WARNINGS: DEPRESSION, TRAUMA, MENTIONS OF SUIDICE AND DISTRESS TO THE READERS

Tuesday, October 16th:

SLUGHORN'S OFFICE:

"You wanted to speak to me, professor?" Artemis questioned with furrowed brows.

She had been called into Slughorn's office. Annoyed, she was. It was one of the days she had no lessons and she wanted to spend it doing absolutely nothing.

Draco hadn't been speaking for the past week due to the incident - Katie Bell getting cursed - and he had been more rude than normal.

"Yes, Artemis, you've been such a joy to teach thus far," Slughorn praised with his crooked smile.

She plastered on a smile, "Thank you."

"How are you enjoying the slug club?"

"It's been a lovely experience." She replied, trailing her finger over the surface of his table, he kept a curious eye on her, "It's been a great distraction also," his confused expression, made her continue, "the year has been so stressful you see, I was glad that I had something to preoccupy myself with."

"Oh yes, I heard about your godfather," he remarked, offering her a sympathetic smile, but Artemis could tell he didn't mean it.

After all, Lucius is a death eater, why would anyone care if he was locked away if it was where they belonged?

"Thank you, professor."

He hummed, "I also heard you tutored Harry a few years ago."

Artemis suppressed an eye roll, "I did."

She wasn't surprised by the Potter mention, it seemed that's all anyone did these days. She would've said it was becoming tiresome, but she had gotten used to it years ago.

"Must be why he's excelling in this class," Slughorn added, nodding to her in appreciation.

"I suppose so."

Slughorn's breath hitched when Artemis' finger flicked against his hourglass, the sound echoed around the room.

The shape fascinated the witch. It was a clock made of two glass vessels connected with a narrow passage that allowed sand and a green fluid flowed to flow through, whilst green serpentine features adorned the outside. It could practically be the new image of Slytherin.

Artemis caught the look that carved itself onto the professor's face, it was like he had seen a ghost or two.

She backed away from his table and waited for him to latch onto the words that seemed to get lost on his tongue.

After what seemed like an eternity, he let out a breath.

"And maybe that's why Harry took a stand with you last year and walked out of Umbridge's class," his eyes beamed with fascination and instantly forgot the last couple of moments, "I heard it was quite a scandal."

Artemis could see him subtly rocking back and forth on his heels at the news.

"It takes great courage to do something like that," he grinned.

She nodded, "I was standing up for what's right." For Cedric.

"Indeed."

"Strong people stand up for themselves, stronger people stand up for others," she proclaimed.

Slughorn's grin didn't waver, "You are just like your grandfather, although your spirit is like your father."

Artemis tensed at the mention, "You taught my father?" she questioned curiously, attempting to appear as calm as possible.

Slughorn smiled sadly, "I did. And whenever we spoke, he talked like he had lived many lifetimes."

Seramore eyes always flashed with age, purgatory swam amongst the brown pools. The seramore family lived between life and death, doing what was needed to survive. But not all of them did.

"Oh," that's all Artemis could say.

Slughorn felt the shift in the atmosphere, "He's good at sneaking up on people as well," he jested.

"Just like Septrim," they said in unison and laughed.

"Your grandfather was one of my best students, however, he didn't keep the best company."

Slughorn's memory of the 40s was hazy, he remembered what he wanted to...if he wanted to.

Artemis raised a questioning brow, "Oh really?" she asked, despite already knowing the answer.

The professor was clearly referring to Tom Riddle and her grandfather's friendship. It intrigued her more than it worried her.

Slughorn nodded stiffly, then blinked back a few vague images, "Yes, but fortunately he never got into trouble."

"So his company didn't affect him," she deduced.

"I'm glad it didn't, A Seramore's mind-"

"Is too impermeable to penetrate." Artemis mused.

Slughorn let out a pronounced sigh, "Sad that it can't be said about the rest of us."

"Very sad indeed."

***

Monday, October 28th:

THE GREAT HALL:

Draco let out a groan when the chatter grew louder. All he wanted to do was eat, or at least try to.

Artemis encouraged him to eat more than an apple.

He hadn't been eating or sleeping, but to him, they weren't a priority, which worried not just his fiancé; Daphne and Theo had noticed his frail and exhausted state. It sadly mimicked Blaise's as well.

"All I want is for you to be okay," Artemis whispered to the platinum-haired boy, who appeared disinterested.

"I can't have distractions right now," he hissed, stunning the witch.

His venomous tone caught the attention of Daphne who sat next to a lost Blaise. 

Artemis scoffed, "So I'm a distraction?"

"What do you think?" Draco snarled, eyeing the offended witch.

"Fuck you, Draco!" Artemis snapped, abruptly raising from her seat and storming off, gaining many perplex looks from her peers and a curious one from a green-eyed boy.

Daphne glared at the wizard, "What is wrong with you?" she asked angrily and placed down her fork, before he could respond, she turned to her fiancé, "Aren't you going to defend her?"

Blaise hadn't looked up from his plate of food since he had sat down. He was too tired to eat or muster up a reply, so he got up and left, heading in the direction of his cousin, leaving the blonde hurt and confused.

His breakfast was untouched just like Draco's.

Tears pooled in Daphne's eyes, but they never kissed her cheeks, "Draco," she whispered, so no one else could hear her breaking voice.

He huffed, "Not now Daph."

Draco left his seat and hastily walked away, not before shooting a glare at the Potter wizard who had to watch the entire interaction.

Daphne was alone and upset, but she wouldn't let her tears fall. She mustn't.

She was too hungry to leave.

"Cazzo la mia vita," she murmured and went to pick up her fork again as a friendly voice appeared behind her.

"Don't say that Daph," the blonde snapped her head toward Theo, who wore a grin and sat down, "your life is amazing, look at your poreless face," he exclaimed, cupping her face and kissed her forehead, making her huff out a giggle.

His eyes darkened after noting hers were glossy.

"Everything is falling apart," she whispered and he pulled her to his chest.

"Come with me, I brought you something," he said, rubbing her back.

Theo saw the concerned look Astoria sent the pair, but he waved her off with a reassuring smile.

"Is it something shiny?" she mumbled into his chest.

"Of course."

***

November, Thursday 1st:

ASTRONOMY TOWER:

Surrounded by blankets and food, there sat Theo and Dean.

Who would've thought a Slytherin and Gryffindor would be sitting in perfect harmony? Judging by how the constellations lightly blinked down at them, they also agreed with the pairing.

There were on a date. Was it their first date? No, but at school? Yes.

Dean would laugh at how Theo could stuff his face with sweets and cakes. Whilst Theo couldn't believe how much hot chocolate Dean could consume in under an hour.

It was a beautiful mess.

"So have you taken all your boy toys here?" Dean joked.

Theo snorted, As if, "No, but it's pretty right?" he nodded towards the sky.

He had gotten the idea from Daphne a few days ago, once he managed to cheer her up after hearing about the tense breakfast between the group. Theo was glad he didn't have to witness it, although he knew he would be swept up in a sorrow-filled atmosphere soon, so he wanted to make the most of his happiness with his boyfriend.

"Very," Dean hummed. His eyes narrowed on Theo's lips. He leaned in and gave the Nott wizard a chaste yet meaningful kiss.

Theo's cheeks turned a shade of red when they pulled away.

"Did I make the Theodorus Nott blush?" Dean teased and chuckled when he didn't get a response.

Theo turned away from him, shaking his head with a smirk lacing his lips that he desperately tried to hide as he ran his tongue over the inside of his cheek.

And then finally he replied, "Maybe."

Dean grinned, his mind was rampant with memories of the first time they spent time together.

It was back in 4th year and had randomly started being friends and talking more and more each day. Theo had always thought his crush on Dean disappeared during 3rd year but he was deeply wrong. Unbeknownst to Theo, Dean reciprocated those intense feelings but neither knew how to deal with them, so they believed trying to date or even kiss other people would do the trick.

It didn't.

Dean dated Ginny, but he couldn't help but think about the Nott wizard.

Meanwhile, Theo attempted to lose himself in anyone he kissed. Zacharias was a fail, even though he had soft lips, George wasn't serious enough to even entertain the idea of a relationship and Hermoine... she made him feel ashamed, like a dirty little secret.

So the moment Dean broke things off with Ginny, he didn't want to waste any more time so he spontaneously kissed Theo, catching him off guard but it was immediately returned until Astoria walked in on the pair.

Theo turned to the youngest Greengrass witch and confided in her about his feelings and she promised to keep it a secret, even going so far as to reassure Dean as well, despite disliking Gryffindors. For months many people believed that she was dating Theo - not like she cared - it kept the onlookers from approaching her whenever she walked the corridors or even to class.

Theo's voice broke him out of his thoughts, "Dean?" he asked quietly.

"Yes."

"I love you," Theo blurted out, then slapped his hands over his mouth.

Dean choked on his hot chocolate, "What?!" he coughed out and placed his beverage to the side as he stared deeply into his boyfriend's eyes.

Theo's heart hammered against his chest and he began to stammer, "U-Um I said I love food-"

"No, you didn't."

Dean would've laughed at his attempt to cover up his proclamation, but the anxiousness written on Theo's face made him shuffle closer.

Theo dropped his hand from his mouth, "I did, you just misheard me." he lied quickly and turned away.

Dean found him extremely adorable whenever he got nervous. Usually, Theo was the class clown or the one to go to whenever you need your spirits lifted, but barely anyone saw him in a vulnerable state.

Other than his friends and Dean.

"I have great hearing," The Thomas wizard stated as his eyes gleamed with happiness, he loves me.

Theo dramatically sighed, "Sure you do, then you would've heard me say-"

"I love you too," Dean proclaimed, smiling widely, startling his Slytherin wizard.

Gulping nervously Theo screeched, "What?!"

Dean's smile widen more if that were possible.

Both of their hearts soared and touched the sky.

They were on cloud nine.

"I love you," Dean repeated and interlinked their fingers, "even though you're in Slytherin," he teased him.

Theo's eyes glossed over, as a small laugh escaped his lips, "A Gryffindork isn't any better."

"I'd rather be in all red than green," Dean argued.

"I prefer being a serpent to a bloody Griffin," Theo challenged.

The two started to laugh loudly, luckily the starry night was the only thing to witness their teary display of affection. Good. They didn't want anyone else to be around, only them, only each other.

"I might cry. I've never been told that before," Dean laughed, mainly to himself and wiped away the tear that ran down his face.

Theo chuckled and pressed another kiss to his lips, they may have been coated in tears, but it didn't matter to him, either of them really.

To Theo, Dean's lips were soft and inviting, the hint of chocolate made him never want to part with them.

And to Dean, Theo was everything he had been waiting for; perfectly imperfect.

"I love you, Dean."

"I love you, Teddy."

***

November, Friday 2nd:

ASTRONOMY TOWER:

Artemis felt something was wrong. She and Draco had planned to stay in her room tonight and he hadn't arrived yet. He had been quiet all day, keeping her close and shooting her apologetic looks.

She may have felt like she was overly concerned but when an hour had gone, she raced out of her dormitory, in nothing but a jogging suit and slippers. She didn't have time to think if she looked basic since her gut was telling her that something was wrong.

When she reached the top of the spiral steps of the tall building she slowly opened the door, fortunately, it didn't creek, but the sight she saw made her heart plummet to the ground that was miles below.

Draco stood by the edge, clutching onto the railings that he wanted to let go. His body shook with fear, whilst his deafening thoughts distracted him from seeing Artemis slowly walking towards him.

His grip only tightened and his face was vacant of any emotion.

He didn't know what to do, but this seemed like an option. It never did before, but for some reason, he believe that it was a good one.

Funny right? The spoilt rich boy believed that this was an option. The wizard who once gloated about his life wanted to put an end to it. The heir that had almost everything, wanted to now give it all up.

"What are you doing?" Artemis's voice dragged him away from all the convincing voices.

His mind didn't stop flooding with reasons to move closer to the edge, reasons why he should just give up.

Draco swallowed hard, "Nothing."

Other than his blatant lie, the fact he didn't move back frightened her.

Artemis wasn't one to be afraid. She avoided that emotion like her life depended on it, but now, she was more scared than ever.

"Don't," her shaky voice paused, "Don't lie Draco, what were you doing?" She repeated and mindlessly walked closer.

"I was thinking," he weakly responded and finally turned to her.

Artemis swallowed nervously,  "No." her breaking voice made him take one step away from the railing.

All the uncertainty in the air inflicted itself on the troubled wizard.

Draco narrowed his eyes at her, "I was," he turned on his feet, letting his body face hers.

"Stop," she pleaded.

"Fine I was thinking about offing myself is that what you want to hear?" He yelled harshly. "I was thinking of the many ways that I would be at peace if I just throw myself off this tower."

Invincible ropes wrapped themselves around her heart, the kind that was so thin that they could cut through flesh and seer through bone with ease.

With every word he spoke, it made everything so clear to her, he wanted silence, and peace, even if his absence would cause anything but that.

"Please don't say that," Artemis choked back a sob and placed a hand over her mouth.

She thought hearing him say his truth would help, but his lies were more comforting.

"Why? It's true, I would be gone and everything would be okay?" his tone grew quieter towards the end as he stared at the ground beneath him.

He could hear Artemis cry, so he kept his gaze on the floor, with his back to the dark horizon.

"That's not true," she croaked out, taking another soft step towards him, hoping she would close the gap between them before anything worse could happen.

"It would be okay for me," he sniffed and didn't bother to wipe away his tears.

A rope had been wrapped around his neck since the moment he had been branded.

He had two choices: jump on his own accord or keep playing the dark lord's twisted game until he was forced to jump.

What a twisted world.

Artemis inhaled deeply, "You need help."

"Don't tell me what I need!" he yelled, startling her and making her halt.

She saw the guilt flash through his bloodshot eyes.

"Then you tell me, but let it be anything but that please," she approached him again, slowly, like an explorer trying to tame a wild beast.

Only in this instance, the beast wasn't wild or attempting to hurt anyone, it only wanted to hurt itself. 

"I want it to stop," Draco begged and tugged at his hair.

"You want what to stop?"

"Everything and everyone."

The moment Artemis reached him, she guided him away from the edge and into the centre.

Draco burrowed into her chest with his hands moving up and down her sides. Her fingers moved into his hair to calm him.

"I can't deal with it anymore," his muffled voice cried out.

"I'll help you, I will always help you, I know it might not seem like it now, but we'll get through all of this. I know you want it to be over but ending your life won't just stop the pain, it will only pass it to everyone else. You need help Draco, don't bottle it all in. You have a family and they won't leave you."

"What if they do after they find out what I am?"

"You're just a boy Draco," she explained and they both gripped each other tighter.

The fear she felt when she saw him close to the edge would be branded in her mind. It has etched itself onto her memory for eternity.

She doubted the astronomy tower would be the same in her eyes. It was the first place he brought her to be alone together. It was the place they would go to hide from everywhere else.

"I almost killed someone," he admitted fearfully, "Someone in our year and I made you help me."

He never meant to hurt Katie, it was supposed to be Dumbledore and Dumbledore only. Their headmaster was the reason his godfather was dead, the author of his fiancé's pain.

Artemis gently shook her head,  "You never force me to do anything, I helped you because I love you and I support you. We made a mistake and we just have to act smarter," she stated softly, "And if people like your goons start acting differently, there were never really family. But your true family will always be your side."

Draco slowly turned to look up at her, "What about you?" he asked, his tone laced with dread.

She wiped away his tears, "What about me?"

The dark horizon that once beckoned him and offered him an alternate life gradually grew quiet.

"Why are you with me?" Draco dared to ask.

He never meant to hurt her or remind her of the pain she felt when her father passed, but he was thinking about how to end his own torment and nothing else.

"Because our love goes beyond the stars my darling and I'm never going anywhere. I believe in you, you just need to sort through the thoughts that are dragging you down."

"Will you help me?"

"Always."

Artemis would follow him through the pits of hell, just to be sure he was okay. There was nothing that she wouldn't do for him.

Even if it meant dying for him.

***

i told you guys this chapter would be rough.

i am in no way mocking draco or his experience, I'm not stating that he was wrong to even consider taking his life, i was simply stating he has other options. i was trying to portray what he was dealing with throughout this period of time. i wanted hbp to show more than comedy because the book was really dark.

i hope everyone is okay after reading this chapter.

on a lighter note, i hope you enjoyed the dean and theo date and their little moments. don't worry they'll get even more.

i wanted to include a slughorn x artemis scene because he taught three gens of her family, he definately sees the similarities between her and ezekiel, septrim and even though he would never admit it... tom riddle as well.

it may seem that artemis isn't being herself and allowing draco to treat her like shit, but i promise you that she is only letting his comments slide because she know what he's going through. she isn't okay with any of it.

daphne is also going through it but don't worry  she will be okay.

any questions?