Percy Jackson and the Heir of Slytherin [Book 2]

9) The Howler

I waited for forever. Professor Dumbledore hadn't shown up until long after I had entered his office. By then, I had seen just about every title of every book, had a conversation with a bird, and eaten a weird beetle.

Then he had shown up.

"Hello, Mr. Jackson. How long have you been waiting for me?" Dumbledore asked, a slight hint of surprise on his face.

"Since I got here. Snape sent me up," I said, watching the older man sit in his chair.

"He was supposed to send you to the feast. I suppose you haven't eaten yet." He didn't wait for a reply, making sandwiches and water appear on his desk with a flick of his wand.

Dumbledore looked at me as I bit into one of the sandwiches, "I've spoken to several people. Your friends after the accident. Luke. The teachers. They can all agree on one thing. You aren't okay."

"I'm fine—"

"You are not. Luke tells me you've been having nightmares. And even before the accident, Hogwarts was worried for you. Your friends and teachers say you look distant. So, I've talked to Mr. Delian."

"You mean the school therapist?"

"Counselor, but that works too, I suppose. You're to meet him after classes. You don't have to go always, but if you don't show often enough, I'll know. We care about you, Percy. We want you to be more than fine. More than okay. You'll talk to him tomorrow afternoon at his office. Understood?"

I didn't want to go to therapy. I thought that I was just fine.

But this was the headmaster I was talking to. I couldn't just say no.

I sighed, "Fine. But if I want to hang out with friends, practice quidditch, train in the forest, do anything that makes me happy around here, I can? Right?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, you'll just have to bring a note saying what you were doing. You are dismissed."

I closed my eyes and nodded. Then I left his office without another word.

Much of Hufflepuff was waiting for me. They immediately asked about what had happened. I told them everything.

Except for the therapy. That was one thing I would share with no one. All who had to know was me, Mr. Delian, and Dumbledore.

I went to my room and looked around. It was the same as it had always been. My blue bed was in the corner. A bookshelf sat on one wall. A comfy chair and a desk in another corner.

I found myself pinning up pictures I'd drawn from the years. Several from last year. I got the ones I'd drawn from my prophetic dreams. Some of my friends. A few of my mother. Other miscellaneous things.

Then I took a shower and went to bed.

Dumbledore wasn't wrong when he said I had nightmares.

It's been pretty bad since Quirrell. I couldn't get his horrific faces out of my head. My own screams pounding in my ears. My blood trickling across my skin, staining my clothes and my mind. The pain.

I remember the pain best. The rest was a little fogged out. I can't recall the things Voldemort said to Quirrell during the torture anymore. Del says that this is a good thing.

But back then, everything was still fresh in my mind. It had only been one summer since that accident.

I woke up early because of the nightmares. It was still dark out.

I started walking through Hogwarts' walls. It was quiet in here. But not a bad quiet. There was a sort of comforting feel to it.

I was even more comforted when I got to Draco's room.

He looked like he'd just woken up. I think Hogwarts wakes him up every time I have a nightmare. Draco still smiled when he saw me.

"I haven't had the chance to see you yet," Draco said, pulling me under the covers with him. He immediately wrapped his arms around me, and I pushed my head into his chest. He'd never seemed to mind.

I nodded and he smiled slightly, already falling back asleep.

I fell asleep soon after.

I never had bad dreams when I was with Draco. He seemed to protect me from them.

I left early the next morning. I needed to get my clothes and school stuff, so I said goodbye to Draco and started limping through the walls again.

I changed into the school uniform, minus the robes as always, and shoved everything I would need in my bag.

I walked with Justin, Susan, and Hannah, the other second year Hufflepuffs, to lunch. They asked me all about the car ride, and I told them. Then we talked about our summers.

Justin was a muggleborn like me. When he went off about roller coasters, my friends, the ones raised in wizard households, were very confused.

And while we were talking about roller coasters, Mrs. Weasley started screaming.

"...STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT HAD GONE..."

Mrs. Weasleys yells shook the hall, catching everyone's attention. Everyone's eyes were on Ron. Well, his crimson forehead.

"...LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU, HARRY, AND PERCY COULD HAVE ALL DIED..."

Oh, that's me. I immediately blushed a bit, as if the Howler had been for me.

"...ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED, YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."

Silence fell across the hall. Some people laughed, and the usual chatter filled the air.

I turned to look at my Hufflepuff friends as they all stared at me.

"His Mom is so going to kill him."

"Susan!"

With the upcoming Artemis Fowl movie, I have decided to read the entire series before it comes out. I probably won't be able to do it, but I can read surprisingly fast when I put my mind to it. The first book was good. I just finished it. Also, when I should have been reading it, I watched two movies. The Princess Bride and Venom. Both were very good. I should also probably mention that this is Percy writing it in the future. He knows things. Soooooooo.

Also, and this is very awesome, the first book has got almost 6000 reads! That's wild. It had a high ranking of 4 in Hogwarts. That's extraordinary. I remember saying that getting like 300 in philsopherstone or something would be the highest ranking. I was dead wrong.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. The next one will be up on Monday. See you then.