Aboard the Hogwarts Express
Harry and Percy sat across from each other, gazing out the train window. Both wore an expression that mixed sadness and excitement; it was the first time they had been away from their mother for so long, and although it hurt, there was also a spark of anticipation in their chests for the adventure that awaited them at their new school.
The landscape slid slowly beyond the fogged glass. Gray clouds and rolling green hills seemed to move in rhythm with the soft murmur of the train as it advanced.
"Excuse me… is it alright if I sit here? The other compartments are full," said a red-haired boy, entering timidly through the half-open door.
Harry recognized him immediately; he belonged to the large family that had kindly helped them find the platform a few minutes earlier.
"Oh, yes, go ahead," Harry replied politely, while Percy observed him with mild curiosity. Of course, his curiosity wasn't really about the boy himself but rather about the number of siblings he had seen with him earlier. If having only Harry as a brother already caused enough chaos, he couldn't imagine what it would be like to live in a house full of them.
He shook his head in silence, quietly grateful that Harry was his only brother.
Harry sensed Percy's gaze and, with that instinctive understanding between siblings, knew his brother was thinking something ridiculous.
"Hi, I'm Ronald Weasley. Nice to meet you," said the red-haired boy, freckles scattered across his cheeks and a nervous smile on his lips. He waved awkwardly while sneaking quick glances at Harry—or more precisely, at his forehead, which was partly hidden beneath his messy hair.
"Percy Jackson. And this is my younger brother, Harry," Percy introduced quickly, in that automatic tone he used whenever he spoke for both of them.
"I'm not your younger brother; I'm older," Harry shot back immediately, frowning. But noticing how Ronald kept trying to see his forehead, he fixed him with a sharp look, as if to confirm what he suspected.
Ronald stiffened under the stare. "Ah… sorry, it's just… my brothers said they once saw your mark. If you have it, I didn't mean any disrespect," he blurted out.
"Oh, that?" Harry murmured casually. He brushed his hair aside without much concern, revealing the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. He did it as if it were something entirely trivial.
"It's true! You're Harry Potter," Ronald exclaimed, both surprised and excited. "So that's what you got from… Vold— I mean, You-Know-Who, right?"
"I think so," said Harry, shrugging. "But I honestly don't remember."
Ronald nodded, clearly fascinated. "I heard you were sent to live with the Muggles. What are they like?"
Harry thought for a moment before answering. "Mmm… I don't really know. Some are truly amazing and powerful, but others are just ordinary people."
Images came to his mind on their own: noble-hearted knights, men without magic capable of incredible feats… and then the Dursleys—simple, bothersome, and cruel.
It was hard to explain in a few words. In his experience, a Muggle could be as strong as any wizard… or as despicable as those who tried to snuff out other people's light.
Meanwhile, Percy hadn't joined the conversation. He had taken out a candy wand and was chewing on it slowly, watching the two of them with a calm, oddly relaxed expression.
Harry noticed and glanced at him sideways.
"What?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Harry… are you famous?" Percy suddenly asked in such an innocent tone that, for a second, Harry almost thought he was serious.
Harry looked at him, utterly lost, wondering if his brother was really communicating with him or simply acting on instinct. Maybe his short attention span had evolved into something new without warning.
Percy saw his face and burst out laughing. "Hahaha, I'm kidding," he said, amused.
At that moment, the compartment door opened softly. A boy with slightly messy brown hair, round cheeks, and nervous eyes stepped in hesitantly.
"I'm sorry… I'm looking for my toad, Trevor. Have you seen him anywhere?" he asked in a trembling voice.
"Toad?" repeated Percy, raising an eyebrow. "No, haven't seen one." He looked at Harry and Ronald, who both shook their heads.
"I'm sorry," the boy murmured, lowering his gaze before leaving, clearly disheartened.
"Wait," said Percy, standing up. "I guess I can help you a bit… before that toad ends up in someone's dinner soup," he added with a teasing grin.
The boy looked even more nervous for a second, until he realized Percy was joking. After all, there couldn't possibly be a dining room on the train… right?
Harry also stood up, ready to help, but Percy gestured for him to stay.
"It's fine; you stay here. If your name's already spreading through the train, you'll probably cause unnecessary chaos," Percy said with that calm, strategic tone of his.
Harry thought for a second and nodded, knowing his brother was right. He stayed behind to chat with Ronald while Percy stepped out of the compartment.
"Let's go," Percy said to the boy, who was still looking at him shyly.
The boy blinked, confused.
"Your name," Percy clarified, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh… yes, I'm Neville. Neville Longbottom," he said quickly, relieved that someone was willing to help.
"Percy Jackson," said the demigod, extending his hand with a friendly smile.
Neville hesitated for a moment before shaking it, but the warmth of the gesture made him smile too.
"I'm going to help the toad kid before someone steps on it," Percy said to his brother, stretching lazily. "And if I'm not back in ten minutes, assume I've joined the Society for the Protection of Amphibians." He gave Neville a friendly pat on the back, and the two of them left the compartment, walking down the corridor.
Harry watched them go and sighed, sincerely hoping his brother wouldn't cause any trouble. Though, knowing him, that was almost impossible.
If Percy ever saw a door with a sign that read TRAP DOOR, he'd walk right in just to check what kind of trap it was, fall into it, somehow get out… and then try again just for fun.
Not long after Percy left, a woman pushing a trolley full of sweets passed by the door. The sweet aroma filled the air, and Harry felt a spark of excitement at the sight of the magical candies that his mother normally kept under strict control to "avoid cavities." He bought three of each kind: one set for himself, one for Percy, and another for his new compartment companion, Ronald.
After all, he couldn't just buy treats for himself and Percy without offering some to Ron. Maybe that small gesture would mark the beginning of his first friendship at Hogwarts.
And so, Harry stayed behind, chatting quietly with Ron while the train continued its journey forward.
…
"So… mmm… I don't think the train has a puddle he could dive into… right?" Percy asked, glancing at Neville with a thoughtful expression.
The boy just looked at him in confusion, unsure whether to answer or not.
"Then maybe we should check cabin by cabin," Percy decided with a shrug before opening the nearest door without hesitation.
"Hello. By any chance, is anyone here named Trevor and happens to be an amphibian that enjoys damp places?" he asked quickly as he stepped inside.
Inside, a girl with thick, bushy brown hair—almost like a lion's mane—looked up from her book, clearly annoyed at being interrupted. She seemed to be alone in the compartment, or perhaps checking the luggage on the racks above the seats. It looked like her travel companions had gone to explore the train, leaving her behind.
"Don't you know how to knock?" she asked sharply, glaring at him.
"Ah… well, sorry," Percy said immediately, realizing from her furious expression that he'd probably done something wrong.
She sighed impatiently and turned toward Neville. "Aren't you the boy who was sitting here earlier? Still haven't found your toad?"
Neville lowered his head. "No…" he murmured sadly.
The girl sighed again, this time more out of resignation than irritation. "Alright. I'll help you," she said at last, as if granting them a favor she didn't particularly want to give.
"Wow, thank you, Your Highness, for gracing us with your precious time," Percy replied with open sarcasm, bowing slightly in mock reverence.
The girl gave him a sidelong look, clearly irritated, but chose to ignore him.
Thus, the strange trio began wandering through the train's corridors, sliding open compartment doors and asking questions. Each time they mentioned a lost toad, some students made disgusted faces and quickly bent down to check under their seats, afraid the creature might be hiding there.
In one compartment, a pair of girls screamed and climbed up onto the seats, causing a scene that Percy found quite entertaining. However, the lion-maned girl walking behind him shot him such a severe look that he had to stifle his laughter.
"Trevor!" Neville suddenly shouted, spotting his toad sitting calmly near the train's exit door. He ran toward it and scooped it up with both hands, holding it tightly as if terrified it might vanish again.
Percy approached, glancing between the toad and the door. "Wow… you've got quite a depressed little friend there," he said with a small grin. But when he saw Neville squeezing the poor creature nearly flat, he understood perfectly why the toad had tried to escape.
"Well, looks like our mission's complete," Percy said calmly, turning around to head back before his brother managed to cause any sort of disaster.
"Oh, right," he said suddenly, spinning back toward the girl. "I don't think we've been properly introduced. What's your name?"
The girl raised an eyebrow. "And you're asking that now?" she replied with a touch of sarcasm before adding, "Hermione Granger."
"Nice to meet you, Hermione Granger. I'm Percy Jackson," he said with a serene smile, performing a gallant bow so precise it looked practiced. He'd learned it from Arthur and Luther: a perfect incline, a smooth motion of the arm, and a calm, courteous smile—"the proper way to greet a lady," Arthur had told him.
For a brief moment, Percy's green eyes seemed to shimmer, as if waves were reflected within them. That faint gleam left Hermione momentarily frozen, warmth rising to her cheeks.
"Ah… y-yes… nice to meet you," she stammered, clearing her throat before quickly hurrying back to her compartment.
Percy watched her leave, tilting his head slightly in confusion at her reaction. Then he looked toward Neville, as if expecting an explanation, but the boy was too focused on his newly recovered toad to notice anything else.
"Time to get back to my little brother. After all, he always finds a way to get into trouble," Percy said with a resigned tone before turning and walking in the same direction Hermione had gone, his steps easy and his lips curved in a faint smile.