Chapter 3: Turn that Scowl Upside Down
Recap: A new muggle friend definitely spells trouble for us, but hey… never be said that Percy Jackson's life was an easy one.
"Please, have mercy. I've made a terrible mistake."
"You should have thought of that before you deigned to challenge me."
I clicked my tongue, expressing my displeasure. But there was no hiding my quivering hands at the approaching loss I would experience, "After everything we've been through and this is how it ends? Stabbed in the back by my trusted friend?" I glared at my opponent's smirk, so sure of his win.
"You of all people should know, Percy. All is fair in love and war," said Severus as he put down the four rows of 4+ cards before saying, "Uno."
I swear not even Kronos couldn't push me to the verge of crying as I drew 16 cards from the deck. "You are the devil, Sevvy. The devil! You are lucky there's no witch hunt these days, or I'd be calling the muggles on you."
The child in front of me looked further amused that there's no better word to describe than an evil smirk. "Don't call me Sevvy, and I may go easy on you next time."
"Easy my foot! You haven't even won, so don't count your money yet."
"I agree," Lily tossed out her cards then showed off her empty hands, "Since I won the game. Again."
We looked at Lily, then down at the last three cards, then back at Lily, who was gleefully crossing her legs and leaning back in an uncharacteristically arrogant manner. "Unlike you two, I don't need Uno to win. Now, pay up peasants," she laughed while drunk in her victory.
Reasonably, I scattered the cards in frustration, and Sev laid his chocolates onto her candy pile of winnings. Lily engulfed a jelly bear from her stash as if savouring her triumph. Her pet rock, Cory, a tad off to her side, shared in her joy as he had a taste for Toffee Drops.
They say Uno and Monopoly change a person, but this is too drastic even for me to watch. Oh well. It's not like I'm one to judge. Last I played during the Quest of Seven, I almost drowned the ship with a tsunami, and Jason literally stormed away. Leo was not happy that we freaked Fetus out, and game night was banned since.
Ah, good times.
I stood from the couch and went out of the train cabin. "I'm gonna go ahead and change into my robes. You guys keep playing without me," I left after roughing up Sev's new bowl cut for good measure that he didn't appreciate.
"Stop messing with my hair!" He tucked on the hood he sewed onto his robe specifically to hide it.
Lily giggled, "Your hair is already a mess."
I spotted Sev blushing and chuckled at the sight before leaving the compartment with my robe in hand. I searched for the nearest bathroom but unexpectedly met up with someone midway.
"Ho~ isn't this a surprise? Didn't expect to meet our little rival this early in the year." Freaking Damien Sommer greeted me like we're old friends. My back tensed at the sight of his rogue smile. I turned to find another available stall away from the creepy Slytherin.
"Well that was rude," I heard him from behind, far closer than I would have liked, "isn't it a common courtesy to greet your elder regardless of House? I thought better of you, Jackson."
"You're not that thin-skinned."
"That may be true, but neither are you fazed by me. So what has you so skittish?" His voice slicked with mischief gave me goosebumps, as if I was yarn being eyed at by a cat before he inevitably pounced.
"I have no idea what you mean."
"Hmm~ and I thought for sure you have questions over my royal heritage."
His words almost tripped me, and I whirled in shock at his blase attitude. "What the– isn't that a secret?" and after all that trouble of tiptoeing the issue.
"Not really. I don't share nor advertise it, but I don't try to hide it either. Not like I mind anyone finding out."
"Is that so…"
"Yup, seeing guys getting shocked over my family is always hilarious."
'You have a weird sense of humour,' was what I thought.
"Besides, you're a decent mate, Jackson. You wouldn't take advantage of it even if you could. I'm more concerned about why you're all tense."
I'm not tense. I just have no idea how to act around royalty. Should I start calling him his majesty? Am I supposed to bow down when I greet him? How do British people even act around them anyway? I can't even tell if they love or hate the royal family. I can handle gods and magic just fine, but I become a complete disaster when mortals are in the mix. You can ask my previous six schools I was expelled from for testimonies.
At least these days I won't be thrown in jail for insulting them. I don't know how they did things in the 1970s, but that's the bare minimum that I know.
"Is me being in the royal family such a surprise?"
"Well… more like a surprise that the royal family has a wizard in their midst."
"Hmm, true. The royal family knows about the wizarding world, but I'm the first wizard of blue blood in 300 years."
"Three hundred– wow, your family must be proud."
My words caused Damien to gape for some reason. Before I could ask why, he started to laugh, and laugh, and laugh himself hoarse like a madman off his rocker while pointing his finger at me as if I was the crazy one. He didn't stop laughing even as he turned away and waved off goodbye without a single explanation.
That only left me watching his back and feeling ill at ease from the whole encounter.
. . .
Hogwarts Hogwarts Hoggy Warty Hogwarts
Teach us something please~
They seriously need to change their school anthem because I can't sing through it with a straight face and expect to learn from a school that admits their name is a warty hog. Just what were those founders thinking?! It's Gryffindor's fault right, I can only imagine Gryffindor writing this stupid song while drunk. I'm betting my money on Gryffindor. More importantly, why didn't the other three stop him? Why wasn't there anyone who took one look at the words and told him it was a dumb song? That's the one thing I find unbelievable.
In the middle of the High Table, stood Albus Dumbledore. Conducting with the enthusiasm of an inner-city drum major while wearing a shiny white robe that compliments his silver hair and beard. The robe blings with his every movement and makes me wonder if Disco had come early, truly the old man was ahead of his time.
I glanced around, and there were people like Doc, who earnestly sung the song with little shame. Then there were people like Gwen, who kept her mouth closed and dared anyone with her gaze of calling her to sing it. Most of them were like me and mumbled the words with barely any heart.
"Ah~," Dumbledore said from his podium, "Nothing soothes the heart better than music. Now... I usually announce before we sing the school song, but this year I would like to save the thrilling news for last."
Having heard nothing about that sort of news, I was caught off guard just as the rest of the student body. Sitting straight and ears open for the curious news that Albus genuinely was looking forward to, considering his whole face seemed to twinkle and not just his eyes.
"First things first, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, would like you all to refrain from making water slides out of the moving stairways as he has expressed his difficulty in cleaning." Ah, right. Half the classes that day were canceled since most of the students played around for too long. Nobody found out I caused it, right? "And as always, to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest, is in fact, forbidden to all, and the village of Hogsmeade to those below third year."
"Second, I would like to introduce our newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Saeed Fajr." The man in question stood up, wearing an impressive amount of beard and a black beanie. His smile was polite with two hands pressed together in greetings to the student body. Basically, he looked like an average Joe compared to the more exotic teachers we had in the last few years.
"As well as Barbara Selwyn as our new Ancient Runes Professor. Please give them a welcoming applause." The next one was a woman who half-heartedly waved in greeting from her seat beside the new Defense teacher before slumping back her face down the table like a tired Professor whos' been working for decades instead of the fresh face she is.
"Finally, I would proudly like to announce an exciting event this year that will be joined by many major wizarding schools all over the world." The kids that were half-listening or dozed off began to sit up in rapt attention while the Headmaster continued. "An event that will exhibit your acuity, ingenuity, and intellect."
"There are other magic schools?" Gwen expressed her shock. "How come I've never heard of them?"
"Of course there are other magic schools," Doc answered her, "Britain isn't the only nation with wizards."
Meanwhile, the Headmaster flicked his wand to shoot out rope-like matter to spell out the words; Sorcery Convention for Overall Wizard Levels, sparkling with multiple colours like the showboat Albus is before disappearing and left the first letter of each word.
"May I present to all of you the first international wizarding school convention: SCOWL. It will be taking place at Ilvermorny's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Setting aside another of the magical folk's weird name schemes, the Great Hall burst into chatter.
"A competition? And we'll get to go to another wizard school?" One Gryffindor student showed his delight. Everyone shared his sentiment at the thought of going out of the country to a new place that they've only ever heard from stories.
Albus chuckled at the scene while letting them stew in their excitement. "I understand your eagerness may come for different reasons, but please let me finish. This is a new endeavour that the Department of Magical Education and the international magic school communities collaborated on that doesn't involve high-risk gamble of one's life like the tragic failure of the last Triwizard Cup.
"I am sure that a few of you have questions about what this event entails. To summarize: last year my good friend, Nicholas Flamel, proposed to the headmaster of seven major witchcraft schools to create a platform where future generations can stretch their minds and skills while contributing to the wizarding society."
"Get out of here! THE Philosopher Flamel sponsored this?!"
"Never heard of him."
One random kid from the Gryffindor table scoffed, "Listen to that nerd gushing on him."
"Isn't he the guy who can make gold out of nothing and become super-rich?"
"Praise be Flamel!" The same guy easily changed his tune.
The crowd bustled with such notions before quieting down as Albus continued, "Unlike competitions, this is simply an exposition for students to showcase their research of magic."
The excitement died down halfway, and it was understandable when most of them are kids who find the best entertainment to be the fastest broom-racer.
"There will be four categories that all may enter; Potions, Spellcraft, Artificing, and Magical Lifeforms. Those who are interested may enter alone or in a team of two to four people. However, only four teams will be able to join the Convention."
A kid from Ravenclaw table scoffed, "What's the point of wasting time and energy just to show off without a prize?"
"Hmm, an interesting point, Mr. Johnson," said Albus, making the kid blushed from being heard. "True, there would be less motivation without a reward in sight. Something Nicholas has addressed by providing 150 Galleons for the best-acclaimed research for each category and the prestige of raising their school's name."
That certainly caught the interest out of those greedy hellions as they started talking about what they might do with that much money.
"There'll be no restriction to what year you are to participate. The first deadline for the submission will be 11th November. For more information, you can ask your Head of House. I'm looking forward to what you will present to SCOWL. Now with that out of the way, let us begin our feast. Nitwit. Butterfinger!"
Then with the clap of his hand, signalled the arrival of our freshly cooked food. The banquet had a rowdy start, and even between bites, I could tell the kids were still discussing the Convention.
Whether or not they'd be joining the event, some were already imagining what they'll look forward to once arriving at a foreign school.
I listened from one ear to another since it wasn't my business nor was I interested. Those types of conferences or conventions are where the nerds gather. It's one thing if my girlfriend joins, but there's no point looking forward to something that I'll barely make heads or tails. I know jackshit about researching magic. I'm not Sev.
"Doc, you're definitely joining, right? You're one of the smartest wizards around, there's no way you wouldn't blow through the other contestants," Gwen nudged her friend.
Doc blushed and fiddled with his spoon and fork, "I-I don't know. I have a few ideas. But- but I don't think I can confidently present them. I stutter a lot, and I get anxious in front of a lot of people."
"That type of thing you just need to think of them like potatoes, Doc. Heck, we can make Potato-Vision glasses for all the stage-frightened people and have you use it."
"We? You- do you want to team up with me?"
"Who else? The three of us are definitely going to bomb the convention."
I choked on my meatball and had to forcefully swallow it down, "When did I agree on this?!"
"Oh, right. You'll be joining your usual squad," she sighed in mock dismay, "Guess it'll be just the two of us then, Doc."
"No, no, no." I waved my hand in disagreement, "I never said anything about joining anything. Do I look like someone who sits down quietly while writing a paper about how magic brooms are made? I barely pass my written exams as it is."
The two of them looked to me like they couldn't believe what I was saying, while I was left confused as to why they ever felt that way in the first place.
"Err, Percy… I-I thought you wanted to visit home?"
I blinked, not sure where he was coming from, "Huh? Doc, what are you— what does that have to do with anything?"
Gwen sighed and patted me on the shoulder, "Perce, buddy, mate, do you even know where Ilvermorny is?"
Ilvermorny? That sounds familiar. I was sure Sev mentioned that place before. Isn't that the magic school at… at…
I wasn't sure what kind of expression I had at that moment, but it was enough to make Gwen throw her hands up, "And finally it dawns on the bloke!"
"Percy," Doc's tone turned oddly gentle, "Ilvermory is in the States. You can go back home."
AN: FINALLY!
Introducing Sorcery Convention for Overall Wizard Levels aka SCOWL! (I like to credit my beta for coming up with that name).
Because why the hell does wizard jocks get all spotlight?! We, nerds deserve as much credit to look badass to the readers. I'll do my best to create a cool and lively convention as much as possible.
Time for the QR&A where I answer your questions and thank you all for the luvs.
Patolemus: I write my main plot as well as the epilogue at the same time so yes, Severus is getting pulled into more and more of Harry's hijinks reluctantly and still in denial. Also, I can't promise more Damien-Marlene dynamics but I can promise more coverage on Damien because even I'm starting to like him. Sev's angst phase has to be iconic as well as a mood, it's the only way to make him likable wkwkwk.
Thank you as always for your review. I hope you like this newest chapter.
Theseus-Theo: Thank you! Hope you like my newest chapter.
ZaydenBlaze: I've got news for you; Percebeth to the death!
Scl04: Well? Hope I didn't over-hype it because it's basically a magic nerd convention. Honestly, trying to write about political or civil unrest would have been difficult but then I looked at the US during the insurrection and I was taking notes like fire. Also, it took me a second read on the name 'Monica Holmes' because dammit that is such a better name compared to mine and I wish I thought of that!
Black' Victor Cachat: You can bet as much as you want on who Monica is but I'm not giving you the answer ;)
Stjinbus: FFN often does that. I recommend reading at AO3 but I haven't uploaded all the chapters yet.
The Monarch12: She may or may not be. Monica is a common name. ANd thank you so much for the compliment :)