The next chapter in the double chapter event! Have fun!

Chapter 11-Tall Tales

Harry

Hermione, Ron, and I were standing in front of portrait Zeus that led to the demigods' rooms. I was holding my golden egg, afraid I would drop it and it would crack, leaving the Weasley twins to make a golden dragon omelet out of it. I cuddled the egg in my robes and waited for the demigods to answer to door. Finally the portrait swung open and out came an excited Annabeth, but you can detect a faint vibe of sorrow coming off of her.

She motioned, "Come in."

The room looked exactly as the time before. Bean bags and a table were in the middle of a mini 'common room' and doors surrounded the whole room. This time, there were burgers, pizza, pretzels. But there were also empty goblets and plates. Ron whined, "Where's the food?! No, Percy ate it all!"

He collapsed on his knees but Hazel shook her head, "No. But I'm surprised Percy hasn't eaten a meal that weighed as much as a mountain before. We brought these cups and plates from home. You can choose whatever you want. Here. Iced tea and shrimp gumbo."

Iced tea filled the cup to the brim and a shrimp with a thick sauce appeared. Hermione gave a questioning look and Hazel explained, "Comfort food."

Soon after we were all sated, Percy began the explanation. "So we didn't want you to fight that drakon because a good friend of ours died. Her name was Silena."

Hermione asked, "Why was there a drakon in the first place?"

Annabeth sighed, "We were at war with the Titans, like Kronos and Atlas and Hyperion."

Hermione gasped, "Harry, didn't you say that the two men called each other Atlas and Hyperion/"

Annabeth shot up, "When was this?"

I explained, "I have frequent dreams. And this time Voldermort was bowing to two men, a weird gray statue and a man made of fire. They were giant and they called each other Atlas and Hyperion. They called Voldermort their servant."

Hermione stated, "What I don't get is how Atlas and Hyperion are alive? They were killed off in the myths."

Leo raised an eyebrow, "Really? That's your question. Why not, how did Voldermort get resurrected?"

"By magic duh."

Annabeth quickly answered before Leo could ask absurd questions, "Well. Monsters and Gods can't essentially die. For monsters, they just get revived over and over again in the pit of…"

Piper whispered, "You don't have to say it."

"But I do. Tartarus. Monsters get reborn in T-t-tartarus. They hunt down demigods like us. We have to kill them in order to survive. But they keep coming back for us."

Ron bowed his head, "How do you guys survive?"

Percy drew a pen and started flipping it, "We learn from a place called Camp Half-Blood. We are trained to kill the monsters and survive on our own. We learn swordfighting and archery."

I gasped, "Wow. Can you show us?"

Percy stood up, "Jason?"

"You're on Jackson."

Jason took out a gold coin and Ron tried to snatch it. Jason threw the coin in the air before Ron could get up. Ron ended up falling on his face. The coin suddenly transformed into a sword in Jason's hand. Hermione scoffed, "You think you can fight a sword with a pen?!"

Suddenly Percy uncapped his pen. It transformed into a lean sword. Percy asked, "You watching Harry?"

I shook my head and watched the battle intently. Hazel and Piper were dragging bean bags around the boys, who took a defensive stance. Leo smirked and took out a handkerchief, "Ready, set, FIGHT!"

Jason and Percy circled around each other, both watching the other carefully. Finally Jason swung his sword. Percy parried and kept blocking Jason's blows. Jason was pressing forward until Percy was almost backed up against the wall. Suddenly Percy fought back with fierce strength. Jason started messing up. He missed a block and Percy quickly disarmed Jason and his sword flew up and embedded itself in a portrait of a woman in a cow skin.

Annabeth smirked, "Serves her right."

Hermione gaped, "How did you guys get so good?"

Piper smiled, "It all has to deal with our past. Percy, Annabeth, will you do the honour?"

Annabeth and Percy looked at each other with some humor in their eyes.

Annabeth began, "It all started when Percy and I were 12."

Annabeth

I woke up and saw Percy's arm hanging around me protectively. I smiled as Percy was snoring lightly. I find myself in our demigod common room. There were Harry, Hermione, and Ron stirring awake on a Sunday morning. Suddenly I remembered that they slept over as it was late to go up flights of stairs. Plus, Ron drooped down in sleep during our tales of Kronos(we only finished half way). Hermione and Harry didn't feel like dragging him up three flights of stairs.

Piper and I made our way to the Great Hall for some breakfast. It was early in the morning and people were scattered in little dots. The ceiling had clouds like marshmallows surrounding a bright orange ball. Lights were flickering in and out on top of the candles. Hermione was sitting alone with book in hand and a spoon dipped in a bowl of cereal in the other hand. Hermione glanced up from her back for the shortest amount of time just to say hello.

Piper shrugged and filled her plate with waffles and eggs. Hermione asked, "Do you know that after the First Task there is a Yule Ball?"

Piper narrowed her eyes in disgust, "Wearing puffy dresses. Really, so typically my mom."

I reminded her, "It could be fun."

"Of course. We will be with friends."

I asked Hermione, "Do you have anyone to go with you?"

"I don't know, but I'm taking things into my own hands. I am going to ask the boy instead."

Piper smiled, "Nice. You can never trust boys to be brave enough to ask."

"I know right."

Finally after an hour, the boys came mumbling in. They were sleepy and groaning from lack of sleep. Hermione turned red when Percy smiled at us. It was weird.

Hermione started stuttering, "P-P-Percy, can I talk to you alone?"

"I'm sure."

Hermione

I led Percy to a hallway around the corner of the Great Hall. Students were starting to awaken and they began making their way to the brightly lit mess hall. I asked, "Percy. Apparently there is a ball coming up soon. It happens after each first task. It is the Yule Ball. And I was wondering if you would-you know- like to come to the ball with me?"

Percy started rubbing his neck nervously, "Well, um, you see. I'm dating Annabeth. And we usually go to these dances together, you know. So... I'm sorry. And I thought you already knew me and Annabeth were dating?"

I looked down dejectedly, "Annabeth and I. And I knew you guys were dating, I just thought you might go to the dance with me despite her. I just thought…"

"That our love wasn't true?"

"Yeah. I mean, it's a teenage relationship. It's bound to die and reborn."

"Here. Listen to the rest of our story. Then you will understand our love."

"Okay. I'll probably ask someone else."

Percy smiled weakly and made his way to breakfast, following his nose like a dog. I kicked an empty knight that fell from the blunt attack.

It was a school meeting. These were rare, no the NEVER happened before. Tables in the Great Hall were pushed to the sides, leaving a big empty space. In the middle was Professor McGonagall. She proclaimed, "It is Hogwarts' great honour to host this year's Triwizard Tournament. It is a tradition for the Yule Ball to occur after the First Task."

She continued, "We will learn how to ballroom dance before the ball starts. We must set an example to the other schools. And it is tradition for the champions and their dates to start off the ball." She glanced accusingly at Harry, who withered under her glare.

"Weasley come here." Ron removed himself from the crowd surrounding McGonagall and mumbled, "Yes Professor?"

"Weasley will be my dancing partner right now to teach you."

Ron's face paled up like a ghost and I swear he almost looked transparent. MgGonagall forced Ron's hands into position and began counting, "1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3."

People were snickering, including a certain Malfoy who swears to be own our side. He called out, "Having fun with your date Weasley?"

Ron turned as white as paper and everyone started laughing at Ron's misfortunes.

Percy

It was dinner time and I was starving. All afternoon Annabeth insisted we do the unnecessary homework that isn't for a real grade! What a waste of perfect time. The Great Hall's ceiling was pitch black with flickering stars, blinking in and out. There was a shooting star going across the fake sky. I piled my plate with everything I could see. I wrinkled my nose in disgust at the pumpkin juice and I pinched my nose while I swallowed the whole disgusting mixture.

People were chattering loudly and boys were constantly looking at Fleur in lust. Fleur was apparently wanted by many boys from Hogwarts and Durmstrang alike. A brave unfortunate boy stood up and sauntered with confidence to Fleur. He kneeled on one knee and conjured flowers and proclaimed, "Will you go to the dance with me?"

I saw Ron turn as red as an apple out of the corner of my eye. The hall turned silent, watching the boy's rejection in particular interest. Fleur smiled weakly in a thick French accent, "No."

The boy's friends hurried over and scuttered him away from Fleur and embarrassment. Suddenly we heard a loud screeching. SCREECH. SCREECH.

Everyone hurried outside and looked up. We demigods followed and Annabeth and I looked up. A golden boat attached to a griffin was chasing an eight-legged horse. There seemed to be people aboard the horse and boat. The horse started running through the air towards the lake. All the students yelled as it crashed, causing huge waves to rise. I raised my hands and the waves stopped. I pushed forward and the waters were pushed back into the lake.

The boat followed in pursuit and appeared to be on fire. It crashed into the lake and everyone crowded around the lake. They all shouted when people started rising from the lake. Five people came up. One had caramel brown hair and fair blue eyes. She had purple streaks in her hair. Her friend looked African American and brown hair and eyes. Annabeth and I looked at each other. Sadie and Carter Kane!

Another boy had bright blonde hair and grey brown eyes. I asked, "Is that your cousin?"
Annabeth nodded. A girl came up with green hair and wearing green and pink clothes. Another girl had a green hijab and an axe in her hand. Both groups started fighting and Annabeth and I ran to stop the fight. The rest of us Greek demigods were looking on with confusion. The Kanes stopped fighting and yelled, "Percy, Annabeth!"

Annabeth's cousin, Magnus told his friends to stop fighting. All three groups of demigods looked at each other. Jason yelled, "Percy what's going on?!"

The Greek demigods came jogging over. Annabeth introduced, "Guys this is the Kane siblings, descendants of the Egyptian pharoahs. And this is my cousin Magnus, a Norse demigod."

I hope you love this story. I worked so hard. In case you guys don't know, that was the Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase series. I love all three series. Happy reading-hope4all

Trivia: What do you think will happen next?
Why is the giant Iapetus named Bob?