Chapter 2
In his third year at Hogwarts, Percy has learned two things.
1. Jason Grace is a self-centered prick who thinks he’s better than everyone else.
2. Never talk back to Professor McGonagall (He’s done it enough times now that he wouldn’t be surprised if she finally snapped and put a curse on him).
He learned the first one on the second day of his first year when Jason “accidentally” lit Percy’s robe on fire and then continued to blame Percy. Apparently he’s an idiot for not being flame retardant.
Whenever she brings up the robe incident to Annabeth, she always loves to remind him that they were 12 and didn’t have any control over their magic. Percy chooses to ignore her every time. Plus, Percy got his revenge.
It took him awhile to learn it, but in the end it was worth it. Jason couldn’t get the blue out of his hair for weeks. Much to the dismay of their fellow classmates (and all the teachers), their rivalry only continued to grow.
But now, as Quidditch try-outs lurk round the corner, Percy can’t afford to waste his energy on Jason. However, maybe he could knock a bludger into Jason’s smug face. The thought brings a smile onto Percy’s face as he walks outside and towards the pitch. He clutches his broom nervously, but having Rachel by his side eased his nerves, if only slightly.
He was finally able to convince her to tryout after days of begging and pleading, and she only agreed if Percy did her transfiguration homework. Annabeth was also trying out, but they separated the houses’ tryouts and Ravenclaw had the pitch in about 2 hours.
They all tried to get Grover to try too, but he declined immediately. He claimed that just being in the air on his broom was too much for him. He’d rather be a scorekeeper.
“Okay, we got this. We are fantastic and awesome and a bunch of other adjectives that I can’t think of right now” Percy attempted to hype them up.
“Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?” Rachel fixed him with an amused expression.
“It can be both,” Percy shrugged and Rachel patted him reassuringly on the shoulder. Then her smile widened and she nodded her head forward.
“I wonder if your boy is there,” He sent her a glare.
“He’s not my anything. Wait, scratch that, he’s my enemy” Percy nodded to himself, his face felt warm and he wanted to punch himself. Rachel just shook her head beside him and the confusion just intensified. He let it drop and continued on, the warmth on his face had yet to disappear.
As the Slytherin players walked onto the pitch, the Gryffindor players walked off, scowling at them. He glanced around, looking for a particular blond, and he was met with blue eyes already glaring at him. Percy, ever the responsible teenager, stuck his tongue out and he heard Rachel snicker at his side, watching the exchange. Jason looked away, face red with anger, and walked at a faster pace.
Percy totally won that round.
Tryouts went by in a flash, the adrenaline tuned everything out, and soon there was only a few minutes left. Percy tried asking a fourth year, Ethan Nakamura, when they would bring out the golden snitch. Ethan told him that they don’t use it for tryouts because they didn’t want to risk any injuries, but it’d make an appearance at the first practice.
When they announced who made the team a few days later, Percy wasn’t surprised when both him and Rachel were on the list. Percy was extremely fast and people were absolutely terrified of Rachel (Percy being one of them).
Unfortunately, Jason also made Gryffindor’s team. On the bright side, maybe Percy can knock him off his broom a few times, and mess up his unfairly attractive face.
- -
During his charms class, sitting beside Frank Zhang, Percy was slowly lolled to sleep as he listened to Professor Flitwick drone on and on. He didn’t even realize he was completely out until Frank elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
He jumped up and sent a glare to Frank, who had the decency to look sorry.
“Ow! What the hell?” students giggled around him and he realized that a piece of paper was stuck to his face. He ripped it off violently, and he groaned.
“Mr. Jackson! Am I boring you?” Professor Flitwick glared at him. Oops.
“No sir,” Percy mumbled and looked down, “Sorry sir, won’t happen again.”
“It better not, that’s the second time in two weeks, one more and that’s a detention.” Percy sighed and nodded. Professor Flitwick, satisfied, continued on with the lecture. All the students were looking back at the board. Well, all except one. Jason smirked at him and Percy just flipped him off. Jason rolled his eyes and turned back to facing the front.
“Sorry, Perce. If I didn’t wake you up, he would’ve charmed you awake,” Frank looked guilty and Percy smiled softly at the larger boy.
“It’s okay Frank. Thank you, I owe you one,” Frank smiled brightly and Percy smiled back. He liked Frank, he was a sweet person and he was crushing on Hazel, one of the few Slytherins Percy didn’t find annoying. Frank hadn’t outright told Percy, but it’s obvious to anyone with a brain.
Jason was sitting next to Octavian, an egotistical Gryffindor who despised Percy with everything he had. When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Octavian barged through the door, knocking Percy on his ass. Jason, having been following his idiotic friend, stopped and hesitantly offered a hand to Percy.
Percy smacked it away and got up by himself, watching as Jason rolled his eyes and scoffed before storming off past him. He didn’t need his fake pity.
He walks into the Great Hall and all his thoughts disappear as he takes in all of the delicious options of food lining the tables. How was he ever supposed to get used to it?
And if he used his spoon to fling mashed potatoes at Octavian’s face, no one but him had to know.