A drop here, a drop there (a one-shots/snippet book)

Another Life (Harry Potter/Percy Jackson)

The prologue of a baby fic. I decided to rewrite the chapter one of this, but ended up not finishing the rewrite.

*wattpad tells me I got 4 views and a 2 the SECOND I published the previous shots I posted*

How? Why? Wattpad, when did you break and who broke you?

A small boy, too thin and too short for his age nervously looked around as he entered the establishment. Rows and rows of robes are out on display and two witches fluttered around two boys standing on a pedestal each. The ringing of a bell at his entrance caught the attention of a witch and she looked up from her inserting of a needle.

"Oh! Hogwarts dear? Got another two here getting pinned up. First year too, I take it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Well, just wait over there. Let me finish up here." With that, she continued pinning up robes to the right length.

Harry Potter obediently shuffled out of the way to the door to keep from blocking any costumers and waited. He didn't need to wait long and one of the boys hopped out of the pedestal once the witch declared him done. The boy who had platinum blond hair and paler skin looked him up and down, at his oversized clothes, worn shoes, and taped round glasses, and sneered as he passed by. The boy stared at the doorway before the witch, Madam Malkin, ushered him at the free pedestal next to the other boy.

"Hullo, you a muggleborn?" The boy greeted with a question. "Don't mind Malfoy, he's a pompous arse." In contrast to 'Malfoy's' pale colorings, the boy has dark hair as messy as his own and lightly tanned skin. Silver eyes with flecks of turquoise around the pupils crinkled little as he grinned at him.

"Ah, okay." Harry didn't really know what to say to that last one. "My parents are magical."

"Then why are you dressed like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like a muggle. And with such shoddy clothes! I'm quite fond of jeans myself, but those clothes looked like they belonged to a giant beach ball." The boy stated. "I would've said a baby whale, but whales are majestic creatures in my opinion, and I don't want to insult them by comparing them to someone who clearly can't even take care of themselves. No offense." He added.

Harry smiled. "None taken. My cousin is even bigger than a beach ball though."

"Well, then it's a giant beach ball." The boy sniffed. "And those belonged to your cousin? Don't you have clothes of your own, ones that actually fit?"

Harry shifted, feeling somewhat ashamed. The Dursleys never really bothered to give him his own clothes. Said he should be grateful that they're housing him and give him food to eat, he mustn't go demanding things that he clearly didn't deserve. Of course, Harry can't just walk around naked, so he was given his whale of a cousin's old clothes. The clothes were a few sizes too big and hung on his small frame, and he feels a bit self conscious when he looked at other kids.

"Don't."

His head snapped up, startled and confused. "What?"

"Don't be ashamed with your situation. If anyone should be ashamed, then it should be your guardians for your less than stellar home life–and don't deny it. I may come from an old family but I can tell. So don't you dare be ashamed, it's not your fault."

Harry didn't know what too say, he was frozen and staring at the boy who was looking at him with a determined look. His chest feels tight. Nobody ever said those words to him before. For as long as he can remember, every bad thing that happens was somehow his fault. He was a freak, they said, and freakish things always happens around him–and it didn't matter that it was Dudely who broke his arm, the teachers think he was just trying to get attention and it was his fault for being the careless good for nothing child that he is. And maybe, just a little bit, he started believing it himself at some point after years of being told it–it's his fault for being a freak, so he is treated like one. He wasn't given a chance to react any other way because Madam Malkin evidently heard everything and began to fuss over him worriedly, asking him questions he didn't really want to answer and distracting him. He didn't notice the other boy look at the scene for a moment, then shrug and slip away.

When Harry stepped out of the shop after he had escaped the witches' clutches, he can't help but mourn. He never got the other boy's name, and he might not until they arrive at Hogwarts. Hagrid's half melted ice cream only cheered him up a little.

They met again though as Harry was picking out a school trunk.

"Fancy seeing you here!" The boy greeted cheerfully. "Sorry I had to leave you. There was a book in Flourish and Blotts that is exceedingly rare, and I was in a bit of a hurry before it runs out." He waved Harry over before he can say anything. "Leave those regular trunks, these multiple compartmentalized ones are better. Especially if they're charmed to be bigger than the outside and has a built in shrinking charm to boot. Dead useful, it is."

It immediately took all of his attention as Harry gaped at the open trunk. "It's bigger on the inside! And it shrinks?!"

"Yes, I just said that." The boy said a bit confused. Then he smacked his forehead. "Idiot! Sorry, I lived with magic all my life, I almost forgot that you're new to all these." He examined Harry's wondrous expression and came to a decision. "I know! I'll be your official tour guide to the Wizarding World!"

Harry blinked from his wire rimmed glasses at the sudden exclamation. "But, I already have Hagrid."

"Who, the giant? He's the grounds keeper, ain't he? Well, he won't be always there to help you since he's not a student, and he might miss to tell you some things." He paused. "Do you even know about Quidditch?"

Harry's blank stare is answer enough. The other boy huffed with a tinge of amusement. "Case and point. I'll be your... teacher of things magical. Before that though, I need a name for my unofficial student."

"I-um- Harry Potter." He stammered, still caught a little off guard and bewildered. He was then half afraid that the other boy will react the same as those back at the Leaky Cauldron–gushing and shaking his hand and looking at him as if he's Merlin himself. But the other boy didn't react aside from the slight widening of eyes, before he grinned a lopsided grin.

"I guess it's a good thing that I 'took you in' before knowing your name–that way, you can be sure that I befriended you not because of your fame. Hey, that rhymed!" He laughed lightly. "Anyway, nice to meet you, Harry. I'm Perseus Black. Call me Percy."

(Ugh. I'm in a Night Vale craze right now, and I made a one-shot for that fandom crossed over with Undertale. But I told myself to post my stuff in the order that I have decided to post it in and uugghh)