Heroes of Hogwarts: Being Brave is Believing in Yourself

Chapter 25

At Camp Jupiter:
"Draco's missing."

That had been said an hour ago.

"Reyna and Piper are missing."

That had been said two hours ago.

"Frank's missing."

At least three.

"Leila's missing."

About four.

Now the demigods and wizards had long past given up. They were done searching for the night. Everyone needed rest.

At about two a.m., they called it quits for today and went to bed.

Millie and Haley went to a tent they shared with Hermione. As the girls got ready for bed, they discussed where the missing demigods and wizard could be.

"Frank's got common sense. So does Draco. I'm sure Leila has a lot. They wouldn't go running off without leaving an explanation," Hermione said.

Haley climbed in her sleeping bag. "Well, maybe they received a message and are doing something to benefit the camp?"

Hermione shrugged and got in her bag. "Are you okay Millie? You're being strangely quiet..."

Millie had been staying quiet during all the talking and exchanges. It was a wise-person, daughter-of-Athena thing to discuss strategies and smarty-pants stuff. Millie decided when Frank went missing she wouldn't get involved in that kind of stuff. It wasn't her place.

"I'm fine," she said quickly.

Haley slightly frowned. She always knew when Millie was sort of lying. But she wasn't. Millie was fine, but she was just trying to not get involved.

"Good night. Sleep tight," Millie said to Hermione and Haley.

"Are you not going to bed right now?" Hermione asked.

Millie sighed. "No, I have to think. I'll be getting a hot chocolate from New Rome. Annabeth told me at Hogwarts about Reyna's favorite place. I heard the owner's still making some coffee and things for the troops. Might as well get one."

In truth, Millie didn't know if the place was open. She just wanted to go for a walk in silence.

Haley shrugged. Closing her eyes, she said, "Just don't stay up too late."

Millie nodded, but the girls looked like they had already fallen asleep. Trying to be quiet, Millie grabbed a sweatshirt and left. The tent flap swished in the breeze as it closed.

Once she was far past the tents and Camp Jupiter, New Rome's buildings seemed to shine.

Silence, she thought. At last.

Stepping into the city, Millie took her first deep breath since she got picked for this quest. She smelled flowers, and, being Persephone's daughter, was able to easily match the scent to the type of flower. She allowed herself to freely think about Leo and how she felt about him. He certainly seemed charming at first, like a legend when he came soaring out of the clouds. Now he seemed like a jerk. A cute jerk, but still a jerk. She closed her eyes and sat down beneath an arch on a bench. She imagined his smile, voice, eyes.....

"Um, hi." A voice said awkwardly.

Millie jumped and her eyes flew open. Next to the bench she was sitting on was Leo himself. She stiffened.

"How long have you been there?"

Leo tilted his head. "Way before you. Donut?"

He held out a pink box filled with sweet-smelling pastries. Casting a wary glance at him, Millie took a glazed donut.