SON OF MAGIC

MOURNING THE LOSS

"Tell me again, why are we at the door of that mortal version of Hades?" Leo asked.

"Holy Hera, do you guys notice anything like- ever?" Annabeth turned around with her hands crossed.

"Not really." Percy shrugged.

Annabeth breathed hard, "Just take it like he has a role to play. A very important role." She turned and knocked.

The gate opened a little to reveal Snape. "To what do I owe you the pleasure of at this hour?" He said, his eyes boring.

"It's time. Dumbledore- he needs you" Annabeth replied, a little too fast.

"And you know this because- ?" Snape tilted his head at a side, his face expressionless.

"Oh just listen to her, Man. She knows everything. Just go." Percy said, exasperated.

Snape betrayed no surprise on his face but he did seem tense. Nevertheless, he drew out his wand. Crossing the door, he stopped and turned, "If you do know, then I would need a corridor free of students to avoid any getting hurt."

Annabeth nodded and Snape left with a swirl of his robe.

Annabeth turned to Percy and Leo, "We need to clear the way." she said fishing out her weapon.

Percy and Leo followed Annabeth as she ran to the seventh corridor. They tried their best to clear out the way and hit as many death eaters unconscious as possible. They had barely secured the students when a loud rush made them turn.

All the death eaters and Snape were taking the stairs to the forest. Death eaters were mercilessly aiming curses here and there and that's when they noticed Harry following them screaming.

Annabeth froze, "It's happened, Dumbledore's dead"

"Should we follow him?" Leo asked.

"No, I think that's now entirely their matter. Though we have to take the forest to find Grover. We need to leave as fast as we can before anything else happens."

As they were descending the stairs, a sudden blaze at the window facing the forbidden forest startled them. 

Annabeth ran to the window and took a sharp breath, "Percy! Hagrid's hut! It's on fire!"

"On it!" Percy ran down the stairs skipping at least two to three steps.

The hut was indeed on fire and they could hear a dog barking, and Hagrid, the gamekeeper they had started to recognize as a friendly human giant, was yelling.

Running towards the hut Percy felt a knot at his gut loosen as he made the water from the lake fly to the hut.

The fire started to ebb but the harm was done. At least Fang, Hagrid's dog was alive.

"Thank you, yer lot. Just forgot the spell for water. That was a powerful spell you did out there" Hagrid replied, panting.

Percy nodded in reply and joined Annabeth and Leo further inside the forest.

"Grover!" Annabeth was yelling inside the forest.

Grover appeared from the left bushes, "I was just planning to send a message to you. Do you know there are dryads out here too? And they have agreed to help Dumbledore! Just imagine how big army he's gonna get. I'm sure he'll be pleased. I should expect a few tin cans from him-"

"Grover. He's dead. Dumbledore's dead." Percy said.

Grover blinked. "Dead?"

"There was an attack. Dumbledore had anticipated it for months. But yes, he died. And we're leaving tomorrow for good. We'll finally be able to eat s'mores at the campfire. So pack up your things and say goodbye to your forest creatures." 

"There were some weird creatures entering the forbidden-" Grover worried.

"Yeah, we know. Death Biters." Percy said.

"Death eaters." Annabeth corrected.

"Yeah, them. And now most probably the castle's gonna be empty, so we'll pack up and make our arrangements for leaving." 

"And we also have to note Draco's details for Hecate to change his blood. Remember?" Annabeth pointed out.

Percy sighed, "I needed a good sleep but I suppose I'll not get one."

"We'll meet tomorrow at Dumbledore's funeral. I'm sure Athena will pay her respects." Annabeth waved to Grover and the three made their way back to the dark castle, which was mourning the loss of one of its greatest headmasters.