"Seeing as how this potion is a requirement for this year," drawled Snape, "we will be doing it first and getting it out of the way. The instructions are on the board. You know where the ingredients are. Begin."
Percy glanced at the cauldron in front of him completely lost. Fred and George grinned at each other and in less than a minute they were hard at work on their potion. Percy's partner, Lee, shrugged and walked over to grab the ingredients they needed. Having gotten everything, he began chopping the ingredients.
"As soon as I put this in," he told Percy, "I need you to begin stirring counterclockwise."
"I can do that," he nodded. Lee dropped the chopped ingredients into the cauldron, and Percy began stirring as he was told. The liquid in the cauldron, to his amazement, began shifting colors.
"It's awesome isn't it?" asked Lee.
"It's something alright. What does this potion do?"
Lee eyed him strangely. "You don't know what it does?"
Percy shrugged. "I never really made potions before coming here."
He didn't look like he believed Percy, but he shrugged. "Amortentia is a love potion. Whoever drinks it becomes obsessed with a specific person."
"Are you serious?" asked Percy. Snape glared at their loud conversation. "Are you serious?" he whispered.
"It's a really powerful potion," explained Lee. "It's not easy to find the ingredients, and it's not necessarily legal."
Percy shook his head. As amazing and practical as magic was, he was not thrilled about the darker side of it, though he supposed that was the whole point. He continued his stirring until Lee finished chopping the next ingredient. It looked absolutely disgusting, so Percy didn't ask what it was.
"Okay, you can stop stirring now. We need to let it simmer for about thirty minutes," Lee explained.
"What do we do in the meantime?"
Lee shrugged. "I usually just clean up."
Percy agreed that that sounded good so the two of them began cleaning up their workstation. He was impressed to see that the twins had already finished their potion in record time and had cleaned up their station. It appeared that they were spending the remainder of their time whispering to each other and writing in a notebook. Snape sneered at them but said nothing.
"Can you banish the Ashwinder egg shells?" asked Lee. Percy glanced at the egg shells and pulled out his wand. He thought for a moment about which spell he was supposed to use. It took a moment before he remembered the banishing charm. Snape eyed him carefully but nodded.
Lee, having finished cleaning up, went over to the twins and joined in on their conversation. Percy just sat back and watched the room. It had been an interesting day so far. Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall had not been too terrible, but Percy found that magic theory was just as boring as regular school. Even worse was that it was a double class meaning it was twice as long. He had a short ten minute break after Transfiguration before he had to make his way into the dungeon for double potions with Snape. The twins and Lee had warned Percy profusely about Snape, but Percy didn't mind him all that much. Snape didn't sneer or glare at him the way he did other students. They had a mutual understanding.
When the potion was finally finished, Percy called Lee over to check it out. The liquid had turned a beautiful color that reminded Percy of pearls he had seen in Atlantis, and a blue steam wafted over the cauldron.
"If you made your potion correctly," said Snape drawing the class' attention, "it should look like this."
Everyone looked at the front of the room where a large cauldron contained a perfect Amortentia potion. Percy didn't see any difference between his and Lee's potion and Snape's, but he could have cared less either way. Lee pulled out a glass vial, cast a unbreakable charm on it, and used a ladle to pour some of the potion into it. Lee carried the vial to Snape who, after inspecting it, placed it on a rack beside him.
When everyone had turned in their potion, Snape returned to the front of the room and stood by his potion. "Before you leave, if you are so inclined, you may smell the Amortentia. If you don't want to then get out."
Many of the students from both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw left the dungeon, but Percy lingered back with Lee and the twins. They waited until everyone else had smelled the potion-many of the girls had giggled for some reason-before they went up to the potion.
"Do you smell what I smell, brother?" asked Fred.
"I do indeed, brother," answered George. They high fived and marched out of the classroom ignoring Snape's sneers. Lee leaned forward, sniffed quickly, and rushed out of the room leaving Percy alone with Snape. Percy stepped forward but hesitated.
"What exactly am I supposed to smell?" asked Percy.
"When you smell Amortentia you smell whatever it is that you love more than anything," explained Snape. Percy furrowed his brow. That sounded oddly like nectar. The thought of nectar reminded Percy of his mom's blue chocolate chip cookies. Man, I would kill for a plate of those. Percy leaned over the cauldron and took a deep sniff. He expected to smell his mom's cookies. He didn't expect to smell nothing.
"I don't smell anything."
Snape eyed him. "You don't smell anything at all?"
Percy shook his head.
"Are you feeling alright? You're not sick are you?"
"I feel great. I just don't smell anything."
Snape thought for a moment. "What class do you have next?"
"I'm free for the rest of the day. I just have lunch next."
"Would you mind missing a part of your lunch?" asked Snape.
"What do you have in mind?"
What Snape had in mind turned out to be a trip to the Hospital wing. Percy had yet to explore this part of the castle and was amused to see that the room looked like a World War 2 infirmary. The Hospital matron, a kind woman named Madam Pomfrey came bustling out of her office.
"Oh dear," she said, "what happened this time? Another potions injury?"
"Mr. Jackson experienced something interesting in my class," explained Snape, "that needs to be explained."
Pomfrey looked at Percy. "What happened?"
Percy shrugged. "I tried smelling Amortentia, but I didn't smell anything."
"You didn't smell anything at all?" she asked.
Percy shook his head.
"Take a seat on the bead, Mr. Jackson," she said. "I'm going to bring you a Pepper-up potion. That should clear your sinuses."
Before Percy could argue that he was perfectly healthy, Pomfrey rushed into her office and returned with the potion.
"Drink it all," she commanded. Percy thought about arguing, but decided it would be easier just to do as she said. He tipped his head back and downed the entire vial of potion. He didn't feel any different. Madam Pomfrey and Snape both looked at him eyes wide.
"What the hell just happened, Poppy?" asked Snape. Madam Pomfrey just shook her head.
"I haven't the foggiest. Never in my life have I ever heard of this."
"What's going on?" asked Percy confused.
"The Pepper-up potion is a very strong potion that should make your body feel like it is much hotter than normal," explained Pomfrey. "Steam should be coming from your ears."
Percy shrugged. "Don't feel any different."
"Lie back down. I need to run some tests."
Percy groaned but laid down on the bed. Madam Pomfrey held out her wand and waved it intricately over his body. Lights emerged in front of her wand before she gasped and took a step backwards.
"Poppy, what is it?" asked Snape. Percy sat up on his elbows. Pomfrey stared at Percy in awe.
"His blood," she whispered. "His blood isn't human."
Percy's eyes widened before he nodded as though it were normal. "Ah, that figures."
"What are you?" she rasped out. Percy got up from the bed. He looked at Snape, unsure if he should give her the truth.
"Mr. Jackson comes from a rather interesting lineage," explained Snape. "The Headmaster is already aware of this."
"What are you?" she asked again.
"I'm sorry," Percy said apologetically. "I'm not really comfortable discussing it."
"Poppy, I need you to keep this to yourself," Snape said firmly. Pomfrey nodded, her eyes never leaving Percy.
"O-Of course, yes I will keep this to myself," she said. Percy smiled and thanked her before leaving the Hospital wing to get some lunch. When he was gone, she looked at the potions professor.
"Is he a danger?" she asked.
Snape shrugged. "He has the potential to be. Time will tell."
««‡»»
Harry and Ron sat down, excited for their first class with Professor Moody. Fred and George and even Percy had said that Moody's class was extremely interesting. They didn't say what they were learning though. Harry glanced over at Hermione who looked quite flustered that Moody was not on time. Time continued to tick by and still no sign of the new professor.
"Constant Vigilance!" roared a violent voice from the back of the room. Nearly everyone in the room jumped out of their seats screaming. Everyone except for Harry. Harry was the only one who had pulled out his wand and pointed it at Moody. The grizzled professor hobbled out of his corner where he had been standing disillusioned the entire time.
"10 points to Gryffindor. Well done, Mr. Potter," said Moody. He glared at the rest of the students. "You must all learn to be more aware of your surroundings. Had I been a real threat, you would all be dead!"
Ron gulped in his seat, but Harry thought Moody just might be the best DADA professor they could have needed with Voldemort trying to return. The class watched Moody as he made his way to the front of the class. He flicked his wand at the chalkboard and one word appeared: Unforgivables. This time Harry gulped. He seriously hoped they wouldn't be practicing the spells. He doubted it, but nothing seemed off limits with Moody.
"Today we will be discussing the three Unforgivable curses," said Moody. "Now, can anybody tell me one of the curses?"
The class looked around cautiously. No one wanted to speak up. Finally, Neville rose his hand up cautiously.
"The Cruciatus curse?" asked Neville his voice cracking. Moody eyed the pudgy boy.
"You are Mr. Longbottom?" Neville nodded. "Fitting that you should know that one."
Neville whimpered quietly as Moody spun around and brought out a jar with an enormous spider in it. Ron paled and Harry had to place a comforting hand on his shoulder to calm him down. Moody dumped the spider onto Parvati's desk who screamed and backed away.
"Crucio!" cried out Moody. A crimson light burst from his wand and hit the spider which began shrieking. Harry didn't know that spiders could make a noise at all. It was a heartbreaking and terrifying sound.
"Stop it! Can't you see how it's affecting him?" bellowed Hermione. Harry and Ron looked over to where she was holding on to a visibly distraught Neville. Harry frowned and wondered what it was that had Neville in such a state. Moody released the spider from the curse and placed the jar over it to prevent its escape.
"The second unforgivable?" he asked ignoring Hermione. Ron hesitantly rose his hand. "Weasley?"
"Yes, sir. The Imperius curse?"
Moody nodded. "You father must have mentioned that one. Gave the Ministry a heap of trouble that curse did." He lifted the jar. "Imperio!"
The class laughed as Moody made the spider dance around and leap from desk to desk. Harry thought the sight of the dancing spider was funny, but deep down he knew it was immoral.
"Everyone get in a line," ordered Moody. "The Imperius curse is unfortunately very common. Therefore you need to know how to fight against it!"
The class hurried to get in line, and they watched in amusement as Moody cast the spell on each student. Hermione began doing some sort of Muggle dance, Neville tried to stand on his head, and Ron began singing the Hogwarts song quite loudly. Each person did whatever Moody told them to do until it was finally Harry's turn.
"Imperio!"
Harry felt the spell wash over him. For a brief moment he heard a voice in his head telling him to begin dancing on the desk. It was tempting. So very tempting, but he thought firmly to himself, No! The class watched with bated breath as Harry stared directly at Moody doing absolutely nothing.
Jump on the desk, Potter! the voice ordered. This time it was much more commanding.
I said no! rasped out Harry. Moody stumbled backwards much to the shock of the class.
"30 points to Gryffindor!" said Moody with a tone that sounded strangely like pride. "Mr. Potter just shrugged off the Imperius curse as though it were nothing!"
The class gaped at Harry but sat back down in their seats as Moody began barking orders again to carry on with the lesson.
"What is the third Unforgivable?" Moody asked once everyone was back in their seats. He removed the jar and held the spider down. The class was silent, and many glanced at Harry with unease. "Nobody? It's the Killing curse. Avada Kedavra!"
A sickly green light shot out from his wand and hit the spider. It crumbled up into a ball dead. Harry felt sick to his stomach.
"The Killing curse is aptly named because it cannot be blocked and instantly kills the victim. Only one person has ever survived the Killing curse, and he's sitting right here!"
Class ended shortly after, and Harry was confident that this year would be very interesting with Professor Moody. Especially if this was just his first class with him.
««‡»»
Percy looked around the hall. Everyone was either in class or off studying somewhere. He grinned and headed out of the castle and down the lake. The walk down was quiet, and Percy took a moment to appreciate the sheer beauty of his surroundings. He looked over at where Chiron was assisting Hagrid with one of Hagrid's classes, but they were too far for Percy to hear. The lake itself was peaceful. Without a strong breeze, there was hardly a ripple on the water. Unfortunately, Percy didn't have time to explore the lake. He walked around the outskirts of the lake to its farthest point away from the castle. Ducking behind the treeline, Percy fished out a golden drachma from his pocket. A stream of water came out of his ring and turned instantly into mist.
Percy tossed the drachma into the mist and said, "Oh Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering. Show me Thalia Grace."
The mist froze for a second before shimmering into the image of a young teenage girl with crazy black hair.
"Thalia!" called out Percy. The girl looked all around before her eyes landed on Percy. She grinned brightly.
"Percy! I'm so glad you're okay! I stopped by camp but Argus said you and Chiron had left."
Percy nodded. "So much has happened since..."
"It's okay, Seaweed Brain, I miss them all too," Thalia said quietly. "Where are you?"
Percy was glad she didn't ask him directly how he was doing. Truthfully, he wasn't sure himself. "That's a really long story."
Thalia looked around. "We just camped for the night, so I have time to hear it."
Percy nodded and sat down on a log. Thalia followed suit and sat down where she was. Percy explained how Hestia and Hecate had confronted him about helping Hecate's legacies. He gave Thalia a quick overview of the magical community, why it was hidden, and why he was in Europe to begin with.
"So let me get this straight," Thalia said. "You just finished fighting a war and now the gods want you to help in another one?"
"I don't know if I will actually take part in this war," Percy said, "but they need my help in training their prophesied wizard."
Thalia rubbed her eyes before laughing. "That just sounds so crazy!"
"It does, I know," Percy grinned. "It's all true though. Chiron is here with me."
"A world of witches and wizards? That actually sounds pretty cool."
"It's alright," Percy shrugged. "Hecate blessed me so I can use magic, but it just doesn't feel natural to me."
"Does the kid you're supposed to help know about who you really are?"
"He does and some of the professors do. Nobody else though."
"Be safe, Percy," Thalia said sincerely. "I can't bear to lose you too."
Percy stood up and smiled weakly at his cousin. "I love ya, Thalia."
"Love you too, Seaweed Brain," she grinned. "I have to go. IM me again soon, okay?"
Percy nodded and waved goodbye. Thalia waved back and waved her hand through the mist ending the message. Percy stood there for a moment before sighing and turning around. When he turned around, he found himself staring down the shaft of a wand.
"Ginny right?" Percy said cautiously, his hand reaching for the pen in his pocket. "Put down the wand before somebody gets hurt."
"Who are you?" the redhead asked, glaring at him.
"I'm Percy Jackson. We met at breakfast."
Ginny rolled her eyes, but her grip never relaxed. "Who are you really?"
Percy took a step backwards away from her wand. "I don't know what you mean. I'm a wizard. I just transferred here at the end of summer."
"Bullshit," Ginny spat out. "I saw you this morning. You jumped in the lake then came out completely dry. How do you explain that?"
"Magic." Percy struggled to hide his grin.
"You can do wandless magic?" Ginny closed the distance between her wand and Percy.
"Umm...yes?" Percy was running out of ideas. He didn't want to pull out his pen cause that would clearly reveal himself, but he also wouldn't be able to prove he could do wandless magic. He didn't even know that was a thing.
"Prove it," Ginny ordered. Percy groaned inwardly. Of course she had to say that.
"I can't do it all the time?"
"Who are you really?" Ginny asked again. "Give me a good answer or I swear you'll be in the Hospital wing for a month. Not to mention what Dumbledore will do to you."
Percy glanced around them. He knew there was something he could probably do to get out of this situation, but his mind was drawing a blank. So, he did the only thing he could think of. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen.
"A pen?" asked Ginny confused. She went to cast a spell at Percy when he uncapped the pen and Riptide sprang out. The witch jumped backwards startled. She tightened her grip on her wand.
"I'm not going to hurt you," said Percy. "You're right. I'm not your typical wizard."
"Who are you?"
"My name really is Percy Jackson," he said, "but I'm not a wizard at all. I am a demigod."
Ginny glared at him. "A demigod?"
"Yeah, a demigod. You know, half man-half god?"
"Do you honestly expect me to believe you?"
Percy shrugged. He thought about the conversation he had with Chiron and decided now would be the time to find out. Before Ginny could even react, Percy rolled to her left side and brought his hand down on her wrist. The strike wasn't hard enough to actually hurt her, but it made her drop her wand on the ground. She tried to wrench free, but Percy was much too strong. He brought the blade of Riptide to her arm.
"Don't cry, I promise I won't hurt you," he said though he realized just how insane that sounded. Especially considering he had just attacked her and was threatening her with a sword. Ginny growled at him and tried harder to wrench free from his grip. Percy quickly brought the blade of his sword down to her arm and sighed with relief when the sword passed harmlessly through her. Ginny quit struggling and gaped at the sword.
"What the hell just happened?" she growled.
"My sword is made of Celestial Bronze. It cuts through supernatural beings, but not through mortals."
Ginny finally pulled her arm free and stepped away from Percy. "Celestial Bronze?"
Percy nodded. He thrust his sword forward again, and Ginny gasped in shock and terror as the blade went for her gut; however, like the previous time, the blade passed through her cleanly. "You're a mortal therefore my sword can't cut you."
Ginny glared at him. "How do I know that's not just an illusion? Cut yourself."
Percy shrugged. "I can't." He held up his hands in surrender when Ginny made to attack him. "I can't because I have a curse on me!"
Ginny hesitated. "A curse?"
"Yes," Percy nodded. "Have you ever heard of Achilles?"
"I think so yes," Ginny said slowly. "His mom dipped him in a river and he had invulnerable skin. Are you saying you are like Achilles?"
Percy nodded again. "I have what's known as the Curse of Achilles. It means I can't cut myself even with Celestial Bronze."
"Then magic a magical oath," Ginny said. "Make an oath that you really are a 'demigod,' and that you aren't here with evil intentions."
Percy thought about it. It sounded like a magical oath was the equivalent to swearing on the Styx. He appreciated Ginny's cautiousness. He had made the mistake of trusting someone once. Now almost everyone he loved was dead. "I've never made one before. How do I do it?"
"Hold your wand out and swear on your magic."
Percy held his wand out in his left hand. "I swear on my magic that I, Percy Jackson, am a demigod and that I have only good intentions in being here at Hogwarts."
Ginny held her breath, but when nothing happened she finally relaxed.
"How did you even know there was something different about me?" asked Percy. He was rather irritated that he had been so careless with his secret. "It couldn't have just been the lake."
Ginny gave him a cheeky grin. "I was in the Hospital wing a few days ago talking with Madam Pomfrey in her office when you and Snape walked in. I heard her say that you weren't human."
Percy's eyes widened. "Didn't you hear Snape say that Dumbledore already knows?"
"Yep," said Ginny. "I just wanted to see if I could pry it out of you. You cracked easily."
Percy glared at her but put Riptide back in his pocket. He bent down, picked up Ginny's wand, and handed it back to her. "Sorry about scaring you with the sword."
"It's alright," Ginny said. "But if you ever do something like that again I really will curse you."
"Duly noted," grinned Percy. "You can't tell anybody about me, you know."
"Does Harry know?"
"He does. Dumbledore and I told him my secret in his office last night."
"Well, if Harry and Dumbledore trust you I guess I will too," Ginny said. Percy smiled.
"I appreciate it. Smart of you to be cautious. Never just trust someone you don't know."
Ginny watched as Percy turned and began walking back towards Hogwarts. The way he had applauded her cautiousness made it seem as though there was a bad memory there. She honestly didn't know what to make of Percy. When she had seen him getting out of the lake, she had been uncertain of him, but it wasn't until she overheard Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital wing that she grew really suspicious of him. She knew he was not human, but she had never expected him to be a demigod.
Percy paused in his track and turned around. Ginny was eyeing him cautiously. "You coming or what?"
Ginny nodded and began walking with him back to the castle. She had so many questions but didn't know how to phrase any of them. She still felt unsure about him.
"Yes, the gods are real," Percy said as they walked. It was as though he could read her mind. "I honestly didn't even know witches and wizards existed until this summer. Hecate-the goddess of magic-came to me and told me to come to England."
Ginny shook her head. "That's so weird to think about. Is Hecate your mother?"
Percy chuckled. "No, she's not. I can use magic because she gave me her blessing."
"I don't really know how to react to this," Ginny said. Percy nodded.
"Trust me, learning that your world exists was a big shock to me as well."
"So why exactly are you here?"
"I'm here to help fight Voldemort."
Ginny shivered at the name. She had always had a suspicion that Voldemort wasn't dead-that he would return one day. Percy just confirmed her suspicion. "He's really coming back then?"
Percy nodded. "He is. At least, Hecate and Dumbledore believe so."
Ginny opened her mouth to say something when Chiron came up in his wheelchair. Ginny glanced at him.
"May we help you?" she asked. Percy laughed.
"Ginny, meet Chiron."
Chiron glared at Percy and hissed out, "Percy!"
"Relax," said Percy. "She knows about me. She overheard the Hospital matron when she discovered that I'm not exactly human."
"You know about him being a demigod then?" asked Chiron. Ginny nodded, confused as to who this old man was. "Then you know you cannot let anyone know."
"I know that," Ginny said. "But who are you?"
Chiron blanched. "I'm sorry where are my manners. My name is Chiron. I've been Percy's trainer for years."
"Trainer?"
"Unlike in your world," said Percy, "we demigods are forced to learn how to fight at an early age."
"Fight what?"
"Monsters, other demigods-it varies to be honest," said Chiron. "Now you know a little bit about me. Who are you?"
"I'm Ginny Weasley," she said. "Pleasure to meet you."
"I'd love to stay and chat," said Percy, "but we need to get to dinner."
Chiron nodded. "Of course. I'll speak with you tomorrow, Percy."
Chiron waved goodbye to Ginny who hesitantly waved back. Percy nodded at Chiron and led Ginny into the castle. Ginny watched Percy carefully as they walked quietly. He was a fascinating figure. He was both confident yet nervous. He was strong yet careful. Ginny had no idea what to make of him. She noticed her roommates by the entrance to the Great Hall. She stopped and looked at Percy.
"I'm keeping my eye on you," she said. Percy nodded.
"Wouldn't expect any less."
She watched Percy turn and head down the main staircase. She wasn't sure where he was going, but she was distracted by her roommates running up to her giggling about Draco and a ferret. Whatever that meant. When Ginny looked back, Percy was gone.
A/N: Here's the next chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it.
Huge thanks to everyone that favorited, followed, and reviewed the story you guys are awesome! Also, shout out to Personofmanythings for being the 200th follower!
Til next time!
