Howdy!
How're you all doing? Thank you all for following, favoriting, supporting and waiting for this chapter and story.
I do not own Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, sadly. They are owned by the amazing Rick Riordan and J.K. Rowling! My HeRoEs...
Anyway, back to the story!
:)
-O-O-O-O-
Hermione had to drag her boyfriend all the way from The Burrow - Ron refused to go. Harry, of course, helped - by threatening Ron by spiders.
"-and then, Ron, they climb up your shirt with the hairy, black, spindly legs and bite your skin off with the razor-sharp pincers of theirs," Harry said, wand at the ready. "Bam!" Harry cried, waving his wand and producing an image of a hairy-looking spider from the tip. Ron whimpered and began to walk faster as Hermione and Harry burst into laughter.
After the war, every second seemed so precious. Every minute of laughter. Of feelings. Of their heart beating, their brain working, and their chest rising up and down, up and down with every breath they took.
Harry felt a warm hand slip into his and looked to see Ginny grinning at him. Her fiery red hair shone in the sunlight and her eyes were wide with excitement.
This year, there was no more worrying. No more grieving. No more crying over anyone. No more worrying about Voldemort.
The year was going to be perfect.
-oOo-
The group walked to Platform 9 ¾. The brick column was standing there, as sturdy and whole as ever.
"Ready?" Ginny muttered as she squeezed Harry's hand. Harry hoped his palm wasn't sweaty.
"Ready."
The group, followed by Molly Weasley walked quickly towards the wall and found themselves on the platform. The platform was crowded, now that Voldemort was gone, and Harry looked around, breathing in the scent of magic.
"Thank you for bringing us here, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said as she hugged the woman Harry looked up to as a motherly figure, her hair streaked with light gray. "It was my pleasure, dears," Molly replied, her lips turning into a soft smile as she embraced them in turn. She met Harry last, and it was just them Harry realized how fast time had passed.
Molly Weasley was no longer the plump woman with orange-red hair. Indeed, she was slightly skinnier than a few years back and had saggy circles under her eyes. Her hair was streaked with gray, from age or stress, Harry didn't know. She had been like this ever since Fred Weasley had died.
Funny, mischievous, grinning Fred. Now he was gone.
"Thank you," Harry said as he hugged her, "for everything."
Molly looked tearful as she ushered them to the train. "You can't be late!" She cried.
"But mum, we still have like, twenty minutes left!" Ron groaned as he was pushed towards the train. "No buts!" Mrs. Weasley said sternly. Ronald Weasley hugged his mother and was soon on the bright red steam engine.
They found an empty compartment at the end of the scarlet steam engine. Hanging out of the window to say goodbye, Harry's heart lightened and squeezed at the same time. Mrs. Weasley waved and with a pop, vanished into thin air.
Harry sat down on his seat, his legs spread in front relaxedly. He stroked his new pet owl, Gizmo. "So we really are going, huh?" He finally asked.
"Yeah," Ron, Hermione, and Ginny said at the same time, and, glancing towards each other, began laughing.
"So…." Ron dragged the word out.
"So what?" Hermione asked, skimming through her Standard Book of Spells: Grade Seven.
"Uh…." Ron blushed as his stomach growled loudly. "I'm hungry."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "You just ate breakfast, Ronald!"
"I know, but it wasn't very…. Filling," Ron said sheepishly.
"Filling?" Hermione asked incredulously. "We just had what you call a feast, Ronald!"
"I know, but I used all the food's energy thinking about homework! That's not my fault!"
"Why are you thinking about homework when we didn't get any yet?"
"Well, I-"
"-Stop bickering, you two!" Harry cried.
"We are not bickering!" They both said in unison and then turned scarlet.
Harry suppressed a grin as he watched the two bicker again, red in the face. Ginny decided to interrupt. "Who wants some chocolate frog?" She waved the box in the air and Ron tried to snatch it.
"Hey, don't be ruuuude," Ginny tutted as she blocked Ron's grabbing hands. Ron grunted. Ginny handed Ron over the chocolate frog and Ron tore the package apart. Harry's eyebrows raised at how easily Ginny had given up when he saw Ginny had found another interesting topic.
"Hey, Hermione, Ron, who's he?" Harry asked, following Ginny's gaze.
Standing in the middle of the crowd on the platform was a young man. He looked about nineteen or twenty, a young adult. He had one an orange, faded t-shirt. He had messy black hair, like Harry's, except his hair looked like it had been blown to one side because of the wind. He had green eyes, like Harry, except his was a sea-green while Harry's was emerald green. The similarities ended there.
The man, young adult, teenager, was extremely toned - his muscles were not toned in a bulging way, but in a lean, fit way. He was extremely tanned while Harry was paler than him. But the eyes made the most difference. He had broken sea-green eyes which looked like shattered glass fragments, swirling in the ocean.
He was dragging a small trunk as he glanced around, his sea-green eyes darting. A moment later, he disappeared in between some witches who had just entered the platform.
Hermione spoke. "I've never seen him before. I wonder who he is?"
"He might be a new student, judging by his looks."
"Maybe, Ron. But he does look slightly older than us, doesn't he?"
"Maybe he's re-doing his year. I wonder where he's from. He looks really fit, doesn't he?" Harry said, comparing his skinny arms to the man's toned, strong-looking ones.
"He does," Ginny said, and Harry felt a twinge of jealousy. "But I think Harry's more good-looking."
Ron coughed loudly, his ears slightly red and his eyes glaring slightly.
"Speaking of Harry, that person and Harry looks quite similar, don't they?" Hermione asked as she adjusted the books on her lap.
"Kinda," Harry shrugged, "But his eyes are more oceany, his hair's a bit different and he's fitter than me."
"Mmhmm," Ginny muttered, leaning her head on Harry's shoulder.
Ron coughed again, his face turning pink.
"Do you need a throat lozenge or something?" Hermione asked sarcastically.
Ron grumbled and turned away.
The four faintly heard the whistle sound and the young witches and wizards crying out their last goodbyes.
A few minutes later, another whistle blew and the train started moving. Harry wasn't sure if the guy he had just seen had managed to come aboard the express. He hadn't seen him through the window at all.
The train passed columns and signs and parents waving. It sped up, turned around the corner, and they were gone.
"We're going," Harry breathed out softly.
He felt Ginny smile into his shoulder.
Soon enough, the train was speeding through fields where cattle were grazing - the smell of animal dung drifted in the window and Hermione shut it with her wand.
As Harry went back to reading Quidditch Around The World for the hundredth time, the compartment door slid open. Harry glanced up, hoping for a friendly face he knew, but it was someone he had never thought of encountering.
It was the guy with messy black hair, sea-green eyes, and a toned body. His body looked even fitter and leaner close-up.
"Hi," He waved awkwardly. "Can I sit here? All the other rooms-"
Hermione tutted, muttering something about compartments, "-are full."
Harry noticed something about his accent. It sounded American, pronouncing all the r's where he didn't need to and stuff.
"Sure," Harry said.
The man grinned in a relieved sort of way, and putting his bag on an empty chair, sat down in front of Harry, close to the window.
"I'm Percy Jackson, by the way," the guy said, "from New York."
Oh. So that's why his accent sounded so American.
Ron decided that that moment was to snore loudly. He had fallen asleep. Hermione shoved him and he woke up with a jolt. "Hermione Granger," she said politely, holding out her hand to shake. Percy awkwardly shook it.
"Ron," Ron said, yawning, "Weasley."
"Ginny Weasley."
"Harry Potter," Harry said.
"Cool," Percy said casually. Harry was surprised that he did not react. Most people would gasp and ask for his autograph or something. "So, anyways-"
"-Hang on. Did you hear him right?" Ron interrupted. "He's Harry Potter. The Harry Potter. The boy who lived, the one who vanquished the Dark Lord - you've heard of him, right?"
Percy shrugged. "Maybe. So?"
Ron gaped at him as if he was crazy. Harry stopped Ron before he could say anything. "Ron, it's fine. Leave it." He said wearily.
Hermione immediately asked Percy about America and himself. "Which school did you come from?" She asked enthusiastically. "I bet it's Ilvermorny. It's almost as famous as Hogwarts. Did you come from Ilvermorny?"
Percy's eyes widened. "Uh, I didn't go to Ivymorning. I don't even know what that is."
"Really? Then where did you get educated?"
"Uhm…. It's this camp called-" He paused, then a mischevious smile crept up his face. "Camp Chiron the Flying Pony."
Ginny made a choking noise. "Chiron the Flying Pony?"
"Joking! Na, it's actually called the Camp for the Gifted." Percy grinned lopsidedly, and Harry had a feeling this was his trademark grin.
"Camp for the Gifted? Never heard of it." Hermione said, rummaging in her bag. "Aha!" She pulled out a book titled Wizarding Schools Around the Globe in big, fancy, golden letters.
Percy shook his head. "No, it won't come out in that book because it's a very recent camp."
"Oh, that's fine," Hermione said a bit too brightly, "I can find out about it in the libraries anyway."
Percy looked as if he wanted to retort back but then he turned away.
-oOo-
Percy was a fun guy. He pulled jokes effortlessly and was funny when he didn't mean to be. He had a cool background and was a nice person to hang around with.
But the serious, tense aura never left him even as his sea-green eyes crinkled up as he laughed. His eyes were still broken and swirling, too old to be in his body.
The sky slowly began to darken and angry, swirling purple clouds emerged in the darkening sky. "It's gonna rain," Ginny groaned.
"Is that the Little Mermaid sticker? And Finding Nemo?" Hermione asked suddenly, her eyebrows raised, as she pointed to Percy's trunk.
Harry glanced at it and did a double-take. It was dark blue and had various stickers of a mermaid with red hair and an animated, small fish. Muggles. If they knew what actual merpeople were like, then... Harry shivered to himself.
Percy nodded, raising his eyebrows back. "Got a problem with that?"
Hermione's expression was unreadable, and for a moment Harry thought she was going to lash out at him, but suddenly -
"What? No, not at all! I love Finding Nemo!" Hermione's eyes glinted.
Percy's face broke into a grin. "You do?"
Hermione's face shone, like when it did when she was talking about books. "I love the movie! It's really fun. And the little mermaid?" She laughed quite suddenly. "Puh-lease. It was one of my favorite movies when I was younger."
Percy grinned at her. "I know, right?" He frowned. "I just don't understand why I get teased by it," said Percy, pouting in a way that made him look like a baby seal. "My cousin, she, wow, pesters me about it every day." He rolled his sea-green eyes. "And she's the one who wears the death to barbie t-shirt."
As the two conversed into a conversation, Ron looked slightly grumpy. His ears were turning red.
About a minute into their conversation, Ron finally broke in. "You know what? I also know a lot about the Little Mermaid," said Ron. "And Finding Nero. In fact, I know it better than your friend Percy."
Percy looked to Ron, confused. "It's Finding Nemo," he told him, frowning.
"What?" Ron asked.
"It's Finding Nemo, not Nero," Percy said again, his eyebrows scrunching. Ginny giggled, her eyes on Ron, who's face was as red as his hair.
"Honestly, Ronald, do you? Because the last time I asked you about Cinderella you weren't even listening to me."
Ron's face was so red, Harry thought steam would probably be coming out of his ears.
"I did! You said something about it being the muggle version of Beetle the Bard, or something..." Ron muttered.
Harry laughed - he couldn't help it, and Ginny's giggles turned louder and eventually they were both howling. Percy took a good look at both of them and cracked up, and Hermione had stuffed her fist in her mouth to stop herself from giggling. Ron, his face red, was in the middle of the commotion, his facelooking very annoyed.
"WhAt?" He asked them, huffing.
Just as Harry opened his mouth, there was a knock on the compartment door, and they all turned to see the trolley witch, pushing a big cart in front of her.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?"
Harry glanced at Percy. His eyes were glinting dangerously.
-oOo-
The evening was dark and slightly stormy, with clouds of gray and purple. The rain hadn't started yet but the air felt damp.
Percy had mysteriously disappeared, saying that he needed to take care of something.
The four trudged towards the bright, sparkling lights of the castle. They entered the Great Hall, chatting unconcernedly. Harry looked at the staff table.
Minerva McGonagall, the Headmistress was probably waiting for the first years. Hagrid was escorting the first years at the lake. Everyone else was there - Professor Sinistra, Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor Slughorn, and all the others who hadn't died in the battle. Everyone who was there looked solemn.
There was only one chair missing.
"Where's the defense against the dark arts teacher?" Ginny asked as they noticed one empty seat they didn't know the owner of.
Harry shrugged. "Maybe they couldn't find anyone. I mean, even if Voldemort died, there are still some rumors about DADA being jinxed, isn't there?"
"They probably did find someone," Hermione said.
"Probably…."
The Great Hall's candles shone brightly as the sky outside darkened. Ron groaned as the plated on the table remained empty. "Where's the foooood?!"
The Great Hall gradually filled up and the students barged in, their black robes a flock of ravens. However, they were all quite. Painful memories of the war, perhaps.
As they all seated, the doors to the Great Hall opened and Headmistress McGonagall marched in, a line of nervous-looking first years following.
She placed an old, torn hat on the stool at the very front of the hall. The rip in the brim opened like a mouth, and the hat began to sing.
Of course, every one of you knows all about what happened to the Dark Lord,
But do you know the history,
Of this very castle, like one cord?
You are now safe and sound, now time for a small story,
Let's begin with the founders of this very, very school
Brave Griffindor, the strong, bold ones,
Witty Ravenclaw, clever to the brim of her pool,
Sweet Hufflepuff the loyal ones,
And sly Slytherin the ones with ambition
Now each of you has your own person
Each has your own reservation
And I know you like my dog, Paxton!
Don't worry about anything
You're safe and sound with me,
I'll just have a look at who you are,
And tell where you, belong
The Great Hall burst into applause.
The students began to be sorted. When the last person, Sanitha Penelope, got sorted, Headmistress McGonagall stood up.
"I welcome each and every one of you to a new year, whether you're returning or not. I have some things to say to you all, but as you look very hungry, fill your stomachs first!"
The food was scrumptious. Harry stuffed his mouth with loads of food, and soon the deserts disappeared as well. Percy still hadn't arrived yet.
Headmistress McGonagall stood up. "I would like to inform you…."
Harry zoned out, glancing at a corner of the table, but listened again as the topic of professors emerged.
"-and Professor Slughorn will be the head of Slytherin, and will be teaching potions as well. This year we have a new teacher, who is currently late."
Whispers traveled across the room. Who was this new teacher? What did they teach? Where did they come from?
"He will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, and I shall tell you more about him when he comes. Now, Professor Sinistra will be-"
The Great Hall's heavy doors banged opened and everyone looked around to see Percy Jackson, his closed covered in golden dust, his muscles impressive under his robes. He had changed from his orange t-shirt, Harry noted, but his muscles looked just the same.
Harry swore he saw several girls actually swooning.
Percy was clutching a ball-point pen, by the looks of it, as he raced across the hall and he slid into his seat, looking relieved and sheepish at the same time.
"Ah, here he is. The man of the story. Professor Perseus Jackson from America will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts."
-O-O-O-O-
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