It was a day before Harry was to leave, and he was wearing a hole into the floor. Thousands of scenarios were running through his head all of them resulting in the fact that he would have to end up in Hogwarts. A knock at the door made him jump four feet in the air in surprise. "Harry, sweetie, can I come in?" Lily Potter's unmistakable voice floated into the room. Moving to the door, Harry let his mother in.
"Hey mom," Harry said with a forced smile.
"I see you're nervous," Lily said with a bemused smile as she stepped up to place her hands on his shoulder and stopped his pacing. All Harry could reply with was a jerky nod. "Sweetie, you don't need to worry too much. I know you'll never being worry free until you're in your cohort, but remember what Alan said. You've got three others that will be going through your survival training with you and it's almost unheard of for a group of more than one person to not succeed in reaching camp."
Hearing his mom repeat the word of Alan did help in calming the boy down. They had seen the older legion member once more before Alan had returned stateside and he had alleviated even more of the Potter's worries. Charles had chosen to again avoid the meeting and it hurt Harry a tiny bit that his brother didn't want to have anything to do with his new school.
Taking a deep and calming breath, Harry answered Lily. "I know mom, but at the same time you said you were nervous the train ride to Hogwarts. It's just, I have way too much energy to be calm at the moment."
"I know sweetie, but you will be fine. Heck, you've been training for this camp all your life even if you didn't know it. Plus, you can go and join the camp and then come back and unwind. I wonder if you'll get your tattoo within the week you'll be gone?"
"I don't know," Harry replied, "I never asked that. Are you okay with me getting a tattoo, seriously?" It was one of the few things that worried Harry as his mom wasn't very receptive at that idea.
"I'll be honest Harry, I really don't want you to get one, but I understand tradition. Plus, as Alan reminded us, we are wizards and witches. We'll cover it up most summer until say after your fourth year. I can deal with a fifteen year old having a permanent mark on their body."
"Sounds good mom," Harry was happy that Lily was coming to grips with everything that was going on. After all, she could have made it a lot more difficult for him to go all the way across the Atlantic.
"Now, come on. This is your last day before the big test and me and your dad want to see you off in style. Your uncles are here as well and you know how your Uncle Sirius gets during… well… anything really," Lily laughed and Harry joined her.
The party was tame compared to other parties in the Potter household. Only the honorary family members were here and it was relatively somber affair. Everyone was happy to see Harry off on his adventure of course, but at the same time no one was quite sure of all the feelings that were running through them. Their families had always gone to Hogwarts, so it was different to say the least.
"Oh Harry," Professor McGonagall said as he made the rounds, "I can't believe you're the one that is branching out and going overseas, but I feel I must thank you. I'm not sure I could survive you two Potters and Neville. Not to mention the little Black that's coming in three years." It was surprising for everyone when Sirius Black was wrangled into a marriage, but he was perhaps the most devoted husband in Wizarding Britain behind James.
"Sorry I couldn't take your class Aunt Minnie," Harry said shyly. Although he was beyond ecstatic to be continuing the family tradition with the Empire, he really didn't like the fact that he had to give up some of the teachers. After all Aunt Minnie and Grandpa Dumbledore had been around for as long as Harry could remember.
"Oh don't you worry child, you will always be one of my cubs even though you won't be at Hogwarts. Albus and I will always count you as one of ours."
"Thanks Aunt Minnie," Harry said as he hugged her with as much strength as he could muster. That was just what he needed to hear that night.
Harry's portkey to the a location only known as the Wolf House to the Potters was set to go off at 9 a.m. and Harry was to take a sleep potion as soon as he arrived since California was eight hours behind London. It was a good thing this was required as well, since Harry managed to only doze fitfully for a few hours as he was racked with nerves. With only an hour left the family was gathered in the sitting room. Lily was trying to hold it together, but there were sniffles coming from her. Both Harry and Charles were dreading September 1st if she was acting like this with Harry returning in two weeks.
The only thing that Harry had with him was a suitcase, magically expanded of course, filled with clothes and a few survival items that everyone needed for camping. Alan had told the Potters that anything else would be kept at the Wolf House until he finished the trial anyway. Taking a deep breath Harry activated the portkey.
Even knowing that magical travel was a pain and preparing himself for the trip, Harry still was extremely queasy as he landed quite a few times away. Taking deep breaths and keeping his eyes shut, Harry fought down the nausea and kept his balance. "Very good child, an international portkey is something to be proud of if you aren't sick," A feminine voice sounded behind Harry.
Turning slowly as to not bring back the nausea Harry came face to face with a wolf that just radiated power. He knew that the portkey was going to take him to the right place and that he had been promised a safe eight hours of sleep, but if you come face to face with a wolf quite a bit larger than you, then anyone would feel threatened. "Calm yourself child, there is nothing for you to fear here. If what I have been told is true, you know who I am?"
Calming down just a little bit, Harry began to think. What wolf was in Roman mythology and then it hit him. "Lady Lupa?" With a nod from the wolf Harry smiled slightly and then bowed as he was taught how to do properly while Alan was in England.
"Come young Harry, your bed has been prepared for you. When you wake up, the other three will be here."
Sleep sounded good to Harry after the nerve racking night he had and so downing the potion in one go, he welcomed the bliss that enveloped him before his head was on the pillow.
One of Lupa's pack was waiting for Harry when he woke up and led him to the dining room. Signaling to Harry that he was to eat even though he was the only one in the room, Harry dug in. As Harry finished the last bit of breakfast, Lupa entered the room. "Ah, good you're ready. The three who will be testing with you have arrived and it is time to prepare the four of you for the trials ahead. Follow me." As they walked to the area that need him Lupa continued to speak. "I cannot help you with any magic young pup as everything I know takes divine energy so you will be with the other three training with weapons."
"That is fine Lady Lupa," Harry assured the Mother of Rome. "I haven't even started my magical learning yet, so all I've practiced is with the sword."
"You mean you've actually used a sword beforehand?"
"Yes my lady. The goblins allowed the purchase of some of their animated practice dummies and some of their manuals in swordplay. I'm not great, but I at least know how to wield a weapon without harming myself."
"And do you have your own weapon?"
"No my lady. Alan Roberson, the representative from camp, said all of the legion's weapons are made of imperial gold and the Potter weapons were made of simple iron."
"I see, Alan was indeed correct, but that is why there is a small armory at the Wolf House. What is a demigod without their weapon after all?" The two approached a set of doors that opened for Lupa's presence and they entered a large training area where a handful of wolves and three kids Harry's age stood waiting for them.
"Good, you are all here. As you all know, I am Lupa and for the next few days my pack and I shall be teaching you the basics of weaponry and the legion. Hopefully, you will be taught enough to survive and make it to Camp Jupiter, but I give you no guarantees. Before we begin, introduce yourselves so there is no confusion in training."
"I am Harry and yes," Harry said, cutting off the questions from the other three, "I am from England."
"Well, I am Octavian," One of the blonde haired boys said pompously. You could tell by the looks in the other children's eyes that they already didn't like his attitude.
"I'm Jason, nice to meet you all," The other boy said. For some reason Harry sensed electricity humming underneath Jason's skin.
"And I am Reyna," The only girl in the group introduced herself as.
"Good, now welcome to the world where Roman myths are real and you best remember that. It's time to train."
"Welcome Legionnaires! This should be a relatively brief meeting as all matters pertaining to any quests have been taken care of. This meeting is in regards to our newest recruits and there are four of them this year. We also have a special case this year and I shall turn it over to the centurion in charge of recruiting. Centurion Roberson!" A blonde hair female around eighteen called.
"Thank you Praetor Skylar," Alan said as all attention was giving to him. These were potential new legionnaires, everybody needed to know what was available. "There are actually two special cases this year. The one you are talking about is blessed by Trivia and lives in her hidden communities in Britain. It seems that a Benjamin Potter kept a journal of his experiences and young Harry found it and then used the goblins to contact us. What's more disturbing is what another legacy told me while I was in Britain. It seems that they have a wizard over there that has cheated Lord Pluto and Letum and has not passed on when he was supposed to. There is nothing that we can do now, but the legacy has asked if we would lend aid in the war that could come at any time."
There were mutterings in the crowd about this unnatural wizard and the consequences of his actions. After all, who wanted to go against the rulers of the dead and the underworld? "We shall discuss this at some point in the future since he has not returned fully and we will consult the augers for information. But, you said that there was another case, Alan."
"Indeed, as you all know I am a wielder of Wiccan magic and so I'm more in tuned to both the Earth and the energies of people."
"We know this, what is the point?" Someone from the crowd asked.
"The point is, a young Jason Grace had a powerful lightning aura and I believe that it points to a child of Lord Jupiter."
A multitude of sounds greeted Alan's announcement as everyone wanted their opinions heard. Finally a loud crash in the front gathered everyone's attention. "Thank you," Praetor Alyss Skylar said calmly. "Now, even if this boy is a son of Lord Jupiter, we cannot give this boy special treatment. Remember the last records of a child of Jupiter. It was needed for everyone to be aware of the possibility, but nothing will be done now. Is there any more bombs that you would like to drop on us today Centurion Roberson?"
"Well, the Amazons have contacted me and mentioned that trade could open up between us again and they will let me know if they send representation here. Oh, and Lady Diana and her hunters will be in the area in a month, so if someone could clean out their temple it would probably be for the best."
"Alan."
"Yes, Alyss?"
"You are not allowed to give a report anymore," She deadpanned as the legion laughed at the statement.
"Of course Praetor Skylar," Alan replied with a cheeky grin.
"If that is all, you all are dismissed. The recruits should arrive two weeks from today, so a capture the fort game will be held three days after their tests. Cohort two holds the laurels from last game so alliances can be made in these two weeks. Thank you."
A/N: Well, the chapter is up and sorry for little action in here. As you can tell I put Harry around the same age as Jason, Octavian, and Reyna. He'll be the youngest of the group, but only by a few months since the others are closer to twelve.
There's going to be a poll up for about a week in dealing with Harry's patron god in the camp, so check that out. Until next time.
A/N: Fixed the Greek/Roman mistakes and added a line break, sorry about that, but it happens. (11/17)