Harry
Annabeth's breath came out more panicked. Hermione put her arms around Annabeth trying to comfort her.
Harry nodded his head towards the door and went back to go wake up Ron. The more searchers the better. Harry could hear the faint quiet footsteps of the girls receding as they left the room of heavily sleeping boys. Harry carefully shook Ron.
"Percy is missing," he said in a hushed whisper. Although Ron's face held concern, he said "It's way too late for this."
None the less he slipped out of his bed and followed Harry out.
Annabeth waited impatiently outside for them. Her panic was stoned over by fierce anger and determination to find Percy. This is one thing he had noticed about Annabeth that he rather admired. She never let situations get the best of her. When needed, she put aside her worries and approached the situation with reason and control.
Hermione walked back into the room carrying Annabeth's and her own robe. Annabeth took the robe with a thank you and slipped it over her arms.
"We should split into two, Ron and I will search inside the Castle. And you two cover the.. Other grounds. You know your way better through there then we do."
Hermione nodded in response. "Meet back here in half an hour."
And with that, the two groups went their separate ways to find the puppet of the one who played with time, and minds.
Percy
Everything was black, but the very intense pain that made his whole body feel like it was on fire, let Percy know that he was still alive.
His lunges finally expanded welcoming in the crisp night air. His head was screaming at him, he wanted to crawl into a ball and sleep for eternity… he wanted this to go away… this would be so much nicer if he could just… die..
Percy's eyes shot open. No. He was not ready to die, and the idea vanished as quickly as it had submerged. He rolled back to his original placement. He looked into the night air and gaped at the stars. Before now, he hadn't realized just how beautiful they were. They lit up the sky's light small fireflies that seemed to make his head spin. But not in a bad way, in a way that made him feel like he was flying. That made him feel like the earth had vanished beneath him, and all that was left were immense possibilities.
He blinked. Where was he again? Right… the school for wizards. He was supposed to leave with the others in the morning.. But for what… then he remembered time. Time. They were losing time quicker and quicker each day. Next thing.. How had he gotten outside. He brought his hands in front and saw sticky red blood running down his arm. Then his attention caught on the broken above him.
He sat straight up. Annabeth was in trouble. He leaned forward, trying to bring his feet beneath him. His head screamed at him as he stood. His stomach churned sending a wave of nausea over him.
Percy stumbled on his feet, his hands searching for support. They hit a cold, stone wall. The wall of the castle. He leaned against the wall, hardly feeling the glass that hid in the blood being pushed farther into his flesh. His head swam, and before he knew it, he was bent over heaving.
Annabeth
Panic rose in Annabeth's stomach when the light revealed that Percy was not in his bed. He was missing again. What if she wouldn't be able to find him this time? What if he was gone forever? Her breaths grew heavier.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Annabeth, holding onto her tight. She hadn't even noticed that Hermione had turned them around and was leading them out of the dark room. Her feet had simply followed suit leaving her mind behind.
After they made it out of the room, Hermione said she was going to go retrieve their robes so they wouldn't be seen wandering around the castle in nightgowns with two boys.
Annabeth took the time she was gone to take control of her mind.
She was going to find Percy, they would not be allowed to take him from her now. Not after everything they had been through together. He was her everything… She blocked out any other thoughts before they could make her panic more.
She was determined to find him no matter what happened.
Harry and Ron walked into the room, their faces being lit by the wand still in Harry's hand.
Harry's eyes seemed to linger on Annabeth for longer than she would have liked. Hermione came back holding both of their robes. She thanked her, slipped the silky fabric onto her body.
"We will split into two groups. ...Inside the castle…. You know those places better… meet here.. Hour.." Without meaning to, Annabeth's mind seemed to meld all the words together into a sentence that was far from making sense.
Hermione looped her arm through Annabeth's and led her outside to start the search for Seaweed Brain.
