Poseidon was nervous. More than nervous, really. He'd taken the form of a nineteen year-old, not really sure what age Athena would be. Garrick had avoided it like the plague when he inquired, diverting his attention to other things.

Aphrodite had apparently already dealt with Athena's dress, so naturally she had taken over his wardrobe for the ball too. Wearing black slacks, a grey dress-shirt, a black blazer with silver buttons and diamond cufflinks, a white tie with a diamond pin and silver slider – he could see the colour theme and guess at Athena's jewellery after that point – shiny black dancing shoes and a grey rose on his lapel, he felt overdressed, and slightly embarrassed.

The matching grey, white and red rose corsage in its fancy box burned a hole in his pocket – as did the final part to some kind of hair-clip that Aphrodite said he would have to place on Athena's part of the piece. The part he had was all silver – dark silver – owls and roses intertwining on the curved dark metal. Hephaestus' mark was on the inside, near the clipping mechanism, so he figured Aphrodite had called in a favour, but didn't know how Athena would react if she saw it – she was still iffy around the blacksmith after what he'd tried to do back when they still lived on the actual Mount Olympus.

Stepping side to side was probably not helping his nerves either. He forced himself not to run his hand through his carefully combed hair, which, while still looking its normal windswept self, was orderly and not as messy. Athena would notice the difference – she always did.

A burst of golden light accompanied Aphrodite's entrance. She looked around sixteen, or seventeen, and her blonde hair was pinned up at the sides with tiny diamonds, the rest left to flow down her back. Most was straight, but at the very end, the last two inches were curled. Her dress was a pink, with a white lace collar, and in all honesty Poseidon believed she would have looked more at home in some Disney movie. All she was missing was-

The Goddess picked up a box and opened it, putting a delicate silver tiara-wreath on her head. Poseidon sighed.

"Are we going then?" He asked, nerves momentarily vanished. Aphrodite smiled widely before nodding, taking his wrist with two fingers before flashing them into what looked to be a classroom.

"Take my arm and lead me out left down the corridor, then down the steps. Ares will take me, and then you'll have to wait for Minnie to appear."

"Minnie?" He questioned as he took her arm. Aphrodite momentarily grimaced.

"I'm going native." She said, before fixing a smile on her face. "In the Wizarding World, her name is Minerva Poppy Potter, and she was raised by her mortal mother's father, Carter Evans, who died last year. Now she's raised by her godfather, Sirius, who is in charge of the Aurors once again. He was apparently some kind of Captain." She waved her hand, "He's in charge of security for tonight, and also, her other pseudo-uncle is here as the Astronomy Professor's date."

Poseidon felt a prickling on his back as they turned the corner, walking down a large set of steps towards a large congregation of couples and other single men waiting for their girls. He went over what Aphrodite said quickly, before feeling himself turn a sickly shade of green.

"The Parent Squad." He muttered weakly, looking at her. "You just told me about the Parent Squad."

Aphrodite let out a laugh as they reached the bottom, letting go of his arm to go to Ares, who had come out to meet them.

"I didn't even tell you about her Batman Dad. He glares and prowls the corridors, and is the Head of Slytherin – the House that produced the most Dark Lord's since Hogwarts' beginning."

Poseidon made the bead of sweat on his forehead disappear before Aphrodite could spot it, but from Ares smirk, his nephew already did. He stuck out his tongue like a juvenile, only to blink very suddenly as a camera flashed brightly. Turning, he saw a young teen with a camera, a small satchel over his shoulder. He was small, and blonde, and then behind him came scampering another one, who looked like the miniature version of him.

"Hello!" The younger one held up a hand to wave, but nearly dropped the quill he was holding. "Sorry – we're Hogwarts' official cameramen! I'm Dennis, Dennis Creevey!"

"I'm Colin Creevey." The photographer smiled. "I'm taking pictures, and tomorrow they're all going to be pinned up on the walls in the Great Hall. People can get copies for two knuts a pictures, and you get a one knut discount if you buy five copies! Dennis is getting names, to write on the backs of the photos when we've got them all moving, in case anyone wants to find a specific couple."

Poseidon blinked after taking it all in. "That sounds great. I'm Poseidon. Poseidon Olympia."

Dennis scribbled down his name, before looking to Aphrodite and Ares.

"Aphrodite Olympia and Ares Payne, sugar. I'm Poseidon's second cousin, if anyone's asking." She winked, sending the young boy into a tiffy, before her gaze switched to someone on the stairs behind him. "Colin, take a picture of Poseidon's face, right now."

Poseidon turned with a slight, and he didn't even register the camera flash as he saw her, frown disappearing to be replaced with awe.

She looked about sixteen, maybe older, and wore a black dress with a sweetheart neckline. He couldn't use any other fancy words for the rest. It hugged her body, showing off her thin waist and hips, a generous bust being held in by said sweetheart neckline, which curved over and up into plain black straps. The bottom of the skirt, around her knees stopped being so fitting and flare out slightly, the shiny material slightly see-through and more dark grey than black. Through, he could see tall black heels.

Diamonds in thick lines went up and around the rest of the dress like vines, accentuating her features before dotting her upper half like stars. Around her neck was a black lace choker, a large sliver of diamond – in the shape of a stereotypical diamond – in front of her jugular. A single bangle was around her left wrist, and from here, only his godly sight left him able to see the ornate owl engravings.

Her hair was curly and wavy at the same time, and was pinned to the side, with a bare silver clasp holding it in place. Tiny balls of white dotted the waterfall of hair pinned to the side, and after a second Poseidon realized the dots were pearls.

But then there was just her face. It was her – his Athena, from the time before he even knew her, before they fought and bickered and argued all the time. The teenage Athena, who hadn't grown into her sharp nose, and hadn't matured enough to have gained the sharpness of her jaw or proper, real, owl-like slant to her eyebrows. Her skin was clear, its usual olive colour accentuated by whatever stuff Aphrodite had put on her face, and her natural beauty spot pinpointed and darkened to be seen through it. It was a little below and beside her right eye, almost black, and provided a good, if odd contrast to the shadowed grey of her eyeshadow, and dark, peachy pink lipstick coating her kissable lips.

"Athena…"

She started down the stairs slowly, as if unsure, before she shut her eyes. For a split second Poseidon thought she was going to run, but then she opened her eyes, any trace of weakness or nervousness gone. She stood a tiny bit straighter, and Poseidon would have been reminded of her stern, teacher-like self if not for how her fingers played with each other, clear varnish reflecting the light.

"Poseidon." She finally spoke as she reached the second to last step, trying to stay taller than him and nearly succeeding. Poseidon nervously reached into his pocket for the corsage, looking down nervously and fiddling about with the opening mechanism-

He dropped it with a curse, before he started muttering to himself in angry Greek, calling himself and idiot and stupid and how he was not doing well at all.

A short laugh interrupted his monologue.

He looked up, sea-green orbs meeting grey. His jaw slacked slightly, before she stepped forward onto the floor, reaching out and taking the corsage from him.

"I think I'm supposed to put that on you." He said, thanking the Fates he didn't stutter. She paused, and he saw it was out of the box, but nothing more. Coming half a step closer, he took it lightly and unlatched it, putting it around her wrist slowly.

"Hi."

"Hi." Athena said back before smiling up at him through thin lashes. "How are you?"

"I'm nervous. How are you?"

"The same." She replied, and he could hear the truth in her voice. It shook slightly – her voice. It never did that unless one of her children were in danger or dying. The thought caused a twinge in his heart.

They were silent for a few awkward second, before an older woman came over to them, looking at Athena.

"Miss Potter, it is nearly time for the Ball to start." She glanced at Poseidon sternly, prompting him to straighten slightly. "Bring your companion with you."

Athena nodded, and they both went to move when Aphrodite called out.

"Don't forget the other thing!"

Poseidon glanced at her, about to ask what she meant when he remembered. "Oh!" He reached into his pocket, taking out the dark silver clip. He held it awkwardly as he looked at Athena. "I think it goes on your clip…thing."

Athena's hand moved to brush against the plain silver before she nodded. "Place it on."

He swallowed before putting the two pieces against each other. There was a tiny whirring before the two snapped together, causing Poseidon to flinch back, wincing as he brought his thumb to his mouth.

"Ow."

Athena smirked a little before reaching up to take the hand, holding it tightly before tugging. "Come on, Seaweed Brain."

Poseidon pouted, but let himself be led over to where four students were being put in a short line. The old woman from before pulled them into place, and Poseidon got a glimpse at the other 'Champions'. Aphrodite hadn't been very forthcoming to what that actually meant.

The tallest was a dark-haired boy, who was wearing dark blue robes and looked as if Aphrodite had him under her thrall. A glance at the blonde by his side wearing a silver dress saw Poseidon making a sound of recognition.

"A daughter of Aphrodite?" He muttered to Athena, who hummed an affirmative.

"It has an odd effect on those who have a magical parent. The Wizarding World call them Veela, and they can turn into fire-ball throwing birds that resemble harpies in the way that they both sprout wings."

Poseidon blinked. "That sounds disturbing."

"Don't tell Aphrodite that – those are her children you're insulting, and her name is Fleur Delacour." Poseidon dipped his head in agreement. It was never good to piss of Aphrodite, especially when you were trying to date someone. She had a vindictive streak.

After them was a rather stout-looking man-boy. He called him a man-boy because he looked perfectly adult, yet was obviously not yet matured. He wore red robes, and his date was actually quite adorable – she was small, and blonde, with a dreamy smile on her face. Her dress was white, and reminded Poseidon of the 1920's, when they had strappy short dresses. The girl's dress though wasn't as sparkly, and didn't have any tassels. Instead, red glitter dusted the edges, giving it a rather disturbing touch.

"Who's the tiny blonde?"

Athena glanced at her, and almost immediately a smile broke out on her face. "That's Luna Lovegood. She's only thirteen, but quite the competent Seer. She hasn't got a handle on acting perfectly normal in public, but she's one of the most trustworthy people you could ever meet. If this were Ancient Greece, I would take her as my temple handmaiden."

Poseidon, knowing how selective she had been back then, whistled. "That must be some kid."

"If you tell Apollo about her, I'll wring your neck." She then said, sounding sweet as a sugarplum despite the content. Poseidon nodded sharply.

"Yes ma'am."

There was a period of silence before the doors finally opened, and they fell in line, going inside first alongside the two other couples. Poseidon found himself slightly impressed. The walls were covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. A hundred small, lantern-lit tables, each seating about a dozen people were dotted around the room, and Poseidon had to wonder where they would dance.

Everyone milled about before sitting down, but the old woman once more appeared, directing them and the two couples to sit up at the top table with a smiling old man in purple moons and stars robes; a grumpy middle-aged man who was looking at little Luna suspiciously; a giant of a woman wearing a lavender set of what looked to be robes also, who clapped politely; a garish blonde man wearing bright purple somethings with large yellow stars who clapped a little too enthusiastically as they approached; a stuffy ginger man in squeaky-clean navy-blue robes and a smug expression that only Zeus would be able to beat; a bat-like man in a tux, who had his eyes right on him – just like the one beside him, who even had a similar hair-cut, but wore instead of a tux, a black dress-shirt, jeans and a dark red band with a gold metal sign pinning it to his shoulder.

Across the dance floor he could see many couples: an arrogant-looking blonde boy with a pug-like girl, a handsome if lanky ginger and a beautiful blonde, a mousy-haired girl with big front teeth standing with a boy of clear Italian descent. And they were only a few. The hall looked to contain at least five hundred people.

When they finally reached the set of people, Luna and the man-boy sat by the grumpy man and the smiling elder and the other couple sat by the giantess and the end table. Athena practically forced him to sit by the one with the badge as she sat by the old man. On seeing her start a quiet conversation with the old man, he looked to his neighbour, only to be glared at by both him and the bat-man-

The colour drained from his face.

"The Squad." He whispered, horrified. The glares increased. He turned back to Athena. "Athena-"

"No-no, sonny." A hand grasped his shoulder, prompting him to turn back around. The Godfather looked at him with narrowed, angry eyes. "I want you to tell me why you're here with my goddaughter tonight, and then my arch-nemesis here would like to ask you once more."

Poseidon felt absolutely terrified.

"I'm in love with her." He blurted out, before his and the man's eyes widened, his own hand slapping over his mouth. Poseidon turned, looking at Athena, who seemed to have frozen. The old man chortled, eyes glittering.

"Ahh, young love. Minerva, my dear, why don't you speak to your suitor here while I started dinner." Being called Minerva seemed to snap her out of it, and in an instant she had turned in her seat, eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Poseidon was confused by the question. "What-"

"Why do you love me?"

He blinked. "Because I do. I love everything about you, even if I hate it. I love it when you laugh, and when you smile. I love it when you concentrate on something for a long time, and when someone interrupts you, you snap at them – even when it's me. I love how you walk, and how you speak, and I love your nose, and your hair. I hate how you glare at me, but at the same time I want you to because it means you look at me. You never looked at me with anything other than annoyance and hate and anger for centuries, and tonight you're just being you, and I can't help falling even harder for you." He breathed in deep. "Would you like me to continue?"

Athena stared at him for a long time – long enough that everyone started to eat, the Parent Squad behind him even going back to their own business.

"Order your dinner."

The first dance passed in a haze of tripping and biting lips from Athena, before Poseidon simply pulled her tighter to him and lifted her up, dancing for them both without letting her feet touch the floor.

Even when she was a child, she could never dance in public. It was one of her flaws – being around people scared her, especially when they expected her to do something. Usually she excelled under pressure, her brain working faster than it did when she wasn't, but dancing was one of those things. She was never naturally inclined to it, so she spent years upon years learning from the best mortals in the business.

Athena could dance. It was a fact very few knew. She just couldn't dance in front of anyone she didn't trust implicitly.

After the food and the dancing and just the party in general, Athena took Poseidon to the astronomy tower.

"I don't know what love is." She admitted after they arrived, when they were leaning against the stone of the battlements and looking up at the sky. "I've never loved anyone before, and Zeus is crap at showing affection. Our whole family is fucked up."

"You're right in that regard." Poseidon replied solemnly. "I love you."

"You've said."

There was a period of silence before Athena spoke again. "Is it possible that you and Neptune are close enough to merge, because Minerva is uncomfortable with speaking to you without him."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow. "Minerva."

"Apparently this mortal body's mother is a deity with Latin roots. She came out, but obviously this mortal casing isn't strong enough to hold the both of us. We merged into one entity, but our consciousness are still dual." She would not mention her possible Norse roots until she had verification. No need for Poseidon to get all Zeus-like on her.

Poseidon hummed before shutting his eyes. A second later he started to flicker, jaw switching between soft and square, outfit too changing – going between his outfit for the night and a fisherman's get-up.

Eventually the flickering stopped. When Poseidon opened his eyes, they were distinctly more blue than before.

"We're merged…" he murmured. "This is quite the experience."

"They always have consciousness when you do." Athena said, before she paused, posture changing a touch. "Neptune?"

Poseidon looked at her before blinking. "Minerva."

Minerva hummed, looking around. "Our Greek counterparts are quite enamoured with each other. Plainly, I mirror her feelings in regards to you, but I'm not so naïve-" she stopped, pausing before muttering under her breath. "Oh do shut up, I'm trying to have a blunt yet meaningful conversation, you prude…" She looked back up at Neptune. "Anyway. I won't say anything for Athena, but I would like to get to know you better."

Neptune gave her a slight smile before leaning down and kissing her lightly. "Poseidon's shouting at me now."

Minerva snorted, toying with his tie. "You should hear Athena. Sometimes I want her to just get laid, but then I would be a hypocrite. Oh, and before we switch back to our Greek selves, try to keep in mind that they came first. Power-grabs are not appreciated – trust me, I should know. I tried once, and it failed completely. Even mortal Athena is more powerful than I. The only reason our other selves aren't taking back control is because for Poseidon, he hasn't realized he can, and for Athena, because she respects my need to get out sometimes."

Neptune hummed. "I'll keep it in mind. Poseidon wants back out."

Minerva nodded before shutting her eyes. In an instant she was backing up, Athena back in house. Neptune waited a few seconds longer before copying her actions, Poseidon immediately blushing upon his return.

"Question – does that count as your first kiss or Minerva's?"

"Minerva's, definitely." Athena said, looking at him with a look of…something that didn't have a description. It was somewhere between horrified and blissful. "It was nice though."

"Neptune certainly enjoyed it, though he does believe Minerva was far too calm about it."

Athena swallowed. "She's not calm right now. If she had her own body, she'd be jumping up and down. Can you kiss me? Please?" She stepped forwards once before stopping.

Poseidon, upon hearing her words, blinked once before thinking it over. It didn't take very long, and soon, slowly, he was moving forwards, his hands reaching out to take her hips. His curious gaze met her nervous greys. For the Sea God, it was strange. He had kissed hundreds of woman before – how was this different?

Because she's Athena, Neptune replied simply.

His lips crashed down on hers.

There was a reason that Sirius had included a patrol up to the astronomy tower. He himself was probably the reason the tower had such a reputation, but that didn't mean he wasn't so stupid as to believe people hadn't continued to keep that reputation fresh.

Sirius expected to find seventh years, maybe some sixth years lying under the stars, wrapped in conjured blankets either sleeping or grinning off the aftermath of hot, passionate sex.

He did not expect to find his goddaughter and her date.

Everywhere Poseidon looked – glares. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that to his left was Remus Lupin, to his right Sirius Black, and in front of him Severus Snape. According to Snape, Athena was sequestered to her dorm, with the female seventh-year prefect camping out in front of her door and the windows magically locked.

"We are being kind in comparison to what your own brother will do when he finds out." Poseidon winced at the words 'will' and 'when'. It implied Zeus would know he had slept with his daughter. "And that is not to mention any other over-protective relatives she may have outside of the Wizarding World."

Poseidon suddenly thought of his own son – Triton had raised Athena until the Accident, and even now he still took her side on things. Hades, he's going to be angry- Poseidon's face then turned an ugly shade of white. Hades, Hades. Athena was his favourite niece.

"I trust you have thought of others." Snape said dryly, before taking out his wand and holding it tightly. "Now I am obliged to do this."

Poseidon's head jerked. Punishment?!

The black-clad professor waved his wand, creating purple jets of light shoot at him. Poseidon felt as if something was constricting around his body, and inside, Neptune – who had been laughing at his misfortune – suddenly stopped laughing.

No, no, no!

What's he doing? Poseidon grimaced at the uncomfortable feeling.

He's placing a celibacy charm on you!

WHAT?!

"You have got to be joking! What do you mean Poseidon's not here? He promised he would be here to turn me into a mermaid!" Athena hissed to Aphrodite, who was looking out on the water with a nervous expression.

"He's not here because he's in the water."

Athena turned around, looking out onto the Black Lake. "'We've taken what you'll sorely miss' – dammit!" She cursed before gripping her wand tightly, the whistle blowing. "Plan B then."

"No, Minnie!" Aphrodite grabbed her shoulder, making the mortal Goddess turn to look at her sharply. "Poseidon's saying something to me over the Wavelength…" there were a few seconds of silence as the Goddess of Love shut her eyes. Then they opened, Poseidon's eyes looking back at her before his voice came out of her throat.

"When the whistle blows, fly up into the air to the middle of the Lake, then dive. Trust me. You won't be hurt, and you'll be a mermaid when you hit the water. I'm awake under here, but they made a mistake – Delacour's sister, Aphrodite's daughter, she's down here. The wizarding version of mermaids are horrid, and don't recognize me as a ruler, and to boot they have a feud with 'Veela'. I'm protecting her, but you need to get down here to help me – there are too many, and I don't want to endanger the others. Hurry."

Aphrodite blinked, coming back to herself before becoming angry. "They brought down Gabrielle? The utter morons." The blonde clenched her fists, but Athena was dragged away by Weasley's Ministry-worker brother, Percival, before she could offer any comfort.

"The task is starting, Potter – come on." He pushed her to stand by Viktor and Fleur, and for a second she wobbled, but used the air currents to steady her. "Well get into your swim-wear."

She gave him a glare before taking off her thick winter cloak, revealing her fine figure, lean from running and other exercise she had started doing in the summer. Athena was aiming for a four-pack, and it had only just started to appear the month before – but it was still something she was proud of. She would live up to her reputation as a warrior. Sirius had even told her they could do some fencing practice during the summer holidays, and get her body up to speed with swordplay afterwards.

Ignoring the prickling feeling on the back of her neck from the numerous spectators now looking at her mature body, Athena looked out onto the dark body of water, reaching her hands up her back to tighten the strap of her halter-neck bikini. She would have chosen to wear a full-body swimsuit, but upon Poseidon giving his method to getting around swimming underwater for an hour, she had opted for a bikini, as apparently the bottom would rip upon her transformation.

Slipping off her boots and knee-high socks – because Zeus, it was too bloody cold in Scotland to be wearing just a bikini – Athena resisted the urge to shiver though not the urge to wrap her arms tightly around her body. Hopefully she didn't seem too nervous, or freezing – because fuck it is cold.

You don't say, Minerva chattered sarcastically, suffering worse, for some reason.

You know, it would make more sense for you to be used to this weather, due to the Romans invading Britain and everything, Athena noted as the judges started to speak, half-listening as she waited for the whistle.

I always hated the cold. But you are correct – it makes sense that you are turning blue, Greek.

Athena looked down, and saw to her dismay that her hands were going blue – and a touch to her lips saw she had gone numb. A form of anaemia, maybe?

Hypothermia. Denial courses through your veins like a fountain.

I'm not suffering from hypothermia, she insisted.

De Nile is not just a river in Egypt, Minerva drawled, and Athena didn't get a chance to reply as the whistle blew.

Viktor and Fleur dived in sync, Viktor immediately turning his top half into a shark as a bubble appeared around Fleur's mouth. Athena cast a warming charm, then jumped – up.

Flying up through the sky, she disregarded Bagman's "Great Scot, she can fly!" and instead headed to a pinnacle above the middle of the lake, arms going out to steady her.

Remember Peter Pan? Minerva's asked in amusement.

Think of a wonderful thought, any merry little thought. Think of Christmas, think of snow, think of sleigh bells – off you go, like a reindeer in the sky… You can fly! You can fly! You can fly! Think of the happiest things, it's the same as having wings. Take the path that moonbeams make, if the moon is still awake – you'll see him wink his eye… You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!

Minerva gave a laugh at her terrible mental rendition of the number. You are a terrible singer!

I know! She laughed, the sound carrying along the breeze before she stopped, fluttering. So, she spoke, suddenly nervous as she looked at the five hundred and fifty-two foot drop to the water below, do we trust Poseidon and Neptune? Any normal mortal would die upon contact. The height-

Take a risk, Minerva interrupted her monologue, sounding like she was about to burst into giggles. Be a kid. Scare everyone in the stands. Just fall.

Athena stared at the drop for a few seconds longer, before letting the grin tug at her face. She loosened her control of the wind, before dropping.

Let's fall.

Poseidon was not having fun. He had called his trident, but was only using it for its sharp tri-blade as he fought to protect the Veela. One of the monstrous underwater creatures' nails raked along his arm, making a line of golden ichor start to sparkle up the murky water around him, cleansing it.

Angry at his own biology for making the habitat of these monsters any better, he roared, making the water around him shiver, before he called for the Giant Squid. Almost immediately a fountain of black encased half of the settlement, the orange behemoth speeding through the water like a harpoon to come to his aid.

"Your Highness!"

Poseidon threw his trident at an approaching female, skewering her against a rock pillar before calling his weapon back. "Destroy these abominations!"

"I have been waiting a long time for that order, your majesty!"

As the squid started destroying the buildings and suffocating the creatures with its oil, Poseidon stopped yet another merman from attacking the young Veela, who was crying as she tried untying her bindings. He had long since put an air-bubble around her, sensing the effect of the wizarding potion fading. But the bindings! They must have been magical, or enchanted, for not even his tridents could cut them.

He could not escape.

It brought the ruler in Poseidon to the forefront, his young façade disappearing as a true threat from the Wizarding World was revealed. Neptune too was not the laid-back man of before either – instead, Poseidon now had a Roman Military Commander at his beck and call. The ability to bind an Olympian – in his own domain, no less – was nothing short of impossible unless you were a higher being, such as a Titan, or a Primordial. Only a select few demigods and minor gods had been able to in the past, but that was really the limit. That the Wizarding World could do this…

The Wizarding World needs to be monitored, or maybe even brought down. Neptune confirmed grimly.

Poseidon calmed as he approached the tiny blonde, using his powers over water to force the creatures away from them as he spoke in careful French – he wasn't completely fluent.

"Child, you to calm. Minerva Potter, to be here, five minutes," of that he was certain – he could already sense her above the Black Lake, climbing higher and higher away from his domain, "and your sister will to show up, I think."

The girl started to babble so fast he couldn't keep up. Shutting his eyes, he gritted his teeth before making the decision to send her to sleep. Coming closer, he wrapped Aphrodite's daughter up in his arms, holding her loosely against his hip as he used his other, less dominant hand to wield his trident.

A few dead mermen later, he felt her. He knew he could turn her at the right second, but knowing when to was the tricky part – so he asked her to fall. The speed of her approach would hopefully alert him, and it had.

Slashing one more merman, he finally kept them permanently away from him and the hostages. Thankfully Luna had not woken up, because being ten feet away from him was not a good place to be right now if she was going to be attacked.

Shutting his eyes, he pinpointed Athena.

The timing has to be perfect…

Neptune gave a nod. More than perfect. If she hits the water without transforming she is dead, Poseidon.

I know. He breathed in once – and when she was thirty feet from the water, he snapped his fingers.

Luna blinked upon waking, and wondered why she felt water instead of her bed when she suddenly took in a lungful of the liquid. Ducking underwater momentarily, she tried to time her breathing, but failed and quickly found herself taking in more and more water, her brain screaming for air-

Then powerful arms curled around her waist, lifting her up and swinging her around onto their back. She coughed, and looked around blearily.

Why am I in the Black Lake?

Ahead there were stands, filled with screaming students. Ahead, she saw Fleur Delacour holding her sister in a tight hold, sobbing audible over the crowd. A grown Lady Aphrodite, looking older than Luna thought she had ever taken the form of, was behind them, and was arguing with Madam Maxime, visibly upset. Luna realized she must have wanted to see her daughters. Reaching out with her mind, she softly brushed Fleur's, touching her subconscious.

Look behind you.

The girl turned her head, her eyes widening upon seeing Aphrodite. "Mama!" Gabrielle looked up right in time for her to be able to join Fleur in her short sprint to the older blonde woman, who grabbed Gabrielle, picking her up and holding her tightly.

Knowing that her work was done, Luna looked down finally to the one carrying her. She blinked upon seeing Him. "Viktor. How nice to see you." She said quietly, voice scratchy from coughing up lake-water.

He didn't say anything until they reached the stands, whereupon he turned back his shark-head to a human one and helped them both up onto the dock. His hand slipped into hers, and before Madam Pomfrey could pull Luna off for a blanket and check-up, Viktor pulled her body into his, wrapping his blanket around her tightly before pressing his lips to her forehead, murmuring something in Bulgarian.

"I don't know what you're saying. The Blibbering Humdingers are frying my translation circuits."

Viktor's chest rumbled right next to her face, confusing her. She frowned. "Have the Blibbering Humdingers fried your translation circuits too? Can you understand me?"

He nodded, before pressing another kiss to the side of her lips. "You are vy little mad vairy, Luna Lovegood."

Luna blinked, before smiling widely. "Thank-you. You're my tall, brooding, Bulgarian eighteen-year old."

The laugh he gave out made her stomach fill with butterflies.

Athena crossed her arms, lying her head on them as she stared at Poseidon's face.

"So you're going to make an already endangered magical creature extinct?" At present, she was lying on his shirtless chest, though the rest of their clothes minus their socks and shoes were still upon their bodies. The celibacy charms cast upon the both of them were things they didn't want to trigger. Athena figured out the mechanics using arithmancy, and realized they had alert charms tied into them too at the roots, which brought the slightly disgusting realisation that the Parent Squad, as they were now actually officially dubbed, were monitoring their sex-life.

Not that they had sex-lives any more.

Poseidon, at her question, huffed. "They don't deserve to live."

"Poseidon, and Neptune, as Minerva would like him included in this – just because you couldn't control an aquatic creature for the first time in your life does not mean the end of the world."

Poseidon sat up abruptly, grabbing her so she didn't topple off, both deities speaking next. "You don't understand." Their voices were dual, overlapping, with Neptune's controlled voice confusingly enthralling compared to Poseidon's raging. Neptune was the one to continue. "Think about it from our point of view, from a ruler's point of view. You have a perfectly controllable kingdom, with all under your domain either answering to you, able to be controlled by you, or able to be dealt with adequately. Even the ones who refuse your rule at least acknowledge you are their ruler." He gripped her tighter, angry. "Then you go to a land you thought was yours, and you discover that because you have been stupid enough to leave it unattended, the main inhabitants do not know you even exist – let alone that you rule over them."

Athena argued back. "The Giant Squid knew you, as did everything else that wasn't strictly magical."

Neptune and Poseidon glared. "That isn't the point we're trying to make. Those bastardizations of mermaids and mermen were not part of my kingdom. They and their kind have to be eradicated, before there is an uprising."

"But-"

His face grew dark, the room shaking. "I am King of Atlantis, Athena Pallas, and do not usurp my authority on this matter." They glared at each other for a few long seconds, before the room lightened. Poseidon looked away and let go of her, Neptune slipping back. "I apologise, but my Kingdom will not fall because I failed to act." He slipped off the bed, going over to the window before speaking solemnly. "It is too late for you to change my mind in any case – Triton is already searching for others. With the knowledge of the Wizarding World's existence, he and his garrison are able to see through the wards which protect and hide them. From what your Ministry has documented, he reckoned that they will be gone within the year."

Athena sat perfectly still, eyes staring at a point on the headboard. "I do not believe what you are doing is ethical, but it is not my right to intervene. It is your kingdom, and you will do as you wish with it." She slipped off the bed and sorted herself before leaving, slamming the door behind her.

Poseidon shut his eyes.

It was not the first time they had argued, but somehow it felt more important than their usual fights when Athena was still a Goddess. Aphrodite said it was because it was their first 'couple fight'. Athena believed otherwise, as did Minerva.

It was more important because never before had they fought over the welfare of Atlantis.

Athena had always avoided Atlantis in conversation. At first it was because she did not like being reminded of the first home she had known. Knowing it like the back of her hand, and being barred from ever returning hurt more than anything – with the obvious exception being Pallas. But then slowly, as her rivalry and relationship with Poseidon grew, it became that thing.

She once read a biography. One section was dedicated to the relationships the author had with their sister. They said that their entire life, entirely due to the fact that as young children they had hated each other, the writer had avoided green, and didn't like blonde hair – simply because their sister was blonde, and because said sister's favourite colour was green. Athena theorised that in this instance, the parallel was apt. She didn't talk about Atlantis because it was literally everything Poseidon stood for.

Which was why their fight was important. In hindsight, Aphrodite may have been right in saying it was important as their first 'couple fight', but the reality was that they hadn't even talked about Atlantis before, and getting so deep into the issue was both for Athena intrusive and rude. She had no rule, no connection to Atlantis outside of her relationship to Poseidon.

I should have never gotten involved, Athena thought guiltily to herself, feeling as if there were a heavy weight in her stomach.

Minerva shook her metaphorical head. No, you were right to get involved. Poseidon could be making a huge mistake in this. You were his Jiminy Cricket in this.

Pinocchio? Athena asked tiredly. You are really referencing Pinocchio right now?

I like Disney. You like Disney too.

I know. I did sing Peter Pan. The grey-eyed witch rolled in her bed, turning onto her front.

The point I'm making, Minerva continued in a more serious tone, is that Poseidon made a decision that in the eyes of others may have seemed highly unethical and morally wrong. You represented those views, and yes, while Poseidon and Neptune both could have worded it better, they gave their reasons.

But-

You were right to get involved, Minerva repeated more forcefully. Now go back and sleep with him in the damn Room of Requirement.

I'm not going to set off those damn alert charms so you can get laid.

Get your mind out of the gutter. For once, I'm actually not insinuating anything. We need to sleep, actually sleep. You can feel guilty in the morning, and apologise too if it makes you feel any better. But not tonight. Sleep.

Athena thought it over before deciding to go.

I take your advice a lot.

As you should. Remember when you were still a bitch?

I still am a bitch, just a human one now.

The truth of the Universe in ten words.

Getting out of her blue and bronze four-poster, she grabbed her invisibility cloak and went to put it on when a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Are you really going to risk it?"

Athena glanced at Padma. "Risk what?"

"Your time-turner. If you get caught and get a detention, doesn't Dumbledore take it away?"

The former-Goddess gave a slight smile. "You know, I think Professor Dumbledore forgot our terms in the first place. I had. But if it makes you feel any better, I'm not going far. But don't expect me back for anything more than my schoolbag and a fresh set of clothes in the morning."

"You showered before bed?"

"Just like Terry."

Padma grinned at her in the darkness. "Just like Terry."

Athena gave out a quiet laugh before smiling at her. "I never thought I'd have a relationship quite like ours, Miss Patil."

Padma shook her head slightly. "Oh, you know I just hate you to the bone."

Athena deadpanned. "Good. I don't have to act like I actually like you anymore. Peasant." She sniffed, and there were two seconds of silence before her lip twitched and the two Ravenclaw's burst into silent giggles.

Padma adjusted herself under the covers. "You going to stay with Poseidon then?"

"Yeah. See you at breakfast?"

"Yeah. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."