When Percy, Annabeth and Nico arrived at their campsite, Harry, Ron and Hermione were already there. Hermione was waving her wand at the sky, muttering spells. Percy could have sworn that every time she finished saying a spell, he could see a large, transparent bubble around them being reinforced.
"What are you doing?" Inquired Annabeth when she saw Hermione.
"Setting up the usual protective enchantments," she replied, "they should keep most people from seeing or getting close to us."
"Will they keep out monsters?" Percy asked.
"I don't know; we've never encountered monsters before." Said Hermione. "Could you help Ron and Harry set up the tent?"
"Tent?" asked Nico, looking around for a large suitcase that could hold a tent.
"Yes, it's in the bag." She said, pointing to the tiny, beaded purse. Sure enough, when Percy put his hand in, he felt a much larger space than the bag suggested. Feeling around the large space, his hand closed around a pole, and he pulled out an entire tent!
"How did that fit in there!?" asked Annabeth, grabbing the bag and peering into its depths.
"Undetectable Extension Charm." Said Hermione simply.
When the tent was assembled, Percy began to wonder how everyone would fit inside, it was about big enough for two or maybe three people, they were a group of six, but when he ducked inside his mouth fell open. The inside of the tent resembled a small apartment, complete with a bunk bed, a small kitchen, and a sitting area. Annabeth opened her mouth to ask how this could be, but then simply shook her, concluding it must be more magic. Nico walked over to a secluded armchair and sat there, deep in thought. Harry and Hermione settled down on the beds, as if they had lived here their whole lives. Annabeth continued to look around in awe, no doubt wondering how the architect managed to make the apartment-like inside fir in the shell of the tent. Ron pulled a portable radio out of the bag saying
"There's a program I keep trying to get on the radio, it's called Potterwatch. It's the only one that tells the truth about what's going on! Most of the channels are following You-Know-Who these days; I'm going to try to tune in…"
'I'll take the first watch then." Said Percy, grabbing Riptide and heading out into the forest clearing. He sat down on a rock, and surveyed their campsite, pondering what had happened in the last few days. After a half hour, Percy's ears perked up as he heard the crack of a branch being stepped on. He stood up and uncapped Riptide, looking around. Then, he saw a woman, walking out of the clearing. Her entire body was shrouded in mist and she seemed to glide as she walked toward him. It was Hecate, the goddess of magic.
Percy bowed slightly, "Lady Hecate" he murmured.
"Percy Jackson" she said, the mist clearing way. "You have met my stepchildren, the Wizards and Witches." Percy nodded, waiting for her to go on.
"This crossroad was one of the most unlikely things to happen" she said. "A crossroad I hoped never would happen. Thantos and Hades grow inpatient. They want the soul of Tom Riddle. Before the wizards met you, I was positive that their crossroads would lead to the defeat of Riddle, but now, the future is unclear."
'We're not trying to stop them from defeating him, we're trying to help." Said Percy.
'I know that Percy Jackson, but the outcome of your 'helping' is unclear. You must not do anything to deter the wizards, if Riddle is not defeated, not even the wizards can begin to comprehend what changes the world will go through. Mortals will be slaughtered. Demigods will be persecuted. Chaos will reign supreme. "
"We won't do anything to seriously influence how their quest goes, Lady Hecate" Percy said.
"I certainly hope so." She said. "I will send you another dream about Harry Potter's past tonight."
"You sent that dream?" asked Percy.
"Yes, Percy Jackson."
"Lady Hecate, please do me a favor and don't" said Percy "I already know how important this guy is, I-"
"Percy Jackson, I need you to learn to trust Harry more, to know how vital it is that you protect him. Wizards cannot kill Greek monsters, just as demigods cannot defeat magical beasts. Do you deny that you trusted Harry more after your first dream?"
Percy did not reply, and Hecate nodded, proving her point.
"Farewell Percy Jackson," she said, "And may all the gods be with you."
Percy closed his eyes and looked away as Hecate glowed brightly, changed into her true godly form, and then disappeared. After a few seconds of standing there in shock, Percy rushed back into the tent, eager to tell Annabeth and Nico what had just happened, but found that he had just walked into the most bizarre moment he had ever seen. Harry was pacing back and forth, looking excited and shouting like he had just had an epiphany, while Ron and Hermione seemed to be doing their best to keep him from talking.
"But did you hear what Fred said?!" he was saying, "He's abroad! He's still looking for the wand, I knew it!"
"Harry-"
"Come on Hermione, why are you so determined not to admit it? Vol-"
"HARRY, NO!"
"-demort's after the Elder Wand!"
"The name's Taboo!" said Ron, jumping up, "I told you Harry, we can't say it anymore-! "
But he fell silent as a loud crack echoed outside, similar to the noise that sounded when Harry, Ron, and Hermione had apperated into the camp. Percy, Annabeth, and Nico all drew their swords. Ron took out a small machine that looked somewhat like a cigarette lighter and clicked it. All the laps in the tent went out . Percy could hear rough, excited voices approaching.
"Come out here with your hands up!" said a raspy voice from outside. "We know you're in there! You've got half a dozen wands pointing at you and we don't care who we curse!"
Percy looked around at the other's outlines in the darkness. He saw Hermione hesitate for half a second, then point her wand at Harry. With a bang and a burst of white light, Harry dropped to the ground in agony, his hands clutching his rapidly swelling face.
Annabeth gasped and Percy whispered "What did you do?!" to Hermione.
"It's just a stinging jinx; it'll swell his face and make him unrecognizable. We can't let these people know who he is!" she said.
In the midst confusion, the intruders had entered the tent.
"Get up vermin." Said one roughly to Harry, grabbing him and removing his wand.
Percy swung Riptide at a man who was sneaking up on Annabeth while she battled a large, buff man. Outside, he could hear Ron and Hermione wrestling with two or three other men. Suddenly, Percy was hoisted into the air by someone behind him. He swung his sword desperately at his captor, until he realized there was no one there. The buff man Annabeth had been fighting with had suspended the all in the air and was now grinning stupidly. Desperate, Percy threw Riptide at the man, knowing it would eventually return to his pocket. It sailed over his head, and instead hit the man that was holding Harry in the shin. He screamed in pain and dropped him, then with difficulty, pulled the blade out of his body and grabbed Harry.
"I'll take that, sweet heart.' Said someone behind Annabeth, plucking her dagger out of her grip. Nico had already lost his sword and Riptide still lay on the floor of the tent.
Defenseless, Harry, Percy, Annabeth, and Nico were taken outside and tied to a pole with Ron and Hermione.