Is blood thicker than magic?

Chapter 2 - A Rude Awakening

 It turned out the next stage of Percy and Leo's mysterious journey involved riding in carriages pulled by skeletal horses. The skeletal horses didn't phase either of them, even though they looked slightly creepy and had the aura of death. The horses reminded Percy of someone he knew, someone he couldn't remember. The name was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't spit it out. All that came to mind was the colour black and bright white, leering skulls.

 He shrugged and joined Leo in the waiting carriage.

 Mercifully, Leo had managed to get one that was empty, so they didn't have any more awkward questions they couldn't answer. As soon as Percy shut the door, the carriage gave a jolt, and began to move over the rough track.

 Percy noticed Leo reach into the brown workman's belt and pull something out. From what he could tell, it was a scrap of bronze metal and a screwdriver. He'd noticed the belt earlier, but didn't say anything. Percy reached into his jean pocket and pulled out the pen that was the same colour as the scrap metal. He'd woken up with it in his pocket, and gathered that it was his.

 Leo grunted appreciatively, and Percy looked up to see that he'd managed to make a perfect model car that was driving along the floor.

 "How'd you do that!" Percy raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

 Leo shrugged. "I dunno. I just can. It just comes naturally, but it's really fun!" He grinned mischievously. "I bet I'll ace shop, though."

 Percy smirked. "You're probably right, there."

 He looked back down at the pen, and uncapped it. It had to be useful for something.

 "Whoa!" They both sprang back in suprise, as the enormous bronze blade clattered to the floor.

 "What in Hades is that?!" Leo laughed, and Percy bent down to pick the sword up.

 "Some kind of blade," Percy turned it over in his hands, "Look, it's called Anaklusmos. That means Riptide, right?"

 "Yeah." Leo breathed in admiration. "Can I see?"

 "Of course." Percy grinned, passing Riptide over to the boy.

 By the time the boy had finished inspecting every spare inch of the weapon, the carriage stopped and the door sprang open.

 Percy jumped out, and his mouth dropped open in awe.

 "Er, dude, you might want to see this."

***

 After the boys had got over the shock of seeing a, frankly enormous, castle glittering against the evening sky, perched on a cliff overlooking a huge black lake, they were fine. Conveniently, the carriage had pulled up right at the front gates, so they didn't have to walk very far. Possibly thousands of students were striding up the steps to what the boys now guessed was a school, probably Hogwarts, and carriages were departing and arriving every second.

 Percy and Leo decided that the best thing to do would be to blend in with the crowd. Which, given their appearance, was quite hard, and they attracted some unwelcome stares.

 The second they got through the ginormous double mahogany doors, Leo felt a tap on the shoulder. A woman with greying hair tied in a tight bun, with emerald robes, and a severe look about her, gestured for them to follow, and led into a side room.

 "Professor Dumbledore will be here shortly."

 They didn't have to wait long, as moments later the duo were joined by a third member, an old man with an impressive beard, which was incredibly long and white. He wore a peculiar outfit, of bright blue,  intricately woven with random patterns which danced as he moved.