Just feet away, hidden in the shadows, Snape had observed the first years as they bid goodnight with a sinking feeling in his chest. His face expressed the deepest sadness and his dark eyes swam with memories. He watched Artemis leave before turning away, choosing to let the rule breaking students off the hook this one time, knowing he was in no state of mind to scold or punish. His heartbeat demanded attention as it beat strongly against his ribs; forcing him to remain in the present. Straying thoughts were his downfall. I know better, Snape thought to himself, his face hardening.
Draco maneuvered his way through the school, walking at a brisk pace and scanning his surroundings frequently. It was clear he was uncomfortable and nervous; his face seemed paler than usual and his thoughts were racing. When he finally entered the Slytherin common room, he sighed with relief and allowed his tense muscles to relax. He spotted Pansy Parkinson reading a magazine on the nearby couch; she had her legs crossed tightly and her lips pursed, overall looking rather rigid. She looked up from the page with her brown eyes and narrowed her thin eyebrows in suspicion.
"Draco, where were you?" She asked. Her voice had a formality to it similar to Narcissa's, Draco's own mother. "Exploring, Pansy." Draco said curtly, adapting his usual demeanor. "You wouldn't want to get caught, now. You'd get in trouble, it's best you stay here from now on. All of us missed you." Pansy said, rising from her spot. She favored Draco and it was obvious, despite her lack of outward emotion. Her stance indicated that she expected something more than she was receiving.
"Who's all of us?" Draco asked, uninterested in the least, pausing by the men's staircase. "Penelope, Rose, Elizabeth, Crabbe, Goyle, and myself." Pansy replied in her slow, measured voice. "You're surely not going to bed now? I was waiting for you," she began again, allowing her displeasure to show as she noted his intention to leave.
"Nobody asked you to wait" Draco responded sharply, wanting nothing more than to go to bed. Seeing her offense, he was reminded of his manners and added, "I apologize for not being here, I'll make it up to you and the others another night. Sleep well." With a curt nod of his head, he climbed up the stairs, leaving a disappointed Pansy magazine in hand.
Once in bed, Draco couldn't stop replaying his interactions with Artemis. He felt anxiety build within him as he wondered how the situation would progress. He was caught between wanting nothing more to do with the witch and wanting everything more to do with her. She's already causing problems in my life, Draco thought bitterly. Turning on his side, he closed his eyes and surrendered for the night.
In another bed, in another common room, Artemis had fallen asleep immediately. Her friends had not been awake to question her; something she was thankful for, and she felt nothing but happiness. She was breathing softly and the smallest of smiles lingered on her lips.
Severus Snape navigated his way through the castle to reach his personal sleeping quarters. The teachers had their own rooms, accessible only by the staff, in which they slept and spent their free time. Being that these rooms were invisible to students, pranks and harassment were out of the question. Students were rarely given access to rooms, only when student-teacher bonds were strong and personal. As Snape approached his own room, he noticed an impressive wizard facing his door, back to him.
The man had ivory robes that trailed behind him, a wicked pointy hat, and long shimmering white hair that reached halfway down his back. Severus sighed and let his head hang for a fraction of a second.
"Evening, Albus." He muttered bitterly, his voice filled with bile. He predicted the way the conversation would play out. "I suppose you want to join me for a cup of tea?" Severus mocked, humor stripped from his voice.
Albus Dumbledore turned around, his pale eyes dancing with happiness at the sight of the professor. The great wizard had an extraordinary beard that was neatly tied, and his half moon glasses were resting on his crooked nose.
"I apologize for my daring behavior Severus, but I do hope to steal a minute from you. I see it is late, often deemed the time for serious conversation." Dumbledore said calmly, smiling at Severus with tenderness.
Severus only clenched his jaw in response, before waving his arm stiffly to indicate that Dumbledore go first. Dumbledore waved his hand gracefully over the keyhole before proceeding to open the unlocked door.
Upon entering, he settled for a comfortable looking arm chair, which he began to admire as Severus followed suit through the door. Sitting across from each other, it was Severus who spoke first. "Do state your business, it's best we get this out of the way now." He began dryly.
Dumbledore did not waste time, jumping into the matter immediately. "The girl Severus, it is dangerous to meddle in her affairs." Dumbledore started, pausing only to remove a stray hair from his cloak. "It's best you treat her as you would treat any other student. It is imperative that you do not change the course of history, I employ you to see reason." Dumbledore's voice had become but a whisper, and his eyes were fixed on Severus'. "I cannot tell you how to act, I can only offer advice, of course. I only hope you will consider it."
Snape stood up with rage. "You already ask too much of me, do not dare to forget. I've been paying my debt to you, but do not act as if I am doing any of this for you. I do not care for history, I do not care for anything outside of her safety and happiness. You ask too much of me Albus. How am I to treat her like any student? Do you know who she is to me?"
His fury died towards the end of the rant, replaced by a desperate sadness. He sat back down across from Dumbledore and placed his face in his hands in defeat. "I do know." Dumbledore replied gently after a few heartbeats, a sadness lacing his words. Silence filled the dark room, eating away at Severus. He longed to fall into a deep slumber, only to be awoken by his wife, whom he hadn't seen in nearly fifteen years.
"Then what can I do?" Snape asked through silent tears. "This is too much for me to bear." "You must remain in the school and continue with your position as potions master, for one Severus. There are multiple reasons as to why, all of which I am sure you can name. Although since I only promised to steal a minute from you, I will leave you with an idea. To fulfill your vows, you should consider being what she needs you to be. Whether it be a professor, a father, a friend. She will need you in her life."
Dumbledore's message swept through Severus and he decided he would do just that. Sadly, he looked up at the older man and nodded in agreement. "I will fulfill my vows." He stated after a brief deliberation, his voice hard once more.
"You are doing the right thing." Dumbledore nodded. "I am sorry for your circumstances, truly, I am. I have experienced love as you have, and not a day slips by without me longing for it." He smiled at Severus knowingly. "You will have your time." Dumbledore added in a whisper, leaning closer to Severus as he said it.
"Have a good night, professor." Was the last that Severus heard before Albus Dumbledore apparated from his room. The professor stood once more, overcome with a powerful need. He quickly reached his bedroom and pulled out a large chest from underneath the bed. Inside it were hundreds of tiny vials, each filled with a wispy substance colored milky white. Severus picked one up gently, his hands shaking as he did so. The bottle was numbered at the bottom, and it just so happened this was the 300th vial.
Gripping the small vial in his hand, Severus shut the chest and stored it under his bed once more before sitting on the edge of the bed and staring at the vial.
What's in this one my love? He asked his wife internally, knowing he wouldn't get an answer. The fear inside his stomach had subsided, giving way to excitement. Should he drink it now? Should he preserve it? He was already more than halfway done with the vials, yet it had been a while since he used one.
Before he could over think his decision, Severus uncapped the vial and raised it to his lips quickly. He then proceeded to lay on his bed without changing robes, eager to dream. The second his head hit the pillow, the professor fell asleep.
"Come on Severus, here take my hand, it's only a little further I promise!" A beautiful woman was laughing and extending a hand out to offer her help. Severus had broken into a sweat as he attempted to keep up with her.
"Of all the methods of travel available to us, you choose to walk." He managed to say through breaths. "Baby, natural exercise gives you a sense of achievement, you'll see." The woman giggled. Severus felt his heart thump in his chest, having nothing to do with the uphill hike.
He pulled on her hand hard, causing her to stumble. He took the opportunity to circle his arms around her waist and pick her up. The woman squealed and struggled to get away, but Severus held on. He walked with her in his arms for a few more steps before plopping down in the tall grass and placing her on his lap.
In the morning, Artemis was rudely woken up by a worried Hermione. "Where were you!" She demanded, glaring at Artemis. Artemis mumbled something incomprehensible before turning in bed, her back facing hermione. "Oh no you don't!" Hermione exclaimed. The clever witch raised her wand and whispered a spell under her breath, the effects of which everyone heard.
Artemis started crying with laughter as the spell tickled every inch of her. "Please" she managed through the tortured laughs. Hermione watched her with a sparkle of mischief in her eyes. "Please what?" She asked innocently. "Please Hermione!" Artemis pleaded, and after a giggle, Hermione flicked her wand to stop the spell.
"Now where were you!" Hermione demanded again. "Okay, okay! I'm up! I'll tell you, please no more tickling!" Artemis pleaded, sitting up frightfully. She looked at hermione for a heartbeat before telling her that Snape kept her late. Hermione glared at her suspiciously, making her feel guilty.
"Hey don't be mad at me, I didn't ask to be kept in the dungeons until bloody one A.M." Artemis shrugged, getting out of bed. "Well it IS your fault for getting detention on a Saturday to begin with," Hermione scolded.
"Drop it Hermione, please. I'm tired as it is" Artemis said through her yawn. "Let's get the boys."
After waking up Harry and Ron, the four friends got ready for breakfast and made their way down. Artemis came down wearing her pink nightgown, which fell to her heels, a long woven sweater that surpassed her arse, and fuzzy pink slippers. Ron had looked at her in shock when she announced she was ready. After brushing her teeth and splashing water on her face, Artemis tied her hair in a messy bun and deemed herself set.
"Are you really going to wear that?" Hermione questioned, she herself being fully dressed in clean robes. "What, it's Sunday. Any day I can go without school robes, I'll go without. Now let's go, and not one comment about my slippers Ron!" Artemis warned. She led the way through the portrait hole, seeing a restless Neville on the other side. The poor boy turned beet red when Artemis asked him what was wrong.
"I just forgot the password is all. I'm glad you came out when you did Missy, I have to use the bathroom!" Neville admitted quickly before running inside. The friends laughed, and it was Harry who said, "yeah good thing MISSY came out, after all only Missy is here."
"Oh shut up Harry." Artemis laughed. "I don't know what he sees in you honestly, I mean look at those slippers!" Ron added. Downstairs, most students were already eating. Although students weren't required to attend any of the meals, they had the option to, an option in which most took.
Heading to the gryffindor table, Artemis scanned her surroundings. She saw the Weasley twins beckoning them forward and she grinned at them; Artemis, Fred, and George got along great. She rushed over to the table and sat across from George. "News of the day?" She asked eagerly, crossing her fingers on the table. As Fred and George told her about a possible secret room they'd discovered, Harry spoke to members of the quidditch team.
The gryffindor table was positioned so that Slytherin was on their left, Ravenclaw on their right, and Hufflepuff next to Ravenclaw. Artemis had sat facing Slytherin, and her attention slipped from the conversation as she scanned the crowd with her eyes, in search for one particular face. She found him easily, sitting tall in his chair, eating elegantly and lazily following the conversation he was engaged in.
He screamed of arrogance and wealth and without being able to help herself, Artemis rolled her eyes. She observed as Pansy watched Draco with large eyes and commented on his replies with a great deal of effort. Artemis thought it'd be funny to tease him on this later, and realized that her and Draco weren't friends, couldn't be friends.
How easy it'd be if she could greet him, speak to him, or even smile at him. At that thought, Draco's eyes wandered and met her own. He lost his concentration, staring at her without moving. Artemis winked at him, knowing it'd cause controversy for him. He blinked and broke eye contact, his face flushing.
"Artemis, have you heard a word of what I've been telling you?" Artemis snapped back to her own reality and turned to Harry. "The truth? No. Sorry Harry, what were you saying?" "I have a quidditch match tomorrow. It'll be the first one of the year, obviously I'd expect you all to come. Since I'll be busy today and tomorrow, we should focus on our... mystery when we have free time." He ended in a whisper. Artemis' attention peaked. "Okay, the sooner the better." She agreed in a low voice.
"We need to catch you up on what we've been talking about later" he added, to which she nodded. "I actually need to talk to you too," Artemis added without looking at her friends, knowing it was about time she revealed what happened at Dumbledore's office.