WTF Annabeth

Chapter 24

(Why yes! I did just notice I had been spelling Silena's name wrong since she first appeared... Too lazy to go back and fix but will have it right moving forward. I hope. Comments welcome)

Harry

"Harry, you know our policy on weapons in the school"

"Yes sir" I answered, confused now as to why Dumbledore wanted to meet with Silena and myself.

"And I know you, Miss Chase, Mr Jackson and of course Miss Beauregard regularly carry weapons and use them with great skill when necessary. These are of course exempted by myself and, candidly, by the gods from that rule."

"Yes sir, and I appreciate that, obviously we needed them in the forest and for the troll."

"Of course. However, Silena's mother, if you recall from our shared dream, has ordered that the group being trained in the room of requirement be supplied what she called 'proper' epees. And that is a problem. Candidly, they do not have the skills that you four do, and I fear they are not ready to wield them safely or effectively. War is coming, but it is not here yet after all, and I believe they will have time to train with yourselves and Professor McGonagall. What is your opinion on this?"

"Well sir, they are getting better all the time, but for now we have told them to stick to their wands. They are better served by them. The skills we teach will transfer over to wand combat, strategy is strategy and tactics are tactics, but no, they aren't first team with a blade yet. Really only Annabeth and Percy are, but I do okay. Oh, and Silena. She's pretty awesome with a dagger." I smiled at her and she grinned back.

"I thank you for that assessment, and it is echoed by Professor McGonagall. So, I have decided, with I hope you and Miss Beauregard's blessing on behalf of her mother, to allow these epee's only when the students are throughly trained on the dull ones. Is that something you would accept?"

"Oh absolutely sir!" I know mother wouldn't want kids stabbing each other! No, I am sure she would want you or Professor McGonagall to hang onto them until the students know what they are doing!" Silena exclaimed. I merely nodded my agreement. In truth if the training at Camp Half Blood is any indication I'm pretty sure the gods are perfectly okay with children stabbing each other.

"Thank you. A very mature position to take and I appreciate it. So you do not think your mother would be offended?"

"No, she.. well in the dream she said she wanted them to have proper epees. For now the training ones are the proper ones. When they are ready we will issue the real ones, but not before. This isn't Camp Half Blood, there isn't an infirmary with Apollo's children hanging around." Silena continued.

"Good. That is settled then. However Harry, you and Miss Beauregard have a different situation involving rapiers. You recall that Aphrodite ordered Lord Chiron to send two blades forged by the Chief Magician to the Sun King?"

"Yes, Louis the Fourteenth."

"How did you know that?" Silena asked.

"What? I read." I grinned.

"Yes, well those are a gift to you and Miss Beauregard. I cannot in conscience keep from you that which is a gift from Aphrodite. So they are you and Miss Beauregard's to carry as you wish, but I ask that you conceal them as with your other weapons."

"Of course sir."

"Rue, there is one other thing. They are magical. Chiron didn't know exactly how or what they do, it has been three hundred years since he received them after all, and Professor Dumbledore is going to try to help us figure that out, mother just says we will discover it when needed, but"

"Yes. Spectacular. I remember." I grinned, Dumbledore looked confused, Silena blushed and then gave me a stern look.

"This is serious. I know you don't have ADHD like the rest of us so stay focused and don't act like an eleven year old" She snapped in irritation.

"I am an eleven year old" I grinned, but she didn't think it was funny.

Percy and Annabeth would be in stitches at this point if they were here. Silena was just getting mad, and angry Silena is kind of scary, so I backed it up.

"Sorry, I guess I'm just giddy that you are back."

"Me too" she smiled. "bu... As I was saying. In order to use them to their fullest extent, that is, to access the power they have, they must be used by a member of the court."

"Like a lawyer or judge?"

"No, like a knight, or lady in waiting, or prince, or princess. King or queen. That type of court. It was part of the magic put on them when they were forged in case they fell into the hands of revolutionaries.."

"Oh." I replied. My immediate thought was that sucked, but they were probably still pretty cool even without the magic.

"The thing is Rue, that works fine for me. As the chosen representative of my mother to the world, or at least the world of demigods and heros, I am basically a princess in her court. At least that is what I learned in a dream last night." As she said this she took from Dumbledore's desktop the most amazing sword. It's blade was of several metals intertwined and forged together, the hilt looked to be of cabled bands of gold, the grip black and silver and the pommel of the same metal as the blade. It was an amazing sword just to look at, and the edge nearly lit up the room with its brightness.

"Oh cool, so it will work for yo..." I didn't get to finish as she interrupted.

"Kneel."

"What?"

"Kneel Rue. The Professor is to bear witness. Kneel."

Now I confess I had no idea what in the blue whooping fuck she was on about, but she had an long metal razor in her hand and a serious look on her face. What's more, the last time she said 'kneel' I basically felt compelled like I could not resist. I got down on one knee.

"Harry Potter, nee Rubeus McGonagall, on your oath do you swear to be without fear in the face of your enemies, to be brave and upright, speak the truth, represent the values of my mother to the world, protect the afflicted, and helpless and lift up those that are down trodden and broken hearted, fight for the innocent, defend the good, protect the children and help them grow, and give love, fidelity and charity to the world when none is to be found?"

"Uh,,, yes?"

"That is your oath."

Then she back handed the hell out of me. Damn she slaps hard!

"And that is so you will remember it."

"You were born to the world of magicians. Orphaned by an act of profound evil and raised as one of our family. You have learned our ways and have not been found to be wanting in your loyalty to my world or yours. Arise now a knight of Aphrodite and blessed by the same" She concluded as she tapped each shoulder with the tip of the sword.

As I stood I felt really good, like I was full of energy. It was as though all my problems were gone and I had a purpose, one I didn't as yet understand, but still, I felt blessed by the goddess of love. No way that would ever feel bad.

"Miss Beauregard, I don't recall the slap being part of the instructions we were given." Dumbledore smiled.

"I know, but it seemed right. I saw it in a movie, and now" she said as she kissed me on the cheek, "I get to kiss it and make it all better. Rue, this one is yours."

Silena presented me a blade as beautiful as the one she had, holding it out across her two hands and bowing a bit as she did. It felt completely natural and balanced in my hand. I loved this sword. I loved Silena.

"Uh... thanks?"

"Thank mom, that was all at her instruction. I think she really likes you! Oh except the slap. I saw that in"

"In a movie. Right. Well it was memorable." My cheek still stung.

Lemur, who had been standing in the room off to the side, whinnied something and Dumbledore said "Now Harry, you should return to class. Miss Beauregard and myself are going to walk Lemur back to his herd. However, am I to understand he will be returning to us?"

"Yes, I'm going to keep him at Half Blood at least another week. He is stronger but still healing. Also my brothers and sisters kind of love him. Oh and he loves sleeping in Rue's bed. I hope you don't mind Rue." Silena smiled.

"Does he poke holes in the pillows?"

"Yes, and the mattress. And the sheets and comforter and blankets. He is a restless sleeper."

"I have a repair spell for that." I smiled.

"Oh, that's good, I was sort of worried about telling you."

I could only smile.