Sang Qui Lie

After "The Incident" as Artemis had dubbed it, Pansy seemed to believe that Artemis was now to be included in her group of followers. Which meant Artemis had to listen to Pansy and the other Slytherin females drone on and on about whatever the latest trends were and how cute so and so was. It was torture.

At least Draco was leaving her alone, even if it was only because he was to busy trying to get his crispy hair back to its "natural beautiful gleam" as he claimed. It was really quite pitiful, but funny to watch. The other Slytherins, mostly Pansy, tried to apply various hair care products to his burnt hair. All of the products were magical of course. Draco refused to have any of that "damn muggle goop" put into his hair.

She was drumming her fingers on the table one morning at breakfast half-listening to the others conversations, but mostly trying to keep from falling asleep in her eggs, when one of Pansy's comments drew her attention. "...so sure Draco darling," she batted her overly cosmetic charmed eyes in said pompous git's direction "-will invite me to the ball."

Blaise squealed and grinned while shrieking, "I wish I could get a date." Millicent grunted in what Artemis assumed was agreement. Artemis shuddered when Millicent proceeded to do a poor imitation of Pansy's famous eye bat and toothy (Oh lord, that girl needed to visit a dentist, no glamour charm could help those!) grin in Goyle's direction.

"What are you talking about?" Artemis frowned.

Pansy smirked cheekily at Artemis "The Halloween Ball of course," she flipped her hair which caused some poor first year to fall out of their seat when the ringlets smacked her in the face. "It is what everyone who has enough connections is talking about."

Blaise nodded, "Dumbledore hasn't announced it officially yet, but Mr. Malfoy told Draco he will soon."

Near the end of the meal Dumbledore rose from the head table and raised his hands for silence, "As I am sure you have by now heard," he smiled and his eyes twinkled merrily, "we will be holding a Halloween ball this year. It is open to Fourth years and up." disappointed murmurs sounded throughout the hall. "Ah, yes, the ball shall have a dress code. Costumes shall be required." He nodded gently before sitting back down. The hall exploded with chatter.

Artemis listened to the others costume ideas for a few minutes, but quickly tired of Pansy's dream of a fluffy pink gown and fairy wings, real ones of course, a Parkinson would have no less. Artemis was grateful that today was their first Hogsmade trip so she could hopefully escape with Cass for a few hours.

She scanned the room for a distraction, any distraction. Preferably she wanted Harry, the OTHER pompous git (who just happened to moon over her sister), to fall from his seat and suffer heart failure, but she could settle for Draco's hair catching on fire again. Finding nothing that interesting she picked up a spoon and began examining it wondering how much it would hurt if she were to stab herself with it.

She almost stabbed herself with it accidentally when Blaise started to cough violently. People from farther down the table began leaning in to see who dared to disturb their meal. Artemis sighed, she felt somewhat bad for the girl. Other tables began glaring in the Slytherin's direction as though they were making Blaise cough just to annoy the other houses. Artemis pointed to Blaise's glass, "Get some water and sip at it. That should help some."

"Good advice"

Artemis opened her mouth to insult whoever the idiot who had apparently snuck up behind her. "Do you mind? I do not appreciate..." She turned around and came face to face with her (well technically it was Lucius's, but Artemis was never one for claiming inanimate objects as being a certain individuals) missing Hogwarts: A History.

"Hello Artemis."

The book was talking. The bloody book was talking! Holy hell! What kinds of charms did Lucius keep on his books? She hadn't meant to take the book from his private collection...not really.

"Umm, up here."

Artemis could vaguely hear Pansy's tittering giggle in the background. She looked up, horrified to see Gabriel, "My book!" she managed to squeak out "I've been searching all over the dungeons for it."

"She most certainly has. She mussed up the silk cloak I lent her while searching for it." Artemis smiled stiffly at Pansy

"For the last time Parkinson, it was MY cloak that you borrowed and didn't return." Pansy sneered in return and resumed drooling on Artemis's cousin as most of the others rose to leave.

"Revolting..." Gabriel chuckled

"I agree" He scratched his head and handed her the book. "Do you think that, maybe, we could, ah, get a Butterbeer this afternoon." Artemis blinked up at him "You know. Like a date."

Inwardly Artemis started squealing much like Blaise did, "Sure, that would be great."

"So...it's a date then?"

"Definitely" Artemis smiled brightly at him.

"I was nervous you wouldn't accept. All of my housemates told me not to, you know because you are a Malfoy and..." he trailed off.

Artemis cleared her throat and smiled slyly at him "They were wrong."

Gabriel nodded "So, I'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks at say 12:30 this afternoon?"

"Sounds good" She lifted a hand as he departed then let out a tiny squeak before jumping up and screeching after him, "Oh, wait! My book!" It caused most of the students left in the Hall to stare at her. "Sorry" she cringed.

Gabriel shook his head with a grin and tossed her the large volume, "Good-bye Artemis"

After he left Artemis sat back down with a sigh as she tried to fit Hogwarts: A History into her bag which at this point was, apparently, according to Parkinson, rivaling Granger's in size.

"Artemis? Who was that?"

Artemis said nothing just started and pointed at Cass who was rather bravely sitting across from her. Cassandra was always the more adventurous (suicidal in Artemis's terms) twin and she was certainly showing that now. A Gryffindor at the Slytherin table was scandalous and just plain dumb if you were the estranged Malfoy. Draco, Blaise, and Parkinson all shot her disdainful looks.

"Hello? Artemis?? Your sister here."

Artemis snapped back to reality. "Oh. Yes. That...was...Um, Gabriel Waters. We...were.....he...well you see-"

"A Ravenclaw, Artemis? Father might disapprove." Cass cut her off with a smile.

"It's not like that..." Artemis began.

"Oh, yes, right. I know you Artemis. That dreamy look in your eyes can only mean one thing. Don't offend my sister probing techniques."

Artemis threw a balled up napkin at her sister. "And you think I don't notice that same dreamy look in your eyes every time you look at Potter?" she said this in a mocking tone which earned her a glare from her sister "I am not the only one, Cassandra Niobe Malfoy, with dreams floating around in her head."

"Father would really disapprove of that..." Cass mumbled. Shaking her head, she spoke again. "Artemis, I really need to talk to you. And you can't tell anyone what I say to you. You remember yesterday in Potions when Draco's hair caught fire?"

Artemis nodded. The thought would have made her laugh, but the serious expression on Cass's face stopped her. "Maybe we should, erm, go elsewhere," she gestured to the murderous looking Slytherins around them "and discuss this."

Cass seemed to notice the others for the first time and jumped up immediately, and unfortunately for Artemis's shoulder she yanked her along. "Let's go for a walk." She dragged her wincing twin out of the Great Hall through the front doors and down to the lake where she finally released her prey.

"I did that. Well, no....not exactly...I didn't really do it....gosh, how do I say this? I thought it and it...well....happened."

Artemis leaned forward. "It's happening again?"

Cass nodded. "And that's not the only time. In DADA the other day, I levitated my book onto my desk and it opened. Does that seem strange? I mean, I'm not just blowing this out of proportion, am I?"

Artemis shook her head and bit her lip nervously. She remembered well the last time this had happened. Father had been scolding them for their slipping grades in school. Cass and Artemis had tried to argue, or at least to get a point in, but their father continued to interrupt. Then, one moment later, he stopped talking. His mouth had disappeared. Three weeks later, after Father's release from St. Mungo's, Cass had told Artemis the same thing. She had thought it and it happened.

"Maybe you should tell Dumbledore."

"Tell him what? That I blow up things with my mind? Artemis....." Cass's voice cracked and wavered. She gained control of it then continued. "I don't have anyone to talk to. About anything."

Artemis felt a twinge of pain for her sister. "But the Gryffindors don't treat you as bad as they used to, do they?"

Cass shook her head. "No. They don't loathe me anymore. But their not friends. And they don't understand. All they know is how much they hate Malfoys. They...." Cass slammed her hands down on the table.

"They don't understand what Father would do to you if he got his hands on you."

Cass nodded. "The Howler scared them...." she smiled half-heartedly. "Anyway, how are things over at Slytherin?"

Artemis rolled her eyes. "Insufferable. These Slytherins girls....Parkinson, Bullstrode...the lot of them are so...." Artemis searched for the right word. Unable to find it, she went on. "Draco's the ring leader of them all, but that's not surprising. If these Slytherins really are the future Death Eaters of our generation, then I can sleep easily at night. Come on. Meet me in Hogsmeade later so we can get some costumes for the ball." Cass laughed slightly and pulled Artemis up.

"Sounds like a plan"

Artemis flipped her hair and batted her eyelids at Cassandra in an uncanny impression of Pansy "So, do you have a date?" Cass pushed her which caused Artemis to topple backwards with a shriek "Ow"

********************************************

Artemis howled with laughter as Cass exited the dressing room revealing a skin tight gown made out of what appeared to be crocodile skin. "Oh Cassandra, what section was THAT under?" Artemis wrapped her arms around her pink clad waist nervously as Cass studied her outfit. "What are you supposed to be?"

Artemis glared at her outfit and muttered slightly.

"CeeCee said it's a ballerina outfit." She tried to smooth down the poofy skirt thing. "I think it's just not me though." Cass nodded in agreement as they studied themselves in front of a mirror.

The twins had happened upon a small costume shop hidden behind the Hogs Head. The owner was a petite witch named CeeCee Wartner who had graduated from Hogwarts just a few years prior. The shop was packed full of other students trying in vain to find the perfect outfit before any others got it.

Artemis slowly made her way through the crowd and hung up the ballet outfit on a rack with various other frilly pink things. Artemis shuddered as she noticed Millicent showing another girl Artemis didn't know a tiny pale violet medieval outfit; she seemed to really think it would look nice on her.

Artemis ducked as Cass threw her crocodile skin outfit out from behind the dressing room door. A few moments later she heard a muffled comment. "What did you say?"

The door swung open and Cass stepped out. She was wearing a slinky (or at least slinky for Cass) gypsy outfit that exactly matched her green eyes. The pants hung loosely and the legs were a see-through greenish-blue material. The blue shirt, which didn't cover Cass's stomach, Artemis was shocked to notice, was clinging tightly to her chest. Cass smiled sheepishly. "What do you think?"

Artemis lifted here eyebrow. "A bit unlike you, don't you think? It does look decent though." Artemis coughed. "It may catch the attention of a certain Gryffindork you've had your eye on."

"I'm gonna buy it." Cass laughed after pretending to swing at Artemis. "I shall be a gypsy." She looked down at her watch. "You need to hurry and pick yours out. You'll be late for your date."

"Don't you and Harry plan to get together?"

"No actually. I told him I was spending most of the day with you." She held up a cheap outfit of a donkey. "Look, it's Draco's perfect costume."

"Yes, a lovely ass." Artemis smiled innocently at Pansy as she passed by a scowl marking her features.

Artemis gasped as her eyes landed on a wolf costume. She removed the hanger from the rack and swung it around for Cass to see. "Oh Cassandra, look!"

Cass smiled. "The perfect costume for you." Artemis hurriedly ran inside the dressing room and tried it on. Stepping outside, she twirled for Cass to see. "I love it! Now I truly am wolf girl."

Artemis's costume was a strikingly good resemblance of her wolf form. Even the grey-white ears fit perfectly. The tail would make dancing a little bit difficult, but she wasn't planning on doing that anyway. Unless Gabriel wanted her to, of course. The skirt fell just above her knees and it seemed to be made out of several small tails that swung slightly with each step she took, it also gave a great view of the tiny silver moon tattoo on her left ankle. The top hit her right below her chest showing off her thin figure. The mixture of silver, white and black fur was only slightly darker than her Animagus form. It was perfect.

Cass and Artemis both changed back into their normal clothes and walked over to pay. The rather odd looking owner-CeeCee- smiled a peppy smile. "Find everything my dears?" Artemis smiled politely and nodded. The slightly top heavy woman, who seemed to act older than she really looked, smiled and told the girls the price. "From Hogwarts my dears?" The girls nodded. "Hogwarts years were great years, yes. I was a Hufflepuff meself. And you?"

"Gryffindor!" Cass eagerly responded. Artemis shook her head disdainfully. Gryffindorks, she had never thought she would see her sister sink this low.

"And you?"

Artemis didn't want to answer, but the woman kept bugging her. Finally she blurted, "Slytherin! Ok? I'm a bloody Slytherin." She scowled darkly her eyes narrowing.

CeeCee's face deflated as she handed the girls back their change. Artemis took the money and left, walking out into the bright sun of Hogsmeade. Cass shot her a strange look, sighed deeply, and then looked around the street. Artemis glanced at Cass's watch. "I have to go meet Gabriel. See you later?"

Cass nodded and waved as Artemis walked off towards The Three Broomsticks. She wondered briefly why she had argued with the Sorting Hat-maybe Ravenclaw would have been better. After all, that was Gabriel's house. Speaking of which....

Artemis bit her lip nervously as Gabriel hurried up to meet her. He was walking on the other side of the street, but ran over when he saw her. She smiled broadly. He pulled his hair behind his ear then looked up, pretending to ignore her.

"Going somewhere, sir?" Artemis said politely. Two could play this game.

"Yes, actually. Off to the Three Broomsticks to meet a friend. Actually I would say my girlfriend, but I don't want to rush into it."

Artemis smiled broadly, and then regained her composition. "What a coincidence. I am heading to the same place to meet my boyfriend." The corners of Gabriel's mouth turned up. He smiled full fledged, then looked down at Artemis and offered his arm. They reached The Three Broomsticks. Gabriel, still smiling, opened the door and Artemis walked in.

"It's awfully crowded....." Artemis looked disappointedly around the packed tables.

"It's all right. I know the owner." Gabriel purposefully walked over to a far corner, dodged several tables, and, sure enough, in the very corner, one empty table sat with two wooden chairs. "See there? Just for us."

Artemis slid into a chair and looked around. "I'll be right back." Gabriel didn't sit. "Butterbeer?" Artemis nodded. Gabriel walked off. She couldn't see very much from this corner table, but she could see over by the fireplace. Professors Rhodes and Dumbledore sat there, chatting quietly. At almost the exact moment she saw him, Dumbledore's head turned. They locked eyes. Artemis quickly looked away. Creepy, that man.

In a few moments Gabriel was back, holding two brimming cups of Butterbeer. He sat down and slid Artemis a drink. "You know this is only our third meeting? Not that the first one was intentional," he smiled again. That smile....Artemis had to control the shivers running down her back.

Gabriel grew strangely serious. "You know when I first met you....I never would have thought...a Slytherin...and a Malfoy of all things." He stopped, looking down into his cup. He was silent for a moment, stirring his drink with his finger. Looking up suddenly, he blurted out, "Most of my friends didn't want me to meet you today."

Artemis nodded. "I figured. Draco has a tendency to throw people off of Malfoy's. I think it may be that odd fascination with his hair... Anyway." She coughed then looked straight into his eyes, she said, "Yet you came anyway? Brave of you." Gabriel smiled. Artemis laughed. He smiled so much. He was so happy.

"I knew instantly you were different, just by the way you....apologized after running into me. Malfoy's don't apologize. And you have a sister in Gryffindor, so I thought maybe you were raised differently than Draco."

"Well, I wouldn't say that, but, yes, Cass and I are decidedly unDraco-like. Part of it's our attending Durmstrang. It's so much more relaxed. There aren't any houses or houses cups, so everyone gets along. Here at Hogwarts, everyone falls into four categories. And presumably, all Slytherins are Voldemort's henchman in training."

Gabriel nodded. "In all honesty, every Slytherin I've met has been a Voldemort follower. Or, well, their parents were. With you two as the clear exceptions, children grow up to be like their parents."

Gabriel stopped as Dumbledore called out to him. The headmaster looked strange in such a social place. He came over to the table and looked down his long nose at Artemis. "Begging your pardon, Ms. Malfoy, but I am afraid I would like your date to be cut short."

Artemis looked over at Gabriel. "Why?" he asked.

"Mr. Waters, I must talk to Artemis personally. And I also believe her Quidditch try-outs are in less than an hour. Please, Ms. Malfoy." With a sweep of his hand, Dumbledore motioned for her to follow.

Gabriel stood and walked between Dumbledore and Artemis. "Goodbye," he rolled his eyes as Artemis stood. Taking her hand, he bent down and gently kissed the back of it. She couldn't help but blush. "I'll be in touch." He looked up into Artemis's eyes and smiled yet again, then turned and left. Artemis longingly followed after him with her eyes.

"Artemis," Dumbledore whispered. Curse that man! He had interrupted the happiest moment of her life. And for what? Reluctantly, she drug herself along behind Dumbledore, and out of the tavern.

Making sure Dumbledore saw how ticked she was, Artemis turned and asked, "And why exactly did you interrupt my date?"

"I must ask that you be careful, Artemis. Both you and your sister are in danger. Please, return to the castle now."

"What are you talking about? How are Cass and I in danger?"

"I can not tell you now or here. But you will be told shortly. Now you must return to the castle. Come, I will escort you. I have a carriage waiting for us."

Fuming, Artemis grudgingly obeyed the headmaster. She watched as all the other Hogwarts students swamped from store to store, laughing, talking, and not being dragged back to the school by this senile man. She clambered into the carriage, wondering why Cass wasn't here if they were in so much danger.

After a short ride back to Hogwarts, in which both passengers sat silent, one glumly staring out the window, Artemis hopped out of the carriage and looked down at her watch. Quidditch tryouts were in about a half hour, she admitted loathly. Entering the building, Artemis noticed the younger students and those poor souls whose parents didn't sign permission forms were gathered in the Great Hall for an early dinner.

Artemis went down a long slanted corridor that led to the Slytherin common room. Turning a corner, she ran smack into a billowy cloak. For a brief, shining moment a vision of Gabriel flashed through her mind. It was quickly replaced by Snape, waving his arms around her. "What are you doing in here, Artemis? Shouldn't you be down at Hogsmeade?"

"I was!" she shot back bitterly. "Then that oaf of a- I mean, Dumbledore made me come back up to the school. And I have Quidditch try-outs in a little while. Okay?" Artemis knew not many students spoke to Snape in such a manner, not even Slytherins. But she was in quite the ill mood.

Snape's face tensed slightly. "Why did the headmaster request you return to Hogwarts?"

"It wasn't a request."

"Artemis."

"I don't know. He said something about Cassandra and I being in danger. This is rather odd considering she is still out in Hogsmeade having a great time." Artemis stormed off towards the common room, letting Snape know the conversation was done.

After she finally reached the Slytherin dorms and muttered the password, she raged into the common room and sardonically laughed as several terrified first years scattered. Deciding that she would be late to Quidditch try-outs, Artemis lazily flopped on the bed and closed her eyes. Oh, Durmstrang, how much I miss you, she thought. Flipping over onto her side, she reached into her bedside table and pulled out the picture of her old Quidditch team. The only memory she had of Durmstrang. She absentmindly began stroking Echo's head as she continued musing.

Looking at her old boyfriend, Brent Zimmerman, Artemis realized she didn't miss him at all. Gabriel was so different. He was the only good thing at Hogwarts. Sighing deeply, she placed the picture on top of the table and rolled out of the bed. Who was she kidding? She couldn't be late for try-outs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Artemis glumly made her way out to the Quidditch pitch. She had actually enjoyed getting ready without any of her roommates present. She had heard "Girls don't play Quidditch!" about twelve times a day from Parkinson and Zabini. Millicent just grunted. Artemis had never seen Bullstrode on a broom: she wondered if there was one that would hold her.

She reached the pitch, which was now swarming with hopeful Slytherins, and looked around. Seeing Draco fixing his hair and smiling over towards Flint made Artemis

sigh and roll her eyes. It was surprising so many bothered to tryout-half the team bought their way on.

Draco slid his way over next to Artemis. "You don't have to try-out. My father bought your spot." Artemis turned angrily. "I beg your pardon?!"

Motioning for her to quiet down, Draco glanced over at Flint. "He gets to pick the team. Despite his pureblood heritage, Flint isn't exactly wealthy. A little contribution and, tada, two Malfoys on the Quidditch team!"

Artemis growled. "Look Dwakie! I am not going to get on this team because of my financial status! I'm going to tryout, I'm going to do well, and then I will be on the team!" She stormed off over to the crowd now gathering around Flint.

"I need teams!" Flint walked around yelling out directions as if he expected them to be followed. Artemis decided he was a masculine version of Bullstrode. Big, bulky, not exactly the brightest in the world, and they always had this expression of utter confusion on their faces. It was actually rather amusing.

Flint began to separate the hopefuls into individual teams. When he reached Artemis, he jerked and glanced over towards Draco. "What are you doing?" he whispered frantically.

"Trying out for the Quidditch team-Beater." Artemis spat back, not even attempting to lower her voice.

"But why?"

"To get on the team!" she yelled.

Draco waltzed over. "Don't worry Flint. We'll both try-out. Maybe that's for the better. Someone may actually think we made in on the team by talent." He smirked. Flint nodded and told them to take their place in a team.

Artemis grudgingly walked over to her new team. She noted that she was the only girl on this team. Glancing around the pitch, she realized she was one of three girls. And there were close to one hundred hopefuls here, she estimated. The odds were not in her favor. But when did she give a damn about odds not being in her favor?

Now more determined than before to kick Slytherin butt, Artemis watched as the first two teams took their positions on the field. Flint blew the whistle and up they flew. It was a very short game. Not because the Snitch was caught in record time, but because Flint mercifully cut the game short. One of the Beaters dropped his bat. One of the Chasers ran into a goal post. Artemis was shocked by the obvious lack of talent.

Thankfully, Artemis's team was assigned the next game. Flipping her hair purposefully behind her shoulder, Artemis mounted her broom and grabbed her Beater's bat. The whistle blew and the game began.

Draco was unfortunately enough the seeker for her team and was apparently the team leader, no surprises there. But she didn't appreciate his orders for her to sit back and do nothing. She wasn't here to watch, she was here to beat the crap out of the other team. Artemis proceeded to do just that much to her cousin's displeasure. By the end of the match her opponent's Keeper was down for the count with a broken arm. Falling from your broomstick can do that to you.

The rest of the game went rather quickly. Draco caught the Snitch, and the other team hobbled off the field.

Draco was to say the least, livid with Artemis. "What was that?!" He hissed at her. "I thought I told you to stay put." He grabbed Artemis's arm and turned her around sharply "I am talking to you."

Artemis scowled up at him and yawned boredly "Really now? I thought you were speaking with the voices in your head again." She brushed back a few strands of loose hair from her face. "And why, may I ask, did you want me to refrain from playing? Isn't that the entire point of the stupid game?" She smirked slightly "See, this little bat here," She held up her bat, "is used to hit the big bad bludgers." She put a hand on her hip and glanced to the side. Great, the Gryfindors are here. She thought with a growl.

Draco pointed a finger at her "When I give you an order you follow it, got it?" His face was a rather fetching red and his expression was similar to his father's when he was angred.

Artemis cocked her head and smiled slowly she laughed sardonically. "Draco, you are an idiot." Before he could respond a loud crack was heard as Artemis's bat connected with the side of his head.

The circle of Slytherins surrounding the cousins went silent for a second before everyone began yelling and a few took off to the castle for help.

Artemis put on an angelic face and sarcastically said "Oopsies, did I do that?" She brushed past the others and made her way past the Gryffindors on the way back to the castle. She gave them a sharp salute and waved at Cass. "We're in the same boat now."