~~~

Harry angrily yanked off the necklace and slammed it into Hermione's open hand.

Before she could say anything else, Percy strode away from them and the camp.

~~~

Percy didn't know how long he walked for. The forest was dark. He was upset. He knew he shouldn't've gone off on Harry like that... but the prick did deserve it. 

Percy rubbed his head exhausted. Getting your arm nearly split off apparently takes a lot out of a person. 

Without meaning too, or even realizing it, Percy found himself standing in front of a lake. 

~~~

"You need to apologize." Hermione reprimanded.

Harry sighed. "Why?" Hermione gave him a look. "Yeah okay." Harry got up from his spot next to the fire. "Ron, want to come?" 

Ron looked between Harry and the fire. "Not particularly, no." 

Harry hung his head. He noticed Hermione wasn't wearing the locket. "'Mione?"

"Hm?"

"Where's the locket?" 

"I'm not going to tell you where that thing is right as you go off to find Percy."

"Fine." Harry walked towards the tent. Noticing Hermione's curious gaze he said, "Grabbing some water." Hermione nodded.

Harry walked into the tent, closing the flap behind him. Very quietly, Harry said, "Accio locket!" A necklace zoomed towards his outstretched hand from the next room. Harry smiled, putting the locket into his pocket. 

~~~

Percy stared at the frozen lake. Mind blank, he carelessly walked onto the thin ice and fell through; becoming encompassed in the freezing, dark, water. 

~~~

Harry walked out of the tent. "Right, then. Guess I'll go find Percy," He said to no one in particular. Ignoring Ron and Hermione, Harry walked into the forest trying his best to follow Percy. 

It took five minutes of Harry randomly walking to realize a) he had no idea where he was going and b) he had no way of actually tracking Percy. 

Harry stopped. He shivered. He looked behind him to see that the campsite was far in the distance, the tent just barely noticeable. Harry pulled his jacket tighter around him. 

Suddenly, a light formed in the trees taking the shape of a doe. 

Harry stared at the doe, as it stared right back. With no words, it pranced through the trees. Harry looked back behind himself, then ran to follow the deer. 

~~~

"I'm going to try getting some sleep." Hermione yawned.

"Shouldn't we wait for them to get back?" Ron asked, sitting up from his place near the fire.

Hermione looked back at him, chuckling slightly. "Knowing those two, it'll be hours before we see them."

Ron nodded. "I'm going to wait."

"Okay. 'Night, Ron."

"Good night." Ron stared into the fire, holding his hands towards it, as Hermione walked inside of the warm tent. 

Out of the corner of his eye, Ron noticed a light in the shape of an animal. Curious, he got up to follow it. 

~~~ 

Percy sank deeper into the water. There was no life in the lake. It was cold, empty. Except for one thing. Percy could sense something magical. Something strong. It called to him. 

It was dark. Percy couldn't see. He swam towards the object, following its power. Percy reached out. His fingers just barely grasped metal before grabbing his head in pain- unable to breathe.

~~~

The doe stopped at the frozen lake, with Harry right behind. It disappeared. 

Harry stared at the lake, noticing the ice broken, and bubbles rising to the top. 

Harry's eyes widened. "Oh for Merlin's sake," He muttered. Pulling off his shirt and shoes, and putting the locket around his neck, Harry carefully walked onto the ice. 

~~~

Percy pounded the ice, unable to break through. His knuckles burned. 

~~~

Harry tried to peer through the ice, just barely able to make out Percy. 

Then, the ice cracked, and Harry fell. 

~~~

Ron ran through the trees following the doe until he ended up at the lake with now mostly broken ice.

He stared for a moment, until noticing Harry's clothes on the bank, and the hole in the ice. Without hesitating, Ron ran and jumped into the lake. 

~~~

Percy felt dizzy. He began to hyperventilate remembering the last time he had no control in his element. He pounded the ice harder. 

~~~

The locket pulled Harry underneath the solid ice, on the opposite side of the lake than where Percy was. 

He pounded the ice. 

He felt dizzy. 

The locket started to emanate black smoke that screamed in his head.

He screamed back. 

His scar burned. 

Harry pounded harder, but stopped when he felt someone grab his waist and pull him up.

~~~

Ron dragged Harry into the bank, before jumping in and getting Percy.

~~~

Percy's head spun. His vision went blurry. He heard voices. 

They sounded like Jason. And Hazel. And his mom and Paul. And Beckendorf, and gods he missed him. And Bianca. And... 

Before Percy could stop it, he passed out into the darkness below.

~~~

Ron saw Percy and grabbed him, pulling him up towards the surface, but not before grabbing the sword beneath him.

~~~

Harry shivered on the bank, throwing on his shirt and shoes. 

He angrily pulled off the locket and threw it to the ground.

~~~

Ron pulled Percy up onto the ice, dragging the unconscious demigod towards the land. 

"Ron!" Harry ran towards him helping him drag Percy.

"God is he heavy." Ron muttered, dropping him onto the dry bank. 

Harry and Ron plopped down on either side of Percy, breathing heavily.

"How'd you know we were here?" Harry asked in between breaths.

Ron looked at him confused. "The deer. You didn't cast it?"

"My patronus is a stag." Harry replied. "Ron, is that- is that the Sword of Gryffindor?"

Ron looked down at the blade and slowly nodded in awe. "Do you have the locket?" Ron asked, standing up.

Harry nodded, picking it up from the ground. He walked over to a nearby rock and placed it on top of it.

Ron followed behind. He held up the sword and without another word, plunged it into the heart of the locket. 

A scream and smoke erupted from the necklace.

Before Harry and Ron could process what happened, Percy started violently coughing. 

"Percy!" Ron ran towards him, helping him sit up. "You alright mate?"

Percy coughed some more before casting a sideways glance at Ron. "Yeah. Dam that lake was cold." 

Harry walked next to him and casted a small smile. "Yeah, well, frozen lakes are cold." He offered his hand to Percy. Percy stared at it, before taking it, and standing up.

"Thought you could breathe underwater? Or control it or something." Ron said.

Percy nodded. "Me too. I can- well could I guess." He shivered. "I don't know what's wrong. Something's wrong, I- I just don't know what," Percy said, gazing back at the lake.

"Probably just need some sleep. Even half gods need to rest at some point." Ron said.

Percy stared at the lake and shivered again. "Yeah," He agreed half- heartedly. 

With that, Harry, Ron, and Percy walked back towards the camp, away from the lake.