Chapter 16.0

Percy


Hermione sat next to him and Charms, and he silently fumed. Why was he on edge around her? The faint tingling of his six sense of danger, it reminded him of Chronos. That was ridiculous, he knew. Hermione couldn't have anything to do with Chronos, this was a world without gods. 'Unless,' a tiny voice in his head argued,' unless she's here from your world too.' Percy had been arguing with himself for weeks, and was trying hard not to flinch when she came into his ten foot radius.

As class ended, he decided he'd had enough. He'd try to confront her, without revealing too much. He took her aside, into an empty secret passage. She looked at him questioningly, and he took a deep breath.

"Hey, does this mean anything to you? Just listen." She looked confused, but nodded. Percy began reciting the first Great Prophecy, in Ancient Greek.

"A half-blood child of the eldest gods,

Shall reach sixteen against all odds,

See the world in endless sleep,

Hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap.

A single choice shall end his days,

Olympus to preserve or raze." He watched her carefully as he spoke, but she just looked confused.

"What does that mean, Percy? I couldn't understand you." Percy sighed, leaning against the wall.

"You reminded me of someone I used to know, and that was something he said a lot. Kind of like a prayer, he said it all the time. If you knew him, you'd know it." Percy hated lying, but it was easier than saying 'I thought you were an assassin from another universe sent by an immortal enemy of mine". Hermione frowned, looking sympathetic.

"I'm sorry, I've never heard that before." Percy waved a hand, and grinned. He was relieved, he had hoped his friend didn't want to kill him.

"Let's get going, who knows what those two will do on their own." Hermione smiled, and they went to the Great Hall with their friends.


They were meeting Hagrid for the usual tea, Percy's friends sweaty from the workout he'd put them through. They now could handle running three laps while Percy threw balls of water at them. Percy was panting too, controlling water still tired him. They were all training hard, and it made Percy proud to see how far they'd come. Even if Ron had only participated because Percy had broken Malfoy Senior's nose last year, he was still glad they were willing to try.

Hagrid loved that his favorite students visited him so often. Hagrid told them Malfoy Senior had tried to stir up trouble about the hippogriff attack, but no one bothered since no one was hurt. They talked, and Percy went to visit Canus. The little unicorn had stopped being such a foul mouthed brat, even if he was still rude. When it was nearly sunset, he set off for dinner.

His friends were waiting for them in the Great Hall, and Harry was glaring at the Marauder's Map. Percy had given him the map, hoping watching it would help him with his anger. He did this quite often, he'd probably been furious about Pettigrew's escape.

Then he gasped, and shoved the map under Percy's nose. There, Pettigrew's dot was outside Hagrid's hut. Ron and Hermione went with them, and Percy gave a taxicab whistle. The teachers and students alike looked at him, but Percy glared at Snape.

"Hey, you slimeball! Bet you can't catch us, let's have a game of cat and rat." The students were horrified, but Snape gave him a nod. He understood what he meant. Mcgonagall looked furious, but Snape ran after them as they shot out of the Great Hall. They waited for him outside the doors, and Harry showed him the map.

They ran out, and soon they were joined by Lupin. Snape scowled, but they were both united in their fury towards Pettigrew. They found the rat in Hagrid's pumpkins, and gave chase. As they neared the Whomping Willow, Ron caught the rat.

Then, a massive dog shot from the shadows, dragging him into the secret passage under the angry tree. They all heard the snap of bone as Ron's leg hitched under a root. They dove in after him, being battered by branches. The long tunnel opened into the Shrieking Shack, and they found Ron laying on a bed. He held the squirming, clawing rat tightly.

Suddenly, something alerted Percy to danger. He threw up his shield, jumping in front of Snape just as a spell smashed into it. Sirius Black, looking just as he did on the wanted posters, held Ron's wand.

"Wands on the floor. I just want the rat." Lupin stepped forward, and raised his hands in surrender.

"We know, Sirius. We know you're innocent. We've been trying to catch that cowardly scum ourselves. I'm sorry it took me so long, my friend." Sirius lowered the wand, and Lupin hugged him tightly. Snape scowled, and Percy put away his shield. Ron groaned, and Percy quickly set the leg. Snape and Lupin conjured a cage for Pettigrew, and stuffed him inside. They left, Snape levitating Ron through the tunnel.

Of course, it all went very wrong. When they stepped out into the moonlight, Lupin began shaking horribly. Snape took the cage that Sirius gave him without a word. Snape grabbed Hermione, dragging her with him as he took Ron back to the castle. Harry had pushed Snape away, and was watching in horror as Lupin gave pained snarls. Sirius became the massive dog, and tackled the werewolf. Percy activated his sword, partly glad it wasn't silver. On one hand, he couldn't do much damage. On the other, he wouldn't accidentally kill his teacher.

Sirius was thrown by the werewolf, and Percy started fighting the wild beast that Lupin had become. He landed a few good cuts, then was caught off guard by a chill. Lupin leaped forward, burying his fangs in his shoulder. He drove his sword into Lupin's shoulder, and the werewolf ran into the forest.

Sirius ran to Percy, and Harry was yelling something. Percy wobbled, still standing. He drew his flask of nectar, dumping a good amount on the wound. He then ate two ambrosia squares, worrying he may have overdosed. The wound stopped bleeding, but he was still being supported by a worried Sirius.

Then, the chill got worse. Dementors, a crowd of them, arrived. Sirius fainted, and Percy fell with him. Harry drew his wand, shaking. Percy grabbed the edge of his robes, and Harry looked down at him.

"I believe in you." Percy said, letting his hand fall. He was too weak, it was all he could do to keep his eyes open. Harry nodded, eyes shining. He raised his wand, and shouted the familiar spell.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He yelled, and Percy was blinded by the stag. As the chill left, he heard Snape yelling distantly. He finally fell unconscious, darkness filling his pain dulled mind.


Percy will not be a werewolf. The curse of Lycanthropy in this world was made to only affect humans. Werewolves attack humans exclusively, and the curse only affects humans. As Percy is a demigod, he has an immunity to it. That immunity is amplified by when he drank the liquid fire of Tartarus, he became pretty resilient. Low level curses won't affect him, but the Unforgivable Curses can.