He was spiraling. His mind made circles and spun, causing him to lose his composure as he fell, fell, fell. His tall 6'1 stature remained strong, tall and proud, towering above his schoolmates and friends, as his mind did the perfect impression of a muggle aircraft taking a nose dive into the Bermuda Triangle. Percy was losing himself to the darkness of war.
The ringing in his ears was a welcomed discomfort, as opposed to the screams of his fallen comrades, his wailing mother who had fallen into a rabbit hole of despair for the misfortune of her stillborn, the silent pain of his father, carried out during his last breath, and of his mind pounding, screaming, and internally berating him for bringing danger to the girl he loves.
Loves.
Merlin, he had utterly fallen for the girl behind him.
He loved her.
But Percy did not have the time to dwell on his last thought. He had barely registered his surroundings before he murmured, "He's back." This did not surprise Annabeth. She had already discarded his shirt and healed his wounds and was already sheathing her wand when he finally spoke. "I know," she nodded. She looked into the eyes of the boy she once loved, the boy who had once loved her in return. She couldn't help but notice how empty he looked. She sighed as she helped him pull his tattered shirt back on, only for modesty if anything.
"He's back," the broken boy uttered. The girl pulled him into a hug, running a hand through his unruly, blood-caked hair. She kissed his forehead, then his cheek, in consolation as his body shuddered against hers. "I'm sorry," is all she was able to muster.
"Me too."
The pair had momentarily forgotten about the fifteen-year-old standing only a yard away, falling into old habits. "God, Beth, I've missed you," Percy hugged the girl tighter to his chest. "I've missed you too, Seaweed Brain. And don't call me Beth." The two old lovers chuckled at the half-hearted reprimand. They let each other go, their hardened selves coming back to the surface.
"Jean wants you dead."
"I know."
"You just claimed your seat on the Elder Circle."
"I know. I was there."
"Perseus! This is serious."
"I know, Wise Girl, I know."
"You've Bonded."
"I'm sorry," and in sincerity, Percy bowed his head. He inclined his head in the general direction of Hermione, who had remained quiet during the reunion. "'Mione?" He asked, tilting his head. The girl faintly blushed when she realized she had been caught, and the tint to her cheeks strengthened when she realized this, undoubtedly, pretty blonde girl was Percy's ex-girlfriend. Her heart raced when she saw both of them looking at her. She tilted her head in silent response. "Alex?" She relayed. She saw Annabeth raise a curious and impressed brow at the boy and tried and nearly failed to keep her smug smile in check.
"Come here."
She sighed but gave in as she accepted his half hug, nuzzling her forehead to the side of his neck and rubbing her nose against his shoulder. She failed to notice Annabeth's white knuckles. "Are you okay?" She nodded her head in response to his selfless question. "Were you hurt?" He lifted her chin using his index finger and thumb, and the young girl could not help the blood rising to her cheeks at how intimate this moment was quickly becoming. Her heartrate rocketed at how close their faces were, and she quickly forced herself to look away. "I'm fine, Alex. Harry seemed more shook up than you do now. What happened?"
Percy sighed as he dragged a hand down his bloody face. "I can't explain right now. I think Harry is in trouble, which is why I sent Thalia to check on him. So far you, her, Ron, and Harry are the only people I can trust right now."
"How do you know? What do you mean?"
"When Harry's name was Chosen, I 'attacked' him afterward to catch him by surprise and used a small bit of Legilimency to make sure A) his mind wasn't already being navigated through, and B) this was Harry and not some fraud. I did the same with Ron, and I know you and Thalia are, well, you and Thalia because of your defiance and... insider's info of the Guardian Realm and my own personal experiences. And with Hermione, well, I Bonded with her and the connection obviously came through for us so there's that."
"Those are private thoughts! You can't just—"
"Yes, I can. And I did, I had to make sure everyone is who they claim to be. The only person I haven't scanned is..."
"Mad-Eye Moody," Annabeth cut in.
"Alastor Moody, yes," Percy corrected, glancing at her. "And I am pretty sure he is not who he claims to be."
. . .
"Do you think that miserable oaf would've sent you into the woods if I hadn't suggested it? Do you think Cedric Diggory would've told you to open the egg underwater if I hadn't told him first myself? Do you think Neville Longbottom, the witless wonder, could've provided you with gillyweed if I hadn't given him the book that led him straight to it? Huh?!"
Percy and Annabeth strode through the halls, in front of Hermione, as to form a protective barrier. The boy's eyebrows creased together as he noticed the professors gathered around the door. "Why haven't we entered?" He asked, knowing a spell had been cast to quiet their presence. "We are waiting for him to reveal himself, hush now, I believe the Polyjuice Potion is wearing off now." The Guardians and professors all shared a look. Dumbledore raised his wand to open the door, Percy raised his (despite his companions' protests) wand to attack Moody's imposter, and Snape prepared to use the Veritaserum potion he had brewed prior to this moment.
"…mad!"
"Mad, am I? We'll see! We'll see who's mad, now that the Dark Lord has returned, with me at his side! He is back, Harry Potter, you did not conquer him — and now — I conquer you!"
Dumbledore shouted out the incantation to open the heavy door, as Percy strode in next, shouting Incarcerous and not a second later, Bartemius Crouch Jr. was bound to a chair, his restraints viciously ripping into his skin as he tried to yank himself free.
"Behind me, Mr. Potter. Quickly, quickly," Harry ran to the protection Professor McGonagall offered, confused and dazed as ever. He was panting with the adrenaline pumping through his veins. His heart sped up at the prospect of having nearly suffered the same fate as his parents. He felt Hermione pulling him back by the arms, behind an unknown blonde in unfamiliar garments, and another unfamiliar girl with black spiky hair. Who are they? He inwardly wondered. He noticed the one with the blonde hair was protectively close to Percy, and his brows scrunched together in thought.
"Who are they?" He whispered to Hermione.
"Friends of Percy," she responded. They watched as Percy seethed, wand pointing threateningly at Jr.'s neck. They watched as Snape practically shoved some of the potion into his mouth, and listened to the tennis match of questions and answers asked by the adults and answered by the imposter.
"Where is he?"
After Alastor's location was given, Percy glanced back at his fellow Guardians, sharing a curt nod with the two girls. Like soldiers, Harry stepped aside as the girl confidently strutted past him, shoulders squared, chin up, wand in hand. She stopped beside the blonde girl, who mirrored her composure, and together they walked in sync to the trunk. Thalia held her wand at the ready as Annabeth unlatched the locks. In the background, the interrogation continued.
"Why did Voldemort send you here? Why now?"
"Because his time is up." Percy growled at the sinister smile taking over the Death Eater's face, and with no restraint, he wound back his fist, thrusting it forward, his knuckles splitting the skin at his victim's nose open, sending his head reeling back. The chair tipped backward, and the other occupants in the room rushed forward to assist the Death Eater in finding his balance in the chair once again. Blood gushed from his nose and flooded his mouth, though no one made a move to heal him. "You. Son. Of. A. Bitch!" Each word was enforced with a wild punch. Hermione scrambled forward to stop him when the others failed at doing so. "Who are you to decide whose time it is? I'll play along! Well you little mother—"
"Alexander!" Bartemius' eyes widened at the legendary name.
"—now it's your turn!"
And as a wand was raised menacingly, a sharp cry of laughter bounced off the walls of the small room. A head was thrown back in hysterics, and a bloody fist was held back.
"Is that why you're here? Revenge for daddy?"
"You sick—"
"Alexander, you and the others shall take Alastor and Harry to the Medical Wing. We will take it from here and make sure he is dealt with accordingly. Ms. Granger, you are to either report back to your House tower along with Mr. Weasley and your housemates or remain with Alexander at all times until he says otherwise. Guardians, I thank you for your assistance. Please feel free to indulge yourself in all Hogwarts has to offer. You are safe here." The three Guardians nodded their heads respectively, and in sync. The two younger students bowed their heads and followed the older three out of the room, Percy and Annabeth helping Alastor along to the Medical Wing.
"'Mione, I need you to go to Gryffindor Tower. Get some rest. I am sure with these past events they will be sending students home, though maybe the Ministry of Magic will try to sweep this under the rug. I am not sure. Get some rest, I am sorry for any pain I caused you today."
Her eyes quickly flickered to the blonde before she looked back at the tired boy, licking her lips before opening them to respond.
"Not worth it, kid. Just do what he says. Perce is a... stubborn person. Stuck up too if you ask me."
"Thalia," Percy tried, though the tone of his voice suggested this was an ever-going war between the two, and he knew he wasn't going to be able to win. The girl let out a small chuckle before setting a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "I'll make sure she gets to bed, sir," she mock saluted. Alastor mustered an eye roll, Annabeth bit her lip in an attempt to fight off a smile, and Percy shook his head.
Harry was just plain lost.
"Who are you people? And how do you know each other?"
Annabeth and Alastor looked at Percy, "You didn't tell him?"
"What? I didn't have the time. I was too busy trying to save our arses!"
"Ugh! You're insufferable sometimes!"
"Yeah well it's very hard to say 'oh by the way I used to work in a secret society called the Guardian Realm and basically, I've—we've—been fighting the same war for years now and I've been training and fighting since the age of seven. So, don't worry, I'm going to get us out of here in top shape!' when Voldemort is trying to kill you for the second time!"
"Second time?"
"Yes, Harry, second time. And please excuse me Wise Girl for my failures," Percy deadpanned.
"Can someone please explain to me why—"
"Okay, okay. But you need to start working on your priorities."
"Yes, mom."
"I'm serious."
"Can someone please explain to me how Percy was perfectly able to execute the Killing Curse even after being under the Cruciatus Curse for nearly an hour and still be awake right now?! Sane? Functioning?"
"Not now, Harry. They have to make sure Moody is okay."
Annabeth looked over at Percy, taking notice to how he subtly clutched his abdomen. The distance between him and his Bondee was too taxing. Now that he had Bonded, he had the ability to quickly heal, though judging by the way the young girl insisted on leaving him alone, Annabeth figured she did not know of this leverage Bonded couples have. She shifted Alastor's weight more to her, using her familial Bond with Thalia to signal to her to switch places with Percy. She did.
"You go on ahead with those two. We'll take care of Moody. Go. You need to rest more than you say."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Now go. We'll catch Alastor up and you can do the same with the kids," Harry and Hermione both clenched their teeth at the word "kids", "after you rest, correctly."
"Yes ma'am." He offered a chaste kiss on the cheek to his cousin and friend. Thalia playfully stuck her tongue out at him as Annabeth turned to hide the pink tint in her cheeks. "It's good to have you back, Moody," he clasped the man's shoulder. Alastor Moody nodded his head in reciprocation.
"Okay," he turned on his heel to face Hermione and Harry, "I guess, to the common room?" Under Annabeth's silent order, he made sure to have his arm around Hermione or to be holding her hand the whole time as he led the two younger Gryffindors to the common room.
Hermione did not object.
. . .
"Grover? Nico? Come in, come in! It's been a while since we've last talked."
"Hi. Yes it has—thank you—Sally," Grover pursed his lips as Nico shuffled along, mug already halfway empty due to his anxiety.
"Sally," Grover continued, "Sally, something's happened back at Hogwarts, but Percy is fine. We are here for something more than a social call." He gestured for Nico's mother figure to take a seat. Both boys looked at one another, but Nico, practically Percy's younger brother, stepped forward.
"We've found another charm. But you're not going to like how we found it."
"Where?" Suddenly Sally's features were hardened, determined. She knew the charms her son held now were wearing off.
"Jean. He—he has the last two we need. But… they're not his."
"Sally, your husband was the last owner of the two charms that are going to save your son's life.
"And he's alive."
"…and he's right outside."
Special thanks to IcyFox17, who's reviews I read that inspired me to write this chapter. Also a thanks to all of you who've stuck by me and waited for this chapter. I'm sorry for the long wait. And sorry to those who've asked a question in review that I did not answer, I do hope the chapters following your reviews did help answer your questions though. If not feel free to review and ask and I'll answer as soon as possible. Thank you so much. Hope you enjoyed this read. (And don't thank me for this chapter, or, not only me. Thank yourselves and my friend for practically tying me to a chair and forcing me to do something I enjoy, which is writing something you guys will enjoy. Have a nice weekend.)
