Demigods at Hogwarts

Chapter Three: Leaving Camp Half Blood

Annabeth's POV
I looked through my neatly packed bag once again, just to make sure I have everything. I look at my Yankees Cap and wonder if it has started to work again, as it stopped working after that argument with my mum, Athena. I try it on and I gasp, as it turns me invisible. It must be because we managed to return the Athena Parthenos successfully. I think to myself. I shudder, remembering my solo quest under Rome. I think about Arachnae, and I remember myself tricking her into trapping herself in her own webs. Then my mind goes to the string that got caught on my ankle, pulling Percy and I into Tartarus. I remember all of the terrible times there, and how I felt when I saw Percy controlling the poison, and how terrifying that was. I remember Bob telling us to say hello to the stars for him as he and Damasen sacrificed their lives in order for us to get out alive. A small part of me hopes that they are both still alive, somehow. I feel tears roll down my cheeks as I remember all of this and I try to stop myself, but it's useless, as my mind runs through all of the terrible memories dancing around in my head. I hear someone open the door of my cabin and I turn to see Percy standing there. I smile through the tears when I see him, my heart melting as I look at his face- his sea green eyes and messy, black hair.
"Annabeth, you in here?" He calls out. Oh, right. Still wearing the hat. I take it off and he sees me sitting by my bag, crying. "Hey, what's wrong, Wise Girl? Are you OK?" He says, walking over and cradling me in is arms in a warm embrace.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about, you know, Tartarus and all. I'm fine though. Really." I say, wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my jumper. "I was thinking about Bon and Damasen's sacrafice..." I add.
"Oh... Right. I think a lot about it, too. I wonder if we could have saved them. But they chose to sacrifice themselves in battle to get us out alive. We couldn't have done anything. They made a choice." He tells me in a comforting tone of voice.
"Yeah, I know. It's just, we've been through so much, and everyone has a breaking point somewhere. I just- I couldn't keep it in. Sorry." I say, wriggling out of his arms and sitting next to him, looking into his eyes.
"You don't have to apologise, Wise Girl. It's fine. You did nothing wrong." Percy says, smiling slightly. I lean in and kiss him on the lips and put my hands on his shoulders. I can't help but smile into the kiss as he put his hands on my waist. I could have stayed like that forever, but I pull away and look deep into his sea green eyes and grin at him.
"You haven't finished packing, have you, Seaweed Brain?" I ask him.
"No. I started, but- well, I didn't know what to pack, so I came to find you," Percy tells me.
"Of course. Come on, then," I say, standing up hand in hand with Percy.

I place the last item nearly at the roof Percy's bag, a photo of him, his mum, his stepdad and I after the war with Gaia, and I zip the bag closed.
"There. All done." I say, patting the bag.
"You are literally the best, Wise Girl," he says, giving me a hand up.
"Thanks," I say as I brush my hands on my legs.
"What should we do now? We have about two hours until dinner." Percy asks me.
"Uh, we could... Do... Something..." I say, trying to think of something.
"Wow, really? I was going suggest that we do nothing." Percy says sarcastically.
"Um, OK, how about we do a race to the beach and back?" I suggest.
"No, we need to save our energy for tomorrow, with the quest. How about we go to the canoe lake?" He says.
"Sure. OK." I answer, a bit put off that he didn't like my idea. "But, I'll race you there!" I say, grinning as I take off running towards the lake.
As I sprint towards the lake, I can hear Percy's footsteps behind me, running. The lake is only about 10 metres in front of me so I put in a final burst of speed, winning the race.
"HA! I WON!" I shout, flopping down in exhaustion. I untie my shoe laces and dip my feet in the cool water.
"Only because I wasn't expecting it, Wise Girl," Percy says, sitting next to me and putting his feet in the water, too.
"I always win," I say, looking at him as he drapes an arm over my shoulder.
"I wasn't expecting it. I said no to racing." Percy complained, stubbornly.
"My idea was to race to the beach and back. Yours was to come here. So we compromised and raced here. Sometimes you have to meet someone half way." I tell him, still smiling at my victory.
"Alright. I guess," he says, looking at me and grinning. Then, a wave washed over me and pulls me in to the lake. Oh, he's going to regret that. I think as I see him laughing. I smile as I think of a plan. I let myself float to the bottom of the lake and I close my eyes. I hear Percy jump in to the water.
"ANNABETH!" Percy yells, but it comes out muffled and unclear through the water. I laugh in my mind as I feel him lift me up and swim to the top of the lake. I can feel the ground under my back and hear campers crowding around as Percy starts to plead at me. I mustn't laugh... I think to myself.
"Please, Annabeth, don't be dead! I need you, I'm so sorry, Wise Girl! Wake up, please! Annabeth, I'm so, so, sorry, I love you, so much. Please, don't be dead, I need you here, with me. Anna-" Percy gets interrupted by me bursting out in laughter.
"Annabeth! That was not funny! I thought I had lost you for good! Please, don't ever scare me like that again!" He says, angrily, yet relieved.
"You deserved it. You made a wave come at me." I say, still laughing. "Oh, and maybe you should check for a pulse, if you think someone is dead." I add. The campers walk off, also laughing at my prank.
"Sorry." Percy says, grumpily.
"It's OK, Seaweed Brain. Sorry, I won't scare you like that again. Now, dry me off. I'm all wet." I say, grinning to myself. Percy concentrates and I feel the water disappearing off of me. "Thank you." I say. I see that he is still pouting. "Oh, don't be like that. Look, what can I do to make it up to you?" I ask. He looks at me and grins.
"Make blue cookies?" He suggests. Of course, that's what he would say. I think to myself, smiling slightly.