Artemis Fowl The Magical Awakening

ARTEMIS FOWL

The Magical Awakening

-CHAPTER ONE-

The Pepper-up Pub

August 11 1995,

"Are you sure this is the right street Artemis?" Butler asked his employer as he scanned the line of stores along the roadside not finding what he was looking for.

"Yes Butler, it's beside that record store over there," Artemis replied as he signaled for the driver to pull over to the curve.

Butler chose not to reply as he climbed out of the back of the black limousine carrying a small business briefcase in one hand while he held the door open for Artemis with the other. Butler allowed Artemis to lead the way towards the record store, but they stopped short in front of a heavily vandalized red brick wall and for a moment he looked around slightly confused.

"You really don't see it do you Butler?" Artemis questioned.

"Sorry Artemis, but what am I supposed to be seeing?" Butler asked now openly showing his confusion to the boy who stood at his shoulder.

"The Pepper-up Pub, we're standing right in front of it."

At this Butler frowned. "I only see a brick wall."

"Well then allow me to show you inside," Artemis said as he stepped forward and made the motion of opening a door. "Do hurry Butler we don't have all day."

Butler's frown deepened, but not wanting to question his employer he slowly stepped into the solid barrier and found himself standing in the doorway of a pub that only a moment ago hadn't existed.

Artemis entered the pub from behind him. "Its rather droll isn't it." He stated as he quickly glanced around the dimly lit building.

There were round tables scattered around the room with varying numbers of chairs sitting at each one. The bar counter was cluttered with already drained mugs and unwashed dishes and a large bald man sat behind on a three-legged stool wiping a glass with a dirty rag.

"Excuse me sir," Artemis said as he stepped forward, gaining the barman's attention. "You wouldn't be able to show us how to get to Diagon Alley would you?"

The man narrowed his eyes considering the two newcomers before he answered in a gentle Irish accent that didn't altogether suit his appearance. "You off to Hogwarts this year then," he stated.

The barman was used to this. Every year around September a small number of Muggles and their children would enter his bar asking for Diagon Alley to collect their school equipment.

He stood from his stool and motioned them to follow him through the bar and out the back. They stood before another red brick wall and Butler glanced at Artemis curiously but Artemis was focusing all of his attention upon the wall.

He put a large fist to his mouth and coughed gaining the attention of both the barman and Artemis. "I'm sorry, but all I see is a wall. What are we looking at?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The barman's face broke into a wide grin displaying a mouth almost void of teeth. "This here wall is 'n entrance to Diagon Alley. The only one in Ireland as well."

He then pulled a wand out from his cloak and held it up to the wall. "Now," he said looking at Artemis. "Whenever you want'ta get to Diagon Alley you jest have ta tap ya wand three times on the fourth brick up from the left. That will open the entrance. After you enter the entrance will reseal itself. Now you two be careful and a word of warning for ye, don't go wondering off inta Knockturn Alley. It's not safe it isn't."

And with that he tapped his wand three times on the fourth brick up from the left and stepped back. The bricks on the wall to the surprise of both Artemis and Butler began to swirl clockwise reminding Butler of water running down a drain. Moments after the swirling began the entire brick wall had reshaped into a large archway and the sight that greeted the three was that of the long narrow streets of Diagon Alley.

"All righ' you two I'll be back off ta my bar then. Bye," The barman said as he turned back to the pub.

Both Artemis and Butler mumbled their good byes as they both gaped at the entrance. Artemis recovered from his shock rather quickly and cleared his throat, once again gaining Butler's attention.

"Well shall we then," he said. He then briskly walked through the entrance with Butler at his heels.

They spent half an hour exploring the alley gazing at the wondrous things the wizarding world had to offer. They came to stop outside of a large white stone building with the name 'GRINGOTS' carved above the large double oak doors that stood at the top of a flight of marble steps.

Artemis fished into his pocket and pulled out a copy of the instructions that he had received the day before from Professor McGonagall, which he glanced at briefly.

"This is our first stop Butler," he said as he re-pocketed the piece of paper. "This is the bank."

They climbed the marble steps and stood briefly at the silver double doors inspecting one of the Goblins who didn't take kindly to this and let them know in no uncertain terms as he ushered them into the bank. They lined up in a short queue and soon were being served by the Goblin at the counter.

"I would like to exchange twenty thousand British pounds for wizarding currency. I do believe the current exchange rate is six pounds for the Galleon. Butler the money if you would please," Artemis stated in an authoritative tone which shocked the Goblin serving them.

Butler placed the black briefcase, which he had been carrying on the counter. The briefcase has a 6 digit lock on the front and Butler began to enter the digits while Artemis began to discuss opening a new account with the Goblin.

"Interest rates of 2.35 percent paid quarterly," the Goblin finished reading off a dirty piece of parchment as the briefcase lock came undone and the lid popped up.

Butler turned the open briefcase for the Goblin to inspect, but instead of counting the money the Goblin reached under his counter and pulled out a flat red rock the size of his palm. He then held the rock up over the briefcase and for a moment nothing happened. Artemis arched an eyebrow in anoyance.

"What exactly is it that you are doing," he questioned the Goblin.

In return the Goblin simply grunted.

"I asked you a question," Artemis said not liking the treatment that he was receiving from the Goblin in front of him.

The rock in the Goblins hand suddenly changed from blood red to a bright green and was then placed back under the counter. "This all seems to be in order," he said still ignoring Artemis' question.

The Goblin grabbed the briefcase off of the counter to the surprise of Butler and emptied it down a slot much like a laundry shoot that resided in the wall beside him.

"I do hope that this is all procedure," Artemis said seeing Butler ready to pounce down the shoot after the money.

"Of course it is, now here is your key and your vault number is number 1356. How would you like your gold?" the Goblin said.

Artemis reached back into his pocket and pulled out a small notebook within which he wrote down small detail. He quickly flipped to the back page and replied. "I would like three thousand Galleons and the rest in Sickles."

"No Knuts. And your name is?" the Goblin asked as he pulled a blank parchment out from under his counter, dipped a plain black quill in a bottle of ink and began furiously scribbling across the parchment.

"No, just what I asked for. My name is Artemis Fowl the second," Artemis answered as he re-pocketed the notebook and his new key to vault 1356.

"That should be fine. Don't misplace the key, you'll need that to gain entrance to your vault," the Goblin said as he pushed the Parchment down the same shoot that had swallowed the money. He then looked up at Artemis and asked. "Would you like to make a withdrawal now?"

"Yes," Artemis replied.

"Right then, GRIPHOOK," he called to a small group of Goblins standing near another set of double doors.

One of the Goblins looked up and quickly shuffled over to the counter. "Take Mr. Fowl down to vault 1356 for a withdrawal."

With a nod of his head Griphook motioned to follow him. He led them through the double doors to the back of the entrance area and Artemis and Butler found themselves in what looked like a cave that had been molded to be perfectly smooth.

Griphook led them to a rail track and hoped in what looked like a mining cart. "You expect us to ride in that to our vault," Artemis questioned but the only reply that he got was a grunt in the affirmative.

Both Artemis and Butler piled into the cart, which started to mover slowly along the line at the click of Griphook's fingers. The ground began to slant and the cart speed increased to breakneck speeds. As the cart speed through the series of tunnels, cathedral sized caverns and hairpin corners Artemis couldn't help thinking that he would rather walk to the vault and was almost reintroduced to his breakfast on more than one occasion.

With a screech of the breaks and a great jolt which left a trail of sparks flying behind them the cart pulled up next to an old wooden door with the numbers 1356 embroiled in gold.

Griphook held out his hand and said something about a key in an unintelligible series of grunts. Artemis quickly handed over the key and Griphook jumped out of the cart and darted over to the door, placed the key in the lock and whispered some words under his breath. The door flashed green for a fraction of a second and then swung open revealing a small round room containing two piles of coins.

Artemis unsteadily and with the help of Butler clambered down from the cart to unsteady feet. He took a moment to regain his bearings after the roller coaster ride he had just endured and then entered the round room. On the wall there were hung a collection of varying sized money sacks. Artemis grabbed one of the larger sacks and began to fill it full of gold coins with a 'G' printed in the center of each. (These he assumed to be Galleons) He handed the filled sack to Butler and then collected another, though not as large as the last and filled that too with Galleons and some Sickles.

As Artemis filled the second he looked up and asked Griphook. "Professor McGonagall told me that this is the only bank in the wizarding world," Griphook only nodded disinterestedly, confirming Artemis' question.

"Then I would be right in thinking that a large quantity of wizarding gold is kept here?" he continued to question.

At this Griphook looked sharply at Artemis, narrowing his eyes dangerously. "Yes you would. May I ask why you are asking these questions?" he replied.

Artemis handed the second money sack to Butler and looked back at Griphook. "I'm just interested. These sort of facts are important to know."

Griphook continued to glare at Artemis. "A word of warning, it is impossible to take from us what is not yours. On your way out read the inscription on the doors."

***

The ride back to the surface was no less pleasant than the journey down. The Goblins cart somehow had the ability to move at very fast speeds uphill, which was enough to put Artemis off memorizing the various, twists and turns.

They were given a curt goodbye bow by Griphook as they exited Gringots only stopping on their was out to read the inscription on the silvery double doors that were the entrance to the bank.

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but did not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn,

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there,

At reading this, Artemis had narrowed his eyes and said two words that sent a chill down Butler's spine. "We'll see."

***

After their trip to Gringots the pair, after Artemis had consulted yet another piece of paper, (This time it was a copy of his book and equipment list) had decided to purchase his school robes. For this they backtracked their way down the busy Diagon Alley to a store named Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

Upon entering Artemis was caught in a whirlwind of measurements and fittings and by the time he had stepped out of the store carrying two bags of different robes and cloaks. Three plain black school robes with the Hogwarts crest, one plain black robe and two cloaks of which one were hooded.

Next he had bought a Cauldron which he had filled will scaled, hide gloves and set of small scalpel like cutting knives. At this point Butler was getting rather weighed down so they decided to make one last stop to purchase the books that he would require and purchase the rest of the required items the next day, including his wand.

They made this stop at Flourish and Blotts. Artemis had spent well over an hour gazing over the many shelves that were packed with books containing new information and knowledge that was available to very few people. This was his heaven. In the end he had been dragged away from the store by Butler stating that it was getting late and that they could return early the next morning. They left Flourish and Blotts with the required books plus Hogwarts a History, Gringots: Dragons in the Labrinth and Magic: A Beginners Guide to the Real World. All of which Artemis planned to read that night.

By the time they had set off back to the Pepper-up Pub the sun was setting. They reached the wall separating Diagon Alley from the pub and for a moment they were in a bit of a bind before an older man wearing ragged and worn blue robes had offered to open the portal for them for two Sickles. They had agreed to this and the man then tapped the fourth brick up from the right with his wand three times, the wall had formed into an archway and they had walked back into the alley behind The Pepper-up Pub.

The pub was crowded at this time of night. Customers eating dinner and friends having a drink and discussing the latest Quidditch results. Quidditch, Artemis supposed, was some form of sport played in the magical world. The barman had welcomed them back from Diagon Alley and introduced himself as Yemdell Crean.

"You two look rather worn out, you wouldn't want to rent a room for the night," he asked the two as they were about to leave.

Artemis had agreed to this and Yemdell had led them to a room on the third floor. Butler had deposited the items that they had picked up in their day in Diagon Alley and excused himself to go and inform the limousine driver that they would be spending the night in a hotel and that they would contact him when needed.

When he had returned, Artemis was busy scribbling in a small black book.

Diary Entry August 11 1995,

Today, Butler and I made a trip to Diagon Alley; we will need to go again tomorrow, as there is far too much to see in just one day. I opened an account at the wizarding bank (I say the wizarding bank because it is the only one) Gringots and I find that their security is somewhat lacking, though they do seem to genuinely feel that it is foolproof. From what I can tell there are only a few charms, curses and jinx's guarding each vault.

Perhaps with the aid of one of the Goblins that is employed and the right knowledge at my disposal I would be able to lift from them the responsibility of protecting a few riches. While in the bank I witnessed multiple people depositing jewels and uncut diamonds into their accounts.

Nothing is impossible. I will find a way!

Butler has returned to the room that we are renting at The Pepper-up Pub. That is all for now, I have books to read.