For the last few days, Lucia had been shifting around the dark streets. Hungry, abandoned, and utterly, utterly

Alone.

Hurrying along and wondering if her adoptive father had noticed she was gone, Lucia had absolutely no idea that something was following her.

Coughing into her sleeve, Lucia noticed that it was now dark and wet–it smelled metallic. Wondering what all that was about, she shuddered as another gust of wind almost blew her off her feet. A threadbare cardigan hung limply against her frame, and she staggered into an alleyway.

Soon, three shadows followed in after her, slow and careful like they were stalking prey. Lucia finally noticed–screaming–

"Don't worry, we're not going to hurt you," a voice murmured, and Lucia stood, frozen. When was the last time someone had talked to her like that?

A year ago, when daddy–

Abruptly stopping her train of thought by bursting into tears, Lucia was soon greeted by a kid, a teen, and a tween.

The tween took off her own jacket for Lucia, a fact she didn't notice until she was safe. The teen picked her up to carry her, and the kid gazed at her out of startling gray eyes. Not even strong enough to whimper, Lucia fell into a fitful sleep.

"Papa?" Lucia asked, eyes going up to the pale man above her. "What's happening? Why are there strangers at the door?"

"Lucia, darling, we need to get you somewhere safe," was all he said to her, gripping her hand as he led her away towards the dirty fireplace.

"I don't understand, Daddy!" She complained, but followed him anyways.

The door burst open in the other room, and several pairs of feet stormed the ratty old hideout in New York. Lucia's father panicked, placing her not too gently into the closet.

"Stay still and quiet, alright?" He begged, closing the door.

Lucia complied, silently fingering the dice charms she had attached to her wrist. Silver with black dots. Angry shouts took place, and her father ran out into the street. Lucia, forgetting her promise, tiptoed to the window and peered through the curtain.

A scraggly, short, weasley man yelled at Lucia's father, before somehow the street exploded, taking the nasty man with it. Or so it seemed.

Somehow, Lucia knew better.

That was when the men came and took him away.

That was when they found her and dragged her out, tears running down Lucia's face. Yelling for her father. Yelling for her freedom. Yelling for the justice she so desired.

And she was just a child. No one would listen to her.

But most importantly, she would save her family name. She would save her papa and she would find revenge.

Somehow, Lucia Black found out that her name finally fitted her personality.

When Lucia woke up, her saviors had taken her to a haven, of some sorts. She was on a warm pile of blankets, one of them pulled up to her chin. Somehow the seven year old was calm in the state of panic she should have been in.

"She's awake," a voice sounded from Lucia's left. Turning her head, Lucia found a girl about her age. She had blond princess curls and those strange gray eyes. Leaning forward, the girl asked, "who are you? Are you a demigod?"

Lucia tried to sit up, but it hurt too much. "I… I don't know, what's a demigod?" Lucia managed, her eyes welling with tears as she finally got over her initial shock.

The girl pressed closer, her hard eyes softening. "What's your name?"

"Lucia," she turned her gaze towards the ceiling as tears streamed down her face. "Lucia Black."

"Annabeth?" The others came running in, eyes wide. They took in the scene before coming towards me. "Hi, I'm Luke," said the oldest, with his lopsided grin. "That right there's Annabeth," he gestured towards the girl right next to me. "And this ray of sunshine," Luke elbowed the other girl's ribs, "is Thalia." Thalia growled, but smiled.

"I think I have your jacket," Lucia pointed out, about to take it off.

"Nah, you keep it. I can always get another," Thalia said, giving a little, weak grin.

"Thanks, uh, Thalia," Lucia murmured, unsure how to reply.

"Where's your family, Lucia?" Luke asked. Lucia felt a new batch of tears being cooked up.

"I never met my mom. And the bad people took papa." The three shared looks. "Er–why?" Thalia asked, blunt as a knife.

"They think he killed lots of people," Lucia explained, "including the parents of my godbrother. But I know better." The others did not retaliate, but a hidden sense of disbelief shadowed them.

"Well, we'll be your family from now on, right?" Annabeth had grabbed my hand. Luke and Thalia looked at her, faces blank except for their phony smiles. They did not really want to keep me. There were enough. No more room in this happy family.

"Yeah," Lucia said, her own eyes meeting Annabeth's. "Yeah, we're a family now."

Four Years Later

"Come on, Annabeth! We're gonna be late!" Lucia had her best friend's arm in a vise like grip, pulling her out of the Athena cabin.

"No, we're not, Lucia," Annabeth muttered, a bit annoyed but a smile playing at her lips. "What are we late for, again?"

Lucia halted, placing her fists at her hips, and pouted. "But Annabeth! Even I remember it when your birthday comes around."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "So it's my birthday?" Stomping her foot, Lucia grabbed Annabeth's arm again and started dragging her towards the lake. "It's my birthday, dumbo!" Lucia huffed, "I'm turning eleven!" Annabeth, a certified eleven year old, did not see the rush. When she asked about it, Lucia laughed.

"It's because my letter will come this summer, silly!" Annabeth, as a daughter of Athena, found that not knowing about this letter made her slightly angry.

"What letter?" she demanded, anger edging on her voice. They had never had secrets before. Lucia brushed it off, replying with, "you'll see."

When they made it to the lake, Lucia checked her robotic-sort thing of a leg. It was in fine condition, made by the Hephaestus cabin when she first came into camp, without her right leg. As a matter of fact, Lucia thought it gave her a trademark sort of symbol, setting her apart. Lucia had always liked being different. Like how her mother was Tyche, but she didn't have a cabin. Although, she didn't stay with the rest of the demigods without cabin in the Hermes cabin. In fact, she had just recently been given permission to stay with the Apollo cabin, for unknown reasons.

"Happy Birthday!" A few campers were gathered around a gray fold-out table, a handmade cake sitting right in the center. It was covered in red frosting, with black writing across the top, spelling out Happy Birthday Lucky! Lucia smiled at the nickname everyone gave her. A stack of paper plates were next to it, as well as a tangled mess of plastic forks. Luke smiled that strange smile he'd been giving all summer, and placed a birthday button in Lucia's hand.

"Everyone gets one when they turn eleven," Luke explained as she put it on.

"Thank you!" Lucia squealed, before clearing her throat and blushing in embarrassment.

A small amount of presents were spread everywhere, some half buried in the sand.

An owl came out of the sky, it's claws grabbing Lucia's t-shirt. "Ouch," she muttered, as it dropped the letter and hopped over to the table.

"What is that?" Annabeth asked, hand on Lucia's shoulder. She had somehow retained a party hat.

"My letter!" Excitement built up as she started to hyperventilate. Breaking the Hogwarts seal open, Lucia opened it up as quickly as she could without tearing the creamy paper.

"Read it out loud," Annabeth urged as Lucia's friends gathered around.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore… bah blah blah… Dear Miss Black, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress."

Silence followed. Annabeth looked absolutely shocked.

Luke gave a nervous laugh. "It's a joke, right?" He turned to Lucia. "Right?"

Lucia stayed quiet, before stating loudly, "I'm going to Chiron." Annabeth squeaked something that was probably me too, and they both ran to the big house.

"Witch?" Annabeth panted, looking at Lucia. "Your a witch?"

"I was going to tell you Wise Girl, but I couldn't find the right time." Annabeth considered this and didn't push it too far.

"It doesn't matter to me," Annabeth stated matter-of-factly. "You'll always be the most important person in the world to me."

"Awww, then I guess we'll get married in the spring?" Lucia joked, before cutting off. They had reached the big house.

"Chiron?" Annabeth asked, since Lucia hadn't. "Can we have a word?" Lucia mumbled, feeling like she had contributed her fair share of speaking at the moment.

"Oh course," Chiron replied, heading into the baby blue house, all the while gesturing for the two girls to follow.

"You see, Mr. Chiron sir," Lucia stuttered once they had reached his office, suddenly afraid of telling him. "I've just gotten a letter for a wizarding school in England. I think," Lucia quietly added, not sure on her future school's location. "It's named Hogwarts."

Chiron nodded gravely. "Yes, we've had wizard campers before."

Lucia tilted her head curiously. "A lot?"

Chiron shook his head sadly. "Probably more than those I've met–demiwizards tend to attract as many monsters as a child of the big three."

Lucia, who did not like this new information, settled back a bit. "So… I can go?" She scrunched up her face a bit, as though she was bracing herself for a bad answer.

"Yes, of course," Chiron replied, and Lucia fistpumped the air. "Although, it is strange that they don't send you to Ilvermourney… ah well. Maybe you should go get packed. Come by in the morning and we can send you to London. I'm sure I'll figure something out." Lucia gave a quick rush of "okaythanksgottogobye!" and ran off.

Lucia shuddered to a stop when she realised she had just left Annabeth in there alone.

"Sorry," Lucia sheepishly peered at Annabeth, holding her hands to her face.

"No problem," Annabeth smiled, "I get it. You were excited."

"Now come on," Lucia giggled, grabbing her friend's wrist, "I want your help! Have to pick out the right outfit for tomorrow, you know." Lucia had a certain fondness to clothes, which did not make her girly, even though she would sometimes spend hours trying on different clothes.

As the two girls ran, doubling over with laughter towards the Apollo cabin, neither knew that everything would soon change.