The Epilogue
"Graduation Day"
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter and crew. We own Artimis Marietta Callabella, Alexis Catherine Whyte, Aaron Gregory Billord, Hailey Marie Garnet and The Two Valedictorians we made up for now. We own the plot, the ideas expressed in this plot and most of the cute sayings. We wished we owned Professor Severus Snape and Professor Remus Lupin, but alas, we do not.
Author's Note: We want to thank all of you who continued to read and review, pointing out our grammatical errors and everything. We personally want to thank our Grammar Fairy, Tabitha78, for all the "You left of a letter here..." and "You might want to reword this..." that you gave us. Thank you CaptainRose for all the moral support you gave us and the encouragement your reviews gave us. Mourn-Today, Thank You for your support, ideas, and of course letting us borrow Vicky and Erica for the final pranks. If we did not list you as a person we are thinking, and you did review, this does not mean we don't thank you, love you, adore your comments, I just don't want to spend twenty minutes typing out each of your names. So if you reviewed, you are thanked. This is the Final Chapter of 'The Misfit Adventures of Artimis and Alexis'. This chapter is their FINAL DAY at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enjoy it and look forward to Chapter 5 of 'Seven Years Later...'.
Toodles,
Deep Shadows, Goddess of the Quill Moon
And
EckoStalker, Goddess of the Quill (Sun)
Artimis awoken in the comfort of her room, the seed of anticipation filling her as she woke up excited. Today was the day, today was the day she would enter the world as a woman, this day she would prove herself worthy. She leapt out of bed, automatically doing her set of push-ups and sit-ups that Alexis usually made her do. She hopped in the shower, going over her speech, getting nervous with every moment that passed.
(Well good morning sunshine, I've been up for hours.)
Well good for you... Your coming to Slytherin Graduation, aren't you?
(And risk mortal injury, of course.)
Har, see you at breakfast
(See ya)
Artimis got out of the shower and dressed in a green sundress and headed downstairs in a rush, ignoring the whistles from the boys. She rushed to the Great Hall, skidding to a halt at the door and gathering herself, taking in a deep breath.
"Nervous, A Callabella, that's a first." A cold voice echoed from behind her.
"Professor Snape, Don't!"
"I can, and I will." He replied and she flipped her hair and went in the room. Alexis saw her and smile, surprising the shock of the dress. There were hoots and whistles from Draco and the thugs and Aaron gave a thumbs up while saying, "She cleans up well."
She smiled and sat by Draco, giving him a kiss softly as Snape entered behind her and raised an eyebrow at her. He was directed the door on the side of the teachers table and he grumbled as he headed there.
Hermione Granger walked up behind her and tapped her shoulder. Artimis turned and looked and nodded leaving the great hall and not giving Alexis a reason why as She headed off for the last breakfast of her childhood.
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Alexis watched Artimis leave, a small grin playing across her face. She spun on her heels happily, and breezed past a suspicious McGonagall who had just walked in, whistling. She glimpsed the Weasley Twins coming in the door, and hurriedly and eagerly sped towards them, grabbing an arm on each of them. They allowed her to pull them off, confused. They followed her as she quickly made her way to the infamous abandoned classroom, their faithful hideaway for all these years.
After making sure no snooping professors had seen them, she turned to the Twins, an evil grin displayed on her face.
"Well, first things first!" She leapt at them, gathering them both in a constricting hug, yelling muffled in their clothing, "I missed you guys so much! You should have visited earlier...." She stepped back suddenly, and looked at them in a business-like manner.
"And now, time for the prank."
They smiled knowingly, expecting just this.
Alexis paced back and forth, one hand behind her back, the other waving in the air as she listed off.
"I want explosions, I want noise, I want anything that can grab all of their attentions. This is the senior prank for cheese sake!"
The Twins looked at each other a little oddly, but got the gist.
"All right then..." (Fred)
"We didn't prepare too much for this, but..." (George)
"We never come totally unprepared." (Fred)
"Yes, the explosions might be a tad difficult though..." (George)
"But you came to the right people for noise." (Fred)
"That and attention grabbers..." (George)
"Our specialty." (Fred)
"We packed a few boxes or so of extra Weasley Wizarding Wheezes..." (George)
"Only three or four... dozen..." (Fred)
"Who would we be if we didn't expect this from someone...?" (George)
"Especially you..." (Fred)
"So, what did you have in mind?" (George)
"Details and specifics if you don't mind..." (Fred)
"I want to go down in history... I want noise... not senseless noise, organized, if you know what I mean... I want fire, explosions... I want BOOM!" Alexis shouted her hands going straight down at her sides in emphasis. The Twins smiled.
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Artimis sat at the small table, next to Hermione Granger and the Ravenclaw Valedictorian. The people at the table were quiet, solemn, and Artimis felt out of place. Hermione smiled a weak smile and Artimis returned it. Professor Snape sat across from her, eating with one eye on her. Talk about unnerving, she felt as if he was analyzing her every move. She ate quietly, hating the manners she was being made to use, because that meant she would not be able to drink her milk from her cereal bowl. She sighed, sitting back.
"Am I the only one who thinks its way to somber in this room?"
Hermione looked at her and Snape snorted.
"I was wondering how long you could keep quiet. Your self control amazed me." He spoke.
"Well, hello, this is the last day I can call myself a Hogwarts Student. The Last day I am a child. And all of you guys are acting like you are in mourning. Be excited, you're Valedictorians for Pete's sake." Artimis spoke excitedly, shaking her arms sporadically. Snape snorted.
Artimis leaned her head on her wrist, frowning. "Party poopers." Hermione laughed. "You did not just say 'pooper's' did you?"
Artimis looked at her oddly, "Yeah, why?"
"I haven't heard that word since third grade."
"Since what grade? Huh?" Artimis got confused.
"Muggle school honey." Hermione sighed shaking her head.
Snape glared at Hermione and she went back to eating. Artimis put her head down and looked at Hermione, "Hey, Mione. You ready for this afternoon. You know what I mean. Party!" Artimis spoke and Snape raised and eyebrow at her.
"You two are partying together tonight?" He questioned.
"Um... Yeah. Over at Harry's." She replied.
"Ah I see. You all better finish and get ready. Ms. Callabella, I wish to speak with you."
Every one cleared out fast. Artimis was left alone, yet she sat nonchalantly, toying with a tea dolly.
"Ms. Callabella, it is my duty as Head of House to give you a pep talk of sorts." He spoke lowly, looking away.
"Ok, and?" Artimis replied.
"And, that is what I intend to do. You know I do not, have not, and will never approve of your association with Gryffindor's, but that is your choice. I will NOT have Ms. Whyte's shenanigans at Slytherin Graduation. Am I clear?"
"And this is a pep talk how? Excuse me if I'm wrong, but isn't a pep talk supposed to boost my ego and make me think I'm the man... woman?"
"I'm getting there. This is hard you know. I don't really agree with you being the one to represent my house."
"Gee, my ego is going so high now." She frowned, upset that he had the gall to say that to her face.
"You are brilliant. You know this, but you wasted most of your years here chasing the dream of going down in history of Troublemakers. You were one of my best students, the best if you don't count Ms. Granger. If you want to do something, then you will do it no matter what it takes. This is a gift and curse. A gift for you and my unwillingly burdened curse. Even if I don't like who you choose as friends, or what you choose to do, I guess I saying...I'm... I'm proud of... You." He spoke, choking nearly on his words.
"Oh My GOD! YOU SAID IT!!! YOU BLOODY TOLD ME YOUR PROUD OF ME!!" She yelled leaping out of her chair and doing a happy dance. He stepped forward and caught her chin in his hand.
"Don't make me regret saying that. Act your age and position. Now get out of my sight, and practice. I will not allow ad-libing!"
"Ok." She spoke walking out the door. She stopped, turned around, and rushed him, leaping on him and giving him a huge hug.
"Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me." She yelled as she ran off to tell Alexis what she had just heard.
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Alexis glanced down, hearing echoing footsteps entering the Great Hall. She saw Artimis running in and skidding to a stop, looking left, then right, then finally up. Alexis waved down at her from her lofty place hanging from the Great Hall ceiling. Latched securely with a thick harness, wearing a utility belt and a bright orange hard-hat, Alexis immediately went back to her clipboard. She surveyed a far corner with a scrutinizing gaze, then quickly jotting something down furiously with her quill, tongue bit between her teeth as she totally ignored Artimis.
Artimis looked around again, seeing The Twins scanning the grounds, also carrying clipboards.
"FRED! GEORGE!!! I've missed you so much!!!" She yelled as she rushed to Fred engulfing him in a hug and them grabbing George. She smiled and backed off.
"She missed us that much?" Fred spoke in astonishment.
"Wow, we must stay away more often..." George commented back.
"Hey you two! We're not quite done yet!" Alexis yelled, voice echoing through the huge room. Artimis looked up at her in confusion.
"Done with what?"
Alexis stared back at her blankly for a moment, and then quickly extracted a measuring tape, judging the distance between the two arches above her, pretending not to have heard her.
Artimis shrugged more exciting things to discuss.
"Ohh, Ohh, you wont believe what he told me, guess guess!!"
"What, what! What did Draco say?" Alexis quipped in mock eagerness, now pulling out a ruler and drawing a few things with expert precision.
"Not Draco! SNAPE!"
That caught her attention. Alexis quickly hooked the clipboard to her belt and pocketed her remaining tools. With a few twist and undoing of knots, Alexis flipped in mid-air, latched to the harness still, and smoothly, flipped to the ground, holding her hat in place. She landed lightly and hurried extracted herself from the contraption, running over to Artimis, curiosity gleaming in her green eyes.
"Come on tell me, I have stuff to do." She smirked.
"He told me he was PROUD OF ME! To my face! Sincerely! I think he's possessed!" She spoke excitedly.
Alexis stared at her in open mouthed shock, stating quietly, "You sure that was Snape and not some psychotic lunatic that... hold on, Snape is a psychotic lunatic... never mind... WELL!? How did he say it? Did it look like it hurt him? I hope so, that greasy little..."
"Actually, he looked like he meant it. And he almost smiled!" She spoke loudly, excited.
"And you didn't send me a picture?! You know how good I could have got him? You should've said something sooner! I would have set up cameras or something... get that butthead..."
"Is that so Whyte." echoed a deep, menacing voice from behind her. Alexis stiffened in the 'uh-oh-I'm-caught-which-way-do-I-run' look.
So that's why Artimis gave me that look... Alexis thought as she gulped and turned around.
"Uh-oh." Artimis whispered as Professor Snape walked in. He glared at Artimis, and then looked utterly disgusted at Fred and George who dashed out of the room.
"OH, did I interrupt Whyte? Do continue on how you were going to 'get that butthead', as you so elegantly put it." He spoke harshly. Artimis busted up laughing.
"What are you laughing at?!" Alexis questioned in confusion.
"Did you hear him say 'butthead'!? It was so... proper. It that even possible to say 'butthead' properly?!" She fell over choking on her own laughter. Alexis glared, and Artimis stood up, "Gotta cut back on the happy pills." She spoke roughly.
He looks like he could use some right now." Alexis commented back, gesturing to the professor. She shut up quick at the piercing glare from Severus. He noticed the utility belt and the neon orange hat and sighed.
"If ANYTHING goes awry and causes the utter annihilation of this graduation Whyte, I will personally see to it that the next few days will be your worst yet." Snape hissed lowly. Alexis smirked mischievously, but nodded. Artimis whispered as she rubbed her chin in thought, "Hmmm... that could be fun..."
Snape turned his eagle eyed glare on her and snapped, ''Don't you have something to be practicing, Callabella? I thought we already covered this..."
"Yes sir." Artimis spoke timidly, trying hiding her smirks. Alexis stood straight and saluted Severus as seriously as possible for her. He opened his mouth to say something to the short sorceress, but shook his head and stalked off, cloaks billowing behind him.
Alexis snickered, "Who said anything about destroying it? I hear no words of annihilation coming out of my mouth..." She glared after Severus, sticking out her tongue as he turned the corner out of the Great Hall.
'What are you doing? I want to know! Tell me!!!!" Artimis spoke childlike. Alexis stuck out her tongue and scaled the ceiling again.
"Blast you Alexis WHYTE! I'll get you my pretty and your little hat too!" Artimis spoke dramatically.
'Shouldn't you be saving that for your oh so uplifting speech you have to today.'
Artimis glared.
"Fine. Guess what. You don't get to know what me and HERMIONE plotted. You'll just have to watch and see!" She spoke heading out of the Great Hall. As she left Alexis yelled "NOOOOOOO!!! YOU DORK!!!" and Fred and George walked back in.
"Please tell us you did not call Snape a..." (Fred)
"Dork..." (George)
"Cause if you did then we are so proud of..." (Fred)
"You..." (George)
"No, it was Artimis... Get back to work! We aren't done yet!" Alexis grumbled as she went back to recording, upset that Artimis would not tell her.
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Artimis stood at the stage, inhaling deeply. She went over the speech in her mind. A hand grasped her shoulder and she looked to see Snape standing there, a look of 'don't you embarrass me' in his eyes. She nodded and inhaled as he walked out in his graduation robes. She didn't hear a word of his spiel, focusing on centering her energy, focusing on behaving. This was the private Graduation of the Slytherins; she hoped Alexis's had ended soon enough for her to get here. She heard her name and inhaled.
"Here we go. Make them proud." she whispered to herself. She got out there behind the podium and relaxed. She knew that she was there and that she had a job and that's all she needed to know.
"Well... We all made it. Look around you. Cherish those faces you grew up around, cause only fate knows what tomorrow holds. When we woke this morning, we were children. Young, restless, foolhardy, determined..." Artimis spoke noticing the telltale flash of white hair in the back row.
"We've had enemies, loves, heartbreaks, triumphs. And we all shared it together. Now most of you don't like me. I know this, and accept it. Cause when we leave today, we will be adults and I will not have a single regret of my years here... As you finish the last day of your childhood here, dwell on the memories this castle will hold. Think about the house slumber parties that we had even when Professor Snape threatened us with dismemberment if we stayed up, the constant push from him to make ourselves better. Think about when Crabbe did the dare to kiss Goyle and everyone fell over laughing, the night I read a romance novel in Snape's voice, how everyone blushed and laughed as I hit the good parts... Remember, tomorrow the world will expect you to make your mark, but in reality you already have, in the memories and hearts of every person in this house. We are Slytherins, we are the pick of the crop, when you leave, carry your head high and shout your house name with the pride that this honorable house holds..." Artimis finished and there was great applause, greater than she expected. She heard the loud shouts of Alexis rooting "'GO ARTIMIS!" Several Slytherins glared at her and she left. Artimis inhaled and went down to her seat. Professor Snape raised an eyebrow and spoke loudly, "You Are Dismissed." The room emptied, several people telling Artimis that they had never expected a speech like that from Artimis. She sat down as they laughed waiting for the verbal abuse soon to come.
Professor Snape stood and walked towards her and SMILED.
"Artimis, that was an...Interesting speech. Better than I expected, rough and hard at some points, but good none the less. And if I Ever hear about my voice being used again..." he trailed of as she stood her jaw down to her knees.
"What are you gawking at?"
"Your... Your... Smiling... I'm scared for my life." She spoke with out any sense of humor.
"Really...maybe I should smile more often." He smirked and put hand on her shoulder.
"You did a good job; now get out of my sight!"
She laughed and rushed off, turning at the door and looking at him. He was still smiling musing over her speech and she whipped out her camera and snapped it before he noticed. He went to go after her but she took off at a rather fast speed, getting ready to tell Alexis.
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The Great Hall was full of graduating students and some parents. Artimis and Hermione went over their notes, finally clueing in the other two Valedictorians. Snape walked by and Artimis pulled them into a group hug. He snorted and walked off.
"Ok... Hermione, you know what to do. Now you two... Go along with us." Artimis spoke and they all nodded. Dumbledore's voice could be heard giving the opening ceremonies and they all waited. Finally all the professor's gave their speeches of good will and hope for their students and it was there turn. Professor Snape was at the stand.
"I believe your Valedictorians are doing a joined speech. No shenanigans." He growled as they stepped out onto the stage.
Maria Encantina, the Ravenclaw Valedictorian began.
"We are the new generation of this realm, and it's our job to make sure that we all understand..."
Nicholas Dirknel, the Hufflepuff Valedictorian spoke, "Seeing as we are tomorrow's future, understanding is the only way."
Artimis smirked as she and Hermione walked up center stage hand and hand.
"This particular class is know for it's lack of discrimination and above all..." Artimis spoke.
"Understanding..." Hermione spoke. Artimis leaned back as she stood and smiled, "You know what Mione', There are some things I don't understand."
'Like?"
"Like how come teachers are so 'oh do your homework or you'll fail'. Look at me, I never did mine and I'm a bloody Valedictorian, what's up with that?"
"I dunno, you know what I don't understand?"
"What?" Maria asked.
"Why some teachers are the way they are?"
"Like?" Nick questioned.
"O, you mean like how Snape and Trelawney are always up your butt about learn this, know this, fear me I'm tall, dark and brooding or fear me cause I know all and smell funny!" Artimis spoke.
"Exactly, and you know wh..." Artimis went to say as the lights went out and a tarp drew across the ceiling. The windows and doors slammed shut and Artimis drew her wand, expecting some sort of ambush.
"Prepare for trouble..." Alexis's voice rose out and paused.
"And Make it double..." Artimis spoke with out losing a beat. The strobe lights on the sides of the walls went of in timed intervals as Alexis lowered to the stage.
"To protect the world from devastation..." Alexis cooed.
"To unite all peoples within our nations..." Artimis replied, pulling her dress off to show her Misfit uniform, knowing Alexis was planning something, she came prepared.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love..." Alexis spoke, her white hair glittering as she stood next to Artimis, their costumes making the symbol as they stood side by side.
"To extend our reach to the stars above..." Artimis spoke.
"Alexis..."
"Artimis..."
"Team Misfits, blast of at the speed of light..." Alexis yelled.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight..." Artimis replied and the spot light flashed on them as a loud explosion went of above the crowd, sending a loud echo through the room. Artimis smirked and she and Alexis bowed as the strobe lights went of again and they tossed smoke bomb as they disappeared. The room went dark and somebody yelled "Hey...Snape glows in the dark...NEATO!" Then there was a sound of skin hitting skin forcefully and somebody crumbling to the floor as Severus snickering.
Alexis's voice rose out above the confused noise, as the room went silent.
"Ello out there. Sorry for the inconvenience... wait, no I'm not. Otherwise I wouldn't have done it! Most all of you should now me by now, and those of you who don't, need to get out more often. My name is Alexis Catherine Whyte, and I have a few things to say before our time here is up and we be put in the past like the rest of them."
Alexis's voice boomed, a few lights going on and illuminating Alexis as she stood alone on the stage. "I congratulate those select few who have been chosen as our lead, expecting examples, and they deserve that title. But I am here to represent the little people, as you like to call them. We all need to remember our time here, not matter how far we were in the arts of magic. So much talent has been uncovered here in these past few years, everyone unique and smart in their own ways.
I will miss the years gone by along with everyone one of you professors. Even Professor Snape over there... he actually does glow... and I hope they will not forget us. They have learned as much as we have from our presence and interaction.
So, I merely wanted to add some excitement to the whole scene, way to serious for me... And to say I will miss all of you and treasure the memories and lessons given to me. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT!!" Alexis smirked and then there was a loud "AHHHHHHHHHAHHHH AHHHH" And Artimis swung in on to the stage and did and back flip midair and landed on her feet, knees bent her hand posed before her.
"Always wanted to that, ever since I had to watch six hours of Tarzan... Nice butt flap... Now Ladies and gentleman I would like to introduce to you the new way of life. I would like to inform you that you made it... and those of you who don't think I am proper enough, or polite enough.... You can kiss my glass." She spoke as she raised a goblet and drank from it handing it to Alexis. She drank and then another Tarzan Call rang through the air as Hermione swung in followed by the other Valedictorians.
"Pick up your glasses and toast to your future." Hermione spoke and the hall drank.
"What do you think Snape..." Lupin asked.
"I think we just let the monkeys loose." He growled. Lupin chuckled and remark, "If ya gotta go, go in style..."
Alexis turned and smiled, "just the quote I needed." Artimis smiled and then the chairs disappeared and a disco ball dropped. The tunes of the Weird Sister's could be heard as the band walked out on stage.
"I do say it's about time we celebrated. Teachers, Parent's If you wish to leave, the red headed gentleman at the door will let you out, don't eat anything they give you." Artimis spoke and got of the stage, leaping into Draco's expecting arms. She glimpsed Snape and to her surprise he did not get up to move, but looked at her, his head cocked to the side. For a good laugh, she blew him a kiss, witnessing his confused look and them let Draco carry her out into the middle of the dancing new adults. Alexis was dragged by Ron and they began dancing the night away. So went the Last Night of the Childhood's Of Artimis and Alexis. So began the Rest of Their Lives.