The Great Hall, Hogwarts

Percy

Percy froze. Who is this woman? he thought. "Aaaah, but... young Perseus," she asked. "Do you... not... recognize me?" she cackled coldly.

"Uh, sorry," Percy replied. He hefted his sword in front of him, in a defensive position.

"I would be... your worst nightmare," the woman answered. She was still half-hidden by the gloom. As she spoke, the oneiroi regathered themselves and advanced forwards, ignoring the patronuses. Percy could feel everyone's eyes on him.

"But... who are you?" Percy questioned.

"Me? ME? ME?" the woman repeated. "I? I am... Melinoe, the goddess of ghosts, the destroyer of mortals, the doom of all!" she shrieked. All the patronuses froze again, before shattering in a million pieces. Percy watched as his beautiful and graceful orca sprinkle to the floor, broken. Many gasps could be heard.

"You just killed my whale!" Percy complained, trying to keep Melinoe talking.

"Actually, the killer whale is a dolphin," Jason replied. "Though technically, dolphins are a subclass of toothed whales." Percy rolled his eyes. Like he was ever gonna need that information for a test (which he will, in the sequel fanfic I plan on writing).

"Riiigghht... Anyways, you killed it!" Percy said. Melinoe giggled harshly.

"Yes, I... did. And I plan... on killing... a lot more!" she screamed. The oneiroi echoed her. They swooped down, causing the majority of the crowd to faint. Percy looked around. It was only him, his friends, the professors, and Harry left standing.

"But Hades is your father!" Nico cried.

"Son of Hades... do not... cross me," Melinoe wailed. "Hades never cared for me! Hades never loved me!"

"Well... Hades is sort of like that," Percy told her. Nico glared at him. Percy held his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. Whatever."

The oneiroi howled and shrieked with Melinoe. One of the daimons looked over at Percy. He felt as if his soul had left his body.

The oneiros had luminous, yellow eyes. They pierced through Percy's head. He saw terrible images of the possible fate of Annabeth, his mom, his stepsister and stepdad, his friends, and the whole world. It left his weak in his knees. What am I fighting for? Percy wondered. Why am I causing so much pain for myself? Deep down, Percy knew. "Percy!" Harry's voice echoed through his head. Harry. Annabeth, Percy thought. That's what I'm fighting for. It's for them. He cleared his head.

"Thanks, Harry," he replied. "I'll take Melinoe. You guys, get the oneiroi." No more questions were asked. Jason, Thalia and Nico each fought three daimons while the others took one or two. Percy headed for Melinoe. She laughed, a dry and hollow sound escaping her lips.

"Try as you... must... Perseus Jac-kson," she told him. "Soon, I'll have... many ghosts... for... you!" She lunged at him, her curved nails growing into sharp talons. Percy instinctively dodged. Melinoe hissed in anger. "Wha-t about... Luke? What... about... poor him?" She swayed in a wide circle around Percy. "You were the one... You were... there. You betrayed... him. You... destroyed him!" With that, she swooped at Percy, cackling with glee, and howling madly.

"Luke sacrificed himself," Percy replied. "He sacrificed himself to save us. To save Olympus. To save the world. To save me." Percy's sword pressed against her nails. However, he could feel her right hand thrusting forwards and sinking into his bicep. Percy howled in pain.

"Yes... Jackson. Soon... you will... suffer... eternal agony... just like the... rest of your world!" Melinoe grinned.

"Luke stabbed himself in his Achilles's heel," Percy continued. "He sacrificed himself. And do you know why?" Melinoe didn't respond. "Because he was a true hero! Because he... loved," Percy finished. Melinoe gasped.

"Ghosts... do not love!" Melinoe sneered. "Love is a foolish thing, a weak thing-"

"But you have it too," Percy interrupted. "You feel it too."

"I do not-"

"Hades did love you,"

"He left me to rot!" Melinoe shrieked, her white hair erupting in a crazy Einstein style. "He left me for dead! He never cared, he never-"

"He let you find your path by yourself. Hades knew he couldn't take care of you forever. He knew, that you would... one day, care for yourself. Be yourself. Find love by yourself," Percy argued.

Melinoe started breaking down into tears. The oneiroi hesitated for a second, as if unsure what was happening. Percy's friends also looked over looking concerned. When Melinoe finally reorganized herself, she seemed much more quieter and somber.

"You... mean... h-he... actually... cared?" Melinoe whimpered, sobbing.

"Yes," Percy answered gently. "He actually cared. I am sure of it." Melinoe embraced him, crying into his stomach.

"Find... them," she whispered hoarsely. "Find them at the gates. The gates of horn and ivory!" With that, she vanished. Percy looked around. The oneiroi were retreating from the patronuses one by one. Hogwarts was saved.

For now...