At first, when I was reading the comments and everyone was screaming Fluffy, I was confused. But then I was like, oh. Cerberus. I'm sorry to disappoint, but congratulations to Demi_Witch_Hunter for being the only one to get it right.

Percy's POV

I slowly looked up and came face to face to face to face to face to face to face with a hydra. Six heads that could spit fire and acid, one Percy, and one Annabeth. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, I don't know... death?

"Lernaean Hydra," Annabeth muttered, "Hercules killed it. It has nine heads at birth, obviously missing three of them, that can each spew poison and flames. Not to mention rows of razor sharp teeth and a tough hide." I nodded, "See? Why do I need a book when I have you, Wise Girl?" I didn't take my eyes off the hideously menacing creature in front of me. It hissed, and I felt the already warm breath of the Hydra get unbearably hot. I rolled out of the way just as the fire incinerated the area where I had just been, creating some more molten floor. Annabeth leaped onto it's back, plunging her dagger into the Hydra's neck. It fell to the floor, spasming for a split second before exploding into monster dust. I shot a bolt of fire at the stump that was left just before the next pair of heads could form. I shook my head, groaning, "One down, five to go. Where's Clarisse and her cannon when you need them?"

The Hydra, no longer distracted by Annabeth, spit acid at me, splashing over my leg before I could stop it. I cried out in pain, only to scream as it's foot smacked me into a pillar a couple of feet away. I could tell that Annabeth desperately wanted to run to my aid, but she couldn't as the Hydra had labeled me dead and had its attention centered around the daughter of Athena. I tried to stand, but I felt a broken rib and my leg was steaming. My vision was going red around the edges and I was very sure that I was hallucinating when I heard a voice yell, "LOOK WHO NEEDS A SUPER SIZED MCSCHIZZLE!!!" My senses were slowly dulling, but I was pretty sure I saw Leo's face and smelled cinnamon right before I blacked out.

Annabeth's POV

I saw Percy go down and I almost froze in fear. Seaweed Brain was on the floor with a poisoned leg and possibly a broken bone. As much as I wanted to go and check on him, I was thoroughly occupied by the Hydra. I don't know how one got into the school. Luna had told me that there was a barrier around the school much like the one at Camp Half Blood. But it was real, and it had hurt Percy. I needed to take care of it as fast as I possibly could so that Percy wouldn't lose his leg, but how could I, when I had no source of fire? There were no torches along the side of the corridor and I don't believe that Percy has the strength to shoot fireballs in his deteriorating state. I reached into my pocket to pull out my wand, but realized I had left it in the Common Room. What a rookie move, Chase. Wizards bring that thing everywhere, and for good reason. It was the source of their power and defense. All I could do was continue to fend it off and hope a wizard wandered in. Imagine my surprise when the supposedly dead Leo Valdez and a girl charged into the room. Leo, being Leo, screamed, "LOOK WHO NEEDS A SUPER SIZED MCSCHIZZLE!!!" while the girl with almond eyes and caramel hair ran over to Percy. Suddenly, I recognized her. Calypso, from the lost island of Ogygia, the daughter of Atlas who had been with Percy those weeks following the explosion of Mount Saint Helens. Of course, I couldn't forget that she had cursed me with a feeling of abandonment. But that could get put behind us if she saved Percy from death. Leo was hovering over Percy as Calypso used herbs on Percy's leg and started singing. I was snapped back to my current situation when the Hydra's dagger sharp claw tore a gash into my shoulder. I gasped, not expecting the white-hot pain and yelled, "Valdez! I could use some fire over here." Leo scurried over and grinned like the Cheshire Cat, "Cut head, burn stump. Don't get killed. Got it." I nodded, slicing off a head and sliding out of the way so Leo could burn it. Within minutes, it was reduced to nothing more than monster dust on the floor. I ran to Percy's side as he started to come to. His breath had steadied and his leg bandaged. I traced the scars on his arm from his time in the Death Eater HQ. It was always Seaweed Brain. Always Percy Jackson that had to take on the toughest monsters and trek through the darkest corners of existence. Always Percy Jackson that got hurt, either physically or emotionally.

I looked over at the Daughter of Atlas, "Calypso, right? Percy's told me a lot about you. Thank you for saving him then. Thanks again for saving him just now." Calypso gave me a tight smile, "Annabeth. Percy's told me a lot about you, as well. I hope you're treating him well." I couldn't just forget that Percy had left Ogygia to fight a war and that Calypso resented me for it. Hopefully, it wouldn't cause any problems in the future. Problems between me and her would have Percy right in the middle, and the Gods know he doesn't need any more of them. I pulled her away from Percy for a second. "Hey, I know that you probably resent me and Percy, probably me more than him, but I just want you to know that Percy had tried. He made the gods swear on the Styx and then he disappeared with his memory wiped only a couple of months later. So you can't exactly blame him for being stuck there." She looked away awkwardly, "I know. It's just that he promised to get me out, and then the gods promised to let me out, and nothing ever happened. I was just tired of being let down. I won't take it out on either of you." I had only known her a minute or two, and we had already cleared the air. The beginning of a great friendship was starting right now.

I stood and hugged Leo before punching him in the solar plexus, making him double over. "That's what you get for dying, Valdez." He let out a chuckle, "Thanks a lot, Chase. And here I thought that I'd be getting hugs and a huge party." I smirked, "That's funny. Especially when you know that that little hit to the gut won't be anywhere near as terrible as the damage Piper and Jason will do." He blanched, but covered it with a huge smile, "Hey, at least it can't be worse than dying." I raised an eyebrow at him. He was going to be stuck in the infirmary for weeks.

I put a little bit of ambrosia in Percy's mouth and made him swallow right before the Golden Trio and Ginny ran into the hallway we were in. "Hey!" Hermione was gasping, "A Hydra is loose in the school and we just wanted to make sure you guys are okay..." She trailed off as she saw the cracks in the walls and the liquefied floor, not to mention my boyfriend on the floor, unconscious and bandaged. Her face fell, "Too late. How's Percy doing?" I nodded, "He's going to be fine, thanks to them." I waved at Calypso and Leo, and remembered that they had only just arrived. "They're Leo and Calypso. They've helped us on adventures in the past." Leo flexed his nearly non-existent muscles, "You can call me Bad Boy Supreme or Super Sized McSchizzle, it doesn't really matter." He slung his arm around Calypso and grinned widely at the four wizards. I felt my eyes widen. They were a thing? I can usually read people pretty well, and it had seemed that Calypso was extremely annoyed with Leo almost to the point of repulsion. Of course, Percy isn't exactly the least annoying person on the planet, either. Harry held out his hand, "Well, Leo, I'm Harry Potter." Leo frowned, "Did I not just tell you my name was Bad Boy Supreme?" A silence followed his words as Harry's proffered hand was still suspended in the air. Sighing in defeat, he muttered, "Bad Boy Supreme." Leo gleefully shook the wizard's hand. "That's more like it! Who's next? Meeting Leo McSchizzle Valdez is a once in a lifetime opportunity, people!" He and Calypso greeted the wizards one by one until we heard Percy stir.

I fell to the ground beside him as Percy tried to sit up, groaning in agony. I put his head in my lap and refused to let him stand. He smiled weakly, "Wise Girl, how you doin'?" I ran my fingers through his hair, which was matted with sweat, momentarily forgetting about the six figures behind us. I wrinkled my nose, "Worried out of my mind for you, of course, Seaweed Brain." Percy closed his eyes and sighed contentedly, "Well, you shouldn't. I'm perfectly fine." He winced as his leg shifted and I could hear the pained way he was breathing. "You could break all the bones in your body and be dying of Gorgon's blood and still tell me you were fine." He didn't move, "That does sound like something I would do." He paused for a second and I was going to to tell him Leo was back, when he said, "I had the strangest dream. Leo was here, and there was something about cinnamon. Crazy, right?" I tossed a glance over my shoulder in time to see Leo roll his eyes. "That's real crazy, Perce," he said, "I never knew that I was just a figment of your imagination." Percy's head jerked up to the sound of Leo's voice. "Am I still delirious, or is Leo standing behind us?" I gently shifted and let Percy get a full view of the crowd behind us. "No, Percy. Leo's alive, just like you said." I helped Percy to his feet, letting him use me as a crutch.

Percy glared at Leo, "If I weren't injured I'd totally beat you up, Valdez." Leo rubbed his stomach ruefully, "Yeah, your girlfriend already pummeled me quite enough, thank you." I gave Percy a little bit more ambrosia and helped him limp back to the Common Room. Luckily, it was empty, so I sat him down on one of the couches and looked at his injuries myself. The leg where the acid had sprayed was raw and red, and would probably leave a patch of discolored skin, but was otherwise okay. I prodded around his ribs, making him wince, but I nodded, satisfied. "You're probably going to scar on the leg and your ribs are healed. Might be a little sore for a couple of days." We sat in silence for a little bit longer until Dumbledore's voice boomed through the room, probably an enhanced voice spell. "Students, there is a hydra on the loose in this school at the moment. The teachers are trying to hunt it down. Please stay in your common rooms until further notice." Percy and I smirked in unison. There was a hydra on the loose.

McGonagall walked calmly into the room and smiled, "Ah, you two are alright. The others are in their dorms, I presume?" We nodded. "The hydra will be taken care of shortly, do not worry." Then she noticed the bandages on Percy's chest and leg, "What happened to Mr. Jackson?" I just shrugged, "Hydra." The professor's eyes widened, "Is it taken care of?" Percy nodded, "Might want to repair that hallway, though." I swatted him with my good arm and said, "Yes, professor. Percy and I have had some experience with those beasts, before." McGonagall's eyes narrowed, "Tell me about the battle. Be very specific." I wanted to roll my eyes. It was as if she didn't believe that two teenaged demigods and their supposedly dead and imprisoned friends hadn't defeated the Lernean Hydra. "I have a dagger I keep on me in case of emergency," I told her, "So I leaped onto its back and started slicing of heads. Every time I did so, Percy shot fire at it with a spell from his wand. The Hydra spit acid on Percy's leg and used its foot to smash him into a pillar. I took his wand and shot fire and sliced of heads simultaneously." Apparently, the Professor didn't find any gaps in my story, so she nodded, although her eyebrows rose when she asked, "Should we bring Mr. Jackson to the infirmary?" I shook my head, "He's already healing. His chest will be sore and that leg will be raw, but he's otherwise okay."

McGonagall left as our friends walked in with Leo and Calypso. The Transfiguration teacher was so deep in thought she didn't even realize that two of them weren't even students. I looked at Leo and Calypso, "Maybe you guys should go back to Camp Half Blood." Leo shot me one of his elfish grins, "Nah. Maybe after I finish Calypso's world tour. She wants to see everything she's missed since she was trapped on Ogygia." I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, and let the Camps keep believing you're dead. That's so nice of you." Leo groaned, "But Annabeth! If my lady wants a world tour, she's going to get a world tour." Percy clapped Leo on the back, "You should take her to China. Nico says it's very nice this time of year." Professor Di Angelo took that moment to stroll into the room, "I can fail you, Percy. Remember that." Percy rolled his eyes, muttering, "It's not my fault you keep shadow traveling around the world." Nico drew his Stygian sword, sitting down on one of the chairs and casually sharpening it. "You know, Leo, Hazel was really sad when you died." Leo gulped, cowering behind Calypso. She sighed, "My boyfriend is so very strong and brave." Nico continued as if Calypso had never spoken, "I'm very protective of my sister. Maybe I should maim you, just a little bit." The wizards watched the interaction through wide eyes. Ron, in an attempt to be discreet, leaned over to Harry and whispered, "The professor's very violent, mate."

Unexpectedly, Nico smiled. Nico's smile looked ten times more terrifying than his glare. It's not that is was necessarily devilish, but it sent shivers up your spine. In the same way as seeing Percy being smart, Nico smiling weirds you out. He turned on the unfortunate redhead, "I am death, Ronald Weasley, not deaf. Would you like me to introduce you to my sword?" Ron shook his head violently and looked as if he'd seen a spider. Spiders were both of our biggest fears, although I knew Ron's stemmed from a prank from his brothers and not the sworn revenge of his mother's greatest enemy. Nico turned back to Leo, who had only just recovered from being scared out of his mind. "Good," said the son of Hades, "Because I'd hate to waste it on someone who's not Leo." Leo grabbed Calypso's hand, yelling, "Let's go, Sunshine!" Then proceeded to run out the portrait, interrupting the nap of the lady inside. She humphed at him and went right back to sleep. Nico turned to Percy, sheathing his sword, "So, how you feeling, Kelp Head? Heard that Hydra was pretty rough." Ginny gasped, "Pretty rough? Acid to the leg and a broken rib is 'pretty rough' to you?" Nico shrugged, "We've had worse." He coughed suddenly, muttering, "Nose bleed." It was barely a whisper, but we all heard it. Percy's eyes narrowed, "That was a low blow, Death Breath." Nico shrugged once more, "It was payback for the China thing." I cleared my throat, "If you two are done fighting, Percy and I need to ask Dumbledore about the Hydra situation." I helped Percy to his feet and he stepped away from me, favoring his uninjured leg. "Come on, Percy, just let me help you walk," I told him, exasperated, "Your leg is gonna hurt, after all, you just had Hydra acid sprayed all over it." He smiled, "I'm fine, Wise Girl. Don't worry your little head about it." I furrowed my eyebrows, "At least eat this." He took a bite of the ambrosia, wincing. "I think I've had a little too much. No more."

As we walked out of the Common Room, I saw Leo and Calypso hiding behind a gargoyle statue. "Still hiding from Professor Death Breath?" Percy asked, smirking. Calypso rolled her eyes, "He won't come out from behind the gargoyle." Leo placed a hand on his bony chest, looking pained, "Nico is scary, dude. McShizzle doesn't need to die again." I smiled. Nico was a big softie once you got to know him. His attitude is sometimes really off putting, but you can't really blame him. His life has been just as terrible as Percy's or even mine, if not worse. He was trapped in the Lotus Hotel and Casino for decades before being let out and attacked by a manticore. He lost his sister and tried to raised her from the dead, ultimately failing. Then, he went through the Titan war, through Tartarus, and watched as Leo and Octavian were exploded from the sky. The son of Hades deserves to be dark and gloomy sometimes. He's been getting better, though. Talking to people, genuinely smiling sometimes. He's been spending a lot of time with a certain son of Apollo, as well.

Dumbledore, surprisingly, was outside his office when we had arrived. He turned to us, appearing quite shocked at our injuries. He raised an eyebrow, "Children, I understand that you are demigods and are used to the danger, but there is a hydra rampaging through the halls and I suggest you stay in the Common Room until further notice." Percy and I exchanged a meaningful look and stared expectantly at the Headmaster. Realization flooded his face and he sighed, defeated. "It's taken care of, isn't it?" We nodded, matching cheeky grins on our faces. It was not a look you would usually see on my face, but it seemed appropriate for the situation. I tilted my head, "We were just wondering how one got into the school in the first place. I was told that there have been protective measures set in place, seeing as there are children of the gods and those blessed by the gods attending this school." Dumbledore smiled, the mischievous twinkle in his eye returning, "It was for the tournament. The champions were to work together to defeat the Lernean Hydra. Two heads per champion. It would not be as much a competition as a bond between schools. In the future, with a foe like Voldemort, we may need more than just the Hogwarts student body. As one, our three schools will be more formidable than ever." I could completely understand where he was coming from. Camp Jupiter and Camp Half Blood had been on shaky terms with each other until we worked together to defeat Gaia. Now, we were friends and allies, capable of extreme power.

"Wait, so if I already beat up the Hydra, do I have to take on the next challenge?" Dumbledore smirked, a look that made him seem younger than he was, "Of course. If you could take on such a deadly foe as the Hydra with only Ms. Chase at your side, it is clear that it was not nearly as difficult as we would want it to be." Percy pouted, "But Annabeth is like a ten person army! That's different." Dumbledore merely smiled as Percy continued to whine like the five year old he truly was. I placed a hand on my boyfriend's shoulder silently telling him to stop. "Our friends, Leo Valdez and Calypso were here for a short amount of time, but will be gone shortly. They may return sometime in the future, but are otherwise none of your concern." Dumbledore nodded, "Of course. Now, it is almost curfew. I suggest you return to your dorms so that Mr. Jackson can rest for the interview and wand weighing ceremony to take place tomorrow." We complied.

I kissed Percy goodnight and walked into my room, where Ginny and Hermione were already waiting for me. "You defeated the Hydra in your first year almost by yourself!" Ginny gushed, "That's amazing." Hermione smiled, "Harry and Ron knocked out a troll their first year. It was kind of gross. We became friends after that." I grinned back at the two wizards, "Well, me and Percy killed a hydra when we were thirteen, as well. Turns out, it's much easier when you have a violent friend with a cannon." Ginny chuckled, "That certainly sounds easier." I collapsed on my bed, "Dumbledore says the wand weighing ceremony is tomorrow, and an interview for the champions." Hermione's face contorted in disgust, "I hope the reporter isn't Rita Skeeter like last year." Ginny gagged, "Yeah. She was terrible." I raised an eyebrow, "Rita Skeeter?" Hermione rolled her eyes, "An interviewer who makes stuff up and eavesdrops on people as a bug." I blanched, "B-Bug?" Ginny sighed, "No, Annabeth. Not a spider. After everything you've been through, it kind of surprises me that you're deathly afraid of spiders." I glared at the ceiling, "So's Ron." I could almost hear Ginny roll her eyes, "Yeah, well, Ron's Ron." I closed my eyes. "Look, my mom created the spider out of her rival. All of her children are scared of them."

They had no response for that. The lights went out and I heard all of the other girls fall asleep. I rolled around, not able to enter the land of Hypnos. I thought about the events of the day. Killed a hydra, discovered Leo wasn't dead, and cleared the air with Calypso, who was resentful towards all of the heroes and their girlfriends who had ever left her. As I ran through my memories, I fell asleep wishing I was back at Camp Half Blood.

Percy's POV

I got up and put on my Hogwarts uniform. I really don't understand why we need these. They impede my movement. A tie, a vest, a long-sleeved shirt, and robes are way too much to carry around on my person. They don't even have the protection of armor. I met Annabeth, Ginny, and the Trio in the Gryffindor Common Room and we walked down to the ceremony together. I saw Raydon and Sophia standing nervously to one side while Ollivander and some strange lady with curly, almost white hair, glasses, and some kind of shiny green coat thing. Hermione stayed close by my side as her eyes landed on the lady, her eyes narrowing in suspicion, bordering on hate. I got a hug from Sophia and a nod from Raydon as I stood near them, my group never far away. "Hi!" Sophia said gleefully, "You must be Annabeth. Percy's told me a lot about you." Annabeth smiled, "And you're Sophia. Thank you for slapping some sense into my Seaweed Brain." I frowned, "Actually, she kicked me. Hard. Her pointy shoes hurt." Annabeth nodded thoughtfully, "Ah, yes. Nico was the one who slapped you." Sophia laughed. Raydon was quiet as he handed his wand to Ollivander, who held it up towards the light. "Oak," Ollivander mused, "phoenix feather core, nine and a half inches. An extraordinary wand, Mr. Jesome. Use it well." Sophia tilted her head cautiously as Ollivander inspected her wand. "Butternut wood, unicorn hair, eleven inches. More suitable for charms and transfiguration that duelling, but a spectacular fit for you, Ms. Lander." I hastily took my wand from my pocket as the weird lady that Hermione doesn't like pulled each of the other champions away to... actually, I don't know what they're going to do. Ollivander's eyes sparkled excitedly, "Mr. Jackson, we meet again. May I see your wand?" I handed it to him and he smiled, "This wand will be outstanding in any category, as I have said in the past. A strong wand and a good heart makes quite the powerful wizard, Perseus." I nodded politely before I was yanked by the elbow. I hopped along on one foot for a second before regaining my balance. "Hey!" I shouted, "What're you doing?" She smiled, sickly sweet, at me, "Why, a strong, handsome, and intelligent boy like you should be able to guess." I heard the laughter of Annabeth and Sophia behind me. Annabeth managed to pull in enough air to gasp, "That's funny. You're funny." They doubled over, holding onto each other for support as they struggled for breath.

I shrugged, "I don't know why you would ever think that I was smart, but sure. Interrogate me." Hermione was at my side faster than I could blink. "Actually, Rita Skeeter," she said, her voice almost in a growl, "I think I'd like to watch this... interview." Rita's smile became strained as she looked at Hermione. "And why is that, Granger?" Rita spat, "Another Hogwarts Champion you have your little heart set on?" I leaned over to Hermione, "What's she talking about?" The furious tinges of red creeping up Hermione's face scared me a little. "Rita Skeeter has a reputation for making up stories," Hermione admitted in a low voice, "She took a picture of me and Harry hugging and told the whole wizarding world I wanted to be his girlfriend." Annabeth, if possible, started laughing even harder. "Harry and Hermione? Ridiculous!" She collapsed once more, heavily relying on Sophia and Ginny to stop her from rolling around on the ground. I've never seen Annabeth like this, completely incapacitated with laughter. It was different.

Hermione flashed Rita an obviously fake smile, "Remember, reporter. I still know your secrets. I'm the reassurance that nothing you write is fake." I chuckled, "Come on, Hermione. It's just an old lady. What can she possibly do?" Rita was thoroughly enraged and embarrassed. "Old lady? I can ruin your life through the newspaper, Mr. Jackson. I can spread intricate lies through a gossip column and make wizards shoot you sideways glances anywhere you go. I can..." She trailed off, realizing that everyone was watching her, wide eyed. Rita cleared her throat awkwardly, "I can show the world how amazing you are." Hermione glared at a now cowering Rita Skeeter, "Fine. But if I see anything that's even remotely un-Percy-like, I report you." Rita huffed, "Let's go, Mr. Jackson." I waved over my shoulder as I was dragged into a cupboard.

I saw Rita's pen moving by itself across a sheet of paper. I watched as it wrote some (obviously fake) compliments about herself in neon green ink. As much as I desperately wanted to ask her where she got it from, and if I could have one so I didn't have to write, I restrained myself. I mean, Riptide was awesome, but it didn't write for me. However, it was obviously broken if it was writing about the 'Young, nice, breath-takingly beautiful Rita Skeeter.' Its words not mine. She started with my name, "What's your name? Your age? Where are you from?" I answered honestly in every category, but groaned as the pen wrote, "Peter Johnson." She scribbled that out and wrote with her own quill in her own hand, my name. "Why did you sign up for this tournament? The money? The fame? The girls?" I shook my head, "Nah. Harry and Ron made me do it." If she was shocked in anyway, she didn't show it. She shoved me out of the cupboard and muttered something about "Witches too smart for their own good."

I grinned at my friends, who were startled by my sudden entrance. Hermione raised an eyebrow, "How did it go?" I shrugged, "Alright, I guess." Hermione nodded, satisfied. Dumbledore and the other Headmasters approached our group. "Ah, champions. Has everything been going smoothly?" We all nodded. "That's good." There was something extremely Stoll-like in his voice that unsettled me. "Are you feeling energized? Did you get a good sleep?" Raydon simply nodded, while Sophia and I yelled, "Ready for anything!" Sophia's personality was like mine plus Luna's. Sassy and fun, a good friend, but ready to side with Annabeth against me at any cause. The other headmaster's faces were strained, not from weariness or lack of sleep, but something else. Dumbledore spread his hands out, a wide smile breaking out on his face, "That's very fortunate, considering the challenge has been moved to today?" Viktor and Madame Maxime couldn't hold it in any longer. Smiles erupted on both of their faces, although one was more subdued than the other. Fred, aka Apollo, chose that moment to stroll into the hallway and snicker at our faces. "So you told them?" he asked, flashing a blinding smile, "Percy, my man, your face is priceless." Dumbledore motioned for us to follow him.

We walked towards the Quidditch fields, where the judges' table was set up and the students of all the schools were filling up the stands. "Wassup, witches, wizards, and half-giants!?!" Apollo screamed. The crowd roared in response, stomping their feet as well. Apollo grinned elfishly, looking startlingly like a blond, muscular Leo. "Here come the champions!" Raydon, Sophia, and I strode onto the Quidditch field, not quite knowing what to do. "If you're from Durmstrang, cheer for the strong and silent Quidditch prodigy, Raydon Jesome!" A third of the stands were pumping their fists and yelling. "If you're from Beauxbatons, clap for the fun and sassy, Sophia Grace-Lander!" There was an audible, yet repressed clap for their champion. Apollo's grin widened even more when he screamed, "Give it up for the loyal and powerful, all-around ladies man, Percy Jackson!" I waved uncomfortably as the Hogwarts sectioned cheered.

Chiron used Dumbledore's wand to amplify his voice, and said calmly, "Now, for the first challenge. The champions are to travel three laps around the Hogwarts property, in any way they wish. They may only have their wands on hand, but can use/obtain other objects. There will be obstacles in the way, and perhaps a monster or two." A monster or twelve that will all chase after me. Thanks, Dumbledore. Chiron continued, "Furthermore, the attacking of any of the other champions will result in disqualification and you will be judged on your speed, your injuries by the end of the race, and your ways of transportation. Good luck, champions."
And may the odds be ever in our favor, I thought sourly. We gathered behind a line, waiting for Apollo to shout 'Go.' I held out my fists to my friends, who I had the bad luck of competing against. "No matter who wins this thing," I told them, "No hard feelings, alright?" They bumped my fist with their own, chorusing, "May the best wizard win." The next couple of seconds were tense, everyone focused on winning. I looked up at the stands, where Annabeth was watching me, her stormy gray eyes seeming as if they were calculating my every move. I winked at her, and I swear there were a couple of screams, none of them from Annabeth. I turned back around, my ADHD making me jumpy and unsettled. My ears were perked up until Apollo finally yelled.

"GO!"