Mean
“Is Harry alright?” Luna asked as soon as she spotted him.
Artemis sighed “He’s fine, but the incident shook him”
The girl nodded “I see, I’ll try to visit him later” she patted the grass next to her “Come sit with me”
It was the final day of exams and the day after the third task which resulted in the death of Cedric Diggory which affected the student body. Right before his Potions exams, Artemis received a note (from an owl that crashed on him) to meet Luna that led him to the lake.
“The Thestrals are coming out” Luna smiled as she saw the creatures roam around.
Artemis also found himself looking at the horse-like creatures “Potter will be in for a shock when he realizes what’s been pulling the carriages”
“I hope he doesn’t get too scared” Luna pulled up her legs and rested her head on her knees “They’re very nice creatures”
He looked at the young girl, her long messy blonde hair had reached the grass, she was wearing a baby blue dress with ruffles and once again her shoes were nowhere to be found.
Luna looked up to Artemis and was met with her big blue-grey eyes. They always looked so curious as though every word you said was of utmost importance. She was like a sponge ready to absorb anything you throw at her. He remembered when Butler had first seen her, he asked if she was part fairy which honestly Artemis wondered himself sometimes.
“Are the Nargles buzzing around your head?” she asked in her dreamy tone. People never really got irritated when she talked about the Nargles and the several dangerous creatures found in the Quibbler. If anything, people were usually worried somewhat, as though she were a naïve child who would believe anything.
Artemis knew that was the farthest thing from fact.
“Maybe,” the boy said before finally taking a seat on the grass and crossing his legs “Forgot to recite the nightly incantation”
“Oh, that’s not good” she gently patted his back “You should try to remember tonight”
He just nodded.
The two just sat in silence as they watched the Thestrals graze and run around the forest while the sun slowly set turning the reflection on the lake from a fiery orange to a bluish-grey.
“What did you want to talk about again?” Artemis asked after awakening from an almost trance.
“Well umm . . .” the girl tapped her chin, “I think . . . oh yes” she snapped her fingers “Pansy was in tears during lunchtime”
At this Artemis winced “So that’s what Blaise was going on about earlier”
“You weren’t there?” Luna cocked her head.
“I was checking on Potter at that time” he sighed “And I met with Cho Chang on the way out”
Luna nodded “I see, well it must be hard on her too”
“So, what did Draco do this time?”
“I couldn’t exactly make out what she was saying at the time” Luna starting drawing circles on the grass “Though if it’s like last time I’m sure it has something to do with destroying her ego in public again”
Artemis sighed “Draco isn’t in the best of moods as of late. And after what happened yesterday, summer might be a rough period for Draco”
“A lot of people still don’t believe Harry though” Luna dug a little too deep into the ground “They’re saying he’s just trying to shift the blame of Cedric’s death”
“A lot of people made a mistake that day” Artemis expression hardened slightly “Including me”
She gave him a surprised look “I don’t think that’s a fair assessment of the situation”
“Maybe” he let out a sigh.
She moved closer to him to the point that his knee could feel her leg “You are still human, don’t beat yourself up for it”
“I know, but it will bother me for a couple of days at least”
“So, what are you planning on now?”
“If wizarding politics are the same as muggle politics, probably get Potter a lawyer” he shrugged “Someone in the Ministry doesn’t like what’s going on and is going to try and put the blame on someone”
“That’s not very nice of them”
“Nothing about politics is nice”
Luna took a good look at her companion, she noted that he was slightly paler than usual, and he did not bother to hide his eye bags today. Artemis was not the normal type of attractive most people did not find him attractive at all. He was quite skinny, he had high cheekbones, he did not have muscles like Victor Krum or a boyish charm like Harry. At first glance he looked more terrifying almost as though he were some sort of vampire, he wasn’t Nosferatu, but he wasn’t exactly Lord Ruthven either, it also didn’t help that his accent was more Transylvanian than Irish.
Maybe they liked his money Luna thought, but then almost all the Slytherins had come from some old money family some more wealthy than others. Yet even the richest of them could not get a proper date to the Yule Ball. It was here that Luna concluded that maybe women just find smart men to be quite striking. His fanbase was mostly Ravenclaws and probably Granger so maybe it was that.
At this point Artemis has noticed his companion’s staring “Nargles buzzing around your head?” he smirked.
She could feel her face turn warm and there was something inside her stomach that was giving her an odd feeling “I think they’ve given me diarrhea”
Artemis brows went up “Do you want me to . . .”
“Oh no . . .” Luna paused, “I think I was mistaken”
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
The girl nodded “Just need to put some extra salts in the bath when I get home”
“I . . . see”
“Yes . . .”
It had become quiet again only slightly awkward this time and Artemis was about to suggest they head back inside for dinner.
“Well what do we have here” the two pre-teens looked to see their Care for Magical Creature Professor behind them holding what seemed to be a lamp “Didn’t think you’d be the type Fowl”
Artemis rubbed his temples “I don’t want to know what you mean by that”
Hagrid turned over to Luna “You should watch yer self-Miss Lovegood, he doesn’t do well with alcohol”
Immediately Artemis gave his professor a ‘what-the-hell’ look.
Luna gave him professor a smile “I know”
This made the half-giant chuckle “Oh you only know I’m joking Fowl” he then turned to leave “Now come on, don’t leave your food cold”
Artemis stood up and offered his hand to Luna.
For some reason, she was reminded of the events that occurred last December during the Yule Ball. She remembered him being a very considerate partner as she was sure she had stepped on his foot a few times, but he did not say anything. Also remembered him having incredibly soft hands.
“Come on” Artemis smiled still extending out his hand “Your pudding might run cold”
“So, what is the deal between you and Fowl?” Mandy Brocklehurst asked in the middle of dinner.
Luna had a spoon in her mouth and cocked her head.
“Now that you mentioned it” Sue Li rubbed her chin “During the whole Teen Witch fiasco neither of you denied or confirmed your relationship”
“I mean they did dance during the Yule Ball” Lisa Turpin pointed out.
Padma snorted “So did Granger and Krum and so far, nothing has happened with them”
“Maybe we shouldn’t bother with whatever their relationship is”
All eyes turned to Cho Chang who had just appeared and took a seat “It’s not really for us to say” she said as she sat down.
Quickly whispers spread throughout the Ravenclaw table.
“Oh she finally got out”
“Well, of course, she needs to eat!”
“For a moment I thought she wouldn’t even get up”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Marietta Edgecombe whispered to her friend “I said I was going to bring your dinner”
Cho gave a weak smile “I just thought I needed some fresh air”
“Maybe wash your face first” Mandy commented.
“MANDY!” Sophie Roper chastised.
“What I was being honest” Mandy said looking offended.
“Would you guys give it a rest” Marietta glared at her fellow year-mates “She’s grieving for goodness sake!”
Cho placed a hand on Marietta “It’s fine, don’t worry about it” she stood up “Maybe I should wash my face first”
Marietta also stood up “Let me join you”
“No, it’s fine” the girl placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder “I won’t be long”
The Ravenclaws watched as the Seeker left and immediately glares were given to Mandy.
“Nice one girl, you made her more upset”
“Really? It’s barely been a day!”
Mandy raised her palms in defense “I was just telling her proper hygiene!” she pointed at her house-mates “You could all see how red her eyes were!”
“Where’s Luna?” Padma suddenly asked.
“Huh?” Mandy looked around the table “Oh come on, I was supposed to ask her to talk me up to Fowl if they weren’t dating”
That was when Anthony Goldstein groaned “Oh will you all lot just shut up!”
Water ran from the faucet, but Cho was stood still as she stared at her reflection. She knew what happened, Harry had told her after she asked. It was a ridiculous reason but for some reason, she believed him. In fact, before she asked, she already knew in her gut that something was wrong. She was certain.
Voldemort killed Cedric.
It was a hard pill for her to swallow. It was too much in fact. There seemed to be so many things to process and she did not know if she could.
The mere fact that Cedric was gone was already difficult to accept.
“If you’re not gonna use the sink would you move?”
Cho jumped at the sudden voice and turned around to see a younger Slytherin girl.
The girl’s expression reminded her of her uncle’s angry Shar-pei “Oh, it’s you Cho Chang” she said.
“Sorry” Cho moved away from the sink, “Some of my housemates said I needed to wash my face”
She heard the girl snort “For a bunch of brainiacs none of them seem to know how to deal with grieving people”
“It’s fine really” Cho rubbed the back of her neck “My face was slightly red”
“You shouldn’t apologize”
Cho looked up “Huh?”
The younger girl proceeded to wash her hands “When they give you crap like that, you shouldn’t apologize”
“They’re just trying to . . .”
“You’ve just lost the love of your life to a megalomaniac who’s trying to take over the world” she turned off the faucet “I’m pretty sure you have the right to be angry”
“Do I?”
Pansy faced the older girl “How much does Cedric mean to you?”
“The world!” Cho said almost too quickly that her face went red “He . . . he’s everything. When he asked me out this year, I had never felt so happy it was . . . it was like winning the World Cup” she bit her lip “But it felt ten times better”
“So you love him”
She chuckled “Of course” she shook her head “I don’t think I could love anyone else the way I loved him”
“I see” Pansy nodded before she left the bathroom “You’re lucky to have felt something like that”