"Death's Blessing"

Author's Note: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to J.K. Rowling. Kratos and the God of War series belong to Sony Playstation. Percy Jackson and all related demigods, both Greek and Roman, belong to Rick Riordan.

My dearest fans, here we go with my crossover sequel to my one-shot fanfic, "Renewal." It has some slight inspiration from DZ2's abandoned fanfic, "The Hallowed Child." Before I get into the meat of it, though, I will have to tell you who the new gods and goddesses of Olympus would be after Kratos's brutal campaign of the "God of War" series. So, without any further ado, let's see whom Kratos has called as replacements. I hope you enjoy this fanfic ...

Chapter 1

High on the mount of Olympus, Kratos, the new King of the Gods, had summoned before him a selected number of demigods from Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter.

"Demigods, I wish to thank you for your quick response to my summons. While my campaign of anger against Zeus has been extreme, causing me to destroy any god or demigod who stood in my way, it will relieve you to know that this aforementioned campaign does not extend to any of you. That campaign is over, and so you have nothing to fear from me.

Now that I have said that, I have another announcement. A number of the old gods and goddesses of Olympus are dead, and so I will need to name new replacements. Before I name my new replacements, I want your solemn oath, on the River Styx, that none of you will attempt to overthrow my position as your new King."

The demigods drew in a sharp breath. An oath on the River Styx was the most solemn oath that any Olympian could make, and breaking such an oath had terrible consequences. After thinking over the matter, they made their oath as a rumble of thunder shook the hall.

Kratos breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I wish to have a stable reign as King, that is the only reason why I asked for your oaths first. Now for my announcement: I have selected each one of you so you may take up the mantle of replacing each god and goddess I destroyed in my campaign. Therefore, each one of you will receive immortality."

"Lord Kratos, what about those of us who have relationships? You know, a girlfriend or boyfriend, as the case may be?" said Percy Jackson.

"A good question, Percy. Your chosen mate will not separate from you, but shall join you as a fellow immortal in your work. To replace Poseidon, I call you to be the new God of the Seas."

Percy and Annabeth bowed. "Thank you, Lord Kratos."

"To replace Hades, I call upon my brother Loki to be the new God of the Underworld. Nico di Angelo shall be there to aid him, for it is a big job."

Loki bowed. "Agreed. Whatever happened to Persephone?"

Kratos shrugged. "I don't know. Since the death of Hades, she may have escaped, never to return."

"She hates the Underworld anyway," said Nico.

"To replace Ares, I call upon his Roman son, Frank Zhang to be the new God of War."

Frank bowed. "With all due respect, Lord Kratos, wasn't that your title at one time?"

"Yes, it was, but a wise leader knows the delegation of authority to be essential. Apollo will take over the duties of Helios. Do you object, Apollo?"

"No objection at all, Lord Kratos," said Apollo with a dazzling smile. "It's a fun job."

"Aphrodite has taken up Hera's position as Queen, so Piper McLean will take up her old role as the Goddess of Love."

Piper's mouth opened in shock, then shut. She could make no other reply than a curtsy.

"To replace Hermes, I decided to bring back Luke Castellan. Do you accept, Luke?"

"Yes, I do, Lord Kratos."

Loki jabbed Luke in the chest. "Make one false move, Luke, and I will toss you into Tartarus for such a long time, you will think you were born there."

Percy spun Loki around. "Loki ... there's no need to throw a fit about Luke. He gave his life so Kronos would not win, remember?"

"I remember he tried to bring Kronos back and bring Olympus crashing down, Percy ... do you expect me to forget that?"

Kratos cleared his throat. "Seeing that I killed Kronos, I don't think you shall have to worry about him anymore, Loki. To replace Hephaestus, I call Leo Valdez."

Leo beamed at Kratos. "Thank you, Lord Kratos, for this honor."

Kratos smiled back. "You are welcome. As for Athena, Demeter, Artemis, and Dionysus, they may continue in their roles. Let us now welcome these new Olympian gods and goddesses into our circle. Dionysus, please bring the nectar and ambrosia."

During the feast that followed, gods and goddesses, old and new, raised a toast: "To Olympus!"

~DEATH'S BLESSING~

An unknown number of years later, a tearful Luke entered the Underworld's throne room.

Loki stood up. "Luke! What's the matter?"

"It's the most recent arrivals, Loki. James and Lily Potter died tonight ... leaving their little son, Harry ... an orphan ..."

Over the recent years, Loki had heard a number of reports about this First Wizarding War from Frank. A number of good wizards and witches had died due to this bigoted coward, Lord Voldemort. What a name ... flight from death. Sooner or later, every mortal was destined to die and come to the Underworld. For his part, Loki was itching to get his hands on him and pay him a heavy punishment for all the suffering he inflicted.

"This is all Voldemort's fault, right?"

"Yes ... he tried to kill Harry as well ... but the oddity is ... he failed."

The Underworld shook. "HE TRIED TO KILL A BABY?! WHERE IS THAT MURDERING BASTARD?! IS HE EVEN DEAD YET?! AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HE FAILED?!"

"Somehow, the Killing Curse bounced off of Harry ..."

Loki's eyes widened for a brief moment, then he smiled. "Whoa, it's not everyday you hear such amazing news. Voldemort should be dead. WHERE IN THE UNDERWORLD IS HE?! DIDN'T YOU FIND HIM?!"

"Sorry, Loki, I didn't. Please don't be mad at me ..."

"I'm mad at Voldemort, Luke, not at you. Even more than this, I'm baffled. By Olympus, how does this happen? It makes no sense. A Killing Curse bounces off its intended victim, yet the murderer has not arrived in the Underworld. Where is little Harry now?"

"Some giant took him from the ruins of the cottage and flew off on a flying motorbike. I don't know where it went."

Loki scratched his chin for a bit. "Could you bring Lily Potter here?"

The spirit of Lily Potter stepped into the throne room and curtsied. "I heard you wanted to see me ... sir."

"Lily, if I may call you that ... my name is Loki ... no need for the sir at all ... Lord Loki, if you wish to be polite, but I am not one to stand on ceremony. I'm trying to find out where your son could have gone."

"James and I asked for our friend Sirius Black to take him if anything happened to us."

"Is he a giant?"

Lily laughed. "Are you kidding? He's not a giant at all ... although there is one giant person we know ... Rubeus Hagrid. He's one of the kindest people we know."

Loki nodded and scratched his chin some more. "Do you have any relatives?"

"I have a sister, Petunia, a brother-in-law, Vernon Dursley, and a nephew, Dudley."

Loki steepled his fingers. "Ah, excellent. Now we are getting somewhere. Do you, by any chance, know where they live?"

"4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey."

"Thank you, Lily ... you have been most helpful. You and James enjoy your time in Elysium."

Lily curtsied. "You are too kind, Loki."

~DEATH'S BLESSING~

Some hours after Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hagrid left Harry at the Dursley residence, Loki arrived to see him. A cold fog had concealed him from view, and dogs he passed in the neighborhood ran into their doghouses in fear. The same lights that Dumbledore had extinguished earlier burst from the raw energy the god emanated.

Loki looked at the infant in wonder. "So little ... so fragile ... and yet you conquered one of the most feared dark wizards ever to walk this earth ... at least, so my sources have told me ... wait just a minute ..."

He swiped at Harry's scar and pulled something out: a piece of Voldemort's soul. The sight angered him.

"So, this is your little game, is it, Moldy Voldy? You thought you could hide yourself from Me and postpone your trip to the Underworld, is that it? Well, guess what? You are wrong; DEAD WRONG!"

He opened his mouth and swallowed the soul piece. "By the Gods, that's going to give me indigestion later."

He held his hand over Harry's sleeping head. "May My blessing stay over you and protect you, Harry Potter ... and may you live to make the Gods of Olympus proud. You will grow up in Our favor ... and your enemies will come to fear you. Sleep in peace tonight, little one. The Gods will be watching you with great interest ..."

Having pronounced his blessing, the Lord of the Underworld left ...

Author's Note: Wow, a great first chapter. Read and review!

Smiles,

Loki Palmer