Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 24

"So... friends again?" She asked meekly.

"Of course."

She sighed, feeling content, when a thought struck her. "Oh! I almost forgot."

She untangled herself from Percy's arms and reached into her bag and pulled out a plastic container. She eagerly watched as Percy's eyes shifted back and forth from her face to the container.

A smile began to grow on his face. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yup!"

He took the container gingerly, staring at it with childlike innocence. Annabeth laughed freely as she watched him. She missed this—missed him.

"How did you get these?" Percy asked in amazement.

Annabeth smiled. "I had a little help from Stonks. Open it already!"

Percy carefully opened the container and the heavenly smell of freshly baked cookies filled the vicinity. But these were no ordinary cookies. They were his mother's signature blue chocolate chip cookies. Percy's favorite.

"I haven't had these in so long," Percy moaned with a mouthful of the sugary treats.

"You didn't go home over winter break," she remembered. "Why?"

A sheepish expression crossed Percy's face and he scratched his cheek. "I didn't want you to be alone."

"Oh, Percy..."

Annabeth felt like crying all over again. She quickly threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck and holding him tight. And when his arms automatically wrapped around her again, she knew they'd be okay.

◆ ◆ ◆

Percy and Annabeth had become inseparable once again. People would be hard pressed to find them away from each other once they left their dorms. In this particular instance, they were sitting down to have lunch together.

"You're joking," Percy said in disbelief.

"Nope, dead serious."

"Wow... I never thought that Michael Jackson could be a wizard."

"Yeah, he was a Hufflepuff. My dad told me about how he used sticking charms to do that one dance move."

"He must've been pretty powerful then—wandless magic and all."

"It's kind of a thriller, isn't it?"

Percy burst into laughter. "Oh god, that was awful."

Annabeth grinned conspiringly when he reached over to pile more rice onto his plate. "Don't stop 'til you get enough."

Percy snorted, shaking his head bemusedly. "Just beat it."

"Rude," Annabeth laughed, her eyes bright.

◆ ◆ ◆

Near the end of the term, Percy received a parcel.

It was about the size of a book and marked as an anonymous sender making Percy wary of its contents. He heard the clink of metal sound from inside when he shook it. Despite his burning curiosity, he waited until classes were over for the day so he could open it with Annabeth.

They found themselves back in the same clearing near the lake once again. The sun was setting far away over the mountains, painting the sky with soft hues of red and pink. It had become solely their spot just like it was before.

"Well, let's see it then," Annabeth encouraged.

Percy nodded and tore the wrapping, dumping the contents into his hand. Two letters fell out followed by a black chain made of thread. He set the letters aside and admired the silver pendant hanging from the chain. It looked to be handmade and was in the shape of a stretched hexagon with intricate markings tracing its edges and around the symbol in the middle. It was a trident, Percy realized.

Percy handed the necklace to Annabeth to look at and opened the first letter.

Perseus,

I hope you are well. I am an old friend of your father's. He left this letter and the necklace in my possession before his departure. It was time that they went to their rightful owner. Please read it when you are alone.

I will not reveal who I am but know that I am very sorry. For more than just this.

"My father..." Percy breathed, wide eyed and in disbelief.