The Adventures of The Misfit Professors
Chapter 21
"Restoration and Hope"
By: Deep Shadows and Eckostalker
Artimis awoke to the soft depression of the bed behind her. She felt arms wrap around her and she jumped, turning quickly, not knowing who it was. She found Draco, now sitting up and looking at her softly.
"You alright babe?" He asked and she shook her head, the whole situation and events hitting her. Draco was awake, Jason had stolen Alexis, and Severus knew all about it. She smiled at Draco, kissing him as she crawled out of bed, changing with some difficulty due to her swollen stomach.
"Honey, I've got to do something real quick. Can you watch Selena till I come back?" Artimis spoke smoothly and Draco called telling her he would as she walked out of the room. A certain dark haired man had some explaining to do.
How could he just keep me in the dark like that?... I am her sister, I deserved to know... Especially since that bastard hurt my Draco... Why would Severus keep that all to himself... How dare he not tell me... Artimis thought as she felt anger fill her. It had been quite some time since she had felt her shadows rear up in anger and she mildly enjoyed it. Add raging hormones to the mix and you had one trigger happy Artimis, with a mind full of questions for Severus Snape.
She stopped at his quarters, knocking loudly on the door. After not having an answer at her thrid knock, she turned and headed for the classroom. She entered it to find him not there and she sighed, going in his office and finding the door to his private quarters. She opened it quickly and creeped in looking for Severus. She was about to go into his bedroom when she spotted him on the floor, curled up with his knees to his chest, his back to the warm fire as he slept. Shaking her head at his odd behavior, he needed to answer her questions.
"Severus! Get up." Artimis stated and he raised his head, looking at her and then where he was oddly. He stretched as he sat up, looking at her with caution.
"What are you doing in here Artimis?" He asked and she shook her head, watching him get up.
"I want to know some things." She growled and Severus seemed to shake his head as he stood, straightening out his clothes.
"What do you want to know?" He asked her with an air of caution and she glared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me what was going on with Alexis? Why did you deem it your job to protect MY sister?... What right did you have to keep me in the dark?" She barked at him accussingly and he sighed, sitting down in his chair as if she wasn't yelling at him. She didn't like that one bit.
"Artimis, I didn't tell you because you were going through enough. I was trying to spare you any more drama. Is that sufficient enough for you?" He asked her with a sarcastic tone and she growled, not liking that he was ignoring her indigance.
"No, it's not! Why did you feel you had the right to 'spare me'? You aren't my father! You aren't hers! You had no right to keep me and Remus in the dark! You had no right at all. And you just sit there looking like you did nothing wrong!" She hissed at him, now pacing in front of him. She could see that he was trying to keep his cool, but she didn't want him too, she wanted him to be angry, to fight her back.
"Artimis, I didn't do anything wrong. As a matter of fact, I did something right. I made sure she was safe and when she was taken I went looking for her and rescued her. I didn't do anything wrong." He replied as he rubbed his temples.
"You did too! You didn't tell those of us who could have talked her out of seeing him. If you had told me that Jason was back in town, she would have never seen him and you wouldn't have had to play hero! You wouldn't have something to gloat about and hold over all our heads. Did you know he was gonna kidnap her and just let him so you could have a moment of glory? And you say Harry does it..." Artimis snapped and Severus stood up, looking at her with contained rage.
"Artimis, you are obviously back to your angry pregnant self. No, I did not know he was going to kidnap her. If I had, I would have prevented her going. I was not looking for a moment of glory and you will never hear me hold it over your head that I saved Alexis. I did because it needed to be done. Now, I am telling you to get out of my quarters, before you say something you regret." Severus demanded as he pointed to the door. Artimis was not happy with his reply, but at the same time, she knew he was right. She was just so scared that she could have lost Alexis and she didn't even know it. She looked at Severus apoligetically and sighed, heading toward the door.
"Sorry Sev, I'm just... I am... I was just so upset and worried that you were the only thing standing between Alexis and Jason, and that he almost won." Artimis told him and Severus walked up behind her, opening the door for her.
" I know Artimis, but you are also known for letting your emotions get the better of you when you are pregnant and it involves Alexis. I was simply trying to protect everyone. I would not have let him take her unless he had killed me. And as Alexis said, I'm like a cockroach, nothing kills me." He joked as he lead her out the door. She chuckled and walked out, shaking her head at him.
"Sorry again Severus." She told him and he waved it off as he closed the door. Artimis sighed as she headed back to her rooms, trying to figure out Severus and feeling like she was now the bad guy.
He was just trying to protect us... Wait... Us?... She thought as she walked in her room to be bombarded by her daughter and Draco who wanted her to play as well. She had no choice but to accept and shoved the thoughts to the back of her mind.
Severus was roused from his dreams by a loud accusing voice.
"Severus! Get up." He heard and he lifted his head, looking to see a disdainful Artimis looking down at him. The fact that she was looking down startled him and he looked to see that he had taken a nap on the fur rug in front of his fire place. He found this as odd, but Artimis being there was odder. He stretched as he got up, looking around to make sure he was in his room and then he looked at Artimis. She looked like someone had pissed her off and he had the sinking feeling that it was him.
"What are you doing in here Artimis?" He asked as he looked at her with caution, getting to his feet. Her reply let him know that she was indeed upset, and she was starting to sound like she did before Draco had been hurt.
"I want to know some things." Artimis growled at him agressively and he shook his head. Why am I always right?... Let me guess... What Remus said, but her point of veiw... He thought as he fixed his clothes. He didn't even try to figure out how she got in here, he just wanted to know what she wanted.
"What do you want to know?" He questioned with caution and he recieved an angry glare from her, which told him that she was about to explode in brillant rage. How right he was.
"Why didn't you tell me what was going on with Alexis? Why did you deem it your job to protect MY sister?... What right did you have to keep me in the dark?" Artimis barked, full of accusation and he sighed at her and himself as he collapsed into his armchair, wondering how many times he was going to be yelled at today. And on that thought, is it still today, or is it tomorrow already?... He thought glancing at the clock as he replied to her, trying to ignore her hateful glares.
"Artimis, I didn't tell you because you were going through enough. I was trying to spare you any more drama. Is that sufficent enough for you?" He told her with a hint of sarcasm, knowing it would only make her angry, but he had to get it in. His replied was a growl as she exclaimed loudly.
"No, it's not! Why did you feel you had the right to 'spare me'? You aren't my father! You aren't hers! You had no right to keep me and Remus in the dark! You had no right at all. And you just sit there looking like you did nothing wrong!" Artimis told him as she paced in front of him. He was really getting sick of being yelled at and being paced in front of. He also was not happy about Artimis yelling at him, he had just woken up and his tolerance for her rage would only go so far and she was pushing it. The look on her face told him that she was just trying to pick a fight with him.
Maybe it's pent up anger from all the soap opera time she's been having... He thought as he replied, making sure he didn't get angry with her.
"Artimis, I didn't do anything wrong. As a matter of fact, I did something right. I made sure she was safe and when she was taken I went looking for her and rescued her. I didn't do anything wrong." Seveurs told her, rubbing his temples to relax his anger. She ignored him and began to rage loudly once more.
"You did too! You didn't tell those of us who could have talked her out of seeing him. If you had told me that Jason was back in town, she would have never seen him and you wouldn't have had to play hero! You wouldn't have something to gloat about and hold over all our heads. Did you know he was gonna kidnap her and just let him so you could have a moment of glory? And you say Harry does it..." She yelled and he stood, her having just hit a bad button. He knew that she was angry and that she didn't really mean what she said, but it had still pissed him off. He looked at her with as much contained fury as he could muster as he spoke.
"Artimis, you are obviously back to your angry pregnant self. No, I did not know he was going to kidnap her. If I had, I would have prevented her going. I was not looking for a moment of glory and you will never hear me hold it over your head that I saved Alexis. I did because it needed to be done. Now, I am telling you to get out of my quarters, before you say something you regret." Severus demanded as he pointed to the door leaving his rooms. She seemed to pout for a moment and then all that angry rage left her face as she seemed apologetic. She turned to leave, sighing as she spoke.
"Sorry Sev, I'm just... I am... I was just so upset and worried that you were the only thing standing between Alexis and Jason, and that he almost won." Artimis admitted and he nodded to her back, walking to the door to open it for her. He understood, and while he really couldnt be angry, he could be upset with what she said.
" I know Artimis, but you are also known for letting your emotions get the better of you when you are pregnant and it involves Alexis. I was simply trying to protect everyone. I would not have let him take her unless he had killed me. And as Alexis said, I'm like a cockroach, nothing kills me." He iced over the tension and frustration with a joking manner and she walked out the door chuckling. She shook he head at him as she turned and looked at him.
"Sorry again Severus." She apoligized and he waved it off as he closed the door. He walked back to his chair and sank into it, his mind running wild with questions and his anger fueled a bit.
"There is a pattern I guess. So now it's Dumbledore's turn to say thank and he was wrong I guess. First yelling then thanks then yelling again... Odd pattern, but patterns are easier to understand." He thought as he got up stretching.
"Now, For food... I want something... Hmm... I want a tunafish sandwich and some steak..." He mused as he headed to his kitchen, fixing himself some food.
Three Weeks Later...(We love our Time Jumps!)
Artimis sat in the lounge of Manor Dela Loyalty, blue and white balloons everywhere and presents stacked on one of the coffee tables. Artimis and Alexis had elected to have their babyshowers on the same day and the weekend of Alexis's birthday had been picked so it was a multiparty, consisting of two babyshowers and a birthday. Draco had regained most of his strength and was heading back to work in the morning. Ron had gone back to work the last week and Alexis was left in the ever watchful care of Severus, who had been exihibiting more caring and out of character behavior.
Artimis sipped on her grape juice while Selena and Christoph played on the floor, Remus playing as well as the evil dragon toy. Neville had brought Lavendar and their son to the party, and Lavendar had been more cordial and understanding then their last meeting. Severus was sitting in the chair next to the couch that Artimis was on, pretending to read as he watched everyone over his book. From time to time he would comment on the game being played, sometimes on his feet, but for the most part he read.
Alexis was trying to be bouncy and happy, though the fourty extra pounds didn't seem to make that happen. The poor thing, she looked like she had swallowed a watermelon and it sat in her stomach undigested. Ron was helping her, in fact barely leaving her side, while everyone else finished the appetizers off. Hermione had invited an odd guest, the next Transfiguration teacher, Eric, and he sat with Hermione, deeply involved in some subject of some scholary unimportance.
Artimis grew bored with all this watching and decided to get up and do something, but as soon as she got up, Draco was at her side, asking her if she needed any help or anything.
"No dear, I just can't sit around like an injured person. I need something to do." She told him and he shook his head as she moved toward the kitchen, hoping to be needed. All she found instead was Molly Weasley organizing the cooking as Hailey and Ginny, along with Harry, Crabbe and Goyle followed her orders.
"Anything I can get you deary?" Molly asked her and Artimis shook her head, walking back out of the kitchen with a sigh. There really wasn't anything to do but sit and watch everyone. Then there was a knock at the door and her other bestest buddies walked in.
"Hey Artimis, aren't you looking pregnant!" Vicky exclaimed as she and Erica entered, arms full of gifts. Erica smiled as she set the gifts down to hug her.
"Wow, you look like you could blow any day." She mused and Artimis rolled her eyes, gesturing them to the lounge.
Now she had someone to talk to, but as she and the two girls sat, Alexis began talking.
"Ok, let's get this show on the road. I'm bored..." She whined and with that the party started as Molly entered with tons of food. The only person who didn't get a plate was Alexis and that was because Severus had already fed her before the party.
After food came the presents and Alexis dove into that with a hint of her old vigor and joy. Artimis was glad her friend was having fun, for she had seemed to fall more and more into a depression as her pregnancy wore on, and a party must have been the trick to restore her at least a bit. Artimis watched as Alexis opened her presents first, a request of hers seeing as Alexis was having her first kid and Artimis was having baby number two.
Alexis sat next to Ron on one of the couches, gnawing on a few baby carrots, having gotten used to at least eating those without a qualm. Ron was arguing with his twin brothers and Charlie, as usual, and Alexis watched them with some amusement. Ron himself was snacking on the mini-pickles, though Alexis had caught him eyeing the mini hotdogs every so often.
Rolling her eyes, she sighed to him. "You don't have to make yourself suffer for my sake Ron. If you want some, eat them."
Ron looked at her as if he didn't know what she was talking about. "What dear? No, I'm fine, really..."
Alexis shook her head, mumbling. "Dork..."
He smiled widely at her, kissing her quickly on the cheek before turning back to his squabbling brothers. Alexis scanned the room, getting antsy as they waited for the food and the rest of the guests to show up to the babyshower/birthday party. She saw Artimis heading towards the Kitchen, looking just as ansty, though a bit moreso as the due date for her son drew ever nearer.
Alexis snickered, leaning back uncomfortably in her seat as she hummed to herself, watching everyone else. Severus was as usual, reading at his seat on the opposite couch, though Alexis had easily noted that he hadn't turned the page of his book for a good fifteen minutes. His distracted gazed caught hers, and Aleixs couldn't help but stick out her tongue at him. He shook his head and looked back at his book, but Alexis still caught the small smirk on his face.
Wonder if he'll go back to being the big jerk he was after me and Artimis have the kids... I think I'll actually miss this Severus... Alexis thought with a sigh, though shook her head, pushing back the dark thoughts that had seemed to invade her mind more often every day.
She smiled though, brightening as familiar voices accompained the dishes of food being brought out. Vicky and Erica appeared, fashionable late as usual, arms loaded with brightly colored packages as they chatted animatedly with Artimis.
Alexis smiled at them, impatient to do something, thinking that since they were teasing her with all the boxes, she whined. "Ok, let's get this show on the road. I'm bored..."
Alexis moved herself from the couch with some difficulty, sitting in front of the table of presents with anticipation as everyone else helped themselves to the food, Alexis watching wistfully, but her unborn child silently protesting.
Alexis picked up one or two boxes, shaking them slightly, Artimis glaring at her sternly when Alexis surveyed Artimis's presents. Alexis snickered at her, picking up a box in green and silver wrapping.
"Fine fine, start opening them them... not mine either." Artimis scolded her, and Alexis yipped with joy, immediately tearing into the box like a child on christmas.
"Oh, that one's from me and Draco by the way." Artimis called to her, and Alexis looked at her suspiciously as Draco wrapped an arm around Artimis's waist with a smirk. She opened the box, seeing a leather bound book with silver engraved words reading. 'Parenting 101: Helpful Hints and Suggestions. By: Artimis and Draco Malfoy'
Ron looked over her shoulder, then laughed, Alexis shaking her head. That was Artimis for you. They were laughing, apparently pleased with their handiwork, and Alexis set it aside with a thanks, silently making a note to look it over a bit later.
"Hold on!"
"We're next!" The Twins called, and George shoved a bright orange and purple spotted box into her arms with a huge grin.
Alexis smiled, opening the box and laughing as she read aloud the label of the package with the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes logo on it. "Pranker's Package Set. NEW! Ages 16 and older. Includes: Exploding Paint Bubbles, Hair-Loss Hairbrush, The Bottomless Shot Glass (must be filled once), Glue-Gum and Much More!"
"You come anywhere near my hair with that..." Artimis growled, and Alexis smirked at her mischeviously, though not originally intending to test it out on her. No, a certain Potion's Master was the normal test subject, and by the look on his face, he knew it all too well.
"You guys rock. I'll try them out as soon as possible." Alexis thanked her half brothers, and they bowed to her.
"Since you're doing the family..." Charlie spoke up, tossing Alexis a package from where he lounged lazily in an armchair. Alexis caught the weighty, lightly wrapped parcel, eager as she opened it.
"Yes! I was waiting for this!' She exclaimed, running her hand over the large, hardcover book in her lap. Ron leaned over and read the title aloud wonderingly.
"Dragon Handling and Other Necessary Notes You Need to Know. Alexis, why would you be wanting tha-"
"Because!" Alexis cut him off hurriedly, but the intense looks she recieved from half the room told her that wasn't good enough. Alexis quickly thought up a good enough excuse. "Because ah... fine. Hagrid and I were discussing getting a dragon for Hogwarts. Like a guard, even a school mascot maybe."
"Alexis, Hogwarts 'mascot' is a boar." Severus spoke up from his seat on the couch, looking at her with a raised eyebrow and Alexis shrugged, stammering.
"W, well... no one ever said a mascot had to be the exact animal..."
The exasperated sighs that followed informed Alexis that they weren't going to question her further, so she let out a quiet sigh of relief that her real plan hadn't been ruined, then jumping when Ron wrapped his arms her, placing a basket in her lap. Alexis looked up into his smiling face, and he kissed her forehead before sitting back. Alexis tore off the wrapping, smiling widely at the huge box of Italian chocolates and a long, slender bottle of some of Naple's finest wine.
"Thought we could save that for a while, till after your pregnancy. Could celebrate." Ron spoke, and Alexis nodded, putting that aside and moving the rest of the paper in the basket to find another wrapped box. Alexis shredded the paper into confetti to find a set of her favorite games, Twister, and Twister: Dance Moves.
She squealed. "Dude! I lost this game like almost a year ago, and now I got two!" She turned and hugged Ron, who laughed as he hugged her back.
"Here Dearie." Molly spoke up chipperly, handing a few boxes to Alexis. She took them, opening them to find several outfits of knitted baby's clothes, all surprisingly cute, and even a few hats. Alexis frowned though upon looking at them, looking up at Molly and asking softly. "Uh, Mum? These are all... boy's clothes."
Molly looked unfazed. "Of course dear. Artimis told me that was what it was going to be."
Alexis's eyes widened as she spun to look at Artimis, who was smiling. "Got it out of Pomfrey after your last visit to see her."
"But she didn't even tell me!" Alexis exclaimed indignantly.
"I know. I told her not to. I like giving you surprises. Happy Birthday, it's a boy." Artimis spoke with a smug smirk, and Alexis swallowed as she looked at Ron.
She shuddered as a vauge flash of memory went off in her mind. A vision of a child... a boy child... and then the fear and an evil too great to hide...
"Alexis? Are you okay? You're pale..." Ron spoke with concern, moving beside Alexis and touching her cheek as the room quieted somewhat, looking to her. Alexis swallowed painfully, feeling shaky at the remembrance of that past vision, looking at Ron with slightly haunted eyes. But this was no place to cause a scene. She pushed back her nagging paranoia and forced a smile, giving her worried audience an excuse. "I'm fine... just a sudden dizzy spell... Well, we know what it's going to be now, and we can start buying things." She told Ron with slightly dimmed enthusiasm, but Ron was too excited to pick up on it as he nodded as a huge grin spread over his face and he hugged Alexis to him tightly.
Alexis leaned her head on his shoulder, drawing in a deep breath as wisps of familiar doubt flitted through her mind. She looked up, meeting Artimis's wary stare, and Alexis gave her an excuse mentally.
~I'll be fine... just... maybe a bit too much excitement...~
Artimis nodded slowly, answering back on the Mind Link. {Okay... as long as you're alright.}
Alexis nodded minutely, hugging Ron tight them letting him go with a smile.
"Okay then, I can't wait any longer." Artimis cut in, and they looked up as Artimis left the room for a minute. Alexis heard some struggling, and Draco disappeared to help his wife. A moment later they reappeared and Alexis couldn't help but smile at the sight of the huge stuffed toy horse.
"You did not..."
"Oh yes I did. You didn't think I was going to let you beat me with your huge stuffed wolf you got for Selena did you? She half the time sleeps on it... now you get to deal with lugging it around." Artimis told her, propping it up against the wall amidst laughter.
Alexis shook her head, smiling gratefully at her family, thankful that they were trying to make this as easy and comfortable for her as possible. She recieved a few more boxes, and while opening one from Remus, she spoke out above the crowd."Artimis's needs to start opening her presents! If we're lucky, we'll have enough wrapping paper and bows to re-wallpaper the ballroom upstairs!"
Ron laughed at her, and Artimis smiled as she gave in to the goading and sat on the couch, taking the nearest present with her name on it.
Artimis, after finishing opening her presents, which were all things she would need for the upcoming birth of her first son, was hungry. The last present to be recieved, which was from Severus and was for both her and Alexis, was two childharnesses. Severus, having gotten Alexis a green one and Artimis a blue one, commented.
"I figured if you two were going to have two more animals in the house, you would need proper handling equipment."
That brought an uproar of laughter and now it had stiffled as Alexis looked on the brink of tears, again. Not only that, but Artimis's ever growing baby was demanding some form of nourishment, in the form of protesting kicks to her kidneys.
"Ok, time for cake... I want cake, right now, and you really don't want to deny this pregnant woman cake." Artimis joked and everyone laughed as Molly and Hailey headed to the kitchen. The mere mention of cake brought Alexis back to her state of joy, though Artimis sensed a certain discomfort in Alexis's eyes, something that was making Alexis uneasy. Artimis shook her head from Alexis as Ron kissed her neck softly, making Alexis blush.
"Weasley, we have kids in the room." Severus barked as Selena and Christoph where playing at and on his feet, many times joined by Remus.
"Sev, shut up." Artimis replied, giving him a stern look. He raised an eyebrow at her and she let her mindblock down, trying to make a connection.
~She is feeling uncomfortable, so he was trying to ease her...~ Artimis conveyed and he shook his head at her smirking.
~Alright... And as a minor side note, if Whyte doesn't want me to know something she's thinking, she might want to not look at me and think it without her own mindblock up...~ Severus replied and then he broke the connection, looking down as Selena sat on his lap, proclaiming herself Queen of Uncle Severus's Lap.
Shaking her head, Artimis looked at Alexis, who had a faint smile playing on her lips as she looked over the cover ot the book Charlie had got her. Just as she was starting to ponder on that circumstance, she was pulled into an embrace from behind by her husband.
"You ok? You got really quiet." He asked and she smirked, kissing him softly.
"Yeah, just thinking and watching Selena playing. She's actually gonna have a playmate in some time, I mean besides her best friend Christoph." Artimis told him and he nodded as she turned back around. Just as Draco was about to say something, Molly and Hailey brought the cake in a placed it on the coffee table. This brought the attention of the children, who wanted to blow out the candles for Aunt Lexy. The only problem was, the candles weren't lit.
"Artimis, we couldn't find the matches or the lighter and if we use our wands, we might mess up the cake... Where'd you put them?" Hailey stated and Artimis sighed going to get up, but Alexis stopped her.
"I'll get it." She mused and then she focused on the candles for a second. Artimis shook her head as tears began to well in Alexis's eyes, meaning she had forgotten that she didn't have fire powers at the moment.
"Accio Lighter..." Artimis spoke as the lighter flew to her hand. Alexis, focusing hard on the candlewicks, sighed and turned, burying her head in Ron's shirt. Artimis handed the lighter to Hailey as she heard Ron speak.
"It's alright babe, you'll be able to do that again soon enough. Now look, the cake is ready for you to blow out your candles... You might want to do it before the kids beat you to it." Ron calmed her and Alexis turned around. Everyone began singing happy birthday to her and she looked at the cake and then closed her eyes thinking for a long while.
"Come on Aunt Lexy, the wax is dripping." Selena whined and after a second, Alexis blew out her candles, opening her eyes. Artims didn't know what Alexis wished for, but she knew it must have meant something to Alexis by the way she was staring at the wisps of smoke before Molly took over cake cutting.
A few minutes, after the cake had been distributed and Alexis came out of her reverie, as per ritual, Artimis got to smash the first peice of birthday cake in Alexis's face and Alexis smashed a piece in hers. It was a pretty good party, with its up and its near downs, but Artimis thought it went smashing as she watched Selena and Christoph trade bits of cake for bites of icecream.
Alexis watched as Hailey lit the candles on the cake, sniffling back the few tears after Ron's statement that eased her a bit better. She barely heard the room singing Happy Birthday as she stared at the little licks of flame on each of the candles, waiting for the end of the song while focusing all her attention and will on the flames. She knew it was a childish hope, but in this society of wizards, witches, and magic, you could never tell what could happen if you just had patience.
Finally the room finished singing, and Alexis closed her eyes tight, blocking out all thoughts of the room around her as she made her birthday wish with all the earnestness she could muster.
Please... please don't let my Vision come true...
She thought hard on that one thought for a moment, never having wished so much before that she wasn't a Seer. Finally, a voice cut through her reverie. "Come on Aunt Lexy, the wax is dripping."
Alexis drew in a deep breath, and blew out the candles on the cake, sealing her wish. She opened her eyes, the room coming back into focus as she stared at the little trails of smoke that wisped from the slender candles, lost in thought.