When Myths Meet Magic || 2

29|| Piper

Piper stifled a smile as Pansy let out a massive yawn.

"A feast in the middle of the night," she grumbled. "What even is the occasion again?"

Piper shrugged, knowing they wouldn't really like the news, although she herself was elated. "I dunno." They entered the Great Hall amidst the rest of Hogwarts. Piper scanned the Gryffindors, looking for Jason, or Annabeth, or Hazel, or Percy, or any of her friends. All she saw were Harry and Ron, so she gave up looking

They sat down, chattering amongst themselves as they scooped food onto their plates.

"Hey, look." Pansy nudged Piper and glanced with distaste at the large double doors. "The mudbloods are back."

Piper's heart leapt as she saw Jason among them as they hurried to the Gryffindor tables.

Across from Pansy, Draco scowled. "Looks like they bothered to revive Granger and Jackson" he said. "Pity they didn't look the monster head on."

Piper's fist clenched. Draco had basically said he wanted her friends dead. Even if they accused her for biasness and blamed her for lying, they were still her friends, and they had valid reasons behind their accusations. Piper settled to stabbing her lasagna with extra gusto.

At the front, Dumbledore stood up, and all chatter quieted.

"As you all probably know by now, the Chamber of Secrets has been found." There was much murmuring among the students, along with several glances at Harry. "It is with great joy that I say the monster within the chamber will not be bothering anyone ever again. And due to our now enjoyable circumstances, as a school treat, all exams have been canceled. And now for the house points—"

Draco scowled at his goblet. Piper knew all the Slytherins knew what she knew— Gryffindors won again, thanks to Harry, Ron, Jason, and Annabeth each earning 100 points, securing a total of 400 points to Gryffindor.

"In fourth place, Ravenclaw, with 357 points. In third place, Hufflepuff, with 382 points. In second place, Slytherin, with 451 points. And in first place, Gryffindor, with a total of 729 points."

There was a storm of clapping from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables, and loud cheering from Gryffindor. Draco gripped his goblet tightly with a few soft choice words.

"Hey, don't be like that," Piper reprimanded him. "D'you think they asked for almost dying?"

Draco scowled. "Well, they certainly did flaunt their 'accomplishments', didn't they?" He was cut off by Dumbledore.

"One final announcement—" Dumbledore raised his voice over the chatter of the students. "—unfortunately, Professor Lockhart will not be able to return for the rest of the year, or next year, due to his memory recovery process."

Everyone cheered at that, even the Slytherins sour mood lightening. Piper glanced at the high table, amused at all the teachers joining in this one.

>>>•O•<<<

Piper lugged her trunk into an overhead shelf and hesitated at the doorway.

"What're you waiting for? Did you forget something?" Draco noted her hesitation.

Piper shook her head before making up her mind. "Hey, if you don't mind, I'm going to catch up with my other friends."

"You mean those Hufflepuffs?" Pansy raised an eyebrow. Piper nodded, her chin held high as she turned away.

"You shouldn't judge based on appearances" she said over her shoulder. "After all, I didn't."

Piper left the last comment hanging as she strode down the hallway, peering into each compartment for Jason. She finally came across one in the back, the door slid shut. She hesitated again before prying it open and stepping inside. Jason, Percy, Annabeth, Frank, Hazel, Thalia, Nico, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George were all there, and they'd stopped what they were doing to look at her.

"Piper!" Jason beamed as he stood up in the slightly squished compartment. "Hey!"

"Piper," Harry and Ron said, slightly less enthusiastic.

"Hey, guys, can I come in?" Piper asked, tense. Annabeth must've noticed her discomfort and scooted closer to Percy to make room for her. "Sure, c'mon!"

Piper awkwardly squished herself in, aware of the silence. She sat down and looked at them all exasperatedly. "Oh, come on, guys, just because I'm in Slytherin doesn't mean I'm evil."

"Of course not" Hazel said immediately. "We're just... squished?"

"Yeah! Oh, by the way, Percy might be a bit strange around me for a few days" Ginny said in an attempt to lighten the mood. Percy raised an eyebrow. "Our brother," she specified.

"Why?" Ron asked through a mouthful of chocolate frog.

"Oh, well— Percy's got a girlfriend." Ginny giggled.

"What?" George dropped one of the last Filibuster Fireworks on the floor. It went off in an explosion of multicolored light, burning at their feet.

"I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day," Ginny said. "That Ravenclaw prefect that was Petrified the same time as Hermione."

"Sounds like Percy and Annabeth," Thalia said, grinning at the couple.

"Oh shut up." Annabeth punched Thalia's arm. Everyone laughed, Piper among them. The tension was effectively loosened.

The rest of the train ride flashed by in an instant, and suddenly they found themselves  standing with their trunks on the mortal— er, muggle side of King's Cross station.

"Your aunt and uncle will be proud of you though, won't they?" Hermione asked as they scanned the crowd for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Hermione's parents.

"Are you kidding me?" Harry looked so astounded they all burst out laughing. "All those times I could've died and I didn't manage it? They'll be furious..."

|| End of book 2 ||