"Can he even talk?"

"How is he a seventh year?"

"He was standing with all the first years how did he get here?" 

These questions had been floating around the Slytherin common room for the past week. It bothered Percy because he couldn't tell them off. He wished he were in Hufflepuff with Livia, or even with Valerie. Livia had said he was supposed to see the headmaster for his sorting but then was paraded in front of the whole school before immediately being sat in the one house that lived a gods damn dungeon. It made him feel suffocated like that time in Rome where he had almost drowned. 

"What's wrong with you mate? You look like you're going to cry." One of the younger kids asked him. The boy who spoked looked to be around Valerie's age or slightly older. Percy was going to write something down with a magical quill that didn't need ink but he was interrupted. 

"Oi, no Puffies allowed down here." A kid slurred. Percy gave the boy who was talking to him a pause sign and looked over to where the commotion was. Someone, not a Slytherin, had come into the common room. 

"Stop complaining you bloody pig, I was escorted and am here for Percy Jackson. Dumbledore's orders." Percy perked up at both the sound of his name, and the voice who said it. Livia was here. He smiled at the kid, an apologetic one, and headed straight for the Hufflepuff girl. 

"There was a mix up in your sorting. I know I said I was supposed to take you straight to Dumbledore but I guess something happened. I don't really know. Anyways, you're with me in Hufflepuff because you can't speak. However, Dumbledore actually wants a word with you so I'm taking you to him. Do you want me in there with you?" Livia rattled. Percy nodded in agreement with her question, breathing a sigh of relief that he wasn't stuck with a bunch of mean people. 

Percy walked slightly behind Livia and took her in. He knew he had a type, blonde, but her hair was almost light brown. It hung in loose curls to a couple inches above her shoulders. She seemed soft, most girls that Percy knew were tough because of his former way of life. He noticed, and he was intently checking her out, that she wore contacts, meaning she wore glasses when she was alone. He saw a light dusting of freckles that settled on her cheeks and nose. That's when he settled on a small, pretty red flower made out of jewels. Livia had a nose piercing. This time Livia caught him staring. 

"My mum's a muggle. I live with just her since my dad passed. She thinks wizard's lives are so short she lets me do what I want. Both a blessing and a curse." 

Percy wanted to tell her about his mom. But he hadn't the chance to talk to her before they killed him. He wondered how she was doing, him supposedly being dead and all. The thought of Sally Jackson made his heart ache worse than when he thought about his ex girlfriend. 

"Oh shoot I didn't mean to make you upset." Livia said softly, noticing the look on Percy's face. He waived her off and they continued their walk to the headmaster's office.