Chapter Text
“Goal! That’s 10 points to Hufflepuff! Another masterful display by Jackson!”
“Come on now, let’s not be biased Underwood.”
“I’m not bia– Clarisse, what are you doing in the commentator box?! Sorry for the disruption everyone.” Grover snatched his microphone back from the Gryffindor, just in time to announce, “Look over there! Chase has spotted the snitch!”
The crowd roared in anticipation, then slowly fell to a deep rumble as Annabeth Chase, seeker for Ravenclaw, darted around the stadium in pursuit of the golden snitch. Hufflepuff’s seeker, Will Solace, trailed closely behind. They flew in dizzying circles, making the audience feel motion-sick without even being in the air.
On the other side of the pitch, Hufflepuff’s chaser Percy Jackson had possession of the quaffle. Barely dodging a bludger from Ravenclaw’s beater Beckendorf, he raised his throwing arm, ready to score another ten points for the honey badgers.
“Jackson prepares for another shot at the goal! IT’S– intercepted?”
In a streak of blue and silver, the quaffle– mere moments before flying through an unguarded ring– was blocked by Annabeth, who jetted across the pitch to prevent Jackson from scoring.
“Now THAT’s rivalry!” Grover yelled into the mic, causing multiple students nearby to wince and cover their ears. “For the first-years here, Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase have been rivals since taking their respective positions in year two! Their mutual hatred of each other is why everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is here to watch a simple preseason scrimmage!”
Recovering quickly, Percy looped around immediately to fly next to Annabeth, smirking as he said, “Geez Chase, I knew you were obsessed with me but I didn’t realize it was that bad. Maybe stick to your own position?”
Annabeth rolled her eyes, “Get your head out of the clouds Jackson. It’s not about you, it’s called playing the game.”
“Oh yeah, because it's a good strategy to ditch the one-hundred and fifty point snitch to block me from scoring ten points.” Percy retorted.
“You mean this one-hundred and fifty points?” Annabeth smiled sweetly as she opened her fist to reveal a golden, winged ball in her palm.
Grover leaped out of his seat, “THERE IT IS FOLKS! Annabeth Chase has caught the snitch! Ravenclaw wins!” Three quarters of the crowd erupted into cheers, while one particularly yellow section booed the final result. There were even a few faint smiles in the professors’ box.
After the commotion died down, players and viewers began to file out, trickling into afterparties, homework sessions, or for a few unlucky individuals– detention with Dionysus.
Yet a certain bright-eyed blonde was still floating in the center of the pitch, like he couldn’t process what had just happened. The rest of his team had already started making their way towards the locker room, shaking hands with Ravenclaw and accepting defeat. On the grassy field below him, Annabeth lingered, polishing her broom over and over again, until there was not a speck left. If they weren’t sworn enemies, from afar, it might look like they were waiting to be alone with each other. Which of course, could never be the case.
Eventually, Percy came down, landing next to where Annabeth leaned against the wall. He extended his hand, “Good game.”
Annabeth’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, as she slowly shook it, “Good game? Who are you and what have you done to Percy Jackson?”
“You won fair and square. But be warned, next time won’t be the same.” Percy remarked, then headed into the locker room.
Since they were eleven and just first-years, Annabeth had always known Percy to be an immature Hufflepuff who consistently failed to make rational decisions. This was clear the moment he blew up their very first potion in Potions class, ruining Annabeth’s perfect hair for the rest of the year. Her curls have yet to return to normal. His rasher traits became unbearable in their fourth year, when Percy broke his arm to dive off his broom and score the goal that would secure Hufflepuff the Quidditch cup against Ravenclaw. She visited him in the infirmary that night, but he was asleep. Another annoying fact– Percy drools in his sleep.
Now that they were sixth years, she could only wonder why Chiron would appoint Percy as captain. Annabeth herself had been made captain of Ravenclaw, but that on the other hand, made perfect sense.
So Percy’s rare display of sportsmanship felt a tad out of character, at least when it came to his relationship with Annabeth. He must be trying to psych her out. Or something.
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Percy finally exited the locker room, hair wet from a fresh shower and his face still a bit flushed from the events of the game. He had traded his quidditch gear for a casual blue hoodie and jeans. Turning the corner, he was bombarded by his best friend and fellow Hufflepuff, Grover Underwood.
“Oh perfect! Already dressed for the occasion!” Grover exclaimed, already walking off in the direction opposite of Hufflepuff common room.
Percy stumbled in an attempt to keep up, “Grover what are you talking about? And where are we going?”
Grover answered vaguely, “Just up these stairs.”
“The stairs that lead to the Ravenclaw common room?” Percy paused, “As in the stomping grounds of the team that just wiped the floor with us?”
“Ok I know I know it’s not ideal. But you gotta come with me Percy.”
“May I ask why?”
Grover ruffled his hair, “Uhh, it would be a good look. You know, that talk you had with Chiron about setting an example for the team? Going to Ravenclaw’s party shows you’re not a sore loser.”
Percy raised an eyebrow, “Yeah because Chiron definitely thinks I should be around booze and parties more.”
“Ok I give in.” Grover winced, “It’s just that Juniper– that girl I was telling you about– is in there. This might be my only chance, Percy!”
Percy clapped Grover on the shoulder, “Well why didn’t you start with that G-man? You’re talking to the best wingman in all of Hogwarts.” He picked up the pace, escorting Grover up Ravenclaw tower. Music played faintly through the stone walls– clearly no one had cast a muffling charm. Leo Valdez, Ravenclaw’s treasured mad inventor, stood at the entrance. Underneath the signature suspenders, his shirt read ‘all da ladies luv leo’. Honestly, the guy was one of Percy’s favorite Ravenclaws. They probably could be great friends, if only Leo wasn’t so close with Annabeth. Due to that sad fact, Percy would have to keep his distance as a ‘friendly acquaintance’.
Leo grinned as they approached, “Well if isn’t my two favorite Hufflepuffs! Nice try today Jackson.” He answered the daily Ravenclaw riddle, then turned back to the two, “Badboy mcshizzle officially grants Perseus Jackson and Grover Underwood entry into the hottest party of the year.”
Unsure of how to respond, Percy only laughed at Leo’s antics, “Thanks man. See you in there.”
Leo waved goodbye as they entered the common room. The whole space was lit under blue lights, and there was an overwhelming smell of butterbeer. Although the party was decorated to celebrate Ravenclaw, there were partygoers from all four houses. Percy even spotted another member of his team, Will Solace, chatting quietly in the corner to Nico di Angelo from Slytherin house.
“There she is!” Grover pointed.
Percy looked over to see Juniper talking animatedly on the couch to Annabeth, “What are you waiting for G-man? Go talk to her!”
“Well I don’t know.” Grover hesitated, clearly anxious, “She seems preoccupied.”
“Right. I bet she’s praying right now that someone rescues her before Annabeth yaps her head off about the history of archways or something.” Percy placed an arm over Grover’s shoulder and all but shoved him towards the couch, “I’ll handle the witch. You get the girl.” Grover nodded slowly, reluctantly agreeing.
They approached the pair, but neither girl seemed to notice them. Juniper’s brown hair was tucked into her Hufflepuff scarf, and she had freckles dotting her entire face. Grover seemed to melt a little bit just looking at her. Annabeth, on the other hand, had her brown eyes wide with excitement, as she talked about her latest summer project. It made her look a little doe-eyed, and her hair was in caramel braids. Percy noticed that she had traded her Ravenclaw jersey for a casual navy dress, and her necklace had a tiny silver snitch charm.
In an attempt to capture their attention, Percy cleared his throat, “I hate to interrupt good conversation but Chase, I have a serious quidditch problem that needs to be discussed right now.”
Looking like she didn’t believe him at all, Annabeth shot him a death glare and slowly stood, “Fine Jackson. Sorry Juniper, I’ll see you later.”
Percy looked between Grover and Juniper, “Don’t be sorry. In the meantime, my buddy Grover can keep Juniper company!” He nudged Grover.
“Oh! Um sure, hi Juniper!” Grover spoke awkwardly. “What did you think of Professor Sprout’s new assignment?”
Juniper beamed, and the two quickly descended into herbology talk. Percy nodded to himself in satisfaction, before quickly pulling Annabeth away so the Grover could get some alone time.
“What the hell Jackson!” Annabeth wriggled out of his grip when they reached the drinks table and crossed her arms, “Does this crazy quidditch emergency even exist?”
“Uhh no. Guilty.” Percy raised his hands, “Am I that obvious?”
“Between the whispering and staring for five minutes before approaching us, and the fact that talking to me is the last thing you’d do at a party, I would say painfully so. Not to mention you’re a terrible liar.”
Percy laid a hand over his heart dramatically, “You wound me Chase.”
Annabeth rolled her eyes, “Funny.” She glanced back at the two on the couch, “They are cute though.”
“I know right? Grover really deserves this.” Percy nodded.
“Especially after putting up with you for six years.”
“There she goes. Can’t even go five seconds without insulting me.”
“Oh gods I think I’ve talked to you for too long. I can feel my mind deteriorating. Later Jackson.”
Before Percy could respond, Annabeth spun around and walked off. To no one in particular, he muttered, “Well that was fun.”
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
Annabeth had to leave the conversation before she said something she would regret. She tended to get carried away whenever she was within five feet of Percy. Getting carried away was what usually landed her in detention, ruining her perfect record. She still refused to talk about their very first brawl in second-year that got her detention with Snape for a week.
That was why her NEWTs had to be absolutely perfect, to ensure that she would still be able to become a professor in the future. Annabeth wanted to teach her own subject– Magical and Muggle Architecture. It was honestly unacceptable that a school so intricately built as Hogwarts wouldn’t have an architecture course.
In her escape from Percy, Annabeth bumped into Piper Mclean, Slytherin’s prefect. For someone whose job was enforcing rule and order, Piper tended to be a bit of an instigator. For a long time, Annabeth kept her distance from the Slytherin. She was one of those pretty divination girls, who Annabeth thought she could never relate to or understand. But in their fourth-year, they had gotten really close– first after Leo properly introduced them, then after Piper helped Annabeth with Divination and Annabeth helped Piper with Transfiguration.
Piper and Silena Beauregard were the two people who really helped Annabeth expand her circle. Since her first-year, she was well-known to be a bit of a quidditch-obsessed know-it-all, so it took a while for people to start seeing her as a friend too. On the opposite end of the spectrum, her growing reputation as a Quidditch player had garnered her some popularity, unwanted rumors, and people who only pretended to like her. Either way, it was the same situation at heart. Most people just didn’t know her at all.
“Beth!” Piper exclaimed, “That scrimmage was insane. Like the best you’ve ever played. I might have to leave Jason for you.”
Annabeth snorted, “Please don’t say that too loudly, he’ll strike me down with a bludger.”
“Also, did I see you chatting with Percy Jackson over there? Are we finally past the oh so great rivalry?”
“Absolutely not. That whole conversation was against my will.” Annabeth scanned the room, eyes landing on Percy again. He was leaning on a worn bookshelf next to Beckendorf, talking to about five different girls. Practically half the school had a crush on Percy Jackson– something she would never understand. And even more obnoxiously, it seemed like he loved the attention. “Gods he makes me sick.”
“You sure? The whole banter thing is kinda cute. I mean come on, have you ever even considered it?” Piper questioned.
Annabeth grimaced, “Holy shit this is even more horrifying than the last conversation I just had.” She shot another glance across the room, “I think Percy has his hands full already, and personally, I would rather date a screaming mandrake.”
“Okay okay I get it. But ouch, harsh.”
“It’s a sad truth, Pipes. Can we talk about something else now?”
Looking partly resigned and partly ready to grab another fire whiskey, Piper sighed, “Absolutely, wanna dance?”
Annabeth smiled, and let herself be led to the dance floor.
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