On August Nineteenth, Jackson woke up. Last year around this time, (2022) Jackson was scrambling, getting his things together for the move. It felt good to be relaxing in a bed. His bed.

But all that made Jackson think about the Abercrombie's. Were they still alive, or...Jackson refused to think that way. Michelle would see her parents again.

Jackson got up, took a shower, ate some oatmeal, and brushed his teeth. It was a busy morning. Bill and Charlie were visiting for the summer, Hermione's parents had decided to let her stay over for the rest of the summer, and Jackson and Michelle were permanently residing there. Of course, everyone pitched in where they could money wise, making the whole thing work. Even Hermione, a book worm, had took a up a job with Charlie helping to tame the baby dragons, putting them to sleep.

Today was the day where they would go get supplies as a whole group. It would be loud, chaotic, and it would be wondrous to see how all of the fit into a car.

"Jackson!!!!!" Ginny screamed from upstairs. "Where's the hair wash?" "The cabinet!"

Jackson walked down the stairs, regular clothes on. They were American. He was glad that Mrs. Weasley had considered his taste when out buying, so now he felt regular in fitted jeans and a Batman shirt.

Jackson grabbed one of Hermione's books, Death of a Glorified Witch. It was about Salazar Slyhterin's wife, whom though not as famous as him, had much more accomplishments and riches. He and Hermione were no strangers to changing books back and forth, since they both read so much and quickly.

Once everyone was ready (which took a long, long time) Mr. Weasley surprisingly didn't pick up the car keys. "It's time, we introduced you kids to Floo Powder. Ron, Ginny, show em how it's done!" The two siblings slowly attached their hands together, quite uncomfortably, and threw the powder to the fireplace. In an instant, the two were sucked into the fire place.

Next, it was Jackson and Michelle.

POV Change

Harry watched as Jackson and Michelle were vortexed into the fireplace, whirling horridly.

"Man, that looks bad." Harry said out loud.

"It'll be fine. Just grab Hermione and think about Diagon Alley. You'll get there ok, one way or another." That was Bill, talking Harry up.

"Ok." Harry grabbed the floo powder in his hand, and threw it towards the fireplace. He grabbed Hermione's hand, and jumped before the girl could finish his sentence. "I don't think that was-" Hermione's arm jerked, pulling her with Harry into a swirling mess.

...

The duo slammed into the ground, on the floor of a dusty place. Harry dusted himself off, and helped pulled Hermione up. Hermione looked around. "This...this isn't Diagon Alley."

"Well, Mione, I could tell as much-"

Harry and Hermione immediately crouched as they heard a voice. "Well, well, well, Borgin. It's nice that we are here again."

"Depends on why you're here, Lucius."

"I'm here to sell, not buy. It's a good thing, too. You're the only person in Knockturn who'd buy."

Harry looked at Hermione who mouthed: Knockturn Alley, a walk away.

Harry turned his attention back to the conversation.

"-it isn't certain I would. What're you selling, and what for?"

"The Ministry had the nerve to raid me. If it wasn't for the quick thinking of my son here...well, that doesn't matter, does it? That point is, I feel as though you would like these items."

Borgin slid the box over and looked through the items. "A wand from the first wizarding war? That's good stuff. This mask is useless...oh, what do we have here? Why would I need a diary?"

Harry could hear Malfoy go rigid. "You don't need it, don't you? It's my wife's. I'll take it."

"No, no need. The rubies on the spine are priceless. With these, I could have enough coin to buy another store." "My wife wouldn't like that. She...she spent quite the amount of time forging those."

"That's good and all, yes yes, but-"

"I said no, Borgin." Malfoy didn't yell, or put any emphasis into his words, but the firmness of his voice and position was enough to stop Borgin from even uttering another word about the book.

"Ok. I'll take the wand and this sword." "How much?" Lucius and Borgin talking on, as if the diary was never apart of the conversation.

"Seven hundred and thirty five galleons." Harry and Hermione looked shocked, while Lucius seemed to brush it off. He whipped out his checkbook, scribbled somethings, then tore it out and gave the check to Borgin. "Pleasure doing business."

Draco Malfoy grabbed the box, pressing it to his chest. Lucius made sure the diary was in his coat before the two strolled out of the store, noses turned upward.

As soon as they left, Harry and Hermione slumped against the shelve they hid behind. "How are we going to get out of here? We've no floo powder..." Hermione whispered.

Harry smiled. "Well, then we'll just walk out of here."

The boy pulled out his Invisibility Cloak, which he always kept on him. He and Hermione piled under the large cloak, and creeped to the front of the store. If they slipped up, then they would be caught snooping red handed.

Hermione caught on and pulled out her wand. She aimed is squarely at a box of packaging popcorn. "Bombardo!" The girl whispered. It wasn't a big explosion, just loud enough to get Borgin's attention.

"Don't tell me the Flaming Lizards are out again! Burkes'll kill me!"

As the store owner ran to the back, Hermione and Harry creeped out the door. Once out of range, Harry took off the cloak.

"Well, that was an informal, yet unfortunate event, eh?"

"There's no time to joke, Harry. Who knows what's going on? Some diary, something...about Malfoy's mother."

Harry frowned. "It's clear Lucius was lying."

"Yes. About what though?"

"Well, isn't that why we find out."

Hermione led Harry down Knockturn Alley. They looked severely out of place, two teen children walking through a grimy place such as this. Once they were free and in Diagon Alley, it was like a weight had been lifted off of Harry's shoulder.

POV Change

Jackson saw Hermione and Harry running towards them. Beside him, Michelle happily licked her banana split. "Harry, Mione!" She shouted once she saw the duo. "Jesus, man. It's been like...half an hour. Where did you both go?"

Hermione frowned. "A wrong turn. Remind me to tell you all later."

Jackson nodded. "We've got your books and stuff, Harry. And your parents got yours, Mione." The girl nodded as Harry put his books into his trunk. "How much is the split?"

Michelle spoke, but only after she gulped down her third one. "On the house!"

Hermione and Harry sat down at the four seater table as Hermione ordered a shake. It was just two galleons.

Jackson looked at Michelle, half disgusted at the way his sister was eating. "She solved the riddle."

"Yeah!" Michelle answered between bites of chocolate syrup covered whip cream.

Jackson rolled his eyes as he drunk his slushy. "What has two words, but thousands of letters?"

Hermione tapped her chin. "A post office."

"Eck, not you too."

The group talked about nonchalant things as they waited for the Weasleys to get done shopping as a family. After a bit, a couple came up to the table. They dressed in casual Muggle wear, getting weird looks for their appearance.

"Hermione! We've looked all over for you."

Jackson turned to look at the couple. It was as if someone gave a man a mustache, and Hermione's face. The woman just had Hermione's hair, but with the way she carried herself, you could tell she was her mother. Behind them, the entire Weasley family walked up.

They were clumped together, so tight that everyone was red. "We've gotten all of your stuff, Miss Late-y Pants, all is left is Flourish and Botts."

The four friends got out of their chairs and joined the already large group. Jackson estimated that it was around at least twelve, and Bill and Charlie had yet to come back.

When the two eldest Weasley boys had finally joined the group, the people moved aside as the large mix made way to Flourish and Botts. They looked an odd tangent of adults and young teens traveling together.

Once the group entered the bookstore, Jackson could tell that it would be a tight fit. It was just in the time frame of bustling buyers, it was the second to last day for the first wave of fresh school supplies, and Flourish and Botts always managed to seem small and packed no matter what.

With that combination, you could see how the Weasley family, Harry, Hermione, her parents, Michelle, and Jackson were barely able to fit in there.

Molly spoke over the noise and riff raff. "We are here for one book for Charms, for every student. And then we'll leave."

But the room got loud with applause as soon as a man in an periwinkle robe set walked in. Jackson, along with Mr. Granger, Harry, Arthur Weasley, Ron, Bill, and Charlie, all felt immediately repulsed by the guy. On the other hand, Hermione, Mrs. Granger, Michelle, Molly, and Ginny seemed to be pulled towards him like gravity.

Ginny squealed and put her hands over her mouth like a little girl who just got a puppy. "That's...that's him...Gilderoy Lockhart!!!!!" Michelle jumped up and down while Hermione went red in the face. Ginny turned towards her mom. "He's giving out autographed books for free!!! Can we go see him Ma, oh can we?"

Mrs. Weasley, who was also red in the face, simply waved towards Lockhart. "We leave in twenty."

Hermione got permission from her mother, and then the trio of teen girls went to go get a signed book detailing the adventures of one Gilderoy Lockhart.

All seven of the males shared a look a disgust, and then let it go. Jackson, Ron, and Harry collected the books needed, and they were just about to go outside to take a seat when an arm bumped into Mrs. Granger.

"Oh, excuse me."

The lady moved past the light blonde haired man.

"It's all me, I was foolishly-"

"I'm sorry I would let such unpure trash grace me, ever."

Jackson's head snapped as he recognized the voice of his archnemesis, one Draco Malfoy.

Ron stepped up first. "Back off, Malfoy. She's done nothing wrong."

"Is that it? Her first wrong, it was being born a sickening muggle, and then the second one was birthing such angering and stupid boar who dared show magical powers."

Jackson could feel a lump forming in his throat. "Boar...you mean..."

"Yes? What other Mudblood witch-"

The amount of shock the registered from the bookstore was at an all time height as Jackson pounced over Ron's back and crashed into the body of Malfoy, sending both of them tumbling into the table where Hermione was getting her book signed.

Malfoy pushed Jackson off of him, and stood up. He pointed at Hermione, giving her a disgusted look. "You, a filthy half blood, fight over her, a dainty muggle born?"

Jackson was fuming so badly, it took him a few tries to get words out. "Malfoy...kill..." Jackson ran at the boy, grabbing his shoulders and delivering a mean knee to the gut. Malfoy doubled over, and Jackson began to punch the boy ruthlessly in the face. Shot after shot, blow after blow. It was so bad, that at least Malfoy's nose would have some lasting damage.

Finally, Malfoy managed to push Jackson off of him, and delivered a punch of his own. Jackson completely ate it, and pushed his enemy to the ground.

Malfoy, seeing no other option, pulled his wand out. Before he could release a spell, his wand flew out of his hand. Surprised, the two boys looked over at Hermione, who had used the disarming spell to get rid of Malfoy's wand.

Jackson hit Malfoy with a couple more punches, and didn't intend to stop anytime soon, but he the arms of Lockhart pulled him off his adversary.

Hermione stood in the corner, crying. That sound, coupled with the faraway speech of Michelle, brought Jackson back to his senses.

"My boy!" A streak of blonde hair, just like Draco's, went and hugged him in an embrace.

Lucius Malfoy had swooped in at the last second, seemingly taking aid to his beaten son, from a bully like Jackson.

"How dare you hit my boy? Don't worry, Draco, we'll be definite to take legal action soon. As of right now, Draco was rolled into a ball, crocodile tears leaking out of his eyes. That made Jackson angrier than before, but he barely managed to hold himself back.

Arthur walked behind Jackson and picked him up. He was about to walk away with the boy, but Malfoy jeered at him. "The Ministry lends a helping hand to an outcast, a disgrace like you, and this is how you repay us. Even when you disrespected pure blood purity, we still took you in, to feed and clothe you. Damn it, you better luck you weren't born Mudblood, or you're skull would've already been on my fireplace."

Arthur looked, for a second, as if he wanted to turn back, but the man held his head high. He grabbed Jackson by his opposite shoulder and walked him towards the Weasley family. "You have to learn when you ignore-"

"Don't walk away from me, you dirt indulging cretins. The fact that you hang with that kind...all of you need to be put down...it's too late...even the children."

Jackson felt Arthur's grip go slack around his shoulders. Then, the wiry man turned around, walked slowly towards Malfoy.

In what seemed to be slow motion, Jackson saw Arthur cock his hand back, and launch it forward into the face of Malfoy.

And that's when the Holy Grail broke out.

POV CHANGE

Rattle, rattle

That was the sound of Hermione's parents opening the door to their house, the girl following close behind. In a complete daze, the girl, gripping her copy of Gilderoy Lockhart's book, walked hazily up the stairs. When she reached her bed, she thought about taking a shower first, but then it occurred to her she had the rest of the day.

Hermione flopped onto her queen sized bed. "Ron...Harry...Jackson...Michelle...Ginny."

It was up in arms that Hermione would go to Hogwarts next year. It was just simply uncertain. With the near constant harassment that was unfolded, coupled with the fact that one of Hermione's best friends just smashed another twelve year old through a table? Her parents were undoubtedly correct to assume that Hogwarts wasn't a safe place.

"Damnit." Hermione cursed into her pillow. She hated the way she had looked at Jackson when he was beating the brakes off of Malfoy's bottom. Hermione wasn't afraid of him. Hell, she even loved him more for it. But...it was she was more afraid of what would happen to Jackson because of that anger. It would affect his mental state, his grades, his wand work, basically his whole life. Hermione didn't want Malfoy's harassment towards her to ruin someone else life.

But Hermione shook these thoughts out of her head. Jackson would hate Malfoy no matter what, it was just the fact that he insulted Hermione every chance he got, that was the icing on the cake. Draco was already a bastard.

Hermione squished her head in her pillow. She was still allowed to visit the Burrow, but she couldn't dare face the others.

Hermione sat up on her bed, hugging the book to her chest. "It'll all blow over." She said out loud. Hopefully, she could look back on this moment in September, as a pit stop on their road.

Being as silent as possible, Hermione crept down the stairs, and listening in on her parents talking. "It's...it was...crazy. I don't know if I can trust my daughter around that. You know she has a hero factor." Mrs. Granger spoke.

Her dad agreed. "So does that Wheeler boy."

"And two hero factors makes for what?"

"Twice the headache. Thinking they can save everyone, failing to save themselves."

Hermione's dad scratched his beard. "He did stand up for my Mione. It was commendable."

"Yes, but that amount of violence is threatening."

"History between them?"

"Undoubtedly."

Hermione trekked downstairs, interrupting their conversation. "Hello, Mother, Father."

"Hello."

Hermione sat down at the table and grabbed a pear. "This must be new?"

"Yes. Look, Hermione..."

"Yes?"

"We...called the mothers of your friends from middle school. Maybe...you could hang with them?"

"No...no, no."

Hermione's father frowned. "Why not, sweetie."

"I don't know those girls. And plus, they talked bad about me almost as bad as Malfoy-"

"The blonde boy was bullying you?"

Hermione only nodded, didn't answer.

Her dad shook his head. "Tell me, what can I do? Arthur beat the daylights out of father. This is..absurd! I'll file a complaint to Dumbledore."

"Do what you want."

Hermione trekked back to her room and closed the door. She was about to lay down for the rest of the day when a huge brown owl flew in, holding a parcel and a letter.

On the letter, it said. Harry, Ginny, Ron, and me, Jackson.

POV CHANGE

Right after the altercation with the wizard

Annabeth Chase ran through the forest at top speed, putting as much distance between her and the wand boy. She cut through shrubs and the like, weaving and bobbing through the cuts. Annabeth felt like a ninja, or even Katniss Everdeen, from her favorite book series right now, The Hunger Games.

Annabeth shook the thoughts out of her head. How was definitely not the time to think about her book collection. That was at home, where she needed to get. The girl sensed what she needed up ahead, and ran until she got to a big red pine tree.

Embroiled on the bark was a symbol: the lightning bolt. Annabeth wanted to cheer, but she wasn't home free yet. Hermione ran past the tree, deeper into the bushes, until she came upon a hill. And down that hill...

It was like a bustling city. Annabeth laughed joyously and ran down. It was a small city of British demigods, living civil, like regular humans.

Before Annabeth could get past the gate, a guard stepped out. "And just who are you?" He didn't talk like a threat, but the six foot stature, the spear in his arms, and the tattoos on his bulging muscles made him so.

"I'm...Annabeth."

"Annabeth who?" The girl didnt respond. The huge man went on. "Little girl, why are you here?"

"I got lost...in the Sea of Monsters."

"In the eye of the Bermuda Triangle? Don't lie to me, little girl-"

Annabeth lifted up her arm to show a long and ragged scar, stretching From the forearm to her fingers.

"That was from a club of the cyclops I killed, the same one that took my friend."

The man looked shocked, even spooked. He stepped aside and walked behind the girl into the gate. "So, why are you here again."

"Would you guys happen to have a drachma fountain?"

...