Chapter 3: Meet Ivan, the Annoying Fairy!

Words; 4,036

Recap: So...good ol' Aunt Hecate for me despite her busy schedule, being a goddess and all just so she could give me a glimpse of how suckish my future is whichever my future choice would be. Well, it was still refreshing not to have a rhyming fortune being told. She also happens to fix up a certain gift from the gods of mine. What exactly does it entail? Let's find out.

Once Hecate had left me alone with a mysterious working watch, I found myself spending time fiddling with it. Curiosity got me interested in what it has in store. My lack of attention to Sophia must have hit her nerve because she began to hoot agitatedly, she began flying up to my face and making me slip the watch off my hand.

I tried to catch it, but it repeatedly kept slipping out of my hand as I tried to grab on it and fell to the floor. I was afraid I might have just broken it, but it bounced on the ground, slid, and stopped before the sound of a tiny switch being click was heard.

The clock hand moved left and right, as if drunk, before it stroke at 12. It opened up like a locket. The gears inside that became visible began to twist and turn, slowly bulging up until something pop out of it and made me jumped. It shone for a bit, and the light dim enough for me to clearly see what it was.

It was a fairy.

An automaton fairy.

I admit I was impressed. I examined its features in fascination, the quick flap of its blue wings look light and almost see-through, it looked like a bronze humanoid fairy with elf-like ears. I was surprised by the meticulous detail made at the last minute, but I suspect Hephaestus doesn't pull back any effort in it.

"Greetings Master, it's nice to finally be awakened. My name is Ivan, and I'll be your personal assistant," the fairy name Ivan greeted with a bow. It wasn't like I had expected a fairy robot coming out of the watch, so I wasn't sure how to respond to the overly polite greeting. Sophia flew to his side and examined with her beady gray eyes.

Ivan tilted his head, looking back before bowing at Sophia in grandeur. My owl looked pleased with the shown respect and gave me a judging look with as if she expected me to treat her just the same, making me rolled my eyes.

The little fairy stare back at me, "How may I serve you then Master?"

"First, don't call me master. It sounds weird for so many reasons. Second, what exactly do you do anyway? You said you're my assistant or whatever, but what exactly do you do? I doubt it's to keep tabs of my schedule, set appointments, or whatever."

"It's within my scope of ability, but I assure you that there's more to my use. Lord Hermes has made sure to expand my abilities to help you with your quest. Such as identifying monsters from both Greek and Wizarding world, providing support, displaying maps, update you with news, providing advice, and even random facts. Did you know since the joining of a squib, Angus Buchanan, in a muggle rugby team, garnering all wizard rugby fans into making Wizarding Supporters of Scottish Rugby."

Ignoring the really unimportant fact, I couldn't help but ask him, "So... you're like my own personal fairy version of Siri?"

Despite its bronze engraved face, I could somehow tell the grimace showed, "Please refrain from making crude comparison. Lord Hermes had instilled for me to expressed disgust at Siri behind Lord Hephaestus back." There were few questions popped in my mind, but seeing as it wasn't important, I decided to just ignore it.

"You know, you don't have to be so polite to me. I don't know if you've been programmed that way, but can't you notch it down a bit?"

"...will that please you?"

"Uhh... I guess it would."

The air around him shifted as his rigid stance soften, his back slouched, and he wiped his imaginary sweat. "Phew, thanks for that. I don't think I could stand talking like that without breaking character. It would become- Oooh, what's that?" The next second, he flew to the kitchen and began to scourge a half-eaten brownies I was saving for later and ate it like a hungry Pacman. "Hmm... chocolate almond fudge, so this is what it tasted like. Oooh, what's that?" Again he whizzed past me and went toward the cupboard of the many snacks I had, where he began opening it up and left it all half-finished. I tried trapping him inside, but the slick fairy managed to slip away at the last second. Not only that, but Ivan also began blaring the radio in full volume, the TV was switched on, he even inspected everything he had on sight; pillows, vases, lamps, cups, you name it before throwing it away like a kid who got bored whatever he had on hand. I tried to stop him but was too busy doing damage control before he broke anything.

I fumed, having enough of his antics, I went toward the little fairy and try to catch it with my hand. To his ease, he managed to slip out of my hand and continue talking my ear off. I tried to capture the pesky thing, but every time I reached out for him, he managed to dodge me as swift as a fly.

Finally, having enough at our antics, Sophia decided to take the matter to her hands... or claws in her case and flew toward the unattended watch before pecking at it. I was about to reprimand her since she might break it, but instead, she somehow turned over a switch that Ivan obviously didn't like as he started to look horrified and saying, "No, no, no wait!"

Too late to stop her, Sophia turned the switch. I watched as the glow around Ivan dimmed, his face went slack, and he began to

Well... at least I know now how to shut him up.

I looked back at my small owl with proudly and gratefully. Sophia rolled her eyes and made a pointed look at me as if to say, "Honestly, what will you do without me?"

Cheeky owl.

I picked up the watch and wore it back onto my wrist. Ivan was far from what I expected. But despite his quirk, I admit after he listed his uses, he would be an immense help in the long run, and begrudgingly felt he would've saved me half the trouble I experienced if I had him when I was twelve.

I put the thought quickly aside since there's no point in dwelling in 'what if' and hoped I wouldn't need help from the annoying fairy anytime soon.

Of course, Fates had just to say otherwise.

. . .

The end of summer came slowly for the three of us. Maybe it was because we counted the days for the time we could go back to the school that taught us the wonder of the Wizarding World. Well...Sev and Lily are, I'm mostly just glad I wouldn't have to worry about monsters waiting to take my head off 24/7 in Hogwarts.

On the last evening, the Evans invited us for dinner. Yet sadly, only I was able to make it while Sev had difficulty to go out and join. On the one hand. I don't want to cause more trouble for Sev. On the other, I just wanted to kick his curb off and sneaked Severus out anyway.

The next day, we met up at the station. Our pieces of baggage all ready as we rode the train to London. The ride was short, but we were so excited about what the year would bring us and talked animatedly about it.

There was a brief, tense moment when Mr. Evans had asked, "Why so quiet, Petunia? You know you don't have to be shy and could ask them anything, right?" We were silent as we waited for Lily's response. The Evans weren't quite aware the sisters' problem. Even when Lily had her eyes glanced away and pursed her lips. Sev just frowned, obviously not wanting her to be part of the conversation.

"No, thank you. I'm much more satisfied looking out the scenery, you know...like what a normal person would do. Don't mind me and continue on."

I was pretty sure if she wasn't in front of her parents, she would have sneered. Her words oozed out sarcasm, I'm surprised the Evans didn't notice it, guess they are a bit on the thick side. Lily winced at her words, Sev rolled his eyes, and I sighed in response.

Before long, we finally reached King Cross Station. It was fifteen minutes to eleven and we were cutting it a bit close, dashing with trolleys filled trucks toward platform nine and three-quarters.

Yes, you didn't read wrong. Platform nine and three-quarters. Apparently, wizards had the idea to put a secret entrance between the dividing platforms of nine and ten, which wasn't visible to the muggle eye. All you had to do was walk through the solid barrier. It didn't hurt, but you have to do it carefully so that none of the Muggles noticed you vanishing. I was secretly convinced the mist might have helped obscure them, I highly doubt they could hide a disappearing group of people going through a brick wall without raising an eyebrow for decades.

Unfortunately, it was ten minutes to eleven when there was a sudden blaring sound. Not too loud for people to wince, but enough to make you turned at the sourced in annoyance. Which was me.

I glared at the watch on my hand that was shining in warning red.

I tried covering it, hoping it would dismiss the sound but that only got Ivan to come out and hide beneath my hair. "Uhh...excuse me for a minute."

Lily and Sev eyed me, demanding me to hurry, I nodded in apology and fiddle with my watch to ask him hotly what he was doing.

"Sorry Boss, but can't really pop out with all those mortals and wizards around. The Mist won't help much since they're clear-sighted."

Oh great, and I thought Blackjack would be the only one calling me that. "Forget about that, what the hell was that? You almost caused me a panic attack!"

"Yeah, sorry about the Monster Radar Boss, if you want you could put it to vibrate."

I was about to hiss at him to just put him in silent mode when I paused at his words that managed the same effect as dunking cold water at me. "Did you just say monster radar?"

"Three monsters at your nine o'clock, Boss."

A cursed would have slipped out if I hadn't schooled my face and tried to look like I was checking the time as I glanced at the direction of where the suspected monster was. Sure enough, if you look closely, there were a trio of mysteriously cloaked man in black that just sent a red alert in my head. I pushed Ivan back to my watch and forced my steps to be casual even when I wanted sincerely wanted to dash. Lily and Sev were waiting for me alongside their family, I forced out a smile and asked them to go ahead without me since I'd be in the toilet.

The two frowned at me since they know the train had a toilet in it, but before they could remind me of that, I cut them off, "It's okay, I'll be back fast because I really, really need to go, so you better get to the train right this instant." They kept their frown though they didn't say anything, I then pulled out my pen and immediately their eyes wide in realization.

"Alright, come on Mom, Dad, we should go before there isn't any room left for my trucks." Lily urged her parents in a rather frantic act. They were confused but didn't protest. She probably figured she was excited more than they first thought.

Sev made to follow but turned one last time toward me and glared, "You better catch up with us, Percy, or else."

I smirked, "You know I will."

He turned back to the pillar and together with his mom, they ran toward it and disappeared. I was grateful that they took with my luggage with them so now I have to focus on my upcoming fight.

I searched for the cloaked men and found they were closer now, their inhuman growls were audible, and I made sure they knew I spotted them before running as fast as my feet could carry. Away from the civilians and to a more secluded place. It wasn't an easy thing since I was smacked dab in the middle of Britain's Capital City. I saw a glimpse of them chasing me, the audible sound of their heels pacing against the pavement, there were small cries of people of being pushed away or almost ran over by them.

I didn't realize how fast I was going until I lost sight of them after turning from a corner and crashed into someone. We both dropped on our butts, and I made a hasty apology, yet that one pause was enough for the three monsters to surround us. If being caught wasn't bad, getting a mortal involved is worse.

"Finally," one of them snarled, "You've been an annoying little runt, running away from us like that."

I glanced around, wanting to curse at the few curious people taking notice of us. Making a nervous grin at them, "Any chance you boys would want to settle this somewhere else?"

"And give you the opening to run away? In your dreams, Half-Blood."

"Umm, excuse me."

The three monsters and me turned at the voice, and we looked down at the girl I had accidentally bumped. I took a good look at her for the first time; she was a teenage girl who had bushy brunette hair, honey-colored eyes, long nose, and oblong face. She frowned at us, disgruntled as we barely spare any glance at her after she was knocked down to the street. The situation somehow nagged at the back of my memories, but I wasn't sure why.

"You people seemed to have some personal issue with each other. It would be nice if you could handle it someplace else and not disturb people on the way?" The girl then stood, her hands rest on her hips, and her lips curled as if words of reprimand was ready at the tip of her tongue.

One of the men snarled at her, "Back off girly, this isn't of your concern."

The teen gawked surprised by the rude tone of his, making her huffed more and glare hardened, "Seeing as this boy knocked me down from your chase or whatever, it becomes my concern, so you don't knock down anyone else...speaking of which why were you chasing him anyway?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" said another, "Now we're warning you back off mortal girl or you'll be facing your nightmares." The three of them reached out for their hood and pulled them down in synch, I was preparing myself for a lot of possible ugly looking greek monsters. I've seen snake for hair, eyes covered face, hand covered body, and many animal cross monsters.

Yet even after more than 5 years of experience, I never expect my chasers to be dogs though.

Okay, dog-headed to be precise. There was one with a Bulldog head, another with a Labrador, and the last with a Chihuahua head, which got me to snort in laughter at the sight. I mean, the Chihuahua-man himself is already making my stomach turned to knots with his small head on top of a man's body, but seeing three different dog head together is just asked to be laughed at.

"What the hell are you laughing about?"

I chuckled breathlessly before getting any words out, "Sorry, it's just...have you look yourself in the mirror? You three look like you're about to start a weird visual kei boy band or... a dog band." Not even the girl couldn't hold back the chuckle, and that only made them growled angrier, succeeding in making the air more subdued. It didn't have the same effect on the girl and she snorted.

"Yeah, I'm impressed you sounded genuine there, especially with your mask looking pretty realistic, but why don't you boys go do whatever your creepy group does where you don't have to shove an innocent girl out of the way?"

The Bulldog-Man growled with his mouth slurred from the massive saliva leaking out, "You are nosy girl, can we eat her?"

The statement made me tensed and I stepped to block her sight from the group of slobber mouth. Swiftly took Riptide on my hand at the slightest sign of attack to one of us.

"Aww, the little Half-Blood is so eager to protect the mortal."

"This little Half-Blood is going to put you down if you don't run with your tails like the little puppy you are."

The Labrador-Man snarled, walked to the nearest parked car and pulled up the hood of the vehicle and crumpled it with his bare hand. Huh... I was expecting to see bare paws. That's kind of a letdown. He then threw the crumpled hood back at us. I had to pull the mortal girl aside while she stood in shock at what she was seeing.

"Do we look like a puppy to you?" he snarled.

"Oh my gosh, what are you?!" The girl exclaimed with a gasp.

"That's a good question, what exactly are you guys anyway?"

Despite being literally shoved off, Ivan managed to pop out again and whizzing past my ears like a mosquito, "They would be Cynocephalus. A Greek monsters that have a man's body and a dog's head. They mostly had a Jackal head, but they recently come in variation."

"Bloody hell, what is that?!"

I turned back to the girl who was looking at Ivan with a mix of shock and a bit of an awe expression, pointing at him with shaky fingers. So not only am I being surrounded with monsters alongside a mortal, but a clear-sighted mortal to boot.

Isn't this a deja vu moment.

Ivan locked eyes with her, silent stretched before looking back at me, "Did I just get you in trouble?"

"We've already gone past that line. Wait, Ivan...any chance your 'support' could provide something like a distraction?"

Ivan hummed in thought, "I can throw in some legos?"

"Cruel but not appropriate this time."

"How about a dung bomb? Lord Hermes had insisted providing you a mini portable prank set for this sort of this occasion...well, sort off."

I looked back at the dog face and thought how they would have the same sharp nose and grinned, "That will do."

Ivan snapped back to my watch. The gears began turning and shifting before there was a click sound, and my watch shot something out that made the three of their guards up. It became clear it had been only a brown marble size ball that fell to the ground and rolled slowly to their feet.

They looked at one another in silence before laughing aloud at my pathetic attempt.

Not a second too soon, the dung bomb exploded and coated them in brown smoke with a familiar horrible smell I couldn't help but love at that moment. Having distracting them, I turned to grab the girl's hand and told her one thing, "Run!"

I didn't wait for her response before I drag her alongside me.

The Cynophe…the Cynolus...you know what, let's just call them Dog-Heads. The Dog-Heads got their bearing and continue their chase on me. I wasn't sure what the mortals must have seen from us and have no time to change their perception. I prioritized getting the girl away and searched for a place I could keep her away and decided to make a loud whistle and stopping a cab in front of us.

"Wait, what are you doing? Where are you taking me?"

I pushed her into the car and was halfway closing the door, "Sending you away, so you don't get caught up with the fight because I don't need a mortal screwing up my concentration with three monsters on my tail. Here's what you're going to do. This cab is taking you home, and you're going to forget ever meeting a weird kid, being chased by a group of Dog-Heads, and try to think this all your overactive imagination and live your life as normally as possible. By the way, what's your name?"

The teen girl looked at me in astonishment and might even think I was crazy, but even so she answered me, "Monica. Monica Wales."

"Nice to meet you, Monica. Bye!"

I closed the cab's door and let the car drove off, even when I continue my run away from the monsters.

I turned to find I was cornered once more by the three, "You're not getting away from us again?" Chihuahua-Man growled. He would have sounded a lot scarier if he didn't look so ridiculous with that small head of his. I examined where we are, which is in the middle of the roads.

So before they could say or do anything, I kicked the Bulldog-Man at the same a car was coming from behind him, colliding with a big thud that he propelled away.

"Bill!" called out the Chihuahua-Man, and I had to snort at his name. Really? Bill the Bulldog?

He ran to his friend, but the Labrador-Man stayed and bared his teeth at me. I wasn't worrying much then when he lunged, seeing I have no problem dealing with one of them alone. I sidestepped him. Then the flick of my wrist managed to cut his left hand that was about to grab me.

Labrador-Man howled in pain, fall to his knee as he looked down at his handless arm. I used his new position as leverage to swung Riptide down and cut his head off. Disintegrating him to dust.

"Gerald!" Cried Bill the Bulldog after gaining his bearing, "Grr, you will pay for that Half-Blood!"

I looked back at them and made the universal gesture of "Come and get me."

The Chihuahua-Man, being the closest, took a swipe at me, but I wasn't afraid of him. I came up close to him and made a grab to his mouth, shutting him up and pulled him down so I could throw him down the pavement. I twirled to dodge the sharp nails from Bill and stabbed him in the side. He went down easily.

Becoming the last and the only one left alive, I saw Chihuahua-Man plopped down his ear in fear, the familiar sound of a scared dog rumbled in his throat now that he doesn't have his buddies to watch his back. "Uhh...any chance we could settle this in a peaceful and reasonable manner?"

My answer was a quick stab to his chest, and he went out as dust.

My shoulder slumped and I sighed at finally getting rid of them when I became aware of the crowded looks given my way. The loud horns and angry screaming coursed through the street. I was suddenly glad being in the 70s or people would have been recording me on youtube or something by now.

I saw a glimpse of a couple of funny-looking men in fancy hats that I realized were the cops. It took the reappearance of Ivan to crawl next to my ear and said, "Boss, I think this is your cue to run."

"No, duh."

And ran I did.

They called out to me to stop, but honestly, who in the right mind would do so in my situation? I was glad my demigod physique helped to outrun them in seconds, and it overwhelmed me in relief.

At least, that was before suddenly reminded of my other crisis.

The train.

I could have just checked my watch, but i was too much in shock as I ran back to King's Cross Station and went to the pillar that led to Platform nine and three quarters.

I looked up at the clock.

It was 11:45.

The train was long gone.

AN: Small notice. I'll be off for a week or two, hope you guys are patient in the meantime