Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 1

"Time slows down whenever you're around. But can you feel this magic in the air?"

Second Year

Percy lazily sipped his pumpkin juice and looked around the Great Hall, taking immense pleasure in seeing the amazement on the first years' faces. He thought back to how he was in their position just last year. Hell, he still couldn't believe that all of this was real, especially since he had come from a Muggle household.

Suddenly, the candles around the room flickered in and out of existence and the black ceiling normally dotted with stars now had trembling rolls of thunder, bringing everyone's attention to the front of the room where Headmaster Zeus was standing.

He was a tall man with broad shoulders. He wore a dark blue robe with a white striped pattern and kept a well-trimmed beard that was dark as night with a face that was proud and handsome but grim. His eyes were a rainy gray as he gazed out at all of his students.

The hall had fallen silent. Percy saw a few of the Professors sitting behind him roll their eyes. Zeus always had a flair for the dramatics, they said.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts," he began. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I believe it would be prudent of me to inform you all of the expectations this fine school has for you. And the expectations that you should have for yourself.

"The first years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to everyone. Some of the upperclassmen would do well to remember that as well."

His pointed gaze fell in the direction of the Stoll twins.

"Remember, no magic should be used between classes..."

His speech began to sound exactly as it had last year making Percy's attention wane. He glanced over to the Slytherin table and a flash of blonde sprung out at him. His eyes locked on to it and he slumped into his seat.

Annabeth Chase.

He took all of her in. The way her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, the way she always kept a neutral expression, the way she made everything look easy... But what was most captivating were her eyes. They were a stormy gray that seemed to paralyze you if you gazed into them for too long. So that's exactly what Percy was doing.

To put it subtly, he was intrigued by her.

Unlike most of her Slytherin housemates, she hadn't outright exuded arrogance, mostly keeping to herself. It was strange since she excelled in everything that was school and was already becoming the envy of many. Though, that should've been expected. She did hail from the Noble House of Chase after all.

Her attention was completely on the Headmaster, diligently absorbing his every word. He had to smile at that. She was so driven and ambitious and mature for a twelve-year-old. It was no wonder she was in Slytherin.

Annabeth must've felt the tingling sensation of someone staring at her because she shifted her gaze in Percy's direction and caught his gaze. Percy quickly stared at something random in hopes she didn't catch on but when he glanced in her direction again, her pointed gaze was locked on him.

Thankfully Percy was saved from reacting by Zeus finishing up his speech.

"...study hard because the future is what you make of it. And Jason, congratulations on making it into Ravenclaw, son."

Percy let out a little laugh when he saw a boy with short blonde hair duck his head down in embarrassment as the entire school turned to look in his direction. So Zeus has a second kid, he thought. He could almost hear Thalia, Zeus' daughter and a second year Slytherin, cackling at her brother's misfortune.

When Michael Yew, the prefect in charge of Gryffindor, motioned for them to follow, Percy walked along with his housemates but his thoughts went back to Annabeth. He realized that he had never seriously talked to her before. Their only conversations only involved trivial matters such as "excuse me," or "can you hand me that book, please?"

He put those thoughts to rest when his friend Grover, a fifth year Gryffindor, approached him and they started talking about their summer. There was no use thinking about her this much, he thought.

They'd probably never be friends.

◆ ◆ ◆

"Do you wanna be friends?"

"What?"