Chapter 22: The Sword for the Trade

Words: 4,018

Recap: Valentine ended emotionally exhausting, so we're back to the Quest, baby! Boy, am I ready to get re-traumatized.


"No."

"Ivan!"

"But Booooossss..." he whined like the petulant child he was made, "It makes me look silly!"

Says the guy with a live fairy latching on to him. "Tough. Now I can do it myself but then I'll have you grounded back to the watch for an indefinite time- oh, and no cupcakes for a week either, so what's it gonna be?"

Ivan grumbled a while longer, and finally listened to reveal a small nozzle on his head, shooting out sprinklers of water that created the seven-colored light in the sky. I had my drachma ready on hand, flicking toward the iridescent light as it disappeared before praying, "O, Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering, connect me to Albus, Hogwarts Castle."

It only took a second later to know something was wrong when we didn't see Dumbledore shimmering within the mist of the rainbow. "Urm... why is nothing happening?"

Ivan scratched his head with the same wonder, "Remember when Hecate said you wouldn't be noticed by the gods just for saying their name? Maybe it has its drawbacks?"

"Di immortales, of course." I pinched the bridge of my nose, but it didn't help alleviate the headache, "The only god, or goddess in this case, for me right now is Hecate."

"Why don't you try praying to her? Maybe she'll give you a solid?"

I wasn't convinced, but seeing nothing to lose, I prayed, "O, Hecate, Goddess of Magic, err, help a hero out and pass a message for me."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then from the shimmering rainbow, the image of Albus's side became clearer and so was the background noise.

"Oh, no, no, no~"

He was slouching as he did his paperwork, his head was bobbing along to the music played. I didn't quite catch the music that was playing until he then began mouthing the next lyrics at the top of his lungs;

"I'm a rocket maaaaaaan~! Rocket Man, burning out his fuse up here alone…"

Ivan and I froze. We stayed still and silent, watching the famous century-old wizard getting really into singing the lyrics of one of Elton John's greatest hits. Both of us weren't sure why, but the scene of Dumbledore acting like a regular man seemed so surreal, our brains had a hard time computing.

It didn't take long for Dumbledore to notice our mystical presence. "Oh, Percy. I wasn't expecting a Rainbow Message from you." The Headmaster said calmly, looking completely shameless though we both know I've seen him grooving with the song. I can't help but feel second-hand embarrassment from the fact.

"Hey, Albus. Good to know you like your Christmas present."

"Ah, indeed. I never had a chance to explore recent muggle's songs, but out of the collection you gave, one or two stuck with me."

"I thought it'd be good to introduce you to some good music that's not from the 1940s." Though I didn't expect to see him like it that much.

He chuckled, "So, what can I help you with?"

"I found something that could help us deal with… err… wrangling the wraiths."

Albus's face hardened, giving more wise lines on his face. "Then can I assume you'll have a better time discussing within the walls in my office?"

"Yeah, that, and I'll need a favor."

Albus didn't ask further, giving me the password to the Headmaster's office to meet him there.

"Alright, Ivan. Thanks for the hard work, you can go back now."

"Oh, thank the Twelve Olympians!" He cried before scuttling back to my watch. Much too eager to get away. The fairy followed the white streak the automaton left behind and began tapping curiously at my watch. She tried and failed to coax Ivan out as she chittered before gazing up at me with her soft baby blue eyes.

"Don't give me that look, Ivan just wanted some space."

Her lips began to wobble and her eyes shimmering wet.

"Frickity frick frack, uhh…. nononono, don't cry, err… look, you can hang around with me if you want and when I called out Ivan, you can play with him as long as you want."

I felt my watch buzzed against my skin, probably Ivan expressing his indignancy while I ignored his plight. The fairy's face brightened considerably and began twirling and zipping around before promptly diving into my pockets.

"Well, that takes care of that."

I promptly headed to the Headmaster's office. The Professor was still by his desk, the music had changed to one of its more classical choices. He made a deliberate show of pausing from his mounting works to acknowledge my presence.

You have to believe me when I say that I had a whole spiel ready to convince the Headmaster to let me borrow what's basically a Hogwarts' heirloom to use as my personal weed wacker, making the Dementor the weed in this case. But then my thoughts came barreling down, interrupting myself, "You know, it just occurred to me, but if we can charm our quill why bother getting a hand-ache. Is that a thing? Hand-ache? I swear there's an actual word for it."

"Good afternoon, Percy," Albus greeted me with a patient smile, "I heard you're absent from class today, have you been feeling well?

"Meh, so-so for a demigod. More importantly, what do you know about the Cernunnos?" I asked straight to the point.

Albus paused in his writing, whatever I had expected to ask, it wasn't that. Though it didn't stop him from promptly answering, "They're extinct magical creatures that used to be commonly known as Guardian Spirit of Forest to wizards and muggles alike. I find there's a ring of truth in that since the Forest they're known to protect are long gone now."

I pursed my lips at the info but didn't find what I was looking for. "Are you sure they're extinct though? Not… hiding in some hidden alcove or somewhere out of people's eyes?"

Albus went silent, his eyes were a million miles away as he tried to sort through his mind. "While that itself is not an impossible scenario, I dare say the possible locations for that scenario would take the time that I'm not sure we could spend."

I let out a soft curse at the unpleasant scenario.

Albus considered my reaction and asked, "While I'm not too sure of the relevance for our problem, is their existence crucial for this Quest?"

"A little birdie told me they're capable of erasing any curse, including the Rot."

"Ah, indeed they were such discourses but little documents to prove it. Alas, the only proof they even exist outside of ink and parchment, is the Forbidden Forest."

"Wait, I'm sorry? Why, why would you say that?"

"It's common knowledge that Helga Hufflepuff singlehandedly grew the Forbidden Forest, it is said the seed for the Primal Tree was blessed by the Forest SPirits," he answered like it was a fun piece of fact.

My mind was racing as the answer began to unravel. As if the ripples in my head were settling to reveal the answer that was staring back at you from the start. I paced back and forth while trying to connect the dots, "Albus, do you think you can show me where the supposed Primal Tree is?"

Albus raised an eyebrow as he deliberated the answer. I wondered why he hesitated. "It lives in the middle of the Forest but Percy… that would take days for you to reach it. Not to mention, how would you even get there through the hordes of Dementors?"

"Oh yeah, this is the part where I'm asking you to lend me the Gryffindor's Sword."

Albus gave a rarely shown bewilderment on his face. No way was he expecting the audacity I had to borrow what was a relic of Hogwarts that had, until recently, been said to be a myth.

"Am I to presume the sword would help you fight your way through the Dementor?"

"Assume nothing, you got it in one."

"That… would be a difficult request to fulfill," Albus's gaze shifted to the glass-cased sword being put in display, "The first problem is that the Sword of Gryffindor can only be willed by one sorted in his house.

"However, the previous Headmasters agrees it's mostly based on one of the many legends surrounding the sword. Some said Godric had it made to aid anyone in Hogwarts in need of help. Others stated that only those who proved their valor can truly wield the sword, but no one knows if it meant to be used by those from his house or those the sword acknowledged in general."

Oh. Okay. okay. That's cool. Totally cool. Not like the only weapon that could fight off the manifestation of the far is the only weapon I can't use— Wait a minute…

"Did I hear wrong or did you just say the 'first' problem?"

"Indeed, the other one is because the sword has similar charm to your sword, Riptide, in that it can manifest itself into the hands to its rightful owner, or in this case, the rightfully chosen ones"

"And that's troubling… why?"

Albus sounded strained as he began his admission, "Because unless you're willing to give up the ownership of your celestial bronze then in no uncertain terms would you be able to wield the sword for long."

My hand seized into my pocket, holding Riptide as I might lose it. There's no way I'm giving up my sword, one of the only connections I have to my time in camp, to Dad, to home. Riptide was literally there for me since the beginning and through the worst of the worst experiences. The simple thought of… giving it up… was out of the question. I couldn't imagine having to fight with another weapon on hand without the ever comfortable weight of the bronze pen in my pocket.

Albus seemed to read my mind as he sighed, "I knew this would be difficult for you, so I'm not sure if taking the Sword is a wise choice."

I sunk in a breath, "So any chance of me summoning the sword is if I give up the ownership of my current blade."

'Then that means I have to fight my way with a spell I hadn't mastered or gamble with a sword that might or might not accept me. Gods, why does it always have to be complicated?' I shook the thought away, but mostly I wanted to stop thinking altogether.

"If you're having trouble then rest assured, I shall personally search the key to Hogwarts' survival with you."

"I doubt being Headmaster you can just up and be gone a few days by your will," I stated, skeptically.

Albus only smiled with that all-knowing twinkle in his eyes, "I have my ways. Unless there's anything that would warrant my attention then you still have time before deciding if you need the Sword on hand."

. . .

Apparently, no. We did not have time.

Because then it wouldn't be a story if my life went easy on me.

I swear if I saw those three old ladies with their big old yarn, I'll personally throw it to Tartarus myself.

I used the time for myself by the lake. My shoe was at my side as I splashed water with my bare feet. My free hand fiddling with Riptide between my fingers before throwing it up. The pen sailed high into the air before it dropped to the water with a 'plop'.

My left hand tapping my wand before waving it about, "Expecto Patronum."

A burst of misty light came out from the tip. Cold sweat dripped between my brows before it started to weaken and the light dispelled. Disappointed, I scooped out my pen from my pocket and started fiddling with it again.

I bit my lip then as I gazed down at my sword-pen. Either I gamble my hand on the sword or the spell. When will this Quest stop taking things from me? I growled aloud. Again, I threw Riptide away. Harder this time. At this point, I lost count of how many times I chuck it out.

"So this is where you've been."

I twisted my head around, not surprised to find Lily and Severus standing behind me though not expecting them

"How'd you guys find me?"

"We have our ways," Lily had her hip cocked and smirk before the two of them sat beside me. "You didn't appear for lunch, do you really think we could leave you all alone after?"

There's a part of me that wanted to shout at them to shove off and leave me alone. But I had enough sense in me to realize that's my trauma talking. Instead, I took notice of the thick book Sev had with and let my curiosity piqued. It was a leather-bound book that carried a deep wooded scent, with a glistening metal closure, and I wondered how old the paper was to turn into a deep gold-yellowish color,

"What's that?"

"Oh yeah, I wanted to show you guys what I discovered. It took forever for me to find it." It indeed looked like a heavy book that took Sev heaving to open. A flower pressed bookmark of a Lily was there, marking a page, and Red smiled gleefully at seeing her present being used. "So after intensive research, I can safely conclude that the reindeer mentioned in the prophecy was referring to the Forest Spirits known as Cernunnos."

Sev looked so proud at his findings, I wasn't sure what to say after knowing the answer myself, to which what came out was a strained, "...ah."

Severus either didn't notice or care because he was already in lecture mode as he showed all the same points I had been briefed by Ivan and Dumbledore and easily droned out. Oohing and humming in the right place by following Lily's cue.

"...it's been said that they are the inspiration for the Patronus spell. Cernunnos has been known to be empathetic creatures that can elicit any emotions through their illusions. Wizard and witches alike had come for the to request bringing up their happiest moments before making a spell of their own..."

"Wait," Lily cut his lecture short, "Wasn't the Patronus made after Dementors were discovered? I thought you said they were extinct before the 19th century."

Severus scrunched his nose before burying back to his book, "Huh, it never mentioned why they had the spell made. It… kind of implied they just made a spell to feel happy."

That makes no sense, the Patronus is fueled with happy memories not create them. I narrowed my eyes at the sus book in Sev's hands.

"Weird, why would people do that?" Lily asked.

Sev shrugged out the answer, "Why does anyone want to be happy? I suppose that's why the creatures were hunted so hard because of the rumors their antler could bring you everlasting happiness."

"Is that true?!"

The Slytherin shook his head, "The creatures were hunted to extinction because of a false rumor spread from a desperate need to find joy they can't find in themselves. Tsk, no surprise that a few mindless gnats who couldn't see their two front legs believed them. "

Boy, that sounds like someone going down the yellow brick road to find some good drugs.

As Lily lamented their sad fate, Severus continued spewing random facts, I was looking down at the water, the reflection muddled as the answer I was trying to seek. The pieces are there but I don't even know what the answer I'm looking for, much less what I'm missing.

With the sun about to set, our feet took us toward the castle when Lily halted both of us, her focus elsewhere. "What's going on?"

We followed her green gaze and surely her query was made because of the group of robed people running out of the forest. Some on foot while dragging someone on their shoulder, some were shooting off on their brooms. One of the broom riders came flying over us but they barely went past us before a shadow swooped down from the clouds like birds of prey before taking them away. The quick fading of their shoutings was a warning that they were beyond saving.

I looked back and instead of the robed wizards and witches I recognized as the Aurors, I looked over past them and saw shaped figures that were darker than the shadows between the trees. I counted tens of them emerging from the forest. but I had a horrible gut feeling that there was more lurking within,

The realization hit me like a sledgehammer.

They're done waiting.

Severus and Lily must have seen the same thing as me because they were stockstill at the sight of the army of wraiths that was about to descend upon us. I had a half-a-mind to shout run at them when an older witch came shoving us collectively forward. "What are you kids doing out this late? Get inside! Go! GO!" The panic was evident in her silver eyes and hitch tone. We didn't waste time before running for our lives.

Unlike before, when the Dementors move like gliding zombies that moved underwater, these ones act like a ghost in freaking speed. Black streaks were made across the sky clashing with white spells before they could get any close.

But one of them managed to cut off us in front. Severus screamed. The Auror witch instinctively acted, calling out her Patronus. A huge bear solidified and practically shielding off the Dementor, giving the opening for us to continue onward.

We kept running, but I felt the absence of the witch and made the mistake of looking back. The woman was still fending off the Dementor. We locked eyes and her face urged us to keep fleeing. But the second she lost focus was the moment she didn't see another one of them knocking the witch on her back.

Pinned down, and with the Dementor closing in. She urged her Bear Patronus to ram it aside like it had weight. But the increasing amount of the Rotted Nymphs began to crowd around her. It got harder to make out her back as the Dementors were overwhelming.

A part of me was ready to jump and give her a helping hand. But then I heard Lily crying and turned around to find Severus holding Lily back.

"Let go, Sev! Let me go! Can't you see she needs help!"

"WE need help! There's nothing we can do, Lils. We need to go!"

"No!" she screeched. Lily looked ready to shove an elbow at him, but I grabbed her by the other arm. She met my gaze and offered her the same regret Lily must be feeling then. The decision, the choice I had to make that felt like crushing my windpipe.

"We run."

Without looking back, me and Sev swept Lily back on track among the other Aurors. The strength in her was lost but none of us commented until we were safe within the castle walls.

The last of the Aurors that arrived then waved his wand to close the big pair of doors. Most of them began to shout at one another until you can hardly hear what they were saying. To get Pomfrey. Do first aid. Go make a defensive line. Evacuate the school. Get Dumbledore or someone or anyone with a desperate need in their voices.

Caught in the whirlwind of it all was me, Lily, and Severus. She had her hand gripping my sleeve while trying to stifle her cry on my shoulder. Sev's eyes were wandering left and right, without pinpoint focus so I had a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

But then a scream seemed to cut down every voice in the Entrance Hall. It wasn't the fun kind of scream when adrenaline is high after a good run from explosions. Nor was it the cry of horror when faced with an unimaginable dread trapping you into the corner. No, this was the kind wail you find echoing from the River of Lamentation that was being blared into the megaphone instead of seeping into your mind. Heartbrokenly sad.

I was drawn where the sound originated as the scream morphed into distinct sobbing despite the sound giving me a chilling shudder. I wasn't aware I was moving in close until I heard Lily calling out my name. But I didn't pay much heed to her until I narrowed down at the scene up close.

A man was tucking an older woman by his side, crying over her head like he had lost her to the world. But her eyes were still open and I could see hints of her chest breathing from under her robe. By all accounts she was alive. But then I looked, really looked into her cloudy pair of orbs, and saw instead a pair of dead eyes. I remember people like to give cliche quotes of the fact eyes are the window of the soul, and it couldn't be more true to see yourself reflected in them and found nothing. There was no light, not a twinkle or shimmer sign of life. There was no person behind them.

I barely recognized her as the witch who saved us.

It's distorting to see what is basically a living meat puppet because that's what the man was grieving over. Like the abyss had swallowed her up and left with an empty vessel. It's been hammered in my head, time and time again, what happened to whoever fell victim to a Dementor's Kiss. But it can never be compared to the complete wrongness of seeing what goes against the nature of the world; a living, breathing corpse.

And not like the skeleton or ghoul kind that Nico often summoned, at least they act like dead people.

All at once, I was hyper-aware of my surroundings. There were others left unceremoniously on the floor with the same vacant eyes. A man was slapping his friend like it could snap him from whatever trance he was stuck in like it could bring back his friend. Other wizards and witches were trying to calm down the ones who looked like they were having trouble breathing through the tears they shed. But there weren't enough people to help the group of Aurors when some were rocking his body, back and forth in the corner, hand over their ear to block out reality.

"Percy."

I turned and Rhea was there. I blinked, brushing off the unreal feeling of seeing her in front of me. Because of course, she's here. I was in Hogwarts. She teaches in Hogwarts. She's safe. Hogwart is safe… nope, nevermind, scratch that one. I only just noticed the Professors arriving, helping escort them to the Medical Wing, as well as the few students watching from a distance even as McGonagall tried to herald them away.

I noticed the vacant presence that followed her around then asked: "Where's Michael?"

That got her to smile, but it was still tinged with sadness, "I don't think my lion works well for others as it has for you."

Huh, never thought getting comforted by a lion was a me-thing.

Blinking a few more times to get rid of the foggy feeling, the gravity of the situation began to dawn on me. I hedged over to one of the windows that overlooked the forest. Night fog began to shroud the land like a cold, eerie blanket. I was half-convinced there'd be skeletons rising from the ground, singing the Secret of Survival and spooking the already haunted castle. But it couldn't hide the dementors flying around the castle. More and more came out of the woodwork. More than probably those armed to handle them in school.

I turned to Rhea and the gaze of her green forest eyes told me what I needed to know.

'We're out of time.'


AN: So I forgot to explain the new character, Tiffany or Theopania. Because there's lot of reasons why she's there. But most importantly because Lily deserves to have her own nemesis at school. Everyone has that one kid that just clashes in school. It's not fair that only Percy and Severus have that. Also before few of y'all get paranoid. No, Tiffany isn't some nefarious succubus or anything of the like. She just happens to be Annabeth look-alike. I mean, We all have met that one unrelated twin, right? The one everyone believes to be your twin when in your eyes, there's nothing alike between the two. No? Is it just me?

Oh, and it's a little late but Hang in There Year 2021!

I would say Happy New Year, but it's barely past a week and there's… just… a lot to unpack from around the world that it's more apt to say 'Hang in there!'

Also, I just remembered that the Dementors could fly on par with Harry on his Nimbus 2000? So these creepy ghost parasites are actually fast? Which makes them that much more terrifying?

Alright, time for the QRA. Where I answer your question and than your luvs.

Aarna rastogi: You know why. It's for good tension, baby. I never join any discord channel so honestly I'm wee nervous at joining chat groups like that since I'm not used to it. But I'm willing to try. Thank you for the luv, as always.

Legacyofmorons: Okay, first of all, that's a cool username, ngl. The kind that I wish I think of just to give for the marauders. Second, Thank you so much for the luv and kind words, it's good that you feel for Percy because I'm not done torturing him. Keep your support and hope you enjoyed this chapter.

BrightToilet: You're not seeing things dude. I can't be any more obvious in the last chapter. Tiffany is another player that will play a part in future chaps. Afterall, Severus and Percy got a nemesis in school. Why can't Lily have one as well? Thank you so much for the luv, I hope you keep enjoying the story.

Aaaaa: Thank you so much for the support. Yeah, sexuality is confusing when you live in a conservative country. I never had a problem following my religion, but it becomes confusing if that's because I'm ace or affected by my environment that doesn't encourage PDA. #AceProblems #OnlyAceGetsIt

Shascemi2005: Because the origin of dementors can not only be associated with depression but also pestilence and/or pollution. With the increasing number of dementors, the effort of trying to protect what's left without being able to restore that damage (aka the victim of the kiss aka global warming aka PTSD people), which in this case through reviving extinct animals symbolizes healing and clinging to hope.

Which is a fancy way of seeing how I came up with the unlikeliest thing because it's fun. And no, Percy can't have a break yet. He's going to deal with more trauma.

Patolemus: I didn't think the Percy-bit hit you that hard. Sorry, not sorry? I sold my soul to bring a quality story in exchange for the flooded tears of my readers so…

You can't deny we lowkey want to see Percy hurt, a little bit. And highkey wants to see Percy being a badass. You need a bit more than regular tension for that. Also, in this fic, we stan Grandma Rhea. The fairy won't be going anywhere anytime soon, in game terms she is the key to a special side-quest in the future arcs ;)

Also, Darlene is a power-couple so everyone likes them.

Umm, if you cry in this chapter. I don't know how you'll react to this but… thank you for the luv!

TheTrueCthullhu: You mean since Percy decided to choose to be the Prophecy Child? Because ngl, I legit stood from my seat and clapped for that scene because there's something powerful in controlling your fate when everyone around you is either questioning or resign to it. I hope you keep enjoying future chapters :D

SilverBlizzard05: I was close to writing Lily is helpless XD Also, in this chapter it's partially sad, partially comedic, and wholly horrifying. Darlene is this fic's power couple which I just realized from how much people love it. Thank you for the luv! Hope you keep enjoying the fic.

EinfachMia: Your welcome :)

Zoomingaway: Hey again girl! :D

Fun Fact, Theophania is a legit middle-age name with Tiffany as short. People are uncomfortable there is a modern saying name from old times and I've been dying to use it XD

What Tiffany will be is what Tiffany shall be.

And the term "losing my plot" is a British saying so it's not even mine XD

Lily SLAP our guy from dissociation.

Oh God, I hope I didn't make you upset TOO much. I promise I didn't write this for shit and giggles this is how the story must progress and build up, and as you can see… this is what it's been building up.

I'll- I'll be honest, I legit forgot the group singing "Firefly" when I had Percy go to the owlery. I think my subconscious must have noticed the pun though?

YES! Ivan is getting more that he deserves!

Anyway, thank you so much for the constant positive words and luv you're giving. Hope to read what you think in this chapter.

Cherrystoll: Err, anything can kill anything. Technically. Ghost and Ghouls are much trickier since they're already dead and dementors are sort of like them. Stygian iron is kind of a curse sword that ABSORBS SOULS so no one likes to use it because you human souls trap in your weapon. People don't like that shit. It's the kind of Goblin made with other ores so the effects change from soul to essence.

Thank you so much for the luv :) Looking forward to what you think for this chapter.

123www: Well here's a horor chapter then. #PercyCan'tCatchABreak

MyLifeKindaisaLie: Excuse you, I'm in my exam week and I still do an allnighter finishing this chapter. Do better man,Go study! DO your homework! Do it for yourself! Heck, do it for Annabeth. Do YOU wanna disappoint Annabeth. Cause I sure heck don't.

Thanks for the luv :)))

Black' Victor Cachat: My epilogue is more focused on Snape-Harry drama because there's just so much potential JKR could use for this character and she WASTE it! I'm looking forward to making Snape be so hated and yet still be cried over anyway.

And he would, Percy would just read a ballad poetry fo Annabeth without meaning to XD

I shall respond this again, THIS FIC STANDS FOR GRANDMA RHEA!

Alia.25: Spoiler :) You have to wait for the next act to find out more. Thank you so much for the luv and I'm glad you like it so much despite the sad part.

66Buttercup99: Thank you for the luv, here's the chap ;)

Scl04: Unfortunately, Aphrodite wouldn't have liked Percy if he didn't have a "juicy" love life.

In this fic, WE STAN GRANDMA RHEA! Also, I won't deny there isn't a possibility of her returning in future acts.

Well, you waited, you're seeing it :3 What did you think?

Stjinbus: Thank you so much for the luv! I know how bottled up feelings feel like but only mildly know what traumatic feelings are like and it's that they came at you like a punch to the gut and you're left wallowing on your bed until you get your shit together.

Also, good for your friend. Make sure it's known that being soft means they can't raise hell!

Ah, ah, I used that pun before you. Do better than that! Wkwkwkw

Stygian swords are uncomfortable to use even for gods, they are not made to kill they are made to ABSORB YOUR SOUL. Yeah, that shit is scary. No one likes the idea of wielding a weapon that carries the hundred miserable souls trapped inside. And the book only makes cool sword weapons so I follow canon. Plus, Percy is trained to wield a sword, I'm not gonna make him fight like an amateur with another weapon even if he had Water God Cheat on him.