Hi

Be prepared. This is a very long authors note. Please read it all though, the ones for later chapters will be much shorter.

This is my first story, which means I want you guys to be fairly harsh. Not mean, that's... well, mean, but what I'm trying to say is TELL ME what I'm doing wrong. I want help. I know my story is not the best, and I also know it can get better. But only if you guys tell me how to make it better.

This is based during Trials of Apollo The Hidden Oracle, but Leo doesn't help Apollo and also doesn't help him in The Dark Prophecy/The Burning Maze because other stuff happens to him instead. It begins a week after the punching Leo Valdez scene.

Oh and I know this plot is waaaay overused and cliche, but hey. You gotta start somewhere;)

Another thing.

IMPORTANT.

I actually tolerate haters. So, you hate my work. So what? I hate my work too. It's terrible. That is common knowledge.

To be honest, the most hurtful thing you could do would be not review, and I don't really care about that stuff. I got this app partly because I have been reading it for a while and wanted to PM authors who I really like, and partly because I want to share my stories. I also want to get better at my writing.

I'm not begging for reviews. Review if you feel like it. Spam me with reviews if you want. No matter what, I'll update. But it most likely will take a while... however that would happen anyway because I am generally a slow person. I will try though, and hopefully that's enough.

This chapter is quite short, sorry.

DISCLAIMER: My last name doesn't start with an R.

:D

On with the story!

Percy POV

"Percy! Percy, wake up!"

I moaned in my sleep. Annabeth had joined me last night to keep the dreams at bay.

It worked, but now I'm waking up at 6am because of my Wise Girl. Great idea, me.

I slowly rubbed my face and blinked away the dark spots in my eyes. Annabeth's hovering gray orbs swam into my vision.

"Get up Seaweed Brain, Chiron asked for us." Annabeth said. She shook me around, so I sat up.

"What do you mean by 'us'?" I asked suspiciously.

"The... Seven." Annabeth grumbled. She never liked the label the demigod world had placed on us. It was almost like they saw all of the passengers aboard the Argo II as one amazing hero instead of individuals with their own strenths, and weaknesses.

I see where she's coming from.

Anyway, I gradually worked my way out of my warm, soft, welcoming bed.

My feet hit the rough wood floor and I stood up, yawning.

"So. Where to?" I wondered aloud.

"The Big House." She looked at me like I was an idiot. I suppose we do tend to hold our fun, impending-war meetings in there. Why not this?

I shifted through my sea of clothes left around my room to find something clean.

Of course, by clean I mean something without 1) a huge tear in it, 2) bloodstains, which are more common than you might think, or 3) an indisguiseable stench that I tried and failed to get out.

It was tough, but I found one.

I threw on a cleanish sea green shirt with the words 'Nerdy is the new DELICIOUS!' printed in big black letters and a picture of Nerds (the candy) below it, a pair of purple shorts, and my old worn out black Converse that I borrowed (read: stole) from Jason. He bought a pair to replace the one blasted off his foot during the Grand Canyon incident.

Annabeth waited across the room, tapping her foot impatiently.

I strutted over and struck a pose Apollo would be proud of.

"How'd I look?" I asked. "Amazing as always, I presume?"

She turned to face me and smirked. "Come on, we have to go. You look presentable, I suppose."

"Wha-" I spluttered as I walked out my cabin. "Only presentable?! I'm hurt! My style is perfect and you know it. You have officially been demoted to Acquaintance."

Annabeth laughed and pecked me on the lips. "All better now?" She asked, smiling.

"And... you are premoted back to the best girlfriend ever!" I yelled playfully, swinging my arm over her shoulders. "Congratulations! Now for a party, with lots and lots of blue cake..."

Harry POV

I scooped up a generous helping of scrambled eggs and dumped it on my toast. Mrs. Weasley makes the best eggs ever, and since we're leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow I'm savouring every meal.

It's the summer of our eighth year at Hogwarts. And yes, I said eighth year. In honor of me and my friends defeating Voldemort, the Ministry allowed one extra year after Hogwarts was cleaned up.

At least, for the ones that survived.

Things have been getting better. George is thinking about reopening the joke shop, dedicated to Fred.

Sirius was found suspended in the veil he died in, and we discovered somehow he wasn't dead. The Order are currently working on removing him.

Tonks and Lupin are both in St. Mungo's, healing from a nearly fatal blast.

"Harry?"

I blinked myself out of my thoughts. The Weasley's were looking at me, concerned.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I asked, running a hand through my tangled hair.

"We were just talking about the new American student. He's going to Hogwarts after a fire destroyed his old school. I think he's 15, so probably a fifth year." Ginny clarified.

"Nice," I said. I wasn't that interested. "What's his name?"

"No one knows yet. I guess we'll find out tomorrow." Hermione replied.

Huh. A bit of a mystery kid it seems.

I finished up my food and ran upstairs.

On the way, I stood on something I didn't recognize.

It was a single clay bead. The bead was painted silver with three symbols, a purple lightning bolt, an orange hammer and a blue dove. It was beautifully detailed and delicate. Whose was it?

So that's the end of the first chapter. Not my best writing, but I really just want to get this out and published. I might come back to this chapter later and edit it.

I think the part about Percy kind of failed, and Harry's was meh. I'd love to know what you think. If you want.

Also, if you are a Guest, please make up a name to use so I recognize you and can reply.

Signing out.

Bean