Chapter XIII
"There he is!" a voice shouted as Percy entered the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Have you really been to six different schools?" Colin Creevey asked as he snapped his camera in Percy's direction temporarily blinding him.
"What?' Percy asked rubbing his eyes as he continued towards his table.
"I knew you were stupid, but I didn't realize Hogwarts was your seventh school to fail out of." Draco laughed as he and his goons blocked his path along with several other students. Percy narrowed his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" he demanded glaring at him. Draco just grinned evilly.
'You haven't seen it yet? You're almost as famous as Potter now." He said shoving a rolled up newspaper at his chest. "Read it and weep." Percy took a step back at Draco's roughness and hastily opened the newspaper giving the rich kid an annoyed look. He quickly flipped through the pages until he was staring at a large moving photo of himself. "WHO IS PERSEUS JACKSON?" the title read in bold letters. Percy's eyes widened as he scanned the paper his trepidation making his dyslexia act up worse than usual. Immediately the crowd started blurting out questions and comments at his reaction. Percy paled as he read. The article described what Draco so eloquently pointed out how he got expelled from nearly every school he'd ever been to, and how he was "kidnapped" at twelve years old. The whole article made him out to be this delinquent. No wonder everyone was surrounding him.
"Was Mr. Jackson really attacked by deatheaters? Or is he here for another purpose? Expelled from six different schools, should Hogwarts be worried?"
There were many other questions like that as the article got more and more ridiculous. "Six schools?" Percy thought to himself. He'd been kicked out of more than that. Hecate or Dumbledore must have changed his records somehow. Then again if they did change his records couldn't they have made him look like less of a delinquent? Is that so much to ask?
"Move aside people give the star some room!" The Weasley twins called pushing their way through the crowd and yanking Percy aside. He didn't even complain as his eyes were still glued to the text.
"Thanks." Percy muttered as he sat next to his friends.
"Don't thank us yet mate." Fred said.
"We just stole you so we could hear the scoop along with Potter here." George added.
"Oh c'mon." Percy complained rolling his eyes and pushing the vile paper away. "No one actually believes this crap. Do they?' Percy demanded as he stared at the magic picture of himself on the outside of the newspaper Ron was currently reading. The picture showed him with his hands in his pockets, tie loose and askew, and his usual messy hair. He was only half smiling and he looked bored and uncomfortable completely fitting the image of this "delinquent" Skeeter claimed he was.
"Well considering all the inaccuracies she wrote about me. I'm not inclined to believe your article." Harry offered but he still looked doubtful.
"Yah, When were you going to tell us that you and Hermione were dating?" Lee Jordan yelled from across the table. Harry and Hermione both blushed.
"What?' Percy asked. Harry and Hermione both shook their heads profusely.
"That awful woman is spreading lies everywhere.' she cried.
"Yeah, How much of your article is lies." Ron asked Percy with a sideways glance. Percy bit his lip uneasily.
"Okay so I got kicked out of some schools because I was disrespectful and got into fights. I was moody kid with severe ADHD sue me." He defended shoving a forkful of pancakes in his mouth.
"By blowing up a muggle school bus? You went to muggle schools?" Ron asked.
"You went to muggle schools? I thought you said you've been training in magic since you were a child?" Hermione added having recovered from her earlier embarrassment.
"My mom thought it was important for me to have a rounded education, so she home-schooled me in magic and I went to mortal school during the week." Percy rambled. It was kind of true seeing as his mother sent him to school instead of Camp Half-Blood so he could know what a normal life was like. "The school bus was an accident. I was still trying to get the handle on magic."
"You exposed magic to muggles?!" Ron blurted. "That's one of the worst crimes you can commit!" Percy just shrugged.
"Eh the laws aren't very strict. I mean mort-err muggles would never believe in magic. They see every exposed bit as aliens or something. Ever heard of the Roswell incident?" Percy asked. 'Besides." He continued. "I was just a kid so muggles just blamed it on a misfired cannon.'
"You have an answer for everything don't you?' Harry muttered. Percy frowned looking down at his plate as he started to lose his appetite. "Still doesn't explain the kidnappings."*
"That part is actually pretty accurate. I'd rather not talk about it." He said. He picked at his food distractedly. the article and his web of lies put him in a bad mood. He shook his head and pushed his plate away.
"See you in class." He muttered and abruptly left on his way to find a rainbow...
~)*(~
"What am I going to do? I can't keep lying to them, they're only going to get more and more suspicious of me." Percy complained as he informed Annabeth of Rita's article and the events at breakfast.
"I knew joining this tournament was a bad idea. Gods, it's amazing how much trouble you get into without me." Annabeth huffed through the Iris-message. Percy sighed.
"Miss you to." He muttered sarcastically running his hand through his hair. He tried to contact Annabeth at least once a week to find out what was going on back home, and because he needed to see a familiar face and to be truly honest with someone for once. He really did miss her although he would never admit it.
"Percy it's your decision if you trust your new friends enough to tell them the truth." She advised. Percy nodded his eyes downcast. He trusted the trio, but he didn't want to blurt out this mystical world of Gods and monsters until his web of lies completely crumbled and he was left with no choice. He just hoped he wouldn't lose his only friends in the process.
'Have you found out what the first challenge is yet?" she asked changing the subject. Percy blinked away his thoughts and nodded.
"Yeah, Harry told me it has something to do with dragons." Percy said remembering how Harry had managed to get a sneak peek into the first challenge. "I guess I have to fight one or something. Mr. Moody gave me a book of hexes and defensive spells to help me out." Annabeth looked skeptical. Percy shrugged.
"Dumbledore already told me that this tournament wouldn't be any more dangerous or difficult than what I've done before. "Annabeth nodded in agreement although she looked plenty worried.
"Just be careful seaweed brain don't do anything stupid, until I'm with you.' She mustered glaring at him pointedly. Percy rolled his eyes before something clicked.
"What do you mean "until I'm with you"? Are you coming here?' he asked hoping he didn't sound too hopeful. Annabeth smirked and shrugged nonchalantly.
"Talk to you later Seaweedbrain. Slay some dragons for me." She teased before slicing through the mist ending their conversation.
~)*(~
"Are you ready for the challenge tomorrow?" Harry asked Percy timidly. Percy shrugged.
"Yeah, I got a few tricks up my sleeve. Hope they work.' He replied.
"Well that makes one of us.' Harry muttered as he furiously scanned one of the many spell books he had strewn around him in the Gryffindor commons.
"Good luck." Percy said as he headed up to the dorms.
"Likewise." Harry replied.
~)*(~
Percy grasped the bag in his hands and randomly took out a figurine. He looked at the snake-like dragon in wonder.
"Ah the Romanian Rattler quite aggressive, but you'll know when he's angry when he rattles his tail." Bagman announced.
"Thanks." Percy muttered sarcastically putting the figurine in the pocket of his new tournament uniform distinguishing him as a student of SIE rather than Hogwarts.
"Good luck kid." Bagman added before he left and the gates creaked open.
Percy took a deep breath and stepped into the arena feeling like a gladiator entering the coliseum the crowd roaring in anticipation. He scanned the rocky arena until he locked eyes with the dragon who sat in the edge of the stadium about a hundred yards away guarding a golden egg the size of a basketball. The dragon growled saliva dripping from its fangs, golden reptilian eyes filled with malice. The beast was the size of an eighteen-wheeler with a long, sandy-colored lizard body and a rattle on its tail shaking like a maraca.
"Anaklusmos." Percy whispered his courage grew as he felt the familiar weight of Riptide grow in his hand. He heard an audible gasp from the crowd, at the appearance of his trusty weapon.
"Blimey! He's going to slay the dragon! Is he mad?!" Lee Jordan's voice rang through the loudspeaker.
"Probably.' Percy agreed as he strolled up to the dragon casually. He swung Riptide around his battle senses on overdrive, his eyes never straying from the beast. The dragon watched him carefully probably wondering why his prey wasn't cowering in fear. Percy stopped and crouched slightly within the dragons striking range and waited. He heard the frantic whispers of the crowd, but his main focus was the dragon.
Suddenly, the dragon lunged as if to swallow Percy in one gulp like a game of hungry hippos. That's what Percy was waiting for. He jumped the second he saw the Dragon move somersaulting over the beasts head and thrusting Riptide through the base of the dragons scull as he landed. He felt the dragon stiffen and he let his guard down a little thinking he killed the beast in one blow, but of course it could never be that easy.
The dragon flung his head to the side, and Percy just managed to grab a hold of Riptide as he and his sword were flung to the side. Percy hit the wall painfully but managed to roll to his feet dazedly. The dragon was obviously in pain and moved sluggishly and spat fire everywhere hoping to hit his prey in his pain induced frenzy. The demigod ducked under a blast of fire and felt the flames singe the hair on his arms and the top of his head. He shook his head and charged the monster dodging and rolling under torrents of fiery breath as he got closer.
The crowd roared in delight aiding his courage as he finally got close enough to slice the soft skin of the fiery beast's belly. The dragon collapsed in pain and Percy barely managed to avoid being crushed. The demigod jumped to his feet and used the dragon's temporary moment of weakness to scramble onto the dragons back. The moment the beast felt Percy on its back it bucked and shook like a bull. Percy tripped and stabbed riptide into the dragons flank as an anchor to keep himself in place. This only made the beast angrier and thrash around more furiously than before. Percy grit his teeth and pulled himself into a crouched position waiting for the beast to calm down. Soon the dragon stopped thrashing and Percy quickly yanked riptide out and darted up along the dragons spine jumping and tripping occasionally as he made his way to the head once again. With a yell of frustration he stabbed the dragon's eye and hopped off landing in a roll and popping up again. The crowd roared with approval as Percy bolted towards the nest. The dragon bellowed in pain and thrashed its head around searching for its prey with only one good eye and several wounds.
Percy knelt next to the egg and shrugged off his robe fashioning it into a sling that went across his torso like a sash. He hurriedly placed the egg inside, and not a moment too soon as he barely had time to hit the deck from another blast of fiery breath. Percy grit his teeth in pain as fire licked his back. He rolled away and sluggishly rose to his feet brandishing Riptide just as the dragon lunged at him again he stepped back and sliced at the dragons nose blood splattered all over him, and the dragon recoiled in pain. Percy spat up dragon blood as he rushed towards the exit. He felt the tremors in the ground as the dragon bounded towards him. He was ten feet from the exit when he glanced back to see the dragon opening up its jaws a ball of fire forming in its throat. Percy desperately threw Riptide deep into the monsters maw before diving through the already closing gates. He slid head first and spun around with wild eyes his heart hammering against his rib cage.
The dragon roared and pounded against the gates angrily. Percy's ears rang as he coughed up dust and dragon blood as he shakily rose to his feet. He escaped and accomplished his task. Percy blinked and breathed heavily as the adrenaline slowly wore off. His shoulder hurt where he had been slammed against the wall, and he was covered in scratches and burns but he had been in worse pain than this. A furious tapping sound and the shouts of commotion caught his attention as he looked over to see the games committee rushing toward him. Madame Pomfrey's heels clacking against the stone floor.
"Are you alright?" Madame Pomfrey and a team of nurses yelled running up to him and looking him over muttering a few off hand spells. Percy shied away from their attempts insisting that he was fine.
"My my…" Bagman whistled in appreciation. "You sure know how to put on a good show my boy. Perhaps it wasn't a mistake that the goblet chose you after all."
~)*(~
"Come Ron let's get closer." Hermione called dragging the reluctant ginger along to the front seats of the arena.
"I'm probably the only person in the world that doesn't a good seat to see Harry show off.' Ron grumbled. Hermione rolled her eyes, as she pushed herself into the front.
"Excuse you" A girl spat as Hermione shoved her a little too hard. The witch turned to apologize but the words died in her throat. The girl was around her age, tall, blonde, and beautiful without even trying. She glared at Hermione with intense grey eyes, her chin held high showing off her superiority. She wore a navy blue robe the same color of Percy's uniform to represent his American School for the tournament. Hermione narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Who are you rooting for?' she asked innocently. The girl bit her lip looking both annoyed and worried at the same time.
"Him.' She said nodding to where Percy stepped out of the gates.
"You're from Percy's school in the states?' Ron asked walking up to the girls other side. She nodded indicating the crest on her robe. The crest depicted a barn owl wings spread out in mid flight with a sparkling wand in its claws the letters SIE embroidered underneath.
"You know him?" she asked. Just then Lee Jordan's voice frantic voice came over the loud speaker.
"Bloody hell." Ron muttered growing pale and quickly shoving his binoculars to his face and leaning over the rail. Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she saw Percy rolling under a torrent of fire a gleaming bronze sword in hand. The girl just shook her head in annoyance as if this was typical behavior.
"Seaweedbrain." She muttered under her breath. "So much for your cover."
"Slaying dragons is normal?" Hermione cried incredulously. The girl just shrugged.
"He knows how to defend himself, he survived deatheaters right?" She still looked a little worried as she watched muttering orders. "Duck!" "Stab" "MOVE!" Even words in another language Hermione recognized as Greek. When Percy slipped through the gates the entire crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.
"That may be one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. Oh he has to win this challenge no doubt." Ron muttered looking shocked. Hermione just shook her head and turned toward the blonde.
"I'm sorry we haven't introduced ourselves yet. I'm Hermione.' She offered.
"Annabeth." The girl replied with a glint in her eye.
~)*(~
"PERCY!" Harry yelled rushing to his friend as he walked into the competitor's room. "Are you alright!?"
"A little crispier than normal.' He answered examining his now hairless arms and tattered robe. Harry rolled his eyes.
"It appears ve all vunderestimated you." Viktor Krum stated looking at Percy with newfound respect. Percy shrugged.
"Don't feel bad everyone does.' He muttered.
"The way you transfigured your wand was just brilliant! Where did you learn to fight like that?" Cedric asked walking toward him. Percy took out Riptide in wand form again looking at it fondly.
"A wizard never reveals his secrets right?" he muttered cheekily.
"Well well that was quite the performance champions!" Rita Skeeter announced entering the room quill and parchment in hand. The other competitors didn't look to happy to see her. Percy was livid.
"What's your problem!?" he demanded marching over to her Harry trailing behind both upset over the article she wrote about himself and to make sure Percy didn't start a fight.
"Excuse me?" she asked innocently. Percy sneered.
"All that stuff you wrote about me was complete and utter BS, and you know it." he spat. She grinned reaching out to brush some rubble off his shoulder but he shied away from her touch.
"Oh you hardly gave me any material to write about so I had to make do with what i had and what I could find. I must say you're quite the interesting boy Mr. Jackson. I can already see the next headline PERSEUS SLAYS THE DRAGON!. Now tell me where did you learn such DADA skills like that? she inquired.
"Forget it.' Percy spat backing away towards the door. "Your never getting an interview from me again." She pouted and turned toward Harry with a hopeful grin on her face.
"Ditto.' Harry growled before rushing after his friend.
~)*(~
"Where did you learn to use a sword like that? It looked as if you've fought dragons before!" Harry continued to ramble Percy as the two walked together to meet up with their friends. Along the way they were continually stopped as people shouted out congratulations or took their picture as if they were two celebrities. Well Percy supposed Harry was a celebrity, but that was beside the point.
"Me fight dragons? C'mon that's ridiculous." Percy answered rolling his eyes. "The whole sword thing just seemed like a good idea at the time." Harry shook his head convinced that Percy was hiding something. In terms of a spectacle Percy should have won the challenge, but he got so many points deducted from his injuries, he was placed in second behind Harry and Viktor who were tied for first. Harry kept replaying Percy's fight in his mind. How he jumped and dodged like he knew exactly what he was doing. How he stared the dragon down fearless like a true Gryffindor, it was like Percy had turned into a different person.
'Now you and that broom thing was pretty clever definitely a better idea than I had." Percy complimented. Harry shrugged still stuck on Percy's sword skills.
"A good idea?" Harry repeated incredulous. "How can you go up against a dragon with a sword and not know how to use it? I know you're not that idiotic." Percy bit his lip but was saved by answering by a rush of bushy brown hair.
"Harry! Percy!' Hermione squealed tackling the both of them in a hug. "That was terrifying!' she added looking up between the two of them worriedly.
"It wasn't too bad.' Percy shrugged trying to make her feel better as he looked up and nodded at Ron and… "Annabeth?" He froze looking at her in surprise.
"Hello to you to Seaweedbrain." She smirked marching up to him and throwing her arms around him in a hug that made it impossible to breath.
"What are you doing here?" he asked still in surprise. The trio just looked between them just as confused.
"Someone had to be here to root for you." She smiled though her eyes had that calculating look and Percy knew that she would fill him in later. "Now are you going to show me around the castle or do I have to find my room by myself?" she teased grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the school. Percy grinned glad to have his partner in crime back at his side.
~)*(~
"My lord it has been confirmed." Crouch told his master. "The boy wielded a magical sword of the likes you described. He must be a demigod.'
"Excellent." the dark lord hissed. "Be patient my servant, but keep watching him perhaps he will reveal more of his secrets to us."
*Kidnappings refer to in TLT when mortals thought that Ares kidnapped Percy and co.