Little Tricks (PJO x HP) DISCONTINUED

CHAPTER 2: Three Old Ladies Knit The Socks Of Death

"Who wouldn't be? Mama Jackson is amazing." Nico exclaimed.

(Don't know if I mentioned this but Nico lives with Ara. Because you know, sibling goals)

I wanted to be with my mom in our little apartment on the Upper East Side, even if I had to go to public
school and put up with my obnoxious stepfather and his stupid poker parties.
And yet... there were things I'd miss at Yancy. The view of the woods out my dorm window, the
Hudson River in the distance, the smell of pine trees. I'd miss Grover, who'd been a good friend, even if
he was a little strange. I worried how he'd survive next year without me.
I'd miss Latin class, too—Mr. Brunner's crazy tournament days and his faith that I could do well.
As exam week got closer, Latin was the only test I studied for. I hadn't forgotten what Mr. Brunner had
told me about this subject being life-and-death for me. I wasn't sure why, but I'd started to believe him.

Artemis smiled slightly, it wasn't often a mortal appreciated nature, much less a male mortal.

The evening before my final, I got so frustrated I threw the Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology
across my dorm room.

Ara screamed, causing many wizards to look at her, the gods and demigods who were used to her dramatics sighed or chuckled.

"Justice for the book!" Ara yelled firmly, before rounding on Percy "Percy, respect your books! They have feelings too!"

Bye now Percy was on the floor laughing. Ara was good at making people feel happy or relaxed. Percy supposed she got it from Uncle James.

Words had started swimming off the page, circling my head, the letters doing
one-eighties as if they were riding skateboards. There was no way I was going to remember the
difference between Chiron and Charon, or Polydictes and Polydeuces. And conjugating those Latin
verbs? Forget it.

The demigods winced in sympathy.

I paced the room, feeling like ants were crawling around inside my shirt.
I remembered Mr. Brunner's serious expression, his thousand-year-old eyes.I will accept only the best
from you, Percy Jackson.
I took a deep breath. I picked up the mythology book.
I'd never asked a teacher for help before. Maybe if I talked to Mr. Brunner, he could give me some
pointers. At least I could apologize for the big fat F I was about to score on his exam. I didn't want to
leave Yancy Academy with him thinking I hadn't tried.

Sally smiled. Her boy was truly a gift.

(I honestly forgot she was there)

I walked downstairs to the faculty offices. Most of them were dark and empty, but Mr. Brunner's door
was ajar, light from his window stretching across the hallway floor.
I was three steps from the door handle when I heard voices inside the office. Mr. Brunner asked a
question. A voice that was definitely Grover's said "... worried about Percy, sir."

I froze.
I'm not usually an eavesdropper, but I dare you to try not listening if you hear your best friend talking
about you to an adult.
I inched closer.

Hermes, the Stoll's and Ara beamed proudly.

"... alone this summer," Grover was saying. "I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for
sure, and they know too—"
"We would only make matters worse by rushing him," Mr. Brunner said. "We need the boy to mature
more."
"But he may not have time. The summer solstice deadline—"

The Slytherins and Ravenclaws with actual brains blinked.

The lightning thief... A deadline... They were connected.