The Family Name
Year Four
By Elbereth in April
Chapter 16
The next day after supper, Harry had another report to deliver to Artemis. "I fell asleep in Divination and had a dream about Voldemort. He tortured Wormtail, and when he did, my scar hurt. Dumbledore said Voldemort and I are connected by his failed curse on me, and that when Voldemort is near, or feeling really strong hate—I'll feel it." Harry shifted his feet uncomfortably. He still wasn't sure about sharing all this with Fowl, but Hermione and Ginny both thought he should. He wasn't just smart, Fowl—he was observant and good at putting things together and thinking of things that they wouldn't.
"Interesting. Does this happen often?"
"Only once before—this summer. Anyway, while I was in Dumbledore's office, I—I accidentally looked into his Pensieve. I saw Crouch Jr.'s trial. I also saw Karkaroff's—he was a Death Eater. They let him off in exchange for more names of other Death Eater's. One of the names he gave was Snape. Dumbledore—the Dumbledore in the Pensieve—told the judges that Snape had been a Death Eater but he switched sides and became a spy for our side."
Artemis listened, bright-eyed. That explained a lot about Snape. "So he was cleared?"
"Because Dumbledore vouched for him. But others were clearly doubtful, including the real Moody. Also, I asked Dumbledore how Voldemort could hold a wand to curse Wormtail. I couldn't actually see him in the dream, just the back of his chair. Dumbledore wasn't sure, though, but he thinks Voldemort is getting stronger. Oh, and Voldemort has a giant snake he wants to feed me to."
"Fascinating," Artemis murmured. "And when you feel strongly—can Voldemort feel you?"
Harry turned pale. "I don't—I never—I don't know."
Artemis raised a brow. "It would be a good question to ask. In the meantime, I'd be careful not to hate."
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Artemis sat at a table in the Common Room, surrounded by books. "What are you reading?" Millie asked, sitting next to him.
"My family history. My line has wizards all mixed through it, but I don't know much about them, except Lord Hugo de Fole,. I only really know the Muggles."
"Oh. Some of those are Malfoy Lineage books, aren't they? The Malfoy's have always kept track of important family genealogies."
Artemis nodded.
"So what have you found out?"
"Apparently my grandparents were both Squibs. My great-grandmother had been a fairly powerful witch, so it was quite a blow to her."
"It always is."
"I have any number of wizards and witches in my line, at any rate. On both of my parents' sides. So does that still make me Muggle-born? Or Squib-born? Is the child of two Squibs a Squib, too?"
Millie shrugged. "Depends on who you ask. Purebloods would still call you Muggle-born, except for those like the Weasley's, who would consider you a half-blood."
"My great-grandmother on my mother's side was a half-blood, and so was her father. But he was Muggle-born."
"I have to tell you, Artemis, most people don't have that many wizards in their heritage, not if they're not pure-bloods."
"I wonder if Granger has ever researched hers."
"As to that, there are more Squibs in most Muggle-born's families than they're aware of. But they go for generations back without any of them actually having magic."
"I wonder if it's some kind of recessive gene…"
"Huh?"
"Oh… it's a scientific term. Never mind."
Millie waved it aside, not caring. "What does Draco think?"
"He was quite interested. Apparently he likes this kind of thing."
Millie smiled fondly. "Yes. Where is he, anyway?"
"The Muggle Studies teacher set up a game of kickball on the Quidditch pitch. He's watching."
"…What ball?"
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Draco and Ginny Weasley sat on the grass, spectating. The professor had just "pitched" the ball. They were cheering on Greg, who was kicking. He made it to first base. A Gryffindor was up next.
"Isn't that the girl Stormbrew took to the Ball?" Draco asked.
"Yes," Ginny answered casually. Draco sized her up. She didn't seem jealous.
"Are you not interested in him anymore?" he asked carefully.
She tossed her head. "Who said I ever was?"
Draco hid a grin. Stormbrew made a mistake, not asking her to the dance.
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Artemis finished the next set of spells for becoming an animagus. "I have to say I'm impressed you did all this on your own," he told Draco.
Draco blushed, then blushed harder for blushing. "I am clever, you know," he drawled, trying to distract.
"Of course you are." Artemis made a big show of humoring him. Draco cuffed him on the shoulder.
They walked out of the dungeon classroom. "You got a letter this morning, didn't you? How are your mother and brother doing?"
"He still doesn't want to sleep a night through. Mum says she's exhausted. She's decided to hire a nurse to help out."
"That should be good," Artemis agreed.
"I still can't believe she named him Eculeus Maximus."
Artemis smiled. "Better than Scorpius."
"I'm gonna name my first kid that, wait and see."
"He'll be mocked all through school. I'm warning you now."
"It'll toughen him up."
"He'll hate you."
That gave Draco pause. He didn't want his son to hate him like he hated his own father. "Well, maybe not, then."
Artemis sensed his uneasiness. "Don't worry about it. Crabbe and Goyle's sons will beat up anyone who tries."
"And your son?"
"Oh, he'll be leading the mocking."
"Prat." They grinned at one another.
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It was a couple weeks later when Harry sought Artemis out again. After a bit of heming and hawing, Harry explained, "I wondered if you could help Hermione, Ron, and I research my scar and what relationship it has to Voldemort."
"I would have thought you'd ask Dumbledore about it. Or did he not know?"
Again Harry shuffled a bit. "Sirius and I've been mad at him for a reason. He's too secretive. This is something important that involves me directly, that could make a huge difference in my safety—but he doesn't tell me anything."
Artemis observed him speculatively. "It does make you wonder why."
Harry frowned darkly.
"You, Potter, are finally showing some sense. You are surrounded by mysteries. Things happen to you outside of your control. You just react. You need to learn the why's of your life, Potter, so you can take control of it."
Harry blinked at him.
Artemis thought he was finally showing sense in asking his help, but didn't say so aloud. "I'll help you, Potter—who knows? I may need a favor myself some day." Having Sirius Black owe him was a good thing. Having Potter owe him could prove even better.
Harry nodded in acknowledgement.
"You already asked Black and he doesn't know?"
"Not any more than Dumbledore."
"And Lupin? A former DADA professor—he should know something, surely."
"Dumbledore sent him off on some errand. He won't be back until the Third Task, and I don't know where to Owl him."
"Very well. I'll see what I can discover," Artemis said. Knowledge was still power, after all, and Artemis liked to know things.
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By the last week of March, the real Moody was mostly recovered from his ordeal, but he did not want to return to Hogwarts to teach. Artemis assumed he was too shaken by the whole situation, and didn't blame the man. Dumbledore had taken over the duties of teaching Defense since Crouch was removed.
The story of how their first professor hadn't really been Moody had spread rapidly, of course, although it wasn't realized that Voldemort had been involved, just crazy Crouch Jr.
A handful of Gryffindors and Slytherins knew the truth, but saw no way to convince anyone else if Dumbledore himself couldn't manage it. The Gryffindors thought only of how to prevent Voldemort from hurting any victims.
The Slytherins' thoughts were rather different. The Fourth Years decided to hold a serious conference. They put up soundproofing and locks on the Potions Lab and sat down to talk.
"Are you sure your dad was a Death Eater, Draco?" Eva asked.
"Pretty sure. Crouch-boy all but confirmed it."
Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other unhappily. "That pretty much assures ours were, too."
"Anybody else?" Zabini asked.
"Quite possibly," Pansy admitted softly, eyes on the ground.
"Hey, it's no one's fault if their parents were involved. You probably weren't even born yet." Marie patted Pansy's hand resting next to hers on the desk.
"If Voldemort comes back to power, we'll be expected to join," Vince said. "Our dads would go back to him, even if Lucius Malfoy isn't free to do so."
"Do you really want to join a mass-murderer only interested in gaining power for himself?" Draco made them meet his eyes. They shook their heads. "Then we'll make sure you don't have to. Let's all make a pact. We won't follow in our parents' footsteps."
They each looked around at the others. "Let's," Pansy suddenly smiled.
Artemis nodded approvingly. "Good. I would hate to be on the opposing side to any of you."
That brought a stillness. "How did we go from not joining him to fighting against him?" Vince asked carefully. "Cause I'm not fighting against my father."
"No, none of you are obligated," Artemis said. "But it may very well prove impossible to remain neutral, in the end."
"Do you think he knows about the whole thing with Riddle's diary? And has Wormtail told him about you helping Sirius Black? You may have already caught his attention," Draco told Artemis nervously.
"Perhaps. I'm not unduly worried." 'But you were right there with me,' Artemis thought. 'He may have noticed you, too. Plus you're the son of a Death Eater, and knowing Lucius Malfoy, he would have been an influential one. He may want you in his ranks or to have his revenge.' And that did worry him, though he wouldn't say it out loud.
"In the meantime, I like the idea of a pact," Blaise said, nodding.
"Me, too," Millie and Marie echoed.
"Anyone unwilling?" Artemis observed their reactions intently. It seemed everyone was in agreement of at least not joining Voldemort's side. He held out his left hand, and the others followed suit until they stood in a circle, hands stretched into the center, each person's fingers touching at least one other's.
It was not to be as binding as a Wizard's Oath, more a declaration of intent, witnessed by magic as if it was a living presence.
"Then let everyone Declare they will not be a servant of Voldemort, and so say 'I will not'," Draco led them, for he knew more about these various magical forms than Artemis.
And "I will not," they all said.
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"I've been thinking," Artemis said to Draco later that evening in their dorm room. "How did your father know about everything you had been doing? Granted, the Yule Ball was high enough profile any number of people could have reported your choice of date, but for the rest—did Cobalt tell him? Or was there another spy?"
Draco immediately looked troubled. "I've wondered. I haven't felt—quite up to looking into it so far. I figured it didn't much matter at this point."
"I believe it would be beneficial to determine. They may still be watching. Who knows where their allegiances have come to rest now."
Draco's eyes sharpened. "I'll start with Cobalt."
She answered Draco's owl to meet on the Astronomy Tower. She didn't seem surprised to see Artemis, too. "You want to know if I told your dad anything that caused him to try and murder you, right?" she greeted them.
"I think even you could understand that," Draco sneered.
For the first time, Cobalt didn't look at him like he would make a good lab rat. "I've only told him what you've told me to, although I did tell him you took Granger to the dance. I knew he would find out from others, so I had best report it, as well. But Malfoy—I never thought he'd try to kill you. I didn't ever think he'd do that."
"Yes, well, obviously neither did I or I'd have been better prepared," Draco sighed. "Do you still have any contact now that he's in Azkaban?"
She laughed. "Why would I? He can hardly reward me from there."
"Do you know anyone else who was spying on Draco?" Artemis questioned, staring at her intently.
"Now you think to ask." She cocked her head and looked from one to another. "Yes. If I tell you, you have to stop threatening me with blackmail."
"If you don't move against either of us, we would have no reason to do so."
"Then think about it. Who have you been spending time with this year, besides your little Slytherin pals?"
"If you're suggesting Hermione…" Draco began furiously.
"No. Which other Gryffindor lady?"
"Ginny Weasley is even less likely to—"
"Stop. Think. Who's been watching Weasley?"
An expression of shock flitted across Draco's face.
Cobalt grinned. "That's right. Go bother him to your heart's content. I don't particularly like Stormbrew."
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After Cobalt left, Artemis turned to Draco. He hadn't been following Stormbrew's pursuit of Ginny Weasley, and wanted the whole story. "This would be Paulinus Stormbrew who was Lupin's assistant?"
"The one who made Greg jealous by showing definite signs of interest in Weasley-girl, yes," Draco replied.
"But he's a Gryffindor. Where would he even have met Lucius Malfoy?"
"I don't know. But I think he'll be a lot less likely to talk."
"Fortunately, we spent much of this year developing our own spy network. We'll set them on him," Artemis said. Draco looked gleeful at the idea. "I'll also have Butler research his family background and connections."
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Butler reported his preliminary findings the next evening. "He comes from a fairly obscure but wealthy branch of purebloods. His aunt and mother both work for the Ministry, and his father, Octavius, has continued in the family tradition of ensuring fast but safe travel for ships. They got their start by Apparating to becalmed vessels and rescuing their crews by calling up winds, hence the name they eventually took: Stormbrew. His 20 year old brother, Dominick, joined a fairly popular wizarding band called Splinched after graduating Hogwarts; he is therefore under somewhat strained relations with his immediate family, who don't consider this to be a respectable career."
"The aunt and mother?"
"His mother, Elizabeth, works in Apparition Licensing in the Department of Transportation and her sister, Eleanor Waldgrave, is a recordskeeper for the Wizengamut. They frequently lunch together."
"Oh," said Draco, "Waldgrave."
"Someone you know, then?"
"She's one of a number of ladies who has a regular tea with my mother. She and her husband have been to Malfoy Christmas parties. They were Ravenclaws, incidentally."
"What does Mr. Waldgrave do?"
"He is the wealthy wizard's tailor. All the pureblood elite get their dress robes from him, including people like Longbottom's grandmother. He specializes in designing fancy partywear. I didn't know he was any relation to Stormbrew."
"I got my dress robes from Madame Malkins."
"Malkins is for the common wizards, your Hogwarts robes, and your students from Muggle backgrounds who only shop in Diagon Alley. But you didn't know any better, so I promise not to hold it against you."
Artemis gave Draco a look. "How gracious of you."
Draco smirked. "I know."
Artemis turned back to Butler. "Keep them monitored, but I don't think any of them are a threat."
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The Slytherins kept an eye on Stormbrew. They had been appropriately appalled to discover he could have had a hand in Draco's near death, so they watched him vigilantly. But, being Slytherins, they managed to remain outwardly neutral, and subtle.
Hermione and Ginny Weasley, who had also been asked to watch, took the news not nearly as calmly. Ginny in particular was quite angry to learn that Stormbrew may have used her, and never been interested in her at all.
"More likely he got jealous that you spent so much time around Slytherins and decided to get even by enlisting with my father," Draco told her. So that soothed her.
In the end, they managed to hide any ill feeling toward Stormbrew behind a pleasant mask and keep watch. But he never did anything that seemed unusual or wrong.
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Four months after Artemis began his preparations to become an animagus, he was ready to cast his final spell. Draco and Butler both watched with interest as he made his incantation, then shivered and changed. His body shrunk in on itself and sprouted feathers, his nose and mouth shifted together into a beak. His toes grew sharp talons, and his arms had become wings.
"An owl," Butler marveled. "As an archetypal symbol for wisdom, that's very appropriate."
Draco was Not-Thinking very hard about the fact that his Patronus, in all probability, had been Artemis Fowl this whole time. Then he shrugged that off—it didn't matter. "We can both fly!" he exclaimed happily.
Artemis lifted his wings and proceeded to circle twice around Butler's classroom, then landed on his bodyguard's shoulder.
Butler was beginning to frown. "I can't fly." That meant his charge was going to be even harder to follow and keep out of trouble.
"It's going to be alright. I'm a flying horse, remember? If we ever need to go anywhere fast, you can ride on my back. I won't mind," Draco assured the older man.
Butler nodded gratefully. "Thank you."
"Plus if we ever desperately need aid, we can send him out with messages," Draco grinned.
Artemis managed to make his "hooo" sound indignant as he gave Draco an unblinking stare.
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Exams and the Third Task loomed closer. At the one month mark, Harry was called out to the grounds with the other Champions. They were led to the Quidditch pitch, where someone had planted long, low walls of hedges, snaking in every direction.
"Growing nicely, aren't they?" Bagman said cheerfully. "By the time of the Third Task they'll be twenty feet high. Don't worry—you'll have your pitch back when it's done.
"The Task is quite straightforward. We're growing a maze. The TriWizard Cup will be at the center. First to touch it gets full marks. There will be obstacles. Hagrid is providing a number of creatures… and there will be spells that must be broken… that sort of thing. You'll enter the maze by the number of points you have."
After receiving this news, Harry, Hermione, and Ron spent most of their time closeted away in the Transfiguration classroom, learning spells they thought would be useful to get around obstacles, like the Impediment Curse, and to navigate the maze, like the Four-Point Spell, that would make his wand point north.
Hermione mentioned this while talking to Draco. Consequently, he determined to perfect the same spells Potter was learning. Artemis sometimes joined in, and sometimes continued his work on alchemy or his research on Potter's scar instead.
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