SEA GREEN [PERCY JACKSON X HARRY POTTER]

#33

"Where?!" was Percy first question.

Luke pointed at the Manor. "He took her from me. W-we were just walking in the woods, and he just appeared next to us, took Annabeth and then apparated away. I can only assume he took her to the Malfoy Manor."

"What are you waiting for, then?!" Travis said through gritted teeth. If he hadn't known Luke was a cheat, he wouldn't have been able to guess that Luke was just pretending. He was a good actor. With his shaking hands and fear-stricken voice, Travis would have applauded his half-brother's talent at acting if it wasn't for the fact that Luke was using it against them. "Let's break in!"

"We can't," Luke frowned. "There are too many protective spells. We'll have to wait and find out what Lucius wants from us."

"We're not doing that," Ginny insisted. She locked eyes with Luke. "Look, I don't care who you think you are, because even though you may be their friend, you're sure as hell not mine. Annabeth and Nico are my friends, and we are going to save them."

Katie tried to keep up the act of still being by Luke's side. She didn't want to, but she knew she had to before Luke realised that they were onto him and killed them all. "Ginny-"

"No, she's right," Ron said firmly, shooting a look at Luke. "We're going to save Annabeth and Nico, with or without Luke."

Luke looked at Percy desperately, who averted his gaze. Percy wasn't going to side with Luke. No amount of lies would make anyone believe that Percy was truly on Luke's side at that moment, because his whole body was trembling with anger- Luke was just too busy trying to figure out how to go through with his plan to notice.

"It'll be dangerous," Luke warned, in hopes of deterring the wizards. "There's absolutely no way to get in."

"We don't want to get in," Hermione said, positively giving Luke no say in the matter. "But we must. For Annabeth and Nico. If you aren't going to help, get lost. We don't know your strengths, anyway. You could be completely useless to us."

Luke relented. His expression was hard to read. "Fine, I'll help."

"Great," Ginny muttered, "because I was about to kick you in the arse if you continued to disagree."

No one heard the redhead, and Ginny was trying to figure out if that was a good or bad thing. Luke managed to keep his cool and lead the rest towards the back of the Manor, careful not to bring them too close to the hut that Annabeth was in. Finally, he stopped, where a back gate was hidden behind shrubs. Percy could swear that the entrance was almost screaming, 'once you enter, you'll die!'

Neville gripped his wand tightly in his pocket, waiting for the moment when Luke would turn around and attack them, informing them that he was betraying them.

He could feel beads of sweat dripping down from his temple to his shoulder, but he didn't wipe it off. He was too nervous. He hoped that they'd be on time to save Annabeth and Nico.

Holding his breath, Luke opened the back door, which was suspiciously unlocked. Neville guessed that Luke had ordered Lucius to leave it open, just in case.

Luke brought them inside, signalling for them to be quiet. If Neville didn't already know of Luke's plans, he would've thought it was strange that Luke knew so much about the Manor. Unfortunately, he did know, and Luke said, "We should split up to find Annabeth and Nico."

Percy narrowed his eyes at the numerous doors. "There are way too many places that Malfoy could've hidden them in, finding them before he finds out is impossible."

"Then we act quick," Harry advised. His eyes were hard.

"We better not get caught," Hermione murmured, and Neville detected fear in her tone. He couldn't blame her. She was captured  and tormented in the very same house they were in at that moment.