3
Percy's POV:
I woke up with a start, sweating and panting. A tear escaped and ran down my cheek. I pulled my knees to my chest and ducked my head, trying to control my breathing.
It's your fault. You should've saved them.
So many lives were lost because of you. What kind of friend is that?
Bianca
Zoë
Pan
Daedalus
Charles
Silena
Ethan
Luke
My head repeated the names like a mantra.
I started rocking trying to calm myself. My mom couldn't see me like this. She'd get so worried. I can't get her worried. She's been worried enough about me with all of my quests. What if I-
Dang it Percy! Shut up, stupid! You're going to get yourself all hyped up again! Stupid, Stupid!
Another tear ran down my cheek. I wiped it off impatiently.
I heard a knock on my door and violently flinched. I cursed.
"Dang it, dang it!" I whisper-yelled as I scrambled out of my bed and wiped my face, trying to wipe the evidence that I had been crying. I shook my head so my hair fell in my face, hiding my red, puffy eyes.
I walked to my dresser and started to pretend I was picking out clothes.
"Yes?" I finally called out, cursing myself when It sounded too shaky.
I heard the door creak as I opened and my mom's soft voice saying, "Percy? I made breakfast."
"Okay, i'll be there in a sec." I replied, still not looking up.
There was a pause, I could almost see my mom hesitating.
Finally she said with uncertainty:
"Alright..I'll be in the kitchen with Paul."
I nodded and once I was sure she had left, I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and slid down the wall.
I put my head in my hands, my breath hitching as I struggled to control my tears.
I took a couple deep breaths, changed shirts-but didn't bother changing pants-, and left the room.
As soon as I walked into the kitchen, I was greeted with the smell of fresh pancakes straight from the pan.
I went to my mom and gave her a side hug as a "good morning" since I didn't get to it earlier.
"Good morning, sweetie." She replied, kissing my head. Good thing she was paying too much attention on her cooking pancake to notice my still slightly red eyes.
I sniffled, and again cursed myself, looking around to make sure no one heard me.
I saw Paul give me a worried glance, before averting when their eyes met.
I sighed, sitting down as mom brought me a plate of blue pancakes.
I forced a smile and thanked my mom. She frowned but luckily, didn't say anything.
"So, how'd you sleep last night, Percy?" Paul asked, concerned.
"Fine." I gritted out.
Sally sighed.
"Percy, we both know you had a nightmare. Why didn't you want to tell us?"
I stayed silent.
"Percy?"
"I don't want to worry you." I almost whispered. Another tear rolled down by cheek.
"Oh Percy." my mother said, basically to herself and came around the table to give me a hug.
"It's okay, baby. I know you've still struggling at night. You don't need to lie to us, okay?" she said reassuringly as she wrapped her arms around me.
I barely registered Paul standing up to join us, rubbing my back.
They both mumbled soothing and reassuring nonsense as I cried into Sally's shoulder, breath hitching every now and then.
Once I finally calmed down, I reluctantly pulled away, rubbing my eye. My parents were still looking down at me with their eyes filled with mixed emotions. Love, sadness, and sympathy for their son.
I sniffled again before pulling them both into another hug.
"I love you guys."
~*~
Harry's POV
I lied in bed, staring up at the ceiling of Ron's room. I haven't even tried sleeping, I knew it wouldn't work. Besides, I didn't want to deal with nightmares tonight.
There was a soft thud behind Ron's door and I immediately shot up from my bed, grabbing my wand. No no no no no. No Death Eaters. No Death Eaters.
The person on the other side opened the door and peeked their head in. I saw a flash of red hair and I lowered my wand a little bit. Maybe it was one of the Weasleys.
"Hello?"
Ginny camp out from behind the door.
I cursed.
"-hell Ginny! Don't do that" I whisper-yelled, Ron was still asleep.
"I want to talk to you. I wasn't sleeping and I figured you wouldn't be either, so might as well." she responded coolly.
I looked down so she couldn't she my face. "Fine, but be more careful next time. I thought you were a Death Eater."
"Oh. Sorry." She said, sounding genuinely sorry. We've all had are share of Death Eaters.
I sighed and looked at Ron.
"Let's go downstairs." I suggested.
Ginny nodded and led me downstairs.
Ginny led me to the kitchen, much to my confusion.
"I'm hungry." she explained when she saw my face.
I nodded in understanding.
When we were settled and Ginny had her snacks, I asked, "So what did you want to talk to me about?"
Ginny munched on a cracker before replying.
"Mum's letting us go. She asked dad and he told her he'd let us."
I stared, mouth open. It wasn't that I was mad we were going to.... wherever Ginny wants us to go, I just wasn't expecting them to say yes.
I didn't say anything for a second. I wanted to spend time with her, but I was still hesitant.
"Well?" Ginny asked. She was masking her face of emotions, but I could see straight through it and tell she was panicking from my reaction.
"Sorry. I wasn't expecting them to let us go."
"Neither was I." Ginny admitted.
I hesitated again.
"You-you don't care that there could still be Death Eaters chasing me?"
"Of course not." she said immediately.
"What about the fact that I've basically killed hundreds of people?" I said accidentally blurted. I looked down at my hands in my lap.
Ginny stood up and walked over to me. She wrapped me in a hug. I felt myself tense, but Ginny just held me tighter. Finally I relaxed and buried my face in her shoulder, trying hard not to cry.
Ginny rubbed my back and told me that everything would be alright and none of this was my fault.
"But-”
"Shh. You did everything you could. It wasn't your fault. They knew the costs."
I just sat there, soaking up the warmth of the embrace for who knows how long until Ginny brought me to the floor. Now that I think about it, hugging me while I was still sitting had to be uncomfortable.
A tear escaped from my eye and my breathing quickened. I tried hard to calm myself down, Ginny can’t see my like this.
At some point I heard someone coming in and Ginny shooing them off to give us space. They must've told everyone to stay out of the kitchen for a bit, because no tried coming in again.
Finally when my breathing slowed and Ginny's shirt was officially ruined, I reluctantly pulled away from her embrace.
"Thanks..” I said quietly.
"Anytime."she said back. Her eyes were sad and sympathetic and I quickly looked away. I couldn’t stand to see the sympathy there.
She stood up the held out her hand to help me up. I accepted and when I stood up, Ginny hugged me again.
"It'll be alright"
I nodded and pulled away, starting to walk back upstairs. I did not want to face the rest of the Weasley right now.
"Oh, and Harry?"
I turned around.
"Think about what I said earlier. Please."
I nodded, getting one last look of her slightly hopeful, but still sad eyes, before turning and going back upstairs.
I nodded, getting one last look of her slightly hopeful, but still sad eyes, before turning and going back upstairs.