WARNINGS: DEATH AND MENTIONS OF TORTURE AND VIOLENCE:

Friday, July 19th, 1997

MALFOY MANOR:

Artemis Seramore had never been a scared person. Cunning? Of course, cautious? Always, but scared? Rarely ever. When her father passed, her mother believed that taking her away memories from that dreadful night was the right decision, but it only left emotionlessness in its wake. When Cedric was killed and appeared on the ground in front of her, sadness was all she could feel, but now, sitting among the wizarding world's worst criminals, she could admit she was scared, not just for her, but for her fiancé too.

The only warmth she could feel was from her aunt Narcissa, whilst her uncle Lucius seemed far too jittery to act normal in the presence of the Dark Lord. His hair was unkempt and his eyes were erratic. Even when she descended the stairs hand in hand with Draco, he couldn't do much to aid her fears as he was trapped in the same boat as her. Now looking around, feeling the eyes of many,  she had no choice but to continue with her decade-long facade, despite cutting ties with it during her fifteenth year.

As the many not-so-noble houses of Slytherin awaited their final guest, Artemis knew not to let her tired eyes linger for too long, you mustn't, her aunt's advice echoed inside her mind before the Dark lord summoned them all. She didn't once dare glance at the unearthly wizard, whose scarlet eyes burned into her side, which whispered her name.

The whimpering and squeaking from above not only caused her to freeze in her chair but also inspired guilt within her. Professor Charity Burbage, her muggle studies teacher. The poor woman. Captured and tortured, with the use of the potion, not only she made, but perfected for the pleasure of the people around her. Of course, Artemis never meant for something like this to happen, not to someone she deemed as innocent, well, now she wasn't exactly innocent anymore, not in the eyes of her peers or her house, she was at a bloody death eater meeting.

Only when a familiar face in the room, remaining as stoic as ever, did she turn and let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding.

"Severus," Voldemort's thin lips twitched up, to send the raven-haired wizard a smile, "I was beginning to worry you had lost your way. Come, we've saved you a seat."

And now all the devils were here, business could now commence.

Artemis felt Draco's grip on her hand under the table tighten as they watched their most trusted advisor sit down, they even noted that he was situated closest to the Dark Lord as well as Theodorus Nott Sr, who luckily didn't drag his own son into this mess.

Oh, she wondered how Theo, Blaise and Daphne were going to be for the final year, but she had to remain calm, so with one more squeeze from her fiance, she kept focus.

"You bring news I trust?" Voldemort's eerily calm voice caused many to shift in discomfort as well lean closer.

"It will happen Saturday next, at nightfall," the professor informed.

"I've heard differently, my lord," Corban Yaxley spoke, seated further down the table, gaining the Dark Lord's attention, "Dawlish the Auror has let slip that the Potter boy will not be moved until the 30th of this month. the day before he turns seventeen."

Seventeen, Artemis repeated internally, he's just a boy. A boy she didn't want dead or caught, although she knew one would happen at some point. She heard the news here and there, as she was allowed contact the outside, more specifically her mother and... father and brother. With the help of her owl; Ciara, was informed about worried and angry they were because they couldn't do much to prevent what was to come. Klaus was far angrier because the treaty of the 1940s forced the vampire community from getting involved with wizarding matters.

"This is a false trail," Severus proclaimed, "the Auror office no longer plays any part in the protection of Harry Potter."

"Those closest to him believe we have infiltrated the ministry," More and more death eaters began to speak, but to the Seramore everything sounded deafening.

Another boastful death eater spoke up, "Well, they've got that right haven't they?" he jested, gaining laughs from all around the table.

Meanwhile, the youngest couple there stayed silent. Harry would find a way to escape this right? He always does, well at least Artemis hoped, he was still someone had grown up with. Had constantly pissed her off whilst confusing her as well.

"What say you, Pius?" Voldemort asked, among the hissing of his trusted companion, which caught Artemis' ear.

"One hears many things, my lord. whether the truth among them is not clear," the new minister of magic answers quite vaguely.

"Spoken like a true politician." The Dark Lord laughed, "You will, I think prove most useful, Pius."

The minister mustered up a tight-lipped smile, concealing the fear he felt as Nagini slithered over his feet.

The snake's hissing irked the Seramore witch. What she knew or at least could understand worried her. Nagini was hungry, but for who or what exactly?

"Where will he be taken, the boy?" Voldemort continued his questioning.

"To a safe house. most likely the home of someone in the order," Severus paused. "I'm told it's been given every manner of protection possible. once there, it will be impractical to attack him."

Artemis knew he wouldn't be alone. Hermoine and Ron and the rest of their bloody clan would be there, helping Harry. She didn't wish harm on them either and for what it was worth she respected Hermoine and adored the twins who would immediately help without question.

"My lord," Bellatrix suddenly said, quite nervously, cleared her throat and leaned forward. "I'd like to volunteer myself for this task. I want to kill the boy."

Artemis side-eyed the woman, she didn't see it as family, and all she saw was another person who had hurt her friends. Nevile should be the one to kill you, she thought, then hastily turned her head to the side, feeling Draco squeeze her hand, aware he knew of what she was thinking.

"Worm tail!" Voldemort yelled, startling a few death eaters as the screeching of Professor Burbage grew louder, "Have I not spoken to you about keeping our guest quiet?"

"Yes m-my lord." the rat-faced man stuttered, then quickly complied, "Right away m-my lord."

"As inspiring as I find you bloodlust, Bellatrix, I must be the one to kill Harry Potter." he said, rising from his seat as she childishly scooted back in her chair, "but I face an unfortunate complication, that my wand and potter's share the same core." he paused. "they are in some ways.. twins. we can wound but not fatally harm one another."

Voldemort placed his wand down on the table's corner, then began to stalk around,

Trailing a hand over each chair he happened to pass until it lingered behind Artemis' sending her heart rate through the roof.

"If I am to kill him, I must do it with another's wand. "Not even little Miss Seramore, or should I say Malfoy?," he laughed to himself as she kept her gaze on the table, "Her wand also has the same core as mine and Mr potters. Quite peculiar, therefore I would not be able to use it."

The Dark Lord was simply fascinated with the idea that his wand core mirrored the witch sitting in front of him, yet decided not to let his emotions show and stayed situated behind her chair and her godfather's.

"Come...surely one of you would like the honour," Voldemort chortled, showcasing his unflattering teeth, "what about you, Lucius?"

Artemis felt her uncle jump before forcing himself to calm down. How he physically looked was how she felt.

"My lord?" he squeaked out, earning a few chuckles from his peers because of his demeanour.

"My lord," Voldemort mocked, "I require your wand."

Lucius's hand trembled as he pulled his wand out of his cane, sending his niece a reassuring look then held it out to the Dark Lord.

"Do I detect elm?" Voldemort asked, sounding bored.

"Yes, my lord."

Voldemort barely inspected it before snapping it in half, ruining more of the eldest Malfoy's sanity.

"And the core?"

"Dragon heartstring, my lord."

Voldemort hummed, not caring and he waved it in the air, the teacher beginning to float to the middle of the table.

Artemis's uneasiness skyrocketed at the sight of the trembling woman. Blood trickled from her face and a green hue hugged her face, creating a ghastly look.

Voldemort slowly returned to his seat as he begin to speak, "To those of you who do not know, we are joined tonight by Miss Charity Burbage, who, until recently, taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her speciality was muggle Studies."

Several members of the table began to chuckle or stare up in disgust, while Artemis squeezed Draco's hand tighter, wishing they stayed up in his room away from the events they knew would transpire.

"It is Miss Burbage's belief that muggles are not so different from us. She would, given her way, have us mate with them,"

The emphasis on the word drew a few of them to gag, believing there wasn't anything worse in the world.

"To her, the mixture of magical and muggle blood is not an abomination but something to be encouraged. At first, when she has captured her she lied, presumably to save her own skin. I do not take well to lies, some of you know..." the dark lord trailed off, laughing to himself at what he was going to say. His gaze settled on the Seramore witch who felt her head turn to meet his bloodthirsty eyes. "I seemed to obtain a potion that forced the truth out of this abominable woman. The potion that was used was a powerful thing, one of our own made it at a such youthful age that rendered me shocked. Artemis." suddenly all eyes were on her, some far more enviable than others, "Oh yes, my dear Artemis, what a great thing you've done for our cause. What drove you to create it?"

The young witch found her voice after deliberating the look she received from Severus, "Grief my lord."

"Ah, a powerful emotion I'm told," he spoke with an unlying sentiment.

"Just like love is a powerful emotion," she added and a few death eaters glanced at her in contempt, "I am told it's enough to make the darkest mind find the light."

Just when they all thought their master would be disgusted at the thought, he laughed, despite himself.

His eyes drifted between Artemis and Draco, "Very good, very good artemis," he paused, "Severus informed me of your gifts, you have picked the right side."

Artemis stiffly nodded, "I have my lord."

A wry smile appeared on his face as he slowly cocked his head to the side, seemingly becoming lost in thought, before he cleared his throat and settled his gaze back on the hovering teacher in front of him.

As the Dark Lord shifted in his seat, his sleeve caught on the side of the table and he pulled it down before anyone could catch a glimpse of the two letters that marked his wrist.

The Burbage teacher began whispering Severus's name in a plea for mercy and Artemis would've applauded his efforts for not folding if she was anywhere else.

It all seemed too much for her. One second the woman was in the air and then a bright light sent her slamming down on the table, starling half of the room. She felt draco tense beside her and grip her hand.

She tried ignoring the impending hissing from Nagini but she couldn't. Nor did she miss the single tear rolling down the cheek of the teacher whose classes she enjoyed. She forced herself to look away as the snake slithered onto the table and unlatch its jaw ready for its evening meal.

***

"So this is my new niece," Bellatrix wildly grinned as she prowled around the Seramore witch like a cat, "come forward, let me look at you," she ushered her closer "She's a pretty thing isn't she cissy?"

The death eater meeting had concluded half an hour ago, most of the death eaters had left and Voldemort was never too far away but Bellatrix wanted to get a good look at the future member of her family.

Narcissa nodded, smiling at the younger witch, "Beautiful."

"If only she had her father's eyes. Nice blue things."

Bellatrix couldn't help herself and by the looks of it, Artemis wanted her dead, even Draco could feel her anger suffocating the room. Lucius would have too if he wasn't too busy babbling about in his study.

"Bella it's time for Artemis and Draco to continue their studies in his room," Narcissa immediately motioned for the young couple to leave the foyer, "You wouldn't want their young minds to rot, would you?"

Feigning shock, Bellatrix asked her sister, "Did I upset the girl?"

A cackle escaped her lips at the scowl Artemis was clearly holding back as her nephew took her hand.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Bellatrix," Artemis mustered out.

"We're going to be a family!" the manic witch forcefully insisted, "call me Aunty."

Artemis stiffly nodded, whilst simultaneously gripping her fiance's hand, "Goodbye Aunt Bellatrix."

"Good girl," Bellatrix's wide eyes dangerously twitched as she watched the couple escape upstairs. "She's going to be a great asset isn't she Cissy?"

Her younger sister falsely hummed and followed her gaze, hoping that the teenagers kept to themselves and stayed out of trouble. The last thing she wanted was them in harm's way, she couldn't bare the thought. She had promised her best friends that nothing would happen and she was determined to keep that promise.

After all, there is no greater warrior than a mother protecting their child.

***

DRACO'S ROOM:

"Arty?" Draco fiddled with his hands as he watched Artemis stare at her reflection for the 5th minute since they started readying themselves for bed.

His witch hadn't spoken a word since her interaction with his deranged aunt. Even when they tried to read, she barely turned the page, only staying still and allowing him to read aloud. He was worried, concerned, and scared even but he wanted to make sure she was okay even though they were trapped in the manor of hell.

Blinking out of her trance, Artemis turned to him with a forced smile, "Yes, sorry were you saying something?"

"I've been calling you for minutes. Are you okay?"

"My scars," she blurted as he stepped into his bathroom and shut the door.

"What?"

"My scars," she repeated, dropping her gaze to her concealed stomach.

"What about them?" he didn't understand what she was getting at.

Huffing, Artemis carefully pulled up the bottom of her nighty, not caring that her knickers were on show, feeling far more embarrassed by the three gashes decorating her lower abdomen.

"Do you not find them hideous?" she whispered, trailing her fingers over them.

Draco scrunched up his face at the notion, "No, why would you say that?"

She shivered at his cold hands landing on her exposed waist, his stormy eyes darted between hers and her stomach.

"They're hideous."

"I've seen worse," he joked, instantly receiving a glare.

Artemis scoffed, "Gee, thanks."

"Come here," he pulled her closer when she pulled out of his grip.

"No."

"Mon amour..."

She groaned at his accent, "Speaking French will not make me come to you," she said, despite giving in to his pleading.

"And would you look at that?"

"Shut up."

A grin pulled at his lips before he bent down and trailed them over the scars that stained her beautiful skin, drawing a small smile from the witch.

"Did you know I find scars beautiful?" he teasingly asked and rasied a brow at the scoff he heard, "Don't look at me like that," he pulled away from her stomach and tugged the material of her nighty down, after noting her discomfort, "you have what... three? Besides, if they don't heal completely they don't heal. That won't make me want you any less, it just drives me to want to hurt that speccy orphan even more."

Artemis sent him a pointing look, "Draco..."

All amusement drained from his face as he spoke, "He is the reason you have them, I haven't forgotten."

The love of his painfully short life was disfigured, not that he thought any different of her, but it was the truth. She would have to bare with this until they faded. They were too deep for the many healing spells and even if they did disappear, they would still always be there. The thought of how she received them infuriated him. There would be nights when he couldn't rest because he almost lost her because of... Harry Potter. Detention for the rest of the year? The thought made him laugh. How could he serve detention when he's fleeing death eater? Draco wanted retribution, vengeance or something worthwhile.

Until then he would kiss every scar on her body until she was no longer feeling insecure or uncomfortable.

Artemis sighed, "And I have?"

Going to turn around, he reached out to stop her, dancing his fingers over her fabric-covered stomach, drawing a sharp breath from her.

"I'm just saying, anyone who wants to say anything about these or even your beautiful face has to deal with me."

They both had things on their body that they wanted to hide, but the other would still kiss them away until they were satisfied.

She raised a questioning brow, "Or they do?"

He nodded, "Of course they do."

Artemis hummed with a flash of irritation breaching her eyes, "That reminds me."

"Of what?"

"I overheard earlier today and I found out who recently became death eaters."

"Who?"

"Tracey Davis and Cassius Warrington."

A dark glint scorched Draco's eyes. Both ex-Hogwarts students had hurt his fiance in different ways. Although he knew they were during a time that they were on the outs, he didn't care. He wouldn't rest until she was okay.

"What do you want to do?" He asked lowly.

"Bide our time until we can strike."

He said nothing and brought her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

***

"The order is at it again. I suppose they think their hero's with what they're up to," Draco mumbled to himself in the dead of night.

He received news from his mother about the ongoings of the little gang of wizards determined to keep the golden boy safe. Harry bloody Potter. He hurriedly woke up the darling next to him, informing her of the news.

Artemis rubbed her eyes, completely exhausted, remaining on her back as he sat against the bedframe.

"Come off it, they're not exactly villains are they?"

"What like us?" he couldn't help but scoff.

She groaned and sat up beside him, debating her response. He was mad, no scratch that, irritated. His normal state. He knew she didn't hate Harry, not like he did if one would call that hate. She admired Harry to an extent. Being able to fend off the darkest wizard of several generations multiple times whilst being an average wizard and academically mediocre was impressive. She couldn't deny his bravery, which meant she put her own into question. Even her morals.

Were they villains?

"Yes," she breathed out and his head instantly snapped towards her.

"Am I a villain Arty?" he asked quietly, making her eyes soften.

She turned to him, sitting on her knees and grabbing his hand, feeling the trembling waves emitting off of him.

"No." he nearly smiled at her answer, "No, you're a boy who never had a choice in what he does." not like me. She wanted to add.

"And what about you?" he pressed, causing him to roughly gulp, "In my eyes, you're not a villain. You aren't cut out for it."

She forced out a chuckle, "I suppose Dumbledore would say otherwise."

He grunted at the mention of the man, "You didn't kill him. You could've but didn't. You're not a bloody killer and he was. Fucking arsehole."

Her heart began to race, hammering against her chest as she started thinking. Overthinking. It's what she did best.

"I was about to kill him. How would you have looked at me if I did," she rushed out, moving away and letting him go.

Draco wasn't going to let her do this. Her self-hatred, and self-depreciation. Her mind would work overtime and it would only lead to rash decisions and conversions that she would soon regret.

"How I always look at you. How I continue to look at you," he meant every word, but that didn't stop her lip from quivering.

Artemis's knees pulled into her chest as she stared up at him with those glossy brown eyes.

"But I wanted to kill him. I wanted to be the one to do it. There is something wrong with me, is there something wrong with me?" she started to panic, even jumping when draco moved closer to her, "Am I completely mental? Merlin, I've gone insane."

Artemis constantly told herself that she was concocting her plan because she had to not because she wanted to, but in those last seconds, she was prepared to commit any crime to feel at one with herself.

She was getting lost again, in her mind, lost and draco couldn't let that happen again.

He gritted his teeth, slowly sitting on his knees and tenderly reaching out to cup her wet face, letting the tears fall onto his nimble fingers and coating his cold flesh.

"Now you listen to me carefully," he tried to be fierce yet gentle, "That bastard killed your father, my godfather, there would be something wrong with you if you didn't want him dead. I wanted him dead and I don't feel bad for that. No guilt. Nothing."

"Killing a man would wreck your soul," she whispered.

"Do you expect me to kill for you?" he questioned, eyes boring into hers.

Artemis shakily nodded, "Without question."

A teary smile breached his lips, "So I will allow my soul to be shredded to pieces if it meant that you are safe."

No matter how unbearable the pain would be, how altered his mind would become, he would kill anyone or anything as long as she was spared. Words couldn't express what he would do for her.

A breathy chuckle escaped her lips, "Merlin's beard. I would do the same."

"You may view yourself as broken or a monster, but you will always be my Arty, my goddess, nothing can or will change that. Because we're above the stars and nothing will pull us down."

"They will have a hard time trying if they do."

He hummed, kissing her forehead, "That's right."

"Sleep darling," he spoke softly, wiping away her tears and tugging her legs.

She let out a yawn as he head met the pillow, "I love you."

"I love you too."

***

Sunday, July 21st,

"Come here," Artemis hissed from her place on the floor-length rug.

Draco did what she asked, despite himself wanting to cling to his bed.

"What? No, it's not even 5 in the morning."

"Just come here," she insisted quietly aware of the death eaters patrolling the long and wide corridors of the manor. Not that they didn't have a silencing charm on the door, but they were still paranoid.

He huffed and threw the quilt off of him and rubbed his eyes.

"Expecto Patronum," he heard her voice.

Just when he thought he would be welcomed with darkness, a glimmer of blue appeared across his room, forming sparks of light and growing into a doe and that beautiful doe that danced across the bed and galloped until his jaw landed on the floor.

Artemis laughed at the awe etched across his face. She didn't care that she was breaking the laws of underage magic, she was practically an outlaw at that point so she might as well have fun with it.

"I suppose that means you liked it?"

He rapidly blinked as he joined her on the floor, "Your Patronus?"

She softly chuckled, "Yes, my Patronus."

"Gosh, that's..." A smile grew on his face as he tried to find the right words, watching as she settled her wand down.

"Amazing?"

"I was going to say cool but yeah I guess it's amazing," he teased, earning a smack on his bare chest.

"Git."

"Show me," he insisted, eyes wide and alert.

She feigned shock, "But I thought it was too early?"

He rolled his eyes, "Come off it and show me," pulling his wand out of the band of his sweatpants, he presented it to her, ignoring the smirk gracing her lips, "Didn't you say something about happy memories?"

"Yes you must think happy, wonderful thoughts and then they lift you into the air."

"Arty..." he trailed off, mildly annoyed and amused by her referencing peter pan.

"Yeah, sorry right," she was overwhelmed by her emotions and during the night they tended to combust at night, not that Draco minded, "Close your eyes and think of a memory, a happy one, the happiest one. A time when you felt nothing but bliss. Once you do, say the incantation with conviction."

"With conviction," he couldn't help but mock, thinking she sounded like a professor.

"Don't mess about," she hissed and he raised his hands in surrender.

"Alright fine."

"Expecto patronum," she said, raising a brow, waiting for him to repeat after her.

"Expecto patronum."

He pointed his wand and nothing happen.

Artemis watched him groan and huff, "Happy things," she whispered to him and he shut his eyes.

"Happy things, happy memories," he mumbled to himself, rolling back his shoulders and inhaling sharply."

I'm sat beside my bloody fiance for Merlin's sake, think happy thoughts! His mind screamed whilst his fingers curled around his wand, tightening as his memories pulled him to the past.

Artemis rubbed his arm, "Come on darling, say it with feeling."

"Expecto patronum."

"Thank you," Blaise grinned and then looked down at the blonde, "which one is the best Daph?"

They all turned to her expectantly, she held up her favourite Polaroid. It was one of the first ones they had taken.

Draco had his arm around Artemis' shoulder, whilst she held up her and Daphne's pinkies; both witches were smiling at each other, Blaise was kissing the top of the blonde's head as Theo flipped them all off.

They all started to laugh at the "It's perfect." Theo mused.

Draco nodded, staring directly at the Seramore witch, "Love it."

"We should put it next to the 'ghosts of the past' wall," Daphne spoke excitedly, looking at the cousins.

Artemis beamed at her friend, "Brilliant idea Daph."

"Expecto patronum," Draco repeated, thinking back to 4th year and the wonderful Yule ball.

"Tonight has been a success," Draco commented, as they all stared up at the starry sky. He placed his hands on Artemis' waist, making her tense before leaning into his touch.

"You're sounding way too optimistic for my liking D," Daphne said, feigning fright.

"Fine," he huffed, "tonight wasn't as shit as I thought."

"Much better Darling," Artemis shot him a smile, she laughed when he tickled her sides.

"So much better," the other three agreed, making him flip them all off.

"Expecto patronum," a glimmer of white shot out of his wand as he repeated the spell once again, putting a smile on Artemis's face.

"I love you."

Artemis's heart hammered against her chest after she spoke those words for the first time in years. It felt as if the huge wall in her mind had been knocked down, allowing new emotions to flood in and engulf her.

Draco blicked back his shock and gasped, "You what?"

She continued, "I know I've had trouble saying it bu-."

"Say it again," he demand and lowered his head, so their lips grazed one another.

When she saw his beaming smile she had no choice but to repeat her truth.

"I love you forever."

"I love you forever."

And with that, the young couple experienced their first union of love, which was being witnessed under the transfigured stars, that brightened as time went on.

"Expecto patronum," Draco said, with conviction and feeling.

"We're above the stars my darling," he paused, "We always have been and always will be. So Artemis Joelle Seramore will you do me the honour of being mine forever?"

She nodded vigorously, "Yes, I'll marry you."

Draco didn't waste a second and slipped the ring onto her finger.

He picked her up and spun her around as they laughed, basking in all the joy that surrounded them. He didn't ever want to let go, so he didn't. They cried tears of joy and mumbled 'I love you forever'.

Artemis squealed in excitement and kissed all over his face, not caring how cheesy she believed it looked.

They were happy and didn't have a care in the world, they wanted to embrace it before that feeling would be snatched away.

"I was going to mention Neverland in my speech but I didn't want to ruin it." Draco sheepishly admitted, making her gleefully laugh.

"I wouldn't have minded, I would've loved it."

Suddenly a bright light flew from his wand creating- no morphing into an ivory white dragon that flew and sored around his room, drawing their attention as his eyes snapped open and he stood to his feet and pulled her up with him.

They stared in awe at the animal that breathed out a harmless fire and fluttered its wings.

"You did it," Artemis squealed.

"We did it."

"Did these happy thoughts include me and our amazing friends," she paused, "our family?"

"They always do. No matter how much you all bother me," Draco's amusing tone didn't falter, "My happy thoughts always include you."

***

a/n:

jay harnandez as 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝘀𝗿

there wasn't much mention of the pureblood five because i wanted to focus on artemis' mind within the malfoy manor during this time. her guilt, her worry and her concern. there is so much more that she needs to discuss with draco but she fears people are listening.

i really liked writing voldemort with artemis. don't worry there is more to see of those two. the last seramore he interacted with was septrim and it's been at least 50 years so he just keeps imagining him in her.