Chapter 6 Part 2
'In The Eyes Of An Angel, The Devil Doth Wait'
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
Heres' the second part. Enjoy, and coldness rocks! (read and you'll find out, Mwahahahahaha....) -EckoStalker
"Oh my God, this is COLD!!!" Artimis yelped after she dove into the rushing waves.
Alexis yelled out in joy, loving the biting cold of the water. "I know! The best feeling in the world!''
"How the hell so!" Artimis asked in sheer confusion, shaking, and her feet already turning numb.
Alexis stated simply, throwing her head back and letting the pelting rain drops sting her upturned face,'' It lets you know you're very much alive and damn well conscious of it!" She smiled at Artimis, lips a pale shade of blue, as she was dunked under by a massive wave. Alexis came up sputtering, and laughed hysterically. It was wonderful on her senses; all other noise drowned out by the crashing waves and howling winds, and all feeling in her body screaming at the shocking iciness of the water. Artimis shook her head in perplexity -trying to stay in one general area- as her weird companion yelled out in unmistakable joy and defiance at the vengeful strikes of the building storm.
"I always thought you were insane, now I think your freaking bonkers!" Artimis yelled as she is dragged under by a strong wave. She came up sputtering, and finally realizing how true her companion's words were. The sensations were wonderful, her whole body was fighting her and she could feel it. Slowly but surely she joined her friend in joyous and triumphant yells of pleasure mixed with pain. Alexis said something incoherent and dove under. Artimis dove under as well and peered around the churning underside of the beautiful lake. Suddenly, she felt hands on her shoulders and she was being pushed down. Then the hands dragged her up, and as her head reached the surface she realized the hands belonged to none other than Alexis. Alexis threw her head back in rapturous laughter. Artimis, feeling the power of the moment, joined her friend in haughty laughter, relishing the rushes of feeling her body kept sending her.
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Snape had heard Artimis yell about the temperature, and chuckled heartily. He whispered to himself, "Did you expect it to be a sauna, silly child." Then he heard the last thing he expected to hear, insane laughter. He trudged slowly to the water's edge figuring a few moments in the numbing waters would make them come out. So he walked slowly, huddling his cloak close to his. He didn't mind the cold as much as he minded the rain. He reached the shore and stared in amazement. Artimis and Alexis had their heads back in laughter, splashing each other. He could barely see Artimis's clothing, meaning that she was indeed in her usual two-piece. He could see the dull green straps of Alexis's suit. He wondered how they could stand the cold. He cast a warming charm on himself and a water repelling charm on his cloak and decided to watch them to figure out what exactly they were doing.
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Alexis was proud at how well her friend adapted to the cold. She dragged Artimis down again, and this time Artimis grabbed her back and plunged her down farther into the cold depths. Then she slowly brought her friend to the surface. Artimis yelled about the beauty of it and then was dragged under by a wave. Alexis laughed, shouting out for no apparent reason and was dragged under by the same wave. The storm grew fierce, lightning hitting trees in the Forbidden Forest.
Artimis, worried about the chance of being shocked and started to tug Alexis toward the shore. The wind had picked up and it was raining sheets, so the shore was hard to see. Alexis struggled furiously but Artimis held fast, even though her whole arm was numb.
"Lets go. We took our dip but I want to live to tell the tale!" Artimis hollered over the roaring wind, starting to get a little discomforted. Lightning flashed brightly, leaving jagged streaks across the almost blackened sky, and showing Artimis the fearful look of the crazed and obsessed on Alexis's face. A deafening clap of thunder soon followed it. Alexis shook off the arm and swam a foot out, staring up into the sky, an insane look of glory over her features.
"Why? The best part of the storm is coming! How could you leave at a time like this?" Alexis yelled back, only barely being heard as the winds intensified and the rain fell and struck her like a thousand needles. Alexis loved it, and reveled in the sharp pains, them driving away all thoughts and worries from her mind; and she fought strongly against the waves of agony that flared from her half frozen features. No, she would wait it out, she would defeat it. These were the only coherent thoughts that raced in Alexis's distracted mind.
"Why? Because my skin feels as if it's on fire and being electrocuted doesn't seem to me like a pleasant experience!" Artimis shouted to her crazed comrade, worry lacing her raised voice. Alexis simply ignored her and faced square into the furious blasts of the tempest. Artimis sighed and swam to her companion, not wanting to leave her and not wanting to be there anymore, but she chose her discomfort over leaving her friend to succumb to the torrents of rain. Finally she allowed the rain and the pain to overcome her thoughts. She laughed and raised her face to the sky, the rain filling her open mouth. They swam there for a few moments, Alexis wandering farther, until Artimis knew they had to get out of the water or they would drown. Then, a solution on how to get her distracted companion out of the crashing waves hit her. "Hey Alexis, lets enjoy it from the shore! We can lay back and watch the sky!" she yelled into her friend's ear. She wrapped her hand around Alexis's wrist and began dragging her to the shore. Alexis shrugged her shoulders and stared disappointedly at the ever-darkening sky, allowing herself to be pulled to the shore.
Artimis pulled herself out of the water and dragged Alexis behind her. She rolled over on her back and realized she was shivering profusely. She cuddled up to Alexis and watched the sky hold its war. Lightning danced across the sky, thunder boom loudly. Artimis felt so cold and so tired, she looked over and noticed Alexis had her eyes closed and was practically convulsing with the cold. Next thing she knew there was a shadow over her and it was talking to her. She laughed and closed her eyes. Then all sensation left her.
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Snape watched them swim about, mumbling about insane people and their hobbies. He watched Artimis try and drag Alexis ashore but Alexis pulled away from her and swam deeper out. It would figure... Snape thought as he watched Alexis battling the lake. Then after a few moments, Artimis dragged herself and Alexis ashore. He noticed they were barely on dry land. They he noticed them shaking and shivering rapidly. "Oh, damnit, they're going into shock!" he muttered as he walked up to them. Alexis had her eyes closed and was turning a pale shade of blue. Artimis looked up at him with unfocused eyes and laughed. Then, she too closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Cursing and muttering to himself he summoned their cloaks to him. He tucked one around Alexis and moved to Artimis. He knew he could only carry one, and if he tried to levitate the other, they would be swept away from him by the wind. Cursing again, he did the last thing he wanted to do. He pulled a silver chain from his cloaks, on it a silver whistle. He blew the whistle sharply, but no noise came out of it. Muttering he put it up and cast a warming charm on the two foolish girls. Hastily a figure ran up to him, breathing sharply and staring in horror at the two small bodies. When Professor Lupin realized who it was, he immediately rushed to the shivering form of Alexis and picked her up without a word from Snape, heading towards the castle. Snape picked up Artimis and shivered at the temperature of her body close to his. He could almost feel her pulling his body heat from him. He quickly turned and walked toward the castle, damning Dumbledore for his anti-apparating spells.
He entered the great hall and glared disgustedly at the congregation of students who gasped at him and Lupin, holding Artimis's and Alexis's limp bodies in their arms. Ignoring them, he rushed to the Infirmary and set Artimis on the closest empty bed. He pulled out his wand and cast yet another warming spell on her. He body color turned slightly peachier. With a sigh, he turned to find Madam Pomfrey handing him a potion. He immediately noted it was a reviving potion. Madam Pomfrey rushed over to Lupin and made him give Alexis the same potion, as he removed his cloaks, wrapping her in them securely. Clutching Alexis to him, he was clearly warming her up with his own body heat. Sighing and grumbling about the things he does for people, Snape removed his own cloak and picked up Artimis's considerably light body. He held her head up and put the potion to her lips, casting a Swallowing charm on her as he poured it down her throat. The he sat on the bed holding her closer than he would like but knowing it was one of the only ways to keep her warm. Slowly but surely she reacted to the warmth and snuggled close, something he glared at her for but realized it had no affect on the unconscious girl. Likewise, Lupin held Alexis; her small form almost swallowed in his many cloaks as he concernedly sat on the hospital bed, cradling her shivering form like a father would his daughter. He looked at Snape in worry, but Snape merely stared blankly at him and turned back to Artimis.
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Alexis shuddered once, and forced her eyes open. She confusedly looked around, not remembering much from the night before. Only an insane and overwhelming rush of joy and pain, and A LOT of water. She felt something warm and solid beside her, and instinctively tensed up. Quickly she glanced up to see a sleeping Professor Lupin sitting against the wall on her bed, and also noticed that she was curled up tightly in his robes at his side. A giddy rush of emotion bombarded her, and she smiled warmly at his protective form. She turned to view her surroundings and saw fuzzily beside her in the next bed a sleeping, sprawled out Artimis. Too tired to care, she shifted comfortably at Lupin's side, finally noticing the dark shadow beside Artimis. Her eyes shot closed as she recognized Professor Snape staring quizzically at her.
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Artimis shuddered and felt warmth around her. She instinctively moved towards the warmth. Whoever the person was moved away. She opened her eyes to see buttons, lots of buttons. She laughed at the thought of curling up with a button coat then she noticed the buttons were on a person. Looking up she followed the line of buttons to a face, but her eyes were too blurry to make the person out. She reached out and tried to find something to steadily pull herself up. That happened to be this person's shoulder. She pulled herself up only to look into a glare from Professor Snape that made her want to die. She immediately removed her hand and teetered backwards, falling off of the bed. Snape reached out for her and pulled her back up on the bed. He got off, mumbling about clumsy girls and handed her a potion. She looked at him fearfully.
"Oh come on girl. If I wished you harm I would have left you at the lakeside." he sneered, handing her the vial. She took it questioningly and swallowed it quickly.
"I guess I owe you a thank you and an apology." she stated sorrowfully.
"I guess you do, and quite a few detentions, not that they seem to be doing any good." he growled. At his growling voice she trembled and in her shaky positioning, fell off the bed once again. "DAMN IT!" she hollered, as her head snapped back against the hard ground. " Why in the hell do I always fall of these pieces of-" she was cut of by Snape picking her up roughly and sitting her on the bed.
"Such language is not befitting a lady of my house." He snarled in her ear.
"Severus, lay off her. She just hit her head!" Lupin announced lazily, as he stretched and yawned.
"Remus, I understand that, but I do not allow cursing in my presence!" he looked to Lupin with burning anger. Artimis leaned out of the way but realized Professor Snape still had a firm grasp on her arms. "Um could you let go, I'm very dizzy and would like to lay down." She whispered. Instantly he let go and she curled under the blankets of the bed, and closed her eyes. Suddenly she is shaken awake. "Ms.Callabella you will not fall asleep, I think you may have a concussion." Snape voice harassed her ears. She swung her arm out instinctively and he grasped it. "Ms.Callabella, do not try that again." he said as she felt him lift her body up to a sitting position. She opens her eyes to see Snape looking deeply into hers. She looked away and his pale hand grasps her chin, so he could peer into her eyes. He looks over his shoulder to Professor Lupin and states, " Her eyes are dilated. Damnit, I should have caught her!"
Artimis closes her eyes, all she wants is sleep. Suddenly she is shaken again.
"Severus your going to give her another concussion, don't shake her!" she heard Lupin state as she opened her eyes. Snape is looking at Remus intently. "How do you suppose I keep her awake?"
"You could try talking to her..." was the last thing Artimis heard as she fell asleep on Snape's arm. Again she is awoken, but not by being shaken hard just gently enough to make her stir.
"Ms.Callabella, don't fall asleep again!" Snape orders.
"I'm trying, but its so hard to stay awake." she mumbles while her eyes droop heavily.
"What did you say?" He asks, his voice a bit lower. Her eyes snap open.
"I said I'm trying, but it's hard to stay awake." she whispered. He sat down and looked at her. He sighed and stated " I apologize for startling you into falling of the bed."
She shrugged her shoulders, " No problem, if you hadn't had done it something else would have."
Alexis stirred and Artimis turned towards her, nearly tumbling again, but this time there was a hand under her elbow, and Snape moved to stand by her. "I swear Artimis, you are one of the clumsiest people I've ever met." he stated. She turned to him with a look of surprise. "What?" he asked befuddled.
"You called me Artimis, not Ms.Callabella." she stated in awe.
"Yes, I did, but don't get used to it. Here put these on." he stated handing her clothes to her as he turned around. That was when she realized she was in nothing but her two-piece bathing suit. Quickly she covered herself and pulled the shirt over her head. Slowly she stood up placing her hand on Snape's shoulder for balance. He moved away from her touch and she nearly collapsed but he managed to catch her hand. Then he turned back around and let her put her pants on. When she was finished she sat back on the bed. Then Professor Snape asked her random questions, trying to keep her alert and awake.
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When she noticed Professor Snape watching her, she quickly pretended to fall back asleep. I really don't feel like being reamed out just yet, she thought to herself. She was too comfortable for that at this moment. A few minutes later, and about to doze off again, she heard stirring in the next bed, and Snape's voice. She heard a thud, and Artimis yelling about falling off the bed again, but fought the urge to sit up in worry. Next to her, Lupin stretched and commented, and Alexis tried not to tense up too much, for fear of being found out. Damn, this is getting complicated. So instead, she rolled over and nestled closer to Lupin's side. He didn't object and simply remained laying there. Sorry, Artimis. I got the better end of the stick here. She thought, referring to Snape's lack of comforting skills.
She listened intently to the conversation about Artimis with growing anxiety. She frowned, desperately trying to remain obsolete. Damn her. She has to go and worry the hell out of me, right? Alexis thought, becoming irritated. Finally, she could sit there no longer. She bolted up, scaring the shit out of Lupin, and burst out, staring worriedly at Artimis," Are you all right!? I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to, I got distracted! And...and...and..." she trailed off, looking uncomfortably at the stares of the three people. Snape smirked, and commented," I knew you couldn't portray a look of unconsciousness much longer, Ms. Whyte." Artimis looked drearily at Alexis and commented, "Busted." as she swayed precariously. Alexis just glared at her. Artimis just chuckled as she tried to fall asleep again. Snape gripped her shoulder roughly and pulled her straight. "I think not, Ms. Callabella."
Alexis slowly tried to back up off the bed and 'disappear' during this conversation that would eventually turn ugly. Very ugly. But she forgot about Lupin. She froze as he put a hand on her shoulder. "Good morning."
She looks up at him, and gives a weak smile. Then notices she's still in her dark green two-piece bathing suit. Eyes widened, she quickly pulls the robes tighter around her, and jumps quickly out of bed. A rush of dizziness assaulted her, and she fell back. Just missing the floor as Professor Lupin quickly caught her arms. He stood up and lifted her, carefully sitting back on the bed as Alexis held her head, grimacing. From the bed beside her she heard, "Buttons, lots of buttons." as Artimis tried to go back to sleep. Lupin chuckled, and reached for a potion sitting on a table next to him. Alexis stared at him as if to say, 'You make me drink this, and you'll regret it.' Lupin stares at her intently and states firmly, " You drink this, or Snape holds you down and I pour it down your throat. Either way you're taking it!"
She takes the potion grudgingly and says, " Fine leave me be." With that, she tipped her head back and chugs it. There is sighing and Artimis successfully lays down. Professor Snape fed up goes and gets a potion and shakes Artimis's arm. After a few moments of him shaking her and her not replying, he yells "Artimis, WAKE UP!"
Artimis sits up, stares off to the left and yells "DAMNIT DRACO! The door is OPEN!" Then she lays down and begins to snore.
Several shocked stares. Then the Professors turn to Alexis for an explanation, she looks at them innocently and shouts," Hey, don't look at me! I don't know what hell that meant!" as she snickered quietly to herself. Snape shakes his head dramatically and lifts Artimis's head, shoving a variation of the pepper up potion down her throat and forcing her to swallow. Artimis's eyes flare open in shock and she bolts to a sitting position. She starts coughing and rasping, her throat practically burning and her chest on fire. But she was awake and aware of everything. Snape leered, and commented," I told you not to fall asleep, Ms. Callabella."
Alexis burst out in fits of laughter while Lupin tried his best to keep a straight face, but failing horribly. Ms. Callabella gave her the most evil glare, as Alexis almost teared up in laughter. She slowly stopped and sat back against Lupin, gasping and holding her head.
Artimis glowered all around the room, fixing everyone with a sneer. "That was NOT funny!" she growled once she gained the ability to talk again. Alexis looked at Artimis a grin filling her face, "Artimis, hon, is there something you need to tell me about Draco? And closed doors? Please do, 'cause we are all very interested in knowing." With that comment Artimis froze, fixing Alexis with a glare that would make Snape proud. She hissed, "Who told you what?" Artimis looked around and noticed an odd look on both her professors' faces. Alexis took this moment to replied defiantly, "No one told me anything, and I heard it from your own mouth."
Artimis gulped and wished her throat still burned. Putting her head in her hands she asked carefully, "What did I say while I was out of it?"
Alexis imitated her best version of Artimis's voice, "DAMNIT DRACO! THE DOOR IS OPEN!" Snape snickered a bit behind Artimis, and Lupin bust out laughing. Artimis swiftly stood up, smacked herself squarely in the face and rushed to the girl's lavatory.
Alexis, Professor Lupin and Professor Snape looked at each other in amusement and shock. "Severus? Did she just smack herself?" Lupin asked quizzically.
"Yes, I believe she did." he replied. Alexis stood and walked to the girl's bathroom door. Inside she heard rampart sobs, and Snape yelled behind her, "You better not have fallen asleep!" Alexis put her ear to the door, and then opened the door to see Artimis on the bathroom floor, crying pitifully. Alexis stared quizzically at her. Artimis noticed the door opening and stood immediately. "YOU!" she roared diving for Alexis. Alexis shouted "NO, no, no... LUPIN!" She backed up timidly as Artimis pounced on her. Artimis barely noticed the scampering noises coming from the infirmary. Artimis grabbed her hair and looked her in the eyes, "Just a little dip in the lake, its all water! Nothing wrong with that!" she hissed, glaring daggers at Alexis -who whimpered and called for help. Artimis smirked at her, "No, your not getting out of it that easily!" she stated at she picked Alexis up over her shoulder and threw her in a shower stall. In a blind rage, Artimis turned the hot water on high and slammed the shower door. She turned around and slid down the wall, barely noticing Alexis's screams, the teachers, or the look they gave her. She closed her eyes and felt hands on her lifting her and placing her on her back.
Alexis let Lupin help her out of the shower stall, trembling in fear at her friend's outburst. She was helped to her bed and Lupin handed her some of the infirmary pants and a top, then he left respectively, closing the curtain behind him.
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Snape and Lupin exchanged glances as Alexis followed Artimis into the bathroom. Then they heard shrieks and a definite yell for Lupin. Both of them dashed for the door, dreading Artimis had fallen again. To their surprise Artimis was sitting on Alexis's torso and yelling at her, a malicious glint in her eyes. Alexis yelped for help and Artimis sneered and replied in a chilling voice that was not like her own, picking Alexis up and throwing her in the shower stall. Alexis screamed as Artimis turned the hot water on all the way and closed the door. Artimis leaned against the door and slid down it, falling into unconsciousness. The first thing Snape did was move Artimis and open the door hurriedly turning the water off. Then he picked up Artimis up and laid her on her bed, frowning intently at her. Lupin rushed to Alexis and helped her up from where she sat curled in the stall, looking worriedly at her, and urgently asking if she was alright. Alexis merely whimpered and allowed Lupin to guide her into the Infirmary. He handed her some clothes and closed the curtain as Snape walked out of Artimis's now enclosed area.
"Did we just see what I think we saw, Severus?" Lupin asked.
"Unless you are blind, then indeed, we saw It." he whispered, a tone of wonder in his voice.
"What would make her attack Alexis truly? We've all seen them mock fight but that was real, untamed anger!" Lupin stated questioningly. He looked towards the curtain where Artimis lay peacefully. "Severus, shouldn't we keep her awake?"
"Did you just not see the look of fury in her eyes? I personally don't want it directed my way! Though I pity Alexis for it..." Snape replied looking at Remus in shock. A moan came from Artimis's area, and a frantic, "Alexis! Alexis!" was heard as they both rushed in. Artimis was completely white and was looking about the room in fear. She looked into Lupin's eyes and pleaded quietly and shakily, "Please tell me that was a dream!"
Remus looked down and stated, "Unfortunately, no. It wasn't."
Artimis leaned forward and bawled, then gradually, she looked up, "Did I hurt her badly? I couldn't... I mean it wouldn't..." She mumbled. The two professors looked between each other and said, "You didn't hurt her too badly, mostly you just frightened her." With that, Artimis stood up, the steadiest she had been through this whole ordeal. She stood and walked across to the curtains separating her from her friend. She pushed it aside and stepped in.
Alexis was sitting up against a pillow and nursing bright red and raw arms, but looks up quickly, staring silently at Artimis, eyes shimmering with tears. Artimis stares intently at the floor, hands clasped worriedly in front of her. Alexis looks away, lip trembling. Artimis goes and sits on the edge of her bed gently. Alexis instinctively shrinks away a little. Artimis speaks softly and gently, a wave of guilt overcoming her," You know I would never dream of hurting you. I wasn't myself...." she chokes up on tears. Alexis puts a hand on her friend's arm and says softly. " I know that. You don't have to explain yourself. I just got scared for a minute..." Artimis turns and hugs her close, Alexis grimaces, refraining from gasping out. Artimis, feeling her friend's discomfort, let's go and looks to the floor again. "I can't promise you I won't do that again, because I don't even know what happened, but I promise I'll try... By the way... The Draco thing I said, um, had to do with a late night visit from the great romancer his self. Apparently, he thinks waking his girl up at THREE every morning is sweet or some shit." Artimis said rolling her eyes.
Alexis cracks up at that and wraps her arm around Artimis's shoulder, "Men, they're always wrong!" Then she looks up to see the professors giving her an odd look, and adds hurriedly. "Um... I mean BOYS are always wrong!"
Artimis smiles, and looks at a paling Alexis, "I don't deserve you, you're way to great a friend for me." Alexis blushes and hugs her friend knowing words at this moment are pointless.
"Hey, Sleep. Both of you. NOW." Professor Lupin intruded affectionately.
Artimis goes to her bed, but before she does, she opens the curtain. Then she lays down and looks to Alexis. "You know Dumbledore is going to rip us a new one for this right?"
"Yeah, but it was worth it!" Alexis looked up for the teachers, who had their backs to the girls. "Besides, I got warmed up by Lupin!"
Artimis raises her lip in laughter, "Hey, Snape is pretty warm if he wouldn't pull away at the slightest touch, but I guess we once again owe them our lives." She said, laying down and looking at Alexis. They lay staring up at the ceiling for a moment, then Alexis adds casually," You know, my Birthday is in a few days right?"
Artimis smirks slightly, and comments slyly," Oh really? Hmmm..." Alexis smiles slightly and carefully rolls onto her side.
"Goodnight." Artimis spoke affectionately, a tone of secrecy in her voice.
"Goodnight." Alexis replies as she closes her eyes, realizing Lupin's cloaks are still on her bed. She snuggles up in them blissfully and falls into a peaceful sleep.