Chapter 15: Attack on New Rome
Hermione's POV:
New Rome was beautiful. Well, mostly. Her tour was interrupted by several fauns (that was what Frank called them) that tugged at her legs, begging for money. Percy told her to ignore them, that satyrs were much better. At that, Frank had rolled his eyes, but gave her a friendly smile. While Hermione speculated the mistreatment of such creatures, though she was holding off judgment until she understood this new world better.
"So how'd you survive for so long?" Percy asked, once they were all back at the infirmary. Frank had left, and Reyna and Thalia had taken his place. Thalia had her arms crossed over her chest, eyeing Hermione carefully. Reyna, on the other hand, looked completely prepared to trust her, for reasons Hermione couldn't understand.
"I went to a boarding school," Hermione said slowly. Was she allowed to tell these people about Hogwarts? What would the Ministry do to people like her?
"For people like us?" Thalia interrupted sharply. "I've been around the globe thrice and not once have I met demigods in boarding schools."
"We aren't demigods," Hermione argued. "We are wizards."
"A whole school?" Percy asked, his eyebrows furrowing. Hermione nodded, a lump caught in her throat at the sight of Percy's anxiety. In the short week they had met, he had never been anything more than caring. Concern for her safety wasn't familiar.
"Hecate's been busy," Thalia muttered, whispering lowly. Reyna shot her a look, stepping forward to place a hand on Hermione's shoulder. Apparently, she could sense discomfort.
"What do you want from me?" Hermione asked, interrupting Reyna as she spoke. Judging by the way Thalia's eyes flashed, it didn't happen very often.
"We're protecting you," Reyna said firmly. "Let us."
"I don't need your bloody protection." Hermione was insistent. "I've already proven I can take care of myself."
"You don't have a choice," Thalia said. "Tell her, Jackson."
Percy glared, but nodded. Hermione's lips thinned as she realized she really was being kidnapped. "It's only until Silena's wedding." He sounded apologetic.
"Silena's getting married?" Thalia asked, incredulous. "How come I wasn't invited?"
"Probably 'cause you'd terrorize Beckendorf before they could get to the altar," Percy said. Hermione tried her best to mask her confusion, which she had always been poor at. Thalia shrugged coolly, turning her back as if to leave. Before she did, she addressed Hermione. "Damn right I would." Hermione couldn't help to agree with Silena's decision, if given the choice she wouldn't be anywhere around her either.
"What's her problem?" Hermione demanded.
"Finally ran out of arrows, I'd guess," Percy joked, scratching his head distractedly. "Just listen to us. I think you'll be pleased at what you find. I was. Sort of. Whatever happens, though, please know I do care about you."
"That's reassuring." she said dryly, but secretly she was comforted a little.
"A lot of people think we're crazy at first," Percy rambled. "So did I. It took me an entire battle with a Titan to convince myself none of it was a dream, in fact-,"
Without another word, Hermione sunk onto the bed, folding her hands on her lip. Reyna was the one who decided to explain everything, to Hermione's pleasure. Reyna was completely patient throughout Hermione's emotional breakdown, where Percy hovered over her unsure what to do.
Nevertheless, Hermione was completely ready to believe in Greek myth. She may be logical, but she's seen enough of New Rome and gracious to know some things were true. "Bloody hell," she whispered softly.
"Are you okay?" Percy asked. "Because there's more, but we can pause if you want."
"More?" Hermione shoved her wand back into her boot, rubbing her forehead tiredly.
"Well... You're part of this prophecy that kind of says you'll end a world or something," Percy said, fidgeting nervously. Hermione felt her jaw drop, right as a familiar face walked in: Silena.
Silena, on any other occasion, was a sight for sore eyes. Here in New Rome, the demigods tolerated her for their kinship with the Greeks—sure, they stared, perhaps a few seconds longer than they should, but there was never any potential with her. Hermione suspected the ring on her fourth finger also did the trick.
Today, her hair was braided, much more intricately than Reyna's was. Her dress pooled at her feet, but it seemed only because she had purchased the wrong size over anything. The look on her face was amused, but Hermione thought she could see the undercurrent of tension, just below the surface.
"Silena," Reyna greeted, nodding stiffly. Reyna had loosened up considerably since her time with Nico. Nico, being the little brother he was, brought out smiles in Reyna that even Thalia couldn't. It was't a bond Percy had ever expected they would form. It seemed the carefreeness didn't extend to everyone.
"I'm sorry I came so out of the blue," Silena apologized halfheartedly. "But I think I've got good reason to be."
Hermione blinked. Camp Half-Blood was the Greek camp, right? She'd understood as much, based off Reyna's debrief. Percy seemed surprised at her arrival, his eyebrows high above his eyes. His nose even twitched as she spoke. Thalia, on the other hand, merely shifted from leg to leg, as if unexpected appearances were her usual run-of-the-mill day.
Hermione opened her mouth to greet her, to say hello, to say something, but Percy beat her to it. His voice was low, but… assertive. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard about the prophecy," Silena said, shrugging. "Thought I could help."
Thalia snorted. Hermione could almost feel the anger coming off of her, and she wondered why it existed. Silena had always been welcoming to her, in the short time they knew each other. Still, Thalia's voice was cold. "You knew, didn't you? That the Brit was the girl in the prophecy."
"It's hard to be sure of anything," Silena said truthfully. "But I had a guess."
"Swell," Hermione breathed. All eyes turned to her, and she felt herself curl deeper into herself. Just when she thought she was done with all of this… "Let me see the orb."
Like a bell had been rung, everyone's face shifted to confusion. "What orb?" Percy finally asked, stepping around Thalia to stand beside her. It was a small gesture, but it was deeply appreciated. Now more than ever, Percy comforted her.
"The one from the Ministry" She supplied.
"What Ministry?" Reyna asked, clearly interested. Hermione felt herself redden, shaking her head quickly. Never mind.
Percy sighed, fishing a grubby piece of paper from his pocket. It was creased in several different places, wrinkled at the edges. Still, when he passed it over, Hermione took it as if it were glass. She read the prophecy over, furrowing her eyebrows as she did. A world? Dying? It seemed preposterous, to her. Especially if it prophecy spoke of the Wizarding world.
Of course, Harry had mentioned magic going out of control…
"What if I don't believe in this?" Hermione asked defiantly. She had never been one to bend to what others think is her future. At Hogwarts, she had spent a majority of her time studying, taking more classes than she should have, pulling out all the stops to ensure she could have any career she wanted once she was out. She hadn't defined herself with the horrid 'Mudblood' title more than once, because she was sure she could pave her own way. "I determine my future, not some piece of paper."
"I should be offended," a new voice said, poking her head in. It was Rachel Dare. "You must be Hermione, I've dreamt about you." At Hermione's bewildered look, Rachel shook her head. "No-I ah, I'm a seer. Rachel. Dare; Rachel Dare, Oracle of Delphi and all that. Ah, you must be overwhelmed."
"I think I'm handling this much better than I'm supposed to," Hermione muttered, averting her gaze from the girl. Percy knew what she was thinking: how could this five foot three girl with poofy red curls and painted jeans ever be a seer? It was more than that, though. Hermione had met seers. They were bug-eyed, mad, mumbling incoherently under their breaths at every new person they meet. Rachel was… sane.
"You don't think I'm a seer," Rachel said, her mouth twisting as she cocked her head. Just then, Frank poked his head in, looking around until his eyes seized Reyna.
"Reyna, you're going to want to see this. The graecus—they're attacking!" Without any more confirmation, Reyna shouldered her weapon and strode quickly out, Thalia right on her heels. Percy, though he did not realize it, had tensed, his body shifting between Hermione and the door.
Hermione jerked up. "I need to go help." Her voice was determined. She didn't know what good magic was against the undead, but she had to try. Percy, on the other hand, had different ideas.
"NO!" Hey yelled startling her. Then as if realizing his reaction was over the top he tried again. "no, you get Rachel and Silena to safety. Go to the houses, find Hazel Levesque. She'll protect you. Don't let anything happen to Rachel!" he shouted behind him as he pulled out a pen from his pocket.
Rachel's face was grave, fear showing in her eyes. "Hermione, we have to go."
Silena grabbed her hand, pulling her and Rachel along like they weighed nothing. "I know where Hazel is! Let's go!"
Hermione had no time to ask how Silena knew where she could find Hazel Levesque, but the instant they left the tent, it was clear she wouldn't have time to ask. All around them, young teenagers' swords clashed with ghosts. Hermione had seen graecus—they were scholars. These ones, with death in their eyes and teeth like fangs… What had happened to them?
"GO!" Percy's voice jarred her to her senses, and Hermione ran after Silena, whose dress was curled into her fist as she ran eastwards.
Occasionally, Hermione would shoot hexes at the graecus, but her magic passed through them like they didn't exist. Once a particularly nasty jelly leg jinx caught a camper instead of a graecus, she cursed under her breath and shoved her wand back in her boot.
She was useless.
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