A/N- There was just one thing I needed to add to this chapter.

And also, I want to once a week or so give some of my favorite stories.

This week's one is Delicate.

Chapter 3- Friendly Encounters

August 31, 1991

The days seemed to zoom by and much too soon it was August 31. Tomorrow, he would leave for Hogwarts. His father would be with him of course, but he would be on his own on the train. Well, not totally alone. He and Harry had been trading letters everyday since Percy had went to his house. Harry had promised to sit with him on the Hogwarts Express.

Percy was packed and ready for tomorrow. His father had told him of Hogwarts' massive library, so Percy decided he wouldn't need anything other than his school books. He went to bed absolutely sure that he had everything he needed. He was nervous and ended up checking to make sure several times that night.

Percy was dreaming of flying. He was on a broomstick and holding on to him from behind was a beautiful girl with flowing blonde hair and blue eyes the color of the sky. She leaned in and closed her eyes, her lips puckering up as she moved. Percy moved forward as well, and just as their lips were about to meet, she suddenly snickered in a masculine voice. Percy's eyes shot open. His body was already reacting to the ice cold water being poured on him. His mind caught up quickly and he jumped out of bed. He slept with his wand in his hand, and when he jumped he simultaneously yelled, "Depulso!" He got the desired affect as the man crashed through the wall behind him.

It took him a minute to realize the man was his father. He jumped up and ran to the next room. His father was lying on the floor still laughing. Percy started laughing as well. "We'll have to do that again sometime!" his father said eyes still dancing with mirth.

"Don't think you'll catch me like that again dad. I'm prepared now!" Percy said. They continued their family bantering throughout breakfast until the nervousness once again hit Percy. Percy did his daily routine and was ready by 10:30. His father had slouched around after breakfast and didn't arrive till 10:55. "Shit! If we don't hurry, you're going to miss the bloody train!" he yelled. Both of them dashed to the floo where his father threw in floo powder and dashed in quickly followed by Percy. "King's Cross Station!" and they were off.

When they arrived, there were very few people on the platform. His dad practically threw his trunk and his familiar's cage at him. Talon, which was what he had decided to name his falcon, squawked unhappily. Percy laughed at the obvious unhappiness on his familiar's face. 'Bloody human! You won't be laughing when my talons are slicing your face!' This just made Percy laugh harder. He climbed aboard the train and walked to one of the rear apartments. Harry promised to find him once the train had started to move.

Percy decided to pull out his Offensive Magics book as he waited. It was his favorite, for it explained the mechanics of dueling, as well as spells and their applications. It took 1 ½ hours for Harry to find him. The door opened and Percy looked up to see Harry walk in. "Hello Harry. What took you?" asked Percy.

Harry looked slightly annoyed for a bit before calming and saying, "You're sitting in the bloody back of the train! I had to check every compartment between the very front to the back!"

"Uhhm, sorry?" It was more of a question but Harry seemed to except it. Percy put his book away and the two sat across from each other awkwardly. "So did you…uh…have a good couple of weeks?" asked Percy. Harry face palmed and snickered. "That was fantastic, really. You want another go at that?" Percy joined in on the snickering.

"Since you're so great at conversing, why don't you try it then?" asked an amused Percy.

"Yes I am. Watch and learn from the master, Perseus," said Harry. "How are you, Perseus?"

"Never better," Percy replied.

"I can tell. You look rather dashing today Perseus, if I do say so myself." This prompted another round of giggles from the two.

They continued to joke until their compartment door slid open. "You haven't seen a toad have you?" asked a girl who stepped in. Harry seemed to stare at her for a moment before answering, "I don't believe we have." Percy nodded his head no. The girl sighed, and then stepped out. Percy suddenly had an idea. "Wait!" he said abruptly. The girl turned around and Percy asked, "Have you tried Accio yet?" The girl looked confused before nodding no. Percy pulled out his wand from his right trouser pocket. "Does this toad have a name?" he asked the girl. "Trevor," she replied. Pointing out his wand, Percy said, "Accio Trevor the toad!"

At first, Percy wasn't sure it would work. "Are you sure…" the girl began before a toad rocketed past her into Percy's lap. "Oh," was all she could say. The girl grabbed the toad rushed out the door, presumably to the toad's owner.

Percy sat back down and noticed Harry gawking at him. "What?" asked Percy. "Where did you learn that spell?" asked Harry. Percy responded, "It's the summoning charm. It isn't taught until 5th year I think, but I found it in one of my dad's books."

At that moment, the girl walked back into the compartment and asked, "May I sit here?" Harry quickly acquiesced and the girl sat down. Percy got a better look at her. She had curly brown hair that was extremely bushy. Her eyes were like little chocolate pools shimmering in the moonlight. Her skin was cream colored. Percy thought she was absolutely beautiful. Her buck teeth made her look even cuter if that was even possible. These thoughts scared Percy as the only females he had ever known were his aunt, and more recently his mother and Victoria.

"I'm Hermione Granger by the way," she said matter-of-factly. Percy mentally shook himself out of his stupor. "Perseus Black, Heir to the House of Black, at your service milady," said Percy as he kissed her knuckles. A crimson blush appeared on Hermione's face. Harry burst out laughing behind him, and Percy turned around quizzically. "What a schmoozer!" All three laughed at that before Harry introduced himself. "Harry Potter, Heir of the House of Potter. What a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Granger." He bowed as he said this.

Hermione was quick to ask, "Why do you say you are the 'Heir to the House' of your last name?" Percy was confused. 'Why wouldn't she know? Didn't everyone know?' Harry looked just as confused before asking, "Who are your parents?" Hermione answered proudly, "Jane and Robert Granger." It took Harry a minute of thinking before he began, "Are they muggles then?" This question seemed to offend Hermione. "Just because they don't have magic is no reason to bash them!" she said angrily. Harry quickly amended after a sorry, "Non-magical users then?" Hermione replied with, "Yes." Harry turned back to Percy. "That explains why she doesn't know. Muggles don't do that sort of thing," he said. "Well, I could've told you that, Harry!" Percy laughed.

Hermione looked at Perseus and asked, "You're not a muggleborn wizard are you?" Percy shook his head. "We're purebloods, but our mom was raised and is still thought to be a muggleborn," Percy explained. "Wait, you're brothers?" asked Hermione. "Only half," replied Harry and Hermione seemed confused. Harry sighed and told her our story.

Percy found himself reading as Harry continued to tell their story. He usually zoned out while he was reading, and this time was no different. After a few minutes, there was a commotion in the compartment. He heard a small conversation between Harry, Hermione and the stranger. The conversation ended with, "May I sit down then?" Harry affirmed and the girl sat beside him as Hermione sat beside Harry.

Percy looked up to look at the stranger. Her eyes were gleaming with a color of the sky whilst her beautiful blonde locks cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Percy couldn't help it, he gasped. The girl looked at him strangely, and Percy felt his face reddening. He mumbled an incoherent, "sorry?" The girl turned back to her book, and Harry burst out laughing. "So smooth Perce!"

Percy and Harry held a light conversation about Quidditch teams. Percy still wasn't that well versed in the sport, but could hold a slight discussion about it. Hermione had brought out a book when they had started to talk about Quidditch. It was obvious she didn't care much for the sport. He noticed the blonde girl tuning into their conversation when Harry spoke about Puddlemere United.

As their conversation came to a close, there was a knock on the door. Hermione, who was closest to the door, opened it and stepped back. "Anything off the trolley, dears?" The cart was stacked full of candy from Honeydukes Sweetshop. The lady seemed friendly enough to Percy.

He was just reaching into his pocket to grab some knuts, when Harry jumped up and moved to the doorway. "I want 3 chocolate frogs, a licorice wand and a cauldron cake, please." He paid and thanked the witch.

Daphne was the next one up. "I'd just like a cauldron cake, please." Percy wasn't terribly hungry, but he decided that he'd love to have a Mars Bars. He walked up to the trolley and noted with some confusion that they had no muggle candy. "Is there any muggle candy, ma'am?" Percy asked. The lady seemed a bit confused before asking, "Muggles have candy?" This provoked Hermione into angrily saying, "Wizards are such closed minded people. Of course we have candy!" Her rant continued about the way wizards treated muggles and muggleborns, though by that time the trolley lady had left.

Her rant peaked the blonde girl's attention, however. She laughed. Everyone looked at her incredulously. "What?" she asked innocently. "She's right of course. The wizarding world is lead by a bunch of spoiled pureblood assholes who think only of themselves." Harry laughed. "I couldn't have put it better myself, Greengrass!"

Harry and the girl that Harry called Greengrass began to devour their candy. Percy was to…until he realized that he had never ordered anything. "I never got my candy!" he whined. Hermione apologized, but Percy brushed her off saying it was fine. Luckily, Harry had gotten more than he wanted and shared with Percy. He offered some to Hermione, but she turned it down saying that she'd rather not hear her parents complain about her getting a cavity or something. Everyone gave her a confused look. She blushed involuntarily and said, "My parents are dentists."

Percy and Harry understood, but Daphne was confused. "What's a dentist?" she asked. Percy answered, "A dentist is a person qualified to treat the diseases and conditions that affect the teeth and gums."

Percy thought back to what Harry had called the girl. Greengrass was an old and influential family in the wizarding world. They had a seat on the Wizengamot. Percy put on his façade and said, "I don't think I properly introduced myself Mrs. Greengrass. I'm Perseus Black, Heir to the House of Black. It's a pleasure to meet you." Her face showed shock. "How could you be a Black?" She asked him. Percy smiled before replying, "Sirius Black is my father." All she could say was, "Oh!" An awkward silence followed.

Finally, she spoke, "I'm…" She was interrupted by the door opening and three boys stepped in. "Daphne Greengrass!" He continued for her. "What's a beauty like you sitting with company like this?" he asked while he looked over the occupants of the cabin though his eyes lingered in Percy.

"Perfect! The ferret decided to show up!" Harry said in sarcastic delight. This caused the blonde headed boy to turn towards him. "Ah, Pot-Head the blood traitor!" Harry stood up threateningly. The boy put up a hand as the other two unwanted occupants stepped forward. The boy walked up to Harry and said, "You think your so great Potter just because you defeated the Dark Lord. You're nothing special, Potter."

Percy was getting tired of this guys bullying. It reminded him of Dudley. The boy put his finger on Harry's chest as if to threaten him more, but Harry shoved him back. The blonde ponce's monkeys charged towards Harry. Percy jumped up, pulling out his wand and yelled, "Depulso!" All three boys were thrown out into the hall. Hermione quickly closed and locked the door.

They all burst out laughing. "Malfoy is such a dumb ass!" said Harry laughing. The others could only nod their heads in agreement they were laughing so hard. "Did you see his face when Black banished him into the hallway?" Daphne said. This caused another round of laughter in the compartment.

"What was that you used anyways Percy?" asked Hermione. It was obvious she had a thirst for knowledge. Percy was about to answer her, but Daphne beat him to it. "It's the banishing charm, Depulso. We'll learn it this year in Offensive Magics."

"Speaking of Offensive Magics, Is your father still the teacher, Percy?" Daphne asked. "Yes," replied Percy proudly.

This caused Percy to ponder more about his mother. He decided to ask Harry. "Harry, what does mum do?" Harry looked warily at Daphne, who was watching the developing conversation with interest, before sighing and saying, "She's the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts."

Hermione gave Percy a confused look. "You don't live with your mum?" Percy replied, "No, I live with my father." Daphne interrupted then, "Wait! You're brothers?" "Half," corrected Harry who looked a little embarrassed.

"While we're on the subject, my father is the transfiguration professor," said Harry. "You must know loads more about Hogwarts," said Hermione. "At least more than was in the handbook."

They were once again interrupted as a redhead wizard walked in. He sat down next to Harry. "Blimey! I heard they said Harry Potter was on the train and you really are! I thought my brothers were just taking the mickey out of me!"

"Can you show me your scar?" The redhead wizard asked hopefully. Harry sighed before showing his palm to the boy. "Wicked!" The boy said with delight.

Harry rolled his eyes and mouthed, "Fanboys." Percy had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing. While the redheaded boy continued to talk, the rest of the compartment was packing their stuff. Every once in a while, Harry would say "Oh" to keep him talking. The redhead didn't even notice when they left the compartment and continued to talk to himself. They moved into a new compartment and burst out laughing. "Poor bloke wasn't all there, was he?" said a still laughing Percy.

They were still laughing when there was a knock on the door. "Not again!" Percy whined tired of the interruptions. He opened the door anyway to see another redheaded fellow who looked like an older version of the boy from their last compartment. "20 minutes till we arrive. Put on your robes!" Then he walked away. "Uptight fellow wasn't he?" Harry said.

The girls shooed them out of the compartment so they could change. "Why can't we all change together?" asked a confused Percy. Daphne smirked before replying, "We only just became friends, you guys. But if you want to see my knickers that bad…" Percy had practically jumped out of the compartment closely followed by Harry. "Girls," said Harry shaking his head.

Once they had all changed, there was little to do. Percy was starving, but he had lots of experience with that and put it out of his mind. "What's the time?" Harry asked. Hermione answered, "3:30." Time really does fly when you're having fun. The train began to slow to a stop. They realized then that their luggage was gone. Hermione was quick to explain that it would be magically transported to their dorms once they were sorted.

Percy stepped off the train first. If not for the thickness of the robe, with its many inner pockets of which he had no clue why there were so many, he was certain he would be far colder than he currently was. He loved the robes as they had the stylized emblem with its beautiful H front and center. A loud voice boomed not far from him. "Firs' years this way!"

A/N- Forgot to say this in the first chapter. When Voldie was casting AK on Percy, one of the tendrils of the curse hit Harry's hand. I'm not going to worry about it right now, but I'll change it eventually.