The True Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 15: In the Mist of it all

Harry decided that it was safe for the three of them to stop in front of Dumbledore's office. Draco was now far out of sight. He must've given up on chasing Annabeth.

Malfoy, they had discovered, was a Death Eater and he had been seconds away from casting an unforgivable curse on Annabeth.

Crucio: used to torture the opponent.

They panted uncontrollably, until Harry had enough breath to speak.

"Annabeth," he began, hands on knees, "W-what were you...? Why, who...? Whah?"

The Daughter of Athena slowly took her time to sit on the floor, breathing evenly. Ginny followed her example because she looked like she knew what she was doing.

Calmly, Annabeth spoke in a wise manner, "Percy and I. We are not who you think we are."

Harry snorted sarcastically, "Never would've guessed."

Ginny shushed him as Annabeth carried on, "We've been keeping a lot of secrets from you and we're sorry for that. Percy is very loyal to his friends— he wouldn't lie to you unless it's absolutely necessary."

"So lying to me about what he really is..." Harry said uneasily, "That is necessary? Wanting to be my best friend and try to fool me at the same time?"

"If you're not willing to trust us," Annabeth debated, "Then we aren't that excited to do the same for you either, Harry. It takes time."

Ginny, feeling like the third-wheel, decided to clear her throat, "So... You can turn invisible too?"

Annabeth smiled lightly as she took her cap out of her bag and put it on. Harry and Ginny still couldn't get over the fact that their Cloak was not the only magical object to turn a wizard invisible.

"You put the cap on me," Harry said to invisible Annabeth, "didn't you? When we were running to the wall. You didn't want Draco to see me and you tried to distract him so that we could get away, but when we were about to leave the room, you turned me invisible."

Ginny frowned, "Why would you do something like that for us?"

Annabeth took off the cap, shrugged and answered smoothly, "You're great friends to Percy. We should have told you about what he could do. That bathroom incident when he didn't have his wand..." She hesitated.

Harry gripped his robe, hating the suspense.

"... Percy didn't need it because he is a..."

Ginny groaned impatiently, "He is a...?"

Annabeth saved her sentence, "He is able to move water without a wand."

Harry raised his eyebrows surprisingly, "What?"

"That's why he could heal Draco," she explained, "And fix the bathroom. Percy can control any liquid with water. He's a special wizard that way."

Ginny and Harry smiled in admiration and satisfaction. Annabeth was so relieved that she wasn't forced to tell them about the demigod thing...yet.

"Are you a special wizard too?" Ginny asked, "Like Percy?"

Annabeth nodded, "Yeah, but my skills are more categorised with knowledge, strategies and books."