If These Walls Could Talk...
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
Author's Note: This story segment is going to take you deeper into the psyche of Artimis and Alexis, so prepare for some twists and some unknown facts.
"Please, it would help us figure stuff out."
"No."
"Dumbledore's the kind of person who knows these things! And you know he won't let you hurt him, or anybody else for that matter."
"I really don't want to go near anyone, Artimis."
"Come on, it's only him. If you want to know what's going on, you'll come."
Alexis and Artimis were arguing yet again, but over a very complicated reason. They were in Professor Lupin's quarters, discussing their many issues. Alexis sat curled upon Lupin's bed, head on her knees, while Artimis sat uncomfortably in a cushioned armchair by the door, applying more salve to her slowly healing arms.
Alexis was very reluctant to leave the room, afraid she'd lose control again. She sat quietly, staring blankly at Artimis's arms. "If you don't stop staring at my arms I'm going to make you rub this smelly shit all over them!" Artimis barked laughingly.
Artimis was feeling frustrated herself, at her friend of course. Why won't she listen to common sense? Dumbledore knows how to deal with this stuff! She tried again. "Please, Alexis. I personally want to figure out what the hell's been going on with our lives. It's really starting to bug the shit out of me. Just come with us this once, and then you can lay low for a few days. Besides I don't think seeing Dumbledore will make any of us lose life or limb!"
Alexis looked at Artimis doubtfully. I should listen to her. Dumbledore does know an awful lot... Slowly she uncurled and moved to the edge of the bed, looking at the floor. Artimis looked at her in expectation.
"Alright, I'll go with you."
Artimis smiled, and stood up, peeking her head out the door.
"Professors, we're going."
Alexis got up slowly and followed Artimis and Professors Snape and Lupin out the door and towards Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's office.
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Artimis remembered briefly her last sit in this office and dismissed it quickly. She sat slouching next to Alexis, her hand resting slightly on Alexis's hand. Artimis had begun to wear soft brown leather gloves with the fingers cut off that covered her slow healing burns. Dumbledore offered them some sweets and Artimis accepted a lemon drop. He sat in his chair behind his desk, peering at them quizzically.
"I believe you ladies came to find out what is going on." Dumbledore stated matter-of-factly.
Artimis hopefully looked to him, "Yes, headmaster. I would like to know what it is sending me into waves of amnesic anger, and what makes my friend, in her anger, burst in to flame." She watched Alexis look to her arms as she spoke. She pulled out the jar of salve and waved it at Alexis, who turned her head quickly.
Dumbledore rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Miss Callabella, I am sorry to say I can't completely answer your questions but I will try my best."
"Thank you, Sir." She replied her eyes flicking to Professor Snape, who was once again, near the fireplace.
"You, Artimis, come here and look into my eyes." Dumbledore stated calmly as he stood. "Now I want you to relax your thoughts. Just in case you feel the need to be angry, Professor Lupin will stand by to make sure you cause yourself no harm." Professor Lupin stood behind her, placing a supportive hand on her shoulder. Then Dumbledore looked deeply into her eyes and pointed his wand at her temple. He muttered a spell and suddenly all her memories floated in front of her eyes. She felt Dumbledore in her mind, shifting through memories. Then Artimis's mind went black.
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Dumbledore spoke in soft tones to Artimis, no one in the room, but her hearing. Artimis's head lolled back and then it raised her eyes, now an amber brown, like honey. She stood straight up, her shoulders pulled back, as if Artimis was in a stance of attention. "Professor, Is that you?" Her voice was not her own it was full of pain and fear, yet carrying a tone of grace through the stuttering. Alexis stiffened in her chair, but Snape quickly leaned to her ear, whispering something to her and she relaxed.
"I see that you did not leave as all think, young one." Dumbledore replied smiling, his eyebrow rose in amazement.
Artimis smiled a true genuine smile and flipped her hair. "No Sir, A Callabella never gives up!" The voice cleared and spoke in soft, beautiful tones, resonating off of the walls.
"Well, you are causing Artimis quite an amount of grief my dear, she can barely sit still, wondering if she is going to attack anyone close to her."
"Professor, I only mean to protect her!" She stated indignantly. He chuckled placing his hand on her shoulder. She shied from the hand, but then relaxed.
"Diana, you are as stubborn and as true as your sister, but I must ask you to stop interfering. It is not helping Artimis as you hoped it would."
Artimis looked down at her feet, "Yes Professor." With that, Artimis's head rolled forward, her shoulders slouched. Then her head snapped up and she looked around terrified with her beautiful sapphire eyes.
"I didn't attack you did I?" she asked looking at her hands in disgust.
"No, not at all my child. It seems that you are simply suffering from overstress and sadness. Try to keep your self upbeat and it should all go away." Dumbledore stated, patting her shoulder before moving his hand. Artimis moved back to her chair and looked at Alexis's face with the "What?" look.
Dumbledore looked to Alexis as she backed up in her chair. "Alexis, I fear I can not perform that on you, for it could bare devastating results, but I will be looking into it for you. Just one piece of advice, try to control your temper."
"Thank you, Sir." she mumbled as she stared at Artimis. Artimis shrugged at her, sat down, crossing her legs and playing with the lines she drew on her gloves.
"Girls, I think it best you go stand outside a moment." Dumbledore stated as he looked at Snape and they grudgingly got up and walked out.
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Alexis watched as Artimis went into a kind of trance at Dumbledore's spell. Confused, she continued to watch in growing anxiety. When Artimis spoke in that soft but powerful sounding voice that was definitely not Artimis's, Alexis immediately freaked out. What the hell is Dumbledore doing to her? If he's Imperioing her... she wondered, almost angrily, as she tensed and backed farther into her chair, fearing the worst. Professor Snape, seeing her agitation, quickly bent to whisper in Alexis's ear, "He's not hurting her, Alexis. It's only a spell to reveal her inner mind."
Alexis calmed slightly and watched in amazement, listening to a whole different person. When she heard the Headmaster call Artimis Diana, her mind immediately returned to thoughts of Artimis's family. Diana... I know that name... wait, her sister! The one who was… Alexis stopped, remembering sorrowfully the tale.
When Dumbledore had finished and turned to her, Alexis was a bit frightened, afraid he'd do the same to her and unleash the person who was always present in her spontaneous outbursts of anger-filled flame. The Headmaster calmed her by saying he could not, but also explained he could not tell her anything about her problem. And his 'advice' didn't do a damn thing for her! Alexis watched Artimis in awe as she sat down, realizing she didn't remember anything about it. Well, Dumbledore covered it pretty well... I don't think he'd take kindly to me ruining it. And I don't think Artimis would take it too well either...
Disappointedly, she and Artimis left the room, sitting outside the door glumly.
"I knew he wouldn't say anything." Alexis said quietly, fiddling with the pockets of her robes.
"You didn't know anything. Anyways, he'll find out, he always does." stated Artimis, but she wasn't too convinced with her own diagnosis. They sat in silence for a few minutes, staring mournfully at the ground. Then Alexis looked at her robes in confusion, coming across something in her pockets. Artimis watched her, bewildered. Then Alexis pulled out several flesh colored objects attached to long strings. They were some of the Weasley Twins infamous Extendable Ears from her birthday Present from them. She looked up at Artimis in grim determination. "I need to find out. And I think you'd like to know too."
They attached them to their ears and placed them to the door. Then they perched listening intently as the conversation ensued.
They heard Snape voice rose loudly, "She's dead, residing in a student, and all you tell this student is relax, basically 'Don't worry, Be happy'." Artimis confused put her actual ear closer.
Lupin asked quietly, "What about Alexis. What is wrong with her." he had that tone of worried laced with concern.
"Ahh, I believe it has to do with bloodlines. We all know whom she is the daughter of, You, Severus, seeing your position with them should know best of all." Dumbledore stated.
"Whom, surely she is not Riddle's heir." Snape asked questioningly.
"No no Severus, she is McNair's Daughter, a child destined from birth to acquire the role of one of Tom's loyal Death eaters." With this, Alexis goes white, and falls over. Artimis can barely believe her ears. My best friend... A destined Death eater... Never, she doesn't even like killing spiders... She makes me do it! Next thing she knows she is staring into Snape's face, dumbstruck. Then she feels it with in her. Your position Severus... He isn't.... no... Artimis felt the anger seething. "Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts!" she murmured. Then it all went black.
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Snape didn't figure the girls had been listening to the conversation, so he did not think to watch what he said. When he heard the thud right outside the door, he swiftly opened it to a pale Artimis, shaking, mumbling about "Happy something", Then she looked to him and her eyes were brown again. "You traitorous bastard! I'll kill you, she trusted you!"
He stepped back placing his arms out, "Diana, you don't understand, I couldn't help you!"
"Liar!" She yelled as she pounced. She grasped his hair in her hands and proceeded to look in his eyes. "Do you remember these eyes, staring at you, begging for your help. Do you remember this voice; remember the screams, the begging, the crying out in pain. I want you to remember, I want you to be in and much pain as I was when I died..." The voice died and Artimis eyes changed. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She yelled as she jumped off of Snape. She cowered on the ground at his feet, shaking in fear of herself, looking at her hands like they were foreign objects. "I'm so sorry, please forgive me Professor, so sorry." She said as she went off in sobs. He sat there, not knowing what to do. Lupin sat there in silence, and then went to Alexis, who was just coming to. Dumbledore walked to Artimis as he lifted her gently. She leaned heavily on him. He placed her in a chair and handed a light blue lavender smelling potion to her. She drank it and fell into a deep sleep. The same was done to Alexis and both looked back to Snape. He sat there shaking, his eyes filled with indiscernible emotions. He looked to Dumbledore. "Everyday of my life I'm plagued with memories of those I could not save. And then... then..." his voice trailed off in a un-snapish manner. Dumbledore walked to Artimis and yelled like an angered father. "Diana Encantina Callabella, come out this instant."
Artimis opened her eyes, but they were brown once again. Diana had taken over. "Yes headmaster?"
"Diana, you attacked one of my professor's-" His voice was angry.
She spat. "I attacked one of the many present for my death."
"Diana, even in death you hold a grudge?" Lupin asked. He moved over in front of her.
"Whom may I ask are you?" She asked politely raising an eyebrow.
"Professor Remus Lupin." He replied.
"I don't really hold a grudge Professor, as much as I hold a life quest."
Dumbledore interjected, "Diana, apologize to Severus, He did more to help you than you could ever know. True he could not save your life, but your sister lives because he told me the going ons." Artimis's body moved around to look at the figure sitting by the fireplace. She stood proudly, her fist clenched. Dumbledore placed a hand on her shoulder. "Headmaster, this time I do not intend to harm him." With this she walked to him and kneeled. "Look me in the eyes, Professor." Snape did so and she shuddered, whether with joy or sorrow, no one knew. "Is this true? Did you save the lives of my family?" He looked her in the eyes with all the pride he had and said, "Yes, I indeed did."
"Then I lift my quest of you. I apologize." She said as nonchalantly as a person dismissing unfinished homework. Snape looked murderous. He stood and Artimis- Diana- stood and backed up. "You apologize! Do you realize that you have made it to where you sister may never trust me again." He grabbed her arm and she did not wince in pain. He came close to her face, "Leave her Diana, you only cause her more pain. She's lived with enough!" Then he saw her eyes shift and a pain filled sound rose in Artimis's throat as she leaned on him, lifting her arms, wrapping around his shoulders for support. He held her up and moved her to the chair. Then they all noticed Alexis bolted up, staring at Snape.
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Alexis slowly came to, sitting in a chair inside Dumbledore's office. She did not open her eyes right away, and she was very foggy on the events that just took place. She heard a jumble of voices breaking through her clouded mind. Snape's stood out clearly. She opened her eyes a slit and watched quietly, not remembering anything. He seemed to be berating Artimis, who was up and staring defiantly back at him, yelling something. Her eyes were a honey brown shade and her voice was like a powerful opera singers. She squinted at them curiously, listening to the entire confrontation in confusion. Then the name Diana sunk in, bringing the recent events bubbling to the surface as Diana left Artimis's body.
She sat bolt upright, glaring in shock at everyone around her. She was deathly white and shaking slightly, then, she exploded, "NO WAY IN HELL! I am not... never in my living existence... If this is you idea of your own prank, it is sickening and rude! I refuse solidly to your accusations, I can't believe you people..." Alexis screamed at the top of her voice, as the temperature slowly rose. She trembled in fear and steadfast unbelief, but she unconsciously knew Dumbledore would not, could not, lie to her. They stared at her in utmost awe at her outburst as the recognizable green flames licked at her body, slowly singeing the chair she sat in.
Dumbledore stepped forward, speaking softly but firmly," Alexis, calm down. I feared you'd react this way..."
Alexis glared at him as her eyes glazed over. "YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME ANYWAYS!!! It's my right to know! But it is absolutely the biggest lie I've ev..."
"Alexis! Please listen..." Lupin interjected as Alexis slowly got up, taking a step towards them in anger, the flames steadily growing larger. Snape was in front of Artimis, making sure she didn't jump up and stop Alexis again, but Artimis was too dazed to even sit up straight. She merely stared at Alexis in a drugged sort of way. He looked to Dumbledore, who miraculously did nothing, letting Alexis vent at him.
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Lupin couldn't take it. He hated seeing Alexis this way, and knew she wouldn't calm down any time soon of her own accord. So, he ran forward, right towards her shield of magical fire. A voice in the far most recesses of his brain told him he was safe from her seething rage, and it was true. He grasped her arms at her sides and firmly shook her, staring into her distracted gaze. "Please, Alexis. Breath... relax, we'll explain. Just settle down...," he almost shouted above the roaring and crackling of her personal fireball.
The soothing words reached Alexis's overcrowded head and she stopped yelling. But the flames still writhed around her. Lupin sat her down on the cold floor -the only place she wouldn't singe - and asked Snape for a type of potion. Snape left quickly, setting Artimis near the wall and Alexis sat still in mute astonishment. She didn't even remember the name of her death eater father, but knew distinctly that he had passed the traits unto her. He will pay for this, this, curse, which he passed to me. I swear it.
Dumbledore was stepping forward and mumbling an incantation beneath his breath -making the flames around her diminishing until they only hovered about her body. Lupin kept talking in a soothing, calm voice, Dumbledore joining as the same cold, cruel voice made itself known again in her distressed mind. So now you know. Sooner then I had expected, but perfectly fine nonetheless. Till we talk again, Alexis. The voice faded, and Alexis felt rage towards it as Snape burst back into the room with a small vial. He handed it to Lupin, who tilted it down Alexis's dry throat. Then he went to stand by Artimis, his head shaking as she sat there apparently unaware of everything. It took effect as the Professors watched, all emotion leaving Alexis's body along with all her thoughts, leaving her to stare ahead at nothing in an unblinking trance.
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Artimis saw it all but could do nothing. She could not will her body to stop Alexis. She could not even will her body to sit up.
"Arty, sweet little Arty, come sit with De-de, we need to talk." A voice echoed through the room, but she was the only one to hear it.
"I am not a child, stop calling to me as such." She yelled aloud and Snape turned to her and spoke. She saw him but could do nothing; she was not in his world she was in the spirit realm surrounding his.
"Artimis, It's me. Dian-" the voice cooed.
" I know who you are, but why did you make me do it?" Artimis chiding, knowing that Snape was peering into her eyes. She could see him, other than that could do little more. "He is not who he seems to be little sister. His past-"
"I don't give a damn about his past, past or no past, he has saved my life and guided me where I have had little guidance before, yes he may have been there, but he is also here!" Snape looked at her in shock. She knew from his face that he knew she was talking about him. "Diana, I TRUST him. I trust him with my very life, I do remember quite well the day my loving sister. All he was then was a sentry, he never touched you, never touched mother, never!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. She couldn't feel Snape's arms around her shoulders but she knew they where there and she saw the fabric of his coat.
"Artimis, this monster-" the voice rose angrily
"The only monster here is you Diana! Do not call him a monster!" Snape leapt back and looked at her in surprise.
"Very well sister, choose the traitor over blood-"
"No sister, I choose the living over the dead." She smirked, impersonating Snape's the best she could. "Artimis, he has contaminated you, you even smile like him." Diana gasped in shock.
"I'll take that as a high compliment and I'll remember to smile just that way every time I think of you." Artimis said defiantly. Then she felt herself back in her body, back in the world of the living. She looked around groggily and her eyes met Snape's. She cried and before the first tear fell he was there, not touching her, simply him being within her reach to touch if she needed him was all she needed to know that she was right.
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Severus watched as Alexis calmed down and nearly jumped from his skin when Artimis's slow voice spoke out. "I am not a child, stop calling to me as such." He asked her what he meant but she simply stared past him.
"I know who you are, but why did you make me do it?" She yelled her eyes narrowing.
"Artimis who are you talking to?" He asked peering into her eyes. He saw in them a faint sliver of what he knew to be Artimis but something was not right.
"I don't give a damn about his past, past or no past -he has saved my life and guided me where I have had little guidance before, yes he may have been there, but he is also here!" Snape jaw dropped in shock as he heard her words. Is she speaking about me…? She is defending me... wherever she is she talking about me. He thought as he looked at her with amazement. Tears filled her eyes and he wrapped her in a hug, much to the surprise of Lupin and Dumbledore. "Diana, I TRUST him. I trust him with my very life, I do remember quite well the day my loving sister. All he was then was a sentry, he never touched you never touched mother, never!" She yelled into his shoulder. He whispered to her that he was the last one deserving her trust along with how sorry he was about her family.
"The only monster here is you Diana! Do not call him a monster!" she hollered. Snape leapt back in surprise, someone had called him a monster and she simply defended him without thinking. "No sister, I choose the living over the dead." Was said as Snape watched one of his own smirks pull over Artimis's face. "I'll take that as a high compliment and I'll remember to smile just that way every time I think of you." she stated. The air seemed to still and Artimis's eyes refocused and then shifted to Snape. Tears welled up in her eyes and He knew not what to do so he moved over to beside of her chair and looked at her.
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Dumbledore smiled one of his all-knowing smiles as Lupin carried Alexis to his chambers and Artimis walked, assisted by Snape. "Those four will save each other yet." And with that he popped a lemon drop in his mouth and petted his phoenix Fawkes, who looked at his master and cooed.