Chapter 15
A Sister's Pact
By: Deep Shadows And EckoStalker

Delayed Disclaimer: In the previous chapter, we used spells we did not create. They are: "Lepidae!", "Dissoculo!", "Sangueflus!", and "Fagouro!". We do not remember whom it was made them so if you are the writer who made these, please email us so we can cite you!

Author's Note: This was done with minimal help from EckoStalker so when she returns it will be edited, I am pretty sure of that. As for the last chapter I am sorry about all the spelling errors. I was exhausted and didn't think to spell check. Please forgive me. {Deep Shadows}
Has Been Edited And Revised!!! {Deep Shadows}

Her mind felt cavernous; devoid of some part of herself she couldn't understand. Artimis saw images, memories of things that could not be. Lucius under her, his blood all over her; her crying on Snape's shoulder and him comforting her; her singing in front of people, and other darker images. All that could not have happened and she knew it. {I'm in my dorm. I'm going to wake up and it's going to be normal. It was just a dream} She convinced herself as she shifted in bed. She knew the bed was not hers. Moaning in misunderstood pain she opened her eyes. Bright white lights shone down on her. "Oh just perfect! I died didn't I? Bloody dream killed me!" she said drowsily, closing her eyes tightly. She heard a sharp intake of breath and some weight being settled on the right side of her bed. She turned her head and opened her eyes slightly. What she saw was Professor Snape sit down on her bed, his dark eyes searching her face. He looked terrible which was something everyone thought impossible for him. His hair was greasier than normal and it looked as if he hadn't slept for days. Looking at him like that made all the memories come back, hitting her full force, bombarding her with sensations she didn't want. "Alexis! Where is she? I'm still here." She yelled frantically, sitting up quickly her eyes wide in fear. He moved his hands to her shoulders and tried to lay her back down, but she instead clung to him tightly. "I killed him didn't I?" She said fearfully her face hidden in the fabric of his shoulder. She was shaking, trembling in fear of what she had done, the crime she had committed.

"No. He lives. I'm not sure if he deserves to or not, but he does." Snape replied harshly obviously taken aback by her sudden closeness. She looked up at him curiously with tear-stricken eyes.

"He's alive? But I saw myself, I saw him... He went limp!" She said confused, backing up towards the edge of the bed. Snape quickly and instinctively drew her to him, as he knew she was going to fall off once again. "He was never one for blood. He fainted." He replied, holding her because at that she began to cry.

"The bastard. He can't even die when he needs too. I haven't fulfilled my quest. It's not over." She mumbled tearfully into his shoulder, her delicate hands grasping a handful of cloth from his robes. He drew a deep, deliberate breath and pulled her back away from him. As he laid her down gently, she looked to her right and he regretted not shutting the curtains. She saw her brother, Apollo in the bed next to her, scratches all over his body. " Apollo! No... Is he...?"

"Sleeping, Artimis. He is sleeping." He said lowering his voice to a tone that calmed her. He turned her face to his. A brief memory of the lake filtered through her mind until she looked past him. Alexis was sitting up, her knees in front of her, hugging them close. Artimis leapt out of bed, wrenching away from Snape, who tried to hold her down. She sat on Alexis's bed and hugged her close, whispering, "I won't leave you. I'm still here."

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Alexis had awoken, empty of all thought and feeling. She struggled to remember what had last happened, and how she got to where she was and most importantly where she was, but it wouldn't come to her. Then, slowly her body demanded to be felt. And it was felt, painfully. Alexis moaned quietly, her form aching and smarting in places she didn't know existed.

She felt hands under her, lifting her to a sitting position and some liquid being poured in her mouth. She could barely swallow due to the numbing pain she felt through out her body. But as the potion took effect, the pain lessoned to a dull ache. The hands wrapped around her and pulled her to a warm body. Alexis remained still, and dim flashes of memories surfaced. Darkness.... figures- Death eaters!... Artimis- Dead!... No.... Not dead... My father - he's dead... Fire... A lot of it... Mum... No, not mother... please... Tears unwillingly came to her eyes and a smooth stirring of whispers penetrated her mind.

She opened her eyes, even the light making them smart. Lupin's unfocused face swam into view, he was saying something, trying to calm her. Alexis stared calmly, then wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him as hard as she could- hoping it would wretch the horrid memories out of her head. Lupin took it and hugged her back murmuring delicately, " It's all in the past... I'm here for you... You won't be alone I promise... It's alright."

Alexis stayed that way crying silently and unbrokenly, until she felt nothing- all emotion having left her. Lupin gently sat her back on the bed, gazing at her lovingly. Alexis sat leaning against the headboard, knees curled under her chin, staring ahead blankly at nothing. Nothing could penetrate her reverie. Faintly she registered Lupin trying to tell her something but Snape- whom she just recognized was sitting near the bed next to her- said something that vaguely sounded like "...she's not ready for that, Remus..."

Then she totally zoned out, remaining in her timid position and her mind completely blank. She heard a stirring of noise in the back of her mind but ignored it totally. Sometime later a voice in her head informed her that Artimis was waking up, and she was just as confused, but Alexis couldn't will her body or mind to do anything. But Artimis was hell bent on getting a response. Alexis felt Artimis plopping onto her bed and enveloping her in a needy, heartfelt hug. Alexis remained rigid for a moment and Artimis squeezed her, whispering something. Coherent thought came back to her. ( Artimis... She's alright... she still here... my only buddy... she'll understand...) Then Alexis broke down crying and collapsing into her friends swallowing embrace, burying her head into her shoulder and venting all her sorrow and emotion as Artimis held her tight.

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Artimis held Alexis, letting her own tears fall. "Alexis. I'm here. You'll never be alone again." She whispered. She looked to Lupin and he just stared at Alexis's shaking form. It looked like it was ripping his heart out for him to watch her to cry. Artimis forced a smile to her face, determined to make this all right. She knew it was weak, but it was just enough for Lupin return a weak one. Artimis didn't want to let go of Alexis but every muscle in her body hurt. "Alexis. Pain. Air. Need." she said quietly through her friends vice grip around her waist.

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Alexis quickly let go and crawled back, looking down, tears still silently slipping down her cheeks. She balled up again and Artimis curled in her bed at the foot, grimacing in pain. She tried to not think about the future. She had no parents now. Who would she go to? She refused to go to her grandparents, they hated her and she would never see Artimis again. Her only uncle was a drunk. They'd put her in an orphanage. (No... I'll...I'll... I'll run away if I have to!) Alexis thought of all this quickly, her muggle side of her completely taking over her thinking. She never considered that her wizard friends would help. Common sense evaded her.

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{I told you I wasn't leaving you. I am here for you. I won't ever let anyone hurt you again} Artimis cooed mentally, feeling her friends despair. Artimis watched the thoughts go through Alexis mind. After a few moments Alexis replied. ( I thought you had died.)

{No you saved me remember? You pulled me to your mind. Diana... She....} Artimis's mental voice wavered as Alexis cut in. (I remember... I'm so sorry)

{Don't be. Diana knew what was happening. She could have left at anytime. I think she wanted to go} Artimis said a resolved tone in her thoughts.

( Are we really here? Are we really alive?) Alexis questioned in disbelief.

{I think the insistent pain in my hands and back mean yes. We are. And so is everyone else I surmise. I am here for you.}

( I know. But where will I live now that my mother is.... is....) It was Alexis's turn for her voice to waver.

{Hush. Did you think I would let you go live in a muggle orphanage? You can come stay with me. I'm sure my father won't mind. Unless someone else like Dumbledore has arranged you some place else. But I will never ever leave you alone.} Artimis calmly said, her mind sending love to Alexis.

(Promise me. Promise me you wont let me be alone.) Alexis begged.

{ I promise you. I promise upon my mother's grave that you will never be alone, Sister.}

( Sister? Why did you call me sister?) Alexis asked in confusion.

{ Because from this day forth you are my sister and an honorary Callabella}

(Thank you so much.) Alexis said her mind sounding as if she was going to cry.

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Lupin, startled by Alexis's state, quickly sat on her bed and pulled her on to his lap. He rocked her for a moment, then spoke softly. "Alexis, I've heard of what happened and... and... Thought, that well... since you have no decent family... that I would... um..."

Artimis fed up with his rambling, because it increased the intensity of her oncoming migraine, spat out, "Bloody Hell! Professor! Just say it!" Lupin stared at her and Alexis looked up in confusion, her tears ebbing. Lupin sat her up and put his hands on her shoulders, looking intently into her eyes, "Alright. Alexis if it is ok with you, I've went to the Ministry and... and... Damnit... I've arranged for you to come live with me. That is, of course, If you want to... I'll understand if you don't..." He said his voice lowering. Alexis stared in shock, then lunged at Lupin, grinning widely as he fell onto his back. Alexis buried her face in his cloak and laughed hysterically through her tears, which were now ones of happiness. Artimis shrieked for Alexis to close her mind, and that the excitement was far too loud for her. Lupin held Alexis and smiled broadly, closing his eyes in contentment.

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"Artimis!" A deep voice rang out from the end of the room. Artimis turned to see her father walking up. "DAD!" She yelled desperately, leaping off the bed and taking off at a breakneck run. She leapt into his arms, wrapping her legs around him, and he held her close. "Dad... I... I..." She sobbed, pulling her head back to look at him. He pushed her head gently back to his shoulder, whispering reassuringly "Hush baby. It's ok. Everything will be alright." He said holding her close, but making her stand on her own two feet.

"Sis, stop your damn whining. You're not four anymore, ya know." Apollo said, sitting up and grasping his head. She pulled away from her father and ran to Apollo's bedside. The realization that running was not her brightest of ideas hit her and her knees buckled. Strong hands caught her under her arms as she fell and she was placed in a chair. The familiar voice of Professor Snape said, "Ms. Callabella, I did not carry you up to this castle so you could sleep for a week, and then run yourself ragged. Stay seated and relax. We are all here and alive. I know you think you are strong, but do not push it." Artimis fixed him with a look of pure astonishment.

"You... You carried me?" She stuttered as if the idea of how she got here had never passed her mind, which it hadn't.

"No, you merely appeared here. Of course I carried you. Did you expect me to leave you there while Lupin and the rest of the staff took the others?" He chided sarcastically. A hand grasped his shoulder and he was spun around.

"Thank you for saving my daughter." Her father tried to thank him but Snape simply put his hand up to silence him.

"I did no such thing. I just transported her from the fray after it was over. I am no hero." With that he tried to walk away, but Artimis grabbed his sleeve. He looked at her with curiosity and the 'let-go-or-you-will-regret-it' look.

{I know you did more than that.} she told him.

[I am no hero. I did my job. You were the one to give me the push.]

"I remember everything. Thank you." She letting go of his arm and sinking into the comfy chair, clearly overworked. He nodded, said something to Lupin, and stalked off.

"Hey Alexis, ever hear of Happy Endings?' Artimis asked jokingly. Alexis looked up and smiled, getting up from having tackled Remus. "No such thing, Sis!"

"Well, I guess this is pretty close, considering I'm alive and fairly sane, well as sane as I was. You're alive and fairly sane, comparatively. You not my enemy and you are not alone." Artimis smiled getting up from the chair walking over to Alexis and hugging her..

"But this is not the ending. We still had two more weeks to go of school and there is much pranking to make up for." Alexis said smiling.

"Thank god one of use decided to save me. Or else I'd be a goner. I guess I owe you a life debt." Artimis said, embracing Alexis more deeply, while Lupin got up, surprised by Alexis's reaction. Artimis's stomach rumbled loudly. "Me want food." She said as she and Alexis snickered. Everyone laughed at her and they were told to dress, because it was almost dinnertime.

Deep Shadows: Time to thank the reviewers --sniff-- No fun alone
EckoStalker: --Not here--

Tabitha78: We love you. You are our Grammar and Spelling Fairy. Thanks for letting us know when we make those little mistakes.(Like I did the first time) We appreciate it. Thankies.

Starfish278: We are so glad that you thought our story was so good that you stayed up that late. I can believe you when you say you goy so into it you were shaking, it happens to me every time we write on these guys. Thanks for saying our story is standing out among the rest of the fics. Thankies.

WitchMagic376: We are glad you like it and sorry that Chapter 14 was confusing. Thanks.

Baie-Baie: Yes There is more. Much more. Two more chapters worth. Thanks for reviewing.

Mourn-Today: Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like our story. It is nice to know our hard work shows. Thanks. And I hope the problem you were having has fixed itself for you so you can update like you wished. Thankies.

Deep Shadows: I have done my duty. Now where is my Sevvie?
Severus: Sevvie? --gulp-- That is not me right. That's you Remus, right?
Remus: Um... No I'm Remmie. You're Sevvie.
Severus: But she is depressed, I don't want to have to deal with her emotions. Remus you help her out.
Remus: Severus, I'm not here remember I'm with EckoStalker. So you get to deal with her. Here she comes. Toodles --POP--
Deep Shadows: --notices Sevvie-- Sevvie!!!! --tackles him to floor-- Let's watch movies!
Severus: Joy, What god-awful muggle film are we going to watch. --rolls eyes--
Deep Shadows: I don't know. Romeo and Juliet...
Severus: No --shivers--
Deep Shadows: Um... Titanic...
Severus: No --cringes--
Deep Shadows: Um fine we are watching 'Save the Last Dance'.
Severus: Fine. --sighs and sits-- --mumbles grumpily--
Deep Shadows: --pops movie in and cuddles Sevvie-- Yay!

Remus: --POP-- I'll say good-bye since she is occupied. So Toodles. --POP--

I know it is a short chapter but all our effort is going into the next chapter. Hehehe. More pissing off Snape and we even get all of the teachers this time. Hehehe. we love end of the year feast. So fun. So full of opportunity. --Insert evil laugh-- {Deep Shadows}