He sat across from Headmistress McGonagall in her office. He had known her since she was no more than a babe. She had changed very little: always on the move, and very, very persistent and headstrong.
He remembered her waddling around when she first learned to walk, and when get got her Hogwarts letter. Now, he was looking at Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, the little girl who used to be in his care.
"I'm not quite sure what happened with them," she told him. "They have no memory of, well, anything."
The man nodded. He was not sure what had happened or what to do. "Chiron, please. We've tried healers and every known wizarding technique known. Is this the work of...them?"
"Minnie, darling, the gods work in unknown ways. We shan't know whether or not this is their work," he paused. "But between you and me, I wouldn't put it past them to pull something like this. Hera has done it before."
"Would you talk to them, Chiron? They need you."
"You know I can't. The whole reason they were sent here is because of their prophecy. We can't help them, no matter how much we want to. The gods would have our heads."
McGonagall nodded. "Okay...I wouldn't want to anger them, I guess."
"I need to get back to camp, Minnie. Keep me updated. If you need me," he handed her a sack of coins, "create a rainbow. Ask for me and we'll talk as soon as possible." Chiron wrote something down before handing McGonagall the paper. "Say this after you throw the coin in the rainbow. I'll see you soon."
She watched him leave and looked down to read the paper:
Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering.
"What class is next?" Jason asked.
"Divination."
The group of friends made their way to Divination. "What a stupid class if you ask me. Who cares about predictions and insights," Hermione grumbled.
"Why take the class if you're going to complain?" Ron questioned.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Obviously, idiot, I need the credits."
Harry stifled a laugh. "You? Needing credits? What kind of world are we living in?"
The group took a seat in the back and got ready before class. "Don't you find it weird that we're a few weeks into the school year and we're just now taking Divination?" Annabeth asked.
"Not at all," Harry responded. "It just works like this, here."
Professor Trelawney walked into class and observed her students. "Welcome. I understand many of you," she glanced at Hermione, "don't want to be here, but I appreciate it anyway."
She had definitely changed after the Wizarding War. To Harry, Ron, and Hermione, she seemed less...kooky. She definitely calmed down much.
"Today, we'll be taking a different approach to this class. There are many ways one can see the future, but as of recently, I have learned of many other ways. Who can tell me what an oracle is?"
Hermione's hand shot up. "An oracle is a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity. One of the more well known ones is Greek, the Oracle of Delphi."
"Correct, five points to Gryffindor," Harry and Percy high fived at this. "Now, who can tell me-" Trelawney stopped, like the air had been pulled out of her lungs.
"You Shall Go West, and Face the-" mumbles followed, "-Who Has Turned
You Shall Find What Was Stolen and See it Safely Returned
You Shall be Betrayed by One Who Calls You a Friend
and You Shall Fail to Save What Matters Most in the End."
The Americans froze. This sounded so familiar to them.
"You Shall Sail the Iron Ship With Warriors of Bone.
You Shall Find What You Seek and Make it Your Own
But Despair For Your Life Entombed Within Stone,
and Fail Without Friends to Fly Home Alone."
Everyone starred at her, very concerned.
"Five Shall Go West to the-" mumbles ensued, "-in Chains
One Shall be Lost in the Land Without Rain
The Bane of-" more mumbles, "-shows the Trail,
Campers and Hunters Combined Prevail
The-" and more, "-Curse One Must Withstand
And One Shall Perish by a Parent's Hand."
Percy and Nico started to hyperventilate. Something about what she was saying did not sit right with them. Something was seriously wrong.
"You Shall Delve in the Darkness of the Endless Maze
The Dead, the Traitor, and the Lost One Raise
You Shall Rise or Fall by the-" she sneezed, "-Hand
The Child of-" she sneezed again, "-Final Stand
And Lose a Love to Worst Than Death."
Annabeth grabbed Percy's hand. She felt his anxiety, and her own was through the roof.
"A Half-Blood of the Eldest-" she coughed. "-Shall Reach Sixteen Against All Odds
And See the World in Endless Sleep
The Hero's Soul, Cursed Blade Shall Reap
A Single Choice Shall End His Days,-" she paused to breathe, "-to Preserve or Raze".
Jason and Leo couldn't figure why Annabeth, Percy, and Nico were slowly freaking out. Well, the didn't until:
"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call
To storm or fire, the world must fall
An oath to keep with a final breath
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."
The words hit the two like a train. How could something hurt so much, and they don't even know why?
"Child of Lightning, beware the earth,
The-" she hiccuped, "-revenge the seven shall birth,
The forge and dove shall break the cage,
And death unleash through-" Trelawney burped,"-rage."
Jason found the room to be closing in. Annabeth took his hand too.
"Go to Alaska.
Find-" she paused, "-and free him.
Come back by sundown on June twenty-fourth or die."
Percy couldn't take in any longer. He started to gather his stuff.
"To the north, beyond the-" she started to struggle, "-lies the-" her breathing became ragged, "-crown.
Falling from ice, the son of-" a tear fell from her eye,"-shall drown."
Nico couldn't breathe. These words were torture on the Americans, that much was obvious.
"Wisdom's daughter walks alone,
The Mark of-" she closed her eyes for a moment, "-burns through-" she coughed.
Twins snuff out the angel's breath,
Who holds the key to endless death.
Giants' bane stands gold and pale,
Won through pain from a woven jail." Trelawney went back to normal, very shocked though. She watched the 5 Americans.
Annabeth could not believe the words she was hearing. Wisdom's daughter. Could she be wisdom's daughter? Who would "wisdom" even be?
Nico, however, knew this had to do with him in some way. Though, he seemed to be reaching for it. "Twins snuff out the angel's breath." His last name was DiAngelo. Maybe it was him.
Percy was just overall losing it. He packed his things and left the classroom after that final prophecy.
Jason sat there in shock. He could not seem to comprehend what had happened in the last five minutes.
Leo looked like he lost his spark. The energetic boy seemed as though he were a puddle of mush. His heart hurt in ways he could not explain, and he just wanted it to stop.
The Golden Trio watched them. After Percy left, the others followed suit: packing their bags and not saying a word. Hermione looked down at the list she had made. Something was up, and seemingly no one knew.
"Headmistress, can we talk?"
McGonagall looked up from the letter she was writing. "Of course, Mr. Jackson. Come in." The Five walked into her office and sat down before her. "What seems to be the matter?"
No one spoke at first. She could see the light in their eyes gone. This morning at breakfast, they all seemed fine, but after this class...she could not believe the change in them. They looked worn; their scars seemingly more prominent than before. Their eyes were sunken and void of any light. It was if they just fought a battle.
"I...We need to drop Divination," Leo spoke up, his voice small and emotionless. "We need something else."
The Headmistress nodded. "Will you explain what happened today in your class?"
No one said anything. It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
"Professor Trelawney was starting her lecture," Nico began after the silence became unbearably uncomfortable, "and she started saying nonsense. She didn't look right, but those words..."
McGonagall stared at them. What had those damned gods done to these poor children? She was angry, and you did not want to be on the other end when Minerva McGonagall was angry. She stood up, excused herself, walked into a connecting room, and casted a spell around the room so the children would not hear.
"Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering. Show me Chiron in Camp Halfblood."
The rainbow glistened as an image of Chiron appeared.
"Minnie, my dear, what's wrong?"
"Trelawney, I'm afraid. According to your kids, she spoke of their past prophecies," McGonagall answered.
Chiron nodded. "They've been through so much, Minerva. It's hard to forget prophecies that nearly kill you. Gods, even one of those five died because of a prophecy."
"One died? Who?" she had asked.
"Leo Valdez. He, along with the other 4 and many others, fought Gaia. He sacrificed himself to save us all, and managed to bring himself back," he explained.
McGonagall thought for a moment. "They need help, Chiron. They've lost something when Sybill spoke those words. Please."
"You know I can't, Minnie. They need to figure it out on their own. They always have," Chiron sighed. He wished he could help these children, but the prophecy stated otherwise. If only he could.
Minerva McGonagall watched the centaur, before making up her mind. "Chiron, I need to talk with the children in my office at present. We will have to speak later."
Chiron's image flickered as the most she created was faltering. "Goodbye, Minnie. Make the right choices."
