The streets of Haven were nearly empty when Holly, Artemis, Harry, and Hermione arrived. They pushed a trolley containing Mulch, still frozen in digging position, towards LEP Headquarters under Holly's directions. When they arrived, they were greeted by Foaly and a very red Commander Root.

"Agent Short," Root snarled, "you-"

"Have done an excellent job," interrupted Foaly. "And that is a very lifelike statue."

Holly shook her head. "It's Mulch."

Foaly's jaw dropped. "You mean, you…?"

Hermione cleared her throat.

"Ah, yes," said Foaly. "You must be Hermione. I expect this is your work, then," he added, gesturing towards Mulch. "Now that's magic."

"It was nothing," said Hermione, beaming with pride. "I believe we spoke before, do you remember?"

Foaly rolled his eyes. "How could I forget? The most stubborn Mud Person I've ever met. Besides our beloved Mr. Fowl, of course."

Artemis took it as a compliment, and smiled with self-satisfaction.

"You," said Root, growing redder all the time, "How dare you show your face here again?"

Artemis shrugged unconcernedly. "It's not like I had a choice. Agent Short insisted that I come."

Root turned and glared at her, but Holly remained unfazed.

"I believe it was the right decision, sir," she said.

"As do I," Foaly chimed in.

Root appeared mollified for the moment. "Who's this?" he asked, pointing at Harry.

"I'm Harry, sir," he introduced himself, "Harry Potter."

"He's the one that Diggums kidnapped," Holly offered helpfully.

Foaly laughed. "How did you manage to get captured by a dwarf?"

"He was sneaky!" Harry said defensively. "And he's stronger than he looks."

"Do you think Mulch was working alone?" Root asked Holly.

"No, sir," she replied. "He was probably receiving help and instructions from someone else."

"Any idea who?" Root prompted.

Holly glanced at Artemis before answering. "Yes, sir."

Artemis sighed. "I expect you'll be wanting to erase my memory again, then."

"With your permission, sir," Holly said to Root.

"The sooner the better," Root replied as he to his office. The rest of the group started down one of the hallways that led to the other areas of Headquarters.

"Wait!" Root yelled after them. "Leave Diggums here. I think he'd make a nice…office decoration."

Artemis rolled the trolley back and gave it to Root, then started walking down the long hallway towards his doom.

The memory room was small, stark, and white. Artemis was strapped into a chair in the middle, surrounded by congeries of complicated-looking electronic equipment. Harry, Hermione, and Holly stood nearby, while Foaly bustled about adjusting controls.

"Ready?" Foaly asked when he was finally satisfied with the setup.

"No," Artemis replied defiantly. He looked thoughtfully around the room. "I would say that I'm going to miss you," he admitted, "but I won't remember any of you, will I?"

A tear trickled down Hermione's cheek despite her best efforts. It wasn't fair to steal this intelligent,witty boy's memories just because he made a few mistakes. He had a good heart, and she knew it.

"Besides," Artemis added, "I wouldn't really miss you, anyway."

Hermione gave a half-hearted laugh, and Artemis met her eyes.

"Except maybe you," he said, all trace of cynicism gone from his voice. Hermione began to cry again.

"Oh, stop blubbering," Foaly chided her. "Now, Artemis, how would you like to get your memory back?"

"What do you mean?" asked Artemis.

"Don't play ignorant with me, Fowl," Foaly said in disgust. "You never did regain your memoriesfrom two years ago, did you?""

"Alright, fine," Artemis said reluctantly. "I don't remember a thing. I wasn't even sure that it all really happened until Holly showed up."

"Why didn't you just tell us?" wondered Holly.

"You of all people should know the answer to that," Artemis replied. "I am a proud person, Agent Short-"

"No, really?" Holly said sarcastically.

Artemis ignored her. "-And I didn't want to admit that fairy technology had gotten the best of me."

Foaly sighed with satisfaction. "It's so good to hear those words."

"But how did you know I didn't really remember anything?" asked Artemis.

"Your personality," Holly explained. "After we altered your memory, you were, well…not the same person."

Foaly muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "pompous little know-it-all." Artemis looked at him curiously, but did not react.

"If you had really regained your memory as you claimed," Holly continued, "theoretically your personality should have changed as well, based on your experiences. But it didn't, so we knew something was wrong. I talked to Foaly, and…"

"She persuaded me to give you back your memories," Foaly finished. "Unless, of course, you don't want them."

"No!" Artemis said hastily. "By all means, proceed."

"Good," said Foaly. "Because I was going to anyway."

"It's for our own good, as well as yours," Holly explained.

"I'm not sure I understand," Artemis confessed.

"You will," Holly assured him.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" wondered Harry. "I'd like to go home."

Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. "Honestly, Harry," she whispered, "you're so insensitive."

"Ow!" said Harry, rubbing his bruised ribs, "That hurt, you know."

Artemis chuckled a little at the exchange. "Do it," he instructed Foaly. Then everything was dark.

He woke up a few minutes later with a pounding headache, memories flooding his head.

"How do you feel?" asked Holly.

Artemis sat up, rubbing his head. "God, I'm such a jerk."

Not quite as long, I know, but the next -and final- chapter is already in the works, so it should be posted very soon. Like, in a couple of days at the most. Knock on wood, right? Thank you, everyone, for your incredible patience and supportiveness. You guys rock! Anyway, please continue to review, and if you haven't yet, there's no time like the present! Geez, how many clichés can a person fit into one author's note? Whatever. Just please review, and thanks! -Luna