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Chapter Text

They couldn't deny the attraction that they both felt. The connection sparked at an instant, the moment that they made eye contact, they knew that they could love no other like now. They were both at each other's mercy. She couldn't deny how she drowned in his sea green eyes and the god couldn't deny being reeled in by the warmth of her soul and smile.

They both were caught up in each other. For days, they have been soaking one another up. The God didn't want it to end, but each time he walked past the docks he couldn't help but hear his folk shout out for him, asking for their ruler. He'd squeeze Sally's hand and close his eyes, ignoring the pleas of the sea.

May the Fates bless her soul, each time they pass the dock. The mortal would ask if Poseidon felt ill. Each time, he'd smile and kiss her cheek with his prickly stubble. "Just fine, love." He'd say.

Poseidon didn't say it the last day that they were together. Coincidentally the same time Sally had to leave to go back home. The God looked at her, "Why not stay in New York?" He asked.

"New York isn't home." She replied.

New York is home. It is home of the Gods, it is where the Olympian fire burns. Damn the fates for letting Sally leave to where home is not present. He took her soft hands in his calloused ones. "Let this be the night we set apart." He said, sadness laced his voice.

He knew love like this wouldn't last forever. Especially with a mortal, mortals don't last forever. Poseidon would know, he had fallen in love with countless mortal women. Only for them to perish. He soaked in the energy that the women radiated, it was exotic to him.

Never had he felt this energy before. It intoxicated him.

Sally raised their hands up to his cheek, "Let this be the night." She whispered before kissing him. That night, they whispered sweet nothings. That is all it was, just a sweet nothing.

—

It was a year full of mourning. A young adult decided to spend another week in America without consulting her parents, who had dropped everything the moment they didn't hear from her, out of fear that she had been kidnapped or killed.

All it took was a single plane ride to America. For them to be blown out of the sky, turbulence. They told her. But everyone on Olympus knew better, that night over a certain patch of sea, a storm had been brewing and the clouds were bulking up, merging and turning grey. Thunderstorms and waterspouts. It had been a freak of nature.

All of these things happened in just under a few hours. Hours that Sally was spending feeling happy about her summer romance, those hours Sally had spent feeling inspiration and the urge to pursue her writing career that she so badly wanted.

It was a year of mourning. She had spent hours sobbing into her uncle's shoulder. Sally Jackson is alone. Weeks after being caged in her old house, trying to sort everything out and having her parents' close friends come over to clear the house out. Something that happened very swiftly, thanks to them. She had spent that morning just spewing out her gut and into the toilet.

Not minding any of her parents' friends talking about using another loo to get home. No, what she did mind was the moodswings, the morning sickness and the hormones just going crazy. The sudden realisation kicked in like a truck and tears streamed down her eyes.

Sally Jackson was all alone. She might not have her parents, but she has something else. Growing down in her stomach. She felt gutted, silent tears streamed down her face, this was something that her parents wanted to be there for.

Her parents were already talking about grandchildren, while Sally would just laugh and roll her eyes at them. Now, she couldn't ever do that again. Now, she wouldn't hear her parents rave about the thought of having a grandchild. She wants to feel annoyed again, annoyed at how her parents wanted to be grandparents, about how they want to spoil their future grandchild. All she wanted was to be pestered again.

The thought of raising a child made her feel insecure. Especially without having any way to communicate with her summer fling. Little did she know, upon returning from her grocery shopping. There he stood in her living room.

"How did you get in here?" She asked, immediately. Not hesitating to fire the question at him. "How did you even find me?"

The man with the charming jet black hair looked at her, guilt written all over his face. "I'm so sorry." He whispered, "I haven't been completely honest with you."

When he finished his sentence, a shiver went down Sally's spine. "What do you mean?" She asked. What he meant was that he is a God. Sally Jackson had slept with a man who was around for everything, hell, the man even fought in the Trojan War.

"I can't be here for long." Poseidon said after he had explained himself.

With a quivering voice, "What now?"

"Now, we see how it goes." Poseidon said, honestly. "I'll send gifts, but I can't do more than that. I cannot be a presence around him."

"Why not?"

"He is a forbidden child, Sally." The sea God said, "I've broken the pact that I made with my brothers." It was a year of mourning. The sea god was a family man, to see one of his children being pulled away by him by force. It saddens him and he mourns for the first things he'll miss;

Sally could just cry from the frustration at what was happening.

"If you ever hear a voice? It's me. Do not tell our child of their bloodline before he can defend himself. Knowing his lineage might attract monsters." Poseidon said before evaporating into a mist. The room smelled like the sea, it's what Sally always associated him with. Now that she knows the truth, it is because he ruled over those seas.

It was a year of mourning. She had lost her job as an intern, her boss said that a pregnant woman is unreliable and a liability. If he actually knew Sally, he'd know that the British woman is anything but unreliable.

While she still had her uncle. He wasn't around as much, something about a Phoenix. He is a nice man, always sending her money and paying for her to keep the house that she and her parents had lived in. While he wasn't a constant presence, he was someone she could rely on. That was the moment she stopped mourning and started to be fond of the memories. She didn't hold any sadness towards Poseidon, nor did she feel anger. She accepted that her parents weren't around, she learned to function alone and learned how to remember them.

Especially when she had the baby. Oh, did he look like his father. A little tuft of hair on his head said that he had jet black hair, just as dark as his fathers. The sea green eyes stared at her in adoration whenever she'd pick him up. A tan color graced his little body and she can recognize the Moody smile that runs in the family.

Her uncle was suddenly around more, she didn't mind. Something about working at a candy store and keeping care of a small baby. Some days he'd show up, and she won't have to call a local babysitter.

Those days she'd come back home to find her uncle hugging the child, laying back in a comfortable chair. Drool coming out of the corner of both of their mouths. A small laugh and she picked up the special camera that uncle Alaster bought her.

The morning after, her uncle left with a grin on his face and a moving picture in his breast pocket.

The two finally bonded after being estranged from one another for years. They had formed a bond over the crawling little boy called Perseus Jackson. They shared laughs over the doe-eyed boy.

There were days where Moody brought spoils from work. The little demigod looked cute lying on a werewolf pelt. The auror definitely took the pictures with him to the Order, just to show off to Albus. he always brought pictures with him to boast about his little nephew.

Years passed and hairs turned grey. Perseus has turned into a small troublemaker. Something Alastor laughs at while Sally huffs whenever she has to pick the little boy up from school.

From the times that Poseidon had told her things, something will always happen around demigods. And she surely believes it, but with the amount of times that little Perseus gets into trouble. She is sure that it can't just be his demigod blood.

Alastor Moody knew more than he showed. While he didn't have a single clue about the Greek world, he did have a clue about the magical world where he lives in. As a pureblood auror, he is bound to notice magical things.

His favourite magical thing is his nephew. The mischievous boys let things disappear, not that uncommon for little magicians. But rare for those who come from squibs. At a playground where Perseus ran around smiling and giggling, a boy took his toy and the sky darkened. The toy disappeared along with some playground equipment.

With a swift swing of his wand, Moody smiled and picked up Perseus. The boy clung to his hip, the wizard looked at him with a cheeky smile, "Oh you're quite the powerful one." He whispered and turned around to go on his way home.

The boy squealed and smiled as he looked around him. "Quite the intelligent one as well." Moody looked at the smile, "Dare say that you could be a Gryffindor, but with that cute smile." He tickled the boy, "You're definitely a Hufflepuff."

He set the boy down in front of their home. "As soon as you learn to share." Moody laughed and Perseus moved his attention to the mother who fondly looked at the two boys in her life.

"Didn't cause too much trouble?" she asked.

Perseus blew raspberries in the air and Moody smiled, "We never cause any trouble, right Perseus?"

The boy squealed as he walked into the arms of his mother.

For the first time in years. The future is bright.

A/N: Not an action fic!

Chapter Text

The moment that both Moody and Sally turned grey was the moment that they realised that Perseus was never going to stop getting into trouble. Each time they tried to apprehend the little troublemaker, he'd smile and they would just melt.

Never had any of Moody's colleagues seen him like how he is now. Constantly sharing stories and showing photos of his nephew. Only to those that he trusted.

The auror had already gained a reputation for putting many rogue wizards in Azkaban. He knew that Sally had been seeing through his disguise. One day he had to show his amputated leg, Perseus, however, had been able to see through his disguise easily. The twirling eye was something that he always laughed at.

Sally saw that the chunk of his nose was missing. Alastor just laughed and dismissed it with a quick wave, "Didn't know that there was a hazard at work.". The hazard being a rogue wizard who casted a combustion spell at a wine barrel, flying the charred piece of cherry wood at his face.

He never understood why his older sister, Estelle, mother of Sally, never told her about the magical side of her family. All that they told her was that they have some weird friends and work some weird jobs outside of London.

Respecting their dead wishes, he kept quiet. But seeing how Perseus is growing and causing more mayhem around him. It should be addressed, eventually.

Then, he realised that he was being followed whenever he'd go back to the Jackson estate. Out of panic, he hid for a whole week. Using a polyjuice potion, appeared outside their door, knowing when the two were gone.

He casted many spells and engraved many things, so he'd know anyone with a magic signature would be near or in the house. He won't let anything happen to his family, not when he can't protect his sister.

Over time as Perseus got older, they heard less and less of the joy that entered Alastor's life. His colleagues eventually stopped asking when Moody mentioned someone being after his family.

As that time passed, how much more Sally noticed what happened around the boy. Sometimes she'd stare at the broken or vanished item, before squinting and then shrugging. Muttering, "Trouble, just like his father." Before continuing what she was doing beforehand.

Those were days that Moody thought that she knew. But some days he tried to talk about work, replacing machines with some magical terms, and she'd just look at him. Looking lost with a smile on her face.

Some days he'd pick Perseus up from school, some days the eight-year old would be quiet and just beaten down. Those were the days that Moody would bring him out to the Leaky Cauldron. He'd do something that others might not consider a wink, since, you know, his eye. "Don't tell your mother." He'd whisper and slide a non-alcoholic butter beer across the table. "When you're at an age, you'll be at this school. Outside of the perimeter, you'll have fun stores and café's. Get yourself a butterbeer."

Perseus gave his uncle a smile and nodded.

Their little secret.

On the way back home, they got attacked. For a whole minute, Alastor didn't know what he was fighting until he recognized it and whispered, "Gytrash." The ghastly head of what looked like a dog stared at him with empty eye carcesses. Moody whipped out his wand and shouted at his nephew, "Get behind me! Now." He ordered and his mindset switched.

Now, he was an auror. When he felt a hand cling to his back, Moody knew that he had to end it quickly, who knows it's whole pack is going to show up. The forked tail could only be glimpsed when the ghastly dog would pounce. Each time, Alastor pulled Perseus away from the dog.

"Vermillious!" The auror casted and red sparks sizzled against the spirit. The dog whined and made itself small. "Get away or be gone!" He shouted. The dog tried to pounce again and Moody reacted.

After the dog gave up and ran away, Perseus and Moody speed walked home. Moody grabbed the boy's backpack, and held it tightly.

The auror misunderstood how fast they were supposed to go because Perseus could not keep up with Alastor's pace. With a suppressed groan, Perseus let his backpack go. When his uncle couldn't feel any weight behind it, he stopped and looked around.

Moody couldn't believe his eyes as he laid them upon the little boy. "Why didn't you say anything?" He asked as he went down on his knees to check the boy's forearm more closely.

Three scratch wounds sat as he bled through his little boy's school outfit. Moody began muttering under his breath, "I'm no medical wizard but I do know something that'll stop the bleeding." He said gently as he rolled up the sleeve. "I'm dearly sorry for not noticing Perseus." He whispered and he hardened the expression on his face, "I'm dearly sorry for the pain this'll cause as well."

The auror whispered and sung under his breath as Perseus panted, pain was worsening and his wound was trying to piece itself back together. First the blood stopped gushing out and down his shoulders. When the blinding pain came for Perseus was when skin started to expand from his unbroken skin and over the wound. A bright pink scar is the only reminder of what happened.

"We must tell your mother." Moody said, "It is time for her to know the truth."

Perseus blinked and asked, in a quiet voice. "What truth?"

"Two birds, one stone." Alastor said as he hurried Perseus to start walking. "I'll tell you alongside your mother." He said. A small sweat went down from his face, he wanted to wait as much as possible to avoid the wrath of Sally Jackson. Especially when it comes down to her baby boy, but he knew it can't be avoided for more than twenty more minutes.

The walk home was a paranoid matter. Perseus kept staring at the shadows and squinted in the direction of the smallest thing he heard. Alastor can't help but huff with amusement, he used to be like that in his early auror days, but he couldn't help to feel uneasy as well, those Gytrash are mostly found in groups.

As soon as they're a street away. A feeling rang up his back and sparks flew from his wand. "Perseus." He whispered in silent panic. "Stay in the garden for a second." He ordered and ran.

Boy, he hadn't ran like that in years. It was only one street and he was already a bit winded. He had no clue how someone got into his home like that, with a moment of strength, he kicked the front door in and shouted, "Sally!"

Pure panic and sweat dripped down his eyebrows. "Sally!"

No, he can't lose her. Not when she reminded him so much of their mother.

"Sa-"

The concerned woman rounded the corner of the hall, "Alastor!" She chastised him, "Must you shout?"

"Who's here?" He asked, deep breaths in and short breaths out.

Now it was Sally's turn to look panicked. "W-Well.."

"I'm Perseus' father." A deep voice said, dark eyebrows and thick beard looked at him. Majestic eyes, Alastor couldn't help but squint at the man. A slight change of personality and he'd have his wand between the so to speak fathers eyes.

"Mum?" A voice shouted, concern laced the voice.

"He can't see me." The father whispered and took out a bottle.

Ah, a wizard.

A wizard about to throw a potion at Perseus.

Before the man could do anything, Alastor had already pointed his wand at Perseus and muttered a clear, "Stupefy." The boy turned and before he knew it, he fell back onto the couch, knocked out.

"Explain." The two men said at the same time. Moody squinted at the man and held the wand at him threatendly. While the man had summoned a weapon, a trident, and held it centimetres away from his neck, his pulse throbbed against the tip of the trident.

A cold laugh escaped the woman. "Both of you, explain." She snarled as she looked at Moody. "You show up with a stick in your hand that can cast stupid light that knocks a person out." She took a quick look at Perseus, "I hope that isn't damaging."

Moody held his hands up, "Never."

Then Sally turned to the chiselled man, "You, could've announced that you were going to show up, instead of just sitting on my couch while I'm working."

"I just wanted to surprise you." The man muttered sheepishly.

Moody took a closer look at the man and noticed that the eyes were so everchanging. He took note of how he looked like Sally in age. He noticed how the man's body was littered in scars and only his face was smooth.

"You." Sally pointed at the bearded man, "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see how Perseus was doing with the monsters. I know that it is too early but at this age there will b-"

"If I may interrupt. We have just been attacked." Moody mentioned, avoiding eye contact with both people in the room.

"What do you mean you were just attacked?" Sally said, grinding her teeth.

"We've been attacked by a gytrash." Moody explained, "I fought it off but Perseus got hurt in the process. It was so fast I couldn't see it." Before he even finished explaining, the mother ran to her son and checked his whole body.

When her eyes rested upon the three scars, she glared at it with concern. Then glared at Alastor, with less concern, "Explain."

"I'm a wizard." Alastor blurted out. The bearded man choked on his drink as he looked at the one eyed man.

"Your parents were wizards, and you're a full blooded child but have no magical ability. So they ended up not telling you. But it skipped a generation and now it looks like Perseus does have the magical ability." He had blurted it out in one breath and he can see how Sally was processing this information.

The bearded man interrupted their little stare off. "Now might be a good moment to tell that Perseus is a half-blood."

"Yes, I know. When a pureblooded adult get with a muggle-"

The man held up a hand and Alastor was taken aback with the power that radiated off of the man. "I am no mortal, wizard." The man said angrily.

Moody felt genuine fear at this moment, he opened his mouth but was interrupted by Sally. "Stop it, Poseidon. You're scaring him." She lectures.

Alastor "Mad-eye" Moody blinked at the man. "Poseidon?" He repeated, "The god Poseidon?"

Poseidon squared his shoulders and nodded, the weapon in his hand had disappeared. "You're telling me that Perseus is half wizard and half God?" Moody questioned.

Sally and Poseidon nodded.

"Oh this kid is going to go through hell." Alastor muttered, he didn't know anything about the Greeks, but he did know of the Greek tragedy's attached to children of the gods. That was all that he needed to know.

After a few more words, Poseidon disappeared, leaving a gift for the boy when he woke up in the morning. That night, the two family members stayed up. Moody would explain everything he knew about the magical world and what his sister did. He explained how wizards went to school and how Perseus would get the opportunity to experience Hogwarts like he did.

Sally felt heartbroken, already knowing that Perseus won't be around as much. How they would balance Perseus going to the camp and school. The only time he would be around longer is when there are vacations such as Christmas and Easter.

"He'll be having quite the life ahead of him." Sally said as she stroked the hair out of his peaceful face.

Only if she knew what his future had in store for him.

Chapter Text

The aftermath of the attack was more than needed. Once Perseus woke up, his mother and Alastor sat him down and explained everything. Well, except the demigod part. That'd be dangerous at his age. He already has a scent, thank the Gods that they live in the U.K. where the monsters are less than in America.

While it was the land of the Gods for a while, it isn't anymore. Where do the gods go? The monsters go as well. It isn't uncommon to see monsters, Moody went through the database and noted that there were enough sightings of them.

They explained everything about the wizard world. Perseus just yawned and nodded, "What now?"

"Now we get you a wand." Moody shrugged with a happy grin on his face.

Sally frowned at him. "Isn't there an age requirement?" She asked, "It seems irresponsible to give him a wand this early."

Perseus winced a bit as he rubbed over his fresh scar. Only if they knew to put it in water this early. "Perseus and I got attacked, Sally." Alastor said and looked outside. "It may be a bit early and I might be just a bit paranoid. But it's for his own protection, we'll keep his wand time very limited."

The boy looked at Moody, excited. "Can I?"

Moody smiled. "I'm sure that he wouldn't mind inheriting a wand that I have." The man said and went to his room. The mother and son pair looked at one another and shrugged. When he came, he had a box in his hands as well as a handwritten note. "A cypress wand with a…." The old man faltered a bit, "Thestral tail hair." He hummed. "Very unusual. Here, hold it!"

Perseus took the box in his hands and opened it slowly, as if he was scared of the result. It was a 9 inch long dark brown wand. A small grip surrounded it on the end and wrapped itself up the magical stick.

"Albus isn't going to like it when he realises that I taught you stuff early on." Moody chuckled and looked on as Perseus finally took a hold of the wand.

Perseus felt a rush go through him and a comforting wind ruffle through his hair. "Wow." He said, agape.

"It was his grandmothers." Moody said with a sombre tone. "I'm sure she would have been so happy that the wand accepted you."

A tear leaked from Sally's eye. Perseus turned to his mother full of excitement. He lowered his wand as he noticed her crying. "Happy tears, Percy." Sally choked out and fanned her face, "Oh mighty, happy tears." She repeated.

"What now?" Perseus asked Moody.

"Now we get you slowly integrated into the life of a wizard!" The man grabbed a few books from the book shelf and took a fake cover off of it, revealing an old dusty book. "This one is old, but it'll explain enough about the history of magic."

Perseus already paled at the size of the book. "All of that?" He can already see the letters swimming off of the pages. He felt unsure of how he could read the book.

His uncle looked at him in pity, the boy always had trouble at school, they nearly had to hold him back a year due to his reading issues. "I'll read it to you kid." Alastor said and ruffled Perseus' hair, "Don't you worry about a thing." He felt his heart clench after the smile the small boy gave him.

—

He was not so small anymore, years passed and Perseus turned twelve this summer vacation. The family was excited to get something that would change the boy's life. Moody remembers like it was yesterday, when he got his letter. He came from pure-blooded parents out of a prestigious family, he knew about Hogwarts and he knew about magic. But gods, was it the best time of his life.

When an owl didn't show up, Moody felt deflated, how has his boy not received a letter yet? He was being held back by Sally to not march right up to Albus' door and knock some sense into the old friend of his.

"We need to tell him." Sally said after Perseus went up to bed to go to sleep.

"Tell him that no letter has arrived?" Moody questioned, "That's not going to happen, my boy will go to Howar-"

Sally interrupted him, "Tell him about his lineage." She stated. "What happens when he goes through that magical Ally of yours? Do you think he'll be ignored by any sea creatures? As much as I want his life to be full of bliss, he will never know peace. What happens if he ever comes across some kind of horse in one of his classes? He is like royalty to them." Moody felt shivers go up his spine, "Who'll protect him there?" She finally asked.

The two jumped up from their seats in the living room, Moody cursing as he spilled tea all over himself. "Who in the bloody hell is here?" Sally started to march over but Moody reminded himself of the dangers he went through when he was followed to the Jackson household. He put a hand on her shoulder and used his other hand to accio his wand. "Let me."

Step by step he neared the door, wand held up in a defensive manner. If someone trespassed through the magical borders he put up, he'll have to fight to defend everything he has.

"Stop being so paranoid, you swine! It is cold out." A muffled voice said, a voice he would recognize from anywhere. Moody pulled open the door with a slight force and pulled the old skeleton in for a hug.

"You old sack! How come you're always giving me a scare?"

"I did not scare you last time, matter of fact, I was just sleeping! You thought I passed away." Dumbledore muttered as Moody led him through the door. The man locked the door behind him. Before he could step through the hall and into the living room. He stopped the powerful wizard, "Why has my boy not gotten his letter?"

"I had to make some custom arrangements for him." The old man replied, "You've got quite the kid, Alastor."

His defensive walls went up in the matter of time. "How did you know?"

"Last time you called me an all knowing old wizard." The man sighed, "I am after all, an all knowing wizard."

"You forgot ancient." Moody snorted.

Sally stood by the door frame with a set of tea in her hand, "Would you like some tea?"

"I'd love some tea." Dumbledore said and was shooed through the door by Sally.

When Moody wanted to walk past, she gave him a withering glare. "We're respectful in my house."

Moody just nodded and sat down on his usual sofa. "How did you know, Albus?"

"I knew, I am of that kind of lineage as well." He nodded as he took in the masked shocked looks. "A grandson of Hecate." He said, "My mother wants me to hone the skills of younger wizards. Don't you think that I let just anyone in either!"

"What are the arrangements?"

"His room situation. He'll have his own, I recognize due to his nature, others will be in danger. It is something that cannot be avoided." Albus said. "He'll have permission to do anything within reason, uncalled for things will be rewarded with detention. But things such as calling with a friend will be excused, swimming in the lake will be excused, wandering the dark forest will be excused due to his training."

"His training?"

"Yes, he shall be trained. What is even more useless than a boy who is a danger to others, if he cannot protect others or himself?" Albus sighed, "I will have one of my old friends come and train him."

"Who is he?"

"They, are capable of teaching him. Bless the boy, and may Hogwarts still stand after this." Albus sighed.

"What measures will be put in place?" Sally asked as she sipped her tea.

"Well, a minor monster rune will be put up. Along with many alerting ones, as he is a child of one of the powerful gods." Albus said, "Hogwarts will be a safe place for all."

Sally felt like she could finally breathe normally again. "Thank you." She said, "It has been hard, being so worried about him."

Moody looked at her in pity, he knows how the single mother worries herself to death on some days. He reached over and put a hand over hers. "Thank you, Albus."

The old man smiled kindly, "That kid of yours has a big role to play in the future, Sybill has come with another prophecy."

Alastor and Sally leant forward, and listened to the wizard's words. "A Greek demigod shall arise, bloodline divine. To Hogwarts, he shall journey, secrets to unfold. A friend foremost, a guardian bold. Protector by blood, his destiny intertwined, With the chosen one, their fates entwined." Albus said.

Sally put a hand over her mouth. She knew that having the child of a god would mean that the child would be meant for great and big things. But she just wished that the suffering didn't come with it.

Chapter Text

Perseus was always a step ahead of his uncle in Diagon Alley. His uncle had taken precautions and drank a polyjuice potion in order to protect his dear boy. Percy had recognized the little pub where he went with his uncle after he had a rough day at his job.

Before that day, he never knew what wonder was hidden behind that pub.

With a flick of the wrist they were in a whole different world. The cobblestoned ground was something straight out of a folktale. The Jacksons lived in quite a modern neighbourhood so he had never worried about falling from his bike because of cobblestones, he liked the concrete floor.

The Alley was bustling with wizards dressed in all kinds of clothes, most wore robes, and a very few wore modern muggle clothes. Percy suddenly felt self conscious in his clothes, he tugged on his collar and it did not go unnoticed by his uncle. "You want some new clothes kid?"

Percy nodded, the t-shirt and jeans didn't feel like it was enough for the wizard standards.

"Well then, let's not wait up." His uncle hastened him and he was a step ahead of him. His uncle barked out directions while he muttered under his breath.

Not heard by Perseus, Moody muttered under his breath, "Must not be restricting","Must be able to fight if needed","Casual wear","He'll finally look like a scholar","He does hate shirts close to his collar","He's british, he'll learn to tolerate it,". Such things felt deaf on the ears of Perseus as he wandered through the alleys. His uncle consciously steered them away from any pet stores, not wanting to have him hear the voices of any sea creatures in there.

The duo walked into a lesser known store that sold old fashioned clothes, they were greeted by the teller but quickly minded their own business. Moody shooed his nephew into the fitting room while he quickly took a few things off of the clothing racks.

"Here, wear this. Don't you dare complain because this is the only thing I'll buy for you at the moment." Moody wasn't greedy with his money, he just knew that he had to lay down boundaries because the boy would complain about how itchy the collar is.

Perseus walked out with his wild hair, per usual. Instead of a big t-shirt, he wore a white clean polo. Just like they used to back in the days. His jeans turned into black slacks with a belt wrapped around his waist. His trainers turned into black dress shoes. The man squinted at him, "Where is your jumper?" He asked.

"It's too warm for that." Perseus whined.

Moody shook his head, "You'll attract people's attention, Perseus. Wear the jumper." The boy pouted but pulled it over his head. Moody looked at the boy and saw Sally in him, but on the outside it is all Poseidon.

The family crest patch felt heavy in his pocket. "Come here boy, let's go ask the teller to add something." He shuffled the boy to the front, the lanky boy held his unfolded clothes in his hands as he peeked out behind them, to observe what his uncle was doing.

"How much is it going to be?"

"Four galleons."

"Your prices rose, eh?" Moody said as he fished into his pocket to find the money, instead he came out with a key wrapped up in cloth. He set it aside for later, to not seem suspicious in front of the cashier. He put a few galleons down on the counter, he later fished out another few along with a patch of the family crest. "Sew this on the jumper, if you can."

The cashier nodded and put his clothes that Percy held into a bag, making his hands clear. The boy looked as the cashier stuck the family crest on his chest and he moved his wand with grace. Threads loosened around it and interwoven itself with it. "A pleasure, Jackson."

Moody cringed, "The boy is the only Jackson."

Percy felt a swell of pride erupt inside of him. He did not mind the itch that the collar gave him, but he reminded himself of the fact that he is a Jackson. That is something he can't ever change.

"Thank you for shopping! Have a nice day." The customer service suddenly got ten times better since the man didn't do anything but acknowledge them before the patch. They walked out of the store and back onto the streets.

Moody held up the list that they received from Dumbledore, "Let's go get your uniform, kid." The two walked down the street and right into the store called, 'Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions'.

Walking first into the store, Perseus naturally walked into another person, "So sorry-"

"You should watch where you're going!" A mad voice said, "I just bought them, you little sn-"

Perseus raised his eyebrows at him, biting his lips to not say anything that could end up with trouble. He had after all, promised his mother that he wouldn't cause any trouble. "I didn't mean to!" He argued, after giving up being well-behaved. "It's an open door! If you were paying attention as well, we wouldn't have walked into one another."

"Are you saying that I am at fault as well." The blonde boy seethes, he was younger than Percy was. He felt a lot of anger in the boy and he frowned.

Moody was about to intervene when he noticed the white blonde hair along with a figure behind him. "Now now, Draco. Don't be rude."

The boy turned back towards the man, "But father!" he whined.

"Don't you see the family crest, boy." The man snapped quietly, not quiet enough. "Be respectful to other pure-bloods."

Moody wasn't sure of what Perseus was, but pure-blooded was certainly an option, once they hear that he also has godly blood in him? The wizards would be on their knees for the boy.

The bratty little boy took a sharp breath in and gave Percy a sickening smile, "I apologise for my behaviour, all is forgiven."

Percy looked at the boy with the audacity. "It is okay. Have a good day…" He trailed off, not wanting to continue the conversation, instead the white-blonde haired man took it as a way to introduce himself.

Pridefully he puffed his chest and said, "Malfoy." The older man looked at Percy, interest piqued in his eyes, "Are you starting Hogwarts this year, Jackson?"

"Yes, sir."

"My boy is starting in a few years," He said and put a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Percy clenched his jaw, "That's nice." He said, "Have a good day, Malfoys."

The father smiled and nodded, "Thank you." They then pushed past Moody in a rude manner.

"I don't like them, uncle." Perseus whispered as they entered the store.

"Neither." He then ruffled their hair, "Let's get what we're here for." Moody was confused as to why they were even there, from what he could gather, is that the blonde is rather whiny.

—

When it came to the rest of the list it was all plain and boring. Sometimes Perseus stands agape of all the things he sees, but he quickly moves on. Moody snorts at his short span of attention. They got a cauldron for the boy, Moody knew it was wise to buy an extra, a habit that he had formed when he was at Hogwarts with his late sister.

Estelle was amazing at potions, she never had cauldrons enough. In his gut, Moody knows that Perseus is the exact same. He had, after all, seen Perseus play with the mud in the backyard to make some fake potions. Something that amused Moody to no end, when he squinted he could see Estelle creating potions in her humble home.

Then, they ended up in front of a store that Moody never felt the need to visit. The pet store, he had inherited an owl from his grandfather when he started Hogwarts. Moody knew that it would not be wise to get an owl for his boy, he had done his research on Greek Mythology and learnt that Athena and Poseidon hate one another. A gut feeling told him that their rivalry would extend to their kids and animals.

Therefore, he would get Perseus a cat. He knows that the boy had a natural affinity with animals, especially cats. When the boy was five years olds, they would go on walks all the time, since the boy was a walker and runner. Sometimes Moody would lose sight of him, only to find him in the street over petting a stray cat.

"Let's go in." He was glad that this store did not sell any animals connected to the water. There were owls though, who hated his very presence the moment he stepped in. Hooting sounded in their ears, he was glad it wasn't a store that specialises in owls. That'd be a mess.

The duo ignored the constant hooting as they walked deeper into the store, finally encountering a clerk. "Can I help you with anything but an owl?" He grinned.

Moody let out a chuckle, "They aren't fond of my boy."

"I can tell." The man grinned and opened a door in the back, "Here are the other animals, putting the owls in front is good for business." They walked into the back where there were cages and a huge room of cat toys.

One immediately walked up to Percy and purred as it petted itself on his leg. It was still small, a kitten. The man ah'ed, "That's the first time I've seen that happen." He picked the kitten up, it purred in his arms and turned around, snuggling into the warmth that the man radiated. "This is one of the newer ones we got, it's an interbred cat, a tabby cat with Kneazles."

Moody knew he had considered getting one in his early life. They warn you for dementors, something that would be nice as an inexperienced auror. "Looks like it already picked you, kid."

"That tells me a great deal about you kid," The cashier said, "They bond with those they find loyal and worthy of their compassion. You kid, are worthy of that. They protect you and guard your home."

"We're getting the cat." Percy said as he held his arms out for the cat, petting it. The cat clumsily got up from its improvised nap in the cashier's arms and jumped into the arms of Perseus. The boy giggled and petted the cat.

"What are you going to name him, kid?"

"Argus." He whispered. Moody blinked, he did not know where it came from but he had a small clue. The key in his pocket got heavier, Moody turned around, letting the kid and the cashier talk about treatment and training the cat.

He unwrapped the key from its cloth and looked at the small note. 'I hope my vault still has sufficient money and needed requirements in it. Don't be afraid to give everything that Perseus needs. Tell him inside, they'll help.' The note said.

Moody was baffled, "They'll help?" He questioned under his breath. He felt his heart ache as he thought about how dangerous it would be to tell the boy about his lineage. They had left their shopping until the last day, as of tomorrow morning they will depart to King's Cross Station to the train that'll bring Perseus to Hogwarts.

That is when he realised, now was the time to tell Perseus. As soon as he sets foot on Hogwarts he'll be safe. He'll be taken aside to learn how to fight and he'll learn how to survive. All he wants for his boy is for him to survive.

"Can we pick him up in an hour? We've got to go to Gringotts to get the money." Perseus looked over at his uncle, confused. The man had made sure that he brought two pouches full of money.

"We'll have little Argus prepped and ready to go." the cashier nodded, the two walked out of the store and down the road, this time Perseus was in sync with his uncle, no more steps ahead.

"What is Gringotts?"

"The bank." Moody answered, "We're going to visit your vault."

"I have a vault?"

"You have a vault." Moody confirmed, "It has been set up for you quite a while ago, I believe." They walked between the huge columns and walked all the way to the back. Goblins sat behind their desks, writing stuff down with their huge feathers. "Did you know that it is rumoured that dragons and even sphinx guards the vaults here." Moody knows it isn't rumoured. He has seen them down there himself.

They stopped at the goblin who sat at the very end. "We have to visit this vault." Moody said as he handed over a note. The goblin looked up and squinted, "Key?" The nasal voice said.

Moody nodded and held it up. "Here."

The goblin took and and held it up to his nose, taking a strong whiff he nodded. "Let's go." Perseus was confused by the whole interaction but allowed for himself to be dragged by his uncle and the goblin.

They stepped into a minecart that wasn't exactly luxurious. Alastor immediately placed an arm in front of the boy in order to protect him from flying out. When the ride ended, the two were certain that sickness would not disappear. The goblin did not give them a minute as they stood in front of a golden vault door, sea-green jewels adorned the door as it seemed that the waves engraved were moving. The smell was familiar, it smelled just like Perseus. Alastor looked at the boy with grief in his eyes.

There was no more coming back from this, and he knew. The goblin took a hold of Perseus' finger and pricked it with his plume. The goblin squeezed it to let a drop of blood fall from his finger onto the waves. The waves kept moving and the blood started to move with it, the drop of blood got thinner and thinner until it wasn't there anymore.

The door unlocked itself, Moody was surprised that he did not hear a heavy groan, as did his family's. They walked in, the goblin staying outside.

Perseus looked confused, the whole thing was made out of marble, fountains were built into the walls, piles of money sat on the ground, galleons and all magical currency used in different countries.

There were shields and weapons, armour and there even was a chariot. Statues of a man with a three forked prong along with statues of dolphins and pegasus'. Perseus knew it was weird when he didn't remember it from the books, muggle or magical ones. "Uncle Alastor?"

On instinct, his uncle walked over to the fountain which emitted a warm glow. A man appeared, it seemed as if it was some kind of video message on tv. His uncle wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

The thick beard and eyes gave away who it was, Moody knows exactly who. But all he could think about is how Perseus will from now on see him in the mirror instead of his mother. "Perseus." The man said, "This is recorded, because I knew your mother and uncle didn't have the heart to tell you and put you in danger. I am your father, from the stories that your uncle tells you about. I am the god of the sea, storms and more." He waved his hand around, dismissing his other titles.

"I am Poseidon." The man finally says, "You are my child, a demi-god. You are also a wizard. As much as I'd rather have you ignore your counterpart, I cannot. You're a product of magic and of the gods. I am allowing you to go to Hogwarts, where you'll be trained by chosen men. The stories are true, names have power and nowhere is safe. Sorry for the short message, Perseus. Stay safe, son."

Moody let go of the breath he didn't know that he held. His nephew looked up at him, "Uncle, why didn't you tell me?"

"Knowing also gives you power. It's also dangerous the more power you have, you'll be targeted by monsters. That's why you'll be trained." Moody squeezed his shoulder, "I need you to know that it would've been dangerous for you to know, monsters smell your scent and will hunt you. You're a forbidden child."

"Forbidden? For being a wizard and demigod?" He had trouble with wrapping his head around the fact that he is a demigod, in his mind, his family is playing a prank on him. But judging by Moody's demeanour there is no room for jokes.

"Forbidden for being a child of Poseidon, an oath was broken and none of the other gods will like it. It was for your own safety." They were having a serious conversation when a reflection hit their eyes. Suddenly a pen appeared in front of them, alongside a note.

'I'm sorry for the harsh truth, don't maim others and kill monsters. -Your father.' Besides it was a pen, Perseus picked it up, "This is a pen." He deadpanned, "This is a pen." He repeated once again.

Moody looked equally confused as him, "It might be a nice pen?"

Perseus frowned as he took the cap off, he nearly threw the thing on the ground as it grew into a fully formed sword. "What the bloody hell?"

Moody blinked at the sword, "Well shit, kid. Now you have a sword." Moody walked over, making sure to stay out of range, and turned around the note for additional information.

'It'll always return to the pocket of the owner. Wizards can see it.'

"Short but powerful." Moody said and looked over as the goblin knocked on the vault door.

"Five more minutes." The goblin said.

"Well, bloody hell. Go get some money out of the pouches! Maybe some books over there, they look valuable." he barked the orders and watched as the kid scrambled to get them. "Let's get your mother a gift before we leave back home." He looked over at the jewellery. One caught his eyes, "This one might be for you, kid." He called out.

Perseus walked over with his hands full, "What is?"

A ring along with another bag, with yet another note.

'Demigods are dyslexic and ADHD. The ring is for when you're in trouble. Don't forget the bag of nectar and ambrosia. Don't even think about giving it to anyone except demigods, unless you want them to die.'

"Fun." Percy said humorlessly. "ADHD."

"We know, don't worry." Moody said as he took hold of the bag. "You better not give this to anyone."

"Why not?"

"It'll kill them." Moody said as he realised he read too fast for Percy to even try. "The ring is special, for when you're in trouble. I'm assuming that it is something more our magical than godly magic."

Percy shrugged as he put it on his finger. "It looks nice."

"You deserve nice, Perseus." He shooed the boy out of the vault and back into the minecart, the goblin gave them a nasty side-eye. The boy looked sheepishly as they ignored the shouts that their time was over. Back with a key in his hands, the uncle and nephew exit the bank and head back to pick up the cat.

They walked out of Diagon Alley with bags full, along with a crate. "That explains a lot." Percy said.

"Explains what?"

"That water heals me whenever I cut myself."

"You cut yourself?" Moody panicked.

"Because of shaving."

Moody frowned as his heart rate slowed back down, "You're not even growing anything."

"Yet!"

Chapter Text

It was a rough dinner for all of the Jacksons, especially for Sally. Her baby boy was going to be somewhere in Scotland getting a magical education while she stays in The United Kingdom. So far away from her baby boy.

If dinner was rough, breakfast might've broken some hearts. The silence in the car was unbearable, Sally drove because Moody did not dare drive something muggle. The muffled radio only played the morning news, while Perseus was sad to be away from his mother and uncle. He knows that they can be reached by owls. Which will turn out to be a slight challenge, he feels it in his gut.

When they arrived at the parking lot, Percy pushed his suitcases and cage forward with a trolley and into the station. It was grand, Percy and Moody had been here before, of course. Sally sighed as she looked at the trains, all her summer days were spent travelling the UK before she even dared to cross the North Atlantic sea.

It was funny for both Sally and Percy to walk in with a strange man, but they knew it was Moody. They were used to his polyjuice antics.

She put her hand down into Perseus' messy hair, "Let's go find your perron, Percy."

Percy gave her a small smile, "Yes mum."

"Do you have your books, Perce?" Moody asked as they neared perron 9. "The new ones."

"Yes, uncle." He answered, "I like them, they are easier to read."

"That's because the books are in Greek, kid." He explained, "I've asked Albus about it, your brain is hardwired for Greek civilization and such stuff." The man sighed, "I don't even know anymore."

Sally snorted as they reached perron 9. "What now?" She asked as she looked around for their supposed 9 3/4 . A woman with fiery red hair tapped them, "My boys just went through, is this your first kid?" She asked.

Moody turned his head around to face the woman, "Yes, it is hers."

"Uncle, this is a wall. Why are we looking at a wall?" Percy said and looked over with an expression that just asked, 'why?'. His uncle rolled his eyes and walked through the wall. Him and his mother stood besides the fiery headed woman. Jaws on the ground.

"It helps if you take a bit of a run with your luggage."

"Percy." He introduced himself. "First year."

"My boy is also called Percy! My boys are Fred and George!" She gushed, "Fred and George are going to be in your year!"

Percy smiled and nodded. He took a deep breath in and looked at his mom, "I'm going to go."

His mom nodded, "You go kid, I'll join..."

"Molly Weasly!"

"I'll join Miss Weasley here." She said kindly. Percy smiled, and didn't hesitate to run through. He was going to do it at one point if he did not want to miss the train, so why not now?

He raised his eyebrow as he looked at the scenery in front of him, a steam-powered train and many more trolleys pushed by kids in their casual clothes or in their robes. Percy just wore what he wore yesterday. It seemed that he got left alone because of his family crest.

A hand on his shoulder and he nearly elbowed the person who put it on him. "Calm down kid!" His uncle said, "Let's wait for your mother before you board the train." Percy looked behind them and snorted as he saw his mother walk through so casually, chatting with her new friend.

Molly looked around and waved goodbye before she walked over to a set of twins with genetically red hair, she could see her lecturing them. He grinned in amusement. "Don't be laughing, young man." Sally said as she stopped in front of Perseus. "I know that they get in trouble quite a lot, but you get in trouble constantly." She lectured, his smile dropped so fast. "You know that they made arrangements for you due to your lineage! You better listen to them very carefully and not get in trouble. I will personally make sure that Albus will have you clean every nook and cranny of that castle." Perseus paled, from what he's heard, it is a very big castle.

"Yes mum." He resigned, Moody clapped his back and took the trolley from his hands, giving it to some guy.

"Before you leave, you better know that you're not allowed to spend all your money on candies. You remember to share with others because that is how you make friends. Don't cuss! At all! I dare you." Perseus swallowed. "Remember, to have fun. But not too much and not of the kind that'll land you in trouble."

Moody laughed, "Are you done yet?"

"No." Sally said and pulled her son in for a hug. Eventually she pulled away and kissed his forehead, "Now leave before I can't let you go again. You have your money?"

"I have my money." Percy repeated, "Do you have your money?"

"I have my money." Sally confirmed with a roll of the eyes, "Stay safe."

"I'll try." Percy said and smiled before he turned around to get into the train. Before he stepped on, the set of twins walked over to him. "Look like she gave you an earful eh?"

Percy laughed, "She means well."

"Mine too, but I'm sure that half of my brain needs a day to process." One said, "I'm George." and the other said, "I'm Fred."

"Perseus." He introduced himself. "Your mum just became best friends with mine, I think." He said and they turned around to look at them through the glass window. The two were chatting while his uncle stood besides them a bit awkwardly.

"That means we're-"

"-going to be best pals." The twins finish each other's sentences and Percy snickered. They pulled him into a compartment.

He sat on the couch and put his leather bag aside. His shoulder scar fired up as if someone was pinching him. He waved at his mother and his uncle. "The twins were looking at him with squinting eyes.

"You know, he looks like he has potential." George said.

Fred nodded, "You saw how his mother had lectured him."

George shuddered, "It's even worse than our mum." The twins nodded at each other and grinned at Percy.

Percy grinned back, "So what are we going to do?" George and Fred clapped their hands simultaneously and rubbed it back and forth. George reached into his bag and pulled out a carton of candy. Fred shook his head and George put it back, continuing to rummage.

George then pulled out two masks and Fred nodded, "Perfect." The two high fived and grinned. "Our brother, Percy. He is in his third year, so he's probably off somewhere with his friends."

"So naturally, we have to prank him." George continued.

Percy grinned but it fell as soon as his stomach growled loudly. "Can we eat first?" He asked, "If there is something from the trolley you want, let me know." He said. The Weasley's look at each other and smiled.

"We'll take Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans." Fred said with a smile, "Have you had them before?"

Perseus shook his head, "Don't think so." He had tried to walk into the candy store but Moody quickly pulled him away from it, saying that it wasn't good for him. Perseus knows it is because Moody knows about the sugar rush it gives him, and he was the only one there to supervise Perseus, thus making him responsible for Perseus.

The three talked a bit more until the trolley passed and they bought a bunch of candy. Perseus was traumatised as he only got one good flavour. It was very annoying and disgusting. He had gotten socks, dirty socks and dog food.

The twins were laughing with each flavour. When the time finally came, Fred closed the curtains and George went out exploring and trying to find out where their brother sat. When he got back, he told Perseus exactly where to go exactly and put the mask on over their heads.

Their compartment was dark and the only thing Percy could see were the glowing eyes of the charmed masks. He snickered before walking through the halls and he faked being out of breath.

He knocked on the compartment hurryingly before opening it, "Are you Percy Weasley?" He asked, panic was painted across his face.

The concerned ginger stood up, "Are you all right?" He asked.

Perseus shook his head, "It's Fred and George!" He exclaimed, "You must help them!" He said and started running back towards their compartment. Sure, he felt a bit guilty about pranking someone he doesn't know, yet.

He sped up a bit after he heard the running of Percy Weasley. He ran into the dark compartment and Percy ran in after him. On cue, Perseus waved his wand and whispered a spell that closed the door behind him.

Suddenly eyes glowed from in front of Weasley, and eyes glowed over his shoulder. "Boo." Fred whispered and Percy yelped. The wizard was so scared that his wand flew out of his hands.

Perseus snorted and George opened the curtains as he was closest to it. Fred was kicking the ground as he laughed. George had a small smile on his face. "Blimey, you should've seen your face!"

"I'm so sorry." Perseus apologised as he sat back down. He could see faces looking through the glass door.

Percy straightened his robes and glared at his little brothers, "They most likely put you up for this. Don't apologise..."

"Perseus." He introduced himself, Percy shook Perseus' hands and nodded before walking out.

The twins grinned at Perseus. "Staying on his good side, eh?" Fred asked.

George clicked his tongue, "It was a bit cruel innit?"

Perseus cringed, "Just a tad bit." He admitted.

—

The train stopped and Perseus sat with the twins on the boat. They were so much fun, he actually thought that he was going to read a book for the whole trip. Hagrid looked like he had an eye out for him.

He put a hand in the water as the boats rowed itself in the direction of the majestic castle. He gulped, and decided to never get in trouble ever again. That was one big castle to clean if he ever did.

He looked down in the pitch black water, "You know they rumoured that a kraken lives in the water." Fred said with her most eerie voice. Percy didn't feel nervous, he felt fine. The energy he got from putting his hand in the water was one of the things he first could explain after he was revealed of his lineage.

Of course, he put his head down in their pond at the back of the house after dinner. He never believed he could breathe underwater until he tried that day. He actually had a conversation with the fish in the back. He gave them crumbs of bread, and they were quite hungry.

Something slimy touched his hand and his eyes widened, trying to not make any noise as he looked down at his hand, 'I'm actually a giant squid, Archie!.' A voice said in his head, it was high pitched but definitely male.

Perseus raised his head, "I'm hoping that the kraken doesn't kill humans." He said to Fred, who did not notice his distress.

'I'd never! You guys feed me!' The voice said, 'I got to go, little lord.'

Perseus frowned, little lord? He had never heard that before. The slime that touched his hand disappeared and Percy let out a breath of relief, he is glad that he wasn't eaten by the giant squid.

He hopes that he can make up for judging him so soon.

Chapter Text

Perseus did not know how he sat through the short speech that professor McGonagall gave about the different houses and the rules. Eventually, the professor dismissed them and walked into the room.

"Which house do you reckon you'd be in?" A boy asked as he nudged Percy. He had dark hair and grey eyes. Kind eyes.

"I'm thinking, Gryffindor, to be honest." Perseus said and held his hand out. "Perseus Jackson." He introduced himself, they shook hands.

"Cedric Diggory." He said.

"What do you think?"

"Hufflepuff." The boy said with a smile, "Dad says that our family has always been full of Hufflepuffs."

Perseus hummed and before he could continue the conversation, the huge doors opened and Percy walked besides Cedric between the tables.

The dining room's roof was littered with floating candles, something that Percy will never forget. Finally they reached the end of the room, in the middle stood a chair with a hat on it. Moody had told him all about it. How it was weird for a hat to learn about all your thoughts. Behind that chair sat all the teachers. "Before we begin, professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

He recognized the old man from the one time his mother had invited him over for tea and biscuits. Percy had the time of his life listening to the stories that the man told. He also had the time of his life eating the blue cookies his mother made. "I have a few start-of-term notices that I wish to announce." He looked at the crowd in front of him, "The first years, please note, that the Dark Forest is forbidden to all students."

After the brief pause of Dumbledore's speech, Professor McGonnagal spoke up, holding a roll of parchment in her hands. "When I call your name, come forth and I shall place the sorting hat on your head." she held it up, "And you will be sorted into your house."

Perseus was excited, from what Moody had told him is that his family had always been a mix of Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. The Gryffindors tend to turn into aurors while the Hufflepuffs turn into magical doctors. His extended family even had a few animal doctors, who worked out in Asia to take care of dragons and such.

"Cedric Diggory!" The transfiguration teacher called out and Perseus smiled at the boy, wishing him success quietly. The hat touched his head but after a few more seconds it called out, "Hufflepuff!" The boy smiled at Percy and walked over to the yellow table who were cheering loudly.

"Perseus Jackson."

He looked back at every teacher standing by the tables. Sucking in a breath he walked up to the chair and sat down. He looked up at professor Dumbledore and the old man just winked at him. The stomach ache he got suddenly hurt even more. He sat down and something got put on his head.

"Hm, another Jackson I see." The hat spoke, "Ah, another one of those as well. It has been a while since one of you showed up again." The hat rambled, "Loyalty to a fault, the high morals wanting to save anyone. Brave and courageous spirit. Unlike hufflepuff. Oh you have quite a lot of power, this wise and that other thing wise. Accepting is what you are. Determined is what you are, you're willing to do a lot to protect. Your family is filled with Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, but you definitely are a Hufflepuff!" The room erupted in cheers, most coming from the yellow laced table.

He had a smile on his face as he walked over to a cheering Cedric. The boy smiled and put an arm around Perseus' shoulder. "Can I call you Percy?" He asked, "Perseus is a bit not personal, don't you think?"

Percy grinned and nodded, "You're right." He said and held his hand out for him to shake, "Ced?"

"Ced and Percy." The Diggory said and shook his hand.

—

After dinner they made their way to their dormitories. Percy and Cedric gaped as they saw the great hall. "Holy shit." Percy said and slapped a hand over his mouth. "I'm sure that I might fall off of these stairs at least once in my life."

"Don't jinx it!" Ced said from beside him.

Percy shrugged. They followed the Hufflepuff prefect down to their dorm. They finally stopped walking in front of a few barrels along with a huge lid. "Listen up and pay close attention!" The prefect said loudly. All the first years turned quiet. "To get inside one must tap the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, in the rhythm of 'Hel-ga Huff-le-puff', which will make the lid swing open. However, if the wrong lid was tapped or the wrong rhythm was used, you will be doused in vinegar, sprayed from the mouths of the goblin face figureheads that decorate the barrel."

The prefect showed it and smiled, "Now, if one would like to step up and demonstrate!" Percy cringed as he saw one walk up to a barrel. He could see that the prefect was a prankster by the innocent smile on his face, even though he knows fully well what he's doing.

The girl did the exact thing as instructed by the wrong barrel and got doused in vinegar. The girl gasped and Percy cringed even more. The prefect immediately casted a cleaning spell over her and smiled apologetically, "That is an example if you do it at the wrong barrel." He said and then started to usher them in.

The Hufflepuff common room is round and earthy, the low-ceilings were nice. Many plants hang from the ceiling or sit on the windowsills. There were overstuffed sofas and chairs that were upholstered in yellow and black. There were lots of tunnels from what Percy could see.

He grinned, "Like a badger." He said and Cedric nodded in agreement.

"Boys on the left and girls on the right." The prefect said and clapped his hands. The group split up fast and the boys walked through the tunnels and opened a circular door, revealing beds with posters covered in pathwork. It had copper lamps and bed warmers.

Percy supposes that it gets cold in the winters. There was knocking on the door and the prefect walked in apologetically, holding a small piece of parchment in his hands. "Perseus?" He questioned and the boy raised his hand.

"Come with me, your room is elsewhere." The prefect said and Percy shared a look with Ced before following after him. It was another tunnel, not so far away from everyone but still separate. "Professor Dumbledore was very vague with his reasoning, so it must be a private one." He said, "Enjoy your private room." He said and opened the circular door.

It was exactly like the boys dorm but fit for one person. He had a desk in the corner and a few candles. It was like his own little studio. "Thank you." Percy said quietly as he walked over to his stuff.

"It's no problem." The prefect said and closed the door behind him, leaving Percy alone in his room. The boy pulled up his book and opened it. He had the intention of reading it on the train but was distracted by the Weasley twins.

He quickly opened Argus' cage and the cat purred on his lap as he read the book.

—

The first lesson in Transfiguration, they were writing down an essay when a sheepish Fred and George were hurried into the classroom by their older brother. "Apologies, Professor." He called out before closing the door.

The twins walked up to the front of the class and apologised to the cat. Percy held back a laugh at how absurd it looked. The twins sat behind him and Cedric. "A bit late now?" Percy asked as he turned around to look at the twins.

"Well, it started out as a prank." Fred said.

"But we ended up being seriously lost." George finished and Cedric laughed into his hand and coughed to cover it up. Percy rubbed Cedric's back as he laughed, sending the cat an apologetic look.

—

They had potions together with the house of Gryffindor. The door flew open and a figure walked into the class at a rapid pace, "There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class." He said and looked at the class in front of him, "As such, I don't expect you all to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making." The man looked over at Percy, squinting eyes, "For those select few, who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can…" He kept going, something Perseus can't stand, long speeches.

The tables were made for three, immediately when they saw this, Cedric pulled Percy to one table, leaving room for one more. A Gryffindor walked over and smiled politely as she sat down.

"I'm Perseus Jackson." Percy introduced himself, "This is Cedric Diggory." he said and introduced his fellow Hufflepuff.

"Alicia Spinnet." The girl introduced herself, "Nice to meet you two." She said and mostly looked at Percy. Cedric nudged his ribs with a smug smile on his face and Percy rolled his eyes at him.

"A little quiz to see your general knowledge. A point given to your house if you have it correct, one taken away if you have it wrong." Professor Snape spoke up from in front of the class. "First table." he said and stood by Fred and George's table, they sat with another Gryffindor. "Give me each a different ingredient from an antidote from common poisons."

The three were quiet and Percy cringed. "Three points from Gryffindor." Snape said and continued going down the rows until he stopped at Percy's. "You." He said and pointed at him. "In what potion is asphodel used in?"

Percy took in a deep breath and thought about it, in the book he read about how it was planted by graves. "Draught of living death." He answered and Snape nodded approvingly.

"Three points to Hufflepuff, for using an advanced potion to answer a simple question." He continued going down the row, Cedric lost a point and Alicia gained one.

After potions, Percy was asked to hold back. "Who is your mother, boy?" He asked.

"Sally Jackson, sir." He answered confusedly. Snape squinted at him.

"Grandmother?"

"Estelle Jackson, sir." He answered.

Snape nodded, "A lovely woman. I see that you might share her enthusiasm for potions." He said with his monotone voice. Percy smiled and nodded. "You're dismissed." The boy walked out of the room and Cedric stood outside in the hall, waiting.

"That's the first time Professor Snape has given out more than one point to a Hufflepuff." He said and Percy blinked.

"What?"

Cedric repeated himself, "-the twins told me that. They've gone off to tell their brother."

"But we have study hall?"

Cedric shrugged and started walking, Percy walked alongside him. "You should show me where you learned about those potions."

"A book?"

Cedric nodded and smiled, "Right." The two walked up out of the dungeons and on the magical stairs, they then passed many paintings and made funny faces at them. Some did them back and others rolled their eyes. Percy and Cedric laughed as they walked into the great hall.

The two Hufflepuffs sat down and Percy started to read his books. Cedric looked over and frowned, "What language is that?" He asked.

Percy raised his eyebrow, "Greek." he answered, "It's easier to read in."

"So you were raised Greek but have an English accent?" Ced questioned.

The godling shrugged, "I wouldn't know what to tell you except it doesn't make sense to me either." Then a hatch opened and owls poured through the opening and dropped down packages and letters.

Cedric got mail and Percy got his. It was a package but he knows the smell as if it is yesterday. Blue cookies. He opened the package and put it in between Cedric and him. "Take some." He said.

Another owl flew down and dropped another package. He opened it immediately and a small protective case for glasses fell out, causing Cedric to look at him in confusion again. Along with a letter in English, 'Come by my office after you had your mother's cookies. -Professor Dumbledore'.

Cedric looked at him, "Do you know Dumbledore?" He asked quietly.

"Through family, I think." Percy said, "Maybe he wants to talk to me about-"

"-About your conditions? That's why you got the private room, right?" Cedric questioned and Percy nodded, technically it was the truth. He ate and set aside a few for Dumbledore.

—

Percy stared at the gargoyle. He blinked a few times and turned around his note, once again reading the instructions on how to get to his office. By another glance another few words were added.

The words were written down in greek, with bewilderment he said it out loud, in greek. "Medusa's snake?" He said in bewilderment.

Suddenly the gargoyle shifted and turned around, groaning as stones hit one another. As the gargoyle stopped moving, it revealed a turning staircase. Percy shrugged and took it as a sign to go up the staircase. Once up, he didn't even stop to look at the sheer absurdity that is called the headmasters office. "Dumbledore?" He called out and walked through a connected room.

"Albus in private is just alright, Perseus." A voice said, and Perseus turned around seeing him sitting in his chair besides a phoenix. He looked at the bird in wonder but quickly diverted his attention back to the matter at hand, "I've got some cookies left, Albus, would you want some?" He asked politely.

The old man smiled and nodded, "You're as polite as your mother. I'm glad you didn't get your uncle's attitude towards guests."

Percy chuckled and unwrapped the poorly wrapped package and set it out on the desk. The old man winked at Percy and with the wave of his hand, the cookies were warm. "As you know, you're only allowed here under some conditions, due to the safety of everyone here." Dumbledore said and Percy felt guilty.

"As a demigod, you must know how to fight." He said, "I've scheduled some training sessions for you in the Forbidden Forest with some friends of mine." Percy nodded, "I've also found a room where you can practise." The man said and Percy cocked his head in interest.

"Down by the kitchens there is another door, locked but is able to be unlocked by a password. It was used by many other demigods or legacies before you." Albus said and gave Percy a paper. "These are instructions where, how to use the room and such. Do not lose this, memorise the password and hand it inside somewhere."

Percy smiled, "Thank you, sir."

"You will be dismissed from flying to protect your safety from being blown out of the sky." The man said amused, "You do know that, do you?"

Percy gave the man a sombre smile and nodded, "No flying unless it is on horses." He rubbed the back of his neck "With whom will I be training in the Forbidden Forest?"

"Old friends of mine, you'll see." Albus said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Percy held up the glasses, "What are they for, sir?" He asked.

"For your dyslexia." The man said, "Wizards have created glasses like these a long time ago. While many don't have dyslexia, a few do have them."

The weak frame was made of a thin grey metal and it was more rectangular shaped. "Go ahead and try to read this" Albus said and handed over a worn out book.

The words stopped swimming around and Percy read it out loud without any stammering, he smiled proudly. "They're weak but easily fixable with one spell." Dumbledore said.

"Reparo, right?" Percy questioned.

"Correct, young man." They stood up and walked over to the door, "You are to report yourself this evening by Hagrid's hut. He'll know what to do." The two exchanged a few more words about his trainer, still hiding his identity. Percy nodded and walked down the rotating stairs. His glasses hanging onto his Hufflepuff sweater.

—

That evening he reported himself by Hagrid's hut, just like Albus told him to do. The man laughed when Percy had asked if he was going to be there as well. Then he said something about his brittle bones not being able to handle a lot anymore.

"You're going to meet up with a very old friend of professor Dumbdore." Hagrid said as he prepared his lantern. "While I was told of your nature, I did not expect for so many things to happen for you! But now you have private lessons with Firenze! That doesn't happen often!" The half-giant said. "Talking and seeing Firenze in general doesn't happen often. I'm surprised he even agreed."

Percy shrugged, "Firenze?" He asked as he watched Hagrid proudly hold up his lamp, not saying any information about the hidden person.

"Say, kid, 'yer a son of the sea. Think you can help me with the living beings in the lake here? Sometimes I have trouble caring for the kraken."

"Archie?" Percy questioned

"Did he actually tell you his name!" Hagrid said enthusiastically.

"Well, he's actually a Giant Squid." Percy corrected him.

He raised a bushy eyebrow, "Oh really now?" The giant nodded and laughed. "Oh that's good!"

"He did." Percy admitted and stood up, "Why is the Dark Forest forbidden for everyone but me?"

"Because you'd be safe and protected in the forest." Hagrid said. "And it's Jus' for 'yer trainin'." Hagrid answered and opened the door. The two mindlessly talked about animals that live in the Great Lake. Perseus did not know about the merpeople or the grindylows. But he is excited to meet them all, he is also excited since it can present a moment to train underwater.

Percy wouldn't be able to describe the dark forest, even if he tried. Something about the way that everything can change at an instant is definitely helping his ADHD. He liked it, while it is a bit eerie, he can't help but like weird things.

Eventually Hagrid stopped and put down his lantern by an open patch of land. Then he heard galloping. Perseus kept turning on the spot to see where it came from, he jumped when an arrow struck the ground by his feet. He looked up at the figure with the boy.

The man was tall, "My name is Firenze, I'll train you." Percy looked at him from up his head and down to his hooves. Percy blinked and gave the centaur a slight bow, he was unsure of what he was supposed to do. "Why are you bowing, child?"

"It is a respectful gesture. Albus gave me an earful about it." Percy rambled, in a nervous manner.

"You do not know a lot about the Greek world, boy." Firenze shook his head, "I guess that Dumbledore wanted to amuse me."

"Are you?" He blurted out the question and pursed his lips. "It's nice to meet you."

"I don't know whether it is nice to meet you or not, yet." The centaur said. "My species don't like humans." He explained.

Percy deflated, he was hoping that Albus didn't have to struggle so that he could be trained.

"But it has been centuries since we've considered training a demigod. We as a group shall train you." The galloping happened again, only this time it got louder. As if there were multiple. By the way that the centaur said, group. He definitely meant a group.

"Albus said that you have a sword already." Firenze crossed his arms. "Take it out and hold it."

Perseus pulled out his muggle pen and uncapped it, the sword sliding out and he held it perfectly. Firenze took his bow and whipped it at the sword. The sword stayed strong in his hands. "A natural." The centaur said and whipped his bow at the sword again. "Fine craftsmanship, do you know the smith?"

Percy shook his head, "What now?" He asked, he was excited about learning how to fight.

"Now you take a swing at me."

He did. The centaur held his ground but eventually, Percy was out of breath and let his sword fall at the next whip of Firenze's bow.

"Good." The centaur nodded, "We've got enough observation", he stomped the ground once and a few centaurs came out from between the trees. After many more drills and homework to learn how to disarm, Perseus was guided back to the dorms by Hagrid.

– –

Percy tapped the barrels and stepped through the tunnel and into the common room. It was rather empty with only a few older students. They acknowledged him with a few nods and he nodded back, accidentally walking into someone.

"Sorry." He apologised.

"What are you doing up so late, kid?" The girl asked.

Percy cringed, "I was-"

"Not looking for trouble, ey." The girl teased and winked, "Tonks." She introduced herself.

"Jackson," Percy now introduced himself.

The girl looked closely at him and grinned, "Oh I've been looking forward to adopting a first year." Her grin said enough. "Looking forward to seeing you around, kiddo!" She said and walked over to the other older students with bottles in her hands.

Percy frowned, confused at the interaction but shrugged, walking into the tunnel and he opened the door to his room. Argus immediately ran over to him and purred by his legs. The boy chuckled and picked the cat up, "Well hello." He said and smiled.

The godling petted the cat for a few minutes before walking over to his bathroom. He looked in the mirror and looked at his visible scar, the left side of his face had a scar that went down from under his jaw to his shoulder.

That one hurt the most when his uncle had healed it. He took off his shirt that definitely smelled horrible and looked at his arm, one more claw mark that will stay there permanently and one more on his forearm.

He cringed as he looked at the dark scars over his dark skin. They had yet to fade. 'They'll fade eventually', he assured himself.

Chapter Text

"One of a wizard's most rudimentary skills is levitation, the ability to make objects fly." Percy knows about this spell and has practised it many times before, he even had a competition with his uncle to see who makes the dishes the most clean with only using the spell. "Uh, do you all have your feathers?"

Percy felt his heart drop, one of the first few lessons to charms with professor Flitwick. He patted his whole body down to find if he had a spare one at him. He even tried ruffling his hair hoping that a leftover owl had left a feather in it.

Besides him, Cedric set his extra feather in front of him. He smiled and nodded at Percy, "Father said to bring extra on your first week."

"Thank you." He whispered.

The man hummed and continued, "Now, uh, don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practising, hmm? The swish and flick everyone."

Percy held his wand out and did it immediately. Cedric looked at him in awe and quickly followed, levitating his.

Flitwick clapped his hands in front of the class and congratulated them. Giving them five points to Hufflepuff.

Cedric turned to Percy, "Do you know how Hufflepuff hadn't won the house cup, in like. Years? What if we-"

Percy turned back to Cedric, "We can't do that on our own."

"We'll get the others." Cedric argued and they looked over their class. Some weren't doing so well. He looked outside the window into the courtyard where he saw some just laying around in their free time.

"This'll need an evolution." Percy said, "I don't know if we're the best people to help them."

—

"Oh, you've got ambition kid, you sure you're not a Slytherin?" Tonks said as she walked through the hallways, Percy followed right behind her with Cedric on his tail.

"Well, Cedric came with the idea and it just made me think as well." Percy said and jogged a little to walk in front of Tonks. "Don't you want your last years of Hogwarts to be in a house that brought home the first house cup in a while?"

Tonks grinned at him. "I see." She nodded, "I'll ask the others, what did you say again about the buddy system?" She asked.

They continued walking besides one another and Cedric took the lead, "The buddy system is just when an older student is paired up with a younger one. They just help each other out, like a personal study friend." He explained, "We'll hold your flashcards and you guys will help us with our first year study things."

"But you younger kids can't really help us." Tonks argued as she tapped the barrel. "What can you all offer us?"

Percy and Cedric looked at each other and they shrugged, "We don't, really. Younger students earn points easier if they've perfected spells or potions. We can bring in the house points."

Tonks stopped, "I'll talk to them, maybe have a designated group for a subject, instead." She offered and Percy beamed up at her.

"Yes!" He turned to Cedric, "It would be easier."

The older student clapped the two boy's back, "Didn't think I'd adopt two boys this year." She laughed out, "Good thinking, I'll bring you guys good news!" She said and waved at her friends.

"Thanks Tonks!" the two called out as the girl walked away from them. Percy walked over to the closest table and opened his book. Cedric quickly followed and did the same. At the end of their study period, a few others joined them.

Percy immediately helped when one asked if they could help him with the levitating spell. The older girl watched the two help their fellow students out and she nodded slowly. "This could work." She said and nudged her friends.

—

Every two weeks Percy would go down to Firenze in the forest. He liked the giant, he'd be there weekly, just talking about myths and such. Most of the time they're out by the water, Percy would be swimming and going down to talk with Archie.

Some day Cedric would join him down by Hagrid's hut.

On most days, they'd be in the common rooms studying. Percy never thought he'd study as much as he did now, but he really wanted to have that house cup.

Fred and George complained that he was always studying and every few times they'd drag him and Cedric out of the library to play some wizard chess or pull a prank. One time they let themselves be convinced that it was a funny prank.

Re-arranging all of the books in the library.

Cedric and Percy stayed back while the twins celebrated to help the librarian reorganise the books. They felt guilty and would rather like to help put things back. They didn't mind so much after the librarian isn't mad anymore and actually talked with them.

He loved to hear the stories that the man told him. It was rather entertaining.

Quickly, Halloween neared and Percy just had to play a few pranks on some people with the twins. Naturally, someone he could see as an older sister was his target. "And you're sure this would only make her look like a cat?" He asked as he weighed the potion in his hand.

"Positive." Fred said.

Percy hummed and rounded the corner. Walking to her usual hang out spot where she sat with her friends, with an open potions vial. He stuttered in his steps and 'fell' forward, getting the potion over her feet.

Tonks squinted at him and asked, "What do you think you're going?"

"I-" he saw no changes happening and he blinked a few times. "Well, getting back at you for the times you've pranked me." he admitted.

Tonks nodded and grinned, she cocked her head to the side, "Like this?" She asked and her face morphed into one of a cat, "Or like this?" Her face turned back normal and her mouth turned into a duck's beak.

Percy's jaw dropped, "You're a metamorphmagus?" He asked, the girl nodded.

"You know when Sprout sends you out on errands?" She grinned at him, "What kind of teacher would send you all the way to Hagrid's hut and back for some of Fang's drool?" She laughed as she looked at Percy's stunned face.

She let her face morph into Professor Sprout's face and Percy looked at her, "I'm going to have trust issues now." He declared and turned around. "Wait." He turned back to her, "Want to impersonate a teacher?"

"Oh, Perseus. I'd love to." Sprout's face morphed into one of Professor Snape. "Where are the Weasleys?" She said with a monotone voice.

Percy grinned and walked through the hallways, Tonks right on his step disguised as Professor Snape. The two Weasley's eyes widened as he rounded the corner with Snape. There was no point in running anymore as they saw that Snape had their eyes set on them.

"Oh bloody hell." George whispered and rubbed his eyes. 'Snape' walked over and took them roughly by their robes.

"What do you think you're doing?" He hissed and dragged them in direction of Mr. Filch's office.

"No sir!" Fred started, "We didn't mean anything by it sir!" George pleaded.

Percy bursted out laughing from behind them and Tonks started to laugh as well, her facade dropping and she turned back into herself. "Bloody hell Percy, if you didn't laugh I would've given them detention."

Fred and George looked at each other before grinning and staring at the two, "Oh it's on." Fred said and George nodded, "So on."

Tonks let go of them and raised her eyebrow, "We'll see." She hummed and turned around, pulling Percy with. She whispered, "We need a game plan and neutral ground. I will not get pranked by some first years."

—

When he saw the lake he immediately took his shoes off, they were expensive and for that he could get in trouble with messing them up. "Do you know where Archie hangs out?" Hagrid asked Percy. "When I feed him, he normally is just there, you know? But he hasn't been showing up!"

Percy gave him an amused look, "Food motivated." He laughed and he let himself emerge in the water. He acknowledged that it was freezing cold at first, but then it got pleasant and nice. The water looked blurry at first but it cleared up really fast, then he realised that he was breathing underwater.

He knew that it would be funny if the son of Poseidon drowned.

He swam and looked around in wonder. The seaweed was hanging and there were only a few pieces of coral. All blanched though, so they're dead. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw something fast swim around, then a small merpeople swam up to him with a mini trident.

He held his hands out, meaning that he did not want to quarrel with the merpeople. "Do you know where Archie is, the giant squid?"

The merperson lowered their trident and leant over, Percy believes that it might be trying to bow. The merperson, however, did not say anything. Instead it swam off. Perseus decided to follow the lake inhabitant as best as he could.

He propelled himself underwater with somewhat of a cannon, the most creative thing he could think of. Eventually they end up at a small cave, he knocks at the entrance and pushes himself in. "Archie, are you okay,"

"Little lord?"

"My friends call me Percy." He said, "Where are you?"

Suddenly from all the way in the back, tentacles shot out and the other arms, revealing the squid. "Why haven't you been eating? You've got Hagrid and I, a bit concerned." He said.

"It's the food."

"You've grown tired of the food?"

"It's always stale bread, why never fish? The fish here are hunted by merpeople and such. I can't eat them! Otherwise they'll eat me."

"No-one is eating you, Archie. How about we get you some fish? If Hagrid or I feed you fish, the merpeople can't get mad at you."

The squid moved, Percy thought that Archie was nodding. "So we cleared that up, do you need something else?"

"Nothing more! Little lord! Thank you!"

Percy smiled and waved, "Until next time, Archie." He said and swam right up, when he looked around, he noticed that he was near the middle of the lake. He took a deep breath before swimming over to the faint figure of Hagrid.

He was a bit out of breath when he got back on land, "He just needs to be fed fish, not bread." He then added, "I do not know how he could know if it was stale or not."

Hagrid laughed, "Sounds like Archie, we'll feed him fishies from now on!"

Perseus laughed and sat down by the tree. He got out squeaky dry and walked with Hagrid to his hut. "Can I have some tea?" He asked.

"Perseus!" Hagrid said as he took a bucket off of the rack, "You've come here enough that you can set your own tea, feel free."

Percy smiled and nodded, walking over to the fire and put the kettle over it. He hadn't had the skills yet to warm the water up from his own powers. He likes spending time with Hagrid, the giant was a fun man to hang out with.

Chapter Text

He went home for Christmas only to see that they were moving, "Mum?" He called out, confused. His uncle walked through the house after he had picked him up. "Uncle Moody, why are we moving?" He asked.

"Well, it's dangerous for demigods to live in big cities." Moody said and walked through the living room, "There have been a few more sightings of monsters, and I'd rather be safe than sorry." He explained.

"When are we leaving for camp?" He asked.

Moody shook his head, "No camp yet, just New York." The man said, "I only know a few aurors there. No-one I can trust to look after my boy yet."

Sally walked through the door with a suitcase, "The stuff will be moved by Moody and then we go to New York." She said with a box in her hand. "That should be everything, uncle."

Moody smiled and pulled his wand out, waving it around in a circle and all the boxes were stacked together and suddenly shrunk. Percy's jaw dropped, "You should teach me that one." he said in awe.

"You'll learn it next year, kid." Moody grinned.

"That's even better, teach me now!" He said excitedly. "We're working on getting the house cup this year with nearly everyone."

"Hardworking badgers." Mood snorted, "That sounds right. Why should I teach you the spell early?"

"Because it'd give Hufflepuff points." He argued.

Moody grinned at his nephew. "I like the way you think, kid."

Sally cleared her throat, "Let's go?"

—

The house where they lived was something Sally had always wanted, a big white house with blue shutters. Two rooms overlooked the fields where Sally could sit and write. A porch wrapped around the house where she can drink tea and watch the sunset.

"How did you find this place?" She asked, her jaw on the ground.

"Well it was worn down a bit, I had a bit of help fixing it up." Alastor said as he limped through the door. Percy followed closely behind and looked around in awe. "Magic really helped a lot." He chuckled.

"What address is this?" Percy asked as he looked over the field and to another house, "Is this a wizard neighbourhood?" He asked as he looked at the several stories high house, four or five chimneys were perched on the red roof. His eyes then looked at the other house in the vicinity.

The other house looked like a giant rook. Percy wanted to grow huge and just play huge wizard chess with it. When his uncle told him the address, Percy's eyes widened, "The Weasley's live there!" he exclaimed and looked at the somehow standing house. "Fred and George gave me their address."

He then looked at the house in the far distance, "That must be where Cedric lives!" He said excitedly. Oh he lived near all of his friends now, that was great. "Do you think we could-"

"No time!" Moody exclaimed and dropped a bucket on the ground, holding his suitcase in his hands. "Hold on to your bags and me.

Percy looked at the bucket and back up at his uncle, "Is that a-"

"A port key. Good eye, kid." Moody said and nodded. "The house will be safe, a lot of runes and my old man is the secret keeper. No-one will find it unless we let them." He said and Percy grabbed his bag closer to him.

"I think we've still got that place in New York." Sally said, "The one mom had auctioned for."

"Did Estelle get it?" Moody raised his eyebrow and grinned, "Even better, now I don't have to find some secret hotel." He said and cleared his throat, "This will be unpleasant, just to let you all know."

—

He looked around the huge city in awe, the boards were moving and he accidentally walked into a big girl. "Watch it." She scowled. "Never seen New York or what?" She asked.

"Actually no."

"Oh god, it's a tourist!" She exclaimed and a blonde boy pulled her by her arm into the Empire State Building. "Fuck the english!" She shouted before the doors closed. A slim girl with black hair and chocolate brown eyes leaned in front of Percy.

"So sorry for Clarisse." She apologised and winked at him, "You're a cute english." She said before walking after the two into the building.

Percy blinked and looked at his uncle, "Are Americans always so rude or flirty?" He asked.

Moody in his disguise snorted, "Only if you walk into them kid." He said and Sally looked around. "I personally think that there is no in between."

"I missed it here." She said and took in the smell of gasoline. "Let's go." She said and started walking. Percy pushed through the crowd to keep up with the two adults. Eventually they end up at a big apartment building, it looked a bit worn but looked nice nonetheless.

"I keep forgetting that we're loaded." He said. Moody snorted.

"Hunting bounties gets you money, our family expertise is hunting bounties." Moody snorted, "Some aurors take it up as side jobs."

"Do you?"

He stepped into the apartment, "Does it look like I need to?" He questioned.

– – –

Their time spent in New York was nice, especially when they visited the MACUSA. It was a lovely building and Percy enjoyed seeing how different the magical fashion as from the British fashion.

He watched a Quidpod match with his family but realised that he didn't enjoy it as much as he enjoyed Quidditch.

The favourite thing he visited was the zoo, in the back there was a hidden place. It revealed a place with different habitats. It was the best place he has seen so far. He really enjoyed the Grindylow habitat.

The tour guide said that the place is a direct copy of Newt Scamander's suitcase without his headquarters and the original beasts.

—

When they got back to the U.K. Percy had bought souvenirs for everyone. A few American treats and two mug stating 'I3 NY' for the twins. He bought an animated spider, an Acromantula, that the zoo selled, it could be activated by the flick of the wand.

For himself he bought a dragon, a Hungarian horntail that was animated as well. The spell really fascinated Percy and he'd watch the dragon spew out real fire. He burned himself once or twice but that's fine, he'd just put his finger in a mug of water.

His thought once strayed to the girl who winked at him outside of the building. He frowned as he thought about the bigger girl, Clarisse.

"Gods, Americans are so rude."

He had a few dinners at the burrow with the Weasley's and got to know everyone. He liked the enthusiasm the father had about muggle things, he thought Ron was funny. Mostly because the boy was grumbling about not going to Hogwarts yet.

Ginny, their little sister. Was a shy one, she'd hide behind the couch or the curtains which wasn't effective.

He also had dinner with the Diggory's once. Everyone's family was so lovely.

—

Everyone returned to the school. He had missed everyone. Quickly he fell back into his routine. The next mail day, Tonks got some of Perseus' cookies to say thank you for helping him.

The prank wars quickly started to involve whole houses, Ravenclaws hid behind statues when they saw Hufflepluffs and Gryffindors nearing each other. Slytherins decided to walk in groups, that way they had eyes behind their heads.

Time passed and Perseus was getting stomach cramps, in response to the exams that they were gonna get. Eventually the snow melted and flowers were growing, spring came and winter passed.

Before he knew it exams were in front of him and the end of the year happened. They all sat in the great hall as they listened to Dumbledore announce the house cup winner. "In this moment I stand before you with pride and joy as we celebrate Hufflepuff's triumph in winning the House Cup!" The yellow table shot up in celebration. "Your dedication, loyalty, and unwavering spirit have propelled you to greatness. Let this victory be a testament to the power of unity and the strength of your Hufflepuff values. Congratulations, my dear Hufflepuffs! You have made us all proud." Dumbeldore announced.

Percy jumped around with an arm over Cedric's shoulder and looked over at the Gryffindor house with his tongue out. Fred and George rolled their eyes at him.

Chapter Text

After the final exams, Percy feels like he could breathe again. He immediately loosened his tie and took his glasses off. “Which way are you headed, Percy?”

“Towards Hagrid, I’m going to feed Archie.”

“You’re going to feed the squid again?” Cedric asked. 

Percy nodded, “Wanted to do one last thing before I go back home.” He shrugged. 

“I liked the exams, they were quite nice.” Cedric said as he fell into step with him.

Percy, nodded in agreement. “I’m doing much better at a magical school rather than a muggle one. Although I felt quite stressed.”

Cedric looked at him, confused. “You went to a muggle school?” He questioned. 

“Mom is a squib, it took my uncle to find out that I was a wizard.” He snorted.

“I’ve always thought you went to a magical school.” Cedric admitted. “You really have a weird bond with the squid.” He noted. 

“I know.” Percy grinned. 

——

They sat at the dinner table with the Weasley twins and Cedric. He had invited them out for dinner at his house. It was weird seeing them in their everyday clothes rather than their robes. 

“So you’re going to America?” Fred asked, “Again?” George added. 

“For a summer camp.” Percy said and smiled, “I’m looking forward to it.” He definitely looked forward to fighting with actual people with powers, while centaurs are great, Percy’s back is hurting from looking up all the time.   

“Bring me a souvenir that doesn’t scare me, please.” Cedric chuckled as he stuffed his mouth with Sally’s cooking. 

Sally laughed, “I tried to convince him to get something normal but I suppose that doesn’t fit his vocabulary.” The three boys laughed as well. 

“That’s a shame.” Fred said, “I wanted to show you the girl by the paper shop.” George nodded, “She’s a beauty, Percy. Real shame you had to miss it.”

Fred turned to Cedric instead, “You want to go instead of Percy?”

Percy snorted and Cedric shrugged, not saying no. “You dogs!” Percy chuckled. Sally quickly excused herself from the table, stating that she was going to go over to Molly. “Who wants to see muggle tapes?” He questioned and they all stood up. 

“You’ve got muggle movies?” George asked, “Do you have Titanic?” Fred continued, “I heard that there was a woman who le-”

Percy shook his head, “I don’t have titanic.” 

— —

Moody felt reluctant about letting Perseus go to his summer camp. “You better not use your wand too much.” Moody said as he prepared the fireplace. “My pal in America says that their students have to leave their wands at school. But I’m assuming that it is different for a Brit.”

Perseus nodded and held his duffel bag in his hand. Paired with his usual leather shoulder bag. His mom suddenly stood in front of him. “Do you have everything?” She asked. “Your glasses?”

“Yes, but why should I read at camp?” He questioned, ignoring the weight of his new potions book that he put in his bag. Some light reading wouldn’t be bad. 

“Your wand holster.”

Perseus patted it, no way that he was going anywhere without it.

“Remember what not to do?”

“Never fly on a broom.”

His mother nodded, proudly. 

Perseus turned his head towards his uncle, “Are you sure you’re not allowed to put an extension charm on my bag?” He asked, giving him the puppy eyes. 

His uncle rolled his eyes and shook his head, “Very strict rules. It can cause a breach in the International Statute of Wizarding.”

Perseus raised his eyebrows and looked at him, “I don’t even know what that means.” After a few more seconds of staring, the boy shrugged. “We’re leaving.” He said as he looked at the clock. 

Moody looked at his remaining family members. “Be safe.” He said. 

Percy smiled and nodded, “Always, uncle.” he said and stepped into the fire. “The camp has a direct Floo-Powder network right?”

His uncle nodded, “From what your mother said is that there are quite a bunch of wizards going there as well.” Percy stepped into the empty fireplace and smiled at his family.

“Camp Half-Blood!” he exclaimed and he disappeared in green flames. Sally turned to her uncle. 

“I’m just hoping he won’t destroy the camp.” She sighed out and Moody laughed. 

“Don’t jinx it dear.” He said and nodded at her, “I’ve got to go to work now.” Sally nodded and watched her uncle disappear with a crack. She sighed and walked over to the wine cabinet and pursed her lips. 

“I should do some volunteering or something.”

—

Percy coughed as he walked out of a dusty basement, he patted the dust off of his t-shirt. He walked through what seemed like a farmhouse. He walked out of the front door and looked at the two men playing cards. 

“Ah, you must be Perseus.” The guy in the wheelchair said and looked at the duffel bag. “You’ve come quite prepared I see. Is the fireplace working properly?” He asked and motioned to come sit down. 

“I don’t see any problems with it sir.” He said politely and looked over at the cards. The bag discarded at his feet. 

“Your mother told me that you know of your heritage already.” The man said, “And that you’ve been trained.”

“By a group of centaurs, sir. Firenze.” 

The man in the wheelchair hummed, “The ones associated with magic are quite different from the ones associated with the gods.”

The man in the tiger print snorted. 

“While we know of your heritage, we can’t let you sleep in his cabin until he claims you.” Percy frowned; he didn't really understand the terms they were using, but that is just the way it is. He nodded and looked beside him. 

“You called for me, Chiron?” She asked. Percy was surprised and blinked when he realised that was the girl who had winked at him when he visited New York for the Christmas holiday. She turned to look at Percy and seemed to have a similar reaction with her widened eyes. 

“Yes, could you show the new camper around?” He asked. 

Percy stood up and held his hand out, “Percy Jackson.” He introduced himself. 

“Silena Beauregard.” She cocked her head, “Percy stands for?”

“Perseus.” He answered and looked at her, wondering how she knew. She nodded at him and motioned for him to follow her. He nodded at the men at the table before picking up his bag and quickly following after her. 

They must’ve been on the north shore of Long Island, because on this side of the house, the valley marched all the way up to the water, which glittered about a mile in the distance. Between here and there, Perseus needed a minute to process everything. 

The landscape was dotted with buildings that looked like ancient Greek architecture, an open-air pavilion, an amphitheatre, a circular arena but well, except that they all looked brand new, their white marble columns sparkling in the sun. 

In a nearby sandpit, a dozen high school–age kids and satyrs played volleyball. Canoes glided across a small lake. Kids in bright orange T-shirts like Grover’s were chasing each other around a cluster of cabins nestled in the woods. Some shot targets at an archery range. Others rode horses down a wooded trail, some of them were pegasus’. 

“You’ll be put in Cabin Eleven.” Silena said.

“What is cabin eleven?”

“The cabin for the unclaimed.” 

They passed the volleyball pit. Several of the campers nudged each other. “New kid.” one whispered to another. 

He looked back at the farmhouse, and noticed that it was huge. Four stories, sky blue with a white trim. In a flash he saw something move. A shadow, he felt the hairs on his neck stand up once again, he was being watched. 

“What’s up there?” Perseus asked Silena. 

She looked where the wizard was pointing at, and his smile faded. “Just the attic.”

“Somebody lives there?”

“Don’t think so,” She shrugged, “Although Luke says that there is a skeleton there.”

“A skeleton?”

She looked a bit annoyed, “He didn’t tell me why when I asked.”

They walked through the strawberry fields, where campers were picking bushels of berries while a satyr played a tune on a reed pipe. “It pays for our expenses, strawberries take close to no effort.” She informed and walked past the fields. “And these are the woods.” She said and smiled at him. 

He smiled back almost immediately, “So what were you doing in the Empire State building?” Percy asked as they walked in the direction of the forest. 

“We were visiting Olympus.” She said casually and smiled sheepishly as she put her hands behind her back. “Sorry about Clarisse again, she can be a bit abrasive.”

“I wasn’t looking around either, it wasn’t her fault.”

“So, English?”

Percy smiled, “Yeah.”

As they got closer, Percy realised how huge the forest was. It took up at least a quarter of the valley, with trees so tall and thick, you could imagine nobody had been in there since the Native Americans.

“The woods are stocked, if you care to try your luck, but go armed.”

“Stocked with what?” He asked. “Armed with what?”

“You’ll see. Capture the flag on Friday night. Do you have your own sword and shield?”

“Yes.” He said and rubbed the back of his neck, “No need for a shield.”

Silena looked at him curiously. “You’ve already had training?” She asked. Percy nodded. After taking a look at the forest she continued walking back to the Cabins. “Do you want me to hold onto your bag?”

“Why?”

“Because Cabin 11 happens to also be the Hermes cabin.” And Percy nodded. “Yeah, you’ll be fine. Luke will look out for you.” They stopped by the bathrooms and passed the bigger girl that he recognized. 

She also recognized him, “English.” She cocked her head, “You’re a demigod?” She questioned, “You didn’t look special at all, except for your old fashioned clothes.”

Silena rolled her eyes, “Be nice, he’s new.”

“Don’t care, you know our initiation.” She grinned like a menace and walked closer to him. Percy cocked his head at her and frowned. 

“I knew that Americans were rude.” He sighed and dropped his duffle bag on the ground. With a tug in his stomach he had water from a nearby puddle slowly come over the ground to Clarisse. He was not getting his head put in a toilet. It looked like she wasn’t going to back down. 

But then he remembered something Albus had said, to not reveal your biggest advantage at the first turn. He stopped attracting the water and instead decided to go face to face with the daughter of Ares. Instead when she threw a punch, Perseus swiftly avoided it. Before he knew it, he laid down on the ground. He rolled to the side and stood up, avoiding the kick that could’ve potentially knocked him out right there on the ground. “C’mon, English .” Clarisse sneered. 

Perseus just holds his hands up in a defensive manner, he knew that he wouldn’t win. The girl was followed by her brothers and not to forget she is a daughter of Ares, Ares, the literal war of god. 

“Hope you’re better at war than fighting.” Perseus blurted out and before he knew he had to duck to avoid another punch. This punch was sloppy, and less accurate than her last one. Oh, she was angry. 

She bellowed in a sound that Perseus could not describe. He grabbed her wrist as the punch was thrown and he pushed her onto the ground. “Can you not?” He said.

The girl looked up glaring but it turned into an evil smile, “You’re decent, English.”

“You’re good as well…” He wasn’t really sure if that was her name

“Clarisse.” Silena said from the side. 

“Clarisse.” He said and held his hand out. 

She slapped his hand away and shook her head, “Not there yet, England.” 

‘England’ is a nickname he never had before, probably because he was from the UK. Where everyone can be ‘English’. She walked off after giving him a nod, Silena turned to him, slightly in disbelief. “Did you just get the nod of approval?”

“I think?” Percy questioned his own sanity, “I did get a punch of approval as well.” He joked. Silena laughed and shook her head. 

“I’ve worked years for my nod of approval.” She complained payfully. Percy looked to the side to see a blonde staring at him. He raised his eyebrow at her. 

The blonde just shook her head and walked away. 

Word of the fight spread immediately. Wherever he went, campers pointed at me and murmured something about approval. Clarisse didn’t sneer at him when he walked past her cabin anymore.

Silena showed him a few more places: the metal shop, kids are actually forging swords which should be a safety risk. The arts-and-crafts room, and the climbing wall, which actually consisted of two facing walls that shook violently, dropped boulders, sprayed lava, and clashed together if you didn’t get to the top fast enough. Now that is a safety risk.

Finally they returned to the canoeing lake, where the trail led back to the cabins. “I’ve got training to do,” Silena said. “Dinner’s at seven-thirty. Just follow your cabin to the mess hall.” She then disappeared after another wave.

He stood outside of the cabin where he was supposed to sleep, the same blonde as before stood next to him. “You need to talk to the Oracle,” She said. 

“Who?”

“Not who. What. The Oracle. I’ll ask Chiron.” 

He stared into the lake, wishing somebody would give him a straight answer for once. He had never talked with his father, but by the way the man left him a sword and a whole vault. He knew he cared. He waved back at the naiads. “Stop flirting with the naiads.”

Perseus looked at her with a weird look on his face, “I wasn’t flirting, I just waved.”

The girl gave him a pointed stare, “You might not, but they are.” 

“Who’re you again?” He asked politely. 

“Annabeth Chase.”

“Nice to meet you.” 

“You as well.” The conversation fell silent and the smell of barbecue came from somewhere nearby. He then turned around and walked into the cabin, everybody was talking and horsing around, waiting for dinner. 

For the first time, he noticed that a lot of the campers had similar features: sharp noses, upturned eyebrows, mischievous smiles. They were the kind of kids that teachers would peg as troublemakers. Thankfully, nobody paid much attention to him as he walked over to an open spot on the floor and cringed. 

The counsellor, Luke, came over. He had the Hermes family resemblance, too. It was marred by that scar on his right cheek, but his smile was intact. “First of all, welcome.” He said with his hands full of items. “It looks like you came prepared. Did you miss anything?”

Percy shook his head, “I suppose a sleeping bag.” He admitted. The older boy put it down in front of him. 

“There you go.”

“Thanks, Luke.”

“No prob.” Luke pushed his back against the wall and sat next to the new guy. “How was your day here?”

Percy shrugged a bit, “I already fought someone if that is normal here.”

Luke laughed and nodded, “I heard about that, I also heard about the nod of approval.”

“Seems like everyone heard about it.” He chuckled. 

“That’s how some of us started. Did you know about the Gods before coming here?” Luke asked.

Perseus nodded, “Something in me still can’t quite believe it.”

“That’s how we all started. Once you start believing in them? It doesn’t get any easier.” The bitterness in his voice surprised him, because Luke seemed pretty easy going. He looked like he could handle just about anything. 

“So your dad is Hermes?” He asked. With a switchblade, Luke scraped the mud off of his sandal.

“Yeah. Hermes. Messengers. Medicine. Travellers, merchants, thieves. Anybody who uses the roads. That’s why you’re here, enjoying cabin eleven’s hospitality. Hermes isn’t picky about who he sponsors.” He figured Luke didn’t mean to call him a nobody. He just had a lot on his mind. 

“You ever met your dad?” Percy eventually asked.

“Once.” He said and Percy waited, thinking that if he wanted to tell him, he’d tell him. Apparently, he didn’t. 

He wondered if the story had anything to do with how he got his scar. Luke looked up and managed a smile. “Don’t worry about it, Percy. The campers here, they’re mostly good people. After all, we’re extended family, right? We take care of each other.” He seemed to understand how lost that the wizard felt, and Perseus was grateful for that, because an older guy like him, even if he was a counsellor, would’ve steered clear of a newbie. 

But Luke had welcomed him into the cabin. He even stole a handful of items for him. Perseus decided to ask him his last big question, the one that had been bothering me all afternoon. “Annabeth said that I should talk to the oracle.”

Luke folded his knife. “I hate prophecies.” 

“What do you mean?” 

His face twitched around the scar. “Let’s just say I messed things up for everybody else. My quest didn’t go all that well. But Annabeth’s been dying to get out into the world, he said that she had a future that would be tragic.” Luke shook his head, “I don’t think anyone would want to know that.”

Percy smiled sadly.

“Don’t worry about it, kid,” Luke said. “Come on, it’s time for dinner.” The moment he said it, a horn blew in the distance. Somehow, he knew it was a conch shell, even though he’d never heard one before. Luke yelled, “Eleven, fall in!”

They all walked to the pavilion and there were maybe a hundred campers, a few dozen satyrs, and a dozen wood nymphs and naiads. Torches blazed around the marble columns. A central fire burned in a bronze brazier the size of a bathtub. Each cabin had its own table, covered in white cloth trimmed in purple. 

Four of the tables were empty, but cabin eleven’s was way overcrowded. Percy had to squeeze himself onto the edge of a bench with half his buttocks hanging off. 

Annabeth sat at table six with a bunch of serious-looking athletic kids, all with her grey eyes and honey-blond hair. Clarisse sat behind him at Ares’s table. She’d apparently gotten over their little scrap, because she was laughing and belching right alongside her siblings. 

Finally, Chiron pounded his hoof against the marble floor of the pavilion, and everybody fell silent. He raised a glass. “To the gods!” Everybody else raised their glasses. “To the gods!” 

Wood nymphs came forward with platters of food. His glass was empty and he wondered if it was just like it at Hogwarts. “Water.” He said.

The glass is filled with cold water.

“Here you go, Percy,” Luke said, handing me a platter of smoked brisket. He loaded his plate and was about to take a big bite when he noticed everybody getting up, carrying their plates toward the fire in the centre of the pavilion. 

He saw everyone scraping some of their food into the fire, Percy silently followed Luke, the older camper murmured in his ear, “Burnt offerings for the gods. They like the smell.”

This was something Albus hadn’t told him, “The smell? Seriously?” He was surprised.

“Gods, do all Brits sound so dramatic?” Luke joked but his look warned me not to take this lightly. Percy chuckled and just accepted it for what it was.

Luke approached the fire, bowed his head, and tossed in a cluster of fat red grapes. “Hermes.” He muttered.

Perseus was next. He wished he knew what god’s name to say. Finally, he made a silent plea. ‘ Poseidon and Hermes, thank you for your hospitality .’ He scraped the big slice of brisket into the flames. 

When he caught a whiff of the smoke, he was pleasantly surprised by the smell. It smelled nothing like burning food. He smelled the brisket that he dropped in.

Eventually, the tiger print guy  got up with a huge sigh. “Hello brats. Our activities director, Chiron. Says that Capture the Flag is Friday. Cabin Five holds the crown.” A bunch of cheering rose from the Ares table. “Personally, I couldn’t care less, but congratulations. Also, I should tell you that we have a new camper today. Peter Johnson.” 

Chiron murmured something. 

“Er, Percy Jackson,” The man corrected himself. “That’s right. Hurrah, and all that. Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on.” 

The next few days they were going to play capture the flag. He mostly followed what everyone was doing. Sometimes Annabeth would walk over and engage in small talk with him.

He had his Defence Against the Dark Arts book out on his lap, “You don’t look like the type to study.” Annabeth stated as she looked over at him. 

“I like to be prepared so we’re winning the house cup again.”

“Is that a British thing?” She asked. 

Percy shrugged, “I suppose it’s a thing only our school has. Some kind of reward system.” He said.

“Don’t you get frustrated?” She looked at his books closely. “This is plain english."

He fished the glasses out of his bag and handed it over to Annabeth before randomly grabbing a book. “Put them on, and read.” He said, Annabeth took it and put them on. He had to hold back a snort at how dorky she looked. She gave him a glare but read it anyway. 

“What kind of book is it?

“Monster book.” He said. “Have you seen Silena?” He questioned. 

Annabeth shook her head. “I haven’t.” She said and handed the glasses to him. “She might just be at the Aphrodite cabin, you know, where she lives.” Percy stood up and dusted off his pants. 

He pulled his bag over his shoulder and walked alongside Annabeth until she parted and left to go get something out of her cabin. He stepped up to their door and knocked. A girl opened the door, she was Asian and her dark hair was curled. “What do you want?” She asked and squinted at him. 

“Is Silena there?” He asked awkwardly, not having a single clue who the girl was. 

The girl rudely rolled her eyes, “Leave the love notes in the mailbox.” She started to close the door and Percy quickly put his foot between.

“I don’t have a love note.” 

“What else do you want then? Sing her a song?” The girl was brutal. He cringed. 

“None of that, can I just speak with her?” He argued. 

The daughter of Aphrodite rolled her eyes and opened the door again, “Silena, someone’s here for you.” She called out lazily and walked away. He heard the girl yell that she’d come in a second. 

She looked gorgeous as always. He smiled sheepishly, “I caught someone trying to steal my bag this morning.” He held it out for her, “Do you think you could?”

“Keep it at my cabin?” she raised an eyebrow and nodded, “Sure.” She accepted the bag and her hand shot down a bit. “Gods what do you have in here?” She questioned. 

Percy shrugged. “Some books and enough clothes.”

“Too bad that there is a dress code, huh.” Silena teased and Percy chuckled. “I’ll stash it. Sorry for Drew.”

Percy shrugged, “I got what I came here for.” He smiled and Silena waved before she closed the door. 

For the rest of the day, the wizard would rotate through outdoor activities, looking for something that he was good at. Chiron tried to teach him archery, just like Firenze the centaur learnt that he wasn’t any good with a bow and arrow. But the immortal trainer didn’t complain, even when he had to desnag a stray arrow out of his tail. 

Foot racing? A mess. They told Percy not to worry about it. They’d had centuries of practice running away from lovesick gods. He felt bad for them.

And wrestling? Forget it. Every time he got on the mat, Clarisse took pleasure in pulverising him. He would hold up for a few rounds and then get beat into the mat. “You’re doing good for a newbie, England” she’d mumble after. They were on their way of becoming best friends, he’d bet.

The only thing he really excelled at was sword fighting. Some kids grumbled at seeing his sword while they only had the camp swords. Luke fought with him when Percy mentioned that he already had training. The two were on the same level, they kept clashing back and forth but eventually came to a stalemate.

After that particular spar, his name got spread around as a good fighter, but rather than his name, they called him ‘England’ . Everyone he had talked to called him that. Even an Ares kid that just sneered at him to get out of the way.

That day after lunch, there was a lot more excitement than usual. At last, it was time for capture the flag. When the plates were cleared away, the conch horn sounded and everyone all stood at their tables. Campers yelled and cheered as Annabeth and two of her siblings ran into the pavilion carrying a silk banner. It was about ten feet long, glistening grey, with a painting of a barn owl above an olive tree. 

From the opposite side of the pavilion, Clarisse and her buddies ran in with another banner, of identical size, but gaudy red, painted with a bloody spear and a boar’s head. Percy turned to Luke and yelled over the noise, “Those are the flags?” Luke nodded.

“Ares and Athena always lead the teams?” 

“Not always,” he said. 

“But often.” Perseus liked the difference between the two cabins. One is a child of war and the other is of war strategy. Sometimes brute force can overpower any strategy and sometimes the strength is accounted for and countered by strategy. 

Percy assumes it is an endless debate between the two cabins whenever they talk about war.

The teams were announced. Athena had made an alliance with Apollo and Hermes, the two biggest cabins. Ares had allied themselves with everybody else. 

Chiron hammered his hoof on the marble and explained the rules. Percy felt concerned, centaurs are good healers but still, the rules in place meant that the rule had to be made. Meaning that killing was an actual issue at one point. He felt his stomach clench and nervous energy run through him.

He found Annabeth but she seemed preoccupied. “I’m on creek duty?” He questioned. 

“I’ve only seen you fight once , don’t think I’m going to put you on the frontlines now.” She argued and Percy cringed but nodded eventually. “Then you’re all settled. Keep an eye out for Clarisse’s spear. She might want a friendly rematch.”

“It doesn’t sound friendly.” He said. 

“I’m just trying to comfort you.” Stormy grey eyes kept staring ahead and continued to. “Athena always has a plan.”

“I don’t!” He called after her but she disappeared. 

Before she disappeared, she called out. “This can be your chance, Percy. Impress him.” He realised he was by the creek and stayed there, near the bushes. Just so he has to be looked for to be found. In the distance he heard the conch horn blow. He heard whoops and yells in the woods, the clanking of metal, kids fighting. 

Kids here must be a different breed because he wasn’t looking forward to being targeted by Clarisse. But they must be whooping because they wouldn’t be on Clarisse’s end of the spear.

A canine growl, chills went up his spine and the hair on his body rose. He had discarded his shield a long time ago and held only his pen in his hand. The feeling of something stalking was eerie. He learnt to ignore it in a controlled environment, but this was everything but controlled.

Then the growling stopped. He felt the presence retreating. On the other side of the creek, the underbrush exploded. Five Ares warriors came yelling and screaming out of the dark. “Get English !” Clarisse screamed. 

Something about the way that Clarisse brandished a five-foot-long spear, its barbed metal tip flickering with red light. Her siblings had only the standard-issue bronze swords. They charged across the stream. Percy can stand his ground, it was his chance to impress. After all, first impressions are very important.

If he knew it would be like this, he’d wear a suit under all of the armour.

He sidestepped the first kid’s swing. In a circle, they surrounded him. Clariss thrust her spear at Percy. “You enjoying this?” He called out as he deflected it with Anaklusmos. His body tickled, stupid electric spear.

“Definitely!” She replied, a shit-eating grin on her face. 

The air burned, and he fell back. Another Ares guy slammed me in the chest with the butt of his sword and he hit the dirt. Percy felt a familiar tug in his stomach as he willed for the water to come towards him. 

While they were laughing, he got up to his feet and raised his sword. Two of them came at the young wizard, backed up to the creek. He was being toyed with by Clarisse’s siblings, a sword slashed across his arm, leaving a cut. 

His own blood made him a bit dizzy, warm but cold, all at the same time. He knew that ‘no maiming’ was a rule but he also knew that they didn’t care. Before he knew it, Percy was being pushed into the creek. 

He should really stop people from throwing him around, but they should stop throwing him off of his concentration. The pull in his stomach stopped as he landed with a splash. Energy coursed through him and his body stopped tingling. 

Deciding to stop playing around he hit the hilt of his sword against the first guy’s helmet, he crumpled into the water, knocked out. Then came the other two, one he slammed with his shoulder and the other he used his sword to hit the Ares’ childs shield.

Clarisse kept coming, the point of her spear mocking Perseus as it shone and cracked with energy. She was playing the long game. As soon as she thrust, he caught the shaft between the edge of his padded arm and riptide. Then, he proceeded to twist, snapping it like a twig.

She cussed, and he felt bad. Judging from the other’s swords, this was her personal weapon. Before she could attack and wrestle him down, he smacked her between the eyes with the butt of his sword that sent her stumbling out of the creek. 

Then he heard it, elated yelling and screams. Luke raced towards the boundary line, the opposition's banner, lifted high. 

She probably would’ve said worse, but Percy smacked her between the eyes with the butt of his sword and sent her stumbling backward out of the creek. Then he heard yelling, elated screams, and he saw Luke racing toward the boundary line with the red team’s banner lifted high.

“A trick!” Clarisse shouted. “It was a trick.” They staggered after Luke, but it was too late. Everybody converged on the creek as Luke ran across into friendly territory. 

Their side exploded into cheers. The red banner shimmered and turned to silver. The boar and spear were replaced with a huge caduceus, the symbol of cabin eleven. Everybody on the blue team picked up Luke and started carrying him around on their shoulders. 

Chiron cantered out from the woods and blew the conch horn. The game was over. They had won. He was about to join the celebration when Annabeth’s voice, right next to him in the creek, said, “Not bad, england.” He looked, but she wasn’t there.  “Where the heck did you learn to fight like that?” she asked. The air shimmered, and she materialised, holding a Yankees baseball cap as if she’d just taken it off her head.

“At school.”

“They teach you magic and fighting?” Annabeth questioned, it looked as if she was a bit jealous. 

Percy shook his head, “He knows I’m a special case.” 

Before she could ask more questions, he heard that canine growl again, but much closer than before. By the guarded look on Annebeth’s face, she did as well. A howl ripped through the forest. The cheering died, and the campers with bows stood tense, holding the string back as Chiron barked out orders.

Annabeth drew her sword. 

There on the rocks just above the two was a black hound the size of a rhino, with lava-red eyes and fangs like daggers. It was looking straight at Percy. 

Nobody moved except Annabeth, who yelled, “Percy, run!” She tried to step in front of me, but the hound was too fast. Leaping over her and it just hit him. He stumbled backward and felt its razor-sharp claws ripping through his armour, there was a cascade of thwacking sounds, like forty pieces of paper being ripped one after the other. From the hound’s neck sprouted a cluster of arrows and he thrusted his sword into the mouth. The monster fell dead at his feet before disappearing into dust. 

His fate was that he still lived, not wanting to look underneath his now shredded armour. His chest felt warm and wet, he assumed that it was all of the blood. Another second and his fate would’ve been different. 

“Di immortales!” Annabeth said. “That’s a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They don’t…they’re not supposed to…” 

“Someone summoned it,” Chiron said. “Someone inside the camp.” 

Luke came over, the banner in his hand forgotten, his moment of glory gone. An Ares kid yelled, “It’s all Percy’s fault! He summoned it!” 

“Be quiet, child,” Chiron told him. The body of the monster melted into a shadow, soaking into the ground. 

“You’re wounded,” Annabeth told me.

“Get in the water, child.” Chiron stated. 

“I’m okay.” He shook his head. He knew that he should get in the water, but really. It isn’t that bad.

“No, you’re not,” Silena stepped out from the tree line. Clarisse shook her head as well and slowly cornered him back into the creek again.  “Chiron, watch this.” He was too tired to argue, grudgingly he stepped back into the creek, the whole camp gathering around him. 

Instantly, he felt better. He could feel the cuts on his chest closing up. Some of the campers gasped, but they weren’t watching his wounds heal. They were staring at something above his head. 

“Percy,” Silena said, pointing.

By the time he looked up, the sign was already fading, but he could still make out the hologram of green light, spinning and gleaming. A three-tipped spear: a trident. 

“About time.” He said under his breath. 

“It is determined,” Chiron announced. All around him, campers started kneeling, even the Ares cabin, though they didn’t look happy about it. He knew who his father was but he still was completely bewildered. 

“Poseidon,” said Chiron. “Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God.”

Chapter Text

The very day, he was moved to cabin three. Silena congratulated him and gave him his bag back. The cabin was nice, he didn't have to share it with anybody. Enough room unlike the Hermes cabin. He got his own dinner table, chose all of his own activities and called a 'lights out' whenever he liked it and best of all, he didn't have to listen to anybody.

Nobody mentioned the hellhound, but he got the feeling they were all talking about it behind his back. The attack had scared everybody. It sent two messages. One, that he was the son of the Sea God, and two, monsters would stop at nothing to kill him. 

Percy had ruined the only place that they could call safe.

Campers steered clear of Perseus, Cabin eleven was nervous to have another sword class with him because of his fight with the Ares kids. He just trained with whoever wanted to.

He was glad that Clarisse was getting more fond of him, she was one of the only people that would really spar with him, they butted heads sometimes whenever they argue but most of the time Silena is there to mediate. 

Silena was knocking on his door and Percy was confused why. His bed hair must’ve been extreme and from what she could’ve seen of his room was that it was messy. The cringe on her face said enough and Percy felt a bit ashamed. 

“Does it pour badly here?” He asked and looked at the sky. The sky looked like ink soup coming to a boil. A hazy curtain of rain was coming in their direction. 

"It never rains here unless we want it to." Silena answered and followed his line of sight. 

Percy pointed at the storm. "What the bloody hell is that, then?"

She glanced at the sky. "It'll pass around us. Bad weather always does." She blinked and got out of her head, “Chiron and Mr. D is asking for you at the big house.”

Percy raised his eyebrows, “Do you happen to know why?” He asked. 

She shook her head, “I don’t.” Percy looked around and shrugged, walking out and closing the door behind him. Together they walked to the big farmhouse.

At the volleyball pit, the kids from Apollo's cabin were playing a morning game against the satyrs. Dionysus's twins were walking around in the strawberry fields, making the plants grow. Everybody was going about their normal business, but they looked tense. They kept their eyes on the storm, just waiting for the moment of impact.

The two walked up to the porch. Mr. D sat there in his tiger-striped shirt with the usual diet coke. Chiron sat across in his wheelchair. They were playing against invisible opponents, two sets of cards hovering in the air. 

Silena patted his shoulder and quickly turned around. 

"Well, well," Mr. D said without looking up. "Our little celebrity." Percy waited. "Come closer," Mr. D said. "And don't expect me to fawn to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father." 

A net of lightning flashed across the clouds. Thunder shook the windows of the house.

"Blah, blah, blah," Dionysus said. Chiron feigned interest in his pinochle cards. "If I had my way," Dionysus said, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp, to keep you little brats safe from harm."

"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D," Chiron put in.

"Nonsense," Dionysus said. "Boy wouldn't feel a thing. Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead, sending you back to your father."

"Mr. D-" Chiron warned.

"Oh, all right," Dionysus relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness." Dionysus rose, and the invisible players' cards dropped to the table. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do." Dionysus picked up a playing card, twisted it, and it became a plastic rectangle. A credit card? No. A security pass.

He snapped his fingers and disappeared leaving the smell of freshly pressed grapes behind. Then Chiron smiled at him, but the centaur looked tired and strained. "Sit, Percy, please.”

They did. Chiron laid his cards on the table, a winning hand he hadn't gotten to use. "Tell me, Percy," he said. "What did you make of the hellhound?" Just hearing the name made him uncomfortable. Chiron probably wanted for him to say, 'Heck, it was nothing. I eat hellhounds for breakfast .' But he didn't feel like lying.

"It scared me," He admitted. "If you hadn't shot it, I'd be dead."

"You'll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you're done."

"Done…with what?"

"Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?" He stared at Percy.

“Sir, it sounds like I don’t really have a choice here.”

Chiron grimaced. "Well, details." Thunder rumbled across the valley. The storm clouds had now reached the edge of the beach. As far as I could see, the sky and the sea were boiling together.

"Poseidon and Zeus," He mindlessly said. "They're fighting over something valuable.” He paused and put it all together, his dreams, everything, “Over something that was stolen, aren't they?"

Chiron sat forward in his wheelchair. "How did you know that?" Perseus' face felt hot. He wished he hadn't opened his big mouth.

"The weather since I have been here has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. I've also been having these dreams." He explained. 

"Only the Oracle can determine." Chiron stroked his bristly beard. "Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt."

He laughed nervously. "Oh shit.”

"Do not take this lightly," Chiron warned. "I'm not talking about some tinfoil-covered zigzag you'd see in a second-grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."

"Oh."

"Zeus's master bolt," Chiron said, getting worked up now. "The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."

After the short history lesson, Perseus asked "And it's missing?"

"Stolen," Chiron said.

"By who?"

"By whom," Chiron corrected. He could be a very good teacher. "By you."

My mouth fell open. "At least" Chiron held up a hand "that's what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods-" Chiron kept talking and Percy stared out in front of him. He's guessing that this is the best part of being a demigod, being accused of a theft he didn’t commit.

"But I'm just a kid." He said breathlessly. It started to rain.

Volleyball players stopped their game and stared in stunned silence at the sky. Percy had brought this storm to Half-Blood Hill. Zeus was punishing the whole camp because of him. Percy felt mad. 

"So I have to find the bolt," He said, slowly. "And return it to Zeus."

"What better peace offering," Chiron said, "Than to have the son of Poseidon return Zeus's property?"

He didn’t want to be in between whatever power play the two have but he had to. 

They talked about the oracle and Perseus stood up. He had to go four flights up and had to pull the cord of a green trapdoor. The door swung down and a ladder clattered into place. The warm air smelled like mildew and rotten wood. Reptiles, as well, especially snakes.

It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He held his breath and climbed. The room was filled with hero junk, stickers with places. A long table stacked with glass jars. A giant snake's head, but with horns and a full set of shark's teeth.

A mummy sat by the window, wearing a tie-dyed sundress, beaded necklaces over its collarbones and a headband with black hair. The skin on her face was thin, leathery over the skull. Eyes glassy white as if it was replaced by marbles.

Looking at it sent chills down his spine, that was before it sat up and opened her mouth. Mist poured out, over the floor in tendrils. A distinct sound of hissing, Percy looked back at the trapdoor but it was shut by some power. Inside his head, a voice spoke, 'I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask.'

He wanted to run, but he was stuck to the floor. Forcing himself to take a breath, not too deep, it was dusty up in the attic.

She wasn't alive, The presence didn't feel evil. It felt powerful, ancient but not human. He finally got the courage and asked. "What is my destiny?"

The mist swirled more thickly, suddenly it showed three people sitting at a table, Luke and three others he couldn’t identify, but knew that they were wizards by the clues that their clothes gave off. Luke turned towards him and spoke in the voice of the Oracle. " You shall go west, and face the god who has turned. " Then another spoke, " You shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned "  And another. " You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend ." The last but palest man. " And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end. "

Percy was stunned, but the mist started to retreat into a green serpent and slithered back into the mouth of the mummy. Giving a very big Slytherin vibe, he shuddered, god he hates snakes. 

It was funny how much he hated snakes, especially when he strangled one as a baby, just like Hercules.

Her mouth snapped closed and it was quiet again, abandoned, an empty room filled with memories.

His audience with the Oracle was over.

When he went down, he didn't tell them the whole story. If someone was going to betray him, he doesn't want them to know that he knows. They discussed what west was but ended up with talking about his Uncle, Hades.

They put it all together like a puzzle, the monsters all come from Hades. "Great," Percy muttered. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."

A strange fire burned in his stomach. The weirdest thing was, it wasn't fear. It was anticipation. Now he was trying to frame him and his dad for a theft we hadn't committed.

"You're saying I'm being used like some doll.” Percy said. 

"I'm saying it's no accident Poseidon has claimed you now. It's a very risky gamble, but he's in a desperate situation. He needs you."

His dad needs him.

"So let me get this straight," He said. "I'm supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead."

"Check," Chiron said.

"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."

"Check."

"And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days."

"That's about right." Percy let out a shaking breath. "I’m bloody fucked." After a pause, Percy knew what question to ask. "Where do I go? The Oracle only told me to go west."

“The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it's in America."

"Where?" 

Chiron looked surprised. "I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."

Perseus blinked, "Is there always such an irony?" He questioned and Chiron just nodded, looking amused. "So I’m going to the City of Fallen Angels, LA?" Chiron nodded once more. 

"First think about who you're going to bring. Two companions may accompany you.”

“Can I do this on my own?” He asked. The air shimmered behind Chiron. Annabeth became visible, stuffing her Yankees cap into her back pocket.

“You can’t!” She protested. 

Percy huffed in amusement, "Lovely morning, innit?"

"Shut it, english ." Annabeth said as she puffed up her cheeks. "I've been waiting a long time for a quest." she said. "You can’t take this opportunity away from me."

Percy frowned at her, “You might have a hearing issue because what I am hearing is suicide instead of opportunity .” He shook his head, “No-one is coming with me, I can do this alone.”

“Who’re you trying to convince?” Annabeth countered. 

“Myself,” He said and looked at her, “Confidence is key, innit?” He looked at Chiron, “I’m going on my own.” Annabeth huffed and walked away, mad.

"If you have set your mind to it," Chiron said. "Have you thought of how you’re going to go to Los Angeles, because we have this-"  

“Where there is a fireplace, there is the floo-network, sir. I can get by the wizarding way.” He said and smiled. Lightning flashed. Rain poured down on the meadows that were never supposed to have violent weather. 

"No time to waste," Chiron said. "I think you should all get packing."

Percy has only been in America for three days and he is already being sent away, on a quest nonetheless. Across the whole continent. He took in a deep breath and walked over to his cabin, Annabeth standing outside. 

“I think that you should reconsider.” She said. 

“I don’t think so.” Percy countered and shook his head, “I might get this done in record time.” He said. 

“That’s just arrogant.”

“No, it’s an estimation.” He countered and opened the door to his cabin, “Look, Annabeth. Whether you like it or not, I am going on my own. And that is final.” he said and closed his door. 

——

He had everything in his bag already, the clothes, toiletries, he had bags of money that Moody gave him. At the time it felt like too much but he was glad that it was given to him. Clarisse and Silena came by to give him two canteens of nectar and a medium-sized ziplock filled with ambrosia squared. For emergencies only.

He took out his books which turned out to be unnecessary weight. He took in a deep breath and he felt glad that Albus taught him about the mist and a few illusion charms. That way he could keep his identity somewhat anonymous and not get killed by the MACUSA. 

Every wizard really likes secrecy. 

Before he left, Percy went over his duffle bag again and charmed his clothes to shrink so that it would be less clumsy around his shoulder. Percy walked up to the big house and he watched as Luke came running up to him. 

He still couldn’t figure out why Luke was shown in the prophecy that the oracle told him. But he got an eerie feeling because of it. 

 "Hey, glad I caught up with you." The older guy said, "Wanted to say good luck," He held up the shoes, "Thought you could use these." He held up a pair of old sneakers

Percy accepted the sneakers with a confused look on his face. "Maia!" Luke suddenly called out and wings sprouted on the heels. Percy held them up as it didn't seem like a huge surprise, he knows of a lot more scary magical items that he should be afraid of.

"They served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from Dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days..." His expression turned sad. Percy didn't know what to say but appreciated that the blonde came by to say goodbye.

"Hey, man, thanks."

"Listen, Percy..." Luke looked uncomfortable. "A lot of hopes are riding on you. So just…kill some monsters for me, okay?"

Percy shook hands with his friend, someone he could call a friend ever since he came to the camp. He didn’t feel like some random demigod put in the Hermes cabin that Luke had to take care of. 

He shoved the shoes in the bag, he wasn’t going to fly. Especially not risking anything because of Zeus’ anger. He walked over to Chiron who put a hand on his shoulder. "I should have trained you better, Percy," he said. "If only I had more time. Hercules, Jason,they all got more training."

He looked at Chiron with a small smile, "I am trained, Chiron." He said. He certainly hopes, he is literally heading towards a huge city in a country he never visits with no supervision, no cellphone and no backup plan. Harry can't compare. “This’ll reveal whether I am trained enough or not.”

"All we can do, child, is follow our destiny."

"Our destiny…assuming we know what that is." Maybe he should be a tea-leaf reader, it could explain a few things, like, is he going to die by the claws of a hellhound? Guess he’ll never know. 

"Relax," Chiron told him. "Keep a clear head. And remember, you may be about to prevent the biggest war in human history."

"Relax," Percy said. "I'm so relaxed." The burden on his shoulders is to prevent a literal war. With a nod Percy walked down into the basement and he stood on the wood ashes of a fireplace. With dust in his hands, he threw it down. 

“DOA Recording Studios, Los Angeles.” He said and threw down the powder. 

—

“Now why the fuck is there a British demigod here asking for an audience with my boss?” The front desk questioned in confusion. Perseus looked down at his quality suit and raised his eyebrow. 

“Is that Italian?” He questioned. 

“Yeah,” The guy nodded, “I told the boss that people can see where suits are made from. But he keeps saying that people don’t care.”

“Well, obviously people do.” Percy said, “However, I personally like British suits more. Italian ones are too loose, I can’t even see your muscles man.” He said. 

“You don’t?” Charon replied and looked down at his arms. 

Percy shook his head, and tutted. “You’re immortal right, you can get anywhere?”

“Anywhere where there are souls to reap.” He grinned and nodded. 

The godling smiled and took a small paper from behind the desk along with a pen and wrote down where he got his clothes fitted on him. He saw that they also tailored suits. “The British actually tailor to your body.” He said. 

Charon smiled, “I still can’t let you go down.”

Percy pulled out a few drachma and put it on the counter and held the note back with the address. “This enough?”

“Personal tailor and money.” Charon said and squinted. His expressions changed completely and he slid the money over to him. “Step right up!” He said and the elevator opened behind him. 

“But I’m telling you, Italian suits are for slimmer people.” He said. “Most people that I know wear some traditional robes.” Percy felt them going down. 

“Robes?” Charon questioned, “I haven’t had robes in a long time.” He hummed. 

Percy cocked his head, “Really?” He said, “But they’re so reaper of death.”

Charon straightened his suit as the elevator got to a ground level, “I like the way you think, but time moves on and so should us immortals.” He said and they stepped onto a ferry boat, like the ones in Italy, “How about I drop you off at the palace?”

“That’d be much appreciated.” Percy hummed and looked around, “There are a lot of people here.”

“People?” Charon shook his head, “The moment that they’ve stepped through that elevator, they’re a soul.”

“So am I-”

“No, you’re not.” Charon said in amusement, “You’re very much alive.” The ferry stopped and they stood in front of a grand palace. “Come on then.” The immortal said and walked to the front steps of the door. He cringed and waved away the skeletons protecting the door. 

Percy looked around confused as to why it was going so smoothly already even though it was his first day. “Perseus Jackson.” A voice called out and he sounded mad. “How dare you come here?”

“Hello, can I call you uncle?” Percy said and bowed before the lord of the underworld. 

He looked confused, “No.”

“Lord Hades then.” He said, “I was sent on a quest to retrieve the lightning bolt.” 

“And what of my helmet of Darkness then?” He questioned, the skeletons turned at attention again and Charon casually slipped away, having underestimated the situation. 

Percy was genuinely confused, “What of your Helmet of Darkness, sir?”

“The thief is playing dumb.” Hades scoffed and looked around at the three Furies. Percy blinked, the kindly ones are in the house. “You stole my Helmet.” He said, anger laced in his voice. 

“I swear I didn’t steal it.” Percy said calmly.

“Swear it on the Styx.” Thunder rumbled. “If you do, you die. If you don't swear, well, you’ll still die.”

“Lovely.” Percy muttered under his breath, “I swear I didn’t steal the Helmet of Darkness or the Lightning Bolt.” Thunder rumbled and nothing happened to him. He smiled awkwardly. 

Hades deflated in his seat and threw his head back, “What am I going to do now?” 

“So you don’t have the Lightning Bolt, sir?”

Hades shook his head, “No I don’t.” He sighed. 

“Well, if I happen to find your helmet I’ll bring it back to you!” Percy said with a smile. “Where happens to be the exit?”

Hades just blinked at him and motioned for a skeleton to come up. The skeleton walked and Percy waved as he followed the walking bones. “Brits.” Hades scoffed, “How can they be so polite all the time?” 

——

Percy hummed as he set himself up in a hotel, he took a room for himself. It was tricky but he somehow managed to convince the staff that he was of age and could rent a room. 

That night he had a weird dream, it was just pure black but there was an eerie voice trying to convince him to join their side. Percy just said no but it was not received well as he woke up out of his dream turned nightmare. 

For breakfast he sat in a diner eating when a motorcycle rumbled outside of it. With a clinging of the bell a macho man dressed in leather walking in. Percy tried not to stare as he seriously thought that people only dressed like that in the movies. 

The man slid into his booth and Percy nodded at him. “Good morning.” He greeted.

“Not a good morning.” The man replied and leant over, his glasses dipping a bit and his eyes revealing themselves, fiery pits is what could be used as a description for his eyes. “You’re doing this a bit too fast, kid.” The man complained. 

This man was a god, but he just couldn’t figure out which one yet, “I’m just doing what I can, Lord.”

“Lord Ares.” The man snarled. 

Percy looked over at him and finally saw the militaristic clothing and presence of him. He bowed subtly over the table. He put his fork down and stopped eating. “What can I do for you, sir?”

“Fight me.”

Percy blinked and he thought he didn’t hear it well, “Excuse me?”

“Fight me.” Ares growled, “Right now.” 

“Why?”

“You don’t ask a god why.” Ares snarled and stood up, “Let’s go.”

Percy felt overwhelmed by the presence and power that Ares gave off and listened, “I don’t see a need for a fight.” He tried and followed him outside by the coast. He looked over at the water and cringed, he hadn’t had the chance to enjoy it.

——

The furies flew around above him and Percy felt the weight in his bag turn heavy. He got out the Helmet and threw it up at them, “Give my regards to my Uncle!” He called out and pursed his lips. 

Their fight had gathered a small crowd but Percy just subtly casted an illusion charm and walked away, looking around he searched for chimneys. “Bloody Americans, why don’t they have chimneys?” He muttered and started walking. 

The only place with a chimney that he could use was the D.O.A., he hummed and walked with the heavy bag in the direction of the studio. When he rounded a corner he suddenly stopped by a pop-up market. 

At the dead-end of the street was the D.O.A. studio and he looked between the stone statues of people. The amount of detail on the faces was interesting, some were horrified, well most were. 

A lot of them never smiled, he was pleasantly surprised when an actual living woman walked up. She looked a bit middle-easterns by the way her nose arched. “Anything caught your interest?” She asked, Percy assumes she has a lisp by the way she was hissing. 

“No, I-” He caught something moving under her hijab. He froze and looked at it, the head of a tiny snape popped out and his eyes widened. He put it all together, the stone figures and the snakes. 

Percy’s hand immediately reached for his pen but he had to keep walking backwards as the woman neared him. “You look just like your father.” She said, “Did you know that he would have stayed with me forever?” She questioned and Percy’s step stuttered as he walked against a stone goblin. “If it wasn’t for that ratchet Athena.” She hissed. 

His eyes were staring at her feet, he took his wand out. “ Flipendo .” He casted and the woman was shot back into one of the statues. Percy looked around but the street was abandoned. 

The woman's sunglasses were knocked away and Percy’s breath hitched. He looked at the shiny windows and uncapped his sword. He ran and swung at her neck. It was slightly off and only nicked her. 

“Feisty! So heroic!” Medusa screamed out as she clawed him. He hissed in pain, “You’re just like your father! Stay! Stay with me !” The woman shouted, desperation for her former lover leaked into her voice. 

Percy looked into a closer window and swung again. With the sound of his sword cutting through skin, he heard a thud and a poof. He reached down and picked up the head by the still alive snakes. 

He cringed and held back a gag. “Bloody hell.” He said and took a t-shirt out of his bag and wrapped it up. He held it in his hand like it was some kind of shopping bag as he walked into the studio. 

“You went shopping? Did you get a suit, cause you have some taste kid.” Charon at the front exclaimed. 

Percy laughed and shook his head. He held the bag up to the light. “Met a stone carving artist.”

“Oh shit!” Charon exclaimed and a few souls looked over. “Your ass killed medusa.”

Percy smiled, “I just came here to use the fireplace, do you happen to know how I can get up to Olympus?”

“Empire state building, 600th floor.”

“600th?”

Charon nodded, “Don’t let the clerk give you any bullshit about it. Just show him the head,” He snickered, “Hate that guy, seriously.”

Percy laughed and dropped a drachma in the little front box, “Bye Charon!”

“Bye Perseus!” The immortal waved after him and Percy quickly walked to the nearest fireplace and threw down some floo-powder. 

——

 “That doesn’t exist.”

Percy sighed and shook his head and understood where Charon was coming from. He dropped his head on the table and looked at the clerk. “The snakes still bite so watch out.”

With wide eyes the clerk handed him a pass, “Take this and that head of yours. Make sure that no-one steps in the elevator with you.”

Percy smiled politely and accepted the card. He picked up the head and walked into the elevator. He quickly let the doors close and he casually listened to the elevator music and eventually he got up to the 600th floor. 

He stepped out and frowned. “Just like his palace.” He said under his breath. Hades’ palace was exactly the same as Olympus’ palace. Why was he even casted aside? 

Through his whole trek to reach the throne room, lightning bursted across the sky and thunder rumbled. The markets were empty and seeing how many stalls there were, he assumed that it normally was very full. 

He approached the throne room and held his fist out to knock on the huge doors but it opened already. Angry, thundering voices were arguing in the room and Percy waved at the ones paying attention. 

They were happily surprised but some waved back. The little girl by the fire was the first one to do so, then the man with winged shoes waved. “Perseus Jackson.” An angry voice said. “Come to bring back my lightning bolt, you thief ?” He questioned. 

“Thief?” The man in a Hawaiian shirt roared, “You dare call my son a thief.” Percy squinted at the man and he looked exactly the same as he did in the video message that he left at Gringotts. Only the grey hairs stood out a lot more. 

“I didn’t steal anything, I swear on the Styx.” Familiar thunder rumbled. He turned to look at a familiar figure dressed in leather. “I took it from Lord Ares.” He said before Zeus would rain down on his parade, “He was possessed.” 

“By who, son?”

“I don’t know but it was ancient. When I was in the underworld it called to me even stronger, from the darkest pits.” He answered and put Medusa’s head on the ground. He rummaged through his bag and held up the lightning bolt. 

Zeus held his hand out and it was like metal being attracted to another opposite metal. It clung to his hand and expanded into what could actually be described as a godlike weapon. He had a very small approving smile on his face. 

Percy bowed to his father and then Zeus, “May I be excused. I have a lot of homework to do.” he said and the bright god snorted from his seat. 

“I’m sorry!” Apollo quickly apologised as Zeus sent him a look. 

“You’re excused, Percy Jackson.” Zeus said, “So are the rest of you all!” He said and shone brightly. Percy immediately casted his eyes to the ground and closed it as multiple flashes went off. 

Percy eventually casted his eyes up as the shining light stopped. He looked up and saw his father looking at him. “You did good, kid.” He said and looked at the head, “I hope she didn’t give you a lot of trouble.”

He cringed, “She was very, forward .” 

Poseidon cringed as well and that is when Percy realised that they had the same grimace, the same smile and the same eyes. “That sounds like her.” The man shrinked into one of a normal-ish height. “You’re going to be tall.” He mused and looked Percy up and down. “Just like me.”

Percy raised his eyebrow at him and the man grew to a taller height. “This was how I looked when I met your mother. Trust me when I say that you’ll be tall.” He looked up and strained his neck. 

“I heard.” He said, his mother would talk about it sometimes. He looked at the sky outside and back at his father. 

“I should go.” His father said and Percy smiled a bit stiffly. “It was nice meeting you, son.”

“You as well, father.” Percy said and looked away as the man shone brightly. 

He turned around but stopped as he heard a voice speak to him. “He’d spend time with you if he was allowed.” The girl’s voice said. 

Percy looked at her, “Why isn’t he allowed?”

“Gods can’t see their children anymore. Zeus made that rule after Poseidon started to neglect his duties after he had spent so much time with you and your mother.”

Percy felt a bit guilty for having such a short conversation with him. “Oh.” He said quietly, he knew that his father cared. But he always thought that, if he cared so much why wouldn’t he be there. 

It was always on his mind. 

“Thank you, Lady…” He knew the girl by the fire couldn’t just be anyone. 

“Hestia. There is no need for Lady.” She said and smiled at him before standing up. “You are a kind person, Perseus. Stay like that.” She said and shone as well. 

He averted his eyes and waited until she was gone. He looked at the fire and walked out.

Chapter Text

He didn't expect to be poisoned before school started, but that is just the way things go. When he got home he was bedridden for a few days, his uncle Moody was enraged, obviously and his mother was concerned.

His friends came to visit him, even Ron came. It was nice to see his friends again, when they asked about the people at the camp. Percy told them about the girls he had met, he started to say something about Luke but quickly cut himself off.

He did mention some of his guy friends like Beckendorf. They then looked a thim and called him a womaniser for having so many girl friends. He argued that he was nothing of the sort.

For the whole summer, his mother had been volunteering at a nearby public school. Reading stories for the toddlers or even talking with the troubled teens.

Eventually the time rolled around and they went out to Hogwarts Express. His uncle was out working on some bounty while his mother joined them at the station. "Now, I know that you now have a better sense of who you are." She said as she still leant down to talk to him. "But I need you to be alert, because everyone else will have a sense of who you are as well."

Percy swallowed and knew what she meant, everyone else were the monsters. "I'll stay safe, mum." He said and smiled at her. "I won't go looking for trouble."

Sally chuckled and straightened his clothes, "You're a trouble magnet dear, trouble comes looking for you."

Percy laughed with her and she shook her head before leaning back up to press a kiss against his forehead. "Bye Percy." She said.

Percy smiled and waved, "Bye mum." He said before stepping on the train.

Immediately he was pulled into a compartment by Fred and George. Fred was rubbing and messing with his hair, "Awe, are you going to miss mummy." Fred teased. George was rolling his eyes and laughing.

Percy pulled him off and started messing with his hair when George jumped in and eventually the train started to move and their older brother walked by. "Really?" He questioned, "Get off of each other." He said and smacked George with the rolled up newspaper.

He looked over at Perseus, "You've been roped into their mess haven't you?" He questioned and Jackson opened his mouth to argue but Percy W. was long gone.

"It's like-"

"-We're the bad influence." The twins said and rolled their eyes.

Percy shook his head and laughed, "Have anyone seen Ced?" He asked as he straightened his clothes. Everyone shook their heads and Percy pursed his lips.

"I'm gonna look for him." He said and walked out. He walked to a whole new carriage before he could hear the boy laugh. He popped his head in and smiled.

"Ced!" He greeted happily and looked around the carriage. "Are you already saying hi to the first years?" Unfamiliar faces in the carriage.

"I was on my way to you and they found me, and started to ask questions. Next thing I know I was being interrogated." Cedric laughed and Percy chuckled.

"Are you Percy?"

He nodded.

"Cedric said that you were a true Hatstall. Beating even Professor Dumbledore's record!" One of them said.

Percy blushed a bit and rubbed the back of his neck, "The sorting hat didn't know whether to put me in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff." He said sheepishly. He then saw people walking in the hall behind him.

"Percy?"

He turned his head around and smiled, "Alicia." He greeted and turned around, "How've you been?" He asked.

The girl tugged a hair behind her ear and smiled. "I've been good, how was your summer?"

Percy smiled and casually said, "Oh I got poisoned."

Her eyes widened, "What?"

He waved it away, "Was an easy fix." He dismissed it and Cedric walked out into the hallway shaking his head.

"He had to stay in bed for four days." Cedric snitched.

Percy nudged him, "Dude." He complained. "I'm fine now."

Alicia put her hand on Percy's forearm and squeezed a bit. "Let me know if you need anything." She said and continued to walk though the train with flushed cheeks.

Percy looked at a snickering Ced. "What?"

"She was flirting with you, Percy."

"Oh." Percy was blushing as well now, he rubbed the back of his neck. "It sounded friendly though."

"Everything sounds friendly to you." Ced shook his head.

—

"How can you hide a whole coffin?"

"He isn't even a vampire." Fred argued.

"Yeah, he's just saying that for attention. Just like-"

"-he's saying about dancing with some veela in Paris." Fred grumbled. "As if veela's would dance with him." George nodded from beside him and Percy just shook his head.

He didn't really like the ravenclaw because of the lying. Percy had caught him in his lies so many times it was rather embarrassing but he'd never say anything. Those who believed him will always believe him.

Somehow, this year. Percy and Cedric were labelled as the 'Badgers'. They once asked Tonks about it and well, she started it. "Badgers?" She repeated with a smile on her face, "Oh yeah, I started that."

"What do you mean?"

"You guys are always together." She shrugged, "If I'd want to find you, I'd ask about the 'badgers' and everyone just caught onto it." Tonks pouted, "You guys don't like it?"

"I mean," Percy looked at Cedric and he just shrugged, "It isn't bad we just wanted to know who."

Cedric nodded, "Came out of nowhere."

"Nowhere?" Tonks raised her eyebrows at them, "Everyone has been calling you two since last december."

"Last school year?" Cedric exclaimed and looked over at Percy.

Tonks laughed and patted their heads, "Bunch of oblivious kids." She shook her head in amusement. Then came around the quidditch tryouts. Obviously Percy couldn't participate in the sport but the twins and Cedric could.

George and Fred qualified as Beaters of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Every small break they'd be home, Percy would be shooting bludgers at their heads. It was a fun little game they had.

As for Cedric, he got chosen as the seeker for the Hufflepuff team. Percy was so proud, he even signed up to be the commentator for that year's quidditch. The training he did with Cedric was letting go of snitches and telling Cedric random directions he had to go.

"And he is bloo-"

"Going after the snitch!" Alicia interrupted and nudged him to look over at the teachers. Professor McGonagall was looking with a scandalous expression while Professor Sprout looked like she was going to have a heart attack.

He pursed his lips and decided to be more tame in his enthusiastic commentating. He was very neutral, surprisingly. Especially since he could see both the flaws and improvements both teams made. Mid-commentating he'd sometimes start ranting about the new technique the Ravenclaw chaser used.

Christmas was a fun affair, unless you're his uncle Moody who had to pursue an insane wizard who went crazy over some kind of affair and killed a few muggles in his rampage. So Percy spent Christmas with his mother and the Weasley's. Arthur loved having Sally around, due to her being raised a muggle despite being born into a pureblood family. He'd enthusiastically ask questions about machineries and she explained it wholeheartedly.

They had also spent the second Christmas day with the Diggory's. It was all nice to have everyone living near one another.

Then Christmas passed and Percy and Cedric were arguing about what they were going to do for their elective classes.

"No Divination." Percy put his foot down and Cedric just looked at him.

"Don't you want to know about your destiny?" Percy's breath hitched when he heard Cedric say that.

"I know enough about my destiny." Precy waved it away and pointed at the next subject, "Care of Magical Creatures?" He suggested, "I've always wanted to see a Hippogriff."

Cedric nodded, "I can agree with that, very useful for aurors."

Percy looked over at Cedric, "You also want to be an auror?" He questioned and Cedric looked right back at him.

"Yeah, you too?"

"Yeah." The two grinned and high-fived each other. "Nice." Percy said and pointed at Arithmancy.

"Too many numbers." Cedric said.

Percy nodded and agreed with it. Crossing it out. "No muggle studies, please." Percy cringed, "I already know all that I have to." Cedric nodded and crossed it out.

"That leaves us with Study of Ancient Runes." Cedric said and Percy pursed his lips.

"I heard that some people carve runes to make things like bombs or for healing. Even protective wards for their houses." Percy said and Cedric nodded, circling the subject. The two boys reached over and shook one another's hands.

"Nice to do business with you." Percy said jokingly.

"You as well, kind sir." Cedric said and they looked at each other after a moment of silence and bursted out laughing. In the back of the great hall you could find Tonks's shoulders going up and down in laughter while she shook her head.

This year the Hufflepuff's worked towards the house cup once again and won with ten points against Slytherin. It was a close one but they had done it again. The whole house celebrated and the seventh year students picked up Mrs. Sprouts and hoisted her up.

The whole house cheered and continued to celebrate.

—

Then came summer. He had helped out his mother with running her summer camp with kids from the nearing villages. It was far from their house but still in some random forest. She had come up with the idea, well, since Percy was leaving for a summer camp and she knows that most muggle parents have to work during the summer and could get little days off.

She just started one on her own with the help of some teachers. Including the new teacher Paul Blofis. Percy could see a little romance blooming and it entertained him to no end, he was glad that his mother had finally found someone good and kind.

Even Uncle Moody approved of him.

They were playing dodgeball and Percy had never seen these kids at his mother's camp. His bag was ready to go. "What the bloody-!" Percy exclaimed as the ball ripped by his face, a few more centimetres to the left and he'd have no nose.

"Duck!" A guy said and pushed him aside.

"Thank you, Tyson." Percy wiped his brow and looked around. His eyes caught onto the two people he didn't expect at the camp. "Clarisse? Silena?" He questioned and ducked again as a cannon ball was thrown at him.

Silena was holding back Clarisse. "Don't!" She muttered and kept holding the daughter of Ares back. Percy could practically feel that Clarisse wanted to fight. "Percy! We've got to go!" She shouted.

They were far away from the camp as the dodgeball field was by the creek. Percy looked over at Tyson and pulled him with him. "Who's the guy?" Clarisse questioned as they ran away.

"Tyson! I couldn't just leave him." Percy exclaimed and Silan started whistling.

"What are you, big guy?" Clarisse asked and reached over to his sunglasses. Tyson ducked back. Percy looked back and with a pull in his gut, the water from the creek pulled every last one of what now is revealed as giants into the water.

"Cyclopes."

Suddenly a taxi was in front of them and Percy raised his eyebrows, "Gray Sister' Taxi?" He questioned and saw the three fates sit in front. "This is like the Knight Bus, isn't it?"

"Yes, but more-"

"-devine."

"Capable." The three said and Percy couldn't help but see Fred and George in them as they finished one another's sentences as well. Percy closed his eyes and put an arm over it.

"My mum is going to kill me." He said.

—

After half a day of travelling and just sleeping, Percy stepped out of the bus grudgingly and was on alert when he heard fighting coming from the Camp. His heart picked up a beat and he immediately uncapped his pen.

Sharing a glance with his fellow demigods, they started sprinting. He would really liked to have a fire protection potion at hand right now because that bull was spitting out fire.

Chapter Text

He had gone on the quest alongside Clarisse. They butted heads but there was always mutual respect. They talked a lot and got a sign that they did whenever it got too heated for one of them.

A fist over their heart and rubbing it in circles. 'I'm sorry' in ASL. Clarisse thought it was a shit idea until she did it herself. She knew of herself that she was quick to anger, but having someone she could call a friend and considered a cooling down sign made her appreciate the friend even more.

Tyson followed after them, saying that he never had a brother before and would like to keep having one.

They were even closer when they returned with the fleece.

Somehow, Percy got out of the trip with a pegasus, Blackjack. If pegasus weren't extinct in the magical world he'd show Blackjack off, knowing that the winged horse would enjoy it.

The rest of the summer was a blur as he was just constantly training and hanging out with Clarisse and Silena. He wasn't on all too friendly terms with Annabeth being that she blew up on him for always being chosen to go out on quests instead of her.

Percy couldn't just see eye to eye with her, so he avoids her at all costs.

—

He had to go back home for a day, to go to Diagon Alley with the Weasley's. His skin was tanner than before and his hair had grown in a wild-ish way. Everyone was begging for him to cut his hair a bit shorter.

He shrugged and just went to the first barber he saw in Diagon Alley while the Weasley's went ahead to shop. Percy was feeling a bit guilty when the barber struggled with his hair. But nonetheless, the Weasley's were excited to see his new haircut but were a bit disappointed when it was exactly the same, just a few centimetres shorter.

"Glad we didn't wait." Ron said and snorted. Molly just patted Ron's shoulder and the twins laughed. Percy rolled his eyes and poked them.

"It's a bit shorter." He argued.

"Just a bit." Fred said.

"A very little bit." George egged on. The family and Percy trekked down the street. They went to get some stuff for Ron's rat and Percy wanted to find a book.

He put his glasses on as he entered the store and quickly walked over to the study of runes book. A little something to get into it before he had to follow the class' pace.

He pulled a boom out by its spine and looked at it, 'History of Runes' he read and felt someone beside him. "Excuse me?" A feminine voice asked as she tapped his shoulder, gaining his attention.

Percy looked at the curly haired girl. "Yes?" He replied.

"Could you reach for that book there." She pointed up and Percy squinted a bit.

"Hogwarts: A history?" He questioned and put a finger on it as he looked down at the girl.

The girl nodded.

"Bagshot is a good writer." He nodded and took it off of the plank. He analysed the rest of the books that she held in her hand. "I'm Percy." He introduced himself and held the book out.

"Hermione." She accepted the book and smiled. "Do you have any more recommendations, history books or spell books?" She asked.

Percy smiled, "Looks like you've got most." He said and looked down at her books again. "I don't particularly like Lockhart though. When I read his adventures," Percy trailed off and cringed. "But for a muggle it's a good way to learn about monsters and spells." He said.

"How did you know?" She asked and raised an eyebrow at him.

"One of your books is about living as a muggle." He cringed, "Personally, I don't recommend that one at all. It comes across as a bit supremacist."

Hermione nodded and pulled the book out of the stack under her arm. She took the book and read the back of it. "I suppose."

Percy smiled at her again. "You're a first year, right?"

She brightened and smiled back. "Yes! What year will you be in?"

"I'll be in my third year." He replied and smiled. "Do you know which house would be a good fit for you, yet?"

She pursed her lips, thinking. "I haven't read about them yet."

His eyes flickered down at her books and he blushed, embarrassed. "Well, let me know after you read the books?" He asked. "I'm sure that a friend and I will be wandering around the train."

Hermione smiled at him. "I'll probably have an answer by then."

Percy nodded, and looked outside at the twins staring back at him in a creepy manner. "I've got to pay and go." He smiled. "It was nice meeting you, Hermione." He said friendly and walked to the front counter.

Paying for it, he quickly walked past Hermione and her family and to the twins. "I have everything." He said to Molly.

The matriarch nodded and looked at her children. "I believe we have everything as well, did you check everything off of your list, Ron?"

The soon-to-be first year Weasley nodded. "Yes Mum." He said. Percy smiled and happily walked back to a floo powder network with the Weasley's.

His gut was telling him that it was going to be an eventful year.

—

He landed back into the Burrow on his feet and smiled at the familiar discord that reigned in the house, especially when he's around, the twins seem to plan the biggest pranks. Obviously including him and his help.

Walking over to Molly he helped her with the plates the muggle way, normally the woman would complain but Percy had done it many times before that she had gotten used to it already. "The hufflepuff is really showing itself today." Molly teased him and he laughed quietly.

"Thank you for the compliment, Molly." Over the years of knowing the Weasley's, Percy was starting to see them as his second family. They're always cheering for him in his corner, and they loved the influence that he supposedly has on the twins.

Percy couldn't see it, but Arthur says that the twins don't prank Ron as cruelly whenever he's around.

He looked over at Ron playing with his rat instead of looking through all of the new books he got. It was the first thing Percy did. "He'll be a Gryffindor, won't he?" Percy questioned and looked over at her, "Just like the rest of you all?"

Molly huffed out a smile and looked over at the youngest son, "Most likely." She squinted a bit, "I've thought that he could have been a Hufflepuff at one point." She shook her head, "But the boy has no patience, unlike you, Perseus. Ronald would go to Gryffindor, I think."

Percy waved it away, "My patience can also reach a maximum." He hummed and stuck his head into the living room, "Dinner!" He called out.

Chapter Text

Like usual, Percy walked down the train to greet everyone and talk about their summers. Naturally, they helped a first-year student find their toad in the front of the train and quickly talked with the boy. “Longbottom?” Percy pursed his lips and he finally recognized the name. “ Merlin , if you ever have anyone give you trouble for your parents, come find me, yeah?”

Neville seemed relieved to have found comfort in an older student. “Thank you, Percy.” The demigod patted his back and looked at the toad. 

“Don’t let it get away from you again.” He said jokingly and continued to walk around with Cedric who just looked in amusement. 

“Always helping everyone.” Cedric teased. 

Percy rolled his eyes, “Don’t act as if I didn’t see you help Cho with her luggage.” He retorted and waved at a group in their seats. “How was your summer, Alicia?” Speaking about the devil, Cho sat beside the girl. Seemingly all of them were friends. 

“Good! I’m excited for this year's quidditch team.” She said. “I have a good feeling about it!”

Percy smiled at her, “That’s good, you’ve got this, easily the most talented chaser that i’ve met yet.” He said and held his thumbs up. 

“Thank you, Percy.” The girl blushed. 

Percy was quickly pulled away by Cedric who was just shaking his head, “How come you’re still flirting with her after a year.” He said quietly. 

Percy frowned, “Flirting?” He questioned, “I was just being honest, I haven’t met any other chaser!” 

Cedric rolled his eyes and they continued walking down the hall. Percy caught a flash of red in one of the compartments and grinned, “You go on ahead, Ced. I’ve got to do some teasing.”

“-Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow." He heard Ron say, Perseus leant against the door with a raised eyebrow. Nothing happened to the rat, he recognized the girl who sat with them. 

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. 

“No it’s not.” Percy spoke up and Ron blushed furiously red. “You let Fred and George prank you again, Ronald?” He tutted and shook his head. “I’ve told you to not trust everything they say.”

“Well don’t blame me that I haven’t read the whole damn book unlike this nerd here-”

“Ronald.” Percy frowned at the boy. “Be polite.” He said and looked at the slightly upset girl, “Don’t let me write to your mother.”

The boy paled a bit and he shook his head. “Please no, Percy.” The boy said. 

The godling merely shook his head, “And who is this?” He asked and craned his neck to look over at the other boy. 

“Harry Potter.” The boy introduced himself, his eyes locked onto Percy’s scar on his neck. 

Percy noticed and smiled softly, “We’ve all got scars, Potter. You of all people should know that.” He said and nodded, “I think that I should leave you first-years alone, shouldn’t I?” He said and leant back into the hall. 

“Bye Percy!” He heard the voice of Hermione say and Ron grumble. 

“If Ron gives you any more trouble, he’ll have to answer to me and his mother.” He joked and chuckled before waving and continuing down the train. 

Cedric stood at the end of the hall, talking with some of their housemates. “Blimey, you took your time.” 

He heard the twins voices from inside the compartment and slid open the doors, “Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow? Really?” He said unimpressed. The twins looked at each other and laughed. Lee looked amused. 

“Turn this stupid!”

“Fat rat yellow!” Fred finished and laughed as he held his wand in his hand. 

Cedric and Percy shared a chuckled and a shake of their head, “Really mature.” The two sat down with the other third years and enjoyed their trip.

——

Percy and Cedric cheered as Neville came to sit at their table. He cheered and held his hand up for a high five. “Thought so!” He exclaimed. 

“Really?” Neville looked up at him. 

Percy nodded, “Absolutely. Welcome to hufflepuff!” He smiled. 

He watched as the rest were sorted, Harry was sorted into Slytherin. Hermione was sorted into Ravenclaw. He looked a bit surprised when the hat called it out and Ron was at his Gryffindor table, alongside the twins. Percy W. looked very happy to have him in his house. 

The godling knew that Ron would go insane. 

Percy looked over at Cedric as he continued to talk about quidditch. He had a sombre smile on his face, “The next game that arises will be mine.” He said, “You bet your ass that I will be good at it as well.”

Cedric laughed and nodded, “We’ll see about that, won’t we?”

——

“Did you hear?” Percy asked Cedric as he walked into the common room. He folded his shirt up by his arms, not wanting to be constricted by anything. 

“Heard what?” Cedric asked as he looked up from his homework. 

“Potter is the Slytherin seeker.” He said, “I wonder how Flint had let him, you know that hate that lad has for half-bloods.”

“I don’t think you can deny talent.” Cedric said. 

Percy shrugged and sat down in the empty seat beside him, “Flint didn’t really want to say anything but that Malfoy boy did. Suppose he was a bit bitter about it, eh?”

The two shared a chuckle and he checked his new watch, made by his half-brother. Percy picked up his stuff and quickly shuffled to the dorms. Dropping it on his bed he walked out to find Cedric looking at him, suspiciously. “What are you going to do?”

“Alicia asked if I could help her with something.”

“Something being?”

“Transfiguration.” 

“And you’re telling me everything?” Cedric continued with a teasing smile on his face. 

Percy frowned, confused and nodded. “Yes, I am.” He smiled at the boy, “Am I dismissed?” He teased him right back. 

Cedric rolled his eyes, huffing out a laugh and shaking his head. “Go!” He pushed the boy out of the common room. “Don’t let a lady wait.”

“I won’t let a guy slow me down, next time, then.” Percy shook his head and rolled his eyes. He walked up the stairs and walked up into the library, passing the charms classroom. The year had just started, he frowned a bit as he thought about Alicia falling behind already. 

Walking into the library he looked around and his eyes finally rested onto the girl, with a smile he walked over and sat down next to her. “Hey.” He said quietly. 

“Hey Percy.” The girl said and smiled. Three books were sprawled open across her, “I don’t know what I am doing.”

The godling pursed his lips and looked at it, and then at the empty paper. “Animagi?” He said and reached over to pluck a book off of the table. He took the glasses from his sweater and put them on the bridge of his nose. “This is an advanced book.” He informed her. “It’s rather about the regulations than animagi itself.”

He waved his wand and he quickly casted, “ Flagrate .” He said quietly and started to draw a rectangle up in the air. “This is the assignment on animagi so you should just split it up, that’s what works better for me.” He wrote down one , “One, what is an animagi? Two, how to become an animagus. Three, what are the laws surrounding it?” He looked at the floating words and looked back at Alicia. 

“I don’t know if this works for you.” 

The girl quickly started to write it down before the words faded. “No, Percy. This is great. I at least know where to begin now.” She said and smiled. “Why do you split it up?”

“Well, as you’ve probably noticed by now, my attention and focus disappears really fast. Splitting up chores really helps.” He smiled at her, a bit bashfully. “It keeps me on track.”

Alicia put a hand over his hand, “Well, you’re doing a great job.” She said, “Do you think you could help me with my homework?” She asked. 

Percy smiled, never being able to refuse the need to help someone. “Of course.” He said and reached over to a book. “I’ll just circle the pages with the helpful information? So that you’re still doing it yourself.”

“Professor McGonagall would definitely recognize our different handwriting,” the girl giggled and retracted her hand from his. The two then started to study and Percy was just circling page numbers. 

Sometimes he’d stand up and pace around while he read the pages. By the last time he stood up he looked around confused. “The library is going to close soon.” He said quietly and looked out of the pitch black window. 

They packed up and he held her books in his arms. He insisted he’d hold them and walk her up to the Gryffindor common room. Telling a couple jokes, the two laughed and he stood outside of the painting. 

“I’m sure that Filch’s cat has it out for me.” Percy said truthfully, but also a bit exasperated. “He follows me everywhere, swear.”

Alicia laughed and slapped his chest. She was leaning against the stone wall and she looked up at him. “Thank you for helping me, once again, Percy.” She said. 

Percy smiled at her, craning his neck to look at her. The height difference really hurted his neck. “It’s no problem, really.”

“Would you mind if I ask if you want to do it again?” She asked and inched closer to him. Percy pursed his lips and faked thinking about it. 

“Depends, what do I get out of this?” He teased. 

The girl smiled at him and pulled him down by his tie, pressing a soft kiss against his lips. Surprised, he hummed but eventually leaned into the kiss. He put a hand on her cheek and smiled as he pulled away, “I think that I’d say yes.”

Alicia giggled. “Pig snout,” She said and Percy looked confused. “Aren’t you coming in?” She asked. 

Percy looked around before nodding, he walked in and saw the empty cosy room. While the Gryffindor common room couldn’t really compare to Hufflepuff’s, it did have a certain charm to it. He looked around and put the books on the table. 

The room was empty and Percy frowned in confusion. “Where is everyone?” He asked, somewhat quietly. 

“Asleep.” Alicia said and inched closer to him once again. She looked a bit nervous but she smiled as she slowly reached up to put her arms around his neck. “I’m glad that they are.” She whispered before pulling him in for a kiss. 

Percy hummed and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, sure, he was always attracted to her and he certainly didn’t mind having her kiss him. Reciprocating the kiss, he squeezed her waist automatically. 

The girl hummed into the kiss, happily, her hands combing through his hair. He deepened the kiss but quickly jumped away as he saw three out of breath students run in. 

His pupils were blown out wide and he looked at the three. “Ron, Harry and Hermione?” He questioned, “What are you three doing here?” He cleared his throat and straightened his tie. 

“Percy?” Ron said, surprised. Harry contained a laugh and Hermione cringed. 

“It’s past curfew.” He pointed out and looked at the other two, “You’re a slytherin and you’re in the wrong tower.” He then pointed at Hermione.

“What are you doing here, a hufflepuff?” Ron countered with a raised eyebrow. 

“I-”

“We shouldn’t explain ourselves to you.” Alicia said and looked at the stairs, “I could call your brother.” She said, “Go to bed now and I won’t.”

Percy cleared his throat, ignoring the blush on his cheeks. “I’ll escort you two to your corridor.” He said and ushered the two first years out of the Gryffindor common room. He was quickly pulled back by his shirt. 

Lips were on his and he smiled into the kiss. “We’ll talk tomorrow?” Alicia said as she pulled away. 

Percy nodded and smiled at her, “Tomorrow.” He nodded and walked out of the hall and started walking, the two first years were looking at him. “What?”

“Really, late night snog?” Harry questioned and Percy choked on his spit. 

“It was a surprise.” He blushed and shook his head, they walked over to the ravenclaw corridor first. “Besides, what are you three doing out so late?”

Hermione opened her mouth but was quickly silenced by Harry. “Do you know about a three headed dog in the third corridor, I heard a rumour.” Harry said. 

Percy blinked a few times and his hands went over to his pocket, “Cerberus, are you saying?” 

“Cerberus is a myth.” Hermione pointed out and Percy nodded, forgetting that his reality isn’t everyone else's. 

“Right.” He said through his teeth, “I haven’t heard of that rumour before, Harry.” He looked over at the slytherin as they came to a halt at the Ravenclaw corridor that led towards their tower. “This is Hermione.”

The girl waved and quickly walked away. Percy and Harry quietly walked down the steps, “If there is anything of monsters inside of the castle, you should tell me that.” He said quietly. 

Harry nodded, he looked a bit conflicted. “Why should I tell you though?” Percy’s eyes widened as he quickly pulled Harry behind a statue. The white light from a wand and the steps of a prefect sounded through the hall. 

Percy let out a breath as the steps faded. “Because, well, you should just have trust in me. I won’t sell you out.” He said amused, “I get in trouble quite a lot as well.”

“But you’re a hufflepuff?”

“So because I’m a hufflepuff I can’t get into trouble?” Percy countered and they stood by the stairs that led to the dungeons, where the Slytherin common room was. “Good night Harry.” He said. 

The chosen one just nodded at him and they split up. 

Chapter Text

November was quiet. That was something he appreciated, in the life of a demigod, quiet is a blessing but also a bad omen. That is how he ended up on the border of the school grounds and the Hogwarts dark forest, fighting off some monsters. 

He didn’t watch the game, the feeling that he missed out on the sport was rather great, sometimes. He’d love to get in there and throw some hoops. He figured it was something like volleyball, that he can play. 

He stepped into Hagrid's hut and turned on the kettle. Fang barked at him and he nodded, “I’ll get you your food.” He said to the dog and walked into the back. As soon as he walked out of the storage with a bowl in his hand he looked at the sudden crowd. “Hey.” He blinked. 

“Percy, feeding Fang again, are you? How was the woods?”

“Busier than usual, but nothing to take note of.” He answered and set the bowl down. He looked over at Harry’s clothes, the only reason it’d be so dirty is that he had landed roughly. “What’d you do?” He asked the slytherin. 

“Caught the snitch.” 

“That must’ve made Flint very happy with you.” He grimaced at the mention of the Slytherin, real arrogant is what he was. 

“Surprisingly.”

Percy laughed softly, and poured in some tea as he listened to the story and handed it out, “It was Snape,” Ron said. “Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, he wouldn’t take his eyes off of you.”

“Rubbish.” Percy answered for Hagrid. 

“Why would Snape do something like that?” Hagrid continued. 

The three looked at one another. Harry spoke up, “I found out something about him, he tried to get past that Cerberus dog of yours. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it’s guarding.”

Hagrid dropped his teacup and Percy waved his wand, repairing it. “How do you know about Fluffy?”

“You named a three headed dog, Fluffy?” Percy said in awe. 

“Yeah, he’s mine. Bought him from some Greek chap.” Percy groaned. “I met in the pub last year. Let him to Dumbledore to guard the-”

“The corridor.” Percy interrupted. 

“That’s top secret, don’t ask me anything anymore.”

“But Snap’s trying to steal it.” Harry argued. 

“Rubbish.” Percy repeated. “He’s a teacher, do you think he’d risk his job and standing among the wizard world?”

“So why did he just try and kill Harry?” Hermione asked.

“Maybe that isn’t the full story.” Percy said, “I know how someone with intent to kill looks like and it isn’t Snape.”

“Who?”

Percy blanked and scratched the back of his neck, “A few of the centaurs.”

“I’m telling you are wrong!” Hagrid said, “I don’t know why Harry’s broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn’t try to kill a student, listen to Percy! Meddling in thing that don’t concern you. What it’s guardian is between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel-”

“Aha!” Harry called out and Percy glared at the boy as he patted Hagrid’s back. “There is someone called Nicolas Flamel involved isn’t there?”

“Okay,” Percy stood up, “Clear out you lot. Don’t want to see you here after night.” He ordered. Ron looked like he wanted to protest but he wasn’t having it. “Come on!” 

The moment the three students were out of the hut Edmund turned around to look at Hagrid, “You seriously have a Cerberus?” He asked and face palmed. “And didn’t mention it to me? Now you’re going to have to spill everything or I’ll make Dumbledore do so.”

He knew it was an unfair ultimatum but Percy had to know everything about it to avoid bad things from happening. That is how it happens at camp and camp is no different from school. Only at school they all seemed to like him. 

——

He didn’t hear more about the dog until Christmas. And before he could go to the feast, an Iris Message appeared with Clarisse saying that they needed to go to some place in Maine. He had to sit in a car with Clarisse, Annabeth and Thalia. Who he hadn’t seen in months. 

His mother was nice enough to volunteer and bring them to it, despite living in the U.K.. She happened to be a bit bored back at home, being in a writing slump. 

This was going to be a rescue mission, he was told. Well, nobody told him about who needed the rescuing, the siblings or him from all the Huntresses. He didn’t know what to do when Clarisse was so impulsive she just leapt onto the monster’s back and drove her dagger, that she always kept on her, into his mane. 

Percy was distraught by it. He tried to run after the daughter of Ares but was pushed back by gunfire. Literal gun fire. “This would never happen in England.” He muttered as he sat down on a rock. 

Then the hunters advanced on the group of mismatched people. Zoë had her lovely conversation with Thalia and of course, he had to burst out that they had to save Clarisse. He was held down by a couple girls. 

“I’m sorry, Percy Jackson but your friend is beyond help.” He could see the aura around her and he quickly dropped to his knees. 

“Please, Lady Artemis. I need to help her.” 

“She does not need a man’s help.”

Then they went on Apollo’s chariot. He was allowed to drive the car because the god had sympathy with Brits and how they had to wait until they were of age to even qualify for the test. 

Pleading to go on a quest was something he didn’t expect to happen either. He didn’t expect to see Silena missing from camp either, she hasn’t been heard of in a month. 

It was as if the gods wanted to see him friendless. 

Then he learns about the underwater war happening. Lovely. He goes to school and does good, and what he comes back to is a mess. The dreams were weird too, and messy. He didn’t trust Luke’s ploy to push Clarisse under what looks like some invisible curse. 

They had been great friends before Luke left. Percy thinks that there were some feelings involved from Clarisse's side. But she would never show vulnerability and admit that. But then Clarisse screamed bloody murder as the ceiling of darkness pushed her into the ground. 

Percy knew that he had to do something about it. 

So he went along on the girls-only trip, so what? Besides, they had already brought him out to camp and Clarisse and Silena were the only ones that didn’t hate him. He had to help and get back at least one of them. 

Annabeth kept looking away and putting her cap on. 

To what he thought was a simple rescue mission for Clarisse turned out to be some kind of plot and oh my gods, he was getting tired. Everytime he goes to America, he doesn’t know what he is getting himself into. 

Zoë happens to have a past with magic and recognizes the spells immediately. She started using very old English words to swear him out. For the rest of the trip they were on each other's nerves, but that was expected. 

However, them cussing one another out had made everyone laugh. So it was a mutual understanding that they’re not doing that again. 

Then the boar, that was a wild ride. He imagines that was how Harry felt on that damn “cursed” broom of his. Immediately after that, they found the junkyard of the gods. He noticed Bianca eying that toy but wished he was wrong, only to be found right. 

The mist would hide everything, he hoped. With his wand out he managed to buy them some time by slowing Talos down, then managed to throw it a bit off balance. Honestly, he was very soft on siblings. 

So he did the most logical thing. He crawled up the damn hole in its foot. With all the spells he could put around him, he ripped out some wire. He felt antagonising pain but then it was fine. 

Wizards had a bad habit of staying alive at the stake. 

He was thrown away into the Hoover Dam and spit out some water when he swam out. But before he got out, there was his friend from Long Island Sound, Bessie, the cow serpent. And beneath her was the remains of his wand and he cursed under his breath. 

He really loved that wand, but he knew that it was way gone beyond fixing. 

The surprise of him being alive and walking in on Zoë’s sentimental speech about him was lovely, quite honestly. Really liked the way she portrayed his heroics and sacrifice. San Francisco came around. 

The repetition of the prophecy given replayed in his head, over and over. Five shall go west to the goddess in chains. That would be Artemis.

One shall be lost in the land without rain . That was him down in the Hoover Dam, disoriented and stuck in the water for a day. 

The bane of Olympus shows the trail. That one he isn’t sure of. 

Campers and Hunters combined prevail. Campers and Hunters together going after their loved ones. 

The Titan’s curse must one withstand . Not sure. 

A choice of great import shall be made by a parent’s hand . He wonders which parent. 

Bloody merlin . Was the only thing going through his head. The sky weighed on his shoulder and he could feel every knot he had in there from sleeping in a car and being held onto by a stone angel. 

Artemis fought, and she was winning against Atlas. But the next thing nobody was expecting at the end was Annabeth. Annabeth who ran over to the side of Luke. He couldn’t believe that she’d do that. 

The camp she so loved, abandoned. And the prophecy given by the oracle, fulfilled from what Percy could imagine is that her life from there on, would be tragic. And Luke was right, nobody wanted to know that. 

When they see one another again, Percy would let him know that he was the reason why it is so tragic. Some relics from the past need to be let go. Just like Atlas was let go and pushed back under the sky. 

It didn’t come without consequences. Zoë got hurt, fatally. Then a choice was given, perish by the hands of her father or continue to live the mortal life. Percy believed that he saw Artemis plead her old friend to choose the life of a mortal. 

He can only imagine what it is like to beg for a friend to not die. 

The return to camp and Olympus was fine. Besides trying to get voted to get killed, that was less than fine, more like crazy. Everytime he does something, they have to take a vote on whether to kill him or not. It was quite frankly, tiring. 

Nico Di Angelo, little brother of Bianca. Thought that Percy was the right one to blame for losing his sister to the hunters. So he had to fight with skeletons, again. Good thing that Clarisse helped because he was wandless and Tyson had his sword for repairs.

Chapter Text

Hello readers!

As you all know about this story that it has been set aside for a very long time. I've come up with the idea that I will be combining the Lost Lottery and the Ilvermorny Adventures into one sort of a story with the Percy Jackson characters being Original Characters so the experience of writing can be easier and less choppier for you all to read.

This will no longer be a crossover story but solely a Harry Potter fanfiction.

I am leaving the stories up and will be uploading a new one, which I will announce soon.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

-AJ