Obviously, I don't own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson
Warning: may contain spoilers for PJO (first series only) and Harry Potter
Light filtered through the grimy window, glinting off a mane of long, dark hair. A lovely woman raised her head, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice soft and musical, "but it's time for me to go."
"No," a man gasped, coming into view. He was good-looking, yes, but nothing in comparison to her. "Not yet, please."
"I'm sorry," she said again, looking down and gazing into the face of her sleeping child. The baby's blonde hair was sticking up all over her head, her expression peaceful. "I've stayed longer than I should already."
"Just... just until she's a little older," he pleaded. "My dear, I beg of you... it would mean so much to Maya. Think of the baby."
"I have no choice," the woman said sadly. "But I daresay Maya and I will meet again."
The man ran his hands over his short blonde hair, searching for the words that might convince her to stay. His mouth opened and closed, but he came up empty-handed.
"Please," he said feebly.
"I love you," the woman answered, pecking him on the cheek. She kissed the baby's forehead, then dissolved in a shower of sparks.
The baby started to cry.
Maya jerked to attention, her scraggly blonde hair glinting dully in the fading light. "Who's there?" she asked in a steady voice. "Show yourself!"
She heard rustlings and stood, eyes darting around, holding a plastic shovel like it was a sword. Her voice was stronger as she repeated, "Show yourself!"
Still, nothing appeared. Maya didn't lower her guard, though; she sank down onto a crate and gazed at the crumbling brick walls of the apparently empty alleyway.
Maya could barely remember anything about her life before the streets. It had been years since she had run, fleeing the monsters that had killed her father and destroyed her home.
She lived off scraps, fending for herself in a world full of monstrous beasts. They followed her everywhere, springing their attacks when she was most vulnerable. Her arms bore the scars of countless teeth and claws.
"I know you're there," she murmured, watching for any signs of movement. "I know you're there," she repeated, more loudly, "waiting for me to look away. I'm not going to, though. I'm not falling for that again."
There was no reply, and Maya was finally starting to wonder if she had imagined the noise when a cat streaked down the alley. She watched it disappear, then allowed her eyes to close as exhaustion overcame her.
The sun was high overhead when Maya awoke, instantly alert. Something had startled her, she was sure of it. She didn't have to search long.
A severe-looking, bespectacled woman stood before her, in one of the strangest outfits Maya had ever seen. Dark green robes brushed the dirty ground, and a matching hat rested on her gray-streaked hair.
Maya's automatic reaction was to spring to her feet, already brandishing her shovel. "I know what you are and I know why you're here," she said bravely, though she had never seen a monster quite like this. "I'm warning you now, leave or I attack."
"I believe you're mistaken," the strange woman said sharply, looking both ways, then pulling a slender stick of wood from the folds of her robes. "It would be advisable to wait before you do something rash."
"I know you're a monster," Maya said, although she was suddenly uncertain. She could see through the Mist when she focused hard enough... but this was the woman's real appearance.
"No," the woman answered firmly. "I'm not. Now please, put that away," she added, her gaze drifting to the "weapon" in Maya's fist.
Maya lowered her arm slightly, but kept her eyes on the thin, serious face. "What are you, if you're not a monster?"
"A witch," the woman told her.
"Yeah, right," Maya said, gripping her shovel more tightly. "Prove it, then."
Instantly, the crate she had been sitting on just moments before burst into flames. She took a step back as the flames vanished, leaving the crate unharmed.
"You see," the witch said calmly, stowing the object back in her robes.
"And what do you want with me?" Maya asked, her voice shaking slightly.
"I'm a professor," the witch said in a low voice, "at a school called Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts?" Maya asked blankly.
"Yes, Hogwarts. Hogwarts is a school of magic, and you have been accepted."
"I'm not a witch," Maya said instantly. "If I could do magic, why couldn't I fight all the monsters?"
The woman looked briefly worried, but her tone was calm when she answered. "You have yet to be trained. You simply don't know how to harness your powers. You can do things, can't you? Strange things? Things you can't explain?"
Maya opened her mouth to say no, then paused. There were events, things she had done, that didn't make sense, things that scared the monsters away. She had always disregarded them, figuring that her mind was playing tricks on her. Maybe, though, it was something more.
"I don't have money," she said suddenly. "I haven't needed any in... in a long time."
"Not a problem," the witch said. "We have funds to help with books and supplies." With that, she pulled a bag from her pocket and handed it to Maya.
It was much heavier than Maya had expected, for she was used to paper money. This bag seemed to be full of metal. "Are these... coins?"
The witch nodded. "Knuts, the little bronze ones, are worth the least. Then there are silver Sickles, worth more, and gold Galleons, worth the most."
"I..." Maya trailed off, thinking. Then she spoke. "This school. Hogwarts. How will I get there?"
"That won't be a problem," the witch told her. "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, at King's Cross Station. It's all in your letter."
She handed Maya a letter. "I'm Professor McGonagall," she added. "Someone will arrive soon to take you to Diagon Alley."
Then Professor McGonagall turned on her heel and was gone in a swirl of robes.
Maya stared down at the letter, which was addressed in green ink. Miss Maya Young, it said in green ink. Slowly, with shaking fingers, she opened it.
A/N: This was on and off hiatus for a long time... now I'm trying to keep it moving; please review!