Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!
Ok yes I'm a few days late, sorry for that. I wrapped up my exams, and end of year stuff. But now I'm off school for a month, so more updates!
Also, a quick shout-out to my fave fic currently, the Anastasia Chronicles by uncleSAM98. Really good, give it a try.
Hope you all enjoy the chapter!
CHAPTER NINE: SHENANIGANS
Percy was slowly, but surely getting used to his classes.
Charms wasn't so bad - Professor Flitwick had a knack for making even the most complex spells seem approachable, and Percy had managed to get his feather to levitate without setting anything on fire. Win.
Transfiguration was a little trickier. McGonagall's stern gaze made him feel like she could see straight through to his not mortal heritage, and he was half-convinced she knew more about him than she let on.
Potions, however, was actually much better than he expected.
Percy had initially dreaded the idea of working in a room filled with bubbling cauldrons and hazardous ingredients. Plus, everyone made it sound like a one-to-one replica of Tartarus.
His experience with potion-like substances back - Greek fire, for one - was less than stellar. But to his surprise, Potions was pretty easy.
Snape, while intimidating, had a certain precision to his teaching that Percy could respect. The instructions were clear (if you didn't mind his obvious bias towards Slytherins), and the work reminded Percy of following a recipe in the camp kitchen. Sure, Snape's snide remarks grated on his nerves, but Percy found a strange satisfaction in watching his potions come together.
(There was also the tiny detail that he could just use his water powers.)
During their first practical lesson, Percy partnered with Millie to brew a simple Cure for Boils.
"Careful with the porcupine quills," Millie said as she measured out a pinch of powdered horned slug. "Too much, and it'll bubble over."
Percy nodded, carefully adding the quills one at a time. The mixture turned a pale green, and Millie beamed.
"Perfect!" she said.
"Not bad," Percy muttered, a little proud of himself. "Now we just let it simmer."
Millie nodded, then glanced toward the front of the room where Snape loomed, scanning the class.
"You're a natural," she whispered. "Don't let Snape know, though. He'll find a reason to pick on you anyway."
Percy smiled. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
As the potion bubbled softly, Percy felt a strange sense of calm. For the first time since arriving at Camp at twelve, he wasn't worried about monsters, prophecies, or strange visions. It was just him, the cauldron, and a task he could handle.
That calm, of course, didn't last long.
Near the end of the lesson, Ollie, working a few tables over, accidentally added powdered root of asphodel instead of dried nettles. His cauldron erupted in a plume of purple smoke, sending students scrambling.
"Sorry!" Ollie yelped, waving his hands to clear the air. "I think I- uh, improved the recipe?"
Snape appeared out of nowhere, his expression darker than a storm cloud. "Mr. Stone," he hissed, "if I wanted improvisation, I would have sent you to the kitchens. Ten points from Hufflepuff."
Percy snickered as Millie groaned. "And there goes our lead in house points."
Despite the mishap, Percy left the lesson feeling like maybe, just maybe, he could survive Potions after all.
Still, the nagging sense of unease lingered. The Fates' appearance at the feast, combined with the occasional flashes of Greek magic slipping through his control, made him wary. He hadn't told anyone - not Harry, nor his new Hufflepuff friends - but he was starting to wonder how long he could keep his two worlds from colliding.
And then there was the small matter of keeping his dyslexia in check while reading potion instructions. It was a miracle he hadn't blown anything up yet.
During one particularly frustrating lesson, Snape had hovered over Percy's shoulder as he struggled to crush ingredients into a fine powder.
"Mr. Jackson," Snape drawled, his voice dripping with disdain. "Did Ilvermorny not teach you the difference between clockwise and counterclockwise stirring?"
Percy gritted his teeth. "They, uh… focused on other stuff."
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps you should focus on not poisoning your classmates."
Still, classes weren't all bad. The Hufflepuffs had a way of making even the roughest days feel bearable. Millie always had a kind word or a calming presence. Ellie's competitive streak during Quidditch practice was oddly infectious, and Ollie's jokes, even though absolutely no-one would admit it, often lightened the mood.
It was during one of their shared Herbology lessons that the first accident happened.
Percy had been assigned to work with Millie on replanting a batch of venomous tentacula. The plants had a nasty habit of snapping at anything that got too close, but Millie was calm and methodical as she carefully pried the vines apart with her gloved hands.
"Hand me the dragon dung fertilizer," Millie instructed, her hazel eyes focused on the task at hand.
Percy grabbed the bag of fertilizer, trying not to gag at the smell. "This stuff is foul," he muttered, handing it to her.
Millie grinned. "Wait until you smell the compost for flesh-eating shrubs. This is nothing."
Just as she said it, a vine lashed out, catching Percy off guard and yanking the bag from his hands. The bag exploded on impact, showering them both in a fine layer of foul-smelling powder.
Percy sputtered, wiping his face. "Is this normal, or does this plant just hate me?"
Millie laughed, trying to shake the fertilizer off her robes. "You've got to show it who's boss, Percy! Assert yourself!"
Percy raised an eyebrow at the wriggling plant. "Millie, it's a plant."
Before she could respond, a vine shot out again, aiming for Percy's wrist. On instinct, he summoned a small stream of water from his pocket flask, using it to push the vine back.
Millie froze, her eyes wide.
"Did you just-"
Percy quickly capped the flask and tried to play it cool. "What? Nah, that's just, uh… hydration. Plants love water, right?"
Millie stared at him for another moment before breaking into a grin. "You're full of surprises, Percy Jackson."
He chuckled nervously, relieved she hadn't pressed further.
Transfiguration was… quickly learned that while he could manage wand movements and incantations decently enough, it was the mental focus that really tripped him up. McGonagall's instructions about envisioning the object's essence sounded an awful lot like Chiron's old lectures at Yancy.
Unfortunately, that didn't make it any easier.
During one lesson, the goal was to turn a beetle into a button. Percy stared at the tiny insect on his desk. It twitched its antennae at him mockingly.
"Concentrate," McGonagall said. "Transfiguration requires absolute focus and intent. Wand waving and muttering won't accomplish anything without discipline."
Percy raised his wand, determined. Surely, he could handle one measly bug
"Verto," he said firmly, giving his wand a flick.
The beetle shuddered, its exoskeleton shimmering slightly. For a moment, Percy thought he'd done it. Then, with a soft pop, it turned into a very tiny bronze shield.
"Oh, come on," Percy muttered.
Next to him, Ellie muffled a laugh. "Creative," she whispered, green eyes shining.
McGonagall appeared at his side. "Impressive craftsmanship, Mr. Jackson," she said dryly. "Though not quite the assignment."
Percy scratched the back of his neck, sheepish. "I, uh… was aiming for a button?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Evidently. Five points to Hufflepuff for ingenuity. Next time, try aiming for simplicity."
As she moved on, Millie leaned closer, still grinning. "How do you even accidentally make a shield?"
Percy shrugged. "Instinct, I guess."
Despite the hiccups, Percy found himself enjoying the challenge. It was different from anything he'd learned at camp, and there was a certain thrill in discovering what magic could do when you weren't dodging death every five minutes.
Then there was Runes.
The only thing of note that happened was Percy realizing just how much his dyslexia hated ancient scripts.
Professor Babbling, an excitable woman with a passion for all things written, had spent the first part of the lesson enthusiastically explaining the intricacies of runes. Percy, meanwhile, had spent most of that time squinting at the runes in his textbook, wondering if they were moving on purpose or if his brain was playing tricks on him.
He tried to remember that anti-dyslexia spell Hecate had given him, but he sadly couldn't, leaving him helpless.
"Hey," whispered Ollie. "Can I borrow your pen?"
Percy frowned. "I don't have one."
"You literally have a pen right there." Ollie pointed out.
He followed Ollie's gaze to Riptide. "It's not exactly for writing."
"It's a pen, mate, what else would you use it for?"
Percy hesitated, weighing his options. There was no way he could explain Riptide without sounding insane.
"It's, uh, a special pen," Percy said finally, sliding it off the desk and slipping it into his pocket. "Sentimental value. I don't use it for regular stuff."
Ollie raised an eyebrow. "A pen's a pen, Jackson. What, does it write in gold or something?"
"Something like that," Percy muttered, turning back to his textbook and pretending to focus on the runes.
Ollie didn't drop it. "Alright, but now I'm curious. What's so special about it?"
"It's just… really important to me," Percy said, trying to sound casual. "Family heirloom."
That seemed to satisfy Ollie for the moment, though he still gave Percy a curious look before returning to his own work.
Percy let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
He glanced down at his notes, or lack thereof. The runes still danced across the page, mocking him. Without that spell from Hecate, he was completely out of his depth.
Percy was going to send her a letter as soon as he could, he resolved.
"Need a hand?" Millie whispered from the desk next to his.
Percy looked over. "If you're offering."
Millie leaned over, her finger tracing the lines of the inscription. "This one's simple. It's a protection rune. You just have to draw it like this." She grabbed a spare piece of parchment and sketched the symbol.
Percy nodded, doing his best to replicate her drawing. It came out a little lopsided, but it wasn't terrible.
"There you go," Millie said with a smile. "Not bad for a first try."
"Thanks," Percy said, returning the smile.
Still, as the lesson dragged on, Percy couldn't shake the feeling that the runes were staring back at him. One symbol in particular seemed to glow faintly under his gaze, its shape tugging at something deep in his memory.
It looked almost… Greek.
His heart skipped a beat. Was it a coincidence?
"Percy Jackson," Professor Babbling called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Would you care to explain the meaning of the rune I just drew on the board?"
Percy blinked at the swirling lines, his mind blank. "Uh… protection?"
Babbling smiled. "Close. It represents defense through strength. Perhaps you'll pay closer attention next time."
"Yeah," Percy said, sinking into his seat. "I'll, uh… work on that."
As the lesson ended, Percy packed up his books quickly, eager to escape the classroom.
As he was gathering said books, he bumped into Harry.
"Sorry about that," Percy said, steadying himself as his books nearly toppled to the floor.
"No worries," Harry replied, adjusting his glasses. He glanced at the textbook Percy had nearly dropped. "Runes giving you trouble?"
Percy sighed. "You could say that. They're, uh, not exactly my strong suit."
Harry grinned. "They take some getting used to. Hermione's the real expert. She's been helping Ron and me wrap our heads around them for ages."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "That's unfair. How come she helps you study?"
Harry grinned. "She'd probably love to help, if you ask."
"I might take you up on that," Percy said, though he wasn't sure how Hermione would react to his literal inability to read properly.
Had dyslexia even been a thing in the nineteenth century, he mused.
As they stepped into the hallway, Harry lowered his voice. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask… are you going to enter the Triwizard Tournament?"
Percy shook his head. "No way. I'm barely getting my homework done, a whole death tournament on top of that?"
Harry snickered. "You could do it though. You are old enough, right?"
He paused. Technically, he was sixteen, but it wasn't like anyone knew that. "Yeah," said Percy. "Seventeen. Just old enough."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Seventeen, huh? Well, that's the age you need to be. It'd be a shame to let an opportunity like that slip by."
Percy chuckled nervously. "Not really my thing. Besides, I'm still trying to figure out how to stay out of trouble here, not get dragged into more of it."
"Fair enough," Harry said, shrugging. "But just so you know, if you do decide to give it a shot, you'll have some serious competition."
"Really?" Percy said.
"Yeah," nodded Harry. "The other two schools - Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, are coming here."
"When's this?"
"In a few days, I think."
"Nice. By the way, have you done the Potions homework?"
Harry grinned again. "Haven't even started."
Percy laughed, shaking his head. "You're a terrible influence, you know that?"
Harry shrugged, looking unbothered. "Hey, if Snape's gonna give me grief, I might as well enjoy it."
"Fair enough," said Percy. "Well, I have to meet with Ellie. I promised to watch a Quidditch game with her."
Harry gave him a knowing look. "Ah, so you've got plans. I should've figured you'd be busy with someone."
Percy rolled his eyes. "It's not like that, really. It's a group activity."
"Sure, sure," Harry said, grinning. "Anyway, if you ever need a break from the Quidditch drama, you know where to find me."
Percy waved him off with a smile. "Thanks, man. I'll probably be back later to help you with that Potions homework you're so behind on."
"Don't worry," Harry said, turning away. "I'll figure something out. But if you ever want to actually get some studying done, Hermione's always available."
Percy chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
He turned down a hallway and made his way to the common room.
Percy mentally made a list of things to do: write a letter to Hecate, go to a Quidditch game, and do his Potions homework.
Easy as pie, right?
THE BOY WHO DIED
Percy pondered if he had actually gone to Tartarus instead of the Hufflepuff common room.
"C'mon," said Ellie, noticing the look on his face. "It's not that bad."
"The jersey smells!" Percy said indignantly. "And it's itchy."
"Blah, blah, blah," was Ellie's mature response. "If you want to be on my Quidditch team, you gotta wear it."
"I don't want to be on your Quidditch team," he grumbled. "You forced me into this."
Ellie stuck her tongue out.
She was perched on the edge of the table, casually tossing a Quaffle between her hands like it weighed nothing. The other Hufflepuffs bustled around the common room, chatting about everything from homework to the latest Quidditch match, but Percy still felt a little out of place.
Millie looked at Percy. "You should probably do the Potions homework before you get dragged into a Quidditch game."
"Easy for you to say," he muttered, leaning back in his chair. "You're not the one dodging Snape's death glares every other class."
Ellie snorted. "Oh, please. Snape's death glares are a rite of passage. The trick is not letting him see you sweat."
"Right," Percy said dryly. "Because nothing screams confidence like blowing up half your cauldron."
"You didn't blow it up," Millie chimed in, somehow now holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate. "That was Ollie. You're doing fine, Percy."
Percy offered her a half-smile. "Tell that to Snape. I'm pretty sure he's convinced I'm here to sabotage the entire curriculum."
Millie plopped down next to him and handed him a mug. "Snape's convinced everyone's out to get him. It's not personal. Well, not completely personal."
Ollie wandered over, grinning as he dropped into the chair across from Percy. "For what it's worth, I think you're doing great. You're still alive, right? That's more than I can say for my Cure for Boils potion."
Percy laughed despite himself, shaking his head. "Thanks, Ollie. I'll add 'still alive' to my list of accomplishments for the week."
Ellie leaned forward, balancing the Quaffle on one finger. "Speaking of accomplishments, there's a Quidditch game to get to."
"I swear that's all you think about."
"This is different!" Ellie insisted. "England is playing a friendly. You know how much these tickets cost?"
Milli raised an eyebrow. "Nothing, because your aunt paid for them?"
Ellie gasped, clutching the Quaffle dramatically to her chest. "Millie! How dare you slander my hard-earned connections! I worked very hard to convince her to get those tickets."
"Right," Millie said, smirking. "By existing and being her favorite niece."
"Exactly," Ellie said, without missing a beat. "It's a skill. You wouldn't understand."
Percy chuckled and sipped the hot chocolate Millie had handed him. He wasn't sure what was more surprising: that the Hufflepuff common room felt so cozy, or that he was starting to enjoy their company. Back at Camp Half-Blood, moments like this had been rare, too much training, too many monsters lurking just beyond the borders. Here, at least for now, he could pretend things were normal.
Well, as normal as this could really be.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Ellie asked, jumping off the table and tossing the Quaffle into the air. "Let's go! We need to grab good seats before the Slytherins take them all."
Percy sighed, setting down the mug. "Do I really have to?"
"Yes," Ollie and Ellie said in unison.
"Great." Percy muttered, standing up.
Ollie grinned, grabbing a scarf from the back of his chair. "Cheer up, Percy. It's just Quidditch. No Snape, no homework, just a bunch of wizards flying around trying to kill each other for a shiny ball."
"Comforting," Percy said dryly, following the group out of the common room.
As they made their way through the castle, Percy couldn't help but glance at the enchanted windows showing a cloudy evening sky. Somewhere out there, the world he'd left behind was still spinning, filled with gods, monsters, and endless trouble.
"Hey, are we allowed to leave the grounds?"
"We don't need to!" Ellie said cheerfully. "Hogwarts is hosting the game!"
Percy blinked. "Wait, here? Like, on the school grounds?"
Millie nodded as they turned a corner, the noise growing louder as more students joined the flow toward the pitch. "It's rare, but sometimes they do it for friendly matches. Makes sense, it's safer, and Hogwarts has one of the best pitches in the country."
"Safer?" Percy repeated skeptically. "I've seen what happens in these games."
Ellie laughed, skipping ahead to open the massive doors leading out to the grounds. "You'll see, Jackson. Quidditch is worth it. Besides, nothing's exploded in years."
"Comforting," Percy muttered as they stepped into the cool evening air.
The pitch was a dazzling sight. Towering stands surrounded the pristine field, their flags waving in the breeze. Magical lights danced around the edges, illuminating the grounds in a golden glow as the crowd's energy built to a crescendo. Percy was impressed despite himself.
"This way!" Ellie called, leading them to a section in the middle of the Hufflepuff block.
"I'm telling you," Ollie said, gesturing wildly as they climbed the steps to the stands, "their Seeker is the best in the league. Did you see him at the World Cup last year? Absolute legend."
"I don't even know the rules," Percy admitted, earning a horrified gasp from Ellie.
"You don't know the rules of Quidditch?" she exclaimed, spinning around to walk backward so she could face him. "What do they teach you Americans?!"
Millie rolled her eyes. "Probably not how to catch a flying ball while dodging Bludgers, Ellie. Give him a break."
"It's not that complicated," Ollie chimed in. "Just keep your eyes on the Snitch. Everything else is chaos, anyway."
"Comforting," Percy muttered as they found their seats near the middle of the stands. The view was incredible, the pitch below illuminated by floating lanterns. Students from every house were packed into the seats, a sea of moving scarves and banners, with Hufflepuffs proudly waving their yellow and black flags.
Ellie plopped down beside Percy, grinning ear to ear. "You're going to love this, I promise. Quidditch is- wait, no, you know what? I'm not going to explain. Just watch and be amazed."
Before Percy could respond, the crowd erupted into cheers as the teams flew onto the pitch. Percy's eyes widened as the players soared through the air on broomsticks, the wind whipping through their robes as they looped and dove effortlessly.
"See?" Ellie said, nudging him with her elbow. "Amazing, right?"
Percy nodded slowly. "Okay, I'll admit, that's pretty cool."
The match began with a deafening roar from the crowd, the Quaffle snapping into play as the players launched into action. Percy squinted, trying to follow the rapid movement on the field. The Chasers darted around while passing the Quaffle.
"Come on, England!" Elli shouted, jumping to her feet. She waved hisherscarf like a madman, nearly hitting Percy in the face.
"Do you ever sit still?" Percy asked, ducking under the flying fabric.
"Not during Quidditch!" She replied with a grin.
Ellie leaned closer to Percy, pointing to the field. "Okay, so see that guy in the blue robes? That's England's Seeker, Wren Cadwallader. Absolute legend. He's caught the Snitch in under ten minutes in his last three matches."
Percy followed her finger and spotted a wiry, determined-looking wizard scanning the field like a hawk.
"What happens if he doesn't catch it?" Percy asked, trying to keep up.
"Then it's up to the Chasers to rack up points," she explained. "But with Wren? That's not likely. Just watch."
Sure enough, Wren shot into action, weaving through the players as if the broom was an extension of his body. Meanwhile, the Bludgers zoomed through the air, forcing Beaters to swing their bats with ferocious precision. Percy watched as one narrowly missed knocking a Chaser off their broom.
"This is insane," he said.
Ellie laughed. "Told you it's the best sport ever."
As the game ended, the crowd erupted. Wren Cadwallader had done it again, catching the Snitch in just under twelve minutes and securing a victory for England. The stands were a blur of color and movement as fans jumped to their feet, waving scarves and banners in celebration.
Ellie was practically vibrating with excitement, yelling, "I told you he's a legend! Did you see that dive? Absolutely brilliant!"
Percy, still seated, shook his head with a small smile. "Yeah, it was cool, I guess."
"You guess?" Ellie gawked at him as if he'd just insulted her entire family. "That was a perfect match! How are you not losing your mind right now?"
"Wasn't this just a friendly?" Percy asked dryly.
"Don't listen to him, Ellie." Ollie said, leaning over. "He's just jealous he isn't any good at Quidditch."
"Why would I want to be?"
Ellie gasped dramatically, clutching her scarf as if Percy's words had physically wounded her. "You take that back, Jackson! Quidditch is life."
Percy raised an eyebrow, amused. "Flying dodgeballs doesn't sound like my idea of 'life'."
"Bludgers," Millie corrected, laughing as she slung her bag over her shoulder. "And give him a break, Ellie. Not everyone's born with a Quaffle in their hands."
"I could teach you, you know," Ellie offered, her eyes lighting up. "You're fast, you've got decent reflexes. You'd make a killer Beater."
Percy snorted, standing as the crowd began to disperse. "Thanks, but I think I'll stick to solid ground."
"Coward," Ellie teased, grinning. "You don't know what you're missing."
"Broken bones and hospital wings?" Percy shot back, earning a round of laughter from the group.
"I'll make a Quidditch player of you yet, Jackson." Ellie vowed.
Percy chuckled, shaking his head. "I wouldn't hold your breath, Ellie. I'm more of a... watching-from-the-sidelines kind of guy."
Ellie wagged a finger at him as they started down the steps from the stands. "That's what they all say, but Quidditch has a way of winning people over. One day, you'll look at a broom and think, 'Yeah, I could totally survive being flung into the air at breakneck speeds.'"
"Whatever you say, Ellie."
As they walked back to the castle, the chatter around them began to quiet, replaced by the sound of their footsteps crunching on the gravel path. The excitement of the match still buzzed faintly in the air, and Percy found himself smiling despite the absurdity of it all.
Ellie nudged him with her elbow. "Admit it. You had fun."
Percy rolled his eyes but couldn't quite hide his grin. "Maybe a little."
"That's the spirit!" she said triumphantly. "Next step: broom lessons."
"Don't push your luck," Percy warned.
Ellie just laughed, slinging her scarf over her shoulder as they approached the warm glow of the castle doors. "We'll see, Jackson. We'll see."
THE BOY WHO DIED
Once they arrived back at the Hufflepuff common room, Millie practically dragged Ellie to do homework, leaving Ollie alone with Percy.
Percy was writing a letter to Hecate.
Dear Hecate, the letter started, So, here's the thing. I'm officially losing track of time. I thought the whole being stuck in the 1990s thing would be cooler, but it's kind of just messing with my head.
But seriously, I was hoping you could remind me how to get my brain to stop frying with that dyslexia spell. I tried to pay attention in class, but the symbols on the page felt like they were doing a little jig just to mess with me. If I have to memorize more strange, squiggly lines that don't make sense, I might just throw myself into the Black Lake.
Anyway, I think I've got the hang of everything else, mostly. Still, I guess I should be grateful for all that "extra credit" you mentioned. It certainly helps when I forget half of what I'm supposed to know. Did you know I'll get to choose my NEWT's soon?
Okay, that's enough rambling for now. Please don't tell me to "get some rest" again. I know you love the whole "do your homework, get some sleep" routine, but I'm fine.
Anyway, hope all is well. Thanks again for the advice and the occasional laugh. I'll try to keep the trouble to a minimum.
P.S. Blackjack says hi. (Though I think he likes you more than me now.)
Percy tucked the letter away. "Hey Ollie," he said. "Remind me to send this later."
Instead of responding, the Hufflepuff grinned. "I have an idea!" Ollie announced.
"That can't be good." Percy deadpanned.
Ollie gave him a look. The same look that he had given when he had the bright idea to attempt to use a broomstick as a makeshift catapult.
"Okay, spill," Percy said, crossing his arms. "What are you planning now?"
Ollie's grin grew wider. "What if you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?"
"Excuse me?
"You heard me!" Ollie said, clearly pleased with himself. "Put your name in the Goblet. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, mate. Think about it. Fame, glory, and proving that Hufflepuff can hold its own against anyone!"
"Not a chance, Ollie."
"It'll be amazing! Plus, I heard Beauxbatons has some smoking hot witches," said Ollie, waggling his eyebrows.
Percy crossed his arms, giving Ollie a flat look. "You realize this tournament has a reputation for, I don't know, killing people, right? That's not exactly on my bucket list."
Ollie waved off the concern with a dramatic flourish. "That's ancient history. It's been ages since the last real fatality-"
"-because the tournament was cancelled for said fatalities," Percy cut in dryly. "Yeah, no thanks."
"But it'd be epic!" Ollie leaned closer, his voice dropping into an almost conspiratorial tone. "Just picture it: your name called out in front of the entire school. Everyone watching as you take on insane magical challenges. Fame, glory, the works."
"I've had my fill of people watching me, thanks," Percy said, sinking into the nearest couch. "Pass."
Ollie flopped down beside him, undeterred. "Come on, Perce. Don't tell me you're scared. You're probably the toughest bloke in Hufflepuff."
"Thanks for the compliment." he said.
"Okay, but hear me out," Ollie said, leaning forward eagerly. "This isn't just about the tournament. It's about proving you're more than just... you know, the quiet new guy."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "Since when do I need to prove anything to anyone?"
"Since now," Ollie declared with a theatrical wave of his hand. "You'd be amazing out there, Percy. Plus, think of the stories you'd have. And hey, if you win, I'll let you skip a week of Herbology notes."
Percy snorted. "Tempting. Really. But I'm going to have to decline."
"Come on!" Ollie said. "It'd be great! Plus, you could give us Puffs a better reputation."
"Ok, pretend I decide to do it…" Percy said.
"Yes?" Ollie replied, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"How exactly do you expect me to pull this off without looking like an idiot in front of the whole school?" Percy asked, arms crossed. "Because if I'm putting my name in, I'm not doing it halfway."
Ollie grinned. "Millie can help! You know Millie, she's too good with spells."
Percy laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "And if I actually get chosen? What then?"
"You'd crush it, obviously!" Ollie said with the utmost confidence. "You're like the least fazed person I've ever met. You've got to have a shot against dragons or mermaids or whatever they throw at you."
"Dragons?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're really selling this, Ollie."
"It's a hypothetical dragon, mate," Ollie said quickly. "Probably. Anyway, the point is, you'd handle it like a champ.
Percy shook his head, though he couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. "You're unbelievable."
"And you're considering it," Ollie shot back, a victorious gleam in his eye. "Admit it."
"I didn't say that," Percy replied quickly.
"You didn't not say it," Ollie countered.
And Percy was considering it. A chance to stretch his limbs, test out his new powers in combat, use Riptide, his shield-watch, and maybe even the scythe?
Then Ollie said the words that had convinced many unfortunate souls to commit some questionable acts over the course of human history. "Plus there's a cash prize…"
"Ok." Percy said. "Fine. And you owe me one."
Ollie's grin stretched ear to ear as he practically bounced in his seat. "Yes! That's the spirit, Percy. You're going to crush this!"
Percy held up a hand, leveling him with a flat stare. "Let's get one thing straight. If this goes sideways, and I end up fighting a real dragon, you owe me way more than just one."
"Done," Ollie said immediately, thrusting out his hand for Percy to shake. "You'll thank me when you're holding the Triwizard Cup."
He would not, in fact, thank Ollie for this idea.
Yay, chapter over! And so are my exams, so we're back to weekly updates!
I'm kinda still stuck on the pairing. It's either Fleur or Daphne. No Tonks, sorry. I do have a Percy x Tonks fic though. Unless people really like Millie or Ellie, but I kinda just want them to remain friends.
Also, I don't know wether to put Percy in the Triwizard Tournament or not. On one hand, he could do epic things, but on the other, it'll mess up canon. A lot.
Anyway, review responses!
yoganksri: Glad you think so! Oof, I forgot about the whole Thestral thing. I might have to edit that, my HP facts are not up to speed. Nah, not too much pureblood stuff from here on out.
Gamelover41592: Thanks, and you're welcome!
Crywolf178: Thank you! That's exactly what I was going for with their relationship.
mick2002: Thanks. Well, if this is chapter nine, then by around chapter... fifteen? Somewhere around there.
Guest: Thank you so much! Glad someone caught that.
: So glad! I enjoy writing it as well.
Robotdocter: Ha, typical Percy stuff lmao. Can't spoil who's thread it was yet. Hint: Hufflepuff.
anaklusosdude16: Appreciate your kind words a ton! Search up 'sword of damocles', you'll understand. Hopefully I can channel some of that fast update speed.
Trife: And as usual, you're completely correct. I... admittedly don't know how to fix that.
Guest: All good points!
TheReaderOfTheOlympians: Haha, how'd your exams go?
surya5addanki: Thanks! Yeah I think Cedric is the Puff seeker. True, the wizarding world dangers aren't too crazy compared to what Percy's been through.
Bobby: Search it up, you'll see.
Guest: Same! I might make his patronus a kraken, that's be so cool!
Adriane Venegas: Maybe he will! Well I completely forgot about the blast ended skrewts.
Sagiri di Goku: I was considering Slytherin tbh. And yeah, Percy in Hufflepufff is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
That's all guys! Should I put Percy in the Triwizard Tournament? And what should his NEWT's be?
See you on New Years!