SON OF MAGIC

HIGH AND LOW, LIKE A WAVE

Even though the Hogwarts Express was to leave after Dumbledore's funeral, Percy preferred, and all agreed, to take the Hippocampi. Their trunks had been taken by Hermes, transported to their cabins at Camp Half-Blood.

They could have left for Long Island last night only, but they had to attend Dumbledore's funeral.

There was a lot of panic and nervousness after the last night's attack but all the demigods felt was an emptiness, like the loss of a person that unfortunately almost always followed after an attack.

"That's it," Annabeth said as she leaned against the tree facing the lake. The funeral had started but they had found no place among stupid political wizard leaders and were spectating it from a distance.

"I know", Percy said, "You mean the prophecy don't you? It makes all the sense now."

"Four campers shall sail to the eerie land of east,
To discern a son of magic who was wrongly seized.
They'll find what they pursue only to despair,
And leave with a loss hard to bear.
Who they search for is someone unique,
For it is death who they must truly seek." Leo repeated.

"'They'll find what they pursue only to despair', this refers to Draco being the demigod. Considering he was the death eater as well. This just as well turned up too be a waste of absolute time. Draco will stay here only and we'll be leaving empty handed." Annabeth summarized.

"'And leave with a loss hard to bear' It means Dumbledore doesn't it?" Percy said turning to Annabeth.

"Yeah, I suppose. Dumbledore, the only demigod who lived for so long that he was almost five times my age. I got to know him only to mourn him. It's just so unfair." Annabeth said, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

"Nothing ever is fair" Leo piped in, and Annabeth was sure he was thinking about his girlfriend Calypso, who got prisoned for her father's crimes.

Annabeth scanned the woods and saw Grover behind a bush with a few dryads. They too had come to pay their respects. Realizing it was almost time to leave, Annabeth scanned the crowd and spotted the three wizards, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Motioning Percy and Leo she made her way to them. She had a last work to do.

Harry looked up as he saw them coming. He looked devasted, it must have been hard on him. He separated from the crowd and walked towards them, Ron and Hermione followed. 

After an awkward silence, Annabeth cleared her throat, "I'm sorry, It must have been hard on  you"

"I thought... I thought Dumbledore trusted me. After all the errands I ran for him. But yet I never got to know how close you were to him. You were there when he died right? You... had a moment with him." Harry said unsure of everything.

 He had his hands in his pockets and Hemione and Ron stood very close to him protectively.

"I think it doesn't really matter now, We can tell them. We can tell him atleast." Percy said to Annabeth.

Annabeth looked down, as if steeling herself. "You were always in the inner circle of Dumbledore," She looked up to Harry, Ron and Hermione

 "Not  only Harry, but the three of you. I only got to know about him a year ago and the bond we developed was mostly because of the fact that we were related. You see... Dumbledore is- was- my half brother. I'm his sister."

Their eyes visibly widened. Ron's eyebrows seemed to escape his forehead. But it was Hermione who spoke first, "But that's not possible. His sister died and his other half sisters, if any, should not be... so young"

"You're not wrong." Annabeth started short "But we have the same mother. All of this would have been easier to explain had my mother not been a-"

"A goddess?" Hermione broke her off. "All of this has something to do with myths, right?"

"You're a clever woman" Annabeth laughed short "Too bad you aren't Athena's daughter"

"Wait a second, You don't mean that's all true? You mother- a goddess?" Ron looked astonished as he looked from Annabeth to Hermione. Percy and Leo wore similar neutral expressions and let Annabeth do the talking.

"Ron, I'll explain it to you later." Hermione said.

Harry, who had been surprisingly quiet through the whole Annabeth-is-Dumbledore's-sister-episode, said in a shaky tone, "That doesn't explain how you-" he pointed to Percy "-were able to repel the killing curse."

"Oh that. Let's just say that the fact we do not belong here prevented me from being killed by curses that work only here" Percy responded.

Harry shifted his feet, he had a strange look on his face. "What about Draco?" Ron suddenly asked, "Why were you after him?"

Annabeth sighed, "We've got to keep our secrets. We cannot tell you everything of our world, it would be both tiring and against the rules. How about I leave that for you to figure out?"

"We will find about it" Hemione assured.

Grover waved at the demigods. It was almost time to go. Nodding in his direction, Annabeth turned to Harry, "Harry, just know that you were one of those few Dumbledore trusted. You be able to carry on his job."

"Oh, is it?" Harry demanded. Annabeth were surprised to see his eyes sharp and shining.

 "Dumbledore trusted snape and look where that got him! You think it's really comforting knowing that he trusted me? Maybe he trusted me only enough to know that I'll get him killed. Even that locket was fake!" 

"Harry!" Hemione put a hand on his shoulder. "You should really calm down!"

Harry looked away, "I'm sorry"

"It's okay. You were frustrated. I think we'll leave now. And let you have some time... alone." Annabeth said as the two teams shook their hands.

"It was nice knowing you all" Hermione said and Annabeth smiled.

They had barely walked a few steps when Annabeth turned around, "And Harry?"

Harry looked over and Annabeth noticed his eyes were still wet.

"Dumbledore was the wisest wizard and he was a son of Athena- the wisdom goddess. He was the most unique demigod, the brain the sharpest. Maybe he didn't have any trust issues. Maybe the fact that he trusted the man who killed him meant that was what he wanted. Maybe his trust, his faith in you, believes that you can do it. Just- think over it okay?" Annabeth finished, hoping she had not given much away.

Harry nodded and Annabeth turned away sprinting to join Percy and Leo at the lake. 

With hands around the hippocampi's neck, and glistening memories in the eyes, they sailed away from the world that they would have to avoid in any near future. Their thoughts filled of campfire and s'mores, they decided, for once, to never look back.