Greeks, Countrymen, Lovers, Monsters? (Sequel to Halfblood IsThicker Than Magic)

Who Needs Prophecies?

Harry's P.O.V.

I didn't understand why Nico was so distraught. Okay that was heartless, his wife was dying, but we had been given a way to save her!. If it was Ginny whose life was in danger I wouldn't be moping around crying, I would be out there trying to do something.

'Look Nico, surely it's not that bad? I mean we only need to get Poseidon to apologise and then Skye is saved.'

Nico looked up at me in disbelief. 'Not that bad?' he repeated hoarsly. He gave a slightly hysterical laugh and stood up. 'Harry, Skye is as good as dead.'

I gaped at his back as he left the room, swaying like a drunkard.

'You, you..' I stuttered trying to find the words I so desperately wanted to throw at him. He couldn't just abandon Skye like that!

'You Coward!' I spat at him. He froze and I almost began to regret saying anything. Almost.

In a flash Nico was in front of me, his eyes burning and his sword drawn. He grabbed my throat and slammed me into a wall. I choked and the rest of the room stood frozen, too shocked to do anything. Nico was breathing heavily and he pressed his sword against my chest as he growled 'Don't you dare call me a coward, Harry Potter. I've done so much, been through so much. You don't know half of it. I've lost so many people and my wife is dying.' He dropped me to the floor where I lay, massaging my throat.

'You think I don't understand?' I gasped out. I got to my feet. 'Nico, I have lost so many people I can't even count them all. I've watched friends and strangers die because of me and I was powerless to stop it. I've been tortured and I've watched people suffer. I'm NOT about to watch another death. I don't care if I have to go through a million Cruciatus curses, I will make Poseidon apologise and I will save Skye, even if you've given up on her.'

'I' Nico gulped, 'I would never, and I mean NEVER, give up on Skye. I love her, she's my wife! How could you possibly think I would abandon her?'

'It semed that way.' I replied, heatedly. 'You weren't even going try and get Poseidon to apologise.'

'You don't understand,' he sighed. 'The gods wouldn't aplogise to save their own mother. They would have destroyed each other by now, if they weren't immortal. To try and make a god back down is effectively suicide.'

'Is Skye's life not worth at least that to you, if not more?'

Nico nodded defiantly.

'Then,' I replied calmly, 'It looks as if we have ourselves a quest.'

'But there isn't time to consult the Oracle.' Annabeth put in shakily.

'Then it looks like we'll have to go without.' replied Ron. 'We didn't need one to defeat Voldemort. And anyway, those things give me the creeps.' A few people chuckled and the tension broke. I smiled and put a hand on Nico's shoulder.

'We'll save her, you'll see.'

'I hope so Harry.' He said, looking up at me with an odd mix of hope, despair and defiance. 'I really hope so. Or the gods will have Hell to pay.'

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Nico's P.O.V.

'What do you think we should do first then?' I asked Harr curiously, hoping he had a plan. On second thoughts, that was highly unlikely and even if he did following it probably wasn't a good idea. I'd heard too much about how his plans never went, well, to plan. 

Harry screwed up his face in thought, 'First I guess we need to contact Poseidon.' We all looked at Percy and he shifted uncomfortably.

'I can try,' he said, 'But I can't guaruntee that he'll be very helpful.'

'Why don't you try one of those iris mesage things?' Suggested Hermione.

'Worth a shot,' Percy replied, shrugging. He dug a drachma out of his pocket and snapped his fingers. A light seaspray appeared in the middle of the room and as sunlight shone through the window each droplet transformed into a shining rainbow. Had I not been too worried about Skye I might have appreciated the view more.

Taking a deep breath Percy threw the drachma into the spray. As it disappeared he said, 'Oh Iris, Goddess of Messengers, accept my offering. Show me Poseidon.'

After a couple of minutes which I spent agitatedly pacing up and down the room, an image bagan to appear, slowly at first but then with more clarity. Finally we could see Poseidon, smiling and relaxed, lounging on his throne in his palace under the sea.

'Percy, son! How good to see you. Is Sally okay?' he greeted.

Poseidon's relaxed manner set me on edge and I watched Percy carefully as he grinned and replied, 'Yeah I'm good dad, Mom's great. Look, I uh, I wanted to ask you something.'

Poseidon nodded encouragingly. 'Anything for my favourite son,' he said, winking.

Percy looked uncomfortable but continued. 'You see, well, a few years ago, Hades saved Skye's life, uh Skye, thats my sister, Nico's wife. Well, yeah and um he's just revoked the magic that he used to save her and now she's dying and the only way to save her is for you to apologis to Had-' Percy blurted this out in one breath but I knew there was little hope of Poseidon agreeing before Percy had even finished his sentence. At the sound of his brother's name, Poseidon's relaxed manner had turned dark and forboding and he rose imperiously as the sea swirled furiouly around his head.

'You think I would apologise to that fiend just to save the life of some foolish mortal girl?' he boomed.

'Sh'e not foolish-' I began but Posiedon silenced me with a wave of his hand. I cursed, opening and shutting my mouth but no sound came out. 

'But dad what happened to 'My favourite son' and all that jazz?' Percy retaliated, angrily.

Posiedon's features softened ever so slightly and he said, 'there is one way. I will set you tasks and if you complete them all before the girl dies, I will give my apologies. If not, well then, her life is no concern of mine.'

I growled silently. Man, this god really angered me beyond belief.

'What tasks are you going to give us, Lord Poseidon?' Annabeth asked hestitantly.

Poseidon thought for a moment and then replied, 'The twelve labours of Heracles!'

My mouth dropped, along with the rest of the demi-gods and Hermione's. Harry and Ron just looked a bit confused.

'But they took Heracles years to complete,' Percy gaped. 'We can't possibly do that in two weeks!'

'Ten days by my calculations,' Posidon replied casually, causing us all to glare at him.

'Fine, fine,' he held up his arms in surrender.'You shall have to complete only three of the tasks.' He waved his hand and a scroll appeared in a wave of fresh ocean air. He handed this to Percy and then turned to me. 'You better hurry, remember she only has ten days left.'

And with that he began to glow. I clenched my eyes shut as he disappeared in a flash of light.

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Hello my minions. Well I hope you enjoyed that chapter. It was surprisingly fun to write :) Pleas vote, comment and fan if you haven't already. It really makes me happy :D Thanks to Allen for suggesting that one of the trio could lead the quest. Adios