Chapter 2: Going to Camp Ginger
Words: 3,324
Recap: Peace never last, mine ended by an unwanted training camp that made miss mine, and Chiron wasn't a slouch in that.
Today's the day.
The time to leave for training camp.
It may not be the camp, but the thought of going one for the summer just gave the nostalgic clutch in the chest. It's like a stabby feeling, but it was more of a small but gazillion metaphysical stabs from inside-out rather than one large physical side-to-side stab.
It was weird saying goodbye at the front porch of my apartment instead of on the street or a station before I leave town. I mean with the Floo, you could practically go anywhere with a fireplace attached. My mind wandered to a guy carrying a portable fireplace on his back, and I shook off that thought.
Sev was beside me, both of us had our luggage packed. He decided to borrow my fireplace instead of his family's to floo his way out.
Lily's smile was the most forced I've seen her in. She did not at all want us to leave but didn't say anything. "Have you packed enough clothes? Did you clean your broom? Do you know the name of the place? Don't bite your tongue if you do."
"Lily, relax. You're acting like a mother hen. Besides, what idiot would mess up a name in a Floo?"
"Well someone has to worry over you. Who else, otherwise?"
"Point. But trust me, I'll be fine."
"You better be, both of you." She stepped forward and gave us a tight hug. "Don't go making trouble without me."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Lily laughed, letting go before she began waving goodbye while running off to the distance.
In my flat, I made sure to lock the door before Sev and I stood before the fireplace. A bowl of Floo prepared by Hecate was there and we each took a handful of it.
Sev was first to step into the bottom of the chimney, mouth opened at the first syllable of his destination when he seemed to remember something, and dug out a familiar large bottle from his pockets.
He gave the bottle to me. "What's this?" I asked to be sure.
"Sleeping Draught. It occurred to me that you might need it, considering your nightmares had gotten worse."
The muscle on my back tensed, but I kept a light smile on my face. "I didn't think you noticed."
"I can tell from the ingredients you 'borrowed' from my house, idiot. And you're not fooling anyone with that big eyebags of yours."
I chuckled, awkwardly. I put down my bag and took the bottle regardless. He wasn't wrong that I've been needing it when the nightmares were taken up a notch. You would think one would get used to them but nooooo, your head just finds new ways to mess with you.
"Thanks, Severus."
He waved off my gratitude, "Don't start getting soft on me. Hogback Mansion." Sev threw the Floo, and in the next second, he was gone.
Replacing where he was, I took a deep breath before citing, "The Burrow."
I threw the Floo down and wondered if this is how tripping felt like.
The fire might not have burned, but the smoke certainly could have been more desirable. I hacked out smokes before a pair of identical faces greeted me.
"Hiya, Jackson. Welcome–"
"–to your worst nightmare," the other twin darkly said. Gideon shot a dirty look to his brother and whacked him from behind. "I mean, abode. Welcome to our humble abode."
"Thanks… I guess." I walked out of the fireplace and took a good look at where I was. First impression I would say; it was the most generic living room a family could have. But not like in one of those home decor catalogs with their fancy interior design, but the homey-looking room that you'd see in children's picture books. There was an armchair just next to a large wooden bookshelf, a large sofa next to it, the walls filled with family photos almost to the point of no organization, and some children's drawing as well.
Then from the next room, a young plump woman, possibly in her early 20s, marching up to the room, having followed the noise. A scowl marred her face and her hands on her hips, looking like a lecture possibly ready on her lips, "Fabian, I hope you're not troubling your brother's friend."
Fabian clutched his chest as if she struck him there, "Dearest Sister, you wound me, have a little faith."
"I do have faith, that's why I asked," she deadpanned. She then turned her glare to me, and I froze. Looking down at myself thinking I might have done something wrong like making her wood dirty from all the soot. But she was quick to give me a gentle smile that reached her eyes. "I'm sorry for the rude welcome they gave you, Dear. They don't know the first thing about proper hospitality."
"Not true," Gideon countered, "I, for one, know how to give a proper welcome." He turned and shoved out a hand for me to shake, "Thank you for coming, Percy. We already prepared lunch and a room you'll be staying in. Ask me anything if you need to make your stay comfortable as fellow Hufflepuffs."
"You can start by dropping that weird polite speech you're making, that's uncomfortable," I bluntly stated.
Gideon's face dropped, and Fabian laughed. "Oooh, I like this kid." He pulled me into a rough hug and ruffled my hair into more unruly than usual, "Come on, I'll show you what a real 'hospitality' is like. Do you want to eat lunch or skip straight to the ice cream pancake sandwich?"
My eyes shone in excitement at the choices, "Now, you're speaking my language."
"Oi," Gideon started protesting, "He's my guest!"
"And you've been a wonderful host, Gideon. How about you start prepping up towels and served his lunch?"
"Oh, and making him sick on the first day and being irresponsible is a sure way to go isn't-?
"Boys, no fighting at my house, or you'll be sleeping outside!" Their sister warned them, and from the identical faces they had, she wasn't joking. "Gideon, go and set Percy's bag in the room. Fabian, for the love of Merlin, be sensible for one minute and actually give the guest a proper meal for once, and don't even think about bringing in one of your games. This is my house, my rules and I will not stand either of your antics in my home, do I make myself clear?!"
"Yes, Molly," They coursed with subdued tone.
Nodding in satisfaction, she turned her attention back on me, and my spine straightened instinctively, "I'm sorry for giving you a scene, Percy, is there anything you might need, dear?"
"Not at all, you have such a lovely home, I don't think there's anything I would need for more Miss Prewett."
"It's Weasley now, dear. Even so, if any of these boys cause trouble, you come straight to me, and I'll give them a well-deserved spanking." She looked so serious saying it, I had half-a-mind to do so just to see what will happen. Instead, I smiled and nodded politely before she went off with a satisfied huffed.
The bubble of silence burst as Fabian mockingly said, "What are you waiting for? Go take his bag and leave it in his room since you're so big in showing proper 'hospitality', little brother."
Gideon grumbled but flicked his wand out and levitate it toward my supposed room, while Fabian snickered at his obedient brother, "He's so easy to mess around with."
After a quick "thank you" to Fabian and Gideon's sister and fulfilling lunch, then the twins showed me the large backyard where my full team can play in. Marlene, Mason, Jeremiah, Howey, and Chris are already there. Once she spotted me, our revered and respected leader beamed. "Oh good, you're here. Hurry and help de-gnoming with us!"
De-gno-what? My confusion must have been obvious because then Gideon pointed out, "Haven't you ever pull out gnomes from the garden? They're quite a pest."
Fabian walked over and dig his arm in a small hole before pulling out the ugliest baby-faced potato I've ever seen that it could have auditioned for the Chuckie Movie. It's tiny legs kicking the air and with its squeaky voice, demanding to let him go.
"This is a gnome. I'm surprised you never see this little bugger, seeing as it's everywhere. Here, have a look." He shoved it right into my face.
I looked at the gnome.
The gnome looked at me.
The creature made high-pitch screech that would make even a baby mandrake proud, and I screamed back in shock, then the twins screamed in reaction, and there were just three boys screaming at one another as the little monster-plant escape Fabian's grip and ran away. The ground shook beneath us, and what came pouring out from the ground was a small army of gnomes as they screamed in unison away from the field like the demons were on their tail.
All of us said nothing as we watched on the scurry of a group of potato heads into the far out into the field to who knows where.
"Wow, what did you put on yourself, Jackson. The gnomes couldn't stand you."
"How should I know?" Usually, my scent baits monster, not keep them away.
"Well, whatever it is, I sure like some of that. Would make chores a lot easier if all the pest just runs away from me instead of having to chase them off."
"Great!" Marlene clapped her hands, getting everyone's attention. "Thanks to Percy, we can start training right away. Hufflepuff, positions!"
There was a resounding groaning sound, and Marlene's smile fell into a much scarier face, "Did I stutter? I say POSITIONS!"
We got into position.
Our Captain stood and looked over the row of players in the team, and smiled at the effect of her authority."Good to see everyone here. Now, as you all know you've been deplorable in that last match the moment Jackson wasn't in his 100%, I've decided that you crapheads need to be shaped up personally or you'll be dragging this team's name to the dirt. With that said, you better put your collective arses to work before I shoved your brooms up on them so hard, you'll get splinters in your stool."
The whole team was tensed as she walked carefully passed by us, one by one, locking eyes with each of us as if daring anyone to flinch at her watch.
"Well, what are you sissies waiting for? Get your broom and fly! Go! Go! GO!"
We all scrambled for our brooms and quickly went up in the air. The Captain drilled us with the usual warm-ups; cut-back flights, sprint flight, 1v1 target-defend practice, tag flight (which is an actual drill practice for Quidditch), experimenting with new maneuvers and strategies. What made this drill hardcore was the constant militaristic voice Marlene kept barking at us.
"You call that flying?! My Grandmother can make you eat her dust from Sunday to back, God rest her soul!"
"If you don't make a perfect 360 loop with one hand, or I'll make sure you won't need one."
"Howey, if you don't find all the marbles in 5 more minutes, I'm gonna shove them down your throat."
"Do you think this is a witches squad? Put your back into it!"
I was glad Clarisse wasn't here or those two would be butting heads so hard, McGonagall would wish they only had fistfights.
By tea time, other than Marlene who looked much too bright for doing the same workout as us, the rest of us were slouched, soaking on the coolness of the ground, and actually be grateful for kissing it. "Alright, we'll stop training for today. But rest assured this is just a warm-up, by tomorrow we'll also have night drills."
We were all too tired to be properly horrified.
Fabian was drinking butterbeer, watching us struggling without care, "Good thing my captain isn't as mad," he said on the side.
Molly Weasley then came out with a tray of sweet drinks all around. We basically crowded her like chicks demanding their share of worms from their mother hen. She complimented on our hard work before her eyes widen in alarm at the sight of Fabian.
"Fabby, where's Bill?"
The drink he was sipping abruptly stop. There was a long drawn out, "Err…" Obviously, trying to come up with an answer but failed.
I briefly wondered who Bill is that got her so scared when a baby-like shadow was perching on top of the two-story house. Handwaving to get their attention, but making the toddler looked off-balance instead.
"Guys…" the Seeker started saying, apparently he saw the same thing I did. But the panic tension in the group made them deaf to his words.
"Fabian, didn't I asked you to watch over Bill?"
"Err, guys?" I began as well, but again, no one was hearing.
"Wait, wasn't he with you?"
"Guuuuuuuuys!"
"Did any of you actually watch my son?!"
"GUYS!" Everyone turned to me, and Howey pointed at the small figure on the roof. "Look!"
"Oh my God, Bill!" Molly screeched.
The toddler clapped his hands, giggling at getting their attention. Everyone began scrambling for their broom, in a hurry to get up quickly and get the boy off the roof. But us panicking, must have gotten him more excited, because he laughed harder and began walking closer, and we were all screaming "No!"
Bill fell.
By that time, I had scaled up a wall, leap off from it, do a backflip, and then catching the toddler in my arms before landing with a safe toddler in my hand.
Bill squealed in delight while Molly cried in relief.
She ran up and pulled her son close until she was squishing him to her chest. Repeatedly, she thanked me with tears wetting her cheek. Molly stayed there until she was no longer in panic while cradling her boy. Once the tension left the air, everyone broke out of their stupor before girding me with shock awe at my action.
"Wow, Percy, since when can you do that?"
"That was awesome, Jackson! Can you do that again?"
"I can't believe what I saw. That was amazing!"
Stuff like that.
There wasn't a lot I could say other than I have the blood of a godly power running through my veins. I was saved from explaining anything when Marlene clapped for their attention, "Alright you gawkers, as impressive as Jackson was, he can impress us with more of his moves during practice. But if you guys have enough energy…"
"Oh, boy, what's that? Is it time for dinner?"
"Hey, hey, isn't that time for Weekly Witches?"
"If you guys need me, don't wake me until dinner, bye!"
They dispersed like ants and inwardly, I felt grateful for my captain's one-track mind in sports. But before she left to follow the rest of her mates in, she looked back at me and smirk, "By the way, nice hair. The color looks good on you."
It was a random compliment. My brows knit together, silently asking her what she was talking about. She snorted and just waved at my hair before leaving me. Back inside, I searched for a mirror and blinked back at the red-headed figure looking back at me.
"Huh," I said, "I do look good in red."
. . .
"Molly, how could you forget our little brother, Perseus," Fabian gushed, putting an arm around me.
"Shame on you, Sister, shame on you."
Having another ginger in the house proceeds to be non-stop family jokes by the resident twin jokers. I can't blame them, seeing the family photos hanging on the walls, both the Weasleys and the Prewetss had an excessive amount of red-heads in their family.
Molly showed how unimpressive they were by her flat expression, "Boys, I've lived with your antics for 12 years, spare me in my own home, please."
"You say that now, but you know you miss us."
"How could you not? We're charming and delightful."
That actually made me sputter out my steak, my laughter trying to choke me to death.
Molly, bless her, patted my back in a soothing motion, "You might want to downplay one of your lies before you kill someone these days."
Once I had gained my breathing and a glass of water, then a soft patting made me turn. Billy was patting my arm from across the baby chair he was on as if that would soothe my aching chest, but that only made me laughed even harder along with the rest of the table.
Molly grinned, delightfully, "Look at that, Billy likes you. That's adorable."
"How could he not?" Chris put in a good word, "Percy's his hero."
As if to affirm this, Billy looked up with wide expectant eyes, you know… the kind where you looked upon with those hero-worship eyes like you can do anything, and you're just busy mentally sending him a message: 'Jeez, kid. I'm flattered, but you need a better role model or we'll both be disappointed.'
Billy took that message as a sign for him to claw himself from his chair and on my lap, my chest, and was up on my head. Even going so far as to stepping my face. The table roared in laughter as I turn from hero to mule in zero seconds in the kid's eyes.
"Flip! Flip!" He commanded while pulling my hair.
I chuckled, "No way, kid. You just ate, and I don't want your barf anywhere near me."
"Flip again! Flip again!" He insisted, and this time his magic reacted to his demands, lifting me up on the chair and made both os us float like it was zero gravity in the room. The others were quick to pull out their wands, but Billy was a clever kid for his age because he giggled and all the wands in the room floated alongside me.
Fabian looked at the scene and whistled in awe, "Well, Sis, looks like you have a prankster in the making."
Molly grumbled, "Not if I have anything to say about it. Billy, get down right now or no bedtime story for you!"
Instead of complying with the threat, Billy sniffed then burst into tears. I was floating crossed leg when I felt the slightest pull of gravity and shifted so Bill got cushioned in his fall on me as I dropped on my back. His tears turned to screams of delight at my pain.
"Oh God, Percy, I'm so sorry. Bill! Apologize to Brother Percy!"
"No, no," I groaned out as I sat upright, "It's okay, I've had worse." And man, ain't that the hardcore truth.
But Bill pulled me by the lapel. His mouth curved into a pout, eyes still teary as he softly said "Sorry" with that baby cheeks puffed.
Aaawwwwww, how could I stay mad at the little guy?
"I forgive you, little guy. Hey, if you a bedtime story so bad, why don't I tell you one later?"
"Sweetie, you don't have to."
"I want to. I've got lots of stories. Particularly, hero ones. Action, adventure, mystery, and romance, bet you love those, huh, buddy?"
"Yeah! storytime! Storytime!" Bill cheered.
Dinner continued as if nothing happened, but in my head, I shuffled a few of my experiences on Camp Half-Blood into an appropriate PG-rated story and decided to tell how a scarred hero named Luke who make mistakes but ended up saving the world in the end.
Plus. it'll be good practice when my little sister comes. I can't wait to be a big brother.
I looked at Bill, and as Molly feed him. He started burping with a fire out of his mouth. And then laughed at her surprised gasp.
Okay, maybe I can wait a little bit longer for her.
AN: Introducing Kid!Bill. Tell me honestly, did any of you saw any of this coming? And according to my memory, when you have twins, someone in the family is more likely to be related to twins as well. So I thought I have Fabian and Gideon Prewett to be our lovely twinies but with the dynamic of my childhood sitcom, graced from the lobby of the Tipton Hotel.
Now on to the QRA...
Patolemus: Sorry about the chills. I have triggers, okay? I'm glad you like the domestic and adventure intertwined in their lives. The kind of life they could have in the future if things weren't so bloody complicated. The innocent lives when being children you know, when you don't care about the big stuff. Which makes the last line that much sadder. My favorite domestic scene is deciding their music taste. I briefly consider Sev for a Soul or Rock genre, but then I thought he's a conservative and likes class so classical for him. I'm pretty sure he vibes hard with Paganini. Oh, and there's your Quidditch Training Camp, hope you enjoyed it.
FolkLuz21: Te adoro a ti y tus commentarios *Heart Eye* Why do your comments always make me blush. I'm glad you love the Trio just hanging out and chill because I need to make their relationship precious before shits hits the fans. I don't know what else to say because all your comments are just gushing my Golden Trio and I'm pretty sure I can only keep saying THANK, THANK YOU THANK YOU! Your words always seem to lift me up. It's one thing to comment on how good a fic is, but you always point out your favorite parts and what makes you enjoy it, so it feels like you pay attention to the details and stuff, you know? I'm really grateful for that. I feel like I don't have the words to convey enough how I feel (and isn't that ironic). So I hope my work will be enough to keep you happy.
Bunearybunny: Wow, a lot of people seem to love the Domestic Trio Scene, I should put it more. The fact that the Third Year is a cool-down compared to last and the coming year will help. (Though there'll be action, no doubt about that.) Percy's glasses has been there since Act 1. Dumbledore gave it to him on his first visit because as a fellow Demigod, dyslexia sucks! Thank you for your kind words. Hope you enjoyed this chapter too.
Lady Palla: Thank you for favoriting it! and PERCYnality. HA! That's a good one. It's one of the features that made me love Uncle Rick's work in the first place.
64Felicity and dhodges507: I can only say, again, I'm sorry but I'm not sorry for the last line. It was necessary. Also, because I like hitting the feels when you least expect them. Because I'm an author. and Authors are secretly evil little bastards/bitches.
Zepheonix: Percy can be cruel, but not that cruel... yet.
prietar: I'm glad you like their dynamics :) Percy has no problem treating Lily as an equal despite their mental age difference because he knows as a child, he hates being treated as either a loose cannon or with kiddy gloves just because he's different. He respects adults who treated him right so even if Lily and Sev are young and inexperienced doesn't mean they don't deserve respect for their own reasons and virtues. But yes, over time he might think of her as a little sister who he helps guide in his own way, though I doubt our oblivious half-blood realize what he's doing.