Annabeth Chase and Things Are Getting Intense

Chapter Thirty Two

Annabeth crossed her arms, clenching her teeth so hard it was a wonder none of them broke. "Well, when is he coming back?"

"I'm afraid that is also up to the Headmaster, Chase," McGonagall said.

"But, Professor—" Harry started.

"That's all I have to say on the matter, Potter." McGonagall's gaze turned sharp.

"It's really important—"

"It is, is it? Well, in that case, why don't I just whip out my wand and summon the Headmaster back here? Yes, Potter, I'll just pull Professor Dumbledore out of the vitally important work he's doing because you said you needed him. Will that do?"

"We get it," Annabeth muttered.

"Do you?" McGonagall said sharply. "Good. Now be on your way."

Scowling, Annabeth turned around and left, Harry trailing behind her. Of course Dumbledore was gone. Of course. Because he could never be around when Annabeth actually wanted to talk to him.

"What do we do now?" Harry asked, struggling a little to keep pace with Annabeth. "Where are we going?"

"We're not going anywhere," Annabeth said as they turned a corner. "If I don't walk I'm going to punch someone, and seeing as you're the closest person to me, I would probably punch you. I think you'd prefer the walking."

"Yeah," Harry said, "I do. Um, why are you so angry?"

"Because I've been waiting for this all year," Annabeth said. "Longer than that. And now, when I finally have what I need to put the pieces together and confirm my theories after months of Dumbledore baiting me and dangling the answer in front of my face without actually saying anything useful, he isn't here. And now I have to wait who knows how long for Dumbledore to get back from his little vacation so that I can finally find out what I need to know. So yeah," she finished, "I'm a little mad."

"Okay. Um... do you want to go... stab a tree?"

"I'm not stabbing a tree."

"I thought you liked stabbing things?"

"I also like my nymph and satyr friends, and do you know how they feel about tree stabbings?"

"Okay, fine. Why not do something productive meanwhile? You like doing that, right? Maybe... get some homework done? Or we could go outside. Ron and Hermione are in the courtyard right now, we could go sit with them—"

"Fine," Annabeth said. Actually, going outside might be helpful. Fresh air was always nice when she was angry.

"Great," Harry said, clearly glad that he wasn't in danger of being punched anymore. "Let's go."

***

"You could break into Dumbledore's office."

"Ron!" Hermione scolded. "Harry and Annabeth aren't breaking into Dumbledore's office. It's wrong, and he's the one who knows how to work the pensieve."

"All you do is add the memory and jump in," Ron said, shrugging. "How hard could it be?"

"Dumbledore's the one giving us the lessons," Harry said. "We can't watch a memory without him, especially one as important as this. He'll know what to do with it."

The air outside was the warmest it had been in a while. The sky was blue, which was rare for the U.K., at least in Annabeth's experience. Ron and Hermione were both holding pamphlets that were apparently labeled Common Apparition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them. They were going to be taking their Apparition tests later that day, along with Vera, Freddie, and the other sixth years.