Percy unfolded the letter carefully

Percy Jackson, how long does it take to write to me? I was starting to think you forgot about me. Though it is probably not your fault, after you left Hecate came back and told me what you are doing, she didn't say much, but at least it was something.

Also, great idea to write in Ancient Greek so that way no prying eyes can read our letters.

Percy didn't even know he wrote the letter in Ancient Greek. He felt proud of himself after what she said.

I miss you too Seaweed Brain, yes I'm very worried about you. You better not get yourself killed there, you still need to get into college. I'm not too worried though I know you can take care of yourself.

There hasn't been anything crazy happening here. Camp is still the same, other than the fact that Leo ordered a boatload of jelly beans for no good reason. Your mom is doing good Pual and I have been helping her.

Hecalt told me about your quest in that you have to protect some boy named Harry Potter, I hope he is one of your friends, cause it would make your life easier. I tried to look for him in the library cause you know I'm in the future, but I couldn't find anything about him.

Look at you didn't get kicked on your first day. Is that a record for you?

Stay safe Seaweed Brain if you don't write to me at least once a week, I'll come over there and find you... then kill you.

I love you, Seaweed Brain        

P.S. I love this owl

Well, that was a nice ending, Percy was so happy after reading that he almost wanted to get up and write back to her, but his bed was looking extremely comfy at the moment.

Over the next couple of days, Percy got into a routine of waking up way too early, having breakfast, and going to his class where he would give his complete and undivided attention on the back of his eyelids.

He was only awake in the classes that Layla was in cause they would joke around the whole time. Percy did feel bad when Layla wanted to learn and he would mess around.

Percy and the gang were at the long tables having breakfast

"Guys guess what day it is?" said Layla enthusiastic

Percy said "Dunno"

"It's Thursday you dummy," said Layla

"Oh right that means we also have flying class today," said Ron delightedly

"Crap," said Percy

"Why you craping it? It's going to be fun" said Layla

"Uh cause you know it's gonna be with Malfoy," said Percy that was somewhat the reason but mainly cause he was scared to death about it.

"Bruh, did you have to remind us about that you couldn't let us have 2 minutes of happiness," said Harry bummed

"Sorry, I can make it worse though. It's at the very end of the day," 

"How does that make it worse?" said Harry confused "It's a good thing. Gives us something to look forward to."

"Oh yeah...," Percy said, "...so you looking forward to spending quality time with your best friend Malfoy?"

"Oi shut it," Harry said with a laugh then his face went dark "hope he falls off his broom."

While Hermione was going on and on about something, nobody was listening after a while you learn to tune it out. Her lecture was interrupted by the sound of owls.

Percy wondered if Annabeth sent him a letter. He wouldn't be surprised if she did, his yet to send one since the first. In his defense, nothing really has happened. Percy didn't see Kasper so he was safe from his girlfriend's wrath.

A small owl brought Neville a small package. He opened it excitedly and had a small glass ball in the palm of his hand. It was a bit bigger than a golf ball, which looked to be full of white smoke. 

"Gran got me a remembrall!" he explained "She knows I forget things, it tells you if you have forgotten something. When you hold it and it turns red... oh..." His face fell as the Remembrall glowed scarlet, "... you've forgotten something"

Nevile tried to remember what he'd forgotten as Draco Malfoy walked by the Gryffindor table, and snatched the remmbrall out of Nevile's hand.

Layla and Harry jumped up to their feet. Percy and Ron stayed still, Percy made eye contact through the side of his eye with him. He gave Percy a slight nod, they were on the same page if  Layla and Harry went in so would they.

Luckily Professor McGonagall came in from nowhere and with a stern voice

"What's going on?"

"Malfoy took Nevile's Remembrall, Professor," said Harry pointing at Draco

Malfoy looking at Harry and then at Layla for much longer put the Remembrall back on the table not nicely.

"Just looking," he said, walking away with Crabbe and Goyle behind him

"Man, I wanted to fight him," Harry said sitting back down. Ron gave him a  pat on the back

Layla hissed through clenched teeth, "Me too. I can't stand the sight of him."

At four thirty in the afternoon, the Gryffindor first years hurried down to their first flying lesson. There was a cloudy day with a small breeze.

When they got there the Slytherins were already in a clump, and so were twenty broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground.

There teacher arrived soon after looking like she just got back from her run. She had short gray hair and yellow eyes.

She introduced herself "Hello I'm Madam Hooch your flying instructor."

"Well then, what are you all waiting for?" she barked "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Hurry it up."

This was the part Percy was scared about. There is no way they're going to be flying today. He should come up with an excuse, like that he would get blasted by lighting if he flys.

Percy looked down at his broom. It looked old and beaten up. That did not help his nerves. How the Hades is this stick meant to fly?

"Stick out your dominant hand over the broom," called Madam Hooch "and say UP!"

"UP!" everyone shouted

Percy's broom shot up to his hand at once. He looked around to see if anyone else got it. He saw that Harry's did. "Nice," they said to each other.

Madam Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end. Layla laughed when Madam Hooch told Malfoy he'd been doing it wrong for years.

"You got a big mouth for someone who doesn't even know how to get on a broom" Layla called at Draco

"Oh you want to go," Malfoy said back "I challenge you to a race right now"

"That is enough!" said Madam Hooch " I don't want to hear any more words from you two"

"Now when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard"

Ok ok ok so Percy just wouldn't kick hard he would do a soft tap

"You're going to keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly."

Oh, just a few feet he could do that easily. He didn't need to worry about his grumpy uncle.

"On my whistle... three... two..."

But Nevile, nervous and jumpy pushed off the ground way before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips.

"Come back, boy!" she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up like a geyser. Percy saw the scared look on his face as Nevile looked down. Then his grasp on the broom let go, slipped sideways off the broom, and -

- BAM straight into the brick wall and Neville lay facedown on the grass. Madam Hooch ran over to him and so did the students.

"Broken wrist," they heard her say "Come on, boy it's alright, up you get."

She turned to the rest of the class.

"Now of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch."

"He would be pretty lucky if he only has a broken wrist," said Percy "he could have died."

Malfoy burst into laughter

"Did you see his face, the great lump? If You ask me the world would be better off with him dead."

The other Slytherins joined in

"Good thing nobody asked you," said Layla plainly

"Oh Layla why are you acting like this, you weren't like this before," Malfoy said

"What you know him?" Harry said

Percy also looked at her, her face had gone red like she was boiling with anger. Did she know Malfoy from before? They did have DADA with the Syltherins but Malfoy never said anything to Layla. 

"You didn't tell your friends about us," Malfoy crooned at her "I'm hurt truly hurt" putting his hand over his heart

"There nothing to tell Draco," Layla scoffed turning away and storming off

"What was that," said Ron confused the students agreed that they had no clue what that was about.

"I got no clue," Percy said, " I think I should go after her." 

"Yeah go run after your girlfriend Jackson," spat Pansy Parkinson

Percy turned and looked at her and he was certain that she was your classic high school girl who sleeps with every boy and thinks she owns the world.

"First she's not my girlfriend and second shut up," he said turning back around in the direction Layla went off to.

Percy caught up right outside the girl's bathroom. "Layla" he called "Wait up"

"Ugh Percy look I'm fine," Layla said "Now let me go to the loo!"

"The loo?" Percy questioned "What the heck is a loo"

"A bathroom. Duh"

"Oh, that's a funny word I'm going to call a bathroom from now on." 

"Whatever Perce," said Layla "See ya"

"No wait, what did Malfoy mean?"

"I told you before it's nothing, happened a long time ago,"

"So there is something then?"

"Our parents are good friends, so Draco and I spent a lot of time together growing up. But recently he has been fucking annoying and a bitch. And he is also always hitting on me, even though I've rejected him a million times." Layla vented "There happy? Now I'm going to before my blatter explodes."

"Um ok" Percy mumbled "That that's defiantly something"

Layla gave out a small laugh and then said softly "Don't tell anyone else about it" She opened the door and walked into the loo.

"You're joking."

It was dinner and Harry had just finished telling Percy, Ron, and Layla about what had happened after Layla and Percy ran off. Herminoie was off to the side listening in.

"Seeker?" Ron said "But first years never... you must be the youngest house player in about -"

"- a century," said Harry, showing food into his mouth

"Wow, nice job, now you can rub that in Malfoy's face," said Percy

"Yeah that part is awesome," Harry said "I'm well...it doesn't matter right now, what happened with you guys though?"

"Us oh nothing" Percy faltered "I didn't find her" he recovered "So I went back to the dormitory"

"Thanks" Layla whispered to him

"So you do know Malfoy then?" Harry asked Layla

"Uh yeah our parents are friends," Layla said keeping it cool "We're not close at all, I don't know what he was saying."

Harry nodded his head going back to his food.

Fred and George Weasly now came into the hall, spotted Harry, and hurried over.

"Well done," said George in a low voice. "Wood told us. We're the Beaters on the team."

"Wood was almost skipping when he told us. A slight to see. Anyway, we've got to go, Lee Jordan reckons he's found a new secret passageway."

"Those two are so cool," said Layla

"Yeah wait till you have to live with them," said Ron "Not as much fun as you would think"

Fed and George disappeared when someone far less welcome turned up Malfoy flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Haveing a last meal, Potter? When you getting the train back to those Muggles?"

"Draco, just go somewhere else," Layla said rolling her eyes

"Layla" Malfoy soothed "What a beautiful name"

"Ugh, what's wrong with you? Who talks like that" Layla gagged

"It's you that makes me talk like that..."

"Shut up!"

"Yeah Malfoy you're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground, with your two little friends with you," said Harry cooly.

"I'd take you on anytime on my own," said Malfoy "Let's go tonight, Wizard's duel. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's dual before."

"Of course he has," said Ron jumping in "I'm his second, who's yours?"

Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle "Crabbe," he said, "Midnight, at the trophy room, that's always unlocked."

When Malfoy had gone, Harry and Percy looked confused, while Layla and Ron looked normal.

"What is a wizard's duel?" said Harry "And what do you mean, you're my second?"

"Yeah what he asked," Percy said pointing his thumb at Harry

While Ron explained what was happening this midnight Layla tapped on Percy's shoulder

"Shouldn't you know what a wizard's duel is? You said you are a half blood right?

Crap he probably should know well that just more lies to tell everyone. Percy was getting fed up with all these excuses and lies he had to make.

"Yeah I'm but I only live with my mother, who is a mortal. So I don't know anything about magic," Percy explained to her

"Oh sorry, what happened to your dad?" Layla whispered

"Uh, he left when I was born," Percy said calmly "Don't be sad about it I'm over it."

"Ah alright, well I'll tell you my dad and I also have many problems. I don't want to get too deep into it." Layla tried to comforter him

"Excuse me."

All four of them looked up. It was Hermione Granger.

"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?" said Ron

Hermione ignored him and spoke to Harry.

"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying..."

"Hermione," Layla cooed putting a hand on her shoulder "Hermione, it will be alright."

"Ok. It's just that I don't want them losing points for Gryffindor when they get caught." Hermione informed

Ron said "Who said we're gonna get caught" as he and Harry got up to prepare for later today.