The Final Verse

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Rick Riordan and J.K. Rowling, I just came up with the plotline.

Shipping: Harmione, Solangelo, Percabeth, Jiper, Frazel, Wolfstar.

Warnings: Major character death, divergence from the Harry Potter books starting in 5th year (Sirius doesn't die, and some other people do) and from the Percy Jackson books in The Burning Maze, maybe some OOC. I'd rate this as T but what do I know? Violence, some swearing.

Occurs in 6thyear, and after The Burning Maze.

(Annabeth POV) Chapter 1

I stretched carefully before picking up my knife and walking into the ring. This was the knife finals of the first Greek-Roman Games of Olympus and I was facing Reyna, the best of the Romans. I had not come against her yet, but Piper told me she was fast. She stood an inch taller than me, and looked strong too. With speed, that was a deadly combination, and I really didn't want to lose to her. After all, if I won this time I would be up against either Nico or Michael Kahale for the close-combat championship. All in all, this was one fight where I could not afford to be lazy.

Reyna came at me fast. It only took me a minute to find my rhythm and start sizing up my opponent. She was good, good enough that I couldn't find an opening in her guard as we flowed together in an intricate improvised dance, and for a moment I forgot that a thousand demigods were watching me.

Suddenly, a movement caught my eye in the stands, and in my moment of distraction Reyna lunged, scoring a light hit on my knife arm. I shook my head as referees started into the arena, letting them know I could, and would, continue. They backed off - it was my right as a competitor to refuse medical assistance. I came at Reyna right away this time, smiling to myself as her knife arm came up to block exactly as I had predicted. Immediately I reversed my swing, darting under her arm to graze her ribs. She too dismissed the healers and cut at me, but it was clumsy and I easily parried.

We fell back into our rhythm, but this time she was on the defensive. That gave me an idea, and I began to flag, pretending the cut on my arm was bothering me. I'm sure Reyna saw through it, but she wasn't about to pass up the opportunity I offered her. When she thrust through my weak guard, I simply swayed to the side, grabbing her knife arm with my left hand while putting my dagger to her neck.

"I surrender!" Reyna spoke very carefully to keep from pressing her throat against my blade.

Grinning, I let her go and turned to the stands, reveling in the sound of four hundred teenagers screaming my name, before letting the kids of Apollo look at my wound. Nico's boyfriend Will Solace recognized me with a smile as he poured nectar in the cut, making me wince.

"Sorry, Annabeth, it does sting a bit sometimes."

"Thanks, Will, I really appreciate your help."

"Congrats on winning. Oh, by the way, if you end up against my Death Boy, try not to break him. I don't know why, but he doesn't heal on nectar."

I promised to be careful. "Anyway, what if he breaks me?"

"Then I will either heal you or defend Nico from a very angry Percy."

Smiling as I turned away, I was surprised by Reyna holding out a hand. "Good fight!" she laughed.

"Thanks, you're the best opponent I've had in years! You really made me work."

We were interrupted by Chiron. "I'm terribly sorry, but I need Annabeth in the office. The others are already there."

I nodded. "I'll be there in a minute."

Reyna looked after Chiron as he trotted away. "What is that about?"

"I don't know," I replied in puzzlement. "I suppose I should go. Bye, Reyna."

And with that, I jogged off toward the Big House, my mind reeling with possibilities.