Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series or the Percy Jackson series. I am not making any money off of this, this is merely a fanfiction.
Sorry about the long wait. School started, life jumped into motion again. I had to say goodbye to the days of waking up at noon...Yeah. This chapter is kind of a filler, and I'm hoping that it will get me back into this storyline again. Again, sorry for the wait...
Chapter 7
The boy lay still, as if dead, entranced in an image that only he could see. Pictures flashed across his closed eyelids, images, that made him gasp and whine occasionally. Severus glanced down at the sleeping figure, noting how the boy wasn't at peace, even during sleep. He could sense the inner struggle that Jackson carried around with him every single day. Loss, pain, desire, hatred. He shivered. This boy had the mkings, not to mention the lineage, for a true dark lord. He could have ended up like his brother. But he didn't.
Why was that? He knew that the boy had seen war. His sharp manner and hard attitude couldn't be completely masked under that quirky personality. Jackson was an enigma. Polar opposites with his brother. While Riddle was stern nd formal, Percy was flexible and outgoing. Riddle demnded tradition and respect, while Jackson couldn't care less about what people thought of him. It's like finding out you have an evil twin, Snape smirked. It was a lame joke s far as jokes went, but he gave himself points for attempt. But who was the dark one, truly, in this pair?
It was cold, rainy, and gloomy. I watched as horse drawn buggies rolled up and down the grey-tinted cobblestone street. I wasn't entirely ignorant of my surroundings, I knew that this was a dream. But judging from the old fashionedness of things, I found myself in the past.. Strange, but welcome to the world of demi-gods, eh? I jumped as a elderly gentlemen with a bowler strolled through me, whistling. He carried a newspaper, all rolled up, and I quickly snagged a look at the date. 16, Septmeber, 1887. I growled. This was new...Suddenly, I jumped as I realized who the man was. I had seen im before. Four years ago, in a certain, fancy, hotel lobby filled with departed souls.
Charon. I gasped, and whirled around, running through a few more ancient londoners, trying to catch up. By the time I got to him, we were standing in an alley, dirty, and unused, a dust bin with a broken lid creating huge shadows on the far wall. It smelled of sweat and litter, and yellowed papers flew everywhere. Very depressing. A whimper snapped my attention to Charon, and I darted over, to see him standing over a bundle of, something...Wild black hair and a guant face, emancipated wrist and a shriveled hand. A young women, I realized. She stred into Charon face, probably in horror, at his empty eye sockets.
The guy was horrible at wooing the other gender. He needed a make over, starting with sunglasses, tanning lotion and a century-long membership to the gym.
"Please!" I glanced down at the women, who was holding something, wrapped up in a dirty, blue rag.
"Take him! Raise him to be...a hero!" The women cried. On closer inspection, I realized it was a baby. A very skinny baby. Charon didn't twitch.
"Please!" The women cried again.
"The lord Poseidon will have nothing more to do with you and our child." He said, in flat tones, staring evenly at her.
"But, but he can't abandon his own son!" The girl cried and I gasped. Tom. So this was what happened. "Tom, named after his father. Please, he's all I have left, I need him to be strong, I need him to grow up!" The girl's pleas had risen tp a shriek now, and I winced. Charon looked unpreturbed, used to dealing with all sorts of people, after an entirity of playing death god's messenger.
"He also wishes to say that if you agree, the child can be stripped of his title and powers. He would grow up an ordinary wizard." The girl whimpered.
"But.."
"A demi-god who no god acknowledges will constantly be endangered. Do you wish to increase his life expectancy?" The women made a small, non-commital sound. "But a bind on his powers. A bind that only the lord Poiedon or one of his true decendants can break." Tom's mother looked down. "It's either that or," Charon slid a hand under his cloak, and drew a glimmering black sword.
"What? No!" I shouted, even though I knew nothing was going to happen. But the women just placed her hand on the child's forehead, and whispered a few words in some strange language. Charon relaxed just as the women threw the child aside and onto the masssive sword. She looked back once, as she fell to her knees.
"Goodbye, Tom..." Charon bore the same bored, neutral expression as before regarding the woman impaled on his sword. Cnapping his fingers, the body dssapeared, leaving only the boy and the monster. Charon frowned as he regarded the child.
"I can tell that you're going to be sending many a soul to my domain. Perhapes," he said, lifeting his sword, "I should just end you here and now, save myself all the work." He stepped forward, and for once, his eyes narrowed.
Tom looked up as Snape entered the great hall, which had been converted to more or less a throne room. Dark tapestries simlar to the ones seen at Malfoy Manor hung on the walls, gloomy, oppressing.
"Well?" The single word, spoken sofetly, lazily, brought the bat like man to a standstill. He bowed.
"My lord. I cannot acertain as to whether or not Jackson will be loyal to you, but he certainly feels some sense of kinship towards you." Tom nodded.
"I have felt that myself. It must be difficult for him, to accept that he has a sibling, one that he cannot relate to. But he is young. Youth can be moulded, just like the ones here, at school. It's good to be back at Hogwarts" Snape nodded, out of respect, more then agreement. He had seen the fire of youth. He knew that sometimes, when you were young, once you knew who you were, you would never let one of those adults meddle. Such was the fire of the youth.
"A plan must be made to divert him. I need him." Severus froze, agape. The dark lord had just admitted that he needed some one's help...Jackson was clearly more then just a newly found pawn. Maybe a bishop...or even a queen...
"Yes. My lord." Tom nodded, and strode forward, dark mahogany robes swishing.
"Well, then. This is what I need yout to do."
To say that I was nervous about meeting my brother again after that little incident...was a huge understatement. I was extremely uptight. I hated when this happened, having no control of the situation at hand. I needed an army, I wasn't as accustomed to espionage as much as Nico, and I had never really been captured by the enemy. Meanwhile, back at camp Half-Blood, they lacked a war chief...It was pretty messed up. I had woken up to a extra large, king sized bed with inside a castle of a room. A elegant chesnut desk stood in one cornor, facing a large double window with emerald curtains drawn across.
What? A single chair stood near my bed, a folded pile of clothes places neatly, with care. I wonder who had done it. Sev? Draco? Lucious? Tom? Unlikely, all of them. Picking the note up, I read the elegant script.
Brother,
I am so glad that we have finally reunited, despite yesterday's dire circumstances. I look forward to your company today as our order celebrate victory and sort out some affairs. For your safety and support, I have assigned to you young master Malfoy, who has a thurough knowledge of the grounds.
Lord Voldemort.
I sniffed. How was I going to get out of this one? I needed a plan. My first priority, was, escape. But since that was unlikely, I had better scope out the other side. I held in my held the alliance of the demi-gods. It was up to me to decide who we would fight for, or even fight at all. I had to choose the winning side-hopefully do what's right. I couldn't let anymor sacrifices be made after the Titan War.
But at least I had somethings figured out. From the looks of things, Tom wanted my co-operation, but he wouldn't push to hard...Despite what happened yesterday. I had a bargaining tool over him, I could restore his godly powers. I just didn't know how...All very loose ends, nothing solid. I huuffed, and turned to the pile of clothing. Reaching down, I snatched up the dark, velvety material.
Fifteen minutes of struggling later, I turned to the full length mirror, examining the result of my transformation. Tom had chosen a long, black robe, with silver linings, a militaristic style front panel with silver buttons and lanyards that stretched across my chest. The collar was high, and regal looking, very stiff, and the black cloak that completed my outfit had a silver trident emblazoned across the back. I snorted, how nice of my brother, after effectively breaking my legs the day before. But of course, my family heritage..had always left something more to be desired.
A stiff knock on the door snapped me out of my self pity. I turned, to see a a figure with traditional Death Eater robes and white hair stride across the room. Draco. I had only seen him from a distance since coming here, and I wondered if he had changed.
"Good. You're done already." Nope. Not at all. "The dark lord reqeusts your presence. We are to go to the great hall in five minutes, Lord Perseus." Although I was 'Lord Perseus' now, Draco's bitter tone and angry stare told me that me still hated my guts from before. I nod.
"Very well. Let us not keep my brother waiting." Hey, you can't help but pick up on court formailty, being the child of gods. I felt Draco shiver as I said the word brother, and I smirked. I would have to pretend to co-operate, for now, and hope that soon, Tom would loosen his watch on me, perhapes, by dissmissing Malfoy. But I didn't want him to replace the boy with some one more competent. Perhapes, an alliance? I would have to see how much dirt I could dig up on Mr. Draco Malfoy.
As we strode down to the great hall, I took note of how much the place had changed. Once a grand and ethereal place, the halls seemed gloomy and depressing. And where were all the students? How could I even think of allying myself with someone like that? No- I argued. I don't care about these wizards...At least I'm not supposed to. They aren't my people. I have to protect the demi-gods. And wizards...are very much our enemies. I gritted my teeth. I had to protect my friends...Where were the gods when you needed them?
With a bang! The solid oak doors of the great hall slid open. A scene so unlike yesterday awaited me. Gone was the chattering and the laughs...a solid wall of black robes stood before me, the tables replaced by a red carpet leading up to the front of the hall where the teacher's table used to sit. Tom. Brother. Closest to me, on my left, were the Syltherins and Ravenclaws, while on the right were the Griffindors and Hufflepuffs. I was vaguely suprised by how many people had actually co-operated with Voldemort. You'd think that in the house of lions...
But what was this? On some students, prominetly displayed on their left forearm, a red band, with tiny symbols stitched on to it. A blue triangle, a yellow square, some students had only one symbol, while others had three, four, or even five. I narrowed my eyes. It was almost like scouts...My attention snapped back up to my brother as I strode up the red carpet. The whispers that I expected were almost non-existant. My nerves calmed, until I reached the edge of the podium Tom sat on, and almost had a heart attack.
My brother sat casually on a midnight black throne, etched out of jet, or maybe onyx...something expensive. The silver designs that laced around the backing however, were even fancier. εκείνος που τολμά αμφισβητήσει το ισχυρό Δίας, ο βασιλιάς των βασιλέων, θνητός και αλλιώς...He who dares challenge the mighty Zeus, king of kings, mortal and otherwise... I felt my mouth open and close, and gasped.
"Welcome, brother, I trust you slept well?" I narrowed my eyes at the calm voice. But I knew I couldn't do anything. Those reed eyes that stared back at me spoke of violence and rage. If I didn't want any of the kids to get hurt...
"Fine, Tom." I snapped sharpish. I collective gasp to my left, and I located the members of the Death Eaters, gathered there, standing sentry like. Behind me, Draco had fallen to his knees. I stood, defiant. Well, as defiant as I could wearing the robes of his followers, completely at his mercy. The man smiled, and beckoned to a chair at his right that I hadn't noticed before.
"Please, join me. As my advisor, and...friend." What to do...What to do? If I sat down beside him, I would be declaring my alligance, and possibly going against the wishes of the gods. But then again, they never stepped in until the end. If I made a scene, then I would end up capacitated or maybe worse...and that was no use. Tom had the children, the school, and the most powerful light wizards alive at the moment. I thought back to what Annabeth had said. If the rest of the wizards were all titan-blessed, and Tom was part god... Yet I knew that Tom had the same lust for power that Luke had had. But he was my brother, a fellow son of Posiedon. I longed for my family. I made my choice.
Grimacing, I stepped forward, awkardly sitting in the hard, stone like chair. Thankfully, my black throne, although the same size as Tom's lacked the markings in ancient Greek. Tom stood up.
"Today, is a glorious day! The start of an Empire that will extend forever into the depths of mermory...Today is the day we...' I tuned out the lecture that Tom was giving, noting absently how the Death Eaters were getting more and more excited. I was trying to figure out weak spots in their army. Lucius, Bellatrix, Snape, Dolohov...the main members of Tom's inner circle...one which I would have to infiltrate. The rest were spilt up, each faction following a different member. There was a very conplex sense of hiearchy here, and I knew that I could at least inflitrate the junior members, thanks to Draco.
I snapped to attention as the door opened again, and in strode six blue clad wizards. Dumbledore's men? No, wait, they were captured. Could it be the third faction in this war? The ministry of Magic? Then, I noticed the white banner in the hand of one of them. A diplomatic parley? Looking around, I noted Tom's smug expression. so he had planned this to some extend. Was the ministry allied with them then? I wondered. The lead wizard reached the edge of the podium and threw back his hood. Straightning, he snapped off a salut, and barked out.
"Colonel Caster Virgo, head of the Aurors, 34th division." The Aurors...the magic policmen. If they thought they could just waltz in and arrest Tom, they were stupider then I had previously thought.
"Tell me, Colonel, why does the ministry send military men to this diplomatic meeting?" Tom purred.
"Whoever weilds the hand of authority must be present, and as such, the Wizaganmot chose me."
"Very well, there are some matters we must attend to." As a table appeared in front of us, and Tom began disussingg the details of their truce, I wondered, why were the student here?
"The ministry has decided that Hogwarts will be handed over to the Dark Lord as long as all the students who wish to be evacuated leave safely." Virgo was saying. "Children have no place in the battlefield." Tom nodded.
"And if we don't comply?" He asked smoothly. Virgo and the others tensed.
"We sincerely hope you won't do that, Mr. Riddle, or we will have to resort to...other measures. Do not forget that some of your people are still rotting in Azkaban." Tom steepled his fingers.
"True." He thought for a moment. "Very well. I agree. I will release the children, in exchange for my faithful followers." I stiffled a gasp. He was really going through with it! Releasing valuable hostages.
"And there is also the matter of the staff of Hogwarts-" Tom stood up. Virgo immediately cringed.
"No. They are staying here. They have messed with the wrong people, and must be punished." He waved a hand lazily. "However, I have no use for children. I only ask that you allow those who wish to stay here the chance to stay." Virgo glanced briefly at the Slytherins.
"Noted. Now, shall we schedule a date..."
"The sooner the better."
"The minister hopes to be able to transfer all of the prisoners in Azkaban out by the end of this week." Tom nodded.
"And the children will be prepared," he said smoothly.
"Perhapes-" Virgo faltered a bit. "Perhapes we shall require a guest to come with us." A hostage. Tom's eyes narrowed.
"And why is that?" It was quite obvious. He held all the cards. The Aurors needed insurance. The Auror on the left of Virgo suddenly stepped forward, pulling it's hood down, snapping a salute. I realized that it was a women.
"With all due respect sir, you hold the school of Hogwarts, a strategic point in our world, as well as the next generation of our society. Not to mention five of the most powerful wizards that opposed you and fought for the ministry. I think it's fair enough to say that you don't care half as much for your jailed follwers then we do for the children and the staff." Tom looked angrily down at the woman. She stared back evenly. I was impressed. Some one who had spoken to Tom like that, knowing that he was the most powerful Dark Lord in the world...
"What is your name, Auror?" My brother's voice was so cold that the others sheid away from the unfortunate officer. I shivered. The woman stood stoically.
"Major Josslyn Thomas." She saluted again. Tom sat down again, and the tensed moment passed. A small smile graced his pale, frozen lips.
"Very well Major. I want to honour our truce, so I will be sending one of my most trusted with you. He will oversee the entire investigation." I wondered who he would send. Malfoy? Lestrange? Dolohov? Snape? Probably one of the inner circle. I glanced down at them, noted their anxious expressions. Malfoy, pretending disdain, Lestrange, outright excitment, Dolohov, a brutish sneer, and Snape, calm and composed. We all knew that whoever Tom sent would become his most trusted. His second in command. Major Thomas cocked her head.
"Who will this guest be, Mr. Riddle?" I noticed Tom bristle a bit at the mention of our father's mortal name. Not out of fear, but of anger. His ruby eyes glared down at her.
"My dear brother, Perseus shall acompany you." I groaned inwardly. This was horrible. He had anounced my alligance to him, making it seem to the entire wizarding world that I was actually his subordinate. He also told his Death Eaters that I was of higher rank then them, when they were jealous enough. Every group now had a reason to be hostile towards me. Before I could play the part of the unwilling captive, now I was shown as a loyal lackey. Bound by the strongest ties of all-blood.
"B-brother?" Virgo had taken command of the situation again, and was now spluttering. The woman Major paled a bit, but was otherwise unaffected. Tom spread an arm in my direction.
"This is my brother, Perseus. He will acompany you on your trip to Azkaban to insure that my word is kept." I turned and stared at him in shock. What had I gotten myself into?
I stared dubiously at the dusty wooden soup spoon that was gripped in the hand of one of the trembling Aurors. Tom, the Auror divison, and I were squashed into the Headmasters office, trying desperatly not to knock over anything of the assorted shiny things that were littered about the room. Well, most of us were, anyway. Tom stood behind the headmaster's desk, and raising a hand, swept everything off, a huge crash following as numerous ancient-looking artifacts fell in a heap at the side of the desk.
Snapping his fingers, a Death Eater handed him a scroll, which he unfurled on the desk, rows of inscrutinable writting filled each corner. It was suicide to even attampt to read it, so I looked at him questioningly.
"I've outlined on here the details of our exchange, the minister will have to sign here, here and here." Tom declared, pointing at three thin lines. "My brother will personally deliver these to him." I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't worry, I have a plan." I jumped as Tom hissed in ancient greece, aparently, he had retained that ability.
"And what plan is that?" I asked back in the same language, the melodic sounds comforting me, even thought it was coming from my brother. The Aurors glanced between the two of us bewildered.
"Do you really think that they can just walk away with all this? I've won fair and square, they have to pay the price of meddling with me. We'll have to use this to our advantage." I quirked my eyebrow at him. I thought I knew what he was talking about.
"You mean an ambush?" I asked. He smiled at that.
"Exactly." He switched back to english, smiling at the Aurors. "For my brothers protection, I ask that you keep his identity safe from the general public." Major Thomas nodded.
"Only ministry personel will here about this." Tom smiled slyly, and handed me the papers, casually slipping a note into my hand along with it. I grasped it with sweaty hands. He was sending me into enemy territory...I had no experience in this field, it was usually Nico's expertise. I turned to the menacing looking Aurors.
"Please, Lord Perseus, grab onto this spoon. It's a portkey." Virgo cammanded firmly, probably thinking a child was no threat. I glanced back at Tom. He nodded at me.
"Bye, then" I muttered. Tom smirked.
"I'll see you in three days. Good luck, my wayward brother..."
End of Chapter 7
Soo...Percy joins Voldemort...Not exactly your typical turnout, but I was bored. I really want to explore a new side of this guy, he's seen so much war, and now he's much more cynical. Plus the fact that Voldemort is his brother...Blood is thicker, I guess.
We'll be checking up on the golden trio soon, and see how they fare in hostile territory. As for Harry being a demi-god, please, comment and tell me whether or not you want a demi-god wizard hybrid, whether by birth, or because the gods gift them with such a power. I'm intrigued on what you think. Also, I would like to say that this chapter was definetly not my best work. I was lost as to what direction the plot should go in, so we ended up with a bit of a filler. Sorry about the long wait.
Hesperides.