The Yancy Academy's Latin class walks into the Greek art section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Banner was telling the class about all the art, while Rosa walked to the statue of Athena, praying for a way for her, her brother, Percy Jackson, and Sally Jackson to get away.
An owl flies into the museum and drops a letter into Rosa's hands, causing the rest of the class and her teacher to stare at her.
Rosa looks at the letter and tilts her head. It was addressed:
Miss R. Smith
Greek Art Section
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Manhattan, New York
Rosa opens the letter and looks over what the letter, said, not even paying attention to her classmates or teacher. The letter read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Smith,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Rosa pulls out the second page and looks at it:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells(Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory
by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
It was the beginning of term at Hogwarts and Dumbledore, the other professors, and all the students were waiting for McGonagall to bring in the first years to be sorted so they could start the feast.
The doors opened and McGonagall led the first years into the Hall.
She led them to just before the staff table, then looked at the first years. "When I call your name, you will come forward, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses." She looks at a long paper. Name after name was called alphabetically, until hers was next. "Rosalina Smith!"
Rosa started to walk forward, biting her bottom lip. Her new robes swished around her legs uncomfortably. The weight of her bracelet offered her strength to walk with her head held high.
All eyes were on her, including Slughorn who had a nostalgic smile.
Rosa sat on the stool and closed her eyes tightly as Mcgonagall placed the hat on her head.
"Oh?" You're different." the hat spoke in a soft voice.
"Different?"
"Yes. You have much potential, and power. But Slytherin wouldn't fit for you. Ravenclaw is not right either. Hufflepuff? Ah, yes, you would grow nicely there. But you also have such bravery, Gryffindor would fit as well. Let's have a deeper look."
Rosa felt the cool smooth tendrils of magic slide through her mind, until they touched one memory and receded back into the hat.
"That protective instinct will serve you well in your new house. GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted the last word.
McGonagall smiles and takes the hat off Rosa's head, before looking back at the paper.
Rosa got up and ran over to the Gryffindor table. She picked an open spot between a boy and a girl.
The girl looks at Rosa and smiles. Her green eyes catching the light of the Hall, making them glow. Her skin also had a glow about it, but that must be from the dark red mane that fell just past her shoulders. She was beautiful. "Hi. I'm Lily Evans."
"And I'm Sirius Black."
Rosa turned to the boy. His eyes were grey and seemed to be glowing from something other than the Hall light. A lock of lustrous black hair fell into his face, but he expertly righted it with a quick toss of his head.
Rosa looks down and bites her lip, her hand wringing her pleated skirt. "Rosalina Smith." the words come out softer than she intended.
A soothing voice spoke from the other side of the table.
"It's nice to meet you, Rosalina. I'm Remus Lupin."
Rosa looked up, this boy had green eyes too, although they didn't catch the light like Lily's did. His light brown hair was parted neatly to the side.
A boy on the other side of Sirius leans over and nods to Rosa. He had hazel eyes and untidy black hair that stuck up at strange angles. "James Potter."
A boy sitting beside Remus looks at Rosa. He had short mousy brown hair and beady blue eyes. He was also chubbier than the other three boys. "Peter Pettigrew."
Rosa nods to them all and smiles weakly, "Nice to meet you…"
Sirius points to the charm bracelet on her wrist. "What's this?"
The others all glance at her bracelet.
Rosa looks at her bracelet and smiles. "It is a magical charm bracelet that my father gave me as a gift before I came here."
An older girl, her fourth year, walks to the Gryffindor table and laughs, putting a hand on Rosa's shoulder. "Watch yourself around, Sirius Black, Miss Smith. He likes to flirt."
Rosa looks up at the girl and tilts her head, she reminded the girl of the Aphrodite kids.
Remus gestures to Marissa and smiles, "Rosa, this is my older sister Marissa Lupin. She's fourth year Ravenclaw."
Rosa glances at Remus. "Your sister?" She then tilts her head and smiles at Marissa. "Nice to meet you, Marissa. I'm Rosalina Smith."
Marissa winks at Rosa and brushes a strand of blonde hair behind her hair. "I better head back to my table. All of you be good." She then walked back to the Ravenclaw table and sat beside some other older kids.
The next day, Rosa was wandering the halls trying to make sense of her schedule. She was headed to Charms, at least she thought it said Charms, the letters wouldn't stay in their proper order.
His hair was oily and hung limply around his face. His robes showed he was in Slytherin, but they hung loosely on his thin frame. He kept his head held high and looked down his large hooked nose with dark, shrewd eyes.
"Do you need help?"
Rosa looks up at taller student. She bites her lip, she'd never been good receiving help. She looks hopelessly at her schedule and around the hall again.
The boy frowns, watching her, noticing that she was biting her lip.
"I'm Severus Snape, a second year student. I can help you find what you're looking for."
"I'm Rosalina Smith." Rosa hands him her schedule, worrying her lip more.
Severus looks over the schedule and leads her two corridors down, to the Charms classroom. "Here's your class."
Rosa nods. "Thank you, Severus…" She turns and cautiously steps into the classroom.
A week later, Rosa was sitting with Lily in the library when an older boy walked up.
"Well if it isn't the Gryffindor mudblood. And look, you've made a little half-breed friend." He looked down at them with cold grey eyes, standing proudly in his green and silver robes. His platinum hair was tied back, making his face look sharp.
Sirius appears at the sound of the boy's insult. He puts himself between the boy and them.
"Go away, Malfoy." he growls.
The boy laughs and walks away.
Lily looked down at her lap, biting back tears.
Rosa looks at Sirius and Lily. "What's a Mudblood and why did he call me a half-breed?"
Sirius looks at Rosa. "Mudblood is a very rude word for a Muggleborn wizard or witch. The term implies that the individual has "dirty blood" and is considered extremely offensive. Even though there's not any difference in the magical power, but those prejudiced against Muggle-borns consider them to be of "lower breeding" or worth, and undeserving of magic."
"Muggle-born?" Rosa looks at Sirius, very confused about this.
Lily sighs and looks at Rosa. "Muggle-born is the term given to a witch or wizard who is born to two non-magical-parents."
Rosa nods and looks at Lily. "And you're a Muggle-born, if I remember correctly?"
Lily nods.
"What about Half-blood?" Rosa asks.
Lily smiles, "Half-blood is the term commonly given to wizards and witches who have a Muggle/Muggle-born parent and magical parent. Due to the dominance of the magic gene, children born to at least one magical parent will almost always be magical themselves."
Rosa tilts her head and frowns, this information was nothing like what she considered half-blood.
Sirius nods to this information. "And Pure-blood is the term for wizards and witches who have a pure magical heritage. This means that there are no Muggles in their family trees. The only way for a family to retain their pure-blood status is to marry other purebloods." He grins, whispering, "Though if families trace far enough back, there's usually one Muggle or two. But that's a family secret."
It was days before Halloween and Rosa was sitting in the Great Hall to study with Severus, Lily, Remus, and Marissa, when a loud noise shakes the room. A few students let out startled cries.
McGonagall looks at all the students. "Stay here." She then walks towards the doors when a Cyclops bursts through into the room heading straight at McGonagall, who was unknowingly blocking it from Rosa and Marissa.
Rosa jumps up touching the sword charm on her bracelet, transforming it into an actual sword. She glances at Lily, Severus, Remus, and Marissa.
"Get everyone out of here." She orders before looking back at the cyclops who had passed Mcgonagall without even giving the older witch a glance.
Rosa jumps on a table stepping over abandoned textbooks to get the Cyclops away
from everyone.
Almost everyone was out of the Great Hall. Only Mcgonagall and her friends were left. Mcgonagall hits the Cyclops with a powerful spell, getting its attention.
Rosa tries to get its attention back so she yells, "Hey ugly! Why not pick on someone who can actually fight!"
The Cyclops screams in anger and goes to hit Rosa.
Rosa backflips off the table and glares at the Cyclops. She runs straight at it quickly stabbing the Cyclops in the stomach. The Cyclops swings at her before she can pull the swords out. She dives through its legs. She grabs the spear charm on her bracelet, transforming it.
The Cyclops roars in anger and takes a swing at some of the students left in the room; Remus, Severus, and Lily.
Remus pushes Lily and Severus out of the way, just barely missing the Cyclops' fist himself.
Marissa quickly grabs a textbook and throws it at the Cyclops, making it take its attention off of Remus, Lily, and Severus, and look at her.
The Cyclops roars and goes towards Marissa, recognizing her as a demigod and planning to eat her and Rosa.
Rosa clenches the spear in anger, then throws it with a practiced aim, sending it into the Cyclops' eye.
"STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY FRIENDS!"
The Cyclops roars in pain and reaches up to its eye.
Rosa runs at the Cyclops and pulls her sword out of its stomach. Then stabs it in thechest, killing it.
When the Cyclops falls, she pulls up her spear with her free hand, finally noticing the line of teachers, which Peter, Sirius, and James had pushed their way past.
McGonagall goes to Rosa and Marissa and stares at them both. "Rosalina Isabella Smith! Marissa Hope Lupin! What in Merlin's name was that?! Why the bloody hell were you fighting it?!"
Rosa looks at McGonagall and sighs, stating matter-of-factly, "That, Professor McGonagall, was a Cyclops. The reason I was fighting it was because it was after me."
Marissa sighs and closes her eyes. "It was also after me…"
McGonagall looks at the rest of the staff before looking at both girls. "Miss Smith, Miss Lupin, what do you mean it was after you?"
Rosa touches both her weapons to her charm bracelet, turning them back into charms and they magically attach to the bracelet. She then rubs her face and looks at McGonagall. "I'm a demigod. A Demigods, or half-bloods, are a race of beings who are half human, half god."
Lily looks at Rosa. "Do things like this happen a lot?"
Rosa frowns. "Sadly, yes. I guess I need to tell you everything now…" She then sits on a table and frowns. "Might want to sit."
Everyone in the great hall sit, just staring at Rosa and Marissa.
Rosa looks around at all her teachers and her best friends. "Demigods are the end result of a god and a human having a child together. Because these children are part god, they have above average reflexes, an affinity for the Greek or Latin language, and may have some level of control or skill over the realm of their godly parent. Many of them also have ADHD and dyslexia. When a demigod reaches a certain age, their powers start to manifest. At this time, demigods will release a scent that monsters are able to detect. This scent will become stronger if the child learns they are a demigod. Also, if the demigod is a child of a powerful god, the scent can become even stronger. If the child never learns that they are a demigod or they are a child of a minor god, monsters may overlook them. It is around this time that they are escorted to Camp Half-Blood usually by satyrs."
Marissa takes a deep breath before continuing where Rosa left off. "Most demigods wait to be claimed. Children of Athena are claimed at birth, while others have to demonstrate some form of their parents' trait to be noticed, either through cunning, powers, skills like archery, or even beauty. Few demigods have full-blooded siblings, as their godly parent will usually leave their mortal consorts not long after a child is born, or sometimes even before that."
Remus looks at Rosa and Marissa, fascinated by this information. "Who is your godly parents?"
Rosa smiles and looks at Remus. "My father is Poseidon, Greek god of the Sea, Storms, Earthquakes, Droughts, Floods, and Horses."
"And mine is Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty." Marissa states, rubbing the back of her head, having not even let her brother know until now.
Remus stares at Marissa and frowns.
Severus looks at Rosa. "How do you hide the scent that the monsters follow?"
James frowns. "Why do demigods have this scent?"
Rosa bites her lip. " Severus, I will answer your question first. There are ways to hide or mask the scent, but if a demigod realizes who they truly are, their scent will reach its peak. The scent of children of the Big Three, who are; Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades; is much more potent than that of the children of lesser gods."
Marissa frowns and looks at James. "To answer your question, James… Demigods have a distinct scent due to a spell cast by Lamia, a monstrous daughter of Hecate, which allows monsters to find them."