There's Nothing Sweeter

Disclaimer: I don't own 'Harry Potter' or 'Percy Jackson'. All recognisable characters, content or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Fourteen:

Sirius arrived at Camp Halfblood on the 30th of June. His trip to Manhattan had been postponed several days due to some changes in the Wizengamot, and the drama at camp had made off-ground visits rather difficult, but as Gwen watched her godfather take in the sight of her summer camp, a nostalgic smile on his face, Gwen frowned to herself, confused by the sight.

Had he been here before?

If so, why had he never told her?

"Sirius," she greeted. Her godfather turned to her, his smile turned awkward, and the man raised his arms, unsure if a hug would be welcome. They'd never been particularly close, but all the same, Gwen relented with a roll of her eyes, but when she stepped back, she scrutinised her godfather's face, in search of something, but ensure of what.

She found it in the stormy grey of his eyes, so very like hers on an overcast day and she rocked backwards, lost for words, and astounded beyond belief.

"You're a son of Athena," she declared with a certainty that should have surprised her. Except it didn't, and she continued, "You've been here before."

Sirius' smile was self-deprecating. "I should have known you'd have figured it out before I could tell you. You're too smart for your own good. There's a reason why Walburga despised me, and it had nothing to do with my 'blood traitor' ideals."

Sirius cast his gaze over the landscape once again, and his smile turned wistful. "Your dad and I had some great memories here."

Unsure of what to think about that notion, and certain to push it out of her mind for the time being, Gwen led the way to the big house, where they were greeted warmly by Chiron and begrudgingly by Mr D, both of whom recognised Sirius as a former camper, and a particularly hellish one at that.

Apparently, his mischievous tendencies didn't end at Hogwarts.

.

Gwen wondered what they thought of the man he'd become, but she didn't ask. For one, Gwen doubted she'd receive a straight answer and for another, she was still trying to wrap her head around the concept that her godfather and father were both demigods.

Sirius took the opportunity to sign in as a visitor to camp. He made idle chit chat with the old centaur for a while, as Mr D coaxed Gwen into a game of pinochle, but eventually, the two demigods excused themselves, and began a slow, meandering walk around the grounds.

"You're a demigod?"

"Yes," Sirius confirmed, "As is your dad, James, and your mother, Lily. James is a son of Athena as well, but Lily is a daughter of Hecate. it shows in your eyes."

Gwen mulled over that unexpected revelation for a time. Her eyes had always been different, blue and green and grey, or a combination of all three, dependent on the weather, and an oddity no one had ever been able to deny.

"What does that mean for me?" Gwen queried.

"Not much," Sirius answered, "You're a legacy of Athena and Hecate, which means you'll have a slightly enhanced affinity for one or more of their skills, but not to the same extent as you would for your divine father's domain, or that of an actual child of either goddess. Case in point: your relationship with Hedwig. You can't talk to her, but you two understand each other, do you not?"

Gwen nodded her understanding and for a time, they walked on in silence. The naiads fooled around in the water, watched over by Percy, and the tree nymphs frolicked around in the gardens. it might have been idyllic, but the Aries children were in the middle of a free for all at the training arena, and the Apollo children were training at the archery fields. Gwen's thoughts were on the revelations she'd just received however, but her godfather pulled the witch from her reverie because apparently he had more to say.

Gwen wondered sardonically if she wanted to hear it.

"I wouldn't dwell on it, Gwen. In the Greek community, legacies aren't that big of a deal, and you won't suddenly be able to lay tormented spirits to rest."

"How comforting," she deadpanned.

Sirius cracked a small, fleeting smile and not for the first time, Gwen struggled to associate this man with the jovial, happy go lucky man from her photographs, and the stories Remus often told her of the Marauders' past. According to the lycanthrope though, James' incapacitation had effected Sirius more than Gwen would ever know, and Sirius Orion Black was a far cry from the man he'd once been. People changed though, and life went on, and that was just how things would always be.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She queried, and despite herself, Gwen couldn't suppress the tone of hurt in her voice.

"The same reason I never told you that you had another father," Sirius answered, "Your own safety, Gwen. If I had, the monsters would have been all over you like white on rice. I couldn't, and wouldn't, let that happen. Not for anything."

"Because you made a promise to my dad," she acknowledged, and again, she couldn't quite suppress the bitterness in her tone.

What the hell was Camp Halfblood doing to her? She'd not been so vulnerable in a long time. It was a change she did not appreciate.

"Because I made a promise to you," Sirius corrected. He stopped in his tracks, stopped Gwen as well, rested a steady hand on her shoulders, and met Gwen's turbulent gaze with an earnest one of his own. "The day your dad put you in my arms, I promised I'd protect you until the day i died. I love you Gwen, as if you were my own child. Every decision I've ever made concerning you, was with your wellbeing in mind. Don't ever doubt that."

Once again lost for words, and unable to speak for the lump of unidentifiable something lodged in her throat besides, Gwen only nodded, and their stroll continued towards the strawberry fields. Sirius began to retell little anecdotes about he and her parents' time at Camp Halfblood, and Gwen soaked it all up like a sponge, eager for this brief glimpse of the man Gwen had realised, quite suddenly, she didn't really know at all.

The revelation was discomforting, and Gwen had to wonder about what other misperceptions she'd made over the years. She supposed she was woman enough to admit she was wrong, but as the pair came to a stop at the Zeus cabin porch, settled on the sun-warmed steps and looked out towards the grounds, Gwen admitted to herself that she'd probably never announce it out loud. She had too much pride for that.

"Tell me about your time here?" Sirius requested.

Gwen grimaced her reluctance, but she did as asked and spoke of her experiences in Long Island thus far, omitting her involvement with the assortment of prohibited activities the camp had to offer. She spoke of her new friends, Silena, Katie and Clarisse, Chuck and Michael, Connor and Travis, Caster and Pollux, Lee and to a lesser extent, Percy, of her affinity for twin daggers and her misadventures in archery. She spoke of how Lee was teaching her the guitar, and how Chiron had taken to teaching her to manipulate the Mist in lieu of the Ancient Greek lessons she didn't need.

Finally, she spoke about the defection of Luke and Alabaster, and admitted the betrayal she'd felt despite the fact that she'd not cared for either. She told him about how it felt as though she still had Percy's blood beneath her nails, despite the fact that she'd scrubbed her skin raw at the first opportunity she could, how every night, she dreamt that she'd been too late, and Percy had died with his blood between her fingers. She spoke for what felt like ages, and by the time she was done, Sirius had conjured them each a glass of water and had wrapped a supportive arm around her shoulders.

"It's been a busy month, then," Sirius concluded, and Gwen's responding smile was weary, tinged with a bitterness out of place on adolescent features. It saddened Sirius to see it, but Gwen didn't notice.

"Yeah," she agreed, "It has been. Anyway, what's been going on in Britain? The 'Daily Prophet' is as useless as ever."

Sirius gave a heavy sigh, and began to speak slowly. Evidently, Dumbledore had reassembled a vigilante organisation known as the Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort had gone underground, and most of the movements on either side involved recruitment, intelligence and preparation.

There had been no deaths, no disappearances, no attacks, and Gwen was unsure of whether or not she should feel comforted, or disturbed. She'd learned to expect the unexpected, but this calm before the storm, if you will, was disconcerting.

She'd never been the patient sort.

"He wants something in the Department of Mysteries," Sirius explained, "A 'weapon'. A prophecy orb, actually. Dumbledore has some of his people guarding it."

Gwen arched a skeptical eyebrow. "He's that superstitious?"

"It apparently predicts his downfall," Sirius answered glibly. "And of course, you know to keep that quiet." His gaze was stern, unfaltering, and Gwen held it with a steady gaze of her own.

"Of course," she agreed solemnly, brushed stray strands out of her eyes, and asked about Sirius' family.

The man had married his wife, Celeste, seven years ago, and they now had three year old twin girls, Vega and Virgo and an infant son, Leo. In summers past, Gwen herself had been stuck with babysitting duty more often than she cared to admit, because Celeste was insistent that her children not be raised by house elves, and Sirius was wise enough to choose his battles. Whatever the case, the two Black daughters had taken a shining to Gwen that was not at all reciprocated, but as Sirius began to catch Gwen up on the anecdotes of his three children, Gwen couldn't deny the fond smile on her face if she tried.

"They miss you," Sirius informed her, "When they found out I would be visiting you, they practically begged to come with me."

"Glad you didn't give in," Gwen answered, "They make me barmy."

Sirius' responding laugh was reminiscent of a dog's bark, but as he opened his mouth to reply, the lunch conch horn sounded and he got to his feet, surprisingly enthusiastic.

"The only place I get Greek food better than Camp Halfblood's is in Greece. Let's go, Gwen. Do you know how long its been since I've had a good Greek yoghurt? You can introduce me to your new friends, too. Especially that son of Apollo you seem so fond of."

"Just what I always wanted," she deadpanned."Please don't embarrass me. Especially not in front of Lee."

Sirius chuckled heartily, once more slung an arm over her shoulders, and replied, "I'll do my best, but fair warning, it's my prerogative as your godfather to scare off any blokes who come calling."

And naturally, Gwen was not comforted in the slightest.

Author's Note: The legacy of Athena and Hecate has been planned since the first chapter. Note two chapters earlier, and the comparison of Annabeth and Gwen's eye colouring, as well as the comparison between Alabaster's and Gwen's in one of the earlier chapters. Four, I think. Maybe three.

It won't play a particularly pivotal role in the story, or even in the prospective sequel(s), but I like to think of it as world and character building.

Thanks for reading, I hope you've enjoyed. Until next time, -t.