"Half Blood Harry Potter"
By Loki Palmer
Author's Note: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to J.K. Rowling. Percy Jackson and all related demigods (with the exception of Loki) belong to Rick Riordan.
My congratulations to my fans: you all guessed right! Well, most of you who guessed, anyway.
Venequine1990: Ah, now that is the million drachma question, isn't it? Is Luke dead? If he is, the Baby Eater is going to need a new … catspaw …
Sean Malloy-1: If I write in a foreign language, I use the language's writing system – but I at least have the courtesy to include subtitles. As for words like "oy" and "gevalt," they both come from Yiddish. Oy is a multifaceted expression that can express surprise and exasperation, gevalt means something along the lines of "help!" I use words like these to add some flavor to the literary gumbo, capisce?
WhiteElfElder: Sorry about any discomfort there, old sport, but I thought you didn't want the same ending for Luke as in the movie … so I gave something different. [Licks point on an imaginary scoreboard]
DZ2: Interesting thought there, though when Tommy joined the group, there were six Rangers, and we have five demigods … so far …
lokaryn: Sorry, that doesn't quite fit the tune … nice try …
Karou WindStalker: That fits the tune much better.
Chapter 13
After Luke's disappearance, a female winged figure flew up to the building.
"Mrs. Dodds?" said Percy.
"Worry not, Perseus Jackson … I'm here for the Invisibility Helmet."
Loki handed it over, and she smiled at them.
"Keep them safe, My Prince. I know your Father would want to come up to congratulate you, but …"
Loki nodded with a sad smile. "I know, Alecto; I know."
As she flew away, Percy said, "Why can't He come up?"
"My Father doesn't come to Olympus but during the Winter Solstice, Percy."
Percy looked down in embarrassment. "Oh, that's a tough break."
"We couldn't have beaten Luke without your help," said Harry. "You must come with us. Oh, there's the smile we all know and love …"
As the five demigods left Sally behind on the elevator (being mortal, she couldn't pass through the boundary), their eyes widened as they beheld the glory of Olympus.
"Wow …"
"Come on, Seaweed Brain," said Harry, "we must not keep our audience waiting."
"Would you look at the architecture here?" said Annabeth. "It's marvelous!"
"No kidding, Annabeth," said Loki, "but come on … we have an appointment to keep."
Heads held high, they walked into the throne room. Hermes was the first to see them.
"Hail the conquering heroes!" He conjured a one-man band ensemble and started playing "The Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa at fast speed and full volume as party confetti fell.
Their minds reeled as they saw the gods and goddesses of Olympus before them, each one about 15 feet high. Of course, like any other mortal in the same situation, they knelt in respect.
"Arise, young heroes," said Zeus. "You are more than welcome here – even you, Loki."
"My Lord Uncle, the honor is mine."
"Harry – you found the Lightning Bolt. I can see it in your aura."
"Here You go, Father." He tossed the Lightning Bolt to the King of the Gods, who caught it. Within His large hand, the sparks flew to the clouds and thunder boomed.
"Did you find out who stole this?"
"It was Luke, son of Hermes."
Hermes's face fell. Zeus saw this.
"Hermes, My son, don't beat Yourself up over Luke's actions. The fault was his and none other's."
"Maybe I could have been a better Father to him …"
"Even if You were a better Father, it is possible he would have taken the same actions, or maybe not. You should not beat Yourself over the past, do You understand Me, son?"
"Yes, Father."
Zeus turned back to the group of demigods. "I sense there is more to the tale. Why did Luke do this?"
"He wanted to bring Olympus crashing down," said Percy.
"I will add that he wanted to recruit some help," said Loki.
"Some help? From where would he recruit this help against Us?"
Loki shivered, fearful of Zeus's response. "From Tartarus, My Lords and Ladies, he wishes to recruit the help of …" he could sense the chill grow in the room, "… Lord Baby-Eater."
Zeus's face darkened for a brief moment as thunder cracked overhead, but the scowl passed as He managed to crack a small smile. "That was an amusing epithet you have used, nephew, but it is accurate."
"Isn't it said that fear of a name increases fear of what it names?" said Hermione.
"That may be true, daughter," said Athena, "but if you were in the presence of the gods, would you mention the name of Their worst enemy out loud? Besides Our Father, Lord Zeus, the eldest of the gods spent time in His Father's stomach."
"That is not something I would like to remember, thank you very much," said Poseidon with an uneasy chuckle.
Zeus cleared His throat. "Quite. Let Us go onto other matters that weigh on Us. The Council of Olympus summons Sirius Black, son of Apollo, for his trial."
Sirius appeared, and bowed. "Lord Zeus, thank You for this honor."
"Even though We know the truth of who betrayed Harry's Family, Sirius, We thought it would be best to hear your testimony. Will you swear on the Styx to tell Us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"I will." Thunder boomed and the ground shook.
"The Styx has accepted your oath. Apollo, would You care to give the questions?"
"Of course, Father. State your name and heritage for the record, son."
"My name is Sirius Orion Black, son of Apollo."
"What is your relationship to James Potter?"
"I was his best friend. With my brother, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, the four of us formed a group of pranksters known as the Marauders. Now, knowing what I know about James's identity, I'm also his grandson … in a manner of speaking."
Everyone chuckled at that.
"Were you ever a Death Eater, or a servant of Lord Voldemort?"
"No, I was not." He rolled up his sleeves to emphasize his point.
"Let the record show that the Council has found no sign of a Dark Mark on Sirius's arms, nor any sign of concealment of the same. Sirius, do you know why the Potters were in danger from Voldemort?"
"It was due to a prophecy he heard, but he never told me the details."
Zeus snorted. "I had no reason to tell you, Sirius; that prophecy of Professor Trelawney is Gorgon excrement."
Apollo nodded. "Quite so, Father. Sirius, when James found out the Potters were in danger, how did he choose to protect the house?"
"Headmaster Albus Dumbledore offered to perform the Fidelius charm."
"When Dumbledore performed the Fidelius charm, were you the Secret-Keeper?"
"No, I was not. James thought I would be too obvious a choice."
"Who was the Secret Keeper, then?"
"It was Peter Pettigrew, the rat … in more ways than one."
"More ways than one, you say? What do you mean?"
"He is a rat Animagus."
"What did you do when you discovered Peter's betrayal?"
"I hunted him down and found him in a London street. He said that I had betrayed James and Lily, cut off his finger to make it look like I killed him, and blew up a gas line before fleeing."
"Did you see him again?"
"I did … at the end of Harry's third year."
"Do you mean Harry Potter any harm?"
"No, I have never meant him any harm and will never hurt him. I would die for him, if necessary."
Apollo turned to Zeus. "No further questions, Father."
"The Council has decided that you are an innocent man, Sirius. We will pass the message to the British Ministry of Magic …"
~HALF BLOOD HARRY POTTER~
Cornelius Fudge, the British Minister of Magic, looked up from his desk. "Good evening. Who might you be, sir?"
"Minister Fudge, My name is Lord Hermes, and I have come with a message from Olympus."
Whoever this stranger was, thought the Minister, He meant business. "Go ahead, Milord."
"From Zeus Cloud-Gatherer, King of the Gods, and the Council of Olympus, delivered by the hand of Lord Hermes, Messenger of the Gods, to Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic in the British Isles:
We hope this night has found you in good health, Minister, and We wish to report that, after a trial sworn in truth on the River Styx – the breaking of which oath has consequences too terrible to describe – We, the Council, have found Lord Sirius Orion Black, demigod son of Apollo, innocent of all his alleged crimes vis-à-vis his godson, Lord Harry James Potter, demigod son of Zeus. All his rights as Lord Potter's godfather are to return to him, as well as his lordship. We trust that the Ministry will provide just monetary compensation for 13 unjust years without trial in the Tartarus-hole of Azkaban. The alleged crimes that the British Ministry has attributed to Lord Black are the work of the traitorous rat Animagus Peter Pettigrew, who, contrary to popular opinion, is alive. One way or another, We will see him brought to justice for his treason against Lord Potter.
By the Might of Olympus, We have decreed: Now and Forever, so may it be!"
The thunderclap was so loud, it made the ground shake.
"Minister Fudge? Wow, the man will jump at his own shadow … Oh, there you are!"
Fudge was trembling under his desk. "Please don't hurt me, Milord!"
"Come on out, you scaredy-cat! I have no intention of hurting you. I wanted to pass on the message from the Council, that is all."
Fudge came out. "Thank You for the message, Milord. I should call Madam Bones and set out a search for the rat … as far as monetary compensation, I can offer Lord Black 10 million Galleons for each year we locked him away without just reason or trial. Does this sound like a sufficient start, Milord?"
Hermes beamed at him. "Father will be ecstatic about this news …"
With that, Hermes sped off …
Author's Note: Another fun chapter done. Read and review!
Smiles and laughter,
Loki Palmer