The Hidden Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 16: Complete confession

Previously:

"We wanted to see what the new students were doing," Ron said. "They've been very secretive about whatever it is they do here."

Percy sighed. "Understandable," he admitted. "Next time, ask me to come with. At least you'd have a responsible adult."

"Resonsible?" Penny said incredulously.

What ever had happened to his brother, Ron wasn't sure he liked it or not.

Coming back to the castle was slightly awkward since I was guiding a woman with snakes for hair up the steps. We went so incredibly slowly that I contemplated giving her a ride on my back. But I felt weird enough having Medusa on my arm without any hostility detected from her so I decided against it.

By the time we got to the second floor, I was rethinking that decision.

As I waited for her to find her footing on the second step up, I glanced at my watch.

"Oh, you lot should head to class," I said to the three fifth years that were following us up the steps. "This may be a while and you really should prepare for your exams. I will see you three later."

"But-"

"Go, Ron," Penny interjected. "He'll explain everything tonight. You got the note this morning from the Headmaster?"

"Yeah," Ron confirmed, giving me a suspicious look. I turned my head away uncomfortably, pretending to focus on helping Medusa up the stairs.

"Then you'll get your answers to what happened today, you just need to be patient." Penny reasoned.

"Are you sure Harry and Hermione can't be there?" Ron asked. "I'm probably going to tell them anyways."

"It would be better to just tell them later, Ron," I said over my shoulder. By this time we'd only made it 5 or 6 more steps. "Just make sure you have no eavesdroppers."

Finally, he and his friends grudgingly headed off to class. I sighed in relief and shared a look with Penny.

"Do they not know?" Medusa asked under her breath when we reached the top of the steps.

There was a long silence as I worked on swallowing some pride so I could answer her. "No," I finally said. "No, they don't and they wont know until tonight."

"And the demigods here?"

"No." I said forcefully. "And they wont."

Not anytime soon anyways, I thought to myself.

We were moving faster now that we were on flat ground. Not that it mattered, we're going up 6 more flights.

Just when I had relaxed a little, thinking she had asked her last question, Medusa says, "What happened?"

I sent an annoyed glance at Penny, letting her know I wouldn't be answering that. No way was I going to get over that traumatic even when I was 12 so quickly. With Bob, it was different. He became a new person. Medusa still remembers everything and I'm not sure yet that this isn't some kind of ploy.

"Nothing you need to worry about," Penny said for me.

Medusa sighed in resignation.

The next hour, we passed no one in the halls fortunately and climbed the rest of the seven floors to the headmaster's office. It was quiet and slow going. It's a good thing I don't have a class right now. Though it might be a problem later if it goes too long with Dumbledore.

Finally, finally, we came up to the griffin that guarded his office.

"Sugar quills." I stated.