PERCY JACKSON

Percy was screaming.

All he could see, over and over, was the Minotaur snapping his mother's neck. Rage filled him, and his sight turned red, and then suddenly–

His uncle Hades shook his head, looking almost remorseful. "Your mother is dead. I am grateful that you returned my helm, but I cannot bring her back." His heart crumples and tears–

Gabe, coming towards him, fists flying and knuckles bruised. A belt, swinging down and striking skin–

The boy's eyes going glassy as his body mechanically straightened, his legs leading him out of the alleyway–

He's in the Underworld, and there's awful laughter as gravity pulls him into the dark, dark pit–

Luke disappearing as he lay on the forest floor, scorpion venom coursing through his veins, dying, dying, dying

Percy gasped awake, his hand snapping out in front of him to grab the hand that was slapping him.

"Oh good, you're awake," said the scraggly man who had been sitting in the corner of their car. "Here, take some chocolate."

Percy released Ginny's wrist, both of them exchanging apologetic looks. He sat up and reached for the chocolate the man was offering him. He gave it a suspicious glance.

"It'll help with the aftereffects of the dementors," the man explained. "It's normal otherwise."

Percy shrugged and took a bite. He loved chocolate, so even if it had no effect, at least he got chocolate. Luckily, the moment he swallowed, the chill the dementor had left lifted, and he felt much more energized.

He looked across the train car and met Harry's green eyes. They held eye contact for a moment, and then shared a nod of "we-both-passed-out-reliving-traumatic-experiences".

"You alright, man?" Percy asked.

Harry nodded slowly. "I'm okay. You?"

Percy smirked drily. "I've been better, but also definitely been worse." His mind flashed to the last days of summer, when he had almost died because of Luke's treachery.

"That was awful," whispered Neville. "It got so cold."

"It was like I'd never be happy again," Ron agreed.

They fell into a pensive silence for the rest of the train ride. When it finally ended, Percy stood up so quickly that at least six pieces of candy fell off his lap onto the floor. He winced at the wasted food, but he needed to get out of the stifling quiet of the car. He slipped out of the compartment, the stupid robe brushing the ground behind him.

He followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the carriages a bit away from the train. He stopped, staring in slightly frightened awe at the corpse-like horses.

"What's wrong, mate?" Ron asked. "You feeling alright?"

"What are those?" Percy breathed.

Hermione and Harry exchanged a confused look. "The… carriages?" the girl asked. "They do move by themselves."

"No, not the carriages," Percy scoffed. "The- the weird flying death horses!"

Harry stared at him. "What?"

Percy stared back. "What?"

"It's okay," said a small voice behind them. "I-um. I can see them too."

Percy and Harry spun around, only to come face-to-face with Neville. "They're-they're called thestrals."

Hermione sucked in a breath. "Thestrals? But you can only see those if you've seen someone die. Neville, who-?"

"My grandfather," he replied, his voice barely audible. "It wasn't bad or anything. He was old."

There was silence for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Neville," Hermione said. "We didn't know."

Neville gave a broken smile. "It's okay. It's been a while."

"Percy," Ron said hesitantly, "what about you? Who did you see-?"

"No one," Percy snapped, his eyes refocusing. "I'm fine."

He wasn't fine. The visions of his mother's neck being snapped came back into his mind's eye. He desperately held back tears as he got onto the death-horse carriage. The ride was an awkward one, where Percy and Neville didn't speak and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny tried to make small talk.

When the carriages came to a stop, Percy was the first one out of the carriage. He stopped dead, looking up at the castle in front of him. "Damn," he whispered, "Annabeth would love to see this."

Then Hermione and Harry were pulled away from their group by a stern-looking woman, and he was quickly ushered into a hall. He was pushed into line behind a bunch of scared looking kids, probably only a year or two younger than him. He smiled at them, but they were distracted by the ghosts flying through the walls.

To be fair, that was pretty distracting.

And then the line of kids was led out into a giant room with a ceiling that looked like the sky, and candles floating in the air that were definitely a fire hazard.

The room went silent, and suddenly a voice started singing a song. Percy looked wildly around, searching for the source. Finally, his gaze landed on a hat that seemed to have a face.

The hat.

Was singing.

And then, one by one, kids were called up to the chair the hat sat on. The hat was placed on their head, then a few moments or minutes later it called out one of four strange, made-up words. Percy felt like maybe he had heard Dumbledore or Harry mention them at one point. The kid then went to one of the four tables based on what thing the hat said.

Finally, at the very end of the list, after a kid with the last name Zeigler was called, "Perseus Jackson!" was summoned to the chair. Percy assumed it was because he was the oldest and new, because unless his dyslexia had really, truly screwed him over, z came before j.

He took a seat on the chair, and then the strict looking teacher lowered the hat onto his head.

Oh, hello, half-blood, an old voice whispered in his head. Aren't you an odd one?

Percy jumped. Oh.

Son of Poseidon. Slayer of Alecto, of the Minotaur, of Medusa, of Procrustes. Retriever of the Master Bolt. Defeater of Ares.

Oh, Percy thought again. Um. Thanks?

You are quite impressive, boy. Now. Where to put you?

There was silence for a while, and Percy began to fidget awkwardly. Um, are you do-

You are brave, said the hat. Almost recklessly so. But you are loyal, and you are cunning, and you are clever.

Clever? scoffed Percy. Sure.

You would not be alive if you were not. But you are right. Ravenclaw would not suit you. Although you are clever, you would not fit in with their kind.

Okay, Percy agreed.

Brave, and loyal, and cunning. Interesting, interesting. You could fit anywhere, Mr. Jackson.

Thank you for getting my name right!

Your bravery and your loyalty are very strong traits. However, your cunning, your ambition, your willingness to do what it takes to reach your goals. All very Slytherin.

Percy shrugged. Maybe it was. He wouldn't know.

Where would you like to go, child?

Percy blinked. I don't know. No one told me what's going on.

The hat sighed. Well, if I can't base it off of what you want, I wonder which house will allow you to realize your potential.

Percy's eyes rolled back in his head for a moment as the hat wrenched control of his mind. Quick images flashed before him: waves cresting, swords gleaming, green liquid streaming like a river.

You are very intriguing, Perseus Jackson.

Percy.

Yes. Percy. You would thrive in almost any house. You would fit in all of them. But I think that you would do best in…

"SLYTHERIN!"