Hello everybody!
As you can obviously see, I'm back with another update! And I know, it's so soon, but that's a good thing, isn't it?
It has come to my attention that I have yet to have a disclaimer in this story...I think?
Anyway, here's one just in case: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR PERCY JACKSON! Some of the dialogue was also taken directly from TLT so look out for that.
Also, a lot of you were kind of upset about the shortness of the last chapter (which is totally understandable, considering that I hadn't updated in a REALLY long time), so, this chapter is about...3-4 times longer? Ish? Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
~0~
Harry's mind went to Chiron's words from several weeks ago: Something that none of us could ever expect.
Well, this was definitely unexpected.
By the next morning, Percy's claiming was the talk of the entire camp, even more so when he made the move to Cabin three. Harry almost felt bad for him, he remembers being the center of everyone's attention after his claiming. Sure, Harry was five years old at the time, but it still sucked.
Percy looked miserable, everyone stayed as far away from him as possible, whispering behind his back. No one but Lou and Luke would spar with him in class, since everyone was afraid of him after what he did to the Ares kids in the creek.
So, here Harry was, standing at the porch of Cabin three, knocking on the door until the son of Poseidon answered.
When Percy finally answered the door, he looked – for lack of a better word – like absolute crap. Bags under his eyes that no twelve-year-old should have, his hair sticking up in places that not even Harry's hair can manage to be in, on top of it all, his eyes looked red in puffy…like he was crying.
"What do you want?" He said before wincing, as if he wasn't trying to sound so…angry? Sad? Harry didn't know, he wasn't good at emotions. He's ten for Zeus' sake!
"Were you crying?" Harry asked, completely forgetting what he actually wanted to say.
Percy's turned away and wiped his eyes, "No," he said, very unconvincing.
Harry shrugged, "Ok then, anyway, I wanted to know if you wanted to come practice with me."
Percy gave him a questioning look, "I'm not good at archery."
Harry rolled his eyes, "I know that, dummy. But archery isn't the only thing I'm good at. I can do other things too!"
The son of Poseidon cocked his head to the side, "Like what?"
Harry huffed, slightly annoyed, "Well, for one thing, I've been volunteering in the infirmary since I was five, so I'm pretty good at healing. And I can throw knives pretty well, I'm pretty good with a hunting knife, and Luke and Annabeth have been teaching me how to wield a dagger since I was six. But the best thing is this—" Harry grinned as he threw his hand out and made a rock next to him float, "Magic."
Percy's questioning look turned into a deadpan, "You want me to practice magic with you?"
Harry nodded, "Yep!"
"Why?"
Harry shrugged, "Well, I'm guessing Sally taught you or something, I want to see what you know."
Percy's eyes widened before he looked around outside the door and pulling Harry into the cabin, ignoring the younger boy's indignant "Hey!" as he tumbled up the steps.
Percy closed the door and rounded on him, "How did you know my mom and I can do magic?"
Harry cocked his head, "You mean you don't know? She was a demigod—" Percy winced at the 'was' but let him continue "—a daughter of Hecate. She taught me when she visited!"
Percy stared at him for a few beats of silence, "My—My mom was a demigod? All she ever told me was that she was a witch! How come no one told me about this!"
Harry flinched at the sudden angry voice, "I-I guess we all assumed that you knew? It's a pretty tough secret to keep—"
"Yeah, well, apparently it isn't!" Percy snapped, causing Harry to flinch again. This time, Percy noticed and softened, "Sorry, it's just for the last few days—"
"No, it's okay," Harry said, "I get it. That's why I came here actually."
Percy looked up at him, surprised, "Really?"
Harry nodded shyly, "Yeah, being the first child of Artemis in history, I know exactly how it feels to be singled out by everyone. Well, I was five at the time, but—"
"But you get it." Percy interrupted, glancing at the floor before looking up at Harry again, "Thank you, Harry."
Was his face heating up? Why was his face heating up? This isn't normal is it? "U-um. i-it's no problem." Why are you stuttering? Stop stuttering you feather-headed moron!
Percy grinned and went over to his bed reaching under the pillow to pull out…a stick? What was he going to do with a random, really fancy stick? And why was it under his pillow? I didn't seem all that important.
Percy lifted the stick as if it was a treasured object, "Come on, let's go."
Harry blinked at him owlishly, "Where?"
"To go practice magic," Percy responded, "That's what you came here for, right?"
"Right?" Harry said, in a question, not a statement, "But…what do you need a stick for?"
Percy looked confused before it dawned on him, "Oh! You mean this?" He held up the stick, "This is just my wand." He said it as if that explained everything, but it only made Harry more confused.
"Why would you need a wand?" Harry asked, "Can't you just…do magic? With your hands?"
Percy shrugged, "I guess I could, but wandless magic is supposed to be very difficult and it uses a lot of energy." It's not supposed to be, Harry thought, but he kept it to himself, "Besides, this is the way they taught me at school. Technically, I'm not supposed to do magic during the summer but since you just did it I thought—"
At school? And suddenly, as if it was a puzzle piece that clicked into place, Harry remembered something that Sally Jackson told him the night they met: I was a good friend of your dad's, we went to school together.
He remembered all of the stories that Sally had told him about her and his dad along with their other friends. The Marauders the group had called themselves. He remembered giggling along with her as she told him all about the pranks they pulled together.
Then, he remembered everything his old teacher - Parker McCartney - had told him. She taught him everything she learned at school and how to do it without a wand, even left him and Lou her books to practice! She told him all about how Harry was known as a hero in the Wizarding World. All because some guy – Moldy Shorts or something – had tried to kill him but ended up killing himself instead.
How could Harry have forgotten all of that?
Percy put his hand on the younger boy's shoulder with a look of concern, "Um, Harry? Are you ok?"
Harry looked up, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. When you said you went to school, did you mean that one in the UK? Hoggy Waters?"
Percy smiled as if trying to keep back a laugh, "It's Hogwarts, but yeah, why do you ask?"
Harry shrugged, trying to play off his slight internal freak out, "Nothing, I was just wondering what the heck that school is teaching you if you think you need a wand to do magic."
Percy cocked his head, "Well, don't you?"
Harry shook his head, "No. Did you not see me float that rock earlier? Did you see a fancy-shmancy stick in my hand?"
"…no? But—"
"But nothing," Harry said, once again grabbing Percy's hand to drag him somewhere, "Come one, we're finding Lou and we're going to teach you how to do magic the right way."
Once again, Percy just let him.
Once they found Lou and explained, she stared at Percy as if he was Cerberus with four heads instead of three, "What is that stupid school teaching you?"
Harry nodded, "Right? That's what I told him!"
Lou shook her head, "This is…this is appalling! My mother went to Hogwarts and even then she didn't use a wand."
Percy furrowed his brows in confusion, "Isn't your mom Hecate?"
Lou looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, "I obviously meant my mortal mother, but yes." Percy only looked more confused, but didn't question it. Harry bit his lip to keep in his laughter. He always loved it when Lou freaked people out like that, their reactions are always different but equally as priceless.
"Anyway," Lou said with a grin, "Let's teach you some real magic."
"But—" Percy glanced down at the stick – sorry – wand in his hand and looked back at Lou dumbly, "This is real magic."
Harry snorted, "Dude, you're the grandson of Hecate, who created magic. Not to mention the son of one of the most powerful gods in existence. If you used your magic properly, you could shatter that wand to saw dust just trying to channel all that power into it."
Percy stared at him with wide eyes, "Woah."
"That's right," Lou said brightly, resting her elbow on Percy's shoulder. It made her look ridiculous, seeing as he was several inches taller, but Harry didn't dare point it out, "Now, let's practice some magic. Harry and I have needed a practice dummy anyway."
Percy didn't really like the implications of that, but went with it nonetheless.
~0~
The next morning, Percy was called to the Big House. Harry was the one to escort him because, well, he wasn't sure why. Percy just asked him to come along.
"So…" Percy said, "Why exactly does Mr. D need me?"
Harry shrugged, "Who knows, maybe he wants to kill you."
The older boy rounded on him, "WHAT?!"
Harry laughed, "Relax, I was kidding…sort of. Besides, if he tries to kill you, I will stop him."
"How?" Percy asked, "In case you've forgotten, he's an actual god! He can probably, like, snap his fingers and POOF! You're dead, nothing but dust in the wind."
Harry raised an eyebrow, "And risk the wrath of Artemis for killing her only child? No way. Not to mention the Hunters, they've practically adopted me as their little brother, and they are terrifying."
"It runs in the family," Percy muttered, wincing while thinking back on all of the magic lessons and sparring he did with the son of Artemis yesterday.
Harry hides a smirk to pretend that he didn't hear him. "Oh look, we're here."
The two bickered for a few beats on who should to go in first before Harry rolled his eyes and opened the door, greeted with Mr. D and Chiron playing pinochle with invisible opponents.
"Well, well," Mr. D said, completely uninterested, "If it isn't our little celebrity."
"Well, Mr. D," Harry grinned cheekily, "I haven't quite made it to celebrity status yet, but I'd say I'm pretty popular. Thanks for the recognition though."
Percy made a choking noise behind him, hiding his smile behind his fist to make it look like cough while Chiron gave him a disapproving look. The kind that a father would give if their child was misbehaving in public.
Mr. D lifted his eyes from his cards to glare at Harry, "I obviously wasn't talking to you, you miserable child." He shifted his gaze to Percy, who looked even more uncomfortable than when he first got here, "Well? Come closer. And don't expect me to bow down to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle Beard is your father." A web of lightning flashed across the sky, making the room brighter for a few split seconds. Mr. D rolled his eyes, "Blah, blah, blah."
Mr. D once again set is sight on Percy, "If I had my way," He said, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep the remains up with no problem. But Mr. Goody-Horseshoes over here has made it a point to remind me that it would go against my mission: keep you insufferable brats safe from harm."
"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D," Chiron put in, feigning interest in his cards.
"Nonsense," Dionysus said, "The boy wouldn't feel a thing."
"Then what's the point?" Harry asked. The three of them turned to him, all with mixed looks of horror, interest, and concern. He gave them a defensive look, "What?"
"The whelp makes a good point," Dionysus said after a few beats of silence, scratching his chin as he thought, "I could turn you into a dolphin, send you back to your father. Hopefully, you would get eaten by a shark on your way to Atlantis."
Percy tensed, obviously scared about what was going to happen. Harry, making a split-second decision, stepped closer and grabbed the other boy's hand in what he hoped was a comforting manner. His cheeks flushed a slight pink the whole time.
Percy looked down at their hands in surprise before looking back up at Harry, confusion etched on his face before he looked back up at the god, who was arguing with Chiron about how turning campers into dolphins is also a form of harm.
"Oh, all right!" Dionysus relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness." Dionysus rose, and the invisible players' cards dropped to the table. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do."
Mr. D took one of the cards and twisted into what looked like the security pass that was used to open the elevator for Olympus. Harry would know, he went there last winter with Luke and Thalia.
Chiron sighed after the god left, placing down his winning hand that he never got to use, "Sit, both of you, please." They did.
Percy leaned over to Harry, whispering, "You can let go of me now."
Harry was confused until he noticed that he was still holding the Percy's hand, he flushed bright red and let go, "Oh, s-sorry."
Chiron gave Harry a smile before once again looking at Percy, "Tell me, Percy, what did you think of the hellhound?"
Well that was a weird question to ask. He felt Percy shudder, "It–um–it scared me. If Thalia hadn't taken it down…"
"You'd probably be dead," Harry cut in.
Chiron sighed, "Harry—"
Harry looked at him, affronted, "What? I'm not wrong!"
"No, I suppose you aren't" Chiron heaved another sighed, "You'll meet worse, Mr. Jackson. Far worse, before you're done."
"Done with…what?" Percy asked, shifting nervously.
"Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?"
No way, Harry thought, an excited grin stretching across his face.
Percy glanced at him before looking back to Chiron, "Um, sir? You haven't told me what it is yet."
Chiron frowned, "Yes, well, that's the hard part, the details."
Thunder rumbled in the background. Just outside the window, Harry could see storm clouds edging around the beach. The sky and the ocean seemingly having some sort of battle.
"Poseidon and Zeus," Percy said, "They're fighting over something, something important that was stolen…aren't they?"
Harry and Chiron exchanged a worried glance. Chiron had mentioned this to him during one of his archery lessons.
The centaur leaned forward in his wheelchair, "How did you know that?"
Percy flushed under their gazes, "The – uh – the weather has been acting weird since Christmas, like the sea and the sky were fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth, and she'd overheard something about a theft. And – um – I've been having these dreams…"
"Cool." Harry said, "Can I go on the quest with you?"
"Hush, child," Chiron admonished.
"But this is obviously his quest!" Harry argued, "Come on, Chiron, I've been dying to go on one for ages!" Harry could hear his old accent shining through his words, which tended to happen when he rose his voice.
"Only the Oracle will decide," Chiron stated, stroking his beard in thought, "Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus seem to be having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something very valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt."
Harry's jaw dropped, sitting up in his chair, "No way! Zeus thinks Poseidon stole his lightning bolt?"
Once again, Chiron sighed, but this time it was the one he used when Harry or Annabeth figured out what he was going to say before he gave a big dramatic explanation, "Not exactly, Harry. Zeus thinks Percy stole his lightning bolt. He is merely placing the blame on Poseidon."
"I'm sorry," Percy cut in, "You lost me the first time you said lightning bolt."
"Do not take this lightly," Chiron scolded, "I'm not talking about some zig-zagged prop you'd see in a second-grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot long cylinder of pure celestial bronze, capped on both ends with godly explosives that make hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers." Oh, so he did get his dramatic explanation after all.
Percy blinked at the centaur owlishly, "And he thinks I stole it?"
Chiron nodded solemnly, "I am afraid so, yes."
"But I didn't—"
"Patience and listen, child," Chiron said. "Olympians cannot take each other's symbols of power. So, if a god were to steal one, they would have a hero do it for them, usually one of their own children."
"So…Zeus thinks that because I am a son of Poseidon that I was the one who stole his stupid lightning bolt?"
The centaur nodded, "Yes, unfortunately."
Percy stood up suddenly, "That's – that's insane! How could I possibly even know how to steal anything from Olympus? I don't even know where it is!"
"It's on top of the Empire State building, the 600th floor, actually," Harry said helpfully.
"One, that doesn't exist," Percy said, "Two, how do you know that?"
Harry crossed his arms, "Because I've been there, dummy. I went on the Winter Solstice with the rest of the year-rounders. It was so cool, Apollo let me play rhythm guitar with him and the Muses, background vocals too. Man, Lou was so jealous." He snickered at remembering the slightly betrayed look on his best friend's face.
"Ok then…" Percy said, wondering if it was possible that this ten-year-old kid could get any cooler. He whipped his head up to face Chiron, "What exactly do I have to do?"
Chiron scratched his beard in thought, "Well, that's the hard part…"
~0~
Percy came down from the attic, looking as if he had seen a ghost, which is what most people's reactions were after seeing the Oracle. Harry's medic instincts kicked in when Percy stumbled at the bottom of the steps, he rushed forward and guided the shaken boy over to the couch.
"Well?" Chiron asked, Harry sent the centaur a glare, can't he see that the poor kid is in shock? For all they knew the oracle told him he has to die or something! "What did the oracle say?"
Percy slumped onto the back of the couch, "She said I would retrieve what was lost."
Harry grinned, "That's great!"
"What did the oracle say exactly?" Chiron pressed, "Every detail is important."
"She—She said that I would go west and face the god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned."
Go west…what god lived in the—oh no! Harry's eyes widened in realization, "Hades."
Percy stared at him, confused, "What?"
Chiron nodded solemnly, "Yes, the Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."
Percy sat up straighter, "Woah, wait. Wh-what?"
"A fury came after you, Percy," Chiron said, "She watched you until she was sure of your identity. If you remember from class, Furies only obey one lord: Hades."
"Well, yeah," Harry said, "But Hades hates all heroes. Especially if he found out that Percy is a son of Poseidon…"
"A hellhound got into the forest," Chiron continued, "Those can only be summoned from the Field of Punishment, and it has to be summoned by someone inside the camp. Hades must have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young demigod before he can take on the quest."
"Great." Percy said, running a hand through his hair, "That's two major gods that want to kill me."
"Actually, there's more than two. Probably." Harry said, trying to be comforting, "Like Hera, but she doesn't like any heroes, mostly because she sees them as symbols of adultery. And don't forget Dionysus, but again—"
"Harry!" Chiron cut off, "That's enough, child."
The boy flushed and looked down at his shoes, "Sorry."
Percy sat up, "Look, if we know it's Hades, why not just tell the other gods? Zeus and Poseidon could just go down into the Underworld and bust some heads."
Harry snorted, "As much as I would love to see that," Harry said, imagining it going on like a playground fight with some world-destroying casualties. "Gods can't go into each other's territories without invitation. It's another oh-so-important ancient rule that they're supposed to follow." He rolled his eyes on the words 'ancient rule,' "But, of course, there's a loophole."
"Correct, Harry," Chiron stated, "Gods may not be able to cross into each other's territories, but heroes have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as they are bold enough and strong enough—"
"Or just plain stupid enough," Harry put in.
"—to do it." Chiron continued as if he hadn't said anything, "No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think gods always operate through humans?"
Percy crossed his arms, "You're saying I'm being used."
Harry nodded, "Yeah, basically."
"No." Chiron stressed, obviously getting annoyed at Harry's commentary, "I'm saying that it's no accident that Poseidon has waited until now to claim you. It was a very risky gamble, but it seems he's getting desperate. He needs you."
Percy was quiet for a few moments, thinking it over. "So, let me get this straight." He said, "You want me to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead."
Chiron nodded in affirmation, "Check."
"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."
"Check."
"And get it back to Olympus before the Summer Solstice, in ten days."
"That sounds about right."
Percy took a deep breath before glancing at Harry and looking up at the centaur, "When do we leave?"
Harry doesn't think he's ever seen Chiron look more relieved.
~0~
Harry could practically feel the nerves radiating off of Percy as they left the Big House. Him on the other hand, couldn't be more excited. His first quest! And Chiron is actually letting him go! Sure, it had taken some convincing and some real serious puppy dog eyes on his part. But still, Harry's going on his first quest!
"This is so cool!" Harry said, practically vibrating with his excitement, "I actually get to do something. I mean sure, I've been on a few hunts with the Hunters of Artemis, and that was fun, but I didn't really get to do much, and my mom was never there, so what's the point? But this? This is my first quest! They're so rare as it is!"
Suddenly, Annabeth appeared out of nowhere, her Yankees cap in her hand as she glared at the two of them. Somehow, the pink in her hair made her look even more intimidating, which really wasn't the effect he was going for. "I want in."
Harry let out a (very manly) shriek and jumped back, "Annabeth! Warn a guy, would you?"
She smirked and ruffled his hair, "That's for dyeing my hair pink, twerp."
He huffed and attempted to get his hair back to the semi-less messy state it was before, "It's growing on you, you know it is."
"And what makes you think that?"
Harry smirked up at his sister, "Because you haven't beat up anyone who's mentioned it in days, that's how."
Annabeth rolled her eyes and looked at Percy, "I want in."
Percy furrowed his brows, confused, "In on what?"
"Don't play dumb, Seaweed Brain, it's not a good look on you." Annabeth sassed, "The quest, idiot, I want in on the quest!"
Percy stepped back, "Oh, um, I was thinking of asking Grover so—"
"So? Take me too, you need three people anyway."
"Um, Annabeth?" Harry piped in, "I'm going too."
She whipped her gaze on her little brother, before glaring at Percy again, "Absolutely not!"
"Annabeth—"
"You are not taking my little brother on a quest to the Underworld, Jackson! He could get seriously hurt!"
Percy looked almost surprised, "I'm sorry, Wise Girl, have you met him-?"
"Yes, I have! He's my brother! There's no possible way he could survive—"
"What's going on here?"
The three demigods whipped around and saw Luke and Thalia standing there, both looking like stern parents about to scold their kids. The scene would have been a little funnier if not for the current situation.
Annabeth huffed angrily and jabbed a thumb at Percy, "This idiot thinks he's taking Harry on a quest to the Underworld."
"Tattletale." Percy mumbled under his breath as Luke and Thalia glared at him and said, at the same time, "Absolutely not!"
"That's what I said!" Annabeth shouted.
Thalia honed in on Percy, "Who the hell do you think you are taking my kid on a dangerous quest?"
Her kid? Harry mouthed the words in confusion, she's never called him that before. It's always been 'Little brother,' or 'Kiddo,' or something like that. She's eighteen, there's no way she thinks of Harry as her own kid…right?
He was brought out of his thoughts by Percy, "Chiron told me it would be for the best! Besides, I've seen him during the war games and training—"
"Neither of which are anything like the real world." Luke said, putting an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders, "I would know." He used his other hand to brush over the scar that went over his eye, reliving the painful memories of the quest that he got it from. He turned to Harry, "You aren't going."
"Agreed." Thalia said.
"But, Chiron said—" Harry's protest was cut off again.
"I don't care what Chiron said, Harry!" She shouted, making him flinch slightly, "It's not Chiron's job to look after you! It's mine and Luke's! And I don't know what I would do if—" She couldn't even finish her sentence, but Harry understood what she was trying to say.
He stepped forward and hugged his oldest sister, who didn't hesitate to hug him back, "I can't promise that I'll be completely safe, I would be a complete idiot to. But I'm also not the helpless five-year-old kid you found abandoned in an alley. I can defend myself now. I have magic. I can do it!"
Thalia pulled away from the hug but kept her hands on his shoulders, seeing nothing on Harry's face but sincerity, "You're way too wise for a ten-year-old, you know that, right?"
Harry shrugged, "Eh, I have moments."
She smiled and ruffled his hair, "Ok, you can go."
Harry grinned and pumped a fist in the air, "Yes!"
Luke looked at her in surprise, "Wait, what? No, he can't!"
Thalia glared up at him, "Yes, he can. But on one condition," She looked at Percy, "Annabeth has to go with you."
Luke's eyes widened, "Thalia, you can't be serious—"
"Luke!" Thalia cut him off, "You're head counselor, remember? You can't leave camp during a crisis like this. And I – as much as I hate it – can't go either. Two children of the big three on the same quest is too risky. Annabeth is going in our place."
Luke looked like he was about to protest again, but eventually conceded, "You're right."
Annabeth smiled as Percy started to protest, "But, what about Grover? I was—"
Thalia cut him off with a wave, "Grover was already sent on another mission by the Cloven Elders, he won't be back for a few days. Which is time you guys don't have if you want to make it back by the Summer Solstice."
Percy stared up at her, "How did you know that?"
The daughter of Zeus shrugged, "I just do. Now, I believe you three have some packing to do."
~0~
Did you like it? I sure hope you did!
Keep in mind that I'm still kind of a beginner writer and this story is NOT beta read so if there are errors I apologize.
Anyway, some people have questioned who Harry's love interest is going to be. I want to remind you that Harry is currently ten years old and doesn't have to worry about that quite yet.
Now, with that in mind, if you have any ideas, hit me up. If it helps any, I was thinking about making him bisexual. But again, he's ten so...yeah, not much to worry about right now.
If that's all, I'd like to remind you guys that you're amazing and some of the best readers a girl could ask for.
Love,
-LittleMissReadsTooMuch
