PERCY

Being whisked to Dumbledore's office and watching him order paintings around at three am wasn't how I imagined spending my last night before the Christmas holidays. In fact, I didn't even know the old Headmaster was back. Something told me Umbridge didn't know though, and that he wasn't staying long. Apparently, pieces of paper couldn't keep the rightful Headmaster from returning to his students. Dumbledore reminded me of Chiron sometimes.

Snape and McGonagall were there too, having escorted Harry and I here. Harry was in a cold sweat, breathing erratically and staring around. He and I locked eyes and I could see the panic in them.

"In the dream," Dumbledore suddenly said, "were you looking down at the scene?"

Harry shook his head, his fists clenching and unclenching.

"No, Professor, I-"

Dumbledore interrupted to send another painting away. I wouldn't ever get used to that.

"Mister Jackson," he said. "What about you?"

"I was standing on the side," I replied. My friends looked worriedly at me, Annabeth holding my hand. The colour had gone from her face. I wanted to ask if she was alright.

"And you didn't see or hear anything else other than Arthur Weasley being attacked?"

Behind Harry, Ron breathed in.

"I- no," I said, furrowing my brow. "Why?" I glanced at Harry. "Did you hear something?"

Harry shook his head fitfully.

"Mister di Angelo," Dumbledore said. "Would you tell us what you heard?"

I looked at Nico. His face was whiter than usual and regardless of his hands being in his jumper pocket, I could see they were shaking unsteadily.

"I had the same dream," Nico started, staring at Harry and I. "But afterwards, when Mr Weasley hit the ground, I didn't wake up. Everything went black, until a wand lit up." He looked away. "I followed it and told the owner to show themselves. Someone laughed." His lips twisted in a scowl. "They said, 'Nico di Angelo. You would be great among my people. You are powerful. We share an interest, you and I; the Dark Arts. Come to me and we can rule the world together. I'll even allow you to bring your sister.'"

Nico then glanced at me.

"It was Voldemort," he finished. "And he wanted you to come too."

I didn't hear anything else after that. Partially because I stormed out of the office in a haze of uncontained rage.

Actually, no. That was the only reason I didn't hear anything. Even if I had stayed, the blood pumping through my ears would have drowned out any words. I needed to take something apart .

How dare that noseless creep go after Nico. How dare he. I didn't even know how he knew about us, unless–

I was halfway to punching a wall and breaking my fist when it hit me. I stumbled back, like epiphanies were suddenly physical blows that drilled into one's chest. A spy. Someone reporting to Voldemort about us. He'd only known about me at the start – I didn't know how – but now he knew about Nico too. Maybe all of us. I recounted the fight in the Great Hall between Jason, Nico and I. Whoever it was had to have been there and seen for themselves; heard Dumbledore, even. Modesty aside, we were powerhouses. Anyone would want us on their side of the war. Any nine of us, Mister I-got-mould-in-my-shorts wouldn't care. One demigod could go up against a hundred wizards. Spell immunity. Powers. Knowledge of fighting. It was what he wanted. Badly.

I was going to break his face.

The next thing I knew, crickets were chirping outside and Hermione had found me. I was crouched against the same wall I'd threatened earlier, my knuckles ghosting with imagination-induced pain. Punching a wall should have done some damage, logically. But I still bore the curse of Achilles. Regardless, I didn't hold back. That wall deserved it. It was the reason all this was happening and I wasn't about to admit that beating up an inanimate object was in any way childish and stupid. The wall was to blame.

"Percy," Hermione said quietly, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I lied. "You should see the other guy."

Her eyes travelled to the cracks and missing rock pieces in the wall, then down to where I was rubbing the perfectly healthy skin on my hands.

"To me, the 'other guy' looks better than you," she replied. "And I know you're lying. What's wrong?"

Hermione reminded me of Annabeth a lot of the time. They were such good friends, too. I sighed, flopping my tingling hands onto the flagstone and letting my head bump the wall as I looked upwards. A few dusts of rock floated down.

"He got into Nico's head," I replied. "He got into my head, and Harry's. Everyone I care about is in danger and I can't even whale on the guy who's creating it. I feel useless, Hermione, and it sucks."

She sat down beside me.

"You're not the only one, Percy," she said. "Harry's falling to pieces. After you left, he exploded at Professor Dumbledore, yelling at him. He's on edge and I'm worried for him." She drew her knees up. "You guys shared a dream, you know."

I nodded.

"You were on the side. Nico was apparently hovering above it. But Harry… Harry said he was the snake. He was looking through the snake's eyes, watching it attack Mr Weasley. That man is like a father to him; the only one who's been there since the beginning of his wizard life. Harry looks up to him."

I imagined myself in Harry's position, but instead I was a crazed monster, attacking Paul. Suddenly my heart felt so much heavier.

"He won't show it Percy, but he's scared. He terrified something will happen to Ron and I." I saw tears welling in her eyes. "But he's so worried for you as well. You, and the others. You might have saved millions of lives countless times, but Harry is frightened. Voldemort is his enemy – has been since he was one, even if he didn't know it. What happened to Hazel shook him deeply. No one noticed until he started having nightmares. No one would have noticed if he hadn't woken Ron up one night."

Weighty guilt settled in my stomach. I was supposed to be the expert in haunted looks – I had my own. But I didn't notice Harry's. My fists clenched tighter, nails digging into my skin and drawing more blood. Well, of course I didn't, I thought bitterly. I don't notice anyone suffering. Nico… for years he…

"Voldemort wants us for his army," I said emotionlessly. "He wants us for his fight against Harry."

Hermione nodded.

"That's why he's worried sick," she said softly. "He doesn't want anyone hurt because of his enemies. Seeing Mr Weasley… I think it broke him."

Apparently, Harry hadn't had enough psychological torture in Snape's opinion, and spent the rest of the night getting his mind invaded by our swear-to-Hades-sadist of a Potions teacher. Dumbledore had taken his phoenix and left in a ball of fire, to make sure he stayed undetected while helping his students. Meanwhile, a Portkey was prepared for us. We were to take it back to the Grim-and-Mouldy Place, with the rest of the Weasley's.

When it was done, there was barely enough room for everyone to hold onto it. But after a gut-choking ride of being squeezed through a tiny tube and having my insides rearranged, we arrived outside Number 12. I spotted the fountain I'd wriggled out of when I first got there. It made me wish I'd water-travelled instead.

We got inside and were immediately assaulted by Mrs Weasley. She didn't have enough arms to hug us all, but she gave it her best shot and almost succeeded in getting tears on everyone. Her children and Harry were priority, then us. I mentally wondered how many times my guts needed moving in one day as Mrs Weasley hugged me breathless.

We all quietly filed into the dining room, and were told that Mr Weasley was in St Mungo's Hospital, being treated. It had been a close call. He nearly died. Everyone was reassured that he would be home for Christmas.

The nine of us demigods trudged upstairs, tired to the bone. Harry, Ron and Hermione followed. We split off into the same rooms we'd been staying in before Hogwarts. That seemed like an age ago. Hermione gave me a sad look before turning to the girl's room, and I saw, comfortingly, that Annabeth looked back at her friend and looped arms with her. Ahead of them, Piper and Hazel were wrapped together too, hugging each other. I leant over and gave Annabeth a sweet kiss. We hadn't had much time together recently, and I missed her. She responded happily, and Hermione was smiling as she watched us put our foreheads together.

I don't know when it happened and I wasn't sure I ever would, but the Gryffindor trio had grown on me, giving me two new brothers and a sister. I dropped a kiss on Hermione's cheek, the same kind of one Nico gave Hazel, and Annabeth grinned as she saw her boyfriend and close friend confident in the other's presence. The two girls disappeared inside their room. I went into mine.

I had a Potter to talk to.

Mindless fluff and angst is my way of apologising for not getting off my ass sooner and writing this down. Sorry for any feels. And Golden Trio/Demigods being siblings is my new headcanon for this story. I see Hermione and Percy being sort of like Annabeth and Percy before they got together, minus the flirting.

Next chapter is CHRISTMAS and I have surprises for everyone! YAY! But before Christmas there is serious bonding going on between the boys. And I might actually have some plot to throw in too. Hades knows we need some.

I feel like people are probably getting bored of this story and I don't blame you.

Jasmine Out!