~~~

Percy and Nico landed outside of the castle next to the lake.

Nico stared in awe at the castle before them.

~~~

The second Annabeth saw Percy's stupid face, she stormed over and judo flipped him.

Percy groaned on the floor. "Nice to see you too, Wise Girl."

Annabeth bent down and leaned over Percy, to the point where their noses almost touched. "You've been gone for days! Don't you dare do that again, or I swear, I will personally murder you."

Percy shrunk back a bit from Annabeth's glare. "Understood."

"Good." Annabeth smiled, and stood up, holding her hand out to Percy (which he gratefully took).

"I assume it worked?" Annabeth said, raising an eyebrow.

Percy nodded.

"So where is it this time?"

Percy gave a grin. "Oh, I'm not telling you. Not until I'm positive you're not going to kill me."

"Percy..."

"That was the best thing I've seen all day," Nico said, seemingly appearing from nowhere. "And, I got to witness Percy's face after I asked for a wizard hat."

Annabeth spun around. "Nico?"

Nico gave a small wave. "Hey."

"Oh my gods." Annabeth rushed forward and hugged him, which Nico happily returned. "You have no idea how good it is to see you."

"I have a slight idea," Nico replied grinning.

"Woah, hold on," Percy said. Annabeth and Nico pulled apart. "How come when I went to hug you I was threatened, but when Annabeth does it, you actually hug her back?"

"Because I haven't seen her in years Fish Face."

"We Iris Messaged you a few months ago!" Percy retorted, before his face twisted in offense. "Fish face?"

Nico grinned.

Percy turned back to Annabeth. "You said I was gone for days?"

Annabeth nodded. "You forgot time ran different in the Underworld, didn't you?"

Percy's face flushed red. "No. I didn't." Annabeth folded her arms and rose an eyebrow, causing Percy to lower his head. "I forgot there were time zones."

Annabeth smirked. "Well, while you were on your death quest, a few somewhat minor things have happened."

Percy rose his head, curiosity spanning his features. "Like what?"

"Well..."

~~~

Annabeth and Draco walked into the library, in search of textbooks (or anything really) that could clue them into where Voldemort's remaining horcruxes could be.

"We shouldn't be looking for these," Annabeth fretted, throwing a book onto a table. "We need to get Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of the Manor."

"I know, I know... I just..." Draco sped between aisles until he came to the restricted section. Carefully combing through the texts, he continued, "I need to find something before I go."

"And what's this 'something'?" Annabeth asked, following behind him.

Draco finally came to a stop, and pulled out a book. "This."

Annabeth looked down and read the title. "A Wizard's Guide to the Dark Arts." Unimpressed, she looked back up at Draco. "Okay?"

Draco shook his head and began thumbing through the pages. "This was Voldemort's back when he went to Hogwarts. See?" He flipped back to the front page and pointed to the right top corner, which read: Property of Tom Riddle. "If we find anything, it's got to be in here."

Annabeth stared at Draco. "Why do you know about this?"

Draco gave a low chuckle. "My dad. He's kinda a big deal to Voldemort. Had me read this my fifth year."

Annabeth stared at him. "I'll look through this, see what I find. You go to the manor, find Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Try and help them without blowing your cover."

Draco nodded.

"Good luck."

~~~

"That's it?" Percy said, leaning against the wall.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "No, stupid. You didn't even let me get halfway through the story."

"Can you sum it up?" Nico asked.

Annabeth turned to stare at him. "Seriously?"

"You take forever when you tell stories."

Annabeth groaned. "Fine."

"So?"

~~~

Annabeth paced around the library thumbing through pages that could give any clue as to where they could find the remaining horcruxes.

Remembering that Harry said something about Dumbledore showing him a few memories, she bolted to Dumbledore's office.

Swinging open the door, she froze, staring at the old wizard himself.

"Ah, Annabeth, I was wondering when I would get to meet you," Dumbledore said from behind his desk.

Getting up, the old man walked towards a caldron next to a glass case filled with vials.

"You- you've been here all along?" Annabeth fumed.

"No, my dear. I just arrived. And it seems, it's been with the utmost necessity."

Annabeth hesitantly walked closer. "What are you talking about?"

"Daughter of Athena, yes?" Dumbledore replied, not looking up from the vials.

Annabeth froze.

Dumbledore turned around a gave a tired smile. "Your secret is safe with me."

Annabeth could only stare as Dumbledore turned back around and grabbed a vial from the case.

"Harry said you had a horcrux."

"Yes."

"We need to destroy it," She said.

"I already have."

Annabeth glared at Dumbledore. Percy wasn't kidding when he said the wizard was obnoxiously cryptic.

"Where have you been all this time?" Annabeth asked.

"That is for me to know, and you to wonder."

Annabeth groaned. Before she could say more, Dumbledore handed her the vial.

"I believe," He said, "You know what to do with this."

Annabeth nodded, carefully taking the vial. Without another word, Dumbledore apparated out of his room.

"Cryptic old man," She muttered.

~~~

"What did you see?" Nico asked.

"I was literally just getting to that!"

"He's right, you know," Percy said, as Annabeth turned to glare at him. "You take forever telling stories."

Annabeth crossed her arms. "That's because every detail is important."

"Is it?" Nico raised his eyebrow.

"Yes."

"Well can you please just sum it up?" Nico whined.

"Fine. But if you get lost, that's on you."

Percy smiled. "Trust us, we won't."

Annabeth smirked, causing Percy and Nico to immediately regret what they said.

"Okay then," She took a deep breath. "I saw flashbacks of Tom Riddle (Voldemort) and found out where three of the remaining horcruxes are. Harry, Ron, and Hermione escaped Malfoy Manor just in time for Harry to watch Snape kill Dumbledore..." At this, Percy's eyes widened. Annabeth continued, "Draco is back at Hogwarts recruiting Slytherins to fight, and the trio found a horcrux. I'm not sure if it's been destroyed yet."

Percy and and Nico stared at Annabeth.

"You guys said you wanted a summary, so there you go."

"I take it you're not going to elaborate on any of this, are you?" Percy said.

Annabeth shook her head.

"Well then. Looks like we've got work to do... I guess."

"Dumbledude... he's that old guy right? The one you didn't like?" Nico asked Percy.

The demigod nodded. "Dumbledore," Percy corrected.

"More like Dumbledumb." Nico muttered, to which he received a glare from Annabeth. Shaking his head, Nico said, "Wait, are we... sad that he's gone, or...?"

"Nico!" Annabeth reprimanded.

"He's got a point," Percy said.

"We're sad that he's gone," Annabeth clarified.

"But like... are we really?" Percy asked.

"Yes."

Nico stared up at Annabeth. "Like... really really?"

"Yes." Annabeth growled. "And when you two see Harry, Ron, and Hermione, you will be sad. Because they lost a mentor and a friend. Imagine if you lost Chiron."

"But we can't," Nico protested. Annabeth turned to him. "He's immortal."

Annabeth sighed rubbing her head. "Just be sympathetic! Both of you."

Nico and Percy nodded.

Just then, Percy noticed the trio walking towards them from the Great Hall.