Through the years

[PERCY]

Percy tried not to imagine his summers too much during the year. Until now his hopes of spending them canoeing on the lake, picking fresh strawberries from the fields or even just having a couple of good night’s sleep had always been ruined by some ridiculous quest.

So when Ron had questioned him on the train to London what his summer was going the look like he had just answered: boring. Looking back Percy’s words always seemed to have a contradicting factor to them. Maybe he should have told Ron: 'Ghee I really wish to spend my summer wandering through a demigod killing labyrinth',  only to be disappointed by being invited to a five-star luxury holiday at the beach.

‘Just my luck’ he thought as he wandered through a dirty, demigod-killing tunnel.

To make matters worse it wasn’t long before the tunnel started to become hot. The stone walls glowed and the air was as thick as a piping hot oven. Percy walked vastly behind Annabeth who kept her eyes, unwillingly, on the mechanic spider.

Something about what Hephaestus said earlier had made Percy curious “Hey, wait-”

“Stop!” Annabeth suddenly yelled. Before her command had registered in his brain Percy had already bumped into her.

“Why are you stopping so suddenly,” Percy asked.

“Because he did’’ Annabeth said while pointing at the mechanic spider.

At that moment the spider slowly rotated to the side of the tunnel. Percy looked in the same direction and had to do a double take, a big hole had opened up in the side of the tunnel.

“That wasn’t there before right?” Annabeth asked.

Percy wanted to answer her but he was too distracted by the feeling that was taking over his body. Something inside that cave was calling him. Something that felt like home.

“I think we have to go in,” Percy said.

“But what about the forge, it is clearly the other way” Annabeth countered. But just as she finished her sentence the little spider went forward towards the entrance, then slightly backwards, forwards, and backwards.

“I think he wants us to go in” Percy stated.

“Then why isn’t he going in it himself?” Annabeth said

“Maybe he’s afraid of the dark?”

She gave him a blank stare.

“Just trust me,” Percy said confidently "I can’t explain it but I have a good feeling about this"

Annabeth looked him intensely in the eye, she held this stare for so long that he almost felt a blush coming up. Then she let out a big sigh and said “Alright but if we get killed you owe me 10 Drachmas”

Percy let out a chuckle “Lead the way gold digger” he said as they started their journey through the tunnel.

After about ten minutes of walking the walls started to change from the red sandy color to properly laid bricks. On the bricks hang big heavy-looking sconces, their flames illuminating the pathway.

“I wonder who put those on?" Percy asked.

Annabeth let out a small snort “Probably the crazy axe murderer living in these caves"

“Well at least he got good taste" he retorted.

“I think it could use some more refined features" Annabeth said “Nice big windows, maybe a large couch… or a door. Like that one" She pointed at an old wooden door at the end of the cave. They quickened their pace to reach it faster.

Percy reached for the large brass handle hanging from the door. ‘Well here goes nothing’ he thought as he pulled it open. Surprisingly to both, it opened with ease. The doorway led into a large room with high ceilings, the whole place decorated in the colour yellow.

Percy knew immediately where he was.

“You’ve got the be kidding me" he groaned “The Hufflepuff common room?" Apparently sneaking in together with Cedric those few times came in handy after all.

Annabeth looked at him ridiculously “The Huffle what now?" She said.

"It is one of the houses at my boarding school" he explained "We are at my school right now"

“Why would the labyrinth lead EXACTLY to your school’ She asked, “that is so strange."

Percy pondered for a moment. Even though Annabeth was his best friend he has always been vague about where he went to school. It is not like he didn’t want to tell her, of course, he did, but that also meant immediate expulsion from Hogwarts since the rules are clear; no talking about Hogwarts in the muggle world. He had talked about it with Dumbledore on several occasions but he also was not clear on the grey area that was a demigod.

He turned to her “I don’t exactly go to a …normal school." She looked at him expectingly, he should have known. This is Annabeth Chase we’re talking about, of course, she wanted more information.

Percy sighed “I will answer all your questions later.. for now just follow me," he said as he made his way to the exit of the common room.

They stepped through the portrait and immediately took a right, leading them to the great hall. They walked slowly as Annabeth was looking at anything but the floor. Percy wondered if he should have secretly brought his camera some years earlier. Maybe he could have shown the pictures to Annabeth.  For her, the Hogwarts architecture was like a big birthday present wrapped in a bow.

As they walked into the great hall Annabeth immediately noticed the ceiling and she let out a small “wow" under her breath. But Percy, who had seen this ceiling a million times by now, was more interested in something else. Or rather someone else. An old, fragile man was standing in the middle of the hall. His long hair and beard tucked into the belt of his orange robes. The old man looked in their direction and gave a small smile, not seeming surprised at all.

“Perseus," he said “I was just thinking of you"

“Professor Dumbledore" Percy responded. From the corner of his eye, he saw Annabeth give the man a suppositious glance.

“You do know classes don’t start until September first, right?’ the professor asked

Percy smiled “I was just missing Hogwarts a bit and you know…it is easy coming here when there is such a neat shortcut leading right to the Hufflepuff common room"

The professor's eyes twinkled “Ah, yes, that old thing. Never really figured out how it worked’ he said "Must have been an addition from my grandmother"

Percy's expression crumbled at once. He probably looked like he had swallowed an ear wax jelly bean. "Yeah your grandma" He grumbled "A real comedian that one"

Dumbledore let out a small chuckle. "And who's this young lady?" he asked.

Percy turned to Annabeth "Annabeth meet my headmaster Albus Dumbledore, grandson of Hecate’

Annabeth extended her hand to the professor “Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, nice to meet you"

Dumbledore slowly shook her hand “Ah, yes, young Annabeth, I have heard much about you from Perseus" He said with a twinkle in his eye.

Percy felt an immediate blush rushing to his face while Annabeth just gave him a smirk.

“I would love the hear more about everything Percy told you," She said to Dumbledore "But maybe some other time. We’re in quite a hurry but along the way, something led us here."

“Mmm," Dumbledore pondered “Like I said I was just thinking about you Perseus."

Dumbledore started to rummage in the pockets of his dress robe. Pulling all kinds of stuff out, shaking his head, and putting it back in his pockets. After about two minutes he seemed to have found what he was looking for.

“Ah ha!" Dumbledore exclaimed as he pulled out what looked like a blanket. “Not as cool as Harry’s I suppose but it can really help you out when you’re in a … hot situation."

He handed the two demigods the blanket. While it looked like a normal woollen blanket, the material felt more like leather. Even folded you could see little details of black thorns embroidered into the red fabric.

“Thanks, professor!" Percy said even though he hadn’t completely figured out what the blanket was for.

“Don’t mention it" Dumbledore responded “Really don't. Because I,ehm, borrowed it from Professor McGonagall and it is best if she wouldn’t hear about me lending it to you" He held his finger to his lips.

Percy let out a chuckle, he could almost picture McGonagall’s reaction in his mind.

“Don’t worry about it" Percy said.

Annabeth pitched in “Yes sir, we will look after it carefully"

“Thank you both" Dumbledore responded “Now of you go," he said while making a shooing motion with his hand.  Percy and Annabeth turned around and started walking back towards the Hufflepuff common room.

“Oh and Perseus" The professor called after them “Please make sure you close the door. Wouldn’t want my students to end up in New York by accident."

Percy gave a thumbs-up without looking back, and they exited through the big doors. Annabeth and him walking side by side.

“So…" he said, “what do you think of my school?"

Annabeth gave him a bossy glare. “You, Percy Jackson, are going to tell me everything about this whole thing right now. From the beginning"

 “Could have expected this" Percy chuckled “Ok so the day I came back from my first year at camp this old geezer stood at my door-"