It was a quiet day in Camp Half Blood. Well, as quiet a day at a camp for demigod children of Greek gods and goddesses can be. Andrew awoke at precisely 7 in the morning like he always did. He was always one of the first to make it to the mess hall. Jason and Nico, the newly married couple usually joined him around 7:30. Piper came in after them, always alone since Leo had died and Jason was with Nico. Jason had decided to stay with his husband at Camp Half Blood for a year before they would start their life in New Rome at Camp Jupiter. Andrew was glad they were happy. The four of them usually Iris Messaged Reyna, Hazel, and Frank at around 8:30. It was nice to see them all happy and doing well. Mostly everyone was happy, Andrew noticed.

He couldn't help but feel jealous of their happiness. The war had taken a lot from them, but they were all happy now–they were okay. Andrew was okay, in a sense. He wasn't physically injured, but his mental and emotional strength hung by a thread ever since Tartarus. He was alone in that hell just like Nico was. At least Nico had Jason to help him though the night terrors and the visions. The only person Andrew wanted comfort from was in a whole different country.

Perci's Iris messages had become less and less frequent and her letters nonexistent. Andrew had no idea if she was even alive. He hadn't seen her since the summer. That was a few months ago. A lot could happen in a few months. They left each other in an odd place. Andrew had mistakenly kissed her. Well, not mistakenly. He had meant to do it for a while. She had accepted the kiss, even kissed him back. But when it was over she had said her heart belonged to another, that it would always belong to that person.

Andrew had been hurt, but he got over the pain in his chest. He pushed himself into finding out who the person was. She hadn't specifically said it was a man, so he thought that it was maybe a woman. Perci had expressed to him her attraction to women along with men. The female lover trail had died the second she told Andrew the name.

Fred

What kind of name was Fred? Was he 50 years old with large amounts of cats? What was Fred even short for? Fredrick? Fredmond? Alfred? Andrew didn't take it that well. After screaming at her for leading him on, he stormed off to the practice arena and shredded a couple of dummies. Andrew didn't see her the rest of the time she was at Camp. Andrew knew he needed to apologize. He acted like an irrational child. He asked Chiron everyday where she was, and he said she was training. Training for what? She wasn't a demigod anymore. Was she in danger? Andrew thought by going to that magic school she would stay out of trouble. From what he heard, she was right in the middle of it.

Andrew said goodbye to his friends and headed off to the archery range. He had a class to teach and wanted to set up early. Andrew scanned his schedule for his 9-10:30 archery class and groaned. The Aphrodite cabin. Piper had taught him not to underestimate children of Aphrodite, but Andrew had come to learn that Silena Beauregard and Piper McLean were two in a million. Most Aphrodite children were decent with a sword or dagger, but with a bow and arrow? They were horrid. Andrew often feared for his life during those classes.

Andrew got through the hour and a half unscathed surprisingly. He had to dodge a few stray arrows, but nothing too dangerous. Andrew pulled the arrows that barely made it onto the target and threw them into a pile. He trashed the arrows that were broken in half and the ones that smelled like some kind of hair product. Andrew huffed, tired and sweating from all of the up and down motion. He squinted, searching the grounds for anymore arrows. He spotted some by the border on the other side of Peleus.

"How the Hades did they get all the way over there?" He muttered to himself. Andrew didn't understand why he had to teach archery. Why couldn't one of the Apollo kids do it? It was beginning to irritate him. He sighed and headed over to the border, trudging up Half Blood Hill. He grabbed every last arrow he saw before petting Peleus, the dragon, on the foot. Peleus was there to guard the Golden Fleece that was wrapped around Thalia's tree. The dragon coiled himself around the tree protectively.

"How ya doin', buddy?" He yelled up, not expecting any verbal answer. Peleus turned his large snake-like, copper colored head toward the son of Athena. His head moved up and down. Andrew took that as a nod, a good sign. He looked up at the glimmering Golden Fleece. Andrew fondly remembered his quest with Perci and Tyson to save Grover and retrieve the Fleece. Well, Clarisse's quest that was given to her by Tantalus, the camp director that replaced Chiron momentarily. They were 13; Perci would've been in her third year of that magic school.

Andrew suddenly looked at the border, feeling something weird in his gut. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He grabbed his dagger, throwing down the pile of arrows he gathered. Peleus had noticed it at the same time. That smell. It was odd. Andrew felt as though he had smelled it before, but it was faint then. Now, it was so strong, he had to cover his nose. It didn't smell like a monster, but he treated it as one as he carefully made his way closer to the border. Peleus snarled, his yellow eyes glowering past the border.

Andrew took a deep breath and stepped outside of camp. He immediately hit something solid and fell backwards. He jumped to his feet, brandishing his dagger. But his eyes caught what he ran into, and he dropped the weapon.

Perci was standing in front of him, her eyes dark and her chest charred. Her messy, black hair framed her face. She held a long object in her hand; her wand, he mused. She looked different from the last time Andrew saw her. This time she did not look happy. Andrew had seen Perci angry before, but this time she looked furious, barely containing her rage.

"Perci." Andrew reminded himself to shut his mouth and straighten his back. She didn't crack a smile as she found his eyes. Her jaw looked so tightly clenched, Andrew was surprised her teeth weren't shattered.

"Andrew, I need help."

Andrew scowled as he glanced over at the tall, ginger man standing in front of the border. He was dressed in too short pajama pants and an ugly looking sweater with an F on it. Fred. So this was the infamous Fred who had Perci's heart. He didn't impress the son of Athena with his tall, lanky build and skinny looking arms. He was quite familiar, though.

"Andrew, please," Perci begged. She was asking him to let her and Fred into camp. They needed a place to stay while Perci gathered her bearings. She hadn't told him what happened before she got there, but Andrew trusted she would tell him when she was ready. Since she was not a demigod anymore and Fred never was, they couldn't freely walk into the camp. They needed permission.

"Fine, but if he makes one move that would endanger the camp, he's out," Andrew responded begrudgingly. Perci nodded and hugged him briefly, whispering a thank you. She hurried over to Fred whom looked thoroughly confused. After they spoke for a moment and after Fred gave her his wand, the three of them entered Camp Half Blood.

Andrew should've kicked Fred out with how he reacted to Peleus. One move, he had said. The moment they entered the camp and Fred spotted Peleus, he took back his wand and jumped in front of Perci. His body shielded hers as if she couldn't kill a dragon or handle herself. Andrew rolled his eyes. Perci tugged the tall ginger back.

"Fred, it's okay. That's just Peleus. He won't hurt us," she tried explaining. Fred relaxed slightly, lowering his wand. He glared up at the dragon.

"Definitely seems like it," he muttered as Peleus seemed to grin, showing all of his large, sharp teeth. The dragon coiled himself around the tree tighter, keeping an eye on Fred as they strode away. The entire long walk to the Big House was silent. Perci held onto Fred's arm as she followed Andrew. Fred stared at everything from the strawberry fields to the campers practicing sword fighting in the fields. As they walked, every camper stopped what they were doing and stared at Perci. They didn't know she wasn't a demigod daughter of Poseidon. They just knew she had been gone for a while. They also knew of her accomplishments in the Titan War. They always heard about her during the campfire, too.

Perci smiled at the campers she recognized, tugging Fred along. She noticed Nico and his new husband, Jason, and wanted to go talk to them. She vowed she would do it later. Fred didn't ask questions or say anything other than "wow" or "blimey" and the like. Perci assumed he was quite shocked. Fred had never been to the States. This was not how she wanted his first visit to be. She had always imagined being him to her old apartment in Manhattan, and then going to second-to-last floor of the Empire State Building. Then she would take him to Central Park and make him try New York pizza. He would've loved it.

The three of them finally came upon the Big House. Fred's eyes widened at the building, his forehead crinkling. "What's that?" He asked.

"The Big House," Perci replied, seeing Chiron and Dionysus on the porch.

Fred gave her a look. "I know that, Perce, but what's it called?" Perci rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips. Andrew went over to Chiron and Dionysus and whispered to them for a moment. Perci saw Dionysus huff, but nod, taking a long gulp of his Coke. Andrew nodded over at Perci.

"Fred, look at me." He turned his attention away from the Big House to her. "There's a lot that I have to explain, I know. But please, don't say anything. I promise you will get every answer you want later." She didn't need Fred saying the wrong thing and Dionysus choking him with a grape vine. Fred nodded hesitantly after looking up at the two strangers and followed her up to the porch.

Chiron was the first to greet her. He rose from his kneeling position in his natural form and trotted over to her. His eyes were as kind and wise as ever. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's wonderful to see you, Perci," he said, glancing over at Fred. Fred wasn't shocked–he had seen centaurs before.

"It's good to see you too, Chiron, Mr. D," she nodded over at Dionysus stiffly.

He rolled his eyes, swigging the can of Coke in his hand. "Whatever, Penny." Perci felt Fred shift beside her.

She put a hand on his shoulder. "This is Fred Weasley." Chiron nodded at him. He had heard Perci talk of him many times. He looked just as she had described him, except for the pajamas. Perci opened her mouth, about to go on when she heard a very familiar horn. Fred whipped around and went to go towards the sound, but Perci grabbed his hand. "No, stay with Andrew." Her tone gave Fred the hint that this was nonnegotiable. Fred didn't look pleased, but he nodded, and glanced over at an irritated Andrew. Chiron, Mr. D, and Perci quickly stepped down the steps. Before any of them could move any closer, a familiar, loud voice boomed from in front of them.

"PERCI JACKSON!" She yelled. "Where the Hades have you been?"

This place, Camp Half-Blood, Perci had called it, was one of the strangest places Fred had ever been. The people dressed like muggles, all wearing the same orange shirt. Some wore a type of padding and carried objects that Fred learned were weapons. His Muggle Studies class he took before he and George were expelled from Hogwarts was actually paying off. Fred saw large statues of men and women and huge houses, varying in decoration. Fred also noticed that every single person he saw was beautiful (in their own way). He had never seen so many pretty people in one place at one time.

However, Fred wasn't sure how he was feeling up until he heard some girl with spiky black hair call Perci 'Perci Jackson'. He hadn't heard anyone call her that since everyone found out she was Harry's sister. Fred studied the girl. She was familiar.

Her black hair was spiked with blue highlights. She had something silver circling across her forehead. She wore a silver reflective jacket and carried a silver bow and arrow. She was pale and freckled. Her blue eyes crackled as if there was electricity in them. They were lined with dark makeup. She seemed punk, or was it goth? Fred always mixed up the two. She strode up to Perci with an air of authority and power. She too, like everyone else, was pretty.

Perci stood in place comfortably as if the other girl's presence didn't bother her. Fred would've pissed his pants if that girl glared at him like she glared at Perci. He wanted to be close to her, to shield her from the stares and the glare, but he remembered what Perci had told him.

"Around," was Perci's response. She smirked at the other girl's reaction. Her glare hardened. Fred saw Perci glare back. He had to say that hers was quite frightening. Her green eyes turned a startling orange, piercing through the other girl's. The other girl took a step back, gripping her bow. Her expression gave away her confusion and fear. She must've never seen that part of Percy's animagus. Did she even know that Perci was a witch?

"I can see that," it was barely audible as many other girls and women strode up behind the girl, all dressed in similar attire. A girl, looking about 12 with long auburn hair put a hand on the other girl's arm.

"Now, Thalia. There's no need to be hostile. I give you permission to speak with your cousin," her voice was smooth. It seemed more mature than what her age was. Fred felt himself turning away at the sight of the red-headed girl, his eyes burning slightly. Fred could feel her authority 30 yards away, and it frightened him. He wasn't embarrassed to say that.

Thalia nodded at the girl and took a step toward Perci. Perci let up, relaxing her face of her glare. She turned facing Fred again. She wasn't mad. In fact, she had a small smile on her face. Thalia, too, was grinning. Fred was even more confused now than when he got here. Did she say cousin?

Andrew pulled Fred into the Big House just as Perci and Thalia walked up the steps. They followed them inside and sat in the nearest room with a couch and chairs. Fred plopped down in the chair closest to the couch. Perci and Thalia sat on the couch, while Andrew leaned against the wall.

"Thalia–" Perci began, but was engulfed in a tight hug from said girl. Perci hugged her back without hesitation, burying her head into the other girl's neck, closing her eyes.

"How are you? What happened to you? Andrew said you visited camp during the summer and went to Nico's wedding, but I couldn't be there. Last I saw you, you didn't come out of that maze two years ago. That Harry kid said Moldywart kidnapped you," Thalia said after they broke apart.

"I'm..." she hesitated. "Alright." She glanced at Fred. He slowly grabbed her hand in his two larger ones, seeing her face pale. She let out a sigh. Thalia narrowed her eyes at the interaction. "Yeah, Voldemort did kidnap me. And that kid Harry is my brother."

Thalia frowned, but nodded after a moment. "Artemis told us about Poseidon and everything. The gods don't want anyone at camp knowing."

Perci scoffed. "Of course. Nothing that puts them in a bad light."

Thalia shook her head, but knew she was right. "Perci, what happened?"

"It's a, er, long story." Thalia nodded for her to continue. "Some things happened after Voldemort kidnapped me. Cedric, do you remember him? He was murdered and the Ministry, not wanting to admit that Voldemort was back, blamed me. So when I was rescued, I had to hide in this apartment type thing."

Thalia frowned, interrupting her. "What about that guy you said was your brother?"

"Harry, yeah. He's my little brother. My real parents, Lily and James Potter, were killed when I was 3. I was given to Sally while they were fighting back against him. My parents were trying to get Harry to a safe place when Voldemort broke into their home and killed them. He tried killing Harry, but..." Thalia nodded. "Anyway. Sally had taken my memories of Lily, James, and Harry. She hid it in the Ministry of Magic. So, I became an animagus–a Phoenix. A bunch of stuff happened in the Ministry and people died." I killed someone, she wanted to say. Fred squeezed her hand. "I left after that and came here. The rest you know," she ended quickly. Everything that happened over the past couple years was not something she like talking about.

Thalia glanced at Fred and Perci's intertwined hands. "I remember you," she nodded at Fred. "You were at the dragon task two years ago. You're one of her British friends."

Fred took away one of his hands and stuck it out. "And you were one of her American mates. Fred Weasley. I'm Perci's boyfriend." Perci's head shot toward him, her eyes wide and staring at him. That was the first time he had used that word, that anyone used that word to describe the two's relationship. Fred could see Andrew walk out of the Big House. Thalia glanced at his outstretched hand and nodded.

"Nice to meet you, I guess." She looked at Perci, whom was still staring at Fred. "How long are you staying?"

Perci snapped out of it, turning back to Thalia. "Er, I dunno. School starts back up in a week." Thalia nodded. "I gotta talk to Fred, Thals. We can talk more later, okay?"

"Yeah, I'll introduce you to everyone." With that she left, sparing them a glance.

"What is going on?" Fred was exhausted and confused. He just wanted to know what was happening because he had no idea. Then again, he didn't know what was going on back home most of the time.

"A lot of this is going to confuse you because you don't know much about muggle stuff. So, just listen carefully, okay?" Fred nodded. "When Sally kept me, instead of giving me to Sirius or someone, she took my memories and raised me as her own. She had Poseidon, the Greek god of the seas and stuff, bless me as his 'child'." It was almost comical how large Fred's eyes were. "I grew up knowing I was a witch, but not knowing that I was a 'daughter' of Poseidon. Demigod–demigoddess. When I was 12 I was accused of stealing Zeus', Thalia's dad, lightning bolt. So I had to go get it. When I was 13 I had to save my friend Grover and get the Golden Fleece to keep the camp safe from monsters. The Golden Fleece was that yellow thing in the tree you saw when we first came in. When I was 14, Andrew and Artemis, goddess of the hunt and stuff, were kidnapped by titans. Me and some hunters, which is what Thalia is–but wasn't as the time–had to go save them. I had to hold up the sky, which is where I got that silver streak in my hair that you and George mercilessly made fun of." Fred grew red at that. "When I was 15, Andrew, Grover, and I had to go into this labyrinth because the titan Kronos, who was like the demigod's Voldemort, was using it to get into camp. I blew up a volcano and landed on Calypso's island. She's this girl who was imprisoned on that island because of her father. There's this curse where whoever lands on her island, she falls in love with, but they can never be together. We kinda..." she trailed off, noticing Fred's raised eyebrows and turned red. Fred guessed what she was implying and sputtered. "Anyway, everyone thought I was dead, which was not good because there was this prophecy about me that said I was either gonna save Olympus or destroy it when I turned 16."

This was the first time Fred spoke. "That's why you weren't at Hogwarts that one year."

Perci nodded. "There was this huge war that took place in New York City on Olympus. With every campers help, we defeated Kronos."

Fred gulped loudly, taking it all in. "Holy shit. Oh my God. Wow." Fred got up and began pacing, rubbing his temples. After a few minutes he sat back down. "Why didn't you tell me when all of this was going on?" He was admittedly angry at her, realizing that he had been lied to for years.

"It was too dangerous. And I was scared about how you'd react," she reasoned. She watched as he got up and started pacing again.

"So, what... there's more than one god?" He asked.

Perci nodded. "There's a bunch. But that doesn't matter–if you believe in one god, it's fine."

"Well, thanks for your permission," Fred muttered before he could stop himself. Perci rose an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, this is just a lot."

Perci ran a hand through her hair. "I know. You don't know how much I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't." She seemed physically pained telling him that. She put her head in her hands. Fred sat down beside Perci and grabbed her hands, his anger fizzling out.

"It's okay," he kissed her temple. "Who knows? Does Harry?" Perci shook her head. "Your own brother doesn't know?"

"He doesn't need to know, to have that weight on him. He already has too much to deal with." Thinking about Harry, she was still mad at him, but not as much. "Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall know. So did Sirius."

"And you're sure that's all?" Fred asked.

Perci shrugged. "That's all I know of. If anyone else knows, they haven't said anything."

"Who here knows you're a witch?"

"Andrew, Thalia, Nico, his husband Jason, Chiron, and all of the gods. That's all I know of. I'm sure there were rumors when I was at camp, but I'm not sure," Perci replied. Perci opened her mouth to say something but stopped. She did it again before speaking. "You aren't gonna leave me, are you?" Her voice was small and vulnerable. It reminded him of the first time Perci spoke after the Order rescued her from Malfoy Manor. She was so frail back then, Fred remembered.

Fred took her hand with the promise ring on it. "No, I promised I would always come back to you. I promise I will never leave you." He kissed her hand. Perci nodded. Fred pulled her into an tight hug. Perci gripped onto him as if he would suddenly fly away.

"Oh–sorry. I didn't know anyone was–" a voice said from the doorway of the Big House. Perci detached herself from Fred and looked to the doorway. She was one of the most beautiful people Perci had ever seen. Her choppy brown hair was tied together away from her face. Her dark skin glowed. Perci noticed the light scars darting her arms and hands. Her kaleidoscope eyes darted between her and Fred, her cheeks a bright pink. Perci had never seen her before. Must've been a daughter of Aphrodite.

"It's fine. We were just leaving." Perci grabbed Fred's hand.

The girl touched Perci lightly on the arm. "You're Perci Jackson, right? The Perci Jackson everyone talks about?"

Perci turned to her, confused as to why she was asking. "Yeah, I guess. Why?"

"I'm Piper McLean, one of the Seven." Perci remembered hearing about the new prophecy before she left to go back to Hogwarts.

"Oh, hi. Good for you." Perci went to leave, pulling Fred along with her.

"I was looking for you." Perci stopped abruptly. She turned back to the girl with the kaleidoscope eyes.

"Why is that?"

"I wanted to tell you before some random camper told you or something. You were supposed to be one of the Seven. But no one could find you."

"Well, I was a bit preoccupied. And I'm not the only demigod. You could've replaced me. So I don't know why you're telling me this, Piper." Fred gripped her hand. He could tell she was beginning to get irritated.

They went to leave again. "I know. I wasn't trying to blame you or anything. Just telling you what happened while you were gone." They left. Perci didn't need anyone telling her what she was supposed to be or do when this life had been wrongly forced upon her.

As soon as they were out of the Big House, Thalia bombarded them. "You need to go," she whispered, pushing them out of everyone's view.

"What? We just got here," Perci said.

"The gods are coming, and they aren't happy with you, Perci. You missed a whole prophecy. The world was nearly destroyed. They blame you. You need to leave now," Thalia explained, looking behind her.

Percy nodded with a sigh. She grabbed Fred's hand, putting both of their wands in his other one. "I'll see you, Thals." Thalia gave her smile before Perci and Fred apparated away.

They ended up in downtown London. It was day, unlike New York. It must've been a day since they left the Burrow. The city was bustling with energy and life as Perci and Fred moved out of the way. They still wore their pajamas, and it was freezing outside. Perci wasn't affected, but she could feel Fred shaking against her.

"We need to get back home," Fred said. Perci nodded. She pulled Fred into an alley and took out a small pouch from the top of her bra. Fred raised a brow at this, earning a slap on the arm. "What's that?"

"Hermione gave it to me before we left Hogwarts. It can hold nearly anything and can fit anywhere. She has one like it, but it's bigger." Perci stuck to fingers into the tiny pouch. A minute later, she pulled out a long overcoat by the hanger. She gave it to Fred. He pulled on the coat, basking in its warmth. Perci pulled out jeans and a jacket, pulling them on over her short shorts and tank top. "You can't tell anyone where we went, Fred. Not even George." Fred nodded. It wouldn't be easy hiding something from his twin, but he knew he had to. "The story is: we apparated to my flat in London. We stayed the night there, okay?" Fred nodded once again. Fred grabbed onto her arm and they disapparated from the London alley.

They landed in the front yard of the burnt Burrow. Beside it, there was a small cement house already built. Arthur, Bill, and Ron were outside repairing the Burrow. Once they caught sight of the two, Arthur nodded at the cement house before going back to work. Fred lead Perci into the house. They were immediately engulfed in a group hug with Molly.

"Mum, we're fine, really," Fred said as Molly doted over them. Molly was smart enough not to bring up what happened the night before (even if she was furious with them for "running" off) and sent them off to the kitchen to eat. Perci didn't eat much, which was odd of her; Mrs. Weasley's meals were her favorite. She devoured anything Molly cooked.

After Fred was finally done they headed up with Fred and George's room. Fred kissed her goodnight, making Perci promise they would talk about Camp and her life there more. Perci nodded and headed to the room she shared with Ginny whenever she was there. Ginny was already asleep. Perci shrugged off her clothes and pulled out an unfamiliar yellow shirt from her drawers. Perci frowned and closed her eyes, trying to remember where she'd gotten that shirt. She paled. Cedric. She hadn't given it back after that day in the field at school when they had—Perci hadn't thought about Cedric in so long, she felt guilty; Cedric deserved better. With that depressing thought, Perci pulled on a random shirt of Ginny's as she liked other people's clothes more than her own and climbed into bed. That night the nightmares of Bellatrix and Edgar Roy returned.

Perci hadn't spoken to Harry the entire way back to Hogwarts on the train of on the carriages back to the castle. He knew she was mad at him. When she returned that night, she avoided him. She wouldn't speak to him the next day. The day after that she only spoke to him around the rest of the Weasley's. Harry was tired of her silence by the time they were back in the Common Room. She sat next to Hermione on the coach. Harry sat on the ground with Ron. She was talking to everyone else but him.

"Perci, can we just stop this?" Harry asked, standing up. Perci stopped her conversation with Hermione and looked up at him.

"Stop what?"

"You ignoring me. You've barely spoken to me since Christmas. I understand you're mad–"

"Harry, I don't think you understand at all," she interrupted. Hermione and Ron looked at her cautiously. Her voice was even and calm, like the calm before a storm. "For the past year and a half, Bellatrix Lestrange has plagued every part of my life. She tortured me, raped me, terrified me. When I finally was 'free' of her, I dreamt of her every night. I felt–feel weak and powerless." Her composure began to crumble. Perci's voice shook, and she avoided eye contact with everyone as they had begun to sting with tears she refused to let fall.

She continued as she stared into the flame of the fireplace. "She took everything I had, everything I built, away from me. Then I started to see her, see her while I was awake." Harry, Ron, and Hermione all glanced at each other. This was news. "Hallucinations of her, what she did to me or just her and the death eater I killed. That death eater I killed was going to kill you. That's why I–." Perci drew a shaky breath. "I'm not a monster, Harry. I don't enjoy killing people, but I have and will if that means it keeps the people I love safe."

Perci paused, taking a deep, shaky breath. "Though, the one thing I needed more than almost anything, you took away from me. I could've killed her, rid her of my life and yours. I could've avenged Sirius for us. That is why I am mad at you, Harry. I need time to get through it and you trying to talk to me like everything is okay, is not helping." Perci's eyes seemed to plead with her brother. "Give me time." She stood and headed up the steps to the girls' dormitory.

"You really buggered up, mate," Ron said, taking a bite out of an apple he snuck from the kitchens nonchalantly.

Harry glared at him. "Killing anyone else would've destroyed her," he tried explaining even thought he was starting to realize he was wrong.

"I don't think it would've, Harry. You don't see her sleeping. She claws at her body as if it were on fire." Hermione closed her eyes like the mere thought pained her. It did. Perci was her close friend and she loved her and Ginny like the sisters she never had. "She tries to scream but nothing comes out. She's miserable. I think killing the thing that makes her miserable would've helped her." With that, Hermione followed his sister to the dormitory. Harry threw his head back and groaned irritably.

It was almost the end of the school day when Harry saw Perci again. She had skipped Slughorn's class with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, presumably to go to her Occlumency lesson with Snape, who Harry still didn't trust. Of course, Perci was still mad at him and wouldn't listen to anything he would say.

She was sitting at her P.A. desk, hunched over a large stack of essays. Her hair was a mess in its bun and ink was smeared across her face. She held a quill between her teeth. Her head rested on her hand as her eyes scanned over the essays, looking for the tiniest of mistakes. She was grading the essays the 6th year classes wrote on Galpalott's Third Law. Harry remembered Ron begging Perci to go easy on him on the grading; he hadn't the faintest idea what Galpalott's Third Law was and pulled most of the information out of his arse. Perci had cracked a smile, rolling her eyes she told him he shouldn't have waited until last minute to begin writing it.

Slughorn was just finishing up his class full of first-years, telling a small Ravenclaw girl not to forget her rat tail that lay on Perci's desk. Perci looked up from the stack of essays and handed the girl her possession, giving her a small smile. Slughorn set the small pack of bezoars back into his chest. He heard a set of feet and turned to see his favorite student.

"Aha," his face broke out into a grin. "Well, isn't it the Prince of Potions himself. What do I owe this pleasure?"

Harry hesitantly walked to his desk. "Well, sir, I wondered if I might ask you something?" His voice was different than usual, as he tried to imitate Tom Riddle, just as Dumbledore had told him.

Slughorn turned back to Harry, not noticing the change. "Ask away, dear boy."

"Well, you see, the other day I was in the library...in the restricted section. And I came across something rather odd about a rare piece of magic," Harry began, remembering exactly what Riddle had said. By now, Perci had looked up from her papers, confused as to why Harry was lying. He would never go into the library unless he was being forced by Hermione or Dumbledore. Earlier today, Perci was with Hermione and Ginny, so it couldn't have been Hermione. That means Harry and Dumbledore were up to something, something that surely involved Voldemort.

Slughorn rose a bushy, gray brow at him, but nodded on. "Yes? What was this rare piece of magic?"

Harry slumped his shoulder slightly. "Well, I don't know. I can't remember the name," he lied. Perci narrowed her eyes at him. He was a terrible liar and was surprised Slughorn couldn't tell. "But it just got me wondering. Are there some kinds of magic you aren't allowed to teach us?"

A silence overtook the pair. Harry stared expectantly at the Potions Master, waiting for his answer. Slughorn gripped his breast pocket nervously. Perci tilted her head to the side, hearing his pounding heartbeat. It was much quicker than usual. Now why would a simple question raise his heart rate like that? No matter how upset she was with Harry, she knew he was getting himself into some kind of trouble and it was her job to look after him. She needed to find out what was going on.

"I'm a Potions Master, Harry. Your question better be posed for Professor Snape," Slughorn snapped out of his stupor, making his way back to his chest.

Harry let out a chuckle. "Well, er, yes. He and I don't really see eye-to-eye, sir. What I mean to say is...he's not like you. He might misunderstand." Harry's heart began to beat faster. He could feel his palms moisten with sweat.

Slughorn stared at him, clutching his wand in his hand tightly. "There will be no light without the dark. So it is with magic. I strive to live within the light. I suggest you do the same." His voice was dangerously calm, his eyes giving away his nervousness and caution. Slughorn turned to continue gathering up the other bezoars, when what Harry said next stopped him in his tracks.

"Is that what you told Tom Riddle, sir, when he came asking questions?" Harry asked with a blank expression. Perci let out a sigh at his lack of tact. The Potions Master turned, giving him a long incredulous look.

"Dumbledore put you up to this, didn't he?" His tone was hurt, realizing his favorite student betrayed him and conspired with Dumbledore against him. "Didn't he," he asked more forcefully. Slughorn didn't await an answer, though, as he swiftly strode out of the classroom and up the dungeon steps quickly, leaving Harry standing alone with Perci. The girl gathered up her belongings and walked past Harry slightly before turning.

"You might've gotten a better answer than that if you hadn't have basically attacked him like that. He's definitely hiding something, though," Perci added, turning to walk up the steps.

"How do you know?" Harry asked. He didn't think Dumbledore had involved Perci, but he wouldn't have been surprised if the old man did.

"His heart was beating way too quickly for an honest man. Next time, try not to be too aggressive," was the last thing she said before sauntering out of the room and up the dungeon steps. Harry sighed irritably for the umpteenth time of the week. He hadn't gotten anywhere with Perci and dug himself a whole with Slughorn whom he was supposed to be getting closer to. How was the man supposed to trust him now that he knew he was "working" with Dumbledore?

Perci shifted in the small, uncomfortable chair for the third time today, waiting for Snape for the second time today. Earlier he was supposed to meet her in the Room of Requirement, but he never showed. Perci was informed by McGonagall to wait in the room once more after the last class of the day. And so, she had been waiting for at least 20 minutes. Perci anxiously tapped her foot and massaged her hand where Bellatrix had somehow stabbed her during Slughorn's dinner weeks ago. Perci had continuously reminded herself to tell Snape about what happened that night, because that definitely was not a hallucination. How could she have snuck into that dinner party unnoticed and stabbed Perci? It didn't make sense.

After 10 more minutes of waiting, Snape finally slammed the door shut behind him, his robes flapping against his legs as he walked faster than Perci had ever seen him move. Perci sighed and crossed her arms. "It's about time! I was beginning to wonder if I'd gotten the days of the week mixed up, but it seems you have." Snape didn't bother giving her an eye roll like he usually did. He pulled out his wand, pointing it at her. Perci frowned, gripping her wand in her hand. "Snape, what're you–" she didn't have time to finish her thought before she was "pushed" out of the small, dank room and into one of her memories. As instructed, she immediately tried to stop him, to throw him out of her head, but Snape wasn't taking it easy on her.

Perci watched her 15 year old self lay stiffly on wet sand, the sun shining down on her. Her skin was hot, her clothes torn. Ashes smudged her young face and body. She was unconscious. The sun's rays suddenly vanished from Perci's body as the form of a girl stood above her, her caramel colored hair falling over her shoulders. The girl's face was contorted in concern and slight excitement. Finally, someone else on this island, she must've thought as she lightly brushed some sand off of Perci's cheek. But then the girl remembered her curse, and drew back slightly.

Calypso

Perci scowled and with all her might, pushed Snape out of her head. He had no right to meddle in some of the best moments of her life.

"You hesitated there, Potter. If you had hesitated for even a moment longer, I could've completely controlled you if I wanted. Believe me, Bellatrix Lestrange would want nothing more," Snape growled. He needed to be harder on her after hearing about what went down at the Weasleys' house. "Stronger, Perci!"

"Well, if you'd just give me a second before you–"

"Legili–" Snape began.

"No!" Perci screamed. Her voice sent a tenor through Snape. The force and power of her voice sent him back tumbling into the wall. Perci stood from the chair, looking more than annoyed. Snape pushed himself up from the ground with a scowl. "How is pushing you from my head going to help? How will I know that Bellatrix will be messing around in there?" She began pacing back and forth. It seemed like Perci was just talking to herself as of now. "And when she starts scrambling around in my head...I'm just supposed to push her out, keep pushing her out until she gets tired? How is that a way to live?" Perci collapsed in the chair she sat in when Snape first arrived.

He thought about what Perci said. If they kept on with this path of Occlumency, it would take years before Perci could easily and effortlessly block her mind from anyone and everyone. They didn't have years. Perci was right. They must take another course. Snape just didn't know which one.

"I understand your frustration, Perciana. This is not the right path. The following lesson, we will attempt another course of action. But for today, we shall end on a good note," Snape explained, taking out his wand.

Perci shook her head. "No, why can't we just start now? I don't understand." Her eyes defiantly stared at him, her hand still gripping her wand.

Snape opened his mouth to object but Perci growled, "No! Don't give me some bullocks excuse." Snape stared at Perci. She was a reck. Her black hair was sticking to the sides of her usually tan face with sweat; dark bags hung under her eyes, giving her the look of being perpetually exhausted; her eyes, that were terrifyingly just like Lily's, were now dark with fatigue and rage. Her body wasn't just tired, her mind was too—weakening with every passing day Bellatrix had access to it.

It was suddenly like a light bulb went off in Snape's mind. Bellatrix was winning. This is what she wanted. She knew Snape would turn to Occlumency, just as he did with Harry last year. She knew the toll it would take on Perci because of all the things she did to the young girl after the Triwizard Tournament. However much Snape hated to admit it—the female death eater knew the way Perci's body and mind worked. Bellatrix knew she wouldn't be able to handle the Occlumency lessons and that it would weaken her considerably, giving her time to make her move; whatever it was, Snape didn't know.

Snape looked up at Perci. She had stood back up. She was still staring at him angrily, sweat dripping down her neck and into her button-up school shirt. Perci plopped down in the small, wooden chair and ran a hand through her disheveled hair. "We must do nothing."

Perci frowned at him. "What? I don't understand."

"You must be aware at all times; when you feel her–you will–you will show her what I concoct. You shall do the things I tell you to do." Snape told her. "We are going to trick her and get her in our grasp."

Perci didn't love the sound doing whatever Snape said. She definitely did not love the idea of see Bellatrix all the time and not getting to do anything about it. But Perci understood Snape's plan and knew he would not lead her astray. She managed a small smirk. "Let's trick a bitch."

—

That night Perci mustered the courage to go up to the boys' dormitory and talk to Harry about what was going on with him, Slughorn, and Dumbledore. She said a quick goodnight to Ginny and Hermione, telling them she'd see them in the morning. Perci climbed the winding stone steps to the boys' dorm and was immediately hit with the terrible aroma of teenage boys' B.O. Her eyes began to water as she continued walking up the stairs. She plugged her nose and scowled.

"Hell, do any of these schmucks ever bathe?" She wondered aloud, finally coming to the 6th year's floor.

"Most of us. Although I must admit, some of the first and second and third years are still a bit uncomfortable showering around us," a voice explained from inside the room. Perci frowned and looked around to find Dean laying on a bed with a transfiguration book propped up on his knee. Perci cleared her throat. She hadn't seen Dean since their last Quidditch game. The air between them was a mix between awkward and tense.

"Oh, hey, Dean. Fancy seeing you here in the 6th year boys' dormitory," Perci laughed awkwardly, looking around, trying to find Harry or Ron. She unfortunately did see a sweaty, half naked, chubby boy she'd never seen around school before. Perci scowled and looked away immediately. She didn't plan on the fact that she'd actually see anyone other than Harry or Ron. Though, she didn't see either of them now. Dean laughed lightly. "Where's Harry?"

Dean looked up from his book. He shrugged. "Not sure. I know Ron's with Lavender, so he can't be with Weasley. Fair chance he's with Snape in detention." Perci nodded. It made sense, of course. "His bed's over there if you want to wait." Perci nodded a thanks and headed over to the one two away from Dean and sat down on it, looking around.

Harry was very messy. Books, quills, and papers were strewn all over his desktop he shared with Ron, Perci assumed since there was an orange Chudley Canons pillow on the bed next to Harry's. Perci wasn't one to talk thought since it was hard to find anything on the floor surrounding her four poster bed. She did notice some peculiar, heart-shaped box at the end of Harry's bed, though.

She frowned and grabbed it before settling back down in her regular position. She read the words on the box easily since her dyslexia faded. Although, her ADHD has yet to fade. It was a box of Chocolate Cauldrons, Perci's third favorite wizard candy. Maybe Harry was planning on giving them to her as another apology, Perci thought. She shrugged; might as well have one now. And if harry wasn't planning on giving them to her than she could use this as a kind of "screw you". Perci opened the box, ignoring the note and picture that fell out of it. She grabbed two of the chocolates and put the lid back on. Dean glanced over at her and chuckled. Perci just shrugged.

She popped both pieces into her mouth, also ignoring the odd taste. She was the best positions student Hogwarts had seen since Snape, so she should've been able to discern the love potion aftertaste in the chocolate. She did not.