A/N: Sorry for the wait guys, I had major exams to deal with and… I was lazy. Well, I'd appreciate it if you guys could spot any plotholes or grammar mistakes and tell me. I don't have a beta now and don't plan to get one due to reasons. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Oh and reviews please!

EDIT: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year guys! I can't believe I forgot to wish y'all.

Strange C09:

Hermione had dragged along the two boys as soon as she saw Draco stand up to go look for Percy. Despite Harry and Ron's protests, they had come along with only a bit of grumbling. The blond in front was walking fast and it took a lot out of her to keep up considering her low stamina (because let's face it, books would forever be more appealing to Hermione than going outside and exercise). It was also rare, probably never, for the brunette to see Draco ever so worked up about someone, and her curiosity about the new Hufflepuff was only heightened. It helped that the he was quite easy on the eyes as well, not that she'd admit that to anyone, especially if Ron was in earshot.

This brought her thoughts to the strange Hufflepuff that flouted the unspoken rules of Hogwarts, befriending both Slytherins and Gryffindors alike. It wouldn't be long before Ravenclaw would be added into the mix as well she mused. The teen had a certain charisma that was hard to ignore and it had caused her to feel inexplicably drawn towards the enigma. It was strange with how friendly Percy was to not have much of his background known. Ironically enough, even the one of the staunchest supporter of blood purity have never thought to question the type of blood Percy held within him; Jackson was not a Pureblood name so he could only be a half-blood at most.

Maybe it was the way he was, friendly, accepting; almost all-encompassing, that made people feel at ease in his presence. But that brought up the question of where did he come from? How did he become such close friends with Draco of all people? His past was as mysterious as –

An elbow jabbed hard in her ribs, and Hermione almost yelped in pain, saved only by the rough hand hastily slapped over her mouth.

She shoved away his palm and opened her mouth to reprimand her redheaded best friend when he waved his hand towards their front.

"Malfoy just went into the Hufflepuff Commons."

Well, it seemed like cracking this mystery would be a lot harder than she thought.

-0-

"Percy! I know you're in there! Open up!" Draco pounded on his friend's dorm room door. One might ask: how did the Slytherin get into the Hufflepuff's common room? Simple; he bribed a nearby student to open the door for him. Hah, so much for house loyalty.

"Go away! I just wanna be alone," Percy said through the door.

"I can't just leave my best friend when he's brooding alone! Open up so we can talk this out like a bunch of mature wizards!" Draco yelled through the door.

"Hah! Says the one yelling through the door! Mature? As if!" Percy shot back he sprawled across his bed, blanket tucked over his head. He was hoping Draco would just leave him alone and just let Percy curl into a ball and wallow in his memories of happier times when he had felt like he belonged in a way Hogwarts and this world had never provided. Sure, he had Draco and Hermione and Ollivander, the Slytherins and maybe a tentative friend in Harry Potter, but they weren't home. They never could be. The loneliness was threatening to crush him when he felt a tentative poke at the corner of his mind.

Percy? Nico's dulcet tone sounded in his mind.

Startled, the son of Poseidon reflexively replied, "Nico? Is that you?"

Percy couldn't believe he had actually forgotten about Nico, his only connection home!

Something similar to a nod of confirmation could be felt from where Percy supposed Nico was.

You okay? I could feel you. Nico didn't specify what he could feel and the older teen was thankful. He didn't want that emotion to be broadcasted so easily.

"Yeah," Percy replied out loud, then switching, I'm fine

"Percy! You better let me in now or I'll blast down this door!" Draco's yell reverberated through the common room. It was fortunate that it was dinner time so most if not all students were in the Great Hall. Draco was only lucky he'd caught a student on his way for dinner to let him in.

Looks like your friend wants a word with you.

Percy rolled his eyes. He's being a worry wart.

With the reminder that Nico was here (as well as the hope of getting home), his mood felt tons lighter than before and Percy lazily got up to open the door.

Paused in the action of mid-knocking, mouth hung open no doubt to scream another threat, Draco made quite a hilarious figure outside his room, or so Percy thought. Leaning his body against the doorway, Percy said, amused, "you cut quite the striking figure there Drake," then watched as a pink flush made its way across the blond's pale face and down his neck. Revelling in the his friend's obvious embarrassment, Percy took mercy on him and invited the Slytherin into the room.

Normally, non-house members would have never stepped into the common room, much less the dorms but since Draco had snuck in while most were out and had caught one Hufflepuff with questionable morals, he was able to get in unobstructed. Since this was a once-in-a-lifetime view, Draco made sure to take in every detail.

Much to his disappointment, it wasn't much different from the Slytherin dorms. Six four-poster beds lined neatly against the walls, yellow and black decorated the rooms and on the bed closest to the window where artificial sunlight strew in was Percy's bed, evidenced by the blue sheets and blanket.

Grey eys surveyed the room calmly, then met sea-green which were sparkling with excitement.

"So? What do you think? Neat right? I've never slept on such an elaborate bed before," Percy asked before strolling over to the (only) blue bed, rummaging through his trunk. He was feeling a bit tired from the emotional upheaval he had from seeing blue cookies (oh how he'd fallen) and well, a nap sounded heavenly right now. A soft 'ah hah!' escaped his mouth when he finally found his sleep wear: sweat pants and a worn t-shirt, both he'd unpacked from the belongings he'd gotten from Nico. Sending a mental 'thanks' to his (thankfully) silent friend, Percy began changing.

"It's okay I guess. Not very different from the Slytherin dorms," Draco replied, before the movements of his best friends attracted his eyes.

A tanned torso was revealed as Percy changed out of his uniform to more the more comfortable sweatpants and t-shirt. What caught Draco's attention however were the scars that littered the back of his best friend.

-0-

Hermione and the boys were standing outside the Hufflepuff common room and trying to find a way in, with little success.

"There has to be a way in! We just have to find it!" Hermione said as she continued to tap her wand against the barrels that guarded it.

Ron glanced at Harry and sighed. To be honest both of them didn't really care much about Percy Jackson but Hermione insisted on following to check if he was alright – "I mean what if he faints again?" – and was a bit hysterical so they couldn't deny her. They were so absorbed in their work (or Hemrione was working while they watched) that they didn't notice the woman coming up behind them.

"What are you three doing here?" A poisonous voice asked from behind the trio. They whirled around. There, Umbridge stood in all her short glory, smiling unpleasantly at them.

"Gryffindors trying to break into the Hufflepuff dorms I see. Ten points each for this transgression," her beady eyes narrowed, "now run along now, or I'll be forced to give you three detentions."

She watched them until they had hurried out of sight before smiling to herself.

Cornelius will be so pleased.