Percy's POV

Hmm. This guy isn't supposed to be here. I tilted my head, "Hey, are you one of those Thanatos Eaters? Because if you are, I'm gonna have to suggest you leave so I can eat my cookies in peace."

The man growled, "You can eat your cookies in pieces for all I care. But you're coming with me."

I shrugged, "Nah, I'll pass. Don't you think the mask is a little overkill, though?"

His hand shot up to his face, startled. He stepped forward menacingly, "If you're not gonna come with me, boy, I'll have to take you."

I nodded thoughtfully, "I'd like to see you try."

He drew his wand, pointing it straight at me. "Stupefy!"

I sidestepped the blast, cringing as it blasted through my pillow. I looked at him sadly, "So, Octavian 2.0, huh?" He gave no response but instead shot the same spell over and over again until he was out of breath. These death eaters are so original.

I fingered my chin, "You know, I never understood why you wanted to kidnap Potter in the first place. He strikes me as a bit obnoxious."

Octavian 2.0 appeared to agree with me, because he nodded exasperatedly. I took my finger off of my face and pointed it at him instead, "But why do you want to capture me? I've literally had two days of training." This guy was stupid. Just like Octavian. He just kept talking to me.

The muffled voice came again, "Because you are the Dark Lord's grandson. You are destined to take his place. We have heard you possess a wand more powerful than the Elder wand, that you are a wizard more capable than Dumbledore."

I patted my pockets, and spread my hands, "Sorry, dude. I lost my wand again."

They sent one wizard to get me. I'm a little offended considering I'm a threat. All I need to do is take away his wand and he'll be powerless against my awesomeness. And I did just that. Stepping forward and easily knocking his wand out of his hand, I took him out with a quick punch to the temple. Now, to bring this guy to Dumbledore. Such fun.

Time Skip to Dumbledore's office. Let's bring Hermione and Harry and Ron and plop them in a couple of chairs. Then take Percy and Dumbledore and put them behind a desk. Give Percy some Blue Cookies so he doesn't throw a fit. Now, for a little fun, steal Octavian 2.0 and tie him up and gag him and toss him in a corner. Yay.

I leaned back in my chair and propped my legs up on the desk, munching on a cookie while Dumbledore folded his hands on the desk and addressed the Trio.

"Children," Dumbledore started diplomatically, "You must be wondering why you're here."

Harry shrugged, "Not really. What I'm wondering is why that piece of scum needs to be here."

Dumbledore's eyes lost a bit of his friendly twinkle. "Now Harry," he continued, "I thought we agreed that you would not be prejudiced against Perseus based on his ancestry."

Harry leaned forward in his chair, saying, "But Dumbledore! The kid's really easy to hate. I mean, he's bossy and annoying and a showoff! I can't not be prejudiced against him."

I swallowed my cookie, putting my hands behind my head. "Yeah," I said, nodding, "I don't blame you. If I killed your whole family and then tried to kill you in about a million different ways I'd be prejudiced against me, too." I looked up at the ceiling, pausing dramatically, "Oh, wait. I didn't."

Dumbledore nodded, "Everyone else in Hogwarts seems to get along with Perseus just fine. Only you and Mr. Weasley show any negative feelings about him. I've spoken to the children at his camp in America, as well as his Camp Director, Mr. Brunner. Perseus is proving to be modest, brave, loyal, and an overall paragon of a good friend."

Did he just say paragon? How many sides does that shape have? When I asked him about it, he only chuckled, "Although lacking in overall book smarts, as his camp also related to me."

I frowned at him. He must've been talking to Annabeth. Or Piper. Or Jason. Or Clarisse. Or Katie. Actually, now that I think about it, he could've spoken to anyone at camp.

Hermione nodded in agreement to Dumbledore, "If the two of you would just accept him, you'd realize how much he's like you used to be Harry." I noticed the phrase 'used to be' in that sentence. I took another cookie from the jar my mom sent me, chewing on it thoughtfully. Then Octavian 2.0 started to groan.

Dumbledore smiled, "Terrific, the death eater is awake. Now we can interrogate him. If you please, Ms. Granger, visit Professor Snape and collect a truth serum. Nothing too strong, now."

I got up and caught her sleeve, grinning at Dumbledore, "We don't need that, uh, truthy thingy, Professor. I can interrogate him." Dumbledore motioned for me to go ahead.

I walked over to him and sat him up. I pulled his head back by the hair so that he was looking at me. I smiled at him, "Okay, buddy. You're gonna tell me what I'm gonna ask, alright? Who sent you?"

Octavian 2.0 clenched his teeth, "I'm not telling you anything."

I nodded, "Very scary. But I rather think you are." As he shook his head firmly, I sighed, defeated, "Don't say I didn't warn you." With my blessings from Aphrodite, I used charmspeak to ask him again.

His eyes glazed over, "Severus Snape sent me." Lie. He has a surprisingly strong will. But mine was stronger. I pour more charmspeak into my words and sweat started pouring down his face. He shouted, "Fine. I was sent by Lucious Malfoy." Hm, it was the truth. I thought I might've needed to take out Riptide.

I nodded at Dumbledore, "He's not lying. But who's Lucious? Don't tell me he's related to Draco Malfoy. Side note, did you know that Draco Malfoy means Bad Faith in Dragons?"

Ron looked at Dumbledore, "Does he really need to be here?" At Dumbledore's glare, he gulped and said, "I-I mean, how does he know if he's lying or not?"

ARE THEY DOUBTING MY POWERS!?! Kidding. But they'd better not be doubting my powers. Apollo blessed me to be a human lie detector. He'd be awfully disappointed if they didn't think he was awesome. Maybe disappointed enough to stop driving the sun for a day or two. He's dramatic like that. Like father like son.

I waggled my fingers at him like a magician. I smirked, "I have the touch. It's a very dangerous American muggle weapon."

Ron's eyes widened, "Really?" He sounded scared and curious at the same time.

I rolled my eyes, "No. You'll just have to trust me on this one." His face flooded with relief and then anger, but he kept his mouth shut like a good little redheaded boy. I'd offer him a cookie if I were anybody else. But I was Percy and I loved my cookies.

Dumbledore sighed, "I trust you, Perseus. But Harry and Ron need a little closure. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, would you go fetch the Veritaserum?" They got up and out of the chairs like they were escaping a torture chamber or something.

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, relieved, "I'm sorry about them, Perseus. As anyone would after a war, they have a bit of a trust issue, especially being so close to the center. Ms. Granger is more mature and wise, thus knowing that while she can't trust everyone, you are an exception."

I beamed at him. War was something I could understand. I was never the same after the Titan War, either. I loosened up a bit after the Giant War, but that's because there were no traitors, only new friends. Well, you can't count Octavian because everyone saw it coming. The guy was evil.

Dumbledore continued, unfazed by my dark thoughts. Muahaha!!! "Also, I have very special news for you, Perseus."

I leaned back, "If it has nothing to do with extra cookies, I don't wanna hear it." I mean, sure, I'd like some more people from camp to come and visit me, or even take classes with me, but that was very unlikely. As unlikely as me not eating any more blue cookies.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "No, Perseus, I think you're going to want to hear this."

I waved him on, "Fine, fine. Go ahead." I leaned back in my chair, waiting.

Dumbledore smiled, "Annabeth Chase is coming to Hogwarts tomorrow. I believe you know her."

I lost him after 'Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts.' It took me a while to process it. He said her name and Hogwarts in the same sentence. That could only mean one thing. Wise Girl was coming to Hogwarts. I shot up before I knew what I was doing, whooping, and accidentally knocked my chair over, breaking it.

I couldn't stop smiling, but I did it sheepishly, "Sorry 'bout that."

Dumbledore nodded, "Not a problem, Perseus." He waved his wand, saying, "Reparo," and the pieces of the chair flew back together. Hm, if my mom was a wizard, why didn't she do that every time I broke something as a kid? That would have saved so much time.

Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts.

That was odd. My mind was just spinning around and around and around and around in a circle, not jumping around from topic to topic like it usually did. Once, I was thinking about blue food and I was going to tell my teacher about the wonders of blue food, and suddenly I was talking about ketchup. I mean, how does that even happen?

But I can't blame myself because Annabeth is coming to Hogwarts. I was still sitting in my chair, dazed, when Harry and Ron came back with a little vial of clear stuff. I could only vaguely hear their conversation.

Harry jerked his head at me, "What's up with him?" His voice was barely a whisper, but I knew that that was just me.

Hermione smiled, shrugging, "He's had his mind blown. His best friend is coming to Hogwarts." I finally snapped out of it. I glared at them.

"You can insult me all you want," I said threateningly, "In fact, I encourage it. Maybe you'll get it out of your systems. But I swear to all of the gods if you say a bad word about her, you're going to pay for it." In other words, I set the Aphrodite cabin on them. Me and Annabeth are their favorite boat or something and they want to protect us or something.

They nodded meekly, their faces a pale white. It's fun making them scared, but this time, I was dead serious. If they messed with my Wise Girl, they'd be, well, dead. I uncorked the vial they brought in and forced it into his mouth. He downed it without complaint. Dumbledore looked at him, frowning.

"Who sent you?" Dumbledore asked, sending a scathing look at Harry and Ron. Octavian 2.0 couldn't seem to control the words coming out of his mouth, because his lips were pressed into a thin line until they flew open, saying, "Lucious Malfoy!" Dumbledore nodded.

I grinned, crossing my arms. "I keep on calling you Octavian 2.0 in my head, and it's kind of driving me crazy, so I'm gonna have to ask, what's your name?"

Gruffly, the Death Eater spat out, "Septimus. Septimus Mustem."

I let out a breath, "Oh, phew. I thought your name might actually be Octavian."

Harry spat in his face, "Why did you come? It was to capture me, wasn't it? Still can't stop, can you?"

Septimus, although still under the effects of the Veritaserum, snickered. "No way. Wouldn't have come if that was the mission."

Harry smiled, "Because I'm too dangerous for you to handle?"

Septimus shook his head, "Nah. Because you're annoying. I mean, all that trouble and death for a seventeen-year-old scrawny boy with a scar?" He motioned with his face towards me, "That's a seventeen-year-old powerful boy with about a million scars. Worth it." I bet if he wasn't evil, I'd like him. He was cool, I mean, for a dude who eats Thanatos.

Ron scowled, "And why would you want Percy?"

I rolled my eyes, "Didn't he just tell you? I'm a seventeen-year-old powerful boy with a million scars!" I tapped my forehead in a duh kind of way.

Ron growled at the guy, "Just answer the question."

Septimus's face clouded with an emotion I couldn't describe. He grinned maliciously, "He's the boss's grandson. After the Dark Lord died, we needed a leader to take over the wizarding world. Traced his line all the way to his useless daughter Sally Jackson and her son."

I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. My face was only inches away from his, my eyes narrowed in anger. "You do not talk about my mother like that. Understand?" I released him back onto the floor, stomping my foot on the floor next to him, making him flinch, "Or things happen that I won't be too proud of." By that, I mean I send Uncle Hades a present.

He nodded meekly. I put my mouth next to his ear, whispering harshly, "And I will never join you. There is no gain in what Voldemort wanted to do. Killing people for power? I want no part of it." Septimus gulped and nodded again. I stormed out of Dumbledore's office.

Dumbledore gave me the rest of the day off, which made me happy because I was a little wound up at the moment. Stupid Death Eater making fun of my mom. Stupid Harry and Ron, as friendly as Akhlys. I just want to go back to camp. The only good thing about this whole thing is that Annabeth is coming. I mean, I might actually die if I really had to be away from her for a year. And then everyone would be sad except Harry and Ron because they're big meanies.

I sat on my bed and ripped open a couple more letters. There was nothing better to do, especially considering I ate all of my cookies. Hm, Piper and Jason seem to like their jobs as gods, although I'm not sure why. But they've always seemed like the responsible ones. Hazel and Frank are at Camp Jupiter, still leading the legion and attending to their duties as gods. I wrote Annabeth a letter in Greek telling her about the Death Eater attack, how happy I was that she was coming, and about keeping our relationship a secret. When I was done, I studied my work and nodded excitedly. It looked like chicken scratch. That's the best I've ever seen it.

I darted up to the Owl Post to mail my letter, and they all attacked me! I combed my fingers through my hair, trying to get all of the owl poop out of my hair. I found one owl in the back, with gray feathers and green eyes. The only one that didn't freak when I walked into the room. Then that's the one.

I tied my letter to its leg, noticing another letter strapped to the other one. It read,

Sea Scum,

This owl will know where all of your friends are. It will deliver your letters without complaint. Do not get me wrong, I still hate you. But my daughter is another thing altogether. If you hurt her, I will hurt you.

A.

I think Athena's warming up to me.

I sent the letter, trusting that it would get to Camp Half-Blood before Annabeth left to come here. I wonder why they even accepted her. I mean, knowing Wise Girl, she could get into any school she wanted because she was just smart that way. But Hogwarts was different. Unless it was because she's a demigod and had the god's magic running through her veins, she couldn't have gotten in. But then every demigod in the world would be here, and that's not true at all. Or maybe the camp was blocking our letters. But most demigods got there at twelve and these kids start school at eleven. Ow. All this thinking is hurting my head. I'm starting to sound like an Athena kid, which I'm not too sure is a good thing.

Strolling out of the Owlery, I walked to dinner, where of course, everyone was staring at me. I thought the Death Eater attack was a secret, but noo. Everyone's talking about it. I shouldn't be surprised, though. At Camp, it's the secrets that get around the fastest, courtesy of the Hermes and Aphrodite cabins. What's really annoying is that they're constantly spying on me and Annabeth. There is no privacy at Camp at all.

I sat next to Ginny and started to pile my plate with everything from pork to pudding to weird green goop stuff. Ginny stared at my plate like it was strange to eat so much. She should know how much I eat by now. When she looked up at me, I shrugged, "I skipped lunch. What did you expect?"

She chuckled, "Of course. How do you eat that much anyway? How does it all fit in your stomach?"

I ignored the questions and started to eat. Within a ten minutes, it was all gone. Hermione, who's sitting next to me, gave me a disapproving look. "You eat more like a pig than Ron does."

I grinned at her, "No one eats more like a pig than me."

After we finished eating, I walked up to the Boys' Dorm to go to bed. I needed to be fully rested before Annabeth came tomorrow. Otherwise, I won't have enough energy to argue with her. How terrible would that be?

Before I fall asleep, the owl flies through the window and pecks at my face. I thought it wasn't going to hurt me. That's not very nice of him. I rip open the letter and squint at it. Of course, Annabeth's Greek looks great, and it's kinda hard to read.

Seaweed Brain,

It doesn't matter how you found out, because I was going to keep it a surprise, but it's okay. We can keep our relationship a secret. I'll just treat you like my best friend again. Beat you up, be smarter than you, argue. Check, check and check. But it's really your loss.

Wise Girl

I burned the letter with the tip of my finger and sighed, letting the owl fly back out of the window. Tomorrow, Annabeth would come. Tomorrow, life would be better. I groan. Tomorrow, I have to go back to school. Ugh.

Look on the bright side, Percy, the teachers love you for once. School is a breeze. But I'm gonna get homework, I argue with myself. The good thoughts growl at me. I said look on the bright side. I might be suffering a split personality.

But I fall asleep anyway, eager for the following day.