Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 61

Percy lost focus on his surroundings, but it wasn't the snitch that shocked him. No, just beyond where it was, in the spectator's stand, sat a bearded man with black hair, sea green eyes, and an unmistakable grin on his face, staring straight back at him.

Poseidon Jackson.

"Dad," Percy whispered.

Over the past few weeks, Hermione had been sneakily sending him letters from his father while he was still in Azkaban. So when Percy had heard about his release, he was over the moon. Especially when his father said he wanted to surprise his mother. They kept all details of his release quiet so Sally remained unsuspecting. Percy would've given anything to have seen the look on her face when she saw his dad again after all these years.

The last he'd seen Poseidon was during his visit over the summer. Locked in a fucking cage. And so the feeling of seeing him now in person, out of his confines, literally just thirty feet away, was indescribable.

"Move it, Jackson!" A crass voice broke him out of his reverie, and Percy was nearly knocked off his broom as Octavian deliberately collided with him before speeding upward.

The snitch!

Octavian was a real piece of work. Percy gritted his teeth, eyes narrowed in anger as he chased after him. With his father watching, his competitive drive flared and a new sense of purpose burned in him. He had to win now.

He would win.

Percy accelerated, keeping his head tucked as the wind whistled and beat against him so fast that the sound of Leo's excited commentary was little more than whisper. The snitch was speeding along high above them, catching the sun's light and glinting against the clear blue sky.

"You really think you can beat me, Jackson?" Octavian taunted, pulling further ahead him and extending his arm. "Keep dreaming!"

Percy cursed under his breath. Octavian for all his faults was still a good flyer. He was close, closer than him to snitch. A little further and he'd have it. The little golden ball whizzed side to side, staying just out of his reach, but then, without a moment's notice, the snitch shifted direction, zipping right between Percy and Octavian and heading back to the pitch.

Who the hell gave the snitch a pepper up potion?

The arena was absolutely electric when they saw Percy and Octavian rocketing down, their red and green robes billowing, trailing wildly behind them like a comet tail. In nearly expert fashion, Percy dove, grabbing the handle and tipping his broom straight down, hurtling vertically downward before pulling up only a few meters from the ground. The snitch was within his grasp.

He just had to reach out—

An elbow jostled his shoulder. Octavian had caught up to him, glaring as they flew neck and neck. Damned hack.

"You're such a little bitch, Octavian!" Percy growled.

Octavian sneered. "Yeah, yeah, go cry to your mum about it, mudblood!"

Oh, what he'd give to get that skinny little prick's neck in his hands. There was time for that later, though. He had a game to win.

Percy kept his eyes on the snitch that was still whirring tauntingly in front of them. He couldn't afford to lose track of it again. Without shifting his gaze, Percy, as loud as he could, yelled out, "Travis! Connor! On me!"

"What the hell are you screaming for, Jackson?" Octavian slighted. "No one's gonna help you!"

The Stoll twins, the Gryffindor Beaters, thankfully knew exactly what Percy wanted. Travis was closest. He timed a Bludger, and with a ferocious swing of his bat, beat it straight toward the racing Seekers.

With bated breath, the crowd watched as Percy pulled ahead, flying directly in front of Octavian. The Bludger cut through the air with alarming speed, barreling straight toward Percy.

"Percy!" He heard a voice shout in fear.

Annabeth.

Damn, she'd probably scream at him later for this.

Percy pushed that thought to the back of his mind and kept flying. This had to be done perfectly or else he might not be conscious for Annabeth to yell at him.

The tips of their shoes grazed the ground, kicking up dirt and grass as they moved at blinding speeds. With the fast approaching Bludger, Percy gripped his broom and waited... waited... until the Bludger was only a few seconds away from impact—

With a great heave, he pulled and shot into the air.

Octavian's eyes widened seeing the Bludger, but he could do nothing as it slammed into him, shattering his broom and effectively putting him out of commission. It might've been a little cruel, but Percy laughed at the Slytherin Seeker's misfortune. Served him right.

The crowd roared thunderously as every student stood up and clapped. Percy had caught the snitch. Gryffindor won.

"Percy fucking Jackson!" Silena yelled excitedly as she landed, gathering him up in a fierce hug. "Sweet Morgana, that was amazing!"

The Stolls followed shortly after.

"We're winning the cup this year, Travis."

"First time you said something right all day, Connor."

Beckendorf ran up and Percy suddenly found himself lifted up in the air as the Gryffindor team cheered around him. It was a rather impressive feat considering Percy was by no means small and Beckendorf had done it by himself. With one arm no less. Percy grinned widely and congratulated everyone else too.

But his mind was on something else entirely.