Ch. 17-

"Well it's about time you boys got back", said Desra keeping herself busy by filing her black nails very posh-like in expectation of their arrival. Artemis and Xavier both drew their wands only to be met with her snide laugh. "Is this the thanks I get for helping you out back in Transylvania?" Both Artemis and Xavier looked at one another in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Inquired Artemis.

"Oh please, did you think Barnabus and Nigel just happened to walk into the very village you were staying at. Come now Artemis you're supposed to be wicked smart." Xavier chimed in.

"They were there delivering blood to the vampires." They've never actually been to the vampire cave. The normal procedure is to leave the barrels at the base of the mountain and in the morning they're gone. No, I knew you had headed off to see the vampires after Snape caught you snooping around the blood barrels."

"You knew that was me?"

"Of course, I knew Tiberius had been done for days, I bloody saw you do it", she said with a smirk.

"Then why did you mention right in front of me that you had been manipulating my feelings for Adora, and were going to lead me into a trap!"

"Oh use your brain Artemis. I lied to him; I've been lying to him ever since you've been back. I sent the Procters to you so you could kill them off." Artemis cut her off with anger.

"YOU NEARLY GOT US KILLED!" Desra was taken aback for a moment but then gave a snide snicker and stood and approached Artemis, getting close to him.

"I knew you could do it Artemis, you're a big boy aren't ya. I figured you could handle yourself, and here you are; sound as a pound. Besides they were both under my imperious curse, they wouldn't have killed you. Now maybe we can get down to real business." Artemis and Xavier looked at each other; both apparently having the same conflict; whether or not we can trust her. She paced round the room touching random objects as she spoke.

"The Dark Lord is getting desperate, he's looking for something; something that if he finds even you won't be a match for him." Artemis wondered inquiringly about this object Tom had been searching for.

"What is he looking for?" Xavier piped up, breaking Artemis' stupor. Desra simply smiled then said.

"What do you know about the four founders of Hogwarts?" Artemis had read all about them in his twenty years. There was a lot of mystery surrounding the four, and a lot of rumors, myths and secrets; none of which were ever confirmed.

"Well you may know about the sword of Godric Gryffindor, a goblin-made sword of immense power embodying all his power. Now when he had this sword made it made Salazar Slytherin insanely jealous and angry; so in the greatest of secrecy he had his own sword made by the goblins; the sword of Salazar Slytherin." Artemis pretended not to be shocked, as he knew exactly where the sword was. "If he gets a hold of the sword the only one who will even stand a chance is Dumbledore."

"So we find the sword before he does, and use it to destroy him."

"I'm afraid destroying him wont be that easy, he's done something to himself. He's changing, becoming more powerful; immortal even."

"How?"

"Not sure, he's been disappearing now and then, and each time he comes back less human. The only one he takes with him is that damn snake of his, Nagini." All these secrets were making Artemis sick, yet another thing he had to find out, and time was running short. If Tom ever found the sword he would be impossible to conquer. Artemis pondered all this new information.

"Xavier you stay here and use my books to find out anything you can on gaining immortality. Desra you best get back before you're missed." Desra smiled and with a crack disapparated and was gone.

"What are you going to do?" Xavier asked.

"To find the sword of course." Artemis cloaked himself and set out. The snow was starting to dissipate and melt. Spring had not yet arrived, but winter was slowly dying giving glimpses of life in the plants. Just as Artemis reached the outside of Hogsmeade he felt himself lifted off the ground; being carried higher and higher, soaring into the air. Artemis struggled for his wand but could not reach it, and o matter how much he flailed he could not free himself from whatever had a hold of him. The air was zooming by so fast he could barely see where he was or where he was going. And all at once he was dropped onto the hard ground and was setting in the wet grass. He saw a white line painted on the grass and as he looked up saw he was inside a Quidditch stadium filled with people who cheered and yelled with excitement. Artemis felt he was going mad, he barely had time to reason out why he was here before something flew by at what seemed the speed of light and knocked him down. He hit the floor flat on his back and heard the spectators shout an extra loud whoop of glee. Artemis stood again riddled with confusion and again something flew by lightening fast and threw him to the ground again and again. Each time the audience roared loudly, and now Artemis was really getting pissed.

Artemis got himself up and drew his wand; floating in front of him high up was a man on a broomstick. He had dark curly hair and a goatee that was clear to see on his light skin, and was wearing what seemed like some sort of Quidditch robes. He had a cocky smile on his face and he threw his fist into the air rallying the crowd like a mighty Gladiator. His eyes met with Artemis' and he spoke above the noise of the crowd.

"Pardon my manners, name's Felix Blakewood." He said with increasing pride.

"The Quidditch star, well I didn't realize I was being abducted by a celebrity. Artemis Gridlock at your service."

"Yeah I already know you; wanted for the destruction of eleven muggle cities."

"Twelve." Artemis corrected. They both smirked at one another, clearly enjoying the pre-battle wit. "I've no quarrel with you Blakewood, but I will kill you." Artemis said with a strike of seriousness to the banter.

"Well this is a service for an old friend of mine. Dumbledore says you've got to be stopped before you pick up your old habits."

"We'll let's see if the old man can be wrong."

"Let's." And with a whoosh Felix bolted toward Artemis on his broom, but Artemis was ready for him this time and he evaporated into black smoke and Blakewood flew right through him, twirling the ebony smoke. Felix flew high up circling around and as Artemis reformed he shot curses at him, but to no avail. The spells couldn't catch him; he was simply too fast; they would come near him and dissipate or fly by him. Artemis took this moment of irritation to admire his skill on a broom. But nevertheless Artemis was finding this endeavor quite bothersome, but was thrilled to be facing a worthy adversary so he decided to enjoy the pleasure of the battle.

As Felix screamed around the arena, the crowd rallying with him all the while, charms flew past him striking the sides of the stadium. Felix flew straight up into the sky and Artemis apparated into a pillar of smoke and pursued. Artemis could hardly keep up he was so bloody fast. He threw several charms at him which none were effective as he dodged them all, it was like he had eyes in the back of his head. If he could just get next to him he could take him down. Artemis pushed himself harder and harder and finally started gaining on him. As he got closer he heard past the rush of wind.

"Absentis!" At that, several white sparks shot from Felix's wand and flew in front of Artemis' face. They blinded with obnoxious light and burned at the touch, and Artemis fought hard to fend the small white devils from him. As anger swelled inside him, Artemis pushed himself through the painful sparks and got a hold on the bristles of Felix broom. Immediately the both of them were sent into a tailspin, zooming every which way like a plane with no wings. Artemis struggled to retain his grip on them, and knew this would be his best chance of stopping him; for if he could get him off his broom he wouldn't stand a chance. Artemis pulled himself further and further up the broom until he was nearly nose and nose with Felix. Now the two were a swirling mass of black smoke billowing through the air, Artemis weight throwing off the flight of the broom. He knew now this may be the chance to knock him off his broom. Felix was fighting to keep hold of the broom and Artemis was fighting to release it, while keeping his own grip firmly on the broom's handle.

Artemis struggled to hold his wand still as he pointed it at Felix's hands and yelled "Expeliarmus!" Immediately Felix's hands shot from the broom, but he did not yet fall. For much to Artemis' disappointment Felix's legs were wrapped around the broom and his head dangled upside down, the rushing winds making a mess of his curly hair. With the misplaced weight the broom shot straight down in a nosedive, and soon they were closer to the ground, bobbing up and down like a boat on raging seas. Artemis regained himself from he nosedive and shot a spark at Felix's legs, untwining them from their hold and he fell down nearly twenty feet and landed to the ground hard on his back.

The extra weight gone, Artemis seized control of the broom and flew around were Felix lay now. The crowd booed at Artemis victory and cheered as Felix finally got himself up to a stand.

"What's the matter Blakewod? Bit lost without your broom are we?" Felix merely smiled and soon Artemis realized why. Felix waved his hand and immediately the brrom began to sense the intruder upon it and tried its very damndest to throw Artemis from it. Like a bucking bull the broom thrashed left and right until finally it threw Artemis from it and he fell to the ground as the broom flew past him and Felix merely jumped and the broom carried him away. He flew past Artemis trying to avoid his reach but as Artemis flew up he got hold again. Felix yelled before he could throw him off.

"Propero!" If Artemis thought their broom was going impossibly fast before, he could not have been prepared for what seemed close to the speed of light. Before he knew it he was shooting high into the sky and plummeting down incredibly fast. Artemis was swelling now with frustration and anger at this man he could not best. As they came close to the ground Artemis flew off and landed on his feet recomposing from his smoke state and whipped around, wand in hand and began conducting the Flight of the Bumblebee".

A swarm of black ghost-like creatures sprang from the ground near Artemis feet, shooting as fast as bullets. They chased after Felix reaching out their long bony hands; coming short each time. The entire orchestra became louder and louder and they became faster and flew just behind him, a giant swarm pursuing him, hungry for his death. Their claws were sharp and their cloaks flapped through the air. As the notes danced the creatures moved faster and faster and began to multiply growing the swarm to enormous size. Soon the swarm of dark demons were gaining on him and was now a massive swarm, and as they chased after Felix they occasionally swarmed upon the arena which when the swarm had passed it was torn apart and destroyed. The music was rising in volume and now the whole arena was enveloped in the sound. Now the swarm was a billowing black creature, a giant cloud of apparent death. The music was even faster than before and the swarm was gaining upon Felix and soon they were upon him. But now the swarm opened up like the mouth of a whale, wide and massive; and the swarm formed on all sides of him casting him into a shadow. Then it enveloped the exhausted Felix. The swarm slashed and cut then flew to the ground and crashed in the middle of the arena. The creatures evaporated into smoke and left the poor mutilated man lying in the middle of the arena.

The crowd fell to silence, the screams of panic and the shouts of support were swept away by somber silence. Artemis approached him, and saw his clothes torn apart, and his face with a large gash on it and several slashes all over him. His torn robes were soaked in blood and his face was stained red with his own life. He lay there, defeated and dying. As Artemis approached him, he saw in his face something that he had never seen before. And all of the sudden he knew that Artemis was feeling exactly what he was and Felix and he were connected in a singular moment. These were two men, trapped in a war neither truly wanted to fight. Artemis felt sorry for the man he was about to kill, he was never his enemy, never part of the plan, but even in his innocence he had to die. There were no words, only the mutual remorse of these two warriors. Felix merely closed his eyes and Artemis thought of nothing to say, only; "I'm sorry". And with a single green flash Felix was out of his misery. Artemis conjured a black sheet over him and pointed his wand to the sky and shot a blue charm which disappeared into the clouds. Then a humble thunder clap was heard and rain began to fall. The raindrops connected everyone, Artemis to Felix, Felix to Artemis and the crowd to them both. The spectators were still in somber silence, and Artemis transformed into a tower of black smoke and soared away from this place.

Sadness still welled up inside Artemis, so much so he nearly forgot where he was going. He had never felt this kind of remorse after killing someone since Arthur, and it worried him, when the time came would he do what was necessary to complete his revenge. Inside he felt an inner conflict He did take comfort in the fact that he could still fell sadness; however minuet, but feelings get in the way. His feelings for Adora lead him to make hasty decisions; his feelings about Xavier cause him to risk himself to save him and now his remorse in killing Felix made him feel, torn. But now there was work to be done.