Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 49

"I'm afraid so," Hermione confirmed. "And because of that, among other things, I'm changing the ruling."

He glanced up at her skeptically. "Oh?"

"Yes, you've faced more than enough punishment for the use of the Unforgivables."

"I got off lucky for that one. I'm sure some would've preferred me to have taken the veil." He laughed at the thought, though it contained no mirth. "The Unforgivables are grounds for a life sentence."

She nodded. "Yes, but there was a legal exception made since you were dealing with high level dark wizards. Your actions, as unconventional as they may have been, were key in eliminating a very dangerous threat."

"Donovan's group was just the start," Poseidon said gravely. "There's still the matter of—"

"Names have power," Hermione interrupted, though a small smile played at her lips.

He burst out laughing. "That's a good one."

"As such, your sentence is now nullified, meaning your release should be in the next few weeks," she said in a congratulatory tone. "Harry and I will take care of everything. I promise."

"Can you actually do that? Is it... legal?" Poseidon wondered, a small sense of hope rising in him.

A mischievous smile tugged at her lips. "Probably not entirely, but with Harry and I, not to mention the Minister of Magic, backing your case, the Wizengamot will have no choice but to agree."

"Athena?!"

Poseidon was taken aback. Athena Chase was vouching for him? The sun might as well have burnt out before that happened.

"Yes," she agreed, confusion written on her face. "She was very happy to do so. Why is that a surprise?"

"That's a loaded question," he sighed tiredly.

"Oh... well, she was one of the four who voted 'innocent' in your trial..."

His head snapped up and confusion and shock marred his features. "What? You're absolutely certain about that?"

She nodded. "One hundred percent."

He slumped back against the wall, his thoughts going a mile a minute. Someone has to be fucking with me right now, he thought, nonplussed. So all these years...

"Thank you for telling me that, Hermione," he said, softly squeezing her hand. He stood up and gathered her in a tight hug, catching her by surprise. "Thank you... for everything."

◆ ◆ ◆

The ride back across the North Sea was painfully quiet.

Annabeth sat next to Hermione and stared worriedly at Percy's back. He was staring out at the water, emotionally taxed from the day. The missing piece of his broken family laid in the walls of the fortress behind him.

Suddenly, he turned in his seat with a wild, distressed look on his face.

"Madam Potter," he started. "My dad—h-he's innocent. He swears it and I believe him. Please, you have to help—"

"Percy," Hermione interrupted kindly. "I know. And I believe you."

He ran a hand through his hair in aggravation. "Well, then isn't there some kind of... law or some kind of limitation, or... something?! He's been in there for so long!"

"Percy," Annabeth muttered worriedly, watching the back and forth between them.

"Percy, honey," Hermione stepped closer to him and placed a hand on his arm, staring up at him with determination. "I promise you I'm going to do everything in my power to make this right. Trust me. Poseidon Jackson is a hero and your family will be whole again."

He swallowed and looked at her frantically, eyes flitting between hers, trying to look for any sort of deceit. He glanced to his left at Annabeth and then back at Hermione before sighing.

"Okay," he breathed out. "Thank you for all that you've done, Madam Potter. And please tell Harry I said thank you as well—for setting all this up. It means the world to me."

"No problem, Percy," she replied with a smile. "Oh, and call me Hermione. We're friends now."