Chapter Eight

All congratulations go directly to J.K. and Uncle Rick. Thanks guys!

The next morning at breakfast, Professor Jackson was handing out notices to the Gryffindors and directed a glare at Harry as he passed. This was not unnoticed by Neville who also sent them a sharp look.

Harry looked down at his plate and pushed his bacon and eggs around with his fork, muttering replies to the excited chatter all around him.

As soon as Ron and Hermione finished their breakfast, Harry seized their arms and pulled them out, well aware of the fact that Neville was following them. He dashed down the corridors, hoping to reach the common room before Neville could catch them.

Unfortunately they were cornered in the charms corridor, just outside Professor Flitwick's classroom. Neville looked angrier than Harry, Ron or Hermione had ever seen. Even when the Carrows had taken over Hogwarts he didn't look this scary. Back then was just a calm determination.

"What did you do to get Professor Jackson mad?" he questioned threateningly.

"Nothing, nothing at all...I don't know what you're talking about," Ron tried to lie. "I'm sure you're just pulling my foot."

"Pulling your leg, Ron," Hermione corrected under her breath.

"We both know you're lying," Neville took one step forward. "What. Were. You. Doing."

Hermione glanced at her friends. "We wanted to know what he was doing and why he came to England when he didn't help in the war and only now showed up, so we used the Marauders Map and the Invisibility cloak to find him and it just so happened that he was training and we asked him some questions but he told us to leave so we did," Hermione said in one breath.

"Wow, take a breath Hermione," Ron murmured in her ear. Neville looked murderous.

"You WHAT?" Neville exclaimed, uncharacteristically angry. "You walked in on a Praetor while he was training and didn't apologise! What is wrong with you? These training sessions are the only way he can blow off some steam at the fact he has to come here. Granted, the Giant War was two years ago, but still! He had to postpone his wedding. The whole of Camp Half-Blood was-"

Neville clapped a hand over his mouth. "Ignore that last part," he said quickly. "But seriously, you couldn't even apologise, could you?"

He held their gaze for a moment. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked down at their feet. To tell the truth, they had been feeling rather guilty about interrupting the professor in the Room of Requirement.

Suddenly footsteps were heard coming down the corridor. Professor Jackson turned the corner, and by the hard look on his face, he had heard the entire conversation. Harry looked up.

"Sir, I would like to apologise," he blurted. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to intrude whilst you were training and asking so many questions."

"Yeah," added Ron, "sorry."

The professor's face softened slightly at the apology and his signature lopsided smile appeared back on his face.

"Don't worry Harry, I forgive you," he said, "but don't come walking in on me again, 'kay?"

Harry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Thank you Sir."

"Now, you better start getting ready to go to your lessons while I talk to Neville. I don't think Severus would like you to be late."

Ron and Hermione shuddered and scampered off down the corridor, Harry lingering for a second longer. He looked over at Neville and saw a him looking down at his own feet and scuffing the floor with his toe; a stark contrast to a few minutes ago.

Neville looked up and Harry could see awe and admiration swelling in his eyes. It was obvious that he looked up to Professor Jackson, and Harry was sure it wasn't just because he was a teacher.

Harry walked away, acting casual. He could see Ron and Hermione waiting for him at the end of the corridor but pulled them around the corner so that they could hear Neville and Professor Jackson's conversation.

"What are you doing?" whispered Hermione fiercely. "Why are you suddenly so eager to spy on him? Yesterday it took Ron to convince you. Ron. And he's the least convincing person I know."

"Hey!"

Hermione elbowed Ron into silence and looked expectantly at Harry. Harry just shrugged.

"I dunno really," he admitted. "I just have a funny feeling about him. He feels a bit like Lupin. Not quite human."

"I don't think he's a werewolf."

"No. Of course! I had no idea Ron!" Hermione said sarcastically.

"What? Really Hermione?" he frowned. "I thought you of all people would have realised- oh. Oh. It was sarcastic... Yeah... I got that."

Harry looked at him strangely then shook his head. "Shh. Let's listen."

"-gave too much away," Neville was rambling. "It's just that you've been my mentor for years, since I was claimed after the Titan War and it made me really angry that they would do something like that and not apologise and I know that it was silly so-"

"Whoah, whoah there," the professor interrupted. "What are you talking about? It's like you want me to tell you off. You of all people should know that telling people off is really against my nature. If it were Reyna or Annabeth it would be a completely different story."

They both shuddered. Neville nodded in agreement.

"Those girls are scary."

"Agreed. Anyway, I know what it's like to be mad at someone. Many times I have argued with Thalia. Many times it was over who should lead the games of Capture-the-Flag. Chiron would always give us cleaning up duty when that happened. Then again, I don't need to now, since she's a hunter."

Neville grinned. "You still get into arguments," he said. "She'll zap you and you'll douse her."

The professor rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. Her lightning is painful. She's got stronger too. Anyway, just try to be more careful, 'kay."

"Yeah, thanks Percy."

"Hey, hey, hey," the professor protested, "that's Professor Jackson to you."

"I won't call you Percy, Praetor," Neville teased.

"Why does everyone call me that?" he moaned. "I was only Praetor for literally a few hours before we were whisked away on the Argo II. And Jason gave Frank Praetorship over Camp Jupiter while I was...in the pit."

"Yeah, but you are the only honorary Praetor the Legion has ever had," Neville argued. "Plus, you technically are Praetor of Camp Half-Blood since we adopted some of Camp Jupiter's traditions and stuff."

Professor Jackson pouted. An expression that somehow seemed was used a lot by him. He looked like a baby seal. Neville fell into peals of laughter.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," the Professor muttered. "You better get to lessons. Breakfast finished five minutes ago."

Neville suddenly stopped laughing and looked pleadingly at Professor Jackson. "Can't you tell Severus that you kept me behind. He will literally murder me if I'm late."

"Haha. You have to deal with it. Besides, murdering is more Nico's style."

Neville raised an eyebrow. "Have you seen Severus's array of poisons? It's terrifying."

"You better get going then. See you."

"See you."

Harry pushed his two friends against the wall as Neville sprinted past them to get to lessons. Harry slowly released them as he heard Professor Jackson's footsteps retreating in the opposite direction.

"What was all that about?" Ron asked, completely confused. "It was like they were really close."

"For once, Ron is right," Hermione agreed. "It was like they knew each other. Well, we do know that Neville is definitely on our side. He cut off Nagini's head and destroyed the horcrux with the Sword of Gryffindor and his mysteriously acquired sword skills. So why is he helping someone so obviously dodgy?"

"I don't know," Harry replied thoughtfully. "But let's worry about that after Snape's lesson."

The three of them paled and sprinted off in the direction of the dungeons, completely forgetting to collect their stuff from the common room. Let's just say that Snape was most definitely not pleased, and the potions cupboard has never been cleaner.

So...two chapters as an apology. Maybe three. Depends how fast I can write the next one.

Anyway, over here in France the weather is beautiful and I went down a red slope today! I'm really happy about that. Plus I fell over face-first in the powder snow while our ski instructor took us off-piste. Apparently all the rest of the group could see were my skis flying around the corner in the air. So fun. I face-planted and got snow all down my neck. It was amazing. But wet.

1 WEEK LATER: So...as I am putting this on FanFiction, it is actually the end of my skiing holiday. It has been one of the greatest holidays I have ever experienced and I have a dozen stories about how me, my friend and my sister went on many of the slopes and even into the next valley. We fell over many times, did a great deal of jumps and never got bored of going on the chairlifts. So great.

The downside, however, is that in the apartment we stayed in, we couldn't get wifi. We had no wifi for a week! It was painful. We went to a restaurant with free wifi, but it was so slow I could barely get onto the internet or access my emails. Or perhaps I'm just used to the speedy wifi I have in my house.

The journey home was tedious. We were driving. My sister was travel-sick on me, and to add insult to injury, she was sick while reading this fanfiction! SO UNFAIR! The journey was 14 hours long and I made my friend laugh so much she spat water on me. My parents told my friend embarrassing stories about when I was a baby and naturally we had to wait for an hour and a half at the EuroTunnel to board.

Despite all this boring jibber-jabber about my holiday, it was great! Skiing is amazing and I will now cut to the point and answer reviews!

shiningsilverwolf: Thanks!

chameleonunlimited3: I will not leave you hanging!

Aviendhaphiragon: I know...poor Percy. And yes, first week of the holiday is gone and we have two more weeks. Lucky us!

SwordOfTheGods: I feel so embarrassed. I usually pride myself on grammar...guess I got this one wrong. Thanks for pointing it out!

Daughter of Ares 74 77: Thanks! I give you the next chapter!

gsunny6: So many times. Sometimes I wish I had a mind palace like Sherlock where I can keep all the important things in my life. Like fanfiction stories, new ideas, reviews that I posted, the best stories I read, quotes from the books, best fanart I've seen and of course, the books themselves. My main priority.

Pinkgrl999: I will give you the next chapter! Thanks for the enthusiasm. Love your PenName by the way. Also, I think that the reason that Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't ask Percy about how he could see through the cloak is because they were preoccupied with other stuff. Then Ron was rude and he threw them out. So, no time to ask. Plus, the only other people to see through the cloak were Mad-Eye Moody (not very comforting) and (possibly) Dumbledore. So it's not new. (Have I mentioned I love your PenName? I do.)

Guest: If Travis and Connor met Fred and George, there would most definitely be mayhem. Unfortunately I can't think of any good pranks...so I may need help with that.

That Girl Who Lived: *Trembling in fear* I will not be the cause of your death...I would never do that! So, instead, I have updated. Thanks for the review!

The God of Animals: Thanks!

elephantlover123: Thank You!

Amelia Loves Anime: Yes, Percy doesn't have the most pleasant of pasts, does he? I feel for the guy...it's what fangirls do. And the Golden Trio don't help at all, thank you very much. Thanks for the review!

Guest: I will!