The Great Hall was abuzz with news, whether it be good or bad, nobody could get their facts straight enough to make it believable.
Hermione heard that they were going to America, though only the 5th through 7th years were going. This caused the younger student's especially Ginny, for she wanted to be glued to Harry's side at all times, protest loudly.
Minerva, the Head of Gryffindor House, stood up from her seat and sent out a spark of Green Firework and that quickly quieted everyone in the hall and gave a stern glare, practically daring them to make a single peep.
Dumbledore gave a hearty chuckle and gave everyone a serene smile.
"The reason for the age cut off everyone, is that there are many dangerous creatures at the place we are going too."
Hermione raised her hand and Dumbles called on her, "Yes, Miss. Granger?"
"Professor, where is it exactly where we are going?" Hermione questioned with an eyebrow raised into her hairline.
"Why, my dear girl! We are going to Camp Half-blood."
The Slytherins were outraged, a camp full of half-bloods! What would their parent's think about them spending the year at a camp full of, of people less then them!
A shy fifth year that everyone remembered was Ashton Drimonov, asked, "Sir, when are we going?" Hermione looked at her and saw that she was a Slytherin, but was separated by the rest of her house since she didn't share the same views as them-she only got along with the first and second years.
"Well Miss. Drimonov, we shall be leaving in an hour!" He said with a cheery smile. The student's faces went blank, all their eyes twitching in an irritated manor.
"YOU OLD COOT!" Draco Malfoy shouted from the Slytherin table, "YOU SHOULD HAVE INFORMED US THIS SUMMER!"
Hermione was getting irritated at the insolent blonde and threw a treacle tart at him.
The hall once again began to start eating but Dumbledore, once again had another announcement it seems as a pudgy woman with a scrunched up face coughed rather obnoxiously into her hand like so, "HE-HEM."
Good 'ol Dumbles rolled his eyes secretly and said, "Ah, my mistake Dolores. 5TH through 7th years, this woman will be your caretaker during your time at Camp Half-Blood, meet Dolores Umbridge: Undersecretary of the Minister of Magic."
She got up, interrupting the Headmaster and began going on and on, everyone-even Hermione just began to ignore her and continue eating. She didn't seem to notice.
When dinner ended the years that were going on the trip belongings appeared before them. The Slytherins burst out laughing when Ashton's toy dragon plushie was on top of her crate. She blushed and quickly stuffed it inside and closed it tightly.
Hermione glared at the Slytherins and went over to the shy girl and grabbed her by the arm and the other her crate and began pulling her towards the Gryffindor group. The girls tiger cub trailing behind, her necktie glinting the name Stripes.
The shy girl stumbled a little before regaining her step and standing next to Hermione quietly.
"So, why do you have a stuffed dragon?" Ronald Weasley asked, though it was rather rude.
"M-My father gave it to me." Ron raised an eyebrow, "Who's your father?" "I-I don't know."
Nobody had the chance to apologize when Umbridge coughed and ushered them out to the hall and to some carriages with the symbols of all the houses.
Ashton was about to reluctantly head over to the Slytherin Carriages but was stopped as Harry gave her a gentle smile and pulled her into theirs.
She was settled in between the Weasley Twins, and they both gave her heart-wrenching grins as they wrapped their arms around her shoulders.
"So . . . what's your name, love?" Fred or was it George, asked. "I go by the name Ashton. . . it's quite nice to meet you." She managed not to stutter as her stuffed animal somehow managed to get into her arms.
She stared at the doll and just shrugged her shoulders and looked out the window in amazement.
Thunder clouds were gathering over a certain spot in the sky after they crossed the borders into New York under a concealment charm that Arthur Weasley himself installed into all of the carriages.
A name popped into both Hermione and Ashton's minds, 'Zeus' though they had no idea why a Greek Gods name popped into their minds. The thunder just didn't seem at all natural to them.
-Camp Half-blood-
All the cabins were gathered together in the middle of a field, and Chiron was standing, well you get what they mean.
"Campers! Gather 'round, for me and Mr. D have a big announcement for you all." The campers gathered more tightly around each other so they could all get a clear enough view of their two heads.
"Now, a good friend of mine, Albus Dumbledore has asked us to host his students and one of their teachers for the year-"murmurs were pass through camper to camper but were put quickly to a stop by the God of Wine.
"We shall also be playing host for the Hunters of Artemis. I hear they adopted a newcomer into their group." It wasn't often when someone was accepted as a Huntress of Artemis, ever since a few of them died a year ago in an attack.
Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, asked, "When will they be arriving?" Chiron crossed his arms against his chest and said, "Oh they should be here about any moment now."
Nico D'Angelo asked, "Where will they be sleeping?"
"Their teacher who is accompanying them will be making the cabins, oh and I forgot to mention that they are all witches and wizards." And he, along with Mr. D, just simply left them to their thoughts.
The campers separated and began chattering about the new comers but froze when the horn of Artemis was blown and many girls trapiezed through the entrance of the camp, though one in particular stood out from among them.
She was a little brooding but there was a kindness that not many could see in her eyes, though something great must bring it out.
She has multi-colored hair, with stormy grey eyes that could shock you with a glance. She had a wolf striding alongside her, though it was considerably more cheery then the girl itself.
She had a black shiny bow strapped to her back and emerald arrows in a sling over her shoulder. She looked quite dangerous. There was a large wolf striding alongside her and had a complete different look upon it instead of its owner.
The wolf had shaggy brown fur and had cheerfulness gleaming through her eyes. They could all note that it was in fact a she, since she didn't sport any assets that a male wolf would have.
The girls settled down in front of the campers and put their hands over their hearts in a tight fist. The head girl, Thalia, Daughter of Zeus spoke for everyone of them, "Greetings, Demi Gods."
Percy's eyes lit up in excitement and he ran up to Thalia and gave her a hug, "It's so good to see you again, Thal!" Annabeth came running up to them and pulled her from Percy's grip.
Percy nudged a little bit away from the two girls, things haven't been so good between Annabeth and him since the break up, it was majorly big one in fact- Percy was going to take her on a date by the river but she started yelling at him, saying stuff on how she was sick and tired of him 'not being there' and she broke it off, though she quickly moved on with a guy from the Apollo Cabin.
Thalia looked curiously between them, but quickly dropped It and looked to the sky, "They are here."
All the campers looked up and they saw many, and they mean MANY, carriages coming down from behind the clouds.