Percy Jackson X Harry Potter

FIFTEEN: I Thought You'd Neville Ask

Harry's POV

'WE'VE GOT HERBOLOGY NEXT, right?' Ron asked.

Hermione gave Ron the look. She had many looks, but this particular one was reserved for a particular idiot whenever he said something remotely stupid. 'Of course we do, Ronald. Surely you must know your timetable by now.'

'Hermione,' Harry commented. 'we've been in school for a week. You're the only person I know who likes to memorise their timetable early.'

'Besides,' Ron continued, 'why would they give us paper copies of our timetables if we're not supposed to use them?'

'Facts.' Harry finished.

Hermione sighed. 'I suppose neither of you are actually going to try and pass your Herbology OWLs, are you?'

'Ha! Not a chance, 'Mione.' Ron said.

Harry felt his face stretch into a grin. 'On a completely unrelated note, we're having Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, so I'll get to see Percy-!'

'HAR-BEAR!' Harry was startled when Percy jumped onto him as if trying to hitch a piggyback ride. Harry didn't go through with it and Percy slid off his back and landed on the grass beside him. 

Smudge tumbled off Percy's shoulder and rolled a foot down the hill before scrambling to his stumpy feet. Percy scooped him up and placed him back on his shoulder like they were Ash and Pikachu.

'AAH! Oh my god, Perce! You scared the living daylights out of me.' Harry doubled over, panting.

Percy stood up and elbowed him, looking him in the eyes. Gods, Harry.

'Ohh!' Harry said, 'Right.' Hermione regarded him.

'Right what?' she asked.

'You said that out loud, Harry.' Percy noted.

'Oh,' he summarised.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, but then shrugged and brushed her bushy hair out of her face.

'Well, you said you were excited to see Percy and, clearly, Percy was excited to see you.' she said, looking at Percy. 'Is this your first Herbology lesson?'

'Yep,' said Percy, popping the P. 'In the past, I've not been that good with plants, though. I usually end up killing them in one way or another.'

'Well, try not to do that for the next hour, mate.' Ron said. 'You might be in Hufflepuff, but Sprout absolutely flipped the last time a student killed her plant. She gave them after-school detention cleaning dirty pots, which is horrible. She has a lot of...' Ron searched for the word. '...sympathy for the plants.'

'Umm, no promises.' Percy smirked. 'This one time, I managed to burn a plant to death as I was watering it. How dumb is that?'

Hermione snorted. 'How is that even possible? The temperature of the water would most definitely cancel out-'

'Hermione,' Harry hooked his arm around Percy. 'One thing you'll learn from knowing this dude: NEVER doubt him. Percy's all about doing the impossible.'

* * *

'Today we're looking at Mandrakes!'

Professor Sprout's voice boomed through the greenhouse so loudly that a few of the pots rattled behind her. In all of Harry's lessons with Sprout, she always lectured with a big smile on her face, as if she still had her will to live – most other professors had been at Hogwarts too long to care about their jobs.

'As you all know,' she gesticulated, 'You have your OWLs at the end of this year, so a lot of our curriculum will be revision and recapping what you have studied previously,' at this, Hermione smiled. 'along with a few more important topics that you have not covered prior to this year.'

Percy, who had been standing next to Harry, fiddling with the collar of his shirt, leaned over. 'She's saying so many complicated sentences, I think my brain's gonna go into overdrive.'

Harry simply nodded and continued listening.

'So, as I said earlier, Mandrakes will be our first topic this term. I don't believe you have studied Mandrakes since your third year, correct?' Sprout looked at the class, and watched as some people gave nods of affirmation.

'Good! Now, we'll start with potting-!'

Sprout was interrupted by a hurried knock on the greenhouse door.

It was Neville Longbottom. He was panting slightly. His cheeks were a little pink. He seemed to be trying to wipe his palms on his trousers and bite his nails and fix his hair all at once.

Neville sighed, a pained look on his face. 'Can I borrow Percy, please? And Harry.'

All of the class turned and stared at him and Percy, who looked as confused as Harry. They glanced at each other, then back at Neville. 'Uhh, is this... you know...' Percy made a small gesture, just enough for Neville to see. He mimed swinging something. 'That... kind of problem?'

Among the other students who looked at each other trying to figure out what the two boys meant, Neville clearly seemed to understand. He nodded and Percy gasped, his eyes widening. Through their link, Harry felt a sense of panic. Then he realised what he meant.

Percy had pretended to swing a sword.

He and Percy squeezed past the line of students between them and the door to reach Neville. Percy smiled at Sprout as if to say No worries, although we might not come back. and both of them dashed up to Hogwarts with Neville.

Sprout cleared her throat. 'Uhh... Alright, then. I'll check with Dumbledore to make sure those two have a reason. Now, potting Mandrakes!'