CHAPTER 20: WHOLE NEW LEVEL

"So," Artemis stood in King's Cross station with Butler. The Eurasian bodyguard towering over everyone else was not exactly inconspicuous, nor was the pale, sharply dressed young man next to him, "I am to board the train at Platform nine and three-quarters, correct?" Cat sprawled across Butler's shoulders, fast asleep.

"That's right," Butler said, shifting his young charge's luggage from one inhumanly strong arm to the other. "It should take you straight to Hogsmeade Station."

"Excellent…So, how do I reach it?" the young adult genius stared from platform nine to platform ten. There was nothing in between them.

"Thought you'd never ask," Butler chuckled. "You just need to—"

"Hey, Artemis!" A familiar voice reached them, and Artemis the Second exhaled deeply through his nose. The last thing he wanted was a complicated goodbye. "Long time, no see."

"It is nice to see you again, N01," he turned around, only to come face to face with a human boy! "My apologies," he blinked, "I thought you were someone else." Who was this kid? He seemed like a preteen. Did he make a business deal with the boy's parents? The boy just laughed and winked an electric-blue eye.

"This is just a glamour, Artemis," he spoke in Gnommish. "I learned how to make those years ago. See the eye color? They say the eyes are windows to the soul, but these are more of a window to the magic holding this all together." Indeed, looking more closely, Artemis could see the slightest vibration in N01's false eyes, like the disguise hid a sea of power beneath its surface.

"Fascinating." Indeed, though he rarely got to meet the busy demon warlock, what with each of their busy schedules, such encounters always revealed more about the world of fairy magic. He realized with a pang that he was basically about to disappear for a while without telling his friends, after all their adventures…

"What's wrong?" N01 studied his face. It was almost disturbing, how he seemed capable of reading others like open books. Not even Artemis could conceal anything from him. "You're teeming with human magic, but it's obvious you're under stress."

"You can see human magic, too?" Artemis's eyes flew open. Of course! How could he have forgotten the most powerful warlock under the world could see all sorts of energy? He felt like punching himself.

"Of course I can," N01 laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. He was so loose and confident…not like the shy little imp Artemis had met nearly ten years ago. Nostalgia stabbed Artemis in the gut. "There's a lot I know about besides that, but don't worry—your secrets are safe with me."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Imagine the panic if the Underground knew human wizards still exist to this day! Anyway, are you sure you won't at least tell Holly about this? Maybe the L.E.P. could use this knowledge for the better."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Artemis put a grave note in his voice. "I understand fairies are generally peace-loving, but knowledge of wizards is something I cannot risk falling into the wrong hands."

"I understand," N01 nodded wisely, "but I still don't see why you'd keep something like this from everyone. Does Minerva know?"

"No. Nobody in our social circle knows, except my family and Butler. Please, N01, do not tell anyone else—not even Qwan."

"Alright," N01 sighed. "Just don't get into a huge mess, okay? Butler's not the only one who worries about you. Here, let me give you a magical tune-up," he took hold of his human friend's hands, and Artemis got a feeling things were about to get painful. "Your skeleton can barely hold your ancestral magic."

"Are you sure this is safe?" Butler asked the warlock nervously.

"Maybe."

Before either human could ask what the demon meant by 'maybe', Artemis felt coils of intense electricity writhing up his arms and charging through him. His joints spasmed uncontrollably, and he almost screamed when the energy raked violently through bone and nerve. In a matter of seconds, the attack was over. Artemis clicked his jaw a few times, noting the smoke coming from inside himself.

"Please explain this…excruciating process," Artemis requested. He was curious to know what exactly happened just then. "I somehow feel much better than I have in years."

"What did you do to him?" Butler asked, wide-eyed. N01 laughed.

"I fixed him. His bones are less brittle, his joints are lubricated, immune system boosted, synapses cleared, and hair more lustrous. I also bolstered his protection rune so he'll never get possessed and imbued him with a special blend of my power. Human power really is something special, by the way," the demon warlock regarded Artemis with interest. "As far as I can tell, your body is constantly generating its own magic from the surrounding environment, like a plant undergoing photosynthesis."

"I can give you my notes on it the next time we meet," Artemis offered. "It is such a fascinating subject, I could not help comparing and contrasting fairy and human magic."

"That would be great! Do you also have notes about giants?"

"Giants?" Artemis furrowed his brow for a moment, then it dawned on him. "Butler!" Artemis whipped around to face his bodyguard. "Why did you keep your ancestry from me?"

"My what now?" Butler was confused. "I am not sure I follow."

"It's way too far back in his ancestry, Artemis. I doubt he knows about Virgil Butler's giantess mother." N01 interjected.

"Oh, that makes sense." Artemis seemed perfectly fine with this explanation. Butler, on the other hand, was gaping in disbelief. "Could that be why the Butlers began serving the Fowls?"

"It could be," N01 shrugged. "If you want, I can extract some race memory from him. I would just need a DNA sample."

"I don't think I—" Butler was about to object: he wasn't too keen on being their new test subject.

"That would be wonderful!" Artemis exclaimed. "You can sample him once I return for the Christmas holiday." He had been keeping track of the seconds since this conversation began, so as not to miss his train. "I will take the next thirty seconds to say goodbye, old friend."

"Bye! I have to go to a conference right now, but consider me booked when you return!" the demon saluted and left as Artemis relieved Butler of the luggage.

Artemis Fowl II brought only the essentials: a large carry on, a stack of books, and a high-quality black briefcase with the initials AF inside a Roman numeral two in solid gold on the top lid. The unathletic young man struggled with the weight until he found a decent way to carry everything.

"Are you ready to go?" Butler smirked at him.

"Yes, I am." Artemis tried hard not to sound indignant.

"Okay, then. All you have to do…" the mountain of a man pointed at the side of the column marking platform ten, "is run straight into that wall without hesitation." Artemis stared at him.

"You are kidding…aren't you?"

Butler shook his head. "Nope."

Oh, well, Artemis blinked away his shock. At least the cat may not want to follow me headfirst into a brick wall. He had nothing against animals, but this one already kept getting fur all over his clothing, and she sat on top of anything he happened to need at any given moment. She never left him alone, even going so far as to wait outside the restroom door any time he used it!

"Well, Cat," Artemis wanted to look like he at least tried getting her to accompany him, "we have to be going now. Run into the bricks behind me, okay?" Without checking to see if she even woke up, he summoned his determination and sprinted into the baked clay and old cement. Instantly, he was in the midst of a bustling station, the number nine and three-quarters displayed proudly above him. He had no idea how many wizards travelled between the wizarding and Muggle worlds!

"You goin' to Hogsmeade, young man?" an old woman addressed him.

"I do not see why that would be your business, madam," Artemis regarded her coolly. She walked away perturbed, stammering "lovely cat" before leaving earshot.

Lovely cat…? Artemis looked down at his feet. Surely enough, there was Cat, purring and sniffing the air like a connoisseur of atmosphere. "You followed me!" She met his gaze with big, happy eyes. Artemis couldn't help chuckling "You are definitely loyal, I'll give you that."

"Meow," Cat replied as if she understood him.

"Just try not to trip me for the dozenth time."

Cat nuzzled his leg. More hairs for the road.

Ah, nothing like some good self-isolation to finally give me my life back. I missed you!

So, I understand we may be experiencing stress—some more than others. I hope this update can bring a smile to your face, and I would like to do more for you!

On to the usual notes (gosh, this feels pleasant):

N01 FIXING ARTEMIS: He did this for Holly in TLG, so I figured he could do it to Artemis, as well! The things he did are identical to the repairs he made on Cpt. Short. Did he do this before? Nope. Why not? I guess Arty awakening the fullness of his ancestral magic put a strain on his body? By the way, how does one properly say his name?

HUMAN V. FAIRY MAGIC: Fairies have to regenerate their magic through a ritual each Moon cycle. I decided part of their struggle in fighting against human warlocks (i.e. wizards) could be attributed to a difference in how their magic works. Fairies basically need to ask nature for their magic by renewing their connection with it; meanwhile, humans are constantly regenerating magic from the environment. Basically, fairies are like vessels whereas humans are like conductors or reactors. Perhaps the term Mud Man can have its "true" (fanmade) origins in how humans are made of Earth, and therefore inherently linked with it on another level (ashes to ashes, dust to dust). This begs the question, then…What are fairies made of? Maybe the Fowls can tell us at some point; however, their research hasn't extended that far, as that is not their main focus right now. (Translation: It's 2:15 AM, and I have yet to think of an explanation for the fairies' composition as opposed to the carbon-based/Earth-based humans…extraterrestrials? Oh! Maybe that could work. Maybe it would be reversed in their homeworld or the Moon, which they have been away from so long history forgot about their emigration?)

I do not own Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl, or their respective franchises.

P.S. I usually read comments as they are sent in or when I have time to. Looking back through them at once, though, has been a wonderful and encouraging experience for me! Everything from the appreciation, to the constructive criticism, to the random exclamations puts a huge smile on my face, and I cannot thank you enough for your support! Enjoy reading on, and hopefully I can post more in this and my other stories now that I've kicked things off with an all-nighter.

I love you all!

Sincerely

Jonquil Gemstone