Disclaimer: I don't owe Harry Potter and Percy Jackson
Chapter 15: I meet someone I hate more than Ares. (Shocking I know )
Harry P.O.V.
I couldn't begin to explain what it was like down in Tartarus, I wouldn't if I could, believe me you don't want to know, the horrors that I saw, it was anything way beyond what even Voldemort could do. The screams, the shouts, the crying, it was all going to haunt my dreams for years to come, I just know it. I doubt even an Obliviate charm would take the memories away or even a Dreamless sleep potion would stop the nightmares I know I was going to have. I'm just glad I had let go of Piper and not allowed her to be pulled down in the pit with me. I would have hated for her to see that. Or have to go through it.
It was all so weird and confusing, I spent a good four weeks wandering around Tartarus trying to find my way out, wanting to get back to Piper, then all a sudden I was locked in a tomb, I can remember passing out after having a flashback about my old life with the Dursleys, next thing I know I was waking up in Piper's arms, with her soft lips touching mine, (not that I was complaining) surrounded by all my friends including Apollo, who had worn the ugliest coat I had ever seen, not to mention a whole Pride of lions, after me and Piper stood and just held each other for a good twenty minutes the lions had walked us back to Leo's ship then all of them left. I was kinda glad they did, all their different thoughts was giving me a headache. And If one more had called me "my prince," I think I would have gone crazy.
Piper had promised she would tell me everything after I took a shower, I did stink, I wanted to take a real long shower, but after a while I started to feel like the walls were closing in on me, and I was suffocating, and couldn't breath, so I had to get out. I got dressed in a white dress shirt and faded blue jeans, (clothes my girl had picked out) shaved the beard that had started to grow on my face. Then I brushed my teeth three or four times. When I had looked into the mirror I had got a shock, most the top of my hair was gray, I frowned. I shouldn't have gray hair I was only sixteen. Must be from the stressed of being in Tartarus. Just to think about it made me almost hear the screams, and a shiver went down my spin. Then the bathroom started feeling like it was closing in on me. So I went into the bedroom to find Piper sitting on our bed waiting for me, she gave me a huge grin and stood.
Piper walked over to me, put her arms around me and kissed me. She then let her hands drop to the shirt I had just put on and started unbuttoning it; telling me how much she loved me and how it was torture for her when I wasn't around, when she started kissing down my neck, I told her how much I loved her and how it was torture for me to be away from her. She then told me how when she thought she couldn't go on; she would just think of our promise to each other. Which was the same thing I did. When I was about to give up, Piper's gorgeous face and our promise just popped in my head. And I was able to go on. When my shirt hit the floor and Piper's hands went to the zipper on my jeans, all thoughts of walls closing in left my mind and I scoped Piper in my arms and carried her to the bed.
When I held my girl in my arms I noticed something; I didn't find it was the right time to bring it up, but I've held my girl in my arms enough to know what her body feels like, and I've seen it enough to know what it looks like, I know what her body looks and feels like, as much as I do my own and I know she's lost a lot of weight. I didn't want to ruin this moment with her, making love for the first time in two mouths. So, I put it out of my mind and made a note to talk to her about it later, and make sure she gets a lot to eat.
After making love three times in a roll, Piper snuggled into my side with her head lying on my chest, my arm wrapped around her with my hand running through her hair. She meant more to me than anyone or anything on this earth. I just laid there and listened to Piper telling me what has gone on. I didn't say anything, I just wanted to hear her voice. It's been way too long since I had heard it.
She told me everything, from everyone at camp fighting with one another to all the gods fighting with each other, Hera walking out on Olympus, her threat to destroy camp if I died. I got a little mad when she told me that a lot of the boys at camp thought they could flirt with her since I was gone. She told me what happened on their quest, how my dad had been, she told me about Ginny, Jason, and Hazel's quest. Then what they told them what happened. I wasn't happy about having to save Enyo, but she was my sister, so I was going to, and I didn't like hearing that Hera had the Mirror of Erised and was wasting away in front of it. I wasn't going to let that happen, I was going to save her. Then have a little talk with her about that threat she made. Once we got back to New York; Piper and I would head to Olympus and ask Zeus where all Hera's hiding places was. Being her husband he should know the places she went when she got mad at him. Piper ended with telling me about Hercules and how she found out he was the one that cursed me. Piper told me every single thing about what happened when I was gone. I then told her and she was the only one I was going to tell, but I had to tell someone, or I'll end up going crazy; I told her about the things I saw in Tartarus and how horrible it was down there; she cried about me having to go through that. I really wished they had let the giants live until I got a chance to get out of the tomb, so I could make them pay for what they put Piper and I through. Two months without each other was way too long.
Right now Piper was asleep, her head still on my chest and one arm wrapped tightly around me, her hand holding on to my hand opposite of the arm wrapped around her. We were both so happy to have each other back, nothing else mattered at the moment. I laid there listening to Piper's soft breathing, I could tell she hasn't been sleeping much and knew it was because I wasn't there to hold her, like the time she went to visit her dad, it was hard for me to fall asleep without having her there to hold, but now she was in a deep sleep. When she woke I was going to make her eat something. Now that I was back I was going to make sure she gains the weight she lost back.
I laid there running my hands through her hair a few more minutes, then my eyes started to drop, who knew you could still get tired after spending a month asleep, but falling asleep wasn't a very good idea, because once I did the dreams came, I was wandering in the dark, hearing screams and cries of help, the hands of both people and monsters grabbing at me demanding me to help them. I woke up unable to breathe, realizing just how dark it was in here and how small this room was, it felt as if I was underground again.
I slide out from under Piper, stood up, and got dressed as fast as I could, threw the door open ran past Marauder and headed up deck ignoring his calls to me. I ran right to the side of the ship and took a deep breath, trying to calm down, to catch my breath, breathing in and out. I closed my eyes and it just made the screaming and shouting come back. Marauder stood next to me, and leaned against my leg, trying to be comforting.
"Harry," someone laid their hand on my back and I spun around ready to fight whoever it was, to see that I almost hit Hermione. Her eyes widened and she backed up. Leo who had been with her stepped in front of her as to shield her from me.
"Wow...man, it's just us." Leo said, holding his hands up.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry, you...you startled me." I said. Now that I was up deck I began to calm down. "So, sorry... I
"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked. I tried to give her a smile.
"I'm fine, Hermione." I said. "No need to worry, just don't sneak up on me." I began to run my arms and Leo frowned.
"Are you sure, Uncle Harry." He asked.
"Don't call me Uncle" I snapped, not meaning to sound so mean, Leo's eyes widened. "I'm sure, and I didn't mean to snap like that...it's just.." I ran my hand through my hair.
"Where is Piper?" Hermione asked. "I figured she wouldn't let you leave her sight for a long time."
"She's asleep." I answered. "I just wanted to get some air and didn't want to wake her, I know she hasn't gotten much sleep since I've been gone."
"She hasn't eaten much either." Hermione said.
"Yeah, I've noticed her weight loss." I said. Then rubbed my arms wondering if I would be able to go back down to our room with Piper. We stood there a while not saying anything. Then I kicked the side of the ship.
"What is wrong with me." I cried, mostly to myself, but Hermione and Leo heard.
"Harry, are you sure you're okay." Hermione asked, the sun was now coming back up, casting a yellowish glow over the deck of the ship and out into the sea. Now that it was getting light I was starting to feel a lot better, great now I was going to be afraid of the dark, along with small rooms. What kind of hero am I.
"I don't know, Hermione." I said. "I...I should be the happiest guy alive right now, I'm out of that tomb, back with my friends, I just made love to the most beautiful girl in the world, and the moment I fall asleep I start having nightmares and then have to leave my room, because I feel like the walls are closing in on me. I should be down there right now holding my girl in my arms, but I'm scared of going into my own room. I thought us demigods were suppose to be heroes, what kind of hero is afraid small rooms and the dark."
"Harry, it's normal." Hermione said. "After what you've been through, I'd be worried if you didn't have nightmares or get a little claustrophobic being below deck. It's not your fault. But don't worry, it'll take time, but you'll get over it. Piper will help you."
"I feel bad." Leo said, running his hand through his hair. "I should have thought of this when building this ship. I should have built you a room up here on deck somehow or something. Maybe with lots of windows."
Hermione reached over and squeezed Leo's hand, if Piper hadn't already told me there was something between them I would have been shocked. I had got a big kick out of her being claimed by Aphrodite.
"It's not your fault, Leo." Hermione said. "Harry doesn't blame you."
"She's right." I said. "Leo, it's not your fault, in fact I feel a little bad, you went through all that trouble to make a room, Piper and I could feel comfortable in and I can't even stay in it."
"It's okay, Harry." Leo said. "Don't worry about it."
I shook my head. "No, it's not okay, there is someone at fault, one guy, to blame for everything that as happened to me in my life. I can't keep feeling like this. I can't...I'm not letting anything else get between me and Piper. I should be with her now happy, about having her back. I am happy I got her back or she got me back. But I have to make sure we stay together, that we're not going to be ripped apart again. And there is one way to help make sure that happens, one thing I can do to help make sure that happens. Because it's the biggest thing threaten us now." I looked up at Leo. "I need a favor, Leo."
"Sure thing, Uncle Harry." Leo said. "Just tell me what and I'll do it." He grinned, but I saw Hermione frown.
"Piper told you, didn't she." Hermione said, Leo looked at her confused.
"Hermione, I just want to talk to him." I said. She rolled her eyes.
"Sure you do." Hermione said. Leo looked between us confused. "You'll go to talk to him, then lose your temper and end up beating the stuffing out of each other. Harry, we've known each other since we were kids. I can read you like a book."
"I have a right to talk to him, Hermione." I said. "I'm not going to lose my temper, well, unless he does or says something I don't like. Hermione, I have to do this for me and mostly for Piper."
"Um, what are you two talking about?" Leo asked.
"Piper has told Harry about Hercules and now he thinks he has to fight him." Hermione said.
"Oh." Leo said, he looked at me. "Is that the favor? You want me to stop at the pillars?" I nodded.
"No," Hermione said. "Leo won't stop you get in enough battles without you going to look for one."
"Hermione, I'm not looking for a battle." I said. "Unless he won't take the curse off. It's going to end up causing either mine or Piper's life. I can't let that happen, I won't lose her and she couldn't handle losing me, especially if it was me dying. I have to get him to take the curse off. " I looked at Leo. "Come on, mate, take me there."
"I don't know, man." Leo said. "If you go by what Ginny and Jason say that guy or god whatever, he really doesn't like you, but if that's what you really want?"
"Leo, you can't." Hermione said, she turned to me. "Harry, I know you have a right to talk to him, but I really don't think you should, not now anyway, Hazel and Ginny made him mad. So.."
"I know all about that." I said. "Piper told me, but this might be the last chance I get to talk to him about this curse."
"HARRY!" Piper suddenly yelled. "HARRY!"
"Piper." I called as she came running up on deck looking terrified. "Baby, what is it?"
She gasped when she saw me, came running over, and threw her arms around my neck and cried into my chest, while Annabeth, Nico, Jason, Ginny, Ron and Hazel came running up on deck, I was surprised Percy didn't.
"Piper, Baby, what's wrong?" I asked. Her grip around me tightened. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her close to me.
"I woke up and you weren't next to me anymore." Piper said. "I thought having you back had all been a dream or you might have been taken from me again."
"Piper, no, baby, I'm here." I said. I pulled back so I could look her in the eyes and laid my hands on either side of her face. "You didn't dream about having me back, Fancy face, I'm really here and haven't been taken. I just needed a little air, I'm sorry for worrying you, I should have woke you up or left a note." Piper nodded, then hit me across the chest.
"Don't just disappear like that." She cried, then wiped her eyes. "I was so scared you were gone again." I was well aware of everyone watching, but didn't care. Annabeth even had a look on her face that said; she knew why I had come up here for air, but I ignored them and reached up and wiped her tears.
"I'm sorry, baby, I just thought you could really use the sleep." I said. "I won't disappear again like that, I promise." Piper nodded and put her arm around my waist as I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her to me.
"Where's Percy?" I asked Annebeth, partly because I was surprise he hadn't come charging up the ship with Riptide drawn, and partly because Annabeth had open her month and I knew what she was about to mention, and I did not feel the need to talk about it in front of everyone.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "He's down in the stable part of the ship talking to Pegasus. Has been for an hour."
"He better not get any ideas." Ginny said, only partly joking. "Pegasus was my friend first, I don't care if he is Percy's brother. He's got Blackjack anyway."
"Harry wants Leo to stop at the pillars of Hercules." Hermione said. "So, he can talk to him." Piper frowned and looked at me. Along with everyone.
"Harry, are you sure that's a good idea?" Jason asked.
"Look, this could be the only chance I get to talk to him." I said. "I want to get him to take the curse off. " I looked Piper right in the eye. "I need him to take the curse off."
"I told Leo he shouldn't stop." Hermione said.
"Why would you do that?" Piper demanded, shocking even me. "Harry has a right to talk to him and with everything going on this might be the last chance he gets to. Hermione, this could be the only chance Harry will have to get that jerk to lift the curse. Don't you think Harry deserves tohave life that's not cursed?" Hermione looked taken back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think of it that way." Hermione said. Piper said nothing she just laid her head on my shoulder.
"Need any help?" Ron asked. "I'll go with you." I shook my head.
"This is something I need to do alone." I said. Piper raised up and narrowed her eyes at me, I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "Well, almost alone, just me and Piper."
"Jerkules might not be in a friendly mood." Ginny said. "Hazel and I kinda ticked him off."
"I know." I said. "Piper told me all about that."
"I'm coming with you , my Prince." Marauder thought.
"No, Marauder, you're staying behind." I said, he glared at me.
"Are you sure?" Jason asked. "I'll help if you need it. Anyone of us will."
"Yeah." Leo agreed. "We're just all glad we have you back."
"I'm glad to be back." I said. I grinned down at Piper, she grinned back up at me. And I took her hand. I decided to try to go back to our room, now that I was feeling better and now that the dream finally left me. "Come on, Baby girl, let's go get ready." She nodded and I led her down to our room. I felt a little closed in, but it wasn't like before.
"Harry, are you okay?" Piper asked. Taking her shirt off, she turned around to find a different one to put on.
"Why do you ask that?" I said. Piper glanced over her shoulder at me, before turning around and going through her drawer.
"Because I know you." She said. "You wouldn't just leave the room and not leave a note or something so I wouldn't worry, especially after being a part two months. Now what was...It was your claustrophobia wasn't it."
I walked up to her and kissed her shoulder. "Yeah it was, I had this awful dream about...about being back down there and I woke up not being able to breathe. I put my arms around her and kissed the top of her shoulder. Piper turned around and put her arms around my neck. And kissed me.
"Please,." She said. "Next time wake me up. I'll be more than happy to walk up deck with you, okay, just wake me." I nodded and gave Piper a kiss, before she turned back around and picked out a green shirt. That was when I noticed the scar on Piper's shoulder-blade. It was shaped like the tip of an arrow.
"Fancy face, where did you get this scar?" I asked, laying my hand on her shoulder and tracing it with my thumb.
"That old thing." She said. "I don't even remember." I frowned at her as she turned around to face be and slipped her shirt on over her head, this time the right way and not inside out. She wrapped her arm around my waist and kissed me. Then pulled back.
"Piper, please don't lie to me." I said. "I know every inch of your body, that scar is new." Piper sighed, took her arms from around my waist and sat on the bed so she could put on her socks and shoes.
"I didn't mean to lie." She said. "I'm sorry, I just don't want you getting mad and wanting to run off and fight someone else." I frowned as she tied one shoe and reached for the other one to put it on. "Remember when I told you about Narcissus and those nymphs and how I got the bronze?"
"Your charmspeak must have really gotten strong to make them fight over a picture of me." I said. Piper frowned.
"My charmspeak didn't have anything to do with it." Piper said. I rolled my eyes, where Piper got that I was gorgeous I will never know. "Anyway, I left out that Narcissus shot me with an arrow when I was running..."
"He what?" I cried. I could feel my magic stirring. Piper smiled, got up and put her arms around my waist.
"Babe, just calm down." She said. "Marauder got a hold of him." I nodded.
"Good, " I said. "And he better hope I don't ever lay eyes on him ." Piper smiled and kissed me. She went over and grabbed our weapons, she hooked her dagger on her side, then slung her bow over her shoulder, then handed me my wand and the Blade of Olympus. After I hooked the sword to my side, I grabbed Piper's hand and led her up deck.
Nico, Hazel, Percy, and Annabeth were all on deck when we got up there. So we walked over to where they were all standing.
"Hey, guys." Percy greeted. " Annabeth told me what you wanted to do. Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"
"We'll be fine." I said. "This is just something I have to do."
"I can understand that." Percy said, and patted me on the shoulder.
"How was your chat with the flying horse?" I asked. Percy snorted.
"Fine, he has a pretty good sense of humor." Percy said. "But then got tired of me and chased me off."
"Yeah," I said turning my back to the boat and leaning against the side, and Piper slipped her hand in mine. "I can understand why he would chase you away." I smirked.
"Ha, ha." Percy said. "Glad you still like to pick on me after all this time." he reached over and pulled on the bottom of my hair. "At least am not going gray. And you need a hair cut." My hair had grown out since I went two months not having a way to cut it. It was down to my shoulders and I left it like that. I liked it, it looked less messy that way.
"I like his hair long." Piper said, she reached up and held out the ends of my hair, then she reached one hand up and tugged on one of the gray hairs. "But when we get home I'm going to the drug store to buy you some hair dye."
"Ha, ha, very funny." I said. She squealed when I tickled her waist, then pulled her closer to me. "And what color would you get?" Piper acted like she was thinking.
"Mm, maybe a dark red." She said. Percy shook his head.
"No, he wouldn't look good as a red-head." He said. "How about a burgundy?"
" Burgundy is too purple." Annabeth said. "Wouldn't go with his green eyes." I rolled said green eyes.
"I know." Piper said. "We'll bleach it blonde."
"I think not." I said, while Piper, Percy and Annabeth laughed at my look. "I'm not going around looking like Malfoy." Piper tugged on my hair.
"It'll just turn out an orange-red color." Nico said, we all turned and looked at him, Percy with his eyebrows raised.
"Tried before have we?" He asked. Nico glared at him and Hazel giggled.
"No, Fish Face." Nico snapped. "But I have seen Aphrodite girls bleach their hair."
"Spend a lot of time within the Aphrodite cabin?" Percy asked. Nico glared at him again. "Wonder if Luna knows that?"
"Come on, Percy, leave him alone." I spoke up, I know Percy was just kidding around. But Nico was getting mad I could tell.
"Yes, sir, grandpa." Percy saluted me and I rolled my eyes. I noticed Nico kept glancing at my gray hair with an expression I couldn't read, I know he knew what put it there and I was glad he didn't say anything. The last thing I needed right now was to be reminded of, down there. I couldn't even say the name anymore. I suddenly shivered, and Piper put her arm around my waist.
"Harry, ." Annabeth walked over and gave me a friendly hug. "I just want to tell you, I'm really glad you're back and we all missed you."
"Yeah, man, me too." Percy said, he shook my hand and then bumped his knuckles to mine. "Wasn't the same without you."
"Thanks." I said. "And if I hadn't been asleep, I'm sure I would have missed you too." I put my arm around Piper's shoulder and pulled her close, I just couldn't get enough of her.
"Were you asleep the whole time?" Hazel asked. "Or were you awake for..." She didn't have to finish the question I knew what she was asking.
"I wasn't asleep the whole time." I said. Hazel frowned, knowing what I meant. And I had to turn away from Nico's look of pity. Don't they get I just want to forget about it, put the whole thing behind me. Move on. See Hercules, save my mum and Enyo then go home and let Sirius know I was alright, then Nico, I and couple more, just a couple more too, will start hunting down Voldemort's Horcruxes. When this was all done Piper and I will seek out Nico and let him help us decide who would be best to take with us.
"How bad was it down there?" Percy asked. Making Annabeth smack him, but it only hurt her hand and not his arm.
"Don't ask him that." Piper said, holding on to me protectively as a shiver went down my spin.
"Hey, man, I'm sorry." Percy said. "That was a stupid question." I sighed and try to give him a reassuring smile, but I know it didn't work.
"Believe me, mate, you don't want to know." I said. Nico frowned at me, along with Annabeth and Percy. I sighed and turned around and looked out at the sea. I just wanted to get home. I've been gone from home for over two months considering Piper and I had been on a quest when I was dragged down there.
"Umm..." Percy seemed to be looking for something to say. "Nico is ahead of you now." I frowned confused for a moment then it dawned on me what he was talking about me.
"How's that? We both killed two and you've killed two." I said. "We're all tied aren't we?"
"Nope." Percy said. "I have killed two, you have killed one and a half, remember Nico helped you kill Alcyoneus, that made it half since you didn't kill him by yourself, and Nico just defeated the twins. So, that makes him two and I defeated Enceladus and Polybotes, that makes two." I glared at Percy. "So, Nico and I are in the lead."
"No," Nico said, shaking his head. "I am in the lead, if Harry can count Alcyoneus as half, then I can too. So, that makes me two and a half, Percy you only killed two, so I am in the lead." Both Percy and I glared at him.
"Guys," Annabeth spoke up. "This isn't a contest and besides all you had help to kill the giants. If it wasn't for the gods that helped you, you wouldn't have defeated them."
"I'm going to get in the lead again, just wait, when it's all said and done I will have defeated the most. How many more giants are there anyway?" I asked. Annabeth frowned.
"Not sure, I think there one for every Olympian." She said. "But I'm not sure."
"That's a shocker." I teased. "Beth not sure about something, what is the world coming too." Percy laughed, but Annabeth smacked my arm. I just grinned at her.
We joked around like that, teasing one another until we reached the pillars of Hercules. Leo stopped the ship, so Piper and I could get off. We were coming from behind, so when we walking up to Hercules holding hands, he had his back to us, but still knew we were there.
"So, the son of Hera has been saved." He said, without even turning around. We stopped walking and Piper squeezed my hand.
"Stay calm." Piper whispered. "Don't let him get to you. Just get to the point, tell him why you're here."
"I wanted to talk to you..." I began
"You want me to take off the curse I put on you." Hercules said, turning around to face me. "You got nerve, I'll give you that, after what your little friends did." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked me up and down. "I pictured you taller, and what's with the gray hair?"
"You would have gray hair too, if you spent a month wandering around Tartarus." I snapped. I could feel myself growing angry, my magic started to stir.
"Babe, stay calm." Piper said, gripping my arm with the hand that wasn't holding my hand. I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm, but how calm can you stay when the one who cursed me was standing right there, when the one who made my life hell was standing right in front of me. It was hard to stay calm when my magic had wanted to lash out at something since I woke up after a month of not using it. And after what I have been through.
"Look, I just came to talk." I said, stepping a little closer. "I want to know why you did it."
Hercules raised his eyebrows. "Don't you already know why, because you belong to her. You're Hera's son. Don't you know what all she put me through?"
"That wasn't me." I said. "I can't help who my mum is, I did nothing to you. I was just a baby." Hercules snorted.
"But you love her don't you." He demanded. "You love and respect your mummy." He stepped closer to me. "Even though she's the biggest bitch to ever walk the earth, you still respect her, because she treats you like you're some prince." I narrowed my eyes at him and Piper gripped my arm to keep me calm.
"Don't call her that." I snapped. "And so what if I do. She's my mum, she's made some mistake where I was concerned, but she's always been there when I really needed her."
"You think I don't know that." Hercules said. "That's my point, Hera is a big bitch, but yet she still acted like a mother to you and a caring one at that. Do you think Zeus ever did that? What did I get for saving the world, stuck on this freaking island forever, unless I get permission from dad to leave, like I'm some little kid."
"I told you not to call my mother that." I said, taking a step closer to Hercules. "I want you to take the curse off me." Hercules smirked.
"And why should I." He demanded. "What's in it for me?"
"Just do it." Piper snapped. "Harry has suffered enough." Hercules glared at her, making me step a little in front of her.
"We've all had to suffer, honey." He said. "Isn't that what a demigod life is all about? Being the great hero, but yet having to suffer." He looked at me. "You and I were both born for the same reasons, because some prophecy about giants, and the gods needing a hero. Hera wanted the hero to be her son this time, just like Zeus did with me. Neither one of us was born out of love, no, your mother tricked the Potters to have you for her and my father tricked my mother into believing he was her husband to be. I had a twin did you know that, but Zeus wasn't his father, her husband was his father, I might have been the hero but he's the one that got the good life. No labors, no dead family, no monsters chasing him all his life."
"Why don't you just get over it." I said. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself."
"The reason for our birth is the only similar thing about us." Hercules went on. "Zeus saw me and ordered me to be trained to fight the moment I learned to walk, but Hera holds you in her arms and instantly regrets the life she gave you, and instead of ordering you trained, she orders you hidden away and protected, until time to fight. Oh she had such hopes for you, I had to take them away from her, just like she took all the hopes I ever had for a normal life away from me." He glanced at Piper then me. "You think you and Piper will have a happy ever after, you're wrong. One of you will end up dead, while the other is left to weep over the gave."
"SHUT UP!" Piper screamed, she grabbed hold of my arm and hugged it. "That's not going to happen." I glared at Hercules, he was really starting to tick me off he had no right upsetting Piper like that.
"Just speaking the truth, honey." Hercules said.
"You're just trying to tick me off." I said. "Piper and I aren't going to lose each other. I'm going to make sure of that."
"Yeah, and just how would you do that?" Hercules demanded. "You're not going to always be around each other, what if pretty little Piper there died during battle, while you're off fighting someone else?" I gave Hercules my worse glare.
"Then I would walk right down to the underworld and demand Hades give her back." I said. "I would fight him if I had to." I might have a lot of respect for Hades, since he's treated my parents pretty good down in the Underworld, and he helped Nico and me defeat Alcyoneus, but there is no one I wouldn't fight for Piper.
"Really," Hercules said, laughing a little. "And after your little trip through Tartarus you're not too afraid to go back there."
That's it this guy went too far, I drew back y fist and punched Hercules, it took him by surprise and he went flying back and rolled down the ground a little before he got back up, looking pissed.
"How dare you hit me." He said, he held out his hand and a sword appeared in it. "You want the curse off. Fine, one way to do it, you have to beat me in an old fashion sword fight, no magic or interfering girlfriends. Just you, me and our swords, no wand either."
"Fine." I said, reaching in my back pocket and pulling out my wand and handing it to Piper. Then I drew the Blade of Olympus. "You, me in a sword fight, no magic. I can do that."
Hercules laughed. "Really, but doesn't all your strength come from your magic." I narrowed my eyes at him. "And after your month-long nap, do you have any strength, wouldn't you be rusty."
"Sword fighting takes skill, not strength." I said. "And I was trained by the best there ever was." I smirked. "Someone who done something not even you could do." Hercules narrowed his eyes.
"And what was that?" He demanded, my smirk grow.
"He beat Kronus." I said. Hercules growled and came at me with his sword raised, I blocked his blow with my sword, the blades hit with a big click sound. I then brought my sword up and went to at Hercules, but he easily blocked it, then spun around and got me in the side. He was right about one thing, I was more than a little rusty, not fighting or training in two months will do that to you, plus I was still a little weak and sore from sleeping in a tomb for a month. So, fighting someone who wasn't going to be easy to begin with, was a lot harder than it should have been. Back and forth, clicks and bangs as the blades of our swords hit. It was all I could do to stop Hercules' blade from getting me again, if I couldn't fight, maybe I could wear him out. So, I dodged, ducked, and blocked his blows. I just did every move I use to do to avoid the blows from Dudley and his gang. Whenever they were trying to beat me up.
Then Hercules took his leg and swapped my leg out from under me, I fell on my back, my sword flew from my hand, and Hercules brought his sword down toward me, but I reached up with both my arms and stopped him, he was pretty strong and I had to use both hands to hold him off, but my arms were getting tired and it was getting harder to keep my magic back.
"Come on, Harry." Piper cried. "You can do it, baby!" Hercules smirked at me then took one hand from the sword and snapped his fingers. Piper suddenly cried out. "Hey," I took my eyes off Hercules to look at Piper, she was now wearing a cheerleader uniform, that was green and blue the same that was in peacock feathers, there also was a picture of a peacock on her top, her hair was even pulled back in a ponytail by a ribbon.
I glared back up at Hercules. "What the hell did you do that for?"
"If she's going to cheer you on, she might as well look the part." He said. "I always did find cheerleaders hot. Hey, I just thought of another way to get me to lift the curse when you lose to me." Hercules said. I glared up at him as I tried to push him away.
"And what's that?" I said, knowing whatever he was going to say would piss me off. Hercules smirked and leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"Just allow me some...umm... alone time with your girl." He said. Then leaned back laughing, a felt anger flow there me and I brought my legs up and kicked him off me, sending him flying and he landed hard on his back. I jumped up and grabbed my sword. I could feel my magic stirring as a black light started to form around me.
"Harry, Baby, calm down." Piper called. "No magic remember." At hearing Piper's voice, I blinked and shook my head the light went away at once. I took a deep breath as Hercules got to his feet and picked up his sword.
"No magic. That's fine." I said. "After what you just said, I would rather use my own hands to beat you to pulp."
Hercules said nothing, he just raised his sword and came at me, I raised the blade of Olympus and stopped the blow, I then dropped my sword and spun around and got Hercules right in the side, he cried out and stepped back, gold blood flowing from his wound. He screamed out in rage and came forward and sliced crossed my left leg, I cried out and grabbed my leg.
"Harry," Piper cried. I straightened up and came at Hercules, he blocked my blow and I tuned around and got him in the gut with my elbow, then bent over sending him flying over my back and onto his. He just jumped back up and grabbed his sword and got me crossed the same leg again, but not as deep this time. I then got him across the arm, then spun around and got him across the face. Then there was a little more back and forth with blocking the blows.
"You think you're something don't you?" Hercules cried, as I stopped his sword from another blow. "You're such a spoiled little brat."
"Spoiled." I cried, pushing Hercules back, making him stumble. "Spoiled, how the hell am I spoiled? I'm so sick of us having the rotten life because you gods can't get along with one another. So what if Sirius tends to let me by with what other parents wouldn't, or if Hera gives me loads of gifts now and then, I deserve a little something with the life I had." I took a step toward him. I took my leg and swapped his feet out from under him, and pointed the blade of my sword right at his throat. "Believe me with the life I had, I'm nowhere near spoiled." I smirked down at his shocked face. "I believe this means I win." His eyes narrowed.
"Fine." Hercules snapped. "I take the damn curse off your life, but I warn you, you just made an immortal enemy."
"I'll just add you to my list of enemies." I said, backing off. I knew he really did it, he took his curse off, because I suddenly felt lighter, like a whole weight had lifted off my shoulders. Hercules glared at me as he stood. I didn't give him another thought as I turned to Piper, took her hand and headed back to Leo's ship, but as I walked I suddenly felt a blow to the back of my head and went down.
I turned on my back to see Hercules standing over me with a large club. "Nobody makes a fool out of me." He growled swinging it back and coming toward me.
"No!" Piper screamed and grabbed hold of the club. "Leave him alone!"
Hercules said nothing he swung the club and sent Piper flying to the ground, she hit it hard and rolled away, that's when I lost it. Lost what I had held in, ever since I woke up. This bastard was the reason my life sucked, him and his damn curse, if it wasn't for him James and Lily may still be alive, I would have grown up happy and loved instead of hated and beaten, I wouldn't be claustrophobic, heck if it wasn't for him and his stupid curse I would have never spent a month of my life in Tartarus. And he was laying is filthy hands on my girl, hell no, he wasn't going to get by with that.
"You shouldn't have done that." I growled, getting to my feet. I then tackled Hercules to the ground and started to pound every bit of him I could reach, he tossed me off, he then got on me and started punching me, I trusted my hands up and blasted him off me with magic. We stood at the same time, and he came at me, grabbed me around the waist and tackled me to the ground. I tried to get him off, but had no luck.
He glared down at me. "You can't fight without having to use magic. If you weren't a wizard you would be nothing but a wimp."
"I just beat you without my magic didn't I." I said. Hercules growled drew his fist back, but before he could punch me, I thrust out my hands and hit him with a blast of raw magic that sent him flying into the sea with a big splash. "Didn't think I would ever meet anyone I hated more than Ares." I mumbled as Piper dropped down next to me. I was weak and not sure I could get up. All I wanted to do was go to sleep, sad considering I just woke up after sleeping for a month. I reached up and laid my hand on Piper's face.
"You all right, Fancy face?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Piper said. "What about you."
"I'm fine, baby." I said. "I think my heads bleeding." She made me raise my head so she could check.
"Yeah, it is." Piper said. "You'll have to take some nectar when we get back on the ship. For your leg and side too." I nodded, as she helped me to my feet, then put my arm around her shoulder, and both hers around my waist, so she could help me along.
"Let's get going before he comes out of the ocean." Piper said. I nodded as I let her help me toward Leo's ship, I stumbled a few times, but Piper was there to make sure we I didn't fall.
"You're going to change when we get back to the ship, right." I asked.
"Of course, dumby." Piper said. As she stopped to pick up my sword. "I'm not going to keep this on."
"Good." I said. "No offense, baby, you look great in everything, but I like you better in jeans and t-shirt. Cheerleading outfits just ain't you."
"No kidding." Piper laughed. I suddenly smirked down at her.
"Then again, I think you look better without any clothes on." I said.
"Harry Potter." Piper yelped, smacking me, while her face turned red.
"I was just kidding." I said. Smiling, as I rubbed where she hit me.
For a moment things felt normal and I wanted things to get back to normal; well, as normal as being a wizard/demigod could be, but I knew it would never be that way. I love Piper and she loves me, nothing is ever going to change that, but even with Hercules' curse off. I knew my life wasn't going to be much easier. Not until we won the war, and that couldn't happen until we destroyed the rest of Voldemort's Horcruxes. And we couldn't look for them until we saved Hera and Enyo. Then I'll go spend a couple of days with Sirius, then Piper and I will seek out Nico and go Horcrux hunting. But no matter how long it takes we will win this war. Hercules was wrong about on thing. Piper and I will have our happily ever after. Or as close to one as we can get. I was going to make sure of that.
A.N. I hope that was good, I figured once Piper told Harry, who cursed him, he would want to go confront him, no matter how weak or rusty he was. I hope the fight was good, I know Harry really didn't do much fighting until Hercules said something about Piper, but he did just wake up after being asleep for a month. And I hope Harry's reaction to what happen was okay, I figured he would have nightmares. Who wouldn't after what he went through. And Harry was talking about Percy when he was saying who trained him, I know if was more Luke than Percy, but Percy did come out the hero. And he battle him, and I do think Percy could have if he knew were Luke's heal had been, which is how I think it should have been, sorry, I just can't stand Luke and think it would have been better if Percy had gotten to take out Kronus himself.