Heroes of Hogwarts: Being Brave is Believing in Yourself

Chapter 33

At Camp Jupiter:
"It's not like she can just disappear!" Leila said.

"But she did." Dakota said helpfully(not).

"When?"

"Don't know."

"Where?"

"Don't know."

"Why?"

"That I know."

Leila raised an eyebrow. "She left a note or something?"

Dakota nodded. "Yeah."

"What did it say?! Gods, Dakota, I thought even you would even be able to tell that I want to know where our praetor went." Leila said while rolling her eyes.

Dakota shrugged. "Sorrrr-y. Okay, the note said 'To whoever finds this-I went to find my sister. She's been kidnapped, and I'm on my way to find her. Expect me back in three days, or sound the alarm. Signed, Reyna Ramirez Arellano, praetor of the Twelfth Legion.'"

Leila growled in frustration. "Where did she go?! How does she know her sister was kidnapped and she needs her help?! We need a praetor with the wizards and reorganizing the camp! Did she leave a P.S.?"

Dakota frowned, checked the bottom of the note, and flipped it over. "Oh-she did. 'P.S. Dakota and Leila are in charge. Do NOT let Frank make any more decisions, as he's being weird.'"

Leila huffed. "She didn't-"

"Think things through?" Dakota finished.

"Exactly!" Leila crossed her arms and glared at Dakota. "Why are you so calm? How are you so calm?"

Dakota shrugged. "We're centurions. It's not like we don't know nothing. Anything? Was that correct grammar? I only went to mortal school for a few years, I don't know! But, back to the point because you're starting to give me a death glare, we need to deal with the wizards and Hazel."

Leila sighed. "Nice pep talk."

Dakota grinned. "Nice sarcasm."

Leila punched his arm playfully, and they walked out of the praetor's living quarters and headed to the Senate house, where they called a meeting earlier.

When they reached the Senate house, a bunch of angry kids of Mars and Ares (Camp Half-Blood had decided to stay a while longer) met them with glares and, thankfully, no deadly weapons.

"We had to cancel War Games," one kid of Ares said. She crossed her arms, and Leila swallowed.

"I...um, I'm sorry that-"

Dakota shushed her and raised his arms towards the sky. "Oh, heavenly gods and goddesses and muses, please bless these children for they have missed out on a grueling and bloody game! Now," he said, lowering his arms as everyone laughed, "Beyond your bloodthirsty needs for violence, have any new dilemmas or problems occurred?"

Percy and Harry stood up. "Well, Hazel's still Cairo and Cairo Hazel, so the wizards are doing everything in their power to restore both her and Draco to their right states. Poor Draco's getting a bit too much Hazel." Percy winked, and Harry cleared his throat.

"Ahh...American humor. Anyways, Hermione's head of research and the Athena kids and such are with her looking for any spells to help Hazel. Ron's head of experimental spells on bugs or whatever with any volunteering demigods before we perform them on Hazel. Ginny, Paisley, me, Luna, and Neville are all going to perform the spell once they figure it out."

Leila finally spoke up. "Where's Frank?"

"Present," said a small Frank-like voice from a dark corner of the room. He was sitting with Jason, Leo, Piper, Will, Nico, Haley, and Millie.

Leila nodded in his direction. The poor guy looked so tired and done. After all, it was very clear he liked and admired Hazel so much, and having her not remember him at all must be like a blow to the stomach over and over again.

Dakota coughed. "Okay then, seems like you've got it covered. I'm going to go check out Reyna's bed in case I get to keep it."

He stepped off the stage and flashed a smile at everyone. Leila suddenly noticed how his teeth and lips were their natural color, not stained red from Kool-Aid. Now that she thought about it, Leila hadn't seen him drink any since after the wizards' arrived. Curious, Leila waved at everyone and jogged after Dakota.

He was already out in the sunshine and sitting on a bench watching little kids play around the fountain.

Leila joined him. "A denarius for your thoughts," she said and handed him one of the silver coins she had in her back pocket.

Dakota smiled, but still looked dream-like, like Luna. "I'm just thinking about..." he glanced at her sideways. "Stuff."

Leila prodded his shoulder with her finger. "What kind of stuff?"

Dakota sighed. He handed her back her denarius. "A denarius for your questions."

Leila grinned. "Why haven't you been drinking Kool-Aid? Are you okay? Did a monster take over your body?!"

Dakota laughed-a clear, strong sound that made Leila smile so wide she thought her face would crack into a million pieces.

Then Dakota took on an expression of steel and glanced down. "I haven't had the time, with the Crocotta and all. And now Reyna's missing, looking for Hylla...Maybe I'm stressed?"

Leila scooted a bit closer to him on the bench. "Tell me about it."

Before her nerves caught up with her or she vomited, Leila took a quick breath and placed her head on Dakota's shoulder. She felt him tense, the relax as he placed his head on top of hers. Leila allowed herself a self-satisfied smile.

The two sat there for who-knew how long, just enjoying the sounds of children playing and reveling in their time together.

Then Harry was running towards then, shouting their names and waving his arms over his head. Leila and Dakota both shot up and ran to meet him. Harry doubled over, hands on his knees, panting. "We...maybe... found...a...cure...for Hazel."

Leila's face lit up with a smile, and Dakota whooped. They supported Harry and asked him where to go so they could consult Hermione and the Athena cabin about it. Heading off towards the Little Tiber, Harry between them, Leila and Dakota ran towards the hope that Hazel would be okay. At that moment, Reyna escaped Leila's mind and all that mattered was restoring her friend to her natural state.

Then the alarms went off, sounding in Leila's ears like a thousand shrill screams. Halting, Leila widened her eyes and looked at Dakota. He had turned a shade of dull gray.

"What's...going on?" Harry asked, still breathless.

Leila put on an expression of determination and deadly, thorny, plants rose up around her and hardened into battle armor. She called forth her scythe from the depths of the earth.

"Camp Jupiter is under attack. Again."

A/N: GUYS I'M SO SORRY FOR MISSING AN UPDATE, I WAS READING A NEW BOOK AND UGHHH IT'S SO GOOD! My Drawings will be updated in an hour or so. But thanks for sticking by me. I owe you all one. :D Thanks again gor reading, and I adore each and every one of you! ;)