The Family Name
Year Five
By Elbereth in April
Chapter 12
The next morning, the members of SUAVE prominently wore their badges to breakfast, causing much speculation amongst the other students. "What are they up to now?" Ron hissed to Harry.
"What do you think?" Harry snapped back a bit testily. "We kicked them out of the DA and they started their own group."
"How come they're advertising it?"
"What, their societal manners group?" asked Ginny, sitting down next to Dean and across from them. "They're sanctioned as an official group; I just asked Artemis and Draco."
"Slytherins are sneaky," Dean said.
"Didn't I tell you not to talk to my sister?" Ron scowled at Dean.
"Didn't I tell you to keep out of my business?" Ginny retorted.
"I think we're going to regret throwing them out," Hermione mumbled.
"You can ask them what they're up to," Ron told her.
"They'd lie, of course, if they were really up to anything," Dean pointed out, ignoring Ron's ire.
"That reminds me, I have an Occlumency meeting with Fowl tonight," Harry said. "He wanted me to bring you, Ron."
"Tonight's my first lesson with Draco!" Hermione looked far too excited, Harry thought.
He changed the subject. "I'm worried about Hagrid being on probation."
Hermione sighed. "Butler and I are giving him advice on his lesson plans. But there's only so much we can do. You know Cronin's after Trelawney, too."
"I'm worried about Draco," Ginny said. "He's not dealing well with his brother being missing."
Seamus reached across Dean and grabbed the salt. "He seems fine to me."
"That's cause you don't know him well enough to see through his act."
Ron looked at Ginny, alarmed. "And you do?"
Hermione glared at Ron. "We both do. We're his friends. Accept it already."
"Fine! You're friends with the prat. He's still a prat."
"Ron!" they both huffed.
"
We need to go or we'll be late for class," Harry interrupted.
"SUAVE. I wonder what that stands for."
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Harry, Ron, and Hermione met Artemis and Draco in the potions classroom that evening. Draco and Hermione moved to one corner of the room for her first lesson. "You all looked quite smug in your SUAVE badges today," she commented.
"You're dying to know what it stands for."
Hermione smiled. "Yes. I am."
He gave her his most mysterious smile back.
"Draco…"
"Alright, it stands for Slytherins United Against Voldemort and Evil. An entire group of anti-Voldemort Slytherins should be able to do some serious damage, don't you think?"
"You're certainly devious enough."
That caused a smirk. "And when we're well enough free of Cronin, we can be as high profile as we like. We'll show the world not all Slytherins are evil megalomaniacs."
"Good for you."
"Right then. And if you ever need to know which Slytherins you can trust, now they're labeled."
Hermione laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
"You do that. Seriously, Hermione."
She nodded solemnly.
"Then let's begin. Repeat after me: I swear I will not repeat anything I might learn from my partner's mind to anyone or use it against them." She did. "OK. Now close your eyes. Think about your mind. Picture it—all your memories, thoughts, feelings—as books. On one really big bookcase. Now you have to keep anyone else from reading any of those books."
"OK." Her lips pressed together in determination.
"Alright. Open your eyes. I'm going to hit you with a Legilimens on the count of three. Remember you can't use your wand to block me—only your mind. Ready? 1—2—3—Legilimens!"
On the other side of the classroom, Artemis was staring at Harry with a contemplative expression on his face that was making Harry increasingly nervous. "What?"
"There are several things I want to try with you. I believe we will start with two of them tonight. First, you need to work on learning Legilimency. I think it should be much easier for you than Occlumency was. Second, you will practice 'faking out' Voldemort."
"How…"
"Legilimency first," Artemis repeated. "You'll practice on Weasley."
"Wait, what?" Ron, who had been sitting in a chair placed near Harry, looked up wildly.
"I want him to start on someone who doesn't know Legilimency to make it easier for him," Artemis explained. "You're ideal."
"Aw, man…"
"You only came along to make sure Draco and I weren't up to anything with your two best friends," Artemis continued, "I know. Well, now you can experience it firsthand."
Ron scowled briefly, then shrugged and stood up. "OK. But just Harry. You're not looking in my mind."
"I imagine I would be rather bored. Wand out, Potter."
"Hey…" Ron protested the insult as Harry aimed his wand at him.
"Instead of your mind Patronus protecting your thoughts, he's going to be trying to access Weasley's. You have to hold back some, though, if you think the other person might be able to block your Legilimens or turn it on you."
"Right."
"Concentrate on your mind Patronus then. Imagine it springing from your mind and sinking into his, sifting around in his memories. Can you picture it?"
"Yeah."
"Then on the count of three, cast Legilimens."
Harry took a deep breath. He looked intently into Ron's eyes, his own narrowed in concentration. "1—2—3—Legilimens!"
-Ron being presented with his horrible, hand-me-down dress robes—
-Ron lying in bed, Sirius Black standing above him with a knife—
-Ron watching Hermione talk happily with Artemis Fowl and Draco Malfoy, and feeling jealous, jealous—
"OK, stop," Artemis ordered. Potter ended the spell.
Weasley let out an explosive breath and collapsed back into the chair. "That was awful! Just—wrenching!"
Harry nodded sympathetically. "Yeah. Sorry."
Ron waved it away.
SSS
-Hermione crying in a bathroom after Ron Weasley insulted her—
-Hermione reading writing on a wall in blood: "Enemies of the Heir—beware!"
-Hermione kissing Artemis Fowl—
Stung, Draco ended the spell at once. Hermione let out a gasp at the abruptness of the release, then flushed darkly, realizing Draco had felt how good kissing Artemis had felt…
"That was just a memory," Hermione said in a rush. "In the past. Ages ago!"
Draco looked at her wryly. "Yeah, I get it." he still wanted to wince, but she was right.
"Sorry," she said anyway.
But Draco smiled. "It's OK. Are you ready to try again?"
"Yes." She was even more determined now.
SSS
"All right, Potter. Try it again."
He did, two more times. Then Artemis looked at him calmly. "Now, try it against me. I'll be actively trying to keep you out." Artemis was confident enough in his abilities to feel safe in keeping his private thoughts private. He put his mental shields up full force.
"1—2—3—Legilimens!" Harry cried. He sent his mental Patronus out and met up with an impenetrable wall. He searched the perimeter, looking for any way in, but could find nothing. He gave up, lowering his wand. "Rats!"
Artemis smiled. "Voldemort won't be as good as me. But he's paranoid; he's going to have his thoughts locked up pretty tight. That's where your being connected to him comes in. there's a mental thread you can follow and unravel if you're strong enough. But he'll try the same. He'll strike back. Try again." His smile turned slightly sinister.
"You're going to attack me while I'm attacking you. Right?" Harry swallowed nervously.
"Yes. Ready? You'll start."
"Come on, mate, you can do it," Ron encouraged.
"Right. It's just another challenge. Here we go." Harry drew himself up. "1—2—3—Legilimens!"
His Patronus went out and met the wall. Which seemed to come to awareness, and Look at him. It gave a sort of soundless rumble and golden sparks seemed to come out from it, and slammed through his Patronus and back into his own mind. Harry yelped and sent his Patronus back to defend his memories. The gold sparks—what were they? Feathers? Arrows?—were inside his defenses now, splitting off and diving towards different thoughts. Well, he could make more than one Patronus, right? He concentrated and felt more deer shimmer into life, sprinting off to protect each spot under attack. He managed to hold fast, though it took great effort. The sparks died out.
Harry opened his eyes to find Artemis smiling at him. "Very good."
"How can I keep myself safe and still try to read you at the same time, though?" Harry was breathing hard.
"A lot of practice. I do, however, have an idea about that. I want you to picture your arrival at Hogwarts. That was a huge event for you, yes? All kinds of feelings and images and senses?"
Potter nodded.
"I want that memory to be in the forefront of your mind, drowning out all other thoughts and memories. I want you to hold it there like a place-marker. When I enter your mind, I want that thought to fill it so I can't find any others. Understand?"
"…Yes. Ok."
"On three, then. 1—2—3—"
Artemis was in his mind. With as much strength as he could manage, he concentrated on his memory. Getting off the Hogwarts Express with Ron, Hagrid leading them to the boats, the first sight of the castle…
"Enough," Artemis said, and Harry blinked.
"What…?"
"You didn't even notice, did you? It's instinctual now. Like your memory of Hogwarts was wrapped around by your Patronus. You did excellently, Potter. I couldn't get through to anything at all. Now. Try to Legilimize me again. But in the back of your mind, hold that memory there, tight, got it?"
Harry nodded again. "1—2—3—Legilimens."
This time, he was still unable to get into Fowl's thoughts, but he was able to keep trying to defend his mind at the same time. The next try, Artemis let him into a memory of the Slytherins sitting through Professor Binns' class, but nothing else.
"Why did you have me use a huge memory and you used a boring History lesson?"
"Because I have more control than you. And because I think it's a memory Tom Riddle would be drawn to. He was an orphan, you know. Did you ever do any research on him?"
It had never occurred to Harry to do so. Now he wondered why it had not.
"He was convinced he was superior because of his magic, and coming to Hogwarts was like his portal to the place where he'd finally be special. He hated the Muggle orphanage, so Hogwarts became his home." Artemis looked at Harry. "Except for the superiority complex, you feel that way, too, don't you? Your home is here, not with your aunt and uncle. It weakens the blood protection at your house, you know. As does you and your aunt's lack of love for each other."
Draco and Hermione had paused for a break and were listening in. "Yeah, Potter, I don't get why you don't tell Dumbledore to shove it and move in with Black. He's surely got protections on his place, right?"
Harry glanced over at Draco, frowning. The frown wasn't for the other boy, though, but for Dumbledore.
"How's it coming, Hermione?" Ron asked. He was taking turns watching both of his friends.
"Oh, we're making progress!" She sounded much more cheerful than Harry usually did after lessons. "Draco's a really good teacher."
"Huh," Ron said. "You weren't actually serious that one time when you said you wanted to be a teacher, Malfoy?"
Draco just smirked.
"Back to work," Artemis ordered.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Artemis and Draco had decided to try doing all their magic (outside of the classroom) without their wands. They were doing their Charms homework in Butler's office when they were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was Daphne Greengrass with two Sixth Year boys. "They're interested in SUAVE," Daphne explained. "You know Thistleburr and Coleridge."
Draco looked at Artemis. "I'll get the pumpkin juice."
After the two boys had been interrogated and given badges, Draco asked Coleridge, "Isn't your dad an Auror?"
"Yes. He and Cronin hate each other."
"Does he know anything about the Unspeakables and the Department of Mysteries?"
"About as much as anyone, I suppose."
"We're investigating that department, but I haven't found out much," Artemis confessed, his annoyance at this lack showing through.
"I can ask him whatever you'd like," Coleridge offered.
"What do you think?" Artemis asked after the Sixth Years left.
"Coleridge has always been such a pureblood elitist that I just assumed he'd be on Voldemort's side. I'm glad he's not. He's a pretty good guy. Thistleburr's an absent-minded, artsy type—well, that's obvious. He's barely a Slytherin in some ways—not very ambitious or political. I hadn't figured he'd be much good in a fight, but if he wants to join, it'll be good for him."
Artemis nodded. "All right. We'll see what information Coleridge can pick up from his father. Potter's almost ready to attempt a bit of light Legilimency on Voldemort on what's behind that door. Things are coming together."
"Except for finding my brother."
"All our contacts are still looking," Artemis assured him, eyes going softer in sympathy.
Draco made a scoffing sort of noise but shrugged. "I know."
"Draco…"
Draco shifted the subject, plowing over whatever else Artemis might have said. "Plus we still have to find Koboi and stop her plot."
Artemis sighed. Draco wouldn't talk about it, but maybe it was just as well. He didn't know what to say. Which is why it was such a surprise to hear himself speaking. "You know how long my father was missing? Two years. Some days I wanted to scream or cry and some days I just wanted to forget about it all. But it was always there at the back of my mind, like a very painful cancer." He looked Draco in the eye and put a hand on his shoulder. "But you helped me get him back, Draco, and I'm going to do the same for you. Don't give up hope."
Draco's eyes filled with tears, though he didn't shed them. "Thanks, Artemis."
SSSSSSSSSSSS
The second meeting of SUAVE went well. They were practicing shielding techniques. Eva and Marie were working on shielding and healing charms on their own, but spending the SUAVE sessions teaching the younger years. Eva did not intend to fight in the field if it came to a war—and they all knew it probably would—as she refused to fight against her brother. She was, however, willing to play doctor for their side. Marie was also going this route, because she said they would need people dedicated to keeping their forces well enough to fight. She was becoming increasingly passionate that everyone had the right to protect themselves and learn self-defense. Blaise told Artemis that she was getting as bad as Granger with her HELP group, causing Marie to refuse to speak to him for the rest of that day.
"What about you two?" Eva asked Crabbe and Goyle after the meeting. "What will you do when you come up against your dads?"
The boys looked at each other sadly. "We wouldn't kill them, only stun them," Greg said, "but we have to fight."
"We have to protect our friends," Vince told her. "You'll do it your way, we'll do it ours. You know Draco and Artemis will be right in the thick of things. We have to be there, too."
Millie came over and took Vince's arm in support.
"I don't know what I'm going to do yet," Pansy sighed, also joining them. "I'm not sure how good of a fighter I'll be. And I don't want to go up against my father, either. But I can stand on the sides and shield, and I can organize. I think I may be administrative support."
Greg smiled. "Yeah. Draco and Artemis can give the orders and you can make sure they're carried out. I can see that."
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Hermione caught up to Draco outside the Great Hall. "Do you want to study together tonight?"
"Um… can Crabbe and Goyle come? It's my turn to help them with homework. I can't let them get behind with OWLs coming up."
"Oh. Well, sure. Why not?" She smiled a bit hesitantly. "Er, I know it's not for a couple of weeks yet, but our next Hogsmeade visit is on Valentine's."
Draco had an awkward flashback to Artemis trying to come up with a Valentine's gift for Hermione, and then a full sensory flash of Hermione's memory of kissing Artemis. He flushed just a bit. "Yeah. Valentine's."
Hermione shifted her bag from one shoulder to the other. "Yes. You—you want to go with me… right?"
Draco rushed to reassure her. "Of course I do!"
She let out a relieved breath. "Good. OK then."
"I heard a rumor Potter is going with Chang."
"Yes, he is."
Draco smirked evilly.
"Now, Draco, leave him alone. He's very nervous about it; it's their first date," Hermione scolded.
"Right, right. Can't hurt precious Potter's feelings," Draco sneered.
Hermione crossed her arms and gave him a look.
"So what will poor Weasley do?"
"Probably follow Ginny and Dean around to make sure she 'stays pure'." Hermione gave a slightly wicked grin.
"Ooh, can we spy on him spying on her?"
"Maybe."
Draco felt his muscles loosening as a bit of tension drained out of him. He hadn't realized those flashbacks had made him so tense. "You know, Greg has dated several people this year, just casually, so he's not sure what to do. I told him to send them all flowers and then hide out in Honeyduke's."
Hermione laughed. "Since they all know he's seeing other people, he should be alright."
SSSSSSSSSSSSS
Hermione was watching Draco help Crabbe with his Herbology essay in fascination. Draco really was a good teacher. He was amazingly patient, considering how he generally hated stupidity. Then she winced a bit—she should be more charitable. Crabbe and Goyle weren't really stupid, she was discovering, just not much good at academics.
"Granger?"
She blinked. Goyle was addressing her. "Yes?"
"I wanted to finish up my Muggle Studies essay… what can you tell me about the role of Britain in the creation of the United Nations?"
Somewhat flattered to be asked, Hermione began to lecture on what she knew. Midway through, Ginny came in and sat down at their table. "Hey, guys!"
"Hey, Ginny."
"Weasley-girl."
"Draco. I was wondering…"
Draco immediately became apprehensive. "What?"
"I want to learn Occlumency, too."
Draco blinked. "Why?"
She looked at him seriously. "I just have this feeling that it's going to come in handy some day. I'm not sure why…it's just this feeling."
Draco took a deep breath and let it out. "Oh. Well…what do you think, Hermione?"
Surprised at being asked, Hermione glanced at Ginny, then back at Draco. "Sure, why not?"
'Because I don't want a glimpse of Ginny kissing Thomas to go along with Hermione and Artemis,' Draco thought, but obviously was not going to say. Instead he nodded slowly. "Sure."
Ginny smiled happily. "Good! Oh, are you working on Muggle Studies? Wait, let get out my notes."
"Might as well join them, Vince. I think we're done with Herbology, anyway," Draco said neutrally.
"Muggle history is boring," Vince complained. "I want to go back to learning about airplanes and stuff. That's cool."
"Who needs airplanes? We have brooms." Draco tilted his chin up.
"But they don't. So it's pretty ingenious of them to come up with other ways to fly," Hermione said.
"Well… I guess."
Hermione patted his arm. "You're getting there, Draco. You're getting there."
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
"I want to punch him," Holly told Foaly.
"You and me both, sister." Foaly looked back over his shoulder at the Commander's office, which had been taken over by Ark Sool, head of Internal Affairs, now head of Recon.
"At least Commander Vinyaya and Council Chairman Cahartez believe us."
"As they should. They have your testimony, the retinal scan I did of the Koboi clone, and the recording I made of Butler's call to me. How much proof do they need that Koboi's out there?"
"Well, they're searching for her, the Brill brothers, Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, Ecleus Malfoy… in fact, we're using more manpower than I expected he would dedicate to this. But why didn't he assign me anywhere?" Holly scowled. " 'We want you here so we can send you out to their location as soon as we find them.' Sool didn't mean that, you could tell he didn't."
"I'm doing my own searching, Holly, remember that. Whatever Sool is up to, we're not depending on him alone. And even if that's not his real reason, that's a good point. We don't want you in Canada if she ends up in China, for example. And when I find out where Koboi is—or Voldemort—you'll be the first to know."
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
