Chapter 9
Percy just stared at the hat as it finished its song. I wonder how much thought was put into that, he wondered. Can hats even think? Oh well.
Scattered applause rang throughout the hall but died down quickly as the students and staff were eager to hear the placements of the new children. Percy looked over his shoulder as Professor McGonagall unrolled a scroll of parchment and started reading off names. Scanning the four house tables until his eyes locked on Luke under banners of green and silver before tearing his gaze away, finding two redheads sitting at the table beneath the red and gold banners. He figured those must be Fred and George's brothers that they were talking about on the train.
His attention snapped back to his new... guardian? as she called for "Chase Annabeth".
The blonde girl stepped forward confidently. Honestly, she held herself in a way that kind of intimidated Percy. Most of his past experiences with people who appeared so sure of themselves weren't exactly the best. She sat on the stool with her back straight, staring forward with a determined gaze before the hat fell over her eyes.
There was a moment where the hall was silent other than the faint buzz of the little whispered conversations here and there at the house tables.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Annabeth smiled and went to the "smart table" while the sorting continued.
Looking back at the Slytherin table Percy saw Luke give the blonde girl a thumbs up and a smile.
Taking a shaky breath, the oldest Potter tried to keep his hands still as it got closer and closer to his turn. As his name was called the entire hall went silent. His footsteps echoed on the cold stone floor as he made his way up to the stool. It seemed as though everyone was holding their breath.
He sat cautiously on the old stool and held his own breath as the hat was lowered to cover his eyes.
Ah, quite the interesting character, a voice echoed within his head and his entire body tensed up as a result.
Don't worry, I am the sorting hat and am unable to cause you any pain. I can see that you have already been through so much pain in your young life. You are very clever, especially with your methods of protecting your brother. Definitely worthy of Ravenclaw. You are also sly and ambitious, you want to prove that you aren't who your relatives say you are though that is not the most important thing in your opinion. Still, you would be able to fit in well in Slytherin.
Then there is your bravery. Taking punishments that would've been bestowed upon your brother otherwise. Even standing up to your blood relatives in the smallest of ways. Quite the Gryffindor if you ask me. But I believe that your strongest trait above all, is loyalty. Your loyalty to your brother. To your parents. To yourself. I can see that once someone gains your trust and friendship, you would do anything for them.
The best place for you would be... "HUFFLEPUFF!!!"
The table under the yellow and black banners erupted in thunderous applause as he hopped off the stool, handed the hat to Minerva with a small smile, and walked over to sit with his housemates. He glanced over at the Slytherin table and let out a breath when he saw Luke smiling his way.
Luke was the first friend he'd made and with all the twins' chatter about prejudice between the four houses he'd been worried about the older boy's reaction.
Percy allowed a small smile to slide onto his face as he sat next to one of his fellow first years, Katie Gardner.
"Hey, are you okay?" She asked, her grass green eyes wide with concern.
"Um,yeah. I'm fine, thanks for asking."
"I'm Cedric Diggory." Said one of Percy's fellow Hufflepuff first years.
The boy sat on the bench across from Percy, a wide smile plastered on his face as he extended a hand to the oldest Potter.
Now Percy had decided that he would take the "fake it till you make it" approach so he pushed down his anxiety and smiled back gently, accepting the handshake.
"It's nice to meet you."
"So, did you know you were coming to Hogwarts?" Cedric asked prompting the green eyed girl to scoff.
"Of course he knew. He's a Potter. His guardians would've told him."
Percy snorted.
"Yeah, guardians. Let's go with that. My aunt and uncle are muggles that hate magic. The only reason I know about it is that I was old enough to remember my parents talking about it."
The conversation stopped as a man who Percy assumed was Dumbledore stepped up to the podium.
"Welcome students new and old to another year at Hogwarts. Now I know you are all probably hungry and don't want to listen to the ramblings of an old man so I'll make this quick."
As the headmaster spoke about the rules, Percy massaged his temples with shaking hands. He'd taken his aspirin that morning but already his head was pounding and his shakes were coming back.
He looked around as he felt the rest of his muscles starting to spasm and started digging in his pocket.
"Hey Percy," Cedric whispered so as not to interrupt Dumbledore. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah. I j-just need to t-take..."
His voice shook. It felt like his head was being crushed. His hands shook violently as he got the pill bottle and struggled to open it.
With obvious concern, Cedric reached over and took the pill bottle, opening it for him.
"How many do you need?" He asked, knowing that if Percy tried to get some out he'd probably spill a bunch on the table.
"Just one." He gritted out through his teeth.
Being handed the pill, Percy swallowed it dry, sighing in relief and resting his head on the table as it took effect.
"What was that?" Katie asked warily.
Percy took a moment before he replied.
"When Voldemort attacked. My mum handed Harry to me, telling me to hide with him and not come out unless she or my dad told me it was alright. I ran upstairs, put Harry on a blanket and slid the both of us under our parents' bed."
The other two Hufflepuffs exchanged scared glances. Did they really want to hear this? But the Potter continued, unaware of the others nearby who tuned in as the food appeared on the tables in front of them.
"The sounds of our parents fighting him off went silent. Then I heard the door down the hall get smashed. As I found a better hiding spot for Harry, Voldemort went down the hall, searching each room for us."
By now he seemed to be in a sort of trance, those who were listening shivered in horror. It was all well and good to hear or read about a baby defeating a dark lord but it was quite another to hear it from the one person alive who was there and could actually remember what happened.
"I remember I put Harry in a small hidden compartment I found in the floor. Then I hid back under the bed. I heard him come in. I was so scared he'd hear me breathing. Or worse, find Harry. Then he moved the bed."
Everyone listening gasped.
"I don't remember much of what happened after the curse started. I've never been in so much pain. It had lasting effects."
With a deep breath he shook off the memory.
"Hence the advil." He smiled lightly.
All the other students who'd listened looked deeply shaken at the first year's story and they ate their meals in silence.
Percy didn't eat very much, he still wasn't quite used to large amounts of food.
He figured he probably shouldn't have started off with that but they had asked.
As supper came to an end, Percy sighed and followed his housemates to the Hufflepuff common room.
On the way he received four smiles from houses other than his own. One from Annabeth as the Ravenclaws passed, two identical ones from the twins in Gryffindor, and one from the blond boy in Slytherin.