" He is not here " Harry said searching for Hagrid along with the other two while Percy pretended to search along the Great Hall for Hagrid eventhough he knows where Hagrid is .
While looking around he caught the eyes of Dumbledore who motioned towards the side of the Professors' table with his eyes .
Percy looked where Dumbledore motioned and he swore his heart dropped in shock on seeing a women with pallid, toad like face and a pair of prominent, pouchy eyes. It was the same woman who sided with Fudge on Harry's hearing . What the Hades is she doing here .
He was brought out his thoughts when Hermione said in a sharp tone " Who's that ? " pointing to the middle of the staff table where the toad face was sitting .
" Toad face " Percy said with a shrug while Harry responded at once " The Umbridge woman " .
" I like toad face better " Percy muttered causing Hermione to roll her eyes at him .
" Who ? " Hermione asked .
"She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge!"
"Nice cardigan," said Ron, smirking.
"She works for Fudge?" Hermione repeated, frowning. "What on earth's she doing here, then?"
"Dunno . . ."
Hermione scanned the staff table, her eyes narrowed. "No," she muttered, "no, surely not . . ."
" Yep " Percy muttered to Hermione sitting near him still glancing at the toad face woman who was smiling sweetly at everyone making Percy to gag on seeing that expression .
" Please don't say what I am thinking is true " Hermione asked hopefully like he would say no.
Percy sighed absentmindedly tracing the ring " I would love to say no but there is no use in denying it " causing Hermione to huff in frustration .
A long line of scared-looking first years entered, led by Professor McGonagall, who was carrying a stool on which sat an ancient wizard's hat, heavily patched and darned with a wide rip near the frayed brim. The buzz of talk in the Great Hall faded away.
The first years lined up in front of the staff table facing the rest of the students, and Professor McGonagall placed the stool carefully in front of them, then stood back. The first years' faces glowed palely in the candlelight. A small boy right in the middle of the row looked as though he was trembling The whole school waited with bated breath. Then the rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and the Sorting 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 someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffndor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Huffepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those
whoseIntelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name,"
Said Hufflepujf, "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
Retained 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 fulfill 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
The hat became motionless once more; applause broke out .
All across the Great Hall students were exchanging remarks with their neighbors and Percy , clapping along with everyone else, knew exactly what they were talking about. "Branched out a bit this year, hasn't it?" said Ron, his eyebrows raised.
"Too right it has," said Harry.
The Sorting Hat usually confined itself to describing the different qualities looked for by each of the four Hogwarts Houses and its own role in sorting them;
Percy asked skeptically " Has it given warnings like this before ? "
" I don't know " Hermione said with frustration clearly not liking about not knowing something .
At the same time "Yes, indeed," said Nearly Headless Nick knowledgeably, leaning across Neville toward them . "The hat feels itself honor-bound to give the school due warning whenever it feels —" But 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. Nearly Headless Nick placed a see-through finger to his lips and sat primly upright again as the muttering came to an abrupt end.
-TIME SKIP-
Percy was sitting in the headmaster's office absentmindedly petting Fawkes who was sitting in his arm thinking about the song who wants all the houses to be work together without hostility and mostly about the Umbridge woman . Percy don't know much about the previous DADA teachers but something in his mind says Umbridge will be the worst DADA teacher ever to work in Hogwarts .
She is the proof about the Ministry's interference in Hogwarts probably to keep an eye on Dumbledore . Percy smirked knowing Fudge cannot be in his office for more than four months . He could search anywhere in the world and he would never in the million years find the missing dementors .
His thoughts were interrupted Dumbledore saying " Hello Perseus " sitting at the chair opposite to him .
Dumbledore said with twinkle in his eyes " I must say it was a smart idea " .
" Huh " Percy said wondering what he is talking about .
" You know asking Lord Hades to call back some dementors . It is a very good idea " .
" Oh " Percy said with realization . " It's nothing . It was Sam who gave me that idea indirectly . She told me even if one dementor is missing there is a chance of getting Fudge sacked out of his office . So why not make it as one-fourth ? "
" Indeed " Dumbledore said with a satisfied smile .
" So now half of the ministry believes the return of Voldemort right ? " Percy asked
" Yes Percy but the other half believes it was me who had recruited the dementors to take down the ministry " Dumbledore said with amusement as if the idea is amusing him .
" You are kidding . How can they suspect you ? These guys are even dumb than most of the monsters I had seen " Percy said with exasperation throwing his hands in air .
" Unfortunately not everyone is ready to face the truth . You may have noticed Dolores Umbridge who was in Harry's hearing " Dumbledore said grimly his previous amusement vanished .
" So she is here to spy on you " Percy replied .
" Yes and besides that she is here for other purpose if the information I have received is correct " Dumbledore informed .
" And what that might be ? " Percy questioned anxiously thinking with what devious plan the toad face had entered Hogwarts .
" Ministry believes I am building an army with students " Dumbledore replied .
" So what she is going to do ? " But as soon as he asked Percy knew the answer " She is not going to teach us anything " .
Dumbledore nodded grimly .
" Really during important times like this they have to take a stupid decision " Percy said running his hands in his hair in anger .
" So do you have any idea Horcrux ? " Percy asked hoping he will get atleast one good information that day .
" Still it is a no Percy . I am going through some of the memories and I have a few doubts . let's hope it will lead us to Horcruxes " Dumbledore said with a grim smile .
"Yes let's hope " Percy muttered knowing very well Hope is the one thing they needed even when the odds were against them .
-TIME SKIP-
After meeting with Dumbledore , Percy was absentmindedly walking towards the Gryffindor common room when he collided with someone causing them to yelp and drop the books the person carried . Percy looked down and saw Hermione sitting on her butt glaring at him for making her to drop those books .
Percy chuckled and gathered those books which were spilled around her . Once they both collected the books Hermione looked at Percy with a raised eyebrow and asked " What are you doing along the corridor at this time ? "
Percy mimicked her actions and said " I could ask the same to you " .
Hermione huffed showing the books like it was answering the question which it perfectly did. Percy looked around and whispered " I will tell you inside " .
Hermione nodded . Percy took the books from her and started to walk towards the common room followed by Hermione .
Once they both entered the common room after telling the password and nearly getting yelled by the fat lady for disturbing her sleep , they both dropped on the couch , Percy wrapped an around Hermione pulling her near to him .
Hermione leaned into him instinctively and said " Spill " .
Percy sighed absentmindedly rubbing circles on her palm " I went to visit Dumbledore about dementors and ministry " . Hermione nodded understanding what he is talking about " He said the Ministry is suspecting him for the missing of dementors " .
Hermione pulled back from Percy and looked at him like he would say it was a joke and I am kidding but unfortunately not . Hermione saw anything but seriousness etched in Percy's face .
Hermione said anxiously " How can someone dumb like Fudge work as a minister ? "
Percy chuckled " Believe me I know . I said it to Dumbledore and I will say it to you now ' These guys are more dumb than the most of the monsters I have fought " .
Hermione sighed miserably leaning into Percy inhaling his soothing sea scent calming down her nerves " At least they won't find the dementors " .
Percy said with confidence " Yep . There is no way to find them " .
They both sat in comfortable silence staring at the fireplace when Hermione said making Percy to tense " Harry told me about what happened " .
Percy quickly covered then tension and said innocently " What ? "
" Percy don't act dumb " Hermione said with a roll of her eyes " You know you could share with me right " .
" Fine . I don't know how I did it . I don't have any idea whether it is a son of Poseidon thing or is it because I am powerful or is it because of stupid trident " Percy said with frustration running his hand in his hair .
Once he finished ranting Hermione placed her smaller hand on his larger one squeezing it " Hey . It's okay . It is probably because you are powerful , there is no need for frustration " .
" Exactly I don't want more powerful than I already am . I don't want to become some jerks like my half siblings or hot headed like Hercules " Percy retorted angrily .
" It's okay to be powerful Percy . I mean if the power was with someone like You know who then it is not good but you have the power . I know you will never abuse your power instead you will help others with your powers . You will never become like those olden heroes . You are different Percy . You threw down godhood . So take it in the pea sized brain of yours , you will never become a jerk " Hermione said emphasising the last sentence hoping he would understand .
Percy looked at Hermione who was giving him a warning glance that says even if you think like that another time I will punch you . He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead
Percy closed his eyes feeling the warmth of the fire from the fire place which always reminds him of the hearth of Hestia at Olympus . He thought about what Hermione said . He swore to himself he will never become a jerk who abuses his power . He don't know what is the reason for his increase in power but he thought he will start to practice his new powers and will discover other powers he have . They will help him in the upcoming war to protect his loved ones . He looked at the girl in his arms who had played a major part after Annabeth's death . He swore he will never let her die , he will never lose her like how he lost Annabeth .
Stay tuned till next chapter .