American Royalty III

Part 33: War brewing

Annabeth stood in the corner of the Room of Requirement, her eyes scanning the chaos around her. The space had become an unofficial haven, a safe place for hundreds of students, and she had never seen it so packed. There were nearly three hundred students crammed into the room, the majority of them scattered around, some sitting on the floor, some leaning against walls, while others were being tended to by the demigods. They had taken on the role of makeshift healers, offering what support they could in the absence of proper care.

The tension in the air was palpable. Annabeth could feel it pressing against her chest, the weight of it almost suffocating. It wasn't just the ever-present fear of the Carrows and their reign of terror—it was something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on, but she knew something big was coming. Her instincts were on edge.

As she observed the room, her eyes fell on each of the demigods. They were doing their best, working tirelessly to help the injured, their faces grim with the weight of their responsibility. Even in the chaos, Annabeth could see the resolve in their eyes—they would protect these students, even if it meant risking everything.

Neville, Thalia, and Nico were now approaching the portrait on the far side of the room. Annabeth's breath hitched. She didn't know exactly why, but she felt it—the sense that whatever was happening, whatever this was, would change everything.

Annabeth leaned in close to Ginny, her voice barely a whisper. "Keep your ears open. If you hear any of the teachers talking about anything—anything unusual—you need to let me know, okay?"

Ginny nodded, her brow furrowing in concern. "I'll listen out."

Before Annabeth could say anything else, Neville stepped through the portrait, returning to the room with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Jason, Valerie, and Piper. Nico and Thalia brought up the rear, their expressions tense as they scanned the room.

The moment Harry entered, the room went silent. Then, in a ripple of motion, the students all stood and began clapping, the sound echoing off the walls. Annabeth couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for Harry. After everything he had been through, this small moment of recognition felt like a victory in itself.

Jason, Valerie, and Piper immediately broke away from the group of wizards and made their way to the back of the room, where the demigods were gathered. Jason quickly began to fill them in, speaking in a low voice. "We're here to find a Horcrux. It's in Hogwarts. We don't know exactly where, but we're working on it."

Annabeth nodded, absorbing the information. They had no time to waste.

Suddenly, the door burst open again, and Ginny came rushing in, her face pale. "Snape knows! He knows Harry was spotted here!" she gasped, out of breath from running.

Annabeth felt the tension ratchet up even higher. The clock was ticking, and the stakes had just gotten a lot higher. "Get your robes on," she urged the others quietly. "We need to move fast."

As the students quickly put on their full robes, Valerie turned to Annabeth, her expression full of concern. "How's Kit?" she asked in a low voice.

Annabeth hesitated for a second before answering. "She's doing well. But don't mention her to anyone. All the wizards here think she's dead," Annabeth replied, her voice barely audible.

Valerie's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded in understanding. "Got it."

Within minutes, the students had gathered themselves, and one by one, they began filing out of the Room of Requirement. Annabeth glanced at the portrait, where the Order of the Phoenix members would soon emerge. She gave a brief nod to the demigods, signaling them to remain at the ready.