Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 45

"What could the ministry possibly want with me now?" He asked in a gravelly voice, staring directly into Hermione's eyes.

The sound of his voice sent a jolt down their spines. There was no warmth to it, only a deep seated tick of annoyance.

Hermione swallowed tersely. "You have some visitors today, Mr. Jackson."

His gaze flicked behind her and Annabeth gently nudged Percy forward so Poseidon could see him clearly. And the moment he did, the hard lines of his face instantly contorted. A series of emotions flashed across his face—relief, joy, shock before settling on disbelief.

"...Per...Perseus?" He said, his voice just above a whisper.

Percy, too shocked to say anything, blinked rapidly, banishing an onslaught of tears, before nodding hesitantly and stepping closer to the bars. Annabeth and Hermione stepped back and watched the two men standing in front of the other with melancholic smiles on their faces. At one point, the two of them had to brush a few tears away themselves.

Hermione moved forward, pointing her wand to the door and muttering an incantation. Everyone watched as the doors rattled and unhinged; the sound of metal clanking filled the room. The door opened, leaving no boundaries between Poseidon and the three of them.

"We'll give you two some privacy," Hermione said.

Annabeth reassuringly squeezed Percy's hand one more time and pressed a kiss on his cheek before following Hermione out of the room.

Percy and Poseidon stayed rooted to their spots despite the door now being open. Both were still too stunned to speak. Percy wanted to say something, anything, but how exactly does one start a conversation with a father whom they've never met? He knew his father must've been feeling similarly.

"I see that piece of junk made it to you," Poseidon rasped out finally, nodding at the trident necklace around Percy's neck.

Percy took the pendant in his hand and clutched onto it tightly. "Yeah..."

"You know I made it myself?" He huffed out a small laugh. "I was bored in class one day—back at Hogwarts—and I started carving it from some random piece of metal. Ended up fixing it up later on 'cause I thought it looked cool."

"You did a good job," Percy said, smiling down at it. "The details are really... detailed."

There was a pause before both of them leaned forward and let out a hearty laugh. Amidst their laughter, Percy couldn't help but thinking how even the way they laughed was the same.

"You're definitely my child, Perseus," he said, shaking his head and smiling widely at him.

"Percy," Percy corrected, though an untimely warmth began to spread in his chest. "I go by Percy. Less serious sounding."

"It's the Greek name, isn't it? What did Sally have to say about that?" Poseidon wondered, amusement lacing his tone.

"She was fine with it. Encouraged it, actually."

"Damn," he muttered jealousy. "I wish there was a cool nickname for 'Poseidon.'"

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Being named after the Greek god of the sea isn't cool enough?"

"I guess you're right," he laughed.

Poseidon looked up at Percy and smiled genuinely for the first time in over a decade. This was his son. His pride and joy.

"I see you got your good looks from me. You certainly have no problems with girls, I see," Poseidon said proudly, unable to keep the smile off his face when Percy snorted. "You're gonna outgrow me soon, too."

"Yeah, maybe," he chuckled sheepishly and rubbed at his clean face. "Now if only I could grow a beard like you, or at all."

Poseidon laughed, running a hand through his mangy facial hair. "It'll grow," he promised. "I didn't grow facial hair properly until I was in my twenties."

"That's a relief."

This was it.

This was all Poseidon had ever wanted with his life. After his mother died, there was no one he could call family. Not until he met Sally. He was the happiest he had ever been in the time he had spent with her. And it got even better when they made the beautiful boy standing in front of him.