"Hermione, could I talk to Foaly for a second?" asked Holly. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all," said Hermione. "I could do with a break from the pompous little son-of-a..." she trailed off with a yawn. "I think I need a nap. Wake me up if something happens."
"Of course," Holly agreed, putting on the headset. "Foaly?"
"Holly, thank goodness! It's so nice to talk to someone who doesn't think they're queen of the world."
"I heard that!" Hermione called from across the room.
"Why am I not surprised? I swear, that girl is one of the most disagreeable Mud People I have ever met."
"And you're one of the most disagreeable centaurs I've ever met," Holly replied.
"Exactly how many centaurs have you met?"
"How many Mud People have you met?"
"Point taken. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Artemis."
"Ah, yes. What's the little demon-child done now?"
"Does he seem any different to you?"
"Not at all. He's just as much of a nuisance as he's always been."
"Exactly! After we rescued his father, he to have become a good person. When the memory wipe took effect, he reverted to his old evil self."
"But if he has miraculously recovered his memory, his personality should have changed as well. Are you saying..."
"That maybe Artemis isn't as clever as he would have us all believe. He did manage to regain all the information he had about our world, but maybe for once fairy technology was too much for him."
"Finally! You don't know how long I've waited to hear that."
"Foaly!"
"Sorry. What were you saying?"
"Maybe we should give Artemis his memory back."
"Why? Holly, I don't think-"
"Listen, if we wipe his memory again after this incident he could obviously find out about us, since he did it this time. Plus, who knows how much damage it would do? If you give his memory back, he still knows about us-"
"And our technology."
"True, but he won't want to use it against us."
"How do you know?"
"Trust me. Please, Foaly?"
"I'll think about it."
"That's all I ask. How's the other situation coming?"
"Fairly well. I think I've almost got it worked out."
"Really? It sounded like you two were fighting like fairies and goblins."
"As charming as she may be, that Mud Girl does know what she's talking about."
"Well, call back when you've got something."
"Will do. Foaly out."
Holly yawned and stretched. She checked on Harry and Hermione and, finding them peacefully dozing, curled up in a chair and fell asleep.
Late in the night, Artemis carefully crept past all three as he made his way to the cell of Mulch Diggums.
"Psst! Dwarf!" he hissed softly.
"Go away," a drowsy Mulch replied, turning restlessly on the cold stone floor.
"If you insist," said Artemis. "I simply thought you might be interested in getting out of there, but if you're content..."
Mulch sprang up and scurried to the barred cell door. "What do you want me to do?"
I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm sorry! I hereby formally apologize for both the lateness and shortness of this chapter. I am hoping to have the next chapter written and posted extremely soon, but don't hold me to it. I suppose it goes without saying, but please please please review! Thank you! -Luna