A Half Blood Against Time | A Percy Jackson AU

27: "It looks like shit."

Fleur looked at the potion in her hands and raised her nose in disgust, "It looks like shit."

"It'll taste much worse, trust me," Percy said with a sadistic smirk.

"You are horrible!" Fleur hissed, "Perzy, you're supposed to say, 'no Fleur my love, it tastes much better than it looks!'"

"You would rather I lie to you?" Percy asked.

"To spare me the pain?! Yes!"

Percy laughed, "Okay, I'll do that next time. Now, stop stalling! Drink up Tweety bird!"

Fleur grumbled, "This had better be worth it." she squinted her eyes and tossed the potion back, drinking the thick liquid in one gulp. She shivered as the animagus potion went down her throat, she looked at Percy and squinted in pain, "That was horrible. Like salt!"

Percy nodded, "Yeah, that's what it is. Anyway remember, you'll start to feel sleepy, fight it for as long as you can, and then allow yourself to look around the place you dream of. For me it was my camp, I'm assuming for you it would be home or Beauxbatons. If you have trouble keeping awake just try doing math in your head."

Fleur nodded, "Rig't," she said as Percy transfigured one of the numerous chairs into a comfortable double bed. She smirked as he tucked her in, "You better not try anything while I'm asleep Mr. Jackzon."

Percy smirked as he kissed her forehead, "Okay, please Fleur, I know if I ever want you to do something for me, all I have to do," he lowered down and whispered in a husky voice, "is ask."

Fleur chuckled as her eyes became heavy, "Ocean boy."

"Love you too honey," Percy whispered, but by then Fleur's eyes were shut, she had gone asleep. The sleep would not last for very long, Percy knew from first hand experience. He just hoped that she would have no problem finding her animagus form.

As she peacefully slept, Percy approached his table, retrieving the tome of advanced potion making-a book sought by those pursuing mastery in the craft. While for many it meant a daunting endeavor, for Percy, it was a leisurely read.

Delving into the dark depths of his desk drawer, Percy carefully retrieved the enchanted blood band, a mystical artifact he used for its capacity to augment intelligence. In the pursuit of his pledge to Fleur, promising to become a potions professor at Beauxbatons, so that they could be together, he found himself immersed in an unrelenting fervor of work.

However, within the peaks of his dedication, moments of uncertainty crept in. While it was commonplace in the mortal realm for recent college graduates to swiftly assume professorial roles, instructing students merely a year their junior, Percy grappled with the question of whether this norm could seamlessly apply to the enchanting world he inhabited.

In his quest for accelerated learning, Percy approached Hecate, seeking permission anew to employ the blood band. Eager for swifter knowledge acquisition, he found the goddess's response markedly prompt this time, leading him to think that she was spending more time at their house. Her blessing came with a side note, playfully chiding him for acting like a love-struck puppy and urging him to display more fortitude. Despite the banter, Percy sensed a hidden approval beneath her words, or at least, he desperately hoped for it.

Unbeknownst to Fleur, Percy frequently utilized the blood band to enhance his skills, a fact he kept concealed from her. Aware that Fleur would disapprove if she discovered the nature of the band, Percy utilised the blood band's capabilities carefully. He knew that Fleur would blame herself for the damage the blood band was supposed to do. She was not privy to the fact that the band could not hurt demigods. Percy did not want her to know anyway, because she loved him. And even if she knew that the blood band would not hurt him, the doubt would still linger.