The Wilderness Years

Chapter 4: The Dragonologist

The following morning, Artemis made her way up the flights of stairs that led to her little bedroom in the attic, two cups of coffee - one sugared and one not - floating in front of her. She found Chester sitting upright in her bed, frowning at a large ginger cat sitting on top of the covers.

"He's staring at me," he said, staring back at the cat with a look of perturbation in his perpetually tired-looking eyes.

"You're in his spot." Artemis directed the non-sugared coffee through the air towards Chester with her wand. She picked up Fergus the cat and kissed the top of his head before placing him down onto the floor and telling him, "Go and see if Tonks is awake."

With a doleful miaow and a look of betrayal, Fergus turned around and left the room with his tail pointed straight towards the ceiling. Artemis shook her head and sat down on the bed beside Chester.

"Sorry about him. He doesn't like sharing."

"Evidently," muttered Chester. He took a sip of his coffee. "You said Tonks lives here too?"

"Yeah."

"Anyone else?"

"Just us and Fergus," Artemis said.

"Who?"

"The cat."

Chester nodded his head and raised his eyebrows. "Impressive."

"What is?"

"It's a big house for only two of you. Without wanting to offend, how do you afford this place?"

"We don't, I inherited the house in my dad's will," Artemis explained. Before Chester could ask any questions about her father, she continued, "Well, half-inherited. My brother owns the other half, but he's not around."

"Jacob? Where is he living these days?"

"America, I think."

"You think?" Chester frowned. "What does he do?"

"I dunno."

"Safe to assume that the two of you aren't particularly close, then."

"No."

The silence that followed Artemis' one word answer was tense, and she could tell that although Chester did not ask for her to explain further, he was hoping that she would do so. She did not. He sipped his coffee, not uttering a word until the cup was nearly empty.

"Well, you have a lovely home," he said eventually, and Artemis shrugged. The house was dingy and held too many memories for her liking, but she didn't want to discuss those with Chester, who had now finished his coffee. He smiled awkwardly at her. "I should probably go back to my horribly overpriced flat."

On the landing downstairs, Tonks was just leaving her own room, her pink hair disheveled and mouth open in a wide yawn.

"Morning, Artemis," she said.

"Morning, Tonks," Artemis replied.

"Good morning, Tonks," said Chester, and Tonks did a double-take. Artemis half-pushed him across the landing and down the stairs to the front door. He lingered on the front step. "Now, would it be terrible if I told you that I'd like to see you again soon?"

Artemis' lips twitched. "Not terrible, no."

"In which case, maybe next weekend you could take me to that record shop you mentioned in Camden Market."

"Yeah, okay."

"I'll see you next week, then," said Chester. He kissed her. "Goodbye."

"Bye."