Disclaimer: Except Jack and Steve, I don't own any of the characters in this chapter, too.

Chapter 5

HOGWARTS EXPRESS

Artemis's father was the head of a vast criminal empire. He had bought a cargo ship, stocked it with cola cans, and set course for Murmansk in Russia, where he had set up a business deal that could have proved profitable for a long time. But the Russian Mafiya didn't want an Irish businessman to get access to their market and hence sank the ship, the Fowl Star, in the Bay of Kola. Artemis Fowl the First was declared missing and presumed dead.

Now Artemis Fowl the Second was the head of an empire with limited funds. He would go to any lengths to restore the family fortune. Being a wizard, that only ought to make the job a bit easier.

But Artemis didn't believe that his father was dead. And the loss of his father had created quite an effect on his mother Angeline. She had retreated to her room, and refused to come outside, preferring the dreams of the past to real life. She had nearly gone insane and didn't identify Artemis himself most of the time. Now that he was going to a school and wouldn't be there in Fowl Manor for a long time, what if she noticed his absence?

Artemis tried not to think about it much and immersed himself into intense reading of all his new books. The additional books he had bought were Quidditch through the Ages, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Hogwarts, A History. As expected, he had finished all his books within two days' time.

He decided to owl the Headmistress about his coming to Hogwarts as she had insisted in the letter. He had named his owl as 'Marron', which in French means brown. After giving her the letter, he said, "Take this to Professor McGonagall, she'll be at Hogwarts."

The owl nodded and left. Today was the thirtieth of July, and he was supposed to have sent his letter by the next day. It was then that Artemis heard the knock on the door. It was Hagrid.

"What brings you this warm morning to Fowl Manor, Professor?" asked Artemis. He couldn't fathom the reason, really.

"Artemis, I forgot ter give yeh the ticket ter Hogwarts Express," replied Hagrid. He had an envelope in his hand and seemed impatient to hand it over to Artemis.

"You mean we go by a train to Hogwarts, Professor?" a surprised Artemis asked.

"How the hell else did yeh think yeh'd be goin'? Yeh thought yeh could use a Portkey again, did yeh?" chuckled Hagrid.

In fact, that was what Artemis had been thinking. But to use a Portkey, they needed a Ministry approval. Who knew from which country a student would be coming? He should have known that, thought about that. He cursed himself for being silly and responded, "Where does the train start?" he asked.

"King's Cross," Hagrid replied.

"But then, wouldn't the muggles notice?" Artemis asked. If the train did start at King's Cross, then surely several of the muggles would notice strange robe-wearing people all getting into one train.

Hagrid seemed to be cheered by Artemis's question. He replied, "The platform is not basically in King's Cross, yeh know. The Hogwarts Express starts from platform nine-and-three-quarters."

"Platform what?" Artemis asked, completely sure that he had either not heard correctly or misunderstood. But he was equally sure that that couldn't have happened.

"Yes, boy, yeh heard correctly. Platform nine-and-three-quarters. Yeh need ter get through the barrier between the platforms nine and ten ter get there. The train leaves at eleven in the morning, on the first of September. So remember ter pop up on time, ok? Here is your ticket. And be sure ter pack all yer things in a trunk and bring them along," said Hagrid and handed over the ticket, as Artemis was only a child.

"And if yeh don't mind, I'd better be leaving, I have business," he said and went away.

So Artemis was going to Hogwarts by means of a train. Well, the journey would be quite long, he thought.

Time passed out quickly. The thirty-first of August arrived very soon. Artemis had finished designing his program for diverting money from the Swiss Bank and had diverted millions of dollars to his account. Now he had found out about the existence of the People. They too, he found out, had magical powers. Artemis would go to any lengths for gold. Aurum Potestas Est, his father had always said. Artemis found out that the People were fairies, and he found hundreds of references to fairies all over the countries of the world. Each civilization had its own term for the People, but they were undoubtedly members of the same hidden family. Several stories mentioned a Book carried by each fairy. It was their Bible, containing, as it allegedly did, the history of their race and the commandments that governed their extended lives. Of course, this Book was written in Gnommish, the fairy text, and would be of no use to any human.

By the day Artemis had surfed the net and found out all about this, time was getting over. He had to go to Hogwarts on the next day. He decided to take his laptop with him anyway, though he knew it wouldn't work (he had read in Hogwarts, A History that muggle goods like electronic items didn't work well in places full of magic, and at Hogwarts, none of the goods did). He immersed himself in the lore of the People until he had compiled a huge database on their characteristics. But it wasn't enough. If he couldn't do it at school, he'd do it when he returned.

He had even thought about Butler coming to stay near him in the village of Hogsmeade near Hogwarts. But it was a village in which no muggle inhabited. In fact, it was the onlyvillage in which no muggle lived, in the entire wizarding world. And what good would it do to Butler in staying with magical folk. Butler was strong, yes, could take care of himself; but these were wizards and witches they were dealing with, and magic most certainly would be able to get the better of Butler. And the village being fully magical, would they even allow Butler to stay there. If Butler had to stay, he needed to rent some place, but the villagers surely wouldn't agree. Artemis chuckled at the thought of him being more powerful than Butler when he was a qualified wizard.

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Artemis Fowl woke up next morning to find himself twelve years old. This is it, he thought. Hogwarts, I'm coming, he said with a smile on his face. It was something that rarely, but surely, did creep up his face.

Artemis was always two steps ahead. But you didn't need to be a genius to pack your trunk a night before if you're going somewhere the next day, though of course, he was.

Artemis Fowl reached the Heathrow airport along with Butler at precisely nine-thirty in the morning. From there, the journey to King's Cross via an underground train took almost an hour. Artemis and Butler were staring at the barrier between the platforms nine and ten at ten forty-five.

Here goes nothing, Artemis thought. "Come on, Butler, let's get moving," he said.

After checking that no one was looking at them, Artemis closed his eyes and ran first into the barrier quickly with his trolley, half-anticipating a crash, followed by Butler, who was looking nervous, and, apparently thinking what would happen if they crashed.

But they didn't crash. Artemis kept walking and when he was sure that if he were to crash, that would have happened ages ago, stopped and opened his eyes. In front of him he saw a scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform with people packed on it. This was the Hogwarts Express, and this was platform nine-and-three-quarters.

Most of the carriages were already filled. Artemis went and found himself a seat in one of the empty compartments. Butler carried his owl and trunk inside the compartment. Butler was waiting to hear what Artemis would say next.

"Butler, I can manage after this. You should leave before it is eleven or you won't be able to go back home," Artemis said in a commanding tone.

Butler reluctantly nodded and left.

So off to Hogwarts at last, Artemis thought.

"Is that seat for someone?" a boy, whom Artemis had apparently not seen entering, asked.

Artemis didn't look him in the eyes, but shook his head.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" he asked, and Artemis nearly smiled at his nervous tone, "because all the other compartments are full," the boy completed.

Artemis shrugged. The boy sat down, feeling quite happy.

"My name is Steve, by the way. Steve Regan. Who are you, by the way?" he added quite kindly, Artemis noticed.

Then he answered, "Fowl. Artemis Fowl, the Second."

"Oh. Nice to meet you," the boy said.

Artemis remained as impassive as ever. But surely, it wouldn't hurt to say hello to someone?

"Nice to meet you, too Steve," Artemis replied, after a fight of wills inside his brain. Then, another boy entered. "Can I pop in?" he asked. Artemis looked at him for a second, then resumed watching the fields pass by, and shrugged again.

The boy looked confused. "Your wish," Steve said.

"I'll better come in, then," he said. He said next to Steve, and looked at Artemis as though he was the most curious thing in the world. Then he spoke to Steve, "I am Jack. Jack Winters. You?" "Steve Regan," Steve answered. "Are you pureblood?" Jack asked curiously. When Steve's eyes narrowed, he was sorry he had said it in that way, "No, no. I mean – I am a muggle, you know. So I just asked to – "

Steve cut him off, "No. I am a half-blood. Mother's a witch. Father's a muggle."

"Oh. Who are you, by the way?" Jack asked Artemis. Artemis gave him a glare that made him retreat back. And then Jack scowled. "Artemis Fowl, the Second," Artemis replied coolly. "You – you what?" Jack stammered, "You – you can't be… you're theArtemis Fowl?" he finished asking with a glint of terror in his blue eyes, eyes which stared at Artemis in complete disbelievement.

Artemis nodded casually, not even glancing at him.

"Why? What if he's Artemis Fowl? Is he famous?" asked Steve, now suddenly curious.

"You have no idea," Jack said, "He's a genius. Most intelligent person you can ever meet. His father is famous in the underworld. Criminal genius, I'd say."

"My father was no criminal," a cold voice echoed from where Artemis Fowl sat.

"No, I didn't mean to say that. Just you know, so famous. So rich. I've always wanted to meet you. Never thought I'd meet you here, most of all."

Artemis was getting utterly bored staring out of the window. And also, he wouldn't be able to avoid everyone at his house or school (about which all he had already read in Hogwarts, A History). After all, it would do good to have some friends… friends? Well, that was something he'd never had in his life, if you excluded Butler and Juliet.

So, eager to strike up a conversation, Artemis asked, "Which house do you think you'll be in?" he asked both of them. Just when Steve said "Slytherin", Jack asked "Houses?".

"Yes, I think I'll be in Slytherin too, seems the best by far," Artemis said before he said to Jack, "Yes, houses. There are four – Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin – each with its own noble history. The Gryffindors are the brave, unthinking stupids, though with exceptions like the famous Hermione Granger, the Ravenclaws are the clever and intelligent ones, the Hufflepuffs are the supposedly hardworking, fit-for-nothing-else ones, and the Slytherins, yes – they're the clever and ambitious ones who're brave but not stupid like the Gryffindors," Artemis finished.

"Where'd you find all that?" asked a surprised Steve.

"In Hogwarts, A History", replied Artemis coolly.

Jack said, "I bet I'm in Huffle – "

"You mean it's given that the Gryffindors are 'unthinking stupids' in that book?" Steve looked nervous.

"No, those are my conclusions," Artemis said.

"Who are you to conclude that Gryffindors are stupid, orunthinking, for that matter?" asked an outraged Steve.

"Believe me, Steve," Jack interrupted, "if it is indeedhis conclusion, you know, then he's probably more right than what that book says."

"How can you – " Steve started.

"Side with me? Well, Steve, for your information, he seems to know more about me than you do. Your mother was Gryffindor, right, Steve?" Artemis asked.

"How do you know –" Steve started again, but was again interrupted by Jack again, "Told you! He's a genius, man! Or can't you stand that? He alwaysknows everything," Jack finished.

"Well, ok then," Steve said, unconvinced, but what chance did he stand? It was two against one, and one of them seemed to be really a genius.

"Why did you say you'd be chosen in Slytherin, then? Ambition, I'm sure?" Artemis asked and continued, "for none of the other qualities seem to apply to you."

Jack giggled. Steve scowled at both of them.

"Anything of the trolley, dears?" came a sweet voice from outside the compartment.

Steve bought what seemed to be five Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and five chocolate frogs. New to everything, Artemis bought two of whatever he wanted to buy, which included chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes and Licorice Wands. He decided to eat one chocolate frog and keep the rest for later. There was a card in it. The card was about Albus Dumbledore, which was written beneath his picture. Artemis had read about him, but not much. He was, as far as Artemis knew, the best Headmaster Hogwarts had ever had. Moreover, in the war with Voldemort, he had been killed. Also, he was supposed to be the only wizard whom Voldemort had ever feared. He read the card.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

FORMER HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS

Considered by many the only wizard He Who Must Not

Be Named had ever feared, Dumbledore is particularly

Famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald

in 1945, in a duel that is considered the best ever, his

discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his

work on alchemy with his presently dead partner,

Nicolas Flamel. Dumbledore used to love tenpin bowling

and chamber music.

The rest of their time, none of them talked to each other, except Jack asking Artemis about his life and times. Steve was quiet, but listening to them intently, which Artemis noticed, but Jack didn't seem to notice. Artemis immersed himself into The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts again, reading the chapter on Harry Potter for the umpteenth time. How had Potter survived the killing curse when no one else had ever been able to? As far as he had read about him, he wasn't that great of a wizard. How had he, then, managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort? And there was more to it. Apart from the defeat, Harry Potter had narrowly escaped Voldemort six times. How had he managed that? Except two times, in all the other escapes, he either had sheer luck or mere chance. He wanted to know more. He'd research about it in the library. It had, after all, been six years since Voldemort had been defeated…

It was then, that a voice echoed through the train, "Get into your school robes, we'll be arriving at Hogwarts in five more minutes. Leave your luggage in the train; it will be taken to the school separately."

Artemis, Jack and Steve changed their robes. In five minutes, the train stopped at Hogsmeade.

"So this is Hogsmeade," Steve said.

"What is Hogsmeade?" Jack enquired.

"Hogsmeade is the village nearest Hogwarts. Also, it is reputed to be the only muggle-free and completely magical village in the world," Artemis informed Jack.

"Wow!" Jack said in surprise.

As they got off the train, they heard a voice that Artemis found to be familiar with, "Firs' years over 'ere, please! Firs' years!"

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Thank you all for reviewing! You are all so kind! Please keep informing me of my mistakes! After all, to err is human (and just forget the fact that I err more than a normal human!)