~~~

"Okay, fine Ron. We'll do it your way. Tell Percy [about Annabeth] then confront him." Hermione said.

"Harry?"

Harry looked between his two best friends. Begrudgingly, he agreed to the plan.

~~~

Percy didn't know when he stopped crying. The lake was bright so it didn't take a genius to figure out that it was the afternoon. Percy's head pounded and his eyes were heavy. Percy didn't remember sleeping... but he didn't remember being awake either.

Percy looked down at his feet to see sea creatures keeping him company. There was a pile of odd rocks, seaweed, and shiny items next to him. Percy gave a sad smile. An ocean funeral. Percy mumbled a 'thank you' to the surrounding animals.

Percy controlled the water to push him towards the surface of the lake.

Percy squinted when he reached the top; it was bright. Quiet. Too warm for early October. He swam towards the coast, and slowly walked out onto the small beach.

Percy was dripping wet. Cold. He didn't care.

Percy stood on the strip of sand blankly staring at Hogwarts. He shivered.

Percy was wet and cold. He didn't bother using his son of Poseidon powers to dry himself off. The demigod didn't believe that he deserved to be comfortable when Annabeth was dead.

Percy took a shaky breath and glanced at his watch. 12:30 pm. Lunch. He missed breakfast and two of his classes. Percy willed his feet to walk towards Hogwarts.

His feet were heavy. His head was pounding. All Percy could hear was static around him. White noise drowning out concerned teachers and questioning students.

Percy dragged himself towards Hogwarts. He stumbled into the school and without thinking, headed straight for McGonagall's office, leaving a trail of lake water behind him.

Students whispered in the halls, as most would do upon seeing a soaking wet wizard trudge through the corridors. Percy ignored them.

Percy came to a stop in front of Professor McGonagall's door. His hands were frozen at his sides. He couldn't knock. Percy stood there absent-mindedly fingering Riptide in his pocket.

Percy jumped when the door opened. Gazing up from the ground he looked into McGonagall's furious eyes.

The professor's gaze softened when she saw the state he was in. "Percy?" Minerva questioned carefully.

Percy didn't reply. His mind was blank. It was the only way to keep her out of it.

"Percy?" Professor McGonagall said again. She studied the soaking wet demigod. Hesitantly she asked, "Are you alright?"

Percy didn't answer. He couldn't bring himself to answer McGonagall's question.

Carefully, Professor McGonagall guided Percy into her office, and quietly closed the door behind him. She slowly brought him over to the couch, and sat him down.

Percy sat silently on the couch, still as one of Medusa's victims.

McGonagall silently waved her wand and Percy became dry.

"Percy, what happened?" Needless to say Minerva was confused. She thought one of his abilities was staying dry when wet. Not to mention, he missed breakfast and two classes. None of his fellow classmates have heard from him since the night before. McGonagall worried about what could have happened in the past 12 hours.

Percy drew in a shaky breath and attempted to recount that night's events. "She's gone... Professor; Annabeth, she-" Percy's voice cracked. "She's gone."

~~~

"Where is it?" Harry frustratedly threw Percy's clothes around the dormitory. Ron stood by watching in amusement.

"Mate, maybe Percy lost his bag. We haven't seen it since like, what, Diagon Alley? The train?"

"No. It's got to be here somewhere. He wouldn't lose it. You heard him yourself Ron, the bag's got his most important stuff in there. He wouldn't lose it."

Ron held up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. So where is it then?"

Harry groaned in response.

Ron's lip twitched into a small smile.

"Would you stop laughing and help me look? He could come back any minute."

"I dunno Harry..." Ron looked back and forth between Percy's messy bedroom corner, and Harry's annoyed face. "Fine."

~~~

Percy had to admit, he really liked Professor McGonagall. She gave him the day off from classes, and let him roam around the castle (much to Filch's displeasure). McGonagall also gave Percy the next week off from Hogwarts so he could go back to Camp Half- Blood for Annabeth's funeral.

Percy was on his way to the Gryffindor boy's dormitory to pack his backpack (he figured since he had clothes back at camp a full packing wasn't necessary), when he bumped into none other than Draco Malfoy.

"Jackson."

"Malfoy."

The two wizards stared at each other. Percy waited for whatever Draco had to say.

"Where you off to in such a hurry?" Draco taunted.

"I'm visiting home for the next week." Percy said.

"Miss mummy do you?"

Percy glared. "It's for a funeral."

Percy's tone caught Draco off guard. While he was silent, Percy added, "Now if you don't mind, I've got some packing to do." Percy shoved past Malfoy, leaving the wizard alone in the hallway.

"Jackson, wait." Draco strode towards Percy. "I actually do have some information I thought you'd like to know."

Percy sighed. "Oh yeah? What."

Draco smirked and leaned closer to Percy, and whispered, "Potter thinks you're a Death Eater."

Percy's eyebrows shot up. That wasn't good. He's been so careful.

"I heard him talking to Weasley and Granger about it during Potions. Not very quiet, those three." Draco added.

"Why're you telling me this Draco?" Percy continued to walk towards the Gryffindor common room.

Draco smiled, and accompanied Percy. "To let you know that your secret's safe with me."

Percy stopped dead in his tracks. "What secret?"

"That you work with Voldemort. That you're a spy... and his grandson."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Percy picked up his pace, with Draco tailing him.

"Oh please. The dark lord talks about you to his followers, which just so happens to be my father. He tells me everything."

Percy stopped again, causing Draco to nearly ram into him. He glared at Malfoy. "You're a Death Eater?"

Draco pulled up his robe sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark on his forearm. "Not willingly at first."

"What do you mean 'not willingly'?"

Draco sighed. "My mother and father both work for him. My father expects me to follow in his footsteps and give my full support to him."

"Voldemort."

"Yeah."

Percy and Draco stood in the hallway in silence. Percy felt bad for the kid. He knew what family pressure felt like.

Percy also wasn't sure whether or not to correct Draco on the whole 'him being a Death Eater' thing. It might be a good idea to have him think that, so then Draco would trust him... and tell him Voldemort's plans.

"Thanks for the heads up Draco."

Draco nodded and walked away.

Percy breathed a sigh of relief and all but ran to his dormitory.