Chapter Four

The Invisible Camp

A few days later things had calmed down for Harry and the Dursleys after the plane crash. At the present Harry was on the beach with his family. The Dursley males were even being accepting of him at least presently.

Dudley was splashing around in the sea with his father both with their flabs appearing unattractively over their trunks. Aunt Petunia was lying on her front tanning herself in a bikini and reading some book or another but Harry couldn't read what it said. Curse his dyslexia.

Harry was enjoying himself swimming in the water on his own instead of playing with the other two. When Harry was called back for lunch on the beach Harry looked along the beach where he could see the other inhabitants would just stop going but Harry didn't understand why.

Harry began to run off not sure why or what he was doing. Harry just knew he had to get to that side of the beach. The beach that separated the beach goers from the rest of the beach that looked cleaner and sunnier than this side.

Aunt Petunia calling after him but he was already running faster and faster towards the other side of beach. Harry only stopped when he arrived at the edge of the beach that no one else seemed to see. There Harry walked up the beach where it was surrounded by a forest and a river.

There was a big house and several cabins with mainly teenagers but a few younger children dotted around. Harry ducked away from them when they looked his way knowing that Harry probably shouldn't be here. He looked around in excitement grinning as he saw all the activities when he literally ran into a horse-man.

Harry gaped as he looked up with wide eyes as he saw the tall dark haired man with furry brown legs. Harry stared wide eyed at the man before him. Most other children wouldn't believe their own eyes but Harry had grown up talking to his dead mum and only days ago had managed to teleport his whole family from a crashing plane.

'You have horsey legs,' Harry said.

The horse-man smiled kindly down at the young boy, 'well hello there and what's your name young man?'

'Harry,' Harry said warily.

Harry was not used to such kindness being display apart from Aunt Petunia and creatures that wanted to kill Harry so naturally the gentle kindness Chiron displayed put Harry on edge. Harry had seen other strange creatures but they had all tried to kill him. No one believed when Harry said that they were creatures with the exception of Aunt Petunia and his mother.

'Well hello, Harry, my name is Chiron and I have "horsey legs" as you say because I'm a centaur,' Chiron the horse man err centaur told him.

'Where is your mother or father?' asked Chiron.

'My mum died when I was small,' Harry said sadly looking down at the floor. 'My aunt was on the beach when I came up here,' shrugged Harry.

'I think we should talk to your aunt,' said the centaur softly. 'Come with me Harry.'

Harry walked with the centaur as he watched the man get into a wheel chair with human legs on it. Harry guessed it was so that he didn't look odd amongst everyone else out on the beach. Harry wondered if they would even be able to see the horse legs because they'd never seen anything else Harry had seen before.

Harry followed Chiron the centaur as the man moved towards the other part of the beach. Harry saw that Aunt Petunia was frantically searching for him whilst the Dursley males were happy to continue splashing around in the water. Seems though they were being nicer to Harry they still wouldn't interrupt their pleasure to play with Harry.

When Harry appeared back on the beach Aunt Petunia ran towards him a smile on her face and grabbed him around the neck. Harry felt immediately guilty at causing his Aunt to worry about him but Harry hadn't gone that far. Surely Aunt Petunia could still see him from here?

'Oh Harry I was so worried,' smiled Petunia as she pulled back to check that Harry was injured. 'Thank you for finding him, mister?'

'Chiron,' Chiron said politely with a small smile on his face.

'Chiron has horsey legs,' Harry said brightly.

Aunt Petunia blinked looking around to check that no one was listening, 'does he now?'

'Maybe we should talk about my camp,' suggested Chiron quietly.

'The one Lily mentioned?' asked Aunt Petunia.

Harry perked up at the mention of his mother wondering why his mum had mentioned a Camp to Aunt Petunia. It must be important of Harry doubted his mother would have said. Maybe it was something to do with his powers because Chiron wasn't ordinary like Harry and wasn't scared of him like almost everyone else Harry knew was of Harry.

'Lily?' asked Chiron.

'My sister,' explained Aunt Petunia sadly. 'Said it would be the safest place for him but I didn't know where to find you. He's always being attacked,' sighed Aunt Petunia. 'I want him to stay safe, plus, my husband isn't overly fond of him.'

Chiron nodded, 'you can either leave him year round or just the summer.'

'I think year round would be best especially after the plane crash,' sighed Aunt Petunia.

'Plane crash?' asked Chiron sharply.

Chiron surveyed Harry carefully searching for something but Harry didn't know what. Harry fidgeted nervously not liking the worry that was in Chiron's eyes. Did Chiron know what had caused the plane crash that Harry was convinced was no accident?

'Yeah Harry suggested it might not be an accident but I don't know how,' frowned Aunt Petunia.

'I have an idea,' muttered Chiron darkly. 'So you know he's a demigod?' asked Chiron glancing at Harry.

'Lily told me,' nodded Aunt Petunia.

'Come on Harry we have everything they need clothing and such,' Chiron told Aunt Petunia.

'Goodbye Aunt Petunia,' Harry said sadly.

'Look after yourself,' Aunt Petunia ruffled his hair returning to her spot on the beach staring after her nephew.

'What do you mean demigod?' asked Harry quietly.

'Have you heard of the Greek Gods?' asked Chiron softly.

Harry nodded his head, 'yes sir on TV.'

'Well they're real,' Chiron said gently. 'And sometimes they have children with mortals and this is where their children come to train and be safe. There's a cabin for most Gods.'

'How can you tell which is which?' asked Harry.

'Well you'll stay in Hermes cabin until you are claimed by one of the Gods,' Chiron said.

'What if nobody claims me?' asked Harry.

Chiron sighed heavily, 'then you'll stay in Hermes cabin. Come on let's introduce you to your cabin mates.'

They walked in silence as Harry took in all that he had heard today. He was a demigod. His father was one of the gods. He wondered which one. Harry hoped that his father whoever he was would claim him.

Harry looked around at everything with new eyes now that Harry knew exactly how strange this place was. It all seemed so fun and exciting to Harry who was excited at never having to go back to school or live with Dudley and Uncle Vernon. The one thing Harry was upset about was that Aunt Petunia didn't want him to come back even if it was for his own safety.

Chiron was leading him to the cabins that Harry had seen earlier before Chiron had caught him exploring. He was lead to the eleventh cabin (Harry was counting). It was an old and worn cabin with a symbol like two entwined snakes around a sword topped with wings.

He and Chiron entered to where eleven other children were hanging around on the various beds. Harry nervous because he knew what was about to happen. What had happened every time Harry had met new people they saw him and got scared of Harry then avoided him as much as humanly possible.

The oldest one who looked to be about seventeen stood up when they saw the new guest. He had short black hair and sparkly, mischievous, green eyes dancing under his upturned eyebrows above his sharp nose and mischievous smile. Harry was instantly wary of a boy who looked like a trouble maker.

'Ah yes this is Michael Dean the Hermes Cabin's Leader and this is Harry Potter,' smiled Chiron.

'Hi,' Harry said nervously.

'Hello,' smiled Michael kindly. 'I'll introduce you to the rest. This is Alexis Stone.'

Michael was gesturing to another boy behind him who had similar features obviously he was Michael's half-brother on their godly parent's side Harry thought. Alexis' skin was more golden than Michael's pale features but they had the same mischievous smile, sharp nose and upturned eyebrows looking like they were permanently grinning. Alexis' eyes were slightly paler but you could see the glint that Michael too had. His hair was slightly lighter than Michael's and ran down to his shoulders. He was about twelve years old.

'Alex,' corrected Hermes' son with a glare at his brother.

'Alex,' grinned Michael cheekily.

'My brother the joker,' laughed Alex.

'Well we're all jokers here,' laughed another boy. 'I'm Guy Watson.'

The older boy who had to be about sixteen years old with golden skin like Alex, short wavy, blonde hair and pale blue eyes sparkling with mirth held out his hands. Harry was starting to feel really out of place considering Guy too had the same facial features as Michael and Alex whereas Harry looked nothing like the other two.

'Hi,' Harry said again still nervous.

'And this is Cal,' Michael said.

Cal seemed to be about Harry's age but his hair was longer and curly. He like Harry didn't seem to be one of Hermes' kids or if he was he didn't look like his father. His golden eyes were narrowed and grim and he was frowning.

If Harry had to say one thing this boy looked grim. His golden skin tone didn't even help that. Harry wondered if he could befriend this boy since he just didn't seem to be able to understand cheery folks.

Or maybe he was yet another person to be put off by Harry as Cal had still yet to answer Michael. Though none of the others were like Cal from what Harry could see looking around at his other cabin mates. Harry feared people here treating Harry the same as they did at school.

'Don't worry about him, he's always like that,' Guy rolled his eyes.

'Shut up,' Cal's frown deepened as he glowered.

'Guy, Alex,' hissed Michael showing that this was a usual thing in Hermes Cabin. 'Okay moving on,' Michael said awkwardly, 'this is Eve Knight.'

Michael introduced Harry to a girl a couple years older than Harry with long brown hair that fell all the way down her back. Eve had small, dark eyes that were obviously affected by the same factor that made regular people scared of him. She looked kind of anxious at the present but before Harry had come in she looked kind of smug.

Eve looked like she had spent too long in the sun without sun cream if her red face and arms were anything to go by. Harry was just lucky that he never burnt or tanned he was always pale as death. Aunt Petunia had to pile on sun cream or she would burn as she had inherited her mother's complexion.

'Are you okay, Eve?' asked Cal scowling.

'Fine,' Eve said sharply not taking her eyes off Harry.

Guy grinned, 'not so smug now.'

'Guy stop being mean,' Michael ordered giving Guy a hard stare before turning to yet another Camper for Harry to be introduced to. 'And this is Cillian Wait but everyone calls him Lee for some reason.'

Harry looked at "Lee" who was another one who just seemed to fit in with most of the Hermes cabin given his mischievous, dark blue eyes, blonde upturned eyebrows under a wavy blonde hair line which actually seemed to be trimmed, and his sharp noise. Lee was around Michael's age so was one of the older one's in the cabin. He was very fair Harry thought although not anywhere near as pale as Harry was.

All in all Lee was what Uncle Vernon would describe with disgust a pretty boy. Looking around Harry wondered if all children of gods and goddesses were nice looking or if it was just the people he had met so far. Harry guessed it was the former as he didn't think all these children had the same godly parent so it wasn't explained away by attractive parents or parent.

'Blame my mother,' the boy rolled his eyes in disgust at either his name or his nickname.

'And this is Raven Payne,' Michael said.

'I don't know why they called me Raven considering I'm a red head,' the boy rolled his eyes. 'So was mum and granddad says I was born with a mane of red hair but mum's crazy!'

'Not really,' scowled a dark haired girl with blue eyes apparently taking personal offence to the crazy comment.

'Sorry,' Raven said not looking sorry at all.

Said red head was about thirteen and looked very much like his siblings Harry supposed since they were all children of the same god. His sky blue eyes were narrowed at the mention of his name. Harry guessed he didn't like his name too much.

But two seconds later they reverted back to their mischievous appearance. A typical son of Hermes Harry supposed. The other kids around Harry laughed too at Raven.

Well most of them did; Cal and Eve did not. Harry gave a quiet chuckle but wasn't one for great bouts of laughter. He had often been accused of being too serious. Harry didn't know how he was going to survive in a Cabin full of children who were jokesters.

'And I'm Paul Chan,' smiled a boy around Harry's age.

The boy was a little taller than Harry with a slender build. He had shoulder length dark brown hair that fell in waves. His eyes were silver orbs reflecting his mirth as he had been just chuckling at what Raven had said.

'And this is Cathryn Black,' Michael pointed. 'Don't mention the C word around her,' Michael grinned.

It was the girl who had taken offence to the crazy comment earlier and was still glaring at Raven. Harry decided not to ask why she was so against people being called crazy. Harry suspected it was personal because there would be no other reason to be so angry at the comment.

Cat was a girl who was a few years older than Harry who was standing with her face set in a frown and her arms crossed across her torso. Her long brown hair was splayed out behind her highlighting her pale face. Cat did not look like a happy camper.

'For your information I have reasons for not liking people being called crazy especially when they're not,' Cathryn glared her large dark blue eyes alight with fury, 'as you well know. And should remember!'

'Sure you are,' Guy said sarcastically.

'Do you always have to argue with everyone?' asked Cat crossly.

'Yes he does,' nodded Paul. 'The Goth over there is Harper Grey otherwise known as Perry.'

The supposed Goth was a ten year old boy with neck long, straggly, black hair and large black eyes that seemed to connect with Harry's instantly. He seemed to have a perpetual frown on his tanned face. And he was wearing black jeans and t-shirt despite the fact that it was currently the middle of July but like Harry the heat didn't seem to bother Perry at all.

'I'm not a Goth, I just like black,' argued Perry.

'Whatever,' Paul rolled his eyes.

'Russ Walls,' the final member of the cabin said.

Russ was again Harry's age with longish black hair and a mischievous look about him in his grey eyes. Another one of Hermes children Harry realised. How many children did Hermes have?

Harry only hoped that he would fit in among these children but he feared he wouldn't. Harry had never fit in anywhere so didn't see any reason Harry would begin to now. Harry sighed as he found himself a sleeping bag hoping against hope that everything would turn out right but fearing it wouldn't.

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Will Harry fit in Camp Half-Blood?

Will Harry make friends?

Will Chiron discover who Harry's father is?

When will Percy come to the Camp?

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Chapter Five

Boy Who Lived?

Harry finds out his past from his fellow Campers

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