When Worlds Collide~

Chapter 8 (pt1)

Percy•

My second (full) day at Hogwarts slightly more interesting than my first, although more whether or not it was as enjoyable... Well, you'll see.
It started off like the day before, I guess - being woken up by the sunrise that had the audacity to filter through the thin curtains and attack my eyelids (how dare), haphazardly getting dressed and eventually crawling down the stairs to wait for the others. This was the second day in a row that I found myself with my shoes on the wrong foot.
This time I managed to change them around without anyone noticing.

"Hey, you're the new kid aren't you?"

I (barely) managed to not jump out of my skin. Leaning over the top of my cushy armchair was a red-haired and freckled teenage guy, maybe a little older than me.

"So are ya?" He asked.
"Huh?"
"The new student."
"Uh, yeah, I guess." I glanced sideways at the staircase. Nobody.

"OI GEORGE," He bellowed over his shoulder, "IT'S THE NEW KID."
Well at least the creepy teenage redhead wasn't ignoring me.

Make that two redheads - the person who also craned their neck over the top of my chair was identical to the other one.

"Uh, hi."

"Hullo," George said. "I'm George. That thing over there is Fred."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Percy."

"Let's hope you're not as much of a prat as our Percy," Fred grinned.

"I hope so too. Hold up, Ron's your brother?"

"Yeah. You know Harry and Hermione?"
Fred groaned. "Idjit. Of course he does."

"Shut up, Fred, you're just jealous since I'm better looking than you."

Curious, other students started drifting over to where the twins and I were.
Well, being inconspicuous just went down the drain. Gods help me. Or better, maybe Ron or the others would happen to be climbing down the stairs at this moment, about to rescue me.
Eh, nope. I'm not that lucky. I'd have to sort this out myself - like that's ever worked for me.

"Uh, sorry, I need to get something..." I mumbled something else incoherently and retreated up the stairs, looking for Ron and Harry's dorm. Well, five points for effort, if you can call it that.

"What's taking you guys so lo-"
"Blimey Percy, I know I'm attractive and all but we barely know each other..."

Whoops. Harry was just buttoning his shirt up while Ron was rummaging inside his suitcase, probably looking for a pair of socks.
"You're still not changed? It's like, uhh..." I looked at Ron. "What time is it?"
"Dunno. I haven't got a watch."

"Harry?"
"Mine doesn't work." Harry gave an apologetic grimace. "Sorry."

I gave a small, sharp puff of air, but I didn't mind. "S'all right. But if I'm going to be late to breakfast, I'm dragging you all down with me. Does anyone know how to tie a tie?"

At breakfast, the air seemed electric. A loud buzz hung over each of the four tables, newspapers being read out, pages being turned, hushed murmurs running through the students like wildfire. Only the Weasley twins - I think that's what everyone calls them - looked up as the four of us sat.

I opened my mouth to ask what all the fuss was about, but I didn't need to. Fred - or George, who knows really - shoved a newspaper article under my nose before I could get a syllable out.

"You-Know-Who's attacked the Canadian Ministry," Twin #1 said.
"Over four hundred missing, presumed dead," added Twin #2.

"They'll be worse than dead," said Hermione darkly. "He needs more manpower, doesn't he? That's why he attacked the Canadian Ministry. They've got just the right amount of people to put under the Imperius Curse."

Hold up. "Imperious curse? Like, a snobby royalty curse?"

"No, Imperius Curse. It's one of the Unforgivable Curses, and this one controls the victim, literally bends them to the caster's will. It's possible to resist it, but it's really difficult. Harry can tell you."

I stared in amazement at Hermione. "How did you say that in only one breath? And Unforgivable Curses? Harry can resist a curse? And how can this 'You-Know-Who' control so many freaking people at once?"

Hermione grimaced guiltily at Harry. "Sorry, I think I broke him. But, to answer your last question, You-Know-Who, well, as you've probably figured out, he's really, really powerful. Pretty sure the only wizard he's afraid of is Dumbledore."

"... On second thought, I shouldn't have asked."

Harry was still skimming the article. "Hey, Hermione, where do you think he'll attack next?"

"He'll keep attacking the smaller ministries to build up his power, I reckon. Little countries. Like New Zealand, maybe Japan after that. Or maybe just individual states in America. That way, his power's close together and not scattered all over the world."

Oh gods. That meant that my mom, Paul, Annabeth, all my friends back home could be in danger. They weren't wizards, but oh gods, if Dumbledore could find me, this You-Know-Who could find out about them and track them down. And if the Imperius Curse came into play...
I didn't want to think about it.

"You okay there, Percy?" Ron asked. "You're looking a bit out of it."

I turned to Hermione. "D'you think You-Know-Who would attack New York?"
"Possibly, I mean, there's a lot of people, so he might need to let his control expand a little before doing so, but yes, he probably w-"

"I have to go," I blurted, jumping over the seat and stumbling slightly. "Catch you later."
As I ran up the gap between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, I heard Hermione say,
"Oh god, that's where he lives, isn't it?" even over the general chatter of the other students.

More whispers rose and many pairs of eyes heated the back of my neck at me as I ran up to the teachers' table.

"Professor Dumbledore," I began, but he held up a hand.

"I admit it is rude of me to prevent you from speaking, Percy, and I apologize for that. However, we need to be mindful of what we speak of, and where."
Again, I opened my mouth, not wanting to be dismissed so easily, but Dumbledore spoke before I could.

"If you wish to speak with me, go to the stone griffin statue in the main corridor. I do like Fizzing Whizzbees, you should sample them sometime."

He turned back to his lamb roast, indicating the conversation was over.

All right guys. I know I suck. And all I have to say for myself is I'm sorry. I had some trouble with life while writing this, but that's no excuse, is it?
I don't know I think I just didn't have much direction in the story till now, but I actually have an idea of where I might be going now.

Until next time (if there is one),
ProcrastinationPro