Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 56

Percy was happy to get out of the castle on such a warm day. It was getting stuffy in there.

Hagrid, the groundskeeper and Professor for Care of Magical Creatures, grinned brightly at the arriving students as they approached his hut, waving a large hand at them. He greeted all the students personally as everyone gathered around him. Fang, his boarhound, whined in greeting from where he lay on the ground, watching with lazy eyes.

"Glad all o' yeh joined me fer your seventh years," he said brightly, not so subtly wiping a tear from his eyes. "Really warms me heart. Now come on, follow me. I've got an absolute treat fer yeh!"

A few excited whispers arose as to what creature Hagrid would be teaching them about this year. Percy walked with Thalia and Nico, smiling happily as the group entered the Forbidden Forest. But he wished Annabeth was here too. Unfortunately, her schedule was already jam packed with difficult classes and she didn't want to add another to her workload.

A few minutes later they had arrived at a paddock where many of the tree trunks had been splintered or completely broken in half. It looked like a hurricane hit this place.

Nervousness seeped into Percy's skin, his muscles tensing in preparation. Hagrid was rather eccentric when it came to mythical creatures, always looking past razor sharp teeth and foot long claws, insisting they were harmless when they were in fact not.

Nonetheless, Hagrid was one of Percy's favorite parts of Hogwarts and this class was always fun to attend. Except back in fourth year when a fire crab nearly singed all his hair off. That had not been a good day.

"Alright everyone, gather 'round here and stay close to me," he called seriously. "This beast is a feisty one!"

Hagrid raised his fingers to his lips and whistled so loudly it echoed through the forest. A moment later, a heavy gust of wind swept through the area, forcing everyone to cover their faces as dust and stray branches kicked up.

"Holy shit," Thalia murmured, staring wide eyed at the sight before her. "Percy, you see what I'm seeing?"

Percy nodded slowly. "Kinda hard to miss."

In front of them was the largest winged horse they'd ever seen, the size of a fully grown African elephant. It stood tall and proud, watching them with a critical, almost angry gaze. Its coat of rich black fur shone from the morning light, emphasizing its powerful muscles.

Even Hagrid, a half giant, looked small standing next to it.

"It's an albino Abraxan an' much bigger 'n the normal ones," Hagrid said gleefully, patting it's leg. "Firs' o' his kind, I reckon. Beautiful, isn't he? Usually they're all palominos bred by Madame Maxime over at Beauxbatons."

"What's it doing all the way out here then?" Drew asked snobbily, side eyeing the big horse.

Hagrid ignored her tone and laughed. "Who knows? I'm glad I found 'im, though. Injured, he was. Got into a tussle with something, I imagine."

The Abraxan neighed indignantly, as if insulted that Hagrid would reveal that bit of information. A proud creature.

"What's his name?" Nico asked.

Hagrid grinned widely. "That's the fun part abou' today's class. Whoever he lets ride him, gets to name 'im."