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Chapter Twenty-Three

Percy

After two more days of going to classes like nothing was wrong and training after hours, Percy decided the witches and wizards were ready.

Percy taught Neville and Ron as the sword was their chosen weapon because Percy was nominated as the sword-fighting teacher.

They had both improved, but it was harder for them to learn because they didn’t have ancient blood in their veins, making their fighting skills impulsive.

Percy was doubtful about bringing the wizards along though, they could get hurt. But he had already told them they could come, so he couldn’t force them to stay now.

“Are you all ready?” Annabeth asked.

Everyone nodded except for Leo, who said, “YEAH!”

Percy rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything.

Nico had planned to take Percy and Annabeth with him while Mrs. O’Leary took Grover, Thalia, and Leo. They would take more trips, but Percy was mainly focused about the fact that he was in the first group.

Percy and Annabeth would go to Neculai. The would fight him while everyone else had to focus on taking out the many guards Neculai had so that they wouldn’t get in Percy and Annabeth’s way.

As soon as they arrived, Nico returned for the others—Percy made sure Nico had eaten some ambrosia before he did though.

Annabeth put on her Yankees cap, but she kept one hand on Percy’s back as they crept to the throne room where Neculai was most-likely located. Percy flinched because Annabeth touched a deep gash in his back from the whipping he had received a few days before. Even with ambrosia and nectar, the injuries still hurt him.

She gasped and whispered, “Sorry!” then moved her hand to his arm.

When they arrived at the throne room, Percy waited a few moments to gather himself, barged inside, and found nothing. Neculai wasn’t there.

He turned around and was startled to find Neculai walking into the room calmly, picking at the cuffs of his sleeves. His eyes widened when he saw Percy standing there.

“The doors!” Percy whispered to Annabeth. He felt her hand move from his arm, and then before Neculai could escape, the doors closed and locked of their own accord.

Neculai’s eyes widened even more when Annabeth revealed herself. Neculai yanked a sword from his belt, and Percy pulled Riptide from his pocket and uncapped it just as quickly.

Percy parried Neculai’s first strike and kept him busy while Annabeth darted around, searching for a chink in the large armour Neculai was wearing. Percy presumed he had been expecting an attack, hence the armour and sword.

Percy had no armour, but that just made him lighter on his feet, and Percy could tell he was quickly gaining the upper-hand in the fight. Neculai’s armour was weighing him down, which made it that much easier. Percy received a cut on his arm and returned the favor with a cut on Neculai’s face.

Finally, Neculai’s sword was in Annabeth’s hands and Percy’s sword was against, Neculai’s throat. He grabbed onto Neculai’s armour, knowing that the wizard could very well apparate away, but since he had a hold on him, Neculai would end up taking Percy as well.

“Any last words?” Percy asked.

“Go to Hades!” Neculai spat.

“I’ve been there three times already, my friend,” Percy said. And with that—and a swing of Percy’s sword—the wizard was sent to Hades.

Percy didn’t realize he was breathing hard until he stood up. Annabeth grabbed his hand and said, “It’s all over, now. We can live a normal life.”

“As normal as it can be for demigods,” Percy joked.

“Yeah,” Annabeth laughed with him.

Percy threw an arm around Annabeth and together they walked out to greet their friends, only to find a horrifying sight in front of them.

There were dead and/or knocked out guards littering the halls, but everyone was gathered around a body with a sword through it’s chest. It looked like he had stuffed his face into fire, because his face was covered in soot, and his hair was singed at the ends. But there was no mistaking him.

The dying boy was Neville Longbottom.

A/N Please don't hate me! Please! Neville is one of my absolute favorite characters, so it was hard doing this, but they couldn't have gotten out unscathed, right? That would be too perfect. I'm so sorry, but it had to be done!

Question 24=How many years later was the Epilogue of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" set in?

Nineteen years later.