ã€ŠUnexpected Alliesã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Albus Dumbledore sighed heavily, his brow creasing and fingers massaging his temple; Cornelius Fudge was starting to get on his nerves. Ever since Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban, Cornelius was ever insistent on adding Dementors to the Hogwarts grounds.

    It was something that he was vehemently against, and he would do everything in his power as Headmaster to stop it. Dementors were rouge creatures that held allegiance to no one except Tom Riddle.

    In Albus¡¯s humble opinion, the Minister of Magic was an absolute fool for thinking he could control the evil creatures. Thankfully, Dumbledore¡¯s musings went unnoticed by the Minister¡¯s head in the fire, and with a sigh, he slowly brought his ears back to attention.

    ¡°-hat is why it''s imperative Dementors be used to help monitor the school¡¯s perimeter, Albus. Harry¡¯s life is at stake here. You know just as well as I do that Black wants him dead as revenge for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.¡±

    Dumbledore shook his head for what felt like the hundredth time today.

    ¡°Cornelius, The Dementors are uncontrollable and evil creatures. They have no place in a prison, let alone a school full of children. As long as I remain Headmaster, those foul creatures will not be allowed anywhere near Hogwarts. It¡¯s bad enough that you are stationing them around Hogsmeade.¡±

    The Minister of Magic rolled his eyes as much as a head made of fire could.

    ¡°Dumbledore, those creatures are the only things a madman like Black fears. We still don¡¯t know how he escaped, but from all accounts we¡¯ve gotten, Black hated the Dementors.¡±

    Albus did his best to mask his annoyance, trying not to show the Minister how irritated he had become with what felt like the twelfth conversation they¡¯d had about the same issue. The Headmaster was confident it wouldn¡¯t be the last either since the beginning of the school term was right around the corner.

    ¡°Cornelius, Black might¡¯ve hated the Dementors, but they still couldn¡¯t keep him in prison. If they couldn¡¯t keep him in, what makes you think they can keep him out?¡±

    The Minister of Magic opened his mouth to speak, but Albus cut him off before he could say a word.

    ¡°I understand your fear Cornelius, but I trust in the wards and staff around Hogwarts to keep its students safe. I will not have Dementors running amuck on the school grounds. Now, I have a staff meeting to commence that briefs the faculty on how to handle Black should he show up. So, if you would excuse me.¡±

    The Headmaster stood up after a moment of silence from the Minister. However, before Cornelius disconnected from the Floo Network, his pride ensured he got the last word.

    ¡°Very well Albus. I will contact you later this week to review some other issues and concerns. Good day.¡±

    With that, the head in the fire disappeared, leaving Dumbledore¡¯s face looking older than ever. Only a fool would believe that Cornelius Fudge was finished with the issue, and Dumbledore was no fool. Resigning himself to the fact that they would talk about the Dementors again when the Minister next called him, Albus started to make his way to his office door.

    Before he could take a step, though, a bright flash in the room forced Albus to shield his eyes. For a moment, the Headmaster thought it was a prank pulled off by the Weasley twins. However, when he looked at the source of the light, his eyes locked with a truly beautiful woman.

    She was dressed in white robes with an ornate silver design inlaid throughout. The design itself looked like vines connecting to different shapes and objects. It eerily reminded the old Headmaster of a few ancient runes he had learned of during his time at Hogwarts.

    These runes, however, seemed to hum with a power untold, an energy that he had only felt when he tinkered with the most ancient of magic. Bringing his attention back to the woman, he noticed that she had midnight black hair that just barely reached her shoulders.

    Her face reminded him of Greek statues from his time in Greece. It was pale, with sharp angular features and a fierce look that seemed to stare into his very being. The most intimidating aspect, though, was the vibrant green aura surrounding the woman.

    Dumbledore didn¡¯t dare move. He doubted he could even bring his wand up before dying at this woman''s hands. He didn¡¯t know how, but she somehow got through the wards surrounding Hogwarts and into his own personal office. It was simply unheard of unless you were the Headmaster or Headmistress of the school.

    Suddenly, all the portraits behind him started coming alive, awoken by the woman''s arrival. At once, it was like a switch had been flipped, and all the illustrations began speaking simultaneously. All of them trying to shout over one another to ask the same question.

    Before Dumbledore could get the portraits to quit and be quiet, the mystery woman smirked. Swiping her hand across the paintings, she put all the former Headmasters and headmistresses to sleep.

    Understanding that he was incredibly outclassed, the wise old Headmaster sat back down behind his desk. Pushing forward the sweets he had reserved for guests in his office as he spoke.

    ¡°Hello there, would you like a Lemon Drop Miss...?¡±

    The woman gave a curious look towards the wizard before speaking.

    ¡°I believe I shouldn''t; mortal candy always gives me a headache. My name is Hecate, and I am happy to say that your prayers have been answered Albus.¡±

    Dumbledore looked at the woman, a bit dumbfounded.

    ¡°And what prayers are you talking about, Miss Hecate?¡±

    The woman smiled at him like an owner might their pet when the animal did something they liked.

    ¡°The ones where you wished for more help looking after young Harry Potter.¡±

    Albus nodded his head, gesturing for the woman to take a seat as he formulated a response.

    ¡°Are you here to offer your services as our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts? Because I am afraid that I do not just allow anyone into that position, Miss Hecate.¡±

    The woman laughed as she took the gestured seat. Her laugh reminded Albus of something akin to a muggle asking a king to shine his shoes.

    ¡°No, nothing of the sort.¡± Her smile turned serious as she continued. ¡°I have come to tell you that there are powers much more powerful than mine that have taken an interest in this war, and they see it fit to make sure you wizards win.¡±

    ¡°For if Voldemort were to emerge victorious, it would affect more than just witches and wizards. So, they see it fit to send our best to assist you.¡±

    Dumbledore gazed at the woman with curiosity and trepidation, deciding it best to voice his questions now rather than later.

    ¡°Excuse me, Miss Hecate, but you speak as if you are not a witch yourself. Are you not a witch?¡±

    The woman got a Cheshire grin on her face as though she had been waiting forever for him to ask her that question.

    ¡°Tell me, Albus, have you ever been curious about how you wizards and witches received your magical ability?¡±

    Dumbledore nodded his head.

    ¡°If I recall correctly, the first known witches and wizards were born in Ancient Greece, and after becoming feared due to their power. They were banished from the Greek cities and sent to live in the land beyond the known world, which is modern-day England, no?¡±

    A smaller smile broke out on Hecate¡¯s face this time.

    ¡°Yes, that is a broad summary from mortal accounts. I still don¡¯t believe Merlin and the others deserved that fate, but I digress. That is indeed the first recorded history of wizardkind, but magic existed long before ancient Greece. I simply gave mankind the ability to wield it. However, the powers I spoke of earlier did not see fit that my blessing mingle too much with mortals.¡±

    ¡°After some groveling and a few favors, though, I convinced them to keep the original wizards and witches alive. However, I was forbidden from helping them with their gifts, and they were forced to learn on their own.¡±

    Albus gazed at the woman in a new light as everything clicked into place inside his mind. Realizing that if this woman was indeed the Goddess Hecate, then they really might have a chance after all. Deciding to try and confirm his beliefs, Albus spoke up.

    ¡°Miss Hecate, you talk as though you were there when the first witches and wizards were banished.¡±

    Once again, a small smile bloomed on the woman¡¯s face, and that was all the confirmation the wizened Headmaster needed. He began to thank his lucky stars for having gained such a powerful ally, but at his thought of ¡®ally,¡¯ Hecate¡¯s smile vanished.

    Realizing that the deity most likely read his mind and was a master of Legilimency, Albus cleared his thoughts. The last thing he wanted to do was upset a Goddess of Magic lest he end up dead or a squib.

    Hearing his thoughts, Hecate chuckled.

    ¡°Relax Albus, I will not hurt you. Sadly, I am unable to interfere in mortal affairs to that extent. But I assure you, the ones I referred to earlier are indeed our best. They have a lot of experience, not only with wars of this scale, but also prophecies.¡±

    ¡°For this assistance, however, you must open up two new aide positions and help them acclimate to the wizarding world. The girl is an especially quick study and is an expert in relaying the information to the boy in a way he can understand.¡±

    Dumbledore raised a curious eyebrow at the strange request, but it was one he could live with.

    ¡°I also want to mention that anything said here should not leave this room. I would hate for wizardkind to fight a war on two fronts at once.¡±

    Dumbledore grimaced at the threat, but he didn¡¯t plan on saying anything about the current conversation anyway. Still, he had a fairly large concern that would need to be addressed before he made such changes.

    ¡°Miss Hecate, I mean this in the best way possible... But why involve yourself now? I understand Sirius is a threat, but why not have interfered when Voldemort was in power?¡±

    Hecate gave a nearly unnoticeable grimace at his question and was about to open her mouth to say something when an audible roll of thunder shook the Headmaster¡¯s office. Sighing, the goddess closed her mouth and reopened it.

    ¡°I cannot say, and for that, I am sorry Albus. I will leave you with these parting words: An Animagus¡¯s form is a reflection of one¡¯s true self.¡±

    With that, the goddess disappeared in a cloud of mist, leaving the Headmaster looking twice his age. Dumbledore let loose a long sigh and began to massage his forehead once again as the paintings around him began to wake up from their forced slumber.

    Thankfully, no one seemed to remember anything past Cornelius¡¯s meeting with the Headmaster. That thought, however, left a pit at the bottom of Albus¡¯s stomach as he remembered that any new hire to Hogwarts had to be approved by the Ministry of Magic.

    Albus Dumbledore felt that the usually painless process would be the catalyst for Cornelius Fudge getting Dementors on Hogwarts grounds. Standing up from his desk, the old Headmaster started making his way to the door. The aid from Hecate was a problem for later. Right now, he had to make it to a staff meeting, which he was currently twenty minutes late for.

    <hr>

    Percy POV:

    The waves of the Long Island Sound lapped at Percy¡¯s feet, soothing his troubled mind. The second Gigantomachy ended nearly three months ago, and Camp Half-Blood was starting to return to normal. Percy hated it.

    When new campers arrived and heard the stories of his adventures at the campfire, they looked at him like a god. After all, he was the great Percy Jackson, Slayer of Kronos, One of the Seven, Survivor of Tartarus, and so many more undeserving titles. What they didn¡¯t hear in those stories were the sacrifices made, and the loved ones lost.

    They didn¡¯t know that he would¡¯ve never been able to defeat Kronos without Annabeth taking a dagger for him or that he never would¡¯ve gotten out of Tartarus without Bob or Damsian. They didn¡¯t know that he and Annabeth were the reason Gaia woke in the first place or that Leo died because they had been captured.

    A pair of hands covered the demigod''s face, breaking him out of his troubled thoughts. And a feminine voice whispered next to his ear, making the hairs on his neck stand up.

    ¡°Guess who, Seaweed Brain.¡±

    A genuine smile graced his lips as he let loose a small chuckle.

    ¡°Jason? Dude, how many times do I have to tell you Annabeth is at camp. We can¡¯t show our real feelings.¡±

    The woman let loose a small chuckle as she uncovered Percy¡¯s eyes as he turned to face her, mirth in her voice as she spoke.

    ¡°Is there something you wanna tell me, Percy?¡±

    The demigod let loose a laugh as he pulled her into a hug, whispering in her ear as the roar of a wave approached the two.

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t sneak up on a son of Poseidon at the beach.¡±

    Before Annabeth could even form a rebuttal, a huge wave crashed over top of the duo and brought them out farther into the Long Island Sound. Once they were beneath the water in their own little air bubble, Athena''s daughter pulled away from the hug, smacking Percy lightly on the chest as she spoke.

    ¡°I hate you.¡±

    Percy just laughed. He might¡¯ve taken his girlfriend a little more seriously if it wasn¡¯t for the massive grin on her face as she stared at him. Grabbing her by the waist, he pulled her into his lap, kissing her on the nose as he did so.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you, Wise Girl. If you did hate me, I don¡¯t think you would¡¯ve done what you did last night.¡±

    The blonde blushed scarlet as she let loose a muffled groan into his chest. Percy just chuckled as he rubbed her back, admiring all the aquatic life around them as they went about their day. They had gotten used to his presence over the last three months since the war ended.

    For Percy, underneath the waves was the only place he felt like he was truly at peace when he was by himself. Surrounded by his father¡¯s element, he felt calm and could actually face the trauma that came with going through Tartarus.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Sure, he still had terrible nights, but they were getting better, especially with his Wise Girl by his side. He just wished he could help her as much as she had helped him, but it seemed to him that her method of coping was throwing herself into her work.

    She was working herself to the bone, and Percy wasn¡¯t sure what he could do to help her. Whenever he was struggling, he could go to the ocean quite frequently, he might add. But for his beloved, she was stuck at camp, having to stay strong and look the part of a leader.

    Her only escape was his cabin at night, and that was something Percy had fought tooth and nail with Chiron on. He hadn¡¯t realized how much the trainer of heroes viewed Annabeth like a daughter until he had to convince the centaur to let his girlfriend sleep in cabin number three with him.

    A kiss on his lips broke Percy out of his inner thoughts as he reciprocated the kiss, pulling away with a goofy and happy smile on his face.

    ¡°What was that for?¡±

    Annabeth just smiled, kissing him again before speaking.

    ¡°You were off in your head again, and we need to return to the surface. We¡¯ve been down here for at least fifteen minutes, and Chiron wanted to see us at the Big House. I don¡¯t want to give him more of a reason to think we are uncontrollable horny teenagers.¡±

    Percy just laughed as he willed their personal bubble closer to the surface.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m only horny cause you''re so damn pretty, and when you give me tha-¡±

    The demigod didn¡¯t get a chance to finish his sentence since his girlfriend slapped his chest playfully before kissing him one last time on the lips as they breached the surface.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m so pretty that it''s distracting your Seaweed Brain. I guess I¡¯ll have to stay away from you so you can concentrate.¡±

    As she said it, Percy watched as she shook her hips, emphasizing each word. The demigod son of Poseidon just growled as he caught up to his girlfriend, interloping their hands as they made their way towards the Big House.

    ¡°If you stayed away from me so I could concentrate, the only thing I would be able to focus on is the fact that my Wise Girl wasn¡¯t by my side.¡±

    A genuine smile formed on Annabeth¡¯s lips as she squeezed his hand.

    ¡°For a brain full of Seaweed, that was a pretty good answer ya know.¡±

    Percy laughed as he squeezed her hand back.

    ¡°It¡¯s not all seaweed. There¡¯s some kelp, seagrass, plankton, and even algae in there as well.¡±

    Annabeth¡¯s laugh was enchanting to his ears as they walked up the steps to the Big House. Percy opened the door for Annabeth, only to groan as he walked in after her, getting a good look at what was waiting for them.

    Chiron stood next to an incredibly beautiful yet extremely pale woman. She was wearing dark robes with numerous ornate designs and runes that seemed to be woven into the fabric itself. Percy was distracted by the polecat that rubbed against the woman''s leg, completely overlooking the two torches she held until she moved her arms.

    The woman screamed goddess, and based on Hazel¡¯s description, she gave them on board the Argo II; Percy was pretty sure the deity in front of them was Lady Hecate. While he tried to figure out what in the world the goddess wanted from them, Annabeth went into a slight bow.

    If the goddess was offended by his lack of respect, she didn¡¯t show it. Right when Percy was about to speak, however, Annabeth elbowed him in the side, motioning him to bow with her. The demigod gave his girlfriend a look that said.

    ¡®You already know she is going to ask us to either go fetch an item or go on a quest. She can suck it.¡¯

    The daughter of wisdom met his gaze with a stern look in return, saying, ¡®Bow to the goddess Percy, or you will have a lot more problems than her.¡¯

    His girlfriend¡¯s gaze softened slightly as she conveyed her real concern. ¡®I don¡¯t want you to go missing again for eight months,¡¯ she said.

    With their silent conversation finished and an amused look from the goddess and Chiron, Percy gave a slight bow along with his girlfriend. Chiron chuckled at their antics as he introduced the deity.

    ¡°Annabeth, Percy, this is Lady Hecate. She has a favor to ask the both of you, and I thought it best you heard it from her. As I, uh, may be a bit biased when presenting the facts.¡±

    With that, Chiron motioned for Lady Hecate to take the floor, which she did with a nod of thanks. Looking down at the couple''s entwined hands, a small smile appeared on the goddess'' face before speaking.

    ¡°Thank you both for coming, and I would like to thank you, especially Perseus. Because of you, my children have a home here at camp, and I was not punished for my transgressions in the Titan War.¡±

    Percy nodded his head, remembering the sacrifices made in the Battle of Manhattan and how many minor gods and their children turned away from Olympus, either because they were not respected or felt they didn¡¯t have a home at camp.

    Percy cleared his throat. ¡°You are most welcome, milady.¡±

    The goddess smiled slightly before frowning. ¡°That is why it pains me to ask that you both go on yet another mission for Olympus and the gods.¡±

    Perseus felt only one thing at Hecate¡¯s words: rage. He was angry¡ªangry at Chiron for not standing up to the gods, furious at Hecate for acting like she was on their side when all she cared about was getting what she wanted, and most of all, though, enraged at the gods themselves for asking more of him and Annabeth.

    An elbow to his ribs brought Percy out of his head, calming him slightly as he saw the concern in Annabeth¡¯s eyes. Taking a deep breath to reign in his emotions, he answered Hecate¡¯s request.

    ¡°No, the answer is no. Don¡¯t you think you pompous assholes have asked enough of us? That we¡¯ve been through enough? Annabeth and I are spending our last few weeks here at camp before we head to College in New Rome.¡±

    Sure, Percy might¡¯ve regretted his words after he said them, but that didn¡¯t make them any less true. What they did do, however, was cause Annabeth to nearly break all the bones in his hand from squeezing it so hard.

    It also caused quite a large rumble of thunder from the King of Olympus, who no doubt resented being called a ¡®pompous asshole¡¯ no matter how true it was. It wasn¡¯t until he looked at his girlfriend''s face and saw her murderous gaze directed at him, instead of the goddess asking too much, that he took a second to breathe and face the goddess.

    Who looked crestfallen rather than angry like he thought she would. It wasn¡¯t until Hecate''s following words that he realized this wasn¡¯t one of the god''s typical requests.

    ¡°I am sorry for all that we¡¯ve put you both through. I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but please hear the rest of what I have to say before making a decision?¡±

    Percy let out a sigh he didn¡¯t know he was holding and looked over at Annabeth to make the decision for them. Who, after a moment, nodded her head. Giving the goddess their permission to continue.

    ¡°Thank you both for listening; I appreciate it. You both know about the mist and its part in keeping our world hidden from the eyes of mortals, correct?¡±

    Together, the couple nodded their heads in agreement.

    ¡°Good. Now, the reason we are once again asking the two of you for your help is because there is an enemy who seeks to openly take over the world through the supernatural. Which would be bad, yes, but not immediately affect us.¡±

    ¡°Over time however, it would have severe repercussions on the godly world because they want to take control openly & publicly. By doing this, they open the eyes of the mortals to the supernatural, and soon, the mist can no longer hide the godly world.¡±

    ¡°This means Mount Olympus, Camp Half-Blood, New Rome, and everything supernatural will be seen by mortals. I am sure you can imagine the chaos when people look at the Empire State Building and see a floating city above it or see a hellhound and cyclops walking down the street.¡±

    The duo grimaced, and Percy could picture what Lady Hecate was saying. It would be bad; demigods would no longer be safe or be able to lead a semi-normal life. Mortals would panic at the first sight of a monster, no doubt getting killed while trying to fight them. Percy glanced at his girlfriend and saw her troubled look as well, no doubt thinking of all the repercussions of such a catastrophe.

    Hecate continued. ¡°All is not lost already. There is a boy destined to fight this enemy, and while it is unclear who will come out victorious. The prophecy surrounding them says, ¡®neither can live while the other survives.¡¯¡±

    ¡°All we are asking of you two is that you go to the boy¡¯s school and help train and protect him. I would not be asking for your help now if the stakes weren''t so high. But, you two are the most capable demigods of this generation, and we have faith that you two could help turn the odds in the boys'' favor.¡±

    Percy nodded along with Hecate''s words, barely listening as he was still processing all the damage that would take place if the mist fell. He and Annabeth would never get their well-earned happily ever after, while demigods would most likely be persecuted by both monsters and mortals.

    With a sigh, the son of Poseidon turned to face his beloved. He wasn¡¯t about to do this quest alone, and when he said that they were never getting separated again, he meant it. All it took was for their eyes to lock, and Percy knew they would once again be a part of saving the world.

    Letting Annabeth have the honors, he collapsed down onto a chair.

    ¡°We¡¯ll do it Lady Hecate. Tell us what we need to know.¡±

    Hecate smiled as she magically conjured a seat behind her while Annabeth joined him on the couch. Once the two were comfortable, Percy spoke up.

    ¡°Alright, so what did you leave out? Is there another pantheon that we aren¡¯t supposed to know about?¡±

    He had said it as a joke; he really did, but the look on Hecate¡¯s face had Percy letting out the most prolonged sigh of his life.

    ¡°Well, they aren¡¯t another pantheon per se... But they are witches and wizards.¡±

    Percy leaned back into his chair and let out a groan of frustration. Hecate ignored the demigod son of Poseidon¡¯s reaction and continued on.

    ¡°Long ago, not long after we won the First Titan War, I stumbled upon Magic. It was similar to the magic in my domain, but not quite. Where I and my children could make things out of nothing or create things like the mist. This Magic was something more, and from what I could tell, absolutely ancient.¡±

    ¡°It had its own rules, its own power, and distinctly lacked a divine element. So, I learned how to wield this Magic and bestow it to my most devout followers and a few of my children. As you can imagine, Zeus was not a fan of my generosity since I gave this gift so soon after Prometheus gave man fire.¡±

    ¡°But, after some convincing, he allowed them to live. However, they were forced into solitude and prohibited from intermingling with the regular mortal world. What Zeus, or myself for that matter, didn¡¯t realize was once I released this Magic into the world, it got a mind of its own.¡±

    ¡°It picks and chooses who has access to its power, without my interference at least, and seems to stick to people of the same family, but not always. I¡¯ll get into that later; for now, I wanted you both to know that this isn¡¯t the magic you see my children performing around camp.¡±

    Percy nodded along with Annabeth. It wasn¡¯t the craziest thing he had ever heard¡ªhe was the son of Poseidon, for Pete¡¯s sake. However, what did shock him was that this Magic lacked a divine element.

    It made his inner child giddy with excitement that he could be casting spells like Merlin or any of the other wizards from the stories his mom told him as a kid. Suddenly, Percy found himself looking forward to this mission. Even more so after he saw the look on Annabeth¡¯s face when Hecate answered her question.

    ¡°You said we would be going to a school, right, Lady Hecate? Where is that school exactly?¡±

    Hecate smiled. ¡°The school is in Europe, and to be more precise, Scotland.¡±

    Annabeth¡¯s face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning after Santa had come. Whispering to Percy in her excitement.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to go to Europe! Scotland has some of the most pristine castles and iconic architecture. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this, but I am actually looking forward to this mission.¡±

    Percy just laughed as he agreed with his girlfriend, kissing her on the cheek and squeezing her hand. It was crazy to him that moments ago, he was vehemently against the idea of doing anything more for the gods, yet now he was excited about the upcoming mission.

    Hecate cleared her throat, bringing Percy and Annabeth¡¯s attention back to the goddess, who had a genuine smile on her face. Leaving Percy to assume that she had already figured out that they were actually enlivened for this mission.

    ¡°Now, as I was saying earlier, while these original wizards and witches were allowed to live. They were forced into isolation through the gods'' will, and after several generations, forgot where they came from.¡±

    ¡°Some of them soon believed they were above everything else because of their gift, magical creatures included. Then, when that was not enough for their ego, some began to see themselves above other witches and wizards because of blood purity.¡±

    ¡°Do you remember what I said earlier about the Magic not always sticking with genetics?¡±

    Annabeth and Percy once again nodded their heads.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s where the blood purity stems from. The Magic primarily sticks with those born to parents who have already been granted access to its gift. As such, witches and wizards consider children born from two magical parents pure-bloods and are believed to be more powerful. Meanwhile, children born from only a singular magical parent are called half-bloods.¡±

    She continued as if knowing the question Percy was about to ask.

    ¡°As far as I can tell, blood purity has nothing to do with magical power. It¡¯s all decided by the Magic itself on how much power an individual can access at one time. Although, it seems that, like with anything, training helps.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s how we get to the final classification of blood purity, mud-bloods.¡±

    A grimace appeared on the goddess¡¯s face at the term, but she continued nonetheless.

    ¡°A mudblood in wizardkind¡¯s eye is an individual born with magical abilities despite not having a magical parent. In reality, it''s just an individual that the Magic decided to give access to its power.¡±

    Annabeth and Percy expressed frustrated indignations at the idea of a ¡®mud-blood,¡¯ causing Hecate to smile at them.

    ¡°I agree, but there is nothing I can do about it,¡± she said, stressing the fact that she couldn¡¯t do anything. Something that the two demigods were quick to pick up on as she continued.

    ¡°One final term that you need to know is a squib. Witches and wizards believe it''s simply a person born of two magical parents who does not have access to Magic. In actuality, it¡¯s an individual that Magic deemed unworthy of its gift. Now, I believe I have explained enough for one day. Do you two have any questions?¡±

    Annabeth nodded her head, and Percy smiled at her eagerness.

    ¡°What type of school is it? Percy and I are a bit old for High School, and we have a lot to learn, considering we just learned about this Magic today.¡±

    Hecate nodded like a teacher when a student asked a good question.

    ¡°It is like a High School, but you two will not go as students. Rather, you will be attending various classes as faculty aides to decide which subject best interests you so that you can teach it someday.¡±

    Annabeth¡¯s excitement was infectious, and Percy realized that this was exactly what his girlfriend needed to help relax from the war and deal with the issues from Tartarus. Suppressing a shudder as he thought of that hell hole, he zoned back in on the conversation.

    ¡°-ou¡¯ll both share the same room and have several classes with Harry Potter, the boy the prophecy¡¯s about. As for the studying and knowledge aspect, I will be helping the both of you.¡±

    ¡°Throughout the next few weeks, I will help you both gain a proficient understanding of Magic that will help you maintain your cover. As for the Magic itself, I will give you both access to that gift the same way I did ages ago.¡±

    The duo nodded along as Hecate continued.

    ¡°I will perform the ritual tomorrow morning, as it must be done with the rising sun, so meet me back here at 6 o¡¯clock in the morning. Do you have any more questions before I depart?¡±

    Annabeth nodded her head, and Percy was once again reminded of his girlfriend''s thirst for knowledge.

    ¡°I actually do have one more question, Lady Hecate. Should we let the wizards know we are demigods?¡±

    The goddess shook her head before elaborating further.

    ¡°No, not unless it is absolutely essential. At the moment, the only person who knows of the gods'' existence at all is the Headmaster, Dumbledore. Despite the threat, Zeus¡¯s paranoia is ever present.¡±

    ¡°Because the witches and wizards'' power derives from something older than the gods themselves. Zeus fears that they might try to start a war should all of wizardkind learn about the gods'' existence.¡±

    Percy couldn¡¯t quite believe his thoughts as he saw the logic in Zeus¡¯s rationale for the first time. If these witches and wizards believed so much in blood purity that it affected how they treated other magical creatures, then Percy could realistically see them starting a war to reassert their place at the top of the food chain.

    While he was confident they could win, the last thing the son of Poseidon wanted was another war so soon after the previous two. Not to mention that he had no idea how divinity reacted to the Magic wizardkind had access to, considering it was older than the gods.

    With a start, Percy realized he had his first question about the mission.

    ¡°Lady Hecate, do you know how this Magic reacts to the divine?¡±

    Hecate seemed to ponder his question for a moment before answering.

    ¡°Honestly, I am not quite sure.¡±

    At the hero''s incredulous expressions, the goddess continued.

    ¡°All I have to go off of is that only two demigods ever received the ability to wield that type of Magic. Both were my children and were part of the original group to whom I gave the gift to. Then, because Zeus forced them into isolation and I was not allowed to look over them or help them with their gifts, they fell off our radar.¡±

    ¡°You two will be the first demigods to wield this Magic in several millennia. As such, you will be the ones to enlighten the gods as to how this Magic reacts to the ichor in your blood.¡±

    Percy and Annabeth sighed at the same time, causing the duo to smile at each other. Realizing they had no more questions, Hecate reminded them to meet back at the Big House at 6:00 a.m. before disappearing in a flash of light. Leaving the duo alone in the Big House until Chiron walked in, a sad smile on his face.

    ¡°I assume you two accepted Hecate¡¯s request?¡±

    The couple once again nodded their heads, and the trainer of heroes let out a long sigh.

    ¡°I figured as much; it seems the Fates just love you two.¡±

    The centaur let loose a dry chuckle at his joke that the duo reciprocated. Letting a calm silence take over until Chiron spoke again.

    ¡°Before you two go, I feel obliged to tell you both that I have known about wizardkind for some time now, not that I could¡¯ve ever said anything about it.¡±

    At the shocked expression on the couple¡¯s face, he continued.

    ¡°A colony of centaurs calls the forest around the school home. We visited them once during my Party Pony days and encountered a young wizard lost in the forest. Thus, I learned of wizardkind and was sworn to secrecy by the gods.¡±

    ¡°I really do believe that this mission will be good for the both of you, though. The wards around Hogwarts are strikingly similar to the protections here at camp, so you shouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about monsters attacking you inside the school.¡±

    The centaur had to pause as the duo in front of him broke out into giggles. At his curious eyebrow, Annabeth spoke up, getting her laughter under control.

    ¡°The name of the school is Hogwarts? Who would name a school after a pigskin disease?¡±

    Once again, the duo broke out into a fit of giggles, and Chiron was again reminded that the most capable demigods of this generation were still children who grew up too fast. Nonetheless, their enjoyment at something so trivial made him smile, joining in their laughter at the name of the wizard school.

    The legendary trainer of heroes had no idea how Hecate had not mentioned the school''s name once but was glad she didn¡¯t so he could share this moment with the duo. Once their laughter was under control and the air in the room much lighter, Chiron continued.

    ¡°As I was saying, you should be protected and will have allies in the area should you need them. So, view this mission as a vacation. If nothing else, it will help prepare you for college at New Rome.¡±

    Chiron smirked as both Percy and Annabeth looked wistful at his words. He wondered if the two realized how similar they were at times. Taking a look at the time, Chiron tsk¡¯d and motioned the couple out of the Big House and towards the pavilion.

    It took only a moment for the duo to realize that he was ushering them because it was time for dinner, and Percy quickly went from wistful to excited. The legendary trainer of heroes shook his head as the son of Poseidon practically dragged his girlfriend to the pavilion ahead of the centaur himself.

    Chiron chuckled as he mumbled to himself, making his way to the pavilion at a much more sedate pace.

    ¡°It¡¯s a miracle he hasn¡¯t gotten fat with how much he eats. Must be his godly DNA.¡±

    With that, the trainer of heroes continued on his way, sending a small prayer to the gods for their assistance in letting the couple have as relaxing and easy of a mission that a demigod could get.

 Chapter 2

    Annabeth POV:

    Annabeth sighed as she shook her boyfriend for the sixth time in an attempt to wake him up. She had gotten up forty-five minutes ago at 5 o¡¯clock in the morning to shower, brush her teeth, and get ready for the day.

    She had hoped that Percy would have woken up to his alarm, but that was not the case, and she ended up turning it off for her own sanity. Shaking him one more time only to get a mumbled ¡®five more minutes¡¯ forced her to bring out the big guns.

    Going to the fountain in his cabin, Annabeth made a rainbow.

    ¡°Oh, Iris, goddess of the rainbow, please accept my offering. Show me Sally Jackson, Manhattan.¡±

    The rainbow shimmered, and Percy¡¯s mother appeared, holding Percy¡¯s sister, Estelle, in her arms. With practiced ease that only experience could give, the Jackson matriarch immediately put a finger over her lips to shush the Iris message while simultaneously rocking the infant in her arms.

    Annabeth smiled and waved as baby Estelle gurgled towards her, grabbing at the shiny light while she waited for the closest person she saw as a mother to finish getting Estelle back to sleep. Once she did, Sally walked out of Estelle¡¯s nursery and into the living room.

    She had a tired but loving smile as she addressed the daughter of wisdom and, hopefully, future daughter-in-law.

    ¡°Good morning, Annabeth. It¡¯s a bit early even for you, wouldn¡¯t ya say?¡±

    Annabeth laughed as she nodded along.

    ¡°It is indeed. I am just glad you''re up Sally. We are supposed to be at the Big House in ten minutes to learn more about a mission Lady Hecate gave us, but I can¡¯t get your son up. I¡¯ve tried dumping water on his head three times, but every time, it avoids him. It¡¯s like he has a subconscious forcefield up.¡±

    Poseidon¡¯s former lover just laughed as she moved towards the kitchen. At Annabeth¡¯s confused look, she elaborated.

    ¡°He developed that long ago when I was still with Gabe. I don¡¯t think even he knows he does it. You¡¯ll have to devise your own method eventually dear, but this should get him up.¡±

    Sally walked over to the oven, setting the timer on it for five seconds. Then, once the timer hit zero and dinged, Sally yelled out.

    ¡°Percy! You¡¯re gonna miss breakfast if you don¡¯t get out here right now!¡±

    Annabeth watched in amazement as her boyfriend, who was dead to the world moments early, leaped out of bed. His eyes were frantic as he searched the cabin until they adjusted, and he saw his girlfriend and mom laughing hysterically.

    That is until Annabeth realized her boyfriend was naked from their... activities the previous night. Her face went beet red, like her boyfriend¡¯s, while Sally laughed even harder, getting control of herself just long enough to say goodbye.

    ¡°Love you two; let me know when you¡¯re coming by later to talk about this mission. And Percy dear, I had enough of seeing you naked when you were a baby, so come dressed, please.¡±

    With that, the Jackson matriarch swiped her hand through the Iris message, ending the call and leaving two embarrassed teenagers in her wake. Annabeth slapped her hand across her boyfriend¡¯s chest, causing him to laugh as she let out a frustrated groan.

    ¡°From now on, you''re going to be putting your underwear back on after we have sex. Your mom probably thinks less of me now.¡±

    Percy laughed a bit harder as he wrapped his girlfriend in a hug, kissing the temple of her forehead.

    ¡°She could never, Wise Girl. I sleep naked all the time. She might not even suspect anything about our extracurriculars.¡±

    Annabeth chuckled as she pulled away from the hug slightly.

    ¡°That¡¯s a big word for you, Seaweed Brain.¡±

    Percy laughed as well, and she took a moment to look into her boyfriend¡¯s eyes, admiring how handsome he was after just waking up, the earlier awkwardness forgotten.

    His eyes were dark but awake, his hair was even more unruly than usual, and he had a slight stubble from not shaving in the past two days. Once again, she was reminded why she was attracted to this man as he gave her a goofy smile before leaning down and kissing her on the lips.

    ¡°Good Morning, by the way. Had to bring out the big guns, huh?¡±

    She just nodded her head and smirked as she shoved him into the bathroom, laughing at his indignant look as she checked the time.

    ¡°Hurry up and brush your teeth. We have five minutes to get to the Big House, or else we¡¯ll be late meeting Lady Hecate.¡±

    The son of Poseidon¡¯s eyes widened in realization as he went over to the sink. At the same time, Annabeth grabbed him some clothes to put on. But, before he could shut the door, Annabeth stopped him.

    ¡°Oh, and Percy?¡±

    Her boyfriend took the toothbrush out of his mouth, and Annabeth had to hold back a laugh as he spoke, his voice muffled by the toothpaste.

    ¡°Whut?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re sure your mom didn¡¯t suspect we were... ya know, doing it?¡±

    The son of Poseidon, donning the goofy smile she had grown to love, spit some of the toothpaste out of his mouth before responding.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Wise Girl, why are you so concerned about this? Mom had to know this was coming eventually; we are eighteen now after all. She also loves you and knows you''re not just using me for my body... or are you, and that¡¯s why you''re concerned?!?!¡±

    Annabeth laughed at her boyfriend''s faux expression as she shut the door, yelling behind her as she did.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous Seaweed Brain... but you''re right. This is what normal teenagers do: have sex, fight monsters, go to magical schools, and save the world. Now hurry up. I don¡¯t want to be late.¡±

    The laugh from the bathroom brought a smile to her face, while Percy¡¯s response had her giggling.

    ¡°You¡¯re 100% right, Wise Girl. We are just two incredibly hot and normal teenagers.¡±

    <hr>

    By the time the duo arrived at the Big House, it was 6:05, and Chiron was waiting outside. At his inquisitive eyebrow, Annabeth pointed to her boyfriend, who smiled sheepishly. The ancient trainer of heroes rolled his eyes, gesturing them inside. Immediately, Hecate greeted them with an unimpressed stare.

    ¡°You two know you will have to wake up and be on time at Hogwarts, right?¡±

    Once again, Annabeth pointed to her boyfriend, giving a guilty-as-charged smile as Chiron exited the Big House, nodding to her and Percy as he did so. Lady Hecate rolled her eyes at Percy¡¯s smile, and Annabeth took the opportunity to analyze her surroundings.

    The goddess of magic had made numerous changes to the living room, no doubt in preparation for the ritual that was about to take place. The furniture had vanished, creating a large open space with two large circles marked with various symbols outlined in blue powder on the floor.

    A large cauldron in the fireplace had just started boiling over a fire, while several bowls filled with different things, such as hair, feathers, and powder, and a vial filled with a golden liquid sat in front of each circle.

    Annabeth was suddenly much more nervous about this ritual, suspecting the golden liquid to be the goddess ichor. Reaching out, she grasped Percy¡¯s hand in her own as the goddess motioned for them to each step in a circle.

    Hecate glanced out the window, speaking up as soon as a dawning light could be seen through the window.

    ¡°Alright, Apollo is finally up and moving, it seems, so let''s get this process started.¡±

    With that, the goddess walked over to the cauldron and summoned two cups to her side. Using a ladle to fill each up about halfway before handing them to the duo, at Annabeth¡¯s raised eyebrow, she elaborated.

    ¡°This is a potion that helps open up and create a ¡®magical core,¡¯ as the wizards call it. You must drink this before we can begin.¡±

    The duo nodded, and Annabeth cursed her inquisitive nature for sniffing the concoction, which smelled absolutely rancid. A glance at her boyfriend¡¯s puckered and grimaced face told her it tasted no better.

    With a sigh, Athena''s daughter pinched her nose before chugging the magical potion, cutting the palm of her hand with her nails to stop herself from throwing it back up. Once they were finished, Hecate grabbed the empty cups from their hand, putting them to the side as she continued the ritual.

    ¡°Alright, now we begin. Please do not move from the circle until I say, and do not touch each other. Lest you want to find yourself in a world of your own for the next century.¡±

    The two quickly let go of each other''s hand and took a step away from one another, causing Annabeth to giggle slightly at their childish actions. Only to jump in surprise when several of the markings outlining their circle exploded into Greek flames.

    At that exact moment, Hecate started speaking in a different language. One that Annabeth couldn¡¯t recognize but was positive came before mankind.

    The daughter of wisdom glanced down at her feet, noticing the blue powder start to pulse with a mesmerizing teal light. Her attention was returned to the goddess as precisely one item from each bowl was lifted of its own free will to hover over the different spots of Greek fire.

    All at once, the items stopped levitating and were consumed by the flames. Immediately, Hecate began chanting anew, feverishly speaking the same line over and over.

    Annabeth was about to ask the goddess if everything was alright but stopped herself when she noticed the goddess¡¯s eyes glowing an ethereal light. It eerily reminded her of the Oracle of Delphi when it possessed her friend Rachel.

    The daughter of Athena¡¯s attention was then drawn to the Greek fire, and she noticed it turn a dark blue, something she didn¡¯t think was possible. The blue fire began to consume the circles she and Percy were standing in.

    As the powder burned faster and faster, so too did Hecate¡¯s chanting, becoming frantic as she repeated the exact same words over and over. Annabeth could see the sun''s light rising through a slit in the window just as the ritual reached its climax.

    The fire completed burning the rest of the powder, exploding inwards, and Annabeth was hit with what felt like a wall of wind. Then, nothing.

    When she woke up, she was surrounded by trees. It was dark, but there was a tinge of red in her vision, almost like a red haze. With a start, she realized she was back in Tartarus, Percy beside her as they fought the Arai. As if it was on cue, one of the monsters swooped down at her, and her instincts kicked in, sidestepping the creature before hitting it in the head with a rock.

    Before she even had a chance to wonder how she got a rock, she was blind. The red haze was gone, and so too were the outline of trees and the Arai she and Percy were fighting. She was completely blind and yelled out for Percy, her voice panicked.

    She felt his warm and calloused hand wrap around hers before he took off in a sprint and dragged her along with him. As they ran, she started thinking of the worst-case scenarios.

    ¡®What if I¡¯m blind forever?¡¯

    ¡®What if Percy leaves me down here?¡¯

    The better part of her mind told her he would never do such a thing, but the cynical part reared its ugly head.

    ¡®I¡¯m dead weight now; I¡¯m useless to him. He has his mom to think about, and I don¡¯t have anyone.¡¯

    Before her mind could continue with the unwelcome thoughts, Percy grabbed her. Pulling her to the side as she focused on his ragged breath to try and help calm her thoughts. This man fell into hell with her so she wouldn¡¯t be alone. He wouldn¡¯t leave her just because she was blind.

    ¡°Cliff.¡±

    His voice was a welcome presence in her ears, despite how coarse and rough it was from them drinking from The Phlegethon.

    Then, a voice surrounded them. ¡°Did you have a nice walk?¡±

    Annabeth gripped onto Percy tighter just as something suddenly grabbed her arm and tried to drag her away. Once again, her instincts kicked in, and she judo-flipped the thing that caught her and put her elbow to its neck.

    She felt the creature dissolve beneath her and felt utterly alone, causing her to scream in panic.

    ¡°Percy!¡±

    There was no response, and she began to desperately feel around her for his presence, but she could no longer smell the sea that followed him wherever he went. A thousand thoughts ran through her head, each one worse than the last.

    ¡®What if Iapetus decided he wanted to kill Percy for revenge?¡¯

    ¡®What if he was killed by the Arai?¡¯

    ¡®What if he left her as bait?¡¯

    The demigoddess let out a sob as she continued to search for the man she loved the most. Her voice hoarse and raw with emotion as she called out once more.

    ¡°Percy, why did you leave me?¡±

    That was when her vision suddenly cleared to a horrible sight.

    She saw Percy, his eyes glazed, as Riptide lay outside his reach, impaled by Iapetus'' spear. The Titan grinned maniacally as he let out a booming laugh.

    The daughter of Athena screamed in pain and agony as she saw the love of her life¡¯s corpse. Kicking and struggling to no avail as her beloved¡¯s killer wrapped their arms around her. She tried to fight even harder, but the arms just tightened their hold.

    Then, Percy¡¯s voice was in her ear.

    ¡°Wake up, Annabeth, Wake up! It¡¯s a dream. It¡¯s not real. Wake up Wise Girl, please. I am right here.¡±

    His voice was panicked, and Annabeth opened her eyes only to be met with a pair of sea-green orbs full of love and concern. Her breathing calmed slightly, and she pulled herself as close as possible to her boyfriend, taking deep breaths as she focused on his scent and calming presence.

    At the same time, he rubbed his thumb up and down her back in a soothing manner. With one more final deep breath, she pulled away from his hug only to realize she was in one of the guest rooms in the Big House.

    Her attention was drawn back to the son of Poseidon as he captured her lips with his own; they were full of love, and Annabeth felt herself melting into them. After a second, he pulled away, and the goofy smile she had grown to adore was on his face.

    ¡°I am right here, Wise Girl, and I¡¯m not going anywhere. We are never getting separated again, remember?¡±

    Athena''s daughter just laughed as she kissed him, trying to put all the love she had for the man into that single gesture. After another moment, she pulled away, calmer as the nightmare lost its hold on her.

    ¡°So what happened? What did I miss?¡±

    Percy shrugged his shoulders slightly before explaining his side of things.

    ¡°Once Hecate finished casting the spell, there was like... a burst of energy that was released and collapsed inward. I saw it hit you, and then you went limp. I tried to get to you, but then that power washed over me as well, and everything went blank.¡±

    Another voice at the door startled the couple.

    ¡°That¡¯s because your bodies and minds were put under an extreme amount of stress in less than a second. For most witches and wizards, their magical core is developing over the course of eleven years so their bodies can adjust.¡±

    ¡°Yours both developed in a matter of seconds. As you can imagine, that puts a lot of strain on the mind and body. But I am happy to say it was a success. I can see that you both possess the ability to access the Magic.¡±

    The couple looked at Hecate as the goddess stood in the doorway to the room. The goddess answered their next question before it even left Annabeth¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°You were asleep for the past four hours, and it is now noon. I do not have as much time as I would like to teach you everything. So, I will visit you both tomorrow and teach you the basic foundation of using this Magic, along with some tricks I''ve picked up over the millennia.¡±

    ¡°After that, I will only be able to provide you with the tools necessary to become competent wizards, and you will have to do the rest. I will check back in at the end of the week to provide you with your plane tickets and ensure you both are ready.¡±

    Before the goddess could flash out, Percy¡¯s words stopped her.

    ¡°Wait... Did you say plane?¡±

    The goddess laughed slightly, noticing the color drain from Percy¡¯s face.

    ¡°I did indeed, and don¡¯t worry too much, son of the sea. Your father was very vocal to Zeus on the consequences should he strike down this plane.¡±

    Satisfied that there were no more questions, the goddess vanished in a flash of light, and it was Annabeth¡¯s turn to comfort her boyfriend. Who was now as white as a sheet at the revelation he would be on a plane in the near future.

    <hr>

    Harry POV:

    Harry¡¯s blood was on fire as he paced up and down Privet Drive. That bloody woman had insulted and disparaged his parents, and in his opinion, she got what she deserved. If anything, he thought she got off easy.

    The night''s cool air did little to soothe Harry¡¯s anger as he continued walking down the street. It wasn¡¯t until he was at least a mile from his Aunt and Uncle¡¯s house that Vernon¡¯s words struck a chord in his head.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    He had used magic outside of school grounds, and he was most certainly going to be expelled for it. The thought of being unable to attend Hogwarts hit him like a ton of bricks, causing the wizard to stop his angry walk and shakily sit down on the sidewalk.

    Running a hand through his hair, he tried to figure out what to do next. Only to realize he had absolutely no idea what his options were.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Heromine when you need her?¡±

    His mumbled words were only picked up by Hedwig, who hooted in response. Harry smiled at his great snowy owl, stroking her feathers as he tried to come up with some sort of plan.

    Only to have his thoughts interrupted by a deep growl emanating from the bushes across the street from his seat on the sidewalk. The wizard was immediately alert, bringing his wand to the ready on pure instinct.

    The bushes rustled, and the largest dog Harry had ever seen in his life started to emerge from the hedges. He was petrified and couldn¡¯t think straight as the massive, shaggy black dog approached him.

    Hedwig hooted in alarm, breaking Harry out of his stupor to look at his owl in concern. Realizing she was okay, he turned back to face the giant dog, only to notice it had disappeared. Leaving the young wizard wondering if there was even a dog across the street in the first place.

    But, before he could even return his wand to his pants pocket, the sound of screeching tires drew his attention further down the street, only to step back in surprise as a triple-decker bus appeared in front of him as if it apparated there.

    The sound of doors opening brought his focus to the back of the bus, giving him the feeling of whiplash. A skinny man wearing an outfit similar to that of the Hogwarts Express Ticket Collector hopped out onto the street before pulling out a note card and going into a no-doubt rehearsed speech.

    ¡°Welcome to the Knight Bus. Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard, my name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor for this evening.¡±

    The newly named Stan stuffed the note card into one of his jacket pockets before looking Harry up and down.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s not wait for the grass to grow now.¡±

    Harry shook his head in a vain attempt that the physical act would help clear his head mentally. He reached for his bag, only for the malnourished-looking conductor to start getting it himself.

    ¡°No, no, no. I¡¯ll get this, and you get in.¡±

    Harry didn¡¯t have a lot of faith in Stan''s ability but nodded his head as he climbed on board the Knight Bus. Only to stop at the entryway in shock as he took in the interior, not ever expecting to see a chandelier inside a bus filled with beds. One of which already had a man asleep on it.

    The wizard was surprised once again as Stan came up behind him with his first suitcase, breaking him out of his stupor.

    ¡°Come on now, we don¡¯t got all day, find you a spot.¡±

    Getting his feet to move, Harry made his way to the front of the bus, finding a sturdy-adjacent-looking bed to sit on just as Stan had finished loading the rest of his things into the bus.

    Then, with a tap on the glass, they took off like a bat out of hell. The sudden acceleration caused Harry to fall back onto the bed as the Knight Bus took off at insane speeds, taking corners at what felt like Mach 1 and made Harry regret ever getting on the cursed thing.

    He glanced over at the conductor, Stan, who looked wholly unbothered as he stared at Harry. The young wizard wondered how in the world the man was staying securely on his feet as the Knight Bus zipped through Europe. Only to be broken out of his thoughts as he addressed him.

    ¡°What did you say your name was again?¡±

    Harry had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Of course the conductor thought he recognized him. He always forgot that he was practically a hero in the wizarding community.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡±

    Thankfully, Stan could take a hint and changed subjects.

    ¡°Well, whereabouts are you headed?¡±

    Now that, was a question that Harry hadn¡¯t found an answer to yet. Thinking on his feet to get off this bus as soon as possible, he went with the first wizarding place in mind.

    ¡°The Leaky Cauldron. That¡¯s in London.¡±

    Harry had to stop himself from face-palming as Stan and the driver laughed at him. Of course they knew where the Leaky Cauldron was. It was one of the three most popular places in the wizarding community.

    Then, Harry realized it wasn¡¯t the driver laughing but a shrunken head that spoke to him once it noticed his gaze.

    ¡°Hey kid, if you get the pea soup, make sure you eat it before it eats you.¡±

    The head started cackling at its own joke, but before Harry could ask what it meant. He was sent flying across the bus and into the glass separating the driver from the passengers as it suddenly stopped.

    Shaking his head as he stood up, Harry looked through the separating glass and over the windshield to see an old woman crossing the street.

    ¡°Three, three and a half, two, one and three-quarters.¡±

    Harry glanced at the miniature head for just a second before the bus was off again at lightning speeds, throwing him back onto the bed. He looked at Stan in desperation as to how he managed to not be thrown around the bus like a ragdoll.

    Only to get distracted by the conductor¡¯s newspaper, wondering where it had come from. His question about how to handle the Knight Buses'' crazy ride was replaced with one about the man screaming like a savage dog on the newspaper''s front page.

    ¡°Who is that, that man?¡±

    Stan folded the newspaper to see what Harry was talking about, only to look at the young wizard in confusion.

    ¡°Who is that? Who is... That is Sirius Black that is. Don¡¯t tell me you''ve never been hearing of Sirius Black?¡±

    Harry shook his head, causing Stan to lean his head in.

    ¡°He¡¯s a murder. Got himself locked up in Azkaban for it he did.¡±

    ¡°How did he escape?¡±

    Harry couldn¡¯t help but correlate Stan to his professors at Hogwarts, as he reacted like they did when he asked a good question.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the question, isn¡¯t it. He¡¯s the first one that done it!¡±

    Stan leaned in close as he whispered the next part to Harry.

    ¡°He was a big supporter of You-Know-Who.¡±

    Stan stood back as the Knight bus continued barreling towards the Leaky Cauldron.

    ¡°You know who that is don¡¯t ya.¡±

    Harry nodded his head this time. ¡°Him I¡¯ve heard of.¡±

    A beat of silence passed, and Harry opened his mouth to ask how muggles didn¡¯t see or react to the Knight Bus. Only to get thrown into the divider window once again as the bus came to another sudden and complete stop.

    By the time he had gotten his bearings, Stan had already gotten his belongings and was making his way back on the bus. Tom, the bartender, waited for him outside, and Harry felt himself relax after finally stepping foot on solid ground.

    ¡°Ah, Mr. Potter. Glad you could make it.¡±

    Harry had to stop himself from laughing as Stan¡¯s eyes widened in realization, just as the Knight Bus took off again. The young wizard went to grab his suitcase along with Hedwig, only for Tom to beat him to it.

    With a wave of his wand, Harry¡¯s things disappeared, and he hoped the Leaky Cauldron bartender sent them somewhere safe.

    ¡°The Minister would like to see you, Harry. Come, follow me.¡±

    A knot found its way into his stomach, and Harry dreaded meeting the Minister. He had almost forgotten why he was on the Knight Bus to begin with, considering how crazy of a ride it was, but he had used magic outside of school grounds.

    That meant that the Minister would probably tell him that he had been expelled from Hogwarts and that he would be going to jail, never allowed to use magic again. In his mind, the only bright side he had left was that he wouldn¡¯t have to live with the Dursleys.

    Before he could lament any more on the coming conversation, he arrived in the Minister¡¯s office. Tom gave him a nod as he shut the door, leaving Harry alone with the Minister of Magic.

    Who had his head in the fireplace?

    ¡°-ery well. In exchange for letting some Americans take the groundskeeper position, dementors shall patrol and guard the grounds around Hogwarts, and that is final, Albus. Now, we must talk later. Harry just walked in.¡±

    With that, the Minister of Magic turned to face him.

    ¡°Aha, Harry! Good to see you. I hope everything is well? I¡¯ll tell ya, your use of magic gave us quite the headache, but don¡¯t worry. A team was dispatched immediately, and her memories were wiped. She is now safely back home; no harm done.¡±

    Harry stared at the Minister, not entirely understanding why he was telling him this.

    ¡°Does that mean I am expelled from Hogwarts?¡±

    Cornelius Fudge let loose a laugh.

    ¡°No, no, heavens no. Merlin knows that times are tricky right now Harry, but we still understand when something is an accident. Now, I should say that you should probably stay here for the weekend until the term starts, though. Wouldn¡¯t want another accident, would we?¡±

    Harry let loose a sigh of relief he didn¡¯t realize he was holding once the Minister confirmed he wasn¡¯t going to lose his safe haven. With this newfound relief came courage, and Harry found himself digging for more information.

    ¡°The real reason you want me to stay, Minister, is because of Sirius Black, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Cornelius Fudge¡¯s face paled drastically for a moment before regaining its normal color and the Minister''s happy attitude.

    ¡°No, no, no, Harry. While Sirius is a peculiar case, you can believe me when I say the Ministry has everything under control. There isn¡¯t anything you need to worry about. We are just looking to make sure that you are safe.¡±

    ¡°Now, off to bed. Tom can show you to your room, and don¡¯t worry about payment, Harry, I¡¯ll cover this one for you. Oh, and I took the liberty of getting you your school books for this year. They should be waiting for you in your room, Goodnight!¡±

    Understanding the Minister no longer wanted to talk, Harry stood up to take his leave, unwilling to press his desire for information on Sirius Black anymore. Lest the Minister change his mind about him attending Hogwarts.

    Harry walked out of the Minister''s room and into Tom, who greeted him with a smile.

    ¡°I hope all is well, Mr. Potter. Please follow me to your room. Everything is already waiting for you there.¡±

    Harry followed the Leaky Cauldron¡¯s Bartender through a maze of hallways until they arrived at an inconspicuous-looking door. Which Tom opened, gesturing Harry inside.

    ¡°Here is your room, Mr. Potter. Just ring the bell if you need anything. I will bring you breakfast at 9 o¡¯clock tomorrow morning if that¡¯s alright with you.¡±

    Harry nodded as he made his way into his room, turning on the light to see as Tom shut the door. He noticed Hedwig in her cage on the dresser and made his way over to her, letting her out before getting ready for bed.

    Once he was underneath the covers, he soon drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the day¡¯s events and thankful that he hadn¡¯t been expelled from Hogwarts.

    <hr>

    Percy POV:

    Percy bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited with Annabeth at the door to an inconspicuous apartment in Manhattan. The sound of a baby crying could barely be heard from inside, and Percy was confident that it was his little sister.

    With a sigh at the coming conversation, the demigod son of Poseidon knocked on the door. He could feel his girlfriend''s comforting presence wrap around his arm just as a woman¡¯s voice called out from the apartment.

    ¡°Coming!¡±

    Moments later, the door opened, and Sally Jackson stood in the entryway. Mother to one of the most powerful demigods of the century, and in her arms, the man¡¯s little sister.

    The renowned demigod¡¯s face immediately lit up as he hugged his mom and sister before walking inside and shaking Paul¡¯s hand as Annabeth followed in behind him with her own hugs.

    ¡°Percy! It¡¯s good to see you. How¡¯ve you been?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m good, Paul. How are you?¡±

    Paul laughed as he returned to sit in his recliner, muting the TV as he spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m good. Both your mom and I are exhausted from taking care of Estelle, though. Any chance you two are here to watch her so we can go on a date night?¡±

    Percy laughed as he grabbed his little sister from his mother¡¯s arms, smiling at her as the baby reached for his face with her stubby arms and fingers.

    ¡°Unfortunately, no. Although, if we have some free time this week, Annabeth and I would love to watch her and give you two a day to yourselves.¡±

    Percy could feel his girlfriend¡¯s nod behind him as he sat down, his attention focused on playing with his sister and making her laugh. With a glance up, Percy could see the happiness in Paul¡¯s and his mom¡¯s eyes at the idea.

    He played with his sister a bit longer before setting her down and letting her play with the dozens of toys scattered around the apartment. Tuning back into the conversation that Annabeth and his mom were having while Paul watched the muted TV that was playing a show called ¡®Jeopardy.¡¯

    ¡°-ink maybe removing the covers would work?¡±

    Sally laughed at his girlfriend''s suggestion and sadly shook her head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, dear. I tried it a dozen times when he was growing up, to no avail. I¡®m pretty sure that he super glues the covers to his hands when he sleeps.¡±

    Annabeth laughed as well, nodding along with Sally¡¯s logic.

    ¡°Now that you mention it, I can see it. He is such a blanket hog, and no matter how hard I try, I can never seem to get it back.¡±

    The demigod son of Poseidon glanced over at his stepdad to see if the man had an idea of what the ladies were talking about, only to get a shrug in return, which basically said,

    ¡®I have no clue and try to keep it that way.¡¯

    Percy laughed at Paul¡¯s no-doubt expertise on the matter and just waited for a lull in conversation to bring up what he and Annabeth were really here to talk about. He didn¡¯t have to wait long either, and soon they were all in a comfortable silence, watching Estelle play with her toys without a care in the world.

    Something Percy was envious of his sister''s ability to do, and despite his loath to break the peace, he needed to explain to his mom about the mission he and Annabeth were going on for Lady Hecate.

    ¡°So, we actually didn¡¯t stop by just to visit. Annabeth and I have something we wanted to share with you two first.¡±

    Sally glanced at Annabeth, already having an idea of the conversation based on the Iris Message earlier in the day. On the other hand, Paul had no idea what the conversation was about but put forth his best guess.

    ¡°You two are pregnant, aren¡¯t you? Congratulations!¡±

    Percy felt himself turn beet red and could see Annabeth doing the same at Paul¡¯s exclamation, and after taking a moment to recuperate, he powered through.

    ¡°Actually, no. Annabeth and I were given a mission by the goddess Hecate to travel to England so we could help protect a wizard, and in order to blend in, she blessed us with the ability to use Magic as well.¡±

    The sky rumbled dangerously at his revelation, and Percy rolled his eyes. The demigod didn¡¯t care what Zeus thought. He was going to tell his family the truth, gods be damned.

    The silence in the room was deafening, and Percy felt his hand subconsciously reach for Annabeth¡¯s, who grabbed it, giving it a loving squeeze. Estelle was the only sound that could be heard inside the apartment as she played with her toys and talked with herself.

    After another moment, Paul seemed to get over the bombshell Percy dropped and made his way to the kitchen, pulling out a bottle of Woodford Reserve whiskey and pouring a glass for everyone.

    Paul immediately downed his first glass before filling a second to sip on. His mother took a long drink of hers, and Percy raised his eyebrow at Annabeth as they both tilted their glasses back at the same time.

    The son of Poseidon expected the drink to burn the back of his throat. Instead, all he tasted was a chocolaty caramel with a hint of toffee and cinnamon. He glanced at Annabeth and saw she also didn¡¯t react to the liquor, and Percy chalked it up to them drinking directly from a literal river of fire.

    If his mom and Paul were shocked at how well they took their first drinks of alcohol, they didn¡¯t let it show. Finally, Sally sat in an unoccupied chair and stared at the duo.

    ¡°How long will you be gone?¡±

    Percy shrugged his shoulders, ¡°However long the school year is, which is nine months, I believe.¡±

    Annabeth smacked his arm, and that was when he realized his mistake, as his mom was on the verge of tears. Sometimes, he forgot that he had only been home for three months.

    With a pleading look to his girlfriend, Annabeth managed to fix his mistake.

    ¡°But from our understanding, we will still be able to Iris Message and come home around the Holidays. This isn¡¯t a quest from the gods, so there isn¡¯t a prophecy. Percy and I are looking at this more as a vacation to an exclusive boarding school rather than a dangerous mission.¡±

    Percy decided he was buying Annabeth her favorite flowers when he got a chance, as his mom''s face perked up dramatically with Annabeth¡¯s words.

    ¡°That¡¯s... That¡¯s good to hear. Thank you, Annabeth. As long as you¡¯re with him, I know I needn¡¯t worry.¡±

    The room seemed to brighten up after that, and soon, Paul and his mom were asking all sorts of questions. Most of which he had no idea how to answer, but he was content to let Annabeth handle most of the talking as he finished his drink and watched Estelle play with her toys.

    <hr>

    The next morning, Percy woke up to a familiar pair of lips on his, returning the kiss momentarily before pulling away.

    ¡°Good Morning, Wise Girl.¡±

    Annabeth had a triumphant smirk on her face as she spoke.

    ¡°Good Morning, Seaweed Brain. I knew I¡¯d come up with a way to wake you up.¡±

    The demigod just laughed as he got out of bed and ready for the training Hecate had prepared for them. Not long after, Percy found himself at the Big House along with Annabeth just as the sun was beginning to rise.

    With a flash, Hecate was in the middle of the room, and with a wave of her hand, all the furniture disappeared. In its place were several target dummies, cauldrons, and miscellaneous objects. Percy glanced at his girlfriend with a raised eyebrow, only for the goddess to start talking.

    ¡°Right, the first rule of Magic is that everything must be spoken with clear intent and proper wand movement. But, that rule is for mortals, something you two are not. So, your real first rule is to make sure you are always doing the proper wand movement for the spells you learn.¡±

    ¡°Because you both are half-god, your magical cores are significantly stronger. So much so that clear intent in your mind is all you need, and with enough practice, you shouldn¡¯t even need a wand.¡±

    ¡°Mortal wizards, on the other hand, must spend most of their lives training to cast spells non-verbally. But the one thing no witch or wizard can accomplish is casting a spell without proper wand movement.¡±

    ¡°So, if you can master the wand movements, then your cover shall remain intact should you forget the spell''s words. Are you ready to begin?¡±

    The duo nodded their heads, and the goddess summoned two sticks to her hands before offering them out to the couple. Percy grabbed his at the same time Annabeth did while Hecate gave instructions on her first lesson.

    ¡°Because of your godly heritage, each spell category will require a complete shift in mindset and intent. As such, the goal of today is for you both to perform two basic spells from each category of Magic.¡±

    Percy could practically feel his girlfriend''s question burning a hole through her and wasn¡¯t shocked in the least bit when she cut off the goddess before she could continue.

    ¡°Lady Hecate, do the mortal wizards also require a shift in mindset?¡±

    Hecate shook her head.

    ¡°Yes and no, mortal wizards don¡¯t have to because their Magic effectiveness is powered by wand movements and properly saying the spell. However, certain witches and wizards are better at certain forms of magic because of their mindset. The community just hasn¡¯t figured out how entwined mindset and Magic are.¡±

    ¡°For example, a witch who believes in power or defending the innocent is much stronger with attacking or defensive Magic. On the other hand, a wizard who values practicality over power or strength is much more adept at Transfiguration Magic.¡±

    ¡°So, while a wizard who believes in practicality can still cast an Expelliarmus attacking spell, neither of you could do the same without shifting your mindset. Does that answer your question, Annabeth?¡±

    Out of the corner of his eye, Percy could see his girlfriend bob her head up and down. With that answered, Hecate moved on to the actual practice.

    ¡°Now, the first spell I want you to use is Protego, a defensive Magic. We are going to forgo the wand movements for now so you both can get a feel for the Magic, but I expect you to learn them throughout the week.¡±

    Percy nodded his head and began to envision himself surrounded by a dome shield, but before he could ask how they knew it worked, Hecate fired a ball of fire at him. He instinctively reached out to the water nearby to put out the fire but was left dumbstruck as he watched the element wash over him like he was in a clear dome.

    A moment later, the fire was gone, leaving Percy staring at his girlfriend like a school kid who had just found the coolest thing in the world.

    ¡°Did you see that?!?! It was like I was in an impenetrable fortress. The fire just went all around me like I was in a dome, which I guess I was. Was that Protego, Lady Hecate?¡±

    The goddess nodded with a slight smile on her face while Annabeth returned his enthusiasm.

    ¡°That was so cool, Seaweed Brain. I bet you my shield will be bigger though.¡±

    Percy stuck his tongue out at his girlfriend, only to nearly panic as fire completely covered her form without warning. However, a second later, the fire was gone, with Annabeth standing in a perfectly untouched circle.

    Hecate started clapping as the duo turned their attention to the goddess.

    ¡°Very good. Now, use Expelliarmus into the Accio charm. This will require you to shift mindsets, and I expect it to be much harder than the Protego spell. Expelliarmus is a disarming incantation, while Accio is a summoning charm. I want you to disarm this wand in my hand and then bring the wand to you. Begin!¡±

    Percy immediately flicked his wand and was shocked when a red bolt of light exploded from it and towards the goddess, who took it in stride. He watched in fascination as the wand in her hand exploded up and into the air.

    The demigod then imagined the wand coming to him and flicked his wand again, only to frown as the piece of wood landed back into the goddess''s hand. Percy saw his girlfriend try to do the same, only for her to have similar results.

    Hecate smirked slightly as she spoke.

    ¡°I thought I told you to change your mindset depending on the spell. I imagine you wanted the wand to come to you because it disarmed me and gave you power if this was a fight. For the spell to work, you have to want the wand, for the wand, not an ulterior motive.¡±

    The demigods nodded their heads again, and while Percy achieved the same results as before, Annabeth managed to get the wand to lay halfway between them and the goddess.

    ¡°Good job, Annabeth. Now, again!¡±

    So, what did you all think? I want to hear your thoughts on the reviews! If you really liked it, consider supporting me in the world of Patrons. That¡¯s where you can get progress updates, early chapter previews, and a vote on the story''s direction if I am stuck between two decisions!

    You can also follow me on Twitter @Neptunerover. You¡¯ll see when chapters go live, get occasional progress updates, and there are links for everything I¡¯m a part of pinned on my profile!

    I also split my time between two Discord Channels. When I¡¯m not writing/working, you can find me on my server or in my room on the Emerald Library server, so be sure to come say hi:

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    <li>My Discord: /G5ZPT3fb7R</li>

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    <li>Discord Community: /elibrary </li>

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    Below are the names of some patrons who got to view this update early and help make this story happen. I am eternally grateful for all your support:

    Special thanks to: Jojomneal, Swampfox

    &

    Hari, Aesir21, WhoisMitch, Skyler, Jackson, Shawn

    Until Next Time!

    Recommended fanfic - Percy Jackson and the world of magic: by imjusttryingtofindmyway

    As I said in the first chapter, this story inspired me to write a PJO & Harry Potter Crossover. It¡¯s incredibly well written; unfortunately, they haven¡¯t updated in quite some time, so I would view it as abandoned but still an exciting read!