Chapter 29
September first, came fast and Artemis was getting ready to leave. She would be accompanying the students to Kings Cross along with Lucius, Sirius, Remus, Molly Weasley, Alice and Tonks. Alastor would be at Kings Cross with all their luggage so that they didn't have to bring it with them. At last she decided to go with a pair of black jeans, with a white low v-neck t-shirt that clung to her body perfectly. To go with that she wore a pair of black high heel leather knee high boots and a light weight cotton sateen jacket. The jacket had an oversized hood, open drape front, a drawcord at the waist to hold it all together. The thing reached her knees but it would keep her worm in that shockingly cold September's day. She decided to pull her hair back into a braid so that it would be out of her way for now. Finally dressed she looked to see if she missed anything, made sure she had her engagement ring on and her wand in her holster before leaving her room with Jupiter right beside her in kitty form.
Arriving downstairs she found Ginny waiting patiently for her. The girl was dressed in jeans and a pink t-shirt, similar to her own, yet with a white sweater over it.
"You ready for a whole new year at Hogwarts Gin?" Artemis asked as she approached her apprentice.
"As ready as can be with Voldemort out in the open." Ginny answered causing Artemis to smirk.
"Don't worry darling, I'll get you up to snuff in your training. No apprentice of mine will be duel horribly and I can guaranty you that." I stated causing Ginny to smile brightly. "Not only that but you'll be physically ready to take on anything with me teaching you lot physical education."
"You know I don't know if that's a good thing. From your memories, your own teacher was really a hard person on his students." Draco stated as he arrived.
"And you can guarantee that you'll work just like that in no time at all." Artemis laughed causing both Ginny and Draco to moan.
"You love to torture us Mistress." Ginny whispered causing Artemis to smirk.
"Of course, it's what I live for and you know it my lovely little apprentice." Artemis laughed before the others arrived. "Are we ready?"
"All ready to leave." Sirius answered and with that they left the house together.
They had formed a plan the night before to make sure that the students would be safe, the children would be grouped together, and the adults would surround them like a barrier. If they were to be attacked they would split up into different groups. Artemis and Lucius would take Ginny, Draco and Neville. While Sirius and Remus would take Ron and Hermione. Molly and Alice would take Fred and George and they would all take different routes to reach Kings Cross. They just really hoped it didn't come to that because they didn't know if they would make it to the train in time.
Thankfully it seemed as though Voldemort either had no clue were they were, or just had no clue were they were, or he was just batting them into a false sense of security. They arrived at the Platform on time and hurriedly the students gathered on. Nobody really wanted to stay on the Platform encase Voldemort would attack. Swiftly the Professors fallowed suit and with that the train went on it's way.
"Thank Merlin us Professor's have our own compartments." Lucius muttered.
"We do? Then why did you sit in the students compartment Remus?" Artemis asked causing Remus to chuckle.
"I didn't know we had a Professor's compartment either." He laughed causing her to grin.
Thankfully the train was much more silent then it had been the other years, yet it also caused sadness for Artemis. She hadn't wished for students to feel such fear in their lives. Arriving in their compartment the group settled down and relaxed slightly. Jupiter jumped on Artemis lap and curled up causing her to smile.
"So what do you have planned for your class Artemis?" Remus asked causing Artemis to smirk.
"Um... planed to do exactly what my Physical Education Professor did to me. Torture, pain, and a whole lot of hate headed my way." She answered with a smirk that caused Remus and Sirius to wince.
"If you do that you'll be taking Severus' position as the most hated Professor at Hogwarts." Remus stated yet the grin on Artemis' face did not leave.
"Who said that's not what I want? I'm not there for the students to like me, I'm there to teach them and to prepare them for war in a way that the enemy would not be able to counter with out a wand because they all think Muggles are useless. Well let's just say Muggles are much more useful then some wizards." She stated her eyes taking a hard edge to them.
"She's right, we aren't there to be friends with them but to teach them and prepare them. It's our job to give them all the tools to be able to succeed and survive in life." Sirius stated and Lucius gave a nod of agreement.
Thankfully the trip to Hogwarts passed without a hitch. Voldemort had not attacked the train and once they arrived at Hogwarts the students were hurriedly lead to the compartments and Hagrid led the first years to the lake. Once again the four adults shared a compartment and when they arrived made their way up to the staff table where they each took a seat. Artemis sat beside Severus and Lucius while Remus and Sirius was on Lucius' other side. As the students filled into the hall most looked at her with curious expressions yet she was speaking with Severus. At the side, Jupiter had transformed back to it's normal size and was laying down, in a soft sleep.
At last the students sat down and the doors opened revealing McGonagall and the first years. Artemis observed them for a moment, making sure to analyze them as best she could. They all looked small in her eyes, like shrimp actually and they all looked nervous. She had to stop herself from snorting as she realized that she had probably bin much shorter and even more nervous then some of them. She hadn't wished to return to the Dursley's especially after seeing Hogwarts for the first time.
"Good evening students of Hogwarts and Professors. This year I have chosen to do something different and not sing a song. I have instead decided to make a speech in which I hope you will get the point through to your brain. With every song warning I have given almost none have actually tried to do what I have asked so I will tell you as plain as I can. Without the four houses united Hogwarts will fall and people will die!" As he said that the students all fell silent. Neither wished to speak yet Artemis could see some who did not believe the Sorting Hat. After all it was just a hat, what could a hat know about war.
"Student's might I remind you that the Sorting Hat has the memories of the Four Founders. I imagine that Godric Gryffindor would have had knowledge in battle, even the others after all there were many wars back then." She stated causing some to look slightly ashamed.
"Thank you Professor, it is true, the Four Founders have seen battle and know that if people do not stand strong together then they will crumble like a house without structure in it's bones. I will not have this castle fall and I will not have its students die because you did get over your petty arguments and differences. Not only that but your ideals that if one person from that house is dark then the entire house is as well. It is not true as I can tell you a few dark wizards that were not in Slytherin." The Hat announced and that caused the three others houses to tense. "Such as Peter Pettigrew, a Gryffindor. Antonio Musonino, a Ravenclaw that was a Death Eater, almost a part of the main circle yet was killed. Andrea Storsoni a Hufflepuff. Now listen clear and listen well, work together, get over your differences and learn from each other."
With that the hat was done and the hall remained in silence. Nobody moved until finally Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and spoke.
"When I call your name, you are to come up and sit on this stool. Then we shall put the hat on you and you will be sorted." She announced before un rolling the parchment and starting with the names.
"Abendroth, Cody." (Hufflepuff)
"Aldwin, Scotch." (Hufflepuff)
"Armstrong, Ruby." (Ravenclaw)
"Beckette, Aaron." (Gryffindor)
"Bucklin, Chad." (Ravenclaw)
"Cooper, Sherlock." (Gryffindor)
"Cooper, Watson." (Gryffindor)
"Dack, Dale." (Slytherin)
"Dalgety, Joanne." (Slytherin)
"Dearden, Julien." (Gryffindor)
"Dursley, Irene." (Gryffindor)
That name caused Artemis to turn instantly to the sorting. A little girl walked up. She was a cute little thing with dark red hair and shockingly enough emerald green eyes. She was a perfect image of her own mother when she was a little girl. If she had been Petunia's and Vernon's daughter then she sure got her looks from the Evans blood line that's for sure.
"Dormer, Hans." (Slytherin)
"Dyus, Shadow." (Gryffindor)
"Eachan, Scarlette." (Gryffindor)
"Eccles,Payton." (Ravenclaw)
"Eyre, Flora." (Slytherin)
"Fairholm, Dominick." (Ravenclaw)
"Floyd, Katline." (SLytherin)
"Flynn, Lory." (Hufflepuff)
"Fremont,Tucker." (Slytherin)
"Frery, Brennen." (Ravenclaw)
"Furbusher, John." (Gryffindor)
"Keeler, Nigel." (Ravenclaw)
"Kenin, Serena." (Hufflepuff)
"Maconochie,Kallie." (Ravenclaw)
"Miner, Nicole." (Hufflepuff)
"Mooney, Serenity." (Ravenclaw)
"Morales, Athena." (Slytherin)
"O'Reilly, Pierre." (Slytherin)
"Otter, Brian." (Hufflepuff)
"Oxford, Lynn." (Hufflepuff)
"Paxton, Ace." (Slytherin)
"Peele, Octavius." (Hufflepuff)
"Peters, Susanne." (Ravenclaw)
"Preston, Kayla." (Gryffindor)
"Prichard,Ray." (Slytherin)
"Pey, Oscar." (Ravenclaw)
"Rose, Cari." (Hufflepuff)
"Smith, Dugless." (Hufflepuff)
"Switzer,Nash." (Gryffindor)
"Symington,Nikita." (Gryffindor)
"Wagner, Bella." (Slytherin)
"Willius, Adrienne." (Ravenclaw)
"Zahm,Nikko." (Gryffindor)
At last the sorting was done and after a swift calculation, Artemis was very pleased with it. Twelve students had been sorted into Gryffindor, eleven into Slytherin and Ravenclaw while Hufflepuff got the lowest amount with nine. It was a pretty good amount for each house. Finally Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment and brought the stool and the hat away. When she returned the Headmaster stood and the hall, that had started to grow in volume, fell silent.
"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Now before we begin the wonderful meal prepared for us I have a few start of term notices. First years please take note that the Forbidden Forest and strictly Forbidden to all students also our care taker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you, that the list of band objects has grew in size and that it is located on his office door. Also I would like to introduce you to a new Professor, Professor Artemis Potter who will be teaching a new mandatory class of Physical Education, nobody will be allowed to drop or forgo this class. Now then, let the feast begin." with that declaration the food appeared and the volume of the hall rose.
The feast lasted a good hour and a haft but at last the Headmaster sent the students to their rooms and the Professors left for their own. Resting in her's and Lucius' bed Artemis let her thoughts mingle. Who was Irene Dursley? Was she related in some way or was it just a coincidence. Perhaps a parental test could be given to her to see? Or maybe some questions. Yes, questions would be a good idea first.
