Chapter 2
"Good Morning"
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
Author's Note: ECKOSTALKER IS BACK!!! Oh and watch out for sudden latin attacks.
Remus walked up the concrete walkway to the front door. The sun hadn't even risen yet but he liked traveling by night, it comforted him. He knew it was early, but he also knew Artimis would be up, she was always up at this hour. He walked up to the door and fitted his key in the lock. He spoke the password "Amor Vita Fides Veneratio Familia" quietly and entered the door. The foyer was very dim, but then again it was 5:30 in the morning. He heard bustling and humming from in the kitchen and decided Artimis was as normal making breakfast. He set his suitcase down by the front door and walked in the kitchen. The brightness of the kitchen in contrast to the dark hall made him blink profusely. Artimis was busy stirring a bowl of what looked like pancake mix, humming noisily and had flour on her nose and in her ebony hair. "Want some help?" He asked, chuckling while rolling up his sleeves after adjusting to the darkness.
"Remus!" She yelled excitedly, putting down the spoon and giving him a big hug. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have had Webber at the door for you." She said, grabbing her spoon back up and stirring once again. "If you want to help you can go stir the gravy." She said gesturing to the self-stirring pot of gravy. He chuckled as he walked over there.
"Ok. What's been up?" he asked grabbing the spoon and noticing Artimis was cooking more than what the usual breakfast consisted of.
" Nothing New.... Oh, Um.... We have a guest. A friend of mine. You'll meet him at breakfast." she said blushing profusely and focusing entirely too much energy on the pancakes causing some to get all over her.
"Him? Does Draco know you are keeping 'pets' around?" Lupin asked nudging her affectionately and smirking. She glowered at her bowl and huffed, "Not that kind of friend. Why don't you go upstairs and rest. I'll come get you for breakfast." She sighed as she pulled her wand and made the mix pour itself on the pan.
"Alright, I'll go wake up Alexis. I'm sure she'll be glad to see me." He said beginning to walk out.
"Not in her room. Pissed me off yesterday so she had to go to Fred and George to get the silencing spell taken off. I think they are still testing products on her." She said that with a glint of 'she-deserved-it' in her eyes.
"You two, I swear you act like you're fifteen still. I'll be in my room. See ya in an hour." He said sighing as he walked out of the bright kitchen into the dim hallway. Letting his eyes readjust, he walked up the stairs, trudging to his room. He was tired, very tired from his trip and was glad the rest of the house was not up to welcome him. He entered his room to find Cleo placing all his clothes in their respective drawers. She finished, bowed to Lupin and popped out. Lupin sighed and smiled at the sight of his room. It was full of things from his travels along with pictures of him with the girls, or them with Artimis's family when Alexis would go on trips with them. This was the one place that was always his home, and everyone here respected him and loved him for being who is was, not what he was. He took of his shoes and collapsed, fully dressed into his soft bed, savoring the wonderful smell of sausage lifting up from the kitchen. "I wonder who Artimis's friend is?" he said aloud as he allowed the comfort of the room to induce him into much needed slumber.
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Artimis was in a bad mood when she came home from work at three. She hadn't gotten much sleep and Aaron wasn't very helpful when they were on a routine check of Diagon Alley. As much as she had come to love Aaron as a brother, she would never understand short quiet man. The whole time he was distant, and wouldn't stop watching the skies. She, of course, saw something he did not and she had to save him from breaking his arm. Bloody males... She thought, making sure that Alexis could not get through her mental mind block. The last person she needed meddling with her mind right now was Alexis, because Alexis would see through it all and know what the real problem was. She arrived home and began her favorite time of the day: Breakfast. She busied herself with her pancakes, bacon, biscuits and gravy, totally forgetting everything she wanted to. This was her time; the time when the whole house was asleep and she could relax and let loose. She was twenty-four years old, just barely out of Auror training and she already felt like she was forty. She ran the motherly type things in the household because she was the strongest and most stable to do so. Alexis was too rash and would make decisions without consideration, and Hailey would give in to everyone and the house would be in an uproar. She was elated when Remus walked in the kitchen. He was like an uncle or second father to her. He had taken her best friend, Alexis, in after the tragedy that took her mother. Since Alexis and Artimis were as inseparable as sisters, he became used to the fact that legally he had only adopted one girl, but he had two daughters. Artimis's father liked Lupin, accepted him because he was a man of his word and Artimis's father respected that above all in people. Artimis was enraged at Lupin's comments about 'pets'. She never had 'pets', unless you counted her white cat, Perseus. She had one-night stands, and lovers. Draco had the same and it was understood between them. She sent Remus away, for she feared she would tell him that Severus was here, and he would leave without saying anything to Alexis. Artimis, no matter how angry she was at Alexis, would not do that to her. He stalked tiredly off and she finished breakfast, the house elves just waking up in time to help her carry out the dishes of food. She liked letting them sleep in, it made her feel like a better person if she didn't rely on them for everything and treated them with kindness. She had made it a habit to never yell at any of them if they made a mistake, she just explained to them how to do it and even showed them.
Looking at the long table, she was satisfied with the amount of food, happy she had decided to make more, because she knew Remus could eat his share. I wonder how much Severus eats... She pondered as she walked downstairs and banged on the twins doors. "BREAKFAST!" She hollered and she heard the customary 'sod off' (George) and 'be right there'(Fred). She heard Alexis's voice raise up with a 'thank god'. Smiling in satisfaction, she moved upstairs to her floor. She walked into her room and leapt on the bed, jumping up and down like a child. "Breakfast honey, It's time for Breakfast!" Draco sat up, smiling and threw a pillow at her. She dodged it, sat down and kissed him. "I'm going to go wake up our 'guest'. Remus came home this morning. This may get interesting, get dressed and wake Remus up. Do not tell him who is staying here, I will address that." She said sliding of the bed, stretching and yawning.
"Did you know I love it when you wake me up like that. I'll make sure the 'dream team' are up too. You be careful with Snape, I doubt he's used to waking up to someone as hyper as you are in the morning." He said pulling some shorts on. She smiled coyly and walked out of the door. How to wake him up… the twin approach... or the Draco approach... Oh what the hell… I wanna scare him... She pondered as she got to his door. She swung it open and took a running jump, landing on her feet on his bed. "Wake up! It's time for breakfast." She said excitedly as a wand was placed under her chin. Obviously startled, Snape had automatically stood straight up and reacted as if she were attacking him.
"You have GOT to teach me that! Now get dressed and get downstairs. We eat breakfast together and you are no exception." She stated cheerfully, smiling insanely while getting off his bed as if she wasn't startled or scared. Dude, his reflexes are as good as mine... Weasley Approach tomorrow... He looked at himself in just his boxers and blushed, which surprised Artimis, and dashed for the bathroom. "Get out! Haven't you heard of knocking?" He yelled as he closed the door.
"Yeah, but that rule is null and void at Breakfast time." She said walking out the door as he muttered something at her. "If you go back to bed, I will drag you down there in whatever it is you are wearing. You are in my home, which means you will eat breakfast with us." She said as Draco passed her with Ron in tow, wiggling to get free. Severus, having put on a shirt and some pants was about to say something when he saw Draco dragging Ron down the stairs. "She's serious, Sir!" Ron yelled as he was dragged down to the dining room. Artimis smirked and walked up the stairs to the top floor.
After waking Aaron and Hailey, which was fairly easy, she walked back down to the ground floor and heard an uproar in the dining room. Quickly, she rushed in and was about to hex everyone into oblivion, when she realized the noise was because Alexis had seen Lupin was home. She was tackling him, giving him hugs and telling him how much she missed him.
"Enough Alexis, let the poor man eat!" Artimis said putting her wand away.
"So Artimis, where is this friend of yours." Lupin asked, getting up and straightening his clothes. Artimis scanned the table and to her dismay Snape was not there.
(He's asking for it...) Alexis cooed, the mental wall being dropped in the sake of breakfast.
{And he's going to get it. Be right back. Don't tell Lupin.}
(Ok. No prob) Alexis replied mentally snickering.
"About to be dragged down here in his boxers." She grumbled as she stomped out of the room. She reached the landing of the second story and Snape was stalking towards her, a deep scowl on his face.
"Good Morning." She said cheerfully, even if she was not feeling it. He glowered at her.
"I said good morning. You could at least grunt a reply." She said as she turned to go down the stairs. A hand grasped her arm and she nearly fell down the stairs. "Morning. If you ever wake me in such a manner I will not hesitate to..."
"Hex me? Kill me?" She said sarcastically, wrenching her arm away. "Come now, I'm a bit too old for you to be trying to intimidate me! As Alexis tends to say, You are in my pack. I am Alpha now." She hissed back to him. "Now, move it down there or I will move you. I am trying to be nice, and I will continue to do so, but you will respect the rules of this house. Whether or not you want to be here." She growled, irritated that he had tried to make her fear him in her own home. " A family member, who was not here last night is here now and I expect you to be nice or at least civil." She scowled as she forcefully grasped his arm and moved him down the stairs. She was livid and knew she was crossing boundaries, but did not care.
Stopping at the foyer, she inhaled deeply and looked at his face. He seemed shocked and mildly upset and she felt bad. Letting go of his arm, she turned away in the shame that she had just treated him like a child. No matter how foul his mood, he was not her reason for her anger and he deserved respect, especially from her.
"Listen, Sir. I'm sorry. I had a terrible night at work and was irritated earlier. You did not deserve that." She said walking ahead of him. He grabbed her shoulder gently, in an attempt to keep her from walking away and said "I did indeed deserve it, you are right, this is your house and your rules. I would expect you to respect mine if you were ever at my home, so I shall do the same here." He said softly but coldly, letting go. She nodded and entered the room. Everyone was sitting in their spots, talking and waiting for her to sit so they could eat. No one was ever forgotten at breakfast or left out. It began with them together and nearly always ended as such. It was the only time where everyone's busy schedules would allow family time, and everyone was determined to make this a working family. She sat as Snape entered and everyone looked from him to Remus, who had just dropped a spoon, since he had been preparing to dig in. He looked as if a ghost had entered the room.
"Um.... Artimis? Is this your said 'friend' who is staying awhile?" he asked quietly, looking at Severus questioningly.
"Yes. Behave please." She said pleadingly as she saw the glint of trickery in his eyes. Severus eyed Remus as Artimis gestured for Severus to sit beside her and Draco. Everyone looked to her as if they had never done this before. "Unless some else is not at this table, I suggest we eat before it gets cold. I spent all morning cooking and do not plan on spending the rest of it warming it all back up." She said jokingly as she served herself some steaming biscuits and gravy. Everyone else dug in and the conversations ensued.
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Severus was sleeping peacefully for once. He thought he heard a noise like yelling but dismissed it for the comfort of the bed. He heard the door to his room swing open and running feet. Next thing he knew he was standing in just his boxers on this bed with a wand to Artimis's throat while she smiled and yelled something about Breakfast. She swiftly moved off his bed and mentioned that he get dressed. Good Lord... I'm not dressed and she is in here, smirking. Damnable female. He thought as he dived of the bed toward the bathroom. "Get out! Haven't you ever heard of KNOCKING!" He yelled as he closed the door behind him. He heard her saying something as she was walking out and sighed. "Now, I'm going back to bed." he mumbled.
"If you go back to bed, I will drag you down there in whatever it is you are wearing. You are in my home, which means you will eat breakfast with us." She yelled at him.
He grumbled and threw on some clothes, walking to the door to berate her for her disrespect. He opened him mouth to say something as he walked to where she was at the door and his mouth just hung open. Draco had Ronald Weasley by the ankles dragging him through the hall, and down the stairs. "She's Serious, Sir" Ron shouted as he was roughly dragged down the stairs, his head only missing the steps because he put his hands under it. Artimis seemed to be satisfied with his awareness and went up stairs. He went back to his room, debating on whether or not he was going back to bed. "Blasted girl. No not girl, woman. Even worse. I don't doubt her taking the opportunity of dragging me downstairs and everyone in this house would enjoy it." He paced talking to himself. Resolved that he did indeed need to eat, and that he could simply sleep later he dressed completely in his normal school garb. He was surrounded by students so it seemed appropriate, former students but students none the less.
He walked out of the door just in time to see Artimis storming up the stairs. She smiled at him and cheerily stated "Good Morning." Not wanting to increase her amicable nature he simply ignored her.
"I said Good Morning. You could at least grunt a reply." she scolded. That was the last straw, he stalked toward her and grabbed her arm as she turned, hissing vehemently. "Morning. If you ever wake me in such a manner I will not hesitate to..." She cut him of with a sarcastic reply of "Hex me? Kill me?" He was livid, she was out and out mocking him. Her eyes carried anger and cruelty as she yanked her arm away. "Come now, I'm a bit too old for you to be trying to intimidate me! As Alexis tends to say, You are in my pack. I am Alpha now." She spat angrily. He was taken aback at her anger. "A family member, who was not here last night is here now and I expect you to be nice or at least civil." She growled and grasped his arm so quickly he did not have time to react. I wonder who else lives here? He thought as he tried to wretch his arm from her. She had a vice grip and it seemed as if she didn't even notice him pulling. At the bottom step she looked at him and immediately her eyes filled with regret and she pulled away from him walking toward the doors. She stopped and whispered so slightly he could barely hear it, "Listen, Sir. I'm sorry. I had a terrible night at work and was irritated earlier. You did not deserve that."
He felt bad that he was so rude this morning and that he would also have her respect his rules in his home. He drained all emotion from his voice as he grabbed her shoulder gently, replying, "I did indeed deserve it, you are right, this is your house and your rules. I would expect you to respect mine if you were ever at my home, so I shall do the same here." He let her go and she walked in the doors. He followed her and looked around a voice rose and asked Artimis something and he automatically zoomed in on Remus Lupin, the current DADA teacher. Artimis gestured for him to sit and he did so eyeing Lupin with curiosity as Remus talked to Alexis. Artimis made the comment about eating and everyone dug in. He waited till he knew he would still have all fingers and served himself some waffles. He looked about for the syrup and noticed Draco, who was sitting besides him was using it.
"Mr. Malfoy, may I have that ?" He asked with forced pleasantries. Draco looked at him oddly than looked at the syrup, "Oh yeah, sorry and its Draco, I have to get used to you being at the table." He said handing it over to him. "Artimis, dear, I just almost thought that you were impersonating Snape, because he is sitting on my side instead of you." Draco replied smiling at her. She looked at him, vexed and gestured to Severus. Severus felt insulted that he was not remembered.
"So Severus, What brings you to Manor Dela Loyalty?" Remus asked politely. Oh great I have to be civil... Damn Dumbledore
"Headmaster thought it best I relax and lay low and he suggested here. I had little choice in the matter." He replied with a bit too much sarcasm.
"So Remus, Where have you been? We've missed you." Artimis cut in definitely trying to keep breakfast peaceful. Severus went back to eating his waffles.
" Well, I went to Romania, And then I spent some time in France." He replied cheerfully. Snape snorted. Artimis kicked Snape under the table and he looked at her indignantly.
{Be nice!}
[Kick me again and I will stop being 'nice'] he chided a response.
{This is his home. He will be treated with respect. I will make sure he treats you with respect but it will mutual. End of discussion} She said as she shut him out. He tried to re-enter her mind but she just looked at him sternly and stood up.
"Ok, Everybody here is the deal. I know you all get sick of me blabbing on about family and unity, but you all know I'm right. We have someone staying with us as you all know and I want him to be respected as you would respect any other family member. I have asked him to respect you as well. His stay here will not be a bad one. Am I understood?" She said fixing the table with a stare. Ron busted out laughing.
"Ron, if you say it I will hex you!" She glared dangerously.
"But Artimis you look so much like Mum." he roared. Snape looked at her and suppressed a chuckle. She does look like Molly Weasley.... Was the only thing he could think of before Artimis drew her wand swiftly and pointed it at Ron. "Silencio Artimicio!" she yelled. Fred and George drew their wands and repeated the incantation but it simply silenced them. Artimis glared at them and then asked "Anyone else? I am in no mood to be insulted Ron. Fred, George, did you really think I would create a spell that would be able to be used on me." She sighed sitting down. Draco was snickering while eating his eggs and toast and Remus looked like he was going to suffocate from holding in his laughter. She looked to the to of them and then to Severus who looked at her as blankly as possible. Next thing he knew she was murmuring an incantation and Ron and the boys could be heard once again. She went back to her breakfast. Severus having finished his breakfast tried to stand but Artimis caught his arm, "Wait" she stated. He sat down and looked at her oddly. Draco, who was next to him, stood and asked "Who works today? Not including night shifters." Everybody but Artimis, Aaron, Draco, Alexis and the two professors raised their hands. "Ok you guys go get ready for work, those of you who don't work, go do whatever your chores are and then see Artimis about anything else that needs to get done."
Did he just say chores... I do believe I saw house elves.....He thought as everyone got up and left and Artimis looked at him.
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A foul mood would have been an understatement for Alexis. She was furious. She had spent most of her day off and all night being the test subject for the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. When she heard Artimis bang on the door and yell breakfast she could not suppress her thankfulness. She swiftly dodged out of the room before Fred could give her another prototype. She swiftly ran up the stairs to the kitchen. She was going to have a word or two with her 'best friend'. She entered the kitchen to find it empty. "Damn it, she's gone to wake everyone else." She yelled to herself making Winky looked at her startled. Alexis quickly drew a quick breath and entered the dining room. The table was set with tons of food; Pancakes, waffles, bacon and sausage, eggs and toast, the works. People filed in; Ron was dragged in by Draco, Harry walked in exhausted, and Hermione waved happily to Alexis as she sat down at her place at the table. The next person who walked in made her forget all her trouble. Remus had walked in the door looking tired. She quickly ran and leapt on him. "Remus, I missed you so much." She yelled giving him a hug as they fell over. She buried her head in his coat and smiled.
"Enough Alexis, let the poor man eat!" Artimis yelled behind her. Alexis got up glimpsing Artimis putting her wand away.
"So Artimis, where is this friend of yours." Lupin asked getting up, while Alexis suppressed a snicker. The mental conversation ensued and Alexis really wanted to warn Remus but she had said she would not so she didn't. Everyone sat down, Aaron and Hailey filling in late, all waiting for Artimis. They were all very hungry and the food sitting in front of them was very tempting.
"Alexis, I'm starving. Will you tell on me?" Remus asked picking up a spoon. In that instant Artimis walked in the door, Snape following close behind. The spoon Remus had picked up was dropped and all eyes on him. Alexis felt bad that she had not told him as he asked her if this was her said friend. Artimis told everyone to eat and they proceeded to chow. "Remus, look at Snape. He looks at all of us like we are savages." She whispered quietly. He snickered and answered through a bite of sausage. "He's not used to the every man for himself style of eating." Lupin ate his food and tried to make conversation with Severus. Alexis laughed when she saw Artimis kick him and him glare.
(that's a Girl Arty!)
{Alexis WHYTE! We have had a discussion about Arty more than once. Quit it!} Artimis's harsh reply was. Breakfast ended with Alexis leaving with Remus to go clean. Artimis and Snape were sitting at the table and Alexis could not resist a catcall, a mental one at least. (You go for that dude Artimis. He seems just your type. Old and creepy.)
"Alexis! Don't forget you have lawn care today!" Artimis said spinning around in her chair with a look of 'You-Are-A-Dead-Woman' in her eyes.
What do ya think?
Next chapter: Ladies Night hehehehe
Author's Note : For those of you who do not speak Latin the password to get into the house "Amor Vita Fides Veneratio Familia" Means Love, Life, Trust, Honor, Family. I hoped to make a sentence of it, but my Latin is terrible.