Percy Jackson X Harry Potter

TWELVE: Once a Hufflepuff...

Percy's POV

A HOUSE-ELF STUMBLED UPON PERCY pacing in the kitchen, spinning his wand in his fingers like he did Riptide (though the elf would not have known that). Percy heard him approach and timidly tap him on the leg.

'Excuse me, terribly sorry, sir. You– you look a little bit puzzled. Do you need any, umm, assistance?' He said, looking between Percy's eyes and the tiles of the floor.

'Umm, Yeah. If you don't mind. I'm sure you've probably seen the Hufflepuffs come this way. How do you get into the Hufflepuff Common Room?'

'You are Hufflepuff, yes? I wouldn't dare say this to a student of another house!' The elf looked up, and when Percy nodded, he continued to describe how to get in. 'You need to tap the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row with your wand,' he pointed, 'in the rhythm of the words "Helga Hufflepuff".' The house-elf looked at his feet again in an anxious manner.

'Thank you– Uhh, sorry, I didn't get your name.' The elf looked up at Percy in shock, but Percy could see that he was trying to hold in his excitement. Maybe people didn't take the time to talk to House Elves very much.

'My name is Corky, sir.' Corky bowed and made to exit the kitchen, before adding, 'And don't tap the wrong barrel, or you'll be drenched in vinegar.'

'Right.'

Corky scurried off back into the depths of the kitchen, leaving Percy was left to figure out the entrance to Hufflepuff Common Room.

Percy mumbled to himself. 'Two from the bottom... middle of the second row. Something Hufflepuff. Helena... or was it Helen? Yeah, it was Helen.'

He blankly stared at the barrels, then walked over to what he supposed would be the correct one. Bringing out his wand, he tapped the rhythm of Helen Hufflepuff: TAP tap TAP TAP TAP. Soon after, the lid of the barrel swung open and exposed a passageway which he could crawl through.

Percy got down and started making his way through the tunnel, trying to keep Smudge from falling off his shoulder, which had become the kitten's favourite sitting spot. Smudge was wide awake now, nuzzling his shoulder, tripping over his own feet and curiously looking around like he was on Pride Rock.

When he emerged, a few students were lounging on the various armchairs and couches. A troupe of four kids around his age were sitting around the fire together; two guys and two girls (they looked more like a friend group than two couples). Some of them looked up when he came out of the tunnel, and the rest, Percy noticed, were either studying or sleeping (or both, on some occasions).

The common room was a place Percy would have been happy to call home. Plants hung from the ceiling and sat on shelves, windowsills and the wooden floor, which was a soft, sandy chestnut wood. Circular windows looked out into rolling fields of dandelions, and the air was fresh. The couches and armchairs were patchy and repaired with squares of fabric in weaker areas. Copper lamps hung from the low ceiling – which casted a warm glow upon the room – and the fireplace was lit, crackling and beautiful.

'Why are you coming in so late? The rest of us got here around twenty minutes ago.' A boy was sitting on the couch, regarding him.

'Uhh, I went the wrong way. Got stuck outside. I didn't know how to get in.'

Percy was afraid that the boy would make fun of him, but he stood up and walked over, carefree. He stopped a few feet away from him and craned his neck up to inspect Percy's face. His curly hair looked like it hadn't been washed in days. It hung over his eyes like curtains of spaghetti, and he was constantly pushing it out of the way.

The boy, after a minute of examination, gasped. 'Oh, you're that kid from America, aren't you? The one that was sorted today?' Percy nodded in confirmation, and the boy sighed. 'Oh, well, that's a relief. If you'd said no, then I'd be a bit concerned for your mental capacity!'