First of all, minal aidin wal faidzin. Happy eid fitri to all my Muslim readers who may be reading this. I pray all of you are healthy and prosper wherever you are.

With that out of the way ADJGSDJFSFASKDFKSFU WHAT?!

ONE THOUSAND FOLLOWERS?!

ONE THOUSAND REVIEWS! (I see you LeHomoSapiens, Imheretolive08, TheFire44)

AND A TV TROUPES PAGE!

WTH HAPPEN IN ONE MONTH?!

Like... guys... I'm tearing up... I especially want to personally thanks DigibotX for creating the wiki page, and Black Victor 'Cachat and Scl04 for providing much of the additional edit of the page. Like... I'm touch and humbled by this experience. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. If y'all curious; just google since FFN won't allow the url site here.

Now that said, I would like to broach some serious topic. It might not mean much since this is just a small community in the small corner of the internet. But I would like to use my voice to spread awareness of the rising conflict between Israel and Palestine.

No, this is not a political issue, nor is this a religious issue that I'm trying to raise. This is purely a humanitarian issue of the Israeli's government and military is not just oppressing the Palestenian as they are massacres and thousand illegal evictions being done. Children are dying because of this conflict. I know this is a contentious topic that's layered with 70 plus years full of conflict. But no agenda should excuse the Israeli police started beating Palestinians on the LAST DAY OF THE HOLY MONTH in the THIRD MOST HOLY SITE while they were PRAYING.

And people wonder why the Palestenian Military strike back with missiles. An attack, by the way, that the Israeli has a contingency for because their military is backed by 3.8 billion dollar of taxpayers money every year by the US after promising 38 billion dollar military aid since 2016 in the next decade. The same military and police that have attacked civilians who had to defend themselves with rocks.

So yeah #FreePalestine #SavePalestine

And now this...

Chapter 26: Fated Moon Night

Words: 5,426

Recap: Survivor wrote the song? Ha! I do you one better, I survive with the song. Eat your heart out, Dave Bickler!

The good thing about magic is that they don't follow the law of physics and cause me blindness from the light because, man, that was bright. Thankfully, I got to witness the light show in the making as a surge of light rippled from the sword, the wave of life surged through me. In response, the forest seemed to echo like a heartbeat before the trees looked like it was undergoing a Pokemon evolution that I had a half-a-mind it was going to start walking.

It was surprising to find I was partially right when emerging from the trees came a light silhouette of an animal before revealing itself as reindeer, easily towering over me. They look exactly as the Hat had shown me last year; fur as white as snow, antler shine like gold, and hooves clinking like the sound of windchimes.

The Guardians of the Forest, the magical creatures who had first given Helga the seed of the Forbidden Forest; Cernunnos.

One of them clink-clopped before me and respectfully bowed.

Thank you, Percy Jackson...

For giving us life.

Those words echoed in the forest. I glanced down at the sword in my hand and it dawned what I used the spell for.

The Patronus wasn't made for wizards. It was made for them.

I think I owe Ivan an apology. I should listen to him more.

I watched in fascination with them chasing down the Dementors before vanquishing them into inky fumes. The magic reindeer leaped past me in a stampede, spreading out to purge the forest from its darkness. Which only left one creature remaining. This one didn't even look like a reindeer, but the size rivaled them. It was like an ethereal being of light shaped like a horse, galloping through the forest and protecting me from the few remaining Dementors.

My Patronus then stopped beside me, and I gave in to the urge to pet it. "Good work, well you're technically me but still… good work." And with that, it dissipated slowly like smoke. But I wasn't troubled it was gone. Because I knew it would be there. Anytime I need it.

"Booooooooossssss!" I heard Ivan's panic cry before I turned and was slammed face-first at me. "Boss, boss, boss, why did you disappear on me like that? I've been looking for you forever! Don't you dare do that again, I was not programmed to survive on my own… Holy Nutcrackers you're crying!"

His words that I've been slipping from one ear to another suddenly hit me and I touched my face to feel the tears that were lost on me. I quickly wiped them off even if I felt my nose slightly clogged,

"Boss, Boss, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I insisted, "The Dementors should be dealt by now. More importantly, we need to move."

"What? Why? The Quest is over, isn't it?"

If only. Because if the Centaur's Prophecy was true… then I might be failing my Quest for coming here.

. . .

Inhuman growls sending thrums through their bodies did not stop them from running. The future marauders had no idea where they were going. Just a desperate need to get away from their… well… mentally impaired friend at the moment.

"I swear, once this is over. Remus owes us a butt-load of cherry bombs because we are practically saints for what we put up with him."

"Do you think we could sell a book? You know, like an Everyday Guide to Befriending a Werewolf? Because I would love to have one right now."

"Merlin's beard, both of you shut the hell up and run!"

"What do you think we're doing, having a tea party?!"

As much as a chasing scene goes, the three have enough energy at least to mouth at each other without wasting breath. The werewolf had no problem gruffly chasing them on their tail, leaping from branch to branch on occasion. Finally it caught up from above and blocked them off.

"AAAAHHH!" Peter cried, "James, Sirius, do something!"

James soon had his wand out but that was a hasty move because Remus then jumped on him. James yelped without a chance to use magic. Instead, he used the wand to hold the monster's maw from biting his face out.

They kept wrestling each other until Sirius shot a spell that pushed Remus off James. But it didn't seem to faze him as the werewolf was quick to his feet.

"Seriously, what are we gonna do?" Sirius questioned, eyeing his turned friend. "We can't outrun him. We can't fight him out. And we don't want to kill him!"

"We don't even know a spell that kills!" Peter retorted.

Sirius opened his mouth but shut it just as quickly.

"The wolf colony," James answered for them after staggering back up, "They managed to lead him away, they can do it again. We go there, we can ask for their help."

But before they could take further steps away, Remus had charged right back at James from behind. There was little time for warning and Sirius already had his wand out, a curse at the tip of his tongue that he hesitated to use.

"Stupefy!"

Remus fell limply on the floor, paralyzed. The spell hit true and the boys turned to who could have made it.

Lily Evans stood, sword in her left and wand on her right that was pointing to the beast. Whatever she came to do, she hadn't expected this because the first thing she yelled was, "What the bloody heck is that?!"

"Oh thank 'evans."

"Evans?! What the—"

"What are you doing here?"

"Shut up!" she cried shrilly that made the boys take a step back, "Shut up! Just… shut up! Don't you dare ask what I'm doing when you people have the worst timing creating mischief for me by going thrill-seeking when I should— uuurrrrggghhh!" So frustrated was she that Lily was at a loss for words while pointing the sword dangerously close to their faces and they leaned back, scared from the pointy-looking object. Even if it wasn't going to hurt them, they didn't know that.

Which served them right.

"How did you even find us?"

"Oh that's easy, I just followed the sounds of a screaming witless Banshee from the depth of the woods."

The three boys exchanged glances as if trying to decide whose scream she had heard.

"Anyway, there's no time. There are Dementors in this forest—"

"Dementors?" Sirius scoffed, like the idea of them here was ludicrous until he saw the look in her eyes, "No way… they're here? How?!"

"No time to explain! We need to get out before—"

A pained, irritated growl interrupted her. They turned to find the werewolf shakingly got up on his feet.

"He's already moving?!"

"You guys, run! Go back to the school, I'll cover you!" Lily had the stunning spell on the tip of her tongue, ready to freeze him again before stabbing the beast and killing it for good. But then James forcefully pushed her back so she would run alongside them. "What are you doing? I said I'll handle it."

"Nope, nope, you're coming with us because…"

"We're lost." Sirius finished for him.

"...yup, a bunch of lost boys with their heads in the clouds. Might as well be dead without you."

"I am soooo not going to be your Wendy and get dragged wherever you're going."

"Bet I'd make a good Mr. Darling," James roguishly answered.

"I understood that reference!" Sirius glowed proudly.

"This is so not the time for that!" The actual Peter chided.

They managed to convey all that between ragged breathes from their run. Lily wanted to call them out on their ridiculous dialogue but was already too caught up running to stop.

"For Pete's sake! Can't you tell we're going in the opposite direction?!"

"Really? We hadn't noticed."

"Clueless people we are."

"Absolutely horrendous in directions."

"Oh God, we're going to die."

Lily slightly wanted to share that sentiment. But she's not planning on dying anytime soon or else all that nagging to Percy would sound hypocritical. "Fine, fine, would you just let me go already?" She tried to wriggle off from his manhandling, but James kept a tight grip on her arm.

"Not a chance," James's words slipped out in a huff.

"What was that?"

"Nothing—wow!" He stopped mid-run as his cursed friend had cut him off midway, his back facing his two other friends as Remus growled at him. "What the— why does he keep attacking me?!" James wanted to shriek. But then his own words began to register and realized that yes, Remus had been targeting him. For what reason, he didn't know. It was enough to make a plan.

"Sirius, Peter, get the wolves!" He cried before making a harsh turn, splitting up from his friends and onward on his own.

"Are you nuts?!" Evans shrieked while his hand was still around hers.

Ah, oops, so he's not on his own.

"Oh for the love of—" her sword disappeared from sight as James couldn't discern where but didn't care at the time, too busy surviving. Then switched her wand hand before pointing back, "Stupefy!"

However, Were-Remus, the quick learner he is, dodged the sparkling wand and zipping lights before it could hurt him. James had mixed feelings for that.

"Damn, it's quick." Lily would have no problem switching back to Percy's sword, but it's not like she wanted to use it. She had a handful of lessons from the boy, but barely any experience using it against a rabid beast like the one chasing them.

James cursed, "Evans, on my signal. You go on without me."

Lily almost tripped at his words, "Did you hit your head?! Absolutely not!"

"Evans," James gritted his teeth, "This is no time for us to argue. You need to do as I say—"

Lily barked out a laugh, "In your dreams, Potter. Exactly which one of us has the magic sword?"

"I doubt you know how to swing that thing around."

"Any other time and I'd gladly show how I swing this thing at your stupid face— watch out!"

The beast had caught up and aimed his jaw at James' head, to which Lily pushed him back and swung Riptide with a timely placed slash. James' heart was caught to his throat, thinking he had led Remus to getting hurt or worse. But to his relief, the cut must have been shallow because Remus reeled back without an ounce of blood, trying to shake the pain away as he growled back at them. Which was their cue to keep running.

"Look, this is no time for us to bicker. You have to listen to me."

"I'm not leaving you with that thing because you want to play the hero."

"Would you just listen! Re— the werewolf is after me for some reason so we split up and keep on running!"

Lily gaped at James and had a few scathing words to choose from for his inane idea, but her mind halted at one word. "Did you just say werewolf? No wonder it didn't work."

"Yeah… wait, what are you doing?"

Ignoring him, Lily stopped running and looked for any branch, leaves, or blades of grass for her to use. She spotted an acorn that she swiped and transfigured into a silver stake. That manages to give the beast a pause, warily eyeing without getting close.

"How did—"

Lily took the time to give a disappointed glance, "Seriously? Don't you pay attention in Defense class? The only things that can hurt a werewolf are wolfsbane poison and silver." Lily rolled her eyes as she was deciding her action. If she attacked with her spell, there's a chance they might disregard her stake altogether and attack. She can't transfigure as complicated and large as a sword too so that's a bust. Urgh, if she knew she was facing a werewolf she would have asked the Headmaster if she could borrow the Sword of Gryffindor.

On the other hand, James can't explain that he and his friends made a point to skip that particular class since it wasn't a comfortable subject for one of his friends. "Well, who needs classes when I've got you?"

"Urgh, can't you take things seriously for once in your life? This isn't a game where you can play hero just because you were pointed to Gryffindor by a stinky old hat."

"Seems redundant when you keep following Prissy around and worship his feet like he can't do no wrong."

"Don't talk like you know anything about Percy! He's ten times the person you'll ever be."

"Either you're blind or your head is a bag full of cats that you can't see when you're being lied to your face."

"He wouldn't!" Lily wanted to shout but there was a tremble in her voice, "Percy may hide things but he never lied. Not to me. To us."

James has one or two things he wanted to say but then he realized Remus was getting too close for comfort before he leaped at them. Lily shrieked as James pushed her down. A hot deep welling flashed across his back, and they both fell into a piling heap on the ground, James on top of her.

Lily threw the stake at its head, which the beast easily dodge and quickly switched to her wand where she aimed at its face. "Lumos maxima!" She desperately shouted, bringing bright light that would blind it, if only temporarily.

"Come on, Potter. We've got to move." Lily nudged James aside only to register the warm liquid and iron smell. She looked down at her hand, and even in the dim moonlight, she could tell the blood soaking her hand. "Oh God… oh no… no, no, no, no."

"Heh, knew you couldn't get your hands off me."

"This is no time for one of your stupid jokes, idiot!" She shouldered him to her side and had her wand out in defense.

But then to her astonishment. The beast began to whine like a kicked puppy. They crouched low and eyes glancing up, and not at the potential threat in front of them. She could barely ask Potter before they turned tails and ran out of their sight.

"Did, did he just run away?"

Evans became a shade paler as she began to look nervously around. James didn't know what got her so uptight until the unnatural chill sent shivers down his back. He didn't need to turn around to know they've jumped from the frying pan to the fire, yet that didn't stop his insatiable curiosity to see with his own eyes what lies next.

It needs to be said that Dementors are known to be all wizard's worst nightmare. They are the boogeyman you tell misbehaved children at night. The dark promised to those deserving of a fate worse than death.

James had known all that but he wasn't afraid. For one, he was a proud Gryffindor, he wasn't afraid of anything. For two, he knew he wasn't deserving of Azkaban, he couldn't see himself being a criminal even in a million years. He never imagined he would catch a glimpse of the cursed shade outside of his imagination. The moment he locked onto the gliding dark wraiths there was no denying what they are, filling the air with choking depression. His lips felt dry and James felt his legs were a thousand times heavier than they needed to be as he froze in place.

"Ja… James!" Evans cried but there was breathlessness between her words. Like she was having a hard time breathing. "Go… we need to go… get out of here…"

Go? Go where? What's the point of running when they're lost? His friend gave James his trust and he blew it. He can't even keep his promise to Moony and now he needed saving like a damsel by Lily Evans… so useless… useless… useless! He's not good enough. Never good enough. What's the point of going back when he'll just be proving how undeserving he was to wear the gold-red color.

Then he felt his ears being pulled and he found himself nose-to-nose with Evans. "James, focus! Look at me! Look only at me. Think of your happiest moment, don't think anything else but that!"

Happy? What makes him happy? His parents obviously. His friends and the adventures he goes off to. His mind was slightly clearer at the reminder. The dementors, that should have pounced at the single sign of weakness, were kept at bay by the bronze sword in her hand like vampires afraid of getting burned by the cross.

"James, can you conjure the Patronus?"

"Err… somewhat?"

"Better than nothing," She lifted her wand and James followed suit, "On three. One… two... "

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" They both cried. A bright shield of misty light covered them and managed to frighten the dementors away. However, some stayed stubbornly in place. Waiting for the slightest gap in their focus before pouncing for their immortal souls.

Lily tried to keep a tight feeling of the image of her family but then she was reminded how Tuney hated her. She tried thinking of her favorite class only to remember the scathing words shared behind her back. She tried thinking of Percy and the wistful feeling of not having her feelings return.

The white spell flickered. "James, focus!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, which one of us is bleeding themselves out here?!"

They kept hold of their wands as their Patroni mesh together into one thick mist shield. Lily kept a tight grip of Riptide just in case the spell failed on them. She turned to James, seeing the beaded sweat down his temple and eyes squinted in struggle.

"I…" He gritted his teeth. "I can't hold it."

"Yes. Yes, you can, James." They have to. They have to believe they can. Lily let go of her sword in lieu of holding his hand. "Think of everyone and everything that matters to you."

"Yeah, I've got that from the first hundred lectures. It's not like I'm thinking of naked hag while these nightmares can SOD OFF!"

Lily wanted to chastise him once more but noticed the combined spell of their wispy Patronus brightened and blighted the dementors, scurrying off before they glided back and forth like mayflies.

She turned back to James, green eyes sparked with an idea, "Really? That's the best you can do? And I thought you're a proud Gryffindor."

"Damn right I am, I'd rather take a bludger to the head than kick the bucket by cloaked moaners just because they can't get a date." As the ball started rolling, there's no stopping the rant that spewed out from James' mouth. "If Dementors can pray then they better wish they don't get dusted clean because I'm going to blow them off to kingdom come. You hear that drape rejects! I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU! COME AT ME!"

The spell grew bigger and brighter, and Lily felt herself smiling at the sight. Clenching his hands, she followed his example and thought of the first time she discovered magic with Tuney when they were both excited, the times she received top rank over anyone who doubted her and remembering Sev's words that she's too great, fearless, and too good for anyone and believed.

The spell started to take shape, but before any of them could tell what or whose it was. The whole forest began to light up around them to their astonishment.

"Uh… Evans… I'm gonna go on a limb and say this is not on me."

"No, wait, look!" Out from the shadows streaming across the night sky like she once dreamed how Santa's reindeer might fly, the mysterious creatures began barreling down all the dementors around, turning them into black dust and smoke. All the shades dispersed in a desperate attempt to save themselves but there's no escaping the swift exorcism-like ability that ceased the dead spirits.

"They're beautiful…" her comment slipped out. James could only agree with a nod, looking just as awed at the spectacle.

"Did anyone order a large spirit with a friendly centaur on the side?" The two kids whipped their heads, surprised to find Percy perched on a foal centaur. "Because I've got plenty."

"Percy!" Lily barely gave him any time to set his footing back before she had barrelled him down like a freight train.

"Oowww… Red, Lils, you're my best friend, I love you, but please spare my already beaten, exhausted body."

"Sorry," she got up and offered him a hand.

All the while, James was still processing at the why and how Prissy is here with a centaur and an army of ghost reindeer, a million questions at the tip of his tongue and the first thing that came out of his mouth were: "What are you doing here?"

The smug Hufflepuff rolled his eyes "Oh, just taking a midnight stroll. I heard there's a perfect place for star-gazing."

James wanted to call Percy out, but the centaur cut him off, "Fear not, young one. For us, people of the forest, were the ones who requested his aid to summon the Guardians of the Forest and saved us from an otherwise unavoidable fate."

The boy in question began coughing forcibly, "Yeah, Firenze, you might not want to spread that with all your forest buddies, thanks."

The centaur, Firenze, turned to him, confused. "Why ever not? We all owe you a life debt and you should be appreciated for the valor you've shown for our kind—" Percy roughly nudged him and made a gesture for him to shut up, which he finally did.

But it was too late, James might not know the finer details. But he knew the gist enough that there had been danger toward Hogwarts, to his school, his friends, and he was clueless to it all while Percy became the big damn hero with Evans looking up at him with her shining green eyes. He gritted his teeth and wasn't sure if he was trembling from the anger or the pain of his back.

Percy paled when he noticed the wound from the Gryffindor's back, "Oh, geez, that's gonna leave a mark." He dug up a potion from his pocket and offered it, "Here, I always have a stock on hand, you'll need it."

Face flushed, James smacked the bottle out of his hand. "I don't need your stinkin' help, mind your own business!"

"Hey!" Lily blocked James' view of his rival and gave her usual scolding face that only looked cute in his eyes. "You don't need to take that tone with him. Percy's only trying to help. We're trying to help." Her tone and expression then softened, "You helped save me from that beast, so let me help you, okay?"

Lily offered the potion bottle she picked up and James wanted to protest but he couldn't keep hiding the winced pain and relented before finally accepting it.

"So… am I supposed to take it myself or are you going to feed me?" He quipped.

"Shut up and drink the potion, Potter."

"Alright, alright, jeez Louise you're even bossier outside of school." James took one whiff and resisted gagging, "Bottoms up!" He said before drinking in one big gulp to the point of hacking.

"Okay!" Percy clapped to get their attention, "Now that James here has stopped whining like a baby." The boy squawked in protest but was ignored, "Firenze here will guide us back to Hogwarts."

"We can't! Sirius and Peter are still lost!"

Percy's eyes twitched before he slapped himself with a groan, "Of course there's more of you, why am I not surprised," he grumbled.

"If I may," Firenze voiced out, "I think I can be of assistance with finding them."

The three kids watched as the centaur called out one of the silver-streaked spirits. He spoke in a language two of three wouldn't understand. The being showed no sign of accepting whatever request was made before cocking their head and trotting between the trees, leaving a trail of dimly lit wisps behind.

"The spirit shall guide you through the safest route to where you need to be."

"Dude, why do you gotta say it so cryptically. Now I'm worried it'll lead us to the center of the earth."

Firenze responded with only a handsome smile before he turned to leap on into the night where his herd must be waiting for them.

The kids all exchanged glances between the three of them and trail left for them.

"So… should we follow the creepy apparition that we've never heard or seen before?" James asked.

"Oh ye of little faith," Percy chastised before doing just that.

Lily followed suit, treading the trails of wispy gentle light. Lily reminisced how will 'o wisps were supposed to be balls of lights that guided travelers to safety. But after seeing this? Obviously, someone somewhere had made a terrible mix-up.

James was not far behind but he came grumbling all the way, exhaustion dissipating in his wake. He barely had time to marvel at the effect — as he felt less pain after every step he — before James heard his name called from afar.

"Jaaaaaaaaames!" The boy had no time to respond before he was tackled down by his best friend. "Oh God, you're alive!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," James groaned out before pushing his friend so he could sit up straight. He looked to see Lily had side-stepped quickly to avoid being barreled down, comforting a shivering Peter who looked like his lifespan had been halved. Poor little dude. "Sorry about this, mates. I know this isn't the outing we planned."

Peter opened his mouth, but Sirius had slapped his arm and waved off his concern. "What? Running for our lives in the forest that has Forbidden in its name? Wouldn't be much of an outing then."

James grinned, satisfied and relieved. Sirius always knows how to make him feel better.

"Are you both alright? Did the werewolf get to you?" Lily asked them.

James felt the tension of his friend's arm, but Sirius was good at keeping a blase act, "He did, but we managed to find the wolf colony James mentioned before anything bad could happen. We thought we were goners before that since they were surrounded by dementors."

"What?! Seriously, Sirius? how did you get away?" James asked, to which his best friend frowned like his mopped hair friend had asked why he's white.

"Don't you know? We were saved from your Patronus — congratulations by the way — Barely made it out with our wit intact until a crow Patronus scared them all away."

"That— Sirius, I didn't send a Patronus to you. I didn't even maintain a corporal for less than a second."

He frowned then turned to Lily as if to ask them to which she shook her head in denial. Then reluctantly to Percy, who shrugged, "Don't look at me, I was busy running errands. I only found you because Firenze saw you in the stars... I guess? I don't know… their fortune-telling is weird."

"Then... who saved us?"

The group was left to ponder the mystery left in their wake. But Lily had a hunch of who it might have been. Mostly because of the only heart-stopping silver color of her friend's charm finally turning to serene white.

. . .

Severus barely made it in time to run back to the castle and witnessed the Guardians leaving the school building, cleansing it from the dark stench of the dementors. His invisibility potion's effect was starting to wear off so he quickly needed to get back to the group before sounding off his name.

What awaited him by the back entrance though was the waiting form of himself, much to Severus' erk.

"What are you doing here?"

"What? Is this the thanks I got for fulfilling our deal?" His mirror image said with an uncharacteristic smooth baritone considering his voice hadn't cracked. The most unsettling was the slick smile Severus saw himself wore, to which he admitted how rarely he smile had made it seem out of place on his face.

"Can you… stop doing that? I know you're purposely unnerving me."

"Oh, but then where's the fun in that?" But his double obliged nonetheless and his whole body morphed taller and tanner, revealing his true self. "So I take it the rescue mission was a success?" Damien asked.

Severus turned away with a face like he sucked a lemon. He didn't know if he considered what he did a success when he didn't even save his best friend. No… instead of following her trail with his personal Tracking Spell to find Lily, he heard the faraway scream and followed that instead.

He regretted the moment he found Black and his midget friend being cornered by a group of dementors, trying to shield them off with abysmal use of the Patronus spell. One look at the scene and Severus had turned his back, thinking it served them right.

He would have walked away if the little voice in his head that suspiciously sounded like Percy hadn't made him pause.

'Dude, that's cold even for you, are you seriously gonna leave them there?'

Those rag-heads got what's coming for them. If you ask me, the world would be better off with fewer dingbats.

'No one deserved to get their soul to suck out of them. You know this.'

Hogwarts was supposed to be my escape but they made a point to make my life hell. So why should I be the one to save them?

'Because it's the right thing to do.' He then heard Lily's voice. 'Because that's what we would have done.'

Severus had groaned then as he found himself already half-conjuring his Patronus that would bat the dementors away from them. He blinked the memory away and shrugged, "It was more or less satisfactory, they should be on their way back by now so tell me what you want."

"Straight to the point. I'm not a fan but I can adjust." The elder Slytherin bared his white teeth that made you wary. Damian pulled up five of his fingers to Sev's face. "Five commissioned spells of my desired magic, including that Tracking Spell of yours."

"Fiv—" he spluttered, "Do you think it's easy to make whatever spells I want?!"

"It seems to come naturally for you. Don't think I haven't noticed the clever magic you used in your little prank war a couple of years ago."

Severus gaped and wanted to protest the difference. But Damian cut him off, "I don't want excuses to diminish your skill, my little snake. You made the bargain of keeping pretense with your housemates. Accept the price or you'll find out how they'd react to your choice."

The younger Slytherin wanted nothing more than to hex that slimy face of his with a bunch of ugly boils. He held back with a harsh bite of his lip and the clenched fist at his sides.

"Make it three spells, and no one will know you're a metamorphmagus from me."

"Four spells, take it or leave it."

"Done."

The two boys shook on the deal, marking the ending of the Haunting of the Dead Forest that shall not be known by future historians to come.

"By the way, I didn't think you of all people would be able to conjure Patronus that smoothly. How did you manage it?"

Severus wasn't slighted. He was self-aware enough that he wasn't the most 'cheery' person in school to create a being of pure happiness. Especially when Slytherins are notorious for having the hardest time mastering the Patronus.

But contrary to how he looks, Severus Snape likes a few things.

He likes the harmonized string orchestra playing to the tune of his favorite melody. He likes the scent of old books while being immersed in them. He likes stretching his mind to figure out a good puzzle, particularly when he experiments a bunch of potions in his spare time. He likes how Percy confidently relies on him despite being strong on his own. He likes Lily's precious smile that she shared with him.

Severus thought back to those moments in the forest. Filled with nothing but grudging hate at the boys who made his life nothing but miserable and only thought of the things that matter.

"Isn't it obvious?" he said, "I thought of what makes life worth living."

AN: Thank you everyone for being patient with me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter a lot. Last chapter I actually wanted to explore the few magical plants being introduced in this fic but I had been too busy. Because the only magical plants that's been explored in HP-verse were the ones gardened or planted and I think we can agree that there are magical plants out there too wild to be tame or illegal to plant. Here's my take I want to share:

Seekout Tree: A partially carnivorous plant that is the natural predator for Hidebehinds. These tree may look still but they can uproot themselves and run like a true Olympic runner despite shaping like a true thick legs sticking together. The Hidebehinds and Seekouts are in constant hunt and be hunted dynamic that you should stay away or you might be mistaken as Hidebehinds.

Anesteria Tree: My first draft was to make this a Healing Tree where all who are ill may be healed - even temporarily - here. But then I thought, "Is such tree exist, then they would use this for their healing potion" so I revise this to make it more like an anesthetic tree that numbs all pain instead.

Basically it's a weed tree. You can imagine why it's illegal to plant outside of wildlife or to use for potions wkwkwkwkwk

Primal Tree: This tree exists in their own plane of existence and has a symbiotic relationship with the Cernunnos or as wizard kind known as Guardian of the Forest. The grow in the shadows and use their illusions to protect themselves and the Sobortus.

Hope you enjoyed my little worldbuilding. Now time for some QRA! Where I answer your questions and thank your luvs.

Scl04: Oh wow, you have so much to say in the last couple of chapters I'm not sure which to respond other than a thousand thank yous for your attention to details of my work that I found much more appreciative than simple kind words and even the effort you put in TV Troupes for my fic. Your support and comments have always been part of what makes this journey bearable and fun.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter since you've got more perspective explored from James and Severus. I'm. A bit proud for that part if I do say so myself.

The "Eye of the Tiger" wasn't exactly released that year but the lyrics were too on the nose for me not to use them. I also personally like what I did with Peter that makes his "cowardly" side actually more relatable and likable. This is afterall, the person who has the stubbornness to be a rat for 12 years and gave up hisnleft hand to restart a war. People say he's a coward but… I don't know… that takes a different kind of guts to endure.

Patolemus: bby gotta suffer when having anxiety attack. And look! Severus did the right choice! Good for him.

You wanting to mother Lily the Asian way is giving me life XD

I'm glad you love Teafey, it took a bit of research to find the perfect name for my fairy.

Thank you for the kudos and kind words. Currently I'm more stress because my teacher won't respond to my email.

Black Victor 'Cachat: If there's a James in school then there's a James in the adult world too. Meaning a bigot to Slytherin. I'm so glad you love this couple of chapters. I just read the last three chapters for your fic, Sally Jackson, Daughter of Voldemort, Mother of Percy. I'll write a review as soon as I can.

And thank you, thank you, thank you so much for telling me the TV Tropes page. I'm… shook. Like, I did not expect to have one and when I did, the level of detail to make one was… astounding.

Stjinbus: Stygian Iron is tempered into Stygian Steel mix with silver. There are other components in the sword but that's a goblin's secret weapon recipe. The upside with Luke's backbitter is that the monster killed by the bronze sword would be send to tartarus while magical sword would just leave them into a rotting corpse. At least, that's my headcannon.

Thank you for the comment :)

Folkluz: Hey bestie! I hope you and your family have been doing well. If the last couple chapter gave you Sev angst, I can't wait to see how you react to this. Surprisingly, other than annoyed by my lecturer the month has been good for me and my family. Thankfully we're all happy and healthy during the holy month. Comments like yours really lift my spirits up especially for someone with anxiety like me so I want you to know your words mean a lot and taking the time to write it.

Hope you enjoyed this chap, sampai jumpa!

Zoomingaway: I do always love seeing you excited through your live-writings. Can't wait to see if you notice the little reference we've talked about in this chap. Especially from chapter 82; this is what happens when the school is understaffed and underfunded, students go off on their own fixing their shits for you. I also try to channel my own experience with anxiety like that voice at the back of your head that's constantly push you down while struggling to keep yourself up.

And pish posh, of course I'm not gonna drive them apart through love triangle. I'm not basic.

If I'm driving them apart, it'd be for worse reason :)

Also "Bane of my existence"? That should have been my chapter title.

Andwaitwhat? Stuart Temple made another black color?

I can't wait to see how you react to this change of perspective. Imma say this is one of my proud chapters. Was Lily not a badass in his chapter? Was Severus not angsty enough? So many to unpack in this chap that it makes me giggle like a madwoman. Hope you enjoyed this emotional rollercoaster because it's not the end of the ride yet.

Percebeth Potter: Can I just say… your reaction is mood XD

Kitsunneoops: You'll get some Rhea/Percy moment, don't worry. As for dying in the war… dude was Seveus, James, and Lily's Fate in canon not enough tragedy for you?

I'll say it once and I'll say it again, percabeth to the death.

Thank you for the kind review and luv, hope you enjoyed his chapter.

Imheretolive08: If you're done with this chap, you can check out my other fics, go to A03 and leave a kudo there for me, or contact me through my tumblr marisandini-chu if you ever want to just chat

123wwww: Here's your sevvy. And yes, Percy's patronus is a simple giant horse. No need to fix what's not broke. Thank you for the luv and hope you enjoyed my day too.

Brade1991: I try my best to keep writing, thank you for the luvs and well wishes

Geni Blaze: Did I or did I not tell you there'll be a Star Lord moment

EinfachMia: Attenborough is just a well known name with a well known voice for me. Not a big fan but I appreciate his work very much.

Nia1106: Yes, I do try to recreate the same sort of magical mysteries from the HP book and take a lot of reference from it, even the plot point. I blushed at your compliments about JKR even though I take points from her and try to put my own style and spin to the story rather than the fic being more complex, but I appreciate the luvs. Thank you.

Then to 23, DaughteroArtemis, 66buttercup99, brade1991, therealsl1mshady, GAMESTREEMERPercy Jackson Fan, Wildfire, Theseus-Theo, Wonky Wendy, IndigoEnchantress, iHateFridays Thank you so much for the kind reviews, I try my best to recreate PJO/HP experience and I'm glad ya'll like my spin to the chapter and the fic as a whole.