Secrets of Hogwarts and the Slytherin Prince

WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA

The first day at Hogwarts and Percy was actually on time. He woke up before Malfoy and the other Slytherins, got in his robes, and met Piper in the Common Room. The Slytherin Common Room was in the dungeons, and it was pretty interesting. There were tapestries of old wizards up on the walls, the walls and floors were made of glossy black tiles. It was sleek and nice. It didn't seem like a place where evil wizards would grow up...

"Do you remember how to get to the Great Hall?" Percy asked, pulling his robe on.

"Sorta." She shrugged. "Come on!"

They set out, walking through the creepy, dark dungeons to the large Great Hall where students were gathering for breakfast. Percy was proud of himself for remembering the way, and Piper made fun of him for it.

"You're so cocky, Perc- Whoa! Look!" Piper pointed at the ceiling, where hundreds of owls had come swooping through the windows and over the tables, dropping parcels and letters. They disappeared through the doors, leaving Percy and Piper with a very uneventful breakfast. They got to their first class, Transfigu-whatever with Professor McGonagall, who gave him a pleased look when she entered the classroom to see him as early as Annabeth.

The grey-eyed Gryffindor girl in question was still glaring at him from across the walkway between the desks. He waved at her and her glare intensified. Percy looked awkwardly at Piper and shrugged. "What's her problem?" He huffed.

"Well... On the train, she was talking about how her dad was in Ravenclaw, and so she was supposed to get into Ravenclaw, too... But, she didn't... Obviously. I heard she got a letter from her dad, and he was pretty disappointed in her..." Percy frowned.

"That's stupid... I mean, at least she's in class on time..."

"So are we." Piper shrugged.

"And that doesn't surprise you?"

"You know it does." Piper laughed this time. They looked up as a soft whoosh echoed through the room. The professor was gone, and in her place, was a pretty grey tabby. "Whoa..."

"Professor?" Annabeth raised her hand. The cat perked up. "You're an animagus, correct? You can change into an animal form and a human form at will?" The cat nodded. Annabeth looked very proud of herself.

Percy huffed. "Someone's a bit of a know it all..."

"Be nice." Piper jabbed him in the ribs and Percy winced.

"Ow..."

They both looked over as Harry and Ron suddenly came bursting through the classroom doors. Percy hadn't even realized that all but two seats across from him and Piper were full. Ron breathed out a sigh of relief. "Great, she's not even- AH!"

Professor McGonagall leaped off the desk at the front of the room, transforming into her strict looking self in front of Ron and Harry, who both looked terrified. Percy snickered slightly, along with most of the students in the room. "I do not tolerate tardy students on a daily basis, you two... So don't do it again."

Percy heard Malfoy snicker. "Stupid Potter and Weasley..." Percy clenched his fist, about to turn to tell him to shut up when McGonagall rounded on Malfoy.

"5 house points from Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy. For talking in class and disrespecting your fellow pupils." Percy smirked a little in satisfaction. He knew that meant that Slytherin as a whole had lost 5 points, but it shut Malfoy up.

The rest of class went by without a hitch on Percy's part. He paid attention... For the most part. The reading part of the class wasn't too easy, and Piper, who did also have dyslexia, read out a few instructions under her breath for him. She did have dyslexia, but it wasn't as bad as Percy's, thankfully. In Charms class, he watched Piper make her feather float and smirk at him cockily on her third try.

Percy chuckled. "That's nothing, Pipes... Watch this..."

He held out his wand, the acacia wood shimmering slightly with whatever polish had been applied. He flicked his wrist, "Wingardium Leviosa!" He said it in a commanding, firm voice, like the teacher, Professor Flitwick had advised.

The white feather began to float off the desk in front of him. Piper gaped, before whining. "No fair! That was your first try!"

"Oh, 5 points to Gryffindor!" Percy looked over to see that Hermione had gotten her feather to float as well. Flitwick turned to survey the room, before his eyes landed on Percy and his floating feather. "Congratulations Perseus! 5 points to Slytherin as well!"

He smirked, eyes flickering over to Annabeth, who wasn't having as much luck with the charm. She was getting frustrated, and the next time she attempted the charm, the feather burst into flames. She yelped and ducked under the table as it crumbled to ash on the desk. Percy frowned and glanced at Piper, who was also watching Annabeth. He heard Malfoy laughing at her and clenched his fist, tempted to get angry, but Piper put her hand over his, stopping him.

"If you want her to stop glaring at you, don't fight her battles for her. She'll just get angrier." Percy hesitated.

"I guess, but still... He shouldn't laugh at her. He's not done any better."

"True..." Piper smirked. "Just tell me how you did it."

"Be firm about it." Percy shrugged. "Sound and be confident when you say it."

"Okay..." Piper shrugged, turning to her feather, which had stopped floating. She raised her wand and said in a very calm and confident voice. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The feather began to float, following the movement of her wand. Piper smiled brightly. She glanced over her shoulder and grinned more, raising her chin. "Suck it, Malfoy."

***

"Please!" Percy stropped after potions, trailing back to see Annabeth trying to get someone to listen to her. He frowned, hesitated before walking over to her. "She's tiny! She could be lost! She could be hurt- Please!"

The person she was talking too walked away and she frowned helplessly. Percy stepped up to her, scratching the back of his neck. "Annabeth?"

She looked at him and sighed. "What do you want?"

"What's wrong? Whose missing?"

She huffed, before sighing... "My owl. She's really small, and she's missing... She's been missing since breakfast..."

Percy frowned. "Is there any way I can help?"

She hesitated. "Why would you help me?" She scoffed. "You're a Slytherin."

"I also grew up in an orphanage and new nothing about any of this a couple weeks ago." She looked disbelieving, but after a moment of looking him in the eyes, she sighed.

"You don't look like you're lying..."

"Just ask Piper. She's been my best friend for years." Percy shrugged. Annabeth huffed. "Okay, fine... She's small and grey, and she comes to Medusa."

Percy grinned slightly. "You named your owl... Medusa?"

"Yes, I did." Annabeth groaned. Percy snickered. "Now will you stop laughing and help me find her!?"

"Yes, I'll help." Percy smiled.