Enjoy!
How It Should've Been
Chapter 14: Too Easy?
Two Weeks Later
"Alex!" Jake exclaimed causing her to stop in her tracks and turn to face him. "Things have been getting worse, admit it. There have been ten deaths of mortal family members in the past two weeks." Jake put his hand on the railing as he faced Alex. They were at the San Francisco Haven in the control room and were up on the loft level.
"What do you want me to say Jake? That I know? Yes, I know things are getting worse. What do you want me to do?" Alex questioned exasperated. The past two weeks had seen both of them having spent more time either in Vancouver, San Francisco or speaking to family members of Demi-gods than they did at home. Alex had barely been in London or even Britain for the past two weeks. She probably only saw Sirius for all of ten minutes during her collective time there which was totaled at about an hour and the only time they actually talked was when he was questioning her.
Most of the Demi-gods that were over sixteen were helping in any way possible. There wasn't much they could do short of keeping watch over the families of the Demi-gods, and they could only do that with the ones they actually knew of or that accepted help, which was barely half. The other half either refused anything godly in their home short of their children or they didn't know about the world.
"If I had any suggestions I would've made them." Jake exclaimed. Shaking his head, he sighed before continuing. "It's like the army of monsters Atlas has at his disposal is a seemingly endless supply. There have been attacks all over the US. They happen randomly."
Alex frowned, "Randomly." She repeated, Jake nodded questioningly. "Because they all start at the same place." She realized, her head turned to look over the railing where people were milling around. There was a wall covered in a map with red marks on the spots that have been hit and when. She studied for a second before her eyes widened slightly. "Look at that." She pointed at the map, Jake moved to stand next to her but failed to see what she was seeing. He turned his head to look at her with a cocked eyebrow. "The places on the west coast. All of the attacks on the west coast happen on the last day of the cycle."
"Hate to break it to you Alex but there isn't a cycle to this." Jake frowned. Alex grinned looking at him.
"Yeah there is. The east coast is hit first, then the middle of the country and lastly the west coast." Alex jogged down the steps onto the first floor with Jake on her heels. She picked up a file from one of the desks and opened it showing it to him. "But before that, there is an attack in Europe. Then it starts over at Europe again. It's a four-day cycle." She explained and Jake looked between the file which held the lighter attacks that were in Europe and the map. She was right.
"If it starts in Europe that means they're coming from there. And the west coast is last because it takes the longest to get there." Jake put together after taking the file from Alex. He removed the papers from the file, one for each attack. There were nine, there were three attacks each time and it's happened there three times. He cleared the huge research table that was in the center of the room. Laying them out in columns of each set of attacks for each day. So there were three columns each with three pages in them.
Alex moved to pick up another file that contained the attacks from the US, skimming them for the location, she put the east coast ones in the same format, three by three going by date, time and place. Then did the same with central US and then the west coast. West coast was the farthest left while Europe was furtherest right. Each paper held the date, time and location of the attack along with who was attacked, wounded count along with a small map of where in the US or Europe it was.
Each column was the attacks in that coast in that rotation. Each row was each attack from each rotation. You could see the route they took along each row.
"Look at that. It's not random." One of the people that was milling around before mumbled amazed. Most of the people that were moving around had stopped when Alex and Jake cleared off the table and started putting the pages down to watch. They were all looking on in rapt attention at the pages as everything came together.
"Only question that's left is where exactly are they coming from." Alex wondered sharing a look with Jake.
Hogwarts
So far Harry had been in school for a little short of a month and he was already bored. The past two weeks had flown by, his lessons and homework were easy as he already been through it all and more. His friendship with Hermione had strengthened and they were getting to becoming better friends. He was also working on loosening her view on authority, but with little success. Obviously, Harry had to keep his secrets about who he was and about his family, but the people he felt himself around at school was Hermione and Luna even though Hermione didn't know the real him. He tried to keep his personality the same, and was just light on his past.
For the past two Saturday's when Harry and Luna went to the Room to meet with Alex and train they found Sirius instead of Alex. Apparently not even Sirius knew what was going on with Alex when Harry asked. He had little to no communication with Alex for the past two weeks as well. It worried Harry as even when Alex was always away, she still would find a way to communicate with him. This was the first time that he hadn't heard from her for this long of a period and Sirius had no idea what was going on.
While he was tempted, he hadn't tried the ring on his finger yet to contact her. If it was one thing that Harry knew in all honestly, it was that Alex could take care of herself and if she hadn't contacted them she had a good reason. Even if his father didn't look at it that way. Harry knew Alex was a secretive or private person, he grew up around it. His father was more transparent to an extent but even he had secrets, secrets that Harry had no doubt Alex probably knew about even if Sirius didn't believe she did.
Even though Sirius never said it outright, Harry knew he was hoping that Harry wouldn't be like Alex in regards to secrets and lies. That it wasn't something that could run in the family and that Alex had just developed the skill over the years and from experience. And even if Sirius didn't want to admit it, Harry was a good lair, he had to be with who he was. It was one of the things Sirius hated that Harry had to deal with, but if Harry was going to be honest, he was thankful. It was a useful skill to have and he didn't blame Alex for keeping secrets. They were often times necessary, no matter how much his father tried to tell him it wasn't and that it was best to be honest.
They both knew he was wrong. It was just another on the list of things that he disagreed with his father on and agreed with Alex about. His father had a different outlook on war as well. Sirius understood the sometimes need to do what was necessary, but he didn't believe in it like Alex had. While Sirius never wanted Harry to have to even think about each outlook and tried to shield him as much as possible from it, which wasn't much, Harry still had formed his own opinions. Opinions that closer matched Alex's than Sirius's. That was often an argument between his father and aunt.
Sirius had gotten upset about it, about him having such an opinion on how things worked. Alex had fought back about it saying it was needed and how the world worked. She was the one who trained him in martial arts, swords, bows, staffs, and various other weapons along with his powers when he came into them. His school taught him most of the magic he knew but when Alex finally made to argue her point and Sirius caved, Sirius taught him some of the "darker" spells, even if personally Harry didn't think of them as dark. Neither did Alex, Sirius thought them more unneeded than dark. He understood that intent was what made something Dark or light not the magic. All magic was grey. That was something his school believed in as well. Britain was the most unreasonable and restricting country in terms of magic. It was blinded.
Over the years, Sirius had become more willing about using more lethal or dangerous force. He still didn't make his first resort but then again none of them did. He just tried to open his mindset, not as far as Alex or Harry would've liked but it was better.
In his time at Hogwarts, Harry found that there was so many things not taught because the blinded Ministry believed it dark when in reality it wasn't. That was yet another of the things Harry had learned that Hermione was adamant about, light and dark magic. She believed that dark magic was bad and light was good. She saw the world in black and white, much like Harry had once before he learned before he gained clarity but even then, he still saw at least some level of grey. Alex was the one that gave clarity to him. Now he was determined to pass on the lesson no matter how difficult.
"Alright Harry, I guess it's time you learn the truth." Alex admitted as she sat down next to him on the end of his bed. He just found out the truth of who Alex was and what she could do.
"I thought that was it?" Thirteen-year-old Harry asked confused.
Sighing, Alex shook her head. "I meant the truth about why I leave often." Harry's eyes widened as Alex turned so she was angled slightly more towards him. "Now you know all about the deities and all of that and me being a Master of Elements and being a partial immortal. But the reason I leave isn't just that but because I am also-I'm a Chaser for Hades." She told him. Harry frowned.
"What does that mean?" Harry questioned.
"Hades Chasers are people that track people down that Hades believes have cheated death, or those that has escaped it and unworthy of that." Alex answered, watching him waiting for a reaction.
"When you say track down you mean-" Harry started wearily.
"Kill them." Alex cut him off with a nod. "Yes." She nodded again. Harry looked down as he thought about this new information.
"But why? You're basically a hit person for a god. Why?" Harry demanded looking back up at her.
"Because in the worlds we live in, it's often times a necessity. As for why I am Hades Chaser in the first place, well it was part of a deal I made." She paused and one Harry opened his mouth she cut him off. "One that I can't tell you about." She denied knowing what his question would've been. Harry's jaw clenched at the answer.
"That's not fair." He argued angrily. Alex had a small smile.
"No, maybe not. But there are things that are best left unsaid, best left hidden. You'll know one day, but now is not that day. Not for a while." Alex responded.
"Why does Hades want that in the first place?" Harry questioned moving to his next question of curiosity.
"Because most of the people that I go after, deserve it." Alex answered simply. Harry's mouth dropped in shock.
"How can anyone deserve death? Why not just detain them?" Harry demanded shocked.
"Let me ask you something. Voldemort. If he was alive and getting away with killing your parents. Would you want him dead or detained?" Alex questioned looking at him. Harry wasn't looking directly at her, more of down at his hands in his lap as he thought about it. It didn't take long.
"Dead." Harry admitted quietly. "Does that make me a bad person?" He wondered looking to Alex for an answer.
She shook her head looking at him. "Not for a second. He did horrible things. And wanting him dead after everything and him taking James and Lily away from you is reasonable. He tried to cheat death and magical people aren't meant to be able to short of using inhuman methods. Most of the people that Hades goes after are people that 'honestly' the world is better off without. People that have no regard for human life. No, it doesn't make it moral, or right. But sometimes…" She paused. "There's a saying, it goes, 'there are people in this world who deal in only extremes, and it is naïve to believe we can deal with them in anything less than extreme measures.'" She recited. Harry nodded thinking about it.
"Who taught you that?" Harry inquired curiously.
"Your mother actually." Alex answered quietly looking down for a second. "She understood that there is not just light and dark. But rather many shades of grey. That circumstance and intent can blur the lines of right and wrong. She believed that we should protect our loved ones no matter the cost. Something she did until the very end." Alex told him. Harry looked at her with shining eyes as he smiled.
"You and dad don't talk about them often." Harry stated drawing Alex's gaze. She looked at him before smiling.
"No, we don't. But we should. They were great people, people worthy of telling stories about. I'll make a deal with you, I'll remember to tell you more about your mother, and you remember to keep an open mind about the world, how does that sound?" She offered, extending her hand for him to shake. He met her eyes and gave a nod, he shook her hand trying to keep a straight face. Alex must've seen the emotion crossing his eyes because she pulled his hand and let go as she was pulling him into a hug.
"Thank you." Harry mumbled from where his face was against the crook of Alex's neck.
He kept his side of the deal and so had Alex until it came to a point where he wasn't just keeping an open mind but seeing the truth about the world, the clarity. It was a gift that most people probably couldn't say they were given in their lifetime, but it was one Harry would never trade, one of the best that could've been given, one his parents never got the chance to give.
Sometime Later – New York
They had dispersed after finding out the pattern. Some left to inform others, some to go change shifts with somebody. Jake and Alex went their separate ways to cover different things.
Turning down the hall, Jake stopped short when he spotted Alex and his mother speaking around the corner. Moving to be in the cover of the corner, he slowly peeked his head out and listened.
"But why bless the girl?" Alex questioned confused.
"Because she has a destiny." Hecate answered exasperated. It was clear from how she answered that she had already answered it more than once.
"Yeah, great I got it the first five times. What I want is a more elaborate or detailed answer." Alex snapped annoyed.
"The questions you ask have answers I cannot give." Hecate responded cryptically.
"Oh, and now we're moving onto riddles. Fantastic." Sarcasm was dripping from Alex's words. "I just want to know what this girl has to do with anything. Why the hell can't you just tell me?" Alex demanded. "I know how fate works and she is in my nephew's life for a reason, and I just want to know what it is."
"You will know soon enough." Hecate answered before disappearing with a flash.
"Yeah well screw you to." Alex muttered angrily under her breathe before shaking her head and walking down the hall away from where Jake was standing behind cover of the corner.
An hour later saw everyone back in the control room standing around the research table which held the previous attacks. Alex and Jake took point and began.
"Tomorrow the first attack on the US takes place. It will be in the east coast and based on the previous attacks on the east coast and their locations, the children of Athena have worked out that the attacks will all be within the Delaware area." Alex began looking around at surrounding group.
"This is a list of all of the demigod families in said area that we know of." Jake held up a paper. "These are our top priority and they will be on watch twenty-four seven. Understood?" He paused waiting for everyone to nod. When they did he nodded to Alex.
"Now the objective is going to be to protect these families. We are trying to limit the casualties as much as possible. But it would be a big help if one of the attacking monsters could be captured for interrogation."
"But remember, do not jeopardize a life of a mortal to capture one. If it's not possible then that's that." Jake interjected sternly looking each and every one of them in the eye. "If one is captured, alert us or someone at command and we'll either come out or send a top interrogator. Clear?" Jake questioned. There were various nods and yeses from everyone. "Good."
"Alright, great. There are four families in Delaware. Davis lead group one." Alex ordered as she handed the man a paper with the family he and his team was charged with protecting. "Rivers, group two." She continued handing him a paper to receive a nod. "And Daniels and Aston will lead groups three and four respectively. Got it? Great." She handed out the last remaining papers and everyone left to prep their own teams for the trip.
The next morning everyone was sent off. Every team had a tactician, a teleporter, a senior counselor who was the leader and two other experienced fighters making it a five-member unit.
Sure enough, only hours later command was getting a call asking for Alex and Jake to come out to talk to a commander that was captured from the attack.
"The commanders in there." Rivers pointed to the tent when they arrived. Nodding, Alex entered the tent to see the monster in shackles restrained. He was struggling until he looked up, seeing Alex he began to struggle against the chains.
"So. Do you like taking things the easy way, or do you prefer the difficult way?" Alex questioned as Rivers entered the tent behind her and closed the flap.
"Screw you." The monster spat. Alex rose an eyebrow before nodding.
"Okay, alright, so you like the difficult path. Got it." She moved closer and bent down slightly to eye level with him. "You're not afraid of being sent to Tartarus. Are you?" She paused and waited. When he didn't answer she continued. "You're not afraid of me. That was your first mistake. Your second was making whatever deal you made to do this. Because you may not be afraid of Tartarus but what about the void? I'm pretty sure that's one place you can't come back from." She wondered aloud, watching for a reaction and wasn't disappointed. He took on a fearful look for a few seconds, before shaking it off.
"I'm not afraid of you, I'm not gonna talk." He snapped, there was a slight waver in his voice, barely noticeable.
"You're not? Hm, maybe I should give you a reason to be. Why don't we test that void theory mhm?" Alex suggested as a sword appeared out of fire. The monster swallowed. The sword went alit with black flames. In the black flames was wisps and crackles of red lightning, the black was as dark as night.
"H-hell fire." He stammered as he renewed his effort of struggling against the bonds. Alex nodded moving the sword to rest barely an inch from the monster's throat.
"You have a choice. Either this sword goes through you, hell fire and all or you tell me what I want to know. What's it gonna be?" Alex questioned tilting her head in curiosity. She may not have been shouting but her eyes were as cold as ice and the sword against his neck showed how dire his situation was.
"I'll tell you. Just get the sword away from me!" He exclaimed panicking his eyes darting around the room.
"Not until I have reason to. It's incentive to remember what will happen if you lie. Now, where is Atlas's base? And where are you coming from?" She warned not moving it. His eyes moved quickly between the flaming sword and Alex.
Gulping, he closed his eyes. "Canada." He answered not opening his eyes. He felt the a cold on his neck. Eyes shooting open they darted down, the flames were dancing off of his neck and that were freezing cold. "No! No. Please." He begged.
"I warned you not to lie. Try again!" Alex demanded threateningly. The monsters breathing quickened considerably.
"He'll kill me. Please." He pleaded.
"And I'll do worse than that. Your choice."
"Alright, alright. We come from Greece. A man, a snake like man is the one who makes us. Atlas just directs us. The base, its uh it's-it's i-in the Atlas's destroyed temple. Please." The monster stammered through it and closing his eyes in fear. Alex nodded moving the sword away.
"Thanks, that's all I needed." Alex turned and moved less than five steps before she whipped around plunging the still lit sword into the monster's midsection. His eyes went wide in shock as the cold flames spread around his body and it started dissolving and in seconds he was gone, nothing remained, no dust, just gone. The flames went out and Alex released the sword and let it sink into the ground in shadows.
Turning, she left the tent but not before hearing Rivers mutter, "Damn. That was cold." Ignoring it, she dropped the flap behind her and continued over to one of the set-up tables that was beside a fire where Jake was standing.
"Greece." She said with no preamble as she approached. "Voldemort makes them."
"The command-" He started.
"Void." Alex cut him off before he could finish. He nodded absently as she moved to stand next to him looking at the map spread out on the table. "What?" She must've sensed his hesitation. He sighed before turning to face her.
"You really had to send him to the void?" He exclaimed exasperated.
"What did you want me to do?" Alex questioned incredulously. "Let him go?"
"No, I- nothing. Forget it. Anyway, do we know where in Greece?"
"Atlas's old temple." Alex answered shortly. Jake frowned in thought.
"Atlas had a temple?" He wondered curiously looking at Alex, she shrugged.
"Apparently. So, here's what I'm thinking. We put an end to this. Tomorrow, all out strike on the temple, get Atlas back under the sky." Alex suggested, Jake looked thoughtful before nodding.
"Sure, let's get all the groups back to base and then transport everyone to Greece for it."
Next Morning
All the groups had been recalled to the Haven and given the plan. The four groups plus four other groups along with Alex and Jake arrived in Greece at daybreak and made their way to the surrounding area of Atlas's temple. Jake was leading two of the teams in a frontal assault, while Alex was leading two of them in an attack from the back while the other four teams went two on each side of the building. Everyone was either going in through a door, window or blasting through.
It was seven o'clock when the assault started, all of the teams going at the same time. Entering the building, they found that the building was swarming with monsters. The four teams from either side took care of them while Jake and Alex's sets of teams went in search of further levels for Atlas.
It turned out there were two underground levels, Atlas was at the very bottom. Alex and Jake entered with a team each on opposing sides of the room. Atlas was standing talking to a large group of monsters.
Each of their teams went after the monsters while Alex and Jake went after Atlas. They all sprang into action, swords appearing in both of their hands as Atlas backtracked out of their paths. Alex spun so the sword caught his left arm and ducked under the swing from Atlas's own sword. While he swung at her, Jake took a slash at his unprotected side leaving a mark.
They continued this way for at least five minutes, going back and forth before it was becoming tiresome and Alex threw caution to the wind slamming into Atlas as they both disappeared in a flurry of flames and reappeared on the mountain as Jake appeared behind Atlas and swung at his legs using Atlas's momentum to his advantage as he fell straight into Iapetus knocking him out from under the sky and onto Atlas.
The duo shared a look before disappearing in flames and electricity and in smoke respectively. They reappeared at the temple to find golden dust practically painting the ground and the groups all returning from their locations.
Hour or so Later
Everyone was back at the command room or recovering from the assault while Alex and Jake were standing on the lift level. People were milling around below clearing out the maps and papers.
"It seemed easy. Too easy." Jake commented breaking the silence as they watched the people below.
"I know, I was thinking the same. The whole thing was meant to be so that we couldn't help the wizarding world when Voldemort struck because we'd be dealing with Atlas. But nothing really happened on that end." Alex spoke shaking her head in disbelief. Jake shrugged, he didn't know either.
"I guess we just have to take the win for now. And continue on, pick up the pieces and be ready for anything." Jake sighed in thought, Alex nodded in agreement. That sounded like all they could do, what needed to be done.
The months flew by after the battle in Greece and soon it was December which meant it was time for Harry's winter break. Harry and Hermione were sitting together in a compartment on the train to Kings Cross while Luna was in a different compartment with a friend.
When the train came to a stop, Harry and Hermione stood, collected their belongings before exiting the compartment and then the train. Sharing a hug, they went their separate ways, Hermione towards the gateway and Harry towards where Luna was waving him over.
"Ryder, this is my friend." Luna gestured to the girl around the same age she was standing next to.
The girl stuck out her hand, "Ginny Weasley." She greeted with a smile.
Harry extended his hand and shook. "Ryder Cage." He paused when the handshake ended and thought. "Weasley?" At her nod, he continued, "Related to a Ronald Weasley?"
"One of my many older brothers. Cage? Hm, I think I heard that name in one of his many rants." Ginny thought before glancing at Luna.
"Yeah, probably about how we don't get along or something." Harry suggested. Ginny nodded thoughtfully. Harry and Ronald had several run ins over the course of the semester, none of them good as they all began with Ronald insulting or badmouthing either Luna or Hermione.
"Probably." Then she smiled, "Anyone that can bug my brother as much as you have is a friend. Especially since you're a friend of Luna's. That's an added bonus." She chuckled and Harry found himself laughing along with her. Ginny didn't seem as bad as her brother, with time Harry could see himself being friends with her.
"Oh, there they are!" Luna exclaimed grabbing their attention. They both looked at her curious. "Ryder, the other friend I was going to introduce you to." Luna continued at their curious looks. A look of realization crossed Harry's face, the friend's aunt's cousin that taught Luna about her powers. Right, she was introducing them. Harry nodded before turning back to face Ginny.
"It was nice meeting you, shame we can't talk longer but we really must be going. See you after break." Harry apologized.
"Completely understood, with Luna as a friend you learn to get used to spontaneousness. It was a pleasure meeting you, have a good break!" Ginny bid goodbye before moving over to her own family as Luna began dragging Harry by the arm over to where her friend and her aunt along with cousin were standing.
"Ryder, this is my friend Susan Bones and her aunt Amelia." She introduced when they approached the trio. Harry extended his hand and shook both Susan's and Amelia's before Luna moved over to the last member of the group. "And this is who taught me all about our world, Hunter." He looked early twenties like Alex but Harry knew he was more than likely older than that. He had sky blue eyes and his brown hair was short but flicked up in the front. The man didn't look overly muscled but the definition was there, from first looks, Harry thought he had what would be labeled as a swimmer's body same as Harry's, muscular but lean. Hunter looked intrigued by the wording of the introduction and shook Harry's hand.
"You're a partial?" Hunter questioned lightly after releasing Harry's hand. Nodding, Harry allowed his eyes to fill with flames for a second before they dissipated. Hunter nodded in acceptance. "And Luna tells me you have an aunt who is a master?" Hunter raised an eyebrow in question. Harry was about to answer but didn't get the chance when he spotted Alex standing at a pillar behind where the group was standing, looking at him. Meeting her eyes, he looked back to Hunter.
"Actually, I can introduce you right now if you want?" Harry suggested, Hunter gave a 'lead the way' gesture before looking to the others in the group.
"Be right back." Hunter assured them before following after Harry, leaving Luna and Susan conversing and Amelia's gaze following after him before she turned and looked at the girls.
Harry led him over to Alex as she watched him approach and pushed off the pillar, arms remains crossed.
"Hunter, this is Alex, my aunt." Harry introduced watching Alex for a reaction. Harry and Alex had been sparse on communication over the past few months, their last message had ended with Alex saying the crisis was taken care of and that she would be there to pick him up at the station.
Alex extended her hand, "Nice meeting you, Hunter."
"Alex Evans. It's a pleasure. Hunter Mason." He shook her hand. Harry watched the interaction between the two.
"You know my last name?" Alex realized, brows furrowed.
"Not many people can make a deal with Hades. Plus, we're rare so not many of us." Hunter explained, Alex nodded in agreement and acceptance.
From back over where Luna and Susan were talking, Amelia turned and looked over in the direction Hunter had went, eyes searching for him. Her eyes landed on him but widened when she saw who he was talking to. Hunter had his back to Amelia and was facing Alex while Harry was standing with his side facing Amelia. Alex looked to be nodding to something that was said. Amelia looked back at the girls before turning to look back at the trio.
After ten more minutes, Hunter nodded before taking something out of this pocket, writing something on a small paper and handing it to Alex and turning and walking back over to Amelia as Harry and Alex left the platform.
When he made it back over, Amelia looked at him. "Be careful." She warned looking at the place Alex had been standing minutes prior. Hunter looked at her before following her glance.
"What are you talking about?" He asked looking at her confused, putting the pen back into his pocket.
"Alex." Amelia answered as if it was obvious. Hunter raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?" He repeated.
"She's dangerous." And at Hunters questioning gaze she continued, "There's something more to her, she hides things."
Sighing, Hunter shook his head, "It wouldn't surprise me if she did, hell it would surprise me if she didn't. I do it too but I have no doubt with everything I've heard about her and what she's done and been mixed up in she has reasons. Don't forget, I've told you several times, something's are better left unspoken." Hunter reminded her. "Now come on, you promised to drop Luna off at her fathers." Amelia nodded absently as the group left the station.
-With Harry & Alex-
They arrived in the living room when Harry tapped his pendant, dropping his disguise as he removed his trunk from his pocket and unshrunk it. Before calling a house-elf and having the trunk disappear up to his room. Turning, he faced Alex. She was looking at him waiting for what she knew would come.
"What has been going on?" Harry demanded, Alex dropped his gaze and looked down, raising her hand to rub her face. "Where have you been?" He pushed.
"As I said, it was a crisis. And it's taken care of. Nothing to worry about." She assured him, and she wasn't lying. Over the past few months everything had gone back to normal. Camp Half-Bloods barriers were reset and fixed, any damage done was fixed and all of the campers returned leaving only the ones that lost family members out. They had gone back home to what family they had left to grieve or deal with family matters. Other than that, everyone over the past months had recovered from the mini-war and everything went back to normal. Only a few were lost and they were remembered and honored.
"Then why am I worrying? Oh, that's right, because you went basically MIA for months!" Harry exclaimed, voice dripping sarcasm, arms waving.
"Nothing is wrong, I-" She started.
"And I doubt she'd tell you if it was." A voice remarked as they entered the room drawing their attention. Harry went over to Sirius and hugged him. When they separated, Harry looked between Alex and Sirius, as if sensing the tension.
"What happened between you two?" Harry questioned pulling away from Sirius and looking at them. Both of them refused to meet his eye.
"Secrets." Sirius answered without elaborating at the same time that Alex answered, "Nosiness."
Harry continued to look between them but knew he wasn't going to get much more out of them and just nodded. Sirius gestured for Harry to follow him and glancing one last time Alex's way, he followed.
Alex made her way up to her area of the house and entered her own study, before closing the door and moving over to the desk. Taking out the paper from the from pocket of her jeans, she read it again.
07911 72793
Call Me? – H.M
Smiling slightly, she took out her phone from her pocket and entered it as a contact before flipping it closed and opening a drawer and a folder and slipping the paper slip in before closing it and the drawer.
-Dumbledore's Office-
Dumbledore was pacing in front of his desk pondering matters. The students had left for the winter holidays and Harry Potter was not among them. In fact, Harry Potter wasn't in Hogwarts at all and Dumbledore couldn't understand it. Why wasn't he at Hogwarts? He had done everything possible to ensure it, passed laws to make it happen, yet nothing? The boy had to come back, with Voldemort back even if he hadn't acted yet, it was only a matter of time and the boy had to be here. How else was he going to die and destroy the horcrux? There was no other way.
Albus sighed and slowed his pacing to a stop before lifting his hand and looked at it, the blackness wasn't spreading as Severus had managed to slow it but he still was running out of time. Lowering his hand, he resumed pacing thinking. Had he miscalculated? Had Sirius taken Harry none of the countries he predicted? Dumbledore cast a look over to one of his many trinkets, none of them were working, and they hadn't for the past fifteen years. For the first time in a while Albus was truly at a loss as to what to do.
So while I myself don't like Dumbledore (He's just misled in this story not a complete whack job) nor Ronald Weasley (He's just a jackass, don't think we'll see him often) much, I'm not going to heavily bash them in this story, they aren't the main part of this story and if you couldn't tell from how quickly the Atlas arc ended he isn't either. Normally I'm not a fan of Ginny either but that's when she's a love interest, I do believe she would be a good friend to Harry so that will be her small part in this story, friend. Here we go, Hunter has entered the story and met our main characters. He will be a pretty important character as well and will be a great friend to Alex, Harry, etc.
And damn this chapter was long. Over 6,000 words not including the AN, originally this was two chapters but I decided to put them together as honestly, we aren't even half way through the story and we are already at fourteen chapters and the fact they fit better together than apart. This is either one of or is my longest chapter written to date so woohoo! But please don't expect this every chapter.
Anyway, see you guys soon, hope you enjoyed, thank you for the continued support and peace out! -DS
