Authors note: Hi everyone! This is Potterlove and it's a pleasure to hear that you all have liked the story. Thank you to all those people who have reviewed and liked or faved the story. It's amazing to work with Potterhead90 (She's an awesome partner, and not to brag but I think we're making a pretty good story as beginners) To answer some of your queries, I always thought that Percy and Harry would never get on well with each other, the first time they met. Their similar looks always made me think that they would be quite the opposite, but we're NOT making them enemies ever. You'll see what happens in the upcoming chapters. As for maze runner characters, we started the story with only 3 fandoms in mind and plus Maze runner characters don't have special qualities, as in they are completely mundane. Hope you like this chapter and if you have any suggestions, you're always welcome to review. :)
"This is it." Annabeth thought. "I'm going to die."
The hooded creatures were nearing towards her, and with the decrease of distance between them, the further increase was her despair. It seemed like her soul would rip apart in unhappiness. She tried to grasp for even a small happy memory but not one would come. Her mind was just a veil of darkness, with horrible memories. Her head was whirling and just as she felt she could take no more, that her heart would stop then and there, someone came in front of her.
"Percy" she thought and fainted.
-x-
Harry remembered the first time he had faced a dementor. Not faced really. He had fainted on the Hogwarts express feeling helpless and alone with only his mother's cries echoing in his mind, reminding him of that horrible night in Godrics Hollow. Remus had helped him then with his patronus but he had never felt so ashamed before. All of his friends- Hermione, Ron, Neville, had never fainted. The dementors had always affected him more than anyone else, but now here he was, seeing Annabeth going through what he had endured. His heart beat for her in sympathy. Finally there was someone like him, who had gone through what he had- Loss, War, Guilt, Pain, in extreme measures.
Harry didn't even realize it but as soon as he heard Annabeth screaming his legs started running towards her. He stood in front of her, his body shielding her from the dementors and his wand in front of him. He grasped for a happy memory and he thought of the happy times he spent with Ginny the last two months.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he shouted and the others watched amazed as a silvery stag erupted from his wand and charged the hooded creature, its silvery glow a sharp contrast against the blackness of the dementors. The dementors slowly vanished one by one, disappearing into thin air.
For a moment everyone stood spellbound. It has all happened so quickly, it was difficult to comprehend what truly happened.
"What's happened to Annabeth?" cried Percy, who was now beside Annabeth, holding her hand tightly.
All the others by now had overcome the shock and were starting to crowd around Annabeth, when Harry broke through the crowd and clutched Annabeth's hand.
"She's cold" said Harry looking towards Hermione. "Does anyone have a piece of chocolate by any chance?" asked Harry.
"Annabeth is almost fainting and you're worried about chocolate?" asked Jace incredulously.
"The only thing that can help you recover from a dementor attack is chocolate" explained Ginny.
"Chocolate? Seriously?" asked Leo "Against that big thing? I'll never understand you wizards."
"She's going to be fine." Hermione said after checking Annabeth. "But what bothers me is what a dementor is doing here. It's strictly restricted to the wizarding world. If a dementor is here, then that means-
But she was interrupted by Annabeth's small weak voice. "Percy" she whispered.
"Yes, I'm right here, Annabeth" said Percy, his green eyes worried as he looked at Annabeth.
"I-I heard you screaming. W-we were in Tartarus."
"It's alright Annabeth. You were hallucinating." said Percy in a soothing voice.
Annabeth tried to get up but was pushed back by Percy, "No, Annabeth. You need rest"
"But Piper-
"We still have two days"
"But still-
She was interrupted by Harry, "Are you feeling fine?"
"I felt as if- as if all the happiness was gone from the world and I could hear-" she broke off, shuddering suddenly.
"Damn those creatures." said Percy with venom.
"It's ok, she'll be fine in about 15 minutes." said Harry. "We'll start off then."
"Harry she clearly can't- started Ginny.
"Stop it." Harry said in an irritated voice. "I know how it feels to be pitied when a dementor has affected you more than anyone else. It's embarrassing and I don't want Annabeth to feel the same way. Just give her some space and she'll be fine."
With that being said, he left Annabeth's side and strode over towards where Ron was standing.
"What miracle's gonna happen in fifteen minutes?" said Percy, "Look, let me get this staright, I know all of you want to get back your hostages but Annabeth clearly can't-
"Percy" came Annabeth's weak voice "I'll be fine in fifteen minutes"
"As Harry said, don't pity her" said Hermione "That's the last thing she wants"
"Only Harry among us has truly felt the horror of a dementor." Said Ginny "All of us have been through war, but still the dementors can't affect us as they affect Harry."
-X-
Clary had never been so stunned since she discovered that Jace was her brother. She remembered previously how she had been struck spellbound when Percy and Harry had been fighting, and here she was again, admiring them with widened eyes. They were all so different and yet they were united in their courage, hope and their mutual suffering, pain and understanding.
"It must be terrible." She blurted out. "The dementors, I mean."
"You think?" asked Leo. "It just made Annabeth faint and who on earth makes ANNABETH faint?"
"It sucks the happiness out of you, like a bee sucking nectar. It swallows you in despair and engulfs you in unhappiness." said Harry in a hollow voice. "For those of us who have more painful memories, it affects us the most. That's why only a patronus can save us. A patron to guide us and dispel the dementors."
"How do you produce one?" asked Jace
"You have to think of a single happy memory." replied Hermione.
"A happy memory when the dementors are throwing you in depression? That's crazy." said Simon.
"I guess it is." said Harry with a small crooked smile.
The minutes passed away, all of them not talking much, with only polite conversations between them, waiting for Annabeth to recover from the shock. None of them felt in the mood to chat heartily. They were all aware of a hollow feeling inside them, like an organ lacking. How on earth would they save their friends on time? It seemed impossible and who knew, maybe it was.
-x-
Percy hadn't left Annabeth's side for even an instant and was fussing over her like a mother over a child. Annabeth was, comparatively, feeling much better. The colour was coming back to her cheeks and in another couple of minutes she was strong enough to walk again.
"Alright then. Let's move out." said Jason.
All of them fell in sync behind Jason who was leading the way.
Percy was walking with Annabeth when he suddenly whispered in her ear and slowed down to catch up with Harry. Harry who was walking with Ginny, came to a stop when he saw Percy. Ginny seeing the tension between the two boys, quickly murmured something about wanting to talk to Hermione and scurried away.
For the first time since they had came to the damned maze, Percy had a good look at Harry's face. Their similarities even startled himself- the same jet black unruly hair, the green eyes and their thin, slender frame. Hazel had once told him that when he had arrived at camp Jupiter, she had sensed in him a tremendous power. And here he was standing next to Harry and he could literally feel the strong aura given off by him.
Percy coughed and said, "Did anyone tell you that you have a pretty strong aura?"
"Are you suggesting that I smell a lot?" asked Harry staring into his sea-green eyes.
"What? No. Why do you have to make something out of nothing?"
"That's what it sounded like and-
"I came here to say thank you." Percy said before Harry could blabber on.
Harry stopped talking abruptly.
"I've never seen Annabeth like that and believe it or not I'm grateful to you and thank you once again." "I'm also sorry." said Percy after a slight pause. "I'm a real big fool sometimes."
Harry scratched the back of his neck. "I'm sorry too. Pride sometimes blinds us all."
"I guess it does." and saying that Percy gave a manly hug to Harry who hugged him back somewhat awkwardly.
"So they're done with their drama at last I see." Ginny told Annabeth.
"Yup." She said and then with a tired sigh she exclaimed "Boys, I'll never understand them."
Author's note: How was it? Please review!
