A Bouquet Of New Beginnings Chapter 14: "Purple Hyacinth"

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 14: "Purple Hyacinth"

Floriography - Please Forgive Me

Summary: Artemis is encouraged to take a certification, Sebastian & Artemis delve into that book from the Restricted Section, and an overdue conversation is had with a certain blond.

[AO3]

Below is an excerpt of the chapter. Full chapter can be viewed from AO3 link above!

“The Draught’s…working,” attempted Artemis.

Ominis’ sighed small as he shook his head. “What are you doing out here at this hour?”

“I was,” started Artemis as she swallowed. He didn’t need to know the cause. “I was waiting for Sebastian. Going to spell practise. Followed Nocturne. Distracted with the painting. Then… well.”

Silence fell as she caught something flash across Ominis’ face. Artemis, now completely under the effect of the Calming Draught, slowly stood; Ominis followed her movement. Nocturne kept his claws dug into her shirt as if to dare her to put him down. She gave him a soft kiss on his forehead.

“Sorry for troubling you. I’d… appreciate it, if you didn’t tell anyone,” whispered Artemis. “You should be gentle, with the grip.”

“What?”

“The grip. On the arrangement, so the stem doesn’t snap. You’re meeting up with someone, right? You should, go to them. I’m fine.”

Nocturne faintly protested in her arms. The blond sighed as his head tilted away and slightly shifted his feet.

“It’s for you,” mumbled Ominis after a few moments.

“…huh?”

“It’s for you,” repeated Ominis clearer.

He held out the arrangement toward her, and now she could see the single, purple hyacinth in the wrapping. The floral scent was powerful and the petals dewy fresh. He cleared his throat.

“I was hoping to find you. To give this to you to… apologise. Clearly right now isn’t the best time –”

“It’s fine, Ominis.”

Ominis’ eyes briefly widened at her words before he let out a breath.

“I’d been an absolute prat,” started Ominis slowly.

Artemis blinked twice at the unusually informal word but remained silent.

“I shouldn’t have lashed out at you like I did, nor ignore you when you’ve just been trying to help. I’m… I’m sorry.”

The hyacinth shook minutely in his grip.

She placed Nocturne on the rail platform only for him to drape over her shoulder before she conjured a flower of her own. Artemis gently accepted the hyacinth, and instead placed a single white tulip into his hand. Ominis moved his wand to gently touch the petals before he brought the flower to his nose.

“A tulip?” Ominis asked as he smelled it.

“A white tulip. Um, it’s the colour of fresh snow,” described Artemis. Her mind cobbled together something to describe white to someone who couldn’t see. “Sweet as sugar, soft as pillows… I accept your apology, Ominis. Thank you… for earlier, and the hyacinth. It’s beautiful.”

Ominis’ eyes widened briefly before he bodily relaxed, the white tulip held delicately in his hand. She wondered if this was why he wasn’t at dinner.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone describe colours like that before,” said Ominis softly. “It’s… nice.”

“Happy to do so,” answered Artemis, equally as soft.

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Ch. 17 "Calendula"

Floriography - Health & Trouble

[AO3]

Summary: A month into the new school year. Professor Weasley checks in on progress, and Poppy invites Artemis for some moonlight rescue.

Below is an excerpt of the chapter; full chapter can be viewed from AO3 link above.

The beds of green slowly shifted to red, gamboge, and brown to welcome autumn. Students brought out their warm cloaks and jumpers to welcome the cooler months ahead. This particular afternoon, Artemis sat across from the redhaired Deputy Headmistress in her office. Fresh cups of earl grey wafted their elegant steam as the snow-haired girl rested her hands, right over left, in her lap.

“Miss Loreley, thank you for coming to see me so quickly.”

“It was no trouble, Professor Weasley,” responded Artemis quickly. Her palm tingled from the slight rub of her thumb against the hidden scar.

“It’s been a little over a month since you’ve come to Hogwarts, and I wished to check in on your progress. May I see your Field Guide?”

Artemis dutifully pulled out the tome from her school bag with both hands.

“How have you been adjusting?” Professor Weasley asked as she began to flip through the pages.

“Well, ma’am.”

A perfect blend of bitter and sweet swirled her mouth with her tea.

“I’m glad. I was starting to worry, since you’ve shown up to breakfast only once.”

She swallowed; the liquid felt like molten lava. Her gaze fell to the liquid surface. Reflected back was her carefully neutral façade. The additional Glamour Charm hid the increasingly darkened under eye circles.

“I eat light in the mornings, Professor.”

“I see. Well, you certainly keep yourself busy. Hospital Wing volunteering, the Briar Greenhouse, and I’ve heard you’ve taken to extra broom lessons with Miss Reyes. Nurse Blainey has also expressed that you wish to undertake the next Asclepius Record.”

A small smile stretched the Deputy Headmistress’ lips. Artemis wondered if this woman had ears in every crevice of the school.

“Collectively, all the professors of the mind that you are rapidly catching up to your classmates. You’re making great progress. Well done.”

Artemis’ gaze moved toward the desk as another sip of earl grey glided down her throat.

“Professor, may I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“The room I stayed in my first night… did it disappear?”

No matter how many times she’d passed by that hall, the door never reappeared. Professor Weasley lifted an eyebrow before she chuckled softly.

“I’d wondered when you were going to ask me. Frankly I’m surprised it took you as long as you did.”

Artemis gave a sheepish smile. “I wanted to make sure I’d not been mistaken.”

“Hm. Very well. Nurse Blainey did mention the lack of a… what was it… a Healing mannequin? Perhaps the Room will have it.”

“The… Room, Professor?”

The professor held the Field Guide toward her. “Yes. Come, I’ll show you.”

Artemis followed the Deputy Headmistress without hesitation; her heels clicked as the clumps of students parted the halls. Professor Weasley’s overwhelming presence dulled her own as she followed in the taller woman’s shadow. The seventh-floor corridor wasn’t far, and there were no students there.

“Now, walk past this wall three times, and focus on something you need. To make it simple, how about somewhere to focus on the Asclepius Record?” Professor Weasley suggested warmly and gestured her arm toward the hall.

Artemis began. To and fro, her soft treads barely made a noise on the castle floors. Her mind, however, went broader than the Asclepius Record. She needed somewhere that could offer her all the Healing texts available, including texts in the Restricted Section, for herself, for Professor Fig, for Henry, for Anne even. Somewhere to train her Healing magic. Somewhere to go that wasn’t the Witty Pear if she were ever hurt, but couldn’t raise Nurse Blainey’s suspicion.

A… clinic.

Slowly, a dark cherry wood door unfurled itself from the middle of the greyed brick, and Professor Weasley gave a noise of awe.

“Well done! I do have to say, I’d never seen a wooden door before. Go on in,” encouraged the professor.

The door opened inward to something akin to a hexagonal conservatory. Some sort of conjured sunlight warmed the room from the kinmokusei glass mosaic on the ceiling. Half of the walls were made of clear glass, and beyond was a glade that closely resembled her mother’s glade. The solid walls were painted a pale sky blue, two of them nearly covered by the dark cherry bookshelves full of every other Healing text possible – delightfully, in both English and Japanese. Two Healing training mannequins stood in the corner, where the floor was tiled unlike the rest a light English Oak.

An overly large desk with an overhead glass cabinet stood against another wall, filled with potion vials and other equipment. Hanging baskets hung on the sides, and she was pleasantly surprised the ones already filled contained dwarf roses, lavender, and mints. There was an interesting-looking quill with a bronze ink bottle that stood on the side of the desk under the soft lamp light.

Artemis breathed out in awe. “What is this place?”

“This is the Room of Requirement,” started Professor Weasley. “It’s a room that changes to fit the seeker’s needs. I requested for a comfortable bedroom for you to rest in your first night.

Now, you’ve made quite a canvas for yourself. A rather interesting Desk of Description as well.”

“Desk of Description?”

“Yes. I’m sure you’ve come across a few things you didn’t know what they were; whenever you do, place it here and it’ll tell you what the item is.”

“So, like the Information spell?” Artemis asked.

Professor Weasley nodded. “Yes, though much more powerful. I daresay you could use this space to catch up on your other studies as well. Perhaps take one of those training mannequins to Nurse Blainey?”

“I- yes, Professor, thank you.”

“Speaking of studies… I noticed that Professor Fig has put in a few requests for outdoor excursions,” started Professor Weasley. “He marked them as introducing you to the land’s history and learning to immerse yourself into wizarding communities. Now I must ask… is any of this related to what happened with the dragon attack?”

“Not at all, Professor,” lied Artemis smoothly.

A moment passed between the two before Professor Weasley gave a small, tired smile.

“I see. Now, I shall let you get acquainted with your space – you’re free to use this space as you please, though I do ask you continue to adhere to the school rules.”

“Yes Professor. Thank you, for trusting me with this.”

“You’re welcome. I did, after all, show you this on your first night; I’m sure you would’ve figured out the secret sooner rather than later. Use it well,” said Professor Weasley warmly.

Artemis nodded as she watched the redhead leave. Once the door shut, her shoulders slumped in relief. Lying had been necessary but it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She reached into the legside bag and pulled out the mysterious palm-sized box that she’d gotten from the bottom of the Black Lake. She couldn’t believe it’d been a full month since she’d picked this up.

Inside sat three, translucent stones, fashioned into ear pierces onto their velvet bed. The moment she touched one the stone changed colour until it was an iridescent blue-green with a silvery shimmer on the inside.

<<How odd,>> gasped out Artemis before she placed the box onto the desktop near the ink and bottle. Bronze runes lifted from seemingly nowhere as they encircled the box in a flurry before they coagulated into a piece of parchment where the quill wrote at a furious speed. Once it had been completed, she read the words scrawled in bronze ink.

Secret Sharer

Mid-Tier artefact, commonly used to communicate between individuals telepathically if they are within a half-mile radius. Once attuned, the stone will change to the colour of their magical core. Resets upon return.

Artemis hummed as she picked up the Secret Sharer box, and repocketed it. She supposed, on occasion, it paid to explore the lakebed. Perhaps she’d invite Richard again when he came back. Or Nerida now that they’ve started floating practise in an enlarged bathtub.

But for now, she had Healing texts to read, and a mannequin to practise on.

Her fingertips glided across the book spines until she found Duality of Healing Arts, and began to read. She’d been going to the Restricted Section on twice a week with Sebastian, and had been chipping away at its contents slowly. Now, she had the luxury of reading it at her own pace without the constant threat of Madam Scribner, Peeves, or any myriads of ghosts. The contents were not as Dark as she would’ve thought, considering where it had been located, but it did touch on the ‘other’ side of Healing arts – necromancy. Artemis scrunched her nose in distaste.

The dead should remain dead, rest from the life they’d been living.

A particular spell, however, caught her attention. She pulled the mannequin manual and tapped her wand on the rune she needed. Suddenly, the mannequin was heavily lacerated - the chicken blood flowed freely in abundance onto the tiled ground. She pointed her wand, aglow in soft green light, and attempted in a sing-song incantation.

“Vulnera Sanentur.”

Me whenever my friends are like "oh can I see what you write?"

people who only use conventional social media are so funny bc they’ll casually be like “can I see your tumblr??” are you Insane. this is no instagram or twitter. this is my vault of secrets

raise your hand if you’re also incredibly interested in everyone’s MCs and want to hear about them all the time ✋

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 11: "Amaryllis"

Floriography - Determination

Summary: Snippets of Artemis' second week of school - the good, the bad, and the nightmare.

[AO3]

Below is an excerpt of the chapter, full chapter can be viewed from the AO3 Link above!

“So, I heard that you’re quite the covert little thief.”

Artemis paused her quill as she lifted her head. Sebastian and Ominis had been doing their assigned Charms essay, and she her extra assignments, in relative silence for the past half hour in the tucked away corner of the library until Ominis broke the silence.

“Oh?” Artemis asked as she pointedly looked at Sebastian. He was the only source that could’ve possibly said anything to Ominis.

Sebastian had the audacity to give an innocent smile.

“Oh indeed. Something about a padlock and a cat? A traipse into the Re-”

“-Oi! Not so loud,” cut in Sebastian. Ominis rolled his eyes as his head tilted back toward her.

“Just hadn’t expected you to be so brazen already with the rules,” paused Ominis. “Well done.”

Artemis had opened her mouth to make a counterargument, only to shut it in the unexpected praise. In contrast, Sebastian’s jaw dropped.

“What? So I get scolded when I go, but Artie gets a compliment? I see how it is.”

Ominis snickered at his friend’s expense.

“She doesn’t barge into our room with erumpent stomps at two in the morning, Sebastian. Though I am curious as to what you could possibly need. You’ve been here less than two weeks.”

Artemis was saved from answering the question as a sneering voice came from her left.

“Well, who do we have here? All alone and – oh, Gaunt. Sallow.”

Their table was at a strange angle that provided blind spots – clearly, Alistair had thought she’d been alone. The change in his tone was drastic, as the moment he saw the two boys his demeanour completely changed.

Sebastian glared daggers and Ominis’ expression was a carefully controlled brand of neutral.

“Avery. Care to finish what you were saying?” Sebastian asked dangerously.

“No, no I think I’ll take my leave,” said Alistair diplomatically.

“Do,” said Ominis as he slowly turned. Alistair’s hand balled into a fist, glared at Artemis once before he stomped away.

“Git,” spat out Sebastian before he turned to Artemis. “How’d you have the misfortune of meeting him?”

“Poppy and I stopped him from pulling on Persephone’s whiskers,” answered Artemis.

“Still petty I see. Can’t believe he’s the same year as us,” sighed Ominis.

“He seemed intimidated.”

“He should. I’d gladly fry him crispy,” huffed Sebastian.

“More my last name than me,” corrected Ominis. He looked like he bit a bitter bug. “Descendant of Salazar Slytherin, my father being friends with the headmaster. The Gaunt name has its… uses, despite the unfortunate run of pureblood mania.”

Slytherin has a bunch of pureblood supremist bigots, not to mention families associated with the Dark Arts. The Malfoys, the Blacks, the Lestranges, the Gaunts.

“The headmaster has friends…?” Artemis asked instead, perplexed at the concept.

Sebastian choked on air as he quickly muffled his laughter into his elbow; Ominis’ shoulders shook as he controlled his. Madam Scribner gave the group a warning glance as she walked by on her patrol.

“Artie, did you hear back from your contact?” Sebastian asked after it was clear the librarian had left their vicinity.

“Contact?” Ominis asked, his head giving a slight jerk.

Artemis looked between Ominis and Sebastian; the brunet nodded as Artemis let out a soft breath.

“They said they’d need to review their contract for the finer details first,” said Artemis. She’d hoped Leto would have responded back before telling Sebastian, but alas. “But, tentatively yes.”

“Really?” Sebastian asked, his eyes brightened. In contrast, Ominis’ features darkened.

“Contract?” Ominis repeated back.

“Artie has a Healer contact in the Ministry. Said she’d reach out regarding Anne.”

“A Healer? Wait, you told her about Anne?”

“I was getting her a –” started Sebastian before he stopped and ran his fingers through his hair. “Never mind, yes, I told Artie about Anne.”

“Why?”

“She’s my sister, I can tell whomever I like.”

Ominis hummed, though his expression didn’t ease as he looked at Artemis.

“Rather generous of you,” said Ominis. His jaw was set.

“Ominis,” Sebastian started, surprised.

Ominis tilted his head toward her; Artemis’ heart sank. She’d not felt this since Chalvey. Palpable mistrust, clear suspicion.  

“So? Why are you helping?”

“Because I want to.”

She managed to keep her voice controlled. It was understandable, why he would be like this.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Because she didn’t want history to repeat itself… but nobody else needed to know that.

“You’re lying,” retorted Ominis. “What do you gain from this?”

Her throat tightened. Sebastian’s warm chocolate eyes hardened toward his best friend.

“Ominis, stop it -”

“- Is treating someone the way you wanted to be treated so unbelievable?”

The soft, wobbled words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself.  She hadn’t intended to say that, not really.

Her hands moved quickly as both boys were stunned; Ominis’ eyebrows furrowed rather quickly afterward.

“Excuse me,” muttered Artemis as she pulled out her wand, the rest of her items haphazardly in her arms.  She muttered a quick disillusionment.

“Artie, wait!”

“Mr. Sallow! This is the library!”

Madam Scribner’s shrill warning rang loud behind her as she slunk away into the green floo flames.

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 15: "Flowering Maple"

Floriography - Enlightenment

Summary: Professor Fig is back from the fruitless trip to the Ministry, and another chat with Professor Rackham is had.

[AO3]

Below is an excerpt of the chapter. Full chapter can be viewed from AO3 link above!

Her heart and footwork were equally light as she made her way toward Professor Fig’s classroom with the note delicately folded into her pocket. The path was all but etched into her memory as she silently weaved through the student crowd. In fact, she didn’t stop until she knocked onto the professor’s office door, heart elated when she heard the voice beckoning her in.

“Professor Fig,” greeted Artemis warmly as she stepped through the threshold and clicked the door behind her. “Welcome back.”

Professor Fig looked up from his desk, weariness etched into his features but the English grey eyes brightened nonetheless.

“Artemis, it’s good to be back. Please, have a seat.”

“How was the errand to the Ministry, sir?”

“About as useful as pearls to a horklump,” sighed Professor Fig in lingering frustration as cups of warm chai were placed. Artemis took the seat across from him in front of the fire in the usual armchair. “Minister Spavin was much more concerned of the rogue dragon in the skies, and not in the least bit concerned of Ranrok and his ilk. But, I wouldn’t say it was a completely fruitless trip.”

Professor Fig gestured toward the back of his classroom where she noticed a distinct, new mound of papers and books were haphazardly stacked in a shaky lean equivalent to the Tower of Pisa.

“I was able to swing by my flat and grab Miriam’s old research. I presume you would like to read through those with me?”

Her mouth practically watered as she nodded. Professor Fig chuckled.

“Also, thank you for handling the Moste Ponte Potions.”

“Why did you need that book, sir?”

“Ah, you see. I had a feeling that this trip would be exactly like it ended up. So I thought we could brew something a little…useful. Call it a secret project,” teased Professor Fig as he opened the book and flipped it for her to see.

Polyjuice Potion. Her shoulders shook as her eyes scanned the calligraphy. Deliciously complicated, brilliantly long, and utterly disastrous if done wrong.

“I look forward to brewing, sir.”

“I could tell.”

“Are there any other potions that we should consider?”

“Hmm… why don’t you take a quick look? What Madam Scribner doesn’t know won’t hurt.”

Artemis flipped through the book; many were less than stellar, and some of them were downright dastardly. Not that the drawing of a woman with spider legs growing out of the tendrils of her brain on the Polyjuice Potion page was any bit delightful. She created copies of those she deemed necessary.

“Professor, while you were away, I was able to track down the missing pages of the book.”

Professor Fig choked on his chai.

“You – what?”

“I tracked down the pages, sir.” Artemis pulled out the pages from her legside bag, a poor attempt at righting the wrinkles clear. “It, er, it got a bit crumpled.”

She passed the paper; his English grey eyes scanned the lines. “How did you come by this?”

“Well, I became friends with a ghost named Richard Jackdaw initially when I dove into the Black Lake –”

“- wait, you dove into the Black Lake?”

“Yes. But I’d been reading at the boathouse when he popped by and mentioned that he’d pilfered a few pages from Peeves once. Of course, I asked him where he had them just in case and um, it turned out he had died in a cave. So I… may have gone to search for his bones to bring him back since he’d apparently been forgotten there for four decades – ”

“- you went to search for a dead boy’s bones?”

“Mm. But, of course, the pages were the ones from the book, and sir. The cave was like Gringotts and the Restricted Section, with ancient magic and those ornate decorations. It led to a chamber with a portrait of Professor Rackham a few floors beneath Hogwarts. He also said we would need the book,” finished Artemis.

Professor Fig inhaled then exhaled exaggeratedly.

“And were you alright? During this unsanctioned excursion?”

“Yes,” answered Artemis. He didn’t need to know of the tussle with the arachnids or the close call with Ranrok’s loyalists.

“Did you go alone?”

Artemis nodded, and she got the distinct feeling that Professor Fig was not pleased with that response. “But, Richard knew where I’d gone and he would’ve reported it if I didn’t come back, and I’d mentioned to Sebastian I was running an errand.”

“I see. Though I am glad you had put some contingencies, if you do something like that again, I do not care if I am in London or Cairo or the North Pole –”

“– the North Pole?”

“It’s just an example. Anyways, I would like you to owl me beforehand. Send a notice somehow. Understood?”

Artemis bit her lower lip.

“Yes, sir.”

“I know you’re more than capable, Artemis, and I realise you didn’t have many options. But just to ease this old man’s heart, alright?”

She smiled meekly toward his fond one.

“Were you able to find his bones?”

“Yes, he’s still deliberating on how he would like to be handled. There was one more thing I wanted to discuss with you, sir, but I’m not sure if I should wait for Professor Rackham since I’m not sure if it’s ancient magic related or not.”

“You’re full of mysteries today. Very well, let’s go down to the Restricted Section first; you could show me the pensieve, and we can bring up the topic to this Professor Rackham,” concluded Professor Fig.

Both Professor Fig and Artemis stood up from their respective chairs and made way toward the door.

“I wonder if all of the statues reset themselves,” mused Artemis. Professor Fig chuckled.

“Godric’s heart, I hope not. I’m no spring chicken.”