With this news, the amount of tension in the room doubled. Suddenly Hermione turned on Artemis, wand at the ready.

"Whatever you know," she said in a threatening tone, "spill it."

"Juliet," said Artemis urgently.

She was busy applying a topcoat to her fingernails. "What?"

"Do something."

Juliet looked up and saw Hermione glaring at Artemis, pointing her wand at his head. She sprang in to action, drawing her gun with no regard for her fresh manicure.

Hermione laughed. "I'm a witch, remember? Do you really think muggle weapons will hurt me?" She waved her wand, and Juliet's gun flew out of her hands and across the room. "Now then, where were we?"

"I can assure you, I know nothing," said Artemis, hands raised in helplessness.

"Liar!" Hermione snarled, jabbing her wand into his chest. "I know you went to Mulch's cell last night. What did you tell him?"

"It wasn't to kidnap Harry!" Artemis protested. "We were discussing something completely different."

This information startled Holly. Now she too challenged Artemis. "I told you," she said slowly and menacingly, "to stay away from that criminal. Now tell me exactly what you said."

Artemis, seeing that he was clearly outnumbered, reluctantly gave in. "Fine. If you must know, I was enlisting his help in robbing a bank."

"Robbing a bank?" Holly repeated skeptically. "Nice try, Fowl."

"It's the truth!" he said.

"No," said Hermione, on the verge of hysterics. "No, it's not. Where is Harry?"

Artemis relaxed slightly, knowing that he had the upper hand as long as she was in such an emotional state. "I don't know."

Hermione prodded him with her wand again. Before she could do anything, though, Holly intervened.

"Calm down, Hermione," she said gently. "You're not going to be much help to Harry like this."

Hermione reluctantly backed off. Artemis sighed in relief and wiped the sweat off his brow.

"I'm going to get some tea," he said.

"Good idea," Holly agreed. "Why don't we all go?"

Ten minutes later all three of them were sitting in comfortable armchairs and drinking tea, the previous stress all but gone.

"Let's look at this logically," said Hermione. "Do either of you have any idea where Mulch might have taken him?"

"Hang on," said Holly, turning her attention to her headset. "Foaly?"

"Present and accounted for," said Foaly. "Well, not exactly present, but-"

Holly cleared her throat.

"Sorry," said Foaly. "I've been doing some research on Diggums, and I have a list of the places he's used for hideouts in the past."

"Do you really think he'd go back?" Holly wondered.

"This is Mulch we're talking about," Foaly reminded her, "not Artemis."

"Right. Any likely spots?"

"Well, with a human in tow it's unlikely that he'd be able to dig or move very fast. That narrows down the possibilities a lot. There's an abandoned farm not too far from where you are; he's been known to frequent the hay loft in the barn."

"Seems like as good a guess as any," Holly agreed.

"I'm sending you the coordinates now. Good luck, Holly."

"Thanks."

Holly faced Artemis and Hermione, both eagerly waiting for news. "Foaly thinks Mulch is hiding out in a nearby barn."

"Well, let's go!" Hermione got up and headed for the door.

"Are you planning to walk the whole way?" Artemis wondered.

"Why not?" replied Hermione.

"Too slow," said Holly.

"I'll have Butler prepare a car," Artemis offered.

Holly shook her head. "Still too slow."

"What did you have in mind?" asked Artemis.

Holly grinned. "We're going to fly."

"Fly?" Hermione repeated worriedly. "I'm really not much good on a broom, but I suppose I could-"

"Who said anything about a broom?" Holly interrupted, producing three rocket packs. "We'll just use these."

Hermione was only slightly relieved. "I don't like heights much, either," she admitted, reluctantly taking a pack from Holly.

"Don't worry," said Artemis, putting on his own rocket pack. "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it." He winked.

Hermione was a bit shocked by this gesture, but her thoughts were put on hold when Holly spoke.

"When we get there…" she began.

"Leave everything to me," Hermione said firmly, securing her rocket.

"I don't think so," said Holly. "Considering that I am the only trained LEP officer here, I think I should-"

"Believe me, I can handle it," Hermione argued. "You have no idea-"

"Still," Holly interrupted. "You're only a teenager."

"That doesn't mean anything! Just look at Artemis, he's only a teenager."

Artemis smiled slightly at the compliment as the other two continued arguing.

"Fine," Holly sighed, sensing that Hermione wasn't going to budge. "How about if you get Harry, and I'll take care of Mulch."

Hermione considered for a moment. "Fine."

"Is it really necessary for me to come along?" asked Artemis.

"Yes," Hermione and Holly answered together.

"Considering that neither of us trust you as far as we could throw you," Holly continued, "it absolutely is necessary that you come along."

Artemis sighed in resignation. "Alright."

"Good."

They moved out into the courtyard in front of Fowl Manor and made one final fuel and equipment check.

"Everyone ready?" asked Holly. "Foaly just sent the location, so follow me. Let's go!"

With that, they blasted off into the clear blue sky.

Arriving at the barn, they found that not only was it abandoned, it was barely standing. They landed just outside, with Holly signaling for silence. She crept forward and peered inside, then motioned for the others to follow.

"Remind me again, what am I supposed to do?" Artemis whispered.

"You're the lookout," Holly replied, "just stay out of the way." She went into the barn.

"And don't mess itup," Hermione added, drawing her wand and following Holly. Artemis glared after her.

It was a sunny day, so it took their eyes a moment to adjust to the relative darkness of the dilapidated barn. When they did, however, there was still nothing to be seen. It was very quiet, except for the creaking of the old building and the muffled sound of their own feet on the hay-strewn dirt floor. It was Holly who broke the silence.

"We know you're in here, Diggums!" she said in a commanding voice.

"Harry?" Hermione called tentatively.

"Hermione!" cried a familiar voice from the hayloft. Harry's head appeared as he leaned over the edge, restricted by his tied hands.

"Quiet, you!" another voice scolded as a hand pulled Harry back from the edge. "If only I'd thought to bring a gag…"

"It's over, Mulch," Holly shouted up to the loft. "If you give yourself up now, your punishment will be more, er, lenient."

A burst of laughter was the response. "Do you really think I'm that much of a fool?"

"We've got the place surrounded," Holly tried.

"In that case, I think it's time to make my exit," said Mulch. "Catch!" A pair of hands sent Harry flying out of the loft and towards the ground.

Hermione, as usual, thought quickly. "Wingardium Leviosa!" she said with a swish of her wand. Harry's fall was halted, and he gently floated the rest of the way down.

"That's got to be the most useful spell we've ever learned," said Harry, brushing loose bits of straw off himself. "Thanks."

Hermione smiled and pulled a piece of straw from Harry's hair. "You're welcome," she replied, handing it to him. Harry grinned in embarrassment.

"Mulch is getting away!" Artemis called from outside.

The others rushed out of the barn and saw that the dwarf was about to escape for good.

"Oh, no you don't," Hermione muttered, drawing her wand once again. "Petrificus totalis!"

Mulch froze in place just as he began to dig. He was bent over with a mouthful of dirt, unable to do anything.

"Impressive," said Artemis.

Harry glared at him. "What's he doing here?"

"Be nice, Harry," Hermione chided, "Artemis helped us find you."

"But he's the one who had me kidnapped in the first place!" argued Harry.

Artemis reddened with indignation. "What?! I-"

"Hush, Fowl," said Holly. "We already suspected as much."

" I told you he was escaping!" Artemis returned.

"Perhaps because you already knew you were sunk and thought you might redeem yourself?" Holly conjectured.

Artemis, deciding that further argument would be futile, fumed silently.

Holly ignored him for the moment. "Well, there's no point in hanging around here," she said. "We'd better go."

"Go where?" Hermione wondered.

"To the Haven, of course," Holly replied, putting on her rocket pack. "We've got to get you home."

Voila! The longest chapter EVER! My gift to my loyal readers, by way of apology for being so, um, delinquent. Please review! Thanks! -Luna