The next days passed dully. After the trip to Diagon Alley, Grover had forced Percy to stay inside at the inn for his remaining time.
Percy didn't tell Grover of his experience at Ollivanders wand shop. If he did, he suspected that he wouldn't be leaving anywhere anytime soon, least of all the inn.
In his time before school started, Percy had made friends with the inn keeper, Pia Plumington. She was a short and plump woman with graying hair and rosy cheeks. Her face always bore a cherry red smile and her hair was always put out of her face in a bun. Percy found her very grandmotherly. He never had a grandmother.
She spoke in a high, sweet voice, but could make demands like no other. The few workers at the inn held her at a high respect and loved her dearly, as if she was their own family.
Percy had learned a great deal about Pia Plumington as she loved to talk. She told him of stories from when she was young and first tried to fly on a broomstick before falling face first into the mud. She told him how she too went to Hogwarts and was a prefect for the Hufflepuff house. Most of what she told Percy was gibberish to him, yet he couldn't help feeling content by the nonsensical tales.
Tonight was the last night Percy would be staying at the inn. The next day him and Grover were to board on a train at Kings Cross Station to get to the school. Percy swore Grover had said they'd need to go to platform 9 ¾ but such a thing didn't exist. Or so Percy believed.
Pia Plumington sat at one of the inn's tables, Percy on the opposite side of her. She passed him a ceramic mug filled to the brim with steaming hot chocolate.
The scent of the piping drink wafted its richness into Percy's nostrils. Just the look of the drink created a pleasant warmth of home in him that he hadn't felt since he left his mother.
"Thanks." He said, sliding the mug over to him.
"Anytime, dear." Pia Plumington said affectionately.
Percy took a cautious sip of the drink, unsure if it had cooled down enough. The heat bit his tongue in a burn, but did nothing to ruin the taste of the creamy drink. It tasted like a campfire would feel. Comforting.
"What house do you think you'll end up in, dear?" Pia Plumington asked politely, clasping her hands together on the table.
"Houses?" Percy asked, wiping away a bit of his drink from his upper lip.
Pia Plumington chuckled to herself.
"Oh, I always forget! You were raised in the muggle world." Her pale, aging eyes sparkled in amusement.
The word "muggle" baffled Percy, but didn't keep him from conversing.
"What are the houses you were talking about?" Percy asked, taking yet another sip of the hot chocolate.
"Oh you see, dear," Pia Plumington began. "At Hogwarts all of the students are sorted into one of four houses based on the founders of Hogwarts. Each house values different traits of character. There's Gryffindor, the bold and chivalrous. Then there's Hufflepuff, the house I was in. Hufflepuffs value hard work and loyalty." She gave a proud smile as she mentioned Hufflepuff.
Percy felt this house fit Pia Plumington perfectly. The only other person he knew that worked as hard as her was his mother, Sally Jackson. Maybe Sally would have been a Hufflepuff.
"Also, Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw is for those who value intelligence, creativity, and wit."
Percy didn't believe he'd ever be in Ravenclaw. He was constantly reminded by Gabe just how dumb he was. He might have been smarter if it wasn't for his stupid dyslexia and ADHD.
"The fourth house now," Pia's face had gone a little darker, a little more grim. "The fourth house is Slytherin. The house for those who value cunning and ambition."
Why had her cheery little voice given out into something more serious?
"You say Slytherin as if it was bad thing." Percy stated.
Pia looked hesitant to respond, weighing her options.
"Well there is a bit of a coincidence that many Slytherins turn to the Dark Arts." Pia's face grew almost fearful.
"So Slytherins are the bad guys?"
"Oh no! Slytherins are most certainly not bad. Merlin himself was put into the Slytherin house. In fact my husband, Peter Plumington, had most of his family in Slytherin and they were all very kind." Pia hurriedly said.
Percy never knew the inn keeper had a husband.
"But you said many turn to the Dark Arts." Percy said, feeling as though Pia was contradicting herself.
"You have to remember, Percy, that with valuing a trait such as ambition comes a grave need to succeed. The Dark Arts are a cheap and evil way to further one in this world. It is one of the many reasons why a person who is in Slytherin is much more susceptible to these ways. Though that does not make them all bad. They're just more likely to turn bad."
With the way Pia described the Slytherin house he could not imagine that someone nice would be put in there. They seemed deceitful and untrustworthy. Although, it did make him a little uncomfortable that such prejudice was held against a house with only kids in it. How bad could a group of kids be?
"I think that's enough talk about Hogwarts for the night." Pia said, ending the discussion. "After all I'm sure you'll be able to find out more if you read those books your friend got you." Pia gave Percy a pointed look like the one his mother gave him when he tried to sneak a cookie before dinner.
Percy rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yea, I probably should read those books a little before school starts." He grinned sheepishly.
"And you've got so much time to do that." Pia said sarcastically before chuckling in a good humored way.
The rest of the night Percy spent talking with Pia Plumington. She taught him a few more things of the wizard world that Grover had yet to inform him on and he told her stories of growing up with his mom. It was a nice and uneventful evening, even despite the part where Percy spilled his drink accidentally onto Pia's lilac robes.
Ψ
Percy once again was woken up by Grover. The golden rays of the sun streamed into his room as Grover pulled back the dusty, deep colored purple curtain. Percy groaned into his pillow, upset at his loss of sleep.
"It's so early." Percy complained.
"Come on! Get up!" Grover's voice was high and childish and Percy knew without even looking that a gleeful grin was plastered on his face.
Percy grunted in sleepy protest, but got up anyway. Despite it being summer the floors were icy cold and chilled Percy from the bottoms of his feet to the top of his head. He'd miss this peculiar place and it's jolly owner.
He rubbed his eyes, desperately trying to get the tired feeling out of himself. Meanwhile, Grover looked like a kid that ransacked a candy store.
"Why are you so happy to be up so early?"
"We're going to Hogwarts today, Percy!" Grover let out a cheerful bleat.
"Ah yes, school." Percy snorted sarcastically.
Grover shook his head in amusement.
"You'll like this school."
"Yea well I can't like it if I don't get there. Now get out." Percy shooed away Grover in the same silly amusement as Grover had shaken his head.
Quickly as possible, Percy got dressed and ready. He didn't even bother to try and brush his hair. It would only ever be a hopeless cause to tame that atrocious mess.
Before exiting the small, cozy room he grabbed the beaten up suitcase from under the rickety bed. It barely held itself together after years and years of use, but Percy couldn't help love it. It was a simple reminder of home and his mom. His mom who worked so hard, yet couldn't even afford a new suitcase.
He breathed a sigh. It'd only been a few days since he left and and he was already homesick. It was ridiculous really, he'd been to boarding schools countless ties before. He shouldn't be aching for home this much already.
Stepping out into the hallway, Percy met Grover with a grin.
"I'm all ready."
"Great!" The older boy replied.
When the two boys arrived down stairs, Pia Plumington was there waiting to bid farewell.
She took Percy into a spine crushing hug. It was slightly awkward, Percy being a good five inches taller than the older woman.
"I'm going to miss you, dear." She said warmly with a smile traced with only the slightest of sadness. "You better visit me, boy." She said, faking a threatening voice.
Percy laughed.
"Of course I will."
And he meant it too. Pia Plumington had provided him with a maternal figure that he had been missing for the past few days. She was terribly kind to him.
"Now you get on, you two." Pia said gently pushing the boys out of the wooden doorway. "Don't want to miss that train, now do we?"
Percy and Grover waved goodbye to the woman. Her baby blue robes faded into the distance as they made their way further and further from the shabby inn.
The departure was so similar to the one just a short while ago. It had the same essence of sadness intertwined with the excitement of the unknown and soon to be found out. Saying goodbye was always a hard thing when a person became important to you. Especially if the importance came from giving care and showing kindness.
Ψ
Kings Cross Station had less people than usual. It was usually bustling about with people wanting or needing to get here or there. Hardly ever was it so quiet and empty.
"Alright, of to Platform 9 ¾!" Grover said with a rush.
"Um, Grover?" Percy said cautiously, trying to keep up with Grover's almost running pace.
Grover stopped, too sudden and abrupt for Percy not to run into him. He mumbled an apology to the older boy.
"Yea?" Grover asked after telling Percy not to worry about running into him.
"There's no such thing as Platform 9 ¾." Percy blurted bluntly.
Grover gave that strange bleat of his.
He shook his head and humorously said what sounded oddly like "muggles".
"There's a Platform 9 ¾, trust me." Grover told Percy.
Not wanting to argue, Percy simply followed Grover.
That was his mistake. They arrived at a brick wall between platforms nine and ten. The wall was clearly solid, but Grover was looking at it expectantly. Percy knew magic was a thing. After all he had a wand in his suitcase to prove the point.
The wand... He really should tell Grover what happened at Ollivanders Wand Shop. The lady there knew his name and said things that didn't seem normal, even for the wizarding world.
Out of his thoughts, Percy heard Grover talking to him.
"So like I said. Just run right through it." Grover finished.
"Run right through it?" What was Grover even talking about?
Grover sighed tiredly.
"You zoned out, didn't you?"
In response, Percy gave a small smile and rubbed the back of his neck. Oh well he zoned out. He had ADHD, it wasn't like he had tried to ignore what Grover was saying. But then again, he didn't try to listen either.
"So what do I have to do?" Percy asked.
Grover pointed to the wall.
"Run right through there."
Percy eyed Grover suspiciously. It was one thing for a Platform 9 ¾ to exist. It was a whole other thing that to get there he had to run into a brick wall.
"Here, I'll show you." Grover said before taking off.
Right when Percy was expecting to hear a sickening sound of his head hitting the bricks, Grover disappeared. Just like that he was gone. He had run through a brick wall. A brick wall. These wizard things were way too weird.
Percy shrugged to himself. Why couldn't he run through a brick wall? He began running, sneakers gripping the floor. He was proud to say that he'd only hesitated a little when nearing the wall.
Then he was there. On the other side of the wall. At Platform 9 ¾. It was a miracle really. Grover stood there with yet another grin on his face.
Percy saw lots of other people too. A family with a girl about his age stood off to his right. The daughter had long blonde hair, curled like a princess. Her mom was a scary sight. She was a witch with perfect posture, impeccable gray robes, and shiny brown hair held tightly in a bun. The dad was only slightly less intimidating with the same blonde hair as the young girl.
The girl stood proudly. Her demeanor was parallel to her mother's. Not even a single crease was in her navy blue robes. Percy thought he wouldn't like it too much if they were in the same house. She didn't look the type to put up with him or his trouble making tendencies. Even if those tendencies were all accidental.
"Let's go, Percy." Grover said, tugging Percy onto the train.
As they boarded the train Percy took notice that everyone had their luggage and an animal with them. There were owls, frogs, and cats. Was Percy supposed to get an animal? He vaguely remembered something like that being on the supply list. And all the bags everyone had... Percy only had his ratty old suitcase. Grover had told him a house elf (whatever that was) had already taken all his books and other things to Hogwarts already. To minimize problems, whatever that meant.
They both sat down in an empty cart and Grover handed him something made of black cloth.
"Here put this on. I forgot I sent all yours to be held with Professor Chiron until you got to school". Grover told Percy.
It was the robes that all the witches and wizards wore. Percy had gotten fitted for his, but these didn't fit quite as nicely. They weren't bad though and he appreciated Grover lending them to him for the time being.
"Thanks."
"Oh! I almost forgot!." Grover exclaimed, leaping from his seat.
The older boy ran down the aisle. When he returned he held in his hands a cage with a cream colored tarp over it. Percy swore he heard a hoot coming from the cage.
"It's a gift." Grover said, adding hesitantly, "From your father."
Percy was reluctant to take the cage and whatever was inside. He stomach turned in repulse from accepting a gift from the same person that abandoned not only him, but his mother too.
But... Percy couldn't deny that he felt a sense of affection that his father had thought enough of him to give him a gift. He'd never had gifts before that weren't for a holiday and when he did they were very small. Nothing that could be put in a cage.
After the small battle in his mind on whether to take the present or not, Percy slowly took the cage and put on his lap.
His heart pumped in anticipation. His fingers tingled with curiosity. Another hoot came from the cage. No way did his father get him an owl. It'd be too good to be true.
Percy lifted the tarp off the cage and tossed it haphazardly to the ground. Inside was the most beautiful creature his green eyes had ever seen.
Sleek, inky black feathers encased the owl's medium built body. They gleamed in he light, displaying small rainbows in each one. Her eyes were dark as the night sky and twinkled like the stars themselves. She looked absolutely soft and silky.
Percy brought out his hand to pet the owl. She nudged his hand with her head and made a sound of content affection. She was more than he could wish for.
"She's beautiful." Percy said, still in a stunned awe.
"What are you going to name her?" Grover asked also staring at the dark beauty.
Percy took in her color. The way all the different shades of black meshed together from her beak to her feathers to the talons she used to perch herself.
"Blackjack." He said with finality.
It was a suiting name for the owl.
"She'll carry letters for you. Like a postman." Grover told Percy.
Percy nodded and out the cage on the floor.
During the time between receiving the owl and then naming her, the train had left the station at Platform 9 ¾. Kids had bid farewell to family and friends through the windows and settled down with others they knew. Percy was more than appreciative that Grover stayed with him even though he was a year younger and Grover probably had friends he would've rather sat with.
"So Professor Chiron, you talk about him a lot. Is he the headmaster?" Percy asked.
Grover laughed for a good two minutes. Percy could feel his cheeks warm and reddening from embarrassment. What had been so funny about the question?
When he was done laughing Grover told Percy, "No. Professor Chiron is the Defense Against Dark Arts teacher. Professor Dionysus is the headmaster. And probably the worst one yet." Grover snorted.
The two boys spent most of the time talking. Percy asked questions and Grover explained. Grover provided a great deal of new information to Percy. He wasn't sure that he'd remember it all.
Soon a lady came to where they were sitting with a candy trolley. She asked the boys if they would like to purchase anything.
Grover politely declined, but Percy's mouth was watering at the sight of all the sugar made products. He reached into his pocket and felt that he still had the money that was meant for the wand. It was seven galleons, surely that would be enough to buy a few treats.
"What do you have?" Percy asked.
The lady rattled off various names of various candies. Not wanting to spend a lot, Percy asked for two chocolate frogs and a package of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
Percy handed the lady (hopefully) the correct amount of money. She started off down the aisle again and Percy handed Grover one of the chocolate frogs.
"Thanks!" The older boy said.
Together they unwrapped their candy and ate together like old friends would.
Once their candy was gone both of them were exhausted from the day and previous days. It was no surprise to Percy that the boys fell asleep.
Ψ
Percy was awoken by a rapping on the door to his and Grover's cart. Blackjack gave a hoot of disgruntled disgust from being woken from her own slumber.
Standing there was the girl he had previously seen with her parents at Platform 9 ¾. She was now wearing black robes like everyone else and her blonde princess curls were frizzing. There was also an obvious scowl on her face.
It appeared they had arrived at Hogwarts. The girl's striking gray eyes pierced into him like the sharp blade of a sword. What was her problem? It's not like he did anything to her.
The girl's gaze softened a fraction when she saw Grover also waking up from his nap.
Percy was expecting her to say something such as "We're here" or maybe "You need to get up, we've arrived to school."
But instead the scowling girl said directed to Percy, "You drool when you sleep."
She walked off down the aisle, robes swishing behind her.
Percy stared at her incredulously, but stood up anyways and collected his suitcase and new pet.
Hello readers! I first want to say thank you all so much for reading my story! Even though there are few, the reviews mean so much to me. I was going to make this chapter longer, but I ended up liking it ending there. I just wanted to let you guys know that updates are going to be taking longer as school's starting and that not all of the years that Percy is in Hogwarts will be equal length chapter wise. I have lots planned out for this story and I'm super excited to share it with all of you who read this! Also, if you like this I have a tumblr focusing mainly on the PJO fandom, it's bookwormx10 and I'd love for you to check it out! Again thanks so much!