Annabeth Chase the Triwizard Champion

Chapter Twelve

"Did you see Malfoy's face? Priceless!"

    "You've mentioned that," Annabeth said, slightly out of breath. "What are you even doing out here this early?"

    They were on the grounds, the sun only just starting to make its way across the sky. Annabeth had been on lap two of her daily run around the lake when Vera showed up in her path out of nowhere (Annabeth was able to slow down just barely in time to avoid running over her friend) and started gushing about the tournament.

    The sun was shining weakly, hanging low over the horizon. The lake was calm and smooth as glass, and the Durmstrang ship bobbed lazily just off the bank, the gangplank resting between land and sea.

    Annabeth wiped sweat off her brow and tightened her ponytail as Vera plopped down on the grass and leaned back.

    "I saw you full on sprinting from one of the corridor windows. Is this where you go every morning? The lake is like, five miles around. It's huge."

    "Which is why I run four laps around it," Annabeth said. "Wanna join me?"

    "I'd rather die," Vera said without hesitation. "So what do you think the first task is going to be? Do you think you'll be chosen?"

    "I'd love to talk, Vera, but I've got to keep the adrenaline going," Annabeth said, jogging slightly in place. "I'll see you in the common room, okay?"

    "Ugh, fine, go on your torture run." Vera got up and wiped the grass off her legs. "And pay attention to how not running I am."

    Annabeth watched as Vera walked away in slow motion, then wiped her brow again and continued her run.

    ***

    "You took forever!" Vera said as Annabeth walked into the Slytherin common room, covered in sweat. There was a late October chill in the air outside, but Annabeth didn't feel it after her run. Vera was sitting on the floor at the foot of a couch, poking holes in the rug with her wand and a small fire spell. Freddie was in the chair next to her, doing homework.

    "I just ran twenty miles," Annabeth replied, wiping the sweat off her brow. "Can I shower before you harass me with the tournament?"

    That was another benefit of morning runs, aside from the energy it gave her and the fact that it kept her in shape and ready for a disaster. It was a guarantee that Annabeth would at least shower regularly. She didn't always wash her hair, but something was better than nothing.

    "What have you been doing, Chase?!" Malfoy called from across the room with a wrinkled nose. "You're positively disgusting!"

    "I spent the morning climbing your ego," Annabeth called back, heading for the stairs. "It's quite the hike."

    While Malfoy tried to think of a comeback, Annabeth climbed the stairs and opened the door to her dorm to see Saffi sitting on her bed, holding a letter in her claws.

    Saffi hooted proudly as Annabeth walked over to her and took the letter. Then Saffi pulled a loose piece of hair from Annabeth's shirt and flew out of the open dorm door. Annabeth heard a few shrieks that must have meant Saffi was in the common room.

    Annabeth chuckled and examined the letter. Her heart sank as she saw the crossed torches stamped into the wax seal. She wasted no time in ripping open the envelope and removing the letter. It had to be important if Hecate was directly writing to her. The letter was written in Greek, so her roommates wouldn't be able to read it if they came across it somehow. She sank onto the chest at the foot of her bed to read it.