It only looks like a long chapter. Trust me. I decided it was high-time I responded to my reviews.
PERCY
Days passed, then weeks. Nico came out of his charmspeak coma and made us all promise we'd never mention it to Will Solace in case he got any ideas. He then proceeded to rip apart a whole wall and almost shadow-travel then and there to the Death Eaters – probably to kick their asses and send them to Hades – when he found out what happened to Hazel. He then had to fix the wall with his powers before anyone noticed, but everyone tip-toed around him for a while.
Christmas was poking its head around the corner and I was probably the one most excited about the break.
"Think about it, Annabeth!" I marvelled, holding her shoulder as he stared at the gigantic tree being decorated in the Great Hall. "If they don't have Thanksgiving, they must have an awesome Christmas dinner!"
Annabeth just sighed like a long-suffering mother and I pouted until she gave me a kiss and said yes, they must have good Christmases.
The nine of us had spoken last night, speculating on the possibility of going back to Camp for the winter break. Of course it was just that – speculation. We knew we wouldn't be able to. We'd have to go back to Grimmauld Place with Harry and the Weasley's. It wouldn't be bad, but it wasn't home. I knew for a fact that Leo and Nico were itchy about being away from their partners so long. Thalia too missed her Hunters and had been Iris Messaging them frequently to make sure they were alright.
Classes again were boring. I'd long-since given up on them. When would I need any of this anyway? Hecate would probably take our magic as soon as we're done – gods get territorial sometimes. I couldn't see her, let alone Zeus, leaving us with wands and incantations that would quite literally set the world on fire.
Annabeth drank it up still. Acquiring knowledge, and all that.
Of course we did still learn stuff in our DA meetings. That was the only time I paid attention. Harry was a brilliant teacher.
The last DA session for the year was coming to a close. The wizards had improved drastically in their physical defence. They were hardly a match for a monster, let alone a demigod, but they would definitely give flabby-fleshed Death Eaters a run for their money. Thinking about Harry going kung-fu on Voldemort's ass made me wonder if it was possible to break someone's nose when they didn't seem to have one.
"Well guys, this has been great," Harry was saying to the assembly. "Now, we won't be meeting again until after the holidays."
A collective groan of disappointment rose from the group.
"But if you keep practising the spell movements or the spells if you're staying over at Hogwarts, maybe next time we'll start with Patronuses."
"And be sure to keep up the fitness and stretches," I advised them, standing next to Harry. "Thalia wants to start with free-running next time, so bone up on your leg muscles."
Thalia cracked her knuckles excitedly.
The DA group started moving out, all of them coming up to Harry and I and saying things like, "Thanks, guys!" or "You're brilliant teachers." I was very proud of myself.
Just then, Fred and George, the Stoll twins of Hogwarts, came up to Harry and I and started talking eagerly about ways to prank Umbridge. Harry dismissed himself early, but I stayed and listened.
"So they give you a nose-bleed?" I examined the little pill in my hand. Fred nodded. Or maybe it was George.
"Yeah," he said. "And we were thinking we could slip some into Umbridge's tea."
"Oh man, I am so there," I grinned. I dug a couple of gold wizard coins – Galleons, I think – out of my pocket and handed them over, getting a packet of Nosebleed Nougats and Fever Fudge pills, along with an assortment of other fake-sick-inducers. The Apollo cabin would have a heart attack if they found out. I planned on saving them for a prank when we got home.
I was just imagining Fred and George meeting Conner and Travis when Annabeth and Piper tapped on my shoulder and gestured to the door, rather sternly. I gave them a look and Piper rolled her eyes, flicking a finger over my shoulder to where Harry was standing with that pretty Ravenclaw girl, Cho Chang.
"Let's go," Annabeth whispered. "Give them some space."
As we quietly ninja-d our way out, Harry happened to glance over at us. I gave him a thumbs up and a wink and he blushed slightly before the door silently closed in my face and I saw no more. I didn't even have to consult Piper to know that they were kissing. Where do you think the mistletoe came from? It didn't just turn up, that's for sure.
Later, back in the common room, Hermione and Annabeth immediately went off together to study for the exam that was coming up after the holidays. I'd talked to Annabeth about this numerous times: "You're a demigod, Wise Girl, why do you need to pass a wizarding exam?" "What good will this even do you?" "Why do you want to study for this so bad?"
Each of these questions ended in a winded speech about how Athena gathers knowledge for the sake of knowledge and how she needs to know a possible enemy. I think she just didn't want to have a mental tarnishing of her smart-girl reputation by failing an exam. Even if it was for a magic school that we weren't returning to next year.
I sat with Jason, Piper and Thalia, playing a game of what Ron called Wizards Chess. It was just regular chess, but the pieces moved for you, and apparently brutally murdered each other. It was Thalia and I verses Jason and Piper. So far the only brutal murdering we'd managed was the unfair smashing of our Queen. We proceeded to get our butt's handed to us.
Leo and Nico made an odd sight by sitting together and talking quietly. What they were saying was a mystery, but a hunch told me they were thinking of ways to see their partners. Leo had threatened to fly Festus all the way back to Long Island just to see Calypso, and I could tell Nico was in agreement. No matter how much he denied it verbally, he was obviously dying to see Will.
Frank was – surprise surprise – with Hazel, and they were buried in a thick book. The title was in Latin, but it wasn't a school book. Instead it seemed to be a sort of file about all giants in mythology that weren't the spawn of Gaea and Tartarus. Well, that would come in handy.
Ron and Harry were corralled near the fire, talking. It must have been a light subject, because Harry was smiling faintly and blushing while Ron was snickering.
Ditching the chess game – Thalia could fend for herself – I did a forward roll along the carpet between the chairs to land on the floor next to Harry.
"I'm no Piper," I started, "but I know you're talking about that Ravenclaw girl and the fact you snogged under the mistletoe."
Ron snorted as Harry blushed deeper red.
"How…?" Harry trailed off. I settled back on my elbows.
"That was Piper and Annabeth." I rolled my eyes. "The mistletoe was their idea."
"Daughter of the love goddess," Harry muttered. "Should have known."
"But you got together, right?"
Harry nodded slowly.
"Yo, Piper!" I yelled. The chess game stopped for a second and Thalia interrupted by telling me to get my kelp-covered ass back there and die like a man. Piper looked at me expectantly.
"Harry smooched Chang!" I called, and she pumped the air with her fists, grinning madly. Harry ducked his head into his hands and groaned out loud.
"Sorry, bro," I patted his back. "At least it's only Piper in your business. I had Aphrodite on my case since I was fourteen."
Ron whistled and Harry ducked even further.
"Jeez, no wonder you don't get embarrassed," he muttered. "She must have done a number on you."
I shrugged.
"The last person to embarrass me was Nico," I said. "Not too long ago, actually. And… that was totally Aphrodite's fault too."
Harry and Ron looked intrigued. I crossed my arms in a huff.
"Because apparently." That was said very loudly and it caught the attention of our subject, who was still gossiping on the couch with Leo. "I'm not his type!"
Nico stared at me for a moment before giving out the most adorable snorting laugh for about six seconds. Then he looked at me like a wet dog he'd found in the rain.
"Deal with it, Jackson," he said. "You're not blond enough for me."
Then he went back to his conversation. Because he was that much of a pain in the ass. Ron and Harry gaped like someone had slapped them with a fish and the scales were stuck in their nose.
"Oh."
And suddenly the light of realisation dawned on the two wizards. They both turned around simultaneously to stare at Nico.
"He's only just come to terms with it," I whispered to them. "So don't make me hurt you, gottit?"
What started as a pleasant dream walking down to the lake with Annabeth turned nasty the moment the honey-coloured sand turned to black and green marble floor. My hand was left grasping empty air where Annabeth used to be and I whirled around, trying to see where I was.
It was a corridor, and long one, all along black and green. Pale torches burned in stakes and the ceiling was ridiculously high and arched. There was a door down the end – its handle was silver and round, placed in the middle of the wood instead of the side. It was an ornate door too; black polished wood and carvings.
I reached a hand out for the knob. Obviously someone wanted me to see what was beyond.
Suddenly a pained cry ripped through my dream and I jumped six feet before whipping around.
On the tiles was a man with ginger hair and crimson blood pooling from his face. I recognised him as Mr Weasley, Ron's dad. I tried to run to him, but I stopped dead as soon as I saw what had attacked him.
It was a snake. A bloody big, long, scaly length of living muscle with diamond scales and a body the same thickness as some of the Hephaestus kid's arms. Its eyes glittered coldly as it lunged for Mr Weasley. He grunted painfully again, falling over and dropping his wand. The light on the end flickered and went out. The snake kept going at him, hissing and biting, until Mr Weasley's face was a raw mass of punctured and bloody skin. His head fell back, hitting the ground with a resounding crack. I watched his eyes roll back as he fell unconscious.
I was up and out of my bed before my feet knew what I was doing. The dorm was still dark and startled cries of my friends followed me out the door as I barged down the stairs and into the Gryffindor Fifth Year boys room.
"Harry!" I shouted, not giving a turd about the others in the room. "Ron!"
But they were already awake. And the looks on their faces told me they knew. They already knew.
*rises from the dead*
HOLIDAYS! That's all I have to say. More updates then, too. And since my cousins are coming next week, that means even more updates because my plan of action for that particular encounter is to hide in my room and glare at anyone who interrupts me.
Protective Percy is my life. Along with jealous Will and brotherly Jason.
*Counts on fingers* That's Solangelo, Percabeth, Frazel… hm, some Caleo too… and I suppose decimation of Percy and Thalia's chess pieces counts as a valid Jiper moment. And Charry. Who said romance is dead? :P
AND MY PLOT IS HAPPENING YAY FINALLY IT ONLY TOOK 37 CHAPTERS!
REVIEW RESPONSES
(It won't happen every chapter but everyone else is doing it and I feel obliged because you all rule)
Call me Otaku (Guest): I DO remember you from one of my other stories. I feel bad I don't remember which but I do remember you. And thanks for that Makes me happy you feel that way.
AwesomeElia: Not that you can hear me, but I just said Thank You in Greek out loud. Don't ask me why.
Ayep (Guest): You're not the only one. I hope it's finished by then too. If not, good luck at boarding school!
Guest (Guest): You're bazillion 'UPDATE' is what motivated this chapter so late on a Thursday night.
Prince of darkness 44: I am a Solangelo shipper through and through and I will go down with it so help me So he's probably going to be dating Will for the remainder of the story. Thanks for everything, too. It's really awesome of you to say that.
Guest (Guest): Oh, Calypso's going to be here, don't sorry. *slaps hand* Don't type spoilers, Jasmine!
cjvandebogart: Usually when I get caps-locked, it's with threats of kidnap and murder for not updating. Your review made a refreshing change :D Thanks.
75Check57: HERE IS MORE!
littlelapwing: I'll do my best. It might just help to add some angst in, true. Maybe then I'll follow it up with Jason being dumped in the lake.
darsahaa (Guest): TADA! *jazz hands*
Guest (Guest): Here is that update! Thank you for loving it even if it's weird :D
Stelmariana: …what're superlatives? On a different note not pertaining to my ignorance of words: THANK YOU! And I will endeavour to give them more variety of cussing :P I didn't even think about using Tartarus, thanks for giving me the idea.
WhiteWinterStar: That makes me feel all warm and tingly that someone bothered to read this over a two day time period. Thanks, my friend.
HawkDramione: Jason shall probably be dragged underwater at some point of which I have yet to think about but IT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN. :D
canadiandemigod: Aww, thanks. I will keep updating, too. ILY back atcha. Not creepy-like, but nice ILY.
Aerillion: HERE IS THE UPDATE YAY! CAPS LOCK IS FUN
CHBcamper52: Please tell me I didn't dehydrate and asphyxiate you. HERE IS MORE PLEASE DON'T DIE!
Guest (Guest): All time favourite sounds so asdfghjk it's making me do jazz hands over the keyboard.
Queen Sound: Thank you, I enjoy being brilliantly epic :D Oh, you're talking about the story. Nm, I can deal :P Thank you!
Guest (Guest): Yes, yes, completely safe Jason underwater mhmm, mhmm, I get you :P *whispers* are we talking safe as in 'safe' or safe as in actually safe?
DoctorWhoFangirl123: Ah, sister of mine who stalks me even on the internet. Normally a person would die 50m underwater if they didn't have the right gear but not Jason Grace nuh uh. He's too fabulous. I believe you heard me saying that not two hours ago.
27lablover: Percy shall get his revenge! Possibly in a very unorthodox way of which I have yet to think of. And thank you, I'm quite proud I updated on time too :D
WEast (Guest): I'm thinking I might just dunk Jason in the lake seeing as so many people want to see it. Personally, I think it'd be fun anyway. And thanks, I wasn't sure about that part but you've made me feel better about it.
katarina aguilar (Guest): I love your review. I don't know why but I just love it. It's just so perfect for some reason. Thank you so much for bothering to write anything to me.
AmeliaJane14: Not at all, my friend. It's about 99.9% of the readers, you, and me who want to see him get dunked. At some point, I'm hoping to oblige, and actually send him 50m underwater with Percy for giggles.
Guest (Guest): Right now. I think. Unless it's messing up and only posting the review responses. In which case: whoops.
WildWolf13 (Guest): Your review made me smile like a moron for a whole day and I don't even know why. Probably the random swing between being happy and then being not happy.
MiriLaren: I try to update every week, but it usually ends up a little longer than that. Take this update time, for example: about a week and a bit late.
Awesome as Annabeth: HELLO AGAIN! I agree: YAY CHAPTER! HERE IS UPDATE! :D :D :D
PixelArtyGirl1: Ah, well, you see, the sass is very real. I am in fact so sassy *swings keys around* you wouldn't believe it *gets hit in the face*
luluhrh: Personally, I was imagining them as mutual ground between Zeus and Cinderella. But then Jason is Cinderella so… that makes no sense. Your theory is better. Glad you think it's always wonderful :D
Lunatica-obsecionada: Well, you are doing marvellously with reading this story if you do not speak English. Good job! Thanks for reading!
Above the Winter Moonlight: As you can see, Nico didn't take the news well :P And I know this wasn't soon, no need to remind me.
monkeybaby: Gald you liked it! Like really I am. Thanks for bothering to write anything to me.
candycrum: Thanks :D I'm happy you like it enough to tell me.
FallingNarwhals: Can I just say I love your username and your picture. They're both just so cute and funny. AND I LOVE CAPS LOCK TOO DON'T YOU AGREE?! And no, I can't say I have seen any flying potato song. Imma look into that. Potatoes are awesome.
whalesonmars: I like that line too :D I dunno why, it just seemed right to me. Thanks for telling me what you thought of the chapter, it does mean heaps. And I love your username by the way, it's really funny.
We're All Okay: I don't know, was it? I was snickering while I wrote it…
PavLovesPercyJackson: HELLO BUDDY! I'm writing this late at night don't you judge me :P And I love writing Percy and Jason being bros they're just so.. bro-y.
chocolatebackground: If Percy, Jason and Nico were fifty feet underwater in a lake together, knowing me, they'd probably be having tea and cake for no other reason than to have tea and cake at the bottom of a lake. That rhymed…
DONE! JEEZ PEOPLE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME WITH NICE-NESS AND LOVE AND RAINBOWS?!
See ya'll next time!
Jasmine Out!