Percy's POV

How long does it take to sort a couple of eleven-year-olds? I mean really! I was so bored I was pacing around the hallways. Once, I even swung Riptide when I was sure no one was looking. Finally, I decided to Iris Message Annabeth.

Her image appeared in the mist. Her being Annabeth, was currently crushing someone in the arena. She pinned her on the ground, her dagger at her throat.

I met Carmen's eyes and winked. Then I yelled, "Annabeth!"

Annabeth jumped, startled. "Percy!" She exclaimed, "It's about time you called, Seaweed Brain!"

Carmen put her sword at Annabeth's neck and she looked at me in fake hurt, "Percy! You set me up."

I shrugged, "You're not here to kill me, so what the Hades."

She laughed, "Well, you know me well enough to expect this." She kicked the Carmen in the stomach, making her double over.

Then she glared, "You ready to surrender, or do I have to beat you again?"

Carmen giggled, "I guess I should have expected this. Thanks for the help, Perce." She raced off.

"Guess who's here, Wise Girl," I said, wiggling my eyebrows, "Luna Lovegood."

Annabeth growled. "Skittles is a witch? She never told me! That girl is gonna get it when she comes back this summer." Annabeth said, pounding her fists.

"Perseus Jackson!" I heard McGonagall call out.

I smiled at Annabeth apologetically, "Sorry Owl Face. Gotta go get sorted. I'll IM you as soon as I get the chance."

She grinned, "Love you, Seaweed Brain. Good luck." She blew me a kiss and cut the connection.

I shook myself, "So ready for this."

I burst in the door, "Wassup, Hogwarts!" Half of the girls fainted. Was I that scary? The rest were laughing and twitching at me. No one at camp treated me like this. I bet it was a British thing.

I was so glad 'Mione drilled Hogwarts into my head. It would've been embarrassing as Hades if I called them all Pigfarts.

I strode forward from all the way across the Great Room. There was a tattered hat about fifty feet away sitting on a stool. When I was about twenty feet away, the hat screamed. Yes, it screamed.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" It yelled. I froze, my foot still suspended in the air. I thought I'd seen it all, but nothing prepared me for a talking hat.

Then it started wailing, "More loyal than any Hufflepuff! Street smart, perfect for Ravenclaw! But the answer is clear. GRYFFINDOR! GET AWAY FROM ME! YOU'VE SEEN TOO MUCH! MORE THAN EVERYONE IN HOGWARTS COMBINED!"

Finally, it calmed down a little, "You know, if you want mental help, I've got just the person."

I scratched the back of my head, "Um..." I walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Hermione. Everyone was staring at me. I turned to Ginny, "Was this like, weird, or something?"

I get it. The Seaweed Brain question. Of course, it was weird. Ginny shook her head, trying to form words, "No one's ever been sorted that fast. You were like, twenty feet away."

Harry glared at me, "No way Pretty Boy's seen so much that he'd be Gryffindor. What's the worst you've ever seen, Jackson? A bloody nose?"

To his obvious surprise, I grinned. In a falsetto, I squealed, "I'm Harry Potter and I'm the CHOSEN ONE! I've had so much more tragedy than everyone else! I can't accept that someone's different because I'm obviously soo amazing!"

He turned beet red as everyone laughed. His eyes glinted in triumph when he spoke, though, "At least I'm not directly related to Voldemort!"

Everyone in the room gasped. Who cares? I'm also related to the gods. I retorted, "My mother was Sally Jackson! I was raised by her!"

The Hufflepuffs smiled. I knew my mother was a legend. I instantly won back the Hufflepuffs and the majority of the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables. I continued, "Dumbledore trusts me, shouldn't everyone else? When has Dumbledore been wrong? I grew up in America, didn't even know about Moldyshorts until a few days ago! I didn't even know wizards existed until then!"

When Harry realized that everyone was back on my side, he sat down angrily.

Dumbledore chuckled awkwardly, "Okay, children. Quit your arguing. I have a couple of announcements. The Triwizard Tournament is coming back this year. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be here by Halloween. The Forbidden Forest is still forbidden, and anyone out after curfew will be punished. There is also a list of banned items in Mr. Filch's office that you should take care to look at. That said, let the feast begin!"

A banquet appeared on the table. My eyes widened. "This is so amazing!" I yelled.

Harry looked at me, "Oh, so food is cool but Hogwarts isn't as cool as places you've seen? Pfft." He rolled his eyes and stuffed a potato in his mouth.

Ron spoke with his mouth full, "I rewy hae yu, I rewy d'. Bu' I ga'a gwee wi' ya, mai. Th' foo i' mayi."

Hermione raised her eyebrow at Ron, "Excuse me?"

I grinned, "He says that he really hates me. He really, really does. But he's agreeing that the food is amazing." Proud of myself, I ate a celebratory piece of pizza.

Ginny's mouth fell open, "You understood him?"

I shrugged. "When you eat like a pig, you pick up a couple things." I shoved a bunch of mashed potatoes into my mouth and grinned at her.

She and Hermione looked disgusted. "Percy!" Hermione whined, "Don't be like that!"

I swallowed and winked, "Be like what?" I heard a laugh from my other side. I turned to look.

A girl was stroking her finger down my arm and purring, "You're so funny, Percy. You would do better with me than with Granger."

I shifted closer to Hermione, who was fuming. "I'm sorry, who are you?" I asked. She smiled at me, "I'm Romilda Vane," I opened my mouth to say something again, but she cut me off, "I know, I know. The most beautiful name you've ever heard?"

I let out a frustrated grunt. So this was the girl. Oh, if Annabeth was here this Romilda girl would be in the infirmary.

I put my hand on Hermione's arm, who looked like she was about to rip Romilda's head off. "

"Um... Hermione's not my girlfriend," I started, "Also, I don't want to go out with you. For the record, Hermione's better than you if you think you can talk about people like that. She's the smartest witch in her year and from what I've heard, one of the bravest."

Hermione was blushing this time. I was sure of it. I know I'm a little dense. Alright, more than a little dense, but I know that she was embarrassed. She mumbled, "Thanks, Percy."

I sighed, "Anytime."

Romilda turned away with a huff and started talking to the girl next to her. Ginny spoke, "You better watch out, Percy. That girl gave Harry some love potion in his sixth year."

Ron groaned, "Don't remind me."

I tilted my head, "Love potions are real?"

Hermione nodded, "Yup, and you're probably gonna get hit with a lot of them."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

Harry snorted, "She means that Pretty Boy is so amazing that all the girls want to fall all over him."

"What?" I asked. Fall all over me? What was that supposed to mean?

Hermione shook her head, "It's nothing, Percy. Nothing." She looked kind of relieved.

Throughout the meal, girls from all of the tables came to me, blinking their eyes really fast and giggling. But none of them spoke to me. What does this mean!?!

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I leaned over to Hermione, "Is there something on my face?"

Ron facepalmed, "You're bloody dense. At least Voldemort was smart. Now we know you're worse than him."

Harry nodded his agreement and glared as Cho Chang approached me and left. Why were these British people so confusing? Their faces get red at the weirdest times, they act all weird, and they have those bloody catch phrases. Great! Now I'm doing it.

"What's the Triwizard Tournament?" I asked no one in particular.

Ron's eyes bugged out, "You'd have had to live under a rock to not know what that is!"

Ginny swatted his arm, "Ronald! He only found out he was a wizard a couple days ago! Cut him some slack. You're being a real prick! Harry, stop smiling! You're worse than he is!" Harry and Ron looked down, not looking at all embarrassed.

Hermione answered me, "The Triwizard Tournament is held between three schools, Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and Hogwarts. One person from each school is chosen as a champion and they compete in three challenges. The judges rank them based on their performances and the person who completes the maze at the end first, wins. The prize is an extreme amount honor for their school and one thousand galleons for them. Last time-"

Ron cut her off snobbily, "Last time, Harry won. Take that, you piece of scum."

Ginny glared at her brother and said, "Last time, the challenges were fighting a dragon, saving someone from the Black Lake, and the maze."

That was easy peasy. I've already fought and killed a drakon, who was older and much more powerful than a dragon, I can breathe under water, and I made my way through Tartarus. Compared to that, the Triwizard Tournament would be a piece of cake. Of course, I didn't say that. It'd blow their little wizard minds. And we certainly wouldn't want that.

"Alright," Dumbledore called over the conversation, "Would the Head Boys and Girls lead the students of their houses to their common rooms? The feast is over. Goodnight, children, classes start tomorrow." With that, we streamed out of the Great Room.

Time skip to outside the Gryffindor Common Room

Hermione stopped them outside a portrait of a very fat lady. She waved. THE PICTURE MOVES! Cool! I need to get a Nemo picture like that!

Then she yawned and asked, "What's the password?"

I stumbled back a couple of steps in surprise, "Woah! The picture talks!"

She smiled sleepily, "Sure do, Handsome. Now are you going to give me the password or not?" Hermione stepped in between us and said, "Athena's Blue Cookies."

I was literally rolling on the floor laughing. Harry glared at me irritably, "What's it now, Death Eater?"

My laughter only increased, "Ha! Death Eater! Who would want to eat Thanatos!?! Ha! Athena's Blue Cookies! Pfft. Sorry, dad, Athena."

After another five minutes rolling in the dust, I stood up, still chuckling, "Well, there goes my dignity. Where are the bedrooms?"

Hermione led us into a common room that was completely yellow and red. "This place could use a little more blue," I said, touching the red and gold carpet, "It looks like mustard and ketchup were murdered here."

Ginny giggled, "Ketchup and mustard?" I turned to her, "Yeah! A hamburger's nightmare!"

Hermione's expression turned serious, "Speaking of which, I hope you don't have any tonight."

Harry groaned, "How bad could it possibly be? I mean really! What do you dream about anyway, Pretty Boy?" Hermione slapped his arm, "Stop teasing him, Harry! You never used to be like this. What's gotten into you?"

Harry exploded, "What's gotten into you, 'Mione? You're just like everyone else at Hogwarts, falling for his act! He's a death eater! Like Grandfather, like Grandson. What's he ever done for you? Did he save the world with you? NO! How are you on his side for this? You're supposed to be smart! You should know he's evil." He ended it with a glare at me.

Hermione seethed, "It's because I'm smart that you should listen to me! Dumbledore's a great judge of character and so am I! What's he ever done to you, Harry? He's got great arguments and the Sorting Hat can see his memories! It would know if he was a death eater! And if he was, it would tell us so!"

Harry raged, "What's he done to me? His grandpa literally killed my entire family! I grew up in a household that hated me! He didn't deserve a happy childhood!" I finally snapped. He thinks I had a happy childhood?

I cut in quietly, "I grew up being abused." The group's mouths fell open. Hermione actually started tearing up.

I continued, "My mother never knew. In her defense, he was hitting her too, and I didn't even know until I was twelve. She said she was with my stepfather for my own protection, and she was right. Gabe protected me and hurt me at the same time. She just didn't know it. I grew up never knowing my real father. For all I knew, he was dead. Then when I was twelve I met him, and I knew he cared. But I can't see him all too often."

I gave Harry a solemn look, "But that's not what I have nightmares about. When I was sixteen I was kidnapped and I don't even have nightmares about that. No," I shook my head, "What I've been through would put you in an insane asylum."

With that, I walked up a staircase. The tension was so thick, it could be cut with a knife.

Ginny called weakly after me, "That's the Girl's Dorm. If you keep going-" The stairs turned into a slide beneath me. Startled, I jumped and spread my arms and legs, pinning myself between the walls with a yelp, Jackie Chan style.

Hermione chuckled, teary-eyed, "That will happen."

I jumped back into the main common room. "Come on," I said softly, "I didn't tell you this for your pity. It's over. Just some nightmares."

I grinned, "Nothing can stop me!" I ran and purposely fell on my face. The girls laughed, but the boys didn't look convinced.

Harry yelled, "Well at least you haven't been through war!" Pfft. No, Harry. I haven't been through a war. I've been through two! Oh! Persassy! Deal with it.

He marched up the staircase to the correct dorm. Ron screamed, "You couldn't have had it worse than Harry. I don't believe you've been abused, either. Tell that sob story to someone stupid enough believe it." He stalked off after Harry.

Hermione and Ginny turned scarlet. "Those boys," Hermione ranted, "Don't know when to quit! Sorry about them, Percy. I know I keep apologizing for them but they are being so impolite! Just because Harry saved the wizarding world, doesn't mean he can treat people like that! It's so-"

I cut her off, "It's okay, Hermione. I'm not one to keep grudges, but I know I'd be hurt too if someone killed my mom."

Ginny breathed out, "It's still not fair to you. Back in that kitchen, you had a really great point. Sirius Black came from a line of death eaters and Slytherin but he's still held in high regard, at least where Harry's concerned."

I grinned and winked, "Just let them get it out of their systems. You know it can't affect me." I did a little dance, making them laugh. I smiled, "Get some sleep. You're gonna have a long day tomorrow."

Ginny frowned, "It's just the first day. We barely get any homework."

I looked at them in mock shock, "Oh, no. That's not what I meant," I said, "I meant you'd have a long day trying to get me through it."

They laughed and walked up the stairs to their dormitories, "Good night, Percy." They chorused.

I walked into the boy's dorm, where Ron and Harry were, ready with their glares. Ron opened his mouth, probably to yell at me, and

I put up a hand to stop him, "Oh no you don't. You can yell all the profanity you want after I change into my pajamas."

Harry screamed, "You don't deserve the courtesy, Death Eater!"

As I shut the bathroom door. I quickly changed into my pajama shorts and jumped back onto my bed and under the covers in the blink of an eye.

It was way too hot in Europe to sleep with my shirt on. But if the boys saw the scars I'd gotten from my years of being a demigod, they'd freak.

Harry fumed, "I don't know how you're getting the girls to believe you, but I know you're keeping a secret. Show me the dark mark!"

I shrugged, "Not gonna lie to you. Don't know what the dark mark is."

Ron burst, "You bloody liar! I saw it! On your forearm."

Oh! They're talking about my Legion Tattoo. I prayed to Hecate to remove whatever mist was surrounding it. I waited a couple of seconds, both to make sure that it was gone, and to tick those boys off.

Then, I poked my arm out from under the covers. I raised an eyebrow, "Is this what a dark mark is? 'Cuz in America, it's pretty common."

Harry's eyes widened, then narrowed again, "Maybe Gramps got smarter this time. Maybe he just didn't brand you so you could get away with your evilness."

I shrugged again, closing my eyes. These wizards sure are giving my shoulders a workout. I'm pretty sure I've shrugged more with them than I have in my whole life.

"Think what you want to think, wizard," I called, "Or maybe I don't have whatever a 'dark mark' is because maybe, my dear old grandfather didn't know I existed."

I fell asleep knowing that those boys were speechless. Thank the gods they finally shut up. I needed at least one night of sleep before I started wizard school.

~Dream~

I was standing on Olympus, which was in ruins. I looked around. Piper, Leo, Frank, Hazel, and Jason were lying dead on the cobbles, their blood seeping over the rock and cement. "No!" I screamed, feeling my heart being constricted. I looked around and saw Tartarus standing off to the side, Annabeth in his fist. Again?

"I swear, Tartarus," I yelled, "You already killed my friends. If you take her away from me, I swear to the gods you will fade to the void! If you hurt her..." I trailed off. This was too emotional for me. Tartarus started digging a knife into her neck and I tried to run forward.

An army of monsters started raging towards me. I took out Riptide and slashed through them. But the more I slew, the more flowed into their place. "ANNABETH!" I screamed, "NO! "

"ANNABETH!" I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as she called my name over and over again, begging for me to save her. A drop of blood fell from her neck-

~End of Dream~

I woke up crying. I opened my eyes and saw my blankets on the floor and a knife between my fists. Professor McGonagall and the Gryffindor boys and girls were crowded around my bed, Hermione and Ginny in the front.

I wiped the tears from my eyes. No one should see me this weak. I was supposed to protect them all.

Professor McGonagall asked, "Are you alright, Perseus?"

I gave a weak attempt at a smile. It probably came out as more of a wince. "I'm fine, professor. Just a nightmare. And it's Percy."

I noticed that Hermione and Ginny were each holding one of my hands, and I gently removed them. All of the students were staring at my chest.

Wait. I started to realize something. My blankets were on the floor. Styx! Now everyone would be asking about that. They stared at my Legion Tattoo and the scars littering my upper body.

McGonagall waved all of the children away. "Breakfast is in an hour, students," she called, "However, if you wish to stay awake until the start of classes, you may remain in the common room until then."

Everybody looked wide awake. I doubted anyone would want to go back to bed. No one moved a muscle. I almost grinned, but I was a little shaken up.

I know I'm hot, I thought, but there's no reason to stare. Gods, I sounded like Leo.

"Students!" McGonagall snapped, "Leave Perseus alone!" They all trudged out, even the boys. "It's Percy!" I called after them. I slipped on a shirt and lay in bed. I wasn't in the mood for their questions. The only question now was, what was I going to do later?

I knew I couldn't IM Annabeth. Everyone was right outside.

Yo, G-Man, I thought instead, You there?

Grover responded slowly, Bad time, Perce. There's a forest fire I'm trying to put out. A dozen nymphs died already.

I sent him a bunch of sad, pitiful and sympathizing thoughts. Sorry 'bout that, Grover. I just miss you guys.

This time, Grover was smirking, I could almost see it, Yeah, yeah, Perce. I love you, too. Now, shut up and let me do my job.

I smiled, You got it, G-Man.

I stopped thinking to him. Now what? I'm so bored. I sat up and started shaking my leg, twirling Riptide between my fingers. Hermione came into the bedroom.

She smiled warmly, "Hey, Percy. McGonagall let me in."

I shook my head. "No need to explain yourself, 'Mione," I said. She sat down on the bed next to me, folding her hands on her lap. It got awkward really fast. No one said anything.

"So," she started, "I know you said Annabeth went to your camp, but you keep on dreaming about her. Tell me about her."

I didn't want to tell her that Annabeth was my girlfriend. For all I knew, Harry and Ron were listening outside. Then they would start insulting her. If you knew me, you'd know that if that happened, there would be nothing anyone could do to stop me from putting them in the infirmary or worse. I could send them to Uncle H waaaay downstairs.

I finally decided to open up, "I've known Annabeth since we were twelve. She's the smartest, bravest, most courageous person at camp. We've been through a lot together. We've saved each other's lives more times than we care to keep track of. We're best friends." Hermione let out a sigh of something like... relief? I don't understand. Why would she even... You know what? I don't care. These British people make my head hurt.

Hermione said softly, "She sounds really special." I nodded, "She's really willful and stubborn, too. You know, we used to hate each other," I chuckled, "Probably because we were so much alike."

Hermione looked shocked. "Stop kidding yourself, Percy," She giggled.

"What do you mean? You don't even know her." I was really confused. I've decided to just stop thinking whenever I was with these wizards.

She giggled again, "Come on, Percy. You know you're not smart."

I looked at her in fake hurt, "'Mione! Was that a joke?" I wiggled my eyebrows, "So the bookworm has a sense of humor." Hermione laughed, "Get your robes on, Percy. Breakfast in ten minutes."

I sighed as she left. This was going to be a long day.