The Lost Potter Twisted - Artemis Potter

31 - Panic

Artemis

Val and I are on our way back to the Gryffindor common room, instead of Divination.

"You know, I never stayed in a foster home for more than 4 months," I whisper breaking our silence, "When I was younger I was put in family homes, I used to try to get to know them so they would want to adopt me but I always left so I stopped trying," I hear Val take in a sharp breath,

"My stepdad hates me. My bio dad walked out on Mum as soon as she told him she was pregnant with me. Mum married my stepdad Bruce when I was 4, he never liked me but he didn't hurt me." Val whispers and stops so I know it's my turn,

"When I was eight I stopped going by Artemis Potter and started going by Artemis Remus because I hated the reminder that I was left behind. When I was nine they stopped putting me in family homes and put me in new homes, every single one except one, it was high or drunk men or a high or drunk couple who would use me as a salve and if I messed up one thing I was beaten until I could barely focus enough to patch myself up," I whisper choking on my own words, feeling tears prick my eyes since I have never talked about it out loud, I can even hear Valentina sniffing a little besides me,

"Mum and I got hit by a drunk driver when I was eight, Bruce got custody of me. He would tell me it was my fault she died, if I hadn't wanted to go to the park she would still be here. If I slacked off on the cleaning or meal prep he would punch me once, but it was always in the same spot," At this point, we both have tears streaming down our faces, Val grabs my hand before sliding down the wall and sitting down on the floor. Letting my back hit the wall, I feel the castle walls gently scratching my back as we sit there holding each other while we let our tears filter out.

"This was so fucking stupid to do in the corridors," I laugh pathetically,

"You started... it," Val responds with a small hiccup,

"I know that," Standing up I hold my hand out for Val to grab. We make a detour to the bathroom, quickly splashing our faces.

"Oooo new faces," a girl's voice says above us, slowly looking up I see a pale girl with black hair in piggy tails and glasses,

"Who are you?" Val questions gently,

"I'm Moaning Murtle," Murtle replies rather rudely, frowning I start pulling Val with me out of the bathroom,

"Hey, why did we leave?" Val says stumbling once we leave the bathroom,

"She replied to your harmless question, that you said nicely, rudely," I huff crossing my arms, walking past the Hufflepuff Commonroom entrance, I hear someone running up behind us. Tapping Val's arms I whisper that someone is coming before we turn around and see Cedric running after us. Val grabs my arm and starts shaking it before I slap it away,

"I'm glad I caught you Artemis, it seems you always disappear when I am trying to talk to you," Cedric flashes a smile,

"Well, I don't intentionally do it," I say rolling my eyes,

"I was wondering if I could talk to you," He says scratching the back of his neck,

"You are," I state with a smirk, watching Cedric shuffle awkwardly,

"Oh don't be a bitch," Val huffs before shoving me causing me to stumble into Cedric, turning to glare at Val I see she is already running down the corridor yelling,

"See you in the dorm room!!"

"Bitch," I whisper under my breath before looking back at Cedric,

"Did you want to go for a walk?" Cedric says coming back to his confident self,

"Sure," I shrug walking beside him as we walk toward the lake,

"I tried to get a rematch you know," Cedric says once we reach the lake,

"Fred told me that, but you won fair and square," I state,

"What does that mean?" He asks,

"Muggle saying for when someone won something fairly," I shrug glancing at the lake, "Why did you want me to come on a walk with me Cedric," I question looking at him, he sighs before looking me straight into my eyes,

"You're brave like to the point it's idiotic, and I just wanted to say you are defiantly the bravest person I know,"

"That isn't the top three idiotic things I've done," I let out a small humorless laugh,

"The way you are laughing doesn't sound like it's funny," Cedric smiles at me causing me to sigh,
"Cause it's not," I sigh with a small smile resting on my face,
"You know you should hang out with me and my friends sometime," Cedric says elbowing me gently.

Flashback
"Smile you cunt," Zach hisses shoving his elbow extremely hard into my stomach causing me to hunch over a little before putting a smile on for display,
"Are you guys all ready for dessert?" I ask through gritted teeth,
"Are you offering a blow job?" One of his friends says with a disgusting smile on his face, not being able to contain the disgusted expression that falls upon my face. A tight slap hits me across the cheek, soon my disgusted face changes to an emotionless one,
"Get the cake!" Zack yells before I slowly make my way to the kitchen to piss him off, "Hurry up you hoe," I scoff before grabbing the cake from the bench and pretty much throw the cake on the table,
"Happy birthday Zack," I say his name like it's poison in my mouth before storming off to the attic knowing how bad the punishment will be later.

Present
"Artemis, you still there?" Cedric asks a concerned look on his face while snapping his finger in front of my face. I slap the hand away out of reflex and quickly step away so fast Cedric doesn't realise I moved for a few seconds.
"Artemis I... I think you're having a panic attack," He stutters before starting to run and guiding me to the Hospital Wing.

...

"I sent mister Diggory back to his dorm so I could examine how your scars are healing," Poppy explains but my brain catches on one word,
"My...my scars," I whisper Poppy gives me a look of empathy,
"If you think I didn't realise those weren't self inflicted those were done by many other people, you are wrong," I look at her like she grew two heads, Oh fuck did she tell my parents and Moony? Seeing the look on my face a sad smile appears on her face before she continues, "Don't worry dear I didn't tell your family,"
"Right...my family," I say in a hushed voice hugging my knees to my chest, She knows my secret not like she can do to me now, I think bitterly.

1186