Okay, another short chapter. I'm so so so sorry. My family kicked me out of the house, so I'm between homes. Still looking for work. Uhm... yeah. So, updates will be spotty, simply because I'll have to be either with my friend or at the library to post. So, be patient with me, and any well wishes are appriciated.
Warnings: Futa, femslash, poly relationships, lots of gayness, and future lemons.
I don't own HP, that honor belongs to our dear JK Rowling, and therefore I'm a poor ass bitch.
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It took two days, but finally Artemis was healed enough to be sent back to class. Hermione had been bringing her classwork, as well as Draco, allowing the werecat to keep up with her work. Since classes were over by the time her friend had been released, the Ravenclaw walked with Artemis to dinner. The two chatted casually until Artemis noticed Harry Potter walking toward them alone. Grabbing her friend, the lion ducked into a nearby corridor and waited silently.
"Art, what-"
"Shh…" Artemis watched intently, quietly, for a moment before her hand shot out and she grabbed the arm of The Boy Who Lived, yanking him into the corridor with them.
"What the-" Harry froze at the sight of a clearly irate Artemis. "Uh… hi?"
"Hello, Potter. Listen… I need you to do me a huge favor."
Now Harry and Hermione both were confused. "A favor?"
"Yes. Next time you decide to put my best friend in danger, maybe let me tag along. Lord knows it'll stack the odds in your favor." Harry hesitated before nodding. "What, did you think I was going to punch you?"
"W-well… I haven't heard anything good about Slytherins. Or your family in particular." The wizard gave an apologetic smile and Artemis chuckled, backing away slightly and smiling at Hermione. "Hell, Ron told me Slytherins and most purebloods didn't like Muggleborns."
Hermione raised an eyebrow while Artemis snorted. "Unfortunately, that is partially true. Some families hold onto old beliefs, however, I was adopted from a muggle orphanage, as was my aunt. At the time they believed us to both be either muggles or muggleborn. Imagine their surprise to find that we were both directly related to them." Hermione knew this story, but it still made her smile. Her friend had come a long way already, and they were only a few months into the school year. "Anyway, do you two want to come and sit with me and my brother?" Harry paled slightly and Artemis was quick to reassure him. "Draco has a bad habit of putting his foot in his mouth when he's excited. He doesn't mean any harm. Ron's father caused our family a bit of trouble a while ago, and it's still a sore spot. He can come, too, just… he needs to not be a prat."
Harry scratched his neck as he thought, pushing his glasses back up his nose. Hermione, of course, didn't need to think about it. "I'm all for it, Art. What about you, Harry?" The two girls looked at the boy hopefully and he sighed, smiling as he nodded.
"Sounds like fun. Why not?"
While Artemis wasn't too thrilled that Ron may be joining them, she was curious as to what exactly happened on the third floor. They walked together to the Great Hall, Hermione instictually sticking close to Artemis, until Ron saw them and stormed over.
"Harry, what the bloody hell are you doing with this…" he sneered at the girls, Artemis in particular, "Snake…"
"Relax, cousin," Artemis frowned. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I simply invited Harry, Hermione, and even you, to sit with my brother and I."
"We're Gryffindors. We don't sit with Slytherins."
Hermione sniffed, crossing her arms. "I'm a Ravenclaw, actually. And so far Artemis has shown me an amazing amount of kindness." The bushy haired girl growled out, as best a human could, and stepped in front of the surprised werecat protectively. "You may have a grudge against her and the rest of her house, but leave me and mine out of it!" With that, she turned on her heel, grabbing a grinning Artemis on the way and marched over to the Slytherin table. Artemis let her friend sit down first before dropping down beside her, greeted by the shocked faces of Draco, Vincent, and Gregory.
"Guys, this is my badass friend, Hermione. 'Mione, this is my brother, Draco, and our friends Vince and Greg." The boys broke out of their stupor and waved.
"That was amazing. You left him bloody speechless!" the Malfoy heir gushed. "Can you be my best friend?"
"Sorry, but the position of annoying talking animal has already been filled," Artemis grinned, causing a few laughs, and even more when a small black blur crashed into the lion's side, knocking her from her seat. Artemis laughed lightly when she felt Noctis purring and rubbing his face against hers. "Oh, hey, buddy. I missed you," she cooed, petting him and holding him as she stood, sitting back next to her friend and smiling as her familiar relaxed against her, a purring and content blob.
"He's been frantic since you were in the hospital wing. They wouldn't let him in," Draco commented with a chuckle.
"He must have missed me," the taller girl concluded, chuckling when she received a lick to her chin from a rough tongue in reply. Hermione scratched behind the cub's ear and it earned her a purr, the panther looking at her a moment before moving to her lap.
"Don't look now," Vince started, "but it looks like Potter is on his way over…" The group, honestly, were puzzled as they turned to see the scarred boy making his way over, a clearly angry Ron storming to his seat with the Gryffindors. Once in front of the curious group, Harry became nervous. He hadn't really ventured outside his small group of friends, and wasn't sure if Artemis's offer still stood.
"May I join you?" he asked timidly. Draco grinned and scooted over, patting the seat beside him. "Go ahead. We won't bite," the blonde boy grinned, causing Harry to laugh before taking his seat. They all began talking, not saying anything of consequence until Draco noticed how quiet Harry had become.
"What's on your mind, mate?" Harry jumped a little in response before rubbing his neck. "Nothing, just lost in thought." Artemis raised an eyebrow, sceptical, but as everyone else seemed to take it (besides Hermione), she decided to let it go. She would deal with it later.
It would seem the fact that the students had decided to sit together wasn't lost on the room, as people whispered of not just a Ravenclaw, but a Muggleborn Ravenclaw, but also The Boy Who Lived, a Gryffindor, sitting with a group of Slytherins... Even a few teachers were excited, not use to the inter-house cooperation. Severus Snape, in fact, even gave a small smile at the sight. Well, his lip twitched, which was close enough. One person, however, did not look pleased. Not at all...
Albus Dumbledore looked on with a deep frown marring his face. He watched the group playfully banter, joke, and even saw a mild food fight. He glared at the back of Artemis Black's head, hating her for ruining his plan. He had been so close to having Harry Potter completely on his side already, hating the Slytherins, even. Draco himself had put him off. Yet there he was, all because the dark haired girl had offered a seat. He huffed and looked down at his plate, certain he would come up with a plan soon. Soon, one began to form and he smirked into his goblet, dismissing his concerns for now.
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Okay this was mostly to transition into more fun stuff. Uhm... probably full of errors, so this will be a bit bad I'm sure, Wordpad doesn't have spellcheck so yeah.
What's Dumbledore up to? I fear for our poor Artie. Anyway, commets and reviews and love keep me going! Sk8rgrl, out! -flies away on my unicorn-