Chapter 35
Harry's Point of View
Felix. That gods forsaken cat was annoying! It seemed to have taken on some of Blaise's personality and insisted on being lazy half the time, and then incredibly energetic as soon as it saw something it liked. Such as now, as it chased our poor petrified Hedwig round the common room as she desperately attempted to bring us our letter.
Scowling, we stood up from the green armchair by the fire where we had been comfortably sitting until Felix caught sight of Hedwig a couple of minutes ago. By now, almost the entirety of Slytherin was watching the most bizarre game of 'cat and mouse' ever to have taken place in the dungeons.
"Blaise." I growled. "If you don't call your familiar of our Hedwig then I swear on the River Styx I will, and I can't guarantee that Felix will look the same afterwards."
Thunder grumbled at my oath, and Blaise, who had previously been laughing at the antics of his cat, sighed and got up.
"Felix…." Blaise called. "Here boy. Stop bothering poor Hedwig now. You've annoyed our local Potter's already, don't make it worst."
The cat seemed to pause in consideration, before sending one last regretful look at our beautiful snowy owl and stalking his way back to his owner. Hedwig alighted on the arm of our chair as we sat back down, sending an exasperated look at Draco, who simply grinned back at us. Carefully, so not to hurt our familiar or to rip the letter we untied the envelope Hedwig carried with her.
I squinted at the writing on the front, desperately trying to decipher the handwriting. It looked like it was written in Greek. I sighed, having to ask Percy for the first time in years to read something for me. As good as I was with languages and ruins, Greek always seemed to escape me, despite it being second nature for Percy.
'It's from Leo!' Percy grinned.
'Harry, Percy! How are you two Seaweed Brains? Having fun at school, I hope? (Haha! I don't have to go to one anymore!) Did Annabeth and Luna surprise you at the station? I would have paid a huge number of Drachmas to see your face!
Anyway, to the point. I was hoping to IM you sometime soon. Say… September 2nd? Around… Well. Midday here so… evening for you I guess? If possible bring our favourite daughters of Athena too!'
Before Percy could read anything else, a rainbow tinted screen appeared in the air in front of us. At first it was only Draco who noticed, but soon enough the older years did as well. Groaning, we glared as the mischievous face of the one and only Leo Valdez appeared before us in the mist.
"Hey Potters!" Leo grinned, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
We held up his letter, stroking Hedwig absentmindedly. "A little bit more warning would have been nice. Surely, being the son of The Inventor, you can do some simple calculations to work out that it takes a while for post to travel overseas, and then a while longer for Hedwig here to pick it up from the foreign post office."
Leo just grinned. "Yeah, but I didn't want you to say no!"
"Leo, we only just got this letter, and I can tell you for a fact that there is indeed about fifty of my Housemates currently listening into this conversation." A quick glance round the room proved me correct. Only the 1st years bothered to look embarrassed and glance away. The others just looked straight back at me nonchalantly.
With a sigh and a disappointed look at our warm seat by the fire, we stood up and started making our way over to the dorms, closely followed by the Iris Message. Draco stood up and followed as well, grinning at Leo over our shoulder.
"Who's that following you?" Leo asked, waving.
"Draco Malfoy, best friend to the Potter Twin Souls, pleased to meet you." Draco smirked. Leo pouted.
"Hey! That's my title!" Then Leo grinned. "Though I suppose Annabeth and Luna would be a close second after me…"
"Luna? Like, the Ravenclaw first year? Wasn't Annabeth the girl you did the quest with?" Draco's eyes narrowed as something clicked. "You almost called Luna Annabeth the other day, didn't you? Are they… Like you? A Twin-Soul?"
We nodded slowly. "Don't mention it to them or anybody though. It's Annabeth and Luna's secret, which is why we didn't tell anyone."
Draco looked thoughtful, his Slytherin nature battling with his loyalty to us as his friends. "Fair enough."
"You were considering otherwise." Leo accused, glaring at Draco. On his nine year old face his glare looked more adorable then scary, but it was the thought that counts. "If you hurt any of my friends, I will come over there and hurt you back!"
"Peace, peace, Leo!" I laughed. "Draco's fine. We're Slytherin, the most cunning and ambitious of the Houses, or so they say. If it had been our secret, or even Theo or Blaise's Draco probably would've used it as blackmail. But that's fine, because we do the same to him!"
Leo shook his head. "And I thought that Cabin 11 was crazy. You wizards are even battier than Hermes' kids!"
Draco gave us a 'who's-kids' look, before turning back to Leo. "So are you the kid Percy and Harry found at that Arch?"
"Yeah!"
The three of us chatted for a while, before Chiron pulled Leo away for activities and we decided it was time for bed. Having finished our homework for the day, we snuck into our dorm bathroom before Blaise and Theo came up to shower before bed.
When we returned, showered, teeth brushed and in our pyjamas, we found a mound of ginger fur curled up asleep on our bed. Snarling death threats under our breath, I forcefully shoved the kitten off the bed and pulled the curtains tight, casting a quick ward to repel any animal that decided to join us.
Thankfully, we slept well that night, and felt ready to face anything the next morning. Anything, that was, except an over excited Lockhart at breakfast. Just looking at him as he ran around talking to people, laughing and having fun made us want to throw up.
'How is he such a morning person?' Percy moaned, still half asleep. Shrugging, I sighed, flicking my wand at the Defence teacher and tying his shoe laces tightly together.
Percy blinked and I grinned. 'We promised the Stoll brothers to play pranks, right?'
Two presences appeared suddenly behind us and we stiffened until two familiar and happy voices whispered in our ears. "We saw that."
"Saw what?" Percy asked innocently. "I didn't do anything."
"Well then."
"If you didn't –"
"–then Harry must have."
"Nice work, anyway."
The Weasley twins flashed us a wink, then sauntered out of the hall. Draco sniggered, nudging us. "What was that about?"
"What? Oh, nothing really. Harry may have just tied Lockhart's shoelaces together however."
Before Draco could reply, Lockhart tried to stand up, and fell forward, his face landing in a bowl of scrambled eggs, getting all in his hair and everywhere. McGonagall attempted to help the 'poor' man by trying to use a counter curse, but the laces simply lashed tighter together. We grinned.
"The remaining Marauder's gave Charles a book of Prank Spells they had put together, and Charles let us read it. Marvellous stuff, that book."
Draco chuckled, but before we could further exploit the humorous situation, the owl post arrived, including a dreaded red envelope for Ron. A Howler. We watched in amusement as Ron eased the envelope from his old owl's beak with one trembling hand, and carefully slit it open. Then next second a loud roar filled the Hall, echoing up to the rafters.
"… STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE…"
The Slytherin table burst into laughter at the sight of the young Gryffindor boy being scolded like a five year old, by a letter no less! The entire hall was turning in their seats to get a view of the unfortunate boy to have received the howler, but only the very top of Ron's bright red face was visible above the table top as he sunk away from his mother's angry voice.
"… LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND CHARLES COULD BOTH HAVE DIED …"
By now our brother was bright red too at being brought up in the Howler, and ducked his head too. By now the sound was making our eardrums ring. We could only imagine how the Gryffindors, who were sitting right next to the Howler, must have been feeling…
"… ABSOLUTEDLY DISGUSTED, YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME!"
Blissful silence fell as the red envelope fell back into Ron's hand and burst into flames, the smoke wafting up to join the candle smoke high above our heads. Slowly, the hall returned to its normal bustling self and people first began to laugh, and then talk.
Draco and we laughed, standing up. Blaise and Theo followed suit. Crabbe and Goyle looked up for a moment before returning to their breakfast. We let them be. Crabbe hadn't managed to get up until about half an hour ago, and Goyle always insisted on waiting for him. They needed the food if they were to survive till lunch time.
We filed out of the Great Hall, then out onto the grounds to make our way over to the greenhouses for Herbology. Professor Sprout grinned in welcome to us as we approached her domain, several magical plants tugging at her wrists as she beckoned us inside.
"Today, class," she began cheerily, "we're going to be repotting Mandrakes. Now. Can anybody tell me the properties of Mandrakes?"
Before anybody else could even consider moving, Granger had her hand in the air, waving it for attention as well. Professor Sprout smiled indulgently at the bright Gryffindor, and nodded her head at her.
"Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative," Hermione gushed, "It's used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state."
We chuckled, nudging Draco. "Text-book perfect, that one. We better watch out – I think she's been swallowing them!"
Draco sniggered with us, earning us a nasty glare from Weasley, who – despite hating Hermione's superior knowledge himself – appeared to have most recently adopted the position of Granger's bodyguard from any malicious actions or thoughts.
"Aw, would you look at that. The mud-blood's got herself a boyfriend!" Draco grinned at us. The laughter died in our throat, and we turned to glare at Draco.
"Don't call anyone that." We snapped. "Maybe you've forgotten, but our mother was muggle-born too!"
Draco paled. "Sorry Harry, Percy. I… forgot myself."
"Just don't do it again, yeah?" We offered our blond friend a small smile.
"Anything you'd like to share with the class, boys?" Professor Sprout barked, staring pointedly at us.
Draco ducked his head in embarrassment, but we held our head high.
"We were just recalling the old argument of whether or not Mandrakes are conscious, given that they look like us, and are known to have brains. A Roman – one Regulus Black – even claimed to have seen them walking round in the –"
"Alright, alright. But this isn't a lesson on that. Today we are simply replanting out our Mandrakes into larger pots. I can't say if they actually think they like it better with more space, but I can tell you they like it better. So, pay attention boys in future." Professor Sprout scolded us lightly, picking up a pair of grey fuzzy earmuffs. "For now, I'm going to give you an example of how to repot. First, make sure all our earmuffs are on tightly, so no noise can get thought – not now, Mr Potter! I haven't finished speaking yet… Firstly, remember that the cry of a Mandrake is fatal. Luckily these ones aren't fully mature, so they won't kill you, but they will put you out for a couple of hours, so be careful. Next, you then grab the bottom of the plant, under the leaves, tightly, then yank it up. So, earmuffs on!"
Professor Sprout double checked we had our muffs on properly before grasping her plant and pulling it up, before quickly shoving it into a new pot and shovelling some dirt into it, covering its wailing mouth. To our left Goyle collapsed, unconscious.
As Professor Sprout began talking we removed our earmuffs. "Silly boy. Just leave him there – we can move him to the hospital wing shortly."
She got us to practise grasping the plant in the right place, so that we could pull it out with the least resistance before actually letting us get to it. Neville Longbottom, surprisingly enough, was the first to get his re-potted, working with an easy that showed experience.
'Looks like we've found a local expert.' Percy grinned. 'They do say you find talent in the most unexpected of places.'
'I don't know.' I responded. 'I'd say he was suited for Herbology. The few times we were in the Gryffindor Common Room last year, Longbottom was usually doing his homework – especially Herbology. If you watch him, he is usually the most excited about this lesson too. So, all in all, I wouldn't say unexpected.'
Percy grinned. 'And that, brother, is why you're in Slytherin, no me.'
With one smooth movement, we transferred out Mandrake to its new home. Curiously, Percy petted its leaves as we started shifted soil on top of it. The Mandrake seemed to calm a little, smiling slightly, rather than twisting its face up in agony.
The rest of the lesson passed quickly, with us making notes on the Mandrakes, and discussing the kinds of transfigurations and curses it was most commonly used to reverse. By the time the bell signalled the end, we felt brain-dead.
We passed out brother on the way up to the Castle, and found him cornered by an over-excited Lockhart.
"Charles. Charles, Charles, Charles, my boy. What was this about you flying a car to school? Of course, I know exactly why you did it, and I blame myself. You stood out a mile, front page news again. You've got the bug, haven't you?" Lockhart was saying, his words lightly scolding, but his tone was proud, ruining the effect.
"Uh, Professor, I think you've got the wrong end of the stick…" Charles mumbled, but was ignored.
"Charles, I understand. It's my fault for giving you a taste, but there's plenty of time for that later. After all, I too was a nobody when I was –"
Before Lockhart could finish his sentence we butted in. "Excuse us, professor, but as our brother was saying, you don't understand. If Charles wanted fame… well. He's being giving the occasional interview since he was five, and our parents helped him. So no, it's not at all your fault Charles decided to drive to school. He was an idiot and, when the barrier denied us access, decided to do the crazy thing with his friend. So, if you'll excuse our brother and us, we need to get moving, or we'll miss break."
With a tight smile at our useless Professor, we pulled Charles away, ignoring the spluttering Lockhart we left behind. Draco caught up with us and laughed.
"Oh I wish I could've been the one to say that to his face…"
"Sucker! We got there first!" We stuck out our tongue at Draco, and shoved him, starting a race up to the castle, which Charles recklessly joined in. As we dashed between our year-mates, we felt that same rush we did when we played capture the flag. So, grinning wildly, we ran for the castle, enjoying the sunshine while it lasted.
I'm so sorry for the late update! Turns out this weekend was the weekend for making marmalade, so my mum got me involved in making it, given that I the one whose going to be selling it for my World Challenge fund... Still! It's up now...
It's meant to snow here tonight! I'm so excited. We have a new headmaster, and if it snows too much, he might not be able to come into school, which hopefully means we won't have to either :D
But onwards! :)
HiddenHero220: Like Crookshanks, Felix isn't all cat, but he's not half kneazle either... :D
Aura fighter: I agree, of all the DADA teachers, Lockhart is the worst, narcissistic idiot! But I like year two as well... I think Year 5 is my favourite though... :)
aviendhaphiragon: I think Lockhart is evil, just not on the level of mass murder - I mean, he is a fraud, right?
bunnyhoney1010: I wasn't planning on doing any personal points of view other than Harry and Percy's, however I might do some more third person with Luna and Annabeth... And maybe Leo because he's adorable :D
lovepercy76324: That is a very good point... The Basilisk his, however, bound to follow the heir, so probably... :P
DarkKitsuneFluffy: Lockhart truly does deserve to burn in the darkest pits of Tartarus as far as I'm concerned... That might be a bit harsh, but he is sooo annoying :(
Random Person: I don't know where you live, but I so wish is was summer here:( I get to go to Greece this summer and I'm soo excited :D My sister doesn't go back to uni until feb either, so she gets to lie in, and it's so unfair :(
TemperedAngel11: I probably won't let the secret out the bag until fourth year, when Ole Voldie resurrects, because Dumbledore's reaction will be hilarious :D
Matt: Tyson will appear this year, however I'm not sure how yet :/ Though saving Harry and Percy is a good idea... maybe during a 'nightly walk'... *evil grinning* :D As for their Patroni? Partornoi? (I suck at greek/latin endings :() and animagus forms, that wouldn make sense to have different ones because they fit your personalily, and of course Harry and Percy are different :) I'm hoping I can write this story until at least Percy's and Harry's prophecies are finished, and then maybe the Heroes of Olympus, but it depends on how much time I have over the next few years with my GCSE's and A-levels coming up... I may split it into several books though, to making things easier - I may have to change the title slightly, but I know really long Fanfictions can be really daunting to read, no matter how good (like there are several I love but then I find them really hard to finish :/) As for Malfoy sr... I think they are definitely going to be upset, and Draco too :(
Xider: I am aiming for the cat to mean something else entirely, but still. Interpretation is good :D
Talia-Elizabeth: They will find out eventually, when Luna and Annabeth start to trust more :)
An Arm and A Leg: Parry sounds slightly like a ship name, but its much less of a mouthful then Harry/Percy, so I'm really not judging :D
evenstarlily: They will find out, eventually. Or at least, some people will. I can't really see Luna and Annabeth telling everyone their Twin Souls, even though they won't exactly hide it, sort of thing. So yeah... hopefully no bullies :)
Alright! Thank you to all reviewers, followers and favouriters, I love you all :D
Until next week then,
Smartiepants :)