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Percy's P.O.V

Everyone sorta went to do their own thing after all the wizards had unpacked. Fred and George went down to the arena to learn how to swordfight, Hermione, Ron and Harry all went to try their luck at the rock wall (I told them good luck), Annabeth was in her cabin studying Dadeliusus (I know I spelt that wrong) laptop, and me and Neville went to the beach. I told them all that lunch was gonna be in a couple hours.

Neville and I walked to the deserted beach, the gentle breeze feeling good on my skin.

"So, Neville, you seem to be pretty interested in the beach." I was trying to make conversation with him.

"I came to the beach because I'd be no good at anything here. I'm too clumsy to sword-fight, or climb a rock over lava. I don't know why they wanted me to come."

I looked at him. "But you're a wizard! How could you not be good at everything!?"

He smiled sadly. "That's a stereotype, you know. My grandmother doesn't think I have my dad's talent, and she's right." He paused and looked directly at me. "If I tell you something will you swear not to tell anybody, not even the other wizards?"

I nodded. "Ok. Well there are these evil people, called Death Eaters, who work for You-Know…" He looks over at me. "Oh yea, you don't know who. Just his name brings terror to many wizard families and the only people I know of that aren't afraid of it are Dumbledore and Harry. Anyways, he's the man we are preparing to fight. These Death Eaters go around torturing innocent people, especially muggles, just for fun.

He took a deep breath. "My parents were the best arours out there. Arours were dark-wizard catchers. They were tortured by one of You-Know-Who's most loyal Death Eaters, who went to Azkaban, a horrible, terrible prison that only one person has managed to escape and still be alive, and didn't even try to plead her case that she was mistaken and used like so many other Death Eaters had tried to do because You-Know-Who had fallen. No, she went there with pride after permanently damaging my parents brains, vowing that when You-Know-Who returned, only Death Eaters call him the Dark Lord, she would be rewarded greatly for her loyalty to him and non-cowardice. Her name is Bellatrix Lestrange."

I was at loss for words. "I—I'm sorry," was my lame excuse for meaningless words. I just couldn't find anything to say. "That's horrible…" I felt sympathy for him. I felt a little guilty that both my parents we're right in the head.

He gave me a sad smile again. "What's done is done. Nothing can change that. But I just hope Death Eaters don't find us here soon."

"Soon? Does that mean you think they are going to find us?" I have to admit, that thought was a little scary.

"Well, their bound to find us here at some point, we can't hide forever."

Silence. The water was calmly creeping on the shore and snaking back in.

The lunch bell rang. "Looks like it's time for lunch."

We walked to the Mess Hall, but Neville stopped me. "You won't tell a soul the story I told you?"

"Not a soul," I promised.

He seemed to relax and seemed a little happier as he went to the Apollo table and I went to the Poseidon table with Ron and Harry.

It was almost time to learn a bit more about them.