Sorry for the delay. The next few sections will probably be shorter since I've got writer's block and my inspiration is fleeting at best at the moment.

I don't own Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or any characters and plots from them.

Chapter Seven

Thestrals were lovely creatures.

It didn't take long for Luna to find the herd that lived near her home since the moment her sight had dilated to encompass more than her mind had previously ever understood.

A much shorter time than it had to put any sort of concept to the event that haunted equally her days and nights. Recalling the explosion, the sharp smell in her nose of ozone and errant magic and wobbling wards- the moment bright eyes had glazed over and dimmed, not a dazed look, but as if something was just...snuffed out from behind the irises. Like two great fingers pinching a flickering flame at the end of a wick. Death, Luna thought- and for the first time, the word came with nothing accompanying it- was both the most difficult and the easiest thing for her to grasp. The most complex to wrap her mind around and the most simple.

Luna dipped her hand into her frayed Babbity Rabbity and her cackling stump bag and pulled out a small piece of meat she'd snuck from the table. Puffing out her cheeks for a moment, her eyes met the soulful ones of the little thestral shuffling in front of her. She smiled- a whimsical and melancholy little thing- and carefully tossed the piece, watching raptly and without blinking as the creature gobbled it up happily.

"Hello" Luna whispered and the thestral trotted a little closer. She reached out slowly and her smile widened when it nuzzled into her palm.

"I'm Luna. What's your name?"

The thestral whinnied softly.

"But that's a lovely name" Luna assured, "did you know that some muggles name their kids just one letter? Yes, that's what I've heard- just J or L. It's very interesting- daddy wrote an article about it in the Quibbler and a lot of people really liked it, I think. Wrackspurts have very fascinating names as well- that was also part of the article. It's based on a whole system of rank and- and about the type of creature they like the most and a lot more. Now I don't know much about thestrals but I'm sure Tozoulouisse is a perfectly respectable name"

Tozoulouisse whinnied again and she furrowed her brows, "well….I could call you Louie if you want"

Louie seemed to like that better, for they butted their head into Luna's hand a little more firmly and she obligingly ran her fingers over their jaw and under their chin.

Louie was very cute.

"Making friends, I see" a smooth, powerful voice mused from out of Luna's sight and she turned her head a little to see who spoke. The young thestral didn't startle at all despite their shy nature so she was less wary than she would have been.

A woman was standing at the edge of the clearing, bright eyes observing the equally bright eyed child. She was very beautiful, Luna observed, tall and regal and something mysterious glimmering in the air around her, tumble of hair floating from the palpable magic curling lazily around her. But there was a subtle tenderness softening the edges off her gaze as she tilted her head and Luna mirrored the movement subconsciously, silvery eyes wide. As the woman ticked a brow up in patient amusement, Luna blinked a few times dazedly and said,

"Yes. Their name is Louie"

The woman dipped her chin in acknowledgement and Luna paused for a moment before giving a slight hum,

"I'm Luna Lovegood, but the other kids here call me Loony"

"I quite know who you are, little moon"

"I know" Luna said, "but you're very busy, I would think. Aren't you?"

"Yes, I suppose" the woman conceded, "do you know who I am?"

Luna watched her unblinkingly for a moment before speaking, the urge to duck her head abashedly strong, "you're Lady Magic. Daddy says that you gave all us life, being beings of magic ourselves just like the wrackspurts and thestrals, how could we exist without it? But-" her voice lowered, "I think he meant it more literally for me"

"Yes" the woman agreed. She was smiling now, a full smile that brightened her face and curved her lips and crinkled and sparkled her eyes, "that is what my humans take to call me. I start in Greece, however"

"Hecate"

Her smile widened, "very good, little moon" she approached a few paces, hand reaching out to brush over the girl's cheek, "now I know Pandora was your mummy. I'd blessed her, after all, so you mustn't feel obligated to address me as such"

Luna's eyes widened in awe, "a blessing? Daddy said those were really special"

"They are. I don't choose favorites lightly. But Pandora had always been one of mine, just as your daddy is one. She shouldn't have died so young, luv"

Luna flinched at that, eyes darting from the woman's face to Louie and back. The thestral was proof of what had happened, and her mind adapting to a concept that had once escaped her. It still sent a sharp feeling through her chest when she thought about it but she'd since thought it would eventually settle into something bittersweet. Like the expression Lady Magic, Hecate, wore. The longing and regret and mirth and love.

"Do you know why I'm here?" The goddess asked after a minute, smile fading into something more severe. Luna felt her heart clench a little,

"It's because of mummy, right? Mummy always did the wards. Daddy's hopeless at them. Now mummy's dead"

Hecate's hands tightened from where they'd went to grip Luna's shoulder's, "such a brilliant little girl. I think you might give children of Wisdom a run for their money, yes?"

"Do I really have to go?"

"I'm afraid that I'm not supposed to get involved and setting up wards will likely be enough to get the attention of even the Big Guy. I've already contacted your daddy and I'm sure he won't wait too much longer to take you but-. I suppose I couldn't pass the chance to see you"

Another smile, fleeting, passed across Hecate's face like a dashing shadow,

"There will always be nargles, Luna, but the best remedy is sometimes just another pair- or two- of eyes to help spot them. You won't be so lonely anymore, I promise"

Luna felt the breath catch in her throat as she inhaled, large eyes wide in an attempt to keep from blinking, as though the moment she closed her eyes for even a second, her mother would burst in a cloud of smoke and dust. They watered a bit and Hecate went to pat the girl on the head slightly, gaze still rather sad, the emotion heavy against her usual mirth.

"Will daddy be ok?" Luna whispered beseechingly and a slight smirk greeted her.

"More than, little moon"

"Will you be with me?"

"Even if you can't see me"

"Like the thestrals?"

"Like the thestrals"

Luna took another big breath, cheeks puffing out with it, "don't let the dabberblimps get me"

"Never"