YO. It's that time. Chapter time. Woot.

Percy

Percy woke up to a sweaty Goat Boy shaking his arm. He sat up groggily.

"Grover, what are you doing? We don't have classes today and... wait, how'd you even get in here?" Percy asked. "You don't know the password,"

"Dude, you told me the password, now get up, we have to go!" he exclaimed.

"Wait, what? Why? What's happening?"

"He's here. Today. Now. I smell him," Grover said urgently. It took Percy a moment to understand what he meant, but the gears clicked into place quickly.

Voldemort.

Percy threw the covers off his legs and pulled on a pair of the first pants he could find over his fish decorated boxers, which just so happened to be his dress pants. He had slept in a Camp Half-Blood shirt, and didn't bother changing out of it. Riptide had already appeared in his pocket by the time he was pulling on his shoes. Percy fell over, throwing his other shoe across the room in his haste. He scrambled to his feet again, searching for his other shoe where it went.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, sitting up in his bed.

"I need my shoe," Percy said shortly, climbing over Ron's bed. Ron gasped and jumped out of his bed.

"What the-what's happening?" he asked.

"Shoe!" Percy exclaimed, pulling his shoe on and rolling off Ron's bed. Percy grabbed Grover's arm and pulled him out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Harry called out the door. Percy kept running, dragging Grover with him.

"We have to find Annabeth," Percy said. They ran to the Ravenclaw tower where the bronze eagle that marked the entrance stood.

"The man who made me, sold me. The man who bought me, doesn't use me. The man who's using me doesn't know he's using me. What am I?" the eagle asked. Percy opened his mouth, then clamped it shut.

"Wait, what?" he asked.

The eagle repeated the riddle. "The man who made me, sold me. The man who bought me, doesn't use me. The man who's using me doesn't know he's using me. What am I?"

"What is it?" Percy asked Grover. He shrugged. Percy groaned in annoyance.

"Hello? Hello!" he yelled, pounding on the door. "This is pointless!" At that moment, someone walked out of the Ravenclaw common room. Percy recognized him as one of Annabeth's roommates.

"You!" Percy exclaimed, grabbing the girl by the shoulders. She let out a terrified peep. "Annabeth. Is she in there?"

"No, she wasn't there when I got up," she said nervously.

"Good, awesome, thank you," Percy said, patting the top of the girl's head. Percy sprinted down the stairs.

"Percy! Where are you going?" Grover called.

"Breakfast! It's what every person should have after they wake up!" Percy called back.

Percy reached the Great Hall and bursted in. "Annabeth, are you in-" Percy stopped, seeing Annabeth was not alone. "Um..." It was Draco Malfoy. He had only talked to him once in Defense Against the Dark Arts class, but it had been rather unpleasant.

"Hey, you're up early," Annabeth said. She looked exhausted.

"Yeah, Grover woke me up," Percy said tensely, his eyes glued on Malfoy. "He said he smelt it again," Annabeth frowned

"The... the thing that he shouldn't smell until tomorrow? That thing?" she asked. Percy looked at her and nodded. Annabeth didn't hesitate. She pushed past Malfoy and ran out of the Great Hall, Percy following her.

Grover had just reached the bottom of the stairs. He held his shoes in one hand and pants in the other, so his goat half was exposed. He was leaning on the railing, trying to catch his breath from chasing Percy down the stairs. They didn't have time. Percy grabbed him by the sleeve of his shirt and pulled him along.

They raced towards the forest where the tree stood, it's gnarled branches casting a large shadow. Grover searched his pants pockets, and took in a sharp breath.

"Um... I don't have my reed pipes," he said.

"What?" Percy and Annabeth exclaimed.

"I was in a rush, okay? I grabbed my wand by accident!" he said, holding up the thin piece of wood.

"Of all the times to forget them, you chose now to do so?" Annabeth exclaimed. Her weariness had faded away and was replaced by adrenaline.

"You're Lord of the Wild! Can't you work some magic tree voodoo and make sure it doesn't kill us when we get closer?" Percy asked desperately. Grover scratched his head.

"I'm new to all this stuff!" he exclaimed.

"Fine, then, I'm going in!" Percy exclaimed. He took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes at the nearly invisible entrance to the tunnel. He counted down in his head. Three. Two-

"Stop! You're going to get yourself killed!" someone yelled. Percy looked over his shoulder. Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran towards them. Percy cursed in Greek loudly.

"I tried to make them stop," Hermione said apologetically.

"You guys need to leave," Annabeth said sharply.

"Is Voldemort there?" Harry demanded. They didn't answer. He asked again. "Is he there?" His voice came out broken the second time.

"Yes," Annabeth said finally.

"Let me come. If you distract him, I can kill him put an end to all of this. Please. It's his fault my parents are dead. That my god-father is dead. That so many people have died because of him. I need to do this," Harry said.

Something inside Percy resonated with Harry. He was willing to do anything to stop this guy. Even if that meant risking his own life. Like Percy himself had tried to do while battling Kronos. Like Luke had succeeded in. Percy looked at Annabeth and knew she felt it too.

"You wait until Nico is safe, okay? If you risk his survival in anyway, you won't be dealing with us. You'll have to answer to the Big Guy down under," Annabeth said. Harry nodded in understanding. Percy's eyes wandered over to Hermione and Ron. By the look of determination in their eyes, he could tell they weren't going to leave their friend's side.

"There's a knot at the base of the tree. If one of us can get passed there and touch it, the tree will be immobile," Harry said. Percy nodded and turned back towards the tree. He spotted the knot and braced himself.

"Percy," Annabeth said, taking his hand. Percy looked back at her and offered a reassuring smile.

"I'll be careful," he said, kissing her on the forehead. She squeezed his hand once more before taking a step back.

"Cowabunga,"

He took a running start and dove for the knot. A branch sliced across his ankle in an attempt to grab him. He army crawled a foot and reached his hand out to the knot. He felt a branch wrap around his foot and start to lift him off the ground. Actually, it was just the boost he needed to press the knot. So, there he was, one hand on the knot, with half his body dangling in mid air.

"Help, please!" he called over his shoulder. The tree suddenly released him and returned to a neutral position. Percy's stomach smacked on the ground and he groaned.

"Are you okay?" Grover asked, crouching beside him. Annabeth was on his other side.

"Yeah. I'm awesome. Did you see that dive?" he asked, his voice breathy from the shock of the impact.

"'Cowabunga'? Really Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth asked sarcastically. Percy grinned and sat up on his knees, keeping his hand on the knot.

One by one, everyone in their party jumped into the tunnel. Percy followed them down the hole and took a position at the front of the group. He used Riptide's bronze glow to light the way.

"What kind of pen is that?" Ron asked in a whisper.

"Look closely. It's not a pen," Percy whispered back. There was a pause, followed by two loud gasps. Percy allowed a small smirk to creep up on his lips. "Yep,"

The entrance to the Shrieking Shack was just up ahead. Percy's heart thumped in his chest wildly.

"Wait here. Wait until we get Nico. Wait. Here." Percy hissed. Harry nodded, the light of Riptide reflecting off his glasses.

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover continued forwards. Percy could barely breathe. Nico was so close.

They emerged into the Shrieking Shack. Voldemort stood with his wand in his hand, his black robes draping out behind him. Nico in front of him. His eyes were open, but full of fear. When Percy met his eyes, he could tell something wasn't right.

"Nico, are you okay?" Percy asked. Nico didn't move.

"You're late," Voldemort said.

"You're early," Percy countered. "Why?" he asked.

"I was impatient for answers," he replied. "Now, let's begin, shall we?"

OMG OMG OMG OMG I'M SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW!

What do YOU think will happen next?