The Lost Soul : Untold Story of Percy Jackson

[26] Diverging Paths

ÍROAS

The following day, after Hermione and I almost get busted as Animagi, Ron and Harry have been giving us silent treatment ever since. I sigh... I keep scolding myself because I got myself distracted again just like the night when we sent Norbert away. - 'I should really practice being aware of my surroundings for all the time.' I thought. I hadn't immediately noticed Harry and Ron's presence back then, until they opened the door. - 'But... I think we really deserve the punishment.' I noted to myself. For the millionth time, a heavy sigh escaped from my lips.

"Hermione, could you please remind me again why we didn't just tell them yesterday?" I asked the Gryffindor girl walking next to me. She breathed in heavily and looked at me.

"Because McGonagall specifically said not to tell anyone before we register ourselves, even in the two.Plus, we are totally guilty and terrified for not telling them from the very start."

"We're too focused on the process we didn't notice that we're isolating ourselves from them."

"Yeah! And I think Harry's jealous of me." She vaguely said. I stopped myself from walking and looked at her with a furrowed brow.

"And why would he be jealous of you?"

"Uhm... because you two are brothers but we kept something from him. Plus, you mostly spent your time with me now." I released a heavy sigh and just didn't answer.

"By the way, what's your plan about blackjack?" I raised my eyebrow at her.

"What do you mean?" I asked. She just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"Iro, you can't bring him with you back home." It made me feel like an idiot for not thinking about that. "How about we let Hagrid take care of him over the summer?" she suggested. I pondered for a moment before I hummed in agreement.

"Yeah! That's a great idea. Let's go ask Hagrid." After we finished our lunch, we went out of the castle and proceeded to the keeper's hut and saw him sitting in an armchair in front of his house, playing his wooden and badly curved flute.

"Hello there, Iro, Hermione." He greeted us when he saw us approaching. We smiled at him and greeted back.

"Uhm Hagrid, we were just wondering if you could look after our friend just for the summer." My classmate asked.

"Er... when you said friend, is that supposed to be a person or a creature?"

"He's a Pegasus Hagrid. Name's Blackjack." I hummed and that made the giant let go of his flute and fell open his mouth while his eyes were wide round.

"Blimey, where did you get a Pegasus? That's a very rare magical creature."

"I met him beside the lake, and he came over me." I began, "But that's not important. Could you please take care of him while we're away? Just until the end of summer." I pleaded.

"Yeah! I'll gladly look after him. Not every day I'll be seeing a Pegasus, much less pet it." He giggled and that made me and Hermione crept a blissful smile upon our faces.

"Thanks Hagrid." I said, "He likes to eat doughnuts and sugar cubes, by the way. - And please don't try to ride him. He doesn't like..." I abruptly stopped my sentence as I averted my gaze towards the castle.

"What is it Iro?" Hermione immediately asked as she perfectly knows what my abilities are. "Someone's coming here. Two, and they are both running." I said and that made the Giant raise his eyebrow. But as if on cue, a couple of figures frantically showed up, panting and drenched in sweat from exhausting themselves. But the two seem to not notice me and Hermione as they are too focused on the keeper sitting across from us.