I'm actually updating on time for several weeks in a row? Unheard of! :D

It took a while after Slughorn's departure for Orion to move again. At that time, Severus had departed to look over Horace's supply of potions, leaving McGonagall alone with their restrained student, who was only now shifting his head sluggishly.

"All right, Mr. Fowl?" Minerva asked, clasping her hands behind her back in an attempt to seem unaffected by the situation. The guilt raged in her stomach, however, and she hated the look of the boy bound to the chair. But she couldn't untie him, not when even the slimmest possibility existed that he might be working with the Dark Lord, knowingly or not. Unknowingly, probably, if he was at all, but there was always the chance...and even if he wasn't working for He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, he was up to something...she couldn't really untie him until she'd made sure...

"For now," the boy replied, in a much darker tone than she'd heard him use before. Minerva opened her mouth, confused by the sudden change in demeanor, but all was explained when he glanced up, and that familiar cold intelligence had appeared again in his eyes.

"Artemis," she said, just to verify.

His expression fell minutely. "Yes." He'd changed, she noted with interest. His expression was a different one than she'd seen on him yet. As a teacher, she was used to trying to see beyond her students' masks, the faces they put on for the world, and catching glimpses of the people they were, and would become, but she'd never been able to crack Artemis. She hadn't even now. But she was seeing him thawed slightly, she realized, no longer the icy genius, prowling the halls alone. His expression was dark, and even slightly fearful, but not cold. Maybe she'd seen a smile on his face, only a short while ago, but it hadn't really been him. She wondered what it might look like, for Artemis and not Orion to smile.

And then he spoke, scattering her thoughts. "Was there honestly a need to tie me up?" Unlike Orion, he didn't pull at all against the restraints, just examined them with vague annoyance.

"I'm sorry," Minerva said, both trying to pour all her emotion into the phrase, and hold it all back at the same time. "We had to make sure you weren't a threat."

"And I'm still considered one?"

"I'm afraid so, yes. I just have to ask you a few questions to make sure."

He tilted his head curiously, but nodded. "Fine. Go ahead."

She was almost entirely sure that the Veritaserum would still be in effect, but with the alternate personality issue, she couldn't know absolutely. "Why were you outside?" If he gave the same answer as Orion, she would be able to continue with her questioning. If not, then she would either have to administer more serum, or have Severus look into the boy's mind, neither of which sounded particularly appealing.

The answer seemed to escape him without his permission. "Waiting for Holly." Eyes widening, he quickly clenched his jaw. Only then did he strain against his bonds. Something like panic stirred in his eyes, like the kind she'd seen by the lake; irrational, wild.

"Calm down," McGonagall reassured, "we won't hurt you."

Artemis blinked hard, and forcibly relaxed into the chair. His brow furrowed as he stared at the floor.

"I simply wanted to check that the Veritaserum was still working," she told him as gently as she could. "Now, last question. Are you in league with the Dark Lord?" She hoped he couldn't tell that she was holding her breath.

To her relief, his eyes went round, and then he scowled. "No. I promise you, I'm not." And then, thanks to the truth serum, he also couldn't back, "And neither is Holly."

Now she couldn't hide how thankful she was, but she managed not to slump as she released him. Severus walked into the room at that moment and frowned, but didn't argue. Clearly, although he didn't like the boy, he'd overheard the conversation, and couldn't deny the evidence. Artemis stood, but then immediately leaned on the nearest table, going snow white as Orion had before. Minerva noticed him shaking.

"Mr. Fowl," she prompted. "Is there something wrong?"

He seemed on the verge of shaking his head, but said, "I would appreciate some food."

"I can arrange for that," she allowed with a slight smile. "Severus?" He scowled at her, beady eyes blacker than usual with the strength of his irritation, but he swept out. The heavy dungeon door banged closed just behind him.

Artemis exhaustedly lowered himself into the chair again. McGonagall pulled another up in front of him and sat in it. "I'm not going to ask you any more questions," she told him. "I...don't wish to abuse the Veritaserum. It should wear off within five minutes." With that, she offered him a smile.

"Thank you." In an unusually meek gesture, he lowered his head and stared at his pale hands, clasped in his lap. And then, after a strained moment, he asked, "I asume someone has been sent to capture Holly?" in a voice strung with tension.

There wasn't any use denying it. "Yes. Professor Slughorn. He'll be back soon, I hope." She had questions for Artemis, of course, but she intended to stay true to her word, and held them back.

"If she actually decides to come," Artemis muttered angrily. He clenched his hands more firmly together in an almost convulsive motion.

"You had doubts that she would show?" Before she could stop it, the surprised inquiry escaped. And before she could assure him that he didn't have to answer, he replied.

"Yes. She should have gotten here already. It's probable something problematic ocurred, but forgive me if I doubt it." He seemed willing enough to answer, in a way that Minerva hoped wasn't due to the Veritaserum. He didn't give her any accusing looks, at least.

"I'm quite sure I would feel the same," she reassured. However, she did take note of the almost unnatural shade of darkness in his eyes that spoke of undue amounts of paranoia. She leaned back in her chair to examine him more thoroughly. She took in the slump in his posture, the whitness of his knuckles as his fists wrapped around each other anxiously, how he tried to keep his feet flat on the ground but always ended up curling them around the legs of the chair as if to keep himself on it. She wondered where the confident young man from her class had disappeared to. She supposed his mask was continuing to thaw.

If he noticed her scrutiny, he didn't acknowledge it, and in fact didn't speak at all until Severus came into the room once again, with Dobby the house elf behind him carrying a tray of food. It wasn't very much - a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a few crackers off to the side - but Artemis noticably livened up when he caught sight of it. Dobby's eyes were saucer-wide as he spotted the untied boy, and he seemed to actually tremble as he carefully handed the food over. Artemis clearly didn't care, if he'd even noticed. He accepted the food eagerly, and began eating it immediately, although he did manage it in his typical reserved manner.

"Why didn't you simply send it here?" Minerva addressed Severus, rising to her feet.

"The house elf and I were having a little chat," the other professor said with a voice like ice, casting a superior look at Dobby. Dobby pouted slightly. Minerva was surprised he'd said anything to Snape. Clearly, Dobby didn't like him. "He was telling me some rather interesting things about Mr. Fowl's appearance by the lake." Dobby's ears flattened, his pout turning to a frown. "Something about flickering."

Artemis glanced up, gaze as dark as when he'd first taken back control from Orion, but lowered his eyes to his food when Snape caught his eye. He resumed eating, although more slowly and carefully, clearly listening to the conversation.

"Yes," McGonagall agreed, turning her eyes to her student once more. "Dobby told me as well, although he didn't specify what he meant, exactly."

Now the adults' eyes went to Dobby, who blinked at them uncertainly. "Well, er, Dobby saw...Mr. Fowl...vanishing." He seemed to prefer to address Minerva, and so he did, eyes pleading. "Miss, Dobby saw him keep going invisible, and then not." The house elf wrung his hands. "Flickering."

A clang sounded from behind them - they'd turned their backs to speak to Dobby - and they whirled around to find Artemis pushing his tray of food, now empty, away. "Thank you for the meal," he murmured, dull eyes now roaming the classroom, never resting on one place too long. "If at all possible, I'd be much obliged to see a bed." He did look exhausted, although he had a bit more color in his cheeks thanks to the soup. But Minerva couldn't let him go.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Fowl. We have to keep you here at least until we've found your friend." She tried to be calm about it, but with the rememberance of Dobby's flickering, and now that his meaning had been decoded, she felt on-edge, and it showed in her voice. Artemis didn't seem surprised, though. He quietly said, "Of course," with the only hint of argument being in the way his hands twisted, and his eyes flashed.

Minerva resumed her place opposite him.

"I'll be sorting through the potions cupboard," Severus told them smoothly, "if you require me." Minerva thought she heard him mutter, before he'd disappeard into the small room, "God knows it needs cleaning."

BREAK

Almost an hour after he'd left, Horace erupted into the room once more with a struggling figure in black at his arm. He pushed it away from him and slammed the door behind him, face purple and breath ragged.

Minerva had retrieved some homework from her office only a short while ago, and wanted nothing more than to get the grading done, but she whipped out her wand and stood as Slughorn came inside. Snape emerged slightly from the potions closet, pointing his own wand at the short figure in the center of the room.

Artemis, who had seemed to be half-asleep before, was now wide-eyed and on his feet.

The figure reached for its waist, freezing when it found no weapon there. It glanced around the room - or at least that's what it looked like it was doing, it was hard to tell with the helmet on it - but stopped at Artemis.

"I had hoped you would come earlier," Artemis said quietly, shortly. Anger hummed in his voice.

"I was a bit held up," the figure said in a woman's voice. Although she sounded as angry as Artemis, an apology was hidden in her words.

"You are Holly Short?" Snape drawled. The tiny woman twisted to face him after a swift glance at Artemis, who just stared blankly back at her.

"Yes," she nearly growled. After a hesitation, she reached up and removed her helmet. She had, to Minerva's surprise, large pointed ears, and mismatched eyes, just as Artemis did. Auburn hair sat shortly cropped on her head. She turned to glare at Artemis.

"It wasn't his fault," Minerva told her. "We gave him truth serum. He had no choice but to tell us."

Holly's eyes softened only marginally. "He's also a great wimp," she grumbled, eyes still on Artemis.

"It was Orion," he elaborated, almost in embarrassment. "Not me."

Now anger turned to concern. "What? Didn't you-?" she seemed to realize there were other people in the room, and cut herself off. "Never mind." They exchanged knowing looks, looks that sparked both interest and worry in Minerva. They were still hiding something, probably something important. But she couldn't bring herself to regret not asking Artemis more questions before. She knew that if she had, she would be feeling terrible now.

"Something wrong?" Severus asked, now emerging completely from the potions closet. He cradled several vials in his arms, all with different liquids inside them.

"No," Artemis denied, eyes flickering away from Holly for a moment to rest on the professor. "We are perfectly fine. But if you don't mind me asking," he didn't seem to care whether they minded or not, "what do you plan to do with us now?"

"Just some simple questioning," Minerva said, although judging by the looks on Holly and Artemis' faces, they didn't believe a word of it. "Then we'll have to inform the headmaster, when he returns."

At that, Artemis' eyes sharpened. "He's not here?"

"If he was, we would have gotten him, wouldn't we?" Severus snapped. If he was trying to get a reaction out of Artemis, he was disappointed. The boy hardly looked at him.

"Okay, fine," Holly interrupted, arms wrapping protectively around her helmet. "What do you want to know?" She eyed Snape's potions warily as he placed them on the nearest desk.

"We won't use Vertiserum on you," McGonagall assured her. "Just answer the questions honestly."

Holly's mouth twisted, although she agreed. "Okay."

"We know you are here for Mr. Fowl. But why? What is the point of your collaboration?"

The two exchanged glances.

"Artemis discovered he had magic," Holly began, almost at a normal pace, but just slightly too slowly for her to be telling the truth, "and he came here. He's got a condition, which I guess you know about now, so I'm just here to help him." Her eyes flashed as they met Snape's.

"You could have simply told us about this condition, and there would have been no need for sneaking out in the middle of the night," McGonagall reprimanded, stealing her attention.

Even as the excuse came out of his mouth, Artemis seemed annoyed by it, as if it were demeaning. "Forgive me, but I was a little bit self-conscious. I do have a reputation to keep."

"As an obnoxious prat," Holly muttered, barely audible. Artemis' lip twitched up in irritation, but he kept quiet.

"Almost a perfect excuse," Severus drawled. "But why would Mr. Fowl's parents not get involved? Why you, Ms. Short? Unless I'm mistaken, you aren't even human."

Now Horace decided to jump in with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Yes, quite right. What are you?" He realized, too late, the rudeness of the question. "Er, forgive me for my bluntness, forgive me, but..."

Holly set her jaw. "Forgive me," she retorted, "but I'm not telling you."

"I'm really very sorry, Ms. Short," Minerva jumped in, pouring sincerity into her every word, but managing to be firm at the same time. "But you really must tell us. We need to know you aren't somehow in league with the Dark Lord."

"And my species will help you determine that?" the pointy-eared woman huffed.

"There are certain species that have allied themselves with the Dark Lord," Minerva allowed.

Holly had to know, at this point, that besides revealing herself, there was nothing should could say that would convince them, but still she struggled for dominance. "I can assure you I'm not."

"I can vouch for her," Artemis offered with a bob of the head. "You have already questioned me, and you know that I am human."

"She could be manipulating you," Minerva said as kindly as she could. "Not that I think you are," she added to Holly, "but you know, we have to make sure, these days."

To her surprise, suspicion flitted in her student's eyes; suspicion that only strengthened when he locked eyes with Holly. The tiny woman paled.

"Artemis," she said slowly. "Come on. You were doing just fine until now." She almost sounded pained.

He seemed to have to force himself to relax. "Right...no, I'm fine." But he curled his feet around the chair legs again for support.

"Do you think we could talk for a minute?" Holly requested, looking mainly to McGonagall, but casting glances at Severus and Horace. "Artemis and I, I mean."

"I don't think that would be wise," Snape sneered, clasping his hands in front of him.

"As long as we can watch over you, yes you may," Minerva accepted, ignoring Severus. After a stiff but grateful nod, Holly bustled over to her human companion, took him by the arm, and hauled him into the potions closet. She moved to close the door, but seemed to remember their deal, and left it partially open, so that the teachers could see that they were there, but couldn't properly hear them.

The adults were left waiting outside in the classroom, listening to the mumble of the friends' voices and trying to figure them out.

You guys are so awesome. :) Thanks for your reviews and support and stuff, it's very much appreciated. You guys and your reviews keep me posting, so keep 'em coming! :D

On another note: DAVID TENNANT AND BILLIE PIPER ARE ON BOARD FOR THE DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIVERSARY! *squee* I'm so excited. :D This and a few other things have put me in a fantastic mood, despite having only four hours of sleep last night. Part of it might be sleep deprivation, actually. Giddy and all that. Anyway.

I don't think I have anything else to say here but the usual so - give me your opinions, they are very much desired. I love you all, have a good week! And Easter, if you celebrate that. I know I'm looking forward to Easter eggs and chocolate. :) (lots of chocolate)