Chapter 2:
The moment that both Moody and Sally turned grey was the moment that they realized that Perseus was never going to stop getting into trouble. Each time they tried to apprehend the little troublemaker, he'd smile and they would just melt.
Never had any of Moody's colleagues seen him like how he is now. Constantly sharing stories and showing photos of his nephew. Only to those that he trusted.
The auror had already gained a reputation for putting many magicians in Azkaban. He knew that Sally had been seeing through his disguise. One day he had to show his amputated leg, Perseus, however, had been able to see through his disguise easily. The twirling eye was something that he always laughed at.
Sally saw that the chunk of his nose was missing. Alastor just laughed and dismissed it with a quick wave, "Didn't know that there was a hazard at work.".
He never understood why his older sister, Estelle, mother of Sally, never told her about the magical side of her family. All that they told her was that they have some weird friends and work some weird jobs outside of London.
Respecting their dead wishes, he kept quiet. But seeing how Perseus is growing and causing more mayhem around him. It should be addressed, eventually.
Then, he realized that he was being followed whenever he'd go back to the Jackson estate. Out of panic, he hid for a whole week. Using a polyjuice potion, appeared outside their door, knowing when the two were gone.
He casted many spells and engraved many things, so he'd know anyone with a magic signature would be near or in the house. He won't let anything happen to his family, not when he can't protect his sister.
Over time as Perseus got older, they heard less and less of the joy that entered Alastor's life. His colleagues eventually stopped asking when Moody mentioned someone being after his family.
Years pass and as Perseus got older, how more Sally noticed what happened around the boy. Sometimes she'd stare at the broken or vanished item, before squinting and then shrugging.
Those were days that Moody thought that she knew. But some days he tried to talk about work, replacing machines with some magical terms, and she'd just look at him. Lost and just a smile on her face.
Some days he'd pick Perseus up from school, some days the eight-year old would be quiet and just beaten down. Those were the days that Moody would bring him out to the Leaky Cauldron. He'd do something that others might not consider a wink, since, you know, his eye. "Don't tell your mother." He'd whisper and slide a butter beer across the table. "When you're at an age, you'll be at this school. Outside of the perimeter, you'll have fun stores and café's. Get yourself a butter beer."
Perseus gave a smile and nodded.
Their little secret.
On the way back home, they got attacked. For a whole minute, Alastor didn't know what he was fighting until he recognized it and whispered, "Gytrash." The ghastly head of what looked like a dog stared at him with empty eye carcesses. Moody whipped out his wand and shouted at his nephew, "Get behind me! Now." He ordered and his mindset switched.
Now, he was an auror. When he felt a hand cling to his back, Moody knew that he had to end it quickly, who knows it's whole pack is going to show up. The forked tail could only be glimpsed when the ghastly dog would pounce. Each time, Alastor pulled Perseus away from the dog.
"Vermillious!" The auror casted and red sparks sizzled against the spirit. The dog whined and made itself small. "Get away or be gone!" He shouted. The dog tried to pounce again and Moody retorted.
After the dog gave up and ran away, Perseus and Moody speed walked home. Moody grabbed the boy's backpack, and held it tightly.
The auror misunderstood how fast they were supposed to go because Perseus could not keep up with Alastor's pace. With a suppressed groan, Perseus let his backpack go. When his uncle couldn't feel any weight behind it, he stopped and looked around.
Moody couldn't believe his eyes as he laid them upon the little boy. "Why didn't you say anything?" He asked as he went down on his knees to check the boy's forearm more closely.
Three scratch wounds sat as he bled through his little boy's school outfit. Moody began muttering under his breath, "I'm no medical wizard but I do know something that'll stop the bleeding." He said gently as he rolled up the sleeve. "I'm dearly sorry for not noticing Perseus." He whispered, "I'm dearly sorry for the pain this'll cause as well."
The auror whispered and sung under his breath as Perseus panted, pain was worsening and his wound was trying to piece itself back together. First the blood stopped gushing out and down his shoulders. When the blinding pain came for Perseus was when skin started to expand from his unbroken skin and over the wound. A bright pink scar is the only reminder of what happened.
"We must tell your mother." Moody said, "It is time for her to know the truth."
Perseus blinked and asked, in a quiet voice. "What truth?"
"Two birds, one stone." Alastor said as he hurried Perseus to start walking. "I'll tell you alongside your mother." He said. A small sweat went down from his face, he wanted to wait as much as possible to avoid the wrath of Sally Jackson. Especially when it comes down to her baby boy, but he knew it can't be avoided for more than twenty more minutes.
The walk home was paranoid. Perseus kept staring at the shadows and squinted in the direction of the smallest thing he heard. Alastor can't help but huff with amusement, he used to be like that in his early auror days, but he couldn't help to feel uneasy as well, those Gytrash are mostly found in groups.
As soon as they're a street away. A feeling rang up his back and sparks flew from his wand. "Perseus." He whispered in silent panic. "Stay in the garden for a second." He ordered and ran.
Boy, he hadn't ran like that in years. It was only one street and he was already a bit winded. He had no clue how someone got into his home like that, with a moment of strength, he kicked the front door in and shouted, "Sally!"
Pure panic and sweat dripped down his eyebrows. "Sally!"
No, he can't lose her.
Not when she reminded him so much of Estelle.
"Sa-"
The concerned woman rounded the corner of the hall, "Alastor!" She chastised him, "Must you shout?"
"Who's here." He asked, deep breaths in and short breaths out.
Now it was Sally's turn to look panicked. "W-Well.."
"I'm Perseus' father." A deep voice said, dark eyebrows and thick beard looked at him. Majestic eyes, Alastor couldn't help but squint at the man. A slight change of personality and he'd have his wand between the so to speak fathers eyes.
"Mum?" A voice shouted, concern laced the voice.
"He can't see me." The father whispered and took out a potion.
Ah, a wizard.
A wizard about to throw a potion at Perseus.
Before the man could do anything, Alastor had already pointed his wand at Perseus and muttered a clear, "Stupefy." The boy turned and before he knew it, he fell back onto the couch, knocked out.
"Explain." The two men said at the same time.
Moody squinted at the man and held the wand at him threatendly. While the man had summoned a weapon, a trident, and held it in a way that could get the wizard killed.
A cold laugh escaped the woman. "Both of you, explain." She snarled as she looked at Moody. "You show up with a stick in your hand that can cast stupid light that knocks a person out." She took a quick look at Perseus, "I hope that isn't damaging."
Moody held his hands up, "Never."
Then Sally turned to the chiseled man, "You, could've announced that you were going to show up, instead of just sitting on my couch while I'm working."
"I just wanted to surprise you." The man muttered sheepishly.
Moody took a closer look at the man and noticed that the eyes were so everchanging. He took note of how he looked like Sally in age. He noticed how the man's body was littered in scars and only his face was smooth.
"You." Sally pointed at the bearded man, "Why are you here."
"I wanted to see how Perseus was doing with the monsters. I know that it is too early but at this age there will b-"
"If I may interrupt. We have just been attacked." Moody mentioned, avoiding eye contact with both people in the room.
"What do you mean you were just attacked?" Sally said, grinding her teeth.
"We've been attacked by a gytrash." Moody explained, "I fought it off but Perseus got hurt in the process. It was so fast I couldn't see it." Before he even finished explaining, the mother ran to her son and checked his whole body.
When her eyes rested upon the scar, she glared at it with concern. Then glared at Alastor, with less concern, "Explain."
"I'm a wizard." Alastor blurted out. The bearded man choked on his drink as he looked at the one eyed man.
"Your parents were wizards, and you're a full blooded child but have no magical ability. So they ended up not telling you. But it skipped a generation and now it looks like Perseus does have the magical ability." He had blurted it out in one breath and he can see how Sally was processing this information.
"Now might be a good moment to tell that Perseus is a half-blood." The bearded man said.
"Yes, I know. When a pureblooded adult get with a muggle-"
The man held up a hand and Alastor was taken aback with the power that radiated off of the man. "I am no mortal, wizard." The man said angrily.
Moody felt genuine fear at this moment, he opened his mouth but was interrupted by Sally.
"Stop it, Poseidon. You're scaring him." She lectures.
Alastor "Mad-eye" Moody blinked at the man. "Poseidon?" He repeated, "The god Poseidon?"
Poseidon squared his shoulders and nodded, the weapon in his hand had disappeared. "You're telling me that Perseus is half wizard and half God?"
Sally and Poseidon nodded.
"Oh this kid is going to go through hell." Alastor muttered, he didn't know anything about the Greeks, but he did know of the Greek tragedy's attached to children of the gods. That was all that he needed to know.
After a few more words, Poseidon disappeared, leaving a gift for the boy when he woke up in the morning. That night, the two family members stayed up. Moody would explain everything he knew about the magical world and what his sister did. He explained how wizards went to school and how Perseus would get the opportunity to experience Hogwarts like he did.
Sally felt heartbroken, already knowing that Perseus won't be around as much. How they would balance Perseus going to the camp and school. The only time he would be around longer is when there are vacations such as Christmas and easter.
"He'll be having quite the life ahead of him." Sally said as she stroked the hair out of his peaceful face.
Only if she knew what his future had in store for him.
