"How many years
I know I'll bear
I found something in the woods somewhere"

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Song: In The Woods Somewhere, Hozier

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XLIII - Possibility

A Week Before

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"Thank you again Mrs Weasely," Amabilia said, taking another round of food from the woman.

"No worries dear! Have you gotten a letter back from Chiron yet?" She shook her head and glanced out the window again.

"We did get another one from Annabeth though," Ciara said.

"Oh really? How are they?" Mrs Weasely said, sitting down with them.

"I think they're fine. They've figured out food so they don't need to sneak into the castle again until they retrieve their stuff. I just think the constant worry of being found is getting on their nerves," she replied, hands tightening around her mug of butterbeer.

Molly hummed. "I'll knit them some blankets so they don't freeze."

Ama smiled, "I think they'll like that."

"A letter for you," a voice called from the doorway. They all turned to see Sirius Black in the doorway, a letter in hand and a grin on his face.

The girls had been beyond surprised to learn that no, Sirius Black was not a mass murderer, but after they got over the tension and awkwardness of it all, they found themselves liking him. He could understand the desperation of running away that Ciara had and the constant pressure of not being like every other pureblood that Amabilia had. It also may have helped that he too, was irreversibly in love with his best friend.

Ciara took the letter, opened it and read. Once she was done she smiled and said, "Chiron got back to us. He's sending three to four people to help us out." The room let out the tense breath they had been holding while she read. Nico had told them that he had, by some way, figured out that they would have to be the ones to rescue Percy.

"That's good," Sirius said as Molly took the empty plates away. He sat next to them, fingers nervously playing at the hem of his shirt as he looked out at the grounds. "I hate this house," he muttered.

"How's Harry?" He asked suddenly.

Ama looked at her. "Last we saw him, he was good. Besides, you know, Umbridge ." Sirius laughed.

"I think I may have met her once, many years ago. All I remember is that she was just as unpleasant as Harry says she is." His face was wistful for a moment, thinking about his godson.

"You miss him don't you?" Ciara asked.

"Yeah, I do." His face turned sad, "And his dad, he was my best friend."

"I thought I was your best friend." Remus Lupin said from where he was leaning against the doorway.

"You too." Sirius corrected, and Lupin snorted. Sirius stood up and walked to him, and after a brief exchange, the two walked out of the room, Sirius's arm thrown across Lupin's shoulders.

"This is weird to say about our old professor but god they're so in love," Ciara said, causing Ama to giggle. "I love your laugh," She whispered.

"Well, I love you."

"I love you more," Ciara said, pressing closer.

"Not possible."

"Anything is possible, dear." A slow kiss, sweet and steady. Possibility. Freedom. Love. "You just gotta look in the right way." The hate of the outside couldn't reach them here, "And you'll find it."

---

XLIV - In the Woods

The Day After The Astronomy Tower Fight

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The cracking of leaves snapped Thalia back to the present, away from her daydream. Drawing her bow, she peeked through the heavy leaves around her. Through them, she could see a peculiar sight: Harry and Hermione were standing in the clearing, Umbridge not five paces behind them.

"Well," The woman said, "What did you want to show me?" Her question was answered when an arrow, not from Thalia, landed right next to her. She yelped.

Thalia looked on in wonder as centaurs came out of the trees, bows drawn and pointed right at the group. The one at the front spoke to Umbridge, "Who are you?" Umbridge looked ready to piss herself, and Thalia suppressed her giggles.

"I asked you who you are, human." The centaur growled.

"I am Dolores Umbridge!" She blurted. "Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic and Headmistress and High Inquisitor of Hogwarts!"

"You are... from the ministry ?" the centaur said, eyes narrowing as the rest of them shifted restlessly.

"Yes!" She said, sounding flustered yet terrified. Thalia bit her lip and silently, jumped up into the tree for a better angle. "So be very careful! By the laws laid down by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, any attack by half-breeds such as yourselves on a human—"

"What did you just call us ?" A black centaur growled.

Thalia couldn't help herself, so she cut in. "She called you a half-breed. It's one of the few insults she knows." The centaurs glanced at her curiously, but Umbridge cut in again.

"Law Fifteen B states clearly that 'Any attack by a magical creature who is deemed to have near-human intelligence, and therefore considered responsible for its actions—'"

"'Near-human intelligence'?" repeated the chestnut one, as the black one and several others trembled with rage and pawed the ground.

"That is a grave insult, coming from someone like you." The leader said.

"What are you doing in our forest?" Someone hissed.

" Your forest?" Umbridge asked, "You are only here because the Ministry allowed you to be—"

An arrow whizzed by her, and Thalia's bow was by now in hand. Umbridge shrieked and screamed, causing a round of raucous laughter to go up from the centaurs. Thalia would have laughed, had she not caught a flash of silver in the trees. Instead, she looked skyward.

"You filthy half-breed—" She was cut off by a choked noise escaping her. Thalia looked back at her to see a silver arrow as familiar as her own bed embedded deep into her leg. She screamed, but suddenly she was muted. She was still screaming but just couldn't make noise.

The culprit was revealed only seconds later as a woman stepped out of the trees, followed by some ten or fifteen girls clad in silver. Their bows were drawn, pointed at the woman.

"I warned you once," The woman at the front spoke. "I warned you. Yet you attack us. You draw the blood of gods . You attack us and for that, I will make well on my promise." Artemis, the great huntress, drew her bow as Umbridge whimpered, and the rest of the hunt and the centaurs followed suit.

"No!" Thalia said, leaping from the trees. Artemis turned to look at her.

"No?" She repeated back.

"Don't, no—" Thalia regained her composure. "Don't kill her."

"Thalia do you know not what this woman has done to young Perseus?"

Thalia squared her jaw. "I do," she growled. "But we can use her. A tool, a bargain." Umbridge, still charmed to silence, was trying to protest. But Thalia had the sneaking suspicion that Artemis was bending many rules in being here.

Artemis cocked her head, looking at her lieutenant. Finally, she lowered her bow. "Very well. Samantha, Yrene, take her away. Heal her just enough." Two huntresses stepped forward, and dragged the woman away.

It was the lead centaur who spoke first, giving a small bow to the woman. "Lady Artemis."

Artemis looked at him and nodded. "This woman will never come into a forest again, most of all yours."

"Thank you, milady." He turned to Harry and Hermione, eyes narrowing and bow coming to draw again, "State your name and your purpose here."

They did. "Look, we just wanted to get rid of her, we're not ministry officials, were just students." Harry stammered. The lead centaur gave them a once over but did not seem to deem him a large threat. The centaurs left.

"Thalia," Harry said suddenly. "I think, Sirius, I think he's been taken by Voldemort, I need your help—"

Thalia whirled, "What?"

"Sirius, he's been taken," Harry said, face pale and eyes wide.

Thalia glanced at her lady. How she longed to join her side again, running through woods. Artemis looked at her, and smiled, nodding. Finish this , she seemed to say. The hunt will await you.

"Thalia," she actually said. "Take your circlet again. I will be with you." She snapped her fingers, and the familiar weight was on Thalia's brow again. "What of Chaos. Nico told us—" Artemis held up her hand, signaling for her not to worry. Then they turned and ran, disappearing instantly.

"Please," Harry pleaded. "Help me."

"Where will you meet and when?"

"Ten minutes. Edge of the forbidden forest."

"And how will we get there?"

"Er— we'll cross that bridge when we get there," Harry said.

Thalia smiled at him, "Go. We'll be there."

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XLV - Take Off

At the Same Time

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The help that Chiron sent ended up being a group of four people. There were the Stoll Brothers, who reminded everyone of the Weasley Twins with their shifting grins and eyes, a child of Hecate named Lou Ellen, and Will Solace's sister Kayla.

The introductions were short and brief, only necessary information being traded. They didn't need to know every little thing about one another, and that was fine.

The demigods had brought Pegasi with them, six great animals corded with muscle and strength. They all were bedecked in their own light armour, and they waited outside in the square, nervously pawing at the stones.

After a quick lesson on how to get on and ride a Pegasi, the team set off to the department of ministries. Ciara, one of Ravenclaws beaters, didn't find it too different from riding a broom, and the feeling of the wind in her hair was a welcome one as they flew over London, towards the ministry.