A/N: Day 11 of NaNoWriMo! I got very little done on day 12, because after church, we spent six hours baking. And, Day 13 of Nano!

Rising Storms

A Harry Potter and Percy Jackson crossover

Chapter 16:

Harry

Harry was excited to see his friends when he went shopping for his school supplies. They had already gotten their supplies, except for their defense books, so they mostly came to keep Harry company. As he walked over to them, he noticed Ron and his family milling around. That reminded him of the letter from Ron:

'Hey, Harry!

Mom wants to know how you are doing. News around school is that Quirrell tried to kill you, but no one really believes it. No one knows where you disappeared to, or why, but there is speculation that you were hiding from someone or something.

So, why did you leave Hogwarts so early? When you came for the exams, I didn't get the chance to hang out with you. Hermione wouldn't tell me anything, the know-it-all. Neville follows her around all the time, too. That wimp still stutters around Snape! He should just learn to stand up for himself.

Anyway, maybe we'll meet up in Diagon Alley one day this summer. Ginny would probably like to see you. She won't stop talking about you. I think it's because we're friends. I can't wait to see you again.

Ron'

Harry shook his head. Then he saw Draco, Blaise, and Theo. He smiled. "Come on, dad, my friends are here!"

James laughed. "Okay, okay." He followed his son down the alley towards the trio of Slytherin students.

"Hey, guys," Harry said as they came to a stop next to his friends.

"Hey, Harry," the trio said.

Theo, the quietest of the group, looked up at James and nodded.

"Hi, Lord Potter," Draco and Blaise said.

"Heir Nott, Heir Malfoy, Heir Zabini," James acknowledged them with a smile. "Thank you for being such good friends with Harry."

The three boys blushed, but Draco replied, "It's our honor. Harry's a good guy. He's the type of person that you flock to, to be honest."

Harry blushed furiously, trying not to hide behind his dad. "Guys," he whined. His housemates laughed.

"Harry!" came a loud brash voice from behind him. Harry turned just as Ron continued on, while leading his entire family (minus the oldest two sons, Harry noticed) over. "Where have you been, mate? We've been coming here so many times hoping to make sure that you were okay."

Harry sighed in frustration. "I have been home, recovering from my ordeal."

Mrs Weasley piped in. "What happened, Harry, dear? If it was so bad, why weren't you in St. Mungo's?" She reached out to touch Harry, but he stepped back away from her.

"I was seen to by my private healer, Madam Weasley," Harry said stiffly. He saw the looks that the twins and Percy Weasley shared, and wondered what that was all about. "Besides, Madam Weasley, it's not polite to call someone their first name without permission." The only reason he sometimes called Percy by his name was because of the trips to the Library to study as a first year. He had gotten to like the sometimes stuffy older boy.

Mrs. Weasley looked shocked for a moment. "But, Harry, dear, you're friends with my Ron. You can even call me Molly."

Harry gave her a blank stare. "Ron is more of an acquaintance. Not a true friend. We don't have much in common. And, again, please don't call me Harry. To you, it's Heir Potter-Black-Peverell." He caught the lovestruck look in the youngest Weasley's eyes and shuddered minutely.

"Harry," Mrs. Weasley said, breaking through James's proud thoughts about his son.

"That's enough, Molly," James said. "Harry's already told you twice to speak with him with respect. Politely, I might add. You don't walk up to a strange boy and start calling him by his first name. I thought your parents taught you better than that." He looked down at her in disgust.

"Well, I never!" Mrs. Weasley pulled herself up to her full height. "James Charlus Potter, how dare you talk to me like that!"

Before Harry's dad could say anything, Mr. Weasley spoke up, "Molly, you have no right to talk to them like that. They are right. You can't just call Heir Potter-Black-Peverell by his first name without permission, and you do not call Lord Potter with his full name like he is a child. Your child." He shook his head. "Frankly, I'm not sure what has gotten into you lately. You keep talking as if Harr-, I mean Heir Potter-Black-Peverell, is the best of friends with Ron and will be part of our family soon. As if he will live with us constantly so you can be nosey and control him."

Mr. Weasley's eyes were clearing up with each word he spoke, leading almost everyone to look at him and his wife in shock and confusion. Harry wondered if Mrs. Weasley was controlling her husband. "Dad?" Harry asked. "Can we stop by Gringotts? I want to get out a little money for some sweets after today's main shopping is done."

"Of course, son."

Ron grabbed Harry's arm. "Come on, then! I want to check out the newest broom after we get our books. Do you think I will be able to join the team this year?"

Harry let himself be dragged to the bank, seeing Hermione and her parents on the steps leading up to the bank. Her confused look was priceless, he thought, as she watched the entire group walk up to her. He shrugged at Hermione.

When they reached Hermione, she said, "Well, Harry, I didn't know you were bringing the Weasleys." Her eyes sparkled in her teasing.

"I didn't plan on it," Harry said, dryly. He smirked a little as she giggled. Harry turned to the Grangers. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. It's a pleasure to meet the parents of a fellow student."

Ron let out a squawk. "You didn't greet my parents that way!"

"Your mother was rude, calling me by my first name without permission, and she seems overbearing." Harry shrugged.

"Don't you dare insult my mum!" Ron started to yell.

Harry rubbed his ear on the side where Ron is, but didn't get to say anything before Ron was pulled away by Percy and the twins were on either side of Harry.

"Oh, Ronniekins," said Fred. He was the one on Harry's left.

On Harry's right, George continued the thought. "Heir Potter-Black-Peverell-"

"Wasn't insulting mum," Fred finished.

"He was," stated George, wrapping an arm around Harry's shoulders.

Fred also wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders, criss-crossing with his twin's. "Telling the truth."

Harry led the way into Gringotts, hoping to move this argument along. He had things to do!

Draco, Blaise, and Theo, Harry's loyal friends and housemates, walked by his side. Hermione, perceptive as ever, caught wind of the subtle maneuvers happening behind them. "Be cautious, Harry. Not everyone may have your best interests at heart," she whispered, prompting Harry to maintain a guarded demeanor.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the group, Molly, Ginny, and Ron subtly lingered, their eyes flickering with a mixture of envy and ambition.

"Theo, I need your help with something," Harry began, his voice hushed.

Theo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What can I do for you, Harry?"

Harry leaned in, ensuring no prying ears could overhear. "I think that Arthur Weasley might need a potions and spells test. And, well, maybe a bit of cleansing magic too."

Theo's expression shifted to one of curiosity. "Why would I help with that? His son is a loud, brash, and downright rude person."

Harry explained, "It's crucial. This could change everything. And, who knows, you might find it useful in the future to get Ron to back off."

After a moment's consideration, Theo nodded. "Alright, Harry. I know a goblin who can handle discreet matters. I'll pass along the request."

The goblin Theo had contacted discreetly came over to the Weasleys as Harry and his dad were speaking to the teller on duty. The goblin, his eyes shrewd and calculating, approached Arthur Weasley with a bow.

"Mr. Weasley, I am here on behalf of Gringotts to conduct a routine examination," the goblin announced.

Arthur, unaware of the true nature of the examination, consented without much suspicion. The goblin led him away from the bustling family, guiding him to a more secluded area for the tests and cleansing.

As the inheritance test unfolded, a complex web of spells and potions revealed a truth that sent shockwaves through Arthur's understanding of his own life. The goblin, with a nod of acknowledgment, helped Arthur decide what to do now that he knew, before the goblin disappeared as swiftly as he had arrived.

Arthur, bewildered and shaken, returned to his family, Draco, Theo, Blaise, Hermione, and her parents. Harry and James returned to them, and he found himself alone with Harry on their way to the bookstore, who wore a knowing expression.

"You needed to know the truth, Arthur. About your family, your children," Harry said gently.

Arthur, grappling with the newfound revelations, nodded solemnly. "I suppose I did. But how did you know?"

Shaking his head, Harry explained, "I didn't know for sure, I just had a feeling. Your eyes started clearing as you told Molly Pruitt off about how she treated dad." He looked up at Arthur sadly.

"Molly never had any biological children. Ron and Ginny were adopted," Arthur told him. "My true children, my five sons, are with Amelia Bones. The goblin's tests confirmed it. I just wanted to tell you before I told Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George." Harry nodded. Arthur sighed, worrying about what was happening. "Amelia… my sons…"

Harry, with a reassuring pat on Arthur's shoulder, added, "The truth is a powerful thing, Arthur. Now, what you do with it is up to you."

…

The quaint Diagon Alley bookstore bustled with activity as eager students gathered to purchase their required textbooks. Lockhart, cloaked in theatrical charm, swept into the store with a dramatic flair. His eyes fixated on Harry, and with an insincere smile, he seized Harry's arm.

"Ladies and gentlemen, behold the remarkable Harry Potter! " Lockhart proclaimed, his voice carrying through the crowded bookstore.

James, observing from a distance, tensed at the unwarranted touch on his son. He wanted to break the hand holding onto Harry, but he couldn't get through the crowd at the moment. The atmosphere crackled with an undercurrent of discomfort as Lockhart continued his ostentatious introduction.

In the midst of Lockhart's self-aggrandizing speech, a sudden rip resonated through the bookstore. Harry's green shirt, torn by Lockhart's careless grip, exposed a glimpse of irritation beneath the charismatic facade. Murmurs of surprise and skepticism spread among the students, transforming the once admiring crowd into a sea of raised eyebrows and exchanged glances.

James, his protective instincts ignited, pushed the crowd aside and approached Lockhart with a stern expression. "Keep your hands off my son, Lockhart. He's not your prop for grand entrances."

Lockhart, momentarily flustered, attempted to downplay the incident with a forced laugh. "Just a bit of enthusiasm, Mr. Potter! No harm done, I assure you."

But the damage was done. The skeptical whispers grew louder as the torn shirt became a symbol of Lockhart's overbearing arrogance, and the once enamored students began to question the authenticity of their newly appointed Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

As the bookstore hummed with uncertainty, another drama unfolded nearby. Lucius Malfoy, with his characteristic disdain, approached Ginny Weasley, who clutched a stack of Lockhart's books.

"Well, well, the Weasleys," Lucius drawled, eyeing the books with disdain. "Quite the expenses your family is incurring. How do you plan to pay for all these?"

Ginny, caught off guard, stammered a response. Lucius, feigning indifference, took one of the books and discreetly slid a sleek diary behind the cover—a serpent insignia gleaming in the shadows.

With a condescending smirk, Lucius returned the book to Ginny. "Make sure your family takes care of the payments, Weasley."

The bookstore, once filled with the excitement of a new school year, now bore witness to a shifting dynamic. Doubt, fueled by Lockhart's hubris, seeped into the hearts of the students and parents alike. This event cast shadows over the authenticity and intentions of Lockhart in a position of authority over their children.

A/N: 2154 words