Uncle Vernon Bellowed. "Those Freaks Will be here any second!"
Ron and Hermione had vouched for Harry and volunteered to take him to get school supplies and a wand along with the twins. He was taking all the same subjects with advanced courses and also managed to sign up for a new class. Dumbledore had agreed that he could go back to Quidditch but also encouraged the D.A this year as a dueling club with Harry as a student teacher to teach it. He agreed.
Harry groaned as he pulled his wiry body out of bed and made his way to his dresser. Dudley had got him into a lot of trouble but not the amount of trouble he himself got in for attempting to, as Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia said, wizardize himself. Harry yawned as he took a comb and attempted to push back his black tangled locks into something that looked similarly to decent. After waging a war against his hair, and loosing, he pulled a plaid shirt from his top drawer and a pair of black jeans from atop his trunk. Digging his hands into his pockets, he dug out the remains of his wand, and set them softly into a zip lock bag. He'd gone through 5 years of his life with that wand and ,on more than one occasion, that wand had saved his life. Harry wasn't sure he could part with it.
"HARRY!" Aunt Petunia cried from the bottom stair, "Come down and get your breakfast!" Harry didn't need to be told twice. He raced down the stairs and skidded into the kitchen. Dudley was sitting in front of a plate of grits, bacon, eggs, pancakes, sausage, and fried bologna with some syrup dribbling down his fat chin.
"Hawy." He gurgled. "Path the Thalt." Harry ignored him and walked over to his smaller plate of toast, sausages and some grits.
"Alright, boy," Uncle Vernon growled out, "as soon as those freaks arrive, you leave, understand?" Harry nodded.
"I would like it no better." He said as he began stabbing his sausage into little pieces for his grits. "No better at all."
After finishing his breakfast, Harry returned back upstairs to pack. All of his room had been swept away and into the trunk when Hedwig came knocking on his window, a newspaper in check. He let her and in and gave her a treat to snack on while he went through the paper. The Headline story immediately drew his attention.
THE NEW DARK LORD
Not two months after Sirius Black's death, the only known escapee of Azkaban, two more have escaped. Their names have not been released to the public. The third party of this story, however, is our concern. It is well known that Azkaban is divided into two parts, the upper level and the sub level, with the upper being the disguise and the sub level being the actual prison. The two people that escaped left the waiting area of the sub level and escaped into the upper level of Azkaban then out of Azkaban all together. By our reports though, these two were in a state to be incapable of such a plan. The third party, whose name by law cannot be mentioned, formulated a plan to escape Azkaban. He was only 15 years old. "No one thinks a child could be able to do something like that. With the Dementors and the traps, there's almost no way any one will survive." Indeed. We were notified that four individuals participated in the escape and only two made it out. The fourth member was killed in a drop shaft while the master mind of the operation was set free. Yes. Set free, ladies and gentlemen.
When approached on this mater of having such a dangerous convict on the loose, Fudge replied "There was a misunderstanding and the boy wasn't supposed to be there in the first place." Many others deny his innocence. Lucius Malfoy, who made the mastermind's arrest himself and was cleared of death eater charges this June, had this to say. "He ran and if one isn't guilty, they don't run." The boy's location is currently unknown but He is believed to be very dangerous and in the company of former death eater, Severus Snape. One of the guards claimed that he was the only reason the other convicts got out. Ministry officials refuse to comment on how the boy got past Cornelius Fudge and four Aurors but if such a individual at such an age of this can break out of Azkaban, what can he do once he gets older?
Lauren Harker, the Daily Prophet.
Harry reread it again and again. 15 years old. He's my age. Harry thought with a rush. New Dark Lord is a bit much because Sirius said it himself that if they put someone innocent in there, they could get out. Harry shrugged and froze with a thought.
"Who'd he help get out?"
Hermione and Ron arrived with the twins around twelve or so to pick him up. George smirked as he levitated Harry's trunk out of his room, down the stairs and through the front door. Both were sporting rather large smiles and mischivious looking eyes all the way to a car that, Ron swore, was ordinary down to the last screw.
"Kept wanting to shield the thing and speed up through the muggle traffic. Felt I was gonna get crushed between them!"
After climbing into the car and throwing all his items in the trunk, Harry squeezed himself in between Hermione and Ron.
"Okay, so what's with the Looks?" He finally asked. The twins had yet to pull off the smirks and smiles of satisfaction.
"We just-"
"Know-"
"Something-"
"You don't."
"Don't listen to them Harry. They've been acting like that all month with now being official order members but for some reason they've acted much worse today."
"It's just a small Secret." George said from behind the driver's seat with an all knowing smile.
"That'll make a big difference when school starts." Fred added.
Hermione rolled her eyes and pursed her lips together. "You two are so childish. Baiting us with a secret, I thought you two grew up!" She huffed, "Some people never change."
"Yeah Hermione." Fred agreed.
"Look what happened to you." George said. Harry and Ron laughed but Hermione gave the twins a narrowed glare and remained silent.
"Come on Hermione!" Ron grinned. "It was only a Joke."
"Okay so what's this really about? You wouldn't bait us with something you couldn't tell us."
"We'll tell ya but you can't tell anyone else, Kay?"
The Golden Trio in the back nodded.
"You read the Daily Prophet about that boy? The one who escaped Azkaban?"
"It's another lie written up by some prophet pig. Another Rita Skeeter!" Hermione raged. "Nothing about that article could be factual. I mean, other than the Dementors, there are other traps. Azkaban is like Hogwarts with each prisoner being a sorcerer's stone."
"That you're right Hermione, but the entire thing is true." Hermione opened her mouth to argue but Fred cut her off.
"We know, 'Mione, We saw him when they took him from his home, after we tried to get him to come with us."
"And when he tricked Fudge. Fred, Mad eye and me, saw it from the second story of upper Azkaban. We didn't travel with Proffessor Snape and them. But we saw."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, eyeing the two. "He really did trick Fudge?"
"Dressed up as one of the guards to escort the other two escapees who got caught. We almost had them but they just slipped through our fingers."
"You've got to be kidding."
"Nope." Fred said.
"But why?"
"That we can't tell you."
After several hours later and swerving through a series of lights, signs, and traffic, they came to the leaky cauldron and through to Diagon Alley.
"I need to stop by the new bookstore on the corner. Meet you at Ollivander's?" Hermione asked.
"It won't take that long!" Ron said with a groan.
"I know, but I really have to catch up on my light reading." Hermione said biting her bottom lip and giving Ron Puppy dog eyes.
"Fine." He muttered. "Meet us at 5 or so." Turning back to Harry he whispered. I heard fixing a wand is a really delicate process. Think he can get it done in an hour?"
"Guess so." Harry said shakily. The twins left them to fend for themselves only if they promised to stop by the joke shop after they were done at Olivander's. Ron left to go to Madam Rosmerta's for some Butterbeers as well as smuggle some fire whiskey if he was able. Harry gulped; alone and approaching the small shop seemed somewhat scary now. He shook his head.
Just go. The wand, think of the wand!
He opened the door and a bell tinkled just like four years ago. Automatically his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. The shop was dusty as it had always been but the worst seemed to be the amount of empty boxes piled up on the various desks he had scattered against the walls. Harry looked around for Mr. Ollivander. A cough sounded off somewhere behind him so he turned, coming face to face with the owner of the shop. His hair was still white and he seemed the ever easily excited Ollivander but age was definitely taking its toll on the old man leaving him with a limp in his step and a cane cast to his side. Mr. Ollivander looked up from behind spectacles perched on his nose and gave a chuckle that somehow seemed hollow and sad.
"Ah, Mister Potter. I wondered when I would be seeing you again." He rasped out. "Please, come into the back." Mr. Ollivander shuffled with his cane into the back of the shop, a cautious Harry behind him. More shelves popped from the walls and spread their contents. Wands upon wands upon boxes of wands.
"Mr. Ollivander, I--"
"I know what you need Mister Potter." Mr. Ollivander said with a sad smile, "But I'm afraid I cannot fix it for you." Harry paled. Holly, eleven inches, phoenix.
"You can't?"
"Standard procedure, my dear boy, standard procedure. Case like this are common so do not fret. I'll just find you a new wand." He gave a chuckle and grin. "Won't that be fun?"
"but why?" Harry asked. "I'm more comfortable with this wand." Mr. Ollivander grasped his chin and rubbed it thoughtfully.
"Well," he began, "It's like this. See, when a wand is made, it's not cut from a tree but rather a tree offers it up. The middle is hollow of course but the wand itself is still living which is how we are able to bind it to an inner core like your phoenix core. This wand is an extension of yourself, enabling you to reach into soul or inner being for magic as well as into the wands core. But while you are using the wand to pull magic from yourself, little by little, that wand is soaking up your magic too. This is how it grows and adapts to its owner. Witches and wizards who cast dark magic usually have a dark colored wand which is an example of the spells you cast make your wand." He rubbed his balding head, "Does that make sense?" Harry nodded.
"I think I get it." He said. "So, do I have to get a new wand entirely or can you use some of my old wand?"
"A new wand, I'm afraid." Mr. Ollivander said. "Don't worry. It won't take long. Just about an hour or so."
Harry spent the next few minutes taking measurements. Around his head, elbow to middle finger tip, and knee to heel. Then he went from shelf to shelf practicing with wands from Ash to yew with inner cores from Asp hairs to Zenjal Quills. Later he settled for a willow wand with what was said to be a dragon heartstring core.
Little did they know about the misplace box lying on the floor forgotten.
Artemis was woken up by Remus when he arrived at Hogwarts. His mind was so worn out; he had no recollection of falling asleep in the carriage. He quickly collected himself before getting up and straightening his outfit which was composed of a layer of cleansing spells and a Black uniform with black buttons standard issue of Azkaban guards. The sight that befell him was interesting to say the least. A rather old castle stood before him with flying buttresses, arches and turrets included. A stained glass window loomed in the distance with a beautiful design and large wooden doors littered the walls and grounds. A private school with a medieval twist. Joy. Artemis couldn't wait for the Iron Maiden. Remus gave Artemis a look similar to concern but he shrugged it off like a disease. This man's sympathies would be the last thing he needed. Snape grasped Remus's shoulder and urged him forward which Remus did much like the inner dog Artemis was sure he was. They left and entered one of the large doors leaving him with a real Azkaban guard. From the gold font along the poor gentleman's coat, Artemis assumed his name was Gerome Hines. He was told that this man was a parole officer, if you will, of most Azkaban innocents. But do to the prior bad acts of Artemis; innocent was definitely not defined by Artemis Fowl. Gerome was a pug type of man with a button nose and a small ring of what Artemis safely assumed was a beard. His teeth had a yellow tint to them and his body structure was non existent. If this man didn't have a spine, Artemis believed, he would lie face down into a puddle of himself, due to the excess of skin that this man possessed. Gerome gave a deep throated groan.
"Stand up Mr. Fowl." He belted out. Artemis stood and realized that he was much taller than this man. An inner smirk deep in his mind let out an evil cackle. Gerome gave a grunt and waddled forward, hands brushing against Artemis's chest and ankles. "This is just like muggle parole, cept once you've gone a month without causin' harm, yar Scot free. There are seven rules to follow but cuz you're a special case, there's ten." He gave Artemis something like a sneer which Artemis found positively repulsive, "Number one, you do not leave the premises by which you are registered. Number two, you must obey any and all requirements set forth by you're guardian, which in this case is Proffessor Snape." Gerome gave a lopsided grin. "Failed his class five times, I did. Mean as a centaur called a horse." Artemis ignored that because he was too busy being horrified at the thought of his life in the hands of Severus Snape. That horribly dressed individual with no sense of hygiene.
"Wait," He said in which Gerome paused. "That. . . Man, is supposed to act as my father while I'm here?"
"Technically," Gerome said, "He is your father. Adoption is the only mean other than registration. You went past the registration date. Adoption was all you had left."
"You must be mistaken." Artemis said between clenched teeth.
"Nope."
"There must be-"
"Listen, Kid," Gerome said, tightening Artemis's shackles little by little. "There's no mistake. Now if you want to go into rights and crap, take it up the Headmaster. Now, Number Three, you are by no means able to possess a weapon other than a wand. Now I argued that you shouldn't get a wand but because you're manly muggle, I doubt you can shake a stick for magic, you know? So, Number four, you are also by no means able to possess drugs, alcohol, and fireworks. Don't ask about fireworks, I don't like talking about that one. Number five, you must have a weans locator."
Gerome took out a little bracelet with a black marble in the middle.
"This little beauty works for rules six through eight so pay attention or else you'll listen to it a third time when you attack someone. This is your lover, your best friend, your mother, your conscience and your hero. It goes everywhere with you for a month. Number six is that you may not cause damage to another wizard or your guardian. Any bit of damage you deliver to them, it comes thrice on you. This is what does it. You may not take it off, only the prime minister can. Number seven, you may not, ever, use any form of transportation than a broom. This baby will throw you about seven feet into the air and drop you if you try to apparate or floo. Brooms are allowed but only fifty feet into the air and the entire school grounds. Number Eight, This bracelet is also a tracking device. You attempt to leave, which probably won't happen cause of a reactive maneuver, this is how we will find you. This little marble will announce where you are in this entire continent as well as its other two neighbors. If the times come where we will have to search America, we can change signals and find you there too." He paused and took a breath. "Rule Number Nine, you are not to partake in illegal or dangerous activities such as Dark Arts or Gambling. I believe you know why so no need to explain. And Last but Not least." Gerome patted Artemis on the back after setting on the weans locator. "If you fail to follow any of these rules set before you, it will result in a one way ticket to Azkaban."
Artemis was examining the rules in his mind, searching for obvious loopholes, when Gerome tugged him forward by a chain lead one might use on a dog. "Come on Arty, time to meet the family." He pulled Artemis behind him, taking him to the first large door and opening it. A dimly lit corridor greeted them, with portraits hanging on the wall. Artemis watched as several of the portraits woke up, their yawns making one large sound and their limbs being stretched comically in the canvases. He was amazed.
"Your magic can do this?" he asked.
Gerome looked around amused, "Yes they can." He said, with a feeling of smugness that washed through his entire being. "Our magic can do more things as well. Some of our potions can cure a cold or a sickness. They can repair limbs almost 10 of the time it normally takes as well as grow plants the size of skyscrapers."
Artemis watched the portraits dancing, laughing, and playing on the wall. "Were these real people?" he asked. Gerome nodded.
"These people were captured on magic film and actions or thoughts from the moment were captured with them. Some other portraits possess the spirits of these people. You could say a camera really does steal your soul."
Artemis was examining a rather large portrait set before him. It showed a boy with a prefect badge and brown hair, grinning with a trophy in his midst. Something about the picture seemed odd to Artemis. He realized the frame was rather bland for such a picture and the boy was about his age.
"Is he dead?" he asked indicating the picture. "The prefect with the trophy?" Gerome looked up at the picture then swiveled a glossy eye to Artemis.
"Don't ask about him." Gerome growled. "He's alive though he's better off dead. Don't know why Dumbledore keeps a picture of him in this place anyway. I would of burn every sticken one of those pictures to the ground then use the ashes in a garden of the most rotten plants."
Artemis stored this information away for later use.
"Come on now, don't dawdle." Gerome said pulling the lead. Artemis followed behind him, studying the picture more and more as it came closer until they turned a corner and it disappeared from sight. He went over the passage they were using, attempting to remember where the portrait of the boy was. It seemed very interesting indeed. They came to a low area with many stairs. Artemis grimaced. They approached what Artemis assumed was the main stairwell made out of what he thought was cement. A large oak door loomed before them.
"Stupid doors." Gerome muttered. "Bloody everywhere." He pushed open the doors to reveal a dining hall with four tables and a rising staff table. An old man with Baby blue robes with stars and moons dancing on it, sat at the centre of the staff table, enabling him to see every one who entered, left, moved or sat. Artemis was pulled again forward and saw to his horror, dozen of people watching him from various tables. One of which was the soulless looking man with grey eyes. They were scattered out so it seemed like a few of them, but some where closely knit together at certain tables. He could see two Dementors sitting in the back corners sticking to the shadows, as well as a few Azkaban guards littered along the walls. He ignored everyone in the room except for the headmaster who was looking at him with so much pity; Artemis felt he would rip the man's eyes out.
"Proffessor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts," Gerome announced. "I have here Prisoner Artemis Fowl for his Release from Azkaban." A fluffy headed man with white hair from the third table from Artemis's Right coughed.
"Proceed."
Gerome pulled Artemis to the front, his hand reaching into his pocket to pull out a large ring of iron keys, one of which would free Artemis from his shackles.
"Are you aware of the consequences with taking in a supposed criminal? The system is not just and crimes go free through out the wizarding world." He paused. "Do you believe yourself capable in directing the actions of this child?" Artemis looked up and just now realized that Remus and Snape sat on either side of Dumbledore. He hadn't even heard them come in. Snape stood up.
"I am."
The fluffy headed man waved his hand. "Proceed. Come on Gerome, not everyone has all day." Many of the others at various tables agreed with nods and grunts. .
"Well, Fudge, if you shortened the procedure, then you'd be home by now." He muttered in reply. Gerome sighed. "Severus Snape, potions master of Hogwarts, this child is now in your capable hands. Please assist in the signature of him to you." Artemis stood still and watched as Severus walk along the back of the staff table, walked down some steps that lead to the main floor, and briskly walked over to Artemis's side. The prime minister, as Artemis just found out, walked over to him, sighed, and produced a roll of parchment and two quills.
"Severus Snape," he said as he laid out the parchment, "I sign this child from Azkaban to you. May his actions govern your own." Snape nodded.
"I accept," he said as signed. The prime minister signed above him. Artemis examined it and smirked when he realized the watery texture of what they were using.
Blood.
"This transaction is complete," Cornelius Fudge announced, "He is now the property of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry." He yawned. "It is done." Everyone nodded and rose, preparing to leave. Gerome passed the ring of keys to Snape who plucked the largest key from the chain and undid Artemis's shackles.
"It is done," he whispered. The others left and Artemis watched them, memorizing faces and such. A few remained but Artemis unspecified that they were teachers. Severus sighed. "Have you eaten?" he asked. Artemis looked back at him to see a tired potions master. The last few days' events must have had a greater toll on him than he thought.
"No, Father." Artemis said. "Not since Azkaban," he ground out the word father as horribly as he could. It left a poisoned taste in his mouth but it was pure bliss to see his guardian's features contort only so. Snape flinched.
"There's no need of that." He said softly. "Come here," He pulled out his wand and Artemis stepped forward. Lightly tapping his head, Snape said something fast in Latin that Artemis had no time to translate. Suddenly his uniform branched out into robes similar to the Potions master's. "The students will be arriving soon. As soon as we assign you a house, you may eat with them." He looked to some of the remaining staff scattered through the tables. He turned to a tight face woman with a large black hat sitting at the second table. "Minerva, do you have it?" she nodded, reaching into her robes to pull out a tired old hat. The hat yawned and made a face Artemis believed was disgust.
"What is going on in here, I'm trying to get some sleep." The hat yawned. He eyed Artemis disdainfully. "So this is the Azkaban scum, just as I thought a creep."
"We wish to have him sorted." Minerva said hotly.
"Bit too old for a first year?" the hat asked with a laugh. Minerva glared. "Very well." Snape put a cold hand on Artemis's shoulder and asked him to sit down. He sat, watching the hat with renewed curiosity. Was this one of their Magics? Giving life to inanimate objects? Severus leaned forward and set the hat on Artemis's head.
"So what exactly does this hat do?" he asked. A funny tingling feeling spread from his scalp.
"It sifts through your mind, finding things that are connected to certain houses. If you are smart enough, you will be sent to Ravenclaw, if you loyal, Hufflepuff, If persistent, Slytherin, if Brave, Gryffindor." Artemis's eyes widened. Sift through my mind? A white panic flared through him. The Fae! What if, no. Not what, but when---
"Shush boy." The hat scolded. "Secrets reveal themselves in time so your's I won't speak just so like mine."
The hat went on humming. Artemis calmed down after a bit. The hat had said nothing yet about the Fae or his house. He was murmuring in a voice low and drilling. Suddenly he spoke up. "His mind is sharp, his wits are keen, his loyalty lies only to those he had under him or those that he insist to call a friend. But he never gives up and drives through to the end." The hat paused. "Past events were to gain power and usually high standing, to prove himself capable and able in situations that were at their worse. He'd function well in Slytherin or Ravenclaw but do to the obvious lust for power better be: SLYTHERIN!" The hat went silent. Remus gave a sad smile up on the staff table.
"How many here didn't think he'd bee in Slytherin?" he asked. Dumbledore chuckled.
"How many in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor would be better in Slytherin?" he countered.
This year will be different. Harry thought as he exited the Carriage. The trip in Diagon Alley went as planned and no misfortunes occurred. The same could be said about the train ride, even though the Slytherins seemed more rowdy than usual. When they arrived at Hogwarts, They were greeted with the site of several people leaving, many of which were ministry officials. Draco Malfoy pushed Ron and Harry apart, racing forward to greet his father who began to speak to him in whispers. Harry and the others ignored him on their way inside; first years were in the back talking to Hagrid. The great hall was dimly lit so at first Harry didn't see him. As soon as he approached the front of the great hall, a feeling of dread took him. Standing in the middle of the great hall was Severus Snape and next to him was a boy Harry had never seen before. He was about Harry's height with black hair and sharp blue eyes that stood out against his pale skin. His face seemed manly made to express his eyes, a straight nose, and a sharp mouth that was firmly closed into a grimace. Harry made his way to the table, his sight never leaving the pale youth. The boy seemed unaffected by their entry into the hall and was all but ignoring him. A shiver crawled its way up Harry's arm. This boy was dangerous and gave him a feeling similar to Tom Riddle. Little by little, students filed into the room, branching off into their houses. Hermione was saying something to Ron and didn't seem to notice the boy yet. Ron was replying, obviously not seeing his favorite potions master sneer at them. Suddenly the lights came on at full swing and people were momentarily blinded by the blast. Teachers were at their post and Hagrid was standing at the entry doors, a trail of first years behind him. The students suddenly noticed the youth next to Proffessor Snape. The hall went quiet and Proffessor McGonagall stood up and gave a deep 'Uh hem'.
"Proffessor Dumbledore has been called back to his office for preparations for a new sixth year student. If there are any announcements he would like to make then he will make them tomorrow morning. First years though, will be sorted as planned." She announced. "I would like to introduce to you Artemis Fowl Snape." Dozens of people began talking at once.
Snape?
A son?
Why wasn't he at Hogwarts earlier?
An affair?
Azkaban?
Minerva waited till they silenced. "He is adopted and will be in the Slytherin house. His stay may not be long or it may just last till the end of the school year." She paused and a dark look overtook her face. "If I or Proffessor Snape hear anything about someone causing a problem to Artemis, they will be severely punished to the utmost procedure. Perhaps even face expulsion." She let the threat linger. "Now, I wish you all help him as much as you can. It is true that it is his first time in Hogwarts but believe me he is more than capable of being here." Proffessor McGonagall nodded to Proffessor Snape who in turn nodded his head. He put a hand on Artemis's shoulder and eyed the room in one of his chilling sweeps.
"This is Artemis. Originally the headmaster insisted upon one student from each of the houses to tutor him until he caught up, but I refused and so did Artemis." Snape sighed. "As you may have already guessed this is Artemis Fowl, former prisoner of Azkaban." Gasp rang out and Harry was suddenly aware of how Hermione was staring at the boy. "By no means are you to be afraid as all former charges have been dropped due to . . . new evidence." He stared down the students. "Help him make his year at Hogwarts enjoyable." Or else I'll poison your already rotted souls, he seemed to say. Snape left Artemis standing in the middle as he made his way up to the staff table. Artemis swept his eyes across each student before walking silently over to his table and sitting down at the end. The hall remained silent until Hagrid shuffled forward with the first years and proceeded with McGonagall in sorting them. The evening went on without a hitch although nobody spoke to Artemis and Almost nobody spoke during the feast. The rest of the Evening passed in silence till prefects left taking first years to their rooms.
Then all hell broke loose.
The more reviews, the happier i will be ! ( i was going to update earlier but was acting up)