Heroes with Wands

Chapter 21

Annabeth

The Weasleys helped us fit everyone for our remaining stay-the Party Ponies preferred to run wild and free in the pasture, so they were no problem. The Cyclopes asked Leo if they could sleep in the pegasus stables, and he said yes, because the pegasi didn't really like being cooped up.

The wizards all kept their rooms. In between the boys and the twins, were us girls slept, we kept that room for members of the Order.

Lupin and Tonks stopped by a lot, so they kept that room open. The members of the Seven and Hedge slept in our cabins on the trireme.

The Huntresses also preferred to set up their fancy dancy tents outside next to the Argo. Thalia snuck into my room a few times, though.

The Cyclopes are staying around the Burrow to protect it from more monsters. Half the Huntresses are staying and the other half coming to Hogwarts-including Thalia. Phoebe's in charge at the Burrow.

Briares was also there. He's guarding Hogwarts with us. Tyson is, too. And Hagrid has a giant little brother Grawp who offered to help 'beat the baddies'.

Nico was also joining us to Hogwarts. I can just say that Chiron was not happy at all. Nine half-bloods (five children of the Big Three, might I add), Huntresses, a Cyclopes, and a Hundred-Handed One, all together.

We also think Nico might be some part of the Prophecy. We don't know what, but he might be.

Leo was taking the Argo II to Hogwarts. We all felt more comfortable in our own cabins. And with Camp Half-Blood projected all around us, it was more like home, which also made us sad, too.

He didn't join us on the train ride, but if we figured anything out, we'd tell him.

On the train back to Hogwarts, we all squished together-me, Percy, Thalia, Nico, Hermione, and Harry on one side, Piper, Jason, Frank, Hazel, Ron, and Ginny on the other. The Huntresses requested a separate compartment.

"Guys," breathed Percy, "Halloween's next weekend."

"Oh my god-I mean gods-Halloween at Hogwarts is always bloody brilliant," Ron said. "Dumbledore books a skeleton band and everything. The Ghosts do all these mad stunts. Not to mention the desserts."

"Is that all you think about?" asked Hermione, "The food?"

Ron blushed. "No...." we laughed. "It's so entertaining, though. Hagrid carves these huge pumpkins large enough for us all to sit in, and there are live bats as decor."

"Cool," Jason said. "We never really did much for Halloween at Camp Jupiter."

Thalia giggled. "Ha-ha. I remember, Luke and I took Annabeth trick-or-treating for her first time."

"Yeah," I said. "We went to a few houses. It was fun. My stepmom never let me go. My dad wasn't home."

I smirked. "Chiron always had us decorate the Big House and we'd tell ghost stories about camp at the fire. The Harpies let us stay up late. We went to the cabins for trick-or-treating, and burned some of the candy for our parents."

"Chiron seems like a nice blote," said Harry. "If he does all that stuff for you."

Nico looked up. He was so quiet I forgot he was there. Since he was rescued from the bronze jar, he was thinner, paler, and creepier. "He's wise and always knows the right thing to do. Of course he's nice."

I swear, everyone in the room shivered when he spoke. You could smell the death on him.

"Once when I was little, in like fourth grade," I began carefully, "I had this huge important presentation in school. I wanted my dad to come...but Chiron came instead, telling people he was my grandpa. Just looking in the crowd, talking and seeing his face...it made it okay that my dad didn't show."