Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.

Consul of the Underworld: The Game Begins

Summer Three: Political Expansion Pack

Beta: Siegfried01


As deep soulful jazz escaped the CD player speakers and filled the room, Alkaid could be found hunched over some papers on her desk, twirling her pen in her hand aimlessly.

Sitting patiently, a few feet away from the studying demigoddess, was a spirit of the dead cheerfully preparing some tea and snacks.

"Alkaid," the spirit called out as she finished. "The tea is ready."

"Oh! Thank you, Mother." Alkaid replied pleasantly as she took a break from her task.

The spirit, Lily Potter, beamed. It was rare for her to spend time with her daughter and she cherished every moment of it, but the times when they actually talked like the few occasions her daughter called her over from Elysium for tea were her absolute favorites.

Alkaid glided her chair over to grab a saucer and teacup. The child of Hades brought the cup up so its rim hovered just under her nose and sniffed the tea daintily before humming in delight, "A strong blend." With a small sip, the demigod paused and considered the teacup cradled innocently in her delicate fingers, her expression unreadable. "I haven't had a bitter type in a while."

"It's what the sugar cookies are for." Lily smiled lightly.

Alkaid shifted her gaze to Lily and eyed the pile of confectionary delights with some sharpness. "Is it some British instinct to make wonderful tea?"

"That and scones." The spirit informed, earning a giggle from her daughter.

"Yes, the chocolate chip ones are my favorite." Alkaid informed her mother. "I had to find a good baker spirit make them for me."

Alkaid reached over for a sugar cookie and nibbled on it as Lily looked on nervously, the older woman's eyes darting about feverishly.

"You're sure Lady Persephone allowed this?"

"Of course." Alkaid reassured kindly. "Though I don't see why that's even a concern."

"Well…" Lily hesitated, it was potentially very dangerous if she chose to be honest. Unfortunately, the matter was taken out of her hands.

Alkaid just quirked her eyebrow, showing her curiosity over the matter and Lily caved. She couldn't deny her daughter anything.

"Lady Persephone doesn't really like me being around the palace." Lily admitted with a defeated look.

"Ah," Alkaid said in understanding. "Well, I don't think anyone can blame her for that. After all, you are the woman Father cheated with. What did you expect?" The girl finished, her customary blunt honesty prompting a small, unnoticeable wince from the spirit.

Lily was a little hurt by that. Alkaid was her daughter! But here she was siding with her stepmother over herself. That said, Lily did understand. It was why she generally accommodated the goddess' wishes and kept away from the palace.

Alkaid glided away with her teacup clutched in one dainty hand, returning to her desk once more. Examining the papers, the child released a contemplative hum, "The Algebra should be simple. History as well. Perhaps I should refresh my English? My dyslexia does make it trying at times. But I do have my glasses for that...but where's the challenge in that?"

"What are you doing, Alkaid?" Lily asked, confused by what her daughter was talking about. Aren't those Muggle subjects? I thought she was studying at Hogwarts.

"I'm prepping for my O Levels, Mother." Alkaid informed, taking another sip of her tea. "I'm taking them once I'm ready, and after that, my A Levels. I need the proper qualifications for college after all."

"I thought you were studying at Hogwarts?"

"I am." Alkaid confirmed simply. "I'm taking the O Levels as an independent candidate and studying for them in my free time."

Lily's mind boggled at that. She remembered her sister, Petunia, preparing for her O Levels and it was intense. And she went to a school which was specially designed to help prepare her. Alkaid, on the other hand, seemed determined to study for them on her own. In her free time. On top of her existing studies at Hogwarts.

"Alkaid, dear, are you sure you're not overworking yourself?"

"I've already finished my Hogwarts summer homework." The demigod mentioned blithely, not looking up from her papers. "Honestly, they could have made it harder. It's was just so simple." She continued, shifting some papers into a stack, her voice colored with disappointment. "But you do bring up a point, I've been working for three hours now. I think I'll call it a day."

Closing her study books and turning off her CD player, the child of Hades spun to her T.V. and clicked it on. A heavy beat started to play, "Yes, I thought I was going to miss it. Right on time." Alkaid smiled as the theme ended with a cackle.

"Is that a cartoon?" Lily asked teasingly. So my too proper little girl can act her age sometimes too.

"Yes, Invader Zim." Alkaid informed warily with a flustered look. Does she think I'll make fun of her for watching cartoons?

"I think it's wonderful that you have such a normal hobby, sweetie." Lily enthused genuinely, glancing at the Carmen Sandiego poster that was stuck to the wall.

"And my other hobbies aren't 'normal'?" Alkaid rebutted with her arms crossed.

"Of course they are," Lily corrected herself hastily. "It's just nice to see you have one more."

Alkaid didn't look fully convinced, but let the matter go in favour of focusing on the television.

For a few minutes, the mother and daughter sat in companionable silence, sharing tea and snacks as they watched Invader Zim on the T.V.

As the show ended, Lily spoke up. "So Alkaid, I hear you're met Sirius and Remus?"

Alkaid nodded.

"How do you like them?" Lily asked with some concern. I really hope she likes them. They're her only real connections to the wizarding world left. As much as Lily hated the wizarding world for prematurely taking away her life in its petty struggles, it was still her culture and she dearly wanted her daughter to be in touch with it.

"Sirius, despite his slight mental hiccups over James, is a rather charming fellow. Though he really needs to drop the dog humor, it gets old. Fast. Not to mention those idiotic puns on his name. He's a great godfather though, always there for me when I need him. I write to him all the time."

That's sweet of Sirius. Lily noted. Though those "Sirius is serious" jokes were quite annoying. She groused.

"He's always sending me tidbits on the latest political scoops. It's fun to chat over."

"Wait." Lily cut in, confused and a little leery of the answer. "So when you say that Sirius is always there for you, you meant he's always there to help you politically?"

"Yes, how else could I have meant it?" Alkaid replied with a look of confusion.

"Never mind, dear." Lily sighed, stifling a rising groan. Oh Alkaid!

"Well you asked." Alkaid replied dismissively.

"And Remus? How is ol' Moony?" Lily pressed, hoping for a change of topic. .

Alkaid made a disdainful noise in response. "I don't like the werewolf."

"Why?" Lily asked, stunned. "He was always the nicest of James' friends."

"Maybe." Alkaid conceded with a huff. "But now? He's just a overly forward fool who can't take a hint to back off or slow down."

And here I thought Sirius was the one who needed to learn to heel. Lily frowned, before taking a sip of her tea. "Well, he can be...eager, at times, I will admit."

"More like all the time. He even has the gall to ask me to cut back on the politicking." Alkaid ranted.

I better be careful about how I tell her that I agree with him. She's got a prickly pride this daughter of mine. Lily thought wryly to herself.

Meanwhile, Alkaid was still at it. "Does he think I can't decide for myself what I consider fun?"

"Well, sweetie, have you ever considered that maybe he's right about the politicking?" Lily suggested carefully. "You do seem to do an awful lot of it. Maybe too much?"

Alkaid just gave her a scandalized look for a moment, before her eyes narrowed in anger.

"Not you too, Mother!"

"Alkaid, I'm just—"

"No! I will not have you, or anyone, tell me how I have fun!"

"Sweetie, I didn't mean—"

"That's an order!"

Lily felt her daughter's power wash over her and compelling her to obey. In life Lily had faced her fair share of compulsions, it was part of the daily life of the wizarding world which used such magic in things as harmless as part of their advertising to things as sinister as outright mind control, but this was a thousand times, no, infinitely more powerful. There was no way a spirit of the dead could defy an order from those of the House of Hades. Not even when said member was your own daughter.

Alkaid paused at this and sighed, lifting her leg up to hug it. Looking away, she said, "And this is why we can't have these mother-daughter moments…"

With tears flowing down her eyes, and her face turned away, in an eerie parallel to her daughter. "I know." The late Potter matriarch agreed despondently.

For a moment, the two sat wallowing in their angst.

Finally though Lily mustered the strength to say, "But even so, I'm very happy to get this chance to talk to you."

Alkaid was quiet for a long while, before in a soft voice replied, "Me too."


Alkaid, playing her Game Boy, walked towards the throne room. She had to make sure her Father wasn't overworking again.

By the Pit, it was supposed to be Melinoe's turn to do this, but her sister had ditched the job. She had a gaming marathon planned today!

She was going to obliterate all those pitiful Zergiots in glee.

And maybe some Terran too.

Oh, who was she kidding? Alkaid was going to kill everyone in Starcraft today.

The daughter of Hades was shaken out of her graphic fantasies though by what she found in the throne room. Her Father wasn't pouring over his paperwork as she'd expected, but was instead lounging on his throne as he looked at a massive holographic display of what looked like the area just beyond the boundaries of Camp Half-Blood.

Is he observing a camper on a quest? Alkaid wondered in interest.

There was one major difference between what was being displayed and the norm though. Currently, the whole display was swarming with monsters. Hellhounds in their hundreds. Ghouls in the dozens. And scores of other monsters besides. All led by the Furies.

Ok, maybe not. Alkaid reasoned with surprise. If Alecto and her sisters are there leading that army, then… Is there someone that Father wants especially to kill?

Wow, she could only imagine what the sorry bastard did to deserve this. Wait, there was that daughter of Zeu-oooh...

"Welcome, Alkaid." Hades greeted his daughter. "Come to join me as I get my revenge?"

Alkaid walked over to her Father's side, watching as she did the sky in the hologram blacken, "Is that Thalia Grace? The daughter of Zeus you told me about?" She commented, looking at the rather thuggish looking girl in black that was leading a bunch of kids towards the Camp. Even as she fought off the hordes of monsters pursuing them, adamantly refusing the help of her companions.

"She seems...arrogant."

"Indeed." Hades agreed darkly, his lips curling upward in a twisted smile. "Her death will be gruesome and her torture extraordinary. A most fitting revenge for Maria."

The daughter of Hades felt her heart ache as she heard her Father talk about his lost lover, Maria di Angelo. Her Father loved all his lovers dearly and did everything he could to protect them, however despite his best efforts they always died. And it deeply hurt her Father every time. Was it then any surprise that he would seek revenge on the one responsible for killing one such love, his brother, Zeus?

And as unfair as it was, the safest, least bloody way to get that revenge was not to go after Zeus himself. That would have caused a war between the gods. But to go after the sky lord's children. To make him feel the pain of losing someone he loved in a similar way that her Father had.

That said, she could empathize with her cousin. After all, all it would take was one wrong move by her or her family, and she could be in the exact same kind of situation.

It was with these mixed feelings churning in her heart, that Alkaid turned to her Father.

"Father, would you like to have a gamble at how this plays out?" Alkaid asked carefully.

"A gamble?" Hades replied, sounding intrigued.

"Yes, over the girl's fate." Alkaid stated firmly.

Hades' face grew thunderous, and for an instant Alkaid feared she'd crossed the line. But fortunately her Father just looked at her, and probably read her feelings on the matter from her mind, and relaxed a touch.

"...Very well, we'll do it your way. If the girl reaches the Camp safely, I'll stop hunting her." Hades said, confirming her suspicions about him reading her mind. "But I will not make it easy."

In response to this statement, the army of monsters suddenly redoubled its efforts to kill the children. They were being overwhelmed when suddenly their leader did something both very noble and very stupid. She gestured for the others to go on ahead as she chose to stay behind and act as a rearguard.

"How foolish." Alkaid commented drily, she sighed and sat at the foot of the throne, her chin resting in her palms.

Hades just nodded. "We give you enough space to decide your own fate, and you choose to commit suicide? Pathetic."

It's fortunate that I wasn't kind enough to push for more. You'd only waste it. Alkaid thought derisively towards her cousin. Though...

"She gets what it means to make a sacrifice though." Alkaid said half-heartedly.

Hades just gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "That's the very basics of being part of our world. Nothing impressive."

"Still it is worthy of respect."

"If you say so." Hades acquiesced, unconvinced.

Just then, the thuggish girl was finally overwhelmed as a hellhound managed to get past her guard and take a big bite into her side and drag her onto the ground. Soon, the girl was dogpiled by a small mountain of monsters who gleefully tore at her.

Even seeing it from the hologram, where the girl was only a relatively small figure, the scene was brutal. Flesh, blood and bone was flying everywhere. The girl was literally being torn apart.

Incredibly the girl was not done yet, with a massive static burst she destroyed the monsters piling onto her. She was terribly wounded, with gaping gashes which weeped blood and even showed bone. Worst still for her, a veritable rain of projectiles, boulders, arrows, grenades, bullets, quills, and everything in between were headed her way.

Just as Hades' smile widened in victory, "Oh I'm so looking forward to her joining my kingdom."

His victory was cut out from under him though as suddenly there was a flash of lightning in the hologram.

A savage howl reverberated throughout the throne room as the Lord of the Dead stood up. "Oh you lying, cheating, asshole! No interference!" He bellowed as Thalia Grace, even as the projectiles hit her position, slowly started to change into a tree. One that, in the throes of metamorphosis, was effectively invulnerable.

"My sympathies, Father." Alkaid consoled.

Hades in turn ignored her, his eyes wild and leaking shadowy energy as they pulsed with power as he snarled at the hologram, too caught up in his own anger.

Seeing this, Alkaid gave her Father a bow and excused herself.

Well, that was entertaining. The demigod thought to herself. But now that it's over… Back to my marathon!

After all, she may have somewhat empathized with her cousin, but in the end she didn't know her at all.

To Alkaid, Thalia Grace ended up being nothing special.


Alkaid, sporting a casual blouse and skirt combo, was walking around Beverly Hills Center Mall, eying the many stores and looking forward to splurging with her Father's Gold Card.

She had originally wanted to take Cerby with her for a walk, but her Father had said no.

Alkaid didn't understand why though, the poor hound could have used some fresh air after all. Though maybe it was because Cerby was an essential part of the underworld's security systems? But then wasn't it even more important to keep him happy and healthy by giving him regular walks?

Her Father had enough sense however to placate her by offering to loan her his Gold Card for the day of shopping at his expense.

Which was good, because she had to get new clothes. Not because she grew an inch taller, that hadn't amounted to much in terms of her clothing, but because she had gotten bustier. It was troublesome graduating to a new cup size.

At least she tempered this irritation by buying a new set of games. RuneScape, Paper Mario, Sonic Adventure 2, and the interesting Conker's Bad Fur Day (which was rated M).

Thank you Magical Persuasion.

As she continued walking right past some donut shop with her purchases, she paused.

Alkaid turned her head, reading the sign that read: ONSETMR NUTOD.

With a second, more focused, glance, she mentally rearranged the letters to form: MONSTER DONUT.

"Oh seriously?" The starry eyed girl complained as her arms slumped. Stupid children of Hermes and making these blasted shopping chains!

Honestly, who ties monster essence to shops that any blind mortal could walk right into to get eaten?

Perhaps standing right there was not the best plan as a large yellow eye blinked inside the the wannabe Dunkin' Donuts. The glass doors slid open with a chime as a diamond shaped snake-like Hydra head poked out, its rows of razor sharp teeth idly munching on the remains of what Alkaid could still make out had been a baby stroller.

"No." Alkaid told the monster as its long neck slithered out of the shop. Alkaid took a few steps back and pointed at it sternly. "I am having a very good day right now, don't you dare!"

The monster merely spat the remains of the stroller at her, making Alkaid toss her purchases to safety a good distance away from the now inevitable fight even as she herself rolled out of the way. She turned to see the remnants of plastic and steel bubbling and melting from the beast's acid-like spit.

Breathing through her nose, the child of Hades stood up and glared at the Hydra head. "You did not just spit that at me."

Alkaid raised her hand."Incantare: Umbra Spatium (Invoke: Shadow Space)." A cluster of shadows writhed into life at her spell and formed under the child of darkness' purchases, causing them to sank into the portal, storing them in her own little shadow realm for her to retrieve later. After the Ant incident and not having her weapons, she had crafted this little spell to ensure she'd have access to them at all times. Though it could, like now, also function as a safe place to store other stuff she'd rather keep safe.

"Well?" the demigod asked, pulling her Grimoire from a shadow next to her hand. Snapping her weapon open and causing it to shift into its true form, she eyed the monster challengingly, "Shall we?"

The Hydra head roared and broke out of the Monster Donut, its remaining eight heads following suit as its lizard body waddled out.

The scene caused the nearby mortals, hundreds of them on this busy day, to scream, shouting random things at the spectacle as they fled from the mall.

"Hm, somewhat small, aren't you?" Alkaid asked with indifference as its heads nearly reached the ceiling. "No matter though, death comes for all, regardless of size."

The Hydra's heads roared as one, the slavering monster's acidic spittle flying everywhere at the gesture, including at Alkaid. The magically gifted demigod merely waved her hand, and a green energy dome warped into being over her head as the pavement around her hissed menacingly, the saliva scorching holes into it.

The acid sizzled against the barrier, burning against the raw mana. Alkaid hummed in interest as it ate away at her shield. "Huh, so it affects magic as well? Interesting."

She always did want to experiment with Hydra venom.

With another wave of her hand, Alkaid's barrier detonated in a controlled explosion, redirecting the acid away from her and hitting a number of nearby stores.

Not like they were good ones anyway.

"Best end this quickly." The black haired beauty drawled, grabbing one of her cards. She didn't want to run into any Romans again. Locking her card in, she snapped her book closed. "This should be poetic! επικαλούνται: Εκατό δολοφονία (Invoke: Hundred Head Massacre)!"

The nine dragon headed lasers fired from her magic circle and soared at the monster's heads like bullets.

The Hydra's heads roared at the lasers and stupidly seemed to try and bite them. The lasers merely ignored the presence of flesh and bone as they punched straight through the heads in an explosion of bone splinters and blood, leaving bleeding stumps. The remaining heads reared back, some strange parody of horror on their reptilian features and the remaining dragon heads collided with the beast, resulting in an explosion that cracked the floor, and causing the glass windows of shops all over the lane to shatter in tandem.

Alkaid smirked. "Now, all I have to do is burn you up and I can pretend this never happened."

Just as the girl was about to cast a basic fire spell, through the smoke, a stream of fire shot out at her.

"What?!" The daughter of Hades shouted in surprise as she unconsciously plucked out a card, her well-honed reflexes shining through, and hurled it in front of her. "Exelion Shield!"

A large magical circle ending in four prongs appeared in front of her, diverting the fire attack and protected her. Alkaid released a sigh of relief as her new spell worked as intended. It was an upgraded Round Shield, a multilayered version of the single layered original, that she'd only recently developed and was now seeing its first use in the heat of combat.

When the smoke cleared and the fire stopped, Alkaid saw the center head was heavily damaged from her attack but annoyingly still very much alive. It seemed the beast had an ounce of intelligence and had used its other heads as part of a sacrificial defense to keep itself alive.

The most irritating part? There were seventeen heads now. It had used its fire breath to hold her off long enough for the stumps to grow back its heads, plus a friend.

"...Nope." Alkaid bluntly stated, agitation in her eyes, "I'm done." She grabbed another card and snapped her Grimoire closed. "Incendium Gehennae (Hellfire Conflagration)."

Just under the belly of the beast, a spiral of black flames circled for a moment before rapidly expanding both horizontally and vertically, becoming a tornado of hellfire. It engulfed the monster whole before continuing ever skywards until it burned right through the roof of the mall.

As the monster wailed in agony and was literally melted away into nothingness, Alkaid smiled. It was always nice to hear the sound of tortured victims. When the monster's cries finally died out, and she felt the monster return to Tartarus, she cut off the spell.

As the fire tornado puttered out, it left black flames licking at bits of the mall, melting everything they touched. Alkaid frowned a little at the effort it took for her to snuff them out. Wandering over to where the monster once stood, she looked down to see…a stuffed hydra head with its features half melted off and locked in a pose of absolute agony. It was even already mounted on a plaque.

It also had her name labeled on it along with the date and location.

"...This is my spoil?" Alkaid stomped her foot, affronted at what she was looking at, "All that effort and I only get its head!?" she complained, "What? Is its poison an ultra rare item drop now?"

What a pain.

She held out her hand, invoking her storage spell to make it easier to bring home.

At least Alkaid could have it hung on her wall she supposed.

"Worst shopping day ever!"


The night before the Quidditch World Cup, Alkaid found herself spending some quality time with her godfather.

With a sip of tea, Alkaid smiled, "It's wonderful to visit your house at last, Sirius." She commented while sitting at the dining table of the house of Black.

"I'm still amazed you found a way to get rid of my mum's raving portrait." The Lord of the house said in awe. "I've been trying everything to get that thing down. And then you come up with the idea to just use some potent poison to bleach it into nothingness? You are brilliant." He raised his teacup in a toast.

Alkaid simply raised hers in kind.

"Kreacher was certainly noisy after that." Lupin, who as always was also around whenever she visited Sirius, bemoaned, rubbing one of his ears, "I think they're still ringing."

"Least I can mute the little troll." Sirius sniggered in glee.

Alkaid chuckled and said, "It was fair recompense for the wonderful birthday gift you sent me."

"You know you didn't need to repay a gift, right?"

"Need and want, Sirius, are two different things." the demigod corrected with a wag of her finger.

Sirius gave a barking laugh even as Remus scowled.

"I don't believe you actually liked his gift."

"And what's wrong with a book of people's secrets? Every politician has one." Alkaid tittered, sipping her tea once more.

It was better than your bog-standard advanced rune text. Alkaid thought to herself. So you have no room to talk, Lupin.

Lupin breathed out through his nose, seemingly trying to control his temper. "But you're not a politician. You're a teenager."

Alkaid just glared at the werewolf for that remark.

"So," Sirius said loudly to redirect Alkaid's attention. "You really like it, then?"

His goddaughter nodded sincerely.

"Good. I spent a pretty knut getting that thing ready. Double-checking and updating the information took a lot of time and money. I'm glad it was worth it." the godfather smirked and leaned back in his seat after snagging a biscuit.

"It was well spent, Sirius. I can assure you of that. Not only do I like it, it will surely prove useful in the future." Alkaid said with a wink.

"I'm sure it will." Sirius said with a smile.

In the background, Remus leaned back in his chair and muttered unhappily into his tea. His companions ignored him.

"You know, I'm a little sad I couldn't be the one paying for your box tomorrow. You know covering this kinda things are supposed to part of a godfather's duties." Sirius lamented.

Alkaid shrugged her shoulders a bit and reached for a scone, "Well, if you're a national hero, you might as well flaunt the perks."

"I know. But to be reduced to a mere chaperone! My heart breaks!" Sirius melodramatically declared whilst clutching his chest over his heart.

"Oh, do behave Padfoot." Lupin said chidingly, even as he fought to hide his smile of amusement.

Alkaid just giggled at her godfather's antics.

"At least you'll have Lady Zabini there to help." Alkaid informed Sirius as he finally stopped fooling around. Being the socialite she was, Blaise's mother wouldn't miss the Quidditch World Cup for the world.

Sirius smiled dreamily. "Oh yeah, she is."

Alkaid could imagine what he was thinking about and honestly couldn't blame him.

Anastasia was very attractive.

Lupin just shook his head in bemusement at their antics. "Perverts, the both of you." he said while rubbing his sensitive nose.

Alkaid sniffed at that while Sirius chuckled, "Hey, we're both fond of the female form. Nothing wrong with that. Plus, better then her datin' some bloke if you ask me. Much less to worry about."

"Never said it was wrong. Just be less open about it." Lupin said, pointing to his nose, "I really don't want to smell it while I'm eating."

Well, if there's one point in your favor Lupin, it's that, like Sirius, you took my sexaulity in stride. Alkaid thought to herself. You're still got a ways to go to get into my good books though.

"Besides, be glad Alkaid was nice enough to send us a letter telling us beforehand rather than letting us find out from the papers or walking in on her making out with some hot bird." Sirius reasoned with 'flawless' logic.

He really likes making Lupin squirm at times doesn't he? The daughter of Hades pondered as she smiled at Lupin's discomfort.

"Well, I'm sure she'd be more tactful than you, Sirius."

"I left a sock on the doorknob, let it go man!"


Silently, the daughter of Hades walked through the halls of the house of Black. Sirius and Lupin had gone to bed early, in preparation for the long day they expected at the Cup tomorrow morning.

But Alkaid was more nocturnal and more importantly had some business to conduct.

Following the directions of her death radar, the child of Hades arrived in the kitchen, the place where she had sensed a Horcrux. Most likely Riddle's, as he was the only known user of that particular death cheating magic in the United Kingdom.

"So what, are you hiding in the pantry now?" Alkaid muttered mockingly as she knelt down in front of a cabinet and moved to open it.

As her hand rested on the cabinet's handle though, a wizened arm grabbed hold of her own. Turning furiously towards her teleporting attacker, she met the eyes of an old and decrepit house elf.

"What is Lady Godling doing with Kreacher's cabinet?"

"Let. Go." Alkaid said chillingly, liquid nitrogen shooting through her veins as she glared at the house elf. A dark aura rolling off the demigod, radiating an intense feeling of death and with it; fear.

Kreacher jolted back as if he had been burned and fell onto his back, "I's sorry, old Kreacher is sorry Missus!" he squealed.

Alkaid just looked at him, "Where's the Horcrux? I want it." She commanded.

Kreacher was shivering in fear, his tennis ball eyes widened even further than ever before. A feat that should Sirius have been around to see would have led him to declare as impossible.

Alkaid nodded, that was about right. She didn't often use her fear powers, but she knew how to work it well. How to use it just right to get what she wanted. It was one of the first lessons her Father taught her about her powers.

The child of Hades was to be feared, even in her nightgown.

The house elf whimpered, "Wha-what is Horcrux, Missus?"

Being deprived of her nine hours of sleep was testing Alkaid's nerves and it showed in the way she glared harder at the elf. "The damn item that Riddle put a fragment of his soul into! What did you think it is? Candy?"

"Kreacher no understand." The ancient elf wailed pathetically.

Alkaid resisted the urge to facepalm, it was like trying to talk to a baboon. No, that was unfair to baboons. Khufu was far more intelligent than this.

"The. Locket." She said slowly, "It's in this kitchen, get it for me. Now."

"Me's don't know what you talking about, Missus." The elf lied unconvincingly as its eyes darted around the room rapidly in a frantic search for some way out of the situation.

Alkaid's aura of fear intensified by an entire order of magnitude, causing the elf's skin to turn chalk white in terror, as her irritation grew into genuine anger at the obstructionist elf. "Argh! Just get out of my way! I know the damned thing is in that closet, I'll find it myself."

"No!" The elf managed despite its abject terror. If Alkaid was not furious at it already, she might have applauded its bravery.

Alkaid paused at that and she stood to her full height so she could loom intimidatingly over the diminutive creature, "...I know over 600 ways to torture people. Continue to annoy me, and I'll see how many it takes to kill you." she said in a voice devoid of emotion.

The elf cowered, but somehow rallied and moved to snap its fingers, to call on its magic.

The daughter of Hades was having none of that. With but a thought the shadows came alive and wrapped themselves firmly around the elf restraining it both physically and with the help of a dose of Alkaid's magic, magically as well.

The elf struggled but it was ultimately futile. It was facing a foe completely out of its league.

"Keep struggling, make my night. Please!"

She was sure if she dumped its corpse in the trash, Sirius wouldn't even blink an eye at the loss. He had after all repeatedly said that he hated the wretched little thing.

"Now let's end this." the demigod said, going over to the closet and rummaging through it for the Horcrux, using her death sense to guide her. "Aha!" the child of Hades said in glee, her smile vicious as she finally fished out a locket with a fancy S engraved onto the front.

Grasping it in her palm, her hand started to glow with black light, "Bye-bye, Tommy Boy~!"

An agonizing cry was heard and the locket shattered into pieces, spilling out of Alkaid's hand and onto the floor. The shadows sank back into the ground and Kreacher plopped to the floor as Alkaid clapped her hands to get rid of the dust.

"And that takes care of that."

"Missus destroyed it?" Kreacher whispered out in awe.

"That was the plan, genius." Alkaid rolled her eyes.

The elf promptly prostrated himself before her, like she was a Chinese emperor of old and he was a mere lowly peasant.

"Kreacher thanks Oh Great One very much. Yous have finished my task! Master Regulus, my truest master, gaves me…" The elf droned on.

Alkaid however was in no mood for this. She had her fill of the crazy already.

"Yes, well, worship me from over there." She pointed to the corner, "Way over there."

The elf obeyed without question, scooting over to the corner like a worm without once raising from his prostrate position.

Not bothering to pay the pathetic creature anymore mind, Alkaid stalked off back to her room and the inviting bed within.

As she entered her room for the night, she let out a relieved sigh. Dealing with Kreacher had been trying and handling Riddle's Horcruxes were always a pain in her rear. Though at least the latter wouldn't be troubling her any more, as by all accounts this was his last one.

She was so preoccupied that she didn't even notice that Rhip was waiting for her on the room's writing desk with a letter. It was not until she heard him croaking for her attention did she turn to him.

"By the Pit, Rhip! I told you not to play your games." The daughter of darkness chided her familiar. I really have to pay better attention to my surroundings. "Hm? What is it Rhip?"

In reply, her familiar prodded the rolled up parchment next to it on the table.

"A letter? I see, thank you Rhip."

Dear Alkaid,

Thank you for dealing with Riddle's Horcrux. Now that they've all been dealt with, the balance sheet on his account is finally in order.

Yours sincerely,

Thanatos.

"I do your job for you and this is all the thanks I get?" Alkaid groused. "At least give me a spoil or something."

If the god of death heard her, he didn't respond.

"Miserly, lazy, death god." Was said after waiting a whole minute and receiving no response.

Rhip croaked comfortingly, which earned him an appreciative head scratch from his master.

Tossing Thanatos' note into the bin, Alkaid headed to bed. Tomorrow looked to be a long day and she wanted to be ready for it.


The next morning, Grimmauld Place's residents awoke early to catch breakfast before their trip to the World Cup Stadium. They were however met with a surprise as they entered the dining room.

"What's this?" Sirius boggled at the spread before them.

"Breakfast, Master blood-traitor." Kreacher informed.

"But…You've never made something like this before…" Sirius exclaimed while experimentally poking the whole ham that the elf had served out for the breakfast. "It's not poisoned...right?"

"Of course nots! Today be most happy day!"

"What are we celebrating?" Lupin asked, eyeing the steaming scones that had a drizzle of butter on them.

Kreacher ignored the werewolf, instead he turned to Alkaid and offered a deep bow as she entered the dining room.

"Ah, yes, salutations." Alkaid forced out.

The creature was still creepy.

And she lived with walking skeletons!

"Kreacher seems to have taken a shine to you, Alkaid." Lupin said teasingly, sitting down and made his breakfast.

Alkaid ignored him just like she so often did when he was being too forward. Sirius winced, though whether at the idea of the elf's new affection for her or Lupin's actions, Alkaid couldn't tell.

"Great One likes her milk warm at breakfast, yes?"

"...Great One?" Sirius asked, still poking the ham in case it came to life to eat them in irony.

"Don't ask." Alkaid rushed out, taking her own seat, "And, um, yes. I do."

Kreacher went to the kitchen, presumably, to make her drink before returning not a moment later.

"Here you gos, Great One." The elf offered with all due respect.

Alkaid took it, the elf eyed her intently. She took a quick sip and said, "Good."

That seemed to please the archaic elf.

Pausing to take another sip (was that Yak milk?), the demigod breathed out a pleasant sigh.

Sirius and Lupin looked at their interaction as if it was a show.

Best get rid of him now before they ask too many questions.

"Kreacher?" As the elf turned to give her his full attention, Alkaid continued. "We can serve ourselves. Why don't you go and get started on the house cleaning for the day?"

"If yous sure, Great One." The elf hesitantly replied.

Alkaid nodded and Kreacher, with a disappointed look in his eyes, popped away.

"Well, that was…frankly creepy." Sirius admitted after he was sure the diminutive creature was truly gone. "I don't think I've ever seen Kreacher so cheerful."

"Agreed." Lupin added.

"On another note, I wanted to ask this last night but didn't get the chance, but why are we leaving so late?" Alkaid directed towards Sirius as she spread some jam on her toast. "Don't we have to set up some tent or other, I recall my friends mentioning that would be necessary."

Sirius made to answer, but Lupin beat him to it.

"We did. Though Sirius was feeling lazy and splurged to hire some help to set things up for us before we arrive."

"That was wise of you Sirius." Alkaid said adopting an imperious tone. "I wouldn't have deigned to do anything as uncouth as setting up a tent."

Lupin looked offended by this somewhat, but Sirius just broke into his barking laugh. Moments later, Alkaid joined him.

"Yes, don't want to ruin a nail, do you?"

Alkaid smirked and took a bite of her toast. After swallowing, she said, "Well, we have help for a reason. Besides, my mani-pedis are to die for."

It paid to have unlimited access to the Underworld Spa. And by Tartarus was she going to milk it.

The godfather and daughter duo just broke into companionable laughter again at that.

"That was a joke?" Lupin asked, looking genuinely confused.

Sirius just sighed.

"Yes, Remus, it was. Siriusly, Moony, if you took the time to get to know Alkaid properly, you would be able to pick up on things like this."

Alkaid tactfully stayed out of this. She could tell where this was going.

"Don't you think I've tried! I've been trying the whole school year but she's been avoiding me." Lupin rebutted with a wave in Alkaid's direction.

Alkaid idly nibbled her toast, breakfast and a show. How delightful.

"Don't make it her fault." Sirius growled. "It's not Alkaid's fault that your overeagerness put her off."

"Overeager?" Lupin demanded, standing up. "Is it overeager to try everything in my power to get to know the last link to one of my late best friends?"

"Yes." Sirius and Alkaid said in unison.

Lupin looked like he had been slapped.

Running a hand down his face, Sirius explained, "Moony. You disappeared on her for 12 years! You can't expect that she'd welcome you with open arms after that. You have to take things slow."

Alkaid nodded her agreement.

Lupin looked mutinous, but held his tongue at the firm look Sirius was giving him.

"Let's talk about something else." Lupin said finally as he slumped into his chair.

"How about the new werewolf laws then." Alkaid suggested. "They as helpful as I think they are, Lupin?"

Lupin seemed to visibly wilt at Alkaid's use of his family name and the lack of familiarity that implied, but answered anyway.

"Yes, surprisingly so. I mean…I already had my post at Hogwarts before they were passed and wasn't really affected. But some of my fellows have really benefited from them."

"Really?" Sirius asked, eyes gleaming with both curiosity and pride. Which was understandable, the laws were his brainchild after all.

"Really." Lupin affirmed, a soft smile growing on his face. "You know how werewolves used to survive on the margins through odd jobs? Well, many of the employers who hired them wanted to take them on as full-timers but couldn't. The laws didn't allow them to. Now they do."

"I thought werewolves were discriminated against. That no one would hire them." Alkaid asked, sounding confused.

"Oh we are." Lupin nodded. "But we also have better stamina, both physical and magical, than a normal wizard and are willing to work for a pittance. What's an employer to not like?"

"Wouldn't informal employment give those benefits at a lower cost?" Alkaid questioned and took another sip of her milk.

"Sure. But that also means that the employer can't be sure of hanging onto their workhorse. Not when he can jump ship to work for someone else that offers him a knut more at the drop of a hat. With formal employment, it's harder to leave. Sure they'll have to pay more but it balances out in the end."

"Especially since werewolves aren't as common as people think, which when you factor in how perfect they are as low wage labor… Well employers have been pressing for this law change for ages." Sirius added while stirring his coffee mug, tapping it with his wand to check if it was poisoned.

Alkaid raised a brow, before nibbling at her toast. "Then why didn't it happen before now?"

"Dumbledore." Both Sirius and Lupin growled.

Caught completely off guard by that answer, Alkaid replied, "What?" While dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she was interested in the details now.

"Surprising isn't it? But it's true." Sirius said with a shake of his head. "I didn't realize it at first, but after starting to push for this bill I did some research and found out that the old goat has been blocking things like this, helpful changes for the underprivileged, for years."

"But isn't he the champion for said underprivileged?"

"So he likes to pretend." Lupin snarled angrily, his fists balling on the table. "I didn't believe it until Sirius showed me his research, and I double-checked it, but he's right. Dumbledore tries to pretend to champion us, the downtrodden, but really he just doles out handouts to us and makes a big show of it while on the sly he uses his influence to block any real change."

"Surely, someone would see through that…"

"They do. Everyone in the Wizengamot with brains can see it. But what good is calling out the man on it? With his influence it'll just be political suicide." Sirius lamented, sipping his coffee after it passed his tests.

Alkaid just had a look of disbelief, "He couldn't have been so influential from the get-go. Why didn't anyone stop him before now?"

"He was insanely influential from the start of his political career. Seeing as he used defeating Grindelwald as the springboard to start out." Lupin reminded Alkaid of this fact of recent British Wizarding history.

"Oh!" Alkaid exclaimed, blushing at her forgetfulness.

The two men just smiled at her. It was rare to see her blush.

"But why is he doing this?" Alkaid asked quickly to distract from her embarrassment.

"To buy followers I think." Lupin said dejectedly. "The man likes to use his favor to recruit talented people otherwise ostracized by our society by offering his backing. I am sad to say that I was probably one of them."

"Not anymore, you're not." Sirius reminded sternly, carving up a slice of the ham.

"No, of course not." Lupin agreed.

"But is he really as cruel as to do this to whole peoples just to recruit the odd talented person? I don't believe it." The Potter heiress pondered, clearing her plate of her light breakfast of some baked beans and a couple hash browns.

"That's only part of it. I think…Well, based on his rhetoric about taking things slow with change and the way he votes, I'm pretty sure he just doesn't want things to change." Sirius hypothesized while attacking his ham slice.

Lupin nodded, pushing his plate away. It seemed he had lost his appetite.

"But why? Why is he so enamored with the status quo?"

"We couldn't figure that out. Our best guess is that the Headmaster likes the idea of him being on top of the Wizarding World. His own little utopia." Lupin lamented, sounding disappointed that he and Sirius had failed to root out Dumbledore's motives.

"Fascinating." Alkaid commented honestly.

For the next few minutes, the trio were silent as they waited for Sirius, the glutton, to finish eating. As he finished up, and switched to nursing some tea, he started up a new conversation.

"Alkaid, remember those inheritance tax changes in next year's Ministry budget that you wanted me to look into?"

"Of course," Alkaid nodded, interested over the change of topic. "Did you give the matter some thought?"

"I did. And I agree with you that it's better to block these changes. But I'm not too sure I want to side with the Dark families." Sirius said uncertainly.

"You really shouldn't." Lupin chimed in.

Alkaid rolled her eyes. Trust Lupin to be biased.

"And you won't be if you vote against these new taxes. You're voting in your own self-interest, that just happens to align with them in this case. You're not joining their faction." Lupin finished tiredly, much to Alkaid's surprise.

"So you've told me again and again, Moony." Sirius replied dismissively. "I want to hear what Alkaid has to say. So watcha think Alkaid?"

"I agree with Lupin." Alkaid said simply. Much to my surprise, mind you.

Lupin shot Sirius a look that screamed "I told you so" but otherwise said nothing.

Defeated, Sirius gave a sigh. "Fine. I'll do it."

Alkaid and Lupin both shot him smiles. Alkaid an encouraging one and Lupin a smug one.

Sirius just crossed his arms and pouted. "No need to rub it in, you lot."

Before either of his companions could reply, Kreacher popped back into the room.

"Great One, your guests are waiting outside." The elf informed Alkaid.

Alkaid clapped her hands together, "Time to get this show on the road it seems."

"You bring 'em in, I'll get the floo set up. I got us a direct line to the Cup. Can't have the 'Great One' portkey with a boot or something." Sirius called playfully as he headed to the fireplace.

"I'll get the bags." Lupin offered, proceeding for the staircase.

Alkaid looked down at her state of dress and decided to go change quickly.

Best not meet her clique in her sleepwear after all.


Justin Finch-Fletchley walked into 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Black family, and couldn't help but be slightly impressed. Sure the trappings weren't something he hadn't seen before. He'd been to plenty of lavish homes. But the home of the Blacks had something else all those lacked: Magic. The magic of the home, of the Black family, seemed to permeate the very air of the house, making it almost seem alive.

His friends' reactions to the stately home were very different to his though, he noted. In contrast to his awe, Hermione was muttering to herself; Anthony looked a little nervous; and Blaise was cool as usual. The three first and second years from last year that was coming with them just looked lost, probably feeling out of their depth. And there was the-ahem...enchanting mum of Zabini's too, who like her son, was looking unimpressed.

Of course they aren't impressed. They're purebloods too. Their house must be just like this.

Justin felt like face palming at his stupidity, but refrained. He didn't want to give his companions a bad impression after all.

Alkaid, who was leading them into the house, turned to smile at them as she opened the stained wooden doors. "We'll be taking the floo there. I know the Zabinis' have taken one before, but I must ask the rest of you if any of you have."

Anthony shook his head. "Not really, but I've heard of it."

"I haven't either. But I've read up on it and it's very fascinating." Hermione beamed, looking eager. "It's like long distance teleportation."

"We use portkeys for long distances like international travel. The Floo is usually for shorter distances, it puts more stress on the body than is ideal during prolonged travel." Blaise told the bushy haired girl.

"It is safe, right?" Justin couldn't help but ask as his nerves got the better of him.

"Oh, we perfected it a long time ago. It's perfectly safe for such a short distance," Lady Zabini assured with a sly smile, "just be sure to use proper pronunciation. The stories I could tell you over some mix-ups."

"I see." The rich muggleborn said unsurely, his worry not at all abated.

"Relax, Justin." Alkaid consoled, seeing his worry. "So long as you calmly copy what we do, you'll be fine."

"Okay, Floo's all set!" Sirius Black announced, walking into the entrance alcove where they were all still gathered. He eyed them and gave a smile, "Welcome to the house of Black, kids. And of course Lady Zabini." He greeted, giving the lady a small bow.

Lady Zabini offered a small curtsey in return. "Well met, Lord Black. Congratulations on your recent win in the Wizengamot."

"It wasn't easy, but even after getting my brain rattled, I knew I could swing with the pros." He winked at the woman, who gave a coy giggle in return.

Blaise rolled his eyes at that, clearly annoyed by his mother's flirting. "Could we get going already? You two can continue your little game there."

"Sure, kiddo." Black replied cheerily. "Just follow me everyone."

With that Black led the group towards a roaring fireplace in an impressive drawing room. Though what caught Justin's eye most was a large orb with a flame within that seemed to burn without fuel.

That's Gubraithian fire, also known as Everlasting fire. Fire that's enchanted to burn forever without dying. Just having something like that around as a knickknack. This truly is a wizard's house. The privileged Finch-Fletchley boy thought to himself.

"Ok. So here's how you use the Floo. First, you take this powder, we call it Floo powder, and you..." Alkaid began to explain and Justin firmly focused on her. He didn't want to end up lost or worse because he did something wrong.

"Ok, now that you kiddies know how to do it. Let me demonstrate by going first." The older man said as he stepped forward to do just that. He was about to toss the Floo powder into the fire when Alkaid interrupted him.

"Hey Sirius, where's Lupin?"

"Moony? I forced him to go ahead and clear the way. We're a big group, best make them make some space on the other side." Lord Black explained.

"Ah, how thoughtful of you."

"I try. See you on the other side." With that, Black tossed the powder into the fire and cried out, "World Cup Stadium," before stepping through the now bottle green flames and vanished with a flourish and a wink as the flames surged.

Justin was a little awed by the sight. He'd been studying magic for three years now and it still managed to surprise him.

"Who wants to go next?" Alkaid asked as she faced her friends.

"I'll go." Justin said. He was still uncertain, sure, but he wasn't going to let anyone see that.

With that Justin stepped forward, doing his best to look confident, and did everything like Alkaid had instructed. Making especially sure to pronounce the name of his destination correctly like Madame Zabini suggested.

With a feeling like he was falling, Justin found himself transported to his destination. Still caught up in the feeling of falling, he stumbled out of the fire at the other end. Thankfully, Professor Lupin caught him.

"You okay there, Justin?" The DADA Professor asked.

Justin only nodded. He was too distracted by the vista before him to do otherwise.

A vast maze of tents stretched to the horizon, creating an incredibly daunting patchwork of pathways that snaked around tents of any shape the imagination could create: pyramids, ziggurats, massive towers with bases the size of a matchbox and tops wider than a truck, hemispheres and tents that leaned at an impossible angle, looking a moment from disaster, and everything in between; and in the middle of this sprawling tent city was a massive stadium, looming above them like a castle in the heart of a thriving city in one of the expensive oil paintings he had seen while accompanying his parents. Made of hulking steel pillars that rivalled the skyscrapers in London, smaller beams ran in between the pillars like knitting to support the massive bowl-like structure that contained the stadium and seats like a net, the gargantuan structure shone like a gem in the sunlight and roared with magic, drowning out the hum of magic from the tents like a vast flood engulfing rivers and rolling and arching off the hills that surrounded the edges of the moor they were in.

Justin was speechless in awe.


Alkaid stepped out of the makeshift fireplace, really just a firepit with a roof set over it using some stone pillars, and onto the campgrounds for the Quidditch World Cup.

The place was impressive. The amount of magic in the air was intoxicating and the magic involved in some of the more elaborate tents on display were intriguing.

But I've seen better.

Alkaid was drawn from her observations when Sirius called out to her, "Hey Alkaid, we're all here. Time to head over to our tent."

"Right." Alkaid nodded. "Come along everyone."

With that the group of friends headed towards the tent Sirius had arranged to be set up. Sirius took the lead, guiding everyone through the throngs of wizards, while Lupin and Anastasia took the rear and made sure no one wandered off or got left behind.

Before long, the group found themselves in front of what looked like a small two story townhouse but made of fabric.

"This is our tent?" Anthony asked sounding shocked.

"Yup." Sirius replied in his typical childish manner. "Trust me when I say it's better than it looks."

Anthony looked disbelieving but poked a head into the door anyways.

He popped out a moment later, looking shocked. "It's bigger on the inside!"

Alkaid couldn't help the giggle at that. Nor could quite a few of the others.

After that little bit of humor, the group quickly settled into the tent. Each being assigned a room either by Sirius, Lupin or Anastasia.

Soon everyone was settled in and relaxing in the tent's spacious living room. Conversation flowed freely and everyone, young and old, were having a fun time.

Alkaid though was getting restless. There was a whole campground of interesting sights just outside the tent and here she was playing hostess.

Thank Rhea, Sirius noticed. Though that might have something to do with Blaise whispering something into his ear.

Blaise really is a great servant, isn't he?

"Alkaid, why don't you go explore the campground? In fact, why don't you all go out and have some fun?" Sirius suggested.

This suggestion was met with enthusiasm by the children who quickly began chattering amongst themselves.

"You sure that's a good idea, Sirius?" Lupin however stepped in to ask, sounding worried. "There's only three of us…"

"No worries, Lupin." Anastasia cut in. "So long as the children travel in groups and return within a reasonable time, say a couple hours, I don't see an issue."

"True, but…"

"Come on, Moony. Let the kids live a little." Sirius urged. "The grounds are being patrolled by the Aurors, so it's perfectly safe and you know it. Don't be such a wet blanket."

"Fine. But they better be back in two hours. And travel in groups with at least one fourth year." Lupin demanded.

"Sounds good." Sirius confirmed, before turning to the children. "That okay with you guys?"

He was met with a chorus of affirmatives.

With that Alkaid and her friends rushed to form groups before heading out to investigate the sights of the Quidditch World Cup.

Alkaid however decided she'd rather do so alone, and so as soon as she was out of sight of Sirius' tent she turned to Blaise and Jane, who she had grouped with.

"I'm going to explore on my own. Do try to behave while I'm gone, alright?" She teased.

"I'll try Miss Potter." Blaise replied good naturedly. "Have fun."

Jane just nodded with a smile.

With that, she slipped away from the group.

There was a veritable city of strange magic to explore and she couldn't wait.


Alkaid was happily wandering the campgrounds taking in all the odd applications of magic that the wizards from around the world had developed and were putting on display in the form of their tents.

It's fascinating because there are so many things I would've never imagined was possible for them, but at the same time intensely satisfying because most the stuff they have isn't that grand for sorceresses like me. The powerful young sorceress thought to herself in satisfaction.

There were however a few intriguingly intense concentrations of power that had piqued her interest and Alkaid was itching to investigate.

The closest and densest of this concentrations of power came from a tent that looked like an oversized Amerindian Tipi which had a sign hanging from a pole outside declaring it as "Inyan's Divine Pub".

Knowing that she was probably too young to be allowed admittance as a patron, Alkaid resorted to quickly popping her head in for a look.

What she saw blew her mind away.

It was full of beings of utterly immense power.

Power far in excess of what a mortal, with a few exceptions, could possibly wield.

...So many, what, why? Why are they all here?!

Gods. Multiple immortal beings were drinking away at tables, shouting, laughing, heck she saw some playing poker!

"Oh look," one of the gods, a man with snake like eyes, a forked tongue and feathers in his hair, pointed to her and said. "It's Hades' whelp."

"So?" A burly dwarf of a god replied, eying his hand critically. "She's here in the crossroads, just like us. Leave her be. Are you playing or not, Quez? Or do those feathers stand for chicken?"

"Bring it you speedo gnome." The feathered god hissed.

"I'm a dwarf, Scales, get it right." The dwarf replied almost absentmindedly.

The serpentine god just glowered at his opponent for a moment before turning back to his cards with a look of concentration on his face.

"Four of a kind!"

The hairy dwarf grinned. "Flush."

The serpent-like god cursed in a language that Alkaid couldn't recognize. For a moment, the daughter of Hades felt a chill go down her spine as if the god's cursing were directed at her. Thankfully he soon started gesturing wildly in the dwarf's direction and broke the spell.

"Eh, eh." A man with a white skull face said to Alkaid as he stepped up from behind her, having just arrived. "No place for a kiddie like you, girlie. Least wait til you can drive, kay?"

"Err.. Right, thank you Lord…" Alkaid floundered, still overwhelmed by what she had found.

"Me be the Baron, girlie." The dark-skinned masked man replied.

"Samedi, my bone man!" the dwarf laughed merrily as he called out to the new arrival, "Pull up a chair!" he gleefully looked to the serpent-like god, "Qeuz's got jack for luck. Should've packed an Ankh, I tell ya."

"I's coming, Bes." The Baron Samedi said, before turning to Alkaid. "Run along now, girlie."

Alkaid nodded slowly. "Thank you, Baron. I will take my leave now."

With a last curtsey, the daughter of Hades took her leave.

A call of "Tell ya Father I said 'Hi', will ya?" following in her wake.

She turned to give the god a nod, but his attention had already shifted focus, he was walking into the pub and presumably to his poker game.

As she left, she heard a mighty shout, "I can drink all you milk drinkers under the table!"

"Who let the Asgardian in here?!"

I guess Lady Hecate was right, the wizarding world really is a crossroad for the pantheons.

Still a little amazed by what she had discovered, Alkaid continued her exploration in a hypersensitive state from all the godly power she'd just been exposed to.


Horace Slughorn, was having a good day at the Quidditch World Cup. He'd had the chance to catch up with some of his ex-students and proteges that had moved overseas and he had almost lost contact with. Which was a great pleasure, not only because it allowed him to renew his contacts, but more importantly, though his detractors would debate this, to catch up with his some of his treasured proteges.

Though the day could be improved further if he wasn't forced to live in a tent.

I'm a man of culture. I deserve better.

He was on his way back to his tent when he came across a group of drunks that, in their intoxicated daze stumbled into and blocked his path.

"Damn those purebloods! Burp!" One drunk slurred to his companions. "Stealing my inheritance like that!"

"Well. *Hick* Seymour, it's not like they actually stole anything." One of his slightly more sober fellows responded. "They just had another kid and started a new branch to inherit over you. They were closer in line…"

"Who cares~!" A third drunk sing songed. "They only did that 'cos Seymour is a fuggle… er… muggleborn."

"I wouldn't say that—" The more sober man said as the group finally wandered off.

Horace just shook his head. That Seymour man was a fool, like so many non-Purebloods the fool expected the old families to just let old lineages with their collected wealth and prestige fall into the hands of distaff relations, sometimes completely unknown to them and outside their class?

Utter foolishness.

The purebloods were sensible enough that they'd been branching their lines wherever possible to claim as many lines for their own families as possible rather than let it fall into the hands of either their peers or worse. A task they'd taken to with vigour since it became clear to everyone that the purebloods were dying out and the threat of lines falling to outsiders were increasing. Or more accurately to capitalize on the increasing opportunities for them to expand their own wealth by inheriting via branch families from related lines that were dying out.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he spotted his star student. Genuinely pleased to see her, Horace approached her, "Alkaid, my girl, so glad to see you!" He chuckled merrily.

The girl nearly jumped, a response that was a far cry from her usually cool and collected self.

In fact, the girl looked like she was on pins and needles.

"Oh! Professor Slughorn. You startled me sir." The young Potter said, composing herself quickly.

Horace chuckled at the rare sight of the Potter heiress behaving any way other than proper and composed. "Yes, well, you seemed to be out of it, my dear. May I ask why?"

"Let's just say…I've just been reminded that the world is a lot bigger than one can imagine." Alkaid informed stiffly and brushed some hair behind her ear.

"Ah, very philosophical of you Alkaid." He mused, admiring her keen wisdom. She was very much right after all. "But regale me how you were reminded of this?" He did love pricking apart her brain, it was rare to see a keen mindset like hers nowadays. Not since...no best not think of him.

"I came across a particularly interesting game of poker." the starry eyed girl regalled.

The potions master hummed at that, "Poker, I would have thought they would have restricted minors from...those areas." He frowned at this, "But do go on."

"Oh. I didn't play. I just observed and heard some thought provoking things from the players." The girl said with her typically sly smile.

"I see." Horace said with a pleased smile.

If she's smiling like that then she's out of her earlier stupor. Good. Though I do wonder what she really came across… But no matter, everyone has their secrets.

"Alkaid, would like to join me for a little excursion? There are many interesting personages here at the moment and it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to them." Horace suggested with a twirl of his moustache, a gesture he had taken to doing when he wanted to seem contemplative.

And we both can gain from that. She gets introduced to new contacts and I get my prestige in their eyes bolstered by my association with her. Mutually beneficial. Just how I like it.

A sentiment she seemed to agree with as she gave him a smile and nod. "It would be my pleasure, Professor."

"Brilliant!" Horace replied cheerfully as he offered the teenager his arm. "Shall we?"

Taking his offered arm, the two set off.

Over the next hour, Slughorn took her to a couple of gathering places on the campground for the upper crust of Wizarding Britain: a makeshift pub set up for the occasion by Tom from the Leaky Cauldron; and a communal tent set up to house the off-duty Ministry staff who had been too miserly to get their own accommodations.

There they had met not just a whole host of Ministry officials but also many other influential wizards and witches of all stripes that were visiting them to, like as the two of them were, do some networking. All the while, Alkaid charmed all they met while he rightfully preened at the jealous looks everyone was giving him for having someone as incredible as her as his protege.

All in all, by the time Horace had to see Alkaid off so she could meet her curfew, his day had been made almost perfect.

Now if only I had somewhere other than a tent to sleep in.


After a rather eventful morning with Professor Slughorn, Alkaid made her way back to Sirius' tent to make the two-hour deadline that the adults had set and for lunch. It was around noon time by now and she was getting hungry.

As she did, she passed a tent shaped like a medieval fort.

Alkaid would admit, it was impressive.

Sitting outside the tent were what looked like its occupants having a picnic by the side of their fire. A group of grandfatherly men and matronly women lounging by the firepit and enjoying the outdoors.

Alkaid was just walking past when a voice called to her.

"Alkaid Potter, right?" The man asked curiously.

Politely, Alkaid replied, "Yes I am. May I help you with something?"

He turned back to the crowd by the fire. "Told you it was her!" He yelled at them and turned to face Alkaid once more with a smile. "Pardon, I'm one of the Professors at Durmstrang, Ralph Dimble."

"We all are, Ralph!" One of the younger looking women shouted to him from across the fire where she was roasting some sausages.

"Right." Ralph amended, sounding chastised. "We're the staff of the Institute, you see."

"Here to see the Cup together, we are." A shriveled up old man muttered. "Here to support our boy Viktor."

"Well except for Karkaroff. Can't pry that man out from under the Institute's wards without an army I'd say." A willowy old woman added.

This statement seemed to be some kind of inside joke as it caused the whole group of Durmstrang Professors to break into laughter.

"Still, since I've met you I have a question for you. May I?" Ralph asked politely.

"Ask away." Alkaid humored the man.

"Thanks. So, I have to ask, why is someone like you hanging onto a sinking ship like Hogwarts?" Ralph asked with a laugh, "I mean, with all the monsters, muggles, and people dropping like flies, you could do way better!"

Alkaid raised a brow, "Like Durmstrang?"

"Well," the man said, adjusting his jacket, "that's a smart choice if I say so myself."

A giggle slipped past Alkaid's lips, "A bit forward, aren't you?"

"It's why he can't get a girlfriend!" The younger woman who scolded him earlier chortled.

"Shut it, Anya!

The Durmstrang staff burst into laughter all over again.

They're a surprisingly cheerful lot considering their school's reputation, aren't they?

While she was scanning them, an old woman with a bent back and a long nose, quite clearly the oldest there, walked over to her, "Now now, I believe the dear was heading somewhere, yes?"

"I was heading back for lunch actually," Alkaid answered the elderly witch cautiously.

What is this? So much power! Is she a god? No...the flavor is different. They are in the same weight class but they're not the same kind of power. Alkaid balked in her mind, leaving her just staring at the old woman, Who is she?

"Oh, then we shouldn't hold you back any longer." The ancient Professor said as she turned to look at her colleagues who all gave agreeing nods.

"Here take this, as an apology for us holding you back, deary." The old woman said, pulling out a small bag of...chocolate chip cookies.

"Thank you…" Alkaid said, taking the bag with great care. As if it were a possible bomb.

"Be sure to share with your little friends now." The wrinkled woman cackled out and turned to walk back to the fire.

"Goodbye, Miss Potter." Ralph waved as Alkaid gave her own wave goodbye and headed off.

She needed to hurry if she didn't want to be late. The latest delay had eaten up a good chunk of her remaining time.

Even as she hurried though, she couldn't help but ponder on the old woman's nature.

Who and what was she? And why did she give me cookies?


The interior of the large tent was as glamorous as its exterior as a townhouse implied. In fact if not for the exterior fabric walls, one could mistake it for one. In this respect, the dining room was no exception. It featured a skylight over the dining table, how that worked no one could readily figure out since the floorplan had a bedroom suite directly above the dining room, in a large spacious room which when combined with the open concept design of the first floor in general served to give one the feel of being outdoors. A feeling enhanced by the solid wood table and matching chairs, which evoked a sense of being in the woods.

It was in this luxurious dining room, several hours after her exploring and the lunch which followed, that Alkaid and all her friends had gathered for a light dinner before the start of the match. Except Pyrrha, it seemed Camp was more important than a wizarding sports event. Or at least that's what Alkaid used to rationalize things to herself, when her invitation to her fellow demigod returned unopened. The daughter of Ares may not be actively angry with her anymore but she certainly was not on friendly terms with her either.

The daughter of Hades comforted herself with the knowledge that her other friends at least were here. Especially one friend in particular.

At seeing Daphne, her lips glossy and blue eyes shimmering, butterflies fluttered in the demigod's stomach. Their previous goodbye coming to the front of her mind and caused her heart rate to go up.

She swallowed the building nerves and walked over to Daphne and sat next to her. Before the strawberry blonde could even say hello, Alkaid hugged her and leaned up, planting a kiss on her cheek.

This action elicited a few surprised exclamations from her friends, but this was quickly shushed by the others.

Ignoring her other friends, Alkaid only had eyes on Daphne. "I'm merely returning the favor."

She looks so cute blushing. The daughter of Hades thought to herself with satisfaction over being the one to elicit that response.

"...So, are we a couple now?" the Greengrass heiress asked, still trying to rein in her blush.

Alkaid just leaned in slowly for a kiss. Taking the hint, Daphne moved to complete it. The two girls shared a soft chaste kiss.

A warm tingling sensation danced across Alkaid's lips as they met Daphne's soft and cherry flavored ones.

Wow! The daughter of Hades thought to herself feeling uncharacteristically giddy. I'm actually kissing Daphne. My girlfriend, I have a girlfriend!

"...That's hot." Anthony croaked, looking faintly pained, only to get kicked in the shin by Padma. "Ow! What?" He looked at the Indian girl.

"Hmph!" Padma merely huffed, crossing her arms and looking away from him.

"Finally!" Tracey threw her arms into the air. A sentiment shared by Lisa, Ginny and Luna if their broad smiles were anything to go by.

A sulking Blaise handed a smirking Andrew a handful of galleons. In a eerily similar fashion, Sirius passed Anastasia what look like a cheque.

Justin made what sounded like a disgusted sound but quieted as people turned to look at him curiously.

Hermione just look bewildered. A look shared by a good bulk of the rest of the study group and Lupin who apparently had not noticed the blossoming feelings between the two girls until now.

"See Moony? Way safer then a boy." Sirius whispered to his friend, apparently already over losing whatever bet about his goddaughter's relationship he had with Anastasia.

"I can see that…" Lupin trailed off, before shaking his head almost like a wet canine and faced the new couple. "Congratulations, Daphne, Alkaid."

Rounds of congratulations for the two girls quickly followed, some more hesitant than others. Thankfully, no one said anything untoward, though that might be due to the adults keeping a stern eye on the whole affair. Especially on Justin who stammered rather insincerely through his congratulations.

In the face of this, Alkaid just laced her fingers with Daphne's, a sunny smile on her face. She shyly glanced at their audience.

"Don't mind us!" Sirius declared with a pleased smile. "We'll just get started on dinner. You two lovebirds continue what you're doing."

The couple's faces burned red at this. Deciding she wanted more privacy, Alkaid stood up and pulled Daphne into the stairwell, the only place which allowed any decent privacy on the first floor.

They settled on the steps, a calm quiet between them.

"Your hand's cold." Daphne whispered, nudging herself closer to her new girlfriend, her grasp tightening within Alkaid's.

The demigod bashfully replied, "Sorry, hope you don't mind."

Daphne merely raised the hand to her cheek, "It's nice for the summer." she slyly said, earning a flush from Alkaid.

Oh she's a clever girl, isn't she? The flustered demigod mused with a smirk.

Looking at Daphne's glowing eyes though, Alkaid found herself swallowing a lump in her throat, Now what? Dating sims really don't prepare you for this!

Her panic must have been obvious as Daphne leaned up to kiss her lips once more, causing the same sensation as earlier to flare across her lips. This time though it felt even better, more intense.

"You're cute when you worry."

Alkaid pouted at this, making her new girlfriend giggle.

Just as the daughter of Hades was about to give a witty retort, Anastasia walked up to the two girls.

"Girls, it's almost time to go. Come along you need to eat before we head off," the older woman gave the couple a sly smile and a wink. "You can continue this later."

The couple flustered but nodded in near sync and followed the woman back into the dining room.

Daphne leaned against Alkaid and whispered, "You have no idea how happy I am right now."

Alkaid's response was kissing Daphne's soft cheek once more.


The night's match, the final of the whole finals tournament, was only twenty minutes away from starting now and the stadium was steadily filling up; and the field was going through final checks. Alkaid and company were in her own box that the Ministry had helped her and Sirius purchase tickets for.

Alkaid would have dearly liked to spend this time before the match with her friends, particularly her girlfriend, but alas pleasantries needed to be exchanged.

"Sorry about this everyone." Alkaid said apologetically, especially towards Daphne to whom she turned to face at this declaration. "But since the Minister got us this box, it's only polite that I go thank him."

"Why now though?"

"He asked for it. For publicity's sake most likely."

"Alkaid, let's go." Sirius, her chaperone for the trip up to the Top Box, urged. "If we don't go now, we'll definitely miss the start of the match and I don't want that."

"Coming, Sirius." Alkaid said with a roll of her eyes.

Alkaid climbed the relatively short flight of stairs between the box she, or more accurately Sirius, had acquired with the Minister of Magic's help.

Inside the Top Box, which Alkaid noted was only slightly more luxurious than her own but a lot more spacious, were a whole host dignitaries.

The daughter of darkness had met a good number of the British delegates already, just earlier this morning in fact while she was with Professor Slughorn. The Bulgarian and Irish delegates were wholly new to her and her inner politician was dancing in joy at the chance to network with these foreign bigwigs.

Before she could do anything though, Alkaid was ambushed by the waiting British Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

"Alkaid! How wonderful to see you. How have you been?"

As her hand was shook to obnoxious levels, Alkaid smiled at the Minister.

You're overacting you bumbling moron. Alkaid critiqued. Everyone can see you don't know me at all.

Deciding to humor the man, the demigoddess smoothly said, "Very well, sir. Thank you for your help with our Box. We wouldn't have managed to get such a good view otherwise."

Not without paying twice as much anyway.

In the background, cameras flashed.

Well, it looks like there's a good chance of me being in the papers tomorrow.

"Ah! Think nothing of it," the portly man merrily replied.

At this point, Sirius coughed rather loudly.

To Fudge's credit, the man took her godfather's cue to back off perfectly.

"Sirius, my good man! Wonderful to see you as always." Fudge said as he pretended to enthusiastically greet the man.

"Minister." Sirius replied bluntly, his Lord Black mask on full display as he shook the Minister's hand.

Nice way to tell me that he's not our friend, Sirius. Though maybe you should have told me before we got here? Alkaid inwardly sighed at her godfather's lack of foresight.

Not letting Fudge delay them any longer, probably so he could get this done as quickly as possible —Sirius had no patience — her godfather guided her away from the portly man.

He steered her towards a man she recognized from her research into the participating nations for the Cup, the Bulgarian Minister of Magic.

Fudge tried to follow, but a cold glare from Sirius froze him in his tracks.

Looks like Sirius still hasn't forgiven the Ministry for his stay in Azkaban.

Refocusing her attention on the man in front of her, Alkaid activated her translation spell and greeted the man in fluent Bulgarian, "It is an honor to meet you, Minister Oblansk."

"You know a translation spell? Wonderful! And here I assumed I would have to switch to English for you, child." The burly minister replied in his native tongue.

"You can speak English?"

"Yes." He explained before, leaned towards her and whispered, "Just don't tell Fudge, he's been miming to me the whole time. A real fool that one is, very funny."

Alkaid just giggled demurely.

This earned her an odd look from Sirius. But she just gestured to Fudge, who was currently distracted with talking to the Irish Minister, and he nodded.

If he can overact so can I.

Oblansk seemed to catch on too and smirked, "You have a very impressive heiress, Lord Black."

"Thank you, Minister Oblansk." Sirius replied as he offered his hand. "And let me say that it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likevise." Oblansk replied as he clasped Sirius' hand and gave him a warm handshake. "And my sympathies for vhat you endured."

"Thank you. Your government's support for retrials for all Voldemort war convictions was appreciated."

"Not dat it did any good." The Bulgarian lamented.

"I'm grateful regardless." Sirius replied sincerely.

"It vas nothink." Oblansk waved away with a dismissive air. "After de farce in the aftermath of de Grindelvald var, ve in Eastern Europe learned our lesson about such things. Reminding others vho seemed to have forgotten vas an obligation."

"Wait, you can speak English?!" Fudge said in stunned surprise as he finally joined the conversation. "And you've been letting me mime everything all day!"

"Vell, it vos very funny." Oblansk hedged, even as he made a subtle shooing gesture to Sirius and Alkaid.

"I acted like a clown!" Alkaid heard Fudge complain as she and Sirius slipped away, her godfather giving Oblansk a nod in thanks for the distraction.

The duo spent the next ten or so minutes networking. Alkaid was a little frustrated as thanks to her need to overact to highlight Fudge's own poor acting skills, she was unable to do anywhere as much as she'd have liked.

That said, she still managed to make a good impression on both the foreign Ministers and a handful in their entourages so she still counted the session as a win.

As they finally made to leave, Alkaid paused and turned her head to an empty seat next to a house elf.

"Alkaid?" Sirius asked, jarring her attention.

"Ah, apologies. I thought I saw something, but it was just a trick of the light." the demigod informed her godfather, "Let's head back, the match seems to be starting at any moment."

Sirius nodded and they made their way out of the Top Box and returned to their own.

Someone just died in that seat. Someone under invisibility. I wonder who it could be?


Alkaid had thought that going back to her own Box would have allowed her to spend some quality time with her new girlfriend. And it did, after a fashion. She got to spend time with Daphne alright. It however was rather lacking in terms of quality. Where the new couple had hoped to have some quiet time to themselves to talk and maybe kiss a bit (Something Alkaid was eager about), they instead had to make do with just being with each other in a madhouse of a room surrounded by dozens of suddenly rabid sports fans. With a few exceptions, like Sirius and Ginny, most of their companions usually didn't much care for sports, but seeing them during the Finals, you'd never know that. All of them were so caught up in the fever of the game that even usually shy and reserved Luna was cheering like a madwoman.

When the Irish finally won, Alkaid and Daphne were just glad that it was all over.

They were of course disappointed that they couldn't enjoy the alone time they'd wanted and was a little upset that their time together for now was over, Daphne had to go back to meet with her family immediately after the match, but by that point the idea of just getting away from the madness was appealing enough for them to forget those issues for the moment.

They after all had the whole school year ahead to spend time together.

This thought brought a smile to Alkaid's face as she prepared to do one last thing before she went to sleep for the night.

She'd retired for the night early on the pretext of being tired out by the earlier mayhem during the match. Her godfather had seen through her excuse but he didn't call her on it while muttering about her wanting to sulk about not getting to have a good time with her girl. Once safely in her locked room, Alkaid prepared to raise the spirit that she'd felt die in the Top Box and satisfy her curiosity.

"Raise, spirit of the dead." Alkaid commanded, holding the circumstances of the spirit's death in mind. It wasn't the best catalyst to summon the dead, a name or treasured possession was usually better, but it was good enough and all Alkaid had.

At her command, wisps of unearthly vapor streamed out from the shadows and began to pool in front of her, quickly taking the form of an emaciated man. One with Voldemort's Dark Mark on his arm that he wore with obvious pride even in death, if the way he went out of his way to display it was anything to go by.

"Who are you, Death Eater?"

"Bartemius Crouch Junior… Milady." The dead mean said with great reluctance at addressing the daughter of Hades with the appropriate honorific.

That's impressive willpower on his part. The dead can't defy the commands of one of the House of Hades, and to resist is a feat in itself.

"How did you die?" Alkaid ordered cooly. Even if he was mildly impressive, she wasn't going to let him know that.

"My Master is dead. I had nothing else to live for."

"How did you even know he was dead? And how did you die after knowing? At the Top Box at the Quidditch World Cup of all places?" the daughter of Hades pressed, wanting full details over the matter.

"The Dark Mark. My Lord explained how its intensity showed us his strength among other things. When I saw it all but fade, and my link through it to my Master fall apart, I knew the worst had come to pass." Crouch explained with deep sadness. Only freshly dead, the man had yet to lose his emotions as the bulk of spirits did after their passing.

"All I wanted once I realized this was to join my Master in death. But my father and our elf, Winky, they tried to keep me alive. Force fed me food and drink. But it was no use. I had lost the will to live and I started to fade away." The Death Eater said with a smile.

"At the World Cup?" Alkaid said with a quirk of her eyebrows. "Trying to choose a high profile place to die?"

Hopefully he won't go on rambling again, and just give me a straight answer this time.

"No." Crouch's face grew soft then. "That was Winky's, bless her soul, doing. She raised me as a child. She knew I used to love Quidditch, so she begged my father to let me attend. She hoped it would encourage me to live." The dead man's eyes grew manic then. "But I would not be denied my reunion with My Lord!"

Still too much useless information, but better. Thank the Pit I've no more questions for him or I'd be here hearing his sob story forever. Alkaid grimaced inwardly, it was the sad consequence of interrogation. Even when people were questioned under compulsion, you had to let them answer in whatever way they wanted, because if you forced them to only tell you what you think you want to know, you'll end up missing things that they would have otherwise told you if you let them run their mouth.

"And you were under invisibility because you're a Death Eater running from the law." Alkaid stated, though Crouch took it as a question and was compelled to nod.

"Good. Good. That explains things for me. You can go now." The daughter of Hades said in dismissal.

In response, the spirit's form promptly collapsed into the unearthly mist from which it was made and flowed back into the shadows.

Satisfied that she had done everything she needed and wanted to do for the day, Alkaid got into her bed planning to get a good night's sleep.

Her plans were dashed though when before she'd even fallen into a light doze, urgent banging echoed from her door.

"Alkaid, get outside! You've gotta see this!" Sirius told her urgently.

Groaning at her interrupted attempt at sleep, Alkaid moved to her door, opening it to see her excitable godfather, "What's going on?"

"They're doing some kind of fireworks display, it's amazing! Come on!" Sirius told her, taking her hand, and nearly dragging her outside.

"Sirius, I can walk on my own, thank you...very...much…" the child of Hades trailed off as she looked skyward and was left gaping at what she saw there.

Sirius was right, there was a show going on.

But it wasn't anything close to fireworks.

As she watched, a large warhammer flew into the air and discharged a massive burst of electrical energy.

Sweet Mother Rhea...

A massive dragon, it's form constantly shifting from one type of draconic shape to another, was spewing out massive sheets of rain and gale force winds.

...The gods from earlier…

A extremely muscular man in samurai armor, stepped forth and in a quick draw of his katana, released a whole new swirling storm to the already brewing mix.

...They're...Oh by the Pit, they're showing off to each other! Alkaid panicked while the mortals were cheering stupidly for more of the flashes of lights and sound.

What is this? God-Fest 2001?!

Wait, that one in the hoola skirt! Haikili's here too?! The child of the underworld groaned as the merry thunder god was laughing about, popping off thunder here and there.

A clearly very drunk, he was swaying unsteadily, man that looked like some of the Andean peoples Alkaid had seen in her books and on television, was the next to add to the growing display. He spitaked, literally, a fountain of what must have been freezing rain if all the hail mixed into it was any indication.

Frankly, the little godly contest should have killed all the foolishly gaping mortals below them.

Thankfully, not all the gods had taken leave of their senses.

A gigantic spider had weaved a web across the heavens that served to prevent most of the insane amounts of power the other gods were throwing around from striking the earth.

"Damn these idiots!" The spider complained as it rushed to repair another hole in its web that a stray lightning bolt had created.

"Have a drink Anansi! It'll be fine Anansi. Ha, I knew this would happen!" the spider god claimed, knitting another hole in his webbing from stray hail.

"They're so drunk, they can't even see how their little pissing contest is going to wipe out half the wizarding world!"

He did a double stitch after a lightning bolt forked at his protective net. "You, Thor, stop vomiting over there and recall your stupid hammer!"

"And what happens if they do? That'll kill the crossroads and we'll never get to do this again, that's what! Then we'll all be shit up the creek without a paddle! Everyone will come gunning for us for ruining the fun!" He squeaked and ducked out of the way of a beam.

"Hey Tiamat! Watch where you shoot those chaos rays, you old dragon hag!" Anansi shouted at the ever-shifting dragon as he mended a massive tear in his web created by what must have been said 'chaos rays'. "I'm never going drinking with these dimwits ever again!"

At witnessing the display of drunken godly power, Alkaid just walked as calmly as possible back to her assigned room.

Her godfather and friends called out to her, but she ignored them.

Reaching her room, she flopped onto her bed, futilely trying to close her eyes.

Too bad she was too stupefied by what she'd seen and was still happening outside.

It was a very sleepless night for our poor heroine.


Omake: Little Black Book

Alkaid was browsing through her godfather's birthday gift to her. It was as usual for Sirius, the first gift to arrive. Well, at least from the wizarding world. Her gifts from her family and friends in the underworld had, for obvious reasons, reached her first.

It wasn't until she came to a certain page, with pictures included, that she paused.

Shifting her head sideways, observing the pictures, Alkaid said, "What are they...oh!" she flustered and looked at the moving pictures, intrigued, "So that's S&M...wow, mortals sure have gotten creative in the bedroom." She leaned back and hummed.

"Is that a collar?" Alkaid asked rhetorically as she flipped the page and saw another photo.

"Oh, that whip is wrapped in barbed wire. Geez, mortals are weird." the demigod mused. "That's quite a lot of blood though. Messy. And he likes this kind of thing?"

Turning the page to another picture, Alkaid wondered, "Who is this anyway?"

Quickly flipping back to the front of this section, she finally spotted his name. "Yaxley?"

"Isn't he one of those 'Imperiused' Death Eaters?" The daughter of Hades pondered, stroking her chin. "If I recall correctly, he's a member of the Wizengamot, one of the big players among the dark families."

A smirk slowly spread across Alkaid's face, her eyes gleaming, "I wonder… What would he do to keep me from publishing these photos?" Flipping the pages of the book again, Alkaid's smirk grew even wider. "Oh, what's this? He killed people while playing with them?"

Her smirk drooped a little though when she read slightly further ahead, "Aw! So there's no hard evidence for that. Just rumors."

Flipping a few more pages, Alkaid felt her smirk return in full force as she saw the names of the who's whos of wizarding Britain. All with a list of some of their most embarrassing little secrets.

This is a blackmail goldmine!

"Thank you, Sirius! You're the best godfather ever!" The delighted daughter of Hades cheered as she continued to read through her gift.


And here's to another one! I think we're halfway through the Potter series now. Thanks to the team as usual, Nameless, Sieg (you rock dude), thank ya kindly.

Nameless: Alkaid went through a number of different portrayals this chapter, no? She's a stone cold bitch one minute, a young woman in love the next, and quite a few other pit stops in between. So which is the true Alkaid? Well, all of them of course. She just shows a different aspect of herself to different people and in different circumstances just like real people do. People are complex things and so we're tried to make our characters equally as complex.

She also likes to blackmail people, she's a player like that. And with a book that fun to read, well, Alkaid will no doubt be having her fun over the years.

Nameless: And you finally see what we meant by the Wizarding World being a crossroads between pantheons. It's a meeting spot where gods, and other things, from different mythologies get to mix around. We've shown this before of course, but here's us demonstrating this on a large scale. Hope you like it.

We tossed in a good mix of a lot of gods of different cultures. Now, just in case, I want you all to know we are not ragging on any cultures, we just want to spread the love to some of the not commonly shown pantheons. So no race bombs please!

And what you've been waiting for; Daphne!

Yes, Alkaid has her little strawberry blonde crush as a girlfriend now. You've all been waiting for it, I know you have been! Now, declare your OTP! Worship Alphne! Or maybe Dalkaid? Dalkaid sounds easier.

Sieg: YURI. YURI. YURI. Mwahahahaha!

Nameless: Now how long will they last, huh? The whole story? Or will early favorite, Pyrrha, reenter the race? Who knows? Well, we do, but we're not telling… Read and find out.

Oh, yeah, Volde's gone too if some of you are wondering. That's it. He's that unimportant.

Nameless: Yeah, some of you might say "But that makes this a fic where PJOverse has utterly stomped the HPverse." And well the answer to that both yes and no. Yes, because let's face it, contrary to what some poor fic writers may think a wizard, even Volde, really isn't going to amount to much in the PJOverse threat scale so keeping him as a central threat for too long is kinda silly. As the most powerful of our MCs at the moment, it just makes sense for Alkaid to deal with him as casually as a powerful demigod rightly should. Plus, the HPverse is actually a damn small place, so it's only logical that eventually a character exposed to a broader horizon like say the PJOverse would outgrow it.

On the other hand, no, the HPverse isn't being stomped because while the antagonist of the HPverse has been dealt with that doesn't mean that its setting has disappeared. It's still the backdrop for the story and that has not been suddenly completely overshadowed by the PJOverse. And while Alkaid might outgrow day-to-day involvement in the wizarding world, we can assure you it'll remain an important background element in this story and its sequel(s), more so than it will [SPOILER] in the the Rhode and Andi verses. [SPOILER ENDS]

Yeah, what Nameless said.

Sieg: Manchild...I swear.

Wouldn't have it any other way XP

Be kind and review, no flames, and peace off!