Artemis sighed when eight P.M. hit on Saturday; she'd been enjoying her day without worries, having cast the events of the past week aside. She had finally written back to her father, writing a letter twice as long as his, explaining the many aspects of her life while specifically avoiding any mention of her interaction with Dumbledore. That requires face-to-face interaction, she decided. While she would never admit it, she allowed a tear to escape while writing. She truly did love her father.
Artemis also watched Harry's quidditch practice and even snuck herself a broom from the broom shed when the players were preoccupied. She flew around the grounds, avoiding the crowded areas so as to not be spotted, until she was scolded by a rather irritated Wood upon her return. "I'd say I'm sorry mate, but I'm really not. I would probably do it again if I'm being honest" was all that she could say, adding a heart melting smile to smooth her words. It was an overall lovely Saturday spent with friends.
Hermione's muggle alarm had rang loudly at 8:00 P.M. on the dot to remind Artemis of her detention date with Professor Snape. She considered not showing up, she whined, she got angry, she tried her best to keep her friends in the common room so she could further procrastinate. This time, it wasn't just Harry, Ron, and Hermione who got involved in her detention. Clover, Dean, and Seamus all jumped in angrily when Artemis said she refused to go. "You keep losing Gryffindor points, Lupin! You're going to your bloody detention."
After getting lectured on how to behave, she regretfully watched Harry, Ron, and Hermione leave the common room. They decided it was best to leave Artemis alone so that she would find no reason to delay the inevitable, so they went down to visit Hagrid. Meanwhile, Artemis grudgingly began to prepare for the upcoming few hours, even though she did try her best to interact with the other Gryffindors. It was a team effort to not engage in conversation with the friendly, flirty, intoxicating Artemis Lupin. "Fine, be that way, but don't think you can talk to me all cheery tomorrow!" She snapped, heading to her dormitory.
Artemis took a quick shower and sprayed enthralling encounters, her favorite perfume, on her neck. It was advertised that it made interactions with others more pleasant. She then threw her robes on angrily, annoyed at the obligation to wear them when in class, and got her supplies ready before heading out. "G-good luck Artemis, even though you won't need it!" Neville called as he saw her exit; his voice was shaking as if he'd practiced the sentence in his head prior to her arrival. Artemis rolled her eyes and returned a less than enthusiastic "thank you." She arrived a few minutes late to the potions classroom, not having bothered to rush. I'll take the consequences.
Snape was waiting at the front of the classroom, clearly irritated; his upper lip was slightly raised in a scowl and his voice was laced with danger when he spoke. "I suppose you expect the seven minutes you've wasted to be brushed aside, considering you look the least bit regretful of your lateness. Rest assured that you will make up every minute lost." Each word was pronounced clearly, slowly, and coldly for emphasis. Any other student would have been shaking in their robes at the sight of an angry Snape but Artemis merely walked to her favorite seat; one a few rows from the first, muttering "as expected," under her breath.
Although, even she knew better than to instigate with the professor while he was in such a mood, and she glanced up timidly to see if he had heard her. To her surprise, Artemis saw that his eyes, which were glued on her, did not match the rest of his features. They expressed emotion she could not understand. "What potion am I to do first, professor?" She asked in a sugarcoated voice, peering up at him through her lashes to look ever more innocent. Artemis was a master manipulator and often got her way. Snape, although, was not the least bit influenced by her tactics. He told her the name of the potion and instructed her on what page to turn to. "All the necessary ingredients are on my desk. I assume you aren't so incompetent as to make a mess." "I think I can handle it, sir." She replied with a smile, as she attempted to find her textbook page by hand.
Artemis noted the ingredients she needed and walked to the professor's desk to collect. She gathered as many as she could carry, filling her arms up inelegantly. Snape did not utter a word, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the messy girl. She picked up a final ingredient, managing to find space to hold it, and looked at Snape, aware that he was observing her. "Don't judge, this works for me." Lingering for a heartbeat, she waited to see if Snape would play along, but when he didn't so much as blink, she returned to her seat. I never noticed what a deep brown his eyes are.
She worked on the first potion for two hours straight without uttering a word. Her dark eyebrows would furrow together in frustration and she would often bite her bottom lip in concentration. The potion needed constant monitoring and was highly difficult to brew. It would cleanse the drinker of any enchantments he or she were placed under. Clearly, this was a potion meant for fifth year students and above, yet Artemis was doing a particularly good job at brewing it. After she finished, she was moist with sweat, her bun had gotten messy, and she was rather tired. "I've finished the first potion professor!" she declared proudly, already forgetting the feud she'd had with the potion's master just days ago. Snape stalked over to her desk soundlessly and inspected the cauldron for a full minute before saying, "The second potion will take even longer, I suggest you work faster."
Artemis looked up at him, noticing a difference in his tone. Whilst it had been dry, it greatly differed from the one he had previously used upon her entrance. It was gentler, somehow. She was no longer met with anger and Artemis understood for perhaps the first time, that Snape was fond of her. She had constantly been told by her friends that he favored her above other students. In fact, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were rather irritated with this fact considering Snape's loathing for the three of them. Yet Artemis herself had not believed it, for she could not understand why the head of Slytherin house would favor a hot headed Gryffindor. Yet, it became apparent to her all at once. Feeling oddly warm and touched, Artemis continued looking at Snape, this time her eyes were shining with new admiration. Snape observed the transformation that occurred on her face as she watched him, and the confusion caused him to turn his back to her in order to break their eye contact.
"I'm sorry for what I said to you, professor. You know, before? I know I was disrespectful, I just can't help getting a little… protective when it comes to my friends. I'm impulsive and I say idiotic things at times and I regret what happened." She concluded in a quiet voice. Expressing her emotions was not her strong suit; she hated feeling vulnerable in any way, yet she felt the apology was necessary. She noticed how stiff Snape's form had gotten and knew he was listening to her despite not showing it. "It's clear that you're a brilliant wizard and I have a lot to learn from you." she added, hazel eyes still glued to his figure. It seemed to make it easier for both of them that Snape was facing away. Silence followed her words, and in order to break past the tension, she said "Well, I'd better start my second potion now." Snape returned to his desk without a word.
After a few minutes, Snape rose once more and paced the classroom unnecessarily. It was unusual for the professor to be deep in thought; his face had softened and his guard had been lowered significantly. In fact, he looked rather enticing. He strolled over to Artemis' desk and observed her work. "You remind me of someone whom I used to know" he muttered suddenly, watching her add ingredients to her cauldron.
Artemis looked up at him and smiled, happy to be engaged in conversation. "Is it true that you knew my mom?" She asked him, the question having been lingering in the back of her mind. Snape sighed, his face growing cold once again. This was not the conversation he sought to have. "Yes," He started in an icy tone. He knew what she longed to hear and he answered her questions before she could ask them. "At a glance you look nearly identical to her. You also have her knack for trouble, her arrogance, and her attitude. You do have different eyes though, amongst other features. And obviously a different way of... handling things." He concluded darkly.
Artemis had already started her potion and could not stop working if she wanted to execute it correctly, so she let his words flow over her. Everyone tells me I'm like my mom but I wonder what she was really like. She noted the change in Snape's tone and figured it was best not to ask more questions about Chleo. "Who do I remind you of professor?" She asked him curiously, referring back to his comment. She finished her third clockwise stir and paused to look up at the professor. For the first time, Snape held her eyes as he answered. "A brilliant woman I used to know." He said sadly, in a lower voice. Nobody would know from looking at him, but Snape felt overwhelmed with emotion and was fighting the urge to leave the classroom at that very moment.
"I think she was lucky to know you, if I may be so bold as to say" Artemis smiled kindly, truly meaning her words. She felt the sadness that lingered in the air and found herself wishing she could help the young professor. Snape turned away from her, the slightest of flushes appearing on his cheeks at the comment. Artemis proceeded to ask Snape more questions, hoping to bring his mood up, including what his favorite potion was, what he loved to do during his free time, and even daring to ask if he were married.
"That's a personal question, Lupin." He snapped. Artemis opened her mouth to apologize, knowing it had been rather risky, but before she could, Snape spoke again. "I was married once, but there was no hope for us." She looked at him and observed the sharp curves of his oval face. Snape had olive, wrinkle-free skin and dark features. Sometimes Artemis forgot how young he was. He's the same age as Dad so he must be 32, she thought.
His face was elegant, his nose was thin and prominent, his eyes large, brown, and hooded, and his eyebrows dark and neat. She had not given it any thought prior to today, but Artemis became aware that Snape was handsome; she could picture a woman falling in love with him.
"I'm sorry to hear that." She said sincerely, her voice low once more. She thought she caught a knowing look in his eyes as he watched her work, a look that lingered for a few heartbeats. After lighter conversation, she stirred the potion once more counter-clockwise and shouted "Aaaand it's done!" Snape, who had returned to the professor's desk, walked over enthusiastically.
"Well well well, you have succeeded. Good job, Lupin." He allowed her a small smile. Artemis had never seen Snape smile outside of the cruel turn of his lips when Slytherins teased Gryffindors during class. She laughed out happily; she had a genuinely good time with her potion's professor despite being in detention. Artemis saw a sparkle in his eye and when she blinked, it had disappeared, replaced by the familiar guarded glare. She proceeded to clean up the ingredients, with Snape's help, concluding her long night of detention.
"Now that I finished both potions, do you want me to sit here for the seven minutes I was late?" Artemis asked in a teasing voice. She packed her bag and awaited his answer despite knowing what he would say. "No. You need your rest." Snape responded in a quiet tone, walking away from her for a final time. "Thanks, professor. Have a good night." She said sweetly before heading out.
What an interesting night, Artemis thought to herself. Looking at her watch, it read 12:37 A.M. With a groan, she made her way out of the dungeons, almost not noticing a slender blonde boy walking timidly ahead of her. Had she not been observant, he would have slipped past undetected; he took light steps and maneuvered quickly through the hallway. Artemis almost tripped in her excitement to discover Draco taking a late-night stroll; she had to internally warn herself to be quiet.
Her heart beat fast with excitement and she followed the Slytherin silently for a few minutes until he turned a corner and headed into a dark corridor. She was no longer thinking about her evening, now lost in her new adventure. He didn't even look back once, what a terrible rule breaker. Artemis figured he assumed nobody would be walking the school at this time and the darkness would conceal him regardless. Think again you slick git!
She justified her behavior by telling herself that Draco was walking towards the Gryffindor common room anyway, she was merely heading in the same direction as him. Plus, I have an excuse for being up at this time.
They were indeed walking in the direction of the Gryffindor common room, at least until Draco slipped into the threatening corridor without warning. Artemis could not for the life of her recall that such a corridor even existed during the day. Her rational side forced her to hesitate; the young beauty peered from the corner, careful not to step out, and watched the blond boy pull the hood of his robes over his head and disappear into the darkness.