Thursday, September 9th

My dearest Arty,

I am appalled and disheartened by the discrimination you received. Blaise had written to your aunt and me about it. I'm sorry I'm not there to comfort you, my love.

It's disgusting that you had to go through this on your own.

I had to calm your aunt down many times, she almost blew up the hotel we are staying at.

We had experienced something quite similar during our years at Hogwarts, it's a shame that nothing has changed.

I have sent you most clothes Arty, I hope they comfort you as well as the new books your grandfather has sent.

I hope you use your support system, so you don't compartmentalise your feelings. Your cousin has told me that he will always be there for you, as well as Daphne and Theodorus.

I can't wait to meet those two one day.

Although what I find odd is I haven't heard from Draco, I suppose he is focusing on his studies.

Also, can you let Severus know that I've sent him new robes, he had been requesting new personalised ones for quite some time.

I can't wait for it to be summer so I can see you. New Orleans will welcome you, just like it's welcomed your aunt and I.

We've made many friends during our business trip. Three of them come from the same family, isn't that a coincidence?

I love you my amazing Daughter.

C.S.

***

D.A.D.A CLASSROOM

Professor Lupin is the new teacher for defence against the dark arts this year.

He was a tall and slender man, with eyes a smile that could light up the world, eyes that showed comfort and care and a presence that could protect you.

Artemis had noticed the glares that the man received from Professor Snape.

Although she wished her favourite teacher had gotten the position that he had been requesting for years, she wanted to see if Lupin would be a positive change from Lockhart.

The man was still being taken care of at St. Mungo's and would probably never see civilisation for a while.

Artemis would've learnt nothing last year if she didn't take the time to study herself, as did her friendship group.

Speaking of her group, Daphne had been giving Draco the silent treatment, and as much as Theo wanted to, he did pity the boy, so they were still on speaking terms.

Blaise knew that his best mate craved attention and care, something his father didn't bother to give him, so he still treated Draco like normal, despite knowing that Artemis was taking a break from their "relationship."

The Zabini wizard thought it was the right choice for the two, however, for once he didn't voice his opinions, not wanting to add more fuel to the fire.

He would save his ammunition for a different day, knowing he would need to use it, whenever Draco opened his mouth to be disrespectful.

Speaking of the Malfoy wizard, he had been struggling to give Artemis her space.

He thought if he redirected his attention to Pansy, Millicent, Vincent and Gregory, it would help.

However, it just caused the rift in his friendship group to grow.

He noticed the sullen look on Artemis' face anytime he talked to the Parkinson witch, causing him to do it more, knowing it would get to her.

He believed that all attention he received from her would benefit them in the future.

He embraced the jealous looks, hoping it would drive her to come back to him.

Pansy was ecstatic when she finally received the attention she had desired from the Malfoy wizard, revelling in it, every time she saw Artemis walking passed the two.

She thought it helped her plan to embarrass and publicly shame the Seramore witch, as part of her revenge, because it had been done to her only last year.

She was still occasionally called 'Pummelled Parkinson' by some of her housemates, a few Ravenclaws and many Hufflepuffs.

Pansy couldn't wait to be in a relationship with her lifetime crush, claiming him in front of everyone, including Artemis.

Draco went against Blaise and Theo's wishes, they constantly told him to drop his game, since he assumed he would win, but oh boy he was terribly mistaken.

The pureblood five were spread out around the room, Draco was with his goons and Pansy attached to his hip, over by the side, not wanting to be anywhere near the front, his eyes occasionally drifted over to Artemis who stood on the opposite side of the room with her arms looped with Theo's.

Although the Malfoy wizard knew that her relationship with Theo was platonic, it still angered him.

Daphne and Blaise sat at the back, the two were secretly holding hands. Their relationship had gotten stronger, despite the rift in their friendship group.

They were still apprehensive about telling Artemis, scared of her reaction, especially since she was dealing with a lot of stress and didn't want to add to it.

Many people noticed the shift within the group, mainly the golden trio, well, Harry more than his friends.

He believed that he was the cause of the tension between Artemis and Draco, although he felt guilty, he still believed that she deserved better than the Malfoy wizard.

"Intriguing isn't it?" Professor Lupin started, as he stood in front of a wooden wardrobe that shook, causing the class to tense.

Most of the stools and tables were pushed to the side, leaving space for the students to gather around, without the barriers.

Artemis hoped that her Defense Against the Dark Arts class would help with her melancholic mood, despite sharing it with some Gryffindors.

Theo kept purposefully sniffling any time one of them walked past him, the only time he stopped being petty was when Dean shot him a warm smile.

The wardrobe continued to rattle and shake, hinting to the students about the terror that lies within.

"Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what is inside?" he asked with a smile.

"That's a boggart, that is" Dean answered, causing Theo to hum in agreement, ignoring the looks he received from people around the room.

Artemis and Daphne snickered, resulting in playful shoves from the boys they stood next to.

"Very good Mr Thomas" Lupin grinned as the dresser shook again, "Now can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?" he asked.

"No one knows," the Granger witch suddenly spoke up, Artemis didn't even notice her come in, and neither did her friends.

That's weird. She mouthed to Theo, who nodded in agreement.

"Boggart is shape-shifters, they take the shape of whatever a particular person fears the most. That's what makes them so.." Hermoine trailed off and nodded to the moving dresser.

"So terrifying, yes," Lupin cut her off and the dresser shook once more, "Luckily a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart, let's practice it now" he explained  "Without wands, please. After me: 'Riddikulus."

The Gryffindor students complied, whereas many of the Slytherins didn't want to acknowledge their fears.

Artemis and Blaise shared a look, hoping that they both hand their wands and didn't accidentally switch them again.

"Riddikulus" most of the class repeated.

"A little louder and very clear" Lupin enthusiastically exclaimed, wanting his class to be as excited as he was, "Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" The class repeated once more.

"This class is ridiculous," Draco mumbled, he hissed when he felt a paper aeroplane hit his neck, he already knew who sent it, he didn't bother to turn around, although Goyle, Crabbe and Parkinson glared at Blaise who snickered along with his girlfriend.

"Shut up Draco," the Zabini wizard whispered-shouted and was flipped off in response.

"Very good. The incantation isn't enough, what really finishes a boggart is laughter" Lupin said. "Let's get some people from the back shall we?" His eyes darted around the room, "Miss Seramore, why don't you join me?" he smiled widely at her, and most of the class turned to face her.

He admired how bright the child was for her age, creating a cure for something that used to be deadly as well as making a new healing spell.

Although he did take pity on the pressure she carried with her.

He could've sworn he had met Ezekiel in the past, although his mind had been hazy since the death of his close friends and James and Lily potter.

"I don't think I can do that sir," she grimaced, "Theo has separation anxiety," she said with a fake pout, making most of the students laugh as well as her professor.

The Nott wizard playfully rolled his eyes.

Artemis wasn't in the mood to take part in class, which is why she barely reacted to the voices that spoke in the room.

Her mind was already swarming with images of what her worst fear could be, she felt like she already knew, but didn't want to confirm it.

"I'm sure Theodorus can handle being apart from you for a couple of minutes," Lupin grinned and Theo groaned at the use of his first name.

"Ahah, Theodorus," Blaise cackled, causing more students to laugh, "what a doughnut."

"Shut up bitc-Blaise," the two flipped each other off,  whilst Artemis strolled up to the front, ignoring the grey eyes that were on her.

Draco desired to join in on the banter that his closest friends were in on, however his pride practically forced him not to.

He felt as if he had an image to maintain, a reputation, despite the tug on his heart that he felt whenever saw them joke or smile, without him being present.

He readjusted his sling and hid his jagged nails, hoping that Pansy couldn't see them, because she hadn't stopped pestering him about his injury all day.

"Now what frightens you the most?" Lupin asked the Seramore witch, as she stood next to him.

She shot him a suspicious look, why the fuck would I tell him, "It's a secret, " she replied and placed a finger to her lips, causing him to smile warmly.

"That's okay you don't have to say it out loud" Lupin added, and motioned her to move closer to the dresser, "Now when I open that wardrobe, here's what I want you to do-" he came closer, "I want you to picture your worst fear, and try to make it funny" he whispered, "Can you do that?" he then asked loudly.

"Yes but I don't want to, " she mumbled, he chuckled at her response.

"One...two...three" he unlocked the dresser.

Artemis felt as if time stopped abruptly, her eyes locked onto the figure that was revealed, a decaying hand grabbed onto the side of the wardrobe, gripping it harshly, causing splinters to slice its flesh.

Insects eat away at the corpse that stepped out of the dresser and closer to her.

Blue eyes turned white, as if the moon shone into them, and stared back at her, she gasped in shock and stepped back.

She felt like she was transported into her dream... a nightmare that she could barely escape during the holidays, now she had to relive that out in the open.

Exposing her one true weakness to her peers.

She had never felt so helpless and embarrassed.

So scared, like a child.

The class collectively gasped when they recognised Ezekial Seramore...well a decaying Ezekiel Seramore, towering over his daughter.

"You could've stopped this, " he tauntingly spoke as he neared closer to her, his flesh was loosely hanging from its skeleton.

Unbeknownst to the class, who stared at the man in fear, the pureblood 5 as well as Crabbe and Goyle, recognised those same words, words that Draco uttered to her in the infirmary.

Theo and Blaise were prepared to take the girl away, Daphne glared at the Parkinson witch, noticing the smirk that rested on her pale face.

Meanwhile, Draco felt guilt spread throughout his body, he couldn't bear to look at Artemis, knowing it would cause him to feel even more shame than he previously felt.

He knew how powerful words could be and had no idea how badly they would have affected the one person who had cared for him the most other than his mother.

He was even more terrified to look at the man he once called his uncle.

An apology tugged at Artemis's vocal cords, her glossy eyes did not waver from her father.

Suddenly Lupin noticing Artemis frozen in fear, trying to form a sentence, he went to repeat the spell, however, she gathered the courage to speak, as she wanted to be free from her torment, "RIDDIKULUS!" she shouted.

She ignored the moon that briefly appeared in front of her, knowing that was her professor's fear for some unknown reason.

The moon turned into a balloon and deflated, it flew around the classroom, causing students to move out of its way, with laughter escaping their mouths, before it flew back into the dresser, shutting them up completely.

The room went silent and the Seramore witch gulped harshly and paced out the room, with her friends following her.

Unfortunately, Draco didn't move from his stance and kept his gaze to the floor, not wanting anyone to see the tears that pricked at them.

Harry watched her retrieving figure with empathetic eyes, he had no clue that image stained Artemis' mind.

He, of course, knew about Ezekiel Seramore due to the whispers and hush conversions of many of his peers around him, he felt almost connected to Artemis, since they both suffered the loss of a parent, but in his case two.

His eyes stayed glued to the door before Hermoine nudged him so he could focus on the lesson and not on the Seramore girl.

The lesson started up again, Lupin wore an understanding expression before he opened the dresser again.

As soon as Artemis reached the vacant corner of the school, she leaned against the wall, her chest heaved up and down and she removed her robe, feeling that she would spontaneously combust if she stayed within its thick material.

"Oh my god did everyone just see that?" She asked nervously when her friends joined her, dumping their robes next to hers in solidarity.

"Yes." Theo and Blaise answered quickly, shrugging when the witches shot them glares.

"Not helping." Daphne shook her head and stood next to her best friend, pinky pinkies with her, she immediately felt the heat radiating off Artemis, worrying her even more.

The blonde thought back to last Christmas, when the entire group spent their holiday on campus, she experienced seeing Artemis' in such a vulnerable state.

Blubbering like Neville.

Screaming in her sleep like an unconscious banshee.

Shaking like she was going through cardiac arrest.

Daphne swore to herself that day she would always have sage at the ready especially during the Christmas holidays, knowing it coincided with the anniversary of Ezekiel Seramore.

She felt slightly guilty for not telling the boys about the nightmares that Artemis experienced, especially her boyfriend, however she knew it wasn't her secret to tell, so she kept it to herself.

Theo rolled up his sleeves and ran his hand through his curly locks, "She needs honesty Daph." he continued fidgeting with this attire, distracting himself from the sight he saw before.

He feared what his boggart would've been if he stayed in the lesson.

He believed that despite his parents not being deceased, they would blame him for being queer, which is partly why he hasn't told them about his sexuality.

Blaise nodded sadly, he was close with his uncle Ezekial, although he was surrounded by death, his godfathers hit him the hardest.

Seeing him in such a horrendous state, shocked him to his core.

He didn't even want to think about how that image purged his cousin's mind for 7 years, he couldn't bear it.

Artemis tossed her head back in annoyance, she was grateful for their honesty, but she still felt a level of embarrassment.

"good news, The Gryfinddorks were just as scared as you," Theo commented, Daphne and Blaise nodded along, "but sad news, Potter probably fell in love with you more." they all turned to look at the Nott boy in confusion.

"How?" Artemis narrowed her eyes at him.

Theo clicked his tongue, "Dead parents... bonding, I don't know." he shrugged and receives multiple flicks to his ear, "ouch."

"He has a point, he looked like he was foaming at the mouth," Blaise added on with a smile.

"Ewww." she laughed sadly and wiped away the remnants of any emotion she had showcased.

Thre wizards started to laugh, "At least we got you to laugh." the witches giggled along.

Artemis almost felt like she was back to normal.

Well, as normal as an emotionally constipated which, going through puberty could be.

The group didn't even notice that the lesson was over until they heard steps coming up to them.

They all began to scowl when they became face to face with Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle and unfortunately, Draco.

"Wow, if my dad looked like that I would cry too." Pansy giggled to herself as she played with her short hair.

Draco shot her a glare as well as his childhood friends... If he could even call them that anymore.

"Shut up Parkinson." The Pureblood 4 snapped at the girl.

Blaise was hurt by where Draco was standing, they had been family since the moment they were born, and suddenly The Malfoy had changed all because he was held accountable for his actions.

It was stupid and overall ridiculous... Pardon the pun.

Theo wasn't surprised, however, he did miss him for some reason, he liked the bickering and banter that they shared.

Artemis' mouth curved into a sickly grin, causing her opposition to become nervous, "Let her speak up if she wants to get pummelled again." Daphne began to snicker.

"I would love to see it this time." Theo nodded, whilst Blaise rubbed his hands together.

Draco felt so conflicted, that he wished he could turn back time.

He knew if he tried walking over to his actual friends, they might not accept him since he had already chosen to stand on the side of someone that they despised.

But Artemis likes Harry, so she can't blame me, he thought, trying to justify his actions.

"Same it sounded like a dream." The Zabini wizard mused.

Pansy scoffed bitterly, she felt a ghost of an ache at the top of her head, where her hair had started to grow back after the altercation, "She got lucky." she sneered, causing them to laugh more.

Pansy knew she would've been outnumbered especially since Tracy had been expelled due to her vile words, she had to think strategically and chose to stay with Goyle, Crabbe and Malfoy.

"No, I didn't," Artemis spoke at the same time as Theo, Blaise and Daphne, "no she didn't."

Pansy fought back her nerves and grew irritant because Draco wasn't defending her, instead he just stood to the side and played with his sling, "You just had to ruin our lesson didn't you?"

The Goyle wizard cringed, "Well technically didn't get ruined, I saw my fear-"

Pansy held her hand up to silence the boy, "Shut up Gregory."

"Sorry." he shuffled back with Crabbe before they both thought it was a good idea to leave.

Theo and Blaise shared a look, making a promise to hex them later.

Draco cursed himself as he saw them run towards the dungeons, Pansy shuffled closer to him, staring up at him with lovesick eyes, which nauseated their peers.

Daphne began to fake gag, causing Theo and Blaise to laugh.

Artemis cocked her head to the side, "wait," her eyes darted between the two of them, "congratulations on your relationship Pans." she faked praised the girl.

Draco's widened and shuffled away from the Parkinson witch "We're no-"

Pansy grabbed his 'injured' arm, he fake winced, "Are you gonna fight me again because I'm finally with Drakey." all the wizards started to gag at her nickname, Daphne rolled her eyes, whilst Artemis stood there with a blank expression.

"You think I'm doing to fight with you over a boy, I'm not an idiot but I know you are Pans."

"Jealous?"

"I don't feel jealousy, I cause it." Artemis shrugged and then pointed at the boy who she still had love for, "and this," Draco held back his tears,  "is finally yours to take care of, good luck Pansy, because you're gonna, have a field day with him." and with that, she swivelled on her feet and walked away, her best friends followed her.

Theo and Daphne turned around and held their fingers up to their throats, sliding their fingers across them, before Blaise turned their heads and kept them walking.

Draco stood there in silence, blocking out the complaints from the Parkinson witch, he felt like he was paralysed in his own shame, engulfed by his own guilt, his eyes didn't leave Artemis's retrieving figure.

His heart threatened to break out from its cage and joins hers...

But he knew that she was slowly building her walls back up, blocking him from being let through.

So in turn, he reluctantly started doing the same.

He craved her touch, yearned for it, he would even settle for a simple handheld. The love he felt whenever he was in her vicinity. 

The way their spirit's used to dance together in perfect harmony, igniting the fire within his soul, but now the flames felt as if they were slowly decreasing, dying out, just like their relationship.

So instead of calling her name, or his best friends, he just turned away, with Pansy trailing behind him, like a lost puppy.

***

a/n:

just to reiterate, artemis' fear/ boggart, isn't her father, but its her loved ones dying, but since the only death within her family that scarred her was her father's, she constantly sees his on a loop.

I wanted to emphasise what keeping emotions bottled up can look like, because her suppressed emotions love to attack her subconscious.

what do you think the other members of the pureblood group's boggart could be?

draco still believes that using pansy as a tool to make artemis jealous will work, despite everyone telling him not to do it. it's stupid, I know but he will continue to do it until it backfield completely.

draco's pride is truly getting in the way of him fully fighting for artemis', also in act 2 he mentioned that he would never like pansy, due to what she said about his godfather, however his actions so far are just juxtaposing his statement.

blaise also is very hurt about draco and the whole situation but won't comment on it because he's prioritising his cousin's feelings love this. he's the oldest of the group and has basically been draco's older brother as well as godbrother since he was born.

artemis still has feelings for draco, and you might think she is becoming warmer and more emotional, but it's because she's comfortable around her group and she's going through puberty.

what did you think about celeste's letter?

next chapter will only be worse for the pureblood 4/5