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Chapter 1 - Road to Hogwarts | Percival

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Percival got the last of his trunks outside to wait for Professor Fig who would be arriving by carriage he believed. Why, Percival wasn't sure. A carriage ride all the way to Hogwarts didn't exactly sound fun, but he also understood why Professor Fig didn't want them arriving by the train he told them about.

Percival checked his things then moved to check Idris' only to see they'd already been left on the side of the road without a kid to be seen. He sighed and went back inside Rosewood, bypassing the matron and sure enough finding Idris in front of the mirror futzing with their vest.

It was gorgeous, a rich teal lined with gold and a black bowtie that they'd paired with black pants and tall gray socks. It was just as good as every other thing Idris had made, including the long leather overcoat thrown across their old bed and the outfit Percival himself was wearing (and that Idris had picked out). A purple vest but without the glamour, just paired with a purple tie and a navy blue coat, but Percival was never much for glamour anyway. Yet Idris kept glaring at it in the mirror.

"So were you planning on actually attending Hogwarts or just glaring at your vest the whole term?" Percival teased. Idris huffed and rolled their eyes.

"It's called making a good first impression," Idris said. "We're about to meet hundreds of witches and wizards and whatever I am after only meeting Fig. We're already showing up as Fifth Years, I don't want to look like I don't belong."

Percival's heart clenched in his chest. He grabbed the overcoat off Idris's bed and helped them put it on. He brushed off the coat and put a hand on Idris's shoulder meeting their eyes in the mirror.

"Idris you have adored our little magic lessons with Fig more than I've seen anyone enjoy anything," Percival assured them. "Anyone who says you don't belong at this school is completely blind."

Idris took a deep breath and nodded. They immediately set to fixing Percival's tie which apparently hadn't been straight. Percival didn't say anything else, just let Idris fuss over his outfit for him, including messing with the cuffs of his coat.

"Is the corset working okay?" Idris asked.

"It's a little stiff but I can work with it," Percival shrugged. "And it works, you can barely even tell they're there."

"Just remember-"

"Yeah yeah, don't wear it too long, take breaks, never sleep with it on, I heard you the first ten times, Dris. Now come on, Fig is going to be here soon."

Percival ushered Idris out the door and made them double-check their stuff, even enduring their eye-rolling and grumbling, when they finally heard wheels on the cobblestones.

"Woah," Idris breathed.

'Woah' was accurate. The carriage itself looked like an ordinary carriage as far as Percival could tell. But pulling the carriage were horses blacker than night. He wasn't sure you could even call them horses. They seemed to be nothing but flesh and bone, their skin clinging to their skeletons, including the bat-like wings folded against their sides. But the worst thing by far was how they felt. Even from down the street, Percival could feel something from them. It was how he felt when those claws emerged from Annie’s chest, how it felt when they had to dodge the bodies of their family, how it felt to see their parents ripped to pieces. It felt like the Shadows. Percival felt something grab his hand and startled, head whipping around to see Idris holding his hand and looking at him in concern. He hadn’t even realized how his breath was catching. He forced himself to take a deep breath and squeezed Idris’ hand once before letting go just in time for Professor Fig to emerge from the carriage.

“I hope you’re both excited for the upcoming term,” Professor Fig clapped his hands.

“Thrilled,” Idris grinned. They’d started rocking back and forth from their toes to their heels and Percival chuckled.

“Professor?” Percival asked and Fig hummed in acknowledgment as he examined their trunks. “What are those…horses?”

Fig stood up straight and gave Percival this strange look, like they were a particularly vexing puzzle.

“Can you both see them?” Fig wondered and the twins glanced at each other.

“Of course we can, they’re huge,” Idris answered.

“I see,” Fig sighed. “I was afraid of this. These creatures are called thestrals. They’re invisible to most. You can only see them if you’ve seen death.”

Ah. Well, it answered the question of that dark feeling. It also made Percival want to crawl out of his skin and hide in a hole underground. He noticed Idris tugging at their sleeves out of the corner of his eye.

“You okay?” Percival muttered to Idris. They managed a nod.

“Just have to try not to think about it,” Idris replied

"I'm sorry, I'd been hoping you couldn't see them and we could avoid the matter altogether," Fig apologized.

"It's alright Professor," Percival assured him. "We'll be okay. Should we start loading our things?"

"I can handle that," Fig said.

He pulled out his wand and with a flick of his wrist, their trunks levitated off the pavement and began stacking themselves onto the back of the carriage. With nothing but a couple of flourishes, all of their things were secured and settled.

"It appears we are almost ready to depart," Fig declared. "It's a pity we didn't have a bit more time to spend on spell-casting. I assume you've been practicing the spells we worked on?"

"We have, Professor," Percival confirmed.

"At every opportunity," Idris added. They pulled out the secondhand wand they'd been lent and began twirling it in their fingers. Percival's was safely in the inner pocket of his coat, but twirling the wand had become a habit for Idris pretty much the day they got them. "I almost blinded Madam Taylor with Lumos on accident."

"Really?" Fig raised an eyebrow. "I must say, I'm quite sure I've never seen anyone take so quickly to a second-hand wand. You'll certainly be a force to be reckoned with when you get your own."

"Thanks, Professor," Idris replied with a bright grin.

"We also apreciate you working with us before the term begi-" Percival tried to say only to get interrupted by a whooshing sound a few meters away.

A man Percival had never seen before stood where there had been no one before, glancing around as if he was lost. He turned around and finally spotted the three of them.

"Oh! Eleazar!" The man nodded to himself as he approached them.

"George," Fig shook the man's hand. "Glad my rather cryptic description of our location did not thwart your finding us."

"I've Apparated to more vaguely defined destinations than this," George chuckled. "Though I confess I may have miscalculated slightly on my first try. Gave quite the fright to some theatre-goers in the West End."

Idris started snickering and Percival elbowed them in the side.

"It's been much too long," Fig chuckled. "When I received your owl I must say-"

"Best not speak here, Eleazar, hm?" George cut him off.

Percival glanced at Idris only to see them already looking at him. Not wanting to draw attention to themselves the two had a conversation with their eyes as quickly as they could.

Something is up right? Percival started.

Absolutely, but no clue what.

He seems nervous.

Yeah, I don't like it.

Keep an eye out.

"Of course," Fig agreed, pulling back Idris and Percival's attention. "Why don't we speak en route to Hogwarts? We have a start-of-term feast and a Sorting ceremony to get to."

Idris was immediately distracted by talk of the Sorting Ceremony and Percival resisted the urge to smack them in the back of the head. To be fair, all they'd been talking about for days was what house they'd be in. Their current theory was that Percival would be in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, but the theory for their own house varied from day to day.

"Wonderful idea!" George exclaimed. "As long as your young charges here don't mind me tagging along."

“Not at all!” Idris chirped. They even opened the door for everyone. “Shall we?”

“We shall,” Fig chuckled.

“It’s been ages since I’ve been to the castle,” George sighed wistfully. “ Would be good to see the old pile of rocks.”

Percival climbed into the carriage, followed by Fig sitting on the seat across from him. George was next and he ended up sitting next to Percival while Idris sat directly across from him. The carriage lurched under them and started rolling. Then it lurched again and Percival’s stomach dropped out from under him. Percival grabbed onto the window of the carriage to steady himself and watched as the world fell away below them and was replaced by a blue sky and clouds close enough to touch. Idris laughed in pure delight and just the sound brought a smile to Percival’s face.

“I’m glad I caught you before you left for Scotland,” George chuckled, thankfully reminding Percival he was supposed to be paying attention.

“Just barely,” Fig teased.

“And who are your traveling companions?” George wondered.

“New students,” Fig answered.

“New?”

“Yes sir,” Percival nodded. “We’re starting school as fifth years because of, uh, some complications.”

“How extraordinary,” George raised his eyebrows.

“It is indeed,” Fig said, “None of the faculty has ever heard of anyone being admitted to Hogwarts so late.”

“Nor have I…” George agreed

Percival shifted a little, glancing sideways at George to gauge his reaction. His conversation with Idris was at the forefront of his mind and he was fully prepared to tear this man apart if he had to.

“Of course,” Fig continued. “As the other fifth years will have been honing their magical skills for four years now, The Headmaster asked if I could get our new student ip to speed a bit before the term begins.”

“Well you couldn’t have asked for a better mentor,” George told the twins. “Professor Fig is not only an exceptional teacher, he is also a remarkably intuited, and gifted, wizard.”

“Mr. Osric is prone to flattery,” Fig stage whispered to Idris next to him, making them laugh again. “I daresay it’s one of the reasons he’s risen so far at the Ministry.”

“Have you seen this?” George almost whispered.

George glanced out the window and pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet. Percival recognized it, Fig had brought the two of them a couple of issues to read so they could be a little more caught up in Wizarding World affairs. He certainly hadn’t seen this article though. It had a goblin in some sort of armor on the front with the words “Ranrok’s Goblin Rebellion” in large font on the front.

“I have,” Fig sighed. “Opinions differ as to how great a threat Ranrok really is.”

Percival missed whatever George said next because Idris sharply kicked his leg.

“Percy,” Idris whispered. Percival wanted to snap at him because Idris was wearing thick boots that hurt kicking him in the shin, but he could hear the urgency and near panic in Idris’ voice. Idris nodded out their window and when Percival looked out he caught a glimpse of what Idris was so scared of: A giant wing, disappearing into the clouds.“Profess-” Percival started before his ears caught up to his brain and he realized what was being said.

“-your wife, Eleazar, who alerted me to his activities months ago,” George was telling Fig.

“Miriam?” Fig gasped. “How?”

“She wrote to me about Ranrok before she died,” George sighed and Percival inhaled sharply. Fig’s wife was dead? “Wondering what the ministry knew about his activities.”

All these months Fig had spent with them, painstakingly teaching them about Potions and Magic Theory and the Wizarding World in parks and libraries, and his wife had just died? Percival couldn’t help staring at the older man for a minute. He felt like his whole world had been turned upside down.

Idris and Fig had gotten close quickly. The two just seemed to click, as Fig was especially patient and took the time to learn how Idris’ brain worked. It was certainly different from other teachers they’d had in the past. His encouragement was a large part of the reason Idris was smiling and laughing more often. Like they used to. Percival liked Fig and all but just as a teacher rather than a mentor or anything similar. But now, knowing Fig had set aside an insurmountable grief to help two kids that he didn’t even know who were going through the same thing? Those feelings certainly shifted.

This had to be it. Whatever Miriam said or whatever George found must be what had him so spooked and paranoid. He kept glancing out the windows and speaking in a hushed tone as if the clouds were listening.

George paused so he could pull out a strange cylindrical object. It came to a point on each end, a mix of teal and cold metal. It looked like it opened around the flame-like symbol resting in the center. He didn’t know how else to describe the shape. It even glowed like a flame.

“Before I could respond, I received this,” George told Eleazar. “I received this. It was the last thing she sent me, Eleazar. It came via her owl…but with no correspondence. I can only assume-”

“-that she had to get rid of it quickly,” Fig finished. “To keep it safe.”

“Presumably from Ranrok. I cannot open it. Whatever magic protects this is powerful indeed.”

“It seems to be goblin metal,” Fig hummed as he tapped the container and listened to the sound.

Percival tilted his head. Goblin metal? But it was enchanted. “Then why is it glowing?”

Both adults paused to stare at him like he’d grown a second head.

“What?” Percival questioned.

“I don’t see a glow,” Fig explained and Oercival just blinked at him.

“Nor do I,” George said slowly.

“You don’t? Idris spoke up. “It’s the symbol, it’s glowing blue.”

Oh, thank Merlin. At least he wasn’t going completely insane. Fig handed Idris the container and immediately the ends lit up with blue runic symbols. With a shink sound the container popped open as easily as can be. Rested innocently on a bed of cerulean velvet was a key, the head was the same symbol as was on the container.

“Merlin’s Beard!” George exclaimed. “How did you-?”

“I don’t know, I just picked it up,” Idris swore. They went to pick up the key but Fig quickly stopped them.

“Wait!” Fig grabbed the container, making Idris look up quickly. “We don’t know what-”

“PERCY!” Idris screamed and lunged forward to grab Percival by the coat just in time for the seat under him to give way.

He heard a horrible crunching sound and felt a sharp white hot pain in his shoulder that forced him to cry out. He fell but Idris managed to hold onto him with one hand and the carriage with the other. Fig reached down to grab onto Percival too but as it turned out, half the carriage was missing. There was nowhere they could pull him to. Percival looked behind him and if it weren’t for having the wind knocked out of him he may have screamed again. Still holding the back of the carriage in its’ mouth was a dragon, bright red and teeth the size of Percival. If Idris hadn’t yanked him forward, the thing would have swallowed him whole. Even still the dragon's teeth must have nicked his shoulder based on the pain in his shoulder and the blood he could already feel running down his back.

“Hold on!” Fig yelled to be heard over the roaring and wind.

The dragon pivoted in mid-air to keep flying after them, easily able to close the distance in seconds. It opened its mouth again but rather than trying to eat them the inside of its mouth and throat started glowing. Percival had never met a magical creature before, but he’d read plenty of legends.

“IDRIS JUMP!”

“WHAT?!”

“JUST DO IT!”

Idris let go of the carriage, sending both twins catapulting through the sky. Thankfully Fig seemed to have seen the same thing and jumped too. All three of them tumbled through the air, screams ripped from their throats. Percival reached around until he could grab onto Idris's hand. They held onto each other with a death grip. After all this shit they’d been through, no fucking way were they going anywhere without the other, even into death.

“I’M SORRY!” Idris yelled. Percival wasn’t sure if the tears in their eyes were from guilt, fear, or just the wind whipping past them. Either way, he knew exactly what they were apologizing for, blaming themself for getting them into this which was usually Percival’s move. Percival shook his head, not trusting himself to speak but needing Idris to know he didn’t blame them.

“The key!” Fig cried. Percival finally looked away from Idris and immediately was able to spot the glowing key even as it fell. “Grab onto me!”

The twins obeyed without hesitation, grabbing for whatever part of Fig they could reach as they heard the telltale roaring again, getting louder far too quickly.

“Accio!” Fig yelled. The key shot through the sky into Fig’s hand and enveloped them all in a blue glow.

Before anything else, Percival felt his feet hit solid ground and his legs immediately gave out from under him. He instinctively tried to catch himself but forgot about his shoulder. He cried out as his arm buckled under the flash of pain from his back, sending him sprawling onto the ground.

"Percival!" Idris exclaimed. They were okay, oh thank anything and everything, they were okay. Idris hurried to his side and helped him sit up.

"It's alright, let me see," Fig rushed to Percival's side. He muttered something under his breath and waved his wand, making Percival's ruined and bloodstained coat disappear and then reappear neatly folded a few feet away. Fig shifted so he could more easily see the wound. "Ah, thankfully it's not too awful. It should be nothing to worry about."

Fig reached into his pocket and pulled out three little glass bottles, each filled with a bright green liquid.

"Take two of these," Fig instructed. He handed Percival two bottles and Idris one. "You take one as well, Idris. It's Wiggenweld Potion. That stuff'll right you in a second."

Idris helped Percival get the first bottle to his lips and let him get the second on his own. Sure enough, within seconds the pain had dulled from white-hot throbbing to a much less debilitating soreness, and from what he could feel it seemed to have scabbed over, meaning it was no longer bleeding. Idris downed theirs too and sighed in relief.

"And you called potions boring," Percival snickered.

"It's so boring but maybe it's kind of worth it," Idris laughed. They grabbed Percival's coat and held it up, immediately wincing at the damage.

"Damn it, you just made that," Percival sighed. "Can you fix it?"

"I mean, technically," Idris shrugged. "I can make it functional, maybe. But it won't be pretty, and there's no way I can get your blood out, which is annoying."

"Oh I'm so sorry, next time I get bit by a dragon and am dangling from a crumbling carriage in midair I'll be sure to get my coat off so I don't bleed on it."

"How considerate of you."

Percival laughed and shook his head. He glanced around to better get his bearings now that he could focus on something other than his pain. They seemed to have appeared in a small cave with a high ceiling and dirt floor. There wasn't much to it other than an opening where sunlight spilled in. Professor Fig was pacing in the center of the cave.

"Poor George, I can't believe it," Fig muttered, mostly to himself but Percival still looked down at the cave floor. "What the hell got into that damned thing? Attacking a carriage mid-air? A typical dragon would never-"

"Professor?" Percival called, getting the man's attention and snapping him out of whatever thought spiral he'd fallen into. "Sir, where are we?"

"I'm not sure," Fig said. "But that key you discovered was clearly a Portkey."

"A Portkey?" Idris said, a small furrow between their eyebrows.

"An item enchanted to bring whoever touches it to a specific place," Fig answered.

"So whoever made it, wanted someone to end up here," Percival realized. "Dris, help me."

Idris helped Percival to his feet and remained by his side while he got his balance. He nodded to himself before speaking to Fig again.

"I'm feeling better sir," Percival told him. "If you'd like to look around a bit. I know I would."

"Agreed," Fig said. "But stay close you two. We've no idea who created this Portkey. Or why."

They exited the cave on each other's heels. Percival had to lift a hand over his eyes as they emerged into the light. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but it wasn't a seaside cliff face facing a jut of rock containing the ruins of a grand house. Rubble lined a cobblestone path where they stood, so clearly it wasn't an accidental cave or convenient natural path.

"Where are we?" Idris wondered.

"Farther from London than the carriage traveled," Fig answered. "We're somewhere in the Scottish Highlands."

"Sir, the ruins," Percival used his good arm to point. "Do you think-"

"-that's definitely where we're supposed to go," Idris agreed.

"Great minds all think alike," Fig confirmed. "This has not been the day any of us expected. But Miriam sent that Portkey to George for a reason. And I believe that she, and noe George, died in pursuit of whatever it was meant to lead to. If you're sure you're all right, and wouldn't mind indulging me I'd like to have a look around."

Percival took one glance at Idris and knew his twin was going to say yes. Percival was much more hesitant. He was the one that almost ended up dragon food after all. But he had to admit, the curiosity was practically eating him alive.

"We're in," Percival answered and Idris nodded their agreement.

"Good," Fig offered him a small smile. "Now let's see if we can find a path, however faded it might be."

So, rather than getting sorted, finding his dorm, meeting his teachers, meeting his classmates, or unpacking, Percival spent his first day of school hiking through the Scottish Highlands. They managed to find a path okay, but in Percival's opinion, it hardly counted as one. The whole thing was rocky and uneven with dead ends and twisting turns. Not to mention there were multiple points where they had to climb up a small cliff face and Idris had to help Percival do so because he couldn't climb with his injured arm. They had to force their way through a wall of some sort of black crystal that dissolved once shattered. When they finally reached the end Fig had to magically repair the bridge to the ruins.

He couldn't quite make out what the ruins were supposed to be. They towered over the trio but they didn't cover near enough space to be a castle. It had to be a home, maybe a tower even. The stonework was magnificent, what little he could make out. A mural covered the back wall, with rubble stair next to it and a statue to the left on what used to be a balcony. Percival certainly wouldn't mind living somewhere like this some day. The solitude would only be a bonus.

While Idris wandered off towards the statue Percival found himself drawn to the large mural carved into the wall. The mural depicts a wizard with a long beard in a library of some kind. A podium sat across from him decorated in some of the runes Fig had shown Percival weeks ago, and the wizard seemed to be hunched over a crystal ball.

"Why would someone have build this here?" Idris wondered.

"Drama?" Percival suggested with a shrug.

"I suspect they valued their privacy," Fig answered. "But that Portkey led us here for a reason. Let's have a look around for anything that seems out of place."

"Professor, did you see this?" Percival called him over. Fig approached the mural too and studied it for a moment.

"Ah, perhaps our host was a noted Seer," Fig hummed. "Interesting."

"It looks like the same guy as the statue," Idris pointed to the statue they were looking at.

"If they were a Seer it explains how they'd be able to set up such a complicated path," Percival said.

"Hey Perce c'mere!" Idris called over. Percival left Fig by the mural and found Idris past the statue and looking at a path around the back of the house.

"Oh, nice find," Percival nudged them.

"Nah, I just saw it when we were up on the cliff," Idris shrugged and pushed their glasses up their nose. Percival was surprised they could see anything out of them. they were covered in dirt and ash and what may have been a bit of Percival's blood.

"What have I told you about cleaning these," Percival sighed. He took the glasses off Idris' face and used a clean part of his already ruined coat to clean them off. "There, dummy."

"You're worse than Mom," Idris huffed as they slid the glasses back on their face.

"Better?"

".....maybe."

"Whatever, let's go," Percival snickered and lead the way down the path. He half expected the things to crumble at any minute. But at the end was another room, this time more round, as if it used to be a tower. "You can see that right?"

On the wall was that glowing symbol again, this time set into the same black crystal that had blocked the path to the ruins.

"The crystal or the symbol?" Idris asked.

"Okay good, I'm not losing it," Percival sighed.

"Okay good we're not losing it," Idris snickered. "Why do you think Fig and George couldn't see it?"

"That is a great question Idris, let me dive into my years and years of knowledge of magic and the wizarding world to answer it."

"You're a prick, you know that?"

"Obviously. Hey professor! We found something!"

As they got closer the stone seemed to change right before their eyes. Rather than a semi-translucent crystal-like substance, the stone cleared. Instead they were looking through a window. It wasn’t the ocean on the other side, it was an underground room with a vaulted ceiling, high columns, and a marble floor. On the other side of the room was something like a desk or a podium with no one sat at it.

“How odd,” Fig murmured as he reached them. “Why would someone have conjured that enchanted stone here?”

“And how is there a room behind it?” Percival wondered.

“What room?” Fig questioned, squinting at the wall like that would make the room appear. Percival was starting to buy more and more into the theory that he and Idris had finally snapped under the weight of all their trauma. “I don’t see anything.”

“That symbol is there again too,” Percival told him and gestured to it. “Glowing just like on the Portkey and Portkey container.”

In gesturing to it Percival accidentally bumped the symbol with his hand. The light pulsed and the crystal became solid brick in front of them. When they all turned around there was the room from behind the crystal. Yeah, they’d officially lost it.

“Okay, what the hell?” Idris blinked at the wall. “Where are we?”

“I don’t believe it,” Fig mumbled instead of answering. Percival felt bad for the professor honestly, this was not at all what he signed up for. Then again, Percival and Idris didn’t sign up for this either and Fig was the adult of the situation.

Idris wandered right up to the podium and peaked over the top of it. “Hello?”

A goblin startled, jumping up and throwing their quill into the air. Percival looked up at the ceiling and side because of course Idris would walk right up to someone sleeping. The goblin looked at the trio with bleary eyes only for said eyes to widen almost comedically.

“It can’t be,” The goblin gasped. “Uh, just a moment!”

The goblin made his way down from the podium and around to speak to them directly.

“Welcome, to Gringotts Wizarding Bank,” The goblin declared and gave a little bow and everything. Percival swore Fig had told them Gringotts was somewhere called Diagon Alley, a wizarding marketplace back in London. They were going to end up in France at this rate. “Vault twelve I presume?”

“Uhm precisely,” Fig nodded while the twins exchanged looks. The goblin just stood there and stared at them like he was waiting for something and eventually held his hand out.

“The key?” The goblin prompted.

“Hm? Fig replied helpfully.

“The Portkey,” Percival suggested and Fig flashed him a grateful look.

“Oh, yes, of course,” Fig pulled the key out of his pocket and handed it to the strangely eager goblin.

"Right this way!" The goblin chirped.

The goblin headed off to the edge of the room where Percival could just make out a tunnel and a cart of some kind. Fig put a hand out to stop the twins before they could follow.

"Stay close," Fig said quietly. It wasn't until they both nodded that they all sat on seats on the outside of the cart.

"Keep your hands in the cart if you don't wish to lose them!" The goblin announced happily.

"I'm sorry wha-" Percival tried to protest but was interrupted by the cart launching forward at a breakneck speed.

Percival and Idris immediately grabbed each other's hands as the cart rocketed straight ahead, the wheels and tracks pivoting around the seating. When they came out of the tunnel they saw a cavern so huge Percival couldn't see the end of it or the bottom, or the top. And yet interspersed along the rocks were something like an endless amount of vaults.

"How many vaults are there?" Percival wondered.

"Hundreds," The goblin answered. "In fact, you'll see quite a few on our way to vault twelve. As we speak, we're just beneath the main lobby. The vaults you see here are the newest."

"Are private entrances to the bank common?" Fig asked.

"They are most uncommon," The goblin said. "Only one with great wealth or power or both could have arranged for such a service." 

They were left with only a few seconds to contemplate the gravity of them going to one of the oldest vaults through a private entrance when the goblin spoke again.

"You may want to take a breath," The goblin chirped.

"A what now?" Percival demanded.

He quickly got his answer as gallons of water crashed down on them from above, leaving all of them soaked to the bone.

"Oh come on," Percival groaned. He despised having to walk around in wet clothes. Something about the way they felt just drove him crazy. It was like his bones could feel it through his skin.

"That waterfall washes away all enchantments," Fig explained. "It's a security measure."

"It's a damn hazard is what it is," Percival grumbled. Poor Idris was left trying to shake and/or squeeze the water droplets from their curls but at least they didn't have a problem with wet clothes.

"Experienced the thief's downfall before, have you?" The goblin said.

"Heard of it," Fig corrected.

"How deep are we going?" Idris asked as more vaults passed them by without any sign of them slowing down or stopping.

"Vault number twelve was commissioned shortly after Gringotts was founded four centuries ago," The goblin answered and Percival nearly choked. What the hell did a four hundred-year-old vault have to do with them?! "It resides in the deepest part of the bank."

"Wait, Idris," Percival pulled their twin so they leaned in. "What if it's Dad's?"

"Do you think?" Idris' eyes widened.

"It would make sense," Percival shrugged. "He took Mom's last name when they got married and he never told us his last name. Who knows who his family is or how old it is? Maybe he came from money or something. Maybe that's why we're the only ones who can see the glow."

"But why would Dad set up the Portkey and weird crystal walls and stuff just to get us to his vault?" Idris pointed out. "He could've just left us the key. And why would the dragon attack us."

"I have no clue," Percival admitted as the cart screeched to a halt.

He went to stand, expecting they had arrived, only to see another goblin wearing a security uniform. Percival wasn't always the best at facial expressions that weren't on Idris' face but this guy looked like they'd just insulted his entire family. What drew Percival's eyes though was the band around his arm, a band that was glowing red.

"That same glow was on the dragon's collar," Idris breathed.

"The dragon had a collar?"

"You don't remember?"

"I was dangling from a broken carriage!"

"Okay, fine. Yes, it had a collar, made of the same metal and the same red glow."

"Great."

"Vault number?" The security goblin demanded.

"Vault twelve," The banker goblin replied cheerfully. "Momentous day!"

"On your way," The security goblin grunted. Yeah, he was upset about something. The cart started again and the security goblin left his post for his cart before they were even out of sight.

"Shit," Idris muttered.

"Professor," Percival leaned to the other side where Professor Fig was sitting.

"Hm?"

"The armband that guard was wearing was glowing," Percival told him.

"Like the glow you saw on the Portkey container?"

"No, darker. Idris said the same glow was on a collar the dragon was wearing."

"What was that?" The banker goblin spoke up.

"We uh, we were just wondering about that goblin back there," Fig lied.

"He watches over this section of the bank," The banker goblin explained. "Rare anyone goes there anymore."

Finally, after the worst travel experience of his life, the cart stopped at another platform and the banker goblin dismounted. The goblin led the way to a bronze oval door covered in a ridiculous amount of locks. He knew it was a vault but that level of security was a bit much.

"When was the last time this vault was opened?" Fig asked. He waved his wand and the twins instantly dried, thank everything. if he had to be stuck in wet clothes WHILE on some ridiculous magic scavenger hunt that almost got him killed and he was in wet clothes he was going to kill someone.

"A goblin has been stationed at my desk for hundreds of years," The banker goblin replied and Percival stumbled over a rock. "In that time no one has visited Vault 12, until today."

"So much for it being Dad's," Idris mumbled.

The banker goblet used the key and the myriad of locks opened themselves, along with the door. Fig thanked the goblin as he stepped inside and Percival made sure to do the same, elbowing Idris until they did too. Percival had been prepared for another grand room filled with treasure or maybe even another damn Portkey or more of that strange crystal. Instead, it was just, a hallway. With a stone wall at the end.

"Um, what exactly are we supposed to be looking for?" Percival wondered.

"I'm not sure," Fig replied and turned to the goblin, who was still standing outside the vault. "Sir I wonder if you might-"

"The instructions for vault twelve indicate that I am to grant access to the holder of the key and then close the door," The goblin said. Before any of them could protest or try to stop him the banker waved his hand and the door slammed shut, a continuous clicking noise telling them the locks had rengaged."

"There's not even a keyhole on this side," Percival groaned and ran his hands through his hair, which was STILL WET by the way. "Come on!"

He kicked the vault door in pure frustration as Fig took a deep breath behind him.

"Everything will be alright," Fig tried to reassure him. "Just let me think. There has to be some way out of here. Perhaps revelio? Why don't one of you try it?"

Idris had their wand out before Fig had even finished his question.

"Revelio!" They cried. At the end of the hall, the light shifted just so, like it got caught on the outline of something.

"Percival, you get closer and try," Fig instructed.

Percival wasn't interested in much of anything at the moment but he pulled out his second-hand wand and casted the spell. A door appeared where the light had shifted. Even as frustrated as he was he had to admit the door was beautiful, and curious. The same symbol they'd been seeing rested in the center, glowing as always. The door sat in an elegant stone frame but the door itself was made of a blue opaque glass or crystal. A pattern of crossing lines decorated the door. They kind of reminded Percival of the boning of the corset-compressing vest Idris designed for him.

"Well that's a start," Fig said. "There's that symbol again. I don't suppose you-"

Percival stepped forward, putting his hand on the symbol just like back at the ruins. Just as he suspected, the door and the "vault" disappeared leaving them in another cavernous room speckled with large columns. Not that Percival knew that, as the room was so dark they couldn't even make out each other.

"Percy?!" Idris cried, their voice coming out strangled. Fuck, right. Idris had been terrified of the dark ever since that day. Now not only were they stranded in pitch blackness but Percival and Fig would have been there one second and gone the next.

"It's okay Idris, I'm here, we're okay," Percival promised, keeping his voice even and gentle. As soon as Idris had spoken it was like a switch flipped in Percival's brain. All his frustration and confusion and fear melted away and all that mattered was that Idris was okay.

"Lumos!" Fig's voice said.

His wand lit up, revealing each of them and some of the room around them. The light wasn't particularly bright but it was enough.

Idris stood about a meter away with their arms wrapped around themself. Their breathing was already coming in pants as they looked around frantically. They had their upper arms in such a tight grip they'd end up having bruises if they didn't stop. Percival quickly went up to them and grabbed their hands, letting them squeeze his hands instead of their arms.

"We're right here Dris, we're not going anywhere," Percival swore. "We'll be okay, we just have to get out of here. Can you handle that for me?"

"I, I think so," Idris nodded. "Just don't go too far okay?"

"Of course," Percival promised. "I'll be right here with you.

"I-I'm sorry Professor, I just, I 'm not good with the dark," Idris explained.

"It's quite alright," Fig assured them. "We all have things we fear. For now, let's focus on earning our way out of this vault."

"Of course, the Machiavellian magic vault is a test," Percival sighed. "I should have expected that."

Fig picked a direction and the twins followed right behind him, refusing to stray from the light for even a second. Percival didn't think the monsters were out there. He couldn't feel any sort of magic even similar to them. But Idris hadn't been able to feel the monsters that day either, so they couldn't know that. So Percival put his arm through Idris' as they walked. After a few moments that felt like hours, Percival spotted something in the distance.

"Professor, the glow again," Percival told him. "But on the floor. It's more like a swirl of it."

Percival pointed and Fig quickly led them over to it. Percival wasn't sure what possessed him but as soon as they got close enough it was like his body just knew what to do, even if his mind didn't. He stepped forward into the glow and pointed his wand down at it. Then he whipped his wand up and out. It was like he'd pulled the magic out of the floor as light exploded, turning the floor to glass.

"What was that?" Fig questioned.

"I don't know, I just, knew what to do," Percival did his best to explain. "I could feel it."

"Even weirder than that," Idris spoke up and pointed at the newly crystalline floor.

Each of them had a reflection but there was another reflection in the floor too. It wasn't a person or goblin. It looked like a suit of armor, the kind you'd find lining the walls of a castle. It was knelt on one knee with the point of its sword propped against the floor. The peculiar piece was that there was no suit of armor above the floor.

"Revelio," Percival tried. He seemed to be right in his guess as an identical suit of armor appeared over the reflection. But it was facing a different direction. "Um, the reflection is broken."

"How strange," Fig hummed as he rounded the statue. As he moved so did the reflection. Did it follow people?

"Lumos!" Percival looked over to see Idris' wand also lit up. "Professor could you extinguish your wand."

Fig did so and Idris started walking, letting the reflection follow them until it lined up with the statue. As soon as it fit the statue began to stand because why wouldn't it? It slammed its sword against the floor and magic swirled around them, the same glow they'd been seeing all day, this time trapping them in a large circle as more armor fell from the sky. Fig immediately engaged several of the suits but Percival was focused on the armor raising its sword to attack Idris. Percival opened his mouth to yell but Idris whipped around just in time to throw up a shield that the armor's sword bounced right off of.

"Stupefy!" Percival followed up Idris' protego with a spell of his own. As the statue stumbled Percival threw out a few basic casts, turning the statue to rumble.

"Clever!" Fig praised and Percival pretended it didn't make him grin.

Idris repeated the process too, destroying the next armor with only one basic cast.

They could tell when the waves of armor were over when the magic started swirling faster and closing in on them. Percival made it to Idris' side and linked their arms again as the room went dark once more. Percival casted lumos immediately, expecting to see his twin and mentor waiting there, but the only face he saw was Idris'

"Wait where's Fig?!" Idris cried. "Professor? PROFESSOR?!"

"Idris, come on, deep breath," Percival took one himself for Idris to follow. "You can't panic right now. We gotta focus and find Fig."

As he said it he felt a tug in his chest, like a fishhook yanking on his ribs. It felt like the glow always did so far, except this time as yarn leading him deeper into the labyrinth of columns.

"If there's a minotaur in here I'm dropping out of Hogwarts," Percival grumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing. This way, come on."

Their arms stayed linked and their wands stayed out. Percival's wand tip glowed from lumos while Idris was ready with protego and stupefy on the tip of their tongue. They may not have gotten to learn many spells yet but Percival was so thankful that Fig had chosen the spells he did. They didn't come across any more armor but they did come across a statue version of the symbol they'd been seeing, along with more of that swirling light.

“Here we go,” Percival sighed. Just like before he took a mental step back and let his instincts take over. It was like he was forming a connection with the magic itself. They didn't merge into one but they reached for each other, not letting go until their task was done.

This task was for the statue to melt away into the floor and an archway to emerge. The archway led to a room that wasn't actually on the other side, but instead of the glass crystal, it was more like a curtain of blue light.

"That has to be it right?" Idris said.

"It's a step in the right direction at least," Percival nodded. "Come on, either we find Fig or we get out of here and send help."

The twins stepped through into a room even bigger than the last, made of the same metals and glass as the door in the vault. The whole room gave off a blue light that Percival couldn't find the source of.

"Who is building all this?" Idris wondered. "The designs are beautiful..."

"It has to be magic," Percival reasoned. "No way they could hide the building crew it would take to build rooms of this size. Question is, what did they hide."

"Probably that," Idris pointed.

In the center of the room was a low dais that helped a basin of some kind, not unlike a bird bath. The basin was unremarkable but above it floated a small bottle. It had the same metalwork, the same blue glow as everything else. Percival approached the basin slowly, wand at the ready for any more of those suits of armor or traps of some sort. That hook was pulling him forward again, giving him tunnel vision on that bottle. He plucked it out of the air and as soon as he did they heard the sound of doors opening on the other side of the room.

"Professor!" Idris sighed in relief.

"There you are!" Fig said as he approached them. "How did you...? What is this place?"

"I have no idea," Percival shrugged and held up his new bottle. "But I found this hovering above that basin."

"That is no mere basin," Fig realized. "That is a Pensieve, for viewing memories. I wonder..."

Fig took the bottle and opened it, pouring the contents inside. A strange substance made of equal parts liquid and light began to fill the basin.

"Follow my lead," Fig said. He grabbed the sides of the Pensieve and leaned forward until his face was in the water. Idris quickly mirrored him. Percival however hesitated but eventually obliged.

A vision, or a memory apparently, played out before him as if he was right there in the room with them. It was in the same chamber they stood in, as Percival watched two men build it with simple waves of their wands. They made it look effortless like any wizard could construct grand chambers if they felt like it. One of whom shared his name and could see traces of something called "ancient magic". Presumably, it was the glow the twins kept seeing everywhere, as the second man said the path would be impossible to follow without it. But Percival didn't like the sound of "trials".

The three of them gasped as the memory ended and they were expelled from the Pensieve.

"That's what you're seeing?" Fig realized. "The glow that surrounded them?"

"Yes sir," Idris confirmed. "I had no idea it could do all that though."

"It has to be the Ancient Magic they were talking about right?" Percival added.

"Precisely my conclusion," Fig agreed. "The exact magic Miriam had always believed existed but could never..."

Fig took a deep breath as he thought. Then he turned to them with a grave seriousness Percival had never seen in the man in all the months he'd known him.

"Miriam, and perhaps George, died in pursuit of knowledge that has been dormant for centuries," Fig said. "And you, it seems, are the key to understanding why."

Percival wanted to scream and possibly throw something. This was exactly what he'd been so afraid of! Getting tangled up in something they had no business being afraid of. Ancient Magic and trials and dragons, all of it was too much for two fifteen year olds who didn't even have their own wands. All he wanted to do was learn about the fascinating concept of magic, and instead, he had a dragon's bite on his shoulder.

A loud thud sounded from the door Fig entered through and they heard the voice of the banker goblin that brought them to Vault Twelve.

"It all looks rather different than a moment ago."

"Who were they?!" A new voice said. This one was much deeper and more gravelly than the banker's.

"I don't know but sir you shouldn't be in here," The banker protested.

The door swung open to reveal multiple goblins including the banker, the security guard, and the armored goblin from George's newspaper.

"Ranrok," Fig said.

"Seems my reputation proceeds me," Ranrok sneered. "I was beginning to think no one was going to visit Rackham's vault."

"Yeah, definitely not Dad's," Idris muttered and Percival shushed them.

"And why are you here?" Fig demanded. He whipped out his wand and the twins scrambled to follow his lead.

"No need for that," Ranrok put his hands up in a motion of peace. "Just give me whatever it is you found here and we can let bygones be bygones."

Percival was a fan of NOT fighting a bunch of armored goblins but Fig didn't move.

"Sir," The banker spoke up timidly, even daring to put his hand on Ranrok's shoulder to get his attention. "They had the key to the vault."

"Choose your next words wisely," Ranrok warned.

"I, I only meant the instructions for vault twelve were very clear," The goblin pleaded. "Sir I must insist, I was to grant access only to one with the key. And you didn't have-"

A flash of red and the banker goblin rose into the air only to be slammed into the floor hard enough that Percival heard his spine shatter. Idris immediately stepped forward with their wand held in front of them like they were about to duel Ranrok singlehandedly.

"I have no patience for traitors," Ranrok stated simply. "Now, where were we."

"We're not giving you anything!" Idris exclaimed.

"I see," Ranrok growled. "Well, perhaps your friend will be more helpful."

Idris yelled as they whipped out a bolt of magic at Ranrok but Ranrok caught it and threw it right back at them, launching the three of them across the chamber. The room shook as the light from the ceiling dimmed. The basin melted into the floor like the statue had, but instead of an arch rising from the floor out came a colossal suit of armor with a sword taller than most buildings. It slammed its sword down towards the goblins while the three of them scrambled to their feet. Percival caught a glimpse of another archway, with the same glass that seemed to be portals of some kind.

"Professor!" Percival called out. He grabbed Idris and dragged his twin towards the portal. As soon as Fig reached them Percival grabbed him by his robe and slammed his other hand on the portal and in a flash of light the room was gone.

Instead, they stood in a wooded glade, stars bright above their heads and a dirt path beneath their feet.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Percival demanded, immediately turning to Idris.

"I wasn't going to let him threaten you like that!" Idris argued.

"Children please!" Fig said. "All that matters is that we escaped. Is everyone alright?"

"Other than the dragon bite I'm fine," Percival grumbled.

"Me too," Idris huffed. "Minus the dragon bite."

"I've never seen so powerful a goblin," Fig said. "He seemed wholly unaffected by Idris' magic, and they've proven themself to be quite adept at defensive magic."

Fig looked around only to chuckle to himself, making the twins pause in glaring at each other.

"Well, it seems we managed to catch a bit of luck," Fig told them.

"Why?" Idris wondered.

"Apparently, those who set up the Pensieve, the locket, and the path to both, wanted someone with your ability to end up here," Fig explained. "We've arrived at Hogwarts after all."

Argument immediately forgotten both twins felt grins light up their faces as they rushed forward for a glimpse at the school they'd been waiting for for months. When they finally saw it Percival's voice died in his throat.

No book or description or even first hand account could ever do Hogwarts justice. The castle was grander than anything Percival had ever imagined. It rested on a cliff on the edge of a lake. Its towers were practically among the stars and they could see the warm lights of torches through the windows even from there. It was beautiful. It filled him with a sense of whimsy he couldn't quite explain. It was as if they'd been transported to one of the legends Percival adored so much.

"Now come along you two," Fig chuckled. We've a Sorting Ceremony to get to."

Chapter 2 - A Proper Hogwarts Welcome | Percival

A Mourning Warning Masterlist A Mourning Warning Tag Read it on AO3, Read it on Wattpad

Percival felt a bit awkward as he, Idris, and Professor Fig half walked and half ran towards the Great Hall. Thankfully they didn't pass anyone. Everyone else was already in the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony. So much for the first impression Idris had been so worried about. They were going to burst into the Great Hall late, in the middle of the sorting, Percival covered in his blood. Fig opened the door just enough to peek inside.

"Oh good, we haven't missed the Sorting Ceremony," Fig sighed in relief as he pulled back. He turned to them only to stop and give them a considering look. "I'm not an expert, but this seems more appropriate."

Fig gave his wand a wave and before their eyes their clothes melted away, covered by white button downs, gray vests, black ties, and black hooded robes with a small Hogwarts logo patch on their chest.

“Oh thank Merlin,” Percival sighed and reached to adjust his sleeves only to see Idris glaring at him. “What?”

“I put a lot of time into that coat,” Idris huffed. “And my outfit.”

“I’ll miss the coat, Dris,” Percy said. “I’m just glad to not meet my classmates and teachers covered in my own blood. Plus you said you couldn’t fix the coat anyway.”

“I said I couldn’t get the blood out of it, and I might have been able to with a spell. Plus my outfit was fine.”

“I assure you, none of your clothes are gone,” Fig said. “I’ve simply sent them to where the rest of the students’ things are waiting to be sent to their dorms. Now, I need to study this locket as quick as I can but first I must contact the Ministry, they need to know about George and must be informed about Ragnarok. For the moment, I ask that you keep all that’s happened this evening between-”

“Oh shit,” Idris realized. 

“What now?” Percival groaned.

“All our stuff,” Idris looked close to hyperventilating again. “It was on the back of the carriage. We literally brought everything we had and, and everything Mom and Dad left us, all the stuff Annabelle made that we kept, my sketchbook-”

“Mom and Dad’s wedding rings,” Percival could feel the tears gathering in his own eyes. With everything that had happened to them just to get to Hogwarts, this was just too much. He wasn’t much up to this Sorting Ceremony anymore.

“I’m truly sorry,” Fig sighed. “I’ll talk to the faculty, see if we can arrange sending a few house elves to search for any of your things that may have survived.”

“Thanks Professor,” Percival muttered, to be polite more than anything else. Those rings were the only things recovered from his parents’ body. The dresses Idris spent hours designing with and for Annabelle. All their pictures of them. Fig had gotten them both made Wards of the Ministry as they didn’t have guardians anymore, meaning they couldn’t go back to Rosewood. They’d had to bring everything. Now it was probably all gone. 

Fig peaked through the door again and Percival immediately pulled Idris into a hug. As he’d expected, Idris quickly wrapped their arms around Percival in return. Every time he tried to say something, anything, the words couldn’t through the tears clogging his throat. But what could he even say? That it would be okay? How could anything be okay? His heart had already been ripped out of his chest in April, and now it was like whatever piece he’d shared with Idris was gone too. 

“Phineas Nigellus Black,” Fig grumbled. He quickly hurried back over to the twins. “I’m sorry to interrupt children, but you must prepare yourselves to meet the Headmaster.”

A man stepped through the ajar door, dressed in a handsome green waistcoat with a gold chain linked to his black satin vest. He had a black beard and mustache, accenting his neatly styled black hair. Percival could feel his skin crawling already, he didn’t even need Idris’ muttered translation that Fig did not like the Headmaster. The Headmaster only gave them a single look —a look that made Percival even more grateful he wasn’t covered in blood—before glaring at Fig. Actually it wasn’t even a glare, more of a haughty sneer.

“Fig!” Black chided. “Nice of you to join us. The Sorting Ceremony is over!”

“There were…complications,” Fig tried to explain.

“Complications?!”

“It seems the goblin problem-”

“Enough!” Black scoffed. “Goblins. I’ve no time for rumors, Fig, and I’m rapidly losing whatever patience I had left.”

Black sighed and turned to the twins. Percival had to fight the urge to take a step back, maybe hide behind Idris to escape the Headmaster’s gaze.

“If you’re lucky we might be able to get you Sorted this evening,” Black huffed. 

Black walked off without a word and Idris hurried after him, making Percival realize they were supposed to follow, despite Black not saying anything to indicate so. 

Percival was lucky he didn’t run into a table. The moment he stepped into the Great Hall it wasn’t the tables covered in more food than should be possible that he noticed, the risen stage where the faculty and a three legged stool were waiting, the giant fireplaces, or the enchanting floating candles. It was the ceiling. Spread out above them was a perfect recreation of the very stars in their sky, from the stars to the color of the sky to the clouds. It wasn’t a skylight, it was as if they’d simply removed a piece and placed it above the room.

The twins followed the Headmaster toward the stage, where a red-haired woman with spectacles was holding a hat so ancient Percival was waiting for it to disintegrate in her fingers. Sorting, right. Percival braced himself, knowing he’d be called first if this was done alphabetically. “Percival” didn’t come before “Idris” but the name Percy had been born with did and that always seemed to be the one used. 

“Professor Weasley, two more to be Sorted,” Black commanded. 

“Welcome!” Professor Weasley greeted them. She already seemed much more cheery than the Headmaster. “You’re just in time. The Valley twins I presume?”

“Yes ma’am,” The twins replied in unison.

“Wonderful,” Weasley gave them a reassuring smile as she checked a list on the table next to her. “Idris, you are first. Have a seat.”

A smile flitted onto Percival’s face for a split second to match the one Idris flashed him before they ascended the stage and sat on the stool. Weasley placed the hat on Idris’ head and simply stood there and waited. Idris kept making faces like they were talking to the hat, but no word left either of their mouths. Minute after minute passed as more and more mutterings began to fill the Great Hall. Even the teachers at the faculty table behind Idris were glancing at each other in confusion. Percival couldn’t make out what anyone was saying but he swore he heard someone mention the words “hat stall”. It took six whole minutes before the hat spoke.

“Better be….GRYFFINDOR!”

The table directly to Percival’s right covered in children in red uniforms roared their approval. They began cheering like crazy and even though Percival wanted to chop his ears off he had to laugh a little as he also applauded his sibling. Oh yeah, Idris was definitely going to fit in there. Weasley waved her wand the same as Professor Fig had out in the entrance hall and Idris’ uniform transferred from a plain one to a red one, getting yet another cheer from the Gryffindor table. Idris was laughing as they gave Percival a rushed hug before finding somewhere to sit at their new table.

“Percival, your turn,” Professor Weasley said.

Percival sat down on the three headed stool and tried to sit as still as possible to put the hat on his head.

Ah, another older one. 

Percival nearly jumped out of his skin. Well that explained Idris’ conversation. He’d known the hat talked but hadn’t realized it was inside his head.

Of course I’m in your head. This is where the things that matter are. I see you’ve studied profusely with your mentor, good, good. But you’ve come with preferences and preconceptions and theories. Expectations.

I’m looking forward to my classes, Percival replied. I’ve hardly learned anything about magic compared to what I’ve seen just today. I want to know everything there is to know.

Curious…yes, I see. You love an unanswered question but hate not knowing. I know exactly what to do with you. 

“RAVENCLAW!”

Percival felt a rush of relief go through him as the other center table started clapping and cheering for him. He was sure the other houses had their merits, but none of them had ever felt quite right to him. Somehow he’d always had a feeling he’d belonged in Ravenclaw, from the day Fig told them about the Houses.

Percival got off the stool and Weasley waved her wand again, turning gray to a deep sapphire blue that was immediately calming to his mind. The grin on his face probably made him look like an idiot but he didn’t care. Everything was finally hitting him. He’d been excited for Hogwarts before but this was different. It wasn’t just something coming up on the horizon. He was here. He was a student. Better, he was a Ravenclaw.

As Percival found a seat at the end of the table, the girl next to him immediately leaned over to talk to him.

“Welcome to Hogwarts!” The girl said. “I’m Samantha Dale, I’m a fifth year too. It’s wonderful to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you too,” Percival replied.

The conversation was cut short by Professor Black stepping up to the front of the stage.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Black said. “Due to the unfortunate injury on the pitch in last spring’s final, this year’s Quidditch season has been canceled.”

Immediately Black was bombarded by boos and protests. Percival himself couldn’t care less. Fig had told them about Quidditch and Percival had no interest in it. Less, actually. But he knew Idris had been looking forward to at least watching a game, maybe even trying out for their house team, so he felt a little bad for them he supposed. 

“Enough!” Black commanded. “It’s not as though I’ve banned flying altogether. But don’t tempt me. You are here to focus on your academic futures. I’m sure you all have plenty to do before classes begin tomorrow.”

He made a motion with his hands but clearly no one understood what on Earth he was supposed to be saying because the whole hall just stared at him waiting for him to clarify. Eventually he repeated himself much more forcefully and all but shooed them away, leading the students to rush from the hall.

“You two!” Black pointed to Percival and then Idris. He gestured for them to approach and they did so hesitantly. “Professor Weasley, would you be so kind as to show our new students to their common rooms.”

“I shall see to it, sir,” Weasley agreed.

She waited for Black to walk away before she started talking to the twins with a warm smile.

“You two made quite the entrance,” Weasley chuckled. “I’m Professor Weasley. Pleased to meet you.”

“Great to meet you too, professor,” Idris replied and shook her hand, Percival following their example. 

“As Deputy Headmistress it is my distinct honor to show you to your common rooms,” Professor Weasley told them. “The Ravenclaw common room is right this way.”

Percival and Idris followed Professor Weasley as she led them through corridors and up staircases. Even with the sight of the castle from where they'd landed after Gringotts, Percival still couldn't believe how expansive Hogwarts was. Every time he thought there would be a dead end or exit of some kind there was another hall or another staircase. The star cases especially seemed endless. 

Finally, after climbing a tower, they went up a much shorter flight of stairs that led to a door blocked but a fixture of a large bronze eagle. It seemed to double as a door knocker but it was much too large to be practical in that regard. Before they could fully approach however, Weasley stopped and turned to talk to them.

"It's quite uncommon for a student to begin as a fifth year," Weasley told them. Percival could almost physically feel Idris restraining themself from commenting on how often they've heard so. "Might be a bit of a challenge, but one I'm sure you're up for."

"We are, Professor," Percival said. 

"Yeah, we aren't going to let a little thing like a challenge stop us," Idris agreed. "We're ready for this. We've been ready for this for months."

"I appreciate your confidence," Weasley chuckled. "Now, Idris, if you will retreat down the stairs for a moment, I'm afraid entry into the common rooms is a closely kept secret."

Idris nodded and nudged Percival with their shoulder.

"See you tomorrow," Idris promised. "Don't get eaten by a dragon."

Percival barked out a laugh from surprise, immediately covering his mouth until he collected himself. "I'll try my best."

Idris pulled them into one last hug before heading on down the stairs. Being separated from Idris and knowing it would be further was a strange feeling. It was just because of everything they'd been through together just that day. Not to mention they had been attached at the hip since April. Now they were wandering away and Percival was somehow both relieved and anxious as Idris disappeared.

"This is the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room," Weasley explained, pulling Percival from his thoughts. "You must solve a riddle to enter."

"A riddle?" Percival bit back a smile. 

"I'm glad it excites you," Weasley said "This sort of thing always confuses me."

Percival stepped up to the door and locked up at the knocker. He expected the beak to open like the sorting hat with its almost-mouth. Instead the voice of the eagle simply rang out into the stairwell.

Who lived longer, the ghost or the poltergeist?

Now how was he supposed to know that? He doubted the eagle would engage in a round of context questions. How long would a poltergeist have lived? That was not something he studied with Fig much.

Wait.

"Neither," Percival realized. "Neither a ghost nor poltergeist has ever lived. They aren't truly people anymore. A nonbeing can never have been."

The eagle lowered its head and folded its wings, letting the door swing inwards. Percival just caught a glimpse of white stone floors, vaulted blue ceilings, and a large stone statue of another eagle before Professor Weasley spoke again.

"Well done," Professor Weasley said. "Now, go on in and get some sleep.  Professor Fig has already made us aware of your situation, so there will be nightclothes and a spare uniform sitting on your bed."

"Thank you Professor," Percival smiled at her.

He entered the common room, the door closing on its own behind him. The stairs split in front of him, following the curve of the tower. When he got to the top he had to pause in his tracks for a moment. It was perfect. He could feel that with just a glance but he decided to wait to really look around until the morning. 

Now that he wasn't running on the adrenaline of a dragon attack, goblin attack, and the excitement from the Sorting, he could already feel his eyelids growing heavy. He was glad he wasn't forced to meet a bunch of people while exhausted, but he was now running into the problem that he had no idea where the dorms were.

"You look lost there, stranger," A thankfully familiar voice approached and Percy forced his eyes open. 

"Samantha," Percival sighed in relief. "I'm glad to see a familiar face, even if we only just met."

"I was on my way to my dorm but I noticed you hadn't arrived yet," Samantha told him. "I remember how strange and disorienting it was my first year, I can't even imagine how strange it must be to start as a fifth-year. So I decided to wait for a bit to see if you made it alright. I'm happy you did."

"I am as well," Percival smiled a little, too tired for anything more, but he could already feel a small flower of connection blooming. "Thank you for that, I certainly appreciate the gesture. I don't suppose you could also show me the dorms?"

"I'd love to," Samantha gave him a warm smile and gestured for him to follow her.

She led him to the seam separating too large circular rooms. On either side of them was a staircase leading up and down, the entrance to each side flanked by two suits of bronze or silver armor. The silver was on Percival's left while the bronze were on his right. 

"The girls and boys have separate dorms," Samantha explained. "The armor is there so they can't enter the other dorms. Your dorm, the boys, will be past the silver armor. Two flights down should be the fifth year dorms."

Wonderful, dorms separated by magic. He hadn't even thought of that, but the gendered dorms of course made sense. He should have asked Fig or even Weasley about it but it was too late now. He went to step toward the bronze armor only to pause. They'd used his name in the Sorting Ceremony, the one he picked, not the one he was born with. Maybe...

He took a deep breath and stepped toward the silver armor instead. He prepared himself for it to block him but the armor didn't even twitch. He let out a breathy, relieved laugh and glanced at Samantha over his shoulder.

"Thank you, Samantha," Percival said. "Again."

"You're welcome," Samantha replied. "Again."

When Percival managed to find his dorm there was only one other boy already in there, a boy who was already unpacking his things. He seemed like he was Percival's height, with neat black hair and skin that matched the wooden accents of the common room. When he finally looked up from his trunk and spotted Percival his eyes were a rich dark brown that reminded Percy of Idris' eyes. 

The dorms themselves were everything Percival ever wanted from a dorm, and certainly much nicer than Rosewood's. The twins' room at Rosewood had two beds, one nightstand, two dressers, and that was it. But the Ravenclaw dorms had the same vaulted ceilings as the common room, all stained glass windows, wooden floors with matching accents along the walls. There were large wardrobes to Percy's left, allowing plenty of spade for storage so the bed areas wouldn't get crowded. There were of course four writing desks, this was Ravenclaw after all. The beds were bunk beds but they were built to be like their own tiny rooms, with wooden frames and curtains that could be drawn for privacy.

"Why, hello!" The boy said. "Oh, you're the new fifth year aren't you? I'm Amit. Pleasure to have you in Ravenclaw."

"Percival. I'm one of the new fifth years, yes," Percival nodded. "My twin sibling is in Gryffindor."

He glanced around and saw the bed across from Amit's didn't have any trunks ready to be unpacked, just a pair of nightclothes and an extra uniform folded neatly on the bed, just as Professor Weasley promised. He pushed the thoughts of his lost luggage aside before they could overtake him.

"Ah, I remember now," Amit nodded.

He opened a trunk which seemed to have been entirely dedicated to a telescope which he set about reconstructing. Percival found himself staring. He'd always wanted a telescope, ever since he was a toddler and his mother taught him his first constellation. But it had always slipped his grasp. Amit finished setting up his telescope but caught Percival staring. 

"Sorry," Percival shook his head like he was trying to escape a telescope-induced trance. "I just have always wanted a telescope like that."

"Would you like to take a look?" Amit offered. "You'd be surprised how much of the sky you can see from the tower at night."

The correct answer was 'absolutely fuck yes' but Percival was able to restrain himself. He let Amit finish adjusting the telescope before he went over and peaked through the lens. Immediately it was like he forgot how to breathe. 

"It's beautiful," Percival whispered. He pulled back from the telescope already grinning at Amit. "No wonder you'd set up a telescope in the dorm."

"There's another in the common room and of course plenty in the Astronomy Tower!"

"If you know the location of every telescope in this school I take it you like Astronomy?"

"Oh yes," Amit nodded enthusiastically. "So much to be learned from the stars. Also, there's something about the open air and night sky above the tower. It's invigorating."

"Finally, someone with sense," Percival sighed. "My sibling is clever in their own right, but they could never understand the appeal of the stars. I've read every book on them I could get my hands on, but honestly it wasn't many."

"You will adore Astronomy," Amit promised. "Professor Shah is incredibly knowledgeable. And don't worry, it's a required class for all fifth-years so it will definitely be on your schedule. You'll be enthralled with the Astronomy Tower. You should try to find a good quality telescope, they can show you things you never dreamed of."

"I think you and I will end up friends," Percival grinned. "It was nice to meet you, Amit."

"You as well!"

Percival changed as quickly as he could, unlacing the corset and feeling his spine immediately relax. It was a price but a very small one in his opinion. He stuffed it under his bed once he was done changing just in case and climbed into bed, his eyes falling closed before he even hit the pillow. 

He didn't get to meet his other roommates yet as by the time he woke up the dorm was empty already. Percival donned his spare uniform and hurried back up to the common room. He wasn't really sure what to do next. He didn't have a schedule yet, Fig had told them days ago there would be someone to explain their schedule and classes something about arrangements for a system to catch them up to their peers. So he supposed he just had to wait? He wasn't supposed to meet them somewhere was he? Did he just stand there? Did he mingle? He didn't see Amit anywhere, but Samantha was off to the side moving around a plant pot.

"Good morning," Samantha greeted him, then gestured to the plant. "I want him to be in the perfect place. A place he'll be happy with. But I can't seem to find it. Great golden Gobstones, I want him to thrive here."

"Golden Gobstones?" Percival cocked his head as he considered the phrase.

"My own little expression," Samantha giggled. "I brought this dittany seedling from home and I so want him to feel cosy. Dittany is amazing, isn't it? So much healing power in such a little plant."

Percival tried to rack his brain for anything he could remember about dittany. He didn't exactly have the best track record with Herbology so far.

"Dittany..." Percival hummed. "That's used in Wiggenweld potions, isn't it?"

"It is!" Samantha confirmed. "Looks like someone's been studying up on their Potion-making." 

"Quite a bit, yes," Percival said. "We studied some with Professor Fig before the term started to help us catch up. I did quite well with Potions but not so much with Herbology."

"I've got a bit of a thing for plante, as you can see," Samantha chuckled. "What was it like getting to learn directly from Fig? He's always been an enigma to me. Teaches about theory yet seems to know a lot about practical magic."

"He knows a little about a lot of things," Percival answered. "He's quite knowledgeable which was very helpful."

"I hope he taught you enough," Samantha said. "You've lots to catch up on I'm sure."

"I'm curious, is it common practice for students to grow their own ingredients?" Percival wondered. If so, he was already grieving his potions grade.

"Oh yes!" Samantha nodded. "In fact, our herbology teacher, Professor Garlick, encourages it. And I don't think Professor Sharp—our potions master—cares where you get your ingredients as long as your brews are all perfect."

"Is the new fifth year in here?" A voice echoed through the common room. "Percival Valley? Professor Weasley is waiting for you outside the common room."

"I'd better hurry," Percival said. "It was nice talking to you, Samantha. Good luck with your dittany."

"You too!" Samantha replied. "And good luck to you too on your first day!"

Percival went down the stairs he'd entered through - thankfully he remembered which ones they were - and the door swung out for him, revealing Professor Weasley with her hands clasped in front of her and an impatient Idris pacing the balcony.

"I hope you weren't waiting too long Professor," Percival apologized and prepared himself for the crushing hug Idris pulled him into.

"The Gryffindor common room is so cool!" Idris told him. "It's got this nice warm tone so it's nice and cozy and it feels really lived in and comfortable with all the warm woods and this huge fireplace."

"The Ravenclaw dorm is gorgeous too," Percival told him, already feeling his lips twitching to smile as Idris shook their hands excitedly. It was so nice to see them so excited. "I think we're keeping Professor Weasley waiting though."

"Right, sorry Professor!" Idris winced and quickly stepped away from Percival, clasping their hands behind their back.

"It's alright," Professor Weasley chuckled. "It's always gratifying to hear students' excitement over their common rooms, especially Gryffindors. Now, I trust you two are ready for your first day at Hogwarts?"

"I've been ready for the last four years," Idris answered.

"I've been dreaming of this day for months," Percival agreed. "I almost can't believe we're here." 

"Well you are here," Professor Weasley smiled. "Make the most of it. You only have one first day at Hogwarts. Now, in light of your unique situation, joining us as a 5th year, you'll need to catch up with your classmates, and not fall behind. Especially as you'll be expected to complete your O.W.L.s at the end of the year."

"Owls?" Idris' eyebrows scrunched up a bit in confusion.

"Yes, your Ordinary Wizarding Level exams," Professor Weasley explained. "They will determine what type of career you can have when you leave here. After much discussion with the Headmaster and the Department of Magical Education at the ministry, we;ve devised a few ways to ensure your success."

"The first of these is your classes," Weasley continued. "To begin you will only be attending Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, and Herbology. Other classes such as Beasts, Astronomy, and the electives you selected with Professor Fig will be added to your schedule as you progress so as to not overwhelm you too early in the term. The second is this."

Professor Weasley held out her hands and two large leather bound books fell into them. She handed one to each of them. Percival tried to open his but it burst open all on its own, Idris' just behind it. Pages flew from the books shrouded in golden light. They swirled through the air, weaving through each other and the pages from Percival's book, until they all filed back into the book and into Percy's hands again.

"What is it?" Percival wondered.

"It is a wizard's field guide," Weasley answered. "It will help you to keep track of what you're learning so that you master all that's expected of a fifth year. You would be wise to take advantage of this exceptionally valuable resource."

Professor Weasley spent a few minutes explaining the Field Guide to them. Pages were in the book and scattered around the world for them to learn Wizarding lore, there were challenges listed in the book to help track their milestones, a map, and a place where they could take notes of their own. She also took the time to show them the floo flame system, leading to them descending the staircase in the Central Hall, an absolute monolith of a room with a fountain of stone mermaids, a chiseled dragon mural, an overhang leading to the library, and what looked like the entrance to a greenhouse.

"You can get almost anywhere in the castle quickly from Central Hall," Weasley told them. "Always something happening here. It's the heart of the hive. Our 'Kings Cross Station,' so to speak."

Professor Weasley stopped at the bottom of the stairs, giving them a moment to gaze around the wall. Idris was staring right at the dragon effigy with rapt attention. They seemed entranced by it but was pulled back when Weasley spoke again.

"What should be all for now," Weasley said. "You'll be expected to attend both Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts classes today."

Professor Weasley made a motion like plucking something out of the air, conjuring two pieces of paper. She waved her wand and handed them to the twins.

"These are your schedules for now," Weasley explained. "The other classes will appear as the Headmaster, Professor Fig, and I approve your progress."

While Percival was a little disappointed he wouldn't get to attend Astronomy yet, and he imagined Idris was disappointed they would be missing Beasts class, but he also understood the reasoning behind it and was grateful for it.

"I'd also like to speak with you about your belongings," Weasley said. That got their attention. "Deek!"

A creature Percival only recognized as a house-elf from pictures appeared next to Professor Weasley.

"Children, this is Deek, a house elf here at Hogwarts," Weasley introduced the elf. "Deek, these are the students you were told about. Deek and a few other house-elves were asked to search for and salvage as many of your things as you can."

"Deek and his friends are still searching," Deek said shyly. "It is taking longer than Deek expected, but all your things are being delivered to your rooms as they are found. But Deek found this and thought Idris would like to have it back. Deek tried to repair it as best as Deek could."

"I'm Idris, what is it?" Idris asked, words coming out in a breathless rush.

Deek made the same motion Professor Weasley had to summon their field guides, but what fell into his hand was a different leatherbound book. This was much smaller and simple, held closed with a brass latch and with a rose carved into the leather of the front cover. It was certainly more worn and dirty than Percival remembered, but there was no doubt what it was.

"My sketchbook!" Idris gasped and quickly took the book. They started flipping through it faster than Percival would have been able to, eyes darting around and taking in information that mystified Percival but apparently brought Idris so much relief there were tears in their eyes. "You said you fixed it, Deek?"

"Deek hopes the drawings are alright," Deek wrung his hands a little but Idris just laughed.

"They're amazing," Idris assured him. "Thank you so much, Deek."

"Some things did not survive," Professor Weasley informed them. "Namely many of your school supplies. As such, I'd like to be sure you get to Hogsmeade as soon as possible to replace them."

"Hogsmeade?" Percival asked.

"Hogsmeade is the only all-wizarding village in Britain, and is home to an array of shops and pubs," Professor Weasley said. "You should be able to find all of the supplies you need, along with anything else you may want, even wands of your own."

"Thank you for explaining all this, Professor Weasley," Percival replied.

"A lot to absorb on your first day, I know," Weasley said. "And you have much to learn. Happily, your professors have agreed to create additional assignments for you outside of class. You’ll be up to speed in no time. Judging by your adept use of revelio earlier, I'd say Professor Fig succeeded in at least showing you the basics.”

“Very much so,” Percival confirmed. “We didn’t quite have time to go over all the spells he wanted to teach us, but we have plenty to build up with, both in spellcasting and in subjects like Potions and Herbology.”

“Wonderful,” Weasley nodded. “While we’re on the subject, Professor Fig has been terribly vague about the events preceding your arrival, specifically about what happened after that awful dragon attack. My suspicion is that there’s more to the story than a fruitless search for belonging and an extended trip up to the castle.”

Percival frowned a little. He vaguely remembered Fig asking them to keep the story to themselves but he would think that meant their fellow students, and perhaps Professors like the Headmaster. Professor Weasley was very unlike Black. Besides, she was a teacher, and had on repeated occasions shown concern and care for their well being in the last twelve hours alone. Percival opened his mouth to speak but Idris did so first.

“I’m afraid there isn’t,” Idris said. “I’m sorry Professor, but that’s really all there is to it.”

Percival seriously considered interrupting them but as much as he disagreed with them, he didn’t want to get them in trouble for lying before they even got to their first class. So, he remained silent but internally made a note to speak with Fig about this at length after classes.

“Hmm, almost precisely what Professor Fig said,” Weasley hummed. 

As if he’d been summoned, the man himself approached from Percival’s left.

“Speak of the devil,” Weasley said. “Professor Fig. Your ears must have been burning.”

“Oh?” Fig replied.

“Yes. You seem to have provided our new fifth-years with a solid foundation in the basics of spell-casting.”

“Ah, I’m afraid I can’t take all the credit there, Professor. They’ve a rare aptitude for magic it seems.”

“Hmm,” Professor Weasley hummed again, which Percival was pretty sure meant she did not believe them at all. “Well, I’m just glad you all arrived in one piece. Perfectly good boats and carriages to Hogwarts and you chose to fly in the path of a dragon.”

“I wouldn’t say I chose the dragon’s path professor,” Fig pointed out. “Rather, unfortunately, it would seem that it chose us.”

“Very well,” Weasley sighed. “Enough chit-chat. I need to get to class myself. Might I rely on you, Professor Fig, to explain the details of the Field Guide’s compass?”

“Of course.”

Professor Weasley turned back to the twins.

“Good luck today,” Professor Weasley told them. “And remember to use your Field Guide. It will be invaluable to you. And, invaluable to me as I’ll be using it to keep up to date on your progress. Come and find me in my classroom after you’ve attended both your classes today, and I’ll explain more about those assignments I mentioned. And we’ll see if we can’t get you to Hogsmeade for those supplies.”

As Weasley walked away Fig stared after her. The moment she turned a corner and was out of sight, Fig stepped close enough to the twins he could drop his voice to a whisper.

“Did I hear you masterfully evade Professor Weasley’s interrogation regarding our late arrival?” Fig questioned.

“Yes you did, Professor,” Idris answered with a grin, practically glowing with pride.

“Though I’m not sure we should have,” Percival spoke up. “I don’t like the idea of keeping secrets like this, and certainly not lying about them. Perhaps we should tell someone, Professor Weasley especially. I’m fairly certain she already suspects we aren’t being entirely forthcoming. She may be able to help us. She seems to be quite the capable witch.”

“She is a brilliant and astute witch,” Fig agreed. “But it was right to keep the details to yourselves for now. We don’t know where this path we’ve embarked on will lead. It may require a bit more…flexibility with your time than she would approve of. And she may feel obliged to share details with the headmaster that would be better left between us.”

Percival had to admit hiding it from Professor Black seemed a good idea. The Headmaster had seemed flippant at best about his students and neglectful at most. But what he kept coming back to was the fact they shouldn’t be on this path at all. If Fig wanted to continue to investigate, that was his right. Percival would even be willing to help in certain situations, but this was not his or Idris’ responsibility. They’d already countered dragons, Ranrok, deadly suits of armor, and the colossus that fought Ranrok and nearly killed the three of them too. No children should be involved with that.

“Professor, I don’t-”

“Understood, Professor,” Idris interrupted him again. Percival made another note to argue with Idris later as well. 

“Good,” Professor Fig said. “Now. As capable as the two of you are, I believe the ability you possess obliges you to be well-trained. Happily, you have the benefit of an exceptionally skilled team of witches and wizards to guide you.”

Percival barely caught sight of Idr’s eyebrows scrunching up a little but they didn’t say anything as Fig continued on to explain the Charmed Compass in the Field Guide, which would certainly come in handy. A map of the castle was handy but Percival could hardly decipher the thing. There were too many random corridors and staircases and oddly placed doors to easily track your path. 

“Now, sounds like you’ve quite a day ahead what with classes and a trip to Hogsmeade,” Professor Fig commented. “Including your wands, which I know you are particularly excited for. You’ll enjoy Mr. Ollivander. He’s an exceptional craftsman and a good friend. For now, focus on your glasses. I shall reach out when I have more information about our mysterious locket.”

“See you soon Professor,” Idris waved to Fig as he stepped away. 

Idris pulled out their field guide and copied the wand motion Fig had shown them. A golden page burst out of the book and flew out up the stairs, thankfully leaving a golden trail of light behind for them to follow.

“Guess Charms is that way,” Idris snickered.

Percivla was silent as they followed the compass the page left behind, too busy engaging in a debate with himself to try and start any sort of conversation. Idris obviously had no qualms about this Ancient Magic path, while Percival had more than a few reservations. But what really grinded his gears was the way Idris had kept talking over him during the conversation with Fig. It was a habit Idris had and normally Percival could tolerate it, but that didn't feel like habit. It seemed more purposeful, to keep Percy from saying anything against what Fig and Idris thought best. 

“Hey Perce?” Idris said. Apparently they were having a conversation after all. Percival hummed in acknowledgment. “Am I a witch or a wizard?”

“What?”

“Sometimes I’m more of a man or a woman, but not all the time,” Idris reminded him. “Most of the time I’m not really either. I guess sometimes I’m both, but that’s not helpful here. So would I be a witch or a wizard?”

“Huh,” Percival tilted his head as he considered it. The debate could wait, this was something important to Idris. Besides, it was an interesting question. “I suppose neither.”

“What am I then?”

“You could make up your own word,” Percival suggested. “Or choose a different one.”

“Have you seen any in those old legends you read?” Idris wondered.

“Plenty,” Percival answered. “Sorcerer could be neutral, as could warlock, mage, sometimes I’ve seen the word shaman-”

“I like mage,” Idris grinned, bouncing on their toes a little now as they walked. “Mage feels good.”

“I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful mage,” Percival laughed and Idris made a little noise of excitement as they approached the end of the compass’ trail, which presumably meant they’d found their charms class.

The Charms classroom was like no classroom Percival had ever seen. It reminded him of an amphitheater, now that he thought about it. A lower floor through the center of arcing tiers, each with a long table with three chairs. At the opposite end was a platform like a viewing box with what Percival assumed was the Professor’s desk. Already their classmates were waving to each other and finding seats, leaving Percival and Idris to stand there aimlessly.

“Where do you want to sit?” Percival asked.

“No idea,” Idris sighed.

“Here!” A girl’s voice came from their right. On the top tier was a girl in a Gryffindor uniform and Idris immediately smiled. “There are open seats here.”

“Up there, come on,” Idris decided. They grabbed Percival’s hand and dragged him up, like he wasn’t perfectly capable of following on his own. They steered Percival to the seat on the end and they sat in the middle, between Percival and the girl.

“Percy, this is Natsai, or Natty,” Idris explained. “We met in our common room this morning and she’s freaking awesome. Natty, this is my brother I told you about, Percival.”

“I remember!” Natty replied. “They told me quite a bit about you. It’s nice to meet you Percival. Have you met Professor Ronen yet-”

She was interrupted by a man clearing his throat on the other side of the classroom. At the top of a curved staircase their professor appeared, dressed in purple and green and looking far too cheerful for such an early morning. 

“Shall we begin?” Professor Ronen exclaimed. “Welcome to year five of Charms Now, this will be a crucial year in your education on the art of Charmwork, but I am confident that we will take hold with the passion and rigor requisite of such a challenge.”

“He talks like you,” Idris snickered into Percival’s ear and Percy elbowed them.

“Right, now everyone, please open your textbooks to page five one seven,” Ronen ordered.

“Do you think he’ll take ‘a dragon ate my homework’ as an excuse,” Idris winced.

“It’s just the one class, we’re getting new books this afternoon,” Percival reminded them. “But…yeah, this could get annoying fast if we need books in Defense Against the Dark Arts too.”

“We can share mine,” Natty offered and slid her textbook over to Idris since they were in the middle.

“Told you she was awesome,” Idris commented as they opened the textbook.

“Buuut, before we begin,” Ronen cut them off before they could find the page. “Can anyone tell me the difference between the incantations of the Colour Change and Growth Charm?”

Percival immediately threw his hand in the hair, having studied this exact thing so he didn’t get the extremely similar incantations confused. Apparently no one else had done the same as no one else raised their hands.

“Only one?” Ronen clicked his tongue disappointedly. “Mr. Valley I believe?”

“Yes sir,” Percival nodded. “The growth charm begins with cres, rather than colo, but both incantations end the same.”

“Well done Mr. Valley, ten points to Ravenclaw!” Ronen clapped his hands. “As for the rest of you, the summer months must have really taken a toll on you. By the looks of it, you all spent your holidays practicing obliviate on each other!”

Professor Ronen laughed to himself as he considered his students.

“Do you even remember how to perform a basic summoning charm?” Ronen wondered.

It wasn’t that Percival had forgotten , rather that he’d never learned how. The summoning charm had been on the list of spells Fig had not gotten around to teaching them, leaving Percival to look just as oblivious as the students who should have learned it in fourth year. “Hm. Well, it seems we are in dire need of review.”

Professor Ronen directed them all to stand on opposite sides of the classroom, Percival across from Natty and Idris across from a tall Gryffindor boy with short ginger. Ronen made sure each pair had a book and instructed them to take turns summoning them from each others’ hands. Thankfully he took the time to quickly teach the twins the wand movement and incantation for the spell so they could participate in the exercise. 

Idris’ first attempt at the charm only gave the book in their partner’s hand a small yank, but when Percival tried the charm Natty’s textbook flew from her grip and into Percival’s hand so fast it almost hit him in the face.

“That is certainly not bad,” Natty chuckled. 

“You are a swift learner!” Ronen praised him. “I see a lot of potential. But remember, potential is nothing without practice! Keep at it, you might just rival Miss Onai here!”

A few minutes passed of the students summoning the books back and forth. It looked like Idris and their partner made a sort of game out of it, even though they couldn’t speak to each other from opposite sides of the classroom. Idris managed to get the spell down too which Percival was proud of them for.

“Well!” Professor Ronen grabbed their attention again. “As you all seem to have the basics down, and it is an exceptionally lovely day, I was thinking we might have ourselves a little excursion outside for a spot of fresh air. After me!”

Percival and Idris shared a glance of confusion before following their professor down through the castle and onto the lawn. 

“I’ve always found that fun goes hand-in-hand with mastery, as I’m sure the quidditch players amongst us would agree,” Professor Ronen chuckled. “So, what better than a bit of sport to put our prowess with the Summoning Charm to the test?”

Professor Ronen waved his wand through the air and the class watched as colorful planks of wood constructed themselves into two platforms, one with numbers at each color and the other with stairs. Large blue spheres like marbles dropped onto the far platform as Ronen waved Percival up the stairs.

“So, why don’t we have one of our new students start us off?”

Ronen quickly explained the game to him, which was called Summoner’s Court. Apparently the goal was to use the summoning charm on the balls and pull them towards you, but time the release of your charm so they landed as close to the edge as possible without falling off. Charms and timing. Percival could definitely handle this. And sure enough, he came out of it with a near perfect score, having ended with only one sphere outside the final zone.

“Excellently done!” Ronen cheered. Percival expected him to switch Percival out for another student, but instead three more balls dropped onto the court, this time red.

This time Percival had to play against Natty. He would normally deny it but Natsai won very easily. He hadn’t even thought of the fact they could knock each other’s marbles off the court, docking their opponents’ points significantly. 

So next round, even with the moving boxes Ronen decided to add, Percival was ready. Not only did Percival win this time, but he won with a perfect score and beat Natty by fifty points.

“Very good both you, well done,” Ronen complimented them both as they descended from the platform.

He matched up a few more students but soon they were headed back inside to the Charms classroom to retrieve their things as Ronen dismissed class.

“Good game back there Percival,” Natty chuckled. “I must admit, I think I underestimated you. Took weeks for me to get proficient in accio. Took weeks for me to get anything right when I transferred here. It gets easier, I promise.”

“I’m glad someone understands,” Percival said. “It’s a lot to take in all at once.” 

“To put it lightly!” Natty agreed.

“At least we’re holding our own so far,” Idris pointed out. “Especially Percival over here. Already mastering a charm we didn’t even get to glance at.”

“Charms are easy,” Percival shrugged.

“Maybe for you .”

“You’re good at other things,” Percival argued.

“I know, I just wanted to hear you say it,” Idris grinned. “Natty, did you say you transferred to Hogwarts too?”

“Yes, I transferred here from Uagadou just before my fourth year,” Natty answered. “My mother received an offer to teach divination here. Before I knew it we had left Uganda and were halfway around the world at a new school in a new country.”

“Is Uagadou another wizarding school?” Percival asked.

“Yes, Uagadou School of Magic is the largest Wizarding school in the world,” Natty giggled. “But it never felt intimidating. It only felt like home.”

“You know, we could have ended up at Uagadou,” Idris realized. “Remember, we almost ended up staying in Gauteng because that’s where mom’s family was from and they couldn’t find Dad’s, which suddenly makes a lot of sense. If we’d stayed there we probably would have ended up at Uagadou instead of Hogwarts.”

“I didn’t even think about that,” Percival hummed. “But you’re right. Wow. That’s strange to think about. Now I’m even more curious.”

“I’d be happy to talk about Uagadou,” Natty said. 

“This might seem an odd question, but is magic the same there as it is here?” Percival wondered. 

“Mostly yes,” Natty hummed. “But I did have to learn how to use a wand when I arrived here. Hardly anyone at Uagadou uses one.”

“Oh yeah, Professor Fig mentioned wandless magic,” Idris remembered. “It’s instinctive, right?”

“You’d know wouldn’t you?” Percival teased.

“I don’t follow,” Natty said.

“This?” Percival gestured to their hair. “Their fault. They accidentally turned it purple when we were little and no one’s been able to change it back. I’d certainly call that instinctive magic.”

“Or perhaps a jinx,” Natsai chuckled.

“Mr. and Mx. Valley, a moment if you please?” Ronen called out as the last few students filed out of the classroom. 

“See you later Natty!” Idris waved.

“Yeah, what they said,” Percival laughed. “I look forward to seeing you around, and continuing to make you work for your Charms reputation.”

“I look forward to seeing you try,” Natsai laughed too before leaving.

Professor Ronen congratulated Percival again on his success and praised Idris for how quickly they learned the charm. Then he reminded them of the extra assignments Professor Weasley had mentioned which Percival would admit he had forgotten about. Ronen told them to expect one from him in the near future and sent them off to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

“Well that was definitely a class,” Idris laughed as they followed the compass again, this time from Percival’s Field Guide.

“What do you think this one will entail?” Percival wondered. “Didn’t Fig say you seemed to have an aptitude for these spells?”

“Hell yeah he did,” Idris said. “Did you see me fighting the armor at Gringotts? I was kicking metal butt.” 

“Well as long as you’re humble about it.”

“Maybe we’ll fight a dragon and you’ll get bit again.”

“Shut up Idris.” 

Idris was still laughing as they entered the classroom, only to curse as they jumped to the left to avoid a purple spell that nearly hit them. 

“Oh great, this guy,” Idris rolled their eyes.

The Gryffindor boy Idris had gotten paired up with in charms was trading spells and shields with a Slytherin with shaggy brown hair and covered in freckles. 

“What did he do to you?” Percival questioned. 

“His name’s Leander Prewett,” Idris rolled their eyes and crossed their arms. “An arrogant prick if you ask me.”

“Is that all you’ve got?” The Slytherin taunted Leander. “ Bombarda !”

Leander threw up a shield just in time to deflect the spell, but unfortunately for him it went straight up, knocking off the head of a giant dragon skeleton suspended from the ceiling. Leander ducked and covered his head with his arms but at the last second they heard a cry of “ Levioso!” and the skull stopped in mid air, hovering just a few centimeters above Leander’s head.

“Professor Hecat!” A girl exclaimed.

“Perhaps you’d be good enough to blast each other to pieces on your own time,” Hecat scolded them. “I get new students every year but I only have one Hebridean Black skull. It was a token from the Great Poacher Raid of 1878. No doubt you’ve heard of it.”

Professor Hecat lifted her wand and the skull floated up back into place.

“Now, you may be asking yourself how an old woman like me single-handedly took out the largest poacher ring in eastern Wales and lived to boast about it,” Hecat said. “Knowledge.”

“To the wise, age matters very little,” Hecat continued. “Today we will review a spell that has saved me from death at the hands of Dark wizards more times than I can remember: Levioso .”

“ Levioso ?” Leander scoffed. “A levitation charm?”

Hecat whipped around and casted that exact charm on Leander, making him fly into the air and hover, barely able to hold onto his bearings. 

“A surprised opponent is a weak opponent,” Hecat said. “Care to defend yourself, master Prewett? No?

“Oh this is the best class ever,” Idris decided and Percival snickered as a crowd formed around Hecat. They’d ended up next to the Slytherin boy Leander had been dueling with and he snickered at Idris’s comment too. 

“One thing I’ve learned as an Unspeakable is the value of simplicity,” Hecat explained as she lowered Leander back down. “Especially in the heat of battle. Now, let’s practice what we’ve just learned, starting with something small. Mx. Valley, join me please.”

Idris approached Hecat who summoned a wooden dummy to stand in front of them. She conjured a shield charm around it but rather than the normal purple it was a golden yellow. She had Idris try a basic cast which was immediately deflected and almost hit poor Samantha. Then she taught them Levioso and had them cast that. The charm broke the shield and Idris was able to quickly follow up Levioso with a few basic casts, knocking over the dummy and even leaving a few marks on it.

“Well done,” Professor Hecat nodded. “But the best way to practice is by dueling. We’ll start with you and Mr. Sebastian Sallow. Duellists, take your marks!”

“Time for a proper Hogwarts welcome,” Sebastian, the Slytherin boy from earlier, drawled as he passed Idris and Percival considered tripping him. 

To their credit Idris just rolled their eyes and went to their mark on the floor. The floor immediately rose, leaving a platform they could try to knock each other off of. 

“Now I want a fair duel,” Hecat warned them. “Only use Levioso , Basic Cast, and Protego . You may begin.”

As it turned out, Fig saying Idris was “proficient” in defensive magic had been an understatement. As soon as Hecat said the word both duellists Idris was casting, levitating Sebastian into the air and following it up with a burst of Basic Casts. Sebastian was clearly a gifted duellist, that much had been obvious when they first walked in. But Idris was destroying him. He didn’t even have time to cast Protego with how often Idris was throwing spells at him. It took only seconds before Sebastian was on the ground looking up at Idris with wide eyes while Idris smirked down at him.

“Thanks for the welcome, Sebastian,” Idris snickered. 

Idris climbed down from the platform and offered Sebastian a hand which he surprisingly took with a laugh. Percival was immediately at Idris’ side just in case.

“Not bad for a beginner,” Sebastian chuckled. “You give as good as you get.” 

Sebastian walked off and Professor Hecat approached them. 

“I put you on the spot and you rose to the challenge,” Hecat said appreciatively. “Points to Gryffindor.”

“Thank you, Professor Hecat,” Idris nodded. “I was just glad to finally practice these spells.”

“If what I’ve seen today is any indication, we can expect great things from you,” Hecat hummed. “I demand excellence from my students. They are capable of it and they must achieve it. A classroom duel is one thing, but battling dark wizards—or, as ever more likely, goblins—is a different kettle of Grindylows entirely.”

“I can assure you we have no intention of finding Dark wizards,” Percival promised. “But we understand all the same.”

“So, I’d advise you to keep practicing whenever you can,” Hecat suggested. “Perhaps Mr. Sallow will have some ideas for you. Again, well done today. I shall reach out soon with additional assignments.”

Hecat dismissed class and as the twins prepared to leave Sebastian stopped them.

“Nice work,” Sebastian said.

“Thank you,” Idris replied. “I enjoyed that.”

“That duel was quite something,” Sebastian agreed. “Everyone’ll be talking about it.”

“It was certainly good practice,” Idris said. 

“Practice?” Sebastian raised his eyebrows. “It felt more like I was dueling an expert. Didn’t expect a new student to be so deft with a wand. Then again, perhaps this wasn’t your first duel.”

“In fact it was,” Idris replied, which Percival supposed technically wasn’t a lie. They’d certainly fought with their wand before but not another wizard.

“Perhaps you have a knack for it,” Percival shrugged.

“Be coy if you like, but I know better,” Sebastian smirked. “Magic requires intention and talent. You know, you might be a perfect fit for a certain exclusive, unsanctioned dueling organization.”

“Exclusive and unsanctioned?” Idris grinned. “Count me in.”

Percival sighed and rolled his eyes.

“Excellent, I knew I was right about you,” Sebastian said. “If you want to get the most out of your time at Hogwarts, you’re going to need to break the rules now and then.”

“Oh I know,” Idris snickered and narrowed their eyes at Percival who just rolled his eyes again. “I’ll keep that in mind though thank you.”

“Good,” Sebastian nodded. “I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”

Sebastian left and Percival kicked Idris in the shin.

“A secret dueling club? Really Dris?” Percival sighed. 

“If you don’t like it you don’t have to come,” Idris huffed and stuck their tongue out at him. “Now come on, we're supposed to meet Professor Weasley. I’m way too excited to see Hogsmeade.”

New Valley Twins Pictures

I need you all to know that there is a version of the Valley Twins universe where Idris ends up with Sebastian instead of Amit

My HL MCs as Text Posts Pt. 4

Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3

All my MCs may have "canon" ships, but I will be mismatching them to kiss other people like dolls. Idris with Sebastian or Leander. Ambrose and Odysseus together. Odysseus with Poppy or Phillip ( @rypnami ) and I can't be stopped

Sometimes a family is you, your necromancer/dark-mage-adjacent twin, your redhead almost boyfriend, your twin's boyfriend/your roommate, your twin's situationship, the girl you saved a dragon with, your almost boyfriend's aunt, your ex police officer teacher, your twin's best friend, and your twin's situationship's sister

My MCs as Text Posts Pt. 5 - A Mourning Warning Edition

Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4

Are you normal or did you make class schedules for your MCs that you're actually using as reference points for your fics?

The Legacy of Hogwarts

Aka I have a bunch of future generations of my MCs spread through the eras because of time fuckery and I wanna talk about them

Ender Blake/Varyn-Sallow (they/them)

Child of Ambrose Varyn-Sallow, Ominis Varyn- Sallow, and Sebastian Varyn-Sallow. After their parents die defending the Repository from Grindelwald's Dark Wizards, the blast of Ancient Magic sends a toddler Ender (Anneliese at the time) and their Uncles Everett and Jesse into the future. For their protection, Everett obliviates them and leaves them with a muggle family, the Blakes. They don't discover their adoption until 5th year and don't learn who their parents are until Deathly Hallows

Leonidas Thakkar (he/him)

Son of Idris Valley-Thakkar and Amit Thakkar. Idris went to Hogwarts in the early 1900s where he befriended Newt Scamander. Him and Newt, while still writing letters to each other, didn't see each other much after graduating Hogwarts seeing as Newt started expploring the world in search of magical creatures and Leon was studying to be and then travelling as a curse-breaker. But when Newt realized how many creatures had gotten out of the case he begged his friend to come to New York and help, especially since Leonidas was one of the few who knew of his case and was trusted by the creatures within.

Jasper Valley (he/him)

Son of Percival Valley and Garreth Weasley, who survived quite a bit longer than they should have due to repeated exposure to the Repository and a certain...situation at the Department of Mysteries. Jasper attended Hogwarts in the 1970s and befriended the Marauders, even becoming one himself under the Pseudonym "Midnight" seeing as his animagus form was that of a Panther.

Rowena Weasley (she/her)

Daughter and younger child of Percival Valley and Garreth Weasley. She also befreiended the Marauders but from a distance, not becoming an animagus until joining the Order of the Phoenix when her Animagus form turned out to be a dove.

Idris Ask Game

We have finally reached the last piece of the price of committing to the bit. I'll add these to my Masterlist eventually but for now here it is. Questions by @rypnami

1) if your mc was an animagus, what would their form be? if they are, what is their form?

This is gonna sound pick me but i genuinely think Idris’ would be a lion

2) if they could choose what animagus form they would take, would it be the same? or would they want to have a different animal form?

I dont think theyd be picky but theyd be super excited its a lion

3) does your mc have a favourite colour? why is it their favourite?

Gold! No particular reason, just gold and teal

4) in a modern au, would your mc use social media? what would their preferred platform be? why is if their preferred one?

PINTEREST. Idris would be on Pinterest and Instagram literally 24/7

5) did you consult wand lore when choosing their wand? if so, why did you pick what you did? if not, would you ever change wand details to match your mc?

I did! Idris has a yew wand with thestral hair core because the wand is rumored to have power over life and death

6) what is your mc’s diet? are they vegan, vegetarian, do they eat whatever? Why?

Not really a specific outfit, they will literally eat pretty much anything

7) what is your mc’s backstory as to why they didn’t join hogwarts until 5th year? or did you retcon that part of the story when creating them?

Idris (and Percival) didnt go to Hogwarts because their father kept sending the letters back with the reply saying his children would not be attending. Then he died and the twins were stuck in an orphanage. Professor Fig personally showed up to tell them about Hogwarts and magic and they decided to go 5th year

8) what house is your mc in? why are they in that house?

Gryffindor because they are a brave, noble, bold, and self-sacrifing fool and have an impulsive/recklessness problem

9) were you inspired by characters from other media when making your mc? if so, which characters? and how did they influence your mc?

Not from media, but Idris is inspire by another older character of mine named Castor

10) does your mc have any special abilities? (legilimens, parsletongue, metamorphagus, etc) how do they choose to use these powers? did you give them powers for fun, or does it relate to their backstory/plot?

Nothing except the Ancient Magic and some light necromancy

11) what is your mc’s blood status? how does it affect their time at hogwarts? how does it affect their home life?

They're both half-bloods but it doesn't affect them that much. The most it does is that they were raised muggles and have to try and uncover their father's legacy

12) did your mc open the repository? why or why not?

They did not because they knew they didn't want that much power

13) if your mc opened the repository, how did absorbing all that power affect them, if it did at all?

N/A

14) what does your mc think of the keepers? do they trust them? why or why not?

Idris has a lot of blind faith in the Keepers and has a habit of defending them, even thought they're manipulating them and talk down to them all the time. Think Harry and Dumbledore

15) how does your mc’s story continue after 5th year? how do they cope with everything that happened with ranrok, sebastian, etc?

No Spoilerrrrs

16) did your mc learn the unforgivables? why or why not?

Idris learned all three. They didnt like it but they had other things to worry about and were going down a path where the unforgivables may be necessary

17) did your mc turn in sebastian? why or why not?

They did not. For….reasons :)

18) what is your mc’s family like? do they have siblings? do they still have parents?

They had two parents who were amazing parents and a little sister Annabelle but all three were killed by Ranrok and their father did lie to them their whole lives

19) does your mc have a love interest? who is it? why did your mc fall for that character, if they do have a love interest?

Amit! Amit is so sweet and so smart and cute and that is EXACTLY Idris’ type. Amit infodumped about the astronomy tables and Idris was making heart eyes the whole time

20) does your mc have a favourite spell? if so, what is it and why do they like it the most?

Probably protego, it's their strongest spell

21) if you could change anything that the mc does in the game, what would it be? why would you change it? how would you change it? (ie; a line they say, an event of a quest, things of that nature)

I wish we could unlock like, new AM powers. They can hardly do anything outside of the finishers but we see Isidora and the Keepers doing all kinds of cool shit

22) does your mc have any pets? if so, why do they have the pets they have? and for fun, what are their pets’ names?

Idris gets an owl over the summer so they can stay in touch with people, specifically a snowy owl. They also get particularly attached to a pink Puffskein they rescue so they name her Flower

23) when designing your mc, why did you choose the appearance you did? has it changed at all since you first made them? would you change anything now?

I cant explain it but its like they came to me in a vision. I had such a clear image of what i wanted them to look like

24) where is your mc from? where is their family from?

Their father is from Scotland and their mother is from South Africa

25) what is your mc’s favourite season? why is it their favourite?

Spring, because its so colorful and they love the sound of rain

26) how about your mc’s favourite holiday? what makes it special to them?

Does the first day of term count-

27) if your mc wasn’t in their current house, where would they have been sorted? why do you think they’d be there?

They were a six minute hat stall between Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. For this they ended up in Slytherin the same reason Ambrose did, their willingness to do anything, ANYTHING, it takes if they feel they need to. Everyone else be damned.

28) does your mc have a favourite childhood toy? if so, what was it? do they still have it with them?

They have a little wooden doll they like to use as a figure model that their dad hand made them

29) what kind of music would your mc like? is there a reason?

RIP Idris Valley you wouldve loved Chappell Roan

30) last but not least, just tell us something you love about your mc!

I love love love that they're a fashion designer, also that they do not conform to gender at all with their style, they will wear dresses and skirts and such if they look good

Chapter 3 - A First-Rate Hogsmeade Experience | Percival

A Mourning Warning Masterlist A Mourning Warning Tag Read it on AO3, read it on Wattpad

One charmed compass spell and trek through the castle later, Percival and Idris arrived at what Percival hoped was the Transfiguration classroom. Before they went in Percival took a moment to put his ear to the door, just to make sure they weren’t about to burst in on a class. There were voices coming from within but nowhere near as many as a class would have.

Idris shrugged and opened the door, leading the way inside. On the other side of the large classroom Professor Weasley was sitting at her desk talking to Deek while a goblin loitered next to the desk. Percival raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with Idris.

I think it’s fine, Idris communicated without a word.

I hope so, Percival replied. 

“What about the Room, Professor?” Deek suggested.

“Precisely what I was thinking,” Professor Weasley agreed. ”Perhaps you could help.”

Deek glanced over and finally spotted the twins waiting by the door.

“Oh! Excuse Deek,” Deek apologized. Before Percival could tell him there was nothing to apologize for he snapped his fingers and disappeared. 

“Ah, there you are,” Professor Weasley stood up from her desk to greet them. “I trust your first classes went well?”

“They did indeed, Professor,” Percival answered. “Idris did amazing in Defense Against the Dark Arts especially.”

“He’s glossing over him learning a charm first try and mastering it in one class,” Idris sighed and shook their head exasperatedly. “Typical.”

“There’s someone I wished for you to meet,” Weasley waved forward the goblin from next to her desk. “This is Gladik, a liaison for Gringotts. These are the Valley twins, Idris and Percival.”

“Lovely to meet you both,” Gladik nodded. “We received an owl from a Professor Fig that you were in need of funds to replace supplies. After your last visit to Gringotts, delivering them personally is the least we could do. Here you are.”

Gladik rummaged around in his pocket until he pulled out a key that looked oddly similar to the Portkey except for the Ancient Magic symbol. Though Percival couldn’t help noticing the top of the handle did still have a shape reminiscent of a flame. 

“What is it?” Percival questioned.

“The key to your vault,” Gladik answered. Percival tilted his head at the goblin while Idris’ eyebrows nearly disappeared into their curls.

“Uh, we don’t have a vault,” Idris explained. “Last night was the first time we’d ever been to Gringotts.”

“Perhaps, but it is the vault you inherited,” Gladik explained. “You are the children of Thomas Morganach, correct?”

Percival’s blood turned to ice. Did he mean Dad? Dad had a vault at Gringotts? And now it was theirs. He didn’t know which piece was worse, the fact their father’s will was being carried out so casually or the reminder of how much he’d hidden from them. Both of them felt like punches to the gut. 

“Yes,” Percival tried to answer but his voice came out a little strangled. He forcefully cleared his throat and tried again. “Yes, sir, yes we are.”

“The conditions of this vault were very specific,” Gladik told them. “You were only to receive this key upon your father’s death if you attended Hogwarts. Here you are, so here is your key.”

Idris’ hand shook as they reached out and took the key. They held it so tightly it had to be cutting into their palm. The goblin also pulled out a small pouch that jingled as he handed it to Percival.

“At Professor Weasley’s request, we also took out a small deposit in order to replace your supplies.”

“This is a small deposit?” Percival eyes widened as he opened the pouch and stared at the glittering gold, silver, and bronze coins. 

“The Morganachs are a particularly old Wizarding family,” Weasley told them. “Your family name goes back hundreds of years. Whether you take it is not a decision you need to worry about today, but it is an option should you so choose.”

Percival felt like he was going to throw up. He’d thought today would be less overwhelming, but so far it was anything but. All he had to deal with yesterday was dragons, goblins, and Portkeys. It would be easier to fight a thousand dragons than try to reconcile with the truth in all the lies they’d been told. His grip on the pouch kept tightening and tightening and in his free hand he was digging his thumbnail into another of his fingers just to give himself something to focus on other than screaming or crying or hitting something.

“Thank you Gladik,” Idris nodded to the goblin. As soon as the goblin nodded back and headed for the door Idris slid closer to Percival so their shoulders were pressed together. Percival managed to take a deep breath and though his grip on the bag didn’t loosen he was able to stop the stabbing sensation. “Professor, you mentioned a trip to Hogsmeade?”

“I did,” Professor Weasley agreed. “I’ve conferred with Deek and was informed that all of your things that could be found and saved were returned to your dorms. Many of your supplies survived however it seems your seeds, potion recipes, and spellcrafts were, ah, singed.”

“You can say ‘burned to a crisp’, Professor,” Percival replied with a dry chuckle. 

“I’m afraid that would be accurate,” Professor Weasley admitted. “There are certainly much more exciting reasons for this trip, however. For instance, finding the perfect wand. You managed your classes well with a borrowed wand. But you’ll find the magic you cast with your own wand to be far superior.”

“I’ve been looking forward to that for weeks,” Percival admitted. 

“He’s been reading about wand woods and memorizing wand cores like he’s going to be tested on them,” Idris informed her.

“And you kept asking me questions about them!” Percival retorted. “Don’t act like you’re not interested.”

“Casually yeah but you-”

“I’m sure Mr. Ollivander will be impressed with both your knowledge and your curiosity,” Weasley cut off their bickering quickly before it could escalate any further. Both the twins muttered apologies. “Professor Ronen is waiting for you in the courtyard to give you an additional assignment while I arrange for you to make your first visit to the village with a classmate or two. Help you get your bearings. Perhaps Natsai Onai and Sebastian Sallow? I was told you spent time with them in your classes today.”

“If by spent time with them you mean kicked their as-” Percival quickly elbowed Idris to shut them up.

“Yes, Professor, we did,” Percival nodded. “They’d be perfectly welcome.”

“Glad to hear it,” Professor Weasley said. “Both Mr. Sallow and Ms. Onai are capable young wizards, and they each know the area well. They’ll keep you well clear of any of Victor Rookwood’s undesirables en route.”

“Victor Rookwood?” Percival questioned.

“A rather unsavory local,” Professor Weasley answered, a tone in her voice Percival would describe as disgusted. “Best to avoid him and his associates—including his ‘right hand’ of sorts, Theophilus Harlow—if you can.”

“Stay clear of the unsavory locals, got it,” Idris promised. Percival narrowed his eyes at them for a split second to warn them they were indeed actually staying clear of Rookwood and they had the audacity to pout as soon as Weasley looked away.

“I will have your friends meet you at the castle’s doors,” Professor Weasley told them. “In the meantime you should complete Professor Ronen’s assignment. No time to waste.”

“We’re on it,” Percival said. “And thank you Professor.”

“Happy to help,” Weasley gave that warm smile again before returning to her desk.

The twins left and sure enough found Professor Ronen playfully levitating origami birds to look as if they were flying. After a quick conversation about the assignments they’d be given to help them learn and master new spells they’d missed, Professor Ronen walked them through casting Reparo. He blasted a few statues and fixtures in the courtyard to bits and let Percival and Idris practice putting them back together. The spell was remarkable. It fixed the damage without imperfection, and the amount of damage it could fix was especially impressive.

“Oh this is definitely going to be useful,” Idris had laughed. Percival wasn’t sure if they meant about their clothes or the amount of things that seemed to break in Idris’ presence.

Once Professor Ronen was satisfied with their mastery of the charm, he sent them off. They quickly got lost and had to use the charmed compass again but eventually they made it to the front doors where Sebastian and Natty stood talking to each other. 

“It’s quite the theory,” Natty was saying as they approached.

“I’m hoping Professor Sharp will let me- ah!” Sebastian noticed them first, playfully nodding his head in a small bow. “If it isn’t our new charges.”

“Apparently you two are to keep us clear of ‘unsavory locals’,” Idris pouted.

“Victor Rookwood, I assume?” Natty said.

“That’s the name Professor Weasley told us,” Idris nodded. 

“I’m sure we can handle it,” Sebastian claimed. “Professor Weasley said you needed supplies?”

“Well when our carriage was eaten by a dragon, most of our belongings were too,” Percival pointed out. “So yes, supplies.”

“I had no idea about your belongings,” Natty put a hand to her chest. “I’m very sorry.”

“It’s okay, apparently more of our things survived than we thought,” Percival replied. “I suppose we’ll find out when we get back.”

“I’m just glad my sketchbook made it,” Idris sighed.

“Sketchbook? Are you an artist?” Natty asked.

“More sketching than art,” Idris shrugged. “I’m a bit of an amateur clothing designer.”

“Really?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. Percival wanted to say he was impressed but Sebastian was hard to read. “You should show me sometime. I’m not much of a designer but I’ve been known to mend and make some things now and again.”

“You got it,” Idris beamed like the sun as they bounced on their toes.

“Shall we set off then?” Natty said. “I intend to make sure you have a first-rate Hogsmeade experience.

In their mad dash into the castle after sunset, the twins hadn’t gotten much of a chance to see the grounds. But now they were laid out at their feet and Percival found a grin to rival Idris’ on his face. Every time he saw something new it hit him all over again that he was actually here. He’d never admit it, but he was so grateful to Idris for changing his mind. To think he’d almost stayed at Rosewood. Now he was on his way to get his own wand, he’d spent the day learning the intricacies of magic, and had actually made friends.

“Thank you two for accompanying us by the way,” Percival said.

“I was glad Professor Weasly asked us to show you the village,” Sebastian replied. 

“You were?” Idris said. 

“Of course,” Sebastian shrugged. “Idris is the only one who’s ever bested me in a duel. The way I see it, I’d be wise to keep an eye on you.”

“You certainly should,” Natsai agreed. “If Idris’ performance in this duel was anywhere near Percival’s in charms, they may just surpass you entirely.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Sebastian laughed. “But they may get close.”

“I was happy to join you as well,” Natsai told them. “I was actually planning to extend an invitation to Hogsmeade anyway. I thought you’d enjoy the chance to explore the village, so I’m glad Weasley trusted me enough to guide you.”

“I’m still surprised a Professor would entrust me with anything,” Sebastian confessed. “Considering my detention record.”

“Spend a lot of time in detention, huh?” Idris laughed.

“Just enough to make me well-rounded,” Sebastian returned their laugh with his own.

“Well you probably won’t be alone,” Idris sighed. “I spent a lot of time in detention back home, I doubt Hogwarts will be any different.”

“Treasure free air while it lasts,” Sebastian said.

“The fresh air is quite nice,” Natty agreed. “Especially after being cooped up in Ancient Runes. Grave mistake to take it as an elective class, believe me.”

Idris immediately doubled over in laughter because they were a complete traitor and Percival considered shoving them off the bridge they were crossing. Percival had indeed signed up for Ancient Runes, along with Arithmancy, Magic Theory, and Divination. At least Idris would be with him in Divination.

“What's so funny?” Sebastian questioned. 

“Percy signed up for Ancient Runes,” Idris explained.

“I’m sure it’s only because my mother selected the class for me,” Natty attempted to reassure him. “It’s rather monotonous and involves a great understanding of languages and culture.”

“Percival looooves languages and culture,” Idris was still snickering.

“Idris Pollux I swear I will hex you,” Percy threatened.

“You don’t know any hexes.”

“I will find a way to learn hexes.”

“There’s always the Restricted Section,” Sebastian suggested and Idris gasped like they’d just been horribly betrayed. “But you’ll probably want to be on good terms with Madam Scribner the librarian. I, however, am not.”

“How come?” Idris wondered.

“I suspect it’s a matter of differing opinions,” Sebastian said. “She thinks I shouldn’t be allowed in the Restricted Section, and I, on the other hand, am inclined to disagree.”

“Why are the books restricted?” Percival asked.

“Plenty of reasons,” Natty answered. “Some books are particularly rare and cannot be trusted to any student who happens to pick it up. Some are enchanted and unsafe to keep around students. Some are too advanced and inappropriate for the younger students. And some-”

“Have spells that aren’t taught at Hogwarts at all,” Sebastian finished. 

An entire section of books dedicated entirely to ‘forbidden’ knowledge. Knowledge not taught to students. The answers to questions normally avoided. Percival was silent for a few minutes as the conversation went on without him. What was in those books? How many breakthroughs and discoveries? Just the thought nearly drove him mad. He wasn’t sure how he’d convince someone to let him in but he had to try.

“Hey look! From the forest!” Idris nudged him and pointed towards the woods where a pair of magnificent beasts were flying out from the canopy. “Those are hippogriffs, right?”

“They are,” Sebastian replied. “That’s not a sight you see every day.”

“I wonder if something startled them,” Natty said.

As they approached another bridge they passed a group of students talking about the hippogriffs and a girl named Poppy, including Idris’ mortal enemy, Leander. It was obvious even to Percival that they were making fun of this Poppy girl, and he barely knew when people were teasing him. Idris scoffed as they passed.

“Oh shove a sock in it, Prewett,” Idris told him and when he started to say something Idris just raised a certain finger and kept walking without a care in the world.

“You and I are going to have a lot of fun this year,” Sebastian snickered. 

“The woods the hippogriffs came out of on the left is the Forbidden Forest,” Natty told them. “It is forbidden to all students.”

“Hence the name,” Percival nodded. 

“They think it’s too dangerous,” Sebastian explained. “I think they need to have more confidence in our defensive abilities.”

“Well, some of our defensive abilities,” Idris corrected him with a smirk.

“We get it, you’re good at defensive magic,” Percival sighed. 

“Have you had much chance to explore the castle?” Sebastian asked.

“A little,” Percival said. “It’s positively enormous.”

“I would spend all my time exploring if I could,” Natty sighed happily. “We learn a great deal in class and in the castle, but I will say much can be gleaned outside the castle walls.”

“Have you spent much time outside the castle?” Sebastian wondered. 

“As much as I possibly can,” Natty answered. “You?”

“You could say that,” Sebastian replied. “I’m from a little hamlet just on the other side of the mountain, Feldcroft.”

They all stepped to the side of the road as another thestral-drawn carriage passed them by. Just like before that cold deathly feeling washed over him, making him shiver. 

“I’ve always thought Thestrals pulling a carriage a bit grim,” Sebastian muttered. “Though I suppose most people don’t actually see them at all.”

“You sound like you can,” Percival raised an eyebrow. Sebastian hesitated, as if he was considering his words.

“Yes, I can,” Sebastian stated eventually.

“As can I,” Natty confessed.

“I guess we’ve all seen some horrible things,” Idris muttered.

Silence fell over the group and Percival tried to pretend it was the normal silence to follow a conversation, but it was much too heavy for that.

“How are you settling in?” Natty spoke up suddenly, thankfully changing the subject. “I remember the weeks following my arrival feeling quite strange.”

“Strange is…a word for it,” Percival said, mind immediately going to all it took just to get to the castle and the other things they’d surely have to deal with if Idris had a say. “But we’re getting used to it. I’d like to say we made a few friends and classes are obviously going alright.”

“It’ll definitely be easier now that we have, you know, things,” Idris added. “But I think exploring might be fun, I plan to give that a try.”

“If you ever have need of a companion I would be happy to join you,” Natty said.

“I'll keep that in mind, thank you,” Idris smiled at her.

They approached another bridge, this one covered by a wooden canopy. A painted sign hung from the archway, indicating they had indeed arrived in Hogsmeade. The first word that came to mind was cozy. It wasn't small, but it did seem very warm. There was an energy and liveliness in the air that immediately made you feel comfortable and at home. It wasn't nearly as gaudy or bright as wizards could tend to make things. In fact if not for the occasional floating instrument and the wares in shop windows, it would look a lot like any normal village. 

“Here we are!” Natty announced. “It's hard to choose where to start.”

“The Three Broomsticks is the place for butterbeer,” Sebastian told them. “Honeydukes has every sweet you can think of. Then of course there's Zonkos, and a bunch more. There's always something to do or see here.”

“I could not choose a favorite shop,” Natty agreed. “It changes with every visit.”

“So, how would you like to do this?” Sebastian asked. “Weasley mentioned you had a list of things to get—your wands and some other bits?”

“Seeds, spellcrafts, potion recipes,” Idris listed, counting on their fingers as they went. 

“I’m keen to see what you two can do with wands of your own,” Sebastian chuckled. “I just have to pop into a shop to find something for my sister. I can meet up with you all in the town circle when you’re finished.”

“Actually, with a short list you should have plenty of time to explore the village,” Natty pointed out. “You should experience the village at your own pace, and we can all meet in the town square later.”

“Sounds good to me,” Sebastian nodded and before he wandered off. Natty gave them a smile before doing the same.

“We should probably get our supplies before our wands,” Percival said and immediately got a groan from Idris. “Oh shush, I’m excited about it too, but we should be responsible.”

“Why are you no fun?” Idris pouted. “Fine, fine, let’s get the actually important things. The field guide has a map of Hogsmeade so let’s look at that.”

“Oh you’re right, I forgot about it,” Percival realized. He pulled out his Field Guide and quickly checked the index of the map which conveniently had each shop's main wares. The shop for spellcrafts was right across the street from them. “Let’s start there.”

Getting the other three things was surprisingly easy. Professor Weasley had already sent word ahead to each of the shops on their list, so everything they needed was ready for them. They were in and out of each shop, but while in J. Pippins’ Percival took note the place sold potion ingredients in addition to potions and recipes. He had a feeling that would come in handy for him. Idris’ building excitement with each shop was visible and Percival had to admit he was feeling the same way, even if he didn’t show it as much. Finally Percival tucked their dittany seeds into their bags and Idris grabbed his hand and dragged him to the Ollivander’s they’d passed multiple times. 

The store was small, specifically narrow, but that was because every inch of the walls were lined with shelves, stuffed full with long narrow boxes that seemed to hold wands. As soon as they stepped over the threshold Percival felt that very familiar tugging he’d felt at Gringotts. Except…no that wasn’t it. The Ancient Magic had felt like a hook behind his ribs dragging him forward. This was different. Rather than dragging, it was like a warm hand on his shoulder guiding him to where he needed to go. He tried to follow the feeling, letting it nudge him until he was staring at a purple wand box in a locked case behind the counter. He was snapped out of it though when he heard the ringing of a bell and turned to see Idris standing at the counter rocking on their feet.

“I’ll be right with- ah!” A short man with oddly pointy gray hair popped out from around the corner holding an armful of wand boxes. “It’s you! Um, just a moment please.”

There was a concerning amount of crash from the back of the shop before the man, presumably Mr. Ollivander, came back to the counter. 

“We’re looking for-” Percival tried to say. 

“For new wands, yes,” Ollivander cut him off. “It’s about time.”

“Excuse me?” Percival said.

“Well you’re our new fifth-year students, are you not?” Ollivander raised an eyebrow at them. “Oh what am I saying, of course you are. You first, Gryffindor, come come!”

Ollivander came across the counter and used his wand to try levitating a box down for Idris to try. But before he could pull the box all the way from the shelf Idris stepped forward. As soon as they did, a box shot out of the bottom shelf behind Ollivander. It hit the ground hard enough that it bursted open, the wand falling out and landing at Idris’ feet. It was a warm color wood, though Percival couldn’t place it at a glance. He didn’t make a habit of staring at and identifying woods. It curled around itself halfway through the wand then came to a stop at a handle of what looked almost like white marble, the bottom and top trimmed with gold, with a curling teal carving under the gold. There wasn’t anything particularly special about it but Ollivander still made a curious hum as he looked between Idris and the wand.

“Let’s try that one then, shall we?” Ollivander clapped his hands excitedly. Idris glanced at Percival but leaned down and picked up the wand. As soon as they did they gasped. Percival’s anxiety spiked into pure panic at the sound but he didn’t need to act at all. Idris grinned as they lifted the wand. A blue light started from the wand and covered their whole body. He’d never seen Idris smile so brightly in his life.

“Curious, curious indeed,” Ollivander hummed. “That right there is a yew wand, a fairly rare wood, especially when paired with its thestral hair core.”

“Yew wood?” Percival remembered that one from when he was, yes, studying the wand woods. It fascinated him how different woods called to different wizards and were better for different purposes, okay? Yew wood was particularly selective, never choosing a mediocre or timid wizard, or mage in this case. More notably was that a yew wand supposedly gave the mage power over life and death. Paired with the thestral core…Percival looked at Idris just slightly more warily than before.

“Yes, quite powerful, quite the reputation,” Ollivander waved his wand and the empty box flew to the back of the shop. “Now, my fellow ravenclaw, let’s find you the perfect match, shall we?”

Ollivander started scanning the shelves, muttering to himself the whole way about woods and cores, but Percival’s eyes kept being drawn back to that purple box. 

“You might do,” Ollivander muttered and pulled out a green box. “Here, give this one a try.”

It was pretty, a reddish wood with a gold spiral around the outside, but when he swished it as instructed it only sparked for a second before leaping from his hand into the air to shoot off fireworks in every direction. 

“Perhaps you need something rare, like your sibling,” Ollivander said. He grabbed another green box from a lower shelf, once again presenting the box to Idris. 

Somehow Percival knew this wand also wouldn’t be the one. When Idris had picked up their wand the reaction was immediate, but when Percival picked up the wand he’d felt nothing. Except that guiding hand at his shoulder again, still trying to push him toward that purple box in the back. He half-heartedly swished the wand and it literally teleported out of his hand and back into the box. 

“Not that one then,” Ollivander declared, much too cheerfully in Percival’s opinion. “This is proving to be trickier than I had anticipated. How perplexing.”

Ollivander returned to the shelves once more but by now the calling had increased exponentially until he could focus on nothing else. 

“Mr. Ollivander?” Percival prompted.

“Yes?”

“What about that one?” 

Ollivander looked up at him and he gestured to the wand in the back. Ollivander froze where he stood, still half hunched over, and just looking back and forth between Percival and the wand. Percy couldn’t tell if his expression was one of fear or awe. It may have been both.

“You can feel it?” Ollivander asked.

“Uh, I feel something,” Percival attempted to clarify. “And whatever it is, it’s pulling me toward that wand.”

“Perplexing, perplexing indeed,” Ollivander whispered. 

He hesitated, staring at Percival for a very uncomfortable amount of time, then went over and unlocked the case. He held the book reverently as he presented it to Percival.

It was a dark wood, almost black. It was a tight spiral that took up the entire top half of the wand. The bottom was a dark blue decorated in golden patterns of stars, and ending with what looked oddly like an astrolabe. The feeling was all encompassing now, wrapping around him entirely. His hand as he took the wand. He felt it. It was like a static shock, only throughout his whole body. It was like it was in his veins. It was acceptance, finality, comfort. It was right. The guiding feeling was gone, because he no longer needed it. He had his wand. He swished it and…

Nothing happened.

Literally nothing. There wasn’t even a bad reaction, just completely nothing. He may as well have been holding a regular stick.

“I don’t understand,” Percival muttered. 

“It’s alright, sometimes these things happen,” Ollivander sighed, as if he was also disappointed. “Let’s find you the right wand then.”

Percival put the wand back in the box and Ollivander turned away to take the box back to the case. But when he tried to close the box on the wand something started happening. Percival could hear the box shaking. Then something shot at him at breakneck speed. He wasn’t sure how he knew what to do but he did. He held out his hand and the thing flew into his grip perfectly. The wand. A grin broke across his face like the sunrise on the horizon. Finally, something that felt right.

“Well I’ll be…” Ollivander muttered. “I was beginning to think no one would match with that wand.”

“What is it?” Percival wondered, still studying the wand. 

“Phoenix feather core,” Ollivander said. “And Elder wood.”

Percival’s head whipped up to stare at the wand maker. No wonder it was locked up. Elder wands were powerful, but extremely picky. Other wands could be used secondhand or borrowed but an Elder wand would work for no one but its master. It was the rarest wand wood in the world. Partly because it was so hard to match with a mage, but also because of its horrible reputation. The pickiness of an elder wand meant if its master stopped performing to the wand’s standards it would betray them, sometimes with deadly consequences.

“No pressure?” Idris tried but it came out as a question.

They paid for their wands and left, both silent for once as they tried to reconcile with what just happened in the wand shop. 

“Why do I feel like that’s going to come back to bite us?” Idris sighed.

“Because at this point everything does,” Percival groaned. “We both got death wands, how could that not come back to bite us?”

“Maybe we’re going to finally kill each other,” Idris snickered, shocking a laugh out of Percival. “Oh come on I know you’ve thought about it.”

“Only once or twice,” Percival replied. “A week. My whole life.”

“Aw, you’re the best brother ever.”

“I better be, keeping you alive is not an easy job.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I am very responsible.”

“Yeah you’re responsible in the same universe where I’m a Gryffindor.”

“I think you’d make a great Gryffindor.”

“If I didn’t kill the whole house. Or jump out the tower.”

“....yeah okay you got me there.”

Percival held out his arm and Idris put their hand in the crook of Percival’s elbow, just like their Mom had drilled into them both when they were kids. Their mom had had a lot to learn when it came to manners in English society so she’d made sure Idris and Percival knew everything they could ever possibly need, and that included walking together in public. Ironically, it was Idris escorting Percival when they first learned, until they got older and revealed who they really were and their poor mother had to scramble to re-teach them things. 

They made it to the town square with slightly cheerier spirits, or at least lighter ones, and saw Natty and Sebastian already waiting for them.

“We officially have all our supplies,” Idris declared. “Did you both get everything you needed?”

“We did,” Sebastian replied.

“We should walk around a bit more,” Natty said. “We have plenty of time before we should head back to the castle. Perhaps the Three Broomsticks? I think you would enjoy butterbeer.”

“Three Broomsticks it is” Percival agreed.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

All four of them exchanged glances with each other as the thunderous sounds got closer. The ground shook beneath them hard enough Percy had to shift his weight to not be knocked over. Even the buildings were shaking. Most chilling was the shriek of fear in the distance. 

The cacophony crescendoed and around a building came a hulking beast that looked as though a chunk of a mountain had come to life. It was hideous, there was no other word to describe it. It roared and brandished the club in its hand. It wore armor, armor glowing the same red as Ranrok back at Gringotts and the collar of the dragon.

“Idris,” Percival whispered.

“I know,” They replied, hand clutching their wand.

Percival quickly pulled his out too as the residents of Hogsmeade sent spells flying. The creature stormed at a witch standing on the sidelines and Idris casted Stupefy at the troll to grab its attention which was simply great because now they had a very angry troll after them.

Before the troll could charge them another spell came from behind it, the caster being a woman in some sort of law enforcement uniform. Aurors, Percival thought they were called. 

“Lead it away from the buildings!” The auror cried to the witches next to her. “Away from the village!”

The witches ran off away from the four of them, pelting the troll with spells to keep it angry and following them. They got the troll away from the square and for a second things were quiet. Then another roar and an explosion rang out behind them. They turned around just in time to witness the trolls smashing through a building. 

“What do we do?!” Percival cried.

“We can’t let it destroy the village!” Natty exclaimed. 

She threw the first spell out, immediately angering the troll and drawing its attention. What was it with Gryffindors and pissing off monsters? The troll roared and lifted its club, shaking the village once more.

“Incoming!” Sebastian yelled. “Scatter!”

They all dove in different directions in the nick of time, avoiding the club that smashed down right where they were all standing only moments ago. Percival ripped off his robes and tossed it aside so the thing wouldn’t get in his way. Idris came up from their roll already on their feet and casting spells with deadly accuracy. Every single one hit its mark but the troll only got more pissed. If anything it seemed to target Idris. The other three tried to get its attention with spells, yelling, insults—mainly from Sebastian—but nothing worked. 

“Are we even weakening it?!” Percival said.

“We just have to wear it down!” Natty declared

Every near miss from the troll’s club and feet made Percival’s heart rate spike. Then, his worst nightmare. In their fervent dance with the troll Idris must have lost track of where they were. They ended up trapped in a corner against a stone wall just too high for them to jump. The troll roared and raised its club and this time Idris had nowhere to run.

“IDRIS!” Percival screamed as the troll swung.

“PROTEGO!” Idris yelled. It was nothing more than a desperate cry. All of them knew there was no way a simple shield charm would withstand such a powerful attack. But not only did the charm hold, it sent the troll flying backwards with an explosion of energy. The energy swirled around Idris as they flung out their wand and yanked forward, sending a giant boulder from the rubble of the building right at the troll with enough force the stone shattered.

“How…how did you do that?!” Percival demanded, but Idris looked just as confused as he was.

“Who cares, just do it again!” Sebastian laughed with glee.

Percival dove to the side to avoid a particularly haphazard swing and ended up next to Idris.

“I think I used…the thing,” Idris told him quietly, glancing at Sebastian and Natty to make sure they were occupied with the troll. They suddenly looked much more tired than before, panting heavily and holding the shoulder of their wand hand. “There was this tug on my hand and I felt something snap into place then I just threw it. I bet you can do it too if you try.”

Percival closed his eyes and searched for that hooking feeling in his chest. It immediately found his attention like it had been waiting for him. He forced the hook to his wand instead of his ribs. Something tugged his arm up and just like Idris said it was like the rope went taught. Percival pulled his wand over his shoulder like he was throwing it at the troll and a large crate soared over his head and hit the troll in the chest, knocking it over.

“Hell yeah!” Idris cheered. 

Apparently the troll did not appreciate their tricks as it picked up a boulder of its own. Idris threw up another shield charm, this time around them both. As soon as the boulder hit it Idris repeated the actions with the very bould the troll threw.

“How long is this thing going to keep standing?” Idris groaned.

“We can’t do this forever,” Sebastian agreed. 

He switched his wand to his other hand so he could shake out his wand hand. A bruise was forming across his cheek and his arm seemed sore if not also injured. Poor Natty was breathing hard and limping just slightly. Idris was hurt too, and Percival’s dragon bite injury was not appreciating this fight.

But there was something else around the pain. The connection was still there. This time it was like it was between his chest and his hand. Something in his chest and something in his wand had connected and were screaming for his attention.

“Okay,” Percival muttered and rolled his neck. “Let’s try this.”

He stepped forward and pulled his wand back, letting the energy in his center flow down and out. It wanted to explode out of him but instead gathered in his hands. He pulled his hand to his wand, forcing the magic in the wand and in his body to combine. Then when he threw his wand forward the magic exploded, swarming the troll and literally turning it to ashes.

“Woah…” Idris whispered into the now empty street.

“That was brilliant!” Natty cheered as she ran over to Percival. “Are you alright?”

“Yes I’m, I’m fine,” Percival assured her. He suddenly felt sapped of his energy and despite the breakfast a house elf had brought him that morning before he left his dorm, he felt like he hadn’t eaten in days. Idris looked like they had an interrogation’s worth of questions before they could ask them the witches from earlier returned, the woman in the officer’s uniform approaching them immediately.

“Goodness! A second troll?” The officer gasped. “Did you four take on a fully grown troll by yourselves?”

“I suppose we did,” Sebastian shrugged. 

“It wasn’t too bad,” Idris assured her. “Just some bumps and bruises. We just…outnumbered it I guess.”

“Merlin’s beard,” The officer shook her head. “Well, I appreciate the help, though help may be a bit of an understatement. Nerve like that? The makings of some future aurors if you ask me. Officer Ruth Singer.”

She held out her hand and each of them shook it, repeating the favor by introducing themselves.

“You’re sure nothing strange happened?” Singer checked and Percival nodded. He noticed Idris inching closer to him but couldn’t possibly fathom why. “Very well. Why don’t you kids get yourselves somewhere with less rubble, and preferably try to avoid fighting any more trolls in the future.”

They all murmured their promises and wandered off. As the adrenaline faded Percival could feel his energy level lowering with the sun on the horizon. The Ancient Magic feeling had disappeared, leaving just with a very angry dragon bite that may have reopened and a really sore wand arm. He really hoped the thing hadn’t reopened, or at least that it hadn’t gotten on his corset. Idris hadn’t gotten the chance to make him a second one yet so he wouldn’t have it until they could.

Percival rolled his shoulder as he walked and hissed in pain as the motion tugged at the bite. He tried to get a glance at the wound but it was too far on the back of his shoulder.

“Dris I didn’t reopen it did I?” Percival asked. Idris moved to walk behind him and looked over his shoulder.

“Can’t tell for sure but I don’t think so,” Idris told him.

“Well that’s one stroke of good luck,” Percival supposed. “Where should we-”

“In here!” Someone called from inside a large purple building with mannequins in the window. The sign said ‘Gladrags Wizardwear’. “I have something for you!”

“We are so going,” Idris decided and quickly disappeared into the shop.

“I suppose we should see what he wants,” Natty chuckled. 

They stepped inside and found a cozy little shop with multiple mannequins and displays, each sporting some sort of wizarding fashion, which Percival was still getting used to. There was a counter a few meters away and another a few steps down on their right, which looked to mainly be for tailoring and custom orders considering the various sewing equipment around it. There wasn’t anyone there but there was a man with pointed hair in a smart red suit at the cash register who Idris was already chatting with excitedly. 

“Ah, there you are!” The man said as they came in. “Allow me to introduce myself: Augustus Hill, clothier extraordinaire.”

“He knows all sorts of things I didn’t know!” Idris was grinning again as they bounced. “There’s so much more you can do with magic, stuff I didn’t even think of!”

“Your sibling is quite talented,” Mr. Hill told them. Idris’ sketchbook was resting open on the counter as Mr. Hill flipped through it. “Their sketches are fascinating.”

“Thank you sir,” Idris was now biting his lip, in a way that indicated they were trying not to screech.

“I should also like to thank you four for your remarkable bravery in fighting those trolls,” Mr. Hill said. 

“We were happy to help,” Idris replied. Percival slightly disagreed but he let it slide. 

“Frankly, every one of you deserves an Order of Merlin!” Hill declared. Percival made a mental note to ask someone what that was.”But I can offer you something much more useful.”

He futzed behind the counter for a moment before pulling out four sets of Hogwarts robes, one Ravenclaw, two Gryffindor, and one Slytherin.

“As the owner of Gladrags Wizardwear, I am proud to tell you about part of the inventory,” Hill said. “These unique items afford certain protections as it were. Life-saving protections.”

“You can weave spells into fabric,” Idris gasped. “I need to learn how to do that yesterday.”

“I’d like to offer each of you a set of robes in thanks for what you did today,” Hill offered. “In case this turns out to not be your last dangerous encounter.”

“Thank you for the generous gifts Mr. Hill but we could not possibly-” Natty tried to say but Idris cut her off.

“We’ll take them, thank you so much!” Idris grabbed the robes off the counter and passed them out to their matching students.

Percival sighed and rolled his eyes but knew there was no changing his sibling’s mind so he shrugged the robes on, knowing his old ones were lost somewhere by now. The other three with still intact robes folded them and gave them to Mr. Hill in exchange who happily took them and waved as they left.

“Well, I’d say we earned ourselves a butterbeer or two,” Sebastian said. 

“And food,” Percival groaned. 

“We can find both at the three broomsticks,” Natty assured him. “This way.”

Natty and Sebastian lead the way, under an archway and down more of Hogsmeade’s cobbled streets. Percival was rolling his shoulder again only for Sebastian to curse and yank Percival behind a building by his good arm.

“Ow!” Percival protested but got immediately shushed by Sebastian and even Natty who was on the other side of an alleyway crouching with Idris.

“Why are we whispering?” Idris asked, lowering their voice to match their friends’.

“Rookwood,” Natty explained. “That is him down the alley.”

Sebastian shifted so Percival could peek around the corner. He had to cover his own mouth with his hand to keep from gasping. Rookwood must have been the man in the long coat and top hat. But he wasn’t the only one down that alley.

“You said you could get to the children when they came to Hogsmeade,” Ranrok grumbled. “That all you needed was a distraction. I gave you a distraction!”

“I just watched a student take down your ‘distraction’,” Rookwood argued. Ranrok’s face shifted and Rookwood caught it, though Percival wasn’t sure what he saw. “Who are these children? What are you not telling me?”

“All you need to know is that if you cannot get to the twins, then you have no value to me,” Ranrok growled. Idris and Percival exchanged glances of alarm. When they turned back Ranrok was glancing up the stairs right at them.

“Go!” Percival whispered. 

They all dashed down the street, not slowing down until they were over a block away.

“Did they see us?” Sebastian panted.

“I don’t think so,” Percival shook his head.

“Why is Ranrok working with Rookwood?!” Idris hissed.

“Ranrok?” Natty realized. “The goblin from the Daily Prophet?”

Sebastian grabbed Idris by the arm as he spotted something over their shoulder. Percival glanced up the stairs and saw Rookwood emerging from the alley.

“Quickly, let’s get inside the Three Broomsticks,” Sebastian suggested.

They all ducked inside the pub, trying to not look like they were running from something. They didn’t exactly succeed seeing as they were all panting and kept glancing over their shoulders. Waiting for Rookwood to appear. Thankfully he didn’t. Natty guided them over to the bar of the cozy and warm pub where a woman in an apron was talking to a goblin.

“It’s a treat to see you, Lodgok,” The woman said. “I shall let you know if I hear anything.”

“Thank you, Sirona,” The goblin replied.

“You be well.”

The four Hogwarts students each claimed a stool at the bar, Natty on the far left, Percival next to her, then Idris, then Sebastian. Sirona brushed off her hands and came over to them.

“Now, what can I- oh,” Sirona cut herself off. “There are two faces I haven’t seen before.”

“It’s our first time,” Idris chuckled while Percival was still watching the door.

“Welcome!” Sirona greeted them and took out her wand, giving it a twirl. “Butterbeer on me.”

“Thank you,” Sebastian replied as four mugs of butterbeer floated in front of them. Percival tried it and was honestly pleasantly surprised. It reminded him of a warm apple cider but more sweet, like caramel. 

“Heard about the attack,” Sirona sighed. “I shall be looking in on the other shopkeepers and residents shortly. Glad to see you four seem alright.”

“Thanks to these two,” Sebastian tilted his head towards the twins.

“I don’t know about that,” Percival shook his head.

“Sebastian is right,” Natty disagreed. “You single handedly took down a troll! Or I suppose double handedly.”

“Is that right? Well done,” Sirona said. I will say, trolls? In hogsmeade? That’s never happened before. Something’s not right. The only brutes we usually have to deal with.”

The door flew open behind them and Percival cursed as Rookwood sauntered in, flanked by a rather stocky man who looked even meaner than Rookwood. Presumably Theophilus Harlow, the other man Professor Weasley had mentioned. Percival reached for Idris and found his twin already doing the same. For now they tried to simply seem inconspicuous. Sebastian reached for his wand but Idris grabbed his hand before he could pull it out. 

“How timely,” Sirona hummed. 

Sirona rounded the bar to stand firmly between the two men and the four students. She wasn’t aggressive but she certainly seemed determined not to give an inch to Rookwood.

“Was that Lodgok I saw leaving just now?” Rookwood sneered. Your clientele’s not what it used to be, Sirona.”

“Not to worry Victor,” Sirona chuckled. “Once the two of you leave, the calibre of my clientele will greatly improve.”

Harlow grabbed for his wand but Sirona just sighed.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Theophilus” Sirona warned.

“Come now, no need for theatrics,” Rookwood drawled. “I’m only here for these two anyway.”

Rookwood pointed right at them and Percival’s grip on Idris’ hand tightened. Natty got to her feet between the twins and Rookwood and the three of them quickly followed. No one grabbed for their wands yet but it was obvious they were prepared to.

“My friend is enjoying a well-earned Butterbeer,” Sirona informed him.

“Only want a quick word,” Rookwood waved her off. 

He stepped forward and tried to grab Percival but Natty jumped in front of him, whipping her wand out. At the same time, every patron in the three Broomsticks followed her lead, standing and pulling out their wands, each pointed at Rookwood and Harlow. Harlow pulled out his wand too but Rookwood hesitated.

“Perhaps you didn’t hear me,” Sirona chirped. “I said my friend is busy.”

“ONe would think you’d all had enough bloodshed for one day,” Rookwood grumbled. “Come Theophilus. The Three Broomsticks isn’t what it used to be. Let’s take our Galleons elsewhere.”

With one last glare at the twins, he and Harlow begrudgingly left the Three Broomsticks. Sirona followed them a few steps but came back over to the students once she was sure the men were gone. 

“Seems you made an unfortunate enemy,” Sirone warned them. “Watch your back. Rookwood and Harlow are worse than any troll you might encounter.”

“Trolls, Ranrok, and Rookwood?” Sebastian shook his head. “What are you not telling us?”

“We’ll tell you everything I promise,” Idris replied as they glanced around, on the same thought train as Percy. 

“But not here,” Percival finished.

Sebastian looked like he wanted to argue but Natty spoke up before he could.

“I understand,” Natty replied. “Perhaps we should head back to the castle. I’m certain Professor Weasley would have heard about the troll attack by now. She will want to check on you.”

The twins followed their friends to the nearest floo flames and quickly ended up in Hogwarts Central Hall. Sure enough, Professor Weasley was waiting by the fountain despite the empty hall.

“Ah! There you are,” Weasley sighed in relief. “I’m grateful you’re alright. I heard of the troll attack, were any of you hurt?”

“We’re going to be sore in the morning,” Sebastian answered. “But we’re alright I think.”

“Thank you for waiting up for us, Professor,” Percival said. 

“You are my students, therefore it is my responsibility to keep you safe,” Weasley replied. “But it seems you’ve kept each other safe instead. Well done. Ten points for each of you.”

“So unfair,” Sebastian mumbled as Idris and Natty high fived.

“Now get to bed, all of you, it’s late,” Professor Weasley shooed them off.

They responded with a chorus of ‘Yes Professor’ and Sebastian split off for the Slytherin dorms. But when they got to the stairs of Ravenclaw tower Idris grabbed Percy’s hand to stop him.

“Natty you go ahead,” Idris said. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Is everything alright?” Natty checked. Percy was so glad Idris had befriended her. 

“Yeah, I just want to talk to Percy,” Idris promised. Natty hesitated but eventually nodded and left down the corridor. Once she was around the corner Idris pulled Percival into a nearby alcove. “How did you do that?”

“How did I do what?” Percival tilted his head. There were a lot of new things he’d done that day.

“How did you disintegrate a troll?!”

“I don’t know! I threw the crate like you told me how to do, then the feeling just stayed so I channeled it into my wand. It did the disintegration thing on its own.”

“What feeling?”

“You know, the Ancient Magic feeling. In your ribs? The pulling?”

“I don’t get a feeling.”

“What?”

“I can’t feel Ancient Magic. I just felt a connection to something like with accio but stronger. What do you mean you can feel it in your chest.”

“Whenever there’s ancient magic I can feel it, like a hook in my ribs pulling me to it. You can’t feel it?”

Idris leaned against the wall and ran a hand through their hair.

“No, I can’t,” Idris muttered. “So I probably can’t do that, that thing. I can’t use the Ancient Magic.”

“Yet, maybe it’s like charms and it’ll just take you a minute,” Percival tried to assure them.

“Yeah, because I can always do the things you can,” Idris rolled their eyes. Percival halted.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Percival asked slowly but Idris just shook their head. 

“Nothing,” Idris said. “Good night Percival.”

And on that happy note Idris rushed down the corridor before Percival could stop them, leaving them with nothing to do other than head to his dorm and try to sleep.

21 and 9 for perceth and 14 and 28 for a non canon ship of your choice

oooooo im gonna do idris and sebastian, those questions will be fun for them

Perceth (Percival x Garreth)

Percival would absoluely beat the shit out of anyone that hurt or threatened Garreth but if we're talking defending honor, Garreth has gotten in both duels and fistfights because someone was rude to Percival. Percival is pretty good at healing magic so he helps him but he is chiding him the entire time while Garreth just smiles like an idiot because he knows that's Percival being worried about him

They have children actually! Jasper Eleazar Valley, a Slytherin, and Rowena Annabelle Weasley, a Gryffindor. They're in the Marauders era because time is an illusion and I say so. Jasper actually is a Marauder and Perceth are really good parents.

Sebdris (Idris x Sebastian)

I could write an entire essay on this but I will try to keep it short. The main thing is that they really feed off each other, both in a positive and negative way. They're super supportive of each other and always there to help the other when needed, but they also enable each other and feed off each other's toxic traits and are both emotional in a way that can rule their actions.

As for clashing, the way that theyre emotional differs. Idris' emotions turn to desperation and clinginess. They can be blind to their own emotions and let them make decisions, while Sebastian can be ruled by anger and fear and lash out, which only makes Idris defensive and panicked and then they get stuck in this cycle until one of them manages to realize.

Both of them love petnames. Sebastian has a couple he just uses a lot, but Idris uses soooo many. They talk like they have a list of pet names a mile long in their pocket at all times.

🧑‍🏫 for Idris?

Idris Valley

It might be basic but it's Fig, followed by Weasley. They almost get in a fist fight with Ronen

👳🪁📚 for the MC ask game!

I went with Idris

Idris Valley

Not necessarily accident prone, they have a habit of jumping into things without thinking and getting hurt but it's not exactly an accident since they're making the choice themself

Anything to do with clothes and they do it. Sewing, crochet, embroidery, all of it

Herbology!

I'm curious, assuming you remember, what was it that got you to follow me?

My MCs as Taylor Swift Albums

Thinking about the triwizard tournament challenges and Idris having to rescue Percival from the lake I'm unwell

Behold, my children