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Consort to War	By : Jemixe Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 17682 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Lover of a God
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
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- 2
- 3
Now, where did I leave off? Right, I delved into the overview, met a couple of gods and a half-god, and introduced Harry to Hercules. So, with the introductions out of the way, let�s continue with the story.

Hercules? Harry was absolutely gob smacked. He couldn�t believe he was sitting in the presence of a legend like that. He hoped his mouth wasn�t hanging open, but just to be sure, he unobtrusively checked by covering it with wiping his mouth of crumbs from a cookie he�d eaten.

What was Hercules doing here, and why did he want to take Harry to Olympus? Fame in the wizarding world is one thing, but to be known all the way up on Olympus is another matter entirely.

�Wait, why would a bunch of gods I didn�t even know really exist in today�s world want to see me? I haven�t done anything that stupid, have I?�

Here, he looked to Professor Snape, who he knew would tell him the truth. When the sallow man shook his head, an actual bewildered look gracing his features, Harry returned his attention to the hero sitting in front of him.

�I was just asked to collect you. But I can tell you this. Athena is involved, and that in itself indicates the importance of this calling. The fact that the gods have seen fit to directly involve themselves at all actually tells the severity they feel for this, and add to it their requested presence of a human�� Hercules shrugged as he trailed off.

Harry looked to the Headmaster for guidance.

�Harry, I promised you that I would let you be more involved in the events that directly concern you. The choice to go is entirely up to you.�

Harry turned back to Hercules after he nodded to Professor Dumbledore.

�How long would I be gone, sir?�

�Well, there�s a prohibition on travel from Olympus to Earth for the rest of this month, so until the beginning of October.�

Professor McGonagall spoke up at that.

�I feel I must protest. Mr. Potter is a student at this school, therefore making us responsible for his welfare. And part of that welfare is his education. If he missed even the little bit you�re suggesting he would be dramatically behind.�

�A predicament he can ill afford, rest assured.�

Harry rolled his eyes at Snape�s input. They didn�t argue or threaten or yell, but they weren�t the bestest of friends either.

�It�s true. Of all the students who can�t miss any school, Harry is at the forefront. He is needed here.� Remus smiled a little sadly and resignedly at Harry.a

�Well, that�s settled then. You�ll just have to go back and tell them I can�t make it at this time. Maybe after their little prevention is lifted, or even over the winter break. Sorry to inconvenience them.�

Hercules laughed. It was a deep, rich sound that came from deep within him. It seemed the trees, rocks and earth around him laughed with him. Everyone was looking at the demi-god with bemused, bewildered or, in Snape�s case, annoyed expressions.

�I like you, I think that�s great. You basically tell the gods to shove it because their invitation is an inconvenience to you. It�s great that you�re putting your education first, but one thing I should tell you is that when the gods issue an invitation, it isn�t a request. Athena told me that Ares� curiosity has been piqued. Having been on the receiving end of his temper a multitude of times, I wouldn�t suggest turning down the invitation.�

Harry sat back in his chair, feeling the weight of everyone�s stares as he made his decision. �What if I were to take someone with me? If I had a teacher, or even two there with me, then I wouldn�t be missing out on school, I could continue with the extra training, and meet with the gods who need a scheduling secretary. Everyone wins, and no extra angry gods.� He already knew it would be Snape and Remus, as did everyone else. It was the obvious choice at the mention of the extra training.

�What you�re suggesting, Potter, is that Lupin and I place your needs and desires above every other student. One teacher could leave for two weeks, but two teachers, and the Potions teacher, and the Defense teacher? Impossible.�

�Well, Professor Snape. I suggest you tell those gods that I can�t come.�

�Now Severus, I believe we are able to find suitable substitutes for you and Remus for two weeks. I am sure the students will miss their Potions teacher, but they�ll survive. I�m sure you understand the magnitude of ensuring Harry�s preparedness for the tasks ahead, and you and Remus are the two most qualified to teach him.�

�Besides, Severus. Think of how many humans have ventured onto Mount Olympus. Think of what you�ll see there, who you�ll see.�

�No need to try and appeal to my curiosity and bribe me with knowledge, Lupin. I know when to retreat and survive to argue another day. Once again, I bow down to necessity and accede to the whims of The Boy Who Lived.�

Hercules watched the proceedings, not saying a thing. He noticed that, even though the three: Remus, Severus and Harry, were arguing, there wasn�t any true malice to it. They argued like people who were comfortable with, and trusted one another. It was nice and almost relaxing.

�That�s settled then. Minerva, is there anything you feel needs be added?�

�I�ll make the announcement to my Gryffindors first so they don�t panic and think Harry�s been kidnapped. You can make the announcement to the school at large during a meal of some sort. I�ll draw up a schedule of transfiguration assignments and have the professors of Harry�s other classes gather up their schedules also. I expect, Mr. Potter that you�ll do the work and do it well? Just because you won�t be within the school doesn�t mean the rules don�t apply. And do try to keep out of trouble.�

�Yes, Professor.�

Hercules didn�t blame Harry for being meek and obsequious in the face of such a stern teacher. She was eerily reminiscent of her namesake. One did not want to face Athena�s wrath, and he got the feeling the same goes for this professor.

�Alastor, do you have anything to say?�

Harry groaned; Mad-Eye Moody would be the one to really put up a fight. He was more paranoid than�well�Harry didn�t know what, but he was it.

�What guarantee do we have that Harry will return? How do we know that you aren�t really working with the Dark Lord to get to Harry? What promise do we have of his safety?�

Hercules thought for a moment before he looked at Harry straight in the eyes.

�I, Hercules, swear, in Zeus� name, I am not in alignment with the Dark Lord; that I will return Harry safely as the month of September closes.�

Moody must have remembered something from his history of myth lessons because he nodded once at that statement. Dumbledore looked at Harry before he spoke.

�Invoking Zeus� name when making a promise is as good, if not better, than making a Wizard�s Oath. Zeus is a god for truth, and severely punishes liars and oath breakers. So, when do you need to leave, Hercules?�

�As soon as possible would be best. It can be hazardous to one�s well being if one keeps the gods waiting. They are not a patient lot, and when it possibly involves their existence and survival, they become even worse.�

�I�d like to say good-bye to my friends in person if you don�t mind. I�m sure they�d believe you, Professor McGonagall, when you tell them, but they�d still worry unless they heard it from me. And I need to collect my stuff. I should be ready just before dinner. If that�s alright, of course.�

Hercules admired the way the youth took control and made decisions, but still deferred to those around him, gathering their opinions and input. It showed qualities of a good leader. And he knew Harry was a leader, and despite his young age, an important person; one most definitely to be reckoned with.

�I have no problems with that.�

Harry nodded, and then excused himself. No one else moved to leave, all finishing their tea and cookies. Harry was almost halfway to the school when he stopped and turned around.

�Hey Hercules. Wanna see the inside of a magical school?�

Hercules smiled and excused himself then walked towards Harry. He felt eyes following his progress, but didn�t turn around to find out which ones were on him.

�Sure. I�ve seen academies of all makes and models, but I�ve never seen a school that taught magic.�

They started walking together, Hercules moderating his steps to keep pace with Harry�s shorter stride.

�I didn�t know they existed until I was eleven. It was a shock, to put it mildly. My relatives were�less than pleased to learn of my�gifts.�

Hercules ignored the pauses and carefully chosen words--for now.

�So, do you have any idea why Athena and Ares would want to see you?� Hercules wanted to know what kind of thought process the youth had, if he could conjecture in a logical manner.

�Well, Ares is the God of War and Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom and Tactical Warfare, correct? If it has anything to do with me, then it�s probably connected to something with Voldemort. Which is never a good thing. Do you know why they want to see me?�

Harry led Hercules down corridors, hallways, up moving staircases, by talking pictures, moving suits of armor, past rooms with explosions and roars coming from the doors. Hercules had experienced many things in his long, long, loooong life, but this was in a class by itself.

�From what I gathered, they weren�t too informed of events. They knew that something big was happening and you were somehow involved but nothing specific.�

�That�s a switch. Usually everybody else knows more about me than I know about myself. I think it will be nice to go where they don�t even know my name, much less my history.�

They turned and stopped in front of a portrait housing a fat woman in a pink dress. Hercules was about to ask why they stopped when Harry muttered a word and the hanging swung open to reveal a small opening.

�It�ll be a tight squeeze, but I think you can make it.� Then Harry bounded through.

They emerged into a warm and cozy room, predominately red. There were students all around doing various activities. Some were reading or studying, others were playing a game with mini explosions, and still others were playing chess, but unlike any Hercules had ever seen before.

�Hey Dean, have you seen Ron and Hermione? I really need to talk to them.�

Dean looked up and opened his mouth to speak, but whatever he was about to say was cut off when he got a glimpse of Hercules. Harry looked on amusedly, before he waved his hand in front of Dean�s face.

�Slobber all over my guest another time. Right now, tell me where those two are, and if you say they�re off shagging, I hex you six ways to Sunday.�

Dean dazedly pointed to the very back and darkest corner of the room. Hidden behind a bunch of stacked books Harry sighted a head of red hair. Upon further inspection he also saw the stocking adorning a female leg.

�Ah, thank you.� Turning to look to Hercules, he said, �Look around all you wish. The only place off limits is the girls dormitories, the stairs won�t let any males go up there.�

Harry left Hercules, probably unwisely so, and went to tell his friends what was happening.

Despite being a hero and used to people fawning over him (both men and women), teenagers were another matter entirely. Giving the interested boy a small smile, Hercules started planning an escape route.

�So, you�re a friend of Harry�s? He�s never talked about you. Just how close are you?�

Hercules didn�t miss the leer the young man gave him.

�Actually we just met today.�

�Yes, our Harry certainly moves fast. Tell me, what�s your name?�

Hercules was about to answer when suddenly Dean stood up, holding his butt and screamed. Smoke was coming from the area he was holding and the boy was turning in circles trying to get a look at what had happened. It was an amusing sight to say the least. But Hercules� heroic instincts were kicking and he felt the need to help this obviously distressed individual and seek out who hurt him. He felt an arm on his shoulder before he could do anything.

�Leave it. I believe Harry hexed him for a good reason. It happens, but so long as it�s nothing serious enough to warrant a trip to the infirmary, it�s really no big deal.�

Hercules looked over to Harry, who for all intents and purposes looked engrossed in his conversation with his friends, but a small and particularly evil smirk graced his lips. Then he looked at the person who stopped him and recognized Remus Lupin.

�Come on, let�s get Harry.�

Hercules and Remus walked over to the table to hear Hermione giving a dissertation on the gods and their powers. Harry looked resignedly bored and Ron was most likely sleeping with his eyes open. Harry saw the two coming and interrupted Hermione.

�That�s great. Look I�ll get you an autograph or something. I�ll be back down after I pack.� No, that wasn�t a bit of desperation in his voice.

�Hello Remus. What are you doing up here?�

�Severus is ready to leave. He asked me to come up here and get you.�

Harry looked confused as he mentally back tracked to figure out how much time had gone by.

�I didn�t realize it took that long to walk through the castle. I didn�t use any short-cuts or anything, so yeah, I guess I can see what took so long. Hang on a sec and I�ll go pack some stuff. Meet me down by Severus� dungeons in twenty minutes?�

Without waiting for an answer Harry bolted up to the seventh year boy�s dorm. Remus turned to Hermione and Ron saying, �If he expects to be there in twenty minutes, you two had better help him.�

They nodded then left to help their friend.

Remus led Hercules out of the portrait hole and started on the long trek towards the dungeons. They walked in silence until Hercules� curiosity got the better of him. He was curious about Harry. He seemed like a normal teenager at a quick glance, but Hercules saw deeper. He saw the shadows in the boy�s green eyes, the tensions in his face, the small slouch of his shoulders as if he was carrying the weight of the world. Which was heavy, Hercules knew from first hand experience. He noticed the discreet distance he kept from his friends and the teachers. Even he wasn�t that burdened at such a young age, so he was interested to know why Harry was.

�I don�t mean to seem nosey or sound rude, but about Harry?�

Remus tensed a bit, but then relaxed almost immediately.

�What about him?�

�He seems�troubled is the best word I can find. Why? He�s so young, but I get the feeling that�s only chronologically. Mentally, emotionally, and in his soul, he seems so much older.�

Remus sighed, not really blaming the other man for his question. He chanced a glance at him, still in a bit of awe at meeting a half-god. His hair was long and light brown, tied back into a pony-tail at the base of his neck. He had a strong, square chin, and straight nose, and sea-green eyes. He was tall, over six-feet, and broad shouldered and muscled. Which, Remus thought, was par and course for a heroic half-god. Sighing again, Remus answered as much of the question as he thought necessary.

�I was there when Harry was born. I was friends, best friends, with his parents. Lily and James Potter. They were great people. Unfortunately Harry never got to know that; they were killed when he was a little over a year old. On Halloween in fact. Since that time, Harry had suffered, probably more than he lets anyone know. Then he comes to the wizarding world young and innocent and so naïve, only to be burdened with expectations he knew nothing about. Those burdens have only gotten heavier, darker, and even deadly as each year passes.

�Harry is one of the strongest people I know, and I don�t mean just in power. He has taken everything life has thrown at him and survived. He�s not bitter or evil or anything like that, which he has every reason to be. He�s a kind, caring, considerate young man who puts the lives of those he cares about before his own. He�s known the loss of so much; he�s been alone, even surrounded by his friends.�

�You must care a great deal for him.� Hercules would have to be deaf to miss the emotions in Remus� voice. He heard the sadness, loneliness and even pride on behalf of Harry. He would also have to be deaf to know Remus wasn�t telling him the whole story.

�He�s the last link I have to Lily, James, and�Sirius. He�s the son I�ve never had. I love him very much.�

Remus was surprised he�d said so much and with so much evidenced feeling. He was usually more careful than that.

�I didn�t really mean to say all that.�

Hercules smiled and said, �Don�t worry. I�m a really good listener. And I�m sure you needed someone who knows next to nothing of what is going on to tell. So, no problem. Besides, we�re going to be spending a lot of time together anyway. When I take you three up to Olympus, I�m going to have to stay there for the rest of the time too.�

Remus was glad for the subject change and happy Hercules didn�t dwell on his heart-pouring of emotion.

�About that. Why is there a ban on travel between Olympus and Earth for one month?�

�Hera forbade Zeus to come down here for one month of every year. It�s a way for them to spend time together and try and work through their problems. I think Hera�s been watching too much Dr. Phil and Zeus is willing to do just about anything to keep her from screeching in his ear.�

Remus laughed. The king and queen of the gods sounded like a normal married couple; though he knew they were far from normal. �Okay, I can understand that, but why the ban for everyone?�

�Yeah, from all the stories you�ve heard, do you really think Zeus wants to spend one whole month alone on Olympus with Hera? No, he wants as many others there to act as buffers as possible. He usually springs the month up as a surprise, because every time he announced it, everyone fled to Earth. He doesn�t want to give anyone any warning.�

Remus laughed again. When he heard a door closing, he realized they were already in the dungeons and at Severus� office door.

�What a charming place. This man and Ares� must have the same decorator.� Severus came through the doorway and Hercules added, under his breath, �And the same fashion advisor. Though, Ares does dress to impress better than this man.�

Remus snickered but quickly straightened his features when Severus looked their way.

�Where�s Potter? I thought you were going to collect him?�

�He wasn�t quite ready. But he should be at the dungeon entrances in�seven minutes.�

�Indeed. I will be counting every drop of the sand, waiting for Potter to grace us with his presence. I trust you, at least, are ready?�

Remus bowed his head. �Of course. I wouldn�t dream of keeping you waiting.�

Severus lifted an eyebrow. It rose a little higher when he noticed how close the werewolf was standing to the demi-god. He smirked.

Hercules was wary of that smirk. His sister Aphrodite wore it when she knew something. Remus, however, didn�t see it, as at that moment, Harry came skipping, yes skipping, towards them. He had this big, dopey grin on his face and his eyes were glittering at brightly as the Headmaster�s. Remus narrowed his eyes.

�What�s wrong?�

Taking a deep breath, Harry answered. �Nothing, but Dean wanted to get me back for hexing him earlier today, so he persuaded Seamus to help him. But Dean didn�t tell Seamus that he would be hexing me too, so Dean cast a cheering charm at me and Seamus cast a cheering charm at me, so I got hit with the same spell at once.

�Oh, dear, sweet, merciful Merlin.� Severus looked frighten at the prospect of spending time with an uber-happy Harry.

Harry giggled, grabbing Hercules� hand. �Hey Remus, I�ll race you to the entrance hall. Last one there is forced to eat a blood-flavored lolly-pop. Professor Snape goes with you, and Hercules comes with me.�

Before Harry could run off, Remus grabbed him, laughing.

�I don�t think so Harry. First we�re going to say good-bye to Headmaster Dumbledore, and then we�ll floo from there to Hogsmeade, where we�ll have lunch at the Three Broomsticks. Then we�ll do as Hercules says to get to Mount Olympus.�

Harry pouted. Apparently, getting hit with two cheering charms at once turned Harry into a five year old.

�Fine. Take the fun out of everything.�

�For Salazar�s sake, reverse the blasted spell.�

Remus turned an amused glance towards the Potions Master. �Why won�t you do it?�

�Because I won�t stop at reversing the spell.�

Remus just rolled his eyes, produced his wand, and reversed the spell. Harry sobered up immediately, then narrowed his eyes.

�I�m so gonna get Dean and Seamus back. I think I�ll spell their hair green and silver, then I�ll shrink all their clothes. I don�t know what else, but I have two weeks to think of something. By that time they�d have forgotten about it, and it�ll be good.�

The three adults eyed Harry warily, almost waiting for him to rub his hands together in mad-scientist mode and laugh maniacally.

�Sorry, that charm must not be totally removed. Anyway, let�s go see the Headmaster. I�m sure he�d like to ply us with words of wisdom or inanity before we go to Mount Olympus to have an audience with the gods. Right, I�ll just not talk until I�m sure that bloody charm has completely and totally worn off.�

Remus laughed and swung his arm around Harry.

Alright, this part gets boring. I�ll just summarize. Ole Dumbledore wishes them luck and safe journey, advising them to stay out of trouble. He says they�ll be missed, la di da di da. They go to Hogsmeade where they have a small lunch and introduce Hercules to the wonder that was butterbeer. They ask how he knew to find Harry, to which Hercules answered he used a locator that was activated with a bit of Harry�s hair that Athena�s familiar was kind enough to procure. Then they just traveled to the outskirts of town where they asked how Hercules actually got here. He then produced Hades� helmet of invisibility and Hermes winged sandals. Severus suggests they all apparate. He suggests that he take Potter and Remus take Hercules. They�ll apparate to London where they will procure a portkey to Athens. From there, Hercules can take them to Mount Olympus.

They have some problems getting a portkey until Harry comes up, introduces himself and says how much he wants to visit Athens, that maybe he�ll learn something helpful there. It�s so rich in history and culture and myth, that there�s bound to be something. He bats his eyelashes and looks sad, pathetic, yet hopefully yearning and the witch behind the counter quickly agrees to get them the portkey.

They get to Athens, and it is at that time that Hercules decided to ask where their bags are. They all say they packed and shrunk their belongings, it makes traveling easier and lighter. The journey is uneventful, no one really speaking. Except Harry does mention the need of an escalator, of which Severus and Remus have no clue and Hercules wholeheartedly agrees and says he�ll look into it.

Yeah, I�ll probably get in trouble for not writing every single last, itsy, bitsy detail. But seriously, my hand�s cramping here. If they want it in, they can do it themselves.
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Consort to War