"Rise and shine princess!" Percy ripped the covers off Harry.
Harry muttered words so foul, they couldn't possibly be spoken again. He swung his legs over the bed, "Do you wake everyone up so rudely?"
"Rudely?" Percy cocked his head to one side, "What do you mean?"
Harry sighed, "You're just like Ron when it comes to personality. Always joking around."
Percy slapped harry on the back, "You told me about Ron yesterday. He seems like a nice guy. His twin brothers though, they're the ones I want to meet. As a matter of fact, Travis and Connor would get along great with them."
"They're twins as well right?" Harry questioned.
"Yeah, but they're also sons of Hermes and have a bad habit of stealing. If I were you, I'd keep precious items close at all times." Percy warned.
Harry nodded his head, "Nice to know."
"Oh, the bathroom is the first room on the right," Percy directed him, "And you have the standard Camp Half-Blood uniform. Orange shirt, navy blue jeans."
"But I'm not a~"
Percy put his hand up, "I know, you're a human. But while you're here, you have to blend in with all the others. You don't want to attract the wrong kind of attention. Especially when the Children of Ares are always on the prowl."
Harry sighed and took the uniform from Percy, "Thanks I guess."
"Don't worry about it." Percy left his room.
Harry went into the bathroom and found that a yellow and red towel, a red toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste were laid out for him.
'Alright Harry. Stop being such a grump. They're extending their hospitality. I shouldn't push away my only friend.' Harry stepped into the shower.
The hot water ran down his body and he pressed his hand against the wall. He hung his head and closed his eyes, deep in thought.. Yesterday's fight replayed itself in his mind. He wasn't able to save his friends. He watched them get dragged away. And then...
"And then a goddess spoke to me!" Harry's head snapped up, "Why didn't I tell Chiron that yesterday? How could such an important detail slip my mind?"
He shut off the water and stepped out of the bath. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he stepped out of the bathroom quickly and bumped into someone.
Harry fell backward, "Ah, gods dammit Percy!" Harry opened his eyes and found himself staring up at curly wavy golden blonde hair and intense gray eyes, "Um..." He slowly got up.
"S-Sorry." She averted her eyes.
"No, it was all my fault..." Harry remembered her name, "Annabeth."
"You remembered my name?" Annabeth appeared shocked.
"Well, yeah," Harry nodded his head, "You did help save my life."
"About that, you don't have to pay me back or anything," Annabeth rushed her words, "After all, anyone would do it. As half-bloods, we have to look out for each other."
Harry opened his mouth to correct her, to tell her he wasn't a half-blood, that he was actually a mixed wizard. But after further thought, he closed his mouth.
'It's not that important.' Harry told himself.
"So I guess I'll see you around?" Annabeth asked him.
"Yeah. I'm coming out right now actually." Harry told her.
"Right now?" Annabeth's voice revealed an anxious tone, "I don't think that's a good idea..."
"Annabeth!" A female voice called her name.
Annabeth turned around, "Thalia! Why are you in the Big House?"
Thalia wrapped her arms around Annabeth, pulling her into a bear hug, "I've been looking all over for you! Come on, we have important news to talk about. Grover just sent a message..."
Harry used their conversation as a chance to run into his room. Quickly he shut and locked the door behind him.
"Thank Zeus." Harry let out a breath he had been holding in, "Annabeth saw me half-naked and that girl, Thalia, did not need to join the 'Let's See Harry Half-Naked Club'."
He dressed himself quickly, jumping into the jeans and pulling the shirt on in a rough, quick manner. There came a knock on his door.
"Yeah?" Harry answered.
"Is it safe to come in?" It was Isaac.
'Safe?' Harry thought to himself, "Of course. It's not like I'm in here killing someone."
The door opened and Isaac stepped in, "That sounded much more casual in my head."
"Nevermind. What can I help you with?" Harry combed his hair.
"Chiron wanted to speak to you the moment you woke up. He's downstairs," Isaac told him, "It's urgent."
"I'm coming down right now." Harry slipped his wand out of his Gryffindor outfit and into the pocket of his jeans.
His Gryffindor scarf seemed to be calling to him. Harry almost left it behind and he would have, had he not remembered it was the only thing tying him to Hogwarts, next to his wand.
He wrapped it around his head like a bandanna, the Gryffindor logo visible on one end. Harry followed Isaac down the stairs.
Chiron was on the porch, speaking quickly in a hushed manner. Percy, Annabeth and Thalia were listening intently.
"I'm not going over there." Isaac stood by the stairwell.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, "Sometimes an interruption is needed."
"Suit yourself mate." Isaac wouldn't budge.
Harry walked out of the Big House and tapped Chiron on the shoulder.
He turned around, "Ah! Harry! Perfect timing," Chiron placed a hand on Harry's back and brought him forward, "Thalia, this is Harry Potter. The one I spoke to you about."
Thalia looked at him, "If it isn't No Shirt Boy."
Harry looked down, his ears turning red, 'I thought she hadn't seen anything!'
"No Shirt Boy?" Percy questioned.
Annabeth covered her face with her hands, also remembering the incident.
Percy looked at her, "What went on upstairs?"
"It was nothing." Harry cleared his throat, "What were you saying Chiron?"
"Right, I was telling these three that Grover~"
"He's the satyr right?" Harry wanted to make sure he knew who everyone was.
Percy answered him, "Yeah, Grover Underwood. He's my best friend and we've been together for two years. He really~"
"Two years?" Thalia scoffed, "That's nothing. Grover and I~"
"Enough guys. Continue your bromance later, Chiron is speaking." Annabeth silenced the three of them.
"Thank you Annabeth." Chiron nodded at her, "As I was saying, Grover is a satyr who resides here. One of his jobs is to find demigods in the world and bring them here. He just called from Westover Hall, a military school. There are two twin demigods there and normally, this would be easy for him. But the Vice Principal there is being...difficult."
"Monster." Thalia instantly guessed..
"That is a possibility, or he may be a mortal with a high resistance to the mist." Chiron weighed the two options, "Whatever the case, he's in need of some assistance."
"I'm going." Percy stepped forward.
Chiron smiled, "There was no stopping you with that one."
"I'm coming along as well." Annabeth stepped up right next to Percy.
Chiron nodded his head, "I can count on you to look after him."
"If Annabeth's going, then there's no way I'm staying behind." Thalia held Annabeth's hand.
Chiron had nothing to say for her.
"How about, 'Another child of the Big Three ensures their safety'?" Harry tried to help.
Thalia patted him on the back, "I like that No Shirt."
"Are you really going to call me that?" Harry asked her.
"I don't know. Let's see if it sticks, No Shirt." Thalia grinned.
Harry rolled his eyes, "What about me?"
"What about you?" Chiron turned to him.
"Aren't you going to tell me to come along?" Harry looked at the others.
Chiron shook his head, "Three's the limit Harry. Didn't Percy mention this when recounting what has gone on so far?"
Harry raised his hands up, indicating he knew nothing.
"As long as I can remember," Annabeth spoke up, "Only three demigods were allowed to go on quests together."
"How come?" Harry slipped into a lawn chair on the porch.
Percy shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, something like 'Two's a party, Three's a crowd'. If anymore demigods were traveling together, their...scent or whatever would draw monsters from all over the country."
"Trust me." Thalia added, "Even with three demigods, loads of monsters will come after you. I'm speaking from experience."
Harry nodded along, "I understand. I just thought I might be able to help."
"Actually," Chiron raised his hand up, "I think you can." He took what looked like a tiny bell out of his pocket and shook it.
Isaac stepped out of the Big House, "Yes?"
"Isaac, do me a favor. Would you call Argus here? Tell him it's urgent."
"Sure things," Isaac jogged off.
All four teenagers gave Chiron looks that asked the same question, 'What did we just witness?'
Chiron sighed, "Isaac is a son of Aidos."
"Ai-who?" Percy questioned.
"Aidos." Annabeth told Percy.
"What's her title?" Thalia was interested as well.
"If I'm remember correctly, her title was...Aidos, the Goddess of shame, modesty and humility." Annabeth recited.
"What does that have to do with him hearing a sound we couldn't?" Harry was the only one unsatisfied.
"This is a modesty bell forged by Hephaestus himself. Through my...connections, it came into my hands. I planned to ring it whenever the campers were being rowdy but as you can see, it was of no use." Chiron shook the bell, "When Isaac arrived last year, I tossed it out in the trash and he came running."
"Because of his Mom?" Thalia looked impressed.
"Some traits are so powerful, they pass on to the child." Chiron informed her.
"This gods and goddesses stuff is only legit in America." Harry blew a strand of hair out of his eye.
"Not true." Chiron would have gone on further to argue, but just then, Argus and Isaac jogged into view.
Argus had eyes...everywhere. They were all one shade of blue. The eyes that could be seen were on his face, neck, arms and hands. He wore the standard Camp Half-Blood uniform.
"I brought him. Just like you asked Chiron." Isaac reported.
Chiron nodded his head, "I appreciate it very much. Now, Argus I'd like you to..."
Argus seemed to be laughing at something from Harry's assessment. Though you couldn't really tell since his eyes were the only thing you could see.
"Argus," Chiron beckoned for him to come closer. Lowering his voice he said, "I'd like you to schedule a flight for these 4. They'll be heading to Bar Harbor, Maine."
"We're using a plane?" Percy coughed.
Even though Chiron had tried to whisper, Percy's dolphin-like hearing could never mistake anything.
"It's the fastest mode of transportation." Chiron stated.
"Yeah but..." Percy rubbed his left arm, "Last time I used a plane, Zeus threatened to blast me out of the sky."
"I'm with Percy on this one. I don't think flying is the way to go." Thalia backed him up.
"I don't see any other method," Chiron looked them all in the eyes, "A car would take about 9 hours."
"Um, if I may?" Harry spoke up.
Percy stopped rubbing his arm and grabbed Harry, pulling him in front, "I almost forgot! You're a wizard aren't you? You have some kind of spell that can take us there without Zeus killing us?"
"Spells?" Thalia had not learned about this.
Annabeth waved her hand, "I'll fill you in later. Harry, do you have a spell that can take us there?" She questioned.
"Well, there's only one and I haven't tried using it on my own..." Harry trailed off.
Percy planted both his hands on Harry's shoulders, "In the name of all things Greek, I beg you, please, use that spell."
Harry had never been asked a question in this way. He couldn't possibly say no, "Fine. All of you, grab onto my clothing."
Annabeth grabbed his right shirt sleeve, Thalia grabbed the back of his shirt and Percy held his scarf. Harry closed his eyes and concentrated.
"What's taking so long?" Thalia whispered.
"I don't know," Percy whispered back, "Do your thing wizard!"
"Is he going to summon a~"
"Will both of you just shut up?!" Annabeth hissed.
Thalia and Percy exchanged 'WOW' glances and held onto Harry's garments.
'I'll need to thank Annabeth later.' Harry noted in his mind, 'Okay, Bar Harbor, Maine...Bar Harbor, Maine...' Harry repeated over and over.
The Three D's were the key to successfully apparating. Destination, Determination, Deliberation.
'I want to go to Bar Harbor, Maine!' Harry shouted in his mind, 'And not just anywhere. I want to land right in front of Westover Hall!' He could see it in his mind, the school, all black stone, with towers and slit windows.
Everything went dark. Harry felt like he was being crushed from every directions. The air was sucked out of his lungs as his eyes were pushed into his head. His eardrums turned and twisted.
Then, they settled. The four of them stood at the front where, a set of huge wooden doors on the edge of a rocky, snowy dark aura-having cliff overlooking a big frosty forest on one side and a gray churning ocean on the other.
"Well, that was fun." Annabeth had already recovered from the Apparition effects.
"Are you...kidding?" Percy wheezed, bent over, clutching his stomach.
"What is...wrong with you Annabeth?" Thalia was on the floor..
"They're so...slow." Harry searched for the right word.
"I know right?" Annabeth stood next to Harry.
Harry turned away from them to look at the ominous "school". What lay behind these doors that Harry was getting a bad vibe from just thinking about? He would have to find out, after Thalia and Percy recovered from their Apparition sickness.