Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 44

When they reached the shore, Percy stepped out and offered a steadying hand to both Annabeth and Hermione, making them exchange an amused smirk. Hermione led the way through an arched entrance made of stone and iron where two Aurors stood guard on either side, nodding at her in greeting.

"This place was once guarded by Dementors," Hermione told them. "I'm sure Harry taught you about them, right?"

"Yeah," Percy confirmed, shooting a smirk at Annabeth that she returned. "He taught us the Patronus Charm too."

Hermione smiled to herself. "Oh, yes, he's quite good at that one."

When they reached the courtyard, a stocky, middle aged man approached them, grinning at the three. Hermione nodded in greeting and they spoke a few hushed words. Percy watched the man's face go dark and he asked Hermione a question to which she gave a nod in confirmation.

He could guess what they were talking about and averted his gaze. He didn't care what the man thought, there was no deterring Percy of what he set out to do. He had come too far.

For the second time that day, he found himself being brought out of his thoughts by Annabeth. She had a hand on his cheek, staring up at him in concern.

"It's going to be okay, Percy," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his middle. "I'll be with you the entire time."

"Thanks, Wise Girl," he rasped, wrapping an arm around her.

Annabeth said nothing and continued holding onto him. Having been fortunate enough to grow up with both parents, she couldn't imagine what was feeling right now, which, truth be told, irked her a little. She prided herself on being the only one who understood what went on in that seaweed brain of his.

"Percy, Annabeth," Hermione called, drawing their attention to her. "Everything's set. Are you ready, Percy?"

He released a heavy sigh and nodded, a resolute mask of determination marring his features. He saw a two burly Aurors approach, but when Hermione shook her head they stopped and looked conflicted. But after a heated glare, they nodded once and backed off.

Hermione led Percy and Annabeth down a winding corridor that had no other cells. Percy clutched Annabeth's hand tighter, growing increasingly anxious as they continued to walk. He knew prisoners were kept in solitary confinement in Azkaban, but he didn't know if this was the norm for every prisoner, or...

He would've walked straight into Hermione if Annabeth didn't tug on his arm. They had stopped in front of a massive iron door in front of a shadowed room, dim from the torches.

"Mr. Jackson?" Hermione asked tentatively, grasping one of the bars of the door. Receiving no response, she beckoned again. "Mr. Jackson... Poseidon?"

A grunt sounded from inside the room and Percy held his breath seeing a flicker of movement in the shadows. The figure moved closer, the soft sound of footsteps leaving his wake. Little by little, his frame came into view until he was fully exposed.

A soft gasp left Percy's lips seeing the man in person for the first time.

Poseidon looked... haggard—decades older and much thinner than the pictures he'd seen of him. The man was a few inches taller than himself. He had long, tangled black hair that hung past his shoulders, framing his face. A dark, unkempt beard touched with gray fell just above his chest. Just as he'd seen in the pictures, the similarities between them were uncanny.

"What could the ministry possibly want with me now?"