Yes, he's deaf. Will that make learning magic difficult? Yup. I can never make things easy for my characters or myself, lol.
"Remus, do we need anything from the village?" Artemis signed after having dragged his attention away from the paper he was reading.
"Ah, are you going out?" Remus said, signing as well as he'd now gotten used to the language for the most part.
He'd had over a year to learn and Artemis was surprisingly a decent teacher once he understood people wanted to help. He was growing up well now too, Remus noted. With frequent meals and a roof over his head, Artemis had filled out some and had settled more into himself. He was no longer a mangy, feral boy who snarled at people and hid from the world because of what he was. Now, he was comfortable with himself and despite his condition and disability, he was learning and thriving.
Remus was almost… grateful that Dumbledore had suddenly dropped him off with hardly a word. He had company and someone to talk to. He'd lived such a lonely life after what happened to James, and Sirius being imprisoned. Artemis was a breath of fresh air that helped Remus as much as Remus helped him.
A hard rap on the table drew Remus out of his thoughts as Artemis frowned. Yet another change to the boy. He'd begun to show emotions more and more. He was so well-behaved though, that Remus wished he'd be more… rambunctious or mischievous.
"Sorry," he signed with a small smile and Artemis huffed and signed back.
"We need bread."
"Yes. Some eggs too, if you could," Remus said, getting up and digging through his money to take out what the boy would need. "This should be enough. I added a little more if you'd like something for yourself."
Artemis took the money and shot him a look as he signed. "I'll get the bread and eggs."
Remus sighed at his stubbornness but let him go out to the nearest village with only one complaint. "I wish he'd be a little more selfish."
Artemis, though, had no such thoughts. He knew they didn't have much money even with Dumbledore's allowance. He'd lived off of nothing but stealing food or hunting in the forest. He wasn't about to spend money on things they didn't need. As it was, Remus had used a good portion just to help Artemis learn. The boy felt obligated to pay him back for caring about him. So he always did his best to be good and stay out of the way.
Artemis was just happy to have someone there for him. He couldn't remember a time when he was cared for.
His past life chimed with a silent scolding for his dark thoughts, flashing a few brief images of smiling faces and bone-crushing hugs. Artemis smiled a little, mentally thanking them for trying to cheer him up. His memories hadn't come back at all and despite their searching, neither Remus nor Dumbledore had found any sign of his family. Without memory of them, Artemis wasn't too upset by it and he preferred it that way.
He sometimes worried about what would happen if he did remember. He didn't want to leave Remus or their quiet house in the forest. He didn't want to find out if they hated him for being deaf or for turning into a werewolf. His past self had brought up the question once before on where he learned to sign. They weren't very forthcoming about whether it was their skill or one he'd learned before; perhaps they didn't remember either. It was also possible his parents had taught him but something about that felt wrong somehow. Trying to think back to that time made him feel uneasy anyway so he'd rather leave it be.
He stepped into the village cautiously at first, hoping no one had seen where he'd come from. While their home wasn't too far out in the forest it was protected with charms to prevent their discovery and was deep enough in to prevent their werewolf selves from rushing into the small town if they escaped their sheds. Thankfully, such a thing hadn't happened but it still meant that there were some suspicions as to where Artemis and Remus lived. Enough to draw attention from the younger villagers, anyway.
As he moved into the center of town where the shops were, he could already feel eyes on him. They weren't exactly a threat—the oldest was maybe fourteen, near three years older than him—but they unnerved him. Artemis tried to shake the feeling off, knowing that if he dwelled on it for too long his instincts from living alone would send him running back home without any food.
He decided the bakery would be his first stop and stepped into the building, grateful when the door closed behind him and cut the stares off as the woman behind the counter smiled at him. She greeted him happily, asking how he was doing and never really expecting much of a response. The villagers knew he was deaf and treated him surprisingly well despite it. They didn't know how to sign but Artemis could deal with their exaggerated way of speaking and hand motions well enough.
He picked out a few loaves of bread that the woman packed up for him as he held up what he owed. She waved him off as he left and he turned toward the general store next to get eggs. He tucked the bread into his bag for now, holding tightly to it since Remus had gotten it for him on his tenth birthday. It was the first item he'd been given that was his and it was precious to him. That, and Remus had charmed it with magic so only he could open it and it could hold far more than any regular bag.
Discovering magic because of Remus had been a bit of a shock but he loved watching even the simplest of spells be performed. Despite not knowing if he had magic himself, he still hung on every word Remus said about it and listened to any tips or tricks he could offer. Eleven, he said. I'll know when I turn eleven. I'm so close. Artemis had grown a little anxious the closer his birthday was and hoped every day that he would get the chance to learn magic himself.
He bought a dozen eggs and left the store only to bump into someone. It was the oldest of the village kids—Ian—their designated leader. He was asking a question of some sort but it was hard for Artemis to understand him very well. The boy often shouted instead of just speaking normally which made it difficult to read his lips, but he also went out of his way to turn and look around at the other kids when he spoke. Artemis would be lucky to catch a quarter of what he said any given day.
Of course, not giving a response didn't help his situation but Artemis knew his actual speech was off compared to other people. He'd tried it once before with the village kids and they mocked him for being stupid. Not that Artemis cared what they thought. He just wanted to get back home at this point and went to put the eggs into his bag when they were suddenly knocked from his hand. The carton hit the ground and before Artemis could react, he was shoved as well.
He didn't care about the scrapes he received and just scrambled for the eggs in the hopes that they were somehow okay. The eggs cost money and he couldn't waste it on getting more. He couldn't care less about the other kids too, whether they were laughing or not didn't matter. If they were mocking him, so be it. He just wanted the eggs to be okay. He opened the carton and felt relief that they all appeared fine. He reached in and twisted them to be sure but then a hand grabbed one and took it.
He turned to see Ian holding it and saying something again but Artemis still couldn't understand him and Ian's face turned sour. Sensing that something bad was going to happen, Artemis attempted to take the egg back. That was a mistake. Ian was larger than he was and fatter too. A shove from Ian could easily knock the slim-bodied Artemis around but Ian grabbed him instead; shoving him back against the wall of the general store. He smashed the egg against Artemis's head, laughing as the yolk dripped from his hair and onto his clothes.
Artemis should've let it go. He should've taken the rest of the eggs and ran back home. Instead, he stayed and with one egg broken, he knew more would follow. Anger rolled in his gut at the blatant waste of food and money. He wanted to slam Ian into the wall, shout, and scold him for what he'd done. People put in a lot of work to get food, to pay for it, and eat it. This wasn't about him or his deafness that they were so determined to mock him for. This was about what was wasted and how utterly furious he was.
Then, the hold on him was suddenly gone. It startled him and Artemis looked up to try and figure out what happened to cause the sudden change. What he saw was… entirely unexpected. Ian had suddenly sprouted feathers all over his body and his nose had shifted into a beak as a red wattle hung from his chin. The beak opened and a high-pitched screech like that from a chicken rang out loud enough for even Artemis to hear with his limited hearing. The other children took off and ran as Ian rushed away as well; his hair starting to turn red and stick up on his head like a rooster's comb.
Artemis wasn't sure what happened but he wasn't about to take the opportunity for granted. He scooped up the carton of untouched eggs on the ground, stuffed them in his bag, and went sprinting out of the village. Upon returning to his home in the forest, he must have looked quite the sight. He was covered in sweat with bits of egg still dripping off his hair, breathing heavily and drawing Remus out of his study in surprise.
"Artemis? What happened?" He asked, signing with his words before stepping into the kitchen to grab a rag. "Why is there egg in your hair?"
Artemis wasn't sure where to start and just began to rapidly sign anything he could until Remus grabbed his hands to stop him.
"You're signing too fast," Remus informed him. "Start at the beginning. You went to get bread?"
Artemis nodded and tried to explain slower. By the time he got through it all, Remus's eyes had widened in surprise and understanding.
"Okay. I think I know what happened," he said, running a hand through his hair and muttering something that Artemis missed before turning back to him. "Go shower. Get cleaned up while I go deal with the village boy."
Artemis quickly went to protest, wanting the explanation that Remus seemed to have but he stopped him again.
"I'll explain when I return. You're not in trouble. I just need to deal with this before people find out."
Artemis shifted uneasily at that but Remus offered him a smile and settled a hand on the boy's head.
"I promise. Everything's fine," he said before emphasizing it with signs that Artemis begrudgingly accepted.
Remus squeezed his shoulder and stood, heading out and leaving Artemis to wonder how turning a village idiot into a chicken meant everything was fine.
Remus wasn't sure what to expect when he returned to his home but it certainly wasn't this. Artemis had tucked himself under the dining room table, wrapped in a blanket, and whining quietly like a frightened dog. Remus sighed softly and knelt down, watching the boy flinch and curl into himself some more as Remus spoke and signed for him to come out.
"I promise everything is fine, Artemis," he reassured. "If you come out, I'll be able to explain what happened easier. I know it's hard to read my lips tucked away like that."
The boy pouted slightly, making Remus smile at the hint of childishness he rarely got to see in him, before the boy signed.
"Trouble?" Remus questioned. "You're not in trouble at all. In fact, I think you'll be rather pleased to hear what I have to say."
Artemis shot him a dubious look before glancing away suddenly as though listening to something. It was an action Remus had wondered about before. Artemis could hear but the range was so limited he might as well be fully deaf. Yet, when he looked like that, it was as though he were listening to someone despite there being no one around but them. It worried Remus slightly but he hadn't had the heart to question him.
Coming to a decision, Artemis turned back and slowly nodded, allowing Remus to move away as he climbed out and the two settled in their respective seats at the table. Artemis was still wrapped in the blanket but it was fine. He had a fondness for comfort after the time he spent without it and Remus wouldn't ever judge him for that.
"Now, first, I want you to explain what happened," Remus said, making Artemis glance away with a frown.
While a quiet boy, Remus knew he had a bit of a stubborn streak. He just hadn't been able to show it much. Slowly, Artemis lifted his hands out of the blanket and explained what happened. He told Remus about the shopping and the boys who'd come after him. He explained the eggs and being angry before the boy suddenly turned into a chicken. Or, chicken-like, as it were. Remus, though, was hardly surprised. He knew the village was wary of strangers and he knew how kids could be with someone different like Artemis. What was a little surprising was what Artemis reacted to.
He didn't react to the bullying. Didn't care about the egg in his hair or getting shoved—Remus's gaze flickered to the bandages on his hand, noting that the boy had already cared for his injuries rather well—but instead, he cared about the fact that food had been wasted. Money had been wasted. Not only that, but the boy's first question to him was how the bully was doing. He's… such a good kid, Remus noted somewhat solemnly. To end up like this… A werewolf, abandoned… Merlin.
"The boy is fine," he reassured Artemis. "He won't even remember what happened, really. Just that messing with you might be a bad idea in the future."
Artemis didn't look convinced so Remus explained.
"Remember what I told you about magic?" He asked, drawing the boy's full attention now. "How you would know if you have the skill around your eleventh birthday?"
Artemis nodded.
"Well, it's coming up, isn't it? In a month?" Remus hummed, smiling already as the boy became more and more eager. "When young kids are almost eleven, they start to have magical outbursts. If they are capable of such. These outbursts can be random or, like today, can be caused by a situation of high emotion or pressure. You used magic today, Artemis."
The boy seemed stunned and Remus attempted to sign it as he repeated himself, fumbling with the sign Artemis used for "magic."
"You used magic."
Artemis signed back in question. "I did? I used magic?"
Remus nodded and the boy lit up like the sun. He didn't know how to contain his excitement and just burst up from his seat, abandoned his blanket, and took off out the door. Remus stood up, holding a hand out to stop him but the boy had always been quick. By the time Remus made it to the door, the boy was running in large circles around the edge of the clearing in front of their home. Round and round he circled the house as Remus smiled and watched from the doorway. Warbled cries of joy broke free from Artemis's mouth, words escaping him, before he turned back and tackled Remus around the waist.
Remus's heart swelled as the boy clung to him in a tight hug, slurred speech—that wasn't quite spoken word—spilling from the boy's lips as his shirt started to dampen with tears. Artemis had never allowed any form of comfort to happen between them. He was generally afraid of contact or simply avoided it as much as he could. Yet, here he was hugging Remus as tightly as his little arms could because he had discovered he could use magic.
Remus felt tears well up in his own eyes and knelt down, allowing the boy to wrap his arms around his neck as he returned the hug just as tight; resting a hand on the boy's head. Artemis couldn't hear what he said or read his lips, but that was fine. Remus didn't mind because Artemis was happy for the first time in who knows how long, and that was all that mattered.
"That's right, Arty. You are brilliant and amazing and you will learn so much," Remus breathed into his hair, before pulling back and smiling at the boy as he pawed at his face; smearing his tears. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up and then I will start teaching you some more. Okay?"
Artemis nodded, lifting his free hand to sign. "About magic?"
"Yes. About magic."
Artemis stared at the owl that was standing on the table patiently waiting as Remus sorted through the mail he'd been brought. It wasn't that Artemis was fascinated by the creature—he was used to the owls that brought Remus letters by now—he was just eagerly waiting for the letter Remus said he would get. The letter inviting him to the magical school of Hogwarts.
Remus had done his best to explain to the boy how things would work but there were a lot of words that Artemis was confused about. Words he didn't know the signs for because they were foreign to him. Once Remus broke things down, it was easier and Artemis made up signs to use for the future, but not everything was easy to explain. Knowing how this would become a struggle in school, Remus had also inquired with Dumbledore about finding him a chaperone or student who could help him in lessons.
Not that Artemis cared about any of this. He was just excited about magic and wanted to learn everything he could. Remus was happy about that, glad to finally see some childish joy in the ever-serious and cautious boy. The only problem was he was too curious for his own good. Remus had been quick to tell him the rules and laws regarding magic and as much as Artemis wanted to learn, Remus knew he would have to work twice as hard as anyone to keep up with his class.
Being deaf had its limitations but the boy almost never spoke verbally either. Remus suspected he had self-confidence issues anyway, but the boy was adamant about not speaking. He wondered if Artemis worried about how he sounded to others or if it was just an effect of his time spent alone.
Being deaf though, meant he would have issues taking in information. Teachers wondered when they spoke so reading lips wasn't always possible. There were note-taking quills he could use in lessons but he would still have to spend extra time going through them for what he needed. Having someone help with note-taking would be best which was why he reached out to Dumbledore.
Said man explained that they would have to wait until he was sorted first, unfortunately. Knowing what house he was in would allow them to pick someone who took the same classes or close to the same classes. They would have to be in his year as well, so until they had a chance to go through the new first years and ask, there was no way to pick someone right away. Dumbledore's best suggestion was him reaching out to house prefects and teachers first. Teachers could pair him up every lesson until someone was permanently chosen and prefects could tutor him as well.
The added problem of his self-inflicted muteness was more concerning. If he refused to verbally speak, then casting spells became infinitely harder. Silent casting and non-verbal spells weren't taught until the sixth year. Learning them wasn't easy and as much faith as Remus had for Artemis's learning ability, he wasn't sure how well he'd do because of the sheer difficulty. Dumbledore said he would ask around and look into things but they wouldn't know much until they saw him try to cast a spell.
Remus glanced over at Artemis who was now half-glaring at the owl. It had closed its eyes to rest and apparently ended their staring contest. Remus cracked a hint of a smile and finally came across the letter the boy was waiting for. He lightly tapped the table to get his attention and held out the letter. Artemis was quick to take it, pausing to nod his head in thanks, before carefully opening it. Remus had half expected him to tear it open in his excitement but the boy contained himself. Even with the full moon coming up though, his enthusiasm wouldn't be quelled.
Artemis read over the letter quickly before pulling out the second piece of parchment which contained his school supplies. He frowned a little before pushing the paper across the table and tapping it.
"I don't know these," he signed and Remus cracked a small smile as he signed back.
"They're your school supplies. I can take you to get them after the full moon. We have to go to…" He paused, uncertain of how to say this next bit, and instead summoned a quill and parchment to write it down.
Artemis tipped his head at the words on the page.
Diagon Alley
He mouthed the words with a puzzled frown before signing to Remus.
"A place?"
Remus nodded; speaking and signing so Artemis could read how Diagon Alley formed on his lips. "Diagon Alley has the magic shops that wizards use." He paused then, considering something. "Are you… certain you want to go?"
Artemis didn't nod like most kids would. He turned his head as though listening again, before eyeing Remus and responding.
"I do not understand."
"It will be hard," Remus explained as best he could; trying not to insult or upset Artemis. "With your…"
He waved at his ears and tapped his lips, silently explaining what he meant. Artemis considered this for a moment, thinking about those village children who had attacked him and what might occur in a magic school like Hogwarts. He thought about his lack of hearing and speaking and his past self chimed in his head. They were uneasy as well, worried about him like Remus was, but they also knew things he didn't.
There was a sense of unease and foreboding that they weren't explaining well. Flashes of things that didn't make sense. A purple turban, a giant serpent, a fiery goblet, and flashes of green light that brought a cold feeling of dread. It made Artemis nervous but his past life encouraged him too. A warm fireplace, cheerful laughter, knowledge-filled libraries, mysterious creatures, and rows of tables filled with food.
It was up to him, in the end. Danger was coming to Hogwarts but there were so many opportunities as well. His past life would help if it could and he had Remus's support. He owed Remus for what he did by taking him in. He'd be outside living half-starved still if he hadn't, or thrown to a werewolf pack and probably killed. This was a chance to grow stronger, smarter, and make a place for himself in this world. It was never going to be easy. Deaf, voluntarily mute, a werewolf, an orphan. It didn't matter what he was or what people thought about him. He knew what he wanted.
Artemis looked at Remus and signed to him confidently. "I will go."
Remus could tell he'd put a lot of thought into it and nodded as he gathered the other mail and passed the owl a small dead mouse.
"Then, after the full moon. Once we've recovered, I'll take you to get your school things."
Artemis nodded again and smiled, signing his thanks before bounding off outside. Remus watched him go with a soft, solemn smile hoping that this was okay. That Artemis would go and gain friends and knowledge and skills that would keep him going all through his life. He didn't want to think about the whispers regarding Voldemort's return or what dangers could lurk in Hogwarts alone. He just wanted Artemis happy and hoped he was giving him that by letting him go.
Artemis was excited and a bit nervous as the day had finally arrived for him and Lupin to visit Diagon Alley to get his school things. His past self had filled his head with images of a bustling marketplace with colorful shops and excited families. Of a bank with goblin creatures and a wand shop with an old man who always seemed to know too much. The only reason he was so nervous was the fact that he wasn't used to being around a lot of people. He'd always avoided civilization and even while living with Remus, there was only the small rural village nearby.
Remus was a little worried as well, sensing the hesitation Artemis was having as he fidgeted and occasionally got lost in his thoughts while getting ready. They were going to apparate there too, which wouldn't be entirely pleasant for the boy but Remus hoped he would handle it well. This was his chance to get a taste of what Hogwarts would be like and if he couldn't handle the crowds of Diagon Alley, then he wouldn't stand a chance in the main hall of Hogwarts. Remus hoped that wouldn't be the case though, and reached over to help Artemis with his coat. He'd gotten distracted again.
"Are you ready?" He asked in sign and the boy nodded, collecting his scattered thoughts and expectations and holding them close.
He could do this.
"You have your list?"
Artemis patted his coat pocket before Remus nodded in return and held out his arm. He'd explained the process to the boy before and once he was sure the boy was holding tight, Remus sent them off.
They landed outside the Leaky Cauldron and Remus was quick to check on Artemis. The boy looked a little pale and had staggered a bit but recovered quickly and began looking around the street with furrowed brows. Remus smiled softly and patted the boy's hand on his arm to draw his attention.
"This is the Leaky Cauldron," Remus signed, spelling out the bar's name so Artemis knew what he was talking about. "It connects the wizarding world to the muggle one."
Artemis glanced at the pub and back to Remus to sign. "It looks kinda dingy."
"It's hidden to keep muggles away," Remus explained. "Like our house. It's nicer inside."
Upon stepping in, Artemis shot him a look that said it wasn't much better than the outside but Remus ignored the look as he nodded to Tom—the bartender—behind the counter. Tom nodded back before catching sight of Artemis and giving Remus a surprised look.
"Now who's this then? Not seen you bring a kid around before," Tom commented, smiling at Artemis who just eyed him cautiously in return. "Taking him to get his school things?"
"Yes. Dumbledore asked me to look after him," Remus informed him with a grimace of a smile.
He didn't want to say much more than that. There were too many eyes and ears in the pub and in Diagon Alley. The last thing he wanted was attention brought on him or Artemis. The boy wasn't too keen on sticking around either and gave Remus's sleeve a tug, attempting to move things along. Tom, thankfully didn't push the issue and waved them off to the courtyard in the back. Given Artemis's eagerness, Remus wasted no time in tapping the bricks and letting them shift aside to reveal Diagon Alley.
Artemis's eyes lit up and his grip tightened on Remus's coat but he didn't run off or anything like some children might. Remus smiled and the boy's gaze bounced to everything he could see. Then, he turned to Remus and began to rapidly sign.
"Slow down," Remus said with a chuckle, signing back to him. "I can't read when you're going that quickly."
Artemis frowned, as though him not being able to read his quick signing was annoying. Remus was still new to things though and much like Artemis being unable to read lips when he was murmuring or speaking too quickly, it was the same for him. So, begrudgingly, Artemis slowed down his signing.
"Where are we going first? I don't know where to find the things on the list." He hesitated then before signing again. "How do other people get here? The pub was mostly empty."
"There are other entrances and they can Floo in." Remus paused, spelling out "Floo" again. "Have I told you how Floo works?"
Artemis shook his head and Remus nodded.
"Okay, then I'll explain as we get your robes fitted."
Artemis nodded, tugging on his coat to get him moving even though he hadn't the first idea of where he was going. Remus smiled softly and helped lead him in the right direction to Madam Malkin's robe shop. Artemis stopped at the door though, making Remus pause as the boy began to sign a little hesitantly.
"What about money?"
"It's fine," Remus replied back with his own signs. "The headmaster—Dumbledore—gave you money for your school things. It's separate from your usual allowance. It's okay."
Artemis didn't look entirely convinced but nodded and soon relaxed as they entered the shop. Remus knew he would save every Galleon if he could but wanted the boy to focus on enjoying his trip out more than the fact that they were spending money. Thankfully, it wasn't hard to distract him seeing how he was already looking around the store instead of paying attention to the stout witch who ran the shop.
"Here for Hogwarts then?" She asked and Remus glanced at Artemis roaming around before offering her a sheepish smile.
"Yes, sorry. He can't hear." Remus hooked his hand onto the collar of the boy's coat as he started to move past him, making Artemis frown at him. "Pay attention, Artemis. You're being spoken to."
He turned to see Madam Malkin and flushed a little in embarrassment before tugging his coat from Remus's grip and bowing his head in apology.
"It's alright, dear," she said, glancing at Remus who offered a small smile.
"He can read lips so long as you're not mentioning names. He's, um, new to the magic side of things as well." Remus wasn't sure what else to say but Madam Malkin understood well enough.
"Then, I will keep things simple. This way." She led them into the back room and gestured to a small step stool. "Right up here and stay still for me."
Artemis did as she said and once standing on the stool, she gave him a once-over.
"Can you remove your coats please so I can get accurate measurements?"
Artemis glanced at Remus who headed over to help take his coats. It left him in a long-sleeved shirt which allowed him some decency. It hid most of the scars he now had but did little to cover up how small he was. His past self chimed that it wasn't his fault that he was malnourished and not to worry about it, which was nice. They always knew just what to say to help him relax and they continued to chime idly in his head as Madam Malkin worked.
They told him about flying on brooms for some kind of sport and that he should be careful if he wants to do that because it's really dangerous. They mentioned something about houses he'd be put into and a few images of animals flickered through his mind; a lion, a badger, a raven, and a snake. He wasn't sure what that meant and it was apparent that his past self didn't like snakes based on how they huffed in the back of his mind about them. Artemis wasn't sure why. He rather liked snakes and wished he saw more of them in the forests but it was usually too cold.
There was a light pat on his arm then, drawing his attention to Madam Malkin as she offered him a smile.
"All done, my dear," she said, whisking off the fitted robe and packing it away for him as he got off the stool.
Remus paid her for them and thanked her as Artemis offered her a small bow as well and they returned outside. Remus packed away his things into the bag he'd brought, muttering about having his old school trunk somewhere back home as they continued to shop. The rest of their shopping went along a bit easier since they only had to mention Hogwarts before the shopkeepers handed them their supplies for Artemis's first year. He soon had his books, cauldron, potion supplies, telescope, scales, parchments, quills, ink, and vials. The supplies were split between his bag and Remus's and there was only one thing left.
"We need to get you a wand next," Remus signed to the boy who was still giddy with excitement about everything they'd done and seen. "It's a bit of a… process. It might take some time so we can get something to eat after."
Artemis didn't mind and Remus led him to Ollivander's with a hint of caution.
"The shopkeeper can be a bit… strange," he informed Artemis as they entered, earning a curious look before he glanced off again.
His past self found something about his caution amusing but gave Artemis the small comfort of knowing that whatever happened in the shop, Ollivander was someone to be trusted. It was… odd for their past selves to be so open to a stranger and for them to do so meant Artemis was suspicious as to what might occur once in the shop.
A bell chimed quietly as they stepped in and, while the shop looked rather small, Artemis suspected that it had more to do with the thousands of thin wand boxes piled up around the room. Already though, Artemis was starting to feel that caution was well-founded on Remus's end. The room felt as though it were softly buzzing, vibrating across his skin despite the coats he wore. There was certainly magic here in these walls and Artemis wasn't sure how he felt about it. Remus flinched then—Artemis catching the movement out of the corner of his eye—and he turned to see the older man who'd appeared before them.
Artemis eyed him in much the same manner as Ollivander did before Remus cleared his throat and explained to him the communication barrier as he had with a few other shopkeepers.
"Artemis is deaf, unfortunately, but he can read lips," he said, signing along with his words as he turned slightly to Artemis. "This is Mr. Ollivander. He'll help you pick out a wand."
He spelled out the name for Artemis who turned back to the man and bowed a little, earning a small smile.
"Artemis, was it?" Ollivander hummed, glancing over at Remus. "And Remus Lupin. Ten and a quarter inches, cypress, and unicorn horn. Pliable. I'm sure it's done you some good, yes?"
Remus nodded with a small, hesitant smile himself. "Yes."
"Good, good. Now then, Mr. Artemis Lupin—"
"He's not—" Remus paused, glancing at Artemis and feeling a smidge of guilt for having gone to correct Ollivander.
Artemis was at this point, almost like a son to him. It may have only been two years or so but still, they'd grown close. The thought of adoption flickered through his mind but he set it aside for now. It needed some thorough consideration before he just went jumping in.
"I am simply caring for him at the moment," Remus explained softly, not signing this time as though trying to hide what he was saying from the boy. "We—I do not know of his family origins."
"Young Artemis then," Ollivander said, paying little mind to the slipup and eyeing the boy with quiet curiosity. "Your dominant arm please."
Artemis blinked, a little confused as Ollivander pulled out a tape measure and the boy held out both his arms. Ollivander was a little dumbfounded as well, turning to Remus.
"Both?"
Remus nodded as Artemis turned to him to try and keep up with what was being discussed as he signed. "Yes. He uses both hands to write, anyway."
"Interesting," Ollivander chirped, moving back to the boy and starting to measure every part of him, despite having only asked for his arms.
He stayed rather quiet as well, something that made Remus a little curious. He remembered when he got his first wand and how Ollivander rattled on and on about the cores, wood, and a smattering of wand lore that new, young children would understand. Perhaps, it's because Artemis is deaf? It made sense, given how Ollivander was moving around the boy, making it harder for him to read the man's lips. Remus could sign for him but even he was a little uncertain how well the translating would go. They still hadn't come up with signs for a lot of magical things, much less for the intricacies of wand lore. Artemis was still a little uncertain though and signed to Remus.
"What is he saying?"
"Nothing," Remus signed back silently with a shrug, making the boy frown lightly before Ollivander took a step back and tucked the measuring tape away.
"Now then, all of the wands I make have a core of a powerful magical substance," he explained, having been silent until now for the sake of the young, deaf boy. "Unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and heartstrings of dragons are most common."
Ollivander paused there as Artemis's brows furrowed and he turned to Remus, signing out the spelling of the words he was confused about.
"Sorry," Remus apologized to Ollivander. "There are some things in the magical world he doesn't quite know yet. Um…"
Remus dug through the bag of his items and pulled out a book on magical creatures. Relief flowed through him at having pictures to explain the creatures he hadn't explained to Artemis yet. Artemis understood far faster then and his eyes lit up in curiosity as he turned back to Ollivander who was being patient with the boy. Remus fumbled putting the book away when Artemis began rapidly signing again, leaving him to try and translate.
"H-He's asking how you get the cores," Remus explained, scratching the back of his head because of some of the new signs Artemis was creating on the spot.
Unicorn was a bit obvious, given the two fingers the boy used to make a horn. Dragon was a little harder but he understood it in the context since Artemis made a motion as though he were breathing fire. Phoenix was the final one, easily translated since he just used the sign for bird. I'm going to need a dictionary of his new signs at some point, Remus noted with a small sigh.
"Very carefully," Ollivander replied with a smile at Artemis, who pouted at the generic answer. "Though I don't harvest them myself, usually. I'm hardly going to walk into a dragon's den."
The wandmaker stepped away then, going through the boxes and pulling a few out to stack on the counter; turning to face Artemis when he spoke.
"There are other cores as well, though those are the main three and despite that, no two Ollivander wands are the same. Therefore, you can't just trade wands with someone and get good results. Here. Try this one first." He slid a box over and Artemis approached as he opened it. "Dogwood and unicorn horn, ten inches, pliable. Give it a flick."
Artemis picked it up, twisting the wood between his fingers and bringing his other hand up to slide over the wood. Ollivander watched curiously, wondering if the boy had other senses he'd honed due to his lack of hearing that may affect how a wand might match up with him. Artemis frowned lightly then, glancing at Ollivander and begrudgingly flicked the wand. A mug nearby shattered, making the boy wince and place the wand quickly back in its box.
"Curious," Ollivander hummed, glancing past him to Remus. "Has he shown any signs of magic sensitivity?"
Remus shook his head. "No. Not that I've seen. He's… overly cautious but I've not witnessed things like magic making him uncomfortable or the like. He… wasn't raised right before he fell into my hands. I assumed his caution was from that."
"Perhaps both," Ollivander suggested, giving the boy a smile despite his disgruntled expression.
Artemis didn't care for people talking about him when he was right there. Not that Ollivander was being secretive about anything. He was within view of Artemis, so the boy could read his lips and understand but it still felt a little insulting.
"And this one," Ollivander hummed, passing him another box. "Sycamore and dragon heartstring. Eleven and a quarter. Whippy."
Again, Artemis picked it up and ran his fingers over the wood, studying it in his own way. He was more comfortable with this one but upon flicking it, a stack of wand boxes were thrown across the room. This process went on for some time until Artemis had enough. Ollivander had placed another box on the desk but the boy scowled and folded his arms, refusing to touch it. Nervously—Artemis had never acted like this before—Remus tried to work out what was going on.
"Artemis, you need a wand."
Artemis turned to him with a frown as well, signing away. "This is pointless. It'd be easier if I just found the wand myself."
"Artemis, you can't choose your own wand. I'm sure Ollivander—"
"Perhaps," Ollivander interrupted, "he is correct in this case. I almost never allow people to choose their own wands, however, there are times when their input could be necessary."
Remus was hesitant but nodded and Artemis huffed softly as Ollivander led him toward some of the tall stacks of wand boxes. The boy wandered around the shop, eyeing the different boxes and occasionally running a finger over them before he'd tap a box for Ollivander to pull out. By the time he'd gone through the whole shop, there were four boxes on the counter. Ollivander opened each one and said nothing as Artemis picked them up one by one without flicking them. He lingered on the third one the longest but went back over them all to be certain until he picked up the third and gave it a flick.
"Willow and thestral tail hair," Ollivander hummed as the warm light from the tip of Artemis's wand faded. "Springy. Ten and a half inches. Yes, an excellent choice. Perfect for silent casting and strong for those who understand themselves. I hope it will serve you well, Young Artemis."
Wand found, they paid and left Ollivander's to go find something to eat. Artemis wasn't picky and once they were nearly done Remus spoke up.
"If you'd like, we can get you an animal to go with you," he explained. "Hogwarts allows cats, toads, and owls usually."
Artemis wrinkled his nose, as though the option of having another mouth to feed wasn't worth it, but Remus wanted him to have the full experience of Hogwarts without concern about money.
"We have plenty of money left over from what Dumbledore gave us for your supplies," Remus informed him. "They don't eat much and can hunt their own food as well. We can look, at the very least, and if there's nothing you care for I will leave it."
Artemis nodded in agreement and they were soon standing in Magical Menagerie. Remus was almost jealous of the boy's deafness with all the screeching and squawking happening in the cramped room of cages. Still, he kept an eye on Artemis as he started to walk through the creatures on display.
Nothing seemed to really keep his interest other than a grumpy-looking cat who watched him from a high shelf. He bypassed the sleek black rats who were showing off in the hopes of getting picked and he'd seen enough owls to not really want one. Who would he send letters to anyway other than Remus, who could easily get mail from a school owl? Artemis also didn't care for any of the other cats and while the one had caught his interest, it wasn't enough for him to want it.
There were a few other creatures that he didn't know much about, but because of that, he felt he wouldn't be able to care for them even if the school allowed them. He gave the shop one more pass, about ready to give up on having a pet, when something moved in the shadows.
It was a tank in the far back of the shop, almost hidden away with a few other creatures. The toads were nearby but this movement wasn't a hop or a flapping of wings. No, Artemis recognized it and went right up to the glass tank. Inside was a sleek black snake, rather large but not too much. He could easily hold it with one arm if he wanted but the serpent had caught his attention quickly.
Artemis had always liked snakes. Ever since he'd come across one while in the forest—a small grass snake—he'd had a fascination with them. Finding one here seemed rather curious and he immediately turned to Remus. Said man was hesitant about his final pick. For one, it wasn't a pet that was on the list of accepted creatures Hogwarts allowed. Not that he couldn't request an exception and not that students didn't slip in all manner of other creatures, but still. Add that to the fact that they didn't know what house he would be in and the potential bad luck that might occur because of his choice, and Remus's concern was understandable.
That being said, Artemis looked overjoyed at having found the creature. Remus knew the boy would take care of it well, given he wasn't like other children who might push that responsibility onto their parents. That, and Remus was quite the pushover when it came to the boy; something he was finding out rather quickly. So, begrudgingly, he summoned the shopkeeper to ask her about the snake.
It was some sort of python, apparently, and was going to be used for potion ingredients but she'd thought she might make more off of it by selling it to someone with a unique interest. When it had struck at a passerby who was looking at it, she'd moved it to the back and changed her mind about the whole thing. He was due to be dealt with by the end of the month but obviously, Artemis wanted to prevent that.
Remus was a bit concerned when she'd mentioned the apparent aggression but one look at Artemis eyeing the snake through the glass as it watched him in return sealed the deal. All they had to do was take the serpent off her hands and she gave them quite the discount as well. It was more than what she would've gotten out of it for potions but wasn't any more expensive than one of the toads.
Once the purchase was made, the witch removed the charms preventing the tank from being opened and went to levitate the snake into a bag for them, but Artemis moved before she could.
"Ah, wait!" She called out but he was unable to hear her and she ended up surprised when he easily scooped up the snake.
Its forked tongue flickered out, brushing against his nose, making him wrinkle it but the serpent remained calm and allowed him to twist it around his hands and arms for a good look. After a moment, it finally chose to move and slipped up the arm of his coat. Artemis hunched his shoulders as the cold scales made their way up his arm and soon the snake had settled up around the back of his neck. It folded itself across his shoulders so it wasn't in a position to choke him or fall, and relaxed as Artemis smiled at Remus.
Relieved nothing dangerous had occurred and being glad the boy had made such a connection—even if it was with a snake of all things—Remus let out a sigh and purchased some food for it as well. As long as he's happy, he mused as they walked out and he made a note to ask Dumbledore for permission for the snake. As unexpected as it was, this was what Artemis had chosen and the boy couldn't be happier.