Summer Hiatus
Please pay attention to this note. I promise this will not be discontinued, but I am taking a break. Summer has arrived, I'm about to go to a summer camp, meaning no electronics for about a month. After that I have no idea what time I'll have. I will update when school starts again, and if I do during the summer it will be random and sporadic.
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o0o Chapter Twelve o0o
"Alarte!" a feeble beam of light shot out of his wand.
"Glacius!" a satisfying, but thin sheen of ice covered a small portion of the tree where the spell hit.
"Everte statum!" a slightly brighter beam shot from his wand.
"Locomoter wibbly!" a flash of light illuminated the clearing.
"Obscuro!" a short ribbon flew towards the tree.
"Reducto!" the twig he aimed at broke into three.
"Humenum Revlio!" nothing happened which, he supposed, was actually a positive.
"Immobulus!" another light was produced.
It was five A.M., and Percy was already in the forbidden forest, practicing. He had been woken up by night terrors early in the morning. Rather than even attempting sleep, he decided to put the time to use. He knew even trying for peaceful sleep was futile anyway.
By seven the demigod was tiredly trudging through the forest and towards The Great Hall. He wanted to be at breakfast for two reasons: Firstly, with all the sneaking around after hours and through forbidden places (mainly the forest), Percy wanted to avoid all suspicion. Secondly, training for two hours worked up a bit of an appetite.
The demigod sat down at the Gryffindor table, and wasn't surprised when he found he was one of few. Seven o'clock breakfast on Saturday was not all too common. He served himself some porridge and was nibbling on it when Olivia plopped down beside him—she hadn't even looked up from her book yet.
"So, why are you here early today?" she grilled—still sounding distracted— though she knew it wasn't plainly because he was hungry.
Percy was too tired for this right now, and resolved to just take another bite instead of responding.
"What a fascinating alibi," she deadpanned.
"I couldn't sleep," he grumbled.
"And what were you doing before this, huh?"
"No offense, but why're you at the Gryffindor table today? Because I know you would only dare break rules like this if it were absolutely dire," he stabbed back, obviously attempting to redirect the conversation.
"We're coming back to this by the way, but haha. How many times have I told you the trip to Hogsmead is today?"
"Too many really. Now, how many times have I told you I'm not going?"
"Yeah, alright, you've said that, but why? It's Hogsmead. You can get out of this school, and there's candy and prank stuff and-"
"I told you, there're other ways I want to spend my weekend."
"And I told you this is the best way to spend it."
"And I told you that-"
"That's great! I'm so glad you're going."
"I- why do I even try. I'm not going, alright? It's not like you can drag me there."
"I can magic you there though."
"People would notice."
"No, actually I've gotten pretty good with making it look natural."
"I'm only a bit terrified of how you got the practice for that," he laughed.
"You'll never know... actually scrap that. You're my next practice dummy, you'll know exactly how."
"I doubt that, I can run way faster than you and I can dodge faster than you could ever guess."
Olivia just groaned in response, "Oi, stop beating around the damn bush. You're going to Hogsmead and you can't stop it."
"Fine."
"See, that's all it takes."
"But, I'm not staying long."
"You'll change your mind, now go change."
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"You're just about covered in dirt."
Percy took a glance down and found his shirt was, in places, soaked with sweat, and dirt was smattered all over his pants as well as a bit on his shirt.
"That's... alright, I guess that's fair, but come on, you're exaggerating."
"Yeah, so? Doesn't matter, you'll have to change anyway."
"Fine, fine, that's also fair, " he sighed and gave in. "So, you done with breakfast?"
"Am I? Really, I just got here."
"Well I assumed you ate at-"
"Nah, my table's too boring. Besides, now you have time to change. I'll eat, you shower, change, then come back and we'll go."
"I still don't really want to, I'm not sure-"
"Mmm, nope, we aren't going downhill. You agreed. Now, go. You have until I finish breakfast."
"Right, fine. I'll be back."
:-:-:-:
Soon enough, Percy was back at the Gryffindor table with wet hair and a clean outfit. He was rather annoyed at his attire, he'd ended up putting a robe on, even though he didn't like it. It was too cold to do otherwise, just walking around in a shirt would be a little too chilly—even for him.
As he arrived, Olivia hadn't even noticed, being too enthralled by her book. He plopped down next to her and as she still hadn't become aware he was there Percy attributed this to the fact that he might have just been too quiet.
He ended up doing that sometimes. He was used to being quiet, sneaking around, making no noise. After years of practice living with Gabe, he'd gotten rather good at it. It'd even become a habit. Oftentimes, he forgot about it.
The demigod sat there and decided to just wait until his friend noticed, eventually, he knew she was bound to. That time finally came maybe, fifteen minutes later, as far as he could tell. Although with his ADHD he could never really be sure how much time had passed.
She had sighed and muttered about how Percy was taking forever and then as then startled so badly as she realized he was sitting next to her, the demigod thought she was going to fall off the bench. He just laughed at her as she began muttering under her breath. Words Percy was not privy to understanding.
Olivia gathered her things, stood up, and then proceeded to pull Percy off the bench and towards the door.
The two chatted about various things as they made their way down the path leading to Hogsmeade. Percy couldn't help but feel he was wasting time. Although, he had to admit a break from the stress was nice. But he couldn't get the nagging feeling to go away, that he needed to get back to practicing.
Soon enough, they arrived, and Percy was surprised at what he saw. He wasn't really sure what he was expecting, maybe more imposing structures. Old buildings, drab and primitive. But this... this was beautiful.
It was a little village, the buildings all resembling houses. Small but sweet—simple, but elegant somehow. There was a central pathway leading through rows of the buildings. A chilly wind blew through the village, yet the place still gave off a safe, warm feeling.
The demigod gazed from their vantage point, a vision of the small town flashed through his mind. He looked around again and he found, he could only see it in shambles. Reduced to scorched rubble. Percy had seen what magic could do. He was only beginning to imagine what a war could do.
Shops and inns broken down, hit by stray spells, piles of blackened debris, places blown up, wood and stone strewn everywhere. Bodies littering the ground, puddles of blood, the dead everywhere. Percy had stopped dead in his tracks, pulled into a trance by his own brain, captured by grisly images.
He knew too well what a war could do. He knew he'd stopped, he felt his face start to lose color. But he couldn't bring himself to move, he forgot where he was at the moment.
Suddenly, he felt a tug on his arm, he jerked out of his stupor and turned to Olivia. She was staring at his eyes, worried. They were questioning as well.
He took another step, and found he was rather rigid, he continued stiffly, eyes staring blankly ahead. After a minute, the demigod began to register how cold he was. He shivered and kept going. After another minute he began to think he was hearing a voice, he stopped again and looked back.
Olivia's voice was getting louder now, she was running after him.
"...ercy. Percy, wait up. Percy, what," she was panting, "what happened? What's wrong?"
"I… hmm?"
She finally caught up, "Percy what the bloody hell was that?"
"It's uh," images of the camps flashed through his mind, torn up, in a mess, after the war, he saw himself back in the infirmary at camp, it was so crowded, full of maimed children... "nothing." He couldn't let that happen here.
Percy felt something inside him break, the wall he was trying his damned hardest to hold up. It had just shattered. He had tried for so long to convince himself this was someone else's war. The last two wars he'd fought in hadn't really been his either—those were the gods' fight. He and countless other kids had fought it though. Here, the same would happen if the school was attacked, and even if it wasn't, this village could be. All the ordinary people here would die, and besides all of that—Harry Potter was being pushed down the same path as he had been.
Forced face first into a war, forced to be the face of it. He was only sixteen, and already the kid had faced the dark wizard five times. Furthermore, Percy knew that wasn't it. If Harry was anything like Percy, the demigod knew there was more. For someone like that, death and violence must have plagued him.
"Jackson! By Merlin's pants, listen to me and get moving."
"Ah, yeah, right, of course. Let's go."
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Olivia inquired as they walked the last stretch towards Hogsmeade.
"Um, you know now that I think about it... not really, no. Why?"
"You keep stopping, are you just exhausted or what?"
"Yeah, I'm really tired. Why can't we just come back another time?"
"Percy, we are hardly ever allowed out here. We can't just go whenever," Olivia said, exasperated.
"Oh yeah, right. Well, here we are I guess."
"Yeah, finally," Olivia sighed. "So, what d'you think?"
Percy glanced around, the town seemed even more pleasant and fragile up close, "It's… charming."
"You don't like it? I know you said you're used to tall buildings and all but-"
"No, really, I do love it. It's a cute village. Taking a step back from the huge city can be nice sometimes." Percy just wished he didn't have to leave it all behind. And for so long, he was missing the Big Apple.
"Yeah, I guess I get that. So, where do you want to go first?"
:-:-:-:
They spent the next hour and a half walking around, going into shops, chatting, and even stopping at The Three Broomsticks for a snack.
Meanwhile, Percy was just barely holding himself together. There were so many quaint houses and shops, so many happy faces and people. His mind's eye, though, kept creating devastating images of everything he saw. He really wished it would stop. The demigod could barely keep the tears in at some points. He managed his façade though, he'd had one up for long enough.
The demigod knew though, at some point it'd fall. He just had to keep it in place long enough, later he'd find a place to fall part alone. Then somehow, he'd piece everything back together—Percy just felt like a mental mess kept together by will power, practice, bubblegum, and duck tape.
He did, however, find that it wasn't a total waste of time to go; he found assorted clothes he thought Dobby might like. Percy planned to take them back to the castle and shrink them all a considerable amount before giving them to the elf.
He didn't know exactly what was the elf's favorite but he figured a pair of socks, a shirt, and some shorts as well as proper shoes might be favorable to him. It was a kind of thank you to him for constantly having some food for Percy when he most needed it.
He also got a few prank items he saw Olivia looking at, she had said her parents wouldn't have approved of her sending their money on pranks. He tried to buy things for her but she wouldn't let him. He got them anyway and said it was for him. The demigod just had to find a way to get to the Ravenclaw dorm to drop the bag of things off.
He had also found a book of magical history, it had looked kind of interesting, it was about the wars. He had also found one all about Hogwarts, the founders, its history, and also some about its architecture. He knew nothing would make this alright, but he hoped Annabeth might be able to enjoy them... Whenever he saw her.
At one point, they ran into Luna. He introduced Luna and Olivia; they walked together for a while. The demigod quieted as the other two talked. After only a few minutes he felt himself burning out.
"You guys can do whatever, but I think I have to go back. I'm freezing. And tired."
"Ah c'mon we've hardly been here for any time at all," Olivia complained.
"Don't let the chill get you on the way back," Luna advised.
"I told you I wouldn't stay long, and I'll try."
"Oi, Percy you're no fun."
"Who ever said I was?" Percy questioned grinning at Olivia.
"Just stay a bit longer?"
"Nah, I'm tired and cold. I'll see you back at the castle."
"Fine, fine… buzzkill."
"I know, what a party pooper I am. Bye guys," Percy said as he waved and headed on the path back towards the school.
:-:-:-:
Percy had made it onto the final stretch, close enough that he could see the castle looming in front of him. A chilling scream ripped through the crisp air, guttural and full of pain.
Percy sprinted towards the sound; it hadn't lasted long, though. As he arrived, he saw a girl was suspended in midair. Her mouth was open as if still screaming, but no sound came out. Her face was contorted into that of pain. She was twitching violently, limbs jerking every which way.
Standing beside him was, who he guessed to be, a friend of the student who had screamed. She was crying and choking out (mostly) incomprehensible strings of words, of which he could roughly distinguish 'I told her not to touch it.' He had no idea as to why, but Ron, Hermione, and Harry were standing there as well.
Percy was trying to think of the best way to help; the best he could do, he figured, was stand under the girl. At least when she fell, she wouldn't break anything. It seemed he had perfect timing; he'd only taken a step towards her before rushing forward to catch her falling form. He dropped his bags in the process but it didn't matter.
The demigod had helped Will before in the infirmary; without the practice he'd had then he wasn't sure he would be able to hold onto the twitching girl in his arms. Immediately he set off at a run. The wind was cold and running in a robe was no easy feat. Adding to the difficulty, he began singing.
Over the last month or so that he'd been at camp, he'd learnt something from the Morpheus cabin. Annabeth and him had been having terrible nightmares, ones they couldn't snap out of or go to sleep after. He was desperate to stop them, Annabeth always looked so tired and worried—he hated it.
He went to the Morpheus cabin for help. There was a lullaby they could sing, it calmed a person and led them into a peaceful sleep; they didn't think he'd be able to do it. He persisted, they attempted to teach him. Eventually, he managed it.
He sang that same song now, hoping to calm the person in his arms. Her face was still full of pain, and she was still screaming silently; the twitching seizing her to no end. He couldn't bear to see anyone in such a state of agony.
Percy could barely breathe, but the song didn't falter, nor did he slow. Gradually, her twitching slowed. Soon her eyes, which had been staring unseeingly upwards and full of terror, had flitted closed. After a bit longer her mute cry seemed to cease, her mouth closed and relaxed into a default expression. The closer they got, the more her face and body seemed to calm.
:-:-:-:
Percy burst through the castle doors and darted up the stairs. By now, the girl in his arms was completely limp, a small smile gracing her sleeping face; a stark contrast from just minutes ago. Almost all of the student body older than twelve was out in Hogsmeade, but there were still plenty of kids to stare and attempt to talk to him.
Panting and gasping for air, singing his song between heavy breaths, the demigod made it to the Hospital Wing and spilled the girl onto one of the many cots adorning the walls. The song could loop forever seamlessly, but it always had to have an end. Now, he sang a new verse, ancient Greek calmly rolling off his tongue, bidding a sweet rest and a calm sleep.
He should have kept going—for he knew it wouldn't hold forever—but he now went and ran for the nurse. He knocked on the door to her office, and she came out, visibly surprised to see him there, with more than a hint of confusion painted on her features. Red faced and panting, Percy stood her a moment and caught his breath. She only stared.
"There's- on the first bed, there's a girl. She's cursed- I don't- I don't know what with, or how. I was walking back from Hogsmeade and she was," he heaved another breath, "she was floating in midair. And she was screaming, and then she just dropped and went silent—even though it still looked like was screaming. I caught her and ran here. I uh, I sang a song my mom taught me, she said my dad told her it was magical. Even though she wasn't a witch herself, every time she sang it, I fell asleep. I sang it to her, and she calmed down. Ah, well her body did, it seemed she was unconscious, but she was twitching and mutely screaming…"
The nurse hurried toward the aforementioned bed as Percy finished his account. The nurse seemed to be contemplating something as she stared at the girl lying on the cot. Percy thought she may be assessing her, but there wasn't much more to understand then what he'd said, and she wasn't asking questions either. Deciding she was taking too long, he just gave his own input.
"Mrs. Pomfrey, my song won't hold long, she'll revert to her earlier state soon. She was in agony, I don't want to put her in pain or in possible danger. I'd give her anything you think would calm her mind and body—you have to have something of that nature. I don't know what the curse is, but maybe you have something that lifts or lessens curses generally or-"
"If I wanted your opinion, I'd ask for it Mr. Jackson, I see what you're saying, but I'm not falling for this. This is a prank if I've ever seen one, you've charmed this poor girl to sleep, and you want my help to further it. I am not going to partake in this Mr. Jackson, I see nothing wrong whatsoever."
The nurse began muttering to herself about students and turned to go back into her office. "Please, you have to help, I'm no good at magic, there's no way I can fix her!"
"No means no Mr. Jackson, I told you I see through your prank. Now don't you keep bothering me about this," she'd made it to her office, stepped inside and had now shut the door on him.
Worriedly, he looked around, there was no possible way he could perform any magic on her—the risk of messing up was too great, in addition, he'd focused so solely on combat magic, he knew next to nothing about healing spells.
He also couldn't risk leaving her here alone, if she started to wake up, her pain would be silent, the nurse would never notice. The demigod turned back around, already she began to twitch again. Defeated, Percy resigned to sit down and start his lullaby and stay right beside her bed until someone arrived. He was hoping Hermione, Harry, Ron, and the girl's friend would come. Maybe then they'd get the damn nurse to listen.
Even in a magic school, he was treated the same. He sighed and sat down in the bed next to the girl's and began singing again. His voice was so smooth and deep and beautiful—even the cursed girl calmed down immediately— it was one he could never have mustered while running.
He sang on autopilot; already lost in his thoughts. Always, always was he treated as if he were dumb, as if he were no good, as if everything he did broke a rule. Nothing he did could ever be counted as good, no it had to always be a trick, false. He hated it.
In only a minute, the nurse came back out. She was stumbling and yawning, she called the demigod's name, he however was so lost in thought and song, he took no notice. She tapped his shoulder weakly, and that's all it took for him to spin around and have her wrist in an iron grip.
She was still drowsy, but much less so now, Percy's reactions alarmed her. "What in the world-"
"What do you want?" he growled out more harshly than he realized. The sudden touch had triggered an involuntary action, effectively jerking him back to reality and halting him in taking care of the girl. He let go of the lady's wrist.
"What," Madam Pomfrey heaved a yawn, "what are you doing?"
"This is my lullaby, the one I told you won't hold. I intend to sing it until you will help this girl."
"You have to, to," she yawned again, "you have to stop. This is, this is madness…"
"You're right, this," he gestured vaguely around the room, "this is madness. This girl is cursed. She's cursed! With something terrible. She was in pain. And you, the school's nurse, are refusing to even help. While I, a sixth year, with no experience in the medical field, attempt to lure her into a peaceful sleep with a lullaby. Can you not cast some spell, check if I'm lying, end this madness; help someone who's desperately in need of your help!"
"You're a good actor, I'll give you that. Your little group that planned this picked the right person, but I refuse to let you sing me to sleep, I see your plan now. I have to ask you to leave."
"Well, I have to refuse that offer, now I am going to sit down, and I am going to continue my song, I will not stop until someone sensible arrives. You may cast whatever noise-canceling spell you want on your door, but I refuse to stop doing the only thing I can to keep the pain away from this student!"
With a final huff, Percy sat back down and began singing. Accepting that he would not budge without a fight, Madam Pomfrey walked back to her office, and as suggested, cast a muffling charm on the door.
Percy sat, singing, for another minute or so. Finally, the others who'd seen the girl fly into the air arrived—hopefully they would be able to talk some sense into the nurse. He was surprised to see them red in the face and out of breath, it seemed to him that they'd taken their sweet time. Only then did remember that he was a demigod and could run a bit faster than the average human.
Well, he figured, better late than never.
"You," Hermione panted, pointing a finger at Percy, "how in Merlin's name did you get here so fast?"
The demigod in question held up a finger to signify he wanted her to wait, the four who had just arrived looked at him, visibly incredibly confused by the ordeal.
Percy continued his verse then sung the last one again—he hoped it would hold for long enough. Even more so, he hoped he could shove some sense into that damned nurse.
"That- that was weird. That wasn't even English, why were you singing? I have so many questions…," Ron blurted as soon as Percy had ended the song.
"It was a magical lullaby, to keep her in a peaceful sleep, now I just hope it'll last, we have to-"
"Why didn't you just get the nurse to treat her?" Hermione butted in, "I mean, if she can, I wonder how bad-"
The person who he'd assumed to be the unconscious girl's friend burst into tears again.
"I'm sure she can be treated," Percy reassured, "but in the meantime, we need to get the nurse to actually help her. She is refusing to currently; says she thinks it's a prank. You guys are going to have to convince her to help. Or maybe get a sensible adult who would be able to convince her to help."
"She's not going to help?"
"I'm shocked Harry, have you never heard of idiot teachers before? They seem to be present here. I've definitely had a go with a few so far."
"Well, I have but Madam Pomfrey…"
"You should meet me hun, adults seem to distrust me just a bit. Now stop wasting time, someone get McGonagall, I have a feeling she'll see reason, and the other two of you try and convince the nurse to actually help."
"I'm going to watch over her," he said, gesturing to the girl lying in the bed.
Hermione went off to get McGonagall, or at least that's what he hoped she was doing—she left the hospital wing anyway. Ron and Harry went towards the nurse's door and knocked. The girl's friend just stared between them, having nothing to do. He gestured for her to sit beside him—she was still crying softly.
"She's going to be fine, you know. She was in pain earlier, but that's faded. I rushed her here, and all the while I've been singing a lullaby my mother taught me. The song itself is magic, it's for those who cannot sleep, it eases them into a peaceful rest.
"If a lullaby alone can calm her mind, with proper treatment and rest, in no time she'll be fine. I promise. What I sang may not be proper treatment, but it could not have harmed her in any way. In fact, I was rather hoping it did not let the worser part of the curse take root. The peaceful nature of this magic may have rejected it. I may not be a professional, but I can tell you right now, with confidence, that your friend will be just fine."
"I-" the girl beside her sniffed out, "thank you. I'm just really, I'm really worried about her. That- that curse, whatever it is seemed really bad. Her hand just brushed across the necklace and- and, you saw what happened."
"It must have been strong, but she's lucky to only have lightly touched it. And as I said before, I believe the worst of it hasn't been able to take root. It's understandable to be worried, I am as well—it's natural. She will be fine though, I promise you. I do think it would be helpful to know the curse, however. Do you still have the necklace?"
"We brought it, but we made sure not to touch it. Hermione had it in her bag…."
"Ah, and it's right over there, perfect. McGonagall may be able to find something out using it when she gets here. I do wonder though, why isn't the nurse here yet?" Percy mused aloud. He turned to look at the door of her office and found Ron and Harry standing in front of it, talking. Suddenly he remembered, she more than likely was deaf to the outside world.
"I'll be right back," he said, addressing the student beside him, "tell me if anything happens. If she stirs it's probably fine, but if she mumbles it could mean vivid and bad dreams, if she twitches, tell me, she could wake up. Inform me immediately, I can sing her back to sleep."
He then headed over to the other two boys, and instead of even attempting to knock, he just cast a spell that unlocked her door. Thankfully, the spell worked. It swung open, and a very surprised Madam Pomfrey stared back at him. Her face first flashed with surprise, I however, quickly turned to anger—Percy's face hardened as well.
"You have no right to-"
"No, you have no right to deny those in need of help. Outside, in your hospital wing, is a cursed girl. If she is not treated soon, the curse will take hold and worsen. Here," he gestured to Ron and Harry who stood behind him, staring at the exchange, "are two people who also saw her as the curse first attacked her. Right by the girl, is another, and coming back with McGonagall, will be another. The cursed item that this girl was unfortunate to touch, is in a bag just over there. Come out and listen to reason. I've led her into a peaceful rest for now, so she feels no pain or terror, but it will not hold, and" Percy laughed bitterly, "it certainly didn't heal her."
The nurse bustled out of her office, annoyance written clearly on her, between her body language and expression. Behind it though, he sensed, and thought he saw some self-doubt and worry. Good, he thought, she better feel bad about this once reality gets through her thick skull.
As soon as the nurse arrived bedside, McGonagall stepped through the hospital wing doors—he sorely hoped she'd see reason and fix this ridiculous problem.
"Why is Miss Granger claiming a student has been cursed?"
"Professor, it's true, walking back from Hogsmeade I saw this girl… well I'm not too sure what happened, I think it'd be best if they explain it," the demigod was a mess of hand motions and was talking so fast the others could hardly understand him. "The main point though is that the nurse thinks it's all a prank and she won't help. I did my best to calm her and keep the curse from taking too deep of a root. I'm not practiced though, and I can't do much and it'll only last so long. I fear if she isn't helped soon, the effects would worsen, and take hold and I have no idea what would happen then. My theory is that it could be… um, I- it wouldn't be good…," he trailed off, not wanting to speak his final thoughts. He feared a curse that strong, if left unchecked, could easily be life-threatening, or greatly debilitating at the least.
"Mr. Jackson, and it would do well for you to slow down so we might have a chance of understating a single word you say next time. I also believe it ought to be them who tell me what happened, seeing as you were not there to witness the entire event."
"Professor, I mean no disrespect, but helping this girl should come quick as possible. I understand it's important to understand what happened in order to best help, but please hurry this."
"All in due time Mr. Jackson, we ought to know what we're dealing with before we try anything. Poppy, what have you done so far?"
"She decided that this isn't worth her attention," Percy spit out coldly, "she thinks it's a prank; she hasn't done anything."
"Minerva, you can't possibly believe them!"
"How can you not? Now as the medical professional here, please do help. I'll call Severus to check the cursed item itself."
Satisfied that McGonagall was taking a sensible approach, the demigod cast a disillusionment over himself. He wanted to leave that moment, but he stayed. Sitting on a bed a bit further away, he watched the nurse finally go to the girl's bed and begin to examine her. Later, McGonagall came back with Snape. They examined the necklace. Later Dumbledore was called in. They talked and talked, although he could hardly focus on any of the words said.
Madam Pomfrey, it turned out, couldn't do much. She at least gave her a proper potion for peaceful sleep, and charms were cast and potions given to prevent the curse from taking further hold. She was later sent to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies.
It was officially out of his hands—he'd done all he could and watched over her. He probably shouldn't have zoned out, but after being hyper focused and singing and finding a way to get the cursed girl help... well, he could only hold on to his attention for so long.
Once she was off to the hospital with teachers accompanying her, Percy snuck out. He was aware they were looking for him at one point, McGonagall wanted to know as much as she could about what had happened.
He had been called upon, only for them to realize he was no longer there, and yet he did not reveal himself. The demigod was aware this could become a problem, should he be 'missing' for too long—right now however, he couldn't bring himself to care.
He went right out to the lake, charm still in place. Once there he elected to simply dive in, no one could bother him there—no one from the school anyway. Sure, the mermaids could, but the majority of them seemed more than happy to stay away.
Percy swam until he reached the bottom, then he simply sat down. He needed to sleep away from people for now. Those screams, because of his purpose he'd been able to block it out, but they awoke more memories within him.
He laid down on the soft sand and sang his lullaby. He sang to block out his thoughts, to cease the tears, to ease himself to sleep.
He knew it was possible he could wake up and Hogwarts could be looking for him, but he doubted it. Percy pushed it to the back of his head.
He had no idea how long he'd sung, or how much time had passed, but he had eventually fallen asleep.
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Very sorry, but this may be the last time I update in a while. I promise, promise, promise, I will update again, it may just take awhile. I am also sorry that I've been taking so long with all of my chapters, I'm trying to better my mental health and this story is only being updated when I can. I'm hoping next school year, I will be able to more frequently update, especially in the beginning.
Side note, you've no idea how happy I'd be to come back after almost a month to some reviews, and who knows? Maybe PMs. Recently, I haven't been feeling great, and haven't wanted to talk (irl either) so sorry that I haven't been responding to PMs or reviews, but I think I'm better now.
Also, guest from the last chapter, whatever ideas you have, I'd love to hear em. And to the other two, I appreciate your kind words, thank you. :)
Thank you for reading. BBB :)
(6/5/21)
