The Family Name: Year Four

By Elbereth in April

Chapter 11

Thursday it was announced that as part of the Tournament tradition, Hogwarts would be holding a Yule Ball on Christmas Day. Artemis felt an overwhelming tidal wave of relief that he would now not be required to go. The students—especially the girls—were immediately unable to think about anything else.

Friday morning Hermione got an owl asking her to attend with... someone she certainly hadn't considered, but now it was making a sort of sense.

They met beside the Slytherin staircase leading up to the Great Hall.

"Granger."

"Malfoy."

An awkward pause ensued.

"You meant it? You want to take me to the Yule Ball?"

"Yes. I do. It would be—a new experience for both of us. I think—we could have fun. And just imagine the reaction we'd provoke!" Draco smirked at her, but it was a smirk that invited her to join in on the joke.

Despite her best intentions, she had to ask. "What would Artemis say?"

Draco sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Fowl is refusing to admit he has feelings. But he does. He still likes you. That hasn't gone away just cause he's walked away." He looked at her seriously. "Do you still—do you want him back?"

Now Hermione sighed. "For awhile I was just depressed. Then I got angry. I worked hard at our relationship. I made mistakes, obviously, but so did he. I don't know why he suddenly decided to pull away. I am a little worried about him. But you know what? I'm tired of doing all the work. If he doesn't want to be in a relationship, I'm not going to try to force him. It's not my fault if Artemis Fowl can't handle being close to anyone."

"All the more reason for you to go to the Ball and enjoy yourself," Draco said. "Unless, you know, you want to start dating Krum…"

She shook her head. "Krum just isn't my type. I wouldn't want to go to the Ball with him and lead him on, make him think I'm interested when I'm not."

"Then go with me. Learn about the other side."

Hermione rolled her eyes but she smiled.

"And you know what? Maybe it would shake Fowl up—get his attention and then slap him in the face with his feelings. It could be good for him."

"Isn't that just like what I did last year? Making him jealous didn't help any."

"The circumstances are actually quite different, Granger. For one thing, that was with a Gryffindor. This is you with a Slytherin. And not just any Slytherin—me. A rival. A Malfoy. Last time you were trying to teach him to not take you for granted and to romance you when he didn't see the need. The solution actually required a logical appeal. This time we're hoping to re-engage his emotions, for his own good." He took a step closer, looking at her appraisingly. "But that's not the real reason to go. The main point is you and I—making friends with someone new, someone with a unique perspective. Slytherin, Gryffindor. Muggle world, wizarding world. It'd be interesting for both of us, I think. I think we could have a good time."

Hermione nodded slowly. "Okay. As far as Artemis goes—I trust your Slytherin instincts—"

Draco gave her an odd look. "There's something I never thought I'd hear a Gryffindor say."

She suddenly smiled winningly. "Nobody would ever believe you if you told them."

He laughed. "So we'd both have fun, and you'd have shaken up Fowl. That's your bonus. Mine is—Weasley and Potter will go ballistic."

Hermione groaned and dropped her head in her hands. She peered up at him through her fingers. "Malfoy, you're supposed to behave now!"

"Enjoying self-incited riots is behaving for a Malfoy."

"You're supposed to be changing your spots."

"Baby steps, Granger."

"You're not a baby."

He waggled his eyebrows. "So you've noticed."

She whapped his arm with the back of her hand. "Malfoy."

"Call me Draco."

"What?" She blinked at the sudden command.

"If we're going on a date I think we should use first names."

It made sense, but… "Will my tongue turn blue and shrivel up?"

That provoked a bark of laughter. "If I can do it, so can you. Hermione."

"Well, that's a given. Draco."

"Hey, don't worry, we won't be the only mixed pair. Goyle was afraid Stormbrew would beat him out so he asked as soon as the dance was announced yesterday and she said yes… he's going with your own Miss Weasley. There'll be a fuss over that, too. I'm looking forward to it immensely."

"You're incorrigible. But I'll be lenient because—well, honestly, Ron's little defense of me aside, he and Harry haven't been very supportive of my relationship with Artemis, or understanding about my pain when it ended and I'm a bit annoyed at them both. Let them fuss."

Draco's smirk took on some of its characteristic evil. "Now you're talking. I'm proud of you."

"So we'll keep it secret until the actual night?"

"Yeah."

"Only I doubt that Artemis will go."

"Me, too. I thought I'd just tell him."

"What, just go up to him and blurt it out?"

"Nah, I'll ask his permission, since you're available now. Don't worry, I'll phrase it just right."

"You'll let me know how it turns out."

"Of course. But I don't want to spend all our time talking about him."

"No, definitely not. I'm putting Artemis out of my mind. I'm a single girl now, and even if we're just going as friends, we'll go and have some fun."

"That's right. We'll go to the Ball and just enjoy the night." They smiled at each other. Draco's smile widened into a grin. "Especially the riots."

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Dumbledore had set up three options for the holidays: 1) go home for the entire 16 days 2) stay at the castle the whole time 3) or stay at the castle through Christmas and the Ball and then spend the remaining 8 days at home. This was Butler's idea, and most of the students chose Option 3, as he had expected they would.

Artemis intended to go home for the duration. His classmates tried to convince him to stay for the Ball, as it was the social event of the year, and he needed to keep on top of things.

"I'm not going to the Ball," he told them flatly as they stood around the circle of plant trays, waiting for Herbology to start. "Zabini can take notes for me."

And no matter how much they begged, that was that. Pansy was bitterly disappointed.

"Who are you going with, Eva?" Millicent inquired curiously.

"I'm going to ask Viktor Krum," she said, a predatory expression on her face.

"It's been almost a week, girl. You better ask him soon."

"How about you, Draco?"

He glanced over at Fowl, then back to Marie, who'd asked the question. "It's a surprise."

Now they were staring at him with big, demanding eyes. "But, Draco… no fair! Who? Who?"

"You'll just have to wait," Draco said with an amused expression. "I am now a man of mystery."

"Eva, you know Krum is totally hung up on Granger, right? In fact, now that she's, you know, single, they may be going together." Marie looked concerned that Eva had (another) unrequited crush and would be hurt.

Eva frowned. "He wouldn't really ask her, would he?"

Artemis answered. "Of course he would. He can barely keep his eyes off her. Even when she wasn't single."

"You didn't break up with her over Krum, did you?" Blaise asked, his forehead scrunched into worried lines. "Because she never showed any interest back that I could see."

"No." Artemis shook his head. "Krum had nothing to do with it."

Draco observed Fowl closely. He seemed unperturbed by the whole idea. But he supposed Fowl wouldn't at this point. He'd been willing to cast her aside and he knew what that could mean. Maybe the Irish boy had suppressed his feelings enough he really wouldn't care. Draco shrugged. Either way shouldn't be a concern of mine. It doesn't pay to care about Artemis Fowl. He sifted his fingers through the dirt in the planter. But I do.

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Artemis sat in his laboratory, taking down notes from another failed experiment. He was furious that his mind kept wandering back to that evening when he'd been taken aside by Malfoy. Who had said, "We're keeping it secret until the Ball, cause we want to do a big reveal. But I wanted to check with you to make sure…"

Artemis had impatiently waited for the point.

Draco took a deep breath, refusing to be nervous. "Granger and I are going to the dance together. Just as friends—we're not actually interested in dating. I know you said it wouldn't bother you if she started seeing someone else, but… were you just saying that? Would it upset you?"

It took all of Artemis's control to keep his face from revealing anything. His muscles had all stiffened, but he hoped it wouldn't be too noticeable. "Of course it wouldn't upset me," he lied. "You're free to do as you wish. So is she."

Malfoy looked relieved. "Good. I know we're not allies anymore, but we're not enemies. I didn't want to cause trouble—you and I are both Slytherins, after all."

Artemis nodded sharply. "It's fine."

Draco nodded back. "OK then." And he'd left.

Left Artemis to stand there in the corridor for long minutes afterward, trying to pull himself together. He didn't care. He didn't. He'd meant it when he said Hermione could do as she wished. He'd meant it when he said they'd gotten too serious, that he needed freedom to study alchemy, to mastermind new plots.

So why did it still shake him, make him burn?

He carefully straightened his robes, brushed his hair back and turned and walked to his lab. It didn't matter. Any stray underlying emotions were simply not important in the long run. He would crush them or they would fade on their own. They would not dictate his actions.

Yet here he was, hours later, wondering if he'd made a mistake, remembering her smell of all things, wallowing in confusion and regret.

And why could he not get this formula right? He was a genius! He had the knowledge of the greatest scientists of the world! Yet he could not manage this one thing! His inability to progress, even with the philosopher's stone, was driving him crazy with frustration.

He took a deep breath. No. No need for upset. He was Artemis Fowl. He would solve the puzzle eventually. He would create gold, and then his father would be proud of him again.

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Christmas Day finally dawned. Draco did not get his normal towering heap of presents from home, but Crabbe and Goyle (the only two who noticed) did not comment.

Finally it was time for the Ball. They all walked down to the entrance hall together. Marie and Blaise were arm and arm; she was in silver and he was in green. Vince, also in green, was holding Millie's hand. She was wearing ivory, and looked quite pretty, Draco thought. Pansy, in powder puff pink, was with a Fifth Year Slytherin named Quincy Botolph, whose father was friends with her father. He and Draco both wore black.

Krum had already been going with one of the Durmstrang girls, Anya, by the time Eva asked, so she settled for a Fifth Year on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, Liam Bradley, who she was meeting outside the Great Hall. Draco was also meeting his date in the entry hall, as was Greg. Eva was in dark purple robes, and Greg's were navy blue (he had decided his first choice of green with a Gryffindor date would be impolitic).

Dozens of students were milling around, waiting for the doors to open. Draco saw the Champions off to one side by themselves. Looked like Potter was with Parvati Patil. The Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain had snagged Fleur, and was gazing at her with awe, and Diggory was with their Seeker, Chang. He scanned a clump of Gryffindors near the doors. Weasley had brought Brown, figured. There were his brothers with a couple of their Chasers. Thomas and the other Patil sister. Finnegan and some Third Year, one of Weasley-girl's friends. He smirked—Longbottom hadn't managed to land a date.

And Goyle had just found Miss Weasley. Let the fun begin.

The twins noticed first. They came rushing over, their females trailing along behind. "Ginny! Is that Slytherin—"

"—your date?"

Her chin raised defiantly. "Yes."

"Are you crazy?"

"What would Mum say?"

"Aren't you spying for a Slytherin?" Ginny asked archly.

"That's Fowl!"

"He's different!"

By this time the commotion had attracted Ron. Draco moved closer and watched avidly.

"You are not going to this dance with Goyle!" Ron howled.

"I don't believe your opinion has any bearing on my choice," Ginny returned hotly. "I can go with whoever I want."

Ah, here came Potter, deserting his date and the other Champions to arrive at the scene. "Ginny? You're with him?"

"Enough." Vince, showing up to defend his friend. "There's nothing wrong with Greg. And he really likes her."

"You know, Ginny, you could have gone with me," Potter said, sounding betrayed.

"You asked too late." Ginny brushed her hair back over her shoulder, as if brushing off his words, too.

"Your sister is a great person," Greg blurted suddenly. "I intend to treat her only with the utmost respect."

Ginny's eyes softened as she smiled. The Quidditch girls both cooed. "That's so romantic," Johnson gushed.

Spinnet nodded. "Yes, let's leave them alone."

The twins looked at each other, hesitating.

Not so with Ron. "You believe him? A Slytherin? They all lie!"

Millie and Pansy stepped forward, intending to back up their friends, but then saw McGonagall leaving the Champions with a scowl on her face. They wisely moved back, pulling Vince with them.

"What's all this? Mr. Potter, get back in place. And the rest of you. Is this the behavior you want to show in front of the other schools?"

"One of your House is dating a Slytherin!" Ron cried, pointing an accusing finger at his sister.

"No rules against that," McGonagall replied, although she did look rather askance. "In fact, it's a fine demonstration of inter-House cooperation, and what this Tournament is all about. Now break up this argument or go back to your dorms."

McGonagall dragged a still indignant and grumbling Ron back to his annoyed-looking date. "Don't get yourself thrown out or I won't have a partner," she hissed at him.

The others also wandered to various spots in the corridor. Draco grinned. Hermione was due to arrive at 8:00 on the dot, just as the doors opened. It was five til.

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A/N: Thanks for everyone who reviewed and shared an opinion!