Another shorter chapter, but again, this is a bridge, and gives me time to get to the big stuff coming up. I hope you all enjoy :)
I don't own Harry Potter, I bow down to JK as we all do :D
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Artemis groaned, making a mental check of her body. Normally it took you a moment to remember what happened to bring you to where you were, but Artemis instantly remembered what happened. The troll, Hermione, everything. Her body ached a bit, she could feel bandages on her chest, arm, and hand, and wondered what injuries she actually had. Seconds after her assessment, Hermione's sakura and vanilla scent filled her lungs and she opened her eyes, finding a bushy head of hair on the bed beside her, soft snores filling the otherwise empty hospital wing. Artemis smiled softly and reached up to run her fingers through the chestnut curls, simultaneously relieved her ring was still in place and amused that Hermione leaned into her hand.
"Hermione…" she whispered. She got only a hum in return and a nuzzle to her thigh. "'Mione…"
"Trying to sleep…" she mumbled back, earning a chuckle from Artemis. It seemed that sound was what made Hermione realize Artemis was awake, as her head shot up. "Artie!" she gasped, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around the werecat.
"Hey, you… how long was I out?" Artemis muttered, wrapping her arms around the other girl. Hermione was silent a moment before pulling back and slapping the Slytherin in her good arm.
"Three days! Don't you ever go all noble on me again!" Hermione growled, slapping the werecat another three times.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't let you be hurt. You're my best friend," Artemis replied in a serious tone. The other girl seemed to relax and sighed, leaning forward to kiss the lion's forehead.
"Thank you. I need to get Madam Pomfrey so she can check on you." With that, Hermione jumped up and ran to the other side of the room, knocking on the door of an office. It suddenly dawned on the pureblooded witch that it was late, probably midnight, and it explained the silence within the vast castle. Moments later the pump mediwitch was racing over, though she did look a bit groggy. Artemis tried to smile off her pain, but Madam Pomfrey was having none of it. A simple diagnostic spell told the woman that while Artemis's ribs were healed completely, but the deep cuts along her arm and side were still healing, if only slowly.
"I found traces of the troll's blood in your wounds. It's causing your cuts to heal slowly. Your ribs had to heal on their own, but did so rather quickly. I'm just waiting for them to heal up a bit more, than you're free to return to your classes." Artemis nodded, but noticed Hermione was a bit twitchy, like something had happened, something other than the troll. Once the mediwitch left, the werecat gained her friend's attention.
"What happened, Hermione?" Hermione tilted her head and opened her mouth to answer, but Artemis shook her head. "Not the troll. Something happened before that. Was Weasley or Potter involved?" Hermione blanched and bit her lip. Artemis set her hand on the muggle born's and squeezed her hand. "You know you can trust me. I won't get you into trouble."
"I know… it's just… you'll never believe me." Artemis raised a single eyebrow in a "try me" type of look. "Don't look at me like that… I… I barely believe it." She took a deep breath. "There's a three headed dog on the third floor corridor guarding a trapdoor. It almost took off our heads. Those idiots could have gotten me killed! Or… or worse…"
"Expelled?" Artemis mumbled, feeling her anger growing with each passing second. She would have to talk to these boys, and figure out what the hell they were thinking. Her hand found Hermione's as she made the first promise she would make to the girl, and one she knew she would keep.
"I wouldn't let that happen. I promise, you're here to stay, and I'm going to protect you while you're here. No matter what." Artemis's tone was firm, and Hermione couldn't help but smile, and believe her.
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Oh, dear... the boys are in trouble... alright, I'm out!