Time Skip - 11 years later

Thursday September 1st 1994

"Percy! Percy! Wake up. We're almost at Hogwarts," I heard as I groggily opened my eyes. "WAKE UP!"

"I'm awake. Stop screaming in my ears, Isabel," I said as I sat up properly.

As I opened my eyes, the dim light filtering through the train windows cast soft shadows across the compartment. The worn upholstery of the seats bore the marks of countless journeys, while the rhythmic clacking of the wheels against the tracks provided a soothing background soundtrack to our conversation.

I glanced out the window, watching as the landscape whizzed by in a blur of colours. Trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling like whispers against the glass. Beyond the rolling hills, the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, signalling the approaching twilight.

"You look like you had a nightmare," Isabel said.

"Recurring nightmare," I corrected.

Silence and awkwardness filled the room. The air was getting heavier, and I felt my chest constrict. I started hyperventilating. With each inhale, I felt my chest tighten further, the familiar sensation of anxiety gripping me like a vice. My heart hammered against my ribcage, its erratic rhythm echoing in my ears. I clenched my fists, trying to ground myself as a wave of dizziness washed over me. The world seemed to spin, the train compartment tilting precariously as I struggled to regain my composure.

I punched my chest in frustration, desperate to alleviate the pressure that seemed to crush my lungs with each passing moment. My vision blurred, the edges of my perception growing hazy as I fought to keep my breathing steady. I could feel my head going numb.

"Percival Laurentis Gustavus Ebonwood. Breath. Think. Think of your happy place. Pink, fluffy clouds. Imagine your worries floating away on pink fluffy clouds," Pricilla said as she tried to calm down.

It did help a little. I was able to think. I thought of what my grandmother taught me to deal with: the 333 rule. Looking straight ahead, I tried to identify three objects. I saw a girl. Think. Think. Her name was Jessica Collins. She was wearing her prefect badge. She had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. That was only two things! I need three things. I looked around, trying to fixate my gaze on something, anything. My eyes rested on the polished wood panelling, the faded Hogwarts crest emblazoned above the door, and the soft glow of the lanterns overhead, casting a warm, welcoming light.

I closed my eyes. I focused on the sounds around me. The air inside the train's other compartment was filled with a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation. Laughter and chatter echoed down the narrow aisles as students eagerly discussed their plans for the upcoming school year. I heard the crickets chirping outside. The distant whistle of the train and the rhythmic rocking motion created a sense of familiarity that made most of my worries float away. I then slowly turned my head left and right. I lifted my left hand above my head. My right knee jerked up. I let out a deep and long exhale. I opened my eyes.

"Are you feeling better?" Jessica asked.

"Yes," I replied. "Sorry about that."

"No need to apologise," the last girl said. "We all have our moments. Now onto something less depressing: how was your time at the Greengrass Manor?"

"It was okay. I was mainly there for business," I replied.

"I can't believe this time next year our boy wonder will be cemented in the history books," Jennifer said.

"It's not that amazing," Isabel said. "I'll be in the books in the future."

"Its not that amazing, my arse. How many seventeen year olds can you name that have found a viable cure to a blood curse that was previously thought to be incurable for the last millennia? None! That's because there are none," Jennifer said.

"Stop fangirling over him," Pricilla said. "You have to admit it is a little surreal that you're in the same compartment as a future history maker."

"Okay, it's a little, but I'll be like him in the future," Isabel said.

"I'll only be mentioned if I successfully cure Astoria," I said.

"Nonsense. You've already cured, what, sixteen girls?"

"Seventeen," Jessica corrected Jennifer.

"Seventeen! You will definitely be mentioned in the history books."

We then started talking about other famous researchers and innovators until someone knocked on the door. It was the Crown of Slytherin. We were almost at Hogwarts. He then left soon after.

"I'll go clean myself up and look presentable. After, I'll start from the back and herd them off," I said as I got up from my seat.

"This time, remember to check every single compartment."

"Last time you left one behind."

"He was balling his eyes out as McGonagall brought him in."

"And we had to stop eating to sort him."

"This time, I'll make sure to check all the compartments," I said. "Have anyone of you seen the Potter trio?"

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Yes, I saw them boarding," Jessica said.

"Anything off about them?" Jennifer asked.

"It didn't seem like anything was off."

"Finally, one year without anything weird happening," Pricilla said.

"I could drink to that," I said as I opened the door. "I'll see you four by the carriages."

"Yeah, we'll be waiting. We're taking our normal route," Isabel said.

"Can't wait."

As I left the compartment, the rhythmic clatter of the train echoed through the narrow corridor. I made my way down the dimly lit passage. As I reached the end of the carriage, I found myself standing before the door to the prefects' restroom.

With a firm rap of my knuckles, I knocked on the door, waiting patiently as the lock clicked and the door swung open. Two figures emerged from the restroom, their expressions guarded as they glanced nervously in my direction. The first, Naomi, stood tall with her dark hair pulled back in a tight bun, her sharp gaze piercing. The second, a boy with tousled hair and furtive eyes, avoided my gaze.

"Not a word, Percy," Naomi whispered, her voice tense, as she reached into her pocket and withdrew a handful of galleons, extending them towards me. "Not a single word."

Without a word, I accepted the payment, pocketing the coins with a curt nod of acknowledgment. I stepped past her into the restroom, the door closing behind me with a soft click.

Inside, I approached the sink. Cupping my hands beneath the faucet, I splashed my face with icy water, the cool rush of water washing away all the anxiety I had felt. I lingered for a moment, looking at myself in the mirror. Straightening my robes and fixing my hair, I then turned towards the door.

As he exited the restroom, I felt the cool breeze rush past my face and ruin my hair. Some idiot had opened the window while I was in the restroom. I made my way to the back of the train. Once I got there, I waited for the PA system to ring and inform the students we were arriving at Hogsmeade station in a few moments. As the announcement ended, I wasted no time, starting to knock on each compartment door methodically. With each compartment I passed, I knocked rather harshly on the door, my voice cutting through the silence as I issued the last wake-up call.

Moving from one end of the train to the middle, I repeated this, ensuring that no compartment was left unchecked, unlike last time. But I did struggle with one compartment. That was because of the three girls inside it: the Mitford triplet. Two years ago, I cured their grandmother of Blood Maleductus, and last summer, I prevented their mother from succumbing completely to the blood curse. Their mother was an avid nudist in her own home, just like their grandmother. I suspect it is from their time spent as animals. The daughters picked up on this habit.

The three fifth years were sleeping nude without putting a locking charm on the door, and I walked into that compartment. I did a complete U-turn and turned around, as I am in a committed relationship. Well, was. We are currently taking a break. I transfigured my head boy badge into a blindfold and re-entered the room. Using the sonorous charm, I politely shouted for them to wake up and put some clothes on. The youngest triplet winked at me before I turned and left. How do I know she winked at me? I'm a seventeen year old boy. Take a guess.

After that, there were no hiccups. Once I got to the middle of the train, I saw Jessica stepping onto the platform with the other three Ravenclaw girls. I ushered all the younger years out of the train before stepping out myself. I then counted the number of first-year students still waiting on the platform before making my way towards Naomi, the head girl.

As I made my way towards Naomi, I heard someone calling out my name. I turned to see the youngest of the Mitford triplets lunge at me. The oldest came rushing after her and tried peeling her off of me. She was successful after the youngest slapped my arse and let go. While walking towards the carriages, the youngest turned around and winked in my direction. The middle Mitford slapped the youngest on the back of the head before the triplet descended into chaos. I then turned around and walked towards Naomi.

"Having fun over there? What would your girlfriend think of that?" Naomi said with a smirk.

"I don't care what she thinks," I replied.

"Oh, drama! You have to tell me what's going on later. How many did you count?" She asked.

"Nope, it's none of your business, and 73," I replied. "That means one of us needs to go to the boathouse and get some more boats out of storage."

"Wand's Choice, not me!" Naomi exclaimed. I gave her a look. "What? I'm not doing it."

"I don't want to do it."

"Neither do I. There are more Ravenclaws than Hufflepuff, so you can ask them for help."

"There are only five of us."

"And there's only four Hufflepuffs in our year. I need to go. The boys are getting impatient and are ready to leave," Naomi said, her tone firm.

I sighed. "Fine. I'll do it if you take four of my patrols."

Naomi raised an eyebrow. "One."

"Four."

"Two."

We locked eyes for a moment before Naomi relented. "Acceptable. I'll see you in the Great Hall then."