Devil's Snare {A Sequel to The Adventures of a Death Eater}

Chapter 1: Graduation

 So, I finally decided to post the first chapter of the sequel today, rather than wait for the cover to be done. We have encountered some technical dfficulty and the cover won't be done until sometime next week. Or at least I hope. =P

As you all know, most of the characters and locations are not mine, but are the work of J.K. Rowling and Eoin Colfer. The only characters who are mine are Audrey and Nikkie, and a few others.

Hope you all continue to enjoy this story as you enjoyed the first one. And without further ado, I present to you the first chapter of Devil's Snare. The name's kind of a metaphor by the way. =P

************************************************************************************************************

Audrey

            It was hard to believe my final year at Hogwarts had come to an end. It was all over. Here I was at graduation, all the younger students and our parents all looking up at us, both in pride and awe. We had survived against all insurmountable odds. I found it hard to believe we all had made it through the years. I glanced out to the crowd in front of me, easily spotting my parents in the crowd; they stood out with my mom being shorter than most of the students, and my dad's bald head shone in the dim candle light. After a moment, I looked over to Artemis, who sat by my side. He looked over at me briefly before grabbing my hand. The ceremony was about to begin.

            Professor McGonagall took the podium, looking out proudly at the other students. We sat beside her, waiting patiently for her to start, though deep inside, I just wanted it to be done and over with. I wanted to go home already!

            "Good afternoon, students and parents," she started. "It's my pleasure to begin this ceremony celebrating the achievements of our seventh year graduating students." She paused slightly, and then turned to look at us for a moment. "They have conquered everything thrown their way. Some have exceeded well beyond the expectations, not only in the classroom, but on the Quidditch field and in the heat of battle."

            I zoned out for a moment. I was nervous. We had rehearsed the ceremony only a million times in the prior week. Slytherin was to go first to go across the stage, followed by Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. The two with the highest grades in each house would get special recognition, as well as all the Quidditch teams. We had taken House Cup in both Quidditch and in House Points, which was not surprising. It seemed like it would be a fairly easy process, though I had a feeling that it wasn't going to go as smoothly as McGonagall had told us. She was known for making unexpected changes at the last minute.

            Artemis leaned over, whispering, "You see the man and woman over there holding the babies?" He paused for a second so I could look. I immediately spotted them sitting on the opposite side of the room from my parents. "Those are my mother and father," he said, "and my brothers." I could see where Artemis got his looks; his father looked just like him, only with graying in his raven hair. "And the bald man next to my father is my bodyguard. Don't ask... it's a long story," he added.

            He and I both turned back to McGonagall when we noticed people standing around us. We discovered she was announcing the seventh year Quidditch players by their house. When Gryffindor sat down, McGonagall said, "And now would the House Cup champions, Slytherin, please stand." Artemis, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and I all stood as McGonagall kept talking. "Slytherin went undefeated this year, led by its captain, Artemis Fowl and the co-captains Draco Malfoy and Audrey Taylor."

            Applause rang through the crowd, and I swore I heard someone who sounded like my mom scream, "That's my baby!!" I flushed pink, and sat back down with the rest of my team.