Author's Note:
Lily and Artemis fight, Artemis graduates, everything changes, Artemis gets married, and Lily will soon.
September 1976
"Do you really have to ask?"
"You asked before my fifth year, and who am I to deny tradition? I am a Slytherin, you know."
"Yes, you are clever and cunning, but are you really traditional or self-preserving? I mean, look at your friendship with me, not very traditional or self-preserving," Lily claimed, doubtful.
"Fair enough, what O.W.L.s are you taking?"
"Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic, DADA, Arithmancy, Herbology, and Muggle Studies. Though at this point I'm thinking about dropping Muggle Studies. And your NEWTs?"
"Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Astronomy, Herbology, DADA, Spell Creation, Magical Theory, and Alchemy. You know, if your OWLs take up too much time, we could always limit our study sessions," Artemis joked.
"Don't you dare. I love seeing Remus confused with our relationship."
"It's not that confusing. It's not strictly romantic or platonic, but it has parts of both."
"I'm sorry that we can't just study in the library like we used to, but I think the Room of Requirement makes a nice alternative."
"I don't mind too much. It's your self-preservation, maybe you are a Slytherin after all."
"Potter, Black, Lupin, Pettigrew."
"Snape," James returned.
"Come to attack me, again?" Snape asked.
"They're pranks," James defended.
"Keep telling yourself that."
"Severus, how are your classes going?" Lily greeted her friend.
"Can you tell Potter to stop attacking me?"
"What?"
"Potter and his friends, could you get them to stop? He would listen to you."
"What are you talking about, Sev?"
"Do you really not see it?" Snape asked.
"Why would James attack you?"
"How can you not see it!? Stupid Mudblood!… No, I didn't me-"
"She knows perfectly well what you meant," Artemis replied and followed Lily to the Room of Requirement after a few moments.
"I think that went better than we could have hoped for," Lucius whispered to Mulciber.
"Is Black defending her? Is she a Blood Traitor?" Mulciber asked.
"Obliviate," Lucius cast, unemotionally.
"Lily, how can I help?"
"Just be here with me." Artemis nodded and comforted Lily for the night.
Lily was awake before Artemis, so she knew when the latter woke up. When Artemis moved to get up, Lily stopped her by pinning Artemis beneath her. Lily's face hovered Artemis'.
"I'm so glad that we're friends again, Artemis. How would you feel about a queerplatonic one as well?"
Artemis lifted her head until her lips met Lily's.
"Artemis, how will things change when you leave?" Lily asked.
"I believe you are specifically asking about our relationship?" Lily nodded. "Well, it will have to change a bit. I'll have to marry some Pureblood Head of House. I will always love you, Lily."
"But you have to marry someone else."
"I'm so sorry, Lily," Artemis cried.
"I understand, I don't like it, but I understand. You're a Pureblood, I'm a Mudblood."
"Please don't call yourself that, Lily. You are not what these bigots think of you. No one is. You are the smartest witch I know, incredibly kind and brave. You are a bright light amidst the darkness of the world. You are everything. You mean everything to me"
"You know, I don't think you have the right to just call everyone else a bigot anymore. Considering you're going to be marrying one of them."
"Not by choice, surely you must understand that?"
"I've understood a lot. I don't think I can understand this. You're practically keeping me a secret from everyone, you're scared of your mother. You don't want a romantic relationship for some reason, I get that. But distancing yourself from me and marrying someone that could end up killing me? No, I can't understand that."
"Not wanting a romantic relationship? I thought you liked our relationship, you suggested it yourself," Artemis said, hurt.
"I did, but I was expecting it to evolve, to be more than friends that made out some times."
"Romantic relationships are not more than platonic ones. What if I promised you that I wouldn't marry anyone that you don't approve of? You can join us at some point, meet him, and be the final decision."
"You would do that?"
"I love you, Lily. I want to stay with you in any way that I can. I would do almost anything to keep you safe and happy."
"Almost anything?"
"My House has to come first, Sirius and Regulus."
"I think I understand better now. I'm sorry we fought, I was just upset."
"I understand."
"Sirius, you continue to bring this family to ruin. I don't understand how you can call yourself a Black."
"What did I do this time, mother?"
"Your OWLs came back. I'm starting to think Artemis' disciplinary measures are not strong enough."
"You'd have to take that up with Artemis, now, wouldn't you?"
"I'm not going to bother your sister, she is currently moving into Black Manor. She has graduated, you know."
"Black Manor?"
"Do you not remember the family properties?" Walburga asked, exasperated.
"James, can I stay here for a bit?"
"Sure, Sirius, come right in."
'Dear James Potter,
I would like to thank you for housing my brother during this time where my brother and mother can not live in the same house. Your hospitality has been noticed and is appreciated. If you or my brother needs anything from myself, please do not hesitate to owl me.'
"That was quick," James quipped.
"A shame on this family, he doesn't understand the responsibilities of this House," Walburga wailed to Kreacher.
"The Blood Traitor does not deserve to be a member of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."
"Maybe he doesn't have to be." Walburga used her wand to burn Sirius off of the Black family tree.
"Uncle Alphard."
"Artemis, or should I say Lady Black, what brings you here?"
"Artemis is fine, I have a favor to ask you. Sirius has run off to live with the Potters, as you might know, I want you to give him some assistance. I would give it, but I don't want to openly oppose what my mother has decided our House thinks of his decision."
"So you want me to give him money and protection, I can do that. What protects me from Walburga's wrath?" he asked and joked.
"The worst she could do is burn you off of the tapestry, but it wouldn't be official as she is not the magical Head of House. It's the same with Sirius."
"Anything for you, Artemis."
"I'll join the Dark Lord."
"What?"
"I said I will join the Dark Lord, become a Death Eater."
"Why?"
"I feel as if I must."
"I love you, Regulus. If this is what you choose to do, I will make it happen. I trust your judgment, but don't feel that you have to do anything because of me."
"I know, Artemis, I know."
"Bella, you mentioned wanting to join the Dark Lord. Doing so has become in the best interest of this family."
"Thank you, Artemis. I am honored to serve this family and the Dark Lord."
"But remember that your loyalty is first to you House."
"Of course."
"I believe I remember you from Hogwarts."
"It is an honour to be remembered, my Lord," Walburga told the Dark Lord.
"Lady Black, I pleasure to meet you."
"A pleasure to meet you as well, Lord Voldemort," she addressed him as an equal.
"You wanted to speak with me, I believe."
"Yes, I believe there should be an alliance between yourself and the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."
"An alliance?"
"And as a gesture towards said alliance, I give you Regulus and Bellatrix as servants toward your cause."
"But not yourself?"
"No, my first responsibilities are to my House."
"Do you not believe our interests are aligned?"
"As long as they are, I believe we will have a prosperous alliance."
"I see. I know you are familiar with Lucius Malfoy, but I do not believe you have met Antonin Dolohov."
"I don't believe I have had the pleasure. Lady Artemis Black."
"Lord Antonin Dolohov." The pair walked to talk alone while Voldemort spoke with Regulus and Bellatrix, and Lucius and Narcissa spoke.
"It is not often that someone tells the Dark Lord no."
"The members of my family deserve to decide where their loyalties fall, other than to the House of course. If I served him, every Black would have to."
"The role of a Head of House."
"Are you not a Head of House yourself?" Artemis asked.
"I am, but my House has few members left. And as a Russian House, it means less in Britain than a Western European one does."
"Lily."
"Yes, James?"
"Will you go out with me?"
"Sure."
"Really?"
"We can go on a date," Lily agreed.
"You asked to speak with me, Malfoy?"
"Yes, I would like to ask for your permission for Narcissa's hand in marriage."
"I will give you an answer by the end of the week."
"Thank you, Black."
"Cissy, I have recently received a petition for your hand from Lucius Malfoy. I will reject it unless you want to marry him."
"I will marry him, if you approve."
"Are you sure? I want you to decide, Cissy."
"Yes, I am sure."
"Alright, but you will have to wait until you graduate to marry."
"Thank you, Artemis."
"I want you to be happy."
"He will take care of me."
"You may marry Narcissa. I will form an arrangement with your father."
"Thank you, Lady Black," the title trying but failing to not sound sarcastic.
"Lord Malfoy, I am glad we have the pleasure to meet again."
"And under such circumstances, no less."
"I don't want them to marry until after Narcissa has graduated," Artemis gave the first condition, getting right to the point.
"I can agree to that. I understand that Lucius owes this family's protection over an individual. How would you like to handle this?"
"I believe that anyone the House of Black provides protections should also be protected by the House of Malfoy."
"Everyone?"
"This is the best possible match for your family. Your only son, a family close to Lord Voldemort. That will be off-putting to several Pureblood families. However, the Black's have an alliance with him."
"Their marriage will be beneficial to your House as well. Your alliance will be strengthened."
"It will, but I have other family members that can marry into families close to Voldemort."
"Not as close as the Malfoys."
"I'm willing to offer their child a position on the line of succession to the House of Black."
"Deal."
"I thought you could see things my way."
"I have missed you, my cousins," Artemis told Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa smiling at them.
"We have missed you as well, Artemis," Andromeda responded.
"We know Cissy's engaged. What about you, Artemis?" Bellatrix asked.
"I've heard rumors that you are courting Antonin Dolohov," Andromeda told her sisters.
"I remember seeing you meet, you looked good together," said Cissy.
"We aren't officially courting, but unofficially…What about you? Bella, Andromeda?"
"Rodolphus Lestrange and I might court."
"There's someone that I graduated with, but I'm not sure if you would approve."
"He's a Blood Traitor, isn't he?" Bella asked.
"You could say that."
"Dromeda, you have to honor the House of Black. How can you do that with a Blood Traitor?" Bella berated.
"Artemis, could we talk?" Lily asked.
"What about?"
"James and I have been dating for a few months, I think he might propose soon."
"Oh, if he makes you happy then that's great."
"He does, but that's not all. I was given an opportunity to join the Order."
"The Order of the Phoenix? You're not thinking about fighting, are you?"
"Yes, I am," Lily defended. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"I don't want you to get hurt, Lily. If you want to join the Order of the Phoenix, fine. Become a healer, you would be wonderful at it and you could help people."
"I suppose I might consider doing that."
"I might be courting someone as well."
"Who?"
"Antonin Dolohov."
"The Death Eater?!"
"I like him. He's intelligent, we create spells together. He has ethics."
"Oh, yes. That's how I would describe most Death Eaters, ethical."
"He is though. He would never hurt anyone that wasn't in the War."
"But everyone in the Order, they're free game?"
"It's a war, Lily. People will die."
"I know that! But that doesn't mean that I have to be okay with my friend marrying a man that would kill me or my future husband. What if he killed Sirius?"
"He wouldn't do that, he wouldn't kill any of you."
"How do you know for sure?"
"Magical individuals, when they marry into the family of another magical individual, their families intertwine. The magic intertwines like the branches in a family tree. The magic in the Dolohov's family prevents them from killing family members."
"Really, and why is that?"
"At some point, it became an issue, so it was added to the family magic. Anyone within so many levels of relation could die from his hand."
"How comforting. Is that why you're okay with me marrying James? Because then you can justify marrying a Death Eater?"
"No. I want you to be safe, Lily."
"Is that your argument for everything, you care about my safety? I can handle myself, Artemis."
"Sorry to interrupt, but I needed to speak with Artemis," Andromeda interrupted their argument.
"I was just leaving."
"Yes, Andromeda?" Artemis asked after sighing.
"Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to come clean to you about what I was talking about with Bella and Cissy."
"Yes?"
"The person I was talking about, he's a Muggleborn."
"Definitely a Blood Traitor," Artemis joked. "Well, if you really want to marry him, I'm sorry but I must insist you elope and hide at least for a little while. Don't let my mother, your parents, or Bella find out for as long as possible. I'm not quite sure how Cissy would react."
"You're okay with it?" she asked, unbelieving.
"I know what it's like to love a Muggleborn."
"The girl you were arguing with?"
"Yes, Lily Evans. There is very little I wouldn't do for her. It is my job to allow the members of the House of Black to be free to make their own decisions."
"Thank you, Artemis."
"I want you to be happy, Andromeda. Be safe."
"Lily."
"Yes, Artemis?"
"I want to apologize. I have been treating you like a member of my House. Like you are someone to protect and manipulate. I don't want to manipulate you, I love you."
"I love you too, Artemis. But you can't manipulate me."
"I'll try not to."
"That's all I ask. I'm actually glad you recommended becoming a Healer, I'm enjoying it so far, helping people."
"I'm glad."
"Artemis, will you marry me?"
"How does this work with you being a servant to Voldemort, do you need his permission? Do you have that? I would hate to plan a wedding only for my family's alliance to fall apart because you didn't ask for permission," Artemis joked, smiling brightly at her soon-to-be fiancé.
"Can you just answer the question and let me worry about the Dark Lord?"
"Yes. I will marry you."
"Lily, how would you like to be my Maid of Honor?"
"He proposed!?"
"And I said yes," she smiled.
"I'm so happy for you, and of course I'll be your Maid of Honor! How exactly will that work? It's not like many people in your family can know I'm helping you."
"Maids of Honor aren't really a thing in wizarding society. Mostly the brides plan the whole thing, but I'll have you. At the wedding, you'll probably need to be under the invisibility cloak, I'm sorry."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, even if I have to stay under a cloak."
"Thank you, Lily."
"Remember, I still get the final say."
"I'll plan a dinner, you can come over. The last day of Spring Hols?"
"I can't wait."
"Artemis is getting married!" Lily told her fiancé.
"She is? To who?"
"I must have told you she was courting Antonin Dolohov before."
"I think I would have remembered if you told me your friend was marrying a Death Eater. How can you be okay with this?!"
"She likes him, James. I'm going to meet him."
"He's a Death Eater, Lily. Are you sure you should meet him alone?"
"Artemis will be there."
"Then I'll be there too."
"What, you can't just invite yourself James."
"Ask Artemis if I can go. Please, Lily."
"I'll ask. I can take care of myself, James."
"I know you can, Lily. I just, I'm scared for you."
"Can you tell me again why I have to meet Potter? I understand Lily, but Potter?"
"She insisted, wanted to ease his doubts or something. It's just one night, Antonin."
"Lily, James, welcome. Please come in."
"He is my fiancé, Antonin Dolohov. Antonin, this is Lily Evans and James Potter."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"A pleasure to meet you as well," Lily responded.
"A pleasure, I'm sure," James added. "It's been too long since I have seen you, Artemis."
"And yourself, James."
"So what's it like serving a genocidal meglomaniac?" James asked.
"James!" Lily admonished, but Dolohov laughed.
"Do not make me regret letting you accompany Lily," Artemis projected to James.
"What am I supposed to say?" James quietly asked Artemis.
"What House were you in at Hogwarts?" Lily asked.
"I did not go to Hogwarts, Houses were a thing but were nowhere near as important."
"Really, where did you go? Durmstrang?"
"Yes, you know of it. Since the Tri-Wizard Tournament ended, many Hogwarts students do not recognize my alma mater."
"Yes, I love learning about different wizarding schools. There is one in Africa where most if not all of the students become animagi."
"How did I not know about that?" James asked.
"If you went into the library more than a day of cramming before each of your exams, you might learn a bit more than what's taught at Hogwarts," Lily sarcastically informed James.
Both Dolohov and Artemis laughed at this.
"How have we not met before?" Dolohov asked Lily.
"Well, I am a Muggleborn."
"I do not have much against Muggleborns."
"You don't? Why did you become a Death Eater?" Lily accused.
"I was, and still am, entranced by the Dark Arts. He gave an opportunity to use skills that others would have suppressed or hidden."
"Are there other people that join him because of that?" Lily asked.
"Most of his followers have their own reasons for joining, I can only speak for my own."
"Artemis, could I have a word with you?" James asked.
Artemis nodded and walked to the kitchen.
"Have you ever created your own spell, Lily?" Dolohov asked.
"Not a spell, no. Though I have created several potions."
"Ah, so that's the reason."
"The reason for what?" Lily asked.
"That you're attracted to Potter."
"What do you mean?"
"The Potter family is known for their potion prowess. They have developed many potions in common use like Skele-gro and Pepper-up Potion."
"What does that have to do with anything? I love James."
"I don't doubt that, but there is a concept seen throughout history that if a House becomes known for a specific type of magic it will draw to it those that have an affinity for the type of magic."
"That sounds a little too close to Divination for my liking."
"I am not saying the only reason you are together is your potion prowess and his family's, that would be ridiculous. I am merely letting you know about a phenomenon that you happen to support as does Artemis."
"How does Artemis support it?"
"My family is known for its ability in spell creation, specifically with the Dark Arts. She is also brilliant at spell creation, less so the Dark variant though she is adept at that as well."
"That's interesting," she said, intensely in thought.
"I think so as well."
"This cloak is too crowded," Sirius complained.
"She wanted the three of us here, at her wedding."
"Why couldn't I have gone out there? They wouldn't kill me, especially with Artemis right there."
"Be quiet, Sirius, or we'll get caught," Remus chastised.
"Calm down, Moony. I cast a muffling charm, no one outside of the cloak can hear us."
"Good idea, Sirius."
"Thank you, Lily. Finally, someone that appreciates me. If you weren't engaged to my best friend I might propose right here."
"I think I've figured it out, Artemis."
"Another spell? I've only just found a counter to the last one."
"I'm not sure if a counter will be possible for this one, it kills quickly."
"You look a little too happy about another murder spell."
"It is an incredible spell," not as defensive as would have been if anyone else had said it. He knew that she was proud of him, even if she was his toughest critic.
"If you don't say so yourself. Tell me about it."
"The incantation is intabeviscus, and it causes all of one's organs to liquefy."
"Did you modify the entrail-expelling curse?"
"I did."
"You know, if you keep making these spells that kill before they can be countered, I might actually have time to create my own spells."
"What are you talking about? I have to keep you busy. I can't allow your genius to let you obsess over any spell for too long."
"I think I've made a curse."
"What does it do?" Antonin asked his wife.
"Inflictum mactabiis," she used the spell, creating a zig-zag purple flame. "When it's used on living beings it stops whatever it hits. I believe it's always fatal, even wandlessly."
"May I?"
"Of course."
"You're getting married in a month, Lily!"
"I know, I'm so excited."
"A February wedding. It will be beautiful."