Percy Jackson was often left embarrassed by his actions, but never more so than now.

Getting off the train, he severely underestimated the size of the step to the platform, so as he stepped normally, he found his foot hitting nothing but air.

Stumbling out of the compartment and onto the cold slab below him, he didn't fail to notice the kid he sent flying with him.

Tripping over the poor boy, he felt his knee slam into the hard pavement and pain flare through his body. It subsided quite quickly as he felt a very small trickle of liquid ooze around the hurting area. Quickly pressing his hand to his knee, he felt the fabric of his robes become wetter and wetter, before drawing his hand back and seeing a tiny patch of blood on the palm of his hand.

Great, just my luck, he thought, I'm not even 5 seconds in, and I've already nearly gotten myself killed.

Upon failing to see the lack of correlation between a slightly cut knee, and the prospect of death, he then realised something a bit more pressing in the boy currently cursing under his breath and moaning a tad.

Shooting up, the pain in his knee now gone completely for some reason, he quickly marched to the boy he nearly killed, before rolling him over, and seeing just who it was.

"Harry!?" A startled exclamation came from his mouth. Looking back on it, he would have probably commended himself for being able to tell it was Harry in the first place. He must have made Harry face plant the ground, which has caused his glasses to smash and shards of glass pierce his skin.

Gulping a little nervously, Percy became a little unsettled by the rivers of red streaming from Harry's nose and brow. Wishing Ron was hear to help take a little of the awkwardness away, he was remisce to remember one of his brothers call him away.

"Hey Percy, long time no see. Well, no see for me right now, I guess." Harry tried to chuckle, and not let on about the fact that he'd possibly just shattered his nose.

Smiling a little with the reassurance that Harry wasn't pissed, Percy quickly tried assessing the situation.

Whipping out his wand, he recited one of the spells he'd learn before getting on the train.

"Reparo." A strong voice spoke, with the appropriate hand movements, but nothing happened. More than a little confused, Percy tried again, to the same luck.

Trying his damned hardest to remember, he thought back to his self taught lesson, to see if there was anything he needed to know. He just couldn't come up with the goods. He deduced that he needed a specific qualifier in front of it, but he didn't know what that was.

Going for broke, he decided to just say a bunch of different things to see if they work. To no avail.

He tried your bog standard "glasses reparo", to a more outlandish "eye help see thing reparo" which, to no surprise, didn't work.

It felt like it had been ages, but in truth it was only a couple of minutes. Which was more than enough time for Harry to right himself, and start walking down the long platform with Percy, whom would stop him every 10 seconds to try a new spell.

Nearly giving up hope, he heard a far away voice almost whisper the words in his ear, "Occulus Reparo".

A lightbulb switched on in his head.

Occulus, of course. It was after all mentioned in his book. It's only now that he remembered it.

Whipping his head around, he searched for the voice, only to see nobody paying them any real interest, other than those looking at Harry's scar in wonderment.

"Hey Harry, I've got it, I've got the right spell." Percy was practically bouncing around now, forgetting about the mysterious voice, and was more than overjoyed at finally being able to help the person he could have blinded.

"Sigh, You've had the right spell 50 times already, Percy. Look how that's turned out." Came the other black haired boys reply.

Percy taking this criticism on the chin, still made Harry stop in his tracks and turn to face him, before gesturing for Harry to hold the glasses in front of him.

"Occulus reparo." And just like that, Percy was vindicated.

Harry first felt a very sharp pain in his brow, and he could feel something moving. Fearing the worst that his suspicions about Percy being an untrained wizard were correct, and his exploits back in the carriage were a fluke, he got worried. He still maintained an overwhelming belief in Percy's abilities, however, and was happy to feel the pain start receding.

He could make out through his slightly blurred vision, that his glasses were floating just above his outstretched hand, and the previously shattered glass start melting together again.

With a faint pop, the spell was complete, and the glasses dropped back into his hand.

Testing them out, he placed them on his head and could see Percy's beaming smile, clear as day. He started feeling a little giddy and awed.

Percy was feeling the same. Magic was something else.

"Wo-wow, you've actually fixed them." Sputtered Harry.

Percy just smiled and nodded in reply. Content to allow Harry the same feeling of wonderment that Percy always felt when magic was concerned.

Talking about aimless things for the rest of their walk, all three boys (now that Ron had finally joined up with them) had tiny thoughts float around the back of their heads.

For Harry, he was happy that he met Ron and Percy, and was hopeful they would be good friends.

Percy's thoughts weren't too dissimilar to Harry's.

Ron's concerns varied the most. If he had perhaps a more calm mind, he too would be thinking about his new friends and how he wouldn't have to stick with his older brothers, but as it stands, he was still partially seething.

It had been playing on his mind that he couldn't do any magic, and was sad that he might end up being a squib. That's the reason he went to see his brother, Percy. He didn't dare ask Fred or George for help, lest he came away with a 2nd nose, because while he knew they cared, they sometimes blurred the lines of when to be silly and when to be serious.

He actually got some solid advice from his brother. Well, if you shaved away the pompous tone. He was basically told that before even going to Hogwarts, especially with only a fellow first year teaching you, the chances of you being able to produce purposeful magic was incredibly slim, and that there was no shame in coming second fiddle to the one who defeated the greatest dark wizard of all time.

Ron could take a lot of comfort in that, and it did help calm him. After all, he had heard stories of the great Harry Potter all throughout his childhood. He was already placed in the same category of magical prowess as Dumbledore by the vast majority.

That's not to say he didn't want to be as powerful as Harry, but he knew that wouldn't ever happen, which is why he was currently still reeling whilst walking with his two new friends.

All three of them were lost in their aimless chit chatter and scattered thoughts, that they almost didn't see Hagrid (whom Harry introduced properly to them all, apparently the two became well acquainted when Harry first learnt he was a wizard), waving all the first years over, until they heard his thundering voice.

"FIRS' YEARS, O'ER 'ERE!" The very large, and very wide man spoke. A great mane of shaggy hair, framing his portly face.

Percy shook himself of the amicable silence that enveloped the three new friends, and took in his surroundings.

He was on a lengthy train platform, well lit by hanging lights, which shone off the beautiful red hull of the Hogwarts Express. Well fitting slabs of stone paved the walkway, none loose to trip over.

Casting his eyes back to the train, he noticed that there was still people getting off of the train. Just how many students were there? And better yet, why has it felt like an eternity since they got off? They weren't even the first ones off.

Voicing his thoughts, he asked the two, "How long ago did we get off the train?"

Both boys looked confused.

"About ten minutes ago." Added Ron, before Harry interrupted and said,

"More like 5. Why? You feeling okay?"

Percy wasn't happy.

"No reason, just curious." He replied.

Both boys looked convinced.

Phew, Percy thought. He had to blame it on his ADHD. His mind moving faster than the flow of conversation. But it didn't feel like that.

No, not ADHD, surely. Magic has helped me to not lose myself to my impulses. It felt more like time moved a tad slower than normal. Percy didn't dwell too much. A common occurrence for him nowadays.

As he thought that last sentence, the otherwise bright fire in the sky forsook its defensive post, disappearing over the tips of distant hills. Raising its shield of relief from bitter Scottish nights.

A cold wind chilled the air.

Percy's enamour with the crisp, clean air soon took over his worries. He'd never breathed air as clear as this.

Filling his lungs, before slowly letting out a deep breath, he took one last cursory glance at the beautiful amalgamation of vibrant oranges, intertwined with lush violets, rolling out waves across the near night sky.

Before he closed his eyes and smiled.

He was content.

Happy.

A crash forced his eyes open.

The picturesque world faded from his view.

The once euphoric joy he had looking up at the heavens, was replaced by an anchor dropping in his stomach.

A slimy, grey ceiling capped his location, a couple of leaks here and there falling. The freedom they posses, and the rhythmic splatter entranced Percy. He felt himself lean ever so slightly closer and closer.

The further he got, the less he could breath. He couldn't stop. The droplets called to him. Told him everything would be safe. All he had to do was reach them.

He was right there. The droplets were so close. The feeling of suffocation intensified. It became painful.

Reaching out his tongue, he made it. A droplet landed on it. A satisfied wave rolled over him. His eyes forced shut in pleasure. His neck no longer hurt. He was in heaven. It was orgasmic.

And then it was gone.

And he heard laughter.

Not bad, or mean laughter. Mirthful ones, full of warmth.

Slowly opening his now heavy eye lids, his eyes drank in the sight. Lavish green hills rolling for miles treated his eyes.

His mesmerising sky was back.

An unsettling shiver ran down his spine. He felt cold. Colder than he'd ever been. He was going numb. He felt lonely. As though everything he has ever loved has been taken from him. It was such an empty feeling.

"Wha-di-yo-you must have seen that?" A fearful child spoke, his words both sentimenting his chattering teeth and his worried mind.

"What? You're best imitation of a dog?" A bespectacled boy replied, setting of his ginger haired friend into another round of raucous giggles.

"I-er-n-erm yeah. Sp-spot on, wasn't it?" Percy still wasn't 100%. He was rattled. Scared. He had never felt so alone, and didn't have a clue what he'd seen.

Harry chuckled softly to himself, a hint of a tear dripping from the corner of his eye.

Percy found himself focused on it. It was as though he could taste the salt from it. He edged closer.

Before getting far, Ron pulled himself together. "Mate, if that wasn't the worst dog I've ever seen, then my names not Ron."

Opening his mouth to speak, he was cut off by the loud chuckles of two people behind the trio.

They all turned around, and caught what the pair was saying. "Silly us, here we were thinking his name was ..."

"... Ronniekins. Mind you mum does like to call him ..."

"... Ronald an awful lot. Only when he's been a naughty poo though, so ..."

"... All the time."

The twins laughed again, before noticing they had an audience.

"Spying on us? Are we?" One mischievous twin smiled.

"Oh bore off." Said a particularly ruffled Ron. "You spied on us first."

"Is lickle Ronnie upset?" Said one of the brothers.

"I think he is George." Said Fred, apparently.

"Hard not to overhear you when you shout down the entire platform." Chuckled George, before Fred spoke up,

"You might want to learn from that."

"Be a bit sneaker, you know?"

"Oh whatever, George." Ron said before silently pleading with Percy and Harry to join him in following Hagrid.

Once they'd left, and the laughter from the twins had faded away, they regrouped with the other first years. It wasn't particularly hard, as they were only just behind them, but all three felt a bit more comfortable surrounded by kids in the same situation as they were.

After following the giant of a man down a very narrow, and spindly, and steep path, and hearing sniffs come from Neville, who must not have found his toad, they heard Hagrid speak up,

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," He called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

Unfortunate enough to be situated at the back, the trio found themselves labouring to find out the cause of the loud, "Ooooooooh", they heard from the front.

Round the said bend, they couldn't help but do the same. Ron and Harry were suitably impressed, but Percy was practically transfixed.

The narrow path suddenly opened up onto the edge of a vast black lake, sprawling for as far as the eye can see. At one edge of this magnificent lake, was an overwhelming mountain, with an architectural masterpiece perched atop. Grand towers with windows reflecting the gorgeous night sky. Turrets every way you looked, looming down on everything and everyone.

Percy couldn't take his eyes off the glistening reflection of the water. It called to him. Every slight wave, every minute ripple. It spoke to him. It wanted him.

He just knew it.

The sound of crashing waves rose in his ears. Louder and louder, more forcefully the closer he got. It was deafening, but he found it pleasant.

He didn't want to stop himself. He wanted to reach out and just hold the water. It wanted to be cherished, loved. He was prepared to do that.

His footsteps lighty crunching on the rocky beach beneath him, slowly swaying side to side in time with the movements of the water.

"Hey Percy, you wanna share?"

A voice called him back.

He suddenly felt weak. He was no longer in sync with the lake.

Turning around, he noticed Harry looking at him expectedly, before gesturing to a boat now behind Percy. Once again turning, his eyes caught Ron, sitting on a gently rocking boat, before once again looking out at the water. Longingly.

Percy turned back to Harry, and said, "Sure, would love to." Flashing Harry a smile, he clambered into the small raft, next to Ron.

Harry soon joined, and they waited for everyone else to load into their boats, Hagrid taking one for himself.

They soon saw a boy come up to them. He wore clothes made from what looked to be a very nice material, with the way it shimmered in the moonlight. He had platinum hair, a sharp face, and an odd glint in his eyes.

Harry and Ron stiffened immediately upon sight of him. A scowl surfacing on Ron's face.

"Is this seat free?" A bored voice drawled out of the new boys lips.

Not waiting for reply, he boarded the boat and got himself comfy.

Percy was taken aback, was he raised by wolves? Where are his manners? Guess things don't work the same in the magic world.

Giving him a chance, he asked for his name.

"Draco Malfoy." He once again drawled out.

If anything, Ron's scowl became deeper.

"I'm Percy Jackson, nice to meet you." Came his differing American accent, whilst out stretching his hand.

Draco sniffed. He looked revolted, but nonetheless took the extended hand and shook it.

The boat kicked to life. Gently sailing over the lake.

No turning back now.

Peering over at Harry, the new boy smirked, "Associating with this filth, Potter?" Potter was now a slur.

"You associated yourself with me Malfoy, not the other way round." Came the shrewd reply from Harry, not wanting anything to do with Draco.

Draco sneered, and turned his back on the boy hero, and faced Percy, "So what are you?"

"Come again?"

With no patience, Draco said "So clearly not a pureblood, but I could have guessed that from present company," he glanced at Ron, "so are you half blood or one of those mudbloods?"

Percy still didn't have the foggiest what the small blonde child was chatting about. But luckily Ron did.

"You better shut up Malfoy." Ron said, trying to stand in the boat to impose his figure over Draco.

Draco grinned, but quitened down, beginning to regret his decision to leave his two henchman.

"He means what kind of wizard are you. Pureblood is like two parents are wizards, halfblood is one, and muggleborn is no parents are wizards."

"Wait, so what's a mudblood then? Is that another kind?" Percy asked, cluelessly.

"Its another word for muggleborn, a really bad word. It's used to insult people who don't have magical parents. It's the lowest of the low. So no wonder a Malfoy used it."

Said Malfoy scoffed, and began to retort, "At least I can understand the words I use Weasley, as from what I understand, none of your children will be anything more than a halfblood. Magical should be the last thing to come out of your mouth. Stop running your tongue, lest you want to lose it."

Before either Percy or Harry could get what they wanted to say in, Ron stood up suddenly, in a wrathful rage, stumbling trying to gain a proper foothold.

The boat teetered dangerously.

Percy quickly stood up too, gaining his balance very quickly. He placed a hand on Ron's shoulder and said, "Come on mate, leave it. Don't let him get what he wants. You shouldn't give a racist like him the time of day." Percy wanted to say more, and do more, and was begging for Draco to just give him an excuse.

Ron shot a glare Draco's way, and noticed the amusement hidden behind his smile. The smarmy git was loving this. He saw red, and lunged.

Percy held him back. Barely.

"C'mon Ron, Percy's right, he's not worth it." Harry had finally found what to say. He had so many emotions about Draco and none of them nice. He wanted to give him the benefit of doubt, afterall Ron did insult his family first. But the arrogance that radiated off of him, and how easily he manipulated Ron both to his own advantage and amusement, was disgusting.

The situation calmed after that, and all 4 boys sat quietly for the remaining 5 minutes of the ride. The three friends all at least slightly pissed, whilst the recipient of their hate smirked to himself, happy at how easily he got in the gingers head.

The oncoming castle loomed further and further over them. The boats were heading towards a curtain of ivy that obscured a hidden entrance in the cliff face.

Gliding through the dark tunnel, Percy felt the call again. The way the gentle lapping of water echoed around the tunnel was alluring. If he could just reach his hand down, he'd be able to caress it like it wants.

His fingertip was just about to skim the top, before their boats led them into an underground harbour, and his normality regained control of his mind.

Pulling his arm back towards him, he looked at his hand confused. He didn't stop looking until their boat quietly thudded against the stone dock.

Following his friends onto the earth, he saw Draco standing, looking at him, this time with two rather large kids on either side of him. His smirk once again plastered on his face.

As he got nearer, he heard Draco ask him, "So which is it? You were cut off by that uncouth buffoon earlier."

Draco didn't seem at all interested.

"Not halfblood. Do not say halfblood." The same far away voice whispered to him, this time he could tell how deep it was. Glancing around, he only saw Ron and Harry standing by his side, and neither of them had a deep enough voice to sound like that.

"Erm, muggleborn, I'm a muggleborn, so, you know, thanks for before, great to hear how much I'm appreciated by you." Said Percy, rather sarcastically. He didn't know why this voice told him not to say halfblood, he'd already been told he was a muggleborn.

Draco's two henchman didn't clock the sarcasm and stared at their 'leader' in confusion.

"Didn't I tell you Crabbe? Nothing but a filthy mudblood. I knew it." Draco laughed, along with the newly named Crabbe, before the last one laughed along with them.

Percy didn't like racists. He never had, and never would. His mom had taught him better than that.

He had also never had someone be racist towards him. And he didn't like it one bit. It hadn't clicked back on the boat that Draco was actually being racist against him.

Just looking at the figures in front of him made him angry. Knowing that these boys hated him for being something he has no control over saddened him. It hurt him. It angered him.

He headed straight for Draco and his goons. He'd told Ron to let it go, so he didn't get in trouble. He'd hate to see his friend expelled because of someone like Draco. He had no quarrels with getting himself expelled if it meant teaching Draco something that should be reserved for the classroom.

"Excuse me?" Allowing Draco an out.

"Didn't you hear me? How the standards of Hogwarts have fallen if they're allowing your kind in." No mask was put up on his face this time. Pure malice evident throughout his features.

"I'm surprised you've not spit on me yet." Percy matching Draco's anger.

"There's time for that, so don't test me. But as of right now, while that oafs beard is brown, Dumbledore will listen to him, so I'm not going to test my luck." Draco gestured towards Hagrid, where he was currently waiting for the last few students to leave their boats.

"That's strange, a mudblood not being afraid when a pureblood is." Came Percy's mocking laughter.

"What's that suppose-ahh you bastard!" Draco started, before being cut off from the swift push by Percy.

"Test me and let's find out."

Draco tripped backwards, barreling into his two goons. They helped him steady himself, before he snapped out of their helping grip, and charged forward towards Percy, hand in his robes.

Percy's hand hovered above his left thigh, prepared to bend down and retrieve his wand at a moment's notice.

Luckily, Hagrid wasn't as incompetent as Draco would like some to believe, and clocked on to the commotion straight away.

Quickly breaking it up, he sent Draco on his way, before circling back to Percy, "Best not be messin' with that one lad, Malfoy's neve' know when t' stop."

And with that, he headed back to the front of the group, as everyone had finally gotten off the boat.

Harry and Ron soon joined back up with him, and Ron clapped him on the back.

"I wish you'd let me do that in the boat mate, his face was hilarious." Chuckled the freckled boy.

Harry smiled a little, he too had been irritated by Draco, and couldn't imagine what Percy must be feeling like considering he grew up in the muggle world and knew all about racism first hand.

Ron also knew about racism, just to a lesser extent, as he'd never really been witness to it as his family mingled with families of similar, none racist, beliefs.

Doing one last cursory check of the boats, Hagrid shouted to Neville, "Oy, you there! Is this yer toad?"

Fearing it might be his, Percy quickly checked his robe pockets, thankful to feel his toads skin, and to hear another boy shout, "Trevor!", blissfully.

Following Hagrid's lamp, all the first years clambered through a passageway carved into the rock, which lead to a smooth plain, of damp grass in the castles shadow.

In front of them were some stone steps, leading up to a huge oak front door.

"Everyone still got yer things? You there, still got yer toad?"

And with that, they all ascended the stairs, before Hagrid raised one of his gigantic fists and knocked three times.