So I know I haven't posted that much in a while, but I hope I can get it back to normal again here soon. I have a few ideas for this story in my head, so hopefully I can keep it going for a while.

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Artemis

            Looking at my reflection in a puddle, I wondered who I was. I hadn’t been the same since we started running. I couldn’t think straight, I couldn’t even begin to fathom a way to get myself, let alone anyone else, out of trouble. I was certainly not the same Artemis Fowl that had left the manor a few weeks earlier. I admitted I was panicked, and that the situation was far from kosher, but it was all we could do for now.

            I tried to push my hair from my eyes, but it was my effort was futile. My hair had grown too long for me to try anymore. It had become unkempt, and I felt like I was combing it way more than I probably should. It was driving me crazy. Once again, that was what I was doing, and I was not the only one getting tired of it.

            “Artemis, I swear that you spend more time fixing your hair than I do,” Audrey chided. “And I’m the girl?”

            I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s all I can do to so I can actually see.”

            She frowned slightly, something I really hated seeing her do. “Well… when we get a chance, we should probably find a way to cut it. I’m sure it’s bugging you.” She took the comb from me, placing it back in my bag. “Out of all the things you packed, scissors didn’t come in mind?”

            “I wasn’t assuming we would need them,” I answered. “Most things we can use magic for. Unfortunately, I can’t say I trust someone aiming a spell at my head. Last time someone did that I was nearly killed.”

            “Can’t say I blame you,” she muttered. She was quiet for a few more minutes before speaking again. “When do you think that Draco and Pansy will be back?” she asked quietly.

            I had almost forgotten about them. My cousin had volunteered them to go find some water. We were running low, and the nearby sea was obviously not drinkable. I remembered passing a river not too long before we had came to a stop here the night before, and told them to go back and check. That was at least an hour ago.

            “No idea,” I answered. “Probably getting some alone time away from us.”

            Audrey shuddered at the thought, moving closer to me. “Well… they should hurry back.”

            I raised an eyebrow to her statement. “And why should they do that? You don’t like being alone with me?”

            Audrey smiled, and I knew it wasn’t so much that. “It’s not that. I just would rather spend time with you somewhere else. Like… not on the run from Lord Voldemort in the middle of nowhere.”

            I figured as much. Audrey and I hadn’t really been able to spend any time together alone since we had been out of school. It was honestly disappointing, but I wasn’t going to complain about being here with her now. It was probably all the time we were going to get.

            “Well… I know these are the best circumstances, but I’m glad we’re here together,” I eventually said. “I’d much rather you be here with me instead of back home where I can’t keep an eye on you. As long as you’re with me, I know Voldemort will be more wary of attacking you.”

            She barely nodded. Audrey didn’t want to think about what was being plotted against her. Moments later, she changed the topic, just like I knew she would. “So… what do you want to do?”

            I almost laughed. “There’s not much we can do, really. Just… sit here and watch the fire.” I placed my arm around her, and she leaned against me. “I never really thought we’d have any down time from running.”

            Audrey didn’t say anything, and honestly I was starting to get really concerned about her silence. I had never seen her so quiet, so reserved. Audrey was almost always smiling or talking, and now she hardly did either.

            “Is there something troubling you?” I eventually asked.

            She sighed. “It’s just that… I dunno Artemis. I just don’t know.”

            Sounded like what was wrong with me. Being on the run for so long did that to you. I couldn’t say I blamed her. “Well… whatever it is, it’ll be fine. I promise,” I said, though admittedly I wasn’t so sure. I kissed her briefly before adding, “I love you.”

            “I love you too, Arty.”

            I watched her carefully from the corner of my eyes. She had closed hers, almost as if she was trying to sleep. Resting my head on hers, I closed my eyes as well. After what only seemed like minutes, I heard a loud crack, causing me to open my eyes immediately. I didn’t have to look very hard to discover where it came from. Standing not but six feet in front of me was Sebastian, finally back from the Death Eater meeting from the previous night.

            “About time you got here,” I announced.

            “Yeah yeah yeah,” he muttered. “It took a little longer than I thought it would to convince them you were in London. But I’m back now, so that’s all that matters.” He paused for a moment. “Where are Malfoy and Pansy?”

            “At this point I don’t even want to know,” I answered. “I sent them an hour ago to get water.”

            Sebastian shook his head. “Kids these days, I tell ya.” He sat down across from Audrey and me, getting comfy next to the fire. “Tell you what, I can’t wait to have a real meal, and sleep in my own bed again.”

            Honestly, I didn’t have a problem with Sebastian, but when he would talk like that I didn’t know if he realized the magnitude of the situation at hand. He didn’t understand that we may not be home again for a long time, if ever. It killed me knowing that we may never be back, knowing our families were all devastated we were gone. I hated thinking about it…

            “Don’t get your hopes yet,” I eventually muttered.

            The somewhat silence was broken when Malfoy abruptly jumped down from the cliff next to us. “Miss me?” he announced.

            “Depends,” I said, watching Pansy slowly climb down as opposed to Draco’s method. “Did you bring water?” He reached into his bag, tossing me a bottle of water. “Then yes I did.”

            Malfoy sat down, Pansy joining him but she sat on the other side of Sebastian. “Sorry it took so long,” Malfoy said. “But little miss sunshine here kept stopping because her feet hurt.”

            “Well next time you can do it yourself!” she announced. Her exclamation awoke Audrey, and I knew that was something that you didn’t do if you valued your life. I held her close, trying to calm her down.

            “Oh believe me, I will!” Malfoy shot back.

            I rolled my eyes. “Look… we can’t be arguing amongst ourselves. It’s only going to cause someone to go off the deep end and get us all killed. Get over whatever it is.”

            I looked passed them, looking out at the sea. It was calming, and it was about all I could do to keep me from going crazier than I already was. I couldn’t have everyone arguing. I’d seen too many plans go wrong because one person wanted to act like a fool. I shook my head. My group was not going to be one of them.

            I glanced up to the sky for a moment to see a huge dragon flying overhead. Naturally, I tried to remain calm. I hadn’t seen a dragon in nearly four years, and they were all carefully monitored. This one was wild; they were unpredictable creatures. I was glad when this one just flew by, not even noticing us.

            Soon after, I saw three figures emerging from the sea. From a distance, I couldn’t make out their faces, but as they got ever closer to us, I began to recognize them all too well. I was honestly not happy to see them either. The last time we had actually spoken, it was not a pleasant conversation.

            They kept approaching us, and soon were standing right in front of me. I was unsure of what was about to happen as I stared up into the eyes of my sworn enemies: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.