The Hogwart's Problem

Chapter Two

Percy woke up to the sound of raised voices arguing about his fate.

"What do you mean I can't go with him, Chiron?" Nico asked angrily. "You know he's in a vulnerable state right now, what with," he lowered his voice. "Annabeth and the others. You can't honestly expect him to travel to another country, alone, with no valid reason or enemy to destroy! Hades, he's barely recovered physically from the war, let alone mentally! Doesn't this strike you as a bad idea?"

"I'm sorry Nico, I know you don't understand, but it is for the best. He can't be here for much longer. I've arranged everything already, so there's no going back. He simply cannot be anywhere where the gods are active, and the only other option was Alaska. That's all the information that I'm at my liberty to give, I'm afraid."

"I don't understand, and that's the problem! What are the gods going to say when they find that you've shipped our hero to Great Britain? Better yet, what's Lord Poseidon going to say? That's his son, if you've forgotten! They're fairly close!"

"Nico, the gods know that he's on a mission in Europe. Hecate herself has been trying to get me to send one of our finer heroes there for decades," Chiron explained, struggling to diffuse the situation.

The son of Hades sighed defeatedly. "So there's no way for me to stop this from happening," he said, more of a statement than a question.

Chiron's silence was answer enough.

"And it has to be a solo mission?"

"Yes, my boy. I'm sorry," Chiron said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

Nico looked disgruntled. "Can I at least to with him until he meets the people he's staying with?" He asked hopefully.

There was silence, in which Percy presumed that Chiron gave up and nodded his head in agreement. He heard footsteps, and soon enough Will's voice greeted them. "Hey Nico, Chiron." He gave a brilliant smile at Nico, whom blushed.

"Percy should be waking up soon," claimed Will. 

He heard them padding over. Will hesitantly asked, "Percy?"

Percy groaned in response, and rolled over to his side.

Nico ran over to his side, and muttered, "Thank the gods." He cleared his throat and looked at the ground. Percy sat up and swung his legs over the side of the cot. "Percy, I'm sorry, but these visits have to stop. You're getting reckless. I know you miss them, and will never forgive her for her choice, but it was still her choice. You can't change fate. And, uh, plus, my dad's getting mad at me for rousing all of the spirits we pass." He looked up at Percy. "What's done is done, Perce. I'm sorry."

Percy saw red. He bent over and placed his head in his hands, rocking quietly. It was all his fault. If he had fought harder, protected everyone better, not died as soon-

"Perseus Jackson I swear if you go into relapse again..." Nico's angry voice faded away as memories invaded his mind.

They were standing in Olympus, all of the gods except for Demeter, who had been severely injured mid-war and was now being treated by medics in her own quarters, were seated in their thrones. Everyone was a mess. Poseidon was a pale grey color, and was sobbing uncontrollably for the loss of his son. Ares and Hephaestus were having a rare moment of bonding. The two stonic gods were hugging eat other, tears running down each other's faces and they prayed to thank the primordials that both of them had made it out safely. Artemis was staring ahead blankly, counting in her head the number of hunters that had died in this battle. Her companions for thousands of years, gone just like that. Apollo was trying to comfort her and get her to be mad at him for calling her 'Little sis'. Anything for normal, anything for blood.