Minerva read the title.
Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks of Death
"Wow,those must have been some ugly socks,"George said
Everyone laughed except the demigods,who stared at a pale and shaking Remus.
I was used to the occasional weird experience,but usually they were over twenty four/seven hallucination was more than i could the rest of the school year,the entire campus seemed to be playing some kind of trick on students acted as if they were completely and totally convinced that Mrs. Kerr-a perky,blond woman whom I've never seen in my life until she got on our bus at the end of field trip-had been out algebra teacher since so often I would spring a Mrs. Dodds reference on somebody,just to see if I could trip them up,but they would stare at me like I was psycho.
"That poor boy,"Molly said
It got so I almost believed them-Mrs. Dodds had never existed.
'Grover'the demigods thought.
Almost.
But Grover couldn't fool I mention the name Dodds to him,he would hesitate,then claim she didn't I knew he was lying.
"Grover,just take classes from eleven!"
At this,people turned to look a blushing Madame Pomfrey at the heads table.
"Continue,Minerva,"Severus said smirking.
Something was going had happened at the museum.I didn't have much time to think about it during the days,but at night, visions of Mrs. Dodds with talons and leathery wings would wake me up in a cold sweat.
The first and second years knew they would have nightmares later.
The freak weather continued,which didn't help my mood,one night,a thunder storm blew out the windows in my dorm room.A few days later,the biggest tornado ever spotted in the Hudson Valley touched down only fifty miles from Yancy of the current events we studied in Social Studies class was the unusual number of small planes that had gone down in sudden squalls in the Atlantic that year.
"Grandfather,way to act mature there,"Sybil muttered under her breath
"Tell me about it,all the paperwork,"Severus grumbled lowly
Thunder boomed overhead,startling everyone.
I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the grades slipped from Ds to Fs.I got into more fights with Nancy Bobofit and her friends.I was sent out into the hall in almost every ,when out English teacher,Mr. Nicoll,asked me for the millionth time why I was too lazy to study for the spelling test,I snapped.I called him an old sot.I wasn't sure what it meant,but it sounded good.
"It means old drunkard,"Remus explained
Everyone laughed.
"So,like our cousin?"Dean asked with a smirk
Remus nodded making the demigods laugh harder and thunder to sound like someone was grumbling.
The headmaster sent my mom a letter the following week,making it official:I would not be invited back next year to Yancy Academy.
Fine,I told fine.
I was homesick.
I wanted to be with my mom in our little apartment on the Upper East Side even if I had to go to public school and put up with my obnoxious stepfather and his stupid poker parties.
Remus growled,remembering what Percy told him.
And yet...there were things I'd miss about Yancy. The view of the woods out my dorm window,the Hudson River in the distance,the smell of pine trees.I'd miss Grover,who'd been a good friend,even if he was a little strange.I worried how he'd survive without me next year.
The females in the hall cooed at his thoughtfulness toward his friend.
I'd miss Latin class too-Mr Brunner's crazy tournament days and his faith that I could do exam week got closer,Latin was the only test I studied for.I hadn't forgotten what Mr. Brunner had told me about this subject being life-and-death for me.I wasn't sure why,but I started to believe him.
'Good,'the demigods thought 'it is'
The evening before my final,I got so frustrated I threw the Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology across my dorm.
Remus and his siblings squeaked.
The words had started swimming off the page,circling my head,the letters doing one-eighties as if they were riding skateboards.
"That's what I go through every time I read,"Remus sighed uphappily
"Then why did they allow you to teach here?"Lucius sneered causing people to jump forgetting he was there.
"I can still read,it just takes longer,"Remus shot back matching his sneer.
There was no way I was going to remember the difference between Chiron and Charon,or Polydictes and Polydeuces. And conjugating those Latin verbs?Forget it.I paced the room,feeling like ants were crawling around inside my shirt.
The twins grinned at the new prank idea.
I remember Mr. Brunner's serious expression,his thousand-year-old eyes.I will accept only the best from you,Percy Jackson.
I took a deep breath.I picked up the mythology book.I'd never asked a teacher for help if I talked to Mr Brunner,he could give me some least I could apologize for the big,fat F I was about to score on his exam.I didn't want to leave Yancy Academy with him thinking I hadn't tried.I walked downstairs to the faculty offices. Most of them were dark and empty,but Mr Brunner's door was ajar,light from his window stretching across the hallway floor. I was three steps from the door handle when I heard the voices inside the office,Mr Brunner asked a question,a voice that was definitly Grover's said "...worried about Percy,sir."
"Why is he talking about him to Mr Brunner?"someone asked
"It's kind of suspicious,"Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione.
I froze.I'm not usually an eavesdropper,but I dare you to try listening if you heat your best friend talking about you with an adult.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
I inched closer.
Moody nodded,he would make a great Aurour.
"...alone this summer,"Grover was saying.
"I mean a Kindly One in the school!Now that we know for sure,and they know too-"
"We would only make things worse by rushing him,"Mr Brunner said."We need the boy to mature more."
"He will never mature,"Severus said fondly.
The Golden Trio heard him.
"But he doesn't have summer solstice deadline-"
"Will have to be resolved without him him enjoy his ignorance while he still can."
"It's lucky he didn't or I would have never got to meet him,"Remus whispered moving away from Tonks,having finally removed himself from her.
"Sir,he saw her..."
"His imagination,"Mr Brunner insisted."The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that."
"Sir,I...I can't fail in my duties again."Grover's voice was choked with emotion.
"You know what that would mean."
"What did he fail,"Arthur wondered
"You haven't failed,Grover,"Mr Brunner said kindly."I should have seen her for what she was,now let's just worry about keeping Percy alive until next fall-"
The mythology book dropped out of my hand and hit the floor with a thud.
"NO,don't give away your position Percy!"Dean whimpered
Mr. Brunner went silent.
My heart hammering,I picked up the book and backed down the hall.
The demigods shook their heads at Dean and Zacharius' nods of aproval.
A shadow slid across the lighted glass of Brunner's office door,the shadow of something much taller than my wheelchair bound teacher,holding something suspiciously like an archer's bow.
"Did he have to take out the bow?"Poppy said exasperated.
"Are you okay,Poppy?"Madam Hooch asked
Poppy nodded,blushing.
i opened the nearest door and slipped inside.A few seconds later I heard the slow clop-clop-clop,like muffled wood blocks then a sound like an animal snuffling right outside my door.A large,dark shape paused in front of the glass,then moved on.A bead of sweat trickled down my in the hallway,Mr. Brunner spoke.
"Nothing,"he murmured,"My nerves haven't been the same since the winter solstice."
"Mine neither,"Grover said,"but I could have sworn..."
"Go back to the dorm,"Mr Brunner told him."You've got a long day of exams tomorrow."
"Don't remind me."
The lights went out in Mr. Brunner's office.
I waited in the dark for what seemed like forever.
"Good. Wait until you know the coast is clear,"Zacharius said
Dean nodded. Over head thunder rumbled like it agreed. Dean and his Zacharius grinned,
'thanks dad,'they thought.
Finally,I slipped out into the hallway and made my way back up to Grover's dorm. Grover was lying on his bed, studying his Latin exams like he had been there all night.
"Hey,"he said bleary-eyed,"You going to be ready for this test?"
I didn't answer.
"You look awful,"he frowned,"Is everything ok?"
"Just...tired."
I turned so he couldn't read my expression,and went back downstairs to get ready for bed.
"Can't hide you emotions though,"Luna said in her usual dreamy voice.
Remus smiled fondly at his sister.
I didn't understand what I'd heard downstairs.I wanted to believe that I'd imagined the whole thing.
"He must be so confused,"Molly said before glaring at a chuckling Remus.
"He's always confused,"He said earning snickers from his family,happy he was back to normal.
But one thing was clear: Grover and Mr. Brunner were talking about me behind my back. They thought I was in some kind of danger.
"Welcome to my world,"Harry said
"His world is a little more dangerous than yours potter." Severus sneered
Harry glared at his potions proffesor.
The next afternoon,as I was leaving the three hour Latin exam. My eyes swimming with all the Greek and Roman names I'd misspelled,Mr. Brunner called me back a moment, I was worried he'd found out about my eavesdropping the night before,but that didn't seem to be the problem.
"Percy,"he said"don't be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It's for the best."
"He sucks at pep talks,"Hannah groaned.
His tone was kind,but the words still embarrassed me. Even though he was talking quietly,the other kids finishing the test could hear,Nancy Bobofit smirked at me and made sarcastic little kissing motions with her lips.
I mumbled,"Okay,sir"
"I mean..."Mr Brunner wheeled his chair back and forth,like he wasn't sure what to say.
"This isn't the right place for was only a matter of time."
"He's gonna take it the wrong way."Remus mummered
My eyes stung.
Here was my favorite teacher, in front of the class,telling me I couldn't handle saying he believed in me all year,now he's telling me I was destined to get kicked out.
"He took it the wrong way,"Severus sighed
"Right,"I said,trembeling
"No,no,"Mr Brunner said."Oh,confound it I'm trying to say...your not normal, 's nothing to be-"
"Just made it worse,"Poppy sighed leaning back in her chair
"Thanks,"I blurted. "Thanks alot,sir,for reminding me"
"Percy-"
But I was already gone.
On the last day of term,I shoved my clothes into my suitcase.
The other boys were joking around talking about their vacation of them was going on a hiking trip in was cruising the Carribbean for a were juvenile delinquints,like me,but they were rich juvenile daddies were executives,or ambassadors,or celebrities.
Everyone glanced at the Slytherins.
I was a nobody,from a family of nobodies.
"The poor boy. He shouldn't feel that way,"Molly cooed in sympathy
The demigods agreed silently while thunder boomed overhead.
They asked me what I was doing this summer and I told them I was going back to the I didn't tell them was I'd have to get a summer job walking dogs or selling magazine subscriptions and spend my free time worrying where I'd go to school next fall.
The demigods sighed,knowing what that was like.
"Oh,"one of the girls said."That's cool."
They went back to their conversation as if I'd never existed.
"They were rude,"Katie Bell said
The only person I dreaded saying goodbye to was Grover,but as it turned out,I'd didn't have 'd booked a ticket to Manhattan on the same Greyhound as I had,so there we were,together again,heading into the city.
"That's kind of creepy,"A Hufflepuff girl said
During the whole bus ride,Grover kept glancing nervously down the asile,watching the other occurred to me that he always acted nervous and fidgety when we left Yancy, as if he expected something bad to I'd always assumed he was worried about getting teased,but there was nobody to tease him on the Greyhound.
Finally,I couldn't stand it anymore.
I said,"Looking for Kindly Ones?"
"That scared him,"Dean said, laughing
Grover nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Wha-What do you mean?"
I confessed about eavesdropping on him and Mr. Brunner the night before the exam.
"No, don't admit to a crime."the twins moaned
Grover's eye twitched,"How much did you hear?"
"Oh...not 's the summer solstice deadline?"
He winced."Look,Percy...I was just worried for you,see?I mean,hallucinating about demon math teachers..."
"Grover"
"And I was telling Mr. Brunner that maybe you were overstressed or something because there was no such person as Mrs. Dodds,and..."
"Grover,you're a really,really bad liar,"
His ears turned pink.
"We're giving him lying lessons even if we're threatened,"Zacharius said
Molly made a choking sound at the satement.
From his shirt pocket,he fished out a grubby business card."Just take this,okay?In case you need me this summer."
The card was in fancy script,
The Greeks groaned in annoyance.
"I hate those cards,"Hannah shouted
The Romans chuckled at the cousins distain while the wizards frowned in confusion.
Grover Underwood
Keeper
Half-Blood Hill
Long Island,New York
(800) 009-0009
The Greeks smiled at the mention or their home.
"We have a landline"Dean said with a glint in his eyes
"Why would you name a hill that?"Hermione said wonder why she never heard of it
"What's Half-"
"Don't say it out loud."He yelped"That's my um...summer address."
My heart had a summer home I'd never considered that his family might be as rich as the others in Yancy.
"Okay,"I said glumly,"so,like,if I want to come visit your mansion."
He nodded. "Or...or you need me."
"Why would I need you?"
"That's harsh," Ginny said with a frown.
It came out harsher than I meant it to.
Grover blushed right down to his Adam's apple."Look,Percy,the truth is,I kind of have to protect you."
I stared at him.
All year long,I'd gotten in fights,keeping bullies away from him.I'd lost sleep worrying that he'd get beaten up next year without here he was acting like he was the one who defended me.
"Grover,"I said,"what are you protecting me from?"
"Things we wish didn't exist,"Remus sighed moving away from Tonks again.
His family agreed with him.
There was huge grinding noise under our feet,black smoke poured from the dashboard and the whole bus filled with a smell like rotten driver cursed and limped the Greyhound over to the side of the a few minutes clanking around in the engine compartment,the driver announced that we'd all have to get and I filled outside with everyone else.
Remus started to feel uneasy.
We were on a stretch of country road,no place you'd notice if you didn't break down our side of the highway was nothing but maple trees and litter from passing cars.
Hannah growled at this.
On the other side,across four lanes of asphalt shimmering with afternoon heat,was an old-fashioned fruit stand.
Remus was getting worried.
The stuff on sale looked really good:heaping boxes of blood red cherries and apples,walnuts and apricots,jugs of cider in a claw foot tub full of were no customers,just three old ladies sitting in rocking chairs in the shade of a maple tree,knitting the biggest pair of socks I'd ever seen.
The demigods paled and Remus looked close to being sick.
I mean those socks were the size of sweaters,but they were clearly lady on the right knitted one of lady on the left knitted the lady in the middle held an enormous basket of electric-blue yarn.
All three women looked ancient,with pale faces wrinkled like fruit leather,silver hair tied back in white bandannas,bony arms sticking out of bleached cotton dresses.
The demigods noticed Remus looking sick and kept an eye on him.
The weirdest thing was,they seemed to be looking right at me.
A soft 'thud' and a small bark drew everyone's attention to Remus,who passed ,the dog,Poppy and Luna ran over.
"What happened?"Tonks asked worriedly.
"He fainted from anxiety,"Poppy said,now trying to wake him up while Luna held his hand.
"This must be so hard for him,"she said softly
Poppy nodded finally getting Remus up.
"What happened,"Remus muttered looking at all the worried faces
"You passed out,love,"Tonks said
Remus grimaced at the the help of Luna and Poppy,he got up and took his seat and Tonks now sitting by him.
I looked at Grover to say something about this and saw the blood had drained from his nose was twitching.
"Grover?"I said "Hey,man-"
"Tell me they're not looking at are,aren't they."
"Why is he so freaked out about three old ladies?"Seamus asked
"I'm not sure but I know I heard about three old ladies somewhere before,"Hermione replied
"Yeah,weird,huh?You think those socks would fit me?"
"Don't joke like that,"Remus hissed close to fainting again,Luna holding him up
The demigods nodded,faces white in fear
"Not funny, funny at all."
"It's not,"The demigods shouted
Fudge glanced at Dumbledore and saw he was just as confused.
The old lady in the middle took out a huge pair of scissors-gold and silver,long bladed,like shears.I heard Grover catch his breath.
"It's the Fates,"Hermione breathed figuring out that part of the mystery.
"The what?"Ron asked
"The Fates were three sisters,who spun your life,measured how long you lived and cut the cord when you died,"she said"but their myths,"
Everyone paled.
"To you they are,"Luna glared at the busy haired bookworm while holding onto her older brother.
"We're getting on the bus,"He told me."come on."
"What?"I said "It's a thousand degrees in there."
"Come on!"he pried open the door and climbed inside,I stayed back.
The tension rose.
Across the road,the old ladies were still watching middle one cut the yarn,and I swear I could hear the snip across the four lanes of traffic.
Everyone was shaky and blacked out again. Luna rushed to wake him up.
"How is he still alive,"Severus breathed paler than normal hearing about his cousin.
Luna got Remus awake with Tonks' help and onto a now padded seat to lay on.
"Maybe it wasn't his,"A Ravenclaw suggested
"That's worse,"Remus said
Her two friends balled up the electric blue socks,leaving me wondering who they could possibly be for-Sasquatch or the rear of the bus,the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment. The bus shuddered and roared to life.
The passengers cheered.
"Darn right,"yelled the driver he slapped the bus with his hat,"Everyone back on board!"
Once we got going,I stated feeling feverish,as if I had caught the didn't look much better,he was shivering and his teeth were chattering.
"Grover?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you not telling me?"
"Everything,"Theo Nott breathed from his place at Slytherin table
He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve.
"Percy,what did you see back at the fruit stand?"
"You mean the old ladies?What about them man?They're not like...Mrs. Dodds are they?"
"Much worse,"Hannah said
His expression was hard to read,but I got the feeling the fruit stand ladies were much much worse than Mrs. said,"Just tell me what you saw."
"The middle one took out her scissors and she cut the yarn."
He closed his eyes and made a gesture with his fingers,that might have been crossing himself,but it wasn' was something else,something almost-older.
"You saw her snip the cord."
"Yeah so?"but even as I said it ,I knew it was a big deal.
"This is not happening,"Grover mumbled
He started chewing his thumb."I don't want this to be like the last time."
"What last time,"
"Always sixth never get past sixth grade."
"He needs to stop thinking about that,"Remus said from his position across Luna's lap.
"Grover,"I said,because he was really starting to scare me,"what are you talking about?"
"Let me walk you home form the bus me."
This seemed like a strange request to me but I promised he could.
"Is this like a supersition or something?"I asked
No answer.
"Grover-that snipping of the that mean that somebody is going to die?"
He looked at me mournfully,like he was already picking the kind of flowers I'd like best on my coffin.
Before Minerva could pass the book to Fudge,a voice spoke up.
"I like gray tulips,"a male voice said.
Remus snapped into a sitting position at the sound of the familiar voice, turned to look at the group of people standing in the doorway of the Great Hall. A man with messy black hair and sea-green eyes stood in the front.
"Hi,I'm Percy Lupin. Remus' husband."