I would like to take this time to thank

@goddess_of_annoying

for being the first person to add my story to her reading list! Thank you so much!!

Now, on with the story!

-Harry-

As I stormed away from the scene that just unfolded with the new wizards, I decided that I needed to figure out what it is that they're hiding. I mean, they couldn't have taken Hermione away from Ron and I without it being a spell or something. She has been my best friend since we were eleven! And we have been through a war together! That type of friendship doesn't just get washed away when some people she might have known from the past just pop up!

That's it! I needed to talk to Ron! I heard he had a crush on the blondie, Annabeth. Maybe he has gotten close enough that she has told him something.

I reached the Gryffindor common room, after using the password, "Aphrodite's Peacock."

A/N: I can't remember who had the story that included the part "Hera's Dove" but I thought it was brilliant, so I used one of my own! Credit to whoever's idea that was! Thanks!

For some reason when we told the new wizards the password, they burst out laughing. I don't get it though. That's another suspicious thing! Another is that they didn't seem to know me! I PRETTY MUCH SAVED THE WHOLE WIZARDING WORLD.

Anyway, once I got into the common room, I found Ron sitting in an armchair, almost asleep.

"Hey, Ron!" I said.

"Oh, hey Harry." He replied groggily.

"So, I was wondering if you knew anything about the new wizards?"

"They won't even speak to me! Not after what I said at lunch today! I have no idea why!" He sounded kind of frustrated, and I could see why.

"What did you say to them?" I asked curious.

"Well, Percy and Annabeth looked a little defeated and depressed, and I said, 'Blimey, you two look like you've been to hell and back! What's the matter?' And all of them glared at me while Percy flinched and Annabeth shuddered. It was only a joke!" Ron explained.

"Weird." I distractedly replied.

"Well, I'm heading to bed now, coming?" Ron asked.

"Sure, I'll be up in a few minutes."

I decided to make a list of all the weird things about the exchange students.

-Hermione, Draco, and Luna seemed to know them

-Laughed at Aphrodite's Peacock

-Hermione chose them instead of us

-Burns best part of food at meals

-All of them can see the thestrals

-Lots of inside jokes

-Weird nicknames for each other

-Hermione called them "family"

-Didn't seem to know me (Harry Potter)

-Could detect the Invisibility Cloak

-Knows Professor Snape well

-Talks in a different language sometimes

They had a lot of suspicious things about them. I just had to figure out what it all meant!

-Ron-

I really wanted Annabeth to be mine.

A/N: Romione hasn't happened yet, they aren't dating in this book... YET. *laughs evilly*

I just needed to figure out a way to make it happen. I figured that I would just make Percy look stupid in any way I can. Like in Herbology today, I successfully snipped off a leaf of some biting plant that I can't remember the name of, right in front of Annabeth, who had already finished.

As she looked away from me, I could tell she was impressed. I mean, who wouldn't be?

Percy had trouble with his, and kept getting bitten by the plant, but it didn't seem to bother him at all. Annabeth rolled her eyes and turned to help him with his. I could tell she was getting bored and annoyed with her latest boyfriend, and would soon be mine.

We had DADA tomorrow, and that's when I planned to show my skills.

-The Next Day-

After breakfast, Harry and I went to DADA and sat down in our normal spots.

Then, Hermione, the exchange students, and Malfoy all sat down next to each other, chatting as if they've known each other their entire lives.

Hermione and Malfoy were chatting and laughing like old friends, and not enemies for years. I was completely shocked.

"Hermione?!" I shouted.

"Yes, Ronald?"

"I thought you HATED Malfoy, and now you're hanging out with him just because the exchange students took a liking to him?!" I screeched.

"You know, Ron. You shouldn't judge a book by it's cover." Hermione replied, slightly annoyed.

"Nice to know who your real friends are now." I shot back, and gave a small smile to Annabeth who looked a little pissed when she looked at me. Hm, must be something Percy did.

Our new teacher walked in, and by walked I mean sort of galloped?

Another centaur teacher?

"Chi-Mr. Brunner!" I heard from the new wizards.

The centaur--Mr. Brunner, put on a warm smile, that reminded me of Dumbledore, and said, "Hello, children."

"What are you doing here?" I heard Annabeth ask.

"I'm your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!"

"Oh okay!" Annabeth replied, looking excited.

"Oh, and hello Hermione, and Draco!" He said, his smile getting bigger.

"Hello, Mr. Brunner!" They chorused.

"Now, let's get started on a lesson. Who can tell me what a dark art is?" Mr. Brunner asked.

I raised my hand and rolled my eyes, this was going to be easy, I thought to myself.

"How about you? The redhead!"

"A dark art is Voldemort and Death Eaters." Easy.

"I'm afraid you have only given us an example, and not the definition." Mr. Brunner said apologetically. He looked around for more hands.

Dang it. That was such an easy question though. That wasn't very impressive for Annabeth!

"Ah yes, Percy! You should know all about these."

Why would Percy know about these? If anyone, Harry would.

I held in a laugh, as if Percy could get a question right.

"A dark art is anything that wants to harm you. For example, monsters and apparently, Voldemort." He answered in an almost bored tone.

Apparently?!

"Brilliant, Percy!" Mr. Brunner said proudly, "Now, as for this class, we will be learning how to defend ourselves when our wands seem to fail us. Like, hand-to-hand combat, sword-fighting, and archery." This sounded pretty easy for DADA, and I was sure that I would make Percy look like a fool.

"Let us have an example. How about we have two people join us up here, and duel for a few minutes. Who would like to demo?"

Immediately, the exchange students, Hermione and Draco's hands shot up. Wonder what that's about.

"How about Percy and Annabeth?" Mr. Brunner said amused.

Percy hopped up to the stage with Annebeth right behind him. Percy pulled out a pen from his pocket, and this is when I decided to make Percy look stupid. Well, I thought I was going to.

"What are you going to do with a pen? Write on her to death?" I snorted.

But he just smirked and uncapped his pen, and out sprang a 3-foot gleaming bronze sword.

I gulped and shrunk down in my seat.

Annabeth pulled out a dagger, and they began to duel.

Instantly, I knew that they have done this before, maybe even many times before.

They were slashing, cutting, and just moving at an unimaginable speed while not even looking tired. Those swords looked heavy, and I'm sure that they both worked out often

So what? I could do that!

When they were done, Percy had won with his sword at Annabeth's throat, and was teasing her about how she was supposed to be wiser because she was a daughter of some "A" person.

She just smirked and said something in a different language, and Percy pulled her into a hug, and they walked back to their seats, while everyone said how brilliant they were.

"Alright class! You saw a demonstration! Pick a partner and begin!" Mr. Brunner instructed, clapping his hands.

Harry and I partnered up, and picked out a sword each, but for some reason, they were steel instead of the bronze that Percy and Annabeth's weapons were made out of.

As I dueled Harry, I noticed that Annabeth was walking by, so I went extra hard, and I disarmed Harry. I felt pretty proud of myself, and when Annabeth passed me, I said, "Hey, Annabeth, did you see that? I bet Percy can't disarm anyone that quickly." I said as I held up my sword for her to see.

She smiled sweetly in an uncharacteristic way, (must be my irresistible charm) and said, "Hey Percy! Ronald wants to duel you!"

Percy jogged over. Crap. Way to ruin the moment, man.

"Okay, who's this?" He asked as he sized me up. That's right, be scared.

"Ronald Wesley, and he thinks that you can't disarm someone in 3 minutes." She said amused.

"Um, it's Weasley, not Wesley." I said embarrassed.

"Oh that's right. You're that one guy from lunch yesterday." Percy said with anger in his sea-green eyes, it almost looked like the sea in the middle of a storm.

"Yeah." I managed to squeak out.

"Okay, then. Let's go." Percy said.

He brought his bronze sword up and got into a defensive position.

I attacked first, jabbing at his stomach, which Percy easily blocked, almost lazily, like he was bored of this already. Then he used some trick that knocked my sword out of my hands.

"How long was that, Wise Girl?" Percy said mockingly.

I scowled, I really don't like this guy.

"About 36 seconds, Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth replied in that gorgeous voice of hers, "Now don't underestimate my boyfriend ever again. Bye now!"

I just had to show Annabeth that Percy wasn't the guy she needed to be with. I was!

I needed a plan.