Chapter IX: Year one begins. Oh, Joy!
The rest of the train ride was actually pretty interesting despite the quarrels earlier. After Severus was made to apologize to Percy for his behaviors at their first encounter by Lily, Seaweed brain, being the kindhearted soul he is, immediately took up a friendly mood with the two. At first, Annabeth had worried that they might not get along, but she was pleased to see how well they were doing now.
Severus, who turned out to have a witch mother, told them interesting facts about the school and magic. When Lily and she asked questions about factors they were curious about, Severus had the answer most of the times. Percy intervened occasionally and made jokes that made her laugh, Lily giggle, and even Severus pull a little smile at the corner of his mouth (Of course, he denied ever doing that, but he was nowhere near fooling her).
She was fascinated to learn more about the school- mainly because that place would be their battlefield for seven whole years, and it was of extreme importance to know as much as she could about the place. To quote Frank, 'A battle can be won before it's ever fought by choosing the right ground.' So why shouldn't she? This quest might just unwrap before her very eyes if she could just choose the appropriate field. Plus, scouting the land made it easier for her to make battle plans.
So far, she was most interested about the forbidden forest. The home to hundreds of creatures, holds thousands of mysteries inside, and most of all- the home to a herd of centaurs. It seemed to be an excellent environment to train in and explore. She already had several plans for the place, even though they hadn't even reached school yet.
The level of excitement only heightened as the train traveled deeper into the countryside and darkness began to consume the land. With pleasant companions, interesting topics, snacks (Percy bought so much stuff that she lost count) and a lot on her mind, the long ride slipped past as fast as Arion.
They chatted on and on until at last, in the midst of a heated discussion about practical defense, a loud sound echoed through the halls of the train. Boys and girls alike subconsciously straightened their robes they had changed a few minutes before. All fell silent as if it were planned, like the intense conversation before had just been a trick of the mist. With beating hearts, they simply marveled at the beautiful scenery spread outside.
Annabeth was no exception. "Wow…." She breathed softly as the magnificent lake at last stepped out from behind the trees.
Moonlight reflected and glimmered on the surface of the large, pitch-black lake. Winds created ripples through the surface and brought a close resemblance to a seashore. Stars freckled the beautiful canvas in delicate patterns and clouds danced in the waters, adding an absolutely perfect touch to this masterpiece.
Beyond the ocean like lake, a regal island cliffside greeted them, with a splendid castle sitting on top. Tiny specks of warm yellow light could be seen from what she assumed were the castle windows, and the fog only made the place more mysterious.
But that wasn't the best part. THE ARCHITECTURE. She was absolutely in love with it. It looked even better than it was described, and how it looked within the book. It looked like Medieval Gothic from afar, with the pointed arches, but the roof in the back was clearly mixed with Romanesque styles. Not to mention the scale- it was the perfect size to blend in with the breathtaking scenery.
Annabeth was sure she could just sit here and marvel at the structure for days. Absorbed in the wonder, she failed to realize a very essential information, until Percy's voice finally registered itself into her brain.
"HEY! Earth to Chase, Earth to Chase. Is this even working?" She blinked rapidly. "Wha-Oh, sorry. You were saying?" He chuckled. "Knew you were far off. This about Architecture?"
"Architecture. So…. What's up?"
He simply smiled and tapped the window. She stared at it confused, until she finally noticed that the scenery wasn't moving any longer. Her eyes widened in realization.
This was it. They had reached their final stop-
-Hogwarts.
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"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" A big guy with curly, bushy hair gathered them around. Children who looked about their (physical) age were trotting over to him. She tugged Percy on the sleeves and tapped Lily on the shoulders. The others, reading her sign, joined the swarm of kids and walked over to the guy, who had introduced himself as Hagrid.
Once everyone seemed to have gathered around, Hagrid gestured for the lot to follow and lead them down to the decks. As they followed him down, Lily observed her surroundings left and right until she scowled as something caught her eyes.
"Why the long face?" Annabeth asked, curious.
Lily scrunched up her nose. "Them." She pointed to somewhere on the left. She followed the tip of her fingers to a pair of boys.
One boy had black hair that stuck up on every side, his head continuously moving and hands in constant motion. If it weren't for Hecate's words about demigods not being involved with wizards, she might have thought that boy might be a demigod- one as hyper as Leo. The other boy was, even in her high standards, quite handsome, even though she had only gotten a mere glance at his face (Of course, in her opinions, Percy looked much more handsome).
So they were the ones with the rude talk that got sweet Lily all angry. She simply stared at them with curiosity, but it must have been for far too long. Because a split second later, one of the boys turned around and met eyes with her. Surprised, she broke away, but the boys seemed to be looking at her. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see them grinning in her direction, and the look they gave her made sent uncomfortable shivers down her spine. She turned away from them completely, but the creepy gaze never seemed to waver away.
Annabeth tried her best to ignore them and mixed into the group to hide herself. Lily, who seemed to have made eye contact with them, made a face and stuck out her tongue in their direction. She forced herself to look away.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally came to a stop at the dock where several wooden boats were located. "No more'n four to a boat! Yeh'll get to Hogwarts in a sec!" Hagrid shouted overhead and gestured for them to all board the boat. Naturally, Lily, Severus, she, and Percy hopped in one. She sure was glad to see the boys had gotten on a different boat far away from theirs.
"Everyone in?" Hagrid said, in a boat of his own. "Right then- FORWARD!" He bellowed. At that, Annabeth watched in amazement as the boats began to row itself to the majestic cliffside where Hogwarts stood. Just the right amount of autumn breeze ruffled through their hair. The stars glowing on the surface of the lake made the scene even more peaceful.
Every boat was silent. All students, with their head filled with excitement and worries about being fitted to a new environment, had shut their mouths and were just staring at the view around them. Annabeth, with her own heart beating about the mission they had ahead, fell into a daydream of her own.
The sounds of water humming beneath the wood made past memories flash before her eyes. As the boat gently drifted across the lake, she could almost imagine her days aboard the Argo II spreading before her.
The same low whispers of waterways passing beneath the hull, wind tousling her hair, the same moonlight trickling down her face. She smiled at the good memories they'd had, but her eyes quickly hardened thinking that they could never go back again.
After this mission is over, maybe, but it would never be the same. Without the original Argo II ship and especially the original seven crew. Without Jason…. It could never be the same. Her heart fell.
At times like this, she truly despised her ADHD. She was so carelessly happy and excited moments before, in awe of the magnificence that stood before her. But the happiness had so quickly shifted to sorrow at the thought of her mission ahead, the time she would spend apart from her friends, and her friends who could never be the same again.
Annabeth really did fall silent this time. She closed off her thoughts and stared straight ahead.
The cliffside of Hogwarts was drawing closer now.
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Percy followed the giant man through the ivy curtain and down the dark tunnel to the harbor. He and Annabeth held hands in the dark, but quickly let go as they stepped into the light.
Before coming here, they had decided to keep a façade as friends, because they were looked way to young to be in a relationship. Of course, they weren't breaking up-he was never letting that happen-, and they would continue to see each other in the shadows. But to avoid unnecessary questions, they've decided to put up an act.
The stern woman, Professor McGonagall, was waiting for them there. "The first years, Hagrid?" she asked. "Right here, Professor. The firs' years."
She nodded. "Thank you. I will take them from here on. First years, follow me."
The entire group followed after her. She broke into a welcoming speech leading them, but Percy was more interested in the dark shadow that was crossing Annabeth's face. She had seemed excited when getting off the train, her eyes glassing over the architecture, but now she seemed to be down. What had she thought on the boat? He made a note to ask her later.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up before you do. I will come back in a few moments, so please wait quietly hear. Do not wander off." When he finally paid attention to the Professor's voice, the speech had already ended. Oh well. He would just need to follow Annabeth. Speaking of her….
"Hey," he whispered in her ear. "Everything okay?" Annabeth smiled warily and shook her head no. "Do you…. Want to talk about it? I'm all ears, you know."
"Thanks, Percy, but all I really need right now is just some time to organize my thoughts. Don't worry too much, Seaweed brain," she said, looking at the worried expression on his face, "it's nothing too serious. I'll be back in no time. Just…. One quiet moment, please?" How could he say no? He nodded. He understood her; there were times when demigods needed to have their alone time.
Waiting in silence and listening to chatters around him,
"How do you think we'll be sorted? I heard there was a magic test!"
"Well, my uncle told me we have to wrestle a troll."
"You're all wrong. I heard there was a contraption that drank our blood and sorted us into our houses."
He heard a series of gasps coming from the behind and turned. His jaw dropped as he did. Behind them, a herd of transparent human figures-ghosts, were floating through the halls. The ghosts talked amongst themselves, until an incredibly plump ghost noticed them and smiled their way.
"Oh, it's such a joy to see first years. I do hope to see you all in Hufflepuff, my old house!"
"Well, if you're going for kindness rather than bravery and strength perhaps. Otherwise, I will see you all in Gryffindor." A ghost dressed as a knight spoke. They seemed to be quite merry, bickering with each other. The other ghosts just stared at them in exasperation as if it were normal.
But all of a sudden, every one of them froze.
"M…. My dear Friar, are, are you sensing this?" One of the ghosts spoke to the plump one.
"No…. But it can't be….! SHE herself has given us her word…. But, how?"
All students stared at them with odd looks. Ignoring them, the ghosts looked frantic still. They spun circles in the air frantically, whispering amongst themselves, until a sharp voice cut through the crowd that had gathered.
"What are you all doing here? Tread along, the feast is about to start and the first years are in the need of sorting."
"But Professor McGonagall-"One ghost tried, only to be cut off again.
"Enough. Anything else you may have to say could be said after the feast. I expect to see you all in the Great Hall." At her sentencing tone, the ghosts kept glancing back at them in an uncomfortable manner before passing through the walls and disappearing completely.
"Now, first years, if you please. The ceremony is about to begin."
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Awesome. That was his first take at the Great Hall. Candles hovered overhead and the ceiling was dotted with star lookalikes. They sparkled like the real thing, but they had to be artificial magic. Still, whatever it was there could be no denying that it was pretty cool.
The next take on the hall was how big and crowded it was. There was an obvious teacher's spot at the very front, with a small stool placed in front of the giant table. Students of every age were sitting down at four tables according to their colors.
They must be the houses, he thought. The yellow and black table at the very right had to be Hufflepuff, the green and silver Slytherin, the blue and bronze Ravenclaw, and the red and gold Gryffindor.
This sight kinda reminded him of the dinner times at CHB, and immediately regretted thinking about the place. 'Bad Percy,' he scolded himself, before he paid attention to the staff table again. Professor McGonagall stepped behind the table, then came back out again holding a very ancient looking pointed wizard's hat. She walked out, placed the hat on the stool, then walked in again.
All the first years stared at it with curiosity as the professor sat down at the staff table, with the hat sitting still on the stool. In the silence, Percy wondered what in Hades was going on before, to his amazement, the hat twitched and opened its mouth.
And, ridiculously, it began to sing.
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"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
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As the hat stopped, the hall burst into applause. So that's what they had to do. Try on the hat! He was relieved to see that it wasn't Troll wrestling or magic performing test. He let out a small sigh. Annabeth, right next to him, noticed the subtle movement and bit back a smile. The cloud in her gray eyes seemed to have gone, which was a great thing. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
They turned their heads again when the professor stepped out with a scroll in her hands. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted."
She rolled the parchment open.
"ABNER, HAILEY!"
A blonde girl stepped forward carefully from the crowd and put the hat on her head as she gently sat down on the stool. She sat there for a moment before the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!" The blue table clapped politely for the girl as the color of her tie changed to blue and as she moved towards her table. She sat down at it, and looked at the next person being sorted.
"ALCOTT, BRANDON!"
The same thing happened as the brown haired boy sat on the stool. The hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" As the red table roared to life. Smiling, the boy sat down at his new house table.
The rest of the sorting went by in the same way, except for when one boy was sorted. He was good-looking, there was no denying that; with gray eyes and silky black hair, strong jaws and delicate nose, he did look quite good. But what Percy didn't understand was what happened after the hat called out a house for him to be sorted.
"BLACK, SIRIUS!" The Professor had said. For some reason, the boy caused a ruckus to the people sitting around the hall.
"Black? Really? The Black Black?"
"So that is the famous Sirius Black!"
"Wow, his eyes are so dreamy…." He ignored the last one. He watched as the boy sat down just like everyone else and waited to be sorted. After a while, the hat shouted out a name:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
And all Hades had broken loose. He exchanged confused glances with Annabeth. What was so special about him? He had no idea.
Nevertheless, the voices quieted down as the next name was called. Then soon it was Cain, Chadwin, and at last…
"CHASE, ANNABETH!"
It was showtime.
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The scene everyone has been waiting for! It's finally here! Yay! I'll cut to the chase today, and start just answering all your reviews.
-Just Me: I didn't, but laughed when I searched it up. Lightened me up brilliantly. Glad my little story makes you feel that way! Merry Christmas to you as well :) I respect all ships, because they are all someone's favorite, but that does NOT mean I have to like them as well. PERCABETH will be forever, right? Happy holidays, and thanks for your constant support!
-Callum Runchman: Yes, I apologize for the transitions. I had little time to write this, because I really wanted to have them at least get to the school before Christmas. This chapter is a bit better, though there may be mistakes throughout it because I ran out o time to proofread and correct it. But they'll be edited as soon as I find the time, I swear. The scene in the train was meant to show their character growth, yes, but it was more because of their not-so-good first encounter. Remember Snape being rude to him? No wonder Percy was unwelcoming. Have a very merry Christmas! I always love your kind reviews. Cheers!
-Yeee68: I figured too much ooc will ruin the readers from focusing on the storyline, and will avoid doing so as much as I can. But I can make mistakes, and when I do, I'd love it if you guys can help me spot it! You'll have to wait a bit more for them to start going into their magic lessons, and you'll start getting your answers then. Have a very merry Christmas and enjoy your holidays! Thanks for reviewing.
-Guest: I can't tell if all of you are the same person (Sorry! I'm new to this site), so I'll answer each one individually.
-First: Yay! First review for the special episode! Here, have a digital hug. (Hugs)
-Your way to hard on yourself. I loved this chapter just as much as the previous ones. I love the character development with percy and annabeth making them a little weary of other people and just want peace. All in all great work I hope you have great holidays.: Thank you! I was afraid it would be too bad for all to read, but maybe your right: I'm new, yet I've been too hard on myself. Still think chapter 9 sucks, though, and I'm planning to edit it when I find the time. Happy holidays and I wish you a very merry Christmas!
-You tell everyone what I said so they get the message: I'm really sorry, but I think I'm having trouble understanding. If you are talking about the first comment, there's a praise right above. If you're not, feel free to clarify your self by PMs or reviews. Thanks still, and happy holidays!
A cliffhanger! Finally, the next chapter is the one you've all been waiting for. I'll come back as soon as it's ready. No telling when, because this newbie author needs a rest after 3 uploads in 3 days. But I won't come back too late, I swear.
Until then, please keep reviewing, following, and marking this as a favorite to support me! Love you all sm.
HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! HOPE ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE. 3
-Claire-