Promises Kept
Disclaimer 1: This is AU and OC.Artemis is mine. Pretty much everything else is JKR's and her publisher's. I write this merely for entertainment and the joy of writing, and believe me – I don't profit from it in any monetary way.
Author's note: This little story started running around my brain after I read the final Harry Potter book. For those of you who have read my other Severus Snape stories (Thunderstruck and Silver Panther), be warned – this is a TOTALLY different story, and a universe where Serena doesn't exist. Trust me, I still have some Serena-Severus stories brewing, but this one is totally different. Just wanted to set your expectations. I hope you enjoy it as much as my others.
Chapter 1: Paths Cross
"Look chaps, there's old Snivellus Snape." James' jeer carried through the air. "Let's go see if anyone's going with him to the Ball after next week's final Quidditch game… I bet the Giant Squid's the only one who could put up with touching… OOF!"
In an instant, James Potter was in a heap on the ground, covered with dust, hearing the laughter of other students around him. He scrambled to his feet and turned to confront whoever had made him fall. Artemis Ollivander sat quietly, her eyebrows raised, with her back against a tree. Her leg was stuck straight out.
"What's the big idea?" shouted James, embarrassed.
"What?" snapped Artemis. "I was sitting here long before you came by, James. Don't blame me because you aren't smart enough to look where you're going."
"Look where I'm going? Where I'm going? You did that on purpose!"
Artemis stood up and put her hands on her hips. She glared back at James. "I'd like to see you prove that, Potter. Don't make the mistake of starting something with me that you can't finish." Around them, some of the other students started to whisper and point. Artemis wasn't one to normally cause trouble, but she did have a reputation that dictated she would finish any fight that someone started with her. She was a scrappy little witch.
"Come on, Prongs," said Sirius, sensing that James was only moments away from drawing his wand. "It's not worth it."
"Says who?" James was still irritated. The fall had happened right in front of Lily Evans and he felt like a fool. He knew he looked a bit ridiculous squaring off with a 16-year-old girl, but his ego wouldn't let it go.
"Listen to your friend, Potter. Getting your ass kicked by a girl isn't going to enhance your reputation any. It sure won't get you a date for the Quidditch Ball after next week's game." Artemis folded her arms in front of her, a clear dare for him to continue this idiocy.
"Like you have a date… what, going to go with Snivelly over there?" James laughed.
Artemis took three steps closer until she was toe to toe with him. "If Severus asked me, I would go with him. I'd take brains over brawn any day of the week."
During this entire exchange, Severus watched intently. He'd known that James was on his way over to taunt him, and he'd been ready, his hand clutching his wand. He'd watched Artemis stick her leg out. She hadn't looked up from her book, but Severus knew she'd done it on purpose. He wasn't, however, about to mention that to Potter.
As Artemis continued to antagonize James Potter, which pleased him to no end, Severus began to look at her in a whole new light. Like him, she was in Slytherin, and he'd seen her around for all the years they'd been in school. She didn't seem to really have an interest in Malfoy and his crew, but she wasn't a recluse either. She had her own circle of friends that intersected with his from time to time.
What he realized now was that Artemis had changed, but for a moment, he couldn't put his finger on what it was. Her dark hair was still arrow straight, falling just past her shoulders, but that was no different. Then it came to him. Artemis had curves – all the right kind of curves to interest a young man. She was no longer the skinny, slab-sided tomboy he'd seen trying out for the Quidditch team. She was actually quite pretty.
When Severus pulled out of his sudden enlightenment, Artemis was sitting down again, and had picked up her book. She completely ignored James, who stood in front of her, fuming, and made sure her leg was stuck straight out as if that was how it had been all along.
James ran a hand through is messy dark hair. Sirius pulled at his elbow. "C'mon mate, this is stupid."
Remus whispered. "Padfoot's right. Plus, Lily is watching. What's she going to think if you keep fighting with Artemis?"
James shrugged. "Yea, you're right. Let's go." He turned his attention towards Lily. "Hey, Evans…"
His attention on Lily Evans got Severus' ire up. He adored Lily, loved her even. And that prat wanted her. He couldn't stand the idea of James and Lily getting together. He'd rather gnaw his own hand off. But you blew it, Sev, he thought to himself. Lily was your friend and you ruined it.
He was thinking of the day that he'd called Lily a "mudblood." In a fit of anger that had been directed at James Potter it had slipped out. That one mistake had ruined everything. Lily had never really forgiven him for that, and after that day, he'd watch Lily slowly get pulled into James Potter's orbit.
He looked up and saw Artemis looking at him. She smiled and nodded and he smiled back. Artemis dropped her eyes back down to her book, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks. She'd been trying to find a way to get Severus to notice her for quite some time.
"That was an interesting exchange," said a cool voice. Severus looked up to find Lucius Malfoy standing next to him, but Lucius was looking over at Artemis. "She's turned rather delicious, hasn't she? I don't think I'd mind having a bite of that!" He laughed.
Somehow, Severus didn't find the comment quite as amusing as Malfoy did, and then Artemis' words floated through his mind… "If Severus asked me, I would go with him…" Severus tucked his book under his arm and stood up to face Lucius. "If you don't mind, Lucius, you can take your appetite elsewhere. I was thinking of asking her to the Quidditch Ball." His tone clearly warned Malfoy away. "And I don't think Cissy would appreciate you sniffing around Artemis."
"You're probably right," answered Lucius. He gave Severus a sly look, "Good luck with it then. Let me know how she is… Ah!" His attention was distracted by the appearance of Narcissa, better known as Cissy to her friends. She was his newest girlfriend. After Lucius walked off, Severus realized that Artemis was gone. He cursed under his breath and then saw her a short distance away, heading back towards Slytherin House. He hurried to catch up.
"Artemis!" he called.
She turned and waited. "Hi, Severus."
"Are you headed back to the common room? I'll walk with you."
"What were you reading?"
"This? Oh, nothing much." He looked down at the book in his hands. "It is just a copy of A Dissertation on Defending Dark Charms. You?"
"Subadar's Astronometric Theory."
Severus stopped. "So, Artemis, I was wondering…"
She turned to face him, her arms holding the astronomy book across her chest, with a smile. Severus stopped talking for a moment, distracted; her brown eyes were enormous.
"You were wondering what?" she asked.
"Oh, um, sorry… I was thinking that if you weren't already going with someone to the Ball next week that… well, maybe…" He took a breath, looked away, and then looked directly at her. "I was wondering if you might be interested in going with… well, with me."
Her smile widened. "I'd like that very much, Severus."
"Right. Great. We can talk later this week about when to meet." He was still a little flustered. He was no stranger to dating; Severus had dated several Slytherin girls, although he suspected that they were interested in him more as a way to get close to Lucius than any other reason. Nevertheless, asking a girl out for the first time was still a terrifying experience. He wished, more than once, that he'd screwed up the courage to ask Lily out, but there was no more chance of that.
They chatted about safe topics on the way back to Slytherin House: classes, books they'd read, and the upcoming Quidditch game. Once they arrived, Severus said good-bye and went into the boys' rooms. Artemis sat down in the common room with her two closest friends, Raven Statham and Clarissa Rossi.
"You're looking rather happy," said Raven. "What kind of trouble are you into, Artemis?"
"I'm not into any trouble," said Artemis with a laugh. "But I do have a date to the Ball…"
"A date? Who asked you?" Clarissa leaned forward, eager and expectant.
"Severus." Artemis leaned back on the sofa and smiled.
Clarissa and Raven looked at each other. "Severus Snape?" they asked in unison.
"Yes," answered Artemis.
"Good for you," said Raven. "You've always liked him, right?"
"And he's friends with Lucius," sighed Clarissa.
"This isn't going to make Neela happy," said Raven thoughtfully.
"Neela can piss off," said Artemis. Her voice cooled significantly. Neela Nelson, a girl in the year below Artemis, had been flirting more and more with Severus, obviously making an effort to interest him. Even if Severus hadn't really noticed it, Artemis had, and it didn't make her happy.
Right now, however, Neela was a distant irritation. Severus asked me to the dance, not that silly cow. Raven and Clarissa continued to gossip about who did or did not have a date for the dance, and whether or not Lucius Malfoy would stay steady with Cissy. Artemis opened her astronometrics book up again and started to read. Before she started, however, she glanced at the door that guarded the boys' dorm, and smiled.
-- -- --
Well, there's chapter one for y'all. Hope you've enjoyed the start. "Promises Kept" will actually be two stories in one. In Part 1, the story will cover the start of Sev and Artemis' relationship. Part 2 will happen much later on. It will make more sense when we get to the "break" in the stories. I'll update as frequently as I can, but can't promise a regular schedule.
Feedback is always welcome so long as it is constructive. If you don't like something, tell me WHY you don't like it… that's the only way a writer can improve. And if you DO like something, tell me that, too so I know what is working.