Chapter 6
The day of shopping was finished off by Professor Flitwick giving them instructions for the platform on September 1st, which was the next day.
“Just ask Tom to use the floo and how to work it,” the professor advised. “Now then, make sure to get a goodnight’s sleep. I will see you at Hogwarts!”
He turned on his heel and vanished with a crack.
“Goodnight’s sleep,” Percy snorted. Annabeth smiled tiredly up at him, leaning against his chest. Heading up into their room, Percy checked his trunk for the surprise. He looked at the dial the shopkeeper pointed out for the compartments, and noticed an extra one.
“Beth, what?”
Annabeth just motioned for him to check. He twisted the dial and stared into the compartment for a long moment. Percy swept Annabeth into his arms, blurry eyed and smiling.
“Thanks, wise girl,” he whispered. “You’re the best.”
Annabeth hugged him back, kissing his cheek.
“No problem, seaweed brain. Now come on, let's get some ingredients for your kitchen.”
Hazel and Frank had Percy and Annabeth on the platform at 8:30 sharp.
“So that we can find a good place to sit,” Hazel explained to the two of them. The Greeks were very smug when the platform was practically a ghost town the full hour and half before the train left.
“Just get on the train,” Frank said tiredly to Percy’s teasing grin. Said Greek demigod saluted exaggeratedly.
“You got it, boss.”
“Shut up, Percy.”
The four of them easily found an empty compartment on the train and set themselves up in it, stowing away their trunks in the upper racks. Annabeth then locked the door, just in case, before she sat back down with a no-nonsense look she usually got at debriefing. They all sat up a little straighter.
“Okay, people, game plan time. We’ll all spend the first few weeks orienting ourselves in this new world, and establishing ourselves. Frank, Hazel, try to get close to Harry Potter, either during or after that time. Don’t come on too strong or he’ll think we’re up to something. Try playing the new kid card, see if that earns you any brownie points with him or his friends. Even if you don’t get close to him within a few weeks, try to place yourselves on his orbit.
“Meanwhile, Percy and I will sneak in either Tyson or Mrs. O’Leary after the first few weeks. We’ll do some recon, see if they can sniff out where a horcrux might be. We have to assume that because we were sent to this school despite our age and mission that at least a few of them are already inside the school. We’ll try to place ourselves on Harry’s radar as well, but if we can’t, once we finish our mission or perhaps during, once you guys get on his good side, try to slide us into conversation, it will make acclimation to us easier.
“For the most part we’ll be playing this by ear, so try to relax a bit and seem as natural as possible.”
Percy, Hazel, and Frank nodded seriously, and the conversation ended just as a large number of people came streaming in to get onto the train.
The quest had officially begun.
“Have a good year, now, Harry dear,” Mrs. Weasley said, patting Harry's cheek with a warm smile. She gave him one last all-encompassing hug, before turning to say her farewells and last minute worries to her children. Harry smiled at the family. He had always had at least a small burn of envy in the back of his throat like bile, especially during second year, of Ron and his family. Thankfully, it had died down significantly since Mrs. Weasley always took time to make him feel welcomed. But, it hadn’t vanished.
“C’mon, Harry, Hermione,” Ron said with a red face, “before she decides that this year is the year I’m staying home.”
Harry and Hermione laughed at their friend’s plight, but conceded to being shooed onto the train. They sifted through full compartments before finally landing on an empty one. It was soon filled with conversation and lighthearted squabble– the latter only from Ron and Hermione, making Harry laugh. Harry leaned against the window with a contented sigh as the train took off from the station. Despite the chaos and shock of what had happened at the Quidditch World Cup, Harry let the light of returning to Hogwarts settle on his shoulders. He looked out over the now familiar landscape as it zipped past the train.
One of the first things Harry noticed in the hall were the four students standing in the back of the pack of first years about to get sorted. All were clearly over eleven and two even looked ready to graduate. Once the first years were sorted and the four curious students stood still, Dumbledore stood up.
“As I’m sure you all have noticed we have four more additions to our school! This year we are happy to host four transfer students from the Salem Academy for Bright Young Minds. As they are joining us for the year they too will be sorted.”
Hermione, Ron, and Harry exchanged curious glances. As Professor McGonagall called them up one by one.
“Annabeth Chase,” she began. A girl with an athletic tan and curly blonde hair strode up to the stool confidently. She did not smile nor did she look nervous. She was one of the two oldest looking students. The sorting hat fell onto her head and it was hardly in place for even a moment before it cried out;
“SLYTHERIN!”
The green table clapped politely as she strode over towards it, green bleeding into her robes. She seemed unperturbed by the silence of the rest of the halls and took a seat with the sixth years.
“Perseus Jackson,” Professor McGonagall called. The next one was an intimidating man with bronze skin and black hair that fell to his shoulders. He had an odd gray streak in his hair, matching with the first girl. His sorting took longer, almost a full minute.
“SLYTHERIN!” The hat called at last. The man slid away and sat next to Chase.
“Hazel Levesque,” was third. The girl with dark brown skin and light brown hair that almost shimmered gold. She was far shorter than the other three. The hat sat for a long few seconds before making its decision.
“GRYFFINDOR!” was cried. The girl stood and strode over to their table with newly scarlet robes. She paused by Neville.
“Sorry, but may I sit here?” she asked. Neville nodded swiftly and made space between himself and Hermione. The girl sat and– to the surprise of the people at the table– paid no further attention to the famous Harry Potter and instead turned to watch the final transfer student get sorted.
“Frank Zhang.”
The buff almond skinned boy stepped up to the stool. His sorting was just about as long as Levesque’s was.
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
He walked to the fifth years as they clapped. And despite the minimal enthusiasm of her peers. Levesque clapped animatedly for Zhang’s sorting, shooting him a bright grin when he looked her way.
“One more announcement. Quidditch has been canceled this year–” Professor Dumbledore expertly continued ignoring Wood’s enraged shout, “--due to our hosting of the Triwizard tournament. Come October, we shall be welcoming in students from Durmstrang and Beaubaxtons.”
With that, the feast began and immediately people descended upon Levesque with questions.
Hermione was first, whipping around to face Levesque before the girl even considered what to put on her plate. She stuck out her hand and nearly smacked the girl’s arm in the process. Levesque looked at her with a thrown expression even as she carefully shook Hermione’s hand.
“Hi there, I’m Hermione Granger. What was it like at the Salem Academy for Bright Young Minds? I’ve heard it’s an excellent school. Is it true your headmaster has a dragon on campus? Isn’t that a little dangerous? What are your classes like? What’s your favorite subject? Do you have school houses in America?”
During her small tirade, Levesque had been slowly pulling food onto her plate, as though any sudden moves would lead to disaster. She pulled her empty cup towards her once her plate had been filled.
“Just say pumpkin juice and it’ll fill right up,” Hermione said to punctuate her whirl of questions. Levesque just nodded shortly as she stared at the other girl. Ron stifled a snort that had Harry elbowing him.
“Water,” The girl said clearly, taking a sip, before she continued to speak to Hermione. “Hi, nice to meet you too. The Academy is nice. The dragon isn’t technically the headmistress’s, he’s the campus guardian. He sleeps most of the time. Classes are good. Uhh… I suppose I like my dueling class. Yeah, we have houses but we call them cohorts.”
Hermione drew in a long breath, clearly coming up with more questions from these answers, when Harry decided he should probably cut in.
“Why the sudden transfer?” Harry asked. Levesque shrugged when she turned to him, taking a bite of her shepherd's pie she paused, glanced down at the pie for a moment, before continuing and swallowing her bite.
“The four of us got high enough marks in our classes that the headmistress decided we’d be best for the transfer.”
Levesque craned her neck as she looked up and down the table for something.
“Is there any pepper or something?” she asked.
“Why would you want pepper? It’s so spicy!” Ron said through a mouthful of food. Hermione wrinkled her nose and started scolding him while Levesque looked at him like he’d grown two heads. Dean, meanwhile, reached across the table with a pepper shaker, giving her an understanding look. Levesque, adding pepper to her meat pie, cast an almost wistful look over her shoulder to the Slytherin table.