Seaweed and Wise - Never letting go

Annabeth reads...

"No! No, no, no..." Those silent pleas escaped Annabeth's lips without her wanting to. She scooted herself up to lean on the wall more, she was reading a curious book, just sitting on the carpet in Victoria's room. The book series got under her hands merely over a month ago and she was so desperately in love with it. She didn't know exactly what it was about that person who wrote it, but Annabeth suspected that magic must have been involved in the actual process of writing it, and not only in the story the book was telling.
Seventh book. The last one. It was sad that she was supposed to leave the world that quickly.
Annabeth glanced up into the crib where her child was sound asleep, just snoring silently, and rested her eyes on the book again. It was a magical thing, she was never before capable of reading so much, so many pages, so fast before. Even though she loved to read and had many favorite books.
Annabeth knew she shouldn't cry but the tears spilled without her permission. Blinking the floods out, she continued reading.
The chapter of Battle of Hogwarts has just ended and Annabeth stared at the last few sentences, eyes and mouth open in pure terror at what just happened.
"Oh gods." She whispered, clasping a hand over her mouth to restrain herself from sobbing loudly. Annabeth stared at the number of the page, 637.
The world had truly ended, just like Harry thought in the next chapter. There was a humongous difference between seeing her real friends and book characters dying, but for the moment, it hurt almost the same. Annabeth was trying awkwardly to stop the feelings and so she shut the book, checked Victoria, and tip-toed out of the room and into the kitchen, carrying the walkie talkie along.
Why? Why did it have to be him? But Annabeth sadly knew that death doesn't discriminate, not in real nor fictional world. It doesn't choose only the evil or far old, it just takes. And it takes. And it takes...
Annabeth poured the water into her glass and brought it up to Victoria's room, the whole house was deserted except for the two of them. And a dog.
Percy had some duties and lessons to teach in camp. Piper, Thalia, and all the rest of her friends were training, supposedly. And Sally and Paul took Estelle for a trip and some photoshoot for her first birthday. Victoria was supposed to be taken too but she got sick a few days ago and so she was still healing up. It was a bummer but Annabeth didn't mind staying with her, it was her little girl up there in the tiny bed and she'd give anything for that kid to be happy.
And so Annabeth tip-toed to her spot beside the crib and slid down again. She let herself be drowned in the book once more until the worse moment of realization came. Fred was gone. Fred. The Fred Weasley whose spark she'd never imagine snuffed out. The chapter of The Elder Wand was almost behind her. Snape was gone too now.
Annabeth hated how that man treated others. And yes, she already scouted Pinterest for informations and art but she never understood the overall forgiveness towards Severus Snape. He did a good thing in the end, did okay after the crime he's done, but that wasn't enough. It could never be, those types of bullies are bad, that was the end. And she saw the huge difference between what Luke and that one character did. Luke deserved to be forgiven, there was a difference.
The subject of the Marauders, Marlene McKinnon, and Lily and James Potter was a weak spot for her. Annabeth felt their losses and hated Pettigrew, she spent a lifetime thinking where was her letter held up. Maybe they sent Errol. It was simply rooted in her from the very beginning of knowing the truths, that the Marauders were supposed to have a happy life...
But she shook that thinking away and continued into Snape's memories. Then, before she could finish the chapter, she heard a loud thud from downstairs. Annabeth's fantasy was still running too fast and so she imagined a herd of deatheaters knocking her front door in with Depulso or Bombardo, but then she heard the unmistakeable sound of Greer running to welcome Percy, and Percy throwing his keys into the bowl to cuddle the dog. Annabeth closed the book reluctantly and felt for Victoria's temperature. It was just a mortal cold and she was healing fast but it still took her spirits down.
Annabeth left the door open and carried the walkie talkie along again. She ran down the stairs and straight to Percy.
"Fred! He's dead Percy, in the book, he's gone!" Annabeth cried, sobbing already. All the emotions that were kept at bay spilled out and Annabeth gasped for air. Not that Percy wasn't used to book sadness or her laughing over the pages, but this time Annabeth was really crying.
Percy was hiding a laugh in the corners of his lips but he knew too well to not mock his love for that. He's seen the first few Harry Potter movies as a child. And he knew from hearing how the whole saga ends. Percy had expected this.
"Come on." Percy hugged Annabeth.
"It's gonna be okay."
"No it's not!" Annabeth cried as she sobbed and looked straight into Percy's eyes. "Tonks and Remus died too! That leaves Teddy an orphan... And Ginny and Harry haven't had a single stupid moment together in the book!!!" Annabeth added, kinda furious.
"What a bummer, I know." Percy sneered a little.
Annabeth fought the urge to laugh for they had spent about a week already with Victoria sleeping in their bed.
"You have to read it!" Annabeth stated. "I'm gonna force you to if its the last thing I do."
"I'd rather do something different at night time when we're finally free of Victoria deerest." Percy smirked.
"Um, excuse me?" Annabeth laughed out, her eyes still puffy from crying but full of storms sparkling.
"I'll try, I'll try..." Percy added, crossing his heart, as Annabeth glared at him, the amusement blazing in her eyes.
"You're unreal." Annabeth said after she gave him a good old sloppy and salty kiss. "Victoria's better."
"She still got the temperatures?" Percy asked, looking up the stairs out of habit.
"Nope, looks all good to me." Annabeth said slowly. Staring into Percy's eyes longinly, distracted by his pressence as she spent the whole day alone with Victoria who slept through most of it. Actually, she even skipped school because she wanted to stay with her. But Annabeth still attended the few important classes with Percy's help.
Percy put his hands on Annabeth's hips and closed the distance between them.
"So?" He asked.
Annabeth leaned closer to his ear to whisper to him, oh was she gonna let the payback slip through her fingers? No... "I think I'll be calmer if she's with me for one- more- night."
Percy rolled his eyes and stole himself another kiss.
"I don't mind, but you know that when I get into reading I'm slow and unstoppable. As you wish my queen. But I refuse to participate in any fun activities you may try to seduce me into unless I've finished with The Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts." Percy announced mockingly.
"There are other books by her that direct to Harry Potter?" Annabeth gasped.
"Yes?!" Percy grinned.
And so Annabeth ordered about 10 more books to addition of those she had, with Percy silently grinning behind her back. Oh was he going to enjoy watching the movies with her.

Vendy