Chapter 4- The Camp-fire


Percy Jackson was sitting at the camp-fire eating his marshmallows. He couldn't stop himself from wondering about the upcoming quest. And about the danger hinted by Chiron, something which the centaur didn't wanted to talk about any further.

The meeting soon started as Chiron asked Annabeth to announce about the quest he had assigned to the four of them.

Annabeth stood up and there was an immediate silence as everyone looked at her. She cleared her throat and started speaking, "I, Percy, Jason and Leo have been assigned a quest to collect a demigod from Britain. His name is Harry Potter and he is also a wizard."

There were loud gasps and shouts of surprises

"Wizard! Are you joking?" Clarisse asked.

"No, I'm serious and also this wizardemigod (Percy just rolled his eyes on hearing that stupid term again) is quite powerful so he can help us face the new dangers that are coming," Annabeth replied.

"What new dangers?" Octavian asked.

"Your camp didn't burn down on its own Octavian," Percy told him.

"So it's got something to do with our camp," Reyna wondered aloud. "What exactly are these dangers?" she asked, sounding worried.

"Well, that is something Chiron is just not telling us," Annabeth answered, glaring at Chiron.

"I am sorry, but I am not sure about anything right now," Chiron spoke with an apologetic look on his face.

"At least tell us your guesses," Percy prodded him.

"Well," Chiron looked nervous, but still continued, "the powers that we are going to face this time are totally new. There is no record of such a thing happening in the past. This is a completely new danger that can adversely affect the powers of both gods and demigods. Since the last two weeks, after Gaia was defeated, the powers of the gods have been continuously decreasing. They are becoming weaker and weaker. Zeus in fact has become so paranoid that he has sealed the entrance to Olympus," Chiron finished looking extremely serious.

"And you think the fire at our camp was also caused by this same danger?" Reyna asked.

"And who exactly is doing all this?" Jason growled.

"Our enemy's identity is completely hidden as of now. And yes the fire was their doing. They are doing a lot of random things and their ultimate goal is unknown. Our best bet would be to stop them before they do something more serious," Chiron answered.

"But how can this new demigod help us against them?" Jason asked.

"Well, he has lots of powers and also I think he might have some information on this subject," Chiron replied.

"So how are we going to find him? You'd said that you would give us some details about him, right?" Percy asked.

"Well, to begin with, I don't know where he lives. In fact, there is only one wizarding place that I know of called 'Diagon Alley' in London. I had once gone over there to visit a certain friend of mine. I will tell you how to enter it; there are lots of witches and wizards over there. You might get some information about him from them," said Chiron.

"You expect us to go to some unknown place and ask random people about his whereabouts? I don't think this will work Chiron," Annabeth spoke in a disapproving voice.

"Well, in the meantime I will try to contact my old friend. His name is Albus Dumbledore and he is a headmaster at the wizarding school in Britain. Now, considering that it is the only school of magic in their country, Harry Potter must be going there. Albus might know his whereabouts," Chiron told Annabeth.

"A wizarding school. Wow! My head is spinning now!" Leo commented.

"So why don't we just sneak into this school and pick him up?" Percy asked.

"They have holidays right now. The four of you go according to the plan. And I here will write this letter to Albus," Chiron replied.

"Um, a letter? Can't you just IM him or I dunno use your computer?" Annabeth asked looking quite confused as Chiron pulled out an old fashioned quill and a parchment and began scribbling something.

"Wizards usually communicate through letters. They are not well acquainted with other means. I guess I'll have to get an owl to deliver this letter," Chiron answered with a sigh. Percy guessed he must have gotten tired of answering all these questions. But then again, he felt like they needed as much information as possible before embarking on such an important quest.

"An owl to deliver a letter? That might make my mom mad," Annabeth wondered.

"I am sorry but I can't do anything about this Annabeth. It is the only means for me to reach Dumbledore," Chiron told her, and then suddenly turned towards Leo, "Leo, have you got the ship ready for the journey? I suggest that you leave for Britain tomorrow itself. The faster you bring this demigod to Camp Half-Blood the safer it will be for him. You know how much monster attraction powerful demigods get."

Percy was startled to hear that they were to start their journey tomorrow itself. He was furthermore surprised when he discovered that Leo, Jason and Annabeth had already finished doing their packing and preparation. He groaned inwardly, realizing that he would have to stay up the whole night preparing for the journey.

"Don't worry about Argo II, all the arrangements have been made and the ship is ready for its voyage," Leo replied, giving a thumbs-up to Chiron, "I just hope this Harry Potter guy is alright. Can't have anyone blowing things on my ship."

'He should look at himself first,' Percy thought.

"You will need a prophecy for your quest though," Hazel suggested.

"You are right Hazel," Chiron said and nodded at her. He then turned towards Rachel, "Rachel, would you be able to make a prophecy for this quest?"

"Sure!" she replied enthusiastically. Rachel Elizabeth Dare was the oracle at their camp, and was currently hosting the spirit of the oracle of Delphi.

She closed her eyes for a moment and concentrated. Then she started reciting-

Wizards and demigods unite,

Having a common enemy to fight

That enemy seeks revenge

Someone who they will have to avenge

For defeating this greatest threat

The son of the darkest parents is their best bet

Everyone was silent after hearing the prophecy as they all wondered whatever it could mean. Finally, Percy decided to sum it up for the others.

"Okay everyone, this means that the wizards and demigods have a common enemy and they will need the help of the 'son of the darkest parents' for defeating said enemy. So we will have to find this Harry Potter dude and then defeat the baddies. Sounds like a piece of cake to me," Percy summarized in his usual sarcastic manner.

"'Son of the darkest parents' does that mean his parents are evil?" Annabeth asked.

"I just hope he himself isn't evil. That's the only thing that matters," Percy muttered.

"And what about this revenge thing? Who'd want to take revenge against us?" Frank wondered.

Chiron looked worried, "You should all go to sleep. It is getting late."

Most of the demigods protested because they wanted more information, but since Chiron didn't looked like he was going to budge anytime soon, they just accepted defeat and started moving back to their cabins, discussing the prophecy. Percy however had noticed that something was wrong with Chiron, so he went and asked him, "Why are you so worried? I have been noticing that something is wrong with you."

"The prophecy disclosed much more than I wanted to tell you," he replied. But then added with an air of finality, "And I am not going talk anymore on this subject Percy. You go and get ready for tomorrow's journey."

Percy wasn't exactly one for following orders, but he knew that Chiron was right. He had a heck of a lot of work to do before tomorrow's journey, so he decided to give the topic a rest.

As he was going back towards his cabin, his head automatically turned in the direction of the cabin for Athena's children. He saw Annabeth discussing something with her half-brother Malcolm, when she saw Percy staring at her she smiled at him a little awkwardly.

Percy smiled back, and continued walking, all the while wondering why there was so much awkwardness between them these days.


The next day everyone watched as Percy, Annabeth, Leo and Jason boarded the Argo II.

''We should've probably asked them if they wanted us to get anything for them from England,'' Leo wondered aloud, as he waved their friends goodbye.

''Leo, we are not going on a tour," Annabeth reminded him.

Soon the Argo-II rose and sailed into the skies with the four demigods overboard. And as Festus gave out a plume of fire, Chiron muttered to himself, "I am not so sure of this."


AN: - Okay, everyone so here they go. I hope you liked the chapter. Please review.