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Dark Knights Feather: I'm glad that you like it! It's great that you liked the last chapter, and I hope that you like this one as well! Thanks for reviewing!

Percabethworshipper: I'm glad that you liked that chapter, and it's good to know that it wasn't as lame as I thought it was! Thanks for reviewing, and have a great day too!

Child of Wisdom: I'm glad you enjoyed this story! I try my hardest to keep characters in character, but I'm never really sure whether I got their personalities right or not, so it's a relief that you thinks so! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and thanks for reviewing!

OwlFace612: Aww, thanks! I'm glad you like it so much! Like I've said before, I try really hard to keep characters from becoming OOC, so it's good to know that it's working! Thanks a lot for reviewing, and have a great day! I hope you like this chapter, by the way.

Summer: Don't worry about it! I'm really sorry about what happened, and I hope that things are going better for you now! Have a great day!

DaughterOfHecate: Hi there! Yeah, Artemis has pretty much taken it upon himself to cover for Nico whenever he messes up at this point. I'm probably not going to do any romance at all, since I can't right romance to save my life. But they WILL have a very good friendship though, I feel like they'd have this sort of love/hate relationship, you know? They'd enjoy each other's company because they're the only one who can understand each other when they're having a 'genius moment', but they'd also clash a lot, because of their varying views. A lot has changed already, like how Draco knows about the plot, or at least that it exists. Throwing Nico and Artemis into the mix will probably make a pretty big difference, even if the end result is more or less the same. Yeah, the Golden Trio won't have to sneak around investigating Slytherins this time around, and stuff like that. I… actually hadn't thought of that. But now that I think about it, Nico really would seem pretty terrifying to some of the other students because of his aura, which just gave me an idea, so thanks! Artemis will get plenty of time to scheme later on, I'm not really very good at writing scheming Artemis, since I'm no evil genius myself, which is the main reason Artemis hasn't done much, I can't think of anything dastardly enough for him to do! Artemis' deal with the twins will come up eventually! Artemis has practically joined Hermione in the library as its permanent residents at that point, even though Artemis won't stop complaining about it Nico dealing with the dementors would be hilarious! Unfortunately, the dementors won't show up until the next book, but I'm certainly looking forward to writing about it! The teachers will show up soon! Like, really soon, actually. Artemis is probably Snape's favourite student by now, since he's so good at showing up the other houses. Don't worry about influencing my opinions, I was actually planning to do most of these things eventually anyway! I'm really glad to hear how much you like this story, and I hope that you like this chapter as well! As always, thank you for reviewing and have a great day/night!

"Right," Nico said, clearing his throat, "The truth."

Artemis coughed pointedly, "Perhaps we should do this somewhere more private." he suggested, gesturing towards Ginny and Neville.

"What?" Ginny protested, "We want to know too!" she said, raising her voice for the first time since getting on the Hogwarts Express.

Nico raised his hands, "No offense, uh, what's your name again?"

"Ginny, Ginny Weasley."

"Right, Ginny. So you see, Ginny, I didn't even know your name until 2 seconds ago. So... do you mind leaving for a while?" he asked awkwardly.

Ginny huffed, her face turning as red as Ron's did when he was angry, "Ron will tell me." she said confidently, "Because Hermione will tell Harry and Ron."

"Uh, Ginny, I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but I don't think that Ron would tell you anything if he could help it." Hermione pointed out, slightly impatiently.

"Who said anything about him telling me of his own free will?" she said ominously, before storming out the compartment.

"That girl is scary for a first year." Neville said with a shudder a moment after Ginny had left.

"Uh, Neville, do you mind leaving as well?" Nico asked, uncomfortable with the number of times he'd had to ask people to leave in the last few minutes.

"Me?" Neville questioned, his eyes bugging out.

"Yes, Mr. Longbottom." Artemis snapped impatiently, apparently fed up with the amount of obliviousness in the compartment.

"Okay, okay, I'm going." Neville stood up, looking offended, "Jeez, you seem to have gotten even meaner over the holidays."

"Now, Longbottom." Artemis said, sounding oddly like Professor Snape. Whether that was intentional or not, Nico wasn't sure. Well, at least it got the job done.

"Well, know that that's been taken care of," Artemis said, clapping his hands together and instantly taking charge of the situation, "Nico, why don't you go ahead?"

****I'm skipping the explanation because I'm super evil and lazy MWAHAHAA****

"So," Hermione summarized, looking incredibly baffled, "You can control shadows, skeletons and the dead? Which is considered dark magic? Because of a family gift?"

Nico nodded as confidently as he could, "Yep, that's what I said, isn't it?"

Hermione whipped around to face Artemis, "He told you the same thing?" she questioned..

Artemis nodded, looking a lot more confident than Nico, which was probably easy, considering the fact that he wasn't the one trying to reveal a huge secret without actually revealing it.

"And you actually believe his story?" She asked sceptically, "Do you really, truly believe that?"

"The wizarding world is... a strange place, Hermione." Artemis said slowly, choosing his words carefully, "We know for a fact that ghosts are real, skeletons literally performed at our Halloween feast last year and we, by we I mean Nico, fought a troll before our very eyes. Anything is possible. Next thing you know, we'll realize that fairies are real as well." he joked nervously, before turning serious once more, "But all things considered, it's... possible, and besides," he met Nico's eyes with his steady gaze, "I- I trust Nico."

For some reason, Nico felt as though Artemis wasn't telling the whole truth about trusting him. It felt more like he was trying to say, 'I trust that you have a good reason for all of this nonsense.'

Draco nodded hesitantly, "He's not wrong, Granger. Take it from someone who grew up around elves, goblins and whatnot, a family with weird, sorry, weirder powers than usual is nowhere near the most unbelievable thing I've heard."

"None of you want to know how one family in the entire wizarding world has strange abilities, that includes dark, forbidden magic?" She asked in disbelief.

Draco shrugged, "It's mysterious, but I've got bigger things to worry about."

"Like what?" Nico asked, pouncing on the opportunity to change the subject.

Draco hesitated, before lowering his voice, "I have a feeling that something's going to happen at Hogwarts this year. You know, something bad."

"Really?" Artemis asked, "What makes you say that?"

"My house elf ,Dobby-"

"Wait," Hermione interrupted, "Dobby? Harry and Ron mentioned in their letters that a house elf called Dobby told Harry not to come back to Hogwarts!"

Draco choked on... apparently nothing, "He actually did that?"

"Draco." Artemis sighed, "Please tell me you didn't."

"I didn't tell him to do that." Draco assured, "I just... told him that he could do whatever he wanted with Potter's life." he mumbled.

"YOU DID WHAT?" Hermione demanded angrily, "Harry's uncle and aunt got so mad that they literally put bars on his window!"

"Bars?" Nico asked, seriously starting to wonder how much had changed since the 20th century, "Since when is that legal?"

"It isn't." Artemis said casually.

Nico really didn't want to know how Artemis knew that.

'This is Artemis.' he told himself, 'He knows a bunch of random stuff.'

'Exactly!' the other part of his brain answered, 'He's ARTEMIS. Who knows what sort of crazy stuff he gets up to? For all you know, he could be a part-time psycho kidnapper who locks people in his basement!'

"Nico!" Artemis snapped his fingers, bringing Nico back to earth.

"W-What?" he asked, blinking rapidly.

"Now that everybody is paying attention," Artemis huffed, satisfied that Nico was paying attention again, "Draco was about to tell us about Dobby?"

Draco nodded, "Right, so, for most of the summer, I hadn't gotten any letters from, well, anyone, because it turns out that Dobby had been blocking my letters so that I would drop out of school."

Artemis snorted in disdain, "That's a ridiculous plan. How did he assume that your parents would just let you drop out of school because people didn't reply to your letters? I can see why it might work for Potter, but something like that would never work on Draco."

"That's what happened to Harry!" Hermione realized, "Draco, keep going!"

Draco smirked, looking pleased that people actually wanted to hear what he had to say, "So after I told Dobby that I couldn't just drop out, he tried dangling me out of a window!"

"He did what?" Hermione screeched, paling rapidly.

"Why did he try dangling you out of a window?" Nico asked with morbid curiosity , not exactly feeling horrified like the others, seeing as he himself had done worse things to his friends, like accidently getting Percy arrested by his father.

"He said that it was for my own good. He was hoping that if I was hurt badly enough, I wouldn't need to go to school. He was desperate to stop me from going to school, because terrible things are about to happen at Hogwarts." Draco said, lowering his voice for theatrical effect.

Artemis, instead of looking horrified like Hermione, or annoyed like Nico, looked interested, "Fascinating." he murmured, "A house elf trying to warn not one, but two people, not to return to Hogwarts. Going as far as dangling someone out of a window and getting someone put on house arrest, this threat must be serious." he mused out loud. Understanding dawned in his eyes, "I wonder exactly how far this house elf is willing to go to stop Draco and Potter from coming back to school?"

"Oh, Dobby promised to leave me alone." Draco informed, "Well, kind of. I told him he could meddle as much as he wanted in Potter's life instead."

Artemis and Hermione appeared to be having some sort of silent conversation, involving a lot of small gestures, frowns and thoughtful looks.

"You really that that Dobby...?" Hermione asked Artemis, trailing off uncertainly.

Artemis nodded, "I believe so, yes."

"What?" Draco asked defensively, "What about Dobby? He's a good guy, uh- elf, even if he's a bit weird!"

"I don't think that Harry and Ron missing the train was an accident." Hermione said grimly.

Nico's eyes widened, "You don't mean...?"

"What?" Draco demanded, exasperated, "What doesn't she mean?"

Artemis opened his mouth, no doubt about to deliver the news in his usual dark, foreboding manner.

Nico beat him to it, "Hermione and Artemis think that someone stopped Harry and Ron from making it onto the train on purpose." he announced darkly, "And right now, there's only one person it could be."

"What?" Draco asked again, sounding lost, "Who?"

"Not a person," Artemis said grimly, shooting Nico a disgruntled glare for ruining his moment, "An elf."

"An elf?" Draco echoed, before his mouth dropped open in comprehension, "Oh..."

"Dob-" Artemis began dramatically, only to be cut off by Hermione's scream.

"What is it this time?" Artemis groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation, annoyed that his dramatic moment had been ruined yet again.

"HARRY! RON! FLYING CAR!" Hermione shrieked, pointing a trembling finger towards the window.

"Flying car?" Draco asked, "What flying car? Couldn't you and Artemis have your epiphany moments out- oh. You meant that flying car." he squeaked , staring at the window.

A light blue car chose that moment to soar past the window. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley were inside it, looking decidedly terrified. Harry looked like he was about to puke, and kept yelling something at Ron, who was fighting a war with the steering wheel, looking paler than any non-Hades kid should look. Neither of them noticed the four pale faces watching them, one in horror and concern, another in shock (and vague amusement), and the other two in genuine fascination.

All that Nico could think of saying was, "Huh, Weasley really did fly a car to Hogwarts."

A.N:

Hey there!

Sorry this chapter is later than usual. I've been... busy.

Also, for some reason, I imagine that Artemis has a 'Professor Snape' voice that he uses to boss people around

Anyway, the secret is out! Kind of. Hermione is like, 'Am I the ONLY one who questions this?' while Artemis knows it's a lie but is too much of a schemer to just tell Nico that he knows it's a lie, and instead prefers to pretend he believes it while silently wondering what Nico really is.

And Nico like, 'If Artemis believes it, Hermione definitely will!' Poor guy, both Artemis AND Hermione aren't that stupid ;)

Okay then, as usual, please review, and I will see you next time!

-Keera