Chapter 17: Christmas Duel

Words: 4,234

Recap: Christmas... a time of joy, peace, forgiveness... which is still around 18 hours away so James better prays because I'm working for that black coal.


So… as dramatic as James made it sound to fight "right here, right now." We couldn't exactly do something that's publicly frowned upon where anyone can see us.

No. Thankfully, Remus has more common sense than any of us before deciding a proper time and place for our duel.

During the first light on Christmas Eve, we decided to rendezvous in a distant corner of the village, with the houses facing away and the gates of Hogwarts out of sight. The morning was depressingly foggy, but you could still tell the silhouette of the Forbidden Forest, which doesn't help my already jacked-up nerves.

My tired eyes were trained on the cluster of trees for so long, the sudden dual voices almost gave me a heart attack.

"STEP RIGHT UP! STEP RIGHT UP!"

"YOU CAN BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD BUT YOU'RE ALL HERE TODAY, TO WITNESS THE DUEL OF THE CENTURY!"

Crowds were forming because rumor spread fast and people were eager to see people deal with their pointless fights. I didn't even know they were people willing to get up this early in the morning for a stupid duel. Just looking at the sight was enough to give me backache.

"BETWEEN THE FIERCEST LION OF HIS YEAR AND THE UNPREDICTABLE BADGER KEEPING US ON OUR TOES."

"WHO WOULD REIGN SUPREME—"

"What are you guys doing?" I asked, irritably.

The twins, Fabien and Gideon turned from their loud broadcasting to me over the growing crowd to me. They were both wearing a trademark salesman smile on their faces. Though it does not look good on them.

"PERCY! SHOOT, I MEAN—" He pointed his wand on his throat and after a quick quieting charm, I sagged from hearing his normal voice, "Percy! Why didn't you tell us you were doing something juicy?"

"So you can set up your betting booth?" I pointedly looked down at their wizard hats filled with coins and the long betting parchment floating by Gideon's head.

"What? This? Psssh, this is just a little fun, right Gideon?"

"There's always fun when money comes," Gideon answered blankly before his lips stretched out into a disturbing, greedy grin as he played with the betting money.

Honestly, I'm not even surprised there are bets going around. I wasn't expecting it coming from this duo.

"Besides," Fabian continued, "Both parties don't know anything about proper dueling etiquette so it's our job to guide you as well to make the audience fired up. Well, mostly Gideon. He knows more about dueling than most."

"I've memorized all 25 Duelling Principles just for this moment," Gideon said proudly.

"Glad to see we make great entertainment for the student body," I huffed before addressing Gideon, "I didn't know you were in the Dueling Club."

"Real dueling, Percy. Not those watered-down games for posh people"

"Wait, why would they need it watered down?"

There was a moment of silence before they promptly chanted 'Sonorus' in synch.

"STEP RIGHT HERE UP AND DECIDE WHICH TWO WILL WIN OVER THE OTHER."

"PLACE YOUR BET WITH US AND GET A CHANCE TO WIN A TON OF HEAP!"

"Ten knuts for Percy get a tongue lash from the audience." A much more familiar voice cut from behind. My back tensed and I was reluctant to turn to find a pair of my friends from behind.

"Heeeeeey, Lils, Sevvy," I rubbed the back of my neck, "You're up bright and early."

"No thanks to a certain someone," Sev grumbled with obvious bags under his eyes.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Lily's cheeks were as red as liquid fire, whether from anger or the cold, I couldn't tell.

"Are you honestly angry that I get a reason to jinx James on the face.?"

"Not really," Sev bluntly said before getting elbowed by our red-headed friend, "But we thought we get the decency to find this out from you rather than the idiots' boasting in Lils' Common Room."

"Of course they did," I rolled my eyes, "I'm sorry, but I didn't want to get this out of hand and thought I could have those knuckleheads stop their antics once and for all after this."

Lily glared for a second or two, expressing her disapproval before sighing, "Just… be careful out there."

"You know me, Lils. I'm always careful."

She snorted before turning around and walking back to the crowd. Sev stayed a while longer, glancing sideways before he pulled out his wand. "Okay, I'm gonna teach you a spell real quick before you embarrass yourself out there so listen carefully."

"You're teaching me a new spell this late in the game?"

"You're honestly a decent wizard when you don't think too much," Gee, thanks for the compliment, "But frankly, so are they, if you're going to win this duel, you need a curse that utterly destroys Potter's chances."

I shivered but thought it had been the striking coldness of the morning breeze. "You just want to watch them make a fool of themselves in front of a crowd."

"Your point?"

Well, when he put it that way. Sev showed me the hand movement and the right pronunciation with the spell. I practiced it a few times until the Muskedorks graced us barely on time with their presence. Strutting through the lightened fog with matching smirks, like a boyband getting ready to perform on stage. All they need is for 'Me and My Boys' singing in the background and they could have been an iconic sight.

"Understand?" He asked.

I went tight lip as I didn't want to lie to his face and gave a sort of sheepish grin. Sev sighed but was not at all surprised. To be fair, It wasn't exactly a spell I was familiar with so I asked where he learned it from.

"I made it."

"Seriously? Another one?!"

He shrugged like it's no big deal, "It's not that hard. Figured you need a spell fit with that ridiculously monstrous amount of magic you have."

I felt unsettled as I scratched the back of my neck, playing it off with a wide grin, "You made a spell just for me?"

Sev adorably blushes, proclaiming he did no such thing. He gave me a good luck pat on the back before walking back to Lily's side.

The crowd's whispers grew more excited as I walked into the barren field where the dueling would commence. James walked ahead of his group to meet me in the middle, glaring at me all the while.

"James."

"Prissy."

"Fabian!" the pair of us turned to look weirdly at him. "What? I thought we were calling out names?"

His twin rolled his eyes before pushing him aside

Gideon cleared his throat and began moderating the duel, "This duel shall proceed under the proceeding of the Wizarding Duellum Principia. We are given the understanding that one of the gentlemen has perceived slight and demands satisfaction—"

"Correction," James cut him off, "We don't demand satisfaction, we demand the truth!"

"Uhm, that's not why people duel though?"

"Whether it's satisfaction or truth, he'll get neither anyway." I crossed my arms and glared right back at the brat, "Continue."

"Err, okay," he cleared his throat, "Please have your seconds meet and issue a peace negotiation."

"Wait. That's what Seconds are for? I thought they were supposed to pick up the slacks when the First is defeated?"

"No, that's an honestly terrible misconception most people have about Seconds. The duel is supposed to grant satisfaction between the two aggressors, why would a second party need to replace them. That doesn't make sense!"

"You're going off-tangent, little bro," Fabien whispered by his side.

Gideon breathed a calming breath, "Ah, yeah, right, sorry. So your seconds—"

"Peace is never an option."

"No negotiation necessary," I agreed.

"But, but that's not— that's not how you— Duels are for defending your honor! You can't, you can't just—"

Fabian started making a soothing pat on his brother's back, "I know, but let it go, buddy, let it go."

"...fine! Both of you pull out your wand before we proceed with the duel—"

"Finally!"

"Either you stop cutting me off and salute your opponent or you'll have one more duel to contend with!" We shivered at the uncharacteristic growl he made. James and I made quick salutes without much heart into it. "Thank you. Now, either side has your Seconds check your wands."

"What for?" I asked.

"There are cases of wands getting sabotaged or cursed before a duel. In that case, the Second will lend the dueler their wands."

Huh, that's a sensible rule. I wondered why they watered that down. Sirius went to stand by his friend's side and inspect it by trying out a few spells before he then turned his glare at me.

"Ready to get your butt kicked?"

I snorted, "Please, I bet your wand can't even touch my butt." That didn't come out right. Oh well, I'll just roll with it.

"Oh yeah? I bet you can't even spell out the spells right."

"Ha! As if you can. I bet your ego can hit harder than your spell."

"Well, I bet you fight like my cousin."

"Please, I fought your cousin, that was a compliment."

Sirius shook his head, "Oh, definitely not her, I mean the other cousin"

James shuddered, "Mate, are you nuts? That she-vamp wouldn't just kill, she'll make a feast out of me. "

"NO, I meant the Squib! He's literally the only harmless one in the family. Everyone else took death and torture as a sporting event."

"If you girls are done with your chit-chats can we continue with the duel, please? I'm not getting my money with you two smack-talking each other. Now for the love of Merlin, meet your Seconds… err… Percy, hey, are you alright, mate?"

I snapped out of the trance I didn't even know I was in, "FINE! Fine, you were saying about Seconds, right? Mine is…" I wasn't sure who to ask as my Second when I felt a nudge on my side. Lily already had her hand out, expectantly.

"Be my guest," I handed her my wand. She swished and flicked, getting a feel of it before Lily made a quick jinx, shooting a streak of light that hit James' and Sirius' feet and making them shriek like a pair of girls.

"Oops," she said unapologetically before giving back my wand, smiling 'innocently' all the while to play it off as an accident. I tried my best not to burst out laughing and struggle with a pained stomach instead.

"Now please stand back to back, and on my count, you shall walk away from each other before any of you fire. You are not allowed to aim at anyone or anything outside your opponent. You will only be allowed to shoot three types of spells. The first one to hit the ground or to draw blood shall be the victor of this duel."

I sucked in a breath, "I'm sorry, draw what now?"

"And TEN!"

I looked back up front and took the first step forward. The air was chilling like inhaling dry ice up my nose. He felt the boiling moisture of his body turn to cold sweat before evaporating. I clenched my wand so hard it was quivering.

"Nine… Eight..."

The constant chatters of the crowds made the venue seem a lot more sinister. Their grins were sharper than I imagined. Their laughter became more coarse, mixed with the feral hisses and moans, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried cursing me in the back. I don't know how but even the trees seemed to be cackling at me.

"Seven… Six…"

My heart was doing double stops. The sharp pain grew insistently at the back of my neck. Many eyes were looking, looking, looking like I wore a target on my back. I breathed in, scrunching my nose as I smelled like a hundred people farting at once and going through a sewage plant, making my skin feel prickly.

"Five… Four…"

Every second being counted were moments the dry, charcoal ground seemed to shrink on itself while the sun gradually bringing the crimson light to the clouds. Pits appeared around my feet. My throat itches like the aftermath of scalding water, and I gulped.

"Three… Two…"

My fist clenching and unclenching, toes fidgeting in my shoes. My brain throbs like something drilling on the side as tons of plans crossed my mind a million miles a second. Warnings slithered in the back of my head. Bracing myself for the moment to strike.

'...gotta beat them…'

'...make them suffer…'

"ONE—!"

Gideon barely finished the count before I was turning already. Wand at the ready when my mind then blackened, spotting the dark, floating wraith just behind my opponent. My hand loosened around my wand like it had no will to fight a pointless fight. I became twice as alert as alarms started blaring in my head.

...attack first, don't leave openings…'

"Stupefy!"

I shot a spell at the figure that was the Dementor. But it was out of sight before I finished the spell. Someone from the crowd turned frozen solid but I could care less.

"Deprimo!" I heard someone cry. I felt the shift underneath my foot and rolled away. There were screams as the ground exploded and broke apart, pieces flying everywhere. I shield my head to avoid getting hurt.

'...no mercy…'

I searched for any sign of the wraith the same time the noise rang harder, I tried to shake it away until my instinct shouted warning bells.

'...strike… destroy...'

"Incarcerous!"

Light zipped past by me as my feet were quick to dodge. I turned to my assailant. He and I locked eyes, glaringly. Our steps mirrored as we circled the field.

'...strike… kill...'

"Expelliarmus!"

"Reducto!"

The spells from our wands clashing one another. Sparks were flying everywhere to the point of blinding. The wraith insistently appeared like a ghost. All I could focus on was the Dementor and how I wanted more than anything for it to go away. The light from my tip shone brighter and thicker, pushing the nuisance away so it could reach the other side, crushing the abomination to dust and be done with everything through one last STRIKE!

'Stop!'

I froze. A faraway beloved voice echoed in my head, silencing all the other noise. The masses were a blurry mess. I zeroed in a singular person and spotted a terrified Annabeth.

'Percy, please...'

I blinked, and she was gone. I looked down at my wand before looking back up at James's lone figure, facing me with genuine fear in his eyes as my spell came ever close to reach him. I canceled my spell, which put James off kilted by the sudden loss of my force. Not letting myself digest what I did before I chanted my next spell, Sev was right when he said I do it better when I don't think.

"Gravisio!" I chanted the newest spell that was taught to me.

The kid choked before he fell face-first to the ground as if he was suddenly carrying a heavyweight. He lifted his face with gritted teeth and that was honestly the only thing he could lift up under my enchantment. It would have been funny if those pearly teeth that could make anyone jealous didn't make me nervous. It's taking everything in me to concentrate on this one spell.

Gideon came over and inspected the unmovable body before giving his verdict, "James Potter hits the ground and he's down. Percy Jackson wins the duel!"

The wild cheer of my victory and I flinched, putting me on a further edge. My eyes ran restlessly through the crowd. I turned around and around, a row of people after people, makeshift stands, and the tree line of the Forest were in sight. But no matter how hard I tried, there was no sign of the deadly shadow. Needing to find it. Needing to fight it. Needing to stop it. Need to… Need to… Need to…

"Percy."

My wand shot out to the side, the same spell at the tip of my tongue before it died at the sight of Lily's shock face.

"Jeezus! Watch where you point that."

I opened and closed my mouth, "...sorry, you startled me." The apology sounded weak to my ear.

"I'll say," Sev said beside her, "You won, Percy. What got you so tense?"

"Didn't, didn't you guys see it?"

They looked at one another before turning back at me. "If you mean by seeing you turning James's into tiny little pieces then yeah. What else would we be seeing?"

I examined the field I'd been fighting in. The students were still milling about with giddy faces from the aftermath of the excitement. Not a single hide or tail of the Dementor. Just what—

"Percy, you're looking high strung, you know it's over right?" Lily gently said.

It's over? Right, she's right, it's over. The duel is over. The fight is over. The war is over. It's all over.

So why don't I feel it's over?

I gazed down at my wand and my brain jump-started at the realization of what I had done. Turning my wand on my friends. The deadly spell I've gone overboard with. Forgetting James as my opponent. But the memories didn't stop recalling to the point I went further back, back to that place of pain, suffering, misery, death to the point it was getting hard to feel where I am now.

Shaking my head, I took a step back. The urge to run became overwhelming. "I—I have to go."

"Percy?"

"Don't!" I put my hand up and stopped them from getting closer. "Sorry, but… I need… I need some space, I'm sorry." I turned my back, finally letting my instinct that's been crying in my head take control, and I ran, ignoring the other cry of my name.

I wasn't sure where I was running until I found myself at the edge of the lake. Without a second thought, I jumped into the water. Letting my weight carry me down, down, down, until my feet touched the sand. I curled up into a ball, clapped my hands between my head, letting my belief that the water would shield me from everything and everyone.

. . .

"Percy!" Lily cried out, but Percy kept running. Away from them with unanswered questions.

Again.

Not like they weren't used to being in the dark when concerned with their cursed friend. Sev was getting used to not getting answered. But he adapted, and instead of trying to pull answers from his tight-lipped friend, he learned to find it out himself.

If there's one thing Sev learned, it is that facts and logic can't betray him.

Still, he gazed at his childhood crush. Red hair sweeping from the morning breeze. Its color matching her buttoned nose and cheeks. Fog shaping out from her slow, timely breathes. Striking green eyes that never stopped taking his breath away were forlornly gazing at the back of their friend. Lips pursed tightly, a habit Severus recognized whenever Lily was trying to hide her dismay.

Severus clenched his fist at the sight. Every time. Every time he did this, Severus had to be one to watch Lily in pain and pick up the pieces. Sometimes he questioned why they stayed with him. Why he stayed if all he ever met was a disappointment.

'Oh yeah, because you're the freak who doesn't have any other friends.'

But that's not true anymore, isn't it? He has his housemates. His other family. They've told him as much, hadn't they? Those on the other side would only selfishly let Severus down. The Prince is different after all. They said. They knew he was special. They wouldn't hold him back because others will push away anyone different. Others would tear you down instead. It's how they were. It's how they'll always be.

"Sev," Lily called his nickname, and the whirlwind of his thoughts dissipated. Right, that's not true. Lily isn't like the rest. She's special. She is good. Truly good. "Should we go after Percy?"

Severus' eyebrows twitched. Of course, she worries about Percy. Who else she'd be thinking otherwise. "If Percy wants space, we'll give him space. Since he thinks we're no good to him in that state, I say let him suffer until he knows what's good for him."

"But are we?" She asked, and Sev tilted his head, "Are we good for him? Are we… so unreliable that we can't help him?"

For the first time, Sev felt the same hot white rage for Percy that he usually reserved for his father. While it wasn't as intense, he still let it stir in his chest. Lily doesn't deserve to feel belittled, by their own best friend to boot. She doesn't deserve better, she deserves the best.

Severus tried to think up words for her. But honestly? "I don't know, Lils. I doubt we will ever know what's in his head, short of pulling out his thoughts ourselves."

He said it offhandedly, but the idea was now planted. Mentally listing books to research for a future spell he'd be learning.

Maybe then, just maybe. He'll finally figure out the mystery of Percy Jackson, once and for all.

. . .

After the terrible mental breakdown I just had, I pulled myself out of the lake and found the sky dyed orange. It occurred to me I had been out for half a day and didn't think it took that long to get over myself. I walked back to the castle where Christmas Eve Dinner was being prepared.

I wasn't ready to face any of my friends, least of all talk about it. So I took one of my signature moves of 'avoiding the problem until I'm forcibly facing it.'

Though that doesn't mean I don't want to talk to anyone at all. Distraction is exactly what the doctor would prescribe right now.

At first, I tried searching for Hagrid, but he was busy decorating the Great Hall. I then searched for Gwen or Doc but then I remembered that they took the early train home. Instead of being forced to talk, I ended up being forced to face the fact that I don't have that many close friends to talk nonsense.

Which led me to the other business I've been avoiding that I no longer have any reason to postpone.

The walk to Dumbledore's office dragged on. I was conscious of every step that echoed the empty corridor where it led to the Headmaster's office. The iconic eagle statue halfway embracing to whoever comes to the heart of the school. I stopped short from approaching, trying to recall the password for his office when the statue started rolling upward. Thinking it was good timing, I was ready to greet Dumbledore when instead I encountered a mourning widow.

Or at least a woman who dressed like one. A sleek black dress that overflows on the stone floor. Jet black leather gloves covering her hands. Streaking gray hair tied in a bun. A translucent black veil covering her face. And a stone broach pinning the small robe around her.

But it wasn't just the way she dressed, it was everything else about her. The grim rosy lips, the sunken cheeks, and dark bags under her conceited raven eyes. If anybody had pointed she had killed her husband in his sleep, I would have believed them.

Yet, for being someone I met for the first time. She looked oddly familiar.

There was another pair coming out behind her, and I was relieved that next to the small (not as short as Flitwick, mind you, but short enough) woman that looked to be in her 60s was Dumbledore.

"—understand, Dumbledore, that we need to keep this in the utmost secrecy."

The old man was about to reply but then he noticed my presence and I had the treat to see him astonished. "Percy," he said, "I wasn't expecting you."

I didn't get a chance to answer him when the mousy woman cut in, "Oh, is he one of your adorable students, Dumbledore?" She cooed in my direction and when the hell did she get in front of me?

"Err…"

"What's your name, darling? What are you doing here, dearie? Are you lost? Do you need something from Dumbledore, sweetheart? Oh, aren't you the cutest little pie?" She said all that in one breath that I was having a hard time keeping up. The unnecessary hard pinch of my cheek doesn't help. Honestly, woman, how old do you think I am? Five?

"He's one of our brightest students in Hogwarts, Perseus Jackson." I turned shockingly at Dumbledore. What kind of horse-schist is he spouting out? "Percy, this is the Minister of Magic, Eugenia Jenkins."

"I'm meeting the who now?" I clasped my mouth, just realizing the rude words I spout in front of, apparently, the leader of the British wizarding community. "What, what are you doing here, Minister Jenkins?"

"Oh, this and that, nothing for your little head to worry about." She ruffled my head way too roughly, my hair must have looked like if Jason tried to blow dry me with a hurricane.

"And this—" Dumbledore continued, pointing out the woman in black beside them, "—is the Senior Undersecretary for the Minister of Magic, Walburga Black."


AN: THE LADY IN THE PAINTING IS HEEEEEEEEEREEEE!

So, this chapter took a long time finishing. Not just because of my busy week with college, clubs, and my sister's wedding, but because I finally touched Percy's PTSD. Something I've been holding off because I wasn't sure if I'm doing it right, and giving him triggers. I had to cut leave it with another cliffhanger because it took more words than I thought (again).

So! That said. Time for the QRA. Where I answer your questions and thank you for the luvs.

BrightToilet: Yes he wears the Dyslexia Glasses most of the time, but I failed to showcase habits a person with glasses does. As someone who wears glasses, I am ashamed of this failure. Possibly 2-3 chapters to go until Valentine. I'm introducing three new characters. It's only a brief scene, but I have plans for them in later acts.

Patolemus: No, it wasn't necessary actually. It just drags on longer than I thought so I cut at the most appropriate scene. I didn't even realize it was a cliffhanger.

Percy is hiding "some kind" of truth and wants to know what it is. It doesn't have to necessarily be being a dark wizard. This shows what a naive idiot he is, thinking everyone would follow an 'honor code' to get to the truth. It's like that thing where people told you the truth but you're too stubborn to believe until there's actual proof. Hope you like the duel though, not as cool-badass as everyone thought it would be and was more creepy-badass. Why Aberforth know Percy will be explained in the next chapter. Also, there are many other explanations why Cerberus disappear :)

OOOOOH, If you're worried about Sev before, you definitely worry more for both him AND Percy now. And Percy is a good child alright? Deal with it! wkwkwkw. Also, I have to apologize but the chapter drags on longer than I first thought so the Fairy-Regulus scene would be in the next chapter instead. Writing a Percy-Albus scene is such a pain.

Don't worry, no judging in this corner wkwkwk. And you do have a point after all, in my headcanon I thought Remus adjusted well enough after his friends found out his furry secret so he could still join morning class. This was his first fumble wkwkwkw as well as a reference to the Very Potter Musical The Sequel. Thank you so much for the luvs, I alwyas look forward to your reviews and reaction. Hope you... didn't get too much anxiety from this chapter because I did, and I wrote it.

123wwww: Thank you so much for the luv! As for your argument, I intend to send you a PM for that because it's a sensitive issue we can both feel comfortable to discuss and because I wrote a two-page long reply and it'll take up the QRA XD

CalRedEss: If you love the sock comment, wait for the next chapter. It's gonna be hilarious with a mix of an old meme. And unfortunately, Percy did something worse than being stupid. Hope you enjoyed this chapter... which is weird now that I wrote it because this chapter gave ME anxiety.

snowsTorm18000: I didn't think the sock comment was going to be that hilarious. Wait till next chapter cause you're going to laugh and the have felt for that same sock issue. Percy indeed won in the most "interesting" way this time. And now I gave you more Sev feels too, huh?

aarna rastogi: Okay, first off. I'm obliged to apologize for the long PM I gave you. You see... I discuss my reply with a friend of mine and he gave me a scolding for being too, err, "blunt" with my review. Instead of criticizing so harshly, I should have put more effort into giving suggestion of how you can do it better. I mean... I did write that, but it was mix with so many blunt comments, it might not help and gave anxiety instead. Err, again, sorry about that. My passion for writing shouldn't block or discourage others who pursue them and I might have done a bad job with that. I hope you can still enjoy writing and reading this fic without feeling bad. Thank you so much for the love.

Beanieninja1: Yeaaaaaaaah, Percy did more than just make a fool out of him.

scl04: Rhea will be teaching in the second trimester, which would be after new year. I always struggle to make James adorkably charming as well as constant annoyance. Oooooh, Sev's problem just continues to grow, this chapter doesn't help him either.

And as for the 'fangirl' well... if you're technically referring her to have an unhealthy obsession for Percy, you're not wrong. "Hobo-dore" my beta has lots of great ideas. Percy, in his core, is loyal to his family. Plus, Dumbledore did give him presents for christmas so I thought he would at least be obligated to give one back. As for the dog... well... you can say that Circe provides the trigger but it was never her who pulled it.

You got your wish, Percy wins! I don't usually plan the details of my plot until it's written so we'll see if we'll get more Hufflepuff Friends Scene. And I'm so glad you ask about Voldemort's and his fan club because they'll get their mention in the next chapter :) Most of the Slytherins kids should be thinking that Death eaters are the cool clubs their moms and dads are in right about now.

Thank you for the love, hope you didn't get too much anxiety from this chapter.

Stjinbus: So what did you think about the duel? Hoped it gave you anxiety cause it did for me. If the writing goes well, you might find out who wrote to Percy in the next chapter or two. Owl see you later in the next chapter.

zoomingaway: I'm glad you love the chapter title. I know I had fun coming up with it. Sev as Taskmaster wkwkwkwk that's funny, especially the marvel reference. Lily wouldn't survive those the Disaster Duo if she doesn't have Sense. Also, WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST COMEBACK?! "oily scalp"? My retort couldn't be half as good as yours, TEACH ME YOUR WAYS! The way you write your exasperation with James... I live for it! I mean, for 13-year-olds, that's pretty slick if you ask me. Normally, boys that age can't flirt to save their lives. Hogwarts has a proud tradition in letting children face their issues, traumas, and insecurities through #DealWithIt.

I love Percy too!

Abeforth is living his life, thank you very much, and ha sno time for anyone's judgement. He's Albus' brother, of course, he'd be cooky.

I'm starting to laugh your "chicken strips" comment and the dramatic reaction. To be honest, I didn't intend it to be a cliffhanger. It's just the convenient point to cut the chapter since it drags on for too long. Much like this chapter.

The internship didn't have a good environment, thank God I only required to be a month there.

I usually don't drag current issues in fanfic like this. But when Disney drags the netizen to issues through their international platform, they should have expected backlash from international audience. It's like... offering an unsuspecting Muslim a bacon knowing that it's wrong. You, you don't do that. Only worse, this bacon isn't even cooked right so you get a stomachache eating it.

Signupalready: Yeah, he does wear his glasses all the time. I've been neglecting them throughout the story. James got his glasses around the fifth year, I think. Thank you for the luv, hope you enjoyed this chapter.

aaaaa: Thank you so much for the luv :)))) I'm all for the plot twists! Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.

Matt-Jackson2000: Thank you so much for the luv. I hope you enjoyed this chapter just as much.