This chapter doesn't cover as much as I originally intended, since I noticed it got kind of lengthy. I promise though it does show what I really wanted it to. I promise the next chapter is where the action will start picking up again. =P Hope you enjoy chapter 2. =)

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Artemis

            Dumping the last bag of chocolate frogs into a bowl at the center of the table, I wondered how I had gotten myself in this predicament. All I asked was for Audrey to be able to come over to see the manor; I didn’t ask to throw a graduation party, though that’s how my mother took my inquiry. So here I was, putting up decorations for a party that I was to have in only an hour. There was still so much to do.

            As I moved onto hanging the streamers, I decided to climb on a chair to get high enough to attach them to the ceiling. I went to go pin them in place, and they tore. I tried again, only to have them rip further. I sighed angrily, and then noticed my father standing in the doorway.

            He pulled out his wand, moving the streamers from my hand and pinning them up using magic. “You forget something, son?” he chuckled. “You can use magic now at home, or anywhere really.”

            I mentally slapped myself. “Of course, father. I just forgot. It’s… not something I’m used to yet.”

            He smiled. “You know, I’m excited to meet your girlfriend.”

            For some reason, I was not surprised. It was the first time I had brought a girl home to meet my family, the first time I had actually had a romantic interest. Little did my father know I had much larger plans for Audrey; I intended to keep her around. If I had everything my way, she would be much more than my girlfriend in the near future. I just didn’t know when.

            I smiled back, jumping down from the chair. “Why’s that?”

            “Well,” he started, “I can tell she makes you happy. I’ve never seen you so happy, not even as a child.” He paused, glancing at his feet for a moment. “And I know for you to actually date someone in itself is a big deal. You were scaring your mother for a while there. She thought she was never going to have grandkids-”

            “-alright father,” I cut off. “I get it.” My parents never ceased to amaze me sometimes. They stressed over crazy ridiculous things. “You know… I asked her out the same way you asked mother.”

            I watched his eyes widen in shock. “No kidding?”

            I shook my head. “Figured I would try my luck, and it worked.”

            “And she’s stayed with you through all that Death Eater nonsense?”

            I had a feeling he was going to bring that up. My father was always bringing up things that I didn’t want to talk about. I wondered if he sat around and thought of awkward topics to talk about. After all, he did just jump from talking about my girlfriend to my previous illicit activities in one sentence.

            I sighed deeply. “Do we really need to talk about that right now?” He gave me that stern look he always did when I was in trouble, and I knew I had to talk about it. “Yes, she did. She went through a lot with that. Voldemort tortured her with the Cruciatus. She’s the reason I quit.” I paused for a moment. “And once she gets here, I think it’s best if we don’t bring up the incident. It still bugs her.”

            My father nodded slowly. “Okay son. Just please, don’t go back into the dark. It’s good to have you back.”

            I hardly cracked a smile. “Thanks father, but even if I wanted to go back I couldn’t. I’m sure I’m a marked man. I’m surprised there haven’t been threats to my life yet to be honest.”

            A nervous look appeared on his face. “Artemis, just be careful. That’s all I ask of you. We don’t want to see you dead. Or anyone else for that matter.”

            I looked up at the clock. The guests would be arriving soon. “I know you don’t; we’ll talk about this later, mmkay? I have to go freshen up before the guests arrive.”

            I left the living room and made my way up the grand staircase to my room on the third floor. I shut myself in, immediately going over to my closet. What to wear? I hadn’t told anyone to dress up, so I didn’t think a suit was entirely appropriate for the occasion. I eventually decided on a black and white striped polo shirt and a pair of jeans. It was still nice, but casual at the same time. I put on my fresh clothes before heading into my personal bathroom. I combed through my messy raven hair, but I knew my efforts were futile; my hair would be in my face sooner rather than later. I was in desperate need of a haircut.

            Soon after, I headed back downstairs, wondering how many people would actually show up. I hadn’t invited too many people; in fact, I only invited Slytherins. The rest of the houses and I really hadn’t seen eye to eye after everything happened. The last six months of school hadn’t been my most pleasant. Plenty of rumors and hate mail reached me every day. I was glad it was finally over.

            I took a seat on the couch, waiting patiently for the first guests to arrive, whoever they may be. I glanced around the room, admiring all the hard work I had done. Balloons hovered along the staircase, a table cloth lay neatly over the table, snack food was scattered about the table in various bowls, streamers hung loosely from the wall. Everything was set to go. Now all I needed was guests.

            I didn’t wait long. Only after a few moments, I heard the doorbell ring. I wondered why we had one for a moment, but shook it off. We lived in a Muggle world after all, and had to blend in. I opened the door to find Audrey standing there with her parents behind her. I hugged her immediately.

            “Glad to see you found this place alright,” I said. “I was worried.”

            Audrey pulled away from me. “Oh, shoosh. We found it just fine. It was hard to miss it. Even if we Apparated.” She paused for a moment before turning to the people behind her. “Mom, dad… this is Artemis. Artemis, my parents,” she introduced.

            I shook both of their hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Please come in. My parents should be in the kitchen, if you wish to talk to them.”

            “That would be lovely,” her mother said, following Audrey and I into the house. “Where would that be?”

            “Down the hallway and to the left,” I directed. “You can’t miss it.”

            “Thanks!”

            “No problem,” I sighed. With that her parents left us in the living room alone.

            “Some turn out you got,” Audrey teased, sitting on the couch.

            I sat next to her. “Hey, you’re the first one here. Others will show up eventually.”

            She smirked, something she had been doing a lot as of recent. “We’ll see Arty. Who did you all invite?”

            “Just our house,” I admitted. “No one else was really worth the humiliation.”

            She shook her head slowly. “You really are something else, Artemis Fowl.”

            “One of a kind,” I winked, wrapping my arm around her.

            We sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments before Malfoy and his parents, along with Pansy Parkinson, came through the front door. My cousin and Pansy immediately noticed us and came over, sitting on the other side of Audrey.

            “Way to knock,” I joked.

            “You’re my family. Do I really need to knock to come in your house?” he asked back.

            I rolled my eyes. “I suppose not.”

            My aunt and uncle came over to us, but they kept their distance. I was sure my Uncle Lucius was not thrilled about the hell his son and I caused a few months ago, and the fact we had quit the Death Eaters probably didn’t help that. Aunt Narcissa gave me a brief hug before backing away.

            “Where are your parents?” Uncle Lucius asked, his snide tone present more than ever.

            “In the kitchen last I knew,” I replied, matching his tone perfectly. If you were going to give me an attitude, I could give one right back, and it was sure going to be worse than yours.

            He stepped away without another word, Aunt Narcissa following closely behind. Malfoy sighed angrily right after they were out of ear shot. This made me wonder. Was his father acting like that towards him as well?

            “Is it just me, or is he really pissed about what happened?” Audrey pointed out before I could.

            “He’s been acting like that since that incident,” Malfoy sighed, lying back as far as he could on the couch. “He’s been really snide about everything. He didn’t even congratulate me for graduating!”

            “You’re kidding me,” I gasped.

            “Nope,” Malfoy answered quickly. “He hasn’t said much of anything to me. It’s kind of obnoxious really.” He shook his head. “But oh well. I’ll be moving out soon enough anyways.”

            That took me off guard. We had just graduated, and he was talking about moving out. That was crazy. Was his situation that bad? I could only fathom how his father must’ve been acting in order for him to think that he needed to leave. Malfoy was after all, a bit of a momma’s boy. I couldn’t see him just uprooting himself from home.

            “Where are you going to live?” I asked him. “You have a place in mind yet?”

            My cousin shrugged his shoulders. “Hell if I know. I just know I can’t live there anymore. He’s driving me nuts. It’s like nothing I do is good enough anymore.”

            I frowned slightly. “Well Draco, you know you’re always welcome here. My parents don’t think like that. They’re just happy we came to our senses before it had gotten any worse.”

            He had smiled slightly. “Thanks Artemis.”

            Before I could answer, the door opened again, and Crabbe, Goyle, Millicent Bulstrode, and Blaise Zabini all came in. They gathered around us in the other chairs and joined in our conversation. Before long, we were all laughing, dancing, eating, and, well, having a good time. I just didn’t want the night to end. It was a rare occurrence for me to have all my friends gathered in one place, and this I knew could very well be the last time I saw all of them in the same place.

            I was going to make sure this was to be a night I would never forget. It was probably going to be the last time I would be able to in the near future. If I had only known how right I was...