So here's chapter 3 for you! I'd like to say thanks to PedroCullenBloomTM and I'm Not Saying What It Is :b (whoever you are) for reviewing BOTH chapters. Thanks :)

DISCLAIMER: Don't own PJO or Harry Potter. Please DONT sue...

Hermione POV

Capture the flag was interesting, to say the least. Ron and Harry, of course, leapt out of the bushes and ran with the rest of the campers, despite the fact that we were supposed to be covering them. And Ginny had disappeared somewhere as well. So I was left with Cho and Luna. Luna looked nonplussed, as usual, but Cho looked rather frightened. I imagine I had the same look on my face.

We sat up in the trees and waited for the telltale red helmets to pass beneath us. Numerous people came, and I decided that the best spell to use would be a Stunning Spell. Of course, they were running so quickly under us that we only had time to Stun about five of them. The "game" was over in about half an hour – a shorter time than I would have expected.

I heard cheering, and Luna, Cho and I followed the sound. There, in a clearing, Nico was waving a black flag high in the air as the blue team congratulated him. The red team looked disgusted with themselves, especially the girl that Percy had been fighting before. I saw Harry and Ron looking triumphantly at something, and I hurried over to them. "Look at the git," Ron said, pointing to Malfoy. He was on the ground, clutching his sleeve, which was stained red. There were also numerous scratches on his face.

I noticed that the "horrible injury" that Malfoy had was merely a scratch. Rolling my eyes, I pointed my wand at him and muttered, "Episkey." The scratches healed and Malfoy got up, muttering under his breath. "I don't need your help, Mudblood," he spat, and walked away with Pansy. "Is something wrong?" asked Percy. He'd come up behind us. "No," Harry said. "Well, Malfoy was whining, but that's not unusual."

Chiron galloped into the clearing. "Well done, heroes!" he said. He leaned down and said something quietly to Nico, who beamed. "All right, back to your training. Students, Professor Dumbledore has informed me that you are to meet him and Professor McGonagall at the arena to learn new fighting spells."

I was interested, although I'd already learned many spells from Harry during the meetings of Dumbledore's Army. Harry leaned over as we walked and said, "I wonder what new spells we'll learn." "I think it's going to be more a review and practice than anything else," I responded. "But it'll be interesting to see what other spells we learn."

We arrived at the arena, where Dumbledore and McGonagall were standing on a platform. "Students, pair up," instructed Dumbledore, his voice magically amplified by a Sonorus Charm. I turned to see Harry and Ron already paired together, so I turned to Ginny. "Partners?" I asked. She nodded.

"All right. First you will practice a Shield Charm. Once Professor McGonagall or I think you have mastered this, you will learn a Shield Charm specifically for Dark Magic. On the count of three, one of you will attempt to Disarm your opponent. The other will cast a Shield Charm. One, two, three! – "

"Expelliarmus!" "Protego!" Not one person lost their wands. McGonagall looked impressed. "All right, switch. On my count, again. One, two, three! – "The same thing – or rather, nothing – happened.

"Very good," Professor Dumbledore praised. "Now on to the Dark Magic Shield. The incantation is Protego Horribilis. You can use this against normal attacks as well, though it is specifically for Dark Magic. We'll try it against Expelliarmus again. One, two, three!"

This time, I couldn't get the incantation out quick enough, and my wand flew neatly out of my hand and into Ginny's. "Nice one," I said. She shrugged. "I had a good teacher." We looked around the arena. No one seemed to have mastered the spell. Justin Finch-Fletchley was lying flat on his back, while Susan Bones, his opponent, leaned over him cautiously.

We spent about two more hours practicing various spells. "Very good," Dumbledore said. Justin raised his hand. "Sir?" he asked. Dumbledore looked at him and nodded. "If we were just going to learn these spells, couldn't we have done so at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore replied, "Ah, yes. If it were that simple. You see, the Order of the Phoenix has received intelligence that Voldemort may be working with other monsters. Non-magical monsters.

"All will be explained at supper tonight, however, you probably already know that these campers are not ordinary Muggles. They are demigods, children of a Greek god and a mortal. If you have read the myths, you will know that the world of Greek mythology has its own monsters. The Nemean lion or Medusa, for instance."

Ginny whispered, "Wow. And I thought this couldn't get any stranger." I nodded. When I had first discovered the existence of the magical world, I had thought that was the strangest thing ever. Now this?

Dumbledore continued, "You may go back to your cabins to freshen up before supper. Your trunks will be there, and when you hear the horn, come to the dining pavilion.

We walked out of the arena, and I noticed that the campers had been watching us. Annabeth came up to us and said, "Was that really magic, or just an illusion?" I said, "It's magic. I'm a Muggle – non-magic – by birth, so I didn't know magic existed until I got my Hogwarts letter when I was eleven." Annabeth looked interested, but before she could say whatever she wanted to, a giant light seemed to come down from the sky and came towards the grass right next to the lake.

I looked at Annabeth for an explanation, but she just stood there, looking at the light. I saw that it wasn't a light, but – "A car. It's a car," Ginny whispered. "Just like Dad's." Annabeth nodded. "It isn't just a car, though. It's Apollo's sun chariot." I looked over at the girl to see if she was joking, but there was no trace of sarcasm on her face. Wow. This was big. Annabeth walked towards the car, and I saw Percy and a bunch of other demigods also walking towards it. I followed her, but kept my distance slightly. When Annabeth got about ten feet away from the car, she stopped short. A good-looking man – who looked to be around twenty – had gotten out of the car and was now reaching into the backseat and lifting out a girl who looked to be around fifteen. She had flaming red hair. "Di immortales," Annabeth whispered. "What happened to Rachel?" "You know her?" I asked. Annabeth nodded. "She's the Oracle. She goes to a boarding school, though." The Oracle. That sounded like some kind of fortune-teller. I expected to hear a bunch of fluff, like with Trelawney.

Annabeth had run up to Apollo now, and was saying, "Lord Apollo. Is she all right? What happened?" The man took off his sunglasses and smiled. "Hi there, Annabeth. Hang on – I feel a haiku coming on.

Oracle at school

Sees a future happening

Gets attacked real bad."

I winced. For the god of poetry, he really wasn't a good poet. He was looking off into the distance, but turned back to Annabeth. "Since I'm the god of prophecy, I decided that it was my job to bring her here." Chiron had galloped up now, and he bowed and said, "Does she need to go to the Big House?" The girl in Apollo's arms had stirred, and she sat up. "Whoa. What happened?" she asked, looking around.

The sun god put her on the ground. "You were attacked. But I brought you to Camp Half-Blood now."

Percy POV

I stepped forward and said, "Do you remember what you saw?" Chiron held up his hand. "Percy, I think it best if we have dinner first and explain. I have a feeling we're going to have a quest." He led the crowd over to the dining pavilion as the conch horn blew. Rachel sat at the Apollo table, as did Apollo.

We all sat down, and Chiron said, "We have two guests here today. Lord Apollo" – everyone stood up and bowed – "and the Oracle." Whispers spread through the pavilion like wildfire, but Chiron held up his hand. "Everything will be explained shortly. But first, let us eat!" The nymphs came around with trays of steaming food, and I grabbed some of the juicy-looking brisket. I got up and walked to the brazier, scraping some of the meat into the flames. "Poseidon," I whispered, then walked back to the table. As at lunch, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione looked slightly flummoxed. I ignored them, and sat down to eat.

Everyone finished quickly, wanting to know why Apollo and Rachel were here. Chiron soon got up and said, "May I have your attention, please? Now, many of you were wondering why we have visitors – from England, no less. They have an adversary, much like we did – a Lord Voldemort."

The name had no meaning to me, but many of the students gasped or seemed afraid of the name. Harry, who was sitting across from me, had not gasped. In fact, he rolled his eyes at the others' reactions. "Now, they came for help in both training to fight the monsters that have allied themselves with Voldemort. They also came because it is possible that this Voldemort is here, in America.

"Lord Apollo has informed us that Rachel has indeed had a prophecy about a quest. However, first you must accept the quest." I leaned across the table and whispered, "Is this Voldemort guy the one you were talking about earlier, right?" He nodded and whispered back: "I have to fight him." I said, "Then you have to accept the quest. Stand up and say you'll lead the quest." Ron nudged him, saying, "Go on, mate. Do it."

Harry swallowed, and then he stood up. "I will lead the quest." I gave him a thumbs-up. Chiron looked slightly taken aback, but then Dumbledore whispered something in his ear, and Chiron nodded. "Very well, Harry Potter." He turned to Rachel Elizabeth Dare. "Are you well enough to give the prophecy again?" She nodded, and Harry followed her out of the dining pavilion.

Meanwhile, Chiron dismissed us and told us to go to the amphitheater for a sing-along. But Hermione, Ron, and Ginny stayed behind, saying they wanted to see what was going to happen.

Harry and Rachel got back just as I was leaving the pavilion. Annabeth and Nico also stayed back to hear the prophecy. "Well?" asked Ron. "What did she say?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "You can't really believe that's true. Remember Trelawney?" Harry looked at her. "But she was right once, remember? With Sirius?"

Chiron and Dumbledore had also come to stand by us. "What was the prophecy?" Harry took a deep breath and recited,

"Six must go to the lotus flower's lair

And find a ring forever lost in there.

One will be lost to the eternal dark

And one will suffer with those who bear the mark.

Wizards and demigods must, as one, unite

And battle against the forces of night.

Everyone was quiet. "Wait a minute," said Ron. "Did you say 'one will be lost to the eternal dark?' That doesn't sound good. It sounds like someone's going to die." No one said anything. Chiron gently said, "That's sometimes what happens."

"Six of us," Annabeth murmured. "I'm in," I said. I had been wanting to go on a quest since I'd arrived, and it sounded like they would need our help. "I'm definitely with you too," said Ron, and Hermione nodded. Nico, Annabeth, and Ginny were left. "I'm going with you," Ginny said. "There's no way you can stop me." Ron said, "In your dreams" just as Harry said, "No way." She looked shocked. "Why? I can fight, you've seen me at the Ministry." Harry shook his head. "Voldemort knows my connection with you. He tried to get to me through you once, and you almost died. I'm not going to let that happen again."

Ginny crossed her arms, her hands balled into fists. She didn't say anything else, but I had a feeling we would see her on the quest. "I'll come with you," said Nico. "The 'lotus flower's lair' – that sounds like the Lotus Casino. I've been in there before."

Annabeth nodded. "And it sounds like you could use my help, too. I'm in."

Dumbledore said, "Very well. Before you go, however, there is something I must tell you. I have not told you yet, Harry; I was going to next year. But seeing as whatever you are going to destroy is likely one of these, I should inform you all what you are dealing with.

"Harry, you know that Voldemort is not fully human. However, I have not told you to what extent. Voldemort has split his soul and enclosed pieces inside certain items. The diary you destroyed in your second year was one. They are known as Horcruxes." Hermione gasped. "But I thought those were incredibly dangerous to make!" "They are," Dumbledore nodded. "But if you succeed, then you are nearly immortal. The only way you can die is if your Horcrux is destroyed as well."

Harry said, "Well, I've destroyed the one in the diary, right? So now Voldemort is human." Dumbledore shook his head. "If only it were that simple. I believe that Voldemort has made more than one, and this lost item that you are searching for is also a Horcrux. If this is true, then it cannot be destroyed by the usual methods."

Hermione instantly started talking. "Oooh, I've read about them. They can only be destroyed by irreversible magic, like Fiendfyre or by a magical item." Harry looked at her curiously. "How do you know so much about them?" Hermione blushed. "I, well, if you must know, I read it in a book once."

Dumbledore nodded. "Miss Granger is correct. You must be very cautious in destroying the Horcrux. I presume you'll want to get a good night's sleep before your quest, so you will leave tomorrow morning." He left, along with Professor McGonagall and Chiron. Rachel had been standing off to the side and was talking quietly with Apollo.

When she saw we had stopped talking she walked over to us. "Hey guys," she said. "So what happened?" Annabeth asked. "Apollo said you got attacked." Rachel winced, and I noticed a shallow cut on her right cheek. "Yeah. I got the prophecy, and then I saw someone at the window. He pointed at me, and all of a sudden I blacked out. I heard people yelling, and next thing I woke up here."

Apollo had come up next to her. "Some guy was waving what looked like a wand around and was demanding to know the prophecy. I decided it was my duty as the god of prophecy to protect the Oracle, so…"

Rachel blushed. "Thank you, Lord Apollo." She looked at her watch, and gasped. "Styx! I've got to be back to school in fifteen minutes!" "Wait a minute," I said. "You're still in school?" The Oracle rolled her eyes and nodded. "Uh-huh. Today's our last day." Annabeth hugged her goodbye. They had gotten closer, once Rachel had become the Oracle and it was clear she wasn't interested in me as a boyfriend.

Rachel followed Apollo back to the bright red 2002 Maserati – aka the sun chariot – and got in the passenger's seat. Apollo waved, and the car glowed bright enough that we all had to avert our eyes until it had gone.

"I guess we should try to get some sleep," Hermione commented, and started to walk away from the dining pavilion. "Wait – I don't know where your cabin is," she said. I motioned for them to follow me, and Annabeth came up to me and put an arm around my waist. "It must be nice," she mused. "To go on a quest and not have to worry about the fate of the world being in your hands." I laughed. "Right. Because it's someone else's quest." She laughed quietly, and I knew that even if I went all around the world, I would never find a girl just like her.

We were across the river from the sing-along amphitheater, and the campers' voices echoed from it. I smiled. This was the perfect place to be. Annabeth snuggled against me, and I wrapped my arms around her. Suddenly, I heard a rustling, and before I could do anything, Clarisse and Travis had thrown us into the creek. Again. Annabeth laughed, and put her lips securely against mine.

So I just HAD to put Percabeth in there... whaddaya think?
and whoever thought writing prophecies was easy... i had to come up with the entire plot :|