When Myths Meet Magic || 2

10|| Hazel

Hazel peeked out the dormitory window. She had the bed nearest to it, so the sunlight always woke her up first. Add that to the fact that she was a light sleeper, a demigod, ADHD, and always expected an attack, and Hazel almost never got any sleep.

Hazel tossed in her blankets a while more before deciding it was no use and got out. She changed into her black and yellow Hufflepuff robes, grabbed her wand and magically hid her spatha, and slipped out of the dorm.

Almost no one was up as early as her, ever, so she was pleasantly surprised when, on her way to the Great Hall, she ran into Hermione, Ron, Annabeth, and Jason.

"Hey, guys!" Hazel called and ran up to catch them, a smile on her face. They didn't get to hang out as much anymore, except at classes. Sure she had her other Hufflepuff friends, like Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones, but Hannah and Susan just didn't have the same connection with Hazel as the demigods.

"Hazel!" Annabeth paused to let Hazel catch up with her. "We were just going to get food from the Great Hall. Harry has Quidditch practice. You want to come watch?"

"Sure. I want to see what Hufflepuff's up against." Hazel winked and followed them to grab a quick piece of toast and a few muffins.

"Zhey've bn out shor a hile," Ron said through a mouthful of toast. "I shink zhey migh almosh b' done."

Hazel stepped into the cool morning air and inhaled deeply, thinking of one of the better times in Alaska, when she could get out early and the snow had just fallen and everything was serene and cold and beautiful and—

"Hazel?" Hermione stopped to turn back to Hazel. She realized she had just been standing at the entrance while the others were almost halfway there.

"Coming," she called and jogged to catch up. They sat in the stands and stared at the empty field.

"Is something supposed to happen?" Jason whispered to Annabeth.

"I think they're still in the locker room," she whispered back.

"Why are we whispering?" Ron whispered to them.

"Because it's quiet," Hermione whispered. "Oh look, here they come."

"You haven't finished yet?" Ron asked incredulously as the Gryffindor Quidditch team filed out.

"Haven't even started," Harry said, eyeing their food enviously. Hazel tried to hide her muffin.

The team kicked off lazily, half asleep. A loud clicking noise drew Hazel's attention away from the people flying on brooms in the air.

"Wow," A little Gryffindor, probably a first year, stared in breathless awe at Harry. "Isn't he amazing? He's a natural at Quidditch, super powerful, and he's saved the world!" The Gryffindor turned excitedly to them. "Isn't he amazing?" He said again.

"Yes, Colin, you've said that already," Nico sighed, slightly annoyed.

"That's because he's amazing." Colin caught sight of Hazel and frowned. "Are you spying on Harry to see how good he is? You're a Hufflepuff spy, aren't you."

Hazel was taken aback at this and scowled. Annabeth also narrowed her eyes at him.

"First of all, Hazel's our friend. She's a Hufflepuff, but she's as much of a Gryffindor as all of us. Secondly, why would Hufflepuff send a spy? Hufflepuff is literally the house for the kind and just. It's the most honest house you would ever meet."

Colin flinched under Annabeth's glare. "Right, of course." He went back to taking pictures of Harry.

The quidditch captain noticed and scowled, saying something to the rest. Harry said something back, then the Weasleys had a little mid-air conversation with them and pointed off to the side of the field. Hazel also turned and looked.