Demigods at Hogwarts

Chapter Eleven: Training and Parties

*Three months later. August 18th, 2012 (I'm going based on Rick's wacky years here, and yes I know the Battle of Hogwarts took place years earlier. Let's just pretend timelines don't exist, okay?)*

{Annabeth's POV}

I watched with Thalia as Percy instructed Neville on using a sword. Piper was helping Luna, and Hazel was working with Draco. It was strange to think that we would actually be starting school soon, after having been learning seven years' worth of knowledge in three months. And yet we would be. Of course, after the first couple of weeks, we'd been taught by the actual professors, with the exception of Potions. Draco had still taught us that. Even so, Neville and Luna had dropped by now and then to help out with a few things, and I was proud to say that we were even a bit ahead. In return, we were teaching them how to fight using swords and the like.

"Annabeth, come spar with me?" Percy asked, wiping sweat off their face.

"Sure, Perce." Neville stepped back.

"Hang on, I want in." Thalia said. "I need to work on my swordfighting skills." Percy and I had been teaching Thalia how to fight with a sword. Sure, her bow was good for long-distance fighting and hunting, but not so much up close, or if she runs out of arrows. I drew my bone-sword and studied their stances. Thalia was in a stance I recognized. It was one of the first taught at Camp-Half Blood. Percy was shifting, spinning Riptide in their hands. I couldn't read what they were going to do, even having seen them fight before. I knew I couldn't overthink it- Percy has outsmarted all of their opponents so far. Thalia shifted, swinging at Percy. Percy blocked, sidestepped, and caught Thalia on the neck. They left their sword there for a second before Thalia stepped back. Percy looked at me, and then at Thalia. I took the opportunity to charge them. Percy seemed to be expecting it, and parried. Thalia attacked then. Two on one, and Percy would likely still win, unless Thalia decided to electrocute them. Percy easily disarmed Thalia, using the first move they had ever learned. Taking her sword, Percy turned their full attention on me. I'd never seen them fight with two swords before.

"Ready, Wise Girl?" They asked, smirking. In answer, I raised my own sword. Percy blocked, then struck with Thalia's sword. I parried, and Percy threw Thalia's sword back to her. She jumped back in. We sparred for a while- I was never sure how long. In the end, Percy had Thalia's sword at her neck, and Riptide at mine, with my sword at their feet.

"Παραιτούμαι;" Percy asked.

"Κάνε με." Thalia and I said at the same time.

"εάν επιμένεις." Percy turned Riptide on me, hitting me hard in the sternum with the hilt. Then he did the same to Thalia. I looked at Thalia. Like me, she was on the ground, held there at swordpoint.

"Εγκαταλείπουμε," We said together. Percy pulled back the swords and helped us both up.

"That was some of the best sword fighting I've seen in a while," Draco said.

"Thanks," All three of us said, and then laughed.

"Well, I'm going to shower and change." Percy said.

"You better, Jackson, or you don't get to open your gifts," Piper threatened, grinning.

"Understood, McLean." Percy jogged off.

"So, gifts?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

"It's Percy's eighteenth birthday," I explained. "We're having a little party to celebrate, and don't tell them, but Sally and Paul are coming to visit."

"I wish I had known. As it is, I'll have to head over to Diagon Alley and get something. Luna, Neville, come on. We'll back in a bit, maybe with Harry." Draco said, all but physically dragging Luna and Neville out the door.