Disclaimer: I do not own any Percy Jackson storylines and characters, nor any Harry Potter characters. The only thing I own is this story plot. Everything else belongs to Rick Riordan and J. K. Rowling.
Ginny was the first to break the silence. "So…Grover has…donkey legs?"
"If we were to refer to everything from Ancient Greek," Hermione said slowly. "Then I'm pretty sure Grover has goat legs, not donkey ones."
"Why are you so sure of that?!" Ron asked incredulously. "Why would he have animal legs anyway?! What the bloody hell is going on?!"
Hermione glared at him. "Well Ronald," she said icily, "it's the only thing that makes sense."
"Oh really? And why would it make sense?"
"I think," Dumbledore interjected, "That we'd all like to hear your reasoning Ms. Granger."
"Yes dear, please elaborate," Molly added.
Hermione looked around at everyone and saw them all looking at her expectantly. She sighed but began to explain anyway. "The book has been telling us about Percy and the things he goes through. But there has been one constant throughout the whole book."
"Greek Mythology," Harry said after a moment.
Hermione nodded. "Exactly. Since chapter one, we've heard about the class Percy takes to learn about it, figures and monsters that originate from it, and for some reason, Mr. Brunner, Grover, and even Mrs. Jackson seem to be in on something big."
"Grover cursed in Ancient Greek when he finally caught up to Percy and his mum," Luna pointed out.
"And didn't Percy say that when he was younger he thought he saw a man with only one eye?" Neville added. "What did you say those were called?"
"Cyclops," Hermione answered. "See? Everything seems to point to Greek Mythology."
"But how does that explain Grover having animal legs?" Remus asked.
"There are creatures from Greek Mythology that were described as having the upper body of a human and a lower body of a goat," she explained. "They're called Satyrs."
"So you think Grover is a satyr?" Harry asked.
"As I said, it's the only thing that makes sense. Especially when he saw those old ladies at the fruit stand. He knew they were the fates and that cutting someone's life thread meant they were going to die. That's why he wanted to take Percy home himself and why he was so freaked out."
"So we're saying that Greek monsters and creatures exist?" Ron asked. "That it's not just some spell that's bringing them to life?"
Remus looked thoughtful. "We already know that these people aren't wizards or witches. Which means that it has to be something else."
"But what does all of this-"
"-have to do with Percy?" the twins asked.
Hermione frowned. "I…I'm not sure."
Snape remained quiet as everyone discussed theories. But when the twins asked their question, a light bulb went off in his head.
'Can that really be the answer?'
Dumbledore was the one to catch the thoughtful expression on the potion master's face. "Severus? Is there something you'd like to say?"
Snape snapped out of his thoughts and looked around to see everyone staring at him. He scowled slightly, but answers nonetheless. "I was just thinking about what Ms. Granger said."
"And? What did you deduce?" Dumbledore questioned, Hermione's eyes widening in shock slightly.
"She said that everything points to Greek Mythology," he explained. "That the creatures that are being described all come from it. Isn't that right Ms. Granger?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
"But the question that Mr. and Mr. Weasley asked made me think of something."
The twins looked confused. "What we asked Professor?"
Snape nodded. "You asked 'What does all of this have to do with Percy?', and I think I figured out the answer."
Molly sat forward. "Really? Well, don't keep it to yourself, Professor Snape, what's your theory?"
Snape resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her. "His father."
"His father?" Remus asked in confusion.
He nodded. "Remember at the start of the book, Mr. Jackson said he didn't want to be half-blood. His mother is obviously a muggle, so his father must be the one that isn't. And since Ms. Granger said that everything points towards Greek Mythology, his father must be someone from myth as well."
Silence immediately sounded when Snape finished explaining his theory.
"This is the first time I'm saying this," Ginny said. "But professor, you're a genius!"
Hermione nodded in agreement. "It makes sense. Percy can see all these things because the half of him that isn't human, comes from Greek Mythology!"
"He was able to understand Grover cursing in Ancient Greek," Luna pointed out.
"And his mother being in on everything means she knew exactly what his father was," Remus said. "She said that his father wanted to send him to a safe place."
"Okay okay," Ron said hastily as he raised his hands in a placating manner. "So we agree; Greek creatures and monsters exist. But then, what does that make Percy's dad?"
Harry spoke up. "There's a lot of monsters, creatures, and people in Greek Mythology Ron. It's not that easy."
"Maybe it is," Hermione said slowly.
Everyone turned to look at her. "What do you mean dear?" Molly asked.
"Well, I highly doubt that Percy's father is a monster," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "So that just leaves the people and creatures left."
"But that still a lot," Harry pointed out.
"Other than monsters and creatures, what else is in Greek Mythology?" Ginny asked.
"There are the Greek gods and goddesses," Hermione said.
"'Greek gods and goddesses'?" Ron repeated.
She nodded. "Yes. In Ancient Greek, the people looked to the gods and goddesses for guidance and help. Like for instance, the believed the Sun God Apollo to be the reason the sun always came up and that his twin sister, The Moon Goddess Artemis, was the reason the moon rose in the night."
"Whoa," Neville said in awe. "So, it's possible that Percy's dad could be a Greek god?"
"It's a possibility," Hermione admitted.
"Wow," Harry said. "To think that there are creatures, monsters, and gods hiding in plain sight."
"Well to be fair we do the same thing," Ginny pointed out. "I mean, muggles and muggle-borns don't even realize our world exists until the Hogwarts letter arrives."
"True."
"Let us continue reading," Dumbledore said. "Your questions will be answered."
"But what about food?!" Ron cried in horror.
Plates of sandwiches appeared on the table in front of everyone. "Never mind," Ron said as he picked his own up.
"Who's going to read this time?" Harry asked as he picked up the book.
Ginny held out her hand. "I'll do it."
Harry slid the book across the table towards her. She picked it up and cleared her throat. "My Mother Teaches Me Bullfighting."
The twins looked at their mother with hope shining in their eyes. "Mum, do you think-"
"Absolutely not," Molly said immediately. "And don't think of asking again."
The two of them began sulking, much to everyone else's amusement (sans Snape).
We tore through...she kept her foot on the gas.
Every time there was a flash...kind of shag-carpet pants.
The twins tutted in disapproval. "Shame on you Percy for not knowing the latest fashion craze!" Fred said in false outrage.
George sniffed. "Shag-carpet pants are all the craze in the states. I'm surprised he hasn't found out."
"You two, stop talking," Molly said sternly while the other teens laughed.
But, no, the smell...a wet barnyard animal.
Ron snickered. "I hope he doesn't say that to his face."
All I could think...know each other?"
"He couldn't have worded that differently?" Hermione asked in exasperation.
Grover's eyes flitted...I was watching you."
"Watching me?"
"Stalker!"
"Keeping tabs on you...I am your friend."
"At least he's genuinely his friend," Harry commented.
"What I want to know is why Grover was looking after him in the first place," Hermione asked.
"Um...what are you exactly?"
"That doesn't...right now."
"Yes, the bloody hell it does!" Ron exclaimed after swallowing a bite of his sandwich. Hermione smacked the back of his head for his language use.
"It doesn't matter...is a donkey-"
Grover let out..."Blaa-ha-ha!"
I'd heard him make...more of an irritated bleat.
"Goat!" he cried...waist down!"
"But I thought he said it didn't matter," Ron said with a frown on his face.
"You just...didn't matter."
Ginny stopped reading to glance over at the red-faced Ron. "Ronald, I think you should stop commenting on things. You keep copying them."
Ron ignored her and everyone else's chuckling to take another bite of his sandwich.
"Blaa-ha-ha! There are...for such an insult!"
"Whoa. Wait. Satyrs...Mr. Brunner's myths?"
"Were those old ladies...Mrs. Dodds a myth?"
"So you admit...Mrs. Dodd's!"
"Why is he still on about that?" Neville asked.
"Well, everyone was denying it happened," Luna pointed out. "He must've thought he was crazy. Wouldn't you be relieved to find out you weren't crazy?"
"Point taken," Neville conceded.
"Of course."
"Then why-"
"The less you knew...should be perfectly obvious.
"So that's why Percy's mom didn't say anything," Remus said thoughtfully. "If he was aware of his heritage then monsters would be able to track him easier."
"And also why Grover and Mr. Brunner denied anything that was going on," Hermione added.
"Hey, speaking of, what exactly is Mr. Brunner's role in all of this?" Ginny asked.
No one had an answer to that.
We put Mist...realize who you are."
"Who I - wait...do you mean?"
The weird bellowing...still on our trail.
Tension once again began mounting in the room.
"Percy," my mom said...have to get you to safety."
"Safety from...after me?"
"We'd like to know too!"
"Oh, nobody much...few of his blood-thirstiest minions."
"The Lord of the Dead?" all the teens repeated in confusion.
"Hermione," Harry said as he turned to face her, "isn't there a Greek god of the dead?"
"Yes," she nodded. "Hades, the Lord of the Underworld."
"Okay," Molly said. "But why would Lord Hades be after Percy? He's still doesn't understand their world yet. Heck, we don't even understand and we're reading his thoughts."
"If we keep reading, we'll find the answers we're looking for Molly," Dumbledore said.
"Grover!"
"Sorry...drive faster please?"
I tried to...something this weird.
We swerved onto a...signs on white picket fences.
"Where are...I asked.
"The summer camp...father wanted to send you."
"The place...me to go to."
"Please, dear...You're in danger."
"From Hades, the Lord of the Dead," Ron said as he shook his head. "I don't think that will ever stop sounding weird."
"Because...cut yarn."
"Those weren't old...the fates.
"See?" Hermione said Harry, emitting a smug air as he sat back with folded arms.
Do you know what...when someone's about to die."
"Whoa. You said 'you'.
"No I...said 'someone'."
"You meant...As in me."
"I meant...Not you, you."
"I am so confused from that conversation," Neville admitted.
"Same here mate," Ron said, the rest of the teens, sans Luna, nodding in agreement.
"Boys!"...mom shouted.
She pulled the wheel...lost behind us in the storm.
"What was that?" Harry asked.
"What was...asked.
Harry groaned. "Thanks a lot, Ron, now you got me doing it."
"OI!"
"We're almost there...Please. Please."
I didn't know where...wanting us to arrive.
Outside, nothing but rain and darkness...She'd meant to kill me.
"Really?" Ron asked skeptically. "It's just now sinking in?"
"It could be delayed shock," Remus pointed out. "Maybe somewhere in his mind he still believed that what happened was just his imagination. His situation was just settling in."
Hermione spoke up. "It's like when muggle-borns first realize that magic is indeed real. Well, you know, except for the running-for-your-life-from-monsters thing."
Then I thought about Mr. Brunner...and the sword he had thrown me.
Snape filed that tidbit away for later.
Before I could ask...boom! and our car exploded.
"What!?" Molly said in shock, expressions of horror on everyone else's faces (sans Dumbledore). Even Snape was looking at the book in Ginny's hands with wide eyes. "Their car exploded!?"
"I'm sure things are fine Molly," Dumbledore soothed the anxious woman. "There are still many chapters in the book, not to mention there are four more books to be read."
"Percy may be alright, but what about his mother and Grover!?"
Dumbledore wisely didn't say anything more on the subject.
I remember feeling...hosed down all at the same time.
Ginny paused in her reading. "Um...how would he know how all of that would feel?"
"Some things are best remained hidden from us," Remus said with a shake of his head.
No one disagreed.
I peeled my forehead...said, "Ow."
Harry laughed. "So, after describing all of those sensations, all he has to say is 'ow'?"
Hermione sniffed. "Sounds like Ron."
"Would you lay off?"
"Percy!" my mom shouted.
Molly sighed. "At least she's okay."
"I'm worried about Grover," Neville said with furrowed brows.
"I'm okay…"
I wasn't dead...eggshell and rain was pouring in.
Lightning...only explanation.
Hermione frowned. "Lighting isn't supposed to act like that. When you're outside in a storm, the safest place is supposed to be inside your car."
"Maybe it had help?" Luna suggested.
"Perhaps…"
Next to me...motionless lump. "Grover!"
"Aw man-"
"-really hope the poor bloke-"
"-makes it through."
Molly had covered her mouth in horror, along with Luna and Hermione. The book shook slightly in Ginny's hands as she continued reading.
He was slumped over...I don't want you to die!
Then he groaned "Food...was hope.
Harry snickered. "Nah, Ron's more like Grover than Percy," he said to Hermione.
She nodded sagely as Ron glared and everyone else laughed (sans Dumbledore and Snape).
"Percy," my mother…Her voice faltered.
"Oh no, what's going on now?" Hermione asked fearfully.
I looked back...hands made it look like he had horns.
Ginny's voice became shaky at the end while she described the figure. When she finally finished, she looked up at Hermione. "What is that...thing that Percy just described?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know," she answered truthfully. "I don't have enough details."
"Well, at least we can agree that a monster is after them," Remus said.
"Percy," my mother said...out of the car."
My mother threw...tried mine. Stuck too.
"Not good," Neville said.
I looked up desperately...edges were sizzling and smoking.
"Definitely don't go out that way," Harry said with a shudder. When he was still going to muggle school, his science class talked about natural disasters in the world. One of them was lightning storms and his then-teacher went in depth at how damaging they could be, especially if you were in the storm yourself and managed to get hit by a lightning strike.
Snape and Hermione, who also went to muggle school, shuddered as well, although Snape's was more subtle.
"Climb out the passenger's side!...see that big tree?"
The twins blinked. "What does a tree have to do with anything?"
"What?"
Another flash of lightning...crest of the nearest hill.
"That's the...mom said.
"Oh."
"Get over that hill...stop until you reach the door."
"Why is she talking like...she isn't going with them?" Molly said hesitantly.
"Mom, you're coming too."
Her face...looked at the ocean.
"No!" Hermione gasped with Luna looking frightened as she gazed at the book in Ginny's hands.
Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Neville were all staring at the book in realization while Remus and Snape were feeling familiar icy tendrils going down their spines.
"No!" I shouted...Help me carry Grover."
"Food!"...a little louder.
"Be quiet Ron, you'll give away your position!" Fred said. He blinked. "Oh wait, that's Grover."
Ron just sighed in aggravation, not wanting to make his throat hurt by arguing.
The man with the blanket...And the points that looked like horns…
Hermione and Harry perked up slightly. 'Horns?' they both thought.
"He doesn't want...wants you.
"Why is that...thing after him anyway?" George asked.
"Maybe because he's half human and half Greek?" Remus suggested.
Besides, I can't...property line."
"Why wouldn't she be able to cross the property line?" Ron asked.
"Maybe because she's all muggle," Hermione suggested after a moment. "I mean, we do the same thing with muggle-repelling charms. Maybe they have something that physically stops them?"
"An interesting theory Ms. Granger," Dumbledore praised, making her blush.
"But…"
"We don't ...Go. Please."
I got mad, then...slowly like, like a bull.
Hermione and Harry glanced at each other. It seemed they were thinking the same thing.
The Minotaur.
"We're going...on, Mom."
"I told you-"
"Mom! I am...with Grover."
Molly sighed. "At least he's loyal to his mother," she said wistfully, thinking about her own son who was also named Percy.
The twins, Ron, and Ginny all glanced at their mother, knowing what she was referring to.
I scrambled outside...if my mom hadn't come to my aid.
Together, we draped...wet waist-high grass.
Glancing back...look at the monster.
Despite the scary situation Percy was in, everyone couldn't help but lean in to hear him describe the monster hunting him along with Grover and his mother.
Even Harry and Hermione, who already know what the monster was, couldn't help but wonder how a real-life one is described.
He was seven feet tall...I mean, bright white Fruit of the Looms -
Fred and George hid their smirks of amusement, not wanting to get reprimanded by their mother for 'smiling' at an inappropriate time.
Which would've looked funny...thicker as it reached his shoulders.
His neck was a mass...get from an electric sharpener.
It was quiet as Ginny trailed off, her voice shaking as she described the beast chasing Percy. There wasn't a face there that wasn't pale from the terrifying images his descriptions painted in their minds. Even the people who weren't familiar with some of the muggle phrases he used were shaking slightly in their seats.
"Bloody hell," Ron said shakily, neither Hermione or Molly commenting on his language use, "Merlin help them."
No one disagreed with his statement.
Ginny took a deep breath before beginning again.
I recognized the monster...he couldn't be real.
Harry and Hermione were both glancing at the book in slight fear.
Hermione, being the lovable bookworm that she is, know all about the exploits of the famous Greek monster.
Harry, who took refuge in the myth section of the library whenever he hid from Dudley's gang, can recall with almost startling clarity, one of his favorite myth monsters.
Although, apparently he's not actually a myth any longer.
"That's-"
"Pasiphae's...said.
Ron blinked. "What?" He wasn't the only one confused.
Hermione waved her hand at him. "Explanations later Ronald."
He looked at her in shock. "You know what that thing is?"
"Yes," she nodded. "And before you ask," she added as he opened his mouth, "no, I will not saying anything. I'm pretty sure Percy will explain anyway."
"I wish I'd...to kill you."
"But he's the Min-"
"Don't say...have power."
Harry frowned. "So saying a monster's names are like when someone says 'Voldemort'?" he asked, ignoring mostly everyone's flinched.
Remus frowned. "I don't know," he said truthfully. "The way she said it sounds different."
The pine tree...uphill at least.
Everyone nearly groaned at the implications.
I glanced...again.
The bull-man...were only about fifty feet away.
"Food?" Grover groaned.
George groaned. "Ron, you're going to get them spotted." He stilled. "Oh wait…"
Fred nodded. "I know, I got them mixed up too."
The others laughed slightly, dissipating the tension a little.
Ron merely sighed.
"Shhh,"...Doesn't he see us?"
"His sight and hearing...we are soon enough."
As if on cue, the bull-man...before coming to a stop. The gas tank exploded.
Not a...Gabe saying.
Everyone laughed at that. Even Snape had a smirk on his face at the fate of Gabe's car.
"Oops," Harry said wickedly through his chuckling.
Oops.
The laughter intensified.
Ginny had to make an effort to control herself enough to continuing reading.
"Percy," my mom said...Do you understand?"
"How does she know all of this?" Neville asked in confusion.
"A mother will go to great lengths if it meant protecting her child," Molly said gravely.
Harry flinched slightly, her statement hitting too close to home. He thought about his own mother, who refused to step aside and leave him vulnerable to Voldemort, even if it had lead to her death.
"How do...all this?"
"I've been worried...selfish, keeping you near me."
"Keeping me near you? But -"
Another bellow...tromping uphill.
He'd smell us.
The tension was back.
The pine tree...Grover wasn't getting any lighter.
Everyone, sans Snape and Dumbledore, was showing sickly white faces.
Snape, although not as affected as the others, was clenching his fists tightly under the table.
Dumbledore wasn't affected at all, considering he knew the outcome.
The bull-man closed...he'd be on top of us.
My mother must've been...Remember what I said!"
"She is so brave," Luna said in awe.
No one disagreed.
I didn't want to split up...He reeked like rotten meat.
He lowered his head and...aimed straight at my chest.
"Why does he have to be so descriptive," Hermione moaned.
The fear in my stomach...last moment, I jumped to the side.
Everyone sighed in relief, Snape not as obvious as the others'.
"That's good, he's alright then," Neville said, the twins, Ron, and Harry agreeing with him.
The bull-man stormed past...who was setting Grover down in the grass.
"Oh no," Molly gasped.
We'd reached the crest...half a mile away. We'd never make it.
Everyone was staring at the book in Ginny's hands with such intensity it was a wonder it wasn't set aflame.
The bull-man grunted...to lead the monster away from Grover.
"Mrs. Jackson will forever have my respect," Harry said quietly, his tone solemn.
Hermione and Ron nodded in agreement.
"Run Percy!"...Run!"
But I just stood ...she struggled, kicking and pummeling the air.
"Mom!"
She caught...last word: "Go!"
All the women had silent tears running down their faces and even the men/boys were struggling to hold their composure.
Ginny has to clear her throat a couple of times before continuing.
Then, with an almighty roar...blinding flash and she was simply…gone.
There was a moment of silence as everyone came to terms with what Ginny had just read. They all silently acknowledged the bravery of Sally Jackson, the woman who loved her son so much that she sacrificed her life for him.
Harry and Neville were the only ones who can marginally understand what Percy had gone through.
However, there was someone who wasn't sad about what happened. Granted, he could say that he felt…sympathy for Percy and what he just went through but he wasn't sad for him.
Mostly because Severus Snape was certain that humans, mortal or half god, do not die in a flash of light.
'I'll keep this to myself…for now.'
"No!"
Anger replaced ...gotten when Mrs. Dodds grew talons.
"Kick his arse!"
"Ronald Weasley!"
"What? Everyone's thinking it!"
The bull-man ... dissolve too.
I couldn't...that.
I stripped...rain jacket.
"Hey!" I screamed...Ground beef!"
Fred and George tutted in disapproval. "Percy, when fighting the bad guys, you're supposed to have awesome insults -"
"-and that wasn't one of them," they said.
The tension abated a little as the teens gave weak chuckles at their byplay.
"Raaaarrrrr!" The monster...his meaty fists.
I had an idea...better than no idea at all.
"He's right," Harry muttered to himself, thinking back on all the times he had to do crazy things to accomplish what he needed to do.
I put my back...jump out of the way at the last moment.
But it...like that.
The bull-man...way I tried to dodge.
Everyone held their breath in fear.
Time slowed down.
My legs tensed...landing on his neck.
Breaths were let out at the same time in shock and disbelief.
"How did he do that?" Harry asked.
How did I do that?
"We'd like to know that too, mate," Ron said, his face pale.
I didn't have...impact nearly knocked my teeth out.
The bull-man staggered...rotten meat burned my nostrils.
The monster shook himself...thing had only one gear: forward.
"Beat him down!"
"Make him taste pain!"
"BOYS!"
"Sorry, mum."
Meanwhile, Grover started...my mouth I'd bite my own tongue off.
"Food!" Grover moaned.
"We get it!" Ron said as he noticed his brothers beginning to open their mouths. "We get it. I'm just like him."
"So he finally admits it," Hermione said teasingly.
Ron gave her a betrayed look while the teens laughed.
Snape didn't react at all and Molly and Remus smiled at their interaction.
Dumbledore remained silent.
The bull-man wheeled...got ready to charge.
"Uh oh," Neville said.
I thought about how ...tensed, gave a surprised grunt, then - snap!
Everyone looked at the book in shock.
"Did he just pull off that thing's horn?" Hermione asked faintly.
"Yep," Ginny said as she gazed down at the text.
"All by himself?'
"Yep."
"No external help whatsoever?"
"Uh-huh."
"...Okay then," Hermione said in shock as she sat back.
Harry, the only other person besides Hermione who knows what the monster actually is, sat back in his chair in shock as well.
The bull-man screamed...head smacked against a rock.
There were winces of sympathy when that part was read.
When I sat up...bone weapon the size of a knife.
The monster charged.
Without thinking, I ...under his furry rib cage.
"Whoa," Ron breathed out.
The bull-man roared in agony...the same way Mrs. Dodds had burst apart.
The monster was gone.
All of the teens let out loud cheers, whoops and whistles ringing throughout the room as they celebrated. Remus and Molly let out quiet laughs as they watched the kids and Snape let a small smile across his face for a second before it was back to his usual blank look.
Dumbledore merely smiled.
"Hey!" Ginny said over the cheering a moment later. "Settle down, the chapter isn't over yet."
That got their attention, and soon enough everyone was settled back in their seats, looking at Ginny expectantly.
The rain had stopped...I'd just seen my mother vanish.
I wanted to lie down and cry...but I held on to Grover - I wasn't going to let him go.
Molly smiled. 'What a sweet and loyal boy.'
The last thing I remember...a pretty girl, her blond hair curled like a princess's.
They both looked...the one. He must be."
"The one?" Remus asked, his brow furrowed.
"Silence, Annabeth...Bring him inside."
It was quiet when Ginny set the book down on the table, everyone lost in their own thoughts about what was just read.
"Well," Ginny said into the silence. "That was an interesting chapter."
