Chapter 27: The Changing of the Tides

Words: 5,442

Recap: Aaaaaaww, Sevvy, you actually do have a heart, you manage to have the nerve to save your nemesis in school, I'm so proud of you!

And Damien, man, just how many secrets are you keeping?

The night before must have shaken more people than they care to admit. The morning meal was already clambering with half the student body. If you take a close look, you'd find most of them hadn't gotten dressed, blankets around their shoulders for both comfort of warmth, and I doubt only I had spotted shadows under our bags.

Dumbledore took one look and decided Hogwarts will be having a week off for all parties. That certainly managed to raise the mood enough that the students took it as a cue for them to have an impromptu party in their respective dorms. Even going so far as having a sleepover at the common room just so we could huddle up together, not that I minded. Cross did however, since the loud snores kept interrupting his beauty sleep.

Though classes are on hiatus until further notice, my sessions with Rhea have not. Oddly enough, by the time I came to her office, she gave me a once-over before pulling me in a tight hug.

"You've done well, my hero. I'm so glad you came out alright."

The reception blindsided me for a hit. Even Michael rounded up his body from behind and gave a soft purr that put me at ease. I mean, I came because I needed answers but this is a nice distraction. Comfort in the front and fluff from the back. It took effort just to push myself away so I could turn to face her properly.

"You knew, didn't you?"

"I know a lot of things, Percy."

"Of me… and my hangups… what kept me from truly summoning the Patronus."

Rhea's lips curled like she sucked something sour. She sighed and pulled off her glasses that showcased her sad eyes. "Yes," she answered simply.

I took a loud breath in as if steadying myself before pulling a chair for me to sit across her. "Annabeth… her name is Annabeth. I've known her since… well… the start of my journey. It's almost unbelievable we began as strangers. It felt like I've known her my whole life. Like half my soul Zeus cut off from me because he thinks it's funny going on a wild goose chase. Only, I found mine after dueling with a literal bull-head."

Rhea chuckled, which made it easier for me to continue. "She was — is a lot of things. More stubborn than even the Queen of Olympus, braver than anyone I know, there's no problem she can't solve, she's kind, and the best person I know. Yeah, I must sound like a sap right now, but… she not only made me want to be better, but she's… she's Annabeth."

"You sound like you love her a lot."

"I do. I know this. So… so… why…" My hand clenched tightly enough that it trembled, "Why does it…" hurt but I bit my lip like I was afraid of what it meant.

"Every time I had an episode in the past, it was her that kept me going, her that kept me from going to the deep end. She's there, she's always there, and… and… she's not here."

"Oh, Percy..."

"I know why she's not, but I kept thinking that she has to. She has to. And then all I feel is this fear of not knowing she's alright when she's screaming for help, the unreasonable resentment and anger for everyone and everything for keeping me away from her because I don't know how else I can keep fighting down there without her."

"But you do know Percy," Rhea's hand cupped my clenched ones and gently soothed the tension away, "That's how you figured your Patronus in the end."

It sounded like it was supposed to make me feel better, but the confirmation only made me that much sicker and had me jump from my seat.

"That's just it! It's wrong. Annabeth is waiting for me even if she doesn't know it. So how could I… why did I…"

"Move on?"

Her words only made me shake my head even more. I stood up and started pacing back and forth, "No… no you're wrong…"

"Percy…"

"You're wrong! You're wrong! YOU'RE WRONG!"

"Percy…" she held me still even all I wanted to do was kicking and screaming out from this room. I wasn't sure I was shaking from the anger or from the tears I tried to hold back with sheer will. "Percy, moving on doesn't mean you forget. Doesn't mean you stop loving the people you love from your past or in the future."

Her words make sense, even if it still felt like leaving her behind.

"Your Annabeth, your past, doesn't have to be the only reason you're happy. You can be happy with what you have now, Percy. It's okay." Then she pulled me into a hug that I didn't know I sorely needed and let the dam break from my eyes as I buried my head on her. "You're okay. It's going to be okay."

And the thing was? I believe her.

. . .

Time flew by when you least expected them. Classes kept going with the same old hijinks, the quidditch matches ended with the Captain in tears (again), exams ended with me not knowing my name in the end, and before I knew it we had almost reached the end of the trimester term.

But since the incident of the Dead Forest, Lily had been keeping to herself. Eating on the side of her table when she's usually the first one boldly eating at Sev's or my house table. That's an obvious cause of concern that pushed me to sit next to her.

"Hey," I said.

Lily hummed in greeting while not even deigning to look at me.

"Now you're just being cold. Do you honestly need me to work out the question?"

"I'm fine, Percy."

"Define 'fine'", I said before snatching her side of the food.

She stopped playing with her meal to send a stink eye at me before looking back down at her plate.

Changing tactics, I thought I could just change the subject, "Oh yeah, so when are you giving back my pen?"

Lily visibly flinched and turned her face away, which is a ground for concern. "Red?"

"Pleasedon'tbemadatme!" she babbled as she thrust me a hairpiece. While I don't think my hair is that bad to warrant it, I then noticed the carving on the side… a familiar greek letter for the name 'Riptide'. "I swear, I don't know how this happens. One day I was searching for your pen but ended up with this instead and I don't know how to change it back, I'm sorry."

Her words went over my head as I was left staring at the hairpiece on hand, it had a simple design of bronze olive leaves but with edelweiss flowers in the middle. It certainly wouldn't be a good match with me and a thousand roaring emotions warred inside me. I then looked up at Lily and it was obvious the nervousness she had while waiting for my reaction.

Then I parted her red hair behind her ear and tucked the hairpiece nicely on the side of her head. "Looks good on you, Lils," I said before continuing my breakfast.

"You… you're okay with this? But..."

"Lily, the sword chose you for a reason."

"I'm not even good with it yet."

"Neither was I when I first got it. I had Riptide not because I was good, but because I needed her."

"I… I don't want you to lose your sword…"

"I'm not losing the sword because I'm not losing you, so relax and eat your breakfast."

Any more protests she might have had were cut off by a loud, resounding boom from below. The sound put everyone on edge and some screamed from fright and surprise. My first guess was a bomb if not for the fact wizards don't have bombs.

Well, not unless a magical kind.

I was up on my seat with Lily right behind me, sprinting to the source and hoped it wasn't anything life-threatening that happened. The commotion was coming from the dungeons, rows of soot-covered Slytherins were being evacuated from their dorm. Dark smoke was pouring out like a chimney to the common's room furnace. The heat was enough to make an unbearable sauna. The question 'where's the fire?' would be a literal one in this scenario.

"Out of the way— out of the way— quickly everyone give me some room!" Professor Slughorn rushed forward against the wave of the crowd until there was enough space for everyone to witness the blazing common room, "Finite combustim!"

Then in a cartoonish pop, the fire zipped to nothing like it was never there. Only the charred centuries-old woods and steaming smoke was the only indication there was even a fire in the first place. The students managed to finally breathe without choking.

"Is everyone alright?" I heard Professor Sprout's voice cutting through the noise, "Is anyone hurt? Please make room for your injured friends, everyone else should go back to the Great Hall. Nothing more to see here!"

"Once you do, I expect explanations from all of you on who's responsible for burning down the common room!" Professor McGonagall added with a ferocity that broke her usually stoic face.

Even as this was all going down, I had my eyes set on the faces of the green-tied students. "Any sign of Severus?" I asked Lily, but she shook her head in answer.

"Are you looking for your friend?" I turned around and jumped when I found Tiffany telling us this. Before I knew what I was doing, I already pulled Lily between us like an angry meat shield.

"If you're looking for someone's face to suck on then you can try your luck on someone else." Lily made a show of crossing her arms with a wand on hand that was evidently visible.

"Aaaaw," Tiffany sounded amused before continuing, "Is Miss Petal scared I'm gonna steal her toy away?"

I didn't need to glance down to know Lily is beet red from her taunt, and I was busy pointing out that I'm not exactly a "toy" for any of them to steal anyway. Tiffany turned her attention on me, and she made a flirty little wave of her hand.

I was about to wave back since that seemed the polite thing to do, and Lily slapped my hand away. "Don't," she said with a blazing gaze.

Tiffany rolled her eyes and got back to the subject, "Snape got the worst brunt of the fire, by the way, so he's in the hospital wing. You should go visit him. He wasn't looking pretty, not that it was a large step up."

She didn't need to say another word before we sprinted back up. It was the first time I've seen the wing as crowded as it was, the rows of beds were filled with green-tied students. My eyes scanned for Severus and coincidentally noted the damage done to them. It wasn't as bad as the aftermath of the spreading fire would have made you imagine; all of them sported first degree burns on either their arms or their faces, something easily fixed with the right potion, but some were bruised from being pushed too hard by a panic mob of students. The many injured kids reminded me so much of the war that it took Rhea's words to keep me from shivering.

Severus turned out to be in the first bed from the door and we sidled next to him as we found him bandaged head to toe that his singed robe wasn't covering. His eyes gave away the relief when Severus found himself between us.

"Hey there buddy, you look a little tied up."

"Percy, I swear, one more quip out of you and I'll be the first wizard to switch your mouth with your butt without a wand cause I'm busy ramming it down your throat," he growled. While I don't doubt that Sev is capable of turning his threat into reality, it still felt like a weight off me knowing Sev was fine enough to make one.

"What happened?" It was Lily who asked.

Even with the bandage, you could still hear Sev gritting his teeth, "Certain people with a poor taste in jokes, I believe. Somebody had the idea to send a gift package with my name on it. I thought it might be one of you guys, but that was my mistake. I was careless. The package was probably rigged with a bunch of Exploding Snap. Enough that the Slytherin dorm filled with its antique decor and old wood would easily let the fire spread."

Lily gasped and look like she had witnessed a murder. I gave Severus a comforting pat, "That's horrible, Sev. Who could have sent it to you?"

He shrugged but that made him wince, "Don't know, could be anyone with a nasty sense of humor," he said at the end darkly.

"I'm just glad you came out fine."

Sev said nothing as he turned his dead eyes at me.

"Mostly fine."

He kept staring.

"Okay, partially fine. Happy?"

"Ecstatic…" He rolled his eyes.

"What are you doing here?!" Madam Pomfrey came between us and looked not at all amused, "Did I tell you you can come inside? I already have my hands full from this incident!" Before any of us could retort, she moved us out. With nothing better to do, we were then relocated back to the Great Hall. There, the crowd gathered to listen to the teachers. Professor Silverback has been questioning the incident and according to him, it's most likely that Severus Snape had possibly owned dark magical items and his mishandling led to the explosions.

Lily and I gawked at the utter BS he fed to not only the students but the faculty as well. The way they seemed to impassively listened and nodded without protest or questioning his words. She shook her head, "That's wrong, that's so wrong. We have to tell the teachers the truth."

"Yeah, but they know we're his friend. Silverback will just reason that we'll take Sev's words over him"

"Then what can we do?"

I glared down at the supposedly mild-mannered Professor who has a long history of teaching in this school with the backing of the teachers that implicitly trust him. I had my hand in my pocket as I watched the faculty telling us they will discuss further plans to avoid a repeated incident before dismissing the ensemble students.

"Don't wait up." I made large and determined steps behind Professor Silverback with the single-mindedness of catching up to him without chasing him in a run. "Professor Silverback!" My call got him and the other teachers to pause, I did my best to keep a placid smile on my face, "I have a question about the homework you assigned about the combination sequences using Nordic Runes. I promise it'll only take a minute."

Silverback had a sour face that he carefully kept out of sight from his colleague before agreeing to my request. Professor Slughorn patted his back, telling him they'll wait for him before joining the others to the faculty room. Once the door is closed, I give him a hardened glare that would make even a monster cower.

"What is your problem?!"

"I should enquire the same to you, Mister Jackson. Is there something you're not satisfied with?"

"What you said at the ensemble is a bald-faced lie and you know it!"

The old man had the audacity to look hurt, "That's a grave accusation you've made, Mister Jackson. I simply pulled the appropriate conclusion after taking account of the situation."

I scoffed, "So the accusation you made wasn't grave? You didn't even ask Severus for his account."

Silverback shrugged like it was of little importance, "He was quite injured already that I didn't have the heart to disturb his rest. Besides, I know there was a package with Mister Snape's name, indicating it belonged to him. It explodes when he's seen to either open or use it, so it's most likely a dangerous item that a child over his head tried to play with. Dark magic seemed to attract Slytherins like a moth to a flame."

"We both know you're trying to find an excuse to put Slytherin in a bad light, don't pretend like you're a reasonable person and admit what you are; a sad, bigot of a man who feels entitled to torment defenseless kids just because you can."

That managed to finally make the slightest of ticks at the elder man's impassive face, "You know nothing about me, Mister Jackson, or the bloody history drenched by their sorts you're too ignorant to understand."

"I know about Grindelwald and the war that could have been if not for Professor Dumbledore."

"Is that so? Tell me then, since you seem to be oh so knowledgeable of wizarding affairs, are you familiar with Ekrizdis' serial kidnappings and his disgusting experiments of creating Dementors through muggle souls? He seemed to find them expendable enough. Or have you heard of the Stiltskin Massacre? I'm sure you don't, the ministry made sure no one ever found out that a group of dark wizards wiped a muggle village off the map in the early 19th century just because they felt like it. Or should I go on about the serial killing of muggle-born wizards and witches, including my parents, by Lorelei of the Ancient and Most Noble House Black because she found them an 'eyesore?'

"You ask me what my problem is. My problem is that I am sick of seeing the damn snake symbol hanging over my head every day of working here being hung with pride, knowing it was the symbol held by a man who's known to kill and trampled my kind, my people, because of my blood that they call dirty. A house that breeds this childish notion of pureblood supremacy that has been a blight to the wizarding world for generations.

"I'm but one man making sure they're kept in line. Had the Headmaster held more sense, he would have abolished the House altogether." His spittle almost landed on my face, yet the disgusted look I had was appropriate for a lot of different reasons.

"Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" The two of us broke our standoff. Dumbledore arrived in the hallway that led to the faculty room, probably to join the conversation.

The anger in the old man's face instantly died and held a neutral smile in replacement, "Nothing, Headmaster. Mister Jackson simply had difficulty understanding the nuance of the systematic sequences in old runic spells. He needs to be reminded that putting different runes in the sequences would mean abolishing others in order to create a more efficient and powerful spell."

Dumbledore turned his gaze at me, silently questioning if that was true. My lips felt dry, hundreds of things were at the tip of my tongue but wasn't sure I was ready to face. So I nodded wordlessly in agreement.

The Headmaster groomed his beard, "Very well. May I have a word with Percy? It would only take a moment."

Silverback agreed good-naturedly. Looking at him now made his expression before, unbridled hate and sorrow that's all too familiar, seem like a lie.

We waited until he was on the other side of the door before I turned to him, "Did you need anything?"

Dumbledore's sigh was a bit on the exasperated side, "Have I relied on you so much that I gave you the impression I need anything when requesting your company?"

"Err… not really? It's more life in general that gives me that impression."

That managed to make the wizened old man huffed in laughter. "It only just occurred to me that I hadn't managed to express my gratitude for your valor effort this year. Hogwarts couldn't have managed on its own."

"You know I don't do it for the thanks, right?"

"But you'll have it anyway. I should have done this when you returned the Gryffindor's Sword but you looked tired that night that I had sent you to bed."

"In that case, you're welcome."

The Headmaster nodded, his robe gliding the floor toward the faculty room when I stopped him midway. Albus raised an eyebrow and I struggled to put words. The weight in my pocket hung heavier than it should as I considered the choice before me. I knew what the right choice was, I only wished I knew a better choice. Biting my lip, I pulled out the walkman and handed it over to him. The red light on the record button, blinking lightly before I pushed it off.

"What's this?"

"Something you should hear before you go in."

. . .

"Did you hear? Professor Silverback is being sacked."

"No way! We're talking about the most mild-mannered Professor in Hogwarts!"

"Really? I say he's always been a bit on the offside, don't you?"

"Nooooo! He was my favorite teacher too, tell me it's a lie!"

"I swear I'm not. I saw him carrying his suitcase for the Hogwarts Express."

I was half-listening to the chatter surrounding my dorm room as Edgar, Jean and Cross started to spiral into conspiracies over the newest gossip that hasn't been officially announced yet. I kept a useless eye on the texts that my brain is trying to make sense of, the pile of homework felt daunting that I had been too busy saving Hogwarts to work at it.

"What about you, Percy?" I heard Jean ask, "What do you think happened?"

Since I tried and failed to tune out their conversation anyway. I deliberated my answer before facing them, "I think Silverback has been working too hard for too long that Professor Dumbledore strongly advised him to take a break to clear his head."

"Him? Working too hard? That's ridiculous, the guy loves his job."

I shrugged, and continued the mundane activity before giving up and decided to take an early sleep for the night, thinking nothing can clear my head better than sleep.

Of course, it took me letting my guard down to wake up in the Great Hall. I knew immediately I was in the past because I watched myself separating from Lily, chasing after the teachers but stayed to watch Lily looking left and right before spotting her search.

James had been laughing among his groupies, and I watched her trailing the corridor after him before she smacked him harshly.

"OW! Easy on the back there, Evans. You're lucky I healed just fine."

"Save your breath, Potter. What did you do?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't act stupid with me. I know you and your little gang were hoarding a bunch of Exploding Snaps yesterday, and I know you asked MG a favor to slip a package around the dungeons."

"So? Doesn't mean I lit the dungeon on fire. Though whoever did must have been a genius because even I can't fathom it turn into quite a light show."

"Don't joke about that! A lot of people got hurt."

"It's just some burn wounds, nothing a little potion can't help. You muggle-borns are always so touchy with these things."

Lily visibly became more frustrated, "What did the Slytherin ever do to you?"

James' easy smile fell, then he wordlessly showed Lily an odd medal with a bronze wolf howling in the center. Lily didn't recognize what it was but her fellow Gryffindor explained, "Funny item, this. It is called a Hunted Mark: causes anyone who wears it to be the target of aggression. Doesn't always work on people, but it attracts beasts like flies to rotten cheese. I found this attached on the underside of my robe last night. It was the reason that the werewolf was targeting us. Well, specifically me. You don't usually find these in shops, at least no ones from the usual alleys and I thought; 'Hmm, what sort of people would go to a shady alley?'"

Lily paled at the implication from James' words, "So, so what? You're basing your circumstances on a reason to target Sev?"

"Does it matter if it's Sev? Slytherins are all the same. Honestly, the school would be a better place if the House had burned to ash. Why do you think MG was so eager to follow our request without question?" James said it so lightly like it was a common joke that he failed to see the sick look on Lily's face. "But hey, who cares about them anyway. How about we talk about something worthwhile; like you and me and our future together because obviously we were awesome together back in the-"

James had to cut himself off as her eyes shined, and it struck me in all the years I've known her… this was the first time I saw her shed tears. James was just as struck as I was by the looks of him.

"I should have known… I should have known what you are; a big head-toe-rag who can't see himself in the mirror." His brows scrunched in confusion, and the sad thing was? I bet the boy genuinely did not know what made her upset. But that didn't stop him from reaching out his hand, possibly for comfort. Lily struck his hand hard enough, the slapping sound echoed around the hallway. "You know what's worse, James? Is that I know you, and I know you're brave, kind, and loyal, but then you become... this and sees a bunch of people as obstacles, and I hate what I'm seeing."

"Eva— Lily wait—" But Lils turned her back to him and walked away. Like it was a final thing, and here I am watching teen drama and wondering why the Fates would show me this.

. . .

The whistle of the train blew out the crowded chatter filling the station as I watched them from the window seat. There was a knock on the door, Rhea was there wearing a nice green muggle suit top over a fluffy skirt. It gave off the vibe of a professional but carefree person, which fit her perfectly.

"Is there one more session that I forgot about?"

The Titaness shook her head with a smile, "Not unless you want to. I'm only ever one prayer away if you need me."

"Wait… you won't be here next year?"

"While the thought of giving Albee more gray hair is tempting," she joked, "Unfortunately, my presence here any longer would get noticed, and not always by the wrong crowd." If the 'right' crowd meant the Olympians then yeah, I imagined getting noticed by them would only lead to catastrophe.

"You know… I didn't think it would take my mental health deciding the fate of the world to get special treatment from a deity."

"Well… not many can have your luck, Perseus Jackson." She came sitting down across from me and take my hand around hers, "I don't need prophecies to show me you will face hard times along the way, but I promise you that as long as you stay as you are and who you always have been, then everything will be as it should be."

"So just go with the flow then."

Rhea laughed, and the sound reminded me of the first drop of rain watering the green plain. "Something like that."

"Great, any other last advice you want to give?"

"Just one; a bare heart may leave you vulnerable, but not to those willing to shelter you." And then with that fortune cookie, she exited my compartment and left me content on my own.

Once I'm sure she's gone, I checked for any passengers that might pass by before drawing the curtains over the window and focused on my hands. Drawing a deep breath, I focussed on the power that draws out to manipulate the Mist, summoning an image in my mind. There was glitter in the air as if Teafey had sprinkled her fairy dust around before the shape of the Gryffindor's Sword manifested on my hand.

"Huh…" I said while testing the weight on my hand to see if it was the real deal, "It's a bit different but you'll do."

"Percy?"

Panicked, I threw the sword under the bench just in time before Lily and Sev joined me in our compartment.

"Well," Lily started, "This certainly has been an eventful year."

"Makes you wonder what we'll expect in the next one."

"Don't even joke about that, Sev. For once, I'm looking forward to a relaxing, uneventful summer with all my friends and family." Silence stretched between us before roaring laughter filled the compartment with our breathless laughter.

I tried hard to catch my breath and wiped the wet mirth from my eyes. I looked between my two friends I came to cherish in this lifetime, the words Rhea left me starting to ring in the back of my mind.

"I've been having nightmares," I blurted out.

Lily and Sev turned confusingly at me and each other, "Err… news flash, Percy. You're not exactly keeping it a secret."

"I know, I know. But I haven't been talking about it either." I rubbed my chest as I felt my lungs constricting. "I keep... I keep dreaming of home. I mean, I dream of monsters too but those I can handle." Most of them anyway. "But, but I kept being reminded of the friends and family I left behind and… and I miss them.

"Don't get me wrong, I love it here with you guys, but… but it's not home. Sometimes I dream of coming back but to have them gone or forget me. Sometimes I forget what part of home is like and other times all I want is to go back and never leave in the first place." The confession took a toll as it felt like admitting I preferred them over my two friends, I couldn't look at their faces.

I felt the weight of the seat beside me as Lily and Severus took to taking my sides, giving unspoken comfort from their presence. "How can we help?" Lily promptly asked.

The train whistle blew one final time before leaving the station. I wet my throat and took a shuddering breath, "Camp Half-Blood… that's the name of the camp I went to before. All of the kids there have ADHD so you can imagine the crazy things we go to just to blow off steam. For some people, it's just a summer camp, but for me… it's the first place I felt I belonged to." Throughout the journey home, I told them the little things I couldn't before. Telling small things like being 'coaxed' to Camp thanks to my friend, Grover. My rivalry with Clarisse that led to getting my butt knocked down in the first Capture the Flag game I went to, and the fact I was horrible at everything the camp threw at me except for canoeing, which got a laugh out of them.

I still couldn't tell them about Annabeth though, but… baby-steps.

I didn't know how long I continued talking, but by the end. I was content knowing that I had shared a part of my past in this current life. That maybe… maybe home won't be so far apart if I brought it with me in the stories and memories I shared with them. I realized what I already know when I woke up after we were knocked out halfway through the journey, Lily and Severus sleeping by my sides as the train finally arrived at the King Cross Station, that I am happy... and that's okay.

We saddled our bags, crossed through the pillar to the muggle-side of the station and met up with Sev's mom and Lily's parents who've been waiting from the other side. I followed them from a little step back only to halt my walk when a familiar face took my mind off. I closed in onto the newspaper stand guarded by a sleepy vendor. I took the newest issue and read the headline; Son of Immigrant Royalty Come Home for the Summer. It sounded more tabloid news than actual news but it was the black and white stilled photograph that really latched on to me.

There, waving hands with presumably his parents and the immortal face of Queen Elizabeth II, was Damien's smiling face in the middle of the picture. Then, as if confirming what I was seeing, I spotted Damien from afar, walking by with black-suited escorts on either side of him. He must have felt me gawking because he suddenly turned and locked eyes with me, looked down at the newspaper in my hand, then back at me.

I swear, even though he was wearing shades, I could tell Damien was winking at me.

Gryffindor's Sword, still lying under the bench of the train: "….."

.

AN: FINALLY THE END OF ACT III! Look forward to the epilogue people because that's when canon start going out the window.

Bet you didn't expect that from Damien, didn't you?... look... you can't tell me there has never been a Wizard Royalty before. If the Prime Minister knows then there's no way in hell the Royal Family doesn't know. Heck, Queen Elizabeth has lived too long for her not to be related to wizardry. Hmmmmmm... I smell conspiracy...

You know… in the previous Act, I had wondered if making Salazar as a murderous bigot was an appropriate decision even though I wanted to create a story that tells the diversity of the Slytherin House in order to make it known that not all of them are bad. (Because you know… JKR said not all of them are bad but doesn't really show us. I'm still miffed about that.) And all the accounts After all, they are a lot of good fics that makes him misunderstood or history painting him in a bad light.

But in the middle of making a chapter, I suddenly realized that I shouldn't because that would make it no better than putting a 'white-narrative' on him. That's like… Christopher Colombus was known to discover America and the world applauded for it.

Seriously, even in Indonesia I was taught in elementary school he was an "explorer" in history books and in comics but there was barely any mention and not stressed about him ravaging the lands and killing indigenous people.

So as I wrote Silverback's dialogue and tried to understand his emotion being a wizard from "mudblood" parents and having to see the snake that symbolizes the person who held the ideology that killed his family while working in that school everyday and… err… wow, not even I realized how fuck up that must have felt. The tension of a boiling anger that must have been suppressed from the constant patient he kept all the freaking time and the visceral hate rolling out from his mouth. I wrote it but even I can't help the shivers.

Of course it doesn't excuse Silverback's actions, but I do try to make him relatable in the most horrific and saddest way I could think of. Because Slytherin does symbolized muggle-hate for a reason and it's important to realize that it's because the Hat carried Salazar wishes in only accepting pureblood and halfblood in his House that encourage this "traditionalist" thinking they used as an excuse to look down on muggleborns.

So yeah, thankfully I keep Salazar as a bigot ass because I think it'll be important in the story arc to acknowledge the wrongs made from his belief and how important to learn about history to prevent glorifying his cause which resulted in the Pureblood Supremacy HP-verse are known for. (You know. In hindsight, I should have made Professor Silverback the History teacher… it would have made a lot more poetic irony.)

Time for the QR&A where I answer your questions and thank you for the luvs.

namer1: True, I may not know the details of the bombing and I might be misinformed. But I hope I'm not wrong that Israel has an iron dome that precisely struck out the bombs by HAMMAS and civilians were sent to a bomb shelter. And while my condolences to the people who lost their lives by them, the fact remains the Israelian government struck precision rockets toward civilians residents, mass media headquarters, and hospital despite the fact it was HAMMAS that struck Israel, not the civilians that included women and children where they can't hide beneath a bomb shelter because there ISN'T ONE.

So yeah, I hope I am misinformed about the attacks because I would rather be misinformed than ignore the injustice being done.

scl04: Love the TVTroupes, no doubt. Right now, it's important for it to be a horse because Percy needs to rely on his present self to be safe and happy. It'll change in the future when he's more certain with his mind and self. I'm glad that you feel Lily is a big help too! Because there's a difference between a convenient help and crucial help in a story and I want to make sure every action Lily took was important even if it's always not the right one.

James is always an interesting character to write. I don't want to excuse his behaviour but I do want people to have a shred of understanding or sympathy with him. Sort of like a Tai Lung approach where you don't agree with his actions but you sympathize the Prodigy Kid being crushed by expectations he failed to meet. Like... that is such a relatable background for someone who was imprisoned for massacre. I love Kung Fu Panda. But I digress, I hadn't actually thought of the repercussion of getting scratched by werewolf... now that I think about it now only Peter is the only one who hasn't been scratched by Remus. Should I torment him next? Or should I leave him unscathed to further point that he's always been the odd man out between the four of them?

If Damien being a metamorphmagus is a shock, I can't wait to see how you react from the last line. Thank you again for the luvs, your review is always a great spot of my day. As for Peter... well, just because he's a coward doesn't mean he doesn't have a goal or something akin. He just tries achieving through the most cowardly way I suppose. Wouldn't it be ironic if his main motivation was to not be afraid anymore? ;)

Theseus-Theo: Go for it! Write anything you want! You can do it! I have the problem of too many stories but not enough hands to write. Like... I WANT TO WRITE THEM AAAAAALLLLL~ ROLLING IN THE DEEEEEEEPEEEEPP~

brade1991: Thank you! I hope you stay safe and healthy as well. James ego will settle once he does some growing up. Let him be a foil for now before he has his redemption.

Patolemus: Your review is awesome! I'm so glad you love it. Can't wait to read how you react to this chapter. Severus struggles to be the bigger person but he's trying, okay? Also, James is in denial that he can't be the hero in his story. His subconscious doesn't want details that only bring Percy into a better light, unfortunately. And if you didn't expect Damien's ability, I bet you won't expect the end of it either.

Lily is so used to only relying on her boys that it didn't even occur to her to ask someone else when adults aren't helping her fast enough. Harry doesn't have all that wandering off energy from only his dad, you know.

I didn't think Teafey would be a thing in this fic XD. Can't wait to someday introduce Fairy Land.

Thanks again fr the luvs :))

Wonky Wendy: THANK YOU!

Kitsuneoops: Do you not like it because you don't agree or is it because you secretly relate to James? Curious. My goal is to make Lily to be the badass queen she deserved to be because canon hasn't done her justice. Thanks for the luvs!

BlackVictorCachat: You write a good story! Truthfully, the plot isn't my favorite since I don't personally like smooth-sailing ending (it lacks tension and I love tension) but that doesn't mean your writing wasn't impeccable. The transition was smooth af and actually makes sense despite different pov in the last chapter which isn't an easy thing to do when you handle multiple characters. Leo and Apollo was a boon for me. You wrote them especially great. Also, what I meant by wizard potential fighting equal footing with demigods is the fact they should have been capable to shoot giant burst of flame that's capable of burning even a Horcrux, topple earth from their feet, or give leftover curse that has a belated effect. Since these wizards are fanatics, it wouldn't be farfetched to see them use suicide spells to get rid of their enemy.

Like I said, I love tension. It's not your fault that the movie and books haven't given you creative wizard dueling image outside of wizard vs wizard battle to compensate their lack of logic when dealing with life.

Anyway, as always, thanks for the support of my fic and the luvs.

zoomingaway: Thank you for acknowledging my words, it felt like it hadn't fallen on deaf ears. There's so many things you react to that I don't know which to address. I just love seeing you so excited by almost every line I make. I feel overwhelmed okay. I'm so happy with this review. Thank you so much for always loving my story and expressing it. I will gush at you more in my Tumblr, love you bestie!

The Monarch: Aren't they everyone's favorite? ;)

FolkLuz21: MY AMIGA! There's been ups and downs in our family bur right now it's been swell. Sev angst is one of the best kind of angst here. This boy needs emotional crutch to have any semblance of common decency. Poor emotional constipated boy. He's growing up, that's for sure.

Percy being a Percy ajashdaskjfhskjhjbcxjb THAT's HILARIOUS AND YES I GET CHU. Lily is always a badass, and yes it's sad that Percy will break her heart but don't we all experience our first heartbreak anyway? You want drama so much? I give you drama muahahahaha. And Damien is my child. An ass of a child but still my child. He has that charisma that he knows he has to make you like him anyway. Guess the perks of being a royalty, eh? ;)

Thank you for complimenting my writing, I have to give credit to my beta though. He helps a lot smoothing out the rough edges of my story and my ideas.

No, you don't sound crazy for loving our best Trio of Friends. They deserved to be love together.

Gracias por los amor como siempre. I'll look forward to your next review. Best wishes to you! Hasta la proxima!

GAMESTREEMERPercyJackson Fan & ThatTerribleWriter78: Thank you for the luvs but be patient guys, I do have a life you know.