Disclaimer: I do not own either the Harry Potter or Percy Jackson series. Any copyright infringement is unintended. Any reference to other fictional or non-fictional works like books, movies, documentaries and others might occur, although there is no claim established over them. Mentions of real personalities are not considered true. This is pure fan-fiction and is published only for the sake of entertainment.

Listening to – 'Don't you worry, Child' by Swedish House Mafia

Words – 4158

Annabeth was in a tremendous amount of pain. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think because of the unthinkable weight on her back. She whimpered, trying to hold it. It was horrible. Her body screamed while she was unable to make a sound. The agony had already crossed several limits.

Suddenly, the burden was gone. She collapsed on the hard rocky ground, feeling the cold wrap her. Her relief was unbounded. She tried to smile, to thank whoever it was who had saved her. But she couldn't open her eyes, couldn't move.

"Worthy of a hunter, you definitely are. But are you worthy of this love?"

Annabeth blinked her eyes open. Her neck ached.

She gave a small groan as she massaged the tense muscles and lifted her head from the table on which she was leaning at an awkward angle.

When she remembered what happened before she fell, her eyes widened.

She was definitely in Harry's room. Percy was still asleep on the small bed, Harry was hugging a large book and was leaning against the foot of the bed. He didn't seem comfortable on the ground, but he didn't seem to mind and was easily in the only position of comfort.

Annabeth squinted at the book. Apparently, he had fallen asleep reading the book as it was open and leaning on his chest. She tried to read the title, but the language was not English or Greek. It seemed to have strange symbols along the border and as the heading. There was an artfully old look to the book as though he had stolen it from the ancient artifact section of a museum.

Annabeth was about to get up when a small sound distracted her. She turned towards the table and stared at a magnificently snow-white owl perched in the bird cage she had seen earlier. The cage door was open, but the bird hadn't flown away.

May be it was because her mother was Athena and her animal, or rather, bird of power was an owl, but Annabeth loved the bird as soon as she set her eyes on it.

"Hello." She whispered. It occurred to her that the owl was probably Harry's and she didn't know whether to be angry or impressed by the fact. The owl tilted her head and gave a hoot. Annabeth melted.

The owl hopped out of the cage and placed herself closer to her. Annabeth hesitantly raised her hand. The bird didn't move. Amber eyes stared at her and she extended her fingers to touch the white plumage. The feathers were soft and she ran the back of her fingers down the down.

The owl hooted again and turned her head towards Harry. She gave a slightly louder squawk but Harry didn't move.

Annabeth noticed that the owl had a white envelope attached to her legs. In neat handwriting, the written words were –

To Harry Potter,

House no. 4,

Privet Drive, Little Whinging,

Surrey.

Annabeth reached forwards to take the letter but the owl immediately jumped back. She spread her wings and flew towards the other side of the table, closer to Harry's head, giving Annabeth a glare which seemed to say, It doesn't belong to you.

The demigod sat back in her chair to watch the owl for a few seconds. Then her eyes caught sight of the small clock on the table.

5:27.

She stared. Then she looked out the window. The darkness outside was being dissipated by an orange glow from one side of the horizon. The sun was just rising. How long had she passed out?!

She got off the chair to take better look outside the house. The road was deserted. The street lights were off, now that dawn was approaching. The dull light wasn't much to look at.

She looked out the other window to see the run down house next to the one she was in. The house had an air of 'come hither.'

As she watched the windows of the house, a shiver passed through her. She opened the window and leaned out, staring through the leaves and branches of the tree growing right in front of her. The first floor window of dilapidated building had started to fog up from the inside. As though someone was on the other side, breathing on the glass.

Annabeth frowned and leaned out. She could see a form through the slight fog. It was very blurred. She strained to see a silhouette which looked pale against the dark background. As she watched, the form of a boy slowly materialized. She watched the boy moved closer to the window and look up at her.

They stared at each other for a while and Annabeth had a feeling of dread creep up her. Part of her wanted to hide from the boy. The rest of her was equally scared, but wanted to investigate.

She reached out a grabbed a branch, ready to climb down and over the wall to the house. The house had looked deserted but what was the boy doing there? May be he was lost and took shelter in the building. She felt sad for the little child.

She was about to jump, when the air turned very cold. Her breath turned into a white mist in front of her and she watched as the boy's face twist into a very ugly and dangerous predator's view. The glass in front of her cracked, the house shivered in the frozen atmosphere and she saw the devil in the child's face.

Annabeth opened her mouth to scream in terror. A hand clapped over her face. Someone pulled her out of the tree back into the safe building.

"Damnit, Beth!" Harry swore glaring at the creature in the adjacent house. It glared at Harry and disappeared. The air cleared.

Annabeth removed Harry's hand and gasped, "What… what was that?!" She felt him unwrap his arm from her waist and move away from her. They sat on the ground and she looked at his face which was set in hard lines of silence.

"Something you would never want to meet." He said, after a moment of silence. He looked up when the white owl flew and perched herself on his shoulder.

She watched the owl, feeling a slow sense of calm spreading through her.

"This is Hedwig. She's mine. But she likes you." Harry said, closing his eyes as Hedwig the owl bit his hair and nuzzled his cheek. He noticed the letter attached to her legs and removed it. Without giving a second glance at the writing he slipped it into his pocket. Then removed black hoodie and offered it to Annabeth.

Annabeth didn't realize that she was shaking with cold and a little fear until she hesitantly took it and put it on. Though it was a little cold, it felt good.

"Did you see it?" Harry asked suddenly. She looked up in surprise.

"See… what? That thing in the house? What was it?"

Harry frowned. "I thought I was the only one who could see it. What did it look like to you?"

Annabeth looked over the window. There was no one in the adjacent house.

"It looked like a small kid at first. But then it changed. What exactly is 'it'?"

She watched as Harry clenched his jaw. The he let out a harsh breath as he said, "It's not human. That's for sure. Definitely not a ghost. This is much more terrible. Promise me one thing, Beth?"

Annabeth frowned. He was still calling her that.

"Never go into that place. Nothing is worth that, you hear me?"

She didn't say anything for a while. But she could hear the force in his words. She nodded and he looked a little relieved.

Harry turned to look at Percy who had slept through the entire thing.

"Are you hungry? You didn't finish the apple from last night? What would you like? Options are only fruits, vegetables and edible berries."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow. Did he have fruits up his hair or what?

"Green apple. If you have it."

He shrugged and reached into his hair. A second later, a perfectly formed light green apple was offered to her. It tasted as good as the red one had done.

"Let's start." Harry said, leaning back against the side of his table. "We definitely have secrets. I can tell you're different. Like Percy. We'll exchange details alternatively. Is that fine?"

Annabeth crossed her arms. "What makes you think I'd tell you anything?"

Harry mimicked her instance, "Because you're desperate to know what I am."

Annabeth cursed in her head.

Harry took out a small item. On further inspection, she saw that it looked like a coin. A bronze one.

At that moment, she suddenly remembered that she did have a drachma. She could IM Camp. Chiron must be going crazy wondering where the two of them were.

But she didn't know how she could create a rainbow. There wasn't anything very reflective or refractive in the room.

She blinked out of her thoughts and took another bite of her apple, discreetly checking for her knife. It was still with her. If Harry had wanted to hurt her or Percy, he would have right?

"Choose." Harry said.

"What?" Annabeth looked confused.

He sighed, "Heads, you go first. Tails, I'll start."

He flipped the coin and let it fall on the floor with a sonorous clatter. She saw the embossed head of a strange looking creature along with strange writing on the curve of the coin.

Harry took the coin and kept it in his pocket, waiting for her begin.

Annabeth pressed her lips together. Then she said, "You're right. I'm not exactly normal. I'm not fully human."

Harry nodded slowly. "Okay. Well, you see this?"

He took out a stick and twirled it around his fingers. It was dark and sleek and it definitely didn't look like an ordinary piece of wood.

"It's called a wand."

Annabeth stared at the wand. Wands, Witch, Magic. Her eyes widened.

"Are you saying that… you're a – you're a witch?!"

Harry's composed face looked outraged, "Do I look like a girl to you?!"

Annabeth stared at him. "What?"

"Wizard! I'm a wizard, honestly!"

"Oh." Her cheeks heated up. Yeah, that should have been obvious, right?

"Sorry. I… well, what do you know about mythology?"

Harry frowned. He reached up and picked up the same book he had when she had woken up. He opened a certain page in the book and read a part of it.

Without looking up he said, "Are you talking about Greek Mythology?"

She inhaled sharply. "Yes."

Harry frowned at her. "And how are you connected to this?"

"I'm half human and half God."

She waited for his reaction. Outwardly, he didn't do much. But his green eyes looked brighter.

"Like Heracles?"

She nodded. "You're turn."

Harry looked up and then said, "Bolt."

"What?" Annabeth looked stricken. 'Bolt'? Why did he say that? Was he referring to the Lightning Bolt that was stolen the previous year?

A small dog appeared in front of her. Annabeth jumped back, her back hitting the wall behind her. It was the same dog she had seen yesterday before she had collapsed. The animal had literally appeared out of thin air. Annabeth was pretty sure she looked silly for cowering from a tiny dog but she was ready to attack it with her knife and that would not be pretty.

"This is my Familiar, Bolt. She isn't just an animal. She's a shape-shifter in training. She's a part of in essence. Her first shape is that of a young dog. Her second favourite form is a kitten. She has a snarky attitude and don't be surprised if you hear her voice in your head."

"Uh…" Annabeth didn't know what exactly to say.

"She apologizes for knocking you out yesterday. She says that after I left, you started to panic about some crazy person kidnapping you. She just wanted you to calm down."

The dog looked up at Annabeth, blinking its rather large hazel coloured eyes. Annabeth relaxed a little. The puppy dog-eyes could be best given by a dog that looks like a puppy.

"It's okay. It just hit me rather hard."

Harry nodded and patted Bolt's head. She turned around and leapt up to his shoulder. Then she climbed on top of his head and settled down, apparently being comforted by his hair.

Harry leaned back again and Annabeth was distracted by that sigh of an owl and a puppy on the boy's shoulders and head to say anything else. Strangely, it didn't look strange at all.

"Right… well, I don't have any pets. But – "

"You said you're half-god." Harry pointed out.

She nodded, "Yes, I'm a demigod. I'm the Daughter of Athena."

Annabeth sat up straight as she said it. Harry looked at her and then said, "Right."

She felt a little disappointed that he gave no other reaction. But she did laugh when she said, "Then how are you friends with Percy?"

He jerked his thumb to point at Percy when he asked the question. "Well, my mother wonders that too. Many people do."

Harry nodded but then stopped when Bolt let out a whine. "Alright. This is too slow. I'm a wizard. I attend a school of sorcery in Scotland. There thousands of wizards and witches all around the world but not in America. I know the reason why, now. We've been here for thousands of years. About three, probably. Our world is a secret from the muggle world. Muggle means a person with no magical powers. Your turn."

Annabeth's head reeled. Wizards and Witches have been around for three millennia! How come she'd never heard of this? Why wouldn't the Gods say anything? Surely, a demigod and a wizard would have come across each other before?

"Um… I'm a Daughter of Athena. There are not as many demigods as there are wizards and witches. We reside mostly around, America. But there are a few older demigods in Canada and South America. The Greek Gods are real and have been around for nearly three millennia."

Okay, that could not have been a coincidence. Both worlds existing for so many eras and yet not meeting each other?

"Our world is a secret from the mortals too." She added in.

Harry was quiet. Hedwig stared at Annabeth before flying towards her. She tilted her head and quietly perched herself on Annabeth's shoulder. The blonde looked up and touched the owl's feathers. Hedwig was very beautiful.

"What about Percy? He's always shown an affinity towards water." Harry said slowly.

Annabeth took a while to look away from Hedwig. "Yeah. But maybe I should let him wake up and tell you himself. You know… to give him a chance."

Harry nodded. He turned towards the sleeping boy. Then he frowned.

"How did he get this?" Harry muttered kneeling up and reaching for a small scar of Percy's wrist.

Annabeth craned her neck to see the pale twist of skin which was the mark caused by the scorpion which had stung him last year.

Harry's fingers barely touched the skin when Percy's eyes snapped open.

Percy's entire body jerked upwards, his head slamming into Harry's. Both boys shouted, "OW!" before falling backwards. Percy fell back on the bed. Harry fell against the table, knocking a picture frame on the top of his head.

"What the – " Percy began wincing, clutching his temple.

"Nice timing, Percy. We should all synchronize our watches to your body clock." Harry said through gritted teeth.

Annabeth watched the scene with a mild fascination. Hedwig was just as quiet, her eyes growing huge and Bolt had settled down next to Annabeth on the floor.

Percy stared at Harry as though the latter was a very friendly alien. "H… Harry?!"

"Who do you think? Snow White?" Harry snapped back, rubbing his forehead harshly.

For a second, Percy froze as he watched Harry grumble. Then, as though a light had switched on in his head, Percy leapt forwards and down. He wrapped his arms around Harry and squeezed with all his might.

"Harry! It's really really you! Gods, I missed you! I can't believe it's you! This isn't a dream, right? It can't be fake! I can get your orange smell! And roses! And you look the same! Except different! You still have that cool scar! You still wear glasses! Did I break it? No! You're alright! We're really here! Back in Surrey! This is the best day of my life!"

Percy said all this without taking a breath. He seemed absolutely ecstatic, his eyes were shining as he pressed his cheek to the other boy's.

Harry, on the other hand, looked a little distraught as though he wasn't used to be held so close by anyone.

"Percy." He said, his jaw clenched. "You're in my personal space."

Percy closed his eyes and smiled, "I know you missed me. Besides, I can't see any personal space."

"That's because you're crowding in it!" Harry barked.

Annabeth watched the exchanged. She couldn't help but point out to herself the similarities in the boys' faces.

They had very pale skin, but Percy had put it down to be normal. Annabeth had no problem with that but she knew that having less melatonin was not a correct reason for cold skin.

Usually, people that pale would have lighter coloured hair and eyes. Here, the boys sported pitch black mess. Annabeth hadn't thought anyone to have hair wilder than Percy's, but that was before she had met Harry.

Their eyes too, she noticed. They had sparkling eyes. Percy had his sea-green iris hue meshed with blue, courtesy of his father. Harry's seemed to be a brilliant emerald which was undoubtedly rare.

Other than that, there was nothing else in common. But she saw their postures. Their actions, how they purposefully moved to do something, anything. There was something definitely strong between them. She didn't know such bonds could exist without connection of blood relatives.

May be they were related. One could never be sure of their roots.

Percy laughed, seemingly unperturbed by Harry's annoyance. He sat back and held up his palms. "I missed you, Harry."

The green eyed boy inhaled slowly and exhaled. "Yeah. I did too. No monkey making me pull my hair everyday had made my life slightly boring."

Percy grinned. "Aww! You haven't changed at all. Hey, guess what?! Mom published a book!"

Harry blinked up at him. "Really?"

"Yeah."

Annabeth cleared her throat. Both boys looked startled that there was another person in the room.

"Percy." She said with a slight trepidation in her voice, "What do you remember before waking up?"

Percy bounced a little, keeping his palms on the floor. Then he frowned, "Um. I'm not exactly sure. I don't … I …"

"We were standing on the beach." She said slowly trying to prompt his memory. Percy looked up at the ceiling, then at the owl next to Annabeth and at the little puppy, who was watching the scene.

"The ocean…" He whispered.

"You, Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth hissed.

Percy had the decency to look ashamed. "Yeah. About that. I had no idea what was actually happening until it already happened. But then I felt so tired."

Percy yawned for effect.

"Poseidon." Harry said suddenly. "Or is it someone else?"

"What?" Percy asked confused.

Harry looked at Annabeth for explanation. She nodded.

"You're a Son of Poseidon?" Harry asked, his voice a little loud for the hour.

"Yeah." Percy said, shrugging. Then he looked at Annabeth. "Did you tell him about us?"

"Yes." She said feeling a little tired. Her apple was nearly done. "And he told me about him."

Percy didn't seem to understand that. He looked towards Harry who inclined his head, "I'm a wizard."

Percy sat there in silence for a while. Annabeth watched his face for any relative emotion. She could see surprise, acceptance and understanding.

"Cool." Percy said, grinning once more.

Harry sighed.

"iris messaging." Harry repeated as he watched Percy conjure a little mist in the dull sunlight. A faint rainbow appeared in front of the mirror and Annabeth tossed her drachma into the rainbow, praying, "Lady iris, please accept our offering and call Chiron at Camp Half Blood."

After Harry had explained a little more about the concept of magic and Annabeth had explained about the reality of Greek Gods in the 21st century, she decided to call Chiron at Camp. It was really lucky of her to have that drachma. Percy kept commenting about how boring the Dursleys still were and by the sound of his voice, Annabeth wondered if Harry really liked his family or not.

She couldn't help but think about how they entered the house. They had climbed up a tree to his room and not by the front or even kitchen entrance. Harry definitely did not trust his relatives.

She couldn't help but sympathize with him. She knew how it was to be made an outcast by blood.

Right now, with the family sleeping in, Harry, Percy and Annabeth were crowded into one of the common bathrooms, so that Percy could manipulate the water for a rainbow. She had explained about IMing to Harry and all he did was nod and repeat the phrase.

The rainbow shimmered before the face of a sleeping Chiron appeared in the mist.

"Gods! I forgot! There's a time difference between Surrey and Long Island!" Annabeth groaned.

"Five hours, nearly." Harry said.

"Really? Five hours! But it's just across the Atlantic." Percy wondered.

"Chiron!" Annabeth called. She couldn't waste her only drachma. She doubted Harry had any coins Iris would accept.

Luckily, Chiron moved a little and woke up when Annabeth shouted again.

He looked confused and then got up suddenly.

"Annabeth! Percy! Thank the Gods, you're alright! Where have you been?!"

"It does work." Harry muttered.

"We had a sort of accident." Annabeth replied.

"A good kind of accident." Percy put in. Annabeth glared at him and he stepped back.

"What?" Chiron looked weary.

"I travelled through water and took Annabeth with me. It was a mistake, really. We're in England." Percy said, dodging Annabeth when she let out a frustrated sigh.

"England!"

"Yeah. It's pretty cool. You remember me talking about Harry? You know? My friend? Here he is!"

Percy pulled Harry towards the mist.

Chiron stared at the newcomer and nodded, "Well hello, Harry."

"Hi." Harry said hesitantly.

"Chiron. It's okay. We're not in any danger. But it could take us a while to get back." Annabeth said. Harry gladly stepped out to give her space.

"We'll try to be there in a day at the most. I feel a little sleepy. As soon as I'm strong again, we'll be washing towards you!" Percy snickered at the awful joke.

Harry rolled his eyes and Annabeth snorted.

"England." Chiron muttered again. "You do realize that I'm setting the two of you to dish duty for a week?"

Percy stared, "Well, that's not much incentive for us to come back."

"The strawberry fields are in full bloom."

"We'll be there in half a day!"

At this, Annabeth couldn't help but laugh.

"You still like strawberries?" Harry asked Percy. The latter nodded.

Harry reached into his hair. Annabeth watched as he produced a blue coloured strawberry in his palm and offered it to a very happy Percy.

"You're the best!" Percy savoured each tiny bite of the little fruit. Harry gave him a strange look before shrugging. "I know."

"Not very modest." Annabeth muttered before turning back to Chiron.

"We have some really big news for you. You might probably know it, in which case we demand an explanation." She said, trying to observe any nervousness in the centaur.

"What is it about?" Chiron asked looking suitably relaxed. Clearly, conjuring fruits out of hair was a parlour trick.

"Not telling anything." Annabeth shook her head.

"Give me topic." Chiron smiled at her as if he knew where the conversation was going.

"On one condition. No dish duty." Annabeth countered.

Percy looked up. "Oh, you're good. She's like Mom, right Harry?"

Harry raised an eyebrow at him. Annabeth desperately hoped she wasn't blushing.

"Oh no." Chiron said complacently. "The both of you had half the camp turning every rock on the island searching for you. You disappeared without any warning from any quarter. I feared the worst."

"Well, the accident was unprecedented." Annabeth said tilting her head in Percy's direction.

The rainbow flickered. Ten seconds left.

"Be careful you two. It's good to have met you, Harry." Chiron said looking at the boy behind Annabeth and Percy. Harry raised his hand in reply.

The rainbow disappeared and Percy stopped the mist.

"Blue strawberries are the best. Hey, Harry. If you ever visit Camp, will you turn the strawberry field blue in colour?"

"No."

I like how the chapters are turning out. A bit long, maybe, I'm still sorting out which scene goes where in some cases. Stay tuned for the next update.

Cabba.