~~~

Percy apparated to L.A.

He knew what he was doing was stupid and reckless. But any edge they could get over Voldemort was good enough for him.

~~~

Percy took a deep breath before heading into the Underworld.

He hated this place. He forgot how much he hated it.

It was dark. And hot. It smelt like sulfur.

Percy groaned. He had to do this. For Annabeth. For everyone back at Hogwarts.

After asking directions from a dead guy (which basically just consisted of the ghost yelling at him to leave and not look back), Percy stood at the banks of the River Styx.

Percy wondered if it would be like last time when he jumped in.

But last time he was a demigod.

What if when he jumped in, he just, like... died?

What if he didn't make it?

Percy shook his head. He's done it once, he can do it again.

But what if he can't?

He wasn't even supposed to survive the first time.

Percy took another deep breath of hot air, and jumped in.

~~~

"Surprise, Perseus."

"Percy, help us!"

"My dear boy, I am so sorry..."

"Percy, I am so proud of the person you've become..."

"All hail Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon!"

"You have many allies Perseus, but among them lie your greatest foes."

"You drool when you sleep."

"Perseus Jackson, we offer you the chance to be a god."

"I will find you Perseus, and when I do, everyone you know and love will die."

"Perseus, you can only follow one road through this. Save the wizarding world, or save Annabeth."

Percy tried to block out all of the voices. How did he survive this the first time?

What was he even trying to survive this time?

His mind went blank.

The only think he could think of was the name Annabeth.

Annabeth.

But who even was Annabeth?

Percy replayed the name over and over again.

Annabeth. Annabeth. Annabeth.

Where had he heard that name?

Did he know her?

Annabeth.

Percy's skin felt like it was on fire.

It reminded him of when he drank from the River Phlegethon.

Why would he drink fire?

Percy's skin crawled. Think, Percy, think!

The River Styx. That's where he was.

The Styx doesn't take away memories, so why couldn't he form clear thoughts?

Achilles Heel. That's why he was here.

The Curse of Achilles. He needed it.

Why would he want a curse?

Percy thought back to when he did this with Nico years ago.

How did he do that?

Percy's skin burned.

Was he going to die?

He was, for all intents and purposes, a mortal right now.

"Think of someone or something you're close to, it'll help you from not going crazy."

Percy imagined the person the name Annabeth belonged to.

He envisioned a princess. Princess Annabeth.

He would have chuckled if his body wasn't enduring searing pain.

Percy remembered Nico telling him something about a rope.

Why would he need a rope?

"To tie yourself to the mortal plane, or else you'll be gone forever."

Percy imagined a rope tying him and Annabeth to gods knows where.

But the rope was floating.

What was it tied to?

"You get to choose where you want your Achilles heel to be."

Percy envisioned the rope coming from his ring finger.

The rope tying him and Annabeth together, to whatever the mortal plane is.

~~~

Percy woke up on the banks of the River Styx.

He slowly stood up, and uncapped Riptide.

Very carefully he went to cut his arm.

Nothing happened.

Percy gave a small smile. It worked.

Now, all he had to do was make sure no one cut off his finger.

Percy swore when he realized that now he survived this, Annabeth would kill him.

Percy debated telling her about where his new Achilles heel was.

At that moment, Percy wanted nothing more than to leave the Underworld to face Annabeth's wrath.

Unfortunately, the Fates had other plans when he heard a voice call, "Percy?" from behind him.

His heart twisted hearing it.

Percy didn't know if he wanted to turn around.

He was scared of who, or what, he would see.

"Percy? Is that you?"

Percy took a deep breath and slowly turned around.

What he saw caused him to forget how to breathe.