Hi…(peeks out from behind a wall) do you all hate me? (No answer…hopefully) No? Okay good because I have an update (obviously). I really have no excuse for not updating…I had writers block. I actually thought about the story at least once every day but I couldn't get my creative juices flowing enough to pick up on THIS story. I have still been writing (some FanFiction and two original stories) but I had no clue how to finish this chapter. It sat on my desktop for months mocking me…it was pretty sad. But I am back now and I would like to make one thing clear

There will probably not be any regular updates because I have a busy life. I have a dance competition in three weeks and have schoolwork with exams in a couple months so yeah…writing is still important and I have some cool ideas for this story but updates will be sporadic at best.

Another thing: thank you to everyone who had stuck out this very long break of mine and thank you for continuing to read! I really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I. Don't. Own. Just thought I should be extra clear today.

Dedication: Silent Beta: I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Like more then anything (except maybe chocolate, and my bed oh and my truck)

On with the story

Enjoy!

Harry P.O.V

Today was the day that I was going to teach the Americans how to fly. When I proposed the idea Nico and Percy seemed very hesitant. Annabeth was able to convince them in the end. Thankfully today was a relatively warm day considering it was almost Christmas. When they came out of their portrait wearing only small silver jackets, I was surprised. It wasn't that warm.

"Are you going to be warm enough?" Hermione asked. The Americans laughed.

"These are warmer then they look," Thalia explained, "My…sister…put a spell on them to make them adjust to the different temperatures." We let it go. I noticed though that she hesitated before and after saying sister. I wondered what that was about. We led them all out to the pitch. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were with me. Alison said that she was just going to watch. She said something about an intense fear of heights. I thought to myself "why didn't she confront the boggart? Her fear isn't that bad?" I let it slip when we arrived at the pitch. I grabbed some extra brooms from storage. Hermione and Alison went up into the stands to watch. Ginny and Ron went up and started throwing around the quaffle.

"Okay," I started, "Step up next to your broom, stick out your hand and say 'up!'" I instructed. They all did as instructed. Annabeth's broom didn't come up at once. It took her a couple of tries, but soon it flew into her hand. She smiled proudly. I looked at Thalia. She stuck out her hand and was about to say 'up!' when the broom shot up into her hand. It seemed to spark with electricity when it hit her hand. She was slightly shocked. She looked over at Annabeth who shrugged. They both looked over at Nico and Percy. Nico's broom had actually sunk into the ground. Every time he said 'up!' it sunk farther. He yelled in frustration.

"Fine! You don't want me to fly? Well neither do I!" he seemed to be yelling at the sky. Suddenly the broom flew up from the ground and hit him hard over the head. "OW!" he exclaimed. He glowered at the sky and mumbled to himself. I couldn't quite make it out but it sounded something like 'stupid….uncles….mess-up family…why me?' Next was Percy. In all my years of Quidditch this had never happened.

Percy P.O.V

Annabeth, Thalia and Nico all went. I knew that Thalia was going to have no problem. Same with Annabeth. Nico and I one the other hand…well Uncle Zeus never really liked either of us. I couldn't help but smile when Nico's broom whelped him over the head. Then it was my turn.

"Up!" I said. Nothing happened. "Up!" I said again. Nothing. I gathered as much force that I could and put it all behind my words. "UP!" the broom shot up and began to repeatedly hit me over the head. "Help! OW! Help! Alison! Annabeth! Anyone! OW! HELP!" it continued to hit me. I turned and saw all my friends laughing their butts off. "GUYS!" I yelled. Finally Thalia relented and came up to me. She barely touched the broom when it stilled. "Thanks." I said. The broom hit me one more time then fell to the ground. Thunder rumbled. It wasn't a 'you're in trouble' rumble more like a 'haha you just got beat with a broom!' I glared at the sky and mumbled, "Love you too."

"Are you okay?" Annabeth asked.

"I'm fine. Thanks for the assistance," I told her sarcastically. I heard more laughing. Alison and Hermione had come down from the stands. "Thanks for the help Alison, really appreciate it. I'm sure Brunner will too."

"As if I would have been able to do anything," she said, "Cousin Z does not like me either."

"You still could have tried," I protested. Thunder rumbled again, "Okay fine maybe not."

"That was seriously the single weirdest thing I have ever seen," Ron said coming down out of the air. I shrugged. It was pretty normal for me…and Nico…and Thalia.

"You call that weird?" Nico asked, "That was actually quite normal for us." They all stared at us. "What?"

"That was normal?" Hermione asked.

"As normal as normal can be," Thalia answered, "It would have been weird if the brooms had reacted any different. Imagine if Percy had gotten in the air?" she asked faking being scared.

"Like you would do any better," I told her.

"At least I could get up!"

"At least I would want to be up!"

"Hey! I thought we weren't going to mention that?"

"Mention what?" I asked innocently.

"Kelp Head!"

"Pinecone Face!"

"Guys stop!" Alison said. I glared at Thalia. She glared back. I was itching to take out Riptide and just go at it, but I figured that it would be a bad idea.

"I think it would be best if we headed back," Annabeth said, "I don't think that Percy and Nico will be able to get up in the air," she explained.

"Okay, I'll show you where to put the brooms," Harry said. He led us to the broom shed and we left the brooms. We made our way back to the room.

"We'll see you guys at dinner then?" Harry asked.

"Yup, see you then," I said. They went into their common room and we went into ours. We all collapsed on the chairs by the hearth.

"You guys look comfy," Alison commented, "I have to go make a call I'll meet you for lunch."

"See you later Alison," Nico said. Alison walked out of the common room.

"Wonder who she's calling?" Annabeth wondered.

Alison P.O.V

It was almost the winter solstice so I had to make a very important call. A call that I was not looking forward to in the slightest I knew that the children would want to celebrate the solstice, especially Nico. I sat on my bed. I grabbed my earpiece and "dialled" the dreaded number.

"Alison! Love! To what do I owe this wonderfully unexpected call? I thought you hated me?"

"Oh do not be so full of yourself Apollo! I do hate you. However as you know the Winter Solstice is approaching and I need a small favour…"

"Yes? What could this favour possibly entail hmmm? Perhaps sneaking away to some secluded cottage. Or maybe taking a stroll through the mountains in Appalachia. Or better yet-"

"I need you to get us some of Dionysus' finest for the solstice," I interrupted.

"That's all? A walk in the park. Speaking of park would you like to accompany me?"

"How many times will you ask me out before the message gets through your thick skull?"

"I have never asked you out!"

"You have too! Tons of times! At least seven hundred thirty times a year on average."

"Not really. I've made some…suggestions and frequently pushed for more VISIBLE skin. However I've never asked you directly out on a date."

"Well then, if you put it that way," I paused waiting for him to react.

"Are you saying yes?"

"No."

"No you're not saying yes or no you won't come to the Appalachians with me?"

"Which one do you think?"

"No to the Appalachians?" he whined.

"Precisely. Now about that wine…"

"Yes fine. I'll get it. Just going to have to find it first…"

"It is in his house on Olympus."

"How do you know that?"

"It is kind of obvious really. He is not allowed to have wine so it cannot be in his cabin on earth. Zeus would want to keep an eye on it-"

"You asked Hermes didn't you?"

"Maybe. What is it too you?"

"Sneaky, sneaky! Didn't know you had it in you!"

"Hey! I can be sneaky when I want to!"

"Sure you can darling, sure you can."

"I have to go-"

"Oh don't hang up! It's so lonely up here all by myself," I could practically see him wagging his eyebrows.

"Do you not have a sun to set?"

"What? No, it's only…holy Zeus! Is it actually that late? Great! Artie is going to kill me… again!"

"Have fun!"

"No wait! Don't hang-" I cut off the connection before he could finish his sentence. I smiled. I really did not hate him. He was just so easy to tease, and he could take it too. I sighed as my phone rang… again.

"Really?! Am I not allowed just a single night of no interruptions? Time for myself or to do my job?" I whined towards the sky. For once it seemed like He had no opinion, odd. "I guess bed will have to wait," I exhaled as I took the call.

AN: Pretty good huh? Now for all those people versed in young adult literature some of Apollo's line may remind you of another character from a different series… the next chapter will be dedicated to the first person to guess right! Will update soon-ish I promise!

F&R ~SLE