MELLIFLUOUS • B.ZABINI

𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦: 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴

ARTEMIS GROANED AS SLIPPED INTO A SEAT AT THE GRYFFINDOR TABLE. "What?" She pulled her plate closer to her and looked at Hermione who was staring at her with squinted eyes. "How do you not care that your hair never sits right?" Hermione asks, Artemis shrugs her shoulders.

"So what was Minnie talking to you guys about?" Artemis asks Hermione and Harry. Ron looks up curiously from beside her and nods, "I was wondering that as well."

Harry simply shrugs, "you know dementor check up.. got called fragile." He mutters in an annoyed voice and glares at Artemis when she chokes on a laugh.

Before either of them can insult each other Dumbledores voice echoes through the Great Hall. Artemis finds herself only half listening as the headmaster drones on about dementors. She grins when Ron and Harry groan at the mention of the invisibility cloak that happened to currently be in possession of the older twin.

"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year." Artemis' brow furrows, of course she knew about Remus but the other?

"Firstly Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of defence against the dark arts this year." Dumbledore says loudly, poor guy.. wonder what shit he's going to go through.

Artemis' eyes dart to the potions teacher, Severus Snape who looked to be in some internal agony. God she hated him with every fibre in her body.

"Our second appointment-" Artemis' eyes flick back to the headmaster, "I'm sorry to say that Professor Kettleburn, out care of magical creatures teacher retired at the end of last year to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs." Artemis snorts at the end of Dumbledores sentence ad she notices the amused gleam in the Professors eyes when he looks at her.

"However I am delighted to announce that his place with be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid who has agreed to take on this teaching job as well as his gamekeeping duties." Artemis smiles wildly and looks at her friends who seem to be stunned in silence. Artemis whistles loudly in celebration and Hagrid catches her gaze and grins, his face flushed red due to embarrassment.

"Let the feast begin." Dumbledore claps softly and food appears on the table. Immediately Artemis and Ron are stuffing their faces with food as the hall echoes with sound of laughter and chatter. Hermione rolls her eyes at the sight of them inhaling their food.

"Congrats Hagrid." Artemis grins up at the half-giant as they walk towards the teachers table, Hagrid sniffles and tells them about how Dumbledore came straight to him when Kettleburn quit.

The great feast ends and the trio walk ahead as Artemis walks beside Neville listening to him talk about herbology, every once in a while she hums and ask simple questions about certain plants. They all come to a stop at the enterance of the Gryffindor common room, "password?" The fat lady asks in a bored tone.

"Coming through!" Percy Weasley's voice comes from behind them, "Fortuna Major!" The door swings open and Artemis gives Neville a reassuring pat when he mumbles, knowing he wasn't exactly the best with passwords. "You got this Nev." she says and he nods, "I've got this."

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The next morning Artemis drops into a seat beside Seamus Finnigan who mutters a quick hello before returning to his conversation. Her eyes flick to Malloy boredly as he made impressions of a dementor, she glares at him silencing the pale haired boy.

"Ignore him," Hermione mutters. "He's not worth it."

"Hey Potter!" Called Pansy Parkinson, "Potter! The dementors are coming Potter." She smirks ugly, something Artemis didn't know was possible until then.