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

Chapter 2: Party Like You're Evil

 This chapter doesn't cover as much as I originally intended, since I noticed it got kind of lengthy. I promise though it does show what I really wanted it to. I promise the next chapter is where the action will start picking up again. =P Hope you enjoy chapter 2. =)

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Artemis

            Dumping the last bag of chocolate frogs into a bowl at the center of the table, I wondered how I had gotten myself in this predicament. All I asked was for Audrey to be able to come over to see the manor; I didn’t ask to throw a graduation party, though that’s how my mother took my inquiry. So here I was, putting up decorations for a party that I was to have in only an hour. There was still so much to do.

            As I moved onto hanging the streamers, I decided to climb on a chair to get high enough to attach them to the ceiling. I went to go pin them in place, and they tore. I tried again, only to have them rip further. I sighed angrily, and then noticed my father standing in the doorway.

            He pulled out his wand, moving the streamers from my hand and pinning them up using magic. “You forget something, son?” he chuckled. “You can use magic now at home, or anywhere really.”

            I mentally slapped myself. “Of course, father. I just forgot. It’s… not something I’m used to yet.”

            He smiled. “You know, I’m excited to meet your girlfriend.”

            For some reason, I was not surprised. It was the first time I had brought a girl home to meet my family, the first time I had actually had a romantic interest. Little did my father know I had much larger plans for Audrey; I intended to keep her around. If I had everything my way, she would be much more than my girlfriend in the near future. I just didn’t know when.

            I smiled back, jumping down from the chair. “Why’s that?”

            “Well,” he started, “I can tell she makes you happy. I’ve never seen you so happy, not even as a child.” He paused, glancing at his feet for a moment. “And I know for you to actually date someone in itself is a big deal. You were scaring your mother for a while there. She thought she was never going to have grandkids-”

            “-alright father,” I cut off. “I get it.” My parents never ceased to amaze me sometimes. They stressed over crazy ridiculous things. “You know… I asked her out the same way you asked mother.”

            I watched his eyes widen in shock. “No kidding?”

            I shook my head. “Figured I would try my luck, and it worked.”

            “And she’s stayed with you through all that Death Eater nonsense?”

            I had a feeling he was going to bring that up. My father was always bringing up things that I didn’t want to talk about. I wondered if he sat around and thought of awkward topics to talk about. After all, he did just jump from talking about my girlfriend to my previous illicit activities in one sentence.

            I sighed deeply. “Do we really need to talk about that right now?” He gave me that stern look he always did when I was in trouble, and I knew I had to talk about it. “Yes, she did. She went through a lot with that. Voldemort tortured her with the Cruciatus. She’s the reason I quit.” I paused for a moment. “And once she gets here, I think it’s best if we don’t bring up the incident. It still bugs her.”