Ch. 8-What Is Quickly Gained Is Quickly Lost
Night began to fall. With hate in his heart, and purpose in his mind, Artemis went to find the man responsible for the murder of his parents. He knew just what he had to do; he would kill Broderick for what he had done, no regrets, no mercy. Tom had left him; he walked with a purpose to the house of Broderick Muldoon. Where once he had walked this path to take lessons from this monster, he now traveled the same path to return and the student would return to kill his teacher. He stood in front of his door, wand in his hand. He reached for the door handle, than thought to himself. "To hell with the pleasantries", he took a step back and pointed his wand at the door.
"Bombarda Maxima!" With that the door and the surrounding doorway exploded into pieces sending them flying into Broderick's front room. Artemis roared into the gaping hole where the front door once stood. Artemis came in and could hear music playing from Broderick's record player, a woman, sultry sounding.
"And now you say you're lonely, you cried the whole night through."
Artemis followed the music into Broderick's front room where he was sitting, in his high back chair staring into the fire as the music played.
"Well you can cry me a river, cry me a river, I cried a river over you"
Broderick finally spoke as Artemis entered behind him, wand at the ready.
"Hello Artemis", with a subtle chortle he said, "I didn't hear you come in." He paused. "I've been expecting you." Broderick never looked at Artemis just stared into the fire. Artemis saw that Broderick had a glove on his right hand. He let more time pass.
"And now you say you're sorry, for being so untrue. Well you can cry me a river, cry me a river. I cried a river over you."
"I didn't kill your parents Artemis." Artemis quickly shut him down.
"Shut up, I don't want to hear your lies."
"You trust him more than you trust me." Broderick said calmly.
"Tom?Of course I trust him, he cares about me, he doesn't lie to me" Broderick gave a chuckle.
"Is that what he's calling himself, well at least there's some deception. I thought you went with him knowing full well who he was. Although it's just as bad when he told you what he was planning."
"Killing filthy mud-bloods like you!"
"There you go, sputtering words of hate to which you don't even know the meaning."
"You drove me, nearly drove me out of my head, while you never shed a tear"
"I know what it means; it means you don't have the right to teach pure-bloods like me." Once again Broderick gave a small laugh.
"My God, you have been around the Malfoys too long."
"The Malfoys care about me! They would never hurt me, not like you did."
"Remember, I remember all that you said."
"I won't try to convince you I didn't kill your parents or that I didn't try to steal your powers for my own selfish needs, or that you are currently the lap dog for the dark lord himself. You're too far gone for that, your mind has been twisted and corrupted by evil."
"Told me love was to Plebian."
"All I can do is try and stop you." Broderick finally looked up at Artemis, and he saw the hate in his eyes.
"Told me you were through with me, and now…"
"Engorgio!" As Broderick casted the flames of the fireplace grew to a giant fireball that shot toward Artemis and Artemis raised his cloak to shield himself. When Artemis regained his sight he saw Broderick rounding a corner, Artemis tried to hit him.
"Avada Kedavra!" Green light shot from Artemis wand and struck the corner of the wall. Artemis chased after him. He ran into his large back room, where they had practiced. Artemis just saw him trying to run into the kitchen. "Supplanto!" A white charm hurled towards Broderick's feet and he tripped and fell face first to the floor. Artemis raised his wand ready to kill. Broderick rolled over and casted.
"Stupefy!" Artemis was hit in the shoulder sending him spinning through the air and crashing into Broderick's piano collapsing it. Broderick had gotten himself standing and made his way toward Artemis. Artemis saw him nearing, and threw a charm
"Mutatio Aguay!" The light blue charm screamed at Broderick who dove out of its way just in time to see the large cabinet in the corner turn into water sending it spilling into a puddle. Artemis and Broderick got themselves up, Artemis casted first, "Percutio!" Brilliant arcs of purple lightening erupted from Artemis' wand. Broderick put up his wand and used all his strength to push back the deadly lightening. Artemis walked nearer to him lightening still flooding from his wand, and Broderick pushed with all of his might. Artemis had grown stronger and it worried Broderick, but still he held it back. The arcs were screaming at Broderick deflecting off of him and striking all around his home, shattering windows, and blowing chunks out of walls. The loud noise of the lightening filled the room and as Artemis neared, he stood over Broderick, power rushing from his wand. Artemis could sense victory. Broderick pushed and pushed until he looked up and saw Artemis' smile. With a mighty roar Broderick pushed the magic back sending both men flying. Artemis was thrown out of a window crashing the glass as he flew. Broderick was thrown through a wall into the next room.
Broderick came to a stand, and looked out of the hole in the wall he had made, out of the window where Artemis had gone. Suddenly the entire wall was blown into the house and in came Artemis, angry and powerful. Floating into the room, powerful winds entered with him. Broderick came out of the room and their battle continued.
Not much was to be left of Broderick's house as they battled. Charms flew left and right, blowing out walls and splintering wood. The house shook with the force of the fight, and the two fought and fought, unable to outmatch each other, one unable to conquer the other. Anger blinded not just Artemis, but Broderick as well; Artemis fighting for revenge, and Broderick fighting to save his life.
"Inflatus!" The very charm Broderick had used against Artemis in the cellar, he now used to send Broderick flying through his kitchen and down the stairs to his basement. Broderick landed with a painful boom and groaned in pain, holding his right arm lying on his side. Artemis approached the top of the stairs and pointed his wand at the helpless Broderick. In order to save himself Broderick waved his wand, slamming the door, than casting.
"Protego Maxima!" A gel like charm hurled at the door and encased the door with a magical barrier. Above could be heard Artemis banging on the door, sending blasting charms at the door trying to burst it open.
"You think this can hold me back Broderick!" As the door banged and boomed Broderick scrambled himself up and disappeared into the corridors of his cellar. "Primoris Polleo!" With brilliant golden light the door burst open and shook the house and crumbled walls around stood at the bottom of the stairs gazing into the darkness. "Lumos", Artemis walked slowly into the darkness, his black, long coat blended into the darkness as he plunged himself into the uncertain blackness of the basement with only his wand glowing the way.
Silence, the kind that makes you analyze just how loud you're breathing, and it makes you nervous. He had to be down here, he had nowhere to go, unless the bloody coward disapparated. However Artemis knew Broderick too well than to just run away, he was here, he could feel it. His steps were cautious ones; he could hear the crunching of dust under his feet, and the sound of dripping water. The game was hunter and hunted, however which was which was at this point not certain. Every noise made Artemis turn. He kept his nerve though, he didn't come here to be fearful. He saw a figure move in front of him sneaking past, he couldn't be sure if it was Broderick or not, but he didn't hesitate.
"Avada Kedavra!" The "green curse zoomed to the figure, the green light showed the face of Broderick Muldoon, and as the spell hit him he exploded into some kind of mist. Artemis was confused, he had never used the killing curse before, but he knew it didn't cause evaporation. His confusion was interrupted by a voice.
"You'll never learn." Artemis whipped around to meet the voice behind him. "Expeliarmus!" Artemis' wand flew out of his hand, to see a glowing wand pointing right at him. It was Broderick, but how could that be?
"I killed you…"
"I made a duplicate of myself, didn't learn that from Tom now did you."
"Inflixi", a small charm hit Artemis in the leg causing him to drop to his knees.
"Go on; kill me like you killed my parents." Artemis and Broderick had a moment of silence.
"I know nothing I can say will convince you that what I'm about to do is for your own good, and it gives me no pleasure to do so."
"Spare me your lies, mud-blood", Broderick shook his head. There was a slight pause as Broderick took off the glove on his right hand and rolled up the sleeve of his right arm revealing the burns on his arm, severe burns that made his flesh bright red and shriveled; this happened when his arm caught fire in the cellar.
"I never got to properly thank you for my arm, a mark of what you have become. I can only hope that these next twenty years will allow you to see the error of your ways."
"Bollocks", Artemis said.
"I'm sorry", Broderick takes a breath."Corripio Factultas."
Artemis felt as though his soul was being ripped from his body, a light blue haze leaked from his body and was absorbed into Broderick's wand. It was the greatest pain he had ever felt, he felt as though he was losing something, a part of him was being forcibly taken. When it was all over, he doubled over his hands on the floor holding himself up, weakened. Artemis looked up at Artemis with angry eyes. He scrambled around and crawled to his wand.
"Avada Kedavra!" Nothing happened, with frustration he tried again. "Avada Kedavra!" as before nothing happened. Broderick stared back at him, a blank stare. "You son of a bitch!"Artemis ran toward Broderick, ready to kill him with his bare hands. Broderick pointed his wand at him and Artemis unwillingly disapparated.
When Artemis landed he let out a scream of pain, disapparating had never hurt that much before, it was never a picnic, but he had gotten used to it. Why was it all of the sudden painful? He looked around to see just where in God's name Broderick had sent him. His anger still boiled through him, just thinking about him made him furious. He had taken away his powers, his ability to do magic. Artemis lied to himself about this, "Maybe it'll wear off, or perhaps it's only for a short while?" Than Artemis thought back to what he had said.
"I can only hope that these next twenty years will allow you to see the error of your ways."
Just the thought of being without the ability to do magic scared him, he was still weak from the battle, the pain of having his magic taken still chased through his body. He looked all around and saw nothing but farmland, a few barns scattered round the huge open fields. He stood on a dirt road looking every which way and seeing no one was coming for miles. He began walking to one of the nearby barns, hoping he could procure a someway back from well…wherever he was. After a mile or so he reached a farm house, the drop of night was beginning to fall. He stumbled on to their property and saw a single light on in the house, and could see two figures walking about. He snuck to their barn and saw tractors, reapers, and other sorts of farm equipment. A smaller shack stood next to the barn, a garage looking structure. The door was locked, oh how easy it would be to get inside with magic, and he was reduced to a muggle. Even knowing this he tried.
"Alohomora", nothing. He was humiliated; he took off his coat, and pressed it against the pane of glass and hit it with a nearby rock shattering the pane, but somewhat quietly. He shook away the glass and put his long suit coat back on. Inside was something covered in a big tarp; he uncovered it to find exactly what he was looking for, a car, and actually a rather nice one. Artemis was never very good with cars but it was red and judging from emblem on the front he deduced it was a corvette. He opened the door and just as he thought the keys were missing. No doubt they were inside the house; still he looked all around, and nothing. He came across a farming sickle; he decided he would persuade them to give him the keys.
He approached the back door and entered, he came up the back steps and made his way to the kitchen in the dark, he approached a doorway and could hear idle chat between the two, a man and a woman, and the voice of the television.
"…unexplained weather phenomena leave 12 cities in ruins…"
He peered out of the doorway and saw the woman in the kitchen just across from him and past that the man sitting in a recliner. Both of them were relatively young. No more than 35 each, a couple no doubt. It was all so perfect, he slowly made his way out of the darkness and grabbed the woman around the shoulders and pressed the tip of the sickle to her neck. Her startled shrieks alerted the man who leaped out of his chair and put his hands up and approached slowly.
"Woah, take it easy, don't hurt her…" Artemis cut him off as the woman continued to whimper and cry beneath his hand. However, the thought that if these two were magical made him realize he would have no way to defend himself.
"Shut up! Are you muggles?" The man approached further worried with confusion.
"What the hell is a muggle?"
"I'll take that as a yes. Not one step further!" Artemis pressed the knife causing the woman to arch her neck and the man to stop his approach. The woman continued to whimper and cry.
"Please don't hurt me, oh God, oh God, please…"
"Quiet! Give me the keys, that's all I want!"
"Keys to what?"
"The damn corvette, and if you don't move your ass I swear I'll cut her throat, now move it!"
"Alright take it easy, I'll get em." The man scrambled out of the room.
"And bring me a gun!" It had just occurred to Artemis that when this was all over they would no doubt call the police, and without any magic he would need to defend himself. Although Artemis seemed to keep his cool he was panicking, scared. He didn't even know his next move, just get out of here. The man came back, holding the gun and the keys out in front of him with just his two fingers cautiously.
"Is the gun loaded?" The man opened the small revolver to show it was loaded, a six shooter. "Take out the bullets", the man did and held them in his hand. "Set them on the counter and back away." He did as he was told and backed away to the other side of the room. He grabbed the keys and put them in his pocket and did the same for the bullets and the gun. "Now were going to leave nice an easily", using the blade Artemis led the woman out the back door, the husband moved toward them, "Don't move!" The blade made a slight poke into her neck and a single drop of blood dripped from the tip of the blade. The woman winced and the man stepped back. Artemis led her out to the car. "Get in." With tears in her eyes the woman spoke.
"What?"
"Get in the goddamned car!" The woman frantically did as she was told. The man, apparently seeing she was being taken, ran out the front door screaming. Artemis started the car and drove through the garage door and sped off in the car leaving nothing but dust. The woman said nervously.
"What are you going to do to me?"
"I don't want you", Artemis slammed on the breaks and stopped. "Now get out." The woman frantically opened the door and scurried out. Artemis drove off leaving her about a miles walk back to her husband.
Artemis didn't even know if where he going was the right way but nevertheless he drove. It was the first time he was ever grateful that his father insisted he take driving lessons. He dug out the gun and bullets from his pocket and loaded the revolver. He had never loaded a gun before, but had seen enough movies to understand what to do and how to use a gun. He drove until finally he hit some sort of civilization. A small town, as he drove on he finally found a street sign, Privet Drive, he was far off from the Malfoys, but he knew where he was and how to get there. He drove for a while and wondered how long it would take before the muggle police would start to track down the car. Never before would he be afraid of muggle law enforcement, but without his magic he felt weak, helpless, and naked. He tried to go along back roads and avoid any major cities. It took until night had completely fallen for him to make it back to Malfoy Manor. He approached the gate, but couldn't open it, it required magic to open. He called out for help.
"Adora! Abraxas! Tom!" No one answered. He put his feet up on the gate and pushed himself up. He got halfway up before the gate sent out a charm sending Artemis hurdling back. In now even more pain he lied there in agony. After a few minutes Artemis heard a voice.
"Master Artemis?" Artemis looked up to recognize a very familiar elf.
"Dobby!" As Artemis tried to lift himself up he drew back and fell in pain.
"Let me help you sir", Dobby helped him up and opened the gate, leading Artemis into the front of the house. The sound of Artemis being dragged into the front door, alerted Abraxas who was sitting in his chair, with Tom standing next to him. Abraxas rose and came over to meet the weak Artemis, Tom following. Abraxas spoke with alarm.
"Dear God boy what happened to you?" Artemis gathered up his strength to stand and spoke, panting.
"Broderick." Tom cut in.
"Did you kill him?"
"The bastard tricked me, he's still alive, we've got to make him pay." Abraxas stared at Artemis with a blank stare.
"Didn't you hear me", Artemis pleaded. "Broderick is still alive, he killed my parents, we can't let him get away with this." Abraxas spoke with a dark tone.
"You seem different Artemis, what happened?"
"He took my powers away; he cursed me and took my powers. It's just like you said Tom." Abraxas and Tom gave a look to each other. "We can get them back, can't we?" There is a pause. "What is the matter with you two, didn't you… Artemis was cut off by the strong hand of Abraxas back handing across the face causing him to collapse on the floor.
"Silence muggle!" Dobby gave a peep of protest and Abraxas kicked him. "You back to the kitchen!"
"But sir, I'm not…I mean…you can't…why?" Abraxas gave him a stare of disgust.
"I'm sorry Artemis, but you're not one of us anymore." There was a pause as Artemis felt the knife of disbelief stab him in the back. Casually Abraxas turned to Tom, "Kill him", and walked back to the front room. Artemis pleaded for his life.
"Tom…please", he stared back into the man who had taught him his new way of thinking, and he saw Tom smile a sinister smile.
"Goodbye Artemis…Avada..."
"Stupefy!" Tom was blown back to the front room startling Abraxas who came running with his cane. Artemis looked up behind him to see his savior; it was Adora standing on the balcony. Artemis smiled but it disappeared with her frantic plea. "Artemis run!" Artemis turned and saw Abraxas pull out his wand and point it to Adora. Without a single word a red charm flew from his wand and struck Adora sending her into the ceiling and crashing to the floor.
"No!" Artemis ran and tackled the broad Abraxas sending him and his wand to the floor with Artemis on top of him. Artemis saw Abraxas reaching for his wand, until Artemis reached and knocked it away sliding on the tile far out of reach. It was now a match of strength to which Abraxas had him far beat. Abraxas grabbed Artemis by the throat. Strangling, Artemis couldn't breathe he struggled to free himself from his deadly grip. Artemis was able to use his old age against him, he trusted his knee into Abraxas' bad hip, and he released him with a loud yell and Artemis fled out of the front door and ran.
Inside the house Abraxas came to a stand, and Tom shook away his confusion and stood next to Abraxas who stood with a limp. "Kill that little bastard!" Tom made his way out of the front door walking menacingly toward Artemis who ran with all his might, which wasn't much. Artemis dodged a charm Tom threw at him and which hit the gate opening it; finally something in his favor. Tom clouded himself and flew straight for Artemis who turned around to see the black streaming cloud approach. Just before it hit him another cloud of smoke came and struck Tom. This other cloud was a white stream of smoke, glowing brightly. Soon the two were rolling on the ground and quickly shot up in the air and were fighting in midair. A swirl of black and white smoke twisting and turning in midair, Artemis didn't take much time to question who this other person was and just ran to the car he had stolen. And drove away, he didn't know where he was going, he just drove. Finally he had a plan and he drove to London.
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It was nearly morning when he finally got there, but he made his way and found the Leaky Cauldron, where he had been but one other time. His father had taken him here to go through the secret wall to Diagon Alley to shop for his books; he only hoped he had remembered the correct order to tap the bricks on which to gain his access. He made his way through the dark pub and saw everyone staring at him, as if they all knew. He made his way slowly to the back where the wall was, eyes burning through the back of him. Artemis took out his wand, knowing it was useless, but perhaps it's the taps that matter not the magic. He hoped than tapped the bricks in the order he remembered, with relief the bricks of the wall folded themselves up in a mystical fashion to the side and made a large doorway. Artemis remembers being fascinated with this as a child, but now it only made him angry, all of this did. Everything he saw made him remember his parents, and that the man who murdered them is till free and took away the only thing that made him special, superior, and now all seemed lost; he was lost.
Early Diagon Alley is a somewhat vacant one; the rush doesn't usually come until the late morning. Still those that did populate the streets did the same as those in the pub, they stared. He knew why, why wasn't the question. He could usually tell the difference between a muggle and a magical person, and so could they. The question was how, how can I hide it, how long till they report me. They looked with mass confusion. Mostly why a person who knows how to gain access to Diagon Alley came off as a muggle; most people he passed looked up than went back to their business after Artemis passed them. But some stared longer, and whispered to those around them. He didn't have much time, he had to be quick.
He had been to Gringotts only one other time, once again with his father when shopping for books. His parents were somewhat wealthy, they had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, hopefully it would be enough to last him twenty years; although wizard gold was worth a lot of muggle money. The walk down the long lobby of Gringotts is always an eerie one. Goblins working at their separate stations, each of which looked up and stared at Artemis, he didn't have much time. He quickly made his way to the end of the row to the goblin seated at the highest desk. Artemis nervously tried to maintain, he cleared his throat.
"I wish to make a withdrawal."
"Name please?" Said the goblin in a creepy tone.
"Artemis Gridlock", with that the goblin waved his hand in over the large book in front of him, the pages of which fluttered than stopped as the Goblin ran his finger down the page.
"It says here only your parents can access this vault", without letting him continue Artemis cut in.
"My parents are dead." There is an awkward pause as all the goblins looked up all at once.
"I see. Present your wand please." Artemis was nervous, he knew he had to, but what if they could tell by his wand. What if this confirmed he was a muggle? A wand is still a wand, it was magical before he got it and it would be magical after he dies; no reason why it should give anything away. Slowly Artemis pulled his wand from his coat and laid it on the goblins desk. The goblin held his wand with its long bony fingers and expected it. "There's something odd about this wand. I can't quite place what though."
"There's not a thing wrong with my wand, now give me access to my vault." With some reluctance the goblin gave in.
"Very well, it does seem to be your wand, Gognar!" The goblin at the desk called to a goblin behind him. "Show Mr. Gridlock to his vault." He said with a sneer. The goblin known as Gognar led Artemis into the back where they boarded a cart that led them far down and finally to vault 429. The goblin opened the vault door revealing a large pile of gold coins and bricks than turned to Artemis.
"How much would you like to withdraw sir?" Gognar said looking up at Artemis.
"All of it", the Goblin looked with confusion.
"But sir, complete withdrawals must be submitted a day before the..." Artemis reached for the gun and pulled it out and pointed right for the goblin below him.
"I said all of it! Now put the money in an extendable charmed bag and hurry!" The frantic confused goblin hurried to the cart and grabbed a sack and rushed back to the vault and began hurriedly scooping piles of gold into the sack. The bag never filled though, ingenious idea extendable bags. Artemis kept the gun on him the whole time Gognar bagged the gold. When he had finally gotten all the gold into the bag he handed it to Artemis with a scared look on his face. "Now back into the vault!" The goblin took a few steps back until he was in the vault, upon which Artemis pushed the large vault door closed and heard the several tumblers lock into place. Artemis hopped back in the cart and made his way to the surface where he quickly made his way out of the bank with goblins mumbling behind him all the while. He went to a few stores; Flourish and Blotts where he picked up several books, than to the Apothecary to pick up several magical items and supplies.
He was glad to be out of Diagon Alley, it was only a matter of short time before they discovered what he was. He got back into his car, and drove. His plan was to get far away from London to get far away from the Malfoys and from Tom. He stopped at several muggle jewelers and pawn shops where he traded some of his gold for muggle money. Nowhere he went had enough money to buy all of his gold, but he collected enough money to last him for at least the next five years before heading to his final destination, for he didn't want to leave a trail of gold leading right to him. His first stop for gasoline was quite an experience; he even had the muggle store owner come assist him. He felt embarrassed and lost in everything he did. He went to a market place and bought himself enough food to last him for about a month and a few extra supplies that made the clerk raise an eyebrow. In a muggle department store he bought himself some clothes, not nearly as nice as he had come to know. He drove all the way to the other side of the United Kingdom, far away from London and the cause. He drove for days until he reached Scotland and made his way to a village just outside of Aberdeen. He found a cottage in the middle of a misty wood and bought it from the land owner. He didn't even mind he didn't have an i.d. when he paid double in cash. It was a very old stone cottage with a few modern refinements like a refrigerator and a stove. There was a fireplace, and wooden floors; Artemis didn't know what to think about all this; so much had happened to him emotions were running wild throughout him, mostly anger and hurt of the betrayal he had felt. He had been betrayed by his old teacher, and his new teacher. His so called allies had tried to kill him after all he had done, he had been used. He now realized Tom's plan all along; it was never about helping him, it was just about using him as a weapon. He sent him to kill Broderick knowing what he would do, and then once he was weak and helpless…all these thoughts of betrayal made him furious. Nevertheless his anger gave him purpose and he made the best out of his new lodgings.
Artemis had to hide any magic that still may have resonated from him, including his wand; less they try and find him, which he was certain they would. He put his wand in thin long-mirror lined box he got at the Apothecary and buried it under the floorboards. He bought sixty eight cylinders of salt from the muggle store and encircled his entire cabin with a circle of thick salt. He hung charms around his new home that he got in Diagon Alley. All those stories about keeping witches away with lines of salt are complete nonsense, although they do have some merit. People thought they were safe from the magic of a witch if they hung amulets in their house. What they were really safe from was the magical means they might use to find you. One of the books Artemis had bought was "Living as a Muggle-For the Witch or Wizard Looking to Embrace the Simple Life" There was an entire chapter about ensuring that no magical beings could find you.
"In order to ensure that your new life as a muggle will not be interrupted by any magical beings, such as dementors, elves, or even other witches and wizards; take these few steps to guarantee your new life be a magic-free one.
Bury your wand, staff, or other magical casting tools in a mirror lined box and hide it underground. Either under floorboards, buried in dirt or hidden in a basement. Magical tools still emit magical energies even though you don't use them anymore. Mirrors have always been able to deflect spells; so in order to block the magical signals the mirror lined box prevents any magic from escaping and having it underground will prevent any magic that may leak out not to be resonated by the air.
Encircle your new establishment with a thick line of salt. Salt is an absorber of water and other impurities in the air, this includes magic. Any magic you may still be resonating from your home will be caught by the circle. NOTE: If you leave the circle, obviously it can no longer hide you.
Hang some protective charms and amulets above your door, windows and bed. Magic escapes mostly when we sleep, so hanging amulets over the exits and above your bed will prevent magical residue from unknowingly leaving your new home.
*All of the following methods will not only eliminate any magic you may be resonating, but also will repel any magical locating charms that someone might use to find you.
There were whole chapters on how and where to buy muggle supplies, equipment, clothes, food, and so on. There was even a small footnote in the chapter on driving on how to pump gas. Artemis could tell this book would come in very handy. Some other books he bought were: "Defending Yourself Without Magic", "Muggles and Their Peculiar Ways", "The Theory of Muggle Life", as well as many spell books, and parchments of all the music he could find as to study as much as he could until his powers returned. He had purchased many magical items that he could still use even though he was a muggle. Such as instant darkness powder (for escaping if need be), fire crystals (to make a fire easily), flue powder, exploding rocks for his enemies, and planted some devil's snare as well as fanged geraniums around his new home. Hopefully these could hold back any intruders until he could prepare for them.
As soon as he was settled in, he came up with a system; he would go to the nearby village and shop for food and supplies and equip himself for months at a time. Whenever he needed money he would go to a faraway jeweler or goldsmith and get enough money to last him for a few years. He would wash his clothes in the nearby stream and cook his dinners on the stove. He still had his gun and bought several bullets for it, lucky he already had the gun because as he had come to understand it is much easier to buy bullets than an actual gun. He would survive; he would not roll over and die like they might expect him to do. No, he would live on; he would fight for his survival. Anger and hate fueled him, giving him motivation, drive, energy, purpose! Artemis carved the following on the wall above his fireplace:
6/27/1978
The day his powers would return to him, or so he hoped. Twenty years from the day they had been taken from him. In the meantime, he would plan. He would plan every detail, every person responsible and the spells he would use to kill them, every detail he would plot out, like musical notes on a staff. He would spend the next twenty years planning his revenge, the revenge of Artemis Gridlock.