Chapter 55

The Quest for the Cup of Hufflepuff Part 1
or
"Hermione gets a Shotgun"

Hermione

The campfire after dinner was a riot, mostly because of Percy giving Harry a hard time for treachery and treason. It was all in good fun and Percy swore he would get Harry back once their quidditch match occurred.

"You suck on a broom" Harry replied.

"I'll coach"

"Didn't you coach your team today? How did that work out for ya?"

We were seated beside Dumbledore and Chiron's table, which was otherwise populated with Rachel, the Order and goddesses. McDonagall got to sit with Artemis and was ecstatic at this, begging for a picture that Artemis assured her would show only the professor. At one point Nico approached Dumbledore and I could have swore he told him "It worked" to which the professor merely nodded a reply.

Will and the Apollo cabin led a sing a long, but Apollo being known to be in such disfavor at the moment their excitement was muted. Still everyone was having a great time, like an old styled frontier hoe down in a Disney movie when a sudden silence fell over all. I looked around and glowing emblems above many of our heads. Ron and Neville both had the Tridents of Poseidon floating above them, while Harry had a lightning bolt. Ginny was glowing pink all over and wearing what looked to my eye like a toga, while Rachel had an owl and Luna had what appeared to be a bow.

Artemis arose, just as Chiron was about to, and held up her hands for silence. Well, she's a goddess, so everyone got really quiet then.

"It is my pleasure to announce on behalf of the three brothers the following. All hail Ron Weasley and Neville Longbotton, now adopted by Lord Poseidon and Neptune of the Roman aspect. All hail Harry Potter, adopted by his Lordship Zeus. All hail Rachel Dare, adopted and recognized by the Lady Athena, all hail Ginevra Weasley and Hermione Grainger, now adopted and recognized by the Lady Aphrodite. Finally, all hail Luna Lovegood, whom after great debate with the pantheon, I have taken as my adoptive child. Let these children be treated as though the natural children of the god and given the respect, authority and ability of the same."

With that she sat down and everyone gave a prefunctionary curtsey before breaking out in applause.

"Wait, did she say I am adopted by Aphrodite?" I asked to no one in particular as I noticed I too was wearing a toga now.

"Yes, that's why you have the mark, that pink glow, the chiton you're wearing, look, you can see it! The glow I mean, of course you can see your chiton. I told you! I told you! Its the beauty inside, you've always had it!" Piper said hysterically as she hugged myself and Ginny. "Welcome to the family!" She gleamed and then hugged us again with tears in her eyes. I looked over her shoulder to see Rachel and Annabeth also embracing, each with tears in their eyes. They had been like sisters for so long, even after the same guy at one time and now it had been made official. Luna, not quite knowing who to hug or what to do, was smiling and talking with her adoptive mother, who appeared to be about the same age. I later talked to Luna and found that as Artemis was the goddess of, among other things, the moon, that it made sense for her to adopt Luna.

I did in fact have a pink glow all about me, and I was suddenly wearing a "chiton" which is like a toga, only sewn instead of draped. I had not noticed it before and its over all effect on me, when I finally looked in a mirror, was the same as on Ginny, well, I was really hot. Not that that should... oh who am I kidding, it was nice being a girl sometimes. It did make me wonder though. Ginny was the pretty one, I was supposed to be the smart one. If any of the gods claimed me, and I was grateful, don't get me wrong, I figured it would be Athena. Oh well, none of my business. I was glad to be Piper's sister, having grown so very close to her these last few months. This would be weird to explain to my parents though, if I even were allowed to, and I wasn't sure I was.

At the other end of our table Percy was shaking the hands of Ron and Neville, welcoming them to the family and promising to help them learn to control water, while Jason was greeting Harry. We had no children of Zeus, or so we thought, then just as I remembered that Thalia was, she came over and greeted Harry as well.

The celebrations lasted into the night for most of us. Jason unfortunately taught Harry how to call down lightning, which he did quite successfully, blowing up a picnic table someone had set beside the beach. However he then collapsed into a deep sleep and could not be revived until the following morning. Jason said this was typical and carried Harry, with Thalia's help, to the Zeus cabin. It was felt that we should spend the night with our Olympian brothers and sisters at camp instead of in the Leodis, if only for the night. We would be heading back to Hogwarts in a day or so full time, or as we called it, the third door on the left of the doors that Leo had hung. No one was looking forward of going back to reality. Surreality. Whatever.

Aphrodite's cabin was wonderful, with just a couple of sour types that didn't like Piper. A really handsome guy named Mitchell, actually they were all handsome, and the girls beautiful, told Ginny and I about Piper's past with the most bitter seeming one, a girl named Drew, and how Piper had challenged Drew and changed the way the Aphrodite cabin functioned. No one else in the cabin had been on any quests, and generally questing was something Aphrodite children did not do. They influenced and steered others, they didn't tend to get their hands dirty. Piper had been on three major quests now and was considered to be one of the more powerful demi gods in either camp. It was clear she was a hero to most of the cabin.

After being shown to our bunks, in a room we would share with Piper and a girl named Lacy, we all met up in the common room again. It was then that Piper formally introduced us to our brothers and sisters.

"Lets see, where to start. Well, we got the best two of the bunch. Ginny is probably the fastest you will ever see on a broom, and would probably be the Quidditch captain if Harry wasn't already. Her patronous is strong, her offensive spells devastating, she is the commander of our air cavalry and is absolutely fearless. She is among the best brits with a sword, bow or spear, and these days that is saying something. Oh, and her boyfriend is the chosen one." Piper said.

"What does that mean exactly?"

"Good question. He is the one chosen to kill Voldemort. No one else can according to prophecy."

"Thanks Apollo" someone mumbled.

"Yes indeed. Well the good news is that he is Harry, the one adopted by Zeus tonight. He's really a great guy. Now as to Miss Hermione Grainger. How would you describe Hermione if you were me Ginny?"

"She's the greatest witch of her time. That is not open to discussion or debate. Any spell that anyone can cast, she can cast better, uh, except for America house, and she teaches them. She has forgotten more magic than most witches ever learn. The only frustration she has in spellcraft is the speed at which she casts spells and she is getting faster all the time. Muggle born, proving that the pure blood movement is such horse shit, she... well, she's my best friend. Oh, and the chosen one's best friend. And the chosen one's other best friends girl friend. And the prettiest and smartest girl I know. And she can beat all the Hogwarts guys with a sword except Neville and could probably beat or hold her own against most of the demigods." Ginny smiled and I shook off a tear in my eye.

"Hermione teaches spells to all of us Americans when we're in the UK, and I'm hoping I can get her and Ginny to start teaching Aphrodite cabin. They've been working with Hecate's kids and they are doing well."

"So its true, you can do magic?" Mitchell asked.

"Well, yes. That's what our school is for." I said.

"Can you catch this hair brush on fire?" the sourpuss asked.

"Drew isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Drew, why would I want a hair brush to be on fire?"

"So, you can't."

"Ignatio!" Ginny said with annoyance and the brush burst into flames. Everyone was startled and all but Ginny, Piper and myself jumped back. Drew was afraid to move, and even more afraid to drop the brush.

"Agua" Piper said as she pointed her wand and a stream of water both doused the flame, freezing the brush into a puddle of melted plastic, and soaking Drew.

I pointed my wand then and simply said "repario" and the solidified slag became liquid, formed itself back into its original shape and became a brush again.

"That is so cool!" Mitchell said, "What else can you do?"

"Oh lots of things, stun people, retrieve things, transmutation, telekinesis, there are all manner of water, fire, lightning, sound, well all the elementals are covered by spells. Then of course there are potions, arithmacy, prophecy, physical enchantment, You name it if we can't do it we can probably learn how." I said.

"She can kill with a thought." Ginny said, completely dead pan.

"Really?" Drew asked, somewhat startled by this development and looking at Piper.

"Yes, but there is a difference between ability and the willingness to do so. The killing curse is considered unforgivable. Of course if you cast it while you are asleep, would that still count Ginny?"

"No, they can't punish you for that. Surely not. " Ginny replied. "If they did, well a lot of people with the trace would be in trouble for their dreams wouldn't they? And Piper isn't really under the Ministry's jurisdiction. In fact, while we are in America, we are not either."

We carried on like this well into the night and the morning found us rested and refreshed. Drew looked like she had not slept all night. At breakfast Ron and Ginny had a tearfest with their mom and dad, as did Neville with his folks, assuring them that their adoptions meant nothing in so far as them being their biological children first and foremost, and their parents glowing with pride for them. Chiron pointed out that in the last thousand years or so only one person had been adopted by any of the gods, that being Jennifer who like Ron and Ginny had living parents. He didn't mention that her parents were immortal Titans.

Afterwards everyone of DA1 and America House that was available went to Hogwarts to test Nico's shadow travel skills against the world of magic, but I was to study the History of Gringotts and any other source I could about the magical protections we faced there. I thought Annabeth might like to join me but her and her new sister Rachel were going to go through the Athena armory looking for weapons.

"Come on and join us, then we'll all hit the library."

I agreed, but had to ask. "Why does Athena have an armory?"

"Oh, military science, strategy and tactics fall under our mother's purview, as do quests, like exploration, not demi god quests. I have a theory that is why she has been so active in this one though, but I may be wrong. Ares is the god of war, but how that war is fought is under the patronage of Athena."

"Yay!" Rachel shouted with glee and leaped with a fist in the air like one of those cheerleaders at an American football game.

"Oh, so do the Ares kids have an arsenal too?"

"Oh yes, and Hephaestus. That is the one you should be scared of. Athena's and Ares' all have safety measures. Hephaestus devices are liable to go off just sitting there, and sometimes do." Annabeth smiled.

The arsenal was not expected. It was full of swords, shields, daggers, spears, bows, any kind of ancient weapon you could imagine, all in bronze. Then were were flintlocks, Bowie knives, machine guns, revolvers, semi automatic pistols and rifles, M-16's, AK-47s and every kind of modern weapon you could think of as well, all placed in an open room where any kid could grab whatever they thought they needed.

"Only myself and my designee have a key, but we train on the M-4's and 92-F's at an early age. Safety is paramount." Annabeth said. "Now, lets see if we can find Rachel something befitting her Halfblood status. Hermione, you should look around too. The Norman you carry is fine for a sword, but you might also want a dagger or dirk for close in fighting."

"Can you teach me how to shoot?"

"Sure, its fun. Our guns all fire celestial bronze though, so the rounds would pass right through a human."

"Couldn't we get regular human type ammunition from Save O Mart?" Rachel asked.

"Sure! And its cheap too! We have some here for target practice. I should have thought of that. Oh, but usually the range is open spring through fall. We could probably get Chiron to"

"What about the range on Percy's boat?" Rachel asked.

"You mean Lord Poseidon's ship?"

"What ev. He wouldn't mind if you taught Hermione to shoot there."

"What about you? Don't you want to learn?" I asked Rachel.

"Oh. Dad's security people taught me as I grew up. I've shot the Berretta before, and I'm good on it to about 25 yards. Beyond that, well, give me the M-4 out to 300 or so. Maybe more on a good day. These have the advanced optical sights so you can really reach out and touch someone with it. 200 yards is the beginner level with those. The AK may have more stopping power, but its harder to hold on target. And besides the object is to wound, not kill. Now these beauties are Barrett sniper rifles, 338 Lapua, although they come in 50 caliber too, good to 1200 yards at least, I haven't shot one but would love to!"

Annabeth and I just stared. This was a side of Rachel we had never seen. I suspect no one had.

"What? Dad makes a lot of enemies. If the mist wasn't telling him that our finishing school was surrounded by British Special Air Service or something he would have a couple body guards on me anyway. Come on, lets go shooting!"

"I'm afraid to ask, but why do you want to wound, rather than kill?"

"Oh. If you kill one of your attackers, you stop one guy. If you wound them though, a nice low gut shot, well then you take them out, plus someone has to take care of them. So you eliminate another attacker that way."

We grabbed a shot gun, a rifle, a M-4 she talked about, and a Berretta pistol each, as well as a good sized sack of standard, non magical, which ironically meant it could kill magicians, ammunition, stuffed it all in our bags, and headed towards the ship. Unfortunately we could see it sailing out of the harbor as we approached the waterline, where we ran into Percy, Ron and Neville, who were trying to learn how not to drown.

"Damn it!" Rachel shouted by way of announcing our presence.

"Hey ladies! What's up?"

"Oh nothing. Hermione wanted me to teach her how to shoot, but it turns out that Rachel may be the better instructor when it comes to firearms. We were just going to the ship to use the shotgun range. But it appears your father is taking the ship somewhere." Annabeth said.

Percy looked, nodded, and said "I had not noticed. Come on guys, lets go meet your other dad."

"How... oh the door. Geez I'm dumb today."

"Today?" Ron asked jokingly.

I nearly pushed him down as we all laughed. We went back, went through the appropriate door, and found ourselves on the bridge. Leo had relocated the door there so he could be closer to the command center of the ship. Instead of Poseidon though, we just found a note, written in Greek on what appeared to be sheepskin.

"Dear Percy, I am moving the ship back to London. You may need it there. Ron, Neville, welcome to the family. Ron, the end game is beginning, last night was the opening moves for what is to come. All should be alert for the opportunities. Neville, I had to argue with Ares to get you, but you are too strong of a fighter for his house I think. You are all welcome to take the ship back, but the North Atlantic will be very rough for the next several weeks so unless you have spent time at sea I would not recommend it."

The note was unsigned.

"Lovely" Neville said, "more vague missives from a god."

"Show some respect Neville, you just got adopted. That makes you no higher on the food chain that the guys asleep at the Hypnos house." Rachel said.

"Well, no, I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. I just wish they would come out and say what they mean."

"They think on a different level than us. They see several pasts and multiple futures all at the same time. It would drive us mad to do that. I don't mean they can predict different outcomes, I mean they actually see them and try to navigate themselves, us, and by extention the world through them. If they seem vague, its probably because we just aren't wise enough to understand them, but lets try to figure it out. It seems to be to all three of you. The part to Percy is pretty clear, we might need the boat there. We might not, but we won't need it anywhere else would we? Now as to you, you probably don't realize it but Ares is the god of war, but Poseidon has always been the best fighter. So what he is saying is pretty clear, you are a great fighter and deserve to be with him. Finally there is the part to Ron"

"I got this" Ron said, to pretty much everyone's surprise. "Its referring to a chess game, which classically has three parts, the opening, the middle part, no, that's what its called, and the end game. In the end game the board has been cleared of superfluidity and the centers of play identified. You know what pieces you have, what the opponent has and who controls the center of the board with what pawn structure. Now you look for opportunities to use your pieces to their best advantage and checkmate your opponent. Poseidon is just telling us that we have finished the middle and we need to start looking to the end. All in all, one of the less vague messages we have gotten really."

We all just stared at him.

"What? I can solve things too" He grinned.

"Ron is right, that is exactly what this message says. And of course it warns us about the North Atlantic weather. All in all a very straight forward message. Now, who wants to go shooting?"

We all did of course. Percy found some plastic bottles, tied ropes to them and threw them off the back. While he did this, Annabeth went over safety and Rachel the actual operation of the Berretta. In minutes we were shooting with the bottles as they drifted further from the ship. The best I could do was hit one at about 15 to 20 yards, though as promised Rachel shot five rounds straight through one at twenty five. Annabeth and Percy matched this effort, while Ron and Neville did about as well as I.

"Not bad for a beginner. Not bad at all. With a little practice it might be practical for you to carry, at least in your bag." Rachel said to us.

"Why though? We have wands." Neville asked.

"Well, lets see. How fast can you fire spells?"

"I don't know, I never really measured it." Neville replied.

"Okay, use your wand on the one on the left, the Pepsi bottle, I'll take the Mountain Dew on the right. Annabeth, would you count us off? Ron why don't you count spells cast by Neville." Rachel said as she slid a fresh magazine into the pistol.

"Sure." Ron replied.

"On three, one, two... three." Annabeth said, and on three Neville began throwing jinxes as fast as he could, hitting the bottle with most and sending it bouncing around with each hit. Fortunately the rope held. Rachel took am, then unloaded the pistol into her bottle, each hitting until there was no bottle left, then hitting the water where it had been for several more rounds.

"Okay stop" Rachel said as the action locked open on the empty magazine.

"Seven" Ron said.

"How many hit?"

"Six for sure, I think the other one too, but the bottle was moving and I just winged it."

"Okay, well, I'm practiced, but the Berretta magazine holds 15 plus one in the chamber, so I shot 16 times in that same time period, and hit with all of them except the last 4. Those missed as there wasn't a bottle there anymore. So, if you want to get some fast damage down range, even against magic, guns can have a purpose. Lets try the M-4, you're going to really enjoy it!"

Again Annabeth went over safety and Rachel the actual operation and aiming. I hit more with the rifle at first, but as the bottles got further away, well, they wouldn't sit still. Rachel and Annabeth did a little better but all admitted that 200 yards with a target that was bouncing around in the ship's wake was tough. Still we had fun trying and the full auto, even if only on three round burst as these were, was a blast!

Finally it was shot gun time. Rachel explained that the beauty of the Benneli tactical shotgun wasn't that it could fire fast, as it was slower than the pistol or rifle, or it's range, which was really only effective to 30 yards or so. The beauty, as she described it, was it's point and shoot operation. It clearly had a good end, and a bad end and at a glance one could easily tell which end one was on. When fired, anything it is pointed at within 20 to 25 yards is going to get hit, the only question is whether they lose an arm or leg, or just die on the spot. After that, the further away one gets the less likely to get hit or killed or wounded. Still, when things were up close and personal, and none of your own people were in the way, it was your best friend.

It had a folding stock and Rachel said if fired that way to shoot from the hip, but at first to use the stock and shoot from the shoulder until we were used to it. I, well, I didn't listen as well as I should.

As I raised the gun and aimed at one of the paper targets set up above the rail, Rachel yelled "Stop!" but I was squeezing the trigger at that moment and the barrel rose up, the receiver hit me just above my eye. I saw stars and fell to the floor.

I woke up at Shiloh again, this time only Aphrodite and Athena were there.

"Come sit with us a moment Hermione" Aphrodite smiled.

I bowed quickly then sat and accepted tea from Athena.

"Is this the afterlife?" I asked.

"No" Aphrodite replied as they both laughed. "That would begin with a waiting area, and the first one to speak to you would be the ferryman. No, this is Shiloh. We sensed some confusion in you after the adoption and wanted to chat with you so that you would understand.

"First you should understand, it was important for all of you to be adopted now. Things are going to begin to move fast and there might not be time later to secure, well, your association. You should also know that your mother and I debated which of us should have you." Athena said.

"I'm honored to even be considered by either of you. Your children are all wonderful people"

"Children are like cookies Hermione, even the best cook burns one every now and then." Aphrodite said with a gentle smile, and I somehow knew she was talking about Drew.

"It is important to me that you do not feel rejected by myself or my house" Athena said. "Truly it was a, as you call it, a 'toss up.' You are indeed the most brilliant magician of your generation."

"And the most beautiful, both in your appearance and in your soul." Aphrodite added.

"And it was that inner beauty that ruled the day. You see, you are intelligent, brilliant, and as you grow you will become learned in many arts, not just magic and war. The secret to knowing Hermione though is knowing her inner self. I could praise you all day, list hundreds of attributes you have that others should envy."Athena said.

"But 'wisdom', which is the mark of Athena's house, would not be listed, or if it were, it would listed quite late."

"But..." I started to say.

"But you know it is true. Of the Gods, I am the oldest, I have seen many things, both before the rise of Athena's father and uncles and since. My children are caring and loving, or should be, they spread beauty and love to the world. In these dark times there can be no greater duty, but while like you they may be wise, they are noted for their caring and grace. It was your inner beauty that finally convinced Athena to let me claim you." Aphrodite said.

"Now, do you understand? You were not rejected, rather, you were coveted, and in my wisdom, I decided that Aphrodite was the proper home for you."

"I think so. Intelligence is knowledge, wisdom is knowing when and how that knowledge is useful."

"One is no good without the other. Although you are Aphrodite's, and your mortal parents of course, I will be keeping an eye on you. You may ask Annabeth if that is a good thing or not." She smiled.

"I... I think I would keep this between us, if that is okay. I, well, rejected might be the best word. Before you explained it I did wonder...well don't get me wrong its an honor Lady Aphrodite, I just wondered if I would fit in better, you know."

"You my dear would fit in just fine anywhere. Good luck in your quest. Practice the shotgun and pistol. They may be useful for you. And get Leo's help to increase their utility" Athena smiled.

I thanked them again and asked if they often visited Shiloh, but they just faded out, and suddenly I was back on the Argo III.

"You okay Hermione?" Ron said, bending over me.

"Yes, I need to practice the shotgun and pistol."

"Ya think?" Rachel asked, "You're apt to have black eye"

"No, Athena thinks. How long was I out?"

"You were knocked out? I don't think so, you just fell down a second ago." Annabeth said.

"Oh. I was back at Shiloh for a minute. We had tea."

"You and my mother?" Annabeth asked.

"And mine." I added as Ron helped me up.

"Oh gods! What did she say?" Annabeth asked.

"Just that..." I remembered I wanted to keep my doubts private just in time... "Just that I should practice more with the shotgun and pistol. Did I hit the target?"

"Uh, no, you hit, well, you would have hit the ceiling if there were one." Rachel said. "Ready to try again? This time with the stock?"

"Sure!" I smiled as Ron dabbed my bruised eye with unicorn draught that Annabeth provided.

"Maybe tomorrow would be better, we need to hit the library, and it does look like your eye has had enough for one day." Annabeth proclaimed. Everyone else gave in readily to her, but I really did want to shoot some more. I got a promise from Rachel that we would come back until I got it right, then had her show me how to load the shotgun and I slid it and the Berretta into my survival pouch. If Aphrodite and Athena thought I might need it, then it was going everywhere with me.