They arrived at the leaky caldron just as the last sliver of sun peaked over the horizon. Hazel led them inside, where a big, hairy man stood waiting for them. "Y'r late." he said after they introduced themselves. He waved the group after him and led them to their room. They stayed the night rather uneventfully and got up the next morning with Hagrid waiting for them. He led them to a brick wall, which he tapped with his wand. The entrance to diagon alley opened and they walked through, unfazed by the magic, they had, after all, sailed on a giant flying warship with a bunch of demigods, all with incredible powers, to stop mother earth from waking up.
Hagrid gave them directions to the hogwarts express, which would leave later that day, and left to take care of some business elsewhere. Then he was gone and the demigods were on their own. "Let's go find that robe place to get our uniforms." Annabeth said, breaking the others out of their trances. The ally was just huge! There was so much to see and do and buy, but they had a limited budget and not enough time. So they grudgingly picked up their bags and pushed their way through the crowded streets till they found what looked like the store in the picture Chiron had given them, though they couldn't be sure because none of them were able to read the sign above the store.
Hazel took the picture and examined it, then looked up at the store, then back at the picture. "It's the same place." she said and gave the picture back to Annabeth. "Are you sure?" Percy asked and glanced at the photo. "Yes, I'm sure Percy, now let's go so we don't miss the train." He shrugged and followed the girls in.
A woman inside the shop met them and led them to a room where there was a group of kids all surrounding a boy, who was standing on a sort of stand and being measured by another woman. There were three of them, one was a boy with bright red hair like Elizabeth's, another was a girl with bushy brown hair, and the third, the boy being measured, had black hair and was facing them so they could see emerald green eyes. But, apart form the hair and eyes, he looked nothing like Percy.
The woman pulled Annabeth onto another small stand and began to take her measurements while she explained what they needed. Percy leaned against the wall and talked to Annabeth while twirling riptide in his fingers. Hazel put her bags on the floor and turned her attention to the other kids.
"-growing so much" the girl was saying, "It's not like I can help it Hermione, it's not like there's any spell to keep me from growing, not one they would teach at Hogwarts anyway." the black haired boy responded. Hermione Hazel noted and approached them. "Hi," she said, pulling on the strings of her panda sweater, "I'm Hazel, I'm starting my seventh year at Hogwarts as an exchange student, I couldn't help but notice you mentioned the school. I don't know much about it so I was wondering if, maybe, you would tell me more about it." Hermione looked her up and down and stuck out her hand, "Hermione Granger, seventh year Gryffindor at Hogwarts, nice to meet you." Hazel shook her hand and there was an awkward moment of silence before Hazel realized they were waiting for a similar introduction from her. She hastily stuck out her hand and said, "Hazel Levesque, seventh year from Chiron's academy and summer camp of magic and combat." the redhead's eyes widened, "And combat? I thought magic schools only taught magic!" Hermione, however, was looking at her skeptically, "I've never heard of that school." she said, raising an eyebrow. "You wouldn't have." Percy chimed in, apparently having ended his conversation with Annabeth. "There is no written record of its existence, the only records you'll find are in the academy itself. This is to make sure it's the safest place on earth." Hermione looked confused, "But if there's no record of it, how would the school arrange for exchange students?" she was completely poker faced, but Hazel could see the triumphant gleam in her eye, as if she had caught them in a lie.
"Because," Annabeth Chimed in, apparently done being fitted, "Our Headmaster is old friends with your former headmaster, Dumbledore I believe." the woman Waved Percy over and he left to be fitter for his robes, as the woman said the uniforms would be, like everything else in the shop, the uniforms would be shapeless black robes.
"I'm Annabeth by the way, that's Percy, my boyfriend. We're with Hazel." the red head spoke up, "I'm ron, and you already know who this is." he said, gesturing first to himself, then to the dark haired boy. Hazel shook her head, "No, actually I don't." All of them looked shocked, including the woman taking the boys measurments as she helped him down and took the Ron up to begin his measurements. "You've never heard of Harry potter?!" Hermione said, shocked, Harry just looked uncomfortable. "Of course!" Annabeth said, not missing a beat, "We just hadn't seen what he looked like yet, the war didn't affect us much." Hermione looked satisfied but Harry looked slightly disappointed, like he was looking forward to hanging out with someone who didn't know who he was. Any of the seven could relate to that, well maybe not Leo, but the rest of them were getting a little sick of the attention.
Harry spoke up, "Stop questioning them Hermione, they've only just arrived." She closed her mouth but glared at Harry. "Well, we should get going in a few minutes here to catch the train, we don't usually cut it this close but Ron was a bit late getting up and I had forgotten to pack so we were in a bit of a rush." the girls laughed and Annabeth said, "Yeah, we weren't sure when the train left or how long it would take to get here so we ended up running a bit late."
The woman finished with Percy and motioned Hazel over while Percy rejoined the group. "Hey, we knew how long it would take to get here!" he said, slightly offended, "Oh yeah? Then tell me, seaweed brain, how long did it take?" He pouted and said, "Not long." Annabeth laughed and nudged his shoulder, "You have too much faith in Blackjack's speed Percy." He shrugged, "He's a fast Pegasus." Hermione's eyes widened, "Pegasus!" she exclaimed, "I thought those were rare!" Annabeth glared at her boyfriend, he shrugged, and said "Yes, they're rare, but our school has quite a few, one of the reasons it stays off record. If people knew we had as many pegasi as we do they would try to steal them, they are expensive creatures." Hermione perked up, curious, "How many do you have?" she asked Annabeth fidgeted with the end of her ponytail, "I don't know the exact count but, maybe five." she said it like a statement, the topic was closed.
Harry cleared his throat as both Ron and Hazel finished with their measurements, "We've got to get out books and such now so, maybe we'll see you on the train? We usually sit at the back if you want to go looking for us." the demigods promised they would and Harry led his friends out of the shop.
~oOo~
A while later the demigods entered platform 9¾. Annabeth gasped when she saw the train. It was beautiful as far as trains went and she stared in wonder at everything she saw, drinking it in with gusto. Percy, meanwhile, just laughed at her reaction and took her hand.
The three of them eventually made their way onto the train. Hazel hung back when Percy and Annabeth started talking to each other about 'old times' and referencing previous quests they had gone on together. The three demigods made their way to the back of the train, where they found the golden trio and a girl with red hair whom Annabeth assumed was Ginny. They walked into the near empty cabin and sat down, introducing themselves to the new girl.
"Hi, I'm Annabeth Chase." Annabeth said,holding out her hand. "Ginny Weasley."the girl said and shook it. The others introduced themselves and sat down. Eventually the conversation turned to schools, particularly, the americans mysterious magic and combat academy.
"So it's for magic and combat?" Hermione asked, ever the nosy one that girl.
"Yes, the combat thing is a little unnecessary, but it's in case we are ever without our wands, so we won't be defenceless." Annabeth said smoothly, only to good at lying.
"I guess that makes sense, what with the war and all, but what about other times? What other things could you possibly have to defend yourself from?" Hermione had that look in her eye again,as if she had caught them in a lie.
"Clearly you've never been to New York." Annabeth responded, pulling a textbook out of her duffle bag. "Now Percy," she turned to her boyfriend, "we have to work to catch up, you may be advanced in water based wandless magic,but you need to catch up on everything else." Percy gave her his 'baby seal' face, "Do I have to," She laughed and opened the book. He moaned but complied.
"So Hazel," Harry said, "what kindkind of magic do you specialize in? I heard Percy dose endless water based magic, whatever that means, but what do you do?" Hazel blushed and brought out her wand. "Well, I can do almost any kind of wandless magic, but I specialize in underground type things, like precious metals or stones."
Harry held out his hand for her wand. She handed it over so she could demonstrate. Percy and Annabeth turned their attention to her with masked looks of concern. She took a deep breath. "What would you like me to do." the wizards considered this for a moment, then Ginny spoke up, "How about your specialty, summon a gem." Hazel smirked and extended her senses. There was practically a gold mine right under them. Gold silver and diamonds, all waiting a few miles under the surface. She reached out and selected a gem nearer the surface than the others, a brilliant clear diamond about the size of her fist, and pulled. She opened the window and it flew in.
The wizards mouths dropped open. The demigods smirked. "How are you not rich yet mate?" Ron asked, earning him a smack from Hermione. Hazel laughed, "I am, sort of. My dad is," Harry looked concerned, "Does he use you for you powers or something?" Hazels eyes widened and she looked down, half expecting the ground to open under them, "Oh no nothing like that!" she amended quickly, "He's way more powerful than I am. Where I can summon one dimond he can summon the whole mine. Believe me he is not someone you want to cross." Harry didn't look convinced, she seemed to be overstating his power. No one could summon a whole diamond mine in one go. Hazel let out a breath and dropped the diamond out the window, where Harry watched it burrow back into the earth. Strange. He thought.
Their conversation drifted again and soon they stopped at Hogwarts. The exchange students followed Harry's group out of the train. They had a quick conversation with Hagrid over whether or not the exchange students should ride the boats or the carriages, after which they decided to do the later so they could enter the school with people their age and not look so out of place, even though they already did, having not changed into their robes (Hazel and Annabeth wanted to do so in private later so they could hide their swords, Annabeth her drakon bone sword and Hazel her spatha, which she hadn't sent with Arion)
The group made their way to the carriages, chatting about quidditch, which the exchange students had never heard of. When they got to them Percy went up and pet the skeletal horse attached to it. Annabeth grabbed his arm, "Percy no time to pet the horses, come on." the wizards looked at them quizzically while Hazel went up to the two of them, "Percy she's right, the horse can wait we have to get to the school before we're late." they managed to pull Percy from the thestral and onto the carriage.
"You can see them?" Harry asked when they got situated.
"Well, yeah, can't you," Percy said, twirling riptide in his fingers.
"Yes," Harry said, "most of us can. But only people who have seen death can see them." the demigods look at each other, unpleasant memories rising to the surface. "We have all seen things that would make your nightmares run and hide." Percy said darkly, wrapping an arm around Annabeth, who made no attempt to stop him. Hazel looked at her hands, she had seen death himself more than once. She had been dead.
Hermione looked at them, a tinge of sympathy in her eyes, "What did you see?" Hazel shot a look at Percy, who looked about ready to punch the girl, and responded, "You have no right to know." her orleans accent becoming thicker in her anger.
Hermione snapped her mouth shut and they spent the rest of the ride in silence. They parted ways when they entered the school, the wizards going to sit with their house and watch the sorting of the first years and the exchange students waiting with Hagrid outside the doors so they could be sorted after the first years.
A few minutes later the doors clang open and the exchange students stroll in, subconsciously in synchronized military formation. There are gasps and whispers from the students but headmaster Mcgonagall calls for silence and announced that the new seventh years are American exchange students who will be sorted into their houses for the year.
"Chase, Annabeth"
Annabeth walks up to the stool and sits. The hat is placed on her head and she hears its voice in her head, a brave one, loyal, cunning, smart, any house would do for this one. I'll need to dig deeper, if you would just show me those memories you're hiding there. Annabeth looked up at the hat, you sure. The hat scoffs, Of course I am, how else am I to determine where to put you. Annabeth let down her guard. The hat screamed.
There was a collective gasp from the students and teachers as the blood curdling scream echoed down the halls and a single tear slid down Annabeth's cheek, the only sign she saw the memories too. Percy had to be held back by Hazel, who was ready to run up there herself.
"Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff! I don't care! Get me off of her!" the hat screamed and was lifted off Annabeth's head. Percy broke free and ran up to her, engulfing her in a hug and casting glares at everyone around him. Only Hazel would meet his eye.
Mcgonagall Cleared her throat and said "Jackson, Perseus." Percy scowled and stood, passing a numb Annabeth to Hazel, who was standing next to the chair now. Annabeth was muttering something about Luke and spiders when the hat gasped, as if finding something horrifying for the second time, "Put him in any of them, just keep him with the girl! Now by all the gods just let me sort the last one and be done with this!"
Hazel was called and she went up the the chair, sitting down warily. The hat was placed on her head, Okay Ms. Levesque you can let me in now. She let the hat into her memories and her breathing became heavier as the hat found her death. You, you shouldn't even be alive. There was a series of gasps and small screens as the hat found every terrible thing she had seen or experienced. Eventually the hat finished sifting through her memories and shouted out loud, "Put her anywhere, just keep her with the others, don't separate this lot! Just take me off her and let me be done!"
Confused whispers rolled through the audience. Hazel looked down once the hat was removed to discover a collection of gems unearthed at her feet. She willed them back down where they belonged and joined her friends. The headmaster addressed the students first, "I understand this is… unusual. But we have to get these students sorted into houses now, so,we will let them pick," Shouts of protest ranges through the hall and she raised her hand for silence, "the sorting hat clearly stated that they are eligible for every house so letting them choose shouldn't be a problem." protests still came from st students but the matter was decided. A teacher stepped forward and explained all the houses to the demigods.
They decided to go with Slytherin, as they all knew that they were clever and ambitious, plus, the people there reminded them of the hermes cabin back at camp, where both Annabeth and Percy had spent some time in their childhood,so it would be a little touch of home.
The new students went to join to Slytherins and the headmaster continued with the announcements. Draco Malfoy slid over to them and said, "So what is it that got the hat screaming so much?" he looked them over, clearly not seeing the seething anger in Percy's eyes or the dangerous glint in Annabeth's. Hazel barely spared him a glance, instead opting to talk to the witch across from her about wandless magic.
"It must have been something bad, that hat has seen thousands of memories in his time, what about yours got him all in a knot I wonder." Annabeth smiled sweetly at him. Then he was sprawled on the floor with her foot on his chest. She leaned down and said, "I'll tell you what, how about I send you to where I went and see if you escape with your sanity, then you can ask that again. That is, if you get out alive." she whispered the last part in his ear then stood and sat back next to Percy, who was watching with a smirk.
Hey, hope you liked the chapter! I'm sorry if anyone is a little out of character,no matter how hard I try I am not Rick Riordan of JK Rolling so I can't get anything of theirs perfect for the life of me. Okay so I have a contest for you guys, guess my age. I hope to see your guesses in the comments. Don't worry about offending me, I'm not easily offended by anything. If you have anything you'd like to see in the next chapter let me know. Should I have the golden trio find out about the demigods on their own or have the demigods tell them? I think they should find out on their own, I mean the hat did say that Harry would do just as well in Slytherin as in Grifindor, so that should mean that he's clever. And clever people figure things out.