Percy Jackson and the Heir of Slytherin [Book 2]

20) Bullies

Chatter and rumors of Halloween night filled the air. People came up to me and asked what happened, so I told them everything, save for the voices Harry heard. They nodded.

After the whole thing with the pixies, people called me animal lover. Most people didn't think I was the one who did it.

There were still a few, however.

"Animals hurt animals, right? So of course Jackasson would've been the one with the dead cat. I'm just surprised this girl made it out scratchless! Or, maybe, it's just somewhere we can't see! How about we check!?!"

I probably shouldn't have gone out alone that break, but I'd been wanting to talk to Ashley, so I went out to her tree that day.

Before I could even look up, a boy had me pressed against the bark of the tree, holding me up by the shirt and keeping his wand pressed against my neck.

I saw him and a few other Slytherins standing around me.

"How'd you do it, Mudblood? How'd you kill the cat?"

I shook my head, "I didn't kill her, she isn't even dead you daft—"

The Slytherin boy's fist slammed into my face, and I would've stumbled if it hadn't been for him and the tree.

"What were you saying?" The boy snarled, pressing his wand harder into the side of my neck.

"I was calling you a daft twat, but you interrupted me before I could finish," I said calmly, staring at the boy as blood trickled down my cheek.

"Call me that again, I dare—"

"Daft twat."

Immediately the boy was swinging. He got lucky and hit me in the throat, so I was struggling for air. Then he kicked me in the stomach, and it just got worse.

I wasn't gonna let this daft twat take me down, though. He threw another fist at me, and I dodged it. He cried out as he hit the ground.

I rolled over and stood up, breathing heavily.

One of the other kids tackled me from behind, struggling to pin me down. He grabbed my arm and pulled it behind my back, and I immediately stopped moving.

The boy who had first hit me grabbed me and slammed me against the tree, pulling my arm farther back.

"If you beg, maybe I won't do anything more to your arm. If you don't... well, we wouldn't want to see that pretty little face of yours ruined, would we, Mudblood?"

"It'd still be prettier than your ugly face."

The boy growled as he pulled my arm too far. I managed to free my good arm while he was mad.

I swung it back and hit him in the face. The boy who'd tackled me came running at me. I dodged under his arm and pushed my foot out, tripping him. The other guy kicked at my knee, and I stumbled, falling to the ground. As I got up while he was advancing towards me, I grabbed some dirt off of the ground and flung it towards his eyes.

"My eyes! My eyes!" He cried as he stumbled away from me. I immediately shot up and started to run.

I knew they wouldn't be far behind, so I was just hoping to get to the Medical Wing before they caught up with me.

I heard them shouting and looked back just as I was rounding a corner, seeing them chasing me. I collided with someone bigger, and fell.

I looked up, a little panicked.

Instead of another Slytherin student, I saw the Slytherin head of house and two Gryffindors, Connor and Travis Stoll. Demigods.

The boys immediately knelt down beside me, surprise filling their eyes. Pain settled in my arm, and I looked up at them with wide eyes.

The Slytherin boys rounded the corner and stopped as they saw Snape glaring at them.

"Take him to the Medical Wing. I'll deal with them," Snape said in a low voice, not looking back at us.

Connor helped me up, wrapping my good arm around his shoulder. He and Travis led me to the Medical Wing, not saying anything.

They'd helped me out before. Last year, I'd ran into those kids in one of the more abandoned hallways. Hogwarts had contacted the closest demigods. Travis and Connor had apparently been playing a prank on one of the nearby teachers.

I had been surprised by the one who'd pinned me against the tree. That was always the way they got me. They're stronger than I am, and you can take me down pretty easily with a good punch while I'm surprised. I've been getting better.

They'd practically broken the other kids then taken me to the Medical Wing. Since then, they've been teaching me different types of martial arts. Different pieces and moves all mixed into what they call the Stoll Style. They say faster moves like the ones in the Stoll Style are best for Hermes kids, but that I'd caught on pretty well anyways. I think it's something to do with Poseidon. The sea is capable of many things, after all.

Even then, here I was.

The boys helped me onto one of the beds, concern clear on their faces. Travis stayed with me while Connor got Madam Pomfrey.

"Why is it always you, Mr. Jackson?" Madam Pomfrey asked, not much bite to her voice.

"It's Percy, and I wish I knew," I said, wincing as she examined my arm.

"Your arm should heal in a few hours with a few potions and some ambrosia. What happened this time, Mr. Jackson?"

I shook my head, "I never tell, and this time isn't any different. And it's Percy."

Madam Pomfrey just sighed and grabbed some potions. She fed me the ones that made my arm feel all tingly, then she had me drink the one that made my head feel tingly.

"You should wake up in a few hours Mr. Jackson, though I'm sure you know this by now."

"It's Percy," I mumbled, but I could already feel myself drifting.

Isn't it amazing when your parents break your heart and say they're splitting up, only to say not long later that they're not? It's real fun, let me tell ya. I definitely did not bawl my eyes out several nights in a row or anything.

I am confused. Times are weird. I'm not sure what's going on anymore.

I hope you guys have a good Sunday, and may your parents never rip your heart to shreds only to make it pointless. I will see you on Tuesday.