Chapter 24

The prank had some...unforeseen consequences. Basically it was the declaration of all out war between the twins and Percy, Harry had begged to be left alone, and feeling pity for the boy Percy agreed.

Not a day went by when the twins and Percy hadn't tried to prank the other's to oblivion. It was the stuff of legends, the kind that would go down in Hogwarts history, well, maybe not the book, but definitely in the minds of the student's and teacher's.

It started with the twins counter prank on Percy, where the demigod was turned purple and inflated like a balloon. The twins then threw him around the castle like a giant rubber ball until finally sticking him to the ceiling of the Great Hall.

For that little insult Percy took a page out of the Stoll brothers' prank book. He put itching powder in all their clothing, and then charmed it so that every time Fred and George tried to scratch the itch away they would instead feel twice as itchy as before. It got so bad the twins ended up jumping into the Black Lake to wash the powder away.

They didn't have any breaks, sometime the pranks would come during class, like in Runes when Percy's stationary suddenly got up and started to dance. Or in potions, when the twins' cauldron exploded and turned their hair blonde like a Malfoy's.

And the weekends were worse. May magic have mercy on anyone who got in their way, even by accident. Once the twins and Percy stumbled onto each other by accident on Sunday, immediately the entire corridor emptytied, even though they weren't planning any pranks at that time.

It lasted two glorious weeks, horrifying for the teachers though. Percy and the twins had detention everyday, until McGonagall had enough and put a stop to it by threatening to expel them all. So sadly they did stop, though not until Percy got one last prank in by turning the twins into women, and then possessing with them for Colin to take a photo, a sort of poetic end to the war a similar prank started.

And so now two weeks later Percy found himself in Transfiguration finishing up a class assignment. He sighed as he finished the ten inches of parchment she asked for about human transfiguration, he really missed the pranking.

"Alright class that is enough for today, put away your parchments," McGonagall looked at Percy's hand rise up and sighed, "yes Mr. Jackson, if you have already finished your assignment you may submit it to me now."

As the class began to pack up though the professor spoke again, "oh and before I forget, I do have an announcement to make, as you all might not know, it is a tradition during every Triwizard tournament for a dance to be held. This is the Yule ball and it will happen on Christmas day at 8 pm. Only students at fourth year and above are allowed, I expect you all to have dates and for anyone who can't dance to learn how, very quickly."

Percy's blinked, "fuck me." The class broke into whispers as they all left the room, Percy took this chance to speak to the professor privately, "ah, professor, I was wondering-"

"-Yes Mr. Jackson, it is compulsory for Triwizard champions to attend the ball. No excuses."

Percy gulped under her glare, nodding quickly before leaving the classroom. He glided across the corridors, as he now so often did when thinking about something important. It seemed his body dealt with stress better when he didn't have to focus on walking so damn much, and right now he was under a lot of stress.

'Dance?! I can't dance! Hell I'm the least graceful person in the whole goddamn world! I'm pretty sure if there's a Greek God of dancing he hates my guts! Wait...isn't Mr. D the God of parties...fuck! I'm screwed!'

Percy's head was filled with dread as the day went by, eventually it was lunch and Percy was still panicking. As he walked to the Hufflepuff table he noticed Fleur looking at him with a smirk and immediately Percy realized she wanted him to ask her to the dance.

And Percy did, oh how he did. But there was just one tiny problem, he had no fcking idea how to dance!

Percy gulped as he sat down next to the french veela, "hey," he greeted her.

"'Ello," she wished back as they put food onto their plate, "'ow waz clazzez today?"

"Great," Percy nodded, gulping, "I-ah, well it was great."

"I zee...anyt'ing you want to zay to me?" Fleur asked with a coy smile.

"Well, I ah...no?"

Fleur blinked, "really? Nothing? Nothing at all?"

"Well it's just...I..." she stared into his eyes until he sighed, "I can't dance."

Whatever she was expecting this wasn't it, "I'm zorry?"

"I can't dance for shit okay?" Percy pouted, "I don't want to embrace you at the dance is all."

Fleur stared for a moment before she suddenly burst in laughter, "oh my god! This is priceless!"

"Hey! It's not funny!" Percy growled as everyone looked over to see why the two 'lovers' were talking about now.

"I-I am zorry!" Fleur chuckled wiping her tears, "it'z juzt t'at it waz zuch a zilly t'ing! Many people don't know 'ow to dance Perzy! Don't worry, I'll teach you!"

Percy blinked, "you will?"

"Of courze!" Fleur nodded, she looked up and smiled, "t'at iz of courze, if you and I are going to go t'e dance...together?"

Percy blushed, "of course!"

"Good, now ztop worrying so much, you need to ztart thinking about 'ow to azk me out for t'e dance."

"Right, yeah of course-wait what? What do you mean?" Percy asked stunned.

"W'at? Did you t'ink I don't want to be c'armed like any other girl?" Fleur huffed, "I demand romance Perzy Jackson! Azk me properly to the dance, or you can forget about t'e dancing!"

"I thought you hated romance!"

Fleur meet his gaze and smirked, "I lied."

Percy's jaw dropped as Fleur sniggred and went back to the meal, the people around them watched all this go down and whispered to themselves, curious as to what Percy was going to do.

After lunch Percy found himself walking down the school corridors grumbling to himself about what he should do to ask out Fleur. As he compiled a list in his head he noticed a young couple in the corner, between a suit of armour and a large marble pillar.

This wasn't exactly new for Percy, he had happened upon several couples over the weeks and usually either left them alone or pranked them a little. This time he chose to do the former, but as he was leaving he realised just who the two lovebirds were, and a mighty big grin washed over his face.

"Oh Harrykins!" Percy called out, the male in the couple stiffened as he slowly turned around to see Percy lording over him with a ball of water floating besides him, "you two look like you need to cool off."

Susan and Harry gulped, "please don't," Harry begged.

Percy chuckled, "fine," he snapped his fingers dismissing the water ball, "consider it your lucky day. But then again by the state of Susan's lips I would say it's already a good day eh?"

Harry and Susan blushed red as they were lowered their head in shame.

Percy chuckled, "next time use an abandoned classroom, or you know, anywhere else less public."

"Yeah, we'll do that," Harry nodded, "it's all her fault really."

"Pratt!" Susan hissed, hitting him in the shoulder making Harry smile, "don't believe him, it's all his idea. The moment I said yes he just pushed me against the wall he did! Didn't even stop to breath!"

Percy whistled, raising his hand up, "nice," Harry grinned high fived it, "so how did he ask you?"

"Oh you know, just used the old Potter charm," Harry grinned.

"He brought me flowers and stammered it out," Susan snorted, picking up a bouquet of flowers Percy hadn't realised had been on the ground, guess they forgot about during the heated make out session.

Percy looked at the flowers, roses, Percy turned to Harry, "thanks matey, you just gave me an idea!"

Harry and Susan looked confused, but before they could ask him anything Percy took off flying at max speed to his next class.

That Evening:

Fleur looked around the hall but couldn't find Percy anywhere. She was worried, had she drown him away? Was she too arrogant? She knew it was too much asking him to do such a thing, after all she had accused him of being a playboy just a few weeks ago and now this? Fleur didn't want to lose Percy, but now-

"Fleur!" Camille called out snapping the french veela out of her daze.

"I'm sorry, what is it?"

"About time, you looked like you were brain damaged. Here, I was told to give you this," Camille passed her a letter with her name written on the cover in a beautiful font.

Curious Fleur opened it up and suddenly the letter exploded into a pink cloud out of which a cartoonish yellow bird flew out. It had giant blue eyes and two small feather like wings that were flapping curiously like a humming bird. The muggleborn children recognized the bird from the Looney Toons cartoons, while the rest, Fleur included, just looked stumped.

"Heya pretty bird! Follow me!" Tweety bird called out as it circled around Fleur's head before flying out of the Great Hall. Curious, Fleur and a few of her friends and Hufflepuff students got up and followed the bird.

"Come on! You got to keep up!" it squeaked in a cute tone as it zoomed out the of the castle doors to the outside.

They followed it down the beaten pathway towards the Black Lake where it flew by the side of the bank towards the same tree that she and Percy slept under after the First task.

"We're here!" the bird chirped before disappearing in a puff of smoke. The students that followed looked curious as to why there were here while Fleur quickly caught on.

Suddenly the leaves started to glow, like an eel in the dark depths of the oceans each and every leaf started to glow like a lightbulb. The light made them all squint, and when their eyes finally adjusted to the brightness, they found someone standing before them under the tree.

"Hey Tweety bird," it was Percy's voice, though Fleur couldn't see his face as it was shadowed by the glowing tree behind him. He brought out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back, they were sunflowers, glowing bright yellow, similar to the tree.

The veela covered her gaping mouth with both hands and gasped, as Percy got down on one knee presenting the flowers and asked, "Fleur, would you go to the Yule ball with me?"

Only to be tackled into a hug by the french veela that sent him back into the tree. He chuckled as she kissed his cheeks and forehead, "I'm guess that's a yes?"

"You bet it's a yes! Oh you stupid boy you didn't have to do all this! If you had just asked it would have been enough!" she replied making Percy chuckle.

"Holy shit!" Juan's jaw dropped, "this is amazing!"

"Should we like go?" Cedric asked in a whisper.

"Yez, let uz give t'em a moment," Camille agreed as they all quickly went back to the castle, leaving Fleur and Percy alone under their glowing tree.

The next day news of Percy and Fleur spread like wildfire. It only served to raise the standards for every other boy there when asking a girl to the dance. Many grumbled and cursed Percy for that, but in the end there were so many romantic displays in Hogwarts it felt like Valentine's day had come early.

That night Percy and Fleur found an empty classroom and like Fleur had promised she had started to teach him how to dance.

It was little things at first, just how to hold her hands, where to hold and a few basic movements. But it seems Percy was something of a dancing prodigy as he picked up the basics quickly and soon went on to do his own thing, often allowing the music to guide his actions. Like always he followed his instincts first before anything else.

A week went by like this, Percy spent most his time dancing with Fleur, in classes or with his many pet projects.

Now that the cloak of levitation was done, Percy needed a new project to focus on. The Felix potion was coming along well, should be done at the end of the year if his calculations were correct. The map thing….well that wasn't going anywhere fast, so for now Percy put that in the 'cool ideas I have no idea how to complete' pile.

He did however have something in mind. Last week in charms they were looking over certain powerful charms, and one of them was the unbreakable charm. A nifty little thing to be honest, makes anything it's cast on unbreakable, unless you got rid of the charm first.

And this got Percy thinking, the charm was basically the curse of Achilles, except for one mortal point, so maybe by using this charm he could get ride of his one weakness as well?

It was worth a short.

His mortal point was on his back, directly behind where his navel was. It was too high up for a belt of some kind, and not just that, a belt would have been too obvious. He needed the thing to be inconspicuous, so as to not draw attention to it.

Unfortunately there weren't any pieces of clothing that could do that, so Percy dropped the clothes idea.

Instead he took a piece of silk and carved several runes on it. He made it indestructible, and since he did it with runes one couldn't just infinte the charm. He stuck the circular piece of cloth around his mortal spot, the runes made it permanent with Percy being the only one who could remove it.

He also charmed it to match his skin colour and also put in several notice-me-not charms. He wasn't sure the charms would stick, but he knew for a fact that the runes would work. So now he was technically indestructible, as far as anyone else knew.

The weekend before Christmas:

A lot of time had passed, it was hard for Percy to believe he had been in the school for only a few months, it had honestly felt much longer, like he had know the castle and everyone in it for all his life.

Though he supposed that was because in a way he had. Camp Half-blood and Hogwarts was very similar and yet so different. He did love Hogwarts, but the memory of camp always kept him awake at night.

But he didn't let the past, no wait, future, no wait technically it's his past so...fuck it. He had a life now and he was going to live it.

It was a few days until Christmas and Percy came to realise he didn't have a single gift for the many friends he had made so far. That Saturday wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend, but Percy flew over to the town anyway and thanks to his cloak he wasn't caught.

He had to hide his clothes and wear his blue robes instead of his school robes, easier to blend in. He spotted Fred and George as well running all over the place, but they didn't see him, good thing too, the town wouldn't be able to handle a prank war.

Percy snuck from store to store, keeping his head down and buying things quickly. He got chocolate for Ron, a few advanced books for Hermione, a ball of yarn that never ran out for Heather, who loved to knit, go figure right?

He ended up buying enough for everyone, except for Harry, Fleur and Hecate. Those he wanted to give something a little more personal.

As he finished for the day Percy went to the three broomsticks and sat down by the counter callin Rosmerta over.

"Hello dear what can I-" the innkeeper stopped and smiled, "well hello there Percy, fancy seeing you here. I didn't realise it's Hogsmeade weekend," she teased.

Percy chuckled, "it's not, but I needed to do some last minute shopping, so I figured why not? You aren't going to tell on me are you?"

The woman chuckled, "oh no dear, don't worry, you aren't the only one who sneaks out here from time to time. Hell I doubt you'll be the last, my lips are sealed. Now what'll it be?"

"Hmm, chicken pot pie and a butter beer please," Percy smiled.

"Coming right up!"

As Percy ate his lunch he noticed people coming through the floo. It was probably connected to Leaky Caldron as well, Percy realised he didn't have a set of robes for the ball yet, so maybe this would be the perfect time to get some!

After paying for his lunch, where he left a very generous tip for the innkeeper's silence, Percy took a pinch of floo powder and stepped through calling out, "Diagon Alley!"

Percy stepped out moments later covered in soot in the familiar magical pub. He grumbled as he banished the soot away, he hated the floor, too damn hot.

"Percy!" Tom called out, "aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"Doing some Christmas shopping Tom!" Percy called out with a chuckle, "don't tell okay!"

Tom grinned, "sure thing, oh Knight of Hogwarts."

"Oh thank you Tom, you know I've been trying to get people to call me that in school, not working," Percy grumbled.

"Give it time Percy, these sort of things tend to stick you see, easier for people to remember faces if they have a title. Don't' you worry, the moment you're out of Hogwarts people will be calling you that left, right and center. Now hurry along, don't want to miss out on any of the stores before they close!"

Percy wished Tom well before leaving to the magical alley. He headed straight to Madam Malkin's for a set of dance robes. He asked the shopkeeper to show him a few and immediately regretted his decision.

The robes were shit to say the least. Each had those ugly as shit lace trimmings along the borders and horrible colours to match. Seriously, who thought maroon and green were a good match? Fucking wizards needed to learn fashion designing, just because they can shoot sparks out of a piece of wood they think they are fucking perfect, fucking idiots.

Obviously Percy held issue with the robe selections.

He would rather die than be seen wearing these ridiculous things, so instead he went to Gringotts and changed his coins into pounds. He transfigured his robes into a pair of jeans and a hoodie and slipped into the muggle side of London.

If Percy knew one thing about Britishers it was this, they had a great sense of fashion when it came to suits, example 'A', James freaking Bond, which was why it is such a shame the same couldn't be said for their magical side.

Percy walked around for a bit before stumbling onto a store that specialised in tailor made suits with the name, 'Kingsman' emblazoned in gold.

Percy walked in, the store just oozed class. From the lighting to the decorum, even the soft classical music made this place seem a class above everyone else. There were various suit jackets in place, double breasted, silk, velvet and so many more different styles. And standing behind a counter was a properly dressed gentleman who raised an eyebrow at Percy's attire.

Percy smiled, "I need a suit."

"Well you certainly come to the right place then," the man gave a small smile, "anything in particular?"

Percy smirked, "make it something James Bond would wear….only no bow ties, I prefer ties."

"Any color in particular?"

"Make it... make it sea blue with a black undershirt and throw in a pair of black shoes in there as well," Percy smiled.

"Hm, very well, but I must warn you our suits can be quite...pricy."

"I have a thousand pounds in my pocket. Will that be enough?" Percy asked with a raised eyebrow.

The man smiled and nodded, "perhaps. Right this way," the motioned to a room on the left. Inside Percy's measurements was taken and the finer details of the suit's specifics were discussed.

It took them an hour before he was done. They stepped out and the man noted down Percy's orders.

"How long will it take?" Percy asked.

"It will take 2 to 4 weeks sir," the man informed him.

"I need it before Christmas," Percy argued.

"I can't rush-"

"I'll pay you double," Percy rolled his eyes.

The man chuckled, "very well, I'll see what I can do."

Percy left the store with a receipt for the suit to be picked up on the 24th. He whistled as he made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron as the sun set in the distance.

Christmas Day:

Fleur wasn't nervous, no she was not. And if anyone told you otherwise they were lying through their teeth.

That morning she woke up to a small pile of gifts from her friends and family. Her father and mother bought her a blue dress that would match her eyes, sleeveless and strapless with peacocks embroidered in silver along the edges.

Her little sister bought her a pendant with a silver feather on it, needless to say the girl had inherited their family's sense of style.

Fleur got a few other gifts, books, chocolate, a picture of a man in the nude with his name and address written on the back, you know the usual. Well, atleast for a veela that is.

But there was one present she was looking forward too, and that was Percy's. It was a small ring box, if Fleur didn't know better she would have thought it was an wedding band in there.

That fantasy lasted for a few moments in her head, they had a house, two kids and a dog. Sighing Fleur shook her head clear of such fantasies and opened the present to find a ring inside with a small note attached to it.

'Hey Tweety bird,

I don't know if this is the right thing to do, but I know you have trouble with the allure always getting in the way. So I thought I could help out. I know a pretty strong concealment charm, I modified it and forged it into the ring. Put it on and goodbye allure!

But remember, always be proud of what you are, like me, I'm a Hufflepuff, but I never let that get me down now did I?!

I'll see you tonight,

Percy Jackson,

Future Triwizard champion.'

Fleur's eyes went wide as she turned to the ring. It was a simple silver band, nothing too fancy. Though upon closer inspection she saw runes inscribed in minute detail over it's surface. She put the note and box down and took out the ring, putting it on her right hand after little hesitation.

She felt her magic suddenly being pushed up against her skin. It was like the allure she was unknowingly producing was being filtered out, she could feel her magic being pulled under control.

Fleur's eyes went wide, she ran out of her room and into the common room the Beauxbatons students had inside the carriage. She looked around and spotted Hugo snuggled up with Camille on the couch by the fireplace.

"Hugo!" Fleur called out drawing his attention to her, "I need your help. Do you feel attracted to me?"

"Fleur! What do you think you're doing?!" Calmille cried out.

Hugo blinked, "what, no of course not I mean….wait, how is this possible?"

Fleur's eyes went wide, "oh my god, it actually works!"

"What is going on here?" Camille asked now more confused than angry.

"It's her allure," Hugo whispered, "I can't feel it! There's always this little bit that calls out to me before but now, nothing!"

Fleur held up her hand showing off the ring on her ring finger, "this is somehow blocking my allure!"

They looked shocked as Fleur explained how this was Percy's gift to her and how he had put in some sort of charm to block her allur. Hugo exclaimed how for the first time it felt natural to talk to Fleur, how he didn't have to have half his mind dedicated to blocking her allure.

The three friends spent the entire day talking, Fleur, excited by the mere prospect of talking to people and not being stared at like a piece of meat.

She and Percy agreed to meet up at the Great Hall before the ball. She didn't want to show him the dress she wore, wanting to surprise him.

She put on her dress and makeup, for once she actually needed to dress up, her allure wouldn't be making her drop dead beautiful without effort anymore. Which was both a good and a bad thing.

Fleur wore the necklace her little sister gave her and walked out into the cool evening air. It was nearly time for the ball to start. As she walked to the gate of Hogwarts she noticed other couples walk by, the boys completely ignoring her presence in favour of their dates. Fleur smiled, this was exactly what she wanted.

As the rest of the students went into the hall Fleur was made to wait outside as her walking in would begin the event.

She waited outside for a moment before being joined by Viktor Krum and Harry Potter, the latter of whom Fleur knew was a close friend of Percy's.

"'Arry, you look 'andzome," Fleur greeted him politely eyeing the elegant robes he sprouted. A warm brown with green trimming that matched his eyes.

"Thank you Fleur, you too," Harry nodded looking her over, "isn't Percy here yet?"

"I'm not zure, we agreed to meet up here, t'oug' 'e z'ouldn't be long now," Fleur shrugged, "and your date?"

"She's right-" Harry stopped mid sentence as he looked over Fleur's shoulder towards the staircase. The vella followed his eyes and spotted the bushy haired girl who always followed Harry around along with his red haired friend. Only she no longer hand bushy hair or those hideous front teeth.

She glided down the stairs in a periwinkle blue dress robe and a stunning smile. She walked over to Krum and greeted him, apparently she was his date.

Fleur turned to Harry and chuckled, "you zhould close your mout' Mr. Potter, it'z rude to ztare."

"Yeah, not going to happen," he said continuing to look at the staircase. Surprised, Fleur turned to look at what he was actually staring at and in the back of the long corridor was a young woman with red hair dressed in equally red robes.

'So that's who he was staring at,' Fleur realised as she watched the girl aproach hair, blushing, 'he must have amazing eyes if he noticed her first before his friend….or just hopelessly in love.'

"Y-you look amazing," Harry stammered.

"Thanks," Susan Bones blushed, "you too. I like your robes."

"Thanks," Harry gulped.

"Oh for god's sake Harry give her the corsage!" Hermione hissed.

Harry blinked out of his state of daze and looked around finally noticing Hermione, "Hermione? When did you get here?"

The brainy girl grumbled rubbing her temples, "nevermind that, corsage remember?"

"Oh, right!" Harry took out a beautiful corsage out of his robes and presented it to Susan, "i-it's a muggle thing, when we go to dances the guy gives the girl this. I hope you like it."

Susan smiled at the flowers, "it's beautiful! I love it," she presented her hand and Harry slipped it on.

Just then the doors opened a little allowing professor McGonagall walked out looking at the champions, frowning at Fleur's lack of partner.

"Where is Mr. Jackson?" she asked.

"We don't know," Harry shrugged, "he said he would be here."

"If he isn't here in five minutes then we are going to have to start without him," the woman huffed.

"Don't worry professor," Fleur smiled, "I'm zure 'e'll be 'ere."

"And why do you think-"

"Sorry I'm late!" came a familiar American voice.

Fleur smiled, "t'at'z w'y," she turned around and looked up just in time to see Percy fly through the Hogwarts doors. Her eyes landed on his face and her smile dropped, replaced to one of absolute awe.

He had cut his hair shorter, it was now slicked back and combed. His eyes seemed to sparkle with a sea green hue, the suit he wore looked tailormade for him, sea blue with a black shirt. He had even charmed the colour of his cloak of levitation from red and gold to blue and black to match his outfit.

He looked like a model, a piece of forbidden fruit given life and a body. And he landed before Fleur with the grace of a cat smiling a half smile that made her blush, "hey pretty bird, you look amazing."

Fleur's jaw didn't move, instead of words incoherent noise came out. Hermione and Susan were equally surprised, blushes all around.

Percy caught on and looked concerned, "ah, you alright there Tweety? You look stunned," Percy noticed Harry and Susan, "heya love birds! Looking cute as ever! And...is that a corsage? Dammit! I should have got one!"

"Mr. Jackson," Professor McGonagall called out, "you were nearly late."

"And yet I am most definitely fashionable," Percy smirked.

The professor nodded, "you do clean up well Mr. Jackson I'll give you that. Now be ready, I'll open the door in five minutes when you'll enter and be guided to the main dining table," and with that she left.

Percy turned to Fleur and grumbled, "shesh, I swear that woman doesn't know how to smile," seeing Fleur's still blank look Percy grew worried, "Fleur? Are you okay?"

"You look amazing," she whispered.

Percy grinned, "thanks, you don't look half bad yourself."

"B-but 'ow! W'at did you do to look zo different?" Fleur asked surprised and quite curious.

Percy shrugged, "I don't really know what you mean. I mean all I did was get a new haircut, wash my face and comb my hair. I also got my nails cleaned," Percy looked at his nails, "maybe that's it?"

"Are you telling me all this vhile you have never actually taken an effort in maintaining your looks?" Krum asked curious as he often had to put on makeup and the like for many photoshoots.

Percy shrugged, "no, not really."

"So this is you actually trying?" Hermione asked, her left eyes twitching uncontrollably for some reason.

Percy shrugged, "pretty much I guess."

"It does kind of make sense," Harry shrugged, "I don't remember you ever getting a haircut before. Maybe that's it."

"A simple haircut doesn't do this!" Susan cried out, pointing at the gorgeous man standing before her.

"I don't know, guess I'm just like that," Percy replied with a shrug while thinking, 'maybe it's my godly side kicking in. After all gods have always been called breathtakingly beautiful, well except Hephaestus, maybe this is just my godly side coming out.'

"You are worze than a veela," Fleur huffed, "t'e moment people zee you like t'iz, I just know I'm going to be in for a lot of trouble."

"Everyone get ready, they are about to begin," Hermione hissed as they all got in position. Percy and Fleur at the lead, given Percy's first place lead, Viktor and Hermione following them with Harry and Susan at the end, which was just fine with Harry, let the veela and the impossibly gorgeous man take all the attention away from him.

The doors opened and Percy was amazed at the transformation the hall had undergone. There was a giant christmas tree put up in one corner, several floating bells that jingled and fake snow that fell from the sky.

The champions walked down the hall, the students were all sitting down in circular while tables, ten per table. As the champions walked down the hall all eyes went to the leads. And more specifically the demigod with the really cool cape.

Percy looked like he was cut out of a witch's weekly magazine for most eligible bachelor. His suit was like a punch in the face for all the purebloods in the room. It was an insult for the champion of Hogwarts to not be wearing robes during the Yule ball, and while most didn't care, a few did.

Percy walked with confidence, his stance radiating power. His cape billowed behind him, seemingly pushed by the sheer power that he gave off. His walk was like that of a king's march towards his throne.

He lead his date who began to notice the eyes of all the women in the room land on her date. While she knew she had nothing to fear, Fleur couldn't help a feeling of inferiority creep over her, this was the first time she ever felt like that.

The champions stopped at the main table, the three headmasters looked at them in shock. While Dumbledore just smiled Madam Maxine looked impressed by Fleur's date. Karkaroff on the other hand seemed to be one of those people who felt insulted at the sight of muggle wear at the ball.

Percy noticed the other Percy, Percy Weasley, sitting at the main table, he grew curious as to the man's presence and decided to sit there, with his date following suit. Krum sat next to his own headmaster while Harry sat besides Hermione, happy to be near one corner of the table. Maxim was stuck between Percy Weasley and Dumbledore, but waved happily at Fleur.

The entire hall sat down for dinner, Dumbledore looked down at his clean white porcelain plate and so the menu on it, he picked it up and looked it over, "pork chops," he ordered, the dish appearing in his plate. The rest of the room caught on, taking the man's lead as they quickly began to eat.

"Your name's Percy as well right?" Percy asked the Weasley sitting besides him, "Ron's older brother correct?"

The man puffed his chest in pride and nodded, "yes I am. I've just been promoted to Mr. Crouch's assistant and am currently filling in for him."

Percy nodded, "I'm so sorry to hear that, is he alright?"

"Oh he's fine, just a case of the stomach bug, he sends us correspondence by mail, so it isn't an issue," Percy waved off his concern.

Percy, the demigod, nodded as he turned to Fleur looking at her mean. He took a whiff and hissed, "is that fish."

Fleur raised an eyebrow, "and if it iz?"

"Then you're not getting a goodnight kiss tonight," Percy teased.

The veela chuckled, "w'at is it wit' you and fizh? W'y do you 'ate it zo muc'?"

"I think they are disgusting little things," Percy shuddered, "can't stand the sight, smell or taste of them," which was all a lie. He was the prince of the seas, the fish were his subjects, he could communicate with them. To him it was almost like they were his friends! But he every well couldn't say that could he?

"How iz t'iz pozzible? Are you not greek?" Fleur teased fully knowing his usual flaunting of his heritage.

"I am greek, but that has nothing to do with this," Percy huffed, "but I suppose it's only fair, after all given your heritage, you must love fish."

Fleur looked confused, "w'at do you mean?"

"You know, considering you turn into a fire throwing bird?" Percy snickered.

"'Ow rude!" Fler puffed her cheeks, "I'll 'ave you know juzt becauze veela'z tranzform into birdz doezn't mean we are birdz!"

"Do you like flying on a broomstick?"

"Yez, but-"

"Do you get the urge to go somewhere warm during winter?"

"Everyone doez t'at!"

"Do you like eating fish?"

"Yez..."

"Do you pamper your hair?"

"'Ow does tzat make me a bird?!"

"Birds have feathers, you have hair, same difference," Percy shrugged, "hence you are in fact a bird," Percy leaned over and kissed her cheek, "and very pretty bird."

Fleur growled, "you're lucky I like you."

"Or?"

"Or you would be bird food right now."

"So you are a bird!" Percy exclaimed, chuckling as Fleur swatted his arm. Percy looked Fleur over, properly looking at what she was wearing, "I like the dress. Very appropriate, heck you even have birds embroidered on the side."

Fleur looked down and rolled her eyes, "merde, didn't realize t'at. T'ank you t'oug', my parents gave it to me," she touched her necklace, "and Gabriella gave me t'is."

Percy looked down and noticed her ring, "and I gave you that."

Fleur smiled and nodded, "thank you."

"Does it work?" he whispered, "I'll admit I never got a chance to test it out."

"It does," Fleur nodded, "I tried to uze my allure on 'Ugo but it didn't work! It'z under control! 'Ow did you even find the charm Perzy?"

"I remember something similar to it, just had to make a few adjustments before you could use it," Percy shrugged as he felt the trident charm he always wore around his neck grow heavy. The same charm that blocked his scent was the basis for Fleur's charm.

"T'ank you," Fleur smiled, "you look amazing t'is evening as well Perzy. T'ough I must say I'm zurprised by the zuit."

"Haha, yeah, thanks Fleur," Percy chuckled.

"I must agree with Ms. Delacour," Percy Weasley spoke up, "it is very unusual for one to wear muggle clothing for a magical ball."

Percy shrugged, "I guess I'm just not used to wearing robes. I still see myself as a muggle more than a magician, plus I'm not a fan of the bathrobes," Percy shuddered.

"Bathrobes!" Karkaroff hissed, "these aren't bathrobes!"

"Yes they are."

"No they are not!"

"Yes they are. Does the robes you wear to the bath look similar to the ones you are wearing right now?"

"Yes but-"

"-Thank you, hence they are bathrobes," Percy shrugged, "plus maybe it's just the mortal in me, but I think a nice suit is cooler."

"You insolent child, you spit on the very culture you are a part off! Why do you dress as a muggle when you are so obviously a wizard?"

Percy shrugged, "because I don't need to tell anyone I'm a wizard, they all know it. Plus what do you mean I don't dress as a wizard? I'm wearing a cape that can freaking fly, how the Hades isn't that wizard enough for you?"

The man looked outraged, but as he opened his mouth to yell back Dumbledore raised a hand, "well I think that's quite enough. Mr. Jackson has every right to wear whatever he wishes, why if I can wear my...particular coloured clothes he should have no problem wearing whatever he finds most comfortable."

Percy smiled, "thank you professor, plus for the record I think your choice in clothes is pretty cool. Each looks like a different flavour of ice cream."

The man chuckled as they went back to their own private conversation Dumbledore whispering to Karkaroff, who kept glaring at Percy. Susan wiped some food off Harry's face, making the boy blush, Hermione & Krum talked about his homeland and what Durmstrang was like.

Percy turned to Fleur, "is my suit really such a big deal?"

Fleur shrugged, "you know 'ow old men are with t'eir traditionz. I zuppose it would only be worze in Britain wit' t'eir backwardz lawz and zuch."

Percy Weasley's eyes went wide, "now see here madam that is simply not true! We here have a conservative policy true, but it is most certainly not backwards!"

Percy raised an eyebrow, "yes, which is why when my aunt, who is a squib, came with me to the ministry to register for my OWLS so was treated so...conservatively. Totaly make sense dude."

"And z'ould I even zpeak on your 'orrible magical creature rightz?" Fleur spat, "w'y your ztance on werewolvez alone iz despicable! 'Ave you not wondered w'y you don't zee veelaz living here? Or a ztudent that iz, 'ow you zay, a 'alf-bred?"

Percy Weasley turned red as he lowered his head to his meal, ignoring Fleur's arguments. Fleur smirked in victory, turning her nose up at the ministry worker, Percy chuckled as he turned to his date, giving her a wink.

As dinner wound to a close Dumbledore stood up and with a wave of his wand pushed the tables to the side, freeing up the hall to be a dancefloor. Percy noticed a small stage being set up on one side of the room, and four women dressed in edgy dark leather got on stage with their instruments.

"It'z t'e Weird Zizterz!" Fleur gasped in joy as she saw the band set up. Percy was surprised, he didn't realise these tournament organizers actually had a decent taste in music.

"Well I suppose it's time," Percy got up and offered Fleur his hand. Smiling the veela took it as they walked down to the dance floor with Krum and Harry following behind them.

The three pairs of dancers stood an equal distance from each other. They got into position as the Weird Sister's struck the first chord, starting a very slow classical beat.

Percy lead the dance, though extremely nervous he focused on what she taught him, to let the music guide him. As they swayed to the beat, moving around the hall in small slow steps, Fleur closed the gap between them, making eye contact.

"You're doing very well," she said, her left hand going down his back, resting on his hips.

"Thanks, guess I had a good teacher," Percy smiled, he noticed Harry and Susan in the distance moving almost robotically, "I suppose we're doing better than them."

Fleur nodded, "yez...tell me w'ere'z Kelly? I'm zurprized to not find 'er 'anging off your cape at thiz very moment."

Percy chuckled, "Kelly didn't want to come, she said it would be boring. But I think she just wanted us to have some private time together is all."

"I zwear t'at thing iz zmarter than mozt people I know," Fleur shook her head in disbelief.

"Well, she is modeled to behave like a veela so..." Percy grinned as Fleur rolled her eyes, "so how does it feel?"

"How doez w'at feel?" Percy looked to her right hand, motioning to the ring she wore, "oh, t'iz. It'z...ztrange, yet very liberating. I don't know why but I feel….like zomething's mizzing?"

Percy nodded, "makes sense, after all your allure is a big part of who you are. Maybe you shouldn't wear the ring all the time, just when you go out to places like this."

Fleur smiled, "maybe."

And just then the last chord of the song was struck. The audience applauded as the dancers stopped and bowed to their partners. Slowly others started to join into the dance, nervous and unsure as for many it was their first time dancing.

Percy saw Harry and Krum leaving the stage, but he was in no mode to end his time early. He took Fleur's hands once more, much to her surprise and as the second song started to play they danced once more.

"I t'oug't you would want to ztop?" Fleur asked curiously.

"Woman I bought a new suit, did my hair, asked you out with glowing flowers and spent the last two weeks learning how to dance. You bet your ass I'm going to spend every second I can dancing with you," Percy smriked.

"Well you mig't juzt come to regret that decizion Mr. Jackzon," Fleur smirked back.

"Nah, I don't think so," Percy shrugged.

The song was similarly slow paced, many student's grew bolder as time went on, jumping cautiously into the dance floor with their dates. They danced around the outer ring, while the inner was covered by those who could actually dance with grace, and, well, Percy.

As the second longer song drew to a close though the band started to change thing up. Their tunes started to become more fast paced and poppy, similar to the song they were most known for.

The students all began to move differently now, coming together like a mob towards the stage, jumping up and down like this was a concert.

Percy and Fleur were left behind with a few others in the dance floor, the demigod blinked at he stared at the dancers, "that ah...does that happen often?"

Fleur chuckled, "yez, 'ave you never been to a party before?"

"No, I mean….not really," Percy rubbed his head remembering the two parties he did attend, the one on Olympus and the after party where he got blackout drunk and woke up in bed with five veelas.

"Well t'en come, I'll zhow you w'at to do," Fleur grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into the crowd. Percy had no idea what to do, but just followed his date into the crowd of people, as they all jumped to the amazing beats of the Weird Sisters.

"What now?" Percy asked in the middle of the crowd.

"Now you juzt 'ave to jump!" Fleur cheered as she threw her hands up and danced, leaving Percy very confused. He looked around saw people doing the same, so with a shrug he started to jump as well.

As they danced the night away a pair of red haired twins plotted a prank. It wasn't premeditated or very well thought out. But it was going to be embarrassing for one Percy Jackson.

As the band took a small break from playing their fourth song in a row the twins approached the pop stars and spoke to them. They told them about how one of their friends was a huge fan and always wanted to sing on stage with them, begging them to let their buddy sing. It didn't take much to convince the performers.

Percy and Fleur were setting a bit from the dancing, "do you want to go and sit down?" Percy asked.

"Maybe, I could uze zomet'ing to drink," Fleur smiled, but as they went to leave the Weird Sisters got back on stage and the lead singer and guitar player took the mic.

"Alright people we got a special request from two very handsome gentlemen," she turned to grin towards one corner of the room. Percy followed her eyes and landed on the twins grinning slyly at her. A shiver went down his spine, 'this isn't going to end well for me.'

"Will Percy Jackson get on stage please?!" the lead called out. Every started to cheer as they turned around to find Percy.

'Yup, totally not going to end well for me,' Percy gulped as he tried to protest only for everyone to pull him away and towards the stage. With a mighty pushed they threw him onto the stage where the band members snickered at his horrified expression.

"Is there any chance of me getting out of this?"

"Sorry love, but once you're up here, you're not leaving till you sing," the woman grinned as she pushed the microphone to him, "know any of our songs or did the twins lie about you being a fan?"

"I ah, I guess I know Magical Force," Percy shrugged.

"Great! Then get ready kid, cause we're going to rock this joint!" said the drummer who sounded vaguely American.

Percy gulped, he looked at the crowd and growled, 'fuck it, let's just sing the damn sing and get the hell off stage, I'm so going to have prank Fred and George to Hades for this shit!'

The band started to play, the drums giving off a soft beat before raising the tempo. The guitarists laying down the beat while the bass player and keyboardist laid down the bass. Percy took a deep breath and sang:

"Welcome to the party, we invited everyone and everybody.

Find love and friends and party hard, there's magic pumping in the air tonight like from a dragon's heart.

People's cheer and screams for these beats that we be singing, the world's going to be listen to these lyrical gymnastics we be making.

It's like magical how you're forced to listen, a magical force to be reckoned!"

Percy was about to move onto the second verse when he realised the music had stopped. Growing curious he turned around to band and found them staring at them with open mouths, the crowd also went silent as they stared at him in silence.

Percy blinked, "what? Was I that bad?"

"Mate are you serious?!" the head singer squeaked, "where did you learn to sing?!"

"What do you mean?" Percy looked surprised, "this is my first time."

"What?!" the band shrieked, the basest looked horrified, "how the hell is it your first time?! You sound like a bloody serin!"

Percy winced, "damn, that bad?"

"No you stupid twit! You sound amazing!" someone from the crowd yelled out.

"Yeah! Like a siren, the mythical creature not the alarm!" a muggleborn clarified.

"You have amazing pipes my man," the drummer nodded, "alright then folks, let's make this a night you won't forget!"

Percy looked confused but nodded. The band began the song once more and this time Percy really got into it, putting his heart and soul into the song, making heads turn and in some cases, mouths drool.

Percy didn't understand why they were all acting this way, but he didn't really care. The song seemed to end quickly, Percy made to leave the stage but was pushed back on with people cheering for him to sing one more song.

Percy looked to the band for help but they were of no use, instead they decided to play another song and just made Percy catch up. It was a good thing he listened to them on the wireless or else he would have been clueless.

Percy's voice was enchanting, like something out of the mouth of a pop star. His pitches and tones were spot on and his rhymes never faltered. Being the son of the sea granted him many talents, one he was just beginning to discover was the enchanting voice of a Siren.

It was three songs later when Percy was finally released from his prison and let off stage. He collapsed into a chair away from stage, panting as he chugged down several glasses of water.

"What was that?!" Harry asked as he and many of Percy's housemate and friends quickly surrounded him.

"Honestly Harry, I have no idea," Percy groaned.

"You sounded amazing mate!" Cedric called out, "why didn't you tell us you had such amazing pipes?"

Fleur came over to him and sat down besides him, "w'y didn't you tell me you could zing like t'at?"

Percy shrugged, "I 'oneztly didn't know. T'at waz t'e firzt time I ever zang in public."

"Amazing," Hermione whispered, "you sounded like an opera singer...did you invent a new charm that would help you sing better?"

Percy rolled his eyes, "why in the name of the gods would I ever invent something so stupid?"

"That's it, we are getting you to sing more often," Harry declared, "it sounded really good."

Percy blushed under the complements that kept on coming. Even a few of the students dancing to the Weird Sisters came over and talked to him about it.

Percy honestly didn't understand how he did what he did, it just came naturally to him. He suspected it had something to do with his divine side, but he wasn't sure.

Fleur however didn't like her date's time being stolen away. She threatened to burn them all, and Percy knew she would follow suite on the threat. So he quickly managed to dismiss them all, leaving the two alone.

Percy leaned back in his seat, watching the band perform and the students dance. Fleur sighed as she put her head on his shoulder and followed his gaze.

"Do you want to go for another dance?" she asked.

"No, I'm kinda done with big crowds," Percy smiled, wrapping his arms around her shoulder, "want to go out into the gardens? I here it's amazing this time of night."

The veela smirked, "are you trying to get me alone zo t'at you can 'ave your way with me Mr. Jackzon?"

Percy smiled, "why Ms. Delacour whatever gave you the idea that I need to get you alone in order to do that?"

The french veela raised an eyebrow, meeting Percy's stare, before the demigod broke down into giggles. She rolled her eyes and got up, "come on t'en, zhow me t'eze gardenz."

Percy smiled as he got up and escorted Fleur out of the Great Hall and towards the gardens. He could already feel the drastic change in temperature as they moved to the cold evening night air.

Fleur shivered, her dress wasn't meant for this weather. Percy smiled as he unlatched his cloak and tossed it to the side, where it floated in mid air. He then took off his jacket, casted a warming charm on the cloth and offered it Fleur, before donning the cloak once more.

Fleur smiled as she ran her fingers down the jacket, "t'ank you."

"Don't mention it," Percy smiled as they walked down the small garden. It was filled with vases filled with so many different kind of flowers Percy began to lose count. There were floating balls of light dancing in the air like dandelion seeds. Rose bushes without thorns and marble statues depicting beautiful creatures of nature such as birds, lions and what looked to be a mongoose.

"I'll admit, it haz its c'armz," the french veela smiled as they walked down a cobblestoned pathway to the heart of the garden.

"What's this? The girl that won't shut up about how great Beauxbatons is admits Hogwarts has a worthy sight?" Percy smirked as they reached the heart of the garden, it was a large circular clearing surrounded by rose bushes and in the center was a small bird bath.

"Well maybe I like my company more t'an the place," Fleur smiled as she stopped, looking deeply into his eyes.

Percy looked down, he could feel his heart beating faster and faster, he gulped and felt his mouth grow dry. He had never been in this position before, he had no idea what he was supposed to do.

"It'z zad t'oug'," Fleur sighed.

Percy blinked, "what's sad?"

"I ztill 'ave one lazt dance in me," she smiled, "I waz 'oping we could 'ave it 'ere, but we don't 'ave any music."

Percy chuckled, "yeah, but hey maybe the band would do a special performance here for us. Do you want me to ask?"

"Actually Perzy, I waz 'oping you could do it instead."

"Me?"

"Yez," she nodded.

"But I don't have any instruments!"

"It doezn't matter, your voice is more t'an enough," Fleur took his hands, placing it on her hip and began to sway, "please Perzy, will you zing for me?"

Percy blushed, "well...I...okay," he sighed, tightening his grip as he began to sway, a song from the distant past coming into his memory. I song he remembered at the dance he went when he, Thalia and Annabeth were trying to save Nico and Bianca's lives. That was the first prom he ever went too, well...more like crashed.

It didn't have words, it was just a tune. But it was enough. They moved, her head on his chest, his chin on her head as they moved to the sound of his melodic voice.

"T'iz 'az been an amazing nig't Perzy," Fleur whispered.

The demigod smiled, "thanks to you."

"No, not becauze of me, but becauze of t'e god I got az my date," Fleur looked up smiling.

Percy stopped, "what?"

The veela looked confused, "w'y did you ztop?"

"W-why did you call me a God?"

"Oh, well you do act like one," Fleur chuckled, "nobel, 'andzome, amazing in nearly everything and alwayz t'ere w'en one truly needz you."

Percy snorted as he continued to sway, "sorry Tweety bird, but that's wrong. God's are arrogant and annoying."

"Well you are t'at zometimez too," she teased.

Percy glared at her as they continued to dance until people started to come out of the hall in droves.

Fleur noticed this and sighed, "t'e ball must 'ave gotten over."

Percy grumbled, "stupid ball. Just when everything get's interesting."

Fleur smiled, "true. Ezcort me back?"

"I thought you didn't like sappy romantic cliches?" Percy teased.

"And like you zaid, not w'en t'ey involve me," Percy took her hand and together they walked out of the castle.

They walked out of the castle, droves of students walked alongside them, but gave the couple plenty of room. Their steps were slow, both didn't want the night to end so soon.

But soon the steps to the carriage came. Fleur must have been the last student to go in. She walked up and took off Percy's jacket, giving it to him.

"T'ank you Perzy, for an amazing nig't," she smiled.

"You're welcome Fleur," Percy smiled back and silence reigned between them. She fiddled her fingers looking down while Percy could barely meet her eyes, this feeling of tension was just too strange.

"I...goodnig't t'en," Fleur bowed, for which she immediately cursed herself for doing.

"A-alright," Percy nodded, 'no you coward! Tell her to stay!' But she didn't, instead closing the door behind her leaving Percy alone.

Sighing Percy turned back and grumbled as he put on his jacket, 'fucking coward, all you had to do was ask her for a kiss! Was that so hard?! Why did you I do that?! I mean she wouldn't have said no, so why? ….Fuck it!'

Percy grumbled as he turned around and marched right back towards the carriage throwing the door open startling a male student passing by.

"Fleur, where is she?" Percy asked with determined eyes. The frightened boy gulped and pointed inwards.

Percy walked passed the boy and into what looked like a student's common room for the french students. Fleur sat with Camille and Anna speaking in hushed tones when she noticed Percy walking up to her with a determined gaze.

"Perzy w'at are you-ek!" she squeaked as Percy lifted her up easy carrying her bridal style and towards the exit leaving behind a stunned Anna and a giggling Camille.

"Perzy! W'at are you doing!" Fleur hissed

"Something I should have done a long time ago," Percy grumbled.

As they approached the door it swung open as Madam Maxine walked in with a tired face. But noticing her school champion being carried by the Hogwarts' champion peaked her curiosity, "where are you two going?"

"For a walk, don't worry madam Maxim I'll have her back to you in no time!" Percy called out as he walked past her into the open night and took off into the air, flying over the lake's surface.

"Perzy w'at are you doing?!" Fleur asked as he flew higher and higher over the lake.

"Hey Fleur, can I kiss you?" Percy asked bluntly.

"W'at?" she blinked with a boggled look.

"Can I kiss you?"

"Now?"

"Yes."

"We are fifty feet in t'e air!"

"Would you rather we go underwater? Because I think I can make that work."

Fleur looked down and smiled, "no, thiz iz fine," she leaned up, he held her close, and their lips met as he floated in the middle of the lake.

Suddenly Percy's cape stopped working dropping them downwards. Fleur cried out in shock as their kiss broke, and quickly Percy worked to regain control.

"W'at waz t'at?!" the veela asked.

"Sorry," Percy blushed, "the cape responds to my mental commands and...well...my mind kind of went blank so….you know..."

Fleur looked at Percy and the cape before breaking out in laughter, "am I t'at good?"

Percy puffed his cheeks, "it's not that funny."

Fleur raised an eye, "really?" she wrapped her hands around his head once again kissed his hard, wetting his lips with her own. And same as last time the cape stopped working and they started to fall before Percy regained control.

"I t'ink you zhould take uz down Perzy," the veela giggled.

Percy blushed, "yeah...good idea," they glided towards the oak tree by the lake they always sat under. She got off his hold and immediately kissed Percy, pushing him up against the trunk of the tree. He demigod ran his fingers through her smooth blonde looks as he breathed in her scent, he couldn't place it, but whatever it was, he liked it.

It was an hour later when Fleur returned to her carriage, her hair still smooth, but the neat combed form was gone. Her classmates asked her about what happened and teased her, but she didn't say a word, instead she went to her room with a smile on her face and a very scandalous dream to wake up to the next morning.

For Percy it was the same, though by this time his friends had mostly all gone to bed, good thing, otherwise they would have asked about the stupid smile on his face.