American Royalty III

Part 36: Wedding?

Leo led the group of wizards through the twisting corridors of Hogwarts with his usual flair, walking backward as he talked. The wizards followed with a mix of curiosity and hesitation. Ginny and Harry exchanged a glance, while Neville trailed behind them, craning his neck as if half expecting Peeves to pop out of nowhere. Hermione walked beside Ron, her brow furrowed, clearly wondering how demigods had managed to secure such a secluded space in the castle. She suspected that it was Dumbledores doing.

At the back of the group, George's usual grin was missing, replaced by a quiet, pensive expression. His shoulders sagged ever so slightly, the weight of Fred's absence still fresh. Charlie and Bill flanked him, keeping close, while Fleur offered quiet reassurances in French.

The oddest pairing, however, was Jamie and Draco. Draco received more than a few wary glances from the group, but Jamie seemed determined to shield him from judgment. Her arm was looped through his, her head held high as she chatted with him like nothing was out of the ordinary. If Draco noticed the tension, he didn't show it, though his usual sneer had been replaced by a guarded look.

When they arrived at an unmarked door in a dimly lit corridor, Leo stopped and spun around dramatically. "Ladies, gentlemen, and whatever magical creatures you identify as—welcome to the best-kept secret in Hogwarts." He pressed a hand to the door and muttered something in Ancient Greek.

The door creaked open, revealing the Demigod common room.

The wizards stepped inside cautiously, their eyes widening at the sight. The space was warm and inviting, with sunlight streaming in through enchanted windows that showed a view of a sparkling sea. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting a golden glow over the rustic wooden furniture. Soft cushions in shades of orange and green were scattered across the room, and the faint smell of pine and sea air lingered in the air.

"Wow," Luna whispered, her wide eyes taking in the room. "It feels... alive."

Harry nodded in agreement, already feeling a sense of comfort he couldn't quite explain.

At first, the room seemed unusually quiet. Then, as they rounded a corner, they spotted the source of the commotion.

Will Solace stood near a table stacked with supplies, his arms crossed as he faced Kit, who was leaning heavily on crutches. Her face was flushed with frustration, and her leg was wrapped in thick bandages. At her feet, Rocky, her golden retriever-like dog, wagged his tail anxiously, his ears twitching back and forth as if caught between wanting to comfort her and wanting to avoid the tension.

"You're not listening to me, Kit!" Will said, his voice exasperated but unwavering. "You cannot keep putting weight on that leg. You're going to undo all the healing I've done!"

"I am listening to you," Kit shot back, her tone sharp. "But I'm a medic too, Will. I know my own body better than anyone!"

"Not when you're the patient!" Will retorted. "You're not a medic right now—you're injured. And until you can properly bear weight, you're not walking on that leg. End of discussion."

Kit's grip on her crutches tightened, her knuckles turning white. She muttered a string of curses in Ancient Greek, her voice low and biting, before turning on her crutches and hobbling toward the door.

"Fine!" she snapped over her shoulder. "But I'm healing it fully the moment I get a chance!"

Rocky followed her, his tongue lolling out as he trotted behind her. When Kit noticed the group of wizards standing near the entrance, her entire demeanor changed. Her scowl melted away, replaced by a wide, radiant grin.

"Hey!" she called, her voice bright and cheerful as if nothing had happened. She maneuvered her way over to the nearest sofa and plopped herself down between Jamie and George. Rocky settled at her feet, resting his head on her good leg.

"You made it!" Kit said, her grin widening. "Connor did my mom send the cookies?"

Before Connor could respond, Kit waved her wand, and a box of cookies zoomed across the room into her hands. She opened the box and held it out to the group. The cookies inside were a vibrant blue, perfectly shaped, and smelled faintly of vanilla.

"Here, try these," Kit said, holding the box toward Harry first. "My mom made them. Percy and I grew up on these."

Harry took one hesitantly, but the moment he bit into it, his eyes widened. "These are amazing," he said, his voice muffled by the cookie.

"They're blue!" Ron said, grabbing one for himself. "Why are they blue?"

"Because my mom's awesome, that's why," Percy said as he joined them, flopping onto a nearby chair.

One by one, the wizards tried the cookies, their expressions turning from surprise to delight. Even George managed a small, genuine smile as he ate his.

Once everyone had settled, Hermione leaned forward, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Why did you invite us here?"

Annabeth exchanged a glance with Percy, who nodded for her to take the lead. She stood, her gray eyes serious as she addressed the group.

"Because," Annabeth began, "you're the ones who made us feel welcome here."

Percy leaned forward, his expression softening as he looked at George. "We know it hasn't been easy—this year, this war. For anyone. But you all made it easier for us. You didn't have to, but you did."

Annabeth continued, her voice steady. "Jamie and Draco were the first to treat us like equals. Bill, Charlie, and Fleur were the first Order members to trust us. And the rest of you, you made us feel like we belonged. That means more to us than you'll ever know."

Kit leaned forward, her grin returning. "And now we want to invite you to something really special." She glanced at Connor and Percy, who both nodded.

Percy stood, pulling Annabeth to her feet beside him. "Annabeth and I are getting married," he said, his voice warm and confident.

"And Connor and I are too," Kit added, her grin widening. "We'd love for you to come to both weddings. They're only a week apart, and we'd love for you to stay at Camp Half-Blood while you're there."

The wizards exchanged surprised glances, but Harry spoke first. "We'd be honored," he said with a smile.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Ginny added, her hand slipping into Harry's. The rest of the group nodded in agreement.

Connor grinned, though his expression turned serious. "There's one more thing we need to tell you."

Annabeth took a deep breath, her tone calm but firm. "We're not just wizards. The reason our parents seem... cursed to live forever is because they're not normal at all. They're the Olympians. The Greek gods."

The room fell silent.

"You're joking," Ron said weakly, looking around as if expecting someone to yell, "Gotcha!"

Percy shook his head. "We're not joking. Poseidon is our father." He gestured to Kit beside him. 

Annabeth nodded. "And my mom is Athena."

Connor smirked. "Hermes is my dad. Explains a lot, huh?"

Luna tilted her head, her dreamy voice cutting through the stunned silence. "It makes sense. You've always felt... different, like you were part of something bigger."

Neville blinked. "So all those stories about fighting monsters and saving the world—that was real?"

"Very real," Percy said solemnly.

"Look," Annabeth added, her tone softening. "We know it's a lot to take in. But for now, just know that we want you to be part of this next chapter in our lives."

The wizards exchanged glances again, but this time, there was no hesitation. Whatever doubts they had could wait. Right now, they were just happy to be part of something that felt like family.