Percy
Ch. 3
Percy pushed the other half of his meatloaf square around his plate, grateful the knock at the door had given him a break from forcing this chalky brick being called meatloaf down his throat. Harry's warning hadn't properly prepared him for the cuisine served at the Dursley home.
He could hear the muffled voice of his Uncle Vernon hissing at what he assumed was Harry before they went silent. He looked around the table. Dudley was doing his best impression of nun in prayer, his eyes never once rising further than his plate, obviously still scared about their confrontation earlier in the day.
Served the little prick right.
Aunt Petunia, on the other hand, was darting nervous glances towards the living room then turning back to the table with a forced smile. She was clearly quite nervous about what was going on in the living room but desperately trying not to show it for some reason.
Percy was apparently the only one at ease, though the rumbling in his stomach said it might be a less than pleasant night. Petunia's meatloaf felt like he'd swallowed a brick and his intenstines were staging a violent protest in hopes to sending the toxic substance from the hellhole from whence it came.
Unfortunately for him, he couldn't tell which end it was going to be ejected from, though it was clear neither going to be a pleasant experience for him.
"Pe... Perseus?" Uncle Vernon stuttered from the living room.
Before he could answer, Petunia jumped to her feet.
"Vernon!" She protested just as the pale face of Vernon stepped into the entrance to the living room. "What are you doing?"
He looked blankly at her for a minute and was about to reply when Harry slipped past the wide man, a megawatt smile plastered on his face.
"It's a letter for Percy!" He looked like a kid on Christmas, which Percy really didn't understand. For one, it was just a letter. And two, it had to be a mistake. Who would have sent him a letter, here in Britain? No one knew he was here, except him mom and Pau,l and he highly doubted they'd sent him a letter already considering they would have had to send it before he even left.
"Uh, a letter?" Percy looked around, confused at the horrified look on Petunia; the blank pale face of Vernon and the absolutely overjoyed expression Harry had.
He stepped towards Harry who was holding out what looked like an old piece of rolled up paper to him. Petunia tried to snatch it away but Harry pulled it back, a look of indignation on his face.
"It's for Percy," he scolded, as if he were a parent talking to a child.
Petunia looked downright miserable but seemed to take being chastised in stride, not trying to grab the piece of rolled up paper again. While that struck him as odd, his curiosity of what the paper contained had peaked his interest.
Percy awkwardly took it from Harry who was almost bouncing up and down with happiness. He unrolled the paper, his eyes widening a bit at what lay inside.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Jackson,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Percy read the letter over three times, making sure he read it correctly. Finally he looked up and laughed.
"Oh, very funny, Harry. School for witchcraft and wizardry? I'll give you credit though, impressive work on the penmanship." Percy chuckled and tossed the paper onto the table.
Harry shook his head but his smile never wavered, "No, Percy! It's no joke! You're a wizard, just like me!"
Petunia covered her mouth with her hand and looked ready to faint. Vernon was still pale as a ghost and Dudley had used the distraction to scoop the contents of his mother and father's plates onto his own, still keeping his eyes on his food rather than looking up.
Percy looked around, waiting for punchline but from the genuine expressions of distress from his Aunt and Uncle, the meatloaf seemed to get twice as heavy in his stomach.
"Right," he mirthlessly laughed. "Okay Harry, joke's over."
Harry shook his head and reached into his pocket pulling out what appeared to be a slender looking stick, waving it in front of him like this explained everything.
"It's real, Percy! Look, Lumos!" The tip of the stick lite up like a lightbulb, brightening the room a great deal and making the meatloaf brick get heavier yet again.
Percy took a step back from his ecstatic cousin, "Listen, Harry..." He shook his head. "I don't know about this witchcraft or wizardry stuff but I'm telling you, that's not me. This is a mistake. I'm not like you, trust me."
Before Harry could reply, a hard knock at the door made Petunia shriek in horror.
"No!" She wailed. "No! No! No! No..."
Another hard knock at the door and Petunia fell back into her chair. Vernon moved to her side, holding her up like she was about to pass out.
"Okay..." Percy looked around, not sure why everyone was acting the way they were. He was a lot of things but one thing he wasn't was a gods damn witch or wizard or warlock or whatever the Hades Harry was trying to tell him.
Harry looked like he was too excited to do anything, still waving his glowing stick around like it explained everything.
Another hard knock and Percy jumped towards the door, anxious for a reason to get away from the distraught Dursleys and a way too peppy Harry.
He opened the door and stepped back in surprise at what was waiting on the other side.
"Oh Hades no," Percy shook his head. "Dude, I don't know who you are but not interested. Try the next house over."
Standing on the other side of the door was a tall elderly man. Percy didn't have to look past the robes to know this was not someone he wanted to talk to. He had long silver hair and a silver beard that was so long he could have tucked it into his belt. He wore half moon spectacles in front of bright blue eyes. His long crooked nose looked like it'd been reshaped with a fist a few times. He smiled kindly despite Percy's clear rejection of his arrival.
"Perseus Jackson," the elderly man smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry exclaimed from behind Percy. "Come in! Come in!"
The professor looked past Harry to the horrified looking Dursleys, "You'll have to excuse my, uh, unexpected visit," he said apologetically though Percy got the feeling he didn't feel bad at all. "But it appears unforeseen events have required my appearance."
Uncle Vernon finally seemed to come out of his stupor and shook his head vehemently, "No! No! No! This is unacceptable! We were told..."
With a flick of Dumbledore's hand, Vernon was in his seat. His eyes rolled back in his head and he fell fast asleep. Percy looked in disbelief as Petunia and Dudley both passed out in the chairs, Dudley face planting into his plate of meatloaf and snoring loudly.
"Hey!" Percy growled. "What do you think you're doing?" His hand went to his pocket and grabbed Riptide only for Harry to grab his arm, shaking his head.
"Percy, it's fine. Trust me, Professor Dumbledore is a friend."
Dumbledore smiled at the young wizard, "Thank you, my dear boy, Harry. But you'll have to forgive me as well. I require a word in private with young Mr. Jackson."
With another flick of his hand, Harry's eyes rolled back and he would have collapsed onto the floor if not for another quick flick of the wrist from the old man. Harry's body levitated in the air before slowly floating towards the couch, dropping down gently on the soft cushions.
Percy had seen enough though. He pulled out Riptide and flipped off the cap, the celestial bronze blade appearing in his hand as he held it out in front of him protectively.
"I don't know who you are but you've got five seconds to get out of this house before we have a real problem."
Dumbledore eyed the blade with delight, "It has been many years since I saw a weapon such as that. Endued with magic as well, that is a magnificent piece of weaponry."
Percy glared at the old man, "Listen bud, I've got a strong policy against abusing the elderly but you're pushing my last buttons here. Get to the part of what you want so I can decide if you're some kind of monster or just a really weird old dude."
Dumbledore clapped his hands together, his smile only growing.
"Well, I must say, I'm quite relieved to hear about your stance on elder abuse. I'm not sure this old body could withstand much abuse these days. In fact, I think I should have a seat, my back just isn't what it used to be."
The elderly man shuffled over to the armchair and eased himself down, "Oh yes," he sighed happily, "that's much better."
Percy stared at the old man, still holding Riptide in front of him but suddenly starting to feel stupid as Dumbledore kicked his feet up on the ottoman and laced his fingers together on his lap.
"Ugh, dude, you're making me feel stupid. If you're gonna to transform into a blood sucking Empousa or something can we just skip this part?"
A gentle laughed hummed from deep within the elder wizard's chest, unable to hide his amusement at this boy's blunt way to speaking.
"I assure you, my young demigod, that I have no plans to transform into any kind of foul creature."
A chill ran down Percy's spine. He lunged forward and pressed the tip of his sword right into the old man's chest.
"How do you know I'm a demigod?!" He growled, now more convinced this was a monster or maybe some minor god looking to kill him.
Dumbledore looked down his long crooked nose at the bronze blade prodding him in the chest.
"Yes, well, I wouldn't be a proper Headmaster if I didn't know about the students I invite to my school, now would I?"
Percy narrowed his eyes, "Hogwarts School of Witches and Warlocks or whatever? What are you, some deranged old son of Hecate?"
Dumbledore smiled like the question amused him greatly, "Witchcraft and Wizardry you mean, and no, I am not a child of a god or goddess."
"Then how'd you do that to Harry and the others?" Percy pressed, still not removing the blade from the man's chest.
"Maybe," Dumbledore mused, "It may just be easier if I were to show you."
Before Percy could react, the man vanished with a small pop. Percy whirled around and found the man now standing in the doorway. He held a small curved piece of wood in his hand.
"Lower your blade, Perseus Jackson!" Dumbledore's voice boomed from the doorway. It seemed impossible for a man so old to produce such a sound, though Percy had no plans to obey him regardless. He stepped towards the man who waved his little stick, spreading his hands and sending an arc of fire out. Percy dove for cover behind the chair. When he felt no heat, he lifted his head and was baffled to find the entire room engulfed in flames. Percy was about to summon the water from the faucet when he realized that the temperature in the room hadn't changed at all. The room was surely on fire, unless his eyes were deceiving him, and when he looked down at the carpet, he found himself kneeling in flames but feeling no pain.
"What is this?" He growled. He raised his hands and an explosion from the kitchen nearly shook the house. A thick jet of water shot into the room, spraying the flames but having no effect.
Percy looked at the old man who was looking thoroughly amused when he felt his anger grow. He pushed his hands towards the wizard and the water formed a thick jet and shot right at him.
Dumbledore laughed with delight and flicked his wand, at least that was what Percy had guessed it was, as Percy's jet made a sharp turn and shot right past the wizard and out the still open door. Percy was too stunned to keep his focus and he lost his control of the water he was pulling from the faucet.
Dumbledore still stood in the doorway as the jet of water ended, his wand aimed right at Percy. A bright red light shot from the tip so fast Percy couldn't move in time. It hit him in the chest and sent him flying into the wall, cracking the sheetrock and leaving a Percy sized imprint.
When he hit the ground, Percy knew he had to make his move. Whatever the Hades this guy was, he was powerful and Percy wasn't going to last long if this fight continued. He jumped to his feet and made to attack when he was hit square in the chest with another bright light. He vaguely heard the words Petrificus Totalus before he felt like his entire body locked up and collapsed onto the carpet, unable to move.
"Well," Dumbledore smiled, "I think I've made my point. No, I am not a son of Hecate. I am a wizard. As is your cousin Harry and so are thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of others in the world. Magic is something passed down through family lines, though in some, such as yours, it lays dormant for generations. You are a wizard Percy Jackson, of that I am certain. But you are the first wizard demigod I've ever encountered. What that means, I have no idea. It could enhance your magical abilities or it could hinder them. It could have no effect. But like young Harry, you have magical blood flowing through your body. In fact, you have the same magical blood and Mr. Potter here."
Dumbledore looked at Percy, seemingly waiting for a response before he laughed softly, "Oh my, perhaps it's my mind that's going fastest. He waved his wand and Percy was suddenly able to move again.
He quickly jumped to his feet and backed away from the old wizard.
"Listen, all you said, that's great. But I've already got enough crazy in my life. Being a son of Poseidon is the limit of weird I can take. I don't want to be a wizard or whatever. I just wanna be a normal mortal guy, okay. I came here to get away from the weird, not to pick up more."
Dumbledore nodded like he'd expecting that answer.
"Of course. Of course. That is your right. You have had a tough life and I understand you want to get away from it all."
Percy eyed Dumbledore suspiciously, "Oh yeah? Just like that? Wanna be a wizard? No thanks. Okay, have a nice life?"
Dumbledore looked confused, "Yes. That's sums it up pretty well. I'm not a Greek God, Perseus. I have no desire to use or manipulate you. I am simply an old teacher who offered a new experience to a young man who has decided he isn't interested."
Percy narrowed his eyes, waiting for the line where he adds the part where he really doesn't have a choice.
"Well, I think I've taken up enough of your time." Dumbledore smiled. He waved his wand at the wall which repaired itself in seconds. Then he flicked it towards the kitchen and Percy could hear the sink he had destroyed repairing itself, the water soaking the room evaporating and leaving no trace it'd been there. The old wizard walked to the door, "They should wake in a few minutes." He nodded towards Harry and the kitchen. He opened the door when Percy had to ask.
"That's really it?"
Dumbledore turned and scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, "Yes, I think I covered everything." He turned to walk out then paused. "Well, other than the part with Harry but that's not really important anymore."
Percy wanted to throw Riptide through Dumbledore's back but he restrained himself, for the moment at least.
"What part about Harry?"
Dumbledore frowned, "He's got a difficult few years ahead of him. But I have faith he'll be more than able to do what is necessary."
Percy clenched his fists. He'd played right into the old wizard's hand. He'd only know Harry for a day but he was family. He was family and he was a great kid; barely younger than himself but still full of that youthful innocence that the Olympians had stolen from him.
"What do you mean, difficult years?" Percy growled, hating himself for even opening the door for this conversation.
"Oh?" Dumbledore ran a hand through his silver beard. "Just an old prophecy. You've noticed that odd scar on his head, have you not?"
Percy didn't answer as he tried to choose his words carefully.
"What prophecy? And does he even know about it?"
To this, the old wizard frowned. "No, he is not yet aware of what awaits him." The genuine pain in which Dumbledore answered surprised Percy. Despite his personal thoughts on this strange man, there was no lie in the regret he felt for Harry's situation.
Percy was silent for a minute as he and Dumbledore seemed to have a staring contest, neither willing to break it and speak next.
"Does he need me?" Percy finally asked through gritted teeth.
Dumbledore paused for a minute, his eyes drifting over to Harry's sleeping form and then back to Percy. It was clear he did not like the answer he was about to give.
"I think he does."
Percy closed his eyes. His brain was screaming at him to tell this old man to stick his head up his backside. He knew that was the smart response, the one he needed to give. But his heart: curse his stupid stupid heart. He looked at Harry sleeping peacefully on the couch, his face looking like it didn't have a care in the world. It was the kind of peace he wished he'd gotten to enjoy when he was fourteen. But the Fates had different plans. The old hags were the worst thing he'd ever known in his life. They'd sent him here, knowing what would happen and what he would do. If he ever had the chance, forget the consequences, he'd smack all three of them right across their haggard looking faces. Eternity in the Fields of Punishment would be well worth it that brief moment of satisfaction.
He looked back up at Dumbledore and his body deflated, "Okay. I'll do it."
Dumbledore gave him a sad smile, "I know."
Percy looked questioningly at him and Dumbledore's eyes almost seemed to shine from the doorway.
"You're exploits are known around the world, in certain circles. They don't speak about your power or strength, Percy Jackson. They speak of your heart and your devotion to the people you care about. You are something this world I'm afraid is very lacking in."
Percy didn't say anything, unsure of what he could say back to that.
Dumbledore stepped through the doorway and was about to close it when he looked back one last time.
"Expect a visitor early tomorrow. You and Harry will need to shop for the school year. After you visit Ollivander's, tell Hagrid you need to go to Gringotts. I think you'll be surprised at what you find there."
"What does that mean?" Percy asked but Dumbledore had already closed the door. Percy didn't bother chasing after him. Instead he retreated to the chair and plopped down, throwing his head back and wondering how he managed to always get himself into so much trouble.
"Percy?" A sleepy voice said from across the room.
"Yeah, Harry?" He sighed back.
"Wha... What happened? Where's professor Dumbledore?"
Percy took a deep breath then smiled at his cousin, "Gone. But we had a good little chat. Turns out you were right, I'm just like you."
Harry sat up excitedly, "Really?"
He couldn't help but smile, "Yup. Some guy, Hagard, er..."
"Hagrid?" Harry seemed even more excited, if that was possible.
"Yeah, Hagrid. He'll be coming to get us early tomorrow. We've got shopping to do for school, I guess."
Harry's grin was so wide, Percy was pretty sure he could see back to his molars. Then his smile vanished.
"Wait, what happened? How did I fall asleep?"
"Dumbledore wanted to spare me the embarrassment of you watching me freak out about the whole wizard thing." Percy lied. "He said to pass on his apologies but he said he knew you'd understand."
Harry thought about it for a minute then his smile returned. He was about to say something when Percy cut him off.
"Harry," he said patiently. "I know you're excited and I am too. But I need a little time to process all of this. Can we just call it a night early and we can talk about all of this tomorrow."
Harry seemed to deflate a little but then he nodded, "Yeah, of course. Sorry, I'm just excited. This year at Hogwarts is going to be brilliant!"
Percy gave him a weary smile, "Yeah, it's going to something, I'm sure of that. I'm gonna go to bed. You should come too, unless you wanna wait for the Dursleys to wake up."
Harry glanced towards the kitchen, a look of horror on his face, "You know, I'm pretty peaked myself. Knocking off early sounds good."
They made their way upstairs and Percy immediately got into bed, his mind swimming with a million thoughts; of what he was walking into and also memories of the past. A nagging feeling told him he had just bit off more than he was ready to chew.
A.N: So, Percy is basically like a Mud Blood or whatever. Probably a theme used before but like I said, I've never read a PJO/HP crossover, so its new to me. Thoughts?
