Chapter Two
I own nothing. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan
Percy felt very uncomfortable the entire journey, not least because Mr Weasley was asking so many questions about perfectly ordinary things like lampposts and chimneys. Which made no sense because he had a long thin chimney on his house.
When they FINALLY arrived, Percy gawked at the rickety building that seemed like it would fall down at any second. It seemed like it was held up by magic. Oh wait, it probably was.
Mr Weasley parked the car and hopped out, Percy closely following.
"Sweet Home, good," said Mr Weasley. Percy raised his eyebrows.
"Don't you mean 'Home, Sweet Home'?" He asked.
He walked up to the door and knocked. Even before he had touched the door a second time, it opened up to a plump, redheaded woman.
"Oh, do come in dear," she said. "You must be the new teacher. I'm Molly Weasley, your host. Goodness where are my manners? Come this way please, you're much too thin."
The door slammed shut behind them just as Mr Weasley was entering.
"Molly, can you let me in?" Mr Weasley's voice floated from the other side of the door. "You see I'm on the wrong side. I should be on the side you're on."
"Oh put a sock in it!" Mrs Weasley shouted. "Are you a wizard or not?"
"Ah. Fair point."
Percy tried to disguise a chuckle as a cough but failed. Mrs Weasley rolled her eyes at her husband and started herding Percy towards the dining room where everyone was eating dinner.
All conversation stopped as Percy entered the room, Mrs Weasley close behind. Apart from Ron. He continued stuffing his face with food. Ginny and Hermione were practically drooling at this new persons good looks. But of course Percy was completely oblivious. He shifted uncomfortably.
"Err. Hi," wow, real smooth Percy. "I'm Professor Jackson and I'm going to teach at Hogwarts in the post as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. I'm American."
"Buh wiv fimit hol," Ron choked, bits of food flying out his mouth.
"Ronald, don't talk with your mouth full. It's bad manners," Hermione scolded. Harry chuckled at their relationship. Ron chewed furiously then swallowed.
"I said, but we've finished school."
"No you didn't, you spent the last year gallivanting around and destroying dark lords," Mrs Weasley corrected. "And even if you did go to school then you'd have to return. All the students are taking the last year again because of the Carrows and stupid Death Eaters. No one got the necessary schooling that year and therefore must take it again."
Fred and George laughed at Ron's disbelieving face. "Ha ha," they spoke simultaneously. "We're older than you and we're finished." They stuck out their tongues at Ron.
"Actually no," Mrs Weasley interrupted. "You have to take seventh year. Professor McGonagall said that you have to at least finish seventh year. There might be some spells that would benefit your joke shop. And besides, we don't know how many rogue Death Eaters there are running around and you must have at least another year of Defence Against the Dark Arts."
Percy awkwardly coughed as Mrs Weasley stopped chewing out her sons.
"Can you please show me my room?" He asked. "Sorry but I'm kinda jet lagged from the trip."
"Harry dear," Mrs Weasley said. "Could you please show Professor Jackson to his room. I've added one next to Ron's. Thank you."
Harry dragged himself up and walked towards the Professor. Professor Jackson reached down and picked up his two suitcases. As he reached down his sleeve slipped, revealing his SPQR tattoo.
Harry's eyes widened when he saw the mark but Professor Jackson pulled his sleeve down before Harry could get a proper look.
Harry glanced over his shoulder at Ron and by his face you could tell Ron saw it. Hermione and Ginny seemed to be fawning over the Professor while Fred and George were still paralysed from the shock of having to go to school.
Maybe it's nothing, Harry thought. After all, what kind of Death Eater has a Finding Nemo suitcase?
- Page Break -
The next morning. Mrs Weasley called everyone down to breakfast. Harry dragged himself out of bed and walked downstairs with Ron to find everyone already downstairs.
"Ahh Harry, Ron. Now your here do have some breakfast. We'll be taking the Floo to Diagonal Alley." Said Mrs Weasley.
Ron immediately ran to the table and started scoffing his breakfast. The girls scowled at Ron's table manners while Professor Jackson looked on with interest.
"Now I know why Annabeth always scolded me when I was eating," he muttered.
Once everyone finished breakfast Fred and George took the Floo powder first, then Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Percy, Mr Weasley and Mrs Weasley. In that order.
Harry expected the Professor to be a little surprised at Diagon Alley, after all it was the place that most wizards all over Britain came to get supplies. Surprisingly though he seemed completely at ease. The Professor was lost in thought at something.
"This reminds me of the summer camp I go to," he mused under his breath. "Actually it reminds me more of our rival summer camps hidden city but we patched our differences a few years ago. Then again it is a lot like some poky backstreets of the Italian towns I visited back then."
Harry shook his head. Summer camp? Hidden city? Italian towns? Weird.
While Harry pondered the significance of this, the group had already reached Gringotts. Professor Jackson seemed completely unfazed at the grandeur of the wizarding bank. Maybe he had things like this in America.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked in reluctantly first. The goblins working at the desks glanced up and scowled at them with anger. Note to self, never break into this bank again. The goblins carry a grudge.
Their attention was diverted of them as Professor Jackson entered. The goblins were looking at him with awe, reverence and was that fear? Another mark against him. Harry sent him a questioning look.
"I've seen stranger," he replied. That's not what Harry was asking but sure.
"Hello," the goblin at the desk said. "Mr Potter, you would like to visit your vault I assume. Miss Granger, Bogrod shall exchange some muggle money at that desk. Weasley family can visit your vault too. And-" he gasped loudly. "Lord Perseus. You want to go to your families vault too? It's 0001. The first created."
The Weasleys and Harry looked at Professor Jackson curiously. Hermione had already gone to change her money.
"My father and his side of the family are very rich in America," Professor Jackson said as way of explanation. "You have probably never heard of them though and I hate when people do that."
The goblin at the desk nodded and beckoned them all to follow one of the goblins through a door and into two carts.
The cart twisted and turned in the dark tunnels, occasional being lit up by ever-burning torches, until it arrived at the Weasley vault. For the contributions in the war, Mr Weasley had been given a pay rise and they now had much more money than before. Mrs Weasley collected a bag of Galleons and sickles and climbed back into the cart.
It set off again. Right, left, left, right, right, left, right, left, until they were completely and utterly lost.
The cart ground to a stop at Harry's vault. Even after seven years there was still a small fortune. Harry took out his mokeskin bag which had miraculously survived the rough camping that Harry had gone on the year before, and filled it till it fit no more.
Now they only had the Professors to visit. Harry found the cart going deeper and deeper. They rounded a bend and Harry could see the place where the dragon had escaped when they broke into the Lestrange vault. Harry felt the tiniest bit guilty that they let it go but that feeling was quickly swept away as they passed by.
The track started to get steeper and steeper until it was almost vertical. Ginny screamed and Hermione joined in. Ron was throwing up over the side while Mr and Mrs Weasley clutched each other unashamedly. Harry held onto the side of the cart with white hands while his stomach felt like it was going to empty itself soon.
Percy however looked as though he was just taking a casually stroll, leaning back and whistling although his eyes betrayed excitement and thrill.
The cart jolted and levelled out before stopping dead while still travelling at fifty miles per hour. Ginny felt faint as she stumbled out, head still spinning. Ron was still emptying his stomach over the side and Hermione was half-heartedly scolding him.
"This is why you shouldn't have eaten so much at breakfast. It's all gone to waste now."
Harry's knuckles were white as snow and beginning to ache. He slowly unclasped his hands and inspected them for any injuries. None to be seen. Phew.
Percy leapt out, feeling not ill or faint but rather excited. "Let's do that again!" He shouted.
"Let's not," choked out Ron between retches. "That was awful. Why is your vault even down here?"
Percy shrugged walking forward to a massive carved door. It had pictures of gods and famous demigods. Right in the centre was a carving of him fighting Kronos on top of seven teenagers standing shoulder to shoulder. Beneath that was Leo on Festus as he carried Gaia up into the air before killing himself to put her back to sleep. Lucky he had the cure.
Percy reached up and brushed the carving of himself gently with his hand. The massive door suddenly started spinning, opening slowly in a star shape. Percy stepped inside to see mountains on mountains of gold. The amount of riches there made Harry's vault look like some savings in a piggybank.
Harry's jaw dropped as he gazed in. He didn't know there was so much gold in the world let alone his new teachers vault.
"How- where did you get all that gold?" Harry stuttered.
"My fathers family is rich like I said before," he answered, muttering, "show-offs."
Harry swore he heard thunder boom, even from this far underground. He made a mental note to ask Hermione about it once they got back.
While Harry was lost in thought, Percy had grabbed many galleons and some drachmas to Iris Message before leaving, dragging Harry out behind him.
Percy settled into the cart as the rest of the Weasleys and Harry reluctantly got in too. The cart started up, not going quite as fast as before but still at breakneck speed.
When it finally stopped back at the surface, they found Hermione and went to collect books. Naturally Hermione wanted to stay in the bookshop for ages but by general consent was dragged out to go to Eeylops' Owl Emporium.
Percy looked through the window apprehensively. He saw the owner of the shop bent over the counter. Then she looked up. Startling grey eyes and brown hair. Athena.
Percy quickly backed off. He did not want to get into another argument about Annabeth.
"Uhhh, I think I'll go to the Magical Menagerie instead. The Eeylops' Owl Emporium owner and I don't get soon very well. She'll probably turn me into an insect," he muttered the last part.
Everyone else shrugged and entered the store. Percy glanced through the window to see Athena smirking at him. He shivered and walked over to the Magical Menagerie.
The bell jingled as he entered and many different animal noises were heard. Percy walked up to the desk where the owner was rubbing his forehead looking frazzled while a blue bird in a cage squawked loud enough to go deaf. Percy winced and introduced himself.
"Hi, I'm Percy Jackson, I'm the new professor at Hogwarts," he said. The owners head shot up.
"Your full name doesn't happen to be Perseus, does it?" He asked. Percy nodded slowly. "Oh thank goodness!" The shop owner exclaimed. "There's an extremely rare Water Phoenix that was delivered to me with a note saying it was for Perseus Jackson, the new Professor. There was also an envelope but it was expressly addressed to you. This bird has been driving me crazy. It won't shut up!"
Percy would have laughed at the look on his face was it not for the shrieking of the bird. He looked at it carefully, scrutinising it with his green eyes. It looked rather like a swan with its long neck and large wings with gold edging. The bird suddenly went quiet and stared back with quiet intelligence.
Hello My Lord, it said telepathically. Why are you here?
Percy started in surprise, How can I understand you? He asked inside his head. And don't call me your Lord. I'm Percy.
I'm a water bird am I not? The Phoenix replied. And you are a son of the Sea God, yes? Your father has a message for you.
Percy reached for the envelope and opened it.
Dear Percy, it said.
Well done so far with your mission. I hope you like your new messenger. Her name is Nerida, meaning mermaid in Greek. From Poseidon.
Percy smiled and picked up Nerida's cage. Nerida squawked happily and playfully nicked his ear. Percy smiled and left the relieved shopkeeper.
He met the others outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. They were sitting round a table waiting for his return.
"Hi Professor," called Hermione. "We were just waiting for you. The Eeylops' shopkeeper was very nice. Said her name was A. She was very interested in intelligence. You'd like that being a professor and all. Also nice bird you've got there. Is it a Water Phoenix? Those are very rare. I heard that-"
She was cut off by Ron who put his hand over her mouth. "We don't all want to know this 'Mione," he said.
Percy chuckled. "I know A. She doesn't approve of me though. And yes, I do have a Water Phoenix. Present from my dad. Her name is Nerida. Shouldn't we be going?"
Mr Weasley nodded and brought out some Floo powder to return to the Burrow. "Let's go soldiers. Arm yourself with those pencils that shoot out little balls that look like owl pellets!"
Percy sniggered behind his hand while Hermione opened her mouth to correct him but before she could he threw some of the powder into the fireplace of the ice cream shop and disappeared in a flash.
"They're called guns," muttered Hermione under her breath. "And they're nothing to joke about."
Ron shrugged and took some powder too, jumping into the fire before he got a lecture. Hermione huffed as everyone followed him. Lastly jumping in herself.
Okay, so I just want to say thank you for all the support this story is getting. I honestly didn't think it would be worth reading, let alone following, favouriting or reviewing. Thanks to: Kim(guest), roxy-Solangelo, Penny-Lu, Aviendhaphiragon, jeangary28, LieutenantofChaos17 and bella221122.
Also I seem to have a hater already. To Matt(guest): one, get your grammar right, don't say 'your too stupid at stories' because that doesn't make any sense. Two, I am writing on an iPad not a computer. Three, back to grammar; I can't 'lose all you get amnesia' because, sweetie, that doesn't make sense either. Four, I would never delete this story because it is purely for fun and I don't care what you think. Five, if I sold my iPad then my mum would go ballistic. Lastly, if you're going to write horrible reviews then I would appreciate if you used my full name, StarFlight13. It makes me happy.
IMPORTANT! Matt(guest) also mentioned that Nico is gay in his review. I only mentioned anything about Nico in a relationship because I want him to be happy. If it makes you happy then imagine Solangelo instead. This fact will have very little to do with anything in the future of this story. Even though Nico does make an appearance. Also I'm British so to all you Americans I may spell things a bit differently.
Star, xoxo.