Blood to Gold
By Elbereth in April
Chapter 4
Artemis's first class was History of Magic with the Ravenclaws. He walked there with the other third year boys. Draco was sharing information about various people they passed, mainly in the form of nasty insults.
"About Crabbe and Goyle." Artemis cast a sideways glance back at them, walking just behind.
Draco raised his eyebrows. "Yeah?"
"They seem to serve as sort of--unofficial bodyguards."
"Yeah. They work pretty well. . . not too bright, though."
As they were about to enter the door of their classroom, another group of students tried to enter at the same time, cutting them off.
"Hey!" Draco yelled angrily. "We were here first! Quit blocking the doorway!"
The group turned--three girls and one boy, dressed in Ravenclaw colors. One was Cho Chang.
"You don't *own* this school, Malfoy," the girl next to her snapped.
Artemis nodded to Cho. "Hello, Chang. Who's your friend?"
Cho blushed. "Oh, um, Artemis. This is Marietta Edgecombe. And that's Leonard Bevly and that's Daedelus Mayes."
Artemis's eyes widened a fraction as his stomach flipped. He had no particular burning interest in girls yet, but it occurred to him that Daedelus was a very pretty girl. She had light brown hair that framed her heart-shaped face in long, spiral curls, and eyes of the deepest blue.
"Chivalry dictates that you let the girls go first, Malfoy," she said calmly.
"Chivalry is dead," Draco responded flatly.
"Oh, let them go, Malfoy," Artemis sighed.
"You don't seem to understand Slytherin principal." Draco turned his cold grey eyes on Artemis. The girls snuck the opportunity to sneak on through the door.
Artemis smirked at Draco and clamped his hand around the Ravenclaw boy's arm as he moved to follow the girls. "I would never leave you hanging with no one to torment. I said the girls could go, for chivalry's sake. I said nothing about him." He pushed Bevly forward in front of Draco.
Draco gave a sudden answering smirk. "That's more like it. I'd hate to think the Sorting Hat made a mistake." He focused on the rapidly paling boy standing in front of him.
"You don't scare me," Leonard lied, eyes darting around the hallway in search of help. None appeared to be forthcoming.
Inwardly, Artemis sighed. This whole show was pointless, but he'd seen the way Draco was looking at him, as if Artemis was trying to undermine his authority. As new as he was, he couldn't afford to do that. So he waited patiently while Draco taunted Leonard, and Crabbe and Goyle laughed, and Draco turned his bookbag into a rat. While Leonard chased it, trying to change it back, the Slytherins entered the classroom.
Daedelus looked up as Artemis passed by, and gave him a cool half-smile, as if she held all the secrets to the universe, and if he was good enough, she might be willing to share.
But Artemis was already sure of his answers, and gave her the same smile right back.
_________ ____________
Potions with Snape was interesting. It was very precise, a true science. He sat down in between Malfoy and Crow. He noted the way the Slytherins and the Gryffindors glared at each other. There was that kid with the toad, who seemed scared to death of Snape. And there was Zaneta Flint, who, he was amused to see, was gazing at the professor with adoring eyes. Draco tensed up beside him when Potter, Weasley, and Granger walked in. They glanced over, feeling Draco's hatred, and apparently returning it. Hermione met his eyes once in a confused way, as if still unable to believe that someone polite and normal-seeming had wound up in Slytherin. He raised an eyebrow at her.
After class, he found Juliet waiting for him. "Artemis, how are you doing? Is there anybody I need to put out of action yet?"
"Um, no, thanks for asking. Everything's fine. You?"
"I'm having fun! This place is great!"
"Glad you think so." His lips quirked.
"Fowl, why are you talking to a Gryffindor?" Draco demanded, coming up, trailing Slytherins.
"Malfoy, meet my stepsister, Miss Juliet Butler."
They eyed each other. Juliet's eyes began to narrow. "Want me to take him?" she whispered to Artemis.
He pictured the commotion that would cause. His lips twitched again, but he answered, "No, not this time anyway."
Juliet's eyes slid over to Crabbe and Goyle, flanking Draco on his left and right. "Say," she said, cheerful again, "they remind of the Pincer and the Falcon!"
Draco and Artemis stared at her blankly, but Crabbe spoke up. "From World Wide Wrestling?"
"Of course! You know, I named my owl Avenging Angel, after the greatest female wrestler of all time!"
"You think the Avenging Angel is better than Amazon Woman?" Goyle asked.
"Most definitely! Admittedly, Amazon Woman knows how to show off in tights. . ." this with her hands on her hips and a toss of her head, "but the Angel is far more talented!"
Draco, Artemis, Blaise, and Laine looked at each other. "Shall we move along, Malfoy?" Artemis suggested hopefully.
"Let's," was the firm reply. Juliet, Crabbe, and Goyle didn't appear to notice as they continued to talk wrestling in loud, excited voices.
"You have a weird stepsister, Fowl," Zabini said.
"I know."
__________ ____________
Divination was a great disappointment. In Artemis's opinion, the professor was a showy, fraudulent wacko. But the books gave him greater hope. Maybe he could learn on his own. Foreseeing the future would come in extremely handy in any number of circumstances.
For that first lesson, Crow and Artemis were paired up to read each other's tea leaves. "All you need is a good imagination, really," Crow remarked. "This gunky stuff here in the bottom of the cup. Could be anything. But what do you *want* it to mean? Then you just squint hard enough, until that's what you see."
"That's a good plan. But we don't know what stands for what yet. So I'll guess. This soggy mass here could be a--a tree. What does that indicate?"
"Rootedness and strength, I think. Wait." Crow turned pages in his book. "Is it oak-looking or pine-looking?"
"Bare-branched, I'd say."
Crow glanced over."That doesn't look anything like a tree to me."
Artemis grinned. "Here comes Trelawny. Shall we ask her?"
"No!" Apparently, he shared the same low opinion of her.
"Crow, Thaddeus Laine, and Fowl, Artemis the Second." Trelawny stopped in front of them. "How are you progressing?"
"Um. . ." Crow and Artemis looked at each other. The professor reached out and took Artemis's cup. She peered into it.
"Ah," she intoned, "you are seeking. You will uncover many mysteries. Much will befall you. I sense trials ahead."
Artemis frowned. Crow rolled his eyes.
Then Trelawny let out a piercing shriek and dropped the cup. "Death!" She put one hand over her heart. "I have seen your death! Oh, poor boy!"
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Highly unlikely."
"I'm afraid there is no changing the stars!"
"Those weren't stars, they were tea leaves."
"But. . ."
Artemis looked her in the eye. "I can outwit death anytime."
She blinked. An odd expression crossed her face. "I believe class-time is over," she said.
The students shuffled around, gathering up their books, looking at Artemis out of the corner of their eyes. He sighed and ignored them all. He brushed past Trelawney and left the room.
"You told her," Crow smirked approvingly as they headed down the stairs. "I don't believe in any of that mystic mumbo-jumbo crap."
"Not in her version of it, anyway," Artemis replied.
____________ ____________
At lunch, Artemis sat in between Draco and Zabini, and across from Zaneta Flint. "Why Snape?" he asked her. She just stuck her tongue out at him.
"I hear your death has been predicted for next Wednesday." Draco looked at Artemis with amusement. "Serves you right for taking Divination."
"Actually no date was given. . . How did you hear?"
"Pansy told me."
"You don't believe in divination then?"
"A man makes his own destiny."
"Yes. . . but it would be nice to get a few hints of the future. You could know where to invest your money, for example."
Draco smirked. "You want to cheat at placing bets, that sort of thing?"
"I do," Crow replied.
"Boys," complained Pansy, who was sitting on the other side of Draco. "Divination is about secrets of the universe, not sidebets at Quidditch."
"Secrets of the universe?" Zabini scoffed.
"Yes! Like. . ." she lowered her voice. ". . . will You-Know-Who return soon?"
There was instant quiet among their group at the table. Then, "Could you really tell that?" Bulstrode asked in a hushed tone.
"Well, I couldn't, not yet, but a good, experienced Seer could."
"Someone other than Trelawney, you mean," Crow snorted.
"Obviously. Someone like. . . Draco's mother."
Draco tensed. "Who's been spreading rumors about my mum? She's not a Seer!"
"Well, *my* mum said. . ."
"Your mum is a brainless social-climber, Pansy! Just like you! And neither of you know what you're talking about." Draco sounded truly furious.
The others stared at him, calculating looks back on their faces.
"What do you think will happen when. . . You-Know-Who is back?" Artemis asked slowly.
"He'll put all the purebloods back in charge, where we should be," Bulstrode stated confidently.
"And kill the rest," Crabbe added.
There were murmurs of assent. Only Crow seemed a bit put off by this. The Slytherin camp was apparently firmly rooting for Voldemort. And maybe doing more than just cheering to help him along.
After lunch, Artemis followed Pansy, Bulstrode, and Flint to Transfiguration, eavesdropping shamelessly.
"I thought you did quite well in Divination today," Zaneta, who had been Pansy's partner, told her.
Pansy tossed her head back. "I do seem to have a natural talent."
"What was Malfoy's problem?"
"Oh, who knows? The insulting, arrogant git. He thinks his family is so much better than everyone else's. He knows perfectly well his father will probably end up matching him off with me some day, so he can just get over it."
"Married to Malfoy? I feel for you," Bulstrode smirked.
"Well. . . he is dreamy, though, isn't he?" Pansy giggled. The other girls giggled, too.
In Transfiguration, he almost ended up sitting at a desk with Goyle, which he was sure would have lowered his IQ considerably, given enough time. He faked stopping to tie his shoe, until Millicent was forced to sit there instead. He was going to end up sharing with a Slytherin with a sour, constipated expression who he hadn't spoken to yet, but one who knew the others considered to be a prat. . . or a Ravenclaw.
His eyes searched for the pretty girl he remembered from earlier, Daedelus. He found her already seated, alone. He had scant seconds to beat Cho Chang out from sitting next to her. He swerved around, cut her off, and stole the chair. "Mayes. How are you?"
She smiled at him as Cho huffed indignantly and moved away. "Fine, and you?"
"Quite well, thanks."
"I've always liked Transfiguration. It opens a world of possibilities. Don't you think?"
He certainly did. He nodded. She decided she rather liked his knowing expression. "Knowledge is power," she added. "That's why I like learning."
Artemis shrugged. "Gold is power. Aurum est potestas."
"Therefore," said Daedelus, "knowledge is gold."
Artemis raised the glass they were to transform. "Here's to higher education."
_________ _________
After class, his last for the day until Astronomy that evening, Draco told him, "I have my first Quidditch practice now. Crabbe and Goyle are going to hang out and watch awhile. You can, too, or I think Zabini is going to the library to study until supper."
"I'm going to go to the Common Room and stare at the fire until I get a headache," Crow volunteered. "Parkinson and Bulstrode are going to hide in a corner and gossip, and Zaneta is going to go discuss her Potions assignment with Snape. Take your pick."
"I think I'll come watch practice for a few minutes. Then I want to go to the Owlery and check on my owl. And maybe explore the castle a bit."
"Suit yourself," Draco replied.
Shortly thereafter, Artemis was sitting in the third row of the Slytherin stands, with Crabbe and Goyle on either side. He thought they were used to having someone in the middle and were now only comfortable as bookends.
The team came out of the changing room onto the field, broomsticks in hand. Crabbe pointed each one out. "That's Warrington and Montague, they're Chasers. Marcus Flint, Zaneta's older brother, Captain and Chaser. Those are the Beaters, Derrick and Bole. Our Seeker, you know, obviously. And the Keeper, Reed."
"They all older than us?"
"Yeah."
Two girls came toward them, up the stairs to their row, and sat a few feet away on their bench. "Boys," the first girl said in a husky, tantalizing sort of voice.
"Hi," Crabbe and Goyle answered a bit breathlessly.
"I'm Catalina Ellyworthies," the second girl introduced herself. Artemis recognized her as the Prefect from last night's talk with the Bloody Baron.
"I'm Havanna Scarlett." The first girl held out her hand for Artemis to shake. He did so, smirking inwardly. She obviously thought any man she met would fall at her feet, and while Artemis figured most probably did, he was too smart to fall to that.
Scarlett was indeed a beauty, though, with hair so black it was almost blue, large sea-green eyes, and full lips, high cheekbones and perfect figure. She wore expensive looking robes. Her fingernails were long and painted Slytherin green; tiny, enchanted, silver snakes coiled and hissed on each nail.
Catalina was small and slender with hair the shade of old oak. She had a dainty little face with a pointed chin, and almond colored eyes.
"Ellyworthies and Warrington are dating," Goyle informed Artemis. "This week, anyway."
Artemis raised his eyebrows. Catalina blushed.
"It's an on and off sort of relationship," Havanna explained dryly. "They fight and break up, kiss and make up, over and over. Since, like second year. Sad, really."
"Oh, be quiet, Scarlett!" Catalina scowled.
Havanna just smiled lazily.
"There they go." Crabbe pointed to the field. The balls had just been released and the players mounted their brooms and took to the air.
They watched in silence for awhile, Artemis frankly fascinated by this strange, complex game. He could see the strategy in it. His eyes narrowed as he took it all in and planned ahead, like chess moves, and they were the pieces. . .
"Hey, Artemis," Goyle said suddenly in a low voice. "That sister of yours. . . how old is she?"
"18. Why?" he answered absently.
Goyle exchanged a look with Crabbe. "Just curious. She Irish, too? She doesn't quite look it."
"She has a very mixed ethnic background and has lived in a number of different countries but spent most of her life in Ireland."
"She's very knowledgeable about wrestling."
"She could clothesline you, mate," Artemis said, and grinned.
Artemis ended up staying and watching the practice for a good 40 minutes; then he left, headed for the Owlery. Catalina came along with him, saying Warrington was unlikely to notice her absence.
"What's your owl's name?" she asked.
"Sprite." Artemis shrugged.
"Mine's Nimue." She laughed. "I like to go check on her, but I always feel stupid going alone. It seems silly to talk to a bird, and sometimes the others laugh at me for doting on a pet."
"Well, you'll get no ridicule from me."
Catalina gave him a long look. "I believe you. I like you, Artemis. You seem hard enough, but there's something very. . . noble about you, at the same time. And I don't mean that as an insult, in this case."
Artemis barely prevented a blush. "Um, thanks."
"How did your school work back in Ireland? Did it have houses?"
"No, it was too small."
"I heard you won over 100 Galleons off Malfoy and Zabini last night. Had you really never played Exploding Snap before?"
"No, never."
"Beginner's luck?"
"Simple strategy." Artemis spoke carelessly, as if life was easily met and won. "All games can be broken into strategy at their heart. Once you see the line, you have it. I can win at most any game, unless they're strictly luck and chance. Even then, there are usually odds."
A predatory smile crossed Catalina's face. "Really?"
He nodded.
"Fowl, I want to be your manager. That is a very useful talent to have. I could help you fully exploit it."
Artemis laughed. "And here I thought you were a 'nice' Slytherin."
"I am. But winning is winning."
They had reached the entrance to the Owlery. 'She seems like a very useful inside source,' Artemis thought. 'I bet I could learn a lot from her.' So he nodded. "You're on." ____________ _____________
A/N: I love my reviews! I love my reviewers!
By Elbereth in April
Chapter 4
Artemis's first class was History of Magic with the Ravenclaws. He walked there with the other third year boys. Draco was sharing information about various people they passed, mainly in the form of nasty insults.
"About Crabbe and Goyle." Artemis cast a sideways glance back at them, walking just behind.
Draco raised his eyebrows. "Yeah?"
"They seem to serve as sort of--unofficial bodyguards."
"Yeah. They work pretty well. . . not too bright, though."
As they were about to enter the door of their classroom, another group of students tried to enter at the same time, cutting them off.
"Hey!" Draco yelled angrily. "We were here first! Quit blocking the doorway!"
The group turned--three girls and one boy, dressed in Ravenclaw colors. One was Cho Chang.
"You don't *own* this school, Malfoy," the girl next to her snapped.
Artemis nodded to Cho. "Hello, Chang. Who's your friend?"
Cho blushed. "Oh, um, Artemis. This is Marietta Edgecombe. And that's Leonard Bevly and that's Daedelus Mayes."
Artemis's eyes widened a fraction as his stomach flipped. He had no particular burning interest in girls yet, but it occurred to him that Daedelus was a very pretty girl. She had light brown hair that framed her heart-shaped face in long, spiral curls, and eyes of the deepest blue.
"Chivalry dictates that you let the girls go first, Malfoy," she said calmly.
"Chivalry is dead," Draco responded flatly.
"Oh, let them go, Malfoy," Artemis sighed.
"You don't seem to understand Slytherin principal." Draco turned his cold grey eyes on Artemis. The girls snuck the opportunity to sneak on through the door.
Artemis smirked at Draco and clamped his hand around the Ravenclaw boy's arm as he moved to follow the girls. "I would never leave you hanging with no one to torment. I said the girls could go, for chivalry's sake. I said nothing about him." He pushed Bevly forward in front of Draco.
Draco gave a sudden answering smirk. "That's more like it. I'd hate to think the Sorting Hat made a mistake." He focused on the rapidly paling boy standing in front of him.
"You don't scare me," Leonard lied, eyes darting around the hallway in search of help. None appeared to be forthcoming.
Inwardly, Artemis sighed. This whole show was pointless, but he'd seen the way Draco was looking at him, as if Artemis was trying to undermine his authority. As new as he was, he couldn't afford to do that. So he waited patiently while Draco taunted Leonard, and Crabbe and Goyle laughed, and Draco turned his bookbag into a rat. While Leonard chased it, trying to change it back, the Slytherins entered the classroom.
Daedelus looked up as Artemis passed by, and gave him a cool half-smile, as if she held all the secrets to the universe, and if he was good enough, she might be willing to share.
But Artemis was already sure of his answers, and gave her the same smile right back.
_________ ____________
Potions with Snape was interesting. It was very precise, a true science. He sat down in between Malfoy and Crow. He noted the way the Slytherins and the Gryffindors glared at each other. There was that kid with the toad, who seemed scared to death of Snape. And there was Zaneta Flint, who, he was amused to see, was gazing at the professor with adoring eyes. Draco tensed up beside him when Potter, Weasley, and Granger walked in. They glanced over, feeling Draco's hatred, and apparently returning it. Hermione met his eyes once in a confused way, as if still unable to believe that someone polite and normal-seeming had wound up in Slytherin. He raised an eyebrow at her.
After class, he found Juliet waiting for him. "Artemis, how are you doing? Is there anybody I need to put out of action yet?"
"Um, no, thanks for asking. Everything's fine. You?"
"I'm having fun! This place is great!"
"Glad you think so." His lips quirked.
"Fowl, why are you talking to a Gryffindor?" Draco demanded, coming up, trailing Slytherins.
"Malfoy, meet my stepsister, Miss Juliet Butler."
They eyed each other. Juliet's eyes began to narrow. "Want me to take him?" she whispered to Artemis.
He pictured the commotion that would cause. His lips twitched again, but he answered, "No, not this time anyway."
Juliet's eyes slid over to Crabbe and Goyle, flanking Draco on his left and right. "Say," she said, cheerful again, "they remind of the Pincer and the Falcon!"
Draco and Artemis stared at her blankly, but Crabbe spoke up. "From World Wide Wrestling?"
"Of course! You know, I named my owl Avenging Angel, after the greatest female wrestler of all time!"
"You think the Avenging Angel is better than Amazon Woman?" Goyle asked.
"Most definitely! Admittedly, Amazon Woman knows how to show off in tights. . ." this with her hands on her hips and a toss of her head, "but the Angel is far more talented!"
Draco, Artemis, Blaise, and Laine looked at each other. "Shall we move along, Malfoy?" Artemis suggested hopefully.
"Let's," was the firm reply. Juliet, Crabbe, and Goyle didn't appear to notice as they continued to talk wrestling in loud, excited voices.
"You have a weird stepsister, Fowl," Zabini said.
"I know."
__________ ____________
Divination was a great disappointment. In Artemis's opinion, the professor was a showy, fraudulent wacko. But the books gave him greater hope. Maybe he could learn on his own. Foreseeing the future would come in extremely handy in any number of circumstances.
For that first lesson, Crow and Artemis were paired up to read each other's tea leaves. "All you need is a good imagination, really," Crow remarked. "This gunky stuff here in the bottom of the cup. Could be anything. But what do you *want* it to mean? Then you just squint hard enough, until that's what you see."
"That's a good plan. But we don't know what stands for what yet. So I'll guess. This soggy mass here could be a--a tree. What does that indicate?"
"Rootedness and strength, I think. Wait." Crow turned pages in his book. "Is it oak-looking or pine-looking?"
"Bare-branched, I'd say."
Crow glanced over."That doesn't look anything like a tree to me."
Artemis grinned. "Here comes Trelawny. Shall we ask her?"
"No!" Apparently, he shared the same low opinion of her.
"Crow, Thaddeus Laine, and Fowl, Artemis the Second." Trelawny stopped in front of them. "How are you progressing?"
"Um. . ." Crow and Artemis looked at each other. The professor reached out and took Artemis's cup. She peered into it.
"Ah," she intoned, "you are seeking. You will uncover many mysteries. Much will befall you. I sense trials ahead."
Artemis frowned. Crow rolled his eyes.
Then Trelawny let out a piercing shriek and dropped the cup. "Death!" She put one hand over her heart. "I have seen your death! Oh, poor boy!"
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Highly unlikely."
"I'm afraid there is no changing the stars!"
"Those weren't stars, they were tea leaves."
"But. . ."
Artemis looked her in the eye. "I can outwit death anytime."
She blinked. An odd expression crossed her face. "I believe class-time is over," she said.
The students shuffled around, gathering up their books, looking at Artemis out of the corner of their eyes. He sighed and ignored them all. He brushed past Trelawney and left the room.
"You told her," Crow smirked approvingly as they headed down the stairs. "I don't believe in any of that mystic mumbo-jumbo crap."
"Not in her version of it, anyway," Artemis replied.
____________ ____________
At lunch, Artemis sat in between Draco and Zabini, and across from Zaneta Flint. "Why Snape?" he asked her. She just stuck her tongue out at him.
"I hear your death has been predicted for next Wednesday." Draco looked at Artemis with amusement. "Serves you right for taking Divination."
"Actually no date was given. . . How did you hear?"
"Pansy told me."
"You don't believe in divination then?"
"A man makes his own destiny."
"Yes. . . but it would be nice to get a few hints of the future. You could know where to invest your money, for example."
Draco smirked. "You want to cheat at placing bets, that sort of thing?"
"I do," Crow replied.
"Boys," complained Pansy, who was sitting on the other side of Draco. "Divination is about secrets of the universe, not sidebets at Quidditch."
"Secrets of the universe?" Zabini scoffed.
"Yes! Like. . ." she lowered her voice. ". . . will You-Know-Who return soon?"
There was instant quiet among their group at the table. Then, "Could you really tell that?" Bulstrode asked in a hushed tone.
"Well, I couldn't, not yet, but a good, experienced Seer could."
"Someone other than Trelawney, you mean," Crow snorted.
"Obviously. Someone like. . . Draco's mother."
Draco tensed. "Who's been spreading rumors about my mum? She's not a Seer!"
"Well, *my* mum said. . ."
"Your mum is a brainless social-climber, Pansy! Just like you! And neither of you know what you're talking about." Draco sounded truly furious.
The others stared at him, calculating looks back on their faces.
"What do you think will happen when. . . You-Know-Who is back?" Artemis asked slowly.
"He'll put all the purebloods back in charge, where we should be," Bulstrode stated confidently.
"And kill the rest," Crabbe added.
There were murmurs of assent. Only Crow seemed a bit put off by this. The Slytherin camp was apparently firmly rooting for Voldemort. And maybe doing more than just cheering to help him along.
After lunch, Artemis followed Pansy, Bulstrode, and Flint to Transfiguration, eavesdropping shamelessly.
"I thought you did quite well in Divination today," Zaneta, who had been Pansy's partner, told her.
Pansy tossed her head back. "I do seem to have a natural talent."
"What was Malfoy's problem?"
"Oh, who knows? The insulting, arrogant git. He thinks his family is so much better than everyone else's. He knows perfectly well his father will probably end up matching him off with me some day, so he can just get over it."
"Married to Malfoy? I feel for you," Bulstrode smirked.
"Well. . . he is dreamy, though, isn't he?" Pansy giggled. The other girls giggled, too.
In Transfiguration, he almost ended up sitting at a desk with Goyle, which he was sure would have lowered his IQ considerably, given enough time. He faked stopping to tie his shoe, until Millicent was forced to sit there instead. He was going to end up sharing with a Slytherin with a sour, constipated expression who he hadn't spoken to yet, but one who knew the others considered to be a prat. . . or a Ravenclaw.
His eyes searched for the pretty girl he remembered from earlier, Daedelus. He found her already seated, alone. He had scant seconds to beat Cho Chang out from sitting next to her. He swerved around, cut her off, and stole the chair. "Mayes. How are you?"
She smiled at him as Cho huffed indignantly and moved away. "Fine, and you?"
"Quite well, thanks."
"I've always liked Transfiguration. It opens a world of possibilities. Don't you think?"
He certainly did. He nodded. She decided she rather liked his knowing expression. "Knowledge is power," she added. "That's why I like learning."
Artemis shrugged. "Gold is power. Aurum est potestas."
"Therefore," said Daedelus, "knowledge is gold."
Artemis raised the glass they were to transform. "Here's to higher education."
_________ _________
After class, his last for the day until Astronomy that evening, Draco told him, "I have my first Quidditch practice now. Crabbe and Goyle are going to hang out and watch awhile. You can, too, or I think Zabini is going to the library to study until supper."
"I'm going to go to the Common Room and stare at the fire until I get a headache," Crow volunteered. "Parkinson and Bulstrode are going to hide in a corner and gossip, and Zaneta is going to go discuss her Potions assignment with Snape. Take your pick."
"I think I'll come watch practice for a few minutes. Then I want to go to the Owlery and check on my owl. And maybe explore the castle a bit."
"Suit yourself," Draco replied.
Shortly thereafter, Artemis was sitting in the third row of the Slytherin stands, with Crabbe and Goyle on either side. He thought they were used to having someone in the middle and were now only comfortable as bookends.
The team came out of the changing room onto the field, broomsticks in hand. Crabbe pointed each one out. "That's Warrington and Montague, they're Chasers. Marcus Flint, Zaneta's older brother, Captain and Chaser. Those are the Beaters, Derrick and Bole. Our Seeker, you know, obviously. And the Keeper, Reed."
"They all older than us?"
"Yeah."
Two girls came toward them, up the stairs to their row, and sat a few feet away on their bench. "Boys," the first girl said in a husky, tantalizing sort of voice.
"Hi," Crabbe and Goyle answered a bit breathlessly.
"I'm Catalina Ellyworthies," the second girl introduced herself. Artemis recognized her as the Prefect from last night's talk with the Bloody Baron.
"I'm Havanna Scarlett." The first girl held out her hand for Artemis to shake. He did so, smirking inwardly. She obviously thought any man she met would fall at her feet, and while Artemis figured most probably did, he was too smart to fall to that.
Scarlett was indeed a beauty, though, with hair so black it was almost blue, large sea-green eyes, and full lips, high cheekbones and perfect figure. She wore expensive looking robes. Her fingernails were long and painted Slytherin green; tiny, enchanted, silver snakes coiled and hissed on each nail.
Catalina was small and slender with hair the shade of old oak. She had a dainty little face with a pointed chin, and almond colored eyes.
"Ellyworthies and Warrington are dating," Goyle informed Artemis. "This week, anyway."
Artemis raised his eyebrows. Catalina blushed.
"It's an on and off sort of relationship," Havanna explained dryly. "They fight and break up, kiss and make up, over and over. Since, like second year. Sad, really."
"Oh, be quiet, Scarlett!" Catalina scowled.
Havanna just smiled lazily.
"There they go." Crabbe pointed to the field. The balls had just been released and the players mounted their brooms and took to the air.
They watched in silence for awhile, Artemis frankly fascinated by this strange, complex game. He could see the strategy in it. His eyes narrowed as he took it all in and planned ahead, like chess moves, and they were the pieces. . .
"Hey, Artemis," Goyle said suddenly in a low voice. "That sister of yours. . . how old is she?"
"18. Why?" he answered absently.
Goyle exchanged a look with Crabbe. "Just curious. She Irish, too? She doesn't quite look it."
"She has a very mixed ethnic background and has lived in a number of different countries but spent most of her life in Ireland."
"She's very knowledgeable about wrestling."
"She could clothesline you, mate," Artemis said, and grinned.
Artemis ended up staying and watching the practice for a good 40 minutes; then he left, headed for the Owlery. Catalina came along with him, saying Warrington was unlikely to notice her absence.
"What's your owl's name?" she asked.
"Sprite." Artemis shrugged.
"Mine's Nimue." She laughed. "I like to go check on her, but I always feel stupid going alone. It seems silly to talk to a bird, and sometimes the others laugh at me for doting on a pet."
"Well, you'll get no ridicule from me."
Catalina gave him a long look. "I believe you. I like you, Artemis. You seem hard enough, but there's something very. . . noble about you, at the same time. And I don't mean that as an insult, in this case."
Artemis barely prevented a blush. "Um, thanks."
"How did your school work back in Ireland? Did it have houses?"
"No, it was too small."
"I heard you won over 100 Galleons off Malfoy and Zabini last night. Had you really never played Exploding Snap before?"
"No, never."
"Beginner's luck?"
"Simple strategy." Artemis spoke carelessly, as if life was easily met and won. "All games can be broken into strategy at their heart. Once you see the line, you have it. I can win at most any game, unless they're strictly luck and chance. Even then, there are usually odds."
A predatory smile crossed Catalina's face. "Really?"
He nodded.
"Fowl, I want to be your manager. That is a very useful talent to have. I could help you fully exploit it."
Artemis laughed. "And here I thought you were a 'nice' Slytherin."
"I am. But winning is winning."
They had reached the entrance to the Owlery. 'She seems like a very useful inside source,' Artemis thought. 'I bet I could learn a lot from her.' So he nodded. "You're on." ____________ _____________
A/N: I love my reviews! I love my reviewers!