Percy Jackson and The Wizarding World

Percy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sprinted back through the passageway, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Percy's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline surging through his veins as the eerie whispers of the shadowy figure still echoed in his mind.

"You are not of this world."

Those words had rattled him more than he wanted to admit. He'd spent his entire life feeling out of place—half-mortal, half-god—but now it felt like even this world, this temporary refuge, might not be safe for him either.

As they emerged from the Room of Requirement, Harry slammed the door shut behind them. The magical doorway shimmered and vanished, sealing away the ancient vault once more.

"Okay," Ron panted, bending over with his hands on his knees. "That… that was terrifying."

"You can say that again," Hermione muttered, eyes wide. "That figure—I've never seen magic like that before. It was almost… unnatural."

Percy leaned against the wall, still catching his breath. "That's because it wasn't magic. Not wizard magic, anyway."

Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"

Percy looked at him, the weight of realization settling in. "I think it was something… older. Something connected to my world." He pulled the book they had found from his jacket and flipped through its glowing pages. "This place—this vault—it's not just about magic. It's about the Mist. It's a connection between our worlds."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "That figure could have been a guardian of sorts, meant to protect the secrets inside."

"Or something worse," Ron added. "Maybe someone else found it first and didn't want us snooping around."

Percy's grip tightened on the book. "Well, whoever they are, they know I'm here now."

Harry glanced around the empty corridor nervously. "We need to take this to Dumbledore. If this has anything to do with You-Know-Who, he needs to know."

Percy hesitated. Something about this felt personal—like it was a piece of his own puzzle, not just another part of the war against Voldemort. But Harry was right. They couldn't risk keeping this to themselves.

"Fine," Percy said with a sigh. "Let's tell Dumbledore. But I get the feeling we're not going to like what we find out."

Dumbledore's Office – Later That Night

Dumbledore examined the ancient book with a quiet intensity, his long fingers tracing the faded Greek inscriptions as the golden glow reflected in his half-moon spectacles. Percy sat on the edge of his chair, impatiently tapping his foot.

"This," Dumbledore finally said, looking up with a knowing twinkle in his eyes, "is quite extraordinary."

"Extraordinary how?" Hermione asked eagerly.

Dumbledore smiled faintly. "The Keeper's Vault is a place of ancient knowledge, hidden from the eyes of mortals and wizards alike. It is a bridge between our two worlds, protecting secrets that could upset the balance between magic and the divine." His gaze settled on Percy. "It seems fate has a special role for you after all, Mr. Jackson."

Percy crossed his arms. "Yeah, fate and I have a complicated relationship."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I can imagine. However, this discovery brings troubling implications. If young Mr. Malfoy is indeed seeking this knowledge, it means others—perhaps darker forces—are also searching for it."

Harry leaned forward. "Professor, do you think Voldemort knows about the vault?"

Dumbledore's expression grew somber. "I do not believe he does… yet. But those who serve him may have stumbled upon whispers of it. That shadow you encountered—whoever they are—could be an agent of a far greater threat."

Percy scowled. "Great. So, what do we do? Sit around and wait for another shadowy figure to try and kill us?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Patience, Mr. Jackson. There are answers to be found, and I suspect they lie within these pages." He tapped the book lightly. "Leave this with me for now, and I will see what I can uncover."

Percy nodded reluctantly, though he didn't like the idea of leaving the book behind. "Alright. But if you find anything, I want to know first."

Dumbledore inclined his head. "Of course."

As they left the office, Percy couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time.

Hogwarts Grounds – The Next Morning

The crisp morning air did little to settle Percy's nerves as he walked along the lake, watching the ripples spread across the surface. He was alone, save for the occasional squawk of a distant owl. Hogwarts had a way of feeling both magical and ominous at the same time.

"You look troubled, Mr. Jackson," came a familiar voice.

Percy turned to see Professor McGonagall approaching, her expression as stern as ever but not unkind.

"Yeah, you could say that," Percy replied, shoving his hands into his pockets.

McGonagall studied him for a moment before speaking. "You are not the first to feel out of place in this school, you know."

Percy chuckled. "Yeah, well, I think I win the award for the weirdest student."

McGonagall's lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smile. "Perhaps. But you should remember—Hogwarts has always been a place for those who do not quite fit in elsewhere."

Percy nodded. "Yeah… thanks, Professor."

As she walked away, Percy turned back to the lake, his thoughts drifting once more to the shadowy figure and the vault. He needed to be ready for whatever came next.

And something told him that this was only the beginning.

End of Chapter 15