/𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒\ [𝒔. 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌]

𝟑.𝟙𝟙.𝟤

"beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all." ~ John Keats

~may 1974~ (continued)

They sat in silence for another few moments, still under the tree, just taking in the summer breeze and the conversation they'd just had. Artemis was the first to stir. "Wait... Sirius," she said slowly, "-why can't you go stay at James's?"

Everyone looked at Sirius, who shot Artemis a disgruntled look and shrugged. "I dunno, family stuff."

"What sort of family stuff?" Artemis pressed. While they were on the subject of honesty with Remus, she was sick of all the other secrets hanging over her friends.

Sirius scowled. "Probably the same sort of family stuff that brings you into school with a bunch of bruises all over your face every year. Wanna talk about that?"

That stung. Artemis bit down hard on the inside of her cheek. "I dunno, wanna talk about the bruises you had after Christmas this year? How about that?"

The other boys looked back and forth between Artemis and Sirius like they were watching a pingpong game. James cleared his throat loudly. "Well, while we're giving explanations for our strange behavior, I actually wouldn't mind knowing what you two get up to on your holidays. You both always come back all weird and-"

"Yeah," Remus said quickly, "-I've been wondering the same thing, actually."

Artemis and Sirius's eyes met and a silent understanding passed between them. Artemis was still upset over Sirius's comments, but they were in the same boat now. She took a deep breath. "I- ah- my dad died when I was ten. The year before I came to school. He- ah- he was from this dark wizarding family- the Goyles- but he didn't want anything to do with them."

"The Goyles?" James interjected. "Like- like Percy Goyle? And Gregory Goyle? The Slytherins?"

Artemis grimaced. "My brother and my cousin. They... we don't talk much." Then, remembering that they were being honest, she added, "My brother, Percy, sort of rejected my mum because she's a muggle. She's... not his mum, but she raised him. Anyways, my mum doesn't have much money and she doesn't really know anything about the wizarding world, so she sent me to live with my aunt and uncle on the Goyle side while she sorts her own stuff out. That's where... well, they don't like me much. Because I'm a half-blood and they hated my dad and there's just a lot of family drama and stuff."

"So they give you the bruises?" James looked ready to kill someone.

Artemis nodded mutely. Then, she took a deep breath. "Anyways, that's about it. It's okay when I'm at school. I mean, Percy doesn't talk to me and sometimes my uncle writes me letters, but it's not really a problem until the holidays."

"That's not something you needed to hide," Remus said softly. "If we'd known... I mean, you could stay with any of us on the holidays."

"Not me," Sirius said darkly. Everyone looked up at him. He seemed to catch himself and shook his head hard. "I mean, I'd let you if I could. It's just... my family's really similar. Bunch of dark wizards. They hate me for getting in Gryffindor and... being me. It's pretty much the same situation as yours, actually. They write me sometimes and it makes me want to punch a wall, but it's the holidays that are the real problem." He was mainly looking at Artemis as he spoke, knowing she would react the right way. For once, they were exactly the same, operating on one wavelength tied together by their situations in life.

She nodded solemnly. "Holidays are the worst."

"The absolute worst," Sirius agreed.

James looked simultaneously helpless and like he was finally understanding his friends for the first time. "I can't let you guys go back there," he said at last, his voice decisive. "Come stay with me this summer. My parents won't care and we've got the room. It'll be fun, I swear, and-"

Sirius and Artemis were already shaking their heads. "Can't," said Sirius. "My brother needs me at home. My parents aren't as bad to him, but I've got to be there just in case they get bored of harassing the house-elves and decide to use him as their punching bag while I'm gone."

"And my aunt and uncle would never let me stay with you anyways," Artemis said glumly. "Besides, I want to be around just in case something happens with my mum. I worry about her."

"You shouldn't have to," Peter said, frowning. "Neither of you should have to worry about that stuff."

James nodded. "Exactly. Look, if you can't come stay, you at least have to write to me. Both of you. I expect weekly letters telling me exactly how you're doing and if you need any help at all. I'll be there if you do."

"Same goes for me," said Remus. "And if you don't write, I'm storming down your family's doors and going full werewolf on them."

This, at last, got a laugh out of everyone. It felt good to laugh after such a serious conversation. "That's something I'd love to see," Artemis said ruefully. "But yeah, I'll write to you both. Thanks, by the way."

"Yeah," said Sirius. "Thanks. You know, for caring and... stuff."

James reached over and threw his arms around his friend, hugging him tightly. Sirius looked mildly uncomfortable, but hugged James back, trying to hide his smile. James hugged Artemis next, who took the gesture with more grace than Sirius had. "Well-" She sat back on her heels and dusted her jeans off, "-that conversation was... enlightening."

Remus let out a short laugh. "I think we all know more about each other than we ever thought we would."

"I, for one, don't have a problem with that," said James. "At least now I know what the hell's wrong with all of you."

"Except for Peter," laughed Sirius, ruffling the back of Peter's hair affectionately. "We still don't know what the hell's wrong with him."

They stayed under the tree, relaxing in the sun, the conversation veering into finals and the upcoming quidditch championship for another hour before Artemis finally stood up and dusted the grass from her jeans. "Mary's over there, I'm going to go hang out with her," she said, giving Remus a small smile.

"Bored of us already?" James said, lazily running his fingers through his hair.

"Always," Artemis said with a wink. "I'll see you lot later." She ruffled Peter's hair and then turned to meet Mary at a bench a few feet away. "Hey," she said, and Mary looked up from her sketchbook.

She smiled and closed the book. "What's up?"

"Bored."

"Wanna go for a walk?" Mary asked, standing up and stowing her sketchbook away in her bag.

Artemis smiled at her. "Yeah, let's go."

The girls started off across the grounds, walking on the edge of the trees lining the lake. The evening was just touching the grounds, the golden light of the falling sun shining on Mary and Artemis's hair and glittering on the lake. "How're you doing?" Mary asked softly. "With the whole Jonas thing and going back to stay with your uncle and everything?"

"How'd you know I'm going back to stay with them?" said Artemis, dodging the question.

Mary reached down to pick one of the wildflowers growing under the trees. "You've been getting letters from him and you've been sort of moody lately, so I just sort of assumed."

"You're so smart, Mar."

"You didn't answer my question."

Artemis laughed. "I'm doing fine. With all of it. The Jonas stuff doesn't matter anymore and the stuff with my uncle... is fine. It's just two months and then I'll be back here, you know?"

"But you'll be okay this summer?" asked Mary. "Two months can be a long time." She reached down to pick another flower, starting a bouquet.

Artemis's eyes softened at her. Mary was just good. Her voice was gentle when she talked about Artemis's family and she held her flowers with delicate fingers like they could fall apart at any second. "I'll be okay," Artemis answered, but she wasn't sure. "Really, Mary. It's not so bad."

"Okay," said Mary, nodding. "Are you ready for finals?"

Artemis laughed. "God, no."

"Shut up," Mary giggled. "You always do great."

"I haven't studied."

Mary shrugged. "Then you're just naturally smart. Here-" She reached out and gently turned Artemis's head to the side, tucking one of the fire from her handful into Artemis's hair, her lips forming a careful smile.

"Mary, you're so adorable," Artemis laughed, wrapping an arm around Mary's shoulders as they continued their walk.

"I know," said Mary. "Oh, look, there's Dorcas. Hold on." She released herself from Artemis's arm and headed over to where Dorcas was studying on a blanket in the evening light.

She looked up when Mary approached and smiled at her. Everyone in the castle had a soft spot for Mary. "Hey, what's up?"

"Here, I picked these," Mary said, holding out the flowers.

Dorcas's smile grew. "They're for me?"

"Yeah, I thought they were pretty and they sort of reminded me of you because you always wear green. You can put them in your dorm."

Dorcas took the flowers and buried her face in them to smell them. "They're beautiful, Mary. You're so sweet. Thanks."

"Yep!" Mary said brightly, then turned back to join Artemis walking back up to the castle in the golden light.