WARNINGS:  VIOLENCE, TRAUMA AND DEATH

Thursday, June 26th:

Artemis let out a frustrated sigh as she stood over the boiling cauldron in her family's not-so-secret room. Ever since she discovered that Mente Striae had been exposed, the group had been more cautious about entering it, because too many eyes were on them. Blaise was quick to give Harry another black eye for bothering his cousin, along with Draco's assistance, for good measure.

The stench of the potion was potent and eye-watering, but the impending fear gnawed at her, bringing her to tears more times than she could count, leaving her cousin and friends to occasionally take over.

Rewriting and restarting the potion had drained them all, but luckily it was almost done.

The combination of using a potion as well as her wand would hopefully be more deadly than a spell itself.

Artemis' hands itched to use the wand that would take Dumbledore's last breath, however, something always stopped her. Am I capable of this? She needed to be. Merlin, her adoptive father and his family kill without question, her mother and aunts did it to protect their family and she didn't doubt for a second that her grandfather had taken a life.

For father, do it for father. "Would he want this?" she asked herself.

Artemis needed to inflict the same pain she'd been feeling for over 10 years. Waking up without a father wishing her good morning or good night. She might've said goodbye, but she will never be able to say hello again.

It's what Dumbeldore deserves. She repeated to herself. Her new mantra.

Placing a few more stems of belladonna into the pot, she stirred and waited. The plant itself was one of the most toxic plants found. It was poisonous for human consumption, so she was planning on using the entire batch that Snape had secretly acquired for her.

Making a few changes to the veritserum formula was hard at the start. The potion itself was created so the person who consumed it couldn't lie. It was perfectly harmless as it was powerful. However, that wasn't just Artemis's goal. She knew that Dumbeldore could find a way to resist it, as there were ways of doing so. Which meant she had to seek out an alternative. To change the very foundation of the potion to do her bidding.

With resistance came dishonesty and she knew the headmaster would spew without batting an eye.

So she thought to herself, what if it hurt to lie? Physically. That a witch or wizard would be brought to their knees if they so much as fibbed. Swapping Ptolemy for belladonna and an adders fork for a Valerian Root and a few more cups of standard potioning water will only prolong the aching effects with each dishonest word.

Calling the potion 'a white lie' would be certainly fitting, since usually, they don't hurt anyone, but dumbledore's lies influence and impact generations.

Isn't it funny that the first thing she ever created - a cure - is used for saving a life, but now destruction and pain are what drove her creativity?

Artemis took a step back and folded her arms, her stoic expression didn't falter, but emotions swam through the brown pools of her eyes. Getting revenge on the man who caused her grief will cause grief to the entire wizarding world, she will be seen as a traitor, an evil, the villainous spawn of the dark lord himself.

Oh, bloody hell.

***

Tuesday, June 30th:

Today choices will be made, chaos will be ensured and a life would be taken. Today would be the day to change it all.

Artemis had washed, eaten as much as she could stomach and cleaned her dormitory like it was any other day.

Saying her goodbyes was tough, Daphne sobbed, Theo wept, however those who were none the wiser just waved or bid her a good day.

She had yet to talk to her cousin, she needed to, but it seemed as though he was avoiding her, not wanting to say goodbye just yet, since he didn't know if they would ever meet again. His fragile heart couldn't handle it, so the pair prolonged the farewell.

Artemis anxiously walked to his shared dormitory, Dean had whisked a sullen Theo away so they could talk.

After gently knocking on the door, it swung open, letting her to step over the threshold and come face-to-face with her cousin.

Blaise had suffered throughout the year and the previous one; trauma that he never knew existed had been thrust upon him and then allowed to regain the memories he didn't know he lost. But now, he was heartbroken - the two people that he started his life with, he couldn't protect like he used to. They were leaving and there wasn't anything he could do to stop it.

"Hi," she mumbled and approached him, taking in his bloodshot eyes and creased shirt.

"Hello."

His horse voice made her guilt skyrocket.

"I guess you figured that you can't avoid me any more," she joked, but neither of them smiled.

"I wasn't trying to," he mumbled, then sighed at her pointed look, "fine I was."

Artemis swallowed harshly and looked at the carpet, "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be," his voice broke, making her glance up at him, "Just don't go."

"I have to."

Tools pooled in their eyes, Blaise's lip quivered as he desperately grabbed her hands.

Vigorously shaking his head, he croaked out, "You don't."

"I do," she whispered, her thumbs circled over his hands, attempting to soothe his tremors but they only worsened.

"I'll do it for you," I'll kill him for you. Tears streamed down his cheeks,  "I'll handle everything just don't leave," he pleaded.

"Cugino, I have to, you know I do," she explained tearfully, tearing her gaze away from his.

It was breaking her heart to see him like this, to see that it was her making him like this. Just when he was recovering, dealing with the problems of the past, and coming to terms with them - her absence would drive a sharper sword through his heart.

"Don't leave me."

Shakily pulling out her spectre necklace, Artemis motioned for him to do the same, which he reluctantly did.

"I'm not really leaving," she mustered up a smile as she spoke, "You'll be able to feel if I'm safe or not."

He sniffled, "It's not the same."

"I know but-"

"It's not the same," Blaise's voice rose out of frustration. He pulled away from her and ran a hand through his unkempt braids, "I can't protect you if you go, I can't even protect Draco," he angrily threw out his hands.

Artemis let him pace around the room, sadly watching as he clenched his hands and mumbled to himself. She knew that as the oldest, Blaise always acted like the protector, their shield, their security. It was his role, what he lived by and if he couldn't do that, what had this all been for?

"We'll protect each other," she reassured him, but he shook his head, "Just like you'll protect Daphne and Theo."

Halting his movements, he turned to her and shut his eyes, "You know I could take your wand and stop you from going."

He would get on his knees and beg to prevent her from leaving. He would do anything and everything to stop her.

Artemis softly laughed, "I've been practising wandless magic."

Aurora and Alana had taught her in the past however, she tended to focus on her potions and other priorities, well that was up until she was released from the infirmary. The older witches wanted her to be prepared for anything since it was their last year at Hogwarts and sadly for the unforeseeable future, her last year as well.

Blaise couldn't help but scoff, "Of course you have."

He opened his eyes and blinked back his tears.

Artemis ran up to him, jumping as she threw her hands around him and he caught her on instinct. Her legs wrapped around his waist and his arms tighten around hers as they sobbed together.

"Blaise," she cried into the crook of his shoulder.

He kissed the side of her face, "Artemis."

"Take care of yourself."

Huffing out a laugh, Blaise said, "Merlin, you sound like a old crone when you say it like that."

"I know," she agreed with a chuckle.

Blaise hesitantly settled on her the ground, still not letting her go.

"Take care of yourself," he mumbled and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I love you forever."

"I love you forever."

***

Fear slapped Artemis harder than a thunderclap hitting the sky.

It was fierce and unforgiving.

Night approached like an old friend, one that the witch didn't want to see so soon.

Being afraid wasn't a foreign feeling, however, it wrapped around her, like a thick blanket.

She had changed history before, in her first year, but that was for the greater good. Now? Her actions, may have been self-serving and if she didn't do it, who will? She certainly wouldn't let Draco, his conscious couldn't handle it.

A new war would start today, much different from the others, much more... personal. Innocence and guilt would be irrelevant as would light and dark. They would all be one, fighting to the end, fighting to win the grey world they sought to conquer.

Reaching the top of the staircase, Artemis firmly gripped a vile in one hand, hidden behind her back and her wand in another. She stood next to her stoic fiancé , who was determined to show no expression whatsoever. He too was holding onto something, apart from his wand. For a brisk escape, he told her, after they left the room of retirement only minutes before.

"Are you sure you want to go through this?" Draco quietly asked.

"Do you trust me?"

"Always."

They stalked into the astronomy tower, the deafening silence forced them to hear everything and nothing.

Well, until hush whispers were exchanged, as they crept inside.

Coming face to face with their headmaster, they stood still, wands raised at him as the moonlight shone a light on their crime of justice.

It was too late to back out now.

"Good evening Draco, Artemis." Dumbledore calmly greeted, "what brings you here on this fine evening?"

"Who else is here." Draco asked, dismissing his question, "I heard voices."

"I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful."

We have a witness, Artemis thought to herself and she believed she knew who it was. Sharing a look with her fiancé, they tighten their grips on their wands.

"Draco, you are no assassin."

"How do you know what I am?" Draco sneered as his hold trembled slightly, "I've done things that would shock you."

"Oh, like cursing Katie Bell and hoping that they'd then return to bear a cursed necklace to me? Like replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison?" the silver-haired man remarked, "I assume you assisted him Artemis?"

The witch's expression almost fell, almost, "You can assume whatever you want, professor."

Her calm voice only hardened the eyes that were on her.

To take the attention off of her, Draco spoke again, "He trusts me. I was chosen." he pulled up his sleeve to show his dark mark, which made his fiance want to reach out to soothe the burning sensation she knew he felt.

"I shall make it easy for you." Dumbledore said, holding out his arms.

Seeing the wand in his hand, Artemis yelled without hesitation, "Expelliarmus."

Her breath hitched at the sound of the wand, bouncing against the floor. Dumbledore turned to follow her gaze, before looking back at the couple.

The gentle wind picked up and hissed in the midnight air, amongst the noises that were ascending upwards.

"It's not just the two of you." Dumbledore deduced, "There are others. how?"

"The vanishing cabinet in the room of requirement. We've been mending it," Draco explained, glancing at the witch, who did not meet his eyes.

Artemis' impenetrable gaze stayed on their headmasters, who quickly looked at her.

"And I guess it has a sister. which one?"

"Borgin and Burke's. they form a passage."

"ingenious," Dumbledore's praise, made Artemis bitterly scoff.

It allowed the guilt bubbling in her stomach to slightly settle. Why should I hate myself for what I'm about to do if he continues to act in such a fraudulent way?

Exhaling, he continued, "Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. please let me help you, let me help both of you. Artemis you are already an intelligent witch, you will need the right guidance, to put you back on the right path."

"I don't want your help." Artemis snapped, "You only cause pain," her firm voice, cracked towards the end.

Tilting his head to the side, Dumbledore replied, "I'm afraid I do not know what you're referring to child."

"Lies," she seethed and stepped closer, "that's all you tell."

Dismissing her words, he shook his head, "Artemis, Draco, you do not need to do this."

"Don't you understand?" Draco cried, stepping in front of his fiance', needing to protect her,  "We have to do this. I have to kill you...or he's going to kill me."

His words provoked Artemis' tears to fall. She and her cousin may have the protection of the unbreakable vow, however, that luxury was not extended to everyone they loved, but that didn't mean she wouldn't lay her life down for them at any given moment.

Dumbledore shuffled an inch forward, "Don't-"

"No!"

Artemis' scream beckoned the death eaters to emerge from the dark, bearing witness to what they have been desperately waiting to see.

The end of all things light.

Their booming footsteps halted once they looked upon the joyous sight. Bellatrix and the rest moved as one, causing Draco's tears to dry and Artemis' hatred of Dumbldroe to flare against her chest.

"Well," Bellatrix breathed out. "look what we have here. well done, Draco's." she praised, kissing his cheek, then sauntering over to Artemis and eying her, far too close for her liking.

"Good evening, Bellatrix," Dumbledore greeted, his tone didn't convey anything, "Think introductions are in order, don't you?"

"I'd love to, Albus. but I'm afraid we're on a bit of a tight schedule," she impatiently huffed out "Get on with it," snapping at her nephew, but he was looking at his fiancé.

He noticed that Artemis' eyes didn't appear the same, they were darker, almost mimicking the deranged glint in Bellatrix's eyes. Dumbledore detected the same thing.

"Artemis, you still have time. I can still help you."

Laughing humourlessly, the Seramore said, "I know what happened to the people you wanted to help. They all end up dead or with a target on their backs. A target that they can never be rid of."

"I do not understand."

His calmness almost concealed his deceit.

"Go on admit it," Artemis pressed.

Furrowing his brows, the silver-haired man feigned confusion, "Admit what?"

"What you did to my father," she raged, gripping her wand so tight, that the material almost snapped, "You killed him didn't you?"

A brief silence spread throughout the tower as all pairs of eyes bounced between the two. Even though many of the death-eaters, were restless by the lack of violence, they stayed quiet out of intrigue. Ezekiel Seramore was by no means, one of them, but he was a pureblood that married a pureblood and carried on his strong bloodline.

"What happened to your father was a horrid thing," Dumbledore stated, breaking the silence.

Artemis' heart pounded against her chest and flooded her ears, "You killed him." she repeated darkly.

"Whoever has been spreading these lies, is terribly mistaken," he replied, although his eyes moved elsewhere as he spoke.

A sob ripped through her lips as she cast a spell, "Imperio."

The tower became silent again as they all watched her every move; stalking toward the headmaster and placing a potion in his hand and instructing him to drink every drop. Once she stepped away and reunited with her fiancé, she removed the unforgivable curse.

The stench of the potion latched onto the bearded man, onto his being. He gasped, subsequently allowing the grey liquid to seep into his mouth and instantly choke.

"It's a potion I created. Mendaserum. Makes people who lie burn from the inside out," she paused, "I also call it 'a white lie.'" she let out a bitter laugh, "Surely you can comprehend why?"

Dumbledore groaned and gagged, choking on each dishonest word he uttered.

Artemis blocked out Bellatrix's laughter and stared at the man who she loathed from the very beginning. Various death eaters snickered and murmured as they watched.

Draco tore his gaze away from the man who fell to the floor, instead he kept his teary gaze on his fiance. We're above the stars. He hoped his words reached her mind.

"You ruined me," Artemis said through gritted teeth, "You ruined three generations of my family and for what? To prevent something that would've happened regardless of your interruptions?"

"That was not my intention," Dumbledore immediately wheezed, a harsh shade of red washed over his cheeks, "Saving the majority over the minority is in favour of all."

"And Idyllic words can make none believers believe," she mocked, yet, her proclamation made him freeze and stare up at her in shock, almost like he spotted a ghost.

She'll come for you. His consciousness roared. He'll come for you.

Keeping her wand directed at him, she continued, "but I am not a fool," she paused, "You are. You are also the author of all my pain."

"I'm sorry Artemis."

"Is that what you said to Nova?"

"N-nova?"

Dumbledore stammered as he writhed on the ground, rapidly blinking up at the witch whose tears dried but her pain was more than evident.

"When you made her bleed to death. I found out she was pregnant. My grandfather spoke through the fireplace at my mother's manor and told me everything. She was pregnant just like my mum and you took her life...their lives."

With another hand squeeze from her fiancé, she carried on, "Your idiotic plans only caused more pain than they prevented. Tom Riddle was already a psychopath, but you pushed him to the limit by taking everything he held sacred and soon he became a man that had nothing to lose and everything to gain. My father knew so much about you, so you killed him and stripped him from his family. From me! So I want to hear you say it."

Her yelling only drove the death eaters that surrounded her to cackle, whilst Bellatrix maniacally clapped.

"Say that you killed them for a plan that failed miserably," when Artemis was met without an answer and so she screamed, "Say it!"

Mustering up the strength to get on his feet, Dumbledore uttered,

"I killed them."

Tears streamed down Artemis' cheeks and her knees would've given out if Draco wasn't holding her up. Despite his confession, she didn't feel anything but agony. Her soulmate grabbed her and pulled her back and into his chest as the winds picked up and murmured around them.

Bellatrix was growing impatient and was just about to snap once more until Snape appeared behind the young couple and motioned them to move away.

"Severus," Dumbledore croaked out, sounding to be more vulnerable than ever, "Please."

Draco gripped his fiancé harder when the forbidden words were spoken.

"Avada Kedavra."

A harsh green light tore through the air like a sharp arrow.

The Peruvian instant darkness powder was immediately thrown thrown seconds later, like a blanket across the horizon.

Bellatrix didn't hesitate to send a signal into the sky, cackling as a skull ripped through the thick clouds and breathed out a slithering snake.

"We need to go," Draco tried ushering his fiancé out of the way, but her face contorted into anger.

She needed to break something, anything.

"Bombarda maxima."

A violent explosion burst through the tower, pulling down part of its infrastructure and leaving a pile of bricks, mimicking all the feelings she had been bottling up since the beginning.

Artemis dragged her eyes away from the rumble and whispered, "Now it's officially ruined."

Before draco could respond, they were ushered out downstairs and through the school. Snape took the lead, while the other death eaters watched in amusement as Bellatrix continued what the Seramore witch started. Pure destruction.

Briskly walking past the courtyard and into the great hall, glass from the windows shot through the room, blowing out the candles and leaving them in complete darkness.

Bellatrix danced and squealed in delight at her work.

Draco wore a look of horror. Artemis grabbed his arm and pulled him along and out of the school.

"Arty," he whimpered.

She gulped, "I know, I'm sorry for scaring you."

"You didn't, are you okay?"

"No," she answered honestly as they approached the forbidden forest.

"Stay close to me."

"Always."

A scorching light abruptly pulled them out of their moment, Bellatrix clapped with glee watching Hagrid's hut crumble amongst the fire she started.

"Shit," Artemis mumbled.

"Snape!" a familiar voice shouted, "He trusted you!"

The couple turned around to see Harry shoot curses at snape, which he deflected with ease.

"Fight back!" Harry yelled, "You coward, fight back."

The young wizard was soon sent to the ground, by the manic Bellatrix, who itched to whisper the death curse.

"He belongs to the dark lord. Go," Snape hissed at the witch, earning a pout, nevertheless, she left and ran towards the forbidden forest.

"Artemis! He lied to you. He wouldn't have killed your father!"

Artemis blocked out Harry's cries and turned to the raven-haired man, who urged her to follow Bellatrix.

Hastily turning on her feet, she interlinked her fingers with her fiancé.

"I won't let anything happen to you" draco promised, gripping her hand.

He would make sure to keep that promise.

Until the end.

***

END OF ACT 6

a/n:

dumbledore is finally dead.

this chapter took me so long to finish, i mainly wanted to focus on arty and her family (the emerald trio). of course, she loves daph and theo, however, i didn't want to include their goodbye because i didn't want to take it away from blaise's.

i wasn't going to have arty kill dumby, plus snape would've have left her (to protect her soul). but obviously i needed her to torture him and use his own lies against him. also she knew that harry was listening, so she needed him to discover the true dumbledore, despite him still lowkey believing he's innocent. (hazzer is just in denial)

arty still has many more things to do during deathly hallows. don't forget she will finally meet voldy.

i didn't put the locations of the scenes in the last couple of chapters because of the seriousness of the content.

btw she found of nova was preggers when she went home at christmas. because where else could she speak to someone through the fireplace and not be disturbed?

one more act to go, bare with me, i'm very busy and tired, so you might not see any updates until next year. the plan has been completed so don't worry.

until then.

liv