Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews, favorites, and follows everyone! It truly means a lot. I am still trying to keep as close to the original "Who's the New Guy" story as possible. But I am going to be changing a lot as well, you'll be seeing one in this chapter, (I'm not going to tell you what I'm changing, because where's the fun in that?)Nevertheless, I am going to keep the time line. Sorry I didn't update, my residence got evacuated and I ended up losing my finished chapter.
*Important and angry* this is addressing the comment, "going back on your promise to update already?" I would like to remind people that I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT. And I am up to my elbows in homework. Telling me to "update" and becoming rude about when I update will make me drop writing all together and focus on my school instead, (you know, the school I'm paying out the ear for.) I love you guys, I really really really do, but it's so disheartening and disappointing when I update a chapter and 5 of the 7 reviews I get are "update" . I'm going out of my way and taking hours of my time to edit, plot, and write a chapter and the only review I get is "update". That is not a compliment and PMing me with threats is making me not want to update at all, that's why "This Means War" and "Do You Know Them" have not been updated. I'm sorry if I'm coming off as "bitchy" or "rude" but I'm getting very frustrated and I'm coming to my wits end.
Pairings: All canon couples and one sided Percy/ Hermione
One sided definition—when one character has feelings for another but they are not reciprocated.
Chapter 3:
Who's the New Guy?
Blaring train whistles echoed through King Cross Station like car horns in the dead of night.
Harry walked closely beside his ginger best friend Ron's very large family, as he pushed his cart of luggage through the crowd of muggles.
"It's the same thing every year, packed with muggles!" Molly Weasley, Ron's plump and kind mother shouted over the loud noise.
Harry grinned and shuffled closer towards Ron, "she says that every year," the taller boy grumbled.
Harry snickered, "maybe it's true every year."
"Will you two hurry up?! It's two minutes till eleven, you'll miss the train!" Mrs. Weasley scolded Ron and Harry. The two boys picked up their pace and fell in behind the twins, who were being forced into going back to Hogwarts to finish their final year.
"Yeah Merlin forbid we miss the train," Fred Weasley dramatically gasp.
"What would we ever do?" George Weasley piped in.
"It's not like we have a successful joke shop or anything," The twins said at the same time, as the group near the brick wall between platform 9 and 10.
Mrs. Weasley stopped just before the barrier and spun on her heels to look at her sons.
"We've talked about this till I was blue in the face, you're finishing your Hogwarts schooling and that's final. No go." She made some hurry up and go motion with her hands as the twins barreled through the wall.
Ginny, Ron's younger sister, quickly kissed her mother on the cheek and followed after her brothers.
Harry and Ron were the last ones to run through the barrier. They both said a farewell to Mrs. Weasley and swore to stay out of trouble this year.
Once the pair of friends stepped on platform 9¾ they swiftly pushed through the crowd of proud parents, jumping on the train just as the clock tolled eleven.
"That was a close one." Ron grinned while leading the way down the aisle.
As Harry moved through the train his eyes wondered into every passing compartment. Most were filled with excited witches and wizards catching up on summer events, reminiscing of past memories, and sharing thoughts on what lay head for the year. However there was one semi-empty compartment that caught his eye.
The compartment only held one student, who Harry had never seen before. The tall teen had his dancer like limbs draped over both set of seats and his curly ink black head was rested lazily against the misted window. The boy looked to be in a deep slumber.
"Hey Ron," Harry stopped his friend, "Have you seen this guy before?"
Ron looked into the cabin and shook his head, "can't say that I have, must be a new student. He looks like he's in our year."
Harry nodded, "must be."
"Hey Harry," Ron said, drawing his attention, "I gotta go find Hermione in the prefects compartment. I'll see you later." He promised.
Harry sighed as he watched his friend trot off down the train without him.
OOooOO
Percy hated trains. Ever since the run in he had a few months ago with Hazel, Frank, and a few blood thirsty griffins he had developed a hatred for them.
After a few hours of a rather uncomfortable shadow travel ride, courtesy of Mrs. O'Leary, Percy found himself trapped on a train heading for a very long trip to Hogwarts.
He quickly poured himself an empty cabin and made himself as comfortable as possible.
Percy tossed and turned in his compartment as more students filed on to the train. He felt awkward as some of the students stopped to look at him like he was a caged animal on display for their enjoyment.
He sighed and stared out the window onto the station platform filled with students and parents saying goodbye. Percy wished that he could fall asleep, but every time he closed his eyes he was pulled into a unpleasant nightmare or memory.
Suddenly the black haired son of Poseidon remembered that Katie Gardner, the brown hair green eyed daughter of Demeter, had given him a gift before he left.
He sat up and reached under his seat, pulling out his blue Adidas gym bag. He riffled around in it until he found his thermos. The thermos contained a herbal tea made from an African Dream root. Apparently it would give Percy control over his dreams. Katie had sworn by it and had started growing it since Percy returned to camp.
The tea had a foul smell and even a more foul taste to it, but Percy took a deep breath and drank a cup of the liquid. Once he had swallowed the liquid he quickly felt the effects and made himself comfy once again.
Soon his eyes dropped and he fell into a dreamless sleep.
OOooOO
The sound of a crying whistle woke Percy with a fright. He jumped out of his seat and was surprised to see a blond girl reading an upside down magazine sitting across from him.
"Hello?" Percy said as he stretched out the kinks in his back. He felt surprisingly refreshed, which is something he hasn't felt in a while.
The girl lowered her odd magazine and smiled at him. She was pretty, in an odd sort of way. Her hair was a blond wild mess and she wore large purple strange glasses.
"Hello," She said in a faraway dreamy voice. "Are you new?"
Percy nodded and looked out the window. The train was slowly passing dark rolling country side. He guessed that they were nearing Hogwarts.
"I'm from New York," He told her, "where you here the whole time?"
The girl shook her head, "No, I just got here a few hours ago" she said simply.
Percy couldn't help but smile at her, "I'm Percy Jackson," he introduced himself.
"Luna, Luna Lovegood." She told him just as the train rolled to a stop.
Percy smiled, "I like your glasses,"
The girl smiled, "They're to see Wrackspurt…They're invisible you see. They float in through your eyes and make your brain go fuzzy," she said. "I thought I felt one zooming around in here."
Percy blinked at her. He was half torn between believing her and laughing at how ridiculous it sounded. He chose to believe her. He had seen enough craziness in his life not to think she was joking.
"Are there any in here?" he asked looking around the compartment.
Luna smiled at him, "no, it's all good, but we need to get going. Or we'll miss the feast. I really want some pudding."
Percy stood up and pushed the door open, "Well, we wouldn't want that." He motioned for her to lead the way.
Luna stood up, handed him his bag and lead the way out of the train.
He followed the blond headed girl to a set of carriages that were being pulled by some hellish horses Percy had never seen before.
The horse breed had leathery bat wings, a skeletal body, and a face with reptilian features. Percy wondered why he had never see horses like these before.
M'lord the horse said in a voice so spine chilling that Percy thought his blood would turn to ice.
"You can see them, can't you?" Luna asked. Percy had forgotten all about the blond girl.
"Why shouldn't I be able to see them?" He turned to look at her.
"Most can't see Thestral's" She explained while reaching out to stroke the beast, "only those who have seen death up close."
Percy nodded at the grim sentiment. He wondered if he would be able to still see the Thestral without seeing death.
No M'lord, only those who have seen the horror of death can see us the Thestral said in its disturbing voice.
"Come along," Luna said pushing Percy around the Thestral.
It was an honor to meet you M'lord. Percy bowed his head at the creature and stepped into the carriage after Luna.
When the pair climbed into the carriage Percy took notice to a short hair pudgy blond boy who Luna sat next to.
"Hello Neville, have a good summer?" Luna asked the blond boy.
He nodded and eyed Percy suspiciously, "Yes I did." he pause, "I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you."
Percy smiled, "I'm new, I moved here from New York."
"Oh," Suddenly the boy's face became much friendlier, "I'm Neville Longbottom, please to meet you." The boy stuck out his hand for a shake.
"Percy Jackson," Percy said and shook the boys hand.
Soon the carriage started to roll off to a giant castle.
OOooOO
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I trust you all had a good summer!" Professor Dumbledore said, his voice ringing out through the Great Hall.
Harry slouched in his seat next to his two best friends. His stomach was crying out for food.
"Urg, I should have eaten something on the train," He complained to his friends.
Ron nodded in agreement, "I'm with you there. I'm so hungry I could eat the sorting hat."
Harry snorted as Hermione glared at them to be quiet.
"Now with every year comes the time for sorting of the first years. Professor McGonagall, if you please." Dumbledore turned and motioned for Professor McGonagall to start the sorting.
The stern witch clad in ivory robes step out onto the stage holding the ancient sorting hat and a three legged milking stool.
"When I call your name you will step up, get sorted, and sit with your new respected houses." Professor McGonagall explained as she unrolled a piece of parchment.
Soon she started naming out first years who all looked petrified.
Professor McGonagall cut down the list quickly, three students got sorted into Hufflepuff, two into Ravenclaw, and one into Slytherin. By the way things were looking Gryffindor might not get any new students.
"Eric Hillington," She called out and a skinny blond first year clambered up the steps to the stool.
McGonagall placed the sorting hat on this head and within a few minutes it shouted out, "HUFFLEPUFF."
The boy smiled as the Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers.
"Percy Jackson," McGonagall called next and the sleeping boy from the train walked up the steps.
"Hey it's the kid from the train," Harry whispered as he nudged Ron to look.
"Yeah it's the new kid from New York, he's pretty nice," Neville whispered to them. The blond boy sat across from Harry, Ron, and Hermione and was sandwiched between the twins.
"You know him?" Harry questioned, the train boy was having a conversation with McGonagall before the sorting began, and his head remained turned from the students.
"Not great. We shared a carriage to the castle, and we just had a conversation about why jumpers were named jumpers." Neville explained, as the hall grew quiet once again.
Percy had finally seated himself on the wooden stool and was waiting for the hat to be placed. His hair was even wilder then before, his skin was a medium tan and he had blue and green mixed eyes. From the corner of Harry's eye he saw Ginny and Hermione exchange a look. It was a look Harry use to see when Cedric Diggory strolled down the halls of the school.
Finally Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on Percy's dishevelled black hair.
The sorting hat perched its self on the boys head and thought for a moment.
"Interesting…very interesting," The hats voice rang out across the hall. "You have the cleverness of a Slytherin, the loyalty of a Hufflepuff, and the bravery of a Gryffindor. However, you shy from your cleverness, your loyalties have been questioned, and your confidence is virtually gone." The sorting hat said. By now all three houses were buzzing with interest. It wasn't very common that a student stumped the sorting hat with three house options.
"I hope he gets put in our house," Neville said while the twins nodded in agreement.
"As long as we beat Hufflepuff and Slytherin," the twins said.
"Each house would value from your skill, but the question is, what house would you value the most?" There was a pause of silent before the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"