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

Part 2

Chapter 4:

Harry

Harry woke up on July 31st wondering how his summer was already half over. He couldn't believe that he had gotten betrothed or engaged to two beautiful ladies. Signing the contract with Daphne in June, creating the timeline of both his world and Percy's, doing research on his godly ancestors, and signing the contract with Susan earlier this month had Harry's mind whirling.

Today was his eighteenth birthday, and he would be having a party that evening where both of his fiancés would be introduced as such. Harry was a little nervous about the party. Not only would he have to introduce one fiancé, he would have to introduce two. He made his way downstairs after getting ready for the day. His dad was in the dining room, reading the newspaper. "Hey, dad," Harry said.

James looked up and smiled. "Good morning, Harry. The announcements have officially been released," he said, holding out the newspaper.

"Hmm," Harry said, nodding. He read the article, a small smile appearing on his face as he read. The person that had written the article had really addressed the two contracts beautifully, without being overly nosy. The article even mentioned that the first wedding would happen sometime before the new school year, but no date was revealed. "Well, at least it's a good article." Harry smiled at his dad.

"What's your plan for the day?" James asked as they ate breakfast.

"I need to go to Gringotts first, to get two engagement rings. Then I will give them to both girls. That way, they will already have the rings for the party tonight. I want the gifting of the rings to be very special."

"I understand." James smiled. "You have my permission to going into the Potter family vault to look for rings."

"Thanks, dad." Harry was happy to hear that. "I better head out early. I want to get it done before I have to get everything else done."

Harry entered the grand halls of Gringotts, the echoing footsteps of the goblin guide leading him deeper into the heart of the bank. He felt a sense of anticipation building within him as they approached the Potter family vault, his father's words of approval echoing in his mind.

As they reached the towering door of the vault, the goblin turned to Harry with a respectful nod. "You have permission to enter, Mr. Potter."

Harry returned the nod, feeling a surge of gratitude towards his father for granting him access to this sacred space. With a wave of his hand, the goblin unlocked the door, revealing the treasures that lay within.

Stepping inside, Harry's eyes were immediately drawn to the glimmering jewelry that adorned the walls. He approached the display with a mixture of reverence and determination, his fingers grazing over the intricate designs.

His gaze fell upon two rings that seemed to sparkle with an otherworldly light. One was simple yet elegant, a single diamond set in silver. The other was more ornate, with delicate engravings and a vibrant emerald at its center.

As Harry reached out to touch them, he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards his mother and grandmother for giving him permission to use their rings. These were not just pieces of jewelry—they were symbols of his family's legacy, passed down through generations.

With a steady hand, Harry carefully selected the rings, knowing that they were imbued with the love and strength of those who had come before him. As he left the vault, the rings safely tucked away in his pocket, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was carrying a piece of his family with him, guiding him on his journey forward.

Harry stood nervously outside the elegant entrance of Daphne's family home, the small velvet box containing the ring nestled securely in his pocket. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead, before ringing the doorbell.

The door swung open, revealing Daphne standing there, a curious expression on her face. "Harry, what a surprise," she greeted him, a hint of confusion in her voice.

"Hi, Daphne," Harry replied, offering her a small smile. "Can I come in?"

Daphne nodded, stepping aside to let him enter. Harry followed her into the luxurious foyer, his heart pounding with anticipation.

Once they were seated in the cozy living room, Harry reached into his pocket and retrieved the velvet box, placing it gently on the coffee table between them. Daphne's eyes widened in surprise as she looked down at it, a mixture of excitement and curiosity dancing in her gaze.

"What's this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's for you," Harry replied, his own voice tinged with nervousness. "I wanted to give you something special to celebrate our engagement."

Daphne's breath caught in her throat as she slowly reached for the box, her fingers trembling slightly as she lifted the lid. Her eyes widened in awe as she beheld the ring inside, the single diamond shimmering in the soft light of the room.

"Oh, Harry," she breathed, her voice barely a whisper. "It's beautiful."

Harry felt a rush of relief wash over him at her reaction, a warm smile spreading across his face. "I'm glad you like it," he said softly. "I wanted it to be perfect for you."

Daphne looked up at him, her eyes shining with emotion. "It's more than perfect," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "It's… it's everything I could have ever wanted."

Harry felt a swell of happiness surge within him as he reached out to take her hand in his. "I'm so glad," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "I want nothing more than to make you happy, Daphne."

Daphne squeezed his hand tightly, her eyes meeting his with a look of deep affection. "And you do," she said, her voice filled with love. "You make me happier than I ever thought possible."

As Daphne admired the ring, turning it over delicately in her fingers, Harry cleared his throat, gathering his courage to speak. "Daphne, there's something else I want to tell you about the ring," he began, his voice slightly hesitant.

Daphne looked up at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What is it, Harry?" she asked, her tone gentle.

"This ring," Harry started, his gaze fixed on the shimmering diamond, "it belonged to my grandmother, Dorea Potter."

Daphne's eyes widened in surprise, her fingers stilling on the ring. "Your grandmother?" she repeated, her voice filled with wonder.

Harry nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes, she was a remarkable woman," he continued, a note of reverence in his voice. "She passed it down to me, and I thought… I thought it would be fitting for you to have it."

Daphne's expression softened as she looked at him, her eyes shining with understanding. "Harry, that's… that's incredibly thoughtful," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "I'm honored."

Harry reached out to gently cup her cheek, his heart swelling with love for her. "I wanted you to have something special," he murmured, his thumb brushing against her skin. "Something that would remind you of how much you mean to me."

Daphne leaned into his touch, her eyes meeting his with a look of deep affection. "And it does," she said softly, her voice filled with sincerity. "It means everything to me, Harry." They sat there for a moment, just enjoying their time together, before Harry had to complete the next thing on his to do list.

Harry stood nervously outside the entrance to Susan's house, the small velvet box clenched tightly in his hand. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

The door swung open, and Susan stood before him, a warm smile lighting up her face. "Harry, what a surprise!" she exclaimed, her eyes bright with curiosity. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Harry returned her smile, his heart pounding in his chest. "I have something for you, Susan," he said, his voice steady despite the butterflies in his stomach.

Susan's eyes flickered to the velvet box in his hand, and her smile widened in anticipation. "Oh?" she said, her tone tinged with excitement. "What is it?"

Harry opened the box to reveal the gleaming ring nestled inside, the diamond sparkling in the light. "This," he began, his voice catching slightly with emotion, "this belonged to my mother, Lily Potter."

Susan's breath caught in her throat as she gazed at the ring, her eyes wide with surprise. "Your mother's ring?" she whispered, her voice filled with awe.

Harry nodded, a tender smile on his lips. "Yes," he replied, his gaze locked with hers. "And I want you to have it, Susan."

Tears welled up in Susan's eyes as she reached out to touch the ring, her fingers trembling slightly. "Harry, I… I don't know what to say," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

"You don't have to say anything," Harry said softly, his heart swelling with love for her. "I just wanted you to have something special, something that belonged to someone I loved very much."

Susan looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Thank you, Harry," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'll treasure it always."

As they stood together on Susan's doorstep, bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, Harry knew that he had made the right choice. He was happy that both girls had really liked the ring that he had given them. "I'm sorry, Susan. I have more to do before the party."

"Okay," she said. "I'll see you there."

"See you," he said with a quick kiss to her cheek. He watched her go back into her house and then he left to the store where he would buy the decorations that he felt suited the party the best. He didn't want to use magic to conjure decorations. He wanted these to last... tablecloths, banners, chair covers, and more. Things he could use over and over, only changing the color when they need to. He also went to get any last minute items, like party favors, before he went home. He had to have the elves set all of this up and he had to get a shower and get dressed for the party.

The grand hall of Potter Mansion was ablaze with light and laughter as guests mingled and danced to the music that filled the air. Harry stood at the center of the room, a smile on his face as he watched the festivities unfold.

As the evening wore on, Harry made his way through the crowd, greeting friends and family with a warm embrace and a heartfelt thank you for coming. Daphne and Susan were by his side, radiant in their elegant gowns, their eyes shining with excitement for the night ahead.

At the stroke of eight, James Potter, Harry's father, raised his glass to make a toast. "To Harry, Daphne, and Susan," he said, his voice ringing out clear and strong above the din of the crowd. "May your love for each other only grow stronger with each passing day, and may you find happiness and fulfillment in the years to come."

The guests echoed James's sentiment with cheers and applause, raising their own glasses in salute to the young trio. Harry felt a surge of gratitude wash over him as he looked around the room at the smiling faces of his friends and family. He was truly blessed to have such wonderful people in his life.

As the night wore on, Harry and his guests enjoyed a sumptuous feast prepared by the house elves, indulging in delicious food and drink as they laughed and chatted together. Presents were exchanged, and Harry was overwhelmed by the generosity of his friends and loved ones.

Amidst the revelry, however, there was a sudden commotion at the entrance to the hall. Ron Pruitt, a former friend of Harry's, stormed into the room, his face contorted with rage.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice booming over the music. "Why do you get to have two girls?"

Harry's brow furrowed in confusion as he approached Ron, concern etched on his features. "Ron, what are you doing here?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

Ron's eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Harry. "You think you can keep me out of here, don't you?" he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You think you're better than me because you're a Potter? Well, let me tell you something – you're not!"

Before Harry could respond, however, Ron's appearance began to change. The glamour that had hidden his true parentage began to fade, revealing features that bore a striking resemblance to those of Gellert Grindelwald.

Harry's eyes widened in shock as he took in Ron's new appearance, his mind reeling with the implications of what he was seeing. He was the son of one of the darkest wizards in history.

"What?" Ron asked angrily.

Harry pointed to a nearby mirror. "Look," he said.

Ron looked into the mirror, face paling at the change. As the realization sank in, Ron's anger seemed to intensify, his words taking on a darker edge as he railed against Harry and his family. But Harry paid him no mind, his thoughts consumed by the revelation of Ron's true parentage and the implications it held for their past and future interactions.

Before long, Ron's tirade came to an end, and he stormed out of the room, leaving behind a stunned silence in his wake. Harry stood there for a moment, still reeling from the shock of what had just occurred, before turning back to his guests with a forced smile.

"Well, that was certainly unexpected," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "But let's not let it ruin the party. There's still plenty of celebrating to be done!"

And with that, the music swelled once more, and the guests returned to their merrymaking, leaving behind the brief moment of discord as they danced the night away in honor of Harry's 18th birthday.