Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson!

Harry Potter's eighteenth birthday went horrible. First, Ginny Weasley, his girlfriend, dumped him, saying they weren't "compatible" and insisting he should find someone who could love him as much as he deserved to be. Then, Hermione and Ron had broken out the news that Harry had been named Head Auror, though it was a surprise supposed to be told by the ex-Head Auror, who'd resigned only days ago, causing lots of loud arguments to occur during eating his cake. And lastly, someone had decided it was best to tell Harry on his eighteenth birthday that he had a distant cousin from America who wanted to meet him.

Harry wasn't unreasonable or even half bad at taking news, but this was too far.

Family was a very touchy subject for him. Ever since his parents' death, then his godfather's, then his godfather's best mate's, he was sensitive on the subject, especially since the war had been only a year ago.

He hated feeling like he was the only one who didn't have a family. Ron's family was recovering but happy (though George and Percy refused to leave their rooms most of the time), and Hermione and Ron were already engaged. Hermione's parents were resting in St. Mungo's, since she'd restored their memories of her.

Harry knew Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Neville would always be his family. Luna had met a man hunting Crumple-Horned Snorkacks and they were currently dating, and Neville was dating Hannah Abbott, so even they had coupled off.

Unfortunately for Harry, news of his breakup with Ginny had traveled around the Wizarding World already, and he'd been marked top eligible bachelor in Witch Weekly magazine, thanks to Rita Skeeter, who'd been in bug form by the lake when Ginny had told him.

Now it was around seven p.m., and all the chaos had thankfully gone down. Nobody paid attention to his and Ginny's awkwardness around each other, instead focusing on the party guest, a man named George who'd came for a letter addressed to Harry and who Mrs. Weasley befriended in two seconds by asking him to come in for some cake.

The man wore a jogging suit and had a fancy-looking cell phone clipped to his belt. The envelope had To Mr. Harry James Potter written on it in blue inked cursive.

"Here you are," the man said brightly. He handed Harry the envelope.

Harry felt the paper under his fingers was cool and smelled distinctly of sea spray. He opened the envelope and took out a piece of sea foam-white paper. In that same blue ink and handwriting was:

Dear Harry James Potter,

I am Percy Jackson, your cousin. I live in New York, in the United States. I didn't write this letter; my girlfriend Annabeth Chase did. I have dyslexia, anyway.

You may not know this but your mom, Lily Evans, is my mom's sister. Lily's mom's maiden name is Jackson, apparently, and she married someone with the last name of Evans. My mom is Sally Jackson. I found this out a couple days ago.

I'd like you to come meet me in person. I'm at this awesome summer camp, and you should consider spending the rest of the summer here, and maybe part of the school year, if you go to school.

Please contact me at any time. Just, uh, write back to Percy Jackson at Half Blood Hill, NY. You can also contact my mom's apartment. You can get the number from whoever brought you the letter; I don't want it in the wrong hands.

I attached a photo of a recent picture of myself, in case you're doubting us being related. Hope to see you soon!

-Percy Jackson

Harry curiously reached into the envelope and withdrew a photo of a teenaged guy with messy dark hair, sea-green eyes (the difference between Harry's emerald ones) and tan skin. Percy Jackson, his cousin. Wow.

Then, he remembered the phone number part. He looked up. "Uh, mind telling me the telly number?" he asked.

George grinned, and Harry was reminded of George Weasley, who was also staring at the man. "Sure." The man took off his hat, revealing curly salt-and-pepper hair. He reached inside the hat and took out a small slip of paper. "Here it is. Sally Jackson's number." He handed it to Harry, who gratefully took it.

Suddenly, George's phone glowed. He took it out of his pocket. "Agh!" he groaned. He clicked ANSWER and said, "What Apo-I mean, Fred?" (Author's Note: Get it?)

George Weasley stared at George The Mailman in shock. The rest of the Weasleys did as well, but George didn't seem to care.

Harry frowned. "Your name's George?" he asked the mailman after he'd hung up.

"Yep," George said, his eyes twinkling.

"And you know a bloke named Fred?" Harry asked.

"He's one of my best friends!" George beamed.

Harry stared unblinkingly at George, who laughed.

"I'm not really named George, you know. That's one of my pet snake's names. I'm Hermes." The man smiled brightly once more. "God of thieves, travelers and hospitality." He saluted. "At your service!"

"Oh." Harry nodded faintly. "Sure. Uh..." he glanced at Mrs. Weasley, who stood abruptly.

"Nice to meet you," Mrs. Weasley said, sounding wary. "Now, please-"

"I'm terribly sorry, ma'am, if I alarmed you," Hermes told her with an apologetic look. "It's an awful lot to process, eh? Well, I'll tell you what; the Chosen One here reads this booklet and learns about everything he needs to know about Greek Mythology and demigods, and then makes a decision, okay?"

"About demi-what now's?" Ron asked. "Mum, I reckon he's looney."

"Ronald!" Mrs. Weasley admonished furiously. Hermes simply laughed.

"Oh, yeah, I am." He waved at Harry, and a thick booklet appeared on the coffee table. "See you for now!" He winked and walked out the door.

"Wait!" called Harry, running after Hermes. He reached outside and stopped. Hermes wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Harry," called Hermione. "Come look at this."

Harry obeyed, peering over her shoulder. She was reading the booklet. "Your cousin's the child of a prophecy as well! It must run in the family!"

"Wonderful," Harry mumbled under his breath.

"He's a half-blood," said Hermione. "Half Greek god, half human."

"His mum's a Muggle?" Harry guessed. Hermione nodded. "Figures."

Harry contemplated his options as Hermione read on. Stay here without any of his actual family, being awkward for the rest of the summer because of all the couples snogging and Ginny? Or go to some distant cousin who's a demigod's survival-training boot camp?

He began to smile. The rest of the summer would definitely be legit.