Chapter 35
Percy Jackson was in Hogwarts.
The thought pulsed through his mind and he was jubilant. He had never been so excited about a dimension that he had gone to. His mind whirled with thoughts of Quidditch, wands, and the four houses. Percy wondered absently as he stared into the full great hall if he would have been a Gryffindor or if he, like Harry, would have been almost put in Slytherin. He craved to go into the hall and partake of what smelled like some really good roasted chicken and baked cakes. Percy ignored his rumbling belly.
The door in which he peered out of was on the right of the risen platform that held the teachers and from the color choice of the students at the table directly in front of him he assumed that they were Slytherin. His heart raced.
For a moment he was able to escape. For a moment he could pretend that everything was alright. He could pretend that he was not being hunted at every moment and that his girlfriend could be in danger and thought that he was dead. For a moment he was able to glimpse into his beloved childhood full of magic and wands. He didn't have to think about how horrible his life was, he could bask in the wonder of this other place. That was why it meant so much to be there. Because it brought relief.
Through the crack he could see that Hermione had returned and the real Harry Potter was at the table waiting for her to join him. Excitement flowed through him as he saw THE Harry Potter. His circular glasses framed Percy's face-
Harry really did look exactly like him. Percy could hardly believe it. He looked like Harry Potter. If Percy just wore glasses, had a scar on his forehead under the bangs that hung over his forehead, and an inch or two shorter than they would have been identical. Percy looked down at the robes he was wearing, they looked exactly like the wizard robes.
Hermione sat next to Harry and began a very irritated conversation that Percy couldn't hear over the din of the Great Hall. Harry looked confused and from Hermione's expression she seemed to give up and change the topic. Percy looked at the Gryffindor table in search of the ever present Ron Weasly who was Harry's best friend. He spotted him down the table sitting almost in the lap of one of the other Gryffindor's. Percy tried to remember who she was. He vaguely remembered that there was a girl that Ron became obsessed with. Was her name Lilac? No . . . Lily? No . . . Lavender, that's what it was. Percy smiled, it was incredible. He couldn't believe that he was really there.
The room was filled with all of the Hogwarts students. The tables were overflowing with food even though it was obvious that it was the end of the dinner based on the idleness of most there. The ceiling that showed the sky was a deep blue matching the night sky and was dotted with the floating candles that lit the room.
Percy stared into the room and couldn't believe he was there.
Percy heard one of the teachers dismiss everyone. There were the ear piercing sounds of kids moving the benches back and carrying their conversations out into one of the main hallways. Not knowing what he was doing, he left the door and raced down the hall he was in. Percy called for the Mist to gather around him and was slapped in the face. He literally stumbled back as the sheer amount of magic hung thickly in the air. Percy had a feeling that he was invisible. This dimension had the most magic of any dimension that he had ever been in. it was incredible. It was like wading through an ocean and calling water to envelop himself. He wished that his home had more straight forward magic like Hogwarts seemed to.
Percy listened for the herd of kids as they raced towards their specific house chambers. He barely made it in time to see the last of the Gryffindor kids turn around a corner. Percy rushed to keep up with the other students and fumbled at their familiarity of the halls. Percy needed a map or something. All the kids talked amongst themselves, most complained about Defense Against the Dark Arts. Percy wondered who was teaching it this year.
Percy loved the Mist. It worked so that no one knew that he was there but at the same time everyone had the tendency to avoid where ever he was standing, way better than some invisibility cloak, Percy snickered sarcastically.
As they neared their destination Percy gaped at the walls. On the walls were the famous moving paintings and pictures that Wizards were famous for. Some made conversation with the passing wizards and other were complaining about the noise. Of course Percy had about the same reaction with the moving stair cases. It was astonishing, everything just pulled him right into the books.
He couldn't remember who had formally introduced him to Harry's books, although it was probably Annabeth. It was like coming home. It reminded Percy of Camp Half-Blood and the smell of ripening strawberries. He thought of Capture the Flag and then Annabeth-
Forced himself to calm down before the tears started. He had to focus on keeping the mist together.
The Gryffindor's finally made it to the painting of the Fat Lady and someone near the painting itself, Probably a Prefect, said the password and the group all entered the room. Percy needed to get the next morning's password so that he could come and go as he pleased.
Inside he could sense himself relaxing. The fire was going in the fire place and many of the kids plopped down in the chairs of various kinds in the room. It felt warm and comforting to be there.
In front of the fire he spotted Ron and Lavender who were entangled inside each other's arms. Percy was so distracted by the two and their very obtrusive snogging that he didn't see Harry and Hermione rush towards him back into the hallway. Percy stared as they neared him. Hermione was completely focused on leaving but Harry was deep in thought about something else. Percy recognized his look of pensive irritation. Then Percy's twin looked up briefly and followed Hermione. Percy's heart beat sky rocketed when just before they went out the port hole back into the hall Harry did a double take in Percy's direction.
Could he have seen him? Percy thought worriedly. Fearfully he checked his Mist and it was thickly clouded around him. The only people who could see through his mist when it was as thick as it was could only have been someone who was not mortal. A half-blood.
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Percy didn't see Harry until the next morning. Percy had slept on the couch in the common room where the fire warmed him. Then as a huge ambush of gold and red they stomped back down to the Great Hall for breakfast. They all sat at the long wooden Gryffindor table where a delectable array of food was prepared for them. Percy sat in a low populated area of the table and ate under the cover of the Mist. The food tasted so good, Percy wished that he could take it home with him. If he ever did go home . . .
After the scare the night before Percy had been avoiding looking at his twin. But testing fate, Percy looked up the table where he knew Harry was sitting. Harry's eyes were on him. They locked eyes. Percy stared into his own green eyes through those circle glasses and felt his heart hammer in his chest. Percy knew that the Mist was working. Harry had to be . . .
Harry's eyes told him to wait around. Percy nodded slowly and Harry nodded in return. Without any further conversation they both looked away.
Percy knew that today was Sunday. He smiled because there was no post on Sundays. No owls delivering letters that morning. Every moment in the castle seemed to give him another burst of energy.
Sitting at another table, Percy spotted a head of bright white hair. He knew that Lorem was gorging on food. While they had been in Night Vale Percy had watched her "recharge," as she called it. from her first few hours of passing out and sleeping then to her hours spent on eating anything in sight, Percy assumed that traveling time and its dimensions were costing her a lot of energy. She would talk to him if she needed something, but he knew that he had four days in the most magical palace this side of the ocean. The most magical being Camp Half-Blood if a person could consider it a palace.
Soon most of the wizards left the hall and went back to their rooms. Percy continued to pick at the food. With the way he was traveling, he rarely had time for a full meal. Harry didn't move or look at him until he had forced Hermione to go on without him. Then they looked at each other and scooted towards one another until they were across the table from one another.
The room was empty save for one or two students left at each table. Percy let the Mist fall on everything except for his face so that people wouldn't look at Harry funny for talking to no one. They stared at one another. Percy pursed his lips and hoped that he could explain. Slowly he began formulating a story, deciding what to tell him and what to leave out.
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Harry stared into his own eyes. He felt like he was looking into a mirror except for the absence of his glasses. Questions swirled in Harry's mind as to what to say to this stranger.
His first thought the night before had been Polyjuice potion, but Harry had a feeling that it wasn't the explanation. Harry's heart was beating so quickly he thought he was diving toward a Snitch on his broom. After everything that year, seeing his own twin was not what he expected. By now, he thought that the unexpected would be expected but that obviously was not the case. Harry was in his sixth year at Hogwarts and things were as crazy as they had ever been. Professor Dumbledore had him trying to retrieve the Horcrux memory from Professor Slughorn, Malfoy was up to something, Apparition practices were starting up, Hermione was still in a fight with Ron, and now he had a twin. Great.
"So," the other guy said. Harry was pulled back to the present where his twin was seated opposite him in Hogwarts clothes. He sounded American. Harry hadn't met many of them, but he definitely was not British.
"Who are you?" Harry was surprised at how civilized his voice sounded. The other guy sighed deeply and leaned forward putting arms on the table to brace himself. The guy who looked like him suddenly aged to look ancient. His green eyes that glowed with -Harry tried to name what it was- power seemed to dim. He reminded Harry of Dumbledore who seemed to always be kind and loving but full of history that weighed him down.
"My name is Percy Jackson," he said, "I don't know why we look the same." It was the first time that Harry had ever heard a greeting quite like that. Harry couldn't understand why he wanted to trust him.
"Harry Potter," Harry said, although Percy didn't seemed surprised one bit by his name, "I don't know either," this earned a chuckle from Percy that brought some of the light back to his eyes.
"Well, good, glad we are in the same boat," Percy said, "I really don't know how to explain . . ." Percy shook his head in exasperation. Harry waited, his whole body wanted to grab his collar and demand answers that he inevitably had. Harry was sick of unanswered questions, he had too many of them. What was Malfoy doing? How can Harry get the memory from Slughorn? Why was Dumbledore's hand dying? Why couldn't Hermione and Ron make up? Why did he live and his parents die?
"So," Percy said again, "I am from another dimension and I am running from a very powerful force that wants to kill me." Harry didn't know what he was expecting but that wasn't it. Harry's mouth hung open but he said nothing and Percy continued. "I know a little bit about this place and who you are, but it is difficult to explain. I will be here for four days and then I will go to another dimension to continue my running." Harry was silent for a while.
"How long have you been running?" Harry asked.
"Almost a month," Percy said. Harry was having a hard time wrapping his mind around what Percy was saying and so didn't go very deep with his next comment.
"That's a whole lot of running," Harry told Percy who smiled ruefully. Harry asked, "What's your end game?" Percy sighed again.
"Gather these special stones, save the universe, go home."
"Sounds nice," Harry said trying not to feel over whelmed by what he was saying.
"You?" Percy didn't sound curious but rather wanting to hear his response.
"Defeat the Lord of Darkness and save my friends," Harry said trying not to let the overwhelming thoughts of his responsibility as "The Chosen One," crash upon him.
"We have quite a lot ahead of us don't us?" Percy asked.
Harry nodded.
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Author's Note:
Hi Lovelies!
So I hope you liked it! Apologies for taking so long. One of the reasons it took that long is because I rewrote it like three times and it's like HARRRY POTTTER so I had to get it right. Anyway! Lots of fun stuff in store! Tons of new Fandoms ahead! Also apologies for the grammar errors in this one. I didn't finish the editing and I wanted to get this to you as soon as possible.
Oh! Talking about Fandoms, WHO SAW AGE OF ULTRON??!!?!?!?!?
*DIES* it was SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! I won't spoil but comment <HERE> if you want to Fangirl/Fanguy with me about it.
I can't think of other things to say . . . oh well . . .
I want to dedicate this Chapter to: RaptorAtel who has been commenting splendidly on all of my chapters. You are lovely. Thank you for your enthusiasm.
If you want to have a chapter dedicated to you then like comment and things! Go read some of my other stories that are pretty good based on other comments I have seen. Also before you go please do Vote so that I can like share this story with lots of other awesome people like YOU.
Love you All!