The Dangers of Throw Pillows

For Artemis and Draco, the transition from boyfriend and girlfriend, to husband and wife was all in all, quiet effortless, though the pair had to face a few bumps along the way. Like most newlyweds, they had to adjust to each other's constant presence. This was a great deal harder for Artemis than it was for Draco. For the first fifteen years of her life, Artemis had always been alone, save for her parents, house-elves and personal tutors. So she had developed an appreciation for her personal space and time. Having someone around you all of the time was almost too much for the young woman to handle. While Draco was, more often than not, enjoyable company, there were moments when the mere sight of him made Artemis want to smother him with a pillow just to get him to shut up. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy their conversations. She just didn't see the need to listen to him recite every single detail of the Slytherin Quidditch practices. Now, if Slytherin had their practices once or twice a week, it wouldn't have been so difficult for Artemis to just grin and bear it, but Draco was, as Blaise said, a slave driver, forcing his team to practice every afternoon for no less than two hours. And after every practice, Draco would return to their bedchamber, covered in dirt and sometimes even blood, flop down onto their very clean bed and proceed to recite every move he and his teammates had made.

Nearly two months into their marriage Artemis had finally had enough of hearing his play by play. Unfortunately for her, she hadn't completely thought out just how she would go about quieting her husband, so when she reacted to that evenings commentating, she did so, in the worst way possible. After shouting at him to 'shut the hell up' and chucking a very large pillow at him, she proceeded to hit him repeatedly with a smaller, easier to handle, pillow. At first Draco had thought that she was just messing around, but as the force and speed of her whacks with the pillow increased, he realized that she was quiet serious.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" he huffed, winded by her sudden attack. Using his strength against her, Draco rolled his wife over, stilling her flailing arms with his much stronger ones before yanking her weapon out of her hand and chucking it across the room. Now, that the pillow was safely out of her hands, the young man was finally able to take a much needed breather. Staring up at her husbands disheveled hair and red face, Artemis couldn't help but giggle, which certainly did not amuse Draco.

"I'm sorry, Love. I just couldn't take another evening of Quidditch talk," said Artemis, between her laughing.

"Then why ask me, 'how was practice?'," demanded an annoyed Draco, as he released his hold on her arms before smoothing out his ruffled hair.

"Well, when I ask that, I'm only asking for a brief answer. I don't really need to know every single move that was made. Let's face it, I don't exactly have a clue what you're talking about anyway," replied Artemis, sitting up and adjusting her wrinkled and twisted nightshirt.

"So you decide the best way to let me know that, is to beat me with a pillow!" exclaimed Draco, rightfully annoyed by her actions.

"Well, at least it wasn't a heavy, blunt object," joked Artemis, guilt beginning to settle in. She knew that she had handled the situation poorly, but she had been at her wits end. "Look, Draco, I'm sorry. I do care about the things that interest you, but I just don't need to hear every single detail, every single evening. I don't expect you to listen to me drone on about what kind of lace I'll be using for the lingerie line that I'm working on."

"Well, if you did talk about, I would listen. I certainly wouldn't ambush you with a throw pillow," muttered Draco, as he stood to remove his practice clothes.

"I know and like I said, I'm sorry. But I don't think you realize just how much time you spend talking about Quidditch. I'd love to hear about your classes or how your friends are doing. Anything, even Quidditch, I just don't need to hear you go on about it for hours, everyday," pleaded Artemis, remorsefully.

"Well, this game is a big part of my day so when you ask me how my day went, naturally I feel inclined to share. I didn't know that you didn't care." spat Draco, angrily, fighting to pull his shirt of his head.

"I do care! I never said I didn't. I just wish you would understand that most of what you say, in regards to sports, goes in one ear and out the other," Artemis said defensively, annoyed by Draco's accusation.

"If you cared, you'd sit there and take it, regardless of the topic. I don't ask you to give me the condensed version of your day. Even if I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about, I listen. Do you think I care whether or not Cosette is being a bitch, or that you have cramps?" Draco asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Now, you're just being mean," replied Artemis, his words having stung. For several moments, both were completely silent, as if they were pondering just what to say next.

"What's this really about?" asked Draco, suddenly. "There's no way that you were that worked up over my talking about Quidditch practice. I've always gone on about it a lot. You used to just ignore me. What's really bothering you?"

"I can't ignore you anymore. You're always here, and you're always talking," muttered Artemis. The instant the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

"Of course I'm always here. I live here," said Draco, through clenched teeth. "What did you think we'd get married and then never have to see each other again?"

"No, that would be ridiculous. Besides, I didn't mean that the way it came out. I guess I'm having a hard time adjusting to someone always being around. Sometimes I just need some time to myself, and it's been pretty impossible to find any," replied Artemis, hoping that Draco would understand her need to be alone, on occasion.

"You know, it's funny, all day all I can think about is how much I want get home to be with you. Yet the entire time we're together all you can think about is how much you would rather be by yourself," replied Draco softly.

"That's not true. Don't put words into my mouth. All I'm saying is that sometimes, SOMETIMES, I just need some uninterrupted time to myself," exhaled Artemis, feeling as if this conversation was going no where. "Like when I'm reading and you come back from practice or a meeting, and you feel compelled to interrupt me. It's almost as if my entire world has to stop, because Draco Malfoy has something to say. I just need a bit of me time. I don't expect you to dote over me twenty-four seven, so you shouldn't expect me to do it, either. I'm starting to feel like I'm being smothered."

"Maybe you don't expect me to want to spend all of my free time with you, but I do. I know that this is going to take some time to get used to, but it's not just 'you' anymore. It's 'us', and that's not going to change, so you need to get used to it. I'll try to give you some space, but I'm not making any promises. My parents gave each other all the space in the world and their marriage sucked up until two years ago. I won't live like that," declared Draco, before walking into the lavatory and getting into the shower, signaling the end of their conversation.

After that discussion, things got better for them. Draco made a conscience effort to stop telling Artemis every little detail about Quidditch practices, and he made sure to leave her alone when she was reading. Artemis also attempted to learn a little more about how Quidditch was played, so that when Draco did tell her something, she would at least understand what he was talking about. The only problem was that everything she read didn't make sense. She had never been into sports and apparently, regardless of how much she tried to understand them, she would never be able to. Though her attempts were fruitless, Draco appreciated her efforts.

Once the two were able to adjust to one another's constant company, their relationship returned to normal. While Artemis and Draco were able to adapt quiet well to the new situation, their classmates and professors were another story. When word got around that Artemis and Draco were sharing the same room, rumors began to run rampant. Every single time the pair was late for a class or Prefect meeting, some gossiping classmate would start a rumor about them, claiming that they were off shagging somewhere.

Within the first four months of the second term, according to both Rita Skeeter and the gossiping girls of Hogwarts, Artemis had been rumored to be pregnant on six different occasions. The worst part about the supposedly harmless rumors was that every time someone claimed that the young woman was with child, the Headmaster would insist on Artemis being examined, to prove them false. Luckily for Draco, Hermione had informed him of why Artemis had been so angry with him the first time she had been examined, and he hadn't been stupid enough to excuse himself from the hospital ward again. Around the end of the second term, with O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's approaching, the rumors began to die down, as everyone was frantically cramming for the difficult exams.

The only other issue that the married couple had with their fellow classmate's, was that they referred to them as a unit, instead of as individuals. Artemis and Draco were religiously referred to as 'The Malfoy's'. For a while this didn't bother either of them, but after a while, the lack of their own identity began to wear on the pairs nerves. For months they tried to correct their friends and classmate's, but it proved useless, as they refused to refer to them in their singular form.

While the students had finally come to terms with Artemis and Draco being married, most of the professors were not able to get used to it. Professor Snape, being the one who had the hardest time adapting. He had always known Artemis as Miss Fowlington, and the change to Mrs. Malfoy was proving to be nearly impossible for him to make. Draco was his Godson and the notion of him having a wife, still caused the older wizard pause. One afternoon, shortly after the winter holidays, during one of his advanced Potions classes that both Artemis and Draco were in, Professor Snape tried to call on Artemis to answer a question. After yelling 'Miss Fowlington' several times and getting no response from the young woman who stared up at him blankly, he gave her detention for insubordination. During her detention, Professor Snape asked Artemis why she had refused to answer him, and she told him that he had never called on her.

"What do you mean, I never called on you!" shouted Professor Snape, way past the point of just being irritated. "I stood right in front of you shouting your name."

"If you had been shouting my name, Sir, I would have answered," replied Artemis carefully, not wanting to upset him any further. She wasn't trying to be difficult, but ever since she had come back to Hogwarts he had never managed to address her properly. And since her name would never change, she had to make sure that he learned to use it.

"Miss Fowlington, my patience is non-existent, so I suggest you stop with your little games. Don't think that because you are married to my Godson you will receive special treatment," warned Snape menacingly.

"You see, you just did it again. I am no longer Miss Fowlington. I am Mrs. Malfoy, and that, and only that, is what I will answer to. You haven't managed to call me by my name once, since school started back up," replied Artemis, politely. Upon hearing this, Severus began to understand why she had been ignoring him. Technically she was right, he hadn't actually addressed her.

"You mean to say that you will no longer answer to Miss Fowlington... ever?" asked Snape, curiously. He didn't understand how someone could, so quickly, learn to ignore the name that they had gone by for most of their life.

"Sometimes I slip up and answer to it, but I try not to. I'm still adjusting to being Mrs. Malfoy and the only way for me to do so, is to stop answering to the former. She doesn't exist anymore," replied Artemis, happily. Truth be told, she wasn't at all sad about it either. She was happy with her new life and the new woman she had become since marrying Draco. "I'm still the same person that I was before, only better. Things change when you have someone who loves you absolutely."

"Indeed... You are excused," muttered Severus, annoyed and impressed by how mature she was behaving.

"Sir, I don't mind staying for a while. I could clean some cauldrons or something. After all, I probably should have mentioned that I wouldn't answer you if you called me by my old name," offered Artemis, kindly.

"That won't be necessary I'll just give Mr. Longbottom detention tomorrow. I'm sure he'll screw something up," replied Professor Snape, as he began to grade some of the parchments on his desk.

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Finally, all of their exams were over and it was time for the seventh years to say goodbye to the place that they had called home for a large portion of the last seven years. As usual the year commenced with a Leaving Feast, before the students were ushered onto the Hogwarts Express and taken back to their respective homes. This being their last train ride with their school friends, Artemis and Draco decided against sitting alone, and instead joined their classmates. The ride back to the train station was filled with chatting about future plans and tearful goodbyes, as most already knew that regardless of how many times they said that they would keep in touch, life would ensure that they were not able to do so. Draco had a hell of a time prying his wife away from her best friend, Cosette. He didn't quiet understand why she was so upset. After all, they had already made plans to see each other next weekend. But none the less, his wife was a teary eyed mess, and was making it very difficult for them to meet their parents on time. 'Geez, thought Draco, 'now that we're married, I'll never be anywhere on time'

"There you are," beamed Persephone, as she wrapped her arms around her daughter enthusiastically, pausing slightly when she noticed that the young woman was upset.

"What did you do!" exclaimed Lucius, he too noticing that Artemis was crying.

"Nothing!" defended Draco. "Why do you always assume that I've done something?"

"Because you almost always have," replied Lucius, failing to apologize for his accusation.

"She's upset about leaving school, that's all," explained Draco, as he hugged his mother and shook hands with Artemis' father.

"How do you think you did on your exams?" questioned Lucius, sternly.

"They were a breeze," replied Draco, cockily, already knowing that he had done a wonderful job on his tests. After all, he wasn't Head Boy because of his devilish good looks.

"Well, we really need to get a move on," interjected Perseus, he and Lucius exchanging knowing looks. "We've got somewhere we need to be."

"Where?" asked Artemis and Draco in unison, unaware of any prior engagements.

"You'll see," boasted Lucius, smirking down at Artemis. At that moment, she couldn't believe just how alike Lucius and Draco were. 'The same damn smirk,' she thought to herself, before following her father-in-law towards the exit.

"Where is the carriage?" asked Draco, as he looked around for the familiar vehicle, unable to locate it.

"We won't be needing it," informed Lucius. "We will be flooing to our destination, this afternoon."

"Where are we going?" questioned Draco, his voice showing just how agitated he was. Usually he was a bit cranky after the long train ride from school and today was no exception. His annoyance was furthered by his father's failure to answer his question. Instead he walked over to a nearby fireplace, grabbed some floo powder and stepped inside, before shouting "Malfoy Estates!" His mother and the Fowlington's followed suit, leaving Artemis and Draco to wonder just what was going on.

"We'll go together," said Draco, as he took his wife's hand and stepped inside of the fireplace. Usually side by side use of the floo network was uncomfortable, but Draco knew how much his wife hated to floo, so he decided that they should go together. "Malfoy Estates!" they shouted, and instantly they were transported, the pair gracelessly falling out of the fireplace onto an unfamiliar cold marble floor.

"One at a time usually works much better," mused Lucius, as he stared down at the children, a broad grin on his face.

"Artemis doesn't like to floo alone," replied Draco, standing and helping his wife to her feet. Lucius said nothing, only arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow in the direction of his daughter-in-law and smirked at her, as if he was mocking her apprehension.

"So where are we?" asked Draco, dusting the soot off of his black oxford shirt and trousers.

"Malfoy Estates," replied Lucius, flatly.

"Really... I hadn't picked up on that," Draco said, annoyed by the games his father was playing. "When did you and mother buy a new house? Are we going to have to move?"

"Yes, you're going to have to move. You didn't think you'd be able to live at the Manor forever, did you?" asked Lucius, smiling brightly at the newlyweds. "This gorgeous little mansion is our gift to you."

"You bought us a house!" exclaimed Artemis, giddily, as she took in the elegant sitting room of her new estate. Judging by the ornate crown moldings and tapestry wallpaper, she assumed that their home was in France, as it reminded her of her own childhood home.

"Whoa," whispered Draco, as he roamed around the large, empty room.

"Well, it's not yours just yet. We wanted make sure that you felt it was right for the both of you, before we actually bought it. But if you love it, and you feel like this could be the right place for the two of you to really start you lives together, than it's as good as yours," replied Perseus, as he watched the young couple explore the grand sitting room before the ventured out into the foyer.

"It's beautiful!" exclaimed Artemis, turning to her parents and wrapping her arms around them tightly, before doing the same to Lucius and Narcissa.

"Don't make any rash decisions, dear," warned Narcissa, sweetly. "Be sure to look around, take it all in. If you can't envision you and Draco here with your children, than it's not right for you, and we'll keep looking." With that said, Artemis and Draco ventured off to explore the gorgeous mansion, both already knowing that it was the perfect home for their family.

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TOLD YOU IT WOULD BE FASTER ; ) THOUGH IT WASN'T MUCH SHORTER THAN USUAL. DON'T TELL MY BOSS, BUT I WROTE THIS AT WORK THIS MORNING. BAD NIKKI, BAD. OH WELL, I GOT MY WORK DONE ANYWAY, SO ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

NEXT CHAPTER SHOULD BE UP PRETTY SOON, OR AT LEAST THAT'S MY PLAN. I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT, SO I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANY HINTS : (

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