Guys, i'm gonna be honest. I'm running out of ideas for this story, and I never expected it to get so many views. This was supposed to be a small little project that I worked on in my free time but now, it's become so big and i'm getting a little overwhelmed. So, i'm gonna go back to updating anytime I feel like it. :) I'm not dropping it tho.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thunder boomed above Hogwarts as Percy stood at the dormitory window, watching lightning slash across the sky. Sheets of rain lashed the castle walls, the Black Lake churning like a cauldron of ink.
The storm was no ordinary one, Percy could feel it. Each flash of lightning seemed to echo inside his chest, and the thunder felt more like the roar of a beast than the sound of clouds colliding.
Behind him, Harry packed his rucksack in grim silence. Hermione was cross-checking a long list of charms and protective spells, muttering under her breath. Ron paced the room, repeatedly tossing a chocolate frog in the air and catching it without even looking.
At last, Percy tore his gaze from the window and turned to the others. "We'll leave as soon as the storm eases just enough to cover our departure," he said. "It'll make it harder for anyone to track us."
Harry zipped up his bag and looked up, his green eyes dark and determined. "I don't care if it's pouring or if there's a tornado. We have to get to that shrine before they do."
Hermione nodded firmly. "I've packed everything: potions, spare wands, enchanted rope, even gillyweed just in case."
Ron made a face. "You actually packed gillyweed? We're not going swimming in the middle of a hurricane, Hermione."
Hermione gave him a withering glare. "And if we need to get into a submerged cave or escape underwater? Would you prefer to drown?"
Ron opened his mouth, closed it, and went back to his pacing.
A sudden sharp crack of thunder made all four jump. Percy felt the ocean's pulse surge inside him, as though a distant tide had turned.
He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. For a moment, the sound of rain faded, replaced by the memory of waves breaking over rocks, the salt-heavy air of Montauk, and the scent of his mother's blue chocolate-chip cookies cooling on the windowsill.
He opened his eyes again. "It's time."
They slipped out of Gryffindor Tower, wands hidden in their sleeves. The castle corridors were dark, lit only by the occasional flicker of torchlight. Most of the portraits were asleep, but a few bleary-eyed figures watched them pass, whispering to each other.
When they reached the main doors, Percy turned back for one last look at the Great Hall's high stained-glass windows glowing faintly behind the rain-streaked glass. Hogwarts had always felt like a fortress, a warm harbor. Now, it looked fragile, like a ship bracing for a final storm.
With a quiet nod to each other, they stepped into the storm.
The grounds were a blur of wind and rain. They ran across the lawns, slipping and sliding, until they reached the gates. There, under the cover of a giant yew tree, they stopped to catch their breath.
Hermione cast a quick shielding charm, a shimmering dome of light that repelled the worst of the rain. Her hands were trembling, but her voice was steady. "We need to Apparate as close to the lighthouse as possible. We'll split into pairs to reduce magical signatures."
Harry nodded. "I'll go with Percy."
Hermione grabbed Ron's sleeve. "You're with me, then. And do not let go, Ronald."
Ron gulped. "Wasn't planning on it."
Percy felt Harry's grip on his arm tighten, and he looked at him. Harry managed a tense smile. "See you on the other side."
With a pop of compressed air and a wrenching pull in the pit of his stomach, Percy felt the world twist and spin around him.
They landed on a jagged cliffside, the wind howling like a living creature around them. Waves crashed far below, spraying cold saltwater high into the air.
Percy stumbled, but Harry steadied him. They glanced around and spotted the lighthouse in the distance, its beam sweeping across the churning sea. A narrow, crumbling stone path snaked toward it along the cliff's edge.
Moments later, there was another sharp crack and Hermione and Ron appeared nearby, both pale and soaked.
Hermione immediately took charge. "The wards are already active. I can feel them: They're layered like shells. We'll need to break through carefully or risk alerting every dark wizard in Britain."
Percy stepped forward, feeling the sea's presence surge up from the depths. His voice trembled but carried power. "Let me try. Maybe I can ask the ocean to help."
Hermione hesitated, but then she nodded. "Go on, Percy."
Percy knelt on the slick rocks, closed his eyes, and extended both hands toward the waves below. He could feel the old currents like ancient whispers, swirling around the lighthouse foundation. In his mind's eye, he saw faint glowing sigils embedded in the rocks, like barnacles clinging to a ship's hull.
"Please," he whispered. "I don't want to bring harm. Help me protect them."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then a low hum rose from the ocean. The waves stilled for a heartbeat, and Percy felt a warmth wrap around him like a protective embrace.
Slowly, the outermost layer of the ward began to crack, the shimmering veil weakening enough for Hermione to step in. She flourished her wand and muttered a long, complex incantation. The remaining layers began to fold and peel away, like petals curling back from a flower.
Ron exhaled shakily. "I can't believe that worked. Blimey, Percy."
Percy stood up, shaking, but managed a tired grin. "Guess the sea likes me today."
They slipped through the final barrier, breath held. The lighthouse loomed above them, battered by wind and rain, its base lost in shadows. A narrow staircase wound downward, disappearing into a dark tunnel that led under the sea.
Hermione swallowed hard. "That must be the entrance to the shrine."
Harry lifted his wand, lightning reflected in his glasses. "Then let's finish this."
Percy glanced back once at the raging ocean. For the first time since this nightmare began, he felt not only dread, but also the spark of hope, small but alive.
Then, as if in answer, a sudden cold wind slammed into them, and they heard a roar, not from the sea, but from deeper within the tunnel, echoing upward.
Something was waiting.
They exchanged a last glance, wands gripped, breaths steadying.
Together, they stepped into the dark.
The stone staircase spiraled downward, each step slick with seawater and coated in moss. Dim, flickering torches lined the walls, their light swallowed by the heavy darkness beyond. The roar they had heard earlier now echoed faintly through the passage, as if something was breathing deep within the earth.
Hermione led the way, wand tip glowing bright as a lantern. Harry followed close behind, tense and alert, his own wand ready. Percy trailed, one hand brushing the damp wall to steady himself. He could feel the ocean's pulse through the stones, a distant heartbeat that seemed to sync with his own.
Ron trudged at the back, muttering under his breath. "Why is it always stairs? Why can't it ever be a slide? Or a lift?"
Hermione ignored him, eyes locked forward. She was scanning the walls, reading the ancient runes that had been etched into the rock centuries ago. "These markings are protections, but they're deteriorating. They were meant to keep the Eye sealed inside... but they've been damaged. Someone's been down here recently."
Percy paused, a chill creeping up his spine. "Then we're not the first ones here."
Harry's jaw tightened. "Voldemort's people."
As they descended deeper, the tunnel floor changed from mossy stone to smooth, black marble. Strange, luminescent algae pulsed faintly beneath the surface, casting eerie patterns that danced across their faces.
Finally, the tunnel opened into a massive cavern, its ceiling lost in darkness. A great underground lake spread before them, smooth and black as oil. In its center stood a small island, and on it, a single stone pedestal, cracked and worn by time. A faint, sickly green glow hovered above it, illuminating the walls with an otherworldly shimmer.
The Eye.
Percy staggered forward, breath caught in his throat. The glow called to him, vibrating through his bones, whispering in a language he didn't understand but somehow felt deep in his soul.
Hermione grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Percy! It's trying to lure you in!"
He shook, forcing his feet to obey. The glow pulsed in time with his heartbeat, promising power, freedom, the sea itself.
Harry stepped forward, raising his wand. "We have to destroy it before they get here."
Hermione's voice quivered. "We can't destroy it, it's too entwined with the creature's essence. We need to contain it again, reinforce the seal!"
Ron clutched his wand with white knuckles. "Can we at least hurry? I don't want to be here when that Eye wakes up properly!"
Percy knelt on the edge of the lake, eyes locked on the island. He pressed his hands to the wet marble floor and closed his eyes. He felt the waves beyond the cavern, the great currents of the sea. He called them, not as a conqueror, but as a son asking for help.
The water shivered. Ripples spread across the lake, circling the island. Percy could feel them pushing against the Eye's pull, resisting it like a tide resisting the moon.
Hermione moved beside him, flicking her wand rapidly. A silver net of runes appeared in the air, forming a shimmering cage around the Eye. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she muttered incantations at breakneck speed.
Harry stood watch, scanning the cavern's shadowy edges. His scar burned faintly, a reminder that Voldemort was close, or his servants were.
A sudden echoing splash broke the tense quiet.
All of them froze.
From the darkness at the far side of the cavern, shapes began to emerge: Black-robed figures, wands raised, masks gleaming in the green glow.
Death Eaters.
Harry's eyes blazed. "Protect Hermione and Percy!" he shouted, throwing up a shield just as curses flew through the air like streaks of fire.
Ron joined him at once, firing stunning spells with surprising accuracy. One Death Eater fell into the water, sinking into the depths with a muffled scream.
Hermione's magic faltered for a split second as a stray curse ricocheted off the marble, grazing her arm. Percy lunged to steady her, his own hands glowing bright blue now.
The water surged as Percy focused all his strength, calling it higher and faster. A towering wave rose from the lake, curling above the island like a living wall. With a violent crash, it slammed down onto the pedestal, drowning the Eye in a rush of seawater and sending a thunderous boom echoing through the cavern.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The Eye flickered violently beneath the water, its glow sputtering.
Then, slowly, the green light began to fade, the pulses weakening. Hermione's silver rune-cage locked into place, sinking into the marble and sealing the Eye beneath.
A moment of shocked silence followed.
The Death Eaters seemed to realize the Eye was lost, and panic set in. Some began to retreat into the shadows, but Harry and Ron pushed forward, driving them back with a fury born from desperation and rage.
Hermione dropped to her knees beside Percy, breath ragged. "We did it," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "We sealed it again."
Percy looked down at his trembling hands, still glowing faintly. He felt hollow and heavy all at once, as though the sea itself had rushed through him and left him drained.
Harry staggered back to them, wand smoking, robes torn. "We need to get out now. They'll regroup."
Ron limped over, panting. "Remind me to never doubt you two again," he said, attempting a shaky laugh.
Percy nodded, though his eyes remained fixed on the lake, where faint ripples still moved over the dark surface. The ocean inside him felt calm now, but deeper, wilder, as if the creature had been pushed back but not defeated.
Hermione grabbed Percy's hand, and Harry took the other. Together, they helped him stand.
As they turned to climb the stairs, Percy felt one final shiver from the lake below, a deep, wordless promise that this wasn't over.
He looked back one last time, and in the shimmering darkness, he thought he saw a single, massive eye watching from the depths.
The group stumbled back into the stormy night, lungs burning and clothes soaked from both seawater and rain. Behind them, the lighthouse loomed like a silent sentinel, the sealed Eye hidden beneath it once more.
Lightning forked across the sky as they half-ran, half-slid along the rocky path away from the cliffs. Every crack of thunder made them flinch, but they pressed on, hearts pounding with the thrill of survival and the dread of what might still be lurking in the shadows.
Hermione's wand tip glowed, illuminating the slippery stones underfoot. She kept glancing over her shoulder as if expecting Death Eaters to pour out of the darkness at any moment.
Ron clutched his side, grimacing. "Next time we go on a holiday, let's pick somewhere with sun and butterbeer, yeah? No underwater shrines, no cultists, no sea monsters."
Harry barked a short laugh, more a release of tension than actual amusement. His glasses were smudged, his robes torn, but his eyes were bright with determination.
Percy staggered at the back, every muscle in his body trembling from the raw effort of controlling the lake. He felt as if he had run ten marathons while carrying the sea on his shoulders. Still, a strange calm had settled in his mind, an aftertaste of that oceanic power he'd wielded.
They finally reached the edge of a small cove, sheltered by jagged rocks. Waves crashed just meters away, spraying cold mist over them. Harry dropped to the sand, panting, while Ron flopped beside him, face pale.
Hermione knelt next to Percy, checking his pulse and peering into his eyes. "Are you alright? You used too much magic... that connection to the ocean, it's dangerous if you push too far."
Percy gave a weak chuckle, though it quickly turned into a cough. "I'll live. Just… need a moment."
Hermione's brows knit together. "We have to get you back to Hogwarts as soon as possible. You need rest, and I need to analyze what exactly happened to your magical core after you bonded with the lake."
Harry sat up, wiping mud from his face. "Before we go… we need to think about what this means. The Eye is sealed, but that creature, the Kraken: Ketalios, it's still out there. And it knows about us now."
Percy's gaze drifted to the horizon, where lightning played over the water. He felt the sea moving beneath the surface, restless and vast, a living labyrinth of currents and hidden depths.
"We bought ourselves time," Percy said quietly. "But it isn't finished. That Eye… it was only part of what it wants. Part of what someone, Voldemort or whoever's pulling strings, wants to wake up fully."
Ron groaned. "Brilliant. So, what, we have to keep fighting bits of it until the whole thing crawls out of the ocean and says hello?"
Hermione shuddered. "Don't even joke about that, Ron. We need to plan. We should inform Dumbledore right away, and we might need to find other relics or weak points. There must be records somewhere, perhaps in the Department of Mysteries."
Harry nodded grimly. "He'll know what to do. And if not… we'll figure it out ourselves."
Percy closed his eyes. Behind his eyelids, he still saw that massive eye watching him, glowing in the darkness beneath the waves. He shivered.
After a long silence broken only by the crashing sea and distant rumbles of thunder, Hermione stood and began rummaging through her beaded bag. She pulled out a small mirror, one of the two-way mirrors Sirius had once used.
"Dumbledore gave me this in case of emergencies," she explained, her voice shaking slightly. She whispered a quick incantation, and Dumbledore's lined face slowly formed in the glass. His expression was as serious as they had ever seen it.
"Professor," Hermione began breathlessly, "we sealed the Eye, but we were attacked. We believe the Death Eaters know about it now. Percy... Percy almost lost himself to the ocean magic."
Dumbledore's eyes flickered to Percy, his gaze softening. "I am proud of you all. You've done something many grown witches and wizards would not have dared attempt. You must return at once, I will arrange for an emergency Portkey."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said, relief clear in his voice.
Within minutes, a seashell glowed into existence in Hermione's palm. Percy forced himself to his feet, leaning on Hermione and Harry for support. Ron put a steadying hand on his back.
They gathered in a circle, each touching the shell.
"Ready?" Hermione asked, her eyes darting between them.
Harry gave a sharp nod. "Let's go home."
The Portkey activated with a sudden jerk, dragging them forward. For an instant, Percy felt as if he were being yanked through a whirlpool, spinning, twisting, weightless.
Then they landed heavily in Dumbledore's office, toppling over each other in a tangle of limbs. Fawkes squawked and flapped indignantly above them, and a stack of scrolls clattered to the floor.
Dumbledore rose from behind his desk, moving swiftly to help them up. His eyes swept over them, lingering longest on Percy.
"Rest now," he said firmly. "We will speak after you recover. There will be many questions, and many decisions ahead."
Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Dumbledore raised a hand. "Miss Granger, I know your mind yearns for answers. But exhaustion clouds even the sharpest intellect."
With that, he summoned Madam Pomfrey, who bustled in moments later, brandishing vials and muttering about "reckless Gryffindors" and "idiotic near-drownings."
As Percy was led toward a conjured bed in the corner, he felt Harry's hand briefly squeeze his shoulder, a wordless promise that they would face what came next together.
Even as his body gave in to sleep, the storm outside Hogwarts raged on. Percy dreamed of waves taller than mountains, of tentacles stretching to the moon, and that endless, unblinking eye staring into his soul.
To Be Continued...
That's all for now! Buh Bye!!!!