REMEMBER, I DO NOT OWN PJO OR HOO OR HARRY POTTER! ENJOY!

Chapter 12

Hermione's POV

I woke up to bright sunlight filtering in through a partially open window, highlighting the crimson blossoms that had appeared along with a crystal vase. A small flash of silver entered through the corner of my eye. My head turned toward it, my sore neck screaming in protest.

Vanessa was trimming off the wilted leaves of the scarlet bouquet with a slender knife. Something the same color as the flowers was dried and crusted on the blade. It seemed that she hadn't cleaned it since the battle.

"Oh, you're awake," she said impassively, not looking up from her task. "Madam Pomfrey made you stay here for shock. You kind of blacked out or something like that."

She set her knife down with a clatter, and some dried blood fell of the blade and onto my bedside table. She looked as same as ever, midnight hair, dark eyes, like nothing had happened in the last few days.

"How's Nico? I ask. "And Hazel?"

Vanessa picked up her knife again and started polishing off the dried blood with a white rag.

"He'll live."

"Is that all?" I queried.

"Well, would you like to know more?" she muttered. "As soon as you're fit, try to come to Dumbledore's office. We're having a meeting soon."

She stuck her knife among the bunch of crimson flowers and stalked away, her twin sabers also uncleaned. She looked so out of place with the clean, bright room that spoke of warmth and comfort. More like the opposite.

I slowly cast off the thin hospital wing blanket and heaved myself out of the cot. An equally flimsy hospital gown covered me, and gratitude rushed through me as I saw a black robe, all folded up and neat on my bedside table. I spread it out on the cool stone floor of hospital wing and proceeded to brush dried blood out of it and I sighed when I felt it drape over my cold shoulders.

Vanessa was still in the hospital wing, several beds away, tending her boyfriend. She was coaxing some water into him and shielding him from my view.

I cleared my throat.

"Dumbledore's office, right?"

Vanessa whipped around, her dark hair flying through the air. "Yeah. Dumbledore's."

I finally got a good look at Nico when Vanessa's body wasn't blocking him. His face was a little more pallid than usual, and he wasn't moving, but his breathing seemed easier, and the feel of the air around them was relaxed. At least they'd finally gotten the bleeding to stop.

Vanessa turned to him again and stroked his cold cheek.

"You go on ahead," she whispered. "I'll be there soon."

I bit my lip and pushed open the wrought metal doors, my footsteps echoing strangely in the hallway. All the windows were barred for some reason, and new security paintings had been put up.

I blinked in confusion. I didn't go to sleep in the hospital wing. I'd gone straight to the Gryffindor common room. After that though, I didn't remember anything.

Lost in my thoughts, I rounded a corner aimlessly and got the wind knocked out of me when a cyclone of cinnamon curls and teakwood skin rolled through me. With shrieks from both of us, we both toppled to the stone flooring in a heap.

"Sorry, sorry," Hazel puffed. "I need to go see my brother before the war meeting."

"Well why aren't you in the hospital wing?" I asked curiously. "I mean, after what happened last night, you should've been in there."

Hazel shrugged

"Frank carried me up to the demigod quarters, remember? I just want to see how Nico's doing."

I put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Vanessa's with him right now, I'm on my way to the meeting in Dumbledore's office. How long will it take you to see him?"

Hazel looked shocked.

"Nobody told me about any meeting? When is it?"

"Right now."

Hazel pursed her lips, looking longingly at the hospital wing doors. Her thumbs twiddled together as she tried to think.

"Vanessa's with him, right?" she asked. "And the meeting's right now, correct?"

I nodded fervently.

"Then I'll go with you," Hazel sighed. "I guess he'll be okay under her care. And I have some information to share with everybody. That'll be pretty valuable."

I slung an arm around Hazel's shoulder and started guiding her to the way to Dumbledore's office. The security paintings around us glared and hissed, mouths ready to start and alarm call.

"Do you at least know what condition he's in right now?" Hazel piped up halfway to Dumbledore's office.

"He looked a lot better. His breathing's easier, and they finally got the bleeding to stop. I think he was sleeping when I last saw him," I answered. "He'll be fine."

Harry was waiting for us at the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"Thank gods," he started. "We've been waiting for you."

His gaze flitted from me to Hazel.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "I thought you were in the hospital wing."

"Oh, I'm fine," Hazel said. "The others gave me some nectar and let me sleep. I'm okay now."

"Didn't you eat some of that…stuff when you were imprisoned with Nico?" I asked.

Hazel shook her head, the cinnamon and gold curls rustling like falling leaves.

"I used it all up on Nico. Technically, there were seven stab wounds, but…"

Harry yelled, "Lemon Drops!" to break the tension. We both shoved Hazel up the steps and into Dumbledore's office.

The other demigods, plus Ron were already assembled at a long table set up in the middle of the room. All of their weapons were out, and Nico's dark blade, retrieved and newly cleaned was lying on the tabletop. Ron looked terrified. He had a good reason to.

Frank offered Hazel a chair and added an extra cushion. She sat down in it gratefully and drummed her fingers on the table.

"So what's the plan?" Jason asked? "Attack or defend?"

"Chiron sent you to help us," Dumbledore spoke up. "And you have been a great asset, and I believe that we have more physical power than Voldemort and his followers. However, they have their numbers."

"Brownies aren't going to settle this, right?" Leo piped up.

"During our imprisonment," Hazel spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. "I overheard something. They're going to attack again. Get Harry and as many captives to barter with as they could. A week from today." Her voice shook again. "A week from today."

I felt sick, my heart beating so loudly I was sure that everyone could hear it. A week from today…Hogwarts and everyone in it was still recovering from the 1st attack. We would barely stand a chance on the second wave.

"Do you know what the Death Eaters wanted from you?" Piper coaxed, putting a little charmspeak in her voice. I blinked, my head was getting a little foggy.

"Oh, they didn't want anything from me," Hazel replied. "They took me and Nico because we were children of Pluto and Hades. And what was it that Voldemort wanted?"

"Immortality," Harry put in.

Hazel nodded.

"They didn't know that I only controlled riches and the earth. They thought I had power over the dead like Nico. But once they found out that I couldn't, they sort of left me alone. But they tortured him right in front of me. They thought he had the power to you know…"

Nobody said a word. They didn't have to.

"How is he now?" Calypso asked soothingly. "Is he better?"

"I-I don't know. I didn't get the chance to check on him. I asked Hermione and she said he did look a little more well off now." I nodded to the small crowd.

"Well, offense is out of the question now," Annabeth put in, breaking the tension. "We have to start putting in reinforcements today. And start practicing a battle plan."

Dumbledore nodded.

"That would be wise."

"All students under Year 5 should be evacuated," Jason said. "Is there anywhere that they can go?"

Harry cleared his throat.

"Well, I never told anyone about this, but there's always the Room of Requirement. It would stretch out and be big enough for all the people that are going to have to fit in there. It'll supply anything that they need. It would be perfect."

Annabeth nodded in agreement.

"It starts now."