o0o Chapter 15 o0o

Peaceful. Peaceful was a word Percy would never have thought to use in an instant such as this. Bricks of stone rose on four sides and met at each corner, spreading to a ceiling, which on occasion leaked a drop of water.

The place was slightly damp, there was an unnatural humidity in the air, a cool one, one that only came from being under dirt and stone, being surrounded by walls in the unforgiving earth. There was a beautiful archway outlined by the cool stone in one of the walls, inlaid was an iron gated door. One of a prison cell.

Iron sconces dotted the extending wall outside, but it wasn't elaborate stone work that his eye was on, it wasn't the fact that he could see a multitude of cells down the row, it wasn't how real the dream seemed.

He was focused on the person curled into herself on the floor. Dried blood had formed in clumps around the floor, pools of blood, shed then left to dry. Comind, it was easily more than enough to bleed out, but he could see the light breath rising and falling in her chest.

Hair matted, skin covered in lacerations, dried blood, and dirt, Annabeth was asleep on the cold stone floor. Her face was peaceful in sleep; for a demigod that could be rare. He reached out to touch her, as he did he met an invisible barrier. His vision faltered as his eyes welled with water and quick, silent tears began to run down his face.

He fell to his knees and stared, he stared at her for what felt like hours. He recognized the state she was in, this was a comma. The demigod knew what commas looked like, he knew too long of one could easily turn fatal. Percy was not letting her go, he reached for her again. Whether to hug her, or confirm a pulse, just be able to feel her skin under his finger after so long apart—he didn't know. His hand hit the invisible barrier.

Not even in a dream could he reach out to her. Not even in his own mind could he see her happy and healthy, talk to her, embrace her, hold her hand. Not even his own mind would allow him any solace to the emptiness he felt would swallow him any day.

Not in dream or nightmare could he be happy, not in his waking hours could he enjoy himself or hope for rest. This, what should have been a dream, what should have given him hope, shown him his love's face, was the worst night terror he had faced.

To be so damn close, for her to be right there, right there, so bloodied and worn down, slowly falling into the hands of death, it sent his heart into a frenzy. His tears turned to a scream as he reached out with all of his might, pounding the wall which, even in his mind, separated them.

He screamed, in rage, in grief, in sorrow, in love, and because of how broken he felt. He screamed until his voice had gone horse and his throat stung of rawness.

Eyes glued shut by the tears, dried onto his face and caked in his eyelashes, Percy blinked up into the darkness, jolting as he realized the storm around him. His skin became raw as he was pelted with hard rain and shards of ice which stung, cutting into his skin, sharped than glass, harder than crystal. Lightning was flashing in the sky, lighting his surroundings briefly. With that flash of light he saw a man, a man larger and taller than any average person. He was standing among fallen trees and scattered debris of logs and leaves.

Winds whipped around him; Percy, quickly flooded with adrenaline, cast the disillusionment charm. Taking in the scene, the demigod found himself in the center of a hurricane. It grew in intensity as he fought the urge to run right then and there. Run and get to Annabeth as soon as possible, run until he found her.

He sat there and breathed as the man below looked around and yelled. He sat there and breathed. In and out, he stopped the tears he hadn't even realized were still coming. In and out, he gripped the tree. In and out, the storm slowed.

In and out, his skin burned, but the ice began to melt into rain. In and out, the lightning flashes were infrequent, then they stopped. In and out, the wind became a breeze. In and out, the rain was less violent. In and out. Gripping the tree he saw Hagrid, clear, for the first time. Sturdy, covered from head to foot in thick skins, he had held his ground. Still looking for the cause, he stood there, a bewildered look crossing his face.

Percy hardly daring to move, hardly daring to breathe, he gripped the tree's bark, restraining himself. He stayed there, pressing his hands into that bark until it cut into him. He could barely feel it though. It took every ounce of restraint he had not to go running. Percy knew though, if he was caught, there wouldn't be a hope of running.

Hagrid stood there, lantern in hand searching the area. There was no feasible cause, no person, no creature, no reason. Percy watched, eyes glued to him, ready to flee as soon as his eyes turned too critical as he gazed upwards.

They weren't alone though, as soon became apparent. A centaur emerged from the forest, walking out of the shadows, crossbow raised. Two others flanked him.

"Rubeus, you are in our territory once again."

"Bane, have you not seen this storm? Look a' this area, 's wrecked."

"The storm is unusual, but the stars foretold it, we were f

ine. We told you, should you come here one more time and you would be killed."

"Now, don' threaten meh like tha'. I'm not here to harm yeh, I've told yeh' so many times-"

"And we told you the consequences of coming here."

All three raised their bows, all aimed precisely at the fur covered, rather large target. Percy gathered the moisture in the air and concentrated, tired and drained, on forming a man of ice behind Hagrid.

Opening his eyes, the demigod watched as ice rose to form a monster, icicles dripping from it. The centaurs raised their heads, he knew they saw it. Hagrid didn't dare turn his head. Percy took that as his chance and hopped from the trees, trying to stay quiet. He lightly stepped outward, and jumped from an outstretched branch onto the ice monster's shoulder. Lowering charm, Percy made sure Hagrid was still refusing to look, and allowed the centaurs to see him. He stuck his hand in his pocket and took out Riptide, flicking off the cap. He pointed to Hagrid, then dragged the tip of his sword along his arm and then pointed to the three of them and mimicked cutting his throat.

One more pointed look and they turned tail and ran. Hagrid, bewildered, turned, but Percy had already abandoned the scene. No longer caring about the noise he made, the demigod left the ice structure to melt as he ran from tree branch to tree branch. Not towards the school, not simply away from Hagrid. He was headed to the border. He didn't care why he was at the school or what Hecate said. He was leaving. He was going to find Annabeth and bring her somewhere safe. He didn't care what happened to him, as long as she ended up safe. As long as they were together.

Percy jumped from the canopy and hit the ground with a jolt; he ran. The thoughts previously flooding his head faded as his feat pounded the ground. Running. It was simple, it was easy, it was basic. The thoughts of Annabeth's life being so fragile—of how easily it could end and he wouldn't even know—fueled him as he ran until he couldn't think. The forest was becoming more dense with every step, a heavy darkness was pressing on him. His eyes might as well have been closed for the amount of input they gave him.

The demigod made his way through the thick trees and thorn clad vines, only by feeling the water flowing through the veins of the plants as well as the moist carpeting and outline of each animal and rise of brush, every root and borrow became a skeletal map in his brain.

He could sense the magical wall, keeping intruders out. He'd read about it, it was no small feat to break in, to get out though... all you felt was a chill. He ran.

In what could have been hours or minutes, footsteps cushioned by moss or accentuated by brush, Percy halted. The barrier was in front of him. The magic radiating from it was powerful, rolling off in cold waves. He stepped forward, tentative to test the knowledge he'd found by word of mouth as well as from books. Putting just the tip of his foot forward shocked him. He reeled back and ran at it.

It was as if he had run at a concrete wall. Blood streaming down his face, warm and viscous. After a quick assessment of the damage done, Percy determined he had a broken nose, he was also contracting a slight migraine, he could already feel the swelling in his forehead as it gushed blood.

Percy screamed, water condensing into two thick streams behind him and hurled them at the barrier. Nothing showed, nothing wavered, they went through, easily. Ice, water, pieces of dead trees, spells, it all went right through. He picked up a lizard, watching as his hands were stopped, pressed against a wall that wasn't there, it scrambled right through.

Exhausted, out of hope, out of ideas, broken, tired, and hungry, Percy collapsed on the ground. He pounded the wall until his fists bled. Until his knuckles were tarnished and raw. Until every last tear he had, all the ones he'd bottled up over the past months left him. Until he was dry and sober. Until he stood up and walked back towards the castle. Numb but alert. Alive but dying. Whole but broken.

:-:-:-:

"Bloody hell! How am I supposed to get it back!"

"You still have eyebrows, there's nothing really to get back." Hermione quipped.

"Ah, piss off, you know what I'm talking about, plus there is. There's proper color I need back."

"Well, I'm sure McGonagall can help," Harry chimed in before they started anything.

"Have you seen how prickly she's been lately? The last thing she'll do when she sees me will be to actually help."

"Well, you haven't been studying that much, most people are aces at the spell you just failed, you should be able to reverse it."

"Wait, Hermione, you know how to reverse that?"

"Harry, really? You don't? Honestly…."

"Hermione, c'mon do me a favor—Slughorn's party is tonight, and I do not want to go with yellow eye-brows."

"Hm, really? And who're you going with?"

"I'm Harry's plus-one for your information."

"Ah, right."

Harry banged his head against the table at the joking, but pointed look Hermione gave him. She knew there was nothing between them, and plus-one didn't have to mean anything but most people were going with dates. And would it be Hermione to give up a chance to make fun of Ron and him for this—well, it'll probably end up mostly directed at Ron.

"Well what're you doing for the party?" Ron raised his neon eyebrows at Hermione questioningly. It was comical and Harry couldn't help snickering. Ron, thankfully, missed it.

"I was invited and will be going by myself."

"Alright all-knowledgeable one, how could I underestimate-"

Harry tuned his two friends out and cast his eyes around the room, bored, with no will to spend any energy studying. Most students were pouring over books, studying, practicing spells, and the such. From what he could overhear though, a lot were also talking more about break than studying for the tests after it.

Only one person seemed to be fully invested in their book, one person alone, one person not talking. Who other than the newest and weirdest guy in the year, Jackson.

Harry couldn't tell what book was open, but it looked thicker than the standard Transfiguration books everyone else had out. Absentmindedly, he swirled his fingers around and Harry could see magic emanating from them. Suddenly, his robe was grey. The Gryffindor continued to watch his house mate, bored in general but suddenly interested to see what might happen next.

Tapping his fingers, blue energy flowed between them, tendrils that reached out and lifted the quill from it's inkwell and promptly becoming a small owl. It trilled and landed on his shoulder, he didn't even look up.

His foot too, was bouncing, Harry could hear it, he wondered if the floorboards might too begin transforming.

Harry jolted as Ron punched his shoulder, "What?"

"Hermione has decided we're not studying well enough and now we both have to go to the library to study with her."

"I see your eyebrows are fixed. I, however didn't need anything, why do I have to do this?"

"To be a bloody good mate—if you aren't there I will die of boredom."

"You two are so damn dramatic. You both should be doing this to prepare for the tests."

"Wait so we have a choice? Because I-"

"No, Ronald, you do not have a choice. I'm telling you why this shouldn't be a forced situation."

"Well shit-"

"I'll be glad to go, I need to brush up, especially with the holidays so close. I'll feel better about not studying then."

Harry was glad to go, but even that comment made Hermione sigh and turn away. Harry stared at his book, vision coming in and out of focus as he waited for class to be over and lunch to arrive."

:-:-:-:-:

Annoyed he couldn't understand half the stuff written in the transfiguration book, supposedly one that broke things down further, but to his mind only made them more complicated, Percy stumbled up the steps, heavy bag in tow.

Before going to the Great Hall, Percy had to change out his robes, which had somehow, over the duration of Transfiguration, turned grey. He guessed it was one of those smart-ass Ravenclaws messing with him. They had also turned his quill into a little grey owl.

He couldn't tell if it made him want to cry, stab someone, or smile. At the moment, he didn't have energy to even do one of the three. Stepping through the portrait hole, Percy founded a decent grouping of people. A good few took their time to stare at him, what a joy. After getting up to his dorm, which was delightfully deserted, he went to the bathroom and took a quick shower.

A towel wrapped around his waist, slightly worried why the hell it was December in Scotland and he wasn't cold, he grabbed a robe from his trunk and threw it on. Shoving his newest book, one on Herbology, into the robe pocket he felt another paper.

Pulling it out, he found an invitation to Slughorn's party. He'd fully forgotten about the gluttonous man's odd offering, but with all Olivia had done for him, the demigod considered going, he could ask if she wanted to go at lunch—which, he suddenly realized, was currently going on.

With that he quickly assembled his personal small library on his person and headed out. Thundering down the stairs, Percy raced to the Great Hall. As he stumbled down the last steps and almost body-slammed the door on accident, he realized lunch was an hour long. He had plenty of time—kind of.

Slowing himself and his breathing, Percy walked into the fancy ass cafeteria and sat down next to Olivia at the Ravenclaw table.

"Hello," his fucking leg was jogging on times five speed for no damn reason. ADHD, newly developed anxiety and the fucking PTSD were fun to deal with.

"Good sir," Liv nodded at him.

"So, you've dragged me to multiple things so I was thinking maybe it was my turn?"

"Yeah?"

"An invitation just resurfaced, I'd forgotten about it, but I do have an invitation to Slughorn's party. I was thinking you might want to go? It might fucking suck, but maybe there's good free dessert? I don't know, I just thought I might offer-"

"Wait, really? Oh shit," Oiva started smiling, grinned, frowned, and cast her eyes around and then looked back up to Percy. Only making Percy 'I might as well explode' nervous.

"Can we go to the library? I have to tell you something, well kind of ask you."

Flippantly, Percy responded with "Sure." Brain Percy though, was freaking out, running around, screaming and smashing things, wondering what the fucking hell he'd dug himself into.

Nevertheless, used to keeping his nerves under wraps, Percy stood up and followed her through the library, at last plopping down at the table that had become firmly theirs.

"I don't want to seem rude, yes, I'd love to go with you. However, I know for a fact that my crush was invited as well and I was thinking maybe we could split up at some point and I could go talk to them…"

Surprised, Olivia looked up from her quick nervous rant, and saw Percy grinning at her from across the table.

"Who is it?" The demigod tried to hide it, but people who were crushing are always really cute. Well, most of the time.

"So, it probably won't be someone you expect-"

"My gods, cut the nervous horse crap, I don't know anyone from your grade other than you and Luna. Actually, now that I think about it…, hm, is she your type or no?"

"You guessed a girl?" Olivia was clearly shocked, but he took note that she didn't seem offended, which was good.

Percy stared for a second, before putting it together.

"Alright, so not Luna. But I swear is this apprension is because you're even a bit gay I'm going to face palm harder than you've ever seen someone face palm before."

"…why?" Her voice was slightly apprehensive, and he knew he was right.

"Liv, I'm Bi."

"You are?"

"Yes, yes, but who is your crush?"

After a moment she muttered what he guessed was meant to be a name, "I see the blush but hear not the name—c'mon spill."

Her blush grew, but Percy caught the name that time.

"Ginny."

"Ohh, she's on the broom team right—I think I remember her being really good at magic sportsing."

Olivia decided to bury her head in her hands rather than respond.

"Okay, right, your turn—tell me everything. I mean, or don't, it's your crush but like-"

"Shut up," Olivia groaned.

"A second ago it was all 'oh no what if he cares that I'm gay, but now it's all fuck off, you're emmbarrassing me even in my mind palace-'"

He was interrupted mid-rant by Olivia, he flinched worse than he'd like to admit when she came towards him. So suddenly, her arms were around him and he so violently tended up she quickly released.

Worriedly she turned her eyes to him. "I'm sorry, just tired today."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to do that so suddenly, but I really just appreciate this. I was scared I'd lose a friend today…. You have to tell me what's wrong though."

"I probably owe it to you, but, short answer, I'm kinda stressed right now. I can tell you the rest later though. It's not important right now. Right now, we need to get you ready for tonight."

"You promise to tell me? Will this help to get your mind off things?"

"Thank you," Percy looked around. "Do you know what time it is?"

"No, but lunch isn't over yet, we'd hear the rush."

"Right, I know, but there isn't enough time. Lightning round, c'mon we gotta figure out what you're gonna wear. And I'd be happy to do your makeup if you'd like—I'm really not that bad at it."

"You know how to do makeup?"

"Long story, but yes."

"You have to tell me sometime, but-"

Just then, the overflow from the Great Hall became much louder as the doors were farther wedged open and the people came pouring out.

Percy got up, and to his surprise, it took more effort than he was willing to admit. Olivia and him walked out together, but as she turned the corner, heading for her class, he went straight for the stairs.

The demigod pushed through personal exhaustion as well as hoards of students. Eventually he made it to the sixth floor.

He then pretended to get lost on the stairs and generally circled the sixth floor until the bell rang and he ran to the tapestry he'd become so accustomed to.

Pacing, asking for the room he needed, Percy waited as the lines appeared from the walls like veins slowly materializing before they all took a solid stone shape and the slab swung from the wall, a door.

He stumbled in, almost tripping in the process. As he walked in, as almost a subconscious reaction at this point, he felt the charms seep from him. A candle lit in the dark, only for all the wax which seemed so smooth to melt off in a flood, leaving a drenched and singed string, with no structure to hold it up any longer.

The circles under his eyes were back, so dark it might have been ashen war paint. The tire of his face had shone through at this point, because of all things, Percy had to learn beauty spells. They were there to make sure he wasn't physically falling apart at all times, or at least not looking like it.

The most important charm might be the energy one. It has to be done almost every hour, and it takes all his remaining strength but then it's restored. It's a rather nonsensical cycle, and a toxic one no doubt, but it can hold the demigod for a week, or even a few weeks before he'll collapse.

Now, was one of those times. Attempting to stay up, Percy leaned against the wall. From out of his wand came a small burst of water, it fell on him, hardly doing a thing to wake him up. There was nowhere near enough power in his stock to condense water vapor.

He thought about an alarm clock and it came. Thirty minutes later it was set to, so maybe he'd get some actual productive things done. As soon as the hand hit right, and he knew it was set, he promptly fell to the ground. Sleeping, already in fits.

()()()()()()

Dudes, I am so tired right now. Anyway. after such a wait, yet again sorry for the short chapter. Please go vote on my poll, and it'd be wonderful if you could leave a comment. Tysm to anyone who's still around with my shit posting. Hope to post again soon, because oh my, it's going to get interesting. (There is no heavy romance at all next chapter—sorry to disappoint and glad to provide, depending on who's reading.

Have a nice time from now on—BBB (3/19/22)