Disclaimer: I don't nor will I ever own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson.

Chapter 15

The sweep took longer than expected. The sun was creeping into the castle, golden and amber streaks chased away the darkness, when the group of heavily armed teenagers, caked in golden dust, had reached the last corridor.

"It's clear!" Fletcher announced, lowering his bow.

The tension from the group seemed to melt away.

"Thank the gods," Lou Ellen sighed, sheathing her daggers.

Despite multiple protests, Percy had joined them through the castle as reinforcements. "How in Hades did so many monsters get into the castle?"

Neville lent on his spear, his eyes nearly drifting close. "This has never happened before, the castle has always been safe."

"Safe my arse," Draco scoffed, shaking golden dust out of his hair. "We took out at least seven parties of monsters in the last four hours. Someone let them in."

There had been almost forty monsters spread out within the walls of Hogwarts. How they didn't harm any students or even run across any was beyond Percy.

Fletcher scratched his head nervously, "You don't think that it's one of the teachers?"

"My bets on Snape." Neville muttered.

Draco rolled his eyes, but didn't seem to disagree.

"It doesn't matter at the moment." Percy said, one had wrapped around his abdomen and the other using Riptide as a walking stick. "First things first, we need to report to Dumbledore and then we figure out who let them in and how."

The walk back to the headmasters office was filled with tired chatter, mostly on how the monsters got in Hogwarts.

"How about through a tunnel," Fletcher offered. "One no one knows about."

"Unlikely," Draco said. "But I bet you anything the Weasley twins would know."

Percy nodded.

"How about apparation?" Neville suggested, "if it is really one of the teachers."

"No one can apparate in or out of Hogwarts, it's one of the magical defences." Lou Ellen explained. "Only Dumbledore has that power."

A disturbing thought raced through Percy's mind.

Draco stopped mid-step. "Guys you don't think Dumbledore could have…" Draco said, practically reading Percy's mind.

Neville immediately jumped to the headmasters defence. "No way."

"It's Dumbledore." Fletcher agreed. "Right, Percy?"

Percy sighed. The pain in his side hadn't subsided. Despite drinking almost a gallon of water, which just healed his broken ribs and restored his energy, the poison infected cut hurt like a bitch.

"I don't know." He answered truthfully. "But until we find out how, we keep everything in house. We'll report to Dumbledore about tonight and hopefully put some measures in place. But once we do that nothing goes out of this group."

The demigods nodded.

The hike up the stairs almost killed Percy. Dark spots clouded his vision, his lungs screamed for oxygen and it stung with every breath. When he got to the top he was so relieved he almost sat down.

"You alright there, Percy?" Lou Ellen steadied his swaying form. "You look like shit."

"We took out almost an army of monsters tonight and the stairs will be the mighty son of the sea god's downfall." Draco joked.

"It's a plant based poison from the sea. The poison won't kill him yet, he'll just wish he was dead." Neville pointed out, not realising what he just said.

"That was really dark, plant boy." Percy wheezed out.

Neville blushes, "sorry."

Percy thanked the gods he made it to Dumbledore office without collapsing or dying from the stairs - that would have been embarrassing - where both Dumbledore and McGonagall were waiting.

"Is the castle secure?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Yes, professor." Percy answered, crumpled onto a chair. "All the monsters are dust and no student or teacher saw a thing."

"There's still the matter of how they came to enter the castle." Dumbledore said, severely. "And how to prevent a next attack."

"We were talking about that, headmaster." Fletcher began. "Magic can't kill these things, only our weapons can."

Lou Ellen coughed, "I mean my magic can kill them."

Fletcher glared at her. "Normal magic."

Lou Ellen glared back.

Draco rolled his eyes at their bickering. "Cut it out, love birds."

"No-"

"Wha-"

"So what are you suggesting?" McGonagall asked, interrupting their childish antics, "that we arm every student and teacher?"

"Not quite, professor." Percy said. "Demigods could patrol the castle at nights."

"We simply can't have children running round the castle at night." McGonagall said, exasperated.

"Not children, demigods." Lou Ellen cut in, her face still burning from Draco's comment.

"You are all children." McGonagall said, sternly.

"Even if we did consider this plan-"

"Which we are not." McGonagall muttered.

"How would we conceal several demigods with weapons away from wandering students or teachers?" Dumbledore asked, but from his tone of voice and the twinkle in his eye made it seem like he already knew the answer.

Percy couldn't really think, the pain was overwhelming. Annabeth would know what to do, Percy thought.

"The room!" Neville exclaimed. "There's a room that appears sometimes. All you have to do is think about it and it just appears, whenever you want."

Both teachers looked taken aback.

"The room of requirement," Dumbledore mused. "That could work. Very well done, Mr. Longbottom."

Neville blushed and stammered out a thank you.

"What's the room of requirement?" Percy asked.

"It's an enchanted room in the castle that will turn into virtually anything you want and can't be accessed by anyone else." Lou Ellen explained, "Mum might be able enchant a fireplace so demigods can travel in and out from camp."

"And what off during the day?" McGonagall asked.

"You've already got us five in and out of the castle all day, but monsters are more likely to attack at night." Percy's mind was racing. "Whoever sent the monster will definitely try again."

"That's reassuring." Draco muttered sarcastically.

"They don't want to expose themselves so the only time to bring the monsters is at night." Percy concluded.

"It's settled then." Dumbledore announced. "I will leave it to you, Mr. Jackson, to plan the finer details of this arraignment with Chiron."

"I need to travel back to camp, then." Percy stood up, cursing the Drakon a million times over when his head began to spin. "I need ambrosia and nectar for my wound and I can tell Chiron the plan."

"I'll go with you." A chorus of voice said.

Percy hesitated at the offer. All of them going could send up a red flag to whoever sent the monsters in the castle. There's a good chance that if they all left, whoever let the monsters in would know they were all demigods.

"I know you guys just want to see your brothers and sisters but I need you to start the preparations for the room of requirements." Percy explained.

The were a few dejected mutters of acceptance.

"How are you getting to camp, m'boy?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"I just need to get to the edge of the castle and away from prying eyes." Percy smirked, "and some sugar cubes."

Fifteen minutes later, Percy was at the edge of the quidditch pitch. His pocket filled with sugar cubes and his eyes shut tight.

"Uh, what exactly is he doing?" Lou Ellen muttered.

"I think the poison got to his brain." Neville said, worriedly.

"Or he got hit in the head during the fight." Fletcher suggested.

"Yeah and lost his last brain cell." Draco snickered.

"Shut up, you guys. I'm trying to concentrate." Percy said. He closed his eyes again, concentrating on the familiar tug in his gut. Seconds later he heard the familiar sound of wings beating against the sky.

Hey boss, Blackjack circled before setting down. You look like crap. And I practically live next to mine.

"Good to see you, too, Blackjack." Percy retorted. "I need your help."

And you called the most awesome Pegasus in England, Percy swore Blackjack puffed out his chest - or the horse equivalent.

"I'm pretty sure you're the only Pegasus in England." Percy snorted.

Details.

"You're flying back to camp." Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Blackjack can get me there in no time." Percy said. "He's the fastest Pegasus at camp."

You're damn right, Blackjack sniffed the air. Hey boss, I don't suppose you've got any sugar cubes on you.

Percy rolled his eyes, "you know they're bad for you." But fished a couple out from his pocket and fed him them.

You're the best, boss.

"Don't call me boss."

Whatever you say, boss.

Percy rolled his eyes and turned to the group demigods. "I'll be back before tonight."

"We'll have everything sorted before then." Lou Ellen assures.

"Make sure in the room, there's some way from the castle to the camp." Percy said. "And that it's big enough for a dozen demigods or so."

"A dozens a bit excessive." Fletcher said.

"Just in case." Percy replied. "And an armoury."

"Alright."

"And a sleeping area."

"Okay."

"And a-"

"We've got it Percy." Draco grinned. "We'll send you an Iris message when we've finished."

"Okay."

"And I'll tell Harry you had an emergency back in America." Neville said.

Crap, Percy thought. I didn't even think about what I was gonna say to Harry. But Percy cast that thought aside. He didn't have time to worry about an explanation now, he just needed to get home.

"Thanks you guys." Percy said, as he mounted Blackjack. "I'll see you tonight."

Blackjack took off. The bitterly cold autumn wind stung Percy's face and regretted only wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

Where we going, boss?

"Home."

It only took three hours for Blackjack to fly from England to America. During that time, Percy could feel the venom - and the pain - spread. By the time they landed, it was almost seven in east coast time.

Blackjack set down next to the rows of cabins and Percy clambered off. 'Clambered off' seemed a little more graceful then what actually happened. Percy ended up on his face. The stabbing shootings of pain had expanded from the wound on his stomach to the tips of his fingers and toes. Halfway through the journey, Percy had grown incredibly hot despite the fact it was under twenty degrees and most demigods were wearing coats over their orange camp half-blood t-shirts.

You okay, boss? Blackjack asked, nervously.

"Yeah, just fine." Percy's voice was muffled by the grass.

"Percy?" A voice exclaimed, from somewhere to the left of him.

The son of Poseidon staggered to his feet, clinging to Blackjack's saddle for support.

Thalia came racing towards her cousin, sparks flying off the angry daughter of Zeus. "Where the hell have you been? It's been weeks! Annabeth's been out of her mind! Chiron said you left on a secret mission!"

"Something like that," Percy muttered weakly.

Thalia stopped, her brows furrowing in concern. "Are you okay?"

"Other than poison that could kill me any second, I'm awesome. How are you?"

Thalia growled. "Seriously, kelp head."

"Not joking." Percy almost crumpled but Thalia caught him. She grabbed his arm and swung it over her shoulder, and supported him as they moved towards the Big House.

"You nearly went and got yourself killed, fish brains." Thalia sounded less angry.

"Only for the attention, Pinecone face." Percy mumbled, sarcastically.

"Always knew you were an attention whore." Thalia gritted out, pulling Percy inside the building.

Through his blurry vision he could make out two figures talking quietly.

"Help!" Thalia called to them. "Percy needs some help."

"Percy?" A new voice cried.

Percy knew that voice. A smile passed over his face. "Annabe-"

A wave of pain washed over Percy and his eyes rolled back into his head as he let the darkness consume him.

I know it's been like two years but here you guys go. Review and tell me how made you guys are at me.