WARNINGS: PANIC ATTACK

Circa January 1994:

Artemis wished she could've skipped Christmas and new years completely.

The emerald trio were quiet throughout the entire holiday, something that Lucius and Narcissa immediately picked up on, especially because of the frowns that graced their faces each day.

None of the children spoke about how bad their term was truly going, they attempted to act as normal as possible, but the Malfoy's saw straight through their act.

The tension had, unfortunately, drove Artemis to have more panic attacks, luckily her cousin helped her each time she experience one, Blaise didn't know what to do, other than a hug and rub her back, hoping that she would be fine, she fortunately was... until the next one.

Safe to say that Artemis just wanted the school year to be finished. She had kept on trying to create a spell that would calm her down or at least reduce her anxiety, but so far, she was unlucky.

As soon as the new term started, she continued with her busy schedule. To make matters worse Cassius Warrington believed it was the right time to try and ask her on another date, to which she denied him, making him infuriated and almost leading him to take advantage of her, after noticing her fatigue.

Artemis instantly reacted and shoved him away and kneed him in the privates, stopping his advances.

At that moment, she didn't shake with fear, it was more anger than anything.

The 5th year student was immediately expelled from Hogwarts.

Since then all of the purebloods made sure to keep an eye on her, whether they disliked her or not. It's just what Slytherins did. They looked after one another, now more than ever.

Celeste discovered what happened from her nephew, who was fuming about what took place as was the rest of his friends. She wanted her daughter to take a leave of absence but Artemis preferred to stay on school grounds.

The Dons were outraged as were the rest of the Quidditch team.

Draco had gotten more detentions since then, he had been in many fights with anyone who stared at Artemis wrong, despite the two still not being on speaking terms, he still had a strong desire to protect her, after all, she is family.

And he couldn't turn his back anymore.

***

Thursday, February 3rd:

PROFESSOR LUPIN'S CLASSROOM:

Artemis had been requested by her second favourite Professor, she didn't like to advertise that she liked Lupin, especially because she didn't want to risk not being Professor Snape's favourite anymore.

The raven-haired man's ego was more fragile than Draco's and that was saying something.

She waited until she finished her dinner and made her way toward Lupin's office. She loudly knocked on the door and after a few seconds, it flew open, revealing the professor and... none other than Harry Potter who was waiting for her.

"Did I do something?" she asked as her eyes darted between the two wizards, the door slammed shut as she strolled in, "Harold." She stared at the chosen one, who bashfully smiled at her.

"Artemis, hi," he waved at her.

Lupin looked between the two in curiosity before he turned back to the witch, "not to worry, you did nothing wrong," he reassured her, "Today I'm teaching you both how to conjure a Patronus" he grinned.

He personally chose these two students because he believed that they promised a great future in the wizarding community.

He had heard many things about Artemis from each of her professors, even Snape gloated in his own style about her smarts and wisdom.

And as for Harry, his reputation spoke for itself.

"It's a protection right?" she asked, raising her brows questioningly, she knew that the spell sounded familiar.

"Correct, A sort of, shield, to protect you from dementors" The older wizard explained to his students.

"But why me? Shouldn't Harold be your main focus?" she nodded towards Harry, who only rolled his eyes, expecting her quips.

Lupin stalked over to them, "well I chose you because I'm aware of your fears and something as great as yours is exactly what dementors feed on, " he further explained, making the young witch tense slightly, "also, you haven't been in close contact with a dementor unlike our friend Mr Potter,"

She made a noise of amusement, "We aren't friends." she informed the teacher, purposely ignoring the frown on Harry's face, "but I do tutor him," she added.

"I know," the wizard nodded with a proud look,  "you're too smart for your own good Artemis," she smirked in response, he continued,  "But if you would come close to a dementor, you'd most likely, faint"

"Most likely?"

"Have you ever felt weak, or like you're going to faint whenever a dementor is near?" he questioned.

She squinted her eyes as she stared at him, "No because I don't do go near them, I avoid them if I need to, but I do feel dread anytime they come close."

"And that, Artemis Seramore, is why you here" he grinned, then ushed her to stand closer to Harry,  "Now stand over here,"  She walked over and stood a couple of steps away from the boy.  "For this to work, you have to think about a memory, a very happy memory, a very powerful memory, Can you do this?" he asked, gaining nods in response.

"Alright, who wants to go first?" Lupin asked.

"The chosen one can!" Artemis spoke up immediately, she wasn't particularly in the mood to do much, so she would rather observe first and judging from the look Harry gave her, he was expecting to do the same thing.

The professor chuckled, "Alright then Harry, guess you're going first"

Harry huffed and moved forward, "Fine"

"Artemis, I do recommend you take a few steps back," Lupin advised the witch, who didn't have to be told twice, she shuffled back immediately and leaned against the railings attached to the stairs.

"Close your eyes," Lupin softly spoke to the younger wizard, "Do you have a memory?" he asked and Harry simply nodded, "Allow it to fill you up, lose yourself within it. Then speak the incantation, Expecto Patronum," Lupin drawled.

"Expecto Patronum," the boy repeated.

"Very good, now wand at the ready" Lupin said as he walked towards the trunk in the middle of the room, slowly opened it, and a dementor flew out, Artemis stiffened and shuffled further away, she wasted no more time and whipped out her wand.

Fortunately, she and Blaise hadn't been swapping their wands, therefore they were always prepared.

The bogart caused an eerie atmosphere to spread throughout the room, she actually felt bad for the chosen one.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted, he flicked his wand, but his efforts were futile, he went to repeat the spell, but he fainted, collapsing onto the fall.

The bogart dissipated as Lupin closed the trunk and sighed, quickly coming to the boy's aid, "Here we go, It's alright, I didn't expect you to do it the first time," he chortled, sparing a look with the witch who seemed more bored than frightened, "That would've been remarkable, eat this you'll feel better," he says handing Potter a chunk of chocolate, he just happened to have with him.

He was aware of the effects of the dementors, exhaustion and migraines were the most immediate compared to the others.

"That's one nasty dementor" Harry huffed as he took a bite of the snack.

"Oh no, that was a boggart, Harry"

"Only a fragment of your imagination as well as your fear," Artemis added on, resulting in them both turning to her, Lupin nodded in agreement, before turning back to the Gryffindor student.

"Now Harry what did you think about it?"

The young wizard sheepishly shrugged, "The first time I rode a broom."

"Oh, when you got Gryffindor privilege and was allowed to join the team the first year?" Artemis chuckled, both wizards stared at her again, one in embarrassment and the other in inquisitiveness, "what?" she ignored their gazes and fiddled with her wand.

Lupin shook his head as he faced the boy, "Harry, that was not good enough, not nearly as good enough."

"Well...there's another" Harry mumbled, "It's not happy, exactly. Well it is, it's the happiest I've ever felt" he explained further, "But it's complicated"

"Knowing you, that would work," Artemis quipped, gaining a groan from the young wizard and a chuckle from their Professor.

"Is it strong?" Lupin asked, reviving a nod from the boy, "Then let's give it a try," he pulled Harry up from the ground, then opened the trunk, a screeching dementor flew out once again.

"Expecto Patronum, " Potter tried again "Expecto Patronum!" a bright blue light shot out of his wand, the dementor immediately recoiled back into the trunk.

Artemis was as shocked as she was impressed.

"Well done Harry! Well done!" Lupin cheered as he approached him,  "Here have some chocolate," he praised as he handed him another piece of chocolate. They both turned towards the witch. "Now Artemis, come down and we'll work on yours" he grinned, hoping that she would be able to do the same thing.

"I just have to think of a happy memory?" she asked as she pushed off the railing.

"Exactly,"

"Okay," she clicked her tongue as readied her wand,  Harry went to stand where she once was.

"Alright, close your eyes," Lupin motioned for her to shut her eyes, she cautiously complied,  scanning her brain for a happy memory "You got one?" Lupin asked and she slowly nodded.   He then opened the trunk and surprisingly a dementor flew out again.

"Expecto Patronum," she recited the incantation, as she thought about her happiest moments, the first memory that entered her mind was the first night that she spent at this school.

"Pinky promise."

Artemis rolled her eyes, but her face still held a smile, "fine, what should we pinky promise?"

"To always have each other's backs, no matter what and.."

"And."

"Never give up on each other no matter how angry we get with one another.

"Merlin, these sound like wedding vows Daphne, you haven't even proposed yet."

"Shut up, " she said trying not to laugh, "come on," she gestured Artemis to get out of bed. They both left their duvets and linked their pinkies and kissed them.

"Expecto Patronum," Artemis repeated louder, she thought back to the first Christmas, that her group of friends spent in Mente Strae.

"Merry Christmas guys," Daphne spoke up before she could be shushed.

"Buon Natale." Merry Christmas. The cousins spoke in unison.

"Joyeux Noël." Merry Christmas. Draco spoke quite low, Artemis shivered at his tone.

They all looked toward Theo, waiting for him to speak. He sighed deeply, just wanting to watch the film, "Merry bloody Christmas." he muttered reluctantly.

They cheered, smiling at the boy, before shutting up, immediately becoming entranced by the 80's classic.

Her mind drifted to something even more personal, "Expecto Patronum."

"Do you want to be the Peter to my Wendy?" she blurted out, meeting Draco's gaze. She wore a teasing smirk.

"That would be an awfully big adventure," he teased, and entwined their fingers,

"it would be an honour Arty." he winked, the rest of the morning they talked about their biggest fantasies, wishing they could go to Neverland.

And before her mind could rest, something unfamiliar drifted through.

Her hands wrapped around her father's waist, "Can you hurry back from your trip?" she asked quietly, she didn't want him to be gone for too long.

"I promise I will be back for you and mummy." he grinned down at his daughter.

"Ti amerò per sempre," I love you forever.

'"Ti amo, papà per sempre" I love you forever, Daddy.

"Expecto Patronum!" she repeated one last time, causing a bright light shoots out of her wand. She and Lupin chuckled in amazement.

Although she was apprehensive about her last memory, something that was clearly repressed  but Lupin's loud voice brought her out of it.

"Amazing Artemis, truly!" Lupin shouted as the dementor shrunk back into the trunk, she stumbled backwards, but fortunately, Harry was there to catch her fall, as she became deeply out of breath, she shot the boy a smile, to which he returned instantly,  "Now that was astounding, and on your first time" Lupin chuckled in delight, "Here, have some chocolate, you'll feel better" he reassured her. She happily took it, feeling as if she didn't eat dinner at all.

She was exhausted.

"Was that your first time conjuring a Patronus?" Harry wondered, completely in awe of what she had accomplished.

"Yes," she replied after sucking a deep breath.

"What did you think about may I ask?" their professor wondered, a smile still prominent on his face.

"My family," she paused, "well my generation." she then took a bite of the chocolate.

"Now, that was impressive, you too, are excused for the night, well done." he clapped again, Harry made his way out of the room, but Artemis stayed behind.

"Wait Professor, I have a question," she stated after waiting for the door to slam shut.

Lupin's motioned for her to continue, "Yes Artemis?"

"You said that thing was a boggart right?" he nodded, "Then why was it a dementor for me too if my greatest fear was something else?" she asked, trying not to think of what she last saw in his class.

"Boggarts can change, just like fears do" he simply replied.

She pondered before she spoke up again, "Why was yours a moon?" she cocked her head to the side after she caught him tense up.

He plastered a smile, "It always follows me around during the night, like a stalker." he joked.

"Right," she drawled, eyeing him, making Lupin shift uncomfortably, "bye Professor." she waved and swivelled on her feet and strolled up to the door.

"Bye Artemis," he watched her retreating figure, the door slammed shut. A sly smirk tugged on his lips, "smart child."

***

Circa February 1994:

Buckbeak had his hearing and because Lucius Malfoy was very persistent when it came to those who hurt his son, the motion to get the creature put down was carried.

This caused an uproar amongst the Gryffindors and other students who loved the hippogriff, it wasn't as if Draco cared.

He was too busy focusing on what to get Artemis for her birthday, regardless if she was speaking to him or not.

He had somehow found out from Theo that she discovered a spell to slow down anxiety/ panic attacks. He had no clue why she created it, but he was proud nevertheless.

He also made more of an effort with his other close friends, mainly Blaise, scared that he might have ruined their relationship for good.

He and the boys made sure that they each chose the right gift for Artemis' 14th birthday.

They even noticed that she had been gifted many more this year, not just from the Hufflepuff's but even the chosen one as well, much to their dismay.

But despite their previous quarrels and fights, caused by none other than Draco, they advised him to write her poem, completely unaware of the dozens he had written throughout his life.

Fortunately, she was happy with the love she received and even happier to receive Draco's poem, which read:

You will always be my stars,

you aren't the darkness but are my light,

I'll forever be yours,

always by your side.

***

Thursday, April 15th:

It was all getting too much.

the pressure, the stress, it was all too much for one child to handle. 

Artemis was quickly rushed out of the library, she clutched onto her schoolbag as she walked throughout the school.

Chaotic thoughts swarmed her mind.

She knew that keeping everything in wasn't working anymore.

She thought after conjuring her Patronus she would've felt better, happier even, but since those two months passed she had just felt worse.

She needed a break.

A break from everything.

She eventually found a secluded corridor, she slid down the wall, rubbing at her temples as she tried taking in deep breaths.

Luckily not many people had lessons today so, very few were strolling the grounds. Most of her friends stayed in their dorms, either sleeping or catching up on homework.

Artemis' vision blurred and she bit her lip roughly, feeling her panic rising, her hands becoming numb, her pulse thrumming in her ears, her lungs constricting as it became harder to breathe.

She was spiralling quickly.

"Arty?" Draco's voice caused her to snap her head and stare up at him, but he still sounded far away like she was trapped under the layers of waves, dragging her down.

He had never seen her like this before and frankly, he was heartbroken.

He crouched slowly, not wanting to overwhelm her further, he placed his hands on her face, looking into her glossy eyes.

His chest tightened painfully as he watched her descend into a panic attack, "it's okay," he spoke softly, but she only shook her head as her breath grew deeper. "You have to breathe, slowly okay," He attempted to guide her through her it, remembering how she used to calm him whenever he experienced the same thing.

He even muttered her favourite constellations, emphasising each one, but it wasn't working.

He almost felt like he was on the verge of tears.

"The spell, where the spell, do you have it on you?" he asked, immediately remembering that she created one.

She sucked in a deep breath before she responded, "It's in my bag."

He roughly picked it up, scavenging through the contents, not wanting to ruin it, but he didn't care. He just wanted to help her.

"get it to please," she mumbled as tears streamed down her face.

He nodded quickly and kept looking.

All she could think about was how awful the year had turned out and why she couldn't fix it.

She had been verbally and physically assaulted and that was all before she turned 14. Hogwarts had never felt so unsafe to her.

Despite the notions that she and the Dons had put into place throughout the year, she still didn't feel comfortable.

"Mitescere et relaxare."

Draco's voice snapped her out of her troubling thoughts. As soon as he found the spell he didn't waste any more time and instantly pulled out his wand and used the words written upon a folded parchment.

He locked eyes with her, he saw that he tears gradually stopped trickling down her face,

He muscles relaxed slightly as her chest heaved up and down, and her breathing became lighter, restoring the air that she felt was knocked out of her lungs previously.

Her beautiful brown eyes still held onto the panic, she once felt.

Draco let out a breath that he didn't even know he was holding as he lowered his wand, and brought her into his arms, holding her tightly, ignoring the uncomfortable sting in his eyes,

He ran his hand over her back, sending soothing shocks throughout her body.

"I miss you," she mumbled into his chest. Although she didn't mean to blurt out those words, she meant it.

His heart swelled and he pulled her closer, "I miss you too, and I'm so sorry." he was just grateful that he happened to be walking toward the library and found her.

He couldn't bear the sounds of Theo and Blaise snoring so he left his room in search of some peace and quiet.

She nodded, "I know." her voice was still muffled but he could hear her clearly.

"I'm going to make things better," he said with conviction, pulling her head out from his chest, so she could see in his eyes that he was being truthful.

Throughout their third year, they had spoken for a total of two months and they had two more months left of the year.

"Why?" she croaked out, her voice was still raspy.

He sent her a small smile, "Because I'm going to be the Peter to your Wendy."

The corners of her lips tilted upward, "Really? You sound so confidant." his thumb traced over her cheeks, it made her realise how much she missed his touch. His company and more importantly...

Him.

After all, it was one of their moments that helped her conjure up a Patronus.

But she also had the rest of her family, even a memory of her father she could barely remember, but it brought her peace.

A feeling that felt so foreign to her.

"I know, but it's going to happen," I'm going to make sure of it. Draco knew he had a lot of work to do and for once he wasn't going to give up, he couldn't.

"Okay," she muttered still sounding unsure about his claim.

Forgiveness was going to take a lot of effort and time, it was going to be an awfully big adventure, but before it started, he need to talk to his friends...if they let him.

***

Friday, April 16th

BOYS DORMI:

"What do you want?" Daphne scowled at Draco as she climbed on her boyfriend's lap, the couple were sitting on Blaise's bed, whilst Theo was next to them, staring blankly at the Malfoy wizard, who sat on his own bed.

Draco had arranged for them all to meet him after he spoke to Artemis, knowing that he needed to make amends.

Even after seeing how close Daphne had grown to his godbrother, made him acknowledge how much he had missed out on, only due to his pride and ego.

He awkwardly played with his rings, "To apologise."

"Really?"

Theo scoffed and eyed the boy, "Are you dying?" he asked incredulously, making Daphne laugh, but Blaise only continued to stare at the grey-eyed boy.

"No, im not dying, but I'm trying and I wasn't thinking and I know that isn't an excuse but it was stupid." he rambled, shocking them all. He still kept his head down, scared to see their expressions.

"You are stupid." Daphne continued to apply pressure to the situation. She was still angry at everything that happened.

She knew he was trying, especially because he brought many gifts for her birthday, which she graciously accepted but she was still annoyed.

She felt her boyfriend rub circles over her hips, successfully calming her down.

"I'm sorry." Draco slowly raised his head, looking between them, taking in their different expressions.

"We know."

Theo gave him a tight-lipped smile, "You fucked up, like on a whole new level, even for you."

"I know," Draco muttered, cringing at the looks he received.

"You made my best friend cry, like multiple times," Daphne added with a frown, they all tensed at the mention of Artemis, she even heard Blaise crack his knuckles. She then gestured to the curly-haired wizard, "And made Theo-"

"Don't say it." he was quick to cut her off.

Draco shuffled closer so he was at the end of his bed, staring directly at Theo, "No, say it, I want to know what I did."

They could all hear the sincerity in his voice.

Theo harshly gulped and pondered the words he was going to say, they all patiently waited for him to speak up, the blonde witch reached out and grabbed his hand, sending him a reassuring smile.

"I was stressed and occasionally stopped eating for a while." he shrugged nonchalantly, wanting to seem unbothered but his tone was laced with pain.

He didn't blame Draco for how he dealt with the situation, but it did hurt him to not be friends with the Malfoy wizard for the majority of the year, especially because they had only made up during their last summer.

Daphne noticed Theo's apprehensiveness so she decided to speak up,  "He binged a lot and then stopped eating again." she stressed, then glanced at Blaise he avoided her gaze.

Draco's mouth gaped open, "T-"

"I'm fine now." Theo cut him off as he fiddled with the sleeves of his school shirt.

"Are you?"

"I'm trying to be."

"I'm sorry." Draco felt like he had to keep repeating himself, after having trouble saying those two words throughout the year.

It came as a shock to his group, surprised that he could manage to say it as many times as he had.

"I know."

"I'm really sorry for what I did and for hurting you all." he collapsed his hands as his eyes darted between them all.

"We know." Daphne and Theo sent him a small smile before they turned to Blaise who hadn't said anything at all.

He was shockingly quiet, which worried them.

"B?"

The Zabini wizard tiredly looked up after Draco called his name, "What?"

"What did I do to you?" Blaise rolled his eyes at the question, he honestly didn't want to have this conversation. He wasn't in the mood.

He appreciated that Draco was making an effort, but he had thought he was cutting it a bit short, especially because summer was going to start soon.

"Don't worry about it." he waved the platinum-haired boy off, ignoring the pleading stares he received from his girlfriend and close friend.

"Please tell me."

The room was engulfed by an uncomfortable silence. Blaise could only think about how much he wanted to jump off the astronomy tower, wishing he could be anywhere else.

Being vulnerable was never a problem for him, he just believed that there was a time and a place to do it.

And that time wasn't right now, but judging by the burning eyes he felt on him he decided to open up.

"I thought I lost you, as a brother and a friend," he murmured in an exhausted tone, causing Draco to feel even more guilty.

Tears threatened to fall from both of their eyes.

"He wouldn't talk for days and I thought he became mute," Daphne said, now grabbing onto her boyfriend's hand.

Theo hummed, "Which is a shock to us all and also disturbing."

"Very disturbing."

Blaise huffed, "Alright, he knows," he shook his head at the two, who snickered at his distress. He then locked eyes with Draco.

"We are still brothers right?" the Malfoy wizard's voice cracked.

"If you make it up to me."

"Can you forgive me?" he asked hesitantly as he stood up and walked over to them, Theo and Daphne joined him.

"We can but we aren't gonna make it easy on you." Daphne playfully nudged him, ignoring the tears that escaped her eyes. Draco wrapped an arm around her.

"Didn't expect anything different."

"You're gonna take me shopping, buying me more diamonds-

Theo nodded, "Buying me snacks," he added, then was brought into a warm embrace by Draco.

"I will."

The three started to giggle until they noticed that Blaise didn't join them, still sitting on the bed with a vacant expression.

Theo and Daphne shared a look, then took the deafening silence as their cue to leave.

Once they made their departure, Blaise broke down in tears, his body trembled as he stared down.

Draco instantly made his way over to him and wrapped his arm around his brother figure.

"I've missed you," Blaise croaked out, his arms encircling Draco's waste as they embraced one another.

"I've missed you too B," he held the Zabini wizard tightly, as he tried fighting his own tears, "I'm not gonna mess up again I promise," he whispered against his head.

And it was a promise he intended to keep.

***

Later that night, Draco sat down and wrote to his mother, needing her support.

Dear mother,

I've missed you. Tell father that I'm okay. Much happier than before.

When you asked me what happened during my first term and I said everything was fine, I was lying.

I messed up, I ruined my friendships with people I loved, all because of my pride, something I regret immensely.

I'm trying to change, I need to change.

Because I don't want to end up alone, surrounded by people who don't truly care for me, people who only want to see me fail.

I'm making amends, especially with B and Arty.

I want her to finally be my girlfriend. I just need some of your motherly love and good luck to help me.

Love,

Your little star.

***

a/n:

the spell means to calm down/ relax in Latin

artemis can conjure up her petronus, but what do you think hers is?

do you like artemis and professor lupin interacting?

draco finally knows the error of his ways and realised that he needed to apologise to everyone especially his god-siblings

last chapter of the act is coming up next.

if you wanna see tiktoks about the story @saintsiren.wp