Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 29

Their sixth year had come to a close.

The platform was chaotic as usual as hundreds of students said their goodbyes and clamored to board the train. The Stolls could be seen slipping something inconspicuous into a few students' pockets, younger students were struggling against the masses, and teachers were helping kids with their trunks. All was well.

Near the end of the Hogwarts Express, Percy and Annabeth were boarding when Percy looked back and saw Harry standing in the middle of the platform smiling at them.

Annabeth looked back and saw Percy still standing at the entrance. "Coming, Perce?"

"Gimme a sec," he told her before jogging toward the bespectacled man.

"Thought you were leaving without saying goodbye, did you?" Harry smiled, his gaze momentarily flicking to Percy's necklace.

A smile spread across Percy's face and he hugged the older man, surprising Harry immensely. But it was certainly welcomed. The older man returned the gesture and pulled back after a few moments.

"Thank you, Harry. For everything."

"It was my pleasure. I see you've worked things out with Annabeth. Quite well, in fact," he noted, smirking down at Percy causing him to smile sheepishly and rub the back of his head.

"Ah-ha... yeah," Percy said, embarrassed. "Will you be teaching next year too?"

Harry's expression turned thoughtful. "We'll see, I guess. If Professor Chiron isn't back, then I might. But being an Auror requires me to do a lot more paperwork than you might think."

Percy slowly nodded, forgetting who exactly he was talking to for a moment.

"You should get going, Percy. The train's already moving," Harry grinned, nodding towards the locomotive.

"Oh!" Percy exclaimed and started walking backward. He hopped onto the train and grabbed onto the pole before turning back around and waving at the man. "Bye Harry!"

"Take care, Percy! We'll meet again!"

Percy kept waving until Harry was little more than a speck in the distance. Turning around, he walked through the aisles until he found the compartment where Annabeth was sitting. He felt a rush of happiness seeing that same soft smile she'd wear when staring at the castle at the end of every year. He missed it last year.

"I didn't know you were that close with Professor Potter," she commented after he sat down across from her.

"Yeah, he's pretty great."

They sat in comfortable silence, staring out the window, watching as the castle soon vanished from sight, signaling that the train had exited Hogwarts' wards. The collective melancholic sigh from all the students was almost palpable.

"So what's next for us?" Annabeth asked.

Percy was silent for a while, his green eyes contemplative. He clutched the silver pendant hanging from his neck, mulling over his thoughts.

"I was thinking about paying a visit to Azkaban this summer. You with me?"

Annabeth switched positions so she was sitting next to him and laced her fingers through his. She raised their clasped hands and placed a soft, lingering kiss to the back of his knuckles.

"Always."