A.N.: Hey so I am so sorry it took so long, I got a major case of writer's block, I got stuck around the middle it was ridiculous! I think it's because I hadn't had candy in like forever, seriously, I think my fingers went on strike! So I broke down negotiations yesterday and ate so much sugar I couldn't see straight! It worked! Lol Though I think I may have gone a little crazy there for a bit so sorry if some parts don't make sense! I still don't have a beta so everything is really up in the air on errors! So forgive me my dear readers my grammar, spelling or anything else isn't perfect! Read and review! Also I put that question from last chapter up on my Poll so go to my profile if you haven't voted!
Chapter 14: Insanity's Company
"Madness is like gravity… all it takes is… a little push."
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Madeline huffed as she practically ran down the hall hoping that Harry was still awake so she could give him his long overdue hugs. She was still angry that the guild and the Ministry wasn't giving her any time to breathe to herself let alone spend time with her son. The guild had her making potions every morning, due early enough that she was forced to wake early and the Ministry had hired her for tournament detail. Between making potions for the guild, and preparing the field where the first task will take place she had barely been able to eat.
When she made it to the rooms she made her way quietly to Harry's room hoping to catch him wake for once and if not then so she could check in on him in sleep. Madeline might have been busy the last few days but that didn't mean she didn't love her son enough to make sure he was all right. Most of the time she snuck in his room, kissed him on the forehead and spent a few moments just holding his hand before going to bed herself.
She opened his door, trying very hard to keep the door from creaking horribly and tip toed to Harry's bed intent on seeing his face at lest tonight. What she saw surprised her, and made her a little upset. There was Leon passed out and looking as satisfied as the cat that ate the canary, topless, holding HER little BOY like it was an every day occurrence. Oh Merlin she hoped it wasn't because she was not at all ready for her baby to have boyfriends or girlfriends for that matter!
Still, Harry looked peaceful snuggled up on Leon's chest with the bigger boy's arms encircling him securely and she just didn't have the heart to hex the kid for being there. Smiling a little sadly she softly walked up to the bed, silently pulling the blankets up to cover them more and brushing the hair from his forehead to kiss him gently there. Her boy was growing up, indeed he had grown up long before she had called him son but it didn't make her any less sad to acknowledge it.
Madeline truly loved Harry like she had given birth to him herself, and even if she knew one day she would have to let him go it hit her just as hard as any parent. She quietly made her way back to her own room silently shutting the door behind her and letting out a melancholy sigh. Sometimes she wondered if being an Silver minted Master was really worth the extra money since it took her away from Harry so often. However, she had to remember she did what she had to so she could provide the life Harry deserved and not the one she had suffered.
Nonetheless Madeline decided that in the next two years after she had enough of a nest egg going she would get herself demoted to a Crimson minted Master so she could spend her time with Harry. Thinking about her jobs reminded her that she needed to tell Harry what the first Task would involve so he could be prepared to face it. She decided that the guild's potions could wait tomorrow morning, never mind the trouble it would cause, because she wanted to spend time with her son.
She woke up the next morning before the sun had risen and used the extra time to get ready for the day. The uniform was washed and set aside for her; she quickly braided her hair with an easy spell and made her way to Harry's room. She made it in time to see Leon sneaking out looking very guilty, she did her best to put on her disapproving mother glare and it seemed to work, as he looked even more ashamed after that. Though she had the decency to wait until he had slunk into his room before letting the satisfied smirk cross her face.
Heaving a sigh she knocked softly on the room and waited for the soft, 'Enter', before proceeding into Harry's room. He looked like he had just finished getting dressed and he looked as serene as ever. But Madeline knew better, the look in his eyes said it all, he was greatly distressed about something and he just looked so sad. Immediately she enveloped him into a warm hug, stroking his messy hair and kissing him softly on his temple.
When she pulled away she saw the effect that had on him, his eyes were somewhat glassy like he was holding back tears and that worried her as Harry NEVER cried. Madeline didn't say a word though; instead she shut the door and coaxed him to sit on the bed. She got a brush from his trunk, sat behind him and began to tenderly brush his hair simply waiting for him to open up to her. "My mother," he spit it out like poison, "ran into me yesterday." The only outward reaction she showed was the tightening hold on the brush handle but she still continued to brush his hair soothingly. "Oh, honey I'm so sorry I wasn't here. The guild has me up in knots trying to fill their orders and I have hardly had time to breathe." She gripped his shoulder with her free hand to show her support.
"But, love, you knew they were going to be here." She rubbed up and down his arm to take the bite out of her words. Harry sighed, "Yes, and I thought I had been prepared to face them. But seeing her yesterday, speaking with her, looking at her…I couldn't handle it." He sounded so lost it broke her heart and she decided to let the whole 'letting another boy sleep in your bed with you' issue go. "You know, it's her fault. It was HER filthy muggle relatives that I was placed with, stupid mudblood whore." He grumbled almost as an afterthought. Madeline just smiled sadly at that, she knew Harry didn't have a prejudice against Muggle born wizards/witches and it was just his opinion of his Mother. Still, Madeline also knew she would have to talk to him later about saying such words so openly because one never knew who you can offend using such language.
"I know baby, I know. Just remember next time to keep a better hold on yourself," she eyed the various broken items scattered around the room and wondered how she had missed it last night…she must be more tired than she had supposed. "Yes, you are right mom," He said in resignation knowing that it was true, he could not show such weakness as a leader. Nonetheless, having his mom here brushing his hair, giving him a hug and telling him to regain control over himself was just what he had needed today. Harry even decided to forgive her for not showing up the last two days because he knew how much work she did for the guild nowadays.
"I've missed you," she said kindly while she began to braid his hair, "there is something else I needed to tell you about today. It's the reason I decided to tell the guild to screw themselves today." She chuckled lightly lightening the mood and making Harry smirk briefly at her wording. Just then Tink came twinkling in, obviously upset with him, and Grace slid in hissing under the door. Both of his companions were obviously offended that they had been sent away but Harry managed to appease them somewhat. In the end Tink snuggled into his newly braided hair for a nap and Grace snaked her way around his middle deciding that a nap sounded good then too.
When that was settled he faced his mother, whose eyes were shining with mirth and was smiling gently at him. He resisted the urge to blush in embarrassment and said, "I'm sorry 'bout them, now what was it you were saying before we were so rudely interrupted." Tink pulled on his hair and he smiled inside at her attitude, it seemed he wasn't fully forgiven yet. "Oh yes, it has to do with your first task. I've been contracted with the Ministry to work the field and so I've managed to find out what your facing…"
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If there was one thing Tom Riddle wished for it was to have a body of his own, if only for the fact that he didn't like remaining just a state of consciousness. Trapped in this dairy he could do nothing, at least not physically and damn there were times he wanted a body so bad he could taste it. He knew something was wrong the moment he felt Tristen's aura shift and how he wished he were near him then.
It had come as a shock to find out that the ambitious, powerful; beautiful Tristen was the one person that was supposed to be his archenemy. He had to admit he had found more than a little amusement in that fact, oh, how Dumbledore had managed to turn such a weapon on himself he would never understand. If it had been him in his place he would have kept Tristen close, kept him loyal, kept him safe and most of all trained. Dumbledore had really sabotaged himself this time and Tom was not above reveling in it.
He hated Dumbledore, almost as much as he had hated his family and it was more than a little satisfying to know that the one person that could have been used as a symbol for the Light was campaigning for the Dark. That brought him to another disturbing discovery he had made about Tristen, or Harry. Harry had discover his magic early, just like him, he hated his family, just like him, he hated muggles with the same fiery passion, he was amassing a group of 'marked' followers, he had changed his name also. Really the parallels between them were too close to ignore, or write off as nothing.
Tom had suspected from the beginning, but it hadn't made sense at the time so he had written it off as impossible. Yet, here he was again faced with this new information and he couldn't ignore it any longer. Harry Potter, Tristen Winter, whoever he decided to go by was a Horcrux just like himself. Except instead of being housed in a Merlin-forsaken book a piece of his SOUL was housed in a very cunning young man and Tom couldn't help but wonder how that had come to pass.
As far as he knew he had never had plans to create a human-Horcrux because it was too risky, not to mention he could never trust someone enough to carry a part of himself. How had it happened? It must have been that night when he had gone to kill Harry as a child and was vanquished instead. HOW? How had Harry survived the Killing curse? These were questions he needed answers to and more importantly he needed to get in contact with his other self soon.
Harry being a Horcrux explained a lot, his similar drive, his ambition, his hatred, even why he had felt the NEED to pick up his dairy in the first place. Now all Tom had to decide was if he wanted Harry around any longer or if he felt that he needed to be disposed of…the question made him feel strangely empty. No, Harry was HIS and Tom had always known this…perhaps this explained his obsession with the boy.
No, Harry had to be kept for no other reason than that the boy had become to valuable to lose on a whim. Besides Harry was firmly on the side of the Dark, nothing and no one would change that. Despite it all, when Harry had confessed to him in his rage what he had felt about his mother…it had hit too close to home. It had affected him more than he had thought it would and maybe he had become soft around the boy. Still, there was no going back, Harry would remain his, would forever be his and there was no changing that either.
It brought him to another issue, should he tell Harry of his other self? Should he disclose the fact that he was in fact the Dark Lord Voldemort or should he allow him to find it out on his own? Choices. Choices. In the end he decided that depriving Harry the chance to discover it on his own was not a good idea. He would be forthcoming with hints and clues; however, it would have to be Harry himself that had to discover the truth. This way there would be no room for doubt.
Tom tried to convince himself that it wasn't because he was hesitant to disclose such a thing in case Harry refused to believe him. Or worse, if Harry was upset enough to stop talking to him he did not know what he would do. As much as he had tried to prevent it from happening the boy had become precious to him in a way that no other before him had ever achieved. He hadn't even technically seen the boy yet, and yet he was obsessed.
He had had the opportunity to regain his body by using the boy, taking the boy's power, life, and perhaps his soul. Yet when given the choice he had chosen to wait and use another Horcrux to regain his corporal form. He had, somewhere along the way of getting to know the boy, he had lost the drive to use him for his own gain. Instead there was nothing he wanted more than to hold him, to whisper in his ear that he was not alone, to tell him of his own family and most of all he wanted to make Harry his own.
Harry had been his; from that night when he had lost his form to this very moment Harry had always been his to have and his to hold. Tom wondered if it was fate that had brought them together because if ever there was a time he believed in such a thing, now, was that time. Harry was fated for him just as he was fated for Harry. The boy literally had a piece of him with him most of his life, and Tom couldn't wait for the time when Harry would finally be fully his to have, his to own, and his to hold.
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Suzie pouted at her big brother while eating her breakfast as he pretended to eat his own, and waited for him to ask what was bothering her. Really, she wasn't that upset that he had run off on his own yesterday but she was a little disappointed she hadn't gotten the chance to introduce him to her little group. Finally he cast his eyes upon her, she made a show of pouting more and added the hurt puppy look for good measure.
She nearly giggled when she saw how much he wanted to sigh in his eyes but he wouldn't as it would ruin his 'nothing can disturb me I'm too serene' look. "What troubles you?" he asked in his soft gentle voice and she worked up some crocodile tears to help her act. "You ran off yesterday without meeting my friends like you said you would…" she added the appropriate hurt tones to her little comment while turning up the kicked puppy look. Suzie could almost see him hold back the flinch and the startled expression from coming forth.
"I apologize I had forgotten," he said and she believed him of course as her big brother would never lie to her. She abandoned the hurt look to adopt her classic sunny smile and this time she did giggle as his surprise at her quick transition shone in his eyes. "It's alright I forgave you yesterday, but now you have to promise that you'll meet them after breakfast." She said refusing to take any chances of a repeat of yesterday. Her brother kept his promises, if he promised her he would not break his word and she would know it was going to happen.
Suzie studied his face closely, and saw the slight upturn of his lips that was his 'smile'. She practically beamed in response. "I promise," he said amusement coloring his tone, if one knew how to listen. Suzie nodded and went back to eating paying no mind to the many people who were staring at her. She had noticed that the main people that surrounded her brother most of the time had taken to watching her, as if they were trying to dissect her with their eyes.
It amused her to no end because they obviously wanted to ask her all sorts of questions but they wouldn't for fear of offending Harry. She knew they wanted to know how she manages to get Harry to relax so much around her, how she got him to be so responsive and how, most importantly, she got him to open up even the tiniest bit. The truth she was very sad to admit had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with time.
When she had come into Harry's life it had been before them, before the wizarding world and most vitally before he had discovered his parent's treachery. Suzie firmly believed her brother had taken care of her, sheltered her even, at the orphanage because he saw himself in her. No, it was more that he saw everything he couldn't see in himself in her and so he wanted her around. There was something he wanted to protect by protecting her; maybe it was his forsaken innocence or the brighter side of life she did not know.
Suzie had been a part of Harry's life before he had closed himself off to the world, and as she looked to the Teacher's table she knew exactly who was to blame. In the beginning when Harry had first taken her under his wing he had been a bit cold and maybe a little distant. However, as time wore on he had opened up to her, allowing contact between them, speaking kind words, and generally he had been her rock. All that had changed that day he had found that portal into the Magical World and discovered how deeply his family had betrayed him.
She knew that wherever he had been before the orphanage had been horrible and he had been all alone. He got colder, more distant and more jaded after he found out his parents were still alive. It was a deep betrayal, no matter what excuses they had and something Harry never had gotten over. They had been his parents, no matter the circumstances as his parents they should have searched for him if he had been lost.
It was why she would never even consider befriending Clark Potter, because as his little brother Clark also fell under the betrayer title. No to mention the fact that his creepy stalker ways disturbed her on a whole other level that she didn't even want to think about. Still as she grabbed her brother's hand to lead him to her group's meeting place she couldn't help but thank whatever it was that had made her so lucky. Had she been just a little later in trying to get to know him she would not be as close to him as she was now.
The thought made her grip his hand tighter and she felt comforted when she felt him squeeze back. Suzie was nervous, she wanted to impress her brother and she didn't know what she would do if he wasn't happy with her choices. They made it to the unused classroom on the fourth floor easily enough, and there they were waiting, her group, her friends and hopefully her brother's followers soon. Draco was sitting coolly at the head of the pack, the Twins looked like they were scheming again in the back, Hermoine was reading, Ginny and Luna were playing chest. Hannah and Suzan were gossiping over a magazine, even Neville had shown up today though he was sitting quietly in the corner.
She got their attention and began to introduce them to her big brother. "Brother, theses are Draco Malfoy, Hermoine Granger, Luna Lovegood, Hannah Abbot, Suzan Bones, Neville Longbottom, George, Fred, and Ginny Weasley." She said while pointing them all out in turn. "Pleased to meet you," He said softly nodding his head in acknowledgement. Suzie smiled knowing that was the most she was going to get from him I front of everyone else. She tugged him to 'her' corner of their little room hoping to ask him his honest opinion while her brother's group introduced themselves to her own.
"So, what do you think?" she asked while nibbling on her bottom lip nervously. Harry just patted her on her head, gentle as always and sat down with grace. "You have done well little sister," he said simply a bit distracted by her list of allies. The Malfoy would be useful, the Bones could prove invaluable and the others had potential. Not Noctiluca potential, but more than he saw in the rest of the dying Hogwarts' student roster. He resisted the urge to smirk, this could work well for him, and he would need some time to plan out everything soon. Yes, he had plans for his little sister's group already but they would have to wait for now. After all, he had a Task to prepare for and thanks to his Mother he was confident that this tournament would be only too easy for him.
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For the next week Harry spent most of his time juggling attending the inferior classes, spending time with Suzie, preparing for his upcoming task and trying to find the Real Tom Riddle. His search wasn't going well though because he had to do it when he was alone, which was rarely. He didn't want anyone to know about Tom, partly because it made Tom his in a way that no one else could be. No one knew he talked to Tom every night, no one else knew literally everything there was to know about him (well basically) and no one else understood him the way Tom dd.
Tom had told him a bit about himself, their backgrounds were eerily similar, and Harry knew that if his Tom were real he would stand within the darkness beside him. A part of him would never forget the look on his elites' faces when he had hurt that muggle and he knew they could never understand. They could see his scars; they could try to feel his pain but the darkness that dwelled within him frightened them.
Harry knew that no one, not even his beautiful mother, could truly understand why it was that he needed to hurt them…he needed it. Every scream from their throat was one that he couldn't allow for himself, and every time he hurt them it was like he was striking back at his tormentors from long ago. He didn't see their true faces, when he hurt them he saw the Dursleys, he saw his birth parents and he saw those people who had taunted him.
His quest to find out if a Real Tom existed had made him fully realize just how lonely he was standing in the darkness alone and unsheltered. Harry knew he would never find his way into the light, the mere thought was ludicrous, but he didn't want to stand alone any longer. Tom understood him so well because he was already dwelling in the darkness…Harry just hadn't found him yet. Tom had even been here longer than he had, he would not look away when he saw the True him and he would not gaze at him with those judging eyes when he made someone scream for him.
Tom would be his, and his alone. He refused to share, even if he wanted help finding him Harry would sooner cut out his heart than show someone Tom. Still, that put in a bind, as he did not have as much time as he wanted to look for the Real Tom and Tom wasn't helping him any either. He gave him hints, subtle clues but no definite answers when he asked. It was frustrating, no doubt, but it was also stimulating having such a challenge occupying his spare time.
The full moon was coming up in four days, the first of the two this month and Harry was anticipating spending some time with the transformed Logan. As an uncontrolled werewolf Logan was a lot more entertaining than when he had full grips on his mind when transforming on will. He was also wished that the end of the month would come sooner as he wanted to get the first task out of the way. Not to mention that after the first task he finally would get a reprieve from the boringly easy Hogwarts curriculum, as it would be Noctiluca's turn to 'teach'.
The Headmistress already addressed that issue at the start, she would be teaching along with the upper years some first year knowledge along with a little of the second year knowledge. They didn't want to give too much away even if the were withdrawing from the shadows showing the full extent of their knowledge would be dangerous. She didn't want to frighten them too much as even though the Noctiluca Alum were exceedingly powerful they were outnumbered. Should the entirety of the wizarding world begin to see them as a threat they would not hesitate to swarm like ants to take them down.
No they would show some impressive things, but it would be nowhere near the full extent of their skills. The next four days seemed to drag on, filled mostly with avoiding his 'family', catching up with Madeline (though he was sure she was hiding something from him), and spending time with his collective groups. Suzie was as full, bright and full of life as ever, inspiring him in her own unique ways. She was one of his favored models for his paintings now and when he had the time he was painting often in his room.
Painting everything from Suzie, to his elites, to Tinkerbell, to his mom (Madeline), and even the castle itself helped Harry deal with the stress of being here. It helped him deal when he couldn't express himself in words sufficiently to Tom and t kept him from breaking down again. Finally the night of the full moon was upon them, Harry and Logan went into the forest just before sunset in preparation for the night to come.
As usual Logan had refrained from wearing clothes, it would have been a waste, and so when the full moon rose on the horizon he body was able to transform freely. No matter how many times Harry had watched it he knew he would never get bored watching Logan transition from man to beast. The sight was magnificent, his already large body rippling and expanding outwards. Fir, of the purest white sprouting out to cover his entire body and his face elongating to form his snout filled with sharp teeth. The tail came next, followed by the snapping of bones as his legs and feet changed to more wolf-like quality. When he was fully transformed form young man to young wolf his regal head bowed back and his throat rippled as a mighty howl rent the air.
When Logan turned to him growling Harry smiled, it was a more a bearing of teeth, and answered back with a playful growl of his own. The big white wolf gracefully trotted over to where Harry was standing rubbing his back on him roughly nearly knocking the boy over. Harry was amused, Logan was always more physical and affectionate when he was partly out of his mind during the full moon. Logan growled playfully again, nipping a little his coattails before lopping away and barking as he went.
Harry smirked and walked leisurely after him, taking his time to annoy the wolf. Logan grunted as he ran behind him in frustration and began to nudge him with his cold black nose in an effort to speed him along. Finally Harry let his amusement show a bit, he gave a shout and began to run swiftly weaving his way through the forest with Logan hot on his heels. He could hear Logan as he panted excitedly and every so often he would bark or growl at him. Harry didn't know why he enjoyed this game so much, this pretend chase of hunter and prey.
This was always what they did first, Harry would run becoming the 'prey' and Logan would give chase becoming the 'hunter'. He was perfectly safe doing this but had anyone else tried this they would soon find themselves on the receiving end of a very ferocious bite. Harry gave another well-practiced shout when Logan nipped at his heals and he sped up running toward the walloping willow. He broke through the trees just in time, as the next moment he felt the impact of something rather large tackling him to the ground.
The air temporary whooshed out of his lungs and he allowed himself to be pinned to the ground. Harry felt Logan's cold nose nuzzling his neck and he turned over obligingly to bare it to him along with his stomach. Logan barked excitedly and bringing his face close to his in a coyly menacing fashion.
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James looked at the setting sun excitedly and barely held back from running full out towards the willow. Sirius and Remus were laughing good-naturedly though Remus' laughter sounded a little strained. James didn't take any notice of it though to wrapped up in the anticipation of the night to come. Transforming into Prongs was always freeing, and running around herding Remus was entertaining in an ironic way. So when they reached the willow, finally, James was the first to go 'down the rabbit hole' so to speak.
He needed this now more than ever; it would be a relief to finally get out of the castle and the stress that came with it. Lily had been bugging him constantly as they combed the seemingly endless faces of boys to try to find their Harry. James didn't really know what to think about that, every face he looked at just seemed to be another faceless drone and not his missing son. He never showed it, but James was despairing more every day about ever finding their boy.
Add that to the tournament and trying to help Sirius win over the ever-elusive Madeline the entire thing was very slowly driving him insane. A night free of all that, it would be a mush-needed vacation from his life even if it was only for a couple of hours. They made it to the shack unimpeded and Remus drained his potion swiftly a visible grimace on his face as he did so. Sometimes James almost swore Snivellous made it that gross on purpose just to get to them, and this belief often caused the rash of pranks attempted on said man. Though over the last few years it had gotten harder and harder to make said pranks a success as the victim had developed an almost six-sense when t came to avoiding them.
Eagerly James transformed into Prongs and watched as Sirius soon joined him as Padfoot, both impatiently waited for the sun to finish its descent. The moon rose and they watched in sympathy as their friend screamed in pain as he transformed from man to wolf. It didn't take long for those screams to turn into howls of pain, however, they soon began to realize with dawning horror mooney wasn't the only one howling.
The blood drained from their faces as Mooney, usually very controlled due to the potion, lost a bit of control and started to snarl at the window. It was clear to them that this other werewolf had caused this, and as Mooney went barreling out of the house to the tunnel they went after him. Prongs was the fastest and he overcame Mooney easily enough still he knew he needed to get out of the tunnel in order to control the slightly crazed wolf.
He leapt out of the hole his body barely thrashing its way through and using his momentum he managed to get past the tree unharmed. Prongs was fully prepared to herd his friend back to the shack, even if he had to harm him some to do so but he was not prepared for the sight that greeted him when he made it past the willow. A boy came barreling out of the forest and not a second later was tackled to the ground by the biggest wolf he had ever laid eyes on.
Prongs had frozen then, uncomprehending as the giant stunningly white wolf growled menacingly to this tiny (in comparison) boy. By the time he had gotten his wits about him to start to run to the boy's defense he knew it would be to late because his was not a wolf, it was a Werewolf. He had been so stunned by its size; its regal bearing and its feral appearance to fully comprehend what it was…by then it was too late.
Mooney looked like a cub next to this Titan and it was no wonder Prongs had not connected the dots…he had gotten so used to his friend's rather small form. Still, as he ran for all he was worth across the clearing he knew he would not make it in time to stop this monster from biting that small boy beneath him. He felt so guilty then, so guilty that he had froze when he showed have acted like a true Gryffindor that as he pushed himself to the limit he swore he'd help the boy deal with the consequences of his inaction.
The boy would be cursed as a werewolf from the moment those teeth sunk into his flesh and James knew that his life would be forever changed. Even as the wolf's head drew nearer to the boy's pale face James swore he would help him make it better, and he even had a half-formed plan to have Mooney mentor him in the back of his mind. However, just as he got close enough to make out the boy's features and the wolf's menacing expression, the most stunning event occurred. The boy smirked slightly and the wolf barked out what sounded very much like Padfoot's laugh before suddenly licking said boy's face. Like. A. Bloody. House. Dog.
The action stunned him so much he was forced into inactivity at the sight and belatedly he realized so were his two companions whom stopped right behind him. The boy hadn't seemed to notice them yet and he reached up wrapping his arms around the massive neck of the wolf. Which in turn reared up onto its hind legs like they had seen Mooney do a hundred times before and set the boy on his feet once more. The move was so fluid and made with such ease it left no doubt that the two had done so many times before.
The boy still hadn't taken notice of them, and he began to stroke to monster wolf's head…so casually it was somewhat frightening. Prongs even began to question if this really was a werewolf and not some freakish large wolf-dog-thing. Then the wind picked up, carrying their scent, the massive monster stiffed, faced them, and snarled so fiercely they all took steps back. The expression on the wolf's face was feral, untamed, aggressive and so monstrous that they no longer had any doubts…this was no ordinary wolf but a monster.
The white beast growled as he gracefully placed himself between them and the boy blocking him from view. Somewhere in Prong's shocked addled mind he realized it was trying to protect him from THEM of all people! He finally got his bearings when Padfoot and Mooney flanked his shoulders in support, preparing for a fight. They all tensed, Padfoot smaller grim form had his back legs locked ready to spring, Mooney's shoulders were squared as if bracing for impact and his own neck was tense ready to rear forward. The large regal wolf had his head arced back and he watched them with weary suspicion as if they all would charge him at any moment.
The very air was so thick with the coming conflict it was getting steadily harder to breathe, still no one dared make the first move. Suddenly, it was as if everything had stilled, tension broke and they were left dazed wondering what exactly happened as they had all three been fully prepared to fight. They weren't left wondering for long as the boy Prongs had gotten a glimpse of earlier strolled gracefully around his wolf companion, one hand on its impressive flank while the other arm hung loosely at his side.
He stopped just in front of his wolf facing them and they all got their first good look at the strange boy. He was still very small next to the wolf's massive frame but there was something in the air about him that made it seem like he was bigger in their eyes. (They would later discover it was his subtle aura of magic that always seemed to permeate from him that had done so.) He was pale, so pale in fact silently wonder if he had some vampiric blood in him, his hair in contrast was so dark it was as it the very darkness of the night was spilling around his shoulders. He was a very beautiful boy, almost feminine in appearance, far to attractive to be handsome in any sense.
However, it was his eyes that immediately captured and held their attention, they were so deeply green it was almost like they glowed in the darkness that surrounded them. Sirius recognized him first and he regretted ever following the strange boy that day. Then he wouldn't have known what he knew, wouldn't have the weight of it pressing down on him now and then he wouldn't feel so very afraid. Sirius had never been a coward, never the first one to back away from a fight but staring into that boy's eyes it felt like he could see his death before it happened.
He dared not say a word, dared not even breathe, and vainly he tried to bolster some of his courage back so he could help his friends should there be a need. But still, he couldn't help wondering who this kid really was and if he ever faced him in any confrontation some part of him wondered if he could win. This boy was associated with a powerful Vampire, a Titan of a Werewolf and form his magical display in the forest before was anything to go by the boy was powerful in his own right too.
His two companions didn't notice his growing nervousness as they stared transfixed on the mysterious and his giant companion. The boy stared all three of them down, eyes measuring and it felt as if he was looking into their very souls. His voice was soft, gentle, but it had an edge to it, "Logan let us leave." He stated simply enough turning his back on them as if they were no more than lowly dirt in which he had to trend upon. They stood frozen in place unable to move until the boy and the stark white form of the wolf could no longer be seen.
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What they didn't know, what no one could have known was how much that meeting had cost Harry. How hard it had been for him to turn his back and walk away from what surely would have been a bloody fight. He had felt the stag's magic, and he had recognized it immediately for it was someone he had hated for so long he could taste it. In his time at the castle he had very few run-in with his so called family, most had been from a distance and around people so he had better control over his temper.
However, he had been close enough to all three of them to know their Magical signature anywhere. Though he hid it well from his followers his hatred for his 'family' ran so deep and his need for revenge was so high he was quickly becoming obsessed. He spent a lot of his time fantasizing about the various ways he could kill and/or maim them, which in turn had lead him to memorizing their magical signatures. Harry wanted to know where they were during the day so that he didn't run into any of them in a hallway alone…he wasn't too sure he could control himself if he did.
The need in him coiled in his stomach making him ache throughout his entire body and even as he joined Logan in their play it didn't go away. The darkness in him was rising; it was gnawing at his control and chipping through his carefully built serene mask revealing the monster within, ever so slowly. Harry knew he would need to vent some of his madness soon, otherwise he didn't know what he could end up doing. Something totally foolish might happen and he might just find that 'brother' of his and skin him alive, in front of his parents, in front of his parents in the Great Hall. Now that wouldn't be good for his plans. Not. At. All.
He would have to content himself with fantasies for now and perhaps he would set up his tent in the forest somewhere so he could play with his 'toys'. After all now that he realized he wouldn't be able to hold the darkness back until summer perhaps it would be prudent to continue his experiments on those disgusting Muggles. He was so close to cracking the formula, to unlocking some of the secrets needed that maybe he could use this time to get further along. The sooner it was done the better after all.
The next few weeks seemed to pass by in a clouded daze for Harry, he had started to tune out the 'lessons' completely and spent most of his time in class discretely talking to Tom. Before he knew it the first Task was set to take the next day and he decided to spend the day searching for Tom. As a champion he had gotten this day off to prepare for tomorrow so he decided since he could not find a trace of Tom in the library so far he would begin to search the other parts of the school. Harry was wondering through the halls when he felt the distinct signature of Lily Potter heading his way.
Now, he knew he would never have the self-control to stop himself from hurting this time so he ducked into the first room he could find and locked the door. He hated that he was hiding from her but he had no choice if he wanted to grand revenge he had planned for them to come to fruition. A cheap few hours of torturing and killing one Lily Potter would not satisfy him after all. So though he would not regret killing her, he would regret not be able to take his time and enjoy the experience. When he felt her pass by he was both relieved and slightly disappointed.
Harry decided to distract himself from his thought before it got too dangerous for him and set about studying the room he was currently locked in. It seemed like every wall was lined with trophies of all sort and for some reason he began to read off the names on the walls. It was like the pull he had felt to take the Dairy but weaker, so with curiosity lighting up his eyes he scanned the room looking for whatever his instincts were telling him to find. It didn't take him long to find it, the sight almost stopped his heart and with a shaking hand Harry reached out to touch the trophy of one, Tom Riddle.
This was the proof he had been looking for, he stroked the smooth metal, this was a testament to the fact that Tom…his Tom…had been real, had been ALIVE once. Tom was out there somewhere, waiting in the dark inky abyss for him to join him and without his conscious notice gentle tears rolled down his face. He had been here, he had walked these halls, he had lived in this castle, slept, ate, learned, and now Harry was in the same castle Tom had once been. It was enough to make his heart ach for him; his withered, broken, jaded heart ached for Tom. He would have laughed at the sentiment had he not been crying and so against the sound of laughter.
A small smile lit his face as he pulled the Dairy from his breast pocket to place it next to the trophy so he could stare at them together. They were what connected him to Tom, they were the things that showed him Tom had once been here, and they would help him on his quest to find him. It was with a certain melancholy did Harry place the dairy back in his pocket and left the trophy room, and Tom's Plaque behind him. Tomorrow would be a trying day so he would spend the night smartly, eating light and going to bed early. After all he was confidant not arrogant, there was a chance he could lose, a small chance but a chance nonetheless.
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It was the morning of the first Task and the halls practically buzzed with excitement. Everyone fluttered about in nervous energy, many questions haunting their minds while they went through their morning routines and making their tempers shorter than usual. Some wondered if THE Harry Potter would actually show up for it after having been absent for so many years. Others wondered if their school would win, some had a bored confidence about them (Noctiluca) knowing there was no way their overly harsh school would not fail.
Harry walked to the meeting place somewhat anticipating the challenge that the Task would present, after spending a month of trying stupidity it would be nice to actually put an effort into something. He had gotten so used to being challenged every day at school that Hogwarts own lad back style grated his nerves. It didn't take too long to get to the Arena that was set up across from the lake but to Harry time couldn't seem to go fast enough.
The Champions' tent was set up off to the side and little ways away from the stands so they could have their privacy. The Task would be starting in a few moments so Harry took the time to study his opponents and tried to gauge their reactions to things. The stadium that had been set up was a little impressive, it reminded Harry vaguely of a the domed Muggle one Madeline and him had seen a few times during their travels. Their tent was positioned right at one of the entrances so he could see how pitch-black dark it was in the arena.
Thanks to Madeline he knew what he was facing, what the objective was, and how the stadium itself was set up. Truly it paid to have a mother that was leased by the guild to help the Ministry set this competition up. The Arena reminded him of a Muggle interrogation room almost, the stands were built separate from the stadium but connected through an enchanted wall. The wall would protect the spectators, allowing them to see the action but not be accidentally a part of it (Madeline suggestion). A dome that was spherical shaped and the terrain had been magically changed so that the creatures would have an advantage enclosed in it.
The other champions were somewhat nervous, the skinny red headed boy especially but Harry could tell from their expressions that they were prepared. Somehow they also knew what they would be up against, and it made Harry wonder if part of the tournament was really about who could cheat while not getting caught. Still it was to be expected after all how were they supposed to prepare for a task they knew nothing about? Cheating while not being caught could be some sort of test to see if they were cunning enough for this, something that played a part historically in the first Task.
The three Tasks of the Tri-wizard tournament were blatantly obvious if one read up on the history behind them. The first Task tested cunning, courage, and resourcefulness. The second Task tested your will, and your mindfulness of your surroundings. The third Task tested your strength, your magic, and your endurance. All these things were crucial when fighting in a war, which was what the tournament had been for in the first place. The Tri-wizard Tournament didn't start out as a 'good-will' spreading farce it was made out to be nowadays.
No, it was made it be a replacement of war back when the Wizarding communities had had enough of the bloodshed. It was a way to pit countries against each other without the battlefields riddled with bodies. Usually it was the country that won the tournament that held the most influence until the next tournament was fought. After all, if your champion is that strong who wants to fight a possible army of the same wizards? Still that had been forgotten somewhere along the line and what once had been a show a strength now was just a frivolous show of entertainment.
Inwardly Harry sneered at the thought, the Wizarding world had gotten too peaceful for his tastes. That a tournament that was meant to be a show a might had turned into a spectator SPORT was proof enough about how far they had fallen. Still he pushed this all aside when the judges entered, Dumbledore carrying a small purple silk bag and he waited patiently for the Task to begin.
Lazily he listened as a jittery man named Bagman stated the rules while he frantically searched the tent for someone with his eyes. Most people brushed this off but Harry had to wonder whom it was he was searching so desperately for in a moderately small tent. One by one the Champions stepped forward to reach into the bag that would decide their fates of this tournament. Kairi stepped up first all full of elegant grace and arrogance, noise slightly tilted in the air in a show of superiority. Harry thought she looked ridiculous.
She reached in with a dainty looking hand and there struggling futilely against her hold was an enchanted figurine of a mountain troll. The troll looked as ugly and as stupid as Madeline had described to him, the figurine had the number two on it clearly displayed. Next was the nervous looking red head, but the way he moved showed the opposite making Harry narrow his eyes. The red head was gangly looking, but he was cunning enough. He reached in and pulled out his own figurine in his slightly trembling hand.
This one was a vicious looking Hobgoblin and painted on its putrid green 'skin' was the number one. Krum went next, lumbering forward and looking for the entire world like he was the greatest idiot. Harry could see past this guise also and just like the red haired one this was putting up a front. Their wish to be underestimated and written off clear as day to him, it had the opposite effect instead. He reached in with a meaty hand and pulled out his own figurine, which struggled valiantly in his hand before it resigned to its fate.
It was a Troglodyte; the lizard like creature had a very nasty expression on its face and repeatedly tried to bite Krum's hand. An effort that proved to be in vain as Krum showed he was quite skilled at evading its attempts and the number three was painted crudely on the thing's tail. It would seem he would be the last and with a smooth movement Harry pulled out his own figurine from the bag.
It was the hardest opponent, a Black Orc, it had the number four painted on its bare chest and it struggled more than the others before it. There was a collective intake of breath, it was no secret he was the youngest of the champions and thus it seemed his fate held the most peril. However, Harry did not see it that way and he pitied the others their schooling if they thought that a few black Orcs would be able to harm him. He smirked inwardly at the surprise that awaited the champions in that dark arena.
For he knew it was dark for a reason, just not the one they might have guessed. While it was true that all these creatures were very adept at hunting in the dark that was not the reason the judges sought to 'blind' them. No, the reason was simple they did not wish for them to see how MANY of them there were. Harry was not prone to displaying emotion where others could easily see but he still couldn't stop the small, satisfied smile that flashed across his face. It was there for less than a millisecond but a pair of constantly twinkling blue eyes managed to see it. Needless to say one Albus Dumbledore was a bit disturbed by it and the young boy that so many mysteries surrounded.
Waiting was a trying game; he hated to wait there when he finally had a challenge so close at hand. It filled him with a sort of jittery energy and made him more than a little impatient to have his turn. The Weasley left the tent first and within the first few minutes the sounds of the battle reached them along with the audience's response. It grated on his nerves, more than he had expected it too and so he decided it would be best for him to distract himself.
He brought out his violin discreetly, set his black reed down and began to stroke the smooth wood along the frame. The stark white violin stood out in the darkness of the tent and it gained the other champions' attentions. The judges had left with the Weasley to the judges' box and so it was only the three of them left along with a security person to make sure they didn't do anything to one another. Harry paid them no mind however, and set his entire concentration on relaxing his body so he was ready when his time came.
He plucked the reed from his seat and placed the violin gently beneath his chin, silently contemplating which song was best suited for this situation. He began to play; the song reflected his jittery energy perfectly and was fast pace enough that his hands seemed to be a blur. Curiously his playing almost fitted perfectly with the sounds of the fight outside their tent without meaning to. As he spent his wound-up energy he noticed that while his playing relaxed him by releasing that tightly wound feeling it had the opposite effect on his companion.
Harry noticed that the more he played the more the others seemed to tense impatiently as if they were taking up the energy he was releasing into the room. It made him smirk and he closed his eyes getting more into the song paying less attention to the happenings around him. The song ended abruptly, leaving everyone but him so tightly wound that Harry suspected the slightest move would break them.
He soon took pity on them as a loud crash sounded outside making every one of them jump some feet into the air. If they kept up this tenseness then they would most definitely make many mistakes when the time came for them to enter the Arena. Now, as much as he would like to win Harry also wanted a good challenge out of this competition. If the other champions preformed badly because of this he would most definitely be unsatisfied with his victory over them. So, in his now relaxed state he began to play again but this song was different than his last one. It was relaxing to everyone and he played it so enthusiastically with such confidence he saw that their stances became surer with every passing moment he played.
In the middle Kairi left to compete with a confident swagger in her hips and a pleased smirk on her face. The red head did not return however and Harry continued to play until he finished this song also. Then he decided he had helped his competition enough so he pulled his violin back into his hand and leaned back into his chair to meditate. Sooner than before Krum was called out to face his opponent. Harry was left alone with only the security person stationed by the door for company. He paid this no mind though and continued to prepare himself mentally for the upcoming battle.
When he heard a loud crash outside and a screech of pain he decided that Krum was almost finished so he sat up to begin his stretches. Harry had just finished when the man at the door signaled it was his turn to step out of the tent and into the Arena. However, he hadn't needed to do so as Harry had deduced as much when he could no longer hear the sounds of battle and he stepped out without hesitating.
He summoned his staff, twirling it expertly around himself and got in a defensive crouch waiting for the signal to begin his assault. Harry heard the BOOM of the cannon and immediately sprang into action like a tautly wound spring. He conjured four balls of light that burst from his staff as he twirled it around himself while jumping through the air. They floated up like mini-suns and illuminated the Arena with an eerie white glow.
The terrain looked like a rocky wasteland and it had plenty of boulders for his opponents to hide behind so he was still at risk for ambush. The orbs of light rotated around him slowly, and within the circle of light Harry knew he had enough room that he would have notice to counterattack a charge. However, the inky blackness that lay beyond his circle of light still hid his prey from him and so he had to wait for them to make the first move.
There was a roar in the distance and the answering calls that rang out all around him would have worried him had he not been prepared for it. Harry estimated at least fifteen different voices, coming from all sides and a few were still at a distance. He smirked as he crouched down further, bringing his staff parallel to the ground as he did so and shifting his right foot forward while his left went smoothly back. His hair was held up in a tie but his bangs still hung over his eyes shadowing half his face in darkness.
He heard another roar, this one was closer, louder, and more aggressive then the ones before. Harry couldn't help it, slowly, ever so slowly his lips pulled back into what was a vicious parody of a smile. Gently, in a voice so soft it was only the many-layered enchantments that allowed anyone to hear it, Harry said, "The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the Earth." Then with a horrible CRACK lightening was unleashed from the tip of his staff as he swung it forward swiftly and in the next moment there was an equally horrible scream as it struck.
That terrible parody of a smile never left his face as the rest of the creatures roared as one and the ground trembled slightly as they charged him. The first to charge into his ring of light was an adult Black Orc, nine feet tall, skin blacker than night and eyes a sickly looking yellow. The monster swung his massive arms at him intent on crushing Harry's head with the quick blow but Harry just dropped gracefully into a crouch while swinging his staff forward. Harry almost laughed when it connected with the Orc's middle and the severing hex split it in two.
Brown blood and guts flew into the air, some coating him while the next one charged into the fray. Harry jumped fluidly bringing the staff down on that one's head while using the now dead orc's back as a spring board into his next victim. He caught this one with a bludgeoning hex right on his head. He saw a sparkle of gold at the falling Orc belt and twirled down to snatch it up while thrusting his staff forward into the next one's chest. This one also had a bit of gold at its belt so he grabbed it fast, slipping both into the pouch at his own waist while jumping into the air to avoid another Orc from charging into his back.
He pivoted in the air so he faced the ground, bringing his staff forward he allowed himself to fall, his staff struck the ground with a reverberating CRASH sticking a foot deep into the ground. He held himself upside down with one hand, his back perfectly straight and when the Orcs came in for him he unleashed his attack. The ground shook, with a deafening CRASH pointed spikes of earth erupted around him spearing the charging Orcs through. The screams were louder this time, a chorus of gargled voices, and the mud colored blood rained down around him.
Harry deftly sprang backwards while pulling the staff from the ground, landing on his feet he spun the staff above his head destroying the spikes and summoning the other pieces of gold from the dead Orcs' belts. They flew into his pouch and Harry brought his staff's head down bringing forth a great burst of wind. The remaining Orcs were weary to attack him now and that made his assault all the more pleasing to Harry.
In an amazing show of speed he burst forward charging the remaining ones, the first he beheaded, the next one charged him from behind only to be meet with the end of his staff that pierced through to its heart with ridiculous ease. There was another roar and three converged on him at once. He spun his staff in a fast circle around him firing out cutting curses that cut the Orcs into tiny pieces. He continued to smile as more blood poured down on him and he crouched down while turning to face the remaining Orcs.
The remaining four were wiser than their fallen fellows and turned to run from him in fear. Harry wasn't about to allow that though, he sprang forward after them and the head of his staff began to glow a deep purple. Once he was right behind them he swung it to his opposite side unleashing the attacks at their cowardly backs. These ones screeched the loudest when it connected but it only lasted a moment before the all were blown apart. Blood, bone, guts, skin, and all manner of things fell down while Harry stayed crouched his weapon held across his chest. His head was tilted down, causing his blood soaked hair to shadow his face once more and so all anyone could see was the wicked whiteness of his teeth that were bared in that vicious parody of a smile.
Slowly, Harry rose up bringing his staff to his side, parallel to him and the outer wall. A great wind swirled around him filled with a blue light and the remaining pieces of gold flew up from the Orcs' corpses into his awaiting pouch. All was really quiet for a little while, like everyone was too shocked by the massacre they had seen to react but then it was like thunder. The resounding cheers, screams, and cries of victory filled the Arena. Harry turned and made his way out of the stadium, dripping blood, with his serene mask firmly back in place.
When he made it outside the doors Madeline was waiting for him to bring him to a personal tent she had hastily set up and quickly ushered him into before anyone could reach them. She had brought him his school uniform, drawn a bath and had a brush waiting by the sink. It would seem his ghastly appearance would not be appreciated at the scoring ceremony so he decided to wash the gore off himself fast. The water looked like thick mud when he was done, and by the time he was presentable it was his turn to be scored.
They both made it in time to see his numbers being drawn by the panel of judges, Dumbledore gave him a six, Madam Maxime gave him an eight, Headmaster Karkaroff gave him a ten, Seline gave him a ten and Bagman gave him a seven. Madeline scuffed loudly at Maxime, Dumbledore, and Bagman's scores knowing all to well why they scored him as such. The other Champions, besides Krum, mostly went for incapacitating hexes, jinxes, and curses. As a result the fatality count for them was relatively low, maybe one or two dead between the three of them. However, Harry had decimated his opponents leaving none alive, it had been utterly barbaric, totally awe-inspiring and surprisingly crowd-pleasing. Still, the Task was to retrieve the pieces not slaughter everything that moved and then collect them when you're done.
Madeline still thought Harry had deserved a better score, however, he still placed second and she guessed it was enough for now. She saw the crowds converging, heading towards the champions, and felt a deep well of dread knot up her stomach. One glance at Harry and she knew he was not ready to be near so many people yet. So quickly she swept him out of the way and back towards the castle before anyone realized what happened.
She could see it in his eyes, Harry was in one of THOSE moods and right now not many people were safe to be around him. He had something inside of him that had been excited by that bloodbath in there and one wrong move could put someone in the infirmary. (Or worse the grave.) So with that in mind Madeline did what she always did when it came to that part of her son, she protected him from the world, and sequestered him inside his room hastily. Harry would not be ready to join humanity for a while so she locked his doors from the outside and backed off quietly.
The things Harry did, and desired to do, would get him in serious trouble if she weren't careful to watch him in moments like this when he was no longer in control of himself. Usually Harry was very good at hiding that darker part of himself, that thing in him that loved hurting people but when he got like this he couldn't think straight. It was hard for him to see friend from enemy, harder for him to stop himself from doing all those horrible things he wanted to do. So she locked him away, to protect him form himself and she hoped dearly that by morning he would be back in control.
Harry for his part knew what Madeline was doing when she herded him into his roof and sealed the door behind her on the way out. Now, a piece of him…a very small piece at the moment…was thankful she had done so and prevented him from taking what he needed from the masses. Another part of him, the largest part right at the moment wanted to tear down the walls in frustration because he NEEDED more blood. He needed to hear more screams and the pain of being prevented from doing so hurt much like when an addict was denied his drug.
With nothing better to do Harry emptied out his blood encrusted pouch spilling out all the pieces of glittering gold onto his bed. He could see them better now and realized that the gold pieces were all pieces of a three-dimensional puzzle. He would have to reform whatever the puzzle was to get the clue to the next task. However, eyeing all the pieces he knew it would take a while to do so and with nothing better to do he decided he best start on it. Otherwise he may just tear down his walls in search of someone to scream for him, and BLEED for him. The tiny part of him that was still rational was glad he had sent Tink and Grace away for they could not be by him now safely.
Harry had come to terms with the fact that he was very nearly mad quite some time ago and accepted that it was this that both helped and hurt him. There was a fine line between genius and insanity that said line blurred for Harry more each year. Harry could not pinpoint when it was he had begun to fall into madness. He hypothesized it may have been one of those days when he was trapped under those stairs, in that cramped space. It may have been when he had gotten his first beating. It might even be that moment when he had picked up that kitchen knife and walked silently up to his tormentors' rooms. Whenever it was he realized it didn't matter, after all Harry firmly believed that whatever didn't kill you…only made you stranger. And despite their best efforts the Dursleys hadn't managed to kill him. The room seemed to grow colder at the thought and that horrible parody of a smile stretched out across Harry's face as he thought about it.
Yes, he was quite certain that whatever the case may be the Dursleys might have been right about him, he had grown up to be such the terrible little monster. There was an odd glint in his eye as he handled the puzzle pieces, yes, they might have been right. However, little had they known that they were the monster makers and he was nothing but the creation from which their sin had brought forth. His eyes darkened, a thirst came into his eye and Harry said softly into the empty room, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. … And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing; for it repenteth me that I have made them."
A.N.: So the songs Harry played in the tent are Hocus Pocus, and Classical Gas by Vanessa-Mae in that order. Also some reviewers are asking me about Percy, I made him a year younger because he has a part to play for me and I need him. That's all I'm going to say on the matter. Also a cookie to anyone who can tell where the quote came from, lol, I hope you liked it. READ, REVIEW, and the next installment will come faster PROMISE! Lol