Heroes of Olympus...At Hogwarts?!

Eliza: Take A Break / Ginny: Gee, I Wish

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HERMIONE'S POV

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I knew Ginny was still distraught after the capture the flag incident with Nico, so I wanted to cheer her up. The problem was, I didn't know how. I mean, it's not like I could take her anywhere for a girl's night out, because I didn't know where anything was here (back in Hogwarts, I researched a bit of America's geography. The maps were worse than navigating through the school's twisty corridors at my first year). Dinner was rather bleak as we all ate in silence.

That all changed when I walked in on Percy and Jason's chat.

"--us to visit the cabin for Christmas," Percy had just finished saying.

"Who wants you to visit?" I abruptly asked.

They were startled that I cut into their conversation. Jason recovered and answered, "Percy's mom. She's amazing. Percy was talking to her through the Iris message and told her about you guys. She wants you to come, too; she seemed interested in your wizarding business."

I smiled. Getting out of this dangerous and strange camp was definitely the thing I needed. "Oh, that's wonderful! When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning. I know it sounds so sudden, since you guys got here only yesterday, but trust me: Sally Jackson is the best mortal mother in the universe. You have to meet her."

When I relayed the conversation to Ginny, she brightened, so it's some progress of cheering her up. "That's fantastic!" she said.

The next morning, however, a conflict arose on what mode of transportation we'd all use to get to this Montauk cabin.

"Can we please not ride on those horses," Harry begged fervently. "No offense, they're cool, but not cool to ride on. I think I'm going to get sick if I see one of them again."

Percy frowned. "Come on, the cabin isn't too far from camp."

"I say we just hail a taxi or two," Annabeth declared.

"I agree," Ginny said. "Riding in muggle cars wouldn't trigger any suspicion about our magical-ness."

"Those modern technology vehicles are still confusing to me, so no thanks," Hazel said. "Plus, didn't your mom say she is already there waiting for us, Percy? It's a pretty long car ride to Montauk."

Ron asked, "How about the floo network?

"We need a fireplace, Ron, and we haven't got on either side of our destination," Harry contradicted.

"There's that great big firepit in the center of camp where everyone dumps their food in! We could use that."

"No way you are contaminating our campfire," Piper said defensively. "Who knows if it'll return to normal--the demigod normal--after you sprinkle that green stuff in it!"

"Oh, how about Apparition?" I suggested. "It's super effective, and we teleport to our location immediately. And..." I turned to face Nico, who was unusually pale and hiding underneath the shadow of the pine tree bordering the boundary of camp. "We won't fade from Apparating, don't worry."

Ginny wrinkled her nose, as if smelling something unpleasant. "I don't know if ten people can do Side-Along Apparition with only four people."

I rolled my eyes. "Then four people can Side-Along Apparate, and then we Disapparate and bring the rest of the lot there."

"Uh... excuse us for asking, but what is 'Apparition'?" Jason said, agitated.

"You'll see," I said, complacent. I held up my arm and Ron, Harry, and Ginny copied my gesture. "Four of you, please grab a hold of each of our arms."