Demigod solidarity

chapter 9 Choice

Charles titled his head. Silently telling the older woman to leave. She pulled out her wand "child I am already doomed, but I will be damned if I  go down without a fight. Just leave that toad to me." The witch demanded her eyes glaring in Umbridge's direction.

Charles shrugged "as you wish."

The Aurors shared nervous looks, perfectly aware of Minerva McGanogall's reputation.

"What? Cat got your tongue? You always seemed so eager to oppose me, but now I guess you've finally learned your place." Umbridge giggled insufferably behind her hand.

"Oh there's a lot of things I want to say to you Dolores. Fuck you being one, but I doubt your small brain and fragile ego can process the rest." Spat Minerva.

"Hot damn." Charlie said a wide smile slowly spliting his face.

"What are you dimwits waiting for!" Umbridge shrilly demanded the motionless Aurors.

"Expeliarmus!" The red bolt of light shot out of the man's wand, only to swerve back into his wand, by a flick of Charlie's fingers.

The Aurors at the other end of the hallway tried to shoot the legacy in the back, but McGanogall swiftly stood in front of them wand drawned.

"Think twice gentlemen." She said her voice dangerously low.

Meanwhile Charles slammed his hand upon the ground. The stone rumbled and a wave of serpents made of stone erupted from the ground. The wizard still possessing a wand managed to knock one away, but he and his partner were quickly entangled in multiple snakes violently snapping their jaws close to their face.

Making them scream in terror as they thought they were about to become the beast's dinner. And if Charlie had bothered scultping a digestive track from the stone animals they would have been.

The other wizards finally steeled themselves and started attacking the old professor. Who swiftly erected a barrier and stood her ground as curses and hexes slammed into her shield.

Charlie easily lept over McGanogall and sent two balls of fire at the walls next to the wizards. The small burst of flames effectively breaking their concentration.

He landed back crouching, giving McGanogall the opening she needed to disarm them both. Now not being even a semblance of a threat Charlie raced forward and rolled under a sloppy punch.

He rolled upon his hands, extanding his body and kicking the wizard in the chest. Sending him flying head over heel and back onto the cold stone.

Charlie flipped back on his feet and before the witch could react, he placed his leg behind hers and grabbed her face. Swiftly and effortlessly slamming her into the ground. Umbridge who no longer had any human shields, resulted to taking out her wand.

Charlie flicked his finger, sending the witch sliding accross the ground at blinding speed with a telekinetic burst.

Umbridge schreeched as she was blown throught a door another and one more before her screams were drowned out.

Charles looked back at McGonagall and shared a nod with her before racing back deeper into the castle.

He had one last thing to do before leaving Hogwarts. And that was make an offer.

He had to knock out a few dozen wizards and witches on the way there, but he finally reached Gryffindor tower.

The fat lady in the painting tried to ask for the password, but she swung open with a wave of Charlie's hand. "Brute!" She yelped.

He barged inside the tower. The members of the D.A remained while the other ran out at the sight of him.

"Chelsea!" Charles called not running up the stairs up the girl's dorm. He was more polite than that, although the fact that the girl's could simply come down to the boy's dorm whenever they wanted rubbed him the wrong way.

Chelsea ran down the stairs "what's wrong?" She asked her blue eyes wide with anxiety.

Charles handed her the paper. She snatched it and quickly read it's content. Her face going pale as she realised what it meant.

"We can go to the other schools and--"

"I can't." Chelsea answered cutting off Charles eager planning.

"What?" He said his tone shifting to dangerously cold.

"I know they did a lot of wrong, countless wrongs in just the past few years, but I can't give up on them. The Legion and all the other demigods taught me so much. Lessons i'll never forget, but the Wizarding world, it's my family, it's my blood too. I have to stand by them, I have to make it right." Chelsea explained trying to sound steady, but Charlie could tell this decision was tearing her apart.

Not even Hermione thoughtlessly jumped in the conversation. The tension in the room being palpable by even the most blind and foolish person.

Charles looked at her up and down and realised Chelsea was shaking.

He could never stop people from being afraid of him, no matter how hard he tried. So was the curse of being born powerful, his father and his sisters could understand, but he always tried so hard.

He couldn't force her hand, he shouldn't force her hand. So he wasn't going to.

"You know out of all the lessons we might have taught you. I think you missed the most important one." Charlie finally softly spoke throught the cold silence.

"And that would be?" Chelsea shackily wondered. Handing him back the parchemin.

"Familly doesn't end with blood, but it doesn't start there either."

Charles pressed a comforting hand to Chelsea's shoulder. "I have to do what has to be done. And I know you'll do what you think is right. If it's not me someone else Will help you."

With those words Charles walked away, to finish his mission. Not a quest, a favor for a God or a Goddess. Just the right thing to do.

While Chelsea stayed in the same place. Persuaded that she could make things right. Not out of arrogance, or with overwhelming power.

Just out of hope.