A Piece of Mind

Letters and Memories

Ever apologizing for the long break between updates, but I am truly sorry it took so long. College is wild, and I honestly don't know how anyone in college has time to post on a regular basis, I barely had time to sleep.

However, in good news, we're getting into the final stretch here. I have most of the next few chapters planned, and I think there's really gonna be like five or less chapters left to write. Considering I'm reaching my fourth year of writing this story, I am a little sad to see it ending but so SO excited for it. I am glad you guys didn't let me give up on this shit.

Also, I haven't really worked on this story in a few months, so if it seems different than other chapters, that is why.

Sorry for the long note, I'm a yapper. Enjoy!

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Artemis was tired.

He had been hard at work all week in preparation for the pieces of his plan to start falling into place, but it had taken a toll on him.

He was forgoing meals, simply excused by the time it would take to walk to the dining hall and back to wherever he was holed up. He stopped going to lessons, finding that if he never saw his professors outside of class, they couldn't give him detention for not being there (besides, he was at least a month ahead of the curriculum anyway). He was awake until ungodly hours of the morning, going over plans and calling Holly and Butler.

Julia and Grace weren't any less worried for him, but now that they were in on the plan, they were much more understanding of his actions. They brought him sandwiches and fruit when they didn't see him at meals.

Kaleb was much more worried for Artemis, and although he had made it clear he was terrified of the whole thing, he also made it clear that he would help in any way he could.

Despite the extra support, Artemis still had to do this next part on his own.

To find the location of the other Horcruxes, they would need someone from the other side to tell them. Someone closer to the Dark Lord than Snape. Having spent the last few months sleeping next to the bed of a certain blonde boy whose favorite pastime was to boast about his powerful father and brag to his friends about their family's standing with Voldemort, Artemis had a good idea who to interrogate for that information.

"Draco," Artemis voiced quietly in the middle of one of their usual duels in DADA class.

They hadn't spoken in that class since the last (and only) time Artemis fell. Artemis hadn't bothered to go to class in a few days.

"What?" The blonde boy answered, hurling a hex at Artemis' face. "Finally mustered up enough courage to talk back?"

Artemis skillfully sidestepped, calmly sending a curse right back at him. What had become their scheduled dueling routine was actually quite useful for his wand work.

"What does your father do for work?" Artemis asked, as casually as he could.

"What are you on about, Fowl?" Draco grunted, only barely putting up a shield charm in time.

"I just want to know what he does at the Ministry. You've mentioned him... a few times, but I still don't know what he does." Draco was quiet for a few moments, trying to gauge if Artemis was making fun of him in some way or not. When he concluded that it seemed like a genuine question (which it was, but for all the wrong reasons), he responded.

"He's on the Board of Governors for Hogwarts and meets regularly with the Minister to help him decide on policies and make donations. Which is why you should really watch your mouth, Fowl."