Chapter 14: The Textbook did NOT Call them Ringwraiths

Words: 6,034

Recap: Rhea assigned us detention that led me to the Black Lake while my friends to the Forbidden Forest. Each about to face our own challenges.

I didn't even realize I had my eyes closed until I opened one and visibly relaxed when I found I had no problem breathing in the lake. I pushed through and swam in the lake, finding any signs of the merpeople. I came across Greg midway, and he helped point me in the right direction.

I wasn't sure when I had reached the group of merpeople until I noticed a pair of tridents pointed at my face before the familiar guards, "Halt! Who goes there?!" Coral-head said before I had the chance to put my hands up.

"I come in peace—HEY! Watch where you're pointing that, you almost poked an eye out! Remember me? Percy Jackson. Son of the Mighty God of the Sea, Earthquake, etcetera?"

Seaweed-head finally realized who I was and scrambled to stand? Hover? Float straight? Argh, whatever. "Oh, OH! Forgive us, Lord Percy. That was terribly disrespectful of us."

"Tch, I missed."

"CORAL!"

"I'm joking," he blandly told us. "Sheesh, go pull that stick out of your butt."

His partner heaved a sigh so loud, large bubbles blew out from his mouth, "I swear if the Lord decided to give us divine punishment, you'll be the first one I blame."

"More importantly, what does the young lord of the seven seas want from a little colony of selkies settlers like us?"

"Delivery service." I showed them the envelope and allowed them to inspect it. "From one Professor Ops."

Coral smirked, looking like a smartass would, but one glare from the unnamed Seaweed-head stopped him so he rolled his eyes instead, "Fine, come so you can meet our chief."

They went through the huge waving seaweeds like floating curtains. I followed their trail and behind the greeneries was an open land filled with stone houses and buildings. There were barely any mermen and mermaids since it's night. As we zoomed across the street, I noticed the stable they kept the Kelpies in, the school of fishes in a garden of sea anemone and coral that they seemed to be breeding, and the courtyard where some eager merpeople are still training with swords, spears, and tridents.

You know, I never thought there'd be a village of merpeople under the Black Lake in Hogwarts. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.

Coral-head who turned out to be named Coral and Seaweed-head stopped at a temple in greek-likee structure. A single mermaid came out and the two guards politely bowed and I awkwardly followed suit, it seemed polite that way "Greetings to our Chief Callista, we present you the half-blood land-dweller here to deliver a message."

"Thank you for the hard work, Zea, Coral."

I looked up and examined the Chief of Merpeople before me, unlike these two stooges she has a more human-like complexion. She had straight hair that reached her hips that looked unnaturally too good for being in the water, her yellow fish-eyes looked straight ahead, and I felt ignored until said hair began moving and waving seemingly with intent before the hair started caressing my face as if trying to make out what I looked like.

"Welcome young Half-Blood, my apologies for the lack of hospitality. We were not expecting you." She still hadn't tilted her head down to address me, but then I looked at her unfocus pupils and realized her disability.

"I'm just here to pass on a message. Do you, do you want me or someone else to read it for you?"

"That would be very generous of you," she gestured for me to proceed. I then broke open the wax seal and began to read.

Dear esteemed Chief of the Hogwarts' Selkies

I have been reliably informed of a particular matter you are currently struggling to handle and would offer assistance from my student and adored grandson in the hope he can resolve the situation in a clean and timely manner.

Best regards,

Professor Ops

I looked back at the Chief and saw the tight, grim lips and narrow eyes that spoke in either dissatisfaction or anger. I just hope it wasn't for me.

"Do you know what she's talking about?"

"I assure you I do, but… is it true… are… are you here to help?"

"If it's within my power, yes. I mean, after everything is said and done, you guys are my Dad's people. It'd be irresponsible for me if I didn't."

"Then you must see this." The Chief ushered inside the temple. I glided behind her until we reached the middle of the temple. There were quite a number of merpeople already gathered. I thought Coral and Zea looked peculiar with their unique hairdos, most of the merpeople here have a much different figure; greyish skin, eyes bright yellows, and puckered lips that gave a glimpse of their broken, neatly rows of sharp teeth that looked as thin as toothpicks.

I turned to the pair of guards, "Err, why don't you two have fish eyes like the rest?"

"Lord Percy!" Zea looked distressed, "You can't just ask someone why they have fish eyes!"

"Of course the Young Lord doesn't have manners, why am I not surprised."

Wait, I was rude just now? "Err, sorry?"

"Understandable I suppose, it's not often you've met other mermaids and mermen besides the Ketoes."

"Ketoes?"

"The Mediterranean folks," Coral answered with a sneer "just because they're from Atlantis, they think they're better than us."

"Coral, you're half-Keto," his friend said exasperatedly.

So it's safe to say Selkies are the Scotsmen, gotcha.

A glance around the room was enough to catch the unease and scared atmosphere in the room. I zeroed the source and caught the stone table in the middle of a hall with a nymph laying on top. It only took a mere glimpse to know she looked wrong. Black blotches on her watery 'skin' as well as in her eyes. Chapped bloody mouth as if she had never used lip-balm on her very dry lips. Her outline glowed sickly purple instead of the usual dim blue that adjusts with her surroundings. The nymphs I know had either a very young or mature complexion, but this one looked like she had aged into her 90s.

A sick feeling overcame me just by being in the vicinity but the poor spirit deserved better than to be treated in disgust, not when she's already suffering as she is. But there was also a melancholy of sorts that came out of the left field. It wasn't my emotion per se, but it felt like the water, the lake itself was grieving over the fate of this nymph.

"Eew, she looks like a moldy sandwich after getting burnt in the toaster." Coral broke the somber tension.

"This is so not the time, and how do you even know what a toaster is?!"

I ignored those two, "What, what exactly happened to her?"

Callista swam closer and gave a comforting sort of touch, "She's been cursed."

"Cursed? From what? And why? Nymphs are nature spirits, they can't do much in the first place so there's no reason for anyone to put a curse on her."

"An old, ancient curse. At least that's how you, wizards, see it. To us who interact daily with spirits, this is no different from death."

"Some kind of sickness then? Is there a cure?"

"Just as not every curse can be broken, not every illness can be cured. The only thing we can do is to keep her away during her time of Rot."

"I'm sorry… time of what now...?" This isn't a Nymph's version of the time of the month, right?

A high pitch, horrifying shriek resonated through the lake.

I witnessed the thrashing water nymph darken in complexion. The linings of her eyes were replaced by sunken eyes that reflected the hollow abyss. A black mist began to ooze out from her and enveloped her like a shroud.

"The dark creature is a parasite to both mankind and spirits. It invades their very essence."

Zea pulled Callista to give space between her and the infected nymph while Coral came in between them.

Chief Callista continued, nonetheless, "Once they take over, there's only the hollowness of losing their purpose so they collect souls as jealously as a dragon hoarding treasures."

In my head, a playback of a past memory started reeling.

"Hey, Sev. Where do Dementors come from?"

"...are you enquiring how Dementors do the birds and the bees?"

Well, if he put it that way, "You know what? Nevermind, I don't think I want to know."

He sighed, "No one knows where they come from, Percy. They're just… there. Always has been. The only reason they graduated from being mere folktales was that they found an island full of it during the 16th century. The most popular speculation is that they're the stolen soul of the people they've Kissed."

"What do you think?"

"I think that's a load of bull. Everyone knows Dementors have no soul."

The merpeople were shocked silent from witnessing the horrifying Rot and the birth of a Dementor in the ground of Hogwarts.

Everyone except those two.

"For the record, I blame you."

"Shut up, Zea!"

The armed merpeople aimed their weapons at the newly made Dementor. I couldn't stop the shudder when the water turned abnormally chilly as if winter came early. The merfolk soldiers had their weapons up, but their trembling grip and the despair on their faces did not bring confidence.

The Dementor crept to one of the mermen. In unison, they struck as one toward the wraithlike creature, but it simply slipped past not unlike a ghost. One brave mermaid tried to smack it in its face, but the Dementor stopped the trident from its track with a gentle grip that gives you goosebumps. She tried pulling it away, but the wraith changed its course and closed upon the mermaid warrior. Her already pale face turned to the point of ash as the Dementor showed its ugly set of teeth before opening its mouth. The Selkie was helplessly within its mercies as her whole being seemed to be vacuumed and lights began to seep out like there were cracks on her body.

No merperson came to stop the event unfolding before their eyes. So it became my job to shove a sword up its mouth.

"Hey, hasn't anyone taught you consent? She doesn't want to kiss your ugly-mug!"

The creature hissed and backed away, but it didn't turn into dust like I expected it would, but at least it let go of whatever hold it had on the mermaid. Though she didn't look like she can get up anytime soon.

The Dementor then honed its nonexistent eyes on me. I held my sword up between us at all times, years of honed training didn't betray me even with my unsettled stomach that wanted to excuse myself from the battle.

The wraith kept its distance, but the effect of its existence was evident. It was a repeat of my dream all over again. Sense of despair had crept out from my chest and into my head; replacing rationality with fear of failure and losses, leaving me without my self-worth, leaving crippling loneliness that choked the breath out of me.

But then I also remember how I overcame it. There may not be a glowing ghost-like lion, but I remember the feeling I had and held onto the memory of Annabeth, my mom, and all the friends from Camp so I wouldn't buckle under the pressure.

Tendrils of hair wrapped around the dark figure, but the Dementor managed to slip away before attacking his next prey. Callista, however, was no pushover. Despite being blind, she was quick to outmaneuver the Dementor. Having no fear it would catch her as she danced around the wraith as if the lake itself was her eyes. I noticed then she was trying her best to lure it away from her people.

I heard a vicious growl from the Dementor and figured she had frustrated it enough to turn its attention back to the crowd of selkies and I was like 'Oh no, you don't!'

I held my hand up facing the creep and willed the water to cage the Dementor in a prison of swirling water, trapping it in place. The merpeople gained a breather once they found they were no longer being attacked and risked getting their souls stolen, but they were far from relaxed while I was left with my hand hanging since I don't know what to do next.

"Okay, so we got the Dementor. What do we do with it?" I asked the crowd; that turned out to be a mistake.

"What else do we do? Throw it out of the lake!"

Are they serious? "We can't just throw it out like a dead pet you're trying to hide as if it's not a nightmare-inducing wraith. Can you imagine the chaos it'll cause in Hogwarts?!"

"That thing is a menace, we can't let it roam in our village!"

"No means no! Guys, there has to be something we can do."

"We don't exactly have a Fish Wizard here. If you're so against it, why don't you think of something?!"

"Silence!" Callista raised her voice and all the immediate merpeople did just that. "This isn't just a problem for us, Selkies, but all living creatures in Hogwarts. Mortals or otherwise." She turned to me and gave an apologetic bow, "Apologies, Percy Jackson, that you've seen us in an unkind light."

I tried to reply as dignified as any Son of the Lord of the Sea would have, "Err… you're forgiven… I suppose…" clearly I was not up to it.

"...then are you going to throw it out for us?" Coral opened his mouth.

Gods, these people can be so ungrateful. "Fine. Stand back and let me think!" Okay, Percy, time to see if your lessons paid off. The first thing that comes to mind is ward spells, but I only know the ones to keep things out instead of in. Other trapping spells can only be applied temporarily, not to mention I doubt a simple bubble trap would work well against a Dementor. I can maybe transfigure a prison, but that's my worst subject. What else… what else…

"Oh yeah, runes!" I took out a wand and tried to remember back the needed symbols for imprisonment. Was that the Egyptian or Nordic one?

"Urgh, screw it. I'll try one of everything if I have to." The first thing I need to do is write the symbol but it's not like there was a rock and pick conveniently laying around. Thinking fast, I tried tracing the Rune on the water prison, asking the water to allow my magic to carry its function in the hope that it holds: the one that meant Thor. It was such an iconic meaning that it was one of the few symbols I managed to remember easily.

ᚦ

I imagined a round entrapment that would have a more permanent effect. But lights began to spark between the whirling water, followed by a muffled but deep rumbling echoing the lake and the hair raising trigger.

"What are you doing using the Thunder God?!" Coral cried in genuine panic, "Are you trying to kill the whole water folk? Turn it off! Turn it off!"

"Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!" I erased the symbol before the full power of the rune took effect and dodged a bullet. I and all the other merfolk breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Sorry people, just a typo! Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" I tried not to be perturbed by the stink eyes they were giving me.

I tried using a second rune this time, it took me writing the rune before it occurred to me that the symbols meant 'Freedom' or something of the like.

ᛗ

Since I didn't want to accidentally release the Dementor. I quickly tried to wipe it off when I then remembered, "Wait, didn't Professor Silverback say you can reverse some runes? So what if I…" I erased the Rune and retraced it upside down. I imagined the limited space the Dementor was allowed to move without allowing anyone closer than 6 feet apart. There weren't any visible changes I could tell but I felt the changes of magic overflowing the space I'm in. Without letting my focus go, I backed away and released my will on the water-prison and yet it stayed in effect.

"Oh good, that actually works." Somehow, my power must have fused with the rune to do what I wanted.

After the disaster was successfully thwarted, all the other Selkies dispersed while Callista swam next to me. "Thank you for your service, Percy Jackson. The Selkies shall not forget the effort you made today and owe you our gratitude."

"It's cool. Like I said, I'm willing to help as long as it's within my power."

"Still we are in your debt, ask us anything in the future and we, Selkies, shall do their best to grant it."

"How about starting by what the freaking hell?!" I practically yelled to her face, "That was a Dementor. One second the nymph was there and the next she turned into the mother-of-all-nightmares! How did—what kind of curse does that? What did it do to the nymph? How come I can't kill it? And don't give me cryptic words like parasitic dark creatures and stuff, go straight to the point!"

Callista tucked her head down, "You should know, Percy Jackson, that we have no soul. Not like humans at the very least. Upon death, instead of going to the underworld, we would only live on as another form of our essence. We are creatures born from nature and will return to nature."

I was lost by what she meant until I remembered the old Satyr from the Council who died and became a plant.

"And then there are the Nymphs. They are different in a way that they're not born from nature but rather nature in itself. To harm nature is to harm them, and to harm the Nymphs is to harm us. However, some creatures don't have a place in nature or cursed by the gods, they are the monsters in which you slay, young demigod."

I held my hand up for her to pause, "But hold on, I couldn't hurt the Dementor before, and I'm pretty sure that thing isn't 'all-natural.'"

"Your celestial bronze may ward it off, but it cannot vanquish a creature made of dark magic."

"So you're saying… someone created the Dementors..?"

"Yes. A wicked mage experimented on the nymphs and other nature spirits, creating the vilest of creatures. A being left in the mortal plane that desires nothing but sustainment."

"Let me guess, we're part of the menu."

The Chief nodded, "Those that were left to its mercy would no longer have a place in nature, while humans would no longer return to the cycle of life. They all simply… cease to be."

That still hasn't answered the question of how the curse is here, in Hogwarts. But I felt my wrist heating up, breaking my thoughts apart. I glimpsed down to my bracelet and felt blood frozen over.

Two out of three of the charms had turned to a dark inky color.

Sev and Lily are in danger.

. . .

"How much further until we reach the place?" If anyone asked, Severus will say he didn't whine. If anyone asked Lily, she would say otherwise.

"The Centau's gatherin' is in the middle of the East side of the Forest, we should be arriving in another five minutes."

"That's what you said… huff... five minutes ago… huff… and ten… and roughly half an hour ago."

Hagrid gave him a sort of sympathetic laugh, "You sound out of breath, maybe you should take this chance to stretch your leg, get some fresh air, do more exercises."

"I spent enough time running in the summer, so no thanks."

"Oh, come on, Sevvy." Lily grinned wickedly, "What harm can a little running do?"

"More like the harm we run away from is what I'm usually worried about."

Hagrid chuckled in what he assumed was an inside joke between them. The group continued their trek, deeper still into the forest than Hagrid had ever brought anyone into. Inwardly sighing, Hagrid was hoping they took their presence well but even he knew he was being optimistic.

Severus sped up to be next to Lily, "Are you really okay with all this?" He whispered.

"Of course I'm okay, you know we've been through worse than a simple hike in the forest, Sev."

"No! I meant about the conversation in the Professor's office. Haven't you been wondering what they were talking about."

Lily hesitated, "It—it sounded like the Headmaster was just as perplexed as us about the sudden pop-ups we recently have."

"It's not just that, Professor Ops sounded like she knew something bad was going to happen. Dumbledore even suspected her of that himself."

"Doesn't mean she's responsible for it. For all we know, she could be like Professor Rotwood. Besides, she's Percy's Grandmother."

"That's the thing! It's his first time meeting her and she claims to be his Grandmother and he believes her? Someone who also claims to be the Mother of Gods, of all things, don't you think that's strange?"

Lily couldn't refute that.

"And another point of concern, what was the relationship between Dumbledore and her? She says things like 'mortal planes' and he doesn't bat an eye, but the moment she told him about fate, he completely flips."

"It's… concerning since I've never seen the Headmaster act that way..."

"See!"

"...but Percy trusts her, so we should trust him. He never let us down before after all."

Severus had the rising urge to pull his hair out and go bald for all he cares, instead he clenched his fist by his side. 'Do you really think Percy tells us everything?!' He wanted to scream at her face but withhold. You don't go running for your life together and not end up trusting each other, and he knows Lily is just as frustrated that Percy tells little about his life in America.

Lily may be able to accept that part of him, but Severus can't. He made a mental list about all the things he questioned about Percy through the little ticks and habits when he thinks nobody noticed, then tried imagining what his bizarre life in the past is like.

Severus thought off bedtime stories his parents must have given him for Percy to be that knowledgeable about Greek Myth. Sev couldn't think otherwise he would go all the way remembering little details about gods and heroes like it's a given, but why would he need to? Severus imagined a hidden place where the cursed families would congregate and train from young ages just to survive, possibly outside the MACUSA's eyes since it's not common knowledge (or maybe they're hiding it, who knows). He thought back of Professor Ops and how mad she obviously was, claiming to be Rhea in front of the student body as if the myths were a thing, yet Percy was confident she was his grandmother and… and…

Severus felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough, some kind of earth-shattering truth. But then the Gatekeeper paused after noticing a large slab of stone in the rough shape of a bull and said, "We're here."

The pair of friends stopped short to take in the new sight greeting them. "Finally—oh wow!" Severus gawked.

The first thing that caught their eyes was the huge waterfall that serenely fell on a creek and flowed into a cave illuminated by the full moon. There were large furnaces on the slope that Sev figured was where the blacksmith worked on the Centaurs' weapons. On another side of the slope were large round stones with even surfaces neatly placed that worked as steps. Deep in the cove, storage sheds neatly put like houses from the suburban areas. A large sandpit with messy hoofprints and leftover blood from what Sev deduced was the sparring grounds. In the far back, there was a large area of flattened grass with a giant straw roof that works as a makeshift shade, Lily wondered if the Centaurs slept as a group there and if they slept standing up or lying down. She can't quite imagine it.

"There's a hidden village in the Forbidden Forest?!"

"Beautiful place, ain't it? The Centau's do know how teh choose a spot."

"It is!" She nodded, her eyes gleamed like a pair of emeralds, putting the jewels to shame (at least that's what Sev was thinking but don't tell anyone that). "Don't you agree, Cory?"

"Wait, what?" Severus turned and was shocked to find the Stone Pet that Lily had by her shoulder. "What's that thing doing here?!"

"Oi, don't call it a thing. Cory has feelings too, you know."

"It's magic, Lils. It can't feel anything."

"Says you. Besides, he gets bored being cooped inside the dorm most of the time."

"You should have taught it not to hit people's faces and the Professor wouldn't have to ban 'Cory' from classes."

"He's just a little bit on the protective side, that's all."

Sev rolled his eyes, deciding not to continue their ridiculous argument (even if he thinks Lily's pouting was adorable, but again, don't tell anyone he's a total sap) in favor of the hidden cove that enclosed the settlement of the Centaurs. "I know Centaurs lived in the Forest, but how come we've never heard of any village?" he asked the Gatekeeper.

"The Centau's have made this area their home and they're territorial by nature. It's one of the many reasons why it's called the Forbidden Forest even by the muggles. Anyone found in the area even by accident will disappear without a trace."

"Err…"

"Anyway, we're not here to talk about boring stuff. Let's go down and greet the guards."

"Won't they attack first and ask questions later?"

"Nah, not when Im-around. They're quite amiable once you get teh know 'em. Though now tha' I think about it, they've never been hostile teh me despite their reputation." Hagrid brushed his beard, curiously pondering. "Sometimes they called me the Spider-Lord, hehe, weird right? I wonder what they mean by that."

Sev had a very concerning query from Hagrid's careless remark, but Lily's silence and intense scrutiny had been worrying him. "But Hagrid, there doesn't seem to be anyone around," she observed down the cove.

"Huh?!" Hagrid followed her gaze and indeed, there was a distinct lack of four-legged beasts roaming across their village. "That's weird, sure they can be out by this time but there should at least be some who's managing the place."

The wrongness of the place increased as they took further steps down to the cove. No guards came to warn them off, no centaur villagers greeted them with a glare, and there wasn't even a single woodland creature, beast or otherwise, in sight. Only broken weapons and leftover food left on the ground.

Lily and Severus exchanged looks, they weren't sure the reason behind the bizarre setting but they were certain it's connected to the strange actions of the creatures living in the Forbidden Forest.

"I don' undehstand… what on earth has happened—" Hagrid's words were cut short by the sight of his breath. "Both of yeh, get behind meh!" Hagrid ordered. An icy chill permeated the air that pulled their spine straight and raised the hair on their bodies. Even the rock quivered so hard at the changed atmosphere, Lily had to shush it like a baby.

A shadow shifted between the trees, and Lily gasped, "Something's here."

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

"Sev!"

"What? What do you want me to say? State the obvious?"

"Shush! Kids, I don't think this is the best time to—" Hagrid turned around to face them but froze with his jaw hanging out from the hovering sight of the wraith-like creature that was supposed to be impossible to find within the boundary of this school.

Severus and Lily sensed something wrong and turned around. They saw the same thing as Hagrid and promptly screamed.

That broke the Half-Giant's stupor and pushed the two of them to another set of stairs before yelling out, "RUN!"

They didn't need to be told twice before going over the second set of stone steps and back to the forest. Every chance they looked back to see the wraith on their tail. Gliding too gracefully for something that was gaining on them.

"Whatwasthat?! Whatwasthat?! Whatwasthat?!" Lily asked out of breath.

"It's a Dementor!" Sev answered while frantically ran by her side.

"A what?!"

"Dementor!"

"I thought you said they're only found in Azkaban!"

"I know what I said!"

"Then what's it doing here?!"

"How should I know?!"

"Yeh two… huff… sound pretty casual fer kids… huff… running fer their life."

But then another one ambushed them from the shadows and took a surprising grip of Lily, making her scream.

Before the other two could retaliate, the rock that miraculously managed to stay in balance on her shoulder jumped and made a deadset aim at the Dementor's face. It flinched, mostly from the surprise of being assaulted by a moving rock than anything. But it works. Lily managed to pull herself from the wraith but lost her rock within the tall grasses.

"No! Cory!"

Hagrid had the tip of his umbrella lighting up but he looked at the two children. Changing his course, he halted his steps and faced back to the two specters.

"Both of you, go! I'll hold them off."

Sev and Lily hesitated, "Hagrid, are you mad—"

"GO!"

Severus bit his lip, grabbed Lily and forced her to keep running ahead. Hand in hand, they tried finding their ways out of the forest but they've lost their ways. Severus had to stop before he passed out from lack of air.

"Sev, we need to move!"

"We need, we need to…" he wheezed out a second or two, "We need to know where we're going first!"

"Well, Hagrid's crash course isn't helping when we're way off course from the path. What are we gonna do? Send a flare?"

"That might just invite the Dementors to us, who knows how many are out there."

Sev waited for a response. But when his best friend was silent, he looked up to find her eyes wide, mouth agape, and her body trembling. Severus had a sudden urge not to turn around to see what's behind.

Lily gulped and answered his question, "How about a 'hella them.'"

Sev turned to find the nauseating sight of Dementors surrounded them in half circle. His wand out but no spell was at the tip of the tongue. There's only one spell that has any shot on shielding them but even among his extensive list of spells, it's the one spell he didn't know and felt like cursing himself for it.

Though even if he knew, there's little chance he managed to overcome the reality of crippling despair Dementors are capable. One second, his gray eyes fierce and determined, ready to shield Lily with his life. The next second, all he could hear was the echo of his father's angry shout of how useless he was. The striking red streaking down from his mother's lips and the ugly blue on her cheek. The coldness as he waited alone on the hidden staircase until the disgusting scent of booze and crashing bottles were gone.

Severus didn't even realize he was on his knee, his wand left rolling down his side. Much to Lily's shock.

"Sev? Severus! What's wrong? Severus snapped out of it!" He couldn't hear the desperate cry from Lily or the rough shake to break whatever trance her best friend was stuck in but to no avail.

The Dementors grew closer.

"Severus, get up! We have to do something!"

Thin, pale hand reaching out to her.

"Severus, I'm serious! You've got to do something, anything!"

The round mouth opened and a deep, dissonant sound at the same time her chest constricted like someone grabbing hold of her heart.

"NO! Stay back! Stay away! Stay back!"

Memories of her life flashed before her eyes.

"NO, No, no!"

Even the oldest memory in her mother's arms as a younger Tuney played with her before it became a hazy memory once more.

"...no, no, no…"

Everything was starting to crumble like sand, all that is, and all that was that made up Lily Evans was being pulled out of her without her consent, yet she found no motivation for her to struggle. Tears started leaking from her eyes as she was losing herself.

"...Percy…"

Bellowing neighs made the Dementors freeze, and they were forced to stand back when a herd of Unicorns came crashing through. The leading equestrian stood on its hind legs, the rider on top raised his sword high and glimmered from the moonlight, giving a perfect pose of a knight in shining armor before saving the day in a nick of time.

"Severus! Lily! Are you guys okay?"

Percy's reassuring voice broke the oppressive air, and Lily heaved a staggering breath in while Sev started buckling and puking inside out.

"Well, that answers that question." He climbed down from his perch and helped both of them on their feet. "Come on, we should leave while we have the chance."

"But...but the Dementors..."

"Won't come close to a Unicorn. They're one of the few magical creatures that are naturally resistant to those creeps."

Sev wiped his mouth and stuttered out, "How, how did you, how did you find us?"

"A little bit of power I call friendship." Percy showed us his bracelet before he tilted his head to the side, "And a little help from a friend so I could get here faster." Among the Unicorns, there was a singular Centaur with a mane that could mistake him as part of the herd. With unnaturally straight hair for someone living in the wild without hair products, and a face that looks like it's been god-given.

Percy then turned back to the Centaur, "Hey Baron, can you carry them on their back. I don't think they have enough strength to walk."

Severus opened his mouth to protest but didn't have the strength to argue.

Percy climbed back on Lexus and rode calmly side-by-side Baron and his two passengers. "So bud," Percy began, "When your kind invited me to give me the lastest horoscope, I was hoping you'd warn me about all this."

Baron harrumphed, "We would have if you hadn't run away the second we've given our divination."

"...then let me just say, from the bottom of my heart… oops?"

"Wait," Sev sat straight, finally gaining a bit more strength, "Do you know how there's a sudden influx of Dementors? They're supposed to be wards around Hogwarts that prevent this kind of stuff."

The Centaur huffed and shook his head, "The ward doesn't prevent any dangers growing from the inside."

That earned Lily's notice, sitting straight in alarm. "Inside… you mean the Dementors… are being created in Hogwarts."

"But how?!" Sev asked, "That's not remotely possible, isn't it?"

"But more importantly," said Percy, "How do we stop them from multiplying like germs?"

"Can't we just have the Unicorns keep the Dementors at bay?"

The Half-Blood shook his head, "Maybe at the moment, but there's a limit of how many an endangered species can help to shield us from them."

"But surely there's a spell we can use to stop them, like the Patronus."

"Indeed, wizards may be capable of formulating a spell that keeps the Dementors away but not to reverse the curse someone had maliciously put in this forest. Even if you did, we magical creatures are not capable of using your human magic so there'll be nothing stopping them from devastating the land and killing every creature in sight."

"Then what exactly can we do?"

Baron said nothing, which is the second-worst possible answer he could give.

AN: SURPRISE! The truth of the Quest is finally revealed! Did any of you expect that? Please tell me what you think of this chapter.

SHOUT OUT to anyone who knows the reference to the title, and no, it's not LotR again. Here's a long-ass chapter to satisfy your day.

Anyway, I know Dumbledore was out of character but honestly, who wouldn't when being reminded the worst day of his life. And I am 100% certain he hates prophecy. This is the guy who manipulates from the background to achieve the desired result (even if it's for the greater good), he would hate anything that can manipulate him back. To him, prophecies are essentially Fates manipulating him. He would hate it with a passion.

Oh, and I would like to disclaim that the Rune was based on my understanding from reading Wishbonix Site instead of an actual Paper studying such symbols and use only the available Rune from Google Docs so they may not be accurate.

Now on to the QRA! Where I thank your loves and answer your questions.

Stijnbus: I mean, you're not wrong that there's a monster. I hope you didn't eat the Wookie steak solo.

Beanieninja1: Thank you for the love. I'm confident you're loving this chapter.

aarna rastogi: Thank the Beta for Hagrid's speech, he got the Hagridism down. If you love the last chapter that much, I'm pretty sure you're freak for this one. Thank you so much for the luvs :)))

snowsTorm18000: Everything goes downhill in fifth year. And yeah, I'm glad you see the Marauders warming up to Percy *pointedly looks at a biting Sirius* I have no plans for other gods unless it's for the plot. Anyway, hope you like this chapter.

DAREDEVIL246: Persistence... that's one way to look at things. Thank you for the luv :) and high-five as fellow introvert!

CalRedEss: Everybody loves Rhea :))) Thank you for your luv too!

SandaKagami: Hogwarts would be unrealistic without puberty drama ;) and don't worry, I will try to have Percy reconcile with Sprout in the best way possible before the end of this Act.

scl04: I see you've joined the Long Ass Review Club. I'm glad the members are increasing. I couldn't drag the argument between Percy and Marauders so I had to cut it short in the most Percy-way possible. They grow up by the time they're in their 6th year so that would be quite a while. I have deep plans for Sev, so he's slowly going to suffer in the future (Don't worry, he won't be the only one muahahaha).

When it's given that you're a Hufflepuff, you don't stop and think whether you're acting like a Hufflepuff. That's the irony of the Sorting, you can easily define yourself as your House traits, you don't consciously think you can act outside of it sometimes. It was a wake-up call for Professor Sprout (Plus, I think it was interesting). I will one day find a way for McG and Percy to get along just to see them roast someone with their sass.

You are half-right that Dumbledore's prophecy had something to do with Grindelwald. You'll find out soone... scratch that, later. Definitely later.

And yeah something DID happen in the lake (quite an understatement). Rhea will only be when she needs to be, that's all I'm gonna say about that matter. Thank you so much for the luv. I'm looking forward to what you have to say for this chapter.

zoomingaway: Sirius is canonically ridiculous, of course I'm gonna have him but Percy. The meta line is from my Beta actually. I'm so happy he's on board. Percy also has emotional baggage that he's been carrying while telling everyone "He's fine". I'm also glad you notice the "Zuko vibe" from that one line because yes, I was inspired. The Wizard Salamander birth from their fire or ice so yeah after they have *cough*sex*cough*. Just imagine the fire to be their eggs.

And now you know what's happening with the forest. Dumbly has inherent despise against the Fates. And you're half-right that it's about Grindelwald. Also, I cannot argue about demigods being scam victims of the prophecy. Rhea's side-quest is at least helping Percy! She's one of the decent ones among the Devines.

I have a headcanon that the Muskedorks have tested using every type of group name they called themselves until McG asked: "What are you Marauders up to now?" Honestly though, the Buffalo Wings thing was kind of random, I just remembered the name was kind of funny so I did the thing without thinking much.

OMG WKWKWKWK Jackson Effect! That's iconic! I want to use that but you've trademarked it. Dam.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your lovely review. I look forward to the review for this chapter because I know how much of roller coaster this would be. Lots of luvs from the author too!

DramaticClassClown: I'll consider publishing a book, once this fic is at least half-way done and finish.

Patolemus: I'm very proud to have a diligent reader among my reviewers. Keep up the good work!

Of course you don't find it weird that Sirius bit Percy (and not for the animagus reason), he's just canonically a ridiculous person to be with. Fairy Magic isn't something you should mess with, everyone knows that, especially the Irish. They've had enough disappearance to make it clear that you don't mess with them.

Petition for a good adult figure/rolling model for Percy!

Lily may be vibing with the mortal thing, but Severus is the very opposite of vibing. Did you forget that Dumbly is a child of Hecate? Well, if you must know about Damien, I'll tell you one clue that's the tip of the iceberg that connects with him: Google 'Marlene McKinnon'. I warn you, you might regret it.

Thank you so much for the review and luvs. I bet this chapter gives you questions as much as answer. I'm very proud of this one so I hope you've enjoyed it.

123wwww: Perssassy humour is my brad and butter, I wouldn't miss the chance to use it. I wish this was published, then I can get money. And my crew has only just assembled and tried to make a semblance of teamwork with the major time difference between us. I'll also have to ask if he likes to work in a group or not too. ALSO, you might want to ask again after carefully considering if you want to work on it for 4 years. I do not want a repeat of Beta abandoning me without a word. Since you're new, I'm being a bit selective. Sorry and thank you so much for the love you give. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

DreamCatcher06: We Hamiltrash must stick together, am I right? Before you look forward to Valentine, you should have braced yourself for the revelation this chapter was going to give you.