WARNINGS: TORTURE, BLOOD AND VIOLENCE

Saturday, March 15 1998:

MALFOY MANOR:

Potterwatch had finally succeeded.

He was there, at the manor, alongside his trusted friends...or at least that's what snatchers claimed.

Artemis and Draco were forced downstairs at Bellatrix's request (demand) to come and see the trio or what looked like them.

Hermoine and Ron were held by some snatchers, barely recognisable, never had Artemis seen them look so... defeated, knackered and worn out.

Bellatrix was holding an almost familiar face. A mangle and beaten one, their eye was swollen, clearly from whatever jinx was inflicted, but a lightning-shaped scar shone through on their forehead.

Potter.

Artemis locked eyes with a frightened Hermoine, the latter sent her a pleading look, whilst Ron glared directly at Draco.

The two Slytherins were brought forward, with their hearts beating rapidly as they scoured nervously across the room, noting Lucius' jittery eyes.

"We think it's him. But we're not quite sure. We need you both to identify him," Artemis heard her aunt Narcissa explain.

"Well?" Bellatrix pressed, tugging on chosen one's hair, the action almost made Artemis flinch.

The engaged couple exchanged a look, both aware of who was in front of them. Harry, a name she wouldn't say aloud because she knew Harold was far more aggravating. Now he was before her in disguise and if he was exposed they would all be royally fucked.

"I can't be sure," Draco spoke up first.

Lucius sped towards his son, "Draco, look closely, son. If we are the ones to hand Potter over to the Dark Lord, everything would be forgiven. All would be as it was. Do you understand?"

"Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope Mr Malfoy," the Snatcher who was roughly holding Hermoine, said tauntingly.

"You dare to talk to me like that in my own house?!" Lucius yelled, making his son flinch, which earned a glare from his goddaughter.

"Lucius," Narcissa whispered almost in a reprimanding way, then brought him to the side.

"Come over," Bellatrix grinned, beckoning over Artemis, "Now if this isn't who we think it is, and we call him, he'll kill us all. We need to be absolutely sure."

"It's not him," Artemis insisted, staring directly at the scar etched onto Harry's head. Everyone turned to her, "It can't be, this must be some imposter, travelling alongside," she trailed off and glanced between the depleted Gryfindors, "Them. besides Aunt Bellatrix, What's wrong with his face?"

"Yes, what is wrong with his face?" Bellatrix questioned snarkily.

The lead snatcher shrugged, "He came to us like that. Something he picked up in the forest, I reckon."

Artemis knew she had to keep playing along, especially when the Dark Lord was out of reach.

Glancing at Draco once more, he kneeled in front of Harry, analysing his face with an apprehensive look.

"I can't tell," Draco uttered and thankfully his aunt's attention was drawn elsewhere.

"What is that?" Bellatrix gasped when she caught the object that a snatcher had, "Where'd you get that from?" she asked, stepping closer and moving around Harry, leaving him to let out a sigh.

Artemis quickly nudged her fiancé and tugged him off the floor, guiding him away from the chosen one and turning to glance at what the commotion was.

The Sword of Gryffindor.

How the bloody hell did a snatcher get that? Artemis exchanged a look with draco as he grabbed her hand.

"It was in her bag when we searched her. Reckon it's mine now." The snatcher grinned and that was his mistake.

Suddenly Bellatrix stretched out her wand and tossed the band of unintelligent wizards around, contorting them to her bidding without uttering a single word. Strangling and knocking them out as her wand morphed into a whip and wrapped around the main snatcher's neck.

"Are you mad?!" he choked out, before dropping to the ground.

Bellatrix apprehended the sword as Harry joined Ron.

"Go! Get out!" she screamed, feverishly looking around until her gaze landed on someone in particular, "Artemis, Draco, put the boys in the cellar! Keep an eye on them. I want to have a little conversation with this one. Girl to girl!" Bellatrix ordered, gripping Hermoine's arm.

Artemis' nerves skyrocketed, fully aware of what would happen, "Aunt-"

"Get out!"

***

Rushing into the cellar, Ron snapped his head around, scowling at Draco and Artemis as soon as the door locked, with all of them inside.

"Get us out. Now," he demanded in a low tone.

"If you think we could, we would have," Artemis retorted, glancing around, unaware of who or what was down here.

"Sure you would."

"You want to argue we me now?"

"We have to find a way out of here," Harry cut off their tiff, knowing how ugly it could get and they didn't have the time.

The jinx that Hermoine used was slipping and everything inside him told him to scream.

"Don't you think we know that?" Draco hissed, glaring between the best friends

Just when Ron stepped forward, a light voice caught their attention.

"Arty? Is that you?" the voice came closer, "Ron? Harry?"

They all turned around to come face to face with Luna, her father Xenophilius, Olivander and a goblin.

How long had they been here?

"Lu?" Artemis rushed for her, drawing her into a hug, "when - why - how are you here?"

"Father and I got caught," she explained, hugging her back, "I'm okay, we're okay," she added, smiling at her father, who nodded at the rest of the group.

"What about Pans?"

Luna meekly nodded as they pulled apart, "She must be worried sick."

"I'll find a way to let her know-"

"How are you gonna do that?" Ron harshly cut her off.

"I always find a way," Artemis said, trying her best to ignore his tone, "Just like how I know, Dean is safe."

"He is?" Harry asked, shocked and wide-eyed.

"We know he was with you, on the run, almost gave Theo a heart attack," Draco added, rather annoyed that his close friend was upset, "he's safe."

"Good," Ron nodded to himself, Dean's safe, "now can someone explain to us how we're gonna get out."

They all were standing around in a circle.

Before Artemis could reply a gut-wrenching scream echoed through the cellar and they all knew who it belonged to.

Hermoine.

The screams reminded her of Ms Burbage and how she was tortured all because of the stupid potion she made.

"Granger," Draco murmured and looked up to see the tears pooling in Ron's eyes.

"Help us," Ron whispered, staring directly at Artemis, "Before they use that torture potion on her," he added with a sneer.

"Don't look at her like that, don't speak to her like that, you know why she had to do it," draco hissed, gripping his fiancé's hand.

"To get back at Dumbledore?" Ron spoke almost mockingly, "Because he allegedly had a hand in your father's death? Come off it Artemis, you aren't thick enough to believe that — wait clearly you are."

"Don't you dare," Artemis gritted out, "he confessed to his crimes," she snapped her head towards a disappointed Harry, "you were there. You heard everything, he had blood on his hands."

"You don't know that," Harry murmured, not wanting to believe what he'd witnessed that fated night.

The memories all blurred into one, the sight of a girl he once admired inflicting harm on a man who he'd looked up to.

"But you do."

Harry quickly took a piece of glass from his sock, after feeling it dig into his skin.

"That's a curious thing to keep in your sock," Luna absentmindedly noted, "Potions such as the ones Artemis makes are never wrong, Snape insisted, potions master and all. I for one suppose Dumbledore was telling the truth about his hand in Artemis' father's death," she remarked, tiredly blinking back sleep, "it's shocking, but not unbelievable. Great men are not always the kindest and as we all know terrible men can do great things."

Artemis smiled, Draco stiffly nodded but Harry and Ron stood indifferently, the latter more than the former.

"Well said my dear," Xenophilius smiled at his daughter.

Olivander and the goblin kept their opinions to themselves for now.

Artemis explained, staring at Harry, "My father knew many things, things that Dumbledore wanted to keep quiet. Of course, you had to be taken in by a family member — you know the ones who hurt and starved you, but he knew with some convincing that godparents could claim you, your godparent."

Draco added, "My...cousin. Sirius."

"What?" Ron shook his head.

Ignoring the wizard, she continued, "My father was working on exonerating his crimes, aware that he didn't commit such atrocities, nor would he betray your parents," she caught the pain flashing past his green eyes.

"Why?" the chosen one dared to ask, "Why help me?"

"Apparently he knew Sirius' brother."

"R.A.B." Ron whispered to himself.

"My father was Regulus' mentor for before he graduated," she explained further, "after Regulus died, my father believed he owed Sirius for not protecting him, even though they weren't on speaking terms. Putting you into the care of someone who would love you unconditionally and would protect your growing mind instead of those who wanted to mould it to their liking. Dumbledore knew where you were and put you into the hands of people who broke you down and lied to you."

"Ezekiel knew more," Draco stated.

"So you going to sit here and argue about the man who ruined my family, or do you want me to help you kill the one who ruined yours?" Artemis snapped, growing tired of the interrogation.

She felt another pair of hands grab hers. It was Luna, wanting to calm her somehow.

Ron bitterly laughed, "Is this a joke?" he asked, earning a scowl from Draco.

Artemis glared at him, "Am I laughing?"

Ron turned to his best friend, hoping he wouldn't believe her, "This is all coming from the girl who's supposed to be kidnapped. Harry-"

"Have I ever really lied to you before?" Artemis cut him off.

"What about your family's room?"

Artemis was taken aback by Harry's question, just like Draco was.

"That's different and you know it," she said, shaking her head.

"So it exists?" Harry pressed on, coming closer.

"What room?" the goblin suddenly inquired.

Draco groaned, "Well done Potter."

"My family room," Artemis didn't want to reveal its existence, it was always supposed to stay a secret. She could hear her ancestors yelling at her meanwhile, her grandfather and everyone who ever stepped into Mente Striae curse at her, "It's real."

"Arty don't," Draco nudged her, "If they don't believe you, leave it at that, they can go up there and deal with what we've been dealing with for months if they must, but don't do this."

"We have to," Artemis sadly smiled at him, then turned back to the curious expressions, "my family room exists," she reluctantly revealed. "It's in Hogwarts."

"Now you know that. You know what happened in that tower was the truth."

"But you tortured Dumbledore," Harry whispered, still reeling from all that was told.

"Yes I tortured Dumbledore," she confessed, "just like he tortured my father to death, leaving him in a pool of his blood, freezing in the snow of a forest not far from my home, leaving me to find his body and all the creatures that had already began feasting on his corpse."

The image scarred their minds.

"How else would he confess his crimes?" she questioned them and herself.

Ron scoffed, "If we're on about crimes, you take the bloody cake Seramore."

Artemis interjected, noticing Darco was about to, "Mine aren't as long as a golden boy's over here," she sneered looking at Harry. "Are you forgetting he almost killed me?"

"That was an accident," Ron snapped, glancing at his best friend who was still riddled with guilt because of his actions, "and you're crimes outweigh his."

"They don't."

"I beg to differ."

Artemis rolled her eyes, "Oh, do you?"

"Now isn't the time for this," Luna shrieked, then quickly regreeted her tone because they all heard the rustling of chains from above.

It was Wormtail.

Quickly Artemis and Draco backed away from the group, needing to distance themselves as much as possible.

Wormtail made his way towards the bars and tossed them open.

"Let her go" Ron was the first to approach the treacherous man, knowing if Harry did so, he would expose his identity as well as attack the man who betrayed his parents and friends.

"Shut up. Stay back." Wormtail hissed. "You. Goblin. Come with me."

The Goblin went along with him.

Once the bars slammed shut and two made their way back upstairs, everyone gathered in a circle again.

"Mr Olivander..." Artemis turned to him for the first time and let her eyes wander over the old man's fragile state.

She hadn't seen him in quite some time and he didn't change much, only in the eyes. Finest maker of wands in the world. And now he lay up in the dungeon of her fiancé's home like a prisoner. He was a prisoner. She was unaware of how many people were there and she was scared to find out.

"Ms Seramore?" He asked rather confused.

"Apparating won't work will it?" she asked, then faced the rest of the kidnapped lot, "You've all tried right?"

Ron had to suppress a scoff at her answer and instead nodded, far too tired to argue with the girl.

"We have."

"You'll need to travel in a group," the wand maker insisted, "if you want to make it out alive, believe me, leaving this place alone will take up most of your energy."

Harry let out a pronounced sigh, "Thank you sir, but as you can see we're all tired."

Everyone turned to the chosen one, slightly shocked by his harsh tone.

"Yes, I'm aware-"

"I don't think you do," he snapped, tugging at his hair and attempting to block out the screeching of one of his best friends, "I've had enough, I've seen enough I want out, I want it to end, I can't care anymore."

He couldn't stand it. He couldn't stand being Harry Potter anymore.

"Harry," Ron tried coaxing him, despite being shocked by his words and heartbreaking, but it was no use.

"He's right," Artemis agreed.

"And what would you know?" the words flew out of Harry's mouth faster than he could imagine, "You haven't seen the things I have. We're on a death mission Artemis and Hermoine is upstairs being tortured, don't you get that? We need to get out and I can barely feel anything anymore. Now tell us your plan."

"Don't talk to her like that," Draco glared, stepping forward, but Ron came in between the two boys.

"Draco it's fine..." Artemis knew she wasn't aware of all the things Harry had been through, nor did she think she could survive that many losses or beatdowns.

She couldn't help but look at him in a different light. Not pity, just understanding and unknowingly he was doing the same.

"You know one of us has to die," Harry said in a softer tone, hinting at the Dark Lord.

Artemis stiffly nodded, "One you have to die."

"One of us has to die."

"Everyone listen up and listen closely," she instructed, after digesting the words Harry said, "Because for this to work we'll have to be quick..."

***

After making his way past the death eaters and lying that he'd left his wand upstairs, Draco scoured his room, for a parchment that Artemis had written on a couple of nights before. Artemis had sent him to check that she'd sent it to her cousin and if she didn't they would be out of luck.

He let out a sigh of relief when he caught the scorched marks near the pile of books they'd been reading. Praise Salazar, she sent it.

The sound of scuffling made him tense.

He went to pull out his wand and then stooped upon seeing the sight of his old house-elf.

"Dobby?" he blinked. It had been years since their last interaction and he still blamed his father for such reasons, "How -- did you apparate in here?"

"Master Draco," his old house-elf wore a lop-sided grin, "What a man you've become. So big, but your eyes, so hallow, Dobby always told you to rest-"

Draco cut him off, "You apparated here didn't you?" he was given a shy nod, "What are you doing here? You need to leave before they see you!"

"Dobby is helping Harry Potter by helping master Draco... he's in danger."

A frown etched onto Draco's face. Potter. He wanted to snap, but couldn't bring himself to when he stared at his old... friend.

"You're leaving again, aren't you?" he was sent a silent nod. "You don't have to," Draco whispered, stepping forward, but the house-elf shook his head, whilst playing with his fingers.

"Dobby has to go. It's only right, Dobby said goodbye to Binky as well, who wasn't happy, she understood, but she wasn't happy. Dobby was sad to make a friend upset."

A small smile tugged on Draco's lips, "You saw Binks?"

"Yes Master Draco," Dobby's eyes beamed, "Dobby was hugged by Binky, so warm and so nice."

"You're leaving." Draco knew what this meant, he would most likely never see the house elf again.

"My, my you have grown, Master Draco. So big."

"They'll hurt you if you help."

Dobby's stepped forward and reached out to touch the young wizard's hand, "Dobby knew you had a heart, such a big heart, one that changed. Turn cold. You mustn't let them ruin it any more."

"Dobby..."

"Tell Miss Artemis to always use her brain, it was huge when she was the same height as me. Smaller but bigger I think, Dobby doesn't know, she was a whiz that one. Dobby misses her. Tell her."

Swallowing his emotions, Draco nodded, "I will."

With a snap of his fingers, the house-elf vanished leaving Draco all alone in his room, trying to cope with the feelings kissing his nerves and erupting in his chest.

"Goodbye Dobby," he whispered, wiping a tear from his face and clutching his wand.

"Draco!" he jumped when he heard his mother's voice.

"Coming Mother!"

***

Rapidly returning to where everyone was, Draco gulped when he saw a shock-ridden, frightful Hermoine in agony.

The word mud-blood was carved into her forearm. The word he'd use throughout his upbringing, felt almost disgusting to him - vile, like he wanted to scrub at his tongue until it turned as red as her blistering skin.

Artemis saw the same thing and went to step forward to help the witch but a familiar cold hand tugged her back. She'd left the dungeon minutes before at the request of her godmother, much to her aggravation but fortunately explained her plan to Harry and co.

"Who stole it?!" Bellatrix snarled at the Goblin, referring to the sword in her hands. She'd been trying to locate the thief who went into her vault and tortured the muggle-born which was useless.

"When I was last in your vault the sword was there," the Goblin calmly explained, staring up at the manic woman.

"Oh well, then perhaps it just walked out on its own then," Bellatrix hissed, snapping her head to the side.

"There is no place safer than Gringotts."

"Liar!" Bellatrix barked, with her hand connecting his face and slicing his cheek.

The engaged couple tense at her actions. Never had violence scared them so much, despite being exposed to countless fights, that each had, quidditch games, films they actively watched when they were younger as well as the tri-wizard tournament. Everything seemed like it was only amplified in this house, around death-eaters.

"Consider yourself lucky, Goblin. The same won't be said for this one," she said motioning to Hermoine.

Artemis panicked when she began making her way towards the defenceless girl.

Suddenly, Harry and Ron appeared.

Everything happened so quickly, the wizards disarmed Bellatrix and Narcissa.

Lucius was stupified by Harry and along with Ron tried to collect the fallen wands, but before they could Artemis and Draco started duelling with the wizards.

Spells were cast.

Hexes were deflected.

Even curses were said and just when everything seemed bad, things got a lot worse.

Bellatrix held Hermoine, with a dagger to her throat, shakily grating it against her skin.

"Stop! Drop your wands! I said drop 'em!" she yelled and her friends did what was commanded. "Pick them up! Now!" she demanded, looking at Artemis and Draco, who did what was asked, and even return the wands to the witches before standing alongside Lucius.

Bellatrix started to grin, now catching the sight of the chosen one, "Well, well, well, look what we have here. It's Harry Potter. He's all bright and shiny and new again. Just in time for the Dark Lord."

Artemis gripped Draco's hand tightly.

"Call him" she ordered, the Malfoy heir and everyone turned towards him, waiting for him to do so, but he just stood there frozen.

"I think he would love to hear this news from you Aunt Bellatrix," Artemis insisted, trying to buy time for everyone, but went ignored.

"Call him!" Bellatrix repeated.

Noting that his son wouldn't do as he was told, Lucius stepped in and lifted his sleeve, revealing the dark mark, but before he could call Voldemort, there was a creaking noise.

Everyone turned to the ceiling, gasping when they saw Dobby fiddling with the screws of a chandelier and about to make it fall.

Draco got a hold of his fiancé and pushed her out of the way, just as Hermoine was pulled out of Bellatrix's hold just and it fell to the ground, shattering everywhere.

With all the commotion, the adults failed to notice Harry grabbing Draco's wand.

"Stupid Elf! You could've killed me!" Bellatrix yelled, in shock and disgust.

"Dobby never meant to kill! Dobby only meant to maim or...seriously injure," Dobby explained and Artemis tried to conceal her genuine happiness upon seeing such an old friend.

She turned to Draco just as her godmother got her wand taken by the elf.

"How dare you take a witch's wand! How dare you defy your masters!" Bellatrix screeched at such a sight, feeling angrier than ever.

"Dobby has no master. Dobby is a free elf," Dobby exclaimed as his friends gathered behind him, "And Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends," Eyes widened when something appeared in the manic witch's hands. The escapees apparated out of the room, with the portal slowly becoming smaller as a dagger neared.

And just as it closed, the dagger was pulled in.

And the question that was on Artemis and Draco's minds was...

Who did it hit?

***

a/n:

first artemis and harry interaction in a while and do you think he finally believes her about dumbledore's part to play in her father's murder?

not much to say about this chapter other than the next one might be slightly happier.