The Family Name

Year Four

By Elbereth in April

Chapter 18

Eventually, Snape returned to the Slytherin Common Room. He looked around at the expectant faces and sighed. "You should all be in bed." They continued to stare at him. "Fine. While Bartimus Crouch Jr. was masquerading as your DADA instructor, he converted the TriWizard Cup into a preset Portkey. When Diggory and Potter touched it, they were transported into Voldemort's presence. One of his followers killed Diggory with an Unforgiveable, then used an old, Dark spell to return Voldemort to his body…"

"Peter Pettigrew. Right?"

"Yes, Mr. Fowl. After that, Dumbledore and the Aurors showed up and rescued Potter, but Voldemort escaped, as did most of his Death Eaters. The Aurors returned quickly enough to recover three Death Eater bodies, however."

"Who?" several students asked fearfully.

"Quentin Avery, Icarus Cadwalader, and Dale Gibbon."

The Slytherins looked at each other. The names were known to no few of them.

"He's called them all back then," Pansy said unhappily. "All his old followers have gone back to him."

"All but two, yes." More looks around, Snape noted. The children were thinking of their parents. He sighed. "Go to your dorms now."

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They got the rest of the details later. That Wormtail had used Harry's blood in the spell to return Voldemort to his body. That Harry had named three Death Eaters: Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott, who the Aurors had taken in for questioning. That Harry and Voldemort's wands had connected because they were brothers, each of them containing a phoenix feather from Fawkes, Dumbledore's pet. That this connection had forced Voldemort's wand into the Reverse Spell Effect, causing it to regurgitate the last death spells it had performed. That Snape had been asked to do something for the Headmaster.

"Do you suppose he sent him to spy again?" Harry asked Artemis, who was sitting on the chair next to his hospital bed the morning after. "Do you think he pretended that he'd never really gone over to Dumbledore—that he was just biding his time, like Voldemort himself?"

"I believe so," Artemis replied calmly, but he admitted to himself that he was worried about his Head of House. It would be very dangerous for him.

"My scar hurt so badly the whole time I was there."

Artemis sighed. "Finding information is proving difficult. But this is what I have theorized so far. Your scar is a connection to Voldemort. Think of it as both a receiver and a transmitter. It reacts when he is feeling particularly strong emotions. But he will also be able to feel you. As he gains in strength and power, the connection will, too. Especially now that your blood is in him. The two of you will pass on not just feelings but images. He may even be able to control what he sends."

Harry's expression became increasingly alarmed. "What can I do?"

"Learn how to control it and yourself before he does," Artemis advised. "You're a passionate sort of person. You can't afford to always be so. You need to learn techniques like meditation to calm your emotions. Then you need to learn how to control the link between you. If you can read his intentions, see what he's doing, that would be a powerful asset to you."

"How would I do that?"

"From what I've been able to determine, you need to learn Occlumency, to keep him out of your thoughts, and Legilimency, to read his."

"Occlu—what? And Legilimen…"

"A special set of spells. Occlumency is the magical defense of the mind against external penetration. And Legilmency is, obviously, to penetrate another's mind."

"Is that… something I can learn from a book?" Harry's heart dropped, figuring the answer was no.

"I expect you could learn the underlying theory. But to truly learn, you'd have to practice against a real mind. Ideally, one who knows the spells himself."

Harry sighed. "And who could teach me?"

"I imagine Dumbledore knows. And Professor Snape—he'd have to, in order to be a spy. I'm assuming Voldemort knows Legilimency. The Dark Mark would act as a connection, as well, but not as powerful as yours."

"Great."

"At the very least, perhaps you could pick up on his most embarrassing moments and taunt him with them."

Potter snorted. "That was a joke, right?"

"Mostly. But you should exploit every vulnerability an enemy gives you."

Harry looked at him hopefully. "Maybe Snape could teach you and you could teach me?"

Artemis regarded him in turn. Neither boy completely trusted the other. Harry knew Fowl would use things he learned to his advantage, but he didn't think this Slytherin would deliberately harm him. Artemis wanted to learn the spells, but he didn't like the idea of anyone looking into his mind. But that was the only option. He refused to let Dumbledore into his head. But Professor Snape, his Head of House—he could trust him in a matter like this. And Potter was noble—he wasn't likely to use anything against him. Besides, there were precautions he could take.

"Let me discuss it with Professor Snape. Could we meet over the summer?"

"Um… I have to stay with the Dursleys until the day before my birthday, then I'm going to spend the rest of the summer with Sirius. Um, my birthday's July 31st."

Artemis nodded. "Owl me the day after. In the meantime, work on controlling your emotions."

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The students gathered up their trunks on the last day. The foreign schools prepared to leave, as well. Fleur and Krum both came to say goodbye to Potter. Krum exchanged addresses with Hermione, saying he would keep in touch. Weasley scowled darkly at this.

Finally they boarded the train. Draco took a walk around on his own. Crabbe and Goyle had been subdued since their fathers were arrested. The Slytherin compartment had a solemn air that he had to take a break from.

As he walked by the compartment the Golden Trio was holed up in, he stopped to eavesdrop. Hermione had a big smile on her face that gave Draco a pang. She'd been annoyed with him after Skeeter's article had come out with his quotes against Potter. She had asked him how the reporter had gotten in touch with him. "By owl," he'd said, confused. Then she'd warmed up a little, but she hadn't smiled like that at him the last few days.

She was holding up a bug in a glass jar. "Rita Skeeter…" she was saying. 'She's still on about that?' Draco thought, but then what she was saying made it through to him. "She's been bugging us. Not electronically—she's an unregistered Animagus. A beetle, to be precise."

The boys' mouths dropped. "That beetle?"

"Yes!"

"You're kidding," Weasley said barely audibly.

"No. I caught her on the windowsill in the hospital wing. See the markings around her antennae are just like her glasses."

"That's how she learned about Hagrid, and my scar hurting," Potter realized.

"And how she's been interviewing the Slytherins," Weasley guessed.

"No, actually—she's been owling them. She's smart enough not to let them have that information on her, after Artemis and Draco both gave her such a hard time. They'd blackmail her."

"Whereas you just capture her," Potter said dryly.

Hermione's smile was nearly a smirk. The beetle buzzed angrily against the glass. "I've told her I'll let her out when we get back to London, but she has to keep her quill to herself for a year." She serenely put the jar back in her bag.

Draco entered the compartment. "I applaud you, Hermione. Maybe my influence hasn't been wasted on you, after all."

Hermione snorted. "It wasn't your influence."

He smirked. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."

"We've received your admiration, now head back to your own car," Weasley sniped.

"I'm not admiring you," Draco sneered back. "Anyway, I'm here for another reason. I need your email address, Hermione. Artemis is going to take me to buy a computer tomorrow."

"Wow, you're really getting into this Muggle technology," she laughed.

"I can't believe it," Potter muttered, looking amazed.

"I even have people on speed dial on my cell phone," he announced proudly. "You, Artemis, Butler, Crabbe, and Goyle."

Ron felt jealousy boiling up. Malfoy always had everything—money, gadgets, and Hermione's attention.

Hermione wrote her email down for him (Readying_for_Newts at yahoo dot com) and he wrote down his (SlytherinSeeker at fowlnet dot net) for her.

"Ooh, we could read the same books and then discuss them," Hermione gushed.

"I'm telling you, it's unnatural!" Ron burst out.

"Don't worry, Weasel, I still don't like you."

"Mutual!"

"Well, I could discuss books with you two, as well, but…" Hermione began.

"Read? Over the summer?" Ron made a face.

"Exactly," Hermione said. "How about you, Harry? I could owl you about books…"

"Um, no thanks." He didn't need extra work.

"No complaining, then."

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"Guess what," Draco told Artemis and company when he returned to their compartment. "Rita Skeeter's an unregistered animagus beetle and Hermione has her in a jar."

"Well, that's… unexpected," Pansy said.

"Terribly ruthless of her," Zabini agreed.

"Good for Granger," Goyle said.

They all looked at each other and smiled.

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As Artemis showed Draco how to hook up his new laptop to the printer in his bedroom, he asked him, "Have you heard of Occlumency and Legilimency?"

"Of course. Father and Snape both know how to do it."

"Snape has agreed to teach me—and you, if you're interested."

Draco looked up at him sharply. "You're letting him look in your mind?"

"We're all going to swear not to ever mention anything we might learn," Artemis said with a lopsided smile. "He looked as worried about it as me."

"I'm in, then. But is there a reason we're learning this?"

"Besides that it's an extremely useful skill to know? And I don't want Dumbledore or other extraneous people in my mind?"

"Yes."

"You won't like the reason."

Draco frowned. "Tell me anyway."

"Once I've learned, I'm going to teach Potter."

Draco gave him a look of aghast betrayal. "Why?!"

"His scar connects him to Voldemort."

Draco's mouth fell open. "Ohh…" He thought it through. He definitely wouldn't be happy with Potter knowing the spells. But if Voldemort had access to the mind of the Boy-Who-Lived, who was always neck-deep in Dumbledore's plans, plots, and schemes… "All right then. You'll let me know how it goes?"

"Of course."

"One other thing, then. I might as well give it to you now." Draco took a box out of his desk and handed it to Artemis, who opened it. Inside was a fake wand made out of smooth dark wood. "I gave you a Portkey last year. I thought Butler should have one, too. Plus, you never know when it might be handy for intimidation—for people who don't he's not a wizard. Course, he's got guns and fists, but you know, in case… you can never be too prepared. I've started carrying my Portkey at all times."

"Thank you," Artemis said sincerely. "Does it go to Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes. Code word is 'Slytherin House'."

"You know, Potter should have one of these. He's the one being hunted. I'll suggest it to Black—he'd get him one."

"Good idea. The prat would never think of it on his own."

"Would it be alright if we have the Occlumency lessons here at your Manor? I think Professor Snape would be more comfortable here than in Muggle surroundings."

"Sure, that's no problem."

They turned at the sound of a knock on Draco's door. Narcissa opened it and entered, holding the infant, Eculeus. "He's awake now. You wanted to see him?"

Artemis walked over and peered at the baby, who gazed back at him with intense curiosity. "So you're Eculeus. Pleased to meet you," he said gravely. The name meant 'Little Horse,' which was appropriate, Artemis thought, if you considered Draco's animagus form. Eculeus might become a winged horse himself one day. Of course, the name also meant 'Instrument of Torture.' Only time would tell.

The baby gurgled at him.

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The Fowl family sat around the dining table, eating supper. "It's good to have you home for the summer," Artemis Sr. told his son with a smile.

"I'm happy you have so many friends now," Angeline gushed. "That Draco seems like such a nice boy."

Artemis kept his face neutral with effort. He wondered if Draco had ever been referred to as a nice boy before.

"I have my first Advanced Spells Summer Tutorial next week," Artemis reminded them. It was how he'd explained the upcoming lessons with Snape.

"I would ask are you sure you don't want a break from studying over the summer, but I know you," his father laughed.

"I want to invite Draco and his mother and little brother over for tea soon."

"I'm sure they'd be happy to come," Artemis responded, trying to imagine it. It was easier than he'd expected.

"It would be nice to have a baby around, don't you think?" Angeline looked at him, eyes sparkling.

"I suppose." Artemis was still picturing the pure-blooded woman navigating their Muggle home. Still, she didn't mind Draco's computer and things…

"Good!" Angeline and Artemis Sr. looked at each other. "Because I wanted to tell you, Arty—you're going to have a new brother or sister!"

It was as close as Artemis had ever come to fainting.

End Year Four

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A/N: So… wizarding world knows of Voldemort's return, Occlumency lessons over the summer, and the Fowl twins born sooner than in the books… oh yes, Year Five is going to see some changes…