Hey guys. Sorry it's been so long. I still own nothing.
Sorry to all those who were outvoted. Hope you can still enjoy this.
Please review. Now, onward, to the moment you've been waiting for…
In all the chaos, nobody noticed when the goblet spit out one last paper until Dumbledore's voice broke through the cacophony. "The champion for the Delphi Academy of Magic is.."
"…Percy Jackson." Percy froze, completely unaware of the world around him. He didn't hear the scattering of applause amid the still outraged talking. He didn't feel Annabeth's nails digging welts into his hands, almost drawing blood. He didn't see her burst into tears and he didn't even flinch when she burrowed her head into his shoulder. He didn't notice Piper and Hermione gently attempting to peel her from his side. He didn't notice Jason trying to get his attention until he was roughly shaken by his hand on his arm. His eyes snapped to Jason's blue eyes, and he nodded as he stood and walked to the small door. He could feel all the eyes on him; some gazes were curious, and others were worried. He started as he felt a hand grab his arm, and looked down into Chiron's concerned, yet searching eyes. Percy nodded slightly, straightening his shoulders in an act of fake confidence that he knew well. Chiron sighed before plastering on a false grin in return. He gave him a small pat on the back and squeezed his arm assuredly before gesturing toward the door.
Percy walked through the door to a rush of voices. He glanced at the other three champions in the room, standing powerful and ready, before zeroing in on Harry, who looked every bit as terrified as he felt. He went to him, laying a hand on his shoulder as Fleur, Cedric, and Victor seemed to realize that there was one too many people in the room. He ignored Fleur's questions as several people came streaming into the small chamber, all yelling about the injustice that had just occurred. He listened as they all began to debate whether Harry could compete in the tournament. It reminded Percy of similar conversations that had taken place before he had left to go on quests when he was younger. Much like those instances, however, it didn't seem that Harry had much of a choice in the matter of his own life either.
When Harry denied putting his name into the goblet, Percy caught both Chiron and Dumbledore staring at him as though needing confirmation. Percy couldn't help a little bit of anger at their accusations. He knew what it was like to be blamed for something you didn't do. He jerked his head sharply and both men smiled at him, as though they could read his thoughts and wanted to assure him they had already known Harry's innocence. And like a train, it hit Percy exactly what was happening. They knew someone, a very bad someone, had it in for Harry and they had chosen Percy to be his final line of defense. He was fighting in a different kind of war this time and he had no idea how to win.
He was shocked when a grizzled man with one good eye and one good leg came limping in. Percy immediately jumped on guard, but no one else seemed to be suspicious of the newcomer. Percy listened as the man confirmed the harsh reality that he was currently living through, only to be brushed off as paranoid. Percy couldn't help but feel uneasy about this man who seemed to know too much and see too much.
Percy was relieved when the arguing finally ceased; he was starting to get a headache. He watched as an ill-looking man stepped up to give the instructions to the first task. He listened closely as he started his short speech. "The first task is designed to test your daring, so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard…very important. The first task will take place on November 24 in front of the other students and a panel of judges. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed with only their wands." Percy could feel his trusty ballpoint pen in his pocket growing heavier, as though dying to make its presence known. "They will receive information about the second task once the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempt from end of year tests." Percy let out a harsh breath. He didn't even get to know what he would be expected to do. He felt sort of sick, exactly like Harry looked. He didn't pay much attention until Harry began to move. Obviously, they had been excused. He followed Harry and Cedric from the hall, sharing a long look with Chiron. He listened with exasperation as Harry had to once again defend himself against Cedric.
When it was just Harry and Percy walking toward their beds, Percy took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking to the boy beside him. "I believe you, you know," he said, grinning slightly as Harry's head shot up, his eyes searching for deception. "I know it's hard to believe, but I was in a similar situation once. Not everyone is going to believe you at first. Some may never believe you. You need to hold onto those who do. They are the ones that matter." Harry gave him a small smile. "What if no one else does?" he asked, sounding scared that life had finally managed to take all that he had left. Percy recognized that fear. He saw it in himself all the time, even now. He shoved it aside however as he draped an arm across Harry's shoulders. "Then you'll make do with just me, but I don't think that will happen." Harry relaxed slightly as the reached the hallway of the fat lady. He stopped turning to Percy.
"Are you…Are you nervous?" he asked, blushing a deep red color. Percy wanted to lie away his fear like he normally would, but he knew that now was the time for honesty. "Terrified," he said before walking to the fat lady who was chatting with another painted which. "Hercules," they said together. Harry was immediately pulled inside by the excited crowd, leaving Percy to climb in behind him. He could hear Harry struggling to tell people the truth, to get away from all the attention and considered going to his aid when he was shoved backward as blonde hair filled his face. He staggered slightly as his arms automatically wrapped around Annabeth's trembling form. He looked past her, catching sight of the tense faces of his friends. He led his girlfriend over to their secluded corner and dropped into an armchair, pulling her into his lap. She searched his face and he didn't have the energy to try and hide how he was feeling. She sighed, running her had through his uncontrollable hair. He relaxed, nodding at Jason who looked defeated. Piper gave him an encouraging smile and Hazel and Frank both nodded their silent support. Leo was oddly absent, and Percy wondered if he was upset that he had not been chosen. Percy felt tired, inside and out. He let his eyes drift close, but Annabeth nudged him in the side. "Why don't you go to sleep and we'll talk in the morning?" she whispered. He smiled and kissed her slightly before trudging upstairs, followed instantly by Jason and Frank. They entered their dormitories and Percy instantly noticed Ron lying on his bed. He glanced at Jason, surprised at the separation between the Hogwarts boys who seemed so close just hours ago. Jason was tense, staring at Ron in apparent disgust. Percy blinked in confusion before trudging over to his alluring bed. He sank down as Ron broke the icy silence. "Congrats Percy. You must be proud," he said, grinning maniacally. Percy was saved from replying as Harry stumbled into the room, trying to remove a banner that was wrapped around him like a cape. He froze when he caught sight of Ron, then threw the banner into the corner. "So, congratulations," Ron said. Percy sat there in shock, listening to what had obviously been a close friendship combust before his eyes. He couldn't believe how easily things had shattered. He glanced at Jason, who was watching Harry with concern as the words tore out his heart. When Ron wrenched his hangings shut, they watched as Harry sunk in defeat. Percy knew the feeling. He smiled slightly as Harry looked at him. If his eyes were slightly glassy, Percy would never tell.
As much as he wanted to deny it, the first reaction Jason had to hearing Percy's name was relief. He let out a sigh and looked into the glazed eyes of his best friend. Jason had heard people described as shell shocked before but had never seen someone who resembled a shell as perfectly as Percy did in that moment. He saw Annabeth burst into tears, but Piper and Hermione, who was obviously still reeling from finding her own friend involved in the game of death, immediately began trying to comfort her. Jason focused on Percy again, trying in vain to get his attention. He stood, getting right into his face and shaking his arm. He was relieved to see a spark of something come back into his eyes before Jason had to resort to shocking him to get him to snap out of it. He watched as Percy walked toward the chamber, wrapping an arm around Annabeth who, though no longer crying, was shaking roughly. He saw Chiron stop Percy, evidently as concerned as the rest of them were. He gave a confident grin to the crowd, but Jason could see right through it. He watched as Dumbledore excused the hall and walked toward the chamber with almost all the adults in the room. He helped Annabeth to her feet and led her from the hall. He met Piper's eyes. He was surprised to see her face similarly streaked with a few tears. Jason wasn't sure whether the tears were from the utter relief or the absolute dread he knew she must be feeling. He was sure Piper didn't know either. Hermione followed them, evidently still worried about Harry. Ron was silent most of the way to the tower, until an innocent first year asked him how it felt to be Harry's best friend.
Ron barked out a harsh reply before scoffing at Hermione's shocked look. "Oh, come off it Hermione. He wasn't much of a friend. He didn't tell us he was entering, probably wanted to have the attention. You know, he pretends to hate it, but I reckon he's gotten used to it. Probably likes it." Hermione growled slightly before hissing her response to the jealous voice. "Ron, Harry didn't put his name in and you know it. He's going to need us. He could DIE. Could you please just get over yourself?" Jason huffed slightly, glad to see at least one of Harry's friends stand by him. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep calm, but Ron seemed determined to push his buttons tonight. "Should have known you'd take his side," he snapped. Jason had enough. This was ridiculous.
"In my experience, friends shouldn't have sides," he said, looking at Piper. "You can't win separated. You need each other, and you shouldn't be so quick to abandon and judge those you proclaim to be loyal to." Piper beamed at him, but one look at Ron's face told him that he had just fueled the fire. "Don't give me that crap. I saw how scared Percy was when he got chosen and he is supposed to represent you guys. You've got to be disappointed that he got picked. Or is he the best you could offer?" he asked harshly. "I bet he hasn't done a quarter of what I've done and yet he's seems scared to even sleep. He's never going to last, and you want to tell me that you don't want to take his place?"
Jason held Annabeth back as she lunged at Ron, but it was Leo who let out the verbal tirade they were all thinking. "You have NO IDEA what he has been through, but I have no doubt that someone with your apparent loyalty would never have made it through half of it. Don't be so quick to count him out just because he is strong enough that his demons can't defeat him during the day and must resort to attacking him in his sleep. You have no right to call him weak. No right," he railed. He turned sharply, heading toward the grounds. "I need to call Calypso. Don't wait up," he called over his shoulder. They watched him in shock for a moment before Frank broke the silence. "What Leo is trying to say is that Percy has been through a lot. I think any of us would take his place to stop him from having to go through even more, but we are relieved that Percy wouldn't let us even if we could."
Ron huffed, obviously defeated before storming toward his dormitory. Hermione gave them all a soft smile before similarly heading to bed. The found a corner in the crowded common room that was mostly abandoned and settled in to wait. Regardless of what happed next, they all had two friends competing in the tournament. Jason couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of the end, but he shook his head sharply, refusing to give into such thoughts. Percy, and Harry, needed all the help they could get
What did you think? I feel like I got some of the characters a little wrong. I could use the feedback. Thanks for hanging in with me :p
