It had been a week since Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase left camp when Harry’s life spiraled even more. After they defeated a Kronos-possessed-Luke and Percy turned down immortality for parents to acknowledge all their children, Harry’s Godly parents decided to finally claim him.
Yes, Godly parents.
Harry had known since he first came to camp that there was something off about him, something that made him stand out. But he did not expect to be claimed by two Gods: Ares and Aphrodite.
There had been an ongoing bet in the Hermes cabin, where he had stayed since he was eight, about who his godly parent would be. Most of the votes were for Ares and Aphrodite, as he was as strong and fast as Ares kids while being deemed good looking. Or as his ex-boyfriend would say, gorgeous with a hint of danger.
He was claimed in the middle of a bonfire they had on his birthday, where a letter came with it that stated how he had two Godly parents and was still a half-blood. He was given the option to choose which cabin he would move to, and with the number of campers and the leaders of each of them in mind, he went for the Ares cabin, where most would be going to college by the end of the summer and had fewer year-rounders. It also helped that rock music was constantly on, Harry had never liked silence much, though he wasn’t sure why.
It was only when he was the only one left for the summer when he began to regret his decision, as two of his half-sisters in cabin ten were staying for the rest of the year.
On the bright side, Drew Tanaka, one of his meaner sisters, hadn’t approached him since he was claimed. So when they did meet again as Harry walked by cabin ten, it was a bit easier to talk to her without having any insult echoed in his head.
“Hey Drew.”
Drew looked up from where she sat on the steps of her cabin entrance, all of her belongings packed in bags behind her. As usual, she wore full-face makeup with the best look accessories to make her camp-shirt less plain, but she didn’t look excited.
She was usually one to brag about having a decent dad at home, but she just nodded as he sat himself beside her.
“Good to know you’re one of us.” She said, her face turned forward, not looking at him. “I would’ve chosen you for the Aphrodite cabin tradition if I didn’t know you’re my brother.”
Harry flinched. He had been made aware of that after he got claimed by Lacy and Mitchell of everything he needed to know as their sibling.
“Not that you would’ve fallen for me anyway, since you had a boyfriend.”
“I’m not gay.”
Drew rolled her eyes, her lips turned into a scowl. “I’m not gonna judge you for dating a traitor, and I’m not homophobic-”
“I didn’t think that.” Harry interrupted immediately, before it could turn into a rant. “I’m bisexual, that’s what I meant.”
“Oh.”
The two sat in awkward silence as they watched campers pass by. Some of them, mainly the younger ones, were already back to their usual selves while others were still in different stages of grieving. Harry himself liked to think he was over everything, that what was done was done. But he knew that wasn’t the full truth.
“I’m sorry about Ethan.”
“You know, Ethan begged me to run away from the fight.”
Drew’s eyes widened in shock at his confession, before they quickly turned somber.
“He told me that he still loved me, and that he didn’t want me to be hurt by anyone.”
“He really loved you, huh?”
“He tried to convince me to join him and then tried to kidnap me when that didn’t work.” He laughed dryly. “Is that love for you?”
“In a sense, yeah.”
Harry put his head down as empty laughter escaped him.
“And you clearly have some love for him.” Drew continued, her eyes looking beyond the cabins and people that walked past. “Even after he broke up with you last year and hurt you.”
“Yeah, I still love him. But I’m not in love with him anymore.”
It was nice how the two could talk without Drew throwing insults at him like she usually did with others. But then again, the war had changed everyone. They all lost someone they loved, be it a friend, a sibling, or a lover.
“I’m sorry about Silena.” He blurted out. “I didn’t really get to know her, but I know you two were close, and-”
“Don’t!” Drew took in a deep breath, her hands fisted and shaking as she let the breath out. “I’m still not over what Silena did, so don’t apologize about her.”
“Oh.”
The tension from minutes ago came back with a stronger force, Harry carefully watched as Drew’s lips trembled and shoulders shook.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I just don’t get it!” Her head snapped up, eyes teary as she looked straight at him. “Why is everyone just ignoring the fact that she literally betrayed us? She only regretted it when her boyfriend died! We could have died because of her. I-i-”
Tears fell down her face as she hiccuped through her unintelligible words. He put his arms around her in an instant, every bone in his body screamed to hold onto her as she cried on his shoulder.
“We, her siblings, could have died, Harry! Why didn’t she think of us? Why is everyone forgetting that?!”
His hand moved to stroke her hair as she began to calm herself, her uneven breath steadily matching his own. The warmth he felt from the embrace was welcome, though he sensed she needed it more than him.
“I get it.” He whispered. “As much as I love him and want to forgive him, I can’t. He hurt us, you know?”
“Do you think we’ll hate them forever?”
“I don’t think we can hate them, Drew.”
Drew pulled herself off his shoulders and sniffled, eyes puffy but more calm and with reluctant acceptance. “You're right, but I’m still angry with her.”
“I know.”
“It feels like everyone moved on too quickly, just because we didn’t die.”
He let out a laugh that startled them both. “You tell me, my ex-boyfriend died and everyone is pretending like it never happened.”
They sat for a while in each other's silence, before a nymph called Drew over.
“Looks like my dad’s here.” She said as she stood up from the porch. “It’s nice to have a brother who isn’t totally a stereotypical Aphrodite kid.”
“Don’t worry, soon I’ll be walking in heels and yelling out slay all day.” Harry threatened cheekily.
Drew rolled her eyes with a smile. “See you next summer.”
“Take care.”
The instant his sister was gone, Harry found himself alone yet again. According to his siblings, there would only be himself, his brothers Ellis Wakefields and Sherman Yang. Even if the two were known to mess with the residents of their cabins, especially Clarisse, the two were too exhausted to do anything after the summer they’d all gone through.
Harry took in the sight of a peaceful rest of the year as soft wind blew by, his feet taking him back towards home. Just as he took one step on the porch, his trance was shattered by a familiar, haughty voice.
“Harry!”
He groaned but turned around to see his two best friends, Draco Malfoy and Susan Bones. Unlike most Athena kids, she goddess had blessed the Malfoys with a child of both blood, deeming both Draco’s parents worthy of having her kid. And unlike most campers, Draco’s parents loved and spoiled him to a point of the pale boy not knowing how basic technology worked.
The same could be said for Susan Bones, whose father was blessed with her by Demeter. Though he died when she was young and was left in the care of her aunt, who adored her. Like Draco, she too struggled with modern inventions, though she hid it better than others.
“Chiron wants you in the Big House.” Draco said with a scowl, hands rubbing his eyes as if it would remove the dark circles underneath them. “The whole Potter family is here, with the old geezer, Weasel and that know-it-all.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “So all of your rivals are here for me? Why?”
Both Draco and Susan shared a nervous glance, then looked back at Harry with the fakest, most ugliest forced smiles he had ever seen from the two.
“So, don’t freak out.” Susan began. All the hope Harry had, which wasn’t much to begin with, vanished immediately. “You know how Draco and I are wizards, right?”
“Susan, where is this going?”
“The Potters may or may not be your parents.”
Harry took in a deep breath in and out. “And why are they here?”
Both blondes winced as if his words were made of fire and Draco chuckled nervously. “So, you know how you met my father last year, right?”
“Draco Malfoy, if this is going where I think is going-”
“His dad told James Potter about your whereabouts.”
Harry took in another deep breath in as he took in Susan’s words while Draco’s face progressively got more deep. “And WHY did he do it?”
Neither spoke as Susan stared at Draco while he looked everywhere but at the two of them.
“Draco.”
“M-my dad found an old marriage contract between our two families!” Draco squealed it out in a lightning speed while hiding his face underneath his camp shirt.
Harry stared blankly at the boy as Draco slowly began to grow nervously by the second, stuttering through his words with every attempt of explanation.
“The contract states that a second-born of the Potter family is to marry the Malfoy heir as a payment for a favor from a few generations ago.” Susan explained, her hand patted Draco’s back soothingly. “Since it’s a magical contract, the only way for it to be avoided is if one of you died.”
Harry had never regretted his decision to not join his boyfriend to Kronos side more than at that moment.
“Great, so Draco and I are engaged.” He blatantly ignored his pale friend's red face as he moved towards the Big House, with the two others in tow. “I’m guessing they’re not gonna tell me this.”
“N-no, they won’t!” Draco piped, positioning himself on Harry's right side. “And they’ll probably want to apologize.”
Before Harry could ask more his friends pushed him behind them as the three walked inside the Big House, where Chiron, a very old man, two adults, a child that looked like a perfect mix of the two and two others stood around a table.
“Malfoy.” The leader of the kids hissed, with the two others glaring from behind.
“Why would I? You’ve been hiding my brother from us, you snake.”
With all the stories Susan had told him about their wizarding school and all the Iris messages they had exchanged, Harry was surprised that Draco wasn’t immediately at their throat. Draco just groaned quietly, he rubbed his temple as if just hearing the boy’s voice made his headache worse.
“Just, stop. This summer has been hard enough without the three of you being here at camp.”
Harry put a hand on Draco’s shoulder, which made the blonde’s shoulders sink slightly and eyes flutter. Even though they’d won, Draco had also lost some siblings and hadn’t been sleeping well either.
“He didn’t hide me from you, none of us even knew who my parents were.” He quickly corrected the boy, who flinched as Harry dragged himself towards them. “All I remember is waking up here at camp, nothing else.”
The two adults moved to him immediately, hands reaching out to embrace him with tears in their eyes. But the moments from battle took over his body as he immediately drew out his sword and pointed it at the two, stopping them at their tracks with yelps and cries.
“Harry! You’re not in battle anymore, remember?”
Chiron’s words immediately snapped his body out of its defense stance, though he still had his sword out.
“Is that a real sword?” The girl in the back asked, baffled.
“And what do you mean battle?” The ginger boy asked.
“Why does he have a sword?” Their leader screamed.
They were all ignored as the ginger woman and the tall man put their open hands in front of their chest, to show they didn’t have anything to harm him with.
“Harry, it’s me, your mum!” The lady cried, tears already spilled from her eyes. “Please, love, we’re your parents!”
The man, who Harry noticed had the same nose and hair as him, nodded. “Yeah, Harry. I’m your dad. Please, put down the sword. We’re so sorry for what happened and we miss you.”
“Yeah, Harry! I’m really sorry.” The leader of the group, who looked like a perfect mix of the two adults, pleaded with evident regret and raw emotions in his eyes, unlike the glare he had thrown at Draco. “Please, Harry.”
If this had happened only a year before, Harry would have laughed at their faces. But war changes people, Harry had no energy to spare.
“I have literally never seen any of you in my life.”
All of their eyes widened in horror as Harry slowly put his sword away.
“They really are your family, my boy.” The old man spoke in a calm voice, the type that made Harry’s skin itched. “These are your parents, Lily and James Potter.”
He then put his arms on their son’s shoulders, the boy still too shocked to notice. “And this is your brother, Jacob Potter.”
“You’ve got to be shitting me.”
“Language.” Chiron scolded, though immediately softened as he looked Harry in the eyes. “Why don’t we all sit down and let them explain, huh?”
“I already know about the wizarding world and what’s happening?”
“And how do you know?” The bushy haired girl questioned, eyes narrowed at him.
Harry narrowed his eyes back at her. “Because Draco and Susan tells me everything.”
“Yeah, Granger. Isn’t it obvious?” Draco snickered.
“Draco?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut up.”
“Fine.”
Harry watched at the wizards' surprise at the exchange between them. It was hard not to smirk slightly as even his supposed parents looked puzzled.
“Then you must know that you need to come to Hogwarts.” The old man, Dumbledore, said calmly. “There’s a war coming, and we need you on the right side, my boy.”
“Yeah, Harry! You need to come home” Jacob exclaimed as he put himself right in front of him. “We need you to stand with us, I need you. Harry,”
“No.”
Jacob’s shoulders dropped and eyes immediately filled with panic. “W-what? Why?!”
“I’ve had the worst year of my life and I’m tired.” He sighed, as he leaned towards his two friends. “All I want to do now is to finish High school and go to college.”
“But you need to help us!” The red-head, Weasley, exclaimed in fury. “Your family needs you!”
“And it’s safe at Hogwarts.” Granger joined in. “Don’t you want to get to know your parents better?”
Lily and James Potter stepped closer as well, each their hands hovered over Harry’s occupied-by-his-friends-supportive-squeezes-shoulders.
“We promise to be better, Harry!” James cried. “I know I messed up, but I’ve been trying every day.”
Lily nodded in agreement. “We know what we did was wrong, but please Harry!”
“Yeah, here’s the thing.” Harry said, then paused. He watched as they all watched him with bated breath. “I don’t care what you guys did, nor do I want anything to do with you. I’m perfectly fine where I am, so y’all can shove your brooms up your-”
“Harry!” Chiron yelled mortified. “I know this summer has been a lot but-”
“NO!”
Everyone took one step away from him. Harry knew his eyes were glowing pink as soon as he turned towards Draco. He had a look of awe he always wore whenever Harry’s eyes glowed, a mix of awe, respect and a hint of fear.
“I don’t care what you did, how sorry you are or why you did it.” He began.
“I have no memories of the past, so my decisions aren't based on that. I don’t want to be involved in another war just after I was just in one.”
Lily and James Potter’s eyes immediately softened. “Harry, we understand, but we need-”
“I REFUSE TO GO INTO ANOTHER WAR AFTER I HAD TO WATCH MY FRIENDS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS DIE IN ONE!”
His voice rippled through the whole room, making every mouth shut.
“I refuse to put myself or my friends,” His hands immediately directed to Draco and Susan, who stood with small smiles. “-through another life or death situation. Not again.”
Harry immediately turned on his heels and walked out, his friends following behind as they all ignored the calls to them.
It didn’t take long for the three of them to arrive at the lake, where Harry decided to throw pebbles while his two more-experienced-with-magic friends sat on the dock and watched.
“I’m sorry Harry.” Draco sighed once he decided to give up and join his two friends. “I can try and convince my dad to find a loophole or something.”
Harry let out a dry laugh and shook his head. “That’s sweet, but I doubt it could work.”
“Yeah, Draco. You should know better than to avoid a magical contract.”
Both Harry and Susan laughed as Draco groaned dramatically, hands over his face.
“At least we’re all staying at camp together.”
For the second time that day, Harry felt his chest filled with warmth. “You’re staying this year?”
Draco looked sheepish as he turned his head towards them. “Yeah, my parents are getting pressured to make me join the dark lord, so they want me away for a while.”
“Same here.” Susan sighed, her pigtails somehow drooped along with her eyes. “Aunt Amelia doesn’t want to take chances with my life.”
“Then we’ll all be staying.” Harry declared. “And we’ll finally get the break we deserve.”
“Not so fast, sweetheart!”
They all jumped at the voice and snapped their heads to see Aphrodite and Ares standing behind them, looming over them with their Godly presence.
“Lord Ares! Lady Aphrodite!”
His friends immediately moved to bow down to the two, and Harry reluctantly followed.
“No need to bow.” Ares grumbled, his arms folded over his chest. “Stand up, soldiers.”
They all stood straight, his friends slightly behind him as the two Gods had their focus clearly on him.
“Is there anything you need, my lord?”
“Come on, baby.” Aphrodite cooed, her fingers stroking his hair. “We’re your parents, do we need a reason to see you?”
Ares laughed as well, putting his hand on Harry’s shoulder.
“Don’t miss seeing your dad?”
“Last time I saw you, Lord Ares, you told me that you were glad all your sons were properly built, unlike me.” He retorted, careful to not reveal any emotions. “And that I was a shame to whoever my godly parent is with how much of a sissy I am.”
Both his parents’ touch ripped away at that, Aphrodite glared at Ares while he looked down uncomfortably.
“It was a very stressful time.” He groaned. “And I gave you my blessing right before the battle, didn’t I?”
He didn’t need to turn around to know his friends were grimacing at the mention of the blessing. Harry could feel the same rage and anguish that had driven him mad in battle fizzle inside his chest. The moment Ethan died in his arms, all he could see was red, which only went away once he passed out from exhaustion long after the battle was won.
“So, what do you need?” He asked again, there was no need for him to play nice with the same parents that refused to see him or claim him for so many years. The same ones that made Ethan, Luke, and many others lose their hearts.
“Harry, my dear.” Aphrodite cooed, her arm wrapped around him as she pulled him between them. “We think you should go to Hogwarts.”
Harry scoffed. “And why should I?”
“This will be a good opportunity to explore your powers in battle.” Ares said.
“And maybe you’ll even find love.” Aphrodite giggled, her head turned towards the witch and wizard standing by them. “Or at least, get to know your true love better.”
Draco immediately turned pale and looked down, it was clear to them that the whole contract was Harry’s mothers doing. He almost felt bad for Draco, all his friend ever wanted in life was to live peacefully with his family, like all of them.
“I’m planning on being a catholic priest and taking an oath of celibacy.” Harry snarled. “I don’t care about this contract bullshit, I just want to live my life in peace and you can’t even give me that.”
His mother gasped, clearly offended while his friends huffed to hold back their laughs. This was something they had discussed more than once, Harry’s plan of avoiding Aphrodite’s blessing by doing the male equivalent of the Huntress of Artemis. If the goddess ever accepted any males, Harry would be the first in line.
“Why would you ever want to avoid love?!” She asked exasperated. “I worked so hard for my precious, special boy’s love life to be exciting.”
Harry scowled and quickly moved himself away from the two. “If that is all, my answer is still no. I refuse to get involved in another war. Especially when that has nothing to do with me.”
“Aphrodite, sweetheart. Why don’t you and the two brats go over and talk to the wizards?” Ares said after a moment of silence. “I need to talk to my son.”
Aphrodite rolled her eyes but quickly did as told, dragging his two friends with her, leaving Harry alone with Ares.
“Harry, I have never lived a mortal life so I don’t know what my children need.”
“Yeah, no shit.”
“But you are my child, Harry. And I-”
“No, I’m a roleplay with your lover gone wrong. You made that clear to me when I was on Clarisse’s quest for the Golden Fleece, before I even knew you were my sire. And in the letter explanation when you two claimed me”
There was another moment of silence, Ares' eyes glowed as the two stared at each other. Harry could feel his body tremble, the God could easily kill him there and then, the Gods didn’t show mercy, afterall.
“Do not interrupt me.” The God snapped, but immediately calmed himself again. “Pull out your hands.”
Harry flinched but did as told, eyes shut and mouth zipped. The smack, or slash, never came as a familiar heaviness weight in his hands instead, along with a tingle around his neck.
He opened his eyes slowly, to see a sword that was almost identical to the one he already had in his hands, and a necklace around his neck. The necklace was silver, with an emerald gem formed like a small bottle, with caps and all. He turned back to see Ares with a grin on his face.
“What’s this?” He asked, pushing the sword toward the god.
Ares put his hand up and Harry stopped. “I’m giving all my surviving children a weapon as compensation-”
“Yeah, ‘cause one little gift is enough to forgive years of neglect.”
“What did I say about interruptions?”
Harry shut up immediately.
“And the necklace contains your memories, from before you got to camp.”
Harry’s eyes widened as he took in the necklace, then his father, who looked somewhat regretfully at the emerald.
“I thought my memories couldn’t be recovered.” He whispered. “Chiron said they were too far gone.”
Ares laughed without any humor. “That’s because the memories were causing more harm than good. I made a mistake that you paid for, and I couldn’t do anything before it was too late.”
Harry’s head snapped as the words hit him where it hurt, the fizzles of rage were suddenly field slightly as his chest burned. His eyes burned as tears fell down, but he refused to acknowledge them with the God present.
“If you care so much about me, about all of us, why did you have to be so cruel?”
“The laws for how Gods and their mortal children are placed for a reason, Harry.” His voice strained as he spoke. “Before, the Gods would get too attached to their mortal children, and when they eventually died, disasters struck due to their grief and lack of work.”
It was all Harry could do not to laugh, so he scoffed. “You could’ve at least helped us. Or paid child support.”
“Harry, we couldn’t do anything to help-”
“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”
Harry knew he messed up as the God of war growled. “Couldn’t.”
Something flashed in Ares’ eyes, he couldn’t tell what it was but his feet took a step back for him. The God noticed and immediately turned his eyes off and shoulders slumped.
“I’ve been watching you since the day I found out about your existence, Harry.” He said grumpily. “And I know how much you’ve improved since your quest with Clarisse, kid. You make me proud.”
Harry continued to stay quiet as Ares let out a tired sigh, his eyes kept shifting to the emerald around Harry’s neck. Even with all the years of absence, there was clear affection for him, at least on Ares’ part.
“Why did you come to give me this personally?” Harry asked. “Why didn’t you come when all your kids were here?”
Ares didn’t answer immediately. He took a step closer and his large hands cupped Harry’s cheeks. “Because you’re the first kid I’ve had in a long time with the love of my life, you’re a product of true love, kid.”
Harry couldn’t help the heat that ran in his face, the rough and large hands were hot as fire. It was impossible not to look his father in the eyes, and he could tell his father did love him, in his own weird way.
“When you’re ready, you can open the necklace and drink the liquid in it. But I want you to wait until you get to the wizards school.”
Harry scowled as Ares let go of him, the cool air hit his face instantly. “I really can’t have my own memories back until I get to that school?”
“It’s because things will make more sense if you go with them.” Ares stated, his eyes turned towards the Big House. “If you hadn’t gone through what you did before I found you, you would’ve gone to school with that brother of yours anyway.”
“Speaking of brother,” Harry shook his head. “Is he also your kid?”
“No, he’s fully the mortal couple’s. You’re all four of ours.”
The god put his hand on Harry’s shoulder and gave a firm grip. “I’m gonna be honest, I detest the fact that your involved with that Athena spawn-”
“He’s just a friend, dad.”
“-but I agree with your mother. This is the only chance you have to live a somewhat normal life.”
Harry laughed. After years of staying at camp, that was his normal life. “Am I allowed to say no?”
“Would it be better if I made this an official quest?”
He raised a brow at the God, who didn’t look fazed at all. “What would it entail?”
“You’ll have to protect that Potter kid for the school year.” Ares explained, his eyes moving to the Big House. “But don’t get too close to them, kid.”
“Why?”
“Because they abandoned you for stupid reasons.” Ares growled. “And you have subordinates to lean on.”
“Friends, dad.”
“So, do you accept this quest?”
It didn’t take long for Harry to make his decision. If he denied the quest and stayed in camp, he'd just be miserable. But if he accepted, at least he’d be miserable in another country and spend more time with his two best friends.
“Fine.” He answered. “I’ll go if Susan and Draco join me.”
Ares grinned and his fingers, and they were suddenly standing by the door of the Big House. Unlike before, the room was full of screaming from all sides. Aphrodite was red in the face and twice as tall as a regular mortal, looming over the Potters, Chiron was holding Draco back as he screeched at Jacob Potter with Susan yelling at the other two. The only one acting normal was the old man, who looked tired and over it. If he wasn’t with the people who supposedly abandoned him.
“QUIET!”
The whole room fell silent as Ares’ voice echoed, terrified eyes immediately on him. Harry would’ve been terrified himself if Ares’ hand wasn’t firmly holding his shoulder. Aphrodite was the first to break the silence, her form shrunk and immediately ran towards them with a sweet smile.
“My baby!” She moaned, pulling him into her arms. “I take it that you’ve made the right choice.”
Harry groaned and pushed her away. “If by that you mean accepted dad’s quest, then yes.”
He could see the Potters visibly sadded by the exchange in front of them, and Jacob looked somewhat defeated, but that wasn’t Harry’s problem to solve.
“Then we’ll take our leave.”
To no one’s surprise, Aphrodite immediately cooed and gave him a kiss on the cheek. To everyone’s horror, Ares pushed Harry’s hair off his face and gave a light kiss on his lightning scar that stretched from his forehead down to his eyes.
“Take care son.”
The two Gods were gone with a flash, leaving all mortals stunned in silence. It was quickly broken by Draco and Susan, who immediately ran to hug him.
“Guys! I’m fine.” Harry laughed as the two let go. “We just talked a bit, got some stuff out of my chest.”
Draco didn’t look convinced but nodded. “How are you feeling?”
“Better than the time you and the Stolls got caught trying to prank Chris Rodriguez by Clarisse.” Harry laughed. “For a son of Athena, you really dumb yourself down around those two.”
“Not to mention how they convinced you Spiderman was real once.” Susan piped in.
The confusion on the wizard's faces and the bafflement in Hermione’s was priceless, though they continued laughing at Draco.
“Enough about me-”
Jacob scoffed. “Shocker.”
“How did it go with your dad, Harry?”
“My dad turned this Hogwarts thing into a quest. I said I’ll go if you two go.”
His friends turned to each other with matching looks of surprised that turned into a grin.
Harry sighed. “I take it that the quest is official.”
“Oh, hell yeah!” Susan cheered. “I’ll finally prove to people you can be friends with your ex?”
Ron and Jacob gasped with equal amounts of shock. “Harry’s your ex-boyfriend?”
Draco rolled his eyes. “I don’t think it counts if you guys got together on a dare, Susan.”
“But we did kiss though.”
“Oh yeah, we did.” Harry laughed. “But that was partly to make him jealous.”
All three immediately sobered up at the mention of Harry’s ex-boyfriend that none of the wizards knew. The guests were clearly curious about him, all eyes staring at the three as they looked to the floor.
The silence was broken quickly by a cough from James. “Harry, I know you don’t trust us yet, but you can tell us anything.”
Lily immediately nodded vigorously, hands reached out to him only to be stopped by Susan, who put herself between them and Harry.
“Harry, please. We’re your parents! We deserve to know you better-”
“Shut the fuck up.” Susan growled, startling the parents to take a step back.
James' soft eyes turned into a glare. “Young lady, that’s our son-”
“With all due respect, sir, that doesn’t mean shit to any of us.” Draco scoffed, his hand immediately held onto Harry’s shoulder.
“How dare you, Malfoy-”
“Do you really not remember me?”
Everyone turned to Jacob, who looked a mix between horrified, hopeful, sad and gloomy.
“No, I don’t.”
Jacob sighed. “Do you want to remember? Do you want your memories back?”
Harry shrugged and gestured to the small emerald vial hanging on his chest. “I have them right here, if I want them, I just have to take a sip.”
His brother's face immediately paled but nodded, lips bitten and fingers twitched while his friends patted his back.
“So,” Harry turned to Chiron and Dumbledore, who were both slightly disinterested. “How are we gonna get there?”
“We are going back to England tonight.” Dumbledore explained calmly. “The three of you will be picked up in two days.”
“So you’re going now?”
“We’ll see you in two days, my boy.”
Dumbledore didn’t need to say more as the guest all followed him out the building, though they kept turning their heads back. With a flash, they were all gone, leaving Harry, Draco, Susan and Chiron.
“Off you go now,” Chiron shooed them out. “I need to prepare and arrange everything you’ll need at Hogwarts.”
Harry turned to his two friends, who looked more excited to go home than they had been. “I guess this is step one towards normal life.”
“As if any of our lives could be normal.” Draco said with a smile.
“Not to mention, the two of you are technically engaged.”
Both boys smacked each of her arms lightly.
“Draco, I love you, but I really am not in a mood for a relationship right now.”
“Understandable, we literally just survived the war.”
Susan scoffed. “Percy and Annabeth survived a war and still got together.”
“Shut up, Susan-”
“You wish, Malfoy-”
“Come on, guys.” Harry rolled his eyes as he pushed himself in between the two, linking his arms though theirs. “Camp fire’s starting soon, and I gotta see what weapon dad gave to the others.”
The two immediately stopped and held onto Harry’s arms, walking in a comfortable silence as the stars lightened their path.
Bonus Scene:
“Ah, Harry Potter. The son of Lord Ares and Lady Aphrodite.”
“‘Sup hat.”
“You have cunning, and strength. Yet you have no ambitions in life.”
“I just survived a war.”
“You do not have any motivation to do anything, merely to live peacefully.”
“Like I said, I was literally in a war.”
“I see that you desire fairness and justice, especially after the war.”
“Obviously.”
“And you feel strongly for those who weren’t claimed by their parents, like yourself?”
“We never asked to be born, they should’ve taken care of us. Pay child support at the least.”
“Yet you have no desire to know your past or future, do you?”
“I just want to live, man.”
“Hmm… Better be… HUFFLEPUFF!”