CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
HE IS BACK
THE SOUND OF RUSTY chains could be heard all over the Graveyard. It had been a week since Professor Moody, or rather Barty Crouch, had locked her in the cold place. After three days of trying to escape, Artemis had finally given up.
Blood flowed from her wrists down her shoulders because of the tight chains. She was exhausted, weak, hopeless. Every night Wormtail was coming to visit her with the same question. Has she changed her decision?
But what was this decision for?
Artemis woke up with a loud thud on the floor. She tried to stand up, but her legs were too weak. She sat on the grass, leaning on her arms and looked around.
It was terrifying, like a horror movie. In front of her stood a huge statue. It was a hooded figure with huge wings and a scythe in its hands. There was a tomb behind the statue, engraved with three names. She panicked, realizing she was in someone else's grave.
By a habit, she reached into the pocket of her robe for her wand, but the wand wasn't there. She forgot it in the bed of the Hospital Wing. That made Artemis even more scared.
She was alone in this empty graveyard, without a wand to defend herself and her legs didn't even work so she couldn't run.
That was when Artemis heard voices behind her.
"I brought her, My Lord." Someone said. She could feel the wicked grin on their face.
"Very well, you'll be rewarded." A husky weak voice called.
The voice we're coming closer and closer. Artemis laid on the ground and closed her eyes, pretending to be unconscious.
The girl felt the footsteps of two people, standing right in front of her.
"I know you're awake, Artemis." Someone called.
In a second she jolted and began to crawl, and behind her, she heard crazy, terrifying laughter. The laughter was piercing through her head, causing her an overwhelming headache. She started to roll on the ground, whimpering in pain and fear and hiding her face.
The. strong hands harshly grabbed her shoulders, turning her around. She was met by two men, one them holding something wrapped in old rags. It looked like a baby, but it had huge hands with long, thin fingers, and on its fingers were lying razor-sharp nails.
She examined the two men carefully, but it was difficult because of the darkness. One of them made a very familiar squeak. Artemis immediately recognised him. It was Peter Pettigrew.
"You.." she snarled, "YOU COWARDLY RAT!"
Artemis immediately started to crawl at him, Pettigrew was stepping away carefully, trying not to drop the creature in his hands.
"B-Barty, do something!" Pettigrew stuttered.
The man, Barty erupted into laughter at the pity view. "The girl is weak, Wormtail. She's harmless."
Artemis turned to the man and glared at him. "Weak you wish! I'll end both of you!" She shouted.
Barty once again roared into laughter. "You were right, my Lord. She was indeed a fierce one."
"Lock her, she'll run away." The voice called.
Barty pointer his wand at her and cried. "Crucio!"
Artemis erupted into high-pitched screams, while Barty was laugh like a maniac. She could feel hot knives piercing her skin. She pain was unbearable.
"PLEASE STOP! PLEASE!" She screamed, begging for mercy, but that only made Barty even happier.
After a rather long 10 ten minutes, Artemis could no longer bear the pain and closed her eyes, the darkness overwhelming her.
"Wake up," Wormtail said, shaking her harshly.
The girl sighed, without even looking at him. "My answer is no. I'd rather die than join you, lunatics." She snarled.
"I would shut up if I were you, Artemis." Someone called.
She looked around worried. Wormtail was smirking at her, with his big rat-like teeth.
"Who are you? Who's here, Wormtail?" She asked impatiently but the man didn't answer.
"ANSWER ME!" She shouted.
"Shut up, foolish girl!" The voice called.
She immediately shut up and pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Listen to me, girl." The voice paused, "I can give you power Artemis. I knew that you'll join us from the day you were born. You're born for great deeds. All you need to do is to let me help you find your power. I'll make even stronger than your mother-"
"NO! I AM NOT TURNING INTO DEATH EATER! NEVER!" She shouted.
"Disappointing, very well then, we'll make it the difficult way."
Artemis left a laugh. "I've been tortured for a week. You can't break me so easily."
"I assure you that I'll break you easy. Nagini."
That was when a giant snake appeared behind Pettigrew. Artemis stared at the animal wide-eyed. The snake was saying something on Parseltongue, which she couldn't understand.
"Nagini....bite."
"No" Artemis whimpered, shaking frantically, trying to break free from the chains. "NO, NO, NO PLEASE!"
The snake slowly crawled to the girl and in a second its fang dug into her collarbone. Artemis screamed, blood spilling from the mouth. She began to choke on her own blood and suddenly something cracked.
➳ ➳ ➳
It had passed a week since his sister was gone. Apollo had gone mad. Josie and Theo tried to calm him down, but even they were freaking out. As for Pansy, she was hiding herself in the dorm crying and without leaving the dorm.
She thought it was her fault for Artemis' disappearance. Her mind was full of sadness and fear that the girl she loved might be out there lying dead on the cold ground.
For a week, Pansy had dreamed of Artemis being killed in front of her. The poor girl woke up screaming every night and then did not dare to sleep.
When Andromeda found out that her niece was gone, she immediately went to Hogwarts. There was a massive search for Artemis, but there was no trace from the girl. After the tragic death of Barty Crow Sr., Andromeda and Ted were stressed, fearing for the life of their dear girl.
And yet the didn't find her. Dumbledore offered them places to stay until they found the girl, but a few days later the search was cancelled. The third test would take place in two days and the champions could not allow themselves to be distracted.
Andromeda was filled with anger, as was Apollo when Dumbledore told them that they couldn't look for the girl at the moment, because the Tournament was the top priority right now.
Gryffindor's Common Room wasn't as noisy and cheerful as usual. After all, nothing was fun when their princess wasn't there to entertain them.
The girl's dormitories were filled with silent too, no one dared to say a word. In the Artemis' dorm Lavender, Parvati, and Hermione often were staring at the door, hoping she would get into with her infectious bright smile.
But hope began to die when she did not return, after so many days of searching. Everyone thought she was dead.
Andromeda went into hysteria, Apollo broke down, thinking he would never see his other half again. Hermione was broken, sad, and hopeless. The love of her life was gone, and now life had no meaning for her.
The day of the Third task had come, but no one wanted to have fun. Everyone was scared.
Harry, Cedric, Krum and Fleur were standing in front of the maze, while Dumbledore was finishing his speech.
The whole Tonks family came to watch the last task. Even though they didn't want to, Dumbledore forced them, saying that it was a good distraction until the searching starts again. Of course, Andromeda disagreed but Ted and Tonks managed to persuade her.
That was when Cedric and Harry were given a signal and the two boys ran into the maze, hearing the cheers after them.
➳ ➳ ➳
Artemis was laying on the ground, blood was spilling down her collarbone. She was feeling cold like the death was coming for her but then a light shone in the darkness.
Harry and Cedric emerged from nowhere, filling Artemis' soul with hope and joy.
"Where are we?" Cedric asked, looking around.
"The Graveyard. Oh no, Cedric, we need to get out of here!" Harry shouted, tugging his arm.
"H-Help me!" Artemis groaned loudly, making the boy whirl around.
A bright smile appeared on their faces once they saw that the girl was here, alive, but the smiles disappeared, turning into frowns once they saw her appearance.
Cedric ran to the girl and unlocked the chains, using the Unlocking Charm. "You'll be alright, everyone got crazy when you disappeared. Your aunt went crazy!"
"Aunty A is in Hogwarts?" She murmured with a weak and confused voice. Cedric nodded and smiled. But then someone called.
"Kill the spare."
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
A green light hit Cedric in the chest, causing him to fall on the ground, lifeless.
"CEDRIC! NOOO!" Artemis left a shattering scream, while Harry got trapped by Wormtail.
"CEDRIC!" Harry shouted, trying to break free from the trap, but Cedric never answered and he will never again.
Artemis crawled to the boy sobbing on his chest. "Come on, Cedric! Please! Wyatt needs you! WYATT NEEDS YOU CEDRIC!"
Harry let out a painful scream, grabbing Artemis's attention. With a lot of work, she got up and limped over to the boy.
"Crucio!" Wormtail shouted, pointing his wand at the girl.
Artemis didn't scream, nor cry, she got used to the pain. The Lestrange girl fell in the ground with a loud groan beside Cedric's dead body. She carefully took his wand from his cold hands and stuffed it in her shirt, waiting for the right time.
"I-It is r-ready, My Lord," Wormtail squeaked.
"Now..." said the cold voice.
The short man pulled open the robes on the ground, revealing what was inside them, Artemis looked at it in disgust and Harry let out a yell of pain.
"Ugh, please don't tell me that this baby Gollum is none other than Voldemort," Artemis grunted.
"Do it, Wormtail!" The little creature ordered.
Wormtail raised his wand, closed his eyes and revealed a big cauldron.
The short name threw the creature into the boiled water in the cauldron.
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!"
A bone flew into the air, commanded by Wormtail's wand and fell into the cauldron. The surface of the water broke and spread sparks, illuminating the whole graveyard.
"Flesh - of the servant - w-willingly given - you will - revive - your master."
He stretched his right hand out in front of him. He gripped the dagger and cut his hand with a loud scream. The hand fell in the cauldron with a loud hiss.
He turned to Harry, lifting his dagger. "B-blood of the enemy, forcibly taken. You will... resurrect your foe."
He cut Harry's hand, plucked the blood, walked back to the cauldron and poured the drops of blood.
Artemis was too weak to even move, she was laying on the ground, watching in horror. The cauldron lifted in the air, exploding into a ball of fire. A high white figure appeared and landed on the ground.
"Robe me." He said.
Wormtail grabbed the old robes and handed them to the man. The short man moaned in pain, clutching his cut hand.
"You've got to be kidding me," Artemis grumbled.
"My Lord...my Lord... you promised... you did promise..."
"Hold out your arm," ordered Voldemort.
"Oh, Master... thank you, Master..."
"The other arm, Wormtail!" snarled Voldemort "Let's see the ones who haven't searched for your great Master for thirteen years."
Voldemort pulled out Wormtail's left arm, he lifted the sleeve of Wormtail's robes and stuck his wand into Wormtail's flesh. A tattoo appeared on the man's hand. It was a skull, with a snake which came out of its mouth.
"Well, there he is, Harry Potter." Voldemort trailed, walking slowly to Harry.
The man's feet Cedric's face and Artemis gritted her teeth in anger. Voldemort looked and tutted. "What a handsome boy.."
"Don't touch him!" Artemis snarled, trying to get up.
"Ah, Artemis, almost did you notice you. I see that Nagini did good work with you." Voldemort said.
"Shut up, bald troll!" She shouted.
Voldemort ran to her and grabbed her chin harshly. Don't contradict me, stupid girl. If your mother was here-"
"Well she's not here, she is rotting in Azkaban, where you should belong too." She growled.
Voldemort squeezed her chin, digging his sharp nails into her skin. "She'll come sooner."
That sentence brought a fearful expression to her face. Yes, she wasn't scares of Voldemort, she was scared of her mother and herself.
"So I'll tell you again. Join us, join me... I'll make you strong, even stronger than Harry." He said and stood up pointing his wand at Harry. "Bow to me and I'll make you unstoppable!"
"There are two things I need to say," Artemis responded with a calm voice.
Harry shouted. "ARTEMIS DONT DO IT , PLEASE DONT!"
Artemis ignored his calls and stared into Voldemort's blue eyes. "Firstly, I am already stronger than Harry. And Secondly..."
"I bow to no one! Not even you, Tom!" She snarled.
"You...." he pointed his wand at her, "You ungrateful child!"
"NOOO!" Harry shouted.
"Don't worry, Harry. He won't kill me. He needs me. Am I wrong, Tom?" Artemis asked, a wide smirk appearing on her face.
"Crucio!" He cried, making Artemis grunt in pain.
"STOP! LEAVE HER!" Harry shouted.
Voldemort laughed again. He lowered his wand and turned to Harry.
"Ah, Harry you stand upon the remains of my father. Muggle and a fool... very like your dear mother. Your mother died to defend you... and I killed my father, and see how useful he has proved himself, in death...."
That was when wizards appeared from the nowhere, black smoke encircling them. All of them were hooded and masked.
"Welcome, Death Eaters," said Voldemort calmly. "Thirteen years since last we met. And here, you answer my call as it was yesterday, we are still carrying the Dark Mark, then! Aren't we?"
"As I see it, you are all healthy and literate, with unspoiled power - judging by the speed with which you appeared?"
Nobody answered. No one moved except Wormtail, who was still shaking on the ground, bent over his bleeding arm.
"And I answer myself," Voldemort whispered, "they must have believed I was destroyed, they thought I no longer existed. They have turned their backs on my enemies and turned out to be innocent, deceived, enchanted..."
"But then I wonder again, how can they not believe that I will rise again? Those who knew what measures I had taken a long time ago to protect myself from the fate of mortals? Those who had seen more than one proof of the infinity of my power at a time when I was more powerful than any other living magician in this world?"
" And again I answer - and perhaps they believed that there was an even greater force capable of destroying even Lord Voldemort... and perhaps now they are faithfully serving another... perhaps that defender of the mortals, of the murky. and the Muggle Albus Dumbledore?"
At the mention of Dumbledore's name, the members of the circle shifted, some stuttering and shaking their heads.
Artemis snorted, "What idiots. Thinking that Voldemort is dead. Rubbish!"
"Indeed." Voldemort responded and pointed at the girl, "This girl may be stronger than all of you, my useless friends."
"My lord!" Someone shouted. "My Lord, forgive me! Forgive everyone!"
Voldemort began to laugh. He raised his wand.
"Crucio!"
The man lying on the ground writhed and screamed. Artemis was sure his shouts could go all the way to the houses around...
Voldemort raised his wand again. Affected by the curse, he lay there, barely catching his breath.
"Stand up, Avery!" Voldemort ordered quietly.
"Get up. Are you asking for forgiveness? I do not forgive. I do not forget. Thirteen long years... You'll have to pay for those thirteen years before I forgive you... Here, Wormtail pays part of your debt, right?"
And he looked down at Wormtail, who was still sobbing. "You came back to me not because you were loyal to me, but because you were afraid of your old friends."
"Yes, my lord," moaned Wormtail, "please, master... please..."
"You helped me get back to my body, after all," Voldemort said coldly, watching Wormtail wince on the ground. "You are incompetent and dishonest, but you have helped me, and Lord Voldemort rewards those who help him."
Voldemort raised his wand again and swirled it in the air. It left a gleaming trail like a thread of molten silver. Initially shapeless, it bent and became a shiny copy of a wrist of a human hand, bright as the moon's rays, which descended and clung to the bleeding wound on Wormtail's arm.
He suddenly stopped moaning and his breathing became sharp and sharp. He raised his head and looked in disbelief at the silver wrist, which clung to his hand as tightly as if he were wearing a shiny glove. He moved his shiny fingers slowly, then, trembling, lifted a dry twig from the ground and crushed it to dust in his palm.
"My lord," he whispered, "my lord is beautiful. Thank you, thank you."
Then he knelt beside Voldemort and kissed the end of his robe.
"Let your devotion never waver again, Tail," Voldemort said.
"No, my lord, never, my lord."
Wormtail stood up and took his place in the circle, unable to look away from his strong new hand, his cheeks still glistening with tears.
Voldemort approached the man to Tail's right. "Lucius, my cunning friend," he said softly, stopping in front of him. "I understand that you have not renounced your past, even though you have taken on a good appearance in front of the world. I guess you're still ready to lead the Muggle tortures? Still, you didn't look for me, Lucius... Your quidditch feats at the Quidditch World Cup were fun, I dare say but wasn't it better to focus your energy on finding your master and helping him?"
"My lord, I have always been alert," Lucius Malfoy replied immediately from under the hood. "At the first sign from you, even at the slightest rumour of your whereabouts, I would be next to you immediately, and nothing could stop me."
"But you still ran away from my signal when a more devoted Death Eater sent him into the sky last summer," Voldemort said casually, and Malfoy suddenly fell silent. "Yes, I know all about it, Lucius... you have disappointed me м I expect more dedicated service in the future."
"Of course, my lord, of course... you are merciful, thank you..."
Voldemort stepped forward and stopped, staring into the space for two between Malfoy and the next.
"The Lestrange couple was supposed to be here," Voldemort said quietly. "But they are exiled to Azkaban. They remained true to me. I hope that their daughter will devote to me too. Am I not right, Artemis?"
"You wish, bald head without a nose," Artemis grumbled scrunching her nose in disgust.
"ENOUGH!" He cried.
"And here are missing six of ours... Three died, serving me faithfully. One is too cowardly to return... he will pay. Another who I think has left me forever... will be killed, of course... and another who has remained my most loyal servant and who is already working for me again."
The Death Eaters moved. Harry sensed them peering through their masks.
"He's at Hogwarts, this loyal servant of mine, and thanks to his efforts, our young friend came here tonight." He fired at Harry. "Harry Potter was so kind as to join us on my second birthday." I would even call him my guest of honour."
There was silence. Then the one to the right of Tail stepped forward, and Lucius Malfoy's voice came from under the mask.
"My lord, we are eager to know... please tell us... how you achieved this... this miracle... how you managed to return to us..."
"Oh, that's a long story, Lucius," Voldemort said. "It begins and ends with my young friend here."
He moved slowly and stood next to Harry so that everyone in the circle could see them. The snake kept circling.
"You know, of course, this boy was thought to be the reason I lost my power," Voldemort began softly, fixing his blue eyes on Harry, and the scar began to hurt so badly he couldn't help but scream in pain.
"You all know that on the night I lost my strength and body, I wanted to kill him. Then his mother died trying to save him... and unknowingly provided him with protection, which, I admit, I had not foreseen... so that I could not touch the boy." Voldemort lifted one of his long pale fingers and brought it closer to Harry's cheek.
"His mother left traces of her self-sacrifice on him — it's ancient magic I should have guessed, but I was stupid enough to underestimate her, but it doesn't matter now. I can touch him now." Harry felt the icy tip of his long white finger touch him, and his head would burst with pain.
Voldemort laughed softly in his ear, withdrew his finger, and continued to speak.
"I didn't do well, my friends, I admit." My curse was diverted from the woman's foolish self-sacrifice and fell upon me. Aaah... what a pain, friends! I was not prepared for her at all. I was torn from my body, I became something more insignificant than a spirit, more insignificant than the most pathetic ghost...But now I am here."
Voldemort stepped slowly forward, turned to Harry, and raised his wand.
"Crucio!"
"HARRY!" Artemis shouted, once she saw the boy, screaming and rolling in the grass, in pain.
Suddenly it was really over, and he hung lifeless on the ropes that held him straight to Voldemort's father's tombstone, his eyes bright blue. The giggles of the Death Eaters echoed through the night.
"Did you see how foolish it was to imagine that this boy could be stronger than me," Voldemort said again. "But I want everyone to know. Harry Potter escaped me only by chance. And now I will prove my strength to you by killing him - on the spot and immediately, in front of all of you. This time, there is no Dumbledore to help him, no mother to die for him. But I will give him one last chance - I will allow him to fight with me, so that you have no doubt which of us is stronger."
"Now untie him, Wormtail, and return the wand to him."
Artemis clutched Cedric's wand, waiting for the perfect moment to attack. She was looking around, frantically.
"Did they teach you to duel, Harry Potter? Voldemort asked politely.
"We bow to each other first, Harry," Voldemort continued, leaning forward a little, but his serpentine face remained on the boy.
"Come on, etiquette has to be followed. Dumbledore would like you to show how well-mannered you are. Bow to death, Harry."
There was a giggle from under the hoods around, and Voldemort pursed his lipless lips in a smile. Harry did not bow.
"Bow, I said!" Voldemort repeated, raising his wand, bow forcefully and the Death Eaters giggled even harder.
"Very good!" Voldemort's voice softened, and when he raised his wand again, the pressure on Harry disappeared. "And now you stand up to her like a man proud and with your head held high, as your father died... Here, we start... the duel!"
And Voldemort was ready to attack. At the same time as Harry shouted "Expeliarmus!" He shouted "Avada Kedavra!"
Two beams of light, green from Voldemort's wand and red from Harry's wand, echoed in the air.
That was when Artemis decided to attack, she stood up with the last remnants of her strength and pointed her wand at the Death Eaters. "Incendio!"
Fire exploded from the wand and she was screaming in amusement. "BURNN BITCHES!!!"
The Death Eaters were screaming after them, wanting Voldemort to tell them what to do. But he was busy trying to kill Harry
"Don't disconnect!" Someone called. It was an unfamiliar voice
Do not miss it! She shouted, her voice echoing in the distance, like Cedric's. "Don't give in to him, Harry! Hold on! Do not let go!"
Artemis ran to Harry. "CEDRIC! CEDRIC! Oh my god I thought-"
"I am dead, Artemis. But please, promise me that you'll take care of Wyatt. I love him more than anything."
Artemis sucked her tears and nodded.
The grey shadow of a young woman with long hair fell to the ground like Bertha before her, stood up and looked at Harry, who was looking at his mother's ghostly face with trembling hands.
"And your father is coming," she told him softly. "He wants to see you... everything will be fine... hold on..."
And he did come... first his head, then her body tall and with unruly hair like Harry's, the smoky ghost of James Potter jumped out of the end of Voldemort's wand, fell to the ground, and immediately rose like his wife. He approached Harry without looking away from him and spoke in the same voice as distant as an echo, only quieter so that Voldemort could not hear him, his face completely distorted with fear at the sight of the victims circling him.
"When that connection breaks, we'll stay a few more moments to give you time... you two have to get to the cup, it will take you to Hogwarts... Did you understand me, Harry?"
"Yes," Harry answered, glancing at Artemis who nodded.
"Artemis," Cedric's shadow whispered now, "Take my body with you, did you hear? Take my body to my father and Wyatt..."
"Of course!" She gasped, making Cedric smile
"Do it!" Harry's father's voice whispered. "Be ready to run... Now..."
"NOW!" Harry shouted, and ran to Cedric's body, Artemis following behind him.
"Catch them, you idiots!" Voldemort cried.
Harry kneeled to Cedric's body and pointed his wand at the cup. "Accio!"
The cup flew near them, the two of them grabbing the cup. The two students landed on the grass. The crown boomed in cheers but they were quickly silenced once they heard Harry's cries.
Harry sobbed in Cedric's chest, clutching his lifeless body. And behind he heard a loud thump. He whirled around to see Artemis on the ground, with a knife protruded her stomach.
She was gasping and choking, spitting blood from her mouth.
Just like an arrow, Andromeda ran to the girl. Her eyes widened, filling with tears once she saw her appearance. She cupped the girl's cheek and kissed her forehead. "Hey... I am here, aunty is here."
"A-Aunty..." the girl whimpered, "It hurts. I-It hurts." She gasped, tears falling down her face.
"H-He tortured me, a-aunty. I couldn't s-save Cedric. I-I-"
Andromeda carefully embraced the girl, trying not to touch the knife. The woman's eyes were flowing like waterfalls. Apollo ran to his aunt, tears filling his eyes.
"Sis! Artemis- oh god! My little sister! Who did this to you?!" Apollo cried, sobbing.
Beside them, Wyatt and Mr Diggory were crying and screaming beside Cedric's body.
Artemis gasped. "Aunty, aunty He's back! Voldemort-"
"I know, dear. But that's not important now. You're okay. You're here with us."
Andromeda whispered, calming the girl.
Artemis felt weak again. Her eyelids began to grow heavy, and she fell unconscious.
➳ ➳ ➳
Artemis jolted from the bed with a sudd gasp. She clutched her stomach, feeling a piercing pain. That was when a pair of hands engulfed her into a hug.
"You're alive." Pansy whimpered, sobbing in her chest, "Merlin, you're alive!"
"Pans-"
"No. Shut up. I'm sorry, I knew how did you feel and I-" Pansy sobbed louder, wetting the girl's clothes with her tears.
"Oh god, what would I do without you?"
"Probably living better," Artemis muttered.
It seems like Pansy heard her and pulled away, hitting her shoulder. "Rubbish! You're the best thing that happened in my whole life! Being your friend, your best friend, that's the most amazing thing I've ever had! And I almost ruined it with my stupid feelings!"
Artemis shook her head. " It's not bad to love, Pans. Just I... can't love you like this... My heart-"
"I know." Pansy responded with a sad smile, "but I don't care. You're my best friend and I'll love you forever!"
"Me too Pans. Look I know you may still need-"
"No more space! You aren't leaving my sight! I'm not losing you again okay?"
Artemis smiled and nodded.
"Well then, there's someone who wants to talk with you," Pansy said and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you next year."
Artemis looked at her confused. What did she mean by next year?
The girl's eyes landed on a certain bushy-haired girl who was looking at with concerned expression. Artemis smiled and opened her arms.
Hermione smiled widely and ran to the girl, engulfing her into a tight hug.
"I thought I lost you." Hermione whimpered. "I'm so sorry for my behaviour. I know it's not the right time, but I need you to know that I trust you, more than anything and that I love you."
The Lestrange girl smiled and kissed her forehead. "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"I love you too, but..."
Hermione looked at her worried and confused. "But?"
The girl sighed. "We should stay for friends, for now. "
Hermione frowned, feeling sadness filling her heart but so did and the hope. The hope in these two words "for now". She knew that I'd be hard for them to go back to their old terms but Artemis is worth fight for and Hermione was ready to do whatever it takes to get her lover back.
The bushy-haired forced a smile and nodded. "Okay."
"Thank you... for understanding." Artemis said.
Hermione nodded.
"So...what did Pansy mean by seeing me next year?" Artemis asked.
"Oh, this... your aunty and uncle will take you home today."
Artemis scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, I am not a baby!"
"Yes, you are." A voice called. It was Andromeda with a worried, yet stern tone. "You're my baby and you think I'm going to leave you here in the appearance! Well, you're damn wrong young lady! I'll take care for you at home, in safe!"
Artemis turned to her cousin who was snickering, her hair colour changing into yellow. "Dora!" Artemis whined, "say something."
But the woman shrugged it. "Talk with the lady until you have time, me and mom will wait until you finish."
"But-" Andromeda retorted but was quickly cut off my Tonks, who was pushing her out of the Hospital Wing. "Come on mom, let's give the two love birds some privacy."
The walked out, but then Tonks stumbled and groaned in frustration.
"So you get the clumsiness from her?" Hermione asked, smirking at the girl.
Artemis rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh shut up!"
They both erupted into a laugh. For first in a long time, Artemis was feeling happy and comfortable around the bushy-haired witch. And that was making her happy.
"I have to go.." Hermione trailed.
Artemis sighed, not wanting to this moment end. "Okay, I'll miss you."
Hermione leaned and kissed her cheek. "I'll miss you too, bye-"
"Wait!"
Hermione froze and turned around. "Yes.
"Please come I need to give you something," Artemis said impatiently.
Hermione walked to her and asked," Okay what are you-"
She was met Artemis' soft lips. Hermione's heard exploded, feeling the warmth he hadn't felt for a whole year appearing inside her again, but this time her love was stronger, more passionate.
Artemis pulled away and smiled. "We may be friends, but don't forget that I'm still in love with you."
"Of course."
A/N: AND THIS IS THE END OF ACT II AND NOW ITS COMING TIME FOR ACT III AND OOTP, HOPE YOU'RE READY FOR NEW CHARACTERS AND OOP- MAMA BELLA IS COMING DAYUUMMM!!! SOO ANYWAYS I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND SAFE! BYEEE!
G.
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