Monday, June 6th, 1992:
The exam results were sent out to all of the students. Overall, Artemis came out on top of most of her subjects; Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, and Potions, however, Hermoine did beat her in the remaining classes.
Turns out being the teacher's pet helped her a lot.
Since Artemis discovered and created a cure for dragon bites at the young age of 11, she was credited as the daily prophet. She had a 5-page spread in the wizarding newspaper. Over 5000 words were written about how great of a Witch she is. Her mother cried when she heard the news when she got off the train at Kings Cross station; she had picked up the young witch and spun her around, muttering how proud she was of her daughter.
When the Malfoy's found out that their son had a part to play in finding the cure, Narcissa had the same reaction as celeste, Lucius even cracked a smile, even though it was brief Draco felt joyful since his father showed him praise instead of his incessant scolding. Blaise, Theo, and Daphne's parents had the same reactions, even Daphne's younger sister congratulated her when she found out the news.
Slytherin winning the house cup for the 7th time in a row only increased the pride many purebloods already felt. The ambition that was commonly embedded into the DNA of Slytherins only intensified, as they wanted to hopefully win the cup again next year.
The journey back home felt like complete bliss for Artemis, minus the small altercation she and her friends had with a couple of Gryffindors and even one Ravenclaw called Cho Chang. The fight involved many jinxes and hexes that were easily blocked by the Slytherins, however, the opposing students didn't have much luck since they ended up on the train floor.
No one died...sadly. However many were injured and before the pureblood five could get caught they already disappeared from the scene. During the last hour on the train, their compartment had to be locked, with both spells and the manual lock that was attached to the door, since a bunch of other Slytherins tried to get in and try to gush over them all.
Blaise even had to punch Crabbe multiple times since he almost knocked his cousin off her seat which resulted in Draco making Artemis and daphne sit next to the windows, while the boys sat closer to the train door.
Parkinson tried claiming that she was Draco's girlfriend to get inside, which did not work. The poor boy was petrified by her words, Artemis had to calm him down by rubbing his back and whispering new ways they were going to torment the first years when they start school in September.
Before Artemis said goodbye to all of her friends, saying she would write to them over the summer. They all came together in one big embrace before going their separate ways. Draco was going to France, Theo was going on a cruise around the Caribbean and Daphne announced she was going to Gran Canaria.
Blaise and Artemis were going to Italy, visiting some of their family. Celeste and Ophelia had thought it was a good idea for their children to spend some time strengthening their Italian before they start their second year.
The day before today, it was Draco's Birthday. The emerald trio slept over at Malfoy manor before they all went abroad. Artemis bought her best friend a snake-shaped silver ring with B.A.D. engraved into the material because she wanted all of them to be matching since she had bought her own a couple of weeks after her birthday but chose not to wear it until after she finished their exams.
The three of them spent Draco's birthday surprisingly the same way they had chosen to celebrate when they were back in Hogwarts; cooped up in his room, playing games until they all passed out.
***
Sunday, June 7th:
SERAMORE MANOR:
Artemis was currently packing her clothes for her trip to Italy. She couldn't wait to see her Grandparents, she hadn't seen them in almost two years, but she still kept in contact with them, always writing about what happens in her life, whether it's extravagant or mediocre, but Septrim would always say 'nothing in a Seramore's life would ever be mediocre, that not what Merlin had in store for us.'
She loved visiting Italia, or more specifically Milan; the fashion was always on point even if the weather was foggy and humid. Her grandmother; Sapphire Seramore, opened a 'La mente' branch in the city, in the 1970s and still runs it to this day. Despite claiming that she is retired she still oversees this part of the company.
She loved the manor that her grandparents resided in, it was of course made by the Seramore building company that her distant cousins run, but for some reason, her house abroad had a better vibe than the one in Maidenhead. She claims it's due to the weather and atmosphere is better in Italy, but her mother knows it's because she feels more at home there. Despite Blaise not being Septrim's grandson, he was still his distant cousin, so the young wizard had a room in the manor.
The best part about the manor was the huge swimming pool. She had one in her current manor but she only used it when Blaise and Draco came around.
She was adding her bathing suits into her black trunk, whilst thinking back to how her mother kept stressing that it was important that she talked with her Grandfather since he had something significant to tell her.
"Sei eccitato piccolo?" Are you excited little one? Her mother's voice broke her out of her thoughts.
Artemis continued to pack, "La Risposta è Ancora sì mamma." the answer is still yes mum.
Celeste waltzes into the room and sits near her daughter, "Stop with the attitude AJ I'm just checking I don't want to force you to go."
The younger witch raised a brow as she looked at her mother, "Really?"
She smiled, "Yes."
"Well, you pretty much insisted that Blaise and I have to go to Italy this year like it was life or death."
Other than the last month, Celeste had been not subtly dropping the word 'Italy' into their conversations, Artemis acknowledged it the first time but after that she just ignored it, thinking her mother was becoming even crazier.
"Don't say that," Celeste snapped.
She didn't like when Artemis would casually joke about death, she knew that her child wasn't being serious but it didn't hurt her any less. She already had her heart shattered when her husband died, and if her daughter was taken from her, her soul would too.
"It's not funny."
Artemis raised her hands in defense, dropping the pair of jeans she had been folding in doing so, "Okay okay, but still, it didn't seem like I had much of a choice."
She moved her gaze back to her clothes. Sarcasm, food, and work were how she dealt with things, she couldn't help it, so she would sometimes say things out of pocket.
Her mother rolled her eyes, "I just want you and your cousin to speak to Septrim."
"I could've written to him."
"What's wrong with face-to-face conversation?" Celeste questioned.
She felt the new generation was so out of touch when it came to social interaction. She blamed it on the war.
Artemis scrunched up her face, "It's disgusting."
Celeste looked kind of offended, "What, do you not want to see your family?"
"Of course I do, I just feel like if what you want me and him to discuss is so important, it could've been in a letter."
"Letters can be intercepted."
"So can trains, magical ships, enchanted vehicles..." she trailed off. She usually either took the train or ship to the boot-shaped country. The floo system worked for her, but she didn't like how it made her hair go frizzy.
"So you don't want to go," Celeste concluded, gripping onto her jacket and pulling the sides closer to her body.
"Of course, I want to, you just seem very stressed about this."
"When am I not stressed?"
"True," Celeste flicked her daughter's ear, making them laugh, "but I'm excited about going back to Italy, it feels like I haven't been there in forever."
"Because you have not and neither have I, but I do need to go whenever the school year starts up."
Artemis blinked rapidly, "Why don't you come with us now?"
"Because I'm busy," The older witch replied as she picked up the daily prophet that was on the bed. She instantly smiled at the site, tracing her finger over the cover which held a moving portrait of her child, "look at you as beautiful as ever." tears almost threatened to spill.
"Mother please don't cry again, I just about dealt with it at the station, I can't comfort you again, my emotional compassion only lasts an hour a day, I'll leave the room if I see a tear fall." she shivered at the memory despite feeling tones of joy.
Celeste playfully glared at her and shook her head, "So dramatic," she exclaimed and dropped the newspaper back onto the bed.
Artemis pursed her lips, "No I'm not."
Her mother sighed dramatically, "Yes you are and I would know, you came out of me," she said and motioned to her lower region, making her daughter cringe.
Artemis thought for a moment and tilted her head, "You sound like Draco."
Celeste furrowed her brows, "Draco is saying he birthed you now?"
Artemis let a laugh fall from her lips, "No. even though I wouldn't be surprised if he did, he kept saying I'm dramatic, but he and Blaise are more than me."
Celeste laid back on her elbows, "They are, but just in different ways."
"Which is what I said."
Celeste looked down at her knee-high black boots, clicking the heels together before turning back to her daughter, "But you are dramatic, just in a sarcastic way that makes me want to hit myself with a frying pan."
"Thank you mother," she dramatically said.
"I heard about that Potter boy."
Celeste knew of the orphan, she felt bad for him, not just because he has no parents, but because she heard that he has awful fashion sense.
"What about him?"
She smirked at her daughter, "That he likes you,"
Artemis groaned, "Who did you hear that from?"
"Draco, who else?"
"He's mad because he made a fool of himself in front of him multiple times," Celeste nodded and Artemis continued speaking, "I remembered what you told me to do."
Celeste chuckled, "And what was that?"
"That if someone thinks that your nice, it's easier to manipulate them, so know he thinks Draco is some bully, but he isn't aware that I caused most of the bad things that happened this year, apart from the whole Lord V situation."
"That's my girl, I didn't think I could be so proud."
Artemis playfully rolled her eyes, "Thanks, mum."
"Your welcome," Celeste hummed and then picked up her daughter's hand, eyeing the snake-shaped ring that is wrapped around her finger, and smiled. Artemis doesn't bat an eye at the action and continued to pack. "Don't forget your silk scarves and bonnets." she pointed out not seeing either in her trunk. Her daughter glances towards her before digging her hand into the side of her luggage and brings out the protective materials for her hair, earning a nod from Celeste, and then put it back before going to her wardrobe in search of her shoes. "Good, I don't want you messing up your silk press."
As soon as Artemis arrived home after leaving her best friend's manor, a hairdresser took out her twists and washed and blow-dried her hair, and straightened it. Her hair grew a lot through the year, surprising the stress from almost being killed helped her thick locks grow to below her bust.
"I won't mum, trust me," she exclaimed over her shoulder.
She took care of her hair better than anyone.
"And don't let-"
She cut off her mother, "Blaise touch my hair, I won't, his greasy hands will not be going anywhere near this." she gestured to her head. Artemis came back to her bed and dropped the 6 pairs of shoes she had chosen to take away with her, and started to pack them into the trunk, "I'll keep it straightened until August because there is no way it will stay straight with the heat, plus I wanna go swimming."
"I will be surprised if your hair lasts 2 weeks," Celeste said as rose from her daughter's bed, and not so subtly inspects Artemis' outfit.
"3 weeks tops."
"30 galleons?" The older Seramore teased.
"40 galleons," Artemis challenged. They shook hands, then Artemis closed the trunk and locked it, "I'll write, mum, and send pictures for proof okay?"
"You better," they embraced each other. Celeste places a light kiss on Artemis' forehead, not worried about leaving a lipstick stain, "Ti Amo," she mumbled and Artemis squeezed her three times before letting go. "And don't do anything illegal." she fake scolded.
Artemis gasped dramatically, placing her hand on her heart, "As if I would do that," she feigned shock, making them both burst out laughing.
Summer here they come.
***
END OF ACT ONE.
A quick thank you to all the readers who commented and continued reading the story.
a special shout out to:
moonysmalfoy -moncher
theeblkbarbie Soumya2006 taco_c4t
ViaVolterra