"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 (except Loki) belong to Rick Riordan.

DZ2: Oh, Voltaire's "When You're Evil" would have been a good one too … truth be told, I was unsure which song to use for Loki's face-off with the dragon … possibilities included Slayer and Metallica …

Archdruid89: Hmm … interesting suggestion … I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I do like soft rock, so something like that would go well for a slow dance number or two. And there are plenty of good fast dance songs besides "Footloose" … not that I have anything against that song either …

Chapter 36

After Madam Pomfrey had examined Loki – finding he was unharmed was a shock for her – Harry and Percy joined him for the walk back to Hogwarts. Hermione, Annabeth, and Thalia caught up to them.

"Well, that is one task down and two more to go," said Hermione.

"Which one of us did best?" said Percy.

Annabeth bit her lip in thought. "Tough call, Seaweed Brain. Harry was the only one of you three to leave his dragon alive. If they forbade you to kill the dragon – which they didn't – you and Loki would have lost points. As the points stand, all three of you are tied for first place."

"The Big Three had a bet on which one of you would be the most impressive in facing the dragon," said Thalia, "but They called it a draw."

~HALF BLOOD HARRY POTTER~

A party was in full swing in Gryffindor Tower. Harry said, "Who wants me to open the egg?"

His fellow Gryffindors cheered.

"Okay … here goes!"

Upon opening the egg, a loud screech came from the egg. It was like nails grating over a chalkboard mixed with a female scream.

"What could that be?" said Seamus. "Could it be a banshee?"

"No, Seamus –"

"– It looks like our dashing young heroes have to sneak into the girl's shower," said the Twins.

This produced a guffaw of laughter from the Gryffindors.

"I have a better idea what it might be, Harry," said Dean Thomas.

"What would that be?"

"The Champions have to suffer through a musical performance of Justin Bieber."

"Oh, gods, Dean, say it ain't so! Anything but that! Justin Bieber's music is torture I wouldn't wish on my worst enemies!"

More laughter sounded through Gryffindor Tower ...

~HALF BLOOD HARRY POTTER~

One morning, a package arrived for Ron in the owl post. He opened it and found a maroon robe with frilly lace along the side. "Ginny, Mum must have meant these for you."

Ginny took the robe and a look of disgust crossed her face. "I doubt it … this robe is ghastly."

"Does it come with a bonnet, Ginny?" said Harry with a grin. He looked in the box and frowned when he found none. "Aw, shoot; that would have been an image I would have liked to see."

"What image would that be, Harry?" said Loki. Then he saw the robe. "Gods be good, Ginny, that is a fashion disaster – an insult to your Mother!"

"It isn't mine, Loki!"

"Oh, thank the gods – but whose is it? Hermione would toss Harry into the doghouse if he bought it for her ..."

Hermione grinned like the Kneazle who ate the canary. "... While Thalia would have you sleeping next to Cerberus if you bought it for her."

"I beg your pardon, Hermione, but give me a little credit. I would know better than to buy my wife a terrible robe like this one. I note your mischievous grin there … come on, let the Kneazle out of the bag already!"

"The robe is Ron's."

Loki's eyes lit up. "Is that so? Ron, is your Mum trying to tell us something?"

"Like what?"

He grabbed the robe and ran through the Great Hall. "IT'S OFFICIAL, EVERYONE! WEASEL-BEE HAS COME OUT OF THE CLOSET!"

"Hand my robe back to me, Loki!"

Loki did so. Spiders came out of it, and the sight sent Ron screaming and running.

"Ignoring Loki's accurate criticism for the moment, the robe in question looks a bit fancier than a regular one," said Harry.

"I just hope to the gods that Ron's robe is an extreme example of these fancier robes," said a grinning Percy as he sat down. "I think I would hate looking like a fruit for this upcoming event, whatever it is."

~HALF BLOOD HARRY POTTER~

"The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its beginning. I wish us to put our best foot forward. The House of Godric Gryffindor has held a high reputation in the Magical World ever since the beginning of Hogwarts in the Middle Ages. With this consideration, allow me to warn you: I do not wish for a babbling, bumbling band of baboons to besmirch the aforementioned reputation."

"Try saying that five times fast," said Fred to George.

"Within every male is a lordly lion prepared to pounce, and within every female is a swan waiting to burst forth."

"Something is about to burst out of Eloise Midgen, but I don't think it's a swan," said Ron.

Harry rolled his eyes and zapped him with a small spark in the tuchas.

"YEEOW!"

"Mr. Weasley, would you care to demonstrate the dancing posture?"

"Okay."

"Put your left hand on my waist, Mr. Weasley."

"Say again?"

"My waist; don't worry, I won't bite."

Whistles sounded.

"Oy, Fred! George! You won't let him forget this, will you?"

The Twins grinned. "Never!"

~HALF BLOOD HARRY POTTER~

Percy was traveling with Harry and Loki around Hogwarts. "Tell me, Harry: why must females travel in packs?"

"My guess: there is protection in numbers."

"Yeah, but it makes it more nerve-wracking to ask someone out!"

Loki slapped him on the back. "Oh, buck up, Seaweed Brain! You have faced a dragon, so the ladies must be lining up to go out with you. If you can't find a date for the Ball, who can?"

"I would much rather face another dragon … oy ..."

"Is there anyone you would like to ask to the Ball?" said Harry.

"Susan is kinda nice," said Loki.

Percy nodded. "I will grant that, but somebody already asked her."

"Okay, scratch that. What about Annabeth?" said Harry.

Percy gulped. "I'm too nervous to ask her."

Loki glanced at Harry. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Bolt Head?"

"Toss them both in the Black Lake and let Percy ask her on his home turf?"

"As amusing as that idea would be, no. Προσδοκω σωτηρα." A Cerberus Patronus appeared, and Loki whispered some words to it. It licked his face and zoomed off. "Now, let's head out to the Black Lake."

Percy gave Loki an uneasy look. "What do you have planned for me?"

"You will see, Seaweed Brain … oh, yes … you will see ..."

Percy felt a chill looking at the madman's glint in Loki's eyes. I have an awful feeling about this …

~HALF BLOOD HARRY POTTER~

Annabeth walked outside with Hermione and Thalia. "So, Thalia, Loki sent you a Patronus telling you and Hermione to come and bring me out to the Black Lake. Any idea what this could be about?"

Thalia shrugged. "No idea."

"At least we have come as your backup, Annabeth," said Hermione. "I see Percy over there, but where's Harry?"

"Where's Loki, for that matter?" said Thalia.

"Percussion ..." said Loki.
"Strings ..." said Harry.
"Winds ..." said Loki.
"Words ..." said Harry.

Both of them sang [tune: "Kiss the Girl" from "The Little Mermaid"]:

"There's your Lady … standing there at the Black Lake …
Palms are sweaty, knees will shake, your stomach may unfurl …
Just look in those eyes, look in those storm-gray eyes,
Go on and … ask the girl!"

"Annabeth?"

"Yeah, Percy?"

Harry said, "Sing along with us, boys!"

Thus did Harry sing along with a male choir, as Loki squawked a wordless descant:

"Shalalalalala, my, oh, my, he fears that he may die
If he does ask the girl!
Shalalalalala, don't be scared ..."

A large wave of water interrupted the choir and knocked them all into the Black Lake.

Annabeth grinned upon seeing Loki splutter in the Black Lake. "I believe you were going to ask me something ..."

"Yeah. I couldn't concentrate on the question with Loki's squawking."

"What question is that, Percy?"

"WouldyouliketogototheYuleBallwithme?"

"Say again?"

"Enunciate, Tuna Breath! Take a deep breath and relax!"

"SHUT UP, LOKI! Annabeth … would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"

The question stunned Annabeth into silence for a few moments. After a fair time of deliberation – whether it was five minutes or a half hour, Percy could not be sure – she smiled and said, "Yes, Percy, I would love to go with you to the Yule Ball."

"Why did you take so long to answer?"

"Would you expect a daughter of the Wise One to answer without some deliberation?"

"Ah. Fair point."

Author's Note: Another fun chapter done! Read and review!

Smiles and laughter,

Loki Palmer