Percy watched in livid frustration as the tournament directors drawled on and on about how important it was for the champion's to have their families come in attendance for the final task. Apparently, it was a tradition. Who exactly did the directors think they were going to have come for him? Thalia? How would they find her?

"Now, if you would all head outside of the castle, your families should all be on their way up from Hogsmeade!" said Bagman, his excitement doing nothing but fueling Percy's anger. Fleur, Cedric, and Viktor all headed outside, each one eager to see their families before they competed for the last time. Percy tried to hang back, but Bagman grabbed his shoulder. "Come on, Percy, let's go see your family!"

Percy glared at the man, and from the look on Bagman's face, Percy was quite certain he had wet himself. "I wasn't aware you could summon ghosts, Bagman."

Bagman choked and hurried away presumably to dry his pants. Harry and Hermione both stifled a laugh as the man ran away. Percy rolled his eyes.

"That man has about as much common sense as a tomato."

"I like tomatoes," said Hermione. Percy gave her a look.

"Fine. A pear."

"I like pears," said Harry. Percy whacked him on the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

Percy poked Harry in the shoulder. "Watch it, bud, or I'll dunk you in the lake." Percy pointed at the lake as they exited the castle. Harry looked at the cold water and shuddered.

"No thanks, I'm good."

"That's what I thought." Percy grabbed Harry and put him in a headlock, rubbing his knuckle into the young Gryffindor's already messy hair. Harry growled playfully and threw punches and elbows into Percy's side. To anybody else watching, it would have appeared as though the boys were actually fighting. However, neither of them were in any pain. Percy wasn't actually hurting Harry, and Harry's punches were...well, Percy seemed to remember bee stings hurting worse. Hermione could only smile with adoration for the two boys who had become like brothers to her. She was especially happy to see Harry smiling and laughing, carefree.

The last few years had been very difficult for Harry. Actually, Hermione thought about it, Harry's entire life had been difficult. Losing your parents would certainly be dreadful, but to grow up with awful relatives for a decade? Harry had never outright said what his relatives did to him, but Hermione could read between the lines. Then to make things worse, it seemed that each year, Voldemort was continuously doing something to regain his lost power, and Harry was always at the center of it. First year it had been the spirit of Voldemort that had possessed Professor Quirrell leading to the confrontation with the mirror. Hermione shuddered to think of what Harry had gone through having been the reason why Quirrell had died. Second year had been even worse. Ginny, too, had been possessed though unlike Quirrell, hers was unwillingly. Through Ginny, Voldemort had managed to release the basilisk which had nearly killed several students, Hermione herself included.

Hermione rubbed her arms as goosebumps rose up from her wrist to her shoulder. The very memory of looking into the basilisk's eyes through the reflection of her mirror would haunt her her entire life. Still, Harry had been the one to actually go and fight the bloody thing. He had almost died too, getting his arm impaled by one of the snake's fangs. If it hadn't been for Fawkes, Hermione knew that her awakening following her petrification would not have been a joyful celebration...she would have been mourning her friend at his funeral. She had hoped that their third year would be more peaceful, and it would have been...if it hadn't been for Sirius Black escaping Azkaban and terrorizing everyone for most of the year. They had all been so sure that Sirius was going after Harry in order to kill him. Thankfully, it turned out Sirius was innocent all along and had been going after the true traitor, Peter Pettigrew, rather than Harry. Sirius was still on the run, but he and Harry were still in contact with one another. Hermione knew Harry craved to have Sirius or Professor Lupin with him, them being such good friends with his parents, but with the price on Sirius' head and Professor Lupin's status as a werewolf, neither could take care of him. Come fourth year and the arrival of a certain mythological teenager.

"Ger off," Harry grumbled, between laughs. Percy grinned and released the poor boy. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Will you two ever grow up?"

"Hey, I'm tall already," Percy said, "ask this little guy."

"Little guy?" Harry growled again. He tackled Percy, knocking the boy to the ground. Hermione huffed, though she laughed as Percy quickly turned the tables and pinned Harry to the ground. "Okay, okay! I yield!"

Percy smiled and patted Harry's cheek, getting up and helping him up. "Good little lion man."

Harry glared at Percy and then glared at Hermione who was stifling a giggle. "Sure, laugh it up you two. One day, I'll win."

"Whatever you say, Harry," Percy laughed. His sour mood at Bagman forgotten until he looked ahead and saw the other champions greeting their parents and siblings. Percy frowned, feeling the pang of bitterness swell in his heart at the memory of his mom and Paul. Knowing that they were safe in Elysium was a small comfort. He looked around as Bagman and the heads of schools introduced themselves to the families when he spotted a familiar group. Percy smiled fondly at the group.

"Come on guys," Percy said to Harry and Hermione. The two of them had taken a step back, giving Percy space. They shared a glance before smiling at him. "You're my family now, too."

Percy led them over to the odd group that stood off to the side of the other families. His father, instead of wearing his Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts, actually wore a set of dress robes. Percy was rather impressed that his father actually owned anything besides his normal clothes. Standing beside Poseidon were five figures that Percy couldn't help but smile fondly at.

"Percy!" shouted the biggest of the group. The man lumbered towards Percy and picked him up in a massive hug. Percy laughed and hugged him back.

"Tyson! I've missed ya, buddy!"

Tyson set Percy down and grinned.

"Did you like my gift?"

Percy held up his wrist where his watch was and nodded. "It's the best present ever, Ty. Thank you so much."

Tyson grinned and looked at Harry and Hermione. "Friends?"

Percy smiled and nodded again. "Tyson, this is Harry and Hermione. They are two of the best friends I've made since coming here. Guys, this is Tyson, my brother."

Harry and Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "Your brother?"

"Percy is the best big brother," Tyson said happily. "He saved me from Baby Cakes."

The Gryffindors gave Percy an odd look to which Percy just laughed. "A couple years ago, Tyson and I were attacked at school by some giants, remember I told you that, Harry? They tried to kill us with dodgeballs. One of the giants called himself Baby Cakes."

"So Tyson is really your brother?" asked Hermione, looking between the two of them trying to find the resemblance. There was something...off about Tyson. His face in particular.

"Half-brother," Percy said, "but my brother nevertheless." Percy patted Tyson's shoulder and then looked at the others.

"Hey Thals, Lady Artemis," Percy said, bowing to Artemis. Hermione and Harry quickly followed his lead. Artemis nodded in appreciation, and Thalia gave Percy a hug.

"Chiron told us all to come and support you," she said. "Tyson was the most excited to come."

Percy smiled again at his brother, a part of him feeling comforted by Tyson's eagerness to see him. He knew that he had been quit distant the last year, and he hadn't realized how much he had missed his brother until now. "Well thank you all for coming."

"We wouldn't miss it for anything," said the man wearing the beanie, sweat pants, and leaning on crutches. Percy gave a weak smile.

"I'm sorry for...you know..."

The man waved his hand, "no big deal, Perce. It's all in the past."

Percy breathed in relief. He turned to Harry and Hermione. "Guys, this is my oldest friend, Grover. He was the one that actually led me to Camp where I learned I was a demigod."

The Gryffindors smiled and greeted Grover politely. Percy turned to the last figure, sitting in his wheelchair. "Gramps."

Chiron rolled his eyes. "Don't be a sap."

"What?" Percy asked, with mock hurt. "It's been so long since I've seen you!"

"I guess you forgot this morning's session when you tripped and hit your head," Chiron said. "Black out a bit there did you?"

Percy blushed as Poseidon shook his head and patted Percy's shoulder. "And here I thought we taught you better."

"We can always have another session today," grinned Artemis. Percy's blush faded to a horrified pale.

"No thank you."

Artemis grinned, but it was quickly replaced with her stoic expression as she looked behind Percy. They all turned to see Dumbledore and the other heads as well as Bagman approaching them. Harry and Hermione stepped off to the side as this was an opportunity for the tournament heads to meet Percy's family.

"You are Percy's father, I presume?" asked Dumbledore, holding out a hand to Poseidon. The two shared a brief look and an imperceptible nod.

"I am," Poseidon said, shaking Dumbledore's hand. The two understood that now was not the time to out Dumbledore as Thanatos. Not yet at least. Poseidon turned to the others.

"Hello, Mr. Jackson," said Bagman, his cheerful self garnering a glare and twitch from both Artemis and Thalia, though he didn't look at them. "My name is Ludo Bagman, I am the head of the tournament this year. It has been quite a journey watching your son compete!"

"I'm sure," Poseidon said. "It was pleasant reading your country's journalists insult and ridicule my son over the way he competed."

Bagman paled, and spluttered, so Dumbledore interjected. "These are the other heads of the tournament. Professor Karkaroff from Durmstrang in Bulgaria, and Madame Maxime from Beauxbatons in France."

Poseidon nodded to each of the other headmasters. Karkaroff stared at Poseidon as though trying to figure out if the man posed him any danger. Ultimately, the vile headmaster held out a hand to the Olympian god.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Jackson," Karkaroff said. "I must admit, on behalf of this country's paper, that no one was expecting your family to be so...prestigious."

Percy held back a smirk. The previous week, the Daily Prophet had released a rather brilliant article on the Jackson 'family.' Though he had told Percy months earlier that he would go to the press, it wasn't until he had spoken with the Greengrass parents that he had gone through with it. The Prophet had explained that the Jackson's were practically American royalty. They held enormous wealth and owned several businesses in both the magical and muggle realms making them the wealthiest family there. Percy had tried in vain to stop himself from laughing when the article had mentioned that one of Percy's uncles ran the Empire State Building while the other ran literal underground businesses. His own father was listed as owning several sea businesses such as resorts, cruises, and fishing lines. Percy doubted his father had lied about anything, magical Britain was just hell-bent on refusing to accept the existence of the Greek pantheon. The main downside to the article had been the numerous letters sent to Percy from all over Europe with betrothal contracts, business inquiries, and even one package that had contained a rather risque photograph of a woman from Italy. Daphne had quickly burned the photo much to the amusement of their friends.

Now, though, the people at Hogwarts treated Percy with a level of anxious fear as though their new knowledge of his wealth would somehow make him target them the way Malfoy did. Come to think of it, Percy hadn't seen much of Draco Malibou since the article came out. Presumably, he was off licking his wounds that his family would no longer have the financial upper ground to coerce the Greengrass family into signing a contract. Percy shook his head to clear his musings and looked at his dad who shook Karkaroff's hand.

"And I must say, on behalf of my family, that I expected the headmaster of your school to be more...imposing," Poseidon said, staring the ex-Death Eater in the eyes. Karkaroff sneered and took back his hand. It seemed that the frightful man still had some fight in him. "Now, I believe that Percy has the day to show us around this school and the grounds?"

"You are correct!" said Bagman. "Mr. Jackson, we are all very impressed with how well your son has been doing. Especially since this is his first year at Hogwarts-"

"Mr. Bagman, I believe that you must go and prepare for the final task?" asked Dumbledore. Bagman nodded enthusiastically.

"Right so, Dumbledore," Bagman said. "I must be off. A pleasure to meet the Jackson family." Bagman rushed off and Karkaroff and Madame Maxime followed behind him. Dumbledore turned to Percy and his family.

"Lady Artemis, miss Grace," he said, bowing to the two women. Artemis stared at the god of death, unimpressed. Thalia maintained a stoic expression. "I'm afraid that I have my own work to do before the task, but I hope you all enjoy your day."

When he left, Percy turned to his family. "Well, I guess I'm supposed to show you all around the castle. Lady Artemis, please don't turn any of the males into jackalopes."

Artemis grinned. "I cannot promise anything, Perseus."

Harry gulped loudly to which Hermione snickered. Thalia gave Harry a grin. Percy just rolled his eyes. "I guess that's the best answer I'll get."

"Show us around the castle," Poseidon said. Percy nodded and waved for them to follow him up the steps towards the Grand Entrance. "It is quite an impressive structure...for mortals."

Artemis nodded. "Nearly as impressive as the statue of me on Delos."

"I had no idea you were so egocentric," said Percy. Harry and Hermione looked at each other wide-eyed at how casual Percy and Artemis were talking.

"Percy is very special," said Grover from beside them. "He is the only male Artemis has ever liked." His tone was almost wistful, as though Grover were jealous of his friend.

"I'm simply trying to impersonate you," Artemis said back to Percy, throwing a quick punch at his side. Percy caught the fist and spun her back. Artemis grinned. "You're maintaining your training. Good."

It was an odd sight for Harry and Hermione, seeing Percy fighting a twelve year old. Even if said twelve year old was a millenias old goddess. The looked at Grover who was hobbling along on his crutches, though it didn't seem like he was taking any sort of pressure off of his legs.

"Aren't you a satyr?" asked Harry. Grover turned to them sharply.

"Percy told you?"

Harry nodded. "He doesn't talk about his past much, but he's mentioned you a few times. Mostly to Daphne. Daphne just tells us some things. The less-personal things."

"Daphne..." Grover murmured. "She's the girl Percy is all crazy about?"

Hermione laughed. "Oh yes. You should see them together. It really is quite sweet."

"We'll see about this," Grover said haughtily. "I won't let just anybody be with Perce."

"You're very protective of him," Hermione said. It wasn't a question.

"Grover and I have an emphatic link," Percy said, joining their conversation and giving his Gryffindor friends a playful glare. "I see you guys are talking about me behind my back?"

"Technically, you are to the side," Thalia offered. "So they aren't actually talking behind your back."

Percy waved his hand and shot a stream of water at Thalia. Thalia sputtered and tackled Percy to the ground. The group around them watched in amusement as the cousins tussled, though Harry and Hermione were a bit surprised when they threw actual punches and elbows. It looked...painful. Yet, Grover, Tyson, Poseidon, Chiron, and Artemis didn't seem to care.

"Mr. Jackson," came the stern voice of Professor McGonagall. "Please refrain from such...behavior...within the school halls."

Percy laughed as he stood up, offering Thalia a hand. "I won that, by the way."

"No way!" Thalia growled. "I completely won."

"Thalia won," said Artemis. "She is a huntress. We never lose."

Percy rolled his eyes and motioned to his family. "Professor, this is my family. My best friend Grover, my step-brother Tyson, my cousins Thalia and Artemis, and my dad."

McGonagall's eyes widened in shock as she looked at Percy's father and cousin. She seemed flustered, unsure if she should bow or shake their hands or what. She had never been in the presence of a god before-that she knew of. Poseidon stepped forward and offered a hand.

"A pleasure, Minerva. Although, I may have a slight disagreement with your namesake," Poseidon said with a grin. McGonagall took his hand slowly.

"You know my name?"

"We know quite a bit," Poseidon said.

"What he means is that the gods can see your memories and everything," Percy said.

McGonagall nodded. "It is an honor to have you in our school, Lord Poseidon. And you as well, Lady Artemis." Artemis bowed. "Mr. Jackson, I am to tell you that you and your family should head into the Great Hall for lunch before you spend the afternoon showing them around. The third task will be held down at the Quidditch pitch tonight after dinner."

Percy nodded his thanks as the professor left.

"She seems odd," said Poseidon.

"She would have made a powerful huntress," Artemis said wistfully. "I regret that we do not return to Europe more often."

"Where is the Great Hall, Perce?" asked Grover, excited to begin eating.

"Right through there," Percy said, pointing at the large doors off to the side.

"We'll join you guys later," said Hermione. "We need to go study, because not all of us are exempt from tests."

They all said their goodbyes to Harry and Hermione, and entered the Great Hall. Thalia looked up at the faux sky and whistled in appreciation.

"The ceiling is enchanted to match whatever the sky looks like outside," Percy said. "At night, they have hundreds and hundreds of candles lighting the place up."

"It is very impressive," said Poseidon.

"It's very...old style," Thalia said.

"That's this entire world," Percy said, as they sat down at the Gryffindor table. "They're very traditional and old school. Thals, they use stupid marriage contracts still."

Thalia snorted. "Marriage contracts? Seriously?"

"Oh, he's serious," Poseidon said. "Percy had me stop his girlfriend's parents from signing a marriage contract with some idiot family."

"Someone was forcing a young woman's family into signing a contract?" asked Artemis. Her silver eyes blazed in fury.

"He used his wealth to threaten them," Percy said. "His son is a horrible person. Seems to think that all the women in this school belong to him because of his father's wealth."

Artemis sneered. "Point this boy out to me. I'm sure he'd make a fun practice target for my hunters." Thalia nodded eagerly.

"I'd rather you didn't," Percy laughed. "He definitely deserves it, but the repercussions would be severe for everyone here. His dad essentially runs the Board of Governors of this school. They are in charge of all the decisions."

"That's crazy," Grover said. "Where's the food? Do they have tacos here?"

Magically, plates appeared before each of them. In the center of the table, large platters covered in various foods appeared. Grover's eyes widened, and his stomach growled audibly. "I think I'm in love with magic."

Percy watched as his family began grabbing food and putting it on their plates. Even Poseidon and Artemis picked out food, though as gods, they didn't really need it. They fed on ambrosia not on kidney pie or tacos. Percy looked around the hall before he began to eat. A few students were filing into the Great Hall. The other champions were already seated at their tables with their families. Grover and Tyson seemed to be in a competition to see who could scarf down the most food in the least amount of time.

"You need to eat, Percy," said Poseidon, eyeing a piece of fish distastefully. Percy grabbed a piece of meat and some vegetables. He thought for a moment before cutting a piece of the meat off and placing it on Poseidon's plate.

"I know it's not exactly an offering, but there you go," Percy said. Poseidon just laughed.

"It is alright, I'll let it pass this time."

Thalia just shrugged at Artemis who rolled her eyes. Artemis didn't require her hunters to constantly make sacrifices to her as she was always with them. More students began filing into the Great Hall. Percy knew that his Gryffindor friends wouldn't be joining them. Hermione had created an impressive study schedule for them which involved Dobby bringing them snacks as they studied in the common room. Daphne and Tracey had just managed to get out of getting their own study schedule.

"This food is absolutely delicious," Grover said, stuffing his mouth with more food. Percy thought that Ron would be jealous of Grover's eating habits. Tyson, to his credit, seemed to have slowed down. "Percy you are so lucky to be at this school."

"I don't know about lucky," Percy said, "this place is weird. They've got this weird, cranky old man that works as the caretaker for the school, and he loves the idea of torturing kids for breaking the rules."

"We had harpies," Thalia said. "I think harpies are worse."

"They're worse," Percy nodded, "but this guy is still creepy. I think he's into all that weird kinky stuff."

"How do you know about weird kinky stuff, Seaweed Brain?" Thalia asked, raising an eyebrow.

Percy glanced at Artemis who was eyeing him carefully and then coughed. "I learned things in the Hermes cabin I'll never forget."

"I'm sure," Thalia laughed.

"So, Percy," Poseidon said, changing the subject. "Tell me about the last task."

"It's a maze from what I know," Percy said, after finally taking a bite of his food. "None of the points we have really matter, they just affect the order we go in. I think we just have to find the trophy and that's it."

"That's it?" asked Artemis. "That's not a challenge."

"I think they're putting monsters into the maze too," Percy shrugged. "Either way, can't be any worse than the Labyrinth."

"Nothing would be that bad," Grover agreed, shivering at the memory of the monsters pouring out from ground into the camp.

"Are you finally done eating?" Percy asked his friend. Grover stuffed one more apple in his mouth before nodding.

"Ermm buun," Grover said, his mouth full. Thalia scrunched up her nose.

"Pleasant."

Grover wiped his mouth. "I'm done. Let's go see this castle."

Percy and his family stood up and he led them out of the Great Hall, ignoring the stares people were giving them. Thalia glared at one boy who was staring at her with open lust.

"These people are not subtle at all."

"Subtlety is a lost art in the magical world apparently," Percy nodded.

"I should actually go back and help Hagrid with tonight's task," said Chiron.

"You sure?" Percy asked. Chiron nodded.

"Can't say what will happen, but we need to get ready."

Percy frowned, but they all said goodbye to the centaur, and with that, Percy led his family through the school, taking them down to the dungeons first and showing them the potions lab and then back up for the kitchens. They all had to restrain Grover from trying to break into the kitchens, but Percy had been smart and not told them how to get past the painting. He took them upstairs, though he had to explain the moving staircases to them when he was forced to take them up a different way than they had come down. Tyson had gotten his leg stuck in a trick stair, and after that, walked directly behind Percy to avoid doing so again. With the students all at lunch, the hallways were relatively empty which suited them all just fine. Percy took them up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room, but stopped. He explained that the houses were much like the cabins at Camp, and that if you weren't part of a house, you weren't supposed to go into their cabin without permission from the head of house. Poseidon and Artemis, who had already been there too long, took their leave and flashed out of the castle to return to their godly duties. Thalia promised Artemis before she left that she would return as soon as the final task was finished.

"This place really is cool," Thalia said as Percy led them back down the stairs to the Grand Entry. The time had flown by, students had come and gone, and soon it would be dinner. "Imagine if we had a castle at Camp."

"I think the trick steps and moving stairs would make it very hard to attack," Grover said, shoving Tyson, who had been following too close behind him, away.

"Well well well! What do we have here?" came a voice from above. Thalia pulled out her can of mace, and her spear appeared in hand. Percy, too, uncapped his pen and held Anaklusmos out towards the voice. Grover simply cowered behind Tyson who squared his shoulders, ready to spring into action. "Little children pointing pointy points at Peeves?" The ghost cackled.

"You must be the poltergeist," Percy said, putting his sword away. "I don't think we've met before."

Thalia didn't put her spear away. "Who the hell are you? What are you?"

"She doesn't know Peeves?" Peeves fake gasped. "Not English. Not a witch. Not from Hogwarts. My, oh, my!"

"He's a poltergeist," Percy said, not taking his eyes off the ghost. "He's a ghost that can actually affect the physical world. Apparently this one in particular is quite the prankster."

"He knows me! Dragonbane knows me!" Peeves laughed, and pulled out a water balloon. He threw the balloon at Percy, giggling like mad in anticipation of drenching another student. Then the balloon flew back and smashed into him. Peeves gaped at Percy. "No one has ever soaked me before."

Percy pulled out his necklace, letting it hang in front of his shirt. The light of Zeus illuminated the ghost much better than the torches in the hallways. Water dripped off the ghost...as well as through the ghost. Thalia scrunched up her nose in disgust. It was not a pleasant sight. Peeves looked at the charm then back at Percy, the ghost's eyes filled with fear. "Leave us alone, Peeves."

Peeves felt his ethereal body convulse as a powerful force ripped through him. He wanted to stay and torment them more, but something forced him away. He said nothing, oddly for him, as his body was pulled away and into the walls. Thalia, Grover, and Tyson all stared at Percy. Percy just smirked. "Hades placed something in this necklace to give me minimal control over the dead. I've never actually used it until now."

"Only you, Kelp Head," Thalia shook her head. "I wonder why he didn't know who we were. Aren't ghosts just spirits that have escaped the Underworld?"

"I-"

"That was amazing!" Tracey said, cutting Percy off. They all turned to find Tracey and Daphne approaching them, their eyes wide having seen Percy tell the poltergeist off. "No one except the Bloody Baron has ever been able to control Peeves!"

"The Bloody Baron?" Grover whispered, his eyes wide, and his crutches shaking in fear.

"It's okay, Grover," Tyson said. "I protect you."

"The Bloody Baron is another ghost," Percy said, rolling his eyes. "He's not a poltergeist I don't think."

Daphne nodded. "He's not. Hi, Thalia."

Thalia smiled at the blonde girl. "Hey, Daphne, it's nice to see you again. Hey, Tracey."

"You guys know each other?" asked Grover, still hiding behind Tyson as though the Bloody Baron were going to appear at any moment. Percy started bumbling.

"Daphne is Percy's girlfriend," Tracey said, grinning broadly at Percy and Daphne's blush. Thalia just smirked at her cousin and held her fist out to Tracey for a fistbump. Tracey returned it without looking. Percy glared at the two of them. They would be a dangerous pair.

"Oh!" Grover said, stepping away from Tyson. "You're that Daphne! I'm Grover Underwood." Grover held his hand out to the girl.

Daphne took it hesitantly. "Who are you exactly?"

"I'm Percy's best friend," Grover said with a bright smile.

"Wait," Daphne said slowly. "Are you the satyr?"

Grover's eyes widened, and he looked at Percy, putting a hand on his chest. "You told her about little old me?"

Percy rolled his eyes.

Grover laughed. "Okay, well yes, I'm a satyr. I'm hiding my legs right now which is why I have the crutches."

"Goatboy also has horns," Tyson said. Grover smacked him.

"Don't call me that."

"Sorry Goatboy."

"Daphne, Tracey," Percy said, before Grover could hit Tyson again, "Grover is the one who helped take me to my summer camp for the first time. And Tyson, here, is my brother."

The girls' eyes bugged out. "You're brother?"

"Half-brother," Percy shrugged.

"Poseidon is my dad," Tyson said with a big smile.

"You're a demigod?" Tracey asked. Thalia snorted, and Percy and Grover just smiled. Tyson shook his head.

"No. I'm a cyclops."

Tracey and Daphne blinked.

Thalia snapped her fingers and the thick layer of mist surrounding Tyson's head dissolved revealing he only had one eye. Daphne and Tracey froze where they stood. Percy put an arm around Tyson. "Don't worry guys, Tyson is really great."

"Even Annabeth liked him," Thalia said. "Which is saying a lot considering how she felt about cyclops."

"What do you mean?" asked Tracey.

Thalia shook her head. "Another time."

Percy nodded in agreement.

"Okay," Daphne said, "but what did you mean earlier by 'that Daphne'?"

"Oh yes," Grover nodded. "The nymphs around here all told me all about you and Percy. They like to gossip a lot."

"Nymphs?" Daphne and Tracey asked at the same time.

Percy groaned. "Of course. I should have known they'd be watching."

"What are nymphs?" asked Tracey. "Like fairies?"

"They're not fairies," Grover shook his head. "They're spirits. Everything in nature has a spirit. Well...most things at least. Every tree, every lake, every stream, river, creek. That sort of stuff."

"So..." Tracey said slowly, "the Black Lake has a nymph?"

"Yes," Grover nodded. "She's very nice actually."

Percy patted Grover's back. "Grover is very humble, but what he hasn't told you is that he is Lord of the Wild."

Grover blushed.

"What does that mean?" Daphne asked.

"You ever heard of the god Pan?" Thalia asked. Daphne hesitated, trying to remember everything her father had taught her about the Greek pantheon, but Tracey just shook her head no emphatically.

"Pan was the god of nature," Grover said sadly.

"'Was'?" Tracey asked. "What happened?"

"Pan died," Tyson said softly. "People forget nature. People forget Pan. Pan died."

Grover nodded. "Basically, what he said."

"So now Grover here is Pan's successor," Percy said. "Grover is the new Lord of the Wild meaning all of nature obeys him."

Tracey and Daphne's eyes widened. "That's amazing!"

Grover blushed again. "T-thank you."

"Alright, come on, Grover," Thalia said, pulling Grover behind her. "It's dinner time, and I am starving."

"You want to join us?" Percy asked the girls. They looked at each other.

"At the Gryffindor table?" Daphne asked. Percy nodded, smiling.

"Please, Daphne and Tracey?" Tyson asked. The large cyclops pouted a lip at the two girls who giggled and nodded.

"Okay fine," Daphne said. "But only for you, Tyson."

Tyson clapped happily and hurried after Thalia and Grover. Percy just smiled at his brother as they followed him.

"You never told me you had a brother," Daphne said, smacking Percy's arm. Percy just shrugged.
"It didn't come up. I haven't really spoken to him much since...well, since camp. He lives down in Atlantis and has been helping my dad rebuild it. He's also the general of my dad's cyclops army."

"He's a general?" Tracey asked incredulously. "He's like a giant teddy bear! A giant teddy bear with one eye."

"You should see him when he has a stick," Percy said. "He's a very strong fighter."

They walked behind the others, occasionally running into some students who stared at the strange group. While it had become school gossip that Percy and Daphne were together, many believed it was just Draco's immature whining. Seeing the two together in the halls, talking and smiling was certainly an odd sight. Not to mention the other three kids that were clearly not from Hogwarts.

"Are you sure about us sitting with you?" Daphne asked as they approached the Great Hall. "It's like announcing to the world that we're together."

"And that's bad because...?"

"What if someone tries to stop us?"

Percy stopped and pulled Daphne into a hug. "Daph, you are a powerful witch, and I'm the son of Poseidon. I say let them try. It'll only end badly for them."

Daphne rested her head on his shoulder until Tracey squealed. The other three ahead of them stopped and turned back as Percy and Daphne let go, blushing. Daphne flicked Tracey's ear. "Thanks for that."

"You guys are just so cute together," Tracey smiled.

Percy made eye contact with Thalia and nodded his head slightly in Tracey's direction. A second later, Tracey shrieked and jumped in the air, holding her bum. "What the hell was that?"

"Language, Miss Davis," said Professor McGonagall, passing them and heading into the Great Hall. Tracey blushed and apologized before glaring at Percy.

"What did you do?"

Percy just held his hands out. "Woah, woah, I didn't do anything!"

Tracey glared and pulled her wand out on him. Thalia and Grover started cracking up. Tracey looked at them confused.

"That was me, I'm sorry," Thalia laughed.

"What did you do?" Tracey asked, more shocked than angry.

Thalia held her hand out and pulsated electricity between her fingers. Daphne smacked her head.

"Oh, that's right!"

Tracey looked at her. Daphne pointed at Thalia's hand. "Remember the cave? Thalia is the daughter of Zeus. Zeus is the god of the sky and of lightning. She can control electricity just like Percy can control water."

Thalia smiled and nodded, "Good memory."

"Alright, let's eat, I am dying," Grover said. "Do you think they'll have tacos?"

Percy rolled his eyes. "If we don't go in now, Grover will eat the castle."

"Don't tempt me, Perce."

««‡»»

Percy shrugged off his robe. He refused to wear the awkward thing for the final task. The other three champions eyed his bright orange shirt distastefully. Percy didn't care. It had taken all the courage he could muster to put his old camp shirt on. If Hecate was right, and this was to be his final task ever, Percy would go out honoring his friends and family that had perished because of treachery. It was ironic that Percy would die a similar way.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Ludo Bagman's voice rose above the cheering of the crowd. "Since Barty Crouch is ill and could not attend, we are very pleased to announce that Minister Cornelius Fudge will be stepping in as the fifth judge for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament!"

There came a mixed applause. Percy stared at the minister. He was a portly man who looked like an even bigger idiot than Dionysus. Actually, Percy would rather spend time with Dionysus than with this Fudge person.

"Thank you Minister Fudge for coming on such short notice," Bagman said. "Now, for the final task, our four champions will be going into a maze! They will each enter in the order by which they are currently ranked on points. Cedric Diggory will go in first. Then after a few minutes, Percy Jackson will enter followed immediately by Viktor Krum. Fleur Delacour will enter last. The first champion to reach the end of the maze and lift the Triwizard trophy will be crowned winner!"

Bagman left his podium and approached the champions. He smiled at them all though he looked at Percy's shirt oddly. "Are you all prepared for the final task?"

"Oui, we are ready," Fleur nodded. The others nodded as well. Bagman grinned and clasped his hands together.

"Excellent! When you hear the cannon, Cedric you enter first. Then you'll each enter in your respective order when you hear the cannon blast. Make sense?" They nodded. "Excellent! Good luck, champions!"

Cedric wiped sweat off of his forehead and pulled his wand out, ready for the cannon to fire. He did not have to wait long. The moment he heard the sound, he hurried into the maze, seemingly ready to confront whatever danger lay ahead of him. Viktor and Fleur pulled their wands out as well, but Percy simply pulled out his pen and made sure that his watch and leather bands were tight on his wrists. He also put a hand on his chest to make sure his amulet was still there.

"You are not using vand?" asked Viktor. "Are you sure you are ready?"

Percy nodded. "I don't need a wand."

"Are we allowed to bring anyzing in wiz us?" asked Fleur. Bagman eyed the pen in Percy's hand.

"We never said you couldn't take anything into the maze, so I think he is within his rights to bring a pen," Bagman said. The cannon blasted. "Ah, off you go, Percy. Good luck."

Percy ignored him and walked into the maze. He was immediately confronted by three choices. He could either go straight or to either side. Percy looked at the grass on the ground. Cedric had gone to the left. Percy shrugged and went to the right. The path twisted and turned as he continued forward. The cannon blasted a third time signaling Viktor's arrival in the maze. Several minutes later, the cannon blasted one final time as Fleur entered. Percy forgot about the other champions and focused on where he was going. Occasionally he was confronted with another choice, but he always stuck to the right. He figured that eventually he would make it all the way around the edge of the maze. If the maze led to the opposite side, then he shouldn't really have a problem. However, if it ended somewhere in the middle, that would be a different story.

The air was humid and warm despite the sun having gone down already. The only light came from the torches up in the stands where Percy's friends and family sat and watched. Daphne appeared in his mind. Her blond hair, smelling of sweet berries, filled his senses. She had kissed him before he had gone to meet the other champions. Those that had been watching them had gasped in shock, seeing the Ice Queen of Slytherin kissing a boy in public. She had made him promise he would be careful. Percy had promised, and felt a twang of guilt. He hadn't sworn on the Styx. In an odd, twisted sort of way, he felt like he was Kronos. Making an empty promise. He would be careful, but Percy was not so blind as to believe he would survive this final task. Somewhere deep in this maze was his final task. Something here had been specifically chosen by Hecate to kill him. Percy only hoped that he would die a hero's death and be honored into the halls of Elysium when the night was over. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts of Daphne away to focus on the task ahead of him.

As he rounded the corner, he saw the flash and glow of fire on the hedges around him. Percy pulled out his pen, ready to face whatever monster was waiting for him. He turned the corner and stared at the most horrendous looking monster he had ever seen. It had long, scorpion-like legs, no head, and had a scorpion-like tail. The flashing glow had come from fire which the monster apparently shot out of its tail. Percy twisted his watch, allowing his shield to spring out, and uncapped Anaklusmos. The noise from both alerted the headless monster to his presence and it immediately fired a blast of fire at him. Percy dodged the blast and rushed forward. He batted the stub that seemed to be where the monster's head should be away and thrust his sword directly into its thorax.

The monster let out a shriek as the sword passed through its skin. It was certainly a tough monster, the sword only imbedding itself a foot in. Percy put a foot on the monster and pulled his sword out before slashing the tail before it could fire another blast at him. The tail did not come off cleanly, but rather hung limp from the tendons that Anaklusmos did not cut through. The monster stumbled away from Percy, unsure of how to attack now that it had lost its tail. Percy backed away, keeping his back to the hedge, and made for the next passage. The monster let him leave.

"What the Hades was that?" Percy mumbled to himself. He had never seen such a thing before. Thank the gods that Kronos hadn't employed any of those in his army. Monsters shooting fire was the last thing they needed. Percy turned his shield back into a watch but kept Anaklusmos out. The air around him seemed to grow colder and colder, and the light from the torches dimmed until it was practically pitch black around him. Percy reached into his shirt and pulled out his amulet. The light of Zeus illuminated the maze around him. Something truly evil waited for him around the next bend. Percy stepped forward, holding Anaklusmos out ahead of him.

"Ah, grandson," came a deep voice just beyond the reach of his amulet's light. "I have been waiting for you."

Percy's eyes widened. No. It couldn't be. It was impossible!

"Don't be scared," the voice said, stepping forward and into the light. "We all have an expiration date."

Percy pulled his watch out. "You're dead."

"I feel very much alive," the figure said, a cold sneer on his face.

"Then I guess I'll just have to kill you again, Kronos," Percy spat. The rushed forward, thrusting his sword into Kronos' chest. The titan didn't move, eyes wide in surprise at Percy's speed and reaction. The sword passed right through him. Kronos' body shimmered as though it were a reflection. Percy stumbled backwards, unsure of himself.

"Guess it'll be harder for you," Kronos grinned. Percy capped Anaklusmos and returned the pen to his pocket. "Unarmed? My how you have grown in your arrogance, grandson."

"I have something special for you," Percy said, pulling on his leather band. His Stygian iron trident materialized in his hand. Kronos looked uncertain. Percy attacked him, leaping in the air and swinging his body creating momentum behind his strike. The trident swung through the air and went straight for Kronos' heart. Once again, the titan did nothing but watch in shock, but this time the weapon connected. Percy expected to see ichor, but was surprised when Kronos exploded into dust.

"That wasn't Kronos," Percy murmured to himself. "What was that?" The maze was proving to be very strange and full of the oddest monsters. What sort of monster could shift its appearance like that? Percy shivered, feeling his fear run along his spine. He shook it off. He had killed whatever monster that had been. He pressed his trident back into his wrist until it turned into the leather band. He walked forward to the next passage. The maze continued on, breaking off and forking occasionally, and each time it did so, Percy kept to the right. A scream tore through the night.

Percy uncapped Anaklusmos and turned towards the scream. A moment later, red sparks shot up into the sky. Fleur had left the maze. Sweat began to bead on his forehead. What had caused her to scream like that? He gripped his sword tighter and kept moving forward, hoping that he didn't encounter whatever it had been to scare the French champion into forfeiting. Another scream ripped through the maze. This time it was a man's scream. Krum or Cedric. Percy waited but no sparks came. The scream continued. Percy snarled and slashed the hedge beside him. He ran towards the sound of the scream, hacking whatever hedge confronted him.

The scream grew louder, and Percy hacked the last hedge in front of him. He lept into the clearing before him and stared in shock. Cedric was curled up on the ground, screaming in pain. Above him stood Viktor Krum, pointing his wand at Cedric.

"Hey!" Percy shouted. Krum looked at him. His eyes were glazed over. Percy frowned. Something was wrong. Krum rose his wand to try and attack Percy, but Percy was too quick. His mind raced back to the Underworld where he had learned ancient magic. He closed his eyes as he spun to the side, avoiding Krum's spell, and thought of the spell Medea had taught him. He opened his eyes and threw his hand towards Krum. An orange light erupted from his hand and struck Krum in the chest. The Bulgarian champion's eyes rolled back in his skull, and he fell backwards onto the ground.

Percy walked over to Cedric and knelt down beside him. "Cedric. Cedric! Can you talk?"

Cedric gasped as the pain faded from excruciating to simply painful. "I...I think so. What the hell happened to Krum? He started using the Cruciatus on me!"

"I'm not sure," Percy frowned. "His eyes were glazed over."

"You think someone Imperioused him?" Cedric asked, stretching his legs out, wincing in pain as he moved.

"Probably," Percy said. "We should send up some sparks. I don't think he'll be competing anymore."

"I don't think I can either," Cedric said. "It hurts to just move my fingers."

"Can you shoot up sparks?" Percy asked. Cedric nodded and held up his wand with tremendous effort. He fired off a weak, red spark. A moment later the hedges rustled and Hagrid stepped into the clearing.

"Merlin," he said, "wha' happened?"

"We think Krum was Imperioused," Percy said. "He was casting the Cruciatus on Cedric."

"Can ya move, Diggory?"

Cedric nodded. "Slowly."

"Aye, let's get ya both out of here," Hagrid said, picking up Krum's limp body as though he were a bag of chips, and helping Cedric up on his feet. "Are ya good, Percy?"

Percy nodded. "I'm good."

"A'right," Hagrid nodded. "Be careful out there."

"Will do," Percy said, before turning and looking for another passage. He had completely lost track of where he was. The hedges he had hacked through had closed in behind him. He wasn't even sure which direction he had come from. Everything looked the same. Percy sighed and looked at the three paths that led to the clearing. Two of them had footsteps leading towards where he was. The third was clean. Logic said that that was the path both Krum and Cedric had intended to follow. Percy gripped Anaklusmos even tighter as he headed down the path.

It was quiet. Too quiet. There were no sounds of insects mating. No sounds of frogs croaking. Percy couldn't even hear the wind. All he could hear was the pounding of his heart. The path seemed to wind this way and that, no longer a path of sharp angles and long, straight passages. Percy held the light of Zeus ahead of him, dispelling the shadows that blocked his path. A faint glow came from further up the passage he was in. Percy took a deep breath, wondering which sort of monster he would be confronting this time. With his luck, it was be a drakon.

It wasn't a drakon. Between the light of two torches, sat a stone-like creature with the body of a lion and the head of a woman. Percy recognized her immediately. "You were supposed to be in the Labyrinth."

The Sphinx looked up. "Perseus Jackson."

"You remember me," Percy said.

"I remember everyone that answers my questions," the Sphinx said.

"How are you here?"

"Where did you expect me to be?"

"In the Labyrinth," Percy said again. "Dead, I guess."

The Sphinx licked her paw. It was an unnerving sight. "The Labyrinth collapsed. It's gone. Why would I stay there?"

Percy rolled his eyes. "Are you going to let me through?"

"You know the rules, demigod," the Sphinx said. "You must first answer my question."

"I already did," Percy said. "Twice."

The Sphinx blinked. Then she laughed. "My, you really are a clever one. Been watching too much Monty Python have we?"

Percy grinned. "I don't think I need to answer that."

The Sphinx grinned, her sharp teeth reflecting the torchlight. "You may pass, Son of Poseidon. But beware. Things in the maze are not as they seem."

"I'm quite aware of that already," Percy said. He stepped past the Sphinx and into the passage behind her. He loosened his grip on his sword. He had been lucky the Sphinx had asked him two easy questions during their chat. Otherwise he would have had to answer a riddle, and he was awful at riddles. He took a few more steps, and the hedges behind him closed. There was no turning back. He was nearing the end.

Percy continued on, certain that he would find his end wherever the maze was now leading him. He kept going one step at a time. His pace was even and calm, but his heart was beating faster. Sweat trickled down his face and soaked his beard. He wiped the sweat from his eyes, hissing as the salt stung him. He let water pour out from his ring and willed it around his body. The water calmed and refreshed him. He felt strong. Maybe the maze would not be his end. Maybe he could take on whatever Hecate had planned.

He expected to run into another monster. Another fire-shooting scorpion perhaps. Another Kronos. Maybe even a giant tarantula. Percy hoped that he wouldn't die to a giant tarantula. The thought sent shivers down his spine. He turned a corner, this time to the left, and found himself in another clearing. Instead of another monster, however, Percy found what had to be Triwizard Tournament trophy standing on a platform in the middle of the clearing. He walked around the entire clearing. There were to other paths on the other side, but there did not appear to be any sort of monster lying in wait beside the trophy. Percy approached it, cautiously, holding Anaklusmos to the side, ready to strike if something attacked him.

"What exactly am I supposed to do with this?" Percy asked. Was he supposed to grab the trophy? Bagman had said the first person to reach it. He was the only champion in the maze. He was standing by the trophy. Surely that meant the task was over? He waited, but nothing happened.

"I'm just going to wait here then," Percy said, stubbornly. "I'm done with the task. They can come get me." He sat down on the grass beside the trophy and laid Anaklusmos across his knees. He leaned back and looked up at the stars. The constellation of the Heroes twinkled. Beside it, Zoe looked down upon him. He wasn't sure if she would be proud of him. Of all those he had lost, Zoe, Annabeth, and Nico were the ones he missed the most. Zoe had hated him for a while, sure, but they had gotten to know each other well on their quest. To be her first male friend since that bastard Heracles was quite an honor, and Percy regretted that they never got to enjoy that friendship outside of fighting crazy titan fathers.

Time ticked by. Percy was getting bored, but he refused to move. He wouldn't play Bagman's stupid games. He was clearly the winner, and he refused to touch their stupid trophy to prove it. The hedges rustled. Percy huffed in relief. Finally, someone was coming to get him.

"You are supposed to grab the trophy!"

Percy leaned around the trophy to find a short, fat man with a strange almost rat-like face. "Who are you?"

"You are supposed to grab the trophy!" the man repeated, angrily. Percy rolled his eyes.

"Nah, I'm good."

The man stepped around the trophy and looked at Percy. "Grab the trophy."

"Nope."

"Grab it."

"Nuh uh."

"Stupid boy grab it!"

"Wow you're really good with kids, aren't you?"

The man sneered and grabbed Percy's arm. Percy made to break the guy's hand, but before he could, the man grabbed the trophy. Percy felt a tug on his naval. It was a portkey. Was it supposed to be a portkey? He didn't think so. He tried to move, but the portkey pulled and the two of them disappeared from the maze.

««‡»»

"What in Merlin's name just happened?" shouted someone from the crowd. Harry and Hermione both paled. Beside them Daphne and Tracey clung to each other, both fearing the worst. Thalia, Grover, and Tyson just stared in shock at the clearing that Percy had been sitting in. "Who the hell grabbed Jackson?"

"That was Pettigrew," Harry whispered. Hermione nodded. "Something bad is going on."

Thalia turned to him. "What? Tell me now!"

Before Harry could respond, Professor Moody hobbled towards them. "Thank Merlin you're still here."

"What's going on, Professor?" Hermione asked. Moody looked at her then back at Harry.

"We need to get you inside the castle as soon as possible."

"What for?" Harry asked, growing nervous.

Moody turned and started heading up to the school. "Whoever abducted Jackson is most likely going to try and abduct you, Potter. We need to get you to safety."

"Go, Harry," Hermione said. "We'll stay here in case Percy somehow comes back."

Harry nodded before following Moody.

"I should go with him," Tracey said, looking at her boyfriend with concern. Daphne shook her head.

"Please don't leave me," she whispered. Tracey hugged her friend who was beginning to shake. Thalia put a hand on Daphne's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Daphne. I know Perce. He's a strong fighter. He can take care of himself. He'll be back before you know it."

"Promise?"

Thalia nodded. "I promise."

"Miss Granger!"

They all turned and found Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape hurrying towards them. McGonagall grabbed Hermione's arm. "Miss Granger, where is Mr. Potter?"

The friends all looked at each other. Hermione frowned at her Head of House. "He went up to the castle with Professor Moody. He said that Harry needed to be taken somewhere safe."

The professors all paled.

"What's wrong?" Tracey asked, tears forming in her eyes.

"Professor Snape just found Moody locked in a chest," said Dumbledore. "The real Moody. Whoever Harry went with was not your professor."

A/N: Chapter took much longer to write than I had expected. The first half took four drafts before I was happy with it. Hope you all enjoyed this! Next chapter has the big finale to year 4 plus the start of summer.

Thank you to everyone that favorited, followed, and reviewed. Love you all! Till next time.