Chapter 4

Everybody's voices overlapped each other's, and nobody can understand anything anyone was saying. The yelling continued for several minutes, until Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked in, looking for what was causing the disruptive noise. Their eyes scanned the compartment, and Hermione pulled out her wand, casting a silence spell.

"First of all, you guys are being rather rude, you're not taking into account that other people are on this train. Second, Will, Nico, nice to see you. And third, are you guys the exchange students?" Hermione asked, her tone switching from disapproved to excited.

"Um, yeah. I'm Percy, this is my girlfriend Annabeth, this is Piper and her boyfriend Jason, there's Hazel and Frank who are together too, and then there's Leo and Thalia," Percy explained, pointing to everybody in turn.

Ron asked, "Are Leo and Thalia together? I mean, you got the whole 'couple thing' going on."

"No way," Leo said. "I've got a girl at home. Calypso. I miss her so much." Leo sniffed. "You know, being Mr. McShizzle Bad Boy Supreme isn't easy. I have a soft spot."

They are stared at him until Thalia broke the silence. "Yes, and I've sworn off men for life. They're terrible, all of them. They just want to-" Thalia cut off, seeing everyone looking at her strangely. Harry eyed her dark makeup, ripped up jeans, and what looked like a bow sitting in her backpack. He decided that she wouldn't be someone to cross.

"Anyways," Harry continued suspiciously, "Welcome to Hogwarts. You know Will and Nico?" He didn't sound excited, and he spoke in such a way that he was pondering every word that exited his mouth. A thought, a dark one, was forming in his brain.

"That's right, we know them from camp," Annabeth answered. "Speaking of which- what are you guys doing here? This is a quest that we are going on. You're not supposed to be here!"

"Not now!" Will hissed, looking pointedly at the wizards. "We'll explain later."

"So, um, yeah. I'm, uh, Cameron, this is Eliza, and that's Jacob," Harry fibbed. Hermione elbowed him. "Ow! I mean, I'm Harry, this is Hemione, and that's Ron. You might recognize those names."

"No, doesn't ring a bell," Hazel said apologetically. "What did you do?"

Harry and Ron seemed offended.

"Oh nothing, we just defeated Voldy-moldy himself-"

"Who?"

Harry, Ron and Hermione gawked, and Will and Nico groaned.

Will saved them. "Uh, they were isolated as children; their parents wouldn't let them read the paper, and they, uh, didn't have friends to tell them news."

"Gee, thanks, man," Percy said sarcastically. #persassy

Nico continued the explanation. "Guys, these three rid the world of the evil wizard Voldemort and disposed of his followers, the Death Eaters."

Piper was confused. "Wait, how is that possible? Thanatos is extremely hard to catch."

"What?" Percy said disbelievingly.

The compartment was silent with awkwardness. Frank shifted uncomfortably in his seat, Leo fiddled with a machine, and Hazel coughed loudly.

"So, uh, this train seems nice! That trolley lady is strange though," Piper said quietly, trying to break the silence.

"Yeah, she's throws pumpkin grenades. It's strange, mate, I'll tell you that," Ron said, thinking they were normal exchange students. "I hope we're in the same house!"

"Mm-hm." The demigods had noticed Harry's hostility, and were now on edge. "Well, see you later, I guess," Hazel said, indicating them to leave.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione scooted out of the compartment, Harry looking over his shoulder. The demigods watched them leave like hawks. As soon as they were out of sight of the exchange students, Harry and his friends started talking.

"I don't trust them," Harry said. "They seem strange. Did you notice a bow in that punk girl's backpack? They're all weird, they seemed too friendly. Also, I didn't see them at the station. It's like they just showed."

"Yeah," Hermione agreed. "I hope they're not in Gryffindor. Then again, the saying is, 'keep you friends close, and your enemies closer.'"

"Good idea," Ron said. "Well, they actually seemed ok to me. I mean, that Percy dude had the blue cookies in his hand if anyone else noticed."

"Mate, nobody notices that stuff. Except you," Harry said seriously.

"C'mon guys. Let's go." Hermione pulled them into their original room and sat them down.

They started talking about the strange kids, but conversation gradually shifted to what the three friends did over the summer. Hermione and Ron forgot all about the strange new kids. Harry pretended to be listening, but all he could think about were the exchange students. His recent ordeal with Voldemort and "saving the world" and whatnot had rattled him, even if he didn't really show it. The same thought was racing through his mind, over and over again.

"The Death Eaters are back to get me."