Chapter 5
To say I was mildly surprised by today's detention would be an understatement. All that planning and worrying for nothing.
Dumbledore sure was the quirky individual. He seemed to be sort of a grandfather character to Harry, judging by the way he looked at the headmaster, manipulative as he may seem.
Carefully walking down the moving staircases, I made my way outside, back to the great lake.
I’ll admit, the first time around, the magical stairs were pretty interesting. Moving steps make walking up and down staircases much more interesting. That is until you trip and almost fall to your death. I’m not speaking from experience.
Okay, I’m speaking from experience. A serious safety hazard, if you ask me, considering the amount of people that walk here - some in such a rush they don’t pay attention to the ground beneath them. I do wonder how many accidents happen each school year.
I didn’t think too much about it though; I had a specific someone to IM after all. That, and I really don’t need to get pissed at another inanimate object.
Granted, I probably should have Iris Messaged her earlier, but things have been genuinely busy for the both of us these past few days. She did just start Uni after all. And there’s also a time zone difference.
Besides, we agreed that today, Sunday, would be the day we IM each other and update one another about the happenings at each of our respective schools.
“Oh Fleecy, do me a solid, show me Annabeth Chase, New Rome University.”
I’m not going to lie, I was kinda feeling nervous. Not my fault, I tell you. This is the first time I’ve been away from Annabeth for an extended period of time since I lost my memories.
I checked my reflection in the water to make sure I looked alright. Of course my hair was still an untamable mess, but at least I looked presentable?
An image of Annabeth appeared. She seemed to be writing an essay with a pen and paper, which caused an indescribable amount of jealousy to well up inside of me. I had half a mind to straight up use riptide in pen form to write my essays.
Our eyes made contact. Those beautiful, stormy gray eyes stared back into my own. I was left breathless, like I was looking at her for the first time all those years ago.
“Percy.” She said, half whispering. There was a longing tone in her voice.
“Annabeth.” My voice was the same. There, in front of me, was my wise girl.
It took seeing her again to realize just how much I missed her.
The silence afterwards was tense. I wanted to reach out to her, through the IM to feel her physically. To caress her face, to feel her touch again. But I couldn’t, so the silence hung in the air before I went fuck it, this is getting too intimate for my likings.
“Anaaaabeeeeeth,” I whined. “You gotta help me. These wizards, they’re - they’re crazy.”
She burst out laughing. “Never change Percy, never change.”
She was likely thinking how any other guy would say something romantic in a situation like this. Maybe a ‘Each day I am away from thy presence, my heart aches in undeniable suffering. Oh how I long for us to be reunited again, my love!”
Okay, I think I puked on the inside a little thinking that.
I put my hands on my hips in mock anger. “No, no, I’m being serious here. I fear for my well-being. My sanity. I’m disappointed you’re not taking my plight more seriously.”
She rolled her eyes in response, an amused smile on her face. “Well then Seaweed brain, let it all out. I’m here for you.”
I took a deep breath. Where do I begin? Oh right, of course, where else, “There’s this stupid, stuffy, old, oversized hat with proably a thousand generations of lice inside of it. It hurt my feelings.”
AN: An author’s note in the middle of the story, how unsightly of me. But I just wanted to put this here as a warning. I dropped this fic a while ago because of school and whatnot. Life was busy. I’m back, but I can’t guarantee my writing will be the same as before. Just a warning. Anyways, read on.
Of course, it wasn’t just the oversized hat that has caused me much plight, for there was also an old wizard with questionable fashion taste - even for a wizard. “And don’t get me started on the Headmaster. Cheeky old bastard, giving me ‘detention’ on the first week of school.”
Annabeth rolled her eyes in response, mirth in them. “Seaweed Brain, I know you haven’t been to school in a while, but when you get in trouble, you get sent to detention.”
“But I’m innocent! I didn’t cause any trouble so far!” I cried out.
“Uh-huh.” Annabeth responded, doubt evident in her voice.
“Well… not yet anyways, ” I mumbled quietly.
I decided to change the subject. “Enough about me, how’ve you been doing?”
I was then bombarded with an entire speech, well articulated and full of vocabulary I didn’t understand. At this point, it’s to be expected when it comes to children of Athena and stuff that interests them. Architecture. Course load. Calculus. Linear Algebra. Professor. Tuition. Romans. Blue pancakes. Sustainability. Ergonomics. Integrals. More blue pancakes. New friends.
Those were some of the words I got out of Annabeth’s very impassioned speech about her time so far at New Rome University, though I may have imagined a couple of them. Unfortunately, my ADHD, as well as my lack of knowledge, made it so I barely understood anything she talked about. Still, judging from her tone of voice and body language, I could tell she was happy.
Which was good. Even despite the pang in my heart, I was happy for her.
God, I wish I was there with her, happy along with her, by her side.
“ -and as we worked on the framing for the configuration of the arc, I came to the realization that the whole blueprint model was done wrong, and it was just the most hilarious thing when the realization hit.”
She laughed. It was a beautiful sound, full of mirth, and even though I didn’t even remotely understand what she just said, I couldn’t help but smile. I mean, how could I not. The look on her face was so carefree and happy. No stress. No worries.
I just wish it could last forever.
When my resolve wavers or my frustration builds up. I just gotta remember that look on her during my quest. Help Harry defeat Voldemort, save the world, yadda yadda yadda. Typical Demigod stuff. And I know Hecate never specifically mentioned what would happen to us Demigods if Voldemort came out victorious, but I kinda read between the lines on the part.
Pretty obvious that once the noseless wizard has conquered the wizarding world, he’d set his eyes on greater sights. And while a war with wizards would no doubt be nowhere near as hard as the previous against Titans and Giants, a war is a war. And frankly, I’ve had too much in my life, and so have plenty of my friends. And so has Annabeth.
That’s why, no matter what, I will help Harry Potter defeat Voldemort - even if I have to snap that fuckers neck myself.
“But seriously Percy,” Annabeth suddenly said, her tone much more, well, serious. “How has the quest been progressing?”
I thought about making another joke. Perhaps about the safety hazard of moving staircases and how they’d deal with court cases related to it - your honor, it is not the fault of the school that your child lacks the proper capabilities to navigate our hallways and staircases - but her tone made me do otherwise.
“To be honest, the wizarding world is messed up.”
And then I let the dam spill loose about my troubles. Not the whole befriending Harry debacle, but the whole situation going on with the Slytherin House and my attempts at dealing with them. Just talking about it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
The fact that I didn’t make a dam joke shows the seriousness of this.
Annabeth seemed really taken aback by what I just said. Perhaps I should have never told her about this and worry her. It wasn’t related to the quest after all. I wanted to keep that happy expression on her face. But well, it was too late.
“Those disgusting bastards.” Annabath spat out, cold furry resonating from her. “What’s happening is truly horrible. I just can’t imagine why the school’s not doing something about it.”
I shrugged my shoulders in response. “It’s what happens when you mix 13th century backwards feudalism type propaganda agenda noble lord house systems with boarding schools.”
A snort came from Annabeth. “What type of nonsense did you just spout out Percy Jackson? Do you even know what you just said?”
I chuckled a bit, which led to Annabeth giggling a bit too. Good, the moods been lightened, the joy returned to her face.
“Yes, I do. At least I think,” I answered. “Even if I have most if not all the information regarding the Wizarding World from Hecate, my ADHD brain struggles to gather that information and properly articulate it, especially when it’s full of complex words I don’t know. If anything, the last part is something I’m all too familiar with.”
Annabeth nodded in understanding. Boarding schools are prone to sexual misconduct. It’s bound to happen when hormonal teens are placed in a closed vicinity. Add magic, nobility and whatnot to the mix, and you get a potent concoction that would make even Professor Snape shiver.
I think. He better not be in on this whole fiasco.
“Right,” Annabeth said. “I think you’ve been approaching this situation wrong.”
“Yeah, I figured. As much as it seemed logical to me, it just wasn’t my style.”
I received a nod in response. “It’s how a child of Athena would tackle the issue - safely with strategy and logic. No offense Seaweed brain, but you’re no child of Athena.”
“Kind of obvious,” I could help but blurt out. I received an eye roll in response. But she was right, I’m tackling this issue like how Annabeth would, like as if she was here with me. It’s by far the most risk free strategy, but it isn’t the only one.
I guess subconsciously, I’m doing this quest as if Annabeth were still here with me, leading.
I stood up. “Thanks Annabeth. You really are my wise-girl.”
“Anytime Percy.”
My mind set and my plans for tonight being set, I began walking back to the castle. I stopped, however, when I heard Annabeth’s voice.
“Oh, and Seaweed brain. Take care of yourself, okay?”
Her voice was different. A lot sadder, filled with doubt and worry. It was so unlike her.
I gave her my trademark cocky grin. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be just fine.” and ended the IM.
I looked towards the castle. The sun was setting. Curfew was approaching. I felt riptide in my pocket, the same as ever. He’s seen no action thus far during this quest. But all that’s about to change.
--
Harry returned to the Gryffindor Common Room in much higher spirits than in the morning. It confused Ron a bit, but he wasn’t one to complain. Usually, Snape’s detentions leave you a soulless husk. It took weeks for Ron to recover from his first detention with the profesor.
“You seem to be in rather high spirits,” Hermione pointed out, noticing the same thing Ron did.
“You’ll never believe who I just met,” Harry said, a bit of excitement in his voice.
“...Snape?” Ron answered slowly. Maybe Ron should complain. It seems Snape’s detention has driven Harry crazy for no sane person would be in a remotely good mood after detention with Snape.
“Nope!” Harry said. “Two more guesses.”
“Hey!” Hermione couldn’t help but complain. “Who said we had limited guesses?”
“I did,” Harry responded. His unfound elation left the other two members of the trio befuddled. “30 seconds remaining now. Hurry up!”
“Now there’s a time limit!?” Hermione asked, voice indignant.
“Relax Mione,” Ron said, trying to calm the girl down. “It’s just like a pop quiz. You usually ace those, this is no different.”
And he was right. Well, partially.
Ron guessed that the Weasley twins happened to be there as well while Hermione guessed that Dumbledore came in and saved Harry.
None of them could have imagined The Prince of Atlantis being there in ‘detention’ with Harry. Especially Ron, who knew of the family’s prestige. The trio spent the rest of the night talking about Percy, Harry with lots of passion, and Hermione and Ron with much interest.
In such a good mood, Harry decided that it was best to use the motivation to finish his divination essay as quickly as possible. He even entertained the idea of trying to do the tea cup divination for once. According to the textbook, it’s the simplest and most accessible method of divination. Might as well try, so he did.
He looked at the tea leaves and compared it to the textbook.
“Let’s see… that’s definitely the same pattern as the snake. And then here is cast. Oh, and these leaves over there look really similar to pen.”
The leaves slowly rearranged themselves as Harry wrote down some notes
“Aaand it’s a sword now? And over here in the corner…”
He looked at his textbook. “Ration? Hmmm. Yeah, no, divination is full of bogus. What do these cryptic words even mean?”
Snake, cast, pen, sword, ration. Snake casts pen, turns into sword, and then uses it as rations? Of course, the order that Harry read it in does not signify anything. But even still, none of it made sense to Harry. Little did he know as Harry was putting away his things that in a different section of the castle, hell was being unleashed…