Many of those that had watched the obstacle course followed the cohorts and the new legionnaires down to the temple of the gods. Inside the temple, were statues of the big twelve of course, but unlike their Greek cousins all gods were represented. Not that anybody but Harry knew that the Greeks were out there. Since the Legion was divided into Cohorts, the godly parents or patrons did not affect much in the Legion and the way it was run, but everyone needed a godly representative to stay within the camp for an extended period.
Excitement building, the four new recruits tried to stay calm as they followed their leaders down to the temple. They tried, but the more experienced of the Legionnaires that were following them laughed as they practically bounced every step. Although it wasn't important for the Romans, it was a big time for all demigods.
Stopping in front of a building almost as large as the Coliseum, Praetor Alyss turned to face the four. "We are here at the temple of the gods. Within the temple lies the likeness of all the gods of our noble pantheon. When you enter this building, do not fight against the power that feels you but instead follow it. This connection that you feel will guide you to your godly representative. If you are destined for more than one representative, your second one will eventually reveal themselves to you. You all may choose to enter together or one at a time. Which do you choose?"
The demigods knew that they would go one at a time, if only for Octavian to feel superior to them. "I shall go first," Octavian puffed his chest up to make himself look more important. He only succeeded in drawing an eye roll from most of those that were around him.
"Very well, enter the temple and exit when you have received the mark of the legion!"
The group stood patiently as they waited for Octavian to walk out of the temple. The three newest demigods talking quietly deciding who would go next. Octavian appeared after a few minutes and the leader of the first cohort grabbed his arm and looked at the symbol. "All hail, Octavian," He shouted, "Son of Apollo!" The crowd cheered for their newest member although many of the leaders were only up to a respectable level and people could tell they didn't like the new son of Rome.
Reyna was next up as she had won the epic contest that was rock paper scissors. Alan was amused by this as he watched his three new charges and how they interacted. Alan could see greatness in their future and was happy to be the first guiding hand. Of course, his thoughts also made their way to Britain and the coming war that Dumbledore was sure would happen. He would make sure Harry was ready to face the dangers of war even if the gods decided not to intervene. Alan was sure that at least Lady Hera and Diana would support the going to war if only to save the innocent lives of the girls in Britain. He had heard about the atrocities committed by Riddle's followers. Many of those animals had escaped justice and still kept up their good fight. His hand tightened on his blade unknowingly and made the few that were around him wary of his anger.
Finally, Reyna exited, and Alan grabbed her by her arm to look at the tattoo. He couldn't help but to smirk as he called out to those waiting. "All hail Reyna, daughter of Bellona!" A cheer went up in the crowd as his words reached everyone. The children of Bellona tended to make natural leaders.
Then, it was Harry's turn to enter. Walking up the steps, he felt so very much alone even with the hundreds of eyes on him. Stepping through the threshold of the temple Harry felt a swell of power that dwarfed even Grandpa Albus' magic. He stood before the Parthenon of gods and although he paid respects to the twelve on the council, spending a bit more time at Diana and Juno because of Alan, he knew that his fate did not lie with any of them.
Harry slowly walked further in, through the statues of the many Roman gods' likeliness, trying to remember the occasional story here and there. When he passed the statue of Thanatos he stopped for a moment as he sensed a small connection to the god of death. However, the feeling that had begun as soon as he entered the temple kept pulling him onwards. Thanatos must be his second patron if what Alyss said was true. He came to a full stop in front of Victoria the goddess of victory.
Feeling a prickling sensation on his forearm, Harry saw the tattoo of the legion with Victoria's symbol on his arm. When he looked up, he discovered he was back at the entrance. Since he had grown up with magic, he didn't spend much time wondering about that peculiarity. Stepping out into the sun, Alan grabbed his arm and proclaimed him, "All hail Harry, one who resides in the dominion of Victoria!"
The crowd went wild as another of the goddesses that were revered in Rome had a champion. Harry was in a daze as he stood next to Reyna, looking at his new tattoo. It was surreal to think that he was finally part of the legion. Reyna tapped his arm and he looked over to her. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"Yeah sorry," Harry smiled at his friend, "I was just spaced out there for a bit."
Reyna looked unconvinced, but before she could say anything Jason stepped out of the temple. Alan once again grabbed the newly claimed demigod's arm and yelled out, "All hail Jason, son of Jupiter!" The crowd was in an uproar as the newest demigod was the son of the king of gods. Harry could have sworn that he saw his new centurion stick his tongue at her while she rolled her eyes. The new kids had arrived and already were leaving their mark.
It was three hours later that Harry landed in the Potter foyer in a heap. Of course Lily was there as he landed and instantly pounced on him to help him up. "Oh my baby, are you all right? How was it? Are you hurt anywhere?" Harry had never been so thankful to have no one around as his mother completely embarrassed him.
"I'm fine mum," Harry cried as he tried to push Lily off. He eventually succeeded. "Where are Dad and Charles?"
"Your dad and Grandpa Albus are in the kitchen waiting for you. Charles went with the Weasley's just a few minutes ago to look at the Quidditch store in Diagon," Lily sighed at that last part. It seemed that one of her children was destined to follow his father's footsteps. She was dreading the weekly teacher's meetings that she was bound to be called to. She just hoped that Severus wasn't too hard on her boy.
The two made their way into the dining room where James' face instantly caught Harry's eyes. "Harry," He smiled, "Finally escape from your mum?" James teased. "So how was it?"
Harry's face, which was a rather fetching shade of red, instantly lit up as he thought about his recent adventure. "It was great dad! I made two friends already, and I'm part of Alan's cohort! Oh yeah, Grandpa Albus, Alan told me to tell you that the legion knows and training will be available even if the big guys say no. Anyways," Harry continued about the wonders of Camp Jupiter and everything he had seen and done while there.
"My boy," Dumbledore said, interrupting Harry's long winded tale, "Can I see the path that was chosen for you?" He pointedly looked at Harry's forearm that Harry had tried to keep hidden. Sighing as only a child could do, Harry stuck out his arm for Dumbledore to see. "Ah sweet Victory. I'm sure that caused quite a stir at camp."
"Not as much as my friend Jason did. He's related to the king!"
Albus' eyebrows disappeared in his hairline he was so surprised. "That is indeed impressive," Dumbledore muttered.
"If you two are done being secretive," James said in jest, "You mentioned you had two new friends Harry. You told us a little about Jason, who is the other?"
"Oh yeah, Reyna, she's awesome." James had a huge smile at the name and Lily teared up a bit. Even Dumbledore's eyes were a bit more twinkly than usual, not that Harry noticed at first.
"Reyna, huh?" James mused, "Hold up a bit, your uncles wanted me to call them when you got here."
Harry tried to sit patiently, he really did, but he was so excited about his new home away from home. Bouncing in his seat slightly as he waited for his uncles, Dumbledore and Lily shared an amused smile, although Lily's was slightly forced. She wasn't against her boys getting training, in fact she encouraged it since when Voldemort returned the entire family would be targeted. However, she simply wished to keep her children babies just that much longer for it would mean that Riddle was that much closer to rising once again.
Sirius' voice broke Lily out of her musings. "So, big bad Harry. How you doing pup? Wait don't answer yet," He said as Harry was just about to launch into his tale, "Your Uncle Moony is about to come through and he wants to hear as well."
Finally, the adults were settled and James spoke up, "Alright Harry, can you pick up where you left off. I think you were talking to us about Reyna?" He smirked at Sirius who suddenly realized why James had been grinning during the call.
"Oh yeah, she's a new friend of mine. She's kind of bossy, but she's fun to be around."
"Oh, I'm so proud of my little pup. Only eleven and he's already got a girlfriend!"
"Well of course I have a girlfriend, why wouldn't I have a friend that's a girl?" Dumbledore chuckled while Lily and Remus smiled at Harry's response. Although he was ordinarily a serious boy, Harry was still a child and it was times like these, which let them know that Harry had not outgrown childhood just yet.
"I'm so sorry pup, I will have to teach you the noble art of birds, bees, and women!" Sirius cried dramatically.
"Sirius Black!" Lily shouted. "You will do no such thing! Neither of the boys will be getting the talk until they are thirteen and then it will be James' responsibility."
"But dear-" James tried to butt in.
"But nothing, you will teach them at thirteen. You! Not Sirius! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am," James quickly nodded, feeling two inches tall and scared for his life. In the back of his mind he wondered if this is what Peter felt when he was in his animagus state next to Moony and the rest of them.
"I'm sorry dear," Lily said calmly to Harry, "You were telling us about the rest of the people you met."
"Oh yeah, I also met another boy named Octavian, but I don't like him. He's a poncy little git."
"Harry James, you do not speak about someone like that. Even if you don't like that person.
"But mum," Harry whined, "He was acting like Draco Malfoy and that's how Uncle Sirius described him at one of the parties that we went to."
"Oh really," Lily said as she sent a glare towards the mangy mutt. Sirius felt like a bloodthirsty train was coming straight towards him and he was fairly sure his life flashed before his eyes. All the while, Dumbledore's smile never left his face. Lily was truly a sight to behold as she took care of her four boys and Remus if he ever got a bit out of hand. Truthfully, the only he could think of that could handle more than Lily was Molly Weasley, and that was more out of necessity than anything. "Don't use those words again, okay sweetie?"
"Yes mum." Harry was quick to agree, he was smarter than one of his uncles and his dad that way. "Anyways, we had this huge obstacle course to go through and it was amazing. They first use some sort of magic to change the arena into the course and then we all went one by one. Reyna didn't make it that far, but I heard it was because she was a girl and she hadn't developed yet, whatever that means." Sirius wanted to say something, but another glare from Lily made him rethink that decision. "Jason made it the farthest, then it was Octavian, then me. I slipped on the balance beam," Here Harry pouted.
"I'm sure you'll get another chance at it kiddo," James said. "What about the praetor, that's the one who's in charge right, did you get to meet him?"
"Well, there was only one praetor at camp when we got there, and her name was Alyss. I didn't get to talk to her yet, but she seems really nice. I think Alan is friends with her, as they sent funny looks at each other like you and mum do at the dinner table." Here both Remus and Sirius snorted and Dumbledore let loose another chuckle. Even Lily smiled at Harry's words and looked at James. "Yeah, like that!" Harry told his family all about the camp and what was in it, Lily and Remus were both quite excited about the university that was within the camp, for the rest of the afternoon. Charles came home once it was dark and although he didn't stay to listen to Harry's story, he did hug his brother as a welcome back. Harry was glad that he was home and got to share this with his family, but he couldn't wait to get back to Camp Jupiter. He was ready to be a part of the legion.
A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to write this chapter, but gods I could not get over my writer's block. Harry will have two patrons by the way, in case anyone missed it. We'll have one more chapter where Harry gets adjusted to Camp life and learns a bit of magic before a time skip. I just can't go linear in this story so we are jumping to the Quidditch world cup the chapter after next.
Flashbacks will be available upon request if you wish to see Harry in a certain situation or Alan. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks for reading, an until next time!