Demigods at Hogwarts | the rescue mission ✔

14| The Gargoyle Named Bob

Hazel's POV

Instead of finding Dumbledore's office, we found a gargoyle standing where his office was supposed to be.

"Are you sure this is the place?" I asked nervously. Something about the gargoyle freaked me out. And as a daughter of Pluto, I had pretty good instincts. "I don't see an office anywhere near."

I had been at Hogwarts for about an hour, but the castle had already made a lasting impression on me. It was undoubtedly an architectural masterpiece, with a jumble of towers and battlements. Not to mention its extensive grounds--even the murky lake and the dense forest on the perimeters of the castle belonged to the school. Candles and fires lit the hallways and staircases as wizards and witches probably didn't use electricity. Annabeth would've loved it here--I knew for a fact that she favoured architecture in the Middle Ages.

"There has to be!" Piper said insistently, pulling me away from my thoughts. She looked like she was about to break down any second. "Harry said that it was here." The fourteen-year-old wizard had been to the Headmaster's office more times than any kid in this school.

Leo shrugged. "The kid also said something about a candy password. For all we know, he could be lying." Now that was weird--it wasn't like Leo to doubt people or be pessimistic. I wondered if this school was messing up my friends more than I thought.

To me, that possibility of the fourteen-year-old wizard lying seemed improbable. I had only met Harry Potter once, but he sincere enough. He didn't seem surprised that Frank and I had suddenly shown up out of nowhere--but then again, wizards had plenty of weird stuff going on in their lives anyway.

"When in doubt, always try the brutal way." Thalia philosophied, aiming a hard kick at the gargoyle. "Let us in, or you'll be sorry," she growled, staring daggers at the statue.

Percy laughed. "Thalia, I really don't think that this statue will care about..." He trailed off, staring at the gargoyle with a strange expression. "Was it just me, or did that move?"

The once still gargoyle had somehow moved an inch, its blank ruby eyes fixed on Thalia. "If you wish to enter, you must have the password," it said in a monotone voice. "What is the password?"

Leo squealed in excitement. "It talked. It talks! I didn't know that British people could make automatons. Geesh, I wonder how this thing runs. Is it voice-activated or motion activated? Holy Hephaestus, the craftsmanship is excellent, work worthy of Daedalus himself..."

The gargoyle turned to Leo. "Shut up," it said coldly, in the same monotone voice. It turned back to Thalia and the others. "Password, if you please."

Piper took a deep breath. "This is urgent. You have to let us in. Please, sir." Her charmspeak was stronger than ever. I had my doubts on charmspeaking automatons, but anything was worth a shot.

The gargoyle glared at her, his ruby eyes flaring. "Flattery does not work on me, young lady. Also, how dare you assume that I am a male?"

Leo cracked up, and even Percy was grinning-- making Piper more and more irritated. "Look, gargoyle, I don't care about your password. This is a matter of life and death, and my boyfriend is at stake, so you better move your butt aside, or you'll be sorry." Piper drew out Katropis. "You do not want to fight me." she hissed threateningly.

The gargoyle was about to make a sassy comment worthy of Mr Valdez himself when a voice interrupted.

"It is alright, Bob. You may let them enter." a man's voice said sternly.

A man with crescent moon spectacles and a long, white beard that brushed the floor stood behind the demigods. With a loud creak, the gargoyle moved aside, revealing a winding staircase leading up to what I supposed was Dumbledore's office.

"Wait. Your automaton has a name?" Leo asked the same time when Frank asked," Your gargoyle is named Bob?"

Dumbledore chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling. "Yes, I suppose it is. Now come along inside. I was expecting you."

Percy stared at him suspiciously. "How did you know we were here, trying to enter your office? Were you spying on us?"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. He looked more amused than angry. "You seven were causing quite a racket. Especially you, my dear Piper."

Piper's cheeks turned red with embarrassment. "My apologies, sir."

Dumbledore smiled, but his expression quickly became solemn again. "I believe that you have something to tell me. Come into my office and make yourselves comfortable."