One of my reviewers told me that the Greek spelling of Chronos is actually Kronos, so I will be using that spelling from now on. Sorry for the inconvenience. Also, I have gotten the colour of Annabeth's eyes wrong. Apparently they are grey and not blue. Finally, Percy's hair is black and his eyes green, not brown and brown. Sorry for that.

Kate Chase – Thanks for reviewing. I'm sorry that this chapter is quite short but I kept it that way because Hermione is in the next chapter. Hope you like it and please keep reviewing.

To have loved and lost is better than never to have loved at all

Luke:

There was a hand on my shoulder as I took one of Hermione's cold ones in my larger one, and Harry's voice spoke in my ear.

"Come and sit down."

I nodded and stood, an empty vessel filled with distraught emotions. I glanced blearily at the hateful faces around me and knew that I deserved it. I deserved everything they threw at me because, although I tried not to think of it, it was my fault that Hermione was dead.

I listlessly sat in the seat Harry had pulled out for me and glared unseeingly at the Gryffindor, who was standing behind my dead ex-girlfriend.

"It's been exactly a year since Hermione gave her life up for someone else," he began, his eyes fixed resolutely on mine, "But I believe that she would not want us to live in the past. I know, deep in my heart, that she is watching us from wherever she is, and she would not want us fighting with each other. I am never going to forget her, but we need to move on. I am going to be one of the first to say this," he murmured, gently moving towards me, "But I just wanted to say that I forgive you, Luke." He stopped right in front of me. "I forgive you because I saw what Hermione's death did to you, and I know that she did not blame you, and neither should we."

I stared at him in shock for a moment. Hermione had always told me about Harry's unswerving loyalty, but I had never really believed it until now. He had obviously really cared about her.

I felt a lump come to my throat watching the Boy-who-lived, and, to my utter horror, tears began to fill my eyes.

"Thank you," I murmured, "I will love her until the day I die."

"I know you will."

XxX

The ceremony carried on like that, with many other people – Jase, Ginny, Ron and Professor Dumbledore being only a few – before everyone stood and began to leave in drips and drabs.

"Luke," a kind voice murmured from behind me and I whirled around to face the twinkling eyes of Professor Dumbledore, whom, I realised, I had never actually spoken to personally.

"I have spoken to the Governors and they have agreed to allow me to expand Hogwarts to allow more demigods to attend. I know many of you don't know magic, but I believe that you will just have to work harder and have many different classes from the people who normally go here but you will each have a house."

"I think…" I muttered before having to clear my throat nervously, "I think it's a great idea Professor."

"Brilliant. Well, the school year starts in two days so I will have Mister Potter and Mister and Miss Weasley bring you via the Hogwarts Express and well as any other demigods who want to come. I will talk to them personally and would appreciate it if you would do the same."

"I will, thank you."

"That will be all."

With a sharp nod he turned on his heel and strode away, frowning darkly. It was a massive contrast from his usual jovial self and there was no doubt in my mind of what he thought of me. It was clear that he neither liked me nor wished for me to be a part of his school and that, although it was justified, stung.

Jase came up to me as I was leaving and pulled me to the side, an earnest expression on his thin face.

"What?" I demanded sharply, in no mood to deal with any more people hating me for something that I regretted so much. If I could go back and change it, I would, but I couldn't and I wished they could just forgive. Never forget; I wouldn't expect them to do that. But maybe they could find it in their hearts to forgive me.

"Professor Dumbledore said I'm to take you to Camp Half-blood where you can talk to Chiron about his idea."

Without another word he stormed off, expecting me to follow. After only a slight hesitation, I did and was rewarded with a cold glare from Hermione's elder brother.

Once outside the gates he grabbed my arm and suddenly I was being pressed through a small vacuum. Just as it became unbearably uncomfortable, it vanished and we were left standing just outside Camp.

I took a deep breath. There was no way I was going to be welcomed here after what had transpired, but I had to at least try.

"I'll be back for you in an hour," Jason snarled roughly before turning on his heel and stalking off, head held high. I gently ascended the hill that would lead me into the Camp and crossed the border. I was now in unfriendly territory.

Percy, Annabeth and Thalia had been at Hermione's funeral – for lack of a better word – but had arrived before me and were standing just outside the Poseidon cabin. Annabeth's eyes were red and puffy, as though she had been crying, while Thalia was obviously holding back tears. Percy, on the other hand, had completely dry eyes but his face was oddly void of emotion.

None of them noticed me so I quickly stepped past them and made my way to the Big House, where Chiron would be waiting.

I knocked steadily on the door and after a moment in swung open. I took a deep breath before entering, hoping that Chiron was as forgiving as I remembered.

"Luke, I knew you would come back."

Chiron was seated in his wheelchair so that his horse-hooves could not be seen and his hairy arms were crossed stubbornly over his chest, but he didn't seem particularly angry, for which I was grateful.

"I am here on behalf of Professor Dumbledore."

"I am aware of his plan," Chiron interrupted before I could explain, "But I believe you must talk to the Cabin leaders before it is finalised."

"But…" I began, trying to protest, but I was interrupted,

"Here they come."

The door was rudely shoved open once again and in strolled Percy. His eyes widened slightly as he caught sight of me, but then they narrowed spitefully and he stubbornly took his place. Next came Annabeth and Thalia, both of whom solidly ignored my presence; however I did see tale-tell signs of water on Annabeth's cheeks. Then came Clarisse, the leader for Ares' Cabin along with a few other Cabin members. Many of us had been killed in the war I had started, and so many faces I did not recognise. However, I did notice that Silena Beauregard from the Aphrodite Cabin was missing. Figuring that it was a touchy subject, I didn't bother asking.

"Professor Dumbledore," I began once everyone was seated, "Had decided to open part of his school Hogwarts, to any demigod who wishes to come. They will have to work harder than everyone else in order to catch up, but we are supposed to be the cleverest Witches and Wizards. Even Dumbledore himself is a demigod: half mortal, half Zeus."

"I think it's a good idea," Percy said, speaking up after a long moment of silence. "I mean, it's what Hermione would have wanted.

"You barely knew her," Clarisse muttered resentfully. She had been a good friend of Silena's; her death must have come as a harsh blow.

"You don't have to know someone to trust them," Annabeth quoted quietly.

"Who said that?" Thalia whispered as though she knew the answer and was just too scared to say it.

"Hermione."

"The Aphrodite Cabin is with you," said a short, freckly but still extremely pretty girl of about sixteen, with long, flowing blond hair and eyes like the night sky on a stormy day.

"As is the Hermes Cabin."

"And Hephaestus."

Soon Cabin names were being called out all over the place and I held up a hand.

"If you do not wish to join us, then please leave."

Nobody moved but then, very slowly, Clarisse stood, her small eyes fixed hatefully on me. "The Ares Cabin will never be with you."

"Your stubbornness caused Silena's death," Annabeth reminded her quietly, and Clarisse stiffened, eyes wide.

"I suppose…" With a deep-seated growl, she sat again, frowning furiously.

"We have the summer holidays, but after that I will come here and take you to the school." I was given many mistrustful glances, but no-one protested so, with one final, sharp nod, I turned on my heel and fled, blinking back tears.

If anyone had told me two years ago that I, Luke Castellan, would be crying over some girl who had saved my life, I would have told them that they were crazy. Hell, if they had told me that I would have fallen in love by the age of seventeen, I would have sent them to St Mungos. At that time I was already working for the General, who, in turn, was working for Voldemort and Kronos. In my line of work there was no time for foolish romances – or so I was told. There was no time for us to actually fall in love. So I was totally surprised when I began to feel unfamiliar things for a girl I hadn't seen since I was twelve years old. It was only when she told me it was over that I fully understood the reality of my situation. I had fallen in love. And due to my foolishness, I had lost her on exactly the same day.

Since that day I barely had time to think on what my life could have been like if Hermione hadn't decided to give up on me. I was too consumed with hate against her and everyone who'd caused her to leave me. It was only once I'd lost her for the final time that I actually realised that I had been so stupid. If I had had stronger will power, there was a chance that I wouldn't have taken Kronos' soul into my body, which would have prevented the siege on the Empire State Building, which would have prevented her death.

It was all my fault, and there was nothing I could do to change that.