Chapter 3: A Wizard's Naming Sense
Words: 6,331
Recap: I reached out my hand toward him. "Percy Jackson, at your service."
The boy looked at it for a while, his mind lost in his own thought at a simple sign of friendship, before he grabbed my hand along with his own name in response.
"Severus Snape."
First, well, I had a job, yeah!
Apparently, it was really easy for a supposed-child like me to get a job in a small town like Cokeworth. Not a hard job that could have labeled it as Child Labour, but more of small odd jobs needed done that paid handsomely. Such as 'helping' out the little coffee shop or 'volunteering' handing out newspapers in the break of dawn as I had been doing. It was a chore I was more than willing to do, seeing I'd sooner be found dead than sitting on a desk repeating 5th-grade lesson again. It'd be torture for me.
Second, I got fired from said job two days ago.
Third, which was also the reason why I got fired from a job as simple as sending newspapers. The chimera wasn't the last of the lot trying to kill me. Since then, I had gotten attack by dracanae, lamia, a couple of araes, and a mormo. Then two days ago, when I was just doing my business flinging newspaper from one house to another, I had the chance to meet a new kind of monster. It was an elfish creature with glowing yellow eyes, long pointed nose that would make Pinocchio look normal. If I'm not mistaken, he had tree stumps growing out from his back. Just like its elfish look, it had an elfish talent; annoying people.
The monster didn't look strong, I tell you that. Still, it was fast and sneaky, laughing whenever I failed to put a hit on him. The final blow to my day was the little bugger kicking the pile of newspapers I set aside, resulting in blowing throughout the town from the heavy breeze.
Cutting its head off didn't make my mood better.
Anyway, with no good excuse (and this isn't the first incident, just the worst one), I was asked to look for a more suitable job.
"Sounds to me, you just met an erkling," I turned to the only friend I made at this dunghole town, Severus. I know what you're thinking; who in the right mind would name their child Severus? I just called him Sev since it's a mouthful, and I can't say his name without laughing.
What's more, he was smart. Annabeth would have enjoyed his company. He knows everything there is to know about the wizarding world. He's a literal god-sent for me, so now I'm not so clueless about it anymore. Sometimes, he would teach me some hexes or jinx he learned on his own and shared it with me. Though, without a wand (which I'm still skeptical about, how stereotypical can these wizards get?), we can only imagine if it'll ever work or not.
"An erkling? Never heard of that one before." I took a bite of my apple Sev had so kindly sneak out of the house for me. I would have been more grateful if he had to sneak out a real snack like Cheetos, but sadly the backwater town like this one doesn't seem to have one of those.
"It originates from the Black Forest and usually tried enticing children and eat them. I say that's what it's trying to do with you," Sev said while biting into his own apple. We were both hanging out on the bridge, our feet dangling in the air. It was one of the few places I felt calm enough to stay and chat with the river flowing beneath, even though it's dirty and murky, but still water all the same.
"I still can't find any curse that you mentioned, and my mom had more than a few collections of them, but I can't figure out how you're cursed."
"Uh... yeah, man," I muttered nervously.
Confession Time: You see, remember how I was attacked by a chimera, and Sev watched the whole fight? It wasn't fun trying to explain. At first, I tried saying I met it by accident, but Severus didn't buy that. No, he said that the chimeras were found way too far from its habitat, and they don't usually try attacking random kid from the street. There's also the fact I had what he called an 'enchanted sword,' and I fought like I know how to fight what he called 'beasts.'
It wasn't easy holding back the truth, the kid was too smart to lie to his face when I already suck at lying, so I thought I told him a half-truth.
Which ending up with me telling him my whole family was cursed.
It wasn't much of a lie. Being a Half-blood did feel like being cursed. I then told the Wise Guy that the curse works with my family's blood would forever attract monsters. Since I was young, I had training going up against monsters and all that. He was skeptical, but thankfully, he bought it. But now he's trying to look up every curse he could find and how to reverse it. His suspicion was still there, crossing his face briefly whenever I asked about the wizarding world like a clueless muggle. Still, I just made the excuse that I do things differently in America, and Sev had no choice but to accept it.
He also asked about the sword, how it was made, how it works, and what charms I used. I just shrugged and said it was an heirloom, so I didn't know much, just that it was a really old sword.
He was fascinated by it for quite a while. Enough that I was worried he might just take it home for him to experiment with one of his weird potions in store. I know Riptide is practically unstealable, but it doesn't help quell my anxiety.
"Well, looks like I'll need a new job. Do you have any ideas?"
"Why do you even want to work?" Sev made a face. "Better question, how do you stand working for muggles?"
I tried to shrug his thoughts, "I'm homeschooled, so I have a lot of free time and nothing wrong with some extra cash. Unlike you, I'm living alone, orphan remember?" Another thing I lied about, being orphan.
"There's my aunt, but she's never around because of her job." If you could call being a goddess a job. "Besides, getting a job is not that bad. You could even try getting one with me. Then you could get money and stay out of the house at the same time."
Sev seemed to reconsider at the prospect of muggle work. It was still weird calling people muggle. I guess it's no different how Half-bloods and gods called people mortal. Sometimes, when Sev calls them that, there was a hint of contempt in his voice as if he doesn't like why they exist in the first place. I could sort of guess it's because of his muggle father, but I wish he wasn't so prejudiced about it.
"Come on, Sevvy..." I drawled, "More time with good ol' me and less time at your stinky house."
He kicked me in the shin, "Didn't I say not to call me that!"
"Then try working with me for once. We'll even try getting a job at the bookstore or library; you'll love it there."
"Ha! Like you could get a job there with your ADHD and dyslexia."
"You don't even know what those are until I told you!"
"So? Not my problem I'm holding it against you." This brat and his smart mouth, "I'll tell you what, Percy. If you can find a job that doesn't take too much muscle, I'll reconsider it."
I pumped my fist up in success. At least he'll think about the job. I've been coaxing him for a month. I stared at him for a while then grinned.
"Should I try working for a bakery, you know... so I could see you in an apron." That earned me another kick, causing me to laugh. When it was almost curfew for Sev, I decided to walk him home. He would point out that sometimes I treat him like a child, which I guess I did, considering I'm mentally seventeen.
"Hey Percy, do you want to meet up at the park tomorrow, say about nine?"
It was the first time he initially asked me out. Usually, I waited outside his house or meet up at the bridge, "Sure, not that I have better things to do."
He smiled, and he showed the rarely childish excitement, "Great, see you there!"
. . .
The next day, I had lost faith in my newfound friend of him being a normal person. "You were stalking her?!"
"No, of course not! Why would you even think that?" He denied indignantly.
"Hmm, let me think, you know her house, you know where she and her sister frequently play, and you've been watching them all this time without them knowing, so how is that not stalking?"
Sev looks he was ready to put a punch in me, but he knew well I could dodge him easily. I then spotted two sisters playing the swings. One had bright red hair that reminded me of Rachel's, only hers was straight and silky. The other had a perm black hair, and they both were wearing flower themed dresses.
"Look... I just want to get to know her, and I just...haven't dared to do that, so I thought... you could help me?" He might have ended it with a please if he wasn't such a prideful, stuck-up kid. But then Sev, to my surprise, had blushed. Because of his pale white skin, it was prominent enough to rival the redhead's hair. It was cute now that I think about it. Sev is quite a gloomy kid, so seeing him having a crush was quite funny, actually.
"Lily!"
The two of us turned to said girl when the name was mentioned towarch her... floating? I blinked a few times and rubbed my eyes before I turned questioningly at Sev.
"She's a witch?!"
"Well... yeah... why do you think I want to be friends with her?"
"I don't know. Because she's pretty?"
Sev blushed even more, and this time, the laughter was harder to contain. I guess I laughed a little too loud because then one of the sisters asked: "Who's there?!"
Busted.
Sev turned a step back and looked like he was about to run, so I grabbed him.
"Come on, no one is going to bite." I smiled reassuringly and pulled him up to the light. We were met by two girls, they were looking at us with suspicion, so I just waved at them and said, "Hi."
I wonder if that's not how British greet each other because they looked more confused. Well the dark-haired girl was, the red-haired just blink, then smiled at the two of us.
"I've never seen you around before, what's your name?" She asked us. I noticed then that she had green eyes as well. Only hers looked brighter, like emerald instead of my sea green one.
Sev must have thought this was a golden opportunity because he made a large step forward and offered his hand.
"My name is Severus." I didn't get to see him smile, but I hope it didn't look forced.
The redhead took his hand and shook it, her smile not once left her, "My name is Lily, and this is my sister Petunia."
Sev didn't smile and held back a scowl toward her sister, but he did greet her with a nod, "And this is my friend Percy Jackson... Percy, what's wrong?"
I must have looked weird to them as I stand gawking in daze but couldn't help it after remembering Future Hecate's last words said to me. It was fuzzy and unclear because I was immediately flung to the past, but I can make out two things.
The names Lily and James.
I wasn't sure who and what she meant then, but now everything is made clear. Circe will be after them, and it looks like it's most likely my job to either protect them or be wary of them. Whichever it is, they'll have something to do with Circe, and I need to keep an eye on them. "Nothing's wrong, Sev, sorry I just doze off. I thought I saw, you know, something, my mistake." I smiled at them just in case.
"Why are you two spying on us?" Petunia asked us crossly.
Sev couldn't seem to hold back a scowl, "We haven't been spying, not on you anyway if that's what you're asking."
"Technically, we did spy the two of them, Sev," I pointed out. Sev didn't look too grateful for what I pointed out. But from his tone, I know Petunia would feel insulted, and getting a fight is the last thing you want when we're trying to be friendly.
"Why were you spying on us then?" Lily decided to ask.
Sev and I looked at one another, and I decided to answer for her, "We thought it'd be nice to, you know... be friends since it's not every day you met a floating girl before" Sev made a hard nudge to my side. "And since you're the same as us," I added.
"You're a witch," Sev decided to bluntly point out.
Lily switched from being surprised to angry. "Now that's not a very nice thing to say to somebody."
"Wow, calm down, we're not mocking you or anything, that's just what you are, and the two of us are wizards; that's what we call people who could do magic." I tried explaining in a hurry before she could march off.
I heard a burst of cold laughter. Petunia looked at us like we were ridiculous, "Wizards!" She shrieked; her bearing became more confident.
"I know who you are. You're that Snape boy! They live down Spinner's End by the river." From her tone, she didn't sound approving of him as if where he lives just showed all she needed to know about him. "I heard what they say about your family; your dad is an old cot, barely making a living while your mom is a freak, being in her room all day andUAAAAAAAAAA!"
Just as I was about to deck her to shut her up, I faintly thought she was a lot taller than I first thought. Then I realized she wasn't getting taller; she was floating as well. Only this time, I don't think she's in control with her screaming and flailing around was any clue. Lily gasped and tried to bring her down while I turned to my most likely responsible friend.
"Sev, cut it out!"
The anger in his face was still there, but Petunia already found a safe haven on the ground. She then pulled Lily with her as they ran home.
I watched their backs until it disappears before addressing him, "Smooth."
"I can't help it all right, and that muggle deserves it."
"That muggle happens to be her sister, so if you don't try to get along, then I don't think she'll even try talking to you."
Sev let out a frustrated wail and began stomping off. I trailed behind but took a few glances behind. Looks like we'll be meeting her a lot more in the future.
. . .
Sev refused to come out the next day.
It looks like what happened yesterday really bum him out. Considering he almost let his crush's sister float away like a balloon, he was partly in the wrong. Not that I think she didn't deserve it, I would have done a lot worse had she hadn't started flying away.
I came to the same park the next day. Coincidentally, the same park where I met Sev was also how I met the girl I was supposed to meet. Hecate didn't tell me what her fate was. Only that she's important enough for me to protect, but I guess I'll have to ask her next time. I stopped myself in surprise because I notice I wasn't alone as I think I was. Lily Evans was there, spying at me behind a tree.
"You can come out, you know. I'm not going to hurt you."
She made a soft yelp. Quickly hiding behind said tree. Slowly and surely, she crept out behind the tree, and after staring silently at each other, she voiced out her thoughts. "Uhm, is your friend not here today?"
I shook my head, regrettably, "No, he regrets what he did yesterday, didn't mean to scare you off."
Lily seemed to think the grass was a lot more interesting. She walked closer until she settled on a swing and softly rock herself. "I...I wanted to apologize to him for what my sister said. I mean, I'm mad he did that to her, but she shouldn't have provoked him, I guess."
"Sev said it's accidental magic; it's what happened when witches or wizards did when we became emotional." Lily gaped at my news, maybe feeling surprised there was a reason for all the weird things happening around her. I remember what that feels like.
"I see," she softly sighed.
Silence again reign, and I wasn't sure what to say. It's not like I could come up to her and say, 'Hey, apparently, I'm your bodyguard, and I'm here to save you from a wicked witch from the future.'
"Is it true that I'm a witch?" Lily broke the silence.
"Well, normal girls don't float around in the sky, so yeah, I'm pretty sure you're a witch. Probably the only witch around."
She nodded, then more hesitantly, she asked, "And you two are wizards?"
"Yup," I said, popping the 'p' at the end.
My easy-going mood must have finally made her guard drop because she finally smiled tentatively at me, "You have a weird accent, are you not from around here?"
"No, I just moved from America a month ago."
She seemed to perk up more, "What is it like there? Is it any different than here?"
I wasn't sure how to answer since I never stopped to imagine what America is like in the 70s. "You know, crowder, busier, definitely noisier unlike here, but I felt things are too quiet here sometimes."
"I know what you mean, nothing really happens here, I love the peace, but I wish every day is different, more... exciting, you could say."
"Trust me, you'll get tired of an exciting life if you live in it long enough." Lily didn't look like she was sure what I was talking about, and I don't think she will. Deciding how to cheer Sev up and get to know Lily more, I made up my mind.
"Tell you what, how about we meet again tomorrow, and I'll bring Sev with me."
"Great, then I'll bring Tunney!"
It took me a moment to connect Tunney with Petunia, and I held my hand out before she left,
"Wow there, I don't think it's a good idea if you bring her yet."
She looked affronted, "Why not?"
"Well, Sev doesn't really like mor-muggles, and I just don't want there to be a fight."
"Muggle?"
"Oh, I heard that's what wizards call non-magic people." Lily made a face like it was one of the weirdest things she heard, and I chuckled, "I know, I thought it was weird too. Anyway, I'm sure you've heard about Sev's parent, right?" It took a while for her to admit, but she nodded, "I don't know all the rumor, but some of it is true, which is why Sev doesn't like his father, who is a muggle."
"Not all peop-muggles are like that!"
"I know, but Sev never had the chance to find a muggle friend, and last time your sister doesn't give him a better image of them either." Lily didn't seem to find an argument from that and had a hard time agreeing. I turned my heel and was about to leave.
"See you tomorrow, Percy."
It's the first time she said my name, and I don't know why, but I had a feeling at that moment that we both would be great friends. Smiling, I waved back and called her name for the first time as well.
"See ya, Lily."
…
"She said that?"
I rolled my eyes, "Yes, Severus, for the last time she said she wanted to meet you."
If there was ever a time he could be happier than this moment, I'd make sure to take note.
"Dude, I've never seen you this lovestruck before."
"I'm not lovestruck."
I snorted. He could have fooled me.
"I'm not, she's just...the first witch I've ever met, and I wanted to get to know her since I don't...have friends," he said his last words with a struggle. "But I got you now, and I know we've only known for a month, but thanks for not running away or think I'm a freak."
"Trust me, I met freakier people, and I could tell you're 100% normal, different, but normal."
Then when I look at him, I remembered who he reminded me of. Dark, moody, and knows a lot about hexes, he reminded me of Nico. And somehow, I couldn't leave him because of that. I nudged him on the side and pointed out a redheaded girl running toward us with glee on her face.
"Hey, did you wait long for me?" Lily huffed out.
"No, definitely not! We just got here right, Percy?" Sev chirped excitedly with an unmistakable grin on his face.
"Right..." If just getting here means an hour ago, then sure.
Lily looked at Sev, and she looked like a kid holding back a question she wanted to ask a teacher. "So, you're a wizard too?"
"Yeah, I am. I am a half-blood because my mom is the witch in the family."
"What's a half-blood?"
"That's what we call a wizard or witch who has a muggle as a parent or grandparent and another from the wizarding world. Those who only have witches or wizards for a family are called pureblood."
"But both my parents are muggles. What do you call me then?"
"You're what they called a muggle-born," I explained along with Sev, "It means a wizard with both parents as a muggle, so you could say you were born lucky."
Lily smiled back. She then sat on the grass beside us with a gleam in her eyes, asking us everything we knew about the wizarding world. Sev was more than pleased to answer her. She wondered about the livelihood, the spells he knew, heck I just found out there was a ministry of magic, who knew?
"Also, there's a famous sport there in the wizarding world called quidditch, I don't quite like it that much, but most of the wizarding world do."
"Pfft, quidditch, that's a dumb name."
"You think all the names are dumb Percy, I just don't get you Americans."
"Come on, Sev, admit it, you wizards have no naming sense, Puffskein? Flobberworm? Ashwinder? Those names are ridiculous."
"Guys, as interesting this argument is, I like to know more about this quidditch, don't you want to know as well?" Lily said, successfully avoiding an argument between us.
I thought about the word sports and thought it'd be a great way to let out my ADHD jitters, given the chances.
"Hmm, a little."
There was a smirk that made its way in Sev's face, and I knew somehow he knew what I was thinking. "Anyway, quidditch is a sport usually between two teams. Each team has three hoops, and the main goal is to put a ball called the Quaffle into the opponent's hoop."
"Huh, so it's basically like basketball."
"Only you do it on a flying broom."
Oh, well, that's one sport I won't be doing.
"Is it hard, flying a broom?" Lily asked. She seemed to be a cross between being nervous and excited at the prospect of flying. Considering she was laughing when she jumped from the swing and flying off, she might make a great quidditch player. Not like I know any of it.
"Not really, I think it's just of a matter of will. If you want to fly and have nothing to fear of it, then flying would be easier."
I was holding back a laugh seeing Lily almost jumping from her seat. "Relax Lily, maybe you could make the quidditch play when we get to school," Sev said encouragingly.
"Wait, school, what school? You didn't tell me about school!" Sev played dumb about my outburst and only shrugged, but his smirked never left. "Sev, seriously, what school? You never told me about that!"
"You didn't ask. Besides, I knew if I told you the school's name, you would laugh."
"Oh, come on, how bad can a name be?"
Sev looked deadpanned at me, and he said one word;
"Hogwarts."
I never laugh more than I did today.
.
.
.
"Are you done yet?" Sev asked for the third time. Minutes have passed that I've rolled down on the grass, and Lily was giggling too, probably more from my reaction than the name.
"Okay, I'm done. I think I got a sore throat."
"Did you have to laugh that much?" Lily asked though she was holding back a giggle of her own.
"Come on, how could I not laugh of a school named after a pig's skin-diseases? I'm still holding back my laughter here."
Sev could not hold back his sigh, "Can I talk about the school now?"
"Okay, okay, tell us about," I snorted, "Hogwarts- pfft!"
Sev rolled his eyes at me, but now that he had both me and Lily's attention, he went into lecture mode.
"Okay, so Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a school at Scotland where all wizards and witches at the age of 11 would get invited to the school. We'll learn spells, potion, everything a wizard would know. It was made by 4 powerful witches and wizards who then made 4 houses after their name where new wizards are sorted according to their traits to become their new family."
"What are the houses?" Lily excitedly said.
"There's Ravenclaw, the house of wisdom. Hufflepuff, the house of loyalty. Gryffindor, the house of bravery. Then Slytherin, house of cunning, and where I'll be sorted."
"You seem eager to be called cunning." I pointed out with a grin.
"It's also a house for those with ambition, cleverness, leadership, and resourcefulness. I think it's a better house than Gryffindor. They seem to be all muscle head idiots who like to show off."
"Really? I thought Gryffindor sounds nice, to be the house of brave, they sound righteous."
"I think Slytherin would fit you better. I'm sure you'd be clever enough to be there, Percy too."
"Hmm, well, I am resourceful, I am a great leader when people rely on me, and I can be very cunning with my enemies."
"Enemies?" Lily noted confusedly.
Sev and I sweatdropped; we weren't sure we were ready to tell my secret without scaring her off. "Uhm...I meant with bullies! I was bullied a lot in my last school before I got expelled" I lied quickly.
"You were expelled?" Lily gasped in distress.
"Well yeah, I...err...couldn't control my magic very well back then, so I blew up stuff accidentally and get expelled from it."
"Oh...Percy..." Lily seems to think being expelled is one of the saddest things that can happen to people and hug me like a kicked puppy. I didn't want to witness what a jealous look Sev makes, so I tried examining how nice the sky was today.
Hm… Is it just me, or does this cloud look like a dog?
"It's fine. It's not like I could tell people I had magic after my parents-"
Even though it's a lie, it's still felt horrifying to imagine if my mom died. I thought I lost her back when I was 12. I was both devastated and desperate enough to get her back from the underworld.
"-were both gone, my aunt then sent me here to start a new, I think she already meant to send me to Hogwarts at the time, still nice if she had told me anything. Like I said, I'm fine, so don't look sad."
She sniffed her nose and blinking her tears away. Jeez, remind me not to show her A Fault in Our Stars. She might start bawling then.
Sev started clearing his throat to get our attention. "Right, what else do you want to know?" Lily brightened at that and began questioning everything, and Sev patiently answered every one of them. I didn't realize it's almost evening, so we decided to meet another time.
"I've got school tomorrow. Do you want to meet next Friday?"
"Definitely," I answered while Sev nodded.
From then on, we decided to meet every week. We would talk about how her life as a muggle was like, Sev talked about the wizarding life, and I recently find a job only to get fired a week later. The three of us became amazingly for only a short time. We talked about everything, even to the silliest days I couldn't properly meet with them felt longer. I began to recognize them as people I can't imagine my life without.
"...It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. He then great Death as an old friend and went with him to the next world. The End" Snape closed his book titled The Tales of Beedle and the Bard.
"Wow, that's some deep stuff for a fairy tale."
I calmly comment, and usually, I barely listen to things, not to mentions fairy tales. "You wizards have wicked stories."
"I thought that story was sad but sweet, ooh, what's the word..."
"Bittersweet?" I finished the word.
"Exactly."
"Well, I didn't write the book, but I find it flattering our stories is better than some muggles."
"Hey! What's wrong with Cinderella?" Lily complained.
"Other than the fact that the prince is an idiot and couldn't find the girl without her shoe when he could just remember her face? None at all."
"You'd be surprised how different girls look when they wear makeup, Sev," I tried defending her.
"Still sounds stupid to me," Sev mumbled.
I clapped loudly and switch seats with Sev. "Okay guys, Lily has her turn with her muggle stories, Sev had his turn with wizard's stories, and now I think we need a little action pack stories from yours truly."
"What are you going to tell us, Percy?"
I grinned, "Ever heard of Greek mythology?"
Sev and Lily nodded but look hesitant, "I studied some myth when learning about the few greek beasts still exist in the wizarding world."
Lily gasped at this. "They have beasts?"
"Don't worry, their habitat is monitored to make sure they don't attack anyone, so it shouldn't be possible to meet one in town," He assured her while looking at me crossly. I turned away from him sheepishly and asked Lily.
"What about you?"
"My school taught me a little about Greek history, but I'm not sure I paid attention well." She ducked her head, looking a bit ashamed at admitting, not knowing that made things sweeter for me.
"Well then, both of you sit back, relax because we're going to learn the greeks Percy-style, and what better way to start off things than the beginning of the universe." Hecate did say I wouldn't pull any attention from calling their name now, so a little Greek lesson with my one spin to them won't do any harm. "So everything started with Chaos..."
And so I told them the creation of the universe to the start of the worst family feud, not even Soap Opera could afford to offer. I took the chance of my invisibility from the gods to rant and tell outright how I feel about them. Boy, did I get a kick out of that. The whole time I was grinning like a loon when I make my two friends laugh. It made me more eager to say to them the best that I could, seeing their expectant eye of what will happen next. Who knew being a storyteller could be this fun. I should write a book about this.
"...then Olympian gods held their father back, and Zeus used his own scythe to cut him to pieces and threw him to the depth of Tartarus, fulfilling the curse Ouranos made...The End! ...For now."
"Wow, I know it's a myth...but the story is messed up and gross; they married their siblings?" Sev commented.
"When in Greece, it's best not to think of the gods family tree. You'll just get a headache."
"I know I learned this at school, but Percy's storytelling is really good. I was leaning at my seat the whole time."
I blushed at her compliment and scratched my head, then I looked down at my necklace, where the beads hanged on my leather cord. I remember Annabeth whipped me to remember their story so I wouldn't get myself killed next time. I tried suppressing my sad expression and thought how I'd get back as soon as I kicked Circe's off from the past and returned back as if I never left.
Still wished she'd be here with me.
"Percy, what's wrong?" Lily asked.
"Oh, err... Nothing's wrong," I waved her concern off.
"You were looking at your necklace. Are you sure nothing's wrong?"
"I'm fine, Sev, just a little homesick. That's all."
Sev and Lily eyed each other for a moment before they turned to me in worry. They didn't say anything, which I'm glad because I didn't want to dwell on it much.
"Agh, talking this much makes me tired!" I said and decided to lean to the grass and watch the cloud flowing their way across the sky.
The thing about being a demigod, while you're ADHD, you still got to appreciate a moment of peace like this. I felt the warm presence of two people beside me, realizing they were lying on the grass and felt the smile on my face. Just like that, no words exchanged between us, only silent, and that was enough for me knowing I had two friends by my side, alive and well.
My eyes widen, the hair on my skin stood, I jumped to my feet, and my hand slipped into my pocket. My swift action must have confused Lily, getting more concerned and scared at the tensed air I radiated, and I know I can be scary when I'm serious. "Percy... are you ok-"
Sadly I had to cut her off, "Severus, take Lily and get out of here as quickly as possible" Sev eyes widen at the mention of his name, so he knew how serious this was. My senses are warning me there something wrong around here, but I can't find out what it is.
"Severus, Percy, what's wrong? What's going on?" Lily said as she struggled against Severus's hold. I knew it was hard for him to pushed Lily away, but he damn knew he wouldn't risk letting her near a monster.
I kept my eye around the park, desperate trying to find what couldn't be normal around here. The park itself shouldn't have any place to hide other than the thick assemble of trees at the edge of it. Just as I expected, there was a glimpse of white eyes staring at me like I was a good lunch meal for whatever that was. I stood like I had nothing to fear and eyed whether the monster was passing by or smell a half-godling on his radar. Just as he stepped out from the shadows, I held back a yelp at the huge monster. I've fought bigger guys before, but this is the largest beast since I went back in time. The fact my body got a lot smaller only put the icing on the cake. So I can safely say that I may be in trouble.
The monster was about 6-7 feet tall, greyish purple skin with a humped back, it had two horns, and its head resembled a bull but with long and sharper looking horns and it had long pig snout. I gulped because this is going to be hard.
"Ah, crap."
AN: Thank you for reading hope you enjoyed and didn't make young Sev and Lily too OOC.
Guest: While interesting notion you have on Percy's love life, I already have a plan for that. Narcissa is a year or two younger than Lucius who is a 6th year. Arthur and Molly already graduated and have one-year-old Bill by now. I also have plans for others but saying it would be a spoiler.