James Potter and the Half Blood Hallway

Twenty - Three

"BROTHER!!!!" Percy was nearly nocked over by a bone crushing hug.
"Omph! Hey Tyson!" he managed. "How's it going big guy?" He fist bumped and bro hugged the satyr next to the giant Cyclops.
"What's up G - man?" greeted the son of Poseidon.
"Hey, Percy!" replied Grover.
"Hold on," James interrupted the reunion. "The Cyclops is....your brother?"
"Yeah," said Percy. "He's pretty awesome."
"How...." Albus started to ask,
"It's a long story," Percy grinned. "What are you guys doing here?" he said, turning back to the satyr and cyclops.

"I just thought I'd come and see how you are as a teacher," said Grover.
"Hey!" said Percy devensivly. Tyson just clapped and laughed. Percy was smiling.
"So....now what?" asked Scorpius.
"You'll have to sneak into the hallway tonight. I'll meet you there and give you the password, but after tonight I won't be able to get in," explained Percy.
"Why?" asked Albus. Percy shrugged.
"I'm just the mentor I guess."
"As long as you're not a dementor," joked James.

Later that day, at lunch Rose started asking questions.
"And where's Professor Jackson?" she asked.
"Dunno," Albus lied. They had already disgusted this, Albus, Scorpius, and James. It was in the prophecy after all. They couldn't talk to anyone but each other about this, and that meant that they couldn't even tell Rose.
She, of coarse sensed this. She was obviously suspicous.
"Look," said James finally. "It's not that we don't want to tell you, it's just...." Something seemed to click.
"Oh," she said. "It's alright. The prophecies. I understand."

              ~***~                               ~***~                            ~***~

That night, James was just sneaking out of his dorm when he heard someone stir.
"James?" came Route Longbottom's voice. James tensed. He had thought everyone was asleep.
"Er - Route?" said James, turning around.
"What're you doing?" asked Route.
"You know me," said James rather tensly. "Always sneaking around causing trouble....Someone has to show Albus the ropes right?" Route eyed him suppisicously. Of coarse, the second year boy was smarter than James gave him creadit for, but for the moment, he seemed satisfied with his answer. The son of Neville Longbottom rolled over on his cott.
"Don't get caught," he advised Harry Potter's son as he began exiting the dorm once more.

        James and Albus met Scorpius and Jackson right at the writing on the wall.
"Ready?" asked Jackson.
"Not really," admitted James.
"No one ever is," muttered Jackson. " Sanguinis." The wall in front of them twisted and turned, making a rather loud grinding sound. It extended outward, expanding so that they were forced to back up. The grinded and turned, expanding long ways and in length. It continued to do so until James thought he might pass out from the dizziness it was giving him, and then suddenly, it just stopped. It stopped so suddenly that James jerked upward in surprise. It was like going on one of those muggle rides at those amusment parks - rollercoasters? - the ones that took you for a spind, jerking you around until you think you might up chuck on the back of the person in front of you's head before suddenly hurtling to a stop, stumbling off the ride in a confused and sick daze.
"Whoa..." muttered Al. James mouth nearly dropped to the floor when he saw what he was looking at.

Now before them, through the new opening in the wall, was something that was truely amazing. The room was dark, though it shinned with a faint blue light. There were paintings hanging here and there on the walls, but they were all empty. Instead the entire hall was filled with spirts. Some had swords and were fighting amoung themselves, others - mostly girls - were sitting around looking at themselves in mirrors, or flirting with the opposite gender. Some rode on winged horses or fought monsters of golden light. Most of the spirits looked old, renaissance old. Though, a handful of them gathered together, chatting or laughing, or fighting, looked around Percy's age or a few years older - some younger.

A glowing bluish silver arrow flew by Scorpius head, but instead of killing him, it passed right through him.
"Wicked," he smirked. Two of the modern looking ghost walked over to them - a tough looking Aferican American guy, and a pretty blacked haired girl with bright blue eyes.
"Sup, Percy," said the guy.
"Hey Beckendorf, hey Silena," Percy replied. Al was looking around in awe when the ghost guy, Beckendorf, said,
"Are these the guys?"
"Yeah," said Percy.
"It's nice to meet you, boys," said the girl, Silena, smiling at them.
"You're...dead," said Al in awe, still looking around. The couple - or what James asumed was a couple, considering the way they held each others hands and leanded into the other - laughed.
"Well, yeah," agreed Beckendorf. "Everyone in this hall died...except for you four."
"But, aren't you part god?" asked Albus, facing him, confused now. Again, the couple laughed.
"Oh no," said Silena. "Well, yes but, you see, that's not how it works."
"What do you mean?" asked Al.
"Al," said Percy. "Only one of our parents is a god, but we're still mortal."
"So...like, you can still die?" asked Al, as if he couldn't quite get the idea wrapped around his head.
"Well, yeah," said Percy.
"Oh."
"Wait," said Scorpius. "Is everyone in here..."
"Demigods," said Percy. "Yeah."
"Then, who's your - er - parents?" James asked the ghostly couple.
"Heaphestus," said Beckendorf.
"Aphrodite," said Silena.

                      ~***~                                 ~***~                               ~***~

        "So, what do you think?" Beckendorf asked the three wizard boys. He and Silena had been giving them a tour of the corridor. (Basically, just walking down to the other side.)
"This is amazing," admitted James.
"Glad you think so," said Beckendorf. He seemed a bit proud. So did Silena.
"Did you...build this place?" asked Scorpius.
"Not all of it," admitted Beckendorf. "Just most of it. This hallway, I mean, not the school of coarse."
"And you're all paintings that can turn into ghosts or...." said James.
"Something like that," said Beckendorf.
"Cool," said Al. Silena smiled.
"Very cool," she agreed. "What time is it? You might need to go to classes soon."
"Wait, we stayed here all night?" asked James. Beckendorf nodded.
"Time travles differently in here then it does out there, because this place doesn't actually take up any space. It shouldn't have too much of an effect on you though." The boys stared at them. Percy just grinned at them.
"Come on guys," he said. "Don't want to be late."