Percy Jackson X Harry Potter

FIVE: The Leaky Cauldron

Percy's POV

'PERCY. EFFING. JACKSON.' Percy had been speed-walking through the hammering rain, searching in every nook and cranny for the Leaky Cauldron near King's Cross St Pancras. (He allowed himself to get moderately soaked to blend in.) However, his train of thought exploded off the rails as Annabeth glowered at him, sitting on the beach with her arms crossed, through an Iris-Message. Here we go.

'WHERE ARE YOU?! I have been running around camp trying to find you!' Annabeth was going pink. 'And Chiron told me you were on vacation! Even if he was telling the truth – which he wasn't, I could tell – did you not think to tell me beforehand?!'

'Wait! Just hold on a-.' He ducked into an alleyway near the station to avoid any mortal passers-by, discreetly using his powers to shield himself from the rain.

'Where are you?' His girlfriend leaned forward, and even though Percy knew it was an IM, she still looked genuinely confused as she scanned his surroundings. 'That looks like London! What are you doing in London?'

'No! Of course I'm not in London. How the heck do you think I would get to a city in England,' he stalled, 'which is across the Atlantic ocean, by the way, without some kind of plane?' 

Annabeth raised a suspicious eyebrow. 

Percy gave in. 'Okay, fine. It is. I am.'

'Why? Because you're definitely not on vacation, like a certain someone told me.' she said, glancing in the direction of the big house with a slight scowl on her face.

'I'm...' Percy dragged out the word to give himself time to think. Should he tell her? Or not? 

He went with yes. '... from here.'

'From where? London? England?'

'England.' he said.

'So you're English. I certainly didn't know. Does anyone else?' she demanded in a way which Percy could only describe as Annabeth.

'No. No one does.' he said. 'Well, except for my Mom, and Chiron, and now you. Please don't be mad at me...' he said, wishing he could melt into the wall.

'You don't sound English.' she pointed out.

Percy clarified, 'I know. I was born in England, but I've spent the majority of my life in the US. I picked up the accent pretty quickly.'

'Why didn't you tell me? Or anyone? I'm your girlfriend, for Hera's sake.' she insisted.

'Why are you acting like this is a big deal, anyway? Besides, it's a touchy subject.'

'Okay, fine. But why are you in London right now?' she said.

'It's- when Chiron said I was on vacation, he did kinda mean it. I'm visiting my- a friend who lives somewhere around here.' he lied straight through his teeth.

'Percy. I can see right through you most times. Now is no exception.'

'Tell that to past you every time I've lied about my ethnicity and you didn't notice.'

'Percy.'

'Sorry. Fine. Just don't tell anyone. For now.'

'Only,' Annabeth said, a smug look on her face, 'if you tell me everything.'

Percy begrudgingly spend the next fifteen minutes expanding upon his life story for Annabeth, who sat on the beach soaking it in. He purposefully left out the wizard part, because even he didn't have much knowledge in the field. She allowed him to tell her everything, never once interrupting, and when he finished she sat in deep thought for half a minute.

'Your brother.' she concluded. 'Your twin brother.'

 'Yep. I haven't seen him in ten years.' Percy hesitantly grinned.

'Percy, you look like you think I'm going to yell at you. I'm not. I'm going to yell at you later. Anyways, I'll leave you so you can go meet him.'

'Okay, thanks Annie. Love you.' 

'Don't call me that! And, love you too, Perce.' Annabeth cut off the connection.

Within the time it took Percy to locate the Leaky Cauldron sign, the rain stopped. The text and depictions on it melted into existence as he walked by, just as Harry had said it would. He saw why this was a good place for wizards to hang out: on either side of the pub, there was a colourful muggle bookshop and a record store. If you weren't looking for it, your eyes would completely skip over it. Percy pushed open the door, trying to ignore the horrible squeak, and entered. The bell above the door sounded slightly broken, but he ignored it. The room smelled of alcohol, and was decayed and mossy. He sauntered up to the counter, where a man was serving drinks and organising glasses.

'Hi.' He didn't know what else to say. 'Umm, do you know if anyone named Harry has booked a room here recently?'

Percy could picture him saying No, not recently. Have a nice day, but instead, 'Yep, a young lad named Harry booked a room half an hour ago. He was expectin' someone to come askin' after 'im. He's in room fourteen, if that's what you mean.'

'Thanks a lot! See you!' He walked away.

'Take care o' yerself!' Tom shouted after him as he climbed the stairs.

A few hallways were running above the bar section, so Percy wandered down the closest one and looked at the room numbers. Nine, ten, eleven... He stopped at fourteen. What if it was a mistake? No, Harry had to be in there.

Knock knock. As soon as he knocked, he heard shuffling footsteps inside, and then a timid voice.

'Yes?'

Percy frowned. 'You're supposed to say "Who's There".'

The door squeaked as Harry pulled it open.

They stood, dazed, staring at each other, and Harry crushed him in a hug. Percy did the same, and they stood for a minute before Harry pulled away.

Tearily, he whispered, 'You took your time.'

Percy looked back at him. 'Ten years. Ten freaking years.' He slightly struggled for words. What do you say to someone you haven't seen for a decade or so?

'Umm,' Harry started. 'Well, come in, then and, y'know, sit down and stuff.' Harry seemed to be stuck on what to say as well.

Percy put his bag next to Harry's and sat down in a chair.

'So... Holy crap.'

'Language.'

He deflated a fraction. 'Of course you're still doing that.'