Love Lost is Love Gained
Chapter 4: Yeah, Wizard School, Now What's for Breakfast?
"Dumbledore," Artemis hissed, "Where are you?"
"Art? What are you doing out here?" Paris was cantering up the drive looking very pleased with himself.
"What are you so happy about?" she said noticing the huge smile on his face.
"I met a girl."
"I thought you liked Carli?"
"No, she's old news. I met a new girl, her name is Rachel, she was at the table next to us in the restaurant."
"Wonderful, Paris. I don't know what people see in you, but wonderful all the same."
"Shut up", and with that he walked inside. Next her parents walked up, chatting happily.
"Hello Artemis," her mother said. "How was your evening?"
"Umm...interesting..." Out of nowhere Dumbledore popped back up, leaving her parents looking stunned.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Byrnes. I am glad that we are able to meet."
Author's Note: Through the best of times, through the worst of times. Through Nixon and through Bush. Do you remember '36? We went our separate ways, you fought for Stalin, I fought for freedom. You believe in authority, I believe in myself. I'm a Molotov cocktail, you're Dom Pergion. Baby, what's that confused look in your eyes? What I'm to say is that, I burn down buildings while you sit on a shelf inside of them. You call the cops on the looters and pie throwers, they call it 'class war' I call them coconspirators... 'Cause baby, I'm an Anarchist, you're a spineless Liberal, we marched together for the eight hour day, held hands in the streets of Seattle. But when it came time to throw bricks through that Starbucks window you left me all alone. All alone...
You watched in awe, at the red, white, and blue on the 4th of July. While those fireworks were exploding, I was burning that fucker and stringing my black flag high. Eating the peanuts that the party's have tossed you. In the backseat of you father's new ford, you believe in the ballot, I believe in reform. You have faith in the Elephant and Jackass, and to you solidarity's a four letter word. They're all hypocrites, but you're a patriot. You thought I was only joking, when I screamed, "Kill Whitey!" at the top of my lungs, at the cops in their cars and the men in their suits. No I won't take your hand, and marry the State. 'Cause baby, I'm an Anarchist, you're a spineless Liberal, we marched together for the eight hour day, held hands in the streets of Seattle. But when it came time to throw bricks through that Starbucks window you left me all alone.
I love that song, don't you? I love the line that's underlined. And now back to your regularly scheduled fan fiction.
"Artemis?" What's going on?" her mother asked. "Who is this?"
"Mum? Am I adopted?"
She didn't answer right away, she just looked off into space and sighed before looking back at Artemis. "Yes, I'm afraid you are."
"Then is Paris adopted?"
"No, Paris isn't adopted. He's ours. Though if he was adopted, it would explain a lot..."
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"We were going to," her father interjected. "When you turned sixteen, we thought it made most sense."
"Do you know who my biological parents are?"
"I'm afraid we don't."
"Dumbledore," said Artemis. "So this is all true? I'm really a witch, and am going to a wizarding school?"
"Wizarding school? Surely there is no such thing."
"Ah," said Dumbledore, "Allow me to explain. But, may I explain it a place that is a tad more comfortable, it is rather cold out..."
Once again Dumbledore was right; the temperature had dropped several degrees since she first came out here. Guessing by where the moon was, it had to be around midnight.
"Yes, it is cold," Laura said, "Shall we go in then? To the family room?" Her father who had been silent nodded, and opened the door, beckoning them all inside. After they were all situated in the family room Dumbledore began to explain everything that he had said to Artemis to Laura and Trevor.
When he had finished Laura was crying silently and Trevor was staring at the wall, as though fascinated by it. "So," Laura said, "She'll be leaving. What are we going to tell Paris?" she added to Trevor; who remained silent. The family and Dumbledore sat in silence mulling everything over. It was at least twenty minutes later, Trevor was first to speak, "So this is what you want, Artemis? To go to this school?"
"I guess, I mean, my biological parents where both wizards. And face it dad, why would you not want to learn magic? And I suppose," she added looking a Dumbledore, "if I didn't like it I could came back?" Dumbledore nodded, "Of course you could, I do not keep students against their wishes."
"When will she be leaving," her mother asked through her tears.
"As soon as we can, as I had explained earlier, she is in immediate danger, and the safest thing for her and your family is for Artemis to be at Hogwarts."
"Alright...and what about Paris, her new school, and the rest of us?"
"We'll have to explain it to everyone, and it will be hard. But if this is her choice, it will have to be done." Her mother got up and walked out of the room, they sat in silence until she got back with Paris.
"Paris, Artemis will be leaving. She's going to a...Wizarding school."
"Uh huh, Wizarding school, right. What's for breakfast? Were out of ice cream. Art, can you make me some cookies?"
"Paris!" her father said, "Don't you realize what's going on?"
"Yeah, you got some old guy to come here and tell me that Art is going to wizard school. Now, can I have some cookies? Come on, I'll go get everything ready."
"Paris, they're serious. Artemis was adopted," he didn't seem to realize how upset this made Artemis, she looked down at the carpet, barely listening to what was going on.
"Art...is this true? Are you leaving?"
She looked up at Paris, who was looking very upset; and she nodded.
"No!" he yelled, "What am I going to eat? Mum is a horrible cook, and you were going to drive me around once you got your license. No, this isn't going to happen."
"Wow Paris, I'm flattered that you like my cooking, and that I was going to be your personal chauffer, but I'm really leaving."
"When?" he demanded.
"Tomorrow," she looked at Paris, he didn't look sad, just really pissed off.
"Whatever, I don't care." And with that he left the family room. No one else spoke. Sun was beginning to creep through the blinds, it was daybreak; and they had been there all night.
"Well," said Dumbledore, "I'd best be off. Artemis, I'll be back at noon. Please be ready.'
Author's Note: Wouldn't it be horrible to find something like this out?
"Okay, I should go pack..." Artemis got up and left the room.
"Well, I best be going too. Goodbye." And he Disapperated. Laura and Trevor just stared at each other, clearly speechless. 'Wow,' Artemis thought looking around her room. 'I can't believe this.' She was clutching the birth certificate Dumbledore had given her, and her photo was on the computer desk, she was planning on framing it. She looked down at the certificate, 'There's no doubt, I don't belong here.' It wasn't so much the leaving part that bothered her, it was how Paris reacted. He was the closest person to her, ever since he was born, and now she had to leave him. She had to leave everyone. 'What did he mean, 'I don't care?' of course he cares. But, it's not like I'll never see him. I still will.' She looked around her room one more time, luckily she was a procrastinator, so most of her things were still packed in boxes. 'Well, I have packing out of the way,' she thought and lay back down on her bed, staring at the birth certificate.
Harry yawned and looked at the ceiling, he had an odd night. He couldn't stop having strange dreams, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember them. Turning over he looked at his alarm clock. '6:07,' he thought, 'I have to talk to her today. I'll do it after lunch...' and with that he rolled back over and drifted into another sleep.
Sorry the chapter is so short, I have writer's block, and am in a bout of depression, since yesterday I was on chapter six, and the power surged and shut my computer off; I can't remember for the life of me what I had written.