WTF Annabeth
Chapter 9

Hermione

I sat with Annabeth and thought she began to calm down, but she refused to be left alone. Eventually I just crawled in bed beside her when we were both too exhausted. I knew that on the boy's side Percy and Harry were having a sworn to secrecy sit down with Ronald learning about the children of the gods, at least as much as I had been told.

Annabeth woke up screaming an hour or two after we went to sleep and I fetched Percy to calm her down. The prefects were having the dickens of a time with all this running back and forth between the dorms, and that our dorms were so much nicer than theirs, and finally Percy was allowed to stay in the first year girls common room, sleeping on a couch, with Annabeth on a different couch, and one of the girl prefect's on a couch near by. It was roomier and more comfortable than the Hogwarts beds so she didn't mind.

In the morning we were all exhausted, and Annabeth was still visibly shaken. Classes that day were a drag, beginning with Potions, and in the early afternoon more broom practice. Even our training session was sluggish, given that all Annabeth taught us was how to sit in a corner and be weepy. Don't get me wrong, I perfectly understand that an army of giant spiders a few hundred yards away dedicated to your death would be disturbing, and being shocked like she was would take time to get over. Still it was depressing to be around, but that's what friends are for.

My life was beginning to get complicated. Clearly Harry had strong feelings for me. We were always near each other and whenever I looked at him he would smile back, but Ronald and I just sort of clicked. He was always helpful and filling in the gaps in my knowledge of wizarding ways, and when we fought Draco, Crabbe and Goyle it was like he was reading my mind. I didn't want to hurt either of my suitors, and it wasn't my fault they both wanted to be my boyfriend, so I did the best I could. When only one was around I focused my attention on that one. When both were I tried to ignore them. We all got along well so it had not been a huge problem yet. Then the Halloween Feast was announced and my life got complicated.

To hear the upper classmen talk it was one of the few events of the year where one was expected to attend with a date. I knew both would ask me, probably Harry first because he was a bit more outgoing, but I didn't want to hurt either. I decided that who ever asked me first would be my date. Ronald would just have to understand that Harry had asked first.

Hagrid invited us to his cabin after training and we all went, Annabeth included. She felt she had to face her demons, even though we would not be going into the forest. We sat and talked for an hour or so about the events in the forest, but Annabeth just sat close to Percy, his arm around her, and stared. She seemed so vulnerable and scared, and it was clear Percy had deep feelings for her and wanted to protect her and make her feel safe.

Hagrid apologized profusely saying had he know the acromantulas would take such an interest in her he would have never taken her into the woods.

"The spiders? Yeah, they hate me and my siblings. Always have." She finally uttered.

"Why is that?" Hagrid asked.

"Can't say." She replied. "Hagrid, can I ask you something?"

"Anything Miss Annabeth, I'm just sorry that happen..."

"What is the three headed dog on the third floor guarding?"

"How do you know about Fluffy?"

"Fluffy? Its name is Fluffy?" Harry asked.

"Why sure, gotta have a name don' it? But, how do you know about Fluffy?"

"Last night when I was running away, I took a wrong turn on the stairs, I mean, they moved and... anyway I ended running down the hall and... what is he guarding?"

"Thats where I picked her up" Harry added.

"What makes you think Fluffy is guarding anything?" Hagrid asked.

"He was on a trap door"

"Well you jes forget about that. You shouldn't have been there, that is for Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flammel to worry about."

"Who is Nicholas Flammel?" I asked, and I confess the name already seemed familiar.

"I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that... You just forget about that." Hagrid replied.

I think that was the point that our quest began. What had been a small curiosity before became an over riding obsession over the next few weeks. It was clear Hagrid was hiding something and he, despite being the sweetest person I know, does not have a good poker face.

Over the weekend Annabeth, while not back normal, was able to function. We spent the weekend catching up on our studies and generally just being with our gang. First year Gryffindor was getting close as a group, and McGonagall demanded a training session Sunday afternoon. After losing at fencing to Percy, Annabeth was filled with rage and was back to normal. She beat him, barely, in hand to hand and with swords, but that would be the last time either would happen as near as I can recall.

As we were walking back to the tower Ron stopped me, asked for a word, and then asked me to attend the feast with him. I told him I had to think about it. I knew Harry was going to ask me at any time and I couldn't hurt his feelings, so I told Ron that I might not go and that if I did we could certainly hang out.

I just could not understand what was taking Harry so long to ask me. It made no sense at all.