disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
A.N. There is a time skip in this chapter it is now December.
Chapter 7 : Hera speaks to us
Harry's P.O.V.
Time seemed to fly by at camp, I would get up in the morning take a shower, than eat breakfast at the Hermes table, since Hera didn't have a table, than spend two hours learning ancient greek from Annabeth, then Percy would train me in sword fighting, along with, Leo, Jason, and Piper, then I had archery lessons with Chiron; like Percy I wasn't very good at it, but Chiron said at lest I didn't get any arrows in his tail. Jason helped me in Javelin lessons, then I would have lunch, then train some more, after dinner we would relax, and hang out, and talk. Leo had taken to calling me, Uncle Harry, jokingly, because his dad Hephaestus was also a son of Hera, which would make us half-brothers, and Leo said that made me his uncle. He did it more as a joke, then anything, he also thought it was funny to point out that I would also be Clarisse's uncle, because Ares is also my half-brother, but un like him, I didn't think it was funny, since she was still bent on beating me to a pulp, and the fact she still hasn't found her spear didn't improve her attitude toward me. I liked all three of them, Jason was pretty cool, and he even agreed we were step-brothers. He wished his sister Thalia would stop by camp so I could meet her. Then there was Piper, she wasn't like any of the other Aphrodite kids, they were all about looks, and breaking hearts, most of them sneered their nose up at me, because of my messy hair, baggy clothes, and glasses; Piper didn't care how I looked in fact she went out of her way to try not to look good herself, and she didn't like hurting other people. I really liked her, she was tough, when she had to be, and loyal to her friends, and kind to people who were nice to her. I liked how her hair was just as unruly as mine, I think I was starting to have feelings for her, she was real easy to talk to, and I could tell her anything, and she wouldn't judge me, she asked me once about my family, and I just spilled everything out to her, how the Dursley's treated me, about my cupboard, then my years at Hogwarts. I was embarrassed about letting it all slip out, I didn't know why I did, I told her stuff that I never even told Annabeth, she kept her promise, and hadn't told anyone.
I really liked it at camp half-blood, it was the first place since Hogwarts that felt like home. I had even talked to Chiron about being one of the year rounders, since I didn't have nowhere to go, he said he didn't see way I couldn't, and would talk more about it after the quest. I liked Chiron he was pretty cool guy, Percy, Annabeth, and I, even started going to the big house when we had free time to play cards with him. Sirius would be happy, after a few months here I gained some weight. Annabeth saw to that, I was now in a size 16 jeans, but I still needed the belt, and had to roll up the bottoms, and they were baggy, but I had no choice 14 had got too small around my waist, even if I took the belt off, and with all the sword fighting, and training; I was beginning to get a little muscular, but of course I still hadn't grown any. Which bugged me since most the kids here were all tailor then me, even some of the girls.
"Hey, there," Piper had come over to me, and sat down. I was by the bank of the lake looking out in to the water, lately Piper has been acting strange, she didn't talk much, and tried to hide that she was worried about something, but I could tell. I had asked her a few days ago what was wrong, she refused to tell me, then avoided me the rest of the day.
"Are you okay, you never showed up for any training today, Percy, and Annabeth are looking everywhere for you." she asked, after a moment of silence.
"I hadn't felt like seeing anyone." I told her, which was true I had got up, and grabbed my dad's old cloak, and have wandered the woods under it. I think everything was finally catching up with me. I missed Hogwarts and all my old friends, I was having trouble with this whole Hera is my mum thing, I thought I could except it all at first , I have good friends here, Leo was a little weird, but he was loyal, and a bit funny. He didn't know, I knew, but he had these cool fire powers, he couldn't get burned, and could make fire do whatever he wanted. I once saw him do it while I was under my dad's cloak, he doesn't know I saw him, and my step-brother Jason was a nice guy, and a real good fighter, he had some pretty cool powers too, like being able to manipulate the air and wind so he could fly, and he could control lighting, and he couldn't be electrocuted. He owned this coin when he flipped it, it turned into a sword, but if it landed on the other side it was a javelin, I also had a couple of friends in the Hermes cabin, Travis, and Conner Stoll, they remind me of George, and Fred Weasley. I only saw them at meal times mostly, I sat by them at the Hermes table. and of course there was, Percy, and Annabeth. and I considered Tyson my friend , but he had left camp to go back to the Cyclopes forges, but not before going around camp happily chanting "Harry is my cousin" And Percy's hell-hound Mrs. O'Leary was cool, she liked me. First time I ever saw her she came running up to me, knocked me to the ground licking all over my face, laughing, Percy had to drag her off me.
"Harry, is something wrong?" Piper asked. "You can tell me."
"I think everything is just catching up to me." I told her. "And I miss my old friends and Hogwarts." By now everyone at camp knew all about me being a wizard, and about the wizardry world.
"I know how you feel ?" Piper said." I miss my dad, but then it's not like I got to see him much anyway." Piper's dad was a famous actor; one Dudley was a huge fan of, even had posters hanging on his bedroom wall. Piper was happy when I told her I wasn't really a fan, and I wasn't really into movies which is true, I wasn't allowed to watch anything at the Dursley's and there was no T.V. at the Burrow. So I never got hooked on watching anything.
"And I don't know what to feel about the Hera thing." I said. " She went through the trouble of having my wand made, and sending me that bird, but then again she left me to live with the, Dursley's when I wasn't even related to them in the first place, and I was only brought here when she needs me." It felt good to get everything out, to have someone to talk to.
"Most of the campers here feel the same way when they first get here." Piper said. "I bit even Percy did, Annabeth had told me once about this horrible step-dad he had when he was little, and how is mom had to struggle, but there both fine now, his mom is even going to school to be a writer, and Annabeth had ran a way from home when she was just seven, her and her dad have kind of a rocky relationship, because he use to choose her step-mom, and her two little brothers over her."
"Annabeth never told me that." I said, a little shocked.
"Annabeth told me about running away when she was seven." Piper said, "but Jason was the one that told me why, his older sister Thalia told him, she ran away from home too, that's how she and Annabeth met. See Harry a lot of kids here have had a horrible life, Leo's mom died when he was just a little kid, and he went from foster home to foster home always running away, into we met at school, then we were brought here together, after we were attacked by Storm Spirits, and Jason's mom gave him up when he was a baby, told his sister he was dead that's way Thalia ran away. their mom was a drunk and Thalia had only been sticking around to take care of Jason anyways. He like Leo has been to one foster home to the next, then he made it to camp, a lot of kids here has had a bad life, but then again you have the worse story I ever heard."
"Thanks." I said, laughing a little with her.
"Now what brought on this little mood of yours." Piper asked, bumping her shoulder to mine.
"You know how I sent a letter to my friends with Hedwig." I asked,
"Yeah."
"Hedwig came back this morning with Ron's letter unopened." I said. I had sent my friends a letter once Hedwig's wing had healed good enough to fly, but last night while I was laying out side my cabin trying to get to sleep, Hedwig had brought Ron's letter back, he hadn't even opened it. I know my owl didn't get lost and come back, because she didn't have Hermione's letter with her.
"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry, but hey you got friends here." Piper reached over and laid her hand on mine, and gave it a squeeze. "What about Hermione?"
"I don't know only Ron's letter came back." I answered.
"Send another ask her to write you back." Piper suggested. She hadn't removed her hand from mine, and I looked down at our hands and turned my mine over, and Piper slipped her fingers between mine, I looked back up at her, and smiled. We stared at each other for a moment. I hadn't even noticed we were getting closer to each other into our lips were about to touch, but suddenly a noise startled us a part, and a red-haired girl I hadn't seen before, came out of nowhere and grabbed hold of Piper's shoulders. Making her drop my hand.
"Rachel, what are you doing?" Piper demanded. The girl Rachel's body stiffen, and her eyes glowed green, and she tighten her hold on Piper's shoulders. Piper tried to move back, but Rachel's grip on her was like steel clamps.
"Free me," she said, in an older women's voice, sounding like it was far away, like someone was speaking from an echoing pipe.
"Free me, Piper McLean, or the earth shall swallow us, it most be by the solstice." I tried to get this girl off Piper, but had no luck, "The fiery one is only the first, bow to his will, and their king shall rise, dooming us all. Fee me."
"Let go of her," I demanded. "Are you mad?"
The girl, Rachel finally let go, and backed up looking like she didn't know how she had got here, as Piper passed out, and I had to catch her before her head hit the ground.
"What the bloody hell did you do to her?" I demanded, laying her down and using my cloak as a pillow.
"I didn't do anything?" Rachel yelled back, looking insulted.
"What was all that free me rubbish," I demanded, looking up from Piper to her. I was sitting on my knees by Piper's head.
"I don't know, it wasn't me talking." Rachel said, kneeling down on the other side of Piper, and felt of her forehead.
"What do you mean it wasn't you, it came out of your mouth," I asked, then pushed her hand off Piper. "Don't touch her."
"I was only trying to help." Rachel said.
"I think you have done enough." I told her.
"This isn't my fault," Rachel screamed, standing up and glaring down at me, and I glared right back.
"What's going on?" Percy suddenly came walking up to us, with Annabeth. He looked between me, and Rachel who were glaring at each other, confused. "We heard yelling, and, Harry where have you been all day you missed training."
"Look what she did to Piper." I said, ignoring Percy's question, he hadn't yet noticed Piper laying in front of me.
"What?" Annabeth came running over, and knelt by her, she felt of Piper's cheek with the back of her hand, Percy stood over us. "What happened." Annabeth asked.
"Me and Piper were just sitting her talking when she came out of nowhere, and attacked her." I explained, throwing my hands up. "Yelling free me."
"Did you have a prophecy?" Percy asked Rachel.
"No, this was something else, like something took over my body." Rachel said.
"I don't care what it was, look at Piper." I said. Then pointed at Rachel. "And she did it."
"No, I didn't. " Rachel yelled. "You're just mad because I interrupted you when you were about to kiss her."
"You were about to what?" Annabeth asked. Looking up from Piper to me.
"I am not!" I denied, my face going red. "That's none of your business anyway."
Percy bent down and put one arm under Piper's back, and one behind her knees and picked her up.
"We'll take her to the big house, see If Chiron knows what's going on." He said, and I nodded, but couldn't help but feel a little jealous that Percy was the one carrying her, but with his Achilles thing he was a lot stronger than me, so he was less likely to drop her.
"You don't want to forget this Harry," Annabeth said, holding out my invisibility cloak, she was the only one that knew what it was unless she has told Percy.
Chiron was on the porch of the big house in his magical wheelchair drinking lemonade, when we came up. He told Percy to carry Piper on in and lay her on the couch. Chiron looked her over as Annabeth explained what happened, then he asked me to repeat Rachel's exact words, when I did he looked thoughtful for a moment. by then Leo, and Jason who had seen Percy carrying Piper came in to see what was going on.
"I think it is time for you all to go on that quest." Chiron said, looking from me to Jason, and then Leo.
"What you think it was Hera talking through Rachel?" Annabeth demanded, scowling. I had learned that Annabeth didn't like my new mum very much.
Chiron opened his mouth to say something then froze, I looked around, and everyone, but me, and Jason were frozen.
"What...What's going on." Jason said, he flipped his coin, and it became a sword, and I pulled my wand from my pocket, and pointed it out in front of me.
"I don't know." I answered him coming to stand next to my step-brother.
"Harry, Jason," someone said, we both looked to where the voice had come from, and for a horrible moment I thought the leopard head on the wall had spoken, but a dark mist came from its mouth, and a women in black robs appeared, her face was hooded, and her eyes glowed in the darkness.
"Jason, would you attack your patron or you, Harry, curse your own mother?" the women demanded. "Lower your sword, put that wand away." Her voice echoed in my head.
Still confused about what was going on. I did not lower my wand or did Jason lower his sword.
"Our time is limited, my prison grows stronger by the hour, it took me a full month to gather enough energy to work even the smallest magic through its bonds. I now have little time left, and even less power."
"You're in prison?" Jason asked. "Look, who are you, how are you my patron?"
"You know me," she said, "I have known you since your birth, the both of you."
"Hera?" I asked.
"Yes, I am Hera Queen of the havens, and your mother." Hera said. "And Jason, your father gave me your life as a gift to placate my anger, you belong to me."
"Whoa," Jason said, holding up his empty hand. "I belong to no one." I didn't blame him for getting mad, I would too.
"Wait, you can't just give someone a person's life." I said. "They're not toys." she ignored us both.
"Now it's time to pay your debt." Hera said. "Find my prison, free me, or their king will rise from the earth, and I will be destroyed."
"Wait," I cried. "I have a lot of questions I want answers to." Hera regarded me.
"Do you know the meaning of your full name, Heracleitus?" Hera asked me, chuckling a little whan a scowled at the use of my full name. "I didn't think you would, it is derived from my name Hera and combined with Kleitos, meaning glory, so your name means."
"Glory of Hera." I said, a little stunned.
" Help free me, my son, and you'll get your answers, but I do not have the time now, you two most free me by sunset on the solstice. Only four short days, do not fail me, Jason, and Harry, try turning the handle to the right." Hera dissolved, and Jason looked at me.
"So, Heracleitus?" He smirked. I really hated my real name. I never had told anyone what it was. Sirius had been the only one that knew my full name was Heracleitus James Evan Potter.
"You tell anyone and I'll cures your bum off." I threaten him. He held up the hand that wasn't holding his sword.
"Okay, I won't." He assured me. "It well be a secret between step-brothers, but seriously, Hera most really care for you if she gave you a name that means glory of Hera." I shrugged. I didn't know what to make of any of this. Jason seemed to understand, because he let it drop.
"I do believe Hera may have been taken." Chiron had started talking again as if nothing had happened, then he looked at us, "Why do you two have your weapons out?"
Jason explained what had Happened, and how Hera had just appeared, with me putting in a little.
"So, Hera has been taken prisoner?" Annabeth asked.
"Yes," I answered, and Percy came over to where I was standing.
"You said she mentioned turning a handled to the right?' He asked. "can I see your wand a second." I handed him my wand I still had out, he looked it over then stepped back a way from me, and turned the handle to the right, and my eyes got big as it grow into a sword.
I took a closer look at the blade, and there carved in the middle was the Potter family creat, which is a shield that had a P in the middle of it and two wands crossed behind it, and on one side of the shield was a stag, and on the other side was a doe. The handle now looked like the handle of a sword, but still had the emeralds all over it.
"That's pretty cool." Leo said. as Percy handed the sword to me, it felt right in my hand, like it belonged there, not like the swords here at camp that didn't feel right. this one was perfect.
"Well, whoever has,Hera maybe we should think them if they could shut her up."Annabeth said. I was startled by her hateful tune.
"Annabeth," Chiron warned. "She is still one of the Olympians In many ways, she is the glue that holds the gods' family together. If she truly has been imprisoned and is in danger of destruction, this could shake the foundation of the world. It could unravel the stability of Olympus, which is never great even in the best of times. And if Hera has asked, Jason, and Harry for help-"
"Plus," I interrupted Chiron. "I've already lost one Mum, I'm not losing another one." I may not know Hera, or I may not even know yet if I even like her, but she is still my Mother. I can't just let something destroy her.
Annabeth looked my face over. "Fine," she grumbled. "Well, we know Titans can capture gods, Alatis kidnapped Artemis, a few years ago, and in old stories the gods captured each other in traps all the time. But something worse than a Titan?"
"Hera said she'd been trying to break through her prison bonds for a month." Jason told them. I noticed he hadn't said anything about Hera saying he belonged to her, I figured he didn't what them to know so I didn't say anything either.
"Which is how long it's been since anyone has had any kind of contact with their godly parent." Annabeth said.
"So, the gods most know something bad is going on." Percy said.
"Wait if the gods know, Hera has been taken, why don't they rescue her?" Leo asked. "They have a way better chance at saving the queen of the gods then we do."
I sighed turned my sword back into a wand put it in my pocket, then went over and sat on the edge of the couch in front of Piper, I laid my hand on hers, which laid across her stomach. I thought I had seen her move. I guess I was wrong.
"The gods need heros to do their will down her on earth." Rachel said, I hadn't even realized she had followed us here. "Thats right, isn't it? Their fates are always intertwined with demigods."
"That's true." Annabeth said.
"But, why Jason?" Percy asked. "I get why she wants Harry, he's her son, but Jason is a child of Zeus, I thought Hera hated children of Zeus."
"She does." Annabeth agreed.
"There's me too." Leo put in. "Why me and why did she, a goddess babysit me when I was little, it's like she knew she would need me."
"Don't forget Piper", I said, "Hera sent her the same message through, Rachel," I swallowed I really didn't want to have to bring all this up, but it seemed like the only time I would get a chance.
"There is something I've wondered." I said, and everyone looked at me.
"What is it?' Percy asked.
"Why James Potter? I started, most of them expect for Percy, and Annabeth looked confused, "Why did she pick a wizard to father me, if she had me because she knew one day I would need to save her, and why now after fifteen years did she finally have me found, and brought here. I was in the middle of another war right now, Hera told me that wasn't suppose to be my destiny, that she wanted me here, but sooner or later I'll have to go back to help them. I can't just leave them all to be killed by Voldemort." I announced, I didn't expect any of them to flinch at the sound of Voldemort's name, and nobody did, but I did noticed Chiron wrench a little, and started looking up at the ceiling like he expected lighting to come through and strike him.
"I know I have to help with what is going on here first, but I just want to know why she chose my father to have me, is there a reason she wanted a wizard child?"
Annabeth fixed her eyes on Chiron, "Why are you so quiet, Chiron? What is it were facing, and is Harry right to think Hera had some reason to have a wizard for a son?"
The old centaur's face looked like it aged ten years in a matter of minutes, "My, dear, in this I cannot help you. I am so sorry, but what Harry speaks of is a forbidden subject, we're lucky Zeus hasn't destroyed us all for speaking of him."
Annabeth blinked, "what, why, come one, Chiron you have never kept anything from me, what are you talking about, speaking of whom?"
"You're talking about Voldemor.t" I said,"He's the one you told me and Percy about, isn't he?"
"I will be in my office." Chiron ignored me. "I need some time to think before dinner, Harry can you watch Piper, call Argus to bring her to the infirmary, if you'd like."
The centaur turned his wheelchair and rolled off down the hallway, Annabeth's eyes turned stormy, she muttered something in greek, and I didn't think it was anything nice about centures. Percy went over and put his arm around her, to calm her down.
"Well, that was strange." Leo said.
"Yeah what was that about?" Rachel asked."And who did anyone speak of that would make Zeus mad, does anyone know."
" I know." Me and Percy said at the same time, then looked at each other startled.
"What?" Annabeth demanded, looking between us.
"When Harry first got here, Chiron told us that back in 1920 something, Zeus had a son by a witch," Percy explained, he glanced at Jason, before saying, "Chiron said that he had been Zeus's favorite son, Zeus cared about him so much that he made sure he never found out he was a demigod, so he would stay safe. Chiron said it's hard for monsters to find demigods in the wizardry world, something about all the magic, anyway, the son became evil, tried to take over the world, and tried to make himself immortal, didn't care who he had to kill to do it, it broke Zeus's heart, and he forbid anyone from talking about him or even saying his name."
"Why didn't you tell me about it?" Annabeth demanded.
Percy shrugged. "Never really thought much about it into now."
"And I didn't want to think about it." I said. "Because I think I know who it is."
"Who?" Jason asked.
"Voldemort." I said. "I've gone over this in my head for a while, even if I tried not to, and it all fits, Chiron said this wizard son of Zeus, grow up in an orphanage, so did Voldemort, Chiron said the son of Zeus was born sometime in 1926, so was Voldemort. He changed his name like Voldemort did, he also tried to take over, he was thought to have died around the same time Voldemort lost his powers, but Zeus doesn't think he's dead, and his soul had never showed up in the underworld.
"Okay, who is Voldemort?" Rachel asked, I quickly explained, to everyone that didn't already know about Voldemort.
"So, we should be thankful that he never found out about being a son of Zeus." Percy said.
"Just out of curiosity." Leo asked, "I know this Volde whats it, sounds like bad news, but why should we be thankful he doesn't know about being a son of Zeus?"
"Because, Leo," A small voice said, we all looked to the couch to see Piper watching us, she smiled at me to let me know she was okay and reached up and grappbed hold of my arm to help herself sit up. Annabeth raised her eyebrows at us when she didn't let go instead she slipped her arm through mine.
"Harry has already told me all about Voldemort," she said. "Just think about it Leo, he wants to kill off everyone who isn't a witch or wizard because his dad who wasn't one walked out his mom when she was pregnant with him, she died giving birth to him leaving him to be raised in an orphanage.
"That's right", I said. "It's some what a revenge thing, that he wants to get rid of all the muggles, but he also sees them as weak, and he doesn't like how wizards keep their world hidden, he wants them to come out in the open. Voldemort believes wizard are better than anyone else, he's got followers to, he calls them Death Eaters, they are more like his slaves than anything, they call him stuff like master, and my lord, and his dark mark is burn into their skin on their left arm, and when he wants them the mark burns and they go right to him, so if he wants to rule the world because he thinks wizards are better than everybody else, what do you think he would do if he found out he was also half-god, if he found out he was even more powerful than he thinks he is?"
"Something very bad I"m guessing." Leo said.
"Yes, if he found out he had power like that, he would most likely try to destroy Zeus, so he could rule the gods also, he'll think it's his right." I said. "And if anyone who isn't a god or Titan or something like that has a chance at killing them it would be Voldemort, he is very power-hungry, he told me himself his gone farther than anyone ever has to become immortal, he has already some what come back from the dead once, and people in the wizardry world fear him so much they wouldn't even say his name."
All of us jumped when we heard a horn blow.
"It's time for the camp fire." Annabeth said. "But first what do you mean he has already come back from the dead once."
I explained about what happened in the graveyard, the ritual Pettigrew did to bring Voldemort back, I even showed them the scar on my arm, then I mentioned how a part of Zeus's son's soul had turned up in the underworld years after he was believed to have died around the time I killed the basilisk when the chamber was open, and how in my first year Voldemort possessed a teacher so he could get his hands on the sorcerer's stone.
Annabeth looked thoughtful, then she looked at Percy, "I think we need to speak with someone who knows a lot about death, and the Underworld, and souls, and there is only one person I can think of, well besides Hades himself."
"You mean Nico?" Percy asked. I didn't know who Nico was, but Annabeth nodded.
"You think we could find him, he's not at camp right now." Annabeth asked Percy.
"I'm sure we can." Percy said.
Annabeth turned back to us. "While you guys go on this guest to save Hera, Percy and I will go find Nico and see if we can figure out this whole Voldemort thing."
"Who is Nico?" I asked.
"Nico de Angelo, he's a son of Hades."Annabeth answered. "If anyone knows almost as much as Hades about death, and the Underworld it would be him."
"Yeah, because if Voldemort is who we think he is," Percy said. " We need to destroy him, before he does found out who he really is."
"Hold on," I said standing up, "I can't let you put your life in danger like that, Voldemort is my problem, I'll take care of it my self."
"Harry, you got friends now, you don't have to do these on your own." Annabeth said. "And if Voldemort is as powerful as you say, you're going to need all the help you can get."
"Yeah, Harry, we all care about you let us help." Piper said. "They are just going to talk to Nico, he may have some ideas about what Voldemort did to try to become immortal, they won't be fighting Voldemort."
"I know, but I don't want any of you getting hurt or killed." I said.
"Calm down, Uncle Harry." Leo said. "No one's going to get killed, not yet anyway, and Annabeth's right if Voldemort is as powerful as you say, you can't take him on by yourself."
"Besides, if he is a son of Zeus he's all our problem." Percy said.
"And if you go by what you say, he finds out he is a son of Zeus, he'll want to kill all us won't he." Jason said. "He'll see us demigods as a threat."
"He would." I agreed. "But he most likely would try to get as many demigods on his side as he could, the most powerful ones anyway." I looked over at Percy when I said, that he looked back at me like he knew what I was thinking. "And if they didn't join him he most likely will kill them so they couldn't stop him." I was suddenly fearful for my friend, Percy was very powerful, but I knew he would never join someone like Voldemort, so he would be on top of Voldemort's hit list, if he ever found any of this out, and Jason too, he was powerful, and plus he's a son of Zeus, maybe I shouldn't have come here I may have put them all in danger.
"Why don't we just worry about freeing Hera right now," Jason said. "We'll talk about Voldemort when we get back, we can come up with a plan then on how we all will help fight him."
"Yes," Annabeth agreed with Jason. "We need a plan." I could almost she the wheels turning in her head. "And to come up with a plan we need to find out as much as we can, but right now we better get to the camp fire."
It was the first camp fire I had went to since I had been here, I usually didn't go, but both Piper, and Annabeth wouldn't let up into I went.
The amphitheater steps were carved into the ide of a hill, facing a stone-lined fire pit. fifty or sixty kids filled the row, clusteredninti groups under various banners.
Piper choice to sit next to me rather than to sit with her cabin, Jason sat up front next to Annabeth and Percy, who was sitting together rather than their cabins, but like me, and Jason, Percy had no siblings to sit with, Leo on the other hand had plenty, a bunch of burly looking campers under a steel-gray banner with a hammer emblazoned on it .
Standing in front of the fire, half a dozen campers with guitars, and old-fashioned lyres were jumping around, singing, everyone was singing along with them or joking around, and making s'mores, as the energy level got higher, the flames did too, turning from red to orange to gold.
Finally the song ended with a lot of rowdy applause. Chiron trotted up, he had a spear impaled with toasted marshmallows.
"Welcome everyone, and to any new comers, I'm Chiron." he said. "I hope you all are having fun, but now we have some pressing matters to discuss."
"What about?" someone yelled.
"Some of our campers well be going on a quest." Chiron said.
"Who, and what quest?" a girl asked.
"The people going will be: Leo Valdez, Piper McLean, Jason Grace, and Harry Potter." Chiron announced.
"But only three people can go on a quest." Someone under the Ares banner yelled.
"Yes, but more than three has went before." One of Annabeth's half-brothers said, "Annabeth took Percy, Tyson, and Grover, when she went to the Labyrinth, and when Artemis was kidnapped five people went, two hunters, a satyr and two demigods."
A lot of people started to talk, and whisper,..untill a sleepy voice called.
" I'm here, oh...were you taking roll call."
"Go back to sleep, Clovis," someone yelled, as a few people laughed.
"Anyway a major problem has arisen," Chiron said. "And all four well be needed on the quest to solve it."
"What happen." Travis Stoll asked.
"Hera the queen of the gods has been taken." Chiron announced, shocked silence followed that announcement, then whispers, and talking broke out again, and even some campers looked over at me. When everyone had calmed down, Piper stood up and explained about what happened with Rachel down at the lake, then I told everyone about Hera appearing to me, and Jason at the big house. I noticed Jason looked relieved that I didn't mention Hera owning him. Then Leo mentioned when storm spirits attacked him and Piper at the Grand Canyon, before they came to camp, how they talked about having some great mistress.
"So, Jason, Harry, It looks like Hera herself has issued you both a quest." Chiron said. He paused as if he was giving us a chance to protest. My step-brother, and I caught each other eyes and nodded.
"We agree," we both said.
"And Piper, and Leo what about you two, Hera seems to want you to go to." Chiron asked.
Piper took a breath then placed her hand on my knee. "I agree."
"I'm in." Leo called.
"You do know you most save Hera to prevent a great evil." Rachel put in. "To stop some sort of king from raising."
"She has to be saved by the winter solstice." Annabeth told everyone. "If the gods haven't noticed her gone yet, they'll definitely noticed then, and they'll break out fighting and accusing each other of taking her that's what they usually do."
"The winter solstice." Chiron spoke up. "Is also, the time of the greatest darkness. The gods gather that day. as mortals always have, because there is strength in numbers. The solstice is a day when evil magic is strong. Ancient magic, older than the gods. It is a day when things...stir."
The way he made it sound so sinister sent chills down my back. and Piper most of thought so to because her grip on my knee tighten.
"Okay." Annabeth said. "Thank you, captain sunshine."
"Anyways, Harry, and Jason will need a prophecy." Rachel said. She closed her eyes, and swooned. Two campers rushed forward and caught her, a third ran to the side, and grabbed a bronze three-legged stool. They eased Rachel onto the stool in front of the ruined hearth. without the fire, the night was dark. But green mist started around Rachel's feet, when she opened her eyes, they glowed, green smoke came from her mouth.
"Child of lighting, beware the earth, The giants revenge the seven shall birth, The forge and dove shall break the cage, And a death shall unleash Hera's rage."
On the last word Rachel collapsed, but her helpers caught her, then carried her over to a corner.
"Something about that prophecy didn't seem normal." Annabeth said. "If breaking Hera's cage will unleash her rage and cause a death...why would we free her, it might be a trap maybe Hera will turn on her rescuers. She's never been kind to heroes."
"Yeah," Nyssa, one of Leo's half-sisters said. "Hera is vengeful. She threw our dad of Olympus, because he was ugly."
"Real ugly," Drew said, snickering.
"Shut up." Nyssa snapped.
"Wait," Percy said "Annabeth, the prophecy said a death well unleash Hera's rage, sounds to me like someone will die and who that person is their death-"
"Will make Hera angry." Annabeth finished, then her and Percy both looked at me, making Piper's hand on my knee tighten its grip even more.
"Maybe Harry should stay here." Annabeth suggested.
"No, I have to go," I said. "Look, you guys may not think much of Hera, after all I don't even know if I like her, but she is still my Mum I have to save her."
"Yeah, we can't just not save the queen of gods." Jason agreed. "Besides aren't you, and Percy the ones always saying this prophecy's isn't always what the sound."
"He's right, they do have double meanings." Percy said.
"It's decided," Chiron said. "Tomorrow morning, Harry, Jason, Leo, and Piper, will leave, and go on this quest, right now I think it's about time we all get to bed."
"Hang on Chiron," Percy said. "Me, and Annabeth are needing permeation to leave camp tomorrow too." A few people snickered at that, and some guys siting not to far from me started making rude jokes, but stopped when Percy glared over at them.
"And what is your reason?" Chiron asked.
"We want to find Nico di'Angelo." Annabeth said. "We got a few things we need to ask him."
"Is this important Annabeth." Chiron asked. "You know how dangerous it is out there right now with all the monsters stirring, and everything."
"We know but it is important." Percy said. Chiron looked from Percy to Annabeth curiously.
"Please, Chiron, we'll be careful." Annabeth pleaded.
"Alright, fine you to have permission to leave." Chiron said."But, try not to take long and be very careful, which reminds me, you best not travel by land any of you."
"Then how will they travel?" someone asked.
"I guess we can use the pegasi or something." Percy said.
"Why don't you all sleep on it tonight I'm sure you will come up with something by morning." Chiron said. " But right now, I think it's time you all went to bed."
As everyone walked off toward their cabins, I afford to walk Piper to hers, we dragged on behind everyone else, so when we reached the Aphrodite cabin all her half siblings were already inside.
"See you in the morning." Piper said, turning to go inside, I grabbed her arm gently and she looked back at me curious.
"Since Rachel interrupted me early." I said laying my hand on her cheek. "This might be the last chance I get to do this." I said then kissed her, I thought she would pull away there for a minute, but then she started kissing me back, and put her arms around my waist and I deepened the kiss, I had one hand on her cheek and one laying on her side, when we finally broke apart we were both breathless, and I heard giggles from inside her cabin, Piper rolled her eyes then looked at me and smiled.
"You're too skinny." She said, squeezing my sides.
"See you in the morning." I bent my head and whispered in her ear, ignoring her comment about my weight, then gave her a kiss on the cheek then headed to my cabin.
A.N. Yes there is a reason I changed the last of the prophecy around some, and the name Heracleitus really does mean glory of Hera, I wanted Harry to be short from something so I looked up names and found that one and liked what it meant so I so used.
