Nexus (The Demigod Wizard) Part 2

The Beggining of the End

Percy

They ran towards a gap between the piles of furniture. They made to turn right, but finedfyre was rushing down towards them from that direction. He turned around--the huge flames were narrowing in on all sides--they had seconds before they were engulfed.

Ron pulled Harry and Hermione back as the fiendfyre billowed on all sides.

"HARRY!" Percy bellowed as he shoved Hermione behind Ron.

Harry flicked his wand and a jet of water erupted. Percy seized the water and expanded it into a protective shield just as the fiendfyre roared forward. Water and fire collided with so much force that the entire room shook and Percy was knocked off his feet.

"Let's go!" Ron yelled, pulling them to their feet.

"Wait!" Hermione cried, stopping them. She leaned over towards a pile of things and grabbed three broomsticks.

They jumped on them quickly. Harry saw Draco and Crabbe atop a stack of furniture and insisted upon saving them. Once the Slytherins were on their brooms, they shot towards the exit.

Fiendfyre flared behind them, looming furiously.

They shot out of the room, barely bothering to break. Everyone was flung forward, crashing to the ground and rolling. Draco and Crabbe sprinted off as Percy grabbed the diadem.

Hermione tossed him one of the fangs they'd pulled from the basilisk.

Percy stabbed the diadem, which erupted into black smoke. Ron kicked it into the room, transforming the fire within into Voldemort's face. The Dark Lord roared as his fiery self zoomed towards them.

Percy threw up his arms again, but there was no water to draw on. Instead, as had occurred at Mt. Saint Helens, a tidal wave of raw power and energy rose up before them. The fire slammed into it, buying just enough time for the doors to close.

The power wave exploded. Hermione and Ron were blasted sideways while Harry and Percy were thrown backwards. Percy, who had been right at the blast, was thrown right over the edge of the corridor. Harry grabbed the railing as he fell and managed to grab Percy's arm with the other hand.

Percy dangled over the railing, a set of stairs far below. He was suspended in midair, looking up at his straining cousin.

Was this what Annabeth had felt? The knowledge that he couldn't be pulled up? Percy might have been able to hold up a teenager, spider monster, and himself as they dangled into the pit of Tartarus. But Percy knew he was heavy, and Harry didn't train for this. His cousin's arm was shaking. He was mortal, after all.

"Drop me!" Percy yelled.

"What, no!"

"Do it!"

Harry released him, having no other choice. Percy fell through the air. He blasted a cushioning spell beneath him which helped a bit before he slammed into the ground. He ducked, rolled, and took the impact on his shoulder like he'd been trained to do. A burning pain shot through his foot at the same time as a loud crack sounded. Percy came to a stop in a kneeling position.

"I'm fine!" He called up, massaging his ankle. It was probably broken. Scratch that—definitely broken.

Percy really felt like Annabeth now.

"Percy!" Hermione called down. She started running down the stairs towards him. Her face was white with worry. The demigod understood her thinking—he shouldn't have survived that fall. Wouldn't have, if the cushioning charm and his training weren't there. As it was, Percy was amazed that he'd gotten away with just a broken bone.