Harry Potter meets Percy Jackson

The Second Battle for Hogwarts Part 2

21

Percy

To get to the passage beneath the Whomping Willow the group first had to get to the Shrieking Shack. They took another secret passage, it started beneath a one-eyed witch statue by the by the stairs to the Defence Against the Arts classroom. Harry tapped a hump with his wand and said the word "Dissendiumto" the hump opened just enough for the group to squeeze in. The wizards used their wands like flashlights to light the way through the passage. It led to a cellar of a sweet shop in the neighbouring village.

Percy looked around at the group that had come with him. Annabeth, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnigan stood ready. Together they snuck through the village. Thankfully, there was no trouble; the army had left the village leaving minimal damage. A couple broken windows and kicked in doors but it was obvious that a massive group of people or things had come through in a hurry.

They made it to the outskirts of the village where a small, rickety, shack, stood. Hurrying they made their way into the shack. And through the floor, they made their way into another passage leading back to the school. Percy shuddered at the lack of structural stability in the old wooden shack. Why did all his adventures have to lead to some sort of ruin or structure that wasn't totally sound?

Before he could climb his way out of the tunnel leading back to the fields near the school; Harry grabbed his shoulder stopping him. "Trust me, you don't want to go out there just yet." Confused, Percy let Harry go in front of him. Harry peeked out of the hole in the ground and took out his wand. There was a flash of light and Harry came back down the tunnel, "All clear."

Everyone followed behind Harry coming into the early winter light. Percy was surprised to see that they were under a giant willow tree. Ginny was right they were directly behind Nyx's army, from his position Percy could see the backs of a lot of his old enemies. Empousa, Laistrygion Giants, The Nemean Lion and the Manticore, Stymphalian birds and Telekhines. There was even some Cyclops and Hellhounds that reminded Percy of Tyson and Mrs O'leary.

The fight for Hogwarts was looking dark. Percy's shield was holding but even as he stood there he could feel the magic failing as it was continually pummelled with fire, arrows, spears of darkness, and other weapons. He turned to Annabeth, "You ready?" he asked. She nodded, unsheathing her Drakon bone sword. Percy took Riptide from his pocket and uncapped it letting it grow into a full sword. The Wizards gaped a little at his sword, "What?" he said, "Come on guys, don't tell me that after everything you guys see in your everyday lives that this is still weird to you."

The look the others gave him told him that he had a point. Though it wasn't their reaction that he was looking at. Staring directly at them was a Hellhound that had obviously smelled their presence. It snarled at the group, showing its terrifying set of teeth. More monsters turned around staring at the group. Percy turned to the others, "Cover us," was all he said before he turned back and raised his sword and charged at the enemy.

All Percy knew was fighting, he slashed, dodged, and stabbed his way through the monsters that charged at him and his friends. Spells whipped through the air around him hitting monsters and making them pause or in some cases if the spell was strong was enough knocking him down. Annabeth and Percy were actually holding their own against the army. It reminded Percy of Tartarus with all the monsters around them and a seemingly impossible fight.

A gigantic roar came from the midst of the army. The monsters stopped attacking and stepped back letting the source of the roar come in through the army. The Minotaur stepped through the crowd of monsters wielding two massive axes in his humanoid hands. It stepped forward growling at Percy. "Oh, come on," he said out loud before the half bull, half-man charged towards him.

He quickly side-stepped letting the monster charge right past them. The Minotaur screeched to a halt before turning around and throwing one of his axes at Percy's head. Percy brought up Riptide and managed to deflect the axe to the side before it decapitated him. The monster let out another roar before charging at Percy again; he dodged again this time bringing his sword up and cutting off one of the beast's horns. It turned around again and thundered in rage. Percy looked behind him and making a decision he took a couple steps back so he was under the willow.

"You good?" asked Annabeth from behind Percy. She was standing by the willow with the wizards.

"Yeah. I got this" The Minotaur charged again his last axe swinging low. Percy dived to the left, rolling under the axes blade letting the Minotaur charge into the willow tree his remaining horn sticking into the trunk. The minotaur growled as he tried to dislodge his horn from the tree. Percy walked up to it raising Riptide to finish it off, but before he could a giant branch came out of nowhere knocking into the Minotaur turning it to dust. The last horn still impeded into the tree of the tree. Surprised Percy stepped back as the Willow straightened itself shaking itself before going still again.

Percy looked towards Harry who just shrugged with a little smile on his face, "We call it the Whomping Willow"

Growls came from the army that still surrounded them and realising that they had no time Percy raised Riptide again. But before he could even take a step a sharp pain went through his gut. Looking up he saw that one of Nyx's spears of darkness had finally managed to pierce the shield that was protecting Hogwarts. Percy's stomach turned as his shield started to collapse; lake water seeping into the ground.

Monsters stormed towards the school and the group of wizards and demigods behind them. Spells filled the air on both sides of the army. Some of the monsters fell and turned to golden dust but in most cases spells just bounced off monsters. Percy, Harry and the others were being pushed up past the Whomping Willow. Screams were starting to rise from the castle. Percy kept fighting and swinging his sword but he knew it was hopeless; they were going to lose.

As Percy raised Riptide to stave off a blow from a clawed hand a shadow loomed over from ahead. A dozen wooden flying ships were floating above the army of monster. A figure leaned over the side of the lead boat, one with a bronze dragon figure head and showed a flaming hand and waved. Smiling Percy waved back and Leo Valdez.