The Lost Soul : Untold Story of Percy Jackson

[32] The Night Walker

ÍROAS 

Students should always be informed that the use of magic is strictly prohibited outside the Hogwarts Grounds. Using this kind of act in the muggle world shall result in immediate expulsion. Good day and have a good summer.

The Minister of Magic,

Cornelius Fudge

After I read the notice in the common room the next morning, I decided to go to the lake and visit blackjack before I go home. The sun was about to rise when I reached the black lake and called for the Pegasus. While waiting for my friend, I sat down on the ground and reminisced about everything that happened over the year. I excessively exhaled and lay down with a heavy thump. A moment had passed until I felt someone going to my direction. I looked around and saw the approaching Hermione.

"Morning 'Mione" I greeted her when she sat next to me.

"Good morning Iro – what are you doing here?" she asked me suspiciously.

"What? You're a stalker now?" I boastfully asked and that made me earn a smack from her, but I just chuckle from the thought. "Well, I'm waiting for blackjack." She just nodded and didn't utter a word.

"Hermione" I began, "Did you know that the idea of reincarnation started from Greece?" she looked at me with a furrowed expression, not knowing where I'm heading. I release a heavy sigh and continue. "Do you remember when you told me the meaning behind my Animagus Form?" I asked modestly and she nodded.

"I think I died" a low cough escaped from her mouth and looked at me quizzically "I mean I died and somehow reborn." I was expecting her to react like I'm crazy, but she just stayed silent thus, I decided to go on.

"When you told me that a panther symbolizes death and rebirth, at first I thought it's just a crazy idea or something metaphoric. But then, little by little, it made sense to me. – even though I remember pretty much everything in my life, I still have these hidden memories inside. Then, the dreams I never remember, I think that's when I get to recall my past life. Plus, I have this weird longing to see someone and always remember that person to everything I see, especially about books, architecture, blondes, even to my cousin Athena, but I never pinpoint who that is."

"Especially you, actually – you being so smart and bossy, acting like you know everything and this curiosity of yours."

"Is that a love confession!?" Hermione asked sarcastically, and I just smirked.

"That's actually the reason why I quickly become comfortable around you." I began, "Do you know the first thing I said when I saw Hogwarts castle?" I paused, "I bet she'd like to see every part of these buildings." Silence had rather swallowed us because none had spoken a word for a minute or two, and that made me feel uncomfortable.

"Err... why are you not responding, Hermione?" she exhaled and looked at me with an unknown expression.

"You know Iro – under different circumstances, I'd say that you're crazy." I just chuckled and rolled my eyes. "But I saw how you reacted when you looked yourself in the Mirror of Erised, and to what it showed you, the way you always cry every morning when you wake up, every time you see something dangerous you always put your hands in your pocket..."

"Wait, you noticed that?"

"Yes, and that's not normal, even from us witch and wizards. – then the thing the sorting hat had told you about the lock memories. Plus everything that you just mentioned, I think I believe you." she inhaled, "But it doesn't make sense why you still have traces of your past life." She finished, and once again, silence devoured us.

"And, this lady from your dreams..."

"Actually," I cut her in "I might have an idea who the lady is" she looked at me anticipatedly and I chuckled at her funny curious expression.

"Nah! Never mind..." I blurted out and that made me earn a punch from the shoulder.

"Iro!" I laughed.

"Well, I realized this last night when I saw one of the creatures in my cards."

"Really? Another from your myth?" She bustled out and I just rolled my eyes.

"You know. The lady once mentioned the name of the black dog, but I didn't remember that part with all the confusion and warnings. But then, last night, I came across one of my mythomagic cards. It's about the sacred animal of a certain Goddess. A Labrador – her name is Hecuba, the dog used to be a human. She's the Queen of Troy and the wife of King Priam, but then things happen, and the Goddess turns her into a dog."

"So, you're saying..."

"I'm saying Hecuba, the dog from my dreams is the same dog from the myth."

"And the lady?"

"Ah, yes! That's how I confirmed my suspicions. Remember when the lady regards herself as the Night Walker?" she nodded and looked at me, skeptical.

"Well, there's a certain Goddess in the myth and one of her aliases is exactly like that. The Goddess is called the Night Walker because she oftens seen roaming in the nights as she does her errands. She too often visits the underworld and is always accompanied by one of her sacred animals which is a she-dog, a Labrador, named Hecuba."

"Iro, could you please stop the suspense and beat around the bush!" a faint laugh escaped from my mouth and waited for a moment for some extra suspense.

"Her name is Hecate, the Greek Goddess of Magic and Witchcraft." I said dramatically with some drum roll sounds in my mind. I examined her expression, but I couldn't pinpoint what she's thinking about. "She's also the Goddess of Necromancy. And that made me think that she's the one who brought me back from the dead. I guess she has too much influence on me because she is also the Goddess of the Dark Moon."

"And what makes you think of that?" Hermione asked.

"Well, according to the book of Animal Spirits you got from the library, a panther symbolizes the Dark Moon, and all about death. I guess that's why my Animagus Form is a panther." I finally said. With all the speech and explanation that I did, I couldn't bear to look at Hermione. After a while of silence, I took out my courage and shot a glance at her.

"Uhm... couldn't you just say that I'm crazy? You're making me anxious with your silence."

"I don't know Iro, I mean that's a lot to take in." I hummed in agreement. Even I didn't know what to believe. I'm too young to take these all in. I still couldn't bear to be in this situation brought by the myth I'm so addicted to ever since.

"Let's just not talk about it for now." I responded and she agreed immediately.

"Blackjack must be at Hagrid's hut by now." I frantically stood up and started to walk but stopped and looked back at her.

"And Hermione?" I began "Let's tell Harry and Ron about us being an Animagi on the way home?" I proclaimed and that made her look at me with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

"Yeah! Let's tell them." she finally said and that made a blissful smile spread across my face, and together, we soared the path towards Hagrid's hut.  

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Hey Guys!

This would be the last chapter of ‘The Lost Soul: Untold Story of Percy Jackson’.
I would like to thank you all for the support and love you've shown all the way from the beginning till its end.

This is the very first story I ever wrote and you being with me throughout my journey has made me feel so happy.

So thank you so much for being with me.

I hope you are all well and safe.

See you at the next book.

Love,

Silver