Percy Jackson and the Mirror of Erised

23) The Night Duel

I went to Gryffindor tower to study with Hermione. Before I left and everyone else had left the common room, Hermione stopped me.

"Percy, Harry and Ron are about to do something unbelievably stupid. If anyone has any chance to keep them out of trouble, I know it's you. Will you stay? Make sure they don't get caught with me, because they most certainly will," Hermione looked at me with wide eyes.

"That depends. What are they going to go and do, exactly?"

"They're... well, they're going to go have a duel with Draco. And I'm not an idiot. I can see his fading bruises. Draco has an excuse to be acting this way. I imagine he'd have more bruises if he didn't. But the boys are idiots. They won't see anything good in him. They won't just let it be, and they'll definitely be going out. They're going to get caught. Please, Percy? Please go with me?"

My eyes widened a little, "I will, but understand this. Draco's dad is a very powerful man. If you say anything - anything at all - he will tear you down. Don't mention that. Draco himself isn't an idiot. He won't let himself get too hurt over this. Trust me."

Hermione's eyes widened and she looked at me, "I know, Percy. But remember I'm not an idiot. I've seen your bruises too. If you need to get out of there get out. If not for yourself, then for me."

I smiled at Hermione, "I stay here during the school year, and mostly at camp during the summer. I just spend August with my step-dad. I'll be fine."

Hermione frowned but nodded anyways, motioning towards the comfy looking couch.

I sat on it, and just sat with Hermione in comfortable silence.

Eventually I went and changed into my pajamas, coming back and sitting on the same couch.

I watched her as she read in an armchair. Her hair spilling around her shoulders. Her hand ready to flip to the next page. Her legs crossed and her leg bouncing.

I silently slipped my drawing book from my bag, sketching her onto the page. I added splotches of color. As she closed the book, we heard footsteps.

We were hidden by the shadows of the armchairs, but we could still see Harry and Ron in the last dying embers.

"I can't believe your going to do this, Harry," Hermione said, flipping on a lamp. Her pink bathrobe practically shone.

I was personally wearing Nemo pajama pants and a random black tee I owned. Very intimidating.

I placed everything back in my bag quietly, making sure all focus was on Hermione.

"You!" Ron said furiously. "Go back to bed!"

Hermione frowned, "I almost told your brother. Perry — he's a prefect, he'd put a stop to this."

Ron scowled, "Come on, Harry. Don't know why Percy hangs out with you so much, Hermione. If he were here he'd say—"

"He'd say this is a terrible idea," I spoke up, looking up at Ron.

He jumped and scowled, "You only think it's a terrible idea because you want to defend the dirty Slytherin! Why can't you see how terrible he is!"

"Ron, I don't think you know what terrible really means. And why is being Slytherin a bad thing? The hat said I'd do well in any house, and that includes Slytherin. The house has muggleborns, even if you can't notice that. I'm not going to interfere with the duel in any way, just going to make sure you guys don't get caught. Not as a favor to you two, because you're idiots, but to the rest of Gryffindor who would get punished for your own stupidity."

Ron stormed out of the portrait hole. Harry was quick to follow. Hermione and I shared a look before leaving.

I glanced back at the portrait of the fat lady, "That's not good." I mumbled. Hermione looked up and grimaced.

I then saw Neville sniffling on the ground, locked out of the tower. Which was strange. He could walk through the walls.

I shook him awake, "Go through the walls. She'll let you in." I spoke in Greek.

Neville, in his sleepy state, nodded and made a door appear in the wall. The others all watched in amazement while the wall sealed shut behind him.

"What was that?" Hermione questioned while we all walked down the corridor.

"That," I said, "was how I get into the Gryffindor common room. Hogwarts lets me in. She does it for Neville too, I just think he forgets."

"How do you get her to let you in?" Harry asked.

"You ask her, of course!"

The others just looked at me skeptically, before Ron tried and got annoyed. Then he sped up the pace towards the trophy room.

The two Slytherin students weren't there yet.

Suddenly everyone went quiet as we heard someone speak, "Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner."

My eyes widened and I pulled everyone out of the door and behind a suit of armor. There wasn't room for the three of us, so I quickly scrambled back into the trophy room.

"What are you doing in here, boy?!" Filch said with disgust and joy hidden beneath his angered tone.

As he hit me with a belt, which really didn't feel good, I said, "I...Uh... had a nightmare. I needed some air. Ended up here, I guess. Can... can I just stay here?"

I acted like I would have acted if that had really been the case.

Filch had been about to smack me again but instead held the belt to his side, "What exactly did you have a nightmare about?"

I was painfully aware that my friends could hear every word, "In January my mom died... she pushed a pregnant lady out of the way of the car. I was there. I dream about her often."

I wasn't even lying.

Filch's eyes widened slightly, and he spoke in a shaky tone, "Oh. I can remember when my mother died. You can go around and do whatever you need."

Filch left the trophy room and started walking back the way he had come.

I walked back to my friends and looked at them. Harry already knew about my mom. Hermione and Ron both gave me looks and I just whispered, "I'm fine."

We started walking back to the common room, aware that Draco hadn't shown. Then we saw Mrs. Norris's shadow, and ran to the first door we saw.

We tried to open it, but it was locked. Hermione pulled out her wand while Ron panicked, and said, "Alohamora!"

The door clicked unlocked and we all stepped inside.

We had been planning on going to state tomorrow. It was postponed because of the Corona virus. I really hope this whole thing clears up soon. I was excited for it. The girls had even left school and everything. Emblem got home at midnight last night. It's really annoying. There's also been a case in Arkansas now, not too far from where I live. I know people from there.

I hope this all clears up soon. Till Sunday.