A/N
This chapter is really long, and contains a few sentences (most edited) from the actual books. One of the longer excerpts is the Sorting Hat's song. I didn't edit it at all, so feel free to skip right over it. I only included it because it gave me peace of mind.
Also this chapter is completely in Percy's POV.
Disclaimer: I own a pair of pjs. I do not own PJ. Or Harry Potter...
Percy's POV | Hogwarts
The weather remained undecided as they traveled farther and farther north. Rain spattered the windows in a halfhearted way, then the sun put in a feeble appearance before clouds drifted over it once more. Darkness eventually fell and the lamps came on inside the carriages, illuminating them all with a flickering golden light.
Percy was sitting with his forehead pressed against the train window, trying to get a first distant glimpse of the school, but it was a moonless night and the rain-streaked window was grimy.
"We'd better change." Annabeth said at last.
They unpacked their many robes from the luggage rack and pulled them on. Percy caught Nico checking how his looked in the black window. Nico saw him looking, and raised an eyebrow.
"At least it's black." He shrugged.
"I feel ridiculous." Leo complained, tugging at his cloak.
"If it's any consolation," Piper laughed. "You look ridiculous as well."
Leo glared at her.
At last the train began to slow down and there was a general racket up and down it as everybody scrambled to get their luggage and pets assembled, ready for departure. They shuffled out of the compartment, feeling the first sting of the night air on their faces as they joined the crowd in the corridor. Slowly they moved toward the doors.
Percy could smell the scent of distant pine trees. He followed Annabeth down onto a tiny, dark platform and looked around.
A tall woman with a prominent chin and severe haircut was holding aloft a lantern.
"First years line up over here, please! All first years to me!" She called briskly.
Percy leaned over to Annabeth.
"That doesn't include us, right?" He muttered.
"I don't think so." She stood on her tiptoes, peering over his shoulder and pointing towards a group of students about their age. "Let's follow them."
The eight set off down the dark rain-washed road. After a few minutes walking they arrived at slightly wider portion of road, where some hundred stagecoaches stood hooked to skeletal winged horses with dark coats and dragon-like heads.
"Attractive horses." Nico said sarcastically, nodding at them.
"What horses?" Leo asked blankly.
"Ha, ha." Annabeth said, rolling her eyes, but Piper was looking confused as well.
"I can't see any horses…" Piper said slowly.
"Well they aren't exactly horses." Percy clarified. "More like reptilian bat dragons."
This explanation did not seem to help.
"Can you not see them?" Hazel asked.
Piper and Leo both shook their heads.
"Weird…" Percy muttered. There was a moment of awkward silence, in which Leo continued to squint unsuccessfully at the carriages.
The bushy haired girl from before walked by, leading a group of what looked like second years towards the carriages.
"Let's ask her." Annabeth said suddenly.
"Are you kidding?" Jason yelped. "She yelled at us before."
Piper rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Sparky." She said, grabbing his arm and pulling him after Annabeth.
Percy and the others followed them into the crowd. The girl had seemingly deposited the second years and was now alone. They caught up with her just as she reached the same redhead from before, who was now accompanied by a thin boy with messy black hair and round glasses.
"Malfoy was being absolutely foul to a first year back there," the girl panted, oblivious to the people behind her. "I swear I'm going to report him, he's only had his badge three minutes and he's using it to bully people worse than ever…. Where's Crookshanks?"
"Ginny's got him," said the bespectacled boy slowly, noticing Percy and the others. 'Who—?"
A girl with long red hair emerged from the crowd, clutching a squirming cat with fluffy ginger hair.
"Thanks." The first girl said, relieving her of the cat.
"Who are they?" The girl named Ginny finished for him, looking at Percy and the others.
"What—?" The first girl turned around, finally noticing them. "Oh," she said, surprised. "It's you."
"Sorry we got off on the wrong foot last time." Piper said smoothly, stepping forward. "We just had a quick question."
"Oh," the girl repeated, looking rather flustered.
"What are those things?" Percy asked, pointing at the skeletal horses. "And why can't Leo and Piper see them?"
"What things?" The redheaded boy said blankly. It didn't look like he was joking.
"The horse things pulling the carriages." Hazel clarified, but this didn't seem to help. The bushy haired girl was now staring at them suspiciously.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"No— wait, Hermione." The other boy stepped forward. "I can see them too."
"I'm sorry, but what's going on?" Ginny asked, looking thoroughly confused.
"Er," Leo said. "We'll just—" He gestured vaguely behind them. They all stared at each other.
"Right."
"Okay."
The eight left, leaving the others staring after them.
"That was weird." Piper said as they piled into the nearest vacant carriage.
Frank slammed the door behind them, and they set off down the cobbled road. Percy couldn't help but peer out the window at the winged horses, just to make sure they were still there. After a few minutes of silence, the carriages turned a bend and revealed a vast castle made up of a towering mass of turrets, jet black against the dark sky, here and there a window blazing fiery bright above them.
Percy was strongly reminded of Westover Hall, the school where Grover had found Nico and Bianca.
"Some school…" Nico muttered, also gazing out at it.
They passed between two tall stone pillars topped with winged boars on either side of a set of wrought-iron gates. A dark forest loomed ominously to the left, and a lake full of black water sat to the right. The carriages jingled to a halt near a set of stone steps leading up to a pair of strong, oaken front doors.
They got out of the carriage, looking around nervously. The two boys from earlier walked by, followed by the girl with bushy hair. She glanced at them, obviously making some sort of decision.
"Oh come on then," she said finally, gesturing for them to follow her.
They joined the throng hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. Inside was a huge entrance hall, ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right.
Percy made to follow the girl through the doors but a stern woman wearing an emerald green cloak held out an arm, blocking him. With a jolt, Percy recognized Professor McGonagall from the Leaky Cauldron.
"Thank you Miss Granger." She said briskly. "I'll take them from here."
The girl nodded and continued through the doors. Percy caught a glimpse of four long tables before Professor McGonagall led them to a small, empty chamber off the hall.
"I apologize for the inconvenience." She said once they had all entered. "But we usually don't have transfers as old as you. We typically just sort them with the first years."
"That's fine." Leo said. "We're used to public embarrassment."
"Maybe for you." Piper joked. "You're about the same size as the first years."
They sat quietly for a few minutes before Professor McGonagall left, returning a few moments later with a group of terrified looking first years. They huddled together, staying as far as possible from Percy and the others. Nico looked rather bemused.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.
"I shall return when we are ready for you." She finished. "Please wait quietly."
She left the chamber.
The first years immediately began to whisper, shooting Percy and the others furtive looks all the while.
"So much for waiting quietly." Hazel sighed.
"How does this sorting thing work, anyway?" Percy asked the group at large. Unsurprisingly, it was Annabeth who answered.
"Some sort of test," she replied. "All of the books I've read weren't very specific. Supposedly it's all a big secret, though I don't know how they keep it quiet with so many students."
"Magic." Leo said, nodding knowledgably.
All of the first years had fallen silent, listening to their conversation with bated breath. Piper opened her mouth, presumably to tell them off for eavesdropping, but she didn't get the chance to speak.
About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided between and through the students, completely ignoring trivial things such as chairs and physics.
What looked like a fat little monk floated directly through Percy, and he had the sudden feeling of being doused in icy water. The others were receiving similar treatments, but the ghosts seemed to be giving Nico and Hazel a wide berth.
"Move along now," said a sharp voice suddenly. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line." Professor McGonagall told them. "And follow me."
Feeling completely ridiculous, Percy got in line behind a boy at least three heads shorter than him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
The name 'great' did the hall little justice. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall led them up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver.
For the first time in his life, Percy wished he were several feet shorter. The many faces gazing up at him seemed to be drawn to his, standing tall above the first years. Beside him, Annabeth shifted slightly, obviously also uncomfortable with the situation.
Professor McGonagall walked forward and silently placed a four-legged stool in front of them. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. The hat was patched and dirty, with a wide rip near the frayed brim.
For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. The rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth – and the hat burst into song:
In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfil my duty
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the Sorting now begin.
A singing hat. Why not?
The hat became motionless once more and applause broke out, though slightly punctured with muttering and whispers.
Professor McGonagall, who was waiting to read out the list of first years' names, was giving the whispering students the sort of look that scorches. The students fell silent at once. With a last frowning look that swept the four tables, Professor McGonagall lowered her eyes to her long piece of parchment and called out:
"Abercrombie, Euan."
The small boy beside Percy stumbled forward and put the hat on his head; it was only prevented from falling right down to his shoulders by his very prominent ears. The hat considered for a moment, then the rip near the brim opened again and shouted:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The table on far left cheered and clapped as Euan went to sit down at the Gryffindor table. Percy saw the black haired boy from before clapping loudly.
"Abberley, Roland" was announced a Hufflepuff and the table to the right cheered this time. Next was "Barnes, Allison" and "Bexely, Ethan", who were both sorted into Ravenclaw, and then:
"Chase, Annabeth."
Percy gave her hand a squeeze as she left his side and walked to the stool, sitting down and placing the hat over her head. The hat did not speak immediately, as it had with the others, but sat silently, presumably deliberating. Percy's hand clenched into a fist at his side as the seconds ticked on. Finally, the hat announced:
"RAVENCLAW!"
Annabeth pulled the hat from her head, looking relieved, and went to sit at the Ravenclaw table next to a pretty girl with long black hair.
A few people later Nico was called. He strode forward, ignoring the whispers, and jammed the hat onto his head. The hat took much less time than it had with Annabeth. He had barely sat down when it shouted:
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Gilliant, Kimberly" then became a Slytherin and the table second to the right exploded in applause.
"Grace, Jason."
Jason took his seat at the stool and placed the hat on his head. A moments pause, and then:
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Jason hurried to sit next to Nico, who was already looking bored. Percy waited with bated breath as two more girls were sorted into Ravenclaw, and then, finally:
"Jackson, Perseus."
Percy couldn't help but shudder at the usage of his full name, but walked forward nonetheless. He placed the hat on his head and closed his eyes, waiting.
"Interesting," said a small voice in his hear. "Another one of you 'transfers', though that doesn't seem to be the full story, now does it? Hmm. Very interesting indeed…"
Percy clenched his jaw. He couldn't help but feel this was taking a lot longer than the others.
"Gave up praetor, eh? Well we know where not to put you." The hat chuckled. "Very well. Better be—GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat shouted the last word to the hall at large, and the table on the far left exploded in cheers. Percy hurriedly pulled the hat off and walked towards the table, focusing very hard on not tripping and falling. After a moment's hesitation, he took a seat across from the bushy haired girl named Hermione, next to the two boys she had been accompanied with earlier.
The redheaded boy shot him a suspicious look before returning his attention to the line of students at the front of the hall. A few names later, and then:
"Levesque, Hazel."
Hazel walked forward and placed the hat on her head. The hat deliberated for a few seconds, and then called out "GRYFFINDOR!" once again. Percy scooted over to make room as Hazel sat down next to him, grimacing slightly. Next was Piper.
The hat sat on her head for a full minute before finally calling out:
"SLYTHERIN!"
Slowly the long line of first years thinned. Finally, only Leo, Frank, and a girl with brown pigtails remained.
"Valdez, Leo."
Leo walked forward, throwing Percy a wink before disappearing underneath the tattered hat. The hat took a while to decide, though not nearly as long as Piper's sorting, before calling out:
"RAVENCLAW!"
Hazel snorted beside Percy.
"Oh Annabeth's going to love that." She giggled.
Leo took a seat next to Annabeth, who looked thoroughly disgruntled. Percy threw her a half-sympathetic, half-bemused look before returning his gaze to the front of the hall, where "Zeller, Rose" had just become a Hufflepuff.
"Zhang, Frank."
Frank lumbered forward. He had barely placed the hat on his head, however, when it shouted:
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Frank joined Jason and Nico at the Hufflepuff table as Professor McGonagall picked up the hat and stool and marched them away. An old looking man with long silver hair and beard had stood up at the High Table.
"To our newcomers," he said in a ringing voice, arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "Welcome! To our old hands — welcome back! There is a time for speech making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"
The Gryffindor table laughed around Percy as the man sat down neatly and threw his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it out of the way of his plate. Percy turned his attention to his own, and felt his jaw drop.
The dishes in front of him were now piled with food. He had never seen so many foods on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.
"Excellent." The redhead to his left said, seizing the nearest plate of chops and piling them onto his plate.
Feeling a bit homesick, Percy took a few barbeque ribs from a platter on his right and covered them with a spoonful of peas. He made to stand, before remembering that there were no fires to appease the gods here. He supposed he could use a candle, but it might be best not to stand out even more than he already did.
Muttering a silent apology to Olympus, Percy dug in.
The bushy haired girl across from him cast Percy another suspicious look before turning to a pearly white ghost wearing a ruff and tights.
"What were you saying before the Sorting?" She asked the ghost. "About the hat giving warnings?"
"Oh yes," said the ghost. "Yes, I have heard the hat give several warnings before, always at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school. And always, of course, its advice is the same: Stand together, be strong from within."
Hazel gave Percy a meaningful look, and he knew she was thinking the same thing he was. Shall gain his goal, through fateful truce.
"Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat?" The redhead asked. His mouth was so full Percy thought it was quite an achievement for him to make any noise at all.
"I beg your pardon?" said the ghost politely, while the bushy haired girl looked revolted.
The boy gave an enormous swallow and said, "How can it know if the school's in danger if it's a hat?"
"I have no idea," replied the ghost. "Of course, it lives in Dumbledore's office, so I daresay it picks things up there."
"Who's Dumbledore?" Percy asked, before he could stop himself.
The three gaped, and Hazel kicked him underneath the table.
"How can you not know who Dumbledore is?" The bushy haired girl asked in shock. "He's only the most powerful wizard in the world! And our Headmaster!"
"Uh—"
"We don't hear much about the goings-on in Europe." Hazel cut in swiftly. When the three continued to stare at them, she quickly changed the subject. "Your name is Hermione Granger, right?" She asked, turning to the bushy haired girl.
"Yes…" Hermione replied, rather guardedly.
"I'm Hazel." Hazel said politely. "And this is Percy."
Percy said something along the lines of 'sup', but refrained from the head bob.
"Ron," said the redhead around a mouthful of potatoes.
"I'm Harry." The bespectacled boy said. "Harry Potter."
Hazel's mouth parted in an 'O'. The boy's messy black hair shifted slightly, and Percy saw a thin scar on his forehead, shaped like a bolt of lightning. The boy of three paths, marked by Zeus.
"I am Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington." The ghost said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tour."
"Pleased to meet you." Hazel said meekly.
They went back to their food. Percy couldn't help but feel the silence between the five was due mostly his and Hazel's presence. After a while, Hermione spoke again.
"Why did you decide to transfer?" She asked, setting down her fork and knife.
Hazel threw Percy a look that plainly said 'this one's all yours'.
"Er," Percy began, mind racing. "The schools in America aren't as good as they are here."
"Really?" Hermione asked. "I read Ilvermorny is one of the best schools in the world."
Whoops. Percy coughed.
"Well," he said, trying for a lofty tone. "You can't always believe what you read, am I right?"
Hazel snorted into her steak and kidney pie. Hermione was looking outraged.
"It'd be hard to get much better than Hogwarts, Hermione." Harry cut in hastily before she could speak.
Percy shot him a grateful look. It seemed that trivial talk of books would not be tolerated by this girl. Harry returned his look with a weak smile.
When all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the hall was starting to creep upward again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the headmaster.
"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore. "First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students — and a few of our older students ought to know by now too."
Percy couldn't help but notice that Ron, Hermione, and Harry all smirked at this. He grinned; they must've had some good adventures here.
"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door.
"We have also had a few changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professors Umbridge and Verbeck, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic teachers, respectively."
The hall went dead silent. Percy wasn't sure what the big deal was, but suddenly there was an outbreak of hurried whispering.
"History of Magic?" Ron hissed next to him. "What about Binns?"
Dumbledore continued loudly, "Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the—"
He broke off, looking inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. As she was not much taller standing than sitting, there was a moment when nobody understood why Dumbledore had stopped talking, but then Professor Umbridge said, "Hem, hem," and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech.
Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat back down smartly and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than to listen to her talk. The other members of staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise. Percy spotted Professor McGonagall glaring at the back of the new teacher's head, lips pursed.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "For those kind words of welcome."
Her voice was high-pitched, breathy, and little-girlish. Percy nearly vomited at her fluffy pink cardigan.
She gave another little throat-clearing cough ("Hem, hem") and continued:
"Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"
Percy sighed. He knew this woman's type. He settled back in his seat, resisting the urge to shut his eyes, and prepared for a tedious speech.
"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" Students exchanged looks at this; some of them were barely concealing grins.
"I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan," A girl whispered to her friend a few people down the table, and both of them lapsed into silent giggles.
Professor Umbridge cleared her throat again ("Hem, hem"), but when she continued, some of the breathiness had vanished from her voice. She sounded much more businesslike and now her words had a dull learned-by-heart sound to them.
At this, Percy's attention fled. No way was he going to listen to another second of this speech. He picked up a silver knife from the table and began to spin it in his fingers, making practice jabs as he did so.
Finally:
"…what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited." Professor Umbridge sat down. Dumbledore clapped. The staff followed his lead, though Percy noticed that several of them brought their hands together only once or twice before stopping. Percy had barely joined the applause before Dumbledore had stood up again.
"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," he said, bowing to her. "Now— as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held…"
"Yes, it certainly was illuminating," said Hermione in a low voice.
"You're not telling me you enjoyed it?" Ron said quietly, turning a glazed face upon Hermione. "That was about the dullest speech I've ever heard, and I grew up with Percy."
"Hey!" Percy exclaimed.
"Uh, sorry." Ron coughed. "My brother—"
"I said illuminating, not enjoyable," Hermione cut across. "It explained a lot."
"Did it?" Harry asked in surprise. "Sounded like a load of waffle to me."
Hah. Waffles. Blue waffles…
"There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle," said Hermione grimly.
"Was there?" said Ron blankly.
"How about 'progress for progress's sake must be discouraged'? How about 'pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited'?"
Percy was beginning to find this conversation as boring as Professor Umbridge's speech, and couldn't blame him when Ron cut in.
"Well, what does that mean?" He asked impatiently.
"I'll tell you what it means," Hermione replied ominously. "It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts."
There was a great clattering and banging all around them; Dumbledore had obviously just dismissed the school, because everyone was standing up ready to leave the Hall. Hermione jumped up, looking flustered.
"Ron, we're supposed to show the first years where to go!"
"Oh yeah," said Ron, who had obviously forgotten. "Hey — hey you lot! Midgets!"
"Ron!"
"Well, they are, they're titchy…"
"I know, but you can't call them midgets... First years!" Hermione called commandingly along the table. "This way, please!"
A group of new students walked shyly up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, all of them trying hard not to lead the group. They did indeed seem very small. Percy felt even more embarrassed, remembering that just an hour ago he had stood at the front of the hall, lined up with them.
"Er," said Harry awkwardly after Ron and Hermione had left. "I can show you the way?"
Percy didn't hear him, instead peering over the heads of the many students for Annabeth.
"Thanks." Hazel said, elbowing Percy in the ribs.
"Uh, right." He said hastily, and they followed Harry from the Great Hall.
"So are Ron and Hermione prefects?" Hazel asked as they climbed the vast marble staircase.
"Yeah." Harry replied rather grudgingly.
"What are prefects?" Percy asked.
Hazel sighed.
"They're students, but they have power to enforce discipline."
"Right." Harry agreed. "At Hogwarts each house has two prefects; a girl and a boy. They're able to give out detentions, but can only take points from their own house."
"Why would they want to do that?"
Harry grinned.
"Ron's older brother, Percy, took points off me and him in our second year."
"Why?" Hazel inquired curiously.
Harry shrugged, holding back a tapestry so they could pass him on to a concealed staircase.
"We were hanging around a girl's toilet."
"What?!" Percy exclaimed.
"Long story."
They had reached the end of the corridor. A painting of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress hung from the wall. Percy nearly jumped as the woman moved, adjusting the curls in her hair.
"Er…" Harry said glumly, staring up at the Fat Lady, who smoothed the folds of her pink satin dress and looked sternly back at him.
"No password, no entrance," she said loftily.
Percy was completely confused, when a rather chubby boy came jogging up the corridor, clutching what looked like a grey cactus in his hands.
"Harry, I know it!" The boy panted. He turned to Hazel and Percy, obviously just noticing them. "Oh, hello."
"Neville, this is Percy and Hazel." Harry said, stepping forward.
"Oh. Alright." Neville replied. "Guess what the password is? I'm actually going to be able to remember it for once —" He waved the cactus through the air. "Mimbulus mimbletonia!"
Okay…
"Correct," said the Fat Lady, and her portrait swung open toward them like a door, revealing a circular hole in the wall behind.
They all climbed through the hole, finding themselves in the Gryffindor common room; a cozy circular tower room full of dilapidated squashy armchairs and rickety old tables. A fire was crackling merrily in the grate and a few people were warming their hands before going up to their dormitories; on the other side of the room two boys with identical flaming red hair and grins were pinning something up on a notice board.
"Sweet." Percy muttered.
"The girls' dormitory is that way." Harry said, pointing.
Hazel nodded and wished them both goodnight. Harry then led Percy up a spiral staircase to the right, where he found himself in a small room filled with six four-poster beds hung with deep red, velvet curtains.
Two boys had already reached the dormitory and were in the process of covering the walls beside their beds with posters and photographs. They had been talking as Harry pushed open the door but stopped abruptly the moment they saw him. Percy's eyes narrowed. Surely that couldn't be good.
He walked over to the bed closest to the door, where his bags were already laying, and began to pull out his pajamas.
"This is Seamus and Dean, Percy." Harry said, gesturing to the boys. Dean, a black boy with dark eyes, raised his hand in greeting.
"Hey, Harry," he said, pulling on a pair of cyan and maroon pajamas. "Percy. Good holiday?"
"Not bad," Harry muttered.
Percy thought about the battle with Gaea, Leo's supposed death, and he and Annabeth's trip through Tartarus.
"Fine," he said. "You?"
"Yeah, it was okay," chuckled Dean. "Better than Seamus's anyway, he was just telling me."
Seamus, a boy with sandy-hair, still hadn't turned around.
"Why, what happened, Seamus?" Neville asked as he placed the grey cactus tenderly on his bedside cabinet.
Seamus did not answer immediately; he was making rather a meal of ensuring that his poster of the Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch team was quite straight. Then he said, with his back still turned to the room, "Me mam didn't want me to come back."
"What?" said Harry, pausing in the act of pulling off his robes. Percy had already discarded his own and was now changing into his Aquaman pajamas.
"She didn't want me to come back to Hogwarts." Seamus turned away from his poster and pulled his own pajamas out of his trunk, still not looking at anyone.
"But— why?" said Harry, astonished.
Seamus did not answer until he had finished buttoning his pajamas.
"Well," he said in a measured voice, "I suppose . . . because of you."
Percy frowned at his bed but didn't say anything, instead setting his wand and Riptide on his bedside table.
"What d'you mean?" said Harry quickly, his voice rather panicky.
"Well," said Seamus again, still avoiding eye contact. "She…er…well, it's not just you, it's Dumbledore too…"
"She believes the Daily Prophet?" said Harry. "She thinks I'm a liar and Dumbledore's an old fool?"
Seamus looked up at him. "Yeah, something like that."
Percy's eyes narrowed. He knew that Harry was the defeater of Voldemort, but still felt like he was missing something. He gave Neville a questioning look, but Neville just shrugged.
Harry, meanwhile, had gotten into bed and was about to close his hangings when Seamus spoke again.
"Look…what did happen that night when...you know, when…with Cedric Diggory and all?"
Seamus sounded nervous and eager at the same time. Dean, who had been bending over his trunk, trying to retrieve a slipper, went oddly still and Percy could tell he was listening hard.
"What are you asking me for?" Harry retorted angrily. "Just read the Daily Prophet like your mother, why don't you? That'll tell you all you need to know."
Percy, who was just about to get into bed, grabbed his wand, sensing an explosion.
"Don't you have a go at my mother." Seamus snapped.
"I'll have a go at anyone who calls me a liar," Harry growled.
"Don't talk to me like that!"
"I'll talk to you how I want," said Harry, and snatched his wand back from his bedside table. "If you've got a problem sharing a dormitory with me, go and ask McGonagall if you can be moved, stop your mummy worrying —"
"Leave my mother out of this, Potter!"
"PROTEGO!" Percy yelled, and his shield forced the two apart.
"What's going on?" Ron had appeared in the doorway.
His wide eyes traveled from Harry, who was kneeling on his bed with his wand pointing at Seamus, to Seamus, who was standing there with his fists raised, and to Percy, who had his wand raised, a shield held between the two.
"He's having a go at my mother!" Seamus yelled.
"What?" Ron said, confused. "Harry wouldn't do that— we met your mother, we liked her…"
"That's before she started believing every word the stinking Daily Prophet writes about me!" Harry said at the top of his voice.
"Oh," Comprehension dawned across Ron's freckled face. "Oh...right."
"You know what?" said Seamus heatedly, casting Harry a venomous look. "He's right, I don't want to share a dormitory with him anymore, he's a madman."
"I'd watch your mouth, Seamus." Percy cut in, before Ron could speak.
Seamus whipped around to face him.
"And who are you to tell me what to do?" He sneered. "You've been here two minutes and are already bossing—"
"That's out of order," said Ron, his ears starting to glow red.
"Out of order, am I?" shouted Seamus, who in contrast with Ron was turning paler. "You believe all the rubbish he's come out with about You-Know-Who, do you, you reckon he's telling the truth?"
"Yeah, I do!" said Ron angrily.
"Then you're mad too," Seamus said in disgust.
"Yeah? Well unfortunately for you, pal, I'm also a prefect!" said Ron, jabbing himself in the chest with a finger. "So unless you want detention, watch your mouth!"
Seamus looked for a few seconds as though detention would be a reasonable price to pay to say what was going through his mind; but with a noise of contempt he turned on his heel, vaulted into bed, and pulled the hangings shut with such violence that they were ripped from the bed and fell in a dusty pile to the floor. Ron glared at Seamus, then looked at Dean and Neville.
"Anyone else's parents got a problem with Harry?" he said aggressively.
"My parents are Muggles, mate," said Dean, shrugging. "They don't know nothing about no deaths at Hogwarts, because I'm not stupid enough to tell them."
"You don't know my mother, she'll weasel anything out of anyone!" Seamus snapped at him. "Anyway, your parents don't get the Daily Prophet, they don't know our headmaster's been sacked from the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards because he's losing his marbles —"
"My gran says that's rubbish," piped up Neville. "She says it's the Daily Prophet that's going downhill, not Dumbledore. She's canceled our subscription. We believe Harry," he said simply. He climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to his chin, looking owlishly over them at Seamus. "My gran's always said You-Know-Who would come back one day. She says if Dumbledore says he's back, he's back."
"I'm still not entirely sure what's going on…" Percy coughed, hoping that someone would explain, but no one did.
Seamus got out his wand, repaired the bed hangings, and vanished behind them. Dean got into bed, rolled over, and fell silent. Neville, who appeared to have nothing more to say either, was gazing fondly at his moonlit cactus.
Percy canceled the shield charm and replaced his wand on the bedside table. He then got back into bed while Ron bustled around, putting his things away. Maybe not the best first night, but hopefully he would get answers in the morning.
Sighing, Percy rolled over and let sleep take him.
In his dreams, he was back in Tartarus with Annabeth. They struggled alongside a rocky cliff face, running from an indistinct outline, black against the red landscape. Annabeth tripped, and Percy caught her with one arm.
"Run, little heroes." A deep voice chuckled from behind them. "Scamper before me."
Percy pulled Annabeth back onto the path and they raced on. They arrived at a dead end and he spun around, panting. He released Annabeth's arm and uncapped Riptide, pointing it at the approaching figure.
"How noble." The shadow laughed. He raised a hand and the sword flew from Percy's hand, disappearing into the rusty smog. "But I suppose it's for a worthy cause."
"What do you mean?" Percy shouted.
The figure did not reply, merely gesturing behind him. Percy whipped around, and felt his blood turn to ice. Annabeth was lying, impaled by his own sword, in the dirt. Crimson blood dripped from her chest and onto her hands as her eyes flickered slightly, then closed.
"Friends must be sacrificed, Perseus, if the war is to be won." The shadow said softly.
And Percy's vision went black as he let loose a bloodcurdling scream.
A/N
Let me know if you would like me to explain why each person was put into their respective houses. I'll do it as a separate one-shot, and it won't replace this story's weekly upload.
Also...thestrals. I've read so many fics where all of the demigods are able to see them, but if you think about it, that doesn't really make sense. I've chosen to interpret the seeing of thestrals as only possible when a person has seen human death. It would be ridiculous if you stepped on an ant and were suddenly able to see them. But that's just my opinion...
!weiveR