So, I finally decided to post the first chapter of the sequel today, rather than wait for the cover to be done. We have encountered some technical dfficulty and the cover won't be done until sometime next week. Or at least I hope. =P

As you all know, most of the characters and locations are not mine, but are the work of J.K. Rowling and Eoin Colfer. The only characters who are mine are Audrey and Nikkie, and a few others.

Hope you all continue to enjoy this story as you enjoyed the first one. And without further ado, I present to you the first chapter of Devil's Snare. The name's kind of a metaphor by the way. =P

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Audrey

            It was hard to believe my final year at Hogwarts had come to an end. It was all over. Here I was at graduation, all the younger students and our parents all looking up at us, both in pride and awe. We had survived against all insurmountable odds. I found it hard to believe we all had made it through the years. I glanced out to the crowd in front of me, easily spotting my parents in the crowd; they stood out with my mom being shorter than most of the students, and my dad's bald head shone in the dim candle light. After a moment, I looked over to Artemis, who sat by my side. He looked over at me briefly before grabbing my hand. The ceremony was about to begin.

            Professor McGonagall took the podium, looking out proudly at the other students. We sat beside her, waiting patiently for her to start, though deep inside, I just wanted it to be done and over with. I wanted to go home already!

            "Good afternoon, students and parents," she started. "It's my pleasure to begin this ceremony celebrating the achievements of our seventh year graduating students." She paused slightly, and then turned to look at us for a moment. "They have conquered everything thrown their way. Some have exceeded well beyond the expectations, not only in the classroom, but on the Quidditch field and in the heat of battle."

            I zoned out for a moment. I was nervous. We had rehearsed the ceremony only a million times in the prior week. Slytherin was to go first to go across the stage, followed by Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. The two with the highest grades in each house would get special recognition, as well as all the Quidditch teams. We had taken House Cup in both Quidditch and in House Points, which was not surprising. It seemed like it would be a fairly easy process, though I had a feeling that it wasn't going to go as smoothly as McGonagall had told us. She was known for making unexpected changes at the last minute.

            Artemis leaned over, whispering, "You see the man and woman over there holding the babies?" He paused for a second so I could look. I immediately spotted them sitting on the opposite side of the room from my parents. "Those are my mother and father," he said, "and my brothers." I could see where Artemis got his looks; his father looked just like him, only with graying in his raven hair. "And the bald man next to my father is my bodyguard. Don't ask... it's a long story," he added.

            He and I both turned back to McGonagall when we noticed people standing around us. We discovered she was announcing the seventh year Quidditch players by their house. When Gryffindor sat down, McGonagall said, "And now would the House Cup champions, Slytherin, please stand." Artemis, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and I all stood as McGonagall kept talking. "Slytherin went undefeated this year, led by its captain, Artemis Fowl and the co-captains Draco Malfoy and Audrey Taylor."

            Applause rang through the crowd, and I swore I heard someone who sounded like my mom scream, "That's my baby!!" I flushed pink, and sat back down with the rest of my team.

            We didn't sit still though. Right after that, McGonagall started her speech about us graduating. As interesting as it was, I zoned out again. I never fathomed she would be the one giving the speech. I always thought I'd be sitting here with Dumbledore presenting me my diploma. But that was not to happen. He was dead; he had been for six months now. It was hard to believe that it had been that long since I had stared death in the eyes, since I had been tortured by Voldemort.

            I pushed the thoughts from my mind as McGonagall announced, "And now I would like to begin the commencement with our House Cup Champions, Slytherin." On those words the entire house stood in unison. "We will be giving special recognition to the valedictorian and salutatorian in each house, and then everyone else will fall behind in alphabetical order," she explained. We already knew that, but our parents sure didn't. I was sure mine were wondering why I was second in line; T was not very high in the alphabet, after all.

            McGonagall cleared her throat before continuing. "Slytherin's valedictorian- Artemis Fowl the Second..." Artemis took a deep breath and left the line, walking up to the podium, where he shook all the professors' hands before McGonagall handed him a small slip of parchment. It wasn't our real diploma; we didn't get those until later. Once Artemis reached the end, McGonagall called the next name, "and the salutatorian, Audrey Taylor."

            I left the line as well and made my way through the line Artemis did only seconds before. As I shook all my teachers' hands, I couldn't stop myself from getting teary-eyed. This was it, and this was probably the last time I would ever see any of them, unless my future children got accepted here. Unlike a lot of the students, I liked most of my professors. They were awesome, enough said.

            I went back to my seat after McGonagall handed me the parchment before continuing onto the next student, "Millicent Bulstrode..."

            Artemis glanced over at me. "Why do you look so bothered?"

            "This is it. We're done with school," I sighed. "It's... surreal. Like... it seems like yesterday we just got here, and were sorted. And now... we're graduating."

            "I know what you mean," he said back, in a whisper. "But you have to remember, although this door is closing, another one is opening for us. We have our whole lives left ahead of us, for new adventures, new friends... in the end, graduating is a good thing."

            Deep down, I knew he was right, but I knew that this transition was going to be crazy for me. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life now that school was ending. I thought by now I would've had an idea. For a while, I wanted to be an Auror, but now that the Death Eaters had infiltrated the Ministry, I wanted nothing to do with it. Maybe I would come back and teach? But as quickly as that idea came to me, I shook it off. I surely didn't want to teach snot-nosed brats for the rest of my life.

            "...Draco Malfoy..."

            I looked up to see Malfoy crossing the stage. That was something I had never suspected. He was always getting into trouble; watching him receive his diploma was a miracle. Though in recent times, he had also calmed. Ever since New Year's Eve, he had taken more care in what he did. It was great to see him and Artemis both make the one-eighty's they did.

            As McGonagall continued, I looked out into the crowd. There was so many people, happy parents, siblings, grandparents. It wasn't often you saw this many witches and wizards gathered in one place. It was crazy. I was surprised they were all able to even fit inside. Soon after, McGonagall finished reading the Slytherin graduates names, and had moved onto Gryffindor. Hermione Granger was their valedictorian, which was not surprising. She had been since year one.

            "...Nichole Cramer..."

            I didn't know Nikkie was actually that high up in the rankings. As it had turned out, there were a lot of calculations made, and she narrowly edged out Neville Longbottom as its salutatorian. She was the only Gryffindor I had clapped for. No one else had given me a reason to. Harry and Artemis still hadn't been able to solve their differences, and it was really starting to irritate both Nikkie and me.

            Seconds passed like minutes, but before long all the houses had been gone through. We thought the ceremony was almost done, and then McGonagall surprised us. Instead of going onto the closing remarks, she pulled something random out of nowhere.

            "Before we draw this ceremony to a close, there is one last thing that needs to be announced," she stated. "As many of you know, this year has had many unforgettable events. Our school faced danger once again, and we had a few students who helped fend off Lord Voldemort. They were not aware of this recognition, as I planned on keeping it a secret." She turned to us before saying, "When I call your name, please stand." She cleared her throat. "Harry Potter."

            Harry stood, looking oblivious as to why this was happening. I thought random recognition would be something he would've been used to by now. It was only something he had been experiencing every year.

            "Artemis Fowl."

            Artemis stood as well, though did not have the same shocked look as Harry. Though I'm sure he found it just as ironic as I did that McGonagall chose to call their names first.

            "Draco Malfoy."

            Malfoy stood, but I knew he felt awkward. His dad was still a Death Eater last I knew, and I was sure his quitting was not something his dad probably approved of. I couldn't imagine what that would be like.

            "Ronald Weasley."

            Ron stood, trying his best to look brave and handsome, though it was honestly not working for him. If anything, it made him look like an idiot.  Some days he really made me wonder.

            "And Audrey Taylor," McGonagall concluded.

            I stood, but I didn't know why. I hadn't helped defeat Voldemort; I was just there. He had tortured me. That was nothing to be proud of in my eyes. I was weak, I hadn't helped win. Voldemort had beat me. Why did I get recognition? I didn't deserve it.

            "All five of you have shown bravery in the face of danger, and despite your differences, you united together against a common enemy," McGonagall explained. "And thanks to you five, our school survives to see another day."

            The audience began to clap and scream. The sounds echoed through the Great Hall as we received a standing ovation. Before we could think of anything else, McGonagall continued, "Would the rest of the graduates please stand?" The rest of the students stood with us, and I didn't feel awkward anymore. "I now present to you our graduating class," she concluded.

            On that cue, all of us tossed our pointed hats into the air, all smiling and cheering. The roar from the crowd erupted again. I caught my hat before turning to Artemis. He looked at me for a moment with a huge smile on his face before he planted a quick kiss on my lips.

            "You know what it's time for?" he asked me.

            "Hm?" I wondered back. "What's left to do?"

            "We have to party," he announced, a devilish smile forming on his face. And that's when I knew that the next few days were going to be absolutely crazy.