The Forgotten Olympian |BOOK 1| PJO X HP | Alexandra Marine

Chapter 165 - Percy - Careers Advice

The weather grew breezier, brighter and warmer as the Easter holidays passed, but I, along with the rest of the fifth- and seventh-years, was trapped inside, revising, traipsing back and forth to the library. 

As though to underline the importance of our upcoming examinations, a batch of pamphlets, leaflets and notices concerning various wizarding careers appeared on the tables in Gryffindor Tower shortly before the end of the holidays, along with yet another notice on the board, which read:

CAREERS ADVICE

All fifth-years are required to attend a short meeting with their

Head of House during the first week of the summer term to discuss

their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below.

I looked down the list and found that I was expected in Professor McGonagall's office at three on Monday, which would mean missing most of Divination. We spent a considerable part of the final weekend of the Easter break reading all the careers information that had been left there for their perusal.

"Well, I don't fancy Healing," said Ron on the last evening of the holidays. He was immersed in a leaflet that carried the crossed bone-and-wand emblem of St. Mungo's on its front. "It says here you need at least 'E' at NEWT level in Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts. I mean... blimey... don't want much, do they?"

"Well, it's a very responsible job, isn't it?" said Hermione absently.

"I don't know," Alex said, putting down the list of pamphlets. "I'm happy with what I'm doing already."

"What exactly are you doing now?" Harry asked, an eyebrow raised.

Alex seemed to have only then realized what had happened. "Uh.. studying."

She was poring over a bright pink and orange leaflet, that was headed, 'SO YOU THINK YOU'D LIKE TO WORK IN MUGGLE RELATIONS?' "You don't seem to need many qualifications to liaise with Muggles; all they want is an OWL in Muggle Studies: Much more important is your enthusiasm, patience and a good sense of fun!"

"You'd need more than a good sense of fun to liaise with my uncle," said Harry darkly. "Good sense of when to duck, more like." He was halfway through a pamphlet on wizard banking. "Listen to this: Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel, adventure and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting Curse-Breakers for thrilling opportunities abroad... They want Arithmancy, though; you could do it, Hermione!"

"I don't much fancy banking," said Hermione vaguely, now immersed in: 'HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO TRAIN SECURITY TROLLS?'

"How about Quidditch Player?" Jason asked. "I'm the only one keeping Angelina stable for now."

Alex chuckled. "Yeah, I think Curse-Breaking sounds fun. That's what I'll tell McGonagall. What about you, Percy?"

"Seeing as there's nothing related to seas, I think I'll have to apply for an Auror."

"Hey," Fred and George had come to join us. "Ginny's had a word with us about you," said Fred, stretching out his legs on the table in front of them and causing several booklets on careers with the Ministry of Magic to slide off on to the floor. "She says you need to talk to Sirius?"

"What?" said Hermione sharply, freezing with her hand halfway towards picking up 'MAKE A BANG AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGICAL ACCIDENTS AND CATASTROPHES'.

"Yeah..." said Harry, trying to sound casual, "yeah, I thought I'd like--"

"Don't be so ridiculous," said Hermione, straightening up and looking at him as though she could not believe her eyes. "With Umbridge groping around in the fires and frisking all the owls?"

"Well, we think we can find a way around that," said George, stretching and smiling. "It's a simple matter of causing a diversion. Now, you might have noticed that we have been rather quiet on the mayhem front during the Easter holidays?"

"What was the point, we asked ourselves, of disrupting leisure time?" continued Fred. "No point at all, we answered ourselves. And of course, we'd have messed up people's revision, too, which would be the very last thing we'd want to do."

He gave Hermione a sanctimonious little nod. She looked rather taken aback by this thoughtfulness.

"But it's business as usual from tomorrow," Fred continued briskly. "And if we're going to be causing a bit of uproar, why not do it so that Harry can have his chat with Sirius?"

"Yes, but still," said Hermione, with an air of explaining something very simple to somebody very obtuse, "even if you do cause a diversion, how is Harry supposed to talk to him?"

"Umbridge's office," said Harry quietly.

"Are--you-- insane?" said Hermione in a hushed voice.

Ron had lowered his leaflet on jobs in the Cultivated Fungus Trade and was watching the conversation warily.

"I don't think so," said Harry, shrugging.

"And how are you going to get in there in the first place?"

Harry was ready for this question.

"Sirius's knife," he said.

"Excuse me?"

"Christmas before last Sirius gave me a knife that'll open any lock," said Harry. "So even if she's bewitched the door so Alahomora won't work, which I bet she has-- "

"What do you think about this?" Hermione demanded of Ron.

"I dunno," said Ron, looking alarmed at being asked to give an opinion. "If Harry wants to do it, it's up to him, isn't it?"

"Spoken like a true friend and Weasley," said Fred, clapping Ron hard on the back. "Right, then. We're thinking of doing it tomorrow, just after lessons, because it should cause maximum impact when everybody's in the corridors--Harry, we'll set it off in the east wing somewhere, draw her right away from her own office--I reckon we should be able to guarantee you, what, twenty minutes?" he said, looking at George.

"Easy," said George.

"What sort of diversion is it?" asked Ron.

"You'll see, little bro," said Fred. "At least, you will if you trot along to Gregory the Smarmy's corridor round about five o'clock tomorrow."

"Phase Two starts in two hours," George told as they got up. 

"You ready?" Fred asked.

"You bet," Alex said, grinning. "You'll see us there."

"You're in this too?!" Hermione asked.

"What did you think, Hermy? I was gonna let them have all the fun?!"

"NO WAY," Alex and I finished together, high-fiving.

_______________________________________

Okay, guys, favorite ships??? I'll start:

1. I love Percabeth. Can't live without it.

2. Hinny. Definitely. But only in books. The movies were trash.

3. IDK why I love Jason and Alex but I can't find a ship name.... Jalex? Aleson? 

4. SOLANGELO. DAMN. LOVELY.