Grover Underwood and the Sorceress' Secret

Part 5

Summary:

"The security at this school is b-"

Hazel is quickly cut off by Percy, who makes a great show of covering his ears and, before he decides that it is better to hold his hands out beseechingly. "No! My baby cousin can't swear!"

Rachel, never one to pass up an opportunity to stir the pot, stage-whispers. "You've corrupted her!" Percy wails dramatically, Annabeth rolls her eyes and Rachel joins him. Juniper just smiles indulgently. Laughter is good for demigods.

***

"So..." Naomi Smith prompts, leaning unfortunately close. Juniper plasters herself against Hazel's side. She might not know the other girl that well and she is Roman and a daughter of death but she is also a demigod. Right now, that means everything. Hazel herself has a tight grip on Juniper's hand and the dryad tries to let the contact soothe her, even as her anxiety flares. The bubbliness that so easily came out when it was just her, Annabeth and Hazel lurks deep below the surface, resulting now in a racing heartbeat and unsteady breaths.

Juniper musters a weak smile and squeezes Hazel's hand. For her part, the demigod looks more unfriendly than anything else - her face is decidedly cold and her lips are sealed shut. This does not deter Naomi Smith, who thankfully does not lean in any clos- who does somehow manage to lean in closer, well and truly cornering them.

Dryads have been outrunning gods for centuries. Demigods have been fighting monsters for centuries. Juniper is a dryad. Hazel is a demigod. They just press closer together and wait.

"Where are you from then lovelies? Got any boyfriends? I know quite a few single people round here who would absolutely lov-"

"Naomi, darling, don't steal all the air."

"Shut up Diggory." Naomi returns but she does lean back and give them some space. In some ways, it is a loss for Juniper who as a tree spirit, breathes in carbon dioxide and out oxygen. In other, bigger ways, she much appreciates the ability to spread her limbs out now.

Diggory laughs. Behind him, girls giggle and Naomi rolls her eyes. Juniper thinks he's kind of pretty - he has grey eyes and dark hair and skin and when he smiles his teeth gleam. Diggory might be prettier than Grover but Grover will always be more beautiful so she blinks and gives them both a shy smile.

Hazel's grip loosens. Juniper is grateful that she does not let go. The demigod's hand is calloused from training, from fighting and she is sort of draining Juniper's energy a little by virtue of being Pluto's daughter but she makes Juniper feel safe.

"No thanks." He turns to them then, grey eyes sparkling, so different from Annabeth's despite being the same colour. "I'm Cedric Diggory, nice to meet you. What're your names again?"

"Hayleigh." Hazel says firmly. "This is June."

"It's nice to meet you too." Juniper adds, quietly. She is overwhelmed at the moment and not keen to engage in a conversation with people she has only just met.

"Not really talkers, are you?" a voice asks from further down the table.

"Sam!" Naomi hisses. Juniper quietly laughs. When she looks across at Hazel, the demigod is smiling.

"Not right now." she acknowledges.

"So when?"

"Sam!" the boy next to her hisses. "Don't- stop-"

Sam raises both eyebrows, "Stop what?".

"You know exactly what!" he chides. Sam silently waits.

"Ignore Sam and Mike over there. They just like to argue. It's the only thing they draw pleasure from in their sad, miserable little lives."