Wand

  “Um… can I ask where we’re going?” Percy said while following Annabeth near the stream, walking along the riverbank.

  “Didn’t you listen during the strategy meeting?” Annabeth asked, staring at him as if he were an idiot. A look that, for some reason, reminded him way too much of the one Hermione usually gives him when he forgets what she just taught him so he won’t fail Charms.

  “I was distracted. By the way, where’s Harry?” he said, looking around as if he had only just realized his brother was nowhere to be seen.

  Annabeth facepalmed and let out a genuinely tired sigh.

  “Harry stayed behind to protect the flag. His illusion magic can keep anyone who finds it at bay for a while, giving us time to go save him if necessary. Meanwhile, we have more kids searching for Ares’ flag. And your job is border guard; you stay here, warn us if enemies get close, and stall for time,” she said, looking at him seriously.

  “I see,” Percy said, nodding. “But I think you’re mistaken about something.”

  He started to say more, but Annabeth already seemed too rushed to get to her assigned position.

  “Yes, yes. Tell me later. Right now you need to stay alert at all times. Don’t let them catch you distracted,” she said, giving him one last serious look before leaving.

  Without letting Percy finish what he had been about to say.

  Watching Annabeth’s back as she walked away, Percy made a slightly annoyed face for a moment.

  “I was going to say you don’t understand Harry’s magic at all,” he muttered before letting out a somewhat bored sigh, glancing around and not noticing anyone approaching.

  Then he looked down at his own equipment, feeling like an idiot for some reason.

  He had a helmet with blue plumes, a large shield, Greek-style armor with the small skirt underneath… and the sword he now possessed was honestly the most uncomfortable sword he had ever touched in his life. Unbalanced, with a hilt simply wrapped in poor-quality leather.

  Meanwhile, he could hear the noise coming from the forest; swords clashing, bows releasing arrows, shouts of effort… even a boy from the blue team, like Percy, ran past him straight toward enemy territory, yelling with excitement as he raised his sword.

  “Oh yeah. I hope Harry’s just as bored as I am,” Percy said as he lightly kicked a stone near the river.

  …

  Harry was standing there, looking at the blue team’s flag, which was represented by an owl and an olive branch; obviously marking Athena’s symbol.

  The camp had split into two sides, with the children of Athena leading the army, supported by the children of Apollo and the children of Hermes.

  While the opposing enemy was made up of Ares’ side and everyone else.

  Since only two guards were allowed at the flag, Harry had been chosen because he was good with illusions. If necessary, he could hide the flag in plain sight if they were attacked. And they hadn’t left anyone else with him, since Harry felt it would be easier to conceal the flag and himself than to hide another person as well.

  Although that was false.

  Really, in situations like this, he prefers to be alone.

  Or at least with Percy. But Percy had another job.

  Harry brushed his fingers over his magical tome inside his bag… and the flag he had been looking at vanished, becoming completely invisible.

  “Well, I guess I just have to wait until everything’s over,” Harry said as he could hear battles breaking out in different parts of the forest.

  Until the sound of someone approaching, stepping on branches, caught his attention.

  He carefully drew his wand and looked in that direction.

  But what he found was, obviously, not a warrior.

  It was little Lily, who seemed to be searching for something… until she spotted Harry.

  “Harry!” she said, happy to see him.

  “Lily, what are you doing here? I thought the younger kids didn’t participate,” Harry said, looking at her as she ran toward him to give him a hug, as always, happy to see him.

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  “I don’t fight. But I’m looking for Shadow,” she said while scanning the ground around her, trying to find something.

  Until her gaze fixed on Harry’s shadow, and she suddenly jumped to the ground as if catching something with her hands.

  “I caught you!” she said.

  Then she slowly opened her hands to look… before making a slightly annoyed face.

  “It wasn’t Shadow,” she said, a little sad.

  “Shadow?” Harry asked, confused, watching her act strangely.

  “Yes. Shadow. We’re playing hide and seek. But he hides really well. Lily can’t find him,” she said, lowering her head a little.

  “Uh… well. But I don’t think this is the best place right now. You could get hurt,” Harry said cautiously, glancing around while the battle continued everywhere. “But you going back alone isn’t a good plan either,” he added, looking at her again.

  Lily jumped once more toward the shadow of a tree, trying to grab it. But again, she realized it wasn’t what she was looking for.

  “Maybe if I send the signal, I can ask someone to take you back,” Harry said for a moment, preparing to cast a light into the sky.

  But before he could, he heard the sound of branches being stepped on again, slowly getting closer.

  His expression changed.

  His gaze turned serious.

  He walked toward Lily and placed her behind him.

  And then, from behind the trees, suddenly, a group of warriors with red plumes stepped into the clearing, looking at Harry with cold seriousness.

  “Oh, we found one of the two,” said the one leading them. One of Ares’ sons. Specifically, one of the ones who had looked at Harry and Percy with real hatred when they handed out cookies on their first day at camp.

  Behind him were five more.

  One of Hephaestus’ sons, big and muscular.

  A son of Aphrodite, who honestly worried Harry the least, since he seemed more focused on fixing his hair with every step he took.

  And the others all appeared to be sons of Ares. Truly ugly, with unfriendly faces, still looking at Harry as if he were their worst enemy.

  Maybe they looked at him the way they looked at soap… or at a shower.

  “Sorry, but I need to head back now to take Lily to camp before she gets hurt,” Harry said, trying to sound reasonable.

  If they didn’t realize he was guarding the flag, maybe they wouldn’t feel the need to attack him.

  At least, that was what he thought.

  “Idiot. Once you step onto the battlefield, you’re part of the battle. If she didn’t want to get hurt, why did she come? Chiron already said the rules. As long as no one ends up mutilated or dead, it’s fine,” the leader said with a truly dark smile.

  Then he looked at Lily.

  “Oh… well, if it isn’t the little freak. Where are the other lunatics who always follow you around? Did they finally get kicked out for not even being half-bloods?” he said, looking at her with contempt.

  At those words, Harry’s eyes lost whatever patience had been there before.

  He stepped forward without another word, and Lily disappeared behind him.

  “Right. You’re just like them, aren’t you? Using those little circus tricks. Why don’t you show me some while you dance like a monkey, and maybe I won’t hurt you too badly?” the leader said, staring at him.

  “It’s magic. Not tricks,” Harry replied, his gaze steady.

  “Ooo… magic. Then why don’t you show us your magic?” the leader mocked as he readied his sword, while his friends began to spread out, slowly closing the space around Harry and Lily. “Or can you only make little sparks?” he added, provoking him.

  Harry looked at him for a long second. Then his wand snapped upward.

  “Expelliarmus.”

  The spell hit his chest. The son of Ares tensed, as if trying to resist it… but it barely lasted a second. He was thrown backward, crashing into a tree before falling to the ground with a groan.

  “That’s the one we use when we don’t want to hurt anyone. Usually,” Harry said lightly.

  The son of Ares got up, dizzy and furious, while the others stood frozen at Harry’s quick attack.

  “What are you doing, idiots? Attack!” the leader shouted, glaring at Harry with hatred.

  Harry turned to the nearest enemy, who reacted and charged at him with his sword raised.

  “Expelliarmus.”

  Aiming at his hand, the sword flew out of his grip. Harry flicked his wand toward the blade midair, and as if held by something invisible, it stopped abruptly.

  Then Harry pointed toward the son of Aphrodite, who was hurriedly preparing an arrow, and the sword shot toward him.

  Seeing it coming, he quickly covered his face, fearing he would be cut.

  Instead, he was struck by the hilt straight in the stomach, dropping to his knees.

  Harry nudged Lily a little farther back without taking his eyes off the son of Hephaestus.

  “Hide behind that tree,” he said quietly.

  Meanwhile, the son of Hephaestus charged at him with raised fists, which appeared to be wearing some kind of metal-studded gloves. A punch aimed straight at Harry’s face.

  Harry sidestepped, barely avoiding it.

  At the same time, he lifted his wand toward another son of Ares who was attacking with a spear.

  “Levioso.”

  The levitation spell lifted him off the ground for a moment before it seemed to lose strength, as if the spell were failing from trying to lift something too heavy.

  But that seemed planned.

  The son of Ares ended up face-first in the dirt.

  Harry dodged another punch from the son of Hephaestus, ducking slightly. In the same motion, he raised his wand, aiming at the muscular boy’s chin.

  “Avis.”

  Birds shot from his wand, repeatedly striking the same spot beneath the son of Hephaestus’ chin.

  For a moment, the boy’s eyes seemed to lose focus… before he collapsed forward, unconscious.

  Harry stepped aside just enough, letting the body fall face-first into the dirt.

  He did not hesitate. His wand shifted toward the disarmed camper, who was still standing there, frozen and unsure what to do.

  A spell struck him directly.

  The boy became completely petrified before falling stiffly to the ground.

  Harry turned his gaze toward the leader, who now looked entirely stunned.

  “So… is there any particular spell you’d like to see?” he asked calmly, his wand already aimed at him.

  The boy turned and tried to run.

  He did not get far.

  The spell caught him mid-step and hurled him back into the tree.

  This time his head struck harder, and he went limp before sliding down the trunk.

  Harry glanced at the son of Aphrodite, who was still writhing on the ground from the blow to his stomach, proving he truly was a weakling.

  “Petrificus Totalus.”

  Just in case.

  The boy went completely rigid on the ground.

  “Well… back to what I was saying. Maybe I should send a message to Percy to come help. I’m sure he’s not doing anything right now,” Harry said calmly.

  Lily had picked up a stick from the ground and was poking the petrified campers with curiosity.

  As if checking whether they were actually made of stone.

  “Are they still breathing?” she asked curiously.

  “Huh? I’ve never actually checked,” Harry admitted, crouching beside her and picking up another stick.