Percy Jackson and the Department of Mysteries

61) Rad-ish Earrings

"I just wish Hagrid would hurry up and get back, that's all," Harry said as we approached the greenhouses. "And don't say that Grubbly-Plank woman's a better teacher!"

"She is, though," I said, shrugging. "I do like Hagrid more."

"Hagrid's an excellent teacher!" Harry snapped at me.

"Yeah, but like, that lesson was excellent, and no one got their eyebrows seared off," I said. "But I do still like Hagrid more, he cares more."

"She'll never be as good as Hagrid," Harry said decidedly, but I think he also thought the lesson had been excellent.

The door to the closest greenhouse swung open, and a bunch of fourth years spilled out.

Ginny smiled brightly as she passed us (I think she smiled just a little bit longer at Harry), and chirped, "Hi!"

A few seconds later, Luna walked out of the greenhouse, paces behind the rest of the class. Her hair was in a knot on the top of her head, and a smudge of dirt was planted on her nose. When she saw us (Harry), her eyes lit up with excitement and she made a beeline for us. She took a great breath when she made it to us, and said, without a hello, "I believe He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, and I believe you fought him and escaped from him."

"Er — right," Harry said uncomfortably.

"Love the earrings," I said, noting that she was wearing her radishes today. "I might get a pair for myself." This shut up Parvati and Lavender, who had been laughing at the sight of Luna's choice of jewelry.

Luna had zoned in on the laughter before it stopped, and said, "You can laugh!" Her voice had risen, and I figured she thought they were laughing at what she had said. "But people used to believe there were no such things as the Blibbering Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned Snorkack!" She turned to me. "And thank you."

"They were right about those, though, weren't they?" Hermione irritably. "There weren't any such things as the Blibbering Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned Snorkack."

Luna gave Hermione a glare and stepped away, her rad dish earrings flitting around wildly. Everyone, not just Parvati and Lavender, was laughing now.

"D'you mind not offending the only people who believe me?" Harry said to Hermione as we walked into class.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Harry, you can do better than her," Hermione frowned. "Ginny's told me all about her, apparently she'll only believe in things as long as there's no proof at all. Well, I wouldn't expect anything else from someone whose father runs The Quibbler."

"I think Luna is better than most," I shrugged. "She sees stuff in a different — and often more accurate — light." I looked up at Hermione. "Maybe she just thinks differently but still has got the vibe down."

"I don't know if Crumple-Horned Snorkacks are the right vibe, Percy."

"Uh, Crumple-Horned Snorkacks are the rightest vibe, Hermione."

Ernie Macmillan, a boy in my house who got held back a year in Herbology, stepped up to Harry, "I want you to know, Potter, that it's not only weirdos who support you. I personally believe you one hundred percent. My family have always stood firm behind Dumbledore, and so do I."

"Er — thanks very much, Ernie," Harry looked pleased. I guess he appreciated the vote of confidence from someone who didn't have radish earrings.

I thought the earrings were pretty rad.

***

Harry had detention, and Angelina was pissed. He was supposed to be there on Friday for Keeper tryouts.

That reminded me of the fact we needed to hold Seeker tryouts. I was lucky enough to not have to come up with anything myself.

Angelina walked up to me after dinner, "Hey, Percy."

"Hiya, Angie," I said.

"Don't call me Angie," Angelina said. "Anyway, Wood and Diggory had something figured out when they had our teams practicing together — I heard you were Hufflepuff's captain, and figured I'd ask if you wanted to continue that trend?"

"I'm glad you asked, 'cause I would've been too scared to ask you, but yeah, we'd be happy to," I said.

"Why would you be scared to ask me?" Angelina scrunched up her face in confusion.

"Because you're scary."

Angelina stared at me for a moment, then said, "I watched you fight a Hydra, and you're scared of me?"

"Yeah, I hate playing Quidditch against you, you always look like you're going to break my arms so I can't carry the Quaffle," I held out my arms, then cringed and pulled them away, vaguely afraid she was going to snap them.

Angelina nodded, "Good." She tilted her head. "I was also wondering if you'd like to hold tryouts together — with your chasers and my chasers, we could go through the potential Keepers twice as fast, and our beaters and Harry — if he's able to show — could help your beaters with Seeker tryouts."

"Sure, that'd be great — that way I don't have to figure out stuff myself."

Angelina snorted, patted me on the top of my head (not cool), and said, "All right, see you on Friday. And tell the Stolls to not come in their practice uniforms, Fred and George are planning on filling them with itching powder."

"Will do," I said, knowing fully well I wouldn't tell them a thing.

The next chapter is long, but I do not think it is good. But it's long. Just like my — we get this sort of free day at school on Thursday. We can either watch movies or do field day. I'll probably watch movies because I am weak and my bones are fragile. We get out early though, and that marks the start of spring break. I'm really pleased about that, because it means we won't be doing that much work. I know we're working on Comma stuff in English, and we should be starting another art project tomorrow, and world history we always do something, like today we watched Ukraine/Russia stuff, and in Chemistry we're I am realizing now that we are doing something in every class. We only have two days to work my teachers, why are you being so cruel? We've got a lab in Chemistry but it might involve making sandwiches? I'm not sure, but I hope we make sandwiches. I'll keep you updated on that. Then in math we're humanely capturing leprechauns to steal their gold, which, as I have informed my teacher, is not humane. Then in Journalism we're going journalism, building the paper. Yay. Totally yay.

Anyway, I hope you guys have had a humperdinkle Monday, and I'll see you on Wednesday CT. Love ya!