I know, I know, I've been gone ages! Life has been hell, but things are settling down. I literally typed all of this at work, and wanted to give you guys a good long chapter. This wraps up the year, but only because I needed to show some of the relationship development between the group of main characters and some character development. Hopefully after this, updates will come faster. I will likely be working on another story update as soon as this is up.
So. Chapter seven! I don't own Harry potter, that honor goes to our queen and savior, J.K. Rowling. I just enjoy the sandbox
Warning: Prick Ron, G!P Artie, femslash, future polyam relationship(s?)
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As the months progressed, so did the friendship building between the golden boy, Hermione and the group of Slytherins. It was right around Christmas when Harry ran up to Artemis and Hermione as they were heading to the library, out of breath and looking behind him. Ron wasn't far behind, growling weakly at Harry about them not being trustworthy.
"Oh shove it, Ron, they're smarter than both of us put together," Harry huffed, turning to an amused duo, Noctis glaring at the redhead from his perch on Artemis' head. "Artie, Hermione, I…" He looked back at Ron. "We… need your help. Have you ever heard of Nicholas Flamel?"
Hermione has heard the name but couldn't quite place it. Artemis however furrowed her brow. "He's a famous alchemist, and the only known creator of the sorcerers stone." Her words seems to spark a light of knowledge within Hermione's eyes, though the boys seems still rather confused.
"The what?" Ron asked, frowning. It seemed he had momentarily forgotten his grudge, as the red in his face and ears began to ebb away.
"Basically with it you can make the elixir of life and become immortal. Why do you ask?" Artemis looked between the two boys and they bit their lips before being dragged into another corridor. This seems to be a habit now, the lion silently mused. Outwardly she subconsciously placed herself slightly between Hermione and the boys. She could smell Ron's contempt for her friend and though Harry was their friend, he had a nasty habit of getting himself, and his friends, into trouble.
"Harry, seriously, what the bloody hell is going on?" Artemis frowned. Harry looked at Hermione and sighed.
"Remember the trapdoor you said you saw under that dog?"
"Of course I bloody remember, we almost died!" the Ravenclaw huffed, angry at the mere thought.
"I think that's what the dog is guarding, the stone." The young lion seemed proud of deducing this and Artemis couldn't help thinking he may be right. Ignoring the protests of Ron, he explained what happened when he was with Hagrid, and the news article that came only a handful of weeks after. Artemis and Hermione both admitted his logic was sound, there was only one problem.
"Why should we be concerned?" Artemis pondered, leaning back against the wall. She was now sure the boys weren't up to any funny business, so didn't feel the need to outright protect Hermione. For now.
"The night the troll got in, Snape left the Great Hall in a hurry. The next morning he was limping. He must be after the stone!"
Artemis bristled at the mention of the potions master. Not because she thought him guilty, but because it wasn't his style. He simply wasn't interested in immortal life, he barely wanted the one he had now. "Potter…."
"Don't 'Potter' me, Artie. You can't deny that it's strange."
Artemis sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, her ring shimmering in the dim light. Hermione's hand on her forearm made her relax and she turned back to Harry. "It is strange. I don't think Snape is the one that's after it, but it is odd that he was limping. What do you intend to do with this information, Harry?"
Ron finally seemed to lose it and growled. "Not anything you should know about! You know too much already!" He grabbed Harry's arm and tugged him. "Come on, Harry, let's go to dinner. These two don't need to know all this!"
Harry frowned and tugged his arm from the redhead's grip. "Ron, what is your problem?! They've not done anything to us, and for merlin's sake you're the only one that seems to not be okay with them. So what if Artemis is a Slytherin, so what if she's a Black?!"
"Her mother is-"
"What? Bellatrix Lastrange? So what? Your parents don't dictate who you become, just what your past is." Harry's voice was nearly a growl and Artemis was touched that he would defend her, but decided it best that the boys didn't get into a physical fight, so a hand on Harry's shoulder stopped his angry venting.
"Come on, Harry. We will talk more about it at the table. I'm sure Draco will have some input as well." With a defeated nod, the Golden Boy followed the Snake and Raven through the halls, Ron fuming behind them.
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It was the next morning, as Artemis walked into the Great Hall, that she noticed a distinctive lack of rubies inside the Gryffindor hourglass and she glanced at the table of Lions to see Harry and Ron looking thoroughly ashamed. She tuned into the conversations and heard a lot of accusations to Harry about sabotaging their house because of his Slytherin friends. She sighed and remembered he had planned to go see Hagrid, but she had hoped he would do it during daylight hours. Seems McGonagall caught him and Weasley sneaking back in the castle. She sighed as she fell into her seat beside Hermione, piling her plate with eggs and toast. Noctis slipped down to the seat between Artemis and Hermione, receiving a piece of meat from each.
"You know," Draco frowned, looking over at Harry, "I honestly feel like in a different reality, I would have been the one to turn them in."
Hermione snorted into her goblet and shook her head. "Yeah, and I would have been a Gryffindor."
Greg tilted his head and shrugged. "You're brave enough for it, and fiery enough, but who knows, you could have been Slytherin, too."
"A mudblood in Slytherin, that'll be the day," the bookworm shook her head, and though the insult held no malice toward herself, Artemis still shook her head.
"Blood status doesn't dictate anything. Besides, you're the best in our year."
"You and I both know you're first in class, Artie."
"Actually," drawled a familiar voice from behind them, causing them to turn to see Snape. "You and Ms. Black are tied for first in class, while Mr. Malfoy is second. I wanted to congratulate you both. Now, as Potter seems to stay out of trouble when you two are around him, do me a favor, and keep a better eye on him. He's got a particular proclivity for getting into trouble, I find. He may not be in my house, but it doesn't mean I want to hear McGonagall in a huff about it."
Artemis snorted and nodded, Hermione laughing a little in mostly surprise at hearing the potion master make a joke, however monotone his voice had been for it. With a swish of his cloak, Snape headed back to the head table and they shook their heads, smiling before heading to class.
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Winter came and went, Harry telling his group of Slytherin/Ravenclaw friends about the dragon, but only if they swore to secrecy. Winter break offered some relaxation, and as the second semester came, Artemis was shocked to find that the end of the year was fast approaching. It was the day of their last exam, Artemis, Hermione, Harry and Ron (who reluctantly joined their small friend group if only to keep Harry's friendship) walking down the hill to the lake, that Harry spotted Hagrid and gasped.
"Of course!"
"What?" Ron frowned.
"Isn't it strange that the thing Hagrid has always wanted is a dragon, and some stranger turns up and just happens to have one? Why didn't I see it before?!" Harry huffed before bolting toward the groundkeeper's hut, the three confused friends chasing after him. By the end of harry's frantic questioning they had their answer. This stranger wasn't a stranger, and Hagrid had fallen into a trap. A desperate attempt to speak to Dumbledore failed and Harry looked resolute.
"We go tonight. We have to."
"We don't know anything is happening…" Artemis started, but a sharp look from Harry shut her up quickly. "Fine, but if you're dragging yourself and others into danger, I'm going with you. That was our deal, Harry."
"No way we'll trust you, Slytherin sc-" A wand to his nose stopped him dead and he gulped as Hermione growled.
"I dare you to finish that sentence, Weasley."
Ron wisely gulped and nodded. It was agreed. They would go tonight.
XxXxX
Artemis padded silently through the halls, having agreed to meet Hermione by her common room then meet the boys in the third floor corridor. She spotted her friend and pressed her finger to her lips before tugging her into a secret hallway, magically hidden. Hermione didn't question her, only following her and trying to make her footsteps as silent as her friend's. In what seemed like no time at all, they were outside the door and Harry and Ron emerged from under an invisibility cloak. Of course Harry had one of those.
"Alright. Harry, you have your flute?" Artemis asked nearly silently, receiving a nod. "Start playing it the second Hermione unlocks the door, understood?"
"Who put you in charge?" Ron growled.
"I did," Harry barked, shutting the boy up. Hermione stepped forward and muttered the correct spell and Harry immediately began a simple tune.
"Stay behind me, you three," Artemis commanded, opening the door to find the dog dozing off. Three heads filled with sharp teeth and midnight black fur, it looked like a three headed pit bull and Artemis almost cooed, but resisted. Once Fluffy was asleep, the lion pushed his massive paw off the trapdoor with the help of Ron, opening it and helping Hermione drop down, followed by Ron, then Harry, who continued playing until he the last minute. Before Fluffy had time to wake up, Artemis dropped down and landed on a Devil's Snare plant. She groaned, but began to relax. Ron was struggling as the plant entangled him and Harry soon followed.
"Stop it, both of you. This is Devil's Snare. If you struggle it only kills you faster!" Hermione plead, which seemed to only freak the boys out further. Artemis sighed and closed her eyes, relaxing. Within seconds, she and Hermione dropped down below them and the boys yelled for them.
"Artemis! Hermione!"
The girls looked at each other and sighed. "Just relax!" Artemis called up to them.
"Trust us!" Hermione followed.
Harry was the next to drop and Ron started freaking out and struggling more. Artemis sighed and looked at her best friend.
"He's not going to relax. Hermione, do you have any ideas?"
She paced slightly. "There's a rhyme we learned in Herbology… oh…. Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare… it's deadly fun… But will sulk in the sun! That's it!" A wave of her wand had Ron dropping down and after Artemis smacked him upside the head they continued on. The room was filled with flying keys and Ron immediately went to the next door, muttering Alohamora a few times before huffing.
"There must be a thousand keys up there…" Hermione sighed, her eyes searching intently.
"We're looking for a big old fashioned one, probably rusted like the handle," Ron supplied, and Artemis nodded her agreement.
"There!" Harry yelled. He looked from it to the broom floating in the middle of the room. "I… it's too easy…"
"Oh, go on, Harry. You're the youngest seeker in a hundred years, if anyone can get the key it's you."
As it turns out, Harry was right and it was not nearly the cakewalk Ron thought it was as the keys quickly went on the attack. Harry caught the key, and flew in a couple circles to be sure they had time to unlock the door before flying through it, Artemis slamming it closed to avoid the key barrash. They turned to find the sight of a knocked out Troll on the ground.
"Snape's already been here," Harry muttered, moving with the others to the next door, which revealed a giant chessboard. Artemis sighed. While she was pretty good at Chess, she knew Ron was nearly a master.
"Ron, looks like it's your turn to kick some arse. We'll follow your lead. We have to win to get through, that much is obvious, and you're the best at this game." Though Ron was shocked at her admittance, he nodded grimly and took the lead, looking over the chess pieces thoughtfully.
"Harry, take the Queenside Bishop spot, Hermione, the Kingside Rook, and Artemis take the Kingside Knight. I'll take the Queenside Knight." Artemis and Ron mounted the stone horses while the Rook and Bishop moved from their squares.
"Now what?" Hermione whispered.
"Well, they move first, and then…" Ron left a dramatic pause and Artemis resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "We play."
As if on cue, a pawn moved and the game began. They were down to the king and their four pieces, Ron frantically looking between all the squares in hope that he wouldn't injure any of them when Artemis saw an opening.
"Ron…" she frowned, and he looked at her, then the board.
"Wait…" Harry frowned, doing the same.
"Do it, Ronald," Artemis nodded, looking forward.
"Do what?!" Hermione gasped.
"She's sacrificing herself," Ron frowned.
"N-no, there's got to be another way!" Hermione whimpered, glaring at Ron as he flicked his eyes between them.
"It's the only way to save the stone. Do it, Ron!" she growled and he nodded, commanding her piece. Like expected, the Queen took her out, but her sword sliced through the back of her calf and she was flung from the stone horse, crashing into the floor. Just as she went to get up and move from the board, a hunk of stone hit her in the side of the head, knocking her down again. Before she passed out she heard Harry yell for Hermione not to move, and everything went black.
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"-o, what I want to know is how four underage wizards ended up fighting through a hoard of magical trials without your knowledge. How is it that not only my daughter, but three other students, managed to become so severely injured under your watch, Headmaster," a cold voice drawled as Artemis began to come to. A hand filled each of hers, one colder than the other, and she groaned as she squeezed them both, slowly blinking her eyes open.
"Artie!" Hermione sighed in relief, bandages on her neck and shoulder. How did she get hurt? The Slytherin mused, but smiled at her friend before being scooped into a hug by Narcissa.
"Artemis, I'm so glad you're alright!"
"Mom… too… tight…" the lion gasped, being released instantly while Madam Pomfrey quickly came to assess how she was feeling. She looked over to see her father and the Headmaster arguing quietly just outside the hall and she turned to Hermione.
"The stone…?"
"Harry got it, and Dumbledore took it. You were right, it wasn't Snape, it was Quirrel."
"Are the boys okay?"
"Ron took a nasty tumble after you did, but not as bad. He's already bandaged up. Harry… well…" she nodded behind Artemis and she turned to see him in the bed beside her, a pile of gifts at his bedside, as well as a few potions, though he was out cold.
"He will be alright, dear. His body is exhausted from the amount of magic he used, and he has some bruises and scrapes, but don't you worry. He just needed rest," the mediwitch assured her and she nodded. Thickheaded as he was, Harry was becoming a best friend of hers.
"What's dad arguing with Dumbledore about?" Artemis asked weakly, already feeling exhausted. The last thing she registered before falling back to sleep was Hermione smiling softly at her and her father heading her way before sleep took over again.
XxXxX
Term was ending and Harry and Artemis were both released the day before the end of term feast. Their group of friends had to sit in their own houses this time around and Draco and Artemis were just as excited as the rest of their house about their clear win of the House Cup. Slytherin colors decorated the hall and Dumbledore stood, silencing the hall.
"Another year, gone, and the House Cup need awarding. The points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with 312 points." A small round of applause for the red and gold house. "In third place, Hufflepuff with 352 points." Another round, slightly louder. "In second place, Ravenclaw house, with 426 points!" The Slytherins applauded loudly for their friend's house. "And in first place, with 472 points, Slytherin house!" The whole of the school, now that they had a new perspective of the house of serpents, applauded, while Slytherin house laughed and cheered.
"Yes, well done, Slytherin, well done!" Dumbledore smiled that kind of smile that gave you dread. "However! Recent events need to be taken into consideration, and I have a few last-minute points to award." Artemis frowned, wondering what this was about. "To Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best played game of chess Hogwarts has seen these many years, 50 points." Their house cheered and Artemis agreed that Ron deserved those points, clapping for the redhead. "To Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, i award Gryffindor house 60 points." It seemed he was done and as he went to finish, Professor McGonagall stood.
"I do believe there are more points to award, Albus." He seemed annoyed but nodded. "To Ms. Hermione Granger, for the ability to stay calm and a cool use of intellect when her friends were in grave parell, 50 points will be awarded to Ravenclaw house." Ravenclaw hooted and clapped the girl on the back. Artemis wondered silently if she would get points, but soon realized she hadn't done much to earn points. "And to Ms. Artemis Black," she sat straighter, shocked. "For not only protecting her friends at the cost of herself, but bravery and being the start of interhouse relations, I award Slytherin house 50 points!" An outroar of congratulation and back slapping met her words and Dumbledore nodded.
"I do believe this changes our tally. And so, in fourth place is Hufflepuff with 352 points. In Third place is Gryffindor with 422 points, in second is Ravenclaw with 476 points, and in first once more is Slytherin house, with 522 points!" The cheers filled the hall and to Dumbledore's utter shock, the other three houses congratulated Slytherin on their victory, even playfully throwing statements around that next year it would be theirs.
Minerva had never been prouder of the student body, and all because two first year girls became friends.
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Okay! Had to change up a bit of things, skipped over less important stuff, basically I'm trying to get to the chapters that will be more important, and hold more juicy plotline. This is really just more of a buildup to things.
So what do you think of Harry being Artie's friend? How the houses interact?
What will happen neeeeeext?
Lucius about to kick some ass too, yall.
Sk8rgrl out! *peace signs*