Chapter 4
A couple of days later Percy was talking to his mum in the kitchen about how to explain it all to Paul after he got back from visiting his parents when he heard an owl screech from the window. Oh Hades. Athena's gonna kill me, I didn't think I'd upset Annabeth, apparently Athena thinks otherwiseHe thought jumping behind a couch.
"Percy," his Mum laughed as she went up to it to get a piece of paper tied to its leg, "you need to get used to owls. They're the main use of communication between wizards, and you can't use Iris Messages to contact me. Oh, this is the acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Do you want to read it?"
"Yes please. One question though, why do they call it Hogwarts? It sounds more like a disease than a school."
"Honestly honey I don't know, it's what the founders called it, and it hasn't been changed, there was no need." She said as she passed it over, casting a quick spell to help him to read it.
"Thanks Mum." Percy Said. It read:
HOGWARTSSCHOOLOF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr Riddle
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We wish to apologise that your letter came so late. We have only just received information that you have the magic to get into Hogwarts. If you have had any previous tutoring during this oversight, please send us a copy of all results via owl.
Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. We have also included a permission slip for Hogsmeade. Please geta parents or guardians signature for this. If you do not, you will not be able to visit thevillage. When you arrive you will go to Hagrid, the Gameskeeper. He will take you across with the first yearsto be sorted.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Head Mistress
"Hmm. Percy you should try asking Lady Hecate to give you an introduction into all this. She is the goddess of Magic after all."
"Yeah I'll IM her after we decide on what to tell Paul."
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"Oh Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, accept my offering. Show me Lady Hecate."
"Who is it that wishes to speak to me, I am quite busy so please don't take long." Said Hecate, wearing a dark blue business suit.
"Lady Hecate, I am sorry for the interruption but I wished to ask if you could help me. I recently found out that I was a wizard and I hope that you would be able to help me learn what a sixth year would know at Hogwarts before the school year starts."
"Ah. A son of Poseidon is also the child of one of my blessed this is interesting. I will train you but first you will have to get the supplies, I suggest Diagon ally. When you go to get your wand from Olivanders, tell the storeowner that Trivia sent you. He will show you a special collection that will suit you more than his normal stock. I'm afraid I must go now. Tell me when you have all your supplies. Goodbye now, hero."
As soon as the image had faded Percy went and explained the conversation to his mother.
"Mum, Lady Hecate said we need to get my supplies before she can train me. She also said to go to Diagon alley to get my stuff, said that I should get my wand from some special one in some guy called Olivanders ''special collection'."
"Of course honey, I would have taken you there any way. That's the best place to go to get Hogwarts stuff. Now, we'll leave tomorrow and hopefully we'll get there in enough time to get trained by Hecate and send a letter back to Professor McGonagall."
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"Well, here we are, Diagon alley." Said Mrs Jackson. "It hasn't changed much since I was last here."
"Mum, while you get the books why don't I get a wand then I'll meet you in the robe store." Having already been explained to the process that getting a wand would take, Percy wanted to save some time.
"Ok, here are twenty galleons. It won't cost that much but it will cost a bit, but don't lose any. I don't want to go into Gringotts. The goblins might know you're a demigod and we don't want them attacking you, just in case. Now, hurry."
"Ok, make sure you get then in ancient Greek or something to help me read hem. See you mum"
As Percy walked down the street he looked at all the wonders he saw. He saw the sun shining brightly on some cauldrons, a sign out side a store was advertising dragon liver for seven sickles for an ounce. There was a store selling owls, with all kinds out the front (He avoided that store), and a store selling flying brooms (Percy new he wouldn't have to ever go into that one) and so many others that he was wishing he had as many eyes as Argus so he could see it all. When he finally made it to Olivanders he saw it was an old run down looking store, almost more run down than the Hermes cabin. As he went in he heard a little bell ring.
"Ahh, and who might you be young man?" At this Percy jumped almost uncapping riptide.
"I'm Percy Jackson sir, Trivia told me to come to you for a wand."
The man's attitude changed quickly, he turned and said, "Come with me Mister Jackson we'll need to go out to the back to get your wand, come with me." Percy followed him out to the back where there were about six boxes.
"Now, Mister Jackson I will give you a wand and if it connects with you I'll give you more details about it. After all it's the wand that chooses the wizard. Now try this."
We made it through three wands before anything happened, I picked up a light brown wand.
"Ahh. This wand was blessed by Neptune, willow, 12 inches and a mermaid hair core."
"What do you mean by 'blessed by Neptune' sir? Who's Neptune?"
"Boy, do you know of your heritage?"
"Yes, why do you want to know?"
"Well if you know of your heritage then- . Wait, are you Greek?"
"Yes I am."
"Oh, I'm sorry then to you it's blessed by Poseidon."
"Oh, why didn't you say that the first time?" Percy asked blankly
"Don't worry my boy, don't worry. That will be 8 galleons. Thank you"
When Percy left all he could think was that that Olivander man was crazy.
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Just as Percy was starting to feel like his mother was never going to turn up he saw her walking up to him with a few shopping bags.
"Is that all mum?" He asked sadly, knowing he would have to carry them back to the car.
"Yes, it's all the books. Now we just need your robes, cauldron, potions supplies, a telescope, ink, parchment, quills and your trunk."
"How about we get the trunk so we can put all the stuff into it. It'll be easier to carry that way."
As they waited for the robes to be made they made light chatter about what life was like at Hogwarts when his mum went there. She had just started telling him about the Marauders when the robes finished and they moved on.