PJO: A Professor of Hogwarts

Hermione

The train ride to Hogwarts had been as eventful as ever, filled with excited chatter and the usual anticipation of another year of magical learning. But something was wrong.

Harry and Ron were missing.

At first, I thought they had just found another compartment to sit in—perhaps they had run to the Weasleys and decided to sit with them. But as the hours passed, there was no sign of them—not even when the snack trolley came by. and knowing them, they should have been at the compartment when it arrived.

So I did what any friend would do. I searched up and down the train, peeking into compartments, asking other students, but no one had seen them since King's Cross. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.

By the time we arrived at Hogsmeade Station, my concern had turned into a full-blown anxiety. 'Surely, if something had happened, the professors would know, right?' I tried to reason. 'Maybe they had simply been held back by Mrs. Weasley for some reason, and they'd be arriving by Floo Powder any second now.'

But as I took my seat in the Great Hall, watching the Sorting Hat sing its song and the first-years being sorted into their respective houses, there was still no sign of Harry or Ron. My eyes scanned the hall over and over, hoping to spot their messy black and ginger heads somewhere in the crowd. But they weren't there.

'Had they been left behind? Had something gone terribly wrong?' the events last year did not do any good to my growing panic.

But before I could dwell on my worst fears, Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat at the staff table and called for silence.

"Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts!" he said joyfully, his twinkling eyes sweeping across the room. "Before we begin our feast, I have a few important announcements to make. First, I would like to introduce two new members of our teaching staff."

I instantly perked up at this, momentarily distracted from my worry.

"As many of you already know, our previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Quirrell, is no longer with us. Taking his place this year will be none other than the renowned Gilderoy Lockhart."

At this, a wave of excited whispers rippled through the students, and I felt my heart leap. Lockhart! The Gilderoy Lockhart! I had read all of his books over the summer, and they were simply fascinating. He was a brilliant wizard, a master of defense, and my personal inspiration! I clapped enthusiastically, my worries temporarily forgotten.

Dumbledore waited a moment for the chatter to settle before speaking again. "Our second new professor is one whose name may not be as well known to the general public."

I barely had time to process that statement before I noticed something strange. The atmosphere in the hall shifted slightly. A few students, particularly those from Slytherin, sat up straighter, their expressions guarded. Some exchanged wary glances. Others looked outright fearful.

That was odd. I glanced around. Most students simply looked curious, whispering to each other about who the new professor might be. But the reactions from certain pure-blood families… that was different.

"Please welcome Professor Percy Jackson," Dumbledore announced, gesturing toward the staff table.

A tall man rose from his seat. I blinked. He was young—far younger than I expected any professor to be. Mid-to-late twenties, perhaps? His features were striking, his black hair slightly tousled, his sea-green eyes carrying an intensity I couldn't quite place. There was something about him, something almost… familiar as if I had seen him from somewhere, but I just couldn't put my finger on it.

When he inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment of the applause, I noticed that he didn't look particularly thrilled to be in the spotlight. There was no smugness, no pretense—just quiet acceptance, as if he had long since tired of attention. That was certainly a contrast to Lockhart, who was practically glowing under the admiration of the crowd.

I turned my attention back to the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was staring at the new professor with narrowed eyes. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and he was muttering something under his breath.

A second later, I heard Pansy Parkinson whisper to Daphne Greengrass, her voice barely audible over the murmurs of the Great Hall.

"An Olympian… here?"

Olympian?

I frowned. I had never heard that term before. Was it a title? A family name?

I turned to Neville, lowering my voice. "Neville, have you ever heard of the name Olympian before?"

Neville flinched, his face paling slightly. "The Olympians?" He swallowed. "I mean, my Gran mentioned them once, but only in passing. It's… well, it's not really talked about."

"What do you mean?" I pressed.

Neville hesitated before lowering his voice even more. "Most people think they're just a myth. My Gran always said they're just a story meant to scare pure-bloods into behaving."

A myth? That didn't make sense. Why would Dumbledore introduce a professor if he were just a myth?

Neville fidgeted with his robes. "Not everyone believes they're real. But… well, the pure-blood families definitely do. They say the Olympians are dangerous. That they're not normal wizards. Some of them are even afraid of them."

I turned my gaze back to Percy Jackson. He was talking quietly with Professor McGonagall now, his expression neutral, but there was something… off.

A myth that only pure-bloods feared? A young professor with an aura of mystery surrounding him?

looks like this year will be more interesting than the last.

But first I need to find Harry and Ron. How dare they leave me behind.