Chapter 4

The next day, after putting on a pair of black shorts and a bright orange shirt that had 'Camp Half-Blood written on it, Harley followed Annabeth down some steps – and jumping down everyone – to the porch that she was on the day before. The leopard print man wasn't there but the Chiron guy was, only…

''Woah! You have horse legs. That's so cool!'' she exclaimed, eyes wide.

''Yes my dear, I'm a centaur and I see you're awake.'' Said Chiron.

''Yeah and Annabeth said she would show me around camp.''

''That's kind of her and I'm sure she'll explain everything as well but no touring until after breakfast.''

''Aww.'' She pouted.

''Come on, shorty, to the dining pavilion.'' Called Annabeth.

''Coming!''

Annabeth led Harley past a bunch of brightly decorated cabins which she promised to show her around later and towards a bunch of white pillars surrounded by children and teenagers lining up to go inside. Annabeth took her towards the back where a boy with sandy blonde hair and upturned eyebrows stood.

''Hi Luke!'' smiled Annabeth to the boy who must've been Luke.

''Annie! I see your ankles better now.'' Replied Luke

''Yep, and this is Harley an undetermined camper.'' Said Annabeth while pointing at Harley.

''Hi.'' She mumbled shyly playing with her shirt.

''Hi shorty. Since you don't know who your godly parent is, you have to stay in the Hermes cabin until they claim you.''

''One, don't call me shorty, both of you, and what do you mean by claim?''

''Ok squirt and when you get claimed your parents symbol will glow above your head.''

Harley gritted her teeth. ''Don't call me squirt either.''

''Okay shrimp.''

''…I give up.'' She sighed as Luke smirked.

''I gotta go join the Athena cabin, see you later.'' Said Annabeth as she ran off.

''Stay at the back of the line and follow us when we go in, ok?''

Harley nodded and stood at the back. Hermes cabin walked towards a table and everyone sat down, all squished together. The other members gave her odd looks since they hadn't seen her before but she ignored them.

Chiron raised a glass. ''To the gods!''

Everyone copied his action and words. Green tinted girls came forwards with plates of fruit, bread and pancakes. Harley put some food on her plate and was about to eat when she saw everyone standing up with their food.

''What's going on?'' asked Harley as she saw people putting a portion of food in the brazier in the middle of the pavilion.

''Burnt offerings to the gods.'' Replied Luke

''Um, okay?''

''Just put some food in and say a god's name then you'll understand.'' Said Luke annoyingly, knowingly.

Luke went first and said his dads name and then it was her turn. She didn't know what god's name she should say, she was still new to this! In the end she just said whoever her parent is and was about to leave when she caught a whiff of the smoke. It smelt like a bunch of things that she felt she should know but didn't because she never had a chance to experienced it. She went to sit down and finish her breakfast (the cups were magic!). When everyone had finished, leopard print man stood up.

''Well, good morning brats, I hope you had a horrific night.'' He began drawling. ''We have a new camper with us today, say hi to Harkey Potts.'' Chiron muttered something in his ear. ''I mean, Harley Potter. Yay, now get on with your activities. Scram!''

Everyone began to leave to do whatever they were doing today. Annabeth came running over.

''Hi again. Ready for your tour squirt?'' she asked.

''…That names gonna stick isn't it?'' Harley sighed.

''Yep.'' She replied popping the 'p'.

Harley sighed, resigned to her unfortunate fate. ''Ok, let's go.''

They left Luke behind and began walking around camp. Harley saw the lava climbing wall (and had to be restrained from attempting it immediately), the arts and crafts workshop, the amphitheatre, the armoury (where Harley chose a weapon - well two – the double daggers), the forge (where people were making weapons), the Pegasus stables and the combat arena. She also learned who the leopard shirt man was, Dionysus – god of wine or Mr. D as campers called him. Annabeth also explained that all demigods could speak ancient Greek and that a member of the Athena cabin would tutor her.

As they were walking towards the cabins, they were suddenly blocked by 3 stocky kids.

''Hello newbie.'' The one in front sneered.

''Um, hi?'' Harley said, question clear in her voice.

''Back off meatheads, she's only six for gods sake!'' Annabeth snarled.

''Well camp traditions and all that, come with us newbie.'' He growled.

''Well, I'd rather stay with Annabeth thanks very much,'' mumbled Harley.

''Why, you too scared?'' he mocked.

''No, I'm just not stupid.'' She replied with a small smirk, gaining some confidence.

''Well, I think you're a wuss, too scared for camp traditions.'' He taunted trying to rile her up.

''If your trying to rile me up, please stop. Get it through your thick skull. I'm. Not. Stupid.'' She repeated, slowly this time.

''You little… Well, we'll just have to do this the hard way.'' He growled. ''Grab her.''

The boy and girl behind the leader lurched out and grabbed Harley's arms – pushing Annabeth out of the way.

''Let go of me.'' Whispered Harley calmly - scarily calmly – with the dark glare.

Despite knowing they were holding an untrained six year old, something in her voice and glare made them pale and do as she asked.

''Dude just leave it, she's only six after all.'' The boy who held her asked, attempting (and failing) to hide how scared he was of her.

''Fine, you're not worth my time anyway.'' He sneered as he walked away, the others following.

Harley breathed a sigh of relief, she had been hiding how scared she was of the bullies.

''Who were they?'' she asked Annabeth.

''Ares' kids, avoid them.''

''Why?''

''They are mostly bullies and love to fight.''

''Ok.''

Annabeth sighed, the Ares' kids always annoyed her.

''Come on, let's continue this tour.'' She ordered with a smile.

XXX—XXX—XXX

By lunch, Harley had seen everywhere except the forest which she would see during capture the flag (she couldn't wait). She had learned a lot but one thing stuck with her; she didn't know who her godly parent was. Luke had said she'll find out when she gets claimed but Annabeth said that not everyone gets claimed. She kept wondering who her parent was even as she followed the rest of cabin 11 to the lake for canoeing. Wait… Canoeing?! Harley jumped back from the water and backed away. Not water, anything but water.

''What's up Squirt?'' asked Luke concerned.

''I – I just hate water.'' She mumbled sheepishly.

''You can sit out if you want.''

''Thanks.''

She needed to pay more attention to her surroundings. How did an ADHD kid get so deep in thought that she didn't notice herself walking into water?

XXX—XXX—XXX

That night was her first night in the Hermes cabin. She was officially introduced and allocated a sleeping spot on the floor. Some of the Hermes kids attempted to steal her stuff but a glare was enough to scare them away. She was probably the only newbie able to sleep without worrying her stuff would be stolen. The only problem was that she couldn't sleep. She had always felt more active at night which sucked if you wanted to sleep. She decided to sneak out.

Moving silently through camp, blending in with the shadows, she reached the giant pine tree on the hill and climbed it. She felt there was something odd about the tree but it was a nice odd. She reached the middle and leaned against the trunk. All day, new information was crammed into her head and she needed to sort it out. Despite how she had been acting, it had only just sunk in that she was a demigod. She had honestly just been looking for a reason to escape the Dursleys and this camp was it but it also meant things got more complicated for her. The Greek gods are real and they are alive. She was half god and so was everyone in camp. Her head hurt a bit as she completely accepted that fact. Taking a deep breath, Harley turned to watch the stars above her for a while before going back to the Hermes cabin.

XXX—XXX—XXX

It had been a month since Harley came to camp and she was completely settled in. While it would take a while for her to master her weapon of choice, she was good at it and able to occasionally take a camper down. The daggers still didn't feel completely right to her but they felt the best out of all the daggers in the armoury. She could shoot a bow but wasn't amazing at it like Apollo campers but she was great at foot racing (but definitely not as fast as the tree nymphs – they left her in the dust) and climbing the dangerous rock wall (she only got burnt 13 times!). Every night, like the first, she would sneak out and sit in Thalia's pine tree (she out about the pine tree from Annabeth) and watch the stars and think.

One night, just as she jumped down from a branch, she was swallowed by a shadow. I'm not joking. She was suddenly immersed in darkness and moving at insane speeds which would be fun if she wasn't so scared. It seemed to be never ending but eventually she was spat out into a throne room. It was huge. Black marble walls rose towards the sky and bronze flooring shone bright. At one end, in a cool looking throne made of fused human bones and gems, a man with long black hair and albino white skin sat. Hold on… albino white skin? Throne of bones?

'Oh shit.'

Harley hastily bowed down in front of Hades and tried not to panic.

''Rise.'' The god commanded. Harley did as told. ''I'm sure you are wondering why I have summoned you here.''

''Yes Lord Hades.'' Squeaked Harley.

''Well to put it simply, I'm your father.'' Hades said nonchalantly.

Harley just gaped as her mind processed what she had just heard.

''Wait, your my father?'' she asked indecorously.

''Is there something wrong with that?'' He asked coldly.

''No, no not like that!'' Harley quickly denied. ''It'd just, why didn't you claim me earlier?''

''You figure that out. How would camp react to a child of Hades?''

''Badly.''

''Exactly.''

An uncomfortable silence descended upon father and daughter.

''Um, father? What was my mom's name and what was she like?'' asked Harley uncomfortably.

''Your mother was called Lily Evans. She had red hair, emerald eyes and was a kind, loving person.'' He spoke fondly of her.

''She sounds like a nice mom, I wish she was still alive.'' She mumbled.

''She was. And you need to get back to camp. Don't tell anyone except people you trust and Chiron of your parentage and figure out how to get to the underworld so you can get stygian iron weapons.''

''But how will I come back here?'' asked Harley, confused.

''You'll see. Goodbye daughter.'' He replied with a smirk.

Harley was whisked away in another swirl of darkness and reappeared next to Thalia.

''Well Thalia,'' she began. ''I'm a daughter of Hades now.''

Harley got up and walked back down the hill to get some sleep. She would talk to Chiron tomorrow.

Woo, chapter done! Longest chapter so far at 1,950 words which is amazingly good for a writer like me. Next chapter will have a large time skip and will introduce Percy. I'll explain what happened in the time that's past so you won't miss anything. Thanks for the lovely reviews and I'll update again soon. Bye!