A/N: Thank you for all of the wonderful support! I really appreciate it. I would also like some reviews on how you like the story so far. Am I making things interesting enough? Constructive criticism, please... not destructive. :)

Rising Storms

A Harry Potter and Percy Jackson crossover

Chapter 43:

Percy

Thalia, Grover, and Annabeth ran over to where Nico and Percy were sitting by the lake. "Percy, you won't believe what is happening!" Thalia said. When the two boys looked up at her, she continued, "The Olympian council is voting what to do about us! Right now!"

"WHAT!" Percy yelled, standing up instantly. "We saved Annabeth and Lady Artemis, and Zeus wants to judge us?!"

Thalia winced at his anger. "It seems so."

A girl ran out of the bonfire and down to where their group stood. She looked at Percy. "If you want to defend yourself, come with me."

"Aunt Hestia," Percy said. "Can you take all of us?"

She looked around at the group. "Yes, I'll just snap us there. It's instantaneous, but might be disorienting." She snapped her fingers.

Percy looked at the throne room he had only seen once. "Whew," he said. "That was a cool way to travel."

"Why are they here?!" Zeus thundered. All of the gods looked at the children before them.

Hestia stepped up beside Percy. "I brought them here so that they can defend themselves from your insistence that they need to be killed."

"Look," Percy said. "Why are you trying to kill us? We saved Lady Artemis and Annabeth. Atlas is back under the sky."

"We thank you for saving Artemis," Zeus grumbled. "But you are too dangerous."

Percy and Thalia scoffed at that, smirking at each other. Then Thalia said, "You know, father, if you kill Percy, you lose the battle with Kronos." The gods looked at her in shock, except Artemis and Hestia, who both smiled knowingly. "I became a hunter today. I won't turn sixteen tomorrow." Thalia smirked at her dad.

Percy sighed at the reminder. "Don't remind me that I have to either save Olympus or raze it." He gave Thalia puppy dog eyes. "Why did you have to make me the prophecy kid?"

Thalia swallowed. She tried to play off the decision as something else, but finally said, "Oh, fine! I didn't want the responsibility! And, who knows... maybe Kronos would have been ready to rise today. I just didn't think I was ready for that." She looked away from Percy, muttering under her breath, "Damn puppy dog eyes."

Zeus looked at his daughter, surprised that she was proud to have become a hunter, and not become the child of prophecy. He also wondered about the issue with Kronos. "What's this about Kronos? He can't be rising!"

Thalia looked up at Zeus. "It's true. Zoe told me when we got separated from Percy on our quest. She said that she was having these dreams about the entrance to Tartarus, and Kronos's voice calling out."

"That's impossible." Zeus shook his head.

"It's not impossible," Thalia said. "I've been having dreams about Luke standing before a gold coffin that seemed to glow."

Zeus shook his head again. "I can't believe that my father will rise again. He can't. You need to stop believing everything you hear."

"Dad, I don't believe everything that I hear." Thalia scowled at Zeus. "But I do believe my dreams. Kronos is coming, and if we don't prepare, he will destroy Olympus."

"Enough!" Zeus held up a hand. "We aren't here to discuss Kronos. We are here today to discuss what to do with the four of you."

"You can't do anything to Thalia," Artemis said, motioning to Thalia to stand near her throne.

"Then," Zeus said, looking at Nico. "There is a new threat."

Percy stepped in front of Nico, glaring at Zeus. "Yes, Nico is Uncle Hades's kid. No, Uncle Hades did not break the oath. Nico was born before the oath. You know that."

"He's still a threat," Zeus said.

"Anyone's a threat if you make them one." Percy scoffed. "Because you are so paranoid, you punish people for what you 'think' they will do, and then they have no choice but to do what you punish them for. You make your own enemies."

"You know nothing, boy," Zeus roared.

"I know," Percy said. "That you thought that I had stolen your lightning bolt when I didn't even know that you existed. Sounds like paranoia to me." He stayed in front of Nico, looking at Zeus. "You blamed me with no proof. Now you are trying the same thing with Nico."

Zeus spluttered, looking around at his fellow gods. They were either trying not to smile or laugh, looking like they agreed with Perseus, or they were angry on Zeus's behalf. "You can't just come here and tell me that I'm in the wrong! I'm King of the gods!"

"Zeus," Hestia said sharply. "Percy's right."

Poseidon walked over to his son, shrinking down to human height. "Percy, you don't want to be on Zeus's bad side. He's sooner smite you than realize his mistakes."

Percy looked at his dad. "I get what you are saying, dad... but I can't let him think that I'll just forget that he's tried to kill me since I was twelve. Back when I didn't believe any of this was real."

"I know," Poseidon said, pulling Percy into a hug.

Percy stood stiffly for a moment, before he wrapped his arms around his dad. So this is what a dad's hug felt like. A hand on his shoulder had Percy turning his head to look.

It was Apollo... his eyes shining brightly with something that Percy couldn't recognize. "We'll support you, Percy," the sun god said. "My father won't win this argument. There are more on your side than you think." He smiled at Percy.

Percy blushed at the emotions he was feeling. He was so confused. He buried his face in his father's chest. A moment later, Poseidon's arms tightened around him. "Dad, can't breathe."

"Sorry, son." Poseidon loosened his grip on Percy, but didn't let go. He was also glaring at Apollo, who quickly removed his hand from Percy's shoulder.

Percy looked up at his dad, and saw the hard expression on his face. "What's wrong, dad?"

Poseidon blinked, looking down at him. "Nothing, Perseus."