twelve
the dancing invitation

"The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament for centuries."

Artemis looked around the Great Hall, which only the Slytherins and students from the Ilvermorny house Thunderbird, occupied. The Americans sat on the opposite wall to the Slytherins looked either smug, bored or terrified. Only students from fourth year and above were allowed to attend, unless a younger student got asked from an older student to attend then they could, though Artemis thought that was rather creepy if the older student chose a student too young.

In the centre of the Great Hall stood her father and professor, walking up and down the line of students as he dutifully explained what the Yule Ball was and what would be expected of them. He had cleared the long oak tables and benches and piled them against each wall. Mr Filch stood near the teachers table with a very old and extremely pink gramophone. The caretaker was still wiping away the cobwebs and dust as it's been stored away since nineteen-ninety-four. Artemis sat in a row at the back with her arms folded and a frown etched permanently on her face. The Yule Ball sounded like an excuse for teachers to get drunk and for students to get laid. Her eyes scanned the row of Americans, wondering if her competitors would be present. Carson Kowalski, the blonde boy who always walked around the grounds with a bored expression, as if nothing—not even wizardry—could interest him. He stared right back at Artemis, unwavering in the gaze. It was so weird. Why was he staring so intently at her?

Draco stopped moving and spread his arms wide, Artemis thankful for a distraction. "The Yule Ball is a dance. And for it, you will need to find yourselves a partner." A grumble of annoyance travelled through the crowd of boys, the girls whispered quietly amongst themselves. "After the Champions dance, it will then be everyone else's turn with a date, to dance. Now—"

"Did you have a date to dance with, Professor Malfoy?" Fred hollered from the back row, his smirk widening as a couple of students cheekily chuckled at Professor Malfoy's hesitant response.

"As a matter of a fact I did, Mr Weasley," Draco drawled in his usual lazy tone of mocking, "though I can't imagine anyone with a single brain cell would want to go with you." The students laughed out loud in a chorus of mismatched laughter, and Artemis's mouth even stretched out into a smile for that she was glad her father had developed such a bond with the Slytherins, enabling both parties to have their fair share of back and forth banter in class.

She'd noticed it in potions class a month or two ago, after that horrific test he's set, he started poking fun at a few students, teasing them until they—meaning Camden and Fred—picked up the nerve to retaliate and when they did all Draco could do was laugh and applaud them. Since then nobody had been afraid of the ex Death Eater and almost every student in her potions class had enough courage to answer back with sarcastic comments or snide little jabs about being a Death Eater. The first Death Eater jab, by courtesy of Fred Weasley, had silenced the class so quickly Artemis feared breathing, but then her fathers eyes crinkled and he laughed, saying something about weasels and Fred definitely being George's son.

"Mr Filch. . ." Draco gestured to the caretaker and the room was filled with sound that Artemis could only describe as old. Classical music. We're they really expected to dance to classical music? Maybe they did that in the nineties, but it was two-thousand and three. "You are expected to waltz, of course. Mr Weasley!" Draco spun on his heel and pointed to Fred's sunken face. "Care to give a demonstration?"

Fred stayed where he was as if testing her fathers words, but Draco stared on and patiently waited for Fred to finally give in and step through his classmates and into the centre of the room. Draco approached him with a wicked grin before pointing at Artemis and calling his daughter forward. Artemis didn't know what she expected but it wasn't that. Maybe she expected her father and Fred to waltz together, but then she thought how that would definitely be going against many safeguarding policies.

The music played softly in the background almost transporting Artemis to a whole other world as the eyes of her housemates watched her closely, judging and scorning. Fred stared at Artemis with the same embarrassed look as her.

"Hand on her waist, Weasley," her father instructed and Fred reacted quickly, listening to his words and gripping her waist almost apprehensively. Their materials of their robes scuffing and the nervous heat from Fred radiated towards her, her own cheeks warming. Draco leaned into Fred's ear. "Any lower and I'll kill you." Instantly she could feel Fred's hand climb up a few inches, his dark coloured eyes ablaze with alarm. It took everything within her to not laugh at Fred's ashen expression.

        Artemis could tell Fred was frozen in place so she tugged him in her direction, and albeit messily,  they started to sway uncoordinatedly to the music. "Not so much a big talker now, huh?" Artemis breathed.

        "Shut up and watch where you stamp your feet."

        Artemis smiled and peered over Fred's shoulder, the eyes of Kowalski had never left her. Unnervingly so. As they moved around and took turns to tread upon each other's toes, Draco insisted on everyone else to partner up and get dancing. It suddenly became crowded with students mixing and Artemis stepped backwards into her brother who had pushed Albus into them. He laughed wildly and Albus looked ready to kill him.

        "Hey."

        Marlene appeared next to them. Alone. She looked expectantly at Fred and made a point to ignore Artemis and her presence.

        "You lost, Marlene?" Fred quipped, not at all friendly. Artemis wondered what it was that seemed to have rubbed him the wrong way. Marlene and Fred were always so close, despite their number of arguments over the years at Hogwarts, they had each other's backs. "Finally stopped drooling over Carter Kabalowski?"

"Fine. If you don't want to dance with me then I'll just go and ask Kowalski." Marlene sharply turned on her heel and vanished amongst the wave of waltzing students.

Artemis's brows shot up. "What was that all about?" Though she had a good inclination as to what it could be.

"Nothing," Fred grumbled and gripped Artemis firmer, taking lead for a change and dragging her through the throng of students and onto the same path as Marlene. "She won't stop talking about how fit that bloody bloke is."

"Someone's jealous," Artemis remarked and wasn't at all surprised when Fred stood on her foot. "I think you should go after her."

"Absolutely fucking not." For a moment Fred stopped watching Marlene only to glare hot daggers at Artemis instead. "That's what she wants me to do. I'm not chasing after her like a headless fucking chicken. Besides, I'm pretty sure she's in love with him. So there's no point, really."

For a long time Artemis had suspected Fred held romantic feelings for Marlene. The way he usually let her win arguments by caving in first and apologising for saying something stupid, even if he had been the one in the right. Not to mention how tactile they were on the Quidditch team as Beaters.

"Stop being so stubborn. It's just a waltz." Artemis pushed him backwards. "And after the way you've treaded on my feet, you need the practice."

Before Artemis could allow Fred to protest, she pushed her way through the dancing bodies, hoping to sneak out without her father catching her, but her efforts were in vain. For that she was caught. Just not by her father.

        "Miss Malfoy." A finger tapped on her shoulder and Artemis hesitantly turned away from the double oak doors. Carson Kowalski—somehow having escaped Marlene—stood before her. A roguish smile stretching on his face, creating perfect little indents of dimples in his tanned skin. "Would it be possible to steal you away for a dance?"

        Artemis's immediate answer would be no. Carson Kowalski made her skin crawl in an unusual way that had something to do with how his eyes always watched her relentlessly. Some days at lunch time or even the evening feasts, she'd catch him watching her as if he knew something that she didn't. In part it freaked her out, yet she couldn't deny the curiosity of wanting to know why he seemed so obsessed. 

         Nothing, Artemis felt, needed to be said. She gently accepted his hand and twirled around in his arms until they glided, almost perfectly, back through the students and into the centre of the room. Unlike Fred, his hand was a lot closer to her waist and his palm was awfully cool and sweat-free in her hand.

        "I feel like we haven't properly been introduced."

        "You are Sander's cousin," Artemis replied as she kept her posture tall and expression unyielding.

        His eyes crinkled in a polite way. "Yes. And you're one of his friends. Artemis Malfoy."

        Oh no. He knows. Everyone knows. He's assumed the worst of her and probably thinks the worst of her. Could being a Malfoy and a cheater be any worse?

        "Don't look so afraid," he chuckled in a strange way that comforted her. "I've heard the rumours. And so what? I don't know you well enough to judge."

        Wow. Could it be even slightly possible that Artemis might like him? She honestly struggled to form words and barely managed to breathe out.

        They twirled some more, waltzing slowly to the song as everyone else it seemed, struggled to find rhythm.

        "Tell me something about yourself that no one knows." Carson sure had a charm that worked wonders on everyone he surrounded himself with and to her surprise, even Artemis. His eyes burned with deep interest and a genuine flame of kindness and open minded curiosity. How could she say no?

        There was a lot to choose from. Really. She had excelled pretty well at wandless magic, that nobody knew she practiced—ever since her father began the lessons again. She could play the piano rather decently and often enjoyed watching muggle films in her own time.

        "I was actually born in Germany. So technically, I'm German." A fact few people knew but Carson didn't need to know that.

Carson's brows raised earnestly. "That's cool. I've always wanted to go to Europe. This is my first time in Europe."

Artemis could feel herself getting more comfortable around him. "You do realise Europe isn't a country, right?"

"Ah." He flicked her forehead. "The typical American stereotype." Artemis shrugged amusedly as he continued. "By the way, I'm not American. I'm from Toronto in Canada."

"Is that what you're using for the tell me something no one else knows thing?"

Suddenly they stopped moving and Carson leant forward until his mouth brushed the tendrils of her white hair, his breath hot over her ear. "My parents collect and deal with dark artifices and antiques, but ones a squib and the other a muggle."

Artemis's jaw dropped. So that must be his interest in her, right? His parents love dark magic and, well, she's the offspring of a dark wizard. That must be why he's always looking at her, as if she's a mysterious dark artefact and he's trying to figure what evil she's got in her. She hated that.

"Each to their own, I guess," she answered and the conversation ended. What else was she supposed to say? Her father also enjoyed collecting dark artifices, that was his main job at the Ministry before he started to teach. She hated talking about anything dark and controversial like this. It's as if her family name automatically gives her the knowledge on anything dark, evil and forbidden. As much as the artefacts her father had interested her, she'd rather that interest be kept private.

The pair remained silent for a while. Dancing seamlessly through the throng of students, the younger ones struggled a lot more with the dancing, often arguing over who was leading and who wanted to dance with who. As the music floated around them, Artemis became vaguely aware of others watching her and Carson dance. They weren't trying anything extreme to gather attention. It was a simple slow dance that Artemis didn't even think classified as a Waltz. His hand was gently on her waist and cupped her left hand softly, whilst her free hand lay on top of his shoulder awkwardly. All they did was sway back and forth with the occasional twirl. Artemis could feel herself growing anxious with all these eyes on her and her heart dropped the moment she caught sight of a pair of familiar striking violet eyes watching her every step. Blair looked stoic and on guard. But Artemis wasn't sure what for. Blair danced with a student from Ilvermorny and Artemis could see Fred and Marlene dancing rigidly together, each trying to take charge.

They hadn't spoken in weeks. They even shared a room with Marlene and two other girls, but neither would be in there at the same time or alone. There were some nights when Blair wouldn't come back to the Slytherin dormitories, and Artemis just assumed Tiberius had snuck her into the Hufflepuff common room.

Of course Artemis still felt guilty. It was still there. Shadowing her. Never leaving. But somehow it was easier to live with than before. There was literally nothing more she could do, she had apologised plenty of times and even stayed clear out of her way because she knew that Blair needs her space.

Carson cleared his throat and Artemis was thankful for a distraction. "Have you got a date for the Yule Ball yet?"

A date? Artemis blinked. "What?"

"It's tradition," Carson explained, "for the Champions to open the ball with a waltz. So I was wondering, if you don't already have a date yet, whether you'd like to go with me?"

Did he just ask her to be his date to the Yule Ball? Since the first task all Artemis has been focused on doing is cracking the clue for the next task, which starts at some point in February. She'd dived head first into it as a way to avoid thinking about Blair and Tiberius, wondering if they'd ever be friends again. The Yule Ball and a date for it were the furthest things from her mind.

"You can say no if you don't want to go with me," Carson awkwardly chuckled and his deep, charming Canadian accent made her face flush. When he relaxed, he sounded like a completely different person. A person that didn't make Artemis feel queasy.

Artemis had stopped moving and her hands dropped to her side. "No, no. I just - " just what? She's waiting for someone else to ask her? Like who? Every guy in the school is aware of what she's done to Blair. Who would even ask her? "Could I let you know?"

"You're waiting for someone else to ask you?" He smiled at her like he understood. But that wasn't it. She wasn't waiting for anyone else to ask her.

"No!" She reached for his wrist as he made to depart. "I don't want to leave my friend hanging. That's all."

"Potter?"

Artemis was taken aback. "N-No. Ty, actually." Untrue. But true.

Carson's smile stretched. "It's okay. I don't have plans to ask anyone else, so. . . just let me know if you change your mind." Then, completely taking her by surprise, Carson bent to her height and politely dropped a soft kiss to her cheek as way of farewell. Could you really blame her cheeks from flaming pink?

▬▬▬▬▬

After the waltzing lesson ended, Draco dismissed everyone and immediately turned to search for Artemis. He's asked to speak to her for a while now, ever since she woke up in the hospital wing after the first task with rumours of her betrayal flying around the school grounds. She knew that it was possible her father had heard the truth of the rumour and wanted to talk to her about it, but it was so shameful and embarrassing for her that she's avoided being alone with her father ever since. He's even sent Scorpius on her, but Scorpius would always pretend her hadn't seen Artemis that day, or that he'd forgot. Things between the siblings have improved greatly over the last few weeks. So much so that Artemis thinks she's finally getting somewhere with Scorpius's own problems. Like, for example, why he's been looking like a vampire for the last few months.

She thinks it has something to do with Albus Potter, yet Scorpius is adamant that she doesn't know the person.

Exactly like the last three weeks, Artemis ducked beneath the crowd of students and hurriedly made her way through the doors of the Great Hall. Vanishing out of sight and leaving Draco stressed and concerned whilst he cleaned the hall.

        Meanwhile, the classrooms emptied and the grounds filled with companions from across the globe as students lavished in the hour break between lessons and the snow that had poured heavily overnight. Artemis seemed to be the only student left inside the castle, mostly due to being extra sensitive to the cold. Her fingers would turn white, numbing all over and would take hours before the circulation continued, and when the blood slowly returned, they'd turn bright red and she'd suffer through countless minutes of pins and needles. The cold hated her and she hated the cold. At least staying inside the castle meant she could bask in the warmth of the Slytherin common room, curled up by the fire, a book in her lap and a juicy green apple in her palm. Her own definition of serene solitude.

Along the way to the dungeons she passed a number of classrooms. One of them being her fathers Potions classroom. Usually Draco would lock the door with his own set of puzzling locks that prevented misbehaving students from tarnishing his classroom with their festering hormones—the dungeons were renowned for that sort of thing—but, upon her inspection, the door was ajar and orange candlelight blossomed from within.

Hadn't she just been with her father in the Great Hall? Hadn't she been the one to leave first?

Noiselessly she gently tapped the door with her finger, pushing it open for her eyes to witness who had broken into her fathers classroom. If she did happen to catch a pair of students and their festering hormones, she was prepared to bolt.

And yet the sight that fell before her was one that she could not have conjured. A lone student in crimson robes hunched over a steaming cauldron that bubbled and gargled noisily. Books and papers strewn across the desk and, what she assumed to be, blobs of the potion smeared on the stone floor. Then her nose prickled and the horrific aroma of that godforsaken potion rapidly filled her nostrils and overpowered her senses. Think of a consistently wet dog that enjoyed eating horse manure and rolling in rabbit faeces.

Artemis gagged loudly and covered her mouth with her finger and thumb pinching her nose. Her eyes were watering. "Please tell me that you're cooking up a prank and this isn't your actual attempt at a real potion," she breathed out all in one exhale. Then she stuck her face outside the classroom and inhaled deeply.

There's no way her father would be pleased if she left the boy to stink out his classroom. Bravely she returned inside and took a courageous step forward, her breathing ceased.

"Not now, Malfoy," James Potter whined as he added something else to the potion that Artemis, a truly gifted potion maker, had never seen before. "Your dad gave me until Christmas to master the Draught of Living Death."

It's not a secret that James Potter has found it particularly challenging with his studies. He's failed most of his OWLs and Artemis is almost certain the reason why he hasn't had to repeat a year yet or been expelled is because of who is family are. Though she also secretly suspects that James Potter is a person who likes to self sabotage. Maybe out of spite. Or maybe he's really that stupid. But she doesn't think he's ever put in any effort at school. So, instead of damaging his clearly deflated ego, Artemis opted out of asking why he hadn't mastered one of the easiest potions.

With her palm she waved over the mess on the floor, narrowing her eyes and gritting her teeth, focusing really hard on the wandless magic. Repeatedly changing scourgify over and over until the wasted potion disappeared and the stone shone as much as stone could shine. Artemis came to a stand and asked, "Why until Christmas?"

James stared at her in slight awe. Eyes wide. Lips parted. Both surprise and admiration morphing along his features. He was amazed by the magic she had just done. They were standing shoulder to shoulder now and Artemis tilted her head in question. After the last few weeks, they were well and truly past the whole arch nemesis period of their lives. Perhaps friends was pushing it, but she did find that his company wasn't the worst.

James tore his gaze away and drilled holes into the cauldron. His jaw hardening and his body tensed up. "Unlike most of the teachers here, your Dad doesn't really care who my Dad is. So, he's told me that if I can't make this stupid potion by Christmas, he'll have to drop me from his class."

Finally, Artemis thought. A teacher who's finally pushing James to reach his full potential. The last few years James had grown boring academically. He still sprung random pranks on her that, albeit she'll never admit, impressed her. He stopped challenging her for top of the class in fourth year. Something happened that year and James snapped. He stopped trying and flunked every class ever since.

"This isn't funny, Artemis." James poked her in the ribs when he caught a humorous smile formulating on her lips. "My Dad will kill me. Flitwick's already had enough and kicked me out—"

"Hold your horses, Potter." Artemis raised her hands and waved them over the desk, only closing her eyes briefly to focus ultimately on the scourging spell once more. She opened her eyes and the desk was completely clean and the cauldron sparkled with new life.

"When the bloody hell did you learn wandless magic?" James sputtered. "Have I missed a class? Or—"

"Over the summer."

James looked at her and shook his head absentmindedly. His curls dancing carelessly and Artemis reached a hand forward to brush them away from his face so she could see the sadness in his eyes, but at the last second she dropped her palm to his shoulder in a comforting manner and said, "I'm the best in the class at Potions, Potter. You could've just asked me for help."

For a second he glanced at where she placed her hand and Artemis grew self conscious at the gesture and awkwardly dropped it to her side. He then shifted his glance to her. "Your Dads been tutoring me."

Her mouth gaped. "He has?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "which has been great, by the way. Such a natural conversationalist and definitely not intimidating." Artemis looked at him that said go on. "With your Dad's help my potions are better than yours. But when I have to do it on my own. . . it turns to absolute shite."

It's because he doesn't try. He doesn't have the confidence in himself to try.

"Let me help."

James sat down on the stool, his back pressing against the edge of the table. He simply looked at her with brows questioning. "Two months ago we hated each other."

"True," she agreed and sat down on the stool beside him. "However, at the current point in time, you seem to hate me less than everyone else."

"Very true." James mimicked and Artemis could sense him becoming more himself and less saddened by whatever demons he occupies himself with. Then he turned to look at her, his gaze intense and challenged her. On any other day she would've welcomed the challenge and stared him down, but for some reason she had to look away and revert her attention to a stray emerald thread on the sleeve of her cardigan. "And what about you?"

Artemis stilled. The thread was right around the tip of her finger and an overwhelming sensation to run away overcame her. But she couldn't run. Not from him. His magnetic pull was too strong.

"Me?" She chuckled awkwardly. "What about me, Potter?"

James paused for dramatic effect—or maybe he was nervous, but Artemis didn't read too much into it. "Do you hate me a little less than everyone else?"

Why in Merlins name did that simple and ridiculous question cause such an embarrassing physiological reaction? Could someone tell her why her body decided to release blood into her pale cheeks and burn with an unfamiliar sensation that made her confused as to whether she never wanted to stop feeling like that, or whether she ought to throw herself off the Astronomy Tower.

There was only so long before James would notice and build up the courage to question on her ridiculous expression. There was only so many seconds before the moment would become awkward and weird.

"Art—"

"Only a smidge." Artemis showed him with fingers just how much of a smidge she really meant. "Barely even noticeable."

"Oh yeah?" James caught her elbow before she could step down from the stool and distance herself away from him. "Is that why you want to tutor me? To teach me the wrong theory and potions only to ensure my failure and expulsion?"

Artemis grinned carefully, aware that they were close, much too close, so close that their chests were touching and she could feel him exhale and his warmth and his hand on her elbow—

"If you were expelled, how on Earth would we win the Triwizard Tournament? After all, only students can compete. . ."

An odd beat of silence passed and Artemis's panic went into overdrive, she turned skittish and pulled away from him. Gaining much needed space and fresh air. James's lighthearted expression dimmed, though his cheeks looked warm and his eyes ablaze with a flame of secret desire. He couldn't look at her and she couldn't look at him.

What was going on? This must be the third time, maybe fifth time, it's happened to them. Ever since she hugged him all those weeks ago, they've been hanging out almost every chance they got. Rarely alone and often occupied by Camden and Fred. Sometimes though, when the group gathered together in the library and James and Artemis would either be sat next to each other or opposite, they'd constantly kick each other under the table, or elbow each other's ribs and laugh wickedly about it after. It was childish and weird and strange. Fred picked up on it and called them out for playing footsies, which resulted in neither of them sitting near each other, being alone together nor looking at each other for the entire weekend.

"Let's go get lunch from the Kitchens." Artemis hurriedly exited the classroom and waited outside for James to gather his things. She really didn't want a repeat of last weekend. They were only now getting over that odd little scenario. And no thanks to Fred.

        Out in the corridor Artemis leant backwards against the rocky wall, hugging herself to keep warm as the dungeons corridors were always chilled, even in the summer. A few minutes passed and then a few more. Artemis had begun to wonder if James had found a hidden passage and disappeared, but then the door opened and James stepped outside locking the door behind him with his wand.

        Artemis looked at him curiously. His backpack had books of all kind poking out the top, making the seems strain and the bag look heavy. "You took your time."

        James rolled his eyes. "Not all of us can do wandless magic."

        Now it was her turn to roll her eyes. "Whatever. I'm starving—" she'd tightened her fingers around his wrist ready to drag him to the kitchens if she had to, but James pulled back and stood his ground. "What?"

        "Can we. . ." James hesitated and looked embarrassed when Artemis dropped his wrist and he reached up to scratch the back of his neck. "Sorry. I'm feeling really stressed about the second task and I think we should look at that box again."

        "The second task is in two and a half months, James. We've got plenty of time."

        James looked at her strangely and offered a weak smile. "I've got pasta and brownies."

        Artemis raised a brow as she stood back and watched James reach into his bag and pulled out two plastic containers with the aforementioned food. She truly couldn't help herself. A bark of laughter escaped her and the words were out before any thought processing could begin. "Are you trying to ask me out on a date, Potter?"

        "Fuck no," James retaliated immediately, as if that response had been there all along. He shoved the food back into his bag. "I would not use pasta and brownies to seduce you—" a book fell from his bag in his flustered state and made a huge thud that echoed around the corridor. He clumsily reached down to pick it up and shoved it back inside his bag.

        With a burst of courage she stepped forward. Arms folded and a wicked grin forming. "And would would you use to seduce me instead?"

        James wagged a finger in her face, chuckling as he did so. His shoulders shaking and the previous flustered state of embarrassment disappeared in the air. "I'm not falling for that, Malfoy." He started to walk away from her, still laughing, in the direction of the Slytherin common room.

        "It's not a trick!" She caught up with him and banged her elbow against his ribs. "I'm genuinely curious as to how you think I can be seduced." For effect she fluttered her eyelashes at him, an innocent look that he'd never fall for.

        "You'll have to try harder than that," he snorted and pushed his glasses up the bridge of nose.

        "Well," she sighed dramatically and blocked the portrait that lead to the Slytherin common room. "We are going to be in my bed chambers again. Which—might I add—won't be the first time."

        James rolled his eyes and tried to hide the smile that Artemis could plainly see was itching to break out. This James was her favourite James. "Maybe we ought to try my 'bed chambers' every once in a while." He air quoted the words, bed chambers, and looked at her with feigned boredom. "You know, for a change of scenery?"

        Artemis hesitated then. She wasn't expecting him to come back with that and now it left her stumped. Their game had obviously come to an end and her stomach was unforgiving for the lack of food. She might've skipped breakfast this morning, but that was irrelevant. "I think you could do better than that. I rate it a. . . six out of ten?" She scratched her chin and pretended to think.

        "A six?" James was outraged.

         "Yeah. You lost points for predictability and lack of originality—" Artemis jumped to the side. The portrait had pushed her sidelong as it opened unexpectedly. A fellow Slytherin emerged through the whole and Artemis wished she hadn't allowed James to take them down here. She could even sense that James had regretted his decision.

        Blair stepped out from the portrait hole and took a moment to glance at the pair. Her violet eyes ablaze with fury.

        Awkwardly James said, "hullo."

        Blair scoffed. "I should've known." Then started to walk away, but Artemis should've kept her mouth shut and yet, she never seemed to be able to.

        "Should've known what?" She snapped.

        Blair turned and her robe rippled around her feet. "I should've known that you'd shag any guy for a bit of attention." She looked at James, and Artemis could see how badly she was hurting. "Even ones you hate."

        Then Blair left while Artemis tried to pursue her and James had caught her and stopped her from going wild. Artemis had apologised. She's given Blair more than enough space. "We're not—"

        "Artemis," James said, "just let her go."

        "But she—" She could feel herself getting ambushed by a multitude of different emotions and she didn't know where to begin processing them. There was the guilt and the shame, the embarrassment and loss, the hurt and the anger. There was so much emotion, she thought she had finally been rid of it all, however it turned out to be different.

        She needed to hit something.

        "Oi." James curled his hands over her clenched fists. "If you hit me there's a strong chance I'll hit you back. So please don't." He kept his grip on her hands and even gave her a little shake so that she could finally lock eyes with him. James was stone cold steady. An anchor of support as her whole demeanour vanished and crumbled. She'd hurt Blair. So bad. So badly. Why had it taken this long to understand that? Why was she so shocked and shaken? It had nothing to do with what Blair had implied. Just everything to do with their ruined friendship and how badly Artemis had hurt her best friend.

        "I need—"

        "To breathe," James interrupted. All humour and jokes pushed aside. He was worried now. "You need to breathe, Artemis. I think you're having a panic attack."

        And she is.

        Her vision was going blurry. Her hearing dimming and sometimes James had to repeat what he was saying until she'd registered she'd heard him. Her whole body turned sweaty and then her breathing, like a bubbling volcano, turned desperate and viscous in the wait of an explosion. How had it taken her this long to realise that she's probably ruined Blair's life and possible all future romantic relationships she'll have? How is Artemis supposed to move on from that and love her own life whilst knowing she has the capabilities of ruining someone else's?

        "J—James—"

        "I'm right here, Art. Okay?" She wasn't really sure what was happening but she suddenly found herself on the floor in the embrace of James Potter, his arm across her shoulder, her head on his and he rubbed soothing circles along her arm. One of his hands had linked with one of hers, his fingers squeezed hers subconsciously and all she could hear was his raspy voice, worried and concerned for her. "Do you remember back in fourth year when I jinxed your broom?"

        And that's how it went. For however long Artemis was like this, James recited stories from their time at school, from the whole time they'd known each other, until Artemis regulated her breathing and returned to present day. Until she found the strength to answer back and correct him. "That. . . didn't happen. I only made you think I'd stolen all your shoes. . . it was Fred who done it."

        "Artemis?" James ignored her. "You okay?"

        She wasn't. Not really. But she wanted to be okay.

        "Thank you," she whispered and her eyes brimmed with tears that she wiped away before James could see.

        Maybe things had to get worse before they get better.

▬▬▬▬▬

a/n chapter 12 !!!!!!

wow. an update. i'm just as shocked as you!!

i am truly sorry for not updating since august. uni has started back since then and let me tell you, it is hectic this year. i will try, when im able, to update. i can't promise a schedule or that there'll be another one soon. but i can promise that this story is going to be completed.

i just want to say a quick thank you to every single person who has read this book. in august when i last updated, we were at 6K reads. and now, without any further updates, we've reached 13k!!  i don't know how or why this has happened, but it means the absolute world to me!! it's the comments that you all leave. the likes and the reads that keep me writing this story!! even though im inactive i still read every single comment and all i can say is a big thank you for everyone's support.

i hope this chapter was worth it!! and i'd love to know your thoughts are on artemis getting asked to go to the yule ball by kowalski. even your thoughts on her and blair, and her and james!!

there are many sub plots (what's up with scorpius and who are ty's real parents?) that are going to get covered in the next few chapters, so i can't wait to hear your theories!!!

during this pandemic i hope you're all safe and well. i know it's hard, but look at new zealand and the vaccines, there's light at the end of this dark tunnel!! i have hope.

much love to you all.

stay safe.

glesni x