It became almost a running joke in the Black Mansion: Where's Hera?
The answer was always the same.
"In the theater," Andromeda would say, rolling her eyes.
"Still?" Harry asked once, surprised.
"She's already on her fourth movie today," Andromeda replied, carrying a tray of snacks down the hall.
The home theater had practically become Hera's personal palace. She sat reclined in the luxury chair with an endless supply of chips, chocolates, and buttered popcorn. Sometimes she laughed, sometimes she gasped at the screen, and sometimes she cried. For a goddess who was famous for her jealousy and pride, seeing her weep openly at a film like The Titanic left Harry utterly speechless.
And when she was done, she would simply call out, "Harry! Bring me more movies! I've seen all the ones you had yesterday!"
Harry groaned but obeyed.
"Do you want action, romance, or something with a happy ending?" he asked, stacking DVDs in his arms.
Hera waved her hand imperiously. "All of them. Mortals are surprisingly talented storytellers. I'll judge them myself."
The rest of the Olympian goddesses knew Hera had made the theater her domain. Yet that didn't stop them from visiting the mansion. Athena still came for the library and strategy talks with Harry. Aphrodite breezed in with sweets, perfumes, and flirtation. Artemis, when not on hunts, sometimes stayed longer, quietly watching Harry train.
Sometimes the tension spiked when Hera crossed paths with them. But more often than not, she simply stayed in the theater and ignored them, too engrossed in whatever movie flickered on the massive screen.
Still, Harry knew this strange peace wouldn't last. The Olympians thrived on politics, suspicion, and conflict. He muttered one evening to Andromeda,
"One of these days, Hera won't be the only one to show up. If Zeus, Poseidon, or Ares drop by and get the wrong idea…"
Andromeda gave him a worried look. "And when has an Olympian ever not jumped to the wrong idea?"
Harry sighed. "Exactly."
Ever since the fight with Crius, Harry carried himself differently. He had seen the sheer force of a Titan's strength, and he had discovered his own divine inheritance from Thanatos. He knew now that he was more than a wizard. He was something in between—wizard and Titan.
But that didn't mean he would grow arrogant.
Inside the Black Mansion was a massive enchanted trunk he had acquired from Doce Encanto. When opened, it expanded into a secret training realm, larger than a football field. Wards covered every inch of the space, allowing Harry to practice destructive magic without risk of harming anyone.
Here, he trained every night.
He summoned shadow warriors to spar against him, testing his swordplay with the obsidian scythe Thanatos had given him. He experimented with runes, fusing wizard magic with divine energy. And most importantly, he practiced growing in size, mimicking the gods and Titans, until he could fight as an equal.
One evening, Athena caught him, sweat dripping from his brow.
"You've been training yourself," she observed.
Harry gave her a tired grin. "Better me training here than getting caught off guard when some Olympian decides I'm a threat."
Athena tilted her head. "So you're preparing to fight an Olympian?"
Harry's eyes hardened. "I'm preparing to survive just in case."
The Black Mansion was quiet until the sound of the wards chimed softly, signaling a visitor. Teddy, who had been playing with his Occamies in the garden, dashed to the front door with Harry close behind.
The door opened, and there stood Artemis, still in her silver hunting garb, her bow slung across her back. But in her hands she cradled something wrapped in cloth, glowing faintly like embers beneath ash.
Harry tilted his head. "Back from your hunt already?"
Artemis gave the smallest smile. "I found something… rare. A gift." She unwrapped the bundle, and a soft cry like a spark bursting filled the air. Nestled inside was a newborn phoenix chick, its tiny wings trembling as golden-red feathers glowed faintly.
Teddy's eyes widened as if he'd just seen magic for the first time. "Birdie… birdie!" He reached out with both arms.
Artemis crouched down to his height and placed the chick carefully into his arms. "Not just any bird, little one. A phoenix. It was reborn from its ashes two nights ago. It doesn't even know how to fly yet."
The chick chirped and nuzzled into Teddy's chest. Teddy squealed with delight. "Mine! Mine forever! Fifi!"
Harry blinked, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "You've already named it?"
"Yes!" Teddy said firmly, hugging the phoenix close. "Fifi's mine!"
Not long after, Athena and Aphrodite appeared in the sitting room. Their eyes immediately landed on Teddy and the phoenix chick perched on his shoulder.
Athena's lips pressed into a thin line. "You actually found one?" she muttered at Artemis.
Artemis folded her arms, her expression calm but proud. "Yes. This time took weeks of searching in the wilds, but I found a nest. The timing was fate."
Aphrodite huffed, tossing her golden hair. "I brought Teddy more clothes and shoes. Athena brought books. But of course, you bring him a legendary creature."
Artemis smirked faintly. "Perhaps effort matters more than perfume and parchment."
Teddy, oblivious to the rising tension, giggled as the phoenix let out a tiny ember-chirp and flapped its undeveloped wings. "Fifi sings! Auntie Arty gave me Fifi!"
The declaration made Artemis' chest swell with pride, while Athena and Aphrodite exchanged frustrated glances.
Harry, watching from the corner, groaned inwardly. Great. The competition just got worse.
When Andromeda tucked Teddy into bed, the phoenix chick was perched on the pillow beside him, glowing faintly like a warm lamp. Teddy refused to sleep without it.
As Harry lingered at the doorway, he heard Teddy whisper drowsily, "Thank you, Auntie Arty, for my Fifi."
Artemis' silver eyes softened, a rare warmth crossing her face. Aphrodite and Athena, however, looked like they'd swallowed something sour.
And with that, the competition in the Black Mansion had shifted—Artemis had become Teddy's favorite.
Aphrodite sat gracefully in the Black Mansion garden, the summer air warm on her skin. She watched Teddy run across the grass, chasing after his baby phoenix, laughter ringing like little bells. Artemis' gift had sealed her place in the boy's heart. Teddy adored her.
And Aphrodite hated it.
Artemis doesn't even understand children, she thought, narrowing her eyes slightly. She lives for the hunt, for oaths and duty. But me? I know how to nurture, how to give joy. And if Teddy's heart tilts toward Artemis… then Harry's will follow. That, I cannot allow.
She rose, her silk dress rippling in the breeze. Time for a different approach. Teddy was a child—children loved simple things. New toys. Sweet treats. New adventures. And there was one thing Teddy had never had: the sea.
Aphrodite crouched down so her eyes were level with Teddy's. "Have you ever seen the ocean, little one?"
Teddy's hair shimmered between turquoise and gold as he shook his head. "Ocean? No."
"It's like the world's biggest bathtub," she whispered conspiratorially. "Waves taller than houses, children running and laughing, sand between your toes. Wouldn't you like that?"
Teddy's eyes lit up. "Fun! Want sea! Big bathtub!"
Aphrodite laughed softly, brushing his cheek. "Then it's settled. We'll go. But first, I'll have to convince Harry."
Later that evening, Harry was in the study, his quill scratching across parchment. Aphrodite leaned against the doorway, amusement in her eyes.
"Harry, we need to talk about Teddy."
Harry glanced up warily. "What did he do this time?"
"Nothing wrong. But don't you think he deserves a new adventure? He's never seen the sea. And it's summer—the perfect time."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "You've already planted the idea, haven't you?"
Her lips curved. "Planted? Inspired, perhaps."
Just then Teddy burst into the room, arms flailing. "Daddy! Sea! Big bathtub! Please!"
Harry groaned, rubbing his forehead, though a smile tugged at his lips. "Merlin's beard… Alright. But this has to stay simple. A day or two. No turning it into another Olympian-level circus."
"Montauk," Aphrodite said, triumphant. "I know exactly where to go."
The following morning, Teddy bounced in his seat as Harry loaded the car with buckets, towels, and toys. Aphrodite slid into the passenger seat, radiant in a sundress that made even strangers turn their heads.
As they drove, Teddy pressed his nose against the window, chanting, "Sea! Sea! Sea!"
"That's the Atlantic, Teddy," Harry said with a chuckle when the water finally came into view. "It stretches all the way to Europe."
"Bigger than Hogwarts lake!" Teddy gasped.
Aphrodite leaned back with a knowing smile. "And today, it's all yours."
The sand was warm beneath their feet, the air rich with salt. Teddy raced ahead, bucket swinging wildly, a phoenix chick chirping after him.
"Castle, Daddy! Build castle!" he shouted, plopping down in the wet sand.
Harry knelt with a sigh. "Alright, but you're doing most of the digging. I'll just keep it from falling apart."
Aphrodite stretched out on a towel nearby, watching the pair. "Not bad," she teased. "You'd make a decent father one day."
Harry shot her a dry look.
"Daddy wet!" Teddy squealed as he splashed his godfather with seawater.
Harry retaliated by scooping Teddy up and pretending to dunk him in the waves. Teddy's shrieks of laughter carried across the beach, drawing smiles from strangers.
Aphrodite felt an unexpected tug in her chest. For once, she wasn't thinking of Artemis or Athena, of rivalry or victory. Watching Harry laugh with the boy, she simply wanted to be part of that warmth.
The waves still whispered against the shore when the three of them returned from their long day on Montauk's beach. Teddy was half-asleep in Harry's arms, clutching the cage of his baby phoenix. His curls smelled of saltwater, and his cheeks were pink from running in the sun.
Aphrodite walked beside them, her sundress swaying with each step. She'd taken the form of a young woman near Harry's age, her beauty less otherworldly and more… familiar. To strangers, she looked like his partner; more than once during the day people had congratulated them on being a "beautiful family." Each well-meaning comment had sent a little jolt of satisfaction through her, as if fate itself was acknowledging what she already believed.
The small wooden cabin she had rented was waiting for them, tucked against the dunes, its porch glowing with warm lantern light.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of cedar. Aphrodite set out the food she'd brought—grilled fish wrapped in herbs, baskets of fried clams, and sweet pastries she had charmed a mortal vendor into parting with. Teddy perked up immediately at the sight.
"Fishy!" he cried, reaching for a plate.
Harry laughed, settling the boy at the table. "You've eaten more seafood today than I have in my entire life."
"Good fishy," Teddy declared with finality, stuffing his cheeks.
Aphrodite leaned her chin on her hand, watching Harry as he helped Teddy wipe his hands and cut the pastries into smaller bites. It was disarming, this domestic scene. She had bedazzled kings, seduced warriors, and broken countless hearts, but nothing had shaken her composure the way Harry Potter did—this mortal wizard who resisted her charms yet looked so natural playing father at a seaside cabin.
When Teddy finally began nodding off at the table, Harry scooped him up effortlessly. "Time for bed, mate."
Aphrodite followed him to the small bedroom where Harry tucked Teddy beneath the blankets, the little phoenix chick curling beside him like a fiery nightlight. Teddy murmured sleepily, "Good night, Daddy… night 'Dite…" before drifting off.
Harry lingered for a moment, brushing Teddy's hair from his forehead, before he quietly shut the door. Aphrodite was waiting for him in the main room, the lanterns dimmed to a soft golden glow.
"You're good with him," she said softly.
Harry shrugged, sinking into one of the armchairs. "He's my son. He deserves to feel safe, no matter what else is happening in the world."
"That's what makes you different," Aphrodite replied, moving closer. "So many mortals—so many gods—chase power, glory, or pleasure. But you… you put a child first."
Harry looked up at her warily, sensing the weight in her tone. "And what is it you're after, Aphrodite?"
She smiled faintly, lowering herself onto the arm of his chair. "Maybe I'm just tired of running after lust feeling so empty. Maybe I envy you—your loyalty, your love. Maybe I want to know what it's like to belong to something real."
For a heartbeat, the room was silent save for the distant crash of waves. Aphrodite reached out, brushing her fingers lightly against Harry's arm. Her pulse quickened—this was her chance, the moment she had been waiting for, with Artemis on the hunt, Athena locked in Olympus debates, Hera distracted, and Hestia far away with Andromeda.
But Harry's eyes, calm and steady, met hers. "You already belong somewhere, Aphrodite. You're a goddess and someone else's wife."
Her laugh was soft, almost sad. "Is that what stopping you."
The lanterns flickered as the ocean wind pressed against the cabin walls, and Aphrodite realized, for the first time in centuries, that she was nervous—not about conquest or rivalry, but about the possibility of rejection.
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