Harry Potter and Percy Jackson; Home and then Home Again

Chapter Two

I groaned as I was gently nudged awake. I looked up at Harry and tried for a smile, it was more of a grimace. I looked around to see if I could find why he woke me up, but came up empty. So I turned to him in confusion.

"Har-" He covered my mouth with his hand, so I looked at him confused. He motioned to the door and held  finger over his lips. I moved closer to the door and peaked out, standing in the living room was a... man? Creature? I didn't know. But I couldn't really see and feature's other than a black suit and a lot of white on it's head. 

I pulled away slowly and looked at him him, fear running through my veins. I looked at the door again and sat directly across from it, Harry leaning on my right side as we waited to hear for what it would do. 

Dust was tickling my nose and I was trying not to sneeze and alert it to where we were. I was quickly losing my battle. I covered my mouth and nose with the sleeve of my hoodie and sneeze. It was muffled but I know the thing heard it, I could hear it moving closer. 

'Percy! Why?' Harry mouthed to me. 

'I'm sorry!' I mouthed back, I was looking between us and the door was the shadow covered the door for a solid minute, almost like it was figuring out what was going on. In my 3 months of living here, or even my entire life, I have never come across anything as weird as this. Soon we heard a small click and then the creature moved away. 

We waited for what felt like an hour, if could have been or it could have been half that. 

"Let me go check." I whispered quietly. Harry grabbed my arm, but let go quickly when I quietly yelped. We stopped and listened for a moment. The snores of Vernon and Dudley rang through out the house and Petunia's quiet sleep talking filled whenever the house was silent. 

I released a breath and looked at Harry in curiosity. 

"Let me come with you." He whispered. I weighed my options before sighing and nodding. He was older, but I was faster and slightly stronger. We pushed opened the door and slipped out of the cramped cupboard. I saw two bags sitting next to the door, one a sea green with black and sky blue accents, and one emerald green with red and black accents.

We looked at each other, uncertain about the two bags. I grabbed the sea green one, Harry the emerald green one. They were heavy but nothing we couldn't handle. I looked outside and saw the create by a light post, seemingly waiting... waiting for us possibly, but I don't have a clue as to why. 

The sudden silence filled the house and I froze. I looked around hurriedly and saw Vernon staring angrily at me from the stairs. I froze in fear as he slowly made his way done the stairs. I shoved my bag to Harry and shoved him to the back door. 

"Go! I'll meet up with you!" I shouted, no need to be quiet now. Harry looked fearfully behind me but took of running, tearing out of the house and jumping the back gate. I turned around, and right into the punch that had been sent my way. 

I groaned as I hit the ground, some how Dudley and Petunia were sleeping through Vernon beating the absolute crap out of me. I noticed the more I was hit, the more agitated the creature became.

"Don't." I croaked, looking at the creature, it seemingly heard and understood me. Vernon must have thought I was talking to him because the next hit I received was four times harder and I heard my arm break. I didn't feel it though, I was numb to this pain. I couldn't feel the pain at all.

I coughed, blood spilling from my mouth. I heard something enter the house, and suddenly Vernon wasn't on top of me and Harry was standing protectively above me, facing Vernon angerily. 

"Harry, let's escape. Karma will deal with him." I coughed, Harry turned to me and assessed the damage. 

"Fine. But we have to hurry. It won't wait much longer." Harry responded, it must be the creature outside. I nodded, Harry picked me up, bracing most of my weight against him as Vernon looked fearfully at us. We rushed outside and towards the creature. 

Tentacles shot out to us and for a second I panicked, but when they gently wrapped around us and lifted us off the ground, I relaxed, curling up slightly around my broken arm. I cuddled into Harry's arm, praying that we were safe now. I couldn't deal with another abusive home... especially when the adult was a creature I didn't know anything about. 

The creature led us to a park, and then into the trees where it... teleported... I think... to different woods. I could feel the difference. The ones we entered were unsafe, dangerous, deathly. These ones were safe, comforting, home. These woods felt like home. Like how my mother's hugs felt before she died. 

Tears reached my eyes, I leaned further into Harry, who wrapped his arms around and looked around curiously. I was curious too, but I was beginning to feel the pain that coursed through me. 

"S-sir?" I asked hesitantly, The creature hesitant and turned it's head to look at me. No face. Just a completely white head. Okay, okay I can do this. 

Sir? That's a new one. Yes child? The creature asked. I jumped, but the creature must have talked to Harry before, because he didn't react to the speaking, merely looking between us to see how this played out.

"Wha-what's your name?" I asked, I felt bad for referring to them as it or creature. 

My name is Slenderman. I am a protector of sorts for children like yourselves among others. Slenderman responded. I nodded a bit, taking in the information. 

"Okay." I whispered, I heard Harry snort and I smiled slightly but I felt the pulling of sleep. But I couldn't sleep now! I needed to stay awake, are we safe?

Sleep, young one. You are safe now. Slenderman spoke after a couple minutes. I nodded and slowly dropped into the land of the dreams, or nightmares depending on my luck.

"Thank you!" I vaguely heard Harry murmur, curling up with me as I lost my sense of hearing.