Grover Unexpectedly Loses His Trousers
It took a while, an estimate of 5 or so minutes, before Hermione finally calmed down enough to speak. “I’m sorry everyone. It’s just…” at her words, she seemed to choke up again and Ron was quick to reassure her.
“It’s okay, ‘Mione,” he encouraged, surprising his brothers with his softness.
“I don’t understand what they’re doing there. They never interact with people from what I know of the myths, staying far away, so to appear in front of Percy, cutting the cord...”
"Okay, first slow down Hermione, you’re making it seem like they’re real. From what you said aren’t these stories made up to tell life lessons?” Fred questioned disbelievingly.
“I… yes, your right, but it’s just so weird. How coincidental could it be. Three women known for spinning and cutting thread in myths, three women show up in front of him cutting thread. I’m just worried.”
“That’s fine, hopefully next chapter will shed some light on what’s going on, okay?” said Fred, worried for his friend.”
“Okay Fred, thank you.”
Confession time: I ditched Grover as soon as we got to the bus terminal… ‘Why does it always have to be sixth grade?’
“He could give Trelawney a run for her money,” George said to burst the tension. It worked as a couple chuckles resonated through the room. Hermione looked at George in gratitude and he returned it with a wink.
Whenever he got upset, Grover’s bladder acted up, so I wasn’t surprised... ‘East One Hundred and Fourth and First Avenue,’ I told the driver.
“At least we know where to find him now; we can get the upper hand by reaching out first,” Moody suggested.
“Why don’t we finish first before we determine if that’s necessary, Alastor?”
“Very well, Dumbledore, as you wish.”
A word about my mother before you meet her.
Molly sat up straighter at this. She wanted to learn more about the woman who raised this boy.
Her name is Sally Jackson and she’s the best person in the world, which just proves my theory that the best people have the rottenest luck... After he died, she was left with no money, no family and no diploma.
Molly slumped down on her seat in shock. How could one woman be dealt such a bad hand in life. She was starting to take back a lot of the not-so-nice things she had been thinking. The poor woman didn’t even get to finish her education.
“The poor soul,” Dumbledore said in genuine remorse. No one should have to experience so much loss at that age.
The only good break she ever got was meeting my dad.
This got majority of the room to focus, eager to learn about Percy’s other parent.
I don’t have any memories of him, just this sort of warm glow, maybe the barest trace of his smile... Lost at sea, my mom told me. Not dead. Lost at sea.
Harry’s scowl seemed to become deeper and deeper the more he listened. Mrs Weasley released a huff, arms crossed in disapproval. “So, he preyed upon a young impressionable girl, got her pregnant and then abandoned her. He better hope that I never meet him!”
Arthur voiced his agreement with his wife; his mind was coming to conclusions of his own. “I bet he was married. Plenty of purebloods do it; they marry ‘pure’ but go out gallivanting and ruining young muggle women’s lives. Leaving them pregnant and alone to fend for themselves and a possibly magical child. It’s very distasteful.”
She worked odd jobs, took night classes to get her high school diploma... The guy reeked like mouldy garlic pizza wrapped in gym shorts.
Hermione smiled at how Sally was able to overcome her challenges and get her diploma. Sadly, the smile quickly flipped into a frown the more her husband got described. “Why would she marry such a disgusting creature?”
“Agreed,” said Ron, “he sounds like he might be part troll.”
Between the two of us, we made my mom’s life pretty hard… ‘Working,’ he said. ‘You got any cash?’
“That’s it? He hasn’t seen his step-son for months, and the first thing he does is ask for money.” Harry was furious. It seems he and Percy had more in common than he thought. Both were stuck around abusive relatives.
Mrs. Weasley was positively fuming. “He doesn’t care at all, and he’s left the place such a mess, and I’m absolutely sure he’s not going to clean it. Wretched man!” If it weren’t for her children being present, a few more creative words would have been used.
That was it. No Welcome back. Good to see you... if that made him handsome or something.
Ginny shivered in disgust at the thought of anyone thinking that man was handsome. She didn’t know how Percy’s mother stomached getting married to the man.
He managed the Electronics Mega-Mart in Queens, but he stayed home most of the time… Meaning, if I told my mom, he would punch my lights out.
Harry unconsciously flinched. That sounded way too close to uncle Vernon and he didn’t like what that meant for Percy. Ron looked at his best friend in concern. He had an idea of Harry’s home situation when he and the twins had to literally break him out from his aunt and uncle.
In another corner, Sirius flinched as well. He was used to physical abuse as Reg was mother’s favourite, not him. He leaned into Remus for comfort and support.
‘I don’t have any cash,’ I told him… ‘Am I right?’ Gabe repeated.
Hermione perked up. Maybe his friends would talk sense into him.
Eddie scowled into his bowl of pretzels. The other two guys passed gas in harmony.
She slumped back down with a sad sigh. Never mind then.
‘Fine,’ I said. I dug a wad of dollars out of my pocket and threw the money on the table. ‘I hope you lose... the place smells like his nasty cologne and cigars and stale beer.
“The least he could do was keep the room in a liveable condition while Percy was away,” Ron said. He knew that before she started Hogwarts, Ginny liked to go in his room; in fact, before he started, he’d enter Percy and the twins’ rooms, but they’d never leave their rooms a mess. Plus, mum would never let them.
I dropped my suitcase on the bed. Home sweet home… Then I heard my mom’s voice. ‘Percy?’
“The poor lad is probably still experiencing nightmares,” Moody said in a rare bout of sympathy. The first-time experiencing paranoia is always one of the worst ones. Sadly, it never really gets better.
She opened the bedroom door, and my fears melted… I’ve never heard her raise her voice or say an unkind word to anyone, not even me or Gabe.
“Oh, she’s such a saint,” Remus said, impressed. “So much patience; not yelling even once is impressive.” There were a lot of nods going around the room, showing agreement. Even Molly was reluctantly impressed; she wouldn’t have been able to do it.
“Her patience is impressive,” noted the twins. Inwardly, they wished their mum was like that.
‘Oh, Percy.’ She hugged me tight. ‘I can’t believe it. You’ve grown since Christmas!’
“That’s such a mother thing to say,” Bill chuckled. Every year when he came back from Hogwarts, his mum would say the same thing to him.
“Mum says it all the time,” Ron agreed, “she can’t stop saying how many inches I’ve gained over the summer.” He said it as if he were annoyed, but everyone could see how much he was preening. Molly smiled at her kids fondly.
Her red-white-and-blue Sweet on America uniform smelled like the best things in the world... Was her little boy doing all right?
“She’s a very loving mother,” McGonagall smiled. She looked down in thought. Obviously, Sally loved her son, so why would she stay with a man like this? What purpose would it achieve? It scarily reminds her of Potter’s awful muggle relatives; only Potter has to stay there, on Dumbledore’s orders for some special protective wards. Could it be? She looked at Albus and could see on his face he was having similar thoughts. She looked away and decided to wait for confirmation before she voiced anything out loud.
I told her she was smothering me and to lay off and all that, but secretly, I was really, really glad to see her.
Molly frowned. She always hated it when her children acted like they didn’t like her appreciation. She wishes it wasn’t seen as ‘uncool’ to enjoy receiving love from parents. She'd 'smother’ her kids whenever she got the chance.
From the other room, Gabe yelled, ‘Hey, Sally – how about some bean dip, huh?’... She should’ve been married to a millionaire, not to some jerk like Gabe.
“You don’t have to marry a millionaire to be happy,” Molly gazed and smiled softly at her husband. He wasn’t rich but he provided her and their kids with all the love in the world and she appreciated that more than anything.
McGonagall agreed with her, thinking of her deceased husband and the small cottage they lived in. it wasn’t much but they were happy.
For her sake, I tried to sound upbeat about my last days at Yancy Academy… Nancy Bobofitt suddenly didn’t seem so bad.
“Wow,” Ginny said with exaggerated shock on her face, “I guess even the bad things can seem good when they’re away.”
“It’s true,” Harry said, “sometimes I find myself missing Malfoy’s presence over the summer.” his face was completely serious but he couldn’t hold it in any longer and he burst out laughing.
Until that trip to the museum... She knew I was holding back, but she didn’t push me.
“A mother always knows,” Molly shook her head, “he shouldn’t have lied and just come clean with the attack.”
‘I have a surprise for you,’ she said. ‘We’re going to the beach.’... because Gabe said there wasn’t enough money.
Arthur frowned. He understood money concerns and restrictions putting a hold on trips, but that was due to him sending one child behind the other through school and his department wasn’t funded as well as it could be. Gabe had no reason to be short on money as far as he could see.
Gabe appeared in the doorway and growled, ‘Bean dip, Sally? Didn’t you hear me?’... ‘The trip? You mean you were serious about that?’
“I... Wh…He… What does he mean if she was serious?!” exclaimed Molly, “what kind of!” it took a while for Arthur to pacify his wife before they could continue. Molly’s outrage was still very evident on her scrunched-up face.
‘I knew it,’ I muttered. ‘He won’t let us go.’... ‘We’ll be very careful.’
Silently fury was hidden in Snape’s eyes. It was too close to home. Too close to his mother, trying to calm down his muggle father because the man didn’t like magic.
Gabe scratched his double chin… Why did she care what he thought?
Harry suddenly exclaimed and sat up straight, startling Ron and Hermione beside him. “He’s either threatening or hitting her.”
Hermione let out a gasp while Molly’s face paled in horror. "Harry, are you certain?”
“Yes Hermione, I’m certain,” he recognised those behaviours, the eyes and tiptoeing to not anger. It reminds him of Dobby, the house elf who was being abused by the Malfoys and it reminded him of himself. When he was younger, he always tried not to make uncle Vernon mad, lest he starved or received a beating.
he thought? ‘I’m sorry,’ I muttered… He went back to his game.
Everyone released a breath of relief. With the possibility of Gabe being physically abusive, they’d hate to see what he might’ve done if he caught Percy’s sarcasm.
‘Thank you, Percy,’ my mom said… She ruffled my hair and went to make Gabe his seven-layer dip.
“How much does she know?” Kingsley was curious. Sally wouldn’t have behaved like that if Percy was hiding something like detentions. He wanted to know how deeply involved Sally got.
An hour later we were ready to leave... ‘Not one little scratch.’
“He's talking like Percy will be the one driving. He's twelve for Merlin's sake!” Hermione couldn’t believe the gall Gabe had. She never thought she’d hear about a muggle worse than Harry’s relatives but she was wrong. This man was truly awful.
Like I’d be the one driving... I got in the Camaro and told my mom to step on it.
“Accidental magic?” Arthur wondered.
“I don’t think so.” Dumbledore replied. “I’ve never heard of accidental magic being so... concentrated. Accidental magic happens out of the blue due to strong emotions typically of happiness, sadness or anger. He intended to do something here and he used his hand, but I don’t think this is any form of magic we know. No… this is something else.”
His words made everyone stop and think. Magic they weren’t aware of? The idea was ludicrous but they had no choice but to believe. McGonagall thought back to what Dumbledore told her. Could it be that he was really visited by a goddess?
Our rental cabin was on the south shore, way out at the tip of Long Island… I loved the place.
“It sounded alright until he mentioned the spiders,” Ron said with a shiver. Why anyone would enjoy those demons for company is a mystery to him.
We’d been going there since I was a baby... It was the place where she’d met my dad.
Molly tilted her head in confusion. Ms. Jackson clearly still favours Percy’s father but she doesn’t understand why. All the man had done was left her pregnant to struggle. There must be something she was missing.
As we got closer to Montauk, she seemed to grow younger... I guess I should explain the blue food.
"Yes, please; everything’s so blue you’d think he was raised in a house of Ravenclaws.” George joked.
“House colour means nothing to him; he’s in America.”
“We know Hermione, but what house do you think he’d be in? Personally, I think he’s right for Gryffindor.”
“He’s shown a lot of love and loyalty for his mom and best friend. He could be a Hufflepuff!” Tonks joined in, taking the time to prop up her house. It’s always left forgotten but Hufflepuff was truly the best house, in her humble opinion.
Charlie took the opportunity to tease his friend, “I don’t know Dora.” He knew how much she hated that nickname, "He sounds like a lion to me.”
“Oh, shut up! he can be a badger; there’s nothing wrong with being a badger. Hufflepuff supremacy!”
Professor Sprout and McGonagall smiled fondly at their respective students, happy at the pride they all displayed in their house. Snape hid his disappointment at how no one suggested Slytherin. From what he’s seen, he believes Percy could be sneaky and cunning enough to be a Slytherin.
See, Gabe had once told my mom there was no such thing… She did have a rebellious streak, like me.
“It’s good she’s fighting back in her own way. Show’s he hasn’t stamped out her spirit.” Moody said approvingly.
“The fact that she kept her own last name proves she doesn’t like the man. I wonder if she was forced to marry him.” Sirius pondered. His dear cousin Bella definitely didn’t want to marry her husband. The only one she’s ever had eyes for was Voldemort, but she still married him and took his last name. Only the absence of kids was proof that she resented her marriage.
When it got dark, we made a fire… but I never got tired of hearing them.
“It’s nice that she has good things to say about him. I think it means they parted on a good note; maybe he is lost at sea.” Bill said a bit optimistically.
“Yeah, maybe,” Arthur didn’t quite believe that, but if that thought gave his son hope, then he wasn’t going to crush it.
‘He was kind, Percy,’ she said… and his green eyes.’
“So, he looks like his father,” said Hermione.
“Yeah, black hair and green eyes. Hey Harry, do you think he’s a relative of yours that ended up in America?”
Sirius answered before the thought cemented itself in Harry’s mind. “That wouldn’t be possible. James was an only child and his parents didn’t have him until they were up in age. He’s also never mentioned any close cousins of any sort, local or abroad.”
Mom fished a blue jelly bean out of her candy bag… kicked out of school for the sixth time in six years.
“A parent is always proud of their child; even if they take the wrong path, they are still proud and hope more than anything they find themselves back on the right path.” Molly looked at her Percy and stifled a sob.
The twins snorted at the hypocrisy of their mother. If she was proud, she wouldn’t constantly compare them to their older brothers. And Percy was a prime example of why working in the ministry wasn’t a good idea. All they wanted was her support in their dreams; instead, she kept destroying their products.
‘How old was I?’ I asked... Now, to be told that he’d never even seen me...
“But if he’s never visited, then how does Percy remember him?” Ginny asked confused.
“He probably visited and never mentioned it to Sally.” Sirius replied. Purebloods did it all the time. Visit their outside children to see if they exhibited any signs of magic.
I felt angry at my father… He’d left us, and now we were stuck with Smelly Gabe.
Harry felt pity for Percy. He’d definitely be angry if he found out his parents just decided to leave leaving him with no choice but the Dursleys.
‘Are you going to send me away again?’ I asked her… Because I’m not normal,’ I said.
“There’s nothing wrong with not being normal.” Harry said.
“That’s right Harry, normal is boring,” the twins agreed.
‘You say that as if it’s a bad thing, Percy... the man only had one eye, right in the middle of his head.
“A cyclops?” Charlie questioned. He’s never seen them before, to the point he thought they were a myth.
“Impossible,” Snape pursed his lips. “Cyclops are nothing but myths; if they were real, surely the wizarding world would have done something about them by now. The boy is probably remembering wrong.”
Before that – a really early memory... I’d somehow managed to strangle to death with my meaty toddler hands.
“Just like Hercules,” Hermione whispered so low that no one heard her.
“What was a snake doing in his cot!” Molly shouted.
For once, Sirius agreed with Molly. Why did the teacher not check the cot before placing the boy down. Did they not periodically check on the children? Why did no one notice until Sally came to pick up Percy?
In every single school, something creepy had happened… and I didn’t want that.
“Idiot boy,” Snape retorted, “your safety is more important than a foolish trip.”
Insults aside, McGonagall agreed with her coworker. She understood the importance of the trip to Percy, but he should have told his mother about what happened. She clearly has an idea of what is happening.
‘I’ve tried to keep you as close to me as I could,’ my mom said… was so important, why hadn’t she ever mentioned it before?
“A summer camp? I thought American wizards still went to school like all of us.” Ron questioned.
“They do go to school; this is the first time I’m hearing of a summer camp that teaches magic.” Arthur stated.
“Maybe it’s something like a homeschool program but at this summer camp instead?” Bill suggested.
“Maybe…”
‘I’m sorry, Percy,’ she said, seeing the look in my eyes… I asked her any more questions she would start to cry.
Molly quietly dabbed the tears at her eyes. She understood the pain of having to say goodbye to your child, even if it’s just for a period of time. No mother truly wants to let go of their children.
That night I had a vivid dream... I woke with a start.
“That was a weird dream,” Arthur said, sounding troubled. Harry agreed. He’s been a victim of weird dreams himself and he knew the toll it could have on you.
Outside, it really was storming… She sat up, eyes wide, and said, ‘Hurricane.’
“The weather is off. Hurricanes never appear that early in those areas,” Hermione was growing more and more worried.
I knew that was crazy… pounding on our cabin door.
Harry was tempted to shout at them not to open door, but he managed to retrain himself.
My mother sprang out of bed in her nightgown and threw open the lock…What didn’t you tell me?’
“Everything and nothing,” Moody muttered.
I was frozen, looking at Grover… where his legs should be...
“What’s with the tension? He’s acting like Grover has a tail or something,” Ron rolled his eyes with an annoyed huff.
“What’s with the random ancient Greek?” Ginny wondered.
My mom looked at me sternly and talked in a tone she’d never used before: ‘Percy. Tell me now!’
“Damn, he’s in trouble now.” the twins winced in sympathy. They’ve dealt with an angry mother too often.
I stammered something about the old ladies at the fruit stand, and Mrs Dodd…Get to the car. Both of you. Go!’
“In the hurricane?” Molly worried. She didn’t want them to end up in any accidents due to the down pour of the rain.
Grover ran for the Camaro – but he wasn’t running... Because where his feet should be, there were no feet. There were cloven hooves.
“Oh,” Ron remembering his earlier statement, was blushing in embarrassment.
"Well, Ronny boy, it wasn’t a tail but I think you were close enough; what do you think, George?” Fred snickered.
“I think you’re right, Fred he should get a reward!”
"Alright, you too enough,” Bill intervened. This prompted them to stop their teasing, to which Ron was grateful.
“Cloven hooves and shaggy fur? Sounds like a satyr but again, I thought they were a myth.” Charlie pondered.
“How do you know so much about them then, Charlie?” Tonks questioned.
“You know how in school I liked to hang around Hagrid’s. We’d go over different creatures to research; these creatures were in one of his books. But they weren’t thought to be real, just a myth.
"Well, it seems like they’re no longer a myth, Charlie.”
“That’s true; I wonder if I could get the chance to research...”
With that, he was successfully tuned out as everyone focused on the next upcoming chapter.