Partners in Crime || PJOxHP || Marauders' Era

Vouch

Flying was bad enough for a son of Poseidon, but flying straight up to Zeus's palace, with thunder and lightning swirling around it, was even worse. They circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. Jessica had only been there once before, traveling by elevator up to the secret six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building. This time, if it was possible, Olympus amazed her even more.

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from bloodred to indigo. Apparently no one ever slept on Olympus. The twisting streets were full of demigods and nature spirits and minor godlings bustling about, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes. Winter didn't seem to exist here. Jessica caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things she couldn't name. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sounds of lyres and reed pipes. Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods.

The horses set them down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before Jessica could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves.

Jessica didn't know why, but she felt a sense of impending doom. She'd never seen all the gods together. She knew any one of them could blast her to dust, and a few of them would like to. 

For a minute they stood there regarding the palace, the way they'd stood together in front of Westover Hall, what seemed like a million years ago. And then Jessica cracked her neck. "Alright," she said. "Let's do this."

Side by side, they walked into the throne room. Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoe the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn. All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall, and if you've ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on you at once... Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when Jessica noticed Bessie and Grover. A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. Bessie was swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. He seemed to be enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magic bubble. Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when he saw them, he cried, "You made it!"

He started to run toward Percy, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.

"Go on," Zeus said.

*** 

But Zeus wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia. Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled. 

Jessica looked nervously at her father. The way he was looking at Thalia- it concerned her. Almost. He was wearing his usual blue pinstriped suit. His eyes suddenly shifted and met Jessica. She froze. Zeus stared at her for a moment, and Jessica wasn't sure how he would feel about seeing her again, but the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, like he was smiling. 

And then Jessica saw the tie around his neck. It was that one tie with printed cartoon airplanes that she had sent him for Father's Day that summer.

Okay. Maybe we live today.   

Grover gave Annabeth and Thalia big hugs. Then he grasped Jessica's arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"