A Life Changing Story "Harry Potter and Percy Jackson

Part 7

Percy knew Harry won't be alright after his broomstick. He never had many possessions and that broomstick was probably his first ever gift. The Gryffindor team visitedagain on Sunday morning, this time accompanied by Wood with gauze wrapped over his head and told Harry (in a hollow, dead sort of voice) that he didn't blamehim in the slightest. Ron and Hermione left Harry's bedside onlyat night. But nothing anyone said or did could make Harry feel anybetter, because they knew only half of what was troubling him.
But on Monday, Draco Malfoy was relishing Griffyndor's defeat. He had finally takenoff his bandages, and celebrated having the full use of both armsagain by doing spirited imitations of Harry falling off his broom.
Malfoy spent much of their next Potions class doing dementor imitations across the dungeon; Ron finally cracked and flung a large,slippery crocodile heart at Malfoy, which hit him in the face andcaused Snape to take fifty points from Gryffindor. Then after class, Percy threw in a couple of hexes at the Slytherin.
"If Snape's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again, I'mskiving off," said Ron as they headed toward Lupin's classroom after lunch. "Check who's in there, Hermione."
Hermione peered around the classroom door.
"It's okay!"
Professor Lupin was back at work. It certainly looked as thoughhe had been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on himand there were dark shadows beneath his eyes; nevertheless, hesmiled at the class as they took their seats, and they burst at onceinto an explosion of complaints about Snape's behaviour whileLupin had been ill.
"It's not fair, he was only filling in, why should he give us homework?"
"We don't know anything about werewolves —"
"— two rolls of parchment!"
"Did you tell Professor Snape we haven't covered them yet?"Lupin asked, frowning slightly.
The babble broke out again.
"Yes, but he said we were really behind —"
"— he wouldn't listen —"
"— two rolls of parchment!"
Professor Lupin smiled at the look of indignation on every face."Don't worry. I'll speak to Professor Snape. You don't have to dothe essay."
"Oh no, " said Hermione, looking very disappointed. "I've already finished it!"
They had a very enjoyable lesson. Professor Lupin had broughtalong a glass box containing a hinkypunk, a little one-legged creature who looked as though he were made of wisps of smoke, ratherfrail and harmless-looking.
"Lures travellers into bogs," said Professor Lupin as they tooknotes. "You notice the lantern dangling from his hand? Hopsahead — people follow the light — then —
The hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise against theglass.
The classes ended and they skived out. Percy had received a letter from Chiron that he needed to retrieve two powerful demigods. That was a surprise for him, ever since Luke betrayed them, more and more campers had been deserting them. Satyrs were all over the country and nymphs would report anything they find unusual. So when the term ended, he said bye to the trio and left to America.

The Percy Jackson that left Hogwarts for Christmas was different than the one who returned. Instead of a cheerful, laidback Percy, there was a more serious, disciplined Percy.
Nobody knew what happened to him, including the trio who he was closest with. There was an edge in his tone and sharpness in his eyes. Also, he had a growth spurt making him look slightly intimidating. And the grey streak in his hair only added the mystery. Percy claimed it was a new style so everyone dropped it.
But he became even harsher in the discipline. When Harry and Ron told him about the firebolt and how Hermione ranted them out. He quickly stopped that and shouted at them saying she did the right thing and stormed out of the dorm.
What made it worse for Percy is he could see the thestrals. Those that had seen death. They did respect him the way other horses do, but to him, it was a reminder of a broken promise he made with Nico Di Angelo.
When he came back, Hermione also filled him in other details. How Sirius Black is Harry's godfather and their secret keeper and how he betrayed them and also Buckbeak's trial.
Then there was quidditch. Ravenclaw played Slytherin a week after the start of term. Slytherin won, though narrowly. According to Wood, this was good news for Gryffindor, who would take second place if they beat Ravenclaw too. He consequently increased the number of team practices to five a week. Which meant Percy had just one or two nights a week to do all his homework. His mum sent him a Patronus spellbook for Christmas so that way when dementors get to close, he might make a stand. But the close he got was a wisp of silver.
Even so, he wasn't showing the strain nearly as much as Hermione, whose immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes; she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted.
"How's she doing it?" Ron muttered to Harry and Percy one evening as Harry sat finishing a nasty essay onUndetectable Poisons for Snape. Harry looked up. Hermione was barely visible behind atottering pile of books.
"Doing what Ron?" asked Percy.
"Getting to all her classes!" Ron said. "I heard her talking to Professor Vector, that Arithmancywitch, this morning. They were going on about yesterday's lesson, but Hermione can't've beenthere, because she was with us in Care of Magical Creatures! And Ernie McMillan told me she'snever missed a Muggle Studies class, but half of them are at the same time as Divination, andshe's never missed one of them either!"
"Why don't you ask her," asked Percy
"Are you mental? I won't talk to her unless she stops being. . ."
However, he was interruptedagain, by Wood.
"Bad news, Harry. I've just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She — er —got a bit shirty with me. Told me I'd got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared moreabout winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didn't care if itthrew you off, as long as you caught the Snitch first." Wood shook his head in disbelief."Honestly, the way she was yelling at me... you'd think I'd said something terrible. Then I askedher how much longer she was going to keep it..." He screwed up his face and imitated ProfessorMcGonagall's severe voice. "As long as necessary, Wood"... I reckon it's time you ordered anew broom, Harry. There's an order form at the back of Which Broomstick... you could get aNimbus Two Thousand and One, like Malfoy's got."
"I'm not buying anything Malfoy thinks is good," said Harry flatly
January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold weather. The match against Ravenclaw was drawing nearer and nearer, but Harry still hadn't ordered a new broom. Harry asked Professor McGonagall and she always gave him a no.
One day, to everyone's luck Harry got his broomstick back. He carried the Firebolt back upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower. He saw Ron dashing toward him, grinning from ear to ear.
"She gave it to you? Excellent! Listen, can I still have a go on it?Tomorrow?"
"Yeah, all right," said Ron. "She's in the common room now working — for a change."
When they entered, there was a sudden, excited murmur as everyhead turned and the next moment, Harry was surrounded by people exclaiming over his Firebolt.
"Where'd you get it, Harry?"
"Will you let me have a go?"
"Have you ridden it yet, Harry?"
"Ravenclaw'll have no chance, they're all on Cleansweep Sevens!"
"Can I just hold it, Harry?"
After ten minutes or so, during which the Firebolt was Passed around and admired from everyangle, the crowd dispersed and Harry and Ron had a clear view of Hermione, the only personwho hadn't rushed over to them, bent over her work and carefully avoiding their eyes. Harry andRon approached her table and at last, she looked up.
After ten minutes or so, during which the Firebolt was passed around and admired from every angle, the crowd dispersed and Harry and Ron had a clear view of Hermione and Percy, the only people who hadn't rushed over to them, bent over her work. It looked like Percy was translating runes to her and occasionally, pointing out some mistakes.
"I got it back," said Harry, grinning at her and holding up theFirebolt.
"See, Hermione? There wasn't anything wrong with it!" said Ron.
"Well — there might have been!" said Hermione. "I mean, atleast you know now that it's safe!"
"Yeah, I suppose so," said Harry. "I'd better put it upstairs —"
"I'll take it!" said Ron eagerly. "I've got to give Scabbers his rat tonic."
He took the Firebolt and, holding it as if it were made of glass, carried it away up the boys' staircase.
"Can I sit down, then?" Harry asked Hermione.
" I suppose so," said Hermione, moving a great stack of parchment off a chair.
"How are you getting through all this stuff?" Percy asked her.
"Oh, well — you know — working hard," said Hermione. Close-up, she lookedalmost as tired as Lupin.
"Why don't you just drop a couple of subjects?" Harry asked, watching her lifting books as she searched for her rune dictionary to which Percy handed it back.
"I couldn't do that!" said Hermione, looking scandalized.
"Arithmancy looks terrible," said Harry, picking up a very complicated-looking number chart.
"Oh no, it's wonderful!" said Hermione earnestly. "It's my favourite subject! It's —"
At that precise moment, a strangled yell echoed down the boys' staircase. The whole common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then came hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder — and then Ron came leaping into view, dragging with him a bedsheet.
"LOOK!" he bellowed, striding over to Hermione's table." LOOK!" he yelled, shaking the sheets in her face.
"Ron, what — ?"
"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!"Hermione was leaning away from Ron, looking utterly bewildered. Harry and Percy looked down at the sheet Ron was holding. There was something red on it.
"Is that..." Percy started.
"BLOOD!" Ron yelled into the stunned silence. "HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?"
"N — no," said Hermione in a trembling voice.
Ron threw something down onto Hermione's rune translation. Hermione, Percy and Harry leaned forward. Lying on top of the weird, spiky shapes were several long, ginger cat hairs.