Chapter 3
”What the Hell happened?!” I demand as I look at the tired Slytherin in front of me.
Artemis looks like she may collapse at any moment. She groans, as she pulls herself into a sitting position. Her major wounds were mostly healed by the Wiggenweld, but I’m sure there are bruises and smaller wounds I can’t see.
“It’s none of your concern,” Her voice is hoarse. “I merely made a small miscalculation. I just-“
”Small miscalculation? Artemis, I just found you bleeding out. You could have died for Merlin’s sake!”
”I made a mistake, okay?! Sebastain, I need you to understand that I’m facing things that would send most running. I didn’t get a say in the matter. I’m being forced to deal with these things, and I cannot let anyone else be dragged into it,” Her fingers massage her temples.
”Did this have to do with what you told me about? Ancient magic? Ranrock? Rookwood? The poachers?”
“Yes, but I can't let you know more than that.”
”What? Why not? I understand you may have lost faith in me, but there are so many people in your corner, Artemis. You could turn to any of them for help! You’re not dragging anyone into this! We want to help! Please, just let us in. Let us carry this burden with you.”
She doesn’t respond. Instead she rises, and slowly limps through a small doorway. She comes back wearing a dark green blouse with thin straps and loose black shorts that reach her knees. In her new attire I can see all her scars, and I can only imagine how many more there would be if Wiggenweld didn’t take the small wounds away completely. They stretch over where her bones have begun to protrude. She looks beautiful all the same, though- marred in the remains of battles well fought.
”Seb, I still trust you with all my heart. If I could choose anyone to fight with me it would be you, but I can’t do that to you. Look at what this fight has turned me into. I have to go out and fight nearly every day, Seb, just to protect the ones I love.”
She closes the distance between us. I lay a hand against her cheek, as my other shakily traces the scars on her skin.
“I’ve killed so many people, yet I can remember each of their faces. They haunt my nightmares so often that I no longer sleep. I can’t close my eyes without seeing the ones I love killed by my hand, too. If I brought you or Ominis into this and something happened, I wouldn't be able to go on living. Poppy and Natty are already too far into this, and I just pray I’m enough to keep them safe. I can’t let anyone get as deep as I am, though. I can’t let you, Seb, because- Dammit, Sebastian, I love you and I refuse to let you drown!”
Tears are running down her face, as a look of shock covers her features. She tries to pull away, but I pull her against my chest. My arms surround her, as my lips gently press the top of her head.
”Darling, I’ve wanted to hear those words from you since you knocked me on my arse at the beginning of the year. I love you so much, Artemis. I wish I could shield you from this cruel world.”
”That’s not your burden to bear, Love,” She whispers against my chest.
”Maybe not, but I choose to try to support you through it. My beautiful, clever, kind Artemis, you don’t deserve to suffer for the benefit of others. You may not want us to face the things you do, but please let us love you through the burdens you carry.”
Artemis looks at me, and I gently wipe away her tears. My head dips down, until my lips reach hers. It feels like a fire ignites in my very soul. I pull her closer, wishing I could freeze time in this moment. As we pull apart, she looks into my eyes for a long moment.
”Stay with me?” Her voice sounds so tired.
”Of course, my love.”
I gently scoop her up into my arms and carry her to the small bedroom she has disappeared into earlier. I pull her close in the large bed, whispering sweet words of comfort to her until she falls into sleep’s blissful embrace. When she wakes in the morning, I can see a glimmer of life coming back to her eyes.
So, over the next few weeks she begins to be filled with life again. She comes to me and Ominis after a hard battle and we patch her up in the Room of Requirement. I hold her on nights, where the nightmares get to be too much. She stops looking like a walking skeleton. She even goes to Hogsmeade on several occasions with Poppy, Natty, Ominis, and I. She still has dark days and hard battles, but she’s not alone.
Overall, it feels like we may be able to keep moving forward. Well, that is until a day just weeks from the end of term. Ominis and I had been waiting in the common room for Artemis. We were supposed to meet Natty and Poppy in the Great Hall before going to Hogsmeade, but then the entire school began to shake. Everyone was herded to the quidditch pitch, but I began to panic when I couldn’t find any glimpse of Artemis.
“Sebastian! Come here!” Ominis called through the crowd.
I pushed through, until I came across Ominis, Natty, and Poppy. They were trying to calm down a panicked Garreth.
“What’s going-“ I didn’t get to finish my sentence, before Garreth started spewing a long string of words.
“She’s down there! My aunt said she’s down there! I don’t know how they got in! Hogwarts was supposed to be safe! Ranrock broke in! He’s in caverns below the school! I’m so sorry Sebastian, but I don’t know if even she can come out of this. My aunt said she was already pretty banged up when she saw her-“
I grab Garreth by the shoulders.
“Who?”
My stomach drops, already knowing the answer.
“Artemis.”