WTF Annabeth
Chapter 5

Percy

"Ewwagahhhh! What the fuck Annabeth?" I asked, well nearly yelled as she startled me.

Let me go back a bit. We had a good time getting to know our class and house mates the night before, and a few minutes before we had to be out of each others dorms, Harry and I went to the girls side to help them set up their tents. It was easy enough to just pull the string, but if you wanted it flush with the door, and have the Hogwarts furniture tucked out of the way, then you had to set it up just right, and we knew the tricks from having screwed up ours earlier. First the girls had to get their personal items but none of them had unpacked so they just had to drag their trunks into the hall.

Once we were set up, the girls moved in and all had their own rooms and were quite happy about it. Of course Annabeth pointed out that without Harry's spare tent we wouldn't have been able to give the girls the same quarters as we had, so he got hugs from all, and a kiss on the cheek from Hermione. Bull! It was my extra tent! And then Annabeth had all the guys, Ron, Neville, Harry, Seamus and Dean, help the girls carry their trunks to their new rooms. At least I got to sit that part out, of course the price for doing so was Annabeth claiming it as hugs and snuggles time. My fellow Gryffindors all giggled at this, and most were happy to prove their masculinity to the girls, while the girls all wanted Rue to be the one that helped them.

Thing is, I already had the hottest girl in school as my girlfriend, and I didn't really want a girlfriend. I did not know what to make of the fates, but I knew their words were often veiled in hidden meanings, so it could just mean that we die together on the next quest. But as Ron was quick to point out, there really wasn't a down side, other than the occasional annoyance, to having a hot girlfriend. Especially if she was the hottest girl in any grade at school. Speaking of occasional annoyances...

"Ewwagahhhh! What the fuck Annabeth?" I asked, well nearly yelled, as she startled me. I had fallen asleep easily enough, but in the night, Annabeth had used her hat to sneak from her side of the dorm to ours, then, having learned which room was mine during their visit, slipped into bed beside me in just her pj's and woke me with a kiss.

"Wake up Seaweed Brain!" She whispered.

"Annabeth, you're not supposed to be here!"

"Yes I am, its fated. You know that, you were there!"

"Uh, I was trying to stay out of jail when all that happened, look I'm okay with the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing, but we should obey the rules here. We are supposed to protect Harry apparently and we can't do that if we're kicked out."

"I'm not staying, I just wanted to snuggle a bit with the best boy... wait, you're okay with it now?" She asked as she almost smothered me with kisses.

"Wait! Stop! Yes, I'm okay with it, but, but, you need to slow down. You're under the effects of Aphrodite, I'm not. I don't want to see anyone else, and I really like hanging out with you, again, I'm not mad about you setting me up to get killed by Ares cabin anymore, but please, go back to your room. Lets get some rest, tomorrow is a big day."

"I love you Percy."

"Uh, I really like you a lot Annabeth, but you have to give me some time and space. Its too much too soon."

"You know you sound like a girl, right?"

"Whatever. Now scram!"

"Just let me do this" she said as she pressed her self against me and rested her head on my shoulder. It sounded like she was purring for a second, but then after a minute or so she asked "You like me a lot?"

"Yes."

"I'll take that, for now!" And then she kissed me again, hopped out of bed, slipped the hat on, and disappeared back to her room.

Did I say I fell asleep easily? Well, not so much after that.

The next morning all the first year Gryffindors were in the house common room at seven as required and when Harry and I walked in Annabeth came to my side to join me. Hermione came with her and stood with Harry, who didn't know what to make of this development. It was pretty clear the other first year girls were irked that Hermione had apparently an in road with Harry, but that would all change in the coming weeks. Harry made it clear that he wanted to be chill with all the girls like the player he was. Or would be. Whatever.

Breakfast was good and as promised there was a sacrificial brazier set up, which Harry, Annabeth and I availed ourselves of, to the stares of the rest of our house and the other houses that were there. This reminded me that we had not told Harry that McGonnagal was going to show us a room to practice in later in the morning, and this got both the first year guys and girls interested in training.

Annabeth agreed to train everyone, which was good as she was better than me, unless I was in or near water. I would learn a lot from her too, and for the rest of the year she became my regular sparring partner. By Christmas break we were pretty much even, and candidly, better than most at Camp Half Blood. Harry was doing really well, and he taught archery, both to our fellow students and us. But that morning we started regular classes.

First up was transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, who although she was head of Gryffindor, cut us no slack and actually seemed to expect more of us. Fortunately we had read her material and even tried some spells, unsuccessfully, the week before so we were ahead of most of the students who had not even glanced at their books after picking them up. She lectured briefly, then gave us a reading assignment, and homework to read more, then turned her desk into a sow and then back into a desk as a demonstration. That was pretty cool.

She gave us all a match and for the rest of the class had us attempt to convert it into a needle. Well, everyone else anyway. As soon as everyone started she sat with Harry, Annabeth and myself and asked us all about what Hecate was like.

As we talked and tried to do the assignment, she gave us tips and corrected our somatic and verbal incantations and within minutes we all had needles fit for sewing. She bragged on us to the class, which everyone else hated, and, well we hated it too, and gave us each a House Point.

The closest anyone else got was Hermione, who successfully turned her match silver. That was better, far better, than anyone else, so McGonagall gave her a point too. Once we were dismissed we went to our Defense against the Dark Arts class, then history of magic and McGonagall said she would pick us up after that and before the lunch break to go to the room we could use for training.

Defense class seemed like a waste of time. The professor, Quirrell, seemed like a germaphobe and the whole room smelled of garlic. He wore a turban and rumor had it that it was stuffed full of garlic too as he was apparently dreadfully afraid of vampires. Can't say I blame him. Anyway, it was more about identifying the traits of dark practitioners than anything, all the text had a few defensive and blocking spells we could incorporate into our fighting style.

History of magic was taught by a ghost, and this was a bit disconcerting. Annabeth had already started to attack several of the many ghosts that roamed the castle, including our house ghost, Nearly Headless Nick. Only a quick intervention by Ron and Hermione kept him from being swept into the underworld by her celestial bronze dagger.

History of Magic was also practically useless, and insofar as we could tell, the importance of Hecate in godly affairs so overrated it could only be described as wildly inaccurate. The professor tried to tell us that Hecate had a seat in the Olympia Throne Room in her role as advisor to Zeus, but Annabeth and I had actually been to the throne room and tried to explain that wasn't true, but no one wanted to hear it, and we couldn't support our position without exposing to more students who we actually were. After a while we just let it slide and decided to study for exams by just imagining everything we knew to be true about Olympus as being wrong.

We had just a few minutes before lunch, but Professor McGonagall met us as we left class and hurried the three of us up and down several flights of stairs and down a few halls to a large blank wall. We had not been in this part of the castle as yet, but the path was ultimately fairly simple to follow, and wasn't far from Gryffindor Tower.

"The secret to accessing the Room of Requirement is being specific in what you ask for. For instance" she said as she turned to the wall, "We need a room with lunch prepared and ready for practice and training in archery, fencing and swords."

In the next few moments a large door appeared on the wall and we opened it to find a huge room, with practice swords, fencing gear and moving targets for archer like at camp. Also, a table for four was set with food and drink, and a brazier was available for our sacrifice.

"Oh dear. I'm not sure why they are moving." She exclaimed.

"No, no, that's perfect. You want moving targets, things don't sit still when you shoot at them." Harry explained.

"Well, why don't we eat, then try it out some before your next class?" McGonagall smiled. "So tell me, how are your classes so far?" She asked as she sat at the table.

We ate and talked about classes, and thanked her both for her help in transfiguration and in showing us the room of requirement. She explained in more detail how it worked, and also that the moving targets were there because it takes in the desires of all present when used, at least for the unspoken details. For the rest of the meal we discussed Athena, Mr D, and Hecate. She seemed amazed that we had actually met them.

"Why fencing?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh when I was a girl at Hogwarts fencing was all the rage. Its fallen into, well, its not popular anymore. I haven't had anyone to have a match with in decades, but since you are trained in swords I thought I might find one with you. That, and Professor Dumbledore asked me to keep an eye on you lest you accidentally kill each other." She smiled.

"I've never used an epee, but would love to try" Annabeth replied, and we all agreed.

We ate fast and were soon fencing with the Professor. I went first and she kicked my butt. It was a totally different style of sword play than what I had been taught, but Harry and Annabeth held their own, although they too lost. The Professor was very complimentary though and offered to teach us, an offer we readily accepted. We told her we had agreed to train the other Gryffindor first years so they would be joining us, and McGonagall was ecstatic about this. Apparently she had been wanting to return to the world of fencing for some time, and our martial training was the perfect excuse. She also wanted Gryffindor to return to its former state of brave, kick ass greatness. Even though it was competitive in all areas with the other houses, it was clear she wanted dominance and expected perfection. Being just as good as the other houses was simply no longer acceptable. We had found our new Chiron.

We demonstrated sword work and Greek combat to her, and this time I splashed some water on my face and defeated everyone. Easily. Including McGonagall.

Harry showed the professor his bow skills, and after nailing about ten moving targets in a row, some while running around the room and on the move himself, she asked to be taught archery "by the master" as she called him,

"When Rue... Harry first took to the bow, we all assumed he was a child of Apollo" Annabeth said, and it was obvious why.

Our time was short however and just as Harry got done recovering his arrows and stowing them in their quiver and then into his bag, Annabeth and I began to clean the table up.

"Oh, don't worry about that. When we leave the room will reset itself. By the way, you know the rules forbid you carrying arms on campus don't you?"

We froze.

"Uh yes, but it was our understa"

"Oh, I'm not concerned. I know it comes with your duties to uh... defending and such. But do ensure that none of the other students learn of it unless you are in here training. The headmaster told me you train with actual weapons at your camp.?

"Well we start with wooden swords like these, but usually we have spathas with dull edges and points so we get used to the heft. Finally, once you are competent with those, you use edged weapons."

"Goodness what if someone gets hurt or..."

"Oh people get hurt all the time, but the children of Apollo are wonderful healers. Occasionally someone dies, every few years or so, but its considered an honorable death." Harry explained.

McGonagall was aghast at this to say the least and questioned us all about it until we got to our only afternoon class that day, Herbology. We told her we might go back to start training with our class mates if they felt like it and she agreed to meet us there. She was actually pretty chill outside of class.

Herbology was pretty relaxing. Professor Sprout did a brief lecture on its importance to both healing and potions, and all the other things that could be done with magical plants. She talked briefly about encountering wood elves and dryads in areas where magical plants could be, and though we couldn't confirm wood elves, dryads were pretty common around Half Blood. Finally we got to play with the dirt in the green houses as she demonstrated the various loams necessary to grow different herbologically important plants. Neville and Annabeth were both really into this and asked a ton of questions, which Sprout was happy to answer. Later, when the homework really piled up, Annabeth, Harry and I began just misting one of the dryads at camp for help with it. Along with Neville we became star students in there too, at least insofar as testing was concerned.

After class we all raced back to the room of requirement to find McGonagall waiting for us. She was elated at the turn out and was happy to help train all. We demonstrated fencing, this time I drank a bunch of water and splashed some on my face and more than acquitted my earlier performance, Harry did his arrow thing to the oohs and ahhs of all the girls, and some of the guys, Then Annabeth and I demonstrated swords, specifically spathas. We also did some hand to hand stuff, which we walked the students through with each other. The room had provided mats for falls which was nice. At Half Blood we used the ground. Mats are much softer.

Our fellow students readily accepted our offer to train them, but mostly they wanted to learn archery and fencing. Fencing so they could suck up to McGonagall, and archery so they could hang with Harry. We debated about how much of our weekly time to commit to it, most of the students wanted to use the full three hours, three times a week, and the Professor thought this was too much time spend on hobbies not related to class room work. In the end we settled on two hours a day, three days a week, divided by hand to hand, fencing and archery. We would add swords later, but the three of us would work an hour or so each day, and as our fellow students watched, they became more and more interested in learning how to fight with a real blade.

We dismissed the students and after they left McGonagall asked for a word with us. We were tired and sweaty, and Annabeth and I had a few new bruises from our combat session. It was the best we had felt since before the quest!

When it was just Harry, Annabeth and I, she began.

"Students, thank you. I suppose you might be wondering why I am so enthused about this group and its martial training. As you know, the world of magic is divided as to whether the one who gave Harry his scar is dead, or just in hiding, weakened and planning his return."

"He is alive, both Ares and Hecate told us that." Harry said.

"Correct, but there was but you three there to witness that revelation. In any event, we must begin to prepare for his return. In the last war he had a large number of dark magicians at his side. He will again. It may take years for him to regain his strength, both personally and in the number he leads, but he will. Already there are stirrings and rumors of his return. We must prepare. Sadly the Ministry does not wish for us to."

"Why not?" I asked.

"The Ministry believes that talk of Voldemort's return is an effort to weaken the current government and preparing our students to fight will only spread that effort. This is why the curriculum in Defense against the Dark Arts is so lacking. But while the Ministry has some control over the studies in class here, it has no control over what we do in our spare time. We, the Headmaster and myself, would like to include magical defensive arts training in your group. That is why I asked to limit the time spent to two hours, as we wish to use the third for this purpose. The students in what we will call this club, oh and we need a name, are not connected by a parent to the Ministry, except for Mr Weasley and his family is quite loyal to the Headmaster. It is important that we learn, in addition to the excellent combat skills you have demonstrated, how to defend and attack, with magic. We are a school of magic after all" She said with a sly grin.

"That... would be awesome!" we shouted.

"Talk to your fellow Gryffindor first years tonight about this, and make sure they know the club is not to be discussed. Oh, and the name should be something that would discourage anyone else from wishing to join until we decide to add them."

"We will, "Annabeth replied, "And we will get to work on that name too!"

And that is how S.P.E.W. was born. To everyone else it was the Society for the Promotion of Elven Welfare, but to those that knew, it was the Special Paramilitary Education Workshop.