ᑭETᖇIᑕᕼOᖇ

Chapter One

4 Years Later

Many times, Artemisia had pondered why she was the way she was. Watching a man get slashed down the center of his body into two halves barely fazed her as a young girl, yet she still couldn't bear to see or even think of an animal in pain. It seemed her empathy only extended to other species, which in itself was a massive burden. How was a sociopath supposed to make others like her?

She had been perfecting her public image over the last five years. To all who barely knew her, she was a high-achieving student with an uninterested attitude, yet still somehow always managed to charm her way out of distressing situations. She had always had a talent for fooling wandering eyes. Even so, her rather cold exterior melted away the minute she was surrounded by those she loved and valued.

Family and friends were the only things she would put above herself. Over the span of her years at Hogwarts, Artemisia came to trust those who were persistent enough to fight their way into her life. Lucinda, for example, had practically dragged her around by the ear until she finally agreed to be her friend. Not to mention the two shared a dorm. Mesia couldn't even begin to count the many, many nights they would stay awake until sunrise - the sounds of small whispers and the clink of a bottle being passed back and forth being the only thing anyone could hope to hear.

They made the perfect pair, with their looks only amplifying their popularity amongst peers.

Lucinda was blessed with bright, platinum-blonde hair that shimmered whenever it saw the sun. Her eyes were round and large, strangely suiting the petite girl, while her skin glowed like an angel. Over the summer, she had lost a considerable amount of weight and even went as far as to learn every makeup and hair spell she could. While her best friend thought she was beautiful no matter her weight, the blonde witch had never seen herself the same way - her confidence now skyrocketing as her magic progressed. Her smile, surprising considering she was a Malfoy, never faltered even under the harshest circumstances. This was something Mesia admired about her bestfriend.

On the other hand, Artemisia was the more reserved and 'gloomy' of the two. Her waist-length, curly black hair had grown less unruly over the years, the curls now falling in defined spirals instead of the frizzy masses from her first year. Her feline-like eyes had colors resembling grass on a rainy day and the sky at it's most dangerous point, her gaze sharp enough to pierce the soul. Many thought the witch to be a Seer for her eyes alone. In contrast to her dark features, her skin was paler than the moon. She always thought it looked as though she had never stepped a foot outside.

And when addressing anyone other than the Malfoy twins (Abraxas got over their dispute once Lucinda introduced them), Cade Avery, Nathaniel Black and Myrtle Warren, an unamused and irked expression was all they were allowed.

Although, there was a single exception. Tom Riddle was – in every way – the exact opposite of Artemisia. While she outwardly, sneakily, expressed her disdain for everyone, he put on a mask of utter charm and interest. It was easy to see his mask slipping every once in a while, whether it be Professor Dumbledore rambling on for far too long or a lower-classman bumping into him in the hallways. His hatred was so well restrained. She was well aware of his meritorious talent for dishonesty, plus his irritating, seemingly innate ability to compete with her in every subject. She disliked Tom, that much was true, however she couldn't help but to study his every move. He was a mysterious, gray cloud that never rained or let his thunder give him away.

Which would make one wonder, what were his motives?

But much to her dismay, she shared every class with the boy. Both had been in an unspoken rivalry since their second year, and after all this time they had only managed to tie in everything - neither able to get the upper hand on the other. Even the Professors regarded them as one and the same.