Clara POV
"Clara, meet your mother, Narcissa Malfoy," Apollo said.
I was shocked. So I finally knew. This was her, then. I had to say I thought I took after my dad a lot more, at least in looks. But I ran to her anyway. This was my mother, something I'd always wanted.
Narcissa embraced me. "I've missed you, dear Clarissa Jeanne. I do hope the Bradleys took good care of you. And you must be her... friends," she said to Clarisse and Renee. I couldn't tell the reason drop in her voice, but it almost looked as if she recognized Renee. I stepped away from my mother, and closer to my best friend.
"If this was a perfect day, Clara, we'd go out to lunch or something. But my husband will wonder, and I have to be with my son, even if he doesn't like that. But I am so glad I finally got to meet you, Clara. I have no doubt we'll see each other again, and I can only hope that it would be more pleasant next time." I saw Narcissa shudder at the word "pleasant," like she knew the life of a demigod would never be pleasant. "I promise I will see you again one day. I love you, Clarissa Jeanne."
I smiled and Narcissa hugged me again. Then, she turned on her heel and disappeared, which made me wonder whether there was more to her than just a woman that my father had loved.
I turned to Apollo. "Dad, one day you'll get in trouble with Zeus for helping your kids so much."
I don't actually remember how we got back home. I just know that the ride was smooth. Well, I guess you get one freebie in life. I don't know. But we've been back for three days now.
I spend all my time now with Jade and Renee, of course, but also with Grover, Percy, Annabeth, Silena, Lee, and sometimes Clarisse. Despite the fact that Clarisse and I are kind of friends now, she and Renee still dislike each other, and don't even ask me about her with Percy or Annabeth. I sighed, knowing they would never really get along. It drove me nuts to have my friends fighting.
Renee told me she saw Percy and Annabeth as a couple. She said that, as the daughter of the love goddess, she had to be right, but I didn't know if I agreed. Surely she wouldn't try to ship me with anyone, would she? I hoped not. I wasn't up for that yet. I'm only eleven, after all. I think sometimes Renee seems to forget that.
I've been enjoying the rest of the summer, knowing I'll need to go back to school soon. It's not like I don't want to see the Bradleys, but I just feel distanced from them these days. Renee will be staying here for the year, unless I can convince my adoptive parents to let her live with us. I already promised her that I would try, but with six children, we already have too many mouths to feed. I wish I had the magical plates that we have here at camp.
I saw Luke leading Percy into the forest. Percy and I had a shorter schedule than many of our friends, who were still doing training this afternoon. For some reason, our days off never seemed to match up. Renee and I hardly even saw each other that much, and we couldn't even sit together at meals.
I hadn't paid much thought to Luke lately. He's been very aloof. I can't figure it out; he must be happy at least that Annabeth is back. And that they got the lightning bolt. But for some reason, he avoids us.
The way he was leading Percy seemed almost suspicious to me, so I waited until I was sure they wouldn't notice me, and I started to follow them. By the time I got there, it looked as if Luke and Percy were finishing up a heavy discussion.
There are only a few things I'm really good at, but one of them is definitely reading people. Even from my distance, I could tell that Percy was apprehensive. I couldn't make out any words, though, so I wasn't sure what was going on.
Luke said something, and Percy shuddered. I saw something behind him and suddenly knew why he kept talking. It looked like one of those poisonous scorpions I had seen pictures of during training. I realized then that Luke didn't want Percy coming out of this alive.
"Percy!" I yelled without thinking. "On your right!"
Percy spun around so fast it was like lightning had hit him. But unfortunately, Luke had also heard me.
"You'll pay for that one, Clarissa Jeanne Bradley." He drew out my name. "I was going to kill him now, but I guess I'll just have to run with you on the way," he sneered. The scorpion was gaining on Percy, who was doing the best he could to ignore it. I thought this probably was a bad idea.
Suddenly, Percy had summoned a wave before my eyes. He directed it at Luke, but the scorpion attacked, and Luke fled. I was disappointed to see that he looked rather happy. "Kronos will make you pay, Clara, you mark my words!
And then he was gone.
"Clara," Percy whimpered.
I gasped upon seeing him. He was in pain, and there was a huge gash on his arm.
"Clara, water. Water…Clara."
Now, I had to lift Percy up. I wished Annabeth were here, then I could carry him easily to the lake. But I just had to make do with my own strength. I groaned; he was no pillow. I had half a mind just to dump him in the water and run, but I knew that if Dad didn't punish me for that, Jade and Renee would. Not to mention Annabeth.
I waded into the lake with Percy, knowing that he would recover soon enough. I left him there and sat on the bank. Soon, I heard running. Annabeth and Renee came up on me, looking worried. Annabeth kept running to Percy, but Renee stopped at me.
"Clara, thank the gods!" she flung her arms around me. "We heard screams."
Screams? "Renee, nobody was screaming. But, we were hurt."
"I heard screams," she said again, and I realized what must have happened.
Annabeth had hauled Percy out of the water by then, his gash from the scorpion only a small scar. She hugged me as well.
"I'm so glad you two are safe. What happened? We heard screams and came running."
"Annabeth, nobody screamed," Percy said, but I knew otherwise by now.
"It was Luke. He attacked Percy with the scorpion, then screamed to cause a diversion so he could get away. But….he's not the main enemy. He's working for Kronos."
Annabeth gasped. "I need to tell Chiron, Seaweed Brain!" She grabbed Percy and ran, Renee and me at her heels.
By the time we reached the Big House, Annabeth and Percy had already gone in. We waited in the main room, listening and watching Annabeth's dramatic retelling. Eventually, Percy stepped in. "Annabeth, it really wasn't that bad."
I laughed, and Annabeth suddenly realized I was there. "Oh, right, it wasn't. Clara saw the whole thing, Chiron, she'll tell you better."
"Hey, I was actually there!" Percy groaned and began to tell Chiron everything. After he finished, Chiron nodded. "We need to talk about this, but first, I need to talk to Clara and Renee in private. Is this okay?"
Annabeth nodded, and I wondered what could be so important.
Once we were in a back room, Chiron said, "I expected this with you, Clara, of course, but it will probably come as kind of a shock to both of you."
He handed us each a thick green envelope. I ripped mine open.
Dear Miss Bradley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
The term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Well, that was different. I wasn't really looking forward to traveling back to England, and doubted Renee was, either.
A/N: How did you like it? Sorry it was a bit of a filler chapter, but in the next chapter they will go to Diagon Alley and meet some important characters for their first year (Chamber of Secrets canon). The chapter after that will be the train and the arrival, and then the moment you've all been waiting for, the sorting. Please comment your ideas on which houses you think Clara and Renee will get placed into (although I already know haha).
