The Opening (a Harry Potter/Percy Jackson Crossover)

Chapter 10 - Answers, Attacks and Axe-men

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't claim, don't want to be sued.

The atmosphere inside the hospital wing was bleak. Students instinctively stayed away from James' hospital bed, even avoiding his gaze without knowing why. Inside of James, the shadow being stared out with pure malevolence.

"What happened?" asked Ginny, holding what should've been her son's hand. Harry hovered above her and Lily was perched on the edge of James' bed.

"Scorpius... He attacked me," James replied weakly. "I'd followed him into the Forbidden Forest. He saw me... And wasn't very happy about it." Harry frowned. The image that James had painted of Scorpius didn't quite match up with his own.

"The centaurs say that he's innocent," he replied, gauging James' reaction.

James shrugged awkwardly. All his movements had been somewhat... Off. "I don't know why. It's as if he has some kind of control over him."

"No," Lily croaked, eyes wide. She turned to her parents. "Don't believe him. His eyes aren't clear." Harry breath hitched. He had no idea what that meant, but that didn't sound good to him at all. He knew to trust Lily, especially after what he'd seen through his son's telescope.

Ginny licked her cracked lips. "What do you mean, Lily?" Her expression bordered on panic, an look that had never succeeded in settling on her face even during the war with Voldemort.

Her daughter shook her head. "They're not clear." James' gaze flicked towards Lily, but he didn't do or say anything, save for a slight narrowing of his eyes.

"James?" The boy didn't react. "James," Harry prodded again.

He started, as though only just realising that his name was being said. "Yes?"

"What does she mean?"

"I do not know," he replied. "My eyes do not look any different to the way that they usually do, do they?" Both Ginny and Harry blinked. They didn't to them, but what really confused them was the way that he'd spoken. It was odd, to say the least.

Outside, there was a crash. James stiffened, cocking his head to the side. Slowly, he smiled, a thin, creepy one somewhat reminiscent of Voldemort. "I would suggest that you go find out what that is." Somewhere, deep in the heart of the castle, there was a great hissing. Harry's eyes bulged out of his head at the familiar sound. Rip, tear, kill. Another, smaller hissing joined, followed by another, and another, and another... A scream pierced the cacophony, causing everyone in sight to flinch. The thumping of running feet could be heard as the hissing died down.

Harry and Ginny jumped to their feet and drew their wands as another kind of banging joined the mix. With each bang, the door to the hospital wing rattled, until it finally burst open. In poured five of the most monstrous beings that anyone in the room had ever seen before. These were snake-women, with twin snake trunks for legs. They were armoured and each grasped a long, deadly sword.

All of them levelled their weapons so that they pointed at Lily.

Instinctively, Harry yelled, "Expelliarmus!" They dodged the spell with practised ease, as though it were no more dangerous than a paper plane. He, Ginny and many of the others in the room cast their spells, but all of the monsters just dodged out of the way. The wizards couldn't understand it. Nobody ever did that. Usually they had to use some kind of block or shield spell. However, the snake women had the reflexes of master swordspeople. They wouldn't go down so easily.

A ripple went through the monsters, before they turned totally around, facing away from Lily. The wizards allowed themselves a second of relief, before they continued fire.