Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
Friends and Enemies
Cathy wasn't surprised with the way that Percy had acted, after all, a starfish was a sea creature, and Percy was friends with the fishes.
All four of them had had to follow Percy, because, knowing him, he would get lost. At least if he had Cathy with him then they could shadow travel their way out of any sticky situations that came their way.
As it happened, there were no situations that were even mildly sticky.
They all decided to check out Care of Magical Creatures, as Harry had mentioned something about one of his good friends teaching that subject.
When they got there, they did not expect a half giant to be standing waist deep in the lake, calling out to it. He was apparently trying to lure something to the surface.
Cathy personally hated water, maybe because of something Thalia had done to her a while back. Long story.
But the sight of a man that was twice the size of them saying, 'Come on, it's okay, don't be afraid!' And gently stroking the waters surface was enough to make her burst out laughing.
Everyone turned to stare at her.
Now, Cathy hated attention.
Especially if she didn't know the person, or people.
"Uh, hi?" She gave a slight nod of her head in the teachers direction and turned to stare at the floor, embarrassed.
"'Ello, you must be them American exchange students, welcome to 'Ogwarts!" The bearded man said cheerfully.
"Are you Hagrid, Harry told us that you taught this lesson," Annabeth stepped forward.
"Ye' I'm 'Agrid, you're friends o' 'Arrys?"
"Yes, is he close to you?" Annabeth asked.
"Known him since 'e was a baby, well, so 'as everyone 'ere!" He laughed and the... Ravenclaw?... Students nodded.
"We figured, with him being the 'boy who lived' and everything," Percy mumbled.
"Ye', kids a natural at magic, his parents were wizards too, amazing, they were. Best of their year!"
"Oh, great," Thalia was obviously trying to suppress a laugh.
"Would 'yer like to see a merperson?" Hagrid grinned.
Annabeth pushed Percy forward, "He would!"
Percy glared at her.
"Great! Come 'ere then!"
Percy walked forward reluctantly, into the lake and beside Hagrid. The water settled around his chest.
"Oh, never thought 'yer'd end up with the water up to 'yer chest," Hagrid looked down at Percy.
"Nah, it's okay, I know a spell to dry me off quickly," Percy said hurriedly.
"Okay, then," Hagrid returned his gaze to the water and said, "The trick is to be nice an' kind, lure 'em ou' o' their hidey hole."
He began stroking the water again.
Percy gave him a strange look, "Seriously, dude, just do this," He ducked under the water and came up with the mermaid at his side.
Now this was no Little Mermaid. More like a Killer DeathShark. No floaty red hair, only curled red vines that spread out from her skull and twisted through each other to create a mass of knotted locks. She carried no purse to collect 'Human Items' only a sharp spear that could easily have turned them all into shish kebabs. Her teeth were sharpened and fin ripped. Sebastian wouldn't have approved.
She bowed to Percy who returned the gesture before straightening up and waving his hand, the mermaid diving below again.
He turned to shocked faces. Even Hagrid looked impressed.
"Anyone would think 'yer were king of the seas!" Hagrid stared, wide eyed at the raven haired boy.
"No, that's my dad," Percy said, then realising his mistake.
Cathy groaned and pace-palmed herself.
"Uh, kidding!" Percy gave a fake laugh and clambered out of the lake.
"'Yer quite good with the merpeople, Percy, you ever consider taking it up as an 'obby?"
"Already is, my friend!" Percy's eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Well, then," Hagrid smiled at this ,"'Ow about you 'elp me with 'em, they can be quite 'ard to control at times."
"Sure, I'd love to help out!"
"Come see me anytime then, I'd be glad to 'ave ya!"
Annabeth then ran over to Percy and said, "We should get to our next class, thank you for having us."
The four of them trooped back up to the castle, where they found Harry, Ron and Hermione waiting in the Entrance Hall for them.
"I see you've met Hagrid!" Harry chuckled.
"We didn't expect him to be half giant," Thalia mumbled.
"Hmmm, Hagrid's cool though," Ron said.
"We need to get to Potions," Hermione said, checking her timetable, "Come on!"
The trio led the way to the dungeons. It was a pretty cool place, Cathy certainly liked it, but Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't seem to.
"Who has lessons is the dungeons?" Percy murmured.
"Snape," Harry said the name like he hated it, Cathy couldn't blame him, who one earth names their child 'Snape'?
"Professor Snape, Harry," Hermione corrected him.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," Harry didn't sound sorry.
The seven reached the potions classroom and stood waiting outside. That was when Malfoy decided to show up.
Now, Cathy didn't exactly hate Malfoy, in fact, they were pretty good friends considering she had spent some time with him on the journey here.
She knew that her friends hated him, especially Thalia, but Cathy paid no attention to this.
She smiled and called out, "Draco!"
"What're you doing, don't call him over here!" Ron whispered.
"Ah, Cathy!" Malfoy strode over, grinning, "So lovely to see you, but why are you hanging out with Potty, Mudblood and Weasel?"
"They're my friends," Cathy turned to see how the trio were reacting.
Ron was glaring daggers at Malfoy, Harry just sighed and leant back against the wall and Hermione had her fists balled, like she wanted to punch the blonde.
"Oh, you don't want to be their friends, who wants to hang out with a mudblood anyway?" Malfoy smirked, and his cronies cackled.
"I do, so if you please, Malfoy, do not call Hermione a mudblood," Cathy suddenly decided that Malfoy did not make good company.
"I get the feeling that you are sticking up for them, what happened to besties, huh?" He shot her a look that was just plain disgusting.
"We were never besties, Malfoy, just leave my friends alone," Cathy sighed.
"You called me over here."
"And it was a mistake!"
"Well I'm not leaving!"
"Just shut up, Malfoy, go run back to your daddy."
At this, Draco lunged at Cathy, knocking her over. Cathy wasn't as weak as she looked, though.
She twisted and pinned him to the floor, digging her elbow into his neck.
"Don't ever do that again," She growled.
Draco whimpered and she got off him. He scrambled to him feet and then turned to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Beat her up."
Now, how many times had she heard that?
The two idiotic gorilla people charged at her, swinging their arms. She ducked and rolled to one side, grabbing the smaller of the two and punching him in the gut, making him double over in pain. She took this chance to kick him to the floor.
Then she turned on the other one. He charged at her again, and this time she jumped up and over his head, swiping his feet from under him with a sweep of her legs.
They got up, groaning and moaning. Draco was seething. He marched up to her and tried to punch her in the face, but she grabbed his fist and twisted it, then with her other hand, punching him.
"Stay away from me and my friends," She whispered in his ear threateningly, before letting him scamper away.
She was feeling quite proud of herself until...
"Ms Emerald."
She looked up to see Professor Snape.
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