Chapter V
PERCY
Percy was definitely not expecting the beach destination. He had a sad little apartment in London in mind. This was much nicer.
“Since you will spend a lot of time here, I made sure that you'll live comfortably during summers” Hecate explained.
The ocean in front of them was calm, just across a the street, its sound familiar and soothing. When Percy turned around, he found a himself in front of an expensive looking beach house. It had two floors, with a nice porch that had a set of dark blue sofas and a little coffee table. The door and window frames were white, the roof tiles were dark gray and the walls were a shiny shade of baby blue. It contrasted brightly against the mostly white buildings that surrounded it.
“Woah” Jennifer mumbled as she turned to stare at the house. “This is were we'll be staying?”
“During summers, yes.”
“Sweet. Where are we, exactly?” Jennifer continued.
“Brighton. I thought you'd appreciate coming back to the beach during holiday periods, and it's a lively city. You'll never be bored.”
Percy wasn't sure if she was talking about actually fun stuff to do, or about monsters roaming freely in streets to keep them on their toes. You know, demigod fun.
“It's magically protected, so no one but you two or people you invite can actually see it or come in without your explicit invitation” Hecate explained.
“So just like Camp Half-Blood” Percy noted.
“In a sense, yes, but these are protection spells, not god magic. You will probably learn to cast them yourselves, eventually. Protego Maxima, Salvio Hexia. Also, a particularly strong Cave Inimicum. Hogwarts is protected by similar spells.”
Percy didn't catch any of the spells names, but he figured if they mattered, someone would point them out to him again at some point.
“Can we come in?” he asked.
“Of course. Your luggage is inside. You may leave here anything you think you won't be needing during school year. I'll let you get settled for today, and tomorrow, I'll come pick you up and we'll get to London. You'll get your supplies for school and get a taste of the real wizard society.” She extended her hand and gave Percy a set of keys. “The one with the red handle is for the main door, the other one is for the garden door. Enjoy yourselves.”
And with that, she vanished in a cloud of dark purple smoke.
“This is too much” Percy spoke.
“Yeah” Jennifer agreed.
“This house must be for at least ten people. We're just two.”
“If we are seriously going to be stuck here for seven years, the least they could to was give us a nice house.”
“Well, yeah, I guess” Percy nodded, starting to walk to the porch. “Still feels weird. We usually get... Well, nothing. I'm sure it has some other purpose. We'll probably use it as a safehouse more than a house.”
“Let's enjoy it while we can, then” she smiled and took the keys from Percy's hand, then opened the door. “Oh, wow” she whispered.
Everything in the house looked expensive. The floors were shiny and wooden, and the walls were painted in a pale sandy tone.
The first room to their left was the living room. It had a set of gray sofas and a wooden coffee table, across a large fireplace. The walls had empty picture frames for them to fill. Percy was sure the TV wasn't from that year, nor were the pile of DVDs next to it.
To their right, a fully equipped kitchen was followed by a nice looking dining room, with a large table with ten chairs.
There was a toilet and two bedrooms with two extra bathrooms on that floor, and the exit to the garden was from the dining room.
“This is really nice” Jennifer mumbled when they got out to the garden. It had a pool, a large place to make campfires and another set of chairs and a table, and the grass was greener than the plants at Demeter's cabin.
“Well, yes” Percy agreed, but he feared that Hecate might only be trying to compensate for something with the house. What had they really signed up for?
The second floor was purely extra rooms and bathrooms. Jennifer and Percy each settled on the two rooms that had a full view to the beach.
As he unpacked a few of his things, Percy couldn't get the idea that this was all too good to be true out of his mind. Maybe nothing too bad would happen during their first two or three years at Hogwarts, but once everything got serious, how bad would they be? Sure. Percy and Jennifer had endured more than the average human being, even more than the average demigod, fair enough — but what could Hogwarts really have in store for them? Would they even like the people they'd meet? And if they did, would they be able to stop whatever it was that had killed Harry Potter?
“Hey” Jennifer pulled him out of his thoughts.
“What's up?” Percy turned to her.
“With me? Not much. You are the one that looks worried.” Jennifer sat next to him and smiled. “What's on your mind?”
“It's just...”
“Too much?” Jennifer stared at the room. It was larger than the living room they had in their respective Manhattan appartements.
“Yeah. I just wonder what they might be trying to make up for.”
“Well, I suppose first year won't be that bad. Who would try to hurt a little kid?”
“A minotaur. A fury. A hellhound. Gods. I can go on.”
Jennifer let out a small laugh. “I know, but monsters aren't an actual problem here, I think. It's the wizards themselves.”
“But we are at a complete disadvantage here. We know nothing about this world.”
“It wouldn't be the first time we face the unknown.”
“This is different. There's always been some sort of connection, but this is entirely new.”
“Then we'll learn. That's what Hogwarts for, right?”
They sat in silence for a while.
“C'mon” Jennifer stood up and pulled his arm. “Cheer up. The fridge is fully stocked and the glasses are like the ones from camp, so we can cook something awesome and then get some sleep, and tomorrow, we'll buy some nice cauldrons.”
Percy couldn't help but smiling at his sister's enthusiasm.
“Sure. Cauldrons and potion ingredients.”
“See? You just need to focus on the silver linings!”
Maybe his cheerful sister was right. There was no need to worry, not at that moment.
They cooked and listened to old music on the radio. Old, because everything except the TV and the movie selection was seven years older than what they were used to.
They rummaged around the rooms as they ate their burgers and found a cabinet full of boardgames. After an endless match of UNO, they went to bed and got some rest.
For the first time in a very long time, Percy had a totally dreamless night. When he woke up, the sun was shining brightly.
“Morning!” Jennifer greeted him from the door of his room. She was still in her pajamas, and she had two envelopes in her hands. “An owl brought this, and it didn't try to bite my finger off!”
She tossed Percy one of them. On the front, on shiny green letters, it read:
«Mr. P. Jackson
Marine Parade, no number
Brighton»
On the other side, it had a red wax seal, identical to the one in the letter they'd gotten from Hecate. He opened it and read the contents.
«Dear Mr. Jackson,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Usually, we only accept confirmation owls before July 31st, but considering your especial situation, we won't be needing one. Term begins on 1st September.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress»
“Did you get to the material list?” Jennifer sat next to him. “One plain pointed hat. As if anyone could force me to wear a hat.”
Percy turned to the list of materials. There was an endless list of books with funny names, like «A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration», among other stuff that seemed completely random.
Percy couldn't deny it sounded fun.
“Aren't you a little bit excited?” Jennifer asked.
“Maybe a little” he admitted smiling.
“I knew it!” she stood up. “C'mon. Get dressed. Hecate will be here any minute now.”
So they changed and brought their trunks downstairs. As they were finishing their breakfast, they heard a soft knock on the main door.
Percy went to get it. He was expecting Hecate, but instead, he found himself facing one the oldest looking dudes he had ever seen, and he knew gods that had been alive for centuries.
“Good morning, Mr. Jackson” he spoke with a calm voice.
“Uh, hi” Percy spoke warily. Instinctively, his hand went to his pocket were his sword was.
“No need for that” the old man smiled. “My name is Albus Dumbledore. I'm here to formally introduce you to the Wizarding World.”
“Oh, Dumbledore. You are the one who asked for our help.”
“Indeed I am. May I come in?”
“Uh-yeah, of course.”
Percy moved to a side let the old man in. He was tall and really thin, with silver hair and a long matching beard. His eyes, behind his half moon spectacles, were a shiny shade of blue that reminded Percy of his friends, Thalia and Jason. He was wearing a colorful set of emerald green robes that would've given nightmares to every single kid in Aphrodite's cabin.
“Percy?” Jennifer asked, appearing from the kitchen.
“Miss Collins” Dumbledore greeted her. “It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts's Headmaster.”
“Yeah, we know who you are” Jennifer nodded slightly. “It's nice to meet you too.”
“I only wish it was under better circumstances” the old man acknowledged. “Alas, your presence can only mean that tragedy struck, at some point in the future. But Hecate and I have complete faith that it won't happen again.”
“Don't you know what happened?” Jennifer asked.
“Well, I have theories and ideas, but no certain information. I trust you don't have it either. We just know that somehow, Harry Potter passed away, right?”
Dumbledore spoke as if this information didn't shake him at all. His tone remained calm and steady, almost as if he had been expecting the bad news.
“Yeah. We don't know why or how, though” Percy admitted.
“That's probably for the better” the man smiled. “Should we sit down? This conversation may be longer than I expected.”
Jennifer led him to the sofas as Percy fetched three glasses from the kitchen. There was something odd about Dumbledore, but Percy couldn't exactly say what. Maybe he was just a little bit eccentric.
“So, Professor” Jennifer asked as Percy sat next to her. “You know we're here. Hecate obviously does as well. Who else knows about us?”
“So far, no one. I will inform your Head of House once you get sorted. They might be helpful through your stay at Hogwarts.”
“We'll pretend to understand what that means. Doesn't Harry now about us?” Percy raised an eyebrow.
“I'm afraid Mr. Potter doesn't know much about anything at all. After his parents passed away when he was a baby, he went on to be raised by his muggle aunt and uncle. He has only learned about the existence of magic a few weeks ago.”
“So he won't know about us?”
“No unless you tell him, but I'd advise against it. Not only because it would be too much for the kid right now, but also because Hogwarts walls are paper thin, and rumors travel fast. I'm sure the gods like their privacy.”
“Great. So we're here as nannies for the time being” Jennifer stated.
“Well, Miss Collins, if that's how you'd like to phrase it, then yes” Dumbledore didn't get pissed at the disrespectful answer. He actually seemed to enjoy it. There was a playful hint in his eyes.
“What about monsters?” Percy continued. “I'm afraid we're like a magnet for those. Won't that bring you trouble?”
“Hogwarts is a safe place. No monsters should be able to break through its barriers.”
“But you'll have two children of the Big Three among its walls now” Jennifer explained. “Maybe they haven't tried breaking through because they hadn't had a reason til now.”
“If anything like that happens, I trust you can handle it. Hecate assured me you are the best Camp Half-Blood has to offer. Experienced leaders and warriors.”
“Aren't you worried? Not even a little?” Percy couldn't help but asking.
“I'm no stranger to danger, Mr. Jackson. And I brought you here for a reason. I believe your presence may bring a refreshing perspective to our school, even if your identities remain hidden. If the price to pay is a couple monsters, I think we can afford to face them.”
“So we need to come up with some sort of cover-up story to tell everyone, then” Jennifer added.
“Indeed. Among professors, I've already sent out letters explaining that this year, we'll be receiving our first international students, but the rest of the story is up to you. I thought that you may say your father was a student at Hogwarts, by some common name no one will look up. It would explain why you are studying here and not at Ilvermorny in America. You'll be the same age, so I suggest presenting yourselves as twins.”
“We'll figure it out” Percy nodded. “But we appreciate the tips.”
“Now, we shall venture into Diagon Alley before it gets any later” the old man stood up. He didn't move like an old man. “Did you get your letters this morning?”
“We did” Percy nodded.
“So you have almost everything you need” he looked inside his pocket and handed them two little, apparently empty pouches made of soft cloth, one for each of them. “I will personally take care of your expenses during your time with us. Along with this house, it's my humble way to thank you for your help. The least I could do.” That made a lot of sense. It hadn't been the gods who had given them the house. “The pouches are enchanted” Dumbledore continued. “Pretty much limitless money. You only need to think about the amount you need, and it will appear. Hecate also stored a few drachmas, should you need them, but she asked me to tell you not to use Iris Messages until we catch up with your timeline. There can't be any connections between you, and the other versions of yourselves out there, not even by accident. You can call Mr. Potter or me, should you need to, but we can't call you, and you can't call each other.”
Weird, Percy thought. But they didn't need IM to communicate with each other, thankfully.
“Don't worry about your luggage, I'll make sure it makes it to the hotel room where you'll sleep tonight.”
And just like that, they were following Dumbledore out of the house.
“Children of Poseidon, right?” the professor asked, staring at the ocean in the distance.
“Didn't Hecate tell you?”
“She said it'd be easy to figure out.”
Dumbledore was an enigmatic man, and Percy wasn't sure he liked that. He had enough enigma in his life with prophecies. He didn't need an old man giving him half truths and vague answers.
“How are we getting to London?” Jennifer asked.
“With a Portkey. I was afraid Apparition would've been too much for your first day here.” Dumbledore pointed to a random wine bottle laying on their porch coffee table. “C'mon. You only need to touch it.”
Percy threw a funny glance at Jennifer and she only shrouded. They placed their hands on the bottle.
“Three, two, one...” Dumbledore counted.
It happened faster than Percy was expecting. It was like being stuck in a vacuum that pulled them forward, speeding in a howl of wind and swirling colors. Percy's finger was stuck to the glass bottle.
It stopped as abruptly as it started. His feet slammed against wooden flooring. The place looked like an old bar, dark and shabby. Besides an old man completely asleep on a table at the back of the room, the bartender and them were the only people there.
It was only then Percy noticed his height had changed. His whole body felt smaller. Dumbledore was taller. When he looked at Jennifer, he had to suppress a loud gasp.
In front of him, it clearly was his sister, only younger than he had ever seen her. Her clothes remained the same, now adjusted to her smaller body, but the scars around her arms and legs had completely vanished. Her eyes looked shinier, and the freckles on her face were slightly more defined.
Jennifer was staring at him as well. She looked as shocked as Percy felt.
“Welcome to the Leaky Cauldron” Dumbledore spoke.
“Professor Dumbledore!” a voice behind them spoke. The bartender was smiling at them. He was bald and wrinkly. “It's a pleasure, sir! If I knew you were coming, I would've-!”
“No need to worry, Tom. I'm afraid it'll be a short visit” Dumbledore interrupted him. “I came merely as a guide for Jennifer and Percy here. They've been a last minute addition to Hogwarts this year, and since they're from New York, they don't know their way around yet.”
“Oh, Americans!” Tom approached them. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thanks” Percy and Jennifer spoke at the same time. His voice didn't feel like his own.
“They will be needing a room for tonight, Tom. Their luggage is already upstairs. Send me the bill later. A car will pick them up tomorrow to take them to King's Cross.”
“Excelent, sir” he nodded and turned to the siblings. “Are you shopping for your materials?”
“We are, sir” Jennifer answered, her voice much higher than what Percy was used to.
“Well, nowhere better than Diagon Alley. I will get your rooms ready for when you come back.”
“Splendid. C'mon now” Dumbledore turned to them. “We need to get you your materials.”
They followed Dumbledore to the back of the shop and out into a small, walled courtyard. There, he brought out his wand, and tapped three bricks on the wall. A portal opened up before their eyes, leading to a lively looking cobbled street, filled with shops and people wearing outfits as colorful as Dumbledore's.
The moment they stepped through the archway, it vanished back to a solid looking brick wall.
“Welcome to Diagon Alley” the old man spoke. “Now, shall we get you your materials?”