Valentine

Chapter 22, Harry

The first training session went about as well as expected. One hour he and the other wizards spent thrashing at the wooden figures with borrowed weapons in turns. They'd attack and the demigods would critique them and give them a few tips as someone else tried their luck. Round after round.

It was exhausting and annoyingly slow progress. They didn't want to risk exchanging weapons again so Leo built a few wooden knock-offs that had roughly the right size and weight.

The problem was that none of the wizards knew what kind of weapon was right for them. Ron picked something the size of a longsword and almost fell over when Jason dropped it in his hands.

Harry himself fairly quickly decided on a shape that reminded him of the gladius Percys' sword had turned into for him. The weight was a little off and it didn't feel nearly as good as the real thing. With the gladius, he had had the feeling that it led him. This weapon didn't help at all and quite frankly he felt a little stupid for beating up their improvised dummies with it.

Fred and George had each chosen a long and a short dagger, which meant that Annabeth hyper-focused on them because apparently, that was a difficult fighting style. "They are equally for defense and offense, so you have to know both equally well," she insisted.

Hermione and Ginny both made rather odd choices, in Harry's opinion. The thing Ginny picked was an old Egyptian battle ax called a khopesh. It was strangely curved and insanely heavy.

Hermione decided on something that looked like a long stick to Harry. Hazel explained it was a javelin similar to her own and that technically a shield belonged with it. Annabeth also equipped the girls with two throwing knives each.

The seven took turns in circling around them and going over the basics. Beginning with the right way to hold the weapons, going over how-not-to-kill-yourself and ending with the right stance and most basic maneuvers.

The Greeks and Romans had crucially different ways of going about this. Percy would encourage them to 'just wing it,' and see what their instincts told them to do before correcting them. Jason, on the other hand, insisted that they had to know the theory first.

Jason had them advance on the dummies with their weapons twenty times until he was satisfied with the way they walked. Harry was close to lashing out at him when he finally allowed them to move on.

One hour later his lungs burned and exhaustion washed over him in waves, it reminded him of an especially taxing Quidditch training session. The others didn't look much better, they panted and wiped their faces. Hermione leaned against the wall and Ginny tried to stretch out her arm with a grimace.

They'd all be sore tomorrow but if it gave them even the slightest advantage on the deatheaters, it was worth it.

Despite the exhaustion, they decided to keep going for another hour. This time it was the demigods turn to learn something new.

Harry began going over wand movement with Leo and Frank who both needed a lot of help, while Fred dueled with Annabeth and Percy.

It wasn't a real duel but the fact that they could keep up already was a good sign. After all, they hadn't ever held a wand before last week. They began with stunning spells, easy but effective.

Annabeth grew fond of 'petrificus totalus,' right away. She checked twice that it didn't do any permanent damage before promptly testing it on Leo.

A little later, Percy managed a pretty decent shielding charm. Fred and George cast all kinds of minor hexes on it until it eventually broke after five minutes. It wouldn't last against the unforgivables but for the moment it was good enough.

By the end of the lesson, they had made a fair amount of progress. The seven were eager to learn and they at least no longer looked as awkward and rough with their wands as they had in the beginning.

Right away Harry had noticed that Percy had a fixation on offensive spells while Annabeth favored defense. It made them a fantastic team but he needed to remember to challenge them both on opposite tactics.

Leo was good with tricky charms and hexes that focused on enchantments like changing the color of objects. Harry supposed it was the magical side of his talents with machinery.

Hazel had an overall good grasp on magic but she kept forgetting to use her wand, she'd just raise her hand and get decent results anyways. Frank seemed strangely talented when it came to transfiguration.

Jason was fine with both offense and defense, he wasn't as good as Percy and Annabeth but his talent was more evenly split on both sides. Piper appeared to struggle with just about everything that wasn't related to the dark arts.

Harry didn't like it but he supposed magic was only as good as what you used it for. He asked Hermione to research good spells with shady backgrounds, in Piper's favor. He also remembered that she had done a fair job at potions earlier today and at this point, they had to exploit any talent.

With some coaching, the seven were easily able to pick up just about any spell that he, Ron, and Hermione could do. For now, they just had to memorize the words and by next week they'd begin working on more complicated magic.

Thinking about lesson plans and the best way to teach the Patronus charm, he allowed himself to drop on the couch they had moved back in front of the fireplace. The others followed suit and for a second there was nothing but tired silence.

"We need a way to stay in contact," mused Hermione unpromptedly. "In case something immediate comes up, you know?"

Mumbled agreement met her but no one seemed to have any ideas. "I'll research it," sighed Hermione after a while.

The twins were the first to depart. Apparently, they had to keep up appearances elsewhere. Most likely in relation to their joke business, Harry felt bad for them, after all the training they put up with they had even more work to do.

With a groan he remembered his own mountain of homework, this would surely be an exhausting year if nothing else. His thoughts drifted to the Gryffindor common room, and he was less than eager to get back.

This morning another article about him had been in the daily prophet, even worse than the last. It was just wrong, there wasn't a single correct fact in the whole damn article, but the entire wizarding world believed it and there was nothing he could do. Dumbledore was infuriatingly calm about the whole matter and the suspicion was creeping up on Harry that the old man was avoiding him on purpose. He felt lost.

They'd discussed the previous articles so much that Harry didn't want to bother Ron and Hermione again. He kept quiet, fuming at every word as they shot him worried glances.

It didn't help his situation that Percy attempted to prove that Slytherins and Gryffindors could be friends by pointedly talking to Harry every chance he got. He knew he should appreciate the effort, but since his housemates didn't exactly think highly of him it did zero good.

Their high spirits were admirable but he had to wonder how long they'd last. He heard the mumbling in the corridors more than they did, maybe because he was used to it or maybe they were ignoring it. But they couldn't dismiss it forever.

He heard that Piper and Percy had been briefly kicked out of their common room and it worried him. All their efforts would be for nothing if the Slytherins decided to shut them out, they had to go slower.

Voicing his thoughts, he fiddled with his wand. That was another thing to get used to; they all actually listened when he spoke and it was kind of intimidating. Even Ron and Hermione paid attention, they never did that if it was just the three of them.

There was something about Percy and Jason that just had that effect on people. If they deemed something important, everyone else cared too. They nodded along thoughtfully.

Once he was done, Piper chimed up and gave them a summary of her and Hermione's conversation with Parkinson. "Later on she told me that a lot of Slytherin students just use the whole muggleborn thing because it has such a strong effect. It's kind of like a shield or like bringing a hammer to a fistfight," she finished with a shrug.

Harry regarded her with raised eyebrows, now that was interesting. He wasn't sure what to think of Hermione having a civil conversation with Parkinson but he supposed it was necessary. Ron next to him revolted but Piper ignored him.

"It makes sense if you think about it," she went on, "Pansy's advice I mean. If you want to beat them, you have to fight like them. Figure out what they respond strongly too," she urged.

Harry glanced up. He did understand, only that he wasn't happy about it. "Bring your own hammer to the fistfight," he said with realization.

The others scowled irritatedly, only Percy clapped in his hands, "great, let's find a hammer!" He said. The other chuckled a little but no one seemed too enthusiastic.

Allowing the conversation to drift off, he just stared at the fire for a while. The dancing flames spread familiarity across the room be had only seen twice and he didn't mind it at all.

Just as he was considering to write to Sirius later, Hazel interrupted his thoughts.

"I'm going to try and call Nico again," she announced and got up.

Percy groaned, "again? You've tried three times today already. Maybe the connection is broken, or Iris is mad at us," he supposed.

Staying insistent, Hazel got a bottle of water and a golden Drachma out of her school bag. "We have to reach them eventually, so if you were so kind," she gestured at the bottle.

Percy obliged and formed a floating water screen in front of Hazel with a lazy wave of his hand. "It always has to be complicated with that guy," he grumbled. Leo produced a flashlight out of his tool belt and went to assist.

Watching Hazel as she said the incantation, he supposed that it was an awful lot more convenient than owl post. The rainbow shimmered in the middle of the room and turned dark for a second. It's colored returned and the spiel repeated itself a few times as Hazel cursed about the bad connection in the castle.

"We've been trying to reach you," greeted them a young guy with jet black hair and eyes. Harry recognized him as Hazel's brother right away even though they looked nothing alike. He wasn't sure why but there was just that same something about them, only that he radiated death slightly more.

It should have bothered Harry but for some reason it didn't, death itself was hardly to blame. The blame was on those who inflicted it.

The connection was awful, it wavered and shook but they understood him well enough. "We need to meet up, we have information that might concern your quest."

"Our quest," corrected the blonde guy behind Nico, they appeared to be in a random street in the middle of London.

Jason sighed, "so you've figured it out too? I think we really do have a lot to talk about. Where the hell are you?"

"Are you okay?" Added Hazel worriedly.

With an eye roll Nico assured his sister they were fine, "we're somewhere in London, we'll make it out of the city by dawn but I'm not sure how long it will take us to get to you from there. I think something is following us and once we're away from all the people it will most likely attack."

Harry was itching to ask what they could possibly have found out but considering the two were being followed it could probably wait.

Next to him, Hermione frowned, "will they even be able to find Hogwarts? Its location is supposed to be impossible to find for none-wizards," she informed them.

The blonde behind Nico addressed her, "according to Chiron the place we should go to is called Grimmauld place. No house number, you'd meet us there?" It sounded like an inquiry.

"Only that we're not there anymore," summarized Percy and pushed his hair back. "Stay in the city and try not to let your follower get you in the dark. I'll come and get you," he decided.

All heads turned to face Percy. Hermione shrieked that they couldn't just leave the school grounds whenever they liked but Harry felt a small grin spread on his face. Sure, it was kind of a stupid risk to take but he liked that about Percy.

Nico nodded and before they could exchange another word, the connection broke.

Everything seemed simple with Percy, a friend needed help so he'd go and help, end of discussion. Harry understood that. So did Jason apparently, "I'll come with you," he announced.

The other demigods protested that they wanted to come as well but Percy shot them down. "Jason and I can take Blackjack and Tempest to get there. No one will see us and we will be back in time for classes tomorrow. You need to cover for us here."

Begrudgingly the remaining demigods agreed. Harry was about to ask who Blackjack and Tempest were when Percy and Jason both got up walked towards the window. They opened it and whistled outside.

Simultaneously, Annabeth emptied her school bag and only put a small ziplock bag of golden squares and vials of golden liquid back in. Frowning thoughtfully, she added her New York Yankees cap, which made no sense to Harry.

"You should at least go and get some real coats," she commented and handed Percy the bag. Just at that moment, two horses appeared in front of the window.

'We are on the second floor,' thought Harry lamely. 'How?'
He took a closer look and saw that the black horse that Percy was talking to had giant eagle-like wings that were flapping at its side. The grey and white horse that unruly waited for Jason however, didn't have wings.

The second one was by far the more confusing sight. The longer Harry stared at it, the less sure he became of what it was. Its shape was constantly shifting and sometimes it appeared almost blue in the sunlight.

"That's Tempest, he's a wind spirit," explained Jason like that was supposed to make any sense. Harry halted, okay maybe that did make some sense.

Percy said his goodbyes to them, "we need to leave right away if we want to be back in time," he apologized and kissed Annabeth goodbye. Jason did the same with Piper. Then the two jumped out of the window.

He gasped but a second later they reappeared, each on the back of their respective horse. Or wind spirit. Percy mumbled something about buying donuts, they waved back and dashed off. Two teenage halfgods on flying horses over the castle grounds in the late afternoon sun, a strange sight but Harry was inclined to believe he'd seen stranger things.

Piper and Annabeth grumbled about stupid boys who couldn't wait till after dinner or at least get jackets. Harry smirked and hoped they'd teach him.

One after the other they made their way back to their common rooms. By the time dinner rolled around, he was still trying to get over the fact that his two friends jumped out of the window, literally.

McGonagall shot them suspicious glances, she must have noticed two of them were missing but she didn't call them out on it. Frank was already pretty well integrated with the Gryffindors and Harry was glad to see how well he got along with Neville.

The rest of the day went by relatively eventless. Harry did end up writing that letter to Sirius and he played chess against Ron (he lost miserably) and he was perfectly happy to be back home.

Before he knew it they went up to their dorms, he postponed his homework to the next day. The room had changed to accommodate another person when the year began and Frank was now also a roommate of his.

It was actually quite lucky to have Frank around, between Dean and Seamus arguing, Nevilles constant talk about plants and Ron being Ron it was good to have Franks calm presence reminding them all not to act like children.

Though he did suppose that Dean and Seamus' bickering had changed somehow. He wasn't sure what it was exactly but they seemed different, he dismissed it thinking that maybe they'd just grown up.

With the amount of training they'd gone through that day, Harry fell asleep within a matter of minutes. Just before his conscience slipped away, he wondered where Percy and Jason were right now and if they were doing okay. Then the nightmares took him.

________________________________________

Jason,

It was the middle of the night by the time they reached London. So high up, darkness shrouded them but the unmistakable city lights lead the way. A third pegasus, a deep brown steed who was a friend of Blackjacks was traveling with them.

Half an hour ago they took a short break, bought some donuts for Blackjack, and iris messaged Nico again to get a precise address.

Trafalgar Square came into view and despite the late hour, it was packed with mortals. They were really counting on the mist now and he was aware of it.

Soaring through the air on Tempest could somewhat be compared to a waterslide in winter. Frigid wind was biting at them but he was too busy trying to hold on to care. Only during their break, when he saw that his fingers were turning blue, did he notice the cold.

Percy was doing even worse. The air was Jason's territory, after all, he adapted to it in an instant. But Percy was shivering all over and Jason could hear his teeth clink together even at their distance. Whenever he suggested another break, Percy shot him down.

The three horses touched down in the middle of the square, not a second too early. In the midst of the people, Nico di Angelo and Will Solace were facing off against five Dracanea. The ugly monsters had surrounded them and Nico was limping. He still managed to hit one on the head with the flat of his sword but it was obvious they wouldn't last much longer.

Leaping off Tempests back, Jason threw his coin and caught a golden javelin. Percy mirrored him, and Riptide in hand he charged at the Dracanea. Absentmindedly Jason wondered how long the fight had been going on before they arrived and cursed himself for insisting on that one break.

"About time," greeted them Nico, as Jason joined him by impaling one Dracanea from behind. In a split second, Percy was at his other side and sliced the next monster in half.

The mortals around them had formed a circle and some were clapping, noted Jason irritably. The mist appeared to have a sense of humor and decided to disguise them as street artists, Jason guessed.

Will advanced on the next beast with a slim dagger but he too had been wounded. If Nico hadn't stepped in, it would have bitten off Will's hand. The thing disintegrated and in the darkness, Nico's black sword was almost invisible. Just a deadly reflection gliding through the air.

One of the remaining Dracanea complained in a strong British accent that the brochure had said there were no Demigods in England. It wailed.

Percy and Jason got rid of the last two Dracanea smoothly and stashed away their swords. Will and Nico were panting but mostly unharmed.

"We have about five minutes until the next flood gets here. They send them in groups of ten," Will informed them breathlessly.

Jason hugged Nico briefly, who scrambled away and growled at him not to get sentimental. They'd work on that.

He greeted Will with a short handshake. Percy hugged them both, again Nico tried to get away but this time much more insistently.

"Let's not waste any time then," declared Percy cheerfully and whistled for their horses who had wisely stayed away. Blackjack whinnied and Percy glanced at him, "yes, yes, I'll see what I can do about getting you more Donuts once we are back," he promised.

Jason grinned at his two exhausted friends. It was good to see them, even if it was because of another quest. He couldn't wait to show them around Hogwarts, he hadn't been there for long but he had come to like the castle already.

"Pick your ride," he told them, "we didn't want to risk taking four horses, there is only so much the mist can do, you know?" He shrugged, "Two of us will have to share."

Nico and Will glanced at each other and after a one-second silent discussion, Nico answered, "Will and I are going to ride together," he decided tonelessly and climbed on the brown steed. Solace took Nico's outstretched hand and climbed on behind him.

Jason watched them for a second and a thought was beginning to form in his head. It technically wasn't any of his business but he had been so sure Nico would insist to ride alone that this got him thinking. He raised one eyebrow as at Nico who ignored him.

'Good for them,' thought Jason and stifled his grin. Admittedly, taking only three horses had been a test for Nico, but he didn't need to know that.

Percy didn't get what passed between them. The guy kept surprising Jason, you want he dead perfect strategic plan to take out 200 enemies? Sure, Percy could do that. But unless someone asked him to think about it, social stuff went right over his head. How he ever managed to ask out Annabeth remained a mystery.

He shook his head as they silently took off into the night, followed by the awed clapping of dozens of mortals.

________________________________________

Will

The gash on his shoulder was throbbing painfully and after hours of fighting, the icy night air was a welcome relief. He held on to Nico and had both their backpacks slung over one arm. Uncomfortable but safe, he decided. It was good that they had each other.

Earlier he thought for a second that Nico would abandon him to ride alone and his heart did a delighted somersault when he didn't. Jasons' eyes lingered on them and Will felt himself blush but what did it matter?

Riding a pegasus was foreign but as a child of Apollo, he didn't mind being high up in the sky. It felt freeing, almost intoxicating to race along. Nico was with him, and for the moment they were invincible. The city lights were growing faint in the distance and the wind rushed in his ears.

Nico however, held on tensely, he wasn't enjoying the ride at all. Worriedly Will remembered the deep cut on Nico's leg that he got fighting those stupid monsters. "Are you okay?" He asked and pressed himself closer to Nico.

"Don't like not being on the ground," Nico confessed, "but I'm fine." Will held onto him a little tighter anyway and Nico seemed to relax the slightest bit.

They flew throughout the entire night and the first rays of sunlight were coming up by the time Jason yelled over his shoulder that they were almost there. Will looked up and silently greeted his Dad. One especially bright ray of light caught in a lake not too far from them and Will smiled. Maybe it had been his imagination, but as a demigod, you took whatever you got in terms of recognition from your parents.

Not much later, a castle came into view. 'That couldn't be their destination,' he thought awestruck. It's many towers stood harshly against the pastel blue morning sky. The entire building g was somehow imposing and welcoming at the same time. Light shone behind a few windows but this early in the morning it seemed mostly asleep.

Jason steered his strange tame wind spirit down towards the lake. "That's the school," he said pointing at the castle and gained speed. They followed him and grazed the water ever so slightly as they rushed on. The sunrise was a true spectacle that morning and Will knew he should have felt tired but being out in the sun always made him more alert.

Behind them, they faintly heard Percy curse in colorful greek. Glancing back, he saw that Blackjack had come to an abrupt stop in front of the lake to get a drink. He chuckled as he saw how Percy held on to the horse's neck in order to not fall into the lake.

Nico had finally gotten used to flying and now that they weren't as high up in the sky anymore, he could also appreciate Percy's cursing.

Awkwardly turning to see how Percy was doing, Nico came almost face to face with Will. His breath hitched and he couldn't help but think that by demigod standards, this was a pretty perfect morning. He had rarely felt so alive without being in the midst of a battle.

In only got better when on a whim, Nico leaned forth and kissed him. It was a short kiss and before he knew it Nico was facing away from him again, after all, they were balancing on a flying horse. This really wasn't the time for kissing but Will beamed brightly.

Percy raced past them on Blackjack in an attempt to catch up to Jason who was far ahead. "I saw that," he yelled at them over his shoulder with a mischievous smirk.

'Couldn't that guy ever shut up?' Will thought as he felt himself turn beet red. Nico ducked away in embarrassment but Jackson was too far ahead for them to reply something.

Deep green hills passed below them and they were gaining height again. The castle in front of them grew with every second. As they got closer, Will could make out more details and the place just unfolded into an even more wonderous one.

He didn't know how much time had passed but the sun was fully up by the time they came up right in front of a giant wooden gate. Carefully they landed on the lush green lawn. Through every single one of the hundreds of windows, people seemed to be watching them.

'What on earth was this place?' He wondered, promptly followed by the question of how long they'd been in sight of the windows.

Percy jumped off Blackjack and ran towards them, "welcome to school," he said. They both climbed down and awkwardly thanked their horse, it whinnied and nudged Will.

"School?" Asked Nico, sounding mildly terrified.

Jason walked towards them, "long story. Most importantly; magic school, pretend to be wizards. We will explain everything else later," he said hastily as the gates opened.

A woman with stern features and her hair in a strict grey bun came through, approaching them hurriedly. She wore emerald green robes and carried what Will now recognized as a wand in one hand. If this was a school for magic, she had to be a teacher.

His guess was confirmed when she began shouting at Percy and Jason the second she reached them.

"Percy Jackson. Jason Grace. Detention," she screeched out of breath, and glowered down on them, "be glad I got here before Professor Umbridge did," she warned them with another glare so fierce, Will suddenly wanted to turn in his history essay from three years ago. He took a step back.

Nico looked amused if anything as Percy and Jason sheepishly apologized. "Professor McGonagall, we didn't have much of a choice," began Jason.

"And we were back in time for classes," Percy added unhelpfully. "They were in trouble, somebody had to go. Asking for permission first would have taken way too long."

"I strongly advise you to find a way to ask for permission next time anyways. After breakfast, you will come to my office and we will discuss what happened and when you will facing detention," she announced but the sternness in her voice was already ebbing down.

Then she turned toward Will and Nico, eyeing them worriedly. "Your arrival may have been unconventional, but none the less, welcome at Hogwarts. I am professor McGonagall, headteacher of Gryffindor house and vice headmistress. Please follow your friends to my office after breakfast so we can get you sorted." She nodded with satisfaction.

"Mr. di Angelo, I'm assuming?" She turned to Nico who nodded curtly. "Your sister has been extraordinarily worried about you, I suggest you sit at her table until we know what house you belong to.

"And Mr. Solace, feel free to choose who you will follow for the day," she ended.

All that talk about houses confused him almost as much as the fact that she knew their names. He kept up the pretense and just agreed with everything.

Professor McGonagall turned briskly and walked back toward the castle, they went after her. In the doorway, they were met with another angry looking woman, this one entirely dressed in pink.

McGonagall pursed her lips and Percy and Jason glared at her. She took a deep breath as if she was about to begin a tirade. McGonagall stopped her by telling her 'everything had been handled orderly' and pulled her away down the corridor.

Sighing gratefully, Percy pulled them in the opposite direction, "thank the gods we don't have to deal with that toad right now. I'm starving, let's get breakfast."

Turning around a corner they found themselves in front of another gate, Jason stopped them. "Before we go in; this school is split into four houses based on personality. Until you know in which one you belong, don't talk to anyone you don't know. There is only a handful of students who knows were demigods and it's crucial for the mission that the others don't figure out we're different. They think we are American exchange students, just so you know."

"We are what?" Said Nico but before he got an answer Percy pushed the door open.

The hall was giant, floating candles, and the real sun illuminated it since it had no roof. Will instantly loved it. Four tables stood in the center and all the students stared at them.

Kids from each table jumped up and the rest of the seven ran towards them from different directions. Before they could protest or flee, they got engulfed in a giant group hug.

No wonder he hadn't recognized them right away, thought Will as Annabeth let go of him. They were all wearing school uniforms and cloaks and the image thoroughly confused him. Until then he hadn't paid much attention to what Percy and Jason were wearing but they too wore uniforms with different colored ties. Wierd.

In his orange CHB shirt, he stuck out like a sore thumb and grimaced for a second. Nico at least was wearing black (as usual).

The group dissolved as quickly as it came together, urged by the stares of hundreds of other students. Hazel dragged them along to her table. She loudly announced that they were the two exchange students their group had been waiting for and that they were now complete. Followed by the plea not to bother them right now because they had a long journey behind them. Nico next to him snorted.

Jason took it upon himself to glare at everyone who tried to approach them and they hurriedly loaded their plates with breakfast. It had been a while since they last had a real meal and the food smelled delicious. He could marvel at the strange castle later.

It by far wasn't the only thing on his mind anyway, he thought and glanced at Nico.