"...I- I think that I'm supposed to save Annabeth, while you guys defeat Voldemort. Somehow they're connected, I'm not entirely sure how, but- but this is the best thing we've got."

"So, we need two plans then?" Ron clarified.

Percy nodded. "Yeah. Two plans. We've got our work cut out for us."

~~~

"Well?" Harry asked. Him, Ron, Hermione, and Percy had sat in the Room of Requirement for nearly the entire day, affectively skipping all their classes.

"Well what?" Percy replied exasperatedly. He was so tired.

"The plan- plans. Do you have them? We've been here all day." Harry paused, "All month."

"Thanks." Percy replied dryly. "I hadn't noticed." Percy was incredibly frustrated. It was late November, and he had never spent so long trying to plan, well, a plan. Percy wanted to blame Harry's consistent complaining.

Harry groaned. Ron's stomach grumbled.

"You know Harry- you can just as easily come up with a plan." Percy pointed out. "You should try using your head sometime, could help."

Harry glared in response.

"Well it's nearly lunch," Hermione rushed. "Why don't we get some food? We'll think better after."

Percy glared back at Harry. "Fine."

The four of them got up and walked out of the Room of Requirement. The second they opened the door, they came face to face with a pink toad, and a certain bleached blond haired Slytherin.

"See Professor? I told you! They're conspiring against the Ministry." Draco accused.

"Ahem. My office. Now!" Umbridge shrieked.

"Malfoy." Harry growled.

"Potter." Malfoy smirked.

Percy cursed under his breath.

"What was that Mr. Jackson?"

"Uh-"

"Professor," Malfoy cut in, "Percy has nothing to do with this nonsense. He just chose to hang out with the wrong crowd." Draco winked at Percy.

Umbridge glanced between Draco and Percy, deciding whether to trust her favorite student, or her suspicions. "Very well then." Umbridge arched her back. "Mr. Jackson, you may go. As for you three- you are in a whole lot of trouble. Follow me." Umbridge walked away as Harry, Ron, and Hermione sullenly followed.

Hermione glanced back at Percy, with a reassuring smile. Percy inwardly gave a sigh of relief.

Percy turned towards Draco who was staring expectantly. "Uh, thanks."

"No problem. People like us ought to stick together."

Percy awkwardly laughed and agreed. Draco thought he was a fellow death eater, and Percy couldn't let Draco know the truth. "So, uhm, what now?"

Draco gave a wry smile. "Now, you are an honorary Slytherin, my friend. Headmaster Umbridge wouldn't mind if you switched houses. We'll say the Sorting Hat made a mistake, and that you're much more fitted for Slytherin. Besides," Draco pulled out a silver and green tie from behind his robe, and held it up next to Percy's face, "Green suits you."

Percy began to panic. Things just went from annoying to terrible. "Don't we uh, don't we need to uh... check with Sn- Professor Snape?"

Draco grinned, hardly noticing Percy's reaction. "Already did. He says he'd be glad to have 'a powerful wizard, such as yourself,'" Draco quoted, "to be a part of our house."

Percy searched his brain for anything to get him out of this mess. "Professor McGonagall? I can't see her approving this."

Draco scoffed. "That old cat? Won't be a problem."

Percy clenched his jaw in response.

Draco stared at him. "Well?" He waved the tie.

"I can't."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Says who?"

"Says me. I was sorted into this house for a reason."

Draco frowned. "And what might that be?"

Percy racked his brain. "Cover."

"Sorry?"

"People would be suspicious if I switched houses. I can't have anyone thinking I'm a death eater- especially Harry- or have anyone figure out my heritage." Percy explained. "Don't you think people would ask questions?"

Draco looked thoughtful. "Hm, you raise a good point Jackson." He sighed, "I looked forward to us being house buddies, but I suppose you're right. Can't have anyone suspecting you, now can we?"

Percy shook his head. "We really can't."

"Very well then. We could use an insider anyways. You can find out what Potter, Weasley, and Granger are planning." Percy gave a pained nod. "See you around Jackson."

"You too. Thanks again for the offer."

Draco smiled. "Anytime. Offer still stands for whenever you get sick of Potter and his friends." He patted Percy on the back then walked down the corridor. Once he was out of sight, Percy leaned against the wall and sighed.

This was a mess.

~~~

"For the last time," Umbridge paced in front of her desk. "Who do you work for?"

Harry sat in the chair, with Hermione and Ron behind him. Mcgonagall and Snape both stood off to the side. "No one."

"Hm." Umbridge said. "Dumbledore's Army, that's the name of your little group, now, isn't it? Seems to me Dumbledore is militarizing his students to overthrow the Ministry."

"Dumbledore has nothing to do with this." Harry argued.

Umbridge gave a sickly sweet smile, and turned towards the two professors. "They should be expelled for breaking Hogwarts' rules, and conspiring against the Ministry."

Hermione had never seen McGonagall's face so angry- except for when Umbridge tried firing Trelawney. "These students are not going anywhere. I will not have you accusing my students of treason." McGonagall fumed.

Umbridge gave her trademark grin. "And just what will you do about it?"

McGonagall fumed. Snape glared towards Harry before striding towards Umbridge with a vial. "Might I suggest we use a truth potion on Potter?"

Umbridge nodded. "Yes, Severus. That is a brilliant idea. Pour the boy a cup." Snape gave a curt nod in response, and using his wand, he conjured up a goblet. Snape uncorked the vial and gave it about three drops of Veritaserum potion.

"Drink it." Snape said, handing it to Harry. Hermione and Ron exchanged anxious glances.

Harry carefully took a sip from the goblet.

"That's hardly enough." Umbridge exclaimed. "Drink the whole thing."

"A sip will be just fine Dolores." Snape retorted.

"Well then." Umbridge huffed. Walking around her desk, she stood in front of Harry.

"What were you doing in the Room of Requirement?"

"Um," Harry coughed to clear his throat, not feeling the potion work. "Studying."

"Studying?" Umbrdge shrieked. Composing herself she asked, "Studying what exactly? How to take over the Ministry?"

Harry shook his head. "No professor. Studying the effects of spider venom for Professor Snape's essay."

Umbridge's face turned beet red. She scowled. "And why couldn't you do that in your common room, Mr. Potter?"

"It was loud." Harry stated.

McGonagall gave a small chuckle.

"Loud!?"

"Yes, professor." Harry tried hard to keep his face neutral.

"It seems, Dolores, that Mr. Potter and his friends were doing nothing other than being good students." McGonagall observed. "If you don't mind, being their Head of House, I have to request that you let them return to their dormitories to get well needed rest. It is quite late."

Umbridge fumed. "Potter is lying!"

"Professor Snape, did you not give Harry Veritaserum?" McGonagall asked, feigning innocence.

"I gave him more than the necessary dose."

"Goodnight, Dolores. Potter, Weasley, Granger, come with me." Professor McGonagall strode out of the office with Harry, Ron, and Hermione in tow.

~~~

Percy perked up from the couch, after hearing people walking in.

"How'd it go with Umbridge?" Percy asked.

"Horrible." Harry responded.

"Okay." Hermione said at the same time. Harry and Hermione exchanged glances.

"Huh?" Percy asked.

"Snape saved us by pretending to give Harry Veritaserum. Umbridge doesn't suspect a thing."

Percy exhaled. "Thank the gods."

"What happened with Malfoy after we left?" Ron asked.

Percy shook his head. "He offered me to switch houses."

The trio gasped. "He wanted you to be a Slytherin?"

"What did he say?"

"What did you say?"

Percy nodded. "He said the green tie matched my eyes."

"He's not wrong." Ron said. Harry and Hermione turned to look at him. "What? It's true. Look at him! Percy would look great in green."

"Ron, that's not the point." Harry said.

Percy laughed. "Thanks anyways dude." Ron grinned. "I told Draco no. That being in Gryffindor would be a better "cover" so no one would suspect me."

"Oh, so you two are on a first name basis now?" Harry said.

"Yeah, well, you know, us death eaters got to stick together." Percy replied nonchalantly. Harry's eyebrows flew up. Upon seeing that Percy rushed, "I'm just kidding! I'm kidding. Not a death eater."

"Not funny."

Percy made a small amount with his fingers. "It was a little funny."

"At any rate, we have Umbridge on our backs, Malfoy thinks Percy's a death eater, and we still have to come up with a plan for defeating Voldemort." Hermione fretted.

"And Annabeth." Percy added.

Hermione nodded. "And Annabeth."