Quick Summary...
For a while, all was good.
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Terry Boot, Neville Longbottom, Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, Susan Bones, Lee Jordan, and Fred & George Weasley all ended up joining the little defence club.
Artemis was not sure about Longbottom's inclusion, but Luna seemed sure that he could be important, and since it didn't hurt to include the boy who was from an old family line, he joined up as well.
The inclusion of the Slytherins Daphne and Blaise was unwanted at first by many of the others, but since their family's were mostly neutral but powerful, there was not much open grumbling even from the Weasleys.
Daphne proved to be a nice girl, if smart and ambitious. She quickly proved herself and became somewhat close to Hermione, since they shared a similar love of learning and books.
Blaise showed to the twins that he had a good sense of humor, and was as willing to work hard as Susan and Neville.
Susan, the niece of a powerful member of government, was easily accepted of course, being the quiet and friendly Hufflepuff. She also proved to have a huge stubborn streak, and could somehow keep Fred and George in line most of the time.
The twins Fred and George proved clever and creative, and quickly proved why Artemis had included them.
Lee Jordan proved why Flitwick recommended him, proving to be a natural duelist. He might not have been from a well known family, but he quickly proved to be the only one who could keep up with Harry Potter in a fight.
Terry Boot was a shy kid but every time he did speak up, it was always with something clever or thought provoking. He did seem to bond with Luna, listening quietly to her stories and asking the odd question now and then.
Of course, only Daphne and Blaise suspected that this group was mostly handpicked and likely Artemis's way of ensuring that certain people that may one day become powerful thought well of him.
After all, the group seemed to contain some of the most powerful family lines that were not dark, and a few magically powerful members of some less prominent lines. (In Daphne's mind, she figured that Hermione must actually be descended from a line of squibs, since otherwise how else would she be so powerful? She can't really be pure muggleborn!)
So for a few months they learned to fight, they learned to put aside house rivalry's, they learned that even most Slytherins hated Malfoy, they learned that Neville was actually pretty good at spells once he was taught properly, and they learned that life was better when you had more friends to share it with.
After a few months, they were fast becoming a tight-nit group, thanks to Artemis.
Then the Christmas holidays arrived. Some of the defense group were staying at school to keep Harry company, but Artemis told them that meetings would be canceled until school started up again. He was leaving to do some business over the holidays.
His only assignment to them, was that everyone staying at school had to practice transfiguring snow into an army of creatures, and could only attack with animated snow, or creatures transfigured from snow.
Here is where we catch up to current events, as Artemis watches the post owls fly away on the first day of holidays, and looks briefly at the objects he has received from various people.
Later in his office, he puts on a few portkeys he has bought which were disguised as rings, activated only by a specific code phrase. He makes sure he is looking his best before he takes up the large swan feather that he has been sent.
Checking a nearby clock for what feels like the tenth time, despite knowing exactly what time it is, Artemis holds onto the feather tightly as it activates, the portkey sweeping him away in an instant.
~ Somewhere in Italy ~
Artemis lands clumsily as the portkey drops him dizzily onto the ground. Sadly, it seems this was the only magical travel method other than a broom which would work for him, and of course it had to be one of the most unpleasant ones. Only Floo could possibly be worse, judging by the descriptions of it.
You would think that with all that magic, they would have devised something more comfortable. Seems that if I want something done right, I shall have to do it myself.
He idly muses in the few seconds it takes to regain his balance.
Artemis dusts some non-existent snow off his elegant and very expensive robes and looks around. Noting the dark and gloomy atmosphere, the full moon overhead shrouded in fog, a slight movement of shadows on the snow covered ground, and a nearby forest of dormant trees appearing skeletal in the dim light, he chuckles.
"This setting is a bit clichè is it not? I never thought to expect a sense of humor from Lord Ventranari...
Well I don't have all night, are you going to escort me, or should I call the meeting off?"
A voice from behind coldly says, "Follow me."
A silent figure appears out of the shadows, moving with a feral grace as it slowly heads into the forest, making sure to keep in sight of Artemis as he follows behind.
Artemis falls into a light meditative trance while he follows the elusive guide, snow crunching underfoot the only sound heard.
Heartbeat steady, no fear, I am not prey. Heartbeat steady, no fear, I am not prey...
Artemis brings his breathing, heartbeat, facial muscles and pupils under control. There will be no obvious signs of his anticipation and fear, not if he can avoid it.
These are dangerous people, most who make a single mistake in their presence don't live to make a second.
Soon they come to a widening of the path and a clearing up ahead. In that clearing are twelve figures standing in an almost complete circle. Each person is garbed in fine clothing as expensive as Artemis's own, and holds themselves with the same feral grace as the guide. They each seem to stand alone, only tolerating the presence of the others in the circle.
As Artemis approaches, they all turn to face him and seem to forget their differences. A glint of teeth flashing as a few lesser males try to intimidate him and the others turn to their unofficial leader slightly, wondering why this young prey is approaching when they thought they were here for an important meeting.
A smooth voice calls out, "Greetings young Artemis, we are so pleased you could make it. If you could take your place in the center of the circle, we may begin negotiations." A gracious nod from their leader Damien, as if he was not putting Artemis in a very vulnerable negotiating position where no matter where he turns, his back will be towards a very dangerous predator.
Artemis enters into the circle, ignoring all the other vampires. Facing Damien and not bothering to acknowledge the others, he nods back, as if he has been accorded the highest of honors by being in the center of the circle.
Damien quickly takes the initiative, "So young one, I have heard that you represent a powerful faction, powerful enough to be able to do what you want within Ireland, and likely able to manipulate the laws there as you please. I have also heard that you seek an alliance with us creatures of the dark. Do you seek the alliance for the government? Or is in on behalf of some dark lord we have not heard of? Why do you offer so much, in exchange for what seems to be so little? I know you are not a fool, or else you would be dead right now."
Artemis smirks his worst evil vampiric grin, making those able to see his face wonder briefly if he might be part vampire, despite that being biologically impossible.
"It is actually quite simple. While you get all the donated muggle blood you can drink, equal rights, and plenty of job offers from both the magical and muggle governments. I will be getting something very valuable to me indeed, if your people decide to take the offer and live in Ireland, defending it from all outside threats.
I get security.
A very well defended country I can live in without worrying about invasion from the outside, meaning a safe base from which I can reach out from, and do what I want without worrying about the consequences.
You and your people will be ultimately one less obstacle I have to overcome, and one I would prefer not to face for you are very deadly when you wish to be.
Thus if someone else were to try to use you against me or my people, you would be unable to accept if you were bound by my agreement first.
I don't really care what you do once you agree, so long as you do not break the oath, and do not oppose me."
"Interesting viewpoint. But you did not answer my question. That was a meaningless answer designed to placate an idiot with something they would like to hear." Anger flashes across Damien's face, but then it subsides. He continues as if he had not raised his voice at all.
"Still, you have undoubtedly heard the rumors of Britain's last Dark Lord rising once more. Why should we not join him? He would offer us much vengeance and blood. I must admit, it has grown tiresome how the British government has been pressuring the other European ones to increase legislation against non-humans. The living conditions are beginning to become unbearable, even here in Italy.
But again I must ask, what goal do you seek? What need have you to go through all this trouble simply to make sure a rumored Dark Lord does not gain our services for a few battles? Do you perhaps wish for us to eventually bestow upon you our gift of immortality?"
Sensing the danger inherent in the question, for vampires do not lightly turn anyone, he replies quite sincerely,"I have no need for your immortality, I still enjoy the sun's company on occasion and I have no desire to drink blood the rest of my existence.
Do you only care for my motives? Is there nothing else you seek from this meeting? I had thought we were here to haggle over the finer points of the agreement we have discussed in letters."
A single brow arches in question.
"Young one, you know very well that the deal you are offering us is the best one we have received in hundreds of years. I am well aware that I would not gain an inch more from haggling over the details, except the illusion that I had gained more.
Unlike the wizards, I have had many dealings with the muggle world, and I have certainly heard of you and your notorious past. I am not one to underestimate you, like so many of your enemies have, so do not treat me like a fool. The only thing that matters now, is why you are doing this. That will determine whether or not I accept, and whether or not the other leaders of the clans agree as well."
Damien glares over at Artemis, taking in every detail of the boy, and observing every heartbeat, every breath.
Artemis stands still for a few seconds, thinking a thousand different lies, a hundred possible answers, wondering what the vampire is looking for, which answer would work the best.
Briefly he wonders if perhaps the truth would serve him best, but quickly dismisses that thought. These are vampires after all, they would not believe him if he told the truth, or they would turn on him in fear. Artemis barely understood the reasons himself, for there were many things pushing him to make the alliances he was cultivating now.
Selecting one answer he hoped would at least not offend, Artemis opens his mouth to speak when Damien interrupts.
"Stop, I will not listen to a lie. If you wont answer truly, I shall find the truth myself."
With barely more than a blur of motion, the most powerful vampires in Europe reaches out and grabs Artemis by the shoulder.
Before Artemis can think more than Darvit!, fangs sink into his neck. As the pain begins to register, the blood begins to flow into the Vampire Lord Damien Ventranari.
The blood flows, emotions, memories, and stray thoughts begin to cross over, as Damien seeks the truth behind everything. A good long minute passes where despite the pain and loss of blood, Artemis dares not struggle, dares not make a single sound. For if he does, he could very well set off the predator instincts in the vampire, insuring a swift death as his throat is torn open.
The shock fades as the second minute passes, then a third, with no end in sight his thoughts begin to race, perhaps he might actually die...
Darvit, I can't die now! I've barely begun.
I was too arrogant, I should have not tried to lie, but how did he know? I gave nothing away.
Darvit! It cannot end like this, I wont let it.
There must be a way out of this, a way to live. I don't want to die, not yet, not till I know...
Portkey wont work, Damien would be brought along, and would snap my neck the instant we landed.
I can't fight, I can't even speak to bargain for my life.
There is nothing I can do, is there...
A million ideas, and nothing would work, unless I wanted to speed up my death.
At least the longer I live, the greater the chance that something might happen to spare me...
Who am I trying to deceive? The odds are less than .0001% if Ventranari doesn't stop on his own.
Darvit this hurts!
I really wish something would happen, anything, an earthquake or meteor even...
A fourth minute passes...
I feel slightly dizzy, it's a good thing he is holding me up now, and it's getting harder to breath, classic symptoms of blood loss.
Interesting, I've had enough blood loss to experience that slight feeling of euphoria I read about, well at least it doesn't hurt so damned much now.
I wonder when I will pass out, it can't be much longer if he keeps on draining my blood. No more than another few minutes...
I can already feel my higher brain functions beginning to slow, how unfortunate.
The fifth minute...
Not how I always imagined I would die, better than some death's out there I suppose.
Always thought it would be an assassins bullet to the head. Least that would have been quick.
I wish butler was here...
Blackness begins to intrude on the edge of his vision...
AN: Ooooooh, cliffhanger! Short chapter I know, but it ended in a nice little cliffhanger, I couldn't resist breaking it up into a shorter piece and posting it sooner. Tune in to see what happens next! Next update may be in a month, may be in a week, might be in a few months for all I know. But it will eventually come, for this story is too good to be abandoned! :P