killerpizza504: Sorry

Cookie05: Yeah, it does make you wonder, doesn't it?

Alex: Good observation.

miller123456789: Thank you!

The last few days of the term practically flew by and before the students knew it, they were going home for the holidays. Nearly every student was thrilled about the break, which was why Vaisey was surprised to see Zeller moping around the corridors with a forlorn expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Rose shrugged, carefully avoiding any and all eye contact. "Just a bit homesick, I suppose."

"Oh. Well, isn't that sort of a good thing? I mean, you'll be going home soon, right?"

Rose looked up at Aleron. Her large blue eyes were puffy and swollen, likely from crying. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and nodded, even forcing a small smile. "Yeah, I guess. Will you be returning home as well?"

"I think so. Mum will be glad to have us back, Kayla can be quite a handf- -" he stopped, ears turning pink. There was an awkward silence. Aleron cleared his throat. "Um, yeah, I'll be returning."

Sneaking Canis out of the castle was a difficult task that almost ended in a complete disaster.

"Hurry!" Aleron kept urging her. "Otherwise someone will see!"

"I'm going as fast as I can considering that I'm carrying a bloody dog under my robes!" Wait, did she just use the word 'bloody' as an exclamation? Oh gods, she was turning into one of them! "If I run, people will get suspicious. Our chances are much better if we just walk."

Reluctantly, the Slytherin went along with her plan, whist grumbling irritably to himself.

They made it most of the way without incident. But this was Hogwarts, after all, and nothing ever works out as expected in Hogwarts!

"Where do you think you're going?" Draco Malfoy stood by the front door. The older boy, now out of his school uniform, was dressed like a prince. Draco wore a long, flowing, emerald-green cloak with sheen; a button-down silk, very expensive-looking shirt; slacks; and shoes with gold buckles. Next to him, stood his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, and a very bored looking Blaise Zabini.

"Home," the two first-years answered in unison.

"Empty your pockets."

"What?" Aleron spat. His eyes glancing nervously at Annabeth, who was trying her best to conceal the dog underneath her robes.

"You heard me. Empty your pockets."

Annabeth put her hands on her hips. "Why should we? What do you think we have in there, a bomb?"

Malfoy exchanged looks with his mates, none of them were quite sure what a bomb was, so they chose not to answer. "Just do it," he ordered.

"No. Not until you tell us why. Humor us."

Malfoy sighed. "If you must know, one of the students has taken an object of some importance that belongs to me. I would like to have it back. Now, will you please be good little children and empty your pockets or I will have to ask my friends to pat you down in a not-so-gentle manner. What will it be?"

"That's an invasion of privacy!" Annabeth cried in outrage, while at the same time, Vaisey said, "What sort of object?"

Zabini answered Vaisey's question before Malfoy could protest. "He lost his broach. It's small and gold with the Malfoy seal on it."

"And why would we have your stupid broach? What do you think we would want with it?"

"You tell me!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "If you want to find it, I suggest that you limit the suspects down to those most likely to take it. Because if you think about it, patting down every student at Hogwarts isn't the most rational way to go about things, now is it?"

Aleron gulped. "What she meant to say was - -"

"Merlin, I've had enough. Boys, pat them down. And when you're finished, hex them into next week!"

"Oi!" came a voice from behind them. "What's taking so long? Some of us want to go home."

"I was just explaining to these first years that they need to empty their pockets before exiting, Nott. Unfortunately, they are not being very cooperative."

Theodore gave him a look. "Why? Just for amusement?"

"No. Somebody stole my broach."

"You mean the one with the Malfoy seal on it?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Yes, that one."

Nott pulled out a shinny gold object from his pocket. "Is this it?"

"Where did you get that?" he demanded. "Give it to me!"

The other boy rolled his eyes. "You left it on your night stand after polishing it last night." He handed it to him, winking at Annabeth and Aleron.

As soon as Malfoy clipped it on, his hair turned a shade of hot pink. Zabini gave Nott a look. "Are you sure that the Weasley twins didn't decide to 'improve' it?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, they may have done that, too."

To be quite frank, Annabeth didn't understand why they celebrated Christmas at Camp Half-Blood. Seriously! Their parents were freaking gods! It just didn't make sense. Yet again, recent statistics showed that over ten percent of Jewish households had a Christmas tree too. She supposed Christmas had become more of an international present giving day than an actual religious holiday. The world was messed up.

Annabeth walked Canis into the camp, keeping a tight grip on the leash. She wasn't sure how the crup would react to her friends at the camp. They weren't wizards, but at the same time they weren't exactly Muggles either.

Canis's ears perked up at the sound of people, his tails wagging vigorously.

Annabeth realized just how much she missed the camp. True, she had only been away for about two months, but it felt like a year. Annabeth observed the lush, green grass, the sweet smell of strawberries. She wanted to take it all in, to never leave again. She was back home.

Annabeth beamed when she caught sight of Luke Castellan. "Hi, Luke!" she called happily, running over to hug him. What she did not notice, however, was Canis's body language. The little dog's ears were pressed flatly against his head and he arched over, shoulders humped and teeth bared, clear sign of aggression in animals.

Taking no notice to this, the eleven-year-old girl happily hugged her long time friend.

Conner and Travis Stole, two of Luke's half brothers, grinned mischievously at the sight. "What?" Travis said, pouting slightly. "No hug for us?"

Suddenly, and without warning, Canis charged. The tiny animal launched itself at Luke, sinking his teeth deep into the boy's leg. Luke howled in pain as Annabeth tried, but to no avail, to remove the dog from his vicious grip.

"Let go!" she said through gritted teeth."Leave him alone. Bad dog!"

They say that dogs are the best judges of character. Had Annabeth known that in a few years' time, the very same boy she had once loved would be trying to kill her, perhaps she wouldn't have been so hard on the little guy.

YAY, an update!

Now I have a question for all of you readers: Does anyone know when Annabeth's birthday is? It's important for later on in the story. I've been trying find it, but I can't. Anyway, if you know, or think you know, please let me know in your reviews.

HP fact: In the visitor's entrance to the Ministry of Magic in London, visitors must dial the number 62442. On a phone, this would spell "magic".

Random fact: Helium is the only known element that does not solidify.

BONUS PJO fact: What do Annabeth and Clarisse's names have in common? They both are anagrams for their parents' names with a few extra letters added to it. "Ares" and "Athena".