Chapter 546 - Artemio Home Ⅱ

After a brief pause, Mrs. Artemio nods her head as she blinks away old moisture away from her eyes. "Yes, poor Ariel, they were such good friends. He blamed himself to the end, really. We told him that it was not his fault, but Ariel stubbornly insisted it was his fault as he had been the one to gift Fogey the Venomous Tentacula. He even wanted to go to the Auror's to turn himself in, but we would simply not hear of it. It had not been the boy's fault, but still, Ariel never forgave himself. He became so much quieter and lost after that, and I'm told he even supported a bit of a poppy habit."

"Ariel Zephyros?" Shafiq sharply inquired. "Was he not friends with Linus Gamp?"

"I wouldn't know, Kain," Mrs. Artemio replied as she dabbed a tear away with an embroidered handkerchief. "But if they were, it must have only been Ariel as I never heard Fogey speak of Linus."

Shafiq slowly nods his head and says, "Fogey never did have much in the way of friends as I can recall. But he did have a soft spot for that poor Warren girl, who passed away. He often went out of his way to help the muggleborn witch as she was rather awfully teased by the whole school."

"Ah, yes," Mrs. Artemio sniffed. "Bless his departed soul, but Fogey was noticeably quiet after her death. I think he partly blamed himself for her death and was resolute on catching her murderer. From the way he often talked, he made it sound as it had been a conspiracy claiming that Hagrid boy was innocent. The way he painted it that Slytherin orphan, Prefect Tom Riddle was the culprit. Naturally, we thought nothing of it as we all believed it was a stage of grief. And eventually, Fogey ceased to speak of the subject all on his own."

"Riddle?" Shafiq blinked in surprise as the words of the Prince girl rang as clear as day in his mind.

"In the Hogwarts library, I found a partial notebook written by a boy named Fogey Artemio. In it, the Ravenclaw wrote about a Myrtle Warren, and how he suspected that her death was related to Riddle. There were dates and times, and strange, coded words, but only partial of the notebook was there. The other half had been torn away.

I have no proof, but I suspect that Myrtle Warren was killed by Riddle, and that Fogey Artemio learned of the murder somehow. And as a direct result, I believe that Fogey Artemio too was murdered especially upon taking into considering the strange and bizarre circ.u.mstances of his death."

Could it be that those words were true? Could Fogey possibly have been murdered in some devious manner? And if so, could it still be possible that after all this time there was still proof to be found?

With a new possible endeavor now in mind, Shafiq seriously says, "I do apologize for this painful train of thought Aunt and Uncle. It is just that Zain wished to know a bit more of his mother's beloved cousin. Might I be permitted to visit Fogey's room? I would like to bring something back for Zain to feel more connected to Fogey."

"It will be no trouble at all," Mrs. Artemio sniffed. "You should still know the way, Kain. Return once you're done, we still have many things to discuss."

"Thank you, Aunt," Shafiq replied, before heading off to investigate the bedroom of Fogey Artemio.

Shafiq slowed down as he approached the bedroom of Fogey. It was near the library as a slow grin appeared on Kain Shafiq's face. The glasses wearing boy with wiry hair had stubbornly demanded his bedroom be moved near the library once he had been sorted into Ravenclaw. Apparently, he wanted to uphold the stereotypical Ravenclaw standard and was always found with his nose in a book even during the summer holidays.

The smile fades away as Shafiq carefully opens the bedroom door and peers inside. The room looked the same even after all these dozens of years. There are old posters hanging on the bedroom wall showcasing famous witches and wizards from Ravenclaws. On a hanger, there is an old school robe that is regularly cleaned as well as a school colored scarf.

The room is regularly dusted, but everything is exactly as it was last left by the previous occupant. Books are piled in a corner as if waiting for Fogey to return. The ink and parchment are fresh, and a quill lays across the desk. It was as if at any minute now the room's occupant was posed to return.

Ignoring the emotional turmoil in his chest, Shafiq begins to go through the books on the bookshelf one by one. If Fogey were had hidden anything it would be here, but that might have been much to obvious. Fogey had told him of his favorite hiding spot, but where?

Shafiq struggles to recall the long-ago memory when his eyes fall to the corner of the bed frame. A long-ago forgotten memory creeps into his mind as he hears the youthful voice of Fogey say with pride, "The best place to hide something is in the most obvious place that no one ever looks at. No one ever looks at the top of the canopy bed. There is even a perfect spot there to hide things in!"

Putting the book in his hand back on the shelf, Shafiq climbs onto the bed and reaches on top of the bed canopy. Carefully he checks the crevices around the bed until at last he finds a small slot. With great care, his fingers clamp around a rolled-up parchment.

Shafiq's heart leaps into his chest as he forces himself not to hurry lest he rip the old parchment. With care, he removes the parchment, before stepping off the bed. Slowly he unfurls the yellow, moth bitten scroll until he can read the somewhat faded letters.

"To whoever is reading this,

I, Fogey Artemio have been murdered. I do not know how nor by whom, but I know it is somehow related to Tom Marvolo Riddle. As to the reason pertaining to my death, I believe that I have enough substantial proof that he is in fact responsible for the murder of one, Myrtle Warren. And though the culprit is said to be a third year Gryffindor by the name of Rubeus Hagrid, I know that he is in fact innocent.

I dare not say much more for fear of this being found. But know this, I tried to do that which was right. But I am afraid that this is beyond me. I am sorry that I failed.

Fogey Artemio."

Shafiq's hand trembles as his fingers dig into the parchment, before he carefully ceases to crinkle the old scroll. With great care, he puts the parchment away on his person. And all the while thinking, "So it was true. Fogey was murdered. You will not go unavenged, Fogey. I can and will promise you that much."

Turning away, Shafiq opens the bedroom door and almost flinches at finding the sight of Mr. Artemio standing in the doorway. "Uncle, how can I help you?" Shafiq politely inquired.

"What did you find?" Mr. Artemio flatly asked.

Shafiq tries to lie as he says, "It was nothing-."

"I do not like to be lied too, Kain," Mr. Artemio warningly chided. "I am not a fool, and neither are you."

Shafiq presses his lips into a thin line, before carefully answering, "It would seem that Fogey was indeed murdered. And he was aware that he shortly would be. There is no indication of his murderer might be, but there is a strong indication that it was somehow related to a Tom Marvolo Riddle."

"I see," Mr. Artemio whispered with a bitter expression. "My boy's theories weren't fantasies after all, and now, it is too late." Casting his eyes at his nephew via marriage, Mr Artemio determinedly asks, "Will you at least attempt to avenge Fogey?"

"I will," Shafiq promised.

"Try is all I ask," Mr. Artemio replied. "I do not ask for success, Kain. I am pragmatic enough to admit that if such a cunning foe escaped once, they can do so again."

"He shan't so easily," Shafiq promised, "not this time."

Mr. Artemio merely nods his head and instead changes the subject. "We best return now, we don't want to keep her waiting now, do we?"

"No, we mustn't keep Aunt waiting," Shafiq replied, before turning to close the door behind him. Shafiq paused for a moment, before bowing to the empty room, and solemnly closing the door behind him. While the bedroom remains the same as ever waiting for the return of its master, that would never return.