Chapter 35
Neville
Its very hard to compete in the romance department around these guys. I mean, I'm a solid dancer, a pretty decent guy and I try to always think of Reyna and how I can make her stay with us easier, but its not like I'll ever have a chance to turn down being a deity for her. The break lasted indefinitely, we hadn't been called back to order by time of the evening feast. Reyna took my hand as Annabeth kissed Percy. Once Dumbledore declared it to be break time rather than force us all to sit awkwardly though a public display of affection that was so out of character for Annabeth, Reyna and I cut out. Reyna led me over to the stables, which is just a little way from the lake. The dogs, Skippy and Blackjack were all by the lake and we stood and watched them play for a bit.
"Uh, we should go over by the lake with them." Reyna said.
"Why's that?"
"Well, I need to tell you some things about myself, and I'd rather do that in private, and well, Hazel and Frank are going to be here in a second to hang out with Lord Arion."
"Oh. Okay." We waved at them and went the fifty or so yards to the water's edge. They smiled and waved back, tacitly telling Reyna they understood her desire for privacy I think. Sirius and Lupin's cabins were on the other side from us, and we both took off our shoes and dangled our feet in the cool water.
"So. It hasn't come up, well, it hadn't until a few minutes ago, but I need to tell you this. You were asking about who was in charge in New Rome. Well, its sort of a democracy in the way the old Roman Senate was. Every half blood has a vote and they elect senators from each cohort, that's a group of fifty to one hundred half bloods, and from the retired heros. Thats the folks that used to be in the Legion but did their service and decided to stay, go to college, start careers, that sort of thing. Anyway, the Senate is headed by two Praetors, also elected by the populace and the one who as been Praetor the longest is, well, the guy who is basically in charge as you say. They are not all powerful, but they have the final say."
"Oh, well that seems like a good way to do things. Who is the guy and why should it matter to us? I mean, do you have a thing with him or..."
"You sexist pig!" Reyna shouted. "I should turn you into a hamster!"
"Wait, I'm sorry, its just the way Jason asked if you told me yet, well, I figured, I mean, he's like the king or prime minister of Rome, I'm just a Brit with a wand that grows magic potatoes. I understand that it..."
"Gods my boyfriend is an idiot. No, I don't have a thing going with the guy in charge Neville, I AM the guy in charge. Oh, and I'm not a guy. I'm a girl. With an idiot for a boyfriend." She grinned.
I stared slack jawed as if my girlfriend just told me she commanded an army of half god/half human super soldiers. If your girlfriend has ever told you that, then you know just how I felt. So you don't, and I can't explain it.
"How..." I stammered, trying to think of something smart sounding to say.
"Lets see, to start with my father was in the Navy and that is where he met Bellona. They stayed together long enough for my sister Hylla and me to be born, then she was off, probably with another soldier. Dad never got over it, and between drinking and PTSD became abusive to, well everyone, not just us. Anyway, at some point he stopped being a man and became more of a wraith, haunting the bar we lived above. Hylla and me, well, we bailed. It was just too dangerous and crazy for little kids there. So, you know about the six years I was not in this plain. I was on an island out of time in the Bermuda triangle. Well, Annabeth screwed up that gig, so my sister and I made it back to shore. We wandered around fighting the occasional monster until one night in California a wolf god named Lupa found me, trained me and sent me to New Rome. All new members of the Legion go thru Lupa. My sister was too old, but Lupa was kind enough to hook her up with a gig with Amazon.
"Oh? What does she do at Amazon?"
"She was in marketing then but now is their queen, I've told you that before. Any way, I rose through the ranks quickly, I was a good soldier and led a few successful quests. At that time the Legion was under a curse so a successful quest wasn't the norm. When the next election came up I was elected Second Praetor. Jason was first already. Then a few months later he disappeared and I was left as the sole Praetor of Rome."
"He came back though. Was there ever, you know, a relationship with"
"Right, he came back. Hera had taken his memories, and Percy's and switched them to bring the two camps together. Before he left we had been Praetors, I don't know exactly, about six months, and I'll be honest Neville, as well as we worked together at one time I hoped it might grow into something, but there was never that spark like there was the moment I saw you. Anyway, a few months after Jason disappears, Percy shows up. He goes through the ranks even faster than I had, and he was Praetor. We had this awful Auger, that's like a second rate Prophet, who was trying to become Praetor, but Percy led us through a big fight against an army of monsters, giants and a titan, and more importantly with Frank and Hazel's help lifted the curse that had been on the Legion and he got elected, well proclaimed actually. At the end of the battle the troops lifted him on their shields and demanded that he be Praetor. A few days later Jason showed back up and Percy stepped down in his favor. Oh! While neither of them had any memories, you'll love this, when Percy showed up all he remembered was the name 'Annabeth' and how to fight. The first night at New Rome he led what was supposed to be a diversionary strike of three soldiers against a fortress that was defended by 80 of our best troops. The main force was to be three cohorts, about 150 troops, in a frontal assault, but he, Frank and Hazel defeated them all and didn't even get a scratch. The thing is, I remembered him from the island, but he didn't remember me. When Jason returned, Annabeth was with him, and instead of following the normal courtesies of welcoming diplomats, they charge each other, kiss and Annabeth threw him to the ground and said she would kill him if he ever left again. Anyway, they were out on this quest last spring, the one that took them to Rome and Athens, and we got into a spot where only Frank was in position to kill this army of monsters, but in order to kill it he had to be a Praetor so as to command a dead legion that Nico summoned. So Jason stepped aside and named Frank as Second Praetor. Jason is now our spiritual leader, our Pontifix Maximus, and Frank and I are Praetors. Next spring I will have to decide if I want to step down or run again. Anyway, I was going to tell you all this before but it never came up. I know that seems long, but that really is the short explanation and my life story. I hope you understand."
"So you command 40 troops? That's pretty cool!"
"No sweetie, when I last checked I commanded about 250 to 500, plus four or five hundred reservists. Since the Battle of Camp Half Blood we have been on a recruiting drive to bolster our numbers so I'm not exactly sure how many. So has Camp Half Blood and the Hunters of Artemis. For all I know Amazon is hiring too. Everyone got hit hard by the war. Now is the time to rebuild. That is why Frank and I wish for a doorway to New Rome as much as Annabeth does. We are needed there. We are commanded to be here by the gods, but with the door we can at least keep a presence in New Rome.
You keep saying "half bloods," uh, thats really close to a slang term we don't use.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if a witch or wizard marries or hooks up with a muggle, and they have a child, if that child has magical ability, and they almost always do, they're called, well, by the pure blood crowd, "mud bloods." They also use it for people like Hermione, who have two muggle parents.
"Oh, so its like a slur?"
"Yeah, about the worst one you can call a witch."
"But, Hermione knows more spells than any of you, why would"
"I didn't say it made sense. The pure blood crowd thinks everyone else is watering down magic, like there is a limited amount and it is getting spread too thin."
"That's stupid. I mean, does your wand ever run out of power?"
"No, uh..."
"The MAGIC one Neville, lets keep it out of the gutter!"
"No, it doesn't" I blushed. I really wasn't thinking that but if I claimed otherwise I doubt it would have been believable. I was certainly thinking it now.
"Can I... well, I guess I should tell you, I feel rather inadequate now."
"How so?" She asked.
"Well, its... well you've had a life of adventure and quests, and you're like the Queen of a bunch of Roman half gods, demi gods, whatever, and I'm, uh I'm a herbology student from London."
"Yes, and of all the men I have ever known, you are the only one brave enough to approach me. That got my attention. And kind enough to help me care for Skippy without me even asking. That really got my attention! Oh, and you're the one I picked to be my boyfriend. That your life has taken a different path than mine doesn't mean you won't accomplish wonderful things. When we first met I told you I sensed you have great courage, I meant it then and I mean it now. There is nothing you can't do if you set your mind to it. So no more of this inadequate talk. My boyfriend is not inadequate, he's awesome. Understand?"
I don't know why but when Reyna said it, it seemed true. All the years of Grandma and the family telling me how I was never as good as my parents at magic went away when I was around Reyna. She was fast becoming my world.
"Oh" I said, "you mentioned my wand a few minutes ago and I had a question"
"Yes, but I'm not ready yet, It may seem old fashioned, I guess I am, but well, as much as I care for you and adore you, I well, I'm just not ready for that next step yet. Its not you, I've never been ready. I guess maybe I'm making a big deal out of the first time but I do think it should be special, with the one you love, that is going to change your life and fulfill you as a person, you know and yeah, more and more I think you might be the one but I'm just not there yet, you understand?"
"Uh. Okay. I meant this wand." I said, holding up the wand I had inherited from my father.
"Oh. Um, could you forget everything I just said? Please, and never mention it again? I think I need to go to my room and die now. Is there a spell that commands your pillows to suffocate you?"
"Uh, no, not that I'm aware of. Since you brought it up, I'm not ready either. I mean, we have dated a few weeks and they have been the happiest of my life, but, uh, I'm in no rush. I guess part of me thinks like Annabeth on that, I mean, its just not wise at our age, but meeting you has made me seriously rethink that position. What I was going to ask is, well, I got this wand when I left for Hogwarts. It was my father's and it didn't look like he would ever need it again, and grandma was, and well, still is, convinced I would never be more than average as a wizard, so no sense in wasting money on a new wand. The thing is, I'd like to give dad his wand back, where can I get one like yours? I'm pretty sure its not from Ollivander's. I think dad and mom have some money coming as back pay for being aurors so I should be able to buy one now, grandma didn't think buying my own wand would be a wise way to spend money since, you know, she didn't expect me to be very good at magic."
"Hummm, ours were a gift direct from Hecate. I will send her an offering at dinner and ask if she would hook you up."
"Really? That's all you need to do?"
"Well, if it works yes. If not, I suspect nothing will and we will have to make a trip to Ollivander's. But don't worry about money Neville. Your girlfriend is filthy rich in the world of magic."
"I dont' want to take your money, I mean, we're not poor, its just my family never thought I would amount to anything magic wise."
"You can't take what I would freely give. Besides the gods opened us accounts at Gringotts, my vault there probably has literally a ton of gold, silver and gems, and there is only so much you can buy in your world. Let a wand be my present to you, as someone who thinks you're going to be instrumental in this war. And as your girlfriend." She smiled, and it was one of those smiles that says "you should kiss me right now unless you're stupid."
I'm not stupid.
Dinner was lovely. I had noticed at every meal, and sometimes in the morning when we just had coffee that at some point each of the Americas took their plate, or coffee cup, to a brazier set up near their part of the table and pushed the food they didn't like into it. As Frank was doing this I finally asked Reyna if this was the sacrifice she talked about.
"Oh, yes, that's our sacrifice. You give thanks to your godly parent for watching out for you, or to one of the other gods if favor is needed. Like tonight I'm going to sacrifice to Bellona and Hecate. Bellona for being my mom, and Hecate because I am asking her for a wand for you."
"So you just push the part you don't like into the fire?"
"No, you push about a third to half of what you do like into the fire. If it were something you didn't want anyway, it would not be a sacrifice. Here its easy, you are only served food you like. Oh! And you know its worked if it doesn't smell like what you burned."
"Really?"
"Really. Sacrifices to Bellonna smell like root beer for some reason, Hecate is sort of like peppermint. They aren't always the same, its whatever is pleasing to that god at that moment. Want to join me?"
We did, I sacrificed my whole steak to Hecate and in my mind asked her to make me a better magician. Sure enough I got the overwhelming scent of peppermint. I set my plate on the table beside Reyna's and by the time we were both seated each had refilled.
"When you have limitless food its kind of ceremonial." Reyna smiled, and we dove in.
Mom and Dad joined us, as they had been doing all week now that Jennifer cleared them to move about the castle. We still were not sure as to where they would live, but both were remembering their wizardry quite quickly. Grandma had sent my mother's wand, and dad was still using one of the spares from the survival kits. It worked, but he complained that it just didn't feel right. Something just told me it was time for me to do the right thing, .
"Dad, I think it would help your spell work if you had your old wand back. I'm going to take the spare, I'll do just as well with it. You take yours. Please."
"We've been over this, I don't mind you having it Neville, its your birthright. I'll get the hang of everything again, its just going to take time." He smiled.
"Yes, but it will take less time if you had your own wand. Come on, there is a war coming and we need more spell casting aurors right now. Take it!" I said as I handed it to him. At once a smile came to his face as he swished it around. I could tell it felt like his old friend. I had never been great with a wand, I think because I had never bonded with one. I had heard that the wand chooses the wizard, and this wand had chosen dad, not me. It was best that it be home where it belonged.
"That was sweet of you" Mother said. This weekend we should ask Professor Dumbledore if we can apparate to Ollivanders to get you fitted for your own.
"I, uh, don't think that will be necessary." Reyna said. She was looking past me at a gigantic white owl flying in, carrying a small wooden case about a foot and a half long.
"Owls don't normally deliver the post in the evening." Hermione said to no one in particular.
"I suspect that is not a normal owl." Reyna replied as it landed between my father and I, set the box down and nodded to me before flying off. The box had a gold or brass label with my name on it, and when I opened the clasp inside was the most beautiful wand I had ever seen. It was much like the American's, a light amber wood, with some sort of black or dark brown core. Growing all through it were gold, silver, and bronze threads that looked like trees intertwining their way together up the shaft. Also there was a grayish black metal that Reyna told me was "Stygian iron", hammered from ore in the river Styx. As magic metals go, it was the rarest. She went over each of the metal components, Imperial gold, Celestial bronze, silver and the Stygian iron and myself, mom and dad listened attentively. The wand just felt right in my hand. The moment I picked it up a warm, slow shock went up my arm and filled my body. This was my wand, this was the one I was supposed to have. I got a new confidence just holding it.
"Other than Reyna I think its the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I whispered.
By now the other Americans and DA1 were gathered around. "Read the note" someone said and it was then that I first noticed a small parchment that was in the velvet lined case. I picked it up, but it was all Greek to me. Literally. I handed it to Reyna who took one look at it and handed it to Annabeth.
"Annabeth's Greek is better than mine."
"For my dearest child Neville, who is discovering the power within and the power of sacrifice which my children have forgotten these many centuries. Use this in prosperity and health, use it to bring peace to my children. - Hecate" Annabeth read to us. "Oh, and at the bottom it says 'Twelve and one half inches, apple wood given by Hera from the grove of the Hesperides, with a core of the hair of Hecate. Braced with Celestial bronze, Imperial Gold, Silver given by Artemis, and Stygian steel given by Persephone.' Wow. That's seriously over engineered." Annabeth smiled. "Its made from the rarest and most powerful everything if I'm not mistaken. It appears that Hecate liked your sacrifice Neville."
"Geez, it was just some steak." I said.
"No, I believe it was your other sacrifice that caught her attention." Reyna said. "Giving up your wand to help your father, another of her children, and asking for nothing. That was the important sacrifice I suspect."
