California Adventure
Chapter 4

Author's Notes: This is the transitional chapter… A lot changes and a lot of important things happen… And the next two chapters will be tearjerkers… I mean they made Ecko cry, and she never cries….

Artimis awoke comfortably curled up with a source of warmth behind her. She sighed contently and put her hand slightly on the hand around her waist and went to lift it. Severus grabbed her hand and she felt him wake up. Artimis crawled away from his side of the bed and tired to get out of the bed. He yawned and rolled out of the bed.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you. " He spoke yawning and Artimis yawned and nodded at him. She grabbed her clothes and went to the bathroom. She heard Alexis yelling about being woken up and chuckled to herself. Artimis looked at herself in the mirror and saw that it looked like she had ages five years in this one week. With the stress of her first mission and the reoccurring dreams of death, Artimis was emotionally, mentally and even physically tired. She rubbed her eyes and dressed in her black uniform. She buckled her belt and placed her wand on her hip. She stepped outside and saw Remus up brewing a pot of coffee. Artimis smiled and went to her bag, grabbing out her diary and sitting down to write in it. She was bent on recording everything she could remember about the dream and about her mission.

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Severus felt a warm hand on his hand and opened his eyes to see Artimis lying in front of him and he has his arm around her. She must have felt him wake up for she crawled away quickly and leapt off the bed. He sighed and informed her that he wasn't going to kill her. She yawned a response to him and went into he bathroom. Severus looked to see that Alexis and Remus were sound asleep and quickly changed into his black shirt. Severus walked over to the foot of their bed and smacked Remus's foot and he woke up, waking Alexis up as well.

"Bloody Hell. I was sleeping." Alexis yelled and Remus laughed.

"Get up. You're on a mission." He spoke and she rolled out of bed. He went over to the coffee pot and began to brew a pot of coffee. She looked over to the other bed and looked at Severus.

"Where's Artimis?" She asked and Artimis came out of the bathroom. Severus looked toward the bathroom and Artimis walked out. They all watched as Artimis smiled at Remus and went to her bag and pulled out a book. She began to write furiously in it and Severus rolled his eyes, grabbing a cup and pouring himself some of coffee. He watched as Artimis continued to write furiously. Remus came and sat across from him at the table as he sat down.

"I wonder what she is writing Remus?" Severus asked and Remus laughed at him.

"No you don't. A girl's diary is a very scary thing. It lets you see their world." Remus replied and Severus scoffed.

"I've seen scary things Remus, I doubt her point of view would frighten me." He spoke and Remus sighed.

"That is because you haven't had a daughter. If you had, it would terrify you." Remus spoke and he got up to get more coffee. Artimis slammed her book close and sealed it with a spell. Artimis got up and got a cup of coffee and Alexis came out of the bathroom.

"I'm going for some breakfast sandwiches, I'll be back in a sec." Alexis spoke as she pulled her overcoat on.

"I'll go too." Remus spoke and Artimis rolled her eyes as they walked out the door. She fished in her bag and grabbed her vial of eye drops. She sat across from Severus and smiled.

"Morning." She intoned and he replied.

"Morning. Are you going to use those now?" He asked and she smiled.

"Nah, I have them out to admire them. They are my greatest creation. Although I need to figure out a way to make them negate with out crying." She spoke and he began asking her about their ingredients. She began to describe its creation and he made a good suggestion.

"Lower the amount of bat's blood and add some more wolves fur, they'll balance out the night vision and the lower blood should just make it to where you can wash your eyes out with water." He informed her and she nodded.

"Didn't think of that. Thanks." She replied and he smiled.

"You get better with time." He told her and she smirked.

"I know." She told him. A beep sounded in Artimis's pocket and she pulled out a watch.

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Artimis knew what the alarm meant and she stood up and downed her coffee.

"Gotta start watch." She spoke, leaning her head back and putting eyes drops in her eyes and looking back at Severus. She smiled and looked back toward the window. She went and sat crossed legged by the window and she began to call out her objectives actions play by play.

"Artimis, I'm the only one here. I don't think I care about him watching cartoons." He spoke and she snorted.

"I'm used to having Alexis here to pretend like she's listening. " She spoke and Alexis and Remus walked back in. Artimis put up her hand and Alexis tossed her a sandwich. Artimis grabbed it and began unwrapping it, eating as she observed. After she finished and she began to call out play by play. All of a sudden Artimis leapt up, bumping her head on the table and crying.

"We have Henry Brock. He just apparated there. Get set to move. " Artimis spoke as she buckled her belt of weapons and Alexis did the same. Remus grabbed the bags and had them downstairs before Artimis could ask him to do it. Remus went and checked them out and Artimis and Alexis snuck around to their room. Alexis unlocked the door and Artimis opened it. They busted in and faced not two American Deatheaters, but a whole bloody group of six. Artimis dodged the first spell and took one out with her trademark "Petrificus Totalus!" She was hit by another spell and lost the ability to speak. She shook her wand as Alexis leapt over her and threw a "Lepidae!" at the one who had attacked Artimis. Artimis tried to undo the spell but could not. She was hit with an "Impedimenta!" and she couldn't move. She was immobilized and could do nothing. She watched as Alexis took two of them down as the spell wore off. Artimis in her anger, moved her arm slightly and yelled "Stupefy!" two times and hit Alexis and one of the other guys. The last one standing was Henry Brock and he pointed his wand at her and yelled "Crucio!" Artimis fell to her knees in pain and screamed a blood-curding scream. She felt another spell hit her and it intensified the pain. She screamed so loud that anyone could have heard her. In the next moment Artimis felt the pain drop and saw Alexis and Remus standing over the bodies. She couldn't move any of her limbs; her body hurt so badly, and she was crying, tears streaming down her face. Remus picked her up and carried her down to the car, where Severus took her and put her in the backseat. Alexis called for the Bureau of Magic and they came and captured the awakening Deatheaters. Artimis was dizzy, she couldn't move very much and her head hurt. Severus was speaking to her and she could barely hear him. Artimis curled up in the backseat, her head on Severus's lap and feel asleep.

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Artimis awoke and Severus put the back of his hand on her forehead.

"Good, you're not feverish anymore." He spoke and she sat up abruptly.

"Where are we?" Artimis asked and Alexis turned around in the passenger seat.

"We are going to the Bureau and them we are going home. We finished our mission." Alexis spoke and Artimis sighed. She sat back and felt a ringing in her ears. They were driving down a deserted desert road in California somewhere. Artimis had seen this place before. Somewhere. Maybe they had driven here again. All of a sudden, the jeep was hit with something and it flipped over. It rolled a bit and came to a stop upside down. Artimis looked around and saw that nobody was hurt badly. They all unbuckled themselves and crawled out of the vehicle and looked around. It was near dusk and Artimis wondered what had hit the car. Alexis drew her wand and pointed at the sky. A marevick flew overhead, glaring at them. Artimis too drew her wand and Alexis stood out in the plain open sight. The thing swooped for her and Artimis dove for her, pulling her out of the Marevick grasp. Alexis silently thanked her and Remus crawled into the jeep to try and turn on the radio. It wouldn't come on or work and everyone here the sparks from it. The car was beginning to smoke and the wind began to blow lightly, bringing dust into the air. They all looked at each other, trying to figure out what to do now.