Harry Potter meets Percy Jackson

Chapter 19- So it begins

19

Harry

The next week was a complete blur for Harry. After Percy had taken him to the side and told him about the lady Nyx and her approaching army the school had been secretly getting ready. Rumors had been spreading all week about the sudden appearance of the ministry at Hogwarts and the disappearance of most of the demigods. A lot of students had already left, their parents pulling them out for 'family emergencies' and 'trips'. It had gotten to the point that the students that were still at the school were either completely ignorant, or ready to fight.

Dumbledore's Army had been having meetings nearly every other night, despite Harry's protest. He felt that people had a right to learn to defend for themselves; it was the entire reason he, Ron, and Hermione had started it in the first place. However, he didn't think that DA was an actual army or that the students should feel obligated to fight. In the end, his protests were ignored and it was Ginny that pointed out to him that Dumbledore's army was not only his anymore. She, Neville, and Luna had continued it when he, Ron, and Hermione had left the school and during that horrible year it had expanded to include a huge number of the students at the school. DA wasn't as much as Harry's as it was the schools.

While it seemed that the school was in crisis mode, Harry thought that Percy and Annabeth did a great job of pretending like everything was fine. All their friends had left. To do what Harry had no idea; but those two had stayed behind, attended classes, and Annabeth had even done some homework. Even though all the demigods had gotten a pass from homework.

It wasn't until the end of the week when the fall air was slowly turning into that of frigid winter, and the nights were becoming ever so much longer, that first signs of trouble were noticed. A couple wizards from Hogsmeade had seen the army just a couple miles away from the small village, early in the morning while on a morning walk in the country side. The news sent the entire school into a buzz at breakfast, apparently the approaching army was both huge and petrifying. The witnesses said they had seen giants with only one eye, giant black dogs with bright red eyes, swarms of different species of terrifying birds, and apparently teenage girls with fangs that wore the outfits of American cheerleaders.

It was then that the Ministry decided to act, two hours after breakfast Hogwarts was swarmed with Auror's and other Ministry workers. Hogsmeade was evacuated and wizards were stationed in the village as well as all along the road leading up to the school. It was very clear to Harry that the Ministry also planned to evacuate Hogwarts; a task that soon proved more difficult that they would ever have imagined.

"Why do we need to leave," a voice shouted from one of the tables in the Great Hall. A member of the Ministry, Gawain Robards, who was also the head of the Auror Office stood in front of the teachers table and in front of the entire student body. All the teachers were currently preparing the school.

"It's for your own safety" he said in a calm voice. "The ministry will handle this, we've already stationed Aurors inside and outside the school,"

"And where was the Ministry the last time Hogwarts was attacked," Shouted a Gryffindor student in the crowd, "You can't make us leave." There was an outcry of support form many of the students from other houses.

Harry could have laughed at Gawain's expression, it was obvious that he really didn't think that a bunch of teenagers would be stubborn enough to stay in the middle of a future war zone. He obviously didn't know much about Hogwarts. "You are all underage," he sputtered, "Which means, yes we can make you leave, for your own safety,"

A Ravenclaw student stood forward, "What about those of us that are of age. Half of the seventh years are seventeen and all the returning students from last year are of age. You can't force all of us to leave. We want to help,"

Obviously exasperated Gawain conceded that no, the ministry could not force the wizards that were of age to leave. And though he highly discouraged it; a lot of the remaining Hogwarts students stayed behind. Groups of younger students were escorted by ministry workers past school grounds where they were apparated. Scores of students who were of age, or who were lying and looked old enough too pass for seventeen ran around the school arms full of books and potions. They were directed by teachers and ministry workers; no doubt being put in positions that were deemed the safest.

Harry stayed in the Great Hall surrounded by his friends and some of the other students, "No one can say you guys don't have spines," Percy stepped out from where he was standing against a wall Annabeth by his side. "I'd never thought I'd meet a group of kids more stubborn and hell bent on getting themselves killed than demigods."

"Why are you guys even here?" Theodore Nott stepped forward from the corner he stood with his other Syltherin friends; Blaise Zabini, Goyle, Pansey, and Millicent Bulstrode. "I thought you two left with all your other friends; after you guys made this mess in the first place."

"Hay watch it," Neville started.

"What, it's true isn't it. Those things are from their world, they're here because of them and we are expected to risk our lives to fix their mess," Nott spat. Percy frowned.

"If you're going to complain so much; why don't you put that snake of a tail between your legs and run away with the first years," Ginny sounded absolutely furious.

"Hay," Percy put his hands up, "No one said that this isn't our fault. It's true they're here because of us; even though we never meant for this to happen. There is no shame if you guys want to leave; this shouldn't and isn't your fight. You don't have to worry we..." he pointed to himself and Annabeth, "will handle this,"

"Who said anything thing about leaving," said Nott, "This is our school. Do you think that because of your pretty little speech any of them are going to leave?" He gestured to the other students, "And do you think we're going to let them take all the credit for saving Hogwarts. I may not like you, any of you really; but I'm not standing by as this place gets attacked again."

Percy looked incredibly shocked, and honestly Harry couldn't blame him. His jaw had dropped a little too. He was about to step forward and offer to shake Nott's hand when they were interrupted by a loud BOOM!

Everyone rushed outside. One of the statues on the castle wall above them was smoking; it's head was missing. Stretched out n the horizon was a vast silhouette of an army. "Oh shit!" said Percy coming up beside Harry. Harry couldn't help agreeing with the sentiment.