Chapter 17
"The Finale" aka "Out With A Bang"
By: Deep Shadows And EckoStalker
Author's note: I hade five minutes to upload this so I will put disclaimers on in the Epilogue. Enjoy!!! Toodles {Deep Shadows}
Artimis and Alexis quickly undid all the meticulous work they had done on making them seem like their teachers. The other teams did the same and they all put on Black cloaks and grabbed their brooms. They rushed quickly through the school, out the doors. Artimis looked around at all the black clad figures, "Ok guys, to your stations. Apollo and Lee should be getting them prepped now." She said as everyone took of toward the lake. The all went of to different sides of the lake, Alexis and Artimis sticking together. Alexis landed and quickly checked all the mortars for moisture and punctures. Then over their magically enhanced walkie talked came Apollo's voice, "Alexis, Snake and Wolf, it's your cue." Alexis nodded and threw her cloak to the ground, hopping on her broom and taking off towards the school. Artimis moved over to her spot in the trench they had made early this week. She grabbed her walkie-talkie, "Ok, Ravens your first cue, do not go till I give the word. Badgers, your after I will give you your cue soon after. Lions will roar next, wait for my call. The duo will dance the finale! Copy?"
There was a echo of "copy that" And she said, "Ok, until all is ready silence, get your trenches ready." Then she sat and waited for Alexis to bring the prey to the trap.
{Always wanted to be like this!}
(Army ROCKS! HERE LITTLE PROFESSORS HERE!)
{Hahaha, Just bring them to the shore and then take off with your flares, we'll do the rest.}
(Aye aye captain) Alexis replied laughing mentally.
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Alexis sped across the lake towards two small figures near the entrance of the school, mentally going over her plan.
She snickered as she went into character. The professors -Lupin and Snape- stopped short at the sight of Alexis speeding towards them on a broom. Alexis jerked to a halt a few feet from them, and practically fell off. She stumbled up to them, out of breath, eyes wide. Lupin grabbed her shoulders as she fell to her knees, gasping for breath.
"What's wrong?" Lupin asked in concern.
Alexis spoke between gasps. "Artimis... trouble... bad, very bad...need help!" She pointed over to two brooms that lay conveniently near some bushes. The professors raced to them without question and followed Alexis as she took off yet again towards the lake. As they approached the lake, Alexis put on an extra burst of speed and stopped a little off the shore of the lake. She turned abruptly and stared at them. In confusion, they also pulled up and stopped a few feet from her, looking around for her companion. Snape became frustrated and sneered," Well? Where is she?"
Alexis smirked and shrugged her shoulders.
Then there was a loud snap and the Professors jumped slightly. Alexis stared at them mischievously and waved childishly, spinning the broom and taking off across the still waters. Suddenly the broom that Snape and Lupin were on landed and they were stranded within a glowing circle. They looked to each other as Alexis lit orange flares flying across the lake.
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Artimis sat at her post waiting for Alexis to signal that all was in place. She saw Alexis light the flares as she swooped towards her and she looked to see Severus and Remus looking about oddly. She picked up the microphone that was magically linked to three speaker around the circle of holding they had erected around the professors.
"Hello Professor Lupin and Professor Snape." She saw them look about and she snickered, "Please don't make fools of yourselves and look for me. I am far away." She grabbed her walkie-talkie quickly stating, "Fly my Ravens Fly!" Suddenly there was a loud bang and bright red and words from a firework went up. They read, 'Thank you Professor Lupin for great year!' After that a series of red and gold lions filled the sky making noises and roaring magnificently. Alexis landed and Artimis handed her the microphone after she adjusted her army helmet on her head. She saluted Artimis who rolled her eyes and spoke into the mic, "Hiya Lupin! Hey Snape! We wanted to thank you both in our own special way. Lupin you have been so great to me, understanding and caring. Thank you."
After Alexis finished her part of the planned speech the palmer twins sent up their signature signs, Danielle's was blue and her name was in cursive followed in by 'Got Ya!' in huge blue letters. The signed died and Katrina's followed in bronze followed by 'Party!'
Artimis took the mic from Alexis and spoke after the noise died down, "Professor Snape, in the beginning you were the epiphany of the word JERK. But as time wore on and you ended up saving us, we saw a glimmer of a good person. You were there taking care of us while we were unconscious and you held me the day we were nearly killed. You even dealt with my clinging, which is a big chance for you. Thank you for not killing us, even though we pushed that last nerve more times than you will admit."
Alexis spoke into her com, she liked to call it and stated, 'Badgers, show your stuff!" The sky lit up once more but with green and silver words, 'Thank you Professor Snape!' immediately following the fading of the words there were giant green and silver snakes writhing through the sky. Alexis finally found her own mic and nodded to Artimis who was setting up their magically trench so they could hide easily when it was all over. "Professor Snape, You never really liked me, but then again you never really like anyone. But you did save me and I think I may have caught you worrying once or twice. Besides you can chug like a pro!" Artimis rolled her eyes as the Hufflepuffs sent up their signatures, Madison's was yellow and said her nickname 'Mad-dog' and Timothy's was also yellows and stated after his name, 'Who's da man?' Artimis smile as she watched and she spoke into her mic once more, "It took us almost two weeks to coordiante this. We figured it would be out of character for us to thank you in the normal way so we did it our way!"
Alexis was crawling around on her stomach and spoke quickly to her com, "Lions strut your roars!" Red bursts went in to the air and they spelled out "Lupin rocks!" followed by gold ones that said, 'He's da man!" They were followed but about fifteen minutes of gold and red loud burst and fish fireworks. Artimis looked to Alexis and asked, "How much of my allowance did you use?"
Alexis smiled and said, "Corporal, all of it!" Artimis sighed as Alexis was staring through Binoculars she couldn't see out of. She spoke into her mic and said, "This Prank is for you two. It is our dedication to you. We respect you both more than you know."
Erica and Vicky sent up their flares, Erica's was red and it said 'Snape Rocks!" Vicky's went up and scratched out the Snape and wrote Lupin under it. There was much laughter from there side of the lake as Artimis heard them confirm that they were hiding. She spoke into her headset preparing their personal fireworks and Alexis was pretending to defuse a piece of dynamite. "This is the final Prank of the year..." Artimis's voice was interrupted by lee Jordan's over her walkie Talkie, "McGonagall At hall entrance, You've got ten minutes. Will hold her off." Alexis looked to Artimis and shrugged. "Well, It's seems the end is coming all to soon. Much sooner than expected." Artimis said into the mic the noise going across the lake to the Professors.
Alexis took her wand and lit the big fuse, Artimis lighting the few smaller ones. She pulled her wand up and drew in the sky with the fireworks, 'Respect your potion's master!' Alexis snorted and pulled her own wand drawing below it, 'Honor your DADA teacher!' After those words faded the large firework went of and Artimis and Alexis shouted at the same time the spell for their symbol. It lit up the sky, the Snake hissing and the Lion roaring on their sides of the yingyang. They girls sent up there signatures, Artimis's green and silver and being followed by a 'To Severus Snape'. Alexis wrote her own and ended it with 'To Remus Lupin.' Alexis spoke into her mic, "We must bid you ado. Minerva McGonagall is behind you." Artimis pointed her wand to the sky and white and yellow letters wrote them selves on the clouds, ' If you can find us we will not run'
Alexis lifted her own wand and gold and silver letter spilled from it, 'But Professor McGonagall you must find us'
The girls pointed there wands to the sky as the words, 'Good luck' spouted into the sky. They nodded to each other and the sky read, 'The Misfits were here!" and a smaller version of their sign floated below it. Artimis dove into the trench and Alexis dived in right on top of her. Artims yelped and closed the top; it forming into the ground making it looks like it had never been disturbed. In the trench with them were their broom and a portkey. The underground room was as large as a shed and suddenly there were six people plus Artimis and Alexis in there. They all nodded to each other and stood around a shoelace holding it with one hands and their brooms in the other. They began their erratic portkeying from one trench to another back and forth to keep from being caught.
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Severus didn't want to look for the girls with Lupin. He had been embarrassed and even struck and it was their doing. As he and Remus walked out the door they saw a broom rushing towards them. When he heard Alexis mention Artimis was into trouble he pushed back the convenience of the broom in his mind and followed Alexis. When she stopped he looked on the ground for Artimis wondering if he needed to swim again. There was a noise and her felt a great magic and a smothering feeling. Alexis waver innocently and resisted all urges to turn her into a maggot. The broom he was on lowered of its own accord and he wanted to smack himself for falling for a trap. Suddenly Artimis's voice was filling the area and he looked at Lupin who didn't seem to know about this prank for once. The fireworks thanking Lupin went up and Snape snorted at the roaring lions. Suddenly Alexis was talking in the area now and he wondered how they accomplished this magic. There must be more than just them...His thoughts were confirmed as signatures signs went up. Ahh the Palmer twins, they are on my list! Next Artimis's voice was talking and complimenting him, even thanking him for saving the foolish girls. After the initial shock he watched fire works saying thank you went up. His jaw dropped and Lupin snickered.
"Shove it Remus."
"Severus, do you realize that these are illegal fireworks?"
"Really now?"
"Yep, look to be true Chinese magis fireworks. Very expensive."
'And you would know?"
"Of course, they must have spent a fortune on this event."
"What a waste." Snape sighed watching huffle puff signatures and mentally making a detention list for next year. He listened to it all and became deeply touched when Alexis remarked that they were respected. He was deeply perturbed by the holding circle though. He chuckled as he heard Lee speak and he put him on the ever-growing list. The final fireworks made he allow a chuckle to his lips; the girls were challenging Minerva to a game she could not win. And they knew they would pay for this anyways by signing it 'The Misfits.' The force wall dropped and he began flying toward where he saw the last set come from. He got off the broom and Lupin followed looking for the girls. All they found were smoking tubes, which Lupin called, 'mortars'. They searched there as all the other teachers searched the other lakesides. He heard what he thought was giggling but it was coming from under him. He looked at the ground and shrugged. Lupin sat down and scratched his chin, mumbling something about a world war and their trench things. Snape simply got on the broom and flew off. He knew that the kids wouldn't be found and he now needed to take a bath and contemplate their fiery statements.
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Lupin discarded all thoughts of a trap as he followed Alexis towards the lake. When they were surrounded by the force wall, he chuckled, not too surprised. Well, that's why they wanted to know how to do it...
He saw Alexis light some orange flares and was actually eager to see what they were up to this time. He watched the sparkling fireworks that thanked him burst in the dark sky and smiled broadly as Alexis spoke.
This was impressive. He was a bit confused on how they could set all of this up so quickly. He got his answer shortly as other signatures of several different students flared up across the sky along with their own messages. Lupin vaguely recalled that these were some of the other students that consistently pulled pranks as well throughout the year.
He laughed aloud as the commentary and compliments for Severus exploded in bright colors in front of them. Snape growled something to him but Lupin ignored him and scrutinized the make of the fireworks. Very impressive. They did this in style...
Snape just thought of it as another reason to give them more detentions.
Lupin stood casually, watching the display with gratitude, chuckling at the thought of how Alexis would be going all out on this. He smiled after hearing them taunting McGonagall, who stood outside the force wall, staring in amazed shock at the display. He looked over at the Potions Master and saw that he was actually smiling.
Whoa, that is something to tease him about later...
The last burst of color and words faded from the black sky, and the force wall dispersed, Snape stalking straight towards the place where the fireworks last erupted. Lupin sighed. It figures, Severus has to go after them. Couldn't lay off this once...
Lupin reluctantly followed, knowing if he didn't, Snape and Minerva would berate him. But he knew full well the futility of searching for the group of pranksters.
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Artimis pulled the last portkey out of her pocket and they heard footsteps above them. Knowing it had been about an hour of time hiding and portkeying they decided to go to the place to finish. They portkeyed to the lakeside right in front of Lupin and Mcgonagall, hopped on their brooms and zipped of, flares of different colors trailing behind them. They all grabbed their special portkey and went to the abandoned classroom. Lee, the Twins, and Apollo were there.
"Amazing.." Fred said.
"It was displayed in the great hall in the sky!" (George)
'Everyone saw it!" (Lee)
"Even Dumbledore!" (Apollo)
Artimis and Alexis smiled and bowed, then Artimis turned to the other teams, "You guys, thanks so much. We will do more group pranks next year and we will definitely call on you guys."
"Erica, Vicky, that scratching out thing was amazing!" Alexis replied, standing in full Army Camy with black circles around her eyes and a false rifle on her back. She smiled and yelled, "Troops. You all did well. You deserve a medal of humor for your pranks. I am proud to serve in this army with you!" Artimis smacked Alexis and stated, "Enough Captain Wolfie!"
Alexis glared and whined, 'You ruin everything!"
Fred and George cut in with the need to get to the dorms and fast. Everyone nodded and promised to meet in the great hall at Breakfast. Everyone left but Artimis and Alexis who looked around the room with care. This had been their sanctuary for most of the year and neither wanted to leave it.
"How about we crash here once more. The final night in our room." Artimis said, knowing tomorrow her and Alexis would go home and not see each other for a while.
"Sure thing. Wouldn't want it any other way." Alexis said, summoning some blankets. She plopped down, not bothering to change except for tossing the rifle aside as Artimis summoned her own blankets. They laid down and looked at each other.
"Wanna bet we wake up to Snape and Lupin in our face?" Alexis asked.
"Yep, 2 Galleons. Snape will be standing over me!"
"Deal." Alexis said rolling over and falling asleep. Artimis watched her sleeping form and cuddled with her, knowing that tomorrow she was going to ball her eyes out. She fell asleep cuddling with Alexis, content with the fact that she had a true friend.
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Alexis awoke, comfortingly warm and cuddled against something soft. She was too happy to open her eyes, and also not wanting to due to the fact that this was the last day of the school year. She frowned slightly at the thought and cuddled tighter to what she knew was Artimis's sleeping form wrapped around her. He heard an almost inaudible snicker above her and suppressed a laugh. Guess we were right...
Artimis moved slightly and breathed deeply in her hair, she apparently inhaled some and began coughing and rolled over to her back. She mumbled something them asked, "Ready to test the bet?"
Alexis smiled with her eyes closed and replied, "Sure, but be ready to pay up."
"You talk the talk, let's see you walk the walk." Artimis replied sleepily.
"One.. Two.. three.." Alexis said, opening her eyes and to her surprise Snape wasn't there but Lupin was. Artimis jumped up and bumped heads with Snape yelling "Ha, I win!" Snape stood up rubbing his head as Alexis replied, "Wait, So did I?"
"I guess that means we keep our money." Artimis asked, then inserted, "We don't even have two galleons you twit, we spent it all!"
"Oh yeah, um I'm going back to sleep." Alexis said rolling over. Lupin picked up her arm by her sleeve and smirked, "Sir, Yes Sir!" Artimis rolled over laughing curling around Snape feet, and knocking him over. "Lupin, she tried to get me to say that all night!" Snape got up angry and yanked Artimis up by the arm. She winced and replied, jerking her arm away, "They still hurt ya know!"
"Breakfast. Now!" He sneered. Alexis got on her stomach and began crawling army style out of the room, looking around the corner of the door. Snape looked at her like she was insane. Remus laughed and walked behind her. Artimis wanting to join in on the fun , flopped on her stomach quickly and copied Alexis sloppily.
Alexis looked at her and said, "Corporal, your doing it all wrong. Like this. Do I have to put you through basic training again!"
Artimis suppressed the snarky remark and replied, "Sir, No Sir!"
Alexis jumped up, jumping up and down, "I got you to say it! I'm the Master!" Artimis moved her legs and swept her, throwing her legs around Alexis's head as she fell, putting her in a headlock.
"Say it! Say who's the Master!" Artimis chided tightening her legs. Alexis was starting to turn blue and she turned her mouth on to Artimis's leg and bit down. Artimis yelped and let go. "I'm the master!" Alexis stated. Lupin laughed and Artimis heard a snort from Snape. Artimis stood and drew into fighting stance. "I'll take ya! Come on fight like a man!" Artimis said bouncing back and forth as Alexis stood and laughed.
"You do know we have an audience right?"
Artimis looked around and realized that Snape and Lupin were still in the room. "Opps." She looked at the clock and realized they were late.
"Lets go we have People to meet!"
"Alexis looked at her oddly and then went , "Ohhhhh PEOPLE! Bye Professors, hope you enjoyed your show!" Artimis then grabbed Alexis and they ran like hell towards the Great Hall.
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They arrived at the double doors and Alexis hid behind the corner, humming her own little theme song and spying on the students as Artimis rolled her eyes and sauntered in the doorway dressed in her black dueling cloaks.
Artimis walks towards the group of prankers that happened to be grouped a little ways down the Ravenclaw table and sets down a stereo that she had brought. She snickered and pressed play, everyone watching curiously as the theme song for Mission: Impossible echoed throughout the room.
Alexis rolled along the floor, hands pointed in front of her like a handgun and snapping her head around. She rolled again, under a bench, and started army crawling under it for a few feet, humming with the music.
Professors Snape and Lupin suddenly walk into the great hall, frowning in perplexity at the music and the many snickers and giggling, not noticing the decked out Alexis who was smirking and watching them from under the bench.
They walked up to the spot she was at, and Alexis suddenly rolled out in front of them, glaring and holding out her 'handgun'. She looks behind her quickly and rolls away under the closest Gryffindor bench.
Lupin bends over laughing and holding his sides while Snape just stares after her in great confusion.
Alexis jumps up, hiding behind a few laughing third year Gryffindors, then crouching down, and with a last roll, stops beside Artimis and jumps up with her back to her.
Artimis draws up and with Alexis, swing into the kick ass Charlie's Angels stance and both grin evilly at everyone.
Then as quickly as it had started, the music was cut off and Artimis and Alexis plopped down in two vacant seats at the Ravenclaw table between some of the prankers as if none of this had ever happened, ignoring the numerous stares and laughter.
The food appears suddenly and Alexis looks around at the prankers, who were staring expectantly. She drew up and spoke in a deep voice, "All right troops, you have five minutes!"
With that, everyone saluted, and dug in.
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Artimis and Alexis stood at the station. Lupin was there and Hagrid as well. To everyone's surprise, Snape was there as well. Artimis was hugging Alexis. "I Don't wanna go!" She said, bawling.
Alexis was hugging back and crying too but she was having trouble breathing due to Artimis squeezing the life out of her. Artimis realized her grip and pulled back, wiping her eyes.
Lupin walked up to Alexis and said, "If you want to ride the train with Artimis I will pick you up at platform 9 and 3/4." Alexis looked at him with a grin and hugged him. "Thank you Remus!" Artimis looked forlornly to the towering black figure by the corner of the station.
'Alexis, go get our seats, I have to say something to someone." Artimis aid, walking towards Snape.
{Don't cry. Don't cry}
(Breath, and shut the fuck up!)
{Love you too}
Artimis said, approaching Professor Snape. He looked at her with mild interest and asked, "Yes Ms. Callabella. Here for one last prank?"
She shook her head no and replied, " I wanted to um.. say goodbye. So um... Goodbye." She said holding back tears.
"Goodbye Ms. Callabella, maybe a summer at home will teach you to behave and follow rules." He replied snidely. She laughed and replied, "Not likely, I live with Apollo remember?"
"Ah well one can hope." Artimis smiled and braced herself.
{White wolf, I'm going in.}
( I wanna watch hold on)
{No, Dark Horse over and out!}
Artimis said as she quickly hugged Snape around the waist and turned to dash off. His reflexes were faster than her feet and she had to stop because he had her shoulder. "Ms. Callabella, did you forget that Alexis is not the only one who can hear you at times? I knew that was coming." He hissed. She gulped and prayed for a swift death. Next thing she knew Snape's face was at her level.
"Don't ever turn your back on your friends. If there is one thing I learned about you and Alexis is that friendship can save your life. Now if you ever try to hug me again without asking, you will be a newt."
She smiled and said, "If I ask you will you let me?"
"No!"
"Then what's the point of asking." she asked, perplexed. He stood tall and shrugged. Turning around she saw Alexis looking at her with the 'what just happened' look. Artimis shrugged and rushed to her side. Suddenly there was a hand on Artimis's shoulder and she was spun around.
Draco hugged her and cooed, "Come see me this summer, please."
She frowned and whispered into his ear. He too frowned and then smiled. Alexis looked at them disgustingly and walked away.
After a few minutes Artimis walked in disheveled and smirking. Alexis rolled her eyes and sat down next to Erica. Erica smiled and said, "Ohh, was it Snape action or Draco action?" Artimis looked appalled and backed away from her.
"Snape is like my dad's age, that is wrong! It was Draco!"
Alexis smirked and nudged Vicky, "It must be that he wouldn't kiss her then, cause we know she like him!"
Vicky smiled and winked at Artimis, who blushed. The train took of and they ate tons of food that Apollo brought for his kid sister. Little did he know that there were four girls eating it, so he kept buying more. The train finally got to Platform 9 and 3/4. Artimis steeped of the train, her eyes rimmed with tears. Lupin stood talking to Artimis's father. Alexis and Artims quickly said goodbye to Vicky and Erica and rushed over there.
Lupin looked up and smiled. "Alexis, Mr. Callabella said that you may come visit Artimis in the middle of the summer and even go with her to Romania."
Artimis looked at her dad and hugged him, "Thank you , Thank you!" Then she let got and hugged Alexis. "I promise I will write you all the time. And I'll come visit you if it's ok with Lupin." she said the last part looking expectantly at him.
He smiled and stated, "Of course, couldn't keep you two separated for too long anyways."
Artimis smiled and they said there good byes. She cried so much her eyes were red and puffy. She walked out of the Platform and swore she saw Snape walking out but disregarded it and followed her father. Alexis looked after her for a moment, then chased after Artimis, tackling her from behind and crying.
"I, I... I d,don't want yo,you t...to leave!" She choked out between sobs. Artimis stood up, pulling Alexis up and hugging her. Then she pried Alexis off, handing her to Lupin as he walked up, grinning slightly.
With difficulty, Artimis suppressed crying aloud and walked off the platform. Alexis clung to Lupin, sniffling as he held her.
When she got home the first thing Artimis did was put up her pictures of her and Alexis all over her room and made sure the chocolate syrup one was above her bed.
{Hey can you hear me?} Artimis thought hopefully.
(Yep! Loud and clear!) Alexis said happily.
{Enjoy your new room.}
(I will. Bye Prancer. Till we meet again! Which WILL be soon if I have anything to do with it...)
{Bye Starburst} Artimis said, chuckling and plopping onto her bed, remembering the entire year with great fondness.
PLEASE PLEASE DON'T SUE ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T DISCLAIM ONLY HAD A FEW MINUTE!!!!
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