Chapter 20: A Rose with Hidden Thorns

Words: 3,778

Recap: It's Christmas and hopefully things wouldn't be as exciting as yesterday where the Wips almost got us as they chased us around the school. We lost them but another victim was hit.

On Christmas morning, I woke up and was greeted with the sight of presents at the foot of my bed. Three wrapped presents to be exact, and I was bewildered since I certainly never expected to get anything for Christmas this year.

With the presents nicely tucked under my arm, I went to the Great Hall where Sev and Lily greeted me with matching smiles.

"Merry Christmas Percy!"

"Merry Christmas."

I laughed warmly knowing I get to spend my first Christmas together with my two best friends. "Merry Christmas to you guys too."

Lily opened up her arm wide and I took her offer to hug her. Sev looked vaguely discomforted at our action so I pulled him in for a three-way hug.

The start of the day had been cold, the High Table was half-filled with Professors that stayed for the holiday, Dumbledore had swapped his pointed wizard's hat for a flowered bonnet, and was chuckling merrily at a joke Professor Flitwick had just read him. The students from different houses only needed one table to occupy due to the number that stayed for the holiday, much to our joy since we don't need to worry the disapproving gazes we got every time I slipped into one of their tables.

Before we had our breakfast, Sev was the first to noticed the presents I have on hand and pointed it out.

I shrugged. "Found it near my bed, there's a letter addressed to me so I guess it's my Christmas present. Don't know who it's from though."

The three of us looked at one another, eyes glinting with curiosity mix with a bit of excitement on our part from the mystery being wrapped inside. In hindsight, I should be more wary of any gifts sent to me from an Unknown Sender, for all I know Circe could have sent me a dead guinea pig just for a reminder. But even if it was a trap or some kind, I doubt that I still wouldn't open it.

I first took my attention to the biggest and obvious present for me. A long thin gold-wrapped parcel that shaped just like what I think it might be. I took the letter attached to it with my name written on it, flipped it open, and read it.

The threat is upon and a choice will be made
One will have you face your nightmare
The other will have you forsake a friend.
The Walls will reveal the Liar
Keep your ears open

P.S.

Oh, and Merry Christmas to you

-H

Well doesn't that sound ominous for a Christmas letter? 'Hello Percy, here's a puzzling warning and a gift, you're going to face your nightmare or risk a friend- and as an afterthought, Merry Christmas! Now get on with your life, yes?'

Nevertheless, I plastered on a smile and explained it came from my 'aunt.' The three of us ripped the wrapping off together in eagerness and my jaw dropped at the broomstick I was given.

Boy...what a beauty it was. Even if brooms aren't my first choice of transportation, it doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good one. Moreover, I doubt I could borrow more brooms after the last two I broke.

Unlike any other broom in the market. The brush was silver and glimmered against the light, its handle color was obsidian black and was smooth to handle, and at the end of it was carved the word was my initial P.J. in golden, curvy writing on one side and the name 'Pegasus' on the other. The gift even came with a servicing kit too.

The rest of the students crowded around me when they saw what I have and they were admiring it in their own way.

"Wow. You got your own custom made broomstick, your aunt is either very rich or she has amazing talent in making brooms," Sev told me with undisguised awe, and that's something because Sev never openly admires things.

"Most likely the latter," I muttered softly.

Putting it aside, my next attention then came to the next brown wrapped parcel. Plucking up the note, a fond smile tugged on my face when I read.

We might not be as close as we should have. We are family nonetheless so I give this present to you in hope you'll enjoy and use it wisely.

A Very Happy Christmas to you.

I didn't need to read who it's from to know the sender is currently sitting in the middle of the High Table and had wink on me the moment our eyes met and I showed him how grateful I am with the slightest nod and smile.

I turned back to look at my friends, together we unwrapped the second present.

It was a pair of socks.

Not even Sev and Lily expected what I got and they were made shock again for an entirely different reason. Looking quizzically at it, I reached for the bulged left sock and was surprised I felt something inside. I took it out and on my hand had a small package of various assortment of sweets.

There were chocolate frogs, licorice worm, acid pops, and other unrecognizable candies. Dumbledore must really have a sweet tooth.

I eyed the right sock and wondered if there was something in it as well and confirmed that there was. Inside was a small snow globe only this one is filled with what looks and feels like water but different. Being the Son of the Sea God, I know magic water when I see it. Instead of regular white foams as makeshift snowflakes, it has tiny mermaid and fishes swimming through a miniature Atlantis. The globe has a dim glow around it that could use a nightstand and the globe itself was perched on a gold stand that has greek writings carved around it that translate to 'Home is where the heart is'

Very sentimental Dumbledore.

There was a small green button at the end of the carved words and one obvious course of action was available.

I pushed it and instantly regretted my action.

A horrible deafening screeched sounded the Great Hall that instinctively had everyone cover their ears. In great haste, I pushed the button again and the glass globe that jotted open was closed and the screeching stopped.

"Whoever sent you that gift Percy, they must be bonkers!" Sev shouted his thought.

I glanced toward the Headmaster again and the pleased smile on his face hadn't disappeared and reluctantly I had to agree with Sev.

Then I switched my attention to the third gift. It was much crudely wrapped than the other two, I flipped it and there was my name scrawled on top and the sender too.

'From Hagrid' it said.

I looked up to Hagrid, who was sitting at the edge of the High Table. Chatting animatedly with the teachers. He seemed to notice me watching because he turned and waved with glee at me. It amazed me how just from a few meetings with him that he would think of buying me a Christmas Gift. He must have remembered how I wasn't able to celebrate with my family this year.

I unwrapped my last presents. It turned out to be a moleskin pouch, something completely ordinary. While I had Lily's identical puzzled look, Sev snatched the pouch and looked inside and grin.

"Watch this," he said as he dug his hand inside all the way up until his whole arm was inside. Looking like he had lost his arm, Lily and I both gasped in amaze before explaining it to us "It's been put an Enlargement Charm so you can have practically almost anything put inside."

That... is pretty darn useful.

Putting aside all my presents, I then turned a curious look to both Lily and Sev, "So what did you get for Christmas?"

Lily smiled and told us about her parents getting her a box of her favorite Hampton Cookies, a folder to hold all her parchments, a custom made mug with her name on it, and a wilted bouquet of lilies.

She had a slightly dejected look from her 'dear' sister's present.

Sev on the other hand just shrugged and told us he just got a few expensive ingredients and tools for potion making from his mother.

He tried not to look delighted for whatever reason.

When we're all done with breakfast, I tugged the collar of my shirt as a signal to all three of us to move away in sync from the public eye.

"So, who was it you have in mind that had talked with Peeves before us?" Lily finally asked the question that hanged on us, last night.

"Remember what I said about me snooping in near Dumbledore's office that night?" They nodded. "Try remembering who he asked to investigate."

Lily closed her eyes, her eyebrows furrowed together in concentration while Sev hit his forehead with the heel of his hand from my hint.

"Of course, Professor Rose. That's who he had a deal with."

I nodded. "And that Professor Rose will have to be present for Christmas Dinner." Sev and Lily looked confused by my point which just makes me grinned wider. "Fancy sneaking into her office?"

Lily didn't look too happy about it while Sev was just as eager as me to find more clues on the mysterious sleeping plague hitting the school.

Since it was still a few hours before Christmas Dinner. We decided to play our hearts out during the day. At first, Sev had opted to read in the library, but one look from me to Lily and the two of us hauled Sev by the shoulder then together we threw him into a pile of snow.

Severus glared hard at us, but then his mouth twitched upward and we all knew where this is going.

It was then we had an epic three-way snowball fight, furiously throwing snow with and without magic on the school grounds. I proved to be just as much of a challenge despite not using any magic at all. I could quickly build a snow wall and maneuvered over and behind swiftly from the onslaught of snowballs. If any of you suspect I might have used my awesome water powers and demigod reflexes for it, then you have no proof. Sev, in his own cunning way, made a small tunnel through the snow to hide in instead and started making pathways to have easier mobility. I had to play snowball version of whack-a-mole at Sev before being pelted back. Lily, on the other hand, is like a snowball throwing machine, her charm spells help her used dozen of snowballs thrown at us at a time and no matter how often we pelted her with snowballs (her red hair makes her very visible), she just wouldn't stay down.

We were cold, wet, and gasping for air while trying to laughed breathlessly for a long time until we return to the fire in the Great Hall, where we three could keep warm among ourselves and against the hearth.

'Hearth is where all laid down and rest. Hearth is where the warmth of home is.'

My smile dropped at the memory of the warm glow of fire had given me and it didn't go unnoticed by my two friends.

"What's wrong Percy?" Sev asked me. I caught myself from frowning and smiled back nonchalantly at Sev.

"Nothing's wrong," I promptly answered.

Lily seemed put off from my act and slapped the back of my head, "If you don't want to tell us then fine, but don't lie to us, Percy," she chastised.

"I'm not- it's just-" A defeated sigh escaped me. "I just realized, this is my first Christmas I won't celebrate together with my mom so…"

Lily melted at my words, "Oh Percy...I'm so sorry." She pulled me into a hug and I didn't quite protest. My face placed at the crane of her neck. I don't know how long I'm going to be in this timeline, so while I hope the gods would put me back in my proper time and in my proper body. To me, I might be living here for months, or years passing without them by my side.

"Hey, it's okay. If you want, we can be your family for today Percy. No one should celebrate Christmas without one."

I smiled at her compassionate thought and tighten my hug around her. Thinking Sev might get jealous that Lily held me for too long, I broke the hug, missing the small whimper she voiced out when I did.

When the Christmas Feast started, I marveled at the assortment of food that didn't lose out on the Halloween Feast. There were hundreds of fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of crumpets trifle; a full plate of Christmas cake, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and maple syrup, there were even stacks of wizard crackers lined up along the table that the school were supposed to ban us from using.

Flaming Christmas puddings followed with a great roast turkey. I nearly broke my teeth on a silver sickle embedded in my slice making my two friends laugh which I soon joined along with them. My laughter died when I spotted the face that had been missing the whole day and the memory of yesterday came back full force.

While merry faces showed among the student's faces, May was the only one who looked miserable. She eyed the food in front of her, prodding it with her fork, but after one or two bites she settled the plates away and walked out of the hall silently. No one bothered to know where she was going or realized that she was gone. I couldn't leave her like that, thinking no one would bother to care if she was gone or not, so I made to follow her but Sev caught my hand and pulled me back before I could.

"Percy, don't you remember our plan tonight?" Sev asked pointedly.

I bit my lip and looked back at May's retreating figure and couldn't help but let her go for now. We exchanged looks and nodded, slipping outside with barely anyone noticing.

Getting into Professor Rose's office was surprisingly easy, it wasn't even locked. The three of us had to confirm with one another that yes, we didn't get into the wrong office. The inscribed bronze nameplate at the door might have something to do with it. I wasn't sure what I was expecting inside but it was surprisingly bland; with some mandatory course books on the shelves covering the wall, as well as some miscellaneous ones like magical first aid, and small stacks of paperwork. Or was it parchment work in this case? There were a couple of comfy looking couches around a coffee table in the middle of the room to welcome any welcoming guest I suppose.

And since we're obviously not a welcomed guest I tried suggesting not to sit anywhere near it. Am I paranoid? Yes, I may as well be.

I also noticed the soft pounding and growling inside the cupboard. Considering I haven't seen any of those imps and other magical creatures she rumored to have a stash of, I made a self-suggestion not to open those.

The three of us began opening up cupboard, drawers, shifting things while we tried finding clues for...for...

"What exactly are we searching for again?"

"Percy, this was your idea!"

"I just go with what your, or in this case, what my gut says Sevvy."

Sev kneaded the bridge of his nose, placing back the stack of books to the desk and said, "Any clues concerning the ghost remember? She might have more leads than us and we need to know what it is."

"This is so wrong," Lily said clear enough to note her frustration while examining bottles and jar of...whatever it is I don't think I want to know. "Literally everything about this is against the rules!"

"Welcome to my world," I said, grinning to her, making her huffed as she keeps searching.

I went over to the desk's side drawer that has a keyhole on it and tried to pry it open, only to find it was firmly locked. "Hey Sev, Lily, I could use a hand over here."

They perked up at my call and went over to me, showing them the locked drawer and asked a silent request. Sev promptly pulled out his wand and said, "Alohomora."

I jerked the drawer open again, but nothing happened and gave Sev a questioning look. Sev himself was frowning, he tried the spell again but the result was still the same.

"She used an anti-unlocking charm. I can't open it with magic," he explained.

"Good," I told them.

"Good? How's that good?"

"It means she has something important inside to hide. Lily, can I borrow your bobby pins?"

Lily looked surprised at my request but compiled without a word. She took the two pins that held her bangs in place and gave it to me and began prying it open.

"If you can't open it by magic…"

The drawer clicked open.

"...then we'll just open by hand," I finished smugly.

Thank Hermes and his kids, I leave this credit to them. Lily and Sev both looked awe and impressed by my skill.

"Alright, let's see what we got here." We open the drawer and was a bit disappointed at how normal it was. There was just a grading book, graded essays, and tests of the higher years. Granted, they look really important and formal, but still. At least we'll know that she takes teaching seriously enough to lock grades in a (relatively) safe place. Even a few things like black and red ink glass bottles, and various other magical trinkets I'm not so sure what they were for.

It wasn't just that though. Mixed amongst the schoolwork was one file that didn't belong with them. I took out the folder and glanced inside, the three of us had our eyes widen when we found files of all the staff in Hogwarts. From Professor Dumbledore himself to even Mr. Pringle that had a big red label mark that said 'CLEAR.' including Professor Flitwick and Sprout. The files had their brief background, date of birth, addresses, and general profile with Professor Rose's handwriting.

"Percy, Sev, what does this mean?" Lily asked in uneased.

"I'm...I'm not sure," Sev answered her, and Sev usually has an answer for everything even if it was only speculation.

The last few pages were photos and information of stranger that doesn't seem to have anything to do with Hogwarts. I do know from experience that they were all shady looking dudes and wouldn't be surprised if they had killed someone.

But the most damning discovery that almost made my breath hitch was a large photograph at the bottom of the files, a photo of a familiar mark on one's forearm. The mark that I first saw as a green constellation in the sky that signaled the changed future.

A tattoo so green it was almost black, with a snake crawling out of a skull.

Looks like there is more to Professor Rose Rotwood than meets the eye.

We were shell shocked at first for why she even had such photos but it wasn't the end of our discovery.

Then there were a few newspaper articles. The content itself wasn't much to cause suspicion, but the fact she put it in a secure lock drawer made it as one. Naturally, we tried reading what was in it and found that all of them had one article in common.

"Percy, Severus, what's a Death Eater?"

I was about to said simply that they were 'bad dudes' and people we should stay away but Severus answered before me, "They're kind of like Dark Arts fanatics, you know how I told you that Dark Arts are mostly forbidden right? Well, they're kind of Dark Arts Right Activist and believe that no one should be deprived of any kind of knowledge. I guess some people misunderstood because of how many purebloods join is what I heard."

"Are you sure we're talking about the same Death Eaters? Because as far as I know, they're bloodthirsty and planning to take over the world and that's both the Wizarding and Muggles."

"You're misinformed, Percy."

"Really, I thought I was spot on? Oh wait, I am. You're just brainwashed to believe that."

"It"s not brainwashing, it's just facts. Besides, you're American, you don't know the many problems we have here."

"Oh and I suppose people calling themselves Death Eaters just spells out peace and harmony."

Sev looked like he wanted to argue more but Lily quickly cut us off, "Boys, now is not the time!"

As if on cue, the sound of door turning made all three of us whipped out heads before diving down to find some hiding place for each of us. While I hid beneath the desk, Severus went hiding toward the cupboard, and Lily hid behind the draperies.

Professor Rose stepped inside to her office, coming up toward one of the cupboards and taking out a wine bottle from it. She was about to turn back when her steps paused and she turned to look back at her office interior. Silently gazing if there was anything out of place.

Then, ever so slowly, enough to make every step so loud and so agonizing that the beat of my own heart became too audible for me. The air was caught in my chest and didn't dare to let her hear me breathing. She stopped short upon her desk, and she stood there for a short moment, but a second to me was like a long drawn out hour.

Then, when I thought she was going to her desk and looked below where I hid, she turned her heels and walked out of her office. The sound of clicking heels started to disappear and finally letting myself breathe out. Sev and Lily did the same as they came out from their own hiding place.

Lily then voiced out what the three of us were thinking, "Should we go back?"

We nodded in agreement and that was the last time we ever went to her office.