In a bit of rush right now, so can't say much in this A/N. However, I really do want to say thank you to everyone who reviewed, we got more than ever before :)

So if you reviewed, this chapter is for you!

Also I got a question saying till where am I going to update the story till... My current plan is to go till the end of Deathly Hallows, ergo three parts to this story. That might change though, nothing's definite right now!

Sorry if chapter feels short, but hope you enjoy it, please review!

Chapter 25- Not Crazy

Hermione

A lot happened in a second.

Harry had shouted "Stupefy!" and his jinx had gone flying towards Percy. Hermione knew he wasn't aiming for anything permananently harmful.

Annabeth had immediately responded with "Protego!" and a shield deflected Harry's spell (ironically it was Harry who had taught her that during the DA).

Harry raised his wand again, and so did Ron. Hermione knew in a magic duel, Harry would win.

But Hazel's face fell. "Stop!" she cried. "Why did you attack?"

"You're making up stuff," Harry snarled, "tell the truth."

"Look," Percy sighed, "that is the truth."

"Hermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione hesitated. "I've never heard of the term demigod," she admitted.

Frank grimaced. "You wouldn't have."

"Look, we have an explanation," Piper pleaded, "and we know it looks suspicious, but you have to hear us out. You trusted us!"

"Before you started acting all strange and sending messages to people!" Harry growled.

But Ron's face showed doubt. "Harry, mate… maybe we should hear what we have to say." Hermione silently agreed with Ron.

"Please, you have to trust us, we don't mean harm," Piper said, her voice calming.

Harry lowered his wand reluctantly, but his expression remained intense. "Fine, but if your explanation isn't good enough…"

Annabeth and Percy exchanged looks. "We can't tell you here," Annabeth said. "It's too dangerous."

"Then where?" Hermione asked.

Frank responded. "I think I know a place where we can speak in private."

"This is your place?" Ron asked, raising his eyebrows.

"To be fair," Jason pointed out, "no one is around."

They were by the lake in the grounds, next to the lonely tree. Even in the dark Hermione could see the grounds were empty. The night was warm, and everything was quiet. If someone approached they would be able to hear it first.

"Fine," Harry said, "now what's so important you had to tell us here?" he asked warily.

The Americans exchanged looks. Hermione now knew for sure there was a secret, and the only reason they hadn't taken further action was because they were friends. Hermione still gave them the benefit of trust, but if she thought they were lying then like Harry she would take action.

"What's a demigod?" she asked.

"And don't lie," Harry added.

"It's a long story," Annabeth told them, as they all settled down. "Have you ever heard of the greek myths?"

Hermione, Harry and Ron listened as the Americans talked. They spoke of greek gods and goddesses, monsters, quests, children of the gods, two camps, Roman and Greek…

They listened with increasing incredulity, but they didn't speak throughout. Eventually, Annabeth finished explaining about the camps.

"Are you serious?" Ron asked, incredulous.

Hermione shook her head. "You have to be making that up. You expect us to believe in ancient Greek gods? Are you crazy?"

"Trust me, our reaction was the same when we found out about the wizarding world," Leo told them.

Piper clapped. "That's a good point. You guys live in a world of magic, of witches and wizards and goblins and house elves. Is it really that hard to believe in this?"

"But you're claiming you're the children of gods," Ron said weakly.

Piper looked at Harry. "You said Hagrid found you one day and told you that you were a wizard. You probably found it hard to believe—you have to agree the wizarding world sounds crazy. And yeah, so does what we're saying. But you of all people should know that doesn't mean it's not true."

"Yes, but…" Hermione struggled to find the right words to say. She looked over to Harry, who had been very quiet. "Harry, what do you think?"

Harry looked torn. "I- I think they could be telling the truth," he admitted.

"Are you serious?" Ron said, gobsmacked.

"Harry, we need to talk to you, over there," Hermione said quickly. The three of them walked a short distance away. Hermione turned on him.

"You think they're telling the truth?"

"I think they could be. Piper has a point, I didn't believe in the wizarding world but here it is," he said, "and it does seem like they're telling the truth. I mean look at everything they said, about Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter, the amount of detail… I don't think anyone could've made something that ridiculous up."

"Or they're just insane," Ron pointed out, though from his tone it was clear he saw Harry's message.

Hermione sighed. "It's just a lot to take in."

"You're a muggle-born, Hermione," Ron said slowly, "but I don't think you've ever told us what your reaction was when you found out about wizardry was. In fact," Ron said frowning, "I don't even know how it happened!"

"Well, if you really want to know, it was McGonagall who told me," Hermione said, "and I wasn't that surprised, it felt right, you know? My parents were the ones who couldn't believe it, they're still sure it must have been my great grandmother Margie—"

"Okay, okay," Harry said hastily, "but you see what I mean?"

Hermione glanced at the Americans, who were waiting there anxiously. "They were our friends," Hermione admitted. "I'm willing to give them the benefit of doubt."

They re-approached the Americans.

"Look," Hazel pleaded, "we know it's crazy, but it's true."

"Even if it is true," Harry said firmly, "what were you talking about in the rainbow message, something about lost powers and—"

"It was an iris message," Annabethe explained, "a greek form of communication, and the lost powers…" She sighed. "Percy?"

Percy gave a small grin. "We're demigods, and we can prove it. We all have powers from our parents, like me, I can control water, see?" Percy raised his hand, his wand still in his pocket, and Hermione watched, amazed, as a perfect sphere of water rose from the lake, before disintegrating into a stream.

It would have taken some serious level of skill, years of practise, to do that kind of wandless magic, and even then it would be difficult, Hermione acknowledged. They did seem to be telling the truth—at least to an extent.

"What's lost about that?" Ron asked, clearly impressed.

"Our powers are fading," Percy said grimly. "They were stronger. It was hard for me to sustain that sphere; I used to be able to summon hurricanes. We don't know why; that's the reason we called our camp."

"So if you can control water," Hermione guessed, "you must be the son of—"

"Poseidon, greek god of the seas," Percy grinned.

Harry sucked in breath through his teeth. "You're the son…. Of a sea god," he said slowly, trying to take it in. "Okay," he said, "I can take that. What about the rest of you?"

"Daughter of Athena, greek goddesss of intelligence and war stragtegy."

"Son of Mars, roman god of war."

"Son of Hephaestus, greek god of the forge and fire."

"Daughter of Pluto, roman god of the underworld."

"Son of Jupiter, roman god of the sky."

"Daughter of Aphrodite, greek goddess of love."

Hermione stood there, stunned. The Americans each gave their parent, each one a ruler of something of another. Together they covered more spheres of influence in the world than Hermione could comprehend.

"So you're all children of gods?" Harry asked after a moment of silence.

"Well… technically Calypso was the daughter of a titan," Leo said nonchalantly, as if he had just announced his girlfriend was going to the supermarket.

"A titan," Ron said faintly.

"Don't break them, Leo, they're still processing," Annabeth scolded.

"No, no, I'm fine," Harry insisted, though truthfully Hermione wasn't sure if she could agree. It was all so crazy, the idea that they could be children of ancient gods when they seemed so normal…

"I want to know more," Harry continued. "What was this oracle you were talking about?"

"That's Rachel, our friend," Piper explained. "She can see into the future, through prophecies."

"So like Professor Trelawney," Hermione said skeptically.

"Yeah!" Jason's face lit up. "There are some similarities between our worlds, and even then, trust me when we say we understand. When we learnt about the wizarding world we were pretty shocked."

And of course, that triggered the biggest question of all.

"If you're demigods," Hermione asked, "then what are you doing at Hogwarts? Who even told you about us? And how do you have magic?"

The Americans exchanged looks.

"You know what we said about quests?" Jason asked. Hermione nodded. "Well this is one of them."

"Hecate, the goddess of magic—" Piper paused, as if stopping herself from saying something. "Voldemort's bad. You of all people know that, but for some reason he threatens the gods. We don't know all the details, but we were given magic and told to come to Hogwarts."

"But why?" Harry asked.

"To help out in the wizarding war. Apparently Dumbledore called for demigod help," Annabeth said.

"Dumbledore knew," Harry breathed. "Of course."

"But there must be a reason he called for you." Hermione was ignoring the implications that Dumbledore knew about demigods, the logical part of her brain whirring. "Why you? There must be a reason, something we don't know, beyond just—"

"Of course there's a reason!" Leo said enthusiastically. "It's because we, well specifically me, is awesome." Ron snorted. To demonstrate his point, Leo clicked his fingers, and flames danced over his hand.

Suddenly a voice rung clear from a short distance away. "Now just exactly what do you think you are doing?"

Terror passed through Hermione. They had been so focused on their conversation they forgot to watch out for people approaching.

Umbridge, fully dressed in a pink cardigan, stepped forward. As she eyed Leo, her features contorted in rage, cruel realization lit up in her eyes. Hermione shivered, as Leo's flame quickly went out.

But Umbridge had already seen it.

"Oh, now I see." Despite the fact Umbridge was whispering, they could all hear her, listening to every single word, all of them too afraid to move. "You," she gestured at the Americans, "you come with me." There was an evil glint in her eye. "I must have a talk with you."

Review target is...

365.

I know we can get a quick update, so please review!

P.S. There's a revelation in the next chapter. Any guesses?